Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
Salvation diſpenſed by Chriſt.IN this with open face may all men behold and ſee Gods dispenſation of ſalvation unto man by Chriſt his Sonne: Chriſt is come in his Fathers name, ordained; prepared, moſt abſolutely and compleatly furniſhed, to communicate ſalvation to the Lords choſen; others come in the name of the Lord to procure and promote the ſalvation of man, inſtrumentally, miniſterially, ſubordinately, dependantly; but Chriſt is come in his fathers name to give ſalvation unto man abſolutely, and independantly, by his owne power, meritoriouſly, by his owne worth and merit, efficiently by the efficacions and mighty worke of his owne Spirit, fully and everlaſtingly, being ſHeb. 7.25.able to ſave them to the uttermoſt that come unto God by him; the Lord Jeſus is the efficient and meritorious cauſe, ſpring and fountaine of mans ſalvation: There is no tMat. 4.12.other name given under heaven wher by man can be ſaved, but onelyonly the name of Chriſt. The name of the creature is a name of weakneſſe, emptineſſe, unworthineſſe; the name of mans righteouſneſſe is a name of many pollutions; the name of mans worke and ſervices, is a name of debt and manifold imperfections; the name of birth, of wealth, of art, of ſtrength and humane excellencies, are a name of no eſteeme with God, for God is no reſpector of perſons. None of theſe names have wiſedome to open the myſtery of mans ſalvation, worth to ſatisfie Gods juſtice, or ability to diſſolve the works of Satan, or ſanctifie the ſoules of men; Chriſt alone communicates ſalvation to the Lords people; the Arke was the only place of ſafety to Noah from the deluge; Chriſt is the onelyonly ſafeguard of the ſoule of man from the deluge of deſtruction; all that were out of the Arke periſhed in the waters, there is no ſalvation to them that are out of Chriſt Jeſus. Chriſt is the head and root. enlivining man. The body of Lazarus lay corporally dead till Chriſt raiſed it; the ſoule of man lies ſpiritually dead untill Chriſt quickens it, Chriſt is the Sunne enlightening man, the world without the Sun is in darkneſſe, the ſoule without Chriſt is in blindneſſe, none of the Magitians and wiſe men, onelyonly Joſeph was able to interpret Pharaohs dreame: Neither man nor Angell, but Chriſt onelyonly, hath revealed his fathers will, and counſell touching mans ſalvation; Chriſt is the Conquerour that vanquiſheth the adverſaries of mans peace; all Iſrael ſtood trembling onelyonly David overthrew the great Goliah: Chriſt through death deſtroyed the Devill that had the power of death, and delivered them who through feare of death were all their life time ſubject to bondage: Chriſt is the ſurety that payes mans debt, he gave himſelfe a ranſome for man, whom all the world could not redeeme; Chriſt is the fountaine purging the ſinne of mans ſoule, none of the rivers of Damaſcus, only Jordan cleanſed the leproſie of of Naaman; neither man nor Angell, only the Lord Jeſus can purge away mans uncleanneſſe: Chriſts righteouſneſſe is the roabe which covers us, and makes us appeare juſt in Gods preſence: Jacob obtained the bleſſing not in his owne, but in his elder brothers apparell: Man is accepted of God, obtaines the bleſſing of pardon and peace, not through his owne but through the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt; Chriſt is the treaſure and ſtore-houſe which filleth man, all the garners in the land of Egypt were empty, onelyonly Joſeph had proviſion for them; all the ſoules of men are empty, only Chriſt filleth all in all: Chriſt is the Prince of mans peace, and Authour of mans reconciliation with God. Ioſephs brethren being ſhepheards were an abomination to the Egyptians; but by Ioſephs meanes they came nigh to Pharaoh, and found favour with him: Man by reaſon of his ſinne is an abomination to the Lord, but through Chriſt he commeth nigh to God, and finds ſweet and gracious acceptance of God; and thus as in a glaſſe we ſee all the cauſes of mans ſalvation and eternall happineſſe derived, and flowing from and through Chriſt Ieſus. God miniſtring all his fulneſſe unto man by Chriſt, and accepting man and all his holy ſervice in Chriſt; he that looks beſide or beyond Chriſt for ſalvation, looks beyond the fountaine for water to refreſh him, beyond the Sunne for light to guide him, and beyond the rocke for a foundation to ſupport him; he that layes not firme and ſure hold on Chriſt, never meets with ſweet, with ſure and everlaſting peace; he that truly embraceth Chriſt, may undoubtedly perſwade himſelfe of his ſalvation; he hath a guide of infinite wiſedome to direct him, a rocke of invincible ſtrength to ſuſtaine him, a rich and royall roabe of abſolute purity to cloath and cover him; a Conquerour of inſuperable power to ſubdue all that doth oppoſe him; an Advocate or never failing interceſſion, to take off all the accuſations which are brought againſt him; and a fiery Charet to carry him through all difficulties, to ſweet and everlaſting reſt in the higheſt heavens.
Chriſts comming in his Fathers name,Danger of ſtepping our from Chriſt to humane traditions. Evils hereof. 1. Derogatory to Chriſts Authority. Chriſts authority and ability to miniſter ſalvation makes manifeſt their folly and vanity, their pride and inſolency, who leaving Chriſt and the rules which he hath given, the lawes of divine worſhip which he hath preſcribed, betake themſelves to humane traditions, and ſelfe-inventions, teaching and receiving for doctrines the commandements of men; a practiſe 1. very derogatory to the Authority and dominion of Chriſt who is the King of the Church, whoſe voice alone ought to be heard in the Church of God, who is ſet over the houſe of God, and ought to be obſerved as the Lord and Maſter of the houſe by the whole family of faith, and houſhold of God, who is exalted above the Church, as the head above the members, as the husband above the Spouſe. Doth not a Subjects receiving of Lawes from a forraine Prince much derogate from the authority of his owne Soveraigne? Doth not a ſervants receiving direction from another man in his ſervice annihilate his Maſters jurisdiction? Doth not a wives conforming her to the preſcription of a ſtranger, obſcure and darken, and even diſanull the authority of her husband? And what elſe doe the embracers of forraine and ſtrange inventions, but deny and diſanull the jurisdiction and dominion of Chriſt? Doth not our Saviour ſay to ſuch, You have made the Commandement of God of none effect through your traditions. The obſervation of mens devices in Gods ſervice is a tranſgreſſion of Gods precepts. He that thinks to honour and pleaſe God by thruſting upon God his owne deviſes, in ſtead of honouring and pleaſing him, doth very highly diſhonour and provoke him: No man doth further honour Chriſt,2. Argues great pride and preſumption. then he conformes himſelfe to the Law and rule of Chriſt. 2. This alſo argues much pride and preſumption in man, who but a proud Subject will take upon him to give a Law to his Soveraigne how he ſhall be obeyed; who but an inſolent ſervant will take upon him to preſcribe to his Lord and Maſter how he ſhall be ſerved; and who but a proud ſoule durſt take upon him to give a Law unto his God how he ſhall be adored; who but the great Maſter of humane traditions ſitteth in the Temple of God as God, and exalts himſelfe above all that is called God: The moſt ſuperſtitious are the proudeſt of all perſons, their very humility is ambition who have a ſpirit of ſuperſtition overſwaying them; they adore themſelves and not Chriſt, who neglect the rule which Chriſt hath given, and worſhip after their owne invention: His ſervant man is to whom he obeyes; he that worſhips according to a rule of his owne framing ſerves himſelfe and not God; inſtead of obeying God he becomes a Law-giver unto God.3. Diſpa…agement of Chriſts wiſedome. This doth much impeach and diſparage the perfection of Chriſts and the ſufficiency of the Scriptures. If there be light enough in the Sunne what needs a candle? If all the treaſures of wiſedome be hidden in Chriſt, and his word able to make man wiſe unto ſalvation, what need or uſe in this behalfe of mans invention? addition ever ſuppoſeth imperfection. 4.4 Perillous to the ſoule. This is very perillous to the ſoules of men. He that leaves Chriſt and his word, and applyes himſelfe to tradition, like the fooliſh man in the parable, he leaves the rocke, and builds upon the ſand, which will ſinke under him; he forſakes the firme pillar, and leanes upon a withered reed, which will pierce him; he goes from the living fountaine to the broken ciſterne wherein is no water to refreſh him; he refuſeth the wheat, and feeds upon the chaffe which will choake him; he rejecteth the vine, the Olive, and the Figtree, and addreſſeth himſelfe to the bramble which will nor feed nor ſhelter him, but ſcratch and pricke, goare and torture him. Humane obſervations like the fooliſh Virgins Lamps are empty, uIſa. 8.20.there is no light in them: Like the Tree in the Goſpell which had leaves and no fruit; theſe are no trees of Gods planting, no good fruit groweth on them, no bleſſing, but a curſe attends them: Theſe like the ſonnes of Sheva have no power to overcome Satan; in ſtead of miniſtring freedome they imbondage the ſoule to Satan; theſe like Jobs friends are miſerable comforters and Phyſitians of no value, in ſtead of healing they wound, inſtead of nouriſhing they deſtroy, in ſtead of gathering home the ſoule of man to Chriſt, endearing man to God, and bringing him to communion with God and Chriſt; they ſeparate man from God, oblige man to Satan, and aſſociate the ſoule with the Devill, according to that of the Apoſtle diſſuading the Corinthians from the ſuperſtitions and inventions of the Gentiles, ſaying, I would not that ye ſhould have fellowſhip with the Devils, ye w1 Cor. 10.10, 21.cannot drinke the cup of the Lord, and the cup of the Devils, ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord, and of the table of Devils, He that worſhips God by humane tradition ſerves not God but Satan; as we cannot ſerve God and Mammon, no more can we worſhip God and an Idoll. The ſacrifice which is not offered to God with fire from his owne Altar, is an abominable oblation; whatſoeuer duty, act, or exerciſe of Religion, hath not Gods word for the rule of it, is in Gods interpretation, a ſervice of Satan, and in ſtead of pleaſing provokes Gods indignation: They have xDeut 31.21, 22.moved me to jealouſie (ſaith the Lord) with that which is not god, they have provoked me to anger with their vanities, a fire ſhall be kindled in mine anger, and ſhall burne unto the loweſt hell, and ſhall conſume the earth with her increaſe. As Chriſt therefore is come in Gods name, furniſhed with all authority and dominion, ſo let us in every thing receive our commiſſion and direction from him.
The perfection of Chriſts authority and dominion,Chriſts Authority and ability preſſing to … duties. 1. Of Subjectiō Properties of Subjection. 1. Spirituall. and fulneſſe of divine abilities, preſſeth man to foure duties towards Chriſt. 1. A duty of Subjection, as to him that hath ſupreame authority. We are charged by a voice from heaven to heare him, to him is given a name above every name, and to him muſt we make all the faculties of our ſoules, and all the members of our bodies to vaile and ſtoop, as all the ſheaves in Joſephs viſion fell downe before his ſheafe. To him let us ſubject our ſelves, 1. Spiritually. The end of the commandement is love out of a pure heart, ariſing from an inward principle of true grace. Worſhipping in Spirit and in truth is the worſhip which Chriſt requireth, accepteth, and wherein he delighteth, obedience from an unſanctified heart is but filthy water from an uncleane fountaine, and bad fruit of a corrupt tree: Chriſt takes no pleaſure in it, the ſacrifice, prayer, and whole way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord.2. Filiall. 2. To Chriſt let us ſubject our ſelves, filially, not as ſlaves for feare of hell, but as ſonnes for love, having a holy affection awing us, and making us loath to offend Chriſt, our love to and delight in holineſſe moving us to walke in the way of Gods precepts, ſerving him yLuk. 1.74, 75without feare, without baſe and ſervile feare, in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe before him all the dayes of our life. 3 Univerſall.3. To Chriſt let us be ſubject univerſally, Moſes built the whole Tabernacle after Gods patterne, man muſt build his whole converſation according to Chriſts preſcription; that obedience which is not univerſall, is unſound and hypocriticall; the Law is one Copulative, he that allowes himſelfe in the breach of one precept is guilty of the whole Law; he that makes not conſcience of all truly makes conſcience of none. It is in vaine with Herod to doe many things reſerving an Herodias in our boſomes: It is to no purpoſe with Saul to ſlay the refuſe of the ſtuffe, reſerving to our ſelves the lowing. Oxe, and bleating Sheep; his heart is not right with God that walks not in all the wayes of God; he doth truly hate no ſinne, that labors not the mortification of all ſinne. As the carefull Scholler therefore writes according to the whole copy: ſo let us have reſpect to the whole Law of God; and as ſometime Jonathans armour-bearer ſaid to him, Loe I am with thee according to thy heart, turne thou which way ſoever thou wilt. Thus let us be with Chriſt, even after Chriſts owne heart, let us be with him which way ſoever he turnes before us, in his word, walking with Zachary and Elizabeth, 4 Speedy.in all the ordinances of God. 4. To Chriſt let us ſubject our ſelves ſpeedily: As Abraham roſe up early, and put away the bond-woman and her ſonne: ſo let us riſe up early, and put away our ſinnes betimes: Let us not ſleep and ſlumber like the fooliſh Virgins, with empty Lamps; but let us haſten our ſoules out of ſin to Chriſt, as the Angels haſted Lot out of Sodome: Let us zPſal. 119 60.conſider our wayes, and turne to the teſtimonies of the Lord: Let us make haſte and not delay, as the erring traveller haſteneth to his right path: Let us remember our Creator in the dayes of our youth, and ſeeke him while he may be found; and as a2 Sam. 18.Ahimaaz ran as ſoone as Joab gave him a commiſſion, ſo let us labour to be as ready to obey, as Chriſt to command; ſpeedy obedience doth much honour and commend mans ſervice. 5. To Chriſt let us ſubject our ſelves freely, not mercinarily as hirelings,5. Free. but freely as friends ſerving Chriſt for Chriſt himſelfe, intending Chriſt and his glory above our ſelves, in all our ſervices, moving to Chriſt fully and freely, as the rivers to the Ocean. As Rachels beauty induced Jacob to twice ſeven yeares ſervice: ſo let Chriſts beauties, the apprehenſion we have of Chriſts perfections worke and draw us to a free and ready ſervice of Chriſt in all difficulties; Chriſt abhorres all baſeneſſe, all by and ſiniſter reſpects in mens ſervices: He that ſerves not Chriſt for Chriſt himſelfe, ſerves not Chriſt but himſelfe. 6. To Chriſt let us ſubject ſtedfaſtly, 6. Steadfaſt.as the wiſe to the husband untill death, keeping the commandement alwayes unto the end, abiding with Chriſt, as Ittai with David, in life and in death: Perſeverance with Chriſts Jeſus crownes mans ſervice; He that continueth to the end ſhall be ſaved.
A ſecond duty which the fulneſſe of Chriſts authority and divine abilities doth preſſe upon us is a duty of Dependance. 2. Of Dependance.Chriſt is no withered reed, no ſandy foundation, no weake, poore, and empty perſon, but one endowed with all power and authority, with all abilities; therefore depend upon him, cleave to him, when you are in darkneſſe and have no light; bIſa 50.10.Trust in the name, in the power, truth, faithfulneſſe, and al-ſufficiency of the Lord; Chriſt is a cIſa. 32.2.hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as, rivers of waters in a dry place, as the ſhadow of a great rocke in a weary land. Chriſt is a comforter in all ſorrowes, a helper at all needs, a deliverer in all diſtreſſes, a counſellor in all doubts, and a ſupply in all wants; therefore ſtay upon the Lord: He can command a deliverance for Jacob when there is no deliverer, as he commanded the ſtormy tempeſt, and reſtored a calme to the Diſciples: He can ſupport man when he is ready to ſinke, as he ſupported Peter ſinking in the water; he can provide, as he made proviſion for the Diſciples attending him, and having nothing to eat, as he prepared a Well for Hagar when her bottle was empty; he can comfort, when all the ſtarres of conſolation are ſet; he can give light in darkneſſe, as he gave Sampſon honey out of the Lyon: therefore looke unto Chriſt, faſten the eyes of your faith upon him, commit your ſelves to him, truſt your ſelves with him, and you ſhall ſee in due ſeaſon a miniſtration of whatſoever is behovefull.
3. Of Love.A third duty whereunto this preſſeth us is a duty of Love to Chriſt: In Chriſt is the fulnes of all abilities, whatſoever is worthy of love is in Chriſt in the higheſt perfection; therefore this ſhould much endeare Chriſt to man, and make him very amiable and glorious in the eyes of man: He indeed is worthy of all love, he is the King that rules over us, the guide that leads us, the ſhepheard which watcheth over, and feeds us, the ranſomer that redeemes us, the builder which new makes us, the Captaine that overcomes for us, the teacher that inſtructeth us, the treaſury that enricheth us, and the husband who betrotheth himſelfe unto us; therefore he ſhould be in our eye the faireſt of ten thouſand, our ſoules ſhould be ſicke of love towards him, and in our love we ſhould proſtrate our ſelves, and all that is ours under him.
4. Of Acquieſcence and contentation.A fourth duty whereunto this doth preſſe us, is a duty of Acquieſcence in Chriſt, and contentation with Chriſt; in Chriſt are all divine abilities; he that hath Chriſt hath all, he that hath the Sunne hath all light, he that hath the fountaine hath all water, he that hath Chriſt may ſay as Jacob did, I have enough. Elkan…h gave to Hanna a worthy portion, he hath the choiſeſt portion to whom God gives Chriſt; he that poſſeſſeth moſt of Chriſt, hath the richeſt, the ſweeteſt, the moſt noble and ſure poſſeſſion; he hath no cauſe to complaine of want who hath the fruition of Chriſt; the ſoule which enjoyeth Chriſt as his King, as his counſellor, as his friend, as his treaſure, as his bridegroome, as his ſhield and fountaine, hath the higheſt honour, the choiſeſt wiſedome, the ſweeteſt comfort, the beſt riches, the moſt heart-reviving love, the ſureſt defence, and the chiefeſt and moſt abiding and ſoule-contenting fulneſſe: Of all the gifts of God Chriſt is the worthieſt; of all the eſtates of men theirs is the ſweeteſt and moſt comfortable who have Chriſt for their poſſeſſion.