Eternal Glorification Begun in Regeneration, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Of the Priviledges and Happineſs of Regenerate Men.
Q. WHat are the ſingular priviledges and peculiar happineſſes of regenerate perſons. For if they differ ſo much in their frames of …eart, carriages, and walkings in their principles, and endeavours from other men that are not regenerated; then ſurely they have ſome ſpecial priviledges and bleſſedneſſes beyond other men? ſhew us therefore what they are, that we may know them.
Anſ. Regenerat perſons are poſſeſſed of, have right unto, and Intereſt in many and ſingular Priviledges and happineſſes, is moſt certain. And indeed they are the only priviledged and happy men and women in the world. Others have not, neither can, or may they claim any at all, whilſt they continue in their Unregenerate ſtates. Regenerate perſons have all the Spiritual, Divine, and Heavenly priviledges given and granted to them, and likewiſe eternal happineſs: but the truth is, others have none at all. For they are not, neither will they be included in the great Charter, in and by which new creatures do receive and hold their priviledges. They will not be of, nor come into the holy and Spiritual Corporation of regenerate men; neither will they own, value and accept their priviledges, in the way that the great Lord and King hath appointed and commanded. But all are regenerate perſons right and due. All (ſuch the Apoſtle) is yours, 1 Cor. 3.22 Some of them I ſhall preſent unto you; to comfort and incourage you in your walking with God unto all well-pleaſing, as now you are bound to do.
1. You that are Regenerated, muſt call and account all whatever was ſaid of you before, namely, wherein you are by Grace made to differ from othermen, your priviledges; for they are great and real priviledges indeed. For is not your change of ſtate, or your Regeneration by ſpecial Grace, a great and glorious Priviledge? Is it not an exceeding great priviledge to be renewed in knowledg, after the image of God, Col. 3.10. And to be created in Christ Jeſus unto good workes? Eph. 2.10. To be ho…n again of incorruptible ſeed, 1 Pet. 1.23. and be made partakers of the divine or heavenly nature? 2 Pet. 1.4. Surely it is. Oh! my bretheren, is it not an ineſtimable priviledge to be made Child en of light, who were Children of darkneſs, 1 Pet. 2.9. And to be made the Children of God, who were the Children of the Devil? Joh. 8.44. Is it nor a great priviledge to have the Love of God ſhed abroad into your hearts, and been abled thereby to love God with all your hearts, as commanded? Math. 22.37. Is it not a great priviledge to have new and Spiritual Senſes, Paſſions or Affections, and to be quickned and raiſed from death to life, as you are? Is it not a great priviledge to be called too, and imployed in and about Spiritual and heavenly workes, and that with Spirits, Frames, and Diſpoſitions ſuited to them? why, all theſe and many others (as you heard before) are yours, and ſo you ought to look upon and eſteem them; to rejoice in, and bleſs God for them.
2. By Regeneration you are made Free-men. You are now no more Bond-men, but the Lords Free-men, Gal. 5.1. You are no more ſtrangers and Forreigners, no, what are you then, why, you are by Chriſt, in your Regeneration, made fellow Citizens with the Saints, and of the Houſhold of God, Eph. 2.19. The Lord Jeſus hath made you Free of his Spiritual and Heavenly City and Corporation, and therefore you are free indeed, Joh. 8.36. hence the Apoſtle tells regenerate Servants, that they are the Lords Freemen, 1 Cor. 7.22. though they were the ſervants of men. And he further aſſures ſuch, that they are of the free Jeruſalem, and Children of the free Woman, Gal. 4.36. ult. Here I ſhall briefly ſhew you what your freedome and liberty is. 1. what you are freed from. 2. what freed for or to.
1. You are freed from the dominion and ruledome of Sin, you were before your Regeneration the Servants of Sin, and in ſubjection to your Luſt, But now you are fully delivered from the dominion of that Lord, by Chriſt, in your Regeneration, Rom. 6.14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22. your ſin and luſts may now diſturb and afflict you, and they may and will diſtract, and trouble you. They will aſſault and delude you, and they will dwell in you and purſue you, obſtruct and hinder you of, and in your good works and duties, yea, pollute and defile them. But now for your comfort, that they ſhall no more reign over you, rule and command you as they did, for you are called out and off from their dominion.
2. You are freed from the devils yoke and ruledome. He was your Prince, and your God, and ruled in and over you, 2 Cor. 4.4. Eph. 2.2. although you knew it not then, for the Scripture ſaith that the Devil had blinded the mindes of ſuch as did not believe, (which you did not, until you were Regenerated) leſt the light of the glorious Goſpel of Chriſt, ſhould ſhine unto them. You were his Servants, and that with your own conſents; ye are of your Father the Devil (ſays Chriſt) and his luſts ye will do, Joh. 8, 44. That is, you were not forced and conſtrained by him to it, but you did obey and ſerve him as Volunteers, willingly and chearfully, his luſts ye will do. All men by nature are dilivered over (by the great God) into the Devils hand: not abſolutely ſo, for God ſtill keeps his dominion over his Creatures, but as a Judge delivers up a Rebel unto a Jaylor to keep, and order him. So when we had rebelled againſt God, tranſgreſſed his holy Law, hearkned to, and obeyed the Devil rather then God, Gen. 3. then God gave up and delivered them over to Satan (as his Jaylor) as they were condemned Rebels, that had thrown off his Authority and Government, and choſen the Devils counſel and ſervice before his. Then ſays God, take them Jaylor, let them be thy ſervants and ſubjects, ſeeing they do ſo well like thy ſervice and advice. They are weary of, and do refuſe my eaſy yoke, …e now put them under thine; do thou rule over them. Hence the Scripture calls him their God and Prince; and tells us, that we are his Captives, and Bond-men or Servants, 2 Tim. 2. ult. Heb. 2.14.15. But from this Cruel Lord you are ſet at liberty, in your regeneration. Then the Lord Chriſt commands the Devil to deliver you up to him, and let Priſoners go free, Iſa. 61.1. 2 They are mine faith Chriſt, for they were given to me, Joh. 10.29. And of them which thou haſt given me, I will loſe none, Joh. 6.39. For although they were thine as they were Rebels againſt God, and therefore delivered to thee; yet now they are and ſhall be mine, Heb. 2.15. Regenerate men are ſo delivered from Satan and brought out of his kingdome, as never more to return again to their old Service and bondage. For when the Son makes men free, they are, and ſhall be free indeed, Joh 8.36. It is true that the Devil will never ceaſe to vex and diſquiet you, to tempt and diſturb you, and to afflict and diſtract you; but be of good Chear, he ſhall never have the rule and dominion over you any more, but you ſhall prevaile againſt, and rule over him. For you are not his, but Chriſts Servants and ſubjects.
3. You are freed from the Law, as a Law and Covenant of works. So that as ſuch, it ſhall neither Command, Condemn, or Curſe you; for you are d…livered from it, and brought under the Law to Chriſt, 1 Cor. 9.21. That is, you are under the matter and precepts of the Law, to be a Rule of your obedience and walking with God, as it is Goſpellized in the hand of the Mediatour, annexed to the Covenant of Grace, and made the preceptive part of it; and as it is (as it were) moulded and fitted to the ſtate, frame, and Condition of new Creatures, or the Children of God, and to the nature of their Goſpel obedience. But otherwiſe, as was ſaid, you are not under it, but delivered from it by Chriſt in your Regeneration. For being made new Creatures, and married to Chriſt, you are brought under the new Law and Covenant, Rom. 8.1.2. Rom. 6.14. Rom. 7.1-7. I will (Says God) Cauſe you to paſs under the Rod, and bring you into the bond of the Covenant, Ezek. 20.37. The matter of the Law is the Rule of your obedience, as it is the Revelation of the mind and will of God, and as his Authority over you, is in it, requiring your ſubjection and conformity thereunto; ſo you are under it, and it commands you: but not ſimply as a Law of workes, as in its firſt make, and promulgation, for and to men as Gods reaſonable Creatures; and by, or as reſpecting him as their Creator and Sovereign Lord, only or moſtly: no, but as their reconciled Father and God, and reſpecting them as his Children, begotten by him unto Obedience, that is, Goſpel filial obedience and newneſs of Life, 1 Pet. 1.3.4. Rom. 6.4. Rom. 7.6. For as men are created in Chriſt Jeſus unto good works, and made new Creatures by his Grace, ſo all things are become new, in, to, and for them, 2 Cor. 5.17. Their State is changed, their Relation Changed, their obedience and ſome of the ends of it (in a Senſe) are changed alſo. So that now they are dead to the Law, and are not under it, but under the Law of Grace. This is another of your Liberties and Immunities.
4. You are freed from Guilt and grounded fears. I do not ſay you are freed from the Juſt Accuſations of Conſcience when you ſin, or groundleſs diſtracting fears, but from guilt, as it bindes you over to Eternal puniſhment and wrath of God, and from grounded fears thereof, for your Miſcarriages. It is a choice mercy and a great priviledge to have our Conſciences ſpeaking to us, telling us of, and accuſing us for Sinning, and to have the paſſion of fear in us, to affright us from, and keep or hold us back from ſin. But it is a grevious bondage to be, and lye under that guilt, which binds us over to puniſhment, and that which makes us afraid of God, his Law and Juſtice; filling us with amazing, diſquieting, and dreadful thoughts of God. Or elſe God would not have promiſed to give his people deliverance from them, as his great mercy and kindneſs to them in Chriſt, as he hath done, Pro. 1. ult. Luk. 1.73.74. And Chriſt would not have ſhed his pretious blood for their deliverance, as he hath done, Heb. 9.14. if the one had not been a great Judgment to them, namely, their being under ſuch Guilt and fears; and their deliverance from them, their great and invaluable mercy.
5. You are freed from the curſe and wrath of God. For in and by Regeneration you are enabled to, and you do believe in, and accept of him who hath born the Curſe and Wrath of God, and delivered you, 1 Theſ. 1. ult. Gal. 3.13. So that now the Curſe of the Law is taken off from your Souls, and you are and ſhall be bleſſed; yea, the bleſſing of Abraham is come on you, upon the removal of the Curs, and you are now really bleſſed, and ſo called by the great God, Gal. 3.14. Math. 5.2.12. and not onelyonly bleſſed your ſelves, but a bleſſing alſo to others, Iſa 19.24. Pro. 11.11. So likewiſe the Wrath of God is turned into love to them; Eph. 2.4. and they ſhall never fall under his wrath and curſe any more, although they do fall into Sin. But if Regenerate men do careleſly or wilfully Sin as David and Peter did, they ſhall feell the effects of his fatherly diſpleaſure, and ſmart for their follies, but the Curſe and Wrath of God ſhall never return againe upon their Souls. This is another of your great and Glorious Priviledges, who are Regenerated. But all other men are under the wrath and curſe of God, although they will not believe they are ſo; yet nevertheleſs they are, Joh. 3. ult. Gal. 3.10.
6, You are freed from Blindneſs of mind, and Hardneſs of heart, under which you were held, in your unregenerate ſtates and conditions. You were then Darkneſs, and held faſt under groſs Darkneſs, Eph. 5.8. 1 Pet. 2.9. 1 Joh. 2.11. Your Luſts and the Devil, yea, the Juſtice of God alſo, had blinded the Eies of your mindes; ſo that you ſaw not, knew not your Sin, danger or miſery; now the way how to eſcape and obtain deliverance. You were ready to …mble into Hell Flames every moment, but underſtood it not; and that when you thought you ſaw your ſelves in a ſafe and ſecure ſtate, and would by no meanes believe the contrary of your ſelves. For you were held in the chaines of Spiritual Darkneſs. But now you are priviledged with ſpiritual ſaving light. Now you are Light in the Lord, Children of Light, brought …t of darkneſs into marvellous Light, and you may now walk as Children of Light, in the light of Chriſt, Eph. 5.8. 1 Pet. 2.9. Now you are no more Fools but Wiſe, Eph. 5.15. For the wiſdome of Chriſt is in you. And you are delivered from that hardneſs, and impenitency of hearts, under which you were as priſoners, …n. 2.4.5. Your regenerating Grace hath ſ…tned and melted you, broken your hearts, and made your Conſciences ſoft and tender; ſo that you who were once hard-hearted Sauls, are now mourning Pauls, and you who were hard-hearted Nabels, are now weeping Jere…es. This is certainly your priviledge in your regenerate ſtates.
7. You are freed from that pernitious ſelf that h…d you Captives in its Chains. Before your Regeneration, you were enſlaved to your ſelves. You were not onelyonly ſervants to your Luſts, but to your ſelves alſo. You were kept from Chriſt by your carnal ſelf and ſpiritual ſelf. Your ſelfulneſs, ſelf-righteouſneſs, ſelf-abilities, and ſelf-confidences, ruled and ſwayed you, diſſwaded and beguiled you from believing, repenting, and ſeeking after Regeration. You were wedded to your own conceits and miſguided apprehenſions of your ſelves, and yielded up your ſelves to their counſels and deluſion. Self was in the Top and Bottome of all, ſo as that you could not once think ſeriouſly of your ſelves, ſtates, and ways, and of Regeneration, and how to be ſaved; but one ſelf or other, would interpoſe, to draw & hold you back from proſecuting what was begun in and by you. For by and by, they would ariſe and appeare to you, telling you that all was well. You had enough of this and that, to make you happy, and therefore what need to trouble your ſelves about ſuch matters: But eat, drink, and be merry, for you have much goods laid up in ſtore for many yeares, Luk. 12.19. Therefore ſays ſelf-eaſe, and ſelf-confidence, and ſecurity, thou haſt Righteouſneſs and worthineſs, worldly comforts, and abilities enough, to make the a happy man here, and hereafter, and that is enough for thee, for what wouldſt thou have? But now you are delivered by Grace, from the power and reigning prevelency of your captivating Selfe, which is a great priviledge.
2. You are not only freed from theſe and many other evils and bondages, but you are ſet at liberty and freed to many other priviledges alſo. I ſhall name a few, 1. you are made Free-men for God. You are 'tis true, his Servants, but your condition and ſervice is not your bondage, but your liberty, freedome and priviledge. And therefore the ſervants of God are called his free-men, as was ſhewed, 1 Cor. 7.22. And Rom. 6.22. They are (ſaid to be) made free from Sin, and become the Servants of God, and ſo have their fruit unto holineſs; you are made … to ſerve God without fear in holineſs and Righ…ſneſs all your dayes, Luk. 1.73.74. This is a …eedome or priviledge which you had not the enjoyment of, when you were unregenerated, but now it is yours, you are freed from …any Bondages, and made free to and for his ſervice; which is moſt eaſy. 2. You are made free to ſerve God without fear, Che…fully, Obedi…tly, Joyfully, and in Faith and Hope of pleaſing God, and being aſſiſted, accepted, and rewarded of …; which you could not do before. It was not your priviledge, neither had you wherewithal to do it, before you were Regenerated and made new Creatures, by his ſpirit and grace. But now being ſuch, you are in a Capacity to do it, and you can and will ſo ſerve God. You are made free not onelyonly to do God ſervice, but ſo to ſerve him, that is freely, readily, chearfully, joyfully, thankfully, and in faith and hope; yea, you may now ſerve him obediently too, namely, with the Goſpel obedience of Children, or Child like obedience, 1 Pet. 1.14.3. You are freed and priviledged to be fellow Citizens of the Saints, and of the houſhold of God; Eph. 2.19. you are Incorporated with them in the heavenly Jeruſalem, and made partakers of their Charter, of their liberties & Immunities, and have the pririledge of Trading where they Trade, and in the ſame heavenly commodities; which until you were regenerated you could not do. 4. You are freed and priviledged to and with all the fullneſs of Chriſt, and good of the Covenant of Grace. For by the Spirit and Grace of God in your Regeneration, you are put into Chriſt, and under all the Grace and Bleſſings of the Covenant. You are in a capacity of receiving and in a condition of claiming them. They are all yours by Gods everlaſting Grant of them to Chriſt for you, and in your behalf, 2 Tim. 1.9. Tit. 1.2. They were given or granted to you, and Chriſt received them for you, when you were given to Chriſt in election, and Chriſt accepted and received you at the hand of God, Joh. 17.6. Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them me. This was hid from you before you were Regenerated, but now they are brought to light and entailed on you, as regenerate perſons. And the way is opened to you to find and take them, to claim and fetch them, to apply and appropriate them unto your ſelves. Theſe are ſome of your priviledges and immunities, as you are Gods freemen. I could name many more but that I may not be large, beſide my intendment.
3. You are Pardoned and Juſtified. All your Sins and Iniquities are croſs'd out of Gods Book, and caſt out of his remembrance. They are all put on the head of the ſcape Goat, and ſent away into the wilderneſs or land of forgetfulneſs, never to return any more to you, or be layd to your Charge. And you are fully acquitted and cleared from all Guilt and Puniſhment, as the fruit and wages of Sin. The Righteouſneſs of Chriſt is accounted and imputed to you, and your ſins guilt and puniſhment to Chriſt, and ſo you are declared juſt and righteous in Law, and you are made the lighteouſneſs of God in him, Jer. 31, 34. Heb. 10.17. 2 Cor. 5. ult. Rom. 4.24, 25. Iſa. 53.11. All ſuch as God ſanctifies, he juſtifies, Rom. 8.29, 30. that by the firſt fruits of their ſandification, which is their Regeneration, they might be enabled to believe to juſtification of …fe, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Rom. 5.18. and unto the ſaving of the Soul, Heb. 10. ult. for by the Faith they obtain in Regeneration, they do ſo believe, as to be juſtified, (not for) but through or by their believing. You may henceforth, all your dayes, pray for, believe, and expect the Pardon of your daily ſins, of all ſorts of ſins; and that notwithſtanding your frequent ſlips and failings, you ſhall not be laid under guilt, and be any more unjuſtified, or put into an unjuſtified ſtate. But you may freely and conſtantly go to the Court of Juſtice and Mercy, and crave Pardon of all your ſins, and take out ſealed Pardons, through the Blood of the Everlaſting Covenant. For Chriſt gave himſelf, to Redeem you from all Iniquity, Tit. 2.14. ſo that you are now in and by believing, made free from ſin, and ſtand as clear in Chriſts Righteouſneſs, and Gods Juſtification, as if you had never ſinned. This is another of your glorious Priviledges, who are New Creatures.
4. You are Priviledged with great Intereſt in Chriſt, and God the Father by him, and have free …cceſs to him at all times in your dutiful carriages, and obedient walkings towards him. You have great intereſt in, and power with God, and you are priviledg'd with open ingreſs to him. His doors ſtands always open to let you into his Preſence Chamber, for the Lord Jeſus hath opened them for you, and none can ſhut them againſt you. You have this great Maſter of Requests waiting on, or rather ſitting by the great God, and waiting for you, that when you come with your Petitions, you may find him ready to attend, and proſecute your concerns in Heaven for you, Heb. 7.25. Heb. 9.24. Rom. 8.34. You have his heart, and he hath always his Fathers ear, Job. 11.42. ſo that you need never fear any miſcarriage of, or in your buſineſſes there. And be ſure that all your greateſt concerns lie in his hand, and he is engaged to you, and to his Father for you, to mind and mannage them to your advantage. For he tells us, That he would go to Heaven, and pray the Father for you, Job. 14, 16. and hath told us ſince he went to Heaven, that he was always attending on it, Heb. 7.25. Before he left the World, in his laſt Will and Teſtament, he bequeathing this Priviledge unto his People, and left it as a part of their Legacy, to and for them, that we might have what we would of him, Joh. 14, 13, 14. And he gives us all poſſible aſſurance of it, by his Aſſeverations, Verily, verily, verſ. 12. (ſays he) I ſay unto you, that whatſoever ye ſhall ask the Father in my Name, that will I do. And then he further confirms his grant and promiſe, by an Argument taken from his Father, his concern and intereſt in his ſo doing, namely, That the Father may be glorified in the Son; that is, by the grant he had given his people, of power and intereſt in him, to make uſe of him, and uſing his Name at the Throne of Grace with his Father; as alſo his praying and appearing for them, to and with his Father, and carrying on his peoples concernments there, …is Father would take it as his honour, concern, and intereſt. This Truth is evidenced and confirmed throughout the Goſpel, in innumerable places. As in Joh. 15.7. Joh. 16. This is another of your great and dear bought Priviledges, which are confer'd on you, and put into your poſſeſſion in Regeneration. For aſſuredly other men have it not, neither had it you before. I pray for them, I pray not for the world, no, but for them which thou haſt given me out of the world, for they are thine and mine, ſays Chriſt, Joh. 17. Other men have nothing to do with me in this matter, nor I with them; I pray for my Sheep, my Members, my Believers, my New Creatures. For ſuch as have choſen me for their King and High Prieſt; to govern and interceed for them. Theſe are the perſons for whom I have ſhed my Blood, and for whoſe Souls I ſacrificed my Life to Divine Juſtice. Theſe are the men that I have dearly bought, and thoſe are the perſons that wear my Livery, and bear my Image, and therefore I pray for them. They lie deep in my Affections, and ſo do I in theirs. They are near and dear to me, and ſo am I to them likewiſe. I have promiſed this priviledge to them, and they have thankfully accepted it, and kindly embraced it. They make uſe of me, and have their eyes and dependence on me, to appear for them in Heaven; and therefore they may come boldly to my Throne of Grace, and find favour and Grace, to help in time of need, Heb. 4. ult. Theſe my New Creatures may ask of me what they will, and it ſhall be done to them, Job. 15.7. And as they have great Intereſt in the ear and heart of Chriſt, and may be familiarly bold with him; as he doth and will pray for, and mannage their concerns in Heaven for them; ſo they have free acceſs unto the Father, and a great intereſt in his ear and heart alſo, upon Chriſts account. Hence the Lord Jeſus tells his Diſciples, when he was comforting and encouraging them, and pouring out (as it were) his heart and Bowels of Love unto them: I ſay not that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father himſelf loveth you, Joh. 16, 26, 27. That is, your heavenly Father hath ſuch Love and Affection for you, and your intereſt is ſo great in him, upon my account, that if I ſhould hold my peace, and not ſpeak a word to him in your behalfs, yet he hath Grace and Love enough to and for you, and that he will alſo mind your concernments. And you may go to him in my Name, and make uſe of him in all your matters and buſineſſes.
5. All the promiſes that are made and given, appointed and intended for the Saints and People of God in the Goſpel are yours. All the promiſes of Grace, and to Grace and Goſpel obedience, with all the good, all the marrow and fatneſs of them, are yours. Not a Hony-comb in all the Hive of the Goſpel-Covenant, but what will yield you ſome drops of hony and ſweetneſs. And you being new Creatures, and married to Chriſt (in whom are all the Promiſes, yea and amen) 2 Cor. 1.20. all the Promiſes are your Dowry and Portion. They are all Intayled on, and made over to you: they are your great Pattent and Charter, for all Grace and Glory, and by which you may plead, and do hold your Right and Title to Grace, and Chriſt hear, and Eternall Life hereafter. For if all things be yours, as the Goſpel ſaith they are, 1 Cor. 3.22. Then all the Promiſes of the new Covenant are yours likewiſe; And with a holy boldneſs, you may Claim and appropriate them, and all the milk and hony of them to your ſelves, as yours by Grant and Purchaſe. Are you indeed and in Truth, Regenerate Perſons? why, then rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for the great Charter of heaven is yours. You are of the little, holy, and heavenly corporation and City, Citizens of the new Jeruſalem, that came down from heaven, and therefore you have a Right unto, and Intereſt in all the promiſes of the life that now is, and of that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4.8. You have the promiſes of all Grace and happineſs, and for whatever you need, and much more. To inſtance in a few of many, and that briefly.
1. You have the Promiſes of pardon; of the Pardon of all your Sins for time to come, Exod. 34.6, 7. Iſa. 55.7. Jer. 31.34. hence the Lord Jeſus commands and directs them, Namely, you that are Gods Children, to Pray, Our Father forgive us our Treſpaſſes, Math. 6.12. And Paul tells us from Chriſt, that there is now no condemnation to them, which are in Chriſt Jeſus, Rom. 8.1. and if there be indeed no condemnation, then no Sin unpardoned. To the ſame purpoſe Chriſt ſpeaks in Joh. 5.24. He that is paſſed from Death to Life, (as all Regenerate Perſons are) ſhall not come into Condemnation. Therefore encourage your ſelves in true holineſs hereby.
2. You have the Promiſes of Cleanſing and Healing you, or of Gods ſanctifying and purifying your hearts, Hoſea. 14.4. For which end and purpoſe, among other, Chriſt gave himſelf, Tit. 2.14. Eph. 5.25.26. And ſets open the Fountain, to flow in upon us, Zach. 13.1. And, Ezek. 36.25.26.27. I will ſprinkle clean Water on them, and they ſhall be clean, and from all their filthineſs, and from all their Idols will I cleanſe them.
3. You have promiſes of perſeverance in Godlyneſs unto the end of your race, until you have finiſhed your courſe here, you ſhall be kept by the power of God, through faith unto ſalvation, 1 Pet. 1.5. And my ſheep follow me, and I give to them eternal Life, and they ſhall never Periſh, neither ſhall any take them out of my hand, Joh. 10.27.28.29. Moreover God tells us, that for our more certain and full aſſurance of our ſafety and ſecurity, he will keep us, water us every moment, yea, and keep us Night and Day, Iſa. 27.2.3. And engages himſelf, that whatever enemies beſet us round about, and ſeek to devour us, that he will watch us, and be our defence; by being a wall of Fire round about us, Zach. 2.5. God hath promiſed, that he will put his fear into their hearts, and they ſhall not depart from him, Jer. 32.40. and that his Children ſhall call him my Father, and ſhall not turn away from him, Jer. 3.19. They have underneath them the Everlasting Armes, and they are held in his hand. They are ſafe within the walls of their Fathers houſe, and are guarded with the holy Angells. Their victory over all their enemies is ſure, becauſe they are ever under the Conduct of their great Captain, Chriſt, and fight under his Banner, in his cauſe and quarrel, with his Armor of proof, who hath all their enemies under his feet. Their Luſts, the world and Devil are all in ſubjection unto your great King and Captain. And becauſe the Victory is ſure on our ſide, as fighting under him, he is ſtiled the Captain of our ſalvation. And therefore you may be ſure you ſhall not Periſh. For you have all poſſible ſecurity from him, and his Father, to ſtrengthen and encourage, to fence and arme you againſt all your own fears, weakneſs, and temptations whatſoever. Even the Gates of Hell ſhall not be able to prevaile againſt you. But if you are in a ſtate of Grace, you ſhall moſt certainly run your Race, win the Prize, and wear the Crown of Righteouſneſs. For you have their bonds for your ſecurity, who are both able & faithful to perform and make them good, to you and to all who ſhall truſt and rely on them for the doing of it.
4. You have promiſes of Peace. This is one of your husbands Legacies to you, Joh. 14.27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. And in Joh. 16. ult. In the world (ſaith Chriſt) ye ſhall have tribulation, but in me ye ſhall have peace. And Glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh Righteouſneſs, Rom. 2.10. and as many as walk according to this Rule, peace be to them, Gal. 6.16. So in Phil. 4.7. And the peace of God ſhall keep your hearts and minds. This Spiritual peace, is a fruit of Gods Love, and the mediation of Chriſt: of our Juſtification and Sincerity of heart towards God and men. For he is our peace, Eph. 2.14. and being Juſtifyed by faith, we have peace with God, Rom. 5.1. Thoſe that know and have experienced the great and ſore Affliction and trouble of a wounded Conſcience, which none can bear, Pro. 18.14. and the load and weight of guilt and fear on the Soul, can give a better account of the worth and Excellency of this peace of God. For indeed it is ſo great, that it paſſeth all underſtanding, Phill. 4.7.
5. Satisfaction. You have the promiſſes of being ſatisfied with good. The meaning is not, ſo to be ſatisfied with what we have, as not to deſire and ſeek for more of that, and other mercies, no, but to be ſatisfied with, and in the will and diſpoſements of God, and the meaſure of our preſent Enjoyments, untill God ſhall augment them, Joh. 4.14. But whoſoever drinketh of the water that I ſhall give him, ſhall never thirſt, Iſa. 58.10. Jer. 31.14.25. It is a great mercy to have a ſatisfied and contented Spirit with Gods Allowance, and at the ſame time to endeavour after more. An unſatisfied Spirit is very ſinful, grievous & vexatious to a mans own Soul. He enjoys not what he hath, that is not ſatisfied in the will of God, …ith his portion and meaſure. God diſpences …is favours, according to his ſovereign wiſdom, Will and Grace; he gives two Talents to one ſervant, and to another five, Math. 25. to declare and make known to men his ſoveraignty and dominion over them; and that he doth in Heaven and Earth whatſoever pleaſeth him. That he will not diſpoſe of his favors according to our wills, but his one.
6. You have promiſes of Aſſiſtance in your duties, or of a ſupply of the Spirit of Grace, and the Grace of the Spirit, to enable you to performe them according to the will of God, even to acceptation in Heaven, Phill. 4.19. And my God ſhall ſupply all your wants, Pſal. 84.11. The Lord God is a Sun and ſhield: he will give Grace and Glory; and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly: as all Regenerate men may do. The holy Spirit is promiſed to help our Infirmities, and enable us to do the will of God acceptably, Rom. 8.26, 27. Zach. 12.10. And fear not Jacob my Servant, although thou art a worm, a poor weak Creature; yet ſeeing thou art a New Creature, I will help thee, yea, I will ſtrengthen thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the Right hand of my Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 41.10, 13, 14. He giveth power to the Saint, and to them that have no might, he encreaſeth ſtrength; That they that wait on him may encreaſe their ſtrength, to run and not be weary, Iſa. 40.29, 31. ſo that whatever God calls you to, and ſets you upon, be ſure that he will fully enable you to do it, how weak ſoever you are, in and of your ſelves. For God is ſtrong and faithful, who hath promiſed it.
7. Joy and Conſolation. God hath priviledged you with promiſes of rejoycing your hearts, and of cauſing you to Sing for joy of heart, when others ſhall howl for vexation of Spirit, Iſa. 65.13, 14. This is alſo one of your Husbands Legacies, which he bequearned to you, in his laſt Will and Teſtament, and therefore you may look for, and confidently expect it of him, John 15.11. Theſe things have I ſpoken unto you, that my Joy may remain in you, and that your Joy might be full; ſo in John 16.20. But your Sorrow ſhall be turned into Joy. And your hearts ſhall rejoyce, and your Joy no man ſhall take from you, verſ. 22. And in verſe 24. Ask and ye ſhall receive, that your Joy may be full. For this end he hath promiſed and bequeathed, not only the Conſolations and Joys of the Spirit, but the abiding preſence of the Spirit himſelf, who is to convey and impart them unto his people, Joh. 14, 16, 17. And calls him therefore, the Comforter, as in that Text, ſo in John 14.26. and in the 15. Chapt. 26. and in the 16. Chapt. 7.
8. You have promiſes of being taught of God, and of being made wiſe unto Salvation. You are already renewed in knowledge, Col. 3.10. and now you ſhall be tutored up by Chriſt your Prophet; ſo that you ſhall be ſtill encreaſing in the knowledge of God, Chriſt, Duty, and heavenly things, John 7.17. Eph. 4.15. 1 Cor. 2.12. Iſa. 54.13. Pſal. 84.7. John 6.45. Men teach by Gods Appointment, and it is his Ordinance for ever, which all men are bound to attend unto and wait on, as it is the Ordinance of God to them for Good, in and by which God will teach men, Math. 28.19, 20. Eph. 4.11.—17. and God teaches alſo. God teaches, and reaches the heart with his teaching, but ſo cannot mens teaching do of themſelves. God teaches men powerfully, convincingly, and effectually, and they only are made truly wiſe, whom God teaches by his Spirit. Now this is one of your Priviledges, that you are the willing Scholars of Jeſus Chriſt. You have choſen him for your Prophet and Teacher, and he hath choſen, and accepted you, for his Schollars, and it is your deſire to be taught of him, all the things that do concern his Glory, and your duty and happineſs: You have him engaged to you to teach you, and cauſe you to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of all things you are to know; and you may and ought to believe that he will do it. To make uſe of him, apply your ſelves unto him, rely on and expect it of him.
9. You have promiſes of a ſanctifyed uſe of all his diſpenſations towards you, and that all things ſhall worke together for your good. Your afflictions and chaſtiſements ſhall not hurt, but better you, not ſpoyl, but make you. God ſhoots not his Arrows at rovers, neither doth he lay his Corriſives beſide your ſoars, or apply an improper or ineffectual Medicine to your wounds. He is an alſeeing and alſufficient Phiſitian, and thorrowly diſcerns you maladies, and what doth aile you: and he can give you ſuitable Playſters, and Phyſick for your diſtempers, Pſal. 103.13.14. And what he can, that he will, (in this matter) do for you. For your profit and care, your health, proſperity and ſalvation, are the things that are in his Eye, and heart. All things ſhall work together for your good; for you are his called ones, and ſuch as he loves, and you are ſuch as love him, Rom. 8.28. doth your Father and Lord chaſtize you, and make you ſmart? why, the fruit of all is to humble you; to take a way Sin, which you are willing to part withal, and to make you partakers of his holyneſs, and the like bleſſed and gracious ends and diſigns, are in his Eye and heart, Duter. 8.15.16. Iſa. 27.7.8.9. Heb. 12.10.11,
10. You have promiſes of eternal Life, and everlaſting Bleſſedneſs with God in Heaven. You have promiſes of an Incorruptible Inheritance, 1 Pet. 1.4. to which you are begotten and born. You have promiſes of a Crown of Life, Revel. 2.10. Jam. 1.12. Of Righteouſneſs, 2 Tim. 4.8. And of Glory, 1 Pet. 5.4. You have promiſes of Living and Reigning with Chriſt, and of being and abiding where he is, and with him, Revel. 20. Rev. 5.10. Joh. 17. And of ſeeing him as he is, 1 Job. 3.2. You have promiſes of Chriſt his coming in Glorious ſtate, to fetch you home to his Kingdome, and Palace of Holineſs, Glory and Joy; of Honour, Dignity, and Renown, Math. 25.32.33. Rev. 19. 1 Theſ. 4.16.17. Joh. 14.3. You have an Eternal weight of Glory laid up in Heaven for you, and Chriſt is bound to ſecure it for, and give it to you. You have a bleſſed Hope and great Glory laid up for you, and the Lord Jeſus hath engaged himſelf to put you into the poſſeſſion of all, in his time. It is as ſure, as if you had the whole already in your own hands, and you muſt believe and expect it; for neither height nor depth, nor any thing ſhall prevent or diſappoint you of it. All the great things promiſed you, are yours, they are your own. They are all yours by an everlaſting grant, of God the Father, and by the purchaſe of Chriſt; I mean, they are the Price of his Blood, and the fruits of the travail of his Soul. And therefore look for them, and live in continual expectation of them, as of certain things.
Theſe are a few of the many great and Heavenly things that are promiſed to you, who are new Creatures, or Regenerate Perſons. I know that I have mentioned ſeveral of them before, and there promiſed to ſpeak more fully of them, on this head.
6. You are the great objects of Gods love, delight and complacency. Your union with Chriſt, Relation to him, and the Divine nature on you, makes you moſt beautiful, aimable, and lovely in the ſight of God; and he loves you with an exceeding great, ſingular and ſpecial love. It is his own lovelineſs that makes you lovely in his eies. You have none at all of your own, to commend you to his love and acceptance. God ſaith of, and to you, I have loved you with an everlaſting love; Jer. 13.3. And therefore with loveing kindneſs have I drawn thee; namely, to accept of my Son, and become new Creatures. And in Eph. 2.4. The Apoſtle tells us, that God loves his quickned or Regenerate Creatures, with a great love, and tells us, … Eph. 3.18, 19. That there are Heights, Depth… Lengths, and Breadths, in the love of Chriſt t… them; yea, that it is ſo great, as that it paſſe… all underſtanding; not of Chriſts underſtanding … but ours and Angels. When God would expreſs his love to Regenerate men, in the mo… Emphatical way that we are capable of conceiving, or apprehending it, he words it … indiffinite Termes. As God ſo loved the World (namely, the little World of new Creatures) God ſo loved them, Joh. 3.16. That is, he greatly, unexpreſſibly, and unconceivably, loved and loves them. The Apoſtle John expreſſes it thus, 1 Joh. 3.1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath beſtowed upon us, that … ſhould be called the Children of God? Behold, what manner of love is this. I cannot conceive, much leſs expreſs how great and admirable his love is to his children. God onelyonly knows how much he loves them, but they do not know it, no, nor yet can they tell how much they do love God. For love between them and God, and God and them, is unmeaſurable, innumerable, unſearchable, and paſt finding out. Their love to Chriſt is as ſtrong as Death that many waters cannot quench; Cant. 8.6.7. O! then how great is his love to them. New creatures are ſick of love to Chriſt, it is ſo fervent, ſtrong, and working, Cant. 5.8. How much more ſtrong and fervent is Chriſts love to them. 'Tis true, that Chriſt is a far more lovely and deſirable object of, and for their love and delight, than themſelves are for Chriſts, for he is the fairest of Ten thouſands, and altogether lovely, …t. 5.10. ult. But then they have not ſo …uch love for Chriſt in their hearts, as he …th for them. The Lord Jeſus looks on his …w Creatures, his Spouſes; like a true and …hement Lover indeed. Like one that is ena…ored and raviſhed with them: hence we have …en ſuch expreſſions falling and droping …om his pure Lips. How faire and how pleaſant …t thou, O Love for delights? Cant. 7.6. And …ou haſt raviſhed my heart, my Siſter, my Spouſe: …u haſt raviſhed my heart with own of thine eies, …ith one chaine of thy Neck, Cant. 4.9. By all which expreſſions of his, he commends and ſets out his exceeding great love to his people. Oh! what a rich and invaluable priviledge is this, to be ſo much, and lye ſo deep i… the love and affections of the great God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. He loved you before your Regeneration, ſo as to make you truely lovely, with his Grace and Spirit, with his Righteouſneſs and holyneſs. But now he loves you as moſt lovely and dilightful perſons indeed. He loves you now with the love of delight, joy and complacency, as was ſhewed. You are his delight, and Crown of rejoycing; your Countenance is comely, and your voice ſweet to him, Cant. 2.14. His Love to you is true and hearty, ſtrong and fervent, fruitful and profitable, and it is everlaſting and unchangable: he loves you, notwithſtanding your many unlovely carriages towards him, and with all your perſonal deformities: he taketh pleaſure in you, and refreſhes (as it were) himſelf with you; he cannot endure to ſee you ſlight and forget him, or to ſuffer your minds and affections to depart from him; he delights in you, and in his love to, or loving of you; and the like he doth in your love to, or loving of him. The more you love him, the more be ſure, he will unboſome himſelf, and open unto you the hidden Treaſures of his love, Prov. 8.21. For his great love to you, cauſes him to deſire, and call for love from you.
Seventhly. You have the priviledge and great dignity of Adoption. You were Ʋagabous and Miſerable Beggars, caſt out to the loathing of your Perſons. None pitied you, or took you in, none hearkned to you, nor cared for you, neither had you any hand ſtretched out to help you, until you came to the Lords door. But there you found compaſſion and mercy, there you found proviſion ready for you. You knockt but once there, before the the Lord of Glory came himſelf and opened the door to you, and invited you into his houſe. He haſtned to bring the Fatted Calf, and called for his beſt Robes, took off your filthy Rags, and put o… his own Garments of Grace, Righteouſneſs and holyneſs on you: then he writ his own name on you, and Stampt divine nature upon you, and made you beautiful and deſirable. He gave you a new name when he made you new Creatures, which is your honour and glory, and the he ſaid of, and unto you, Theſe ſhall be my ſons and daughters, 2 Cor. 6. ult. And hence forth he accounts and calls them ſo. Theſe are my Sons and my Daughters, which I have formed for my ſelf and taken into my houſe and family; Ezek. 16.20. Iſa. 43.21. For they are my firſt born. They were born for and unto me, as in that of Ezekiel, I have appointed, and ordained them to live in my houſe as my Sons and Daughters, and they ſhall go no more out, or returne to their former eſtate again. For they muſt abide with me for ever: For the Son (though not the Servant) abideth for ever, in his Fathers houſe or family, as the Son of ſuch a Father, Joh. 8.35. I have (ſays God) put in their names, their new names, for, and intituled them unto an Eternal Inheritance, Coll. 1.12. Heb. 9.15. Eph. 1.11.14. 1 Pet. 1.4. I have made them my heirs, yea, joynt heirs with my Chriſt, whom I have given to be the heir of all things, Heb. 1.2. Rom. 8.17. Theſe ſhall in due time be put into the poſſeſſion of their Inheritance, for it is reſerved in heaven for them, and I will keep them for it, 1 Pet. 1.4.5. and in the mean time, they have and ſhall keep in their hands (their hearts) the Earneſt and firſt fruits of it, namely, the holy Spirit of Promiſe. He is the Spirit of adoption to and in them, Rom. 8.14.15. Gal. 4.5. by, and as working and fitting them for it, and the meetening them to live as Children in their heavenly Fathers houſe, and to demean themſelves there as they ought to do. So likewiſe to Seal up and confirm their Inheritance to them, and bear witneſs to the reallity and Truth of it, namely, that there is ſuch an Inheritance reſerved for them, and that they are appointed for, and choſen to it: and alſo to the Truth and faithfulneſs of God who hath promiſed it, Rom. 8.16. Eph. 1.13.14. In their Scriptures, he is called a witneſſer and a Sealer: Now to what doth he Seal and witneſs? but to the hearts and faith of the adopted, that there is ſuch an Inheritance entailed on them that they ſhall poſſeſs and enjoy it, and to th… faithfulneſs, Truth, and Alſufficiency of God, who hath promiſed it, and muſt do it for them, Beſides this, there is another priviledge in you adoption, which is your boldneſs and Intimacy with your God and Father, notwithſtanding the Infinite diſtance that there is between you and him: which you have mentioned in Gal. 4.6. And becauſe ye are Sons, God hath ſent fo… the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, Crying, Ab… Father. And in Rom. 8.15. but ye have received … Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. That is, we may now, in and by your Adoption and the Spirit thereof in our hearts, conve… familiarly, Intimately, and boldly with God through Jeſus Chriſt. We may draw near to … in full Aſſurance of Faith, as commanded, H… 10.22. And boldly, Heb. 4. ult. And that becauſe we are adopted Children in our Father houſe, and can come to, and converſe in, wi… and by the Spirit of Adoption, with our Go… and Father. You ſhall forever be fed at you… Fathers, and eat at his Table with him, … he will make all ſorts of Spiritual proviſi… for you, becauſe you are his adopted Ch… dren, and in his houſe. You ſhall for ever … upon no worſer fare, than the Bread of … that came down from heaven, Joh. 6. And y… …all for ever Drink of the Rivers of his pleaſures, …ely, of the Fountain of Life, Pſal. 36.8. and … ſhall never want. You are in an adopted …e, and may expect all proviſions from him … hath Adopted you, for he will not deny you any good thing, nor fail to make ready for … your daily bread. Therefore look on … great dignity and Priviledge of yours, apply it to your ſelves, ſuck out all the mar…ow and ſweetneſs of it, and comfort your ſelves with it, to the enabling and encouraging you in your Wilderneſs Journy, work a…d condition. You know it ſo amongſt men …th reſpect to worldly Inheritances. Such as are entayled or entitled to them, will often think on them, and comforting themſelves in …ope of poſſeſſing and enjoying the good of …em after a few years. Why, do you ſo, …uch more. For your Inheritance, to which you are Adopted, is a much more glorious, certain, and rich Inheritance than any worldly one can be, and it is an Incorruptible and …ternal Inheritance, that you are entituled to. The Lord Jeſus, the Elder Brother and Heir, is gone to take poſſeſſion of your Inheritances for you, who are Regenerated, and made by Adoption fellow Heirs of Salvation.
8. Ʋnion and Communion. You are Ʋnited to Chriſt, and made one Body with him, or you are Members of his Body, of his Fleſh, and of his …es, Eph. 5.30. as you heard before, and therefore ſhall not inſiſt on it here. This Union is expreſt, and ſet forth unto us, by many things. As by natural Ʋnions that are between the Head and Members in the Natural Body, Eph. 5.23. Eph. 1.22, 23. Eph. 4.15. by the natural union and oneneſs that is between the Vine and Branches, Joh. 15.1, 2, 4, 5. ſo alſo between Voluntary and Conjugal Relations, as Husband and Wife, Eph. 5. Friends and Friends, John 15. Now from this Union flows Communion of Perſons and Eſtates. What the Lord Jeſus hath is theirs, and whatever they have is Chriſts. Chriſt is theirs, and all his fulneſs and Riches theirs; he can withhold … good thing from them, neither doth he account any thing he hath, to be ſo his own, but that they have a kind of propriety and Intereſt in it, and may claim it of him. What he hath received of his Father, it was for them; he depoſited all their ſtock and Portion in his hand, that he might impart and communicate it … them, which he doth, and will do, and th… moſt faithfully, carefully, wiſely, and ſeaſonbly. For this end he gives them free and … acceſs to him, and invites them not to be ſtra… gers to him, but come and apply themſelve… freely and conſtantly to him, and ask of … what they will, John 14.13, 14. John 15.…. John 16. All which he holds forth to the… in and by the hand of Promiſes. Ask what y… will, and it ſhall be done to you, John 15.7. Jo… 16.24. In like manner, Regenerate Men … open hearted to Chriſt (in degree) they … willingly deſign and dedicate their all to … All their love and affections; all their ſtren… and abilities; and all their earnings and … tings, They give him their ſervice and … age, their hearts, hands, and Souls, and the fruits of their experiences of his Grace and love to them. Chriſt and they do Viſit one mother in the Galleries, and in their Cloſets. There they do unboſome themſelves, and open the ſecrets of their hearts to each other; This is another of your great Dignities and Priviledges. But having ſpoken ſomething of this before, I ſhall ſay no more of it here. You ſhould conſider this Truth, and make the beſt of it you can.
9. You are priviledged and dignified with the holy Angels Guard and Attendance. They are by nature more noble and excellent Creatures then you, and yet they wait on you, and keep guard round about you night and day. They love and honour you, and are ready to do you any ſervice they can; and you are greatly engaged to them for the honour and ſervice they do you. They do you much good, for they are Miniſtering Spirits, ſent forth to Miniſter unto the Heirs of Salvation, ſuch as you are: they ſecure you from, and guard you againſt Devils, and they ſupport and uphold you in, and with their hands, Heb. 1. ult. Pſal. 91 10, 11. Pſal. 34.7. Math. 4. When you are Journying, they go with you, and when you lie down, they watch at your Beds-ſide. The holy Angels rejoyce in and with you, Luk. 15.7, 10. They are glad at your Regeneration and Salvation, and they no way envy your proſperity, or diſdain your ſervice as below them. Whatever they do for you, they do it freely, faithfully, chearfully, and with delight. Thus you ſee what you are born to, and what Dignities and Priviledges are conferred on you, and do attend your New ſtates and conditions. Apply them to your ſelves, and lay them near your hearts, lodge them in your minds, and realize them to your ſelves, for they are yours, and do belong to you, as you are New Creatures, or in a ſtate of Grace. Uſe them as Divine Cordials, and drink freely of them continually, to ſtrengthen and encourage your hearts and hands in the work of the Lord. For it is your Fathers will you ſhould ſo do, becauſe he knows you need them, and gives them into your hands, for theſe ends and purpoſes. And now what follows, but that you endeavour to walk worthy of your new State, Priviledges, and Dignities: Which will be the matter of the next Chapter.