A Memorial of Gods Judgment, Sermons · Sermon 2

A Memorial of Gods Judgment · Sermons · Sermon 2

THE REMEDIE OF NATURAL Corruption.

Being A SERMON ON Rom. vii. xxv. I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.

p. 33Rom. vii. xxv.

I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.

THeſe words are an Anſwer to a ſad Queſtion: the Queſtion is in the words foregoing, — Who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death? v. 24. That is, from natural corruption, the guilt and the dominion and Power of it: This Apoſtle was at an utter loſs in himſelf, and as to all others, and then God revealed an able Phyſician to him, as theſe words of my Text tell us.—I thank God, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.

Chriſt is revealed to Sinners, which diſpair of all help in themſelves, or in any other Creature; Such will thank God for him, as here this wretched Man doth. Mr. Rutherford p. 34ſpeaketh, of a ſorrow that hath no eyes. This Apoſtle's ſorrow was ſuch, for a time. Wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from the body of this death? He knew not of any delive…er, and then God became eyes to the blind, and helped the ſorrowful ſinner, and the blind ſinner to eyes, to ſee a Saviour, and an All-ſufficient one.—I thank God, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.

When Iſaac was at a loſs for an offering, and Abraham alſo, when the ſorrow of both had no eyes, God was ſight and help to them both. Here is the wood▪ but where is the Sacrifice, i. e. One to die? My Son, God will provide. And he did ſo. Donatum non petitum gratius eſt, ſaith the Civilian. A gift not asked, is the moſt free. So did God provide that offering for Iſaac, and ſo did he provide this offering, for this Apoſtle, and wretched Man, and ſo he doth for every wretched Man which hath the benefit of him, he is Donatum non petitum, to every fallen Son of Adam, that is raiſed by him, He was found of him that asked not after him.

2Secondly, This may be further obſerved in theſe words, That God doth not barely ſhew us the means of our good, the proper means of our Souls good, but enable us to make effectual uſe of them to that end. If I ſhould paraphraſe upon this Text, it would be to this effect. Wretched man, I am burdened much with a body of ſin and death, which is ſo heavy p. 35that I think oft▪ it will one time or other ſink me to the loweſt Hell: and I am as helpleſs as to all …thers, as impotent and miſerable in my ſelf. O doubly wretched man that I am, and am like to be, who will, who can deliver me? Yet I have ſome help ſhewed to me I thank God, but no body elſe he hath in my blinde and wretched conditi…n, ſhewed me an able Phyſician, by name. Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, anointed and allowed under his own hand, to help all ſuch wretched Creatures as I am, and he doth enable me to make uſe of him to my burdened Souls eaſe and reſt. This Scripture and ſuch like ſhew, that there is full and effectual relief for all burdened ſinners, who are ready to ſink under the burden of their ſin and miſery.

Doct. The Doctrin which I obſerve to proſecute from theſe words, is this, That Chriſt is the proper remedy of natural corruption. I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt, &c. He whom God the Father hath ſealed, ſanctified, and ſent into this World for this end, to Cure natural corrup…ion, is, Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, as the Apoſtle here calls him. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, becauſe he hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek, he hath ſent me to bind up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty unto the Captives, and the opening of the Priſon to them that are bound, Iſa. 61.1. By Captives, and ſuch as are in Priſon, is meant ſinners in p. 36their unregenerated condition, who are under the power and ſlavery of ſin, and carried Captive by the evil one at his will; and by broken hearted and poor, he means ſuch as are deeply affected and afflicted with the body of death, natural corruption, in the guilt and pollution of it; theſe is Chriſt anointed with the Spirit of the Lord, to relieve and help, to bind them up, and all their wounds and putrified ſoares, and to heal them; and to preach liberty to them, and to bring them into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God; and ſuch as are ſhut up under the power of ſin and Satan, as in a Priſon, to break down theſe ſtrong holds, and to open the everlaſting Doors to himſelf, the King of Glory, to make a Priſon a Palace, a Slave a Son, and Heir with him of all; with this compare, Iſa. 32.2. And a man ſhall be a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempeſt, as Rivers of Water in a dry place, as the ſhadow of a great Rock in a weary Land, and the eyes of them that ſee ſhall not be dim, and the eares of them that hear ſhall hearken, the heart alſo of the raſh ſhall underſtand knowledge, and the Tongue of the ſtammerer ſhall be ready to ſpeak plainly. Men in their natural condition may be in a calm; as long as the ſtrong Man ruleth, all is at peace; but theſe will be in a tempeſt, and a terrible one, firſt or laſt, when their Conſciences come to be convinced, as the Apoſtles here was. And p. 37then who is able? and who is appointed to allay theſe ſtorms? To this the Prophet anſwers.—A man ſhall be a hiding place, and a covert from wind and rain: but, ſo a Man, that he is alſo God, or elſe he could do nothing at theſe winds and ſtorms. That theſe things are thus ſpiritually to be underſtood, appears by the next words, v. 3, 4. And the eyes of them that ſee ſhall not be dim, &c. So that it means heart-ſtorms and tempeſt, and heart-help, and Chriſt God-Man, that is to be the helper, and the great Covert in theſe ſtorms and tempeſts, and the great Rock for ſhade, where the poor Soul is ſo ſcorched with the heat of God's wrath, that he is ready to faint and die. Blindneſs, and deafneſs, and raſhneſs, they all ſpeak one thing, the ill ſtate we are in by nature, blind, deaf, dumb, and yet raſh, and mad, and confident enough, and the Man Chriſt Jeſus, who is called Emanuel God with us, he is the appointed curer of all theſe Maladies.

This is a proof of the Point in hand in general: I will deſcend to particulars of our fallen ſtate, and ſhew you that Chriſt is the appointed and proper remedy, of all the diſeaſes of our Souls. There are three things complain'd of, and ſuppoſed, in the Apoſtles complaint in my Text, one is a body of death, that is, our natural depraved ſtate, which is the filth of ſin.

p. 38Secondly, He complains of the Body of this Death, that is, the obligation of ſin, to the wrath of God, temporal and eternal, which we call the guilt of ſin: Theſe two are expreſſed in his complaint. Now there is a third thing ſuppoſed, in theſe complaints of a bad ſtate, which is, that he would fain have a better, or elſe he would not have complained of this, no more than other unregenerated Sinners do. Now as to all theſe three, Chriſt is the proper and appointed remedy and relief, of miſerable and wretched Man.

1Firſt, As to the Body of Death, (i e.) as to the fi…th of ſin, the depravation of our nature, of which I ſpake in the other Sermon, Chriſt is the remedy of this, root and branch; ſee Iſa. 51.9, 10, 11. Awake, awake, put on ſtrength, O Arm of the Lord, Awake as in the ancient days, in the Generations of old, Art thou not it, that hath cut Rahab? and wounded the Dragon? Art thou not it which haſt dryed up the Sea, and the Waters of the great deep, that haſt made the depths of the Sea a way for the ranſomed to paſs over? Therefore the redeemed of the Lord ſhall return, and come with ſinging unto Zion, and everlaſting joy ſhall be upon their head, and they ſhall obtain gladneſs and joy, and ſorrow and mourning ſhall flee away. Now, put all theſe borrowed words into plain Engliſh, and what deep muſt this mean, the drying p. 39up of which maketh the way to Zion, where everlaſting joy is obtained? This deep muſt neceſſarily mean, the bottomleſs Gulf of natural corruption, ſhadowed fitly by the deep, that hath in many parts no bottom; and as Chriſt was he that went before our Fathers, and dryed up that deep Sea, and made it a way to go through to Zion, and to the holy Land: So it is he that dryeth up the deep Sea of ſin in our nature, and ſo maketh way to the holy ſtate and the holy Church the true Zion, in which is everlaſting joy. Now foraſmuch, as corrupt nature, puts forth under ſome chief head and grand luſt, which is as King to all the Ch…ldren of pride, as Pharaoh and his Princes to all the Body of Egypt; Who fighteth againſt theſe? Anſ. Chriſt: He is remedy for root and branch of the Body of Death. Art not thou it which hath cut Rahab, and wounded the head of the Dragon? The Prophet ſpeaketh ſtill in alluſion to Pharaoh, and his Princes, which he calls, Crok…dile, or Dragon, that is, a Sea-Dragon, wherewith Egypt abounded. This Sea of natural corruption hath ſome Sea-Dragons, great Soul-devouring Monſters ſwimming and playing in it; And, who deals with theſe? Anſ. He that dries up the deep, that is, Chriſt. Art not thou he that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the head of the Dragon? This Text leadeth us by the hand, to that firſt promiſe made to Adam.—The Seed of the p. 40Woman ſhall break the Serpents head, which means our ſtate of ſin, as headed and organiſed by Satan, through any particular prevailing luſt whatſoever, our ſtate of ſin is there ſpoken of, as headed by Satan, who organiſeth the old man, as Chriſt doth the new. And this ſurely is that great ſlaughter, and the Towers falling, which the Prophet eſpecially pointeth at, upon the fall of which, the light of the Moon becometh as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun as ſeven days, Iſa. 30.26. For the ſaith, they ſhall be truly penitent, and caſt away their Idols, i.e. their deareſt luſts, as a menſtruous cloath, ſaying. Get ye hence, verſ. 22. And the ſlaughters of all our Idols, and the Mould wherein they are caſt, to wit, our corrupt nature, theſe are the great ſlaughters, and high imaginations, and proud affections boiling over, yet ſubdued, theſe are the high Towers and ſtrong Holds falling, It was Chriſt that ſaid to Man and Woman, Let them have dominion over-the Fiſh in the Sea, and Fowls in the Heavens, and over all the Works of God's hands. So it is Chriſt that ſaith to fallen man, let him have dominion over ſin, and Satan that leads it, let it be by what cunning ſtrong temptation ſoever, let him rule over the Devil, and all the works of his hands, and let him put all under his Feet.

2Secondly, As to the body of this death, i.e. as to the guilt of ſin, that whereby as p. 41a Tranſgreſſor of God's will, Man ſtands bound over to the Judgment of the great Day, to Eternal wrath and condemnation; Chriſt is the proper remedy as to this alſo, to cancil every bond and hand-writing of the Law and Conſcience againſt us, and to make us ſtand ſpotleſs before the Throne of the great and moſt Holy God: See Zech. 13.1. In that Day there ſhall be a Fountain opened to the Houſe of David, and to the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, for ſin, and for uncleanneſs. By ſin is meant guilt, which Chriſt taketh away by his blood; and uncleanneſs, means the filth of our corrupt nature, which Chriſt purgeth by his Spirit, which is a Spirit of Judgment and Burning: Of this I have ſpoken in the laſt head I was upon; I have now only to ſhew you, that Chriſt cureth the body of this death, that is, the guilt which we continually contract by our corrupt ſtate, and the obligation which this maketh to the wrath of God, both in this World, and in the World to come, and ſetteth us in favour above. That Chriſt doth this for fallen Man; ſee Dan. 9.24 Seventy week… are determined upon thy People, and upon thy holy City, to finiſh the tranſgreſſion, and to make an end of ſin, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlaſting righteouſneſs, and to ſeal up the Viſion and the Propheſie, &c. And to anoint the moſt Holy, &c: By the Tranſgreſſion here mentioned, is p. 42meant, the Jews killing of Chriſt, and wiſhing his blood upon them, and by ſealing up the Viſion, and the Propheſie, means the accompliſhing of what God had ſhewed this Prophet, and other Prophets, concerning the Incarnation and death of Chriſt. At ſuch a time he ſhall come in Man's nature, and at ſuch a time he ſhall die, and by his death make an end of wickedneſs, that is, as to the reigning power of it, and as to the obliging power of it: For, as if this Prophet had ſaid, He ſhall by his death ſatisfie the Juſtice of God, and dying as ſuch a ſpotleſs Lamb and Sacrifice, as one that hath fulfilled all God's wills, as one indeed after his own heart, he ſhall impute all this as theirs who ſhall believe on him, and ſo procure their pardon, the favour of God, and an everlaſting righteouſneſs, and well-pleaſingneſs before God, and ſo make an end of guilt utterly, that if it be ſought for, it ſhall no where be found. The Apoſtle Peter alſo confirmeth this that Chriſt cureth the body of this death, i. e the guilt of fin; For Chriſt ſuffered once for ſin, the Juſt for the unjuſt, that he might bring us to God, 1 Pet. 3.12. That he might bring us to God: that is, That he might reconcile us to, and bring us into favour with God.

3Thirdly, It is ſuppoſed by the complaint of this wretched ſtate, that the Apoſtle p. 43would have a better: His complaint of ſin and depravation, and the loſs of God's Image, ſuppoſeth that he would have holineſs, and God's Image loſt reſtored: now as to this alſo, Chriſt is the proper remedy, as to deſtroy the old Man, ſo to reſtore the new; as it is he that binde, the ſtrong man, and ſpoileth all his goods, ſo it is he that creates the new man, which after God is created in righteouſneſs and true holineſs. He that ſanctifieth, and they that are ſanctified, are all one, for which cauſe he is not aſhamed to call them Brethren, Heb. 2.11. He it is that ſanctifieth, and we are they which are ſanctified, and all this is of one; by the ſame Blood and Spirit by which as ſuch an undertaker of our ſin, he ſanctified himſelf, by the merit and efficacy of the ſame he ſanctifieth us, who are not ſinners meerly by imputation and deputation, as he was, but inherently. Chriſt's Blood and Spirit is the Laver of regeneration, and the Fullers Soap that maketh us white, and changeth our black-more skin. The Earth was without form, and vo…d, [tohu, bohu,] and the Spirit of Chriſt fluttered upon it, and brought it in a little time to ſuch a glorious new thing, than what it was in its firſt Creation. So it is the ſame Spirit of Chriſt, that fluttereth upon our Souls, which by nature are ano…her Chaos, and maketh them a new Creation. To this I think the Apoſtle p. 44pointeth, 2 Cor. 4.6. From whom I borrow this Metaphor. But God who cauſes the light to ſhine out of darkneſs, &c. It was to Chriſt that the Father ſpake, Come, let us make Man in our Image; and it is he and the Father that work hitherto by the Holy Ghoſt, that ſpeak one to another; Come, let us quicken this dead Soul, and make him ſtand up from the dead, and bear our Name in his Forehead, our ſimilitude and likeneſs. When the Prophet Ezekiel had ſaid, that David ſhould be their Prince for ever, meaning Chriſt, he further ſaith, in the Perſon of this David, to wit, Chriſt, — The Heathen ſhall know that I the Lord do ſanctifie Iſrael, when my Sanctuary ſhall be in the midſt of them for ever more, Ezek. 37.25.28. compared; It is this Zerubbabel's hand, that laid the Foundation, and it is his hand that finiſheth it, and therefore the charge is, that none deſpiſe the little ſmall beginings of it, though never ſo ſmall. As Chriſt can remove guilt and filth in one day, which is much rubbiſh indeed: So he can make a new Creature as ſoon, if he pleaſe. He made the Thief a new man quickly, and carried him to Heaven with Him that Day, He made Him, and finiſhed Him, and Houſed Him, and all in a Day; He made but a Days work; nay, but a few Houres work to finiſh Grace and Glory.

p. 45Theſe things of the new ſtate doth Chriſt, and ſo as not to be undone. He ſhall not fail, or be diſcouraged, till he have ſet Judgment in the Earth, and the Iles ſhall wait for his Law, Iſa. 42, 4. There be many diſcouraging things, in the removal of natural corruption, as in any work I know, enough to quench the Spirit of Chriſt quite, but it ſeemeth, that he is under ſuch a Law; and ſuch an aſſiſtance from the Father, that he muſt know no diſcouragement, but muſt on with the work againſt all oppoſition, and ſet and eſtabliſh judgment, that is, the ſtate of the new Creature, or the work of grace; he muſt make the new Creature, and he muſt eſtabliſh it, i. e. ſo make it, that it may never be marred again, as the Image of God in the firſt Adam was. Christ threw out filth ſo, that the Devil cannot eaſily fetch it in again. And Chriſt build ſo upon himſelf the Chief corner Stone, and firm Rock, that no ſtormes can overturn, Job is a great inſtance. The Apoſtle ſaith, That Charity never faileth; If our love never fail, it is becauſe that God's love to us in Chriſt, never faileth. The love of Chriſt is unchangeable, and ſo he maketh ours, that much water cannot quench it. Chriſt ordains us to bring forth much fruit, and our fruit to remain, Joh. 15.16. When Polycarp was ſet on an Aſs, and carried to his doom, he heard a voice from Heaven, p. 46ſaying, be of good chear, O Polycarp, and play the Man, the Speaker no Man ſaw, but the voice was heard by many of us, ſaith the Hiſtory. And if any one did play the Man in his ſuffering, he did. Have reſpect to thine age, tender thy life; ſwear by the fortune of Caeſar: repent of what is paſt, and ſay remove the wicked. But he looking about with a ſtedfaſt countenance upon the wicked Multitude, ſaid, Remove O Lord theſe wicked. — Fourſcore and ſix years have I ſerved Chriſt, and he never offended me in any thing; And, how then can I revile my King, that hath thus kept me? The pro-conſul ſtill urged him, but he ſtill as ſtoutly reſiſted him, and replyed, I am a Chriſtian; and there was no turning of him with all that they could ſay or do. The firſt Work of grace in our firſt Parents was loſt, but the grace we now have by Chriſt, eating of that Tree of Life, is preſerved for ever, and none can pluck out of his hand.

Secondly, Chriſt doth this excellent work of the new Creature, alone. But now once in the end of the World, hath he appeared to put away ſin by the Sacrifice of himſelf, Heb. 9.26▪ What ſacrifices ſoever have been uſed, they did not mean, that any could remove Man's guilt or filth, but all pointed at Chriſt the ſacrificing of himſelf, and that this, and this alone, is the remedy of fallen p. 47and ſinful Man. He trod the Wine preſs of the wrath of God alone, and of the People none with him, Iſa. 63.3. David duell'd it with Goliah, and had nothing but a contemptible weapon, a Sling, and a Stone. And ſo Chriſt duell'd it, with all the Enemies of Man's ſalvation, and had nothing but a contemptible weapon, a body ſubject to infirmities. Chriſt would not put any of this work, out of his own hands to be done, — Who his own ſelf bare our ſins, in his own body on the Tree, that we being dead to ſin ſhould live to righteouſneſs, by whoſe ſtripes we are healed, 1 Pet. 2.24. Chriſt had none to help him, to bear the Croſs which God laid on him, though he had one to help bear the Croſs, which Men laid on him. The weight of our ſins, as puniſhed with infinite wrath and torment; Alaſs, who could bear this Croſs? or be compelled to it? and yet all the damned are compelled to bear this Croſs, and ſo will all reprobates. As in one part of our reſtoration, Chriſt was alone, ſo in all the parts of it, foundation and top-ſtone he layeth both alone, and none of the People with him. — None offered to him firſt, not laſt. Look to Abraham your Father, and to Sarah that bare you, for I called him alone, and increaſed him and bleſſed him, Iſa. 51.2. I think the ſcope of this Scripture, was to ſtrengthen faith, that though they were but few, yet that God was able to deliver them p. 48from all their Enemies, as he did Abraham in a very lonely ſtate in Canaan, from the Kings that fought with him. But take the place more ſpiritually and ſtrictly, for Gods calling of him out of the ſtate of Heatheniſme, and ſo the bringing him to a ſtate of grace, the bringing him to a new Country and Religion and State, all this God did for Abraham alone, and ſubdued all his inward enemies alone; and made him an Heir of Eternal Salvation, alone. God would truſt Abraham's beſt eſtate with none, but himſelf. I deſire but this, (ſaith Mr. Rutherford) that Chriſt would take me in hand to cure me, and undertake for a ſick man, I know I ſhould not die under his hand, ſorrow which hath no eyes, hath put a Vail upon my Soul, that I cannot ſee him. If Christ undertake a ſick ſinners cure, let his diſeaſe be what it will, never ſo deſperate, never ſo long ſtanding, he cureth him without any more Phyſicians, and none die under his hand.

3Thirdly, Chriſt doth this great ſervice for Man, of making a better ſtate, freely; for Jew and Gentile, for great ſinners and little ſinners, (if there be any ſuch) Chriſt doth all freely: He cured Naman, that his skin came, as if it had been the skin of a young Child, and did it for nothing, though a very rich Man, and would have given much for his Cure. Our Fathers had Manna p. 49from Heaven, and Phyſick the brazen Serpent, which cured them and ſupported them for nothing, and all that was Chriſt. The Manna that fed them was Chriſt, the Serpent that healed them was Chriſt,—Where there is neither Greek, nor Jew, circumciſion, nor uncircumciſion, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Chriſt is all, and in all, Col. 3.11. In all ſorts, Jews and Gentiles, Chriſt works for the Cure of natural corruption, and doth many Cures of this kind, but takes nothing, no mony, nor monys worth, he curſed Gehazi that would be medling this way. The Samaritan poured in Oil and Wine, and healed the wounded Man of all his wounds, and all freely. And ſo brought the Prophet's Widdow out of debt freely; ſuch Samaritans are now much wanting for Prophets Widdows in debt; and he frankly forgave a Debtor many Talents. GOD lookt upon every of the Five Days Work, and ſaid it was good: But, on the Sixth Days Work, when he had made Man, he beheld, and ſaid it was very good, to ſhew what ſpecial delight God had to make his own Image, and to draw his own likeneſs in Man; ſo doth Chriſt ſtill not only do this work of reſtoring fallen Man, and do it for nothing, but delights to conform us to his Image, and when this Days work is done for any wretched Man, he ſaith, it is very good, and all the Angels rejoyce with him.

p. 50Ʋſe 1 Learn from hence, that our Soul-ruines, and miſeries by our Fall, are very great, in that none but Chriſt God-man, is able to remedy them. 'Tis a ſtrong Priſon, that which none can open but Chriſt, which hath an Arm like God Omnipotent. By the which he went and preached to the Spirits in Priſon, 1 Pet. 3.19 It is a very ſtrong Priſon, and very filthy, in which we are by nature, and who can go into this Priſon to preach there, but Chriſt? The Doors are all Iron, and Iron-bars and Bolts upon them. If any one could go into theſe Priſons and preach, 'twould have ſpoken the ſtate the leſs deplorable, but for as much as none can, but Chriſt himſelf, it ſpeaks the Priſon in which man is by nature, very ſtrong and terrible. 'Tis a great heap of filth, and a very great Dung-hill indeed, which all the Carts in the World imployed about at once, could not carry away, no none but an Infinite ſtrength. Then was a fiery Sword turning every way to keep out Adam from the Garden, and from communion with God, and from eating of the Tree of Life, the Seal thereof; and ſurely this miſery of Man is great upon him, and this fiery Sword terrible, that none can ſheath it, and take it away, and bring Man into Paradiſe again, and communion with God, but the Omnipotent Power of Chriſt. If any could have taken away that brandiſhed p. 51Sword; or, if an Angel from Heaven could have done it, and have taken Adam by the hand, and have brought him into the Garden of delights, i.e. of communion with God, the miſery had not been ſo great. They are great and fearful diſeaſes, which none in this World can cure, no nor none in that World above, though much more populous than this, but one even Chriſt himſelf. Let the Inhabitants of the Rock ſing, let them ſhout from the top of the Mountains, Iſa. 42.11. This is ſpoken of them that lived in the Wilderneſs of Arabia, among Stones and Rocks, (Iſhmael's Poſterity) where nothing but wild Beaſts and Devils haunt, the Inhabitants were like the Country they dwelt in, their Hearts, Rocks and Mountains, and Legions of Devils, and curſed Spirits haunting them. Now, O how mighty muſt he be, that drives a Wilderneſs! How mighty muſt he be that bids or commands the Inhabitants of theſe hard Rocks, to ſing and melt with joy?

2Secondly, Learn that we are much obliged to Chriſt, and God, for laying the help of ſuch deſperate Diſeaſes on one ſo mighty. The Apoſtle John wept, that there was none found worthy to open the Book, nor to read it, nor to look thereon, and he wept much; and when one was found out, how the tone is changed! They that wept much rejoyced p. 52much, and ſung a new Song, ſaying, Thou are worthy to take the Book, and to open the Seals thereof, for thou waſt ſlain, and haſt redeemed us to God with thy Blood out of every Tongue, and Kindred, and haſt made us to our God, Kings and Prieſts, Rev. 5.4.9. The opening not only of one Book, but of all the Scriptures, and the heart too, much weeping there is among ſinners about this, and none is found worthy, that is, anointed and accepted of God to this ſervice but Chriſt, and he hath bought his skill dear, with his own heart blood, he was ſlain to get this art and ability.—Worthy art thou to receive Power, &c. for thou waſt ſlain: And being thus, how much are we bound to this Phyſician for our eyes, and for his eye-ſalve, as to the light of the Scriptures, and the way to any good, which we have! I will bring the blind by a way that they know not, I will lead them in Paths which they have not known, I will make darkneſs light, and crooked things ſtraight, this will I do and not forſake them; And who this is by whom God will do this, ſee Iſa. 42.6.16. compared, namely Chriſt. To lead a blind Body from place to place, and to do ſo all Day long, all the Year long, yea all the Life long, and never to be weary, how wonderfully is Man obliged to Chriſt and to God, that hath given him to ſuch a work! Who is not tier'd to lead a blind Body a Day?

p. 53Thirdly, Learn that it is dangerous to reject Chriſt, becauſe he is the appointed and proper remedy of our fallen ſtate. There is no other Name given under Heaven, whereby we can be ſaved, but by the Name of Chriſt. As there is but one Faith, one Baptiſme, ſo there is but one Lord, Epheſ. 3.5, There being no more Doors to go out from our filthy ſtate, we had need to take heed, that we do not neglect it, the ſhame of our nakedneſs will by ſuch a courſe appear,The marſhy places will not be drained or healed. Ezeh 47.11. i.e. we ſhall remain unhealed, and die in our ſinful ſtate, our ſin will remain: Ye are come to Mount Zion, not to Mount Zina, and to Jeſus the Mediator of the New-Teſtament, and to the Blood of Sprinkling; which ſpeaketh better things than the blood of Abel, See then that ye refuſe not Him that ſpake. Moſes was a Mediator of the old Covenant, and could do little; Chriſt is the Mediator of the new Covenant, and can do all the Services of our fallen ſtate, and fulfill the great and precious promiſes of the New-Teſtament to us. He that rejected that Mediator which ſpake on Earth, died for it, Heb. 12.25. How much more will they who reject this Mediator, which now ſpeaketh from Heaven to us. If Chriſt be only he which bleſſeth us, and turneth Jew and Gentile from their ſins; and God hath only raiſed him from the dead, for this end, to bring Salvation from afar, and we reject p. 54all, it cannot be taken well, either by God the Father, or by Chriſt his Son. Ʋnto you firſt God having raiſed up his Son, hath ſent him to bleſs you, in turning every one of you from his iniquity, Act. 3.26. As if the Apoſtle had ſaid, God hath been at great coſt and pains, to part with his only Son to die, and then to raiſe him from the dead, and all for this end to bleſs you Jews, and to turn you firſt, and then the Gentiles, from their ſins, and ſo to make them and you eternally happy; If you ſhall reject all this love of God, and love of his Son, it will fall heavy, he will conſter it, that you have no mind to be turned from your ſins, but to continue in them, and ſo you ſhall for ever, and die and periſh in them.—He that is filthy ſhall be filthy ſtill.

Ʋſe 2 Try your ſelves, Is Chriſt become actually yet a remedy to you? Hath he delivered you from the body of this death? Then as you have long groaned under the want of it, ſo you are much taken with the mercy, in any meaſure obtained; with the freeneſs of it, that the Waters which cleanſe you ſhould come to you, through ſuch a golden Pipe, as the Blood and Wounds of Chriſt.—I thank God [through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord.] The Apoſtle is much taken with this, that the Pipes of his cleanſing, ſhould be laid through the ſides of Jeſus Chriſt, ſo p. 55coſtly a conveyance, both as to God, and as to his Son, but of none as to him. I thank God all is in a good way of cure now, through Jeſus Chriſt. Donatum ob cauſam, non eſt donatum, ſed potius permutatio. A gift given for ſome cauſe, is not a gift, but rather an exchange of one thing for another: but when very coſtly in it ſelf, and yet of no coſt to us, then it ſparkles in the eyes of the receiver; ſuch a gift is Christ, in this great work of the cure of our carnal ſtate, And doth the freeneſs of this love ſparkle in your eyes? and lay bonds upon you, and make you go bound with holy affection and admiration. No man that was ever cured of a deſperate diſeaſe, wherein he gave himſelf up for death, but it was much obliging to him, as to the inſtruments uſed for his Cure. Naaman the Syrian thought himſelf bound to chooſe the God of Iſrael for his God, that had cured him of his Leproſie; If you be cured of your filthy Leproſie, which is Chriſt's Prieſtly work, and Kingly work too, your Cure is between them both; Do you chooſe him and own him for your Jeſus; and Lord, as the Apoſtle here doth? — I thank God, through Jeſus Christ our Lord. Chriſt by kindneſs conquers, as Jeptha did; If I do thus and thus for you, ſlay your Enemies, deliver you from ſlavery, Shall I be your King? And, will ye chuſe me to rule over p. 56you? and they conſented willingly. If Chriſt hath cured your Soul diſeaſes, then are you under the Law of this great kindneſs, and willing that he ſhould be your Lord, and to Rule you in all things according to his Word.

2Secondly, The Apoſtle was taken, as with the love of Chriſt, ſo with the love of the Father in this matter. I thank God; he hath found out a way to do me good, a new and living way through his Son: So the Apoſtle Peter, Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again, unto a lively hope, by the reſurrection of Christ from the dead, to an Inheritance incorruptible, 1 Pet. 1.3. He ſaw an abundant mercy in the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, as well as in the Son our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. That having no more Sons. ſhould part with him out of his Boſom, in Heaven, to lodge Him in a Manger; yea, worſe, to lodg Him in Hell: nay, in a Place worſe than that, the filthy heart of the fallen Sons of Adam. So the Apoſtle Paul again writing to the Epheſians, ſaith, But God who is rich in mercy for the great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in ſin and treſpaſſes, hath he quickned us together with Chriſt, that in the Ages to come he might ſhew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindneſs towards us, p. 57through Chriſt Jeſus, Epheſ. 2.4, 5, 6. He ſaw rich mercy, and great love, exceeding riches of grace in God, that by his own Son, and not by any lower hand, he ſhould quicken Men dead in treſpaſſes and ſins. And ſurely ſome thing of this is, where this great Work is wrought, a confeſſing that Jeſus is the Lord, To the glory of God the Father.

Ʋſe 3 The laſt Uſe is for Exhortation, ſeeing Chriſt is the proper remedy of our fallen ſtate, let this draw us to him, to attend his Word and Ordinances, and to attend the Angels ſtirring of theſe Waters. Chriſt doth open Priſon doors, and deliver Captives, but he doth it according to his Commiſſion. Now well obſerve the termes of his Commiſſion.Iſ. 61,Isa 61 The Lord God hath anointed me [to preach] good tidings to the meek. To which agrees, 1 Pet. 3.19. By the which alſo he went [to preach] to the Spirits in Priſon, which were diſobedient in the Days of Noah. Preaching, how lightly ſoever eſteemed, and how much ſoever oppoſed and ſuppreſſed, is the great Ordinance by which Chriſt frees Captives and Priſoners; and therefore this Ordinance, which is the moſt general Ordinance to convince and convert, ſhould carefully and tremblingly be attended upon. They that make light of preaching, make light of their own depraved ſtate, p. 58of their Captivity to ſin and Satan, theſe groan not with this Apoſtle under the body of death. Chriſt did create every day orderly by his Word, he could have done it without, but he did all as his Father appointed him, and did not Movere per ſaltum, make haſt and purſue his own will, or his own infinite and abſolute Power; ſo he doth in the new Creation, and therefore wait upon wiſdomes Poſts. — Whoſo is ſimple, let him turn in hither, where he will have Line upon Line▪ now a little and then a little, to touch and turn his heart. Preſently after the Creation was finiſhed, the Creator takes to himſelf the Title of Jehova, Gen. 2.4. Theſe are the Generations of the Heaven, and of the Earth, when they were created, in the Day that Jehova Eloim made the Heaven and the Earth. When you do approach to the Preaching of the Word, Remember this Name of Chriſt, that he is Jehova, and able to give Being to his Word, That what he bids you to be, that he makes you to be.

2Be exhorted when you attend Ordinances, to pant for this thing, that Chriſt as Jehova would Preach to you, as one giving Being in your heart, to every Word which he ſpeaketh in your Ear: That Chriſt would ſo ſpeak, that you might hear and believe all that he ſa…th, as they at Iconium, Act. 14.1. p. 59Take an Harp, go about the City, thou Harlot, that haſt been forgotten, make ſweet melody, ſing many Songs, that thou mayeſt be remembred, Iſa. 23.16. This ſpake the Lord to Tyrus, a filthy ſinful City, and their puniſhment fore-told, and the time for Seventy Years, and then counſelled to bemoan her ſelf, that ſhe might be remembred, and it is obſervable how holy bemoaning our ſelves is called, and holy panting for deliverance from the ſlavery of ſin and wrath, it is called ſweet melody, and ſinging many Songs; So indeed is ſuch panting under the body of death, and to be delivered from it, as here the Apoſtle doth. The mourning Doves note, under the ſenſe of our wretched ſtate, with a panting after Chriſt to cure it; no Muſick is ſuch melody in the Ears of God, to make him to remember us. Thus crie, and be ye all pained to be delivered.

Thirdly, Take to you words, and tell your great Phyſician how it is with you. 3And if you want words, help your ſelves with thoſe Epheſ. 4.18. This I ſay and teſtifie in the Lord, that ye walk not as other Gentiles, in the vanity of your minds, having your underſtandings darkned; being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in you, becauſe of the blindneſs of their heart, being paſt feeling, &c. Take up theſe words, and apply them to your own depraved p. 60condition, ſaying, O wretched man that I am, what a vain mind I have, and how I walk in the vanity of my mind all the Day, I know not at Night where my mind hath been all the Day, it hath been at this and at that, at the end of the Earth, but not in Heaven all the Day; Children run not more from one toy to another in their action, than I do in my thoughts and affections, and dwell upon nothing that is good ſcarce a moment. My underſtanding is darkned, I know not God, I know not his Son, I know not the Fathers Name, nor the Sons, I know not the Scriptures, both Teſtaments are a ſealed Book to me. I know not the Volume that is always open to me in my own Cloſet, I know not my ſelf, nor the deceit and guile that deſperately ſtirs in my heart continually. A vail is on my heart always as to all theſe neceſſary things to be known. And as my Eyes be boared out like Samſon's, as I have no knowledge, ſo I have leſs affection. I am wholly alienated from the Life of God, no ſpiritual life and heat in my heart, but as dead as Nabal; yea, not only a dead heart, but a ſtony heart, twice dead, ten times dead, nothing will make ſenſe, neither words nor blows, as if I were utterly paſt all capacity of feeling, as a Stone is. This is the poor and needy ſeeking Water, and finding none.

Fourthly, Then when you have thus told out your broken ſtory to your Phyſician, p. 614then caſt your ſelves upon Him, and tell him you do ſo. Honour his ability and all ſufficiency, to do as great Cures as yours is, though you have not faith enough to honour his willingneſs to undertake your caſe. So did the poor Leper.—Lord, if thou wilt I know thou art able to make me whole,— Me though a Leper; God thy Father hath highly exalted thee, and given thee a Name above every name, Power and ability above all to open Priſons, to lead Captivity Captive, to relieve the Poor, to bind up broken hearted: Thou canſt whip out all the Worldly luſts which ſwarm in my heart, all the mony-changing thoughts, and affections, which make my Soul common, and lean, and ill favoured. There be many great and precious Promiſes which God hath made, and the ſcope of them is, that I ſhould be cleanſed from all filthineſs of Fleſh and Spirit, and have a Divine and holy nature, given me, and thou O Chriſt art to make all theſe Promiſes, yea and Amen unto me, and art able to do it, if thou wilt, yea even in my very filthy Soul, Why then is it not done? Touching Chriſt's ability, ſee Gen. 2.5. And every Plant before it was in the Earth, and every Herb before it grew, for the Lord had not made it to rain, and there was not a Man to Till the ground. The meaning is, that Chriſt the Creator of all things, the Eternal Word by which the Father commanded p. 62all things to be, was not beholding to Nature or Art, to make any thing that was made, or to preſerve it when made; he made the Plants and Herbs before they were in the Earth, that is, he gave the Earth ſuch a formative Vertue, to ſhape ſuch Plants, and Flowers in her Womb, and then without Rain, or Man's Tillage and dreſſing, did he preſerve theſe, for Man nor Rain were not yet created, when theſe Plants and Herbs were actually in Beeing: by his bare Word did he both make all Plants and Herbs, and by the ſame bare Word, without Rain or Tillage of Man, did he make them grow and ſubſiſt: Such is the Power of Chriſt's Word, as to any diſtreſs of the Soul, to raiſe the dead, to cure the lame and blind.

5Then in the next Place, truſt that it ſhall be done unto thee as thou needeſt, and according to the ability of this All-ſufficient Agent, that he will ſay to thee, as to the Leper.— I will be thou clean. Adam and his Wife perceived that they were naked, and were aſhamed, and hid themſelves there, Gen. 3.7. and this ſhame was a bleſſed forerunner of the great good which immediately follow, the revelation of Chriſt to them, and the Promiſe, and the enabling of them to take hold of them, For bleſſed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom p. 63of God. If God hath opened your eyes to perceive that you are naked, wretched, and miſerable, and to groan under it, as the Apoſtle Paul, and to be aſhamed of your nakedneſs, as our firſt Parents, and that this maketh you tremble, and at an utter loſs, crying out, Who ſhall deliver you; 'tis a ſure ſign that God is at hand to reveal Chriſt to you, as he did to Adam, and as he did to Paul, therefore excite faith even from thy deſpair, by and by ſome or other will hear thee ſay.— I thank God through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord▪ am I eſcaped.

Motives particularly to preſs you to deceive and follow theſe Exhortations, are theſe three. Firſt, You who groan and ſigh with this Apoſtle, O wretched Man and Woman that I am, &c. You are particularly and ſpecially invited, as it were by name, to come to Chriſt, and to truſt that he is both able and willing, yea and cannot do otherwiſe, but relieve you, who ever he paſſeth by, Come unto me all ye that are wearied and heavy loaded, and ye ſhall finde reſt to your Souls. The Promiſe expreſſes to all ſuch as you, that ye ſhall finde relief, full relief, reſt to your reſtleſs Souls, Luk. 11.28. In this Promiſe, obſerve the univerſality of the Invitement. — Come unto me all ye that labour, and are heavy loaded; i. e. which cry out, as the Apoſtle in my p. 64Text, as loſt and undone, O wretched man, &c. All you by name are invited, and therefore it will be your ſin and ſhame not to come to Chriſt, that is, to truſt, that he will undertake your caſe, and do you good. Therefore as the Apoſtle ſaith as to his ſufficiency, ſo ſay I, as to his will.— Having ſuch a High Prieſt, let us draw nigh with a true heart, in full aſſurance of faith. So ſay I, having ſuch a merciful High Prieſt; yea, and having ſuch a high and precious Promiſe, let all burdened and heart-loaded ſinners draw nigh to Chriſt, with full aſſurance of faith, that he will give them reſt. Where promiſes are ſo particularly directed, it is much indulgence, and as a ſtretching out the Hand and Scepter to Eſther, to welcome and embolden the trembling doubting ſinner, yea it is as the Father of the Prodigals, beholding him afar off, and running to meet him.

2Secondly, Conſider, that Chriſt is not meerly under the Bond of his Promiſe to relieve ſuch, though this he cannot break, as he cannot lie, but he is under the bond of much affection in this work. Husbands love your Wives, as Chriſt loved his Church, and gave himſelf for it, that he might ſanctifie and cleanſe it, with the waſhing of water by the Word, that he might preſent it to himſelf ſpotleſs, Epheſ. 5.26. No Husband can with p. 65more natural affection, tender and ſuccour, the Wife of his boſom, then Chriſt doth the helping of poor wretched burdened ſinners, the binding up and mollifying their maladies. Some are bound faſt enough to a buſineſs by their word, but not at all by their affection, and theſe though they keep their word, yet it is in ſuch a rough churliſh way, as is much diſcouraging; but it is not ſo with Chriſt, becauſe he is under the bond of his bowels and affections, as well as under the bond of his word, and therefore truſt in him, that your caſe ſhall be helped, and very carefully and compaſſionately helped.

3Finally, Confider the danger of not believing in this able One. You become debtors to the Law to fulfill it, and debtors to your own deſperate wretched condition, as not ſelf murderers, to deliver your ſelves from the body of death in which you are, and from the wrath of God, to which this obligeth you. You fruſtrate the Ordinance of God, which he hath anointed and appointed for your good. You caſt your ſelves under the Covenant of works, as that young Man, which ſaid to Chriſt, What ſhall [I do] to be ſaved! As if he could have ſaved himſelf, and ſo made himſelf a debtor to fulfill the Law, and Chriſt put him upon it, ſeeing he would that way be ſaved, and ſo p. 66he will ſerve you and them; Confider whether you be able to keep the Law in every point, and ſo reſtore your own ſtate, ſome are at the Doctrin of Perfection, but they make void the Goſpel and Chriſt, and will as the young Man, mi…s perfection in one thing at leaſt, one thing will be wanting, and he that fails in one Point is guilty of all, and will bring the curſe of the breach of the whole Law upon him. Confider that by nature you are the Children of wrath, and Tranſgreſſors from the Womb, and how ſoon may the curſe of this ſtate be executed? Wherefore I conclude all with the repetition of the promiſe again to you, Iſa. 25.6, 7, 8. And, I beſeech you heed it well, and take hold of it for your good. And in this Mountain ſhall the Lord of Hoſts make a Feaſt to all People, a Feaſt of fat things, a Feaſt of Wine on the Lees, of fat things full of marrow, and he will deſtroy in this Mountain the face of the covering caſt over all People, and the Vail that is spread over all Nations, and he will ſwallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe all teares from all Faces, and the rebuke of his People ſhall he take from all the Earth, for the Lord hath ſpoken it; and let me add, his heart and ſoul is in it, Jer. 3….41. What is the Vail that covereth all Nations? Anſ. The Vail of natural corruption, the Body of Death, as the Apoſtle here calleth it; and as this p. 67Prophet in this place calls it—Death, and ſaith, it ſhall be ſwallowed up in victory; yea, he hath engaged to wipe all teares, from all Mourners eyes, who ſigh and take on, as this Apoſtle, becauſe of their wretched condition, and to give them victory over the body of this death, and the triumphs of this great victory, in this World, or in the World to come. Comfort your ſelves all ye that groan under the Body of Death, with theſe words.

FINIS.