Christ Exalted and Wisdom Justified, Tract 1 · Application 1
1. USE.
1. Use. Shall be of Consideration. 1. And the Consideration hereof may serve for the wisdome of God that found him out, and the goodness of God that sent him out, and therefore we may say this is the Lords doing, and it is mervelous in our eyes, and this is the Lords Christ, and our Jesus, and he is mervelous in our eyes. Believers should look upon him as the unum magnum, unicum maximum, the best and greatest gift that ever was bestowed upon the world. Yea, Christ should be more precious in our eyes than Salvation it self: Quicquid efficit tale, est magis tale. Is the Divel odious unto men? It was sin that made him odious, and therefore sin should be more odious. Is Salvation precious unto men, It's Christ that saves them, therefore Christ should be more precious. 2. The Consideration hereof should teach us to love other things for Christ, and Christ for himself. A man takes delight in his crop that his field beares, but he takes more delight in his field that beares it, for except the field were his own proper inheritance, the crop, though never so plentifull, would be nothing so delightfull. We may take delight in our freedome from condemnation, and title to everlasting life, but much more in Christ through whom these things, and all things are ours.
And as the Consideration hereof should teach us to prize and to love Christ firstly, and mostly for himself, So in the Second place it should teach us to love for Christ's sake any thing, every thing that hath ought of his image and superscription upon it.
How do curious men please their fancies in beholding the pictures of their absent freinds? So should Believers solace themselves in beholding or injoying any thing that hath Christ upon it. Mistake me not, I am no advocate for lying images, and teachers of lies, as the spirit of God calls them. Hab. 2:18. But as the Echo jeer'd the Painter, si vis similem pingere, pinge sonum, if thou wilt make mine image paint a sound, which was impossible, so we may say to him tha… will picture God, or Christ, or the spirit, s… vis similem pingere pinge spiritum; If yo… will make any thing like unto God, pai… a spirit, which is as impossible as the other.
But by the things that have the impressio… of Christ upon them I mean.
1. Ordinances.
2. Graces.
3. Duties.
To give some instances for satisfaction and first of Ordinances.
1. The word: That is so precious an Ordinance that Christ changes names with i… In the beginning was the word, and the wa… was with God, and that word was God, and th… word was made flesh. Joh. 1.1, 14. On… he is called the Essentiall Word, to distinguish him from the Word written, and the written Word is but the Cloathing and Christ the Body, Christ coming downe in the Word, like Manna in the Dew.
The Law and the Gospell divide the Word, and The Law is our Schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ. And the Gospel is the book wherein we learn Christ.
2 The Ministry of the Word must needs be pretious: Pastors and Teachers as well as Evangelists and Apostles are Embassadors for Christ, 2 Cor. 5.20. See further, 2 Cor. 2.14, 15, 16. Now thankes be to God which allwaies makes us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the Savour of his knowledge by us in every place; For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish. To the one we are the savour of death unto death, and to the other the savour of life unto life, and who is sufficient for these things? They are the Charriots of Israel and the Horsemen of it, who are set for the defence of the Gospell, and must contend unto bloud for the faith that was once delivered to the Saints. It was given once for all, and ther's no expectation of a second Edition. They must hazard their lives like valiant Champions in the high places of the field in helping the Lord against the mighty. We have beasts in England as Paul had at Ephesus to fight with after the manner of men, even that Hydra of heresy that comes up with so many monstrous heads, We should resolve with David not to give sleep to our eyes, nor rest to our temples till the habitation of the God of Jacob be setled, We should resolve with good Uriah not to find our pleasures till the Ark have a resting place, and rather choose with David that our tongue should cleave unto the roof of our mouthes, than not to prefer Jerusalem before our chiefest joy. Ps. 137.6. Those that with that blessed Apostle Paul count not their lives precious in respect of the publication, and propagation of the glorious gospell of the blessed God. Acts. 20.24. Neither count I my life dear unto me, so that I might finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospell of the grace of God. Oh such labourers in the word and doctrine are very precious, yea, by the Apostles own rule they are to be had in double honour 1. Tim. 5.17.
3. The Sealing Ordinances are to be had in honour for Christ's sake, and to be accounted more precious than the sealed deeds by which you hold your livings.
1. Baptisme is a seal of our ingrafting into Christ, and our implanting into the similitude of his death, buriall, and resurrection.
2. And the supper-ordinance is a Believer's seal of growth in Jesus Christ, a precious memoriall of his precious death and meritorious passion, the very last pledge of his dying love. 1. Cor. 11.23, 24, 25, 26. In the same night that he was betrayed he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it and gave it to his disciples, saying. Take, eat, this is my body which is broken for you, This do in remembrance of me: after the same manner he also took the cup when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my bloud. This do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup ye do shew the Lords death till he come. In respect of this ordinance, as well as the preaching of the Gospel, we may say as the Apostle said to his Galatians. 3.1. Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucifyed among you. This very ordinance doth more lively represent Christ crucifyed than the most artificiall crucifixe or any such dead antichristian piece of superstition.
4. We should highly esteem the Sabboth. Because it was founded upon the resurrection of Christ, and is a day dedicated to the honor of Christ, It's called by way of Eminence foreign the Lords day, and there is written upon it Holiness to the Lord.
5 The Ordinance of prayer should be very precious, because its a going to God in the name of Christ, and Christ hath promised Whatsoever believers ask the Father in his name he will give it them. Some have started a Fancy, that it is sufficient to go to the Father upon the ground of his own love, but those that would have persons and prayers accepted with God, must not only pray; but it must be according to his will, and you heard before that the Fathers highest designe was not to save us but to glorify his Son; he's our Mediator both of satisfaction and intercession, he's the way to the Father, and none goeth to the Father but by him, as Josephs Brethren may not see his face except Beniamin came with them, so neither can we expect to see Gods pleased countenance, except we bring with us his beloved Son in whom he is well pleased, Jacob got the blessing in Esaus garments so must we get our Fathers blessing in the robes of Christs righteousness, and therefore the Church hath allwayes rightly concluded her requests in all manner of prayers and supplications and intercessions with giving of thanks with this general conclusion Through Jesus Christ our Lord, which is as fixed and standing a Rule as to say Amen after them.
6 The Assemblies of the Saints are to be had in Honour and high Esteem, because God is in them, and there Christ hath promised his presence, that he will be with believers there in his Ordinances to the end of the world, and there the spirit shall abide with them for ever. We should wait upon the Posts of wisdoms Gates, and flock to Christian congregations like Doves unto their windows. David that man after Gods own heart professed, that it was the cheering of his heart to think of them, I was glad when they sayd unto me we will goe into the house of the Lord. Ps. 122.1. and the breaking of his heart to be deprived of that breaking of the bread of life, for when he was denyed that priviledg, he sadly complained that the sparrow and swallow led a merryer life than he, that could sit and sing and lay their young by Gods Altar. Ps. 84.3.
And as Gods worship in his Assemblies should be counted the beauty of holiness, and forsaking of Assemblies is a rushing upon the praecipice of damnable Apostacy, Heb. 10.25. yea, a forerunner of the sin unto death, That impardonable sin, The sin against the holy Ghost, which is a despighting of Christ, and trampling upon his bloud.
7. The Discipline and order that Jesus Christ hath established in his Church should not be accounted so light a thing as it is by many, nor so indifferent a thing, that the Church may be as well without it as with it: We confesse that it is not so Essentiall a part, but the Church may be a true Church without it, but it conduces so much to the well being of it, that the Church is but sick and deformed without it. Do wise and valiant Commanders ascribe so much to field discipline, and ranking their armies into files and orders, that ther's no safe and succesfull fighting without it, And shall Christs Souldiers see so little use of Church discipline, which regulates the matter of Christs family, that they may be done decently and in order You would not indure such disorder and confusion in your families for every servant to contend for Mastership. Such divisions in a state would have an ill aspect for every rebel or pesant to affect principality, and every vassall and slave to his lusts to be ambitious of soverainty. It would not rellish with Army-…ommanders nor indeed stand with the safety of the state for every Common Souldier to strive for an office, and every officer to covet the Generalls place. It would not suite with the Decorum of a School to have every petty Scholler undertake to be Master; Nor would it stand with the safeguard of a Ship that every ignorant seaman should step in the Pilots place, and shall the Church alone be left to sink or swim, and not to have a discipline intrinsecall within it self tending to its preservation? Since that Wall hath been taken down, I need not tell you how the boar of the wood, and the beasts of the field have made havock in the vineyard. We may say more than David did, Lord its time for thee to lay to thine hand, and for every servant of the Lords to lay it to heart, how men have not only destroyed Gods law, but fight against law and gospel, and to make it our Lamentation to consider how Schismatiks, hereticks, and Blasphemers do indeavour to take away verity and purity as well as unity; Oh what will become of us in the end hereof? If the foundations be cast down, what can the righteous doe? O how should we revive the prayers of the Saints of the foregoing generation who made it their great request that God would reform England in discipline as he had done in doctrine, nay, that the Lord would reform England both in doctrine and discipline, we should wrastle with God upon holy Ridley's account, Lord, once more be pleased to restore the gospell to England, when the clowd of Popery had darkned the clear sunshine of it: How should we ply the throne of grace that we may be all taught of God, and by the anointing of his holy spirit, both in the Evangelicall doctrine and discipline, that he would shew us the lovely face of Reformation, and give us hearts to close with it. Thus much may suffice for instances in ordinances.
2. In the next place we come to Graces, they should be also precious for the impressions of Christ that are upon them: God the father is the God of all grace, and God the Son is the purchaser and dispencer of all grace, he dyed to purchase it, and he rose again to Communicate it. And the spirit is the convoy of all grace into the Soul. If you a…k concerning any grace whose image and superscription hath it? I may answer Christs, for he had an abundant fullness, a fullness of glory, and a redundant fullness, a fullness of Grace, a fullness for himself, the fullness of the God-head bodily. It pleased the father that in him all fullness should dwell; and a fullness for us, that out of his fullness we may be all receivers and grace for grace. But to particulars.
1. Knowledg is the first link in the golden chain of graces, and this is the first of those Everlasting dores that gives entrance by opening unto the King of glory. Behold I stand at the dore and knock sayth Christ, and this is the dore that he knocks at. It is he that both knocks and opens, that opens our wits to understand the Scriptures, and makes us covetous of knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, which the Apostle calls the excellency of the knowledg of Christ Jesus my Lord in comparison of which he counts all things dung and drosse that he may win Christ.
2. Faith is the uniting grace the Copula that joynes Christ unto the Believing soul: We are made one spirit with Christ by believing, we doe not only believe in Christ, but into Christ, with such a faith as carries over the Soul, and incorporates it into Jesus Christ. There is so near a relation betwixt Christ and the believer, that Christ is in the believer by his spirit, and the believer is in Christ by faith. Faith hath the Lord Jesus Christ for its chief object, and therefore as Christ in my Text is called a precious Christ, so that our faith which is justifying, and saving and the faith of Gods elect is called precious faith. See. 2. Pet. 1.1, 4. To them that have obtained like petious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature &c. Observe,
1. Pretious Christ.
2. Pretious promises.
3. Pretious faith.
1. Pretious Christ for the reasons given before.
2. Pretious because they are the Cabinet that contain that pretious jewell. All the promises in Christ are yea and amen.
3. Pretious faith, because it layes hold upon this precious Christ in those precious promises.
Its the Excellency of Christ that commends the Excellency of faith that must needs be a precious, yea, and a glorious grace, that intitles a Believer to a precious and glorious Christ, and enables the believer to rejoyce with joy unspeakable and glorious.
Faith is the Mother grace, and all the rest are but Daughters unto faith, its the tree, and all the rest are but the fruits that it beares. Its that great Evangelicall grace that is commanded as the unicum necessarium. 1. Joh. 3.2. This is the fathers command that yee believe in the name of Jesus Christ whom he hath sent. Its made the only Condition of the gospel-Covenant. Joh. 3.16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life. Its faith that purifies the heart, changes the nature, renews the spirit of the mind, sanctifies the Conversation, mortifies sin, pacifies the conscience, satisfies the heart; Which is like a Soul to hearing, praying, and all duty is but a dead carcase without it. Its that high service whereby we set to our seales that God is true, whereby we glorify his truth, & wisdome, & mercy, and goodness and power and all his attributes.
3. Repentance should be precious, because it makes us like Christ, he was called that holy thing, and sayd to be made like unto us in all things sin only excepted, now repentance removes, and takes away that only thing that makes us unlike Christ, and brings us under the priviledg of pardon, and the covering of Christs righteousness, that we may be partakers of that blessedness through Christ, that is proclaimed to those whose iniquities are forgiven and sinns covered, unto whom the Lord is graciously pleased not to impute sin. Ps. 32.1, 2.
4. Love is a precious grace, and it hath God and Christ for its object. To take God for our Portion and Inheritance, and Jesus Christ for our only Lord and Saviour is the Epitome of all saving Christianity. And to love God and Jesus Christ so taken with the prevailing degree of our love being the touchstone of our sincerity. Love is therefore in the Apostles account made the all of Christianity Gal. 5.6. For in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love: Not faith except it be working, not working faith except it work from a right principle, faith working by love. The more lively we are able with the spouse in the Canticles, to act love towards God and Jesus Christ, the cleerer will be our evidences, and the more abounding our consolations.
5. Obedience is a comprehensive Grace, for if it be right it must be universall, denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living holily, justly, and soberly in this present world. David gave evidence of his sincerity in this matter when he sayd, I hold streight all thy Commandements and all false waies I utterly abhorre. Ps. 119.128. The Apostle gives a golden Rule Rom. 12.9. foreign (i. e.) hate with uttermost hatred all that is evill, and cleave with uttermost delight and complacency unto all that is good, What the Apostle gives in charge to believing servants in order to their performance of that true and faithfull service which is opposed by him to eye-service, I may give unto all the servants of God and Christ that will approve themselves to be sincerely his, against all dissemblers and hypocrites, Col. 3.22, 23, 24. Servants obey in all things your Masters, not with eye-service as men pleasers, but in singlenesse of heart, fearing God, and whatsoever yee do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men, knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ. Its an excellent mystery indeed, and worth the learning to be heavenly minded in Earthly services, and to serve God and Christ in serving of men.
6. Brotherly kindnesse is another lovely grace. Its the cement that joynes together the Communion of Saints. Behold how good and joyfull a thing it is brethren to live together in unity: and Christ is the bond of this Christian brotherhood, in respect whereof believers are called brethren in Christ, whereas the wicked and unbelievers are called brethren in iniquity. It was sayd of the primitive believers that they were of one heart and one soul. Acts. 4.32. and those that are joyned in all those obligations of onenesse. Eph. 4. One body, one spirit, one calling, one hope, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. v. 4, 5, 6. The very name of Brethren should compose all differences, as Abraham sayd to Lot, let there be no division betwixt me and thee, for we are brethren. Gen. 13.8. Oh how prevailing should the name of a disciple be, When he that gives to a disciple a Cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple shall not lose his reward, Mat. 10.42.
7. Meekness and humility are excellent and precious graces; and Christ was most excellent in these of any that ever were upon earth: it's true that Moses was said to be the meekest man upon earth (i. e.) compared with meer men, but not in comparison of Christ who was God and man, he was so meek that he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and did not open his mouth but only to pray for his persecutors. He commanded his disciples to learn of him those lessons of meekness and humility, Mat. 11.29. and saith unto his freinds, I say unto you, love your enemies, blesse them that curse you, doe good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven, for he maketh his sun to rise on the Evill, and on the good, and sendeth rain upon the just, and upon the unjust. Mat. 5.44.45.
8. Patience shall be the last; and this makes us conformable unto Christ, nothing more, wherefore the Apostle sets him before us as the only pattern of patience. Hebr. 12.1, 2, 3. Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that was set before him, indured the Crosse, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that indured such contradiction of sinners against himself, least ye be wearyed and faint in your mindes &c. Patience is a gift, Phil. 1.29. Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake, and it was given to the Apostle in such a measure, that he could say, Rom. 8.18. I reckon that the afflictions of this present time are not worthy to be compared unto the glory which shall be revealed in us. and 2. Cor. 4.17. Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding, and Eternall weight of glory. And so much be spoken of precious graces.
3. In the third place we come to give some instance in Duties.
Duty defines it self, for it is a tie to that which is due; It is a giving to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and unto God the things that are Gods. The Apostles rule is give unto every one his due, tribute to whom tribute is due, custome to whom custome, fear to whom fear. Duty is but a Theater to act grace upon, like a boat to carry over the soul unto God: but we come to particulars.
1. Hearing shall have the preminence, in regard the Apostle hath left it upon record that faith comes by hearing. Rom. 10.17. and what hearing is that that begets faith but the hearing of Christ crucifyed.
2. Reading shall be another, and what do believers propose to themselves in the first place but the Scriptures, in order to that command of Christ, Search the Scriptures for they testify of me: They take true delight in nothing but what may further their knowledg of Christ.
—Nec sibi gratior ulla est,
Quam sibi quae Christi praefixit pagina nomen.
It's observed that of all the bookes of Canonicall Scripture the book of Esther hath not so much as once the mention of the name of God in it, which hath caused some to question the Canonicallness of it; and the Jewes have a Ceremony that they will first cast the book upon the ground before they read it; and surely sound believers do stand much alike affected to all bookes which make no mention of Christ, wherein nothing of Christ is to be learnt, they are fitter to be cast upon the ground, and trodden under foot than to be read, and studyed.
3. Meditation is another precious duty, and whither doth meditation carry the Soul? No whither more freely than to Christ, Oh that I had wings like a dove saith David, for then would I fly away and be at rest; and whither would David fly, but thither whither he lookt, to the hills from whence he expected help; When the Soul is upon the wing of holy Meditation it flies as naturally to Christ, as Noa's tyred dove did unto the Ark. Come to me saith Christ all you that are weary and heavy laden, and I will ease you, and you shall find rest unto your soules.
4. Holy conference is another precious duty; and whither will that carry us but over to Christ: If Christ be our treasure, out of the abundance of our hearts our mouths will be speaking of him. We will be telling of his salvation from day to day, and declaring unto others what he hath been doing for our soules: How delightfully do men talk of their best freinds, how frequently do they inquire after them, and with the spouse talk with every one whom they think can give them any intelligence of their beloved.
5. Examination is another duty, and what do they examine after. The very first Question is whether they be in Christ, whether they be the Children of God, clear that and clear all. When once their calling and election are made sure, their hearts are quieted when they are satisfied that they are Elected in Christ, and called by Christ to Christ, then all is well, and they are as …hey would be, and they can say with David return unto thy rest oh my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. Observe that very place where the Apostle presseth Christians so expresly to this duty of Examination, and you will there find what it is that they should principally intend in that duty. 2. Cor. 13.5. Examine your selves whether you are in the faith, prove your own selves; know you not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except yee be reprobates. The great Quaeres were whether Christ were in them and they in the faith?
6. Watchfullness is another precious duty; Of very great concernment and high consequence to Believers. Else Salomon had never given such a strict command, above all keepings keep your hearts, and why should they so warily keep the Cabinet, but because of the Jewell, because Christ and faith were layd up there, and principalities and powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spirituall wickednesses would wrastle for these heavenly things. Eph. 6.12. Be sober and watch, for your adversary the divel goes about like a roring lyon seeking whom he may devour. 1. Pet. 5.8. and our Saviour foretells Simon that Satan desired to winnow him as wheat, to what end? Why to pull him out of Christs hand, as may be gathered from that which follows, but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fayle not. Having shew'd you. 1. That Christ is most to be valued for himself. 2. That things are to be valued as related to him.
3. Thirdly consider that nothing must stand in competition with Christ for precedency, for whatsoever we do value above Christ or equall with Christ we make our Idol, and if we should insteed of Christ bring our Idols with us in our seeking of God, he will at present answer us according to our Idolls (i. e.) as Idolaters deserve; and when we addresse to him in our distresses, we may have the same answer as the Israelites had, Goe to the Gods that yee have chosen &c. Judg. 10.14.
1. We must not prefer the World before him: Love not the world sayth the Apostle, neither any thing that is in the world (i. e.) not profits, the lusts of the flesh, Not pleasures, the lusts of the Eyes: Not honors, the pride of life, for whosoever loveth these (i. e) inordinately, and with the prevailing degree of their love, the love of the father is not in him. 1. Iohn. 2.15. No nor the Love of the Son neither, for he himself hath sayd, If any man love father or Mother &c. more than me he is not worthy of me. Mat. 10.37.
2. We must not prefer the Flesh before him; Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and observe what follows, and make no provisions for the flesh to fullfill the lusts of it. Rom. 13.14. It's a Christians wisdome whilest he lives in the world not to conform himself to this present world, and to be foreign, not to walk nor war after the flesh while he lives in it.
3. Take heed of that foreign, that man worship, or preferring of men before Christ: the Apostle found such Idolatry in the Church of Cornith, some running after Paul, some after Apollos, some after Peter, and some after Christ, whom he takes to task and chides them roundly, Is Christ divided? was Paul crucifyed for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? and begins to rejoyce that he baptized but a few of them, least it should be sayd he had baptized in his own name, and gathered disciples unto himself rather than to Christ 1. Cor. 1.14. and he layes out himself to beat down this glorying in Man: Who is Paul? or who is Apollos? but Ministers by whom ye believed, as God gave unto every man to believe. 1. Cor. 3.5, 6. &c.
4. Take heed of Idolizing of Ordinances, a common thing for men to boast themselves in the multitude of their Priviledges, and to cry out with the Jewes. Jer. 7.4. The Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord, when the Lord of the Temple is but a stranger to them: how many poor ignorant soules do hang upon the outside of Ordinances; Sabboths, Preaching, Sacraments, Prayer, as the Antidiluvians did upon the out-side of the Ark?
5. Take heed how you rest upon graces themselves: You know but in part, and are sanctifyed but in part, and therefore when you have all (i. e.) as much as you are capable of attaining on this side heaven, you must not take up with it, Si dixisti sufficit, periisti, To set our selves a stint in grace is to make an Idol of it, we must therefore take the Apostle for our example who forgot all that was behind, and did reach forward to the things …hat were before, and pressed forward towards …he mark for the price of the high calling which is in Christ Jesus, and he bespeakes all that are perfect (i. e.) sincere to be thus minded.
6. Take heed how you rest in Duties. We must say of our best duties as well as graces as David did of his bow and sword. I will not trust in my bow, it is not my sword that shall help me. Ps. 44.6. We must not think to make our services our Saviours, for this is to set up self and slight Christ, to make our selves our own Idols; We had as good be found in our sinns as trusting in our duties, and therefore we must keep close to our Saviours rule, if we will keep close to Christ, who bids us, when we have done all, say we are unprofitable Servants. Luk. 17.10. Oh study and practise self-denyall more and more, the Common sort of loose Christians are even practicall Papists in this point, that rest in opere operato in the work done, as if duty done any manner of how would merit heaven, and God were beholding to us for our …ervice. We must take heed of that dream of being above ordinances, least we be found to be beneath grace; and that we need not perform duties, a peice of the strong delusions of these times, that the Saints need not pray, nor hear, nor repent, it savours altogether of a legall spirit, and many such lawless songs which have been set by the Lazy Antinomians: They may as well speak out (as some of them do) and say that we need no Christ, we will not be beholding to him for Salvation. We must live in ordinances, graces, and duties like the week in the oyle, but still we must bear in mind that bodily excercise profits little, and ordinances and duties are but empty things, except God, and Christ & the spirit do move upon them, they are the springs that fill those Wells of Salvation with the waters of life. Men must therefore be preached into Ordinances and out of them, so as to honour them and wait upon God in them, but out of them, so as to look through them, and above them, and beyond them, and to presse after Communion with …od and Christ in them: They must be preached into grace, and out o… grace; into graces, to get, cherish and enlarg… them, but out of them so that they must no trust in them; for though faith, repentance and obedience be our Evangelicall righteousness, yet we must know that we are rather saved through Grace than for it. For though death be the wages of our disobedience, yet eternall life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. And men must be preached into duty, and out of it; Into duty so as to do it and that with all diligence, but out of it, so as not to trust in it, knowing that our servcies as well as persons do need a Mediator that they may find acceptance with God.
7. And lastly a Believer must take heed of Idolizing his Priviledges: Though Justification, Reconciliation, Adoption, Sanctification, and glory are high and excellent Priviledges: Yet they are not Christs, they are not Saviours, some of the dreames of this age of delusion are to talk of injoying insteed of believing, as if men were tryumphant & not militant. And to talk of injoying insteed of repenting and obeying, This occasions so much minding of priviledges, and so little pressing of graces and duties, what our Saviour sayd to the Pharisees of their tything mint and cummin, and neglecting justice and judgment, I may apply to such, these ought ye rather to have done, and not to leave the other undone: Its a most disingenious thing to be still enquiring what we shall have, and seldome or never what we must doe, and not only disingenious but most unjust so greedily to expect wages before the work be done.