Comfort for Believers About their Sins and Troubles, Observation 6 – Observation 9
SIXT OBSERVATION.6. Obſer- Now Chriſt is come to, uſe ſpiritual conſiderations to ſtrēgthen againſt Troubles.
That now Chriſt is come, Beleevers ſhould cheifly uſe ſpirituall & heavenly Conſiderations to ſtrengthen their Spirits against Trouble.
Namely, ſuch as are taken from Gods Electing Love; Chriſt his Worke for us in Heaven; our Glory their to come &c. For, Theſe Chriſt ſetts heere before his Diſciples; not onelyonly, as moſt proper for the preſent caſe in hand; but as now moſt comely & helpefull to Beleevers in all Troubles: Indeed before Chriſts comming, the Conſolations were ſome outward Priviledges, or the comming of the Meſſias, or ſome general Promiſes of good things in this Goſpel; but now we find the Apoſtles, in all their courſe, armeing & comforting the Spirits of Beleevers, by Theſe forenamed ſpiritual & heavenly Conſolations.
FIRST REASON. Reaſons. 1Bec. now is the ſeaſon of th…ſe Comforts.
Becauſe, Now is the ſeaſon of theſe Comforts; former ages were not the ſeaſon, wherefore though they were ſeene in the bloſſome, & bud, and much deſired; yet they might not be gathered, 1. Pet. 1. 11. 12. Wherefore, though they had ſome hints now and then, of them; Yet they were not ſo generally, nor ſo fully revealed, as now they be:
The Revealation of the Glory, is that which was reſerved to our age; as the text ſaith: The things reported to you, as well as the Glory it ſelfe Ep. 3. 5. 9. 10. For now Christ is come, and hath made knowne his Fathers boſome, & heart, and aſcended heaven, and opened it to us, John. 3. 12. 13. He firſt preacht the Goſpel, in his owne flesh Heb. 2. 3. it was never before revealed: ſome ſhadowes or hints of it, were before, but it ſelfe, in Its Clearnes & Glory never was preacht till He began it, & ſince: Rather Promiſes of the Goſpel: then the Goſpel, was it which was before Chriſt: Rom. 1. 1. 2. For the Goſpel implyes tidings of things done, and not to be done, and this was onelyonly begun to be in act, when Chriſt came and preacht:
Therefore Marke. 1. 14. 15. he preacht the Goſpel: and ſaid the tyme is fullfilled: and becauſe in Chriſts Life, all was not actually done; there fore he is ſaid but to begine it; & the Apoſtles perfected the Goſpel, for they reported all to be actually done: So that this is the ſeaſon of its revealatiō. and ſo the tyme of the fruition & viſion of theſe heavēly things Mar. 1. 15. is at hand; This therefore is their ſeaſon; as former Ages were the ſeaſon of the Tipes & Promiſes of them: Theſe are the better things, reſerved for us of this laſt age of the World, Heb. 11. 39. 40. Now every thing is moſt fitly uſed, in its ſeaſon, it is moſt comely, and moſt effectuall then: There is a kind of abſurditye in unſeaſonablenes.
SECOND REASON.2. Bec. the life of Chriſtianity is in theſe.
Becauſe, The life of Chriſtianity is in theſe: Not onelyonly as it is diſtinguiſht from that Life which was in Innocency, through the Covenant of Workes, from which, this differs ſpecifically, and more then the Sunne from a Candle, both which though light and fire, yet greatly differs:
But alſo, as it is diſtinguſht from that Life by Faith, which was before Chriſt; From which, this differs gradually, as Infancy, and Child-hood from Full age: Gal. 4. 1. 2. 3. 4. Wherefore it obtaines another Name, (as a Child is called a Man) and is called Chriſtianity, which it never was before Chriſt: Acts. 11. 26. And its Name ſhewes its Nature: It conſiſts in ſuch Revealations of Chriſt by Faith apprehended: As were not at all, in Innocency, nor in any ſuch meaſures, before Chriſt came: Gall. 3. 23.
The ſight of Chriſts Glory, and our Ʋnion, & Communion with him: This is the Chriſtian Life: By Faith to ſee the Things that are Inviſible; Is the Life: Heb. 10. 38. Live by Faith: Which Faith is diſcribed Heb. 11. 1. Which though it alſo reveale things which once by reaſon might be ſeene; as the Creation Verſe. 3. Yet, it alſo (and that which it cheifly aimes at;) reveales what never was or could be ſeene in Innocency, by Reaſon: As Gods Electing Love in Chriſt, Heavens Glory, Our Perticipation of all Grace, & Glory from Chriſt, by Ʋnion with him: And on theſe Conſiderations to Love, Obey, be Patient &c. This is the Life of a Chriſtian; 2. Corrinth. 3. 18. Seeing by Faith & a Divine Revealation, Chriſts Glory, and be turned into it, is made the Summe of all Chriſtianity: Gal. 2. 20. Chriſt lives in him; And he lives by Faith in Him: So, Epheſ. 1. 17. 18. 19. Increaſe of Life is all put in the apprehenſions by Faith of Revealations of Chriſt, & the Glory with him: and ſo Eph. 3. 16. 20.
Now the Life of Chriſtianity, lying in this: The Conſolations fetcht hence, muſt needs be moſt effectual, and moſt lively, and moſt proper, as humane Conſolations are moſt proper to a Man: Theſe breed the beſt Spirits, in that they carry the beſt Spirits with them; even the Life it Selfe.
USE. Ʋſe.To Blame For not uſing. And Exhort.
Wherefore Beleevers, are to be Blamed, for not Ʋſing; And to be Exhorted to Ʋſe more, Theſe kind of Antidotes, and Cordials:
Theſe are the proper Phiſick of this State of the Goſpel; Chriſt hath come, and opened to us His Fathers Boſome, and ſhall not we ſtudy To uſe more theſe Antidotes.and beare up our ſelves by them?
The Prophets who did but fore ſee, & fore heare them, were ſo much taken with them, as that they exceedingly labored to prye into them 1. Pet. 1. 10. 11. The Words are ſignificant; enquired, ſcearcht; intimating 1. Pet 1. 10. …dained.both great deſire, and labor to find out; the one Word foreign: ſignifing a ſeeking out by inquirye or queſtion, perſuing by Queſtions, till it is fully found out: And the other Word foreign, implying an exact ſeeking, as for hid things, untill one hath every hinte, or doite; 1. Cor. 2 10. both which implye the utmoſt exactnes in ſeeking: And the Glory they ſought to find; is in the greeke Verſ. 11. latter end, expreſt in the plural number, emphatically ſhewing its tranſcendency; Yea, & the Angels deſire to looke into theſe things Verſ. 12. latter end foreign by bowing downe to prye in, an induſtrious, and moſt heedfull pryeing alludeing as it is thought to the Cherubs about the Arke; who bowed or turned their Heads & Faces to the Arke, which ſignified Chriſt: Now we have them ſpread open before us, Can. 5. 1. and ſeldome caſt our eyes on them, to comfort us by them: I appeale, In Gods Name before Whome we now are, Who knowes all your courſe; When did you, fetch Theſe heavenly Conſolatiōs are more generall, & more ſtrong Comforts then any.in Comforts againſts Your Feares, & Troubles, by revolving theſe heavenly & ſpiritual Treaſures of Yours? But have ye not ſtill, by ſome other way ſought to beare up your Spirits? What ingratitude? yea what folly, is this? Theſe Heavenly Conſolati…ns, are more General, & more Strong, Comforts then any, ye can take in.
Firſt, They are more General; For they conteine All Comforts, whereas 1. More General, For they cō te…ne all Comforts.as other Conſolations, carry in them but ſome perticular Comfort; and ſerve againſt but ſome perticular Affliction; But Theſe equally helpe againſt All Troubles; and ſo are much better; as the Paraſelſian Phiſick, or that which repaires & ſtrengthens whole Nature; and repells all Weakenes, is beyond your other Phiſick, which topically is applied onelyonly to ſome perticular part, for ſome perticular diſeaſe: And as They are more General; So.
Secondly, They are more Strong Comforts, then any: though they 2. More Strong. For they cōfort in every perticular.ſerve all turnes, yet they doe comfort in every perticular, much more full & through, then others, which reach onelyonly to the perticular: As the Light & Heate of the Sunne; though it ſerve every Creature in the World, yet it better ſerves any perticular, then a Candle doth; Pſal. 4. 7. The Light of Gods Countenance, putts more Gladnes in; then aboundance of any worldly thing; For theſe Comforts are Spiritual & Immortal, Being immortal: So reaching the Spirit.and ſo reach the Spirit, as it is in it ſelfe; other Comforts, onelyonly refreſh in ſuch a caſe, and as the Spirit is in & by the Body ſubjected to ſuch or ſuch a ſtate, & indeed therefore never ſoake into the intimacy of the Spirit, ſolidly to cōfort that; they ſprinckle Comforts about the Heart, but never put Gladnes into the Heart; there is noe ſuiteablenes twixt them & the Soule: But Theſe heavenly ſpiritual Comforts, are ſuited to the Spirit reach it to the full; therefore doe moſt ſtrongly refreſhit. Alſo theſe ſpirituall Comforts, are ſo vaſt, & greate, that they take up & fill the Soule; all other Comforts are to ſmall for the Soules Filling the Soulegreat Capacity; but theſe fill every corner of the Heart: Alſo theſe Cō forts, doe preſent to the Soule ſuch great Gloryes & Happyneſſes, as hir owne; Preſenting great Gloryes & Happineſſes.as that they greaten the Soule: For, ſuch as are the Objects with which the Spirit converſeth, ſuch is the Spirit: Therefore Kings have high & great Spirits, becauſe they looke on great & ſingular things, as their owne, Wherefore the Soule looking on theſe heavenly Things, it raiſeth the Spirit, ſo that it becomes to bigg & highe, for troubles from below, to bring under; whereas all other Cōforts being but from things of the Earth, are below the Spirit, and may enfeeble & abaſe it, but cannot greaten or ſtrengthen it: Yea, and theſe heavenly, ſpiritual Comforts, are the Comforts which ſpring from the cheifeſt Good; from the Perfection, End, Iſſue of all: Therefore are much Stronger then other Comforts, which are but the refreſhment of the Way to our End.
And as Theſe heavenly Comforts are more ſtrong: So they are more ſtrengthning, & nourishing to the new Creature in us, then any other Cō ſolations; Strenthening & nour…ſhing the new Creature.Theſe, (as ye have heard) carry the very Life of Chriſtianity in them; and therefore muſt moſt of all revive & cherrish the Inner Man; Theſe at firſt bred, therefore doe beſt feede & nourish, the new Creature; as was ſaid before in another caſe; ordinary phiſick, removes the cauſe of a diſeaſe, and ſo the ſicknes; but no way repaires or ſtrengthens Nature, but the Paraſelſian Phiſick, cures by reparing and ſtrengthning Nature: And ſo doe theſe Conſolations, helpe the Soule againſt Troubles, by ſtrengthning the Inner Man: The beſt Chriſtian may obſerve, that the new Creature in them, is never ſo much renewed, as by the meditation on theſe heavenly & ſpirituall Conſiderations.
Wherefore I beſeech you reſolve it, and hold to it, to uſe more The Uſe further preſſed.theſe kinds of Cordials when your Spirits droope in any Trouble: Why ſhould ye rather chooſe to drinke downe the extracts of Farth, then of Heaven? of the Creature, then of God & Chriſt? Oh doe not ſo; but labor to know, & underſtand theſe kinds of Conſolations, and to acquaint your ſelves better with them, and to make them more familiar with your ſpirits; and to growe into more aſſured perſwaſiō of your interſt in them; Which that ye may doe, ye muſt both obtaine the holy Ghoſt, to reveale them to you (for he onelyonly knowes them, as a mans ſpirite, doth the things of a man: 1. Cor. 2. 10. 11. and ye muſt uſe that Faith, which is the evidence of things not ſeene: Heb. 11. 1. which Faith helpes your Soule, as the proſpective glaſſe helpes the eye, to ſee theſe heavenly things, which elſe are ſo farr off, that the Soule cannot perceive them; and this act of Faith, which makes theſe heavenly things evident to you, will draw in your Soule unto an appropriation, and application of them.
It is a miſtake to thinke, we may ſee them by true Faith, and not A miſtake. about Faith in heavenly Comfortes, C…applye them to our ſelves; or that we firſt applye them, and after that ſee them; No, No, the evidencing of them by true faith ſpiritually, will draw in the Soule to applye them; Every Man, & Creature on whome the Sunne ſhines, takes in the bleſſing of his influence, for his ſhare, as pertaining to him; The Apoſtle diſcribes that Faith which applyes, & juſtifies, of which, he gives many inſtances, throughout the 11. Chap. to the Hebrewes; he diſcribes that very Faith, to be an evidence of theſe things; Becauſe, where there is ſuch a ſeeing theſe things, the Heart is brought to embrace, and applye them; therefore he joynes, the evidencing theſe things, & hope togeather; becauſe this evidencing them will bring forth hope: and Verſ. 13. the ſeeing them, and the being perſwaded of them, and embracing, or ſaluteing them as their owne; are conjoyned, for they ever goe togeather: becauſe indeed; the holy Ghoſt never reveales them ſpiritually, and as they are, to any, but to them, who have bine choſen to them, and ſhall have a propriety in them: Yea, it is the ſame Grace, of true holy Faith, that makes them evident, and ſhewes them to us; and that applies them to Juſtification; though it be a diverſe act of the ſame Grace of Faith: yet it is the ſame Grace; For, what Faith can the Apoſtle deſcribe Heb. 11. 1. but that Faith of which he ſpeaks before Chap 10. 38. by which the Juſt live; and that which he exemplifies throughout the 11. Chap. both which are Juſtifiing Faith; Therefore it muſt be; that the Faith which Juſtifies, & Sanctifies; doth ſhew evidently ſpirituall things to us, though by a ſeveral & diſtinct act from that by which it Juſtifies: Therefore, being the ſame Grace; when it hath ſhewed us ſpirituall things, it will goe on to draw us to applye them to our ſelves; Wherefore, get, & exerciſe that act of Faith which makes ye ſee evidently heavenly Things; and this will make ye applye them, and draw Comfort from them.
Now in this Worke; it is the Goſpel; which ſetts the Objects, or the heavenly Things before us: Then the holy Ghoſt his Worke; in convincing, or perſwading of the reallity of thoſe Things to our Ʋnderſtandings; Is as the Light which ſhines on thoſe Objects, and makes them viſible: And Faith; by His Conviction or Perſwaſion, is as the proſpective glaſſe, which inables our underſtandings, to perceive the reallity of them, which elſe it could not: Wherefore with this Light of the holy Ghoſt, and this proſpective Glaſſe of Faith; with your Spirits & Ʋnderſtandings; view in the Goſpel againe & againe, the Things of Heaven, & of Chriſt; and thence fetch Comfort in every Diſtreſſe.
Now to the end, ye may be helpt to doe thus: I ſhall in the following Obſervations open to you divers Things about Heaven, and our Glory there; which Chriſt revealed to His Diſciples, in this Text: By doing of which: I ſhall ſett the Things before you: Which are able aboundantly to Comfort your Hearts; But they will be as glorious ſights in darkenes, to them that cannot ſee; except ye obtaine the holy Ghoſt, to ſhine on them, as the Sunne, on Colours: And gett that Act of Faith, which is the Evidence of Things not ſeene, to lift up, or inable your Soules Eye, the Ʋnderſtanding, to looke on them: Which Favour I deſire the Lord to afford you: And ſo I proceed.
THE Diſcription of HEAVEN, And the heavenly Condition of true Reade the Epiſtle.BELEEVERS at the laſt: CHRIST Revealeth in this TEXT: Thus.
FIRST, It is Diſcribed by the Place it ſelfe; Heaven, is an Houſe, ſo called in oppoſition to a Tent or Tabernacle, to ſhew its Stability, and the Stability of their State who live in it: Wherefore, it is ſaid to have Foundations Heb. 11. 9. more then one, many, and yet one gives Stability: And, 1. Pet. 1. 4. It is ſaid to be Incorruptible, Ʋndefiled, that fadeth not away: This Stability is for Ever, and without all Change: As appeares both by the Time in which it was Created; In the Beginning: Gen. 1. 1. That is, in the Firſt of all Time, and of all Creatures: Now all that God firſt made, He made Immortall, as the Angels, & Chaos & theſe Heavens: As alſo, by the Manner of Gods making it, for he did not extract it out of other things, as he did all viſible things, in this World, he made & drew them out of the Chaos: But he put them forth Immediately from himſelfe, as he did the Chaos, the Angels, & Mans Soule: Now all that God Immediately puts forth, & makes of Nothing, is Immortall: Whereas, all other things returne unto their firſt Principles.
SECONDLY, It is Deſcribed by Its Relation to God; It is Gods Houſe ſo called, Both becauſe He made it: Heb. 11. 16. As alſo, becauſe, He dwels in it; That is, in it, he puts forth His cheifeſt Glory, (as a Prince doth in his Pallace, where he dwels, much more then in a Tent, or other part of his Kingdome) So that Its Glory, muſt be as much above any of this Worldly kingdoms; As Gods utmoſt Power, Majeſty, Wiſedom, Riches, which he can put forth, are above mans.
THIRDLY. It is Diſcribed, by Its ſpeciall Appropriation, to the Firſt Perſon in Trinity, the Father: It is God the Fathers Houſe; Both becauſe he made it; For Creation being the firſt Worke done on the Creature, is ſpecially appropriated to the Firſt Perſon the Father; Alſo, becauſe it is to be His: The Sonnes and holy Ghoſts being in this World and reſigned at the laſt day, that God the Father may be All in All; (as He is Firſt in the Motions about the Creature) 1. Cor. 15. 28. The Fathers People; That is, the Elect are to dwell there, and His Love in Election to be ſhewed forth there: Therefore it is called The Fathers; Math. 13. 43. though yet the Sonne & holy Ghoſt are included in it.
FOURTHLY, It is Diſcribed, by Its ſpeciall Relation to Chriſt, though it be God the Fathers Houſe, yet He is Chriſts Father, and ſo it is Chriſt his Inheritance, and Beleevers Inheritance; As 1. Pet. 1. 4. in that, They be One with Chriſt, Sonnes, & Heires; Inſomuch that theſe Diſciples, had they loved him as they ſhould, would be glad of his departure, ſince he went but to his Father; John. 14. 28.
FIFTLY, It is Diſcribed, by Its Capeablenes of Them, and ſo of All Beleevers (for He ſpeakes to theſe Eleaven in the Names of All, as ye heard before) there are in it many Manſions: It were noe Comfort, to heare of its Excellency, if it could not receive us, though God dwel there, yet the Creature alſo may; For He is now Emmanuel, God with Ʋs: And many, not a few, (though Comparatively they be a Little Flocke Luke. 12. 32.) and many for ſome, not for all, and that a ſett number, for it is Prepared for Beleevers, Heb. 11. 16. Therefore for ſo many as ſhall beleeve, and for no more: Now theſe their dwelling places are called Manſions, to expreſſe their abode in them, they be Sonnes with Chriſt, and ſhall abide in that Houſe for Ever:
Now the Truth of all this Deſcription of Heaven, is ratified by an Argument taken from Himſelfe (If it were not ſo I would have told you) He was their Freind, came from Heaven to Reveale its Secrets, He is the faithfull & true Witnes, therefore could not, but deale truely with thē.
Further, Heaven is Diſcribed in referrence to Beleevers; By the Meanes of their acceſſe & enterance into it, which is Chriſt: Who
Firſt, Prepares a Place for them their; The Father prepares it: Math. 25. 34. Both by a Free chooſing them to it, and their perticular Portion or Place in it, before the World began: As alſo, by Creating it for them from the Foundation of the World: But Chriſt prepares it; By Meriting, & Bringing about their Fruition of it: Both by Removing Impediments: And Purchaſing the Fathers Favour.
Now, Chriſt prepares a Place; By Going; (I goe to prepare a Place) He came from Heaven to prepare a Place in Heaven; by His humiliation And then He went from Earth; To prepare a Place: Both by His dying To ſatisfie Juſtice for Sinne; and to ratifie the Promiſes: (Heb. 9. 15. to the end) And by His riſing from Death, in that if He had bin held under Death, He had not bin quitt from our imputed guilt, nor could we have bin, nor had he lived to bring us to Heauen; 1. Cor. 15. 14. 17. Rom. 4. 25. & 5. 10. Heb. 7. 25. Alſo by his Aſcention, in that he thereby opened heaven doore, which was before ſhut Heb. 9. 8. 12. & diſpenced gifts to gather the Elect. Eph. 4. 8. 11. 12. Alſo by his Seſſion at Gods right Hand; where he pleads his Merits, which is called his makeing Interceſſion for us; Rom. 8. 34. and thence ſends downe the holy Ghoſt to doe all in us, that is requiſite to our meetenes for that place: And adminiſters the World for our good: And poſſeſſeth the Heaven in our Name, and as our Head & Roote: So that Chriſt as a Meritorious cauſe, an Exemplary cauſe, and an Efficient cauſe, prepares a Place in Heaven for Beleevers by his going: And this is further.
Secondly, Amplified by his Conſumation of this his Preparation: As he prepares a Place for them; So he will bring them into that Place: Which that he may doe, being now gone, he muſt come againe: Chriſt will come from Heaven, to fetch Beleevers unto Heaven; he will not ſend for them, but come for them; which makes their acceſſe to Heaven the more glorious, in that they ſhall be fetcht thither by Christ; Which is done, both in regard of Himſelfe, that he may have the Glory of judging the World, both Beleevers, and Unbeleevers; And in regard of them, becauſe they are his body & ſpouſe; and he will come to them therefore to marry them, and joyne them to Himſelfe; this is another diſcription of Heaven, by the manner of their Enterance into it, Even by Chriſt his glorious Comming from Heaven, to fetch them thither.
LASTLY, He further Amplifies it, by a Diſcription of the heavenly Place, by Its Communion with Him; They ſhall be taken to him, to be one with him, as the Body with the Head, the Spouſe with the Husband, and they ſhall be where he is; That is, in the ſame Place, State, & Condition; Heavenly happines, is a being one with Chriſt, and in his place, & ſtate; John. 12. 26. Thus theſe Words are a Diſcription of Heaven, and the heavenly Condition of true Beleevers: And ſhew us, That Chriſt is the Way, Truth, & Life, as John. 14. 6. [The Way,] For by Him they come, [The Truth,] For if every thinge were not ſo, He would tell it; [The Life,] Not onelyonly as a Meritorious Cauſe; But as the Roote: Heavens Life, is in Him: Col. 3. 3. 4. A being taken to Him, and with Him.
SEVENTH OBSERVATION.
That Beleevers Glory in Heaven, is a Fellowshipe in the Fathers Glory.
It is a dwelling in his Houſe, and ſo a ſharing in that Glory, which the Father there hath, ariſing to Himſelfe; There is great Queſtion about deſires of Salvation, and not Gods Glory; But the Truth is, Salvation is the Fruition of Gods Glory; a being in, and ſo pertaking of the Glory of Gods houſe, as they are pertakers of the Divine Nature, So of His Glory; That is Their Salvation; And it being the End of all things, it is the Fathers glory, who is the Beginning of all things.
EIGHT OBSERVATION.
That Gods Glory in Heaven which Beleevers pertake off; Is a Created Glory: Or a Glory which ariſeth from Creatures to God, and had a beginning.
For it is the Glory which He hath, ſince he made him an Houſe, and dwelt in a Place; And ſo it is neerer to the capacity of Creatures; Whereas the Glory that is in, and of Himſelfe, and Eternall; Is Incomprehenſible, & Incommunicable.
NINTH OBSERVATION.
That Beleevers Glory in Heaven, Is in a Communiō & Ʋniō together.
Many together, dwell in one Houſe; It is a being One, as God & Chriſt are One; John. 17. 22. as the Glory of this World, and ſo of Mans body is in the union & compact of many parts together: It is alſo a being with Chriſt, (as is expreſt in the Text, and hath bin ſhewed before) And it is a being with God alſo, As John. 17 21. One with Ʋs.
FINIS.