Discourses of William Alleine, Discourse 1

Discourses of William Alleine · Discourse 1

p. 1THE FIRST DISCOURSE. THE Unſearchable Riches of CHRIST.

EPHESIANS the iij. verſe viij.

Unto me, who am leſs than the leaſt of all Saints, is this Grace given, that I ſhould Preach among the Gentiles the Unſearchable Riches of Chriſt.

CHAP. I.

THE Apoſtle here commends the Grace of God to the Gentiles, in that they were made Fellow Heires and partakers of his Promiſe in Chriſt, by the Goſpel; and alſo the Grace of God to him in particular, in Calling him to Preach the Unſearchable Riches of Chriſt among the Gentiles.

Who was a greater and more Eminent Saint Saint then Paul? He calls himſelf (when a ſinner) the chief of Sinners: So there was ground for others to call him, when he was a Saint, the chief of p. 2Saints, yet he ſtiles himſelf leſs than the leaſt of Saints.

For the clearing this Point, take theſe Conſiderations.

Firſt. The Judgment Saints ſhould have of themſelves, ſhould be a Judgment of Humility. There ſhould be a Judgment of Charity in relation to others, ſo a Judgment of Humility towards themſelves: By the Judgment of Charity we think and ſpeak the beſt of others; by the Judgment of Humility the meaneſt of our ſelves, which there is ground to do from the knowledge we have of our own hearts, of our weakneſs, corruptions, &c. and we may ſay truly of our ſelves, what Eliab ſpake to David reproachfully, I know the pride and naughtineſs of thy Heart. And this knowledge and experience ſhould keep all humble.

2. The carriage of one Saint toward another, ſhould be as of an Inferior towards his Superior, ſo far ſhould we be from ſlighting the leaſt, as we are from ſlighting Superiors. Thus we are to underſtand theſe places, Phi. 2.3. Let each man esteem others better then himſelf: And Rom. 12.10. In honour preferring one another: we ſhould honour others and not our ſelves, let another praiſe and honour thee, and not thine own lips.

As there are Saints of different Ranks, in Reſpect of their meaſures of Gifts and Graces received, ſo thoſe, that have more, ſhould prefer thoſe that have leſs, and carry themſelves as Inferiors to Superiors. The Men in underſtanding ſhould become as little Children in Humility; And as there are Saints under ſeveral Forms, and p. 3too much at a diſtance, their forms being as a partition-wall between them, ſo it were to be wiſhed, that the Saints of each form would eſteem thoſe of another better then themſelves: And as there are Saints of different degrees in their outward and worldly Eſtate, there are high and low, rich and poor, ſo the high Saints ſhould account themſelves leſs than the poor Saints; The rich Saints that have the Goodly Apparel ſhould account themſelves leſs then the leaſt of the poor Saints, which have but the vile Garment and rags. Thus all ſhould carry themſelves with ſuch reſpect to others, as if they were Superiors, and with as much care they do not offend them, as men have, that they do not offend their Superiors. The beſt ſhould account themſelves leſs than the leaſt Saint, in that the beſt ought to become ſervants to the leaſt. Saints ſhould ſerve one another in Love, Gal. 5.13. and Luke 22.26.27: He that is greateſt ſhould be as the younger: And he that is chief as he that doth ſerve. Whether is greater, he that ſerveth, or he that is ſerved? Chriſt himſelf gave a glorious pattern of Humility in this, I am among you as he that ſerveth, and therefore Saints ſhould not excerciſe Lordſhip, but be amongſt other Saints as thoſe that ſerve. Let all Saints then be convinced that it is their Duty to prefer other Saints; they ought to be low and lowly in thought, ſpeech, and behaviour. And conſider,

1. This is not the leaſt Evidence of true Grace, when we can thus account of our ſelves leſs than the least of the Saints; Paul ſays, if we have not charity, ſo may we alſo ſay, if we have not Humility, p. 4what are we more than the ſounding Braſs, or a tinkling Cymbal.

2. This is the Ornament of a Saint; God's Glory is his highneſs; Humility is the Saints Glory; God's Glory is his loftineſs, Saints Glory is their lowlineſs: Be cloathed with Humility, 1 Pet. 5.5. This will be like the High Prieſt's Garment, for Glory and Beauty. And the more we receive from God, the more humble we ſhould be; and when we are brought nigh to God, when we come to Jeſus the Mediator of the new Covenant, to God the Judge of all, when made Sons of God, and Kings and Prieſts …nto God, ſay, as David when he was brought to the Kingdom, What am I that I ſhould be brought hitherto?

CHAP. II.

HEre we may conſider,

1. That the things of Chriſt are Riches, or why ſo called.

2. That there are unſearchable Riches in Chriſt, and why unſearchable.

3. What are theſe unſearchable Riches of Chriſt.

1. Why the things of Chriſt are called Riches?

F…ſt, becauſe the things of Chriſt are things of great worth. Riches are things of worth which men eſteem. Now the things of Chriſt are of greateſt worth, which gives ground to call him the chiefeſt and altogether lovely. In him are the beſt Treaſures, which ſhould draw the hearts of men to them, and make him moſt worthy to be called that which he ſhall be, the deſire of all Nations.

p. 52. Becauſe he hath things of greateſt worth, in greateſt abundance. For as he hath received the Spirit, ſo Riches, and not by meaſure. They are counted Rich that have much of this World's goods; Christ is moſt Rich, having the fullneſs of the beſt things.

Secondly. Why Unſearchable Riches? Not becauſe they may not be found, for Chriſt ſaith, I counſel thee to buy of me Gold, white Raiment, &c. There is no Angel with a drawn Sword to keep the way of theſe Riches, but every one that thirſts, and covets, may come and partake of them; But they are unſearchable or untraceable (as the word imports) in that they are above men's underſtanding, and beyond what men can ask or think; they cannot be comprehended, prized, loved, deſired, delighted in as they deſerve, but there is cauſe to ſay as the Apoſtle of the love of Christ, they have length, &c. which paſſeth knowledge, and as the ſame Apoſtle, of the decrees of God, Rom. 11.33. How unſearchable are his Judgments, and his ways past finding out! So how unſearchable are the Treaſures of Chriſt, and his Riches past finding out; They are not paſt finding, but paſt finding out; They are not paſt knowledge, but paſt knowing out, and as the Pſalmiſt ſays, Thoſe that go down into the deep, &c. So we may ſay, Thoſe that aſcend up to this deep (for this is a deep like the Waters above the Firmament) There ſhall they ſee the Wonders of God.

p. 6CHAP. III.

WHat theſe Unſearchable Riches of Chriſt are.

1. There are the Riches of Love and Grace in Chriſt, which may well be called Riches, being of greateſt worth, of more value then the whole World, and alſo being in greateſt abundance; The Sun is not ſo full of Light, the Sea not ſo full of Water, as Chriſt is of Love and Grace to his Spouſe, to his Redeemed and Sanctified ones, over whom he Reigns; and by the diſplaying the Banner of his Love, Saints may ſee what they have in Chriſt to rejoyce in, and live upon, and ſinners and worldlings and ſtrangers from Chriſt, may ſee what there is in Chriſt to allure them to him.

Conſider theſe particulars.

1. The Love of Chriſt is an abounding Love.

1. It abounds beyond Sin; where ſin abounded Grace did ſuperabound, Rom. 5.20. that is, the power of Grace to ſave a ſinner, is beyond the power of ſin to deſtroy, and when Grace undertakes this work, ſin ſhall not prevent it. Sin hath the Law for its ſtrength, and that ſays a ſinner muſt dye, but what ſaith Paul? He loved me and give himſelf for me, out of love he made his Soul an offering for ſin, and now who ſhall condemn? by which it appears that the power of his love to work out Salvation is beyond the power of ſin to Deſtroy.

2. The love of Chriſt towards the veſſels of Mercy, did abound beyond ſelf-love. The Law is to love our Neighbour as our ſelves; Chriſt did p. 7more. When Peter ſaid Maſter pity thy ſelf, he was ſo great an offence to him, that he calls him Satan; He pitied Souls to be ſaved more than his Body, and loved their lives even to his own Death. And if the Jews had ground to ſay, when he wept over Lazarus, behold how he loved him! much greater cauſe is there to ſay, when Chriſt dyed for ſinners, behold how he loved them! If the ſheding of tears was ſo great a demonſtration of his love, what was this that he yielded his Blood ſhould be ſhed?

3. It abounds beyond all the wants and weakneſſes of Saints: It is not exhauſted by what he hath done for them or beſtowed on them; as he hath the Reſidue of the Spirit, ſo the Reſidue of Love and Grace, even the fullneſs of it, ſo as he accounted no ſuffering too great to undergo for them, ſo no good thing too great to give them, Heaven, a Kingdom, the fullneſs of Joy, Holyneſs, Light and Grace is not too much for his love to beſtow; we cannot have leſs to make us happy, and 'tis not more then his love can make us partakers of.

2. The love of Chriſt is an abiding love, he loves with an everlaſting love, here's a love not to be quench'd with many waters, which no floods of either Human, or Diabolical, or Divine wrath could Drown; Having loved his own he loved them to the end, John 13.1. that is the finiſhing of that work he had to do for them in the World, and will to the end of his Mediatory work, till he hath brought up all the Saints to the meaſure of the ſtature of his own fullneſs, and when his love ſhall have brought him to this glorious end of his work, in perfecting all the Saints, and preſenting them p. 8to the Father, who ſhall be all in all, and he ſhall have thus loved them to the end, then he ſhall love them without end. The Saints have then ground to comfort themſelves with the abiding love of Chriſt: If the World paſs away, if Riches come to nought, &c. yet the love of Chriſt doth not paſs away; and when there is ſo conſtant a hatred from the World, and ſuch abiding malice againſt the followers of Chriſt, in evil men, and evil Angels, there is an abiding love of Christ to comfort them.

3. The love of Chriſt was once a love fulfilling the Law, and now is a love fufilling the Goſpel, it was once a love fulfilling Precepts, and now is a love fulfilling Promiſes, Rom. 13.10. Love is the fulfilling of the Law, ſuch was the love of Chriſt, love brought him that was Lord of the Law under the Law, and carried him through it, even to perfect obedience; …is love made him ſay, it becometh us to fulfil all righteouſneſs; and by this there is Reconciliation and Peace with God, and as it was once the fulfilling of the Law, ſo now of the Goſpel: All the Promiſes are yea and Amen in Chriſt's love. When Saints are unworthy of the good of the Promiſes, the love of Chriſt will beſtow it on them. There are Promiſes of not remembring ſin, of giving Grace and Glory, and every good thing, of putting the Law in the mind, of turning all to good, of ſaving out of all troubles, and love will fullfil them all; the Goſpel is the Teſtament and Will of Christ, and there muſt be the Death of the Teſtator, that the Will may be of force. Now here we may take notice of this truth, Chriſt dyed that his will may be of force, and lives again to p. 9the Executor of his own will, and his love is the fulfilling of it; hence Chriſt promiſeth to his Diſciples, I will not leave you Orphans, I will come to you, John 14.18. Chriſt being dead they were Orphans, &c. but happy were it for many poor Orphans if their Fathe…s could come again, and ſet all things right, and ſee that every Child ſhould have his portion; now although this cannot be, yet it was ſo with Chriſt: He aroſe from Death, and will be the Executor of his own Will, and hence he is called the everlaſting Father, having a Fatherly love and regard to all the Saints, which is everlaſting, and which will perfect that which concerns them; Saints are the travel of Chriſt's Soul, and he muſt ſee the travel of his Soul, Iſa. 53.11. Rachel ſaid give me Children or elſe I dye, Chriſt ſaid let me dye that ſo I may have Children, Rachel dyed in travel, and did not live to ſee of her travel, Chriſt dyed in his travel with the veſſels of Mercy, and lives again to ſee of the travel of his Soul: Every Saint at firſt was a Benoni, a Son of Christ's ſorrow, in that he dyed in bringing them forth, but afterwards a Benjamin, a Son of his right hand, he being alive for ever more, and is ever ſeeing them to his ſatisfaction, and they ſhall ſee him for ever to their ſatisfaction, and living again, he will ſee that they be partakers of that Grace and Glory that he bequeathed to them.

4. The Love of Chriſt is ſuch, that when it finds not its Object lovely it can and doth make it lovely. Christ found Mary Magdalen a ſinful Woman, and ſo not lovely, but made her lovely in converting her; Paul was an Enemy to Chriſt, but he converted p. 10him, his love made him lovely, it made him a Believer, a Saint, a faithful Servant unto him; This is ſet forth in Ezek. 16. Thou waſt polluted in thy Blood, I paſſed by thee, and thy time was the time of love, and love made them lovely, I ſpread my skirts over thee, I waſhed and clothed thee, and decked thee with ornaments, and thy beauty and renown was perfect through my comelineſs put upon thee; If we have cauſe to ſay as Iſaiah, wo is me a man of unclean lips; If we abhor our ſelves and repent, we may take comfort in this, Chriſt doth not abhor, but his love doth make us lovely.

5. The love of Chriſt turns all evil things to good, life, death, things preſent, things to come, all are yours, the love of Chriſt makes them ſo, and gives an advantagious and profitable propriety in them, and makes even Reproaches for Chriſt's ſake Riches, and better then the Treaſures of Egypt, Heb. 11.26. Riches are things of worth, ſo are Reproaches for Chriſt. The Apoſtles rejoyced that they were accounted worthy to ſuffer ſhame for the name of Chriſt: And better then Riches.

1. In that God doth not eſteem any man's wealth, nor him for his wealth's ſake; will he eſteem thy wealth? Job 36.19. He will eſteem thy Reproaches, &c. and thy parting with wealth for his ſake.

2. Better Riches in regard of better gain by them, the gain of Grace, Spiritual conſolation, of a Kingdom, &c. If ſufferings for Christ abound conſolations abound more.

6. The love of Chriſt is every thing we need; this is the Gold that will make us rich, Money anſwers all things, but 'tis moſt true concerning the love p. 11of Chriſt, 1 Cor. 15.28. That God may be all in all; ſo he is in himſelf, and by love he is all things to the Saints; Chriſt's love is Grace and Glory, and every good thing; Jacob might well ſay to Eſau, I have all, Gen. 33.11. So 'tis in the Original, becauſe God ſaid, Jacob have I loved.

7. The love of Chriſt is ſuch, that it will make him when glorified ſerve the Saints: As their Duty is to ſerve one another in love, ſo Chriſt doth this: he did in his ſtate of humiliation, but how much more to be admired is this, Luke 12.37. Bleſſed are thoſe Servants whom the Lord when he cometh ſhall find watching: verily I ſay unto you, he ſhall gird himſelf, and come forth and ſerve them: Here we may ſay as the Diſciples (when Chriſt ſaid, a little while and ye ſhall not ſee me, and then a little while and you ſhall ſee me) we know not what he ſaith; we are not to underſtand it after a carnal manner: Chriſt did ſerve his Diſciples at his laſt Supper, he feaſted them with himſelf as Crucified, and with the benefits of his Death; In his Kingdom he ſhall feaſt them with his Glory, and with himſelf as glorified: in that he feaſted them now with ſigns of himſelf, in this with himſelf in ſight, ſhewing all his Riches and Glory to them; John 16.14. Chriſt promiſing the Spirit, ſaid, he ſhall receive of mine and ſhew it unto you; this he doth in the converſion of a ſinner, ſhewing the Righteouſneſs, Merits, Power, and Wiſdom and Love to his Saints: but when Chriſt himſelf ſhall appear, then he himſelf ſhall ſhew them all that he is and hath; here is my righteouſneſs, the price and value of my Blood, her's my Love and Grace, her's my Glory: He kept the Paſſover with his Diſciples, p. 12feaſting them with the benefits of his Death, in a large upper-room, furniſhed, &c. Heaven is indeed the large upper-room furniſhed; there Chriſt is feaſting the Spirits of juſt men made perfect with the Glory of his Life; he ſhall ſhew his Glory as having the fulneſs of the Godhead in him, as the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth, as a Prince and Saviour, as a Bridegroom. Joſeph ſaid to his Brethren, ye ſhall tell my Father of my Glory in Egypt; Chriſt ſhall, when he appears, tell the Saints of all his Glory in Heaven, and let them ſee and hear that which Eye hath not ſeen, nor Ear heard, &c. as Hezekiah ſhewed to the Ambaſſadors of the King of Babylon the Houſe of his precious things, and there was nothing of worth which he ſhewed not unto them: This is the Entertainment that Chriſt will give, &c. What encouragement is this to be found in thoſe duties to which this Promiſe is made? That is, Seek the Kingdom of God, give Alms, lay up Treaſures in Heaven, let your Loins be girt, Lamps burning, be like men waiting for their Lord! This is farther ſet forth, Math. 26.29. I will drink no more of the fruit of the Vine until I drink it new with you, &c.

Queſt. What is that Wine? Anſw. Contraries illuſtrate one another: now in Rev. 14.10. there is mention of the Wine of Wrath without mixture, as the portion of the wicked; on the other ſide, then the Wine of Love without mixture is the portion of the Saints: Pure Wrath is the portion of the Ungodly, pure love the portion of the Godly; Evil without mixture of good is the portion of the Wicked; Good without mixture of Evil ſhall be given to the Saints, Wicked men ſhall not have ſo much p. 13as a drop of Water to cool their Tongues: Saints not ſo much as a ſpark of Fire to torment them. Thus we ſee what Riches of Love there are in Christ, which we ſhould be careful not to deſpiſe, nor abuſe by indulging our ſelves in any evil way, becauſe we hear of ſuch Riches of Love; If any ſhall turn Grace into Laſciviouſneſs, they may know that there is fury that ſhall ſmoke against ſuch, Behold the goodneſs and ſeverity of God, goodneſs to ſuch as continue in his goodneſs, but ſeverity to ſuch as abuſe his goodneſs, as who knows the Power of his Love, ſo who knows the Power of his Wrath? His Love is above our Faith, and his Wrath above our Fear. Learn then to love Christ, becauſe he loves; to live to him becauſe he loves; pleaſe him, ſerve him, deny our ſelves, take his Yoke, becauſe he loves, and take heed we do not that abominable thing which he hates, take heed of that abominable thing, Covetouſneſs, of that abominable thing, Pride, Lying, Deceit, Hypocriſy, Lukewarmneſs, and remember that he that loves Saints ſo much, hates ſin as much, and he looks that thoſe whom he loves ſhould love him, and hate the thing that is Evil.

CHAP. IV.

2. THere are in Chriſt Riches of Righteouſneſs, Rom. 5.17. They which receive abundance of Grace and the Gift of Righteouſneſs; Abundance relates to both, there is abundance of Grace giving, and abundance of Righteouſneſs given; there is uncreated Righteouſneſs in Chriſt as God, which is Infinite, Perfect, Unchangeable; ſo there is Riches p. 14of it, and no Iniquity in him. Chriſt may challenge all, as God did the Jews, what Iniquity have your Fathers found in me? Jer. 2.5. There is alſo the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt as Mediator, which is twofold.

1. In his works for Men.

2. In his works towards Men.

Firſt. In his works for Men, being a ſurety, and repreſentative, undertaking to fulfil that Righteouſneſs for them, which they could not for themſelves, that hereby he might reconcile them to God, and make them ſtand as juſt in his ſight. Here conſider.

1. Chriſt's Righteouſneſs fulfilled for the Elect is a full and compleat Righteouſneſs, Chriſt taking the form of a Servant, did fulfil the Law, both for matter and manner, ſubſtance and circumſtances: The Law requires not more active and paſſive Obedience than Chriſt yielded: The Law is exceeding broad, Chriſt's Righteouſneſs as broad as that; The Law was Spiritual, ſo was Chriſt's Obedience; Sin was infinite in Evil, becauſe committed againſt an infinite Perſon; Chriſt's Righteouſneſs had infinite good in it, infinite Glory, becauſe fulfilled by an infinite Perſon, who obeying was Equal with the Perſon commanding Obedience, and demanding ſatisfaction for man's diſobedience; ſo that here are Riches of Righteouſneſs, Paul had good reaſon to be found in it, What a glorious change is wrought by its imputation? it makes a ſinner a righteous Perſon. By the Obedience of one many ſhall be made Righteous.

2. It's ſuch a Righteouſneſs, that true Believers thereby are made the Righteouſneſs of God, 2 Cor. 5.21. which is an expreſſion that lifts up the Creature p. 15as much as any in Scripture, ſhewing that it is 1. A moſt excellent glorious and tranſcendent Righteouſneſs that Believers have: the Hebre… uſeth to ſet forth exeellent things, by adding the name of God to them, as the Mountains of God, the Cedars of God, &c. So they are made the righteouſneſs of God, that is, in having the higheſt and beſt Righteouſneſs imputed to them.

2. There is higheſt likeneſs, and neareſt conformity to God in this. Inherent Righteouſneſs being wrought in us, and that which is wrought by us is a part of God's Image, for the new man is after God in Righteouſneſs; but this Righteouſneſs which is adherent and imputed, is a more glorious part of God's likeneſs, for this is perfect, the other here being but in part, and if we could be perfect in our works of Righteouſneſs, yet muſt they be far ſhort of Chriſt's works or his Righteouſneſs imputed.

3. Believers are Righteous before God in the Righteouſneſs of God, for Chriſt is not only man but God: but when we have ſaid all, we have reaſon to reckon this among the unutterable things, which Paul ſaw when he was caught up into the third Heavens.

3. The Riches of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs appears in this, that hereby we have Juſtification of Life, Rom: 5.18. The free gift came upon all men to the Juſtification of Life. Chriſt's Righteouſneſs is Righteouſneſs unto Life; as Hezekiah ſaid, in theſe things is the life of my Spirit, ſo in Chriſt's Righteouſneſs is the life of our Spirits: when ſinners that remain without Chriſt ſhall dye in their ſins, when thoſe that truſt in their own Righteouſneſs ſhall dye p. 16therein, thoſe that deſire to be found in Chriſt, having his Righteouſneſs, ſhall live by him and his Righteouſneſs.

4. They that have Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, do not only live thereby, but Reign in Life, Rom. 5.17. They which receive the gift of Righteouſneſs Reign in Life, &c. which notes thus much, That true Believers are not in ſubjection to any perſons or things, which may take their life from them; 'tis one thing to live, another thing to Reign in Life, we live a bodily life, but do not reign in that life, but are in ſubjection to a Divine decree, it being app…inted to all men once to dye; we are in ſubjection to many infirmities and ſickneſſes, &c. and to men that have Power to kill the body: Adam in Paradice did live more then a bodily life, but did not reign in life, Sin entred, and Death by Sin; but what a better Eſtate is here? A Believer being in Chri… lives and reigns in life, being lifted up far above any power that may take it away, above the power of ſin, the Law, and ſecond death; above the Power of Satan, he hunts after the precious life, but it is hid with Chriſt in God, Col. 3.3. Prov. 30.31. one of the things that is comely in going is a King againſt whom there is no riſing up: The like may we ſay of Believers, they reign in life, ſo as there is no riſing up againſt their life; who ſhall lay any thing to their charge or condemn, ſeeing it's Chriſt that dyed? &c.

II. There is Chriſt's Righteouſneſs in his works towards men, in the diſpenſation of that power which he hath in Heaven and Earth; as a King he reigns in Righteouſneſs; as Prieſt he makes p. 17Interceſſion in Righteouſneſs, and as Prophet he Teaches in Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 63.1. I the Lord that ſpeak in Righteouſneſs. His love led him into theſe Offices, and not only love, but Righteouſneſs leads him through them, and engages him to full and a faithful diſcharge of them; concerning this take theſe Conſiderations.

1. Saints may fly for refuge, not only to the love, but to the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, Prov. 18.11. The Name of the Lord is a ſtrong Tower, the Righteous run thereto and are ſafe. Not only as he is Gracious and Merciful, but as he is Juſt; Righteous Servants may run to a Righteous Lord for refuge, and ſhall find his Righteouſneſs a covert and hiding place, Iſa. 32.1. He is Juſt to forgive ſin, 1 Joh. 1.9. Juſt to Juſtify, Juſt to Sanctify, to give Grace and Peace, Juſt to hear Prayers, Juſt to deliver out of the Enemies hand, and to bring many Sons to Glory, (but remember that not our works but God's free Grace it is that makes all this to be Juſt.) Being a Surety, he is a Juſt Surety; being a Saviour a Juſt Saviour, Juſt to give the Oyl of Joy, &c. And having betrothed any to himſelf, he will take them to neareſt communion, Hoſ. 2.19, 20. I will betroth thee unto me in Righteouſneſs, Loving Kindneſs, Judgment and Faithfulneſs; Chriſt …akes a Spo…ſe among the Captives, and when any Iſraelite would do ſo, Deut. 21.10. He was to bri…g her to his Houſe, ſhe was to ſhave her Head, pare her nails, put off the Raiment of her captivity, and to bewail her Father and Mother a full Month; ſo ſuch as are taken from amongſt the Captives to Sin and Satan to be bethrothed to p. 18Chriſt, muſt put off the old man, and lay aſide all ſuperfluity of naughtineſs; that is, all ſin; for eve…y ſin is a ſuperfluity, and …ewail Father and Mother, i. e. that they are Conceived and Bo…n in Sin: and be in Chriſt's Houſe; ſo he betroths in Righteouſneſs, &c. and will not be like …he hard hearted Jews that give a Bill of Divorce, for the Lord h…tes putti…g away; and …eeing he betroths in Righteouſnes, Ju…g…ent and F…thfulneſs, therefo…e a time of the Ma…riage of …he Lamb muſt come, and his Wif… ſhall be …ade ready. Thus Saints may fly for refuge to, and take comfort in the Righteo…ſne…s of Chriſt.

2. The R…ghteouſneſs of Chriſt makes him r…ady to fulfil all Promiſes, ready to act for the Saints and to put forth his Power on their be…alf, Iſa. 11.5. there being a Prophecy of the K ngdom of Chriſt, it's ſaid Righteouſneſs ſhall be the gird…e of his Loins, which ſhall make him …eady t… reprove and argue for the me k of the Earth. He ſhall argue out the Saints Innocency, and …he wick…dneſs of the World in perſec…ti…g for Righteo…ſneſs ſake; he ſhall debate the buſineſs with them, that all may ſee what Reaſ…n …e hath to ſmite the Earth with the Rod of his Mouth, and to ſlay the Wicked with the Breath of his Lips, and to ſave the meek of the Earth: Chriſt is well pleaſed for his Rightouſneſs ſake, Iſa. 41.21. And when there are in the Saints ſo many failings, when cauſe to ſay who is blind but my Servant, and deaf as my M…ſſenger, who is P…ud, Covetous, Earthly, &c. and there is ſo much among them that is diſpleaſing, when diviſions, ſ…ri…e, and contention among Brethren, yet for his Righteouſneſs ſake he is p. 19well pleaſed to do them good; If we believe not as we ought, yet he remains Faithful; When the Iſraelites did ſo much provoke the Lord in the Wilderneſs, yet he was well pleaſed for his Rightouſneſs ſake to ſave them.

3. Chriſt ſhall proſper in a work of Righteouſneſs, Pſ. 45.4. Ride proſperouſly becauſe of Righteouſneſs; It is a Righteous thing with God to render Tribulation to them that trouble you; to Babylon, to Perſecutors, to the Man of ſin: In the laſt day it will be the great Work of Chriſt; as in Egypt God rendred tribulation to the Egyptians, to the Task Maſters, &c. and to the Iſraelites Reſt; ſo Perſecu…ors of Righteouſneſs moſt look to have their portion of wrath and vengeance from the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt.

4. Chriſt ſhall be a Fountain of Righteouſneſs to the Afflicted and Oppreſſed World; he is the …un of R…ghteouſneſ…, he is full of Righteouſneſs as the Sun is full of Light; the World is Empty of Righteouſneſs, Chriſt is full of it; and this Sun ſhall ariſe, Pſal. 85.11. And Righteouſneſs ſhall look down from Heaven; it's in a great meaſure gone out of the Earth, and almoſt confined to Heaven, all kind of unrighteouſneſs flows from under …e Throne, Iniquity flows thence like Water, and unrighteouſneſs as a mighty Stream; but Righteouſneſs ſhall have a time to look down from Heaven, and the Waters of Life ſhall iſſue from the Throne of God, and of the Lamb, and from thence Judgment ſhall run down as Water, &c.

And now what abundant comfort may flow into the Saints, from the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, in his Works for and towards Believers? By the p. 20Righteouſneſs he fulfilled for them, they are reconciled to God, believing and being in him, having this Righteouſneſs, there is no condemnation to them; and by the other Righteouſneſs they ſhall be ſaved from the Wrath of the Devil and wicked men; Therefore as Chriſt's Righteouſneſs ſuſtains him, Iſa. 59.16. that is, it bears him up, and carries him on in a work of Vengeance upon his Enemies, and Salvation of his Servants; in the one his Righteous fury upholds him, Iſa. 63.5. in the other his Righteous …ove; ſo ſhould Chriſt's Righteouſneſs ſuſtain Believers under their burthens and croſſes which they meet withal in the works and ways of God; This ſhould ſupport their ſinking and drooping Spirits, and ſay to thoſe that are of a fearful heart, Be ſtrong, fear not, for God will come with vengeance and recompence, he will come and ſave you: Jacob ſaid, with this Staff I paſſed over Jordan; the Saints having the Staff of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs may paſs over Jordan, and be above the fears of Death, Satan, &c. The World with this may go through Fire and Water, and be ſure to be brought into the wealthy place; Jacob with his Staff got into a wealthy State, he had a Staff in his hand, but a better Staff in his Heart; that was his dependance on the Lord his God; This is the true Jacob's Staff, which if we have, it ſhall ſuſtain and uphold us for doing and ſuffering; It will be our ſtay and ſtrength in both.

And if Ch…iſt hath Riches of Righteouſneſs, and be Faithful and Juſt to Believers, how ſhould this engage them to be Faithful and Juſt to him? He is Juſt to the Veſſels of Mercy, in giving Repentance p. 21and Remiſſion of ſin, which ſhould teach them to be Juſt to him, in giving him his due Subjection, Service, Worſhip and Glory; when he had undertaken it, he was juſt in giving himſelf for them, and ſhould not they be Juſt in giving up themſelves? and ſay, we are not our own, but bought with a price &c. Be Juſt to confeſs him, be Juſt to ſerve him, and ſuffer for him, be Juſt to render all their due, and eſpecially to the Houſhold of Faith; Comforting as being Comforted, Inſt…ucting as being Inſtructed, Forgiving as he Forgave, and giving freely, as we have freely received.

And if Chriſt have the Riches of Righteouſneſs then all wicked men that are Enemies to Chriſt have cauſe to tremble, ſuch as break his bonds and bruiſe his members, that will not have him to reign over them, and would not that any of his faithful Servants and Members ſhould live among them, hating them becauſe Chriſt hath choſen them; ſuch have cauſe to fear before him. As the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven againſt the unrighteouſneſs of men, ſo Chriſt's Righteouſneſs doth engage him to puniſh the unrighteouſneſs of men; as he is Gracious and Merciful, abundant in goodneſs, ſo he will not clear the guilty, Exod. 34.7. As he looks to thoſe of a humble and contrite heart that tremble at his word, and rejoices over them to do them good, ſo he beholds them that are proud and rebellious, and harden themſelves againſt him, and will bruiſe them with his Rod of Iron, &c. Pſal. 2.9.

p. 22CHAP. V.

THere are in Chriſt Riches of Wiſdom; in him are hid all the Treaſures of Wiſdom and Knowledge, Col. 2.3. He hath Wiſdom in greateſt Abundance, the Treaſures of Wiſdom: Solomon had Wiſdom and largeneſs of Heart, as the Sand upon the Sea ſhore, whe…ein he was a type of Christ; but behold a greater then Solomon is here! Exceeding him more then he did the Children of the Eaſt; if any ask, as Job 2….12. Where is Wiſdom and the place of Understandig? It's not to be found in the land of the living; The depth ſaith, it's not in me, and men muſt ſay, 'tis not in them, verſe 23. God underſtandeth the way and knoweth the path thereof, and the Scripture diſcovereth where it is to be found; that is, in Chriſt.

1. Chriſt hath the Riches of Speculative Wiſdom, in the knowledge of the higheſt and beſt Objects, of all deep things; he underſtands all deep Myſteries; they are no Myſteries to him; darkneſs is no darkneſs to him, but Darkneſs and Light are both alike; he knows the Divine Nature; That Name, which is ſecret to us, is manifeſt unto him, and he hath the knowledge of the deepeſt Myſteries of Nature; He enters into the Treaſures of Snow and Hail, and Springs of the Sea, and walks in the ſearch of the deep; He knows the Ordinances of Heaven, all which was hid from Job; He knows all the Myſteries of the Word, all Scripture-truths, Promiſes, and Prophecies; He opened the Scripture, the things concerning himſelf; He hath the knowledge alſo p. 23of the Myſteries of Iniquity, which hath been working ſo long: all Antichriſtian Counſels and co…t…ivances; He knows the Myſteries of men's Hearts. John 2.2…. He knows what was in man: all t…e Churches ſhall know, thoſe of the Synagogue o Sa…n ſhall know, yea all the World ſhall know that …hri… ſearcheth all Hearts, &c. Rev. 2.23. He knows the depts of Satan, and is not ignorant of his de…ices.

2. Chri… hath the Rich…s of Practical Wiſdom, and thus (as it is Prov. 8.12.) I Wiſdom dwell with Prud…nce, and find out knowledge of witty inventions; Wiſdom is the knowledge that Chriſt hath of all thi…gs, the higheſt and beſt, the loweſt and meaneſt; Prudence orders the way and means fo… bringing about that which Wiſdom judgeth beſt to b… d…ne: Prudence is the Guide of Action, and s converſant in doing. Wiſdom counſels and conſider; Prudence puts upon working that which counſel determines; He worketh all things after the counſel of his own will, Eph. 1.11. Wiſdom is converſant in counſel; Prudence in working after that counſel. Many men have a great meaſure of Wiſdom and knowledge, but they reſt in knowing, and content themſelves in Speculation: there is mention of a Servant who knew his Maſter's will and did it not; His Wiſdom did not dwell with Prudence; he that knoweth to do good and doth it not, to him it is ſin; 'tis not ſo with Chriſt; his Wiſdom dwells with Prudence, nay he is Wiſdom, &c. Prov. 8.14. As he knows how to do good, ſo he doth it; He knows how to convince gain-ſayers, he knows how to Juſtifie, Sanctifie and Save, and how to ſubdue and p. 24deſtroy his Enemies; The pleaſure of the Lord ſhall proſper in his hand: Thus Wiſdom dwells with Prudence and finds out knowledge of witty Inventions.

The Scripture diſcovers many of the witty Inventions of Wiſdom dwelling with Prudence, foretelling and promiſing more 1. What a wiſe Invention was the World, the Heavens, the Earth, and all the Hoſt of them? Theſe Works of the Lord are great, and to be ſought out; when we conſider the Heavens, the work of God's hand, the Moon and the Stars which he hath created, the Earth and variety of Creatures therein; but eſpecially man, in the frame of his Body, but chiefly his Soul, There will be abundant cauſe of admiring the witty inventions of Wiſdom dwelling with Prudence, and we may ſay of all, they are fearfully and wonderfully made.

2. When man was fallen by the ſubtil inventions of Satan, what a witty Invention came forth of Wiſdom dwelling with Prudence, to recover man fallen? The Seed of the Woman ſhall break the Serpents head, Gen. 3.15.

3. When the World was to be deſtroyed by a Flood, what a witty invention was there of Wiſdom dwelling with Prudence, to ſave Noah and his Family, and a ſtock of all living creatures in the Ark? 1 Pet. 3.20.

4. When Joſeph's Brethren had their witty inventions to make void his Dreams, then wiſdom dwelling with Prudence had its witty inventions to accompliſh them, and herein to be admired, that their wicked inventions intended by them to fruſtrate, were made the means to further the fulfilling of them, Gen. 50.2….

p. 255. When Pharaoh thought he ſaw an advantage againſt the Iſraelites, they are intangled in the Land, the Wilderneſs hath ſhut them in, and now he reſolves to purſue and overtake, &c. But what a witty invention was there of Wiſdom dwelling with Prudence, for the Salvation of Iſrael, and utter deſtruction of Pharaoh and his Hoſt at once by the ſame invention? Exod. 14.

6. When Haman had a miſchievous invention to deſtroy the Jews, Wiſdom dwelling with Prudence had a witty invention to ſave them, and to cut off Haman, Eſther 6.7.

7. There was a witty invention to cut off thoſe three, Shadrach, Meſhach and Abednego, by ſetting up an Image and commanding them to worſhip it, and becauſe they would not worſhip it, they were caſt into the fiery Furnace, but then Wiſdom dwelling with Prudence, that is, the Son of God appeared in the Furnace, and walked with them in the midst of the Fire, reſtraining it, that it had not power upon their Bodies, or Garments; only as we may conceive it did burn up their Bonds, for they were caſt in in Bonds, but walked looſe, which is worthy of our Obſervation, in that it hints to us God's great deſign in the fiery Trial at any time happening to the Saints, which is, to burn up their bonds; Luſts within are Bonds; theſe will the Lord conſume by the fiery Trial; and too often outward things, as Riches, Glory, Proſperity, are like the hands of the whoriſh Woman, that is bonds to the Soul; which ſometimes are looſed by the fiery Trial; and what is Death to Saints, but the looſing of the bonds of the mortal body, that ſo the Soul may p. 26go to its reſt? Hence Paul …ays, Phil. 1.23. I deſire to be diſſ…lved, to be unbound, to be let looſe; and to be with Chriſt, which is much better. And the deſign of deſt…oying Daniel in the D…n of Lions, was fruſtrated, and ended in the deſtruction of the contrivers.

Here we may ſee,

1. That there are Inventions within Inventions, of Wiſdom dwelling with Prudence; within Satans and wicked men's inventions.

2. The inventions within, that is, of Chriſt, are the ſtanding inventions: Many are the devices of men's hearts, ſaith Solomon, but the counſel of the L rd ſhall ſtand, Chriſt's inventions do ove…-rule and over come all Satan's and wicked men's in…entions. As

1. Sometimes making them prove abortive; deſtroying the Wiſdom of the Wife, and bringing to nothing the underſtanding of the Prudent.

2 Setting them their bounds; thus far ſh…ll …hey come and no farther, and here ſhall thei… p…oud waves be stayed, &c.

3. Giving them their tendency, which is many times directly contrary to what men aim at, making them ſerve to the Author's deſtruction, men have periſhed, and will periſh by their own inventions, and fall by their own counſel; the Lord will be known by his Judgments herein, and his Wiſdom muſt triumph over all the Wiſdom of Hell and the World. But,

1. Of all the witty inventions of Wiſdom dwelling with Prudence, the moſt Glorious is that of the Word being made Fleſh, and ſo made ſin that ſinners may be made the Righteouſneſs of God in him; p. 27Satan had a Subtile invention to deſtroy; the the Lord a more witty invention to ſave men; what an invention was here, that one Perſon ſhould be God-man, Creator and Creature; Off-ſpring of David, and Root of David; his Son and yet his Lord? The Salvation of Sinners ſeemed utterly impoſſible; God had ſaid, a ſinner must dye: There was an invention of fulfilling this Law upon a Surety which undertook for man; As an Infinite Perſon was offended, ſo there muſt be an infinite ſatisfaction, and price of an infinite value, without which man could not be reconciled to God: what a glorious invention was here? The Surety undertaking this, was an infinite Perſon, equal with the Father, he gave a life of an Infinite Value, he had in the humane nature united to him. A Body haſt thou prepared me; It was the Body of the Son of God, and ſo a Sacrifice of Infinite Value, the Prieſt offering the Sacrifice was infinite, the Son of God: the Altar Sanctifying the Gift was the Divine Nature; What an invention was it for the redeeming of loſt man? The Incarnation of Chriſt, the Hypoſtatical union was the chief of the witty inventions of Wiſdom dwelling with Prudence.

2. The next is the mystical union betwixt Chriſt and the Veſſels of Mercy, who are joyned to the Lord, and become one Spirit with him; being joyned as Husband and VVife, ſo are one Spirit; no man hates but loves and cheriſhes his own Fleſh, even as the Lord the Church; his Name is called on the Saints; they are made partakers of his Benefits, of his Riches, Relations, Inheritance, and Glory: They are joyned alſo as Head and Members, p. 281 Cor. 12.1…. As the body is one and hath many members ſo is Christ; The Head is for the Members, and the Members for the Head; the Head Rules, the Members ſerve; the Head aſcending and entering into Glory, the Members muſt follow the Head into that ſtate of Glory. Being joyned to Chriſt they have that Power and Priviledge to become the Sons of God, to be Heirs and Joynt-Heirs with Christ.

3. The next of the witty inventions of VViſdom dwelling with Prudence, which we may take notice of, is that of Regeneration; making men of Fleſh Spirit; of ſinners Saints; of dead alive to God: we are his workmanſhip, Eph. 2.10. A Saint is a work beſeeming God, commending his divine skill. All the Saints ſhall come unto a a perfect man in Chriſt, as the expreſſion is Eph. 4.13. and be prepared, as a Bride adorned for her Husband, and preſented without ſpot or wrinkle, having minds filled with light, hearts with love, fear, and all other Graces. In this work the witty inventions of wiſdom ſhall appear, 2 Theſ. 1.10. He ſhall come to be glorified in all his Saints, and admired in thoſe that Believe; as by them, ſo in them; Angels ſhall admire the work of God in and upon the Saints, for 'tis a work the Angels deſire to look into, 1 Pet. 1.12. In that by the Churches the manifold Wiſdom of God comes to be known unto them, Eph. 3.10.

4. Then the witty inventions of VViſdom dwelling with Prudence have been ſeen in doing of great things, by very inconſiderable means: It pleaſed God by the fooliſhneſs of preaching (as it was judged by the wiſe ones of the VVorld) to ſave them that Believe; p. 29God hath choſen the weak things of the World to confound the mighty, and things that are not, to bring to nought things that are. Weak means therefore are not to be deſpiſed, when a Wiſe Omnipotent God is at work in and with them: What great things were done by a few contemptible Perſons (as the World Judged) for the Converſion of many Souls, and the ſetting up the Kingdom of Chriſt? So for outward Deliverance and Salvation, God can work it by weak means; as by the three hundred men which were with Gideon, who took water in their hands and lapped, being contented with a little of the creature for preſent refreſhment, were ready to go forward in the work they were called to; of Chriſt it is ſaid, Pſalm …10.7. He ſhall drink of the Brook in the way, therefore ſhall he lift up the lead: By theſe few did the …ord ſcatter the great Hoſt of the Midianites; and here Wiſdom dwelling with Prudence did ſuggeſt a witty Invention and Stratagem of carrying Trumpets in their right hands, and empty Pitchers and Lamps within them in their left, which terrified the Ho…t, and brought all into confuſion: and thus God can by a few of his Servants, who know how to uſe creatures and not abuſe them, who are burning and ſhining lights, ſounding forth the truths of the Goſpel, and the Praiſes of the Moſt High, break the Rod of that Oppreſſor, the man of ſin, as in the day of Midian Iſa. 9.4. for yet a little while and the indignation ſhall ceaſe, and the anger of God in his deſtruction, and the Lord of Hoſt ſhall ſtir up a ſcourge for him, according to the ſlaughter of Midian at the Rock of Oreb, and he will do to him and his followers, p. 30as unto the Medianites, as to Siſera, as to Jabin at the Brook of Kiſon, which periſhed at Endor. They became dung for the Earth; not only as dung upon the Earth, but for the Eearth; they had fatted themſelves with the Fruits of the Earth, but at laſt all their glory and wealth, &c. ſhall be as dung to make fat the Earth. And as many of the witty inventions of VViſdom dwelling with Prudence have been diſcovered, ſo more muſt be. As there were witty inventions in the firſt Creation, ſo there muſt be in a New Creation, which ſhall ſo far exceed, that when the new Heavens and the new Earth ſhall be Created, the former ſhall no more be remembred, neither ſhall come upon the heart; The Glory of the latter Houſe ſhall exceed the Glory of the former: what inventions ſhall be in and about the new Jeruſalem? that City which hath Foundations, whoſe Builder and Maker is God, deſcribed in Ezekiel by legal Expreſſions, which are to be known as Chriſt, not after the Fleſh but after the Spirit; it is the body and ſubſtance of all legal Shadows, which is ſet forth and ſhall appear in that City and Temple there deſcribed: John's Viſion of the new Jeruſalem is the ſame with Ezekiel's, which ſhall have the Glory of God, have light like a Stone moſt precious; the ſtreet thereof is pure Gold, as tranſparent Glaſs; there ſhall not be ſuch darkneſs of ignorance, ſin, corruption, and miſery as now; it hath no need of the Sun or Moon, for the Glory of God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

5. There have been and will be alſo the witty inventions of VViſdom dwelling with Prudence in works of Providence and Preſervation; the Buſh p. 31did burn and was not conſumed; the world is ſet on fire of Hell, the hearts of wicked men burn with malice and anger againſt the Godly, the Anti chriſtian party have a Fire continually a burning within them againſt the followers of Chriſt, and hence have made uſe of ſo much outward fire againſt the Saints, yet cannot deſtroy the Church of the Firſt-born, who have the Name of God in their foreheads, and are the firſt Fruits of God and the Lamb. VVhen …haraoh ſtudied to deſ…roy the Male children of the Hebr…ws, VViſdom dwelling with Prudence had a way to preſerve them, and Moſes, who was to be the Deliverer, was ſecured and bred up in Pharaoh's Court; Infinitly doth the wiſdom of God exceed man's wiſdom! and ſo when the time ſhall be for Redemption out of Egyptian and Anti-chriſtian Bondage, as God is providing his Inſtruments, ſo he will call forth and command his Sanctified and Mighty ones for his anger, even them that rejoyce in his Highneſs, to put down Babylon, and execute the vengeance of his Temple upon it: when Goliah defied the Armies of Iſrael and terrified them, God brought David to the Camp, and put it into his heart to fight with the Philistine, who being Armed (as he thought) ſufficiently, the Lord knew where he was bare, and with David's Sling and Stone ſlew him, and David cut …ff his head with his own Sword: In like manner muſt that Goliah at Rome be deſtroyed, by a Stone cut out of the mountain without hands, and by his own Sword; for the Kings that gave up their Power to the Beaſt, ſhall hate the VVhore, &c. Saints under ſo long a trouble muſt needs have fainted, had they p. 32not believed to ſee the goodneſs of God in the Land of the living, and had they not been aſſured that by the witty inventions of VViſdom dwelling with Prudence, Babylon ſhall be made to fall, and he, that ſits in the Temple of God, ſhall come down and ſit in the duſt, nay be caſt into the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimſtone; for the Beaſt and Falſe Prophet ſhall be deſtroyed, and their Bodies given to the burning flames.

6. Laſtly, as when the old VVorld was deſtroyed by water, God had a witty invention to ſave Noah and his Family, ſo when the VVorld that now is, ſhall be deſtroyed with Fire, God will have a witty invention to ſave whom he pleaſes.

Now this glorious truth of the unſearchable Riches of VViſdom in Chriſt, affords abundant matter of Joy and Incouragement to the Saints and Servants of Chriſt.

1. As Chriſt hath the Riches of VViſdom, ſo he is Wiſe for them to do them good: The VViſdom beſtowed on Solomon was for the good of the Iſraelites, that he might know how to go in and out before them, to do Judgment; He had VViſdom to Teach and Inſtruct, as we ſee in thoſe Books of Proverbs, Eccleſiaſtes, and Canticles, Eccleſ. 12.9. Becauſe the Preacher was Wiſe, he ſtill taught the People knowledge, as the more wiſe he was, the more he taught the People knowledge: And ſo the more wiſdom Chriſt hath, the more ſhall he teach the Saints knowledge; Solomon had wiſdom to Build a Temple; ſo had Chriſt to build a Spiritual Houſe; Solomon was wiſe to put a difference betwixt the Iſraelites and Strangers, and theſe he made Servants for his work, but thoſe were free p. 33and Officers under him; and Chriſt ſhall make Believers Free, ſo as that they ſhall be free indeed: Thus as Chriſt is Wiſe, he is Wiſe for the Faithful, Wiſe to Teach, to Save, and to perfect that which doth concern them.

2. His Wiſdom is to be a Fountain of Wiſdom to them, in his light muſt they ſee light; by his wiſdom they ſhall have wiſdom, Chriſt's wiſdom multiplies in Regenerated ones, as he hath a Spirit of wiſdom, ſo he gives it; as the Sun is the light of the VVorld, gives light to the Moon, Stars, to the Earth, and living Creatures therein, ſo is Chriſt the light of the Church; he doth give VViſdom dwelling with Prudence to his Members, he gives to men natural and civil wiſdom, for their ordering of their worldly affairs, for in ſuch things 'tis God inſtructs men to diſcretion, as he doth the Husbandman in and about his Husbandry, Iſa. 2… 26. and he gives Spiritual wiſdom to the Saints to know God, and order their converſa…i…n aright; his work is to give more wiſdom where it is begun, and this he will do, till all the Saints come up to the meaſure of the ſtature of his own fulneſs; and this in the latter days will be a work that Christ will more gloriouſly appear in; for m…ny ſhall run to and fro, and knowledge ſhall abound. Dan. 12.4. and the Earth ſhall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the Waters cover the Sea, and the light of the Moon ſhall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun ſevenfold, as the light of ſeven days: Then, as he that is feeble ſhall be as David, ſo he that is ſimple and but a babe in underſtanding, ſhall be as Solomon. This is incouragem…nt to go to Chriſt for wiſdom; As the p. 34Queen of Sheba came with her hard queſtions to Solomon, and he ſatisfied her in all, ſo ſhould we come with our hard queſtions to Chriſt; every true Chriſtian hath many hard queſtions about Divine Truth, about the ſence of Scriptures about the diſpenſations of God, and concerning his own Eſtate, whether it be a ſtate of Grace and Peace in which they are with God: Now he ſhould go to Chriſt for ſatisfaction: There are hard queſtions among Believers in which they are divided, as about the form and pattern of God's Houſe: Now they ſhould ſeek to the Lord and wait on him, and in due time he ſhall reveal even this unto them, to the making of the Saints all of one Mind and Heart: then the Lord ſhall be King over all the Earth, and Antichriſt no where King; then the Lord ſhall be one, and his name one; only be humble; ſee the way of Wiſdom, ask in Faith and he will give it.

Again, are there unſearchable Riches of wiſdom in Chriſt, as Solomon was Renowned for his wiſdom? Then,

1. Have a high eſteem of Chriſt becauſe of his wiſdom; all the Kings ſought the preſence of Solomon to hear his wiſdom, and ſhe that was a Queen ſaid, Happy are thoſe thy Servants; It is better to be Chriſt's Servants, ſeeing his Glory, and hearing his wiſdom, than to rule over men; David behaved himſelf wiſely, and was Reſpected of all the People, 1 Sam. 18.30. ſhall not Chriſt be judged much more worthy of acceptation? David behaved himſelf more wiſely then all the Servants of Saul, and his name was much ſet by, or very precious; and ſhall not Chriſt's Name be much ſet by?

p. 352. Truſt to his Wiſdom, he knows what is good for us and how to do us good, and to make all work for good; when we have wants, he knows how to ſupply them; when infirmities, he knows how to help them; when dangers he knows how to deliver out of them. When there was an Achitophel giving counſel againſt David, he had an Huſhai to defeat his counſel; when there are ſo many Achitophels in counſel at Rome, here's one that ſits in Heaven, whoſe Name is Wiſdom dwelling with Prudence, who knows how to defeat their counſel.

3. Juſtifie Wiſdom; Wiſdom is Juſtified of her Children; as wiſdom juſtifies them, ſo ſhould they juſtifie wiſdom; There is much finding fault. Fleſh is apt to find fault, as Jonah ſaid, he did well to be angry: by murmuring, by impatience we condemn the Lord; when the Fleſh condemns, let the Spirit and renewed part Juſtifie the Lord; the world is apt to find fault, Antichriſt condemns the truth and ways of Christ, and ſets up many Doctrines and Ordinances to make void the Doctrines and Ordinances of God; Now here Saints ſhould Juſtifie wiſdom and confeſs Chriſt: ſtand up for his Truths, Commands, &c. Juſtifie wiſdom by words and works. Although we cannot and ought not to juſtifie our ſelves againſt the charge of God's Holy Law by works, yet there is a ſence in which we ought to Juſtifie Christ by our works.

4. Fear Chriſt becauſe of his Wiſdom: we reverence men much that have wiſdom beyond others, and riſe up before the hoary head, that is, becauſe with the Ancient is wiſdom. Here is the Ancient p. 36of days, with whom is perfect wiſdom, worthy to be had in reverence by them that are round about him; the Enemies of Chriſt have cauſe to fear him, becauſe of his wiſdom; when Saul ſaw that David behaved himſelf very wiſely he was afraid of him, 1 Sam. 18.15.

5. Walk circumſpectedly not as Fools but as wiſe, Eph. 5.15. walk as wiſe before him that hath ſuch Riches of wiſdom; when we are amongſt wiſe men we will ſpeak and act as wiſely as we can; much more being before the wiſe Lord of Heaven and Earth, be wi…e to conſider the day of viſitation, the things of Peace, be exact in our walkings and doings: have Eyes before, behind, and within, as the beaſts have, Rev. 4.6, 8. the Body hath not ſo; but the Mind ſhould look before, to ſee the Lord before us, his will and Glory, look to the Joy before us; look behind to ſee what we were in the Fleſh; and to Satan purſuing, the world perſecuting; have Eyes within, to ſee our failings, imperfections, wants and what is amiſs within us.

6. Let there be Wiſdom dwelling within you, ſo as 'tis with Chriſt: that is, we ſhould know and do, know and obey, know and love, if ye know theſe things happy are ye if ye do them, John 13.17. Be doers and not hearers only; otherwiſe knowledge will but aggravate ſin, and increaſe Judgment: As we ſhould have Eyes within, before, and behind, ſo alſo Wings, Rev. 4.8. we ſhould make haſte and not delay to keep the Righteous Judgments of God.

p. 37CHAP. VI.

THere are in Chriſt Riches of Power, Job 9.4. He is Wiſe in Heart, and mighty in Strength, not only ſtrong but mighty in ſtrength, he excels therein, ſo that the ſtrongeſt Creatures have no ſtrength in compariſon of him, verſe 19. If I ſpeak of ſtrength lo he is ſtrong, what do we ſpeak of the ſtrength of Men? Sampſon, Goliah and David's worthies, &c. he hath ſtrength worthy of praiſe, lo he is ſtrong. Solomon was a type of Chriſt in Wiſdom; David in his glorious Conqueſts; ſo Sampſon in his ſtrength,

1. There is his Power and Strength as he is God, the Lord God Omnipotent, all thinngs are poſſible to his Power; by this he weigheth the Mountains in Scales, and the Hills in a Ballance, and takes up the Iſles as a very little thing; to which the Power of the Nations is nothing, yea leſs than nothing and vanity, Iſa. 40.17.

2. There is the Power as Mediator, thus.

1. There is the Power of his Death, which may be called the weakneſs of Chriſt, but yet ſtronger than Man, than Satan, than the World, than Sin; there is a conquering Power of his Death, Heb. 2.14. By Death he deſtroyed him that had the Power of Death, that is the Devil; in his works, Kingdom, &c. Satan had his power by means of Sin, and that being ſatisfied for, there is Redemption from his power; The Death of Chriſt was not ſo deſtroying to Chriſt's own as to Satan's Kingdom, and to the old Man which was Crucified with Chriſt; when a dead-Man p. 38touched the bones of Eliſha, he was raiſed to live, 2 Kings 13.21. and much more when Chriſt dying is touched by Faith, thoſe that are dead ſhall live, Rom. 5.10. We were reconciled to God by the Death of his Son; and if there be ſo great a Power in his Death, what is the Power of his Life? If ſo great a Power of Chriſt Crucified, what is the Power of Chriſt Crowned? If ſo great a Power of Christ in the Grave, what is the Power of Chriſt on the Throne of his Glory?

2. There is the Power of his Reſurrection, Phi. 2.10. That I may know him and the Power of his Reſurrection, which hath a juſtifying Power; He was raiſed for our Juſtification, Rom. 4.25. As the bonds of his Death were looſed, and Priſon Doors opened, ſo this declared he had paid the uttermoſt Farthing, and thereby the bonds of Captivity were looſed to the Veſſels of Mercy, who being under the bonds of Guilt were looſed thereby and enlarged: There's a raiſing Power of his Reſurrection, a ſaving Power of his Life. Chriſt quickened becomes a quickning Spirit: Becauſe he lives the Elect ſhall live alſo, John 14.19. He is a quickning Spirit to the Soul that is Planted in the likeneſs of his Reſurrection, and ſhall be to the Body: the ſame Spirit, by which he was quickened ſhall quicken your mortal Bodies, Rom. 8.11. what a glorious Power is this! And what reaſon had Paul to deſire ſo much the Power of his Reſurrection! and how happy are they that have the experimental knowledge of it!

3. There is the Power that Chriſt hath with the Father in his Mediation and Interceſſion. If Jacob had Power with God, then how much more Chriſt p. 39who could ſay, I know thou always heareſt me, let me alone, ſaid the Lord to Moſes, &c. Exod. 32.10. What was this but to ſhew what Power Chriſt as Mediator hath to hinder Divine Wrath from conſuming Sinners: having taken it upon himſelf, he ſaves from wrath ſuch as believe in him, as on the other ſide he hath Power to draw forth wrath againſt Antichriſt and all his Enemies, Rev. 8.3, 5. The golden Cenſer is filled with Fire, and caſt into the Earth; This is a ſweet conſideration for true Believers, that 'tis Chriſt their Head, Saviour, Redeemer, &c. who hath Power to diſpenſe good and evil Grace, and wrath, having a looſing and binding Power in ſome ſort, in relation to the Fathers Love and Wrath.

4. Chriſt hath Power over himſelf and his own wrath Num. 14.17. When the People murmured, becauſe of the evil report brought upon Canaan, and the Lord threatned to deſtroy them, Moſes makes interceſſion, Let the Power of my Lord be great, as thou haſt ſaid, the Lord gracious, &c. and now pardon the Iniquities of thy Servants. When the Lord pardons he hath Power over his own wrath: when men are offended and provoked, they have not always Power to keep themſelves from revenge: Simeon and Levi had not Power over their own wrath, which Jacob curſed, becauſe 'twas cruel, but the Lord hath Power over his Wrath to turn it from believing, convinced, humbled, repenting ſinners; when the Lord knows, and we know alſo our manifold tranſgreſſions and mighty ſins, Amos 5.12. 'Tis comfortable to know, that the Lord hath a mighty Power to pardon even mighty ſins: as Chriſt lays hold on the Fathers p. 40ſtrength, ſo we may on his and make Peace, Iſa. 27.9.

5. Chriſt hath Power over Men's Heart.

1. Of the Elect, to change them and to turn them from ſin unto God; to take away the heart of Unbelief, the heart of ſtone; he can humble the proud heart, and make the rebellious heart to yield. How ſoon can Chriſt make us other Men? Saul why Perſecuteſt th…u me? I am Jeſus, and what ſaid Saul? Lord what wouldest thou have me to do, Acts 9.4.6.

2. Of wicked men; he can bind up and bound their Malice: he can melt and incline their hearts towards his Servants; as he did once and again the heart of Saul towards David; of Ahaſhuerus towards Mordecai, and the heart of Cyrus to make Proclamation of Liberty for the Jews return to Jeruſalem; and hence this is an Expreſſion to ſet forth the Power of God, Iſa. 44.24. Thus ſaith the Lord that ſtretcheth out the Heavens, v. 27.28. that ſaith to the Deep be dry, that ſaith to Cyrus, he is my Shepherd, he ſhall perform all my Pleaſure. What comfort is this, when Saints ſee what bad hearts they have, they know that Chriſt hath power to make them better; and what malicious hearts wicked men have, Chriſt can either deſtroy, or incline them to ſhew kindneſs, as he did the heart of Eſau to Jacob. Gen. 23.

6. Chriſt hath power over all Creatures, to do with them as he pleaſes, and to do what he will by them: they go and come, move or not move, live or dye, they are, or are not at his will: He ſends forth his Spirits, they are created; he takes p. 41away th…ir breath th…y dy. He hath power of nothing to make ſomething, of darkneſs to make light, of evill to turn it to good, of death to bring out life from it; it's the Prerogative of God, he calls the things that are not, as though they were. 1. Cor. 1.28. and commands them to be: and much more can he confound that which is of Babylon: he can ſay of it, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. This is matter of abundant conſolation to the Sainis: thy Redeemer is ſtrong, the Lord of Hoſt is his Name. 2. Tim. 2.12. I know whom I have believed, and I am perſwaded that he is able to keep me, &c. Believers know whom they have choſen, believed in, whom they love and ſerve, how full of might he is, and when the power of Hell, and of the World lying in wickedneſs is againſt them, they may comfort themſelves in this, the power of the Lord is for them: God made Nebuchadnezzar to know that the Heavens do Rule. Dan. 4.25, 26. that is, the three, that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Spirit: which Spirit is in the hearts of Saints: alſo of which the Apoſtle ſays, Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the World. 1. John 4.4. the holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Church, Satan is the Spirit of the World: the Saints comfort is they have the greater Spirit, and if their Spirit be greater than the Spirit of the World, much more is it greater than the Fleſh of the World.

Particularly 1. Chriſt's Riches of Power are to be excerciſed for the good of the Heirs of Salvation. Pſa. 89.19. I have laid help on one that is mighty: the Father hath laid it on Chriſt, with his power to p. 42help Unbelief, to help Infirmities, to help the Spirit againſt the Fleſh, the law of the Mind againſt the law of the Members: None will ſtand by me in theſe things but Michael your Prince. Dan. 10.21—.12.1. Let the weak then ſay I am strong, Joel, 3.10. In the Lord have I Righteouſneſs and Strength, Iſa. 45.24. In the Lord it is, and in the Lord I have it.

2. Chriſt's Riches of Power is a Fountain of Power to the Saints.

1. In Regeneration he propagates his Power, he begets and maintains a Power of Godlineſs in the new nature, 2 Tim. 1.7. A Power to ſerve God, a Power to confeſs his Name, to take up a Croſs and follow him. Joſeph's bow abode in ſtrength when the Archers ſhot at him, being made ſtrong by the mighty God of Jacob, Gen. 49.24. So are Saints ſtrenghtened by the mighty Power of Chriſt reſting on them; Sin is from weakneſs, how weak is thine heart, ſeeing thou doſt theſe things? Ezek. 16.30. Vertue is a Power to do good, which is from Chriſt.

2. In the Reſurrection Christ will give great Power to the glorified Bodies of the Saints 1 Cor. 15.43. It's raiſed in Power, the Power of raiſed and glorified Bodies ſhall be exceeding great; there is not ſuch power in any thing in the World as will be in them; if God ſhould give commiſſion, one glorified Saint might be able to deſtroy a World of ungodly men.

3. In the World to come all weakneſs ſhall be ſwallowed up in Power; there will not be cauſe to complain of the Power of Sin and weakneſs of Grace; Heb. 6.5. there is mention of the Powers of the World to come, there is no weakneſs but power in that World; the power of Godlineſs, p. 43the power of Love, the power of an Endleſs Life, Heb. 7.16. of Endleſs Holineſs, of Endleſs Joy, Joſh. 14.11. As my Strength was then ſo it is now, herein was Joſhua a Type of the perfect and abiding ſtrength of the Saints in the World to come.

And there being ſuch Power in Chriſt learn,

1. To Truſt in him, Iſa. 26.4. becauſe in him is everlaſting Strength, Iſa. 3.15. O my Soul thou haſt troden down Strength, Judg. 5.21. Deborah's Soul having ſtrong Faith, and being poured out in Prayer, did moſt in that Victory: Deborah's Soul with Barah's Sword overcame the Hoſt of Siſera: Saints do moſt with the ſtrength of their Souls, and in this have great advantage of their Enemies, and with this they ſhall tread down Satan and the Man of ſin; when a Saint hath no power in himſelf he may ſay, as John, there is one mightier than I, and mightier than all my Enemies, Jer. 31.22. A Woman ſhall compaſs a Man; that is, the weak ſhall overcome the ſtrong, as Deborah and Jael did; one trod down the ſtrength of the Hoſt with her confidence, and the other ſlew Siſera the Captain of it; the Woman clothed with the Sun, having the Moon under her feet, though driven into the Wilderneſs, yet at laſt muſt compaſs and conquer the Man of ſin, and then her Wilderneſs ſhall be as Eden, and her deſert as the Garden of the Lord, and Babylon's fruitful Field ſhall become a Forreſt.

2. Fear him who hath Riches of Power; he can deſtroy both Body and Soul in Hell: Who art thou that art afraid of a Man that ſhall dye, and forgetteſt thy Maker? Fear him that hath made p. 44Heavens, and the Earth, the Sea, and the Fountains of Water.

3. Praiſe his Power, Pſal. 21.13. Be thou exalted Lord in thine own Strength, ſo will we Sing and Praiſe thy Power. The Saints ſhall have abundant matter miniſtred unto them in the laſt days, of praiſing the Power of Chriſt, and of ſaying Salvation and Strength to our God, and to him that ſits upon the Throne, Pſal. 145.11, 12. They ſhall ſpeak of the Glory of thy Kingdom and talk of thy Power.

4. Be in ſubjection to Chriſt, and ſerve him; if we ought to be in ſubjection to the higher Powers, then much more to him that hath the higheſt Power, and take heed that we be not found in oppoſition to him; Do we provoke the Lord to jealouſy? are we ſtronger than he? Job. 9.4, 5, 6. He is wiſe in Heart, and mighty in Strength, which removeth Mountains, and they know not. Who hath hardened himſelf againſt him and proſpered? He ſhaketh the Earth and doth great things paſt finding out, ond Wonders without number. And as the conſideration of Chriſt's Power ſhould make us ready to ſerve him, ſo to ſerve him with our might, Eccleſ. 9.10. What thou do'ſt, do with thy might; be not heartleſs, cold, lukewarm in the ſervice of ſo powerful a Lord. The works which he doth for Saints, he doth them with his might; The Eyes of the Lord run to and fro in the Earth to ſhew himſelf strong, &c. 2 Cbron. 16.9. As he is ſtrong, ſo he delights to ſhew himſelf ſtrong on behalf of thoſe whoſe Hearts are perfect with him.

p. 45CHAP. VII.

THere are in Chriſt the Riches of Glory, Job 40.9.10. Haſt thou an Arm lik… God? Deck thy ſelf now with Majeſty and Excellency: this is the Glo y of Chriſt; he hath the Arm of God, and like God he is decked with Majeſty, and arrays himſelf with Glory and Beauty; he is clothed with Majeſty and Honour, and decked himſelf with light as with a Garment: If the King's Daughter be all Glorious within, much more is the King himſelf, who is the Lord and King of Glory, who is moſt Glorious in himſelf, and hath the command of his Glory, being able to maintain and communicate it as he pleaſes, Christ hath the Glory of being every way the chiefeſt: that is, in Dominion, Strength, Wiſdom, &c. being altogether Lovely, therefore altogether Glorious: There is an H…brew word for Glory, which ſignifies Weight; true Glory ariſes out of that which is of VVeight and VVorth; the World's Glory is but a ſhadow, which flies away as a Bird, Hoſ. 9.11. and is but as the Graſs of the Field, Chriſt is the ſubſtance. If Saints ſhall have an exceeding weight of Glory, how much more then hath Chriſt? If their's be Glory from an Hyperbole to an Hyperbole, as 2 Cor. 4.17. then how many Hyperboles are there in Chriſt's Glory? Chriſt is the gathering together of all Glory, as the Sea was the gathering of the Waters; as the ſcatter'd light created the firſt day was on the fourth day gathered into the Body of that great light the Sun, which rules the day, ſo the ſcattered Glory, which was here a little and p. 46there a little amongſt creatures, is gathered in Chriſt into a fulneſs of Glory, which makes him the beginning or Head of the Creation of God, Col. 1.17, 18. If Sion be the perfection of Beauty, how much more is Chriſt?

And theſe Riches of Glory are Unſearchable: we may well ſay, here we cannot order our ſpeech by reaſon of darkneſs; i. e. the darkneſs in which his Glory dwells in relation to us, and by reaſon of the darkneſs of our Minds: Job 26.14. How little a portion is heard of him? When we have thought or ſpoken out our all, we may conclude, theſe are but part of his ways, and of his Glory.

Now to ſpeak what we can of his Glory, let's conſider how he himſelf deſcribes it, Luke 9.26. The Son of Man ſhall come in his own Glory, in his Fathers Glory, and with the Angels, that is, the Glory he ſhall have given him of the Creatures, for the Creation, which is in bondage to men's luſts, and thoſe abuſes which it's weary of, ſhall ſerve to ſet forth the Glory of Chriſt, which is its earneſt expectati…n: Rom. 8.

1. There is his own glory, his eternal, eſſential glory, which he had with the Father before the world, and ſtill hath, being in the form of God: and it is no Robbery to think ſo; when the man of Sin ſhews himſelf that he is God, that is robbery, but not ſo when Chriſt is equallized with God. The beſt deſcription of his Glory is to ſay, he is above all. Eph. 4.6. the face of his Glory we can't ſee, only the back parts thereof, in his word, and works, &c. whence we may conclude, as the Pſalmiſt, He that made the Eye ſhall not he not ſee? &c. Pſa. 94.9. He that made all, p. 47was not he before all? and is not he above all? ſo far above all in power, that he is the Almighty: In Knowledge, that he is Omniſcient: in Duration, that he is Eternal, he is the brightneſs of his Fathers glory, and Expreſs Image of his Perſon. That is his own Glory which he ſhall come in. Heb. 1 3.

2. There is his Fathers glory which he ſhall come in; that is Glory which he had, and ſhall have from his Father, and Glory becoming ſo glorious a Father: Labans Son ſpoke it enviouſly of Jacob, of that which was our Father's hath he gotten him all this glory; we may ſay it wel of Chriſt, of that which was his Fathers, hath he gotten him all his Glory. There is,

1. The Glory he had from the Father in his humble Eſtate; for in that he had much Glory, which was manifeſted forth in his Miracles, in which he had a Witneſs from the Father: When John's Diſciples asked Chriſt, art thou he that ſhould come? Math. 11.5. he anſwers, go tell John, the blind ſee, the Lame walk, &c. and thoſe works will tell what I am, Joh. 9.30. herein is a marvellous thing; he hath opened mine Eyes, and yet ye know not whence he is: Cbriſt in his humble Eſtate had Glory under a Vail, and there was a Cloud upon the face of his Glory; Under the Law, God made a Cloud to be the Sign of his Preſence, which was then his Pavilion; this was a Type of that Cloud of Fleſh and humane Infirmities, wherein Chriſt in his D…vine Glory was covered in his humble State; although under his Feet then there was a paved work of Saphire stone, like the body of Heaven in clearneſs: Exod. 24.10. which was a figure of thoſe Beams of Divine Glory which did ſhine p. 48from Chriſt's works, and goings when he was in the World, declaring him to be the Lord from Heaven; much of his Glory came forth in his Speech, never Man ſpake like this Man: he ſpake like one having Authority: in this State he had the Glory of Grace and Vertue, of perfect Righteouſneſs, Zeal, Power, Patience, Humility, Holineſs, and Love, &c. and theſe were his Glory; we are changed into the ſame Image from Glory to Glory; that is as John 1.16. we receive of his Fulneſs Grace for Grace: Grace is Glory.

2. There is the Glory of his Exalted State; and if ſo much of his Glory did ſhine forth, from under his Sufferings in his low Eſtate, what then is the glory of his Exalted State? there is the glory of his Soul and Spirit, which in the kind of Spirits is moſt Excellent; being far above Angels. There is the glory of his Body, which of all bodily things is moſt Excellent, having a brightneſs above the brightneſs of the Sun, and above the ſtrength of all Creatures: If we conſider him in his Perſon as God man, ſo he hath the glory of being the Father's King, whom he hath ſet over all the works of his hands, having given him all power in Heaven and Earth, and made him the King of Glory; 'tis one thing to have the Glory of a King, another to be the King of Glory; that is, a King made up all of Glory; for they did ſome things which were their Shame and not their Glory. Theſe were but as the Moon which rules the Night, having their Spots; but Chriſt is the King of Glory, made up all of Glory, like the Sun, that rules the Day. Particularly,

p. 491. Chriſt hath the glory of being Univerſal King; Antichriſt mainly ſtrives for it. This is Chriſts peculiar Glory, all things in Heaven and Earth, and under the Earth are ſubject to him; he is in Heaven at the right hand of the Majeſty on High: his Eyes run to and fro on the Earth, beholding the Evil and the Good: his left hand is under the Head of the Saints, and his right hand doth imbrace them; be they never ſo much under, yet beneath them are everlaſting Arms to uphold them, and be their Enemies never ſo high, yet the everlaſting Arms are above them, and his Hand ſhall be in the Neck of his Enemies, Gen. 49.8.

2. A Triumphant King; all his Enemies muſt be made his Footſtool, and he muſt ſee his deſire and deſigns upon them; he ſhall bind Satan and the Hands and Hearts of wicked Men, that they ſhall not hurt nor deſtroy in all his Holy Mountain.

3. A King Reigning in Righteouſneſs: Righteouſne…s is the beſt Glory of Kings; the King of Kings ſhall be moſt Glorious in his Righteouſneſs; as he is a Prieſt after the Order of Melchiſedec, ſo a Prince alſo after his order; being the King of Righteouſneſs, he ſhall not Judge after the ſight of the Eyes, but Righteous Judgment, Iſa. 11.3, 4. as David was a King, the goodneſs of whoſe Government did extend to the Saints, being a King for them and not againſt them, Pſa. 16.3. So is Chriſt much more: he is a King to relieve the Oppreſſed, and hearing alſo the cry of Oppreſſion, ſo as that he ſhall break Oppreſſors in pieces, but ſhall ſave the Poor and Needy, and ſuch as have no H…lper: in his days the Righteous ſhall flouriſh, p. 50and abundance of Peace, ſo long as the Moon endureth: He ſhall be a King, not like Saul, who was for having good things extended to him from the Iſraelites: He ſhall take off your Olive yards, &c. but like David, who was for the extending of his Goodneſs, &c.

4. Chriſt is a King having an Incorruptible Crown: Earthly Kings muſt dye, and their Kingdoms muſt at laſt come to an end, but Chriſts Kingdom ſhall never have an end: Earthly Kings after they have lived a while in Glory lye in glory, Iſa. 14.18. that is, in ſome ſtately Monument, but Christ ſhall always live and never lye in Glory; much leſs then ſhall he lye down in ſhame; this is the meaning of the Rainbow about his Throne like an Emerald, Rev. 4.3. Anti-chriſt's Throne, that Throne of Iniquity which eſtabliſheth Miſchief by a Law, hath not a Rainbow about it, but a hand-writing againſt it; the Bow in the Cloud ſecures the Earth from being overwhelmed again by a Flood, ſo the Rainbow about Chriſt's Throne notes its ſecurity from Deſtruction; it ſhall deſtroy but never be deſtroyed, it ſhall breake in pieces, but never be broken.

3. There is the Glory which Chriſt ſhall have from Creatures.

1. From the Holy Angels, they are his Servants, aſcending and deſcending upon the Son of Man, Joh. 1.51. they have their ſtanding in, and their ſtability by Christ; and they do not ſtand idle in Christ, but aſcend and deſcend; that is, they're running and going at Chriſt's Command, and are always imployed in the buſineſs of the Son of Man, being his Miniſters, by whom he doth his p. 51work in the World; they aſcend to know, and deſcend to do; they aſcend to receive Command, and deſcend to Execute them; they deſcend about their work, but aſcend in their end, doing all to the Glory of God; and when Chriſt ſhall come, theſe ſhall be his Attendants, and be round about his Throne, Dan. 7.10. Thouſands, thouſands ministred unto him, and ten thouſand times ten thouſand ſtood before him.

2. From the new created World: Christ will not come into this old corrupt prophane World, which is like a moth eaten Garment; the Heavens do contain him, till the times of Reſtitution of all things, Acts 3.21. ſuch a reſtitution there muſt be, that there may be a better World to receive Chriſt, and be in ſubjection to Chriſt; the Heavens muſt be diſſolved, and the Elements melt with fervent heat, to purge away their Droſs, and that all may run into a more pure and glorious Form; f… this fire ſhall be, as in ſome reſpects a conſu…ing fire, ſo alſo a R…r's fire; Men do much by fire for refining …, …d calling them into what form they p…ſ…, and alſo f…r Extracting Spirits; great Tranſmutations of things are made by fire: what great things will the Lord do by this fire at the laſt? the new Heavens and the new Earth ſhall come forth of th…s fire; for the Earth and the works therein ſhall be burnt up nevertheleſs we, according to his promiſes, look for new Heavens and a new Earth, wherein Righte…uſneſs dwelleth. 2 Pet. 3.10, 13. and the Lord promiſes. Iſa. 60.17. for Braſs I will bring Gold, for Iron Silver, &c. which ſhall have an accompliſhment ſeveral ways; as, if we conſider the new world p. 52in general, it ſhall be in compariſon with the old, as if Gold were brought out of Braſs, Silver out of Iron, Iron out of Stones.

1. And if in particular we conſider men, firſt as Men in the Conſtitution of their Bodies, in a natural and moral Capacity, in reſpect of Wiſdom, Underſtanding, and Knowledge of Natural things, and in their behaviour, ſo ſhall there be ſuch difference from what Men are now, as if Gold were brought out of Braſs, and Silver out of Iron.

2. In a politick Capacity, ſo there will be the like difference: which ſeems to be expreſly hinted in that Promiſe, ſeeing it immediately follows, I will make thine Officers Peace, and thine Exactors Righteouſneſs, in which reſpect there will be for Braſs Gold, for Iron Silver. In the times of Degeneration, as we may obſerve in that Image Nabuchadnezzar ſaw, Gold degenerates into Silver, Silver into Braſs, Braſs into Iron; but in the time of Regeneration, Math. 19.28. it will be contrary; then the Iron, and the Braſs, and the Silver will regenerate into Gold, and better Gold than the Head of that Image; In that the Lord Promiſes I will reſtore Judges as at the first, and Counſellors as at the beginning. Iſa. 1.26.

3. In a Spiritual capacity as Saints, and in reſpect of Church-State; ſo for Braſs will the Lord bring Gold; for common Stones there ſhall be precious Stones; I will make the Windows of Agates, and the Gates of Carbuncles, and all the Borders of pleaſant Stones, Iſa. 54.12. Then ſhall be that Church, into which nothing ſhall enter, which worketh abomination, or maketh a lye, neither Hypocrites, nor p. 53profane Perſons; there the dark Saint ſhall be full of light, the weak ſhall be ſtrong, the too much Earthly and Carnal Saints ſhall be Spiritual and Heavenly, and the divided Saints ſhall be all one; and this ſhall in an eſpecial manner be accompliſh'd among the Jews: When the Jews were caſt off what was their condition? We ſee it ſet forth, Ezek. 22.18. Son of Man, the Houſe of Iſrael is become Droſſie; all they are Braſs, and Tin, and Iron, and Lead; they are even the droſs of Silver, but when they ſhall be called, then they ſhall not be the droſs of Silver, but pure Gold; nay compare them in their moſt glorious and pure Eſtate, which formerly they were in; as when they had the Law given them on Sinai, when the Tribes were brought into ſuch excellent order, and they had Moſes their Leader, and Aaron the High-Prieſt, when they were fed with Angels food, and had the Cloud and Pillar of Fire, and the Tabernacle, in which was the Ark; I ſay, compare them in this Eſtate, with what they ſhall be at laſt, and we may well conclude that they are but as Braſs to Gold; for then they had but the ſhaddow, but when they ſhall be called they ſhall have the Body and Subſtance: Then they had the Law given by Moſes, and written in Tables of Stone, but at laſt given by Chriſt, and written in Tables of their Hearts; and Chriſt will be their High Prieſt, and Prince upon a Throne, and the ſhall have the Cloud and Pillar of Fire too; Upon all the Glory there ſhall be a Defence; and as their Eſtate ſhall be more excellent then ever heretofore, ſo they ſhall be an eternal excellency, and then all Nations ſhall bow before Chriſt, and p. 54be made to ſerve him; and ſome of the chiefeſt in the Nations, the Kings of Tarſhiſh, and of the Iſles ſhall bring Preſents; The Kings of Sheba and Saba ſhall offer Gifts: In the beginning of Chriſt's Kingdom not many Mighty and Noble were called; it being in great contempt, and under great Perſecution; but when this ſhall become a great Mountain, and fill the whole Earth, and God ſhall beautify the place of his Sanctuary, and make the place of his Feet glorious, then many Mighty and Noble ſhall be called, and brought into it, Jer. 33.21. Their Nobles ſhall be of themſelves. Rev. 21.24. there is mention of Kings bringing their Glory and Honour into the new Jeruſalem, where they ſhall find better Glory then they bring, Iſa. 49.7. Kings ſhall ſee and ariſe, Princes alſo ſhall worſhip, becauſe of the Lord which is Faithful. Iſa. 60. There are four Promiſes made concerning Kings, with reference to theſe times, verſe 3. The Gentiles ſhall come to thy light, and Kings to the brightneſs of thy riſing, verſe 10. Kings ſhall miniſter unto thee; There is a time of their miniſtring unto the great Whore, but at laſt ſome of them will hate the Whore, and love the Saints, and miniſter unto them: verſe 11. Thy Gates ſhall be open continually, that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, that their Kings may be brought, verſe 16. Thou ſhalt ſuck the Breaſts of Kings; Now when this ſhall be, then ſhall the Church be prepared, as a Bride be adorn'd for her Husband, and have Glory ſuitable to Chriſt's Glory: When he ſhall come, all the Saints ſhall come with him, Zach. 14.5. The Saints in Heaven and all the Saints on Earth ſhall be all gathered unto him; p. 55they ſhall come from the Eaſt and Weſt and ſit down in the Kingdom of God, 2 Theſſ. 2.1. I beſeech you by the coming of Chriſt, and our gathering unto him: As the Lord was preſent in the midſt of the Camp of Iſrael, in the Ark, which was the ſign of his preſence, and all the Tribes were gathered in order about him, and the Levites next to him; ſo when Chriſt ſhall come, all the Saints ſhall be round about his Throne, and be all Prieſts near unto him; then Christ ſhall come in the Glory of the Bridegroom, and the Church ſhall be in the Glory of his Bride; the Angels ſhall be the Friends of the Bridegroom, and Saints the Bride, the Lambs Wife. Then Chriſt ſhall have his myſtical as well as his perſonal Glory; for as Head and Husband he accounts not himſelf pefect, but in the perfection of his Spouſe and Members, the Church being the fullneſs of him that filleth all in all: this ſhall be the New Jeruſalem, and that City and Temple mention'd in Ezek. 40. &c. ſet forth under legal expreſſions: The Law had the Shadow of good things to come, but the Body is of Chriſt; that City and Temple is the Body of legal ſhadows; when we read of a Temple, Court, Chambers, Prieſts, and their Garments, of Burnt-offerings, and Peace-offerings, by all we muſt underſtand that which is the Body of theſe legal ſhadow; Chriſt ſhall be the Prieſt by whom Believers are reconciled to God; and the Saints ſhall be made Prieſts to God; Chriſt the Prince, and all the Saints ſhall reign with him, every one ſhall have a Chamber, a Manſion there; now they long for the Courts of God, then ſhall they be in thoſe Courts, and p. 56be Pillars there, Ez…k. 43.27. The Prieſt ſhall make your Burnt-offerings, and Peace-offerings; the meaning is, I will accept you.

Now what hath been ſpoken to ſet forth the Riches of Glory that are in Chriſt, ſhews what reaſon there is to have the higheſt eſteem of Chriſt, as better then all other beloveds; well might David ſay, Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon Earth that I deſire beſides thee: Here we may conſider further.

1. The ſight of Chriſt's Glory ſhall be the Saints bleſſedneſs; Bleſſed are your Eyes for they ſee; if there was ſo much bleſſedneſs in ſeeing him in his humble State, then what bleſſedneſs ſhall it be to ſee him in Glory? the Wicked, that dye in their ſins ſhall ſee Death, John 8.51. He that believes on me ſhall never ſee Death; unbelievers ſhall ſee it: The Greek word imports a ſeeing by contemplation, and ſpeculation; the death of the wicked is a contemplative death; as we read of ſome, they live a contemplative life, being for ſpeculation, and not for practice, ſo we may ſay of the wicked in Hell, they dye a contemplative death; as we read of the hurt of the ſecond death, ſo very much of the hurt thereof comes by contemplation: the ſame words are uſed Rev. 11.12. when the Witneſſes aſcend in a Cloud, 'tis ſaid that their Enemies behold them: they ſee and have the ſpeculation of their Glory and Joy, but do not intermeddle with it; they have a terrifying and tormenting viſion, but not a beatifical viſion of their Glory: and the wicked ſee death, and their contemplative death is a proportionable puniſhment of contemplative wickedneſs, which abounds, as we p. 57may ſuppoſe, beyond practical; thoughts being more then actions: they are contemplating on that which continues and heightens their torment; they think upon the vain courſe they led, upon the ſeaſons of Grace they ſlighted, the great Salvation neglected by them, they contemplate on the eternity of their Miſery, and they think on the happineſs of thoſe that they perſecuted and hated; Dives is ſaid to ſee Lazarus afar off, the wicked think on the bleſſed eſtate of the Godly, but on the other ſide the Saints never ſee Death, but Light and Life; they ſhall ſee Chriſt and be ever with him, beholding his Glory, Joh. 17.24. Father I will that they be with me, to behold my Glory, to be in everlaſting contemplation of it; and the Light of him ſhall ſatisfy, and they ſhall be ever ſeeing him: there ſhall not be any Cloud upon his Glory: true he ſhall come in Clouds, but when he comes, Clouds ſhall go away: when he aſcended, a Cloud received him out of the ſight of the Diſciples; when he deſcends, a Cloud ſhall uſher him into their ſight, and then Clouds ſhall for ever paſs away, that Saints may for ever ſee him; and then they ſhall ſee Chriſt, and all other things by Chriſt; The Lamb is ſaid to be the light of the new Jeruſalem, by this light they ſhall ſee Chriſt himſelf, as by the light of the Sun we ſee the Sun, and by Chriſt's light all other things, as the Scripture, and all thoſe things contained therein: The Jews before Chriſt came, knew him by Types and Signs, but after Chriſt came, they knew theſe Types and Figures by Chriſt; now we know Chriſt by the Scriptures, but when he ſhall appear we ſhall know the Scripture by Chriſt; now we know the Creator p. 58by the Creatures, then ſhall we know the Creatures by the Creator; now the inviſible things of God are known by the things that are made, then that which is inviſible to us of the things that are made, ſhall be known by the Light and Glory of him that made them. And their ſeeing ſhall be a beatifical Viſion; Chriſt ſhall then ſee the Saints and be ſatisfied, and they ſhall ſee him and be ſatisfied, Exod. 24.11. The Elders of Iſrael ſaw God, and did eat and drink; not as when they made the Calf, but either, they did eat of the Sacrifices, or did eat and drink Spiritually: they delighted in the Glory of the Lord, and fed their Eyes, and feaſted upon the brightneſs of his Glory, which was better to them than the moſt pleaſant meat: In anſwer to this, Chriſt promiſes that we ſhall eat and drink at his Table, in his Kingdom: this is the Portion of the Saints in Heaven, they ſhall ſee Chriſt, as God manifeſt in the Fleſh, and the God-head in Chriſt. After the general Judgment, they ſhall ſee God immediately as All in All and not only through the Man-hood of Christ.

2. Chriſt ſhall be a fountain of Glory to the Saints, they ſhall receive of his fullneſs, Glory for Glory, as the Sun communicates the Glory of his Light, ſo ſhall Chriſt the Sun of Righteouſneſs, which he beginning to do here, ſhall do it perfectly, to the filling of Souls and Bodies with Glory; they ſhall have the Glory of being one in the Father and the Son, Joh. 17.21.

3. Chriſts Glory is a Pattern of the Saints Glory, who are predeſtinated to be conformed to the Image of the Son. Rom. 8.29. they ſhall ſee, and be like him, and be ſatisfied with his likeneſs: If p. 59Saints now ſuffer, ſo did Chriſt, and as Christ is glorified, ſo ſhall they; if we ſuffer, 'tis no worſe with us than 'twas with Chriſt, and when Chriſt ſhall appear, it ſhall be as well with us as to a like Glory, tho' not an equal Glory with his; they ſhall appear with him in Glory; there ſhall be a Manifeſtation of the Sons of God, which the Creature hath an earneſt expectation off, that they may be delivered from their bondage unto the power of the Man of Sin, into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God. Rom. 8.18, 19, 20.

1. A Gracious Liberty, which they have being under Grace, and in a State of Grace; being free from the Curſe of the Law, from the raigning power of Sin, and from being led Captive by Satan at his will; this is a Liberty where with Chriſt hath made free.

2. A Glorious Liberty, where with Chriſt ſhall make them free, not only from Sin as a King, but from Sin as a Tyrant, and from any temptations and buffetings of Satan; not only from pleaſing Men, and walking as Men, but from all perſecutions from Men for Righteouſneſs ſake: they ſhall not hurt, nor deſtroy, &c. ſuch a glorious Liberty ſhall be to the Sons of God, a triumphant Liberty, as under Solomon's Reign, when there was neither Adverſary nor evil Occurrent: And as the Creature, ſo the Saints alſo, having the firſt fruits of the Spirit, do groan for the Adoption, even the Redemption of the Body:

There is a two-fold Adoption, Rom. 8.23.

Firſt, by receiving power to be Sons, through believing in Chriſt, Joh. 1.12.

2. In receiving the Portions of Sons, and that p. 60Inheritance which belongs to them, as Joynt-Heirs with Chriſt.

There is alſo a two-fold Redemption.

1. Of the Soul, from under the power of Sin, Satan, and the World.

2. Of the Body, from Perſecution, and Trouble, which is the State Saints ſhall be in after the fall of Babylon, when there ſhall be none to make them afraid; as alſo there ſhall be Redemption from Death and the Grave, ſo that their vile Bodies ſh…ll be faſhioned like Chriſt's Glorious Body: Only,

1. Conſider, if you would ſee Chriſt and be like him in Glory, ſee that you be found in him, having his Righteouſneſs, Pſa. 17.15. I ſhall behold thy Face in Righteouſneſs, that is, thy Righteouſneſs, thoſe that will not ſubmit to the Righteouſneſs of God, muſt not look to be Exalted to his Glory; (yet an inherent qualifying Righteouſneſs, alſo is by many, and may well be underſtood in that Expreſſion.) whom he Juſtified, them he Glorified.

2. You muſt be Holy; without Holineſs no Man ſhall ſee the Lord: you muſt be ſanctified into a likeneſs with him in Grace, elſe look not to be ſatisfied with his likeneſs in Glory.

3. Confeſs Ch…iſt and stand for his Glory; In his Temple ſhould every one ſpeak of his Glory, Pſal. 29.9. So ſhould we in his Spiritual Houſe; they that delight not now to be ſpeaking of his Kingdom, and talking of his Power, and of the Glorious Honour of his Majeſty, muſt not look to have an Inheritance in his Kingdom: In his Temple is the joyful ſound of his Glory: ſuch as p. 61now hear the joyful ſound, ſhall have the joyful ſight of his Glory.

4. Do all to his Glory; confeſs he is Lord to the Glory of the Father; be juſt to his Glory, be ſober to his Glory, be charitable and mercifull to his Glory; Pray, Hear, Eat, Drink, do all to his Glory; all things are of thee, of thine own have we given thee; 1 Chron. 29.14. all Waters are from the Sea, and run to the Sea; all flows from the Grace of God, and ſhould be to his Glory: and thus if Glory be our end in doing all, the ſight of his Glory ſhall be our Reward.

5. C…nſiderations of Chriſt's Riches of Glory ſhould take off the Heart from all worldly Glory, Gal. 6.14. Paul was Crucified to the World by the Croſs of Chriſt, and the World to him, the World was a dead thing to him, and he was dead to it; the World did not care for him, neither he for the World; the World did diſeſteem him, becauſe of his confidence in Chriſt Crucified, and he did diſeſteem the World, knowing that Chriſt was infinitely better: now if the Croſs of Chriſt crucified him to the World, much more may the Crown of Chriſt raiſe above the World: Joh. 12.32. If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me: this he ſpake ſignifying what Death he ſhould dye: as the brazen Serpent lifted up did draw the Eyes of thoſe, that were ſtung with the fiery Serpents: So Chriſt Crucified will draw the Hearts of ſuch as are ſtung with the terrors of the Law: and ſo the Glory of Chriſt lifted up far above all Heavens, ſhould draw our hearts unto him:

p. 62CHAP. VIII. A General Application of the Whole.

1. WE may learn hence, what reaſon we have to prize Chriſt above, and prefer him before all other things, and to be of the ſame mind as Paul, who counted all things but Dung, that he might win Chriſt, Phil. 3.8. there is little reaſon for ſetting our hearts on Earthly Riches, but greateſt reaſon to ſet them on the Unſearchable Riches of Chriſt; here's the Treaſure, and where the Treaſure is, there the Heart ſhould be: This is the better part, which, if we chooſe, ſhall never be taken from us: he that covets and prizes them above all, may have them without price. The Poor have the Goſpel of theſe Unſearchable Riches Preached unto them: Men travel far, and take great Pains, and can be content to endure much, the cold of the Night, and heat of the Day, as Jacob did in the purſuit of Earthly Riches, how much more ſhould we to get Heavenly Riches? Take Chriſt as S…viour and Lord, as Righteouſneſs and …ife, then the Riches of Grace and Glory, even the Riches of Heaven and Chriſt's Kingdom ſhall be yours. Thoſe that are young are content to engage themſelves in Maſters, that they may learn a Trade to get Wr…th: of what greater concernment is it to t…ke Chriſt for our Maſter? the like to him is n… to be found on Earth: Maſters here ſeek gain by th…r Servants, and aims to be enriched by them, but Chriſt is ſuch a Maſter that aims at his Servants gain, and is for p. 63the enriching them; where I am there ſhall my Servant be, and what I have ſhall be my Servant's. Well done thou good and faithful Servant, enter into the Joy of thy Lord: now Joy by believing enters into them, and they ſhall at laſt enter into Joy, and ſhall not be called Magor Miſſabib, i. e. fear round about, but Joy round about, 2 Cor. 8.9. Ye know the Grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, when he was Rich he became Poor, that ye through his Poverty might be made Rich; and if his Poverty tend to our Enriching, how much more his Plenty? If his Emptineſs, how much more his Fulneſs?

Here conſider.

I. What is forbidden as evil in Relation to Earthly Riches, is commanded in Relation to the Riches of Chriſt. As,

1. 'Tis forbidden to covet Earthly Riches; this is an evil covetouſneſs, Shouldeſt thou ſeek great things for thy Self? Seek them not. Jer. 45.5. Give me …either Poverty nor Riches, but Food convenient: Prov. 10.8. but 'tis a duty to covet Chriſt's Riches; Covet earneſtly the beſt things: 1 Cor. 12.31. buy of me Gold that thou mayeſt be rich: a little Knowledge and a little Grace ſhould not ſatisfie, Here we ſhould love abundance, and ſeek great things for our Selves, to be filled with all the fulneſs of God: Eph. 3.19.

2. 'Tis forbidden to Truſt in uncertain Riches; this is a curſed confidence, lo this is the man that trusted in the abundance of his wealth! Pſ. 52.7. But 'tis our duty to Truſt in Chriſt's Riches: though worldly wealth is not, yet theſe ſhall be to the Saints their ſtrong City, Prov. 18.10, 11. Iſa. 26.1, 4.

p. 643. 'Tis forbidden to Glory in the Riches of the World, Jer. 9.23. Let not the Rich man glory in his Riches: Hoſe. 12.8. Ephraim loved to oppreſs and boaſted that there by he became Rich. Zach. 11.5. They that ſell them ſay, bleſſed be the Lord, I am Rich; this is a glorying that is not good; but having Chriſt, ye may well glory in his Riches; Let him that glorieth glory in me, &c. Jer. 9.24. 1 Cor. 1.31. Having found Chriſt, you have found you out ſubſtance, Prov. 8.21.

II. What is wanting in Earthly Riches is abundantly made up in Chriſt; as Paul ſays, what the Law could not do, being weak through the Fleſh, God ſent his Son and he did it, ſo what Earthly Riches cannot, the Riches of Chriſt will do for us.

1. Earthly Riches will not profit in the day of wrath; many will be the worſe, but none the better for them then. The Rich are honoured, eſteemed, their favour is ſought, and they are feared in the World, but will not be ſo in the laſt day; the Rich Tranſgreſſor m…ſt look to ſuffer as well as the mean, but the Riches of Chriſt will profit in that day, Phil. 3.9. 2 Theſſ. 1.10.

2. Men carry not their worldly Riches with them; when they dye, they deſcend not after them, Pſ. 49.17. but the Saints ſhall carry Chriſt's Riches with them, yea gain the fullneſs of them by death; whence to dye is gain, Phil. 1.21. to dye is great loſs to carnal men, loſs of the World, loſs of the Soul, but when a Godly man dyes there's gain; he knows as he is known, 1 Cor. 13.12. he apprehends that, for which he is apprehended of Chriſt Phil. 3.12. he ſees what he did believe; enjoys what he hoped for, and hath all the deſire of his heart given him.

p. 653. Earthly Riches do not ſatisfy; He that loveth abundance, ſhall not be ſatisfied with increaſe, Eccl. 5.10. but the Riches of Chriſt will ſatisfy the Soul, as with Marrow and Fatneſs; a Man's Life doth not conſiſt in worldly Riches, but it doth in Chriſt: Worldly Men are Fools in ſaying, Soul take thine eaſe; thou haſt much Goods, &c. but Saints are wiſe when they ſay, Soul take thine eaſe, thou haſt all good laid up in Chriſt, not for many years, but for Eternity.

III. There are great miſcheifs ordinarily attending Earthly Riches, which Chriſt's is no way ſubject too.

1. They may flee away; and as the Raven from the Ark, never return any more: a man heaps up Riches ſometimes, and begets a Son, and nothing is left in his hand: but Chriſt's Riches never flee a way; they are flowing in till there be fullneſs, and then they never flee away; concerning Babylon's wealth the cry will be, Alas! alas! in one hour ſo great Riches are come to nought, Rev. 18.16.17. but Sion's Riches never came to nought, being the durable Riches. Prov. 8.18.

2. They many times hinder Mens entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, 'tis hard for … Rich Man to enter thither, becauſe Riches are loved more than that Kingdom; but being rich in Chriſt, and having Vertue, and Knowledge, Temporance, and Godlineſs added to Faith, ſo you may know that Entrance ſhall be adminiſtred abundantly into the Everlaſting Kingdom of Chriſt. 2. Pet. 1.8 11.

3. The love of Money is the Root of all Evill; a Root bearing Gall and Wormwood, as Lying, p. 66Deceit, Violence, Apoſtacy, Pride, &c. on the other ſide the love of Chriſt's Riches, will be a Root out of which much good will grow, as Obedience, Zeal of following Chriſt, Boldneſs to Confeſs him, a heavenly Converſation, with contentment with food convenient; as the love of Money is the Root of Sin, ſo of piercing Sorrow and diſtracting Cares; but the love of Chriſt's Riches will be a Root, out of which much Peace and Joy will grow, even that Peace which paſſeth Underſtanding, and Joy unſpeakable and full of Glory.

2. Let thoſe that are partakers of Chriſt's Riches take theſe Inſtructions.

1. Be poor in Spirit, when you are rich in Chriſt; being rich in the Spirit of Chriſt given you, be poor in your own Spirits; Paul ſaid, in nothing came I behind the very chiefeſt Apoſtles, though I be nothing, 2 Cor. 12.11. whatever I have now, there was a time when I had nothing, and was nothing; I ſee now, but I was blind; I am Righteous now, but I was a Sinner, and by the Grace of God I am that I am, 1 Cor. 15.10. I have no Sufficiency of my ſelf, but his Grace is ſufficient for me; thus be poor in Spirit, then you are bleſſed, for yours is the Kingdom of God, Math. 5.3. bleſſed are thoſe that are thus poor in Spirit, for they are rich; bleſſed are they that are empty, for they are full; bleſſed are they that are thus nothing, in Chriſt they have all.

2. Know, that it is by your Faith you are Rich, Jam. 2.5. rich in Faith, Faith ſeeing Chriſt, Faith receiving Christ, and ſtaying upon him makes Rich. Thou ſtandeſt, thou liveſt, thou loveſt, p. 67thou followeſt Chriſt by Faith; therefore be not high minded but fear; be not low minded but believe.

3. Such as are rich in Chriſt, ſhould be rich towards Chriſt, 1 Tim. 6.17, 18. Charge them that are rich in this World, that they be rich in good works; much more ſhould thoſe, that are rich in Chriſt be rich in good works, abounding in the work of the Lord. 1 Cor. 15 58.—6. 20.

4. Prize the Riches of Grace, as well as the Riches of Glory, Iſa. 33.6. the fear of the Lord is his treaſure, as the fear of the Lord, and zeal of worſhiping God, was that which brought ſo much treaſure to Hezekiah, and filled his Treaſures with precious things, ſo the Worſhip and Service of God, was eſteemed by him as a great Treaſure; the Treaſures of Grace, which he had in his Heart, were better than the houſe of his precious things: he is a ſound Chriſtian that looks on the favour of God, and the fear of God as his Treaſure.

5. Communicate of your Riches. As the Ministration of the Spirit, ſo the Riches of Chriſt are given to profit withal, and we ſhould be good Stewards of them, in truſting as we are intruſted, comforting as we are comforted; when Chriſt gives his Riches, he gives his Charge with them, Occupy till I come, Luk. 19.13. with 1 Pet. 4.10.

6. Honour the Lord with your earthly Riches; feed Chriſt hungry, and cloath Chriſt naked; we may argue as the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 9.11. If we have ſown Spirituals, is it a great matter if we reap your Carnal things? If Chriſt ſows his Heavenly, Spiritual p. 68Incorruptible Riches, is it a great matter for him to reap our Carnal? make you Friends of the Mammon of Ʋnrighteouſneſs. Covetuos Men look on Mammon as their beſt Friend; Saints ſhould not do ſo, but make themſelves Friends with it; Not Chriſt; we can't make him our Friend by our Riches: Believe, come to him, Reverence him, and ſo he will be our Friend; our Riches cannot purchaſe his Friendſhip: but make the Saints our Friends; do good to the Houſhold of Faith, and then when theſe fail, they ſhall receive you with Joy, and conſecrate your Gain to the Lord: If Men have not a heart to it themſelves, the Lord will do it for them: Mich. 4.13. I will conſecrate their Gain to the Lord, &c. when covetous Men make a God of their Wealth, Saints ſhould Honour God with it, 2 Sam. 1.21. Ye Mountains of Gilboa, let their be no Rain, nor Dew, nor Fields of Offerings; the Fields of Canaan were Fields of Offerings; of the Fruits of them were made Offerings to the Lord; ſo ſh…ld the Fields of Saints be Fields of Off…rings; t…eir Riches, the Riches of Offerings; and … …hat is in the hands of wicked Men is the Mammon of Unrighteouſneſs, but ſhall in the hand… of Saints, be the Riches of Righteouſneſ….

3. Comfort to ſuch as have Chriſt and his Riches with him; Thoſe t…at have the… Portion only in this life, and enjoy their good things here, hereafter m…y have torment, and as Jam. 4.1. Go too now ye Rich Men, weep and howl, for the Miſeries that are to come upon you. But go too now ye Sain…s, that are ſo much ſcorned, and contemned in the World, ſo much perſecuted, &c. rejoyce and be exceeding p. 69glad, great are your Riches …n Chriſt; much have you received mo e is laid up for you; great is your reward on Earth, but far greater in Heaven; If you are of the Poor of the World, you are rich in Chriſt; if you looſe outward Riches for Chr…ſt's ſake, you have an hundred fold, and in the World to come Everlaſting Life, and the fulneſs of heavenly Riches: In every State you may know how to want, and how to abound; having Food and Rayment, you may very well be content, and account Food convenient as all: Phil. 4.18. I have all and ab…und having received of Epaphroditus, the things ſent from you; what an Excellent frame of Spirit was there? and moſt worthy of our Imitation, and what cauſe is there to rejoyce in filling up that which is behind, of the Sufferings of Chriſt? as Paul did, Coll. 1.24. ſeeing Chriſt is filling up, that which is behind of our Grace and Glory: and is the Lord Proving and Trying you as Silver is tried? doth he bring you into a Net, and lay Afflictions upon your Loins? doth he at any time cauſe Men to ride over your Heads? what is the Iſſue of all? Pſa. 66.12. Thou ledd'ſt us through fire and Water. and brought'ſt us out into a wealthy Place: Heaven is the wealthy place; thither at laſt muſt their Souls be brought: The Kingdom of Chriſt is the wealthy Place: Into that the Church at laſt ſhall be brought: The Iſraelites had great Afflictions in Egypt. and were led through the Water of the Red Sea, and through Fire; afterwards the burning at Taberah, the ſtinging of the fiery Serpents▪ and at laſt were brought into Canaan the wealthy Place, were they enjoyed Vineyards, they planted not: Houſes p. 70they built not: ſo the Church is under hard bondage in Egypt, Spiritually ſo called, and that may have great Tryals in the Wilderneſs, but at laſt it muſt enter into that Reſt that remains, and that wealthy place prepared for it, or moiſt, well watered Land, as the words import, or into a Refreſhing, as the Greek hath it: Suitable to this the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Of times of refreſhing from the preſenee of the Lord, Act. 3.19. After theſe ſore afflicting times, under the Reign of that Man of Sin, ſhall be times of moſt ſweet and abundant refreſhing from the preſence of the Lord, when he ſhall conſume Antichriſt with the Spirit of his Mouth, and destroy him by the brightneſs of his coming, and ſo make the Kingdoms of the World his own Kingdom.

4. See that you have a true right to thoſe true Riches: you muſt have Chriſt, that you may have his Riches: he that hath the Son, hath life; 1 Joh. 5.12. he that hath Chriſt, hath his Riches; you muſt be in Covenant, have the Lord for your God, be his People, and all is yours; ye are Chriſt's, 1 Cor. 3.22, 23. you muſt have Chriſt as Saviour and Lord, and Chriſt muſt have you to be his Servants and Followers, to be his Spouſe and Members, do not content your ſelves with a Thought and Opinion, that his Riches are yours, but ſee that it be ſo indeed; Laodicea thought her ſelf to be Rich but was Poor, as worldly Mens inward thoughts are, as Pſa. 49.11. that their Houſes ſhall continue; and ſo the inward thoughts of ſome are, that they have an Intereſt in the Riches of Chriſt, when they are none of theirs; as he that getteth Riches, and not by right, ſhall leave them in the midſt of his Days, p. 71and in the end ſhall be a Fool, Jer. 17.11. So he, that thinks he hath Christ's Riches, and hath them not indeed, in the end ſhall be a Fool? Math. 13.12. From him that hath not, ſhall be taken away, that which he hath: he that hath a Name, and not the thing: a Name to live, to be rich in having Chriſt, and is dead, and without Chriſt indeed, ſhall have his Name taken away: He that hath a form of Godlineſs, and not the Power, ſhall have the form taken away: He that hath Gifts and not Grace, ſhall have his Gifts taken from him; he that hath a Lamp and not Oyle, ſhall have his Lamp taken from him: as 'tis ſaid concerning Judas, his Biſhoprick let another take it; but on the other ſide, to him that hath ſhall be given: He that indeed is partaker of the Unſearchable Riches of Chriſt, ſhall then have them more, yea more abundantly.

The End of the Firſt Diſcourſe.