The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant

SECT. VIII.

3. NOw follows a third singular comfort unto all who have God to be their God in Covenant, which is this, If God be your God, then Christ is your Christ: To whom God is a God, unto them Christ is a Christ; if God be your God, then Jesus Christ is yours; as Christ spake unto his Father, All mine are thine, and thine are mine, John 17. 10. All that have an interest in me, have an interest in thee; and all that have a relation to thee, have also a relation to me; We may so safely say, All who have propriety in God, have propriety in Christ: If God saith unto you I am your Father, Christ saith unto you I am your Savior; whom the Father owns, he doth own; whom the Father loves, he loves. This is certain that God the Father hath not one sort of people, and Christ another sort of people; that there are some to whom God hath relation, and there are others to whom Christ hath relation. No: but what relation God hath to any, and what propriety God hath in any, the same hath Christ; and what relation and propriety any have in God, the same have they unto Christ: I and my Father are one. Then if you be God's, then you are Christ's; and if God be yours, then Christ is yours; he is given to you, and you are given to him: Unto us a Son is given, Isaiah 9. 6. Thine they were, and thou gavest them me, John 17. 6.

Now if God be your God, Then Christ is yours in these respects.

1. He is yours as to his person: He himself is yours, not yours only in the respect of his graces and works, but yours also in respect of his person; as it was his person who gave himself for you, (Christ hath given himself for us, Ephes. 5. 2.) so it is the person of Christ who gives himself unto you; my beloved is mine, and I am his, Cant. 2. 16.

The union and relation 'twixt you and Christ is as real, as that between the husband and the wife, as that between the head and the body, as that between the Vine and the branches; as the husband can say This woman is my wife, and the wife can say This man is my husband; so truly doth Christ say This believer is mine; so can the believer say This Christ is mine; that Christ who is the Son of God, the brightness of his Fathers glory, who is immortal, God with us, who is God blessed forever, who is the Lord of glory, whose Name is Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace; The Savior of sinners, the Redeemer, the Light and Life of the world, the desire of all Nations, who is altogether lovely, and most excellent and precious; in comparison of whom, Paul counted all things but loss and dung, this Christ is your Christ; this Christ in whom is life, and without whom there is no life; this Christ in whom is salvation, and without whom there is no salvation; this Christ in whom is blessedness, and without whom there is nothing but curse and misery; this Christ in whom is hope, and without whom there is no hope; this Christ is your Christ.

But let us a little more distinctly consider our happiness and comfort, that Christ, the person of Christ is ours.

1. It is more to enjoy Jesus Christ himself, than to enjoy any or all other things without himself: Could you enjoy every good, and every comfort which every creature in the whole world doth contain, as all these are nothing in comparison of Christ, (what is the Candle to the Sun? what is the glory of the grass to the glory of the only begotten of the Father? what is the chaff unto the wheat? the soul of man is above all these, much more is Christ; so they are nothing in a separation from Christ; unless the figure stands before, all that follows are but empty ciphres, which signify nothing, so unless you have Christ, your greatness is but a cipher, your riches are but a cipher; they are neither a blessedness unto you, nor yet a blessing, nor yet a way to the one or to the other; Christ alone hath more worth in him, more wealth in him, more delight in him, more greatness in him, than can be possibly found in all the creatures, although dividedly or conjunctively considered; and therefore Moses preferred even the reproaches of Christ, before a • l th • treasures in Egypt, Heb. 11. Take me the greatest man on earth; if he be a Christless man, he is but a cursed man, and all that he hath, is but a curse unto him; and take me the meanest man on earth, if Christ be his, he is a blessed man; and all that he hath, is a blessing unto him.

2. It is m • re to enjoy Jesus Christ himself, than to enjoy any, or all the benefits depending on Christ; The benefits I say, from the enjoyment of Christ are very precious (how precious is the peace which flows out of his blood, and the joy which comes in by his Spirit, and the graces, and the gifts from him!) yet Christ himself is more precious, more sweet, more lovely, and more desirable: If the Image be so precious, much more the pattern itself; if the tokens and gifts be so precious, much more is the giver himself; if the words of his mouth, and the kisses of his lips are so sweet, much more sweet is the enjoyment of Christ himself; therefore Paul rejoiceth especially in this, that Christ lov • d him, and gave himself for him, Gal. 2. 20. And above all things, desires to be fo • nd in him, Phil. 3. 9. No, not the knowledge of Christ (though it were the excellency of knowledge) could suffice him; it was Christ himself after whom he principally looked, and in whom he would be found.

3. All is enjoyed by the enjoyment of Christ. All is enjoyed

1. Equivalently; there is as much in Christ, as answers all other enjoyments (Ipse unus erit tibi omnia, quia in ipso uno bono bona sunt omnia) the wisdom of Christ doth more than answer all other wisdom; and the knowledge of Christ doth more than answer all other knowledge; and the love of Christ doth more than answer all other love; and the unsearchable riches of Christ doth more than answer all other riches; and the delights in Christ do more than answer all other pleasures.

2. Really; if you enjoy Christ himself, you do actually enjoy all the glorious benefits by Christ, with the enjoyments of himself. If the field be yours, the treasure in the field is yours indeed; in some civil enjoyments, there is an exceptio juris; sometimes such a Manor you shall enjoy, but such or such particulars are excepted and reserved; But it is not thus in your spiritual enjoyments, (in the enjoyment of Christ) there is no exception, no clause, no distinction; but if Christ be yours, all of Christ is yours; his love is yours, his righteousness is yours, his wisdom, his holiness, his Redemption, all is yours.

4. J • sus Christ h • mself, his person is the greatest blessing, and choicest gift, that God hath or can give unto you; for all the other blessings fall into our possession and enjoyment by Christ alone; all your enjoyments are bestowed by the enjoyment of Christ himself; the loving God, the merciful God, righteousness, holiness, as long as Christ is Christ, you shall have possession of them. Ephes. 1. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Jesus Christ (if I may so express it) is the out-let of all blessings, and he is the in-let to all our blessings; Look on our blessings as descending from God to us, Jesus Christ is (as it were) the out-let of them all; they are let out unto us by Christ; God himself becomes our God in Christ, and he loves us in Christ, and chooseth us in Christ, and is merciful and gracious unto us in Christ, and showeth the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus. And look on our blessings as desired from God by us, we are let or brought into the enjoyment of them by Christ; We lost all by the first Adam, and we come to enjoy all again by Christ; Jesus Christ is (as it were) the root upon which all our mercies and comforts, and hopes do live again and grow.

You obtain your access by Christ unto the Father, and your persons come to be accepted in Christ, and all your services; He holds up all your Communions, and makes them effectual and sure: God would not look on you, nor regard you, nor let fall one glimpse or beam of his favor upon you, were it not for Christ; it is Christ which makes you nigh, and dear, and lovely, and delightful, and precious, and for whose sake you come to be sons and heirs of love and mercy, and peace, and all the blessings which you do possess, or ever shall enjoy in this world, or in the world to come.

5. Your condition cannot be otherwise than safe and comfortable, and blessed, if Christ be yours. As it cannot be well with any without Christ, so it cannot be ill with any who have Christ: There is no condemnation unto you; you are now passed from death to life; he is your life, and he that hath the Son hath life; and he is your hope, (Christ in you the hope of glory) and he is your Rock on which you are built; he is your peace, he is your glory, he is your head, he is your Savior; in one word, the enjoyment of Christ makes life and death comfortable.

2. Christ is yours as to all his Offices; You know that Christ is the anointed of God; He was set apart, and ordained, and called, and sent, and undertook all the work of salvation for sinners; and for the accomplishing of that salvation, he was installed a Prophet, a Priest, and a King.

By reason of our sinful fall, there were (if I may so call them) three diseases falling upon us.

One was Ignorance, and this Christ doth heal as he is our Prophet.

A second was Alienation from God, and this Christ doth heal as he is our Priest.

A third is Impotency to come back to God, and this Christ doth heal as he is our King.

As he is a Prophet, he doth open and unfold salvation; and as he is a Priest, he doth acquire and procure salvation; and as he is a King, he doth apply that salvation unto us.

The Prophetical Office of Christ, is that by which he doth perfectly and effectually reveal the whole saving Will of God.

The Priestly Office of Christ, is that by which he doth expiate all our sins, and doth reconcile us unto God.

The Kingly Office of Christ, is that by which he doth with authority and power dispense and administer all things which do belong unto the everlasting salvation of his people.

Beloved, All the works of our redemption, and reconciliation, and salvation, do depend on Jesus Christ as invested with the threefold Office of Prophet, Priest, and King; his whole Mediatorship is contained in them, and so is all our comfort and hope; and therefore I will speak briefly unto everyone of them.

1. Jesus Christ is a Prophet, and he is your Prophet. He is that Prophet whom God had promised to raise up, Acts 3. 22. And whom all are commanded to hear, verse 23. And this was he who was anointed by the Spirit of the Lord, to preach the Cospel to the poor, Luke 4 18. And this is he in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Col. 2. 3. who knows the Father, and by whom alone the knowledge of the Father is revealed, Matth 11. 27. who is in the bosom of the Father, and declares him unto us. John 1. 18. who is the Angel of the Covenant. Malachi 3. 1. unto whom the great Commission of opening the mystery of salvation is granted and sealed.

Now there are four singular comforts unto you, which have God to be your God in Covenant and consequently have Jesus Christ to be your Prophet.

1. He hath it in his Commission to teach you, They shall be all taught of God, Joh. 6. 45. yea it is his express Commission to preach the Gospel unto you, Luke. 4. 18. to open and reveal that Mystery which was kept secret since the world began, and to make it manifest. Rom. 16. 25, 26. even the Mystery which hath been hid from ages, and from generations, but now is made manifest unto his Saints, Col. 1. 26. Though others sit in darkness and see no light, yet unto you (through Christ) there ariseth light in darkness; and your eyes shall and do see the salvation of the Lord, and the glory of the Lord: the light shines in your hearts, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 4. 6. he makes known unto you, the true life, and the true way of life, the mystery of salvation.

2. He hath it in his commission to instruct and teach you the whole mind and will of God in everything which concerns your salvation: all things that I have heard of the Father, I have made known unto you, Joh. 15. 15.

As he discovers unto us infallibly the reality, and the quality of our salvation, so there is not any one truth, nor any one path necessary unto that salvation, but he opens it, and reveals it, whether it respect our faith, or our obedience: he is the anno • nting which teacheth you of all things and is truth, and is no lie, 1 Joh. 2. 27.

3. He is that Prophet who doth teach, not only by his word, but also by his Spirit: others can speak only to the ears of men, but he can speak to the hearts of men, he can imprimere in mentem, as well as mentem exprimere, write his Law in the heart, as well and as easily as he can deliver and make it known to our minds: when he teacheth you that you must believe, he doth by his Spirit cause you to believe; when be saith that you must be born again, he doth by his Spirit make you new creatures: there is not any one grace, or duty, or path of li • e which he sets before you (who are in covenant with God) but he works in you those very graces, and puts forth a strength to perform all those duties, and to walk in those paths.

4. As a Prophet he is anointed to preeah good tidings, Isa. 61. 1. the Apostle calls it preaching of peace, Ephes. 2 17. and not only the Prophet Isaiah in that place, but also Christ himself in Luke 4. 18. tells you what those good tidings are, what that Gospel is, namely to hind up, and heal the broken-heared, liberty and deliverance to the captives, sight to the blind, to give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

O what comfort is here for you who are the people of God, and have Christ to be your Christ, and your Prophet? Here are glad tidings for you, and your Christ is anointed to preach them unto you when your hearts are broken and bruised, you have a Christ to bind them up, and to heal them with his own precious blood; I died for you, saith Christ, this is my blood which was shed for you, for the remission of your sins, to reconcile you, to make peace for you, saith Christ: and when you find yourselves captives, and as it were shut up on prison, Christ your Prophet comes to you by his Spirit and breaks open the prison doors, and sets you at liberty from your sins, from Satan, from your fears, and tears, and all the powers and chains of darkness: and when your soul sits in darkness and sees no light, when they feed on tears, and are overwhelmed with sorrows and heaviness, your Christ (who is your Prophet) can, and will speak words of life unto you, and words of joy unto you: why are your hearts troub • ed? said he to his Disciples; woman why weepest thou? said he to Mary; daughter go in peace; so to another, son, be of good comfort.

There is no Prophet like your Prophet, who knows so much of the mind of God, who reveals it so fully, so faithfully, so infallibly, so powerfully, so sweetly, so savingly.

Jesus Christ is a Priest, and he is anointed to be your Priest, Psal. 110. 4. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent, Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, vide Heb. 6. 20. Heb 7. 17. Cap. 4. 14. we have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.

I shall not insist on this Argument, to tell you how Christ was called and qualified for his priestly Office, nor of the differences 'twixt him and all other Priests: nor how that his Sacrifice was his human nature, and the Altar was his Divine Nature, and himself according to both these natures was the Priest; My intention is only in few words to touch at this Office of Christ as our Mediator: and then to express unto you, the chief comforts from your interest in him, as to this his Office of Priesthood.

There are two Acts wherein his Priestly Office consisteth.

1. One was the oblation of himself once for all; as a perfect Sacrifice for the expiation of sin, and reconcil • ng us to God, Heb. 9. 14. Through the eternal Spirit, he offered himself, without spot to God, verse 26. he appeared to put away sin by the Sacrifice of himself, verse 28. Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many, Rom. 5. 10. when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, Col. 1. 20. He made peace though the blood of his Cross, Heb. 2. 17. a merciful and faithful High Priest, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

2. The other is, His Intercession for us: This man (saith the Apostle) because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable Priesthood, Heb. 7. 24. wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them: and therefore as to this interceding part of his Priestly Office, Christ is said to appear for us in the presence of God, Heb. 9. 24. as the Attorney appears for his Client in Court to answer for him; and likewise he is called our Advocate with the Father, 1 Joh. 2. 1. to plead for us, and to obtain for us, &c.

But some may now reply, We know all this, that Christ is a Priest, and a Mediator of Redemption and of Intercession; that he offered up himself, that he died, shed his blood, was sacrificed, and that he ever lives to make Intercession. [Quest.] But where lies the comfort of this to them that are in Covenant with God, and have Christ to be their High Priest?

I will show you what comfort you have by this, and I pray you mark it: There are four unspeakable comforts unto you who are Christ's, from this, that he is your High Priest, who offered himself for you, and lives to make Intercession for you.

1. All your sins were laid upon him: for in that respect he was your Priest, in that respect also he was your Surety, Heb. 7. 21, 22. what's that? That? That is, he became bound to God, responsible unto him for all your sins, for all that God in justice could charge upon you, and demand for satisfaction. Our salvation was laid on one that is mighty.

As Judah became a surety to Jacob for Benjamin, he engaged himself to his Father, I will be surety for him, of my hand shalt thou require him; if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame forever, Gen. 43. 9. Thus Jesus Christ is our Priest, and therefore our Surety with his Father; Father, I will take upon me all the sins of thy people; I will be bound to answer for them, I will sacrifice myself for them, at my hands do thou require satisfaction for their sins, and a full compensation unto thy justice: I will die, I will lay down my life, I will make my soul an offering for sins, I will become a curse, I will endure thy wrath.

O what a Comfort is this, that there is a Christ to answer for that which we could not answer!

2. He discharged all your debts and bonds: There is a twofold debt which lay upon us; one was the debt of obedience unto the Law; And this Christ did pay by fulfilling all Righteousness, Matth. 3. 15. The other was the debt of punishment for our transgressions, and this debt also Christ discharged by his death on the Cross, and being made a curse for us to redeem us from the curse, Gal. 3. 13. Hence it is that we are said to be bought with a price, 1 Cor. 6. 20. and that Christ is called our ransom, Lutron, Matth. 20 28. and Antilutron, 1 Tim. 2. 6. the words do signify a valuable price laid down for another's ransom: the blood of • hrist (the Son of God) was a valuable price, a sufficient price; it was as much as would serve the turn to take off all enmities, and to take away sin, and to satisfy Divine justice, and indeed so it did: and therefore you read that in his blood we have redemption, even the forgiveness of our sins, Ephes. 1. 7. and his death was such a full compensation to Divine Justice, that the Apostle makes a challenge to all, Rom. 8. 33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's Elect? and ver. 3 • . Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died; as if he had said, Christ hath satisfied and discharged all.

O what comfort is • his unto us, to have such an high Priest, who himself bare all our sins, even all our sins, left not one unsatisfied for? laid down a full ransom, a full price, such an expiatory • acrifice, such a satisfactory • acrifice, as • hat now we are out of the hands of justice, and wrath, and death, and curse, and hell and are reconciled, and made near, and deal altogether under the throne of Grace and Mercy.

3. As our Priest in offering himself for us, his Scacrifice being (as the • cripture speaks) the blood o • God (that is) of one that is God, there is more therefore in it than mere payment, or satisfaction; there was merit also in it to acquire, and procure, and purchase all Spiritual good and all Eternal good for the people of God: not only immunities from evil in sin and death, but privileges, and dignities of sons, and heirs, yea all grace, and all love, and all peace, and all glory; even that glorious inheritance purchased by his blood.

You may now look on • od as your Father, and on Heaven as your inheritance, se • led on you by the love of God, and purchased for you by the blood of Jesus Christ.

4. What shall I say more? Jesus Christ is your Priest for Intercession also; Do you know your happiness by this, and in this? your Christ is now entered into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father: and therefore he intercedes for you, he presents himself as your Surety, • s your Redeemer, in all his susceptions and endurances and discharges and purchases for you, in the price which he laid down and in the merits of that price, and so negotiates, and obtains for you, and still is effectually letting d • wn unto you the virtues, and purchases of his life and death, until you come at length to • he highest and full enjoyment of himself in glory. Father, I purchased this for him, I paid dearly for it &c. And therefore some (not without ground) ascribe all the purchases of Christ (for the application of them unt • us) unto the Intercession of Christ.

I will say no more but th • s, That all your communions with the Father, all your audiences, all your acceptances, all your answers, in graces, in comforts, in hopes, in helps in present, in future enjoyments, owe themselves unto • hrist as your Priest, in the Oblation of himself for you, and in the intercession of him unto the Father for you.

3. Jesus Christ is a King, and he is your King: He is called a King, Psal. 2. 6. and he is called King of Saints, Rev. 15. 3. He is such a King, as there is not the like.

A King by contract in respect of God, by conquest in respect of us.

1. He makes Subjects by the power of his Word and Spirit effectually calling us out of the kingdom of darkness, into his own gracious Kingdom.

2. He makes all his Subjects free-men; If the S • n shall make you free, you are free indeed, Joh. 8 36.

3. He makes all his Subjects Kings; He hath made us unto our God Kings and Priests, Rev. 4. 10

4. He rules all his Subjects by Righteous Laws: therefore he is called Melchizedek, which signifies a King of Righteousness: and his Kingdom is called a Righteous Kingdom.

5. He is the King of Salem, of peace as well as of Righteousness. Men never enjoy peace, at least such a peace anywhere as in the Kingdom of Christ; there is no man that obeys him, and is ruled by him, but finds peace, Gal. 6. His kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

6. He as a King seeks your good, and all that he doth hath a respect to your good: all his dispensations are good, and for your good: he seeks your well-fare and happiness, speaks kindly to you, hears your groans, answers your complaints, and pleads for the poor and needy.

7. He is a King for Prot • ction: He will protect and secure you against all your Enemies, Devils, Sins, Men, the worst and greatest, and will subdue them, and trample them under his feet: His enemies shall be his foot-stool.

8. He hath great rewards, an infinite treasure to bestow on all his people; he will accept of their service, and reward everyone of them with a crown of life.

O how happy are the people who have the Lord to be their God! and who have (therefore) Christ to be their Christ: a Christ who is such a Prophet, such a Priest, and such a King.

I will not stay you any longer in this one part of your Covenant-happiness, viz. That Christ is yours; only I think it fit to sum up in a few particulars the general comforts which I have mentioned or insinuated already in the Person and Offices of Christ. Thus then; if Christ be yours, Then 1. Life is yours, Christ is your life, and he that hath the Son hath life, Col. 3. 4. 1 Joh. 5. 12.

2. Love is yours, Christ loves all his with a love of Kindnesse, and tenderness, and benevolence, and beneficence.

3. All that Christ did or suffered, in order to man's salvation, all is yours, your good, and for your good.

4. His Redemption is yours, he hath Redeemed you from wrath, and curse, and sin, and Satan, and death, and hell.

5. You are certainly partakers of the forgiveness of all your sins.

6. You are perfectly reconciled unto God, who is now your God, and your Father.

7. You are accepted and approved with God in the Righteousness of Christ, which is now yours, as Christ himself is yours.

8. You now receive the adoption of sons; as you are the brethren of Christ, so are you with him in the same relation of sons unto God.

9. You are clothed with the same Spirit wherewith Christ himself was anointed; the self same Spirit which is in Christ as your Head, is in you as his Members.

10. He is your Apology against all Satan's accusations, and your own sins and fears: There is no condemnation unto them that are in Christ Jesus, for it is Christ that died.

11. He is the living Root and foundation of all your graces and comforts.

12. All his victories shall extend to you, over Satan, the world, your sins, and death.

13. You are no more strangers, nor Forreiners, but are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14. You have all the sights of God in his glory, as he is the Lord, gracious, and merciful, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth.

15. You enjoy liberty of Access by his blood to the throne of grace.

16. You shall assuredly speed well in all your suites, be heard, and answered upon his account.

17. He will take special care of you, and will own, and help, and succor, and supply you, as long as you have a day to live on earth.

18. He is your Defense; as he is exceedingly sensible of all your Injuries, so he will certa • nly judge all your enemies

19 By him you are heirs of the same glory and Kingdom which the Father hath bestowed on him, and which he hath prepared for you

20. He will never part with you, nor forsake you, but will love and keep you to the end.

21. He will entertain you with sweet communions in the day of your pilgrimage: and as you are walking, and travelling through the vale of tears, many a kind word, many a good look many a feast all you have, where he will sup with you, and you shall sup with him; many refreshings, and joys, and revivings of your spirits.

22. You shall infallibly poss • sse and enjoy all the grace, and comfort, and blessing, and blessedness which he hath purchased for you in this life, and in the life to come, even to all eternity: he is ever with you whilst you are on earth, and you shall forever be with him when you die, and come to Heaven.

SECT. IX.

4. A Fourth singular comfort unto you who have God to be your God, is this, then the Spirit of God is yours. He also is given unto you; for this is one part of the Covenant, Ezek. 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you. 1 Thes. 4. 8. He hath given unto us his holy Spirit. 1 Joh. 4. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. Nehem. 9. 20. Thou gavest them also thy good Spirit. Acts 5. 32. The holy Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him.

The Spirit of God may be considered seven ways, and as to everyone of them he is yours; In respect, 1 Of his • itles, or Attributes. 2. Of his gifts and fruits. 3 Of his works or operations. 4. Of his helps or virtues. 5. Of his joys and comforts. 6. Of his Office or Function. 7. Of his presence or abode.

1. The Spirit is yours in respect of his Titles and Attributes: he is called sometimes,

1. The Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2. 11. and the Spirit of Christ, Rom. 8. 9. and the Spirit of glory, 1 Pet. 4. 14. This very Spirit is given unto you, who have God to be your God; we have received the Spirit which is of God, 1 Cor. 2. 12 God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, Gal. 4. 6. O what a glory is this? what a dignity? what a comfort? that the same Spirit which is in Christ, is also in you? that you have Christ, and you have the Spirit of Christ.

2. The holy Spirit: Grieve not the holy Spirit of God. Ephess. 4. 30. sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Ephes. 1. 13. above eighty times is the Spirit of God styled the holy Ghost, or Spirit, in the Scripture. And under this notion also is he given unto you; as we are said in Heb. 3. 14. to be partakers of Christ, so are we said in Heb. 6. 4. to be partakers of the holy Ghost: and as Christ is said to be given unto us, Isa. 9. 6. so the Holy Ghost is said to be given unto us, Acts 5. 32. 1 Thes. 4. 8.

This is the excellency of the Spirit of God, that he is holy, and this is our excellency that we are holy, and the holy Spirit is given unto us for this end, to make us holy (like unto the Father, and the Son, and himself) hence it is that we are said to be sanctified by the Holy Ghost, Rom. 15. 16. 2 Thes. 2. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 2.

3. The free Spirit; so he is called, Psal. 51. 12. Uphold me with thy free Spirit He is a free Spirit on a twofold account; 1. Because he works where and on whom, and when, and how he himself pleaseth: he blows where he lists, Joh. 3. 8. 2. And he is a • ree Spirit, in as much as all spiritual freedom and liberty is received of us from him; hence the Apostle, 2 Cor. 3. 17. where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

4. The good Spirit by Spirit is good, • sa. 143 10 Thou gavest them of thy good Spirit, Neh. 9. 20. The Spirit is essentially good, and counsels good: he is indeed a good Spirit unto us; All the good thoughts in us, and all the good desires in us, and all the good we have or shall receive from God in Christ, is handed to us by this good Spirit, yea and all the sweet sights of God himself that ever we enjoyed, and all the tastes that ever we have had of Jesus Christ, and all the joys and contentments in our souls, we are beholding unto this good Spirit for everyone of them; though in some respect you are not beholding unto the Spirit for dying, and suffering, and satisfying, and reconciling, and purchasing for you, yet this I may safely affirm, that for all the enjoyments of all the sweet comforts depending on the sufferings of Christ, you are singularly beholding to the good spirit for them; you never could have partaked of Christ, nor of any one good purchased by Christ, had it not been for this good Spirit.

5. The powerful or mighty Spirit: The Spirit of the Lord is called the Spirit of might, Isa. 11. 2. The power of the holy Ghost, Rom. 15. 13. the power of the Spirit of God, verse 19. the power of the Highest, Luke 1. 35. It was the power of this Spirit which did convince you of your sins, and which did break your heard harts, and did rescue and deliver you from the power of darkness; which doth subdue your iniquities, and pull down your strong bolds: It was, and is this powerful Spirit by whom the Ministrations, or Ordinances of the Gospel have been, and still are of power with you. The Word is called the sword of the Spirit, Ephes. 6. 17. The Ministrations of them selves are weak, it is the concomitant presence of the Spirit which makes them powerful and lively for your conversion, comfort, and salvation; you had lain in the same condition, and darkness, and bondage, and death with other men, had not the powerful and mighty Spirit of God put forth the greatness of his own strength to the alteration of your hearts by his own grace.

2. The Spirit is yours in respect of his gifts and fruits; You read in 1 Cor. 12. 14. of diversities of gifts of the Spirit for edification, or to profit withal, ver. 7. and you read of the first fruits of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 23. and of the fruits of the Spirit, Gal. 5. 22.

The Spirit of God (as to these gifts and fruits) is called the Spirit of grace, Zach. 12. 10. and the Spirit of wisdom, Isa. 11. 2. and the Spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord: and the Spirit of faith, 2 Cor. 4. 13. and the Spirit of love, 2 Tim. 1. 7. and the Spirit of supplication, Zach. 12 10. the fruit of the Spirit, saith the Apostle in Gal. 5. 22. is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (and ver. 23.) meekness, temperance.

There are six things which I would briefly observe concerning the graces, or fruits of the Spirit.

1. They are the Beauties, Glories, Ornaments, Chains, Pearls, Jewels of a Christian; you have no excellencies till you partake of them, but are dead, loathsome, polluted and vile.

These are the very image of God.

2. They are necessary unto salvation: No man can be saved without them. They are the way to the kingdom, though they be not the cause of reigning in the kingdom: without holiness no man shall see the Lord, Heb. 12. 14.

3. They are pledges of salvation: therefore called the first fruits, which were the beginnings and the pledges of the full harvest: and also the earnest of the Spirit which he leaves with us to assure us of that glorious happiness which we are to receive shortly in fullness.

4. They are given to none but unto such as shall be saved. There are the common gifts of the Spirit, which are for the edification of others. These they may have who shall perish, like those who helped to build the Ark, and yet were drowned. But there are the special gifts of the Spirit which are for Renovation of the soul, and for the preparation of it for glory. These are given to none but unto such who are elected unto salvation: As many as were ordained to eternal life believed, Act. 13. 48. Matth. 11. 25. Hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes.

5. Every gift or grace, which accompanies salvation, is (by the Spirit) given to every child of God; to everyone who hath God to be his God in Covenant: everyone of them hath every saving grace of the Spirit.

• 1. The spirit of grace; I will pour upon the house of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace, Zach. 12. 10.
• 2. The Spirit of knowledge. They shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them, Jer. 31. 34.
• 3. The Spirit of wi • d • me. The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ give unto you the Spirit of wisdom, Eph. 1. 17.
• 4. The Spirit of faith; We have the same Spirit of faith, 2 Cor. 4. 13. You are all the children o • God by faith in Christ Jesus, Gal. 3. 26. To them that have obtained like precious faith with us, 2 Pet. 1. 1.
• 5. The Spirit of love, 2 Tim. 1. 7. Ye your selv • s ar • taught of God to love one another, 1 Thes. 4. 9.

What should I speak of godly sorrow, repentance, humbleness, meekness, patience? &c. whatsoever gift is necessary to our salvation, the Spirit doth certainly work in everyone of the people of God, although not in the same measure, proportion and height, yet to the same truth, and for the same efficacy unto their salvation.

Every child of God hath the same Spirit of grace, and faith, and love; and though one Christians graces may fall short of another's for the quantity, yet they do not fall short for the present quality, nor for the future glory; The weakest grace of the Spirit, is able to change the heart and save the soul.

6. The Spirit doth cherish, and preserve, and keep all those saving gifts of his in you: As a Parent who begers the children, he looks unto those children, and maintains and keeps them; All your graces are the births of the Spirit of grace; and as they are the effects of his power, so also are they the objects of his care; and therefore as they receive life from his presence in the Ordinances, so shall they receive strength, and growth, and stability from his continual influence upon them; We are s • rengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, Ephes. 3. 16. As we are changed from our shameful condition to glory by the Spirit, so by the same Spirit are we changed from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3. 18.

3. The Spirit is yours in respect of his works or operations: And truly, this consideration makes out an exceeding happiness unto the people of God, in as much as the participation of all their happiness depends upon the workings of the Spirit of God in whom they are interested by this Covenant of grace.

There are five choice works which the Spirit doth for all the people of God, who have God to be their God.

1. He doth unite Christ and them; Although the benefits by Christ are inexpressibly precious, yet the fruition of them is impossible with • ut a precedent union with Christ (forasmuch as union is a necessary foundation for Communion) you must be in Christ, and being his, himself and all his benefits become yours.

Now it is the Spirit which makes up this union; as love makes the union 'twixt Christian and Christian; and as faith makes up the union from us to Christ (for we are planted into Christ, and are espoused unto Christ, and live in Christ by faith) so the Spirit makes the union 'twixt Christ and us; there being no other way for him to be joined unto us, and to become Relatively ours, but by his own Spirit; it is the Spirit which doth let out the heart of Christ to us, and who doth bring in our hearts unto Christ; it is the Spirit by whom Christ applies himself unto us, and apprehends us, and by whom we also do apprehend and apply Christ; by his Spirit he takes hold of us, and by the same Spirit it is that we take hold of him. In a word, it is the Spirit by whom Christ speaks to our hearts, and by whose light we see the excellencies of Christ, and the great love of Christ, and who gives Christ (as it were) into our hands, and mightily allures and prevails upon our hearts, to give themselves unto Christ again; as Christ had never been effectually revealed unto you but by the Spirit, so you had never been effectually brought to Christ but by the Spirit; you had been Christless forever without him.

And now consider the happiness in having this Spirit, which hath wrought so effectually as to unite Christ and you, and you and Christ, that Christ is yours, and you are his; by him are you persuaded and drawn, and brought into the possession of Christ, and all the benefits by Jesus Christ.

2. He doth conform us unto Christ; We all (saith the Apostle in 2 Cor. 3. 18.) beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same Image, from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. As by the Spirit we do discern a most glorious nature of holiness in Christ, so by the Spirit we are changed into the same image of holiness. Hence are we said to be born again b • the Spirit, John 3. 5, 6. and to be renewed by the holy Ghost, Tit. 3. 5. And to be sanctified by him, 1 Pet. 1. 2.

You read that Christ was conceived by the holy Ghost, and he was anointed by the Spirit; So is every Christian; he becomes a Christian by the Spirit, and he is anointed by the Spirit: The ointment indeed is first poured upon our head, and then upon us; but as it is the same spirit in us which is in Christ, so it is the same anointing; only it is in Christ as the head, and without measure; and as in the pattern unto which we are conformed by the Spirit. As by the unction of the Spirit, we become like Christ in nature, so also in Relation; God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba-Father, Gal. 4. 6.

Now judge of the blessedness of having the Spirit; He is the cause of our union, and he is the cause of our unction: he brings us into Christ, and he anoints us with the same grace wherewith Christ himself was anointed, so that we are like Christ himself; we are anointed with the same Spirit, and therefore we must needs be excellent and choice persons, and very lovely in the eyes of God.

3. He doth reveal unto us, the highest, and the choicest things of salvation; He is called the Spirit of Revelation, Eph. 1. 17. because he opens and reveals those things unto the people of God, which are hid from the eyes of others.

There are five precious things which the Spirit reveals unto you.

1. The mystery of life unto you; even Jesus Christ, who cannot be known or acknowledged but by the Spirit. Flesh and blood cannot reveal him: No man can confess him; No man can say, that Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 12. 3. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory, 1 Cor. 2. 7.

2. The love of God unto you: The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the holy Ghost which is given unto us, Rom. 5. 5. He makes the greatness of the love, and your propriety in it known unto you, and the exceeding riches of grace, &c.

3. The presenc of Christ within you: Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us, 1 John 3. 24. Christ without, nay, Christ within us, is not discerned by us without the Spirit.

4. The wonderful glory prepared for us: Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10.

5. The most precious gifts bostowed on us: In this life we have received the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given us of God, 1 Cor. 2. 12. The sight of your own graces, is by the assistance of the Spirit.

O what a happiness is all this, to know Jesus Christ, and as present in my soul! To know the love of God in mine heart! To know the exceedingly exceeding weight of glory prepared, and prepared for me! and to know all that God hath freely given me, in order unto that exceeding glory! This, &c.

4. He fits us for that salvation which Christ hath purchased for us. As the blood of Christ did purchase our salvation, so the Spirit of Christ doth fit us for the enjoyment thereof; He makes us meet to • e partakers of the inheritance of th • Saints in light: The Apostle speaking of this salvation, under several expressions in 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4. he adds in the fifth verse, Now he which hath w • ough • us for the self-same thing, is God, who hath given unto us the earnest of his Spirit. And this fitting work of his upon us for the salvation purchased by Christ, he doth execute,

Partly by cleansing and purifying ou • sinful hear • s, and mortifying those lusts, which otherwise would render us unfit, and uncapable of that glorious salvation.

Partly by endowing and beautifying the soul with Christ and his righteousness, and his graces, that thereby an entrance may be made for us, into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. 1. 11.

Partly by leading and upholding us in all the ways of Christ, until we come to receive the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls.

5. I will add but one work more of the Spirit on your behalf, which is this, He works all your works in you, and for you: Consider your works, either of faith or obedience; your works of faith in reference to the promises of God; and your work of obedience in reference to the precepts of God; although you are the persons who do believe the one, and obey the other, yet it is the Spirit of Christ which is the cause, and the powerful principle of those in you. He it is who doth make your hearts to believe, and who doth cause you to walk in his Statutes, and do them, Ezek. 36. 27.

4. The Spirit is yours, in respect of his help or virtue; The Spirit helpeth our infirmities, Rom. 8. 26.

And there are six things wherein the Spirit is an help unto all the people of God.

• 1. In all their Communions with God.
• 2. In the weaknesses of all their graces.
• 3. In the actings of every grace.
• 4. In the conflicts of grace.
• 5. In the darkness upon their spirits.
• 6. In the 〈◊〉 of their souls.

1. The Spiri • 〈◊〉 them in in all their communions with God; in their Meditations of God, in their hearing of the Word of God, in their addresses of prayer unto God; and as to this, the Apostle gives a special instance in that, Rom. 8. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. When we are to pray, there is in us sometimes an infirmity of ignorance; we know not what to pray for, either for the matter, or for the manner; and there is in us sometimes an infirmity of deadness and dullness; we cannot pray with that fervency as we should, or as we would. But now the Spirit helps these infirmities by way of instruction; Teaching us what (especially) to pray for; and by way of causation, in making intercession for us (that is) in quickening and enabling us to pray with groanings (that is) with such full and strong affections of heart, as cannot be uttered or expressed by words; Our streightened, and narrow, and barren hearts, are many times by the influence and assistance of God's Spirit, enlarged and opened, and filled with a Spirit of supplication; with such an ardency, with such an earnestness, with such a copiousnesse, that after we have long insisted with God, yet we have not opened half our minds and desires unto God; it excites all our graces, and sets them a work: such an help is the Spirit unto us in praying unto God.

2. The Spirit helps them in the weakness of their graces; He waters the plants, and blows upon the buds, and draws on his works of grace towards perfection: He doth (as it were) Nurse them up, and breed, and brood them up. He helps your • imme knowledge, by adding light unto light, and opening more and more the eyes of your understanding to know the things of God in Christ. He helps the weak and staggering faith, by adding faith unto faith, in answering your doubts, and evidencing your grounds and interests in Jesus Christ. He is the wind which blows upon your garden, and makes the Spices there of to flow out, Cant. 4. 16.

3. The Spirit helps them in the actings of every grace. You know the distinction of gratia praeveniens & gratia subsequens: gratia operans & gratia cooperans.

It is the Spirit which works grace in us; and it is the Spirit which makes grace (wrought in us) to work. You are not able (of yourselves) to use the graces given unto you (when you please) without the influence and assistance of the Spirit of God. 1 Cor. 15. 10. By the grace of God I am that I am: and his grace bestowed upon me was not in vain. I labored, yet not I, but the grace of God in me. Can you trust when you will? and mourn when you will? and fear when you will? and command your thoughs and passions when you will? and patiently bear the hand of God when you will? The light (if it were cut off from the influence and presence of the Sun) would not be light, nor give light at all: The arm if it were cut off from the body, it could not stir at all. Though the arm be grafted into the body, yet it stirs by influence from the head.

No grace that we have could move or act at all, were it not acted and moved by the Spirit of Christ; and therefore when you are to believe, he helps you to believe; and when you are to repent, he helps you to repent; and when you are to bless, he helps you to bless; and when you are to suffer, &c.

His hand is upon your hand, his strength is upon your strength, his grace is upon his own grace; As all your graces have their being from his power of life, so they have their working from his power of influence too. He it is who worketh in you to will and to do.

4. The Spirit helps them in the conflicts of grace; when inward temptations arise out of your own hearts, and when outward temptations 〈◊〉 in from Satan, alas, your own strength is insufficient to conquer for you; 〈…〉 maintain the fight for you, unless the Spirit of God put forth his actual help; unless he take your part, what one temptation of lust, of doubt, of fear, is not too hard for you? and what one temptation from Satan is not too strong for you? Every little touch throws down, or hazards the weak child; so this, &c. But this is your comfort, that in all your spiritual conflicts you are sure of the Spirits presence to own his own graces, and to defend and secure them. His gracious presence shall be sufficient for you, 2 Cor. 12. 9. and his power makes itself manifest in your weakness; he will be near to help you, strengthen you, to make you to resist, and to conquer, and to be more than conquerors through Christ that loved you. We are strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, Eph. 6. 10.

5. The Spirit helps them in the darknesses upon their spirits; my meaning is, in all the with-drawments of God's favor and light of countenance, and in all the sad apprehensions of their own spiritual condition; when they think God is become their enemy, and that themselves are forgotten of God, and cast off by God, and have no interest, nor hope in Christ. Now in these times the Spirit of God works and helps, supplies, supports, stirs up faith against hope to believe in hope, and against our own feelings, yet to pray, and trust, and wait, and look for God.

6. He helps them in the captivities of their souls: As when sin or Satan (in this or that particular) have been too subtle, and too strong for them, and have prevailed over them, so that they are fallen and not able to rise; even then in this condition doth the Spirit of God by his wonderful graces, help them up again; he makes them to see their sins, and bewail them, and raise them by renewing and strengthening faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thus he dealt with David, with Peter, &c. As the finding of us in our lost estate, so the raising of us from our fallen estate, is done by the help of the Spirit.

5. The Spirit is yours in respect of his joys • r comforts; You read of the joy of the holy Ghost, Rom. 14. 17. And of the comforts of the holy Ghost, Acts 9, 31. And that Christ himself calls him the Comforter, John 16. 7. The Spirit is given unto you, not only to unite you to Christ, not only to conform you unto Christ, not only to lead you in the ways of Christ, not only to help you in the services of Christ, but also to comfort your hearts in Christ.

The Spirit is a comforter in three respects.

1. He opens unto you all the true springs of comfort; It is he who opens unto you the fountain of mercy, and the fountain of the love and grace of God, and the fountain of the blood of Christ.

2. He actuates your faith to look on all these fountains of joy, and wells of comfort, as set open for the good and help of your souls.

3. He applies all of them unto your souls: he makes it evident that God loves your souls, and that Christ died for your souls, and that you are justified by faith in him, and are reconciled and pardoned, and accepted unto life; and hereupon he fills you with all joy in believing, even with joy unspeakable and glorious. You cannot imagine what a comfort it is to have the Spirit of God to be our comfort; for

1. His comforts are choice comforts; There is no more comparison 'twixt the comforts of the world, and the comforts of the Spirit, than between the light of the Candle, and the light of the Sun; they are the very comforts of God; they are the very drops out of the Wells of Salvation; they are drawn out from the proper and only grounds of joy. They are comforts which (of all other) do most punctually answer the distresses of your souls.

2. He can comfort you under all your discomfirts; Who comforteth us in all our tribulations, 2 Cor. 1. 4. Yea, under the deepest and saddest disconsolations; In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul, Psal. 94. 19. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, &c. thy rod and thy staff they comfort me, Psal. 23. 4. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds, Psal. 147. 3.

3. He can comfort you when there is none else to comfort you; when you have neither father nor mother, sister nor brother, companion nor friend; when you are in prison, in exile, in the loss of all, yet he alone (when you are alone) can comfort your souls, he can show you the salvation of the Lord, speak peace, assure you of mercy, and cause you to rejoice.

4. H • can comfort you, and none shall hind • r him; neither men, nor devils, nor your own fears and doubts; He can create your peace and joys, and make comf • rts for you, and make you to drink of them; And as none can take away your joys, so none shall be able to hinder them.

6. The Spirit is yours in respect of his offices; There are three special offices belo • ging unto the Spirit.

1. One is to make all the Ordinances of Christ powerful and effectual unto you; Take the doctrines of the Gospel, they are not effectual without the Spirit; and take the se • ls of the Gospel, they are not effectual unto you without the Spirit; There are excellent precepts in the Gospel, and excellent offers in the Gospel, and excellent promises in the Gospel; the Gospel commands us to reap • t, to mourn, to deny ourselves, to renounce all for Christ, to come and believe on Christ; but it is the Spirit which makes all these commands effectual: and the Gospel offers Jesus Christ to poor sinners, and thi • sty sinners, and presents singular arguments to persuade and allure and draw the hearts of sinners; but it is the Spirit which makes all those offers, and all those arguments effectual; and the Gospel promiseth all heavenly good of love, of grace, of peace, of joy, &c. but it is the Spirit which makes all these effectual. And therefore the New Testam • nt is called the m • n • stration, n • t of the Letter, but of the Spirit who giveth l • fe, 2 Cor. 3. 6. And the Gospel hath excellent seals of mercy and forgiveness, but it is the Spirit, &c. It is the peculiar office of the Spirit to make all the Gospel effectual, and effectual to the elect of God, to the people of God; There is not one part or branch of the Gospel, but the Spirit is (virtute officii) to make it effectual to you. He is to give you sufficiency of strength for all Evangelical obedience; and he is to open and apply unto you, all the good in Chr • st, and all the comforts in the attributes of God, and promises of God; and he is to make out unto you, all the mercy and blessings, and happiness sealed in Baptism, and the Lord's Supper; And as Christ never failed in any Office which he undertook, so the Spirit will not fail, but perform and accomplish all and everything that belongs to his Office; and therefore you shall have all the good intended to you in any Gospel-Ordinance whatsoever.

2. Another is, To witness unto us our present standing in grace, and relation unto God: you read this plainly in Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. 1 John 5. 8. Th • re are three • hat bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the Water, and the Blo • d.

A Witness is one who gives in a Testimony against a man, or for a man; and he is of use in all doubtful and litigious cases, in all suits and trials; Satan puts it many times in debate by his accusations, Thou art not right, thou art not the child of God, thou presumest, thou deeceivest thyself; In this or such like cases, there are two Witnesses for the Christian. 1. One is his own Spirit. 2. The other is God's Sp • r • t; Saith conscience (this is the spirit of man) I know that his heart is • ight, and that he belongs to God. And saith the Spirit of God (who searcheth the heart, a • d knows me, and all which himself hath wrought in the heart) and I know that he is born again, for I regenerated him; and I know that he is a child of God, for he hath received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby he crieth Abba-Father.

A • d verily a greater Testimony, and surer witness cannot be had then the Testimony and Witness of the Spirit of God who knows all • hings, and is truth.

3. A third Office of the Spirit is to seal us in respect of our future happiness; and this also the Scriptures expressly deliver, Eph. 1. 13. In whom after ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Verse 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession. Eph. 4. 30. Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption; The sealing of the Spirit is that assuring confirmation unto the hearts of believers, that the heavenly inheritance purchased by the blood of Christ is theirs; and that they (when this day of full Redemption comes) shall assuredly possess and enjoy it.

Beloved, what can be said more to express the happiness and comfort of the people of God, in having God to be their God? the Father is theirs, the Son of God is theirs, and the Spirit of God is theirs; theirs in his graces, theirs in his comforts, theirs in Offices witnessing their present condition in grace, and assuring them of their future inheritance in glory; what more happiness can be enjoyed on earth than this!

7. Lastly. The Spirit is yours in respect of his presence. Joh. 14. 17. The Spirit of truth dwelleth with you. Rom. 8. 11. By his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 2 Tim. 1. 14. By the holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. It is observable concerning the presence of the Trinity, that everyone of the persons is said to dwell in believers; God the Father doth dwell in them, 2 Cor. 6. 16. The Son doth dwell in them; Christ dwells in our hearts by faith, Eph. 2. 17. The holy Ghost likewise dwells in us.

O happy soul, who art made such a Temple wherein God the Father, and God the Son, and God the holy Ghost dwells! what canst thou want? what dost thou enjoy? how great is thy excellency? how perfect is thy beauty? how full is thy glory?

Dwelling, notes a special presence, and it notes a constant and permanent presence; and truly, such is the dwelling of the Spirit of God in the children of God; it is a gracious residence, and it is an abiding residence; he never leaves you. John 14. 16. I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.

Can you reach this comfort of the perpetual presence of the Spirit in you and with you? Let me tell you

1. The presence of Christ (I mean his bodily presence only) was not comfortable without the presence of the Spirit. It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing, so Christ, Joh. 6. 63.

2. The absence of Christ now in heaven, is made up unto us by the presence of his Spirit now within us here on earth. The Spirit only supplies his absence, and makes our condition as good, and as happy as if Christ himself were present with us.

3. The presence of the Spirit makes all to be present with us; all are present by the presence of the Spirit; God comes to be present, and Christ comes to be present, and joy and salvation come to be present by the presence of the Spirit.

4. And are you not safe and sure with whom the Spirit of God is, and will be always • s present? He is present with your souls, with your faith, with your graces, and he can give you present strength, and present help, and present victory, and present comforts.

SECT. X.

5. A Fifth singular comfort unto you who have God to be your God in Covenant, is this, viz. A common conjunction of the whole Trinity in all the busin • sses of yo • r et • rnal blessedness; This is an exceeding high point, and of exceeding comfort unto you, that there is an union in the Trinity of persons in their gracious respects unto your salvation.

There is an union, or common conjunction of the persons of the Trinity. First, In respect of love. Secondly, In respect of consent, and in respect of purpose. Thirdly, In respect of operation. Fourthly, In respect of Relation. Fifthly, In respect of engagement. Sixthly, In respect of Communion.

1. In respect of love; what is that? That is, everyone of the persons doth love you. John 16. 27. The Father himse • f loveth you. Ephes. 3. 19. To know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. Rom. 15. 30. The love of the Spirit.

There is a twofold love in the persons of the Trinity.

1. A natural and necessary love, so they love each other. The Father and the Son and the Spirit do so love one another, as that they cannot but love one another.

2. A voluntary and gracious love; with this love all who are in Covenant with God, are loved of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Spirit.

This love of the Trinity may be considered both in respect of the properties of it, and in respect of the fruits and virtues of it.

1. In respect of the properties of it.

1. It is the highest of all loves. Nothing which is in the creature can possibly be of that height, as that which is in God; Holiness in the creature, is not so high as holiness in God; goodness in the creature, is not so high as goodness in God; mercy in the creature, is not so high as mercy in God; love in the creature, is • ot so high as love in God.

Love in God is purest love; there is no mixture in that love; love in God is perfect love; there is no defect or want in that love; The love of Parents to their children, and the love of husband and wife, they are but weak shadows of the unutterable and inconceivable love of God unto his people; As the essence of the Trinity is the highest essence, so the love of the Trinity is the highest love; you cannot be loved by any that is higher than the Trinity; nor can there be any love higher or equal to their love.

2. It is a most special love; not only in this respect, that no other people (besides yourselves) ate dignified with this kind of love; but also in this respect, that the love of the persons even unto yourselves, is most choice and wonderful; and this you do read concerning the love

Of the Father, which is in the same Meridian unto you who are the children of the Covenant, as it is u • to Jesus Christ. John 17. 23. That the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. And ver. 26. That the love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them.

What love the Father hath to Jesus Christ, such a love hath the Father unto you who are Christ's; and this doth appear in four particulars. 1. When he elected Christ, he did then elect you. 2. When he did purpose to give Christ to you, he did then purpose to give you to Christ. 3. That you are of the same relation unto him with Christ; and therefore Christ is not ashamed to call you brethren. 4. That you are heirs of the same Kingdom and glory with Christ.

Of the Son, who loved you to the utmost heighth and depth, and expression of love; Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends, Joh. 15. 13. Ye are my friends, ver. 14. so Ephes. 5. 2. Christ loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God.

And so for the Spirit; He loves you so, that he lays out the utmost of his power, and the choicest of his gifts and graces upon your souls.

3. It is the sweetest of all loves; There is no love whatsoever which affords more delight, contentment, and satisfaction unto the hearts of men: Thy love is better than wine, so the Church speaks of Christ, Cant. 1. 2. Thy loving kindness is better than life; so speaks David of the love of God, Psal. 63. 3. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, 1 Joh. 3. 1. so sweet is the love of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Spirit, that in the apprehension and enjoyment thereof, the soul is satisfied as with marrow; It is a kind of heaven unto us; every faculty of the soul is affected with it, and by it is filled with joys, and praises, and love again to God.

4. It is a most tender love: the Fathers love unto you is so, and the Sons love unto you is so, and the love of the Spirit is so unto you; The love of every o •• is tender, in a marvelous sensibleness of your persons and conditions, and in as marvelous a readiness to help and bless you; There is not any one want upon you, not any one distress, but everyone of the persons in Trinity is apprehensive of it, and looks on it with tender bowels of compassion; I pity them saith the Father, I will help him saith Christ the Son, I will support and comfort him in this condition, saith the holy Ghost.

5. It is a most free love: everyone of the persons loves you with a love which ariseth only from love, not from anything in yourselves, nor for any benefit which can arise from you unto yourselves; but only because they will love you, and are so pleased to love you: the love of the Father doth not find you, but make you children; the love of Christ doth not find you, but make you righteous; the love of the Spirit doth not find you, but make you holy: It is a communicating love: all the favor which you have, and all the good which you have, you have it wholly upon the mere account of the freeness and goodness of their love.

6. It is a most permanent love: There is no change of it, nor end unto it; see Rom. 8. 35. to the end. God is your eternal Father, and Christ your eternal Priest, and the Spirit is your eternal Comforter: there is no end of themselves, and there is no end of their love unto your sel • es.

Secondly, In respect of the fruits and virtues of it.

The fruits and virtues of the love of the Trinity unto you, are high and glorious. I will mention some of them.

1. This love is the foundation of all the building, the springs of all the streams; all that future glory in heaven, and all the possible enjoyments on earth (in reference unto that glory) they all flow from this love: all the kind thoughts of God, and purposes, and Counsels, and Acts are built upon this foundation of love.

2. This love is the moving wheel, it is that which sets all the Attributes of God a working for you (the Wisdom, and Power, and Goodness, and Mercifulness, and Graciousness, and faithfulness of God) yea which sets every person of the Trinity a working for you; It is the love of the Father which did put him upon the thoughts, and upon the gift of Christ: It is the love of the Son which did put him upon the giving of himself, upon dying for you: And it is the love of the Spirit which did put him upon the giving of himself unto you, and working all his works for you.

3. This love is the reason of their delight in you; you are made near by it, and become exceeding dear unto everyone of them: the Father takes pleasure in you, and so doth the Son, and so doth the Spirit; they take delight in your persons, and in your graces, and in your services: and everyone of them manifests himself unto you, and makes known their relations unto you.

4. This love is at cost and charges for you, and it makes all easy and joyful: there is not a person of the Trinity but is glad (if I may so express it) with all his heart to do you good: it is no burden to the Father to promise, nor to the Son to purchase, nor to the holy Ghost to apply the riches of Grace and Glory unto you.

This love is that which makes them restless until they have done you good; (the Father waits to be gracious, and to show mercy! How do I long until it be accomplished, said Christ of his sufferings for us, &c.) and unweariable in the doing of us good.

5. This love of their is that which makes them so dreadful and heavy unto your enemies; so high in the ways of your defense, and so high in the works of vengeance on your Adversaries; enemies to your enemies, and friend unto your friends; God by his Spirit fills their hearts with terrors, and puts them into straits, and drives your enemies to their feet: and Christ rides conquering, bathing his sword in blood.

6. This love of theirs is the reason why they do all of them bear with all your infirmaties, yea and cover the multitude of your sins, that they deal so gently with you, and accept of your weakest performances, and defires, and tears, and sighs, and greans, and pass by all your failings, &c. Thus have you heard of the common union of the Trinity in their love unto you, which I think is a clear ground of wonderful contentment; for being interested in this their common love of you,

1. All fears and doubts are silenced in all your approaches unto God; The Father unto whom you pray, he loves you: the Son by whom you pray, he loves you: the Spirit who helps you to pray, he also loves you: If you have the love of everyone of them, there is no just cause of any distrustful fears.

2. Nay, how can it be, but that you must speed very well? Love gives the kindest, and fullest, and easiest, and sweetest answers and helps! what, will not the loving God and Father, the loving Christ and Savior, the loving Spirit and Comforter, what will they not do for you?

3. Whatsoever God is in his greatness, the better it is for all you, who are thus beloved of him. I do confess that the greater God is, (if he loves us not) the more dreadful is our apprehension of him: but the greater that he is, (if he loves us) this is the more comfortable unto us: The greatness of his power, who loves us; The greatnsse of his Alsufficiency, who loves us; The greatness of his Mercifulness, Wisdom, Knowledge, Faithfulness, &c. who loves us; can you have a greater encouragement then this; that God who knows all things, who hath all things, who can do all things, who will perform all things, this God loves me! unquestionably therefore I shall be the better for that power, &c.

4. The common love of the Trinity assures you against damnation, and perishing; and of salvation, and blessedness: Love preserves, but destroys not: love brings us near, but rejects, and forsakes not: for how can it possibly be, that any man should perish and be lost, who is interested in the highest, and dearest, and unchangeable love of God? who hath the ordaining love of the Father unto salvation, and the meriting love of Christ to purchase salvation, and the applying love of the Spirit, effectually undertaking to guide and lead him unto salvation. I confess that if God did not love you, there could be no salvation for you; • or were the love of the Trinity divided and parted, so that though the Father loved you, intending your salvation, but the Son would not undertake it with his love to die for you, to procure salvation; or if the Son and Father would consent in their love, but the holy Ghost would not love you, so far as to bring you into Christ, to be partakers of him, and of salvation, then there would be a manifest uncertainty of your salvation; or if all of them did love you with a changeable love.

5. Lastly, it cannot be that you should want any necessary good; If that argument of Christ's be strong against the fear of wants (Matth. 6.) For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things: surely this is stronger; Your Father loves you, therefore you shall not want them.

2. There is a conjunctive union, as in the love of the Trinity, so in the will and consent, and purpose of the Trinity in the matters of your salvation. There was one mutual will between them from eternity, and there is one and the same mutual will between them unto eternity: what the Father did will, the Son did will, and the same did the Holy Ghost will: and what the Father did propose for your salvation for the matter and manner, unto all of that did the Son and holy Ghost consent and agree: and what the Father did intend and purpose with respect unto the salvation of the Elect, that same did the Son and the holy Ghost intend and purpose also.

As the will of the Father was not, nor could be hid from the other persons, (everyone of them being one and the same God) so there was a mutual will and liking, and determination in everyone of them, as to all the matter appertaining unto our salvation.

Though it be most true, that the persons of the Trinity be in their respective subsistences so different, that the Father neither is, nor can be the Son, nor the Son the Father: nor the holy Ghost either; yet it is as true, that everyone of them is the same Deity, and had the same will in and for man's salvation: that some should be elected of God and find mercy, and have salvation: there was a mutual will and consent twixt the three persons in the Trinity. That Jesus Christ (the Son of God) should have these bestowed upon him, and he be charged to procure their salvation, by being incarnated, and by being humbled to the death, even to the death of the Cross; as to this also, there was a mutual will and consent in the Trinity; I will give and send you, saith the Father; Lo I come, I will give myself, saith the Son; and I will anoint and sanctify you for this, saith the Spirit; that the holy Ghost should be sent to open and apply the salvation of God unto the Elect of God the Father, and to the redeemed by Christ the Son, this also fell into their common will, and consent, and purpose, in respect werereof the holy Ghost is said to be sent and given from the Father and from the Son, Joh. 14. 26. The Comforter which is the holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, &c. Joh. 15. 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me.

I will not enlarge myself in this discourse at this time, because it will fall in more fully when I come to speak of the parties interested in the Covenant: only let me tell you who are in Covenant with God, that your comforts are exceeding great, even from this, That there was, and is a mutual will, consent, agreement, and purpose of the whole Trinity concerning you and your salvation; for this will concerning you, and your salvation,

• 1. It is the gracious will of God's decree.
• 2. It is a fixed and invariable will.
• 3. It is an effectual, and infallible will.

4. And (I if may not be mistaken) it is the binding will, or argument of all the persons, unto which everyone of them (as it were) sets his seal, and in which they are all of them bound up, and according unto which everyone of them doth act, or express himself for our salvation; O what infinite love, and goodness and wisdom is this, that our salvation should be thus contrived, and ordered, and distinctly undertaken and agreed upon with one common consent of will and purpose by the whole Trinity of persons, everyone of them contributing his whole self, and heart, and power towards it! Surely your salvation must be precious, and excellent, and sure, and we ourselves as sure in our enjoyment of it.

3. There is a conjunctivenesse of operation: every person of the Trinity doth act or work for the good and salvation, as will and intend it, Joh. 5. 17. My Father worketh hitherto, and I work, verse. 19. whatsoever things he doth, these also doth the Son likewise, John 14. 31. as the Father gave me commandment so do I.

The Mission and Donation of Christ to save us, this is the work of the Father.

The giving of himself for our Redemption and Reconciliation, this is the work of the Son.

The calling of us, and Renewing, and Regenerating of us, this is the work of the holy Ghost.

Indeed there is such an excellent co-operation of the whole Trinity in the business of our salvation, that the greatest works conducing thereunto are promiscuously attributed to everyone of them, as our Vocation, and Justification, and Adoption, and Sanctification, and Glorification; all these are sometimes attributed to the Father, and sometimes to the Son, and sometimes to the holy Ghost.

Sanctification is thus promiscuously attributed unto them.

• 1. To the Father, Jude ver. 1. Sanctified by God the Father.
• 2. To the Son, 1 Cor. 1. 2. That are sanctified in Christ Jesus.
• 3. To the holy Ghost, Rom. 15. 16. Being sanctified by the holy Ghost.

Justification is also thus attributed to them.

• 1. To the Father, Rom. 8. 33. It is God that justifieth.
• 2. To the Son, Rom. 9. 5. Being now justified by his blood.
• 3. To the holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 6. 11. But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus by the Spirit of our God.

Vocation likewise is thus attributed unto them.

• 1. To the Father, 1 Pet. 1. 15. As he who hath called you is holy, &c.
• 2. To the Son, Rom. 1. 6. Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ.
• 3. To the holy Ghost, whose mighty power it is which brings us into Christ.

The like you may read of Adoption ascribed unto the Father, Ephes. 1. 5, unto the Son, Gal. 4. 6. and unto the holy Ghost, Rom. 8. 15.

We have a rule, that opera Trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa, although the modus operandi and the Terminus actionis may be distinct; and questionless as all the Attributes of God are affirmed of every person, so all the operations proper to God, are common also unto them.

Now what a glory and comfort is this, that everyone of the Divine persons hath a hand in everything which concerns our salvation! As they do all of them consent unto it, and resolve upon it, so everyone of them doth work towards it; We look upon that passage as of great weight, and stay, and comfort unto us, in Rom. 8. 28. All things (viz. here below in common contingencies) work together for good to them that love God! How much more is this for our support and comfort, that all the Trinity, that every person in the Trinity is working together for our salvation, that God the Father is working, and God the Son, and God the holy Ghost!

As they say about the Incarnation of Christ, that everyone of the Persons in the Trinity had a hand in it, though the second person only was Incarnated (as three may weave a garment, which one of them only wears) thus may we say of our salvation, that every person of the Trinity acts, and works towards it, and will still so work, until they have come to the last work, until they have finished that work in our eternal glorification.

4. There is a common union also of Relation and Interest of all the persons in every believer, and of every believer to them. Everyone of the persons hath an interest in you, and relation to you.

• 1. The Father hath an interest in you, 2 Cor. 6. 18. I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters.
• 2. The • on hath an interest in you, Christ in us, Col. 1. 27.
• 3. And the holy Ghost hath an interest in you, he dwells in us, and abides in us, 2 Tim. 1. 14. and you also have an interest in everyone of the persons.

• 1. You are in the Father, the Church that is in God the Father, 1 Thes. 1. 1.
• 2. You are in the Son, Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. 1. 30.
• 3. You are in the Spirit, He that is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit, 1 Cor. 6. 17. I also have the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 7. 40.

Now this common relation and interest of every person in the Trinity as to you, and the mutual relation and interest again as to them, is a matter of such infinite consequence, and full happiness, as indeed I am not able to unfold it; I will only touch at a few things in relation to one of these persons, and that is God the Father. If God be your God in Covenant, then he is your Father, and you are his children: the Apostle admires at this, in 1 Joh. 3. 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath shown us, that we should be called the sons of God: the dignity is most high, that we should be the sons of the most High; But let us view the comforts of it. There are six comforts from this, that our God is our Father.

1. Your Father is the Father of mercies. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, 2 Cor. 1. 3. God is the Father, 1. Of Christ. 2ly. Of every believer. 3ly. And of mercies. All mercies are in the Father, and from the Father. And shall you want mercies who are in so near a Relation to the Father of Mercies?

2. Your Father doth love you exceedingly: Is Ephraim my dear son, is he a pleasant child? Jer. 31. 20. love is frequently given to God the Father, Joh. 14. 23. 1 Joh. 2. 15. Cap. 3. 1, &c. his Jewels, Mal. 3.

3. Though you have offended him, yet if you mournfully return unto him, he will be very gracious unto you, and receive you kindly. When the Prodigal child came back to his Father, his Father faw him yet a great way off, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him, Luke 15. 20.

4. Your Father hath enough to help you, and he will take care of you; In my Fathers house there is bread enough, and to spare, Luke 15. 17. Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things, Matth. 6. 32.

5. You may easily prevail with your Father for any necessary good; If you being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matth. 7. 11.

6. You shall be heirs, who are children of this Father. If Sons, then Heirs, Rom. 8. 17. Heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Luke 12. 23. It is your Fathers pleasure to give you a Kingdom. Matth. 25. 34. Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

5 There is a common engagement of the whole Trinity unto you; everyone of the persons is engaged to you. The Father is engaged to you, to do all that a God and Father can and will do for his children. The Son is engaged to you, to do all that a Christ, and Mediator, and a Redeemer and Savior can and will do for his Members. The Holy Ghost is engaged to you, to do all that a Spirit of truth, knowledge, faith, comfort, can do for those who do come to the Father and the Son.

6. Lastly, There is a communion twixt you and every person of the Trinity, 1 Joh. 1. 3. Our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 13. 14. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Communions with a Father, with a Sayiour, with a Comforter; And verily these communions are most gracious and heavenly in respect of everyone of them: when the Father manifests himself unto you in the Relation and Testimonies of your loving God and Father; And whom Christ discovers himself unto as your Head, and as your Lord, as your Savior, in your interests in him, and his in you: and when the Holy Ghost opens himself unto you in the strengthening of your graces, in his comforts, and evidences, and assurances, and fealings, why! These things are as life to the dead, and as rain to the thirsty land; they are an exceeding refreshing unto you, they are a most heavenly tranquility and joy, and satisfaction unto your hearts.

And thus have you heard of the happiness of those people who have God to be their God in Covenant, in respect of his Attributes, and in respect of Christ, and in respect of the Spirit, and in respect of every person of the Trinity, and in their conjunctive relation and operations.

I will proceed a little further to some of the rest of the comforts depending upon God's being your God, which I mentioned at the first.

SECT. XI.

6. IF God be your God in Covenant, and you be his people, then all the promises of God are also yours. As you are the children of God, so you are the children of promise; and as you are the heirs of God, so you are the heirs of promise; and as your title is clear unto you, so your possession is sure; you shall certainly inherit all the good comprehended in them.

I have discoursed largely of the promises in general, and shall God willing (in the prosecution of this discourse of the Covenant) speak more of the promises in particular; and therefore I shall at this time only touch at two things, viz.

• 1. The real statings of the promises upon all who have God to be their God in Covenant.
• 2. Their singular happiness thereby, that all the promises of God are theirs.

1. The promises do belong to all who are in Covenant with God; They are stated and settled upon them; They are the heritage of the servants of the Lord; the children's bread; Unto us are given exceeding great and precious promises, 2 Pet. 1. 4.

The very nature and constitution of the Covenant do evince this, which is a very cluster of promises, I will be merciful to your transgressions, I will cleanse you from all your Idols, and from all your uncleannesses, I will put my Spirit within you, I will bless you, I will do you good, I will hear you, and deliver you; He will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he with-hold from them that walk uprightly; In hope of eternal life which God hath promised unto them that love him, &c.

Again, which way Christ goes, that way the promises go; Now Christ belongs to every believer; therefore the promises also belong &c.

This truth no man can question, but he who will question the Scriptures themselves; or a distressed sinner who questions his relations unto God, and thereupon questions the relation of the promises unto himself; nevertheless ex parte Rei, it is certain if God be yours, then his promises are yours, &c.

2. But now let us see the happiness and comfort from this, that all the promises of God are ours.

There are twelve things which we may confidently affirm of the promises of God, all which afford sweet comfort unto the people of God.

1. They are bonds of love; They are everyone of them the draughts of God's special love unto you. God doth not first make promises, and then love us; but he first loves us, and therefore draws his bonds of promises; God doth not enter into these Bonds by force against his will unwillingly, but, &c. The promises do plainly tell you how great the love of God is to you, how great his goodness is to you; they are the transcript of his mind and heart; Because I love you, I will therefore do all this good for you, and in these I bind myself unto you.

2. They are susceptions of grace; whatsoever promise God makes to you, grace is the foundation of it, and grace is in the performance of it. It is freely made, and as freely made good; nothing moved God to make the promises, but his own grace; and there is no reason why we enjoy the good of them, but God's own grace, I will do you good, and all this good I will do for my own sake; you shall have it as freely as ever child had kindness from a father.

3. They are full treasures. All my springs are in thee, said David, Psal. 87. 7. So may we say of the promises, All my helps, all my goods are in you. The promises as they depend for their constitution upon the love and goodness of God, so likewise upon the prescience and wisdom of God; God foresaw all the exigencies a • d wants, and straits of his people, and drew up the promises with sufficient provisions and supplies, and helps, to answer all their conditions. There is not any good whatsoever which you do actually want, or can possibly want, but there is a full stock, and a peculiar supply for it in the promises.

4. They are the best security. All the promises are the word of a God, and given upon the honor of a God that they shall be made good. The all-sufficiency of God, the Omniscience of God, the loving kindness of God, the omnipotency of God, and the faithfulness of God, yea, and the oath of God, are full security, sufficient pawns and earnests for all the good which God promiseth un • o you.

5. They are sure payments. We say when an honest man passeth his word for a little money, O, it is a sure as if it were in the purse; God's word of promise is much more sure: for as his nature or being is eternal, so his word of promise is unchangeable. The vision will speak, it will surely come, so Hab. 2. 3. I will pl • nt them in this land assuredly. Jer. 32. 41. My Covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips, Psal. 89. 34. Therefore the promises are many times said to be performed before they be performed; and the things promised are said to be given and done, before they be given and done, because, when God promiseth to do his people any good, it is as sure as if it were already done.

6. They are present stays; Though you have not friends always present with you to stay you; and though you have not as yet the things promised present with you to stay you, yet you have the promises of your God still present with you, to stay your hearts, and to uphold them.

There are four things still present with the people of God to stay their hearts. 1. A good God. 2. A good Christ. 3. The good Spirit of God. 4. The good promises of God; Either God doth you good, gives it into your hands, or saith he will do good, which is enough for faith to stay and rest your hearts upon.

7. They are living and lasting fountains; Wells still full of waters; and stars still full of ligh; Could you •• ve a thousand years, or to thousands of generations, there would be no diminution in the promises; They are as full of mercy as ever, and as sure a word of truth as ever; though your wants be more or less, higher or lower, it is all one; One promise hath as much mercy in it as will last as long as you shall live; and another promise hath as much grace, and another hath as much comfort as will serve you all your days; and the same abundance still remains for all the people of God, as long as the world lasts.

8. They are the quickest dispensations. God comes not off slowly, or hardly, or unwillingly, or sparingly, in the performance of them. Op • n thy mouth wide and I will fill it, Psal. 81. 10. Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, Psal. 50. 15. Before they call I will answer, and whiles they are yet speaking I will hear, Isa. 65. 24. One prayer many times melts these clouds; as in Jacob's case, one act of faith many times gets your supplies. As in Jehosaphats case, when you look by faith upon the promises, you are then trading with the good and kind God, by your mighty Advocate Jesus Christ, In whom all the promises of God are Yea and Amen.

9. They are seasonable helps. The promises do contain our best good; and They do always dispense it in the best time. Jer. 5. 29. Let us fear the Lord our God, who giveth rain, both the former and the latter in his season; He reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest; Thus doth God with his promises unto his people; they shall be made good in their season; they are as the appointed weeks of the harvest; Every week is not a harvest week; when the corn is ripe, then is that time come to put in the sickle, and to reap with joy. As yet thou hast not such a mercy, such an help, such a desired and promised blessing; the reason is because it is not the season for the rain to fall; it is not yet the week of thy harvest: therefore still seek, and trust, and wait; for there is an appointed week for the harvest, and then thou shalt reap all the good which thy God hath promised, and which thy soul hath desired.

10. They are sufficient inducements and encouragements to pray unto God, and to depend upon God. May you not come to your God who is good in himself, and who hath promised to do you good? May you not trust him who is faithful in all his promises? 2 Sam. 7. 28. O Lord God, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant. Ver. 29. Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue forever before thee; for thou O Lord God, hast spoken it, and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed forever. So David; The promises as they are God's assurances to help us, so they are secret inducements to us to depend upon his help.

11. They are powerful pleas; The best and the strongest Arguments to plead with God. Your worthiness is no argument to use with God; your necessity is an argument to move him (we know not what to do, said Jehoshaphat, &c.) But God's promises are your best and strongest pleas; Do me good, O Lord, though I deserve it not; but yet do me good, because thou hast promised to do me good; Thou saydst I will surely do thee good, said Jacob, Gen. 32. 12. Remember thy word upon which thou hast caused thy servant to hope, said David, Psalm 119. 49. Remember, break not thy Covenant with us, said the Church, Jer. 14. 21.

12. They are satisfying answers. To all our fears, to all our thoughts, to all difficulties, to all improbabilities, to all silences, to all contrary times, to all delays, yet God hath promised to hear, and help, and do me good. Isa. 50. 10. He that sits in darkness, and feeth no light, let him trust on the Name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Psal. 73. 26. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever. Though you do not know when God will do you good; though you do not know what way God hath to do you good; though you see no pro • ability in all the world for your good; though you see everything still contrary to your good; yet if God hath promised you any needful good, it shall certainly fall into your possession, even because God hath promised it; He alone is sufficient to make all good to be yours, whatsoever he hath promised unto you.

SECT. XII.

7. A seventh comfort for you who have God to be your God in Covenant, is this, Then all the immunities and privileges annexed to the Covenant of grace, for the people of that Covenant, they are yours.

I will speak something unto both these this day, that you who are the people of God, may see more of your happiness in having God to be your God.

1. The immunities or liberties by the Covenant of grace for such as are in Covenant.

They have ten excellent and most comfortable liberties by it.

1. They have immunity from the revenging wrath of God. There is (you know) Ira patris, & ira judicis:

A paternal anger or wrath; from this they are not free; In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer, Isa. 54. 8.

A judicial anger or wrath, which consists in two things. 1. In a resolution, by no means to clear the wicked, to acquit, to pass by offenses, to be pacified. 2. In a pouring forth the vials of his just vengeance upon transgressors, according to the demerits of their sins and wickednesses; There is a cup in the hand of the Lord, and the wine is red, it is full of mixture, and he poureth out of the same, but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them, Psal. 75. 8. This judicial wrath of God, it is expressed against sinners partly in this life, in the dreadful terrors of conscience, and in the dreadful destruction of ungodly men who are consumed by the wrath of God, as the dry stubble is by the flaming and devouring fire; and partly in the life to come, which is called God's reserved wrath, and his prepared wrath, and the day of wrath, Rom. 2. 5. Nahum 1. 2. He reserveth wrath for his enemies. Matth. 25. 41. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels.

From this judicial wrath of God (whither present or future) are all the people in Covenant with God, freed and delivered by Christ who is their Atonement, Rom. 5. 10, 11. Propitiati • n, 1 John 2. 1. Rom. 5. 9. Much more being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him, 1 Thes. 1. 10. Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 Thes. 5. 9. God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now this our immunity is a singular comfort unto us. It is a great matter to be delivered from the wrath of man; what is it then to be freed from the wrath of God! You may observe in others, how dreadful the expectation of future wrath is unto sinners, and how unsupportable the burden of it is unto their consciences; how it turns all their delights into gall and wormwood; how it shakes the foundations of their souls, and fills them with restless amazements, and horrors, and despairs; And you read of that hell of his wrath on them in hell, which makes the damned to gnash their teeth, to cry out and roar, to curse, and blaspheme, which they cannot endure, and which they cannot escape.

But you who are the people of his Covenant, as you shall never fall under the power of that future wrath of God, so you shall never taste one drop of God's judicial revenging wrath any one moment of your present life; whatsoever your troubles, and crosses, and sadnesses may be, yet there is no judicial wrath in them; Christ hath fully drunk off the cup for you, and satisfied the justice of God, who by his blood is reconciled and well-pleased with you.

2. They have immunity from the dominion of sin; Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are under grace, Rom. 6. 14. Here you see expressly, that there is a freedom from the dominion of sin, even upon this account, that we are under the Covenant of grace. Though you be not totally freed from the inhabitation of sin (for sin doth dwell in us, whiles we dwell on earth) and though you be not totally freed from the rebellion of sin (for peccatum hostis est quamdiu est, The flesh lust • h against the spirit, Gal. 5. 17. and there is a law in our members, warring against the law of our minds, Rom. 7. 23. yet you are totally freed from the dominion of sin, which consists in the effectual Rule, Command, and Sovereign strength of sin, and a free, and full, and willing subjection or obedience unto the Law and authority of sin; and verily this freedom or deliverance, is a wonderful mercy and happiness unto the people of God whither you consider,

1. The great and utmost distance twixt you and God.

2. The basen • sse of servitude, in which everyone lives, over whom sin hath dominion; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same he is brought in bondage, 2 Pet. 2. 19. You were but very slaves to your lusts, and to the devil, whiles sin did rule over you.

3. The height of enmity. As you were the basest of slaves, so you were the worst of enemies; living not only as aliens without God, but as desperate enemies, opposing and fighting against God.

4. The superfluity of naughtiness (a full contrariety) your whole hearts, and your whole lives, were nothing else but a constant dishonor unto God, and contradiction to his Will and Glory.

5. The certainty of destruction which would infallibly have attended you, had not the mercy and grace of God rescued and delivered you; I say, certain destruction to your souls; as there is a certain destruction to the life of our bodies, if we fall into the sea and lie under it.

6. The sweet and immediate communion 'twixt the deliverance from the dominion of sin, and admission to the Kingdom of Christ: It is a translation from death to life. The Apostle joins these together in Colos. 5. 13. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.

3. They have immunity or freedom from the damnation meritoriously depending upon the guilt of sin. As salvation depends upon the merits of Christ, so doth damnation depend on the merit of sin. There is so much merit in sin, as to render us obnoxious, not only to temporal destruction, but also to eternal destruction; for the wages of sin is death, even that death which stands in opposition to eternal life, Rom. 6. 23.

But from the effectual redundancy of this damnation upon your persons, you are everyone freed who are in Covenant with God; For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8. 1. And whosoever believeth in him, shall not perish, but have eternal life, John 3. 15. And the ground of this your immunity from the damnation due unto you for your sins, is the satisfaction which Christ hath made for your sins unto the justice of God; and thereupon the obtaining of riches of mercy from your God, who (according to his Covenant with you) blots out, and forgives all your sins, and never remembers them anymore.

For this is a sure truth, that remission of sins, and actual damnation for sins, are incompatible, or inconsistent. Now whether this be any cause of comfort that you and your sins are parted, and that you and hell are forever separated, I leave it to any one of you to judge: for mine own part, I do look upon four things as very great mercies. 1. That I am delivered from the power of sin. 2. That I enjoy the pardon of sin. 3. That I shall never be damned for sin. 4. That I shall be saved, notwithstanding all my sins.

4. They have immunity or freedom from justification by the Law, from all legal trials for life: Although you are not freed from the Law as it is a rule for life, yet you are freed from the Law as it is a Covenant of life; although you are not freed from the Law as it is the image of the good and holy will of God, yet because you are under the Covenant of grace, you are freed from the Law as it is a reason of salvation and justification. The Covenant of grace takes you off from that Court and that Bar which pronounceth life upon your own good works; and pronounceth death upon your own evil works; Rom. 3. 28. We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the Law. Gal. 3. 11. No man is justified by the Law in the sight of God, for the just shall live by faith. As the Law calls for perfect and personal righteousness of our own; so the Law will not justify you, it will not give life unto you, unless it finds that righteousness in you; you live not, if you be not perfectly righteous; absolution is pronounced upon your own perfect innocence, and condemnation is pronounced upon any defect or breach: And verily upon this account, no man living can or shall be justified; therefore here is comfort, that being in Christ, and in this Covenant of grace, ye are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses; See the Apostle, Acts 13. 39. Your life doth not lie now in your own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ; nor doth it depend upon your own works, but upon the obedience of Christ. That expression of Luther is an excellent expression, Christus solus me justificat contra mea mala opera, & sine operibus meis bonis. Though my works have been very good, yet not those, but Christ doth justify me; and though my works have been very ill, yet the righteousness of Christ can and will justify me; my evil works shall not damn me, and my good works cannot acquit me; it is Christ, it is Christ, and not the Law which justifies me.

5. They have immunity or liberty from the rigor of the Law: The Law in the rigor of it exacts of us a most absolute obedience, a most exquisite and full obedience, it will not abate us the least grain or scruple, if it be not every way adequate, (for matter, and manner, and measure) your obedience will not pass, nor will it be accepted according to the rigor of the Law; Cursed is everyone who doth not continue in everything that is written to do it. But when once you are under the Covenant of grace, when once God is your God, and you are his people, neither you nor your services are judged by the exactness of your services, but by the sincerity of your hearts: Though much be wanting which the Law prescribes, yet if that be present, which your merciful God and Father delights in, viz. uprightness of Spirit, your sighs and groans, and tears, and desires shall pass and be accepted instead of more full and ample performances, 2 Cor. 8. 12. If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. Mal. 3. 17. I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Psal. 51. 17. A broken and a contrite heart O God thou wilt not despise. Zach. 4. 10. Who hath despised the day of small things?

6. They have immunity from the terror or coercive power of the Law: Namely, from obeying the commands of it upon the mere principles of slavish fear of the threatenings annexed unto the breach of the Law. You do now obey the Law, not as slaves, but as sons; not out of fear of wrath, but out of love to your Father. That Spirit of bondage, (Rom. 8. 15.) and that spirit of fear, (2 Tim. 1. 7.) is removed, and a spirit of love comes in the room thereof. Though there were no rewards to allure, and though there were no severe threats to terrify you, yet you would serve your God with willing minds, and with willing hearts, 2 Chron. 28. 9. Psal. 110. 3. There is such a heavenly suitableness and superconnaturalnesse 'twixt the Law of your God and your hearts, that it is your delight to meditate in it, and to walk up unto it in all things; there is no constraint on you but the love of your good God.

7. They have immunity from the curse of the Law: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law, being made a curse for us, Gal. 3. 13. Indeed afflictions, and fatherly chastisements, or corrections, may befall the people of God in this life, (whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth, Heb. 12. 6.) but no curses befall them. Though the cup be bitter, yet there is no poison in it; though it be a cross, yet it is not a curse; their wounds are healing wounds, and their afflictions are instructions, and their losses are their gains; for nothing comes as a curse which doth us good.

8. They have immunity from the Kingdom and power of darkness: You are no longer under the Prince of the power of the Air, the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience, Ephes. 2. 2. The Devil is dispossessed, and cast down, and cast out; he is still your enemy, but he shall never be your Lord more; he may tempt you and disquiet you, but command and rule over you he shall never do. Though the Devil be very busy and active with you, yet he shall never regain possession, never con • uer your graces, never part you and your God, never hinder you of your inheritance.

9. They have immunity from death; there is the first death, and the second death; or there is a three-fold death; there is the death of the soul, and the death of the body, and the death of soul and body. 1. Spiritual death, that is, the death of the soul. 2. Corporal death, that is, the death of the body. 3. Eternal death, that is, the death of soul and body. Now all the people of God are freed from spiritual death by the grace of Christ, and from eternal dea • h by the blood of Christ, and from corporal death, though not absolutely or simply, yet respectively, so far forth as sin hath made it dreadful, and our enemy, and prejudicial to us; Though you must die, yet your death is but your sleep, and is but your strait passage into life: The death of death is removed from you by the death of Christ. Vide Heb. 2. 15. 1 Cor. 15. 55, 56, 57. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the Law, but thanks be to God who hath given us the victory through our Lord J • sus Christ.

10. What can I say more? they have immunity from all evil in this life, and in the life to come; you are freed or delivered from an evil conscience, which never leaves accusing and condemn • ng; from this present evil world and the corruptions thereof, from every evil work and way, from evil men, from all the evil which remains for evil men in hell.

God in this Covenant secures you against all; why? what comforts are there in these things! and what confidence! and what encouragements! and what support unto your souls! Why do you fear so often? and why are your hearts troubled? Surely, you do not know yourselves to be the people of God, or else you do not fully know the liberties and immunities of the people of God.

Sometimes you fear the heavy wrath of God; but why do you so? He is your God and your Father, and full of compassions and loving kindnesses; he will not deal with you as a revenging Judge, but as a loving and merciful Father; he is at peace with you, and reconciled unto you: Sometimes you fear the damnation and curse belonging unto sin; But why do you so? Christ hath died and satisfied for your sins, and he was made a curse for you, and there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ. Sometimes you fear because of the powerful motions and conflicts, and rebellions of sin in your hearts: but why do you so? seeing that sin shall not have dominion over you, and Christ in you is daily mortifying and destroying the body of sin; neither shall any Lord reign in you, but your Savior who died for you.

Sometimes you fear because of the imperfection of your graces; but why do you so? It is not your weakness or want of holiness, but Christ's perfect righteousness which is imputed unto you for life, and for justification.

Sometimes you fear because of the weakness of your obediential services and performances; but why do you so? your God in Covenant works all his works in you, and he owns your persons, and will accept the weakest offerings of an upright heart in and for Christ.

Sometimes you fear because of the strong temptations of Satan; but why do you so? grace sufficient shall be given unto you, and your God will shortly bruise Satan under your feet.

Sometimes you fear men because of their malice and power; and why do you so? your God will restrain the rage of man, and frustrate the counsels of the Heathen, and break the arms of the ungodly, and knows how to deliver you.

Sometimes you fear to die; but why are you afraid of death? which is but the last Style to go over, and then you are at your Fathers house; death to you is but an end of your sins and miseries, and only a quick passage into your eternal happiness.

Secondly, The privileges which you enjoy by being under the Covenant of grace, by having God to be your God in Covenant.

There are divers rights and possessions, and liberties, and privileges which you do enjoy, and none but you who are the people of God, and have him to be your God: And I will propound these

1. In the general: Where be you pleased to take notice of five things.

1. Whatsoever privileges believers have, those are yours who are the people of God: The privileges of faith are yours; all that faith can pretend unto from a right in Christ, and a title by Christ as Mediator, in respect of suffering, of satisfying, of purchasing, of victorious conquest, of interceding, they are all of them yours; whatsoever advantage a soul may get by Christ, and whatsoever advantage Christ is to a believing soul, that is yours.

2. Whatsoever privileges belong to the friends of God, they do belong unto you: All the people of God are styled the friends of God, James • . 23. and the friends of Christ, John 15. 14, 15. Cant. 5. 1. Friends (as friends) have free access, courteous welcome and entertainment, liberty of speaking, familiarity of converse, delightful communion, confident imparting and openings of their hearts one to another, cheerful counsel, and helps of one another; th • se in a spiritual way do you enjoy with your God, and from your God, who because you are the people of God, are therefore the friends of God.

3. Whatsoever privileges do belong to the sons and children of God, these also do belong to you; for you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, Gal. 3. 26. I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, 2 Cor. 6. 18. You are the children of the Lord your God, Deut. 14. 1. Children have the privileges of nearness, of residence in their fathers house, of dependence on their father, of presence, of confidence, &c.

4. Whatsoever are the privileges of the Kingdom of God, those are yours who are the people of God. It is a Kingdom of righteousness, of peace, of joy, of safety, of blessing, of honor, of immortality, &c.

5. Whatsoever are the privileges of the heirs of this Kingdom, those also do belong to you. Forasmuch as if you be children, you are then 〈◊〉 , Rom. 8. 17. All the Charter and conveyances, and assurances, and hopes, and at length possessions of the heavenly inheritance are yours.

2. In special, you have twelve excellent privileges, which I will touch upon a little.

1. You have liberty of appeal, and that appeal is accepted and ratified; you have the liberty to appeal

• 1. From the Judgment-seat, to the Mercy-seat.
• 2. From the merits of sin to the merits of Christ.
• 3. From a condemning conscience to an acquitting God.
• 4. From the Law to the Gospel.
• 5. From your own unworthiness to Christ's righteousness.
• 6. From your own feeling unto God's promises.

When you see yourselves cast at the bar of justice, you may decline the sentence by flying unto the Throne of mercy; O Lord, justice condemns me, but let mercy succor and save me; when your hearts are overwhelmed in the apprehension and consideration of your many sins, and the great guilt of them, you may then appeal to the infinitely precious and surpassing merits of Christ; wh • re sin abounded, grace did much more abound; and as sin hath reigned unto death, even so doth grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord, Rom. 5. 20, 21. When your conscience condemns you for sins past, then may you appeal unto your God for mercy to pardon you: God be merciful unto me a sinner, saith the Publican. Pardon my sin O Lord, for it is great, saith David.

When the Law indites and pursues you as guilty, then may you appeal to the Gospel as the Sanctuary to receive and secure your distressed souls; when your hearts fail you because of your own unworthiness, then may you appeal to the righteousness of Christ, and so be justified in the sight of God.

When you feel yourselves (as to your own sense) utterly destitute, left, lost, forsaken, then may you appeal to the ptomises of God, and there find yourselves still owned and loved, and plentifully and graciously assured.

2. You have this privilege, that all your communions with God are by a Media • or, and Advocate, and Intercessor: Or you pray not in your own names, but in the Name of your Christ and Mediator; and you plead not in your own names, but in the Name of your Christ; and you speed not in your own name, but in the Name of your Christ; nay, you believe and hope not in your own names, but in the Name of Christ.

There are two sad things for any man: 1. To be left alone unto himself, so as to have no part in Christ. 2. To go alone in his approaches to God without a Christ to plead for him, to have no Christ to own him, to step in for him, to undertake for him. But this is your privilege, and this is your comfort who are the people of God, that you never deal with your God but by a Mediator; when you appear before your God, Jesus Christ appears with you, and he appears for you; when you do invocare, then he doth advocare; when you put up your petitions, then doth he make intercession; he is your Advocate with the Father, and he ever lives to make intercession for you.

3. You have this privilege, that you trade altogether at the mercy-seat, and at the Throne of grace: God deals with you in no other Court but that of mercy, and answers you from no other Throne but that of grace, and you deal with God at that Seat and that Throne only: When you have any sins to be pardoned, you may go to your merciful God, and to your gracious God, and your merciful God will pardon them, and your gracious God will freely pardon them: When you would have any kind of good and help, you may go to your good and kind God, and he will give it; and to your gracious God, and he will freely give it.

4. You have this privilege, that you may go to your God when you will: There is no space of time whatsoever but the door is open to you, and your God is at leisure to speak with you. You have liberty of access, and that liberty is never restrained; let your occasions be never so urgent, never so many, you may freely speak with your Father; yea, though there be ten thousand Petitioners before him, yet you may put in your request, and shall be owned, and heard.

5. You have this privilege, that you may not only come into the presence of your God, but you may with confidence urge him, and importune him, and wrestle with him, and still renew and reinforce your requests; you may take hold of him, and challenge, and expostulate with him, and stay him, and not let him alone, nor let him go until he blesseth you: And so large allowance of blessedness is granted unto you, that you may (in some sort) command God; it is the Highest Expression that you read of, Isaiah 45. 11.

6. You have this privilege, by having God to be your God, and by being his people, that you may enter in and survey all the rich treasures and jewels of heaven; and when you have so done, you may lay claim unto them all, and say, O Lord, all these are mine by thy promise, and by my right in Christ. Thou art mine, and thy mercy is mine, and thy Christ is mine, and thy grace is mine, and that glory is mine; all this is the purchase of Christ, and all this is mine.

7. You have this privilege also, that all the seals of the Covenant of grace are restrained unto yourselves alone: As the Covenant is none but yours, and with you, so the seals of the Covenant are none but yours, and unto you only: The seals of the Covenant are to confirm you, and to assure you, and to revive and comfort you, and to establish you; there is not any ungodly person on the earth who hath right unto the seals of the Covenant, and the reason is because he hath no interest in the Covenant itself; you only are the people of the Covenant, and therefore you only have right to the seals of the Covenant.

8. You have this privilege, that you may expect help from your God, for all the works which you owe to God: You may go to him for grace, for strength, for sufficiency to work in you both to will and to do; both to believe and to suffer, Phil. 2. 13. and chap. 1. 29. Give thy strength unto thy servant, Psal. 86. 16. He will give s • rength unto his people, Psal. 29. 11. God's promises are joined with his commands; this thou wouldest have me to do, O Lord give thy Spirit unto me, and cause me to do it.

9. You have this privilege, that your all is in another; Your life stands in the life of another; and your righteousness in the righteousness of another; and your satisfying in the satisfaction of another; and your defense in the death of another; and your title and claim in the obedience and purchase, and right of another, and your acceptance in another; your life lies in the life of Christ; and your righteousness is the righteousness of Christ, and your satisfying is the satisfaction of Christ, and your defense and answer to all indictments and accusations is the death of Christ, and your claim and title is the obedience and purchase of Christ; your power is in the power of Christ, and your acceptance is in Christ. This is a privilege indeed, that you are wholly made up in another, and by another; that you shall never be found in your own righteousness, but only in the righteousness of Christ, and shall never be tried by your own righteousness, but by the righteousness of Christ, &c.

10. You have this privilege, that you live upon free cost all your days: The Covenant of God will find and provide enough for you; you never need to load yourselves with anxious thought or care; For your God and Father careth for you; all your burdens, and all your cares are taken off; Be careful for nothing, cast all your care on him, for he careth for you. He layeth up for his children, and he lays out upon his children; his Covenant will find food for your bellies, and raiment for your backs, and mercy and salvation for your souls, &c.

11. You have this privilege, that all the gracious and sweet manifestations of heaven are unto you only: None know the Father but you, none taste of the loving kindness of God but you, none sup with Christ but you, none partake of the joys and comforts of the Holy Ghost but you, none have that hope and assurance of glory but you, none eat of the Manna but you who have a new name given unto you; heavenly banquets for the soul are provided only for you.

12. You have this privilege, that the very Angels of God are ministering Spirits sent forth to minister for you who shall be heirs of salvation, Heb. 1. 14. They pitch their tenth, and encamp round about them that fear God, Psal. 34. 7. This seems an high privilege, and yet you have an higher than this; For as the Mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth, even for • ver, Psal. 125. 2.

13. What can I say more? Is this any privilege that whilst you live, you may live upon your God and Father, and when you die, you shall go to 〈◊〉 God and Father? This also is yours who have God to be your God in Coven ••• ; God will be your God in life, and God will be your God in death, and God will be your God after death; whiles you live he is yours, and with you; and when you die, he is yours, and you shall be with him reigning in glory forever and ever, and ever.

Thus have you heard a few things of your happiness in respect of your Immunities and Privileges, by having God to be your God in Covenant. I will 〈◊〉 comfort more unto you, and then put an end to this 〈◊〉 .

SECT. XIII.

THere is yet one comfort more from this that God is your God, which is this, If God be your God, then all is yours: As he said Christ •• 〈◊〉 , & omnia, Christ is mine, and all is mine; so Deus men's, & omnia 〈◊〉 ▪ If God be your God, then heaven and earth are yours; whatsoever there is in all the world that may do you good, it shall be yours: The Apostle expressly delivers as much in 1 Cor. • . • 1. All things are yours. Ver. 22. Whether Paul or 〈◊〉 , or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things •• come, 〈…〉 yours. He doth not in these expressions intend that Christians have a civil, and common interest in all men's earthly possessions, but this is it which he intend, viz. That God ordains all things for the good of his people, and makes th • m serviceable thereunto. All those choice gifts which he bestows on Ministers, 〈◊〉 Apostles or others they are bestowed on them for the good of his Church; And all the things of the world, whatsoever good they may afford, they are to let out the same for the good and comfort of the people of God; and all the conditions and states of things are for their good, life shall do them good, and d •• th shall be for their good, and all the vicissitude of things are for their good; the present postute of things, and the future state of things, (whether of prosperity or adversity) all occurrences whatsoever are for their good, Rom. 8. •• . We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to th •• that are called according to his purpose: As if you consider ungodly and wicked men, (who are none of the people of God) there is nothing in all the world that doth them good: The Ordinances of Christ (by reason of the unbelief of their hearts) do them no good; they are the favor of death unto d •• th • nto them, and not the savor of life 〈◊〉 life; the blessings of God do th • m no good, they prove curses unto them, 〈◊〉 table is a s ••• e unto them, and their rich •• 〈◊〉 thorns 〈◊〉 them, and their prosperity is a ruin unto them; the judgments of God do them no good, they learn not righteousness by them, they harden their hearts under them, and grow more obstinately wicked; Wherefore should ye be smitten anymore? ye revolt more and more: So on the contr • ry, all the dispensations of God, (either of the world, or in the world) they are for good to the people of God.

Outward mercies are blessings to them; they eat and drink, and rejoice, and praise and bless the Lord their God. Outward afflictions are mercies to them, they do them good; It is good for me that I have been afflicted, said David, Psal. 119. 71. By these things men live, saith Hezekiah; he chastiseth us for our profit or good, saith the Apostle, Heb. 12. 10. Wants and enjoyments, honors and dishonors, sickness and health, smiles and frowns, life and death, all doth them good.

There are four things, which I beseech you who are the people of God to remember.

1. All the good in the World is in the Fathers hands; it is the Fathers for possession, (he is the possessor of Heaven and Earth; Gen. 14. 22.) and for Dominion, The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof, Psal. 24. 1. Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all, and in thy hand is power and might, and in thy hand it is to wake great, and to give strength unto all, 1 Chron. 29. 12.

2. When God makes a Covenant with you, he doth also take in all the creatures, and lays a bond of special command upon them to be serviceable to your good: he doth not leave them out, but covenants with them to do you good: This is (I confess) a strange expression that God should make a Covenant with other creatures for the good of service unto his own people; and yet this you may expressly read in Hos. 2. 18. In that day will I make a Covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground; and I will break the bow, and the sword, and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. ver. 19. And I will betroth thee unto me, forever. ver. 21. And I will hear, saith the Lord, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth. ver. 22. And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil, and they shall hear Jezreel.

There are two choice things observable in these words. 1. One is, that God makes a Covenant with his people to bring them into a near and sweet relation unto himself, this you find (in verse 19.) I will betroth thee unto me forever. 2. A second is, That God makes a Covenant for his people, and that is twofold.

1. For their security, to secure them against all danger and evil: and this you find (in verse 18.) I will make a Covenant for them with the beasts of the field; &c. No creature shall do them hurt, neither the beasts of the field, nor fowls of the air, nor the creeping things of the earth, nor no wicked enemies who bend the bow, and draw the sword, and prepare to the bottle; As when a Covenant is between Nation and Nation, all the people are thereby bound up from all acts of hostility and mischief; so the Lord by making a Covenant with the beasts and fowls, &c. he doth therein bind them up from being prejudicial to his people.

A second is for their prosperity: and this you may find (in verse 21. 22.) I will hear the heavent, and the heavens shall hear the earth, and the earth shall hear the •• rn, and the wine and the oil, and they shall hear Jezreel. As if all the creatures (when we are in covenant with God) were so many supplicants and Petitioners unto God, entreating of him that they might be used for a blessing unto us. The heavens do (as it were) beg of God that they may send down seasonable showers, and seasonable influences; and the earth doth (as it were) beg of God, that it may be made fruitful by those influences of heaven, &c. And God doth promise to hear everyone of them for Jezreel.

3. All the creatures are in the hand of the Father; and as all creatures are brought into the bond of the Covenant for you, so all the creatures of the world are in a subordination, and a necessary submission unto the will and pleasure of your God. If he saith to any of them Go, it goeth, or to any of them Come, and it cometh; your God hath an over-ruling Providence over them: all their power, and operations, and motions are at the sole will and command of him; they act as God will have them act, and when God will have them act, and for them for whom God will have them to act; and shall not all this be for you for your good who are the people of his Covenant, and the children of his love?

If all this cannot satisfy you, then know, that as God hath the command of all creature good and comforts, so he hath engaged himself unto you to settle that kind of good upon you. Though the earth, and the things of the earth, be not your only portion, and be not your best portion, yet it is a part of your portion, Psal. 37. 22. Such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth, verse 29. The righteous shall inherit the land: He will not suffer the righteous to want: he watches over you to do you good.

I do not know any one outward blessing, but God hath promised it to his people; length of days, and riches, and honor and peace, Prov. 3. 16, 17. Food, and raiment, and liberty, and safety, and friends, and children, the former, and the latter rain, &c. Josephs blessing from Jacob is their portion, Gen. 49. 25. The God of thy Father shall help thee, and the Almighty shall bless thee with the blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, with blessings of the breast, and of the womb. 1 Tim 4. 8. Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

And for Heaven itself, it is the Kingdom prepared for you, and an inheritance reserved for you.

I will say no more to you who are the people of God concerning your interests in these earthly things, but this;

1. You shall have the surest enjoyment of them: Bread shall be given unto you, and your waters shall be sure, Isa. 33. 16. The Lord will never leave you nor forsake you, Heb. 13. 5.

2. You shall have the comfortablest enjoyment of them. The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it, Prov. 10. 22. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me besides the still waters, Psal. 23. 2. A little that the righteous hath, is better than the riches of many wicked, Psal. 37 16.

Your outward mercies are all of them sweet drops distilled out of the love, and out of the Covenant of your God; And are enjoyed together with the apprehension of God reconciled to you in Christ, and with peace in conscience, and joy in the holy Ghost.

3. You have the easiest enjoyment of them. They come in at a more easy rate: the enjoyments of wicked men do cost them dear; many times they cost them their souls, and at all times they cost them painful drudgings and vexing cares: but the people of God enjoy upon praying terms, and believing terms, and safe terms.

4. You have the longest enjoyment of them: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, Psal. 23. 6. Hearken unto me O house of Jacob, &c. which are born by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: and even to your old age I am he, and even to hoary hairs I will carry you, Isa. 46. 3. 4.

SECT. XIV.

UNto this I add a Use of instruction, which respecteth the people of God in Covenant.

The instructions for them who are the people of God, and do enjoy him for their God in Covenant.

1. You cannot do less than thankfully to bless your God for bringing of you into Covenant with himself: This is such exceeding grace, and exceeding mercy, and exceeding love, and exceeding favor, and exceeding honor, and exceeding happiness, it cannot be but your souls must bless him for this blessing. If one should meet with a poor man, and tell him I have set my love upon you, and I will settle upon you such a Lordship worth so many thousands a year; nay, and I will settle such a Manor which hath all sorts of accommodations upon you, which is worth many thousands more, &c. O how our hearts would melt at this kindness, and this bounty. Met we ever with such a friend in all our life, we would speak of him, and praise him, &c. The Lord hath chosen you for his people, he hath set his love upon you, he is entered into Covenant with you, and is become your God: he hath bestowed himself upon you, and engaged all his glorious Attributes unto you, and given his Christ, and his Spirit unto you, and settled grace and glory upon you, and all his promises: and all Spiritual privileges, and the good of Heaven and Earth; surely your souls must needs adore this riches of grace, it cannot be but you must be enlarged with blessings and praises, &c.

2. Have ye such a God to be your God in Covenant? Then make use of your God, and go unto him in all your occasions, in all your wants, in all your troubles, and straits, Psal. 63. 1. O God thou art my God, early will I seek thee. Beloved, God's relation unto you, and your propriety in him, are choice grounds, and strong engagements for prayers, and for confidence; you find the Saints improving their interest in God both these ways.

For Prayers, Psal. 13. 3. Consider and hear me, O Lord my God, Psal. 109. 26. Help me, O Lord my God.

For confidence that their prayers shall have success, and be answered, Mich. 7. 7. I will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

There are but two things on which you can possibly fix, and fasten any scruple, or doubt in respect of God: one is, whether he be able to help you: the other is, whether he be willing so to do: and as to both these your hearts may easily be satisfied. For

Because he is a God, therefore he is able to do you any good. And because he is your God, therefore he is certainly willing, and most • eady to do you any good. There are four things which (if you did seriously consider of them) would be of special help unto you, against your fears, and would streng then your hearts in all your approaches unto God.

1. That God's relation unto you, as your God, is a relation of the dearest love, and kindness, and grace, and mercy, and peace, and bowels of compassion.

2. That God's Covenanting with you to be a God unto you, it is the highest engagement which God can lay upon himself, and the fullest assurance which he can give unto you, that he will be your God. His Covenant engagement unto you hath all his glory and Attributes pawned in it, and the highest ratification, even his Oath, and the blood of Christ to seal it.

3. That as far as your God stands engaged unto you in his Covenant, so far may you go unto him, and confidently rest upon him, that he will do you good; be your wants never so many, yet if your God hath undertaken the supply of them, you may be confident.

4. That so long as God remains and continues to be your God; so long may you (who are his people) draw near unto him, and beseech him, and be confident of all the good for which he stands engaged unto you in his Covenant. He remains and continues to be your God forever and ever, and therefore all your days may you go to him and expect good, and help from him.

3. Is it such an exceeding and complete happiness to have God to be our God in Covenant? Then the people of God should encourage themselves in the Lord their God, and make up themselves in their Covenant interest against all the discouragements which they meet with in the world. There are the Creature interests, and there are the Covenant interests; you are many times deprived of the former. The world loves his own, and the world hates you, and deals hardly and deceitfully with you. The world slights, and contemns, and reproaches, and withdraws, and opposes, and troubles you, and persecutes you! Now in such cases you should not suffer discouragements to sink and tear your hearts: you should remember

1. That you are not of the world, but are chosen out of the world.

2. That you have a Covenant interest (God is your God in Covenant) and by virtue of that Covenant interest, you shall find that in your God, which is denied you in the world: As the Church spake, Isa. 63. 16. Doubtless, thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledget us not. Thou, O Lord art our Father, our Redeemer, &c. You shall find it better in your God, then it can ever be found in the world: You cannot find love, and kindness, and favor, and good dealing, and faithfulness, and help from the world; O but you shall find at that time love, and kindness, and favor, and tender dealing, and faithfulness, and help from your God. Though men will not love you, yet your God will love you; though men will curse you, yet God will bless you; though men forsake you, yet your God will help you; Yea and you shall find the love of your God in Covenant, and his countenance, and his presence, and his gooness a thousand thousand times more sweet, and refreshing, and comforting, then all the comforts could be to you, which are denied unto you by the weak Creature.

O Christians! Be not so dijected upon Creature with-drawments, and upon Creature failings, or upon Creature oppositions: there is enough in your God, and there is better in your God; There is fullness in him, and a living fullness: you have all, and abound by enjoying God to be your God. Though you have not the Candle, yet you have the Sun: though not the dirty puddles, yet you have streams and fountains. Reckon the enjoyment of God for your God, reckon this as something reckon on it as your best and fullest good. Assuredly it is enough to make up your happiness, and that which is enough to make you happy. It is enough to countervail all other things which can never make you happy.

4. Give diligence to make out unto your souls this Covenant relation twixt God and you; as you have a real interest in God, so rest not until you do attain unto a personal evidence that God is your God, and that you are his people: until you can say as the Church in Isa. 64. 8. But now, O Lord, thou art our Father. verse 9. Behold, see we beseech thee, we are all thy people.

Two things I would briefly speak concerning this duty.

1. You may attain unto this personal evidence, and certainty of knowledge; That God is your God, and that you are his people for as much as

1. You have expreesse promises for this in Zach. 13. 9. They shall call upon my Name, and I will hear them, I will say It is my people, and they shall say, The Lord is my God. So Ezek. 34. 30. Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel are my peaple, saith the Lord God.

2. Both the graces of the Spirit, and the testimony of the Spirit can make the Covenant relation evident unto you. The graces in you are the infallible characters that God is indeed your God, and that you are indeed his people. The Spirit of grace is given only unto the people of God, and unto everyone of the people of God; and besides that you have the testimony of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 15. Yea have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Gather. Verse 16. The Spirit itself be •• eth witness with our spirit, that we are the Children of God.

2. You should strive to attain unto this personal evidence of your relation: Next to your being in the Covenant, I do not know any one thing of that advantage unto you, as the knowledge (upon sure grounds) that God is your God in Covenant.

It is of singular advantage and benefit unto you.

1. For the settling of the heart. If this Covenant relation were known of you, you may say as David, Return unto thy rest, O my soul, Psal. 116. 7. Your souls cannot be settled by knowing what is happiness, but by knowing your propriety in happiness, whiles your propriety is unsettled, all is unsettled within you; and if that be obtained, all is peace, and at peace; I know that this God is my God.

2. For the Comfort and joy of your hearts: It is fruition joined with knowledge which is the Spring of all delight and comfort: You have heard the precious comforts which belong unto the people of God, who have God to be their God, and yet none of them have made comfort within your souls, because you are doubtful whether God be your God: it is certain you cannot taste the comforts, whiles you fear your title and interest: But if your interest were clear, your joy would be full: happiness known to be ours, is a necessary cause of joy. The Saints in glory have most joy, because they have the fullest knowledge of the enjoyment of their happiness.

3. For your confidence in approaching unto God, and in the application of the several promises of God, your ways to God would be always open and fair; in all your duties, and in all the Ordinances you might say I am now going to my God and Father to help me: and that promise is my portion, and this promise is my hope; They are all of them mine, for God himself is mine: He hath given them (everyone of them) unto me, (2 Pet. 1. 4.) That I might not fear, that I might have strong hope, and consolation, and encouragement. I will say no more unto you, but this, the knowledge of your Covenant-relation unto God, it is the life of your lives, and the life of your prayers, and the life of your confidences, and the life of your hope, and the life of your comforts, it is your Paradise, and your Heaven here on earth.

5. Maintain and justify your Covenant-relation (when once it is made manifest unto you) against all the suggestions of Satan, and against all the risings and oppositions of your own unbelief.

I here are four things especially which you should still maintain, and make good, for at them doth Satan most strike at.

1. The unchangeableness of the Covenant-relation: This God is our God forever and ever. He will be our Guide even unto death, Psal. 48. 14. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. You are many times under Spiritual s •• ences (God seems not to regard your prayers) and many times under Spiritual delays (God puts you off from day today) and many times under Spiritual desertions (God hides his face from you) and Satan in such cases puts it upon you to question and disown your Covenant-relation; If God were your God, it would not be thus.

But notwithstanding all these, or any other trials of yourselves, yet God still maintains his interest in you, and your relation to himself. God hath not cast away his people whom he foreknew, saith the Apostle, Rom. 11. 2. I am the Lord, I change not, Mal. 3. 6. I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house • of Jacob, and will look for him, Isa. 8. 17. But Zion said, the Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me; Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the Son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee! Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, thy walls are continually before me. So Hosea 2 19. I will betroth thee unto me forever, and Heb. 13. 5. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

2. The tenderness of your Covenant-relation. The tenderness of God's love unto you, and the tenderness of God's care over you; Do not suffer Satan to raise jealousies, and do not you nourish any jealousies about these; if you do so, you dishonor your God by them, and make your souls to serve him with bitterness; your God loves you with as tender love as ever Father loved his dearest child, Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? my bowels are troubled for him, Jer. 31. 20. His love is set upon you, Deut. 7. 7. And he doth rest in his love, Zeph. 3. 17. He loves you with an everlasting love, and therefore draws you with loving kindness, Jer. 31. 3. And your God hath a most tender care over you, as a man hath over his jewels, (which are his chiefest treasures) I will make up my jewels, Mal. 3. 17. and as a man hath over the apple of his eye; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye, Deut. 32. 10. And as an Eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreads abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings, verse 11. So the Lord, &c.

3. The goodness of the Covenant relation; that God still is, and will be good unto you, that he prepares of his goodness for, and he prepares mercy and truth for you, and lays up exceeding goodness for you, reserves it for you, and is never weary, nor will ever turn away from you from doing of you good.

4. The graciousness of your God in Covenant; that as at the first when he took you into the Covenant, this was the work of his own grace, so all along in the dispensations of the Covenant, the Lord still acts in a way of grace towards you always, and altogether upon free terms; he freely loved you, and he freely chose you, and he freely called you, and still he freely blesseth you, and doth good unto you, and upon gracious terms he deals with you all the days of your life, in all things for which you have to deal with him.

6. Walk and live like a people who have such a God to be your God in Covenant; as your relation is different from all other people's relation, so your conversation should be different from the conversation of all other people; as your condition is now higher than the condition of other people, (for God exalts you by making you to be his people, so the word