Twenty-Nine Lectures, Lecture 19
The Nineteenth LECTVRE of the CHVRCH.
THe laſt point wee handled concerning the Church, was of the Gouernement of it,The ſixth generall things concerning the Church viz. the priuiledges of it. which being finiſhed, it remaines that we come now to the ſixth generall point propounded, namely; To the priuiledges of the Church. A Priuiledge is a matter of Benefit, or ſpeciall fauour granted to one or more Perſons or Companies, or ſuch like; which generally others are debarr'd from; for ſo the Nature and vſe of the Word, amongſt vsus, ſeemes to require; Firſt, that the matter of a Priuiledge bee a matter of Benefit, or elſe it would bee a Burthen or Diſparagment, and no eaſement, nor prerogatiue, and ſo it is a Priuiledge rather to be without it; therefore it muſt bee a matter of benefit. Secondly, it muſt bee appropriate to thoſe Parties to whom it is granted; that is, it muſt bee free to them, and eueryevery of them to enioy, and peculiar to them alone, others muſt bee abridged and debarred from it: this is the vſe of the word amongſt vsus, in the nature of it: It is otherwiſe vſed in prophane authours, but we ſpeake in our owne language, and therefore we ſpeake of it, as it is in vſe amongſt vsus.
Now in ſpeaking of the priuiledges of the Church,In this head two points handled. 1 handled by way of obſeruation. wee will handle theſe two points: Firſt, that the Church hath her priuiledges; Secondly, what theſe priuiledges are: For the firſt, it offers it ſelfe naturally to vsus by way of obſeruation; And therefore take it thus, the Church of God hath her priuiledges, that is, there are certaine excellent priuiledges belonging to the true viſible Church, which all that are of the Church, and they alone, hauehave right and intereſt in, and are denied to all others: Doct. For proofe hereof, It is ſaid in Pſal. 147. laſt verſe, He hath not dealt ſo with euerie nation, that is, he hath not dealt ſo with any Nation; the Prophet ſpeakes there of Gods dealing towards Iſrael then, and, by Conſequence, of his dealing towards his Church for euer. Now God had many Nations in the world beſides Iſrael, and he deales mercifully and graciouſly and bountifully with them all, and giues them food and rayment, and health and life and all; But ſo, as with Iſrael, that is, ſo mercifully and ſo bountifully, he deales not with any Nation: No, he hath not dealt ſo with any Nation vnderunder the Sunne, as with them; and as God dealt with them, ſo he deales with his Church, from time to time, hee vouchſafeth them more excellent Priuiledges then all the world beſides. And in the 1 Peter 2.9. Yee are a peculiar people, that is, ſuch a people as the Lord hath endued with many excellent Priuiledges, proper and peculiar to them alone: And Pſal. 83.3. they are called, Gods ſecret ones, what is that, but priuate ones? And what are priuiledges, but certaine Conditions granted to ſome priuate States or Perſons? So then, the Church are Gods ſecret ones, as who ſhould ſay, hee granteth them many excellent priuiledges, which none other are partakers of: And in Exod. 19.5. the Church is called Gods Chiefe Treaſure; It is true, that all the Earth is the Lords, and is all full of his Treaſures; but his Church is his chiefe Treaſure; Siluer hath her prerogatiue aboue all baſer mettall, and gold his prerogatiue aboue ſiluer, but Pearles and precious Iewels are a chiefe Treaſury, and hauehave prerogatiue aboue all the reſt. Sodom was a goodly City like Eden; and Egypt was a fat and fruitfull Soile; B…t they were nothing to Canaan, for that flowed with milke and honey; milke and honey are the beſt and ſweeteſt things, Canaan flowed with theſe, that is, had great abundance of them; Niniueb was a great and famous City; Babel was the Glory and Pride of Kingdomes, Iſay 13.19. but theſe are nothing to Ieruſalem, that is the holy City, the City of the great King; the Ioy of the whole Earth, Pſal. 48.1.2. To goe forward, Baſhan is a high mountaine; But Zion is farre beyond that, Pſal. 68.15.16. All theſe, as they are true in the ſtory, ſo are they in the Type; All other places are inferior to Gods Church: The Scripture forbeares not the name of Priuiledge, in effect, and applies it in this very caſe, Rom. 3.1.2. what is the preferment of the Iew, &c? The Lord queſtions it there, and anſwers it himſelfe, that none may doubt of it; much eueryevery manner of way, as who ſhould ſay they hauehave Priuiledges and preferments, and they are not ſcanted of them, much, that is, many and great, and that (not in one kind, but) eueryevery way: It is ſpoken there onelyonly of the Iew, but, by Analogy of Faith, it may bee applied to the whole Church, Iohn 1.12. to them that receiued him, to them hee gaue Power (or prerogatiue) to bee the Sonnes of God; here is a prerogatiue giuen, and what is that? to bee the Sonnes of God; this is a Priuiledge of all Priuiledges; for hee that hath this Priuiledge, to bee Gods Child, hath, with all, free right and intereſt in all the bleſſings that can bee affoorded to man, ſuch as the Apoſtle ſpeakes of, 1 Cor. 2.9. that the Eye hath not ſeene, nor the Eare heard, neither can it enter into mans heart, where the Apoſtle ſpeakes, not onelyonly of things to bee enioyed in the life to come, but euen of the Priuiledges of Gods Children, euen in this life: And Iſay 64.4. ſince the beginning of the world, they hauehave not heard nor vnderſtood with the …are, neither hath the eye ſeene any other God, beſides thee, which doth ſo to him that waiteth for him: God doth ſo for none as hee doth for his Children.
Reaſons.The Reaſons, why the viſible Church hath ſuch Priuiledges are theſe; Firſt, eueryevery Company and eueryevery Cittie hauehave certaine Priuiledges of their owne; therefore the Church, the Company of the faithfull, the Cittie of the great King, muſt hauehave hers much more.
Secondly, the ſpeciall fauour and louelove, which God doth beare to his Church, is ſuch, that he can doe no leſſe for them; Thoſe whom the Kings of the earth moſt fauour, on them they beſtow the greateſt Priuiledges: Therefore whom the King of Kings fauours moſt of all, that is, the Church, hee is to beſtow on them greater and better priuiledges, then any King can giuegive, but God onelyonly; or any ſubiect can receiue, but Gods owne Dearlings.
Thirdly, the Church hath many offices to performe towards God, in ſpiritual and heauenly duties, as prayer and ſuch like, which they cannot poſſibly performe, vnleſſe they bee, by Gods owne ſpeciall priuiledges, exempted from other Imployments, and enabled to theſe.
Fourthly, their neareneſſe to Chriſt, and their dependance on him requires it, they are his Sheepe, and hee is their Sheepherd, and ſhall not hee know them, and ſo ſet his mark vponupon them, and call them by name, and lead them foorth into greene Paſtures, &c. ſhall not he guide and comfort, and preſerue and priuiledge them, from ſuch things as other flockes are ſubiect vntounto? yea, their oneneſſe with him requires it: hee is the Husband, the Church is his Spouſe, they are one; and ſhall not hee giuegive her a wedding Ring, his hand, and his heart? ſhall not he apparell and decke her and cheriſh her in his boſome, and affoord her his cō fortable preſence at bed and at boord, as we ſay? And many other ſuch priuiledges, which non elſe can enioy yea, he is the head, & the Church is his body and ſhall not he enliue, and quicken, nouriſh, direct, defend and indue his Body with all ſuch Priuiledges and graces, as it is capable of? So that their neare dependance on Chriſt, and her oneneſſe with him requires that hee beſtow many excellent Priuiledges on her, which others may not enioy.
Fiftly, the Merit of Chriſt requires it, which being infinite in it ſelfe, and wholly imparted to the Church, muſt needes purchaſe and procure from God many excellent Priuiledges, ſuch as are fit for them.
Sixtly, the Church is ſeparate from the Communion, ſtate and condition of others in the world, by their very Calling and Being of the Church; therefore it is neceſſary, that they ſhould hauehave ſome notable Priuiledges to bee enioyed in that State, in regard, that they are depriued of ſuch as are common to others.
Seauenthly and laſtly, many Afflictions are to bee ſuffered and endured of the Church, not onelyonly in that State, but euen for it; and therefore, ſome excellent Priuiledges are beſtowed vponupon them, to comfort their hearts, and to make them a full amends, for all the wrongs, croſſes, and loſſes, that therby they vndergoe.
The vſes of the point are theſe; Vſe 1 Is it ſo that God hath beſtowed ſo many excellent Priuiledges vponupon the Church; then firſt, this ſhould teach vsus to glorifie God, that doth ſo mercifully grace and glorifie vsus; and firſt in generall we are to acknowledge with all thankfulneſſe Gods ſpeciall LoueLove and Fauour to his Church, that beſtowes ſuch excellent Priuiledges and Royall Prerogatiues vponupon it. Secondly in ſpeciall wee muſt acknowledge with all thankefulneſſe, that amongſt the reſt, this Land, wherein wee liue, is gathered into his Church, and therby hath long and doth ſtill enioy ſuch priuiledges; & that as we are a part of his Church, ſo we hauehave part in all her Priuiledges: And thirdly we muſt thankfully acknowledge more in particular, that wee, that are here preſent, hauehave our parts in the Church, and that we are members, liuing & ſound members therof, and ſo that we hauehave right and ſpeciall claime in them all: And this benefit will appeare to bee the greater, if wee conſider, firſt, that it is denied to others, and yet affoorded to vsus; that Child or Subiect, that is ſpecially ſingled out, by the Father or King, from the reſt of the Children or Subiects, to hauehave a richer portion then they, to hauehave a ſecond Meſſe, as Beniamin had, is not he ſingularly bound to that father or King? This is our caſe in reſpect of many thouſands in the world, they are left, wee are taken; they euer in harmes-way, wee are priuiledged; alas, they are his Creatures as well as wee, and wee are duſt and aſhes as well as they, why ſhould wee hauehave better at Gods hands then they? Yea, wee are ſinners as well as they; why then are we priuiledged from thoſe Euills, which they are ſubiect vntounto? Why doth not this land wallow in the darkneſſe of Heatheniſme, Idolatry, Turciſme, Iudaiſme, Papiſtry, &c: as the the greateſt part of the world doth beſides? Why doe not wee, heere preſent, alſo wallow in Prophaneneſſe, Idleneſſe, Deadneſſe, Vnconſcionableneſſe, Vngodlyneſſe, Vnprofitableneſſe, as the moſt in the land doe beſides? Surely there is no reaſon for it but this; Gods meere Mercy and ſpeciall Fauour to vsus, aboue them; Let vsus conſider this well and take it to heart, and neuer thinke of it, but let our hearts euen melt to God for it: Alas! What are wee, that God ſhould thus priuiledge vsus aboue others? And let it ſtirre vsus vp to continuall Thankefulneſſe to God; and alſo, let it inflame vsus with entire LoueLove to God againe, that hath ſo dearely & entirely loued vsus; and as God hath made choiſe of vsus, aboue all other to bee his chiefe Treaſure: ſo let vsus make choice of him, aboue all other, to bee our chiefe Treaſure: and ſay with Dauid, Who hauehave wee in Heauen (O Lord) but thee? and whom doe wee deſire on earth in Compariſon of thee?
Vſe 3 The ſecond vſe may ſerue for pacification and ſtay of our rouing and vnſettled thoughts about the proſperity of the wicked: Alas! their proſperity to our priuiledges is nothing, there is no compariſon betwixt them; It may bee that hee is rich, and hath the world at will; yea, but thou art rich in God and in the Faith of Chriſt, this is the true Treaſure. A worldly man is not troubled, but hath peace and quietneſſe round about him; yea, but thou haſt peace with God and in thine owne conſcience, and this is the right peace. A worldly man liues at his owne will, and doth what himſelfe liſt; yea, but thou liueſt after Gods Will, and doeſt, in ſome meaſure, what hee commandes, this is the Life of God; heauenly and eternall Life. Worldly men, they and their children are gayly and richly apparrelled, and fare deliciouſly eueryevery day: yea, but what art thou the worſe for that; that which they hauehave, is but for the outward man, that which thou haſt, is for the inward man; thou art cloathed with the rich Robe of Chriſts Righteouſnes, this is rich and gay Apparell indeed; and thou art fed with ſpirituall food, the Word and Sacraments, and Gods Comforts, and the continuall Feaſt of a good Conſcience: this is the daintieſt fare and the ſweeteſt diſhes that can bee ſet on our tables, if wee were Angels wee could hauehave no better: yea, marke further thou ſhalt ſee the time, when they and theirs for all their preſent glory, ſhall die like Beaſts, and afterward be tormented in hell with the Rich man for euer; whereas thou and thine being brought vp in Gods Feare, ſhall die Gods deare Saints and Children, and afterwards bee alſo glorified in Heauen, and that for euer. If wicked rich men would conſider and vnderſtand this, it would quell them in their greateſt mirth, and abate their haughty thoughts of themſelues, and their pride, and their Contempt of Gods Children, and their Cruelty againſt them: And ſo if Gods Children would ſeriouſly conſider of it, they would be farre from enuying the wicked, and grudging at their proſperitie; yea, rather they would pitty their perſons, and commiſerate and grieue for the extreame miſery that is vponupon them, they would ſit down in ſilence and not murmure; though others carry the world before them, what care they? they hauehave ſuch Priuiledges as the world knowes not of, and the proſperity of the wicked is lighter then vanity it ſelfe.
Vſe. 3 The third Vſe is for comfort to all Gods Children, againſt all their preſent Afflictions, Sufferings, and wants, for what we want one way, is ſupplied another; all our loſſes, diſgraces, griefes, wrongs and wants are plentifully recompenced by many gracious and comfortable Priuiledges within vsus; and by the eſtate of grace which wee enioy: In Iſay 43.2. the Prophet ſaith, We goe thorow water, and wee goe thorow fire, heere is our danger; yea, but the Lord is with vsus, ſo that the Fire ſhall not burne vsus, nor the Waters ouerflow vsus, heere is our Priuiledge, And in Iohn 16.20. our Sauiour ſaith, Yee ſhall weepe and lament, and the world ſhall reioyce; and yee ſhall ſorrow, there is our preſent Affliction; but your ſorrow ſhall bee turned into Ioy, there is our Priuiledge: and ſo in verſ. 33. In the world ye ſhall hauehave Affliction; here is the hardeſt of our portion; but bee of good Comfort, I hauehave ouercome the world; heere is our Priuiledge to make vsus amends; And ſo in Matth. 19.29. We forſake houſes and brethren, and ſiſters and father and mother, and wife and children and lands for Chriſts ſake; yea, but, we receiue an hundred fould more in this life: that is, in regard of many gracious and ſpirituall Priuiledges, and we ſhall inherit euerlaſting life: Oh; that Gods Children had a liuely feeling of theſe things in their hearts; It would make them ſcorne al that euer Satan or his Inſtruments could doe vntounto them, and they would bee ſo farre from grudging, as that they would reioyce in tribulation, and take exceeding comfort in all their ſufferings. But ye will ſay, The Church viſible conſiſts of good and bad; hauehave the bad ſuch Priuiledges? I anſwer, yes, ſome they hauehave by outward right and poſſeſſion, the reſt being found in the good, are freely affirmed of the whole from the better part: But moſt of theſe Priuiledges belong to the inviſible Church, how then are they Priuiledges of the viſible? Anſwer. yes, As the ſame perſons, that is, the choſen, being liuing members of both.
So much for the firſt point, that The Church of God hath many excellent Priuiledges.
Now in the ſecond place wee come to know what theſe priuiledges are? Surely,2 things handled viz. the priuiledges of Church and they be of two ſorts. 1 humane. they are more & greater then can be ſpoken or vnderſtood; yet becauſe though we doe enioy them, they are not ſuch a comfort to vsus, except we know them: Therfore I will labour to giuegive you ſome taſt of them; They are of two ſorts, ſome are humane, that are granted by men, and ſome are diuine granted by God himſelfe. Firſt, ſome are humane, granted by men, as by Kings and Emperours, Councels and States, either politicke or Eccleſiaſticke; yea, ſomtimes by Heatheniſh States as well as Chriſtian, for ſomtime God ſtirred vp Heathen men, to be beneficiall to his Church; & theſe priuiledges were outward, either of their perſons from war, or of their goods from taxes, or the places conſecrat to religious vſes were freed from arreſts, & ſuch like; hence came priuiledged places: But theſe, as they came from men; ſo there is no ſuch excellency nor comfort in them; & they were intended only or chiefly to Churchmen, as they call them, that is, the clergy. But yet euen in theſe things, let vsus obſerue Gods louelove to his Church; for as it was the Lord that gaue Iſrael fauour in the ſight of the Egyptians, that they gaue them their iewels, &c. Exod. 11.3.2 di…r theſe … uers ſorts, generally, of two ſorts. ſo it was the Lord that inlarged the hearts of thoſe Princes & States to be beneficial to his Church: but the priuiledges we ſeek, are much more material & excellent, and are cōmon to the whole Church, people as well as miniſters, & theſe are diuine priuiledges, granted immediatly by God himſelfe. And theſe are of diuers ſort; generally, they are of two ſorts. The Church of God is priuiledged, partly, in reſpect of others, and partly in reſpect of themſelues: In reſpect of others they are priuiledged. Firſt, in regard of their friends,1. In reſpect of others, both friends and enemies whom God bleſſeth for them; and alſo in regard of their enemies, whom God curſeth for their ſakes, as in Gen. 12.3. I will bleſſe them that bleſſe thee, and curſe them that curſe thee; Yea, they are priuiledged in reſpect of the world it ſelfe, whoſe ſubſtance & ſtandards they are, Iſay 6.13. It was made, and is preſerued, continued, altered, and ſhall bee deſtroyed for their ſakes; As it was a great Priuiledge of the Arke of God, that where it entred and was well eſteemed and vſed, as it was in the houſe of Obed Edom, the place and perſons were bleſſed by it, & where it was not worthily eſteemed, as amongſt the Phyliſtims; they were accurſed by it: So it is a great priuiledge to the Church, that they, that are friends vntounto it, are bleſſed by it, at leaſt in outward things; and that they, that are Enemies to it,2. In reſpect of themſelues. 1 temporall priuiledges. are curſed and plagued for it. Secondly, they are priuiledged chiefly in reſpect of themſelues, whereby they fared the better in their owne perſons. And theſe Priuiledges are of two ſorts: ſome concerne their outward and temporall eſtate, others concerne their inward and ſpirituall eſtate. Firſt, ſome concerne their outward and temporall eſtate, as firſt, protection and defence againſt Aduerſaries Iſay 4.5, 6. there the Church is called the Glory, and there is a promiſe of vniuerſall Protection to it: ſo alſo defence from ordinary Euills that befall others, as Pſal. 91. and likewiſe they are priuiledged, in regard of victory ouer their enemies, as Pſal. 149. verſe the laſt, That they may execute vponupon them, the Iudgement that is written; This Honour ſhall bee to all his Saints. Laſt of all, the continuance of the very outward being of the Church through all Ages to the worlds end, is a Priuiledge to it, as in Pſal. 46.5.6. the Prophet ſaith, God is in the middſt of it, therefore it ſhall not bee mooued. Let the world doe what it will, yet it cannot depriue the Church of the outward being of it; it may waxe and wane as the Moone doth, yet as that hath alwayes a being; ſo ſhall the Church euer bee. Theſe are temporall Priuiledges.
The ſecond ſort are ſuch,2. Spirituall priuiledges theſe… of two ſorts 1 common to all the members. as concerne our ſpirituall and eternall eſtate, and they alſo are of two ſorts; ſuch as are common to all the members of the Church: Hypocrites as well as true Beleeuers; as the vſe and profeſſion of the Word, Sacraments, Prayer, Faſting, Gifts of the miniſtry; Profeſſion of the Goſpell, Knowledge of Gods Will, and outward conformitie and obedience thereto; as alſo Hiſtoricall and temporary Faith, and ſome taſt of heauenly things, Heb. 6.2. and ſuch other common gifts of the Spirit; Theſe, in the godly, tend to their eternall good, but in the wicked and reprobate, to their eternall condemnation.
Secondly, ſuch as are proper to Beleeuers onelyonly,2. proper to the true Beleeuers, and theſe of two ſorts. 1. matters of preſent poſſeſſion of diuers kindes. as the Spirit of Adoption, and ſuch like; and theſe are alſo of two ſorts. Firſt, matters of preſent poſſeſſion; ſecondly, matters of future certainty. Firſt, matters of preſent poſſeſſion, and they conſiſt of diuers kinds. Firſt, wee are priuiledged in reſpect of God; Secondly, in reſpect of the Creatures; Thirdly, in reſpect of Gods ordinary dealings in the world; Fourthly, in reſpect of the workes, hee doth for vsus; Fiftly, in regard of the graces hee workes in vsus; Sixtly, in reſpect of the comfort hee impartes to vsus; And laſtly, in regard of the liberty he giues vsus.
Firſt, they are priuiledged in reſpect of God, hee is theirs, and they are his; God the Father is their Father, Maſter, and Preſeruer; they are his Children, Creatures and Charge. Ieſus Chriſt is their Head, they are his members; hee is their husband, they are his Spouſe; hee is their Sauiour, they are his redeemed; hee is their Aduocate, they are his Clyents; hee hee is their Sheepherd, they are his Sheepe; yea, they in ſome ſort are one with him, and hee with them; ſo likewiſe the holy Ghoſt, he is their maſter, they are his Schollers; he is their Leader, they are his followers; he is their Counſellour, they are his Clients; he is their Sanctifier, they are his Temple; hee is their Quickner, they are his frame and workemanſhip to a new Creature. Yea, the whole bleſſed Trinitie doe moſt graciouſly concurre by their perſonall Actions in eueryevery part of our Saluation: here is a ſingular priuiledge; if we had no more but only this, it were enough to ſtirre vsus vp to glorifie God, and to comfort vsus againſt all our preſent afflictions; how truely then may we ſay with the Prophet, Pſal. 144. laſt, Bleſſed are the people that are in ſuch a caſe, yea, bleſſed are the people, whoſe God is the Lord. Secondly, we are priuiledged in reſpect of the Creatures, the holy Angels are ſeruants and attendants vponupon the Church; they are miniſtring Spirits ſent forth for their ſakes: The Saints in Heauen acknowledge vsus to bee Members of their Body, the Catholique Church, and doe inſtantly deſire the full accompliſhment of our ſaluation, that they and we may be perfected together. The Saints on earth louelove vsus, pray for vsus, reioyce at our good; ſorrow at our harmes: The wicked of the world oftentimes reuerence and admire vsus for our holineſſe, and the good things wee hauehave, though otherwiſe we be moſt odious to them; yea, all the vnreaſonable and ſenſeleſſe Creatures, in heauen and earth, are at League with vsus; yea, the Diuels are ſubdued to vsus, and troden vnderunder our feete; yea, further, the damned in hell, that ſcorned and hated vsus whileſt they did liue, doe now acknowledge that our eſtate is exceeding happy; and curſe themſelues that they had ſo little grace in their life, as not to ioyne themſelues to our Societies and practiſe our courſes; yea, the whole world is ours, it was made for our vſe and ſeruice, 1 Cor. 3.22, 23. euen all things are yours, and ye are Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods.
Thirdly, in reſpect of Gods ordinary dealings and proceedings in the world, wee hauehave our priuiledges, whether he ſtrikes or ſpares, giues or takes away, rains or ſhines, kills or giues life, bleſſeth or curſeth, helpes or forſakes, whether it bee man or a beaſt, good or bad, whole kingdomes or priuate perſons, Church or Commonwealth; we hauehave our priuiledge and our benefit in and by them, they are all done with a ſpeciall Eye and intendment towards vsus, and ſo they all worke together for the beſt vntounto vsus, as it is, Rom. 8.28. All Gods Iudgements are our Schoolmaſters; his bleſſings, our comforts; his warnings, our counſellours; his lawes our rules; his dealings, our directions: Specially thoſe dealings which God exerciſeth towards our ſelues, are matters of ſpeciall priuiledge to vsus; when hee bleſſeth vsus, that is a matter of ſpeciall priuiledge to vsus; for we hauehave them by promiſe, we eſteeme and embrace them as pledges of his louelove, and we vſe them aright to the glory of the giuer: for want of which priuiledge, the very bleſſings of the wicked are heauy Curſes: Againe, God chaſtens vsus, and it is our priuiledge, hee chaſtens vsus in the world, that wee might not bee condemnedwith the world, as it is in the 1 Cor. 11.32. and to you is it giuen (ſaith the Apoſtle) not onelyonly to beleeue in Chriſt, but alſo for to ſuffer for his ſake: For want of which Priuiledge to the wicked, all their preſent puniſhments are the beginnings of their Torments in hell; Againe, God ſometimes takes away his Spirit from vsus for a while; and then wee mourne and grieue, and being left to our ſelues, oftentimes wee ſinne grieuouſly, and then our caſe is moſt fearfull, yet by vertue of our priuiledge in Chriſt, theſe very deſertions of his, & ſins of ours, work by contraries, for when we come to our ſelues againe, they work more grace in vsus, and make vsus wiſer for the time to come, and worke more conſcience in vsus of our waies, & bring vsus greater comfort afterwards, for war of wch the wicked are left in their ſins, and are hardned therein and periſh for euer. Laſtly, he kills vsus and we die, but by vertue of our priuiledge in Chriſt, and his death; this very death of ours, is aduantage to vsus, for a better life; whereas to the wicked it is the end of their happines; and the beginning of all their miſery. Fourthly,4 The workes God doth for the faithfull. wee are alſo priuiledged in reſpect of the workes God doth for vsus; what are theſe? Firſt, hee chuſeth vsus to ſaluation, whereas hee leaues others in the maſſe of the old Adam to periſh iuſtly by their owne ſinnes; this is a ſecret priuiledge, but yet the moſt excelent, and the foundation of all the reſt; for becauſe the Lord hath choſen vsus, therefore wee hauehave all theſe Priuiledges; when hee hath choſen vsus, then we muſt hauehave a being; why, God giues vsus our being too: But you will ſay, God giues the wicked a being; yea, but we hauehave it for good, and not for euill, elſe it were a thouſand times better that we had neuer beene borne: Then he redeemes vsus, and payes all our Ranſome, and makes full ſatisfaction for vsus; whereas hee lets all the reſt of the world lye by it, bound in the chaines of their ſinnes, till they hauehave paid the laſt farthing: Then hee calles vsus, and that effectually; not onelyonly preaching to vsus, but opening our eyes, eares and hearts, that wee may vnderſtand and beleeue, and ſo be ſaued; whereas hee caſts a vaile ouer the hearts of others, that though they heare, yet they might not vnderſtand, leſt they ſhould be conuerted, and ſo be ſaued; Then he iuſtifies vsus, imputing to vsus his obedience, and couering vsus with his owne righteouſneſſe; the reſt of the world, the Lord Ieſus lets alone, ſtanding defiled in their blood, vgly and odious with all their ſinnes on them, before the face of God, an Angry Iudge, to condemne them, and to caſt them into vtter darknes: Laſtly, hee ſanctifies vsus, he changeth our hearts, and our wils, & our affection, and ſubdues our nature and brings it vnderunder the Obedience of his bleſſed Will, renuing vsus into his owne glorious Image; whereas all the reſt of the world are left in the ſlauery and bondage of the Deuill being his Children, and hauing his Image on them (but this is more naturall to the next head) theſe things are ſo nearely depending on each other, that we can make no perfect and exact diſtinction; but, for Doctrine ſake, they are to be ſundred howſoeuer, that we may know varietie of our Priuiledges.
Fiftly, the Graces God workes in vsus, are a Priuiledge to vsus, as Faith in Ieſus Chriſt, and in all Gods promiſes; Repentance for our ſinnes, Mortification of the old man, and quickning of the new man; hatred of ſinne, and louelove of righteouſneſſe; LoueLove to God, and his Religion, and to his Children; zeale for his Glory; patience in afflictions; ſtrength againſt temptations; he workes in vsus knowledge, wiſedome, hope, perſeuerance, loathing of ſinne, and of the world, and a longing and haſting for the comming of the Lord Ieſus to Iudgement, and hee workes in vsus a ſanctified heart, to make a ſauing vſe of the Word and the Sacraments, and of all occurrences that befall vsus, and eueryevery fruit of the ſpirit: and this God work in vsus, either indeed, or at leaſt, in deſire, either more or leſſe, ſooner or later. Sixtly the Comforts God imparts to vsus, many excellent Comforts he doth priuiledg vsus in; he giues vsus the ſpirit of adoption, whereby wee cry Abba father; aſſurance of his louelove and fauour in Chriſt, and the pardon & forgiuenes of all our ſins, he giues vsus peace of Conſcience and Ioy in the holy Ghoſt, cheering vsus vp in all our tribulations and temptations, and in our prayers, and in all his holy Ordinances, that ſurely the end is good, and the manner profitable and comfortable, he giues vsus alſo a Taſt of heauenly Ioyes, whileſt we are her; eternall life is already begun in vsus, we …eele ſinne daily dying in vsus, and grace preuailing aboue nature, and wee feele the Spirit helping our infirmities, and comforting, directing and quickning vsus, all theſe are reall performances and ſenſible Comforts actually enioyed, beſides the promiſe of greater and better hereafter; The conſideration and expectation hereof is no ſmall Comfort to vsus, ſeeing we know he is faithfull that hath promiſed, and will not deceiue vsus.
Seuenthly, the liberties that are attained by vsus are a priuiledge to vsus; Conſider what is or might be againſt vsus, wee are freed from it, and looke what is or may be for vsus; that we hauehave liberty in, for the firſt what is or might be againſt vsus, that we hauehave freedome frō, for the Son hath made vsus free, Iohn 8.36. Firſt, Gods Iuſtice was agianſt vsus, to hurt vsus, and to condemne vsus for our ſins; wee are ſinners, and God is Iuſt, and hates ſin, and how can we ſtand before him? But that we hauehave this priuiledge by Chriſt, that hee hath fully ſatisfied for all our ſinnes, and ſo wee are freed from this danger; ſo that now to vsus in Chriſt, God is a mercifull Father, not a Iuſt Iudge; yea, Chriſt hauing ſatisfied the Iuſtice of God, to the full, for vsus, we may reuerently challenge the Lord, in the Name of Chriſt, that he cannot puniſh vsus, hauing puniſhed one for vsus; and ſo Chriſts merits, being all-ſufficient, hauehave purchaſed all good things for vsus; ſo that now Iuſtice is for vsus, to giuegive vsus that which is due to Chriſt; not againſt vsus, to giuegive vsus our owne deſeruings: Secondly, the Law is againſt vsus, and, like Saul, breathes out threatnings againſt the Church of God; ſaying, If thou doeſt not this, thou ſhalt dye; but this is ſatisfied too; Chriſt tooke on him the curſe of the Law, and ſo redeemed vsus from it, Galat. 3.13. Next to the Law comes ſinne, that had defiled vsus, and expoſed vsus to Gods wrath, and kept vsus vnderunder, as ſlaues and ſeruants, that we could doe nothing but ſinne; here is our priuiledge, euen the blood of Chriſt that cleanſeth vsus and frees vsus from all our ſins, ſo that the filth doth not appeare in vsus, the guilt is not imputed to vsus, and the dominion is ended, ſo that it doth not raigne in vsus, Rom. 6. After ſinne comes death, for the reward of ſinne is death, and death had ſeized on vsus for her owne, wee Death deſtroyes him that had power of death, which is the diuell, and ſets vsus at liberty; ſo that we may now ſay with the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 15.56.57. The ſting of Death is ſinne, the ſtrength of ſinne is the Law, but thanks be to God, who hath giuen vsus victory, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord. Afterwards comes in hell for her ſhare, and opens her mouth to ſwallow vsus downe quicke: Hell, that houſe of horror, that ſhould hauehave beene, by right, the houſe of our perpetuall habitation and aboade; but Chriſt Ieſus hee hath triumphed for vsus ouer Hell and Condemnation, ſo that now there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Ieſus, Rom. 8.1. Laſtly, the diuell, who is the ground of all theſe forces, hee had fingered vsus, and got vsus within his clutches, and wrapt vsus vp in chaines and fetters, as his captiues and bond-ſlaues; Chriſt Ieſus hee comes, and looſeth the workes of the diuell, 1 Ioh. 3.8. hee breakes theſe chaines, and ſubdues Satan; ſo that we may ſay with the Prophet, Pſalme 124.7. the ſnare is broken, and wee are deliuered; Theſe are great and rare priuileges, I would hauehave you wiſely to conſider of them: For, who ſo is wiſe, will ponder on theſe things, that they may vnderſtand the louing kindneſſe of the Lord; wee ſhould labour to know theſe things, and to make vſe of them, and to ſtand faſt in this liberty, and not to be intangled againe in the yoake of bondage: In the ſecond place conſider what was or could be for vsus, and all that wee hauehave freedome into, we hauehave bold acceſſe vntounto the Throne of Grace, and an entrance vntounto God the Father, through our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, Rom. 5.2. Epheſ. 2.18. wee may goe boldly, and ſafely to God, and tell him our wants, and begge ſupply; we may talke familiarly with him, as a man doth with his neighbour, as Iob ſpeakes, wee may come vntounto God, and ſay, Thou art my Father and my maker, deſpiſe not the worke of thy hands; ſo we may goe to our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and ſay with Thomas, My Lord, and my God, hee by ſight, wee by faith; ſo likewiſe we may goe to the holy Spirit, and ſay, thou art my Sanctifier and Comforter, and I am thy Temple, ſuffer not Satan to defile mee with ſinne: So likewiſe, we may hauehave free acceſſe to the Word, and to the Sacraments, and to all Gods promiſes, and we may lay our hands on them, and challenge them for our owne; So likewiſe, wee may alſo reach out our hands to all the creatures, as being our peculiar right; and laſtly, when we are on our deathbeds; wee may with our Sauiour Chriſt, and with Stephen, ſweetly and comfortably, commend our ſpirits into the hands of God, and ſay, Into thy hands O Lord I commend my ſpirit, for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth: this is an excellent priuiledge, that at the houre of death, when wee are aſſaulted with many ſore temptations, wee may throw them all from vsus, and ſafely commend our ſoules into Gods hand; and if there were no other priuiledge but this, it were enough to make vsus deſire to be of the Church. The eighth Priuiledge, is the power that is conferred vponupon vsus, to admit or reiect, to binde or looſe, &c. (but this is to be ſpoken by it ſelfe in the eighth generall head following.) The laſt ſort of Priuiledges are in matters of future Certainties;2. matters of future certainties. I ſay, matters of future Certainties, not of poſſibilities, that is too weake a word in this ſenſe; poſſibilities are for men, as that the ſonne ſhall hauehave this and this after his fathers deceaſe, and yet the ſonne may be diſappointed many wayes: but with God, future poſſibilities are vndoubted Certainties, they are as ſurely ours, as if we had them already. Now theſe are, firſt, perfection of all grace, now we hauehave them but in part, 1 Cor. 13.9.12. but hereafter wee ſhall hauehave them in perfection: The ſecond thing is the reſurrection of the body, but that (you will ſay) is common to the wicked too? It is true they, ſhall riſe too, but they ſhall not be able to stand in iudgement, Pſalme 1.5. they ſhall riſe to condemnation, as our Sauiour ſaith, Ioh. 5.29. It were better for them to lye ſtill, the graue is better then hell; ſo that it is no Priuiledge to them to riſe: Thirdly, wee ſhall ſtand dreadleſſe, and feareleſſe before the Iugdement Seat of God; alas, now wee are afraid of eueryevery qualme, how ſhall wee ſtand dreadleſſe then? I anſwer, Then wee ſhall know God to be our Father in Chriſt, wee ſhall know that our peace is made beforehand, wee ſhall hauehave the righteouſneſſe of Ieſus Chriſt to couer vsus, and then there ſhall be no ſinne in vsus: this is it that will make vsus ſtand dreadleſſe: whereas the wicked, for want of this, ſhall tremble and quake, and call to the mountaines to fall vponupon them, and to the hills to couer them. Laſtly, we ſhall hauehave euerlaſting glory, life and happineſſe in heauen, inioying the fellowſhip of God and Chriſt, and the holy Spirit, and the bleſſed Angells, and there wee ſhall liue continually, praiſing and glorifying God, there we ſhall hauehave fulneſſe of ioy and pleaſures for euermore, Pſal. 16. To conclude therefore, let vsus not debaſe our ſelues to ſinfull and vile, and ſlauiſh courſes, but let vsus labour to walke in ſome good meaſure, anſwerable to ſuch great and high priuiledges as theſe are.