The Buddings and Blossomings of Old Truths, Commentary · Verse 35

The Buddings and Blossomings of Old Truths · Commentary · Verse 35

p. 377Verſ 35. The father loveth the ſon, and hath given all things into his hands.

THe Baptiſt having ſet before his diſciples the authority of Chriſt, the commiſſion which the father gave him to undertake the great and mighty work of our ſalvation, having alſo declared the ſufficiency of Chriſt, the abundant effuſion of the ſaving grace of the Spirit upon him, deſcendeth now to diſcover and lay open the ground hereof, even the love of God, as if hee had ſaid, The Father hath wonderfully enriched the Son with many choice and ſingular endowments, beſtowed upon him a rich ſtore-houſ of all graces; and why hath hee done ſo, becauſ hee loved the Son: ſo that from the coherence of this with the former verſ, wee may learn

Doctr. That the beſtowing of the ſaving gifts and graces of the Spirit is the choiceſt teſtimony of the love of God; a greater teſtimony of the love of God to fill the veſſels of the ſoul with ſanctification, then to fill the barn with corn, the fold with ſheep, the ſtall with oxen, the cheſt with gold, the life with pleaſure, or to ſet upon the head a crown of worldly honor; therefore when God entred into Covenant with his people, promiſed to bee their God, and took them above all the people of the earth, hee doth not promiſe them a paradiſe of pleaſures to dwell in, a river of wordly delights to drink of, a wardrobe p. 378of rich raiment, a treaſury of gold and ſilver, an eminent place of wordly honor, but the grace of the ſpirit, a holy fear to diſpleaſ him, a holy care to walk uprightly before him, Jer. 32.38, 39, 40, 41. this is propheſied to be the ſequel of God's love to his people, Jer. 31. is the promiſe of his love, ver. 3. the teſtimony of it, ver. 8, 9. I will bring them from the north countrey and all the coaſts of the earth; literally from Babylon, Aſſyria, and the Medes, where they were detained captive; ſpiritually from the ſlavery and bondage of ſin and Satan; and when will hee bring the blinde who cannot ſee the waies, the commandements of the Lord; the lame, who cannot walk aright in the path of his precepts; the woman with childe, ſuch as feel themſelvs heavy loaden with the burden of their ſin, and did much long like a woman in travel to bee delivered, and hee that travelleth with the childe the broken hearted, afflicted, and ſuch as want ſpiritual ſtrength to do good? but how in what manner ſhall they come from their bondage? with weeping, grief for their ſin, and with ſupplication, with praier for the remiſſion of ſin: but by what way ſhall they bee led? by the rivers of the water, their ſpiritual thirſt after rightetouſneſs ſhall bee quenched by the preaching of the Goſpel, and their ſouls watered and refreſhed by the dews of the Spirit in a right way by the doctrine of life, wherein is no terror, no obliquity,; and for why ſhall all this bee? for I a father to Iſraël, and Ephraïm is my firſt-born, that is, I love them with a moſt intimate affection, p. 379they are very dear unto mee, and therefore I will beſtow this ſpiritual favor upon them: this the Prophet Hoſea after a metaphorical manner doth moſt lively and elegantly expreſs, Hoſ. 14. v. 4. firſt hee maketh mention of the freedom of God's love toward them; then hee ſetteth forth the conſequences thereof, the fruit growing on this tree of God's love, the gifts given by this hand of God ſo full of love unto them: and firſt by the ſimilitude of a Phyſitian healing; hee ſetteth out the free remiſſion of their ſin; by the ſimilitude of the dew, the grace of the Spirit regenerating and quickning to new obedience; by the ſimilitude of the growing of the lilie, which is an effect of the dew, hee ſetteth out the adorning of the faithfull with heavenly graces, that ſo both they and their ſervices might caſt a ſweet ſavour in God's noſtrils; by the ſimilitude of caſting out of roots as Lebanon, hee expreſſeth their conſtancy and perſeverance in the grace of the Spirit, notwithſtanding all temptations; by the ſimilitude of ſpreading their branches, hee declareth their increaſ of the Church both in graces and alſo in perſons, the great glory of the Church, and the ſweet ſavour which they ſhould ſend forth both in the noſtrils of God & alſo of men; by the ſimilitude of ſiting under his ſhadow, he expreſſeth the ſafety, ſecurity and peace which they ſhould enjoy under the protection of Chriſt; by the ſimilitude taken from the reviving of the corn, hee ſheweth their growth in grace, even by the ſtorms and tempeſts of affliction which fall upon us; by the ſimilitude of p. 380the growing of the Vine and ſent of Lebanon, hee propoſeth the zeal of the godly and the fragrancy of their converſation, ſo that the forgiveneſs of ſin, regeneration, ſanctified and acceptable obedience, conſtancy in the way of God's commandements, growth in grace, joy and peace in the holy Ghoſt, zeal and courage for God's truth, theſe are gifts which (above all the gifts in the world) do teſtifie the love of God: therefore 1 Joh. 3.1, 2. Eph. 2.4, 5.

Reaſ. Becauſe theſe of all gifts are the moſt excellent; theſe are as the Spouſe ſaid of our Saviour, Cant. 2.2. Cant. 5.10. as the apple-tree among the trees of the forreſt, the faireſt of ten thouſand: therefore called by the Apoſtle, the beſt gifts, 1 Cor. 12.31. preferred by Joh, above the choiceſt treaſure lockt up in the bowels of the earth, Job 28.16. by Solomon, before the chiefeſt riches in the cuſtody of the merchant, Prov. 3.14. though other gifts are in their kinde excellent, and of great comfort to ſuch as can rightly apply apply them; yet as Prov. 31.29. ſo many other endowments deſerve much commendation, but the ſaving grace of the Spirit excelleth them all.

2. Becauſe theſe gifts of all other are the moſt rare, moſt proper, and peculiar to God's own children; theſe are precious pearls given to a few, they are flowers growing in few gardens, a ſeed ſown but in few fields, ſtars ſhining in the firmament of few mens ſouls, 2 Theſ. 3.2. earthly endowments are a liquor put into every veſſel, a ſion graffed on every ſtock, a ſeed ſown on every p. 381field; but theſe are beſtowed only on the elect, Tit. 1.1.

3. Becauſe theſe gifts do bring a man nigheſt to God; in likeneſs of nature theſe make a man holy as God is holy, for the truth, though not for the meaſure of holineſs: theſe make a man like God, as the childe is like the parent, as the aër is like the ſun, therefore 2 Pet. 1.4. being holy, wiſe, ſimple, ſincere, immortal as God is; not in perfection, but in trueth; not independently, but by communication: hereby wee have fellowſhip with God, walk with him, have our converſation in heaven, are of God's counſel, Pſal. 25 9. are his friends, Joh. 15.15. enjoy the light of his face, Pſal. 21.6. a man may have all other gifts, bee furniſhed with all other abilities, and yet bee a ſtranger to God and Chriſt, Eph. 1.12.

4. Becauſe theſe gifts of all other gifts are the moſt pleaſant, the moſt delightfull and full of comfort, this maketh the ſoul of a Chriſtian cheerfull, and full of rejoycing, Lu. 10.20. Iſa. 55.12, 13. 1 Pet. 1.8. Iſa. 4.6.

5. Becauſe theſe gifts are of all others the moſt ſatisfactory and contenting, theſe like living ſprings do abundantly fill the veſſel of their ſouls, like clouds full of rain they quench the thirſt of the heart, as they do-the dry and barren grounds, like trees loaden with plenty and variety of all good fruit they fill the hungry ſtomack; therefore likened to a living ſpring, whoſe waters never fail, Jo. 4.14. to milk and wine, which quench the thirſt, Iſa. 55.1. to a p. 382of the choiſeſt dainties both filling and delighting the hungry ſoul, Iſa. 25.6. to great gain, which quieteth the heart though enlarged with ſtrong deſires, 1 Tim. 6.6. when all other gifts like water to a dropſie man do inflame their thirſt, and make them cry like a horſleach, and make them miſerable as the grave, Pro. 30.15, 16. then they who have the grace of the Spirit are ſatisfied, as the child that ſucketh milk from a full breaſt, Iſa. 66.11. this is promiſed Pſal. 22.26. where the Pſalmiſt alluding to the ſacrifices and feaſts among the Jews ſheweth, as they fed delicately, filled themſelvs plenteouſly; ſo the people of God fed with the preaching of the Goſpel, and adminiſtration of the Sacraments, ſhould be abundantly filled with all heavenly comforts, with all ſaving gifts and graces, ſo filled that they ſhould bee therewith ſatisfied: the like expreſſion to this is uſed Pſal. 23.5, 6. the Pſalmiſt thereby ſetting forth the large meaſure of grace which God conferred on him, the abundant holy joy, and rejoycing wherewith the Lord did repleniſh him

6. Becauſe theſe gifts are of all other gifts the moſt profitable; theſe like the Ark to Obed Edom, like Joſeph to Potiphar, do cauſe all wee have, all wee do to proſper. The Apoſtle doth excellently expreſs it, where hee ſaith, godlineſs is profitable to all things, having the promiſe of this life, and of that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4.8. godlineſs profitable, helpfull to every duty, to every eſtate and condition of life; it is profitable to us when wee hear, it cauſeth our hearts to bee to p. 383the word as good ground to the ſeed, as a healthy ſtomach to the food, it maketh the Word to us as the light to the eye, very pleaſant and delightfull: as muſick to the ear very comfortable, as a joyfull tidings to the ſorrowfull, for Mica. 2.7. 2. It is profitable to us when wee pray; it maketh us to com before the Lord with confidence, 1 John 3.20, 21. it inlargeth the deſires of our ſouls, ſtrengtheneth our affections, and maketh them more fervent, carrying them towards God like a ſtrong flood which cannot bee ſtopped, maketh the cry of our ſouls vehement, maketh them as incenſe the ſmoak of ſweet wood in God's noſtrils, Jam. 5.16. this is like Aaron and Hur to Moſes, Exod. 17.12, 14. 3. It is profitable to us when wee are aſſaulted, it inableth us to draw nigh to God with fulneſs of aſſurance, Heb. 10.22. it maketh us confident, bold and couragious, Prov. 28.1. It defendeth us like a breaſt plate, Epheſ. 6.14. it is an Ark in the Deluge. 4. It is profitable when wee are in any affliction, It maketh all troubles to bee as fire to the gold, fanne to the corn, the fiery fornace to the three children an occaſion of nearer communion with God, holineſs to God's people in the time of trouble is as Moſes rod making a way thorough the red ſea, opening the ſtony rock, as the tree making the bitter waters ſweet, as the meal making the pot which was full of death to become full of health, as a wiſe Phiſitian maketh a healthfull and healing medicine of that which in it ſelf is very poiſon. 5. It is profitable when wee are to perform any ſacred duty p. 384it is to us as wings to the bird, as horſmen an chariots to travellers, as wind, tide, ſails to the marriner, as art, skill, and ſtrength to him that undergoeth the labor of handicraft, it ſtrengtheneth, enliveneth, and inableth the ſoul with a ſingular readineſs, & marvellous joy, great content, and unſpeakable delight to run that race, fulfill that task with God hath ſet him, 1 John 5.3. Pſa. 40.8. Pſal. 108.3. and Jud. 5.2. 6. It is profitable in the collection, gathering, receiving, affective fruition, and uſing of all outward bleſſings, it teacheth us to gain them lawfully, to affect them moderately, to rejoice in them ſparingly, to uſe them holily, to order our ſelvs in all our buſineſſes religiouſly, wiſely, graciouſly, as becometh the Goſpel of God, making all outward bleſſings occurrents and occaſions to bee as feet to help us forward, and not as ſtumbling blocks to occaſion our fall, to bee as a garment not a burden, as a cup whereof to drink to refreſhment, not a ſea wherein to drown our ſelvs. 7. It is profitable in ſickneſs, in death: holineſs inableth us to dy with comfort, to imbrace it as the moſt welcom of all gueſts, to look upon it as a friend of a moſt lovely countenance, as a meſſenger bringing moſt joifull tidings, as a Phyſitian curing all diſeaſes, as a key opening the gates, giving liberty from all troubles, entrance into all happineſs, as the marriage day of our ſouls, this will make us (with Faninus the Italian) to kiſs death as hee kiſſed the traitor which brought him tidings of his execution: theſe are the fruits which grow on this and the like p. 385branches, this is the gain which is gathered out of this treaſury, no gift ſo profitable; therefore no gift ſo ſure a pledg of God's love to his people.

7. Becauſe theſe gifts are of all other gifts the moſt laſting, theſe are gifts without repentance, that know no change Rom. 11.29. a living ſpring that never faileth, Joh. 4.14. a ſeed that never dieth, 1 Joh. 3.9. a jewel which never conſumeth, Prov. 4.18. a ſun that never ſetteth; all other gifts of whatſoëver kinde, worth or excellency, are but like a cloud ſoon diſpelled, a veſſel of clay ſoon broken, a ſandy foundation ſoon ſunk, but they who are endued with the ſaving graces of the Spirit, like trees of deep roots ſhall ſurely ſtand, like trees planted by the water ſide, they ſhall not wither, but ſhall bee as the green olive, Pſal. 52.8. as rich treaſure in a ſtrong hand, Job 10.28. God's covenant ſhall have no end, his grace ſhall never dy, Jer. 32.39, 40. ſo that in all theſe reſpects, the holy and ſaving graces of God's Spirit are the chiefeſt teſtimony of God's love.

Ʋſe. This will therefore diſcover unto us plainly; aſſure us undoubtedly, make us ſee infallibly who they are that are beſt beloved of God, who are the joy of his heart, the dearly beloved of his ſoul; not the men who have the largeſt earthly poſſeſſions, but they whoſe ſouls are repleniſhed with moſt holineſs; not they who are endowed with moſt lordſhip and autority over their brethren, but they who have moſt ſway and dominion over their corrupt affections, p. 386the moſt holy, the moſt religious, the moſt ſincere in heart, the moſt ſanctified in their converſation, theſe are God's dear ones; God regardeth not the rich man for his abundance, the noble man for his birth, the great man for his high place, the wiſe man for his policy, theſe are in the eies of God ſtars of no brightneſs, flowers of no beauty, pearls of no price, load ſtones of no virtue to draw the love of God towards the ſouls of men; hee is moved with none of theſe things, Deut. 10.17. the beſt common abilities without ſaving grace are but like glorious apparrel about a dead carcaſe unable to move any affection, or to beget deſire of communion; the greateſt living man will rather enter fellowſhip and hold communion with the pooreſt living beggar then with the dead carkaſs of the greateſt princes of the world, though cloathed in moſt rich and roial raiment: ſo will God have fellowſhip with and ſet his eies upon the pooreſt ſoul that hath the life of grace in him, then with the moſt renowned commander on earth, being a ſtranger to the life of God; for Job 34.19. it is onelyonly true piety which maketh us dear and pretious in God's eies, which moveth God to faſten his affection upon us, and to delight himſelf in us; men may bee admired by men for their endowments, becauſe men judg according to external appearance, as 1 Sam. 16.6. but as verſ 7. ſo God looketh not on men becauſe tall in honors, high in external callings, great through a worldly abundance, but the holy man is the object of God's affection, Pſal. 146.8. theſe are God's p. 387choiſ, Jam. 2.5. theſe are God's delight, Pro. 11.20. theſe are a diademe and a crown of glory in God's hand, Iſa. 62.3. to theſe doth hee look, with theſe doth hee delight to dwell, Iſa. 57.15. Joh. 14 23, 24. theſe are unto Chriſt in ſtead of all others, Mat. 12.50. And indeed upon whom hath the cloud of God's love diſtilled, on whom hath the light of his countenance ſhined, towards whom have the infallible teſtimonies of God's favor been manifeſted, but onelyonly to ſuch as are endued with the ſaving gifts and graces of his Spirit, to whom hath hee vouchſafed his preſence as a father among his children, as a ſhepherd among his flock, as the ſun among the ſtars in the firmament, ſurely onelyonly to ſuch as fear him, Pſal. 46.5. Zeph. 3.15. Gen. 28.12. upon whom doth hee caſt forth the light of his countenanee? whoſe ſoul doth hee affect with the ſenſ of his love, but onelyonly ſuch as by a lively faith imbrace his promiſes, and keep their feet within the way of his commandements, Pſal. 11.7. Rom. 5.5. to whom doth hee make his Word a joifull tidings, a healing ſalve, a ſweet ſavour, but onelyonly to ſuch as paſs their time in his fear, order their converſation in a holy manner, to them the meditation thereof is ſweet, Pſal. 104.34. common favors indeed are vouchſafed to the bad, as the rain falleth on the bad ground as well as the good, Mat. 5.45. but the ſpecial pledges of God's love are conferred onelyonly upon the righteous, Pſal. 50.16.

But it may bee you will ſay, That riches and honors, and theſe external favors, that they are p. 388alſo bleſſings, they are water out of God's well, rain out of God's cloud, a gift from his hand.

2. They are therefore very much deceived, who bleſs themſelvs as being God's deareſt favorites, the choiſeſt of his beloved, becauſe they are moſt plenteouſly enriched with theſe common endowments, becauſe their houſes are fairer, their poſſeſſions larger, their dignities greater, their earthly delights, pleaſures and comforts far excelling other: this is a ſandy foundation to build upon, a deceitfull balance to weigh themſelvs in, a falſ rule whereby to judg of God's love; who had more pleaſure than the glutton faring deliciouſly, and wearing fine apparell every day, yet a fire brand of hell? Luke 16. who richer than hee that builded his barns greater, cheared up his ſoul with the thought of his great abundance, yet who at the laſt were his attendants but the devils? Luke 12. where was his dwelling but in everlaſting darkneſs? who periſhed in the red ſea, was it not Pharaoh king of Egypt? Exod. 14. who was eaten up of lice, was it not Herod that ſate upon the throne? Act. 12.22. On whom came ſorrow widowed, and loſs of children in one day, was it not upon the Babyloniſh Queen that lived in pleaſures? Iſa. 47.7, 8. Who ſtand in ſlipery places, but they who have more than heart can deſire? Pſal. 73.18. Who periſh like their beaſts, but they that boaſted of their wealth? Pſal. 14.49. on the other ſide; Who poorer than Lazarus who had reſting place in Abraham's boſom? Luke 16.8. Who had no other cradle but a manger? Luke 2. Who had not where to lay his p. 389head, but the Son of man Chriſt Jeſus, who of all others was moſt dear to God? Who were in ſheeps skins and goats skins in the wilderneſs, in caves, deſtitute, afflicted, tormented, but the good people of God, of whom the world was not worthy? Who were accounted as the dung and of-ſcouring of the earth, but the Apoſtles of the Lord Jeſus? the tranſgreſſors they have grown as the graſs; overtopt the righteous, as the tares the corn; advanced themſelvs in the world, like the cedars in Lebanon; they have been among men, as the Leviathan among the fiſhes of the ſea; as the lion, buls, bears among the beaſts of the field; as the eagle among the birds of the aër; as the tree by the great waters, among the trees of the forreſt: the moſt unholy have many times the greateſt abundance of outward favors, and therefore wee cannot but falſly conclude them to bee moſt happy, who have moſt earthly plenty, fatneſs and proſperity; for having nothing but this, 1. they are dead in ſin: and whom judg wee moſt happy, the dead with a goodly tomb, or the living that hath life in him? the widow living in pleaſures was very wretched, becauſe dead in ſin while ſhee lived. 2. theſe are deſtitute of God's image: it is not the adorning of the body with gold and ſilver, but the adorning of the ſoul with grace, which is in the ſight of God of great price. 3. theſe have no communion with God: it is not by wealth, but by faith and holy life, that wee have fellowſhip with God, 1 Joh. 1.6. 4. theſe are ſtrangers to true peace: it is not wordly riches but true grace p. 390that bringeth peace unto the conſcience, riches uſually breed many troubles, they have unability to appeaſ a ſtormy tempeſt of a troubled conſcience, Ez. 19.7.

But it may bee you will ſay that riches, honors, and external favors are bleſſings alſo, that theſe are waters of God's well, rain out of God's cloud, a gift from God's hand, and therfore alſo a teſtimony of God's love; to which I anſwer, it is true, they are bleſſings in themſelvs, for every creature of God in it's own kind is good, Gen. 1.31. they are all from the Lord the giver of every good gift, Iſa. 1.17. for the earth is the Lord's Pſal. 24.1. riches and honor come from him 1 Chro. 29.12. the Lord ſetteth one, and pulleth down another, 1 Sam. 2.7. all cometh from God's providence, but all cometh not from God's mercy and love to them who are poſſeſſors of it; it is one thing to have a thing by the courſ of God's Providence, another thing to have it from God in love, and in favor, for God giveth in wrath as well as in mercy, as Hoſ. 13.11. ſo God giveth wealth and riches in his wrath, and taketh it away in his diſpleaſure; thus Iſrael had quails given, but it was in wrath, Numb. 11.33. better they had been without them. Thus Solomon ſaw this evil under the ſun, riches kept for the owners thereof to their own hurt, Ecleſ. 5.13. when Abſalon made a feaſt, hee invited all his brethren, prepared dainties for them, ſom hee invited in love, but Amon in hatred, for hee gave charge to his ſervants, when they ſhould ſee him merry with wine, that p. 391then they ſhould fall upon him, and kill him, 2 Sam. 13.28. ſo when God prepareth dainties, beſtoweth favors to all ſorts of people, to ſom hee doth in love, to others in anger. 2, God hath two ſorts of bleſſings, common, and ſpecial; the common belong to all, and are no aſſured teſtimony of God's love, Eccleſ. 9.1. Mat. 5.45. the ſpecial belong to his children, and are a never faling pledge of God's love towards them, 1 Cor. 2.9, 10. as Abraham hath Moveables which hee gave to the ſeed of the bond woman, but an Inheritance which was reſerved for the ſeed of the free woman. Iſaac had two ſorts of bleſſings, the beſt for Jacob, the fatneſs of the earth for Eſau; the Maſter of the familie beſtoweth common favors on the ſervans, but the choice is reſerved for the children. 3, Externall endowments are good of themſelvs, but without a further bleſſing they prove not only unuſefull, but alſo hurtfull; food is good in it ſelf, but often is as poiſon to many ſick men; wealth and honors without grace to uſe them, prove like large ſails, and ſtrong winde to a little bottome, an empty veſſel, an occaſion, and inſtrument to overthrow it: outward endowments without inward holineſs make us proud, wanton, forgetfull of God, Deut. 8.12, 13. exorbitant in our courſes, like fat paſture to a horſ not accuſtomed to the bridle, Jer. 5.8. 4. The goodneſs of a thing is not ſo much to bee conſidered in what it is in it ſelf, as in the end why it is given, afflictions which in themſelvs are a fruit of ſin, and in that reſpect evil are yet in their uſe and end p. 382made good to God's people, pils which in themſelvs are bitter, and diſtaſtfull to the palate, are yet in their uſe and end of adminiſtration by the phyſician turned to the good of the patient, ſo on the other ſide outward peace and plenty are given to ſinfull men to the end they may live the more ſecurely, ſin the more freely, and at length bee condemned the more juſtly, puniſhed the more ſeverely, fat paſture in it ſelf is good but given to the beaſts to make them fit for the day of ſlaughter, ſo Pſal. 92.6. when Jehu prepared a large ſacrifice for Baal, 2 Kin. 10. then hee ſlew the prieſts of Baal, ſo when God prepareth a fat ſacrifice for the wicked, then they are nigh unto deſtruction: and ſo much for anſwer to this, that outward things are Gods gift and bleſſing; but no infallible teſtimony of his favor to the owner of them.

3. This muſt occaſion every man to try whether hee bee lov'd of God, whither hee bee dear unto him or not: For the diſcovery whereof, every man muſt examine, not what riches, what earthly preferments God hath given him, but what knowledg, what repentance, what love, what faith, what purity, what meekneſs, what zeal, what God hath wrought in him; theſe are the teſtimonies of his goodnes and love to his children, by this hee is known to bee a friend, a fathér, a husband to him, Iſa. 44.5, 8, 13. the love of the father is known to the child more then to the ſervant, when hee ſetteth him to the ſchool, giveth him good nurture, traineth him up in good learning; ſo the love of God to his p. 383people is known, when hee giveth them the miniſtry of the Goſpel, Jer. 3.14, 15. bringeth them unto the ſchool of Chriſt, maketh the light of rruth to ſhine in their hearts, 2 Cor. 4.6. inableth them to comprehend with all Saints the heighth depth breadth and length of his love, Eph. 3.19. when hee waſheth and cleanſeth them from their ſins, Tit. 3.4, 5, 6. as Jordan cleanſed Naaman from his leproſie, as the new born child is waſhed and cleanſed from it's native uncleanneſs, Ezeck. 16.4, 6. the Fullers love to the cloth, the Goldſmith's to the gold is ſeen by purging it, Mal. 3.3, 4. as the fuller's ſope doth purge the cloth, and the refiners fire the gold put into it, as our Saviour ſhewed his love to Lazarus by raiſing him out of the grave, John 36.44. ſo it is a ſure teſtimony of the love of God to thy ſoul, when hee doth raiſe thee out of the grave of ſin, putteth a new life into thee Eph. 2.4, 5. maketh thee a new creature, diſſolveth the works of the devil, inableth thee to walk in the way of his commandements, affecteth thy ſoul with the light of his countenance, filleth thy heart with peace, repleniſheth thine inward man with grace, when of unprofitable hee maketh thee proffitable, Philem. 11. of a ſtranger hee bringeth thee nigh unto himſelf, Eph. 2.17. when of a thorn hee maketh thee a fruitfull vine, of a lion hee maketh thee a lamb, Iſa. 11.6, 7. of a ruinous heap he maketh thy ſoul like a poliſhed palace, Iſ. 54.12. when of a man deaf, blinde, lame, dead, hee openeth thine ears to hear, thine eies to ſee, thy feet to walk in his way, and of parched ground p. 394maketh thee a ſtanding pool, Iſa. 35.4, 5. filleth thy ſoul with the waters of life Iſa. 44.2, 3, 4. then thou mayeſt aſſure thy ſelf, thou art highly loved of God. It is not growth in wealth but growth in grace that can aſſure the heart of God's love.

4, This directeth us how and in what manner to manifeſt our love to our brethren, to ſuch as appertain, or are any way dear unto us, as God manifeſteth his love by giving ſpiritual gifts to his children, ſo let us manifeſt and declare our love, by being inſtruments to convey ſpiritual bleſſings on ſuch as have any relation to us, temporal favors can get none but a temporal, a natural love, they conduce but to the welfare of the body, they are tranſitory, there is no continuance in them, ſpiritual favors are the trueſt teſtimony, the beſt evidence of a good affection; therefore, thou that art a maſter of a family, ſhew thy love unto them by teaching and commanding them to keep the way of the Lord, as did Abraham, Gen. 18.19. thou that art a father of children, teach them to retain the word of the Lord in their hearts, to keep his commandements, to get wiſdom, as David taught Solomon, Prov. 5.3, 4, 5. thou that art a husband, ſhew thy love to thy love to thy wife by dwelling with her according to knowledge, 1 Pet. 3.7. thou that art a magiſtrate, ſhew thy love to thine inferiors, by aboliſhing and beating down ſin and occaſions of ſin as Aſa and Hezekiah did, 1 Kin. 15.12. 2 Kings 18.4. by giving thea religious, pious, and godly example, as David, 2 Sam. 6, 20. Samuel; p. 395as Jehoſaphat did, by provoking and encourageing them to true repentance and amendment of life; as Jehoſhaphat and the king of Nineveh did: thou that art a miniſter, ſhew thy love to the people by giving them good, wholeſom & ſufficient food for their ſouls, as our Saviour charged Peter to teſtifie his love; thou that art a common man, a friend, a neighbour, teſtifie thy love by conſidering thy neighbour, by aſſembling together, by provoking to love and good works, by calling upon them to go to the houſ of God: ſpiritual bleſſings are of the chiefeſt uſe; they are profitable to all things, and in all eſtates, they are the choiceſt ornament, they are of the greateſt price, they bring the ſweeteſt peace, and are of the longeſt continuance; and therefore if you will ſhew your love in any thing, ſhew it in this; In making them whom love, partakers of theſe bleſſings.

5. This muſt comfort all God's children, all ſuch as are truely ſanctified, all on whom God hath poured out the ſaving grace of the Spirit: though the world hate you, as Eſau hated Jacob, Gen. 27.41. as Ahab hated Micaiah, 1 King 22.8. as Saul hated David; 1 Cor. 4.13. though you are of no reputation in the eies of men, yet comfort your ſelvs in this, the Lord loveth you, the Lord hath ſhewed the teſtimonies of his choiceſt affections towards you; therefore bee ſure that in his love hee will ſupply you when you want, ſolace you when you are heavy, deliver you when you are oppreſſed, raiſ you when you are caſt down: as in his love hee brought Iſraël from p. 396the iron fornace, the Egyptian bondage; ſo in his love hee will in due ſeaſon put an end to all your affliction, and let his love bee a ſufficient recompence for the want of all mens affection, a ſtrong ſtay in all trouble; the King's love fully anſwereth the beggars hatred; the Maſter's love, the ſervants diſpleaſure; the light of the ſun, the want of all other lights; plenty of wine, the want of ſmall drink: his love is better than the richeſt treaſure, the choiceſt dainties, the brighteſt ſun, Cant. 1.4. his love is everlaſting, a ſtream full of refreſhment, a hand full of ſtrength, a lamp of oil, Jer. 31.3. that which is (and may well be to all that have it) inſtead of all friends, peace, joy, dignity, riches, a thouſand fold better then any earthly abundance.

Thus of the Connexion: in the words themſelvs wee have ſet before us, 1. the love of God the father unto Chriſt; The Father loveth the Son. 2. the ſequel of this love; and hath given all things into his hands. 1. Of the love of the Father to the Son, whence two things are to bee noted: I. That God the Father doth bear a ſingular affection unto his Son Chriſt Jeſus. II. That the love of God to Chriſt Jeſus is the fountain of all happineſs which cometh to his choſen ſervants. Firſt, of the former of theſe.

Doctr. That God the Father doth bear a ſingular affection unto his Son Chriſt Jeſus: the love of God the Father unto Chriſt is ſo great, ſo wonderfull, ſo unſpeakable, that no capacity can fully comprehend it, no tongue perfectly deſcribe it, no ſimilitude ſufficiently expreſs p. 397it; if I ſhould liken it to the ſun, the ſea, the whole element of fire, the glory of the ſun is but a glow-worm to it, the whole ocean but as a few drops, the element of fire, but as a few ſparks of this, but ſlender reſemblances of it; there is no compariſon between things finite and infinite; but the truth of this is manifeſt by the title given unto Chriſt, called by a kinde of excellency God's beloved, Eph. 1.16. twice teſtified to bee ſo by an audible voice from heaven, Mat. 3.17. Mat. 17.5. the excellency of it, by way of compariſon, far excelling the love that God did bear to the Angels, Heb. 1.5. the truth of this is moreover evideneed.

Reaſ. 1. By the near union between the Father and the Son; the Son in reſpect of his God-head beeing one ſubſtance with the Father, as the water in the ſtream is one and the ſame in ſubſtance with the water in the fountain, diſtinguiſhed onelyonly by relation; as one and the ſame man may be a father and a ſon in ſeveral relations, yet but one man▪ hence God the Father and God the Son are ſaid to bee one, 1 John 5.7. John 10.30.

2. By the ſimilitude and likeneſs between them: as the Father ſo the Son is holy abſolutely, independently according to his God-head; and alſo as hee was man, hee knew no ſin, there was no guil found in his lips, hee was a lamb without ſpot, pure grain without chaff, 2 Cor. 5.21. 1 Pet. 2.22. 1 Pet. 1.19. Luke 23.41.

3. By the high and admirable privileges p. 398wherewith hee endued him even as hee was man, hee made his ſon; not onelyonly by creation, as the Angels; by adoption, as his converted people, but by grace of hypoſtatical union making the humane nature one in ſubſiſtence with the Second perſon in the Trinity: hee hath made him head of the Church, the Fountain of grace to all his choſen, the Prince of peace, the Lord of glory, annointed King, Prieſt and Prophet of the Church, Eph. 1.22. Eph. 1.4. Iſa. 9.6. 1 Cor. 2.8.

Ʋſe. This muſt therefore ſtabliſh the faith of all God's people, cauſe them to build upon Chriſt as upon a ſure rock, a ſtrong foundation; the love of the Father towards him is unſpeakable; the Father ſo loveth him, that hee will not deny any petition of his, but hee is heard in whatſoëver hee doth ſue for, hee putteth all into his hand, as Gen. 41.40. once Pharaoh put the government of his kingdom into the hands of Joſeph, ſet him over all his houſe; and ordained, that according to his word all his people ſhould bee ruled, onelyonly in the Throne hee would bee chief: ſo hath God the Father put all into Chriſt's hand, committed the miniſtration of his kingdom unto him, onelyonly in the Throne God will be chief above Chriſt as Mediator, and therefore as a man having a friend in the King's Court whom the King loveth above all others, hee cometh with confidence, is aſſured that hee will prevail with the King for him; the love of God to Chriſt doth infinitely ſurpaſs the love of any King to his Favorite, or any other whoſoever is moſt dear to him; the love of God to p. 399Chriſt is moſt pure, moſt perfect, moſt full, immutable and everlaſting: and therefore let us bee confident wee ſhall finde acceptance in him, for all the promiſes of God in Chriſt are yea and amen, 2 Cor. 1.2. and wee ſhall obtain whatſoëver wee ask in his name, Joh. 16.23. God for the love hee beareth to Chriſt Jeſus will not deny the ſuits of any of his ſervants.

2. This ſerveth for the ſingular comfort of all the members of Chriſt, though they bee unworthy of any love or favor, in regard of their failings and manifold infirmities; yet God hath a fervent love to Chriſt their head; though the clouds of their ſin hide away the light of God's face, and the Lord ſeem to have forſaken them, yet hee ſtill loveth Chriſt their head, their husband, their friend: if the King ſhould bee highly diſpleaſed, threaten death to a woman for ſom offence committed, yet if ſhee had a husband whom the King loved unfeignedly and earneſtly, to whom hee would deny no requeſt, this would comfort her exceedingly. Such a husband have wee, and therefore wee may boldly approach unto the throne of grace in his name, wee ſhall finde acceptance for his ſake, Hebr. 10.22. Rom. 5.1, 2. though Jonathan could not appeaſ the anger of his father Saul againſt David, yet our Jonathan will ſurely prevail with our God for us; though wee are unworthy, yet as the man of God looked on Jeboram for Jehoſhaphat's ſake, 2 King. 3.14. ſo will our God look favorably on us for Chriſt's ſake.

3, This muſt quicken and ſtirr up us to love p. 400the Lord Jeſus: the children uſe to love where the father doth, the ſervants uſe to affect where their Lord; God the Father loveth the Son, therefore let us alſo get our hearts inflamed with love to him; to them that love him, all felicity is wiſhed, Eph. 6 24. to them that love him not, all evils are denounced, 1 Cor. 16.22. and many inducements there are to move us to ſet our affection upon 1. the dignity, beauty, majeſty, glory and excellency of his perſon, Iſa. 45.3. Cant. 5.10. 2. The love that hee hath ſhewed to us, Joh. 15.13. Rom. 5.8. Jonathan's love to David, cauſed David again to love him; fire begetteth fire. 3. The great afflictions hee hath ſuffered for us. 4. The great endowments hee hath beſtowed upon us. 5. The many enemies hee hath conquered for us. 6. The great things hee hath purchaſed for us in the heavens; theſe are as ſo many load-ſtones to draw our hearts unto Chriſt Jeſus; as ſo many bellows to blow up the fire of our affections to inflame or hearts with fervent, ſacred and conſtant love unto the Lord Jeſus; and that ſo much the more, becauſe wee have hence ſeen,

Doctr. That the love of God to Chriſt Jeſus is the fountain of all the happineſs which cometh to God's ſervants: as the waters come to us from the fountain, by and thorow the ciſtern; the light cometh from the ſun to the eie, by and thorow the aër: ſo is Chriſt the medium whereby all the goodneſs of God cometh unto us; and God's love to Chriſt is the original and prime cauſe hereof; as Gen. 45.17, 18. the love p. 401of King Pharaoh to Joſeph was the moving cauſ of all the favor and kindneſs hee ſhewed to his father, and brethren, when they were in great diſtreſs by reaſon of the famine; ſo the love of God the King of kings, viz. Chriſt Jeſus, is the fountain of all the happineſs, peace, comfort which is derived and communicated to the brethren of Chriſt Jeſus, as the Ark was the cauſ of the wellfare of Obed-Edom's houſe, ſo is God's love to Chriſt the cauſ of all our welfare: this was ſhadowed out by the ladder in Jacob's viſion Geneſ. 28.11, 12. reaching from heaven to earth, the Angels aſcending and deſcending, to ſhew how all the goodneſs of God deſcendeth unto us by and thorow Chriſt, this was alſo prophecied, as the Lord hath put the grace of his ſpirit upon the ſon of righteouſneſs, to enlighten them that ſit in darkneſs, and why hath hee done ſo, but becauſe hee delighted in him, and the Apoſtle ſpeaketh plainly, that wee are accepted in the beloved, Epheſ. 1.6. Acts 2.33.

Reaſ. 1. Becauſe wee are from all eternity elected in Chriſt, as the Apoſtle witneſſeth, Eph. 1.4▪ ſaying, wee are choſen in him before the foundation of the world, in him, noting the order in which wee are elected, not the cauſe of election, the grace of election beginneth firſt with Chriſt our head, and deſcendeth to us in him, wee are not firſt elected, and then Chriſt is choſen by reaſon of our fall, but God out of his love did firſt chuſe him to bee the head of the body myſtical, and then are wee choſen to bee his members, as the head corner ſtone in p. 402the building is firſt choſen, Pſa. 116.22. and then the other ſtones which are to bee put into the building; hence hee is ſaid to bee the firſt begotten amongſt his brethren, Col. 1.18. to have the preheminence, to bee ſealed John 6.27. & ſet apart to be the prince of our ſalvation, to be fore-ordained before the foundations of the world, 1 Pet. 1.20 by how much more excellent things are, by ſo much more timely and principally they bee in God's decree, hee doth not think of electing and predeſtinating us firſt as a body, and then come afterward by occaſion to think of a him who is the head; hee is the firſt pattern, and wee are predeſtinated to bee like him Rom. 8.29. and as the maſter-picture and pattern is firſt, and then the thing which is to bee drawn by it, as in a naturall birth the head cometh firſt, and then the feet after it, ſo, firſt was Chriſt choſen, then as the head or the elect and fountain of grace, and then are wee choſen in him: things in their material exiſting, have one order in their intentional, another; as for example, a man that maketh a houſe intendeth to dwell under ſome covering, 2 hee intendeth to build a houſe, 3. to hire workmen, 4. to prepare matter; but in the execution, hee 1. ſetteth ſtone and wood in place, 2, hee hireth workmen, then raiſeth the frame, and laſtly entreth in, and dwelleth there: In order of materiall exiſting, Chriſt is revealed, promiſed, exhibited after ſin, but intended before ſin; 1 Cor. 3.22, 23. The Apoſtle reckoning the order in which things exiſt, mentions 1. the world, 2, the elect, 3, Chriſt, then God, but giveth p. 403us to underſtand in order of intention, that God intendeth, firſt his own glory, then Chriſt, then the Church, then the world out of which hee intended to gather ſuch as ſhould bee ſaved by Chriſt, and thus Chriſt is the head of the elect, and the fountain of grace.

2. Becauſe all the promiſes of God are to us in Chriſt, 2 Cor. 1.20. hee is the ciſtern by which God hath promiſed to convey the waters of life to our ſouls; It is hee who of God is made unto us all things behooffull to our ſalvation 1 Cor. 1.30. it is in him that God hath promiſed audience and acceptance to our perſons, Gen. 3.15. it is in him that the bleſſing was promiſed to all nations, Gen. 12.34. it is in his dayes that all peace, and felicity was promiſed to the Church Jer. 23.5, 6. it is hee that brought good and joyfull tidings Micah 4.4, 5.

3, Becauſe God hath put all fulneſs in him for the good of his Church, as hee hath put all fulneſs of light into the ſun, for the giving of light to the world, all fulneſs of water into the ſea, for the watering of the earth; ſo hath God put all fulneſs into him, for our behoof that are in him, that wee might receive grace needfull to ſalvation, Col. 1.19. John 1.16. Iſa 61.1, 2. as all Aegypt fetched out of Joſeph's ſtore, as the ointment on Aaron's head ran down to the beard even the skirts of his garment, Pſalm 133.1, 2.

4. Becauſe our life, the life of grace is hidden in Chriſt, even when wee were dead in ſin, Col. 3.3. as the life of the tree in the winter is p. 404in the root, the life of children, before they are born, in their parents, ſo our life is in Chriſt, the tree of life, the ſecond Adam, the common parent of God's people; and as the tree when the ſpring cometh, and the ſun ſhineth, it full of life, buddeth and bloſſometh, ſo when the ſun of righteouſneſs ariſeth, and cauſeth the light of his truth to ſhine in our hearts, then that life is manifeſted in us which before was hidden in him, John 14.6.

5. Becauſe all the favors and gifts which God beſtoweth on his people are beſtowed on them in and thorough Chriſt, in him they have redemption, remiſſion, in him wee are bleſſed with all ſpiritual bleſſings, Epheſians 1.3.7. thorough him wee have all things that pertain to life and Godlineſs, 2 Pet. 1.3. all that God giveth to any perſon in love, or in mercy, hee giveth it in and through Chriſt, as the King by reaſon of ſome eminent man in the Court whom hee highly favoureth, beſtoweth many gifts on them of his family, kindred, and acquaintance.

6. Becauſe it is in him alone that God is well pleaſed, Mat. 3.17. thorough him hee accepteth our ſervices, thorough him hee graciouſly caſteth out upon us the light of his countenance, as David ſhewed kindneſs to lame Mephiboſheth for Jonathan's ſake, 2 Sam. 1.1, 2, 11, 12, 13. ſo God ſheweth mercy and kindneſs to us who are lame, deformed, unworthy of any favor, even for his ſon's ſake; for God is in Chriſt, reconciling us unto himſelf, 2. Cor. 5.19.

p. 405Ʋſe. This may ſerve to aſſure the children of God of the ſtability of God's love towards them; were they loved in themſelvs, their diſorderly converſation, their unholy walking, their unſeemly carriage might avert the love of God from them, but being loved in Chriſt, the love of God will ever continue conſtant with them, for Chriſt is ever the ſame with God, alwayes the beloved of God, ever dear in God's ſight, and hence the love of God to his people is as a houſ builded on a rock, which neither winde nor water can overturn, as a ſun that ever ſhineth, as a fountain that never faileth, an everlaſting love, Iſa. 54.6, 9, 10. a love more durable than the mountains, a love continued when wee have no feeling of it, when wee by our ſin have deſerved an utter extinguiſhment thereof, yet in Chriſt wee are ſtill beloved, God hath given us unto Chriſt for an inheritance, God hath joined us in wedlock unto Chriſt, and wee ſhall bee loved for our husband's ſake, a great ſtay it ſhould bee to God's people, that God's love ſhall ever continue to them: Two things much commend Love, Antiquity, and Conſtancy, wee ſay ſuch one hath loved mee 30, 40 years, and will not fail mee.

2, This move's us to labor for intereſt in and for a near communion and more intire fellowſhip with Chriſt Jeſus, becauſe thorough him the love of God deſcendeth upon us, men ſeek for infinite acquaintance with, and labor much for near communion with them that are in favor with earthly princes, that they may alſo p. 406enjoy the love of ſuch worldly potentates; the like care ſhould wee uſe to enter communion with Chriſt, that ſo weee might gain the love of God; and great and ſweet inducements there are to move all men to labor for this fellowſhip with the Son.

1. The dignity of Chriſt; hee is the Son of God, Pſal. 2.7. the Prince of peace, the Lord of glory; the ſubject's much deſire, highly eſteem, intire acquaintance with the young Prince: the like and much more ſhould wee do to have communion with Chriſt.

2, The honor whereunto wee ſhall bee advanced: wee ſhall bee the ſons of God by adoption, the members of Chriſt, citizens of the new Jeruſalem, the Lord's free-men, a roial Prieſthood, a choſen generation; wee ſhall bee in reſpect of others, as the ſun to the clouds, as the vine to the bramble, the lily to the thorn, the conqueror to the captive, the ſon to the ſervant, the richly arrayed to the naked, the Queen to common women.

3. The neer relation wee ſhall thereby have with Chriſt: thereby wee ſhall bee ſervants of the family whereof hee is Lord; ſubjects, of the common-wealth, whereof hee is King; ſheep of the flock, whereof hee is ſhepherd; ſcholars of the ſchool, wherein hee is chief teacher; vines in the garden, whereof hee is the dreſſer; ſouldiers of the army, whereof hee is the leader; members of the body, whereof hee is the head; the ſpouſe to whom hee ſhall bee the husband.

4. The clear and comfortable knowledg wee p. 407ſhall thereby have of the will of God: the nearer wee approach to the ſun, the more light wee receive; Chriſt is in the boſom of the Father, Joh. 1.18. in him are all the treaſures of knowledg hidden, Col. 2.3. hee can open the book with ſeven ſeals, Rev. 5.5. he can open the deep things of God, the hidden myſteries of our ſalvation, 1 Cor. 2 10. though as dark as Sampſon's riddle, hee will give light to ſuch as ſit in darkneſs, if they do but approach unto them, Luke 1.79.

5. The ſweet and heavenly ſenſe and feeling of God's love which wee ſhall hereby attain; hereby wee ſhall feel the love of God ſhed abroad into our hearts, Ro. 5.5. bee made exceeding glad with the light of his face, Pſal. 21.6. this will inable us to look upon him, as a childe on his loving father; as a malefactor on his reconciled Sovereign; this will inable us to rejoice in the light of God's face, as in the face of our deareſt friend; and as Solomon ſaith of a friend, Pro. 27.9. ſo ſhall wee bee able to ſay of God; as ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, ſo ſhall the Lord our God rejoice our ſouls if wee have communion with his Son.

6. The bleſſed and unſpeakable peace which wee ſhall hereby enjoy, Rom. 5.1. the raging tempeſt of our ſouls ſhall bee appeaſed, the piercing arrows of trouble removed, the fiery darts of Satan quenched, the hideous cry of an accuſing conſcience ſilenced, the deadly wounds of the ſoul healed; the heart ſo quieted, all ſorrow and heavineſs ſo taken away, Rom. 15.14. all inward comforts ſo reſtored, that wee ſhall ſay as p. 408Peter ſaid of the Mount, Phil. 4.7. It is good beeing here.

7. The glorious victory wee ſhall hereby win over all the enemies of our ſalvation; wee ſhall hereby conquer Satan, as David did Goliah, 1 Sam. 17. ſubdue ſin, as Joſhua did the walls of Jerico, Joſh. 6.20. 1 Job. 3.8. paſs through affliction, as Moſes and Iſraël thorow the red ſea, Job. 16.35. and paſs as the three children thorow the fiery fornace, Rom. 8.35.

8. The ſtability and growth in grace which waiteth hereupon: this will cauſe the grace of the Spirit to bee in us as a living ſpring that is never dry, as a light that ſhineth more and more, as an immortal ſeed which doth not fade; this will cauſe us to bee as trees planted and willows growing by the river's ſide; as trees bearing much fruit in our old age; this will make us to bee in the waies of God, as it was ſaid in another caſe of Saul and Jonathan, lovely in our lives, aimiable in our converſations, ſtrong as the lion, ſwift as the hinde, full of courage, ſwift, ſpeedy and cheerfull in the waies of God's commandements, whoſe bow returned not back, nor ſword returned empty, whoſe holy labors are not in vain, who faint not in the waie of God's precepts, but move as water to the ocean, and eagles to the carkaſs. And thus of the firſt part, the love of God to Chriſt: the ſequel of the Father's love to Chriſt followeth: and hath given all things into his hands.

p. 409The ability of the Phyſitian to heal, of the Pilot to guide, of the General to rule the army, to conquer the enemy, of the friend, to ſupply in time of need, cauſeth the ſick, the paſſenger, the ſouldier, the poor man to bee much the more confident; ſo the ability, fulneſs, and alſufficiency of Chriſt cauſeth all his ſervants to rely upon him, with ſo much the more firm dependance: therefore the Baptiſt, the more effectually to perſwade his diſciples to believ, rely, and reſt upon Chriſt the more ſtrongly, to entertain his doctrine the more reverently, to value him the more highly, to rejoyce in him the more abundantly, to devote and reſign themſelves into his hands the more thoroughly, doth not only acquaint them with the love of the father unto Chriſt, which is the well-ſpring whence all the waters of ſalvation flow, but alſo acquainteth them with the authority, ſoveraignty, and kingdom wherewith hee hath endowed him, hee hath given all things into his hand, all things viſible and inviſible, all things without exception, are made his, hee hath full and free power, and poſſeſſion over all, and rule and adminiſtration of all; this hee took not by force, hee bought not with money, but received from his father, as the only begotten ſon of the father; places of government, and juriſdiction muſt bee neither bought, nor injuriouſly uſurped, but given freely to the beſt deſervers: the father gave all into his hand, John 17.5. not that hee ever was without them as hee is God, or that hee was unequal to the Father, but as in fulneſs of time p. 410hee was incarnate, Phil. 2.8. ſo his aſſumed nature received many ſingular gifts and priviledges, and this, not of that which was anothers, but that which was his own, as hee was God; and this hee received not as a ſealed fountain, to reſerve all unto himſelf, but hee received it for us, to beſtow it freely on us, for our ſalvation, Math. 11.27. Math. 28.23. therefore the Apoſtle teſtifieth that all is ours, 1 Cor. 3.22. and thus the Father hath put all things into Chriſt's hands; whence learn,

Doctrine, That God hath put all creatures in ſubjection to Chriſt Jeſus, and hath endowed him with all fulneſs to ſave his choſen ſervants. As Pharaoh made all his people ſubject to Joſeph, Gen. 41.44, and Joſeph was endowed with wiſdom how to govern them, and had plenty of Proviſion to preſerve them; ſo hath God put all creatures in ſubjection unto Chriſt, and hee hath all fulneſs of wiſdom, power, & goodneſs to rule, govern, and ſupply the wants of his people; hee hath the preheminence above all, as the lord over the ſervant, as the head over the body, Col. 1.18. Epheſ. 1.22. as the Conqueror over the captived: This the Apoſtle doth abundantly prove. Heb. 1.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. by the intereſt Chriſt hath in all, by the beeing hee hath given to all, by his his equality with God, by his ſuſtentation of all, by the purgation of ſin, by the dignity and authority vouchſafed to him, by his preheminence above Angels, by the religious worſhip given to him by the Angels, by the eternity of his kingdome, by the meaſure of grace beſtowed on him, p. 411by the ſubjection of all that riſe againſt him: And this truth is moreover clearly evidenced,

1. Reaſon, By the Offices which hee was to execute; 1. the office of a king, and therefore hee muſt have preheminence above all, as the king above the ſubjects, Pſal. 2.6. therefore hee is called a king ſet upon a holy hill, Pſal. 45.6. an everlaſting king, king of Jews, Math. 2.2. king of righteouſneſs, Heb. 7.2. king of peace, and king of kings, Rev. 1.5. 2. The office of a prophet, Luke 4.18. and all are to wait on him, as ſcholars on their teacher, as ſheep on their ſhepherd, Iſa. 40.11. as the eie waiteth on the ſun for light, Mat. 11.29. as the offender on the Embaſſadour of peace, Zech. 9.10. what Job ſaid of himſelf Job 39.21, 23, muſt be much more verified of Chriſt, unto him men muſt give ear and wait, and keep ſilence at his counſel, they muſt wait for him as for the rain, and open their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 3. the Office of a prieſt Heb. 3.1, 6. and on him muſt they wait as ſick men on the phyſician, as captived men on him that doth ranſom them, 1 Tim. 2.6.

2, By the preheminence given to him, the head, the husband, the prince, the firſt fruits of his people, as the head is above the members, the husband above the wife, the prince above the ſubjects, the firſt fruits before the reſidue of the reſidue of the lump, ſo is Chriſt above the reſt of the people.

3. By the miraculous works which hee wrought, hee turned water into wine, John 2. p. 4128. walked upon the ſea, Mat. 14.25. healed all manner of diſeaſes, which no phyſician could cure, Mark 5.25. opened the eyes of men born blind, John 9.31. a work exceeding the abilities both of art and nature, raiſed the dead, ſtilled the raging tempeſt, Mat. 8.26. caſt out devils, an evident argument of his dominion over all creatures.

4. By the potent enemies which hee overcame: Goliah, the Philiſtine, the Midianitiſh armies, Sennacherib's forces were no more to the enemies ſubdued by Chriſt, then a molehil to a mountain, then a child to a gyant, then the ſhadow to the body, then rotten reeds to bands of braſs, and iron. Col. 2.15. Epheſ. 4.8.

5. By the bleſſed change which hee wrought in the hearts of men; of fierce as lions, hee maketh men gentle as the lamb, Iſaiah 11.6. of unclean, as the leper, hee maketh clean, as Naaman coming out of Jordan, 2 Kings 5. of dead in ſin hee raiſeth to a new life, of dens of devils hee maketh them temples for the holy ſpirit, of a barren wilderneſs hee maketh them as a fertile ſoil, of a field like the ſluggards field, full of thorns and briars hee maketh them a very fruitfull orchard.

Queſt. How could the Father put all things into the hands of the Son? ſince hee hath the ſame fulneſs, majeſty, and power hee ever had, and is no way emptied by any thing the ſun hath received:

Reaſ. As a fountain filleth the ciſtern and is no way thereby emptied, a king ſendeth forth p. 413his ſon to a rebellious people, to reclaim, reconcile, ſubdue them, giveth him authority hereunto, yet his own authority is hereby no way diminiſhed.

Reſo. 2. The ſon is the perſon which doth chiefly manifeſt himſelf in the adminiſtration of the kingdom, not that the Father and holy Ghoſt are excluded, but the work of the Son is moſt apparent, ſeen, and obſerved, and therfore to him it is chiefly attributed.

Qu. If the Father gave all things into Chriſt's hands, how come's it to paſs that hee was in externall condition ſo poor, loaden with ſo many reproaches, that hee lived in the form of a ſervant? why had hee not lived as a King, and glorious prince?

Reſo. Chriſt's Kingly Office, during his abode on earth, was to give place to his Prieſtly office; the prieſtly office was now fully to bee executed, the kingly office but ſparingly manifeſted, that the execution of his prieſtly office might not bee hindered, which would have been, if his kingly office had now been fully manifeſted, 1 Cor. 2.8. and therefore hee often charged his diſciples to conceal the miracles which hee wrought: Theſe things thus anſwered, the Uſe ſerveth

Ʋſe 1. To bee terror in the hearts of all profane men, of all ſuch as are enemies to Chriſt by their evil works; the power of a mortal enemy doth much affright us, hee that is regardleſs at the barking of a dog will fly at the roaring of a lion; the great ſtature and ſtrength of Goliah p. 414made all Iſrael tremble; Chriſt hath all things in his hands, hee is endowed with all power, and authority, none ſhall bee able to reſiſt him, none can make his part good againſt him, hee is a ſtone hewen out of the mountains, breaking in pieces the greateſt oppoſing kingdoms, Dan. 2.44. a ſtone, whoſoever falleth on him ſhall bee bruiſed, on whomſoever it falleth, it will grinde him to powder, Rev. 5.5. hee is the lion of the tribe of Judah, if hee roar in his indignation, hee will make all the beaſts of the forreſt, all the wicked men of the world to tremble; if hee appear in his wrath, they will fly like Gaal before Abimelech; however they make a mock of the day of Judgment, 2 Pet. 2, 3. as Gaal did of the coming of Abimelech: as hee is to his ſervants like the ſun with healing in his wings, Mal. 4.2. ſo to his enemies, will hee bee, as a flaming fire, 2 Theſ. 1.8. full of burning; as hee is gentle like a gracious and ſweetly diſpoſed friend to the one, ſo will hee bee terrible, as a man of war to the other, Pſal. 54, 5. as hee appeaſed the ſtorm, to the comfort of his diſciples, Mat. 8.26. ſo will hee raiſe a ſtormy tempeſt to annoy his enemies which never ſhall bee quieted. There are 5. things in Chriſt which ſhould make all the prophane men on the earth to tremble. 1. The fulneſs of his power, her can daſh them in pieces as a potter's veſſel, Pſal. 2.9. hee can beat the mountains into duſt, if hee becom an enemy, if hee arm himſelf againſt us, it will bee with us as when Joſhua came, it was with the Canaanires, Joſh. 5.1. there will no more ſpirit remain p. 415within us, no friend will help us, no ſhield will defend us, no walls will ſhelter us; hee hath all creatures to command, the very divels are ſubject to him. 2. The knowledg of Chriſt, as the Pſalmiſt ſaith of the ſun, Pſal. 19. ſo it is much more true of the Son of righteouſneſs, hee ſearcheth from one end of the, ſoul, from one end of the life to the other, and nothing is hidden from his eie; hee will finde out the ſin that lieth like Jonah in the bottom of the ſhip, hee will finde out the Babyloniſh garment and golden wedg like Joſhua; it was in vain for Jeroboam's wife to disfigure her ſelf before the Prophet; it is in vain for any man to draw off the concealment of his ſin, or the hiding of himſelf from the eies of the Lord Ieſus. 3. The juſtice of Chriſt; hee will not ſuffer ſin to go unpuniſhed; puniſhment ſhal as ſurely follow ſin, as the thread doth follow the needle, as the heat doth follow the fire, there is no iniquity ſhall eſcape; as the carefull husbandman rooteth out the thorns and briars; as the diligent houſwife caſteth the rubbiſh out of the houſ, as the chaff and tares are caſt into the fire, ſo will Chriſt deal with the thorns and briars, chaff and tares, profane men of the world: therefore as the Angel ſaid to Lot, as David to the people, ſo let mee in this behalf ſay to you. 4. That Chriſt ſhall bee Judg; it will much trouble a malefactor that his enemy ſhall bee his judg: Chriſt, whoſe ordinances you have neglected, whoſe precepts you have tranſgreſſed, whoſe ſervants you have abuſed: hee ſhall bee your judg, therefore labor p. 416to bee in with Chriſt, as men labor to bee in with the Judg, and to make him your friend, or elſe you are for ever undone. 5. That Chriſt alone is the Saviour; if hee do not deliver thy ſoul, as David the ſheep out of the jaws of the lion; if hee do not open the priſon as the Angel did to Peter; if hee do not cure you, no Phyſitian can heal you; if his blood do not waſh you, no water can cleanſ you: therefore there is no hope of entring into life, if you make not your peace with him; no beholding of God's face, unleſs you bee united to his Son; no reigning with him, unleſs you bee now made conformable to him; unleſs you now enter into Covenant with him, better all the world were an enemy againſt him; better beg like Lazarus from door to door, better bee eſteemed as a monſter in the world, better live in goats skins and ſheep skins having his favor, then with all the pomp, pride, pleaſure and jollity of the world with his diſpleaſure; if hee bee angry, what will you do? whither can you go; who can help you? will not all creatures ſay, as the King of Iſraël ſaid to Naaman, 2 King. 5.7. Am I a God to kill and to make alive, that you come to mee? cannot all creatures join with Chriſt againſt us, as the ſouldiers with the General? are not all things given into his hands? oh think on this, even this fulneſs of the power of Chriſt, and tremble to go on in any ſin againſt Chriſt, to continue under the wrath of Chriſt, (for bitter at the laſt will be the portion of all ſuch as are not at peace with him, as walk not uprightly before him, p. 417Pſal. 110 1, 2. Mat. 21.41. Mat. 22.13. I would chuſe rather to live in the pooreſt condition in the world with the love of my Saviour, than poſſeſs the higheſt places of the earth, and drink of the ſweeteſt river of worldly pleaſures, and bee a ſtranger to the light of his countenance, and to all that walk as enemies to the croſs of Chriſt, I will ſay as Jacob did to Simeon, Geneſ. 49.6, 7.

2. Is all put into Chriſt's hands? then this muſt teach all God's people, 1. Obedience and a holy ſubjection to his will in all things; hee hath all power and authority given him, and therefore Mat. 17.5. him wee muſt hear; him wee muſt obey, as the members are ſubject to the head, as the wife is ſubject to the husband, as the ſubjects are obedient to their Prince; for all this is Chriſt to us; his will muſt bee our rule, according to which all our doings muſt bee ſquared; the balance wherein wee muſt bee weighed, the light whereby wee muſt bee guided; his precept muſt bee to us as the fiery pillar to Iſraël, at whoſe motion wee muſt move, at whoſe ſtopping wee muſt ſtay; his direction is moſt perfect, free from all error; moſt wholſom it will prove, the beſt counſel; moſt ſweet, it will certainly yield the trueſt comfort; therefore as the diſciples Mat. 19 22. left all and followed him: ſo, all impediments beeing removed, let us follow his comcommandement; this is his will, this is our wiſedom; in this Chriſt would have us give preheminence above all other occaſions, and not ſay to this (as Felix to Paul in another caſe;) yea, p. 418though it tranſcend the limits of our capacity, though wee cannot render a reaſon of it, though it ſeem repugnant to our apprehenſion; yet it is enough that God hath enjoined it, and wee ſhall finde, that true obedience to his precepts is ever attended with the beſt ſucceſs. 2. This muſt teach us to depend upon Chriſt with all ſtedfaſtneſs: in his hands are all things; hee is a compleat Saviour, a perfect redeemer; hee is a ſure rock to all that build upon him, a never-failing fountain; though our ſins bee hainous, yet hee hath ability in him to remove them, as he cleanſed the leper; though God bee at a great diſtance from us, his face hidden under the darkeſt clouds of his diſpleaſure, yet Chriſt is able to reconcile him; though wee bee in more than an iron bondage, yet hee can free us; therefore let us faſten our faith and confidence upon him, let our hearts reſt in him, let us truſt our ſouls with him, and his goſpel ſhall ſurely prove the power of God to our ſalvation; hee will be a propitiation for us; in him our ſin ſhall bee covered, and wee bleſſed; in him wee ſhall have peace, in him wee ſhall have acceſs to the throne of grace.

3. Are all things in Chriſt's hand? then God's people muſt reſt themſelvs contented with Chriſt alone; hee is a rich husband, the Father hath given all things into his hands: therefore bleſs God all you that are partakers of Chriſt; ſay you have a goodly heritage, you have the tree which beareth all ſorts of fruit, you have the pearl which is of more value then all other riches; you have the ſun, and therefore cannot p. 419want light; you have the fountain, and therefore cannot want water; you have the Lord of glory, and therefore cannot want honor; you have the Prince of peace, and therefore cannot want joy; you have him that hath all things, and therefore cannot want any good things; you have enough, you have that (which if you bee not defective to your ſelvs) will bee like Elkanah to Hanna, 1 Sam. 1.8. in ſtead of all other things. God hath done more for you in giving Jeſus Chriſt to you, in joining you in wedlock with Chriſt, then if hee had beſtowed the whole earth upon you; hee hath advanced you to greater honor, endued you with better riches, repleniſhed your ſoul with ſweeter and more heavenly pleaſures than can bee gathered out of worldly ſtore-houſes, or drink out of earthly fountains: therefore thirſt not after the world, covet not great things, bee not diſquieted with the ſlenderneſs of your external eſtate, think not of uſing any forbidden means, ſuffer not your affections to be ſtoln away from the Lord, but delight your ſelf in Chriſt, and reſt your ſelf abundantly contented with him.

4. Are all things put into Chriſt's hands? is hee ſo abundantly filled with all things? then this may comfort God's ſervants in all eſtates: whatſoëver yee want, it is all in the hands of Chriſt; if you want power to reſiſt either bodily or ſpiritual enemies, in Chriſt there is power to overcom and ſubdue them all; if you want grace, if your knowledg, faith, patience bee ſmall, Chriſt hath a rich ſtore-houſe, hee can fill you; if your p. 420outward eſtate bee ſlender, your proviſion ſmal and poor, Chriſt can make a little go farr, the courſe taſte ſweet, as hee turned the water into wine, Joh. 2.9, 10.