^RV OF Pfil/vcf^ 
 
 •^tOGICAL SEW^^ 
 
 D}( 9170. T720 M 177D v. 2 - g r^ 
 Traill, Robert, 1642-1716 
 The Works of the late 
 Reverend Robert Traill, A.M. 
 
 V. "2- 
 
THE 
 
 WORKS 
 
 O F 
 The late R. e v e r e n d 
 
 ROBERT TRAILL, A. M. 
 
 MiDifler of the Gofpel in London. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 VOL. IL 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 Sixteen Sermons oq the Lord's Prayer in John 
 xvii. 24. Firft printed in 1705. 
 
 Cut Veritas comperta^ Jtne Deo ? Cut Deus cognitus, Jine Chrtjlo ^ 
 Cui Cbrijlus c'Aploratus^ fins Spiritu San^o r* 
 
 Tertullian; 
 
 GLASGOW: 
 
 Priated and Sold by JOHN BR YCE, at his Shop, 
 oppohte Gibfon's-wyod, Salt-makket, 
 
 M D C C L X X V. 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THREE things areftmpfy neceffary unU any man^s hav- 
 ing of true religion and godlinefs ; found principle i of 
 divine truth known ^ the favoury of that knowledge in the 
 heart , and the power of that favoury in a matins worJJnp and 
 walk. There are no found principles offaving truths but in 
 and from God^s written word. There is no right favour of 
 thofe principles^ but in and by faith and love, which is in 
 Chrift Jefus, 2 Tim. i. i"^. and iii. 15. It is by this favour 
 of the knowledge of Chrift, as it is called^ 2 Cor. ii. 14, 
 that the power of godlinefs is imprejfed on the hearty and ex- 
 preffed in the life of a believer. If the principles of truth be 
 not from Cod's word^ there can be no true religion ; if tha 
 truth profejfed be confonant to God's word, and faith and love 
 be wantingy ii may be a man^s notion and opinion, but it is 
 not the mar?s religion ; and if the power of known truth be not in 
 his walk and CGnverfation, neither Jhould he himfef, nor QUght 
 any other think, that fiich a man hath any religim at all. 
 
 They have done good fervice to the common-wealth of learn - 
 ing, who, leaving the unprofitable, fpecltlative, and notional 
 philofophy, have fet upon the experimental. And any man 
 may fee y that theology hath been, efpecially by the fchr^cl-men, 
 as much corrupted ; and that it is to be cured by reducing it 
 unto praSIice afid experience. For certainly religion confifts 
 not fo much in the notions of truih in the mind, fin which the 
 devils, the VAofi irreligious of all creatures, exceed all men), 
 as in the faith and love cf truth in the heart, and in the fruits 
 iif that faith in the life. 
 
 There are tivo frts of myfierles fpoke cf in the New Tefla- 
 ment ; the myftery of godlinefs, which centers in Jefus Chrifl, 
 the Son ofGocl^ i Tim. iii. 16. \ and ihe myAery of iniquity, 
 which renters in AntichriH, the mao of fui, and the fon of 
 
 A % per- 
 
iv T H E P R E F A C E. 
 
 perdition, 2 Theff ii. 3. 7. rhefe two myftenes are conftanf 
 and dire^ contraries. Whoever is ignorant, or an iinheliever 
 of xh.t myftery of godlineis, may,eafily be drawn, cr driven ^ 
 to be a believer of the myftery of iniquity. Si it was fore- 
 told, 2 Their ii. 10, 11, iz.-^ end accordingly we daily fee 
 this awful judgment of God executed upon many. Neither is 
 any thing more needful to make_ a man a real hater cf Popery y 
 than to be a ftncere believer on Jefui Chrifl, It is true, that 
 the exceffivc pride cf the Pope, and his prelates, the cruelty of 
 his dcminat'on, the jrontlef prof anen^fs of his fynagogue, and 
 tbevifible w:rldly craft of his religion, is n../e than enough 
 to make him and it hateful to Pagans, Jews, lurks, and fn- 
 fJcls. Tei to hate Popery fpiritua'ly, as it is a grofs corrupti- 
 on of true Chrifiianity (of which hefalfly arrogates the name), 
 is only found with the elecl of God : Rev. xiii. 8 And all 
 that dwell upon the earth (hall worship him, (that is, th^ 
 beafl), who-fe names are not written in the book of life of 
 the Lamb flain from the foundation of the world. Andto 
 the fame pur p of e is that in Rev. xvii. 8. 
 
 It was not the clearnefs of light and knowledge, (in which 
 this age doth much cxceedthe former J, but the power of known 
 truth on the hearts ofChrifi's witr.ejjes r.gainfl Antichriji, that 
 carried themfo honourably through the fiery trial. 
 
 It is unaccountable hypocrify and folly infuch ns pretend 
 to be followers offuch martyrs for Chrifl, in their caufe and 
 tefiimony, and yet do mock that faith, and love, and commu- 
 nion -with God, which were their fupport in their fufferings 
 for it. If it be poffible, it is very rare, and highly improba- 
 ble^ that a firanger to, much more a mocker at the power cf 
 godlinefs, fiouldfvffer extremity, andthat ch ear fully, for the 
 form of it. 
 
 We have afo in thefe lafl and perilous time(,fome antichriji Sy 
 that do deride both the myftery of godlinefs, and xht my- 
 ftery of iniquity. They have no faith to take up the glory of 
 the myftery of godliijcfs : but they have f erf e and rcafon e- 
 ncugh to take up the folly and knavery of\ht myftery of iniqui- 
 ty : Afrt cf mm, to whom may be applied what the evil fpirit 
 iaid to the v:igabond Jews, exorcifts, A^s xix. 15. Jefus I 
 know, and Paul I know ; but who are yc ? Which a nit- 
 V minifler took for bis text, and raifed this, more ingenious 
 ')an gravcy do^rinc from it, *' That there arc fomc men fo 
 
 *' had 
 
. ' Th E P R E F A C E. T 
 
 '*' hady that the devil blmfelf does not know what to make of 
 ^' them." Thefe men I meauy do not halt betwixt God and 
 Baal^ betwixt Chrift and Antichriji ; hut oppofe both. If they 
 efcape AntichriJVs rage in this ivorld^ theyjhall not efcapc the 
 wrath of the Son of God in the next. They are fuch as have 
 both heaven and hell againft them^ and fight agalnft both. But 
 vjhatever difturbance the church of Chriji may meet withy and 
 luhatevcr danger and hfs particular mens fouls may fuftain by 
 other damnable herefies ; yet the grand tridl of the New 'Tcji^- 
 ment churchy and the chief plague of the latter days, is from 
 Antichrifl. And no wife Chrijiian can expeB the fulfilment of 
 the. prophecies of the glory of the church of Chrift y but in and 
 by the ruin of Antichriji y and of his throne of iniquity . 
 
 And tho7igh Antichrift^s interefi in this nation feems /? Ik 
 pretty well excluded by Proteftant lavjs and rulers y and yet 
 more by the plain inter eft of the nation y a: to all its valuab.e 
 concerns ; yet where the myftery of godlinefs is not duly cf 
 teemed^ no man nor nation is fecurcd from the malignant in" 
 fluence of \\\t myftery of iniquity. And though Antichri/i's 
 throne feems to be fixed by long pojTeffiony and the blindnffs of 
 mofi of the kings in Europe ; yet there is that rottcnncfs in its 
 foundationSy and that weight of wrath threataied in the word 
 &f Gody as will fink it as amilftone in thefea, in due time. 
 
 It was with an eye to both thefe myfterieSy that what you 
 ready was preached fome years fincCy and is now publifhed. 
 
 It is neither from unacquaintednefs with the genius of the 
 prefent agc^ nor with my fmall talent y that I put forth thefe 
 plain ordinary fermons ; I well know, that they are not fuitcd 
 to the fpirit of the day. 
 
 Nor fJjould any importunity have prevailed (though I was 
 not without fome of the nearefi and mofi prejfmg kind J, if I 
 had not fome confidence towards Gody that his truth is herein 
 declaredy (how weakly fever ), and fome hope that this work 
 may he accepted with Cod through Jefus Chrift y and may be cf 
 fome life to his people ; which I leave with the Lord, who alone 
 giveth the increafe. 
 
 It was praije- worthy charity in a great divine, now at reft 
 with the Lordy to fay y ** He hoped that fome were much chli^ . 
 ** ed to the grace of God to whom thegrac of God was Ittk ob- 
 
 *' li'edp 
 
VI 
 
 The preface. 
 
 •< Hged*^ To which I would add my dejires, that fome oppofer^s 
 and pcrverters of the grace of God, may yet fall under that 
 foiuer of his grace ^ as foal! make them know the grace of 
 God in truth, Col. i. 6. rt«(/ preach that faith they now 
 feel: to deftroy, Gal. i. 23. 
 
 The edifi'ation dnd comfort of any believer ^ or the convi^ii' 
 on of any unbeliever y ivUl overpay the labour of this fervice. 
 This is all I defign and defire. 1 have neither fought patrons 
 nor vouchers y beji(\es the Spirit of God f peaking tn the f crip - 
 tures of truth. At this bar all men and all doBrines mujifiand 
 and be judged. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 May 9. 1705. 
 
 ROBERT TRAILL. 
 
 SERMONS 
 
SIXTEEN 
 
 SERMONS 
 
 O N T H E 
 
 LOR D's PRAYER 
 
 In John xvii. 24. FIrft printed in lyo^. 
 
 Cut Veritas compsrfa, fine Deo ? Cut Deus cognitus, fine Chriflo ? 
 
 Cut Chrifltts exploratuSf fine Spiritu San^o ? 
 
 Tertullian, 
 
 By the late Reverend 
 Mr- R O B E R T T R A I L L, A M, 
 
 Minifter of the Gofpel in London. 
 
 GLASGOW: 
 
 Printed by JOHN B R Y C E, and Sold at his 
 Shop, oppoCte GibfonVwynd, Salt-market. 
 
 MDCCLXXVr, 
 
SERMONS 
 
 CONCERNING THE 
 
 L O R D ' s P R A Y E R. 
 
 In John xvii. 24. 
 
 SERMON L 
 
 John xvii. 24. 
 
 Father^ I will that they aljo whom thou hajl given me^ 
 be with me where I am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which thou hajl given vie : for thou lovedjl me 
 before the foundation of the world* 
 
 YO U have heard many a good text taken out 
 of the word of God ; but though all be good, 
 there is none better than this. Love the text, 
 and love above all, the bleffed firft fpeaker of it ; and 
 you will be the fitter to profit by what you hear fpo- 
 ken in his name from it. 
 
 The beft of all fermons, in chap, xiv, xv, xvi, h 
 concluded with the bed of all prayers in this chap, 
 xvii. In this prayer, properly the Lord's prayer, (for 
 that in Matth. vi. 9. is rather the pattern given for 
 our praying, than the Lord's prayer), there are but 
 few petitions, but they are all great ones. He prays, 
 
 I. For 
 
2 Sermons concerning Serm. L 
 
 I. For himfelf and his own glory, ver. i, to 6. 2. 
 Then for his people, to the end of this chapter. This 
 ver. 24. contains his laH: petition for them. And paf- 
 fing the corapcllation Father^ five times ufed in this 
 prayer, thrice fuigly, as in ver. i, 5, and 24. twice 
 with an addition, Holy Father^ ver. 1 1. Righteous Fa^ 
 ther^ ver. 25. 1 take up two things in this petition. 
 
 1. The nranner of oar Lord's alking, / will ; a fin- 
 gular way of praying. 
 
 2. The matter of ChriR's prayer. And in it arc 
 four things. 
 
 1. The party he prays for; they whom thou hajl gi^ 
 ven me. Only Jefus Chrift could pray thus for the 
 cle6l, as ele£t. 
 
 2. The bleffing he prays for to them : that they 
 may he with me where I am. Where was Chrift whea 
 be faid this ? He was going to the garden, to his a- 
 gony, to be taken that night, and to be crucified next 
 morning, and laid in his grave the next evening. But 
 here our Lord is praying as one in heaven. See ver. 
 J I, 12. And now 1 am no more in the world, but theft 
 ate in the worlds and I come to thee. While 1 was' 
 with them in the worlds 1 kept them in thy name. And 
 he prays to have his people with him in heaven. He 
 loved them fo well, that he came to the world where 
 they were ; he loved them fo well, that he endured 
 what they deferved : and here he exprcifeth his love 
 in defiring that they may be with him where he is, 
 Chrifl and his people muit be together. 
 
 3. In the matter of this prayer of Chrifl, we have:, 
 the end why Chrift prays for ihis bleiling to them v 
 that they may behold my glory which thou haft given me^ 
 Why would Chrift have his people with him where 
 he is ? That they may behold his glory. Are they to 
 receive no glory of their own '^. Yes, a great deal, 
 furely ; yea, they have got fome already, verle 22. 
 The glory which thou gave fl me (to give), / have given 
 them ; and a great deal more they are to receive in 
 heaven : but it flands in, and fs advanced by their 
 
 be" 
 
Serm. I. the Lor(Vs Prayer. • 
 
 behoIdiDg of Cbria's glory. Had they not beheld 
 Chrift's glory before ? John i. 14. We beheld his glo* 
 ry^ the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, 2 Cor. 
 iii. 18. We all with open face behold as in a glafs the 
 glory of the Lord. Ifaiah, chap. \\, faw his glory, and 
 fpake of him, John xii. 41. Why then doth our Lord 
 Ipeak of the necefuty of his people's being with him 
 where he is, that they might behold his glory, fince 
 he can manifeft his glory, and they by grace can be- 
 hold it, even when they are where they are, and doc 
 yet where he is ? The reafon is this, Becaufe belie- 
 vers now, though by faith they can fee fomething of 
 Chrift's glory, yet it is but a very little they do, ot\^At 
 fee. The light is fmall, and their eye but weak ; but 
 in that day that our Lord prays for, the difcoveries of 
 his glory will be greater, and the feeing eye of the 
 glorified will be Itronger, than now we can conceive. 
 
 4. In the matter of this prayer, we have the argu- 
 ment on which our Lord prays for this blefTing to his 
 people ; For thou lovedfl me before the foundation of 
 the world. You know, that this phrafe, before the 
 foundation of the world, is an ufual fcripture-word for 
 eternity : for the foundation of the world and time be- 
 gan together ; creatures and time began together. 
 Time is properly the raeafurc of the duration of a 
 creature; but God inhabiteth eternity, Ifa. Ivii. 15. 
 Creatures dwell or fojourn in time. So that this ar- 
 gument of our Lord's is, For thou lovedfl me from e- 
 ternity. And it hath a mighty force in it. If our 
 Lord had faid, " I pray that they may be with me 
 « where I am, for thou lovedfl them before the foundd'^ 
 ^' tton of the world :'' he had fpoke what he had ofc . 
 told them, for they were given to Chrifl in love. But 
 the argument is ftronger, as Chrift exprelTeth ir. For 
 thou lovedfl me. " 1 love them, and would have them 
 ♦* where I s-na ; they love me, and would be with me 
 ♦' where I am ; thou loved them, and wilt have them 
 *' where I am.'' But here is one argument more. For 
 thou lovedfl me. Jefus Chrift the SoQ of God, as in- 
 
 ^^L' -II* B iniftcd 
 
A Sermons csncerning Serm. I. 
 
 irufled with the cffice of a Saviour, and charged with 
 the chofen, was, and is the objei^ of the Father's 
 eternal delight and love ; and on this love the falva" 
 tiou of all the ele(ft ftands more firm than the pillars 
 of heaven or earth. 
 : So much for the words of this verfe* And from 
 this little glance 1 have given you of thsm, you may 
 plainly perceive, that here is a rich and deep mine, 
 bciicr than of gold that perilhcth. The Lord help 
 us to dig and find treafure, and to be enriched by it. 
 
 • 
 
 Head I. To begin with the firft thing in the 
 te.xT, the manner cf ChrijTs praying here, I will : a 
 liiiguUr manner : About it 1 would prcmife three 
 things. 
 
 1, This is a way and manner of praying, that we 
 never read the like of it ufed by any faint in the word. 
 Some of them have been very familiar with God, and 
 the Lord hath encouraged thern much by his condc- 
 fcendence to them ; yet nothing of this / ivii! is to be 
 hfard or read of in their prayers. / zvili is too high 
 for a iupplicant at God's footdool. Abraham was a 
 great intimate with God^'^the fird believer honoured 
 with the noble name of the friend of God : yet this 
 great friend, when pleading for Sodom, Gen. xviii. 
 with wiiat deep humility is his confidence mixed ? A- 
 gam,wi)eri pleadingfor Iflimael, Gen.xvii. i8. hefaith, 
 
 that Ifimael might live in thy fight ! Nothing like 
 i\m I will. Abraham's grandfon Jacob came a little 
 nearer to this, Gen. xxxii. 26. Let me gc^ (faith the 
 angel), for the day hreaketh ; Jacob anfwers, / will 
 not let thee go^ except thou hlefs me ; ** Give me thy 
 *'.bleiTiijg, and go when thou wilt." When he had 
 got the blefhnp:, he got an halting thigh, and a hum- 
 bled heart whilll he lived, as he hints in Geo. xxxii. 30. 
 
 1 haie feen God face to jace^ and my Itfe is preferved. 
 Not a word or thought of this, '* I have feen God face- 
 *v to face, 1 have wreflled with him hand to hand, and' 
 "^ i have prevailed." No; he rather wonders that 
 
 he 
 
•Se^rXt. 1 the- L^rd^s prayer, ^ 
 
 he got alive out of Gobi's liands, Right Jacobs, true 
 Ifraelp, io and on their greateil prevailings with God> 
 and blefliogs from hire, are loivly, humble believer^j, 
 yea, humbled by God's advancing of them. Mofe?j 
 that great wreftler with God for Ifrael^ though he ex-^ 
 preffed a holy refolvednefs, yet nothiog appears like 
 this / will, Exod. xxxii. lo. Let ?tie aione^ (faith the 
 Lord), that my tvrath may wa^ hot agahijl the^n^ mid 
 that I may confume them. It is (Irange, that one man 
 -fliouid as it were hold ihe Lord's hands, that one man's 
 faith fhculd ftop the execution of a jell fencence a- 
 gainft a finful people, ^^t^rely you may <:onci tide, that 
 the Lord is eafy to be inrreared. Again in Exodus 
 xxxiii. 15. Mofes faid, If thy frefence go not with me 
 (or wj), carry m not up hence. It is as goad for us to 
 die here, as to go any whither without thy pretence. 
 The wildernefs, though wade sod how^hng ; and Ca- 
 naan, though the glory of all lands, are alike to Mo- 
 fes without God's prefence. Again, in Numb. xiv. 12, 
 Mofes hath a great oiFer from the Lord ; 1 wiU de- 
 jlroy this people^ and make of thee a greater nation^ and 
 mightier than 'they» Mofes, in his zeal to God's glo- 
 ry, refufeth this profter, and pleads ftill, and pre- 
 vails ; yet never 1 will is in all his importunity. No 
 believer ever did, or ought to fpeak fo to God ; they 
 fliould all afk accordinr^ to his will, aud forget and de- 
 ny their own will. Yet Chrill did fay, / i^/7/j and 
 might well fay fo. 
 
 2. This / Tviil is not in a promife to us, biitin tn 
 prayer to his Father. When the Lord pronnifeth 10 
 do, or give good to his^ people, it is very ' becoming 
 to ufe this ftyie, / will do^ or ^i've^ or be {o and forp 
 my people. And it n this / wiii in a promife that faith 
 fixeth on ; as Jacob did, Gen. xxxii. 12. Thou faidfl^ 
 I ivillfurely do thee good. But our Lord is here praj^- 
 ing ; though I own that there is a great promife iiii- 
 plied in ir, as we liiali hear. 
 
 3. There Is nothing like this in all the account i^e 
 liave of Chriil'5 prayers at oiher tinieSj and other 
 
 B a occa« 
 
.^ Ssrmcns concerning Serm. I. 
 
 occafiotis. We £n^, that cur bleiTed Saviour was 
 much given to prayer alooe, Blefs him for it, acd 
 love Tecret prayer the better, that he ufed it himfelf, 
 and thereby hallowed it to our ufe. How our Lord 
 fpent ihofe nights in the mountain in prayer, and 
 what he prayed for, and how, we cannot tell, except 
 by that in Heb. v. 7. There are prayers and juppli- 
 cattons offered up^ with ftrong crying and tears, Bctlie- 
 vers, you, fomecimes when your hearts are full, want 
 to be far from all company, that you may pour out 
 your complaint to the Lord. BlefTed Jefus did fo in 
 the days oF his flefh, and filled the filent night with his 
 crymg; and watered the cold earth with his tears, 
 more precious than the dew 0/ Hermon, or any moi- 
 flure (next to his blood) that ever fell on God's earth 
 fince the creation. Never were fuch fmlefs and pre- 
 cious tears in God's bottle, Pfalm Ivi. 8. Let yours 
 drop, believers, and mix in the fime bottle with his ; 
 and OQ this account fow them in hope, and you (hall 
 reap in joy, Pfalm cxxvi. 5. But for Chrifl's prayers 
 recorded in the gofpel, we find our Lord prayed very 
 humbly, though confidently. Wtien he prays in his 
 agony, not a word of J wi// ; bur, Jbba, let this cup 
 fafs from ms, tf thou iv'iii ; never thelcfs^ not my will^ 
 but thine he dons, Chriltiaos, behold the amazing 
 dilTerence betwixt Chriit's way af praying againll: his 
 own helJ, (fo I may call it), and bis praying for our 
 heaven. When praying for himfelf, it is, Father,, 
 if it be thy 'will^ let ih;s cup pafs from me. And no 
 Wonder; for every drop in that cup, was wrath, and 
 curfe, and death. One drop oi it is everlalling poi- 
 fon to all that laile it, but to Jefus the Prince of life. 
 This cup he drank chearfuily : Johu xviii, 11. "[he 
 tup which my Father hath given me^ fhall I not drink 
 it f But when Chrifl is praying for his people's hea- 
 ven, it is, Father^ I ivill that they may be with me 
 where I am. Again, when our Lord is dying on the 
 crofs, he prays, Father^ forgive them^ for th^y know 
 
 not 
 
Serm. T. the Lorifs Prayer, 7 
 
 not what they do. And again, jufl at dying, Father^ 
 into thy hands I commend my fpnit^ Luke xxii. 34. 
 and 46. All humble fupplicadons; none of them io 
 high and lofty (but yet it well became him) as this 
 1 wilL 1 own, that Chrift, in one inftance on the 
 crofs, put forth his divine power, and aded like a 
 King and God, Luke xxiii. 42, 43. One of the ma- 
 lefactors that was crucified witD him, (the happieil 
 death ever man had, next to dying for Chrift, was to 
 die with the Saviour, and to die receiving Chrift's grace, 
 and Chrill's pafs to heaven), whatever Thomas meant 
 in his words, John xi. 16. Let us go^ that we may die 
 with him ; this happy malefactor had the bed of it 
 fulfilled on him : he died with Chrift, and got eternal 
 life on the fame day. Surely that word was eminent- 
 ly fulfilled in this man, Eccl. vii. i. Better is the day 
 cf deaths than the day of one* s birth. This man prays 
 maivelloully, Lord^ remember me when thou comejl in- 
 to tty kingdom. Our Lord anfwers more marvellouf- 
 ly. Verity I fay unto thee^ To day fh alt thou be with me 
 in paradife. As if Chrift had laid, " Can thy faith 
 " take me up as a king, and the difpofer of heaven, 
 «« notwithftanding this thick and dark vail chat is now 
 « upon me ? 1 will a£t as a God and Saviour to thee:*' 
 To-day fhalt thou be with me in paradife. Thefe words 
 have no fmall afpe^f to this text, I will that they be 
 with me where I am» 
 
 Now let us fee what may be in this fingular word 
 in Chrift's prayer, I will. No faint ever prayed (o; 
 Chrifl himfelf in this prayer only here ufeth this word. 
 There muft be forae fingular things that made our 
 Lord ufe this word in prayer, / will ; and them I 
 would look into. 
 
 I. We may lawfully conceive, that herein there is 
 a breaking out of his divine glory as the Son of God 
 equal with the Father, as in Phil. it. 6,— 10. ; where 
 the apoftle markeih three things about Chrift, none 
 of which muft be forgotten by Chriftiiias. i. The 
 
 diiiii<; 
 
3 Sermons concerning Serm. T. 
 
 divine cligolty of his perfon, ver. 6, 2. The depth 
 of his low and humbled (late, ver. 7, 8. g. The height 
 q( his exalted ftaie, ver. 9, 10, 11. So dorh the apo- 
 ii\t to the Hebrews, chap. i. 3. Now, tho' ChrilVs 
 bumbled aod exalted ftate had, and have their feveral 
 and diftiiiifi: appearances ; yet as his divine dignity 
 .-was dill the fame 10 both dates, in his lowed and at 
 his higheft, io there were iiow and then fome beam- 
 iwg% of his glory, even in his lowed date, John ii. 11. 
 and io his triumphant entry to Jerufalem, even whe6 
 he was going to be crucified. So we may think, that 
 this fmguJar word, / vAliy is ufed by Chrid to difplay 
 his divine glory ; for it is a word that no itiere maa 
 may ufe. 
 
 2, Our L-ord had pronoifed it to hi<; difcipies in John 
 xiv. 2,3.; and iherefofc prays thus for it. And we 
 muft think, that the doclrine delivered by Chrid in 
 Lis lad ferraon of confolarion, and this hd prayer of 
 his, though in the firll place defigned for hisapodles, 
 y-et are thv^ common portion of all believers on Jefus 
 Chrilt. Now Ohrid had proraifed, John xiv. 2, 3. 
 that 'where be ivas^ there his people jhould he alfo. If 
 xi poor believer have at any time a firm hold on a pro- 
 tiaife of God, how will he cleave toir^ plead upon it, 
 and urge it? as 2 Sam. vii. 27, 28, 29. But who can 
 conceive what confidence of faith Jefus Chrid the Son 
 « of God had, and did ufe, in pleading with his Father 
 for the fulfil ling of all his own proinifes to his peo- 
 ple ? Befides, all Chrid's promifes to his people, were 
 KVi^^t by him in his Father's name. No wonder then 
 that our Lord fays, / will. 
 
 3. Chrid here gives us a copy and pattern of hl^ 
 intercedion in heaven, that fo much is fpoke of. Chrid 
 here fpcaks as within the vail, ver. 4, 11, 12. as if he 
 jbad done all his work, and were no more in the world 
 I-Je had done fo much, had i)ut a Hide more to do,* 
 which alfo was fpeedily to be difpaiched. Chrid's 
 interceHion in heaven, is a kind and pov/erful rcrr.em- 
 braiice of his people, and of a!i their concerns, ma^ 
 
 caged, 
 
SErm. I; the hordes Frayer^ ^ 
 
 naged with Rate and majeily; not as a (upplicaot at 
 the footftool, but as a crowned prince on the throne, 
 at the right hand of the Father. So it is expreiT^d, 
 Rom. viii. 34. Heb. i, 3. viii, 2. x. 12, 13. and xii. 
 2, This may be one reafon of this great / wllL 
 
 4, Here our Lord is making his will ; and there- 
 fore / ivill is fitly put in. Chrifl is making his lalt 
 will and teflament, and praying it over to his Father, 
 which he fealed next day with his blood ; and here 
 he tells what he wills to his people, even that they 
 may he with him where he is, 'And nothing greater 
 or better can be willed for them. BlelTed for ever- 
 more are they that have this willed, and beqneached" 
 to them. And you have a word like this in Luke 
 xxii. 29. I appoint unto you a ktngdsm : '* i beq-iieaih, 
 *' difpofe ir, make it over 10 you j" as the word may 
 be rendered. 
 
 5, Our Lord had the price of this glory in his hand, 
 ready now to lay down ; and therefore he demands 
 the purchafe ; for Chrift was taken this night, and 
 died next day. The price of the redeemed and of 
 their falvation, a price agreed upon in the everlalting 
 covenant, a price of infinite value in itfelf, a price the 
 Father's wifdom and juftice demanded, a price the 
 Son promifed to lay down in the fulnefs of time, a 
 price on the payment whereof fo great things were 
 promifed to Cbrifi and his feed ; this price is now ia 
 Chrid's hand ready, prefently to be told down. No 
 wonder then, if Chrifl demand the purchafe in this 
 high word, / zvi/i. Believers, it pafTeth all your 
 thoughts, it paiTeth the higheft flights of your faith, 
 to conceive that high aiTurance and confidence that our"^ 
 Lord Jefus had of the acceptance and fuccefs of .hac 
 facrifice of himfelf that he was now upon ofFeriog to 
 his Father. Hence cometh this great / wiii, 
 
 6. This I will is but an echo to the known will of 
 his Father. It doth not become us to fay in our 
 prayers, / willy becaufe v.'e do not perfedly know 
 God's will ; and whea our defires clalli with Lis will, 
 
 wc 
 
10 Sermons concerning Skrm. L 
 
 we do but daOi againfl a rock. But Chrift knew per- 
 fectly, that the thing he prays for, was the will of 
 his Father, John vi. 38, 39, 40. When a believer 
 hath a fure knowledge ot God's will, his Fairh may 
 plead boldly on it. We read of one bold word of 
 bleffed Luiher. He hearing of the dangerous ficknefs 
 of an eoiineni minifler of the gofpel, prayed for him, 
 prevailed with the Lord for his life ; and wrote to 
 him, that he was allured, that the Lord would reftore 
 him, and prefcrvc him to outlive Luther ; which came 
 to pafs. In the clofc of this letter, he writes Fiat 
 voluntas mea ; mea^ Domine^ quia tua, ** Let my will 
 *' be done ; mine. Lord, becaufe thine." 
 
 7. Lajilyy This / will in Chrift's prayer for hig 
 people, (hews how much his heart was fet upon the 
 eternal happinefs of his people. He prays for it wiih 
 all his heart. On this fweet theme 1 would offer a 
 few things. 
 
 ly?. Let us confidcr how Chrifl's love and will v/as 
 on the necelTary price of their falvation. How dear 
 foever it was to him, whatever it coft bim, his love 
 was on laying it down ; Luke xii. 50. / have a bap- 
 tifm to be baptized with, and how am I ftraitened (or 
 pained^ till it he accotnpli/hed f and it was a baptifm 
 in his own blood ; and Luke xxii. 15. Wtth dejire I 
 have defer ed to eat this pa£over with you before I fuffer : 
 and it was his lad meal. Love to his Father, and 
 love to his (beep, made our Lord long greatly to pay 
 the price of redemption. 
 
 There are feveri) thoughts in mens hearts about 
 Chrifl's dying, i. Some think of Chrifl's death as 
 brought about by the wMcked hands of fianers. This 
 is a poor thought, if there be no more. This thought 
 is natural to any that read the hiOory of his death. 
 Carnal men may hate Judas that betrayed him, Pilate 
 that condemned him, the pricfts that cried Crucify 
 him^ and the people that did it. If this be ail, 1 may 
 fay, the devils have a higher thought of Chrifl's death, 
 
 and 
 
Serm. I. the hordes Prayer, n 
 
 and that that comes nearer to the truth, than this 
 forry one. 2. Some go further, and think of Ciiritl's 
 death as it was a fajfiiling of the puipofe and word of 
 God concerning him. This ChriPr teacheth ls in 
 Luke xxiv. 26. 44. ^6. ; and the apodles frequently 
 in their preaching of Chrifl. 3. There is a h\^hcT 
 thought of Chrifi's death ; and that is, That Chrid 
 died, by the (Iroke of God's law and jufiice, for bis 
 people. Jufiice roufed itfelf againfl our Lord : Zech. 
 xiii. 7. Awake^ fword^ aga'mjl my Jhepherd^ and a- 
 gainft the man that is my fellow, faith the Lcrdofhcjls : 
 Jmite the fJjepherd. This fword was drawn and fur- 
 biflied, and did enter into his foul : Ifa. iiii. 5. He 
 'was wounded for our tranfgrejfiojis^ he ivas bnnfed for 
 cur iniquities. Better were it that a man had never 
 heard of Chrifl and of his death, than to hear, and 
 not to know that his death w^as for his fins. This is 
 Paul's firft doiflrine he taught ; and he is an ignorant 
 and proud preacher that follows not tliis pattern : i 
 Cor. XV. 3. For I delivered unto you fir ft of all, that 
 ■which I alfo received, that Chrifl died for our fins, ac- 
 cording to the fcrif tares. 4. The beft thought of 
 Chrift's death is, That he died out of love to his peo- 
 ple. Love made him come in the way of juRice. 
 Juftice and the law faith as it were, " Thou, or they 
 " mud die. They have finned, the lav/ mufl be ful- 
 " filled, juftice mufl be fatisfied." BleiTed Jefus au- 
 fwers, « I love ihem too well to let them die; I will 
 " rather die for them, that they may live/' Chrifl's 
 death is flill laid on his love, John x. Gal.ii. 20. Eph. 
 y. 25, 26. He loved us, and wafhed us from our fins 
 in his own blood. Rev. i. 5. ; that is. He loved us io 
 that he fhed his own blood for our fins ; and then in 
 the fame love he wafhed us from our fins, in and by 
 that blood which he llied in love. O fuch love ! fuch 
 blood! fuchwafhing! Here is falvation, and here 
 only. It is a damning dream to expert it any where 
 elfe. ^ 
 
 Vol. IL C idh 
 
12 Sermons concerning Serm.T. 
 
 2dly^ CoDfider, as Chrlfl's love was much fet oa 
 the paying the price of redemption, fo was his love 
 and will as much fet oa the peifous of the redeemed. 
 He laid down the price, in love to the purchafe. How 
 can it enter into a man's thoughts, that the Son of 
 God fhould lay down {o great a price, and not know 
 what he was to take up for it ? that he flioukl die, 
 and not know for whom, nor who (liould be the bet- 
 ter for it ? His dying was in love ; and did be not 
 know whom he loved? His love is ftill fpoke of as 
 difbnguifhin,^ and particular; for his body^ hh people ^ 
 \{\sjhcep^ whom he knew, John x. 
 
 ^dlyy the ways and means of bringiag his redeem- 
 ed to glory, were alfo much in Chrift*;* love and will : 
 John. xvii. 6. 16. I have declared UKfo them thy v.ame, 
 <:ud will declare it ; that the love 'therewith thou kafi 
 loved JUCy may be in them^ and I in them ; aad John 
 X. 1 5. And other Jheep I have, which are not of this 
 fold, (are not of the Jews, but of the elc<Si: Gentiles-) : 
 them alfo I mufl bring, and they fhall f^ear my voice ; 
 and there fhall be onefold, and one fhepherd. Every 
 mean of grace, every bleffing of the means, every 
 drop of grace you receive, as Chrift is the giver, fo 
 his love and will is in the beftowing it on you. 
 All things that accompany falvatioD, arc given with 
 the love and will of Chrift. 
 
 /[thly, Lallly, Chrid's Will is upon iaz end itfelf, 
 eternal glory. It is firft in his defi^n, though it be 
 lalt in our enjoyment, as in this te-xt. He uiil bi.vc 
 his people with him where lye is. 
 
 Application. There is one thing I would 
 exhort you to from this doflrine, That Chrid's love 
 and will is fixed on the eternal glory of his people ; 
 and it is ihi?. Let believers learn to own their eter- 
 nal falvation as fpringing from liie will of Chrlll, as 
 well as from the blood of Chrift. There was a favinq; 
 will in Chrifl in (liedding his faving blood : Heh. x. lO. 
 By the zvhich will ive are fandified, ,^/. ^. julUfied 
 
 and 
 
Serm. T. the Lord's Prayer. Ij 
 
 and faved, in the ftyie of that epiftle, fpecially) thro* 
 the offering of the body of Jefus Chnjl once for alL 
 What this will is, is declared in the foregoing verfes ; 
 to be the Father's will commanding the true lacrifice, 
 and the Son's will in offering this commanded facrifice. 
 By this zuill v/c are faved ; this willy thus fised, thus 
 accompliflied in Chrift's death. 
 
 There are three great advantages, v/hich v/e (bai> 
 reap by this looking on heaven, the prize of ourcal« 
 iug> as willed by Jefus Chrift. 
 
 I. It will (lir you up to praife ard glorify bim. 
 He that took on him the burdeo of our fouls, and 
 the care of our falvation, (hould fareiy bear the bur- 
 den of all our fongs for falvatioo, and for the hope of 
 it. So the apoftle fings, llev. i. 5. Hearty praife 
 to Jefus Chrift for falvatioo can never be gi«'en, un- 
 lefs men know that all their falvarion is owing 10 him 
 alone; to his will, and to bis blood. If a man af- 
 criba any bit of hi:^ falvatlon to any thing or perfoa 
 befides Chrift, that tbicg or perfon will bear away, 
 or rob fomewhat of the glory of falvation. But fmce 
 all falvarion is from Chrilft, all the glory of it fhoilld 
 be given to him. 
 
 - 2. This will make your faiih in Chrift ftrong. 
 What is ftrcng faiih ? Chrifiians ufually think, that 
 ftiong faith h-iih in it peace, ]oy, and comfort. Buc 
 ihefe are but the efFe<5^t5 of it ; and feparable alfo, as 
 in Pfal. xxii. i. Never was faith near fo ftrong in 
 any faint, as it was in the man Chi i ft on the crofi : 
 and yet rio joy or comfort was tailed by him then. But 
 as to faith in believer?, ft^'-ong faith is when a believ- 
 er gets far in, into the love and will of Jefus Chrift. 
 Now, this do6lrine opens up Chrift's love and will 
 about our falvation ; let us then enter into it. Faith 
 makes feveral approaches to Chrid for and about fal- 
 vation. 
 
 ly?. It feeketh, and fiadeth, and feeth atoning, re^ 
 conciiing blood, flowing from Chrift's love : Rom. 
 iti. 25. God hath fet him forth to bs a propitiation 
 
 C 2 thrcugb 
 
14 Sermons ccrxermng Serm. I. 
 
 through faith in his bkod. Eph. i. 7. In whom we 
 have redemption ibrcugh his blood. 
 
 2d!y^ Faith fee th life fprioging and growing out 
 of Chrid's grave. Alas! many are bufy about Mof- 
 es's grave, ?,nd have no bufjnefs with Chrifl's grave. 
 A believer. if eth eternal life fprir-giog from Chrift's 
 death and grave. 
 
 idiyy Faith goes further ; and through tliis blood 
 of aionemtnt, and this life-giving death, it enters in- 
 to Chriil's iove and will that was in his redeeming. 
 As there was life to us in his death, fo there was love 
 10 us in his dying for uf. Gal. ii. 20. Rev. i. 5, Bat 
 can faith go any further ^, Yes. Only one (lep more ; 
 and that is to the highefl fountain of all this; even 
 God's eternal piirpcje which he furpofed in Jefus Chrijl 
 our Lord, Eph. iii. 11. So that faith begins at Chrifl's 
 death, rifeth with hino in his refurre^lion, feeth the 
 Tinue and power of all in Chrifi's love, and then 
 rifeth to the love of the Father that fent him, to that 
 purpofe of grace from which the Saviour and all fal- 
 vaiioQ doth proceed. Can faith go any further ^ No. 
 Here faith is at a Hand. The believer is faved, and 
 yet finks and is overwhelmed in this depth; and, like 
 one fwa'lowed up, cries our, O the depth of the riches 
 hcth of the ivifdom and knowledge of God / how un- 
 fear cbable are his judgments^ and his ways pafl find- 
 ing out ! Rom. xi. 33. When faith gets a view of 
 the unlearchable riches of God's grace in, by, and 
 through Jefus Chrifi, then the believer long*? to be 
 in heaven, to behold the fountain head o( all grace 
 and glory. Faith longs to ceafe to be faith. This is 
 a ill angc and flrong a£t of faith, a firange dcfire in a 
 believer, " O when (hall I ceafe to be a believer, and 
 *' become a feer ! when fhall the glafs be done away, 
 *< and the full-eyed villon of glory fucceed ! i Cor. 
 " xiii. 10, II, 12. When fh-ill both faith and hope 
 •' ceafe, and love fill their room V* 
 
 3, This feeing of Cluifl's heart and will about 
 your falvatioD, will enable you to pray and labour 
 
 rightly 
 
Serm.1. the Lord's Prayer. 1$ 
 
 rightly for glory. What is it to do it rightly ? It is 
 to labour with courage, and to hbour wiih humihty. 
 And Chriftiaos work profperetb, when tbofe are u- 
 nited, as they always (hould be. How boldly may 
 a believer fay, 1 would be in heaven fiQce Chrift Wills 
 it ? And how humbly (hould he fay, I would be there ; 
 Hnce his own will about it ugniiies nothing, and ChnlVti 
 will is all i* 
 
 Obj. How ihull I know that I am in Chrift's will for 
 falvation I If 1 did know it, then I would give thanks, 
 1 would believe firmly, and would labour hard to ob- 
 tain the pofTcffion of this glory. 
 
 Anfw. To this i offer three things, i. Confider 
 how they behaved themfelves, that with their own 
 ears heard thofe very words from ChriiTs own mouth. 
 It is a vain thought that readily rifeth in all our hearts, 
 that if we had been prefent, and had heard Chrill 
 praying thus for us in a fpecial, particular way, that 
 we might be with him where he is, that then we would 
 believe our falvation if we were in the faddeft diftrefs. 
 But now coniider what great encouragement to faith 
 Chrift gave ihem. He told them, chap. xiv. 2, g. 
 I go to prepare a place for you, 1 zvilicome again, and 
 receive you unto mxfctf that where I am, there ye may 
 he alfo. What more could they defire, than to have 
 Chrift leUing them to their faces, " You and I mail 
 «' indeed part for a little while j but you and I (hall 
 «• quickly meet again, never to part more ?'' They 
 did alfo wl:h their ears hear Chnd praying over his 
 promife to them, to his Father, / wzV/ that they be 
 ivith me where i am. Could inch believers under all 
 ihofe advantages, io great, fo fingular, ever ilagger 
 again ? Yes. Almoft as foon as this encouraging fer- 
 men and prayer is ended, their faith was almoil: at aQ 
 end too : * John xvi. 3 i, 32. Jefui anfwered them. Do 
 ye now believe f Baholdj the hour iometh, yea^ is now 
 £ome, that ye Jhall be jcatterecU ^"^^ry man to his cwn^ 
 andjhall leave me alone, 1 fpeak this, to check the 
 vanity of that thought in ChridiaiiSj that if they had 
 
1 6 Sermons concerning S e R M . L 
 
 bui fufficient ground of the afTurance of Chrid's love> 
 vSid of erernal glory» they would believe iu every dif- 
 ficulty and trial. Yet you fee how they behaved that 
 had fuch grounds of faith from Chrid's own lipf?, 
 vvhild bodily prefect with thera, which you cannot 
 txpe^ or defire. And 1 hope none of you will ima- 
 gine, that if he had been in thofe good mens places, 
 and had had tbeir helf>s, you would have behaved 
 better than they did. Grounds of faith, if never fo 
 great, yet if not attended with the influence of the 
 spirit of faith, will never keep iaiih in life and vi- 
 gour. 
 
 Anfw. 2. What reafon have you to doubt your in- 
 lerell in this prayer of Chrill i* You may lay, I am 
 fo file and unworthy, that I cannot believe that Chrift 
 willed me to be with him. If this be all, li is nothing, 
 yea worfc than nothing-, i. Hath not Chrift willed 
 eternal glory to many as bad as ever you were ? Did 
 he ever will heaven for worthinefs in the perfons that 
 are to receive it ? Is it not always willed to the praife 
 of his own grace and love as the giver, and never as 
 a recoinpence to the worth and lovelinefs of the re- 
 ceiver? 2. Chrift will mend you ere he bring you 
 to heaven. And a great work it is to make you meet 
 for it, Cal. i. i2. ; a work that rruit be done, and 
 that he only can 6o^ and he can eafily do it. 3. Right 
 preparation for glory, flows from the faith of Chrilt's 
 good-will to give it. It is a weak and ignorant, but 
 common thought of Chrifiians, that they ought not 
 to look for heaven, nor trull Chrift for eternal glory, 
 till they be well advanced in holinefs and meetnefs for 
 ir. But as the firil fanclification of our natures flows 
 from our faith and truft in Chrift for acceptance, fo 
 our farther fan^ification and meetnefs for glory flows 
 from the renevrcd and repeated exercife of faith on 
 him. The hope cf glory is purifying, i John iii. 3. 
 
 Anfw, 3:. Every believer hath the witnefs in him- 
 felf, that he hath an intereft in Chrift's heart and 
 ^ill in this prayer: i John v. 10. H^ that bclieveth 
 
 on 
 
Serm.L the Lord's Frayer. 17 
 
 tn the Son of God, hath the witnefs in himfelf. The 
 apoRle is fpeaking of the many witnelTes ihat are gi- 
 ven to Jefas Chrift as the Saviour. Three \n heaven, 
 ver. 7. three on. earth, ver. 8. All are divine wit- 
 uefle?, and fufficient grounds of faiih in Jefas Chriff^, 
 ver. 9. Now, faith the apoftle, ver. 10. He that he- 
 Ueveth on the Son ofGody (that truds his foul, and i*^s 
 falvation, to this fo well attefted Saviour), he hath 
 the iv'ttnefs (or tejiimony) in himfelf. i. There are 
 witneffes in heaven. 2. Witneifcs on earth, g. A 
 leflimony in the heart of a believer in Chrift. Who- 
 ever believeth on Chrift, that faith is an evidence 
 fufficient (if he will require it to fpeak), and will re- 
 gard its teftimony: and both of them require acTing? 
 of faith, to perfuade him that he hath an intereft iu 
 Chrift's prayer here. On this 1 would glance at four 
 things, and conclude. 
 
 1. Believers in Chrift, what do you do when you 
 believe ? O that all believers did but know what they 
 do when they believe ! Do ye not, in every ditlincl 
 a£^ of faith, bctruft your guilty perifhing foul to the; 
 faving arm of Jefus Chrill, upon the warrant of all 
 that grace, mercy, and power, that belongs to Chrift 
 in his office of a Saviour ? And is not this his willing 
 of eternal glory, a great and glorious beam of that 
 grace of our Lord Jefus Chrill;, by which ye believe 
 to be faved ? A^s xv. i u 
 
 2. How came you by this your faith ? Is it no? 
 his gift? He is the author of it, Heb. xii. 2. It is 
 given on ChrifTs behalf^ Phil. i. 29. Wh^-never you 
 have an evidence in your heart, (and it is your own 
 fault if you have it not daily), that you have true faith 
 in Jefus Chrift ; if it be but weak, and cannot mount 
 fo high as it ought, raife it by this confideration, 
 Whence came this fpark of faith to be kindled in my 
 heart? Did it naturally grow in my heart P No. Time 
 was when 1 was without it, Eph. ii.*i2. and loved to 
 be wiihcut it. Did Satan plant it ? No. I find him, 
 to be the great enemy of it ; and 1 oever fek his en- 
 
 mitj. 
 
1 8 Sermons ccrjcerning Serm. I, 
 
 mity, till I began to trufl: Jefus Chrifl ; and it is that 
 in me he mainly afTauhs. Did miniHers, and the means 
 of grace, plant faiih in me ? No. 1 enjoyed them 
 when no faith was wrought in me \ and when it is 
 wrought, all their powder, without Chrift's grace and 
 Spirit in concurring, cannot raife this faith to a(Sl and 
 exercife. Therefore, furely, this faith came from 
 Jefus Chrill himfelF. Was ir not from che work, and 
 will, and love of Chrift ? How eafy and native is the 
 inference i* If faith in Chrift be the work of his love. 
 Low warrantably may 1 look, by that faith, for all 
 the good that this love purpofeth, promifeth, and 
 prayeth for to me i* 
 
 3. Can you call him to witnefs with a good con- 
 fcience, that your great defire and will is to be with 
 Chrifl in heaven ? If the Lord fliould try you with 
 this queftion, " Name that one thing that you would 
 "have above all;" every believer ha:h his anfwer 
 ready ; it is, '* Lord, that I may be ever with thee, 
 *' where thou art ;" as David faid, Pfalra xxvii. 4. 
 of God's houfe on earth. This I infer. If thy love 
 be fet on being widi Chrifl where he is, be afTured 
 that Chrifl's love is fet on the fame blefTing for thee ; 
 yea, ihy defire after it, flows from his defire of it for 
 thee. 
 
 4. Are you willing, yea pleafed and delighted, to 
 hold your title to eternal glory, by the will and tef- 
 tament of Jefus Chrifl ? Are you willing to have and 
 hold the crown by this tenure only, that it was bought 
 byhis blood, and willed to you by histeftament i* Every 
 believer would be in heaven, becaufe Chrift is there ; 
 and is pleafed to get and keep bis place there, as 
 willed to him by Jefus Chrifl. Heaven is a lovely 
 name, and a more lovely thing ; but not at all known 
 by many, and but little by the bed ; but yet belie- 
 vers look for it, and expe<St it, as the gift of God tbro^ 
 Jefus Chr'ijl our Lqrdy Rom. vi. 23. Ihey plead for 
 it as fuch ; at lafl they receive it as grace, and eter- 
 nally wear the croWD as a crown of grace, as well as 
 
 a crown 
 
Sekm. II. the Lord*s Prayer. 1 9 
 
 a crown of glory. The glorified faint, as focn as he 
 receives this c;rown, cads it at Chrift's feer, Rev. iv. 
 10. or fers it on Chrift's head, as if a(hamed to wear 
 a crown, where Chrifi: the only Worthy is. Upoa 
 Chrifl's head are many crowns ^ Rev. xix. 12. His Fa- 
 ther purs a crown on him, Heb. ii. 9. crowned him 
 with glory and honour ; his mother, the church, crowns 
 him, Caor. iii. ir. with a crown of falvation ; and 
 every faved perfon puts on Chrift's head rtie crown 
 oF the glory of their particular falvarion. To con- 
 clude: They that £renot willing 10 give the glory of 
 aii falvarion to Jefus Chrift, fliall never receive any 
 falvation from him. But for you that are willing to 
 receive all from him, and are delighttd to render the 
 glory of all to him, his heart is towards you ; his bed 
 wi(hes are for your good ; and he will give you wnat 
 he hath prepared for you, which is exceedingly a« 
 bove all that can be told you. 
 
 SERMON II. 
 
 John xvii. 24. 
 
 Father^ I will that they aljo whom thou hajl given me^ 
 be with me- where I am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which thou hafl given me : for thou lovedjl me 
 before the foundation of the world, 
 
 npHOSE great and faving words of our Lord Je- 
 -*- fus Chrift, have been taken up into two heads. 
 I. The manner of Chrift's praying: I will. Of 
 this laft day. 
 
 Vol. II. D Head 
 
2 Sermons concerntti^ Serm.1I, 
 
 H K A D II. The matter of ChnJTs prayer, Aud 
 therein 1 reck up four things, i. The perfon he 
 pravs for ; they whom thc>u hafl given rrn. 2. The 
 blefling he prays for to them ; that they nuy be with 
 me Inhere I a /i, 3. The end our Lord prays- lor this 
 blefling to them for ; that they 7nay behQld my glory 
 which thcu ha/} given me. ^. The argument onr Lord 
 prefT'^th this fuic by ; for thou ^hvedjl me before the 
 foundation cf the Ivor Id, 
 
 Tbeyf'-y? of rhefe I would now fpeak to*. The ds- 
 fi/natton and na?ne cf the perfons Chrifl hers prays for : 
 They whom thou hafl given me. No nan hnt JeOis 
 Chrift, who is more than a man, dare fay in prayer, 
 / will ; nor pray tor perfons under this name h3 
 Chrift did. AH our prayers are to be out of one book; 
 and we pray without book in a bad fenfe, when we 
 go beyond it. The only book 1 mean, is God's writ- 
 ten will in the holy fcriptures. By this we are taught 
 what to pray for, and how we flioul 1 pr;^y : and be- 
 yond this we cannot lawfully afk any thing; neither 
 i»eed we more for dire(ftion, but only the fame Spirit 
 that writ them, to ailnl us in the uling of them^ Rorri, 
 viii. 26.; that wc may pray in the Holy Ghofl^^ Jude, 
 ver. 20. and in the Spirit^ Eph. vi. 18. Bat our Lord 
 Jefijs Chrid: could not only pray out of God's revealed 
 will in the fcriptures, (for he teltified of the fcriptures, 
 as they do of him, John v. 39.); hut he could, and 
 did pray out of the book of God's fecret will. He 
 prayed out of the book of life, and was acquainted 
 witii the original of the covenant. And thus he pray^ 
 here tor them that were given hi/n. 
 
 From this 1 would raife three doflrines, and Ipcak 
 to one of them at ibis time. 
 
 Obs. i. There is a feled company ef the children of 
 men given by the Father to the 6on. 
 
 Obs. 2. This co?np any given by the Father to the Son 
 was, and is fully and epta^ly known by Jefui Qhtijh 
 
Sekm.1L 'the Lercfs Prayer. 2t 
 
 Obs.;. 3. T'hat Jefus Chrifl is nearly concerned about 
 their eternal falv at ion ; as his praying for ii here wit- 
 nefleth, 
 
 Obs. I. There was a feleSl company of mankind gi- 
 ven by the Father to bis Son Jefus Chri,Q^ to be favsd 
 by him. 
 
 This truth is feveral ways declared to us in the 
 word ; and yet more by Jefus Chrift himfclf, than by 
 any other ; and yet more in this prayer, thau any 
 where elile by him. And, if we may fo conceive, this 
 great depth of God was fpecially fit to be rrientioned, 
 when the receiver of them is fpeaking his heart about 
 them to the giver of them. This is named dx times 
 in this fhort chapter. In ver. 2. As thou hajl given 
 him power over allfiejh^ that he Jhould give eternal life 
 to as many as thcu haft given him. In ver. 6. wd have 
 it twice : / have mantfejhd thy name unto the men which 
 thou gaveft me out of the wond : thine they zvere^ and 
 thou gavtfl them me y and they have kept thy word. 
 In ver. 9. I pray not for thetvorld^ but for them which 
 thou hap given me^ for they are thine. ^ Ver. 1 1. Holy 
 Father^ keep through thine own name^ thofe whom thoys, 
 ^ haft given me. And here agaia in ver. 24. They whom 
 thou haft given me. Tiiere is a twofold giving of men 
 to the Son by the Father. One is eternal, In the 
 purpofe of his grace ; and this is mainly meant here. 
 The other is in rime; when the Father by his Spirit 
 draws men to Chrid, John vi. 44, 45. All the ele£t 
 are given from eternity to the Son, to be redeemed by 
 his blood ; all the redeemed are in due time dravi^u by 
 the Father to the Son, to be kept to eternal life. 
 
 On this giving of men to Chrifl, 1 would fpeak a 
 little. I. To the nature of it. And, 2, To the ends 
 of ir. 
 
 L As to the nature of it. This giving of men to 
 che Son to be redeemed and faved, u the fame thio^ 
 
 D 2 with 
 
J 2 Sermons concerning Serm. IT* 
 
 with cle(f^Ion and predeflination, Eph. i. 4. He bath 
 chofen us in ChriJ} before the foundation of the world, 
 Ver. 5. Having predelltnated us unto the adoption of 
 children by Jejvs Chrifi to himjelf. And ?er. 1 1, In 
 whom aljo we ha've obtained an inheritance^ being pre^ 
 ^e/iinated according to the purpofe of him who worketh 
 all things ajter the counfel of his own will. The dif- 
 ference betwixt thefe two words is very fmall. Elec^ 
 iion points at the dillind^ion of the perfons on whom 
 this grace fell from eternity. Fredefiination fixeth 
 the end they were appointed to, i TheiT. v. 9. Giv- 
 ing them to Chrift, points forth the grand truftee 
 with this great charge. The meaning of this word, 
 giving of men to Chrifi^ fo oft ufed by our Lord, and 
 hallowed by his ufmg of it, hath thefe five things 
 in ir. 
 
 1. That there were divine tranfa£lions between the 
 Father and Son abont the favingof men. There was 
 a counfel of peace between them both^ Zech. vi. 13.; 
 oft and plainly revealed in the word, yet a myftery 
 unfearchable to all men, but firmly to be believed, 
 reverently to be adored, and cautioufly to be improv- 
 ed by u'i. 
 
 2. That there was but a fele£l company of man- 
 kind that this counfel was about. Our Lord, who 
 knew rhem beO-, ftill fpeaks thus of them, efpecially 
 in this prayer : as hath been declared. He flill fpeaks 
 of them by way of diflinftioo from the world. Wiiat- 
 cver men may fay of uoiverfal redemption, furely u- 
 niverfal ele£lion is a contradiction in words. EleftioQ 
 muft be of a fixed determinate number. There is no 
 election, if there be no pafiing by. If all be taken, 
 
 , there are none chofen. If there be an ele^lion^ there 
 is a refl^ a remnant y (and this reft is a multitude), Hom. 
 xi. 7. How great this number of the elcft is, Chrift 
 and his Father knew ; and the laft day will declare, 
 when they (liall be brought altogether, and obtain 
 ihi kingdom prepared for them front the foundation of the 
 
 worlds 
 
Serm. IL the Lor<fs Prayer. 2^ 
 
 worlds and be adjudged to it by Chrif}, as they are 
 the blejfed of his Fathery Matth. xxv. 34. 
 
 3. That this counfel about their falvation was from 
 eternity. Time-eIe£lion is as great a blunder as uni- 
 verfal ele^ion. How oft is the eternity of it affened 
 in the word? Eph. i» 4. 2 TheiT. ii. 13. 2 Tim. i. 9. 
 EIe<^ion is an immanent a^ of God about creatures ; 
 not on them, nor with them. It is in a tranfadion be- 
 twixt the Father and the Son, about men that were 
 not, but were only to be ; and to reap the benefit of 
 it in time and to eternity. 
 
 4. It follows, that this grace of eledlion muffc be 
 unchangeable, immutable, and unalterable. It never 
 changeth, it never fails of its deiigned eiFedl. ' All 
 God's counfels are fo : Ifa. xxv. i. Thy counfels of 
 old are faithfulnejs and truth. His counfel ft ands for 
 ever^ the thouq^hts of his heart to all generations^ Pfal. 
 xxxiii. II, He is in one ?mndy and who can turn him f 
 and what his foul defireth^ even that he doth. For he 
 ferformeth the thing which is appointed for me^ Job 
 xxiii. 13, 14. Now, of this number of the ele£l giv- 
 en by the Father to the Son, there is no paring from 
 it, no adding to it. The book of life admits of no 
 corre^ions, blotting out j no additions, no new edi- 
 tions. 
 
 5. It is alfo implied, that in this giving of men to 
 the Son, the Son of God, cur Lord Jefus Chrift, 
 hath a fpecial intereft. Thereby they are made his 
 charge ; and he the Captain of their falvation, to bring 
 thefefons 0^ eh£tion-gv3LCQ to eternal glory ^ Heb. ii. io« 
 
 1 1. Of the ends cf this giving of men thus to Chrifl 
 by the Father, It is a glorious a6t of God, and it is 
 on glorious defigns and ends. Of fome of thefe, from 
 the word, I would fpeak in thefe four particulars. 
 
 I. Herein is a mod clear difplaying cf abfolute fo- 
 vereignty in Jehovah. The glorious God is moft zeal- 
 ous for the glory of this name of his fovereignty, as 
 what moft nearly coacerjQS the glory of his Godhead ; 
 
 and 
 
^4 Sermorts concerning Serm. II^ 
 
 and proud vain men are mcft averfe to thp owning of 
 it. The apodie Paul is on tliis Tame docftriae in Rom, 
 ix. and builds it oa (his fame foundatian, ver. 1 1. — 19. 
 He darts two (Irong objccftions againft it ; as carnal 
 n^inds are fertile in viln arguings agalnlt divine coun- 
 iels. And O that all advocates for them had been 
 fatisfied with Paul's anf\Versi, which are the only and 
 ftronged: bulwarks of the Holy Ghoft about this doc- 
 trine! Object. {, isinver. r.f. Is ^here wiri^hteoufnefs 
 vjifh God? Did God love Jacob, and hate Efaa, be- 
 fore they had either done good or evil I ver. 11, 12, 
 1 :5. Where is the righteoufoefs of this ? Jacob had 
 done no good todeferve love ; Efaubad done no evil 
 todeferve hatred. How does the apoftle anlwer it ? 
 I. By an abhorrence of the charge : God forbid. If 
 we cannot fee into the depth of God's counfels, let us 
 Hill juftify God, -as Jer. xii. i. ; and admire and adore 
 the depth we cannot fathom, Horn. xi. 33. 2. He 
 anfwers with a reafon taken from God's old faying to 
 Mofe?, ver, 15. Now, if Paul hid been of fomc 
 mens minds, he would have anfwered, That God 
 foi'cfaw, that though Jacob had done no good when 
 te was in the womb, yet that in time he would be a 
 boly fin?.n, a wreftler with God, and a great believ- 
 er j and therefore God loved him, and therefore there 
 was no uni'ighteoufnefs with God. And fo as to E- 
 fua, he would have faid, God fore fa w that he v/ould 
 prove a |)roUne man, would fJl his birth righi for a 
 jiiefs of pottage, grieve the heartsof his godly fatlier 
 and mother by his marHage, and hate to the death 
 bis godly brother Jacob j and therefore God hated 
 Efau, and therefore there was no unrighreoufnefs 
 with God. But Paul inftead of hinting any thing 
 like this, gives an anfwcr incoufifl-nt with, and fab- 
 verfjve of tliis notion. In ver. 15. Por he Jaith to 
 M:/i-Sy I will have mercy o?i zvhom I zvill have mercy ^ 
 aud I will have compajjion on whom I will have comtaf' 
 Jion. See the apoltle's inference from, and applicail- 
 Q\\ of iliij word of God, ver. 16. So i/.'en; it is not 
 
SfeRM. II. ths Lord*s Prayer, 25 
 
 of him that wllleth^ fior of him that runneth^ hut cf 
 God that fhezveih mercy. And on the cafe of reprobaie 
 Pharaoh, ver. 27. he again infers, ver. 1%. Thcre-^ 
 fore hath he mercy on "jjhom he will have mdrcy: anit 
 whom he zvill^ he hardeneth. He plainly layeth the 
 fove'reign will and pieafure of God, as ihe ii^cd 
 foundation of the counfels of God about mens eter-* 
 nal ftate. Objeii, 2. In ver. 19. Thou ztiltfay then 
 unto moy Why doth he yet fold fault ? for who hath re- 
 fifled his will f A plaufible flrcng like objc(5lion, in e- 
 very natural man's heart. How doth he anfwer ic ? 
 ver;' 20. Nay, but, O man, who art thou that repli^ 
 efi agaivfl God * He calls it, ver. i^.afayingte Fauf ;: 
 here in ver. 10. he calls it a replying agal'aft GoJl 
 But is challenging the objeiflor, an anfwer to the ob* 
 jeflion ? Yes, in part it is; as if Paul had fafcf; 
 " Doft thou know neither God nor ihyfeif, that thoU 
 " cavilleli; againd: his will and couafcls ?'' Thus Elihu 
 snlwered Job, chap, xxxiii. 12," 13, Behold^ in this 
 thou art fiotjufl : I will anfvjer thee^ that God is g^^^^^t* 
 er than man. Why doft thou Jirive againft hrm f for 
 he giveth not account (or he ap/u/ereth not^ of any of 
 his matters. And after Paul had checked the arro- 
 gance of the obje6ior, he againlays the fame ground 
 of God's abfolute fovereignty^ ver.' 20.-— 33. wsih 
 many fcriptures brought to the fame purpofe. 
 
 2. The fecond end of God's giving men to J*.^u3 
 Chrifl, is, to glorify his free, infinite, and everiafl* 
 ing love to them that he gives. So in Eph. i. 4, 5, 6. 
 ihe love of the Father (I:ilncs in giving us to Chrul 
 to be redeemed ; the love of the Son fliines ia his re- 
 ceiving of us ; and thefe two loves (if 1 may call ihem 
 fo) do not eclipfe, but enlighten one another, ar^d 
 make a glorious light to the eyes of a believer. Elec- 
 tion is always in love, and from it, or v^ith it. And 
 this love hath no caufe, but in the heart of the lov- 
 er : He loves hecanfe he loves ^ Deut. vii, 7, S. It had 
 no begiDning, it hath no intermifFion, and it (hall have 
 iiO ending, ■ li is iro:n everlajTing to svsrlafting^ Pfal. 
 
 cil'i* 
 
26 Sermons concerning Serm IL 
 
 dii. 17. It is an everlajlhig love^ Jer xxxi. 3.; there- 
 fore he draws with loving kindnefs^ (or extended loving 
 kindnefs unto thee). And he never leaves ofF to draw 
 tbus, till he hath drawn them to heaven, and till he 
 hath ct owned them with loving kindnefs and tender mer- 
 cies, Pfal. ciii. 4. Here doth this blelTed love (hine, 
 in giving men to Chrift ; and here believers (liould be- 
 hold it. 
 
 3. Another end of God the Father's giving of 
 men to his Son, is, that there may be a glorious and 
 furefalvatiou brought about for them that are thus giv- 
 en in fovereign pleafure and love. If Adam had ftood 
 in that (late wherein he was created, (I know not if it 
 be allowable to wi(h that it had been fo), it would 
 have been but a poor low happinefs that he would 
 have conveyed to his poflerity, in regard of what 
 comes by the fecond Adam to his offspring. That 
 it was uncertain, is evident by the ilFue. The firft 
 Adam was intruded wMth his own and all his natural 
 poflerity's happinefs, as with this charge, '* So (hali 
 *• it fare with thee, and all thine, as thy behaviour 
 " is." In this behaviour commanded, he failed, fell 
 himfelf, and dragged u. all with him into the fame 
 pit of fm and mifery. But now it hath pleafed the 
 Father to lodge the happinefs of his ele<5l in his Son's 
 hand, where it is both more fure and more glorious 
 than the former. 
 
 4. This giving of men to the Son, is in order to the 
 railing up a great name of glory and honour to Jefus 
 Chrift. Great is his jf^lory in being the repairer of 
 this greateft breach which fin made betwixt God and 
 man. This the apoftie remarks in Horn. viii. 29. For 
 tvhom he didforeknoWy he alfo didfredeflinate to be con* 
 formed to the image of his Son^ that he might he the 
 Jirjl'born among many brethren. Of this further when 
 
 we come to fpeak of Chrift's glory, in this text; and 
 flball now only mention a little of Chrift's concern in 
 them that are given to him. 
 
 All the redeemed, and ail their concerns for their 
 
 falva- 
 
Serm. II. the Lord's Prayer. 27 
 
 faivacion, are lodged in Chrift's hand, and in bis on- 
 ly. Their perfons, and every thing that pertains to 
 them, are given to him. 
 
 2. All the impedia^ents of their faWation are laid 
 on Chrifl, that by him they may be removed. Thele 
 are many and great, as you know. There is fin, and 
 the law with its curie for fin, and the holy juftice and 
 wrath of God, and the power of heli and death. 
 When a fmner's eyes are opened to fee thofe impedi- 
 ments of falvation, it is no wonder he fay with the 
 difciples, Who then can befavcdf All thtfe impedi- 
 ments Chrifl did remove. But how ? By taking them 
 on himfelf, and remcving them out of our way. For 
 all the impediments of our falvation were impediments 
 laid in ChriiFs way to his glory. He nuul not eiuer 
 into his own glory, till he hsd removed the impedi- 
 ments of the eka's falvation. There could be no im- 
 pediments in Chrid's way to his glory, without^his re- 
 lation to bis people. As he was the Son pF God, c- 
 ternal glory was his natural right and pofiellion ; but 
 when he comes to be Surety and Mediator, he mujl 
 firjlfufer^ ere he enter into his glory, Luke >:xiv. 26. 
 46. He mud furge our fins* by hwifelf, Heb. i. 3. He 
 mud pat a%uay fm by the facrifue of him/elf ^ Heb. ix. 
 26. He mud through death deftroy him that had the 
 power of death, that is, the devil, Heb, ii, 14. He 
 muft be made under the law, that he may redeem^ them 
 that were under the law. Gal. iv. 4, 5. He redeemed 
 us from the curfe of the law, being made a cur fe for us. 
 Gal. iii. 13. He mud make an entrance to the holieft 
 of all for us, by his blood ; he mud confecrate the way 
 for us by his fief:, Heb. x. 19, 20. He ^.\\^ enter in- 
 to the holy place by his own blood, having obtained eter- 
 nal redemption for us, Heb. ix. 12. Thus, by our 
 Lord Jefus Chrid, all the gates of hell are ftiut oa 
 the ele<ft, and none can open them ; and all the gates 
 of heaven are opened, and none can (hut them on 
 them that are given him. 
 
 Vol. 1L E 3. All 
 
zS Senncns concerning Serm. If. 
 
 3. All the parts and pieces of falvaticn are ia 
 ChriR's hand, and do come to us by him. The ac- 
 ceptance 0/ cmr perJcnSf is in and through this beloved, 
 Eph. i. 6. The forgivenefs of our fins is through his 
 blood, Ep'\ i, 7. Our quickening^ when dead in fins^ 
 cur nfing^ and fitting in heavenly places^ is with Chrift 
 and in hira, Eph. ii. 4, 5, 6. Our title and right to 
 heaven is fingly owing to him. What right hath a 
 finner to he-iven ? No rcore, and no other, than he 
 huth to Jefus Chrift. U he be united to Chriil by 
 f.iirh in him, he is an heir of God, and an heir of 
 giory, a joint heir with Chrili, lloin. viii. 1,7. Nay, 
 our lan(flincation, which is begun glory, 2 Cor. iii. 
 18. is but a beam of this Sun of Ri^fnteoufoefs dariei 
 in upon our foul?. Unlefs Chriil had been made 
 fan(^ificarion to us, there had never been a fant^ified 
 man or woman in the world. 
 
 4. The ^'Hnal poffciiion of the kingdom i? owing 
 to jefus Chriil. We have a right co it in him j our 
 charter of it is fealed by his blood ; we have the ear- 
 ned of it by his Spirit ; we are kept to it, and ir kept 
 for us, by his power ; and at lall we receive it out of 
 his own hand, John x. 2C. I give unto them eternal 
 life. It is too great, and too good a gift, to be giv- 
 en by any but bielTed Jefus. 
 
 I would conclude with a few words of applicatioa. 
 
 I. Learn to fee with wonder and adoration the 
 high fpring of the well of life and falvation for poor 
 men. It is in the Father*s giving of men to the Son. 
 Nothing is before it, and all the blelTmgs of grace and 
 glory flow from it. From hence is the creating of the 
 world, that ihefe men might be born in it ; from hence 
 came the peimitiirg and ordering of Adam's fall, that 
 the lledeemer might be needful j from this Chrift 
 comes into the world, to redeem them j from this 
 comes the gofpel, as a light to fcek ihofe loft ones j 
 from this cometh the Spirit, 10 make the gofpel cf- 
 
 fcilual, 
 
Serm. II.' th€ Lord's Frayer. 29 
 
 feftua], that they who are ordained to eternal life, may 
 believe^ A<5^s xiii. 48. 
 
 2. Labour to fee your own concern in this giring 
 to the Son. It is but a <ieep and dangerous rpecula- 
 lion wiihont this care. Many poor quefrions are in 
 people's heads, and many poor ways of aofviericgihem 
 are in mens heart?. Some would fain know if they 
 have any grace and true holinefs ; others go farther, 
 and they would f:Ja know if they have faith, the 
 fpring of holinefs ; foTie would fain know their title 
 and right to heaven. There is an allowed room and 
 place for thefe inquiries, and the like. But how 
 few, even of true Chriflians, afk this queftion, Was 
 1 given by the Father to the 8on f It is a qaellion that 
 niay be made, and may be anfwered to fatisfa6lion. 
 Chriil tells his difcipies it, Luke x. 20. Paul knew 
 it, I ThefT v. 9. Peter bids vls ghs diligence to make 
 our calling and eleElion fare ^ 2 Pet. i. 10. But becaufe 
 there is fome difficulty and danger in managing this 
 inquiry, I would olFer a few things about it. 
 
 Advice I. Lay it down as a {'iY^z^ perfuaHon in your 
 heart, that faiisfaction in this matter would be of 
 great advantage to your fouls, i. This would bring 
 you to the top of the mount. As Mofes on the top of 
 Plfgah faw the earthly Canaan ; fo you, from the 
 fight of your eledlioG-grace, may find it both an eafy 
 and a comfortable thing, to view all the dreams of 
 grace and mercy towards you. You would then fee 
 whence they fpring, and whither they run. 2. This 
 fight would keep yon low and humble. The molt 
 humbling thought is this, *' 1 was of mere fovereign 
 ** grace given by the Father to the Son." A falfe 
 pretender to this blcjfTuig'may be proud \ but the. true 
 believer of it is always humbled by it. Whence is ic 
 that there is fo much pride amongft Chriftiaos ? why 
 are they puffed up fo foon and fo much ? Is it not al- 
 ways on the account of what they do, are, or receive ? 
 Here is a blefling, where none of thofe pufling-up 
 things are ; a bleilmg that hath no fort of refpecf to 
 
 E 2 what 
 
3© Sermons concerning Serm. II. 
 
 what we are, have, or do. 3. The knowledge of 
 this blelTing of electing love, is of great ufe in ex- 
 treme irials. We are cnlled to lay oar account with 
 them ; the Lord biings thc^n on us ; and we need all 
 the armour of God againfl them, Eph. vi. 10. ; and 
 the hope cf fahaticn is a hcimtt in the evil day, i 
 Thefl. V. 8, 9. And this knowledge that we are ap- 
 feinted to falvatic^T^ is the ground of this hope. Chrifl 
 comforts the hearts of his people with this, Luke xii. 
 22. Fear nct^ little flock ; for it ?: your Fat her'' s good 
 fleafure to give you the kingdom, Chrift tells Ananias, 
 that Paul was a chofen vefjel^ who was to do and fuf- 
 fer much for his name, A£li ix. 15, 16. ; Ananias tells 
 it Paul; and Paul repeats it, in the midfl: of his fuf- 
 fering?, in a great afT^mbly, A£ls xxii. 14, 15. 
 
 Adv:ce 2. For as preat advantaj^es as this know- 
 \tdgt harh in ir, think not, attempt not the attaining 
 of it by a fudden leap ; but you mud afcend to it by 
 degrees. It was a good faying, I think, of the blef- 
 fed martyr Mr. Bradford, " No man (hould go to the 
 *' univerfity of predeftination, till he be well trained 
 **^ up in the grammar-fchcol of faith and repentance." 
 If tills, or the like method, be neg!c6led, co good can, 
 but much hurt will eofue. God's decrees are forae 
 way like the r/iount that m.ufl: not be touched ; but 
 you muft firfl worship at a diliance, and then make a 
 reverend and awful approach. This is cot only holy 
 ground, but it is unfcr<rchable by us. Now know, 
 that though eleflmg love hath no caufc nor ground 
 for it without God himfelF, yet it hath great and no- 
 ble' fruits, and in the decree of the end, falvation, 
 there is a wife defii^n of fit means and ways to compafs 
 this end : 2 Theil'. ii. 13. Bid we are bound to give 
 thanks always to God for you^ brethreuy beloved of the 
 Lordy becauje God hath from the beginning chofen you 
 to falvatiouy throu<ih fan^'tfi cation of the Spirit^ and 
 belief of the truth ; and 1 Per. i. %. Fleft according to 
 the foreknowledge of God the Father ^ through fanclijica- 
 tion of the 6pirtt Unto obsdienccy andffrinkling of the blood 
 
Serm. II. the LorcTs Prayer. ^i 
 
 cf Jefus ChriJ}, There is a work offaiih^ and labour 
 of love^ arid patience of hope, whereby the eledion of 
 God may be known, \ TheiT. i. 3,4. You muft not 
 leap immediately up to the purpofe of God, but climb 
 up thereto by the (teps he hath prefcribed ia his re- 
 vealed will. 
 
 Advice 3. You mud be at great pains about this. 
 This knowledge of your own concern in this giving 
 to the Son, is not eaiily acquired ; wherefore the apo- 
 flie faith, 2 Peter i. 10. Give diligence (and verfe 5. 
 Give all diligence) to make your calling ajid eledion 
 fure. God's parr in your calling and eled^ion is furc 
 enough ; and needs none of your labour to make it 
 furer. But to make it fure to yourfelves, and to make 
 the knowledge thereof fure and clear to you, diligence 
 is needful, and diligence will do it. Alas ! who be- 
 ftow any diligence about this greateft concern? Search 
 out the fruits and marks of ele<51ion : and when you 
 find any of them, then, and not before, climb up this 
 high tree of the Father's giving you to Jefus Chrid. 
 
 Advice 4, Be not difcouraged if it doth not yet ap- 
 pear to you, that you were given by the Father to 
 the Son. It may be, though you do not fee it. Many 
 of the given do not for a long time know it ; yea, I 
 fee no great danger in faying, that not a few of the 
 given to the Son may be in darknefs, and doubts, and 
 fears about it, till the laft and brighteft day declare 
 it, and till the lad fentence proclaims it, Come, ye 
 hkfjed of my Father, (bleffed by this giving), inherit 
 the kingdom prepared for you f rem the foundation of the 
 world. Math. xxv. 34. It is wifely ordered by the 
 Lord, that all that are given to the Son, do not (tho* 
 they (hould endeavour it) know that they were given j 
 and that they that are not given, cannot know it j 
 that the book of life is not always legible to all belie- 
 vers, and that the book of death cannot be read by 
 any unbeliever. It would be a miferable world, if 
 ihe reprobate could be as fure of their being pad by, i 
 as the ele^ may be of their being chofen to fulvation. / 
 
 If 
 
3 2 Sermons concerning Serm. 11. 
 
 If therefore any of you be in the dark about your owq 
 eicnicn, be not difcouraged ; it m:iy be, though you 
 do not know it. And to fuch difcouraged fouls 1 would 
 ip'eak a few words. 
 
 Objed. It may be fome of you may fay, that this 
 is n range doctrine. 
 
 Anfir, I am forry that ibis doflrine is fo rarely 
 taught ; and 1 am fure, that it is not only the do(fl:riDe 
 of Chrift, and of his apoftles ; but that the work of 
 the gofpel in converfion of fioners, and in the edifi- 
 catioD, growth, and holinefs of faint?, did profper 
 more, when fuch do<ftrine was more commonly taught 
 than now. Difcouraged fouls about this doctrine, 
 anfwer thefe. 
 
 1. Can you hear of this giving of fome by the Fa- 
 ther to the Son, and blefs the giver, the Father; and 
 the receiver, the Son ; and count all the given a hap- 
 py remnact f A heart grumbling and replying agaiafl 
 this (overeign grace of God, 1 dare not fay is a fure 
 token of one not given, but it is furely a very bad 
 thing. But, on the contrary, it is a hopeful fign of 
 an intereil: in this great bleiTing, when a poor crea- 
 ture, iii his deeped dillrefs and fears about his own 
 ialvarion, hath a high value for eie^ling love, and 
 reckons them bleffcd indeed that are (harers thereof. 
 He admires and adores this defign, even when doubt- 
 iul of his own iniercft therein. 
 
 2. Can you be fure tha: you were not given to the 
 Son ? No, furely. God harh not, will not reveal it. 
 Thy heart is blind and deceitful ; do not truft it. 
 Satan knows It not, and is a lyar, efpecially when he 
 pretends to teach thee God's fecrct purpofes. The 
 devil was never on God's counfel ; why fhould you 
 regard his v/hifpers ? He is a reprobate, condemned 
 fpirir, raging againft God, and drives to infufe his 
 own fpirir and temper into fiuners. Say then, " If 1 
 *' know not that I was given to the Son, 1 cannot 
 ^' know, I Ciould not conclude, cone can prove, that 
 
 ^^ J was not ;Tiven to him. 
 
 D 
 
 3. L 
 
Serm. II, the Lord^j Prayer. 33 
 
 3. Is Chrid as God's gift precious to you ? i Fet. 
 ii. 6, 7, 8. Then it is lure you were given to Chrid: ? 
 it is a deep fecret, who are given by the Father to 
 the Son ; but it is an open plain truth, that the Fa- 
 ther hath fent the Son to be the Saviour of the ivor/u\ 
 I John iv, 14. How do you like him; how do you 
 efteem and love him ? Say then, " Although 1 am 
 " not fure that I was given to Ghrill, I am fure that 
 *' Chrid is come as a Saviour, juil fuch a one as I 
 «^ need." 
 
 4. Can you give yourfelves to Jtfus Chrid to be 
 faved by him ? Then were you given to him, to be 
 redeemed by him. Your faith on him, fpeaks your 
 election in him. True faith is the faith oj God's elc^i^ 
 Titus i. I. Why fo called, but becaufe all, and only 
 God's ele£i:, get it, and have it ; and becaufe elec- 
 tion may be known by it ; becaufe faith flows from 
 eled'ting love, and ftiould lead the believer up to ihli 
 love as its original and fpring ? Anfwer then, thou 
 that knows not that thou waft given to Chrid by the 
 Father, doft thou give thyfelf to Chrid ? Seed thou 
 no hand in heaven nor earth, to incrud thy foul in, 
 but Chrift's ? Had thou fo feen him in his ilviil and 
 good-will to fave lod finners, that thou hai't, daily 
 dod, and refolved dill to bring, and lay, and leave 
 thy perifhing foul on Jefus Chrid, as on him that 
 
 fpeaketh in righteoufnefs^ mighty to fave f Ifa. Ixiii. i. 
 Then thou wad given to Jefus Chrid. Go on in trad- 
 ing him, and in living by faith on him; and he will 
 make you know, that he loved you ^ and gave hinifelf 
 
 for you^ Gal. ii. 20. And if thou knowed that he 
 gave himfelf for thee in time, conclude, that thou wad 
 given to him by the Father from eternity, and that 
 ihou iliah to eternity be with hioj where he is. 
 
 SERMON 
 
34 Sermons concerning Serm. Ill, 
 
 SERMON III. 
 
 John xvii. 24. 
 
 Father y I will that they alfo -whom thou haft given me, 
 be with me where I am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which thcu haft given me : for thou lovcdjl me 
 before the foundation of the world* 
 
 PETER, gives a good teflimony to Jefus Chrid, 
 in John vi. d^, Thou haft the words of eternal life. 
 And here thefe words are eminently. Chrift himfelf 
 is eternal life^ i John i. 2. And in this text we have 
 hira that was and is eflential, eternal life, praying for 
 and willing of communicated eternal life to all his 
 people. 
 
 The firfl thing I took up in the matter of Chrift^s 
 prayer in this verfe, was the name and defcription 
 of them he prays for ; they whom thou haft given 
 me. From this part of the verfe 1 named three doc- 
 trines. 
 
 I. That there was a fele6l company of mankind given 
 by the Father to the Son, to be redeemed and faved. 
 On this 1 fpoke lafl day. 
 
 Observ. 2. This company given to Chrift are well 
 known to him. Chrifl knows ihem ail, particularly, 
 fully, exactly. Chrift doth not here pray, as wc 
 ought, for the ele£t, on the general truth revealed in 
 the word, that there is a body of the ele^^, though 
 we know not who they be ; but Chrill hath ihem all 
 DOW as in his eye and heart particularly. Paul was 
 in his eye, and all that were to believe on him through 
 grace. Why are we commanded to pray for all men, 
 though Chrift did not, John xvii. 9,10. 1 Becaufe we 
 
 know 
 
Serm. IlL the Lord's Frayer, 35 
 
 know not particularly who are the eleft^ but Chritt 
 did. 
 
 On ibis truth I would cfFtT a few things in prcof 
 of it, and then apply it. For this doftrine looks like 
 a deep and barren point ; yet it is profitable, 
 
 I. For proof of this, that the eled are known to 
 Jefus Chrift. Let us fee what he himfeif fpeaks of it, 
 John X. Once in that parable, ver. 3. He calleth his 
 own Jhecp by name^ and kadeth them out. You will 
 r.ever believe, till Chrili call you by name. Again, 
 in the do^lrine taught by him on the parable, ver. 14* 
 J am the good Shepherd y (O how well doth it become 
 Chrift to commend himfeif I You will never love him, 
 till Chrift: himfeif commend himfeif to you), and know 
 my fheep. And ver. 27. My fheep hear my volce^ and 
 1 know them ^ and they folkzv me, Ver. 28. And 1 give 
 unto them eternal life. Well doth Chrift know to 
 whom he gives eternal life. Woe to them to whom 
 he will fay, I never knew you^ Matth. vii. 24. Little 
 better is that word in John x. 26. But ye believe not ; 
 becaufe ye are not of my fheep ^ as I fald unto you. Chrili: 
 knew who v/ere his fheep, and who not ; who were 
 gathered into his fold, and who were yet flraying 
 as loft (heep on the mountains: verfe 16. And other 
 fheep I have ^ which are not of this fold ; them alfo I 
 mufl briyig^ and theyfball hear my voice. The grounds 
 of this truth are. 
 
 ry?, Chrift, as God, knoweth all things, and there- 
 fore knows who are given to him. It is a pity, that 
 when the godhead of the Son fliines fo very brightly 
 in the new teftament, any ftiould doubt and deny it. 
 And it is pity alfo, that the deniers of this rock of 
 the church of Chrift ihould not renounce the name of 
 Chriftians; or that any true Chriftian (hould afford 
 this honourable name to fuch apoftates. Peter, when 
 afked by his Mafter about his love to him, John xxi. 
 17. anfwers by a humble appeal to his all -knowing. 
 
 Vol. II, F He 
 
^6 Sermon f ccncernifw Serm. III. 
 
 He that knows all things, mufl know who were given 
 him by the Father. 
 
 2^/y, The Son of Ood was a party concerned in 
 this tranfaiflion. As the Father was the giver of the 
 ele<f), ihe Son was the receiver of them. Will any 
 fay, that the Father knew not whom he gave, when 
 his foreknowledee is fo exprclly told in Horn. viii. 29. ? 
 It is equally abfurd to fay, that the Son knew not 
 whom he received. And as the Father's giving was 
 of particular, diflin^l, and didicguiihed pciTons ; fo 
 was tlie Son's receiving of fuch perfons. Hence our 
 Lord fays of them in his prayer, ver 9, 10. / pray 
 for them ; I pray not for the worldy but for them which 
 thou haft given me, for they are thine. And all mine 
 are thine^ and thine are miney and I am glorified in 
 them. This tranfa6>ion betw^ixt the Father and Son, 
 Was a bufinefs, as of high fovercignty about mankind, 
 and of infinite love to the given, fo was it paiTed in 
 infinite wifdom. The manifold wifdom of GQd\% in this 
 eternal purpofe which he purpofed in Chrifl Je/us our 
 Lord, Eph. iii. 9, 10, 11. It is a high reile<^ion on 
 all the glory of God in this tranfa<Stion, to fay, that 
 the Father knew not particularly whom he gave to 
 the Son, or that the Son knew not who were given 
 to him. 
 
 %dlyy Chrifl's knowing who were given to him, is 
 the ground of his undertaking and difpatching the 
 work of redemption. This work he undertook in love; 
 this love is dill afled on perfons. Gal. ii. 20. Rev.i. 5, 
 Thcfe perfons mud be known to Chrid, if fo beloved 
 by him. 
 
 4//.>/y, It is this knowledge in Chrlll that is the 
 ground of Chrifl's patience and pains on the elcft. If 
 any will fay, that Chrift, in dying, defigned no more 
 for Peter than for Judas, (God forgive thera, and o- 
 p:m their eyer) ; I hope they will not fay, but Chrifl 
 did more for Peter than for Judas. The vifible dif- 
 ference that is betwixt Chriirs way of dealing with 
 men, fiows from his knowing of them that are given 
 
 to 
 
Sexm. III. the LorcTs Prayer. g7 
 
 to him. There are foms that Chrifl deals with in 
 and by the gofpel ; and, upon their firfl: refufil, he 
 leaves them, and Chrill and they never noeet till the 
 laft day ; others he waits long upon, and yet he 
 leaves them at lad. But there are fome that Chrid 
 deals with ; and though they refufe him again and a- 
 gain, yet he will never leave them, till he hath gain- 
 ed their hearts, and faved them. Paul thought hs 
 was the raiefl: inftance of this ; i Tim. i, i6. Hotv- 
 Betty for this caufe I obtained mercy ^ that In me firfl {in 
 me the chief {vautv) Jefus Chrifl might flpow forth all 
 long'fiifferingy for a pattern to them which fhculd here^ 
 after believe on him to life everlafling. Yet we may 
 fay, that there are fome in heaven, and fome on 
 earth, that have been as great patterns as Paul j tho* 
 they were not (o filled with the Holy Ghofi: as he ; 
 nor Chrifi^s grace in calling them fet {o on a candle- 
 fiick for all ages, as it was in his cafe. It may be 
 Paul never heard Chrifl preach, nor faw his face, 
 though he was brought up at jerufalem in Chriil's 
 time, hdi% xxii. 3. and xxvi. 4. It is like he heard 
 no more of him, but by the common report, and by 
 the ilanders of the Pharifees, Ghrifl's conftanc ene* 
 mies. It was but blind zeal of the law that locked 
 him up in unbelief, and made him hate Chrifl's name 
 and people. But how many have been fince Paul, 
 that have lived long under the light of the gofpe;, 
 whom the Lord have driven long with, and they have 
 as long flriven againil him, whom yet he hath fubdued 
 at lad? BlelTed be his name ; and may fuch inftances: 
 be multiplied to his praife. This way is taken by 
 Chrifl with fome, according to his charr^e from his 
 Father, John vi. 39. And this is the Father^ s will 
 ■ ivhich hath fent mCf that of all which he hath given 
 ?ne, Ifhculdlcfe mihingy hut fhould raife it up again at 
 the lafl day, 
 
 Sthhy This knowing of ihem who are given to him, 
 is the ground of the confuience of Chrifl as Mediator,' 
 as to the fucceft of his workj both of his work of 
 
 F 2 redemp- 
 
3 8 Sermons concerning Serm. III. 
 
 redemptioD of them by his blood, and of the work 
 of his Spirit, in applying ic to the fouls and confci- 
 CDces of the redeeiPied. So he proclaims it, John vi. 
 $7. All that the Father giveth vie^ /ball cojne to me, 
 "■ I am fure, would he fay, of every one of them, 
 *' fooner or later." As long as there is one given, 
 not yet come to ChriH:, there is one yet to believe oa 
 him. Chrift might well promife this to himfelf ; for 
 ibe Father had promifed it, Ifa. liii. 10. u. He /hall 
 fee his fecd^ he /hall fr along his days^ and the plea/ure 
 of the Lordjlyall profper in his hand. He /J:all /ee of 
 the trazel of his fouU and /imll be fatiified : by his 
 knowledge /hall my righteous /ervant ju/lify many ; for 
 he fiall bear their iniquities. The latter part of John 
 vi. 37. is Chrill's promife to us, Him that comet h to 
 me, I zcill in nowife caj} out. Why do none but the 
 given come 10 Chriil ? Becaufe none can come unlefs 
 ihey be drawn by the Father, John vi. 44, 45. Be- 
 hold this bleiTed order. The Father gives the elc£l 
 lo his Sod, to be redeemed ; the Son, in love, lays 
 down his life for them, and redeems them. The Fa- 
 ther draws them to Chrift, and makes them believers : 
 Chrift receives them as given, redeemed and drawn ; 
 and thus are they faved. Chriil knows them well, 
 and therefore welcomes them. 
 
 Application, i. This truth, That Chrid 
 knows ail that are given to him, fhould feed and 
 ilrcngthen our faith, as to all the e!e(fl. Chrift knows 
 them ; therefore they fhail be faved. The apollle 
 2 Tim. ii. 18, 19. brings in this as a ground of faith, 
 even when damnable errors creep in, and overthrow 
 the failh offoms : Neverthelef, the /cundatidn of God 
 flandeth fuiey havirig this feal. The Lord knoweth them 
 that are his. The Lord-giver knows who are his, and 
 whom he gives; and the Lord-receiver knows who are 
 his; and whom he receives. The Lord knows becter 
 whoarchls, than the devil knows who are his, for many 
 mat the devil had as his, (as all natural men are, Eph. ii. 
 
Serm. HI. the Lord* s Prayer, 39 
 
 2, 3), and thought he was fure of as his, have been ref- 
 cued by the Lord. But never did the devil prevail fully 
 againft any that are Chrift's. It is a happy parentheiis 
 in Matth. xxiv, 24. when our Lord is warning of dan- 
 gerous times, by falfe chrifis, and of their great fuccefs 
 in deceiving, he faith, that they Jh all deceive (if it were 
 fojjtble) the very elect. But it is impoffible, becaufe they 
 are ele^l:. There are two cafes of the ele£l that this 
 truth fliould ftrengthen our faith in» i. As to the 
 uncalled ele£l:. Many of thetn are yet uncalled, and 
 lying in the common pit of nature ^ but they (hall be 
 called. The gofpel will be taken away from that 
 place where none fuch are. All God's pains in the 
 gofpel are taken for the elefls fakes, as Paul's pains 
 were, 2 Tim. ii. 10. The Lord encouraged Paul to 
 flay and labour in Corinth, by this argument. For k 
 have much people in this city. Acts xviii. 9, 10. Some 
 are converted already, and many more are to be con- 
 verted. 2. In cafe of bac^fliding and apodafy : a 
 fad, but no very rare cafe. Some that have givea 
 great witnefs of the truth of the grace of God in thero, 
 have, through the power of corruption, the preva- 
 lency of temptation, and the Lord's leaving of them, 
 faiieo foully, and lain long. Yet, if they be Chrifl^s, 
 his mark is 00 them, and they fhall be recovered." 
 
 2. Believers, from this truth, have ground of 
 ftrong confolation, both in praifmg and in praying : 
 Heb. vi. 17, i 8, The immutability of his counfel \s de- 
 clared, that we might have a Jlrong confolation, who 
 have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope fit before us,, 
 Have you fied for refuge to Jefus Chriil ? Do you 
 know it ? Hath the Lord revealed it to you, that you 
 have fought your only refuge in the fhadow of Chriil's 
 wings? Then how Ihould you rejoice and give thanks 
 for your ele^^ion ? Thus the apoftle did ufuaily, Eph« 
 i. g, 4. 2 Their, ii. 13. I dare not fay, that do be- 
 liever can be heartily thankful for Chrift's grace, be- 
 fore he fully and furely know its higheit fpring : but 
 I am fure that that believer praifeih bcil^ that knows 
 
40' Sermons coticern'wg Serm. III. 
 
 be(l that he was given to the Son. The receivings of 
 the glorified will be the greate.l; their praifes wi!i be 
 the highefl ; and their knowledge of eternal love as 
 the fpring of all their grace and glory, will be the 
 clears n. And as this doth raife praife, fo doth it 
 raife mighty prayer. Our Lord prays for his peo- 
 ple under this name. Thine and ininCy John xvii. 9, 
 io* David prays for himfelf, under this name, Pfal. 
 cxix. 94. / am thine, fave me. The cler.rer your 
 knowledge be of your intereft in God, and in his 
 Jove, the more mighty will your pleadings with Lira 
 be. 
 
 And fo much for the fecond point. 
 
 Ob-serv. 3. ChriJTs heart is fet en the bii/s of all 
 that the Father hath given to him» And this he ex- 
 preffcth iu this dcfire. 
 
 Oil this point, I would, i. Give fome proofs of 
 this truth. 2. Show whence this heart-concern for 
 their blifs dorh flow. 
 
 L Proofs of this truth. That Ch'ifTs heart is fet en 
 the blifs and eternal falvation of his people, are thelefive. 
 
 I. Chrift's covenanting for them proves this. In 
 that day (if a day may be talked of in eternity ; but 
 we arc time-creauires, and have no fit words for e- 
 terniiy) when thi^ MefTed company were given by the 
 Father to the Son, the ^oa did undertake to do ail 
 things ncediul to be done, to bring them to eternal 
 glory. He undertook and promi fed to take on him 
 their natures ; and in tliat nature to bear their fins ; 
 and, by the facrifice of chat nature for their fins, to 
 make an expiation of their fins. In a word, he pro- 
 niifed to do all he was required to do, and he did all 
 he promifed to the Father,, for the falvation of his 
 people. Whenever We look to this treaty, we muft 
 gather, Surely rhe Son of God had a great mind to 
 the happinefs of his people. 
 
 2. Chrifl's 
 
Se RM. in. the Lord's Prayer. 44 
 
 2. Chrifl's chearful laying down his life for their 
 redemption, proves how his heart was (cz on their 
 faivation. It was his errand in coming into the world t 
 John X. ro. / am come that they might have life^ and 
 that they might have it more abundantly. Believers 
 get a greater, higher, and more noble life by the 
 fecond Adam, than they loft by the firll Adaai. Ibis 
 is the meaning of that much more twice mentioned by 
 the apoftle when comparing thefe two heads, Rom. v, 
 
 15. 17. But how doth Chrift give, and his people 
 receive this life ? Even by his death. He laid down 
 his life for his fheep^ John x. 11. 15, Therefore his 
 Father loved himy ver. 17. And thereby he proved 
 his love to the faivation of his people, John xv. 13. 
 
 3. He proves his love to their faivation, by his feal- 
 ing and confirming the covenant, the charter of their 
 faivation, with his own blood. Compare Gal iii. 15, 
 
 16, 17. with Keb. ix. 15, 16, 17. It is called the 
 blood of the ever I a fling covenant^ Heb. xiii. 20. Chrift^s 
 blood was not only redeeming and purcbaP.ng blood, 
 a juft and full price both for the heirs and for the in- 
 heritance ; but it was fealing blood, and confirming of 
 that covenant, in and by which the inheritance was fe- 
 cnred to the heirs, and the heirs fecured for the inhe- 
 ritance. Alas! many have the Bible, and ufeit but lit- 
 tle ; and many ufe it amifs, becaufe they know not its 
 right name. It is well and warrantably, from its con- 
 tents, called, in its liile-page, in all languages and tranf- 
 lations, The Old and Nezv Te/Iament of our Lord and 
 Saviour Jefus Chrijh Biu how few, in reading this 
 title, mind the ufe a:id virtue of the blood of Jefu;?, 
 which turned the covenant of God's grace into the 
 leilarnent of Chrift, and thereby fealed and confirmed 
 all the good words and good things in that covenant I 
 It was a happy word we find in the Book of martyrs^ 
 that fome in the dawning of the light of the gofpel 
 in this land, near two hnndied years ago, ufed, in 
 calling the New Teftament (a great rarity in thofe 
 daye) The.blcod of Chrifl, You never rightly read 
 
 tlie 
 
^2 Sermons concerning Serm. IIL 
 
 the gofpel, nor do you underftand the defign of it, 
 nor rightly believe one promife in it, till in heart you 
 can fay, " This gofpel is the only charter of my fal- 
 *' vation, fealed with the blood of ray only Saviour." 
 If any be for another Saviour than Chrift, and for 
 another fecurity and charter for falvation than his 
 thus fealed teftament, on their eternal peril be it. 
 Let them try, and perifh. For, as God is true, pe- 
 ri{h they ftiall, even all that take that courfe, Acts 
 iv. 12. 
 
 4. Chrift proves his love to his people's falvation 
 by his intercefTion for them. Of which this chapter 
 is a great inftance. And whereof we have fo much 
 fpoke in Rom. viii. 54. Heb. vii. 25. and ix. 24. and 
 I John ii. I. This is his bufmefsin heaven. By this 
 he prepares their place for them^ John xiv. 2, 3.; and 
 on it aflfures them of their poffefiing of it. 
 
 5. Chrift gives his Spirit to his people, to prove 
 kis concern about their falvation. And we may al- 
 lude to Ifa. V. 4. What could have been done ?nore? 
 He covenanted with the Father from eternity about 
 their falvation. He bought it for them, and them 
 for it, in the fulnefs of time. The day of Chrift's 
 redeeming his people, was the flower of time, the 
 greatefh and nobleft thing done flnce God fet the 
 clock of time a going ; for his glorious return is to 
 be at the end of time. He turned the covenant of 
 their falvation into a teflament by his blood ; and did 
 in that teftament leave all the grace and glory bought 
 by his blood as a legacy to his people. He, when 
 he had done this, went to heaven with his blood, 
 Heb. ix. 12. that it inight fpeak before God, Heb. 
 xii. 24. for all bleflings to his people. And till they 
 get full poflTclfion of glory, he gives to them his Spi- 
 rit. All that arc his have his Spirit, as furely as it 
 is, that if any man have not the Spirit of Chrijl^ he is 
 rone of his * Rom. viii. 9. 15. Gal. iv. 6. This gift 
 of the Spirit is a marvellous gift. None can know i% 
 but they that receive it : John xiv. i;* Jbe Spirit 
 
 of 
 
Serm. IIL the Lord's Prayer, 4^ 
 
 of truths whom the ivcrld cannot receive, hecaufe it feet h 
 him not, neither knozveth him : but ye know him ; foT 
 he dwelleth with you ^ and fh all he on you, i John iv. 
 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him^ and he in 
 usy hecaufe he hath given us of his Spirit. This gift 
 is always given in mere love and grace, and is a fure 
 proof of Gpd's fpecial love. This gift of the Spirit 
 is an earned: of heaven, 2 Cor. i. 22. God hathfeaU 
 ed uSf and given the earnefi of the Spirit in our hearts ; 
 and 2 Cor. v. 5. And Eph. i. 13, 14. he is called 
 that Holy Spirit of promife^ which is the earneft of our 
 inheritance, until the redemption of the piirchafed pofjef^ 
 fion, unto the praife of his glory. He is called //;^^ry/- 
 fruits of the Spirit^ Rom. viii. 23. This gift is an en- 
 riching gift. How great things doth he in and oa 
 the man ! How much good doth he bring along with 
 himfelf! He reveals Chrift to the fonl, John xvi. 14, 
 15. ; draws the foul toChrifl, unites hitii with Chrift; 
 dwells in the believer, and/^j/j him to the day of re- 
 demption, Eph. iv. 30. ; comforts him till that daf 
 comes. Hence called the Comforter by our Lord, 
 John xiv. 16, 26. KV, 26. and xvi. 7. Yet for all the 
 richnefs of this gift of the Spirit, this you raud know, 
 that as foon as a man receives this gift, he fees and 
 finds himfelf to be a poor, empty, and needy creature. 
 When this eye-falve of Chrift anoints a man's eye?, 
 then he feeth what he did not before ; that he is 
 "wr etched f and miferahle^ and poor ^ and blind ^ and na- 
 ked^ Rev. iii. 17, 18. Therefore is the Spirit of 
 Chrift ia believers a Spirit of grace and of fupplication, 
 Zech. xiii. 10.; a Spirit of adoption^ c^y'^^gj Abba^ 
 Father, Rom. viii. 15. and Gal. iv. 6. 11 no man can 
 fay, that Jefus is the Lord, hut by the Holy Ghofl, i 
 Cor. xii. 3. ; furely no man can call the God and Fa- 
 ther of our Lord Jefus Chrift, Abba Father, but by 
 the Holy Ghoft. The firft word of the new creature 
 is Abba. But many believers live long ere they cao 
 fay Abba confidently. They do not confider du- 
 ly, that as this relation is granted by the Lord ; fo it 
 Vol. IL G (hould 
 
44 Sermons concerning Serm. Ill 
 
 fhould be pleaded by believers, without any regard 
 to Worth in us, tut only to his own free grace and 
 love in Jefus Chrift. The Spirit of Chrill: in be!iev- 
 ers is a Spirit of prayer, a Spirit of begging in a child 
 at its be.ivenly Father's door. The believer finds 
 manifold daily wanes; he know? cone can relieve and 
 fupply his wants, but his God by Jefus Cbrift^ Phil. 
 iv. 19. He haih an inflin(fl, and fomc ability by the 
 Spirit to beg and wait. The operation of the Spirit 
 in believers, the communion of the Holy Ghofl, is a 
 great myflery. He works more on them, than they 
 feel and know ; and they feel mere than they can 
 exprefs in words ; and ihey exprefs more, than any 
 that have not received the fame Spirit of faith (2 Cor. 
 iv. 13.) can underftand. But this we know, that 
 vvhcnfoever the Spirit of Chriil applies his «race and 
 power to the heart of a finner, there is fomething 
 wrought that day, that (hall laff to eternity. There 
 is, by that finger of God, that imprtlTion made upon 
 the foul, and that mark left upon it, that (liall never 
 wear out, and that fin and Satan (hall never be able 
 to blot out again ; but it (liall remain, and grow, and 
 be feen at the coming of Chrill: at the lalt day, 
 Phil. i. 6. 
 
 II. Why is ChrifTs heart fofet upm his people^ s glory 
 m heaven f* 
 
 I. Becaufe of his near intered in them. His in- 
 terefl in his church and people, is greater and clofer 
 than we can conceive. The Holy Ghofi ufeth many 
 fimilitudes ro help our thoughts. Of them I would 
 Bame only two of the plainell and mofl common. One 
 is, of Chrift'ii being the head, and the church his 
 body and members ; Eph. i. 22, 23. iv. 15, 16. and 
 Col. ii. 19. Another is, the marridge-union of man 
 and wife; and efpccially of the firlt married couple, 
 Adam and Eve, our tirfl: parents, Eph. v. 25. — 32, 
 And you may well think, that it was a fit match. 
 \Vhen the firil roan was made, God took a part of 
 
 this 
 
Serm. 111. the - Lord's Prayer. 45. 
 
 this man's body, and made of it a woman to be a 
 wife to him. So is the church, Chrifl's bride, taken 
 out of Chrift's fide ; not la a fieep, (as it was with the 
 firft Adam, Gen. ii. 2 i, 22.) but tri and by his death. 
 As Eve was made a mod excellent woman, both for 
 endowments of body and mind ; fo ^dam in innocency 
 did doubtlefs love her peife(ftly. She was of him, 
 from him, for hi.m, and made to be wi:h him. All 
 this is but a iliadow -of the church, ChriIVs bride. 
 The firft Adam's love to his rare wife, was nothing 
 to Chrilt's love to his bride. Yea, Chrifl is not only 
 the head of the body, and the husband thereof, but 
 Chrift is to the church, as our fouls are to our bodies, 
 1 Cor. vi. 17. All the life, power, and ability of 
 our bodies, naturally flows from the foul dwelling in 
 it. If the foul be never fo happy, (as thefpirits of 
 juji men made per fed, are, Heb. xii. 23.), yet it hath 
 a happy longing in its glorified (late for its re-union 
 with the body. So Chnfl, the quickening 8puity (as 
 Paul calls him, i Cor. xv. 45 ), hath a great happy 
 defire of having his gioriiied body with him where 
 he is. 
 
 2. ChriPt is much concerned about glory to his peo* 
 pie, becaufe of his engagements for and to his people, • 
 There is a treble engagement of Chrift that he lietb 
 under for bringing his people to heaven, i. The 
 command of his Father, >joha vi. 38, 39, 40. And 
 this commandment is eternal life ; and this Chrift knew, 
 and revealed it, John xii. 49, 50. 2, His promife to 
 his Father in the everlafting covenant. '^. Mis pro- 
 mife to us in the gofpel, i Job ii. 25. He hath en- 
 gaged 10 his Father, that none that are given to hi in 
 fhall ever perifti ; and he hath promifed often and 
 plainly to us in the gofpel, that none that believe oa 
 him ftiall ever be alliamed. And wofully would a 
 believer in Chrift: be aftiaraed, if he came ftiort of 
 heaven. 
 
 3. The greatnefs of Chrift's love to his people, 
 makes him fo much concerned about their compleat 
 
 G 2 falvation. 
 
A 6 Sermons cotjcerning S E r m . III. 
 
 falvation. ChriR's love is lb great, that it pafleth 
 knowledge ; aad feme ChrKUans love to Chnft is fo 
 Weak, that it is hardly feen and felt by them. It is 
 rot every one that can give Peter's anfwer unro 
 Chrift's queftioLi, John xxi. 15, 16, 17. Lord thou 
 hiQweJI ail things^ thou knotvefl that I love thee. Now, 
 \vc know concerning love, that it natively lieth in 
 wilhing well to the beloved. Doth Chrilt love his 
 people ? How can he but wifli them well ? And how 
 can he wi(h them better, than to be with him where 
 be is P 
 
 Application, i. Is Jefus Chrid {0 much 
 concerned for the glory and bleflednefs of his people P 
 Then fee how fweetly we come to heaven. It is by 
 Chrifl's bkffed will; lys blood paying the price, and 
 giving us the right and tiile to glory ; and his heart 
 and good- will giving poireffion of it. Thus are we 
 faved, both furely and fweetly. 
 
 2. How firmly {hould we believe en Jefus Chrifl, 
 and trail him for falvaticn ? It is no fmall reproach 
 to him, that is fo often done by that unbelief and 
 doubting that is fo ufual to fome Chriilians. Chrid 
 minds our fj^lvation heartily, and we believe feebly; 
 he faying', / will have them w'thme where I a?n ; and 
 we often fayiiig, hord^ thou wilt not bring me where 
 thou art. Is it not fmful in us, and diilioncurable to 
 Cbrift, for us to be faying, ^hou wi!t noty when he is 
 faying, I will f We (hould trud our falvaiion on Je- 
 fus Chriil, not only as on him that only can fave, and 
 that is able to fave perfc(^ly ; but as on him that hath 
 more good-will to fave, than we can have wiilingnefs 
 TO be faved by him. None had ever been faved by 
 him, none had ever been brouf^ht to heaven, unlefs 
 Chrid had had more wiilingnefs to bring them thither, 
 than they had to be led thither by him. He mujl in 
 all things have the 'pre-eminence^ Col. i. 18. and in 
 this efpecia!!y. Unbelief is in all doubrings of Chrift's 
 good- will to fave. Whatever may be (aid of the le- 
 per's 
 
Serm. III. the Lord's Frayer, ^f 
 
 .per's faitb, in Matth, viii. 2. Lord^ if tbou wilf^ tbcu 
 canjl make me clean ; no perifliing finner can be quite 
 excufed, that (hall p!?t an ?/on Chrift's willingnefs to 
 fave one that employs him in hisofHce of faving, where- 
 in his glory is fo concerned, and his heart fo deeply en- 
 gaged. We (hould give him the glory that is duQ to 
 him; to believe that the willingnefs co fave is greater in 
 the Saviour, than wiliint^nefs to be faved is in the Tinner. 
 For ChriiVs good-will to fave, is the caufe of any de- 
 lire of falvation in any: Pfalm ex. 3. Thy people Jhall 
 be willing in the day of thy power. When he hath 
 a mind to fave, he doth work this wiliingnefs in men 
 to be faved by him ; and they will own it to proceed 
 from his wiliingnefs, when they become ftrong belie- 
 vers ; and will fee it and know it perfefliy^ when 
 they get full falvaiion. 
 
 3. How ftrongly Oiould believers love the Lord 
 Jefas Chrifl ? is his heart fo fet on thy heaven ? How 
 filled with love to him ought thy heart to be P Woe 
 to them that love him not, i Cor. xvi. 22. And ia 
 CO better cafe are they that think they love him e- 
 nough , and fuch as love any thing as well, and that 
 hate not all things in comparifon with him, Luke xiv* 
 26. To love Chrift as thou dod thy life, will not be 
 enough. It is higher and greater love that Chrill doth 
 deferve and require, and will only accept. 
 
 4. How patiently and quietly ihould we fubmit to 
 Chrifl's conduft and guiding us in the way to heaven? 
 Is his heart fet on bringing you thither ? Let him 
 guide you in the way as he pleafeth. Doth be fay 
 peremptorily, / will have them with me where I am f 
 Let him guide you as he will, while you are in the 
 world. When a believer is faristled by faith, that 
 Chrifl wills glory to him in the end, he will find it 
 eafy to fubpiit to Chrift's conducft; by the way. He 
 may indeed, in fome trials of his faith, be put to fay, 
 ^' This is a dark path 1 am led to walk in :" but faith 
 will fay, " Bat 1 am in Chrifl's hand ; this is his way 
 " of leading me \ every (tep that Chrifl: leads the be- 
 
 ** licYIOiJ 
 
^3 SerJUDiis concerning Ssrm. IV. 
 
 "*' lieving traveller in, rnuft lead to heaven." He 
 bed knows the way ; and the wifdom of the Chrilti- 
 an licih in following Chrift whitherfoever he goeth, 
 and leadcth hiin. Though thou feed not heaven, the 
 end ; though ihou knowefl: not the path he leads thee 
 in ; though the path, to thy (tiiio.^ looks lilcer the 
 way to hell, than to heaven : yet if Chrifl leadeth 
 thee, and if thcu be in his hand, it is impollible, but 
 that Chrill thy guide will bring thee to heaven, as 
 ihy home. 
 
 SERMON IV. 
 
 John xvil. 24. 
 
 Father, I will that they aljo whom thou hafl given mc, 
 be with me where / am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which thou hafl given ?ne : for thou lovedfl me 
 before the foundation of the world* 
 
 Tli I S chapter contains the bed part of the gof- 
 pel. IF the g^ ''pel be good news from heaven, 
 (as furely it is), the heft part of thofe good news is 
 what the Saviour fends up to heaven in this prayer. 
 And what he fends up in this prayer, he brought 
 down from heaven, from his Father, John vi. j8. I 
 have made fome entrauce on this vcrfe 24. the fleet- 
 ed oF this prayer, if comparifon may be made, where 
 every word is mod fweet and cxcellenr. I have 
 fpoke unto the manner of Chrid's praying, / 'z^///. 
 '1 he manner is finpular, and the matter mod excel- 
 lent. The manner of Chrid's praying here, is more 
 like a commander, than a fupplicant. What fpe- 
 cialties there were in the perfon that noade ir, and in 
 
 tV.e 
 
Serm. IV. the hordes Frayer. 49 
 
 the feafon that drew forth this high word, you have 
 heard. 
 
 The matter of Chrift's prayer in this verfe, I took 
 up in four ; and have fpoke to the firfl: of them, to 
 wit, the defcription of the party he prayeth for. Iq 
 this chapter, our Lord not only defcribeth them he 
 prayed for, but exprelly denieth that he prayed for 
 any befides them, ver. 9, 10. I pray for them : I fray 
 not for the worlds but for them %vhich thcu hafl given 
 me^ for they are thine. And all mine are thine^ and 
 thine are mine^ and I am glorified in them. From this 
 defcription of them Chrift prayed for in this yerfe, 
 and in other parts of this chapter, I have fpoke unto 
 thefe three points, i. That there is a feleu^ determi- 
 nate company of men, that were given by the Father 
 to the Son, to be redeemed and faved by hira. 2. 
 That this company was particularly and exaflly known 
 by Jefus Chriff. 3. That Chriil's heart was fixed and 
 refolved on the eternal falvaiion of all them that were 
 given to him. And here he expreifeth it highly, ia 
 this / will. 
 
 The fecond thing in the matter of Chrift's prayer, 
 followeth to be fpoke unto ; and that is, the hlejfmg 
 he prayeth for unto them. It is, that they may he with 
 me where 1 am. There are three things here, that 
 1 would firft take notice of and explain ; and thea 
 fpeak to the words themfelves ; and give you from 
 them, the do^lrines which I intend to infui more large- 
 ly upon, 
 
 1. The firft thing I take notice of, is this alfo^ and 
 what is its fignification. 2, What is this to he with 
 Chrif}^ as diftin<Sl from other fcripmre-words about 
 Chrift and his people. 3. What it is to be with Chrifl 
 where he is, 
 
 I. Concerning this word alp. It doth not in the 
 leafl: hint, that there are j^ny that he defires may be 
 with him where he is, befides ihofe that were givea 
 hira : but \i is only his prayiag for another, and great- 
 
'^o Sermons concerning Serm. IV. 
 
 er bleffing, to them that were given to him. Our 
 Lord had prayed for many and great things for them 
 before in this chapter and prayer. He had prayed 
 Lis Father to keep thcm^ lofandify thtfii, and to ?Jiah 
 than all one in the Father and in the Son. '' Bui 
 *' (would our Lord fay) there is fomething more than 
 " all this I would have for ihem ;" I would have them 
 to be ivith me where I am. Hence 
 
 Obferv. Nothing flort of, nothing lefs than heaven^ 
 and eternal glory in it^ doth Jlint and limit ChrijTs heart 
 and prayers for his people. For all he hath done for 
 them, for all he hath given to them, (and there is a 
 great deal of both), there is fiill this alfo in his heart 
 ibr them. / ^uill that they alfo may be with me where 
 I anu " I will not only go where they are, but 1 will 
 *' alfo have them where 1 am." Nothing lefs than 
 ** everlafting bleffednefs to hh people, doth limit 
 *' Chrlfl's will and prayers for them. He prays for 
 every thing to them, and for this alfo. When the 
 apoftle is fpeaking to believers in Heb vi. 4,— -9. he 
 gives a very gracious infmuation, after a mod fearful 
 alarm. When he had fpoke fome of the mod terri- 
 "ble words in the fcripture, upon a fuppofition of aa 
 Titter apoflafy from Chriftianity, after great attain- 
 ments : \{ fuch as have been enlightened.. Sec. do fall 
 nway^ their cafe is defperate ; they are foil that bring 
 forth nothing but briers and thorns ^ are fie/ir unto curf- 
 ing^ and their end is to be burned. But^ beloved, (faith 
 he, ver. 9.), we are per/uaded better things of you, and 
 ihin(rs that accompany fa hat ion ^ thziigh we thus f peak. 
 All the grace that Chrift giveth, all the grace that 
 believers receive and a<fl iu this life, are but things 
 that accompany falvation, that do pertain unto the ilatc 
 of falvation, and prepare for the full enjoyment of 
 falvation in heaven. 
 
 There are feveral forts of gifts -that Chrid gives, 
 and believers receive, in this life, that pertain to fal- 
 vation. As, 
 
 X. Their 
 
Serm. IV. the Lord's Prayer, 5C 
 
 1. Their right and title to heaven. And that is 
 Chrift himfelf pciTefTed by iaith ; dwelling in their 
 hearts by faith, Eph. iii. 17. ; Cbrij^ in them the hope 
 of glory. Col. i. 27. That day that Chrilt entered. 
 into their hearts, the hope of glory began to dawn. 
 And the deeper he enter into the heart of any, the 
 greater is the hope, fo as to make the believer rejoice 
 in hope of the glory of God ^ Rom. v. 2. 
 
 2. The Lord giveth alfo m^^etnefs for heaven; and 
 thai is wrought by his Spirit and grace on his peo- 
 ple : Goi. i. 12. Giving thanks unto the Father ^ which 
 hath made us meet to be tnade partakers of the inherit 
 tance of the faints in light. This meetnels for partak- 
 ing is infeparabie from a right and title to glory ; at 
 lead fo far, that no believer can have a comfortable 
 view of his right, without fome experience of his 
 meetnefs for enjoying the inheritance. This fame 
 apoftie faith to this fame purpofe in 2 Cor. v. 5. AW 
 he that hath wrought us for the f elf fame thing, is God ; 
 who hath alfo given unto us the earneft of the Spirit, 
 He hath been at great pains on us, and hath ufed 
 many means and methods with us. And what hath 
 all this been for? It hath only been the Lord's gra- 
 cious and wife v/ay of polilhiog and framing us for 
 heaven. 
 
 3. There is the earneft of the inheritance that ChriO: 
 gives, and Chriftians receive fometimes, Eph. i. 13,' 
 14. This pertains to glory nearly. It is like the 
 
 frft-fruits of that good land^ frequently fpoke of in 
 the word; and might be more often tailed by belie- 
 vers, were it n*ot for their lazinefs and unbelief whea 
 they want it ; and their bad guiding ot it, when ac 
 any time they enpy a little of it. 
 
 Application. Imitate onr Lord Jefus Chriil 
 in your praying for yourfelves. Imitate him, 
 
 I. In all your afkings. There are fome fpi ritual 
 bleffiugs that believers are very defirous of. Confci- 
 cnce terrifies you, and then you cry, O for the fprink- 
 
 VoL. li. H ling 
 
^z s - Sermms concerning Serm. IV, 
 
 liog of ihe blood of Jefus, and for peace with God 
 thereby, and peace withiu ! O for viflory over fin, 
 and for firen2;th to walk worthy of the Lord unco all 
 pleafing ! All goovi prayers. But if all this were 
 granted you, rer.3ember to pray on this alfo for glory. 
 Beg pardon and heaven alja^ holinef. and heaven alfo, 
 Aik any good thing which you want, and which he 
 ha-h prcraifed. A(k every thing, and heaven alfo. 
 Let your prayers for yourfeives be as large as Chriit's 
 are for you. 
 
 2. Remember \h\^alfo in all your receiving?, as well 
 as in your afking3. His fulnefs is inlioiie, his bounty 
 is great ; but his people are but narrow vcfTels, and 
 c-innot receive much : and are leaky veileis, and 
 cannot keep long v;hat they receive. Is he kind, 
 large- he artetl, and open-handed to you P (is no be- 
 liever dare deny). Blef> him, and beg heaven alfo. 
 Jacob was a meek, lowly, humble man, and faith. 
 Gen. xxxii. lo, / afn not worthy cf the leaf, (or, / am 
 If 5 than the leaf) of all the fnercies^ and cf all the 
 truth which thou haft f reived unto thy frvant. This 
 man looks on the lead mercy as a great mountain, and 
 on himfelf as a little mole-hill. You would think, 
 furely this humble man will not (land with God for 
 any thing ; yet he- will weep and make f up flic ation^ as 
 in Hof. xii. 3, 4. and wreflle all night, and fay, (doubt- 
 lefs with his eyes full of tears, and his heart full of 
 faith and love), / will not let thee go ^ except thou hlefs 
 me. Receive all his grace and bounty with all the 
 fcnfe you can reach, of your own unworthinefs ; yet 
 flill remember this alfo. Be not fatisiied fo as not to 
 delire eternal glory. Make ufe of all experiences cf 
 his grace to you, to quicken both vour defire and your 
 faJiii of eternal life. Let that wejl of water in you^ 
 which Chriii's grace hath made in you, fprir.g up into 
 iverlafing iijcy John iv. 14, 
 
 II. The lecond word that is next to be explained, 
 is, with me : J will that they be %vith me. It may be 
 fome of them were with Chrid when he prayed 
 
 thui ; 
 
Serm. IV. the LorSs Prayer, ^l 
 
 thus ; it may be all ibe eleven apodles were there* 
 But their being with Ghrift in the garden, was but a 
 fmall matter. Chriil wiis then at his loweft; then 
 was the cloud thickefi, ard the eciipfa darkeft on the 
 Son oF God. It is another, and better phce and 
 cafe, that Chrift prays to have ihem 'whb him in, than 
 
 this. 
 
 There are three words concerning Chrift and his 
 people, in the fcripiure, that are very good and gra- 
 gIous ; but this in the text is beyond them all. 
 
 1. We find, that his people are (aid to be in him^ 
 I John V. 20. and 2 Cor. v. 17. 
 
 2. Another word is, that Chrid is faid to be in his 
 people, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. We are in Chrift by faith ; and 
 Chrift dwells in our hearts by faiih, Eph. iii. 17. So 
 
 John xvii, 2^ 
 
 3. And Chrifl is faid to be with his people. This 
 was amongd the laft words of Chiift, when going to 
 beaver?, Mattb. xxvlii. 20. And lo, I am with you aU 
 wayy even unto the end oj the^world, '' Though ye 
 *« Ihall never fe^e n>y iace any more, till I bring you 
 *« to heaven, yet I am with you always." But this 
 « word of being with Chrift, is above all tbofe three, 
 for as great as they are. This is far better^ Phil. i. 23. 
 
 IIL The third word to be explained in the text is, 
 where I am : Ihat they may be with me where I am. 
 Where was Chrifl when he faid thefe words ? He 
 was either in the garden, or going to it.^ For what ii* 
 in thefe four chapters, xlv, xv, xvi, xvii. was, in all 
 appearance, fpokeu by our Lord, partly at his lafi; 
 fupper, partly immediately after it ; as may be ga- 
 thered from John xiv. 31. Ari/e, let us go hence, Chrid 
 was on the earth when he faid this ; but furely he 
 meant heaven in this word, where I am. He was jufl 
 upon leaving the world, and on going to heaven ;^ as 
 he fpeaks, John xvi. 2B. I came forth from the Father^ 
 and am come into the zvorld : again^ I leave the worlds 
 and go to the Father. And John xvii. 11, 12. he 
 fpeaks as if ivo more in the world : And now I am n9 
 
 Xi 2 ^-^^^ 
 
54 Sermons concerfimg Serm. IV. 
 
 more in the '■juGrld, hut thefe are in the world. While 
 J TO as with them in the wcrld^ I kept them in thy name. 
 So like is this blelTed prayer to the iritcrceflion cf our 
 great High Pried in heaven. Now let us confider 
 how far this blefling of being with Chrijl where he 
 is, is above and beyond all he had done for, and faid 
 before to his people ; and yet they were very confi- 
 derable. 
 
 1. Our Lord Jefus Chrifl was reade what his peo- 
 ple are. He was made all that we are, except fiii. 
 There was no difference betwixt Chrifl and another 
 nian, as he came into the world, but only in this, (and 
 ir' was his glory, and our falvarion), that he was fin- 
 lefs. But all his people d^i^fiapen in iniquity ^ and in 
 
 fin did their mother conceive them^ Pfalm li. 5. Are 
 
 I he children partakers of flejh and blood? He alfo htm- 
 
 feif likew'fe took part of the fame. He took on him the 
 
 feed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved 
 
 him to be made like unto his brethren^ Hebrews ii. 14, 
 
 i5, 17. 
 
 2. Jefus Chrid was not only made what his people 
 were, but he canrie where ihcy are. He came into 
 the world, their dwelling-place, and came down from 
 heaven into the earth, John vi. 58. Never did aiiy 
 perfon c6ine down from heaven but Jefus Chriil. 
 Neither could he come down from heaven, if he had 
 not been God ; for that body he took to himfelf, was 
 formed in the lowejl parts oj the ea^th^ Pfal. cxxxix. 1 5. 
 (as well as the body of other men), though in a fingu- 
 lar manner. What marvellous grace and love was 
 here, that the eternal Son of God would not only 
 rake on him his peoples nature, but would come and 
 dwell where they dwelr, and that with delight? See 
 Prov. viii. 30, 31. Then I was by him, as one brought 
 vp with him ; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing 
 always before him, as the Son with the Faiher. It is 
 very like to thar in John i. 1,2. In the beginning was 
 the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word 
 was Cod. Jhe fame was in the beginning with God. 
 
 Vcr. 
 
Serm. IV. the Lord's Frayer, 55 
 
 Ver. 14. And the Word was inadejlcPv^ and dwelt a- 
 viong us. But fee farther what is iaid, Prov. viii. 31. 
 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earthy and ?ny de* 
 lights were with the fins of men. When was this ? 
 From everlaCting^ or ever the earth was^ ver. 23. While 
 as yet he had not made the earthy ver. 26. How mar- 
 vellous is this expreffioo, that God's Son, the eternal 
 Wifdom of the Father, did eternally rejoice in the 
 habitable fart of the earthy when there was no earth \ 
 and that his delights were with thefom of men^ when 
 there was no man, nor fon of man, in the earth ? But 
 the habitable fart of the earthy though not yet made, 
 was the place he was to come into, for redeeming his 
 people. And as he delighted in it from eternity, he 
 came triumphantly into it, ia the fulnefs of time: Heb. 
 X. 7. Lo^ I come (in the volume of the book it is writ- 
 ten of me) to do thy will, God. He alfo loved the 
 ground his bride was to tread on, the earth where they 
 were to live in, and where ia time he was to court 
 the heart and win the love of his people. 
 
 3. Our Lord went where his people deferved to 
 go. There is a good fenfe of that harih-like word. 
 He defended into hell. It is a popiih fable, to imagine, 
 that Chrift, after he died, went down into the place of 
 the damned, either to fufFer, or to do any thing there. 
 His humiliation was accompliihed in his dying, and 
 lying in the grave for a time. But if we take it ia 
 this fenfe, that that (Iroke of divine juftice that his 
 people by fm had deferved, Chi lit did feel and bear; 
 this is the ufual voice of the golpel. The fword of 
 juftice was roufed, furbiihed, and drav;n againfl Jefus 
 Chrifl, and his foul pierced thereby, Z^ch. xiii. 7, 
 He was apprehended, accufed, arraigned, condem- 
 ned, and executed, moil unjuflly and wickedly by men, 
 but mod rightcoufly by God. Mens putting of Chrill 
 to death, was the mod unjuft and wicked d.^ that ever 
 was done in the world. But the Lord Jehovah's part 
 in it, was mod jafl and righteous. If you have earj 
 to hear it, this is a fare irurh5 Never did a damned 
 
56 Sermons concerning Serm. IV. 
 
 iinner dcferrc hell more jaftly, nor wa?, or dull be 
 isciC into it mors righteoufly, than the fporlefs Lamb 
 of God deferved the ftroke of divine jadice for the 
 fins of his people laid upon him. Ic was indeed infi- 
 nite grace and love in the Father, to riibflitute his 
 only begotten Sou to be the S^vionr oFfinners, i John 
 iv. 9, lo. k was infinite grace in our Lord Jefus 
 ChriU, to conuefcend to be the facritlce for fin- 
 fiers^ 2 Cor. viii. 9* But when both are done, jnflicc 
 was. ijlorilied in the execution of this facriSce, Rom. 
 iii. 25, 26. 
 
 4. Our Lord alfo went Vvhither he had a mind to 
 bring us ; and that is, to heaven. And yet all this is 
 ihori ot being with him where he is. On this, confi- 
 der, 1. How he went, and left his people: Luke 
 xxiv. 50, 51. And he led thein out as far as to Bethany ; 
 and he lift up his hands y and Llejjed them. And it 
 came to pafs, while he blejjed them^ he was parted from 
 ihen\ and earned up into heaven, A bleffed way of 
 going hence. Our bleffed Lord came into the world, 
 . as the greateft bleiling that ever it got. He bleffed 
 Lis piople whde he was with them, and bleifed them 
 at parting, and wiil return again to blefs them more. 
 The la;! ufe cur Lord made of his lips on earth 
 {viio which grace was poured, Pfalm xlv. 2.), the lafl 
 life he made ol his holy hands, was ro blefs his peo- 
 ])le ; and the force and virtue of tliat blefiing remains 
 10 this day, and will unril his return. He went awiy 
 blcffiiT:^, and will come again blcfTing. He afcended 
 with afhcut^ Pfahn xlvii, 5.; and htffjall h:mfe!f de- 
 fcend from heaven with a fijouty i The IT. iv. \(:, 2. 
 Conlider what h^ w^n: ro heaven for. It was to pof- 
 Icf; lieiveo' for us, as the forerunner^ Heb. vi. 20.; to 
 prepare a place for us^ John xiv. 2, 5.; to make inter- 
 ceffion for its^ Heb. ix. 24.; to mind our concerns 
 While we are here, and to welcome us to heaven when 
 he calls us hence. You may think, that it is far more 
 comlbrLubie for believers now to die, having Chrifl 
 
 in 
 
Serm. IV. the Lor as Prayer, 57 
 
 in heaven before their, than it v;as for believers to die 
 before he came into the world, as iBany did ; or to 
 die, and leave Chrift in the world, as it may be foins 
 did : though his faving grace is the fame ii^ ail the 
 flates he was in. But now we die to he w'lih khn^ 
 Phil. i. 2g. to he where he is^ John xiv. 2, :>. 
 
 5. Chrift is with his people even while rhey a?e 
 here in the world. This is alfo a great bkffing, bat 
 (hort of this being with him where he is, lb ere ara 
 two feafons when this prefence of Chrift with his peo- 
 ple is knowr. i. When they are at their beiL 
 When is a Chriflian at his beif ? Every one can ao^ 
 fwer. It is when moll of Chriirs prefence is entGved. 
 2. When is he at his woril ? When in great aiiii^Hoiv^ 
 Ifa. KJiii. 3. Paal found this prefence : 2 Tim. iv. 16, 
 1 7. At my firfl anfwer no man ft 00 d with me, but all 
 menjorfook me. He had never a friend then and there, 
 ^Lt Jefus Chrift. NotwithjIandi?ig the Lord flood 
 with 7iit, and jlrengthened vie^ When a believer is 
 greatly tempted, then is he ia a bad condition. Fetev 
 was wained both of bis danger and relief, Luke ?;xn» 
 31, 32. Paul had this exercife, 2 Cor. xfii. 7, 8, 9. 
 and relief under it ; and iKakes this ufe of it, Moft 
 gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities ^ 
 that the power of Chrift may rejt upon me. As if he 
 had faid, '* I have got a troublcforne vifit horn the 
 *' devil ; but it hath been the occafioa of a gracious 
 *' vifit from Chrift, And if the one come firft, and 
 ** the other follow, the iirft is to be patiently borne, 
 " and the other 10 be thankfully received." There 
 is alfo a prefence of Chrift with his people, even m 
 their ftuinblings. Though he be difj^leafed wi:h 
 them for their falling, yet he harh a doiib'e care a- 
 bout them. One is, that they may not fall utterly : 
 Pfal. XXX vii. 24. Though he fall^ he fjull not be utterly 
 laj^ down ; for the Lord upboldelh him zuitb his hand," 
 Another care of Chrift about his ftumbling children, 
 is, to take them up again. Laftiy, ChriiVs peooJe 
 have his prefence with ihtra in dying. And it is a 
 
 ,preciot^> 
 
53 Sermons comcrmr!^ Serm. IV. 
 
 precious and needful blefling. Will Chrift withdraw 
 his gracious help and prefence from his people, when 
 it is fo very needful ? Paul calls dyin^ a fweet name, 
 1 ThefT, iv. 14. Jleeping in Jcfus. It is a dark place, 
 and a cold pillow, that this fleep is taken en. But it 
 is the fweetcfl: lleep that ever the believer cook. The 
 body is freed from all pain and trouble, and will be 
 fweetly awakened at the lad day. And till then the 
 Spirit is not only with him that gave it, Ecci. xii. 7, 
 but with him that redeemed it, Pfal. xxxi. 5. 
 
 But now what C'hrill prays for here, is far beyond 
 all ihofe. He was made what we are ; came where 
 we were ; fuffered what we deferved ; went to hea- 
 ven for us ; gives his prefence with us here, in life 
 and death. But more than all is this, / will have 
 them zvhsre I am. 
 
 There are two points of doftriae that I would fpsah 
 to from this word. 
 
 DocT. I. "To be with Chrift where he is, is ChrijTs^ 
 and the be/iever^s heaven ; that heaven that Chrift 
 gives, and that believers receive. 
 
 DocT- 2. That Qur Lord^s will is fet upon his peo- 
 ple's enjoying of this bkfjednefs, 
 
 I would at this time conclude with three words of 
 application of what hath been faid. 
 
 1. Behold how greatly Chrifl: loves his people. 
 This prayer of his for them, flowed from Lis bound- 
 lefs love. He cannot be pieafed without them, and 
 ihey cannot be happy without him. All the glory 
 and blifsthat Chrift is poiTenfed of, doth not fully fa- 
 tisfy him, till he have all his people with him. His 
 church is /j/j- body, the fulnefs of him that fillcth all in 
 all, Eph. i. 23. 
 
 2. Behold how happy are his people. ?yIofes fung 
 this of old, Deut. xxxiii. 29. Happy art thou^ O If- 
 rael I Who is like unto thee, O people faved by the Lord? 
 Much more may we fay fo, when Cbrifi hath appear- 
 
 edy 
 
S E R M. IV. the Lord's Prayer > 5p 
 
 ed^ who hath ahoUJked deaths and hath brought life 
 and immortality to light through the gofpel^ 2 Tim. i. 10. 
 3. Learn to pray moderately lor the lives of Chrift'5 
 people. There are fome of the godly that are very 
 ufeful by their gifts and grace; and, if fpared, might 
 be of great profit to the church of Chrift. Such we 
 fliould be loth to lofe, and their lives we may pray 
 for ; yet it muft be done moderately. Who can tell 
 but Chrift and we are praying counter to one ano- 
 ther? He may be faying in heaven, " Father I will 
 " have fuch a one to be wiih me where 1 ara ;" and 
 we faying on earth, " Lord we wou d have him to 
 *' be with us where we are :" we faying, *' We can- 
 " not fpare bim as yet ;" and Chriit faying, '* I will 
 " be no longer without him.'' It is the force of this 
 prayer of Chriff, " I will have them to be with me 
 " where I am," that is the caufe of the death of the 
 godly. It is the force of this prayer that carries avvay 
 fo many of the faints in our day. Chrift is faying ia 
 heaven, " I will have them where I am. They are 
 " defpifed in the world, and badly ufed on the earth i 
 " Father, let us have them where we are." Sheuld 
 not we pray modeftly for their lives, while we know 
 not his fecret will ? and ihould not we believingiy 
 fubmit to his will, when he reveals it ? Say, " Let 
 ^« them go from us, fmce Chrift calls them to be wi;h 
 *• him." Ic is his will, and their great advantage, 
 Phil, i, 23. 
 
 Vol. II. I SERMON 
 
6o S:rmon5 cor.cerning Serm. V. 
 
 SERMON V. 
 
 John xvii. 24. 
 
 Father^ I will that they aljo whom thou haft given mr^ 
 be with me where I am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which thou haft given me : for thou lovcdft ms 
 before the foundation of the world* 
 
 I Entered lafl day upon the fecond thing I took up 
 in the matter of ChiifPs prayer in this veiTe ; 
 which v/a5 the blelTing Chrift prays for to his people, 
 in tliefe words ^[hat they alfo may he vSitb vie where 
 I am. Id opeuinc; oF them, I did fpe^^k a little, i. 
 To iVe force of this word alfo. 2. What it is to be 
 with Chrift. 3. V^\\?i\. to be ivitb him -where he is. 
 And then raifed two points of dc£lrine. i. That the 
 perfect hlefjtdnefs of the church and people of God^ is in 
 being with Chrift where he is. 2. "ihat it is ChrifVs 
 will that all his people fhould partake of^ and pofjejs 
 this blefjcdnefs^ 
 
 To the firfl: of thefe I would (peak, viz. 
 
 DocT. I. That the perfeB and compleat blefjednefs 
 of the church and people 0/ God, ftandi in being with 
 Chrift where he is. 
 
 Thus Chrift expreffeth it, John xiv. 3. That where 
 J am, there ye may be alfo ; and John xii. 26. If any 
 inanfrvemc^ let him follow me ; and where I am, there 
 fball alfo my fervant be. The apodle fums up the 
 blf-^lTednefs of the church at the laft day in this, I 
 Their, iv. 17. Andfo ftjull we ever be with the Lord. 
 So alfo in 2 Cor. v. 6. 8, it is called b^^^ing prefent 
 with the Lord. And in Phil. i. 23. ii is called being 
 with Chrift^ 
 
 There 
 
Serm. V. the Lonfs Traysr. 6i 
 
 . There are four things I woulci premlfe concerning 
 this matter, that may be of ufe to regulate your 
 thoughts in hearing acJ fladying the word of God 
 about heaven. 
 
 I. This blefTednefs is greatly in the dark to us. 
 
 It is an enjoymeat within the vail, as Hcb. vi, 19, 
 
 And it is neceiliirily io. The thing we'^defire to be 
 
 informed in, is, What it is to be with Chrift where he 
 
 is f And here every thing is dark and deep. What 
 
 Chrift is, where he is, what it is to be with him, who 
 
 can tell or know ? When the beloved difciple, who 
 
 lay in Chrifl's bofom oa earth, is fpeaking of this 
 
 b]if<^, in I John iii. 2. he faith, Beloved^ now are we 
 
 the/cm cfGod^ and it doth net yet appear what ive Jhali 
 
 he : hut we know, that when he /Ifall appear^ we /ball 
 
 be like him ; for we Jh all fee him as he is. Why ! Did 
 
 never John j^i? bim as he is f No. They that fa w him 
 
 in his humbled ilate, faw him under a vail, which his 
 
 Work rendered neceffary for a time. And believers, 
 
 that now fee him by faith, fee him not as he is ; but 
 
 only fee him as painted forth to us in and by the gof- 
 
 pel, as Gal. iii. 1. No man can know what it is to 
 
 fee Chrift as he is, till he do fee him as he is ; and that 
 
 is cot till he appears. To this belongs that word, 
 
 1 Cor. ii. 9. Eye hath not/een, nor ear heard, neither 
 
 have entered into the heart of man, the things which 
 
 God hath prepared for them that love him. Heaven 
 
 will be a blefied farprife to all that poiTefs it. It will 
 
 be found to be far beyond all the mod large defires, 
 
 and the highed: ex'pe^taiions, that ever were rai fed in 
 
 their beans. So will h::'l be to ail the heirs of wrath, 
 
 vaflly above all their fearful expe<flations, Heb. x. 
 
 27. ; and the foretafies of ir, that are great in fomc 
 
 wicked men : Pfal. xc. i f . Who knoweth the power of 
 
 thine anger f even according to thy fear, fo is thy wrath. 
 
 No man can ov^r-fear God's wrath ; and no man caa 
 
 over-rate the glory to come. In that matter, the 
 
 Lord doth exceedingly abundant above all that we ask 
 
 cr ihink^ Eph. iii. 20. 
 
 Is 8, Ther? 
 
62 Sermons concerning Serm. V, 
 
 2. There is fome light about this in the word, 
 that helps us to know iomewhat of this bill's of being 
 ivith Cbrift where he is. There are three fpecial ends 
 the Spirit of God defign?, in making any mention of • 
 the heavenly flate and glory, i. To difparage this 
 "World, and all things either enjoyed or expefled in 
 it; and that both as to the worldling, as Pful. xvii. 
 14, 1 5-. where the portion of the ungodly in this life, 
 ^nd the blrftednefs of the righteous m that to come, 
 are exprefed. So dcih our Lord compare the two 
 flatcb', to dilparage the prefeiit, and to prefer the 
 future, Luke xx. 34, 35, 36. and Matth. vi. 19, 20. 
 And heaven is alfo fpoke of, in comparifon with, 
 <.nd preference above the bed (tare of Chriilians in 
 this world, 2 Cor. v. 1,2. and Phil. i. 2g. 2. Hea- 
 ven is fpoke of in the word, to invite and allure men 
 to feek it. Ic is the prize of the high calling of God in 
 Chrift Jefus, And all.fhould prefs towards this mark^ 
 Phil. iii. 14. They ihould runfo as they may obtain it^ 
 1 Cor. ix, 24. as being ihtcne thing needjuly and that 
 good part ^ or portion, Luke x. 42. 3. The word fpeaks 
 of heaven, and the glory to come, to encourage the 
 people of God, and heirs of glory, under all their 
 trials and troubles in this life. If it had not been for 
 this, the Lord might have kept the glory to come, a- 
 mongil many oiher fecret things that belong to him. 
 Debt, xxix 29. But he knew, thic through much tn- 
 bulaticn his people 7riuft enter into the kingdom of God, 
 Acts xiv. 22.; and that the hope of glory was a pro- 
 per and needful cordial to fupport their hearts in all 
 liieir forrows. And be ye aiTured of it, that if ever 
 ye be in the depths of diflrefs, (and who is fecured 
 againil them?), ye will find, that noihiog fhort of the 
 believing views and lively hope of glory, will be able 
 to keep you from fmking. / had fainted^ unlefs I 
 had believed to fee the good ncfs of the Lord m the land of 
 the living, laid David, Pfal. xxvii. 13. And they have 
 Jitrleo f L'avid'': fpiiir, that think that David hi:d no 
 better land of the nving in his eye there, than the land 
 
 of 
 
Serm. V. the LorcTs Prayer. 63 
 
 of Canaan, in which he lived as a (Iranger, though 
 he were the King of it. So alfo faich Paul of him- 
 felf, and of all believers in Chrili, i Cor. xv. 29. //* 
 in this life only we have hope in Cbrijl^ we are of ail 
 men moft miferahle. For thefe ends the Lord fpeaks 
 of heaven in the word ; and not to gratify the curiod- 
 ty of men, but rather to check it. 
 
 3. This I would premife, that this light that (hines 
 in the word about heaven, is only a light to be ieeo 
 by the eye of faith. None but a believer can know 
 rightly what the word fpeaks of heaven. Unbelie- 
 vers are blind, and cannot fee far oiT, 2 Peter i, 9. ; 
 but the believer doth fee afar oiF, Heb. xi. 13. The 
 word is light in itfelF, and ihines ia that light, as the 
 fun is light in itfelf : fo that, if all the world were 
 blind, the light of the fun would be no lefs in icfelf 
 than it is ; but it would be a light to none ; for it is 
 light to none, but to them that have eyes. Even io 
 it is with the light of the word. It (bines brightly ia 
 itfelf, but the blind unbeliever feeth nothing of it. 
 He is both blind and vailed, 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4. 
 
 4. Laflljy This 1 would premife, that the experi- 
 ence of believers in this life, is a great help to them 
 in knowing what heaven is. Now, let us join all thefe 
 four together: Tiaere is no full and perfedl: know- 
 ing what heaven is, till we be in it ; There is no right 
 knowing of heaven, but in the light of the word; That 
 light in the word can only be taken up and perceived 
 by the eye of faith ; hs\<^ this faith is much ilrength- 
 ened by experience. If believers themfelves had not 
 foraewhat of this experience and fpiritual feeling, they 
 would be much more in the dark about the glory to 
 be enjoyed in heaven than they are. 
 
 On this head of fpiritual experience, I ihall^not 
 mention any great and extraordinary enjoyments which 
 the Lord, in his grace and wifdom, is pleafed in force 
 fpecial feafons to indulge fome of his people with* 
 But I would only fpeak cf fome ordinary ones, which 
 lie level with the experience of all true believers, and 
 
64 Sermcns concerning Serm. V. 
 
 ere of great advantage to ihem, as in many other 
 things, fo fpcci:illy to raife and keep up right and 
 high thoughts of heaven, A?, 
 
 T. The revelation of Jefus Chri(>. This works 
 faith ;. faiih, union with Chrift; union works com- 
 rnunion with him ; communion is the believer's blifs. 
 This ipring of all, the revelation of Jefus Chrid, is 
 of two forts. I. The revealing of Jefus Chrift in and 
 by the gofpel. This all that have the gofpel have, 
 and many have no more ; and they all perifh that 
 have no more. 2. The revealing of Chrift 10 the 
 heart, by the Spirit of Cliriff, grayed for, Eph. i. 17. 
 This Paul go% Gal. i. 16. He revealed his Son in me. 
 It is certain, tiiat a man may read oft all the new tef- 
 tamenc, and hear the mod able mioifters preach Chrid 
 all his days, ar.d yet remain ignorant of Jefus Chrid, 
 and periQi. The apoflie in Eph. i. 17, 18. joineth 
 the knowledge of C;uiil, and the knowledge of hea- 
 V' n, tojjether. Fie prayeth, That the God of our Lord 
 "Jefus Chrif}^ the Father of glory ^ 7nay give unto them 
 the Spirit of tvijdom and revelation^ in the knowleage of 
 him : the eyes of their under (landing being enlightened : 
 that they n:igbt kmzv what is the hope of his callings 
 and vjhat the riches of the glory of his inheritance in 
 the faints. Doih heaven (tand in being wit!' Chrijl 
 luhere he is f IIow is it poilible that that r-au fbo'jld 
 know wiiat heaven h^ who knows ^^ ' vr'ho Chrifl h ? 
 And none can know Cnvift, wichor' .wVelatioj, Mat. 
 xi. 27. and that by the grpr .,; rhe Spirit of Chriil, 
 working on the heart ih and by the light of the v;ord 
 of Chrid. 
 
 7, The experience of believing in Jffiis Chrifl, and 
 of living by faith on him, Gal. ii. 20. is a great help 
 to the knowing of he.ivcn. We know, that there i> 
 no faith of this fort in licavea. Faith is the travel- 
 ler's, the runner's looking to Jefus, while the race is 
 not yet fmiihcd, llsb. xli. 2. But the g'orified nbove 
 lock on, and behold iiim fo as we cannot didinclly ap- 
 preiicn:!, 2 Cor. Y. 7. I'or we ivalk by faith, net by 
 
Serm. V. the hordes "Prayer^ 65 
 
 fight* And they above walk hy fight y not by faiths 
 You may fay, that fince there is fuch a difference be- 
 twixt the two dates, o^ faith and fght ; how thea 
 can the experience of believing afford any light and 
 help to know what heaven is ? In anfwer to this, I 
 would have you confider, i. That/j/V/j, though op- 
 pofed to fight y yet is it, in it» cKcrcife, a fort of fpi- 
 ritual feeing. So is it oft expreiTed, both with refpe<fl: 
 to the author of it, and the adings of it. See how it 
 is wrought by irs author, 2 Cor. iv. 6. Far God^ who 
 commanded the light to fi/ine out of darknefs^ hath (hiri:' 
 ed in our hearts^ to give the light of the knowledge of 
 the glory of Gcd^ in the face of Jefus Chifl, A ad as 
 it is wrought by light, faith acij in feeing. Thus the 
 great old-teftament believers are faid by their faith to 
 have feen the fromifis (/', e. the blellings promifed) 
 ofar cff'y lieb. xi. i|. And it is a looking at things 
 not fee n^ 2 Cor. iv. 18.; that is, things not prefently 
 pcffciTed, nor fully known. Faiib is indeed defcribed 
 in Heb. xi. i. to be the evidsnce of things not feen. 
 And that defcriprion, (rather than definition), as it 
 doth determine what the nature of the obje^s of faith 
 are, things not feen ; (0 dech it plainly expref?, that 
 the aci of faith i:i drawn forth by an evidence of thefe 
 unfeen things. And this evidence and demon frration 
 h in the word of God, which the believer feeth, is 
 perfuaded by, and refts upoji. " I know not, faith 
 " he, all the great and good things that God hath 
 " promifed ; bur I know God harh proniifed them ; 
 " and though they be hidden in the promife, yet be- 
 " caufe they are fecured thereby, 1 will embrace them 
 ** in the pronoife, until performance come.." As it is 
 expreffed in ver. 13. Thefe all died in faith (But how 
 lived they ? By faith alfo.), not having received the 
 promifes^ (i, e. in their accompliftiment ; but the pro- 
 mifes ihemfelves they had, for on tbem their faith 
 flood) ; but having feen them afar cif^ and were per- 
 fuaded cf tbem, and embraced tbe?n^ and confefjcd that 
 they were firangers and fUgrims on the earth. Here is 
 
66 Sermons concerning Serm. V. 
 
 an account of old teflament believers faith, that is 
 enough to {hame and humble mod new teflament be- 
 lievers. IF we be helped at any time to fet our Amen 
 of faith to the promife of eternal life, we think it is a 
 good length. But alas ! when do we find this feeing 
 afar off^ this perfuafton, this embracing, this covfejfing 
 and declaring plainly that zve feek and look for this hea- 
 'venly country ? as in ver. lo, 14. 2. Coufider, more 
 particularly, faith in Jefus Chrift. It always, (i.) 
 llifeth from a difcovery of him. (2,) Acls in an ap- 
 proach 10 him. Hence fo oft by himfelf faith is called 
 coming to him, John vi. 37, 44,45. (3.) And in that 
 aft inrends and feeks eternal life in and by him. 3. 
 Confider the native and immediate elTeft of faiih. It 
 is union with Chrifl. He draws to bring them near, 
 ihey believe to be near to him. His drawing and 
 their comin<Ty nakes it up. Is then the (late of glory, 
 in being zvith Chrifl where he is ? Surely, then, fuch 
 as are united to him by faith, and have him dwelling 
 in their hearts by faith^ Eph. iii. 17. and are living 
 daily by faith on hi?n. Gal. ii. 20. mufl have a great 
 help to know better what it is to be -with Chrifl where 
 he is, than any unbeliever can. 
 
 3. There is the experience of communion with 
 Chrifl, that is a farther and nearer help to believers 
 to know what it is to be with Chrifl where he is. When 
 Chrifl is revealed, he is believed on ; when he is be- 
 lieved, on, Chrifl and the believer are united ; when 
 the union is made, communion follows. This commu- 
 nion {lands in thefe four. 
 
 ly?, In a mutual interefl of the perfons united. 
 Communion is that whereby Chrifl is ours, and we 
 are his; as Cant. ii. 16. hly beloved is mine, and I am 
 his. All that Chrifl is, is ours for our falvation ; and 
 all that is ours, is his for his glory and fervice : that 
 as Chrifl hath all right to difpofe of us, and of all that 
 is ours, becaufe we are his ; fo we have a right to 
 partake of Chrifl, and of all that is his, for our fal- 
 
 vatioD, 
 
Serm. V. the Lord^s Prayer. 67 
 
 vation, becaufe he is ours. Communion is in the im- 
 provement of this mutual light and intercli. 1 would 
 name lome of the blclTed fruits of this intereil. 
 
 (i.) By virtue of this interen:, Chriit^s righteorf- 
 Hefs is a believer's for his perfect j unification. The 
 righteoufcefs is perfect, and fo is the juilificuion. Ko 
 gloriiied faint was more perfectly juilified, than Paul 
 was in the day he was made a believer on Chriil:. if 
 perfect rightecufnefs be the ground on which a be- 
 lieving fmner is judiiied, (as the gofpei plainly de- 
 clares), the juftification mult be perfed alfo. If j'lf- 
 tification be fought by the law, and by works, the feek- 
 er of juflification mud dill be domg, and can never 
 have done,; but is indeed undoing himfelF, diilionour- 
 ing Chrift, Gal. ii. 21. and fruJJrating^ the grace of 
 God ; and not only rendering his juftification imper- 
 fect, (for the law made nothing psrfed^ II eb. vii. 19 1, 
 but impolTible, Rom., viii. 3. It isimpofilble for God's 
 holy law to juftify a finner ; and never was appointed 
 for that end, but rather to condemn, Rom. iii. 19. ; 
 to ftop fmners mouths, and to bind them over to the 
 judgnvent of God ; till the righteoufnefs of God, with- 
 out the law, come on them, to abfolve them, Rom. 
 iii. 20, 21,22. 
 
 ' (2.) By virtue of this inrerefl in Chrift, the belie- 
 ver receives the Spirit of Chriil for his fanttificaiion : 
 not indeed for his perfect fanctification, bur for tbe 
 perfecting of fan£tilication. Chrifi's righteoufnefs i^, 
 L'ever applied imperfectly ; for to whomfoever it i-^ 
 imputed, it is made over wholly, and to all the in- 
 tents and purpofes it was wrought our, and brougi:;: 
 in, by Chrid for. But the Spirit of Chriil is imparted 
 to believers, in meafure, and in various degrees, as 
 he feeth good : Eph. iv. 7. Unto every one of us is grace 
 given i according to the meafure of the gift cfChrifl. By 
 this potent principle, the Spirit of Chriil, faujftifica- 
 tion is even, at firft, univerfal in the whole man, and 
 compleat in parts : 2 Cor. v. 17. If any man be in 
 Chrijly he is a neiv creature : old things are fajl a- 
 Vol. II. K Tvay ; 
 
^8. Sertnois concerning Serm. V. 
 
 way ; beheld^ all things are become new. He is a new 
 man ; is born again ; hath a Dew nature, a new rainJ, 
 a new underftinding, a new confcience, a neW heart 
 and alFcf^tions, and a new life. Ba: though all be new 
 in the believer, there is nothing in him thai is per- 
 fe<51!y new. He needs daily to pray, as Plalm ii. lo. 
 Create in me a clean hearty God ; and renew a right 
 fpirit zvithin me, Yer, Dotwithllanding of all the 
 weaknefs oF this new creature, the mixrure antl neigh- 
 bourhood of the ile(h, its contrary, and of all oppo- 
 fiticn it meets with from ir, and of the low Ibte it is 
 eft brought iofo by the captivating power of fin; yet 
 doth the power of Chrifl's Spirit not only preferve 
 the holy feed in the heart, but doth raife it up again, 
 and will certainly perfect it. There was never a fav- 
 ing work of Chrift wrought in the heart of a poor 
 finner, that Chriil ever left to be matter of triumph 
 to the devil. Chriil is a wife builder: when he lays 
 the foundation, he knows what the perfe<5ling of it 
 will cod hinri, is provided with it, and refolved to lay 
 it cut, and to finilh his woik: Phil. i. 6. Bei72g con- 
 Jident of this very things that h'- which bath begun a 
 good zvotk in you^ will perform (ov finifh) it until the 
 day of Jcfiis Chrijh 
 
 (3.) By virtue of this intereft in Chriil, believers 
 ■ have all Chrill's fnlnefs tor their fupply. He is all 
 in all to them, Col. iii. 1 1. // pleafed the Father^ that 
 in him fkould all fulncjs dwells Col. i. 19. And fure- 
 ly this lodging of ail fulnefs Ihould plcafe, and doth 
 liighiy pleafe all believers : John i. 16. And of (ot 
 out of) his fuhiefs have ail we received^ and grace for 
 ^race. Eph. iv. 7. Unto every one of us is given grace 
 izccording to the meafure of the '^ift 0/ Chrijl, Whence 
 iral Paul and John all their grace ? Out of ChrifPs ful- 
 nefs. Whence was it that they received fo much grace 
 beyond others ^. 1: was according to the meafure of the 
 gift of Chrift, But the (lock and ireafure is coraraon 
 to all believers. They are partakers ofChrifl^ Heb, 
 iii. 14. and called to the felkwfbip of his San Jefus 
 
 Chrrd 
 
Serm. V. the Lord^s Prayer, -69 
 
 ChriJI our Lordy I Cor. i. 9. The j^poftle in Col, if. 
 8, p, 10. givcth a needln.! warmQg^ Beware lefl any 
 7»an fpoil you through phUoj op hy and vain deceit. But 
 hew fliall we know and ciilcern ihe fnare ? Ic is after 
 the tradition of men ^ after the rudiments (or elements ^ 
 cr principles) of the ivorld, and not after Cbrift. His 
 argument to inforce ibis warning, is deep and (Irong, 
 verfe 9. For in him dive I let h all the fulnefs of the god- 
 head bodily* it dweileih really, fubHantially, in this 
 one man, Jefus Chrifh vSo that they do deceive you, 
 that diretl you to any for fupply but to him. If ye 
 would be filed with all the fulnefs of God ^ as Eph. iii. 
 19, you mu(t feek ii, and find it in him, in ivhom all 
 the fulnefs cf the godhead dwelleth bodily. And this 
 fiiall not be in vain : And ye are complete in him^ verfe 
 JO. Never did, never could a believer ufe this ful- 
 nefs fuitably to all its worth in itfelf, and to the gra- 
 cious right he hath to ufe it. 
 
 Bat what is there in believers that Chrift bath 
 communion with ? AH good is in him, and this is the 
 believers all ; and therefore it is eafy to underdand 
 what their communion with Chrift is, and what his 
 communications to them are. He clothes and covers 
 them with his righteoufnefs, fan£liiies them by his 
 Spirit, and fupplies them cur of his fulnefs. But is 
 there any thing io his people that Chrift hath comma- 
 nion with ? 1 anfwer. Yes, there is ; and that it is 
 all in them, that either is confiftent with their union 
 with him, or that flows from that union. 
 
 (i.) Of the iirit fort is all the bad that is remaining 
 in them. For as the grace of union with, and rela- 
 tion to Chrift, w^as not fufpended and delayed tilj they 
 Were faultlefs ; fo this grace when difpenfed, doth not 
 prefenily remove fauhinefs, as it will when this unioa 
 and communion is perfeft, which Chrift here prays 
 for. Chrift's body is made up of fmful members ; and 
 they are, even while fm and infirmity cleaves to them, 
 united to a finlefs, glorious head. And it is the great 
 glory of his grace, that he takes fuch members into 
 
70 Sermons comer rnrg Serm. V, 
 
 union wiih himfelf, and maintains that union by cotti- 
 miiiiion with them as their need requires, till the blef- 
 Jed day comes that is here prayed for, when this u- 
 ijion (hall iiTae in that communion that (hall qcire re- 
 inove fault and infirmity in his people. To deny that 
 Chrifl harh any inrered:, and concern, and work a- 
 bout what is bad in his people, is to deny our fellow- 
 ihip with him, in thofe things wherein wc are moft 
 needy of ir, and moft fenfibly benefited by it : for our 
 own fmfulnefs and intirmity is better known to Ub", and 
 fenfed by u?, than his righteoufnefs and perfedt ful- 
 vicfs ; neither is the latter fo well known to u^, as by 
 its gracious application to our relief under the former. 
 So our fmfulnefs (I mean, that that remains in belie- 
 vers, even in the bed of ihem) ferves for magnify- 
 ing his forgiving grace. He that bids us forgive cur 
 hrothsr that ftnnetb again fl us, net only f even times, hut 
 feverJy times feven, Matth. xviii- 2 r, 22. doth forgive 
 his people many more limes, and many fins, even all 
 cf them, Pfaliu ciii. 5.; all our trefpajjes, Col. ii. 13. 
 And how blciTed is that communion, when the blood 
 cf fprinkling fpeaks peace and pardon to a troubled con- 
 fcience ! Our corruptions and fpiritua! difeafes are 
 the fubjefts of Chriil's care. And his care about 
 them, is 10 cure them, and to keep h's people from 
 dying under them. The greaiefl hand is ufed by ten- 
 der parents, about their fick and wounded children. 
 That man never knew the guilt of lin righily, that 
 thinks that any thing Icfs or elfe than the blood cf the 
 Son of God can cleanfe from it, i John i. 7. And that 
 man never law the corruption and plague of his heart 
 rightly, that is not perfuaded, that only the great 
 phyfician, Chrifl, can cure it. And no man can em- 
 ploy him rightly for the one, and not for both. And 
 ihey do but deceive themfeWes in their religion, 
 vhcfe maiu heart-exercife is not with C!)n(i for both. 
 Alas 1 there are many difcjuieted confcieoces, and ma- 
 ny defiled hearts and lives, in many that are called 
 Chrifiians ; and fome of them are oft complaining, 
 
 and 
 
Serm. V. the Lord's Frayer, 71 
 
 and fomeiimes fiDking in iheir complainings ; and that 
 becaufe they do not believe, and lay this truth to 
 heart, that the cleacfing and purging the confcience 
 from the guilt of fiQ, and the purifying of the heart 
 and life from the dominion of fin, are Chrift's proper 
 works. The firft he doih by the fprinkling of his 
 ' blood, the other by the power of his Spirit, i Cor. 
 vi. 11. Tit. iii. 4. — 7. And all that ufe any other 
 means for thefe ends, not only labour in vain, but 
 fin greatly agaihft God, who hath made Chrift unto 
 us wifdom, and rightecufne/s^ and /and iji cation^ and 
 redemption ; that no flejh jhould g^ory in his prefence ; 
 and that he that glorieth^ might glory in the Lord^ 
 I Cor. i. 29, 3O5 31. 
 
 Not only are our infirmities, finfulnefs, and difeaf- 
 es, under the gracious care and cure of our Lord Je- 
 fus Chriil ; but our perfons, our foul?, our bodies, 
 and all our lots and concerns, are at his difpofal, to 
 his glory and fervice. And every believer, in every 
 diilinfi: acling of faith, doth yield up hirafeif, and all 
 he is and hath, uato Chrift's dominion. *' Grant me 
 *' thy falvaiion according to thy promife, and guide 
 *' me in the way according to thy will :" Pfal. cxix. 
 94. I am thine^fa-ve thou me, 
 
 (2.) Chrift hath communion with his own good ia 
 them. All that is in us that is our own, is bad : and 
 all that is good in us, is of his giving and working. 
 All our graces, are his fruiti^, Caat. iv. 16. and v. i. 
 They are all of Chrift's planting, watering, and rip- 
 ening ; and he feeds on them as his pie a f ant fruits. 
 All the fpiriiual fervices and duties that berievei"s per- 
 form, are all of them fruit growing from their abiding 
 in the vine, Chrilf, Johri xv. 4, 5. and are pleafing 
 to him. And furely when it is fo, the believer finds 
 fweet profu by it: Rev. iii. 20* / will/up with him^ 
 and he with me. It is eafy to conceive how we may 
 feaft with him ; for he hath all. But how can he 
 feaft with us, who are nothing, and have nothing f 
 He dcth it t;vo ways, i. He feails with his people 
 
/ 
 
 72 Sermcfjs concern'tng Serm. V. 
 
 on his ow^n (lore of grace he brin^ys uith him. As 
 David fiid, i Chron. xxix. 14. Of thine own have 
 ive given thee ; To doth Chrifl fay, " It is of mine owa 
 " 1 feaft with thee, O behever. All thy faith, love, 
 •'■ repentance, fervice, are my gifts, my grace, that 
 *' 1 bring wiih me, and am delighted in " 2. Chrill 
 may be faid to feaft with his people, in and by that 
 fjieafure he hath, not only to give, but to fee them 
 feed OD what he brings with him. Would you feafl 
 Jefus Chrill, believers ? Feed on hiifi with holy hun- 
 gsr. Is a kind mother delighted with her hungry 
 babe's fucking at her breads ? Is it not as a feaft to a 
 charitable man, to fee a perfon ear heartily of the food 
 he gives him ? Much more is it a feaft to our Lord, to 
 fee ftarvino: fmners feedin? on the bread of life, and 
 drinking of the water of life? Hear his voice. Cant. 
 V. !. 1 am come into my garden, my ftfter, ?ny fponfe ; 
 I have gathered my myrjh with my fptcey I have eaten 
 my honey comb with my honey ^ I have drunk my wine 
 •with 77iy milk : eat^ friends, drink, yea ^ drink abun- 
 dantly, O beloved, " It is all mine, all of my prepar- 
 " Ing ; ufe it freely, feed plentifully; you are high- 
 ** ly welcome." Bur, alas! molt Ghrifiians may give 
 the anfwer that follows, ver. 2. I flee p, but my heart 
 ipaketh, Chrift's gracious clTers and invitations are 
 heard by us, as betwixt fteeping and waking : and fo 
 is it feen in the forry entenainment we give them, 
 and hence follows the poor life that many of us lead. 
 
 So much for the firft thing in communion, mumal 
 interefl. 
 
 2<i/j, This communion haih converfe in it. It 
 (lands, not only in the mutual intereft that each hath 
 in another, but alio in converfe one with another. 
 This is what the apolile haih in i John i. 3. where 
 we have tv;o cummun'icns ok: feliowjhips fpoke of; the 
 fellowfliip ol Chriftians with one another, and the 
 tellov/diip rhat Chriftians have with the Father and 
 Son : and that this fecond fcliov/fliip is mutual as hint- 
 ed in ver. 7. If we walk in the light, as he is in the 
 
Serm. V. the hordes Frayer, fg 
 
 ligbty ive have fellowjbip one with another ^ and the 
 bloed of Jefus Cbrijl his Son clean feth iis from all fin. 
 They then that know bed by experience, v/hat it is 
 to be with Chriit on earth, in Walking with him aad 
 ip hinn, will know bed what it is lo be with him 
 where be is. The greateil enjoyments of Chrift here, 
 are the beft helps to conceive of what is to be receiv- 
 ed in heaven. 
 
 3^/y, This converfe breeds likentfs to Chrift. The 
 cearer a man is to Chrid, the more converfe he hath 
 with him; the more Hl^e he grows to ChrilL Com- 
 pare 2 Cor. iii. i8. with i John iii. 2. Paul fpeaks 
 of Chriilians in this life, John of the fame perfons m 
 the next life ; and both fpeak of likenefs to Chriil, and 
 as wrought the fame way, by feeing and beholding of 
 his glory, Perfe^l likenefs to Chrift, flows from a 
 perled beholding of his glory ; and a begun likenefs 
 to him, from a bep;un behcldmg of his glory by faith. 
 The apoltie in 2 Cor. iii. 7. fpeaks of the glory of th^ 
 countenance of Mofes^ xvhich was fuch^ that the chil- 
 dren of Jfrael could not fiedfaftly heboid hi^ face^ zvhfcb 
 glory was to be done away, lii thi'?, the apollle re- 
 fpe<&s that pafTage in Exod. xxxiv. 29. — 35*. It is 
 this, that Mofes, returning from the mounts after 
 his fecond forty days abode there, had, by his bng 
 converfe with God, a beam of heavenly glory ioj- 
 prefTed on his face. Whether it continued all his 
 life after, or not, the word is filent about it ; and 
 therefore we fhould not be pofitive.' But this may 
 fafely be drawn from it, that the more near and cou- 
 linued that our converfe with Cbrifl on earth be, the 
 more heavenly likenefs to ChriR is iiBprexTed oa the 
 foul. Hath not this been known to many, that when 
 they had been long (IruggliDg and driving vyich, asd 
 bewailing of a body of death, and of ftrong eorrap- 
 lions and diftempers, that rendered them unlike to 
 Chrifl, and lothfome in their own eyes ; if he be 
 pleafed (35 oft he doth) to draw near to them, and 
 to caufe them to approach is him^ as Ffal. Ixv. 4. how 
 
 fiiddealy 
 
74 Sermons concernwg Serm. V. 
 
 fiiddenly and how fweet'y is likenefsto Chrirt wrought 
 io the foul! True ncarnefs to Chrifl, and converfe 
 with him, hath always this effe6^. Communiou with 
 Chriil, if real, is always the life of grace, and the 
 bane of corruption. And let all examine and judge^ 
 their enjoyments, by this fure and pldia left. Have 
 you any thing that you call communion with Chrift P 
 Doth it not, in fome meafure, mortify your lufts, 
 and enliven the grace of God in you? If it do not 
 work both in you, it is not of the right fort. 
 
 ^thly^ This converfe with Chrift, and this likenefs 
 to him, breeds love and delight. It is not pofTible 
 it fliould be orherwife. So great mercies in them- 
 felves, fo great bieffings to us, and fo much of God's 
 Jove to us, (hining in the giving of them, muft raife 
 love and delight. This is one of the fruits of commu- 
 Dion with Chrift ; Cant. ii. g. I fat dozun under h'ts 
 Jhadow with great delight^ and his fruit was fiveet to 
 my tajle, ^ 
 
 The tree of life, Jefos Chrift, hath a rcPrelliing 
 fliade to the weary fcorched traveller ; and he hath- 
 fruit for the hungry foul. Sit down under his flia- 
 dow, eat of his fruit, and you muft find it fwect to 
 your tafte. O tajle and fee that the Lord is good,' 
 Pfal. xxxiv. 8. J//o be ye have tafled that the Lord 
 is gracious^ i Pet. ii. 3. See how the fame apoftle 
 fpeaks of the communion that believers have with 
 C'hrift, 1 Pet. i. 8, 9. Whom having- not feen^ ye love'; 
 in whom though 7iow ye fee him Kot, yet believing^ ye" 
 rejoice with joy unfpeakable^ and full of glory. 
 
 So that ye may perceive, that what the Lord Is' 
 pleafed to aftord to his people here, in communion 
 with Chrift, gives a great h^lp to believers to know 
 better, what it is to be with Cbrt/? zvhe-e he is^ than 
 any unbeliever can; and that they who have the 
 greareft experience of thefe things, have an advan- 
 tage in this matter beyond ordinary believers. 
 
 So much of thefe four things that 1 thought fit to 
 premife. That the glory of the heavenly ftate is 
 
 greatly 
 
Serm. V. the Lcrd^s Prayer. 75 
 
 greatly in the dark to Chriflians while on eai;»|b j 
 That the only light wherein any thing of i: can be 
 known, is the light of the word ; That this l!*ght of 
 the word is light only to the eye of faith; and, laftly. 
 That faith is helped in this difcovery, by experience. 
 
 It now follows, to fpeak unto this that heaven 
 flands in, in being with Chrijl where he is. And this 
 1 would give in thefe four things. 
 
 1. It ftands in perfe6l immediate prefence with 
 Chrift. • AU the prefence that Chrift affords, and his 
 people now enjoy here, is, in regard of this, hue 
 abfence from the Lord : 2 Cor. v. 6. 8. Knowi?2g that 
 whil/i we are at home in the body^ we are abfent from 
 the Lord. We are confident^ I f'^yi ^^^ willing rather 
 to be abfent from the body^ and to he frefent with the 
 Lord* i am fure, that there arc few Chrillians, but 
 think, that if they did but enjoy that of ChriO: that 
 Paul did often, they would think it a great prefence. 
 But Paul counts, that as long as he dwelt in the bo- 
 dy, he was but abfent from the Lord. Perfect pre- 
 fence is, when all on both fides is prefent ; all of 
 Chrift, and all of the Chriftian. But cow all of 
 Chrift is not with us ; and all of us is not with him. 
 On his part, we have Chrift's Spirit, word, and 
 grace. On our part, there is prefent with him, our 
 hearts, and the workings of our faith, and love, and 
 defire, towards him. But this prefence is imperfefl, 
 and mixed with much diftance and abfence. And 
 this fort of prefence with Chrift, is but mediate. 
 There are forae midfes, glaff^s, and helps, which, 
 though ufeful now, will be ufelefs one day, i Cor. 
 xiii. 10, II, 12. Yet this imperfe^^ prefence, and 
 mediate, is more excellent in iifelf, and more valued 
 by every one that hath tafted it, than the utmoft that 
 this world, and the things of it, can give to a world- 
 ling, Pfal. iv. 6, 9. 
 
 2. This being with Chrifl where he is, hath in it 
 perfeiH: and full fruition and enjoyment of Chrift. 
 
 Vol. 1L h And 
 
7^ Sermons concerning Serm. V. 
 
 A\^^ here, words and thoughts (hnnk far below the 
 greamcfs of this matier. \Vhat it is to enjoy ChriO, 
 who can tel! P Behevers arc partakers of Chrift, are 
 in him, and he in them. Faith, when ftrong, grafps 
 at him, and cleaves lo him. Love, when ilamiog, 
 embraces him ftraicly; holds him f aft ^ and tvUi not let 
 htm go ^ Cant. iii. 4. When Chrilt's love to ui burns 
 and ihines, and our love to him is kindled thereby, 
 how f-.vcet is this enjoyment ? But all this is far ihort 
 of what Ihall be enjoyed, when wtjball be with him 
 ivhere he is. The dilference is far greater betwixt 
 ihefc two, than there is betwixt.the loving hufband 
 and the beloved wife, entertaining correfpondence 
 l-.y letters 10 one iinoiber, in difiereni and far diilant 
 countries. Thereby they communicate their heart, 
 and lov^, and miud, to one another. And this is ve- 
 ly comfortable ; cfpecinily when this intercourfe may 
 be fpeedy, and in an inllant, as it is betwixt Chrift 
 and believers: Ifa. his. 24. And it fball come to pafs^ 
 (and bif Ifed be he that this often comes to pafs), that 
 before they cally I 'will anjwer ; and while they are yet 
 fpcaki»gy 1 ivill hear. There is no length of time re- 
 quired to carry the believer's mind to Chrifl in hea* 
 ven ; and as fpeedily can he fend his mind to them 
 again. I>ut this is far (liort of the comfort of feeing 
 iace to face. 
 
 5. This prefence, this enjoyment, is in the befb 
 flaie and place, it is where he ij. And fureiy our 
 i>ord is well lodged abov<% All the prefence we have 
 with, and enjoyment we have of Chrilt, h not where 
 /k^ //, but where we ate. And here we are on thd 
 diinghill of ihi^ ea.ih ; haviuor fm cleavirig to us to 
 provoke him, aud mifcry ou us to grieve us. llcuce 
 it is both amazing grace in him to grant any thing of 
 his pretence and fellowlhip to us ; and hence all thac 
 w^e enjoy of it, is attended with manifold imperfecti- 
 ons, infcparable frotu our iUte while we are where 
 we are, and not to be ri;moV;;d hum us till we are 
 luhcre he is, 
 
 4. This 
 
Serm. V. the Lord's Prayer. 77. 
 
 4. This is to be for ever. The greatefl: blefiing 
 hath the longed duration 5 if duration were a proper 
 word to be ufed of eremiiy, which is juftly called a 
 -perpetual now, Chrifl's prefence now where we are, 
 is a choice bleffing. Beli,evers would fain have ir, 
 when they are without it ; and would fain have more 
 of it, when they have a little of it ; and when they 
 have much of it, they would fain keep it. Bat they 
 cannot always have his prefence when they would ; 
 nor can they always keep it, when they have got it. 
 It may pleafe him to awake^ and leave them, Canr. 
 iii. 5. and viii. 4. even when they are bert pleafed 
 with his company. And even then he is our beloved, 
 and his love to us the fame, when /landing behind our 
 wally when looking forth at the vjindow^ Jhewing hi?ii' 
 felj {0^ ^ourijhing) through the lattice ; as when his 
 left band is under our head, and his right hand doth 
 embrace us. Cant. ii. 6. 9. Cbrid's fweetefl vifits to. 
 his people where they are, are oft imbitterfd (to fay 
 fo) with the thoughts and fears oF his withdrawing. 
 " Now, faith the believer, I have a ciear Iky ; but 
 " how foon may the weather change, and clouds re- 
 ** turn again 1" But in the (tare of glory above, when 
 VJtfhall be with him where he is._ no fears, no ground, 
 or fufpicion of any fuch thing, ihall ever enter into 
 the heart of any of the glorified. The ilate of grace 
 is a fure ftate, of God's making. No vcilel of gracv: 
 and mercy ftiall ever be cmpcicd of it. Bat ir is not 
 a fure flate to every believer's thinking ; for fears of 
 mifcarrying may be, where no real danger is. But 
 the ftate of glory is not only fuce and unchangeable, 
 as it is of God's gracious making, but it is (0 as to 
 every glorified perfoa's thinking. No pillars in the 
 upper houfe can lliake. Rev. iii. 12. Pillars in the 
 lower houfe may (hake, but never are removed. Bux 
 in heaven, there is no danger, no fear, nor any canfe 
 of either, to eternity. Wefhall be ever with the Lord^ 
 I Theff, iv, 17. 
 
 L 2 Afpli- 
 
"fi Sermons concermng Serm. V. 
 
 Application, i. See how great Chrift's io- 
 tereft is in our falvation ; how juftly he is called our 
 iSaviour, He harh bought and redeemed the king- 
 dom fcr the heirs, and the heirs for the kingdom. 
 He as fl.iin is made the way to it, Hcb. x. 19, 20. He 
 is the guide to heaven, and captain of cur falvatioriy 
 Heb. ii. 10. He wi'ls it to them in his teftament, 
 Luke xxii. 29.; welcomes them to heaven, when he 
 calls them by death, A6ls vii. 59. ; and he, as fully 
 erjcyed, is heaven itfeif. 
 
 2. Wonder not at this, that few are faved. From 
 his dc<^rine you may fee the caufes thereof. We 
 iind Chrift teaching this doctrine of the fewnefs of 
 the faved, in Matth. xix. 23. 26., Mark x. 23. — 27. 
 and Luke xviii. 24. — 27. It is thrice recorded, and 
 on the fame occafion, and wi^h the fame fen fe of it, 
 in hisdifciples. The occafion of Chrift's teaching it, 
 was the great zeal of a young rich man, in afking of 
 cur Lord ihe way to heaven, and his fudden recoiling 
 when Chrirt touched his idol. On this occafion Chrift 
 teachcth. How hardly Jhall they that have riches^ en- 
 ter into the kingdom of God / His difciples were aflonifh- 
 ed at his words. But Jefus anjwereth a^iii??^ and 
 faith unto them^ Children^ how hard is it for them that 
 trujl in riches^ to enter into the kingdom of God I Mark 
 X. 23, 24. Upon Chrlfl's repeating and explairnng 
 his words, itlsfaid, vcr. 26. And they were ofiomjh^ 
 ed out of meafurCy faying among them/elves^ Who then 
 can be faved ^ Why were they fo allonifhed, and ex- 
 ceedingly amazed^ as it is faid in Matth. xix. 25. Were 
 there not many poor people, that had no riches, nor 
 any te.v.ptaiion to irufl in them, (and fuch the dif- 
 ciples themfelves were), who might be faved ? Their 
 amazement feems to have iis rife from this, that if 
 one fnare, as that of riches, did fo endanger a man's 
 falvation, what greater danger were all men expofed 
 
 to, by manifold lemptarions, and diforders of their 
 iicarrs ? But as to the do<5lrine before us, that being 
 I nib Chrifl where he is^ is heaven^ I may juftly con- 
 firm 
 
SeRm. V. the Lord* 5 Frayer. yp 
 
 firm from it what Chrift taught, that few fhall be 
 faved. For few know what it is, nor the way to it ; 
 and indeed no natural man can know what they<? 
 are. When our Lord is again preaching this doc- 
 trine, in that noted place, Maith. vii. 13, 14, he 
 faith. Enter ye in at the fir alt gate ; for wide is the 
 gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to dejlrudion^ 
 and many there be which go in thereat : becaufe Jlrait 
 is the gatey and narrow is^ the way which leadeth 
 unto life^ and few there be that find it* According 
 to the frame of mens fpirits, they frame thoughts 
 of heaven, and of the way to it. The Turks pa- 
 radife is brutilh ; the Popiih paradife is little bet- 
 ter. The natural philofophers conceptions of heaven 
 are more manly, though carnal. Only a true Chrif- 
 tian can have a right thought of heaven ; becaufe he 
 knows Jefus Chrift, and communion with him. Chrill 
 himfelf is the way to heaven, as he is a flain Re- 
 deemer ; and Chrift himfelf is heaven itfelf, as he is a 
 glorified, enjoyed Redeemer. All this is unintelligi- 
 ble and incredible to every natural man. Can ever 
 that man count it blelTednefs to be with Chrift above, 
 who counts it a piece of mifery to be in his company 
 on earth P And is it poflible that fuch can be faved, 
 that neither know what heaven is, nor the way to it , 
 and do diilike and hate both the way and the end, as 
 revealed in the word, and as impreiled on the hearts 
 of all the godly in all ages .'' 
 
 3. Laftly, Would you fecure heaven to yourfelves? 
 See to get into Chrift by faith ; feek acquaintance 
 with him, prefs after communion with him. Let ail 
 your thoughts of heaven, all your care to fecure your 
 ^poiTeiring of it, and all your exercife in preiTmg to-^ 
 wards it, let all center in this one perfon, Jefus Chriih 
 Alas! how many poor Chriltians are there, who go 
 aukwardly to work about falvation P how poorly they 
 fare ? how forrowfujly they live P and how many of 
 them die in darknefs ? and all becaufe they mind not 
 
 Chriil 
 
So Sermons concerning Serm. V. 
 
 Chrid rightly, as tJje way^ the truthy and the life! 
 They do attend on all the ordinances of the gofpel ; 
 they would fain be in heaven ; they often mufe and 
 think on it ; and wonder at the greatnefs of the prize ; 
 and fometimes have fome good hope, through grace, 
 that they fliall^poflefs it. But with many thefe are 
 but like the jnomhig-cloud and the early dew ; and their 
 doubts and darknefs return upon them ; becaufc they 
 /to not remember Jefus Chriit, and live by faith on 
 him, as the only way to heaven, and as he enjoyed, 
 is the ChrifUans heaven, and as he brings ail the fons 
 to glory. You need no more to fecure your right to 
 eternal life, than to be poflTeiTcd of Chrift by faith ; 
 and you need no better eternal life, than to be with 
 Chrifl where he is. He himfelf defcribes it by this, 
 that they may be with me where I am. And furely 
 Clirift beft knows what heaven is ; fince he bought 
 it, prepared it, and pofTeffed it, for his people. And 
 he knows the way to it ; for he is both the way and 
 the guide to it. Hear his 'voice, therefore, and fol- 
 low him^ and he will give you eternal life ; and ye fhall 
 never periff), neither fhall any man (or devil, or thing) 
 fluck you out of his hand^ John x. 27, 28, 29. Horn. 
 Tiii. 35',..-'39. 
 
 S E 11 M d N 
 
Serm. VI. the Lord's Frayer* Sr 
 
 SERMON VI. 
 
 John xvii. 24. 
 
 Father y I wtll that they alfo whom thou hajl given me^ 
 he with me where I am ; that they may behold m^ , 
 glory which thou haft given me : for thou lovedjl me 
 before the foundation of the world. 
 
 THERE are four marvellous things about lal?a- 
 tion, that fliould be often thought on by us?. 
 I. That there is fo high a Saviour as Chrift is, and 
 fo great a falvation as heaven is, provided for fallen 
 man. There was no fuch provifioD made for (landing 
 Adam, to keep him from falling \ no fuch proviiioa 
 for the fallen angels, to refiorc them to their firft e- 
 ftate. But for fallen man this provifion is made; not 
 for all, but for a numerous remnant, according to the 
 eie£tion of grace ; and that to bring them to a far 
 better eflate than that Adam fell from by fm, 
 
 2. That the knowledge of this Saviour, and of this? 
 falvation, is kept from multitudes as needy thereof as 
 any that have it. The Pagans, Indians in the eafl and 
 well, are as needy of the gofpel as you, and no more 
 unworthy and undcferving than you ; yet you have 
 gofpcMighr, and they live and periih in grofs dark- 
 nefs. This is only from bis fovereign pleafure, as cur 
 Lord owns it, Luke x. 21. And that fovereiocniv 
 Iriine?, and is by us to be owned equally, both in dif- 
 penfmg and wich-holding the outward means of falva- 
 tion, and alfo in difpenfmg and with-holding the in- 
 ward eifeclual grace, and bleiilng of the means. 
 
 3. It is marvellous, (though both very finful and 
 ufual), that this Saviour and hia falvation are fo great* 
 ly defpifed, by the moft part of them who need him 
 
 and 
 
^2 Sermons concerning Serm. VI» 
 
 and It extremely, and have the gofpel-ofFer made 
 daily to them. Alas! few mind him, and few care 
 for the great falvation he brings with him, and olTers 
 fo freely to men. No man under the gofpel raifcar- 
 ries eternally, no man or woman perifheth, without 
 Jefus ChriO, but fuch as do not in heart care for him 
 and his falvation. And juflly do they deferve to pe- 
 rifli, and dreadfully (hall their perdition be. 
 
 4. It is marvellous, that this blcffed Saviour and 
 his great falvation are yet given to a multiiude of re- 
 fufers. AH by nature are unworthy, many reje<^ the 
 oiFer often; yet grace prevails at lafl: on fome of them, 
 and makes them willing. There are many in the 
 world (but they were thought on by him before the 
 world was made) from whom Chrift will take no re- 
 fufal, though they give him many; as Jer. xxii. 21. 
 J /pake unto thee in thy profperityy but thou faidjl^ I 
 will not hear : this hath been thy manner from thy 
 youth ^ that thou cbeyedjl not my voice. Yet to many 
 fuch there is a time of love fixed ; and when it comes, 
 they are fpoken for, fpoken to, dealt with, and pre- 
 vailed upon. I cannot fay, but they that are early 
 brought to Chrift, have fome fpecial advantages, 
 both in their being prevented from grofs fins, and fad 
 wanderings, and in the opportunities of ferving Chrift 
 by his grace given them. But 1 am fure, that the 
 longer any ftand out in rebellion againft Chrift, when 
 they are fubdued, they (hould moftofall men admire 
 the grace of their conqueror. Paul, though called 
 when a young man, yet counts that Jefus Chrift did 
 /hew forth in him all lon^-fuffering, for a pattern to 
 them which fhould hereafter believe on him to life ever* 
 laftingy I Tim. i, 16. Yer, doubilefs, Chrift hath 
 drawn forth more long-fuflering to many fiuners, 
 ihan he did on Paul in hisunregeneracy. 
 
 Of this Saviour and of his falvation I have been 
 fpeaking from this part of this excellent prayer. I 
 have been often commending this chapter 10 you : 
 and though 1 hope none are fo fooliih as to think 
 
 that 
 
SeRM. VI. the Lord's Prayer, 8} 
 
 that when they have got this chapter by heart, (and 
 I know not any chapter in God's word more worthy 
 of a room in the heart and memory, than this), they 
 may make a prayer of it, as.of one of David's pfalms ; 
 yet I am fure we may pray upon it ; for though many 
 of the words in it be only fit to be uttered in prayer 
 by the blelTed mouth that firft fpoke them ; yet aii of 
 them may be food for the faith of every believer. 
 
 I have fpoke of the manner of this prayer j Father, 
 I will, 
 
 I have alfo entered upon the matter of it ; and have 
 taken up. four things therein, i . The defcription of 
 thofe he prays for : Jhofe whom thou haft given me. 
 None but Chrift can defcribe thofe they pray for, this 
 way. He only had the book of life before him ia 
 prayer. It is a great mercy, if we get fplritual light 
 to read our own name in that book ; but it is not al- 
 lowed us, either to defire or expedl to read any other 
 name therein, but our own. 2. The bleiTing that 
 Chnft prays for to futh perfons. And it is exprefied 
 thus. That they may be with me where I am. Whence 
 I did draw two points of do£lrine. 
 
 Obs. I, That the perfed hlejjednefs of the people of 
 God^ftands in being with Chrifl where he is, Oa this 
 I fpoke lad day. 
 
 Obs. 2. It is Chrifl* s will to have his people poffef 
 Jed of this blifs of being with him where he is. 
 
 Thus faith our Lord, Father^ I will that they whom 
 thou haf given me^ be with me where I am. Thus he 
 faith of all them, without diftin£lion or exception. 
 This prayer is univerfal, for his whole body of the 
 ele£l ; and particular, for every individual member of 
 that body. As they cannot be perfectly happy, till 
 they be with him where he is, (and that they all know) ; 
 fo our Lord gets not all his will and mind about them, 
 till they are thus with him. And this we (hould be- 
 lieve. The meaning of this will of Chrift about his 
 people's blifs, is in thefe. i. It is our Lord's heart's 
 
 Vol. IL M defire. 
 
8^ Sermons concerning Serm. Vl. 
 
 tiefire. 2. Ir is his delight to have them with him. 
 3. It is his fixed purpofe and refoliuion. ?Iis heart 
 is fixed in this, that he will have them all with him. 
 ^. It is his will declared to his Father, In iuch a man- 
 ner and ieafon, and with fuch circumitances, us add 
 great weight \o it. 5. It is his will revealed unro us 
 in his wricicii word; and therefore is of great ufe to 
 believe and rejoice in it. Bat who can tcil (even 
 when Chrifl hath told us it) what this his ivill is ? 
 The toil! of the Son of God, the ivill of a dying Ile- 
 dttvci^Vy the vjill oi a man perfonally united to the 
 Son of God ; hew far doth it exceed ail our thoughts ? 
 
 In handling of this point, 1 would, 
 1. Prove that it is ChrilVs will, 
 ir. Shew why it is fc. And then> 
 
 3. App;^ ii. 
 
 I. That it is ChriJVs will to have his people zvith 
 him whfte he is, appears from thefe two. i. The 
 price he paid for them; and, 2. The pains he takes 
 on them. 
 
 I. The great and dear price he paid for them. 
 The price was of infinite value, and the pnrchafe wa5 
 great. He bought the heirs for the inheriiance, and 
 the inheritance for the heirs. Chrifl in redeeming 
 had refpe^L^t unto both ; and himfelf, as flaio, was the 
 price for boih. He bought us and our forfeited in- 
 heriiance, as he oft declares. And this doth prove, 
 that it is his will and mind that they fhould poiY^fi ir. 
 What wife or houeit man is at colt to pnrchafe that 
 for another that he will not let him polTv^fs? When 
 our Lord laid down his life, yea ilaked down h\i 
 crown and glory, aod bore fo much dillreis, and all 
 for tlii ', that he might at lafi have all his people ivifb 
 - him "shcre he is ; fure we mud concluds?, that Chrifl's 
 heart and mind was greatly fet upon it. The grand 
 view of the good-will of Chrifl to the faving his peo- 
 ple, and having them in heaven, is to bs had on his 
 
 crofs. 
 
Serm. VL the Lord's Prayer. 85 
 
 crofs. The death of the Saviour proclaims his good- 
 will to fave. He knew he irmft fave us by dying, and 
 v/e know that we are faved by bis death. 1 hcrefore 
 he had a defire and delight to die for his people. It 
 pleafcd the Lord to bnnfe himy Ifa. liii. \o ; and Chrift 
 was pleafed to be brulfed, Hcb. x. 5,— '^ 
 
 2. The fecond proof h : The great pains ihat Chrlil: 
 takes on his people to bring them to heaven, proves 
 that his heart is fet on their poffeiling of it. On this 
 proof I would infift in a few particulars. 
 
 I/?, Chritl draws them to himfeif whom he minds 
 to fave. By nature they are far off from thrift, and 
 from falvation. By his grace they are brought near, 
 Eph. ii. 13. Chrifl and falvation are infeparable. 
 When Chrift entered into Zaccheus's heart by faith, 
 then falvation came into his houfe^ Luke xix, 9, 10. 
 Chriil's drawing of a finner, is his working of faith ; 
 and the Tinner's believing on Chrift, is his coming to 
 Chrift. Thus the nearnefs is obtained, Cbrift is fZ^ 
 author andjinif^er of faith, Heb. xii. 2. Bur this ^.' ay 
 of working of faith is a great myftery, John iii. 8. 
 Believers themfelves find their own faith a great my- 
 ftery to themfelves. They often know better the 
 fruits and cfFeas of their faith, than they know the 
 aaings of- it. And again, they may know better what 
 they do, and what way their hearts a£^ toward. Chnft, 
 when they believe, than they know what Cbrift was 
 ' doing with them, when'he was working faith in them, 
 and making them believers. For ufualiy ChriiVs 
 work in drawing men to himfelF, is fo terrible, that 
 they cannot think that any good is meant to them. 
 Little di'd Paul know what Chriil meant by his firit 
 vidt and words to him, Aas Ix. 3,-9. ; but well knew 
 ^le aherwards, Gal. i. 15, 16. and oft did he tell it, 
 Aas xxii. and xxvi. The fum of all he faid was this: 
 " I was a bitter enemy to Jefus Chrid ; yet he was 
 «• pleafed to make me a believer on him, and called. 
 <« me to preach him, and faith in him, to the periih* 
 «« lag world." When Chrift is drawing his chofea 
 
 M 2 ^y 
 
86 Scrjnons concerning Serm, VI. 
 
 by the ccrds of iove^ (as Hofea xi. 4.), ufually they 
 sre jealous that thefe cords of love are but the gins 
 of aa enemy. Bow is it poJlible that the charge of 
 fin on the confcience, the difcovery of the abomina- 
 tions in the man*s heart, and the binding of him over 
 to the righteous judgment of God, (Pvom. iii. 19,), can 
 be looked on as gracious methods of Chrift for draw- 
 ing men to him ? Yet afterwards they know, that all 
 this was done in love, and for their good. Of all the 
 fms the Lord's people are guilty of, this is the greaceft, 
 and (liould be deeply repented of, even the rebellion 
 againft, and refillancethey made to the faving grace and 
 drawing arm of Jefus Chriff. That we walk after the 
 imagination of our own hearts, that we love to wander, 
 that we live in fin, and love and commit it; all thefe 
 things are proper and natural to fmners; fo that tho' 
 all ihould, abhor it, yet none fliould wonder at it. But 
 when Chrifl is drawing perifhing Tinners to himfelf, 
 that he may fave them ; when he is plucking them 
 out of the fire that will burn them, and out of the wa- 
 ter that will drown them ; then for men tooppofe and 
 refift him, (as all do till his grace make them willing), 
 hath fomewhat in it beyond the common fmfulnefs of 
 men : yea it is a fin beyond the poffibility of the de- 
 vil, the father of fin and of fmners ; for the grace of 
 God was never in the offer of the fallen angels, nor 
 did it ever make any alfault upon them. Yea the re- 
 probates, though many of them finfully rcfift the ge- 
 neral drawing of Chrift by the gofpel, and his Spirit's 
 dealing with them, as in A£ls vii. 51. Te fltf-jiecked^ 
 and uncircumcifed in heart and ears ^ ye de always refijl 
 the Holy Ghofl : as your fathers didy fo do ye ; by 
 which they draw on dreadful guilt, and deRru6lion, 
 and are made inexcufable ; as our Lord tells them, 
 John XV. 22, 24. Jf I bad not come and fpoken unto 
 them^ they had not had fin : but now they have no cloke 
 for their fny viz. their fm of unbelief: yet they ne- 
 ver refift the faving arm and defign of Chrift to fave 
 them J as many of the ele<5l do for a while, till the 
 
 Lord's 
 
Sehm. YI. the LorcTs Frayer. 87 
 
 Lord's day of power come, which always prevails 
 over all refiilance. For, fure, another fort of grace 
 was applied unto blafpheming Saul, than on the traitor 
 Judas ; and on Peter flumbling, than on Judas failing. 
 Herein Cbrifl abundantly proves his iTiind and good- 
 will to fave his people, in his drawing them to him- 
 feif, that he may fave them. So faith he in John xii. 
 32. And 7, If I be lifted up from the earthy will draw 
 all 7nen unto me. And this he faid in one of his fad- 
 deft hours, as ver. 27, 28. The devil, and wicked 
 world, (that lieth in his arms, as in i John v. 19. 
 The whole world lieth in wickednefs^ or or in that %vicked 
 one)y they thought, that if chey could once get rid of 
 Chrid, and flay him, that they (hould never more be 
 troubled with Chrift, nor with believers on him. Bat 
 they were utterly difappoinred : and this Chrill fore- 
 tels ; and it was bleffedly fulfilled, and will be till his 
 fecond coming. It is as if he had faid, " They def- 
 *' pife the virtue and grace of a living Saviour ; and 
 *' think if they had flain him, there would be an end 
 ^^ of him and of his interefl on earth. But when 
 " they have done what they would, they (hall find 
 " themfelves farther from their purpofe; for I will 
 ** put forth the virtue of my death, in drawing raul- 
 " titudes unto rac." And it is not unlike, but that 
 within a few weeks after his death, and within a few 
 days after his afcenfion, there was a greater multi- 
 tude of fmners drawn to Chrift by faith, than were 
 in all the few years he lived and preached on the^ 
 earth. 
 
 So much for this iirft proof of Chrifl's will and 
 mind to fave his people, from his drawing them un- 
 to himfelf, or his working faith on him in them, 
 
 2dly, Another proof of this is from his making 
 them meet to poflefs heaven. Col. i. 12. Take heed 
 in this matter. No man is meet for Chrifl till he be 
 in him. But he that is in Chrift, is meet for heaven ; 
 and none (hall poiTefs it, but he that is made meen 
 for it \ and that is a divine work. Chrift is meet for 
 
 fin-? 
 
SB Sermons concenihv Serm. VI. 
 
 i» 
 
 finnerSj to fave them. See how meet he is made of 
 God, I Cor. i. 30. He is made all we want for fal- 
 vation. Chriil had no work in the world but for Tin- 
 ners. And none will einploy ChriH: in his faving 
 calling and office, but convinced and feofible fmners, 
 "C-jone but fnch can fee their needof Chrifl; and fuch 
 a^ fee no need of Chriil, can never employ him by 
 iaith : for believing is nothing but a needy lofl fia- 
 ner's trading this able Saviour with his falvation. 
 Chriji came to feck ajid to fave that -which was lo_ll, 
 Luke xix. 10. And the lod man comes to, and feeks 
 falvation from Chrift, and gets it. If a man difowa 
 his own name, aJJnner, he therein difowns Chrifl's 
 name, a SavirAir of finners. If men pretend to ufe 
 Chrifl as a Phyfician, and fubfcribe not their true 
 na.ne to their petitions, a loflj ftck firmer^ bleeding to 
 death by the fling of fin and of the law^ he will have 
 nothing^ to do with tbe:ii. He will fay to them, 
 *' I came to fave fmners ; but you are whole and righ- 
 *' tcous folks, and think you can fave yourfelves. 
 <• it is but a little that ails you, and you think you 
 <• can foon cure it. But if you try your own art, you 
 " peiidi ; and your w'ound is deadly, and no balm 
 " can heal it but mine." Now, no man is meet for 
 Ghrill, till he gets Chrifl. But a man rouQ be made 
 meet for heaven, before he gets ir. No man can get 
 this mectnefs but by Chriil ; and Chrifl's working 
 of this meetiicfs, is the proof 1 give of Chrift's n/md 
 to give glory to them in whom he works ir. 
 
 A little on this. What this meetnefs for heaven is ; 
 wherein it (lands j and how Chrift works it in his 
 people. 
 
 This meetnefs to polTefs heaven, is twofold; a 
 meetnefs as to the ilate of the perfon ; and a meetnefs 
 as to his nature and frame, that is 10 be the poiTeircr 
 of heaven. And the apolUe in that fcripttire named, 
 Col. i. 12, 13, 14, hints at both plainly enough. 
 
 ((.) Meetnefs in the ftate of the perfon for pofTcf- 
 iiDg of heaven, (lands in two things. Heraufl be re- 
 conciled 
 
Serm. VT, th3 Lord: s Prayer, ap 
 
 conciled to the Lord of this good land oflieaTea, and 
 he mud be related to this inheritance. Both coine 
 by Jefus Chriih Enemies and frraiigers are unmeec 
 to poffefs it'; and none fuch fnall, to eternity. Yet 
 all men by nature are both enemies to God, and un- 
 related to heaven. Bat Chriil cbangeth the ftate oi 
 them whom he minds to fave, and thus makeih them 
 meet to poffels the inheritance. They are made 
 friends, and reconciled to God, by the grace of jufti- 
 fication ; they are made children and heirs, and to re- 
 lated to the inheritance, by the grace of adoption. 
 And both are by Jefus Chrid ; as in Rom. v. 8, 9, 
 10. and viii. 14. I7- Gal. iii. 26. and iv. 5, 6. Can 
 an enemy expe£l an inheritance from his enemy ? And 
 this is the natural (late that God and man (land in to 
 one another. Can a (trangcr cxpea an inheritancs 
 in a ftrange country, where he hath no friend noc 
 relation to leave him any thing, and when the man is 
 fo poor that he can purchafe nothing ? The apoftle ia 
 Eph. ii. 12. tells them what they were by nature, 
 and what they fhould remember flill : That at that 
 time ye were without Chrijl ; and what followed on it ? 
 Jhey were aliens from the commonwealth of Ifrael^ and 
 ftranqers froju the covenant ofpromife, (Ifrael's peculiar 
 righrt Rom. ix. 4. TVho are Ifraelites ; to whom per* 
 iaineth the adoption^ and the glory ^ and the covenants^ 
 and t/j^ giving of the law^ and the fer vice of God, and 
 the promifes\ having no hope^ and without Gcd in the 
 world. How cam.e the blelTed change from this wc- 
 ful (late ? But now in Cbrifl Jefus, ye who wereforne- 
 times far off^ are made nigh by th^ blood of Chrif}^ ver. 
 13. Now therefore ye are no more fl rangers and for ^ 
 eifTners ; but fellow citizens with thefairits, and of tU 
 houfkold of God, ver. 19. So that all that pretend to 
 the hope of heaven, (liould fearch well, and make out 
 that they have a right to it, and friends there. And 
 ihe great friend in beaveo is Jefus Chrid ; who bought 
 the kingdom dearly, and conveys the right unro it 
 
 freely, to all that believe on him, 
 
 ' (2.) There 
 
90 Sermons concerning Serm. VL 
 
 (2.) There is a raeetnefs for heaven in the nature 
 and frame of the heart of the heir of it. This meet- 
 nefs is necefl'ary ; Heb. xii. iz}. Without holinefs no 
 man Jk all fee the Lord. And it is wrought by Jefus 
 Chrift in the grace of fancftification. Thus the apof- 
 tle difcourfeth plainly in i Cor. vi. 9, 10, ii.; where 
 be expreily fhews the equal neceility of jallificatioa 
 and of fan6:lfication, unto the inheriting of the king- 
 dom of Chrifly and of Gody and of the interefl: that 
 Chrirt hath in giving them both. It is very remark- 
 able in Rom. vlii. 30. one of the deepcft, and yet one 
 of the cleared fcripiures (deeped for maiter, and 
 cleared for faith") about God's method of falvation : 
 Moreover y whom he did prcdeflinate^ them he alfo called : 
 and zvhom he called^ them he alfo juflified ; and ivhom 
 he fdflijiedy them he alfo glorified. It feems to fome 
 to be drange, that there is no mention in it of fanc- 
 tification. Only there is prededination, calling, juf- 
 tification, and glory. The obvious reafon of this is, 
 that fandification is included in glory. It is not To 
 much the -way to glory, as it is a piece, and part, and 
 beginning of it. Nov/, this great work of Chrid in 
 fan(fi:ifying his neople, is feen in all his work on them, 
 and way with them, from their regeneration, until 
 their welcome to heaven. About this raeetnefs for 
 glory by fan£tification, thefe three things are well 
 known, i. That they that dudy fan<fl!fication the 
 right way mod diligently, do attain mod of it. The 
 culy way is by faith in Chrid Jefus, A£ts xxvi. 18. 
 2. That they that attain mod of it, think lead of 
 their attainments. They fee fo much evil remaining 
 in them, as Rom. vii. and fomuch good before them, 
 Phil. iii. 12, 13, 14. that they dill prefs forward for 
 more fan(^ification. If any man do think himfelf to 
 be very holy, any Chridian may not only judly quef- 
 lion the truth of that pretence, but alfo his having a- 
 ny holinefs at all. For true gofpel-holinefs is a frame 
 of heart and foul wrought by the Spirit of Chrid, 
 that works in believers a holy hatred of all fin ; a 
 
 lothing 
 
Serm.VI. the Lorcfs Fraysr, 91 
 
 lothing of himfelf in whom fo much of it ftill remains ; 
 and a preiTing after that perfeiftioD in holinefs, which - 
 only can be attained when he is where Chriil is. 3. 
 That ail fenfible and wife behevers, in their building 
 their faith and hope of polTelling glory, and in their 
 believing and pleadings with God for that poireiTion, 
 do lay far greater (yea another fort of) weight on 
 what Chrifl hath done for them, and hath promifed 
 to them, than on that fmall begun holinefs he hath 
 wrought in them ; though that alfo be to be thankful- 
 ly owned, tenderly cheriihed, and ufed as food to 
 their faith. 
 
 So much for this fecond proof. That Chrid proves 
 his mind to have his people with him where he 
 isy when he not only draws them to hhnfelf when 
 they are on the earth, but makes them meet to be 
 with him in heaven. All he hath done for his peo- 
 ple when he was in this world, is applied to them for 
 the change of their (late ; and all he doth in them by 
 his Spirit, is for the change of their frame. And 
 thus by both he makes them meet for heaven. 
 
 ^dly^ Another proof of Chrifl 's will to have his^ 
 people with hiffi where he is^ is. That he by his Spi- 
 rit, works in the hearts of his people, defires, faith, 
 and hopes of this blifs. This is both a proof that 
 ihey (hall poffefs it, and that ChriO: hath a mind that 
 they iliould have it. Chrifl raifeth no defires, raifeth 
 no faith and hope of that which he hath no mind to 
 give. So the apoftle argues, 2 Cor. x. i. — 5. J¥e 
 knviu what heaven is, ver. i. We groan ear ne ft ly, 
 ver. 2. We groan ^ as being burtbencd, ver. 4. IVe 
 are confident always in thefe groanings, ver. 6. 8. 
 The reafon of all is in ver. 5. Noiv he that hath 
 wrought us for the f elf fame thing, is God ; who hath 
 afo given unto us the eariiefl of the Spirit, So dotli 
 the apoille reafon in Heb= xi. 16. fpeaking of the an- 
 cient believers before the law : But now they defire a 
 better country^ that is^ an heavenly ; (and this defire 
 they declared plainly^ ver. 14, by word and deed); 
 
 Vol. IL N ivhers- 
 
92 Sermons concerning Serm, VL 
 
 wherefore God is not afhamed to he called their God : for 
 he hath prepared for them a city^ i. e. heaven. Their 
 defiring of it is not the caufe or reafon of God's pre- 
 paring of it ; but God's preparing of it was ihe caufe 
 of hi^ revealing of it ; and his revealing of it by his 
 promife to them, was the ground of iheir believing 
 of it ; their faith was the caufe of their defire of it; 
 and this defire, thus raifed and thu5 grounded, was 
 a demonftration to them, that they (hould furely pof- 
 fefs it. And fo (hould it be to every believer in all 
 ages. Hath Chrift raifed defires in your hearts to bs 
 with him where he is f Do ye feel them in your foul ; ? 
 And are you daily expiefTing them to him ia prayer 
 alone, and in all your attendanc?. on him in gofpeU 
 ordinances ^ If he hath yet farther opened to you 
 the door of hope, as the day-dawn to thy heavy dark- 
 ened heart ; lift up your heads and hearts, your re- 
 demption draweth near^ Luke xxi. 28. Now is your 
 falvalion nearer than when you believedy Rom. xiii. i i. ; 
 nearer than when you fir fl trufled in Chrift^ Eph. i. 
 12.; nearer than when you firfl begged it of him. 
 Gracious Jefus will never baulk the defires of heaven 
 •which he himfelf hath put and kept up in thy heart ; 
 Pfal. X. 17. Lord thou haft heard the defire of the 
 humble : thou zuilt prepare their hearty thou wilt caufe 
 thine ear to hear, 
 
 ^thly^ Chrift's good-will to give eternal life to his 
 people appears in the earneft he gives to them. 
 This is oftener fpoke of in the word, than known 
 and felt by the readers and hearers of the word. It 
 rs called the earneft oj the Spiiit^ from iis immediate 
 author, 2 Cor. v. 5. ; the earned of the Spirit in our 
 hearts^ for therein it is put, 2 Cor i. 22.; the ear- 
 nefi of our inheritance^ Eph. i. ig. for unto that it rc- 
 feireth. It is fomething of heaven given to believers 
 on earth ; fome fpecial prefence of Chrill manifefted 
 to them ; fome Ipecial fellowftiip with him, filling 
 thenn with joy, and peace, and likenefs to him. How 
 vsrell is this known to them that have it ^ And how 
 
 furc 
 
Serm. VI. the LorcTs Prayer, 9j 
 
 Aire Is it, that no words can make any other to know 
 it ? It is the hidden manna, that ChnJI gives his peo- 
 ple to eat of^ (and no man knows its tafte, but the 
 eater of it, and while he eats ot" it) ; and the white 
 Jione Cbrift: gives, and in the ft one a new name writ- 
 ten^ (If it be writren, may it not be read by any I 
 No), which no man knoweth, faving he that receiveih 
 ?V, Rev. ii. 17. Why is this earneft given ? It is to fe- 
 cure the bargain of the new covenant to the believer^ 
 and to fecure him of the poffeffion of glory. There- 
 fore is it called the fir ft fruits of the Spirit^ Rom. viii. 
 23, ; f eating of believers^ 2 Cor. i. 22. and /^ the day 
 cf redemption^ Eph. iv. 30. This earncfl: rauil be 2 
 rich jewel, when the devil that great thief and rob- 
 ber, fets himfeif fo againft them that have got it. It 
 was more than an earneft that Paul got in 2 Cor. xii, 
 I, 1,3. The devil hated Paul from the day that 
 Chrift took him out of his arms; he hated his gifts, 
 grace, and fervice ; and that Paul knew well, and 
 felt often : but he never fell on him fiercely, as whea 
 Paul came down enriched with extraordinary enjoy- 
 ments. No believer Ihali get this earned, if the de- 
 vil can hinder it ; and none can keep it, wldiout a bat- 
 tle with hell. But though Satan by his malice and 
 craft, and our unbelieving hearts, join together (as 
 too oft they do) to rob us of this earned, and the 
 fenfe of it; yet Chrift will never take it away, nor 
 break the bargain of our falvation, Pfjl. Ixxx'x. 33, 
 34, 35. Neverthetefs^ my hving-kindnefs will I not ut- 
 terly take from him^ nor'faffer my faith fulr.efs to fail ^ 
 is the voice of God in the nev/ covenant. It may be 
 a queftion with fome, If this earneH: be an univerfai 
 bleffing to all, or only a fpecial kindnefs to fome be- 
 lievers ? On the one hand, the difcouraged complain- 
 ing mood of fome Chriftians feems to fay, that they 
 have it not; on the other hand, many have thii? ear- 
 ned, and that frequently repeated to them. What 
 ftiall we fay to this que (lion ? Thefe things we may 
 be fore of ; that it is a choice mercy, and a great 
 
 N 2 advan- 
 
94 Sermons concerniri^ Serm. VL 
 
 advantage to a believer to have it ; (as the contraries 
 are as fare, to foch as have it not) ; that it is a great 
 duty to prefs afrer it : that there are ways and means 
 of Gcd's appointment for reaching it ; that there are 
 gracious promifes of a bleffing on thofe means ; and 
 that faith and diligence in feeking this bleffingin God's 
 way, is ufually fuccefsful. It feems far fafer for us, 
 to lay cur \\d.m of it on our own unbelief, than to re- 
 ilcifi- upon his word and w-iy. 
 
 So much for the firit thiug in this do61rine, Where- 
 in appears Chrifl's will and raind to have his people 
 where he is ? 
 
 II. Why it is, and muft he his will and mind? 
 Take ihefe two accounts of it. r. Becaufe of his 
 faiihfulnefs in the covenant, x^nd, 2. Of his love to 
 his people. 
 
 I* Becaufe of his faithfulnefs in the covenant of 
 grace. 1'he cleared and fureft view of our falvation, 
 is to be had in this covenant. Therein we fee, i. 
 The elc<fl: are given by the Father to the Son, ro be 
 redeemed by him, and that he may give them eter- 
 nal life ; as John xvii, 2. thou haft given him power 
 over all flejl:, that he fhould give eternal life to as ma- 
 ry as thou haft given hinu This charge the Son ac- 
 cepted from eternity, and, in the fulnefs of time, 
 came into the' world to fulfill, John vi. 38, 39. They 
 were given to him, on condition of his coming, and 
 redeeming of them by his blood ; which condition he 
 fulfilled. 2, They are promifed to him as his purchafe 
 by the Father, when theSonharh bought them as he 
 promifed : Ifa. liii. 10, 11. When thou Jhalt ?naie his 
 foul an offering for fm, he f hall fee his feed, he /hall pro- 
 long his days, and the plea fur e of the Lord fj all prof per in 
 his hand, hie fj) all, fee of the travail of his foul, and fl^' all 
 befnisfcd, &c. 3. The bringing them hh to glory, is 
 charged on the Son, and promifed by him again to the 
 Father : John vi. 38, x<)» For I came down from heaven, 
 not to do mine ovjn willy but the will of him thatfent me. 
 
 And 
 
Serm. VI. the LorcTs Prayer. ^$ 
 
 And this is the Father"^ s will which hathfentme^ that of 
 all which hehath givenme^ I jhould lofe nothings hut jhould 
 raife it up again at the la ft day. John xii. 50. And 
 I know that his commandment is life everlafting. Chrift 
 Hands engaged by this covenant, to give a good ac- 
 count of all his charge ; and he will do it fully one 
 day, when he prefents his people to his Father ; and 
 will fay of all, as Heb. ii. 13* Behold^ /, and the cbd- 
 dren which God hath given me ; and as he faid of a 
 few of them in this chapter, ver. 12. While I was 
 with them in the worlds I kept them in thy name ; thofs 
 that thou gaveft me^ 1 have kept^ and none of them is 
 loft. And furely Chrifl is as good at keeping of his 
 people when he is in heaven, as when he was on earth: 
 for he is with them ahvays^ even unto the end of the 
 world, Amen, Matth. xxviii. 20. 4. Chrift yet fur- 
 ther promifeth eternal life to his people : i John ii. 
 25. And this is the promife that he hath promifed tts^ 
 even eternal life ; as it is the grand coiiipreheDfive 
 promife. Yea, Chrift himfelf is called eternal life, 
 I John i. 2. and verfe 20. When Chrift came into 
 the world, eternal life came into it; when Chrift is 
 (hown and revealed, eternal life is made known ] when 
 Chrift is embraced by faith, eternal life is got : i John 
 V, II, 12, And this is the record^ that God hath given 
 to us eternal life : and this life is in his Son, He that 
 hath the Sony hath life, O that all men did but know, 
 how clofely, how infeparably, and how eternally, 
 Chrift and eternal life are linked together ! No eter- 
 nal life without Chrift ; no Chrift without eternal 
 life. He alfo promifeth it, as well as contains it : John 
 X. 27, 28. My fheep hear my voice ^ and 1 k?iow them 
 and they follow me. And 1 give unto them eternal life^ 
 and they /hall never perijhy neither ftmll any man pluck 
 themout of my hand. It is this, and fuch like promifes 
 of eternal life, made by Jefus Chrift, that every true 
 believer builds his hope of heaven upon. And thus 
 Chrift's faithfulnefs and truth is concerned in brings 
 ing all his people to glory, 
 
 2. Con- 
 
96 Strmons concerning Serm. VL 
 
 2. Confider Chrifl's wonderful love to his people. 
 True love canaot bear long parting, much lefs ever- 
 lafting parting. Chrift loves his people fo well, that 
 he muft have them with him ; otherwife he fhould 
 iofe his love, and his beloved ; and that cannot be. 
 The love of Chrifl: to his people may well be their 
 delight, and their wonder. There is both pleafare 
 and profit in ftudying of it. But all our thoughts can 
 never reach to its infinite dimenfions ; for it hath 
 height, and depthy and breadth^ and lengthy and in ail 
 pajjeth kn(nvledge, Eph. iii. ^8, 19. And becaufe of the 
 iweetnefs of this theme of Chritl's love, and becaufe 
 all I fhall fsy in the application of this do«5brine at this 
 time, is to reqpire love to him again ; I would fpeak 
 a little of this blefled love of Chrift to his people, as 
 it is the caufi of his willing to have them with him 
 where he is. 
 
 1/?, Chrift's love to his people hath do caufe nor 
 reafon for it, but itfelf. Love is the only caufe of 
 bis love. Oar love to hiio hath good caufe, and ilrong 
 reafon for it. His own w^orth in himfelf, his love to 
 u; and the great things he hath done for us, and 
 hati) promiled to us, j"-i(tiy defer ve more love than we 
 can gue him. Bat none of thefe things are with us 
 to engage his love to us. 
 
 2^/y, This love of Chrifl not only hath no. caufe in 
 us to raife it ; but it is a love that a£ts and move? a- 
 gainft all things that may juflly quench love and raife 
 lothing. There is not only no worth nor beauty m us 
 that he Jhould d'jfire us, (as the unbelieving world 
 thought, and thinks falfcly of Chrifl himfeif. If. liii.2.) 
 but there is a great deal in us to make us juftiy hateful 
 and lothfome in his eyes. There is enmity to him in 
 oar heart and nature ; there are provocations in our 
 converfition and walk; there are vilenefs, lothfoni- 
 nefs, poverty, and all mifery, in our (late ; yet Chrifl's 
 love overcomes all : Ezek. xvi. 6, 7, 3. Thy timcwas 
 the time c/ love, faith the Lord, A flrange lime of 
 
 love 
 
Serm. VL the Lord's Prayer. 97 
 
 love, and a flrange love ! A wretched, naked poliut- 
 ed infant, cafl out in the openjield^ to the iothing of its 
 ferfon^ as ver. 5. Was that a time of love P Was that 
 a time for the Prince of heaven to fall in love with the 
 filthy perishing brat ? Unto any but to the heart of a 
 God, this would have been a time of Iothing, and not 
 of love. The fame thing the apodle teacheth with- 
 out a parable, Eph, ii. i, 2, ^, 4. 
 
 3f//y, It is a love that fets Chrid on work ia all his 
 faving work. And hard, and dear, and coilly work 
 to him it was : yet love made him to do it ail ; and 
 delightfully he did it. He died for us in love ; he 
 called us in love; he planted his grace in us ia love ; 
 be vifits us in love ; and when he corre61s and rebukes, 
 he doth that in love too. Rev. iii. 19. Aud though 
 we do not like it, he likes it, and it is for our good. 
 All that Chrift doth for, and in, and with, and on, 
 and about his people, (and who can tell all f), he 
 doth all in and from his love to them. And this 
 (hews us both the nature of his love to us, and the 
 debt we are under to love him again. 
 
 4//^/)/, This love of Chrift to his people, both de- 
 figns and effefts the greateft good to them he loves. 
 Among creatures there is a deal of love to little pur- 
 pofe. Either they intend but little by their love; or 
 if they do defign it, their loye cannot reach it. But 
 the greateft good, eternal life, is not only intended 
 by Chrift in his love to his people, but it is fureiy at- 
 tained. AU that Chrift loves, are faved ; why I be- 
 caufe his love is faving. Salvation is defigned by this 
 lover, and is perfected by his love. 
 
 Application. Let me therefore exhort you 
 to love Jefus Chrift. Is his heart fet upon the hav- 
 ing all his people with him where he is ? Surely we 
 ought to return love to him back again. Moft of them 
 that pretend to the name of Chriftian, think they make 
 fome confcieoce of it, as being a moftjuft debr and 
 
 . duty 
 
5>8 Sermons concerning Serm. VI, 
 
 duty to bim : and will be ready to fay with Paul, 
 1 Cor. xvi. 2 2. If any man love not the Lord Jefus 
 Chrijly let him be Anathema-^ Maranatha, But as the 
 loYe that Chrift bears to his people, is not fo well 
 known and believed as it ought to be ; fo the love 
 his people owe to him, is not fo well paid as it ought 
 to be. I would therefore advife you in five things a- 
 bout your love to Chrift. 
 
 Advice T. Take a ferious view of the lover, and 
 of the beloved, and of the love he bears them ; of 
 Chrift that doth love, and of his people whom he 
 doth love, and of the love he bears to them. When 
 thefe three are feen by the eye of faith ia liie light 
 of God's word, his glory and greatnefs who loveth, 
 the vilenefs of them he loveth, the greatnefs of the 
 love he bears them, two thoughts will life in the heart. 
 
 1. How marvellous is it, that fuch a perfon as he 
 Ihould love, in fuch a manner, fuch perfons as we be ! 
 
 2. How great fliould our returns of love be to him a- 
 gain 1 What is the caufe of this ufual and fad remark, 
 That carnal, fecure fmners count it an eafy thing to 
 believe ihat Chrift loves them, though they never 
 tafted of his fpecial love ; when many fincere Chrif- 
 tians find the faith of Chrift's love to them fo difficult, 
 though they dare not deny their tafttng fomeiimes 
 that he is gracious f as, i Peter ii. 3. Yea they find 
 it hardeft to believe it in fuch times, when ehher the 
 divine dignity of Chrift, or their own wretchednef^5, 
 are feen by them ; (and ufually they go together). 
 This is the caufe of ir, becaufe this love of Chrift is fo 
 myfterious and wonderful, (as the lover is, Ifa. ix. 6.). 
 We cannot eafily think, that Chrift doth love any, but 
 fuch as are fome way like him ; .nor do we rightly 
 know, that Chrift can, and doth love them that are 
 not like him, fo as to make them like to him by his 
 love ; for his love hath always this blelTed cffefl in all 
 them that it falls upon. 
 
 Advice 2. Learn to believe Chrift's love. Ufual- 
 ly, we would fain have his love proved and nianifef- 
 
 led 
 
Serm. VL the Lord^s Prayer, og 
 
 ted to us. But I advlfe you to lake this vazy^o^ getnn^ 
 your faith to fix od Chrifl's love. Think not that I 
 would perfuade you rafnly to coDclude in yourfelve^, 
 that Chrift loves you. But what 1 defign, is only this 5 
 Take Chrift's love-letters and Chrift's amiable picture 
 in the gofpel> (and the new tellament is full of ihem) ; 
 and believe, and love them, and him by them. Be- 
 hold CbriJI crucijied, Gal. iii. i. ; behold him dying, 
 and redeeming by his blood, and that in mere love lo 
 the redeemed. Read his love-letters filled with graci- 
 ous calls, offers, and promifes : and all thefe letters 
 fealed with his blood, (lied in love. A bkiled exer- 
 cife, that you would foon find the advantage of. 
 
 Advice 3. Then pray much for his manifefted love 
 to you in particular. You are to give him glory in 
 believing his love-letters and his beautiful pi(f>ure ia 
 the gofpel, and in railing faith and love by thofe helps s 
 But you may alfo beg his manifefting his love to you. 
 See his proraife, John xiv.2 1,23. w^ords more precious 
 than fine gold. He that hath my commandments^ and 
 keepeth them^ he it is that loveth me : and he that lov- 
 eth me, /hall he loved of my Father ; and I will lovg 
 him, and will man'tfejl viyfelf to him. " I will love 
 *< him, and make him know it.'' And when one of 
 his difciples aiks, either in ignorance or wonder, Hozv 
 this could be J verfe 22. our Lord anfwers, If a man 
 love me, he will keep my words : and my Father ivdl 
 love him^ and we will come (/. e. my Father and 1) 
 unto him. and make our abode with him, ver. 23. Verf 
 like his words in Rev. iii. 20. Behold, I /land at the 
 doer and knock : If any man hear my voice, and open 
 the door, I will come in to him, and/up with him^ and 
 he with me. Thus he manifefts his love ; i John iv. 
 12, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in iis» 
 Ver. 15. Wbcfoeverjhall confefs that Jcfus is the Son 
 sf God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God, Ver. 16. 
 And we have known and believed the love that God hath 
 to us ; (and fo muft we know and believe the love 
 that his Son hath 10 us), God is love ^ and 'he that 
 Vol. IL O ^ d'lvel- 
 
100 Sermons concerning Serm. VI. 
 
 dwelltth in love^ divclkth in God, and God in him, 
 
 Ver. 17. Herein is our love made perfect. But how did 
 
 it begin, and how is it advanced f Ver. 19. We love 
 
 him, becaufe he fir (I loved us, Alas ! what are Chrif- 
 
 tians doiijg P and how poorly they do I Where is the 
 
 man who is fick of love for Chrilt I This blefTed dif- 
 
 eale (or foul's heal:b rather) is twofold ; either in 
 
 pining hunger for ihe manifelfation of his love, as 
 
 C.inr. V. o. ; or in the overwhelniing fweetoefs of his 
 
 manifefled love, Cant. ii. 5. If you know nothing of 
 
 neither of thefe, your carcafes may be well, but your 
 
 fouls do not profper. I do not think that there ever 
 
 was a poor beli. ver, that did long breathe after Ciirift's 
 
 Icve, but he felt it. Moft people do not care for it : 
 
 and therefore they feek it not, and therefore they 
 
 find it not; and (ome of them may fay, (as they in 
 
 Afls xix. i. We have not jo much jr heard whether 
 
 there be any Holy GhoflJ, " We have not felt any 
 
 *' of the love of Chrift ; we know nothing of it, but 
 
 ^' as it is fpoke of in the fcriptures, and as it is to 
 
 *' be enjoyed in heaven." But how it doth burn as 
 
 a hot fire in the heart. Cant. viii. 6, 7. even on earth, 
 
 alas ! few {tt\. 
 
 Advice 4, When Cbrift hath manifefled his love, 
 thvD light your torch of love at the warm beams of 
 the Sun of iligbteoufnefr;. 1 mean, kindle your love 
 to him at the iire of his love to you. No other fire 
 will kindle true love to Chrift, but the fai'h and feel- 
 ing of Chrifl's love to you. What mxade Paul fuch a 
 fervent lover of Chrifl, but that he knew fo well how 
 Chrirt loved him ? He loved, me, and give himfeif for 
 me. Gal. ii. 20. No wonder he faid, \t\\ xxi. 1:5. 
 / am ready not to he bound only, but alfo tj die at Je^ 
 ru/alem fc*r the name of the Lord Jefus, '' Crriii died 
 ♦' at Jcrufalem for my redemption ; and lh.ili 1 not 
 ** die there for his glory, if he call me?" 
 
 Advice 5. When you have kindled your love to 
 Chrifl at bis love to you, then let it burn and fpend 
 (but it cannot fpend, but grows by burning) in his 
 
 fervice. 
 
Serm. VI. the Lorfs Prayer. lol 
 
 fervice, and to his praife. Ufe and aft iliat love in 
 all holy worfliip, and in all gofpel-obedience. That 
 is the befl: worfliip, and the moit acceptable obedi- 
 ence, that is performed from love to Chrift. f^.is 
 love conftrained Ysiu]^ 2 Cor, v. 14. unto his excellent 
 living to Chrift. That working and running that only 
 the fpur of the law in mens conlcicnces ccnihauis 
 fome unto, is of no account in the fight of Goi, 
 Faith in Chrift raifeth love to Chrift ; and faith a^d 
 love enlivens to all holy obedience, and fpiritual wor- 
 fliip. Then the Chriftian reads and hears the word of 
 Chrift, becaufe he loves to hear his vo^ce. He prays ; 
 for he loves to fpeak, and to pour out his heart to his 
 beft friend. He fits down at the Lord's table, be- 
 caufe he loves to fee, and draw virtue from his llain 
 Saviour, He hates evil, becaufe he loves the Lord, 
 Pfalra xcvii. 10. He keeps Chrift's commandments, 
 becaufe he loves the commander, John xiv. 15. Sirs, be 
 aflured of this, that you are not yet got into the right 
 road of Chriftianity ; you are not yet in that path, 
 wherein you can be hearty and fincere, and wherein 
 you will be conftant, and never faint ; until you gee 
 once into the power of the love of Chrift. Then you 
 will be fweetly carried on in all your viray, and in his 
 ways. Then may the believer in, and lover oi Chrift, 
 fay, " Let the Lord lead me whither he pleaieth ; I 
 ^' am ft ill going to heaven, and am in the river of life, 
 *« the love- of Chrift, that begun (if I may f^y (o) 
 «* from eternity, and carries me through time, uu- 
 " to the eternal enjoyment of the fame love in hea- 
 «<^ven." 
 
 Oz SERMON 
 
I ©2 Sermons concerning Serm. VII. 
 
 SERMON VII. 
 
 John xvii. 24, 
 
 Falhsr^ I ivUl that they alfo whom thou haft given mcy 
 be 'with me where I am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which thou haft given me : for thou lovsdft me 
 before the foundation of the world* 
 
 MENS hearts are befl known by their prayer?. 
 And by the fame way we may know Chrift's 
 heart, Whofoever would know how deeply his heart 
 is concerned in the faving of his people, let thera read 
 and believe this prayer. And indeed, unlefs peo- 
 ple do know how Chrift's heart ftatids aflefied to their 
 fiiivation, their hearts will never (land well aff^dted 
 tov;ards him, in their employing him for falvatioo. 
 A clear and (Irong perfuafioo of Chrift's hearty con- 
 cern in and about faving of finners, will make a poor 
 fmner hearty in trufting him with his own falva- 
 lion. 
 
 Of this I have been fpeaking from tliefe precious 
 words. The manner of this prayer I have fpoke to. 
 In the mauer of it i took up four things, i. The de- 
 fcripiion of the party he prays for : They whom thou 
 haft given me. 2. The blelTing he prays for to them : 
 That they alfo may he with me where I am. On this 
 part 1 obferved, i. That the peifed bitfs of believers 
 fiands in their being with Chrift zuhere he is, 2. ChrijTs 
 wi'l IS to have them poffefjed of this blifs. This latter 
 dc(!lrine 1 did lad day open and confirm ; and began 
 10 apply it in one inftance, of the debt of love to 
 Chfili that lies on all Chriftians. 
 
 I would now proceed to a more large application 
 of both the dot^rinesj and that ia four exhortations. 
 
 Exhort. 
 
S £ n M . VIL the Loncpj Prayer. i ©5 
 
 Exhort, I. Is it not Chrlft's will to have all his 
 people 'with him where he is ? Then we are called to 
 admire this wonderful will of Chrift. This will hath 
 its caufes and fprings, as you have heard. But theie 
 are fo far from making it Jefs. that they indeed make 
 it more wonderful. For helping you to admire this 
 will of Chrill, 1 would give you a few things to confider. 
 
 1. Jefus Chrift knows himfelf beft. We hear thefe 
 words of Z'^/w^ with Chrift: but little do we know 
 what they contain and mean ; becaufe we know fo 
 little, who, and what Chrifi h. Bat Chrift knows 
 himfelf fully and pcrfefliy ; and therefore he knew 
 what a great blefTing he willed for his people, when 
 he uttered this fuit to his Father. It is the wife con- 
 ftituiion of God, that the knowledge of Chrid, and 
 the enjoyment of Chrifi, and the knowledge of that 
 enjoyment, are iafeparable. We alas ! know little 
 of Chrift, we enjoy little of him ; and therefore know 
 very little, what perfect enjoyment of him is. Bot 
 Chrift knew himfeif perfe£>ly, and what blifs his 
 company would be to his people. This is one thing 
 that may make ns admire this will of Chrift. As if 
 our Lord had faid, " My poor people know not fuU 
 •' ly wherein their greateft blifs confifts ; bat 1 know 
 ** it well, and will to them." 
 
 2. Our Lord J.^fus knew beft where he was to be. 
 I told you where Chrift was when he made this his 
 will, even near the loweft ftep of his humbled ftate. 
 He was juft going to the garden of agony, and from 
 that to the death of the crofs. But he prays as if ia 
 heaven already. And W'ell did be know whither he 
 v/as going, and what a high and happy ftate himfeif 
 v/as going to, unto which alfo he meant to bring his 
 people ; as he commends it, and encourageth his dif- 
 ciples from it, in John xiv. 2, 3. But we, when we 
 pray for heaven, we pray in the dark. We pray for 
 a bleffing, that we do iiot know, but in a very fmall 
 part. See i Cor. ii. 9, 1 John iii. 2. If it were 
 poffible that any believer, out of heaven, did fully 
 
 kac¥/ 
 
104 Sermons concerning Serm. VIT; 
 
 know what heaven is, that man would either be as in 
 heaven, or would pray wonderfully for it. But well 
 did Chrift know what heaven was ; and therefore 
 prays for it unto his people. 
 
 3. Chrift knew well where his people were ; in an 
 evil world, ver. 11.; and what bad entertainment they 
 had, and were to have in it. In love and pity to 
 ihcm, .therefore he wills this blefled lodging for them 
 in heaven. 
 
 4. Chrift knew well what their frame of heart and 
 dcGres were. He knew what a heart he had put in 
 them ; that nothing lefs than being with him where 
 he was, could content, fatisfy, and make them hap- 
 py. Would you know, when Chrift begins to do 
 good to a poor firmer ? what is the firft thing Chrift 
 doth to one he miuds to fave ? It is plainly this : He 
 makes forh a ho'e in rhe man's heart, that nothing 
 but C/^rift and heaven can fill. None but Chrift, no- 
 thing bui be'ng with him where he is, can fatisfy 
 this man. Chrift's grace given, fpringeth up into e- 
 verlajling life^ Jobn iv. 14". And he that created 
 this fpiing, will neither divert nor ftop it. But as 
 their hearts, by his grace, fpring up to heaven ; 
 Chrift's heart, in this prayer, fprings up to that fame 
 everlafting life for them. 
 
 Exhort, 2. Love this blefled wilier. Love Jefus 
 Chrift, who wills to have all his people in heaven 
 with himfelf ; and love him for willing it. But fome 
 will fay, '* 1 know not that Chriit wills this for me. 
 *' If I did but know it, I would then love him.'' Anf, 
 I. Though you do not know it, you doubt not, but 
 he deferves thy higheft love. No darknefs as to 
 your interefl: in Chrid:, can difTolve the obligation of 
 duty to love Chiift, nor excufe thee from the fm of 
 not loving him. 2. All the devils in hell, or out of 
 hell, or in thy heart, cannot prove, that thou arc 
 one that Chrift hath no mind to hav« with him, If 
 any of them luggeft it, you have reafon to fay, they 
 lye, and cannot poffibly prove it, I will fuppofe thy 
 
 ftaie 
 
Serm. VII. the Lord's "Prayer^ 105 
 
 flate to be as bad as thou imagines ; that thou hall 
 no light, nor knowledge, nor ground to believe and 
 hope that thou art in Chrift's will and prayer ; yea, 
 that thou haft many fears of the contrary, and appear- 
 ance of grounds for them. Yet it is certain, that it 
 is impoflible to prove, that Chrift hath no mind to 
 fave thee. 3. Is it not fome confiderable encourage- 
 ment to you, that it is certain that many jufl: fuch as 
 you, are in this will of Cbrifl: ? This prayer was put 
 up, and hath been oftentimes anfwered, for many 
 juft fuch as you be. There is not fo great a differ- 
 ence betwixt men in their natural ftate, as many ima- 
 gine. There is indeed fome difference in their out- 
 ward converfation. Some wander ftrangely ; and 
 fome are, by education, and rellraining common 
 grace, kept within tolerable bounds. But ftill as to 
 the fubftance of an unrenewed ftate, all in it arc alike. 
 They are fwine Jlill^ whether wafhedy or wallowing 
 in ths mire^ 2 Pet. ii. 22. till Chritt's grace change 
 them. 4. You that doubt that you are not in ChriiVs 
 will for glory, can you blefs him, and love him, for 
 willing falvaiion to (o many others ? It is a fad fuppo- 
 fition, I own. And 1 think it finful for any to lay if 
 down as to himfelf, that Chrifl hath no miod to fave 
 him. Yet fad fuppofitions laid clofe to the heart and 
 confcience, do fometimes produce and draw forth 
 fome good thing that lay hid in the heart. Let me 
 therefore argue with fuch. You fear, ^ or conclude, 
 that Chrilt haih no mind to fave you, that he hath 
 DO thoughts of love to you. Well. Though this 
 thought be finful in all fuch that daily hear the voice 
 of his love in the gofpel, 1 would lay to fuch, i. Is 
 it not righteous with him ? Do you not own that you 
 deferve not his love, and that you juflly deferve his 
 hatred? Proud quarrelling with his juftice, is very 
 unfuitable to a pleader for his mercy. 2. is not this 
 fad cafe very afflifling to your fouls ? Alas ! many have 
 bitter complaints in their mouths, when there is liule 
 (qq^q ia their hearts of that ihey complain of. Sure- 
 
xo5 Sermons concermvg Serii. VII. 
 
 ly, there are ccmplaiuing hypocrites, as well as boafl- 
 iog hypocrites. 3. Is there any inclination ia your 
 fpirits to admire, love, and praife Jefus Chrid for fav- 
 iiig fo many ? I am perfuaded, (and that wiih good 
 warrant from Chrifl's gofpel), that perfon that ad- 
 mires Chrilt's grace in faving others, (hall never be 
 lofl: hirafelf. Yea, there is fome heavenly fire ia 
 x^^Y^fmoklngflaXy or wkk^ that tender-hearted Jefus 
 wll not quench^ Ifa. xlii. 3.; nor will he let the many 
 waters quench it, nor Jhall the floods drown, it^ Cant. 
 Tiii. 7. although they be the floods of hell. 
 
 Exhort. 3, Search and try whether you are in this 
 will ol Chrift. BlelTed be the Lord, that no man can 
 know that he is not ia Chrift's will ; yet any Ciiriftiaii 
 may know that he is in it. It is a matter of the vaft- 
 e(l concern, and calls for fuitable diligence, 2 Pet. i. 
 10. Chrift*s prayer, and Chrifl's blood, are of the 
 fame extent ; and both have an everlafting voice and 
 virtue. This prayer of our Lord*s was put up in the 
 fame night he was taken; and its force and virtue is 
 fiill as great as when it was tirft uttered. So it is with 
 the voice and virtue of his blood. It fpeaks to this 
 day as precious things as when he (bed it. Alas ! 
 our prayers have but little virtue and force when they 
 are firfl put up, and that little is quickly fpent ; and 
 were it not for our Advocate with the Fat her ^ i John 
 ii. i» they would all come to nothing, and never be 
 more heard of. But It is fir (O how far I) ctuerwife 
 with Chrifl's prayers. They have infinite virtue 
 when firft put up, and that virtue is of eternal dura- 
 tion. Here we have our Lord praying to have all his 
 people with him where he is. His prayers were al- 
 ways heard : John xi. 41, 42. And Jefus lift up his 
 eyes^ andfa'id^ Father ^ I thank thee, that thou hafl 
 heard me ; and I knew that thou hcardfl me always^ 
 And furely he waS heard in his lad and main prayer \ 
 for his own glory, :ind his people's hUffednefs, in 
 this text. Chriit did all the Father's w .1, in working 
 cut the redemption of the elc6t 5 and tue Father will 
 
 do 
 
Serm. VIT. the LorcPs Prayer, 107 
 
 do all the Sou's will, in giving the bleilings bought to 
 ihe redeemed. It is then of the higheft iraponaoce to 
 us, to know' we are in this will of Chrift, that always 
 is effe£led ; and in this prayer of his, that is, hath 
 been, and will furely be anfvyered. And^ for your 
 help in this inquiry about your intereft in CbriR's will 
 and prayer, I would look into this blefr:fd chapter, 
 and Chrift's prayer in it ; and from it (how you fome 
 marks of them Chrili: prays for; and let your confci- 
 ences judge of your intereftin them. 
 
 Mark I. Of them Chrlfl: prays for, is in ver. 6. / 
 have ?nanlfejQed thy name unto the men ivhich thou gav^ 
 eft me out oj the zvorld. Would ye know if you be ia 
 Chrifl's prayer and will ? Then fee if Chrift harh ma- 
 nifefted to you the Father's name. It is his work, and 
 his only ; Matih. xi. 27. Ail things are delivered unto 
 me of my Father : and no man knoiveth ihe Son but the 
 Father : neither knozveth any man the Father^ fave the 
 Son^ and he to tuhomfoever the Son will reveal him. 
 Now, what is the Father's name ? Many think they 
 know it, to whom Chrift never revealed it. Ifyoii 
 alk them, if they know Chrift's Father's name ? they 
 have a ready anfwer, Is he not the firfl: perfon in the 
 Trinity ? Is he not God the Father, the Almighty, 
 the Maker and Ruler of heaven anu -earth? Ye?, 
 But this is the name of God only, and that in gener- 
 al. The name of Chrift's Father, is that name and 
 difcovery of God wherein he ftands related to the 
 Son, and the Son to the Father, with the power 
 and virtue of this name; as in ver. 26. of this chapter. 
 And I have declared unto them thy name^ and will de- 
 clare it : that the love wherewith thou hafl loved me^ 
 may he in them^ and I in them. In comparing ver. 6. 
 and ver. 26. I would remark two things, i. One 
 is in Chrift's way of his expr efiing his work in reveal- 
 ing his Father's name to his people. In ver. 6. it is, 
 / have manifefled ; in ver. 26. it is, 1 have declared 
 thy natne. But though there be fmall difference ia 
 the Englifh, there is a confiderable one in the Greek ; 
 Vol. II. P as 
 
Io8 Sermons concerning Serm. YII. 
 
 as any acquainted with the original do koow. I ne- 
 ver looked on the infcriprion ou ChriiVs crofs, writ- 
 ten by his enemies, in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, 
 as a warrant to preachers of Cbrifl's gofpel to (luff 
 iheir fermons with Ihreds of thofe, or any frrange 
 tongues; nor that criticifms on the words in the ori- 
 ginal languages are proper for the pulpit : and if rb.e 
 preachers had as little pleafure in them, as the peo- 
 ple have profit by them, they would be quickly laid 
 alide. Bur fometimes the penury of the vulgar 
 tongue doih not anfwer the fulnefs of the original ; 
 and in that cafe it muft be fuppjied by farther expli- 
 cation ; as in thefe two verfes before, in ver, 6. and 
 Ter. 26. In v^r. 6. our Lord tells the Father, that 
 he had manifefhd his name to tliein ; in ver. 26. that 
 he had declared his name to them. A{> the words rua 
 in the EngTiiii, they feem to us to be much the lame ; 
 but as in the Greek, there is a remarkable difl'erencc. 
 In ver. 6. Chrift's manifefling the Fathers name to theniy 
 refpccTts the clear and glorious difcoveries Chrift had 
 made to them of the Father's name in and by Chrifl^s 
 incarnation, woids, and works, la ver. 26. his de'- 
 claring to them the Father"* s name^ refpe6ls the light 
 and knowled'v«: of the Father's name, which Chrifl 
 had wrought, and was farther to woik in them. The 
 manifefling^ fpeaks the difcoveries of his Father's 
 name that Chrift made to them ; the declaring ir, 
 fpeaks lonh the iruit of the former in bis difciples. 
 It is as if he had faid, ** 1 have made thy name known 
 ** to them, I have made ihem know thy name ; and 
 *' ihcy do know it;" as he faith, ver. 25. 2. Ano- 
 ther remark 1 make in comparing ver. 6. and ver. 26. 
 is this. That the fruits and elTc(fls are the fame in both. 
 Wiiatevcr dilTerence there is in the words expreiTing 
 ihis work of Chrift, the fruit produced thereby is the 
 fame. In ver. 6. the fruit is faid to be in two. i. 
 ^hey have kept thy word ; exprefiiog their faiih and 
 ob( dience. 2. Noiv they ha-ve known that all thinjrs 
 'whatfocccr thou hajl green mt^ are oj thee ^ ver. 7. " My 
 
 *' perfoa 
 
SsRM. VII th^ Lord's Prayer. 109 
 
 « perfon, my callmg, my furniture, my words and 
 « works, are all of ihee/' This they knew. And 
 it feeras to relate to what they fay, chap. xyi. 29, 30. 
 In ver. 26. the fruit of Chris's dechrtrig the Father s 
 name to them, is faid to be, That the love wherewtth 
 thou ban loved me, may be in them, and I in them. 
 The Father's name is a fpecial difcovery ot the love 
 of the Father unto his Son firft, and then through 
 the Son unto periftiing finners. See if you have had 
 any i\xxng of this. Chrift teacheih the Father s name, 
 and the Father teacherh Chrift's name by his Splint 
 when he draws men : John vi. 45. Every man that hath 
 heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 
 Mark 2. Is in ver. 8. (And it is a fad thing it peo- 
 ple cannot find their own name in no part of this pray- 
 er) • And I have given unto them the words which thou 
 Zaveflme. Search if Chrift hath given you any of 
 his words. He hath the tongue of the learned f^ora the 
 Father, Ifi. 1. 4. and ufeth it on all he favetb. We 
 are faved by words ; not by the words which men 
 fpeak, but which Chrid fpeaks : John vi. 68. Lord, 
 to whom fhall we go f Thou haft- the words of eternal 
 Me, So here Chrift f^mh, " I have i)^^^^'^'^^^'^''^l 
 « words of love, . and life, and power." Hath Chrilt 
 at no time fpoke to your heart, fo as you have been 
 made to fay, This is the voice cf my beloved ; as Cant. 
 ii 8.? Men mud hear Chiift's voice, before they o- 
 pen the door to him, Rev. iii. 20. His voice makes 
 the dead to hear, and live, John v. 25, 26. 
 
 Mark 3. Of one in Chrilt's prayer, is in ver. 14. 
 16. Such are not of the world, as Chrift is not ot 
 the world. They are in the zvorld, but not of it ; as 
 the apoftle diftinguiftieth, i John ii. 19- fpeakmg ot 
 apoftates. They were for a while in the church, and 
 with it ; but never of it, as appeared by their apoftaly 
 from it. Oar Lord was in the world, as never any 
 man was. He was in the world, and the world^ was 
 ?nade by him, and the world knew him not, John 1. lo. 
 The woild knew neither its Maker, nor Saviour. His 
 
 P 2 people 
 
110 Sermons concerning Serm. VIT, 
 
 people are in the world, but not of it. They have 
 \ic\i\\tv the /pint of the world, i Cor. ii. 12. nor their 
 heart on it, nor their treafure and portion in it, 
 Matib. vi. 2t. There is fomething fown and planted 
 in their hearts, that came from another world than 
 this, and draws them to heaven as their home; and 
 this world is but their paiTage and thoroup^h-fare un- 
 to it. Are your hearts on heaven, and oil this world ? 
 Conclude you are in Chrid's prayer and v;iil. 
 
 Mark 4. Chrift prays for believers on him, ver. 20. 
 Every one that can make out his faith in Chrift, may 
 Jay claim to this prayer, (though he be but a weak 
 believer), and to an inrerelt in it. 
 
 5. LaJJlyy I {hail give one mark in general from 
 the whole prayer. Can you fay Amen to all of it ? 
 Can you fet your feal and A nen of falih and love to 
 all that Chrifl prays for here? a hearty Amen to all 
 Chrifl: prays for his own glory, and the happinefs of 
 his body the church P Do you daily defire with the 
 heart the fame things that Chrifl: here prayed for, 
 efpecjally as to this ver. 24. ? When you hear Chriii's 
 defire of having his people with him where he is, 
 doth your heart echo to it, " I would, O that 1 were 
 *' with thee where thou art !" if it be fo, you have 
 part and ponion in this good matter. If Chrift's will 
 and thy will jump together for the fame blefling, then 
 srt thou in Chrifi's prayer and will ; and there will 
 be 2 performance of the Lord, when he fliall get all 
 bis will on thee, and thou all thy defires from him. 
 
 Exhort^ 4. Believe on this blelTed wilier of filvati- 
 on, and on ihis will. You are not calKd at firlf to 
 believe your inif.rcfl iu Chrifl, and in his will ro fave 
 you in particular : but you are, on the peril of your 
 fouls, to triift this Saviour with your falvation ; and 
 the rather, becaufe of his declared ability and good- 
 will to fave. Saving faith in Chrifl, is not a bare 
 affent unto any propofition of truth concerning Chrift 
 the Saviour ; for that is but an a^^ of the miind, and 
 it is in devils and in many ungodly men : but it is an zCt 
 
 of 
 
Serm.VII. the Lord*s Prayer. ill 
 
 of the heart on the perfon of the Saviour, Men helkv^ 
 with the heart unto rtghteoufnefs^ Horn. x. 9, \o. it is 
 a truft on this divine perfon, as revealed to us by his 
 names in the gofpel. So faith is called fo oft helie- 
 ving on his namey John i. 12. i John iii. 23. There 
 is one name of Chrift in Ifa. Ixiii i, I that f peak in 
 right eoufnejs, mighty tofave ; where we have a taking 
 defcription of the obje(51: of faiih. All he fpeaks is 
 true ; and you may truft him, and take his word. 
 And he can do all, any thing, every thing, in and 
 about falvation, that a fmner can need to be done. 
 He is mighty tofave. Never did a fianer perifli thro* 
 Chrift's want of might to fave. Remember thefe two 
 names of Chrift in all your employing of him about 
 your falvation. The truth of his faviag word, and the 
 might of his faving arm, ought never to be out of 
 the eye of faith. How ftrong would faith grow in us 
 if our faith did duly fix on both P 
 
 There is one fcriprure I would open a little to you 
 
 to this purpofe. It is a place well known, (O that it 
 
 were as well ufed!), in i Tim. i. 15, This is a faith' 
 
 ful faying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jefus 
 
 Chrift came into the world to fave finners, of zvhom I am 
 
 chief . A text that ought to be in the memory and 
 
 heart of every Chriftian. There are three things ia 
 
 it that I would glance at, to fnow you what I drive 
 
 at in prelTing you 10 believe on this greac wilier of e- 
 
 ternal life co his people. Here you have three things. 
 
 I. The fum of the gofpel : Chrijl came itito the world 
 
 to fave finners. 2. Here is the commend^non of the 
 
 gofpel : It is a faithful fay ivg^ and worthy cf all ac* 
 
 ceptation, 3. Here is the believer's application of the 
 
 gofpel : Of whom I am chief 
 
 I . We have a fum of the gofpel : ChrlJ} Jefus 
 came into the world to fave firmer s. In this fhort fum 
 we have three things, i. His name who is the Savi- 
 our, Jefus Chrifi^ the Son of God, It looks rather 
 like the devil's gofpel, than God's gofpel^ that hath 
 not Chrift's name in it. 2. What this Saviour did t 
 
ir2 Sermcns concerning Serm. Vlf. 
 
 He raTije into the world. Never did man come into the 
 ^koT\C\ bii: Jcfus Chrifb. The fiin: man and woman 
 Vvcre made i:i the world by their great Miker; and 
 a'J their pofterity are born in the worlds as Chrifl calls 
 ii^ John xvi. 21. Only Chriit came into the world* 
 ^-:.nd this word comprehends, not only his incarnation, 
 but ail the work he did in the world, and all ihe en- 
 tertaiomcnt he met with from God and man, angels 
 and dcvilj, when he was in the world. 3. His er- 
 rand and bufmefs he came into the world for and u- 
 poll : To fave finners, A flrange errand, and a hard 
 Work I if there had been no fmners in the world, 
 Chrifl had had nothing to do in the world. They 
 therefore that deny themfelves to be Tinners, they do 
 what ihcy can to turn Chrill: out of his ciHce of a Sa- 
 viour. He came D(^t to condemn the world, for that 
 was pad already, John iii. 17, 18.; neither did he 
 co7ne to judge the worlds John xii, 47. ; but to fave 
 the world. For at his fecond coming he will judge the 
 ivorldy A(51s xvih 31. There was never a finlefs man 
 in the w^orld, but the firft and fecond Adam. The 
 firft-vvas fuch for a litde time, and by his fall made all 
 the world finners. The fecond man^ the Lord from hea- 
 'vcn^ (as I Cor. xv. 47.), was always Iblefs ; and by 
 the facrifce of himfelf^ put away fin ^ Heb. ix. 26. and 
 faved fmncrf. How frequently did he alTerr, and 
 prove it by word and deed, that this was his errand 
 into, and his bufmefs in the world ? How frequently 
 did his enemies, the fcribes and Pharifees, (lumble at 
 hisperfon, doflrine, and kindnefs to finners; and that 
 becaufe they neither knew him, nor his errand into 
 the world ? If he was gracious to fiiiners, they call 
 him iH friend of puUicans and finners, Matth. xi. 19. ; 
 if" he torgave a fmner, as Maiih. ix. 2. they fay, he 
 blaffhemeth. When the great fmner approacheth him 
 vith faith and love, Luke vii. 39. even his hoft, that 
 was no open enemy, (fince he invited Chrifl to his 
 houfe and table), yet he J pake within hinfelf fuyingy 
 ^bis many if he were a prophety woiild know ivhoy and 
 
 what 
 
Serm VII. the Lord's Prayer. 115 
 
 what manner of woman this is that ioucheth him : for 
 fie ts a firmer. And belike he ihoughr/if Chiiil had 
 known it, he would cot hsve fullered her to do fo. 
 Poor maQ ! he doubted ChrilVs being a Prophet ; but 
 he had no thought of Chrid's being God's great High 
 Prieft. Brethren, Chrift is not changed from what 
 he was when he was in this world, now he is in hea- 
 ven. He hath the fame kind heart to fmners, and the 
 fauie bufme s with them, to fuve them. And the 
 v;orld is not changed from what it v/as when he was 
 in it. Chiift's aas of grace to fmners, from the Fa- 
 ther's right hand, are as much mahgned by fuch as 
 are ignorant of him, and enemies to him, this day, 
 as what of this fort he did on earth, (when he wa^ m 
 their ftreets, fields, and houfes), was mai'gned and re- 
 proached by the fcribes and Pharifees. Men change 
 in every age ; but the feed of the ferpenr, the chil- 
 dren of the devil, and the fpirit of unbelief, never 
 changes. And all that hath been, is, or (liali be, la 
 the world, of this enmity to Chrift's grace to fmners, 
 flows from mens grofs ignorance of Chriil's main bu- 
 finefs in the world. 
 
 Now, this was Chriil's errand into the world, to 
 fave finners. Bat how doth he fave them ? Some 
 fay, by ihewing them the way of falvation, and by his 
 dodrine, and by his example. The devil faid this of 
 Paul and Silas, iVfts xvi. 1 7. '^hefe men are thsfervants 
 of the moji high God, which fljew unto us the way of 
 falvation. But who can think, that God fent his own 
 Son, and that the Son came into the world, to do no 
 more, than a prophet, an apofile, or an ordinary 
 gofpei-minifler, do:h, or can do ? Some will tell you, 
 that Chrift faves anners,by teaching and helping thera 
 to fave themfelves. What a grofs perverting of the 
 gofpel is this I How plain is it, that Chrift came not 
 to help us to fave ourfeives, but to fave us by him- 
 felf P He alone did all the work^ and he alone was 
 able to do it. And the glory of laving is fo rich a 
 jewel in Chrift's crown, that no man, without pride 
 '^ and 
 
114 Sermons concerning Serm. VIL 
 
 and blafphemy, can cder to wear it. To be the Sa- 
 "vionr of finners, is Chrifl's property ; and no creature 
 in heaven or earth, can (hare m it. The holy angels 
 are humble adorers of this name, and all the redeenfied 
 of the Lord arc the happy partakers of the virtue of 
 this name of ChriiT, llev. v. 9,--- 14. The Papifts 
 will tell you, that Chrift faveth finners indeed by his 
 death ; but that all the application of the virtue of 
 his death he hath left with the church ; that he left 
 Peter to be the head of the church ; and that Peter 
 left his power with his fuccelTors, the bifhops of Rome. 
 And, by ihofe delullons, Antichrifl: hath ufurped 
 Chrift's throne of falvation, and hath deceived the 
 world, and damned it ; and, inftead of faving finners, 
 hath been dejlroying the faints of the mofl high Gcd. 
 Nothitjg but the wrath of God on defpifers of Chrid 
 and bis gofpel, would have brought in, and kept up 
 fo loEg this abomination of defolation, 2 Theff. ii. 10, 
 12, 12. Rev. xiii. 8. and xvii. 8. But what faith 
 Chrill, and the apoflles, about Chrift's faving finners ? 
 How plain is it, that he, and he alone, and by him- 
 felf, doth all ? 
 
 2, We have the commendation of this gofpel : This 
 is a faithful faying^ and worthy of all acceptation. 
 I, The gofpel is d, faying, a report^ Ifa. liii. i. Rom. 
 X. 16. But it is a tejlijuony oj God, 1 Cor. ii. i.; a 
 record of God, i John v. ! o, i f . Faith comes by hear^ 
 ingoi it, Rom. x. 17. t and is built on this divine fay- 
 ing. 2. It is -^faithful faying ; becaufe it is the rC' 
 cord that God giveth of his Sen, i John v. 10. ; and it 
 is given by him that cannot lye, Heb. vi. 18. Tit. i. 2. 
 3. This faithful faying is worthy of all acceptation. And 
 this extends to all perfons j all aad every finner ihould 
 accept it : and alfo to the acceptation itfelf ; it is wor- 
 thy of all manner of acceptation ; of all fort?, de- 
 grees, and meafures of acceptation. No man is ex- 
 cepted, and no fort of acceptation is excluded. No 
 man can exceed in his accepting of this faying. So 
 that the apoftle commends the gofpel by two things, 
 
 that 
 
Serm. VIT. the LorcTs Frayer. 11$ 
 
 that commend any faying of God or man. i. It I5 
 true ; and any roan may trud ir. 2. It is good ; and 
 every man fhould accept it, 
 
 3. We have the application of the gofpel : Ofwhrn 
 lam chief. You and I make no doubt but that Paul 
 was, when he wrote this, one of the greateft belie- 
 rers in Chrifl that ever was ; and that from that faiih 
 he was one of the holieft men on earth ; and that 
 from both he was one of the humbleH: faints; (as 
 flrong faith, and true holinefs, never fails of produc- 
 ing this efFe£^) : and therefore he faith, Of whom I 
 am chief. He had faid juft before in verfe 14. Ths 
 grace of our Lord Jefus Chrifl was exceeding abundant^ 
 with faith and love, which is in'Chrip J^fiis, Yet 
 for all this grace he counts himfelf the chief of fin- 
 ,ners. Why doth he fay fo ? Surely, becaufe he 
 thought fo. But why did he think fo? I may fay, 
 Paul would never forget his own name, chief Jlnner, 
 though he was not a condemned, but a pardoned Tin- 
 ner. But wherein lieth the force of this way of his 
 applying the gofpel to himfelf thus I The faying is 
 general, Chrift came into the world to fave jinfiers. 
 How could be fay, Of whom I am chief f Did Chriit 
 come into the world to fave. al! finners ? No : Joha 
 ix. 39. And Jefus faid^ For judgment (or difcriininci" 
 tiori) I am come into this world : that they which fee 
 noty might fee ; and that they which fee, (that think 
 they fee)j might be made blind. Like what Simeom 
 faid of Chrifl^ in Luke ii. 3^. Behold, this child is ft 
 for the fail and rifing again of many in Ifrael ; and 
 I Peter ii. 7, 8. Are all finners alike P No. Weil 
 • did Paul know it, who judged himfelf to be the great- 
 eft of finners. But Paul applies it to himfelf warranr- 
 ably thus, as any other (inner may. " Becaufe Chriii's 
 *^ bufmefs in the world is to fave finners, ttiough I be 
 *' the chief of finners, I am but a finner ; and greater 
 *< or fmaller finners are all one to Chrift ; his errand 
 " is for both forts, and his faving fkill is for both 
 « forts. Ail diieafcs are alike to Cbrifl's art. All. 
 VcL,IL % «cf 
 
Ii6 Sermons concerning Serm. VII, 
 
 ** of them are defperate, and incurable to any, but 
 " Chrilt ; and all alike curable by him." Would 
 you know, then, by the example of this great fmner, 
 by the praflice of this great believer, and by the teach- 
 ing of this great apoiile Paul, (whofe heart and pea 
 was guided by the Holy (Thoft), what faith in Jefus 
 Chrilt is, and in what manner you fliould act it ? Then 
 do four things. 
 
 I. 'lake God's holy and righteous law, and read ir, 
 and think on it with tairh and fear, and fign it. Study 
 it in a clear light ; and bring it "r^ your confcience, 
 and your confcience unto ir. When God's law, with 
 is fpiritual light and power, and your confcience meet 
 together, it will fare with you as it .did with Paul, 
 Km. vii. 8, 9. Without the law Jin was dead. For I 
 was alive without the law once^ (and then he was dead 
 in fin) : but when the commandment came^ fin revived, 
 and 1 died. How could Paul be without the law, who 
 was fo zealous a Pharifee ? 1 may fay, he was indeed 
 bufy with the law, but the law was not bufy with 
 him. Ht fought righteoufnefs and life by the law; 
 and little dreamed, that fin and death would come u- 
 pou him, when the law came to him. Now, when 
 you and the law meet thus, feal to the law and fub- 
 fcribe your name, •*''l am the chief tranfgreflor ol" this 
 *• law;'' as Paul doth i^ Horn. vii. 12, 14 Wherefore 
 the law is holy^ and the commandment holy, and jufi^ 
 and good. For we know that the law is jpnitual : but 
 I am carnal^ fold under fin. The tniiy convinced [in- 
 ner thinks we!l oF God^s law, whil« he thinks word 
 of hi'nfelf. Vic fpeiketh not evil of the law, norjudg- 
 eth the law^ James i» 1 1. when he judgeth and con- 
 demns hiiv.felf. One of thefe is in the hean of every 
 finner ; He either condemns God's law for i(g llricl- 
 nefs, (as the wicked fervant did his lord and maier, 
 Matth. XXV. 24.); or he condemns himfelf for his (ia- 
 ful breaking of it. And if a finner's convi^lion be not 
 found and thorough, then the poor finner's heart is 
 divided ; and his fraa^e is made up of relleding, partly 
 
 oa 
 
Serm. VII, the LorcTs Prayer, 1 17 
 
 on the ftriftnefs and righteoufnefs of God's law, and 
 partly on ibme of his own breaches of it. But fuch a 
 man is far from fealing the law with Paul's oanic, 
 the chief ofjinners, Way, he can name and call iTKUiy 
 others, greater (inners than himfelf, as the Pharifee 
 did, Luke xviii. 11. : not like the publican, *t^r r^» 
 who, in his plea for mercy, calls himfelf, me the Jin- 
 Tier, (fo it (hould be read) ; ** me the great, the fui«' 
 •' gular (inner j" the fame word, another Pharifee 
 called the forgiven believer by, Luke vii. 39. If there . 
 be therefore any allowed grudge againfl God's law, 
 and a readineis to judge other finners greater finners 
 than yourfelves, you are not like to write after Paul's 
 copy- 
 
 t. Next, turn to the other (i^t of the Bible, the 
 gofpcl ; and fign the. fame name, chief of finners^ to 
 it alfo : Chrift came into the world to fave finners. The 
 greater the ficaer be, the greater is his need of a Sa- 
 viour; and the faving of the chief of fmners, brings 
 the chief honour and glory to the Saviour. Therefore 
 doth Paul both feal to the truth of the gofpel-faying, 
 and to its being worthy of all acceptation : he believes 
 it, and welcomes it, as chief of finners. And fo mud 
 you, if you believe to the faving of the foul. Tho' 
 there be greater and fmaller fius and finners ; yet no 
 man ever did, or can believe, as a little fmner. Leafl^ 
 and lefs than the leafl of all faints^ we find in a great 
 faint's mouth, Eph. iii. 8. But never did any true 
 faint either think or call himfelf a little finner. For 
 as no man that feeth fin truly, can call any fin fmall or 
 little; fo DO man that feeth himfelf to be a iinner 
 really, can count himfelf a fmall or little fmner. Nor 
 can it ever be, till there be a little law to break, a 
 little God to offend, a little guilt to contra(5l, and a 
 little wrath to incur. All which are impoiTible to be, 
 blafphemy to wifti, and madnefs to exped:. 
 
 3, Would ye put forth and a£^ faith on Jefus Chrift? 
 Come to Jefus Chrlft on the fame errand he came Into 
 the world fore He came into the wcrld to fave fm- 
 
 2 Qers ; 
 
ii8 Sermons concerning Serm. VII. 
 
 re.rs; come to Chrifl to be faved by h-ira. This is 
 believing. Chrifl: came into the world, to get glory 
 to his grace in faving Tinners ; and the believer conties 
 to Chrift, to give Chrill" employment in his calling of 
 I'aviag, and to get the benefit of his calling. A fin- 
 rer's giving of Chrill employment in his office of fac- 
 ing is proper believing. The phyfician came for the 
 iiclc, to heal them ; and the fick feek to the phyfician, 
 that he may heal them, Match, ix. 12, 13. The great 
 and good Shepherd of the Jheep (as he is called, John 
 X. II. and Heb. xiii. 20.) came to feek andtofave that 
 •which zvas lof}^ Luke xix, 10. When he hath found 
 ihem, and caught them in the arms of his love, and 
 iayeih them oa the Ihculders of his care and (Irength, 
 as in Luke xv. 4, 5. ; then they by faith, bleat, as it 
 "^'ere, aft'^r his care and prote(rtion, till he bring thern 
 fafe into the bleffed fold m heaven, John x. 16. You 
 may hear the bleffed bleating of one of Chrift's flock, 
 Pfalm cxix. 176. / have gone a fir ay like a lofl fheep^ 
 (iS all his flock have done, Ifa. liii. 6.), fetk thy fer- 
 vant. And furely, when the fliepherd feeks the flray 
 fheep, end the ftray flieep feeks ihe fhepherd, they 
 will quickly meet. If. Chrill come into the world to 
 fcivs iinners, and if flnners come to him, to be faved 
 by him, he will fave them, and they fhall be faved by 
 him. 
 
 4. haflly^ When you have given employment to 
 Chrift in his ofiice of faving, leave it to him, and truft 
 it wiih him. Are we commanded to cafl our bur- 
 den upon the Lord^ Pfalm Iv. 22. ? to cafl all our care 
 vpon him^ i Fcter v. 7. ? May we not, mufl we not 
 capL our main care upon him ? And is not the keepin-r 
 of cur fouh our main care, 1 Peter iv. 19.? If we ca(t 
 this care on Chrifl, mull not we truft him quietly with 
 it? It is a great, but common fault with many Chrifli- 
 ans ; ihey fay ihey cafl their care upon him, when yet, 
 through unbelief, the)', keep the burden flill on them- 
 fclves. Kcmerubcr, that on thy caftiog thy burden 
 
 on 
 
Serm. VII. the Lorffs Prayer. iif 
 
 on the Lord by faith, if he take it not quite oiFthce, 
 he will either take oiFthe weight of thy burden, or he 
 will make it as wings to thee in thy journey to heaven. 
 How many can fcal to this in their experience ? Had 
 tliou with thy heart committed thy greated care of 
 thy falvation to Jefus Chrilt ? Then fay in* thy heart, 
 " My main care is over; I have pat it in a good, 
 " ftrong, and fure hand." See how Naomi faith to 
 Ruth, chap. iji. i8. Sit down my d^iughtery until thou 
 knew how the matter will fall : for the man will not 
 be inrefl^ until he hath finijhed the thing this day. 
 So fay I, Sit down quietly, and with confidence : 
 leave the care of thy falvation on Chrift, for that is 
 his province ; and fet about the work of thy falvati- 
 on, for that is thine, wherein alfo he will help thee, 
 Phil. ii. 12, 13. When you are once come to Chrid, 
 all your remaining duty is to abide in him, and bring 
 forth fruit, John xv. 4, 5. But it is indeed a large 
 one. 
 
 But, alas ! for as plain as the call of faith is in the 
 gofpel, there are two thoughts in mens hearts that 
 defeat all, and fend thoufands of gofpel-hearers unto 
 hell. I. Some do not, will not believe, that they 
 are fmners. Who think fo ? may ye fay. I anfwer. 
 All the fecure world do think fo. They may fay, 
 that they are fmners, as all are ; and it may be fome 
 profane lips may fwear it, as in that idle affeveration, 
 Js I am afmner. Bur do they know what it is to be 
 a fmner ; what dreadful vilenefs is in a fianer ; what 
 a lothfome creature every fmner is in God's fiHu ; and 
 what wrath hani^s over their heads, which will furely 
 fall on them, unlefs mercy prevent it ? Do men be- 
 lieve this as to themfelves in particular ? No, furely ; 
 as is undeniable by their backwardnefs to fearch their 
 hearts and ways, their enmity againft the fearching 
 light of God's word, and by their rebelling againft a- 
 ny glances of light that force in themfelves upon their 
 conscience. They believe cot that they are loft, un- 
 done 
 
1 2 o Sermons concerning S e R M. VIT; 
 
 done Tinners : and they cannot endure to be perfuaded 
 of io plain and damnable a condition. They will not 
 own rhemfelves to be fick, though a fovereigQ phyli- 
 cian is at hand. 
 
 2 Even thefe, when awakened, or others to whom 
 their being Tinners is difcovered with divine light and 
 power, cannot be perfuaded, that Chrifl hath any 
 buTinefs with them, or that they fhould make applica- 
 tion to him. Mod of awakened (inners fay and think, 
 much as the devils did, Mark v. 7. What have I to 
 do with thee^ Jefus^ thou Son of the mojl high God? 
 I adjure thee by God^ that thsu torment me not, I may 
 fay, that the devil hath better caufe and leTs Tin in 
 faying fo, than an awakened Tinner : for Jefus Chrifl 
 came into the world to Tdve Tinners ; but he came al- 
 fo to deflroy the works of the devily 1 John iii. 8. To 
 awaken a feciire Tinner's confcience, and to Tpeak 
 peace to an awakened conTcience, are proper and 
 mighty works o' God. 
 
 1 would copciude at this time, with a few exhorta- 
 tions 10 forae dunes of believers, from this doflrine 
 of Chrift's willing of eternal life to all his people. 
 
 I. Mourn moderately for the death and departure 
 of believers out of this world. They are well where 
 they are, and far better than they were when here, 
 Phil. i. 23. ; and we (hall quickly meet again, in a 
 far belter world than this. This lad is the apoftle's 
 argument to the fame duty, i ThefT. iv. 13, 14. Yea, 
 this Chrifl: himfclf ufeth in comforting his difciples, in 
 their forrow for his own death, John xiv. 2.3. And 
 furely Chrift's death v/as a more trying providence to 
 his difciples, than ever any, or many, or all Chriili- 
 ans death, can be to us. If the glorified fpirits of 
 faints above did hear and know the mournings of their 
 friends whom they have left behind ; would they not 
 fay, as Chrift going to die faid, Weep not for uSy but 
 for yourfehes, and for your children f Luke xxiii. 28. 
 (Chrift had ilill a kind heart to children, and expref- 
 
 fed 
 
Serm. VII. the LorcTs Frayer. 121 
 
 fed it when going to the crofs). They would fay, 
 *' Fools, do ye mourn for us, who are got beyond 
 *« mourning P You will never be well, till you be with 
 " us. You are but mourning over the rotten rags of 
 ** mortality, that we have call off. You are but mourn- 
 *^ ing over our tent, while we are in the King's palace. 
 *' We could not be in both at once. Judge which is 
 " bcft. You are mourning over our grave when it 
 ** is empty, as they did over the empty grave and 
 ** grave- cloaths of our Lord, when he was rifen, and 
 *' alive for evermore," John xx. 5, 6, 7. and Match, 
 xxviii. 
 
 2. Pray moderately and modeftly for the lives of 
 believers. We (hould pray for their lives; we ihould 
 thankfully own the Lord's mercy to them and us, 
 when he anfvvers our prayers, as Phil. ii. 27.: but 
 yet we muft pray with deep fubmiffion. It may be 
 that Chrift in heaven is defiring at that time to have 
 them v/ith him where he is, when we on earth are 
 praying, that they may be kept with us where we are* 
 
 3. Learn to look Cbriftian-like on your own death. 
 Learn both to kifs death as a friend, and to defy it 
 as an enemy, i Cor. xv, ^^, 56, 57. ; and to triumph 
 over it, as conquered and deftroyed by Chrift, Heb. 
 ii. 14. and aboiiftied by Chrift, 2 Tim. i, 10. You 
 all know you muft die. It is a more common than 
 godly word with many. As fixre as deaths I would 
 not have men talk much, when they think little, of 
 death. - Nor ought any think of dying, and going 
 hence, without thinking whither they are going. But 
 for believers, you know that death is that dark trance 
 that you muft pafs ^rough, in order to the fulfilling 
 this prayer of Chrift. You muft ceafe to be where 
 you are, before you can be with him where he is. 
 This w^orld, and your condition in it, muft be mean 
 and k)W in your eyes ; and Chrift's world, and that 
 condition in which you ftiall be, when in it, muft be 
 high to your faith, ere you can look on goiig hence, 
 without amazement. Therefore climb by iaith, as 
 
 to 
 
121 Sermons concerning Serm. VII, 
 
 to the top of Pifgah, and take a large view of this 
 good land of glory ; as the type of it, Canaan, was, 
 at God's command, beheld by Abraham, Gen. xiii. 
 
 14, 17. though he was but a pilgrim in it, and 
 
 did not poiTefs it, bat in his feed ; and as it was be- 
 held by Mofes, Dent. iii. 27. xxxii. 52. and xxxiv, 
 I, — 4.; though the fight of it was all, and pofTeflica 
 was denied him. But it is not fo wiih us, as to the 
 true Canaan. All that behold it. by faith, ihall pof- 
 fefs it ; and this makes the beholding of it to be the 
 more fweet to us. 
 
 I have commended this fcripture to. you, in i Tim. 
 i. 15. fpecially to help and dire£l you in the work of 
 faith. That which we (hould daily a«5t, and that 
 which we live by ; that we (hould daily hear of, aud 
 that without wearying. As Chrilt ha«h no other bu- 
 fmefs in the world, but to fave finners ; fo finnerj 
 {hould have no other bufioefs with Chrift, but to be- 
 lieve on him. Remember and believe this truth, 
 There is no thing a man can do with Chrifl, there is no- 
 thing a man can do for Chrift, that can either pleafc 
 Chrift, or profit the man, except he firft truft Chrift 
 for falvatioQ. The faith and truft of the heart on 
 him for falvacion, is the main fervice, and the fiift, 
 he craveth. If a man (hall pretend to worfhip, to o- 
 bey and ferve, yea to love Chrift, and fuffer for him; 
 yet if he do not truft Chrift by faith, all is a provo- 
 cation to Chrift, and all is unprofitable to the man* 
 Believe this, you can do nothing that will pleafe him, 
 or fave you, but truft in him. And if this faith were 
 more diligently a<fted, all the blelTed fruit of peace 
 within, and fan£tlfication, and holy walkiog, and pa- 
 tience in tribulation, wouj^ exceedingly abound ia 
 you, 2 Their, i. $, 4. 
 
 SERMON ^ 
 
S^iRM. VIII. the Lord^s Prayer^ 125 
 
 SERMON VIII. 
 
 John xvii. 24. 
 
 Father^ I will that they alfo whom thou hafl given mcy 
 be With me where I am ; that they may beheld 711 y 
 glory which thou hafl given me : for thou lovedjl nn 
 before the foundation cf the world • 
 
 I Have fpoke ro the firfl: two things in the matter 
 of Chrift's prayer in this verfe* i. His naming 
 of the perfons he prayed for : Thofe which thou haft 
 given 7ne. 2. His name of the biefTing he prays for 
 to ihem : That they may alfo be with me where 1 anu 
 Chrift would not be in heaven alone ; he cannot be 
 v/ithout his ranfomed ones. He had fent many to 
 heaven by his grace, before he came into the world, 
 A£is xy. II. He hath been fliii drawing muhitudes 
 cf them, fmce he went back to heaven, John xii. 32, 
 -And he will fbortly return again from heaven, to ga- 
 ther them all and every one, in foul and body, a-nd 
 carry them all home to his Father's houfe, John .hiv, 
 2.3, 
 
 It follows to fpeak of the third thing in the matter 
 of this prayer. And that is, The end for which Cbrifl 
 de fires this b I effing for thofe perfons. It is, That they 
 may behold ray glory zvhich thou hafl given me. Deep 
 words! and deeper matter ! Wrat is rendered., viy 
 ghry^ is in the original, the glory that is 7nine, wiih 
 a Ipecial emphafis. This being the main and d^epef^ 
 thing in ihefe words, I muft icfift the more upon it. 
 There are three eiiprelTions in this prayer of 
 Chrid/s glory, i. In ven 5. The glory I had wiih 
 thtfe before the xvotld was. This ijc prayeth for. This 
 glory chat the Soa had from eieniity wiih ibe Fa- 
 Vox. /IL , ii thers 
 
124 Sermons concerning Serm. VIII. 
 
 ther, was that glory which he Jiad as the eternal, na- 
 tural, and elTeniial Son of God, which far paiTeth 
 created underftanding But now this Son of God 
 had taken on man's nature, and in that nature had 
 done his work of redemption, and fulfilled his Fa- 
 ther's will and commifTion to him : (for our Lord 
 fpeaks as if he had done all, when it was fo near 
 fini(hing) : now, I fjy, when he is going again out 
 of the world to his Father, as John xvi. 28. he prays, 
 that he, as man, and fuccefsful Mediator, may be ad- 
 mitted to, and poiTtiTed of that glory, which he, as 
 the Son of God, from eternivV poffeiTed with the Fa- 
 ther ; and which was not interrupted, but vailed on- 
 ly, in and by his humbled (late on earth. But this 
 is too deep for us; but well underftood by him that 
 prayed for ir, and who hath been long polTelTed of it. 
 
 2. In ver, 22. We have another exprellion of 
 Chrift's glory : And the glory which thou gavefl me, 
 
 1 have given them. This is another glory than the 
 former. This was given to him by the Father, and 
 given to his people by the Son. It was given to him, 
 that it might be given to others by him ; as his re- 
 ceiving gifts for 7neny Pfal. Ixviii. 18. is called \\\s giv- 
 ing gifts to men, Eph. iv. 8. He received, that he 
 might give. And great is Chrift's glory, both in the 
 fulnefs he received, and in his giving, and our re- 
 ceiving out of his fulnefs. AWfulne/s dwelleth in hiniy 
 CoJ. i. 19.; and all the receivings of his people are 
 out of that fulnefs y John i. 16. 
 
 3. In our text we have the third cxprefTion of 
 Chrifl'ii glory. And it is fpoke of in three' words. 
 1. It is my glory ; '* mine fpecially and properly.** 
 
 2 \t h ?ny glory which thou hail given me, 3. It is 
 A glory to be beheld by his "people. And this is what 
 1 would fpeak unto. 
 
 This prayer of ChriH, that his people may behold 
 his glo^y, doth refpc6t ijiree things j which I would 
 firil dilpatch. 
 
 z. It 
 
Serm. VIIL the Lord's Prayer. 125 
 
 1. It refpefrs Chrid's glory ia itfelf. It wants (if 
 I might fay fo) 10 be difplayed and feen. This Suk 
 cf Righteoufnejs (as he is called Mai. iv. 2.) wants a 
 dark world to (hine upon, and would have eyes to 
 look to his glorious light. He calls men to behold 
 him: Ifa. lx?i. I, 2. I J aid ^ Behold nie^ behold me^ 
 unto a nation that was not called by my name. He at 
 lad will be glorified in his faints^ and admired in all 
 them that believe ; and be cometh in his glory for 
 that end, 2 Theff. i. 10. And all he doth in and for 
 his people, is, ver. 12. That the name of our Lord 
 Jefus Chrijl may be glorified in you^ and ye in him^ ac* 
 cording to the grace of our Gcd^ and the Lord Jefus 
 Chrifl, Wnai a vali difference is there betwixt the 
 glory that Chrift gives us, and the glory he gets from 
 us! We have nothing to give ; or if we had, and 
 gave, we can add nothing 10 his, glory; but he not 
 only gives to us, and adds to us, but he \% all in all 
 to us, Col. iii. II. Yet fo gracious is he, that if 
 you put a perifhing foul inro his hand to fave, if you 
 bring your vile fores to him to be healed, therein he 
 will be glorified. Chrilt is honoured in his calling 
 fpecially, 
 
 2. This word refpeils his people and their happi- 
 nefs, ISlot only is Chriil glorified in his people's be- 
 holding of his glory, but m this beholding of it they 
 are made happy. There was never a believer that 
 ever had fo large a faith, or a heart fo enlarged and 
 inflamed with love, as to be able fully to take up whac 
 warm love, and what a high and great deiign was in 
 our Lord's heart in putuog up this petition for them. 
 Believers on Jefus Chrift, make no doubt but that he 
 means v/ell tor you. Great things are deiigned by 
 him for you, and more than you can imagine, in this 
 prayer for you, that you may behold his glory when you 
 are with him where he is, 
 
 3. This word refoei^s the eternal work and em- 
 ployment of bis people, w^hen they are with hiai 
 where he is. If any aJk, "What fiiall they do .'* hov9' 
 
 K 2 fliall 
 
i'i6 Sermons concerning S e r m . V III . 
 
 fhail they be employed through the ages of eternity ? 
 Chriil anfv/ers it here, Ihey Jhall behold my glory ; 
 v.'ork that ihey (hall never come to an end of ; work 
 they fh'ill never weary in ; and work that rhey (iiall 
 have as little mind to weary of, as they (hall have 
 caufe cr reafon to be weary in : for every view of 
 hi^s glory will dart ia fredi blifs unto the beholders 
 cf it. 
 
 There are two things to be difcourfed on from this 
 part of the text, i. What is the glory of Chrift giv- 
 en to him to be beheld in heaven ? 2. What is the 
 beholding of this glory by his people in heaven I 
 
 I fnall not enter on any of them this day ; but 
 ^7ou!d prepare your hearts to think of them. Thefe 
 two queftions, What ChnjVs glory is? and, What the 
 vebolding of it in heaven is f are neither of them to 
 be fully anfwered in this life. Ciirid's glory would 
 be but a fmcill glory, if either the heart of man could 
 conceive it fully, or the tongue of man could exprefs 
 it till. If the glory that Chrift hath prepared for his 
 people be fuch as i Cor. ii. 9. how much more mud 
 Chrifl's own glory be ? There was a man as able to 
 tell as cvet any was ; and that was Paul. lie had 
 been long exerciled in the ftudy of Chrid", and in 
 preaching of him : yet he, when an old man, and in 
 bonds for Chriil, Epb. vi. 20. fpeaks thus, Eph. iii. 
 8. Unto me, zvho a?n le/f than the leajl of all faints^ 
 is this grace given^ that I fhould preach among the 
 Gentiles the unfearchable riches cf Chnft, And lurely 
 the riches of Chrift are both thofe riches of grace and 
 glory that he is poffeiTed of, and the riches that he 
 cnricheth his people with here and in heaven. Is not 
 this a ftrange text ? and is it not a ftrange preaching 
 that is made on an unfearcbable theme .'' Yet for all 
 he knew, and for ail he taught, Chrilt's riches were 
 flill unfearcbable even to Paul ; though it is ju/t to 
 think, that he did dive deeper in them than any man 
 ftncc. Chrid's riches, in Paul's eyes, were like a 
 valt heap of gold, that no mau could count ; or like 
 
 the 
 
Serm. VIII. the Lord*! Vrayer. 127 
 
 the vafl ocean, whofe drops none can meafure o" 
 tell: and Paul did preach them me better thai he 
 faw them to be onfearchable. But if this man (hould 
 be caoght up to heaven, and come again 10 the 
 earth, would be not be able to tell ftrange things 
 then P So it was with Paul, 2 Corinth, xii. 1,-7. 
 But what faith he of it? verfe 4, He heard unf peak- 
 able words y which it is ?2ct /awful for a man to utter. 
 Any Chriiiian may fafely think, that though there 
 be a vail call on thefe 'uiftons and reveiations of ths 
 Lord to Paul, as he calls them, verfe i. yet the raain 
 thing revealed, was the glory of Chrift. But it was 
 revealed in fuch a light, as was not fit to Ihinc en 
 earth ; and therefore the apoQle faith no more of ic, 
 but only teils us what he felt after it; both his great 
 danger, and his (harp cure, ver. 7, 8, 9. 
 
 Bat though Chriii's glory in heaven, and the be- 
 holding of it, be things within the vail, and cannot 
 be fully known by us till we be there j yet we muft 
 not lay afide ail thoughts and inqairies about them 
 while we are here. There are means and ways that 
 God hath appointed, that W'e (hculd ufe for knowing 
 them. By his bleffing fome knowledge of them is 
 got : and this knowledge is neceiTary to all, and of 
 great advantage to them that attain it. 
 
 I would therefore give you a few things more re- 
 motely about this great fubject. 
 
 I. There is a difcovery made to us in the word of 
 the glory of Chrift. And there only are we 10 Itudy 
 it. It is the glory of the vvritten word of God, that 
 the glory of Chrift is revealed in it, and to us only in 
 and by it. We mufl: not fludy to know Chrift, we 
 mud not fearch into his giory, but in that light. There 
 are three ways that fome ufe, that are vain and un- 
 profitable. I, One is, by the v/orks of God's crea- 
 tion and providence, Pfalm xix. 1,-7. Thefe do diA 
 cover plainly the being of God, and his eternal power 
 and godhead^ Rom. i. 20. and declare his wifdom and 
 goodnels. But nothing of Chilli's glory is, or can ba 
 
 learned 
 
128 Sermons concerning Serm. VIII^ 
 
 learned in and by the old creation. Such as talk of 
 a gofpel preached to the heathen by fun, moon, and 
 flars, give them an office their Creator never made 
 them for, or pat them in. And iF they that teach 
 fuch do<ftrme, pretend to be Chriftians, furely ihey 
 muft have both a lovir and a falle fcherae of the glo- 
 rious go/pel of the bujjed God, as it is called, i Tim. 
 i. II. 2. Another vi^ay is, by mens wifdom. That 
 noble power in man is quite dark, and dull, and blind, 
 about Chrill: and bis glory. It can do fomewhat in 
 its own fpLere and orb ; it can fearch into the earth 
 and mount up to heaven, and can contempJate God's 
 glorious works. But it can never find out Jelus Chrifl: 
 nor iee h's glory: i Cor. i. 20, 21. Hath not God 
 made fooltfh the zvifdoni of this world? for after that, 
 in the n'fJom of God, the world by w'lfdom knew not 
 Godj (that is, favmgly), it pleafed God by the foolifhnefs 
 of preaching to fqve them that believe. The gofpel is 
 the hidden wifdom of God in a my fiery, i Cor. ii. 7 ; 
 and cl]e fubftance of it, Chrift, is the main and great- 
 eft part of this my fiery, t Tim. iii. 16. Boih thefe 
 are weak, vain means to know Chrift by. 3. There 
 is another way, that is not only unprcfiiable, but wic- 
 ked ; and that is the way of Idolatry. And the whole 
 of Popery i^of this fort. They ufe many crafty de- 
 vices to difcover Chrift's glory to the blind people. 
 Ttiey have pi^lures of Chrift, as on the breafts, as 
 on the crofs, as in glory in heaven. But inftead of 
 making Chrift^'s glory known to men, they, by thefe 
 curfed devices, darken his glory, difgrace the Lord 
 Chrift, cruet fy him afrefJj^ and put him to an open 
 fhame. 
 
 The word of God then is the only light in which 
 Chiift's glory ihineih ; and in this only light muft we 
 inquire in!o it. In other matters, there are many 
 truths and things that are demonftrable by nature's 
 light, as well as they are affened iu the word of God, 
 But about Chrift and his glory, nature's I'ght, God's 
 works oi creation, and man's natural wifdom, can give 
 
 no 
 
Serm. VIII. the Lord^s Prayer. 129 
 
 no help ; and therefore we fhould not call in their 
 aiTiilance. Ic is only God'-; word that can help in this 
 great inquiry, and it we fliould ufe. 
 
 2. The only eye wherewith Chrift and his glory 
 can be feen, is the eye of faith. The only meotal 
 eye by which the fpiritual glory of Chrifl: can only be 
 feen, is faith. Fait/j is fometinies oppofed xo ftght^ 
 zs fight is taken for full f'njoymenr, 2 Cor. v. 7.; and 
 faith is fometimes exprefT^d hy fight ^ 2i% faith is a real 
 apprehending of its objcd; as Heb. xi. i, i^, 27, 
 2 Cor. iii. 18. and iv. 18. and in innumerable places, 
 both in the old and new teftament. And this eye is 
 limply needful, even where the light of God's word 
 iiiineth mod. The Jews had the old teftament ; and 
 yet knew not Chrifl, and faw no glory in him, as was 
 foretold of them, Ifa. liii. 2, 3. They faw him, and 
 yet believed not, but hated him. So it is with all 
 men to whom the gofpel cometh, until faith be given. 
 No eye but that of faith, can fee and take up Chrift 
 and his glory ; for two caufes. i. Chrift and his 
 glory is out of our fight now. And, 2. It is always 
 beyond the reach of any power in us, but faith given 
 by God. Chrift's glory did once pafs before mens 
 eyes ; but none faw it but believers, John i. 14. and 
 I John i. I, 2. Could any thing but faith take up 
 Ch rift's glory ^ as of the only begotten of the Father^ 
 full of grace and truth f. Could any but a believer fee 
 him, and cali him eternal Itfe^ when he was made of 
 no reputation ? At the laft day Chrift and his glory 
 will make a great appearance,- when he comes in his 
 glory, and fit T on the throne of his glory ^ Matt. xxv. 3 f . 
 But at that day (though all the nations be gathered 
 together) there will be no faith, neither on his right 
 nor left hand. What a ftrange word is this? and 
 what a ftrange day will that be ? All the favcd will 
 have no faith, nor have wny n^ed of it, nor ufc of it. 
 Sight and love puts an end to tneir faith. And all the 
 damned fliall be no more unbelievers ; for fighc and 
 fear of Chrift's glory will eternally remove their un- 
 belief : 
 
1 2 <5 Sermons concerning S e R m . VIII- 
 
 belief: Rev. i. 7. Behold, be cometh with clouds ; and 
 every eye jh all fee him^ and they alfo that pierced him : 
 and all kindreds of the earth jh all wail becaufe of him ; 
 even foy Amen. Bat from Chrifl's going to heaven, 
 till his return to juc^ge the world, fairh is the on-ly eye 
 that can favingly take np Chrifl and his glory. 
 
 3. This eye of faith is only of Chrift's giving. No 
 man is born with it ; it grow? up in no man by na- 
 ture; no means, nor roinifterj nor any creature, can 
 give it. It is only Chrifl's gift j it is by his Spirit, 
 Eph. i. 17, 18.; it is the fruit of his eyefalve^ Rev. 
 iii. 18. All men are darknef-, till made tight in the 
 Lord^ Eph. V. 8, There are two things aiwnys dov.Q 
 by Chrift together, when he works faiih. i. He 
 matjifefls and reveals himfelf, and, 2. Gives an eye to 
 fee him and his glory. No man can fee Chrift by his 
 own power, nor can he fee Chriit againfl Chrifl's 
 will : If he hide hhrfelf who then can behold him ! Job 
 xxxiv. 29. If the fun (bine, and the man have eyes, 
 and them opened, he doth and mufl fee, and never 
 until then. 
 
 ^j. This eye of faith that Chrifl giveth, is of great 
 advantage and ufe to them that receive it ; as i John 
 V. 20. And we know that the Son of God is come, (how 
 do you know it P), and hath given us an underjianding 
 that we may know him that he is true ; (that under- 
 ilanding, and the knowing of Chrift, is faith) : and 
 we are in him that is true, even in his don Jefus Chrift, 
 This is the true God, and eternal Ifs. I would name 
 fome advantages that attend the gift of faith, to the 
 praife of the giver, and the profit of the receivers of 
 this gift. 
 
 jy?, The firft life comes in this way. VvThen Chrift 
 Works faith in the heart, the new life is begun in t])c 
 foul. The man that gets fairh, and is made a belie- 
 ver, hath everlafiing life^ and fh all not come into ccn^ 
 dejunation ; but is faffed from death unto life. J jhn v. 
 24. : and this life is Iron) the hearing of the vsice of ti?e 
 
 6on 
 
Serm. VIIT. the Lord's Fr a) er! I^I 
 
 Son of God ; and they that hear^ /hall live, verfe 25, 
 Chrid hath a voice to fend forth, that C3i5 make the 
 born deaf hear, and the dead live. But how is it ia 
 the a/tingof this faith wrought by Chi'ift ? We have 
 a notable place for this in John iii. 14, 15. And as 
 Mofes IJted w/> the ferpent in the wtldernefs, exsn fo 
 mufl the Son of /nan be lifted up : that whofoever beht^ 
 veth in him^ JJjould not perijh^ hut have eternal life» 
 Our Lord is here teaching Nicodcmus, a weak but ho- 
 nefl beginner ; and he teacheth him wifely, and teach- 
 eih him great things. He teacheth the corruption of 
 nature, the abfolute neceffiiy of regeneration ; that 
 this regeneration is from the Holy Spirit of God, who 
 therein works fovereiguly, fccretly, and effeiflually. 
 He then preacheth himfelf to him, as he that came 
 down from heaven, and was in heaven, ver. 13. He 
 did not underdand Chrift's do£i:rine of regeneration : 
 Chrift puts him to greater myfteries about his perfon, 
 and his million from heaven. We may think, that 
 he that faid about the former, How can thefe things 
 be f might be more puzzled to know how Chrilt waar 
 to fave fmners, and how they were to life him foe 
 falvation. Both thefe Chrift teacheth him in ver. 14, 
 15. and more fully afterwards in that chapter to ver, 
 22. And this he doth by a type, that no Ifraelite 
 was ignorant of, tho' few maders in Ifrael did rightly 
 underiland it. The plain and full fenfe of it is this r 
 As Mofes (at God's command and appointment lifted 
 up the brazen ferpent in the wildernefs, that every 
 Ifraelite flung by the fiery ferpents, might look to it 
 and live, as in Numb. xxi. 6,— 9. ; fo Chrift, the Soa 
 of man is lifted up upon the crof?, that every fmner 
 llung by fm, and the curfe of God^s law, might look 
 to him by faith, and live for ever. The Ifraelites 
 were to ufe the lifted-up ferpent, by looking on it, 
 as the only ordinance of God for their healing ; and 
 were to ufe neither falve nor plaiiler for the fiery fer- 
 peni's deadly flings. So the flung finner mufl ufe a 
 crucified Chrid, as the only ordinance of God for life. 
 Vol. II. S and 
 
152 SerTncns concermrtg Serm. VIII. 
 
 anrl eternal life ; and that life comes to him only by 
 tl^s look of faith. 
 
 idtyy a\\\ the believers growth and increafe in grace 
 and life, is by believing beholding of the grace and 
 glory of Chrift. When the apodle is exhorting to 
 growth in grace, as the fure prefervaiive againd apo- 
 flaf)/, 2 Peter iii. 18. he adds, Crow in the knouledge 
 of our Lord and Sa%^:our J ejus ChrijL As if he had 
 faid. ** ir ycu would grow in grace, you rauil alio 
 " grow in the knowledge of Chriil/' Yea, when he 
 3S fpeaking of the greatell attain ii.enis in grace, i Per. 
 i. 8. he iel!s this is rhe fruit of ihem ; T/pey make you 
 that yejhall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the know 
 ledge oj Qur Lord J ejus Chrip, Bui more directly Paul 
 teacheth us, how laiih advanceih the Chriftian in Xih 
 new life ; 2 Cor. iii. 18. But we all with cpen face^ 
 beholding as in a glafs the glory of the Lord^ are change 
 ed into the fame image, from glory to glory ^ even as by the 
 Spirit of the Lord, We all : it is not only I Paid, 
 whom you may think frngnlaily priviledged ; but all 
 we, who, under the difper ft* tion of the gofpel, have 
 had the vail taken off our hearts and eyes, we all be- 
 hold the fame glory of Chrill, and with the fame fort 
 , of fruit. Though we do not all behold it in the fame 
 clearnefs and brightnefs, nor with the farr^e raeafure 
 of fiuit; yet all that do truly behold his glory, are 
 truly made comformable to him, if no likenefs to 
 Chrifl's image be wrought ia you, you make it to be 
 juflly fufpe^led, that it is either not the right Lord 
 you beh Id, or not the right eye you behold him with, 
 or ih'U Ic is not a right glafs you behold him in. For 
 where all three are right, the fruit of likenefs to Chrift 
 never faileth. 
 
 3 J/y, All the peace, and comfort, and joy of heart, 
 which believers have in this life, come in by believ- 
 ing beholding of Chrift^ and of his grace and glory, 
 Joy and peace fills the heart by belie vinvT, Rom. xv. 13. 
 'What can diflrefs a believer when Chrifl's glory is 
 feen J* and what cao quiet his heart, when a dark 
 
 cloud 
 
Skrm. Vlil the Lord' s Prayer. 1 33 
 
 cloud and vail is on his glory ? No florra can be on a 
 Chriflian, and no fear can difc^uiet him fo, but that 
 word fpoke with Gh rift's power will comfort, Match. 
 xiv. 27. Be of gocd clyeer^ it is /, he not afraid. Thus 
 were they made to rejoice with joy unfpeakable and 
 full of glory^ who loved hijn, and believed on him they 
 had not feen^ 1 Peier i. 8. 
 
 So much for this fourth thing, That the eye of 
 faith and its exercife is of great advantage to a Chrif- 
 tian, 
 
 5. The beholding of the glory of Chrift by the eye 
 of faith, is the greatefl and furefl ted of mens ftate 
 that can be. They that have it, are true Chrifti* 
 ans ; for thus are they made fuch ; as i John v. 20, 
 They that never faw Chrift's glory, remain (fill in 
 the pit of condemoed nature, where darknefs and 
 death do rule.. 
 
 6. and iafily^ The beholding of Ghrift's glory by 
 faith, as it is revealed in the gofpel, is a good help to 
 iinderfland what the beholding of his glory in heaven 
 is : for it is the fame Chrift, the fame glory of Chrid, 
 that is beheld in earth and in heaven. Only this glo- 
 ry ihines in another manner in heaven, and is beheld 
 
 ' with another and higher eye than faith 5 though faich 
 is the bed eye, and the gofpel the bed glafs, on earth. 
 On this 1 would (hew how impoilibie it is, that an un- 
 believer that never faw Chrid's glory in the gofpel, 
 can have any right apprehenfion of the beholding his 
 glory in heaven. 
 
 17?, Confider what heaven is. The Lord of it tells 
 us, it is in being with him where he /r. Now, that 
 man that never knew what Chrid's company on earth 
 is, can never know what his company in heaven is. 
 Speak to him of heaven, as a date of red and hap- 
 pinefs, where no croffes, nor death, nor trouble, can 
 be ; this the natural man can know and relifti. But 
 Chrid's true heaven, and Chrid's pi^ure of it in the 
 word, are as dark and difgudful to an unbeliever, as 
 Chrid's yoke and burthen is. But to a believer, 
 
 S z u'hom 
 
1^4 Sermons concerning Serm. VIII. 
 
 ivhom the herd hath chofen^ and caufed to approach t^ 
 h'tm^ Pral. Ixv. 4.; who hath been oft made to fay, 
 Pralm. !xxiii. 28. It is good for me to draw near to God ; 
 and can fav, as 1 John i. 3. Truly our fellow jhip is with 
 the Father, and with his Son Jefus Chrifl : to fuch, 
 I fay, being with Chrifl where he is, hath another light 
 ia his mind, and another gu(l in his heart. 
 
 2^/y, The work of heaven, to behold Chrid's glo- 
 ry cannot be underftood by an unbeliever, no more 
 ihan a born blind man can know what pleafure and 
 profit is in beholding the glory and light of the imi. 
 And if fuch would and could fearch their Beans, they 
 Would find ; and if ihey were ingenuous, they would 
 own the truth, (as fome of them in blafphemy do fay), 
 that the gofpel-difcovery of heaven is dark and dif- 
 guftful to them ; they neirher know it nor love it. It 
 is hid from their blinded eyes, and crofs to their car- 
 Eal hearts, 
 
 3^/)', They know not the title to heaven ; how a 
 roan comes by a right to it, and enters into the pof- 
 feffion of it. And that is, by free grace in Jefus 
 Chriil. And this is no fmall part of Chrill's glo- 
 ry, and of believers happinefs, that it is fo. This title 
 is only to be perceived by faith. The fame grace 
 that we owe the forgivenefs of fm to, we owe the 
 poir^iTing of glory to, x\cls xxvi. 18. By that fame 
 grace that we are welcomed to Chrift's houfe of grace 
 on earth, Rom. v. 2. by the fame grace we are welcom- 
 ed into Chrift's houfe of glory above. It is grace 
 brought to us, i Peter i. 12.; it is the mercy of cur 
 Lord Jefus Chrifl unto eternal life^ Jude, ver. 2 1. But 
 an unt)eliever, who hath no knowledge nor relifli of 
 this bleiTed tenure to glory by free grace, what fit and 
 right thoughts can he have of heaven ? All men arc 
 by nature ignorant of the true heaven, of the true way 
 to it, of the true work and blifs in it, and of the only 
 title to it, and tenure of ir ; and therefore need what 
 the apodle prays for ia Eph. i. 17, 18, 1^. 
 
 App LI- 
 
Serm. VIII. the LorcPs Frayer, Ig^ 
 
 Application. Although yoa may think it 
 prepoflerous, to fpeak any rtiing in application, be- 
 fore we enter upon the doiTlrine itfelf ; yet, as what 
 hath been faid, is but introducftory to what I intend 
 (if the Lord will) further to fpeak on this great fub- 
 je<n:, fo what I fay now in application, fhali be ac- 
 cordingly managed. 
 
 The text we have before us, is about the behold- 
 ing of Chrift^s glory in heaven. 1 have been ihew- 
 ing you, that it is firaply necelTary to any right un- 
 derftandiog of this great blifs, that a man do know 
 in his experience fomewhat of the beholding of 
 Chrift's glory by faith in this life. Without this, no 
 Words that men can fpeak about this, can be under- 
 ftood by natural men : i Cor. ii. 14. BW the natu- 
 ral man re-.siveth not the things of the Spirit of God ; 
 for they are foolifhnefs unto him : 7ieither can he know 
 them^ for they are fpiritually dfcerned. I may truly 
 fay, that no natural man doth, or can underfland this 
 verfe. It is grievous and ihameful, to fee and read 
 what blundering confufed work many wife and learn- 
 ed men, but delHtute of that mind and Spirit of Chrift 
 that led Paul in writing of it, make of this verfe; 
 when it is plain and bright, though deep, to every 
 ordinary Chriftian. Now, the glory of Chrift, and 
 the beholding of it, are of the deepeft of the deep 
 things oj God^ ver. 10. How then can a natural man 
 receive them, know them, or difcern them ? He is 
 without that fpiritual faculty by which only they can 
 be rightly eniertaioed. It is a dangerous and hurt- 
 ful praclice to the church of God, and to the fouls 
 of men, and to the truths of God, (and not a few 
 are guilty of it, and many fraart by it), for men to 
 endeavour to bring down the deep rayiferies of the 
 gofpel unto the {tait and guft of a natural unrenew- 
 ed man. It is fure, that they that teach, (hould teach 
 plainly ; and they that write, (hould make the vijian 
 plain ^ that he may run that readeth it, Hab. ii. 2,, 
 But they muft fliii fpeakj or write^ as the oracles of 
 
 God^ 
 
1^6 Sermons concerning Serm/VIII. 
 
 God^ I Per. iv. ii. and 2iijlewards cfthe myjieries of 
 God, I Cor. iv. i. If, ^s it is undoubted, we can- 
 liot bring up tlie natural man's underlhinding unto 
 the deep things of God ; we mufl not effay to bring 
 down the depths of God unto their natural blindnefs. 
 This were to degrade the things of the Spirit of God, 
 and to delude the finner. But let us (tudy lo declare 
 GodV mind in his word, as plainly a^ we can, to na- 
 tural men that hear us ; and withal tell them, that 
 the things themfelves, of which we fpe. k as plainly 
 a? we can, are beyond their reach ; that they may 
 know that the things of God are deep, and they 
 ihemfclvei are blind, till the Spirit ofChrift open the 
 vndi^r/Iandingy and open the fcriptures unto them; as 
 he did to his difciples, Luke xxiv. 32. and 45. 
 
 My work at this time Ihall be, to offer you fome 
 helps to try yourfelves, and to find this our. Whe- 
 ther ever you have beheld the glory of Chrift in the 
 gofpel ? You have the gofpel-glafs, and mod of you 
 think you have the eye of faith alfo. My queftion 
 that I put your confciences, is, Have you feen his 
 glory in the gofpel by faith P It you have, then you 
 will find three things. 
 
 I. Where-ever Chrift^s glory is feen by faith, it 
 is always feen as fmgular, ir^infcendcnr, and match - 
 lefr". So it is in itfelf, and fc it is feen bv all that do 
 behold it. Paul calls his knowled<;e of Cbrill, tb? 
 txceliency oj the knowledge of Jejiis Chrift my Lord^ 
 Piiil. iii. 8. And that you may not think that he 
 ihoughi he had a great deal of it, and that you might 
 know that Paul is rather commending Chrift's excel- 
 lency, than the meafure of his attaintiients in the 
 knowledge of Chrill ; he tells us in ver. to,— -14, 
 how [mail an opinion he had of what he had attain- 
 c(!, inrefpec^l of what he wanted, a.nd followed, and 
 preilcd after. If ever you had a true view of Chrill's 
 glory, ycu will judge, that there is no glory like it. 
 What you formerly thought glorious, you. will then 
 fay of it, as 2 Cor, iiii 10. For even that wbkb was 
 
 made 
 
Serm. VIII, the LoriTs Frayer, ig7 
 
 tnade glorious^ had no glory in this refped^ hecaufs of 
 the glory J hat ei^celkth, Av\(\ the apoflle is thera 
 fpeaking of the mod outwardly glorious appearance 
 that ever God made in the world, in giving the law. 
 And as he faith again, of that that is moil glorions 
 in the eyes of one that knows not Chrid, his own 
 righteonfnefs, in Phil. iii. 8, 9. he calls ir, ar^d ail 
 things elfe, hjs and dungy compared with Chri-h 
 And fo will every man that Teeth Chrirt: with any 
 thing of Paul's eye. For iiluftraiion : Suppofe a maa 
 blind from the womb, had his eye-fight given hiiri 
 by God, as it were in John ix. ; fuppofe that hisiighc 
 were given him in the night, and in the houfe, he 
 would doubilefs wonder at the light of candies; 
 but if he went abroad, and faw the (lars in the fir- 
 mamenr, or if the moon did Ihiae, this would he 
 more glorious ftill : yet when the morning dawn* 
 eth, and when the fun rifeth and ihineth, would not 
 the man think, " Surely 1 never faw fuch a glorious 
 ** light before ?" Fire and candles on earth, and 
 moon and (lars in heaven, have no fuch light as the? 
 fun. So will it be unto them to whom the Sun of 
 Right ecu fnefs arifeth with healing in his winusy Mai. 
 iv. 2. with falvation in his beams. He will fay, " No 
 ** glory like Chrifl's glory, no man like him ; no an* 
 ** gel, no creature, like him." If Chrid^s glory hath 
 not difgraced all other glory fave his own, you have 
 cither feen little of it, or none at all. 
 
 2. When the glory of Chrid is (ttn by faith, de- 
 fires of feeing more of it rife in the heart. V/hat 
 the preacher faith in general about feeicof in Ecc!,- 
 i. 8. ^he eye is net fati^fied with feeing^ is juftly appli- 
 cable to this fpiritual eye in beholding Chrift^s glory. 
 It is not fatisfied, nor ever will, till the believer is 
 with Chrifl where he is, and beholds his glory there, 
 Paul had many and fingular views of Chrifl's g^or5S 
 and yet is fludying Chrid dill. If yon knew Chri'it 
 as well as Paul did, you would be of his mind ; yea, 
 
 if 
 
igS Sermons cGncerning Serm. VIIL 
 
 if you have any right beholding of his glory, you 
 Vj'iW ftill defire more. 
 
 3. He that beholds Chrifl's glory truly, he per- 
 ceives his own daiknefs and blindnefs, and is humb- 
 led thereby. You may think this a flrange mark ; 
 but it is a fure one. It is Urangc, but mofl true, 
 that an unbeliever, who hath never heard ChrijVs 
 'voice, nor feen his JJjape, (as Chrift faith to the Jews 
 concerning his Father, John v. 27.), may, and many 
 of them do think, that they know Chrift, and many 
 fay, as Hof. viii. 2. My God, we know thee ; " My 
 •* Saviour, I know thee ;" when a true beholder of 
 ChriR's glory thinks, that he doth not know him at 
 all, or next to nothing. And thofe thoughts are 
 proofs, that the one is quite ignorant of Chrift, and 
 that the other is begun to know him. What the a- 
 poftie faith, i Cor. viii. 2. If any man think that he 
 knoweth any thing, . he knoweth nothing yet* as he ought 
 to know, holds good fpecially in the knowledge of 
 Chrift. A proud conceit of a man's knowing Chrift, 
 is a demonftration that the man never faw his glory. 
 Even as if a man lliouid fay, " 1 have feen the fua 
 " in his noon-day glory, and I can ftare upon it ftea- 
 " dily." Would not any man think, that either this 
 man hath not right eyes, or that he hath not feen 
 the right fun, but only a pi(n:ure of it, that hath or 
 can have nothing of the true fun's light, and hear, 
 and influence ; or that the man lyeth grofsly .'* for all 
 know, that the plory of the fun is too great and 
 bright for the ftiarpeft and ftrongeft eye. When a 
 man from the top of a high mountain looks round 
 about him, he can fee many miles, and many things. 
 If this man have high thoughts of his eyes and fight, 
 you cure him, or he cures himfelf, of that fancy, 
 by trying his fight with the fun ; then he feeih what 
 a difproportionate faculty his eye is to this glorious 
 obje^. So is it with men when they approach Chiift's 
 glory ; then their darknefs and blindnefs is difcover- 
 ed. As in his light we fee light, Pfal. xxxvi. ^. fo by 
 
 and 
 
Serm. Vill. the Lord^s Prayer, 139 
 
 and io this light we fee our own darknefs. A very 
 wife and good man laid, in Pro v. xxx. :;:, g, 4. Sure- 
 ly 1 am more hrntijh than any man^ ajid have not the 
 under/landing of a man, I neither learned vjifdom^ nor 
 have (or know) the knoivledge of the holy^'-'What is 
 his name^ and what is hu fon^s name, if thou canjl 
 tell? Ic is impoliible, that any ray and beam of 
 Chrift's glory can be rightly taken up by the eye o£ 
 faith, but the beholder of it is humbled by the fight 
 of it. And the brighter the difcovery be, the more 
 humble will it make the man to be, Perfecl: humili- 
 ty is only in heaven, where the perfect difcovery of 
 ChriiVs glory is made by him, and got by the inha- 
 bitants. What faid Ifaiah, when he faw h'ts glory ^ 
 andfpake of him ^ John xii. 41. ? ¥/o is me^ for I am 
 undone, Ifa. vi. 5. Why undone ? Becaufe I am un- 
 clean, and have feen the King, the Lordof hoJIs, What 
 did the beloved difciple when he had a vifion of Chrifl's 
 glory ? When I faw him^ ^f^H ^t his feet as dead ; 
 and he might have died quite at the fight, unlefsi 
 Chrifl had laid his righi^hand upon him, and fpoke 
 comfortably to him, Kev. i. 17, 18. What was the 
 fruit of ]obh feeing of the Lord with the feeing of the 
 eye, far beyond all he had heard by the hearing of 
 the ear f Was not this the fruit and effeft of it. 
 Wherefore 1 abhor myfelf, and repent in dufl and afhes f 
 Job xlii. 5, 6. Thus will it be with you, if you ob- 
 tain any true difcoveries of Chrift's glory. 
 
 Vol. II. T SERMON 
 
14° Sermons coiicermng Serm. IX; 
 
 SERMON IX. 
 
 John xvH. 24» 
 
 Father^ I will that they aljo whom thou hajl given me^ 
 be with me where I am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which thou hafl given ?ne ,* for thou lovedjl me 
 before the foundation of tlj^ world, 
 
 THERE is no greater theme in earth, nor la 
 heaven, than the glory of Chrift. There is 
 no higher enjoyment here, nor above, than the be- 
 holding of this glory. Yet all the Lord's chofen fiiall 
 furely partake of it, for here Chriit prays for it. in 
 explaining Chrift's words in his prayer for that blef- 
 fii)g, I propofed to fpeak to two things : What is 
 Curid's gjory ; and. What is the beholding of it. 
 
 Before I enter upon either of them, there are yet 
 three things I would obferve from the connection and 
 fcope of thefe words, / will that they be with me 
 where I am^ that they may behold my glory zuhich thou 
 hafl given me, 
 
 Obf I. Chriil's prefence, and his people's be- 
 holding of his glory, go (till together. So it is oa 
 earth, fo it is in heaven. When is it that a man be- 
 gins to fee any of Chrift's glory, but when he is 
 drav/n to Chrift I when Chrift draws near to him, and 
 manifcLS hiuifelf to him I Time was when Pau! faw no- 
 thing of Chrilt's glory ; he heard of him, and hated him, 
 anj periecuted him : but ail this was from his ignorance 
 and unbeliefs I Tim. ii. 13. VV^hen he was firit charg- 
 ed by Chrift for his evil way, A6ls ix. 4, 5. no wonder 
 tl'it his hrd word was. Who art thou Lord? " 1 do 
 '^ Dot know thee, I cever knew that I did thee any 
 
 •' wrong." 
 
Serm. IX. the LorcTs Prayer, 141 
 
 ** wrong." Bnt wheo once Chrift reveals himfelf un- 
 to him, immediately he faw ChriR's glory, and made 
 it his all. So it is with ?J1 natural men, till Chrift 
 draw near to them, and hrir=g them near to him fav- 
 ingly : Chvlii hath no form or comelimfs ; and ivhen 
 they fee (or hear of) hi?n, there is no beauty that they 
 Jhould defire him^ Ifa. liii. 2. This is as true of them 
 that hear of, and fee ChriR crucified in the gofpel- 
 light. Gal. iii. i. as of the Jews that faw his humb- 
 Ijd ftate on earth. They wonder what men fee m 
 Jefas Chriil j what glory in him they behold by faith ; 
 v'hat believers mean, when they fay, as Cant. iv. 16. 
 Hu mouth is mojl fweet ; yea^ he is altogether lovely • 
 This is my beh'ved^ and this is my friend ^ O daughters 
 cf Jerufalem, If you had ever heard his voice, or 
 feen his faccj you would know him from all the men 
 on earch, or gods in heaven, (if I m.ay fay fo). Bat, 
 alas ! there are many that bear the name of Chrifti- 
 ans, (and God knows well, and men may know pret- 
 ty well alfo, how little they deferve that name), that 
 never faw fo much glory and defirablenefs in Jefus 
 Chrift, as they fee in a heap of the white and yellow 
 dufl: of the earth. They cafinot afford a good word 
 or thought to the jews, (and juftly), who did pre- 
 fer Barabbas to Chrift, when themfelves daily do the 
 like, in preferring the fatibfying of their vile iufts unto 
 the enjoyment of Chrid's company. And v/hat the 
 Jews did, they do, frcni the fame canfe, (and a fad 
 and fmful one it is). They neither of them did, or 
 do fee any thing of Chrift's glory. He is far from 
 them, they knew him not^ i C'or. ii. 8. ; he hath noc 
 manifefted himfelf unto them. This irnth appears 
 alfo, as in the beginning, fo in the progrefs of Chrif- 
 tianity. If the Cbriftian grows in grace ^ it is alfo in 
 ■ the knovAedge of Chrify 2 Pet. iii. 18. If the new 
 creature grows, it is by and under the beams and (hin- 
 ings of the Sun of Right eotfnefs^ MaL iv. 2. All f[,o(' 
 pel inflitutions are for this end, (and when blefTcd, 
 reach n)^ Eph, iv. 13. Til'i we all come in {qv into) 
 
 T 2 the 
 
142 Sermons concerning Serm. IX, 
 
 the unity of the faith ^ and of the knowledge of the Sen 
 cf Gody unto a perfect man^ unto the meafure cf the 
 flature of the fulnefs of Chrifl, Every Chriftian's ex- 
 perience bears witaefs to this. Do you not iovdz- 
 times fee more of Chrifli's glory than at other times ? 
 Is not the light brighter, and your faith more quick 
 and a£live ? iVnd when is it fo, but when Chrifl draws 
 nearer to you, and you are brought nearer to him, 
 than ufually ? But for fuch poor creatures, that know 
 Eothing of Chrift's prefente with, or abfepce from 
 them, fave in and byhis ordinances and providences, 
 (in which alfo a true believer may find Chrid's fpe- 
 cial prefence, though others do not. nor can) ; 1 fay 
 not, that fuch do fee more of Chrid's glory, but ra- 
 ther that they never faw any of it. T!;ey are blind^ 
 and cannot Jee afar off, 2 Pet. i. 9. Chrift is far from 
 them, and they from him : he hath not yet looked 
 on them in love, nor have they looked on him by 
 f iith. But for true Chridians, if you fhouid afk the 
 quedlon. When did you fee moil: of Cnrid's glory ? 
 all would anlwer, That though it be little that ever 
 they did behold of it, yet the bed fight ever they had, 
 was when he drewneared to them ; then he difplay- 
 ed his glory, and then they beheld it. And it may 
 be that he did fo, and they found it, when they were 
 in the deep dungeon, in darknefs and didrefs. No 
 cafe is a believer brought Into, but Chrid's love will 
 vifit him in it ; and the darker the place be, his fun- 
 ihine is both the more needful, and the more glori- 
 ous : Micah. vii. 8. When I fit in darknefs^ the Lord 
 j)oall he a light unto me. Not only will he bring me 
 forth to the lights and I fh all heboid his righteoufnefs^ 
 as ver. 9. ; but when^ and while //// in darknejs^' the 
 Lord will he a light to me ; and enlighten my dcjrknejs^ 
 as David dngs by faith, Pfal. xviii. 28. and ihoufands 
 have felt it. So that it is undoubted, that mod of 
 Chrid's glory is feen when he is ncared his people. 
 Thus alfo it is in the date of faints in heaven. They 
 are brought near to Chrid ; they are with him where 
 
 he 
 
Serm. IX. the LorcTs Frayer^ 143 
 
 he isy and therefore hehcld his glory^ and all above 
 what we can conceive. Chriilians labour here under 
 many humbling things within and without. They 
 would fain fee more of Chrid's glory ; they pray as 
 Mofes did, Exod. xxxiii, 18. / befeech thee /hew me 
 thy glory. But yet they cannot behold it as fain they 
 would. Why? Becaufe they cannot be fo near to 
 Chrifl: as they would ; and he will not draw fo near 
 to them as they would, while they are where they are, 
 and not yet where he is. The greateil nearnefs to 
 Chrifl, and the greateft vifions of his glory, are both 
 referved for his people, when they (hall polTefs the 
 inheritance of the faints in lights CoL i. 12. 
 
 Obf. 2. Our Lord Jefus Chriil is truly willing that 
 his glory (hould be beheld by his people. He prays 
 here for it in an extraordinary manner, I will it. Chrifl 
 is a great deal better pleafed, and more defirous, that 
 his glory (hould be beheld by his people, than they 
 are either willing or able to behold it. He hath a 
 good mind to be looked upon, when he fpeaks fo in 
 Ifa. xlv. 22. Look unto me^ and be ye faved, all the ends 
 of the earth ; for I am God^ and there is none elfe ; a 
 jujl God and a Saviour^ ver. 21. (None can fave a 
 fmner, but a God. A mere man-fa viour can fave no^ 
 fmner : and there is no God-faviour, but our Lord 
 Jefus Chrifl, who is over all^ God blefjedfor ever^ Rom. 
 ix. 5.). Chrifl is here calling men to look on him for 
 falvation. Look to Chrifl, and you will fee falvatioa 
 in his heart and eye, and falvation will dart in upoa 
 your heart and foul. The brazen ferpent was fet up 
 to be looked on by Ifrael. Though it could not fpeak, 
 it could heal by God's ordinance. Bat the antitype, 
 Jefus Chrifl, can both heal and fpeak ; and the power 
 oF his voice can, and always doth give eyes to the 
 man, and falvation by looking. It makes the dead 
 both to hear^ and live ^ John v. 25. Again, in ifaiah 
 Ixv. I. he faith. Behold me^ behold me^ unto a nation ' 
 that was not called by my name. Some quarrel lers 
 may fay, If Chrifl be fo willing to have his glory ^o 
 
 be 
 
144 Sermons concerntng SeUm, IX, 
 
 be beheld by men, why doth he not difplay his glory, 
 and give a]I men eyes to fee it by? I anfwer. That 
 though this cavii favours of an ungodly, unhumbled 
 heart ; yet there are a few things that may ftop fuch 
 mouths. I. It is a wonder of grace that he doth fo 
 lo aoy : and they all admire it that do partake of it, 
 Thomas feems to admire it, John xiv. 22. It were 
 more hopeful work, and fitter for fnch, to admire that 
 free grace f?!!" on any, than to murmur and grumble 
 ihat it pall^^L. by fo many. 2. Would you have this 
 great blefijug ? have you fought it humbly and ear- 
 rieftly ? have you turned his gracious call and pro- 
 iiiife into an earned: prayer I He faith to you. Look 
 to nte^ and be thou faved ; anfwer it, Lcrd^ look on ms^ 
 anu/jfoe me, A better man than any of us prayed fo, 
 Pf:ihn cxix. 152. Look thou upon vie^ and be merciful 
 unio me, as thou ujejl to do unto thofe that love thy 
 n.ime ; and ro the iame purpofe more largely in Pfalin 
 cvi. 4, 5. Mafl not that man be both wicked and 
 ujreafonable, that quarrels with God for not giving 
 that grace that himieif i^ unwilling to receive^ is care- 
 \d< to -ik, and fi; ives againft with all his might P But 
 nothing will full}' flop the mouths of cavillers againft 
 free grace, but either fome tafle oFthis grace, or the 
 jn'^^rmeot of the lad day, Out of their own mouth they 
 Jlmll be judged by the Lord, Luke xix. 22. 
 
 But even Chriflians themfelves are apt to fay, That 
 if Chrift be fo willing to have his glory to be beheld 
 by his peop'cj why then doth he (land fo far clI? 
 why doth he hide him felf fo long? why do I pray, 
 and am not heard ? If he would as earneilly have it 
 beheld, as 1 would fain behold it, why is this dlQance 
 and darknefs fo long continued ? We have many fuch 
 complaints fro.n eminent faints in the word, and they 
 are too conjmon in all times. We experience more 
 tlie tremblings of unbelief in fcripture-faints, than the 
 vi-^our of their faith. The infirmities of faints are 
 recorded in the word for our humbling and Warning ; 
 and their graces for our imitation and encouragement. 
 
 Unto 
 
Sexm. IX. the Lord's Prayer. 145 
 
 Unto fach hone ft complainers I would fa 5% i. That 
 this mood cometh on you from the remnants of that 
 ratnral enmity to the glory of his, grace ; which en- 
 mity, though it was fubdued ia its power in you, \xx 
 the day of his power on you, yet hath its roots under 
 ground, and doth fornetimes fpring up and trouble 
 you. There is no evil perfe£^ly rooted out of a fane- 
 lified man in this life, nor no grace planted in him 
 that is perfe£t. 2. That the fovereignty of his grace 
 appears as much in the times and meafures of its dii* 
 per/nation, as in its being given at firll: ro the linner 
 that never got any before. Let all believers remem- 
 ber that they are llill under the dominion of the fame 
 free grace that at firit fubdued them to Chrift. The 
 greateft receivers of Chrift's grace are not m.a(lers of 
 it, but fubjr^ls and receivers. They mud not fay, 
 as Jer. ii. 3 i. We are lords ^ we zvill ccme no more unto 
 thee. The richefl faint rauft be, and is a humble 
 beggar ar grace's door all his days ; and Chrift is the 
 Lord >of the houfe, and the difpenfer of the alms ; and 
 as the alms is too good not to be patiently waited for, 
 fo the Lord Is too good and too great to be quarrelled 
 with : and never did a believer get any good by com- 
 plaining of him. Complain to him, and pray, and aik 
 largely, but ftill with faith and patience. Knock at 
 his door ; but (lay, and blefs him, that ever he gave 
 you any crumb ot his grace. Mix your prayers for 
 Dew wanted grace, with pralfes for his old difpenfed 
 grace. Chrift loves you, and hath proved it ; believe 
 it, blefs him for it, and wait for his renewing his love 
 to you ; and in due time you will find, that he will 
 Dot only anfwer, but outdo all your defires to him, 
 and all your expeflations from him. 
 
 Obf. 3. The beholding of Chrift's glory in heaven, 
 is the main part of the happinefs of his people in it« 
 So Chrift exprefleth ir, (as I gknced at it before), as 
 if he would explain what his people Ihould get and 
 do, when they are where he is ; they Jhail behold his 
 glory ^ This is that uue beatific vifion, that happy- 
 snaking 
 
146 Sermons concerning Serm. IX. 
 
 makio.cj fi^ht, that fo many of the fchoolmen (gene- 
 rally better philofophers than divines) do talk and 
 write of. But poorly mufl: all fuch talk and think of 
 it, that are unacquainted with Chrift and his grace in 
 their own hearts. But this is fure, and plainly re- 
 vealed, that the happinefs of the glorified (lands and 
 llourilheth to eternity in the behclding of ChriJTs glo' 
 ry. Ilie objefl is mod excellent. The eye which 
 they behold him with, and the light they behold him 
 in are rare and fingular. (No fuch eyes, and no fuch 
 light on earth, or in the lower created heavens). And 
 the fruits of this beholding this his glory in this blef- 
 fed way, are inexpreffible. There are two eyes that 
 believers behold Chrift's glory with ; faith and fighr. 
 It is the fame glory of the fame Jefus that is feen ; it 
 is the fame man that feeth his glory : but how vaftly 
 different are thefe two eyes, and the two beholdings ! 
 The one is for this life, the other for the other life. 
 The glory of Chrifl, as it (hineth in heaven, is not 
 for the eye of faith. Faith may take it up in the pro- 
 rnife, and believe and wait for it ; but the glory of 
 Chrift in heaven is far above the eye of faith, Rom. 
 "viii. 24, 25. And, on the other hand, the glory of 
 Chrift, as it (hineth in the gofpel, and as feen by 
 faith, is not for fight, and is unfpeakably below it. 
 For as needful and ufeful as faith is now to believers, 
 yet when they come to the end of their faith ^ the faU 
 vation of their foul ^ i Peter i. 9. they have no more 
 to do with it. There is no need of the Ihield of faith, 
 when the war is ended, and the foldier of faith is 
 made more than a conqueror ^ through Chrifl that loved 
 him, Rom. viii. 37. Pi(^ures of Chrift, and love-let- 
 ters from him, and love-tokens, (the glory of the gof- 
 pel, and the neceffary food of faith), are no more 
 needed when the bleffed beloved is prefent and en- 
 joyed. 
 
 I. I would now come to fpeak of the firft thing, 
 the glory of Chrifl^ Aud it is with reverence and god- 
 ly 
 
Serm. IX: the Lord^s Prayer* 147 
 
 Jy fear that I (hould fpeak, and you (hould he^r, of 
 this great and awful theme. And what 1 mean to fay 
 of it, (hall be under thefe two heaJs ; [. The glory 
 of Chrift as he reprefents God unto us : 2. His giory 
 as he reprefents us "unto God : As he is God's only 
 true reprefentative to his church ; an'd as he is the 
 only reprefentative of his church unto God. Chrift 
 is both, and great is his glory in both. And this. glory 
 I would foberiy fpeak of. 
 
 To begin with the Jir/l head, That Chrid is the 
 only reprefentative of God unto his church: And 
 great is his glory therein. And this glory of Cbrifl 13 
 beheld by faith now, and to eternity by light. There 
 are many words about this, efpecially in the new tef- 
 tament, (where the old tedament vail on ChriiVs glo- 
 ry is taken away ; and yet the new teftament light will 
 itfelf evanifh nlfo, when the Lord returns in his gloty, 
 and hath his church wi:h him where he is), l diail 
 Dame a few of them. Col. i. 15. he is called tbe i- 
 mage of the inoifible God, Heb. i. 3. he is the bright" 
 nefs of his glory ^ and the exprefs image of his terfon^ 
 Who is the image ? He that upboldeth all things by 
 the word of his power ; who^ ivhen he had by himfelf 
 purged our fins ^ fat down on the right hand of the Ma^ 
 jefly on high, Whofe glory's brightnefs is he ? whofe 
 perion's chara^ler bears he ? God the Father's, who 
 fpake in the old teftament times by the prophets, and 
 in the new teftament times by his Sou, ver. i, 2. So 
 in 2 Cor. iv. 6. ^he light of the knowledge of the glory 
 (f God flfineth in the face {pv perfon) of Jefus Chrijl* 
 All deep words, and deep matter in them. 
 
 To prepare our way to enter on this theme, ;here 
 are three things I would lay before you. 
 
 T. That a right and found knowledge of God is 
 fimply and abfolutely neceffary unto true happinefs, in 
 this and in the other world. Our Lord in this chap- 
 ter, ver. 3. faith, And this is life eternal^ that they 
 might know thee the only true Gody and Jefus Chriji 
 whom thou hajl fent* And 1 John v. 20. fpeak ing 
 
 Vol.11. U * of 
 
J 4 ^ Sennons con cer?nng S e R m . 1 X . 
 
 oF Chrlft as known, the npollle faitb, This is the true 
 GoJ, and eternallife. None know the true God, none 
 can come by eternal Hie, but they that know ChiiO, 
 No faith, love, worfliip, or obedience, can be per- 
 formed and 2L^t\\ by him that knows not (iod. The 
 -Athenian inTcriptioD, Jo the unknown Gcdy was ridi- 
 culous, but fuitable enougi' for blind idolaters. Thii 
 iruih, of [he D£ceili:yof tl^iC knowledge of God, in 
 order to the pleafing and enjoying of hi.n, and of hij 
 fiiVGur h ingraven on mens heans by nature. 
 
 2. God in himfelf, and abfolutely confidered, is 
 unknowable by men in this life, (to carry it no further 
 row}, Dulefs he fome way manifelt himfelf to us. To 
 ibis that fecms to refer in i Tim. vi i6. He dwclkth 
 in light which no man can approach unio ; vjhom mo 
 man hath feen^ nor can fee ^ Whatfoever dcth make ma-* 
 ^^'f^h i^ iight^ Eph. V. 13. Yet divine light is a cj- 
 veiing of God, Pfalm civ. i, 2. that no creature can 
 fee through; John i. 18. No man hath feen God at 
 ^any time ; the only begotten Son^ which is in the bo/cm 
 of the bather^ he hath declared him. This truth ftands 
 on three foundations, i. The greatnefs of God, and 
 of his glory. 2. The fliortnefs of mens reach as crea- 
 tures. 4nd, g. The corruption of their minds as 
 finners : Eph, iv. 18. Having the underflanding dark- 
 tned^ being alienated from the life of Gcd, through the 
 ignorance that is in them, becaufe of the blinanejs of 
 their heart. A dreadful, but true pidure of that 
 dungeon that ail men by nature are born in, and muft 
 live and die in, and go through it, and from it, into 
 ourer darkncfs. In what way God did, and doth ma- 
 nifed hiriifelf and his glory unto the holy angels, and 
 how they behold him, is quite hid from us. Though 
 our Lord tells us, that in heaven they do always behold 
 the face of my Father which is in heaven^ Mattb. 
 xviii. 20,; yet what this is, we know no more than 
 we do that in Rev. xxii. 4. of the triumphant church 
 ihd.K Jhallfee his face. To come a liiiic lower, and to 
 \, fpeak 
 
Serm, IX, the Lcrd^s Prayer, 149 
 
 fpeak of the firfl mao who was made a little lower 
 than the angels : This alfo is beyond our iinderfland- 
 ing how God did mamfefl himfelf unto him, 2nd how 
 he beheld God's g'ory : though we are fare that both 
 were. But when fin came ia, then plainly the minds 
 of all men are fo defiled and darkened, that there is 
 a neceflity that they miiR be all taught of God that 
 do know the Lord ; and blefied be his name, that he 
 hath proraifed this in the new covenan*, and fulfils it 
 to the heirs of promife^ as they are called in lieb. vi. 
 17. John vi. 45. Jer. xxxi. 32, 33, 34. Yet, when 
 the faving knowledge of God and faith are given, fuc^ 
 is the weaknefs of this eye, that, on any fpecial ap- 
 pearance of the glory of God, fear and amazement 
 feizeth on their hearts. Whence that faying, fo ufual 
 in old times, Judges xiii. 22. We Jhall furely die^ be- 
 caufe we have fe en God: thoug-h God appeared in 
 mercy to Manoah and his wife, and with a promife of 
 a fon to them, and a judge and faviour to Ifrael. Ja- 
 cob had wreftled and prevailed with the angel, and 
 was bleffed by him : yet he faith with thankfulnefs 
 and wonder, / have feen God face to face^ and my life 
 is prefervedj Gen. xxxii. 30. What made Ifaiah to 
 fay, on his feeing of God's glory, Wo is me, I am 
 undone^ chap. vi. 5.? Did God threaten him, did 
 God fmite him? No; but, Mine eyes have- fan the 
 King^ the Lord of hofls. " 1 have feeo his glory, and 
 •' his fpotlefs holinefs hath been proclaimed in my 
 *' ears. Thereby 1 fee, that my own uncieannefs, 
 *' and the uncieannefs of others I dwell aiTioagil:, doth 
 " greatly endanger rae>" 
 
 3. Notwithftanding all this depth of God's glory^ 
 and darknefs in all mens minds by nature, (ince the 
 fall of Adam ; 3^61 all men, in all ages, have been 
 feeking out, and (ludying, and making to themfelves, 
 fome reprefentations of God. They know that there 
 is a God ; they quickly come to know that this God 
 is oat of their fight ; and, on a little deeper thinking, 
 chey know that this invifihle God is alfo beyond the 
 
 U 2 reach 
 
150 Sermons concerning Serm. 1X» 
 
 reach of their minds and thoughts. Is there a curi- 
 ous ftudeut of God's works of creaiioo, that fiiideth 
 not fometbing in the fmallefl: of his creatures, that our 
 underftanding cannot find out ? Whit mufi: we think 
 cf the Former of all things ? Can any find out God to 
 ferjetlion ? Job xi. 7. A conviclion of this depth in 
 God, and darknefs in man, feemeth to have been de- 
 ch^red in the inlcription on the ahar at Athens, A(Sls 
 xvii. 23. Tiiis Paul takes for his text, (if I may fo 
 fay), and makes an excellent fermon upon it. The 
 convi^Tlion ihat is in mens hearts, of the depth of God, 
 and of the darknefs in themfelves, hath bred a defire 
 in all men to know fomewhat moi:e of God than they 
 do, that they may pleafe, and ferve, and worfhip him, 
 and obtain his favour. And this darknefs and defire 
 have brought forth two great plagues on the world, 
 that are like to laft as long as the world lads, and as 
 Jong as imners hve in it ; two reprefentations of God 
 devifed by men. 
 
 ijjy The firfl way of mens fludying to reprefent 
 God unfo themfelves, is the more fine way of the bet- 
 ter fort of the Heathens, and their philofophers. And 
 that was, by framing thoug'nts, ideas, and contem- 
 plations of God, from the light of nature, and exer- 
 cife of their reafon. This way the apoftle takes no- 
 tice of, ns a poor way, and unprofitable, llom. i. 20. 
 That philoTopher fpoke like a divine, who, when he 
 was aiked by his prince. What God wasP defired a 
 day's time to think on it. When that was granted, 
 and done, he ailced two days time to think on the 
 que(tion. After :he two days, he afl<:ed four days. 
 And when the king wondered at his delays, he gave 
 this true and ingenuous aufwer : " The more I think 
 *' of God, the iefs can 1 teil what he is." And this 
 will be the fure eiFe^l of all that, without the light of 
 God's word and Spirit, do bufy themfelves to frame 
 reprefentations of God himfelf in their minds. The 
 heathens have indeed fpcke and wrote many good 
 thoughts of fome of the diviae attributes, which may 
 
 be 
 
Serm. 1X1 the LorcTs Flayer, 151 
 
 be read with profit ; and fome do read them with 
 Wonder, how they came by fuch thoughts ; and ma- 
 ny have ihoDght, that fome of thefe philofophers 
 might have ieen fome part of the Old Teliament 
 fcriptures. Paul quotes one of them at Athens, A6rs 
 xyii. 28. whom he calls one of their own poets ; and 
 another in Tit. i. 12. whom he calls a prophet of their 
 own : yet what he quotes of this lad, is a complete 
 Greek verfe of poefy; and the other but a haif-verfe. 
 But their philofophers taught and wrote, both in 
 profe or verfe. Yet though we who have the light 
 of God^s word, may make good ufe of their fparks 
 of nature's light ; we mud not thence think, that they 
 by their wifdom did know God favingiy ; contrary to 
 I Cor. i. 2 I. The world by wifdom knew not God. Aq 
 ungrounded chariiy to the falvation of the Keatheo, 
 that never knew God in Chrift, is a reflection on the 
 gofpel of Chrift, And if men will coin a new gofpel^ 
 and a way of faving finnners, by Jefus Chrift, as on- 
 ly preached to the Heathen, by fun, moon, and (lars, 
 contrary to the word of God, John. xiv. 6. and xvii, 
 3. Eph. ii. 12. A6I3 iv, II, 12. do you know and re- 
 member, that it is falfe coin. And mens coiain?- of 
 another way to God but by his Son Jefus Chrifi:, re- 
 vealed in and by the gofpel, is treafon againll the 
 Majefty of heaven ; and though it may deceive raea 
 on earth, it will never pafs as current in heaven. 
 
 2^/y, The other way of mens reprefenting God 
 nnto ihemfeives, is by images and outward reprefen- 
 tions of God. An old abomination. It is like it was 
 not before the deluge : for it is not named ; but on- 
 ly violence, and lulls, and general corruption in 
 manners, are given as the procuring caufes of God's 
 deftroying the world by water. B^fides, the world 
 was but lately created, and the glory of the Creator 
 flared every man in the face ; and that Mathufaiem, 
 who died a little before the flood, had lived fome 
 hundreds of years, while the flrft man, Adam, lived. 
 
 Befides 
 
1^2 Sermons concerning Serm. IX. 
 
 Befidcs, Enoch's prophecy, cited by Jude, ver. 14, 
 15. makes no mention of idolatry. But however it 
 was before the flood, idolatry came quickly into the 
 World afterwards, and is like to continue, till it be 
 purged by file. Now, what is i lolatry ? ?.ud whence 
 i:^ it that the world is fo mad upon idols, Jer. 1. 58. f" 
 idolatry is the worfnipping of the true God by and 
 tinder any image or reprefeotation of God, devifed by 
 mens heads, or framed by mens hands. The firlt 
 command of the moral law forbids the having and 
 worlliipping of any, but the true God. The fecond 
 command forbids the making of any refemblance or 
 Kiiage of God, and worfnipping of God by it. Di- 
 vine worOiip is ihzt glory that God will not give to an^ 
 other ^ neither his praife to graven images ^ Ha xlii 8.; 
 and that becaufe he u a jealous God. Worfhip is 
 God's throne in the world of angels and men ; and he 
 will- admit of no rival or partner in it. The idola- 
 ters pretend that they only honour God, and give no 
 f^iviae glory to the image : but the Lord calls wor- 
 Ciipping him by an image, a worjhipping of the crea^ 
 iure more than the Creator^ Ptom. i. 25. Now, how 
 comes in idolatry into the world ? And what keeps it 
 up in it, fince ail men by their reafon think, as Paul 
 faith, all ought to think, that the Godhead is tiot like 
 unto gold ^ orjtlver^ or Jl one graven by art orman^s de- 
 vice^ A6i:s xvii* 29. The true caufe of thir> fin's rife 
 and reign in the world, is this. / " men by nati^re 
 know there is a God that made the world, and chat 
 they oilght to worihip him ; but who he i^, and what 
 is pleafing worfhip to this God, they know not. They 
 know, that if there be a God, he mud not be like 
 jicy creature in heaven or earth. The di (lance be- 
 twixt God and creatures, is, in, its greatnefs, known 
 oniy to him that can comprehend his own glorious 
 piiijcfly, and the emptinefs of nothing creatures, x^nd 
 therefore we fee how he fpeaks in Ifa. xl. 17. All 
 nations before him are as nothings (that is, pretty lo ; 
 buc he yet lays them lower), and they are counted to 
 
 him 
 
Sekm. IX. the Lord's Prayer, 155 
 
 him lefs than nothings and -vanity. To "whom then 
 ivili you liken God f ver. 18. But though God only 
 can corcprehend the greatnefs of this didsnce be- 
 twixt Gcd and creatures ; yet all men do spprehenJ, 
 that it js, and nniift be great. Then, when rcafoa 
 tells them, that ibis God that made all things in tim?^, 
 is eternal ; that he is immenfe and unfearchable la 
 all perfedlions ; that he is a Spirit ; every one of thefs 
 names of God do ftnn and puzzle the man's under- 
 ftanding ; fo that all mu(l fay, as one did, Job xxxvii. 
 2 3 . Touching the Almighty y we cannot find him cut. 
 So that, in this confufion and darknefs, thty mull 
 (as they did, John iv. 22.) worjhip they know not what; 
 and becaufe they know not Cod, Jo as to glorify him 
 as God ^ &c. they change the glory of the ur.corruptihh 
 Gody into an image made like unto a corruptible man^ 
 &c. Rom. i. 2.', 22, 23. Man in his ignorance unci 
 fififulnefs, firfl thinkr- that God is foe h an one as bim^ 
 felf, Pfal. L 22.; and then thinks any reprefentatioii 
 of God may ferve. And indeed the meanetl creep- 
 ing thing is an image too good for fuch a god. A 
 god altogether like a finner, is no other than the ^pd 
 tf this ivorldy the devil, 2 Cor. iv. 4. See the fir/i: 
 grofs idolatry anrong Ifrael in the Vk'Udernefs, Excd. 
 xxxii. They had heard the fiery la\¥ proclaiitied 
 dreadfully, but about forty days before; and idola- 
 try fpecially prohibited and threatened in that lavr; 
 yet they had hardly the dread of that voice our of 
 their ears, before their hearts are turned afide, their 
 hands bufied in making an idol, and they on their 
 knees worfliipping it. hi ver. i. they fay, Upy and 
 make us gcds to go before us. What a poor God is he 
 that is of man's making I *AI1 Ifrael could not maka 
 one fly or gnat ; yet they are for God-making. When 
 they had their golden calf, they faid, ver 4. Thefe 
 be thy gods, Ifrael y which brcught you out of the 
 landtf Egypt, Did they not know, that, a few 
 xveeks before, they had broupht that gold out of the 
 laud of Egypt, of which they had now made their 
 
 idol i 
 
154 Sermons concerting Serm. IX. 
 
 idol ? Did they not kDow, that this idol could uo more 
 go one flep before, nor with iheai, nor after them, 
 than a (lone ? And doubilefs they meant to carry it, 
 if Mofes had not made them to dellroy it, and drink 
 it, ver. 2 0. But. they had brought up their idola^ 
 trous hearts out of the land of Egypt, Ezek. xxiii. 3, 
 8, 19. ; and they thought this a fit reprefentarion of 
 the true God ; and therefore frccUimation is made of 
 a feci J} to-morrow^ to the Lord^ to Jehoz'ah, ExoJ. 
 xxxii. 5. As long as God is not known by his word 
 and Spirit, no man is fecured from falling inro ido- 
 latry. Let us look into the Antichriftian (late ; and 
 there any Chriftian may fee, that the whole of their 
 worfliip, from the beginning to the end, is a mere 
 mals of idolatry, and wicked reprefentations of God. 
 Their heart?, their houfes, their flreets, and high- 
 'ways, their temples, are all filled with idols : many 
 falie gods, as angels and faints ; many wicked repre- 
 fentations even of the divine perfons. Father, Son, 
 and Holy Ghofl. Jadly may it be called, as old Ba- 
 bylon was, a land of graven images^ Jer.,1. 38. The 
 old Pagan, and the new Antichriflian Rome, equal- 
 ly full of idols ; only with difference in names. ^ Hea- 
 then names laid afide, and Chrifiian names taken up 
 in their rooms : but the idols the fame, and the ido- 
 latry the fame ; with the addition of a god made of 
 breud, to be firft made, then worlhipped, and then 
 eat. An abomination enough to make the natural 
 confciecce of a cannibal to keck at. 
 
 To conclude this head, about worfhippiog of God 
 by image?, 1 would fay only, that^it is a fin as plainly 
 forbid in God's word as any fin whatfoever ; as fear- 
 fully punifiied as any fin : that it is a fin that both 
 rifeth from unworthy thoughts of God, and increaf- 
 eih thefe unworthy thoughts. It (lupifies men, and 
 takes away their reafon : Ifa. xliv. 20, He {the ido- 
 later) feedeth of afhes : a deceived heart hath turned 
 him a fide ^ that he cannot deliver his own foul y nor fay y 
 Is there not a lye in my right hand? But they that \ 
 
 make 
 
Serm. IX. the LorcTs Prayer* 15.5 
 
 make thern^ are like unto them; fo is every one that truft' 
 eth in them^ Pfal. cxv. 8. The idol, and the idolater, 
 are much alike. The idol is void of all natural life 
 and fenfe, and the idolater is as void of all fpiritual 
 life and itiSt, Hath that man the foul and fpirit of a 
 man in him ; hath he any fenfe of the majelty of the 
 true and living God, who can call a log of wood, or 
 a bit of bread, a god, and woriliip it ? I have fald 
 the more of idolatry, becaufe it is the fin moil difno- 
 nourable to God, mod deftru(rcive to the fouls of men, 
 and a dreadful flumbling block to the Jews and Turks, 
 who do jufily abhor idols, for as blind and fottifti as 
 oiherwife they be. Nor can any man wonder that 
 they flumble at the name of Chriftianity, when they 
 fee the greateft part of fuch as profefs that name, as 
 much given to idolatry, as ever the Heathen were, 
 either before or fince Chriil came into the world. 
 This fm is alfo a difgrace to mankind, and a (hame- 
 ful defacing of that image of God in which he was 
 fir 11: made ; w^hen a m.an fo dehafeth him/elf even unto 
 hell^ (Ifa. Ivii. 9.), as to worftiip what either his own 
 or other mens hands have made. Yet this fm of ido- 
 latry is a demonftration, that the light of nature, and 
 the notion of God, (notwiihftanding all the weak- 
 nefs, darknefs, and corrupdon mixed with it in fal- 
 len man), is deeply and flrongly rooted in mens 
 hearts, that they will rather take up with any thing 
 for a God, yea, make a God to themfelves, rather 
 |han have none, it is no rare thing, to fee an ido- 
 ^jatrous prince, who is as proud as Lucifer, and who 
 faith in his heart as he did, Ifa. xiv. 12, 13, 14.; and 
 who hath pride and ambition enough to defire to bs 
 lord of the whole earth : yet fuch a wretch as this, 
 who is not worthy to live among his fellow-mortals, 
 will humble himfeif, and kneel before a proud prieft, 
 confcfs his fms to him, and afk, and receive pardon 
 from him, as from a God, and worQiip the work of 
 the meaneft of his fubje<5ls hands. This was the proud 
 boaft in the laft age, of a confeffor to a great king. 
 Vol, II. X «' What 
 
1^6 Sermons concerning Serm. IX. 
 
 «* When 1 hnve my king on his knees before me, and 
 •' my god (meaning the confecrated wafer) in my 
 " hand:?, what can 1 not dof" From fuch gods, fiich 
 kings, and fach priefls, may ihe only true God de- 
 liver us, and all the nations on earth. But as long 
 as the fpirit of Demetrius prevaileih, Diana will not 
 want a rich temple, and many worfhippers : A^is 
 xix. 25. Te know that by this craft we have cur 
 wealth. For if falfe gods were not rich gods, and 
 rich-makiug gods, they quickly would have neither 
 pried?, nor temples, nor vi/orfhippers. And quickly 
 may it be, is the hearty prayer of every true Chrif- 
 :iaQ. 
 
 And this leads me to the point in hand, That the 
 Lord Jefus Chrift, God-man, and our Mediator, is 
 the only true reprefentative of God unto the church. \ 
 God only makes hitnfelf favingly known to men in 
 his Son Jefus Chrift. Men that would know God 
 favingly, worfbip God acceptably, and enjoy God for- 
 ever, they mull: feek and get all in and by Jefus Chrifh 
 
 In handling of this, I would fpealc to two things. 
 I. The fitnels of Chrilt to be God's reprefentative to 
 his church, 2, The glory of Chrift in beuig fo. 
 
 jP/V/?, As to Chrift^s iitnefs to reprefent God unto 
 men : It appears in three things. j 
 
 I. lu the divine dignity of his perfon. He Is 1 
 God's eternal Son, and God equal with the Father. \ 
 I know that this rock, the church of Chrift is built a- 
 pon, is boldly ftruck at in thefe hll and worft day?. 
 But we (hould know as well, that the gates of hell /kail 
 not prevail againjl it, Matth. xvi. 18. I would only 
 fay now, that that man or womau that owns the 
 authority of the New Teftament, (though Chriil's 
 Godhead fhines very brightly in the Old Teftament), 
 and ftiall read but three firft chapters, John i. Col. i. 
 and Heb. i. and can fay, that Chrift is a mere man 
 and creature, is under a judicial blindnef?. All that 
 worfhip Chrift, and call on his name in prayer, and 
 
 deny 
 
Serm. IX the Lord's Prater, 157 
 
 deny him to be true God, are guilty of idolatry, A 
 mere creature imag€ and reprefencation of God ufed 
 in worfhip, is an idol. But the eternal Son of God, 
 who is in his perfon tbe image of Godj and the cha- 
 rader of the Father'^s perfon^ is fit unfpeakably to de- 
 clare Go^ unto men, John i. 8. He alone doth ir^ 
 and none elfe can. 
 
 2. The Sen's afTuming man's nature unto his own 
 divine perfon, makes him fit to reprefent God to men, 
 John i. I.-— 18. His being God-man, made him fit 
 to reprefent God to men, and to reprefent men to 
 God. God is only to be favingly known by men, as 
 he is a God in Chriil ; and finners are only accepted 
 of God, as they are in Chrift. His human nature is 
 a creature; but the Son of God that alTumed and 
 dwelleth perfonally in this nature, is a divine perfon. 
 It is not his nature as man, but his divine perfon dwel- 
 ling in that nature, that doth make him the only right 
 reprefentative and image of the invifible God unto 
 his church. 
 
 3. Chrift's being indalied in the ofitice of Mediator^ 
 - makes him fit to reprefent God unto men. He is the 
 
 one Mediator between God and rjrnt, the mnn Chrifl Je- 
 fus^ I Tim. ii. 5. Such as, on this account, talk of 
 Chrifi's being a God by office, know neither God, 
 nor Chriif . nor his office. Our Lord jefin Chri(t is 
 God in office ; and to be worihipped by his people, 
 as clothed with it. In this office, as Prophet, he re- 
 prefents and revealeth the mind and will of God, to 
 be known an! believed by the church; which is com- 
 manded by the Father to hear hhriy Matth. xvii. 5. 
 As King, ali judgment is committed to the 6on : that 
 all menjhould honour the Son^ even as they honour the 
 Father, And he that honour eth not the Son, bonoureth 
 not the Father which hath fent him^ John v. 22, 23. 
 And as Pried, as all In that office are taken from a- 
 mong men^ and ordained for men in things pertaining to 
 God^ that they might both offer gifts and fa orifices for 
 fins^ Heb. v. 1. j fo the Son was confecrated for this 
 
 X 1 office 
 
15^ Sermons cGncernlng Serm. IX. 
 
 office by an oath^ Heb. vii. 28.: and as Pried, he 
 7nufl have fanew hat elfe to offer, Heb. viii. 3. ; which 
 offering was himfelf, and this he hath offered, Heb. 
 ix. 26. and x. 5.— -10. And after this offering, he 
 entered iu^ as Pried, into the holy place ; even into 
 heaven itfelfj now to appear in the prefcnce of God for 
 tiSy Heb. ix. 12. 24. And there he remains, and 
 Itveth for \ ever to make inter ceffton for us^ Heb. vii. 25. 
 until hefhail appear the fecond time, without fin^ unto 
 falvation, Heb. ix. 28. Now, in this office Chrilt 
 reprefents bis church unto God ; and in his propheti- 
 cal and kingly office, he reprefents God unto his 
 church. Both equally needful for our faivation, and 
 both only performed by Jefus Chrift as Mediator ; 
 who only can reprefent God unto us, that we may 
 favingly know God ; and reprefent us fo to God, 
 that we may be gracioufly received by him. Where- 
 fore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, 
 conflder the Apojlle and High Priejl of our profefjiont 
 Chr if} Jefus, Heb. iii. i. Confider how fit he is to 
 do all God's bufmefs with us, and all our bufinefs 
 with God, for our faivation, and his Father's and his 
 own glory. He is clothed with a moft honourable 
 office of Mediator, (the honour and work of which 
 office no mere creature could besr and difpatch), fur- 
 rilhed with all fulnefs for its difcharge and manage- 
 ment. This office he difcharged when on earth, in 
 cur nature as man ; and in the fame nature, is doing 
 what remains to be done in that office, in heaven. 
 And this high officer, this man Jefus Chrid, is God 
 ever all, ble[jed for ever, Rom. ix. 5. So that his fit- 
 nefs for making a trae and faving reprefentation of 
 God to his people, is evident ; but fo great and glo- 
 ricu?, that we cannot fully apprehend it by faith. 
 We have in our Lord Jefus Chrid, a Mediator be- 
 tween God and men, to take away the breach that 
 fm had made between them, and to make an everlad- 
 ing friendffiip \ a Mediator fo furniQied for his office, 
 that any may iruft him ia it. We have this Mediator 
 
 in 
 
Serm. IX. the Lord's Prayer. 15^ 
 
 in our own nature, a partaker offlejh and bloody as 
 we be, Heb* ir 14, 17. ; in all things made like unto 
 his brethren^ that he might be the fitter for us, and 
 that we might be the more familiar with him. And 
 this Mediator by his office, this real and true man by 
 the taking of our nature, is God, the only begotten of 
 the Father, Can any make a doubt of this truth we 
 are upon, That the Lord Jefus Chriff, God-man, 
 Mediator, is the true, real, and only reprefentative 
 of God to his church P 
 
 So much for this iirft head. 
 
 Secondly^ What is Chrifl's glory, in being God's 
 reprefentative to his church ? Herein he is exceed- 
 ingly exalted* How greatly is it expreiTed, Eph. i. 
 205-— 2g. and in Phil. ii. 6,-— 11.? and how hard to 
 think fuitably of them i' 1 fhall only touch at three 
 particulars in it. 
 
 I. It is glory to Jefus Cbrifl, that all the faving dif- 
 coveries of God are made to men in and by him : 
 2 Cor. iv. 6. The light of the knowledge of the glory of 
 Godfhineth to men^ in the face of Jefus Chrij}, Till 
 a man know Jefus Chrid, he knows not God ; nay, he 
 hath not a Gcd : Eph. ii. 12. They that are with- 
 out Chrifl, are without God in the world : '* Ye were 
 " Atheifts," (fo is the Greek word) ; though the E- 
 pliefians, to whom he wrices, had been great idola- 
 ters, and had gods and goddeffes more than were 
 worth having, Acl? xix. 
 
 2. Great is Chrifi's glory in this, that all the worfliip 
 that is given to God, if right, and as it is commanded, 
 is given to God in and by Jefus Chriil:. hlo coming to 
 the Father^ but by him, John xiv. 6. if we believe in 
 Gody v/e muft afo believe on him, John xiv. i. Thro* 
 him we believe on God, i Peter i. 2 1. l^ we believe on 
 him, we believe not on him (only, or alone), but on him 
 that fent him. And he that feet h hiniy feeth him that 
 fent himy John xii. 44, 45. If we pray, we muft do 
 it in Chr'ifTs namey John xiv. 13, 14. and chap. xvi. 
 23, 24. Yea, wbatfocver zve do, whether in word or 
 
 deedi 
 
l6o Sermons concerning Serm. IX. 
 
 decdy mtijl all be done in the name of our Lord Jefus 
 Chr'ij}^ giving thanks unto God and the Father by him^ 
 Col. iii. 17. Ail our gofpel-facrifices are to be offer- 
 ed to God by him, Heb. xiii. 15. Now, confider how 
 great a perfon this mud be, as the apoftle argues a- 
 bout his type, Melchifedec, ia Heb. vii. i,--4» Aod 
 he is there exalting that unknown man's priefthood a- 
 bove the Levitical, in this, that Aoraham, Levi's great- 
 graudfavher, gave the tenth of the fpoils to him. How 
 much greater is Jefus Chrllt, of whom Melchifedec 
 was but a type and (hadow, to whom we muft not on- 
 ly give a tenth, but all, of that worfliip and fervice 
 we pay and owe to God ? 
 
 3, All the mercy, favour, and bounty of God to 
 men, comes to us in and by Jefus Chrift. No^/V/- 
 tual blejftngs in heavenly things doth God blefs us zuith^ 
 but in Jefus Chrift ^ Eph. i. 3. 
 
 Application. All the ufe of this doi^rine 
 I (hall at this time make, is in one warning ; which I 
 wilh may be as well taken, as it is needful, both 
 to me to give it, and to you to take it. And it is this. 
 That the fecret moth and poifon in many people's re- 
 ligion is, that it is not Chriftianity. G^^/ out of Chrift 
 is a confumingfire ; God not worfhipped in Chrift, is 
 an idol ; all hopes of acceptance out of Chrift, are 
 vain dreams ; a heaven out of Chrift, is little better 
 than the Turks paradife. How fad is it ; how vifible 
 is it, and common ihat many men and women do pray 
 every day, and hear every day, and would fain know 
 God rightly, and worftiip him acceptably ; and, if we 
 might believe their words and proleffion, they know 
 a great deal of God, and ferve him not a little ; when, 
 in ihe mean time, Jsfus Cbrift, as ihe only glafs in 
 and by which the true God aud his glory is to be 
 known and adored, is not minded by them ? They 
 have no fenfe, no experience o( it, no convi(ftion of 
 the neceffity of Chrili's reprefeciing an invifible, in- 
 ccmpreheniible God, ucto chemj they make no effays 
 
 to 
 
Serm. IX. the Lor(Ps Prayer. \6l 
 
 to know God in and by ihi^ only i ght way. Hence 
 is it, that there Is fo much of that that bears the 
 canie of reiigicn, that not only men may carry to heii 
 with them, but that puftieth them into hell. Henc5 
 is it, that fo many have a form of godlinefs, who are 
 fatal Grangers to its power. Is it not fad, to fee ani 
 hear men, who bear the name of Chriftians, playing 
 the philofophers about God's nature and auribuie?, 
 w^hile in the mean time they are utter, yea contented 
 Grangers, unto this only true reprefentation of God 
 unto men, in his Son Jefus Chrift i All I ihall fay 
 now, is to glance at one fcriptiire, in 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4^ 
 6. If our gofpel he hid^ it is bid to them that are /<?/?, 
 1 cannot deny, would the apoftie f^ty, but that for 
 all the plainnef$ and clofenefs of our preaching, of 
 which in ver. 2, yet our gofpel is hid ; but it is fo to 
 a loft company. But how comes it, that under fnch 
 preaching as Paul's, the gofpel is hid from any that 
 hear it P This he anfwers, ver. 4. wherein he names 
 two caufes concurring, one fad effed): flowing from 
 thefe caufes, and deftruf^ion confequent on the ef- 
 fe6l. The caufes are, unbelief in their hearts, and 
 Satan's working with it, and fecuring of it. The fin- 
 Der is blind by nature, his blindnefs grows by the 
 abufed light of the gofpel, and the devil fpreads a 
 thick Tail over their blind eyes, that let gofpel-light 
 ihine by an apoftle, no ray, no beam (hall dart in u- 
 pon them. Now what is the effect of this double- 
 blinding ? What doth Satan defign in his pains on un- 
 believers ^ What is he afraid of, and (Indies to pre- 
 vent ? It is, hjl the light of the glorious gofpel ofChriJ}^ 
 who is the image of God, Jhould fkins unto them. As 
 if the apoftle had faid, the devil in his diligence to 
 keep fmners in the dark, thinks and knows, that if 
 ever one beam of the glory of Chrift in the gcfpel, 
 comes in to fmners hearts, they are loft to hini, and 
 faved to Jefus Chrift. O that fmners knew this, as 
 weU as. the devil doth I But why hath not this bufy 
 devil the fame power on all i How come any to have 
 
 their 
 
1 62 Sermons concert:: ng Serm. IX. 
 
 their eyes opened to fee P To this he anfwers in ver. 
 6. For God who commanded the light to JJnne out of 
 darknefs, hath jhined in our hearts ^ to give the light of 
 the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jefus 
 ChriJ}, Obferve, that the aportle in fpeaking of the 
 caufes of the perdition of unbelievers, names their 
 own blindnefs and unbeh'ef, and Satan's a^livity; but 
 as to the falvation of beHevers, he afcribes it folely 
 unto the grace of God, and its power and freedom ; 
 without which Satan would prevail on all, as he doth 
 on many. But, for as blind as unbelievers are, and 
 for as diligent and powerful as the devil is, God that 
 commanded light in the fird: creation, did fo to us, 
 and this light fo commanded, gave us the knowledge 
 of the glory of God^ in the face of Jtfus Chrift, by 
 which we are faved. There are many glorious truths, 
 that fliine with fome beams of light into the minds of 
 natural men, fo as that they are convinced of them, 
 fall in love with them, and make proftllion of them ; 
 but never is afmner throughly changed and converted 
 to God, nor refcued from Satan and the power of 
 darknefs, till this light, this knowledge, this glory of 
 God in the face of Chrift, be given by this great 
 Commander and Creator. Paulhimfelf, while an un- 
 behever, had the light of the knowledge of the glo- 
 ry of God, in the works of creation and prcvi:^'euce, 
 as a man of fenfe and reafon : he had the knowledge 
 of the glory of God in the law, as a zealous Jew; 
 but the knowledge of the glory of God in the face 
 of Jefus Chrilf , he never h'<id, till it pleafed God to 
 call him by his grace and to reveal bis Son in him, Gal. 
 i. 15, 16. And let me tell you, that unlefs you have 
 feen more of the glory of God in the face of Jefus 
 Chrift, and in God's way of faving fmners by him, 
 than ever you faw of his glory in his works of creatioQ 
 and providence (in both which, not a little of his glo- 
 ry (hineth) the Lord hath not yet dealt with you, as 
 he doth wiih them he favech. llie right faving kno'A - 
 ledge of God centers in this one perfon, Jefus Chriil. 
 
 See 
 
Serm/X. the Lord's Frayer. i6^ 
 
 See how the apoftle pnyeth, Col. ii. 2, 3. That their 
 hearts /night be comfoyied^ being knit together in love^ 
 and unto all riches of the jull ajjurance of under ftand- 
 inor, to the acknowled'^jnent of the myjlery of Gody and 
 oj the Father^ andof Chrifl ; in zvhom are hid all the 
 treofures of wifdom and knowledge. So that ail who 
 would be enriched with true wifdoii?, and the faving 
 knowledge of God, muH: hy falihdig in Chrid, and 
 find theaj. 
 
 SERMON X. 
 
 John xvii. 24. 
 
 Father y I will that they alfo whom thou haj} given me^ 
 be with me where I am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which thou haft given me : for thou lovedft m& 
 before the foundation of the world* 
 
 THIS great rubje£>, the glory of our Lord Je- 
 fus Chriit, which he hath received of his Fa- 
 ther, is that which his people fee fomewhat of here 
 by faith, Heb. ii. 9. and are called to the hope of 
 full beholding of it hereafter, when this prayer ot 
 our Lord fhall be fully anfwered. It is fo deep a 
 theme, that it isnoteafy to enter upon it, bin impof- 
 fible to declare the thing plentifully as it is. All I 
 mean to fpeak on it, I ihall confine to two beads ; the 
 glory of Chrift, as reprefenting God unto us ; and 
 his glory, as reprefenting us to God. In the iirff, 
 he reprefents God unto us, to our faving knowing of 
 God : in the other, he reprefents us to God, unto 
 our faving acceptance with God, I began to fpeak 
 of the former laft day, and did proceed- to it by thefe 
 Vol. 1L Y three 
 
1^4 Sermons concerning Serm. X. 
 
 three fleps. T. That the true knowledge of God is 
 fimply Dcedful format's happicefs, both in this and 
 the next life. 2. That Gcd in himfelf is incompre- 
 heDfibie, unbeholdib'e, urknowable, unlefs he is 
 pleaftd to make himfelf fomt mv known to men. 3. 
 That yet men in ail ages h?.vc neen flill framing re- 
 prelentaiions of God in their own minds. A little of 
 nature^s light remains, ^nd of the ruins of thar edate 
 (Jod made man at firif in ; bnt fo defiled and mixed 
 with the darknefs brought on men by the fall, that na- 
 tural light and finful dark^.^fs, mixed together, are 
 but like the chaos in the btginoiDg of the creation. 
 Gen. i. 2. So that we may apply that to this cafe of 
 mensinquiring after God, in Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this 
 only have I found y that God hath made man upright : 
 hut they have fought out many inventions, A man can 
 think of nothing, but in and by that thought there is 
 feme idea or reprcfentation of it made in his rrind. 
 "When we think of our own fouls, (by which we do 
 think), how dnrk is our idea of them I Bat when we 
 begin to think of creatures higher and nobler than 
 ouifelves, as rxii^els are, what a dark idea do we 
 frame of them I When we fay ihey are fpirits, what 
 know we what ? Tpirit is I When we fay a fpirit is an 
 intelligc^: toeing, freeof matter ; how far is this from 
 plan*'«(;: a juft repi efentation in our minds of ihofe 
 Bob'=' rreaturcs? If we raife our thoughts above ull 
 cr'.'.' es, unto the perfect Former of all things, the 
 g Jehovah; every thought of him, every name 
 and perfe(Slion of his, fwallows us up ; as Job xxxvsi. 
 19. leach us -what we jh all fay unto him; for wc 
 cannot order our Jpecch (or our thoughts) to him by rca- 
 Jon of darknefs. Our own light in us, is but dark- 
 neis ; and the infmltencfs of his light and glory, is a? 
 darknefs to us. K^hall it he told hrm that I (peak f If 
 a man fpeak^ futely he fhall be fjuailowtd up^ ver. 20. 
 l.( a iiiHn know, either who he i5 that fpeaketh, what 
 he either fpeaks or thinks, or who he is ihat is fpoke 
 or thought c[. The World hath, been ihiving, either 
 
 by 
 
Serm. X. the Lord^s Prayer* 165 
 
 by their wifdonfi to know Goc^, i Cor. 1. 21. oria 
 their folly to reprefeat an invifible God to their bodi- 
 ly fenfes. And this lafl hath filled fo great a part of 
 the earth with idols : an old abomination, \7hich, h 
 may be, will continue till thi.^ earth be purged by the 
 I aft fire. And ihefe things led me to the only relief 
 in this difmai ftate of mankind, as to the riglit and 
 living knowledge of God ; that the Lord Jefus Chrift^ 
 the Son of God, clothed with man's nature, and with 
 the office of Mediator .between God and men, is the 
 only true reprefentative of God to men. That he is 
 fuch, and of his glory in being fo, I have fpoke 
 fomewhat ; and (hail enter upon the ufe we (hould 
 make of him, as the reprefentative of God un'o his 
 church, after I have given you a little account of the 
 gradual rifmg of this light iu and unto the church* 
 
 When our firfl parents had finned, and were a- 
 fhamed of themfelves, and afraid of God, and igno- 
 rantly thought to hide themfelves fron him, he calls 
 them to his bar, arraigns them for their fni ; and 
 when they had no reabn ro cxpe61 any thing but ^rc,- 
 fent jadgment and execution, inftead of that, the 
 Lord, in a threatening agaiod the ferpent, brings 
 forth the firft promite of falvation by Jefus Chritf, 
 called there the feed of the woman ; who, though be 
 fhould fuffer by the ferpent, fliould yet bruife his 
 headi Gen. iii. 15, In the faith of this, and It may 
 be of other exolanations of it not recorded, the be- 
 lieving fathers before the fiood lived and died. And 
 Abel and Enoch are noted, Heb, xi. /\^ 5. the one a 
 martyr, the other tranllated to heaven. And Noah, 
 before, in, and after the flood, ver. 7. is called an 
 heir of the right eoufief which is by faith : which none 
 but a believer is» No righteoufnefs is by faith, but 
 that that hath both the Lord our righteoufnefs in ir, 
 the light of God's word to difcover him and it, and a 
 promife of the covenant to warrant faith's apprehend- 
 ing of it. If we go on to the Patriarch Abraham, we 
 find the light growing more bright, efpeciailj if wc 
 
 Y a read 
 
J 66 Sermons concerning Serm. X. 
 
 read Geo. xii. 14, 15, 17. &c. with Paul's comments 
 on them, in Rom. iv. in Gal. iii. and iv. and in Heb. 
 xi. 8. — 20. and what our Lord faid of Abraham in 
 John viii. 59, 40. 36, 58, Who can read thefe, and 
 not be peifuaded, that Abraham knew the Son of 
 God, and God in him, and juftification and falvation 
 by him ? Let us next take a view of the church-fiate 
 which the God of Ifrael brought his people into; firft, 
 in a more iranfient manner in the wildernefs, and 
 thereafter fixed them in it in Canaan. In this (late, 
 we find that the tabernacle and temple, their ordi- 
 nances, priefts, and iacrifices, and all their ceremo- 
 nies, were all bat types and fliadows of Jefus Chrid, 
 Heb. ix'. ar?d x. There were many things in that dif- 
 perfation that had fome appearance and femblance of 
 idolairy ; but there was none in it, for two reafons. 
 '1. Becaufc they were all of God's own appoinimenr. 
 2. Becaufe they were inflituted on purpofe to prefi- 
 gure the MefiTiah to come. If therefore any of Ifrael 
 had devifed of his own head a worQaip of this forr, 
 then tbat man had been as guilty of tranfgrefTing the 
 fecond command, Thoujhalt not make unto thyfclf any 
 likenefs^ &c. as if he had fervcd Baalim. And be- 
 caufe they were all types and (lindows of Chrid, and 
 of the good things to come by hi.T. : therefore if any 
 church or perfon, cow after the fubftance is come, 
 and the fliadows are gone, {bould attempt to bring 
 Chriflians under the Levitical difpenfation o^ the 0!d 
 Teftaraent church, they juflly might be called Anti- 
 chriftians^ and deniers that Chnfl is come in the flejh^ 
 1 John iv. 3. Com.e we to the prophets, David in 
 the Pfalms, Ifaiah, and all the prophets, we find a 
 fair dawning of the knowledge of the glory of God 
 in the face of Jefus Chnfl, wrought in their hearts 
 by the Spirit of God, and fhining in their minifiry 
 to fbe church. Thi^ is fo plain, that it need not be 
 infidrd ';n ; and fo full, that it would be too great a 
 digrtfiion to infi'i on it as it deferves. We find Ste- 
 phen, Acls vii. and Paul, A6ls xiii. preaching Chrift 
 
 by 
 
Serm. X. the LcrcTs Fray cry 167 
 
 by fuch a narration ; warrant enough for this fmall 
 account. Let us now go forward ro Chriit's coming 
 into the world. The angels proclaiai him, a born Sa- 
 vioury Chrifi ths Lord, Luke ii. if. Old dying Sime- 
 on calls him, when a babe in arms, God^s fahatio?2^ 
 and the light of the Gentiles , and the glory of Ifrael^ 
 ver. 30, 31, 32. Yea, Elifabeth calls him, when in 
 the womb, My Lord^ Luke i. 43. What a great a- 
 nointing of the Holy Ghoft was on this good woman, 
 and how ilrong was her faith in Chriit ? When he is 
 to be made manifeli to Ifrael, John Baptid proclaims 
 him to be the Lamb of GoJ^ that taketb away the fin 
 of the luorld ; to be the baptizer with the Holy GbQi'J ; 
 to be the Son of God ; and that all grace is received 
 cut of his fulnefsy John i. 15. — 34. When he is bap- 
 tized, what a glorious tefiimony is given from heaven 
 to him, Macth. iii. 17 P When he lived on the earth, 
 and went about doing good, all that knew him, paid 
 him divine worfhip in faith, and love, and prayer, 
 and obedience; and were never checked for it; as 
 Peter did Cornelius, Adls x. 26.; and the angel, 
 John the divine, t^vice, lie v. xix. 10. and xsii. 9. 
 Yea, when he was dying, one fuv him to be God, 
 and dealt with him by faith for eternal life : the 
 rareft faith in all the fcripture. When d.iiA^ and 
 fuppofed by Mary Magdalene to be (lill fo, ill e cal- 
 led him, illy Lord, John xx. 13. Thomas calls him 
 when rifen, My Lord and my God^ John xx. 28. Yea, 
 when he had led them out as far as to Bethany^ and 
 had lift up his hands and blejfed them ; and while he 
 hlefjedthem^ he was parted from them^ and was carried 
 up into heaven ; (a bleiled parting ; and there will be 
 Ihordy as bleiled a meeting again) ; they worfbipped 
 himy and returned to Jerufaleniy with great joy, Luke 
 xxiv. 50, 51, 52, 53. Strange joy 1 when, at the rid- 
 ings of Chrift's leaving ihtm, for row had filled their 
 hearts^ John xvi. 6. But, now their Lord had done 
 all his work on earth, and was received up into glory, 
 they w^orlLipped Lira joyfully flillj kDov^iog, that 
 
 though 
 
l68 Ser:nons concerning Serm. X. 
 
 thoiiph now CO more could they worfhiphim as they 
 did, when he was with thci], with the help of th-^t 
 bodily prefence of Ciirifl: with them, and with that 
 fight they had of hin by the e); s of their bodies rer- 
 niinated on his vifible appearance; yet by faith, aiid 
 wiih joy from that fa'ih, they worfhipped him ftill. 
 But when Chrifl was not only afcended into heaven, 
 but had fcnt down the promife of the Father, his Ho- 
 ly Spirit, upon the infant Chriflian church, A6I9 ii. 
 the light of the knoivkdge of the glory of God in the face 
 ^f J^fi^ ChriJ}^ fnone out as the fun in its flrength. 
 Ail believers, all preachers, all ordinances, were 
 filled with ChriTt's glory. In this pjorpel-temple, did 
 every one^ every thing, fpeak of his glory ; as the word 
 is, Pfal. xxix. 9, All divine worfbip was given to 
 him, and to God by hini ; all grace difpenfed by him. 
 And thus it will be until his coming a^ain. While 
 God hath a church on earth, it \s gathered together in 
 Chrijl's name ; built on Chrill as the rock and foun- 
 dation, I Cor, iii. 10, t i. ; grows vp in him, and on 
 hijiij Eph. ii. 2o» 21, 22. i Pet. ii. 4, 5,; worOiips 
 him, and the Father in him and by him; is (cd and 
 nburitlied by his Spirit, and the influence thereof, 
 until that blefled (late it is to be brought to at ihe 
 ]a(l appearance of the great God, and our Saviour Je- 
 fu) ChriJIi Tit. ii. 13, 
 
 1 would finifh this np-rrative with two fmgular fexrs, 
 amot.'gtl many, to the fame ])iirpofe ; one in the Old 
 Ttilament, and another in the New Tcftament, That 
 in the Old Ttdament is in Numb. xii. 8. ; that in the 
 New 1 eilament is in Col. ii, 9. 
 
 The firfl in Numb. xii. 8, I would labour to ex- 
 plain. What the matter was that occafioned the ftrife 
 betwixt Mofes and Aaron and Miriam, we know but 
 little ; whether Mofes did rig'ht or wrong about the 
 Et^hicpian woman whom he iDarried, ver. i. Yet one 
 Vvould think, that Aaron the high pried, and his el- 
 der brother, and Miriam his fifter, and a prophetef?, 
 Kiight have reprovsd him for what diey thought was 
 
 amifs, 
 
Serm. X, the hordes Prayer, i5a 
 
 amiis, without fo fevere a rebuke from the Lord, 
 But their fin lay in relieving on the high (tation God 
 had put him in. And their fm was fomething akia 
 to that of Korah and his company againft both Mof- 
 es and Aaron : Numb. xvi. 3. Tou take too much it- 
 pon you. To this ftrife between Mofcs and his bro- 
 ther and filler, the Lord puts an end by very extra- 
 ordinary words. 1 will read them, becaufe one pare 
 of them belongs evidently to our prcfent purpofe : 
 Numb. xii. 6. Hear now my words : If there be a 
 prophet among yoit^ (as there were feveoty fet apart 
 in tne preceediug chapter), / the Lord will make my- 
 Je If known to htm in a v\fion^ and will [peak unto him 
 in a dream (And iheie were the ulual ways and 
 means of God's darting in prophetical light into the 
 minds of his prophets; either when awake, by vid- 
 ens ; or when afleep, by dreams ; and both were at- 
 tended, doubtiels, wirh fuch fignarures of God's in- 
 tereft therein, as did fatisfy and fecure their faith), 
 ver. 7. But my fervant Mofes is not fo, who is fait h- 
 ful m all my houje. '"• (i nave let him above ccofe 
 " ways and ordinances"), ver. 8. With him will I 
 fpeak mouth to mouth, (the fame sv'nhface to face, 
 Exod. xxxiii. 1 f. as a manfpeaketh unto his friend ; ■ 
 and in Deut. xxxiv. la. So Mofes faith of God's way 
 of giving the law : Deut. v. 4. The Lord talked with 
 you face to face in the mount, out of the midfl of thefre)^ 
 even apparently, and not in dark fpeeches, (as Pulm. 
 Jxxyiii 2. / will utter dark fay ings of old) ; and the 
 fmilitude of the Lordfhall he behold, (as much beyond 
 ihe.other, 2.% feeing is beyond hearing darkly of a per- 
 fon t)r thing) : Wherefore then were ye not afraid to 
 /peak again}} my fervant Mofes? Now what was this,/J;«/- 
 litude of the Lord that Mofes did behold, and was fo 
 dignified by reafon of this fingular priviledge ? You 
 k-aow he tells them, Deut. iv. 15, 16. Take ye there- , 
 foic good heed unto yourfehes, (for ye faw no manner of 
 fmilitude on the day that the Lor df pake unto you in R> 
 reb, out of the midfl of the fire), lefi you corrupt your- 
 
 fshcs^ 
 
1 70 Sermons concerning Serm. X, 
 
 feiVeSy Sec, It is like, if there had been any feen that 
 day, that they niiight rather incline to make the re- 
 femblance oi that in their idol, than of the Egyptian 
 ox or calf. There are divers opinions about this Jimi- 
 littfde of ihe Lord that hlofes did behold. But that 1 like 
 beft, and think it neareft the truth in fo dark and deep 
 a matter, is what you have in the annotations of Mr 
 Pool, a learned and godly divine, on this place : 
 " That the Son of God appeared to Mofes in an hu- 
 ** man fnape : which he took up for a time, that he 
 <* might give Mofes a foretaite of his future incarna- 
 *' tion.'* And many grave divines think, that moft 
 of the appearances of God to Abraham, and to the 
 patriachs and prophets, were made by the Son of 
 God in a human fhape, foretelling his being made 
 fle(h in the fulnefs of time. Man was made in the i* 
 mage of Gody after his Ukenefs^ Gen. i. 26. If this 
 fenfe be not approved, that it was fo done, becaufe 
 God had purpofed, that one of the blefied three, e- 
 ven his eternal Son, the natural and effential image of 
 the Father, fhould in time be fent in the likenefs of 
 man ; yet this is certain, that the firft man was made 
 in the image of God ; and, by his fall, got on him and 
 his pofterity the image of the devil : and to recover 
 U3 from this woful likenefs, and to bring ns to a bet- 
 ter likenefs to God than Adam was made in and loll, 
 God's Son takes jo him the likenefs offinfulficfh^ Rom. 
 viii 3. yet without fm, that in and by that likenefs 
 men might come to know God favingly, and be made 
 like unto God. 
 
 The oiher fcripture is in Col. ii. 9. For in him 
 (Jefus Chrift) dwelleth all the fulnefs of the Godhead 
 bodily, A remarkable text, and fo is the context. 
 What dwells in Jefus Chrift ? The Godhead, the fulnefs 
 of the Godhead, and all the fulnefs of the Godhead. 
 How dwelleih it in him ? Bodily, really, fubflantially, 
 not typically, as in the temple and fan£luary. The fulnefs 
 of the Godhead did not only thus dwell in Chrift when 
 he was on earth, but it dwelleih in him flill, and for 
 
 ever* 
 
Serm. X. the Lord's Prayer. 171 
 
 ever. Where then can a man find God, but in this 
 man Jefus Chriil, in whom dwelleth all the fulnefs cf 
 the Godhead, really, fubftantially, and eternally :' 
 The context hath two things in it. i. A warning a- 
 gainft redu(n:ion, ver. 8. 18, 19. Their and our dan- 
 ger lay in two things, that then were, and to this day 
 are, the chief fpriogs of apoflafy from Chrid, and 
 the ftinpUcity that is in hi?n^ as 2 Cor. xi. 3. The 
 one is adhering to the Old Teflament ordinances and 
 ceremonies, antiquated by Chrift, the end and fub- 
 ftance of them all. The other is, man's reafon, wif- 
 dom, and pUilofophy ; which never could, nor can, 
 find out God, fo as to direft men to know God fav- 
 ingly, and to worfnip God acceptably, i Cor. i. 21. 
 And therefore, by its poor principles, and beggarly 
 elements^ (as Gal. iv. 9.), this wifdom of man rebels 
 againfl the faving wildom of God in his Son Jetus 
 Chriu ; and doth but fuffiip men by their fie JIAy mmd^ 
 Col. ii. i8. And from thofe two curfed fprings, all 
 ihe herefies, apoitafies, and the grand Antichriitiaa 
 defe^lion, have evidently flowed. 
 
 ^. In the context we have the privileges of Chrif- 
 tians by Chrift, that (iiould endear him to them, and 
 engage them to that ftedfaftnefs in the faith which he 
 had exhorted them to in ver, 5, 6, 7. Thole privi- 
 leges are many and great. The Chriftian is complete 
 inhim^ ver. 10. and needs not hunt after any good 
 out of him. All is to be found in Chrifl, and in him 
 only. He Is circumcifed in him^ that is, faD61:*!fied, 
 ver. II. He is buried zvith Chrifl ^ and rifen agaln^ 
 ver. 12.; made to die to fin, and to hve to God. He 
 h quickned zvith Chrifl^ ver. 13. 2Lud forgiven. All 
 the Chriftian's enemies conquered, the law cancelled, 
 and the devil over-come, and triumphed over by 
 Chrift, at and by his lowed, ver 14, 15. 
 
 Now, to come to the application of this dofirine 
 fo oft named, That the Lord Jefus Chriil, God-mau, 
 Mediator, is the only true reprcfentacive of God ua-. 
 
 Vol, H. Z to 
 
172 K^erjnons concerntng Serm. X,' 
 
 to the church : There are three exhortations I would 
 give from it. i. Study God in ChriH. 2. Content 
 yourfelves with this knowledge oF God in Chrift. ^. 
 Ufe and improve the knowledge of God yoa have in 
 and by Jefus ChriO. 
 
 Exhort. I. Study God in Chrld. You muft know 
 God, if ye be faved. You cai^uot know hinfi, but as he 
 reveals himfelf ; he reveals hiinfeif no other way bat 
 in Chrill, fo as to be favingly known. There are four 
 books (if 1 may fo call thern) that lUcny ufe in their 
 ftudying to know God ; but they are, and will be but 
 poor (choiars, if they have not better, and fitter, and 
 plainer books, i. Some will ftudy an abfolute God; 
 God as in himfelf. An abfolute (iod is a pit, and an 
 abyfs, that all that: go near it, fall into it, and will 
 be dedroyed. It was a bold word of bleffed Luther, 
 ** Let hypocrites and unbelievers do as they pleafe, 
 *' I will have nothing to do with an abfolute God." 
 God as in his Son, God as in covenant with U3 in his 
 Son, God as clothed with grace and mercy, (hining 
 in his promifes in Chrid, is the God we mufl iludy 
 to know; and when by his grace we attain it, we may 
 glory humbly in it : Jer. ix. 24 Let him that glorieth^ 
 g^ory in this, that he under flandeth and knoweth me^ 
 that I am the Ijjrd, lohich exercife loving-kindnefs ^ 
 judqinent^ and right eoujnefs in the earth : for in thefe 
 t}M)2gs I delight^ faith the Lord. 2. Some ftudy God 
 in bis works. And much of his glory ihioeth there- 
 in, and we ought to obferve if. But what is all the 
 fruit of this alone ! .Only to render men inexcufabie^ 
 Rum. i 20. This light of the knowledge of the glo- 
 ry of God, is both dim and cold light, Ic hath no 
 heat nor power in it. Never did a man come by the 
 faviug kn^owledge of God by the fludy of the book of 
 creation and providence, though a true Chrift lan may 
 both (tody and profit much by it, when he hath knoivn 
 God, or rather is known of God, Gal. iv. 9. 3. Some 
 Itudy to know God in his holy law. And iu it is a 
 glorious difcovery of God, Bui it is of a holy, jud, 
 
 fm- 
 
Serm. X. Ibe Lord^s Prayer, 17^ 
 
 fin-hating', fio-forbidJing, fin-threarening God. Here 
 he is feen as a terrible judge. No man ever did, or 
 can know God favingly, m bare iaw-light. Only God 
 can be favingly known in that reprefentaiion of him 
 wherein he is maniFefted as a faving God ; and that 
 is, only in his Son Jefus Chrift. 4. Some ftudy to 
 know God in and by his ordinances. Precious ap- 
 pointments of God, mnch to be valued and ufed by 
 us; and their profit great, when bleifed by their ap- 
 poioter, and when ufed by us in the right manner. 
 But we muft know, that as the virtue of all the Old 
 Teftament ordinances lay in their relation to, and 
 flladowing forth the Meffiah then to come ; (0 all the 
 virtue of New Teftament ordinances lieth in their re- 
 lation to, and (hewing forth of Chrift come. If there- 
 fore a man now (hall (fudy to know God favingly ia 
 and by the greater light of the gofpel-appointments, 
 without regard to Chrifl's interefl in rhem, that maa 
 will as fureiy perifh in ignorance of God, as a carnal 
 Jew, uncircumci fed ia heart ; as J^r. \k. 26, Rom. ii. 
 20, 29. PhiL iiio g. 
 
 But, above all thefe, if yoUvWouH know God fav- 
 ingly, fludy to know him in and by th::€ only faving 
 rcprefentation he hath made of himfelf in his Son. 
 
 I. For here it is you have the only true, and new 
 place to find God in, job in his diilrefs faid, O that 
 I knew where I might fnd him I that 1 7111 gbt come d?- 
 ven to his feat ^ or throne! Job. xxiii. g. He is only 
 to be found in Chrif}. God dwelleth in Chrifr, CoL 
 ii. 9. There, and ,there only, you mud feek him, 
 and find him, and koow him favingly; and acquaint 
 your/elves with him^ and he at peace ^ Job xxii. 21. 
 There is no creature, no part of the work of God's 
 hands, that is fo nearly related to God, as the nature 
 of the man Chrift, aiTumed by the divine perfon of 
 the Wordy the only begotten of the Father, This is the 
 true tabernacle which the Lord pitched ^ and not man^ 
 Heb. viii. 2. This is the new and living way^ which 
 h^ hath confecrated for us through the vail, that is to 
 
 Z a fay^ 
 
174 Sermons concerning Serm. X. 
 
 fay^ his fle/hy Heb. x. 20. And this is the only way 
 to the hol'iejl^ ver. 19. The devil, Chrili's great e- 
 iKHiy^ hath done much to darken and difgrace this 
 uay to the world : on the one hand, by the grofs 
 idolatry of An?ichrii1:, wherein a vain Ihow is made, 
 by images of Chrift, and of his flefh, and fufferings 
 in it ; all obfcuring and perverting of Chrifl as the 
 ordinance of God for our falvation. On the other 
 hand, when men by their reafon fee the vanity of 
 this Popilh pageant and puppet-fhew, into which An- 
 tichrift hath turned the true gofpel-reprefentation 
 of Chrifl", Satan haih brought in a myllical and me- 
 tfiphyfical gofpel, on the pretence of greater fpiritu- 
 ality; wherein the fle(h of Chriff, and his faving per- 
 formances in that flelh, are either hid, or turned in- 
 to aliegories, and myfteries, and notions, that have 
 v.o room but in vain minds that hatch them, and are 
 quite unprcfiiable to them, that haibonr and hug 
 them. But let Chriftians beware of both, as of ways 
 of perdition ; aud by faith fix on the fiefli of our Lord 
 and Saviour Jefus Chrilt, which was given by him 
 Jor the life of the worlds John vi, 51. In this taber- 
 nacle of his hfidy we by faith fee God the Son perlbn- 
 ally dwelling, and by the fame faith fee the Father 
 dwelling in the Son. And thus only do we favingly 
 know God. 
 
 2. In Chrift only we have the new names and re- 
 lations of God, in and by which God only can be fa- 
 vingly known. When God fent Mofes to HVael, and 
 to Pharaoh, to bring llrael out of.Egypr, Mofes faith 
 TO the Lord, Exod. iii. 13. // they ft: all fay to vie^ 
 What is his name? what (hall I fay unto them f* (And 
 what a deep aofwer is given to this bold queltion, 
 ver I 4 P) So may we, What is that n-ime and rela- 
 tion of God that he only can be favingly known by ? 
 It is eafiiy anfwered, God can only be favingly known 
 ia aud by that faving name by which he makes him- 
 i^V. known ; and that is his name in Chrifl. The 
 Lord faid to Ifrael in Exod. xxiii. 2 1. Beware of him^ 
 
 and 
 
Serm. X. the Lord^s Prayer, 175 
 
 and obey his voice ^provoke him not : for he will not pardon 
 your tranfgrejftons : Jor my ?mrns is in him. And this 
 awful Word about Chrift, the angel of the coveoanr, 
 that he will not pardon refufers of him, is bur the 
 fame we have in Heb. xii. 25. But all the faving 
 names and relations of God unto us, are all in and 
 from his names in Chrift, and relations to Chrill. He 
 is Chrifl's God and Father, and lb ours, John xx. 17. 
 But more of thofe anoo. 
 
 So much for the firil exhortation, Study God ia 
 Chrift. 
 
 Exhort, 2, Learn to be content with the knowledge 
 of God in Chrift. Seek no more knowledge of God, 
 feek no other knowledge of God, fave in Chrift, Aii: 
 not Philip's queftion ; or if you do, take Chrift's an- 
 fwer to it, and feek no other, John xiv. 7, 8, 9. 
 Chrift had told them, that they knew his Father^ and 
 hadfeen him^ Philip, not underftanding this, faith un-i- 
 to hi?n^ Shew us the Father, and ttfufficeth us, " Thoa 
 " haft told us much of thy Father, of his love to us„ 
 " and of his mercy in fending thee to fave us ; Lord, 
 " give us but one fight of the Father, and we wiji 
 " aik no more." lb this Chrift anfwers. Have l\- 
 been Jo long time with yoUy (and three or four years 
 was not long time, but that one day of being with 
 Chrift was a vaft mercy), and yet hafl thou not known 
 vie Philip f He faith not, *' Have I been fo long time. 
 ** with you, and haft ihou not yet known the Father?" 
 (as he told the unbelieving Jews, John vlii. 19. Te 
 neither know ??ie, nor my Father; and John xvi. g, 
 They have neither known the Father nor me,) ; biu, 
 Hafl. thou not known me f " You do know the Father, 
 " becaufe you know me ; though you do not know fo 
 *' diftinftly that you do know him." Therefore Chrift 
 adds. He that/eeth me^ hath feen the Father ; as John 
 xii. 45. He that feeth me^ feeth him that fent me, 
 *' But thou Philip haft feen me, both with thy bodily 
 « eye, and with the eye of faith," (as this fame Phi- 
 lip faith to Nathanael, John i. 45, We have found 
 
 him 
 
I7<5 Sermons concerning Serm. X, 
 
 h tin of whom Mofes in the law, and the prophets did 
 ivrite. " He hath been long promifed by God, long 
 *' looked for by Ifrael; now he is come, and we have 
 ** found him ; Come and fee. ^^ J : HjW fayefl thou then^ 
 Skew us the Father f BelieveJ} thou noty that I am in 
 the Father^ and the Father tn me f *' If thou truly be- 
 •' lievefl m me, this thou mud believe, and dofl be- 
 *' lieve." And to this way of believing he exhorts 
 him, ver. 1 1. It is no eafy thing to hold a (trait rein 
 on an inquifitive mind, and to confine all our know- 
 ledge of God's glory unto that that (liiaeth in the 
 face and pcrfon of Jcfus Chrifl. There is enough 
 there to bufy us happily in lime, and to eternity; 
 and no good can be got in tranfgrefling this land- 
 mark. Jf men go but one ilep in lludying God out 
 of Chriff, they wander immediately, and they do 
 wander dangeroufly ; as every man may feel in him- 
 felF, and fee it vifibly in many others. 
 
 Exhort, 3. Ufe and ira prove this reprefentation of 
 God in Chrifl:. It is our greateR privilege to have it ; 
 and our greateft care and diligence Qiould be ufed in 
 the improvement of it ; and our greateft profit comes 
 to us by that improvement. This I would iafift upon 
 ill ihefe particulars. 
 
 I. Improve this reprefentation of God in Chrifl 
 for fixing and determining your fpirits, in ail your 
 thoughts of God. There mud be thoup-hts of God. 
 His people are called thinkers on his name, Mai iii. 
 16. On the contrary, of the wicked it is faid, Pfal. 
 X. 4. God is not in all his thoughts. There are two 
 thoughts about God in Chrifl, that I am afraid fom.e 
 deceive themfelvcs by. i. Some think that they do 
 know God in Chrifl, when they know that Chrifl: is 
 God. This is indeed abfolutely needful to falvation. 
 But it is not all. A notional ailent uato this truth, 
 that ihineth fo brightly in every page of the New 
 Teflaraent, may be in an ungodly man. The devil 
 knows, and believes it, Mark v. 7. ; and he only puts 
 3. wicked //upon ir, in his tempting of Chrift, Matth. 
 
 iv. 
 
Serm. X. the Lorcfs Prayer. jjj 
 
 IV. 3. 2. Some think they know God in Chrift, vvhea 
 they know that Chrift only can reveal God unto men, 
 Matth. xi. 27. and John i. 18. This is indeed a pro- 
 per work for Chriit only ; but that pertains to his 
 prophetic office. But we muft go further ; not only 
 to believe that Jefus Chrifl is true God, and the only 
 true and eiFeflual teacher of the knowledge of God ; 
 but that all the right knowledge we have, or can 
 have of God, is of God as he is in Jefus Chrill. What 
 Paul refolved on in his office, (and it may be that he 
 meant rarore than his way in his office of apoillefhip), 
 you mufl take up in all your religion : 1 Cor. ii» 2» 
 / determined not to know any thing a?ncngyou^ fave Je^ 
 Jus Chrijly and him crucified. And if we had more 
 miniflers of Paul's fpirit io their preaching, we fhould 
 fee more of Chriftianity in the people's religion. But 
 when fome mlnifters preach, as if they had taken up 
 the reverfe of Paul's determination, even to know, 
 and to make known any thing, every thing, fave 
 Chrift, and him crucified ; is it any wonder, if many 
 of their hearers may fay, as they did about the Holy 
 Ghcft, and his difpenfation, AO.sxix. 2, We have 
 not fo much as heard whether there be any Jefus Chrij}^ 
 end that crucified? And fuch may juftly iay aifo of 
 the Spirit, We have not fo much as beard whether there 
 he any Holy Ghojl : for the Spirit is received only by 
 believers on Chrift, John vii. 39. ; and by the hear^ 
 ing oj faith y and not by the works of the lazv^ Gal. iii. 2, 
 2. Improve this reprefentaiion of God in Chrift, ia 
 your dealmg with him for eternal life. Whoever 
 would be faved, muft have fome heart-dealings with 
 God about it, and for it. You know it is the gift of 
 God^ through Jefus Chrijl our Lor dy Rom, vi, 23. A- 
 ny way, every way of dealing with God for falvation, 
 will not fucceed. There is one fpecial, and the only 
 right way ; and that is with God in Chrift. Can you 
 deal with God as the Creator of the woild, and as a 
 Lawgiver? Unlefs God kad revealed himfelf ia 
 
 Chrifts 
 
178 Ser?ncns concerning Serm. X. 
 
 Chrifc, no finner durfl lift up his face before God's 
 throne, to beg eteroeil life, or to expe^l it. 
 
 3. Improve this reprefeiuation of God in Chrift, 
 in ai! your worihipping of God. The word is the 
 word of Chri/Iy Co!, iii. 16. We pray; but how? 
 We muft pray in ChrijVs name, and ask, whatever we 
 ask of the Father ^ in Chri/Ps name, John xiv. 15, 14. 
 and xvi. 23, 24, The God that the apoftle prayed to, 
 is the Gcd and Father of cur Lord Jefus ChriJJ, of 
 ivhom the vjhole family in heaven and earth is named^ 
 Eph. iii. 14, 15.; and to him he gives glory by Chrift 
 Jefus, ver 20, 21. O that men did know, that to 
 wcrlhip God out of Ohrift, is to vuorfhip they know 
 not what ! as ChriH: faith in John iv. 22. , But we 
 know what we worfhip : for fahatlon is of the Jews, 
 Out ot them the Meffias cometh, and falvation by him; 
 and in him God is favingly known, and knowingly 
 worlhipped. 
 
 4. Let all Chriftians improve this do<flrine in their 
 fpiritual exercife, and in the aftings of the graces of 
 the Spirit. All thofe graces are from God in Chriff, 
 and difpenfed and enlivened by the Spirit of grace. 
 And they are (if you take the expreilion rightly) as 
 fo many diftin^l members and powers of the new man, 
 whereby it adls on its original. I would name feve- 
 ral of them, and fhew of what ufe this reprefentatioa 
 of God in Chrilf is in their a(5ting. 
 
 i/?. Faith. We by Chrifl believe in Gody who raif- 
 ed him up from the deady and gave him glory ^ i 
 Pet. i. 2 I. Faith is juftly called the fundamental, ra- 
 dical grace in the new creature ; becaufe it is that 
 grace whereby he is built on Chrifl the foundation, 
 and taketh root in Chrifl, in whom is all the Chrilli- 
 an's life, fap, and fatnefs. There are two a^fls of 
 faith 1 would fpeak of; an a£l of faith for peace, and 
 an a£t of faith for fupply. 
 
 (i.) Faith a(Sts for peace. There is a fad quarrel 
 betwixt God and us by fm, which muft be taken a- 
 way, or no peace can be. God hath provided the 
 
 wayj 
 
Serm. X. the Lord^s Frayer, 1 79 
 
 way ; Chrifl liatb made the way, yea, is become the 
 way ; the gofpel reveals it, and faith inriproves 
 and ufeth ir. i (hall give you four names oF God 
 in Chrifl, which you will know and ufe, if you 
 ever know what believing is. i. The name of God 
 is love to [inner s^ John iii. 16. i John iv. 8, 9, 10. 
 16'. It is impofTible that a fmner can a£l any de- 
 pcndance on God for falvation, ualefs there be 
 fome manifeftation of his name, as love. Whenever 
 any beam of this love darts in upon a poor fmner, the 
 man begins to live and hope immediately. I meaa 
 not, that every one fiiould believe this propofiiion, 
 That God loves me ; but only, that Gnd harh a won- 
 derful great love to fave (inners, which he hath 
 proved in giving his own Son to be a Saviour ; that 
 this love runs out to men in and by Jefus Chrift ; and 
 all that would have it for themfelves, fliouid ftrive to 
 get near to this fun, that when its light and heat is 
 feen and felt, they may be faved. 2. Anoiher name 
 of God that faith a£ls on, is God with his redeeming 
 blood. Stumble not at the phrafe ; it is that of the 
 Holy Ghoft, A61:s xx. s8. When the apoflle is count- 
 ing the privileges of Chriftians under the New Tef- 
 tament, fee how he rifeth, Heb. xii. 22, 23, 24. Te 
 are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the liv- 
 ing Gody the heavenly Jerufalem, and to an innumer- 
 able company of angels ; (all beyond what the Old 
 Teftament church was brought to) ; to the general af- 
 fernbiy and church of the firfl-horn^ which are written 
 in heaven^ and to God the Judge of all, and to the 
 fpirits ofjuj} men made perfect. But is it not terrible 
 to be brought to God the Judge of all? No; for ye 
 are come to Jefus the Mediator of the new covenant^ 
 and to the blood offprinkling, thatfpcaketh better things 
 than that of Abel. x\s if the apofile had faid, " Fear 
 ** not to come to God the Judge of all, when ye fee 
 '^ J^f^^ ^^^ Mediator of the new covenant, and his 
 *' blood that fealed and confirmed that covenant, fo 
 " near to God, God the Judge is your friend, and 
 Vol. II. A a *« will 
 
1 8 Sermons concermng S e R m . X# 
 
 *' will abfolve you ; and the blood of the covenant (as 
 " it is cailcd, Heb. xiii. 20.) wiil fpeak better things 
 " for yon, and fpeak louder for your falvation, than 
 ** the guilt of fiu, and the thunders of the law, can 
 ". fpeak againft you." And never had a finaer been 
 faved, if the voice of Chrid's blood had been outcried 
 by any voice from heaven, or earth, or bell. 3 An- 
 other name of God in Chrifl, is, he is a God that juf- 
 tifies the ungodly:, Rom. iv. 5. Papiflp, and others, in 
 their pretended zeal for holinefs and good works, do 
 eirher dcfire that this name of God were not in the 
 Bible, or the true fenfe of it v/ere taken out ol the 
 church. It is r/s plainly: That as no man needs the 
 blefTing of juftiticaiiou, but a fmoer and an ungodly 
 man ; fo whenever God gives this blelllng, he gives it 
 freely to a man that is ungodly lifl he get it. And 
 \vhen a finner pleads for it, he doth plead as guihy 
 and ungodly. He begs it of God* as an alms of free 
 grace ; the Lord gives it as fuch ; and he that gets ir, 
 holds it, and praifeth for ir, as fuch an alms of mere 
 grace, God be merciful to me the jlnner^ faid the jalb- 
 fied publican ; Let the utijuftified Pharifee boall: of 
 his fallings, prayers, and good works, Luke xviii. 9. 
 14. 4. The tvay by which peare with God is brouaht 
 about in and by Jefus Chrift, is a name of God in Chrift 
 that faith hath much to do with. Where God pro- 
 claiuied his name to Mofes, Exod. xxxiv. 5, 6, 7. (Mo- 
 fes had carnefily dedred to fee the Lord's glory, 
 God promifeih it gracioufly, chap. xx>:i!i. 18, 9): 
 Let us read this glorious proclamation : And the lord 
 faffed by before hirn^ and proclaimed^ The Lordy the 
 Lord Gsdj ?nerc'iful and gracious^ longfuJferin(j^ and 
 obujidant in goodntfs and truth, keeping mercy Jor thou^ 
 fands (of geyierat'ions, a^E\od, xx, 6. and Pfal. cv. 8), 
 forgiving iniquity^ and tranfgrejfion. and fin, and that 
 will by no means clear the ^wlty ; -ci filing the iniquity 
 cf the fathers upon the children, and upon the chiidrens 
 children, unto the third and to the fourth generation : 
 Here v/as much of the giory of God's grace difcovered ; 
 
 and 
 
Serm, X. the Lord's Prayer. l8f 
 
 and Mofes made good ufe of it, ver. 8, 9. Buc yet 
 bow dark and dreadful was this nanne ! how hard to 
 underiland it 1 Here is both grace in pardoaing fin, 
 and judice in vifiting for fin. By this name we casnot 
 tell when, and whom God will pardon ; and when, 
 and whom he will not clear; for all are guilty. By 
 this name v/e cannot tell how God can do both ; how 
 he can pardon, and yet not clear the guilty; bow he 
 can pardon without refie6i:ing on his judice; or how 
 he can puniiii iniqaity, and not refied on his grace 
 and mercy. In chap, xxxiii. 9. the Lord faith, I will 
 make all my gocdnefs (or beauty and glory) pafs before 
 thee. Yet was it (hort of New Testament light : for 
 the bright gofpel-name of God in Chrid'refolves 
 fweetly this riddle, Rora. iii. 2^, 25, 26. In Chrid 
 only mercy and truth are met together^ righteoufnefs and 
 peace have kiffed each other ^ as Pfal. Ixxxv. 10. And 
 by this meeting and kifs, we are faved ; and when 
 we fee it by faith, we are comforted. By thefe, 
 God's glorious names of juftice and mercy kifs one 
 another, and do kifs and fave the believer; and the 
 believer by faith kiiTsth the Son of God, as Pfal. ii. 
 12. J and then the Father, as a reconciled God, in 
 him. I would fpeak fomewhat of this from two 
 fcriprures, both deep in themfelves, and yet full of 
 light and comfort to believers. One in 2 Cor. v. 19, 
 20, 21. In this place, the apodle tells us what his 
 gofpcl was, as committed to hira, and preachfd by 
 him. It was this good news. That Goi was in Chrijl 
 reconciling the world unto himfelf (But the world iieth 
 in wickednejs, \ John v. 19. and God is hol/^ and a 
 hater of wickednefs ; how then can fuch a God as he 
 is, be reconciled to fach a world as thjs is ?), not im- 
 puting their trefpajfes unto them. God out of Chrid 
 judgeih and condemoeth the fmful world for their tref- 
 palTes ; and this is the glory of his jadice. But God 
 in Chrid does not impute their trefpades unto them ; 
 and this is the glory of his grace. But how can this 
 be ^, The world is guihy ; trefpaffes they have com- 
 
 A a 2 ffiitted i 
 
1 82 , Sermons concerning Serm. X. 
 
 n-iitred ; fm is not a traniient acV, no more to be heard 
 after it is conimitied ; but as it is in it^, it flows from 
 a depraved finFul nature, and ccniracfts a permanent 
 gnllc, binding us over unto eternal vengeance, and is 
 only removeable and diflblved by pardoning grace. 
 The nature of God, and his law, requircth that this 
 high crime of fin be either avenged on us, or fatisfied 
 for by u?, or by another for us. The jufl revenge 
 of fin, is the eternal ruin of the Tinner ; and fatisfac- 
 tion to juftice for fin, is eternaily beyond the power 
 cf the finner, or of any creature whatfoever. How 
 then can God be jufl, and not impute fin to the fin- 
 ner ? It is anfwered in ver. 2i, For he hath made 
 him to he fm for us, who knew no fin ; that ive mioht 
 be made the righteoufnefs of God in him. The finiefs 
 Son of God in man's nature, is by God made fin for 
 us, that the finful Tons and daughters of men may be 
 made the righteoufnefs of God in him. How can this 
 be; that one that is finiefs is made fin, and that fuch 
 as are true and real finners are made righteous, ye^, 
 made the righteoufnefs of God in him that was made 
 fm ; and they are made thus righteous, by his being 
 thu> made fin ? Is not this to deprefs Chrift too low, 
 and ro exalt believers too high ? No ; it depreffeth 
 Chrifl no lower than his Father did lay him for our 
 faivation, and exalteth believers no higher than fav- 
 ing grace defigned them. How is he made fin P By 
 the bearing of, and being a propitiation for fin. Sin 
 was imputed to him : not his own : for he had none, 
 and could net have been our Saviour if he had had a- 
 Fiy ^ Heb. vii. 26. For fuch an High Piie/} became usj 
 who is holy, harmlefsy undefledy fc par ate fromfinners^ 
 find made higher than the heavens. But the iniquity 
 of all his flock was laid on him, Ifa. liii. 5. ; for this 
 was he bruifed by law and juflice, and by thefe flripe;? 
 are we healed, Ifa. liii. 5. Chrid was finkfs in himfelf, 
 and only made fin for us. We are finners in ourfelves, 
 and far from, and void of all righteoufnefs in ourfelves ; 
 yet by grace are made the righteoufnefs of God in him; 
 
 not, 
 
Serm. X. the Lord's Frayer, i8g 
 
 nor, nor never in ourfelves. The fan^tified believer is 
 made truly holy in himfelfjby Chrifl'sholinefs imparted 
 to him by the Spirit oF Chriii. The glorified are made 
 perfe6lly holy. Bin neither of them are made fari£tiiica- 
 tion or righteoufnefs for theaifelves, or for others. The 
 glory of this isChrift's crown and^property, i Cor.i. 30. 
 and the bleffiog of it is the glory and faivation of his 
 people. Another fcripture, among many to this pur- 
 pofe, is in Gal. iii. 13, 14. CbriJ} bath redeemed us from 
 the curfe of the law, (a great mercy ; but how ?), being 
 made a curfe for us ; (How proves he it ^)'for it is writ- 
 ten, Curfed is every one that hangeth on a tree /-—(taken 
 from Deut. xxi. 23.) For he that is hanged, [i, e. on a 
 tree, as ver. 22), is accurfed of God, or the curfe of 
 God ; Hanging to death on a tree, was named in the 
 law an accurfed death, (though it probably be one of 
 the eafieft ways of putting malefa6lors to death, as it 
 is generally ufed in Chriftian kingdoms), on the ac- 
 count of one Jefus Chrift, the MefTiah, who was to 
 die this way) i—that the bkjfng of Abraham might come 
 on the Gentiles through Jefus ChriJ}, V/hat is the blef- 
 fing of Abraham P It is that that comes to men by 
 faith in Chrift : Gal. iii. 9, So then they which be of 
 faith, are blefjed ivith faithful (or believing) Abraham, 
 Both are bleffed wiih the fame bleliing, and by the 
 fame .BleiTer, and in the fame way of believing in 
 Chrift. Thefe two fcriptures (as Chrid himfelf was) 
 have been a fione of (lurabling, and a rock of offence, 
 and as figns to be fpoke againft. But can any fay or 
 think, that the infpired writer of them did not highly 
 honour his Lord and Mailer, Jefus Chriii, or that he 
 did not v/ifely coni'uit the edification of the church, in 
 his ufmg thefe words ? No ; no mere man excelled 
 him in both. Zeal for ChriiTs glory, and love to fm- 
 ners faivation, did eat him up. If we rank thefe words 
 araongft /o;?;^ of the things that are hard to be under- 
 flood, which they that are unlearned and unftable wrefl^ 
 as they do alfo the other fcriptures, unto their deflruciion^ 
 2 Peter iii, 16.} yet furely they are moit needful to 
 
 be 
 
184 Sermons concerning Serm. X* 
 
 be iinderftood, are capable of a very good meaning, 
 and are made very plain unto many. Sin againft God, 
 and the curfe of God for Tin, are the worTi: things in 
 this and the oiher world. Sin, and the curfe for it, 
 sre ifjfeparable. If fin be commiited, it b imputed, 
 and the curfe follows in courfe of law. If the curfe 
 fall on a man, fin did precede it,. and deferve it. Yea, 
 U'hen cur Saviour bore our fin by imputation, the 
 curfe mud follow that charge. But obferve the dia- 
 lect of the Holy GhcTt in thefe two fcriptures, and fee 
 what provifioQ is made for the honour of Chrill: in 
 this way of fpeaking, as well as for cur peace and fal- 
 vation in what is fpoken. 1. Chrifl: is faid to be made 
 fin. Thus no finaer was, or can be. When angels 
 fell, they were made fmners, but not made fm. So 
 of Adam, when he fmned, he became a finner, and a 
 iin and death-conveying head to himfelf, and to all 
 his natural poflerity ; but he did not become fio, tljo' 
 he came nearer it than ever any other fmner did or 
 can. When we fin, (and, alas 1 whe^n Ao we not fin ?), 
 we were finners by nature, before we commit a<flu?d 
 fin ; but by finning v/e only become greater finner*>, 
 and are not made fin. Jeroboam did fin ^ and made 
 Jfrael lofuu I Kings xiv. 16. The idols he fet up, 
 became a fin^ i Kings xii. 30. But neither he, nor 
 they were made fin. So Chrifl is faid to be made a 
 cuffe. And this is not to be faid properly of any, but 
 Chrifl. A finner unpardoned hath the curfe lying on 
 him, and he is under it, as Gal. iii. 10 j but he is 
 not made a curfe. 2. Chriil is faid to bq made fm by 
 God. All finners are made 4'uch by liatan and them- 
 lelves. God makes no finners ; but to fave them, h'^ 
 makes his Son to be fin. So Chrifl was made a cur ft, 
 ynd that by God too. He that laid fm on him, laid 
 die curfe alfo. 3. Chrifl is made fin and a curfe for 
 C^thi^rs. So it is in both places, /:•■«)■. A proper fin- 
 der hath both his own fin charged on him, and God's 
 curfe laid on him, for himfelf. lie hath none to blame 
 but himfelf, liofcu .-viii. <), The fm is commiued by 
 
 hi Til- 
 
Serm. X. the Lord^s Prayer. 185 
 
 himfelf, charged on himfelf, and puniiliment iij^hrs on 
 himfelf. All quire contrary to God's way in dealing 
 wirh his Son. AH the charge on him was for other?. 
 4. Chrift's rinleiTnefs andbleffednels in himfeif h ex- 
 preiTed in 2 Cor. v. 21. and hinted in Gal. iii, ij^ 14. 
 He knew no fin, yet is made fm. He was the great 
 blelTing of his church, yet is made a curie for ir. 
 LalUy, Obferve the fruit, defigo, and eff:-<3: of this 
 marvellous way of God's making of Chriil. He is made 
 fm, that we might be made righteoufncfs. That im- 
 puted righteoulnefs in which believers (land before 
 God, is the fruit of Chrift's being made fri for them. 
 Our bleiling we have-, fprings out of Chrift's being 
 made a curfe for us. 
 
 So much for the grace of faith, and its afting f,x^ 
 peace with God. Whenever you are iq good earneil: 
 in dealing with God for his favour, and reconciliation 
 with hira, one or more of thefe names of God ia Chrifl, 
 God as love^ God with Ins redeeming bloody God that 
 juftifies the ungodly^ God making his Son to be fin and 
 curfe for his people ; I fay, fome of thefe names of 
 God mufl either be your anchor-ground, or you wll! 
 periih in the fea and ftorm of your fin, and of God's 
 wrath and curfe. 1 know, that while men are fecure, 
 (as the moft are), and know not what God, nor fm, 
 Dor confcience are, they may either deride them, or 
 wantonly i^Xk pro and con o^l thefe facred things of 
 God : but I can alTare you of this, that if ever (and 
 woe to you, if you never f-h) the terrors of God, and 
 the power of his law, break in upon your awakened 
 confciences ; if you ever think in earaed of deuh and 
 judgment, you muft have your recoiirfe unto God in 
 Chri[i, or peri(h eternally. No refuge but in hi:n, 
 Heb. vi. 18, 19. J no hope but from him, and on 
 'him 
 
 2. There is an a^ and eKercIfe of faith for fup- 
 ply. When a fmner is made by grace a believer, and 
 hath peace with God, he is yet in a wanting conditi- 
 on. He may be poor and needy, not only ia his own 
 
 eye?, 
 
1 86 Sermons concerning Serm. X. 
 
 eyes, but reallj^, on whom the Lord thinkcih favour- 
 ably, Pfal. xl. 17. Every believer can tell fomething, 
 none can tell all he wants. How are they fupplied P 
 Phil. iv. 19. My God fhallfupply all your neecl^ accord- 
 ing to his riches in glory^ by Jefus Chrifl. It hath 
 pleajed the Father^ that in him Jbould all fulnefs dwells 
 Col. i. 19. And how pleafing (hould it be to his peo- 
 ple, that it is lodged in fo fure a hand ? Acd how 
 pleafant ought it to be to them, to come, and ailc, and 
 receive, till their joy be full? John xiv, 13, 14. and 
 xvi. 23, 24. We all know, by natural light, that God 
 is the fountain of all our fupplies, fro?n whom cometh 
 every good gift ^ and every perfe6l gifty James i. 1 7. But 
 gofpel-light tells us by whom he giveth, and on what 
 ground ; even out of Chrifl's fulnefs, and according 
 to his promifes in Chrid. 
 
 So much for the grace of faith, 
 
 2^/y, Another grace that this reprefentaiion of God 
 Jn^and by Chrid directs us in the acting and exercife 
 of, is, repentance unto li/Cj as it is called in A6i:s xi. 18. 
 There is a faving repentance, as well as there is a 
 faving faith. Both are given to them whom God fav- 
 eth. No impenitent perfon is faved, nor unbelie- 
 Ter. Two things only 1 would note about repentance. 
 
 1. Never man did truly repent, but a believer in Chrift. 
 
 2. Never did a man truly repent, but for his fins a- 
 gainll God in Chrifl. If you know nothing more of 
 repentance but what you feel in the twinges of your 
 confcience, by the light and heat of God's holy law, 
 you are not yet come to gofpel-repentance. Poor and 
 confufed are the notions that mod fmners have. They 
 think, that all their fins are againd God, and all their 
 relief is in Jefus Chrid ; but they do not know, and 
 lay to heart, that all their fins are againd God in 
 Chrid, and that all their relief againd fin is likewife 
 in God in Chrid. Mgu Jin again/? ChriJ}^ 1 Cor. viii. 
 12. ; they ^^xt forgiven by Chrifl ^ Col. iiii. i;^. He is 
 exalted with the right hand of Gody to be a Frince and 
 a Saviour^ for to give repentance to Ifrael^ and for give- 
 
 nefs ^ 
 
Serm. X. the LorcPs Prayer, 187 
 
 nefs offins^ A<^s v. 3[. IF, in the exercife of your 
 repentance, you forget that you have pierced Chrift 
 by your fins, you are not aifted by the promifed Spirit 
 oi" grace, Zcch. xii. 10. And all expedations of par- 
 don that are not only grounded on Chrift and his me- 
 diation, are not only vain, but finfuL, 
 
 3^/y, I might fpeak of the grace of love, that pre- 
 cious and everlafting grace# Love mud a£l on God 
 in Chrift. It is fad to fee and hear people bufying 
 their heads with fpeculations about the excellencies 
 and perfedions of the divine nature, and imagining by 
 the force of their reafoning on ihefe things, to blow 
 up a fire of love to God. But let men know, that till 
 God be known to us as love, no lost that is true, will 
 ever kindle in our hearts. Nov/, God as love is only 
 difcovered as he is in Chrift : i John iv. 8,-19. ^^^ 
 love hm, becaufe he fir ft loved us. 
 
 ^thly^ All holy obedience is to be performed unto 
 God in Chrift: Col. iii. 17,-24. And ivhatfoever ye 
 doy in word or deed^ do all in the name of the Lord Je^ 
 fusy giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Yea, 
 relative duties are urged by moft fpiritual moiives and 
 patterns ; husbands love to their wives, by Chrift'slove 
 to his church ; wives fubjedlion to their own 'luf- 
 bands, by the church's fubjeftion to Chrift, who is its 
 Head and Saviour, Eph. v. 20,-33. Even Chriftiaa 
 fervants obedience to, and ferving of their mafters, is 
 required and fweetened by this, that therein theyferve 
 the Lord Chrift, It is not unlike, that, in thofe times, 
 Chriftian fervants might be flaves and fervants of infi- 
 dels, and of fuch as ferved the devil ; yet, faith he, 
 ** in your lawful fervice of fuch mafters, ye ferve Chrift, 
 «' though they do not know him" Surely, the fpiri- 
 tual tinfture of true worfliip is loft, when Chrift is for- 
 gotten in it; and the favour of Chriftian obedience is 
 pcriftied, when it is not done as to the Lord. 
 
 ^thly^ Patience under afHi(5l:ion is a grace that every 
 faint hath need of, as Heb. x. 36-; and muft ufe in 
 all his race heaven-ward, Heb. xii. u Let us run with 
 
 Vol. II. B b f^ti- 
 
iS8 Sermons comernmg Serm. X- 
 
 patience the race that is Jet before us. There is not a 
 (lep in our journey wherein paiience Is needlefs. Run- 
 ning and patience feem inconfiftent ; but he that runs 
 without patience, makes but fools hafle. Now, this 
 peedfui and ufeful grace can only be exercifed by faith 
 in God through Chrift. If God afilia. us as our Crea- 
 tor, as our judge, as our Lawgiver, reafon and mo- 
 raiity may afford not a few arguments to patience and 
 fubmiiHon to his will : but true Chiiftian patience will 
 never be found, unlefs the love of the atlLfter be in 
 fome meafure feen by the aflliaed. Our blefled Lord 
 gave us an example to follow, John xviii. ii. The cup 
 which viy Father hath given ?ne^ Jhall I not drtnk it f 
 If men or devils only had given it, (and they h J no 
 little hand in it), the matter had been otherwife. He 
 was opprejjed^ and. he vjas afflided^ yet he opened not 
 his mouthy Ifa. liii. 7. Chrift's cup was more bitter, 
 his fufferings greater, than ever any of his people 
 tafled and felt. His patience was invincible, and that 
 becaufe his faith was perfe^l, Ifa. 1. 6^-^, David 
 faith, Pfal. xxxix. 9. I was dumb^ I opened not ?ny mouthy 
 becaufe thou didft it. When God is feen as an ene- 
 niy, affliction will rather work fretting than patience. 
 Therefore when the apoftle is dire£ting Chriftians how 
 to bear God's affli<fling hand righdy, without fainting, 
 or defpifing it ; his main argument is, that in all of 
 them the Lord dealeth with .hem as a father with his 
 children, Heb. xii. 5,-11. And furely no man can 
 have the comfort of this relation ro God, of a child 
 to his h.avenly Father, that by faith takes not up the 
 high foundation of this relation, that God is the God 
 sind Father of our Lord Jeius ChrilL 
 
 6////>', laflly^ The hope of glory arifeth from, and 
 ads on God, as God in Chr?(l. This grace is a great 
 mercy ; and tliat all that have it know. It fliould be 
 tenderly cheriflied. But this is a great fault in many 
 ChriRiaui, ihat they do not feek it fo diligcady as 
 they ought, when ihey want it j nor aa it fo careful- 
 ly, when they Lave any of it : and forely do they 
 
 finart 
 
Serm. X, the Lord's Frayer, 1B9 
 
 fmart for this, in walking 77iourning, without the fun ^ fo 
 many days, as Job xxx. 28. See the exhorration in 
 Rom. xii. 12. Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, 
 continuing injlant in prayer ; and all tills is to be done 
 mferving the Lord^ ver. 1 1. Yoa all readily think, 
 that murmuring under affliiftioas, and x'eftraining prayer 
 before God, are ungodly pra6lices ; and yet you do 
 think it no fault (but a great miferj you will own it 
 to be) to negle<fi: the leading duty, to rejoice in hope, 
 and in the hope cf the glory of God, Rom. v. 2. This 
 hope is in Chrifl; yea, he is our hope, i Tim. i. r. 
 Chrijl in you is the hope of glory ^ C-ol. i. 27. The hope 
 of glory grows on no root but Jefus Chriii. He is e- 
 ternal ife^ \ John i. i, 2. He that knows him, knows 
 eternal life. He that hath Chrijl^ hath eternal life, 
 I John V. ir, 12, 13. ; and he that hath Chriil dwel- 
 ling in his heart by faith ^ Eph. iii. 17. hath eternal life 
 abiding in him^ which the apoftle denieth of a mur- 
 derer, I John iii. 15, 
 
 And thus i would conclude this truth, of the glory 
 of Chrifl as he is the reprefentative of God to his 
 church, and of the good ufe we ihould make thereof. 
 1 have iniified longer upon it than I defigned. Bat 
 the importance of the fubje£l may excufe it/ Bat whea 
 all is faid, we need to begin again, that we may incul- 
 cate this truch deeply into the heart and confciencesof 
 Chrifiians. Affure yourfelves, that <^o^ out of Chrift' 
 is an idol whom all the world worfbippeth, (as Deme-. 
 trius faid of Diana, A£ts xix 27 ), except the few that* 
 can fay, as i John v. 20, 2 i. And id e know that the 
 Son of God is come^ and hath given us an underjlandtng 
 that we may know him that is true : and we are in htm ■ 
 that is true, even in his Son Jefns Chrifl : this is the 
 true Gody and eternal life. Little children, keep your' 
 /elves from idoh. Amen. All reprefen rations of God, 
 fave what is made to you in his Son, are idols. And' 
 a-;; you love his glory, and your own eternal Well, 
 watch, and ward, and keep yourfelves from all, or 
 any of them, 
 
 Bb2 SEKMOH 
 
ipo Sermons concerning Serm, ^I. 
 
 SERMON XL 
 
 John xvii, 24. 
 
 Father^ I will that they alfo whom thou hcifl given me^ 
 he with me where I am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which thon ha/l given me : for thou lovedjl fue 
 before the foundation of the world » 
 
 YO U have heard at fome length of the glory of 
 Chrift, as he is the reprefenier of God unto his 
 church ; and the rather 1 inlifted on it, becaufe it is 
 a point of divine truth of the inaio importance to be 
 believed, and of the main influence and dire<flion in 
 the whole of Chiiltianity. There are many poor fouls 
 that are ruined with irreligion ; and not a fevv are 
 ruined in and by their religion, fuch as it is. Some 
 know not that there is a God, or live as if they thought 
 there was none, or wiflied that there was none. And 
 fome fay, they know and believe that there is a God, 
 and they m.^-ke fome faftiion of worfnipping and ferv- 
 ing him ; but they know not who he is, and what his 
 right name is. It is only God in Chrift who can be 
 only known, and favingly knov;n, by men. It is only 
 a faving nam.e of God that can be favingly known 
 by men. And this name of God is only proclaimed 
 in his tverlafling gofpel j and the knowing of this 
 name can only be attained by Chrift's declaring it, 
 John xyii. 6, 26. i Cor. xii. 3. by the Holy Ghoft. 
 vA.ll contemplations of God out of Chrilt are but vain 
 imaginations, and can never bring a man to the faving 
 knowledge of God : and all worfiiipping of God out 
 Ot Chriit, is but will-worihip, and provocation. 
 
 Secondly, It now follows to fpeak of another beam 
 and branch of Chnit's glory ; and that is, in Chrift's 
 jreprefeutiDg his church and people unto God. it 
 
 is 
 
Serm. XI. the Lord^s Prayer, 19 1 
 
 is one part of his glory, that he doth fo reprefent 
 God unto his church, that all the iaviog knowledge 
 of God is only in hiui and by him. Another part of 
 his glory (if the word part were proper in fpeaking of 
 his infinite glory ; but ye know what 1 mean, and 
 none can miftake but the Wilful) is, in his reprefent- 
 ing his church fo unto God, that all the acceptance 
 we have with God, ail the faving mercy we receive 
 from God, and all the favourable views God hath of 
 u?, are from our being feen as in Chriff, and as we 
 are reprefented by Chri(t unto him. God out of Chrill 
 is a maze, a labyrinth to men, yea, a dreadful enemy : 
 and men out of Chrifl are an abominatioa in his eyes/ 
 
 My work on this lecond head of Chrift's glory, 
 Ihall be in three things, 1. 1 would fliew you where- 
 in Chrifl reprefents his people unto God. 2. What 
 is Chrift's fimefs for making this reprefentation. 3, 
 What is his glory in making of it, 
 
 Firj}^ Wherein doth Chrill: reprefent his church 
 unto God ? By his church I mean a fek£i company 
 of Adam's feed (not excluding our firft parents them- 
 felves) appointed to eternal life by Jefus Chrift. This 
 is his body, whereof he is Head and Saviour, Epb. 
 V. 23. All the favourable appearances they make in 
 God's fight, are all as they are reprefented unto God 
 by Jefus Chrifl. This 1 would iniirudl in a few gf 
 the main and principal. 
 
 I. May I begin with the firfl, the deepefl of ail, ^ 
 elecTtion, that facred eternal purpofe of God's grace 
 concerning his church ? This grace is in Jefus Chrill : 
 Eph, i. 3, 4, 5. Bkjfed hi the God and Father of our 
 Lord Jefus Chrift^ who hath blejjed us with all fpi^ 
 ritual hlejjings in heavenly places (or things ) in Chrijl; 
 according as he hath chcfen us in hifn before the found a^ 
 tion of the worlds that we fhould be holy, and without 
 bla?ne before him in love : having predejlinated us unto 
 the adoption of children by Jefus Chrijl to himfelf It 
 is but little that we do, or can know of God : little 
 of his works, little of his word j but leaft of all of his 
 
 ihoufrhts 
 
592 Sermons concerning Serm. XI. 
 
 thoughts and purpofes. Bat when men think of 
 thele thoughts of God's heart, and judge of them ac- 
 cording to their own, no wonder that they widely 
 miliake : For his thoughts are not our thoughts^ neither 
 ere our ways his ways, faith the Lord^ Ifa. Iv. 8, 9. j 
 but as far above them are his ways and his thoughts, 
 as the heavens arc above the earth. How far is a 
 purpofing, decreeing God, above the reach of the 
 jmoli difcerning of creatures! Yet vain man that would 
 be wife, and quickly dreams that he is fo, (and there- 
 by bewrays his folly), will venture to pry into, judge, 
 and reafon of the unfearchable counfels of God ; 
 when they that have mofi: of the opirit of God fay, 
 as in Rom. xi. 33, 34. the depth of the riches^ both 
 of the wifdom and knowledge of God ! how unfearchable 
 are his judgments y and his ways paft finding out ! For 
 ii'ho hath known the mind of the Lordy or zvho hath been 
 his CGUnJeller f We cannot be his counfellers ; but we 
 may, and mufl be his fcholars, and learn, and adore, 
 ;<ud believe what he revealeth. And in the fcripture 
 named, we have mucli to learn about his purpofes. 
 A?, I. That all fpiriiual bleilings in Chrift Jefus fiOW 
 from eleftion-grace. 2. That this ele£tion grace is 
 eternal. 3. That this ele(^ion-grace paffed upon 
 diflinc^ perfons, us and we. 4. That the means, 
 a-.id way, and the t.iii\^ are all included in this 
 decree and purpofe : That we fhould be holy^ and 
 %viihout blame btfore him in love ; and the end is, the 
 adoption cf children ^ ver. 5. the heavenly inheriraoce, 
 ver. II. And, 5. That wliich pertains to my prefent 
 purpofe, is, that this ele^lion-grace, thus exprcillid, 
 thus qualified and di'iingui(hed, is in Jefus Chrift, ver. 
 4. by Jefus Chrifl^ \q.':, 5, This purpofe and grace ivas 
 given us tn Chrijr Jefus before the world began, 2 Tim. 
 I. 9. Now, what is Chriit's interelt in eleftion-grace ? 
 It is not to be thonglir, that Chrifl purchafed the love 
 of ele^ion, as he did all the fruits of it ; but only 
 fhat elc(^ion-love palTjd firft on Clirilt the head, anil 
 then on bis body the church : (though 1 own, that 
 
 the 
 
Serm. XI. the Lord's Prayer, rpi 
 
 the wordsyfr/? 2iV^di fecond are very improperly applied 
 to the Gounfels of God, which are but one -aSl in the 
 divine mind ; but we miifl ihiiik as a child, and rea- 
 fon and uuderfland as a child, while we are as a child, 
 I Cor. xiii. 1 1.). Chrilt was chofen head to the 
 church, and the church chofen to be his body. He 
 is chcfen of God^ i Pet, ii. 14. : and his church is a 
 chofen generation i ver. 9. j and chofen in him, not 
 wichout regard to him. Ele«flion determines all the 
 perfons j eie(ftion determines all the bleillngs thefe 
 perfons arc to be bleiTed with ; and ele^lion deter- 
 mines the way in and by which all thefe blefiings are 
 to be given to all thefe perfons : and that way is ia 
 and by Jefus Chrift. 
 
 2. Chriil reprefents his church unto God in re- 
 demption. This redemption is in Chrift Jefus^ Rom. 
 iii. 24. ; it is 'in him we have it, Eph. i. 7. There is 
 a Redeemer j the Lord Jefus Chrilt, the Son of God, 
 There is a price of the redemption ; himfelf, his lite, 
 his blood. There are redeemed ones; a great m\i\^ 
 inudiQ out of every kindredy and tongue ^ and people and 
 nation^ Rev. v. 9. in fpeaking of the redemption ia 
 and by Jefus Chrift, I would confider it four ways. 
 
 ly?, This redemption is to be confidered as requir- 
 ed and demanded by the Father from the Son. The 
 work of redeeming was laid on the Son, and the price 
 of redemption fixed upon : Even that the Son of God 
 (hould, in the fulnefs of time, take on him man's d5- 
 ture ; (but a^ the chi/drens nature, Heb. ii. 14. as /,^'/f 
 feed of Abraham^ ver. 16.): that in that nature he 
 (liould ftand in their room and ftead, and fufier whas 
 his people deferved by their fms ; and purchafe bief- 
 fings for them, which they could never procure to 
 themfelves, and without which they muii: perilh. This 
 price of redemption was required of Chrift, John x, 
 18. ; and required in honour to God's holy juftice, ia 
 love and mercy to his chof-^n, and ia a defign of glo- 
 ry to his Son. A price of redemption for a finaer 
 was never required by Qod^ of a linner. He kaoweth 
 
 wePi, 
 
ip^ Sermons concerning Serm. XI. 
 
 well, that they have nothing to pay. Yea, the dam- 
 ned in hell are not fent thither to pay, hut to be pu- 
 niQied. Your proverb, Thatapril'on pays no debts, 
 is true of God's dreadful prifon, hell, and of the mi- 
 ferable prifoners there. The Lord fave you from ir, 
 and inilruft you in the only way to efcape it. You 
 are great debtors to God ; you can never pay the firll, 
 much lefs the lad farthing of it. He doth not re- 
 quire payment of you ; but all he craveth of you, i?, 
 that you would humbly own your debt, and your in- 
 ablity to pay, and betake yourfelves unto the furety's 
 payment. It was no improper faying concerning the 
 gofpel, ufed by a minifter in preaching to an ignorant 
 people : " The gofpel (he faid) is nothing but good 
 " news, that a rich man is come into the country to 
 " pay poor folks debts." On this errand the Father 
 fent him : and for this end we fhould believe on him. 
 2^/)', Confider Chrifl's redemption as paid by Je- 
 fus Chrift, and fo wrought out by him. All the price 
 demanded, he paid fully. The debt was perfedlly 
 paid, in full mcafure, heaped up, and running over. 
 For when the righteoufnefs of God is paid for the re- 
 demption of finners, and of their tranfgrelTions, (as 
 in Heb. ix. 15.), we quickly fee where the advantage 
 lieth : for the demerit of fm is mainly heightened by 
 the dignity of the party offended ; and the merit of 
 righteoufnefs, by the dignity of the party that per- 
 forms it. On this, as on other accounts, grace doth 
 much more abound than fin^ Rom. v. 20, 2 i.; and thii 
 grace doth reign^ ivhere fin had reigned. Since fm 
 came into the world, and grace appeared in the iu^ 
 gofpel-promife. Gen. iii. 15. there never wasafio- 
 Der redeemed and faved, never was any propitiation 
 made for fm, but what our Lord jefus Chrift the Re- 
 deemer did, and made, by his dying at Jerufalem. 
 The virtue of it, according to the covenant, was ef- 
 fectual to believers, before and after his death, A61s 
 XV, II.; and will ftill be till his fecond coming, Heb. 
 
 Ik. 28, 
 
 'idly. 
 
Serm. XL the Lord's Prayer. 19 S 
 
 ^d/y, Coafider redemption as accepted by God. 
 Though a price be demanded, and paid as demand- 
 ed : yet the redemption is not a concluded bargain, 
 unlels it be accepted. But the price oF the church's 
 redeir.ption was accepted with the higbell p^ood-will : 
 Eph. V. 2. Chrift loved us^ and gave hmj'df for us^ 
 an offering and a facrifce to God for a fweet-fmelling 
 favour. The facrifice was offered to God, but offer- 
 ed for us. The favour of this facrifice afcends up- 
 wards, and piveth faiisfa£lion to divine iuftice ; and 
 it defcends downwards to the hearts and confciences 
 of believers, for their peace and falvation, Heb. ix. 
 1 4. It f leafed the Lord to bruife Jjiniy he hath put him 
 to grief Ifa. liii. 10. And both this way and means, 
 and the fruits and effedls thereof, are the pleafure of 
 Jehovah, which profpers in the hand of our dying 
 Lord Jefus; as in that verfe, The Father loved his 
 Son ^ for laying down his life for his fheep, John x. 17, 
 18. And this commandment he received of his Father, 
 Our Lord had this commandm.ent in his heart, and 
 came to do it, and delighted in doing it, Pfal. xl. 6, 
 7,8. with Heb. X. 5.-— 10. The divine acceptance 
 of the price of his church's redemption, is demonfirat- 
 ed two ways efpecialiy. 1. In the glory that the Lord 
 Redeemer was admitted unto, Phil. ii. 6. — 11. Eph.- 
 i. 20. — 23. Heb. i. 3. ii. 9. and xii. 2. and in many 
 places. Only confider his own words to his difciples, 
 and to his Father. To the difciple;^, in John xvi. jo. 
 * He (the Holy Spirit whom I will fend from my Father) 
 fhall convince the world of right eoufnefs^ becaife I go to 
 my Father^ and ye fee me no more. The convi^ion is 
 deep, and fo is the reafon and ground of it. Chrift 
 going to leave them, and their feeing him no more, 
 as before and now, was their main grief. They could 
 not think that any good (hould accrue to them by 
 this fad parting, much lefs fo great bleffings as Chrift 
 told them of, and which quickly after they knew and 
 owned : A6ls ii, 33. Being by the right hand of God 
 exalted^ and having received of the Father the promife 
 
 Vol. 1L C c of 
 
J ^6 Sermons concerning Serm. XI. 
 
 of the Holy Ghojl^ he hath Jlocd forth this^ zvhkh ys 
 now fee and hear. And as he fpoke this, and words 
 to the fame purpofe, in the fulfilling oF this promife, 
 three thoufand iinners, and bloody ones too, are con- 
 vinced of fin, righteonfnefs, and of judgment, and 
 made believers. Chrifl's words to his Father are in 
 John xvii. 4. / hare glorified thee on earth ; I have 
 fmjhed the work which thou gavefl vie to do (in ir). 
 if drift came back again into the world, (ftive to 
 jiuige it ; and that will be in the clouds), men uiight 
 think, that he had not done all he firfl came for. But 
 he did all, as it was foretold in Dan. ix. 24. Ibfini- 
 fhedthe tranfgreffion^ and made an end cf fins, (as Heb. 
 ix. 26. He put away ft n by the facrifce of himfelf), 
 and made reconciliation J or iniquity, and brought in e- 
 verlafling righteoufne/s, and fealed up the vifion and 
 prophecy, and anointed the mofl holy, 2. As Chrifl's 
 glory in heaven, on his paying the price of redempti- 
 on, is a demordraiion of irs acceptance with God ; 
 fo all the gi.jceand glory on earth, and in heaven, in 
 rime, and to cierniry, which is poured forth abua- 
 d intly on men, (all which flows from the virtue of 
 this p ice), is another demonflration of God's ac- 
 c^paiice oi this required and paid moft precious price. 
 Of which anon. 
 
 A^thly, Confider redemption in Chrift as it is ap- 
 plied to the redeemed. As the price was demanded 
 by the Father, as it was paid by the Son, as this pay- 
 ment was accepted of the Father ; all thofe coDcern 
 the redeemed nearly : but all is only about them, and 
 for them. But application is to them, on them, and 
 in tjiem. And all the application of Chrill's redemp- 
 tion, depends on, and flows from the defign of the 
 Father and Son ia this great work of redemption. I 
 Would confider redemption as applied to perfons, and 
 to bleilings, and rheir order, i. As 10 perlbns. Chrifl's 
 redemption is applied to all, and none but them, for 
 whom it was paid. He f hall jujlify many : (whom! 
 how many ! aud how ! and why \) : for he f hall bear 
 
 their 
 
Serm. XI. the LorcPs Frayer» 197 
 
 their iniquities^ Ifa. lii. 11, Univerfal eleftion is ra- 
 ther nonfenfe, and a contradi£lion in its terms, than 
 an error : for if there be an ele£lion of grace, (as 
 there is, as lure as there is a {ostvtxgn God of alt 
 grace^ as he is called, 1 Per. v. 10), fome are cbofen, 
 and not all ; and therefore fome are paiTed by. Uni- 
 verfal i^lva^ion is a grofs and damnable error, that few 
 or none dare own. But univerfal redemption hath 
 many advocates and patrons. . Whoever defend it (o 
 as to exclude the fpecial, particular redemption of the 
 dect of God, they do fight againll the tenor of the 
 gofpel. Chrift died for diftinfi known perfons for his 
 Iheep whom he knew, John x. 14. 27. He died for 
 them, in love to them : and doubtlefs he knew well 
 whom he loved. His blood, the price of redemption, 
 is the blood of the everla fling covenant^ Heb. xiii. 20. 
 which did confirm this covenant, Heb. Ik. 15, \6, 
 And was not this price paid according to the terms of 
 this covenant ? And did not this covenant fix both the 
 price, and who (hould pay it ; and the purchafe, and 
 who (hould enjoy it ? This you all may be fure of, 
 that however men, by their wit and learning, m^y 
 difpute and talk about Chrift's death, and its extent, 
 in his and his Faiher's defigns in it; yet this precious 
 gofpei-trath, of redemption by Jefus Chrid, is never 
 rightly known, Vightly believed, nor righdy nfed, 
 till a particular, loil and fold finner pat in by faith for 
 a (h^re and intereft in it. Thus Pad, Gal. ii. 20. 
 The Son of God loved me^ and gave hirafelf for me. 
 How couid Paul know this .^ When Chrifl died, and 
 redeemed his church, Paul was an ungodly wretch, 
 a very hypocrite ; and after Chrift had died, and rofc 
 again, and afcended up into glory, Paul hated the 
 very nameofChrilt, and perfecuted to death all that 
 called on his name. But after God^ that hadfeparat- 
 ed him from his mothers ivomh^ had called him by his 
 grace^ and revealed his Son in him^ Gal i. 13:, i6. then<, 
 and not till then, he knew that Chrift died for him, 
 and that in love to him ; and ever after he lived by 
 
 C c 2 the 
 
ipS Sermons concerning Serm. XI. 
 
 the faiih of It. 2. This redemption by Chrill is ap- 
 plied as to bleffings al fo, and that in a wife order. 
 Faith is lirfl, and a fruit of Chrift's redemption : John 
 xii. 32. And /, 7/ / be (or when I am) lifted up from 
 the earthy will draw all men unto me ; i. e, *' AH 
 *• whom I am lilted up for, them will I draw unto me." 
 It is no wonder, that fome men do not look on faith 
 as the purchafe of Chrifl's redemption, that dream of 
 a kind of faving faith that Chrift the Redeemer is not 
 the object of. But we know, that unto us it is given 
 on the behalf of Chrtfl,^ t' believe on him, Phil. i. 29. ; 
 and rhat fuch as have tiue faith, have obtained this 
 frecious grace, through the right eoufiefs of our God and 
 iSaviour J ejus Chriff, (for fo it lliould be read, ac- 
 co'.'lmfj t^ the orio;ina)), 2 Pet. i. i. And he is the 
 author and finifher of our faiths Heb. xii. 2. And this 
 leads me to fpeak of the blelTings of Chrift's redemp- 
 tion, that the redeemed get by the virtue of it, and 
 by Christ's reprefenting them unto God. 
 
 (i.) They are reprefented by Chrift unto God for 
 their juflification ; and obrain it, when, and as, and 
 becaufe, reprefented to God in him, and by him. 
 This juftificaiion of a fiiiner by faith in Chrift Jefus, 
 is, ever was, and ever will be, the darkeft riddle, 
 and the greaieft ftumbh'ng-block, to all the unbeliev- 
 ing v/orld. And it is always fo as" to gofpel-truth ; 
 that (he nearer relaticn a gofpel-truth hath unto the 
 perfon and undertaking of the wonderful Saviour, (as 
 he is called, Ifa. ix. 6.), the lefs a natural man feeth, 
 and the more ready is he to ftumble at ir, and to 
 miftake ir. It is but a vain attempt of them, (how 
 good foever their defign be, and how learned and 
 wife foever they be that manage it), who ftudy to ac- 
 commodate the gofpel-do61rine of jullification by faith 
 in Jefus Chrift» uoio the guft, liking, and underftand- 
 jDgs of unbelievers. Such will never, nor can know, 
 and like it, i Cor. ii. 14. It is (as all the things of 
 die Spirit of God are) dark, and foolilhnefs to them. 
 
 And 
 
SeRM. XI. the Lord^s Prayer, Ipp 
 
 And they that know lead of Chrift, and of faith in 
 him, and of jiiftification by faith, are mofl bold and 
 daring to reproach all, and to fpeak evil of things 
 they know not. None need to wonder at what a poor 
 wretch faid and wrote, (though he bore no fmall name 
 * in the world), *' That of all the writers of the new 
 ^' teflament, Paul was the darkelt and moft obfcure 
 " author." It was however plainly (chough wickedly) 
 faid ; and it is the true meaning of all unbelievers, 
 and the fruit of their unbelief; and remains in all men 
 till faith come^ as Gal. iii. 23, 25. This attempt of 
 making juftifieation by faith in Chrift palatable to a 
 Datural man, is not only vain and inefFeflual ; but it 
 harh no fmall influence on manifold corruptions of this 
 truth, and of mens bringing in of another gofpel, 
 (Gal. i. 6.), that a natural man may fooner know, and 
 belter like. When natural men hear of the do;^rine 
 of jufiiiication, (by which they underftand, that a {in- 
 ner is counted and accepted as righteous before God, 
 and is pardoned all his fms, and adjudged to eternal 
 life), they all immediately and naturally think, that 
 this bleffing cac only come to men, by one, or other, 
 or both thofe ways, which are both falfe ways : i. 
 Either that God will abate fomewhat of the ftriflnefs 
 of his law: or, 2. That he will fome way enable a 
 fmner to do fomething, and to bring fomethin^ to 
 God, in order to his acceptance with God: Either 
 that God will bring down his law to a finner, or bring 
 up the finner to obey it. As to the firll. That God 
 will abate of the flri^tnefsof his law, and demand lefs; 
 it is a vain and falfe notion. But it is natural and con- 
 flant in unrenewed men. Chrilt's great enemies, the 
 fcribes and Pharifees, that were wholly for righteouf- 
 nefs by works, to fupport this Babel, did necelTarily 
 explain God's holy law in fuch a manner as was no 
 hard thing to fulfd it ; and all their fucceffors are dri- 
 ven to the fame (liift. Our Lord, (who came not to 
 deflroyy hut to fulfil the law^ Matth. v. 17.), to over- 
 throw their rotten foundaiiou, tells ail, io ver, 20. Ex- 
 cept 
 
2i>o Sermons concerning Serm. XI» 
 
 cept your tighteoufnefs fiall exceed the tighteoufnefs of 
 the fcribes and Fharifees^ ye Jhall in no cafe enter into 
 the kingdom of heaven* This our Lord proveth, by a 
 irue interpretation of the law in its perfe^ion, and 
 fpiriiaality, and vaft extent ; fo as that no finner can 
 fulfil ir, and get righteoufoefs and life by it. And 
 thus always God's law oui^ht to be preached to men ; 
 a$ fo holy and pcrfeel a law, that no Tinner can fulfil 
 it ; and as fo (Irong and dreadful, that no finner can 
 efcape its reach, nor endure its fentence ; that they 
 may look out for relief in Chrift alone. 2. The other 
 ihought of a natural mm is, That a finner mud do 
 fome good, and be made holy, that he may be judi- 
 fied and pardoned. And though the poor finner is all 
 naught, hath nothing, and can do nothing that is good; 
 yet the legal fpiric in himfelf, and the legal teachers 
 vvhoiu he loveth to hear, do ufe him more feverely 
 than the Egyptian tafkmafters did the children of If- 
 lacl. For Ifrael had earth to make Pharoah's bricks 
 o^, and, with much pains, might gather (lubble in the 
 land of Egypt inftead of flraw. But a finner under 
 the law is in a worfe condition : for there is neither 
 earth nor ftraw in all God's world for a finner to make 
 one brick, one good work, of ; and yet they are cal- 
 led upon daily to do a great many ; and are feverely 
 beaten when they do i;ot fulfil their tafics. Many are 
 ready to fav, Doth not God command finners in his 
 word to repent, believe, and to do well ? Yes, fureiy 
 he doth. The old and new ledament is full of fuch 
 command'?; and miniffers may fureiy, and muft leach 
 men what God commands. But they Qiould teach m.en 
 thofe things a-; God means and intends ; and that is 
 iiedared in his word. They >hculd teach them as God 
 will have them to teach, and all men to learn ; that 
 is, that thofe things are God's wiil, and our duty ; 
 but thofe things are God's will, and our duty ; but 
 that power and "w ill to obey is not in men, btit muft 
 be wrought by grace in them : Phil. ii. 13. For it is 
 God "which ivorkcth in youy both lo ivill and to do of 
 
 his 
 
Sehm. XL the Lord*^ Frayer, 201. 
 
 his good pkafure, John xv. 4, 5. For without me ye 
 can do nothing. If fo it be faid of believers, and of 
 true branches in the true vine, what mud be faid of 
 fmners, in and of themfelves P Thofe commands are 
 not given to make fmnei-s proud, and to think what 
 they can do ; but to teil thera God's raind, and wh>it 
 is their duty to do ; that by the hearing of God's holy 
 will, and feeling of their own utter inability to do any 
 good, they may be humbled, and betake themfelves 
 to Chnit by faith, on whom all our help is laid. But 
 a replier againft God may yet fay, Where is juftice 
 in commanding what he knows we cannot do, and 
 then in panifiiing fc-^ not doing P Many things have 
 been faid to anfwet fuch a cavil. I fhali na'me but 
 three, r. All were o;.ce in Adam able to do God's 
 will. This ability is lo(t by the firfl fin. If man by 
 his fin have loft his power to do God's work, God hatli 
 not loft his authority and power to commaod man's 
 duty, nor his right to puni(h man's fin, 2. All men 
 naturally think that they can do fomething that isgood, 
 and a great deal too. The Lord therefore juftly^tries 
 them, and lets them try what they can do. 3. This 
 natural inability in fmners to do any good is what 
 they love j and fo is doubly fmful, as well as mifera- 
 ble. His camiot^ is infeparable from his will not. He 
 is a captive to the devil at his will, 2 Tim. ii. 26, And 
 the captive loves his jailor, and his chains, and his 
 drudgery ; and neither longs for liberty, nor welcomes 
 the news of a Redeemer ; yea, ftriveth againft him, 
 till Chrift fubduc him by his grace, 2 Cor. x. 4, 5. 
 So that either of thofe notions are faife, that God will 
 abate of the ftrianefs of his law, or will enable a fm- 
 cer to do any thing pleafing to God before he be juf- 
 tified. Befide?, if either of thofe were, they wonld 
 quite alter and invert that myftery of jaftification by 
 Chrift that is revealed to us fo plainly ia the fcriptures. 
 It is not the juftification of a good and holy man, but 
 of a fmner ; yea of a finner under the law, guilty of 
 manifold breaches of this law^ for which he is accufed, 
 
 arraign- 
 
lot Sermons concernwg Serm. XL 
 
 arraigned, curfed, and condemned by it, and his moiuh 
 (lopped ; having no defence and no excufe to make^ 
 and no (hift or way oF efcape left hiin, but what the 
 gofpel reveals, Rom. iii. 9. — 3 1. It is about the juf- 
 tiiication of a man iu this fad condition that the gof- 
 pel fpeaks, and tells us thefe good tidings. 
 
 I. That a perfect righteoufnefs, anfvvering fully 
 all the comniands and the demands of the lav/, hath 
 been wrought out by the Lord Jefus Chrift. He was 
 made under the fame law his people are under whom 
 thus he redeems, Gal. iv. 4, 5. If we had been un- 
 der one law, and Chrill made under another, it would 
 not, nor could it have been fit and profitable for us. 
 You hear by fome of the mediatorial law, proper to 
 Chrift only. It is true, never had any but Chrift a 
 command from God to redeem loft finners ; and it is 
 as true, that this was in the fame command, that he 
 Jhculd be made of a luoman^ and made under the law^ 
 that he might redeem them that were under the law. 
 So that the work of Chrift to redeem, and his being 
 thus made for that work, are equally peculiar to Chrift, 
 For as the work and glory of redeeming the church 
 is his only ; fo his being made of a ivcmany and made 
 under the law^ can be faid of none, but of Chrift as 
 roan ; no more than it can be faid of any but Chriil, 
 that he is God's owa Son, fent, Rom. viii. 3. Adam 
 the firft man was created by God ; the firft woman 
 built and made of the man, Gen. ii. Of this blood 
 all nations do fpring in an ordinary way ; and fo all 
 mankind are begotten by a man, and born of a wo- 
 man. But the Son of God took man*^ nature of a 
 Woman only ; and fo, whereas all befides are born of 
 a woman, he alone was made of a woman. So we all 
 are born under the law, and under its curfe, by A- 
 dam's firft fin. Chrift only was made under the law. 
 This law demands perfeil obedience to all its com- 
 mands and demands, and layeth on the finner God 
 the lawgiver's wrath and curfe for the leaft difobedi- 
 eacc. Chrift anfwered the law ia both. As the 
 
 eternal 
 
Serm. XI. the Lord*s Prayer, 203 
 
 eternal Son of God, he was above the law ; and as 
 fmlefs man, the law had nothing to fay againft him. 
 But when he took on him man's nature, and thereia 
 took on him the law-place of his people, and they fo 
 finful ; obedience was juflly craved of him, and the 
 debt of his people's fins juftly exa^ed on him. And 
 both he chearfuliy 2nd fully did perform and endure. 
 And thus are we faved. 
 
 2. That this righteoufnefs wrought out by ChriH, 
 was wrought out or others, and noc for himfV. f, He 
 Wove and made this coat, for the covering and cioih- 
 ing of his naked people. The gofpel is full of tiiis, 
 in telling us both the errand his Father fe.i him on, 
 and the work and bufinefs he did when l,^ caTe He 
 needed no fuch garment for himf<;if ; but wove it out 
 of his own blood and bowels, for his people, whom 
 he loved, and who he we!l knew needed it greatly. 
 
 3. That this righteoufnefs, thus wrought out by 
 Jefus Chrifl:, is freely and fully tendered and offered 
 to all that hear the gofpel : all of it (for it is not di- 
 vided nor divifible) unto every man and woman ; (for 
 gofpel-ofFers have no exceptions). Thus Peter made 
 the offer to every one of them that heard him, A^s 
 ii. 3g. He excepts not the very murderers of Chrift, 
 nor the mockers at him on the crofs, when Chrift vs^as 
 working out this righteoufnefs. So his beloved brother 
 Paul (2LS he calls him, 2 Pet. iii. 15.) preached, A<5ls 
 xiii. 38, 39. Be it known unto ycu thereforey men and 
 brethren^ that through this man (alas ! this man is lit- 
 tle kiown by molt men) is f reached unto you the for'- 
 givenefs of fins ; and by him all that believe^ are jujli- 
 fied from all things ^ from which ye could not be juflijied 
 
 by the law of Mofes. Do you then believe on him, 
 and be juftified by him ; left that word be fulfilled on 
 you. Behold^ ye defpifers, and wonder^ and psrifb^ 
 ver. 41. And no longer than the next Sabbath-day 
 was it in fulfilling, ver. 46, 47, 48. And if the com- 
 pany were never fo great nor fo bad, a gofpel-mini- 
 iler may make this large offer, as Chiiit hiiufelf did. 
 Vol. II D d John 
 
2 04 Sermons concerrang See^m. XI. 
 
 John vii. 37. In the lafl day^ thjt great day of the 
 fcafl^ (when the great coDvocatioQ of the people 
 was), Jcfta flood and cried^ (rhiit he might be Teen 
 and heard by ail), fiy^ngy If any man tl.irj}^ let him 
 come unto me ^ and drink. And this coming to hira, 
 and drinking, is believing on Chrift, ver. 38, 39. 
 When he is in heaven, and fcndu / a letter by John 
 his meiTenger, to a forry church, nd in a Tid cafe, 
 he faith fo to them, Rev. iii. 20. Behold^ I ft and at 
 the door and knock : Jj any man hear my voice, and Gp;n 
 the door^ I zvill come in to him^ and will f up with hirn^ 
 and he with me. To name do more of the larcje of- 
 fers of Chrift in the gofpel, 5 will conclude with jhe 
 hid in the Bible, Rev. xxii. 17. And let him thit is 
 othlrjl^ com^ : and whofoever will, '.n him take the 
 water of life freely, 
 
 /]. That this large offer made of Chrill; in the gof- 
 pel, i^ the ordinary and appointed means of worl ing 
 faith in Chrift. Thus, Rom. x. i 7. Faith comet h by 
 hearings and hearing by the word of God ; and Rom. 
 i. 16^ 17. I am not aflmived of the gofpel of Chrift ; 
 (and never did an honeft preacher make a pooicr ii e 
 in worldly thing?, of the gofpel, than Paul did) : for 
 it is the power of God unto fahation to every one that 
 believeih ; to the Jew fir ft, and a fo to the Greek, For 
 therein is the nghteoufnefs of God revealed fr 07:1 faith to 
 faith : as it is written. The jiift fhall live by faith. 
 1 need not iufilf on fo plain a truth. 
 
 5. That this r v -iteoufnefs of Chrift is upon all that 
 believe. It is of.c.ed to all to be embraced by faith ; 
 and it is given and conferred upon all that believe, u- 
 pon their believing. Whenever the hand of the 
 Lord is upon the hearts of hearers of the gofpel, and 
 draws them forth to berakc thcmfelves to this righ- 
 teoufncfs of Chrift, to c-mhrace it, and to truft all 
 their acctpiance with God upon it alone, they are juf- 
 nfied by it- Rom. iii. 2 i, 23. The righteoufne/s of 
 i^od, which is by faith of fefui Chrtft, \% unto' all, and 
 upon all that believe y jor there is no differ ence : for all 
 
 have 
 
Serm. XL the Lord's Prayer, 205 
 
 havsftnned and come fJ;ort cf the glory of God, A blef- 
 fed faying, and an odd-like reaibn to confirm it. Are 
 all fmaers alike ? and are all believers alike ? No, 
 furely, Are nor ^ovaz fiDners greater fmncrs than o- 
 thers i* and foiiic believers better believers, and great- 
 er faints, than others? Yes, furely. But in ihis mat- 
 ter of Chriil's righteoufoefs there is no. difference. 
 All fmners are alike in this, that they are in a con- 
 demned ftate alike, and alike pad all relief, fave in 
 and by Chrifl and his righteoufnefs : and all believers 
 ia Chrill: are alike in thatfaved ftate they are in, by 
 Chrift's righieoufnefs being on them. All fmners are 
 alike needy; and all believers are alike partakers of 
 this righieoufncfs of God. 
 
 6. Laftly, That upon this righteoufnefs of Chrift's 
 being on a believer in him, thefe three things follow ; 
 That the believer is juftified ; God juftified in jaTtify- 
 ing of him ; and the judiiied man's mouth is flopped 
 as to all glorying, fave in the Lord. The believer is 
 juflified, counted and reputed a righteous nian, thro* 
 the righteoufnefs imputed to him. On the account 
 of this fame imputed righteoufnefs of Chrift, ali his 
 fins are forgiven and blotted out, and he is pajfedfrom 
 death to life^ and jh a II not come into condemnation^ John 
 V. 24. Rom. viii. i, 33,34. He is reconciled to Qoi^ 
 and dealt with as a friend of God. G06. is aUb judi- 
 fied in his paiTmg this fentence of juftificadon on the 
 believer. In all thing«;, and above ail, we llioald be 
 tender of God's glory. There are fpecially three sdts 
 of Gcc*s righteous judgment that are ceafured much 
 by the ungodly, and that Chrillians fliould be care- 
 ful to juiliiy God in. One is, hisjuft judgment on 
 the firit Adam and his pofterity. How full are mod 
 mens hearts, and fome mens mouths, and too many 
 pens, with cenfures of this awful, but juft fentence? 
 ^'he other is, the Lord's way of dealing with the fe- 
 cord Adam, Jefus Chrifl. He was not fpared, but 
 put to fore fufierings. Any may fee amazing mercy ; 
 but who behold, and glorify God's righteoufnefs and 
 
 t) d 2 juftjce, 
 
2o6 Sermons concernv-ig Serm. XI. 
 
 jiiflice, in the de th ,of Chrift ? And the third i? 'his 
 1 am upon, rbe juilice of God in juRily '^ga believer4 
 And th^' caiiie of mens ccnfures and mllakes about 
 all the f^^i "'e, is much the fame, and i^e ceofures are 
 uiually '.' the fame fort of pe.ions. Ine true caufe 
 o^ rhefe challenges oi Ool\\ judgments^ which are a 
 great depth, Pfal. xxxvi. 6. is, men-; ignorance of the 
 juftice, majefty, anJ grearnefs of God. Unto fuch 
 arguers againft God^ the words of E!ihu to Job may 
 pioperly be applied. Job xxxiii. 12, 13. Behold^ in 
 this thou art not jit (I : I will anfwer thee^ that God is 
 greater than man. Why doj} thou jl rive ogainjl him? 
 for he give! h not account of any of his matters. In thefe 
 three inftances we may cafiiy fee how this ignorance 
 of thefe woikeih. In the firft a£lof judice in God, 
 we find one man's one z^ of difobedience conveying 
 guilt, condemnation and death, to all his natural off- 
 spring. In rhe fecond inflance, we find all the fins of 
 many finners charged and laid on a finlefs perfon, and 
 juftice de^li'ig with him as with a criminal. In the 
 third, we find the righteoufnels of Chrilh which he 
 wrought out in making a propitiation for fin, imput- 
 ed ro he jii'iifying 01 a believer : and in Mils God is 
 jufi fieci : Ronri. iii. 26. To declare at this time his 
 righteou/nefs ; that he mi<f)t be jufl^ and the juflifier 
 of him that btlieveth in Jejus, Laiily, In this juitifi- 
 cation, the judifitd man's rnouth is flopped as to all 
 glorying, bui only in the Lord. For as vafl a blef- 
 fing as it is, there is no pli!ce left for glorying. There- 
 fore, in rhe next verfe, tne '2 7ih, he faith, IV/rre is 
 boa fling i ben f It is excluded. By what law ? of 
 works f Nay; but by the law of faith. The law, 
 when it condemns, fiops the finner's n^iOuth from re- 
 plying, to juftify himfelf, Rom. iii. 19. ; and the gof- 
 pel, when it abfolves, (tops the believer's mouth from 
 glorying in hiiiifelF, when jufiified. But doth not the 
 Jaw of works exclude boafting fufiiciently ? That law 
 that comiiiands mors xhnv. the iiiin can do, doth it not 
 (hut oat boafiing ? Can any man fay, that he hath 
 
 fulfilled 
 
Serm. XI. the Lorcts "Prayer. 20 j 
 
 fulfilled that law ? No, furely. No man that in any 
 Rieafure knows the hoiinefs of that law, a:id knows 
 himfelf, his heart and doings, will fay fo. Bat be- 
 fides that many are fo blind and ignorant, both of 
 God's law and of themfelves, that they are ready to 
 boaft without any caiife ; all men that f'^ek juftjfica- 
 tion by the law, and by doing, they do defigii boaft- 
 ing, though ihey never reach it. Though they can- 
 not reach glorying before God, yet would they fain be 
 at it. But the juftified believer, as he never reacheth 
 it when he is jullified, fo he never defigns it when he 
 feeks juftification. The righteoufnefs in which he is 
 jullified, is wholly wrought out by another; and one 
 fo great, that none thax know hira will adventure to 
 put in for a fhare in his crown ; the Lord our righteouf" 
 nefs^ Jer. xxiii. 6. ,Yet the bleffing of it is f^'ven to 
 his church, and fhe is called by her husband's name, 
 Jer. xxxiii. 16. The revealing of this righteoufnefs 
 IS from the Lord, by his word and Spirit; without 
 which no man could ever find it out. The faith by 
 which he layeth hold on it, is the work of God ; and 
 neither grew up in his heart, nor was acquired by 
 his own induftry, nor conveyed by the power of any 
 creature. The imputing of this righteoufnefs unto 
 his julVification, is God's aft of free grace, Rom, iii. 
 24.; nothing in the man moving God to impute it; 
 and nothing in God but his grace in Chrift Jefus. The 
 finner, when he feeks it by faith, looks on nothing 
 but this grace ; and when he harh got it, and knows 
 it, owns heartily, that this fpiritual blefling (as all 
 others are, Eph. i. g. — 7.) is to the fraife of the glory 
 of his gracey wherein be hath made us accepted in the 
 beloved. It cannot be denied, but a man may be 
 proud of his juflification, and of his faith. But in 
 that cafe I am bold to fay, that one of thefe things 
 are: Either that it is a falfe juftification, and a falie 
 faith, that this man boafts of, (and thefe are too com- 
 mon amongft profelTors) ; or that true juftification is 
 out of his fight, and his faith out of exercife, when 
 
 any 
 
to8 Sermons concerning Serm. XL 
 
 any bo3(linq rifeth in the heart of a real believer. 
 ^ For let but a believer fet hirafelf before God the Judge 
 of all ; let him read God^s law, and his own heart and 
 confcience; and fee what he hath to boafl of : nay, 
 he will fee, that he hath all reafon for fear and (liame, 
 wh-^u he ftands before this tribunal. Let him next by 
 fa' li fee Jefas Chrift at this fame judgment fear, 
 ch-.irged wirh this man's fins, and difcharging that 
 debt, and buying all grace and glory for him by the 
 price ot his precious blood ; and, laflly, let hini, by 
 the fame faith, behold God jaflifyiiig him freely, and 
 fi:'lv, and only, on the account of this fatisracliou 
 g!Vcn by Chriil : and then, and thus, let this man fie 
 ar.d own, thai as there is no room left for boalling, 
 fo he will find no inclination in his heart unto it. It 
 is the chara^er of a true ChrKtian in Phil. iii. 3. For 
 lue are the r-rcumrifion (^rue Jews, as Rom. ii, 28, 29.) 
 u-hich ivorjhip God in tbt 'Spirit^ and rejoice (or glory J 
 in Chrijl Jefu^^ and have no confidence in th'fiejh. So 
 that, whereas rignteoufnefs by the law is boch fought 
 by men in p ide ; and when they drea.ri that they (iiall 
 either reach it, or thit they have got it, (and fuch 
 dreams are not rare, th(:ugh groaudlefs), pride and 
 boaiiing incrcifeth fo much, that not only are their 
 hearts puffed up within, not only do they glory be- 
 fore men, as Chrilt tells us of fuch hypocrites in Mat. 
 vi but they dare boafl: before God, as the Pharifee 
 did, Luke xviii. 1 1. : fo, on the other hand, tbe juf- 
 tifving rir;hteoufncfs oF God, wrought out by Chrili, 
 aiiJ applicil to the believer on Chriit, was appointed 
 o! God, brought in by Chrht, revealed in the gof- 
 pcl, and given to the believer, for the highcR glory 
 of the free giver, and the deepcft humbling of the 
 happy, but unworthy receivers. And thus is that 
 prophecy and promife fu, filled in Ifa. xlv. 24, 25. 
 Surely y jhall one fay ^ In the Lord hare I rijhteoufnefs 
 and jlrenpjh. In the Lord Jhall all the feed of Ijrael be 
 juflifie dy and fha II glory. 
 
 What then is God's juflifyintr a believer in Jcfus 
 
 ChriH 
 
Serm XI. the LorcTs Vrayer. 2cq 
 
 Chrift ? It is nothing dfc, but God's gracious lookiag 
 on a man, judgiug o'c irui, and dealing with him, al 
 in Chrift, and ^s reprefented by ChriH to God, for 
 juftificarion of life. There is a fuuilitude comvnouh 
 ufed, taken from Jacob's getting his father ifaac's 
 blefling, in his brother Eiau's raiment, Gen. sxvii. 
 All finiilitudes, even in fcripture, taken from mens 
 ways, to exprefs God's ways, want fooie grains to 
 make them pafs current ; and this efpecfaily I'^fgr old 
 Ifaac was deceived in bellowing his bleiling, Heb. xi. 
 2 o. By faith Ifaac bleJTed Jacob and Efau, concerning 
 things to come. Though liaac did fo by faith ; yet 
 the bieifings he gave his fons, were not only greail/ 
 different, but he was alfo at firfl deceived in the per- 
 fons whom he did blefs. Yet though Jacob fupplam- 
 ed his brother of the birthright. Gen. xxv. 30..— 24. 
 ^nd Gen. xxvii. of the bleffing, by his moiher's cun- 
 ning, and his own lying ; yet neither of thefe did hin- 
 der Ifaac's faith, cor the lighting of the bkfTmg on 
 Jacob, according to the eleaion of grace, and the o- 
 racle tiiat declared ir, when they both were in the 
 wonib. Gen. xxv. 23. But though Jacob deceived 
 his father in :he way whefein he fought the blefuog ; 
 yet, in giving of his bleffing by faith to Jofeph's fons,' 
 Ephraim 2nd Manaffeh, Heb. ix. 21. he guided both 
 his hands wittingly, and his words wifely, and gave 
 the bleffing, by the fpirit of prophecy, Gen. xlviii, 
 14 —-'20. But the Lord alu^ays kncivctb who are his^ 
 a.Tim. ii, i^. Me always knows whom he blefferh, 
 aLd what bleffir ;i he gives. Al! our acceptance with, 
 and juftification i/c ere God, comes by the reprefen- 
 tation Chrift makes of us to God. He was ctiarged 
 at the bar of juftice for cur fins ; he acfwered this 
 charge by a perfea fatisfaaion, and thus wzsjuftifad 
 in the Spirit^ i Tim. iii. 16. ; and when this fatisfac- 
 lion is pur to our account, we ^icjufiijied by his bloody 
 RoiB. V. 9. 
 
 So much for the firll bl^fang of jufliiication. 
 (2.} CbAfift repreiems ais church unto God for 
 
 their * 
 
210 Sermons concerning Serm. XI. 
 
 their fancflification. Eleftion in Chrift is an eternal 
 purpofe in God's heiirc and counfcl about his people. 
 Redemption by Chrifl, is a divine bargain for them 
 and their fdlvation betwixt the Father and the Son. 
 JuRificanon is a gracious fenteoce of God in Chrift, 
 on them that are reprefented by him for acceptance. 
 By this a6t and fentence the ftate of their perfoos is 
 favourably changed. But fanflification is a divine 
 work on them, that changeth their heart and nature. 
 The Spirit of fanflification is a precious gift of divine 
 love ; and is only given to them that are in Chrift, 
 and becaufe they are in him: Gal. iv. 6. And becaufs 
 ye are Jons ^ God hath fent forth the Spirit of his Son in- 
 to your hearts^ cryingy Abba^ Father, Ail the anoint- 
 ings of the Holy Ghoft that believers receive, are but 
 fome drops that fall down from the head of our High 
 Prieft, unio the fkirts of his garments, Pfai. cxxxiii. 
 2, 2. He received the Spirit without ?7ieafure^ John 
 iii. 34. that to his people, even to every one of them, 
 grace may be given^ according to the meafure of the gift 
 of Chrift, Eph. iv. 7.; not according to the meafure 
 that Chrift got, but the meafure that Chrift giveth. 
 And all of them receive it. Rom. viii. ix. // any 
 man have not the Spirit of Chrift, he is none of his, Lee 
 him not name the name ofChrifl (as his Lord and Maf- 
 ler), that departeth not from iniquity , 2 Tim. ii. 19. 
 All whofe iniquities Chrift did bear for their expiati- 
 on, in due time Chrift blefjeth them, in turning every 
 one of them away from their iniquities. Acts iii. 26. 
 This blefiing of fan6i:ification is of pure grace : for as 
 there is nothing of worth in a man, or regarded by 
 God in juflifying ; fo there is nothing of goodnefi^, 
 or of fit matter, for God to work upon in his fanfti- 
 fying. God's word is as clear about this, as about 
 the other. The account that we have fo largely of 
 ihe natural ftate of all men without Chrift, is fuflicienc 
 to ftiow the abfolute neceftity all ftand in of God's 
 grace to fave them, and 10 declaie both the freedom 
 and power of that grace in ail its applications to men. 
 
 Grace 
 
Serm. XI, the Lord* s Prayer, ail 
 
 Grace is the fpring of falvatioD, and of all its parts; 
 Chrift is the root of all ; ana eternal life and glory is 
 the ripe fruit of all that grace of God, thai reigns 
 through rightecufnefs unto eternal I'tfcy by Jefus Chrtft 
 cur Lord^ Rom. v. 21. See but thefe texts, and read 
 thern, i.nd conclude this truth, 1 Cor. vi ir. Eph.ii, 
 I.— -7. and Tit. iii. 3.— -7. In all which places jtif- 
 tification and farK^ification are joined, (as they are 
 certainly and conftantly in all that pariake of rhem) ; 
 unworihinefs in the receivers overcome, and palled 
 over, by ihe grace of the giver; and the inrereft of 
 Jefus Chrifl, in God's- giving, and in his people's re- 
 ceiving of both thefe blefTiDgs, is plainly told u?. 
 
 (3.) All the communion, and feilowfiiip, and fa- 
 miliarity vi'ith God, that a believer receivech, and is 
 admitted unto, is all by Jefus Chrifi:, and by his re- 
 prefenting him to God, Rom. v. i, 2. i j'hn i. g. 
 John xiv. 23. Bleffed be God there i? a great deal 
 of it ; and more might be attained, if we were pain- 
 ful and diligent. This is fo great a mercy, that come 
 and fee ^ come and tafle^ is the bed couniel can be 
 given, Pfal. xxxiv. 8, And fuch as tafle it, krk)w 
 its worth better than the apoflle can tell them; and 
 that it all comes by the grace of God in Jefus Chrifl:. 
 He is not only the only Mediator of reconci!iatioa and 
 of intercelTion, but of feilowfiiip with God ; Epb. ii, 
 18. For through him we both (Jews or Gentiles, if be- 
 lievers) have an accefs by one hp:rit untc the Father, 
 
 (^.) Laftly, The crown of glory, and adraiffion to 
 heaven, is granted to believers upon the account of 
 the righieonfnefs of Chrift on the believer: Rom. 
 vi. 22, 25. But now being made Jree from fin j (from 
 ihe condemning and commanding power of fin, in 
 jaftification and fanclification, of which the apodle 
 had been fpeaking in the 5ih and 6ih chap6ers)j and 
 become fervants to Gody ye have your fruit unto holinefs, 
 and the end everlafting Ife. For the wages cf ftn is 
 death : but the gift cf God is eternal life, through Jefus 
 Chrifl cur Lord. San^tification by faith in Cf^nft, A<f^s 
 
 Vol. 11. E e xr-^vi* 
 
2 1 2 Sermons concerning S E r m . XI. 
 
 •xxvi. 18. IS a precious gift of God. The perPe^fling 
 of it by faith on the promifes, is a blelTed defigo and 
 exercife through the whole life of a Chrlftian, 2 Cor. 
 vii. I. It is mod purfued after, bat never attained 
 bv the bed, till they attain the fnze of the high cal- 
 'hng cf Cod in Jefiis ChriJJ^ Phil. iii. i;, 14. But 
 when this prize is attained by them, and beflowed 
 OD them, it is not given them becaufe they are holy, 
 (though none but the fan£iified inherit it, A(Si:s xxvi. 
 .18.), but becaufe they are in Chrill, members of his 
 body ; and becaufe he is made all things for them 
 for their falvation, i Cor. i. 30.; and becaufe ihey 
 are reprefented by him, and prefented unto God, for 
 thislalt, greateft, and everlafting acceptance. Bcholdy 
 /, and the children which God hath given nic^ Heb. 
 it. 13. The righteoufnefs of Chrift is the eternal robe 
 of the glorified, and their inoft glorious one ; and the 
 caufe of their perfecfiion in holinefs, and of its eter- 
 nal duration. The glory and whircnefs of their robes, 
 is in their being wajhedy and made white in the blood 
 cf the Lamb, Rev. vii. 14. If Chrifiians be but care- 
 ful to give God's grace in Chriif its true ufe and 
 praife, while they are on earth ; no doubt but all 
 that get to heaven, will (ing the fong of the Lamb 
 with everlading joy. To him that loved us^ and vja/h- 
 ed us from our fins in his own blood , and hath made us 
 kings and priejts unto God and his Father^ to him be gk- 
 ry and dominion for ever. Amen. Rev. i. 5, 6, and v. 
 9, 10. And though fome true Chriftians may poilibly 
 (eifher by the fnare of dark or unfound dodtrine, or 
 bv a midaken zeal for inherent perfonal holinefs) 
 have lefs exercife by faith on Chrid's righteonfnels 
 than fome others, and though fome may advance by 
 grace farther in fanf^ification than others, (and it i^ a 
 vciy valuable atrainmenr) ; yet allcf chem, when they 
 come to die, and to knock at heaven's gate for ectraacc 
 JD'o their Mafter'sjoy, do mind far otherwife the 
 blood that bought the inheritance, than any ihin^ 
 wrought in ihcm to make thcra meet for it, Col, i. 12, 
 
 or 
 
Serm. XL the Lord's Prayer. $!} 
 
 or than any pains they have been at in walking and 
 running their race towards it. 
 
 So much for the firft thing, Whereia doth Chrift 
 reprefent his church unto God ? 
 
 Secondly^ What is Chrid's fitaefs for making this 
 reprefentation of the church unto God P 
 
 1. In the conftiiution of his perfoii. He is a rare, 
 linguiar perfon ; God-man, God's Son made maa. 
 And becaufe he is God-man in one perfon, he is a 
 perfon only fir, and highly fir, to reprefent God unto 
 man, and man unto God. He is fit to reprefent God 
 unto man ; for in Chrift we fee God in a man, in our 
 nature. And he is fit to reprefent man uuto God ^ 
 for God fecth cur nature in his Son. We fee God 
 in him, and God feeih us in him. We can never fee 
 and take up God rightly and by faith, but as he is ia 
 his Son jefus Chriit ; nor can God ever graciously 
 jook on a ficner but in bis Son. 
 
 2. Chrift is fit for making this reprefentation of his 
 church to God, by his office of Mediator. None is 
 fit for this office but Chrift ; none is put in it but he, 
 I Tim. ii. 5, ; and none but God-man can difcharge 
 it. The greatnefs of the work that is to be done in 
 this office, and the greatnefs of the glory that follows 
 on its difcharge, are far too high for a mere creature. 
 Such as deny that Chrift is true God, or deny that 
 he is true man, or deny that he is God-man in one 
 perfon, (and from the apoftles days to ours, the ene- 
 my hath been fowing fnch tares in God's field), do 
 deny a fit Mediator betwixt God and men, and there- 
 by iirike at the rock the church is buik upoUo Now^ 
 the office of a mediator is to deal with two parties ; 
 Gal. iii. 20. ISlow a mediator is not a mediator of one ; 
 but he is betwixt two. The high prieft under the 
 law, was in his office a type of Chrift in his prietl- 
 hood. Aaron and his fucceffors did, as high priefts 
 and typical mediators, reprefent all Ifrael (then God's 
 only church) unto God, efpecially in the folemn day 
 of atoaement, Lev* xvi. ; when the high prielt offered 
 
 £ e 2 ih^ 
 
2T4 Sermons concerning Serm. XI. 
 
 the facriflce, after confefTmg of, and a typical imput- 
 ing of Ifraei's fin to the innocent creature to be facri- 
 ficzd, and went with its blood into the holiefl: of a!I, 
 (a piece of earth likefl heaven of any thing or place 
 made v. ith hands), there to make atonement. This 
 high pried was alfo to bear their names (who'ii he rc- 
 prefented) before the Lord upon his livojlrjiildersfor a 
 memorial^ Exod. xxviii. 12. and ver. 29. And Aaron 
 JJmll bear the names of the children of Ifraei in the 
 breaft plate of judgment ^ upon his hearty when he g^oeth 
 in vnto the holy place ^ for a memoiial before the Lord 
 continually. Aajoii bare but the general names of 
 the tribes of Ifrael : but Chrlft our H'gh Prieft hath 
 a larger heart and breaft plate ; and bears upon it all 
 the particul;ir names of his people, and reprefents 
 them all unto God, both in his offering of himfelf as 
 a facritice lor them, in his entering in with his own 
 blood into the true holiefl of all, and in his appearing 
 in heaven in theprefence of God for them, Heb. i\'. 
 li. — 24. And, by the way, I may fay, that the e- 
 piRie to the Hebrews is a key to all the Old TeQa- 
 ment, and efpccially to the book of Leviticus, and the 
 Old Teftament worlhip. 
 
 Thirdly^ What is the glory of Chrift in making 
 this reprefentation of his church un^o God ? We eafily 
 conceive, that there is much glory in his reprefenting 
 God unto his church ; but his glory in reprefenting 
 them unto God, is not fo eafily fecn by u?. But it is 
 furely a great glory. So the apoflle faith, Heb. v. 
 5, 6. Chrij} glorified not himfelf to be made an High 
 Frief} ; but he that [aid unto him as in Pfal. ii. 7. and 
 Pfal. ex. 4. He glorified him, and made him an High 
 Prieft. But what glory was there in ihii, when he 
 was to be the facrifice himfelf who was made the 
 pried ; and to make :bis facrifice in all the lowed and 
 mod humbling circumiiances, fmitien of God, defpif- 
 ed of men, and abafed even unto death and the cnrfe ; 
 wherein was the glory of iLi^ f At 'iird view, nothing 
 
 appears 
 
SsRM. XI. the hordes Prayer* 215 
 
 appears but (liarae and didionour. A few things 
 (hall conclude thii matter at this time. 
 
 I. Confider whom he did, and doth reprefeat un- 
 to God for acceptance* They are all finners. Ths 
 viled thiug is fin ; the bafed creature is a fianer : 
 yea, finners are not properly creatures of God*s mak- 
 ing, but are vile things of the devil's and of their 
 own making ; the only (luraeful things in God's world. 
 And fia had never been permitted to enter into ih^ 
 world, if God had not refolved in himfelf to gather 
 in a rent of glory to his jultice, in punilhing it in ma- 
 ny ; and to his mercy, in pardoning it in others. And 
 this glory to pardoning grace comes by the redemp- 
 tion in Chrift Jefos, Eph. i. 7. Many of thefe pardon- 
 ed finners are of the vvorfe fort of fmners, i Cor. \L 
 9, 10. II.; and all of them think themfelves fueb, 
 I Tim. i. 15, 16. ; and they therein do not think amifs. 
 And they are a great many, as will appear in the 
 day of their lad gathering together to Chriji, as it is 
 called, 2 Their, ii. i . ; though not fo many as the 
 lod. Thence we read of a loii world, and of a fav- 
 ed world, in the word. When a finner hath his eyes 
 opened to fee himfeif, he lothes himielf j and thinks 
 that he is enough to pollute, and deiiie, and burden 
 the whole creation of God : he abhors himfelf, and 
 thinks every one, efpecially the godly, (liould abhor 
 him too: but mainly he judgedi himfelf mod juftly 
 lothfome to God. Muit it not be a great and glori- 
 ous thing in that perfon, that can, and doth repre- 
 fent fuch vile creatures unto a gracious acceptance 
 with God ? 
 
 ,2. Confider to whom they are reprefented for 
 acceptance; even to an holy and jud God; a God 
 that hates all iniquity where-ever he feeth it, Hab. i. 
 13.; and feeth it where-ever it is; and punidieth it 
 where-ever it is not covered and pardoned. All dif- 
 coveries of God's glorious holinefs, and of our own 
 finful vilenefs, render this reprefentation for accep- 
 tance the more Dsedful to be got, and the more hard 
 
 to 
 
2 1 6 Sermons concerning S E ^ : r XT. 
 
 to be believer!, (as ail exercifed ChrlftiaD ; uTiOw), 
 and the more glorious to Chrift when it is obt.^rned. 
 5. Laltly, Confider what a glorionj acceptance 
 this reprefentation by Chrift doth nrocuf*.. They 
 for whom it is made, are accepted, Eph. i. 6. ; are 
 beloved ; are received into all fanilia' ity with God ; 
 and, in that love, adjudged unto all bleffings in hea- 
 venly things; in Chnit Jefus. 
 
 Application* I (hall at this time only add 
 one word or application ; and it is this. I have been 
 fpcraking to you of Chrifl's glory in reprefenting his 
 church unto God ; I would only afk your confciences 
 ibis one queftion, How do you think to appear before 
 God ? You all know, or profefs you know, that there 
 is a God, (as certainly there is ; and, 1 may fay, more 
 furely than that there is any thing t\{Q ; for God only is 
 the neccffary, all creatures are but contingent being?, 
 Rev. iv. If,); you know, that this God doth ajways 
 fee you ; that as he thinks of you, fo is your ftate 
 in his fjght ; that God will at la(l judge you,rand pro- 
 claim to you, and all the world, his thoughts and 
 judgment of you ; you daily worfiiip and ferve him : 
 But how do you now appear before him ? is a quef- 
 tion few afK. Many never think of this till it be too 
 jare, By what means ard ways ihall I make fuch an 
 appearance before G -o, as to be gracioufly accepted 
 with him ? This feems to be on their hearts in Micah 
 Ti. 6. though they did not know the right way. And 
 fo is it at ihjs day with many fmners. I wouid warn 
 you of fome oF ihofe falfe ways in which men think 
 to ?ippear before God. 
 
 1. Some think to appear before God in the fame 
 poor ftate that their father Adam left them in. They 
 own, that they are not fo good as he wa?, nor fo 
 good as they ou'^.ht to be ; but they think, that fmce 
 xncn arc fo impoveriflied by Adam's fall, God will 
 pow accept a man with a little, if it be his all. But 
 i"uch deluded people do not know, that as Adam left 
 
 them 
 
S E RM. XI the Lord's Prayer, 2 1 7 
 
 tliem nothing at all that is pleafing to God ; To he 
 hath left them in a (late of fin, ^raih, and condem- 
 Daticn, in Vhich all his pofterity are born, and live 
 in, and perifli at laft ii3, unlefs they are delivered 
 from it by Jefus Chrifl, 
 
 2. Some think to appear before God in the befl 
 drefs they can make for ihenifelves, by their good 
 nieanings and purpofes, their good duties and weak?. 
 They labour hard and long to amend their ways, to 
 adorn their duties, and themfelves by them ; and thus 
 think CO prefent theralelves to God*i acceptance. 
 This garment of our own righteoufoeis is beauriful in 
 their own fight ; for felf-love naiurrdly makes men to 
 prize iheir felf-doings. It is a garment beautiful ai- 
 fo in the fight of men ; and of them they have their 
 reward, as Chrift told fuch men. Match* vi. 2. 5. i6\ 
 And this drefs is the more praifed when it is in falliion. 
 Hypocrites praife hypocrites : and the church is fuli 
 of them. So, from their own valuing, and others 
 praifing of them, they, in their ignorance, think that 
 God will be as well pieafed with them. But, alas ! 
 tkis is no better than that fad [>ate Paul fpeaks of, 
 Rom. X. 3. For they being ignorant o/God^s rightcmif- 
 nefs^ and going about to eflabltjh their own rtghteouf 
 nefs^ have not fubmttted themfelves unto the right eoufnefs 
 of God, 
 
 3. Some think to appear before God for accep- 
 tance with their fuffi^rings. If they can do but lit- 
 tie, ihey think they fuffer much. This is a llran.^e 
 vanity. ' Of thefe fi fferings, fome are volantary, un- 
 fully impofed on men by themfelves. That people 
 fpeak ftrangely, Micah vi. 6, ;. Wherewith Jbail I^ 
 come before the Lordy and how myfelf before the high 
 God f Jhail I tome before him with burnt of i rings ^ with 
 calves of a year old? (and '.hefe were ccmmanded ia 
 the law) ; will the Lord he pleafsd with ihoufands of 
 ramsy or v:ith ten thovfands cf rivers of oilf (thoie 
 were more than ever God commanded, or than thef 
 could bring) J J^ali I give my fir (l-b cm for my trarf- 
 
 grefion. 
 
2 1 8 Sermons concern} ng S e r m . X L 
 
 grejfion, the fruit of my body for the fin of my foul? A 
 ftn^tly forbidden abomination. When you read of 
 this prii(flice that foine were left unto, to off^r their 
 children in facrifice, think not that they hated their 
 children : nay, they loved them as well as you do 
 yours ;. but they loved their fouls better, and feared 
 God's anger more ; and they thought, that what was 
 deareft to them, and what they were lothefl to part 
 with, God would mod accept of. (What a convi(Sti- 
 on may this give to many Chrillians, who find it {o 
 hard to fubmit to the Lord':^ taking away their chil- 
 dren, either by ts. natural or violent death ; when a 
 blind idolater is fo mad upon his idols, that he will 
 voluntarily make a facrifice of his children unto their 
 falfe gods, ox devils^ as they, are called, Pfal. cvi. 
 37. ?). So natural is it unto men, in their igcorance 
 of God, to think, that what they do impofe upon 
 ihemfelves, efpecially if it be troublefome to their 
 flefh, is pleafing unto, yea meritorious before God, 
 From thib fpring do all the voluntary felf-fcourging<^, 
 ^c, amongfl PapiRs proceed; which have no bet te 
 example in Gcd's word than that of Baal's prophets 
 in I Kings xviii. 28. ; and have no better acceptance 
 with (lod than they had. But what will not a finner 
 do ; what (liift will he not betake himfelf unto, who 
 feeth his fms, feels or fears God's wrath for them, 
 and is ignorant of the only city of refuge, Jefus Chrifl? 
 Many rnotk at the folly both of Pagans and PapiflF, 
 in their ways of feeking pardon and peace, whc, if 
 ihey were as much awakened in their ccnfcience, and 
 ss ignorant of Chrifi: as they, w^ould cither betiikc 
 themfelvcs to the fame poor ihifts, or to others as 
 vain. Again, Some fullerings are commanded ; as 
 James iv. 9 Be afflidcd^ and mourn^ and weep : let 
 your laughter be turtied to 7nourningy and your joy to 
 heavincfs. There is a time to mourn, and there are 
 calls to it ; and we diould difcern both, and fet about 
 this duty. There are many merry and jovial profef- 
 for&, that never mind mourning for thcmfelves or o- 
 
 ihers. 
 
Serm. XI. the Lord^s Prayer. 219 
 
 oibers, but when God makes them by his rods ; and 
 it is well if they do fo then. Bat now, when a maa, 
 with much pains, hath laboured with hia heart, and 
 hath afflifted it with grief and forrow ; and when this 
 ftorm within breaks out in tears, and he pours them 
 out before the Lord, as they did, Judg, ii. 4, 5. and 
 may call his bed, (as David did his, Pfal. vi. 6,), or 
 chamber, or clofet, a Bochim ; how ealily doth a maa 
 grow* proud and vain, and think within himfelf, 
 *' Now 1 have offered an acceptable facriiice to God ?" 
 It is true, that the facrifices of God are a broken fpirit : 
 A broken and a contrite hearty God^ thou wtlt ?iot 
 defp'tfe^ Pfal. 11. 17. But we muft always remember 
 thefe three things about all our fpiritual facrifices. 
 I. That as they rauft be all of his requiring, fb they 
 mud be of his providing. We have nothing to offer 
 to God that he will accept, till he give it to us, and 
 till he firfl work it in us, David's broken heart was 
 firft given to him. Dreadful tins firft: lay quiet in his 
 hard heart, till God broke ir. 2. That a broken 
 heart is always a humble heart. It begins to grow 
 whole again (and quickly it will, unlefs the breaker 
 of it keep it broken) when it begins to be proud. 
 Such as have a good opinion of their own hearts, 
 know not what a broken heart means. He that hatli 
 a broken heart, is broken with his vile heart; as the 
 Lord fpeaks of his grief at mens whole hearts, Ezek. 
 vi. 9. 3. That all our fpiritual facifices, and a bro- 
 ken heart, muft be offered to God for acceptance on 
 the right altar, and by the right High Prieft, Jefus 
 Chrift. As he, in dealing with God for our redemp- 
 tion, was both altar, and prieft, and facriiice ; fo, 
 in all our dealings with God by him, we rauft be fur- 
 niftied with our facrifice out of his (lore; we mud 
 offer up all to God by him as our Prieft, Heb. xiii. 
 15,; for they are only acceptable to God by Jefus 
 Cbri/ly I Pet. ii. 5. And we rauft have and ufe Chrift 
 as our altar to faridi/y our ^i/ts^ Matih. xxiii. 19. It 
 VoL.n. 'F f is 
 
220 Sermons concerning Serm. XL 
 
 is grievoiK to hear what fad ground there is to fear, 
 that feme profeflors think more ofr, and think more 
 highly, of their own tears, than of the redeeming 
 blood of the Son of God. Laftly, There are afll c- 
 tions of God's infli£ling and laying on ; always laid 
 on juftly and righteouily. No man fliould comp]a"n 
 of (hem, or of God, when under them. All believ- 
 ers Ihould neither defpife nor faint under thera, Heb. 
 xii. 6, 7. But no raan muft: think of appearing be- 
 fore God with acceptance, merely becaufe he is af- 
 flicted, God afBiifls his children in love ; and he 
 loves them cot the lefs that they are affli6fed. But 
 affli£lion itfeil, and our own crofs, mull not rob 
 Chrift's crofs of iis glory, of making peace with God 
 for fmners, Col. i. 20. l fliould not mention this, but 
 that you know, that there are fomc fo ignorant as to 
 fay when greatly afRi(rted, " I am now enduring the 
 " punifliment of my fins ," yea, when dying, they 
 think that the very agony of death is a puni(hmeut 
 of, yea an expiation for all the fms of their life So 
 grofsly ignorant are many that live in a land of lii;ut. 
 It is true, that all the raiferies of this life, yea death 
 itfcl'", to an unbeliever, are the punKhment of fm ; 
 thry are but a fmall and (hort part of that punifh- 
 roent. But, alas 1 where is the payment of fm, and 
 tbt faiisfa£^ioa that God demands, and will only ac- 
 cept P Nothing a finner can do or fufter, can ever a- 
 mount to that. 
 
 1 would conclude this exercife with thefe two 
 words. 
 
 r. All that adventure to appear before God as 
 they are in and of themfelves, are ignorant borh of 
 God and of themfelves. They neidier know how 
 holy and juft he is, nor how vile they are, If ihey 
 did, they would never venture (tubble fully dry be- 
 iure this confuming fire. 
 
 2. Ail that dare not adventure on Jefus Chrid, 
 and OD his reprefenring thera to God for acceptance, 
 know neither the Fathisr nor the Son, This is the 
 
 glorious 
 
Serm, XL the Lord^s Prayer. 221 
 
 glorious contrivance in his eternal counfels, and is de- 
 livered to us in his word, z^the record of Cod, i John 
 V. 10, 1 1. extrsiSted outof thefe counfeis, that a great 
 number of fmcers, vile and unworthy in themfelves, 
 (hall be accepted in that beloved, and Ihall be belov- 
 ed for his fake, and in him. How hard a thing do 
 believers themfelves find it to believe this firmly and 
 conflantly, v?hat a glorious reprefentadon Jefus Chrift 
 can make of fuch vile creatures as we be in ourfelves, 
 when he clothes us with his righteoufnefs ? It is 00 
 eafy thing for a true Chriftian, when he is digging 
 into the dunghill of his own heart, and lothing hira- 
 felf for all his abominations ; at the fame time to be- 
 lieve, that he Hands accepted before the throne of 
 God, as found and feen in Chrift, clothed with 
 Chrift's garment of a fpodefs righteoufnefs, that no 
 fault can be found with, even at the higheft tribunal, 
 nor any condemnation can come from thence to the 
 happy man that wears it. There is no condemnation 
 to them that are in Chrijl Jefus ; becaufe it is God 
 that jujlifieth all that believe on him, Rom« viii« i* 
 33> H- 
 
 Ffg SERMON 
 
2 22 Sermons concerning Serm. XII. 
 
 SERMON XII. 
 
 John xvli. 24. 
 
 Father^ I will that they alfo vjjjom thou hafl given me^ 
 be with me where I am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which thou hajl given me : for thou lovedjl me 
 bejore the foundXittcn of the world* 
 
 I Am yet on the third thing in the matter of our 
 Lord's prayer in this verfe. The firfl was, the 
 dercnp ion of them he prays for : Thofe whom thou 
 hafl given me. The fecond is, the blefTing; he prays 
 for to them : Thai they may be with me zvhere 1 am. 
 The third i?, the end for which Chrifi: prays for this 
 bleffing to them. What fhali they get by being with 
 Chrifi where he is ? What fhall they do, and how 
 ftiall they be employed ? That they may behold my glo* 
 ' ry which thou hafl given me. That will find them 
 voik enough, and blifs enough, to eternity. On 
 this 1 propofed two things to be handled, i. The 
 glory of Chrift, And, 2. The beholding of his 
 
 On the firfl of thefe, the glory of Chrifi, I have 
 fpoke a litiie on two heads, i. Chrifl's glory as he 
 reprefents God to men. 2. As Chrift reprefents men 
 to God. There are two moft important queftions 
 that life in the mind of every ferious man ; and he is 
 a Tinful and miferable perfon that never found them 
 in bis own hearr, and knows not how to anfwer them 
 yighily. i. How may a fmfql man fo take up God, 
 as to l^now him truly and favingly ? And, 2. What 
 Way may God look upon a fmful man gracioully P 
 Boin 'iufwered one way. It is only in his Son Jefus 
 Chrif . If we look on God out of Chrifi, we are 
 confoanded j if God look on us out of Chrifi, we are 
 
 deftroyed. 
 
S SUM. XII. the Lord's Prayer. 22'> 
 
 deflroyed. We are not able to behold the glory of 
 God, but in the face of Chrifl ; and we are not able 
 to avoid his wrath, unlefs we be found in Chrifl, and 
 accepted of God in him. 
 
 Wherein Chrift reprefents his church to God, how 
 fit he is to make this reprefentation, and what Chrift's 
 glory is in making of it, I fpoke of lad day. This 
 reprefentation that Chrift makes of his church unto 
 God, is for iheir acceptance with God ; and that ac- 
 ceptance never fails, where this reprefentation is 
 niade. It is acceptance with that God that knoweth 
 all things, andjudgeth rightly of all things and per- 
 fons. How then can a juit God accept a man that ia 
 himfeif is a fmner, and therein do juftly ? A hard 
 qoeftion, that only is anfwered in the gofpel. It is, 
 becaufe Chrifl reprefents a fmner to God for accep- 
 tance ; and this acceptance mufl be, where this repre- 
 fentation is made by Chrifl. I. Becaufe Chrift' co- 
 vers all that is fmful and lothfome in the man, by his 
 righteoufnefs. And, 2. By the fame righteoufnefs, 
 not only covereth his nakednefs and deformity, but 
 puts a beauty upon the man ; though it is not iu him, 
 but in Chrifl, yet is on him by grace ; as Ez^ek. xvi. 
 14. Tby beauty was per fed through my comelinefs 
 which I had put upon thee, faith the Lord. By this 
 imputed righteoufnefs of Chrifl put upon a believer 
 in Chrifl, his own fin is covered, and the believer 
 flands clothed, and fo is beautiful in God's fight, 
 in this gifted righteoufnefs, and is juflly juilified by 
 God the Judge of all. See Pfal.' xxxii. i, 2. with 
 Paul's coirnrrent on it, in Rom, iv. 6, 7, 8. Even as 
 David alfo defcribeth the blejjednefs of the man unto 
 whom God imputeth righteoufnefs^ without works, fay- 
 tngi Blefjed are they whofe iniquities are forgiveny 
 ivhofeftns are covered. Blefjed is the man to whom the 
 Lord will not impute fin.^ A few remarks on thefe two 
 fcriptures, Ihall be all I (hall fay on the do^rinal part, 
 and then proceed in application. The firfl thing I re« 
 EQark, is this : That the apoftle names only thofe 
 
 words 
 
2 24 Sermons concerning Serkt. XII* 
 
 words of the Pfalmift that belong to his prefeot pur- 
 poie. He is handling the do£lrine of the juftification 
 of a Cnner. This blefTed do£lrine he had taught in 
 the preceeding chapter, with {o clear a light, that all 
 the darknefs of hell will never bt^ able \o pur out, or 
 quench, in the church of Chrift. This blefiing, he 
 teachcth, comes by the free grace of God, in and by 
 the redemption made by Chnft ; and is given by God, 
 and polTefTed by men, by faith in Chrift's redeeming 
 biood, without any interefl: of the works of the law 
 therein. Chrift indeed dealt with the law, and ful- 
 filled all the righteoufnefs thereof, for our juftificati- 
 on ; but we have nothing to do with the law, in our 
 uealing with God for our juftification ; but to come 
 with hs condemnmg fentence in our guilty confcience, 
 that wc may lay hold of Chrift's righteoufnefs ; which, 
 as It tululjcd the law, when wrought out by Chrift ; 
 fo it fprinklesour confcicnces, when applied to us by 
 his Spirit and grace, aud when it is applied unto by us 
 by faith. And thofe two applications are infepar-able, 
 and both the fruits of the favin^ f^uace of God. This 
 dodrine Paul confirms by two inftances, in two emi- 
 tieut faints, in this fourth ch: pter; Abraham before 
 the law, ver i.'— 5. and afterwards in this chapter ;. 
 ar.d David under the law, ver. 6, 7, 8. Whatever 
 diflcrence there was in the difpenfations they were 
 under, (and there wac; a great one) ; yet there was 
 none in the way of their juftification before God. 
 Both were by God's grace, without the works of the 
 law, without work, without hire, without any glory- 
 ing before God. Now, David had faid ia Pial. xxxii. 
 1, Blejfed is the man alfo, in ivhofe fpirit there is no 
 guile. But this pertaining to the blefiing of fandifica- 
 lion, though infeparable from that of juftification, 
 (which is the apoftle's diftinft theme injthis context), 
 is therefore wifely omitted by the apoftle. A fecond 
 thing 1 remark, in comparing thefe two fcriptures, is 
 this : That whereas David lays the blelTednefson the 
 -pardoned many the man vjhofe fins are covered^ the man 
 
 to 
 
Serm. XII. the Lord^s Prayer. 225 
 
 to whom the Lord imputeth not imquity ; Paul tells us, 
 lb: herein David defcribeth the bkffednefs cf the man 
 unto whom God imputeth righteoufnefs ivithout zvorks^ 
 when he faid fo. David faith nothing of ihe m- 
 futing of righteoufnefs^ but only of the nut impute 
 ing of fiD. Paul teacheth, that the not imputhrg 
 of fin y is the fame with the i?nputing cf righteouf^ ^ 
 nefsy and that without works alfo. A few things 
 will ferve to clear this= i. Every man's (tate before 
 Godj is as God jndgeth and reckons of him. His ac- 
 count and reckoning of a man . is always right aod 
 true ; and it is always deciilve and determining ; for 
 it is the highefl Judge's fentence. Thus is u now, 
 thus will it always be. This judgment of this fuprcriie 
 Judge concerning them, is always about fin, or righ- 
 teoufnefs. His condemning fentence is for fin ; his 
 approving fentence is for righteoufnefs, ^lo dear 
 the guilty^ and to condemn the righteous^ are both an 
 abomination to the Lord^ in an earthly judge, Prov. 
 xvii. 15. And who, without blafphemy, can charge 
 the Judge of all the earth with it ! Gen. xviii. 25. 
 Every man therefore, even now, is in God's fight un- 
 der a fentence, either of condemnation, becaufe of 
 fm ; or of approbation, becaufe of righteoufnefs ; that 
 is, in the dialecl of the Holy Ghod, hath either Jtn 
 imputed to him for condemnation ^ or righteoufnefs imput- 
 ed to him f:r the Ju/Iif cation of life, as Paul calls ir, 
 Kom. V. 18. 3. Sin and righteoufnefs are contraries, 
 and expel one another, and cannot cocfid together. 
 Guilty, or ivjx guilty, every one is, and mult he ia 
 the eye of God, and at the bar of God's law and judg- 
 uicnt. If guilty, then not rip:hreous3 and therefore 
 condemned ; if not guilty, then righteous, and tl^e^e- 
 fore abfolved and acquitted. This alternative, ftnfuly 
 or la-wful, reacheth to all our thoughts- and accions; 
 and thus are they judged by God, as contniry or 
 confonant to the law, the rule. And alio guilty^ or 
 not guilt y, ov righteous^ reacheth to the ilate of all 
 pcrfuns before God ^ and thus are \^*e alljidged and 
 
 accounted 
 
126 Sermons concerning Serm. XII. 
 
 accounted of by the Lord, as we arc under fin, or un- 
 der righteoufnefs. 4. Now when man is fallen, and 
 there is nothing but iin in man, and no righteoufnefs 
 can be found in him, God hath provided a righteouf- 
 nefs without him, in and by which lie may only, and 
 may fureiy, and may jallly, be juftified before God. 
 OF which we have been fpeaking. This is that righ- 
 teoufnefs of Chrill, in which all believers on him 
 ftand accepted before God. It is imputed to them, 
 and therefore their fin is not imputed to them ; aiid 
 thus are they judged and abfolved at God's throne of 
 grace in Chrift Jefus, So that, to conclude this, un- 
 lefs all that we are, all that we have done, be cover- 
 ed by this righteoufnefs ; unlefs there be a reckoning 
 of this righteoufnefs of Chrift to us by God ; fin, our 
 own fin, will be imputed to us for condemnation, k 
 is only this righteoufnefs that is juflly precious in the 
 judgment of God, and makes fmful man accepted 
 with him. 
 
 Inference i. Behold here the wonderful grace of 
 cur Lord Jefus Chrift, in thus reprefenting his church 
 and people to God. The apoftle faith, 2 Cor. viii. 
 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jefus Chr'if}^ 
 that though he was rich^ yet for your fakes he became 
 fcor^ that ye through his poverty might be rich. He 
 fuppofeth, that all true Chriftians doth know Chrift's 
 grace : and juftly ; for God knows, and all men may 
 judge them unworthy of that name, that do not know 
 it. Chrift's grace is a lovely theme to hear of, and to 
 think on, by all that have tafted of it, and live by it. 
 This grace ftiineth brighdy in his reprefenting his 
 people to God for acceptance. It was a great con- 
 defcendence of his grace, to take the oiTice of a repre- 
 fenter of his church. He knew his own divine digni- 
 ty ; he knew the vilenefs and unworthinefs of them 
 whom he was to reprefent : yet neidier of them hin- 
 dred his chearful undertaking of this office. And as 
 it was condekending grace in him 10 undertake it ; 
 
Serm. XIL ' the Lord's Prayer. 227 
 
 fo was it coftly grace to him to go through with it, 
 and dirchargc ir. Bleffed Tefus laid out a)! his eflate 
 (to fpeak fo) to redeem the lawful captives of julliee. 
 Before ihey can be repiefented to God for accep- 
 tance, he mufi die, and (lied his blood ; and in his 
 garments dyed with his own blood muft he prefeot 
 himfelf as a perfe<fted Mediator unto God, and in the 
 fame garments prefent his church to God for accep- 
 tance. This matter of our acceptance with God is 
 not brought about by the prayers of Chrift on earth, 
 nor by his interceflion in heaven : though we are ape 
 to think, that fuch prayers of fuch a fupplicant might 
 do any thing. Yea, any thing but this: Without 
 Jhedd'ing of bloody there is no remij/ion, Heb. ix, 22. 
 And no blood but Chrifl's goes for an aronem.ent, 
 Rom. V. 9, 10. He had no fm of his own. But when 
 he was charged with the fins of his people, he mud 
 ihed bis blood as a facrifice for propitiation. When 
 Chrifl {lands thus charged at the bar of juftice, he 
 Was not fpared, but was dealt with as (tridly as ano- 
 ther fmner. When law and juftice takes a fmner by 
 the throat, it faith to him. Pay ?ne that thou owe/I ; 
 as Matth. xviii. 28. in the parable there. And this 
 charge is ilill on all that are out of Chrift ; though 
 they are now deaf, and do not hear it. This charge 
 is on all the prifoners in hell, " Pay your debts 19 
 *' God, or no getting out of prifon." But this charge 
 was only on Chrift, " Pay what thou oweft as furety 
 " for a multitude of beggars and debtors. They have 
 ** nothing to pay ; thou art rich, and able to pay. 
 « Thou haft undertaken to pay ; and therefore full 
 ** payment muft be made ere thou enter into glory, 
 " and thy people be prefented to God with accep- 
 " tance." And this charge Chrift obeyed and an- 
 fwered, by which his church is faved. So great was 
 his obedience to his Father's commandment, fo great 
 was his zeal for his own and his Father's glory, and 
 fo great was his love to his church, that he gave him- 
 felf for it, Eph. V. 25, 26, 27, Now'> as it is all 
 ' Vol. II. G g Chriftians 
 
2 28 Sermons Comer mng S£R^r. Xil. 
 
 Chriftians duty to behold this grace cf our Lord Je- 
 fiis Chrift, aii'd it is their great advantage fo to do ; 
 fo the bed find it no eafy thing to believe it with ap- 
 plication to therafelves, fo as to fay, as in Gal. ii. 20. 
 Chrif} loved mcy and gave bimjelf for jne. For when 
 they fee a little of themfelves, (and but a little is [czv^, 
 and all bad), and a little of his glory, (and it is but 
 a little of that that believers can fee, with farh bai 
 eyes as the bed have, and in fo dark and diftant a 
 place as this is where we are) ; then they find it hard 
 10 believe, that Chrift will clothe their filthy n^^.ked- 
 nefs with that garment of falvation wove cut of his 
 own blood and bowels ; and in it prefent them to 
 God's favour and love, and xo all the precious fruits 
 of it. But for as hard as it is, all the true worfhip- 
 pers in the New Teflament temple are bound to be- 
 lieve, that their great High Prieft fet over the houfe 
 cf God, doihreprefent theni unto God for acceptance, 
 far more really, (for that was but typically), and 
 iDuch more fuccefsfully, than Aaron did ilfael in the 
 folemn day of atonement. But it is as truly, as com- 
 monly, faid. That fuch as think believing cafy, 
 know not what believing is. 
 
 Inference 2. Here wc may fee the excellent way 
 of our acceptance with God. We are accepted in 
 his Son Jelus Chrift. The falvation we get upon 
 our acceptance with God, and the bleifed way in 
 which this acceptance cometh, are equally to be be- 
 held with wonder, and praife, and faith. This excel- 
 lent way is the only way ot a finner's accepcauce with 
 God. There was another way ; but that was of the 
 acceptance, not of a firmer, but of a finlef^ man, v/ko 
 God. But that is ^one. In commending this only 
 Way now, I would have youconlider, that there have 
 been two ways of man's acceptance with God, of 
 God's making. One way was, that in the firil Adam ; 
 ihdt is paft. The other is in the fecond Adam; this 
 Hands, and will remain for ever. There is alfo an- 
 other way, of man's making, that is neither in the 
 
 fid a. 
 
Serm. XII. the LorcTs Frayer. ' 229 
 
 firft, nor fecond Adam. This is a dreanrj that the 
 greateft part of mankind dream to hell in. They 
 dream of it as long as they live ; and when they die, 
 and go to hell, they awake, and behold \i was a 
 dream: for neither the mourning of the law, nor the 
 piping of the gofpel, awakens them out of it» Matth. 
 xi. 17. And this way is by afmful man's own doiog, 
 and pleafing God. Of each of thofe a little. 
 
 I. The firft way of man's acceptance was fixed in 
 the firft Adam, and in God's covenant wiih him. Obe- 
 dience was required, aod death threatened for dii- 
 obedience. But God graciouily fumifhed him with 
 endowments fufiicient for his work. The Lord by 
 this way, did therein fignify, that mankind (hould 
 ftand accepted with him as reprefented by his cove- 
 nant-head. So in Rom. v. 14. the firft Adam is cal- 
 led the figure (or type) of him that was to come ; that 
 is, Chrift. The apoiile is, from ver. 12. to the end 
 of the chapter, (hewing vaft unlikenefs, yea, contra- 
 riety betwixt thefe two heads of mankind : in what 
 each did; obedience and difobedience : in what they 
 brought in ; the firft man brings in by his difobe- 
 dience fin, condemnation, and death ; the fecond 
 man brings in by his obedience, righteoufnefs, jufti- 
 fication, and eternallife : all as contrary a,s light and 
 darknefs, heaven and hell. How, and wherein is 
 Adam then faid to be the figure, the type of Jefus 
 Chrift ^ Is it not in this, that as the two Were true 
 men, and fo they w^ere fingle perfons ; yet they 
 both were federal, covenant-heads, and reprefenta- 
 tivesof a great many ; Adam of all his natural oiT- 
 fpring; Chrift of all his fpiritual off'spring, given 
 to him of the Father ? And as the firft Adam 
 (food accepted with God in the righteoufnefs of his 
 obedience ; fo did his pofterity ftand on the fame ac- 
 count. And if he had continued in his obedience, 
 all his pofterity had been accepted in him : but be- 
 caufe he became by his fall a finner, the firft Adam 
 became thereby a deftroyer, and brought in fin and 
 
 G g 2 death 
 
2 3^ Sermons concerning S e R m . XII. 
 
 death on all bis poderity, by the juftice of the curfe 
 of the broken covenant ; and hath the guilt of fin im- 
 puted, and the depraved nature which by his fm he 
 contra^ed, propagated unto all hh pofleriry. So that 
 the belt of faints is conceived and hern in fin ^ Pfal. li. 
 5.; and all are by nature children of dijohedience^ and 
 of wrath ^ Eph. ii. 3. So this way is quite unpaiTable. 
 A covenant betwixt a holy God, and a dead defiled 
 finner, was never intended by God : audit is disho- 
 nourable to God's holinefs, and wifdoin, and juftice, 
 to iiitagine any fuch covenant. 
 
 2 The other way of God's maliing, is, for the 
 acc^iptance offinfnl men by his Son Jefus Chri^l, and 
 God's covenant with hira for his redeemed offspring. 
 If our Fathc:r Adam had ftood as God had placed 
 him, there had bten nothing required of us, or need- 
 ed by us, in ordt r to the infiaricg us in the favour 
 and friendfhip of God ; whatever had been needful 
 for our continuing in it. His obedience, if continued, 
 would have entailed and conveyed that to us in our 
 feveral generations. So now in Chrift, the fecond 
 Adam, the favour of God was bought for us by him, 
 (for it was loft by the fird Adam) ; it (lands in him, 
 and is conveyed to us through him, when the Jaw of 
 the Spirit cf life in Chrifl Jefus ^ doth make us free 
 from the law of fin and death^ Rom. viii. 2. Thofe 
 are all the ways of God's making. Bur, 
 
 3. There is a way of man's making and devifing, 
 (as fallen man is full of foolifh inventions) ; and it is 
 this, to obtain God's favour by their own doings and 
 obedience. The Lord never put any to this, though 
 many think th^it he hath put all men to it. There 
 cever were but two finlefs men in the world ; Adam 
 and Chrift. The obedience God required of Adam 
 was not to inflate bim, and brine him into God's fa- 
 vour and friend(hip ; (for that he was created in) : 
 but it only was to continue him in it, and to convey 
 the fame friendOiip with God unto all his pofterity. 
 But how to regain God's favour when lofl by fin, 
 
 what 
 
Serm XII. the Lord^s Prayer. 231 
 
 what way to make up the breach when made, Ac^am 
 did not, could not know it, till God revealed it af- 
 ter hjs fall. So Chrift's work and bufinefs in the 
 world, was not to obtain God's friendlhip for bim- 
 feif ; for he from eternity was the Son of his Father's 
 love, and his Father's everlafting delight. As man, 
 when conceived in the womb of the virgin, he was 
 that holy thing that was to be born of her, Luke i. 
 35. ; and while he lived in the work), he always 
 did thofe t hinges that f leafed his Father, John viii. 29. 
 As to his office of Mediator, he was inftalled in it 
 mod honourably, and glorified by it, Heb. v. 5: His 
 difcharge of it was thepleafure of Jehovah^ Ifa. liii. 10, 
 He made it his meat to do the will of him that fent him^ 
 and to finifh his worky John iv. 34. ; was flraitened^ 
 pained, till his baptifn, in his own blood, was ac^ 
 complifhed, Luke xii. 50.; defued with defire to eat 
 his lafl p(iJfover, Luke xxii. 15. After that, he ap- 
 pointed his fupper for a memorial of his death, and 
 for an ordinance-feal of that new teftaraent which tie 
 was the next day to confirm and ratify by his blood/ 
 And when ail this is done, he opens his heart in love 
 to his difciples about his death, and the good they 
 ftiould get by it in his abfence ; with a firm promife 
 of their happy meeting again, in a better place and 
 iLite than he cither foand or left them in, in John 
 xiv. 15, i<5. And laft of all, he opens his heart to 
 bis Father, John xvii. 4. / have glorified thee on the 
 earth : I have finijjjed the work -which thou gaveft me 
 to do. When all thine^s ftood thus betwixt Chrift and 
 his Father ; what need then was there of all the hea- 
 vy fufferings which he was put to, and which h:". 
 mufl cf.Jure, as he often tofd them before ? That 
 necellity he was under of fuffering, was from th's. 
 That he came to give his life a ranfom for many Matt« 
 XX. 28.; and was verily fore-ordained before the foun- 
 dation of the world, to redeem his people with the price 
 of his precious andfpotlefs blood, 1 Peter i. 19, 20. 
 Bat this inveniioni of man's hearfj in feeking God's* 
 
 favocr 
 
iiz Sermons concerning Serm. Xll. 
 
 favour and acceptance by their own works and doings, 
 h not only not appointed by God, and never fuccefs- 
 fu! to any man, (for that no man is jufl'ified by the law 
 in th^fi'ht of God, it is evidenty Gal. iii. 1 1. ; but no 
 evidenct is convincing to a blind and proud jegalili) ; 
 bat aifo this way is a perverting of both the ways of 
 God's appointment. If they will be for God's old 
 way with Adam in innocence, then they mud be fin- 
 lefs, and in God's friendOiip, as he was; they muft 
 have all the abilities Adam had for obedience, to main- 
 tain that fricndftiip. But though fmfal man be proud 
 and vain, yet none have the forehead to pretend to 
 innocent ftanding Adams's covenant-flate and ability. 
 As for the only way of regaining God's favour by 
 Jefus Chrifl, this new and wicked way overthrows 
 it : For if right eoufnefs come by the law^ then Chrift is 
 dead in vain ; and Paul ihoiMfruJhate the grace of 
 Gody if he fought to live by the lawy Gal. ii. 19,— -2 i. 
 But the unbelieving world runs after this invention : 
 for they are too poor to anfwer the exa<ft perfeft ho- 
 linefs of God's true law, and too proud to fubmit 
 themfelves to the righteoufnef:i of God. They do as 
 the cnniiirg knave did, Luke xvi. 3, ^ they cannot 
 dig w::h cM Adam, and to beg of the fecond Adam, 
 they are aTiamed ; and therefore fhive to live by 
 nicks and cheating. Bni God is not mocked And 
 thus multitudes perifti, not only in the Heathen and 
 Aniichrinian world, but in that that is called Chrif- 
 lian : For this damnable error is natural, and is in the 
 heart of every one that is an unbeliever, profefs what 
 he will in words and principles. 
 
 But the only gofpel vvay of finners acceptance with 
 God, by the reprefentation that Chrift makes of them 
 unto God, hath ihefe things to commend it above 
 God's firft way with Adam and his feed in the firft 
 covenant. 
 
 I. In that it is a mofl glorious way of acceptance, 
 far higher and better than what Adam had while he 
 ftocd, or than his polleriry would have had if he had 
 
 flood. 
 
Serm. XII. the Lord's Prayer. 133 
 
 flood. For, on this fuppofition of Adam's danditig,. 
 fm had indeed been kept out ; but the acceptance 
 continued to Adam and his pofterity, had had no bt;t^^ 
 ter and nobler foundation than that of the obedience 
 and righteoufnefs of a creature, a mere man. But 
 now believers in Chrift (land accepted of God, in the 
 obedience and righteoufnefs of Chrid, who is Goi 
 over a/It blejfed for ever : fo that every one of them 
 may fay, as ifa. xlv. 24. In the Lord have I righie- 
 cufnefs and ftrength, i own that this way (lops al! 
 glorying in ourfeives; but it is fitted for raifing, aui 
 keeping up eternal glorying in the Lord, i Cor. i. 
 29,-r-g I. It is not the lead, but the greateft, rather, 
 of the honour of the crown of glory in heaven, tha€ 
 the crown itfelf, and the kingdom, and the heirs of 
 it, were all bought with the blood of the Lamb ; and 
 that their title to it now, and their pofTeffing of it ii 
 eternity, hath no other, nor lower foundation, thaa 
 the righreoufneis of God, the righteoufnefs of a man, 
 who ?s the Lord our righteoufnefs, Jen xxiii. 6. And 
 thus God's Ifratu [hall be Javed in the Lord with an 
 everlafting falvation. Ifa, xiv. 1 7. 
 
 2. This way is a more fafe way and fure than A- 
 dam's way, or God's old way with Adam. The un- 
 certainty of that way was {Qtn in the event quickly. 
 The (lock of mankind was all in his hand : he v^z% 
 furnifhed with fuf&cient grace to keep him (landing, 
 (his cafe is enouga \o m.)kt us hate the popidi didinc- 
 tion, and fenfe, of fuificient and eiEcacious grace, 
 with reference to fallen man) -, but he was but a mere 
 man, and was left to the freedom of his own perfect 
 wil!, (enough to difgrace the faife name of free will 
 in a fmner, a dave to his will aad luds, and a captive 
 to the devil at his ivilL, 2 Tim. ii ?6 ). But it pie a fed 
 God (and againd that no man diould reply) not to 
 give him edablidiing, preferving grace. It feemed 
 lit uuto God, that eilablidiing grace Ihould only be dif- 
 penfed in and by Jefug Cbrid, who was to redcre 
 lallen man, and to bs the head of a new and better 
 
 CQVS- 
 
234 oermons concerning Serm. XI f. 
 
 covenant, of which Cbr'ijl is Mediator^ which was e^ 
 JlabiijJjed on better promtfes^ Heb. viii. 6. Eftablifliing 
 grace was given ro the flanding angels. Cbrifl: is 
 their heaci, Col. ii. lo. ; and they are called ele6l an- 
 gels, I Tim. v. 21. Now, if it had been a/lied Adann, 
 or an angel, concerning him. How long (hall Adam 
 ftand in God's favour P the only anfwer could have 
 been, As long as he is obedient to his maker and 
 covenant-pariy. Ailc again, How long fliall Chrifl 
 the Mediator ftand in God's favour ? It is anfwered. 
 For ever : and it is impoffible it fliould be otherwife. 
 But if it again be asked, How long (liall a believer in 
 Chrifi, whom Chrift hath reprefented to God for ac- 
 ceptance, how long (hall he ftand accepted ? this hath 
 feveral anfwers, but only one good one- And that 
 is, A believer ftands always accepted with God, as 
 long as Chriif is accepted with God as the reprefen- 
 ter. As long as the believer is reprefented by Chriil, 
 fo long continueth his (late of acceptance with God. 
 Adam, in his tirfl ftate, had all grace but eftabiilhing 
 grace, in his good (late. The t\zdi angels had ir, 
 and thereby ftood, and do ahvays behold the face of 
 Chrifis Father which is in heaven^ Matth. xviii. 10. 
 They need no other grace, but edabliftiing grace to 
 keep them well, when they were well. But Adam 
 fallen, and all his offspring, need refforing grace to 
 make them well, and more grace to make them bet- 
 ter, and preferving grace to keep them unto the 
 heavenly kingdom. All this grace is out of Chrift's 
 fuh^icfs, and fecures the happy (late of all that are 
 in him. 
 
 3. By this way of our acceptance with God Iq 
 Chrift, a greater bleffednefs cometh unto men than 
 could have come by Adam if he had flood. The firrt 
 mention of eternal life, is made after his fall. Gen. 
 iii. 22. It is indeed a deep and dark text ; but that I 
 named it for, is, That in ir, liinng for ever^ is firfl 
 named, which afterwards isfo frequently proroifed in 
 
 Chrifl: 
 
Serm. XII. the Lo^cTs Frajer* ^ 235 
 
 Chrift to bis church. To this that plaitily relates. 
 Rev. ii. 7. To him that overcoineth will I give to eat of 
 the tree of life ^ i^hich is in the midfl of the paradife of 
 God. We need not trouble our heads about the ex- 
 tent of the blciTings in the firtl covenant of God wuh 
 Adam, and mankind io him. The Spirit of God\. fpeaks 
 very little thereof: and that wifely ; for why ihould 
 he reveal blciTings which no man was to partake of ? 
 But what is plainly revealed, is, that this covenant was 
 utterly broke by Adam's (m ; and by thot breach, 
 guih, and wrath, and death, came in upon the world ; 
 for v/bich the only relief is by Jefus Chriil. The 
 firft dawning of which our fird parents faw in that firft 
 gcfpel, Gen. iii. 15. and exprelied their faith o- it in 
 that worfhip which was appointed tb.era, Gen iv. ; 
 and they did recover the favour of God by this new 
 way and covenant, which they had loii by their fia 
 under the fird. There was doubtlefs fomev/har iln- 
 gular in thac communion with God, which our parents, 
 and Abel, and who elfe of mankind were then born, 
 had, that is called the face of the Lord, Gen. iv. 14. 
 and the prefence of the Lord, ver. 16. that the repro- 
 bate Cain counted it his raifcry and punifliment to be 
 baniflied from : for he thought, that when he wag 
 call out of God's prefence, he was alfo cail out of 
 God's protection ; and then was afraid, left every man 
 or beaft might prove his executioner : and therefore 
 God gave him a pafs and a proteCiion ; which it is 
 Vkc was all he fought, or got. Bur now in Chrift Je- 
 fus, and on the account of his righteoufnefs, not only 
 all the curfe of the firft broken covenant is removed, 
 but greater blelTings are conveyed to us, and beRowed 
 on us, and a better paradife provided for us, than thar 
 which Adam fmned in, and was driven from. He fan- 
 ned in it almoft as foon as he was put in it ; and was 
 driven out of it as foon as he had finned : and both of 
 them concern and affciH: all us his podersty, as ranch 
 as they did him. Sinners we are in and by his fin, 
 and caft out of God's favour in and by his being cafl 
 Vol, 11. H h out; 
 
2^6 Sermons concerning S e r m » XI !• 
 
 out ; and there is no relief for us but io Jefus Chrlft. 
 But this relief is with vaft advantage, llom. v. I2,--- 
 
 2 1. 
 
 Examine then your hearts, how they (land affec- 
 ted towards this new and living way to the holieft of 
 all by Jefus CTnrift. It is a good rule for one to judge 
 his own flate by ; even by his true, fixed, and ap« 
 proved thoughts of J?fus Chrifl:, as the only way ta 
 God's favour and friendlhip, i Cor. v. 23, 24. i Per. 
 ii. 7. Ho^' blind mull that man be, who hath hopes 
 of heaven, aod hath no hearty favour and reiifh of 
 God's only way to heaven ? If men mind heaven, and 
 feek it, and hope for it in ways of cbeir o^n devii'- 
 ing, ihey are never a whit the nearer to ir, nor the 
 fuier of it. That you may not be deceived now, and 
 difappoinred wofully at lad, 1 would ihew you fome 
 itioughts of mens hearts, that are common, fioful, and 
 daijgerous ; that ye may beware of them. 
 
 1. Some fay within themfelve?, and ir may be to 
 God too, " O that God would accept of n'^e of his 
 *' great mercy, and look graciouily en me !'' And is 
 not this a good wifh P Is it not a frequent prayer of 
 faints in the word ? and is it not to be lidl ufed by all ? 
 Yes : all this is true. Bnt it is only good when it is 
 well meant : in many it is ill meant ^ and therefore 
 is a faulty with. All the mercy of God flows to men 
 only in and by Jefus Chrhh If Chrift be forgot in 
 your prayers, you can never put up one good one, 
 aor get a good anfwer. The mercy of God without 
 Chriil, is a dream that the greacell: part of the world 
 iiream ro hell in; and all the while tliink they are in 
 the riglit road to heaven. How cfc have you heard, 
 that iht. re is no God to be favingly known, and right- 
 ly worlliipped, but in Chrill i and that there is no 
 faving mercy to be found from God, but in Jefus 
 Chriii ? 
 
 2. Some fay, and think they fay better, " O that 
 " God would make me perfedly holy, that I may be 
 *' accepted of him 1" Ls not this a brave deiire and 
 
 prayer ? 
 
 1 
 
Serm. Xlt, the Lord* s Prayer, 237 
 
 prayer ? True holioefs is indeed an e>jcellerit blefilng } 
 a main part of the image cf God in (landing Adam, 
 utterly loft and defaced ia falleo man, renewed again 
 by Jefus Chrid in regeneration, and perfected ia hea- 
 ven. The (Indy of holinefs is an excellent Rady, and 
 a rtudy for all cur day?« We flioald be flili perfec- 
 ting of it, 2 Cor. vii, i. bat cannot in this life be per- 
 fect in it, PhiL iii. 12, Perfe^l holinefs is an excel- 
 lent aim and dedgn, and is in the heart and eye of e- 
 very one ihat is truly holy.. Diligence, and continu- 
 ance in it, and to grow in holinei;^^, is a fain:*s bed 
 cxercife ; and fuccefs thereia his choiceft raercy. The 
 holiefl man on earth is furely the happieft man oa 
 earth : and the perfection of holinefs in heaven, is a 
 neceffary conftituent of the happinefs of heaven. A 
 patron of fin, a defpifer of holinefs, and he that de- 
 iires but a little of ir, haih not the Spirit of God. But 
 for all this, there may lurk fome evil thing in this 
 wifti for perfefl holinefs. To fearch it o«t, I would 
 aame a few things to you, i. There is co true ho* 
 linefs but what is from Chriftj who is -made of God un- 
 to us fan6l\fication^ i Cor. i. 30, None are fanf^ified 
 but by faith in him^ Acts xxvi. 18. It is ChrifPs i* 
 mage in thena. Ail the moral virtues of the Heathen^ 
 for all their fplendid luRre, had not any bit of true 
 holinefs in them. And fo is it as to the morality that 
 is fo prized and praifed by many, 2. As all that are 
 truly holy, would fain be perfectly holy, (for no man 
 is void of this defire, but fuch as would fm more, and 
 iove fin) ; fo no man is truly holy, but he hath a mean 
 and tow efteein of his own holinefs; and the mod hap- 
 py proficieot in holinefs, is furely the humbleil faint. 
 3. Whenever holinefs is fought to recommend us to 
 God's acceptance, without faith in Chrift, there is no 
 holinefs in that defire, nor will it ever be granted. For 
 in this cafe the language of the heart is, " O that I 
 " were fo holy, that 1 might not need Jefus Chrifl: 1'^ 
 What an ungodly wifli is this ? I hope you all abhor 
 the thought of it. 
 
 H h 2 ' 3. it 
 
23S Sermons concerning Sehm. XII. 
 
 g. It IS alfo common with many to fay, " O that 
 " God would accept of me, and my good works and 
 *^* duties, ior Chrift's fake !" Many poor creatures 
 nke p;.ins to do all they c:^n in obeying God's will ; 
 and Wi en they find It is bur iittie (iiey do, and that 
 alfo (u'' -^Ffr:ful mixture and imperic«Jlion, then ihey 
 bring iu Chrid to help them cur. But this is to abafe, 
 and ro aftront Chrift : for Chrid was never appoint- 
 ed to help men under the firfl: covenant of works ; but 
 only to bring them out of it ; and then fave them by 
 the new and better covenant, wherein the Mediator 
 doth all the redeeming work for them by himfelf a- 
 lone ; and by his Spirit given them, works in them 
 what is pleafing in his fight. But this carnal wifh of 
 having our works accepted for Chrifl's fake, faith, 
 I. That the man thinks he can do fomething (and 
 that is no fraall thing in this vain man's eyes) with- 
 out Chrifl 5 contrary to the well-known word of his, 
 John XV. 5. Without me ye can do nothings fpokcn to, 
 and of them that were in him : and much more may 
 it be faid of them that are not in him. Yet there is 
 hardly to be found a natural man, who thinks not but 
 that he can do fomewhar that pleaferh Gnd, :ivA may 
 further his acceptance with God : but becauie it is 
 not fo m.uch and fo good as it fhould be, he would 
 have help from Chni^ to make it better, and more 
 effef^ual with God. But the bottom of all this is 
 felF. 2. Chrifl's righteoufnefs was not wrought out 
 by him, and tendered to men in the gofpel, as a 
 clout, or patch, or ornament, to be put upon any 
 one part of the (hameful nakednefs and deformity of 
 3 finner, but as a perfcfl and eniire garment for 
 covering all. So that they that have it all on them, 
 have none of it ; and he that received it not at a'l, 
 and doth not trurt alone to Chrifl's riglueoufneis, as 
 to ^he only fcreen from the holy juflice of God, 
 and the only ornament of beauty iu God's fight, is 
 ftill {loui-heartcd, and far from righteoufnefs. 5. 
 
 The 
 
Serm. XII, the LorcTs Frayer, 239 
 
 The acceptance of our fervice and obedience to 
 God, is indeed a precious thing, and much defired 
 by all fincere Chriflians; but the way ic is got, is lit- 
 tle known by many that feem earneft for it. The 
 Lord's way is this : Firft, by Chrid, and union with 
 him, the believer's perfon is accepted of God ; and 
 then through Chrlft the fruits of his faith (as all true 
 good works are) become accepted alfo. 60 in the 
 beginning of the world, Gen. iv. 4, 5. when the two 
 brothers oifered their facrifices^ and both to the Lord, 
 to the fame true God, and the offerings in themfelves 
 lawful, and afterwards by the written law were re- 
 quired ; yet it is faid, that the Lord had r effect to A- 
 bel^ and to his offering ; but unto Cain and to his offer- 
 ing he had not reffttt. Wnerein lay the difference 
 between their offerings .•' Heb. xi. 4. By faith Abel 
 offered unto God a more acceptable facrifice than Cain ; 
 by which he obtained witnefs that he was righteous ; 
 God teflifying of his gifts : and by it^ he being dead^ 
 yet fpeaketh^ or is fpoken of. And from diftinguilhing 
 grace, as Abel was received and accepted : fo Cain 
 was enraged, and turned a murderer of his brother, 
 I John iii. 12.; which made Luther fay, that Cain 
 hath been murdering Abel in all ages, to this day ; 
 that is, the zealots for the righteoufnefs of works, do 
 dill hate and perfecute the heirs of the righteoufnefs 
 which is by faith ^ as Noah is called in Heb. xi. 7. 
 
 But the only right breathing of the heart of one 
 that truly knoweth and believeth thii; truth. That 
 Chrift is the only reprefenrer of his people unto God 
 for acceptance, is that of Paul, in Phil. iii. 8, 9, 10. 
 and it is in three things, i. ll\i^\\it might win o^ 
 gain Chrift, ver. 8. Then he counts he is rich enough, 
 and defpifeth all loffes, for this gain. 2. That he 
 might be found in Chrifl^ ver. 9. As if he had faid, 
 " 1 know the day is coming, when God the judge of 
 " ail will find out every man, and me alfo. My de- 
 *' fign and defire is, that I may be found in Chrifl ; 
 " and then 1 am fure I fhall be found in peace." 
 
 But 
 
,^4* Sermons concerning Serm. X\l 
 
 But how v;ou]d he be found io Chriil ? Not having 
 mi?]e own rightecufnefs^ whic/j is of the law^ (I am a- 
 traid and alharaed of appearing before God in it) ; hut 
 that zvhich is through the faith of Chrijl^ the righteouf- 
 nefs which is ef God by faith ; that right-oufneis which 
 is of God's providing and accepting, that which i^ of 
 Chrifi^ working out, and which is applied and put 
 en by faith. It is this righteoufnefs the apoftle de- 
 fires to be fouad in, in order to his acceptance with 
 God ; and fo will every perfon do that hath that fpi- 
 nt thai Paul taught this do^lrine by. 3. That I may 
 knozv Chrifty ver, 10. " If I win Chrid, I am rich 
 *' towards God ; if I be found in him, I am fafe ; if 
 *' 1 know him, I am wife to falvation," Bleffed is 
 that man or woman that feeleth in his or her heart, 
 foiiiewhat of that deep humility, (trong faith, and 
 warm love, which wrought in Paul's heart, when he, 
 by the Holy Ghoft, wrote thefe word?. Then they 
 would be plainly and eafily unJerftood. But when 
 n^en know and feel nothing of themfeives, and of their 
 TAVn unrighteoufnefs, nor oF Chrift, and of his righ- 
 leoufnf'fs, and no Chriftian (liould wonder at fuch 
 mens blundering about, and miftaking of fuch evan- 
 gelical expreflions of faith in Jefas Chrift, which 
 ihine an day to an exercifed believer ; while the unbe- 
 liever, though a raafter in Ifrael, can fee no light in 
 them, but gfopcs^ as if he had no eyes^ and flumbles 
 at noondayy as in the night ; as it is faid in Ifa. lix. to. 
 
 So nuuh for r!ie two iiii'^renccs from this doiftrine. 
 
 I would now further apply this truth in two exhor- 
 tations ; one to unbelievers, and another to believers. 
 
 Exhort, I. Unto unbelievers. Who are they r 
 By unbelievers, we mean fuch as never had any bufi- 
 nek with Chrii^, to obtain by him acceptance with 
 (:Jod for themieWes. He is an unbeliever, call him 
 by what name you will, that never employed Chrift 
 for repreleming him unto God for acceptance. Of 
 fuch there are many forts ; pafling what hath been faid 
 ,cf fome, that feek the acceptance of their works, nor of 
 
 their 
 
15^ERM. XIL the Lcrd^s Prayer* 241 
 
 their perfoDS. Some beg communications of grace 
 and mercy from God, and ufe not God's way of giv- 
 ing all, in and by Jefus Chriil. Some beg the par- 
 don of their fins, and the wafhing away of their de- 
 filements ; but do not aik this. How (hall a (iiifa] man 
 ftand fo beautiful in God's eyes, as that God may 
 look on him, and not be angry ; may look on him» 
 and love him ? That fort of pardon that many icck^ 
 is never given ; and if given, would not anfwer th« 
 end. A mere pardon of liii, (if it were polliblc), 
 without a garment of righteoufnefs upon a mac, might 
 deliver him from wrath and hell; but would not make 
 him lovely in God's eyes, nor intitle him to ererpai 
 life : for it is grace that reigns to eternal life through 
 righteoufnefs ; and thaigracey that reign of grace ^ that 
 right eoufnefsy and that eternal I'lfe^ are all by JV/l'j 
 Chriflour Lord^ Piom, v, 2 1. Bat true gofptl-iorgive- 
 nefs, and the imputing of Chrilt's righteou fcefg, are 
 infeparable and indivifible. 
 
 OF thofe unbelievers are fpecially three forts. 
 T. The fecure, fleepy unbelievers ; fuch as have no 
 heart concerQ about this matter; and never think la. 
 earoeft how they (hall ftand accepted of QqA ; nor 
 of Chrid's concern in procuring it, nor of their own 
 concern in obtaining it by him. Such men are much 
 , like to that great man, though a blind Pagan, in A£^3 
 XXV. 19. They had certain queftions again]} him of 
 their o%vn fuperjlitiony and of one Jefus^ zvhich was 
 deady whom Paul affirmed to be alive* Little 6\d that 
 poor Roman know, that he mud perifh for ever, if 
 he knew not this Jeiu>;, and the virtue of his death, 
 and the power of ai? reforrectian. As indifferent and 
 carclefs are many 1 i-iners this day, that when they 
 hear of Chriii, and v^f the n-rxeliiry of his righteouf- 
 nefs to finners for iheir acceptance with (ioJ, they 
 are ready to fay. That they are certain hard quefii- 
 ons about things and perfons that they have no con- 
 cern With. \Vhether Jefus was dead or ^live, whe- 
 thit the Jews or Paul was ia ihe right ; all was ahke 
 
 CO 
 
2^t Sermons concerning Serm. XII. 
 
 toFeflns. So to many now, Whether a finner can 
 weave and work for himfelF a garment to fland accep- 
 ted with God in? or. Whether he m'jQ have one 
 rcade for hicn, and given to him by Jefus Chrift, or 
 periQi for ever ? are counted bnt qiie^lions for raini- 
 Iters and fcholar?, and fuch as they have rlifferent and 
 contrary opinions about. And the careiefs unbeliever 
 troubleih not his head about them ; and that only be- 
 caufe his heart never felt the weight of (in, andthevaft 
 concern of eternal falvation. All fuch are grofs un- 
 believers. They may fometimes alk what niiniflers, 
 what Chriflians think of them ; but never this, 
 " What doth God think of me ? How (liall I Hand 
 " accepted before him ?" AlTure yourfelves, that all 
 other cares, concerns and inquiries about yourfch'cs, 
 are mere trifles in regard of this ; and that all fuch 
 perfons are but triflersin religion, pretend and pro- 
 fefs what they will, who mind not falvation in the Hrll 
 place, as the one thing needful, Matth. vi. 33. and 
 Luke X. 42. 
 
 2. There are awakened and roufed unbelievers, 
 like many of John Baptiil's hearers, whom he won- 
 dered at : Matth. iii. 7. O generation of vipers^ who 
 hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come ? Such 
 men come to know, and feel, from the light and 
 power of God's word, i. That their eternal (late and 
 lot (lands in God's judging ; that fo it will and mull 
 fare with them to eternity, as- rhey are accej)ted or 
 not accepted with God. 2. That man comes to 
 know, that as yet there is nothing in him to procure 
 this io neceffary acceptance v/ith God ; yea, he feeth, 
 that this God, in v/hofe hands is his eternal lot, is 
 inany v/ays provoked to wrath agair.d him for all his 
 fms. In this condition, the native fliift that all men 
 take, is a new courfe of obeying, and doing the bell 
 they can, not knowing Jefus Chrift. They take the 
 jfirft: water, and next at hand, to wafti away the filth 
 that is upon them ; but, alasl their filth increafcth 
 by this wafliing j dieir foul-difeafe grows upon lUem 
 
 by 
 
Serm. XII. the LoriTs Ftayer, 243 
 
 by this wafliing ; their foul-difeafe grows upon them 
 by falfe means of cure. There is no phyfician for 
 fick fouls, but Jefus Chriil j no balm for a wounded 
 confcience, but his blood ; no walhing from fm, but 
 in it ; none recotef of the mortal difeafe of fin, but 
 his patients. 
 
 3. There are defponding, defpairing unbelievers* 
 And there are of them at ail times, and in greater 
 numbers thaa many are aware of. This fad frame 
 rifeth thus. i. By clearer difcoveries of the holinefs 
 and puriry of God, and of the righteoufnefs of his 
 holy law. 2. By further difcoveries of their owa 
 lilenefs and fmfulnefs; when they fee fm within them, 
 fin without, fm round about them ; and that they are 
 under fin, Rom. iii. p.-'-ip*; as a man may be faid 
 to be full of the fea, when he is call into the raidll, 
 and lieth at the bottom of it. 3. A dITcovcry of ut- 
 ter impotence to do any thing to help himfelf uuc of 
 this woful plight. He hath tried mauy ways, aod all 
 ineffe^lual. Thus when a fmner feeth a holy God 
 threatening ruin, feel? confcience condemning him as 
 deferving ruin, and all refuge failing him ; in this 
 cafe defpair is natural, and would be the refult of 
 all found awakenings, if the Lord's mercy in Chrift 
 do not interpofe, and difcover itfelf in this extremity. 
 It is no fin for the damned in hell, but their great 
 mifery, to defpair of ever getting out ; but it is their 
 fin to blafpheme God. But for a finner out of hell 
 |o defpair, is a grievous fin, but too frequent : Ezek. 
 xxxiii. 10. If our fins and our tranfgrejfions he upon 
 usy and we pine away in them ; how fhovtld we then 
 live f " If we be fo guilty, and God be fo exa<!l upoa 
 U3 by his judgments, mull we not perifh P" Nay, 
 faith the Lord, Turn to a gracious God, and live. 
 Unto fuch defpairing unbelievers I have nothing t\{^ 
 10 fay, but what Paul and Silas faid to one in this cafe, 
 A(5ls xvi, 3 I. Believe on the Lord Jefus ChriJ}^ and 
 thou /halt be faved. And to back this exhortation to 
 Vol. II. I i fuch 
 
244 Sermons concermrg Serm. XI!. 
 
 facb, 1 would recommend four things to be coiifider- 
 eJ by them. 
 
 I fly Confider how greatly Jefus ChriH: is accepted 
 with God and his Father. You may ihink, that this 
 h remote from your concern ; but it lieth nearer than 
 you are aware of at firft view. He is highly accep- 
 ted and beloved of God, not only as his own Sod, 
 but as our Saviour; Ifa. xlii. i. Behold my fervant 
 who?n I uphold^ mine ehd hi whcm my foul deli-ihteth* 
 It would be a great encouragement to faith on Chriil, 
 to think what a great favourite ia heaven Chrilt is ; 
 how graciouily, yea infinitely, he is beloved of his 
 Father. His perfon, his office of Mediator, his per- 
 formances, his ac^iojis, his fufferings in that olli.*e, 
 are all of fweet-fmelling favour before God. Unbe- 
 jief hath in its root, low, mean, and forry thoughts 
 of all thefe. Say then, " How vile and aboniinable 
 " foever 1 be in God's fight, yet Jefus Chritt is pre- 
 " cious in his fight with whom I have to do." 
 
 7dly^ Confider how great the acceptance with God 
 is, that Chrift dorh procure to finneis whom he un- 
 dertakes for. Many have found it, and fuch know 
 it bed: : but it is but little that the beft of them can 
 lel] of it : and what the gofpel declares of it, believers 
 themfelvcs rather admire at, than fully know, or 
 firmly believe. If you have not found it youifelves, 
 believe others have got this acceptance. 
 
 3 <?'/)/, Confider how many Chrift hath made highly 
 accepted with (rod, who were jail fuch as you be ; 
 as unworthy and vile as you are, or can think your- 
 i elves lo be. What were the Corinthians of whom 
 the apoftle fpeaks, i Cor. vi. 9, 10, 1 1. : I{ the Ho- 
 ly Ghoft had not v/ritten it, we would be afliamed to 
 read over fuch a bvd roll of abominations : Be not ds- 
 tcived: neither fornicator s^ nor idolater Sy nor adulter^ 
 ers^ nor ejffvminatey nor abufers of J^emf elves with man^ 
 kindy nor thieves^ nor covetous^ nor drunkards^ nor re- 
 viler Sy nor extortioners, Jhall inherit the kin<rdGf7i of God. 
 (If it be fo, what then (ball become of them ?). And 
 
 fuch 
 
Serm. XIL the Lord's Prayer. 245 
 
 fuch ivere fome of jQu i but ye are wajbed^ hut ye are 
 Jandifiedy but ye are jujllfied in the name of the fjord 
 Jefus^ and by the Spirit of our God. Every iaftance 
 of Chrid's grace oa great floners, (and every age is 
 filled with many oF them), (hould be an eacourage- 
 ment to every fmner to put in for a (hare of the fame 
 grace v/bereof Chrift hath fo great an abundance, 
 and as great a good-will to Ihow it, 
 
 ^thlyy Coofider that Jefus Chriii never refufed any 
 fmner that employed him to do this great bufioefs 
 with God for him. It is his proper office, he hath 
 given his word and promife for it, John vi. 37. and 
 vii. 37. And he hath been as good as his word to 
 all that ever trufted in him ; cone of them were ever 
 put to (iiame, Rom. ix. 33. 
 
 Let therefore hope come in, and fpring tp. Say, 
 ** Though I fee myfelf vile and loft as ever finner 
 " was, or can be, out of hell ; though I cm do no- 
 " thing to relieve myfelf; yet there is help in Chrid* 
 ** many have found it. I am commanded by God to 
 " come to him, and to the Father by him : and there- 
 ** fore I will try and trufl Chrid in my forlorn (late,** 
 Do fo, and you fhali profper. Chrid will undertake 
 your caufe and concern, and you (hail quickly fmd 
 the bleiTed fruits thereof. I Oiall conclude with an 
 allufion to that paffage in the gofpel, Matth xiv. 22. 
 30. and Mark vi. ^6 — 51. wherein we read, that 
 Chrift did ftnd, yea conftrained his difcipies ro go to 
 fea without him. They meet with a contrary wind in 
 this comuianded voyage, and toil all night to little 
 purpofe. O'jr Lord knew their difficulty ; and noc 
 only remembered them on the mountain at land, but 
 made them a viiic at fea, and that w^/iir?^ on the fea ; 
 and, doubtlefs, he that made both fea and land, 
 could ufe either of them as he pleafed. His difctpks 
 fa'-j) h'uTiy and ivere troubled^ f^y^^^t ^^ '-^ ^ Jp^^'^' 
 They allfaw htm^ as in Mark vi. 50. and were trouhU 
 ed ; for none of them knew him, but all miilook him, 
 and cried out for fear ; till he faid, Be of good cheer ^ it 
 
 II 2 is 
 
54^ ^^rmons concerning Serm. XII. 
 
 is /, be net afraid. On this Peter, always a forward 
 diTcipic, (aid, Lord^ if it be ihou^ bid me come unto 
 ihes on the water, Chriil giveth the command, Come, 
 Peter obeys ; but when he feet h the zvind boijjorousy he 
 is afraid ; and begining to ftnk, he cried, faying^ hordy 
 fave me. And immediately Jefus flretched forth his 
 handy and caught him, and f aid unio hiniy O thou of 
 little faiths wherefore didjl thou doubt f Chrift faved 
 him, and then rebuked hira for his unbelief. Is not 
 your condition fomewhat like this i* Chrift cometh to 
 you as op the waters, in the night, and in a ftorm ; 
 you are afraid of him : he calls you by the gofpel to 
 cpme to him ; you eflay it, but the winds and waves 
 fright you. Cry to him. Lord fave me, Affure your- 
 felves, that he that calleth you, will hear your drown- 
 ing, dying cry ; will ftretch forth his hand, catch 
 you, and fave you ; and then chide you kindly for 
 your unbelief : yea, you will then chide yourfelves 
 for it, when you find (and find you will) that Chrift 
 is more merciful rhan you did or could imagine. How 
 vaftly doth the firft experience of Chrift's grace fur- 
 pafs all the defires and expe£lations of the firft adven- 
 tures and adventurers, upon Chrift's tender heart, 
 and oa bis mighty faving arm ! 
 
 SERMON 
 
SsRM. XIIL the Lord's Frayer, 247 
 
 SERMON XIII. 
 
 John xvii. 24. 
 
 Father y J will that they alfo whom thou hafl given me^ 
 be with me where I am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which thou haft given me : for thou' lovedjl me 
 before the foundation of the worlds 
 
 YO U have heard, that this is the third thing in 
 the matter of Chrift's prayer that I have been 
 fpeaking to. Wherein 1 propofed to fpeak to two 
 things : The glory of Chrid ; and his people's be- 
 holding of his glory. In fpeaking to the firft of thefs 
 particulars, I did confine my difcourfe unto Chrift's 
 glory, as he reprefents God unto his people, to be 
 favingly known by them ; and as Chrifl reprefents 
 his people unto God, to be gracioully accepted by 
 him. 
 
 It is to the latter of thefe 1 have been fpeakrag ; 
 and have made forae entrance upon the application 
 thereof, which I would now profecute. Lad ^x^ i 
 fpoke to unbelievers ; the true name of many, who 
 will never own it, till they ^^/ their portion with them^ 
 Luke xii. 46. ; unlefs the Lord open their eyes to fee 
 their difeafe, and ftretch forth his hand, and heal it. 
 Faith is wrought, and a6leth, where unbelief is feen, 
 and bewailed, and prayed againll. Mark ix. 24. 
 Lsordy I believe^ help thou mine unbelief faid a new- 
 begun man in faith. I ranked unbelievers into three 
 forts, I, The fecure and ifupid unbeliever, that ne- 
 ver faw and felt any quarrel betwixt God and him, 
 nor any neceflity of Chrift as a peace-maker. 2. The 
 awakened and roufed unbeliever, who begins to open 
 bis eyes, and to fee the importance of falvation, the 
 
 danger 
 
2^8 Sermons concerning Serm. Xlll. 
 
 danger of God's wrath, and the bad (late he is at 
 prefcnt in. Such people, unlefs God's Spirit work 
 t'ue faith in them, do naturally betake tbennfelves to 
 rhemfelves for relief. That great word fpoke by the 
 y.iWov, Acls xvi. 50. W/jat Jhall I do to be favedi 
 however it was meant by that diftrefTed finner, it hath 
 been by many as much noiftaken as the apoftle's an- 
 fwer to it in ver. 31. The true meaning is, " I am 
 " a loft undone creature, and have no help at home ; 
 *• if there be none abroad, I am quite undone." And 
 they take thefe words in vain, that ufe them, while 
 they vain!y and proudly think, they can do fomething, 
 if they did bin know li, 3. There are difcouraged, 
 defpairing unbelievers, that know that they are in a 
 bad cafe, and cannot believe that it can ever be al- 
 tered to the better. A very great fin, and too com- 
 mon. Many live, and die, and perifo in defpair, that 
 go not down to the pit roaring. We think their cafe 
 {d^d^ that die in expreirions of defpair ; and their cafe 
 yet worfe, that deftroy their own lives in defpair. 
 And indeed this lad cafe is exceeding dreadful, if 
 ihcy are themfelves, and are not diftrafled. As to 
 the forr.ier, there may be more charity due to fuch as 
 have'givcn good proof of their faith in their liferi.ne, 
 though they die in a cloud, and utter heavy unbe- 
 jieving complaints. Of which fort, 1 have heard of 
 a Chridian near death making a heavy complaint of 
 the Lord's withdrawing from him in that feafon of 
 his greateft need ; and Aiid, he " did nor think tliat 
 <•' ever the Lord did fo wiih any of his children.'* The 
 wife and happy minider to whom he made this com- 
 plaint, gave him this anfwer : " Know ye not that 
 '* thus it was with the Son of God, when, on ihs 
 ** crofs, a little before his death, he cried our, My 
 ^' Gcd, my Gody why haft thou for faken me V* Which 
 v/ords were fo bleffed, that the derm ceafed, and the 
 good man died in peace. Bur there is a filent defpair 
 in many unbelievers, that goes along with them many 
 days and years, and they perifh in itwiihout noife or 
 
 coin- 
 
Serm. XUL the LorcTs Prayer, 249 
 
 complaint. They inwardly think, that their ilate is 
 bad, and they have no hope that it will ever be bet- 
 ter. It is like an inward wounds that a n:aa may 
 bleed to death of, as well as of an outward oo?« Bo?: 
 can Satan and unbelief prevail to that degree in a niaa 
 not in hell, as to make a perilliing fmner look ou 
 Chrift's faviog gracious face, and fay, " Either thou 
 '* canfl: not, or will not help me ?" No ; Chiift is 
 furely out of that Haner^s eye in whofe heart defpair 
 hath the dominion. A glance of Chriil's glory as a 
 Saviour will expel defpair, and beget and nouriih faith 
 in him. Never did a fmner fee Chrift's face, but he 
 looks for fome good from him, and that not a little 
 alfo ; and that never in vain. 
 
 Exhort. 2. That which remains, is to give two ex- 
 hortations to believers ; though one of them will take 
 np our time now. As I told you in the former exhor- 
 tation who were unbelievers, fo now 1 would tell yoii 
 who are believers., that the exhortation may be rightly 
 taken, and not fnatched at by them to whom it doth 
 not belong. By a believer in Chriil, I meaa a maa 
 that doth in heart and in experiesce know thefe two 
 things, r. He hath feen fo much of the holiatfs of 
 God, and ftri(Sl purity of his law, and hith feen fo 
 much of his own vilenefs and impotence, thai: he doth 
 defpair of ever making himfelf accepted with Go! by 
 any thing he hath or can do. And this fort of de- 
 fpair (if we may give fo ill-foundiag a name to (o good 
 a ihipg) is fo far from being inconfiftent vvich true 
 faith, that no true faith in Chrift can be, or be ichid^ 
 without it. That fianer that hath any hopes of get«- 
 ting matters betwixt God and him mended vvithoac 
 Chrifl, will never, and can never believe on J<:fus 
 Chrift. 2. A believer is one that hath fo heard and 
 fo believed God's record concerning Chriil in the gof- 
 pel, and his ability and good-will to fave fuiners, aS 
 voluntarily and dtiliberateiy to lodge all his acceptaiics 
 with God for falvation on Jefas Chrift alone. li-^ 
 fceih it to be his only Ihifr^ and a good one too. 
 
 Uato 
 
250 Sermons concerning Se5.m. XIII 
 
 Unto fuch believers I would give thefe two exhor- 
 tations from the doctrine. 1. Study in the light of 
 the word, and by the eye of faith, this glory of 
 Chrifl in reprefeuting his people to God for accep- 
 tance. 2. Improve this truth by the a(51iviry oi^ the 
 fame faitR. 
 
 Exhort, I. Study and behold the glory of Chrifl 
 in reprefeniing his people to God. None fee it once, 
 but they will defire to fee it again and again, and 
 more and more of it. None fee it rightly, but they 
 wonder and admire at it ; that not only our falvati- 
 on is brought about by this reprefentation, but that 
 Chrift's glory is great in making of it. Whenever a 
 man feeth any thing of the glory of God, before 
 whom the reprefentation is made, any thing of the 
 vilenefs of the perfons reprefented, the divine dignity 
 of Chrifl the reprefenter, and the great acceptance 
 the reprefented by him obtain of God ; then will the 
 man ftand amazed, and cry out, " O the depths of 
 ** grace in faving lofl man I'* See Heb. i. 3. ; where 
 the apoflle teacheth us three things concerning Chrift ; 
 what he is, what he did, and what he got. He is 
 the br'ightnefs of his glory ^ and the exprefs image of his 
 ferfony (of God the Father's glory and perfon), and 
 vpholdmg all things by the word of his pozuer. The 
 whole creation oweth its original ;o him, and is pre- 
 ferved by him, and his powerful word. Who can 
 doubt his Godhead, that believes that thefe, and mav 
 ny fuch exprefiions, are indited by the Spirit of truth ? 
 V/ho would think what follows P This divine perfon, 
 this equal with the Father, this creator and upholder 
 of all things, when he comes into the world, what is 
 his bufincfs P what doth he ? He by hi ?7f elf purged our 
 fins. His work was about fin and fmners, to purge 
 fm, and to fave finners. Obferve the pbrafe. It is 
 nor faid, by himfelf he made the world ; but only, that 
 God made all things by hiniy ver. 2. It is not faid, 
 that he by himfelf upholds all things ; but only, he 
 
 doth 
 
Serm. XriT. the Lord's Tray er. 251 
 
 doth it by the vjord ofhispozver. There is no need of 
 the inteipofmg of hirafelf, or of his perfon, (\^ I may 
 ufe the word) ; his word of command was enough 10 
 do both. But when our fins are to be purged, a word 
 of power was not enough : himfelf muil: come in, and 
 be a facrifice; as Heb. ix. 26. He appeared to put a- 
 ivayftn by the facrifice cf himfelf , Nothing leis was 
 needful, nothing lefs craved by God oixeoded by fm, 
 nothing lefs offered by the Saviour of finners. In and 
 by this purging our fias, how low is this ^}X\\^?,<t per- 
 fon the Son of God brought ! Bat what becarr»e cf 
 him when he had done this work ? He fat down op the 
 right hand of the Maje/iy en high: H-: is high in his 
 divine perfon was brought loV ^a his work, and is 
 exceedingly exalted when he had done it ; as in Phil. 
 ii. 6—11. 
 
 In order to the raifing of your thoughts about thii? 
 glory of Chrift in reprefeniing his people unto God, 
 I would offer you, 1. Some generals about it; 2. 
 Some panicuiars in this chapter to the fame purpof.% 
 
 FirJ}^ The generals about it (hall only be thefe 
 two. 1. Divine counfels about it. 2. Divine adls a- 
 bcur it. 
 
 I. Divine counfels about "this. It was the eternal 
 purpofe of God to have a remnant of Adam's offspring 
 reprefenred to his favour, and its fruits, by his own 
 Son made man, and dying in their (lead. This etcr- 
 7ml purpofe %v as purpofe d in Chrift Jefm our Lord, E]^h. 
 iii. 1 1 . His good fleafure which he hath purpofed tri 
 himfelf^ Eph. i. 9, 10. // was in Chrifi Jefus'^btfore 
 the world began^ but is now made manifefl by the ap- 
 pearing of our Saviour Jefus Chrif}, 2 Tim. i. 9, 10. 
 It js unto this higheft fpring your faith muft rife by 
 all the lower fteps it takes ; even to the deep defign 
 of God in purpofmg falvation by Jefus Chrift to his 
 chofen. And it is revealed to us in the word ao pur- 
 pofed by him, to the eternal praife of his grace, to 
 the exalting of his Son Jefus, the unaenaker of the 
 
 Vol. II. K k work 
 
2^2 Sermons concerning S'tIRM. XLII. 
 
 the work of favioQ:, and to brint^ in a cjrcat falvatioa 
 fcf his people. 
 
 2. What palTcd in time about this. In the fulnels 
 of lime Goi fenc hii Son ioio the world. When he 
 came, that was hilfiilcd, lU. ix. 6. Unto us a child is 
 horny unlo us a fon is given. lie was born and given 
 to us ; for he came to die, and to be given foi' us. 
 On this I would ofTer lour things. 
 
 ijjy When cur Lord came, and fst about his woric 
 heca'iie for, he looked on himicIF, preached and de- 
 clared himfcir, to be a reprefcnter, by hi-? oince, of 
 Ijis people to God ; that he was the faorifice For fin 
 and fmncr?, Heb. x. 5,— lo. ; that hi^ ?idh and blood 
 was (he lEeat that came down From heaven, which he 
 nfiuft give for eicTual life to his people, a j 1 that all 
 iriuii Feed on by Faith that had sny mind to live, John 
 ^'i- ?5>"-'3^' Yea, when he v/as firfl made manifcil 
 10 Ifrael, John Bap'iii, the firil preacher oF Carift as 
 come,preacueih acd poinds him Forth to be the Lamb of 
 God vjhich- taketh aiuay the fin cf the zvorLi, Jjhn i. 29. 
 a L luib For purlry, a Lamb For Facriiice, and the Lamb 
 of Goci, Fent and provided by God, (as his type was. 
 Gen. xxii 8), and accepcdble unto God. Buc what 
 was fpoken in the ear i[\ clolcts in Chrift's time on 
 earth, was proclaimed on Loufe-tops (as he b.d them, 
 Luke xii. 3.) when Chnfc iiad done his. work, and 
 vas gone to heaven. His apodlcs, and all his Fervants 
 in ail ages, have made it their bnlioeis to fet Foril^ 
 Clirilt as the only Facnfice For fin, and the only High 
 l:'rie(F to introduce finners into God's Favour, in and 
 by the vume of his Facrificc. They have not begua 
 lo preach Chrilt rightly, that have noijlrd of all de^ 
 ilared how that Chrifl died for our fins according to the 
 firipluieSy I Cor. xv. 3. ; and then of his reFurre^cion, 
 verFe ^. Mlnilters muFl neither leave ChriFt in his 
 gave, nor preach a J^lorified JcFus, without remem- 
 be.-i^.; his death. 
 
 2.ity^ We find that the law and judice of God dealt 
 with our Lord, when he was come, as with a repre- 
 
 Jeniative 
 
Serm, XIII. the Lord's Prayer. 253 
 
 fentative of finncrs. There v/as nothing in him, that 
 judice and law ihould exafl: on him for ; he owed no 
 debt of his own contrarring ; yet law and judice dea't 
 feverely with him. The Lamb of God was ^vithoiu 
 fpot ; yet his life mud go, and his blood be (bed for 
 fm.' There had been lio judice in the Lord's bruidng 
 of his bsioved and fpctleis Son, if he h?.d not been 
 •anfwerable at the higlied bar for the fins of others, 
 for which he was ftricken, Ifa. hii. 8. In that chap- 
 ter, (in which it is fomething (Irange that a Jew^ can- 
 not fee Jefus ; but far more, that any that bear the 
 name of Chridians, (liould make the eunuch's quef- 
 tion, /i<5^s viil. 34. I proy thee^ of ivhcm fpeaketh the 
 prophet this f of himfclf^ cr of fome other manf and 
 will not take Philip's anfwer, ver. 35. who from f /^a^ 
 fcripture preached unto him Jefus)^ in that of Ifa. liii. 
 we have the prophet preaching Chrid hkc a^ apoftle, 
 concerning his work, his death, the caufe and fruirs 
 of ir, with New^ Tedament brighmefs and slory ; and 
 this feveral hundreds of years before Chrid came into 
 the v;orId. 1 Ibiall touch at a lew things in it ihatbe-- 
 ]ong to my prefer t purpofe. In ver. 4. Su: cly he hath 
 home cur grufs^ and carried our for rows. Every man 
 is not charged with tlie forrows of others, e^ccept in 
 com.mon fyrapathy, which all owe towards others in 
 didrefs. Chrid not only had this, but a near and clofe 
 feeling of, and prelTure by them, that was proper to 
 him only ; yea, he bore the forrows of many, whofe 
 forrows were over before he came« and of far more, 
 whofe forrows were not begun, 'cng after be came to 
 bear them. Yet he did bear them to fave them ; foT 
 that grief and forrow that men have, which Cbriit 
 did not bear,, wiii be everlading forrow. But what 
 had Chrid to do with their foriow? In verfe 5. lie 
 *ivas ivcunded for cur tranf^rejfons^ he was hruijed for 
 cur iniquities. His wounds and bruifes were very hea- 
 vy, but not without a caufe ; only the caufe is dran^e: 
 they were for tr anfgr ejfions ^ for iniquities ; but the'e 
 Were none of his, bu: ours. The wounds, were his ; 
 
 K k 2 but 
 
254 Sermons concerning Serm. XII I. 
 
 bur the fill was our?, that deferved the blows. And 
 thus our peace, our healing cometb. Bat whst had 
 Ci lift to ^.0 with our iniquities ^ verfe 6. The Lord 
 hath laid o? h'im the iniquity of us alL A;id he took 
 the burden on hiin.. and was only able to bear ir, and 
 did bear it jway The Lord haih refolved, that fin 
 aud forrow (hall go together. So was it with the Sa- 
 vioc^r; if fm be laid on him, forrow ihall follow it. 
 So is it wich finners; their fin will bring dreadful for- 
 row, except Chrift take away both. Sirs, you have 
 formerly known, or do at prefent, or (Iiall hereafter 
 kno»v, what a heavy burden fin is ; how infupporta- 
 ble it is ; and how fureiy that foul mud fink into hell, 
 that hath this burden lying on himfelf. And indeed, 
 until the burden of fm be felt to be too heavy for 
 thein, and a barden that all the world cannot bear 
 for ihein, men will think lightly of Chriil's undertak- 
 ing, and will never employ him, but in a compliment. 
 Koow this, and accordingly chufe your courfe : It is 
 refolved in heaven, and declared in the gofpel on earth, 
 that every finner's iniquity fhall either be borne by the 
 fjoner him ft If, to his eternal damnation, or by the 
 furety, Jefus ChrKl, to the believer's eternal falvation. 
 But wel! did the prophet preface to this doctrine, ver. 
 I. Who halh believed cur report f and to whom is the 
 arm of the Led revealed f This gofpel-do<51rine will ne- 
 ver be welcome to an unbeliever; and none are made 
 believcis, hut by the revealing of the arm, and put- 
 ting forth of the power of the Lord upon their hearts. 
 Till then, finners will mock God, both in their con- 
 tracting the debt of fm, and in their devices of pay- 
 ir,^ of that debt ; and both are very finful work. God 
 h.-iih fixed his way of fatisfying hisjultice, and will 
 nrc alter. Men mufi: either betake themfelves to 
 Jefas Chrid by faith, or lay their account with hell. 
 That fmner is blind, and ignorant of God's judice, 
 and of the drictnefs of his law, that thinks that fin a- 
 gaind God can be expiated by aby thing, but the 
 
 blood 
 
Serm. XIIT. the Lord's Prayer. 255 
 
 blood of him that is God. And lie that dare noc 
 truft to the fuflFerings and virtue of Chrift's atonement 
 made for fin, know;; not God's niercy, nor the truth 
 as it is in Jefus, Eph. h. 21. Let all fmners there- 
 fore take heed, what courfe they take in the matter 
 of the burden of fin. Take heed, that you mock not 
 God in fludying to pay it in falfe coin. All your own, 
 all creature coin, is but reprobate metal in heaven's 
 court and kingdom. It may pafs on earth, and in a 
 deluded confcience : but how Hide doth that fignify ? 
 and how fhort while will that little lad: ? It is but hay 
 and ftubble, which Chrill: hath many fires to burn it 
 up with. But for Chriftians, I advife you, in read- 
 ingthe prophets andapoflles concerning Chrift and his 
 fufFerings to make ufe of this as a key to open up all, 
 as a light that enlightens all. That all the fufFerings 
 of Chrift were laid on him, and endured by him, and 
 prefented unto God, as he did reprefent his guilty 
 people ; otherwife juflice could not exa6t on him, 
 nor his people be faved by them. See how Chrid 
 exprelTeth this in the celebration and inftitution of his 
 lafl fupper. He taketh^ blejfeth^ hreaketh, and giv^ 
 eth breads and calls it, my body given for yen. Like^ 
 wife aljo the cup after fupper^ faying^ This cup is the 
 new tejl anient in my bloody which is fhed for ycu^ Luke 
 xxii. 19, 20. I do not mind the Antichriiiian fyna- 
 gcgue, (for a church it is not, but in an ufurped 
 name, or in a vain notion), who have abufed and 
 perverted thefe plain and eafy words, more than de- 
 vils or men did ever pervert any words of God or 
 man before ; and have, upon that abufs of them, fei 
 up the groffeft idol that ever a Heathen worQiipped ; 
 for fuch as worihip fun, and moon, and the hofl of 
 heaven, have God's glorious workm^nfliip before 
 their eyes ; yea, the Egyptians garden and herb gods 
 are preferable greatly to a bit of pafte, knead and 
 baked by a baker in his oven, conjured into a pitifuJ 
 godhead by the mumbling of a prieil, and firfl wor~ 
 pipped, and then fwailowed down as other food, by 
 
 the 
 
sjt? Sfrmons concerning Serm. XIIT. 
 
 ihe befottcd people. Nothlog ^efs than the dread- 
 foi wraih of God can be in mens believing this lye, 
 tli^t the man's reaTon and all his fenfes militate againfl, 
 2 Tr«fir. ii, lO, ir, 12. But many that are not in- 
 fected with this ftrcng delufion, underfland no more 
 by Cnriil's wordt; in this facred ordinance, than that 
 the bread and wine, fo nfed as Chrift appointed, do 
 fi^rnify the fulTeriogs unto death of our Lord Jefhs 
 Chrift, cruelly handled by v/i.cked men, and fevercly 
 dealt with by the jallice of God ; bat the caufe and 
 end of his death, they mind not. This Chrift purn 
 us in mind of, in thefe words : ^' For yoa, and for 
 ** your fins, and for the remiffioo of them ; you, and 
 ** your finp, are the oaufe of my death ; and my death 
 '* is the caufe of your forgiven v':fs." Chriftians, if 
 you keep out that word, for you ; if your faith do not 
 echo to Chrift's/^r jcw, with your for me^ I alTure 
 you, that the bread and wine on the Lord's table, and 
 the fame creatures on your own table, will be of e- 
 x]ja] fignification, as to foul-nourifliment ; and that is, 
 none at all. 
 
 ■^d'y^ \Ye find, that when Chrift had thus been 
 dealt with, as reprefenting his people, there was a 
 high acceptance of his facrifice. The Father that put 
 bim to all thi<, was mightily pleafed with him, and 
 with his death. Here behold the depth and myftery 
 of God's faving men by Jefiis Chrift. God's juflice 
 againft fin fqueczed out Chrift's life, and by that fqiiee- 
 2cd out eternal falvat'on for them he died for. Here 
 is wifdom, and here is love, i John iv. 8, 9, 10. 
 
 ^tblyy Hence it is, that all believers on Chrift are 
 graciouily accepted wich the Father. ^Vhenever this 
 blood filed for them, is lorinkled on ihcm ; when- 
 ever the virtue of this blood is applied to them by his 
 Spirit, and applied unto by their faith, they are re- 
 ])refcnted to God in it and with it, and are therefore 
 acce[)ted. 
 
 Secondly, Let us, in the next place, look into this 
 chapter, John xvii. and learn fcmediing of Chrift's 
 
 rep re- 
 
Seirm.XIIL the LorcVs Prayer. 257 
 
 reprefemiDg Lis church and people unto God. It 
 is as fit a portica of the word, as any for that end ; 
 and in it I v;ou!d look to two things : i. What is ia 
 it about Chriii, the reprefenier. 2. What of his 
 people, v/hom he reprefents ia this foletna addrefs 
 £0 his Father. 
 
 1. About Chrift, the repre tenter, v/e iuid thefe 
 things. 
 
 ijl^ Onr Lord notes the time in v/hich he was 10 
 do his great work he came into the v/orld for : Fa- 
 ihsr^ the hour is tome. ; it is at hand : -' the hour oF 
 *• my dying for my iheep.'* John xii. 27. ISow is 
 my foul troubled ; and what /halt I fay f Father^ fa-vs 
 7:10 from this hour : but for this caiife caniJ 1 unto this 
 hour. As if our Lord had faid, '^ i ihould lofe my 
 " main end 1 came into the world lor, if it was not 
 *^ for this hour.'' This was that fpecial hoar, ia 
 which Chrift was to make the grand reprefentatioa 
 liuro God, of all h.is people for their redemption, and 
 of all their fins for their expiation. This was ChriiVs 
 dying-hour, and the church's redemption-hour. 
 
 idly^ Our Lord prays for the united and mutually- 
 inilueLcing glory of the Father and of the Son : ver. 
 I . Glorify thy Son, that thy Sonafo may glorify thee ; as 
 he prayed, John xii. 28. Father, glorify thy rMrne ;= 
 and was aafwered, I have both glorified it ^ and wilt 
 glorify it again ; and as he foretold it, John xiii. 3 i, 
 32. F^ow is the Son of man glorified^ ar.d Gsd is glo- 
 rified in him. If God be glorified in him, Godjhali a-l* 
 fo glorify him in himfelf^ andfhall flraightway glorify 
 him. What is this glorifying he prays for ? it is o'i 
 large extent. " Glorify thy Son, ia malting blai a 
 '-'- facrifice ; glorify him, in accepting the facritice ; 
 *' glorify him, in Haying him; glorify him, in raiilag 
 " him from the dead \ glorify him, ia exalting him^ 
 " and making him head over all things to the church,. 
 " hi> body, hi:^ fulnefs,'* Eph. i, 'lo.—ij. : and all 
 this, t hut thy Son alfo may glorify thee ; *'^ may glorify 
 «^ thy JLiilice and thy Iav?> in fatisfying both by my 
 
 *« blood ; 
 
2 5^ Sermons concerning Serm. Xlll. 
 
 *' blood ; may glorify thy grace and mercy to thy 
 ** cbofen, by redeeming ihem aato God by my blood ; 
 " and may glorify thy wifdom, in contriving this v;ay 
 ** of redemption, which is to be accomplKhed by my 
 " death, the hour of which is come." 
 
 3<y/)/, This that our Lord defires of his Faiher, was 
 according to the everlafling covenant: ver. 2. As 
 thou hajl given him fozuer over allflejh^ that he Jhould 
 give eternal life to as many as thou haft given him. 
 *' Thou hail given him univerfai power and domini- 
 ** on, but a particular charge of the eiefl ; to them 
 " he is to give eternal life, in and by this redempti- 
 " on-hour now come." 
 
 ^*hl)\ See how our Lord nameth this eternal life 
 which he was to give, and they that were given un- 
 to him were to receive : ver. 3. And this is life eter- 
 nal^ that they might know thee the only true God, and 
 Jefus ChriJ} whm thou haft fent, A moil: fpiritual 
 defcription of eternal life given by the author of it. 
 Ic is begun in the faving knowledge of the Father 
 and of the Son, and in the begun fruits of that know- 
 ledge. Eierual life is perfeft in the perfect knowledge 
 cf the Father and Son, and in its perfefl fruiis : as 
 in Eph. iv. 13. i John v. 20. and John xiv. 20. 
 
 Sthly^ Our Lord, in ver. 4. giveth a faithful ac- 
 count of his difcharge of the work his Father had giv- 
 en him to do : 1 have glorified thee on the earth ; I 
 have finifhed the luork thou gave ft me to do : all but 
 dying : which he was now as ready and willing to do, 
 as any thing he had done before. 
 
 6thly^ and ladly, Chrift prays again (what he had 
 prayed for in ver. i.) in ver. 5. And now, Father, 
 glorify thou 7ne with thine o-wnjelf and 7i>ith the glory 
 which I had with thee before the world was. 
 
 2. Let us fee what Chrid faith here of his people, 
 whom in this prayer he reprefents to his Father. Ic 
 is to be undoubted by all Chriftians, that this prayer 
 of Chrift doth as really concern all believers io all 
 ages, as u did tli.e apoltles themfelves. And this 
 
 Chrift 
 
Serm. XIII, the Lord^s Prayer* 259 
 
 Chrifl: tells us in ver. 20. Neither fray I for thefe 
 alone y but for thent alfo which Jhall believe on me thro* 
 their word. It is the prayer of our great High Piiell ; 
 and all his Ifrael were on his heart in making of it, and 
 reap the blelliRg of it. 
 
 In it, as concerning them, we find, 
 
 ly?, Our Lord names them rightly, ver. 6. They 
 are the men which thou gavejl me out of the world : 
 thine they werCy and thou gavefl them vi\; for they 
 are th'ine^ And all are thine^ and thine are mine ; and 
 1 am glorified i'n thern^ ver. 9, 10, Well doth the 
 good iliepherd know, and count, and tell his flock ; 
 and he feeth his Father's mark of eleflion upon them, 
 and his own mark of redeeming blood on them ; and 
 therefore he cares for them, and prayeth for theifl, 
 and giveth them eternal life, John x? 28, 29. 
 
 idly^ Chrift tells all the good he can of tbem, 
 and covers their failings : ^ey have kept thy wordy 
 ver. 6. Now have they known^ that all things what- 
 foever thou haft <^iven me^ ate of thee, ver. 7. Fcr I 
 have given unto them the words which thou gaveft me ; 
 and they have received thcm^ and have known jurely 
 that I came out from theCy and they have believed that 
 thou did ft fend me^ ver. 8. How poorly had they re- 
 ceived Chrifl's word? how weak and ftsggering was 
 their faith ? and hoW) oft had Chrift reproved them 
 iharply, for their unbelief, and other faults I Yet 
 not a word of thofe in Chriil's reprefenting them to 
 his Father. They had fpoke one good word in Joha 
 xvi. 30. ]Slo%v are %vefure that thou knoweft all things ^ 
 cndneedeft not that any mayi ftocul'd ask thee : by this 
 we believe that thou ca?ne ft forth from God, This Chriit 
 remembered and tells it to his Father, in ver. 8. ; but 
 not a word of what he faid to ihem, John xvi. 31, 32. 
 Do ye now believe ? Be hold y the hour comet hy yeay is 
 now comcy that ye Jhall be fcattered every man to his 
 owny and fhall leave me alone. This is th,e conftant gra- 
 cious way of our High Prieft ; He m.akes no mentica 
 of his Ifrael's faults in heaven, but for their expiati- 
 
 VoJL. II. LI en. 
 
2^0 Sermons concerning Serm. XlIT; 
 
 on, I John ii. i, 2. ; whatever reproof and corre(^ion 
 he fends to humbie his people, and to amend them, 
 Rev. iii. 1 9. 
 
 g^/jK, Chrift doth here reprefenr his people to 
 God, his Father, with their necefliies and danger?, 
 and prays for help and fupply : They are in the worlds 
 ver. ri. The world hat eth them, ver. 14. There is 
 evil in the world, that they are endangered by, ver. 
 15.; aud therefore prays for their prefervacion, ver. 
 II. 15. a. ' fan^lification, ver. 17. To be kept from 
 evil, and to increafe in true holinefs, are the main 
 bleflings believers need till they come to heaven. So 
 Paiil''& fairh a^led, 2 Tim, iv. 18. For the Ijord /hall 
 deliver me from every evil wcrky and will prefer ve me 
 unto his heavenly kingdom. So he prays for others, 
 I Their, iii. i^-^To the end he may flahlifh your hearts 
 uMameahle in holinefs before God even our Father^ at 
 the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrifl^ with all his faints, 
 
 ^thly, Chrifl doth here declare to his Father, that 
 his undertaking and fafferings were for his people's 
 fake : ver. [9. And for their fakes do I fandify my ft If, 
 Chrift needed no fuch fandification as his people do, 
 and as he giveth unto them, by the virtue of th death, 
 by his Spirit. His fan(ftifying of himfelf, is his f.-pa- 
 . rating and devoimg himfelf to death, as a facriHce for 
 his people. And in this fenfe a very learned foreign 
 divine underftands that dark word in Heb. :<. 29. And 
 hath counted the blood of the covenant -wherewith he was 
 fan^tifiedy an unholy things or common thing : whereas 
 commonly it is taken, as if the apoflate had been ever 
 in fome fenfe fanfhfied by the blood of the covenant. 
 This learned expofuor doth natively enough from the 
 Greek text take this he that was fan£lified by the 
 blood of the covenant, to be but another name of 
 the Son of (iod, who is trodden under foot by fuch 
 defperate apoftaies. So that the fenfe is plain and 
 cafy, and a great aggravation of their apoftafy, that 
 they not only defpife the Son of God, but alfo his fa- 
 crcd blood by which himfelf was fanclified, and the 
 
 cove- 
 
Serm. Xni. the Lord's Prayer. e6t 
 
 covenant cbofirofied uoro his people, and made to be 
 his teflaiiient and lafl will. To this fame purpofe is 
 that other word of the fcime apoftie, lieb. xiii. 20^- 
 The God of peace brought again from the dead our Lord 
 JefuSj that great Shepherd of the fheepy through the 
 bicod of the ever lajiing covenant. So that the apoft.'e 
 in Heb. x. 29. deicribes this dreadful apoftafy in three 
 things ; open contempt of tiX^^ perfoii of the Son- of 
 God; contempt of his facred fedeemiog blood, the 
 only price of redemptioo ; and defpite to the Spirit 
 of grace, that works by the gofpcl on mens hearts. 
 Such mufc fall into the hands of the living God, who 
 lives to revenge fuch bold aiFronts done to the mod 
 gracious ^nd only faving appearances of God unto 
 men ; that is, in his Son, and his blood, and in his 
 Spirit, by the gofpel. Ail is openly and deliberately 
 contemned and dcfpited by fuch wretches ; and they 
 muft perilh. And ibough it be hard to make an ap- 
 plication of thefe fad brands of ruin to any miin in 
 panicular, or fort and body of men ; yti this I may 
 venture to fay, that open blafphemers of the Son of 
 God, (as all are that count hiin a mere man) ; all that 
 count the blood of the covenant a common thing, (a3 
 they muft do that count it but the 'blood of a mere 
 man) ; and all that do defpite unto che Spirit of grace ; 
 fuch, 1 fay, if they have been once enlightened, as 
 Heb. vi. 4. and have had the Spirit o.f grace flrWing 
 with them, and if this contempt of fuch facred things 
 of God be in malice, have far more reafon (though 
 I know that fuch have no inclination) to fear their 
 intereft in this dreadful fcripture, and in fuch like, 
 than any of the poor fouls, who, upon their failing 
 from their fird love, and firft works, or on their fal- 
 ing into fome grofs confcience-wafting fin, have ap- 
 plied this awful fentence unjuftly to themfelves. Bat 
 all fuch are far from it, to whom the Son of God, 2. A 
 Lis redeeming blood, and his Spirit of grace, are fa- 
 cred and adorable, though they have no comfortable 
 view of their intercR therein at prefent : for though 
 
 L 1 2 ibe 
 
2^2 Sermons concernmg Serm. XllT. 
 
 the cafe of fuch be fad, yet there is a door of hope 
 for them, in renewing repentance and faith. 
 
 Bur, to return again unto the exhortation given to 
 believer?, to confider this glory of Chriift in reprefent- 
 ing his church unto God, 1 would oiTer a few things 
 to engage them '--r the ftudying of it. 
 
 1. Confider the neccfTuy of this reprefentation made 
 by Chrifl, in order to the acceptance of fmners with 
 Go3. Chrilt faw this necelTity when he undertook 
 the office. No facrifice but that of himfelf was re- 
 quired ; no high priefl but himfelf was called, or able 
 10 offer what was effe^lual to fatisfy the jnllice of 
 God and to fave fmners, Heb. x. 55---IO. A fmner 
 niufl fee the neceiTity of this reprefentation, which 
 Chriil only Ciin make unto God ; or he will never re- 
 Eource ail vain (Iiifts of his own, and betake himfelf 
 only unto this. And a believer mud: fee the necelTi^y 
 cf this reprefentation made by Chrifl, that he may 
 admire it m.ore, and trufl to it only. 
 
 2. Confider the glorious excellency of this repre- 
 fentation that Chrill makes of his church ur.to God. 
 Gloriocs in itfelf, glorious in its fruits and ends. It 
 is the miniflration cF righteoufnefs, that exceeds in 
 glory : 2 Cor. iii. lo, it. Tor even that which was 
 made glorious^ had no glory in this refpe^, by reajon vf 
 the glory that excelleth. And all this glory is in the face 
 of Jefus Cbrid, who of God is made unto us wifdom^ 
 and right eoujnefs^ and fantiif.cat'ou^ aid redemption ; 
 and that for tw^o ends : That no fl[fh fioidd glory in his 
 f/ejence ; and that he that glorieth, might glory in the 
 Lord^ I Cor i. 29, 30, 31. !f a man could have any 
 fining wifdom but in and from Chrift to know God 
 and the way to heaven, he would glory in that ; if he 
 had any juftifying rig'r teoufnefs to ftaod accepted be- 
 fore God in hilt Chrifl'?, he would glory in that ; if 
 he bad any fanvflifirarion but what is derived from 
 Ch'-ifl a.^ its rout and fountain, he would glory in 
 thai , '^ rhere was; any redemption but what Chrifi: the 
 only Ueuccmer brings in, he would glory ia that : yea 
 
 fo 
 
SiERM. XIIL the Lord^s Frayer, 26 ^ 
 
 fo proud, and fo inclined is fie(h to glory in God's 
 prefence, that fmners do vainly hunt after, and as 
 vainly imagine they have attained fome matter oF glo- 
 rying before God. But, fliith the apoflle, " Chriil: 
 " is fo made of God unto us, as to cut ofi ail preten- 
 " fions to any glorying, but in the Lord." So that a 
 Chriftian, when he finds he is made wife to falvation, 
 muft fay, " This is from Chrift ;'* when he feeth any 
 juftifying righteoufoef^ upon him, wherein he (lands 
 fafe and accepted before God, he muft fay, " This is 
 " none of mine, but Chrift's righteoufnefs :" when 
 he finds any famflification in him, in his heart, and 
 way, and worfliip, he muO: fay, " This is but a few 
 " droppings from the fountain Chrid ; a little of the 
 " ointment that was poured in all fuinefs on my High 
 " Prielt Jefus :" when he gets any piece of redemp- 
 tion, or a£ls his faith and hope on corapleat redemp- 
 tion, all his acknowledgments, and all his expecta- 
 tions are, and muO: fingiy center in Chrid the Re- 
 deemer. Yea, the Spirit of God exprelTeth this thing 
 mod flrongly. He faith not, that Chrlil is made unto 
 us the prophet and teacher, and giver of wifdom ; 
 nor thejuftifier, and bringer in of righteoufnefs ; nor 
 the fan£lifier, nor the redeemer ; all which are true 
 of Chrift, and of God's making him to be, and ofc 
 fpoken of him in the word : but he is made unto us 
 the things themfelves, wifdom^ righteoufnefs^ fandtfi- 
 cat'ion^ redemptmi. All of ihefe are in Chrift, and no- 
 thing of aJiiy of thefe is out of him. Wifdom out of 
 Chrift, is damning folly ; righteoufnefs out of Chrift, 
 is guilt and condemnation ; fanflification out of Chrift, 
 is filth and fin ; redemption out of Chriil, is bondage 
 and flavery. 
 
 3. 1 would recommend the confidering of Chrlft^s 
 glory in reprefenting his church unto God, from the 
 profit and advantage believers do receive by this exer^ 
 cife. I believe mod of you would anfwer this quef- 
 tion. What is the bed exerclfe, and thought of the. 
 heart i* Surely it is that chut bath mod grace in it. 
 
 New 
 
2^4 Sermons Cdncerning Srrm. XIIl. 
 
 Now, what are ihc befl: graces of the Spirit? Are 
 ihey not repentance, faith, and love ? And all thofe, 
 io ihcir lively s£ts and exercifes, do natively fluw from 
 the right ftudyiog of Chrift*s reprefeoting of us to 
 God for acceptance. 
 
 \/ly Repentance. What do you take it to be ? 
 There is too little of it with tnany profelTors, and that 
 becanfe it is not v;ell known in its true nature. Many 
 tike repentance to be that thstt is little better than 
 what the devils have. We read of their faith and 
 iremhiing, James ii. 19.; and this is a greater length 
 than many are got, who are angry if they be not cal- 
 led good Chridians. Repentance is not a bare fit of 
 forrow and (liame for fm committed, nor fear of God's 
 wrath for fin. This may be in ungodly men. Few 
 malefa^ors go to the gallows without fomewhat of this. 
 Cain, Pharaoh, Saul, Judas, had this. Bat true re- 
 pentance unto life, though it may begin with a difco- 
 very of forae particular fin or fins that God fets in or- 
 der before a man's eyes, Pial. 1. 21 ; yet it is not 
 godly forrow that worketh repentance tofalvation^ not 
 to be n-iyntcd (jfy 2 Cor. 7. 10. till the finner look u- 
 pon himfelf as k.throrae and abominable in the fight 
 of God, that it becometh one of the greateft riddles 
 and myfteries unto him, how fuch a God and fiich a 
 fianer ihould ever be made friencis ; how God can 
 'look upon him without abhorrence ; and how fuch a 
 fmnercan (land before thi. holy God with favour and 
 acceptance P And when the glory of Chrift as the 
 peace-maker is difccvered to, and feen by him in this 
 cafe, and when he is drawn to trufl to it, this faiih is 
 acted in the fight and fenfe of his own vilenefs in him- 
 felf. They are unhappy peopi", and unlkiifu! teach- 
 er,?, who take up repentance towards God^ and faith 
 toivards our Lord Jejus Chrifl, Afts xx. 2 i. and think 
 of them, and (tudy to acft them, as if they did interfere 
 with one another ; as if repentance were the fruit of 
 the law, and the faiih and fruit of the gofpel \ as if 
 
 they 
 
Serm. XIII. the LorcTs Prayer, 26s 
 
 they could be a^led feparately and apart. All grofs 
 juiflakes. There is no faving grace in our heartj hot 
 is Chrift's work by his Spirit blefiing the gofpeL 
 Hepentance without faith, is the devil's repentance : 
 and faith without repencaace, is the hypocrite's 
 faith. If they be true, they go together ; if rlghfiy 
 afted, they a^i together. And as this fenfe of Qa and 
 felf-vilenefs is infeparable from firft believing, fo it 
 contlnucth in all the life of faith in all true growing 
 believers. David dieth with the a^tiag of repeaasce 
 and faith, 2 Sana, xxiii. 5. 
 
 2ci/y, Faith in Jefus ChriH:. Bring true faith unto 
 a narrow point, to that acl in which its nature doth 
 properly (land. For faith is a large comprehenfive 
 grace, much fpoke of in the word, more talked or diaa 
 a£led by many ; and leaft known, and moil miftakea 
 by them that have it not. This faith I fpeak of, is 
 not a bare believing, or giving an affent unto divine 
 truth, upon the evidence of a divine ceftimony ; nor 
 is it believing and expecting of good from God, upoa 
 the ground of his faithful promife ; though thefe are 
 ads of true faith. But faith in Jefus Chrift, in its 
 clofeft, nearefl: nature, a£ls thus. The felf-conde ra- 
 iled fmner, iothforae in his own fight, and perfuaded 
 that as he is in himfelf, he is far more lothfonie in 
 God's fight, doth, on the gofpel call and promife, 
 try and truil: Jefus Chrift for making him accepted 
 with God. This >s proper believing, GaL ii. 16. 
 And according as the meafure and degree is of our 
 knowledge of fin in us, and of the law's condemQlng 
 of us for fm ; and as the meafure is of the light of the 
 knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jefus 
 Chrift ; fo is the meafure of that faith that feerh our 
 Deed of, and taketh up the glory and fafety in ChrtiVs 
 reprefenting us to God for acceptance, and that trufts 
 to it. 
 
 g^/y, The heavenly and evcriafting grace of lo^'c^ 
 thai is planted in the heart of a believer, and is nou- 
 riihedby the grace of the new CQveaant ; that grov^'eth 
 
 m 
 
iC)6 Sermons concerning Serm. XIII^ 
 
 ID true Chriftlans as the new creature doth, aud is 
 the only grace that the glorified a61 in heaven. O- 
 ther graces of the Spirit are the Chriftian's armour, 
 that is laid afide when they get the perfect vidlory. 
 Now, what raifeth love to Jefus Chrift to the hotteft 
 flame ? Is it not when Chrifl's lovelinefs in himfelF, 
 and when his love to us, is bed feen by us ? And are 
 not both moit confpicuous in this matter of his graci- 
 ous reprefenting us to God, covering us with his own 
 righteoufnefs wrought out for us by his precious blood 
 (hed, counted to us freely by his grace, aud intitling. 
 us to the love of God, and to ail the great fruits of 
 that love ? 
 
 It follows to fpeak of the fecond exhortation to 
 believers ; but that i fliall leave to the next occafion. 
 Only, to prefs the firll, the duty of ftudying in your 
 hearts Chrifl's glory in reprefenting his church unto 
 God, I would add four things. 
 
 1. By this reprefentation that Chrift makes of yoa 
 that are believers unto God^^ you that were efiemies are 
 reconciled unto Gcdy Col. i. 20, 21. You are beloved 
 of God. Not only there is no condemnation to yoii 
 that arc in Chrifi, Rom. viii. i. ; not only are your 
 £ns blotted out, and your natural deformity covered 
 from the eye and hand of law and juftice, by the co- 
 vering of Chrifl's righteoufnefs ; but you are fo a- 
 dorned with that garment, that the Father loves you ; 
 as Chrifi: tells believers, John xvi. 27. For the Fa- 
 ther himfelf kveth youy becaufe ye have loved ir^e^ and 
 have believed that 1 came out from God. You are not 
 only faved from wrath, and the curfe of the law; but 
 polTefled of God's love, and have a fure right and 
 title to glory, by this grace of Jefus Chrift that is 
 come unto you. 
 
 2. By this reprefentation of you unto God, you are 
 made as acceoted of God as ever anv believer was. 
 This many do not rightly underftand ; and therefore 
 are ready to reproach it. There are degrees of grace 
 
 on 
 
Serm. XIII. the Lord's Frayer. ^67 
 
 on earth, and there may be degrees of glory in bei- 
 v'en ; but neither here nor there are there any de- 
 grees oF acceptance. Accepted, or not accepted, dl-» 
 vides and diftinguiflieth ail mankind in both worlds. 
 Acceptance with God relates to a man's (late before 
 God, and not to his frame. We fay nor, that every 
 or any believer is fo good a believer, or fo great a 
 faint, as Paul ; but yet every true believer, as to the 
 ftate of his perfon, is as accepted as Paul was as to 
 his perfonal (late. The reafon .is this : The accep- 
 tance of all believers with God, is only on account of 
 this reprefeiiiation made by Chrill for them unto God. 
 And this is made by Chrift for all equally : all the 
 tribes of Ifrael are equally on the heart and breail- 
 plate of our great High Prieft Jefus Chri(l, And thus 
 we find in that triumph of faith, Rom. viii. 3^— 39- 
 all God's ele^l: are included ; and the grounds of that 
 triumph lie equally fair for any believer : Chrijl is 
 given, and bath diedy ajid rifen again, fit teth at the 
 right hand of God, and maketh intercejjton for them. 
 Every believer may fay fo as well as Paul, though 
 we cannot fay fo with as (Irong a faith as Paul had- 
 The ground is the (ame, and common to all believers ; 
 but they do not equally build upon this foundation. 
 If our (late of acceptance did (land on any thing be- 
 lievers themfelves have, or do, and not fingly on 
 what Chrift hath done, and daily doth for them ; 
 then indeed all believers, who differ fo much from 
 others in their inherent grace, and in the improve- 
 ment, exercife, and fruits thereof, could not be alike 
 accepted. 
 
 3. You that are believers, you are, even now, as 
 much accepted of God as ever you (liall be. 1 fay 
 Dot, that you enjoy God as much ; that yon are as 
 near, and as like to him, as ever you (hall be ; but 
 that you are as much accepted as ever you (liall be. 
 Believers are not called to glory^ nor brought unto it, 
 for acceptance, That is paiTed, and fixed for eternity. 
 
 Vol. II. M m as 
 
2 68 Sernfons concerninj^ S e & M. Xlll. 
 
 as ro all in Chrift by faith, before they come there. 
 Only their acceptance Id that day is more glorioufly 
 declared and proclaimed than it was on earth, Match. 
 XXV. ^4. Acd the fruits of that acceptance will be 
 bellowed by the Lord, and c joyed by the gloriFicd 
 in heaven, vaflly beyond what believers can kno^v, 
 receive, or enjoy on earth. A (late of acceptance in 
 Chrift Jefus, is the common privilege of ail believers. 
 He is all in all to all of them without difference, Col. 
 iii. II, And as it admits of no difference in them 
 that are in him, and reprefented by him for it ; io 
 it admits of no gradations nor increafe in any one be- 
 liever, fave as to the evidence, comfort, and fruits 
 of an accepted (late. And after building by faith 
 on Chrid the foundation, all the remaining work of 
 a Ciiniti:in ft:^mds in feeking after thofe blefTmgs that 
 flo^* from our ftate of acceptance with God by Jefus 
 Ciiiilh 
 
 4. I will adventure to add, in the laft place, that 
 which to forae feems a ha d faying ; but it is not fo 
 hard in itfclf, whea rightly underftood, as fome would 
 make, or miCtakc it. And it is this. That a believer 
 on Chrift, and reprefented by Chrift unto God's ac- 
 ceptance, v^ as accepted of God as Chrift the repre- 
 fentfr is. The fame acceptance that Chrift the Me- 
 diator haih with God, the fame acceptance is given to 
 ah believers. See John xvii. 23. That the world may 
 know that thou hafl kved them^ as thou bafl loved vie, 
 Verfe 26. / have declared unto them thy name^ and 
 will declare it : that the love ivherevjith thou haft loved 
 me, may be in theniy and I in them. If we confider 
 Curift and his people afander and apart, then there 
 is as great a difFereoce betwixt Chrift in himfelf, and 
 his pcopl**. in themfelves, as is betwixt light and dark- 
 ru fs, righteoufnefs and unrigbteoufnefs, Chrift and 
 Belial. But if we confider Chrift the head, and his 
 church his body, as one, and infeparably united ia 
 tlii* rayftical reprefentaiion before God j then the di- 
 
 viae 
 
Serm. XIU. the Lord's Prayer^ 26^ 
 
 Tine acceptaace on this reprefentation is one and the 
 fame toii^ards the reprefenter and the reprefented ; 
 as Aaron the high-prieft^s was within the vail in 
 the holy of holies, and ail Ifraei's without the vail, 
 on the day of atonement. The high-prieft v/as ac- 
 cepted as reprefenting all Ifrael, and all Ifrael ac- 
 cepted as reprefented by him. Indeed the difference 
 was very great betwixt the Old Teftament type and 
 fliadow, and the New Tellament {ubflaoce. But all 
 that difference is only to the greater glory of our 
 great High Priefl^ the Son of God, who is puffed into 
 the heavens^ Heb iv. 14. ixo 24. and to the greater 
 advantage of his (piritual Ifrael without the vaii, Heb. 
 ix. 13, 14. The fame acceptance the Father giveth 
 to his Son, Mediator, the reprefenter of his people, 
 falls on ail ihofe for their happinefs that are repre- 
 fented by him. And it is to be feared, that fuch as 
 cannot receive this truth, have a fecret refpeft to fome 
 other way and fort of acceptance with God than that 
 that comes by Chrifl's reprefenting them to God. And 
 the danger of fuch delufions, is as great as their fouls 
 2re worth. 
 
 Mm 2 SERMON 
 
2 7© 4 Sermons concerning Serm. XIV. 
 
 SERMON XIV. 
 
 John xvii. 24. 
 
 Father^ I will that they alfo whom thou hafl given me, 
 be zvith me where I am ; that they may beheld my 
 glory which thcu haft given me : for thou lovedjl me 
 before the foundation of the world* 
 
 ^T^ W O greater, deeper, and larger themes, are 
 A net in God's word, than ihefe ; the glory of 
 Chrifl, and the beholding of this glory by his people. 
 They are fuch as cannot be fully known by any on 
 earth ; yet it is very ufeful to Chriflians to be exer- 
 cifed in the iludy of thena while ihcy are here. 
 
 On the firft of thefe, the glory o\ Chrift:, 1 have 
 fpoken at fome length, under thefe two heads, i. 
 Chrid's glory, as he reprefents God 10 his church, to 
 be favingly known by them; and, 2. His glory, as 
 he reprefents his church to God, ro be gracioufly ac- 
 cepted by him. The former 1 have finiflied, and would 
 fliipatch the latter at this time. After I had handled 
 the dc<ftrinal part, I made fome application ; and in 
 that fpoke to one exhorraticn to believers, to (ludy, 
 in the light of the gofpel, with the eye of faith, the 
 glory of Chrift in his reprefenting his people unto 
 God for his gracious and eternal acceptance. 
 
 Exhort. 2. 1 come now to the fecond exhortation 
 to r)eh'evers ; which is, That they fhould improve, by 
 the a<f^iviry of their faith, this glory of Chrift. There 
 i^ norh'ng fweeter to the eye of iaiih than this glory 
 of Chrift, and nothing more ufeful 10 a believer than 
 TO have his faith well extrcifed about it. This glory 
 of Cbrift iCi reprefenting, as our High Prieft, his 
 church UDio Goa, is a mutter of pure revelatioD. It 
 
 had 
 
Serm. XIV. the Lord*s Frayer. 271 
 
 had cever been known, unlefs it had been reveal- 
 ed. All truths ihat are of pure revelation, can 
 only be managed by faith. When a truth is difco- 
 verable by reafcn, it is aifo improvable by reafon. 
 But if the truth tranfcend reafon, and the difcovery 
 of it is made only by divine revelation, the right im- 
 provement of that truth can only be made by faith 
 grounded on that revelation, and that faith wrought 
 by the Spirit of the revealer, Maith. xvi. 17. This 
 truth about the glory of Chrift, is not only of pure 
 revelation, but it is the great viyftery of godllnefs^ i 
 Tim. iii. 16. And in ChriJ} are hid ail the treafures of 
 wifdom and knowledge^ Col. ii. 3. In the improving 
 of this truth, faith only can do any thing to purpofe ; 
 and there is much v/ork for faith in the ufmg of ir, 
 I fhail therefore on this exhortation handle thefe two 
 things. I. In what cafes fpecially believers ought to 
 ufe and improve Chrift's reprefenting them to God's 
 acceptance. 2, In what way and manner they ihould 
 improve it in all or any cafe. 
 
 Firfly In what cafes fpecially believers ought by 
 their faith to improve this glorious reprefentation of 
 them unto God. I fhall name fome particular cafes. 
 
 1. Be careful to improve this glory of Chrift, in 
 all your daily approaches to, and appearances before 
 God. Whenever you come to the court of heaven, 
 and into the prefence of the great King, forget not 
 him that only mull introduce you, and make your ad- 
 drefs acceptable: Heb. x. 19, 20, 21, 22. Haviiij 
 thereforey brethren^ holdnefs to enter into the holiefl by 
 the blood ofjefus. The apoftle is writing unto Chrif- 
 tian Hebrews, who were well acquainted with the 
 Old Teftament fan<fluary and wcrfhip ; and he f peaks 
 to them in that diale£f. They knew what the holiell 
 was in that difpenfation ; and that the high prieft a- 
 lone^ and but once a-year^ and not without bloody might 
 enter into ir, Heb. ix. 7. And this holiell: to us ia 
 the New Teftament, is heaven itfelfy Heb. ix. 24. ; 
 into v/hich our High Friejt is entered by his own bloody 
 
 Ikb, 
 
%']2 Sermons concerning Serm. XIV, 
 
 Heb. IX. 12. and made an entrance for his people : 
 For the way to the holtej} of all was not yet made ma» 
 nifefi^ while as the fir fl tabernacle was yet /landings 
 Heb. ix. 8. Chrilt by his blood made an open door 
 10 heaven, and by that door we muft always enter, 
 and climb up by no other way^ left we be as a thief and 
 a robber^ John x. i, 8. What is the blood of Jefus ? 
 It is the blood of the Son of God : the blood of hira, 
 a? a facrificc offered up by him as our High Pricft, 
 for the fiQs of his people ; the blood whereby he 
 brought in that everlafting righteoufnefs in which all 
 his people (land accepted before God. Now, faith 
 the apoftie, that privilege that only the high-prieft 
 under the law had, of entering into the typical holieft 
 of all by the blood of the typical facrifices, every be- 
 liever in Jefus Chrift hath ncv under the gofpel, and 
 hath a daily entrance into the true holieft of all by the 
 blood of the true facrifice, Jefus Chrift. And he adds 
 in ver. 20. By a new and living way (or a new ilaia 
 and living way) which he hath confecratedfor us thro^ 
 the vail, that is to fay ^ his flefh. We need not a door 
 of entrance into heaven only, but a way to walk in. 
 And that way is provided by Chrlft, and he is it ; as 
 John xiv. 6. And Chrift as flain, hath by his death 
 conlecrated it for us ; like that in John xvii. 19. For 
 their fakes fanBify I myfelf. The apoftie calls Chrift*s 
 flefli, the vaiU alludin;^ to the vail ot the fani^uary, 
 Heb. ix. 3. through which the high-prieft pafTcd into 
 the holy of holies. There was a double ufe of the 
 fjn£l:uary-vail. It kept the holieft of all from being 
 ieen by all the people, and yet made an entrance for 
 the high prieft through it unto the holieft of all. So 
 is ihe vail of Chrift's flefti ; it vails and hides his di- 
 vine glory, as Phil. ii. 6, 7. and yet it gives a palTage 
 into the glorious prclcnce of God unto believers. 
 What more is needful for a believer's acccfs and ac- 
 ceptance .'* ver. 2 I. And having an high priefl over the 
 houfs of God. We not only wanted a door, and a way, 
 but an authorifcd introducer into heaven. And Chrift 
 
 is 
 
S E R M . XIV. the LorcTs Vtay&r^ 273 
 
 is all. He is the High Prieft, who by his office is 
 the introducer, the reprefentcr, and prefeater» of his 
 people UDto God. Upon this comes the exhortation, 
 ver. 22, Let us draw near : " Let us all go to God, 
 *' and to heaven together ; you Chrillians, and I aa 
 *' apoflle. We have the encouragements common to 
 " us ; let us jointly improve them." But, alas I moil: 
 unbelievers think it an eafy thing to draw near to God^ 
 though they never think of Chrift, nor o^ ufmg him 
 in their approaches to God, (if they may not rather 
 be called departi figs from God), They neither care 
 for making them aright, nor care whether they be 
 accepted or not ; nor fear the taking God's name in 
 vain, as ail do that come not to God by Jefus ChrJftj 
 John xiv. 6. Chriftlefs Chridians, and ChriiUefs 
 woiihippers of God, (if it were proper to call Chrift- 
 lels men either Chriftians, or worChippers of God), 
 are an abomination unto God. But that that is fo 
 eafy to fuch carelefs triflers, is far otherwife unto a 
 ferioua foul. When fuch a perfon feeth any thing of 
 bis own fmfulnefs and meannefs, and any thing of the 
 hotinefs and majefty of God, it is no fmall difficulty 
 to refolve this queftion ; ** How is it poffible, that 
 «' fuch a defiled creature as I am, can make any ac- 
 *' ceptable appearance before fo glorious a God ?'* 
 The only refolution is in this : " Chrift our High Pried 
 *' reprefents me ro ne Father." He did all our bu- 
 fmefs with God as cur Mediator, and that in our na» 
 ture, and in our name and (lead ; and all that we do 
 in worftiip to God, is to be done by us in his name ; 
 and thus acceptance comes to us. Chriftians, whea 
 you pray, when you read and hear God's word, whea 
 you fit down at Chriil's table, when you perform any 
 part or piece ot worfhip to God ; if you would have 
 it acceptable to God, and profitable to you, (and 
 thefe two are infeparable ; for no accepted fervks 
 is unprofitable to us ; and if profitable to us, it was 
 firil accepted of God), let your faith be exercifed 
 on this ; " Jefus Chrilt mak^s another fort of figure 
 
 «i 
 
2 74 Sermons concerning SeRm. XIV, 
 
 ** for me in heaven, than I can make for myfelf on 
 « earth " 
 
 2. Improve by faith Chrifl's reprefenting of you to 
 God, in all your judgiugs and examining^ of your- 
 felves. Self-examination is a great duty, and a necef- 
 fary one, i Cor. xi. 28. and 2 Cor. xiii, 5, Happy 
 are they that mind it much, that manage it rightly, 
 and iiTue it well. I believe, that of all duties required 
 in the word of all men, it is that duty that feweft un- 
 believers and hypocrites are employed in. It is \try 
 doubtful, whether it be poiTible, that a hypocrite can 
 be at the pains to fpend fome portion of time in the 
 work of felf-examination. Of all companies, an un- 
 godly man likes lead the company and converfation of 
 his own confcience. Pfal. iv. 4. Communing with our 
 own hearts ; dealing fairly and freely with our own 
 confciences ; and not only allowing, but charging 
 them to reply, and do deal freely with us again, and 
 taking well with this freedom, fcems to be above the 
 reach of a hypocrite, at lead of an ordinary one. 
 But when a Chriftian is fetting about this work of 
 felf-examination, by and in the light of God's word, 
 he fhould fearch his heart, his fins, his wants, his 
 graces. But the main thing is his ftate in God's fight. 
 And the defigned end and iffue of this trial, is, to 
 have and pafs the fame judgment on himfelf that God 
 doth ; that he may not, as many do, commend him- 
 felf, when God condemns him, or condemn himfelf, 
 when God approves him. Now, we ail know, that 
 God's judgment of mens ftate is, ns they are in Chrid, 
 or not in him. So 2 Cor. xiii.. 5. Surely you mult 
 ihink they were bold and fancy profefTors, that fought 
 a proof of Chrift's fpeaking in and by Paul, as ver. 3. 
 To them he faith in elTe6i, " Inftead of your trying, 
 
 whether Chrift fpeaks by your miniftcrs, inquire if 
 • Chrift be in yourfelves cr not. If Chrift be not in 
 
 you, they have fpokea to little good purpofc to 
 *' you : and if Chrift be in you, you will quickly 
 
 " know 
 
Serm. XIV. the Lcrct's Prayer. 275 
 
 " know who they be that fpeak in Cbrifl's name 
 " nnto you, and whether Chrill Ipeaks by them to 
 " you." 
 
 3. Improve this truth of Ch rift's reprefentiog his 
 church unto God, in all the mirreprelen rations that 
 r.re, or can be made of you to God, or men, or your- 
 felves. They are falfe, if they differ from what Chrifl 
 makes of his people to God. 1 (liail name fome of 
 theiD. 
 
 ly?, The devil mifreprefents believers to God, and 
 men, and themfelves. Doth Job Jear God for ncught f 
 Job i, 9. faid the devil 10 God. " He hath been a 
 '* good fervant to thee, but thou baft been a good 
 *' mafter to him ; take from him what thou haft giveti 
 ** him, and he will ferve thee no more, but carfe h-e 
 •' to thy face." Impudent ilanderer, and a lying pro- 
 phet 1 God, to try Job, and to make the devil a lyar, 
 gives the devil a permiiTion. He readily ufeth it : and 
 Job is made a poor man in one day ; but blelTeth God 
 in taking, as well as in p:iving, ver. 21, Yet Sataa 
 gives not over; but, in chap. ii. 5. begs one trial 
 more of Job, on his body. It is alfo given, and yet 
 not fuccefsful, ver. 9, 10. though ftrengthened by his 
 wife's bad words it is a fad, but true name of the 
 devil, in Rev. xil. lo. The accufer of the brethren^ 
 which accufeth them before our God day and night. 
 They are brethren, God is their God ; but yet Sataa 
 will be the accufer of them before their God. There 
 is little or no doubt to be made, but that the devil 
 knows who are truly godly. Such a watchful and 
 cunning jailor as he is, cannot be ignorant when any 
 of his prifoners are refcued by Chrift, and make their 
 efcape, 2 Tim. ii. 26. : and though be know not the 
 hearts of men immediately and perfectly : yet having 
 fo much craft, and long experience, and intelligence, 
 in ways unknown to us, of what is in mens heart?, 
 how can we think that his works ftiould be deftroyed, 
 I John iii. 8. and Chrift's new work be begun in the 
 heart of a man, and the devil know nothing of it ? But 
 
 Vol. 1L N n as 
 
^y6 Sermons concerning Serm. XIV. 
 
 as to Chriflians adyancing in godiincfs, Satan knows 
 and hares them, and they know him and refill him. 
 Sirs, there is not a ChriRiaa amongd you fo (Irong 
 in grace and experience, but the devil can draw fucli 
 a pi»5lure of you by his hellidi art, from vvhuu he know- 
 eth of God and his law, and from what ne kaows oi 
 your heart and ways, and can fet it before your eyes, 
 fo as to confound you, if the Lord do not fcafonably 
 intcrpofc for your relief. And it is this the devil 
 drives at : that if he cannot hinder the believer's fal- 
 vation, (as it is certain he cannot ; and it is mofl pro- 
 bable he knows tli at he cannot), he may yet dillnrb 
 his peace : for this pif^ure and reprefentatioQ of a 
 poor believer is fo artfully drawn, and fo cunning'y 
 expofed, that when the man feeth ir, ht is ready to 
 think and fay with horror, " This is the pi(n:nre of a 
 " devil, rather than of a man, or of a ("hriitian." 
 Take all the evil that is in the bed, and expofe that ; 
 and hide all the good that is in him, as if it were not, 
 (and this is Satan's way), and you do then expofe a 
 hateful objei^. Now, this truth of Chriit'2 reprefent- 
 ing his people unto God, is of great comfort to a be- 
 liever ; for by faith he may fay, " My bielTed Advo- 
 *' cate in heaven gi^erh another account of me, than 
 " my malicious accufer from hell doth: and 1 will 
 ** truft fo the one,, and defpife the orher. 
 
 7dlyy The world mifreprefents believers. The 
 world hates them, becaufe Chrift is kind to them, 
 John XV. 19. We are forbid to marvel at h, 1 John 
 ill. 13. And becaufe the world haies them, therefore 
 they fay all manner of evil falfely aga'inft the godly^ 
 Matt. V. 10, II, 12. And thereupon we are bid re- 
 joice ^ and he exceeding 2^lad ; for jo they -perfecuted the 
 prophets before us^ and the apoftles, yea Chrift him- 
 fclf. How little did Paul care for the world's opinion 
 of him ? I Cor. iv. 3, *^. With me it is a very fmali 
 thing that I /hould Le judged of youy or of man^s judg- 
 ment ; he that judgeth me, is the Lord, ** I (land at 
 
 '* his 
 
Serm. XIV. the Lord's Prayer. 277 
 
 *' his bar, and depend upou his fentence, and trufl 
 *' to his approbaiion." 
 
 3<i/>', The law makes a reprefeatatioo of believers, 
 that ihey muft not receive, but fet ChriiVs reprefen- 
 tation ap^aiali it. Whoever feeth his own face in the 
 
 O 
 
 glafs of God's holy law, feeih a hateful fpoited face : 
 For by the law is the knowledge of fin ^ Kom. iii. 20. 
 N0V/5 if a believer think, that juft as he feeth him- 
 felf in this clear glafs, {0 doth he appear in the pre- 
 fence of God, that were dreadful indeed. But there 
 is another reprefentation that Chrifl: makes of them 
 unto God, that the law knows not of. The more a 
 man knows of the law, the more he knows of his own 
 Cn and danger. Kx^^ this fad condition remains, till 
 he look beyond and above the law, unto the righte- 
 oufnefs of Chrifl, who hath fatisfied and fulfilled the 
 lav/ by himfelf, and makes this over to a believer, and 
 reprcfents him to God, as clothed with it, 
 
 ^ihly^ Believers ihemfelves are often miueprefent- 
 ed by believers alfo. BlelTed be God, that his thoughts 
 of us are not a^ mens are. Such men that feek aker, 
 and value thennfelves upon good mens thoughts and 
 approbation, feek a thing of fmall worth, and what 
 is quickly loft. Many are caft at the bar of good meog 
 who ftand accepted of God: 2 Cor. x. 18. For not 
 he that commendeth hhnfelf^ is approved^ hut whom the 
 Lord comniendeth. What belter was Juda?, that the 
 eleven apollles had a better opinion of him, than of 
 ihemfelves, \vhen, hearing Chrifl^s^ warning of a trai- 
 tor araongll them, each laid, Lord^ is it If Belie- 
 vers are never the worfe, if other men, worfe or bet- 
 ter than themfelves, pafs another judgment on them 
 than God doth. 
 
 5f/-?/)/, The lad mifreprefentation that the faith of 
 Chrift's right reprefenting us to God fliouid fupport 
 us under, is that that our confciences make of us. 
 This is nearer to us thafi all the other. The devil and 
 the world are WMthout, and round about us ; the law 
 is above us; belieyers are nearer to us ; but ccnfci- 
 
 N n 2 cues 
 
278 Sermcns concerning Serm. XIV. 
 
 ence is neareil of ali. Confcience never condemns a 
 believer, but at the bar oF the law, (for which, a? 
 condemnine, Chrift hath redeemed him), and always 
 in and by the working of unbelief. And in a belie- 
 ver, his renriining unbelief a(fls this way : It looks on 
 the dife-ir, and forgets the phyfician ; it Jooks on the 
 debt., and for/^ets the furety, and his payment of it. 
 CoUi:ie!:ce faith, *« Thou owed many thoufand ta- 
 •' len.5 10 the law and juftice of God : is it not true, 
 "and can it be denied.'"' "No, muft the believer 
 ** f^y ; the debt is not to be denied by me ; nor 
 " Chriil's payment of it to be forgotten by me." The 
 law, as a court of judgment, condemns for fio ; but 
 Cbrid's new court of grace acquits the believer in 
 Chrilt. To this court every believer appeals, and at 
 it he ilands. 
 
 So much for the third ufe of this privilege of Chrifl's 
 reprefcntii'g us to God, under ail the raifreprefenta- 
 lioDs that may be made of believers. 
 
 4. Improve this privilege under all difpenfarions of 
 providence that you may n tet wiih. Are you aflL^ed 
 by the Lord's hand ? and wou'd ye have found confola- 
 tion under it ? All are fenfible of afBi6lions, and all 
 would fain have comfort under them. Sometimes the 
 Lord fends an extraordinary meafure of this comfort 
 unto his people, which is above the ufual acH-'viry of 
 their faith ; but though this be very pleafing and ufe- 
 ful, it IS nor oft of long continuance, nor is it fit it 
 fliould. But there is a reioictn^ in trihuhition^ that is 
 a duty that Chiidians ihould mak. rouiwicjce of; as 
 well a? there is 2i joy of the Lwrd that is their jlrengtb^ 
 NehcFin viii. \o.. which ihey fiiould feek and value. 
 This rejoicing is only by faitii ; and this faith that 
 produceth the joy, is a£tcd on Chriff, and on our in- 
 icreft in him. '' I am heavily aflii<fled by the Lord's 
 *^ hand, f.iith the believer : but I am a member of 
 •* ClirifL's body ; my head is concerned in ir, and 
 " will fupport me under it. }Ie keeps up the peace 
 *' betwixt a corre(fting father aod a corre^ed child; 
 
 « And 
 
Serm, XIV. the Lord's Prayer, ^279 
 
 " And as long as the peace (lands, do real hurt ca^ 
 " come to me. Are you tempted or the devii V\ as 
 indeed the moil pare of molt Chriilians lives is taken 
 up with afBiftion and temptation ; and the whole arr 
 rnour of God is provided for, and to be ufed in and 
 under them, Eph. vi. 10,— 18. It was an odd remark 
 of a minifter of great learning and grace, " I never 
 H knew an eminent faint, but he had either fingular 
 " allli^lions or lingular corruptions to wreftle with.'' 
 The apoitle tells us, 2 Cor. xli. 2. 1 knew a ?nan in 
 Chrijl, caught up into the third heavens^ doubtlefs 
 meaning himfelf. You think it is no ft range thing 
 that a man in Chiift, on^ like Pdul, {hould be fo dealt 
 with ; efpcciaily when he faith, Eph. ii. 6. that God 
 hath made us fit together m heavenly places in Chrtfl Je^ 
 Jus, But this is more llrange, that this man in Chriil, 
 this man new come down from heaven, (hould immedi- 
 ately a^ter be buffeted by Satan. If you be fo dealt 
 with, how is it to be borne ? The' devii hath many 
 things to fay againft us ; fome too true, that we can- 
 not deny ; and fome things taife, which we mayjufl- 
 ly deny, and yet do not through our weaknefs. ^mx. 
 when Satan chargerh us with fin truly, which we can- 
 not deny, I would not have believers reafon and parly 
 with him, (he is too cunning a fophiiler for us) ; but 
 only teli him fomething of Chriil, that we too often 
 forget, and that the devil can neither bear nor anfwer. 
 *' if the devil fpeak againft me as a finner in myfelf, 
 '' I fay Amen to ail that is true ; but if he fay any 
 ** thing againft Chriil the Saviour, 1 dare lay he is a 
 " lyar." if the tempted believer can but fay, ** I a at 
 " in Ghrift, and therefore i ihall prevail ; Chriil hatli 
 " overcome the devil, and therefore I will refift him-" 
 the victory is near at hand. 
 
 5. Improve this privilege of Chrift's reprefentinj.^ 
 you to God, in all the fervice and obedience you per- 
 form to God. All men owe ail fervice unto i^o^ ; a; I 
 true Chriftians are in heait devoted to his fervice ; 
 and the beit Chriftians mind it moft, and perform it 
 
 bcft ; 
 
2 3o Siermons concerning Serm. XIV. 
 
 belt: but when they review their performances, they 
 fee them fo faulty, and fhort of what they ought i6 
 be, that theyfee more reafon to mourn over the ini- 
 quiry of their holy things, than to glory in their holy 
 ibings. Ye»^ notwiihftanding ail the failings in the fm- 
 cere obedience of a true believer, (and he alone is 
 ^he man in whom fincerity is, and by whom any a£t 
 ef fmcere obedience can be performed), yet are they 
 acceptable to God h J ejus Chrift^ i Peter ii. 5. Their 
 fruits of righteoufnefs (though far from being fully 
 ripe and perie£lj ate by Jefui Chrij} unto the glory and 
 praife of God ^ Phil. i. 1 1. Far be it from me, to en- 
 courage ftOy believer (much lefs an unbeliever) to put 
 any confidence in their own works or obedience ; but 
 1 am fure that it would greaily promote a believer's 
 peace arid joy, to look rightly on the fruits of his faith. 
 And that is the right way of judging them by a be- 
 liever, when he faith concerning his obedience, ihefe 
 four things. *' i. I, the worker, am one in Chrid, 
 "2. Ihe work I do, is the fruii of my faith in Chrifi-^ 
 ** and of my being in him. 3. The wcik is done id 
 ♦« Chrifl"'?. name. 4. And as Uich is put in his hand, 
 ♦' to be perfumed and prefented to God by him.'' 
 Muft not the conclufion of faith be, that Chrift will 
 procure a gracious accepiance thereof ? 
 
 6, Improve this privilege of Chrill's reprefecting 
 you unto UoJ, as to your peace with God, and the 
 acceptance of your perfons. Build all your defirer, 
 cxpccTlations, and hopes of acceptance with God, on 
 this alone, even on this reprefentation that Chrift 
 makes of you to God. God's favourable acrepiance 
 of a fmner never had, nor can liv. any other founda- 
 tion : Eph. i. 6. We are accept e.n m the beloved. Horn. 
 V. I. Being juf if ed by faiths 'we have peace with God 
 through our Lord J ejus Chrijl. But tiow comes this 
 peace, this jullification P It is by Chrift, 'u^ho was deli- 
 vered for our offences^ and was raifed amir.jor nur jufli- 
 fixation^ Kom. iv. 25. How would the pe;ice of belie- 
 vers flow as a river, if their faith were active this way : 
 
 •' Ad. 
 
S E H M . XI V. thi Lord*s Prayer, 2 3 1 
 
 *• As Chrifl reprefents me to God j fo do I (land ac- 
 " cepted, farely and eternally ?" 
 
 7. Laftly, Improve this privilege by faith, in all 
 the views and profpe^fts you have of yonr WX appear- 
 ing before God, Oar appearances before God now 
 are many and confiderable. We areaiwaysin hisfight; 
 we oft draw near to him in his ordinances ; he fome- 
 times is pleafed to admit us into his fpecial gracious 
 prefence, and to mariifed hirafelf to us : but all thefe 
 are foiall things, compared with the laft, which is far 
 greater than all that went before it. The native quef- 
 tion that flarts up in the mind of a man that thiaks 
 ferioufly on this appearance, is this, " How (hall I bs 
 " found of him in peace V* And the only gofpel-aa- 
 fwer is, " Thou mud be found in Chrift," Phil, iii.9. 
 Abide in him ; that when he fJoall appear we may have 
 confidence^ and not be ajhamed before him at his comings 
 1 John ii. 28. None will ht found of him in peace in 
 that day, without f pot and blamelefs^ as all fliould la- 
 bour for, 2 Peter iii. 14. but only they that ^vc found 
 in himy Phil. iii. 9. and prefented fpotlefs by him^ J^de, 
 verfc 24. I know that the deep and ferious thoughts 
 of this awful appearance before God, are fufScient to 
 in:ike a fmner fee the vanity of all refuges, fave that 
 of Chrift's righteoufaefs. How much more will the 
 glory of the lafl day do it ? Proud men, and truders 
 CO their own righteoufnefs, will then find too late, that 
 that covering of their nakednefs is too narrow ; and 
 tfiat the beauty of their works, which they vdXi^td 
 tbemfelves upon here, will be but deformity before 
 that tribunal. If there be but one blot, one hole ia 
 that robe that a man appears before God at laft in, 
 (and all that is a man's own, is but rags^ ^nA filthy 
 ones too, Ifa. Ixiv. 6.), the fword of juftice will enter 
 in, and deftroy that man. Bur to believers found ia 
 Chrilt, and covered with Chrii^'s righteoufnefs, there 
 is no danger. The righieoufoefs is perfect, and their 
 acceptance in it perfci'il and eternal ; and the crown 
 of righteoufnefs givca to ttier!], will be given by him» 
 
 and 
 
282 Serrnons ccncerning S e R m . XI V, 
 
 and received by them wtth exceeding joy ^ Jude, ver. 24. 
 "We read that there \% joy in heaven^ and in the pre- 
 fence of the oigcls of Godj over one fin?icr that repenlethy 
 Luke XV. 7, 10. How much more joy will there be, 
 when ail Chrifl's children ftiall be brought home, to 
 his Father's houfe ? when he lliall give that account 
 of them, Behold^ /, and the children which God hath 
 given ?ne^ Heb. ii. 13. P Did Chrifl lay down the dear 
 price with joy; and that /or the joy fet before him^ 
 Heb. xii. 2.? and will he not receive his full pur- 
 chafe with exceeding joy ? It will be his, and his 
 church's marriage-day, Rev. xix. 7, 8, 9. And ne- 
 ver were there fuch lovers, as Chrift and his bride. 
 No fuch lover in heaven, as he ; and no fuch love 
 on earth, as that the church hath to him. And ranft 
 not the joy be great, on their everlafling union and 
 communion, at that day! So that we may fay, that 
 when a believer kneels to receive the! crown of glory 
 from his hand, who bought it for him by his blood 
 fhed in love* he cannot fay with more joy, " O how 
 " glad am 1 of this day of my receiving this crown 1" 
 than Chrift will fay, " 1 am more glad of the day in 
 " which I give it :" for in all things^ he mufl ha've the 
 *^ pre eminence^ Col. i. 18. Chriftians, think juftly, 
 and think joyfully, of this great and notable day of 
 the Lord, when he will make the greateft and molt 
 public reprefentation of his church unto God, as the 
 glorious head of his glorified body. See what fvood 
 your faith can gather from that ftripture, which, 
 whatever fulfilments it hath had, or may yet have in 
 time, is to be perfeclly fulfilled (as many odier fcrip- 
 tures) at the lad day, Zeph. iii. 17. The Lord thy God 
 in the midjl of thee is mighty ; he will faz^e, he zvill re- 
 joice over thee luith joy : he will refl in his love^ he will 
 joy over thee with finging* AVho of you hath faith to 
 believe this ? Where is the believer who dare apply 
 thefe words with the confidence of faith to himfelf f* 
 Who is fo bold as to fay, (and yet all in Chrift ought 
 
 to 
 
Serm. XIV. the Lord^s Prayer, 28 j 
 
 to fay fo), " The bleiTed day is coming, and will 
 *' furely come, when Jefus Chritl will be as glad to 
 *' fee me in heaven, as lean be to fee him, or myfelf 
 ** there.'' He ivitl rejoice ever me with joy ; vvax i?, 
 ** he will exceedingly rejoice : he will re jl in his love ; 
 " that is, he will love for ever, without Wuaryi - or 
 ** change : he will joy over me with^finging : that is, 
 " his love snd joy will break forth into a fon r'" And 
 indeed the joy of Chrifl: in heaven is the beft p-art of 
 heaven's mufic. One cloud or frown in Chrilt's face 
 in heaven, would put an immediate damp on all the 
 holy and happy mirth there. But there is no danger 
 of any interruption : for when the imputed righre- 
 oufnefs of Chrifl is on the glorified in all its glory, 
 (and that is when it appears wiih all the bleiTed ends 
 it was wrought out for, and applied for, by Chrift) ; 
 when inherent holinefs is perfe<ii in them, and imme- 
 diate communion with him is enjoyed in this true pa- 
 radife of God ; neither the tempter, nor temptation, 
 Dor fin, nor wrath, can enter. The pillars in hea* 
 ven, as Chrift promifeth to make hi?n that overcometh^ 
 Rev. iii, 12. are more fixed, than thofe of the old 
 heavens and earth, which he will (hake and remove, 
 Heb. xii. 26, 27, 28. Many doubting Chriftians gee 
 fafe to heaven, that oft feared that they fhould never 
 get in 5 but all that get entrance, are immediately af- 
 fured, that they (hall never be turned out again. As, 
 on the other hand, many flatter themfelves with vaia 
 hopes of heaven, who, when they find at lad, to their 
 dreadful furprife, that heaven's door (huts them our, 
 and hell's door (liuts them in, they know, that the 
 latter door will never be opened to let them out, nor 
 heaven's door be opened to let them in. Remember, 
 that you will be lodged in your everlafting habitations, 
 by the fentence of the great Judge in that day ; that 
 your fentence will be, as your intereft in Chril>, acd 
 his intereft in you is, and appears. Do you believe 
 a day of judgment ? Then quickly run in to Chriil: ; 
 abide in him, as your only refuge j and let the lad 
 y^oL. II, O day 
 
sS^ Sermons concerning Serm. XIV. 
 
 day find you in him ; and you are fafe now, and (hall 
 kcow and find your fa^ety more in thac day. 
 
 So ffiiich for the firfl thing. In what cafes believers 
 (hould improve this great privilege of Chrlft's repre- 
 fentinp^ them unto God. A privilege, in which, as 
 Chriil's glory appears, fo the falvation and peace of 
 believers""is fecurtd. 
 
 Secondly^ A little on the fecond thing propofcd, In 
 what manner is thij imprcvenacnt of this privilege to 
 be made ^ 
 
 I. It is to be improved with the deepeft hnmility 
 and felf-abafement. We are lo prone to pride, that 
 Dot only are natural men proud of their rotten and 
 filthy rags ; but believers are not out of danger of 
 being proud of borrowed raiment. The loarhfome, 
 naked infant, that had no eye to pity, no band to help 
 it, but the Lord's ; when its beauty was made perfecffc 
 through the Lord's comelinefs put upon her, did yet 
 truft in her own beauty, Ezek. xvi. 3,-15. 1 know, 
 that there the Prophet, in a figuie, points at Ifrael's 
 low (late the Lord found them iu, and the high ftate 
 be had advanced them to, of his mere grace and mer- 
 cy ; and, from both, is aggravating their fin in for- 
 geting both, and the dreadful wickednefs that people 
 fell into from that forgetting ; but, by a jufi paral- 
 lel, it may b? applied unto particular perfons. If you 
 make a queftion. Is ic poffible that a man can be prond 
 and N-iin of Chrift's ri^hteoufnefs imputed to him for 
 hi^ . cccptance with God i* I'anfwer, 1. A man may 
 imagine, that he is in Chrift, and accepted with God 
 en Chrifl's account, and may be prond and puffed up. 
 Of this there is no doubt: for falfe notions in men 
 may make them proud. If the legal Pharifee? frujled 
 in tbcmfehes that they ivere nghteous^ and defpifcd o- 
 thers^ Luke xviii. 9. when they had no ground nor 
 reafon for it; why may not a hypocrite make a ground- 
 lefs boaft of his laiih and intereil in Chrifl, and in his 
 righteoufr»efs, and be proud and fecure upon that ima- 
 gination ? Much of this was ia Laodicea's cafe, Kev. 
 
 iii* 
 
Sesm. XIV. the Lorcfi Frayer. 285 
 
 iii. 17, 18- 2. If a true believer find any vacky rif- 
 JDg in his heart, on the account of Chrill's righteoiif- 
 nefs reckoned to hinn ; ac that time that perfon hath 
 the notion of this privilege in his mind and memory, 
 rather than a right fight and fenfe of it on his bean 
 by faith. For, 3. This great privilege, as it is given 
 by God, that no flefh may glory ia his prefence ; f^ 
 where it is feen and pondered by faith, it always bum- 
 bleih the happy partaker of it : for he dill remem- 
 bers what he was without it before he got it, and 
 what vile cakedcefs in him is covered by this gifted 
 rightcoufnefe. See the latter part of Ezek. Kvi. 6o„ 
 63. J where the Lord, after all the enumeration and 
 aggravation of liraePs fmfulnrfs, comes in with fh at 
 God-like, l\e'veTthelefs^ I 'wili remember my covenant 
 with thee in the days of thy youlh^ and I ivill cjlahhjh 
 unto thee an everidfting coveriant, ** it w^ould be but 
 *' a fliort iafting covenant, if it flood upon thy keeping, 
 " or were diilolved by thy breaking of it.'* What is 
 the end of this marvellous grace I 'That thou mayefl 
 rememhery and be confounded^ and never open thy mouth 
 any more^ becaufe of thy Jhanie, A fa>hke exercife. 
 But w^hen is it to be done to purpofe ? When the 
 Lord doth plague and rend IlVael ? whpn he fets their 
 fms in order before them, and writes bitter things a- 
 gainft them P No; but when I am -pacified toward thee 
 for all that thou haft done^ faith the Lord God. Like 
 the promife in Ezek xxxvi. 31. "-' When my quarrel 
 *' againft thee for thy fjn is laid afide by me, it (hall be 
 " taken up by thee in judging and condemning thy- 
 '' feif ; when thy fios are forgotten by my grace, they 
 " (hall be remembered \>y thee for thy felf-abafe- 
 *' ment/' The pardoned man is only the true peni- 
 tent ; and that is the beft repentance that is exercifed 
 in the reading of our fealed forgivenefs. Therein a 
 man feeth that dreadful roll blotted out, but only by 
 free grace in the blood of jefus. Nofm is forgiven, 
 but in the virtue of that blood. When therefore a 
 believer fccih the vileft of ail things, hia fins, and the 
 
 O o 2 nioft 
 
2 85 Sermons concerning Serm. XIV, 
 
 raoH: facred oF all things, the atoning blood of the Son 
 of Gody joined together in his charter of pardon ; 
 what thoughts the pardoned man mud have of fin, oi 
 grace in forgiving, and of the way in which this for- 
 givencfs cometh, it were happier for you and me ro 
 feel, ih^n it is eaj for me to exprefi, or for any to 
 think, but fuch a happy foul tha-: feels it. We have 
 an inilance of a great fmner greatly forgiven, in Luke 
 vii. 5g^.-.-^o. The Lord fend us her bieffing, and her 
 frame. A proud pardoned finner is a monfter. Art 
 thou a finner, and proud of thy fin ? Then art thou 
 -an open rebel agaioft an offended God. Art thou a 
 fjuner, and proud of any thing ? Thou art a fuol ; 
 proud, when the rooft debafing thing lieth upon thee ! 
 But r.rt thou a pardoned finner, and not hun)ble ? 
 Yv'^hac name (liould fuch a creature be called by? ('anil 
 thou be proud of thy p:^rdon, when thy ccnlcience 
 tells thee truly, that thou defcrveft to be damned, as 
 juftly as any God ever condemned ? and that only 
 tree grace made the diffekence betwixt you and t'.iem, 
 in your fentcnce, when there was no difFcreace be- 
 twixt their and yourdeferts? Cinft thou be proud of 
 parc^on in Chrift's blood, when both the guilt and vile- 
 nefs of fin is fo difcovered in the only way of iisexpi- 
 aton; and when the glory of grace in contriving, 
 ufin.:^, and applying this expiation, fhineih fo brightly P 
 Believers, whenever you read your charter of pardon 
 in the new covenant, do but remember who and what 
 is forgiven, and who he is that forgiveth, and on whar 
 account he doth *orgive ; and fee if theie will not lay 
 ihee, and keep thee low iu his fight. 
 
 2. This great privile^^e Qiou'd be improved by be- 
 Iicver% with confidence and aiTu ranee of faith. Trem- 
 bling believers may be true believers : but trembling 
 and doubting believing is never due believing ; it nei- 
 ther givetb the glory due to God, nor brings in that 
 peace and fruit that is needful to the believer. Doth 
 Chrift leprefcnt you to God for acceptance, and do 
 
 you 
 
Serm. XIV. the Lord's Frayer, 287 
 
 you doubt whether you (hall be accepted ? Is noc 
 this very finfuUy to queftion his intereft at the higheft 
 court ? Say not you doubt your acceptance, becaufe 
 of your great unv^orihinefs ; for there is no wcrch 
 buE Chrift's thai is regarded in your acceptance. The 
 queftion is not, ••* Am I any way worthy of God's 
 *^ gracious acceptance ?" But it is, " Is Chrifl worthy, 
 " and able to make fuch an unworthy fmner as 1 am, 
 " to be accepted ? and is his worthinefs for this, to 
 *' be fearfully or confidently trulleJ in by me ?" See 
 two palTages about this. The one is in an exhorta- 
 tion to all believers ; the other is in the triumph cf 
 faith of one great believer, in the name of al), and 
 for a pattern to all. The firfl: n in Heb. x. 19, 20, 21, 
 22,23.; where we find the apoitle, upon the folid 
 and common grounds of every believer's faith, Jefus 
 Chrid^acd his office, urging druzuinj^ near (and to 
 God, as in chap. vii. 19.) with a true heart, in full af- 
 furance of faith. Having fuch a door, fuch a way, 
 fuch a high pried:, as Chrift is, let us draw near, ne- 
 ver doubting our welcome. The other place is ia 
 Rom. viii. 3 i, — 39. // God be for us, who can be a- 
 gainfl us? An unanfwerable queftion. But how do 
 we know that God is for us i Thus, He [pared not 
 his own iSon, but delivered htm up for lis all, ver. 32.; 
 the all he fpoke of in ver. 29, 30. But are there not 
 many things juilly chargeable on the okt^ believers? 
 No, faith he, ver. 33, :^4. Nothing, by any, can be 
 laid to their charge. Why fo .'' Are they not by na- 
 ture children of wrath, even as ethers, Eph. ii. 3. 1 
 Yes : But it is Gcd that juftifijth ; who is he that con- 
 demneth? He is a bold devil, or man, or confcience, 
 that condemneth whom God juftifieth. But how doth 
 Godjuftify? is he not the Lawgiver, againll whom 
 they have finned ? Yes ; but yet he jullifieth and juft- 
 )y : // is Chrift that died, &c. It is Chrift's interell 
 in them, his undertaking and performance for them, 
 his reprefenting them unto God, that is the ground 
 of their judificatioa before Godj, of their acceptance 
 
 With 
 
2 83 Sermons concerning Serm. XIV. 
 
 with God, and of their joy of faith ; as Rom. v. 1 1. 
 We jay in God, through our Lord J ef us ChriJ}^ by whom 
 we have now received the atonement. Believers, look 
 on yourfclves as oft, and as narrowiy as you can ; 
 judge and condemn yourfelves as much as you will ; 
 but when you look for acceptance with God, mind 
 Chrifi alone, and give him glory in truftingcoLfideDt- 
 ly for acceptance in him. 
 
 3. Improve this privilege with diligence and pain- 
 fulnefs. It is well worthy of our diligence, and diii- 
 gence is needful for u^-. 1 (hall Da.ne on this but two 
 things. 
 
 i/?, Uie diligence to keep this privilege of Chrift's 
 reprefeming you to God for acceptance, ftedfafljy 
 and confiandy in the eye of your faith. The peace 
 of Chriilians would not ebb and flow with every tide, 
 '^.% oft it doth, if this duty were more minded. This 
 is v;hat is called, holding f a/} the confidence, and re- 
 ioicing of the hope ^ firm unto the end ; and, holding the 
 beginning of our confidence ft edf a ft unto the end^ lieb. 
 iii. 6, 14. This is what is required of all, in Heb. 
 vi. II. ^ And we defire, that every one of you do fKW the 
 fame dilzgen-^Cs to the full affunince of hope unto the end. 
 The ihieid of laith, as it quencheth all the fiery darts of 
 the devily Eph. vi. 16.; fo his moll fiery darts are 
 flung again {[ ir. Such as know not trials of faith, ne- 
 ver had the truth of faith. An evil heart of unbelief 
 (and ibme roots of it are in the bcft believers) will 
 oft affaulc true faith. Great watch and ward (liould 
 be kept by faith, abn;:r our precious fahh ; for faith 
 doth watch itfclf. I'aiih prayed in that man. Lord, 
 help my unbelief, Mark i>:. 24. Harh the Lord once 
 or oftener caufedyou to hope ? as Pfal. cxix. 49, ; hath 
 Jie taken you, and made you fit down, and rcii on the 
 precious (oundation, Jefus Chrift .'' Hold you there. 
 lie not moved aiv ay from the hope of the gofpel. Col. i. 2 ^. 
 put as ye have received Chrifl Jefus the Lord, fo walk 
 ye in him ; rooted and built up in him^ and Hahlijhed 
 tn the fc^Jthy Col. ii. 6» 7. If you try ihis work, you 
 
 will 
 
Serm. XIV. the Lord's Prayer^ z%^ 
 
 will quickly find ibat diligence is needful. If you gi?e 
 diligence in it, you will quickly find the rich prcfic 
 of it. 
 
 2^/v, Ufe diligence in your improving of this pri^ 
 vilege, in {liidyiog likenefs and conformity to Jeios 
 Chrlft. Hath he blelTed you with this great grace of 
 reprefenting you in his righieoufnefs for your accep-^ 
 tance with God ? Should not you ftudy to get ChriCfs 
 image in true holinef?, mere and more increafcd ia 
 you ? True goCpel-hoiinefs is only planted by gofpel- 
 grace, and nourifhed by gofpel-arguments ; and thefe 
 arguments have neither light nor power on any, bat 
 fuch as have received the Spirit of faith ; i John. iii. 3. 
 Every man that hath this hope in hijn, (it (hould be 
 read on him, that is, on Chrift), purifeth hinifdf^ even 
 as he is pure. He is (till a-doing, a-purifyin'g ; but 
 not perfed as yet. Thus a carnal heart is apt to fay, 
 '*' Since I cannot be perfecTtly holy in this life, and 
 " fmce I hope 1 fliall be fo when Chrift appeareth, I 
 " will let the ftudy of holinefs alone till that day.^* 
 No, faith the apoflle ; Every man that hath this hope 
 in Chrift^ o^ being like him, when he Jh all fee him ^r 
 he is, ver. 2. will now ftudy that likenefs, although he 
 cannot attain it, as he would. That man's itate is 
 naught, and his faith un found, chat finds not his hopes 
 of his glory purifying to his heart and life. Now, fet 
 about the ftudjf^tbve, and praftice of holinefs, aliyoa 
 that are favoured with Chi ill's grace in reprefeating 
 you to God's gracious acceptance ; and I make no 
 doubt, but that all that have obtained this grace, and 
 fee it by faith, will be io exercifed : Rom. vi, t, 2, 
 ^h all we continue in Jin, that grace may abound f A 
 plaufible objeclioo,and eafily drawn by a carnal heart, 
 from what is faid, Rom. v. -20. Where fin abounded^ 
 grace did much more abound. Bat if the objeclion be 
 obvious, the anfwer is myflerious : God forbid : Hoitf 
 fhall we that are dead to fin^ live any longer therein f 
 it is as if he had faid« "^^ I do not wonder that they 
 
 that 
 
spo Sermons concerning Serm. XIV. 
 
 •' that are alive to fin, make this obje(!}ion ; but ail 
 ** that are dead to fin, fee no weight in it." But how 
 are believers dead to fin, and alive unto God ? By the 
 tirtuc of Chrift's death and refurre^lion, ver. 3,4, 5, 
 6. into which every believer is planted. And thence, 
 ver. II. he bids them, Reckon ye alfo your/elves to be 
 dead indeed unto fin^ but alive unto God through Jefus 
 Chrijl our Lord, If Chriftians were raore fkilful in 
 ihele reckonings of faith, they would abound more 
 in the fruits of holinefs. All true holinefs is the fruit 
 of faith ; all true faith produceth this fruit ; and the 
 fli*oDgeft believer brings forth moll abundant fruit, 
 John XV. 4, 5. 
 
 % 
 
 SERMON XV. 
 
 John xvii. 24. 
 
 Father y I will that they alfo whom thou hafl given me, 
 he ivith me where I am ; that they may behold my 
 glory which thou hafl given me : for thou lovedfl me 
 before the foundation of the world. 
 
 YO U may remember, that, fome weeks ago, 
 when I firft began to fpeak from this fweet, 
 long, and great verfe of Chrift's prayer, I did take 
 it up in two parts ; the manner, and matter of it. The 
 manner of it is in this v;ord, I will ; a way of pray- 
 ing that we do not find Chrift ufed, but here ; a way 
 of praying that no Chriftian (liould ufe ; for our will 
 is fo foolifli and fmful a thing, that the lefs room it 
 hath in our prayers, the better our prayers are : for 
 our prayers are to be according to his will, and not 
 ours. 
 
 la 
 
Serm. XV, the LorcTs Prayer. , spl. 
 
 In the matter of ChriiVs prayer in this verfe, I took 
 up four things, i. The. denomin^itian and defcrip- 
 tion he gives and makes of them he prays for : 'J hofe 
 ivbom thou hafl given me. We cannot dire£l our 
 prayers as Chrift dicj ; he prayed for tbe eleifl as e- 
 le6i, and as perfons particularly arid exa£lly known to 
 him. 2. The bleffmg he prays (or to thole perfons ; 
 Hhat they may alfo he ivith me "where I am. 3. The 
 end oFhis praying for thi^ bleiTing to them ; That thej 
 7nay behold my glory which thou haft gizen me: Till 
 they are where Cbiifl is, they cannot behold ir fuU 
 ]y. 4. Tbe argument by which Chrift backs ih's 
 prayer : Hor thou lovedfl me before the foundation of 
 the world* 
 
 I have fpoke all I mean to fay on the firft two 
 things in the naatter-of this pr.-^yer ; and arn yet upon 
 the third purr ; which 1 would conclude at this time. 
 In handiing of which, I did propound two heads of 
 difcourfe. 3. What is the glory of Chrift ihat is to 
 be beheld. 2. What is the beholding of ir. Of the 
 firftl have fpoken at length ; and becaufe the theme 
 is very large,. I comprehended all in two particulars. 
 I. The glory of Chrift z% he reprefents God unto his 
 churchj to be favingly known by ihem ; and, 2. His 
 glory as he reprefents h?s church unto God, to be 
 gracioufly accepted of God. There are no faving 
 views of God, but in Chrift \ and there are no ?ra- 
 cious views God hath of men^ but in Chrift'. If we 
 look on God out of Chrift, we are dazzled with an o- 
 verwhelming, confounding majefty; if God look on 
 us cut of Chrift, he feeih hateful and h<iced fiuners. 
 To both thefe I have largely fpoken, both dQ<5lrinaHy, 
 and with application. 
 
 II. I come now to the fecond thkis^, What is the 
 beholding of Chrift^ s glory f His glory is a divine glo- 
 ry ; but the beholding of it is a creature's a£l. And 
 becaufe his glory is divine, and ihercfcre iniinitely 
 great, it is a deeper theme in itfelf chaa tbe beholding 
 
 Vol. II. Pp of 
 
292 Sermons concerning Serm. XV. 
 
 oF it ; yet iorv,t way the beholding of his glory, 15 
 darker to ny than his glory. We are ablg to k.iow 
 a iirtle incre of his glory, than we can know whst 
 that beholding of it is that Chrifl here prayr> For. Bur, 
 indeed, borh the glory of Chrifl as manifeded in hra- 
 vcn, and the (glorified (iiints beholding of it therr, 
 are themes too deep, and too dark, for any man to 
 conceive or exprefs. My way therefore oF fpeakiiig- 
 to this fabject, of the beholding of ChniFs glory 
 in heaven, inufl be by way of com pari Tod, compar- 
 ing it with fuch bcholdings of his glory a3 faints ^on 
 earth have had, or may have. And of fuv:h we find 
 fpecially tbefe three. 
 
 I. So:re beheld Cbrift's glory before he came Into 
 the world ; before be took to him maivs nature ; as 
 Abraham did, John viij. 56. Tour father Abrahjni 
 rcjciced to fee my ciaVy and he faw it, and was glad, 
 £0 in J'jhn xil. 41. ihefe things Jaid Efaiiis (in chap, 
 vi.), when be faw his glory and fpake of him. This 
 was by faich ; and the li/at that iha: faith was be- 
 gotten by, and a(fled in, was that of the divers ways 
 and manners in which God communicated his mind 
 to his people before the law ; which douhtbfs carried 
 fuch credentials with them, thai did fati^fy the faith 
 of believers at that time, a'? really as Giod's written 
 word now coih a new te'ilament believer's faith. If 
 we think that the Spirit of God, by More-:'s pen in 
 Genefii, gives but a fTinll and (hort account of the 
 patriarch's faith, and of the grounds and a^fings of ic 
 in rhem, both before jnd after the flood ; yet he, by 
 Paul in the new teflamect, giveth a fuller account of 
 it ; as in licb. xi. of many of iheni ; and of Abra- 
 ham rr/ore largely, in Rom. iv. and in Gal. iii. B. ; 
 wliere he tells us, that //v gofpd was preached hcfcre 
 unto Abraham, \j thefe words, In thee fall all natf 
 ens be hlefjed, Ver. i 6. Now to Abraham and his feed 
 were the pronifs made. He faith not. And to feeds ^ 
 as of many ; hut as of one. And to thy feed which is 
 ChrijL Whi'.t'an ex;a<5i and fpiritual commentator was 
 
 Paul 
 
SerivI. XV. the Lord's Prayer. 293 
 
 Paul on Abraham's gofpel. In thee and ihy feed jhail 
 all nations bs kltjfed^ repeated again 10 luacliis Cod, 
 Gen. Kxvi. 4. ; by Ifaac given as his bleilln;^ to bjs fo:i 
 Jicob, Gen. xxvrii. 4. ; which he calls the hlypr:^ cf 
 Abraham^ as Paul doth, ii> Gal. ill. 14. ^ This bleU 
 fmg the Lord giveih to Jacob, G^n. xxyi'l 14. How 
 Kany do read tbefe few words in Geuefis, that never 
 would have found out that deep golpel in them that 
 Paul doth? That, i. This promifed feed, oFwhoai 
 Ifaac was only a progenitor and a iyp*"» ^"^as Chriil. 
 2, That This bleiling to be got in him and by hiin, was 
 juilificaiicPe 3. That tbig juftificatioa iiuplied a prior 
 condemnation and curfe that men were under, and 
 which this blefiing only could remove. 4. That all 
 the families of the earth, to whom this blelTing was 
 defigned to extend, were the Reath^n^ verfe 8. Gen< 
 ulcs, verfe 14. 5. That this bleiling is only received 
 by faith, ver. 7, 9. 6. That the law, whica was 430 
 years after, could not difannul this promife and cove- 
 nant of grace, ver. 17. 7. That every believcc on 
 Jefas Chrift, whether Jew or Gentile, partakes of 
 Abraham's bleiling, are Abraham's feed, and! ens ac- 
 cording to the promife ; yea, are all the children of God 
 'byfanh in Ctjr'ifl Jefus, ver. 26, 28, 29. How much 
 defpifed by many would fuch a comment be, on fo 
 few, and io dark words, and Y/ords that have fo fair 
 an appearance of a lefs evarigelic feofe than the apo- 
 ftle purs upon them f Bat {irangers to that Spirit that 
 dictated the fcripVares, will ever prove poor cammen* 
 tators upon the mofi fpiritual part of the icriptures. 
 By this (liort hint it doth appear, that the patricirchs 
 before the law did behold the glory of Chriil, though 
 not yet come -. not to fpeak of the^ prophets, zuho^ all 
 cf them from Samuel, and thofe that 'follow after, as 
 Ti]any as have fpoken, have likewife foretoid of tbefe day^t 
 as Peter (aith, Ajfts.iii. 24. 
 
 2. The next beholding of the glory of Chrid was, 
 when he came and lived on the earth, and his people 
 iived with him : when God was niarufefted in theflejh^ 
 
 P p 2 2 Tim, 
 
294 Sermons ccncermng Serm. XV. 
 
 I Tim. iii, i6. John i. 14. And the Word ivas made 
 flejl,\ and duelt among us fund u-e beheld his glory^ 
 the glory as of the -ordy begotten of the Fat her J full of 
 grace and truth. This btholdiDg of his glory v.'as on- 
 jv by laih : for many who faw with their bodily eyes 
 this appearance oF the Son ot (^od, in nian^:> flefh, 
 that faw his works, which none other 'n;an did^ John 
 XV. 24. and heard Ijis wo ids, inch as 7uver man f pake, 
 J;hn vii. 46. ; yet faw no glory in him^ nor in any 
 iL'ing he did, or faid, or fufftred ; but delpiled and 
 bared him ; and all, becaufe ihey believed not, John 
 v:. 56. And on ihcm was iu'fiUed what the Prophet 
 foretold, lla. liii. i, 2, 3. Gur Lord's humbled liute 
 was a great, thick, and dark vail on bis glory : yet 
 his glory {hone it ir, and through it ; and taith be- 
 held ir, 1 John i. 1, 2. Envy not the heppinefs of 
 fach believers as converTcd witQ Chritl when he was 
 on earth . though there was a great bkifednefs in- it, 
 Luke X. 23, 24. and M;itth. xiii. i 6, 17 ; yet Chrift 
 gi^eih the prelerence 10 them that have not feen^ and 
 yet have believed^ J'^'^^n kk. 29. 1 Peter, i. 8. We 
 may juQiy think, that never was the eye of fdith more 
 tried, than by the mean and low appearance, that To 
 f^re?.t a perfon, ?.s God's only begotten ^on, and com- 
 ing^with the high character of the Meilias, and on fo 
 great an errand and wor^lc, as, redeeming his church, 
 made, when he came, and \:\'as made mantfefl to JfiacL 
 And therefore faith in hira then had a fpecial difiicul- 
 ty in its way, which cars hath nor, when we fee Jefus 
 crowned with glory and honour-^ Heb. ii. 9. And tuis 
 difRcnliy cf believing increafed, as Chrill's lo'.v (late 
 did. He was at bis loweli on his crofs,and in his grave. 
 Unbelief, and contempt of him, grev/ to a dreadful 
 height in his enemies. Faith in him, in thcn[i that had 
 ir, and had profrffed ir, was brought into its loweft : 
 Luke xxiv. 21. But we trufted*that it had been he 
 lifhich fbould have redeemed Ifraei. They had once 
 (0 believed. But what did they now ? They were 
 
 ajlo- 
 
Serm. XV. the Lord^s Frayer, 295 
 
 ajlomfied^'^tv* 22. ; they could not tell whether they 
 Ihouid repent of their faith, or of fheir unbelief. And 
 thus they fpoke to Chriil himfelf, but vailed from 
 them. But blefTed Jefus, though entered into bis glo- 
 ry^ (as verfe 26.), had the farij^ pity and tendernefs 
 he had fo oft before exprelTed, and gently rebukes, 
 teacheih them, and recovers them, When he was 
 on his crofs, his enemies faw no glory in 'him, and ills; 
 friends little elfe fave matter of forrow. Yet one, a 
 thief, and a dying man too, feeth his glory, and faith, 
 Lordy remember me zvhen thou comefl into thy kingdom. 
 It is not, as ChrilVs enemies, and this man's compa- 
 nion, both in his crime and punhlimeat, faid, If thou 
 be the Chrifl. But it is as if he had faid, " 1 know 
 ^' thee to be the ,bon of God ; and though dylog,'yet 
 *' going to thy kingdom : give me a '{hare in tliat 
 " kingdom thou art now buying by thy blood" And 
 he was anfwered ; the xareft believer that ever was, 
 the greateft faith that, ever was a£fed, and the moft 
 gracious anfwer that ever was given, ver. 33. Well 
 did Jefus, dying for fmners, know how to receive a 
 fmner into heaven* 
 
 3. ChriR's glory is beheld, when he- is in heaven, 
 and his people are on earth. And this is by faith 
 aifo. In this cafe, though there be not a vail of in- 
 firmity on the glory of our Lord, as there was when 
 he was on earth ; yet there is a vaft diiiance betwix: 
 him and us ; as great as betwixt heaven and earth, a^ 
 betwixt the right hand of the Father, where he is 
 in his glory, and our weak eye of faith, who are on 
 earth. Yet this eye, in the light and, glafs of the 
 gofpel, can, and doth behold with open face the glory 
 of the Lord^ 2 Cor. iii. 18, Of this behoidiog of 
 Chrifi's glory, I would fpeak in two inifances. 
 
 i^/?, At the fi'ril; converfion of a ilniier, when he is 
 made a believer in Chriff, None are truly converted 
 to God, but fuch as are mada believers in Chrifl: ; 
 and none are made believers in Ghrid, but they to 
 wiiom the glory of Chrift is difcovsred. It is by the 
 
 power 
 
29^ Sermcns concernttig Serm. XV, 
 
 power cf this difccvery that faith is wrought ; and fn 
 the light of it faith is afted. Some think, that a rxian is 
 convtiitd, whcD the fecurefiQuer is awakened by the 
 light and heat of God's law, when a profane perfon 
 IS iiiade fober in his convcriaLion. Bin if there be no 
 more, he may be (tili as far^ yea, fanher from true 
 converfion than before: Matth. xxi. 31. Verily I fay 
 unto yrAt, that the publicans and the harlots go into the 
 L".r:gdom of God hi^ fore you. And yet the fcribes and 
 Pharifees thought themfeives in fo much better cafe 
 i^of heaven than they, that they would not entertain 
 coTxiTion converfe with ordinary finners ; beaded that 
 ibey were better than fuch ; yea, turned CJirift's 
 grace to his reproach ; Luke xv. 2. They mwmvred^ 
 fayifigy 7 his 77] an receive th finners y and eatcth zvith 
 than. What were ihey that faid foP Were they not 
 fiDoers ? Yes; but they did not fee or own themfelves: 
 to be fuch. What (hould a finner (\o^ but go to Chriil I 
 What can coriieon a finner, if Curift receive him not ? 
 Yea, what is a Saviour of finners for, but tor receivin:v 
 iinncr^, and faving them frora their fm?, Matfn. i. 21 I 
 And ytt fmners coiring to Chriir, and Chrid's wel- 
 come of thein, lYjakes unbelievers murmur, bcfnagainfl: 
 Chriil and behevers. So fure it is, that no man c;vn 
 fee any glory in that grace of ChriO, tiiat he haih no 
 lit;ht nor feafe of his own need of. But when was 
 Paul converted, an eminent PharifeCjihe belt fcholar 
 3n Gamaliel's Ichool, G;iL i. 14, 15, 16. ? It was when 
 Gcd revealed his Son in him. It is very likel}', that 
 Paid had heard of Jelus Chriil, while a Pharifee ; 
 hut it is certain, that he hated him, his very name, 
 ufid ail that belonged to him. But when t jc I/ird'j 
 time wa:5 come to call this chofen vefi'el by his gr?.ce, 
 when he intends to fubdue and conquer PauPs rebel- 
 lious fiiirir, a revelation af Chrid is made to hin ; 
 and (lie rebel yields, anci is m;:de a loyal fuhject ail 
 his da} c. Would you knovv when you were convert- 
 ed ? If ever it was, it was when you h;id the firll view 
 cf the glory cF Chfifl ^3 a Swivionr. When this fi>fnt 
 
 is 
 
Se&m. XV, the LorcTs Prayer, 297 
 
 is ^or, then the finner employs Chc'id m bis laving^ 
 oiEce, trufts him in it, and is faTcd by him. 
 
 2diyy Chrill's glury is beheld by believers, v/risa 
 Chrift is in heaven, and they on earth, in the Follow- 
 iog manifeflations of Chrift, and of his glory to them. 
 Whenever Chrift is feen, it is by hh manifeftiDg of 
 himfelf. No torch, nor candle, nor fire, could make 
 one fee the fun, if its own (hining did not. His peo- 
 ple, to whom he hath manifefted himfelf once, need 
 to have it repeated again 2nd again. And this blef- 
 fmg he promifeth, John xiv. 2 i, 23. It is very fuf- 
 picious, that that man's ftate is bad, that never h<id 
 but one difcovery of Chrift's glory, Thofe maQlFef- 
 tations of his glory are various, both in meafijre, du- 
 ration, and their feafons. Sometimes, upon fpecidl 
 diligence in feeking of the Lord by faith in prayer. 
 V/har Chriftian is there that is not able to ivknefs to 
 this, that the times of his fpecial feeking have been 
 the times of his fpecial iindiog ? If there was more of 
 Mofes's fpirlt, (though it may be there was fomewhat 
 in it that was above, both what is either allowable to 
 ailc, or attainable by ordinary believers), Exod xx5:!ii. 
 18. / befeech thee P^ew me thy glory ^ it VJ'ould be bet- 
 ter with us. If we were more importunate in begging 
 new and clearer vifions of the glory of Chrifl, aud re- 
 newed vifits from him for that end, he would not deny 
 us. If we 'did go to himfeh*^, \vit<i that defire that 
 forae came with to one of his difciples, jobPi xii. 2 f. 
 Sify we would fie J ejus : can any think be vyould be 
 difpleafed ? But, alas! we receive not, becaufe we 
 hik not. Sometimes Chrift ntanif^fts himfelf in a fpe- 
 cial manner to bis people, in the furnace of aul»\^lon, 
 ffpeciaily if it be for his fake ; yea, in the eafieft of 
 thofe fafFerings : i Peter iv. 14. 1/ ye be reproached 
 for the name of Cbrifly happy are ye ; for the fpirit cf 
 glory and of God refteth upon you. 
 
 Sometimes rhe Lord manifelb his giory to his peo- 
 ple at their dying. And it is then vei*y dcfirable. 
 Old Siraecn had a ffracicus- Droxife* that he fhould 
 
 not 
 
298 Sennons concerning Serm. XV. 
 
 not fee deaths before he had feen the Lcrd^s Chr'ifl. He. 
 chufed a fweet feafon of dying, when the prcmife 
 was fiilfiiled, and when he had ^Chrirt in his arms, 
 and faith and love in his heart burfling out into a fong, 
 Luke ii. 27,-29. The firfl: martyr, Stephen, died 
 happily ; he died wimelTiag for Chrid : and Chrifl 
 wiincffed for him, when the martyr faid, Behold^ I 
 Jee the heavens opened^ and the Son of man flavdniJ on 
 the right hand of God, Afts vii. sSy 5^* This was 
 better than Mofcs's dying, Deut. xxxii. 49, 50. and 
 xxxiv. I, ---5. It was a llrange journey and call, Go 
 %ip and die, and only take a view of the land that he 
 mull not enter into. He faw the land of Canaan, and 
 that was all ; but he faw by faith the true 'Canaan, 
 and entered into it ; and there abideth ftili ; fave 
 one errand Mofes was fent upon with Elias, to wait 
 on their Mailer on the mount of transfiguration, 
 Maith, xvii. 3. . 
 
 Thefe are a few indances of the feafons in which 
 the Lord manlfeiis his glory to his people, and in 
 which they do behold it. But this text and theme I 
 am upon, relates to fomewhat far higher and greater, 
 than all the behcldings of his glory that ever any faint 
 on earth received. What it is, 1 cannot tell you, and 
 I am fure that none can ; though many may eafily tell 
 more of it than 1 can. ' There is both a danger and 
 fnare in pryincr within God's vail. I fhalj therefore 
 content myfeif with comparing the beholding of 
 ChriR's glory by believers on earth, with this behold- 
 ing of it that our Lord here prays for to all his peo- 
 ple in heaven. » 
 
 This only I would premife unto this difcourfe that 
 fuch as are wholly unacquainted in their ov»n experi- 
 ence, with the beholding of the glory ot Chriil, by 
 the eye of faith in;he gofpel-glafs, they will, they 
 can, they mufl: underftand nothing that can be faid 
 of the beholding of Chrift's glory in heaven. 
 
 Thefe two beholdings of Chrift's glory, the one 
 on earth, and the other in heaven, may be compar- 
 ed. 
 
Serm.XV. the Lord's Frayer. 299. 
 
 ed, and yet differ in feveral things ; of which take 
 thefe five. 
 
 I. They differ greatly in the meafare of glory ma- 
 nifeOed by him, and feen by the beholders. Chrift's 
 glory is infinite ; and no creature, in its mod exalted 
 capacity, can take a full view of it all. Iherefore, 
 though the glorified beholders of it are eternal be- 
 holders thereof, yet they never fee it all fully, nor can 
 comprehend it. The beholdings of his glory by us 
 on earthy are according to the fmall meafures of its 
 difcovery, and fuited unto our fmall capacity. Our 
 old bottles are not fit for this new wine. Believers 
 know this well by their experience. Sometimes they 
 have more, fometimes lefs of Chrifl's glory manifefted 
 to them ; but always lefs than what they think they 
 need, and would be at. This is fo univerf:-tl in the 
 fpiritual fenfe and experience of Chriftians, that thefe 
 two feem to be edablidied, as from the word of God, 
 fo from the common experience of believers, i. Than 
 they whofe views of Chrift's glory are condantly the 
 fame, without any changes and viciffKodes of light 
 and darknefs, day and night : and, 2. That they who 
 fee as much of Chrift's glory as they defire to fee, 
 fuch never truly faw any thing of it at all. Was ever 
 true faith in the fame a^ivity ? Do not all experien- 
 ced believers witnefs by their fpiritual fenfe, that fome- 
 times in the word read or heard, there is a beam of 
 light, and life, and power, that darts upon a word, 
 that they often before had read and heard without 
 any fuch enjoyment, and which they may remember 
 and think again upon afterwards, without any power 
 to recal the fame mercy to their tafie again ? So it is 
 in prayer, and in all ordinances wherein we feek com- 
 munion with him. Some have lefs, forae have m.ore ; 
 and fome believers, at fome times of their life, have 
 fuch manifeftations of Chrift's glory in bis love, ten- 
 dernefs, and familiaricy with them, as they can hardly 
 contain. But the beft enjoyment for kind, and largeft 
 for meafure, is far (hort of what the fmaileft veffel ia. 
 
 Vol. 11 Q^q ChrilVs 
 
3 CO . Servicns concerning S^^vlm. XV. 
 
 Cbrifl's upper-honfe is fit to receive, and rloth receive. 
 The feeing of the Lord'^s power and gl&ry in bis fane- 
 tuavy on earth, is greatly and julLIy defired by his 
 people, PfaL L.iii. 2. and is well made their one things 
 Pfal. xxvii. ^. and whon they obiain communion with 
 him, they all fay as one did, Pfal. Ixxxiv. 10. A day 
 in thy courts is better than a tboufand : I had rather 
 he^a door-keeper in the houje of my Cod^ than to divell 
 in the tents of xvickcdnefs. He was a great man, and 
 a great faint, that faid it. But one hour in the court 
 of heaven, h better than a thonfand vears in God's 
 lower conri5» 1 here are day^ of heaven jupon the earthy 
 Deut xi. 21. Such are clear and bright days; but 
 the days of heaven iu heaven, are unfpeakably more 
 fo. What we now receive, is, as S(>rig ii. 9. Behold^ 
 he fiandeth behind our wall^ he Icoketh forth at the 
 *ivindow5, fheiving himft if through the hittice. But then 
 all walls and windows, all means of communion with 
 him, (liall be removed, as ufeful no more : Rev. xxi. 
 22. And I faw no temple therein : for the Lord God aU 
 mighty^ and the Lamb^ are the temple of it, Chrifl 
 bimfelf fpeaks of this l:i(l day, Matth. xxv. 3 [. When 
 the Son 0/ man j/jail tome in his glory ^'-- then /hall he 
 fit on the throne of his glory, I'hcn will his glory apr 
 pear, and his people Ihall appear with him in glory. 
 Col. iii. 4. 
 
 2. in the next place. The way whereby we behold 
 ChriR'sglcry en earth, and ihall behold it in heaven, 
 diiTer greatly. As thty ditf.r in meafures, (0 in the 
 manner and ways of beholding : 1 Cor. xiii. 12. For 
 now -we fee through a g^la/s darkly ^ (or in a riddle)^ hut 
 then face to J ace. Now I know m part ; but then fh all 
 I knowy even as I alfo am known. There are three 
 ways of knowing ol things that God provide^ for us. 
 Our fenfes, for feniible things; our underflandlng. 
 for fuch things as fall not under our fenfes ; and faith, 
 for fuch thuigs that are beyond the reach of both 
 feufc and reafon. When Chrilt was fiift on earth, he 
 was the obje<fl of meng fenfes, but few knew him ; few 
 
 could 
 
Serm. XV. the Lord's Prayer. 30 r 
 
 could fay a? r Jobti i. 2. And when he returns again, 
 every eye Jh all fee him. He v. i. 7. ; but all (hall not 
 have a comfortable view of him. Every one fhall 
 hear his voice, and rife when called, but to a diffe- 
 rent fentercf', John v. 28, 29. By that ivifdom that 
 God hath put in the imoard partly and by that under^ 
 ftanding he hath given to the hearty Job xxxviii, 36. 
 For he teacheth us more than the bsafls of the earthy and 
 maketh us wljcr than the fowls of heaven^ Job xxxv. 
 I i. ^^ this noble power nrien know clearly and fure- 
 ly irany things which are beyond the reach of our 
 outward fenfes. Bat beyond both is faith, which is 
 as the eye of the new creature, planted by the Lord : 
 whereby the things of God, that can neither be taken 
 up by our external fenfes, nor be traced by the eye 
 of our minds, are yer, in the light of God's word re- 
 vealing them, by fai:h feen and einbracvfd, i Cor. ii. 
 9, 10. Heb. xi. I. And this exercife of faith, with 
 its fruits, is the utmofl that believers reach or can at- 
 tain while they are on earth. But this beholding of 
 Chrift's glory by thenn thai (hall be with him where 
 he is, is unfpeakably beyond all. 
 
 To begin wirh the firfl, our bodily fenfes, they vvili 
 be perfecl in the refurreOion-date, in all the child'-en 
 of the refurretl'ion, as our Lord calls them, Luke xx. 36. 
 The apoftle, in difpuiing abour, and proving, and ex- 
 plaining of this article of the CliriRian faith, iti i Cor. 
 XV. 44. c^lls the body that is raifed a f pi ritual body : 
 There is a natural body, and there is a fpiritual body. 
 The raifed body is a real body, and not a ipirir ; it is 
 the real true body of every faint that he lived in, that 
 he ferved Chrift in and by ; that very body that he 
 departed from at death, and left to the corrupiiou of 
 the grave, that is raifed again in glory, in power^ m 
 incorruptiouy as ver. 42, 43. ; that fame once vile body 
 that is then changed, that it may hefafhioned like loito 
 ChrifTs glorious body, Phil. iii. 21. As the body is, fo 
 are its fenfes and powers. A natural body hath na- 
 
 (^q 2 tural 
 
302 Sermons concerning S e r m . XV. 
 
 tural po'vvcrs ; and as it decays, thofe powers decay 
 alfo ; elegantly defcribed in Eccl. x-ii. 1,-7. But 
 what a fpiri'ual body i?, and what its powers are, we 
 do nor, we cannot know. But ihis we know, that 
 there will be a glorious appearance of Chrirt in that 
 day, that will fail under, and will be taken up by 
 thofe fpiritual fenfesoFthe raifed bodies of faints, and 
 will be CO fmall part of their happinefs. The bodily 
 eye of John, iho' ic was ufed to the beholding of Chrifl 
 and his glory on earth, could not bear a litde beam of 
 Chrifl's heavenly glory, Rev. i. 1 7. Strange ; that 
 John {liould need that Chrill flioulJ tell him who he 
 was, verfe 18. But what John, while in his natural 
 body, could not bear, every faint in his fpiritual body 
 will not only be able to bear, but will with delight be- 
 hold more than what was like 10 have killtd that be- 
 loved difciple. 
 
 Again, for the powers of the mind, they in that 
 day will be perfe^l, fo as that all the glory of Chrift 
 that (hall be difcovered, will be beheld by them per- 
 fe<niy, for the perfcding of their blelTednefs, i Cor. 
 xiii. II, 12 
 
 But for faith, for as needful and ufeful as it is now, 
 it will then be laid sfide as ufelefs. A believer now 
 lakes up a little of Chrifl's glory ; but how ? la the 
 word, as in a glafs, 2 Cor. iii. 18. No other glafs 
 but the gcfpcl-glafs difcovers Chriil's glory to us now ; 
 and it is not faiih, but dreaming and doting, to fiudy 
 Chrifl but in that glafs. But when both the glafs of 
 the gcfpel, and the eye of faith, (hall be laid afide, 
 (the two mcfl ufeful and needful blelTiDgs to a believer 
 while out of heaven, and ufeful and needful to brinj^ 
 hirn to heaven), what (hall make up the want of them ? 
 Even Chrift himfelf feen in his glory. Even as Chriil 
 come in the flefh, rendered all the types and (hadows 
 of him in the old teftament no more needful : fo 
 Chrirt appearing in his glory, will do as to the new 
 teflament difpenfation, 
 
 3. Let 
 
Serm. XV. the LorcTs Prayer, go^ 
 
 3. Let us confider and compare thefe two beliold- 
 ings of Chriil's glory by believers on earth, aod faints 
 in heaven, with refpe<5l to the cafe of the beholders 
 thereof. How vaftly do they differ P There are three 
 thiogs in a believer that all the glorided beholders of 
 Chrih's glory in heaven are perfcdlly freed from, fin, 
 infirmity, and affli^lion. 
 
 ijly Sin dwelletb in us, in the bed, and always 
 while here. There are no finlefs beholders of Chrid's 
 gloiy on earth, and there are no finful beholders of 
 bis glory in heaven ; and this makes a great differ- 
 ence between them. The believer, when his day is 
 faireit, when his eye is cleared, when his faith is 
 {Irongeft, there is yet fui in him, a body of deatii 
 hanging about him. Sin in its being in him, is liks 
 a lilm on the eye of faith, and mars clear feeing. 
 
 Brethren, there was never a fiolefs believer on earth 
 but one, and that was Jefus Chriif ; and it is as far a- 
 bove us to know how he believed, (fave that he did 
 fo perfedly), as to tell what it is to fee him as he is 
 in heaven. The firft Adam while he flood, was noc 
 a fmlefs believer, but a fmlefs worker ; and when he 
 fell, he and ail his pofterity became fmners. When 
 God's grace fails on any of them, they are made be- 
 lievers through that grace, and believers on it ; yet 
 fin remains in them (1)11. Though its guilt is forgi- 
 ven, and its filth waited away, and its power fubdued ; 
 yet its being and indwelling remalneth : and this is a 
 great impediment in the a6tlDg of faith. If any be- 
 liever had that privilege, (which I think none ever 
 bad, nor none fhoald defire), to be but a little while 
 in the exercife of faith, without any indwelling fin 
 in him ; furely that rnaa would bdlieve wonderfully, 
 and would think that he never believed before, it h 
 true, that all true believers are fan£lified, and that 
 all true a£fs of faith are fanftlfying ; yet no believer 
 is perfe^ly fan£lified on earth. But it is certain alfo, 
 that the firfl: ading of faith on Chrift, is in the fight 
 and fenfe of our riiia by the power of an in our ca- 
 
 lurs } 
 
504 Sermons concerning Serm. XV. 
 
 tore ; and the after a(nings of faith are from the fatr.e 
 fenfe of remaining corruption in us. Proper faith is*, 
 a fmnei's dealing with the Saviour of finners for fal- 
 vaiion from fin. Till we obtain perfect falvarion from 
 fm, we muH: zS: faith for it, and while we 'a£t that 
 iaiih, (in is nni::ed with our very believing, fo as that 
 we mufl pray as he did, Mark ix. 24. Lord, I believe^ 
 help thou mine unbelief. 
 
 tdly'y There are infirmities in believers, in all their 
 beholdings of the" glory of Chrifl, while they are on 
 Ciirib. There are infirmities in our bodies that all 
 sre fenfible of ; and fuch have no fmall influence on 
 the actings of the foul. There are alfo infirmities in 
 cur fouls ; darknefs and dulnefs tn our intelle^lual 
 powers. But above all thefe are the infirmities of 
 the new creature. Although it be created in Chrifl 
 Jefo?, although it be fupported by his power, and is 
 maintained and fed by influences from him, as its head 
 and root ; yet is it Rill a weak and infirm thing, and 
 is like a new-born bahey i Peter ii. 2. But none of 
 thefe infirmities are in them that behold Chrifl's glory 
 above ; they have outgrown them all, and are become 
 perfedl in Chrifl Jefus. Whatever other times that 
 word hath been, or fliail be fulfilled in, its fulfilment 
 uill be at Chrifl's appearing : Ifa. xxk. 26. The light 
 of the 7)100)1 Jh all be as the light of the fun^ and the light 
 of the fun jh ail be feveyfold^ as the light offeven days, 
 J f fuch a difpenlation in the courfe of nature were, 
 that the moon ihone by night as bright as the fun by 
 day ; and if the fun by day did fhine fevenfold brighr- 
 c^r than now it doth ; where would there be eyes to 
 endure it ? Surely, none fuch as ours be. So is it as 
 TO the light of.that glorious day. Our befl eyes that 
 pow we have got and ufe, would fail us; but the 
 Lord provides eyes fuitable 10 the light he will make 
 to fliine. 
 
 3^/y, Bcfides our infirmities we labour under, we 
 have manifold nfHiflions alfo, which the glorified be- 
 holders of Chriir^ glory arc free from. No aiIli<5lioa 
 
 can 
 
S£RM. XV. the Lord*s Ptayer* ^o^ 
 
 can have room in heaven, Rev. xxi, 4, : yet through 
 much tribulation mufi we enter into the kingdom of God^ 
 Acls xiv. 22. AfHiflions are trials of faith ; faith, is 
 to be a£led in and under them j often is faith fhakea 
 by them. Sometimes believing is (trongeft, when the 
 believer is in greateft diftrefs. But though this be a 
 duty laid on all, it is not the attainment of all belie- 
 vers. But (till affliction is an evil in itfelf, though 
 the Lord turns it into good. Now, take all together ; 
 fm is in us, infirmities compafs us about, afflidlioa is 
 laid on us ; rauft not all together make a great differ- 
 ence betwixt us, in our beholding of Chriil's glory 
 DOW, from their beholding of his glory who are fully 
 rid of all thefe things ? 
 
 4. Confider and compare the dilTerence betwixt 
 our beholding of Chrid's glory on earth, and theirs 
 in heaven, as to the fruits and efFe(^s thereof. Thefe 
 fruits are of the fame. nature and kind, and fo are ex- 
 preiTed in the word. 1 (hall name but three of them. 
 I. Conformity. 2. Saiisfadion. 3. ExprefTioa of that 
 fatisfa£iioa. 
 
 ly?, Conformity to Chrifl: is the native fruit of be- 
 holding of his glory. As it is beheld, this conformiif 
 is wrought iu the beholder. The natural eye in fee- 
 ing takes in the vifibie objeds, fpecies, and iliape, 
 by its faculty ; the mind in knowing takes into itfelF 
 the intelligible fpecies of the things known : but a- 
 bove thefe, faith takes in Chrift's glory in the gofpel ; 
 and, beyond faith, the feeing eye of the glorified 
 takes in ChritVs glory as it {bines in heaven, and is 
 conformed thereunto. Compare 2 Cor. iii, 18. which 
 relates to believers on earth, with i John iii. 2. which 
 relates to the glorified in heaven. The objea is the 
 fame, Chrifl: and his glory ; the effe6l of conformity 
 is the fame in kind, but not in degree ; becaufe the 
 object is cot feen by both in the fame light, nor with 
 the fame eye. The one feeth him as he is ; the other 
 feeth him as he appears in the gofpeUglafs. On this 
 X would lead you to confider. 
 
^o6 Sermons ccncerjung Serm. XV, 
 
 (i.) How any likenefs and conformity to Clirifl be- 
 gins. We all by nature bear the image of the earthly 
 Jdaw, 1 Cor. xv. 49. And this is a vile image, of 
 fin, and fle(h, and death ; nothing like, but quite 
 unlike and ccntrar} to Chrift's image : yet, through 
 rich and free grace, many that have borne thi; fad 
 and finful image, are bleffed wiih the image of the hea- 
 venly mariy the Lord from heaven. When and how is 
 this great change made P Then only when Chrift is 
 formed in them, Gal. iv. 19. when he is revealed to 
 them, and when they by faith fee the glory of ChriO: 
 as a Saviour. They begin to live, when they firft 
 look on him as lifted up as God's only ordinance for 
 faving, John iii. 14, 15. There are two difcoveries 
 cf Chrift made to beginners ; one is 10 all, the other 
 only to forae. The general to all believers is that 
 that is both the caufe and the ground of faith in him ; 
 and that it is fuch a difcovery of Chrift's ability and 
 good-will to fave, as doth engage their heart to trufl 
 liim, and him alone, with this great concern pf their 
 falvation. The other is fuch a difcovery of Chrid's 
 glory as doih produce peace in the believer : for ia 
 this he not only feeth Chrift's all-fufEciency for faving, 
 fo as to trull him with it ; but he leeth alfo, that this 
 truftee is fo good and faithful, that this concern mufl 
 be fafe, becaufe it is lodged with him. This is like 
 that faith in 2 Tim. i. i2» 1 know whom I have belie- 
 ved, and I am perfuaded that he is able to keep that 
 tvhich I have com?nitted unto him, againfl that day, 
 
 (2.) How this conformity to Chrift is carried on 
 and advanced. Even as it was begun, Collof. ii. 6, 7. 
 Growth in grace is by grcvAng in the knowledge cf 
 Chrijly 2 Pe\. iii. 18. Abiding in Chrift is the way to 
 have our fruits to abound, John xv. ^^ 5. Many true 
 Chriftians cannot tell when they were firft converted, 
 when they firft believed ; but all Chriftians can tell 
 when ihey were moft holy ; and that is always when 
 Chrift manifefts Limfclf moft clearly to them. As to 
 
 their 
 
Serm. XV, the Lord^s Prayer.' 307 
 
 their firfl: believing, they cannot determine that fo 
 well, becaufe they cannot eafily remember when 
 Chrift firft revealed himfelf to them ; he hath dene 
 it fo oft, and every new manifeilatica o\ his glory to 
 them, draws forth a new acting of their iaith on him ; 
 and it may be fuch a dlftiiid and drong a6t, a? they 
 think they never before did put forth the like. ' cine- 
 thing of this made a great believer, and an aged di- 
 vine, uhen fpeaking of the time of his converfion, 
 fay, " 1 cannot teli it, for I have been more than an 
 *' hundred times converted:" not that he was igr.o* 
 rant or doubtful, that a true converfion is but once, 
 in Gcd's working it ; but that it may have many ap- 
 pearances io our fenfe and experience. David, after 
 his fad fall, prays, Pfalm Ih 10. Create in me a clean 
 hearty O God ; and renew a right fpirit within me ; 
 when before this be had God's tedimcny, that he was 
 a man according io God's own hearty A£t> xiii 22. from 
 I Sam. xiii. 14. A witnefs not only to the truth, but: 
 to the eminency of his fainiihip. Chrifl calls that re- 
 covery unto Peter, a new fort of converfior!, Luke 
 xxii. 32. which he, in am,azing grace, promifeth to 
 him, juft before his (hameful fall : and yet he was 
 a true believer before, and bleffed by Chrifl, on his 
 profeflion and acting of faith, Matth. xvi. 16, 17- 
 Another thing may have fome influence on Chrillians 
 ignorance of the time of their converficn ; and that is, 
 they can better remember the alarms they had in their 
 confcience by a law-work, than they can the (lili and 
 calm voice of the gofpel. The one not only makes 
 more noife, but it is more readily felt and remember- 
 ed by us, than the fecret opening of the heart by 
 Chrift's love. But whatever mifi:akes Chrillians may 
 labour under, and different thoughts and experience 
 they may have as to the time of his love, and the day 
 of hrs powder ; yet all true believers are of one mind 
 as to the feafons of their greateft holinefs. There 
 are different meafures of it difpenfed by the Lord, 
 and attained by his people, Kcne of them have at- 
 VoL. II. K r taioed 
 
-c8 Serm-ons career nins^ Serm. XV 
 
 taiced as much as they would have ; and they that 
 have aaained molt, think Icaft of their attainmeots, 
 and prefs FPofl for p?rfc£tion. Bu[ all can readily and 
 iinaniiHoully declare, when it is that their graces are 
 mod lively, their corruptions mod low and lend raT.- 
 pant, v>'hen their work is mod fweer, and Chrid's 
 yoke and burden mod eily ai>d light; even when 
 Chrid is neared to them, and they to hin^^, and when 
 molt of his glory appears unto them : and this not 
 from the might of their faith as it is their zOi^ (though 
 in fnch feafons i: is in bed cafe), but from the virtue 
 and power of Chrid's grace that falls oa \hcm, when 
 he ib pleafed to manifed himfelf to them. This blef- 
 fed experience of fpecial likenen> to Chrid, by h>s 
 fpecial rnanifeding of himfeif to them, is not without 
 fome danger, that many faints have fallen into : for 
 when things are fo well with them, that the favour of 
 Chrid's knowledge perfmnes their hearts, and that 
 their fecret corr option flirinks into a corner, (as 
 ChrilVs glory and our corruptions are contraries), the 
 believer is ready to fay, as David did, Pfalm xxx. 6, 
 I fa'id hi my profperityy I /hall never be moved • yet 
 quickly was he moved : and fo will ail be that fay 
 as he did j for the dronger that carnal and felf-con- 
 hdence is, the nearer is the man to a (hamefui fa'l, as 
 Peter. 
 
 (3.) !n the lad place, Confider how this conformi- 
 ty and likeneis is perfe^t^d ; and that is, as ic was be- 
 gun and advanced, even by the ddcovery of Chrid's 
 glory in heaven : i John )ii. i, 2. We are the fons of 
 God ; but the world knowe^h us not^ becaufe it knew him 
 72ct. The woild knows God's chiUren well enough, 
 to defpife, hate, and peifecuie them ; and fo did the 
 world know Chrid : but this fort of knowledge is no- 
 thing but ignorance, both qf Chrid and of Chridians. 
 And it doth not yet appear what we Jball be. But it 
 will at length appear ; when and how I But ive know^ 
 that when he Jhnii appear ^ we fhall be like him: jor 
 we Jball fee him as he ts. Yet all thefe things are food 
 
 on!/ 
 
Serm. XV. the Lord's Prayer, §09 
 
 only for humble faith ; every thing in it is deep and 
 unfeaichiible. What is his appejriog .^ V>rha\ it is 
 to be like hini r What it is to fee him, and that as he 
 is ? and, How this fight of hira will make us hke him 1 
 are unaofwerable quedions even to an apoflle, and to 
 z\\ out of heaven, if it be a dark uninielligible riddle 
 to every narurai man, (whatever knowledge he may 
 have of the letter of the world), how a fight of Chrift 
 by faith doth begin, and carry on a real begun hke- 
 Defs to Chrift in believers on earth ; it muft much 
 more be dark to ihem, yea to believers then^.felves, 
 how the fight of ChriiVs glory in heaven doih per- 
 fect and complete this likenefs 1 We mud long for 
 it, and believe n^ and leave it to the day that will de- 
 clare it. 
 
 2dJy^ On this conforinity to ChriiT, followeth fatif- 
 fa^ion and bleifednefs. Of which David fpeaks, Pfal 
 xvii. 15. But as for me, 1 zt'lll behold thy face in rtgh- 
 teoufnefs : If}: alt be fat is fed, when I avjake with thy 
 likenefs. According to the meafare of the aianifefta- 
 lion of Chrift's glory to his people, fo is the degree 
 of their likenefs to him ; and as this likenefs to hiia 
 is, fo is the faiisfa^tion and blifs of them that have ir. 
 All is begun on earth with the heirs, all is perfect m 
 heaven in the partakers and poffeiTors of glory. A 
 little of both, in comparing them together. Believers 
 on earth, that fee his glory^ are transformed into the 
 fame image, 2 Cor. iii. 18. This conformity always 
 works fatisfatlion. David fpeaks of it in Pfal. iv. 6,^7. 
 Lord^ lift thou up the light of thy countenance vpon tts. 
 Thou haft put gladnefs in my heart, 7nore than in the 
 time that their corn and their wins mere afed. And ii\- 
 deed they know not the light of God's countenaricc, 
 that feel not a joy in their heart that ail the world can 
 neither give nor take away. Chnlt promifeth us thi-? 
 joy, John xvi. 22. / vjill fee you again, and your heart 
 Jhall rejoice y and your joy no man taketh from you. Paul 
 prays highly for this blelTing, Rom, xv. 13. Now the 
 God of hope fill you ijoith all joy and peace in believing^ 
 
 R r 2 tb^t 
 
310 Sermons concerning Se rm. XV. 
 
 that ye may abound in bope, throvgh the pozuer. of the 
 H^'iy Ghcjl, Prter fpcaks of joy, as an aitainmeDC of 
 bel evers on earth : i Peter i. 8. Whom having not 
 jecn^ ye love ; in nthom^ though now ye fee him not ^ yet 
 believing^ K rejoice with joy unfpeakable^ and full of 
 glory. The joy is unfpeakable that is felt by believ- 
 ers, when 111-:)' do (as fomerimes, by his lighr, they 
 Cid) fee ibme begun iikenefs to that lovely image of 
 Chrif}, that won their heart the firft time they faw 
 is and when it darted its beams of life and love upon 
 thsir dying foals, and did leave (hat fcent of heaven 
 in their" heart, that they cannot rell, till they appre- 
 hend that for vjhich they were apprehended of Chrift 
 ' JV-'^5 Fhii.iii. j2. In (he day that Chrid apprehend- 
 ed them, and faid ro them in love, " Stop, Tinners, 
 *• in your race to hell : follow me, and i will give you 
 " eternal life ;'' then do they in faith anfwer, " Be- 
 ** hold, we come unto thee, and cannot leave thee ; 
 *• for thou haft the words of eternal life." And thus 
 is fulfilled that bleiled faying of our Lord, John iv. [4. 
 Whofoever drinketh of the water that I Jhall give hinty 
 fball never thirfl : but the water that I /hall give hiwy 
 Jhall be m him a well of water, Jpringing up into ever- 
 lajtng life. The original fpring is heaven and eter- 
 nal \\it ; and this given well will fpring up as high as 
 its cririnal. Can there be any fatisfa6lion compara- 
 ble to this, to behold by faith, eternal life, defcending 
 tiom heaven unto us, in Chrill's love and grace ; and 
 to find at the fane time this fame faifh climbing up to 
 tl;e pcfTtflion of this life? This happinef^ i^ great e- 
 nr.ugh to difgrace and difparage ihe poor portion of 
 the worldling, that not only p?r;(heth with the ufing ; 
 but be that hath it, muft perifh, becaufe he hith no 
 better things, nor things that accompany falvation. 
 But yet, though the believer, in and by his fellow- 
 fliip wiih the Father and the Son, by the Spirit, hath 
 ;i joy that the (li anger cannot intermeddle with j yet 
 his joy, when mofl full, is greatly fhort of theirs ia 
 heaven. Only where perfe<f^ feeing is, perfc61 Iikenefs 
 
 is ; 
 
S.ERM. XV, the Lor (Ts Frayer. 311 
 
 is ; and where perfed likenefs is, there perfe<^ fatlf- 
 fa(^ion is. 
 
 3^/jV, This fatisfa6^ion and bleiTednefs is expreiTed 
 by the ecjoyer, in love and praife. Groning under 
 inifery, is not more natural to the affll6led, than>ex- 
 ultation is to the happy. As believers feel their pre- 
 fent, or fee their future greater happinefs, fo is their 
 praife and their love. But how feeble are all their 
 expreiTions of it P Our bell praifes on earth are little 
 better than fweet and delightful gronings under the 
 heavy, yet dear load of loving-kindnefs. David, the 
 beft artiil ac praife of any faint, how doth he praife ? 
 2 Sara. vii. 18, 19, 20. Who am If and what is my 
 houfe^ that thou haft brought me hitherto ? And is this 
 the manner of man^ .0 Lord f And what can David fay 
 more unto thee f lie afks queflions he cannot anfwer ; 
 he is filenced as foon as he begins to praife, and thus 
 he praifeth rightly. Whoever thinks he hath balan- 
 ces to weigh mercy in, never felt the load of mercy ; 
 and that man is fartheft from right praifmg, that thinks 
 he can praife, and is bed pleafed with his praifmg. 
 But perfect praifmg is referved for heaven ; and none 
 can learn that fong, but they that are with the Lamb 
 in that mount of Sioo, Rev. xiv, ji,-— 4. Perfe^^ fee- 
 ing of Chrift's glory, pecfedl likenefs to him by that 
 fight, perfe61: happinefs by that likenefs, and perre6t 
 exprellion of that happinefs, are ail within the vail ; 
 and all we have and know on earth, are but faint and 
 dark fliadows thereof. 
 
 5. and lafly^ Con fid er and compare the beholding 
 of the glory of Chrift in eanh and in heaven, in the 
 duration of them. In this they differ as much as in 
 any of the former. The one is a tirae-enjoymenr, and 
 for a little timejoo ; the other is eternal. If a belie- 
 ver get a view of the glory of Chrifl by faith now, it 
 is but a tranfient glance, very fweet, but very fhorti 
 In our fweeteft enjoyments of Chrid's company oa 
 eanh, he may pieafe to awake, and leave us without 
 itj Cam, ii. 7. J and not only referveth he.-a fcv.ereiga 
 
 iaii- 
 
^12 Sermons concerning Serm. XV, 
 
 iatitude in giving or with-holding his fenfibleprefence, 
 bur, in love and wifdom for our good, he draws near, 
 or withdraws ; and his people are made to feel their 
 profit in thefe changes. But no fuch changes in hea- 
 ven. Changes are only for time, not in eternity. I 
 beheve, that as foon as any man palTeth out of time 
 into ererniiy, he knows immediately and cerraiuly, 
 that he is now come into an eternal and unalterable 
 itate. The light of eternity demonftrates it. So that 
 the faint entering into heaven knows, that the ever- 
 lafling doors that were opened to let him in, are (hut 
 on him to keep him in that ftate to eternity ; and this 
 is a great part of his bleffednefs. And the damned 
 that go down into the pit, do know, that the bars of 
 hell are locked upon them, that they can never get 
 out ; and this adds to their begun, but never-ending 
 reifcry. It is indeed an amazing both fruit and proof 
 of the power of unbelief in men, that though they 
 pretend they know this, yet mod men do not in ear- 
 ned think where, and in what place and condition, 
 they Ihall be for eiernity ; and yet bedow many care* 
 ful thoughts about the condition wherein they xfay 
 fpend their (hort time on earth. 
 
 So much for the docftiinal part about the beholding 
 of Chrid's glory in heaven. 
 
 Application, i. Learn from this to behold 
 and underdand Chrid's lad delign on his people. It 
 is to have them to behold his glory. Chrid will never 
 leave any whom the Father hath given him, till he 
 hath brought them to this. Let believers learn to 
 give Chrid his v^ill and his way j give him trud, and 
 give him time, and wait patiently. Art thou given to 
 him ^ art thou a believer on him ? Behold with fai:h 
 what his defign upon thee is. It is to bring thee inio 
 that place where he is, that thou mayed behold his 
 glory. Many'drange and deep ways and methods 
 doth he ufe to carry it on. Submit to thefe, and be- 
 jieve the end of the Lord, 
 
 .2. Is 
 
Serm. XV. the Lor if J Prayer* 31 j 
 
 2. Is this Chrift's defign, to have his people with 
 him where he is, that they may behold his glory ? 
 Then fee that it be your defign too. Many defire to 
 be in heaven, that have nothing of this end in their 
 defires. If your end in defiring to be in heaven, be 
 not the Tame with Chrift's end in defiring it for yoi», 
 how can you think that your defire is right, or will 
 be accomphfhed ^ Some men defire to be in heaven 
 for ever, becaufc they cannot ilay always on earth: 
 but if they might Use in health and eafe, if it were a 
 tboufand years on earth, they would never make a 
 hearty prayer for heaven. But thefe are earth-worms, 
 and God will deftroy them. Others defire to be ia 
 heaven, only becaufe they think hell is bad quarters, 
 and that they would be kept from. In efFe<^, all car- 
 nal mens defires for heaven amount to no more but 
 this, " Lord, fave me from hell." They think, that 
 heaven is better thaci hell, but not fo good as the 
 earth, if they might flay comfortably in it. The^r 
 know, that they mufi: be eternally in heaven or hell ; 
 and that the dates are fo diiferent, that it is eafy to 
 chufe which is beft for them. But how can a natural, 
 unrenewed man defire heaven i* A heaven of his owa 
 imagination he may defire ; but true heaven, heavea 
 defcribed in the gofpel, a ftate of blifs in the behold- 
 ing of the glory of Chrift, this no unbeliever can have 
 any relifli of, or defire after. He can never fay a 
 hearty Amen to Chrift's prayer in my text ; they know 
 not Chrift's prefence ; they never faw any thing of 
 his glory, as it furpaffeth all glory. Never will a man 
 defire to make a voyage through death, to fee that ia 
 heaven that he never had any relKh of, nor favour of, 
 on earth ; yea, ii is impolTible he fhould. 
 
 3. La/ilyy Let us from hence icvarn to praife th^ 
 dead that die in the Lord ^ Rev. xiv. 13. 1 allude to 
 the word in Ecci. iv. 2. Wherefore I praifed the dead 
 'which are already dead, vme than the living which 
 are yet alive, Chrift will have them where he is, that 
 they may behold his glory ; and when he calls and 
 
 take^ 
 
J 14 '- Sermons concerning Serm. XV. 
 
 takes them, they do behold it. This is their happinefs ; 
 and we fliould blefs them, and rejoice in their blifs. 
 We have an affecting paiTage in Aci:? xx. 37, 58. after 
 a farewel-fermon and prayer of Paul's : (Here we 
 have an apoftolic pattern for farewel fermons and 
 prayers ; but no where have we any for funeral ones): 
 They all wept jorc^ and fell on Faults neck and kiffed 
 h'tm^ for rowing 7noft of all for the words which he f pake ^ 
 that they (hould fee his face no 7nore^ verfe 25. You 
 may jullly think, that as the ciders, and others of the 
 church of Ephefus, were excellent perfons, and were 
 full of love and value for fuch an emiaent apolfle as 
 Paul was ; fo their grief was great at this fad parting. 
 You in this city have frequently the caufe of the like 
 forrow, if ye had the fame fpirit as they had. Not 
 that 1 mean to compare any miniders you have, or 
 have loit, with this apoflle : for as I am. perfuaded 
 we have none like him ; fo am I, that if there was 
 any liker him than any of us are, confidering the fpirit 
 of the day we live in, that minifter would be the mod 
 defpifed and reproached of any ; though, 1 hope, fome 
 would be found to difcern his true worth. If, upon 
 fuch occafions of the lofs of faithful miniders, or ufe- 
 ful Chridians, you are forrowing, and faying, " I diall 
 *' fee his face no more, and hear his voice no more, 
 " and fee his tender walking no more ;" call this alfo 
 to mind, " If I dial] fee his face no more, he feeth 
 *' Chrid's face for ever ; which is better for him, 
 *' than the other would be to me." There is not a 
 believer in heaven, but he knows this text better than 
 all divines on earth can. Whenever' a believer is en- 
 tered within the gates of the heavenly Jerufalem, this 
 bleiTed beholding of Chrid's glory is better known to 
 him, than angels or men can teach him now. This 
 is indeed the white [lone ^ and in it the new name writ- 
 ten^ which no ?nan knowcth^ faving he that receiveth it^ 
 Hev. ii. 17. 1 would only add, that it would be fweec 
 fpeaking, and fwcet hearing of heaven, if we at the 
 
 fame 
 
Serm. XVL the LorcTs Prayer, 315 
 
 fame time felt fomething of it : and though we caa- 
 Eot yet get up into it ; yet if, through his gract-, 
 fomething of heaven did come down to us ; if the joy 
 of our Lord did enter into our hearts, as an earneft 
 of our entering into it^ Matth. xxv. 21, 23.; for ia 
 that day it will be too big to enter into them. All 
 our work now is to be well acquaint with Chrifl as 
 the way. Chrifl is both the way and the home. Wc 
 inuft walk in him, and be travelling towards him ; 
 and he is our guide and leader in the way. The 
 Work and life of grace is in living on him by faith, 
 and the happin:^fs of heaven is in living wiih him for 
 ever. O come and fee, go and fee. He will call 
 you up iu due time. BkfTed is that believer who is 
 as willing to be in heaven, as Chrifl is to have him 
 there. 
 
 SERMON XVI. 
 
 John xvii. 24. 
 
 Father^ I will that they alfo whom thou hajl given me, 
 be with me where I am ; that they ?nay behold my 
 glory which thou haft given me : for thou lovedfl ms 
 before the foundation of the world* 
 
 THE laft claufe of this verfe only now reraaias 
 to be fpoken to. And it is, as you have heard, 
 xht fourth and lajl thing 1 took up in the matter of 
 Chrift's prayer here. The argument which Chrift 
 ufeth to back his defire of having his people with him : 
 it is in thefe words. For thou lovedfl me before the 
 foundation of the world. This 1 would briefly fpeak 
 to, and at this time conclude this text. An 1 this ar- 
 VoL. II. S f gumcQt 
 
J l6 Sermons concerning Serm. XVI. 
 
 crument of Chv\i\ I wonld fpeak unto two ways, i. 
 Unto the words in ihemielves; and, 7. As they ar<2 
 ufed by our Lord, relaiiag to his prayer. 
 
 I, As thefc "jjords are in thernfehes. They contain 
 ChriR's afferiinp; of the erernal love of the Father un- 
 to the Son. For this word, before the foundation cf 
 the world, and another, be/ore the zuorld was, aod be- 
 fore the 'world began, are ail to the fame purpofe, and 
 are the IJoly G hod's CApreiTing of eternity prior to 
 time : for before the world began^ thf le was nothing 
 bur eternity ; and God inhabiting ir, as the prophet 
 fpeaks, !(.». Ivii. 15, Of this eternal love of the Fa- 
 ther to the Son, I would fpeak briefly. 
 
 I. Confider this eternal love in the Father to the 
 perfon of his Son. This I own is too deep for us to 
 fathom ; but it is a blefled deep to fwim in. The 
 raanner of the everlafling begetting of the perfon of 
 the Son by the Father, is unfearchable by all crea- 
 tures, and, it may be, will be fo eternally. The Hare 
 of j^lory was not deiigned for fatisfying curichty, and 
 inftru£iing men in points of mere speculation, or ia 
 things beyond all created reach. So it pafleth our 
 underflanding to know how the Father loverh his only 
 begotten Son. How one divine perfon lovetii another 
 divine perfon, who but a divine perlon can under(\aud ? 
 There are forae forts of love that 1 would name, a'.l 
 which this love greatly tranfcendeth. 
 
 ifl. The love of cue creature to another. This is 
 fometimes very (Irong, and is in fome caies allowed 
 to be very great, ^diy^ The love wherewith a belie- 
 ver loveth Chrifl, is yet greater. For though the 
 Jovcr be l)ut a creature, yet the beloved is njore than 
 a creature, and deferves more love than we can pay. 
 Chrift cannot be over-loved ; but any creature may. 
 3^/y, There is the love of God towards his chofen. 
 'I'his is greater than the former, it is this love that 
 God is called, hve, from i John iv. 8.-- 16. Athly^ 
 There is the love Chrifl bear? to his church, that is 
 
 cxcccdio:' 
 
Serm. XVL the LorcPs Prayer, 317 
 
 exceeding grest, and much fpoke of in the word, 
 Eph. iii. 18, 19. and v. 25, 26. In the nrft love, one 
 creature loveth another, and with a love that harh 
 bounds and limits fet to it by God^s will, left it exceed. 
 In the fecoud, a creature loves God. In the third, 
 God loves a creature, In the lafi, Chrilt loveth his 
 own body, and every member of it. So thai in all of 
 them, either the lover or the beloved is a creature. 
 But where God the Father is the lover, and God he 
 Son is the beloved, who can tell what that love is i 
 Bat I pafs it, as too deep for us. Here fairh mud 
 believe and adore, and cry out, O the depths I 
 
 2. Chrift is eternally beloved of his Father in his 
 office of Pvlediaior betwixt God and man. Unco this 
 cfEce be was from eieriiity defigned ; and as fooa as 
 fin entered, and the breach beiween God and man 
 was made, he entered upon this oitice. In it he is 
 God's [errant *whom he upholds <i his eleCl in whom his 
 foul dtUgbteth^ Ifa. xlii* i. Under she name of IVif 
 dom^ he fpeaks in Prov. viii. 22,-31. '^The Lcrd pof- 
 Jejfed me in the hegvnning of his way. before his works of 
 old, I was fet up from everlafling^ from the beginnings 
 or ever the earth was* And after an elegaDi accouiu 
 of the work of creation, he adds, that before any 
 thing was made, and when all things were a-making, 
 then I was by him, as one brought i/p zoiih him ; and 
 I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him ; 
 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earthy and my dc 
 lights were with the fons of men. Here are adoiabie 
 delights and rejoicings ; the Father delighting in his 
 Son, the Son delighiing in the Father ; yea^ the Son 
 rejoicing in his people, and in that earth they wore 
 to live on, though neither they nor it were as yet crea- 
 ted. And why may not our faith take in the comfort 
 of this thought, that thefe uitermod parts of the earth 
 where we live, and where the greateft harvefl hath 
 been in thefe latter days, were in Chrifi's heart and 
 eye with delight from eterniity i Chrid the Redeemei* 
 'was verily fore'Crdained before the foundation of the 
 
 ~ f 2 world, 
 
 
318 ^ Sermons concerning Serm. XVI, 
 
 worldt hut was iv.amfcjl in thefe lajl times for yoUy 
 I Peter i. 20. Yta, he is called in Rev, xiii. 8, the 
 Lamb /lain from the foundation of the zucrld. This h^gh 
 cffi:e ot Mediator, the Father, in love to, and for 
 glorifying of his Son, put him in, Heb. v. 4, 5. In 
 this office he did always pleale his Father, and his Fa^ 
 iher witntiTcd to it oiien and mmy ways. It ihould 
 be a great encoursgemeiit unto a!l that have bufinefs 
 with Chriil as Mediator, to confider how the Father 
 delights in him in his office. Salvation is given to a 
 believer in Chriif, with as good will, by the Father, 
 as the price of falvatioa was laid down by the Son, 
 ISIo man can pleafe the Father better, nor io much, as 
 by believing on the Son, and by giving him employ- 
 ir.ent in his office and calling of faving. 
 
 3. Jefus Chriif, the Son of God, is eternally be- 
 loved of the Father, as he is the head of his body 
 the church ; as he is the Tecond Adam, the reprefen- 
 tative of all his people. Of which already at fome 
 length. 
 
 4. Chrift was beloved of the Father in his lowed 
 eflate, and when dying. This is what is in the text. 
 Chrifl was now neiit his lowed when he aiTerts this 
 Icve. He was going to the garden, and to his agony 
 in it J he was ihere betrayed, and apprehended, car- 
 ried to judgment, condemned, and put to death next 
 day, and buiied next evening. This was the depth of 
 the eclipfe of the Sun of Rightecufnefs, Yet in ail 
 this the eternal love o^ the Father to him did not ceafe. 
 When Chrid came into the world fird, we find what 
 great jcy there was on that account. An angel fird 
 publiihed the good news to the fhcpherds, and ihea 
 a muliitude of the heavenly hod fung a fong of praife 
 for ir, Luke ii. 9,-- 14. The Father proclaims hiiii 
 on his coming as the object of heavenly worfhip : 
 Heb. i, 6. When he bri?igetb in the fir fl begotten into 
 the %VGrldy he faith ^ And let alt the angels of Godwor^ 
 Jhip him. There is no angel fo high, nor io great in 
 
 power 
 
Serm. XVI. the Lonfj Prayer, 319 
 
 foiver and mighty 2 Peter ii. 11. but mud ferve and 
 woiiliip the Son of God in his lowed and meaneft ap- 
 pearance on earth. He w^sjlen of angels^ i Tim. ill. 
 16.; and it was their duty, their glory, and their 
 biifs, to wordiip and ferve hiin. When Chrid comes 
 into the world, Heb. x. 5, 6, 7. he faith, as rejoic- 
 ing, A body thou hajl prepared me ; Lo, I come to do 
 thy wii/y God. And that will was to make a facri- 
 fice of that body ; and he did offer it with delight. 
 \¥hen he is baptized, Matth. iii* 17. the Father, by 
 a voice from the excellent glory^ 2 Peter i. 17. witnef- 
 fed his love to his Son : This is my beloved Scn^ in 
 %vhom I am well f leafed ^ hear ye him, Matth. xvii. 5. 
 in Luke ix. 30, 3 i. we have a fpecial hint of the fub- 
 je^ of the difcGurfe that Mofes and Elias had with our 
 Lord on the mount of transfiguration, ivho appeared 
 in glory ^ and [pake of his deceafe which he fhould ac^ 
 complijh at Jeriifalenu We would be ready to think, 
 if it was not for this hint, that glorified faints come 
 from heaven, and waiting on iheir Lord in big begun 
 glory, fliould rather have fpoke of his approaching 
 perfe<fl: glory, than of his deceafe. But as that de- 
 ceafe was the appointed way to his glory, as Luks 
 xxiv. 26.; fo this tells us, that Chrid's death is a 
 theme fit for the mod heavenly perf^ns in their raoft 
 exalted heavenly date. The fong of the redeemed is 
 principally on his death, and its fruits. Rev. v. 9, 10, 
 12. As it is the root of all our falvation, fo it ihould 
 be the ground of all our fongs of falvation. 
 
 But here an obvious objection rifeih. It is faid. 
 That Chrid was beloved of his Father in his lowed 
 itate. But what brought him into this low date, but 
 his Father's anger ? Did it uoi pleafe Jehovah to brutfe 
 him^ and to put him to griefs Ifa. liii. i o. ? How could 
 this eternal love, and his fore fufterings, confid ? I 
 would premife fome things more generally for remov* 
 ir}g this difficulty, and then come clofer to the matter. 
 
 I. There is fomething amoogft men required ot 
 Godj and pradifcd by them j and that i^j in parents 
 
3 20 Sermons concerning Serm. XIV. 
 
 corre^ing their children in love. It fliould always be 
 io^ but is not, Heb. xii. lo. He tells us what is too 
 common, that earthly parents chaflen their children af- 
 ter their own fleafure^ or to vent their difpleafure. 
 Parents cannot diftinguidi betwixt the child and the 
 fault, as they ought. 
 
 2. V/c have a grearer inftance in Abraham's deal- 
 ing with Ifaac at God's command, Gen. xxii. ifaac 
 was innocent, Abraham loved him ; yet the Lord 
 commands hira to offer him for a burnt- offering. Now 
 the Lord did not command, nor allow Abraham to 
 abate ought of that love to his Ton, tliat both nature 
 and grace had planted in his heart towards Ifaac ; and 
 no doubt but love continued in Abraham's heart in 
 all his journey to the appointed place, and in all the 
 preparation he made for the offering the commanded 
 lacrifice : only Abraham was a ftrong believer, and 
 therefore was all obedience. His love to Ifaac did not 
 turn to hatred, when Yitfiretched forth his hand^ and 
 took the knife to flay hisfouy ver. lo. But only his love 
 to Ifaac (hrunk up as it were to nothing, through the 
 ftrength of liis faith, and his readinefs to obey the 
 will of his God. Ifaac's queflion to his father was an 
 addition to Abraham's trial, ver. 7, Aud Abraham's 
 anlwer to it was a great a<?> of his faith in his trial, 
 ver. 8. Ifaac faid, Behold the fire and the wood ; but 
 where is the lamb for a burnt-offering? The inflru- 
 nienis for the burnt-offering were ready and {tt?i : 
 the wood was on ifaac's back, and the fire and the 
 knife were in Abraham's hand, ver, 6. but no facrifice 
 was vifible. Abraham anfwers, Myfcn^ God will pro- 
 vide hi mfe if a lamb for a burnt -offerings ver. 8. Little 
 did Ifaac think that himfelf was the commanded fa- 
 crifice, and to be facrificed by his own father's own 
 hands ; though, without doubt, Abraham did after- 
 wards tell Ifaac the command of God, when he built 
 an altar on the -place God had tald him ofy and laid the 
 -wood in order ^ and bound ifaac his fon^ and laid him 
 on the altar upon the wcod^ ver, 9. And as little did 
 
 Abra- 
 
SER.M. XVI. the LorcTs Frayer* 321 
 
 Abraham think of aoy other facrifice but that of his 
 fon Ifaac. But by Heb. xi. 17, 18, 19. Abraham's 
 faith did a^ on divine power, that could raife Ifaac ro 
 life again, when Abraham had ihed his blood, and 
 the wood and fire had burnt his body ; being per- 
 fuaded, that as no command of God was to he difput* 
 ed, (0 no promife of God would fail of its accom« 
 plKhment. And the iflue of this trial was in the lord's 
 gracious acceptance of his obedience, in flopping the 
 execution of Ifaac, and fubftituting a ram in his (lead, 
 and in adding of a divine oath unto that promife of 
 God, that Abraham's faith was fo (Irongly fixed u- 
 pon. Compare Gen. xxii, 11,— —19. with Heb, vi, 
 1 3, — 20. where we find the grounds of Abraham's 
 faith are common to all believers under the new tef- 
 tamenr, whatever trembling andfinful (hortcoaiings are 
 with us in the a£^s and exercife of our faith, 
 
 3. So our Lord requires of his people in the cafe 
 of fuffering for him : Luke xiv. 26, If any man came- 
 to mcy and bate not his fat her ^ and mother^ and wife ^ 
 and children^ and brethren^ and Jifiers, yea^ and kh 
 ozvn life alfo^ he cannot he my difciple, A poQlive hat- 
 ing of our relations is forbid to all, by the law of na- 
 ture, and by the word of God. To be without na^ 
 tiiral affe^ion^ is a great fin, Rom. i. 3 i^ But wheo 
 the glory of Chrifl and his truth is fo concerned, (as 
 oft it is, that a man mud either deny Chrifl, or fore- 
 go all for his fake ; then is he called to teltify by his 
 choice, like Mofe&% Heb. xi» 24, 25, 26. that Chriil 
 is dearer to him than all. Thus the martyr faid, whea 
 fome fpoke to him of the defolate if ate he was to leave 
 his wife and children in, '* God is my witnefs, that 
 ^* if I had ail the riches of the world, I would chear- 
 *• fully give it all to live with my wife aijd childrea ; 
 ** but now when my teftiraoqy to Chriil and his gof- 
 •* pel, by my death, is called for, 1 as chearfuUy leave 
 "all." 
 
 4. The Lord's dealing in love, and yet in apparent 
 anger with his people : Rev. iii. \^. Ai many as I loixe^ 
 
 ^ Ire* 
 
32 2 Sermons concerning Serm. XVL 
 
 / rebuke and chaflen, Heb. xil. 6. For whom the 
 Lord loveth^ he chajlenethy and fc our get h every fan whom 
 he receiveth. It is a common, but a linful way of argu- 
 ing with nnany Chriftian?:, that they are not GoJ's c'.iil- 
 dren, becaufe they are fo much corre61ed by him. 
 To qucftion our (late becaufe of afili(ftioD, or to con- 
 clude our (late to be good becaufe of profpeiity and 
 eafe, are equally hMc and fooliflb, though not equiliy 
 dangerous ; for it is far. more fo, falfely to conclude 
 a good (late when it is not, than unbelievingly to dif- 
 turb a good (late where it is. It is certain, that the 
 Lord loveth his people with an everlafling love, Jer. 
 xxxi, 3. ; that his mercy is from everlafling to everiaft- 
 tngtothem^ Pfalm ciii. 17.: and that this love and 
 mercy runs through, and is mixed with all his deal- 
 ings with them. Yet how hardly is this owned by 
 them ? Let us begin with the Lord's beginning to deal 
 with them, to draw them to himfelf, to bring them 
 into Chrifl's chariot of falvation, the midjl whereof is 
 paved with love^ Cant. iii. 10. Doth not the Lord 
 appear at fir(l: to them as an enemy, not only declar- 
 ing war againft them, but ufing his irrefiftible arms 
 againfr them, and his arrows pierce their hearts, as 
 Pfal. xlv. 5. ? Little did Paul think of Chrift's love to 
 him, when he fell on the earthy trembling and ajlonijh- 
 ed^ A€t% ix. 3, 4, 5. Yet afterwards he well knew ir, 
 and did count it as long as he lived, the bed day he 
 ever faw. Then when the Lord hath fubdued their 
 hearts, and given them rcfi in their fouls y his yoke and 
 his burden is laid on them, Matt, xi, 28, 29. Whac- 
 foever is common to man^ i Cor. x. 13. or to a belie- 
 \er, that they (hould lay their account with. The 
 crofs of fuifering any thing for Chrifl's fake, is oft 
 laid en them, and always in love ; yet it is judgment, 
 1 Peter iv. 17. and a fiery trial, ver. 12. Manifold 
 outward afRi^lions are laid on them. And let all 
 Chriflians in this furnace fay, if they find it eafy to 
 believe his love to them, when his hand preffeth them 
 
 fore. 
 
SerM. XVI. the Lord's Prayer. 323 
 
 fore. Beyond thefe is Satan^s fieve of temptatioD> 
 Luke xxii. 21. Can there be love in the Lord's let- 
 ting the devil loofe upon one of his own children ? 
 Yes, fo did the Lord with Job \ Paul, 2 Cor^ xii. 7. j 
 yea, with Chrift himfelf, Mattb. iv. 3. But above 
 all, is the Lord's hiding his face, and dealiug a<? an 
 enemy, and that for fin ; when his wrath is kindled 
 but a little^ as Pfalm ii 12, and in the light and heae 
 of that fire, the fiery law (as \\ is called in Deut. xxxii. 
 2..) is read in the confcience, who can believe love ia 
 this, that looks fo like hell? Yet David did fo, Pfal. 
 cxvi. 3 ; and Jonah did fo, chap. ii. 2, 3,4.: and 
 afcer a life oi fightings without^ ^^6. fears within^ (as 
 2 Cor. vii. 5.), when the Lord is ro finifti his work 
 and defign of love on his people, then the lad enemy 
 is to be fought with, i Cor. xv. 26. Death, that to 
 nature looks like the wages of fm, is made the door 
 to glory. But how hard is it to believe it ? He muft 
 have a (Irong faith, that can call his own dying 2. fleep- 
 ing in JefuSy as i Theff. iv. 14.-, that can make ufe 
 of Jacob's words concerning his fleeping place. Gen. 
 xxviii. 1 6, 17. This is the gate of heaven. It is the great 
 work and d fficulty, and yet duty in Chridianity, to 
 believe unfeen and unfelt love, ia and under well- 
 feen and well-feii diflrefs. Soroetimes the Lord joins 
 them, as in 2 Theff. i. 6. and 1 Peter iv. 14 and 
 then it is eafy. But oft the w^rath is feir, and the love 
 is hid in the promife, and there only adlive faith can" 
 find it. 
 
 But all thefe inftances are fo far ftiort of this we 
 are fpeaking of, that they afford very litiie ii^hi abouc 
 this. Therefore I would come nearer, and offer a few 
 things that may help to dire^ your thoughts unto a 
 due reconciling of this eternal love the Father had to 
 the Son, with the hard fervice he put him to as Me- 
 diator. 
 
 I. It was the anger of an offended judge and law- 
 giver, and not the anger of an offended father, that 
 fmote Jefus Chrift. Chrift fuffered^ he was ff^iin, and 
 
 Vol. IL Tt died j 
 
3 2 4 Sermons concerning S E R m , X VI. 
 
 died; and the bitternefs of that low condition was 
 irora the jnflice aod wrath of God, which he felt in 
 his foul : which was well expreffed by a godly mini- 
 (ler, ** Chrid's foul-fuilerings were the foul of his 
 *« fuiterings :" that is, the main and moft bitter part 
 of them. Yet in the depth of all thcfe Chrifi: was 
 pleafing to his Father, and highly f o : John x. 17. 
 Therefore doth my Father love me^ becaiife I lay down my 
 life, that I might take it again. Who took Chrift's 
 life away but his Father ? The wicked inftruments 
 iifed in this work, were of no confideration in the 
 matter. To the chief of thera, Pilate, the cowardly 
 felf-condemned judge, he faid, John xIk. ii. Thou 
 couldej} have m power at all again]} me, except it were 
 given thee from above. It was this inrercft his Faiher 
 had in his fuflerings, that made him fay as ia John 
 xviii. 1 1. The cup which my Father hath given me^Jhall 
 I mt drink it f Our Lord on his crofs, our Lord when 
 dying, when dead, was as lovely in hisr Father's eyes, 
 as ever before or fince. But the juftice and law of an 
 offended judge exacted thus upon him. 
 
 2. This ftroke of juRice fell only on the man Chrifi, 
 on his human nature. His divine perfon was untouch- 
 ed and untouchable by his iuffer;ngs. Chrift's body 
 was the facrifice ; it was his foul and body that the 
 fword of divine juftice did pierce. So that this ftroke 
 was fome way but like a blow on a man's garment. 
 The divine perfon of the Son of God dwelling in fled:, 
 was neither reached, nor reachable by the fword of 
 divine juftice; though the dignity of his divine per- 
 fon did infinitely inhance the merit of the fufferingof 
 the man Chrift. 
 
 3. This ftroke of divine jailice on 'he man Chrift, 
 Was not for any fault of his own, (for he had none), 
 but for the fins of his people, Ifa. liii. 5, 6. Chrift'?? 
 fmlcjOfncfb in himfelf, and his dying for the fins of his 
 people, are the fundamentals in Chriftian religion. If 
 he had had any fin of hu own, he could not have been 
 a fit facrifice for the fins of ornsrs. If he had not died 
 
 for 
 
Serm. XVI, the Lord's Prayer. 525 
 
 for our firs, all fioners mull have died in, and for 
 their own (ins. Now, proper infupport^ble divine 
 difpleafure is for a pcrion's own fia"?. This is the cup, 
 full of mixture^ Pfalm ixxv. 8. ; and this is of wrath 
 with wrath j and ivlthout jnlxture^ Rev. xiv, 10. w^ith- 
 cut any mikiure of mercy with it : nothing but mere 
 wrath in ir. This cup all that die in their fms, mud 
 drink of: but he that died for the fms of others, did 
 not drink of it. It is true, that aii the wrath thar their 
 fms deferved, he did drink of; bat the fm deferving 
 it, was none of his own. If bard ufage from men be 
 lightened from this, as David found ir, Pfalm lix. g. 
 Not for wy tranfgrejffion^ nor for my fm., Lord ; if a 
 good confcierice be a continual feali, farely Chrid had 
 this in perfedioD in all his fuiFerings. He had a trou- 
 bled foul, hot a moffc quiet confcience in all. The 
 foul may be troubled by the imputed fm of others ; 
 but coafcience is never difquieted, but for one's own 
 fin. That Italian martyr underdood this well, and 
 ufed it ncbly ; who being ail^^ed by one, " Why he 
 " was fo mtrry at his approaching death, when Chrill 
 " himfelf was in an agony before his death ?" an- 
 fwered, " That Chrid iuilai-ned in his ,body ail the 
 " forrows and confllcls with death and hell due to us ; 
 *' by whofe fudering we are delivered from forrow, 
 *' and fear of them ail.'* 
 
 4. The Father knew the perfe(51: fudiciency of bis 
 Son, to bear all. that was laid on him. if it be an adl 
 of his grace on his people, not to fiiffer tbera to bn 
 tempted above what they are ahle^ i Cor. x. i:;.: much 
 more was it fo in his dealing with Chrid, Pfal. Ixxx* 
 17. and Ixxxix. 19. He knew (what ws cannot con* 
 ceive) what a vad load of wrath this drong one could 
 bear. None but Chrid could dand before an angry' 
 God, could bear his wrath, and fatisfyjudice. If I 
 may ufe fuch a fimilitude, when the fword of judicq 
 was drawn againd Chrid, and pierced through his 
 foul and body, the Father knew well that his Son was 
 fo armedj that he could not be hurt thereby. His 
 
 T t 2 diviae 
 
5 2^ Sermons concerning Serm. XVI. 
 
 divine nature, and his Father's prefence with hrm, 
 John xvi. 7,2, and the ineffable union berwixt the Fa- 
 ther and the Son, were as armour of proof about the 
 man Chrill ; that though juftice flew him, it did him 
 neither any wrong, nor real hurt, whatever fmart 
 was in the flroke. 
 
 5. The Fdtber knew the glorious \\£iorj that his 
 Son would obtain in, and by, and over all his fuffer- 
 \uQs ; x\i7Lifor the fuffering of death, he fhould he crown- 
 ed wiib ^lory and honour^ Heb. ii. 9. ; that he fhould 
 be highly exalted^ Phil. ii. 9. So that what Chrift was 
 put tc, was but like a father's fending his fon to 3 
 flormy fea, and a dangerous voyage, from which he 
 knew he (hould return fafe and rich ; or like a king's 
 fending his Ton to war, wherein he was fure he (hould 
 €onqucr, and return in triumph. Divine prefcience 
 15 another thing in God's eye, than angel or man can 
 poffibly think. And this was eminently in Chrifl's 
 fuff^ring?, Acls ii. 23. and iv. 28-. 
 
 6. There were great and glorious ends God had 
 before him, in all the fufferings that Chrifl was put 
 to endure ; great glory to his f^^race, great glory to 
 his Son, and a great falvacion to his people : of which 
 ?he word is full. And all that read, or hear, or think 
 of Chrift's death and fufFerings, without regard to the 
 ends thereof, they mind only a bare hiftory and mat- 
 ter of fa(^, without any fruit thereby. 
 
 7. Lafily, The Father loved the Son in dying and 
 for dying, as in John x. 17, 18. For Chrifl in dying 
 offered up the higheft and mod: acceptab'e worQiip 
 and fervice to God that ever was offered ; Eph. v. 2. 
 Chrifl loved us^ ar,d hath given himfelf for us, an of- 
 fering end afacrifce to God for a fweetf?iielli?ig favour. 
 
 And it is the fweet fmell of this facrifice that drowns, 
 as it were, the (link of all the fins and fmners it was 
 offered for. His death could nor be a propitiation, if 
 it were not fo. The two greateft fins that ever were, 
 were the firft Adam's firft finning. All mens fins fince, 
 
 and 
 
Serm. XVI. the Lord's Prayer. 327 
 
 and Adam's own finning after, (as doubtlefs he did 
 for nine hundred and thirty years), were all the fin- 
 ning of fmners : but his firft fin was a finlefs roan*$ 
 finning; befides, it was the mod damning fin that 
 ever was, or can be. The other great fm, was the 
 crucifying the fecond Adam, the Prince of life, and 
 the Lord of glory. It is not only charitably believed 
 by the church of God in all ages, that Adara obtained 
 mercy ; but hath been proved by fome hints in the 
 word, that both Adam and Eve were believers. But 
 for the other great fin, the murdering of the Son of 
 God, it is paft doubt, that many guilty of his blood 
 were forgiven in the virtue of it. A fingular cafe 
 were they in. The cry of Chrift's blood defiled and 
 difturbcd their confciences, (and moll juftly) ; and th^ 
 voice of this blood fprinkling their confciences, purg- 
 ed and pacified them. Now, if to thefe great fms yoa 
 add all the fms of all the finners that were ever for- 
 given, (and no man can count them, or weigh them), 
 conclude, that there was fomewhat offered to God, 
 more pleafmg to him than all fin was difpleafmg ; and 
 this was only the facriiice of Jefus Cbrift. Abraham's 
 offering up 0^ his Son at God's command, was highly 
 pleafing to God ; but it was but a type and ftiadcw 
 of Chrijl's offering up of himfelf without fpot unto God, 
 Heb. ix. 14. Abraham in that action on the mount 
 was to be a priefi, and his fon the facrifice; but he 
 only did offer to be fo, and the Lord did accept the 
 will for the deed. But when Chrift came to offer him- 
 felf, for all the perfeft will he had to do ic, the fa- 
 crifice mud be offered, and was ; and therein was per- 
 formed the greateft, highed, and mcd acceptable 
 worfliip to God. None was ever like it before ; and 
 none comparable to it, will, or can ever be. The 
 praifes of the glorified in heaven will be high and ac- 
 ceptable worfhip ; but no way to be compared with 
 that worfhip Chrift paid, and Gcd accepted in Chrift's 
 
 death. 
 
 And 
 
328 Sermons ccncernin^ Serm. XVI. 
 
 And thus much to thefe words ia themfeives, as 
 tbey diTert the eternal love of the Father to the Soa, 
 
 II. I would Dow fpeak to them, with refpeEl to 
 ChrijTi fcope in ufmg than ; aud therein would ob- 
 iefve three things. 
 
 1. Our Lord Jefus Chrift was now near to his low- 
 eft ; and he comrons himfelf with the faith of his 
 Father's eternal iove. So muft Chriftians do. What- 
 ever the Lord brings you to, if it were to the brink 
 of death, you mufl (tudy to imitate Jefus Chrift, and 
 take in the comfort of his everlaftins: love. For tho' 
 the love the Father hath to the Son, and that love he 
 hath to believers, do differ vaftly ; yet they agree ia 
 this, that ihey are bofn eternal ; and in this alfo, 
 that the faith of this love is fupportiug to his people, 
 as it was to Chrift himfelf. It is no wonder that be- 
 lievers have fo little coiufort ; even becaufe they do 
 not by faith feek out and dig up the right fprings and 
 wells of confolation, and are fo little cxercifed in draw- 
 ing and drinking out of them. 1 fay not, that this 
 fpring of confolation, eternal love, is the firft, and 
 plaineit, and eafieil to come at ; but only that it is 
 the ilrongeft, when a believer can find it out, and 
 ufe it. 
 
 2. Confider this word of. Chrift, as it is an argu- 
 ment backing his prayer, and every petition in it. He 
 calls God Father ; and rightly, becaufe thou lovedft me 
 before the foundatton of the world, " Glorify thy Son, 
 *^ for thou loved fi me, 1 pray for thine and mine, for 
 ^* thou hvedf} me'' How boldly may a believer pray, 
 when he hath this argument in the hand of his faith 
 to pray upon : " Lord, hear me ; for thou hall 
 " loved me in thy Son before the foundation of the 
 «' world." 
 
 3. Tho main thing in the fcope of thefe words of 
 Chrift is this, that the Father's love to Chrift is the 
 fountain of all good to his people. Chrift Is praying 
 in ibis vcrfe for the greateft good to his people, even 
 
 for 
 
Serm.XVI. the Lord's Vr ay er, ^29 
 
 for heaven ; and this fuit he tirgeth on this: arguiiieat? 
 For thou lovedjl me before the foundation of the world* 
 You would think, that the argument would have rua 
 more plainly, (but it would not have run fo fweetly, 
 and fo (Ircngly), if it had been thus : " I will that 
 •* they may be with me where I ara ; that they inay 
 " behold my glory : for thou hail loved them, and 
 " 1 have loved them before the foundation of the 
 " world." But it is belt as Chrid ufeth it, For thou 
 hafl loved me. 
 
 On this truth, That the Father's love to Chnil is' 
 the fountain of all good to his people, I would give a 
 few inllances of ir, and conclude this text with a f¥w 
 words of application. 
 
 Inftances are, 1. Election, that fovereigtv fiirpofe 
 and grace o( God, is given us in Ohrifi Jefus^ before 
 the wmld began^ 2 Tim. i. 9. We are chofen in Chrifi 
 before the foundation of the worlds Eph. i. 4. Cbrifl 
 did not purchafe the grace of ele6lion for us ; yet there 
 is no ele^iion but in Chrill, and unto the fprinkling of 
 his blood, I Peter i. 2, The end, falvation ; the way 
 and means reaching to this end, faith and 'fan^lilica- 
 tion, are joined in this purpofe, 2 ThefT. ii. 13, and 
 Chrift's intereft in it, i The IT. v. 9. For God hath mt 
 appoiiited us to ivrafh, but to obtain falvation by our 
 Lord J ejus Chrijl : and this falvation in Jsfas Chrid, 
 with eternal glory, is obtained by the eie<5i, 2 Ti.ii, " 
 ii. 10. 
 
 -^'2. The grace of redemption come;? to us from the 
 Father's love to his Son. This love feat him 10 be 
 Redeemer, and accepted the price of his life for his 
 flock. Ab[lra6liDg from his eternal counfel and cove- 
 nant, God was at liberty to have left man in the pit 
 he had thrown himfeif in, and to appoint no Redeem- 
 er. But, not to trouble our heads with fuch unpro- 
 fitable fpeculaiions, it is plain, that the whole bud- 
 nefs of redemption by Chrid was trar* faded before 
 time, promifed ia cime, and difpatcbsd in the fulnefs 
 
 of 
 
3 JO Sermons concerning Serm. XVL 
 
 time, in love to Chrifl: the Redeemer, as well as ia 
 love 10 the redeemed. 
 
 3. Chrifl's iDtercefiion in heaven. Whence is it 
 fo prevalent, but from that great favour Chrifl: (lands 
 in heaven in ? It is from the love the Father hath to 
 the Son, that Chrift's defires for his people are fo fuc- 
 cefsful. It is upon this love that Chrifl: prays for hea- 
 ven to his people in this text. And this whole prayer 
 in this chapter, was a mediatory prayer of Ciirift when 
 on earth, and the befl: copy we have of his intercef- 
 fion in heaven. 
 
 More particularly, i. The qulckenino^ of a finner 
 dead in fms and trefpaiTes, is from the Father's love 
 to his Son. All the difpenfations of converting grace 
 on fmners, are a£i:s and fruits of the Father's love to 
 Chrifl : John vi. 44, 45. No man can come to me^ ex* 
 cept the Father which hath fent me^ draw him, '* And 
 ** when he is drawn, and cometh, I will welcome him, 
 *' and give a good account of him one day." And / 
 ivill raife him up at the lajl day. But how doth ihe 
 Father draw men to Chrifl: P By his way of leaching. 
 It is written in the prophet s^ And they JhciH be all taught 
 of God, Every man therefore that hath heard and lear- 
 ned of the Father^ cometh unto me. Till Chrift's Fa- 
 ther, by his Spirit, teach a fmner, and tell him good 
 news of Chrift the Saviour, he will not, he cannot 
 come to Chrift by faith ; for divine teaching doth at 
 the fame time reveal Chrifl: as the objedl of faith, and 
 work the grace of faith, and draw forth the a6l of 
 faith. We are oft complaining, (and not witbout 
 caufe, if we had a right frame of heart in ii), that 
 many Tinners continue dead under the report of Chrift 
 in the gofpel ; and that converfion and quickening of 
 the dead is rarely heard of, and fcen. What is tlie 
 caufe of this rarenefs ^ Is it not that fmners are with- 
 out man's teaching, but becaufe Cfarifl^'s Father doth 
 not teach them j and till he do, they will never mifs, 
 nor value, nor feek divine teaching. They feck but 
 the Ihell of the gofpeJ, they feek but the field v.'here 
 
 the 
 
Serm. XVI. the Lord^J Prayer* 331 
 
 the treafure is hid, Matth. xiii. 44. ; aad that they 
 think any minifler can iliow ihem. But the finding 
 the hid treafure in it, no apoftle -was ever able to 
 tea«h a man to do. All they can fay is, that this en- 
 riching trealure is in the field of the gofpel, and no 
 where elfe ; but it is hid in it ; and till thire come 
 light froin heavA, you will never ^i^d it, but die as 
 poor as your father Adam left you, and in worfe cafe 
 than if you had never heard of this field. Bur ^^hac 
 ■' ihould we do in this fad condition ? Wait on thp Lord, 
 v^ho hath the times and feafonsin his own hand; and 
 while you wait, pray and cry for his teaching, and 
 make ufe of this avgument of the Father's eternal love 
 to the Son. Say, *' As thou lovell: thy ben, teach 
 " me, and many periftiing fmners like me, to know 
 " thy Son." 
 
 2. The jaflification and acceptance of a finner with 
 
 God, comes only from the Father's love to his Son. 
 We are accepted in that beloved^ Eph, i. 6. and are 
 tranflated into the kingdom .of the Son of his htie^ Col. 
 i« 13. All the love believers partake of from God, is 
 but a drop, a fprinkling of that love he hath to Jefus 
 Chrifl. Therefore faith our Lord in this prayer, ver. 
 23. I in theniy and thou in me^ that they viay be made 
 perfect in one^ and that the world may know that thou 
 hafl fent mcy and hajl loved them^ as thou hajl loved 
 me.; and ver. 26. And I have declared unto them thy 
 name, and will declare it : that the love wherewith 
 thou haft loved me, may be in them, and I in them. 
 No love, no grace, no favour comes from the Father 
 immediately, but all in and by Jefus Chnft the Medi- 
 ator. Without a Mediator the Father dealeth not 
 with us when he doth us good ; and without a Me- 
 diator we muft not deal with God, if we would pleafe 
 him. 
 
 3. Believers are preferved in Jefus Chrift: in this 
 accepted ftate, Jude, ver. i. Every one th^t is raif- 
 ed up by Chriit is preferved as fafely ia a ftate of 
 grace, as Chrift is ia the ftate of gloiy. Bs^aufe I 
 
 Vol., II. U 11 " iivs 
 
5^2 Sermons concerning Ssrm. XVI. 
 
 the^ ye fiall live alfo^ John xiv. 19. and x. 27, 28, 
 29. The weaken Iamb in Chrift's flock, that hath 
 heard the great aftd the good Shepherd's voice, and 
 follows him, though feebly, and with many fears, 
 ftiall have eternal life ; and he (hall be kept bv the 
 power of God through faith, till hepoilefs ir, i Per. 
 i. 5. Chrift's arm, ar.d his Father^ arm, are more 
 than we can conceive ; and yet no lefs than is needful, 
 to fecure the'weakeft, againfi: the greateft dangers. 
 4. Lajllyy The blifs of glory in heaven is the joy 
 of our Lord, Matth. xxv. 21, 23. All the eternal 
 cmbraceraents of divme love they get there, are on 
 the account of the Father^s love to the Sod. It will 
 iDainly be fulfilled then, what Chrift promi fed, John 
 xiv. 20. At that day^ ye Jhall know that I am in my 
 Father y and you in me^ and I in you ^ 
 
 Application, i. How fliould this endear 
 Chrift to us, the Father's love to us in him, and aii 
 the fruits of this marvellous love ? How precious to 
 US fliould all be ? Should not all fay, as one did, Pfal. 
 xxvi. 7. How excellent is thy loving kindnejs^ O Gcd ! 
 Did ever a man fee it by faith, did ever one tafle that 
 the Lord is gracious, did ever any hope ior it, that 
 did not count it marvellous loving kindnefs^ as it is cal- 
 led, Pfalra xvii. 7. and xxxi. a J, The love of fuch 
 a God as he is, unto fuch vile creatures as we be ; 
 and this love flowing to us in fuch a channel as this, 
 God's love to his own Son, and ftreamin?2: forth in a-! 
 the blellings of grace and gbry, is a love that all that 
 know it wonder at, and that all that tafte of it know 
 beft, and wonder mod at. Enjoyments of this love, 
 and admiring at it, are infeparable, both in earth, ia 
 believers ; and in heaven, ia beholders. You hav- 
 rot come under the warm beams of this love, that do 
 not ftand aftonifhed at its nature and grcatncf'^, and 
 who do not find fomething both of the depth and blcf- 
 fedncfs of that word, i John iv. 16. We have knozvti 
 and believed the love that God hath to vs. God is love ; 
 
 tli'd 
 
Serm. XVI. the Lord's Prayer. 33^ 
 
 a}7ci he that dwelktb in love^ dwelleth in God^ and God 
 in bim» Try to fay this particularly of yourfelves, aod 
 you will fiud its difFiculty. If you attain to it by the 
 Spirit of faith, you will find its bleffednefs. Yea, 
 what are all the bielled beholders and enjoyers of this 
 love in heaven, but a bleffed company of wonderers 
 at this love P They are in the midil of the ocean of 
 this love, (whereof a few drops lafted by them on 
 earth, made a begun heaven to them), blelTedly 
 fwiming, diving, drinking, and admiring. But k h 
 but very little of what they get thcre^ and of what 
 they do there, that we do or cau know while we are 
 here. Yet, believers, do yon receive any fpirituar 
 blelTiDg P Is it not a lovely fpring ic fiows from, the 
 Farher^i' love to his Son, Epb. i, 3. r Is it not a fweet 
 name that thou Ihouldrt by faith give to thy pardon, 
 to thy fric^liiicaiion, to the vSpirit of prayer, and to 
 any fellowlhip with God : " This, and that, and all 
 ** and every good I obtain, is all from the love of 
 *' God in Jefus Chrift my Lord, Rom. viii. 39. P This 
 way of conveyance proclaims, that all is of free grace; 
 and this way makes ibe bieffings fure and fweer. 
 Thankfulnefs for his unTpeakable gift would rife high- 
 er, and be purer, and n>ore cocilant, if we could read 
 the name of the Father's love to hk Son written (as 
 furely it altvays is, though no: always read) on all 
 our'^iiercies. This would make a crumb from th-2 
 Maker's table be earneftly begged, when we are hun- 
 gry ; and would make us, when we get ir, piize it 
 more than the greatefl revenues of the wicked. I'his 
 love of God in Chrift is an ingredient in mercy, that 
 makes the mercy fwell up to heaven. It is an ingre- 
 dient in the bittercd cup of affli£iion, that not only 
 prevents any poifon apprehended to be in it (and what 
 h mere ufual to our unbelief than to call God's phytic 
 poiion P), and promotes our health thereby ; but ic 
 xjoth alfo cool the ilery furnace, and fweeten it, and 
 make ir the place of love and praife j as it was to the 
 tbrce chiklr^rDo m Dan. iii. 2^* 
 
 V u z 2, Learn 
 
334 Sermons concerning Serm. XVI, 
 
 2. Learn, ChrKlians, toufe thisargurrent in Chrift's 
 prayer, in your prayers alfo. You fee our Lord prays 
 icr his people on this argument, For thou lovedft me 
 before the foundation af the worfd. Let your faith 
 chime to this prayer, and fay, *' Father, 1 would be 
 " with Chrifl where he is, that I may behold his glo- 
 ** ry which thou had given him ; for thou lovedll him 
 *^ before the foundation of the world." You daily 
 hear, that you ihould pr.iy to the Father in Chrift's 
 name. Nov/, what is ir, but to raife our faith, and 
 to embolden cur confidence with God, merely on the 
 account of that high love the Father bears to the Son ? 
 BleiTed is the believer that can plead with God on the 
 argument of the Father's love to his Son, That tho' 
 we have nothi-ig in us that is lovely in God's fight ; 
 though, we can do nothing to make ourfelves accepta- 
 b'e, or our dc fires fuccefsful ; yea, though there be 
 a cloud upon God's love to us yet we build all our 
 hopes of acceptance and fuccef^^, and all ihefe hopes 
 flroni^ and high, on this lovely and beloved one Jefus 
 Chrift, and on the Father's love to him. Whatever 
 you wain of Qo^^, you may afk, and aik it on the fame 
 p:rounds Chrift piays for you upon. You will fay, 
 May every ore afli on this argument ? 1 anfwer, E- 
 very believer may, and ought ; and if he be wife, he 
 will ; and if he doth plead thu<-, he will prevail. But 
 how may I know thi^t I am a believer on Jefus Chritl: ? 
 The Spirit of Chrift fomctimes fiiddenly fatislies the 
 doubting foul ; and that is a great mercy. He (bines 
 on the promife, and makes it brii^ht ; Ibines on fairh, 
 and makes i: (trong and a<Stive ; and manifefls ClirifPs 
 glory lo as th . ihe heart cannot forbear ^o believe, 
 and Jove, and know that it doth fo. But the <:oinmou 
 way, and the way of our doty, is, to fatisfy our hearts 
 as to our being true beiicv^rj; en Chrill, by repeating 
 the a<!ling of faiih on him. 1 fay not, Believe that 
 ycii do believe ; but I fay. Believe on Jefus Chrifl, 
 and you liuill know that ycu are believers on him ; 
 as in / John v. 13. Tkefe things have l -written to yirn 
 
 ' that 
 
Serm. XVI. the LorcTs Frayer, gj5 
 
 that believe on the Son of God ; that ye may know that 
 ye have eternal life^ and that ye may believe on the name 
 of the Son of God, Faith is the evidence of things not 
 Jeen, Heb. xi. i. ; and the Spirit of faith in believers 
 giveth evidence to faith itfelf. By this Spirit ^tknow 
 the things that are freely given lis of God ^ i Ccr. ii. i 2. 
 and faith is a fpecial gift of God. The word in i John 
 V. fo, is of great extent. He that believeth on the Son 
 of Gody hath the witnefs in hhnfelf 1 dare be bold to 
 fay, that there are few true believers^ who are in the 
 lively exercife of faith in Chrift, and while in that 
 exercife, but they are fome way perfuaded, that they 
 are believers : in fo far, that if Satan (liould fay to 
 the contrary, yea, or if the Lord himfelf (liouId feeni 
 to fay CO the contrary ; yet they cannot deny that they 
 are believers on Chrift. How can this be ? fay you. 
 I anfwer, It is from the feofe and inward feeling of 
 the workings of their hearts, in dependence and truH: 
 on Jefns Chrifl: for falvation. Is it not thus with you, 
 Chriftians, whenever ycu are thoughtful about fal- 
 vation ; whenever you are terrified by the laW;' 
 v»rhenever Satan affauhs you by the remembrance of 
 your fins and ill-defervings : yea, whenever God writes 
 bitter things againjl you^ and makeih you to fojfcfs th^ 
 iniquities of your youth y or riper age. Job xiii. 26.? 
 What do ye do f Whiiher do ye go f Is it not ahvays 
 to Jefus Chriit by faith ? Every true believer can rea- 
 dily anfwer thefe three quellions, v;hich no unbelie- 
 ver can, Ifa. x. 3. What will ye do in the day of vifi- 
 tatlon^ and in the defolation which jh ail come from far ? 
 to whom will we flee for help f and -where will ye leavei 
 your glory f Every believer can anf.ver, " Come what 
 *' defolation will, I know what to do, I know whi- 
 *' ther to go for help, and where to leave iny glory ; 
 ** even on Jefus Chrift by faith." Ycu have no other 
 anfwer to give to the law of God condemning yoUj> 
 to the devil accufmg you, nor to your own confcience 
 challergiog you, but only this : «* Jefus Chrift came 
 *' into the world to fave linoers ; his Farhcrj in love 
 
 ** to 
 
^^6 Sermons concerning Serm. XIV, 
 
 " !0 him and fmners, feat him ; he came and died in 
 '•^ bve to Tinners: and I, on the good report of him 
 *' in the goipel, do daily come to him to be faved by 
 *" hirDy and do look for falvauou in him, and by 
 ** liim, and. from him ; and all my fins, and unwor- 
 tbinefs, and fears, and the fad grounds of thefe 
 fears, are all but fo many cords to draw me more 
 and more to Chrirt by faith, and to bind me fader 
 " to biai. And if I am a behever on him, I am one 
 *^ of thofe he prayed for in this chapter, and in thjs 
 * verfe. Father^ I will that they alfo whom thou haj'l 
 *^ ^,ven ?ne, be with me where I am ; that they may be- 
 *' hold the glory ivhich thou haft given me ; for thou 
 *' lovedjl me before the foundation of the world. If 
 Chfifi: prayed fo for me, I may furely pray fo for 
 myfelf ; for a better copy I cannot follow. If Chrlll 
 prayed fo for me, he was furely anfwered, and the 
 blcfiing will be given ; and I may firmly believe, 
 and patiently wait for the falvation of God. And 
 I may alfo ufe the fame argument ibr rtrengthening 
 of my faith, that Chrill: ufed to enforce his fuit j 
 " even the eternal love of the Fauier to his Son.*' 
 
 This is indeed a great and marvellous falvation 
 which Go^i hath provided for his people. Marvel- 
 lous in the way, Jefus Chrift ; and that the gofpel 
 doth now declare. Marvellous in ihe beginning and 
 progrcfs of this falvation. A fianer mud feci grace 
 before he knoiu the grace of God in truth. Col. i. 6. 
 He mud: have faith wrought in him, and aifted by him, 
 before he know what believing to the faving of the Joul 
 is, Heb. X. 39. He mud be in heaven, befo c he 
 know well what heaven is ; yea, which is 1 z 
 ftrange, the believer mud be in heaven, bcf e 
 
 know perfe<!^ly the way to heaven- Wt k?^. ' taat 
 Chrid is the way ; th^t we mud enter iuio !iim by 
 faith, as he is the way ; that v;e mud walk in hi:n, 
 and abide in him, and live on him, till we come home;, 
 to his Father's hpufe. But how Chrid became the 
 way to heaven ; how be is the nev^ and living way : 
 
 how 
 
 «( 
 
S E R M. XVI. the LorcTs Prayer. 357 
 
 how he confecrated himfelf as the Way ; h^w he wa§ 
 beloved of the Father, and bruifed with divine wrath 
 at the fame time; how Chrift the living head draws 
 dead lumps of hell, and makes them lively members 
 of his own body ; how he knits and nouriiheth them 
 by fpiritual joints and bands. Col. ii, 19. till he per- 
 {tEi them in himfelf, Eph. iv. 19. and Col i. 28.; 
 how he gives the laft pull and drawing at deaths and 
 receiveth them unto himfelf, John 5jiv. 2, 3.; what 
 Ghrift is now doing in preparing a place for them; 
 and what he will at laft do, in receiving them, and 
 prefenting them to his Father ; ihefe, and niaGj' fuch 
 things, are matter for our daily exercife, in faiths 
 and hope, and wonder. Our main Work while we 
 are here, and without the vail, is, to be flnving to 
 get more and more into Chrift by faith ; and nor oiiiy 
 to get within the gates and walls of this city of re- 
 fuge, (and the walls are falvalton^ and the gates praife^ 
 ifa. Ix. i8.), but alfo to get into his palaces, where 
 he giveth his loves, tits love is better thanwine^ Song 
 i, 2, The tafte of this love would q^jickly make all 
 the wells of this world's confolation to be as taflelefs 
 and empty to us as they are in themfelves. Unfpeak- 
 ably both ftrong and fweet is that mortification and 
 deadnefs to the world, that is wrought in the belie- 
 ver, by the /bedding abroad of the love of God in his 
 heart by the Holy Ghcfiy Rom. v. 5. You Wvt in aa 
 evil world. It v/ill mock you, and hate yoa : but 
 do you pity it. A believer is a pitiful creature in the 
 eyes of the ungodly ; looking at things that are not, 
 feen^ and not looking at thiv.gs that arefeen, 2 Cor. iv. 
 18. ; defpifing this world and ail things in it as a por- 
 tion, and feekiug an uofefn and future glory in an un- 
 known world to come. To Uilld all our hopes of par- 
 taking and pofil-friDg of it on an unfeen Chrlfi; to 
 bottom our faith on him, upon a word from him : to 
 live and die upon his promife, and to do both chear- 
 fully, are the glory of a Chrilliaa. But this glory is 
 turned into (haiue bv the thcupjits and reoroacbes o^ 
 
 all 
 
g^S Sermons concerning^ &c. Serm. XVI. 
 
 all unbelievers. But let the righteous hold on his way ; 
 and he that hath clean hands ^ Jhall wax Jlronger and 
 Jlronger^ John xvii. 9. Tour path is as the Jhining 
 light y that Jlnneth more and more unto the perfect day^ 
 Prov. iv. 18. Pafs through rhis world, believers ia 
 Jefus, liking nothing in it, caring for nothing in it, 
 content and fatisfied with nothing it can give, moved 
 with nothing in it ; neither much taken up with the 
 much evil, or the little good of it ; neither caft down 
 with the frowns, nor lifted up with the fmiles of 
 this vain deceitful world, Pafs on, 2Sidi prefs forward 
 for the prize of the high calling of God in Chrifl Jefus ^ 
 Philip, iii. 14. You have greater things to look to, 
 greater things to fix your hearts and hopes upon, than 
 all this world : even to that blefTed ftate, when we 
 ihall be with Chrift where he is, and (hail behold his 
 glory which his Father hath given him : for the Fa- 
 ther loved his Son and our Saviour before the founda- 
 tion of the world. 
 
 The End of the Second Volume. 
 
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