The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 1 · Chapter 4 · Section 8
SECT. VIII.
3. NOw follows a third ſingular comfort unto all who have God to be their If God be your God, then Chriſt is your Chriſt.God in Covenant, which is this, If God be your God, then Christ is your Chriſt: To whom God is a God, unto them Chriſt is a Chriſt; if God be your God, then Jeſus Chriſt is yours; as Chriſt ſpake unto his Father, All mine are thine, and thine are mine, John 17. 10. All that have an intereſt in me, have an intereſt in thee; and all that have a relation to thee, have alſo a relation to me; We may ſo ſafely ſay, All who have propriety in God, have propriety in Chriſt: If God ſaith unto you I am your Father, Chriſt ſaith unto you I am your Saviour; whom the Father owns, he doth own; whom the Father loves, he loves. This is certain that God the Father hath not one ſort of people, and Chriſt another ſort of people; that there are ſome to whom God hath relation, and there are others to whom Chriſt hath relation. No: but what relation God hath to any, and what propriety God hath in any, the ſame hath Chriſt; and what relation and propriety any have in God, the ſame have they unto Chriſt: I and my Father are one. Then if you be Gods, then you are Chriſts; and if God be yours, then Chriſt is yours; he is given to you, and you are given to him: Ʋnto us a Sonne is given, Eſay 9. 6. Thine they were, and thou gaveſt them me, John 17. 6.
Now if God be your God, Then Chriſt is yours in theſe reſpects.
1. He is yours as to his perſon: He himſelf is yours, not yours only in the reſpect Chriſt is yours as to his perſon.of his graces and works, but yours alſo in reſpect of his perſon; as it was his perſon who gave himſelf for you, (Chriſt hath given himſelf for us, Epheſ. 5. 2.) ſo it is the perſon of Chriſt who gives himſelf unto you; my beloved is mine, and I am his, Cant. 2. 16.
The union and relation 'twixt you and Chriſt is as real, as that between the husband and the wife, as that between the head and the body, as that between the Vine and the branches; as the husband can ſay This woman is my wife, and the wife can ſay This man is my husband; ſo truly doth Chriſt ſay This believer is mine; ſo can the believer ſay This Chriſt is mine; that Chriſt who is the Sonne of God, the brightneſſe of his Fathers glory, who is immortal, God with us, who is God bleſſed for ever, who is the Lord of glory, whoſe Name is Wonderful, Counſellor, the Mighty God, the Everlaſting Father, the Prince of Peace; The Saviour of ſinners, the Redeemer, the Light and Life of the world, the deſire of all Nations, who is altogether lovely, and moſt excellent and precious; in compariſon of whom, Paul counted all things but loſſe and dung, this Chriſt is your Chriſt; this Chriſt in whom is life, and without whom there is no life; this Chriſt in whom is ſalvation, and without whom there is no ſalvation; this Chriſt in whom is bleſſedneſſe, and without whom there is nothing but curſe and miſery; this Chriſt in whom is hope, and without whom there is no hope; this Chriſt is your Chriſt.
But let us a little more diſtinctly conſider our happineſſe and comfort, that Chriſt, Comfort from this that the perſon of Chriſt is ours. It is more to enjoy Chriſt himſelf, than to enjoy all things without him.the perſon of Chriſt is ours.
1. It is more to enjoy Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, than to enjoy any or all other things without himſelf: Could you enjoy every good, and every comfort which every creature in the whole world doth contain, as all theſe are nothing in compariſon of Chriſt, (what is the Candle to the Sunne? what is the glory of the graſſe to the glory of the only begotten of the Father? what is the chaffe unto the wheat? the ſoul of man is above all theſe, much more is Chriſt; ſo they are nothing in a ſeparation from Chriſt; unleſſe the figure ſtands before, all that follows are but empty ciphres, which ſignifie nothing, ſo unleſſe you have Chriſt, your greatneſſe is but a cipher, your riches are but a cipher; they are neither a bleſſedneſſe unto you, nor yet a bleſſing, nor yet a way to the one or to the other; Chriſt alone hath more worth in him, more wealth in him, more delight in him, more greatneſſe in him, than can be poſſibly found in all the creatures, although dividedly or conjunctively conſidered; and therefore Moſes preferred even the reproaches of Chriſt, before a…l th… treaſures in Egypt, Heb. 11. Take me the greateſt man on earth; if he be a Chriſtleſſe man, he is but a curſed man, and all that he hath, is but a curſe unto him; and take me the meaneſt man on earth, if Chriſt be his, he is a bleſſed man; and all that he hath, is a bleſſing unto him.
2. It is m…re to enjoy Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, than to enjoy any, or all the benefits It is more to enjoy Chriſt himſelf than to enjoy all benefits depending on him.depending on Chriſt; The benefits I ſay, from the enjoyment of Chriſt are very precious (how precious is the peace which flowes out of his blood, and the joy which comes in by his Spirit, and the graces, and the gifts from him!) yet Chriſt himſelf is more precious, more ſweet, more lovely, and more deſirable: If the Image be ſo precious, much more the pattern it ſelf; if the tokens and gifts be ſo precious, much more is the giver himſelf; if the words of his mouth, and the kiſſes of his lips are ſo ſweet, much more ſweet is the enjoyment of Chriſt himſelf; therefore Paul rejoyceth eſpecially in this, that Chriſt lov…d him, and gave himſelf for him, Gal. 2. 20. And above all things, deſires to be fo…nd in him, Phil. 3. 9. No, not the knowledge of Chriſt (though it were the excellency of knowledge) could ſuffice him; it was Chriſt himſelf after whom he principally looked, and in whom he would be found.
3. All is enjoyed by the enjoyment of Chriſt. All is enjoyed
1. Equivalently; there is as much in Chriſt, as anſwers all other enjoyments All is enjoyed by the en…oyment of Chriſt, Equivalently.(Ipſe unus erit tibi omnia, quia in ipſo uno bono bona ſunt omnia) the wiſdome of Chriſt doth more than anſwer all other wiſdome; and the knowledge of Chriſt doth more than anſwer all other knowledge; and the love of Chriſt doth more than anſwer all other love; and the unſearchable riches of Chriſt doth more than anſwer all other riches; and the delights in Chriſt do more than anſwer all other pleaſures.
2. Really; if you enjoy Chriſt himſelf, you do actually enjoy all the glorious benefits by Chriſt, with the enjoyments of himſelf. If the field be yours, the Really.treaſure in the field is yours indeed; in ſome civil enjoyments, there is an exceptio juris; ſometimes ſuch a Mannour you ſhall enjoy, but ſuch or ſuch particulars are excepted and reſerved; But it is not thus in your ſpiritual enjoyments, (in the enjoyment of Chriſt) there is no exception, no clauſe, no diſtinction; but if Chriſt be yours, all of Chriſt is yours; his love is yours, his righteouſneſs is yours, his wiſdome, his holineſs, his Redemption, all is yours.
4. J…ſus Chriſt h…mſelf, his perſon is the greateſt bleſſing, and choiceſt gift, that Jeſus Chriſt himſelf is the greateſt and choiceſt gift that God can give unto you.God hath or can give unto you; for all the other bleſſings fall into our poſſeſſion and enjoyment by Chriſt alone; all your enjoyments are beſtowed by the enjoyment of Chriſt himſelf; the loving God, the merciful God, righteouſneſſe, holineſſe, as long as Chriſt is Chriſt, you ſhall have poſſeſſion of them. Epheſ. 1. 3. Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who hath bleſſed us with all ſpiritual bleſſings in heavenly places in Chriſt. Jeſus Chriſt (if I may ſo expreſſe it) is the out-let of all bleſſings, and he is the in-let to all our bleſſings; Look on our bleſſings as deſcending from God to us, Jeſus Chriſt is (as it were) the out-let of them all; they are let out unto us by Chriſt; God himſelf becomes our God in Chriſt, and he loves us in Chriſt, and chooſeth us in Chriſt, and is merciful and gracious unto us in Chriſt, and ſheweth the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindneſſe towards us through Chriſt Jeſus. And look on our bleſſings as deſired from God by us, we are let or brought into the enjoyment of them by Chriſt; We loſt all by the firſt Adam, and we come to enjoy all again by Chriſt; Jeſus Chriſt is (as it were) the root upon which all our mercies and comforts, and hopes do live again and grow.
You obtain your acceſſe by Chriſt unto the Father, and your perſons come to be accepted in Chriſt, and all your ſervices; He holds up all your Communions, and makes them effectual and ſure: God would not look on you, nor regard you, nor let fall one glimpſe or beame of his favour upon you, were it not for Chriſt; it is Chriſt which makes you nigh, and dear, and lovely, and delightful, and precious, and for whoſe ſake you come to be ſonnes and heirs of love and mercy, and peace, and all the bleſſings which you do poſſeſſe, or ever ſhall enjoy in this world, or in the world to come.
5. Your condition cannot be otherwiſe than ſafe and comfortable, and bleſſed, Your condition cannot be otherwiſe than ſafe, if Chriſt be yours.if Chriſt be yours. As it cannot be well with any without Chriſt, ſo it cannot be ill with any who have Chriſt: There is no condemnation unto you; you are now paſſed from death to life; he is your life, and he that hath the Sonne hath life; and he is your hope, (Chriſt in you the hope of glory) and he is your Rock on which you are built; he is your peace, he is your glory, he is your head, he is your Saviour; in one word, the enjoyment of Chriſt makes life and death comfortable.
2. Chriſt is yours as to all his Offices; You know that Chriſt is the anointed Chriſt …s yours as to all his offices.of God; He was ſet apart, and ordained, and called, and ſent, and undertook all the work of ſalvation for ſinners; and for the accompliſhing of that ſalvation, he was inſtalled a Prophet, a Prieſt, and a King.
By reaſon of our ſinful fall, there were (if I may ſo call them) three diſeaſes falling upon us.
One was Ignorance, and this Chriſt doth heale as he is our Prophet.
A ſecond was Alienation from God, and this Chriſt doth heal as he is our Prieſt.
A third is Impotency to come back to God, and this Chriſt doth heal as he is our King.
As he is a Prophet, he doth open and unfold ſalvation; and as he is a Prieſt, he doth acquire and procure ſalvation; and as he is a King, he doth apply that ſalvation unto us.
The Prophetical Office of Chriſt, is that by which he doth perfectly and effectually reveal the whole ſaving Will of God.
The Prieſtly Office of Chriſt, is that by which he doth expiate all our ſinnes, and doth reconcile us unto God.
The Kingly Office of Chriſt, is that by which he doth with authority and power diſpenſe and adminiſter all things which do belong unto the everlaſting ſalvation of his people.
Beloved, All the works of our redemption, and reconciliation, and ſalvation, do depend on Jeſus Chriſt as inveſted with the threefold Office of Prophet, Prieſt, and King; his whole Mediatourſhip is contained in them, and ſo is all our comfort and hope; and therefore I will ſpeak briefly unto every one of them.
1. Jeſus Chriſt is a Prophet, and he is your Prophet. He is that Prophet whom Chriſt is yours as a Prophet.God had promiſed to raiſe up, Acts 3. 22. And whom all are commanded to hear, verſe 23. And this was he who was anointed by the Spirit of the Lord, to preach the Coſpel to the poor, Luke 4 18. And this is he in whom are hid all the treaſures of wiſdome and knowledge, Col. 2. 3. who knows the Father, and by whom alone the knowledge of the Father is revealed, Matth 11. 27. who is in the boſome of the Father, and declares him unto us. John 1. 18. who is the Angel of the Covenant. Malachi 3. 1. unto whom the great Commiſſion of opening the myſtery of ſalvation is granted and ſealed.
Now there are foure ſingular comforts unto you, which have God to be your God in Covenant and conſequently have Jeſus Chriſt to be your Prophet.Four comforts from hence. He hath i… in his commiſſion to teach us.
1. He hath it in his Commiſſion to teach you, They ſhall be all taught of God, Joh. 6. 45. yea it is his expreſſe Commiſſion to preach the Goſpel unto you, Luke. 4. 18. to open and reveale that Myſtery which was kept ſecret ſince the world began, and to make it manifeſt. Rom. 16. 25, 26. even the Myſtery which hath been hid from ages, and from generations, but now is made manifeſt unto his Saints, Col. 1. 26. Though others ſit in darkneſſe and ſee no light, yet unto you (through Chriſt) there ariſeth light in darkneſſe; and your eyes ſhall and do ſee the ſalvation of the Lord, and the glory of the Lord: the light ſhines in your hearts, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Cor. 4. 6. he makes known unto you, the true life, and the true way of life, the myſtery of ſalvation.
2. He hath it in his commiſſion to inſtruct and teach you the whole minde and will of To inſtruct and teach us the while mind and will of God.God in every thing which concerns your ſalvation: all things that I have heard of the Father, I have made known unto you, Joh. 15. 15.
As he diſcovers unto us infallibly the reality, and the quality of our ſalvation, ſo there is not any one truth, nor any one path neceſſary unto that ſalvation, but he opens it, and reveales it, whether it reſpect our faith, or our obedience: he is the anno…nting which teacheth you of all things and is truth, and is no lye, 1 Joh. 2. 27.
3. He is that Prophet who doth teach, not only by his word, but alſo by his Spirit: others can ſpeak only to the eares of men, but he can ſpeak to the hearts of He teacheth not only by his Word, but by his Spirit.men, he can imprimere in mentem, as well as mentem exprimere, write his Law in the heart, as well and as eaſily as he can deliver and make it known to our mindes: when he teacheth you that you muſt believe, he doth by his Spirit cauſe you to believe; when be ſaith that you muſt be born again, he doth by his Spirit make you new creatures: there is not any one grace, or duty, or path of li…e which he ſets before you (who are in covenant with God) but he works in you thoſe very graces, and puts forth a ſtrength to perform all thoſe duties, and to walke in thoſe paths.
4. As a Prophet he is annointed to preeah good tydings, Iſa. 61. 1. the Apoſtle calls it preaching of peace, Epheſ. 2 17. and not only the Prophet Iſaiah in that He is anointed o… preach good tidings.place, but alſo Chriſt himſelf in Luke 4. 18. tells you what thoſe good tydings are, what that Goſpel is, namely to hinde up, and heale the broken-heared, liberty and deliverance to the captives, ſight to the blinde, to give beauty for aſhes, the oyle of joy for mourning, the garment of praiſe for the ſpirit of heavineſſe.
O what comfort is here for you who are the people of God, and have Chriſt to be your Chriſt, and your Prophet? Here are glad tydings for you, and your Chriſt is annointed to preach them unto you when your hearts are broken and bruiſed, you have a Chriſt to binde them up, and to heale them with his own precious blood; I dyed for you, ſaith Chriſt, this is my blood which was ſhed for you, for the remiſſion of your ſins, to reconcile you, to make peace for you, ſaith Chriſt: and when you finde your ſelves captives, and as it were ſhut up on priſon, Chriſt your Prophet comes to you by his Spirit and breaks open the priſon doores, and ſets you at liberty from your ſins, from Satan, from your fears, and tears, and all the powers and chaines of darkneſſe: and when your ſoule ſits in darkneſs and ſees no light, when they feed on tears, and are overwhelmed with ſorrows and heavineſs, your Chriſt (who is your Prophet) can, and will ſpeak words of life unto you, and words of joy unto you: why are your hearts troub…ed? ſaid he to his Diſciples; woman why weepeſt thou? ſaid he to Mary; daughter go in peace; ſo to another, ſon, be of good comfort.
There is no Prophet like your Prophet, who knows ſo much of the minde of God, who reveals it ſo fully, ſo faithfully, ſo infallibly, ſo powerfully, ſo ſweetly, ſo ſavingly.Chriſt is a Prieſt, and your Prieſt.
Jeſus Chriſt is a Prieſt, and he is annointed to be your Prieſt, Pſal. 110. 4. The Lord hath ſworn and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchiſedeck, vide Heb. 6. 20. Heb 7. 17. Cap. 4. 14. we have a great High Priest that is paſſed into the heavens, Jeſus the Son of God.
I ſhall not inſiſt on this Argument, to tell you how Chriſt was called and qualified for his prieſtly Office, nor of the differences 'twixt him and all other Prieſts: nor how that his Sacrifice was his humane nature, and the Altar was his Divine Nature, and himſelf according to both theſe natures was the Prieſt; My intention is only in few words to touch at this Office of Chriſt as our Mediatour: and then to expreſſe unto you, the chief comforts from your intereſt in him, as to this his Office of Prieſthood.
There are two Acts wherein his Prieſtly Office conſiſteth.Two acts of his Prieſtly Office. Oblation.
1. One was the oblation of himſelf once for all; as a perfect Sacrifice for the expiation of ſin, and reconcil…ng us to God, Heb. 9. 14. Through the eternal Spirit, he offered himſelf, without ſpot to God, verſe 26. he appeared to put away ſin by the Sacrifice of himſelf, verſe 28. Chriſt was once offered to bear the ſins of many, Rom. 5. 10. when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, Col. 1. 20. He made peace though the blood of his Croſſe, Heb. 2. 17. a merciful and faithful High Prieſt, to make reconciliation for the ſins of the people.
2. The other is, His Interceſſion for us: This man (ſaith the Apoſtle) becauſe Interceſſion.he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable Prieſthood, Heb. 7. 24. wherefore he is able to ſave them to the uttermoſt that come unto God by him, ſeeing he ever liveth to make interceſſion for them: and therefore as to this interceding part of his Prieſtly Office, Chriſt is ſaid to appear for us in the preſence of God, Heb. 9. 24. as the Atturney appears for his Client in Court to anſwer for him; and likewiſe he is called our Advocate with the Father, 1 Joh. 2. 1. to plead for us, and to obtaine for us, &c.
But ſome may now reply, We know all this, that Chriſt is a Prieſt, and a Mediatour of Redemption and of Interceſſion; that he offered up himſelf, that he died, ſhed his blood, was ſacrificed, and that he ever lives to make Interceſſion. Queſt. But where lies the comfort of this to them that are in Covenant with God, and have Chriſt to be their High Prieſt?
Sol. What c…mfort we have by this.I will ſhew you what comfort you have by this, and I pray you mark it: There are four unſpeakable comforts unto you who are Chriſts, from this, that he is your High Prieſt, who offered himſelf for you, and lives to make Interceſſion for you.
1. All your ſins were laid upon him: for in that reſpect he was your Prieſt, in by his oblation.that reſpect alſo he was your Surety, Heb. 7. 21, 22. what's that? That? That is, All our ſin…es were …ayed upon him.he became bound to God, reſponſible unto him for all your ſins, for all that God in juſtice could charge upon you, and demand for ſatisfaction. Our ſalvation was laid on one that is mighty.
As Judah became a ſurety to Jacob for Benjamin, he engaged himſelf to his Father, I will be ſurety for him, of my hand ſhalt thou require him; if I bring him not unto thee, and ſet him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever, Gen. 43. 9. Thus Jeſus Chriſt is our Prieſt, and therefore our Surety with his Father; Father, I will take upon me all the ſins of thy people; I will be bound to anſwer for them, I will ſacrifice my ſelf for them, at my hands do thou require ſatisfaction for their ſins, and a full compenſation unto thy juſtice: I will die, I will lay down my life, I will make my ſoul an offering for ſins, I will become a curſe, I will endure thy wrath.
O what a Comfort is this, that there is a Chriſt to anſwer for that which we could not anſwer!
H… diſcharged all our deb…s and bonds. The debt of obedience, and of puniſhment.2. He diſcharged all your debts and bonds: There is a twofold debt which lay upon us; one was the debt of obedience unto the Law; And this Chriſt did pay by fulfilling all Righteouſneſſe, Matth. 3. 15. The other was the debt of puniſhment for our tranſgreſſions, and this debt alſo Chriſt diſcharged by his death on the Croſſe, and being made a curſe for us to redeem us from the curſe, Gal. 3. 13. Hence it is that we are ſaid to be bought with a price, 1 Cor. 6. 20. and that Chriſt is called our ranſome, Lutron, Matth. 20 28. and Antilutron, 1 Tim. 2. 6. the words do ſignifie a valuable price laid down for anothers ranſome: the blood of …hriſt (the Son of God) was a valuable price, a ſufficient price; it was as much as would ſerve the turn to take off all enmities, and to take away ſin, and to ſatisfie Divine juſtice, and indeed ſo it did: and therefore you read that in his blood we have redemption, even the forgiveneſſe of our ſins, Epheſ. 1. 7. and his death was ſuch a full compenſation to Divine Juſtice, that the Apoſtle makes a challenge to all, Rom. 8. 33 Who ſhall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect? and ver. 3…. Who is he that condemneth? it is Chriſt that died; as if he had ſaid, Criſt hath ſatisfied and diſcharged all.
O what comfort is …his unto us, to have ſuch an high Prieſt, who himſelf bare all our ſins, even all our ſins, left not one unſatisfied for? laid down a full ranſome, a full price, ſuch an expiatory …acrifice, ſuch a ſatisfactory …acrifice, as …hat now we are out of the hands of juſtice, and wrath, and death, and curſe, and hell and are reconciled, and made near, and deale altogether under the throne of Grace and Mercy.
3. As our Prieſt in offering himſelf for us, his Scacrifice being (as the …cripture There is not only ſatis…action, bu… merit in his oblation.ſpeaks) the blood o… God (that is) of one that is God, there is more therefore in it than meere payment, or ſatisfaction; there was merit alſo in it to acquire, and procure, and purchaſe all Spiritual good and all Eternal good for the people of God: not only immunities from evil in ſin and death, but priviledges, and dignities of ſons, and heires, yea all grace, and all love, and all peace, and all glory; even that glorious inheritance purchaſed by his blood.
You may now look on …od as your Father, and on Heaven as your inheritance, ſe…led on you by the love of God, and purchaſed for you by the blood of Jeſus Chriſt.
4. What ſhall I ſay more? Jeſus Chriſt is your Prieſt for Interceſſion alſo; Do Comfort from his interceſſion.you know your happineſs by this, and in this? your Chriſt is now entered into heaven, and ſits on the right hand of God the Father: and therefore he intercedes for you, he preſents himſelf as your Surety, …s your Redeemer, in all his ſuſceptions and endurances and diſcharges and purchaſes for you, in the price which he laid down and in the merits of that price, and ſo negotiates, and obtaines for you, and ſtill is effectually letting d…wn unto you the vertues, and purchaſes of his life and death, untill you come at length to …he higheſt and full enjoyment of himſelf in glory. Father, I purchaſed this for him, I paid dearly for it &c. And therefore ſome (not without ground) aſcribe all the purchaſes of Chriſt (for the application of them unt… us) unto the Interceſſion of Chriſt.
I will ſay no more but th…s, That all your communions with the Father, all your audiences, all your acceptances, all your anſwers, in graces, in comforts, in hopes, in helps in preſent, in future enjoyments, owe themſelves unto …hriſt as your Prieſt, in the Oblation of himſelf for you, and in the interceſſion of him unto the Father for you.
3. Jeſus Chriſt is a King, and he is your King: He is called a King, Pſal. 2. 6. and Jeſus Chriſt is a Kin…, …nd your King. He m…kes ſubjects by his Word and Spirit. He m…k…s all his Subjects free-men. He m…kes all his Subjects Kings.he is called King of Saints, Rev. 15. 3. He is ſuch a King, as there is not the like.
A King by contract in reſpect of God, by conqueſt in reſpect of us.
1. He makes Subjects by the power of his Word and Spirit effectually calling us out of the kingdom of darkneſs, into his own gracious Kingdom.
2. He makes all his Subjects free-men; If the S…n ſhall make you free, you are free indeed, Joh. 8 36.
3. He makes all his Subjects Kings; He hath made us unto our God Kings and Priests, Rev. 4. 10
4. He rules all his Subjects by Righteous Laws: therefore he is called Melchiſedeck, He rules them by righ…eous Laws.which ſignifies a King of Righteouſneſſe: and his Kingdom is called a Righteous Kingdom.
5. He is the King of Salem, of peace as well as of Righteouſneſſe. Men never He is a King of peace.enjoy peace, at leaſt ſuch a peace anywhere as in the Kingdom of Chriſt; there is no man that obeyes him, and is ruled by him, but findes peace, Gal. 6. His kingdom is righteouſneſſe, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghoſt.
6. He as a King ſeeks your good, and all that he doth hath a reſpect to your good: all He ſeeks your good, and all he doth is with reſpect to your good. He will protect and ſecu…e you.his diſpenſations are good, and for your good: he ſeeks your wel-fare and happineſſe, ſpeaks kindly to you, hears your groans, anſwers your complaints, and pleads for the poor and needy.
7. He is a King for Prot…ction: He will protect and ſecure you againſt all your Enemies, Divels, Sins, Men, the worſt and greateſt, and will ſubdue them, and trample them under his feet: His enemies ſhall be his foot-ſtoole.
8. He hath great rewards, an infinite treaſure to beſtow on all his people; he will accept He hath great rewards for you.of their ſervice, and reward every one of them with a crown of life.
O how happy are the people who have the Lord to be their God! and who have (therefore) Chriſt to be their Chriſt: a Chriſt who is ſuch a Prophet, ſuch a Prieſt, and ſuch a King.
I will not ſtay you any longer in this one part of your Covenant-happineſs, viz. That Chriſt is yours; only I think it fit to ſumme up in a few particulars the general comforts which I have mentioned or inſinuated already in the Perſon and Offices of Chriſt. Thus then; if Chriſt be yours, Then 1. Life is yours, Chriſt is your life, and he that hath the Son hath life, Col. 3. 4. 1 Joh. 5. 12.
2. Love is yours, Chriſt loves all his with a love of Kindneſſe, and tenderneſſe, and benevolence, and benificence.
3. All that Chriſt did or ſuffered, in order to mans ſalvation, all is yours, your good, and for your good.
4. His Redemption is yours, he hath Redeemed you from wrath, and curſe, and ſin, and Satan, and death, and hell.
5. You are certainly partakers of the forgiveneſſe of all your ſins.
6. You are perfectly reconciled unto God, who is now your God, and your Father.
7. You are accepted and approved with God in the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, which is now yours, as Chriſt himſelf is yours.
8. You now receive the adoption of ſons; as you are the brethren of Chriſt, ſo are you with him in the ſame relation of ſons unto God.
9. You are cloathed with the ſame Spirit wherewith Chriſt himſelf was anointed; the ſelf ſame Spirit which is in Chriſt as your Head, is in you as his Members.
10. He is your Apology againſt all Satans accuſations, and your own ſins and fears: There is no condemnation unto them that are in Chriſt Jeſus, for it is Chriſt that died.
11. He is the living Root and foundation of all your graces and comforts.
12. All his victories ſhall extend to you, over Satan, the world, your ſinnes, and death.
13. You are no more ſtrangers, nor Forreiners, but are made nigh by the blood of Chriſt.
14. You have all the ſights of God in his glory, as he is the Lord, gracious, and merciful, long-ſuffering, abundant in goodneſſe and truth.
15. You enjoy liberty of Acceſſe by his blood to the throne of grace.
16. You ſhall aſſuredly ſpeed well in all your ſuites, be heard, and anſwered upon his account.
17. He will take ſpecial care of you, and will own, and help, and ſuccour, and ſupply you, as long as you have a day to live on earth.
18. He is your Defence; as he is exceedingly ſenſible of all your Injuries, ſo he will certa…nly judge all your enemies
19 By him you are heires of the ſame glory and Kingdom which the Father hath beſtowed on him, and which he hath prepared for you
20. He will never part with you, nor forſake you, but will love and keep you to the end.
21. He will entertain you with ſweet communions in the day of your pilgrimage: and as you are walking, and travelling through the vale of tears, many a kind word, many a good look many a feaſt all you have, where he will ſup with you, and you ſhall ſup with him; many refreſhings, and joyes, and revivings of your ſpirits.
22. You ſhall infallibly poſſ…ſſe and enjoy all the grace, and comfort, and bleſſing, and bleſſedneſſe which he hath purchaſed for you in this life, and in the life to come, even to all eternity: he is ever with you whilſt you are on earth, and you ſhall for ever be with him when you dye, and come to Heaven.