Spiritual Bondage and Freedom, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Concerning the excellent Priviledges which this Freedom brings with it.
FIfthly, This is an excellent Freedom in reſpect of the excellent Priviledges which it brings with it. I have formerly told you, that this is a purchaſed Freedom; and now I am to tell you that it is a priviledged Freedom, it is full of good things. They who are redeemed by Chriſt, are an heavenly Corporation, the City of the living God. Now Corporations and Cities have their Priviledges, and ſome have greater than others; but none ſo great as theſe; that Scripture may well come in here, Pſal. 87. 3. Glorious things are ſpoken of thee, O thou City of God. Beloved, I would fain engage your moſt ſerious attention to what ſhall be delivered upon this Subject; and to prepare you for it, I beſeech you to know, that I hope you ſhall hear ſome glorious things ſpoken to you of this City of God, in the opening of the excellent Priviledges which this Freedom by Chriſt brings with it; which when you have heard, I am ſure you will have cauſe to ſay of theſe redeemed ones, as Moſes once did of the Children of Iſrael, Deut. 33. 29. Happy art thou, O Iſrael: who is like unto thee, O people, ſaved by the Lord. I ſhall not ſpend time in things that are but of a general conſideration; otherwiſe I might ſhew you, that there muſt needs be very precious Priviledges attending this Freedom. 1. From the great difficulty that there is to get into this Freedom. As you know thoſe places and conditions, that have great Priviledges, what a hard thing 'tis to get into them; there muſt be a great deal of ſeeking, and waiting, and much coſt and pains laid out, and ſuch and ſuch a great perſon muſt be made ones friend; ſo 'tis no eaſie matter to get into this Freedom, to be made one of the Company. If ever you be admitted into it, you muſt ſtrive to enter: you muſt think no pains or labour, too much; and you muſt patiently wait upon the Lord, till he have mercy on you: and you muſt be ſure to get God and Chriſt to be your friends; for they have the power, and the diſpoſing of this Freedom; they give it to whom they will. Now what's the Reaſon that there is ſo much ado amongſt men, to procure ſuch a Place, and to be one of ſuch a Society, as many times there is? Why, 'tis becauſe, if they were once admitted into it, there be ſuch Priviledges to be enjoyed, and ſuch profits to be received, as will abundantly recompence all their pains. So here, the difficulty of becoming one of theſe that are made free by Chriſt, ſpeaks that this Freedom is full of excellent Priviledges, 2. From the high eſteem that they have of this Freedom, who are admitted into it through Grace. Say what you will to them, you can never bring them out of love with it again; they'l like their Chriſt, and like their Condition, tho all the world ſhould ſet themſelves to turn away their hearts from it. They'l part with if for no good. They like it ſo well, that they ſet an higher value upon the worſt of Chriſt, than they do upon the beſt of the World, as Moſes did, Heb. 11. 25, 26. Now certainly this is becauſe their condition is full of Priviledges. They know they are better here than they can be any where elſe in the World. 3. From the conſideration of the Saints being ſo often called upon in Scripture to praiſe the Lord. They who obſerve, may frequently find how much they are ſtirred up to this duty. How many Pſalms doth David begin and end with this, Praiſe ye the Lord? And he ſays, that the People of God ſhould be a ſinging to him, bleſſing of him, rejoycing, and giving thanks, extolling of the Name of God, declaring his wonderful Works towards them. Now you ſhall ſee, that one main thing that he drove at, why they ſhould do this, was upon the account of the Freedom which God had brought them into, Pſal. 107. 1, 2. and 136. 1, 2, 3. compared with ver. 10, 11, 12, 23, 24. And in Rev. 5. you read, that the Saints were at this work of more than ordinary thankſgivings to God: They ſung a Song: What is it for? Oh! for the Freedom they had received. Certainly then, if God hath ſuch great praiſes for it, there are great Priviledges in it. But I ſhall not go on thus; but will bring in a Liſt of the Priviledges (ſo far as I can) in particular. And here, as the Prophet ſaid, Iſa. 63. 7. I will mention the loving kindneſs of the Lord, &c. They are a priviledged people. For,
Priviledg 1. Being made free by Chriſt, they are tranſlated out of the Kingdom of the Devil. His Priſon-doors are now opened, that were ſhut ſo faſt upon them, as that none could open them, but he that hath the key of David. Now their bondage under that great Tyrant over Souls, is at an end. He ſhall no more have them captive at his will: The yoke of their oppreſſion is broken; See Col. 1. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkneſs, and hath tranſlated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. They are redeemed from the hand of the terrible. Satan hath been forced to yield them up; and now he can lay no more claim to them. This Priviledg you read of further in Heb. 2. 14, 15. That through death he might deſtroy him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil; and deliver them who all their life-time were ſubject to bondage. Mark, he hath delivered them from the Devil, by deſtroying of him; not as to his Being; for the Devil is not dead: 'tis not the Nature of a Spirit to die; but as to his power over them. So he is deſtroyed; he is quite routed, as to any ſlavery that he now keeps them in. He may Lord it over his Vaſſals, whoſe God he is; but with theſe he hath nothing to do, but in a way of moleſtation: ſo indeed he will vex them all that he can: and he won't be wanting to follow them with his Temptations, and his ſiery Darts. In this kind theſe redeemed ones muſt expect a War with him, Eph. 6. 11, 12, 13, &c. Chriſt will have them fight, tho he hath made them free; and tho the Devil doth ceaſe to be their Owner, yet he doth not ceaſe to be their Enemy: and he deſigns all the hurt and miſchief to them that poſſibly he can; for they went out of his Kingdom againſt his will and conſent. If he could have ſtaid them, they ſhould never have gone. And therefore his wrath is the more kindled againſt them, and that to ſuch a degree, that he is not only compared to an Adverſary, but to a Lion: and this Lion is in the ſierceſt poſture of all: he is a roaring Lion. But notwithſtanding all his rage, his Dominion is gone. Now beloved, this is an excellent Priviledg: Oh, to be looſed from the Chains of Darkneſs! to be turned from the power of Satan to God! In this ſenſe, they that are made free by Chriſt, are paſt the Devil's Quarters. And therefore tho they ſhould diligently watch againſt him, yet they ſhould not be ſlaviſhly afraid of him. Do but keep Gods way, and what hurt can he do you? See John 5. 18. 'Tis a very unbecoming thing, for a child of God to be afraid of the Devil. What have all the Devils in Hell to do with you, for whom Chriſt ſhed his precious Blood? He himſelf knows that you are none of his; and therefore ſanctifie the Lord God in your hearts, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 'Tis meet that you ſhould ſtand in awe of him with a holy filial fear: But as for the Devil, you are no longer his.
Priviledg 2. This Freedom brings the pardon of ſin, which is ſuch a Priviledg, that David could not tell how to think of it, or mention it, without wondring at the bleſſedneſs of the man that hath it, Pſal. 32. 12. Bleſſed is he whoſe tranſgreſſion is forgiven, whoſe ſin is covered. Bleſſed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whoſe ſpirit there is no guile: or, as 'tis in the Hebrew, Oh the bleſſedneſs of the man, &c. You would count it a great Priviledg, to have a man to forgive you a great debt, when you can ſay, I owed ſuch a perſon ſuch a great ſum of mony; 'twas as due a debt, as ever any was in the World: and tho I was not able to pay him, yet he might have had the Law againſt me; he might have caſt me into Priſon, and there have kept me all the days of my life: but out of his meer goodneſs he forgave me all: and he hath not only told me, that he will never trouble me for it, but hath given me in the Bond too. Why then, what a great Priviledg muſt it be, to have God to forgive us the great debt of our ſins! for him to ſay, Well, I know, and you know too, in ſome meaſure, what a grievous man or woman you have been; what abundance of diſhonour and provocation I have had with you. Oh the wicked Nature that you have! Oh the wicked Life that you have led! Oh the wicked thoughts that you have thought! &c. Now how might I make the fire of mine indignation burn againſt you? What a wretch would you be, if I ſhould deal with you according to your deſerts! But here I do in my infinite mercy, paſs all by: Inſtead of giving you puniſhment, I give you a pardon. Why, this is the Priviledg of this Freedom by Chriſt, Eph. 1. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveneſs of ſins, according to the riches of his grace. And from hence it follows, that now being pardoned, God doth not upbraid his people with their ſins, buthe forgets them in that ſenſe, tho he cannot but remember them by way of knowledg, ſo as to underſtand that they have been committed; yet he forgets them, as to laying them to their charge. In that reſpect he will hear nothing againſt them, not what the Devil ſays by his Accuſations; not what the Law ſaith in regard of its Threatnings and Condemnation. The whole courſe of the Laws proceeding this way, is utterly and eternally ſtopt, Rom. 8. 1. Gal. 3. 13. And being pardoned, they are juſtiffed in the ſight of God, Rom. 3. 24. tho they will, it may be, condemn themſelves an hundred, and a thouſand times after this, and confeſs, and bewail their ſins, and loathe themſelves in their own eyes, and acknowledg that the Lord might juſtly caſt them into the deepeſt torments (as 'tis fit they ſhould); yet in and through Chriſt, God doth not look upon them ſo as they look upon themſelves. And again, being pardoned, God is reconciled to them: his heart is towards them. But yet there muſt be ſomething more ſtill, than the pardon of ſin, to make a child of God count himſelf a happy man. Yea, you'l ſay, that's ſtrange▪ I ſhould think my ſelf happy enough, if my ſins were but forgiven me. I, no queſtion of it: But tho a child of God count this an unſpeakable mercy, Pſal. 51. 1. yet if there were not ſomething elſe joyned with it, a great part of his happineſs would be wanting; and that is the ſubduing of ſin. Which therefore is the next.
Priviledg 3. This Freedom brings down the Dominion of ſin, Rom. 6. 14. Sin ſhall not have dominion over you. You that are in your ſins, I know, unleſs God come and work upon you, you would look upon it as no Priviledg at all to have your Luſts curbed. No, you would look upon your ſelves as undone, if you ſhould not have your ſwinge in them, they are ſo dear to you. This is a ſign the Redeemer hath not been with you: But 'tis otherwiſe in thoſe that are Chriſts: As he hath broken the Yoke of their Souls, ſo he makes a Yoke for their Corruption, Matth. 11. 29. Sin muſt reign no more. Before, Pride reigned, and Paſſion reigned, or Uncleanneſs, or Worldlineſs, and ſuch like. Now the Crown muſt be taken off from them; they muſt ſit no longer upon the Throne of the Heart, giving out their Commands, and the poor creature fulfilling of them, tho it be to his own deſtruction. But every Luſt muſt be mortified, and every vile Affection diſcountenanced, and nothing pleaded for, or yeilded to, that proceeds from the Law of Sin, and of Death. And this now the people of God count a Priviledg indeed; Oh! that they are brought into a ſtate wherein their ſins ſhall not, nor can have their head! Oh, how they bleſs God for this Freedom upon this account, that it is an inlet to mortification! for ſo you read it is, in Tit. 2. 11, 12. So that no child of God is under the Dominion of any ſin, Gal. 5. 24. He that is ſo, is in Bondage ſtill, Rom. 6. 16. 2 Pet. 2. 19.
And yet ſtill there is ſomething more about ſin, than all this, to make him look upon his Priviledges (ſo far as they do concern that) to be compleat; he cannot count himſelf a happy man indeed, neither with the pardon of his ſins, or that ſin doth not reign in him, tho he is glad of this at his very heart; but this ſame loathſome thing ſin is in him ſtill, what ſhall he do for that? Rom. 7. 24. Therefore this is another Priviledge that this Freedom will produce.
Priviledg 4. The very being of ſin in them ſhall ere long be done quite away, Col. 1. 22. Eph. 5. 26, 27. 'Tis not thus yet; tho the Saints have put on the new man, yet they have not perfectly put off the old; there are excellent things in them, but 'tis with a blemiſh, they have ſomething to blemiſh them, as well as ſomething to beautifie them. As you know 'tis with a Traveller, as long as he is in his journey, eſpecially, if he be to go againſt wind and weather, he is apt to daſh his Cloaths; if he were but at home, there he would beneat and clean, and you ſhould not ſee one ſpot upon him from head to foot; but while he is a travelling, he gets theſe ſpots, and he cannot tell how to help it. So here, tho while the people of God are in their paſſage, 'tis not all ſo well in them, and with them, as God would have it; nor as themſelves would have it; but ſhortly when they come home, their ſpots will be all out. Thou Child of God ſhall have no more of this deadneſs, no more of this hardneſs and unbelief of heart; here thou canſt not pray one quarter of an hour without vain thoughts; there thou ſhalt praiſe and glorifie him to all eternity without the leaſt diſtraction. Oh! what a Priviledge will this be, when ſin and you ſhall be quite parted! Now you hear of it in every duty; but there you may be good as long and as much as you will, and no evil to hinder you; Paul's complaint is now at an end as to himſelf, becauſe he is at home, Rom. 7. 21.
Priviledge 5. They who are made free by Chriſt, are made nigh to God, Eph. 2. 13. But now in Chriſt Jeſus, ye who ſometimes were far off, are made nigh by the Blood of Chriſt. As the people of Iſrael, whom he redeemed out of Egypt, are called a people near to God, Pſal. 147. 14. You know 'tis counted a Priviledg to ſtand near to an earthly King in ſome caſes. The Queen of Sheba pronounced the Servants of Solomon happy upon this account, 1 Kings 10. 8. But as Chriſt ſaid once of himſelf, a greater than Solomon is here; here's the King of Heaven and Earth, that is the moſt high God, and theſe are near to him; whatſoever is dear to us, is near to us. Now the Saints are very dear to God: How dear is a Friend to you? And how dear are your Children to you? And how dear is the Apple of your eye to you? Why by theſe names, the Lord calls his people in the Scripture. Yea beloved, the Lord is very near to them, when they think he is far off from them, Pſal. 73. 23. don't make account that God is at ſuch a diſtance from you, you that belong to him, as many times you do; you think he is gone away, ſo that he will never return, and all that while he is hard by you, if you could but ſee him; remember what he ſaith in Iſa. 41. 10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee, &c.
Priviledg 6. This Freedom brings Union with Chriſt, Eph. 5. 30. it joyns thoſe to him, who are redeemed by an inſeparable bond; Chriſt is in them, and they are in him: therefore Paul ſaith Gal. 2. 20. that Chriſt liveth in him; and 'tis ſaid of the Saints, that Chriſt dwells in their hearts by Faith, Eph. 3. 17. and Chriſt and they are not to be conſidered as two, but as one; he owns them as his Members, and you know they are one with the head; as his Wife, and ſhe is one with the Husband. Now what an unſpeakable Priviledg is it to be united to Jeſus Chriſt, and what greater honour can a Soul deſire, or enjoy, than this is? If you have ſuch a deal of comfort from thoſe earthly Relations in which you ſtand one to another, as ſome of you have; tho this is a Union of a low degree in compariſon of this; yet you find there is much ſweetneſs in being joyned to a loving Wife, or a loving Husband: Oh, what is it to be joyned to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt!
Obj. But you'l ſay, What's a bare Ʋnion, if there be no Communications from him? if Chriſt doth not give out that which he is, and that which he hath to us? there's many a one that is joyned to another in an uniting Relation, that is little the better for it.
Anſ. Yea, but to be ſure, they who are one with Chriſt ſhall be the better for it; for in the next place,
Priviledg 7. From this Union flows Communion with Chriſt, and a communication from Chriſt of abundance of good things to them. I will inſtance in ſome, 1. They partake of his likeneſs and image; to this you read, that they were of old predeſtinated, Rom. 8. 29. Hence they are ſaid to have put on Chriſt: as ſoon as ever he brought them into this Freedom, he began preſently, as I may ſay, to draw his Picture upon them, and they grow more and more like him, every day, by reſembling of him in his Graces and walking: The Saints deſire to live no other life, but that which is ſuitable to the life that Chriſt led; and they would fain imitate and follow him in his holy converſation; they … mightily taken with it; all their trouble is that they can reach it no more. 2. They partake of his fulneſs, Joh. 1. 16. 'Tis their Priviledg, being made free by him, to be fetching from him what they need; for tho he hath it in himſelf▪ yet he doth not keep it to himſelf; no, he means to be liberal of what he hath to all his Members. He is not like the Rich covetous men of the World, that tho they have abundance, yet they hoard it up; they have no readineſs in them to diſtribute; but Chriſt is all for diſtributing; and that which his redeemed ones have had, and ſhall have from him, is an unknown deal. 3. They partake of his Death and Reſurrection, Rom. 6. 5. They dye to ſin by the vertue of Chriſts Death, and they live to God by the vertue of Chriſts riſing again: For beloved, Chriſt did not do thoſe things barely, that they ſhould end in himſelf, that none ſhould have a fellowſhip with him in them. But his deſign was, that his Death ſhould bring forth another Death, and his Reſurrection another Reſurrection in the Souls of his people; that they ſhould feel in themſelves, that he died by their being crucified to ſin, and crucified to the World, and that they ſhould feel in themſelves, that he roſe by their newneſs of life, and by their ſetting their affections upon things above. Now this is a great Priviledg, to have the experience of theſe things within us; people talk how Chriſt died and roſe again; but where is our conformity to this? Oh! how little doth the power and the virtue of this come to us? 4. They partake of his Righteouſneſs; I mean, 'tis imputed to them as their own, that perfect unſpotted obedience of his, 'tis to cover all the unrighteouſneſs that is in them, 2 Cor. 5 ult. Oh, beloved, what a thing is this that a righteouſneſs that is juſt as the Scripture would have it, without the leaſt defect, wherein all the holy rules and commands of the word are fulfilled to a tittle, that this ſhould be made over to one, with as great and ſure an intereſt in it, as if one had done all this in ones perſon! why thus 'tis with thoſe whom Chriſt hath made free. 5. They partake of his Interceſſion; the Lord Jeſus is at the right hand of the Father on their behalf, Heb. 9. 24. he is ſpeaking good words to God for them continually; and his interceſſion is powerful. Oh, with what great Arguments can Chriſt back all the requeſts that he makes to his Father for them, even from what himſelf hath done, and ſuffered, and ſatisfied? 6. They ſhall partake with Chriſt in his Glory; many of them are come to it already; and to make it ſure, that not one of his redeemed ones ſhall miſs of it, he intends to come himſelf and bring them all thither, Joh. 14. 3. So that not only Chriſt hath a Crown; but they ſhall have one too; a Crown of life, a Crown of Righteouſneſs; becauſe I live, ſaith he, ye ſhall live alſo; and he doth not count himſelf fully glorified, till he hath got every particular Saint into Heaven. And not only have the people of God upon Earth great longings after Chriſt; oh, that we might be with him! but ſurely Chriſt hath greater longings after them: oh, that they might be with me!
Priviledg 8. The indwelling of the Spirit is another Priviledg, bought by this Freedom; Chriſt having freed them, the Holy Ghoſt takes poſſeſſion of them; now their Bodies muſt be his Temples, and their Hearts his Throne, Rom. 8. 11. and oh, the great things that his Spirit doth in them and for them! which I might ſet down as diſtinct Priviledges. But I muſt haſten. By this they are enlightned; by this they are ſanctified; by this they are quickned, ſtrengthned, comforted, guided; the Spirit that dwelt in them before, led them into dark and dangerous paths, gave them evil counſel; was always a provoking of them to be worſe and worſe; but here's one that will be checking and reproving of them, when they walk diſorderly, and that will be grieved at their ſins, and that will countenance and encourage them in way of duty, which is a great benefit.
Priviledg 9. This Freedom brings a right to all the Promiſes, Gal. 3. ult. And there is more riches in one Promiſe, than in a thouſand Worlds. I know not what portion ſome of you may deſire, or where you would have your lot to fall; if you could have your wiſh, very like you would deſire ſome huge things in this World, that you might have ſo great an eſtate as ſuch a man hath, &c. and then perhaps you would think, if it were but ſo, you had wiſhed your ſelves into a very good condition. But oh, beloved, the Promiſes, the Promiſes, they are the Priviledges indeed; when you have them, you have God in Covenant with you: If you conſider who 'tis that promiſes, and what 'tis that is promiſed, and the certainty that there cannot but be of the faithful and full performance of them, you muſt needs ſay, 'tis an high Priviledg to be intereſted in them.
Priviledg 10. It brings Peace of conſcience, Rom 5. 1. Heb. 9. 14. This is ſuch a thing, that the having of it, is a kind of Heaven upon Earth, and the want of it is a kind of Hell upon Earth. If a mans conſcience fly in his Face, and the Sence of Guilt, and the Horror of ſpirit, ſeizes on him, let him enjoy the World if he can; 'twill bring down the ſtouteſt heart that is, to have but one ſound gripe of it; but theſe redeemed ones are in the way of Peace; Chriſt is to them the Prince of Peace, God is to them the God of Peace, the Word is to them the Word of Peace. When we come amongſt you in our preaching, and denounce the Wrath and Judgments of God; they are not theſe perſons that we mean, we have another meſſage for them; and we muſt in effect ſay to them in our Sermons, as Paul doth to them in the beginning of his Epiſtles, Grace be to you, and Peace, &c. As amongſt the Children of Iſrael, there were two Mountains, Gerizim and Eball, one to pronouce the bleſſings upon, and the other for the curſes; So beloved, tho when we would give you that are out of Chriſt, your portion, we muſt do that, as it were from the Mount of curſes; yet when we ſpeak to theſe, we muſt get up on the Mount of bleſſings.
Priviledg 11. Is Preſervance in holineſs. Hypocrites may fall away, becauſe they were never well on, Joh. 15. 7. there may come ſomething or other that will daſh their profeſſion to pieces; but theſe are well rooted, and nothing will be able to pluck them up; you ſhall not ſee them turn Saints in the beginning, and turn Devils in the end, as Judas did. 1 Pet. 1. 6, you read that they had manifold temptations; there were divers ways of ſuffering invented for them, to beat them off from Chriſt; and ver. 7. their faith was tried with fire; and yet it would be found unto praiſe, at the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt; and verſ. 9. for all that they went through, and ſhould receive the end of their faith, the ſalvation of their ſouls; they ſhould perſevere ſtill.
Priviledg 12. Is Acceſs to the Throne of Grace, Heb. 4. ult. Oh! what a Priviledg would it be counted upon Earth, that when the King is ſet down upon his Throne, tho he be in the poſture of Majeſty, to have free admiſſion to him about a buſineſs of great concernment! You know how Eſther the Queen was afraid to come into the Kings preſence, and what a favour 'twas to her, when the King was upon his Throne, that he would reach out his golden Scepter to her, that ſhe might ſpeak freely, and ask what ſhe would, and it ſhould be given to her. But beloved, here's the Throne of the gracious God may be come to, in and through Chriſt, by theſe redeemed ones. They may pour out their very hearts before him; and while they are a praying, he will be hearing: he will bow down his ear, and attend to the voice of their cry. He will not bid them go out of his preſence; but they ſhall have audience in Heaven. And if the Lord ſees them afraid, or unable to utter their deſires to him, his Spirit ſhall encourage them, and help their Infirmities.
Priviledg 13. Hence follows another Priviledg, That they ſhall have ſupply to all their wants. If God withhold any thing from them, to be ſure, tho it be good for others, yet 'tis not good for them in particular, or not good for them at that time when they would have it: and ſo they have good reaſon, either to wait for it till it comes, or to be contented without it, if it ſhould not come at all. Now that this is their Priviledg, ſee Phil. 4. 19. But my God ſhall ſupply all your need, according to his riches in glory by Chriſt Jeſus. And God's children ſhould live as thoſe that believe this: And they ſhould be careful for nothing; and take no thought for their life, nor for their meat, nor their drink, nor their cloathing. I don't ſay, you muſt not uſe means for theſe things. God doth not now provide for us, as he did for the children of Iſrael in the Wilderneſs, by raining down bread from Heaven. No: if you will eat, you muſt work: but you muſt work without perplexity; the Cares of the Wotld muſt not fret your hearts: If they do, either you do not belong to God, or you forget your Priviledg; which indeed is a very great one, That having given you his Son, he will with him alſo, freely give you all things, Rom. 8. 32.
Priviledg 14. They that are made free by Chriſt, are under ſpecial protection; as you know the children of Kings, and great Perſons, they muſt have ſome always with them, to ſee that they get no harm. So beloved, theſe perſons, they are well guarded: the Lord himſelf watches over them. 'Tis true, he doth employ Angels for their ſafety; and you'l ſay, that's a great matter, that Angels muſt wait on them, and be doing them all the good they can, Pſal. 91. 11. Heb. 1. ult. But God is ſo tender over them, that he will not truſt Angels alone with them, but he hath alſo committed them, the care of them, particularly to his Son. Whereupon Chriſt ſaith, Joh. 17. Thoſe whom theu haſt given me, I have kept: and yet he will look after them himſelf too: He is with them, Iſa. 41. 10. or he goes before them, and then he is behind them too, Iſa. 52. 12. and then on every ſide of them, Pſal. 125. 2. If this be not enough for their protection, then he will lead them, Iſa. 49. 10. if that be not enough, then he will cover them, Pſal. 91. 4. if that be not enough, then he will carry them, Iſa. 46. 4.
Priviledg 15. They are intereſted in the prayers of all the Saints in the World. It may be they are prayed for, ſome where or other, all the day long; yea, all the week; yea, all the year; yea, all their life: For it is like that there is a continual ſtock of Prayers a going, by ſome or other of them, night and day: And they don't uſe to pray for themſelves alone, but for others, and for their Fellow-Members moſt of all, as Paul did for the Churches of Chriſt.
Priviledg 16. Their Priviledges about their Afflictious are very great; as that they ſhall be, 1. moderated. God will not lift his Arm too high when he ſtrikes, nor make his Rod too big when he whips them, 1 Cor. 10. 13. 2. Sweetned, Heb. 12. 6. For whom the Lord loveth he chaſteneth, and ſcourgeth every ſon whom he receiveth. Loveth—and Son, theſe be words to ſweeten his Corrections. 3. They ſhall be ſanctified; they ſhall be for our profit, ver. 10. There is either ſome Sin to purge out, or ſome Grace to be brightned, or increaſed, or ſome choice Experience to be learned. 4. At laſt removed. God will be ſure to hold his hand when 'tis enough, and to comfort them when they have mourned enough, and to take them out of the fire when they have been tried enough. He that hath redeemed Iſrael it ſelf, ſhall alſo redeem Iſrael out of all his troubles.
Priviledg 17. They have acceptance of their poor ſincere duties. Alas! what is it that they do, or can do for the great God to take any notice of it? and yet God is well pleaſed with them, Heb. 13. 16. But to do good, and to communicate, forget not: for with ſuch ſacrifices God is well pleaſed. 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ye alſo, as lively ſtones, are built up a ſpiritual houſe, an holy prieſthood, to offer up ſpiritual ſacrifice acceptable to God by Jeſus Chriſt.
Priviledg 18. They ſhall be bleſſed in and after death: in their death, for they ſhall die in the Lord: and after death, for they ſhall be for ever with the Lord. As here they are brought into a Kingdom of Grace, ſo there they ſhall be brought into a Kingdom of Glory. Then comes the reſt, the inheritance, the pleaſures for evermore, the building of God, the houſe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; the bleſſed hope, the everlaſting life. Much time might be ſpent about theſe Priviledges, and many others that might have been mentioned: But I ſhall ſtay no longer upon them. Now beloved, Is not this Freedom by Chriſt, an excellent thing upon this account too, namely, the excellent Priviledges which come by it? And truly now you have heard them, methinks you ſhould not be able to forbear going to God when you come home, pouring out your moſt earneſt cries to him in theſe words (with which I will cloſe up this 5th Head), Pſal. 106. 4, 5. Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou beareſt unto thy people: O viſit me with thy ſalvation: That I may ſee the good of thy choſen: that I may rejoyce in the gladneſs of thy nation: that I may glory with thine inheritance.