Christ in Believers the Hope of Glory, Part 3
—Among the Gentiles:
These … of Glory, … things.
1. … … credible in th… beg…ing of th… … the Gentiles should be … Priviledge, and exal…ed to … Glory: For 1. … o… Christ. … the … unto the … ordained, … first off… of the G…spel, … to … with an … way of … Mat. 10.5. … who… are … Enemies or … cou… not only not tolerate, tha… … should be Partakers of that … bad to spr… to …, th… be saved — 1 Thes. … worl… …either … of Heaven, … further the Apostles themselves notwithstanding of their ample and large Commission to g… and Teach and Baptize all Nations. Math. 28▪ 18, 19. And notwithstanding they were fo… that end qualified and furnished, with extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Ghost, yet could hardly be perswaded to Preach this Word among the Gentiles; For we find that Peter w… examined by the rest of the Apostles, for b… going unto Cornelius. Act. 11.2, 3.3. Th… Gentiles were looked upon with an ill Eye an… contemned, therefore called Sinners of th… Gentiles. Gal. 2.15. And as without Christ, so aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel, a… strangers from the Covenants of Promise, havin… no hope, and without God in the World. Ephes.: 12.4. Yea they were accounted Dogs, an… unworthy to eat of the Childrens Bread▪ se… on that ground, Christ seemed to cast off th… poor Cananitish Woman, to whom He answered, I am not sent, but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Math. 15.
2. Notwithstanding of all this, the Lor… so ordered it, that the Gospel got entranc… under the Gentiles, while He sent His Apostle… among them, and blessed their Labours, amongst them. Act. 13.46. and 14.27. a… 15 3, 7.14.15, 17 and 18, 6 Yea the Ie… rej…cting of the Gospel, occasioned the preaching of the same under the Gentiles. A… 23 46. and 8.6. and the di…i…shing of … Iews, was the Riches of the Gentiles. Rom. 11.12.
3. Hereby were the Prophecies concerning Christ, and His Kingdom fulfilled; The Root …f Iesse must stand for an Ensign to the People, and the Gentiles must seek into it. Isa. 11.10. and 60.5. His Name must be great among the Gentiles. Mal. 1.11. And to such, had Christ a Commission to come in an appoin…ed time Isa. 42.6.49.6. Act 13.47. Luk. 1.32. So must He bring forth judgement to the Gentiles. Isa. 42.1. Math. 12.18. see Rom. 15.9, 10, 11.
4. And as this was an eminent Evidence of this Mystery of Wisdom, Love, and free Grace, which was long kept bide in the Heart of GOD, Ephes. 3.3, 4, 5 So was i… that the Apostles, who for a time, were unsatisfied, therewith at last held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted Repentance unto Life. Act 11.18. And Paul accounted it his Mercy to preach among the Gentiles. Ephes. 3.7, 8. And magn…fied his Office thereby. Rom 11 13. And we find him often glorying therein. 1 Tim. 2.7. 2 Tim. 1.11. Which, as it should stir up our Hearts to admiration over that wonderful Love and free Grace of GOD, who hath sought after the Gentiles in Clemency and Mercy, who had been so long debarred; And establ…shed usi… the Faith of the great things promsed unto …ut in …he Word, now … to see the old Prophesies and … were … als… … … our un…o … p…ay for them, upon … g…ven on their acc…un…, … the Lord in due time will accompl…sh; A…d besides it should make us lay to Heart ou… Duty in managing aright t… Pri…iledge, in the thankful acknowledg… ment of the Lord's undeserved Love herein, and by hearty embracing and welcoming this Offer, and to walk worthy o… the same, in all holy Conversation, to the Glory of GOD.
Qu…st. But providing it be asked, Whe…her all the Gentiles see the Glory, and know the Richer of the Glory of this Mystery.
I Answer, No: For all have not the p…eaching of the G…spel among …hem. If it be …urther asked, If all th…se, to whom thi… Gospel is preached, see …h…s Glory? I Answer, No. But only the Saints among the Gentiles, as app…ar… from Vers 26 This is made manifest to the Saints. Where we see that it is a…ne …he Sain…s, who have obtained G…ace to beli…ve this G…spel, and not every one who hears i… preached, who d…scern the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery, which is in the Gospel
For 1. Unto some he preaching of the glad Tydings of the Gospel, is the savor of Death unto Death. 2 Cor. 2.16. And unto their corrup…ed and prejudicated Understanding it savours as a dead Carion, wherein their Souls hath no pleasure, yea it is as D…ath▪ so that their rejecting of the Gospel, and their averseness from it, proves their Death and …. 2. Unto some it is but foolishness, as it was unto the Greeks. 1 Cor. 1.23. And matter of Mocking and Derision, as the Doctrine of the Resurrection, was unto these of Athens Act. 17.32. Many have no better op…nion of the Ambassadours of Christ, who are sent to preach the Gospel, … Fest…s of Paul, Act. 26.24. And of the Believers of the Gospel, than the Pharisees had of the Multitude Ioh. 7 49.3. Unto some Christ is a Rock of Offence, and the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, is a stumbling Block unto them, even as unto the Iews, who stumbled at the stumbling Stone and rock of Offence. 1 Cor. 1.…3. Rom 9.32, 33. Even as Christ Himself was for the fall of many, so the preaching of the Gos…el is the occasion of the ruine of many. 4. Many will not hear the Gospel with Faith, and therefore it cannot profi… them, Not being mixed with Faith in th…m that heard it. Heb. 4.2. Neither will they receive it in Love, nor receive the Love of the Tr…h. 2 Thess. 2.10. And therefor… sa… …oe … …hemselves unto th… Righteousness of God, held out unto them therein Rom. 10.3. They will not suffer the Word of Instruction to get any room in their Souls, but they receive this Grace of GOD in vain, and through unbelief they reject it, they will not obey this form of Doctrine, nor yeild themselves Servants thereunto. 5. The GOD of this World hath so blinded the Minds of them which believe not, that the Light of the glorious Gospel of of Christ, who is the Image of GOD, cannot shine unto them; So that they can discern nothing of the Glory of the same. 2 Cor 4.4. And some blinded by a Judgement from GOD, are therefore no Co-partners of this Revelation. Math. 11.25.6. Some see a glance, some da…k half glimmerings, of this Glory, but discern not the glory of this Mystery, they get some sight, which may occasion some litle work and operation in them, nevertheless they continwe strangers unto the true spiritual Glory thereof: For (1) They may see so much therein, as may engage them to a profession of the same, for a time in a fair day, when i… is accompanied with no persecution; But …ven as the stony ground having no deepnes… of Earth, whe… persecution comes, they immediatly forsake the Gospel, and turn their back upon it. Math. 13. (2) They may readily see so much in it, as makes them willing… to part with somewhat, but not that in… which will make them willing to forsake … for Christ; The cares of the World, doth not only choak all again, but creats a mist in their Eyes, which totally cloudeth and darkneth this Glory (3) They may see that which may inwardly affect them, as Agrippa to be almost Christians. Act. 26. and no more. (4) They may readily have some general knowledge of the Letter and out-side thereof, and may be great Doctors and learned Preachers, and nevertheless wholly strangers unto the Power and Life of the same. (5) Yea they may attain some resemblance thereof, and as it were some glorious sparklings, such as the Apostle speaks of, Heb 6.4, 5. But alone unto True Believers, the Lord maketh known and manifesteth this Glory, and maketh them to see the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery; These see it, to whom He discovereth those Secreets which are kept hid from the wise of the World; They s…e it, who see that Glory, which changeth the Soul, so that thereby, they are changed into the same Image, from Glory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3.18.
But what is that sight they get, which others are Strangers unto? Ans. 1. They see a special necessary good, which deeply affecteth the Heart; Others only win at some Conceptions, that goeth no further, than the Head. 2. They see something directly applicable unto to their case and condition, and is very sut…able unto them, where… others look on these things, a… more the concernment o… others than themselves. 3. They see the good is co…pleat, all-sufficient, necessary and satisfying, which is held out in this Gospel, and therefore they seek not after more, provi…ing they obtain that, they judge their Lot is fa…len unto them in pleasant places, and that t…ey have goodly Heritage. 4. They see somewhat of that Soul-ravishing profound Counsel of Redemption, wherein all the Persons of the Tri…ity are engaged to carry on and perf…ct the same, and …ey see herein such Glory, that it makes them long for Heaven, that they might obtain a more broad and wide look o… that divine mysterious on-carrying of the wa… of Salva…ion, wherein so much of GOD, and of His glorious Attribut…, in such a lofty way doth appear. 5. Th… … that therein, … reache… … Soul, a…d make…h them, that … … … and soul, giving their …, as be…ng al…ogether p…ecious … Soul satisfying. 6. They see that which makes them … willing, and … all and …ll every thing, … once they … invaluable … 7. They se… that Light which hath that pow… and force therein, that bringeth under their irregular love to the World, and all other Vanities, together with the strong Corruptions that molest them.
1 Vse. It needs then be no strange business, that there are so …ew, that highly esteem of this Gospel, and that so many undervalue and contemn it; seeing there are so few real Saints, who alone can see the glory and singula… Excell…ncy of this Gospel. Oh! it is a sealled …, even unto them who … hear it, … the ou…ward …h…ll, and … sweet and deli…a… kirnel ….
2 Vse. Behold here …he Touch-stone, whereby every one must …mine himself, and judge of Himself, wh…her … be in the Faith or not; This special sight and discovery is alone peculiar to Believe…s, the Spirit of Light which they have received in the Gospel, makes them now see another sight than formerly they could apprehend or understand. O the depth of Wisdom, Power, Love, Grace, Righteousness and Mercy, which we now daily more and more discover! O what heavenly and divine Glory shines therein, and …ha… in the very meanest of all Christ's Precepts! Othe…s take but a carnal and general look of th…se Ordinances, and therefore not so tender nor so zealou… of them, who can bear with the mixtures and Inventions of Men amongst them, and can fancy a Beauty, Decency and Consistency in these Inventions, whereas there is nothing in them but a vile deformity: And as for the substance of the Gospel, the glad Tydings of Peace & Reconcîliation with GOD, it is unto them an indifferent business far from being all their Salvation, & all their desire; Their Hearts cannot embrace the Gospel, as the glorious Manifestation of the Son of GOD, which brings to Light, Life and Immortality; They see not the Glory of GOD in the Face of Jesus Christ. Wo then to such, who have not more knowledge of this Business; Then 1. A literal speculative knowledge of this Glory of GOD, which pusseth up, and filleth the Soul with wind and vanity, and never sinketh deep into the Soul. 2. A tickling outward Motion, with somewhat of acquired knowledge, that only affecteth the person, as the lovely Song of one that hath a pleasant Voice. Ezek. 33.32. Their Ears are tickled with the new Tydings of Salvation, and of a Mediator to preserve them from the Wrath of GOD, and that is all. 3. Who have no more than some small tastings in the time of a Communion, or at some o…her solemn occasion, that take… more on them than ordinary, but is instantly suffocate, without taking further root. 4. Wo also to such, that have but some Light that forceth to some half works, and to some raw wishe…, that all might be better, some Flashes of Resolutions and hasty Undertakings, which occasioneth somewhat that looketh like a change, thô …las! their Heart in the interim is cleaving to their Abominations, and going out continually after their Covetousness.