Dying Thoughts Upon Philippians 1:23, Appendix
AN APPENDIX.
A Breviate of the Helps of Faith, Hope, and Love. A Breviate of the proof of Supernatural Revelation, and the Truth of Chriſtianity.
1 TIM. 3. 16.
Without Controverſie, great is the Myſtery of Godlineſs, God was manifeſted in the Fleſh, juſtified in the Spirit, ſeen of Angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the World, received up into Glory.
THeſe are the Creed, or Six Articles of the Goſpel, which the Apoſtles preached.
§ 1. I. God manifeſted in the Fleſh of Jeſus, is the firſt and great Article. Believe this and believe all: No wonder that believing that Jeſus Chriſt is the Son of God is ſo often made in Scripture, the deſcription of ſaving Faith, the Title to Baptiſm, and Pardon, and Salvation, the Evidence of the Spirit, &c. He that truly and practically believeth that God came in Fleſh to Man, and that Chriſt is the Fathers Meſſenger from Heaven, muſt needs believe that God hath a great value for the Souls of men and for his Church, that he deſpiſeth not even our Fleſh, that his Word is true and fully to be truſted, that he who ſo wonderfully came to Man, will certainly take up Man to him: Who can doubt of the Immortality of Souls, or that Chriſt will receive the departing Souls of the Faithful to himſelf, who believeth that he took Man's Nature, and hath glorified it now in Heaven, in union with the Divine? Who can ever have low Thoughts of God's love and Mercy who believeth this? And who can proſtitute his Soul and Fleſh to wickedneſs, who firmly believeth that he took the Soul and Fleſh of Man, to ſanctifie and glorifie it.
§ 2. II. The holy Spirit is the Juſtification of the Truth of Jeſus Chriſt. He is Chriſt's Advocate and Witneſs to the World. He proveth the Goſpel by theſe five ways of Evidence. I. By all the Propheſies, Types and Promiſes of Chriſt in the Old Teſtament before Chriſts coming. II. By the Inherent impreſs of God's Image on the Perſon and Doctrine of Chriſt: VVhichWhich Propria luce ſheweth itſelf to be Divine. III. By the concomitant Miracles of Chriſt: Read the Hiſtory of the Goſpel for this uſe, and obſerve each Hiſtory. IV. By the ſubſequent gift of the Spirit to the Apoſtles and other Chriſtians, by Languages, wonders and multitudes of Miracles to convince the VVorld. V. By the undeniable and excellent work of Sanctification on all true Believers through all the VVorld, in all generations to this day. Theſe five are the Spirits VVitneſs which fully juſtifieth the certain Truth, that Jeſus Chriſt is the Son of God.
§ 3. Queſt. But how are we ſure who our ſelves never ſaw the Perſon, Miracles, Reſurrection, Aſcenſion of Chriſt, that the Hiſtory of them is true?
Anſw. 1. We may be ſure that the Spectators were not deceived. II. And that they did not deceive them to whom they reported it. III. And that we are not deceived by any miſcarriage in the hiſtorical Tradition to us.
§ 4. I. It was not poſſible that men that were not mad, that had Eyes and Ears, could for three Years and a half believe that they ſaw the Lame, the Blind, the Deaf, and all Diſeaſes healed, the Dead raiſed, Thouſands miraculouſly fed, &c. and this among crouds of People that ſtill followed Chriſt, if the things had not been true: One Man's Senſes may be deceived at ſome one inſtance, by ſome deceitful accident: But that the Eyes and Ears of Multitudes ſhould be ſo oft deceived many years in the open Light, is as much as to ſay, No Man knoweth any thing that he ſeeth and heareth.
§ 5. II. That the Diſciples who received the Apoſtles and Evangeliſts report of Chriſt were not deceived by the Reporters, is moſt evident.
For, 1. They received it not by hearſay, at the ſecond hand, but from the Eye and Ear Witneſſes themſelves, who muſt needs know what they ſaid.
2. They heard this report from Men of the ſame Time, and Age, and Countrey, where it was eaſy to examine the caſe, and confute it, had it been falſe.
3. The Apoſtles appealed to crouds and Thouſands of Witneſſes, as to many of Chriſt's Miracles, who would have made it odious, had it not been true.
4. They ſharply reproved the Rulers for perſecuting Chriſt, which would provoke them to do their beſt to confute the Apoſtles for their own juſtification.
5. Chriſt choſe men of no great human Learning and Subtility, but common, plain, unlearned men, that it might not be thought a deceit of Art.
6. Yea, he did not make much more known to them before his Death, than the bare Matters of Fact which they da…ly ſaw, and that he was the Chriſt, and Moral Doctrine; his Death, Reſurrection, Aſcenſion, and Kingdom of Heaven they knew little of before: But experience and the ſudden coming down of the Spirit ſuddenly taught them all the reſt.
7. They taught not one another, but were every one perſonally taught of God.
8. And yet they all agreed in the ſame Doctrine, when they were diſperſed over the World; and never differed in any one Article of Faith.
9 They were men that had no worldly Intereſt, Wealth or Dominion to ſeek.
10. Yea, they renounced and denied all worldly Intereſt, and ſealed their Teſtimony by their Sufferings and Blood; and all in hope of a heavenly reward which they knew that Lying was no means to obtain.
11. Had they plotted to cheat the World (for nothing) the ſin is ſo heinous that ſome one of them would have repented and confeſt it, at leaſt, at death; which none of them did, but died joyfully as for the Truth.
12. Paul was converted by a Voice and Light from Heaven, in the preſence of thoſe that travelled with him in his perſecuting deſign.
13. But yet it is a fuller evidence that the Doctrine which they delivered as from God, beareth a Divine Impreſs, that as the Light, it is its own Evidence.
14. And for the more infallible conviction, they that teſtified of Chriſts Miracles did the like themſelves to confirm their Teſtimony, they ſpake with Tongues which they never learnt: They healed all Diſeaſes; even the ſhadow of Peter, and the Clothes that came from Paul, did heal men. They raiſed the Dead: And they that in all Countries converted the Nations by their own Miracles, atteſting the Miracles and Reſurrection of Chriſt, muſt needs compel the Spectators to believe them.
15. Yet, more than all this, thoſe that believed them were preſently enabled to do the like in one kind and degree or other. The ſame extraordinary gift of the Spirit fell upon the common multitude of Believers by the laying on of the Apoſtles hands. So that Simon Magus would fain have bought that Power with Money. And when men witneſſed Chriſt's Miracles, and wrought the like themſelves, and thoſe that believed them had and did the like, (either Healing, Tongues, Propheſie or ſome wonders,) it was ſure an infallible way of teſtifying.
16. When wrangling Hereticks quarrelled with the Apoſtles, and would draw away Diſciples to themſelves by diſparaging them they ſtill appealed to the Miracles wrought by theſe Diſciples themſelves, or in their ſight; as Gal. 3. 1, 2, 3, 5. And as Chriſt, when the Jews ſaid he did all by Beelzebub, when he caſt out devils, askt them [By whom do your Children caſt them out?] Which had it been falſe, would have turned all the People from them.
17. Their adverſaries were ſo far from writing any Confutation of their Teſtimony, that they confeſt the Miracles, and had no ſhift but either to blaſpheme the Holy Ghoſt, and ſay that they were done by the Devil; or elſe by perſecution and violence to oppreſs them. As if the Devil were Maſter of the World, and could remedileſly deceive it againſt God's will, or God himſelf would ſend or ſuffer a full courſe of Miracles remedileſly to deceive the World, which is to make God like the Devil: Or as if the Devil were ſo good as by Miracles to promote ſo holy and amiable and juſt a Doctrine as that of Chriſtianity, to make men wiſe, and good, and juſt, and kill their ſin. So that this blaſphemy of the Holy Ghoſt, makes Satan to be God, or God to be Satan.
18. All the cruelty, powers, Learning and Policy of their Adverſaries was not able to ſtop the progreſs of this Teſtimony, much leſs to prevail againſt it.
III. It is then moſt certain that the firſt Witneſſes were not deceived by Chriſt, nor Believers after deceived by them: The next Queſtion is, whether we be not deceived by a falſe hiſtorical Tradition of theſe things. Had we ſeen them all our ſelves, we muſt needs have believed; but at this diſtance we know not what miſreports may interven: what Eye-ſight and hearing was to them, that Tradition is to us. Now the Queſtion is, Is it certainly the very ſame Fact and Doctrine which they received, and which we receive?
And here let it be premiſed that there is no other way of aſſurance than that which God hath afforded us, that the reaſon of Man could have deſired.
1. If we would ſee God, and Heaven, and Hell, this is not a way ſuitable to the ſtate of Probationers that live in Fleſh on Earth. Angels live by viſion and fruition of Glory: And Bruits by ſenſe on ſenſible things: But reaſonable Travellers muſt live by reaſon, and by believing certain Revelation.
2. If God will ſend his Son from Heaven to aſcertain us, and we will believe no more than we ſee our ſelves, then Chriſt muſt dwell on Earth to the end of the World, & he muſt be in all places of the Earth at once that all may ſee, and he muſt die and riſe again before all men in all Ages: And how mad an expectation is this?
3. Or if all that deliver us the Hiſtory muſt work Miracles before our Eyes, or elſe we will not believe them, it is ſtill moſt abſurd. Will you not believe that the Laws of the Land are genuine, or that ever there were ſuch Kings as made them unleſs he that tells it you work Miracles? Shall not Children believe their Parents, or Schollars their Tutors, unleſs they work Miracles.
3. I muſt premiſe that there is three ſorts of Tradition, I. Such as depends on the common Wit and Honeſty of Mankind: And this is very much to be ſuſpected, wickedneſs, folly and lying being grown ſo common in the World.
II. Such as depends on the extraordinary skill and honeſty of ſome proved men: And this deſerveth much belief; but it is but an uncertain humane Faith.
III. Such as depends on Natural Neceſſity, and cannot poſſibly be falſe; we have both theſe laſt to aſcertain us of the Goſpel Hiſtory.
This reſteth on a diſtinction of the Acts of Mans Will: Some of them are mutably free; and theſe give no certainty: Some of them are naturally and immutably neceſſary, and Man can do no otherwiſe, and theſe give even natural Infallible certainty: Such are, To love ones ſelf, to love fel…city; to hate torment and miſery▪ &c. And to know that which is fully manifeſt to our ſound Senſes, &c.
When men of contrary Intereſts and temper, all confeſs the Truth of known things, about which their Intereſts ſtand croſs, it is a Phyſical evidence of Truth:
On this account mens agreement about Natural Notices is infallible.
It ſeems ſtrange that all the World from Adam's time are agreed which is the firſt, ſecond, and third, &c. day of the Week, and not a day loſt till now. It could not be otherwiſe, Becauſe being a thing of Natural intereſt and notice, if any Kingdom had loſt a day by over ſleeping, or had agreed to falſifie it, all the reſt of the World would have ſhamed them.
Thus all Grecians, Latines, Engliſhmen, &c. agree about the ſenſe of Words; for if ſome would pervert them, the reſt would detect it.
Thus we are certain that the Statutes of the Land, are not counterfeit: For men of croſs intereſts hold their Lands, and lives by them; and if ſome did counterfeit them, the reſt would by intereſt be bound to detect it.
Arg. 1. There can be no effect without an adequate cauſe. But in Nature there is no cauſe that can make all men agree to aſſert a known falſhood, or deny a known Truth, againſt all their known intereſt: therefore there can be no ſuch effect.
Arg. 2. A neceſſary cauſe will neceſſarily effect: But where mens known Intereſt obligeth them to agree of a known Truth, this is a neceſſary cauſe of certain credibility: therefore it hath a neceſſary effect.
You know who were your Parents, and when and where you were Born, &c. by ſuch Tradition in a lower Degree. This dependeth not on pretended Authority, nor on meer honeſty; but on natural neceſſity.
Having premiſed this, I come to prove that we have ſuch Tradition of Phyſical infallible evidence, that the Faith of the preſent Church in the Eſſentials is the ſame which the firſt Churches received infallibly from the Apoſtles.
1. The World knoweth that ever ſince Chriſt's Aſcenſion all that believed in him, were Baptized (as all Abraham's Covenanting ſeed were Circumciſed:) And what is Baptiſm, but a Profeſſion of Belief in Jeſus Chriſt as dead, riſen and glorified; and a devoting our ſelves in Covenant to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt? All that ever were Chriſtians by ſolemn Vow profeſt this ſame Faith: And this is ſuch a Tradition of Chriſtianity as humane Generation down from Adam is of the ſame humanity in the World.
2. They that were Baptized were Catechized firſt; in which the three Articles of Baptiſm were opened to them, of which Chriſt's Death, Reſurrection and Aſcenſion were part: And this hath been an undeniable Tradition of the ſame Faith.
3. The Summ of the Chriſtian Faith was from the beginning drawn up in certain Articles called the Creed, which expounded the three Baptiſmal Articles; and all Churches on Earth had the ſame in ſenſe, and moſt in Words; and all at Age that were Baptized, profeſſed this Creed: Which is as full a Tradition of the ſame Belief in Chriſt's Birth, Death, and Reſurrection, Aſcenſion and Glory, as Speaking is a Tradition of the ſame humane Nature.
4. Before Chriſt's Aſcenſion, he inſtituted the Office of the Sacred Miniſtry, which Friends and Foes confeſs hath continued ever ſince: And what is this Miniſtry, but an Office of publiſhing the Goſpel of Chriſt, his Life, Death, Miracles, Reſurrection, Grace, &c. What elſe have they done in all Ages in the World? So that the Office is an undeniable Tradition.
5. Chriſt and his Apoſtles inſtituted the Weekly Celebration of the Remembrance of his Reſurrection on the Lord's days: Friends and Foes confeſs the Hiſtory, that the firſt Day of the Week hath been kept for ſuch Memorial ever ſince, through all the Chriſtian part of the World: Which proveth the uninterrupted belief of Chriſt's Reſurrection, as a Notorious Practical Tradition.
6. Chriſt and his Apoſtles ever ſince his Reſurrection inſtituted Solemn Aſſemblies of Chriſtians to be held on thoſe Days, and at other Times: Once a Week was the leaſt through the Chriſtian World: And what did they meet for but to Preach, hear and profeſs the ſame Chriſtian Faith?
7. It was the conſtant cuſtom of Chriſtians in their Aſſemblies, and their Houſes, to ſing Hymns of Praiſe to Jeſus Chriſt, in remembrance of his Reſurrection, &c. Pliny tells Trajan that this was the practice by which Chriſtians were known by their Perſecutors: Which is a Practical Tradition.
8. Jeſus Chriſt inſtituted, and all Chriſtians to this Day have conſtantly uſed, the Sacrament of Chriſt's Sacrifice, called the Euchariſt; to keep in remembrance his Death till he come, and profeſs their Belief that he is our Life. And as the conſtant Celebration of the Paſſover with all its Ceremonies, was a moſt certain Tradition of the Egyptians Plagues, and Iſraelites deliverance, more than a bare written Hiſtory would be; ſo hath the Lord's Supper been of the uninterrupted belief of the Hiſtory of our Redemption by Chriſt.
9. The Church hath from the beginning had a conſtant Diſcipline, by which it hath kept it ſelf ſeparate from Hereticks, who have denied any Eſſential Article of this Faith: Which is a ſure Tradition of the ſame belief.
10. None queſtion but Chriſtians have from the beginning been perſecuted for this ſame Faith; and in Perſecution made Confeſſion of it: Perſecutors, and Confeſſors then are both the Witneſſes of the Continuance.
11. When ever Hereticks or Enemies have written againſt Chriſtians, their Apologies and Defences ſhew that it was this ſame Faith that they owned.
12. Moſt of the adverſe Hereticks owned the ſame Matters of Fact.
13. The Jews were long before in Poſſeſſion of the Books of the Old Teſtament, which bear their Teſtimony to Chriſt.
14. The Books of the New Teſtament have by certain Tradition been delivered down to this preſent Day, which contain the Matters of Fact, and Doctrin, the Eſſentials, Integrals and Accidents of the Faith.
15. No Enemies have written any thing againſt the Matter of Fact, of any Moment.
16. Yea, the Jews and other bittereſt Enemies confeſs much of the Miracles of Chriſt.
17. Martyrs have cheerfully forſaken Life, and all in confeſſing it.
18. God by his wonderful Providence hath maintained it.
19. The Devil and all the Wicked of the World are the greateſt Enemies to it.
20. The Holy Ghoſt hath ſtill bleſt it, to work the ſame holy and heavenly Nature, and Life in all ſincere and ſerious Believers.
Queſt. This proveth infallibly the Tradition of the ſame Faith in the Eſſentials: But how prove you that the ſame Holy Scripture is delivered as uncorrupted?
Anſw. All the Bible is not brought down ſo unchanged as are the Eſſentials of our Religion: When there were no Bibles but what Scriveners wrote, no wonder if overſight left few Copies without ſome of their ſlips. There are hundred of various Readings in the New Teſtament; and of many no Man can be certain which is true: But none of them are ſuch as make any difference in the Articles of our Faith, or Practice, nor on which any point of Doctrine or Fact dependeth.
And the words are neceſſary but for the Matter, which they do record.
And, 1. All Miniſters, and all Churches conſtantly uſed this ſame Scripture publickly, and privately, as the Word of God; ſo that it could not be eaſily altered.
2. They all knew that a Curſe is pronounced againſt every one that addeth or diminiſheth: Which muſt needs poſſeſs them with fear of corrupting it.
3. They took it to be the Charter of their own Salvation.
4. The work of the Miniſters was to expound it, and preſerve it againſt Corrupters.
5. Theſe Miniſters and Churches were over much of the World, and could not agree together to corrupt it: And if ſome did it, all the reſt would ſoon detect it.
6. Hereſies and Quarrels were quickly too rife among them: So that croſs Intereſts and Animoſities would ſoon have fallen upon the Corrupters.
7. Some Hereticks made ſome adding and corrupting attempts, which the Church preſently condemned and turned it to their ſhame.
8. In all the Diſputations then managed, the ſame Scriptures were appealed to.
9. The Tranſlations into various Languages ſhew that the Books were the ſame, without any Momentous difference.
10. To this Day when Sin and Tyranny have torn the Church into many Factions, they all receive the ſame Canonical Scriptures, except that ſome receive more Apocryphal Writings, which yet make no alteration at all of our Goſpel Faith.
Queſt. But doth not this laying ſo much on Tradition favour Popery?
Anſw. No: The difference is here; 1. Papiſts are for Tradition as a ſupplement to the Scripture, as if this were but part of the VVord of God; and 2. They plead for a peculiar power of being the Keepers and Judges of that ſupplemental Tradition; which other Churches know nothing of.
But we, 1. Plead for the Infallible, Practical Tradition of the Eſſentials of Chriſtianity by itſelf, and in the Creed, &c. which is leſs than the Scripture. 2. And next for the certain Tradition of the Scripture itſelf, uncorrupted in all that Faith depends on: which Scripture is the compleat Record of God's VVill and Law, containing more than Eſſentials and Integrals.
So much of God, 1. Manifeſted in the Fleſh, 2. Juſtified in the Spirit.
III. He was ſeen of Angels; that is, Angels were the Beholding, Witneſſing, and admiring Servants of this great Myſtery, God manifeſted in the Fleſh.
1. Angels preached Chriſt at his Incarnation.
2. Angels miniſtred to Chriſt in his Temptations, Agonies, &c.
3. Angels were Preachers and VVitneſſes of his Reſurrection.
4. Angels rowled away the Stone, and terrified the Souldiers.
5. Angels preached his return to them that gazed up at his Aſcenſion.
6. Angels opened the Priſon Doors and ſet the impriſoned Apoſtles free once, and Peter alone afterwards.
7. Angels rejoice in Heaven at the Converſion of all that Chriſt brings home.
8. Angels diſdain not to be the Guardians of the leaſt of Chriſts Diſciples.
9. Angels are protecting Officers over Churches and Kingdoms.
10. Angels have preached to Apoſtles, and been the Meſſengers of their Revelations.
11. Angels have been the Inſtruments of Miracles, and of deſtroying the Churches Enemies.
12. Angels will miniſterially convoy departed Souls to Chriſt.
13. Angels will gloriouſly attend Chriſt at his return, and ſever the Wicked from the Juſt.
14. Angels will be our Companions in the heavenly Chore for ever.
Therefore, 1. We ſhould love Angels. 2. And be thankful to God for them. 3. And think the more comfortably of Heaven for their Society: 4. And Pray for the benefit of their Miniſtry on Earth, eſpecially in all our dangers.
IV. The Fourth Article is [Preached to the Gentiles.] The Jews having the Covenant of Peculiarity, were proud of their Priviledge, even while they unworthily abuſed it: And deſpiſed the reſt of the World, and would not ſo much as eat with them, as if they had been God's only People. And indeed the reſt of the World was ſo corrupted, that we find no one Nation that as ſuch renounced Idolatry, and was devoted in Covenant to the true God alone, as the Jews were. Now that God ſhould be manifeſted in Fleſh, to reconcile the Heathen World to himſelf, and extend greater Priviledges indefinitely to all Nations than ever the Jews had in their ſtate of Peculiarity, this was a Myſtery of Godlineſs, which the Jews did hardly yield belief to.
And that which aggravateth this wonder is, 1. That the Gentile World was drowned in all Idolatry and Unnatural Wickedneſs, ſuch as Paul deſcribeth, Rom. 1. &. 2. Eph. 2. & 3. 18, &c. 2. And that God ſhould ſuddenly and freely ſend them the Meſſage of reconciliation, and be found of them that ſought him not, is that wonder, which obligeth us Gentiles who once lived as without God in the World to be thankful to him.
V. The Fifth Article is [Believed on in the World.] The effect of the Goſpel on the Souls of men in their Effectual Faith, is one of the Evidences of the Chriſtian Truth.
I told you before that the Fifth Witneſs of the Spirit on the Souls of all Believers, I reſerved to be here mentioned. Here, 1. It is a part of the wonder that Chriſt ſhould be believed on in the World, even with a common Faith. For, 1. To believe a mean Man to be the Mediator between God and Man, and the Saviour of the World, yea, one that was Crucified as a Malefactor: this muſt needs be a difficult thing.
2. The very Jewiſh Nation was as contemptible to the Romans, being one of their pooreſt ſubdued Provinces, as the Gentiles were to the Jews: And Chriſt was by Birth a Jew.
3. The Greatneſs of the Roman Empire then, ruling over much of the World, was ſuch, that by Preaching, and not by VVar, to bring them to be Subjects to a Crucified Jew, was a marvellous work; and ſo to bring the Conquered Nations to become Chriſt's Voluntary Subjects.
4. The Roman and Greek Learning was then at the height of its Perfection: And the Chriſtians were deſpiſed by them as unlearned Barbarians: And that Learning, Arts and Empire, ſhould all ſubmit to ſuch a King and Saviour, was certainly a work of Supernatural Power. Chriſt did not levy Armies to overcome the Nations, nor did Victory move them; but the Victors and Lords of the VVorld, and theſe no Fools, but the Maſters of the greateſt humane VViſdom, were Conquered by the Goſpel, preached by a ſort of inferior men.
5. And this Goſpel which Conquered them was ſtill oppoſed by them, and the Chriſtians perſecuted as a ſort of hated men, till it overcame the Perſecutors.
It's true that Heatheniſm hath the greateſt part of the VVorld, and Mahometans have as much as Chriſtians: But one ſort got it by the Sword, and the other by the Doctrine, and Holy lives of a few unarmed inferiour men.
II. But I uſe this of the Extent of Faith, but as a probable, and not a cogent Argument: But the main Argument is from the Sanctifying effect of Faith.
I know it will be ſaid, that many or moſt Chriſtians are as bad as other men.
But it's one thing to be of a profeſt Religion, becauſe it is the Religion of the King and Countrey, and therefore maketh for men's worldly advantage, and they hear little ſaid againft it: This is the caſe of moſt in the World, Chriſtians, Mahometans and Heathens: And it's another to be a ſerious Believer, who upon trial and conſideration chooſeth Chriſtianity.
And it is notorious that ſuch ſerious Chriſtians are all Holy, Sober, and Juſt, and ſo greatly differing from the corrupted World, as fully proveth that God owneth that Goſpel which he maketh ſo effectual to ſo great a change.
Here conſider, 1. What that change is; 2. How hard and great a work it is: 3. That it is certainly a work of God. 4. That the Goſpel is the means by which God doth it.
1. The nature of this Holy work on all ſerious ſincere Chriſtians, is, It ſets all their Hopes and Hearts on the promiſed Glory of the Life to come, and turns the very nature of their Wills, into the predominant Love of God and Man, and of Heaven and Holineſs: It mortifieth all fleſhly Luſts, and Subjects Senſe to Reaſon, and Faith, the Body to the Soul, and all to God: It ſets a Mans Heart on the ſincere ſtudy of doing all the good he can in the World, to Friends, Neighbours and Enemies; eſpecially and moſt publick good; to live ſoberly, righteouſly and godly is his delight: Sin is his chief hatred; and nothing more grievous to him than that he cannot reach to greater Perfection, in Faith, Hope, Obedience, Patience, and in heavenly Love and Joy: It cauſeth a Man to contemn Wealth, Honour, and fleſhly Pleaſure, and Life, in compariſon of God's Love and Life everlaſting; this change God's Spirit worketh on all true Believers.
Thoſe that are ungodly, have but the Name of Chriſtians; they never well underſtood what Chriſtianity is; nor ever received it by a true belief. But all that underſtandingly and ſeriouſly believe in Jeſus Chriſt are ſanctified by his Spirit.
II. And this is a greater work than Miracles; in excellency and difficulty.
1. It is the very Health of the Souls: It is Salvation itſelf: it maketh Man in his meaſure like to God, and is his Image: It is a heavenly nature, and is the earneſt and preparation for Heaven: It delivereth Man from the greateſt evil on Earth, and giveth him the firmeſt peace and joy, in his peace with God, the pardon of his Sins, and the hope of everlaſting Glory.
2. It's eaſy to diſcern how great a work this is, by the deep roots of all the contrary Vices, in the corrupted Nature of Man: Experience aſſureth us that Man by vitiated Nature is proud, and ignorant, and ſavoureth little but the things of the Fleſh, and worldly Intereſt, and is a Slave to his Appetite and Luſt: His bodily Proſperity is all that really hath his Heart: Yea if God reſtrain them not, all wicked men are bitter Enemies to all that are truly wiſe and holy, even among Heathens and Inſidels, if any be but better than the reſt, the wicked are their deadly Enemies. There is ſo viſible an Enmity between Godlineſs and Wickedneſs, the Seed of Chriſt, and of the Serpent in the World as is a great confirmation of the Scripture which deſcribeth it. And it is not the Name of Chriſtians that altereth mens Nature. We here that have Peace from all the World, are under ſuch implacable hatred of wicked men, that call themſelves Chriſtians, that ſo many Bears or Wolves would be leſs hurtful to us.
3. And the univerſal ſpreading of this wickedneſs over all the Earth, in all Ages and Nations, doth tell us how great a work it is to cure it.
4. And ſo doth the fruſtration of all other means, till the Spirit of God do it by ſetting home the Goſpel upon the Heart. Children will grow up in VVickedneſs, againſt all the Counſel, Love, Correction of their Parents: no VVords, no Reaſon will prevail with them, more than with drunken men or beaſts.
5. VVe find it a very hard thing to cure a Man of ſome one rooted ſin: much more of all.
6. The common miſery of the VVorld proclaimeth Man's Vice, and the difficulty of the cure: How elſe comes the VVorld to live in ſelf-ſeeking, falſhood, fraud, malice, and in bloody VVars, worſ… than VVolves and Serpents againſt each other.
7. Laſtly, VVhere God cureth this by true believing, it's done with the pangs of ſharp repentance, and a great conflict before God's Spirit overcometh.
III. It is evident then that this Sanctification of Souls is an eminent work of God himſelf: 1. In that it is yet done on ſo many of his choſen ones in all Ages and Places.
2. In that as hard as it is, he uſually turneth the Hearts of Sinners to himſelf, in a very little time: Somtimes by one Sermon.
3. It is a work that none can do but God, who hath the power of Souls.
4. It is a work ſo good that it beareth God's own Image: It is but the writing of his Law and Goſpel on mens Hearts: None is ſo much for it as God. Satan apparently fighteth againſt it with all the power he can raiſe in the VVorld. Mark it and you will find that moſt of the ſtir that there is in the VVorld, by falſe Teachers, and Tyrants, and private Malice, is but Satans VVars againſt Faith and Holineſs, and Love: Certainly it is not he that promoteth them.
IV. And it is evident in Experience, that it is the Goſpel of Chriſt which God uſeth and bleſſeth, to do this great ſanctifying work on Souls. Among Chriſtians none are converted by any other means And God would not bleſs a word of falſhood and deceit to ſuch great and excellent effects: All that are made holy and heavenly and truly conſcionable among us, are made ſo by Chriſt's Goſpel: And all the wicked are Enemies to the ſerious practice of it, or Rebels that deſpiſe it. The effects daily prove that God himſelf owneth it as his Word.
If you ſay, There are as good men among the Heathens and Mahometans, as holy heavenly, and juſt:
I anſwer, It is none of my buſineſs to depretiate other men: But I can ſay, 1. That I have lived above Sixty ſeven years, and I never knew one ſerious holy Perſon in England that was made ſuch by the Writings of Heathens or Mahometans. 2. Many excellent things are in the Writings of ſome Heathens, Plato, Cicero, Hierocles, Plutarch, Antonine, Epictetus, and many others. But I miſs in them the expreſſions of that holy and heavenly frame of mind and life, and that Victory over the Fleſh and World, which Chriſtianity containeth.
3. Chriſt is like the Sun, whoſe Beams give ſome light, before it is ſeen its ſelf at its riſing, and after it is ſet. The Light of Jews and Heathens, was as the dawning of the Day before Sun riſing: And the light among the Mahometans is like the Light of the Sun which it leaveth when it is ſet.
Doubtleſs the ſame God who hath uſed Mahometans to be his dreadful Scourge to wicked Chriſtians, who abuſed the Goſpel by a falſe Profeſſion, hath alſo uſed them to do abundance of good againſt Idolatry in the Heathen World: Where-ever they come, Idolatry is deſtroyed. Yea the corrupt Chriſtians, Greeks, and ſpecially Papiſts, that worſhip Images, Angels, and Bread, are rebuked and condemned juſtly by Mahometans. But, O that they who have Conquered ſo far by the Sword, were Conquered by the Sacred Word of Truth, and truly underſtood the Myſtery of Redemption, and the Doctrin of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt.
Obj. But they think us Idolaters for ſaying that Chriſt is God, and believing the Trinity.
I. As to the Trinity; it is no contradiction that one Fire or Sun ſhould have Eſſentially a Virtue or Power to Move, Light, and Heat: Nor that one Soul ſhould have a power of Vegetation, Senſe and Reaſon; Nor as Rational, to have a peculiar power of Vitality, Intellection and Free-will. Why then ſhould the Trinity ſeem incredidible?
II. We do not believe that the Godhead hath any change, or is made Fleſh, or the Manhood made God; but that the Godhead is incomprehenſibly united to the humane Nature by aſſumption, ſo as he is united to no other Creature, by and for thoſe peculiar Operations on the humanity of Chriſt, which make him our Redeemer.
They that well think that God is All in All things, more than a Soul to all the World, and as near to us as our Souls to our Bodies, in whom we live, and move, and have our being, will find that it is more difficult to apprehend, how God is further from any Soul, than that he is ſo much One with Chriſt: Save that different Operations of God on his Creatures are apparent to us.
By all this we ſee that every ſanctified Chriſtian hath the certain Witneſs in himſelf that Chriſt is true: He is truly a Phyſician that healeth, and a Saviour that ſaveth all that ſeriouſly believe and obey him, The Spirit of God in a New, and Holy, and Heavenly Nature of Spiritual Life, and Light, and Love, is the Witneſs.
VI. The Sixth Article in my Text is [Received up into Glory.]
That Chriſt after Forty Days continuance on Earth, was taken up into Heaven in the ſight of his Diſciples, is a Matter of Fact of which we have all the forementioned infallible proof, which I muſt not here again repeat.
And, 1. If Chriſt were not glorified now in Heaven he could not ſend down his Spirit with his Word on Earth, nor have enabled the firſt Witneſſes to ſpeak with all Tongues, and heal the Sick, and raiſe the Dead, and do all the Miracles which they did. A dead Man cannot ſend down the Holy Spirit in likeneſs of Firy cloven Tongues, nor enable Thouſands to do ſuch VVorks; nor could he do what is done on the Souls of ſerious Believers in all Ages and Nations to this Day. He is ſure alive that makes men live, and in Heaven that draws up Hearts to Heaven.
2. And this is our Hope and Joy: Heaven and Earth are in his Power. The Suffering and VVork which he performed for us on Earth was ſhort, but his heavenly Interceſſion and Reign is Everlaſting. Guilty Souls can have no immediate acceſs to God: All is by a Mediator: All our receivings from God are by him: And all our ſervices are returned by him, and accepted for his ſake. And as he is the Mediator between his Father and us, his Spirit interceedeth between him and us: By his Spirit he giveth us Holy deſires and every Grace: and by his Spirit we exerciſe them in returns to him.
And our glorified Saviour hath Satan, and all our Enemies in his Power: Life and Death are at his command: All Judgment is committed to him: He that hath redeemed us is preparing us for Heaven, and it for us; and receiveth our departing Souls to his own Joy and Glory. He hath promiſed us that we ſhall be with him where he is, and ſhall ſee his Glory. He that is our Saviour will be our Judge. He will come with Thouſands of his Angels to the confuſion of wicked Unbelievers, and to be glorified in his Saints. He will make a New Heaven, and a New Earth in which Righteouſneſs ſhall dwell. Angels and Glorified Saints ſhall with Chriſt our Head, make one City of God, or holy Society and Chore, in perfect Love and Joy to praiſe the bleſſed God for ever.