Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
I Will not inſiſt on all theſe particulars, but onelyonly upon the peoples gratulation, and Chriſts authority or commiſſion. Firſt, the peoples gratulation, Bleſſed be he that commeth, expreſſing their rejoycing and thanksgiving for Chriſts comming in his Goſpell and ſpirituall kingdome: Man bleſſeth man, by making prayer and ſupplication for him: God bleſſeth man by beſtowing good things upon him, by removing evill things from him, and by turning all for good unto him, and man bleſſeth God and Chriſt by thanksgiving to God and Chriſt, well ſpeaking of God and Chriſt, holy and hearty rejoycing in God and Chriſt, gracious and unfained welwiſhing unto the cauſe of God and Chriſt, and thus the people in this place bleſſe Chriſts comming in the name of the Lord; and hence we learne,
Doct.That Chriſt comming in his Gospell & ſpiritual kingdome, ought to be received and entertained with much thanksgiving & reioycing. The Arke was a type of Chriſt, David at the comming of the Arke into the Tabernacle, b1 Sam. 6danced with all his might, and all the houſe of Iſrael brought up the Arke with ſhouting, and with the ſound of a Trumpet. Thus ſhould the ſoules of men be filled with very great thanksgiving and rejoycing at the comming of Chriſt among them, this was prophecyed alſo, and alſo given in charge long before the comming of Chriſt in the fleſh. cZ…ch. 9.9.Reioyce greatly, O daughter of Zion, ſhout O daughter of Ieruſalem, behold thy King commeth unto thee, he is iust, and having ſalvation, lowly, and riding upon an aſſe, and upon a colt the fole of an aſſe. As men rejoyce at an earthly Kings comming in love and mercy unto them, ſo and much more ſhould we rejoyce at Chriſts, the ſpiritual and heavenly Kings comming in grace and mercy unto us, the people piped with pipes, and were exceedingly joyfull in the day of Salomons coronation, when he was ſet up to raigne over them, much greater ſhould be our rejoycing in the day when Chriſt commeth to us by his Goſpell, and ſetteth up his ſpirituall kingdome in the hearts of his people. This joy and rejoycing is promiſed by the Prophet, dIſa. 12.1.in that day, in the day of the Goſpell, in the day of Chriſts gracious and mercifull comming, in the day of Chriſts erecting his ſpirituall and heavenly kingdome, thou ſhalt ſay, Lord I will praiſe thee, I will be thankfull to thee, I will exalt and magnifie thee, I will confeſſe and acknowledge thy power to be a rocke that never ſinketh, thy truth to be a word that never faileth, thy mercy to be a river whoſe water never decayeth,Ʋer. 3. and thy love to be a Sunne that never ſetteth, and with ioy ſhall ye draw waters out of the Wells of ſalvation; then ſhall we draw by the bucket of a lively faith, ſpirituall and ſweet, ſtrong and plentifull conſolations from Chriſt, who is a fountaine opened for ſinne and for uncleanneſſe, and out of the doctrine of the Goſpell, which like a river refreſheth and maketh glad the hearts of the Lords people: This joy and rejoycing is illuſtrated by a ſimilitude taken from the light: eIſa. 9.2.They that walked in darkneſſe, have ſeene a great light, they that dwell in the land of the ſhadow of death, to them hath the light ſhined. As the comming of the light is very joyfull to them that are in darkneſſe, ſo is the comming of Chriſt in the Goſpell, very joyfull, bringing ſpirituall and heavenly light to them that ſate in darkeneſſe, and the ſhadow of death, all light is but darkneſſe, and all joy but heavineſſe, in reſpect of that light and joy which ariſeth from the comming of Chriſt Ieſus; and with great joy and gladneſſe hath this comming of Chriſt been celebrated by the Angels: Feare not (ſaith the Angell to the Shepheards) fLuk. 10 11.behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which ſhall be to all people, for unto you is borne this day in the City of David a Saviour, which is Chriſt the Lord, and ſuddenly there was with the Angell a multitude of the heavenly hoaſt praiſing God, and ſaying, Glory to God in the higheſt, and in the earth peace, good will towards men. Thus likewiſe the multitude of Diſciples beholding and ſeeing Chriſt come, obſerving his miracles,gLuk. 19.37 and embracing his doctrine, they began to reioyce and praiſe God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had ſeen, ſaying, Bleſſed be the King that commeth in the name of the Lord, grace in heaven, and glory to the higheſt. The true and ſaving diſcerning of Chriſts comming, and mighty operation in the Goſpell ever makes the ſoule joyfull: It is ſaid of the Gentiles hearing Saint Paul to cite that prophecye of our Saviour, I have ſet thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou ſhouldeſt be for ſalvation to the ends of the world, that they were hAct. 13.47, 48.glad and glorified the word of the Lord; they were glad, as a man that ſits in darkneſſe is glad of a light, as a man that is arreſted is glad of a ſurety to pay his debt, as a man that is mortally ſicke is glad of a Phyſitian to heale his diſeaſe, as a man that is condemned is glad to heare of his comming that brings him a pardon; very ſweet and ſtrong is that ſoules joy and gladneſſe which hath a lively taſte of the comforts and benefits ſpringing from the comming of Chriſt in the Goſpell: They were not onelyonly glad,Aug. Gauleat ſanctus quoni… recipietremunerationem, gau deat peccator, quoniam invitatur ad veniā, gaudeat, &c. but they alſo glorified the word of God, by underſtanding it as a word of wiſedome, by beleeving it as a word of truth, by obeying it as a word of power, by loving it as a word of goodneſſe, and by delighting in it as a word of ſurpaſſing and comfortable ſweetneſſe; the ſoule that looks on Chriſt with joyfull apprehenſions is very active, and ready to glorifie Chriſt by faith and obedience.iLuk. 16.6. Zacheus was very induſtrious to ſee Chriſt joyfull in his entertainment of Chriſt, he made haſte, Gaudium piorū tu ipſe es, & ipſa eſt beata vita gaudere de te propter te, ipſa eſt, & non altera. Aug.and came downe, and received him joyfully. Queſtionleſſe every ſoule that truly deſires to know Chriſt, receives Chriſt comming in the Goſpell with much thanksgiving and rejoycing. Thus it is, and thus it muſt be.
In regard of the cleare and comfortable revelation of God in Chriſt. God is truly and ſavingly knowne,5. Grounds hereof 1. Revelation of God. only in and through his ſon, God indeed is obſcurely & darkly known in hiskRom. 1.19.20 works, as a God of power; in his providence, as a God of authority, wiſedome, & order; in his common mercies, as a God of bounty, and in his puniſhments and judgements as a God of juſtice; but in Chriſt opened & preached in the Goſpell, God is known with a cleare, a comfortable, and ſaving knowledge, as a father of grace and ſingular mercy and loving kindnes: In lPſal. 76.1.Judah (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) is God known, & his name is great in Iſrael; in Iudah in his Church, where his Word and Ordinances are, where Chriſt is preached, and the myſtery of mans ſalvation is opened, there God is knowne truly without errour, perſpicuouſly without obſcurities, and ſavingly without uncertainties; there he is knowne as a King in his Courts, for the glory and beauty which he there manifeſteth; as a teacher in his ſchoole, for the wiſedome and knowledge which he there diſpenſeth; as a dweller in his houſe, for the holy orders he there preſcribeth, and gracious rule and dominion he there erecteth, and beareth in the ſoules of his ſervants; as a bridegroome in the banqueting houſe, for the ſpirituall dainties he there maketh, for the cleare and open manifeſtations of himſelfe, and love and comforts hee there miniſtreth to his ſpirituall friends and gueſts, and his name is great in Iſraell: His power, wiſedome, truth, love, and goodneſſe is much magnified, and very glorious in their apprehenſions who know him in Chriſt Jeſus. Mans knowledge of God, out of the Lord Jeſus is nothing elſe but blindneſſe, nothing but miſerable and uncomfortable ignorance; for no man (ſaith Chriſt) mMat. 11.27knowes the Father but the Sonne, and he to whom the Sonne will reveale him. Chriſt is the lively image of the Father, and God is knowne in Chriſt as a father is knowne in his ſonnes face: The ſoule of man is full of helliſh darkneſſe, that is not taught of Chriſt Jeſus: For as the Apoſtle ſaith, the n2 Cor. 4.6.light of the knowledge of the glory of God is given in the face of Ieſus Chriſt: The knowledge of the glory of Gods wiſedome in the myſtery of mans redemption, the knowledge of the glory of Gods power in diſſolving the works of Satan, the knowledge of the glory of Gods juſtice in ſatisfying himſelfe for mans ſinne by Chriſts ſuffering, the knowledge of the glory of Gods mercy in forgiving mans tranſgreſſion, the knowledge of the glory of Gods holineſſe in ſanctifying mans ſoule, and the knowledge of the glory of Gods love in reconciling man unto himſelfe, all this knowledge of the glory of God is given in the face of Jeſus Chriſt, it is all manifeſted and made knowne in and through Chriſt, of all Chriſtian ſchollers he is the choiſeſt that knowes moſt of God in Chriſt, and becauſe this knowledge is given in the face of Chriſt, we ſhould receive Chriſt comming in the Goſpell with very great rejoycing; for as the light is ſweet, and it is a pleaſant thing to the eye to behold the Sunne: ſo this wiſedome oProv. 6 10.when it entreth into the heart, and this knowledge is pleaſant to the ſoule, in regard of ſpirituall liberty and freedome brought to the ſoule of man by the comming of Chriſt in his Goſpell and ſpirituall kingdome. 2. Spirituall liberty.Chriſt is the worker, and the oJo…. 8, 32, 36.Goſpell the inſtrument of mans freedome: Chriſt comming in the Goſpell brings liberty from ignorance, as the Sunne brings liberty from darkneſſe: Chriſt comming into Capernaum, the Evangeliſt ſaith, the pMat. 4.16. Io… 1….44.people that ſate in darkneſſe ſaw a great light, and to them that ſate in the region and ſhadow of death light is ſprung up: By this Chriſt brings liberty from death in ſinne, as by his voice he raiſed Lazarus, and ſet him free from the grave: ſo the dead in ſinne qIoh. 5.25.heare the voice of the Sonne of God in the Goſpell and live, by this Chriſt brings liberty from Satan, 1 Sam. 17. 2 Cor 10 4. Luk. 10.as David by his ſtaffe and ſtone overthrew the great Goliah, and brought liberty to Iſrael: ſo doth Chriſt by his Goſpell caſt downe the ſtrong holds of ſinne, and make Satan fall like lightening from heaven, and frees the ſoules of Gods choſen: Hereby Chriſt brings liberty from uncleanneſſe: 2 Kin ….As Iordan freed Naaman from his leproſie, ſo doth Chriſt by his word rIob. 17.17.ſanctifie and cleanſe the ſoules of all beleevers; Hereby Chriſt brings liberty from the Wrath of God, and curſe of the Law, as a ſurety paying the debt brings liberty to the principall from the priſon, the arreſt and ſentence of the Judge. Chriſt preached in the Goſpell, is the end of the law for righteouſneſſe to all that beleeve in him. As we therefore rejoyce in the light which frees us from darkneſſe, in the Phyſitian which frees us from diſeaſes, in the ranſomer which frees us from bondage, in the ſurety which frees us from the Serjeants, that they doe not arreſt us, from the priſon that it doth not hold us: ſo ſhould wee rejoyce in the comming of Chriſt, bringing manifold, ſweet, and comfortable freedome to us. The Prophet having declared how God had given Chriſt for a sIſa. 49.8.Covenant of the people, for a mediator of the people, to eſtabliſh the earth, the elect living on the earth, to cauſe to inherit the deſolate heritages, to reſtore them to that heavenly inheritance, out of which they were caſt by their ſinne and Satan; and to ſay to the priſoners goe forth, to looſe them that were bound with the fetters of their corruption, and captivated by Satan, addeth this as a duty of the people, and a fruit of that freedome which Chriſt hath brought unto them. Sing O Heaven, and be joyfull Oh Earth, breake forth into ſinging O Mountaine, for God hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. And thus Philip preaching Chriſt in Samaria, and the devils departing out of many that were poſſeſſed by them, it is ſaid there was tAct. 8.7, 8.great ioy in that City: ſpirituall freedome from the power of Satan, and our owne corruption miniſters matter of much and very ſweet rejoycing.
In regard of that heavenly and bleſſed victory which we obtaine by the comming of Chriſt in the Goſpell; 3. Heavenly victory.the Prieſts ſounding the rammes-hornes, the uIoſh. 6.20.wals of Jericho fell, and the Iſraelites obtained the victory: Gods Miniſters crying aloud, and lifting up their voyces like a trumpet in the preaching of the Goſpell, the holds of ſin are w caſt downe, and the ſoules of men are made victorious, according to that of the Apoſtle, the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but ſpirituall, and mighty through God to the caſting downe of ſtrong holds.… Sam. 5.4. When the Arke was erected Dagon fell. When Chriſt is erected, exalted, and ſet up among the people in the miniſtery of the Goſpell, then the Devill fals from his poſſeſſion, then ſinne fals from its dominion, and then the world fals from the roome and ſway it had in the hearts of the people; the ſouldier is made victorious by his weapon, the Chriſtian by the Goſpell, the word being the xEph. 6.17.ſword of the Spirit, that inſtrument by which the Spirit ſhewes his power in making the ſoule of man a glorious conquerour. Why doth the Prophet (ſpeaking in the perſon of Chriſt) ſay, the Lord had made his mouth a yIſa. 49.2.ſharp ſword, and a poliſhed ſhaft, but to ſhew the energy and working of his doctrine, in piercing the heart, in wounding ſinne, as a ſword and ſhaft doth the body of the enemy in the day of battell: The right uſe of this weapon ever gives man victory over his corruption. What is the zRev. 6.1.white-horſe mentioned by Saint Iohn, but the Primitive Church being, white and bright for the purity and perfection of doctrine and diſcipline; the Apoſtles like a horſe ſwiftly running, propagated the faith of Chriſt through the world. Who is the rider there ſpoken of, but Chriſt who is exalted, and carried in ſpirituall triumph by the Miniſtery of his Word: What is his bow, but his Word, the Law and Goſpell, with which hee wounds the hearts of his elect, that he may heale and enliven them; The hearts of the reprobate to terrifie and deſtroy them, according to that of the Pſalmiſt, Thine aPſal. 45.5.arrowes are ſharp in the hearts of the Kings enemies whereby the people fall under thee. And how went Chriſt forth conquering and to conquer? he went forth conquering, overcomming ſinne by his death and paſſion, and overcomming death, hell, Satan, and the world, by his Reſurrection, and hee goeth forth to conquer, converting his choſen, and convincing his enemies, by the preaching of the Goſpell, and in this victory there is matter of great joy; It is greater joy to a Chriſtian to ſee the Devill and his owne luſt overcome, and caſt downe, then to Iſrael, to ſee Pharaoh and the Egyptians lye drowned before them in the waters; this gives them occaſion in a holy and triumphant manner to ſay, the Lord hath triumphed gloriouſly, the horſe and the rider hath he throwne downe together: He cannot but rejoyce in Chriſts comming that partakes of the victory comming by him.
In regard of the ſpirituall and heavenly peace hence ariſing to the ſoule: 4. Heavenly peace.Chriſts comming to the ſoules of men in the Goſpell, is like the comming of the Dove to Noah, with an Olive branch in her mouth, certifying the ſoule of the abatement, and removall of Gods wrath, of the ſpeedy departure of the deluge of preſent ſorrowes, and the happy returne, and re-appearance of ſpirituall and heavenly comforts. Here Chriſt as a bright and ſhining Sunne, diſpels the clouds of ſorrow from the ſoule. Here Chriſt as a valiant Captaine, removes the ſiege,Ioſ. 10.6. which the infernall Princes lay againſt the ſoules of his ſervants, as Joſhuah drove the Amoritiſt Princes from the Gibeonites: Here Chriſt as a Phyſitian heales the wounded conſciences, and binds up the broken hearts of his children, as he ſometime healed the diſeaſed woman whom no Phyſitian could cure: Here Chriſt as an abſolute Commander appeaſeth the inward ſtormy troubles of the heart, as by his voice he appeaſed the ſtormy tempeſt and gave a calme to his Diſciples:Mat. 8.26. Here Chriſt as a King of mercies aſſures the ſoules of men of the pardon of their ſinnes, and gives them the ſence of his love, and ſo fils them with ſweet and bleſſed peace; therefore Chriſt is ſtiled a Sunne of bMal. 4.2.Righteouſneſſe appearing with healing in his wings; in the wings of his ordinances without, and in the wings of his grace within, and it was prophecyed of him that he ſhould cIſa. 61.1.preach good tidings to the meeke, bind up the broken-hearted, proclaime liberty to the captive, and open the priſon to them that are bound to comfort all that mourne, and God hath created the fruit of the lips to be dIſa. 57.19.peace, to be the inſtrument of peace, and the Goſpell is called the Goſpell of peace, for the Author of it, the God of peace, for the Subject of it, Chriſt the Prince of peace, for the parties receiving it, the children of peace, and for the fruit of it, ſpirituall and heavenly grace.
Soul-refreſhing Communion with God.In regard of that bleſſed, and ſoule-refreſhing Communion which wee attaine with God through Chriſt comming in the Goſpell. Joſephs brethren were brought nigh to the King, of Egypt by Ioſeph: Man is brought nigh to God by Chriſt, Chriſt preached in the Goſpell, is like Iacobs ladder, by him God deſcendeth unto us, and through him we aſcend unto God, the Arke was an aſſurance of Gods preſence among the people, and God dwelled there: Where Chriſt is preached in the Goſpell, there God is in mercy preſent with his people, there is the Lords dwelling, in ePſal. 76.2.Salem is his Tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion; In the Goſpell men are regenerate, and made the children of God, men are humbled, and made loyall Subjects to God, men are endowed with faith wrought into Gods Covenant, and made the friends of God: Men are ſeparated from the world, and gathered home to God, and made the ſheep of his paſture, ſo that now they have communion with him, as children with a father, as favourites with a King, as ſchollers with a teacher, as the members of a houſe with the maſter of the houſe. Now they are made fEph. 2.13. Chriſtus oculus noſter, ut per illum videamus patrem, ipſe vox noſtra per quam loquamur ad Patrem, ipſe dextra, per quam Deo ſacrificium noſtrum offeramus, quo niſi intercedēto, nec nobis, nec ſāctis quicquam cum Deo eſt. Ambr.nigh through Chriſt; nigh in knowledge, nigh in faith, nigh in love, nigh in likeneſſe, nigh in conformity and obedience, nigh in the participations of ſpirituall comforts, and in the enjoyment of the light of Gods countenance, very pleaſant and comfortable is a gracious ſoules communion with God in the Goſpell; Chriſt is moſt worthy of all acceptation for that communion which we have with God through him.