Gods Love to Man and Mans Duty Towards God, Part 2 · Section 13

Gods Love to Man and Mans Duty Towards God · Part 2 · Section 13

p. 2602 Sam. 23.5.

All my ſalvation, and all my deſire.

Sect. 13. PROP. XIII. The benefits and bleſsings promiſed in the Covenant of Grace, and ſure to all that perform the aforementioned condition, are exceeding great and many, are indeed inexpreſsible, ineſtimable, and inconceivable.

O That I could borrow the tongues of men and Angels for a while! what need of the tongue of the Learned here? yea, of that wine of the Kingdom, which would cauſe the lips of thoſe that are aſleep to ſpeak? might one of us poor mortals have the priveledge (with him in 2 Cor. 12.4.) to be caught up into Paradiſe, to hear how thoſe bleſſed ones above ſet forth, and magnifie Covenant-bleſſings, continually praiſing and adoring that Free-grace of God in Chriſt, that brought them to a participation thereof, ſhould we not hear foreign, ſuch lofty ſtrains of heavenly Eloquence, as our low capacities would not be able to repeat after them?

As when Jacob firſt heard of his ſon Joſeph's honour and advancement in Egypt, his heart fainted… ſo it might be aſtoniſhing news to us, to hear wh… great things God hath promiſed, if we come up to Covenant-terms. As when the Queen of Sheba had p. 261ſeen the glory of King Solomon, there was no more ſpirit in her: how raviſhing ſhould it be to the ſouls of the faithful, to ſee and hear what glory God holds forth to them in the Covenant of Grace. Here are riches of glory on the veſſels of mercy. O the riches of the glory of this myſtery! unſearchable riches indeed. See Rom. 9.23. Col. 1.27. Epheſ. 1.18. & 3.8.

It is not to be thought, that any man on earth, much leſs that ſuch a worm as I, ſhould make a full diſcovery of all the Bleſſings, and glorious priveledges contained in Gods gracious Covenant. Indeed, eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither have entred into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, 1 Cor. 2.9. As we cannot by ſearching find out God to perfection, (Job 11.7.) ſo neither can we fully know, or deſcribe the happineſs of thoſe, who have a ſpecial intereſt in God. As one ſayes, we ſhall never ſee the Covenant of Grace fully unfolded, till (according to Heb. 1.12.) the Heavens come to be folded up; or rather till we ſee Heaven it ſelf opened.

The Grand promiſe here is [I will be their God] a promiſe containing all the reſt. A promiſe containing Him, whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain.

Who is he that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his ſervant, let him no more walk diſconſolately; but encourage himſelf in the Lord his God. Well mayeſt thou rejoyce in thy portion. Deus meus, & omnia. O rejoyce in his Highneſs …or ever.

Obj. But was not God the God of Ieſhurun? as p. 262Moſes ſaid, none like unto the God of Ieſhurun. And yet Jeſhurun forſook God, and lightly eſteemed the Rock of his Salvation. And when the Lord ſaw it, he abhorred them, becauſe of the provoking of his ſons, and of his daughters, Deut. 32.15, 19. To the Iſraelites in common pertained the Adoption, and the glory, and the Covenants, as the Apostle ſaith. Yet with many of them God was not well pleaſed; but overthrew them in the wilderneſs. Yea, ſometimes he ſaid of them, you only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will puniſh you for all your iniquities, Am…s 3.2.

Anſw. Grant all this, yet it is no denial, or diminiſhing of your happineſs, who have a ſpecial propriety in God; nor ſhould it be any damp to your joy, and rejoycing in Him

As there is a twofold call, ſo there is a twofold relation to God; as a twofold manner of being in Covenant with God, ſo a twofold interest in Him. Obſerve it, there is a common, external, and ineffectual; and again there is a ſpecial, internal, and effectual call to God: So there is a more common Relation to God, and a more ſpecial Relation to Him. A Common intreſt in God, and a Special intreſt in him.

Indeed a great priviledge it is to be a people near unto the Lord, to be ſo much as externally in Covenant with Him. Yea, it is far better to be continued in his Houſe and Family, though under the diſcipline of the Rod, than to be driven out of his houſe and heritage, though it were with Babylon, to fit as Queen in the earth. Better to ſuffer affliction with the people of God, to enjoy his word and ordinances, the ordinary means of ſalvation; than p. 263to enjoy the largeſt ſhare of worldly Pleaſures, Plenty, and Proſperity, without them. Thus Englands Mercies (were the Land more Impoveriſhed than it is, yet) are to be prized above the Treaſures of both Indies. That was a deſperate prophane ſpeech of him, that ſaid, He would not change his part in Paris, for a part in Paradiſe. The Barreneſt part of Gods Hill, is to be choſen before the fateſt Valleys, where God dwelleth not. So Lot found: Surely, they have cauſe to ſay, The Lines are fallen to them in pleaſant places, and they have a goodly Heritage, that dwell in Emmanuel's Land. Happy are the People, that hear, and know the joyful ſound: The Damned, with whom God will parley no more, count ſuch happy. The Heathen, that are without God in the world, and ſtrangers to the Tearms and Tenor of his Covenant, did they underſtand their own Eſtates, would count ſuch happy. But as it is the Miſery of thoſe without, generally, not to know their Miſery; ſo of too many within the Church, not to know, or conſider their own happineſs, what Advantages they have for Heaven above others. As our Saviour, weeping over that ſinful City, that rejected him and his Grace; that choſe rather to Die and Periſh, than to be gathered under his healing Wings: [O, if Thou hadſt known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace, Luke 19.42.] If thou hadſt known theſe things, then mighteſt thou have been for ever happy.

But therefore thou that haſt attended to the things of thy peace, and haſt come in upon Gods Call, thou art happy: Now is Salvation come to thy ſoul. And if there be enough in God, in Chriſt, p. 264in Heaven to make thee happy, thou ſhalt be for ever happy. Others have had Life and Salvation offered, but could not ſee to take it. But happy thou indeed, who haſt (with Mary) choſen that good part, which ſhall never be taken from thee. To thee this everlaſting Covenant (which I am opening) ſhall be a ſpring of Everlaſting Conſolation.

Now you may look upon God, as your God indeed. I ſay, God is yours. And though this be a ſhort Sentence, ſoon uttered, yet is it ſo Copious a Subject, as you might be Meditating on all your days, and yet never be able fully to comprehend the Happineſs included in it. When I ſay, God is yours, I have ſaid all, I can ſay no more: For all Happineſs is implied, and included in it.

The miſery of the Damned is comprized in two particulars, ſcil. In poenâ Damni, and In poenâ Senſus, in what good they have loſt, and are deprived of for ever, and what evil they feel, have Inflicted on them, and muſt ever lie under. On the contrary, the happineſs of the Faithful is ſum'd up in theſe two Points, to wit, Freedom from Evil, and Fruition of Good. And how ſafe are they, who have God for their Shield? How Rich are they, who have God for their Portion, an All-ſufficient God for their Reward? O exceeding great Reward! As holy David ſays here, This is all my Salvation, and all my deſire: Or as ſome read it, He is all my Salvation, and He is all my deſire.

[1.] That now you have a ſpecial propriety in God, this is all your Salvation.

(1.) It ſpeaks you freed from the guilt of ſin. So Jer. 31.33, 34. Where the Lord promiſeth to be p. 265their God, he addeth: [For I will forgive their Iniquity, and I will remember their ſin no more.] Sin unpardoned ſeparateth betwixt God and ſouls: Therefore God evermore forgiveth their Iniquities, unto whom he gives himſelf. Now what a bleſſed Priviledge is this, to have your ſins pardoned! Even as David deſcribeth Bleſſedneſs, Pſal. 32.1. Bleſſed are they whoſe Iniquities are forgiven, and whoſe ſins are covered. Bleſſed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute ſin. What would not a condemned Traitor, or Malefactor give for the Kings pardon? And what is a Pardon from God worth then, which could no other way be Purchaſed, but by the moſt precious Blood of his dear Son? But you who have felt what a burden ſin is, and have ſometimes cried out of that burden, as Intollerable; certainly, you cannot but account the pardon of ſin a Mercy and Priviledge ineſtimable. O bleſſed change indeed, for one that was a Rebel, ſentenced to Death by the law of Heaven, to have the black Sentence reverſed, and to become a Favourite of God: For a Child of Wrath to become a Child of Love. The pardon of ſin carrieth Redemption in it, Col. 1.14. In whom we have Redemption (through his Blood) even the Forgiveneſs of ſins. The pardon of ſin connotes, Juſtification, or is all one with it. The way of Juſtifying one that hath been a ſinner, an Offender, being by the pardoning of all, wherein he hath offended. The pardon of ſin ſpeaketh peace, and Reconciliation with God, 2 Cor. 5.19. God was in Chriſt Reconciling the World unto himſelf, not imputing their Treſpaſſes unto them. The pardon of ſin inferreth Adoption, Gal. 4.5.

(2.) It ſpeaketh you delivered from the dominion p. 266of ſin. Though your Corruptious will be a Diſturbance to you while in this Imperfect ſtate, y… ſin ſhall not have dominion over you: For ye are not under the Law, but under Grace, Rom. 6.14. You are not barely under a Law commanding, bee under a gracious Covenant, which as it requireth Duty, ſo it encourageth with a promiſe of Grace, and help to perform it. The Lord hath promiſed, as to Forgive, ſo likewiſe to Subdue the Iniquities of his People, Mic. 7.18, 19. Though there be ſome Life in the Members of the Old-man, as yo… feel to your ſorrow; yet it is wounded at the heart, of which wound it ſhall never recover. So

(3.) It ſpeaketh you ſafe from the final Prevalency of Temptations. Your God is greater tha… all: Neither Men, nor Devils are able to pluck you out of your Fathers hand, John 10.29. Therefore the Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail. You are ſtill liable to be tempted, yet being in firm League with God, you ſhall have ſeaſonable ſuccour from him. As Saul encouraged the men of Jabeſh-Gilead, Tomorrow by that time the Sun is hot, ye ſhall have help. So God is faithful, who will not ſuffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, 1 Cor. 10.13. He will quench Satans fiery darts, before they ſhall have quite drunk up your ſpirits: Yea, the God of Peace ſhall bruiſe Satan under your Feet ſhortly.

(4.) It aſſureth of a ſeaſonable Deliverance out of ſpiritual Troubles, ſo it may ſupport one under preſent ſad diſertion. You have now ſhot the Gulph, you are paſſed from Death to Life. And though you may be full of Fears ſometimes, and paſſing ſentence againſt your ſelves; though your condition p. 267for the preſent may not be ſo comfortable, yet it is ſafe. You may ſometimes walk in Darkneſs, yet the Lord will be your everlaſting Light: Your days of Mourning ſhortly will be ended. The Lord will be a Sun as well as a Shield, to the Upright.

(5.) It ſpeaketh Exemption, or Deliverance from outward Troubles, when it may be good for you. God is known in Zions Palaces for a Refuge, God is in the midſt of her; God ſhall help her, and that right early. And becauſe thou haſt made the Lord which is my Refuge, even the moſt High, thy Habitation: There ſhall no evil befal thee, Pſal. 91.9, 10.

(6.) Or it ſpeaketh Deliverance from the evil of Affliction. You may be Afflicted but not Forſaken, Pſal. 89.32.33, 34. I will viſit their iniquities with ſtripes. Nevertheleſs, my loving Kindneſs will I not utterly take from him, nor ſuffer my Faithfulneſs to fail. My Covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my Lips. Yea, as it is, Neh. 13.2. Our God turned the Curſe into a Bleſſing. Your God will do as much for you, will turn Croſſes into Bleſſings. No evil ſhall befal you, but what hath Rationem boni, what God will turn to good, Rom. 8.28. As it is, Ezra 8.22. The hand of our God is upon all them for good, that ſeek him. Yea, even his Afflicting hand too: His Afflicting hand is never on them, but for good. So I may allude to that Paſſage, 1 Sam. 16.4, 5. When Samuel came to Bethlehem, the Elders trembled at his coming, and ſaid, Comeſt thou peaceably? And he ſaid, Peaceably: I am come to ſacrifice unto the Lord: ſanctifie your ſelves, and come with me to the ſacrifice. So indeed you may be ſet on trembling, p. 268when Sickneſs comes, when Poverty com… when ſuch an Affliction comes you may fall a tre… bling; whereas, if you ſtay and enquire about t… end of its coming, you may be ſatisfied, that comes peaceably. It is not the Wound of an E… my, nor the Chaſtiſement of a Cruel one: But Call from God, your Father, to ſanctifie your ſelve… and offer up ſome Luſt, ſome ſin, or other, a Sacrifice. It may be Sickneſs comes as a Cure of th… ſpiritual Indiſpoſition, ſecurity, and Deadneſs it may be croſſes in Eſtate come, to cauſe thee … offer up thy Pride, Luxury, Senſuality, Coveto… neſs. As when David would know of the Children of Benjamin, whether they came indeed … help, or to betray him: They anſwered (1 Chr… 12.17, 18.) Thine are we, David, and on thy ſide… Peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. O the happy eſtat… of thoſe that are at peace with God! He will cauſ… the very ſtones of the Field, and the Beaſts of th… Field, and what was moſt likely to offend, and annoy them, to be at peace with them. Great peac… have ſuch indeed, nothing ſhall offend them. Afflictions come not to harm, but to help them. A… they ſaid, We are thine, David; ſo if God be yours, then all things are yours. All changes tha… come, are on your ſide, your helpers.

(7.) It ſpeaketh your ſecurity from final Apoſtacy, and ſo from final Condemnation. Now your condition is ſafe indeed, ſafe to Eternity. Though you may not therefore give way to ſinful Security, which is oppoſite to an holy fear, and cautiouſneſs. No, but therefore your eſtate is ſafe, becauſe God hath promiſed to keep you in his fear, Jer. 32.40. I p. 269will put my fear in their hearts, that they ſhall not …part from me. And they that have his Grace, …t to depart from him here, ſhall not be ſentenced … depart from him hereafter. You that are brought …, and kept cloſe to God here, ſhall not be baniſh…, ſeparated from God hereafter: You whom God Juſtifieth here. he will not condemn hereafter. The Lord knoweth them that are his, and will own, …d openly acknowledge them before the whole world at the laſt day.

Thus you that come up to Covenant Terms, and … have the Lord for your God, you are delivered … the greateſt evils; and delivered by leſſer evils, …at come upon you. I ſay, by leſſer evils, God delivereth you from greater, who will deliver you …rom all evils at laſt. Thus God is your Shield, and …ll others are but as Paper-ſhields, or Painted-ſhields, compared with the Shield of thine help. Salvation … of the Lord. All Salvation; if God be for us, who, … what can be againſt us? No ſuch Guard againſt …il in all the world, as God, the chiefeſt Good. …ee here the ſafety of thoſe, who are in firm League …ith the Almighty, under the ſpecial protection of God moſt High. See the wonderful Immunities of ſuch, as have him for their Protector and Governour: Well might David ſay of it, This is all …y Salvation.

[2.] Yea, further in this ſpecial propriety in God, there is included all Good, that a gracious …ul can deſire, Pſal. 73.25. Whom have I in Hea…en but thee? and there is none upon earth that I deſire …eſides thee. You that have the Lord for your God …deed, how can you deſire more, than God hath …romiſed to be unto you, and to do for you? You p. 270have all, in having him, who hath all things, and can do all things.

Not that you are Godded with God, as ſome hav… ſpoken blaſphemouſly. But remember ye wha… followed the Ambition of our firſt Parents, thei… affecting to be as Gods, ſacrilegious Ambition. Th… the Devil lifted them up by his Temptation, tha… he might bring them down, to be like himſelf Such Heaven-daring pride as that, muſt needs have a fall. As Tyrus is threatned, Ezek. 28.2.6.8. Becauſe thine heart is lifted up, and thou haſt ſaid I am God. Becauſe thou haſt ſet thine heart as th… Heart of God: They ſhall bring thee down to th… Pit, and thou ſhalt die the death. Such high-flo… ſpirits, as talk of the fulneſs of the God-head dwelling bodily in the Saints, are not the Children o… Light, but the Children of Pride, Erratick ſtars to whom (without a ſelf-abaſing ſight of themſelves) is reſerved the blackneſs of Darkneſs for ever.

It's true, God gives himſelf to his People, to b… enjoyed, and glorified of them; but not ſo, as … be Debaſed, and Degraded in them, to the condition of his Creatures, nor ſo as to Exalt, and Raiſ… them above the condition of Creatures. He communicates his Mercy freely, but his Glory he wi… not give to another. As Pharaoh heaped Dignities and Royal Favours upon Joſeph: Only (ſaid he) in the Throne will I be greater than thou. Go… will do wonderful things for his People: But a… for thoſe that talk of their being Godded wit… God, they would un-God him, and deifie themſelves.

But I come to you, who have a ſpecial Intereſti… God.

p. 271(1.) God is yours in the ſweeteſt Relations. God …s your Shepherd. And what doth the Pſalmiſt in…er from thence? The Lord is my Shepherd, therefore I ſhall not want, Pſal. 23.1. God is your Teacher, John 6.45. And there is none that Teacheth, like him. God is your Father, as Chriſt ſaid, John 20.17. I aſcend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God. If your God, then your Father. 2 Cor. 6.18. I will be a Father unto you, and ye ſhall be my Sons and Daughters, ſaith the Lord Almighty. And what a priviledge is this, to have God for your Father, and to be owned as his Children. The Children of God can never be left Orphans. The Sons of God can never want an Inheritance. Surely, Heaven is enough for all Gods Children. In our Fathers Houſe there is Bread enough, and there is Room enough, John 14.2. God is your Husband, Hoſ. 2.16, 19. O happy Match for thee, to have thy Maker for thy Husband. He is a meet help indeed. An All-ſufficient God is a meet help indeed for poor Indigent Creatures; only we are infinitely unworthy of him, not meet for him of our ſelves. 'Tis his Infinite Free-grace that accounts, and makes us meet.

(2.) All Gods Attributes are yours. There is no Attribute, or Property of his, but may ſpeak Terrour unto, and will ſet againſt all thoſe, that are, and keep at a diſtance from him. Even the Patience of God, which ſuch have abuſed, will plead, and witneſs againſt them; the Grace and Mercy of God, which they have ſlighted, and rejected, will riſe up in Judgment againſt them one day. On the contrary, there is no Attribute of Gods, but ſpeaketh p. 272good to them that are at peace with God. O what a rich Store-houſe of Comfort is here, to have all Gods glorious Attributes engaged, and at work for you! His abſolute Soveraignty, and infinite Power engaged, and at work to uphold, protect, and defend you. His perfect Wiſdom, and Omniſcience, to ſee to you, and to order all things for the beſt, that concern you. His tender and never failing Compaſſion, to pity you. His rich Mercy, and boundleſs Love, to relieve you. His conſtant Truth, and everlaſting Faithfulneſs, to perform all the good promiſes that he hath made unto you. His Holineſs to Transform you into the ſame Image, to Aſſimulate you. His Juſtice, to avenge you of your Enemies, to execute Judgment for you. His Omnipreſence, graciouſly to accompany you. His Unchangeableneſs, and Eternity, to continue his loving Kindneſs to you, and to Crown all he does for you in endleſs Happineſs.

As when the Spouſe had given a Lively, Lofty, and Lovely Deſcription of her Beloved, Cant. 5.10. &c. My Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefe… among Ten Thouſand. His Head as the moſt fine Gold, his Eyes as of Doves. His Cheeks, as a Bed of Spices. His Lips like Lillies, dropping ſweet ſmelling Myrrhe. His Legs as Pillars of Marble, ſet in Sockets of Gold. His Countenance a… Lebanon, excellent as the Cedars. His Mouth moſt ſweet; yea, he is altogether Lovely. The… ſhe concludes thus exulting, and making her boa… of him, ver. 16. This is my Beloved, and this is my Friend. So you who have now given up your ſelves to be the Lords, after the largeſt ſurvey of the Divine perfections, you can poſſibly take, you p. 273may ſit down, and reſt in this ſweet cloſe, This God is our God; and he will be our Guide even unto Death, yea, unto Glory. This Almighty, All-commanding, All-wiſe, All-knowing God, this Immenſe Being, this Holy, Juſt, Loving, Gracious, and Merciful God; this Faithful, Unchangeable, Eternal God, is our God for ever and ever. This, this is the Heritage of the Servants of the Lord, and their Righteouſneſs is of me, ſaith the Lord: So likewiſe their Bliſs, and Happineſs.

(3.) If God be yours, his Chriſt is yours. Indeed it is in, and through Chriſt, that God is yours.

Though they ſpeak not the words of Truth, and Soberneſs, but like men forſaken of God, and Reaſon too; like men given up to ſtrong Deluſions, who talk of their being Chriſted with Chriſt. And that is a weak, and frivolous Objection, (which might ſeem to befriend them.) ſcil. If Chriſt and his Righteouſneſs be made over to Believers, then they ſhould be Mediators, Saviours, as Chriſt is. It follows not. As the Husband giveth himſelf in Marriage to the Wife, but that maketh not the Wife an Head, or Husband. Chriſt and his Righteouſneſs is made over to us, to a certain end, that is, to our Juſtification, and Salvation, not to make us Saviours: He is made unto us Redemption, 1 Cor. 1.30. but …e are never ſaid to be made Redeemers by him. Aliud eſt juſtitia Chriſti Mediatoria quoad officium: …iud eſt juſtitia Chriſti Mediatoris quoad Meritum. As Dr. Arrowſmith. Or it is for the ſake of Chriſt, with reſpect to his Righteouſneſs, and Satisfaction, that we ſinners come to be Pardoned, Juſtified; not that we are as perfect, as Chriſt himſelf: p. 274But being intereſted in him, we have his Satisfaction interpoſing betwixt us and Gods Juſtice, and procuring Pardon for us.

Now bleſſed art thou above Millions of Men, and Women, who mayſt ſay, Chriſt is mine. Yea, this is Inconceivably more, than if all the Kingdoms of the world were thine. He is the Pearl of greateſt price. All things in the world, but Loſs, and Dung, compared to this Pearl. O the precious Blood, and precious Benefits of Chriſt! O the unſearchable Riches of Chriſt! O the Fulneſs of Chriſt! In him all fulneſs dwells. There is an Infinitefulneſs both of Merit, and Grace in him.

He is and hath all that ſouls ſtand in need or ca… deſire, to make them happy. He is the great Lord Treaſurer of Heaven. And, O the Treaſures of Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, and Strength, that are with him! Ho, every one that thirſteth come, Iſa. 55.1. Whoſoever will, let him take of the Water of Life freely, Rev. 22.17. There is enough i… Chriſt to fill, and ſatisfie all the thirſty ſouls in the world; enough in Chriſt for every one that wi… come, be they never ſo many. One Chriſt is enough for all the Faithful: Yea, Chriſt alone is enough for them. For whom I have ſuffered the loſs of all thing (ſays the Apoſtle) and do count them but dung that may win Chriſt, Phil. 3.8. All things were accounted nothing in compariſon of Chriſt; better want all thing than want Chriſt. He is All in all, yea, he is All eve… out of all. Though you ſhould have nothing here yet enjoying Chriſt, you may be happier, than i… you poſſeſſed all things in the world. He is the Hundred-fold Father, and Mother; as Mr. Vines uſed to ſay. He is the Hundred-fold Houſe and Land p. 275the Hundred-fold Eſtate ſpoken of, Mark 10.29, …0. And you would not count him a poor man, …hat had put off his Lumber and Traſh, and turned …is Eſtate into Gold and Jewels, things of the greateſt value.

Haſt thou a Chriſt? why then thou haſt the Heir of all things, even him, who will be all things to thee, 1 Cor. 1.30. He is made unto us Wiſdom, …nd Righteouſneſs, and Sanctification, and Redemption. If Chriſt be ours he will be our Prophet, to …ſtruct us, our Prieſt to Expiate our ſins, and Sanctifie us; our King to Redeem and Save us.

Thou that haſt Chriſt, thou haſt the true Light: …d he ſhall give thee Light, when others ſtill abide … darkneſs.

Thou haſt the Sun of Righteouſneſs riſen on thee, while others are under the power of the Prince of …arkneſs. O the glorious Apparel of the meaneſt …aints clothed with the Sun! Every true Believer …ines in the Beams of this Sun of Righteouſneſs, …d is far more richly arayed therewith, than He…d, was in his Cloath of Silver, glitter…ng in the Sun.Joſephus.

Thou that haſt Chriſt, thou haſt the true Bread …at came down from Heaven. The Bread of Life, while they that are ſtrangers to Chriſt, feed upon …es, feed upon Husks, things which can never …tisfie. Thou that haſt Chriſt, thou haſt the Well … Life: Thou mayſt drink freely of the Water of …e, while others (alas) have only broken Ci…erns, and ſtinking Puddles to go too.

What a full Chriſt is this? Our Light, and our …ighteouſneſs, and our Peace, and our Life; in a …ord, our All.

p. 276(4.) If God be yours, then his Spirit is yours▪ Indeed ſome ſpeak of the Perſon of the Spirit, being given to, and the Perſon of the Holy Gho… dwelling in the Faithful; which yet they thus Ca… tion. You muſt not conceive that thereby … doth make us one Perſon, with himſelf, or tha… he doth Communicate unto us any Perſonal, … Divine property of his own (for that is Incommunicable) Lyford ſenſes exterr. p. 141. No… ſuch as go this way muſt not be ranked in o… thoughts with thoſe I ſpeak of before, men of corrupt minds, and profligate principles.

Though I confeſs I have ſome doubt, whethe… the Expreſſion of the Spirits perſonal In-dwelling i… the Godly, be ſafe, as they lay it down. For e… ther it would ſeem, not to hold forth enough, ſci… To import no more than that he is eſſentially preſe… in them, and ſo he is every where preſent, Pſ… 139.7. Whither ſhall I go from thy Spirit, or wh… ther ſhall I flee from thy preſence. Thus the wick… have his preſence, what ever they are doing, whe… ſoever they are: Or elſe it would ſeem to impo… too much, ſcil. a perſonal Ʋnion of the Holy Gho… and Believers, which all that are ſober muſt den… Otherwiſe they muſt hold the Spirit Incarnate, … well as the Son, and that the Spirit and a Believe make but one Perſon; and ſo (as Chriſt the Son… Mary, was the Son of God, the Humane Natu… being taken into the Perſon of the Son of God) ev… ry Believer ſhould be the Holy Ghoſt. Again, … read as well of God the Father, and Chriſts dw… ling in the Faithful, and making their abode wi… them. And what reaſon there is to imagine ſo… peculiar way of the Spirits In-dwelling differe… p. 277from that of the Father, and the Son, I am not able … apprehend.

But you that have given up your ſelves to God, How is his Mercy magnified towards you? They …re not mean things that he gives to you; No, he …ives you Himſelf, he gives you his Son, he gives …ou his Spirit. O thrice happy Creatures! who …ave a ſpecial Intereſt in God, the Father, Son, and …oly Ghoſt. O unſpeakable Gift! O infinite Gift! …s when God made promiſe to Abraham, becauſe …e could ſwear by no greater, he ſwore by Himſelf. …o, when he promiſeth himſelf, his Son and Spirit, …e muſt ſay he could promiſe nothing greater. As …raunah gave like a King; what God giveth to is people is like a God: as Chriſt is called the gift …f God, Acts 8.20. Certainly God could give no…ing more like himſelf, (John 10.30. John 5.7.) As Chriſt ſaid, Whether is greater the Gold or …e Temple that ſanctifieth the Gold? Whether is …eater, the Gift, or the Altar that ſanctifieth the …ift? The holy Spirit is ſuch a Gift as ſanctifieth all …her Gifts; and ſo of all Gifts the greateſt. The …angeliſt Luke, for [good things] inſerts [the holy …rit,] in Mat. 7.11. How much more ſhall your …eavenly Father give [good things] to them that … him. Which is thus, Luke 11.13. How much …re ſhall your Heavenly Father give [the holy Spi…] to them that ask him. Gods giving the holy …irit to any, is the giving of all good Things, in …gnore. His giving the Spirit is an Earneſt and …dge of more, that he intendeth to give. It is a …ding Bleſſing, that comes to make way for more. …is given to prepare you for Mercy, to prepare … for Glory. Think of thoſe ſweet and excellent p. 278Properties and Appellations given him i… Scripture.

He is the Spirit of Truth, and ſo he will lead yo… into all neceſſary Truth, John 16.13. He is the be… Teacher, 1 John 2.27. Ye need not that any ma… teach you, but as the ſame anointing teacheth you O! there is none teacheth like him. He is the be… Guide. Men may be deceived, and may deceiv… others, may miſtake and miſlead others; ſo ca… the Spirit of Truth, you that are Lead by the Spi… rit, you have a good Guide indeed, a faithful guid… that will not ſuffer you to Erre damnably, will a… ſuffer you finally to miſcarry; he is the Spirit … Wiſdom, the beſt Counſellor.

He is the Spirit of Grace, Heb. 10.29. A… Love, Joy, Peace, Long-ſuffering, Gentlene… Goodneſs, Faith, Meekneſs, Temperance, are th… Fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5.22, 23. And what a… the moſt precious Fruits of the Earth, to the Frui… of the Spirit? Now let not the Eunuch that ha… joyned himſelf to the Lord, ſay, Behold, I am dry Tree. Inſtead of the Bryer, ſhall come up … Mirtle-tree. Of a dry Tree the Spirit of Grac… can make a fruitful Bough; like Joſeph, can m… a Tree of Righteouſneſs, full of good and pleaſ… Fruits. His preſence is enough to turn a De… into an Eden, a Wilderneſs into the Garden … God.

He is the Spirit of Power, that though we … weak indeed, yet we may be ſtrengthened in … Inner man by the Spirit, Epheſ. 3.16. May … enabled to tread down ſtrength, to mortifie our … ruptions, through the Spirit, Rom. 8.13. Th… we are enabled to diſcharge Duties, the Spirit b… ing p. 279our Infirmities, Rom. 8.26. Thus we are enabled to walk in Gods wayes, Ezek. 36.27. I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes.

He is the Spirit of Life: The Quickning Spirit, Rom. 8.11. Can theſe dry Bones live? Yea, if the Spirit of Life enter into them. David oft prayeth for quickening. Such as are alive in a ſpiritual ſence, ſhould deſire and pray to be more lively. Well, it is the Spirit that quickeneth, as it was with the Prophet Ezekiel, Ezek. 3.24. The Spirit entered upon me, and ſet me upon my feet.

He is the Spirit of Liberty. The Free-ſpirit, Pſal. 51.11. Uphold me with thy free Spirit, where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty, we are oft ſtreightned, alas: But it is becauſe we are a-wanting to our ſelves, and becauſe we do not entertain the Spirit of his good likeing, cheriſh his Motions, follow his Councels; we are ſtreightned in our ſelves, but the Spirit of the Lord is not ſtreightned.

He is the Spirit of Glory, the Comforter. And you that carefully attend to his quickening Counſels ſhall in the end attain to his chearing Comforts. And what is the Joy of Harveſt, to that Joy in the Holy Ghoſt? VVhat is the Joy of them that divide the ſpoil, to the Joy of Gods ſalvation? As we read of the Spirits helping Believers in Prayer with groans unutterable, Rom. 8.26. So will he in due time furniſh them as well for the work of Praiſing God, filling them with Joy unſpeakable, and full of Glory, ſee Rom. 14.15.

And ſuch (as you have heard) is that good Spirit of God, which is given unto all thoſe, who truly give up themſelves to God. O bleſſed ſouls indeed! p. 280O thrice happy Creatures! To whom God gives Himſelf, his Son, and Spirit, Rejoyce in the Lord ye Righteous, and again, and again, I ſay rejoyce. Let not the Conſolation of God ſeem ſmall to you. If there be any Conſolation in the God of all Conſolation, if any Conſolation in Chriſt, if any Comfort to be had in the Spirit, the Comforter, it is for you. Gladneſs it is for the Upright in heart. What more can be wiſhed to make you happy, than is included in the Apoſtles Valediction, or Benediction, 2 Cor. 13.14. The Grace of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghoſt, be with you all. Now theſe are all with you indeed, and ſhall be ever with you. As Criſt promiſed, John 14.16, 17. The Spirit of Truth, the Comforter, ſhall dwell and abide with you for ever. O happy Creatures, that have the good Spirit of God your Guide, and Counſellor, your Companion, and Comforter; The Spirit of Truth to teach you, the Spirit of Grace to ſanctifie you, the Spirit of Power to aſſiſt and help you; the Spirit of Life to quicken; the Spirit of Liberty to enlarge you; the Spirit of Joy and Peace to revive and comfort you; the Spirit of Glory to reſt upon you. Though earthly Friends may fail, may forſake you; yet here is a Friend indeed, that will ſtick to you, and abide with you for ever.

(5.) The good Providence of God is ſtill at work for you. My Father worketh hitherto, and I work, ſays Chriſt, John 5.17. Gods attributes are ſtill at work for you. His Eyes at work. Behold the Eyes of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his Mercy. The Eyes p. 281of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Earth, to watch over thoſe, whoſe hearts are upright towards him, His Hands are at work: The good Hand of our God is upon all them for good that ſeek him; yea, many times his Arm is made bare, his Arm is ſtretched out. That the Heathen, and their Enemies are forced to acknowledge, The Lord hath done great things for them▪ It ſhall be ſaid of Iſrael, What hath God wrought? Who raiſed up the Righteous man from the Eaſt? O how great is his goodneſs, which he hath laid up for them that fear him, and which he is alſo laying out on them, which he hath wrought for them before the ſons of men!

The Providence of God is two-fold, there is a common Povidence, and a ſpecial Providence.

A Common Providence over the Creatures in general, as they are Gods Creatures. A Special Providence over the Faithful, as in nearer Relation unto God, his Children, his Friends, and Confederates. As God hath a Special propriety in them, ſo he hath a ſpecial care of them.

We read he preſerveth Man and Beaſt, Pſal. 36.6. But more eſpecially that he preſerveth the Faithful, Pſal. 31.23. He is the Saviour of all men, but eſpecially of them that Believe.

Yet even the Common Providence of God is a ſpecial ground of Encouragement to his People, That he is the Preſerver of all things. If he provideth for the young Lyons, and the Ravens that cry; much more that he will provide for the Sheep of his Paſture, and for his Lambs; while he Feeds his Enemies, he will not let his own Children ſtarve.

Again, That he Governeth all things, without whom no man can lift up Hand or Foot in all the p. 282world, without whom not a Dog that can move his Tongue. He that ruleth in Jacob, over-ruleth all t… the ends of the Earth.

But come we to his Special Providence over the Faithful. So, all the Paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth unto ſuch as keep his Covenant, Pſal. 25.10. By the Paths of the Lord, there we are to underſtand, not the Paths of his Precepts, wherein he would have us to walk, but the paths of his Providence, wherein he walks towards his people: The way of his proceedings.

And what is ſaid of theſe paths? They are al… [Mercy and Truth] which ſome make an Hendigdis, like that Jer. 22.3. Execut Iudgment and Righteouſneſs; that is, Execute righteous Judgment. So here Mercy and Truth, i. e. Mercy indeed. Or we may take them as diſtinct, as holding forth thus much, that God doth not only begin with them in a way of mercy, but goes on with them as he had begun. His mercy to ſuch is conſtant. He continues his loving Kindneſs to theſe, even of his truth and Faithfulneſs; or thus, Truth hath reference to ſome word that God hath ſpoken: Not to the word of threatning here, becauſe Mercy is joyned with it: What can it refer to therefore, but the word of Promiſe? ſignifying Gods performing promiſe, keeping Covenant with ſuch as keep Covenant with him? So the meaning is, in all the paſſages of Divine providence God is ſtill intending good, and extending Mercy, and performing promiſe to his people.

His Patience may be exerciſed towards others; but his ſpecial Grace and Favour, his loving Kindneſs and tender Mercy is drawn out towards you.

p. 283God may ſhew ſome Mercy to wicked men, in ſome of his ways. But alas, their Mercies are not pure Mercies, No, there is wrath alſo mixed with their Mercies. As the murmuring Iſraelites had Quails and a Curſe. But you have real Mercies, a bleſſing with Eſtate, a bleſſing with Health, &c. Gods ſpecial Love with Common Mercies, greatly Enhaunſing and Raiſing the Value of them. They come not as Wind-falls of common Providence (as one expreſſeth it) but are ſound Fruits, growing on the Promiſe. So there is Mercy in all Gods Paths towards you. You ſhall meet with it at every turn, Mercy ſhall prevent you, and follow you, and compaſs you about. Yea, in the end you ſhall find Mercy in the croſſeſt Paths of Providence, wherein at preſent you may apprehend nothing but Severity.

Again, whatſoever Mercy God ſheweth to ſinners, yet they have no aſſurance thereof. How ſoon may Gods Patience be turned into Fury, and his Goodneſs into Severity? But God hath promiſed that he will not turn away from you, (Ier. 32.40.) to do you good. But you who have a care to walk before God in ſincerity and truth, you ſhall find all his ways Mercy and Truth. And this leads me to another Priviledge of yours.

(6.) The Promiſes are yours, exceeding great and precious Promiſes. You are the Children, and Heirs of the Promiſe. Promiſes are held forth to others; but they are alſo made over to you. To the Jews in ſome ſence pertained the Covenants, and the Promiſes, Rom. 9.4. God had written thoſe great things to them, and offered thoſe great things to them, yet they not looking after the Condition p. 284required of them, it was in effect as if God had made no ſuch promiſe. But you that can plead the Condition is performed, nothing can bar your right to the Promiſe? God will never plead a [Non eſt factum] againſt thoſe who may plead the Condition is performed. As the Lord ſaid to Abraham concerning the Land of Promiſe, Gen. 13. Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, Northward, and Southward, and Eaſtward, and Weſtward: For all the Land which thou ſeeſt, to thee will I give it. So I may ſay to you concerning the word of the Kingdom (as the Goſpel is called, Mat. 13.19.) The word of Promiſe, look it through from the beginning to the end, ſearch this good land that floweth with Milk and Honey, a Land of Brooks of Waters, of Fountains, of Depths, that ſpring out of the Rock Chriſt; where are both the Upper Springs, and the Neather Springs, Promiſes concerning this Life, and the Life to come; a Land of Vines, and Fig-trees, and Pomgranates; Dig into its Mines, full of hid Treaſure, more precious than Gold that periſheth, all is your own. The whole Land is before you, this Goſhen, this Paradiſe, is given you, till you come to be Tranſlated to the Heavenly Canaan. Your Joſeph ſends you theſe pleaſant, and precious Fruits, to revive and chear your ſpirits, till you come to a fulneſs of joy in his preſence, come to the ſight and Fruition of Chriſt in Glory. Look up to Heaven, are you able to number the Stars of Heaven? Neither can you take the juſt ſum of what the Lord hath promiſed you; They are called the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2.10. Here are deep Mines, deep Myſteries, who ſhall lead us into theſe hid treaſures, unknown to the VVorld? p. 285What need of the Spirit of Wiſdom and Revelation to enlighten our minds, that we may know what is the Hope of his Calling, and what the Riches of his glorious Grace?

O precious Promiſes indeed! promiſes of more Grace. To him that hath more ſhall be given, and he ſhall have in abundance, Mat. 25.29. God giveth more Grace to the humble, Jam. 4.6. Promiſes of perſeverance in Grace, Jer. 32.40. John 4.14.

Again, there are Promiſes made to Grace, of which I could eaſily recite many: But after one hath uſed his utmoſt skill to open theſe Treaſures, and to give you an Account, how much is contained in them, he muſt end with [an &c.] After all, he muſt acknowledge there is much more behind undiſcovered, like that Path (Job 28.7.) which the Vultures eye hath not ſeen, as may allude to the Expreſſion. It is quite beyond our Arithmitick to find out the Total of the Divine Promiſes. So its impoſſible that any true Believer ſhould know how rich he is in the Promiſes. O! the Promiſes are a long Field indeed, and much hid Treaſure in this Field; yea, an unknown Treaſure.

(7.) Gods Ordinances are yours, eſpecially intended for you, and bleſſed unto you. Miniſters are yours, as 1 Cor. 3.22. Whether Paul or Apollo, or Cephas, all are yours, given to the Church, for the perfecting of the Saints, Epheſ. 4.11, 12. To be helpers of your Faith and Joy. Miniſters are Gods Stewards appointed to give you Meat in due ſeaſon. Gods Servants to conduct you into the Preſence Chamber of the great King. Ordinance, they are the Chariots your Joſeph ſends to bring your ſouls nearer to him.

p. 286And O how amiable are his Tabernacles! O the pleaſures of his Houſe! O the ſights of God, that you have ſometimes in his Ordinances! Sights of his Power, ſights of his glorious Grace. Have you not ſeen his Goodneſs paſs before you? Have not his Footſteps dropped Fatneſs into your Souls? How oft that coming from the Word, or from Sacraments, you might have ſaid as they, Luke 5.26. We have ſeen ſtrange things to day. God manifeſting himſelf to your ſouls, ſo as he does not to the World. All the Paths of the Lord are Mercy to his People, as we heard before, but in the Paths of his Ordinances, in the Walks of his Courtes, there they are wont to find his choiſeſt Mercies: There eſpecially the Lord commandeth the bleſſing. Bleſſed they are in the Houſe, and in the Field, but more bleſſed in Gods Houſe, more bleſſed in his holy Mountain. There is an Expreſſion, Deut. 11.21. [As the days of Heaven upon the Earth,] i. e. (Quamdiu mundus durabit,) which I only allude to here. The days we ſpend with God in his Courts, are as the days of Heaven upon Earth. Bleſſed are they that dwell in thy Houſe, they will be ſtill praiſing thee, a day in thy Courts is better than a thouſand elſe-where, Pſal. 84. To enjoy God here, this is Heaven upon Earth. Is not this the Mount of Transfiguration? The Gate of Heaven? The Mount of Bleſſing? Is it not good to be here?

Well, you that have a ſpecial Intereſt in God, have a ſpecial right to the Ordinances of God; and may expect a ſpecial bleſſing on them, may look to enjoy God in them: Or if the Lord ſhould ſee good to cut you ſhort of Sanctuary-priviledges; yet you p. 287ſhould ſtill enjoy the God of Ordinances, he would …ea little Sanctuary to you.

(8.) Gods Creatures are yours. As Jehoſhaphat, [My People are as thy People, and my Horſes as thy Horſes.] When God is for you, what Creature of his can be againſt you?

Angels the beſt and nobleſt Creatures, are your Friends, Heb. 1.14. And full little do you think how many wayes they do Befriend you, how many ways they are Miniſtring, and helpful to you: True, there is no ground for the Invocating of Angels; but there is ground enough, why you ſhould give thanks to God, for the Angels Miniſtring unto you.

Again, Devils and wicked men (the worſt of Creatures) are your ſervants. Though it be quite beſides their intention, ſore againſt their will and Indination. Though they intend evil againſt you, God will turn it to good.

So likewiſe other Creatures. The World is yours, 1 Cor. 3.22. The World is an appurtenance of your Inheritance, of that Eſtate which God by Covenant, and Deed of Gife hath ſettled on you, and confirmed to you. If Inferiour Creatures had a Tongue to ſpeak, would they not ſay as Huſhai, Whom the Lord ſhall chuſe, his will I be? Or as the men of Benjamin, and Judah, We are thine David, …e are on thy ſide. It is a burden and bondage to …he Creatures, to ſerve thoſe who are Enemies to their Maker. The Earth groaneth under ſuch, and of God would but give the word, it would immediately open her Mouth, and ſwallow them up.

I do not deny but wicked men have a right to their Eſtates, and to the uſe of the Creatures. But …he People of God have a better right than they.

p. 288That is certainly a miſtake of ſome, that think all wicked men Ʋſurpers of the things they injoy. If they have a right before God: I ask (ſayes one) by what Covenant. Is it by the Covenant o… Works? Then they muſt fulfil it? Is it by the Covenant of Grace? But they are not within it, cannot claim by it. Anſw. It is true, they fulfil neither Covenant, and therefore have not a rig… by Covenant. But their Enumeration here is not full enough: Dater tertium. Theſe things may be paſsed over, and men may have a right to them, and not by Covenant, Deut. 25. I have given Moun… Seir unto Eſau for a poſſeſſion, ver. 9. I have give… Ar unto the Children of Lot for a poſſeſſion, without any Indentures drawn betwixt God and then. By his Providence he determineth the Bounds o… mens Habitations. He that giveth unto all me… Life and Breath, giveth them Food and Raiment. Though wicked men ſhall be called to account for their Mercies, yet not as Thieves, or Ʋſurpers; but as ill-uſers or abuſers of them, as unfaithful Stewards.

Wicked men therefore have a right to their Creature-comforts; but not ſo good a right as you They have [a right by actual Collation, De preſenti (As Mr. Baxter ſomewhere) but nor by promiſe, De futuro.] They have a right by common providence, you by Covenant, and Compact. They have a right as Servants to their daily Bread, you have the right of Sons. Not indeed that any deſerve the leaſt Mercy at Gods Hand, as the Labouring Servant is worthy of his Meat; but a Servant may take his Maſters allowance, and hath a right to the Clothes his Maſter gives him; only he hath p. 289no aſſurance of being provided for by his Maſter ſtill. The ſervant abideth not in the Houſe for ever, but the Son abideth ever, John 8.35.

You that are earthly Parents, know how to give good things to your Children: And much more does your Heavenly Father, and he hath enough to give, The earth is the Lords, and the fulneſs thereof. Says the Father, Be a good Child, and while I have any thing, thou ſhalt not want. And ſo ſays God to you, You that fear me you ſhall never want any good thing; your Heavenly Father knoweth what is good for you, and hath promiſed, you ſhall never want, what is good for you. And how can you deſire more? What? Would you have more than enough? when enough is more than all? Dimidium plus toto. Would you have more than is good? That were to wiſh evil to your ſelves.

(9.) Heaven is yours, if God be yours, his Kingdom your everlaſting Home, and Inheritance, Luke 12.32. As he ſaid, Son, thou art ever with me and all that I have is thine: So, if the Children of God, then Heirs of God; then you ſhall be ever with him, ever with the Lord, and Inherit that everlaſting Kingdom, prepared by the Father, purchaſed by the Son for you. Of which Kingdom we have many things to ſay, and hard to be uttered. Indeed as high the Heavens are above our Heads; ſo high above our underſtanding, and apprehenſion is the Glory and Felicity of Heaven. No greater difference betwixt the Throne, and the Footſtool, nor ſo great indeed as betwixt the Kingdom of Heaven, and the moſt flouriſhing Kingdoms upon Earth. What is ſaid of Mount Sion (the Type,) Pſal. 48.2. Beautiful for Situation, the joy of the whole p. 290Earth is Mount Zion: The like may much more be ſaid of Heaven; Beautiful for Situation, the Joy, yea, the Glory of the whole World. Here is the City of the great King. O the ſerenity of Heaven! no ſcorching heat, nor piercing cold there. Here is a glorious Kingdom indeed, above the Clouds, yea, above the Stars.

O the Lightſomeneſs of Heaven! no Night there. And no need of the Sun there, Rev. 22.5. O the pleaſures of Heaven! Paradiſe was but an obſcure Type, a dark ſhadow of it. No pricking Brier, or grieving Thorn there. In this Kingdom there … nothing to offend. No ſorrow nor crying there▪ No pain there, no feeble perſon among the heavenly Tribes: There is health without ſickneſs, and jo… without ſorrow, and pleaſures without pain. Ther… is hidden Mannah, and Rivers of pleaſures, and never fading Crowns of Glory.

O the riches of that Kingdom, there are Treaſures that fail not. Solomon made Silver to be … Jeruſalem as ſtones, 1 Kings 10.27. But the ne… Jeruſalem is deſcribed and repreſented, as if it wer… all Gold, and precious ſtones, Rev. 21.18, 19, 2… Many a poor man goes to Heaven, Iam. 2.5. M…ny poor in this world, yet rich in Faith, and He… of the Kingdom. But that Kingdom will for e… enrich all that come to it. There, and there o… is the enduring ſubſtance. So now it is poor Di… poor Dives, who is ſhut out of Heaven, but ri… Lazarus. No poor to be ſeen in the ſtreets of t… New Jeruſalem, no complaining in thoſe ſtreets.

O the peaceableneſs of that Kingdom! no Se… pent in the Coeleſtial Paradiſe, no Cananite in th… Land of Promiſe, neither the Alarm of War, … p. 291the Voice of the Oppreſſor that ſhall ever be heard there. No hurting or deſtroying in that holy Moun…ain, no poſſibility of a Forreign Invaſion. There is a great Gulf fixed, Luke 16.26. No fear of In…eſtine Diviſions in that Kingdom. There Love …hall be perfect. There Luther, and Calvin are agreed. There is the ſweetest Harmony without the …eaſt jarring Diſcord. There the Faithful dwell at …aſe, and delight themſelves in the abundance of Peace.

O the Stability and Permanency of this Kingdom! And this Crowns all the reſt; it is an everlaſting Kingdom: The New Jeruſalem lieth four ſquare, … it is a Kingdom that cannot be moved) the Length …d the Breadth, and the Height of it are equal, …ev. 21.16. it is ever like it ſelf. The Glory of …eaven ſhall never ſuffer the leaſt Eclipſe. O bleſ…ed ſtate indeed, to be ever with the Lord!

But after all, I muſt tell you, we have but a ve…y ſhort ſight of thoſe things that are within the veil. …deed did Believers fully apprehend the Riches of …e Glory of that Inheritance reſerved in Heaven for …em, they would ſtand in need of more patience, … be willing to ſtay their time, God hath appoint…d them upon Earth, (though they ſhould live in …e moſt flouriſhing and proſperous Eſtate here;) …an ever the Martyrs ſtood in need of, to endure …e moſt grievous Tortures, and cruel Deaths.

Thus you have heard ſomething of the Firſt and …and Covenant promiſed [I will be your God] how …onderful comprehenſive it is. It is as high as Heaven, What canſt thou know? The Meaſure …ereof is longer than the Earth, and broader than …e Sea.

p. 292Again, the ſecond is like unto it, ſcil. [Ye ſhall be my people,] Jer. 31.33.

It is true, ſometimes this imports our Duty, and the Condition of the Covenant. And if we would have God for our God, we muſt be his people, we muſt give up our ſelves to Him, and account ou… ſelves no more our own. But to be his People, a… well holds forth the exceeding great Priviledge… and Happineſs of thoſe, that indeed give up themſelves to God, that come up to Covenant Term… That God will own, and acknowledge them for … people indeed, and will carry it towards them … ſuch, will remember them with the Favour that … beareth to his People.

His Profeſſing people, who have given up the… Names, but do not give up their hearts to hi… yet have ſome priviledges above others, that are no… called by his Name, much more that his willin… and Obedient people are priviledged. The Lo… knoweth them that are his, (2 Tim. 2.19.) a… will own them. And

1. This ſpeaketh their freedom from other Lord… Thoſe cruel Task-maſters, and Tyrants; Sin, t… World, and Satan. Gods owning them for … will cut off others claims; Sin, the World, and … tan, can no more lay claim to you, if ye be … Lords.

As that eminent Saint, and Servant of God, … Joſeph Allein, (in his Life, p. 92.) did thus re… Satan in his laſt Conflict: Trouble me not (… he) for I am none of thine, I am the Lords: … by Covenant, I have ſworn my ſelf to be … Lords, and his I will be, therefore be gone. if the Lord ſaith of thee, ſuch a ſoul is mine, p. 293Title (no doubt) will hold good againſt Satan, and all the World.

O what a comfortable thing it is, if indeed you are the Lords, then you are Redeemed unto him from among men. You are no longer Satans captives, no longer ſlaves to Sin, and the World; as it is Iſa. 62.12. They ſhall call them the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord. And Iſa. 43.1. Fear not, for I have redeemed thee,— thou are mine. You are his, as Redeemed by him; you are the Portion which he took out of the hand of Satan, with his Sword, and with his Bow, Deut. 4.34. Hath God …aſſayed to go and take him a Nation from the midſt of another Nation, by Temptations, by Signs, and Wonders, by a mighty Hand and ſtretched-out Arm, and by great Terrours, according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt? O the exceeding Greatneſs of his Power to us-ward that Believe; delivering us from the power of Darkneſs, and Tranſlating us into the Kingdom of his Dear Son.

2. This putteth an Honour, an Excellency upon any. Since thou waſt precious in mine Eyes, thou …aſt been honourable: What a great Honour is it …nto any, for the Great God to own them, as in …ear Relation unto Him? What ſhe ſaid of Solo…ons ſervants, is much more true of Gods ſervants, 1 Kings 10.8. Happy are thy men, happy are theſe thy ſervants, which stand continually before …ee. As there is no God like him, ſo no People in the World like his People, 1 Chron. 17.20, 21. Deut. 32.9. The Lords portion is his People. Exod. 19.5. A peculiar Treaſure unto him, Mal. 3.17. His Jewels. Does not this commend them indeed, p. 294as the Excellent ones in the Earth, that God accounts ſo highly of them? Pſal. 4.3. Know that the Lord hath ſet apart, him that is Godly for himſelf. Set apart, or, as ſome Tranſlate it, Mirificavit; or Inſignem vel eximium fecit. The difference God putteth betwixt his People, and others, the Godly and the Ungodly, is Notable and Wonderful, The wicked he will put away like Droſs, but the Godly he eſteemeth as his Jewels; theſe he accounteth his peculiar Treaſure: He ſets great ſtore by them.

3. Gods peculiar People have his ſpecial Favour… And what happineſs in this? The Pſalmiſt deſired no more, but that the Lord would remember hi… with the Favour that he beareth to his People, Pſal. 106.4. The Lord taketh pleaſure in his people, Pſal. 149.4. Theſe only have his Complacential Love. Thoſe whom he calleth his People, at other times he calleth his Choſen, his Sons and Daughters, his Beloved; yea, the Apple of his Eye: Relation and Propriety is a potent Exciter of Love. The world that is full of Malice, yet loveth its own. And ſhall not God love his own? Yea, he loveth them with an everlaſting Love.

4. For God to ſay of any, they are mine, i… ſpeaks Safety. He will have a care of his own. His Inheritance is Hedged, Fenced about with hi… ſpecial Providence. His People ſhall have his protection. A dangerous thing it is for men to meddle with them. What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, Iſa. 3.15. Do ye know what ye do, Iſa. 52.5, 6. What is here to do, That my people is taken away for nought. God will Judge and Plea… for his People, Deut. 32.36. Iſa. 51.22. Joel; p. 2952, 4. You would not ſee your Children wronged. And will not God avenge his own Elect? He is very tender of the Apple of his Eye: And the Beloved of the Lord ſhall dwell in ſafety by him, yea, the Foundation of God ſtandeth ſure; the Lord knoweth them that are his. And the very Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt them.

5. His People are ſure to be well provided for. Doth God take care for Oxen? Does he give the Beaſts their Food, and will he not much more provide for them of his own Houſhold? His Bleſſing is upon his People, Pſal. 3.8. My people ſhall be ſatisfied with my Goodneſs, ſaith the Lord, Jer. 31.14. Yea, others muſt not ſee the Good he will do for them, they have Meat to eat that the World knows not of.

6. His People ſhall have his ſpecial preſence, Ezek. 37.27. My Tabernacle ſhall be with them: Yea, I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people. So in other places, where the Lord promiſeth to own any as his People; he doth further promiſe to dwell among them, and walk among them, Lev. 26.12. 2 Cor. 6.16. &c. Where ſhould God dwell, but in the Lot of his own Inheritance?

7. When you hear of Gods Tabernacle being with them; you muſt not underſtand it, ſo, as if he were Flitting, or Removing from them again. No, The Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forſake his Inheritance, Pſal. 94.14. God hath not cast away his people whom he fore-knew, Rom. 11.2. He will not caſt any of them away. He will not loſe one of his Jewels. None ſhall pluck them out of his Hand. He will keep them ſafe, till he ſet them in a Crown of Glory.

p. 296And ſo laſtly, They that are his indeed, it doth not yet appear what they ſhall be; but this is certain, they ſhall at laſt appear with him in Glory. Yea, the Lord will be for ever glorified in them, as a Bridegroom adorneth himſelf with Ornaments, and as a Bride decketh her ſelf with her Jewels. And what Glory that is, to be like the Angels of Light as to our ſouls; and to have our vile bodies made like unto Christs glorious Body, no Tongue can expreſs. Solomon in all his glory, not like one of theſe. When Chriſt was Transfigured in the Mount his very Raiment was ſhining, exceeding white as ſnow: So as no Fuller on Earth can white them, Mark 9.8. His very Raiment received Light and Luſtre from his Body. His Face ſhone as the Sun, Mat. 17.2. And if the appearance of Chriſt was ſo Glorious in that Mount, which was but a Landskip of Heaven; What a glorious Body hath he now in Heaven? Well? The bodies of the Saints are to be Faſhioned like his glorious Body, never to change that Faſhion more. O the Luſtre that God will put upon his People, when the Righteous ſhall ſhine forth as the Sun, in the Kingdom of their Father, Mat. 13.43. And if the Body the earthly part of them, ſhall be ſo full of Splendor, How Glorious within, think we? Will not God poliſh the Jewel, when the Ring where it is ſet, is ſo Enamelled, when the Cabinet hath ſo rich work beſtowed on it?

And now my Friends, conſider of what hath been ſaid, and ſhew your ſelves men. You have heard what the Lord requireth of you in the Covenant of Grace; nothing but what is your Indiſpenſible Duty; nothing that you can deny, or be backward to, p. 297if you be not enemies to God, and your own ſouls' which ſhould prevail with you, though there were nothing more to be ſaid. But further you have alſo heard, what the Lord hath freely and graciouſly promiſed here, even all that you can deſire to your ſalvation and endleſs Happineſs; yea, even more than you can conceive of. Now what ſay ye? Will ye be the Lords? Will you now from this day forwards give up your ſelves to God in Chriſt, to be Ruled by him, and ſaved by him in his own Way? O that there were ſuch an heart in you all! Sirs, what ſay you? Though I be the unworthieſt of Gods Meſſengers, yet I come in his Name, and the Lord expects your anſwer. Ah, Sirs, Have you not Delayed, and Dallied with God too long already? Whoſoever thou art that ſhall deny to conſent to Gods Terms this day, for ought thou knoweſt, this is the laſt time of asking: The Lord may never offer thee ſo fair again: That if this day thou doſt not hearken to his Voice, the things that belong unto thy peace, may be for ever hid from thine eyes. If now you will be the Lords, then he will be your God, and own you for his People indeed, Jer. 30.21, 22. But if otherwiſe, do not ſay, but you have been fairly offered: And how will you for ever repent it, and Rue your folly, that you did not take Gods offer? O madneſs indeed, that you ſhould like it to have the Bramble reign over you, rather than come under the ſhadow of the Almigh…y! Do you not chuſe ſin, and the world, to your own Confuſion? This know, God hath no need of you, he can be happy without you; though without him you are miſerable to all Eternity.