English Puritan & Reformed

Sermons Volume 2

Thomas Manton (1620-1677) · 1,222,777 words · 5435 min

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there he hath made himself most known. In Creation and Providence, we may read much of God, but in the Bible more; and chiefly his Word of Promise and Covenant, which is that Theater upon which his Mercy and Truth is discovered, which is the Representation wherein God delighteth. And again, the Covenant, as it is revealed in the Gospel, is a chief part of his Name, for his Name was secret, before the New-Testament-Dispensation was set afoot; Judge. 13.18. Why askest thou thus after my Name, seeing it is secret? There was little known of the Trinity, of the Son of God, the Incarnation of the Son of God, &c.

1. Point ; That one great Priviledg of the Gospel, is to know God by his right Name.

1. I shall show you how God's Name and Title hath been often changed and altered, because he would acquaint his People with his full Name by degrees. Exod. 6.3. I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the Name of God Almighty, but by my Name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. First, to Abraham, to distinguish him from Idols and false God's, El Shaddai ; then, Jehovah, as giving Being to his People, making good his Promises; after, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, as relating more to the Covenant; then, God that brought them out of the Land of Egypt, Exod. 20.2. then, God that brought them out of the Land of the North ; then, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ; before that, The Lord our Righteousness, Jer. 23.6. The Jewish Church knew little of the Doctrine of the Trinity, distinction of the Persons, quality of the Mediator. God proclaimed his Name; Exod. 34.6, 7. The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in Goodness and Truth, keeping Mercy for thousands, forgiving Iniquity, and Transgression, and Sin: but the way of Pardon was not then so fully discovered. Some Names God hath from Everlasting, as Eternal, Infinite; some relate to the present State, as Creator, Lord, God in Covenant, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

2. What the Gospel especially doth discover more of God.

1. The Distinction of the Persons in the Godhead. At the Baptism of Christ the whole Trinity was sensibly present; the Son in the Body, the Father in the Voice, and the Holy Ghost in the form of a Dove. This was the Mystery brought upon the Stage.

2. The Incarnation of Christ; 1 Tim. 3.16. God manifest in the Flesh. The World was acquainted with this great help to Piety. The Jews had a Temple; here is a Temple wherein the Godhead dwelleth bodily; Col. 2.9. For in him dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily.

3. The Attributes of God are more amply declared. Every Excellency of God hath its proper Theater, where it is seen. In the Gospel all are discovered, but chiefly Mercy, Justice, and Truth. His Power and his Wisdom are seen in the World, but more in the Gospel; the Heavens do not declare half so much of the Glory of God, as the Word and Doctrine which Christ brought out of the Father's Bosom; 1 Cor. 1.24. Christ the Wisdom of God, and the Power of God. There is Truth, 2 Cor. 1.20. For all the Promises of God in him are Yea, and in him Amen. The greatest Assurance of his Faithfulness was his sending Christ; that which we expect, is nothing so difficult to believe, as the Incarnation of the Son of God; his second coming is not so unlikely as his first; if he came to Suffer, and to Purchase, he will come to Reign. His Wisdom in joining God and Man together in the Person of Christ, Justice and Mercy together, Comfort and Duty together in the Covenant of Grace; two Natures, two Attributes; God loseth no Honor, Man wanteth no Encouragement. God showeth his Justice; Rom. 3.26. To declare, I say, at this time his Righteousness, that he might be Just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. While the Sacrifices continued, God only shown Patience and Forbearance. His Holiness and Hatred of Sin, by laying it on Christ, punishing it in Christ. His Wrath, the most dreadful sight of God's Wrath is upon Golgotha, God spared not his Son. But his Grace, that was on the top; Tit. 3.4. But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior towards Man appeared. This is the Attribute that beareth sway in the Gospel. Mercy is in Office ever since the Fall; there was not so much Kindness to Man discovered in Innocency; God did good to a good Man, there was no Mercy to Enemies then; there Man was made after God's Image, here God is made after our Image and Likeness. Mercy and Grace comes now to show itself to the World.

Use. Let us admire and study more the Name of God in the Gospel. The first Letter of Christ's Name is Wonderful. He is a Mystery that is worthy our Contemplation. The Angels have known more of God since Christ was revealed. Eph. 3.10. To the intent that now unto the Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places, might be known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God. Let it take up your Thoughts, set your Minds awork: Heb. 3.1. Wherefore; Holy Brethren, partakers of the Heavenly Calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession, Jesus Christ. There cannot be a more affective, humbling and Heart-changing Consideration.

2. Point ; That none can discover this Name of God but Christ, none Authoritatively, none perfectly.

1. None Authoritatively can fix his Name, by which he shall be known among the Creatures. The imposition of Names implieth Superiority, the less is named of the greater. Adam had this favor to name the Beasts, as having Authority over them. Gen. 2.19, 20. And out of the Ground the Lord formed every Beast of the Field, and every Fowl of the Air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and whatsoever Adam called every Living Creature, that was the Name thereof. And Adam gave Names to all Cattle, and to the Fowl of the Air, and to every Beast of the Field. Now God is over all, there is no higher to name him, therefore he nameth himself. Jesus Christ, who is the very Image of God, he cometh and declareth his Name. My Name is in him, Exod. 23.21. He is God, and therefore Authoritatively fixeth the Name of God, establisheth the Gospel as the Rule and Direction of the Church.

2. None can so perfectly discover him. Our Hearts are too narrow to conceive of God, and our Tongues too weak to express him. Prov. 30.4. What is his Name? and what is his Son's Name? if thou canst tell. Who knoweth his Pedigree exactly? Who knoweth his Being? Who hath been in his Bosom to discover him, so as Christ hath done? we must have a borrowed Light to see him.

Use 1. Sit down with this Revelation which Christ hath left in the Church, there is enough to instruct Faith, though not to satisfy Curiosity. In things not revealed, a simple Nescience is better than a bold Inquiry; there is enough for Service and Adoration. Let not Reason prescribe to Faith. He were not God, if he were not incomprehensible. Should Worms make their own Apprehension the measure of Divine Truth? It is not so, because I cannot understand it, by a Candle in the Night I cannot see it, therefore it is not. Some things are to be received from Divine Testimony, though we cannot fully conceive of them. Let us bless God for the Word, and take heed unto it, as to a Light shining in a dark Place. It is God's Mercy that Christ came from Heaven with a Commission to discover so much to us. It is a Ray of the Face of God in Christ. Here is God's Heart discovered to us, and our Hearts to ourselves.

Use 2. When you consult with the Gospel, make use of Christ. He is to discover his Father's Name; he taught the Gospel, not only on Earth, but in Heaven; I have declared thy Name, and will declare it. Non loquendum de Deo sine lumine. There is no Saving-knowledge of God from ourselves. Christ is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , the Interpreter of his Father's Mind. It is dangerous to set upon the Knowledge of the Mystery of the Gospel, in the strength of our own Gifts and Parts, to rest merely on the study of Books and Human Helps. The Gospel is God's Riddle, which none but himself can expound; beg the Spirit of Revelation, you cannot have a knowledge of it without a Revelation from Christ. We do not improve Christ's Prophetical Office so much as we should: we think he must pacify our Consciences, subdue our Affections; but we do not look after Knowledge, but think to get it by our own Industry.

3. Point ; Christ doth not convey all Knowledge, or the full notice of God's Name at once. The Knowledge that is originally in Christ, is not communicated to us but by degrees, that it may increase more. Like the good Housholder, that brought out the best at last. John 1.50. Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the Fig-tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. Partly, to keep up our Dependance and Respect, lest a Satiety grow upon us. When there is no more use of a thing, then we contemn it. Man is a Creature that is led by Hope, rather than by Memory. Still God keepeth the best till last, there is a perpetual use of Christ's Prophetical Office, that he may declare more. Partly, to conform us to himself, and to the Church. Christ increased in Wisdom and Stature, &c. Luke 2.40, 52. his Human Capacity was enlarged by degrees. The Church grew by degrees. There was a Non-age; then it was the Seed of the Woman ; afterwards, In thy Seed, &c. To Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then it was told what Tribe, The Scepter shall not depart from Judah, Gen. 49.10. afterwards of what Family, to David ; that a Virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a Son, and shall call his Name Immanuel, Isa. 7.14. At last, Behold the Lamb of God, John 1.29. Partly, that he might suit his Dispensations to our Capacity. God will not violate the Course of Nature. Our Life is hidden in Christ. You do not teach University-Learning to a Boy; Christ dealeth with us as we are capable, according to our receptivity. We are made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light, Col. 1.12.

Use 1. Comfort against present Defects. Tho you are ignorant of some Mysteries of Religion, do not despond, Christ doth not give you all at once. There is a double Comfort, God will accept our weakness, and we have an Head in whom is all Fulness. As our Life is hidden in Christ, so is our Wisdom hidden. In the Text you see Christ hath undertaken for our growth; we have a Teacher that will carry us on from one degree of knowledge to another. Therefore let us not be discouraged, though we know little, and our parts be weak and insufficient.

Use 2. It presseth us to grow in Knowledge. 2 Pet. 3.18. But grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There is more to be learned. Do not say, I know as much as they can tell me; we never know so much, but we may know more: there is no stint in Knowledge. If there be a measure of Grace beyond which we cannot pass, the Apostle would not say, Grow in Grace and Knowledge. Therefore be conscionable and careful in the use of Means: We must not rest in our low and imperfect Measures, nor always keep to our A, B, C. We must grow till we come to Heaven, and then there will be no more growing. A formal Man is where he was, (as a Picture) doth not increase in Stature. The way to keep what we have, is to increase our Store; Gifts that lie idle and unactive, suffer loss and decay; an active Nature, such as Man's, must either grow worse or better. It is an ill sign, when we are contented with a little: Light groweth to the perfection of Glory, our Reward is increased in the other World. Col. 3.16. Let the Word of God dwell in you richly in all Wisdom. It is the worst of Poverty, to have a poor Understanding. Grace is multiplied through Knowledge. 2 Pet. 1.2. Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you through the Knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.

4. Point ; Christ maketh one Mercy to be the Pledg of another. I have declared, and I will declare. He is never weary of well-doing; his Love is Infinite, and cannot be wearied, and his Grace is Infinite, and cannot be spent. Men waste by giving, their drop is soon spent; but the oftener we come to God, the more welcome we are. Our Faith is sooner tired than God • Bounty, for he doth not waste by giving. I AM, is God's Name; he is where he was at first, he is never at a loss; what he hath done, he can do, and will do: God's Providence is new and fresh every Morning. God is One, Gal. 3.21. he is always like himself. The Creatures soon spend their Allowance, but he is where he was at first. But it chiefly holdeth good in Spiritual Mercies; the least drop of Saving-Grace, is an Immortal Seed, it will grow, it will increase; it is a Spark that cannot be quenched; it is the Pledg of mere Grace. Therefore where Christ hath begun to work for thee in some sparks of Saving-Grace and Knowledge, he will go on in his Work; where he is the Alpha, he will be the Omega ; where he is an Author, he will be a Finisher. Heb. 12.2. Looking unto Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our Faith. The Apostle would have us confident of this: Phil. 1.6. Being confident of this very thing, that he that hath begun a good Work in you, will perform it until the Day of Christ. God's first Work is an Earnest, and God will not lose his Earnest, it is the very first Fruits of the Spirit, and he gives it as a Pledg of more Grace to follow.

That the Love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them. In the whole Verse, Christ showeth what he had done, what he would do, and with what Aim. His End was twofold, to make way for Application of God's Love, and his own Presence, as a Vital Principle in their Hearts; God's Love and Union with Himself.

I shall speak now of the first. Whence,

Observe; That one great End why God's Name is manifested in the Gospel, is, that his Love may be in us.

I. I shall inquire, What it is to have his Love in us. I shall give you several Observations upon the Phrase.

1. Observe; [ That the Love, &c.] He doth not say, that they may have Pardon, Sanctification, or Grace, or Comfort in them, but Love in them. Obs. God's Love in Christ, is the ground of all other Favors and Graces whatsoever: The Spring of all is Love, and the Conveyance is by Union, which containeth two Truths.

1. That all the Goodness that is in us, cometh from the Love of God in Christ. We are loved into Holiness, loved into Pardon, loved into Grace. Isa. 38.17. Thou hast in love to my Soul delivered it from the Pit of Corruption, or thou hast loved me from the Pit. He loved his Church, and sanctified it; Ephes. 5.25, 26. Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word. Rev. 1.5. To him that loved us, and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood. Our Holiness is not the Cause of Love, but the Fruit and Effect of it. There can be no other Reason for anything we receive. So, 2 Thess. 2.16. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God even our Father who hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting Consolation, and good Hope through Grace, &c. There was no other cause, there could be no other cause; not necessity of Nature, moral Rule, or any former Merit and Kindness. Not necessity of Nature, God hath always the same Love; Not bound by any external Law and Rule; Who can prescribe to him? Not by any Merit or Debt, because of the Eternity of his Love, antecedent to all Acts of the Creature. There should be no other Reason for the Honor and Majesty of God, and our Comfort.

2. That we have not only the Blessings and Benefits, but the Love itself. 1 John 3.1. Behold, what manner of Love is this that the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God! not shown us, but bestowed upon us. We have Blessings from his Heart, as well as his Hand; by his Blessings in us, his Love is in us; we may gather thence, that we are beloved of God, and no Benefit is to be valued, unless God's Love be in it. What good will the possession of all things do us, if we have not God himself? The Love is more to be valued than the Gift, whatever it be. God giveth this Love to none but special Friends, he giveth his outward Love to Enemies. He accepteth not our Duties, unless our Hearts be in them, and our Love be in them; so we should not be satisfied, till we can see Love in the Blessings that we receive from God, that they come from his Heart, as well as his Hand. There are Chastisements in Love, and Blessings given in Anger, salted with a Curse.

2. Observe; That the Love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them. He had before said, Thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me: now, let this Love be in them. The Love of God is sometimes said to be in Christ, sometimes in us. Sometimes in Christ; Rom. 8.39. 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. Sometimes in us, 1 John 4.9. In this was manifested the Love of Christ towards us, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World, that we might live through him. We are the Objects, and Christ is the Ground. To make it sure, it is in Christ; and to make it sweet and comfortable, it is in us. God doth not love us in ourselves out of Christ; there would be no ground and reason for his Love, but in Christ; and there is an eternal Cause and Reason why he should love us.

3. Observe; There is a Love of God towards us, and a Love of God in us. So Zanchi citing this Text. His Love, erga nos, towards us, is from all Eternity; his Love in nobis, in us, is in time. These differ, there was a Love of God towards us; so he loved us in Christ before the Foundation of the World, though we knew it not, felt it not. But now this Love beginneth to be in us, when we receive the Effects of it, and God breaketh open the Sealed Fountain. 1 John 4.16. And we have known and believed the Love that God hath to us. And therefore it must be distinguished. God's Love from Everlasting was in Purpose and Decree, not actual: Rom. 9.11. That the purpose of God according to Election might stand. So, Ephes. 1.11. Being predestinated according to the purpose of him that worketh all things after the Counsel of his Will. We are loved from Eternity, but not justified from Eternity. Certainly the Elect are in a different condition before and after Calling. 1 Cor. 6.11. Such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Secret Things belong to God, but revealed Things to us. Whatever Thoughts God hath towards us, yet we know it not till his Love be in us. We are to judge of our Estates according to the Law. It is true, God is resolved not to prosecute his right against a Sinner that is Elect, but he is not actually acquitted from the Sentence of the Law, till he actually believeth. We are not qualified to receive a legal discharge from the condemnation of the Law, till we be actually in Christ: Rom. 8.1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. And whatever God's Purposes may be towards us, we cannot but look upon ourselves as under a Sentence of Condemnation; and Children of Wrath, Eph. 2.3. that is the misery of our present Estate. Before we know God as a Father in Chris • the Love of God is towards us, but not in us.

4. Observe again; God's Love is in us two ways, in the Effects, and in the Sense and Feeling. These must be also distinguished; for God's Love may be in us in regard of the Effects, when it is not in us in regard of Sense and Feeling. It is in us in the Effects of it at Conversion, as soon as we begin to live in Christ. Where Christ liveth and dwelleth in us by Faith, the Love of Christ is there too. His Love may be in us in the Sense and Feeling, when we have the assurance of it. Rom. 5.5. The Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost, which he hath given to us, that they may feel it in their Hearts, that God loved them in Christ. There is the Work of the Spirit, and the Witness of the Spirit, both are intended in that Expression; chiefly the latter, such a Sense of God's Love as stirreth up Joy, and Thankfulness, and Hope. The precious Ointment gave no savor, while it was shut up in a Box, till it was poured out: So God's Love, while it is kept secret, it yieldeth no reviving Fragrancy. These two differ, for many have the Effects of God's Love, but not the Sense; and the Effects of Love do always abide, for it is an Immortal Seed; but the Sense of Love is flitting and changeable: Nothing can separate us from the Love of God in Christ, yet the Love of God in Christ is often beclouded, overcast, and interrupted: and some have more Effects, though less Sense; the most shining Years are not always the most Fruitful; a Man may have greater increase of Grace, though less comfort. Observe for your Comfort, that Christ prayeth for both; he hath prayed, not only for Grace, but for Assurance, that we may feel ourselves beloved by the Father. The Lord delighteth not only to love us, but to assure us of his Love. It is no comfort to a blind Man to hear of a glorious Sun, or brave Shows, he cannot see them. God would not leave us in the dark, but give us an Experience of his Love.

II. How this ariseth from the Manifestation of God's Name in the Gospel.

1. The Knowledge of God, is a means to kindle our Respects to God.
2. To convey the Influence of his Grace to us.

1. It is a means to kindle our Respects to God; as Trust, Psal. 9.10. They that know thy Name, will put their Trust in thee. Men are ignorant of God's Goodness, Mercy, and Truth, and therefore they make so little use of him. Usually Fears are in the Night, Doubts come from Ignorance of the Tenour of the Gospel; if we did believe those Things to be true which are revealed concerning his Mercy and Love to Sinners, we should trust in him. Fire once kindled, would burst out of itself into a Flame: so did we once savingly know God's Name, there would be more Trust and Confidence in God. Isa. 50.10. Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obey the Voice of his Servant, that walketh in Darkness, and hath no Light? let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. We are overwhelmed with Difficulties and Straits, for want of studying God's Name. So also for Love, Cant. 1.3. Thy Name is as Ointment poured forth, therefore do the Virgins love thee. Ignoti nulla cupido. Love springeth from Knowledge. In the Beams of the Sun, there is a mixture of Warmth and Light. We know not the Gift of God, and therefore our Bowels are not troubled. Did we but see him as he is, it would set us all on Fire.

2. It is the means to convey all the Influences of Grace to us. 2 Pet. 1.2. Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you, through the Knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. God worketh upon us as rational Creatures, agreeably to an intelligent Nature; and so nothing can be wrought, unless Knowledge go before. An House, the more the Windows stand open, the more it is filled with Light; so the more Knowledge, the more is the capacity of the Soul enlarged to receive Comfort and Grace. Guilty Nature is full of Fears, more presagious of Evil than of Good, and therefore it must have clear grounds of Comfort and Hope. But you will say, How comes it to pass, that Persons of great Knowledge want Comfort, and have no sense of God's Love? I Answer, It is not the Light of Parts, but of the Spirit. I have declared, &c. It is God's Prerogative to settle the Conscience. I create the Fruit of the Lips; Peace, Peace, &c. Isa. 57.19. The Gospel is a Sovereign Plaister, but God maketh it work. Our own Thoughts do nothing, unless God put in with them.

Use 1. It informeth us of a double Duty.

1. To study God's Name. It would settle the Conscience to meditate upon those Declarations which Christ hath made of his Will. Deep Thoughts fasten things upon the Spirit, and musing maketh the Fire to burn. How hath God declared himself! we may trust him upon his Word. Psal. 104.34. My Meditation of him shall be sweet; I will be glad in the Lord. We should oftener find sweetness, if we did oftener meditate of God. It is sweet thus to enlarge our Thoughts upon the Promises and Comforts of the Gospel.

2. To apply it. When God's Name is proclaimed and made known to thee, urge thy own Soul with it. Rom. 8.31. What shall we say to these things? Job 5.27. Lo this, we have searched it, so it is, hear it, and know thou it for thy good. This is Christ's Aim, that Knowledge should beget Love in them. Knowledge without Application doth no good. We must take out our Share. The Riches of God's Goodness are laid open to us for this End and Purpose, that we may feel what is expressed. We have known and believed the Love that God hath to us, 1 John 4.16. It is no presumption, it is the great End why the Gospel was written. Wicked Men are too forward and presumptuous of God's Love; they continue their ungodly Courses, do those things which offend him, and yet are persuaded that God loveth them. God's Children pray against their Sins, and fight against their Sins, and yet after all cannot be persuaded of it. There is a fear of Presumption, and a fear of Security. (1.) A fear of Presumption, as some say, I am not worthy; it is as if you should say, I am too poor to ask, or receive an Alms, too filthy to be washed: say not so, for this is the way to make you worthy. (2.) Of Security; this is to say, If I take the Physic, I shall be sick; whereas it is not by applying Christ that we are endangered, but by an insensibleness of our Misery. If thou feelest thy Misery, there is no danger of Security; it is not everything will satisfy a sensible Sinner, not every slight Comfort.

Use 2. Examination; Whether you have gotten benefit by the Gospel? Is God's Love in you? Have you any Fruits or Feeling of his Love? Can you say God loveth you? All God's Children cannot feel his Love; but have you the Fruits of his Love? The Feeling of his Love is to be improved immediately to Thankfulness, and the Fruits of his Love are to be improved by Spiritual Discourse to Confidence. The present Argument will afford us ground of search and enquiry.

1. Things without us are excluded, they can be no Evidence or Argument of God's Love. It is Love in them. It is the common Error of the World to be led with false Evidences. Many think God loveth them, because he spareth them, and followeth them with longsuffering and patience, and maketh them thrive in the World, and blesseth them with the increase and fatness of an outward Portion. Ay, but Love and Hatred cannot be known by the things that are without us ; it must be something within us must discover it. Eccles. 9.2. All things come alike to all. Some are fatted to Destruction, and condemned to worldly Felicity, God will give them enough. Jer. 17.13. All that forsake thee, shall be ashamed; and they that depart from me, shall be written in the Earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the Fountain of Living Waters. Worldly Happiness may be God's Curse; they shall be written in the Earth, they shall have Happiness here, that have none hereafter. On the other hand, there are some whose Names are written in Heaven; and though they have little of outward Comforts, yet that is matter of Joy. Luke 9.20. Rather rejoice, because your Names are written in Heaven. We must have a better Evidence than things without us, before we can see our Names in those eternal Records, and be assured that God loves us. When God only gives things without you, it is a sign you are only hired Servants. You have your Reward, and are satisfied, and when you die, your best Days are at an end; there is no Inheritance kept for you: as Abraham gave Ishmael, and the rest of the Sons of the Concubines, Gifts and Portions, but he reserved the Inheritance for Isaac. This is so far from an Evidence of Love, that it is rather a sign of Hatred, if your Hearts are herewith satisfied. Nay, as it excludes and cuts off all outward things, so it cuts off all outward Profession, as Baptism, and Hearing of the Word. For where the Heart is not washed, Baptism is but the Monument of your unfaithfulness and breach of Vows. And so for Hearing of the Word, it is but like Uriah 's Letters; he thought they contained Matter of Preferment but when opened, they contained Matter of Danger, for he was to be set in the Fore-front of the Battle to be destroyed. So when you think to come to God with these pleasing Excuses, it is Matter of Condemnation, because you have heard so much, and profited nothing. Here is no Evidence without you of the Love of God.

2. Things within are excluded. There are some Moral Inclinations, mere Instincts of Nature, which God hath left in Men out of his common bounty and pity to Human Society. Rom. 2.14, 15. For when the Gentiles which have not the Law, do by Nature the Things contained in the Law, these having not the Law, are a Law unto themselves. Which show the Work of the Law written in their Hearts. These Moral Inclinations, by which we avoid gross Sins, are not an Evidence of God's Love. Again; there are Gifts for the use of the Body: Hypocrites may have a great share in them; Achitophel and Saul had excellent Gifts: but this is not an Evidence of God's Love. How did God love Christ? Herein was a great Evidence of God's Love to Christ; he loved him, and gave the Spirit to him without measure, John 3.33, 34. So we know his Love by his Spirit, that he hath given to us to witness our Justification, and to work our Sanctification. The Gift of the Spirit we may know by his Witness, and by his Work.

1. His Witness; Hast thou a full Testimony of thy Adoption? Rom. 8.16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Children of God. It is such a certainty as ariseth from Gospel-Grounds, working Joy and Peace, stirring up to Thankfulness and Love to God, which you have in God's way, by praying, reading, hearing, meditating. I confess, there is something lower, that may be called the Witness of the Spirit: There are Expressions and Impressions; Have you not some secret Impressions of Confidence and Liberty in Prayer, and Resolutions to wait upon God? Doth he not stir you up to cry, Abba Father, put you upon often calling upon God, and waiting upon God? There is something in your Heart that carries you to God. These Impressions are a kind of Witness and Testimony of the Spirit, though you have not those actual Testimonies of God's Favor.

2. His Work. Have you the Work of the Spirit? what is that? The Work of the Spirit is to sanctify and cleanse. Ephes. 5.25, 26. Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it. It is the greatest sign of God's Anger and Wrath that can be, to live and die under the Power of Sin, not to be sanctified, not to be cleansed, not to be washed from Sin. And therefore are you sanctified, cleansed, and washed? Rev. 1.5. To him that loved us, and washed us from our Sins in his Blood. Is there any care of Obedience stirred up in your Hearts? The Spirit will cause us to grow in Obedience. John 14.23. If a Man love me, he will keep my Words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

3. There is one thing more in the Expression, [ that the Love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them ] and that is, If God love thee, thou canst not but love him again. 1 John 4.16. For we have known, and believed the Love that God hath to us. God is Love, and he that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. If thou lovest God, his People, his Ordinances, and delightest in Communion with him, his Love is in thee. These are the Fruits and Effects of it.

Use 3. To press us to labor after the Sense of his Love. We should go to Heaven as comfortably and as richly as we can, not only creep thither, but labor after an abundant Entrance, 2 Pet. 1.12. Tho it is not always our Sin to want it, yet it is our Duty to strive after this Sense of God's Love in us. The Sense of God's Love, it is the Flame of Faith. Gal. 2.20. I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the Life which I live in the Flesh, I live by the Faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. It is the ground of our Love to him again. 1 John 4.19. We love him, because he first loved us. The more full and direct the Beams are cast upon any solid Body, the stronger the Reflexion. It is the Life of Joy, that which enlargeth our Hearts in Thankfulness. It is our Stay in Afflictions, and our Strength in Duties, especially in Prayer. How can we call God Father, unless in Custom and Hypocrisy, except we have some sense of our Adoption? Therefore labor after the Sense of his Love, that it may be in you.

SERMON XLV.

JOHN XVII.26.

And I have declared unto them thy Name, and will declare it: that the Love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them.

AND I in them.] This is the next Aim of Christ, the Mystical Union. This is fitly coupled with the former Privilege. God's Love is the Fountain of all Mercy, and Mystical Union is the Means of Conveyance. The Father's Love, and the Son's Inhabitation, are elsewhere conjoined. John 14.23. My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. God's Love cannot be in us, unless Christ be in us; nor Christ be in us without the Father's Love. God loveth the Elect freely in Jesus Christ, and therefore giveth us his Spirit to work Faith in our Hearts, that Christ may dwell there, and be one with us, and we with him; Love is the rise of all. And again; without the perpetual Residence of Christ in the Heart, we cannot have a sense of God's Love. Again; from this Conjunction we may learn the Presence of the whole Trinity in the Heart of a Believer, as in a consecrated Temple. The Love of the Father it is in us, by the Holy Ghost given to us. Rom. 5.5. The Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. Now we have not only the Holy Ghost to assure us of the Love of God, but we have Christ as the Head and Fountain of Vital Influence. Once more, I in them. Christ doth not only communicate Gifts of Grace to us, but Himself.

Observe; That the Gospel is made known to us to this intent, that Christ may be in us. Or; This is one great Privilege of the Gospel, that Christ may be in us by a perpetual Residence; as a Principle and Fountain of the Spiritual Life.

I. What is meant by Christ's being in us? How can one Man be in another?

I shall Answer;

First, Negatively; How it is not to be understood, that we may remove all false, gross, and unworthy Thoughts.

1. It is not Contiguity that we speak of, but Union. Two pieces of Wood lying together, are not united. Christ is in Heaven, we on Earth; there is no Contiguity, and if there were, it would not cause an Union. There is indeed an Union of Contact, as when two Hands are joined together, which may resemble this Union; for there is a mutual or reciprocal Apprehension, Christ apprehendeth us, and we him. Phil. 3.12. If that I may apprehend that, for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. He taketh hold of us by his Spirit, and we take hold of him by Faith. But of this by and by.

2. It is not a Congregation, as things may be gathered together: as Stones in an heap, they are united, or gathered into one Heap, but they do not act one upon another. And therefore the Holy Ghost doth not resemble our Union with Christ by Stones in an Heap, but by Stones in a Building, that afford mutual strength and support to one another, and Christ to the Foundation and Corner Stone, which beareth up all the rest. 1 Pet. 2.5. Ye also as lively Stones; are built up a Spiritual House. And, Ephes. 2.20, 21, 22. And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone, in whom all the Building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an Holy Temple in the Lord: In whom you also are built together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit. Only here is the difference, that is but an Union of Art, not of Nature; and though Stones orderly placed, do give Strength and Beauty one to another, yet they do not communicate Life and Influence; therefore the Holy Ghost saith, Ye are as living Stones.

3. It is not Representation only, as all Persons are in their common Person and Representation. This is a part of the Privilege, we are in Christ as our Surety and Common Person. He impersonated and represented us upon the Cross, and doth now in Heaven, where he appeareth for us, as our Agent and Leiger with God: Thus what is done to him, is done to us. This is the Judicial Union; but this is not all, for thus we may be said to be in Christ, but he cannot be said to be in us, I in them. There is Influence as well as Representation.

4. It is not an Objective Union, aut Vnio Occupationis ; as the Object is in the Faculty, the Star in the Eye that seeth it, though at thousands of Miles distance; and what I think of is in my Mind, and what I desire is in my Heart, as a Scholar's Mind is in his Books; when the mind is occupied and taken up with anything, it is in it. So when I fear God, my Mind is with him; when I love God, my Heart is with him. But this is not all, partly, because such an Objective Union there is between Christ and Hypocrites, they may think of him, and know him. But this Union is rather Subjective, it maketh us to live in Christ, and Christ liveth in us: Partly, because then we should be no longer united to Christ, than we do actually think of him; whereas Christ's being in us, implieth a perpetual Residence. Ephes. 3.17. That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by Faith. Dwelling, doth not note a transient Thought, a short Visit, but a constant Stay and Abode. John 14.23. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , We will come unto him, and we will make our abode with him. There Christ fixeth his Seat and Residence.

5. It is not merely a Relation between us and Christ. He is not only ours, and we are his; but he is in us, and we in him. The resemblance of Head and Members, doth not relate to a Political Body, but to a Natural Body. I am sure the Case is clear in Root and Branches, John 15.1, 2, 3. And Relations do not need such Bands and Ties as constitute this Union. There is the Spirit, and Faith, and then secondarily other Graces.

6. It is not only a Consent or Agreement; Christ agreeth to love us, and we to love him. My Love in them, and I in them ; they are propounded as distinct. Confederation maketh way for Union.

7. It is not an Union of Dependance, merely such as is between the Cause and the Effect. The Effect dependeth on the Cause, and is in the Cause, and the Cause is in the Effect. This is general to all Creatures; for it is said, Acts 17.28. In him we live, and move, and have our Being. Such an Union there is between God and all Creatures, and not merely a Dependance, in regard of special and gracious Influences. That doth much open the Privilege; but that is not all, for then our Union would be immediately with God the Father, and the Spirit on whom we depend: And so an Union there is between God and the Holy Angels. And Christ is in an especial manner the Head of the Church; it is a Notion consecrated for our conjunction with him.

8. It is not merely a Communion in the same Nature. So he is Immanuel, God with us. But he saith, I in them. He not only came into our Natures, but he must come into our Hearts. This Union is common to all, though I confess it is only reckoned and imputed to the sanctified. Heb. 2.11. For both he that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified, are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren. And to the Children of God, Heb. 2.14. Forasmuch then as the Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood, he also himself took part of the same.

9. It is not a mixture, as if Christ and we were confounded, and mingled our Substances together. That is a gross Thought, and suiteth with the Carnal Fancies of a Corporal eating his Flesh, and drinking his Blood. We are not mixed, his Substance with ours, and ours with his; he remaining still a distinct Person, and we distinct Persons.

10. It is not a Personal Union, as of the two Natures in the Person of Christ. We are not united to Christ, so as to make one Person, but one Mystical Body: 1 Cor. 12.12. For as the Body is one, and hath many Members, and all the Members of that one Body, being many, are one Body: so also is Christ. The whole is Christ Mystical, but every Believer is not Christ.

Thus I have endeavored to remove all gross and unworthy Thoughts. But now;

Secondly, Positively; What it is. I Answer; We cannot fully tell till we come to Heaven, then we shall have perfect knowledge of it, then Christ is all in all. John 14.20. At that day ye shall know, that I am in the Father, and you in me, and I in you. Then our Union is at the height. But for the present we may call it an Union of Concretion and Coalition, for we are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , planted into him, Rom. 6.5. and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , joined to the Lord, 1 Cor. 6.17. It is immediately with Christ; we are united to Father and Spirit, but by Christ, as the Foot is united to the Head, but by the intervention of other Members: So we are united to the Father, and the Spirit, but by Christ; as an Arm or Foot of the Son belongeth to the Father, but as the Son belongeth to the Father. The Love of the Father is the Moving Cause of it, the Spirit is the Efficient Cause of it; but it is with Christ. And it is by way of Coalition, as things are united. So as they may grow, and live in another, as the Branches grow in the Vine, and the Members being animated and quickened by the Soul, grow in the Body; so are we united with Christ as our Vital Principle, that we may live and grow in him; that we might live in him. Gal. 2.20. I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me ; and grow in him, Ephes. 4.15, 16. But speaking the Truth in Love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ. From whom the whole Body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every Joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the Body, unto the edifying of itself in Love. So that this is enough in general, to call it an Union of Concretion and Coalition, such an Union whereby Christ remaineth, and liveth, and dwelleth in us, as a Vital Principle. As the Soul is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , a Cause and Principle of Life to the Body; so is Christ to us. Before God breathed the Soul into Adam, his Body, though otherwise organized and formed, lay but as a dead Lump, without Breath and Life; but no sooner was the Soul put into him, but he began to live: So Christ being mystically united, enableth us to live, to act, to grow, and increase more and more. More particularly to open it to you is hard, because it is a great Mystery; Life Natural is a Mystery not sufficiently explained, much more Life Spiritual. But now,

First, I shall show how it is wrought and brought about, and in what Order. For there is a difficulty there to be cleared. For since Union is said to be by Faith; Ephes. 3.17. That Christ may dwell in your Hearts by Faith. And Faith is an Act of Spiritual Life, it seemeth there is Life before our Union with Christ: So that this Union seemeth to be the Effect, rather than the Cause of the Spiritual Life, and some say it is the Effect of the Beginning, and the Cause of the Continuance and Increase of it; and conceive the Order thus: That Christ is offered in the Gospel, and by receiving Christ, we come to be united to him, and then to be possessed of his Righteousness, and receive further influences of Grace; and that the first beginning of Spiritual Life is not from Union, but Regeneration; by virtue of which Faith is given to us, that we may be united to Christ. But I suppose this Method is not right: Briefly then, for the manner and order how it is wrought, take it thus: Union it is by the Spirit on Christ's part, and Faith on ours; he beginneth with us as the most worthy, as having a quickening and life-making Power in himself. 1 Cor. 15.45. The last Adam was made, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , a quickening Spirit. By the Spirit he infuseth Spiritual Life, the first Act of which is Faith, that is the first Grace that acteth upon Christ, and maketh the Union reciprocal, that so in him we may have Righteousness and Grace. Phil. 3.9. And be found in him, not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law, but that which is through the Faith of Christ, the Righteousness which is of God by Faith. All Graces flow from Union with Christ▪ so doth Faith. Believing is an Act of the Spiritual Life, but it is at the same instant of time, and not before. The first Band of Union is the Spirit, for the Gift of the Spirit is the Cause of Faith, and every Cause is before the Effect in Nature, though not in Time; for, Positâ causâ in actu, ponitur effectus. But the Spirit is not given us in the least moment of Time before the being of Faith; for the Spirit being infused, immediately excites Faith to take hold of Christ.

Secondly ; What is that Act of Faith by which we close with Christ? I Answer; The apprehending, embracing, taking hold of Christ; To as many as received him, &c. John 1.12. trusting him with our Souls: that is the Faith that gives us an Interest in Gospel-Privileges. But what is this receiving Christ? I Answer; Receiving presupposeth Offering; it is a Consent to what is offered, an Accepting of what is given. Receiving, is a word used in Contracts, and noteth the Consent of one Part to the Terms which the other offereth. The Scripture chiefly delighteth in the Similitude of the Matrimonial Contract; as a Woman accepteth a Man for her Husband, so do we receive Christ. When a Man's Affections are set upon a Woman, he sendeth Spokesmen to tell her of his Love, and that he is ready to give her an Interest in himself, and all that is his, if she will accept him for an Husband. So Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Heir of all Things, sendeth Messengers to treat and deal with us about a Spiritual Marriage, to tell us how he loved us, gave his Life for us, established an Everlasting Righteousness, whereby we may be accepted with God, and that he is ready to bestow it upon us, if we will receive, and honor, and obey him as Lord and Husband; which if we do, then we are interested in this great Privilege: Yea, Lord, I give up myself, Body and Soul, to thee, and I take thee for Lord and Husband. For these are the Terms; Hos. 3.3. Thou shalt not be for another Man, so will I also be for thee. You will think this is easy, because you do not understand what it is to receive Christ. Alas! Christ stretcheth forth his Hands to many that never take him by the Hand again. Isa. 65.2. I have spread out my Hands all the day to a rebellious People, which walketh in a way that is not good, after their own Thoughts. He inviteth, clucketh, spreads his Wings, but to no purpose, till he puts his Fingers upon the Handles of the Lock. Cant. 5.4. My Beloved put in his Hand by the hole of the Door, and my Bowels were moved for him. Herein he differeth from ordinary Suitors, that he doth not only woo and invite, but draw by the secret and prevailing Power of his Spirit; he must enlarge the Heart, and open the Hand, or else we shall not receive him. Why! what is there in this Receiving? a Renouncing of all others; Thou shalt not be for another. Christ findeth us entangled with a former Love of the World, addicted to Carnal Pleasures, in Covenant with Death and Hell; this must be renounced, for God is jealous, and cannot endure a Rival; it is Spiritual Adultery, to have any thought of other Lovers. As when the Ark was brought into the House, Dagon was thrown to the Ground. Christ will be entertained alone; you must not only renounce your former Loves, but hate them. In ordinary Marriages, if a Woman loved one, and afterwards marry another Man, it is enough that she withdraw her former Love, though she be not an Enemy to him whom before she loved. In some Covenants, if you come off from such a side it is enough: But here is a League Offensive and Defensive, when we receive Christ as our Captain, his Enemies must be our Enemies, if as dear as a right Hand, or a right Eye, it must be cut off and plucked out. And again; Christ himself is to be received, not his Gifts and Benefits; you must not come to him as to a Physician, to give ease to the Conscience, but as an Husband, not marry the Estate, but the Man; otherwise you do not take what God offereth. He hath given us his Son, and all things with him. Rom. 8.32. He that spared not his own Son, but gave him up to the Death for us all; How will he not with him also freely give us all things? The Father doth not offer the Portion merely, but his Daughter, and the Portion with his Daughter; as you cannot have Life without the Son, so you cannot have the Son without Life; and you must receive him gladly. Marriage importeth not a forced, but a free Consent; you do not receive Christ as a Land receiveth a Conqueror, for Prince and King against their Will; but as a Woman her Husband, as being convinced her state will be much bettered by him. So doth the Soul receive Christ, as knowing in whom we believe, and what we enjoy by him. Psal. 73.25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee. Neither Angels in Heaven, nor any Creatures upon Earth are so lovely, and fit for the Soul's Love and Trust. You cannot live without him. If a Woman can live without an Husband, she doth well if she marrieth not, saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 7.8. but you cannot, you are undone forever if you have him not. And you must receive him sincerely to obey him, and serve him as Lord and Husband, and not be ashamed to own him. Act 2.41. Then they that gladly received his Word, were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand Souls. When Articles are agreed and sealed, and the Marriage completed, a Woman is content to go into her Husband's House, and leave her Kindred, and Fathers House: So must you profess Christ openly, and then live in constant Communion with him. This is to receive Christ; and is this easy? Can all this be done, till God enlarge the Heart? O, my Lord! I am willing to receive thee, do thou open and enlarge my Heart so to do.

Again; it is expressed by apprehending Christ. Phil. 3.12. If that I may apprehend that, for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus ; by taking hold of him, leaning upon him. Psal. 22.8. He trusted in the Lord, or rolled himself upon the Lord: by running for Refuge. Heb. 6.18. Who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the Hope set before them ; as Joab laid hold on the Horns of the Altar, or the Man that casually killed another, ran to the City of Refuge, by a being found in him as in an Ark, when the Flood came upon the World: All which Expressions imply a sense of Danger. This Effect of Faith, is sensible in a time of Trouble, Bodily or Spiritual, as things are more sensible one time than another. Horses draw the Coach, but down the Hill apace. The Strength of an Anchor is seen in a Storm, the Courage of a Soldier in a Fight. The Child runneth and claspeth about the Mother, when anything affrighteth it.

Sometimes it is expressed by coming to Christ, and coming to God by him. Heb. 7.25. Wherefore he is able to save unto the uttermost all those that come to God by him. By choosing Christ as Mediator, owning him, and consenting to God's Eternal Decrees, that he is alone a sufficient Mediator. This was represented, by laying Hand on the Head of the Sacrifice. Lev. 1.4. He, that is he that brought the Sacrifice, shall put his Hand upon the Head of the Burnt-Offering, and it shall be accepted for him, to make an Atonement for him. q. d. This is me, I deserve to die, but here is my Sacrifice. All Prayers were to be made in or towards the Temple, 1 Kings 8. Deut. 12.13, 14. Take heed that thou offer not thy Burnt-Offerings in every place that thou seest. But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy Tribes, there thou shalt offer thy Burnt-Offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee. Daniel his Windows being open towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his Knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks to God, Dan. 6.10. he would not omit that Circumstance. In all our Addresses to God we must make use of Christ.

Sometimes it is expressed, by committing ourselves to him; 2 Tim. 1.12. For I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day. It is an advised Act, it is fit the Soul should be in safe Hands. We are sensible, that as long as this Life lasts, we are subject to many Trials and Changes, therefore we put our Souls into Christ's Hands, in a confidence of his Alsufficiency. It is a knowing Trust.

Use 1. To press us to mind this great Privilege, Christ in us. This should be our chief Care. We cannot mortify Sin, till we be in Christ; He is our Sanctification. We can have no security against God's Wrath till then. Acts 4.12. Neither is there Salvation in any other, for there is none other Name under Heaven given among Men, whereby we must be saved. Whatever shifts they made against the Flood, it would not serve, nothing but the Ark could save them. Make this the Business of your Lives; wait upon the Word, and other Ordinances, with this Aim; improve Providences to this end, to draw you the nearer to God by Christ. Let this be the constant breathing of your Souls. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but Dung that I may win Christ. Phil. 3.8. Measure all the Business and Employment of your Lives by this. A tender Mother that nurseth her Child, she hath other Work to do, but still she remembereth her Child; when she awaketh, she thinketh of her Child; when she is abroad, when employed in the Affairs of her Family, her Mind is on her Child: God is pleased to resemble his Love to us by this. So a true Christian faith, My Work is to get into Christ. When he is about Business of the World, he still remembereth that this is his great Care, and it must be minded every Day: When he riseth, when he goeth to sleep, this should run in his Mind. This is, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ▪ his Work. John 6.29. This is the Work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. All other Business is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , his by-work, that he may get or lose it. Make more room for Christ in the Soul.

Use 2. Examination.

1. Is Christ in you? who liveth there, and worketh, Christ or Satan? These two divide the World between them, the strong Man, and the stronger than he. The Heart of Man is not a waste, Christ ruleth in the Church, and the Devil in the World. And yet all that are in the Church, are not in Christ. John 15.2. Every Branch in me that beareth not Fruit, he taketh away. They that are where Christ is in Honor, will make a general Profession. The Devil hath a great Party in the Church. Therefore who is in you, Christ or Satan? Satan is in all Carnal Men, their Hearts are his Forge or Workhouse. Ephes. 2.2. According to the Prince of the Power of the Air, the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of Disobedience. 2 Cor. 4.4. The God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not. He blindeth them, and hardeneth them, and leadeth them captive by their own Lusts. Consider, there is no Neutrality; We are under Christ or the Devil. The Devil is a Spirit, he possesseth Men when they do not feel him. He is called, the Prince of the Power of the Air ; and infected Air is drawn in without pain, and we get a Disease before we feel it, and die of a Pestilent Air. Were you never changed? Conversion is a Dispossession. The Devil is in all the Children of Disobedience. Did you ever consent to choose Christ for your Mediator, and Lord, and King? When you refuse Christ offered, the Devil is most ready to entertain you, and to enter into you, and possess you the more securely. There is a Tradition upon your Refusal, God giveth you then up to Satan, to be blinded and hardened. Therefore consider this, observe your Course. Some are Satan's Slaves, they that walk in the ways of their own Hearts, and according to the Lusts of the World. John 8.44. Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the Lusts of your Father ye will do. Satan's Mark and Brand is upon them that live in Malice and Envy against God, and good Men; Satan was a Murderer from the beginning; in filthiness and uncleanness, he is an unclean Spirit: in railing, swearing, cursing, whose Tongues are set on Fire of Hell: tempting, seducing, lying; Satan is a Liar, and a Tempter, enticing to drink and gaming.

Again; Is Christ in you? A great deal of Bran will remain, if we use too course a Bolter. Doth Christ dwell in your Hearts? You will know it by the Effects of his Presence.

(1.) Doth Christ fill the Heart? So great a Guest is enough, the Believer desireth no more to his Peace of Conscience, Joy, and complete Blessedness. There is a full acquiescency of the Soul in Christ; he desireth above all things to enjoy him. There is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , 1 Tim. 6.6. Godliness with contentment is great Gain. There is nothing in Heaven or Earth that can fill the hungry Soul of Man, but Jesus Christ. He that hath his Heart full of Christ, all things seem base and vile to him, a little portion of the World serveth his turn. They are cheap things to Jesus Christ, after which the World runs a whoring. 1 Sam. 19.30. And Mephibosheth said, Nay, let him take all, forasmuch as my Lord the King is come again in peace unto his House. Mephibosheth is contented to see the King's Face in Peace. They have the Pearl of great Price; there is little room for other things. Christ filleth every corner of the Heart: Phil. 4.12, 13. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound; everywhere, and in all things, I am instructed, both to be full, and to be hungry; both to abound, and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

(2.) He ruleth, and acteth, and swayeth all these. He doth not dwell as a Stranger or Guest in another Man's House, or as an Inmate, but as a Lord in his Possession; therefore he still directeth, counselleth, quickeneth, destroyeth the Kingdom of Satan, reneweth us more and more, dwelleth in us as the King of Glory. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty, Light, Joy, Strength, Peace.

2. What Entertainment do you give him? The more Faith is enlarged, the more room hath Christ in thy Heart. With great cheerfulness should you receive him, not always frowning; he looketh for Reverence, not constant Mourning. Do not grieve him by Sin, by such things by which the Wrath of God cometh upon the Children of Disobedience. If an earthly King lie but a Night in a House, what care is there taken that nothing be offensive to him, but that all things be neat, clean, and sweet: How much more ought you to be careful to get and keep your Hearts clean, to perform service acceptably to him; to be in the exercise of Faith, Love, and other Graces, that you may entertain, as you ought, your Heavenly King, who comes to take up his continual abode and residence in your Hearts?

FINIS:

A TABLE of the principal Matters contained in this PART.

ABasement of Christ, the truth of it. Page 11
Aboad of Christ in us, the fruit of it. Page 333
Account; all must be called to an Account. Page 55
Actions; all Actions and Employments have their Temptations. Page 215
Afflictions, why they befall God's People. Page 132
- God loves his People in Affliction. Page 344
- God is a Father to them in Afflictions. Page 6
- How to carry ourselves in Afflictions towards God as a Father. Page 7
Ambassadors: Ministers Christ's Ambassadors, and why. Page 280
Angels, entertain Christ at his Ascension. Page 127
Anointed, who were anointed. Page 44
- What Christ 's anointing implies. Page 44
- To what Christ was anointed. Page 45
Antiscripturists have no true Holiness. Page 237
- Iudgments of God on them. Page 254
Apostles and ordinary Ministers, how they differ, and wherein they agree. Page 271
Arian's 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 confuted. Page 306
Ascension of Christ what it includes. Page 61
- The History of it. Page 121
- The Time of it. Page 121
- The place from whence, and to whence. Page 121
- The manner of it. Page 122
  - Christ ascended as a Conqueror. Page 122
  - Angels entertain Christ at his Ascension. Page 122
  - Christ's welcome of the Father at his Ascension. Page 123
- The Reasons of it. Page 123
- The Fruits and Benefits of it. Page 124
  - A Token of his Satisfaction. Page 124
  - A Pledg of our Ascension. Page 124
- Comfort to Believers from hence. Page 126
- How shall a Man know he is ascended with Christ. Page 125
Authority of Christ as Mediator. Page 267

BElievers, their Felicity and Dignity. Page 108
- Comfort to Believers. Page 295
Believing, vid. Faith.
- Believing in Christ, what it is. Page 296
- Difference between believing Christ, and believing in Christ. Page 296
- Difference between believing in Christ, and believing in God. Page 296
- Which is most difficult to believe in Christ for temporal or for spiritual things. Page 172
Blessing; Christ blessed his Disciples before his Ascension. Page 122
Blessing and praising God, how they differ, Page 49, 139
Body: all the Saints make but one Body. Page 335
- And shall at last be all gathered together into one Body. Page 336

CAll to the Ministry, the necessity of it. Page 274
- Extraordinary, what it is. Page 271
  - Not to be expected now. Page 271
- Ordinary, inward, what. Page 272
  - Outward, what. Page 272
    - The necessity of it. Page 272
- What Call the first Reformers had Page 277
- What is to be done where no Call can be had. Page 278
- How to make out our Calling to the People. Page 276
Calling civil, the necessity of it. Page 53
- What Callings are unlawful. Page 54
- God hath a hand in appointing Men's Callings. Page 54
- Every Man to keep in his Calling. Page 276
- How a Man should glorify God in his Calling. Page 54
- Every Calling hath its Snare. Page 215
Care of Christ over his People. Page 171
- The fruit and success of it. Page 173
Carelessness; whether God hates most the careless Person, or the openly vicious? Page 229
Caution to be used in the World, and why. Page 135
Censure; the whole Body not to be censured for the Miscarriages of some. Page 180
Certainty of the Salvation of the Elect, Page 78
- And of their future Hopes. Page 350
Charge: what was the Charge God gave Christ concerning the Elect. Page 77
- The ground of this Charge. vid. Covenant of Redemption. Page 77
- Christ hath a Charge of his People. Page 134
- Christ is loyal, faithful, tender of his Charge. Page 171
Children of God, their Priviledg. Page 125
- Believers Children of Christ's Family. Page 74, 157
Christ; what the Word signifies. vid. Anointed. Page 42
- True God. Page 17
- A distinct Person from the Father. Page 40
- Sent by the Father, vid. sent.
- That he came out from God, what it signifies. Page 98
- Made known to the Church by degrees. Page 259
- The Holiness of his Life. Page 288
- Tender of his Servants and Truth. Page 18
- Is ready to take notice of the good in his People. Page 96
- Speaks good of his People to the Father, Page 80
- Tho they have many Failings. vid. Gentleness of Christ. Page 80
- All that he hath is for his Peoples good and Comfort. Page 125
Christ in us, what is not to be understood by it. Page 387
- What is to be understood by it. Page 389
- How he is said to be in Believers. vid. Union. Page 311
Christ is in us, as God is in Christ. Page 330
- What must we do that Christ may be in us. Page 332
- Arguments to press us to look after this Priviledg. Page 331
- How we may know whether Christ be in us. Page 333
Christian Doctrine, the certainty of it. Page 89
- A Gift of God. Page 90
Church visible, in it always some Mixture. Page 179
- The use of wicked Men in the visible Church. Page 179, 316.
Claim; false Claims to God and Christ disproved. Page 108
Comfort; the loss of the greatest Comforts may be supplied. Page 125
Commensurableness of the Acts of the three Persons in the Trinity. Page 110
- Of the distinct propriety of the three Persons in Believers. Page 110
- Reasons of it. Page 110
Committing the Soul to Christ, what it is. Page 79, 159
- When we should do it especially. Page 79
- How we should do it. Page ibid.
- We should commit our Bodies to Christ. Page 80
Communion with Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Page 310
- Communion with God constant and habitual, or solemn and special. Page 358
- Difference between Communion with God here and in Heaven. Page 326
Communion between Saints on Earth, and Saints in Heaven, what it is. Page 336
Company, Christ takes delight in his Peoples Company. Page 355
- Reasons of it. Page 356
Condition: every Condition of Life hath its Snares. Page 214
Confidence in God, to be used in Prayer. Page 4
Confirmation of Ministers, the Magistrates Right. Page 274
Conformity to Christ, wherein it consists. Page 324
Conscience, what keeps it quiet without Christ. Page 297
Consubstantiation of the Lutherans disproved. Page 127
Contentment, none in the World for the Heart of Man. Page 334
Continuance of God's People in the World in a time of Danger consistent with the Wisdom and Goodness of God. Page 210
- We should be willing to continue in the World as long as God hath Work for us to do. vid. Desire of Death. Page 211
- Why God's People are not continued, but taken out of the World in time of danger. Page 211
Conversation worldly, vid. worldly.
Conviction of the World of the truth of Christianity, the fruit of the Mystical Union. Page 320
- A great Blessing. Page 311, 318
- What the Spirit convinceth the lost World of, viz. Sin, Righteousness and Judgment. Page 312, 313.
- The fruit and effects of the World's Conviction. Page 314
- Why Christ prays so earnestly for it. Page 315
- God honored hereby. Page 315
- The advantage of it to the Elect. Page 316
- It lessons and increases the World's Judgment, and how. Page 317
- Arguments to press Christians so to live, as to convince the World. Page 321
- God would have the World convinced of his Love to his People. Page 347
- Reasons of it. Page 348
- How the World should be thus convinced. Page 347
Convictions not to be slighted, nor rested in. Page 318, 319
- How we may know whether we are convinced only, or converted. Page 319
Covenant of Redemption, the terms of it. Page 77
- What was proposed by the Father in it. Page 155
- What Christ undertook. Page 156
Covetousness one of Judas 's Sins. Page 174
- The evil of the Sin. Page 177
- To be avoided. Page 177
Creatures discover God. Page 28, 33
- Doting upon the Creatures withdraw the Heart from God. Page 335

DAnger cannot be withstood by us in our own Strength. Page 171
- Christ apprehensive of the Danger of his People in this World. Page 133
- Reasons of it, his Interest, Love, Charge, Experience. Page 133
- Comfort from hence. Page 136
Death, desire of Death, vid. Desire.
Death of Christ, Christ died to promote Unity among Christians. Page 1 ••
- Why the Death of Christ hath so little Effect upon us. Page 291
Decay of the Power of Godliness brings trouble on the Church. Page 195
Delight excessive in worldly things shows a worldly Heart. Page 209
Desires show the temper of the Soul. Page 208
Desire of Death whether lawful, and what Desires are so. Page 212, 213
- Difference between serious and passionate Desire of Death. Page 213
- Carnal Desires of Death whence they arise. Page 212
- Believers must be willing to die. Page 354
Despair one of Judas 's Sin, Page 175
- To be avoided. Page 178
Devil, the great Author of the Troubles of the Church. Page 201, 219.
Difference in course of Life provokes wicked Men, especially Difference in Religion. Page 200
Difference between Believers and Men of the World in their Principles, Rule, Conversation, End, Aims. Page 204
Disrespect of the World not to be regarded, and why. Page 225
- Hard to be digested. Page 224
- The best way to digest it is to consider Christ's Example. Page 225
Distraction of Man's Thoughts after the Fall. Page 333
- This continueth till we return to God. Page 334
Divisions in the Church, how they arise. Page 163
- The mischief of them. Page 165, 166
- They bring on Trouble. Page 194
- They that promote them, contrary to Christ. Page 164
- Who are guilty of this Sin. Page 165
Doctrines of the Word show it to be from God. Page 260
Doctrines Christian, vid. Christian.

ELect, none of them can be lost. Page 173
Election a special Priviledg. Page 66
- Not for foreseen Faith, good Works, or Perseverance. Page 364
- Original and actual, what. Page 71
Election of Ministers, the Peoples Right. Page 273
End, a Man is as his End is. Page 55
Enjoying; no enjoying God without Christ. Page 30
Envy of others worldly Happiness, shows a worldly Heart. Page 209
- Wicked Men envy the Good in others. Page 201
Error makes way for Looseness. Page 232
Esteem of the World discovers a worldly Heart. Page 208
Eternal State, the Foundation of it laid in this Life. Page 370
Evil; Satan hath an Hand in the Evil that befalls God's Church and People. Page 219
Example of Christ, the heavenliness of it. Page 206
- The Courage of it. Page 206
Experience; Christ hath Experience of his Peples Sufferings. Page 134

FAith, various Expressions by which it is set-forth in Scripture. Page 391
- The Nature of it. Page 90, 95.
- Difference between true Faith and counterfeit. Page 93
- The Acts of Faith. Page 296, 297
- In Faith Assent, Consent and Trust. Page 93
- The Office of Faith, to accept Christ, and present him in Prayer. Page 115
- The Object of Faith. Page 85, 97, 296
  - The Word, vid. Receiving the Word.
  - Christ, vid. Receiving Christ.
- Three things concur to the working of it, the Light of the Spirit, external Revelation, and the use of fit Instruments. Page 84
- The Word the means to work Faith. Page 88
- The necessity, use, and power of the Word to work, Faith. Page 298, 299
- Why God useth the Word to this end. Page 299
- Encouragements to Faith. Page 295
- The Excellency of Faith. Page 296
- How it sanctifies. Page 234
Faith a help to Joy. Page 189
Faith cannot be without Knowledge. Page 90
- What a kind of Light the Light of Faith is. Page 91
- In the Knowledge of Faith there is undoubted Certainty. Page 90
- The work of Faith when we cannot apply Christ. Page 298
- The Faith of the Apostles work yet by Christ commended to the Father. Page 97
Faithfulness to our Charge recommended Page 67
- Of Christ to his Father. Page 83
Fall into Sin: why God sometimes leaves his People to fall into Sin. Page 218
- What falls into Sin are inconsistent with Grace. Page 148
- Belivers not to be discouraged by every Fall into Sin. Page 147
Father; a Comfort in Prayer to call God Father. Page 6
- How to carry ourselves in Afflictions towards God as a Father. Page 7
- God the Father chiefly offended by Sin, Page 86, 263
  - And he the supreme Judge. Page 86, 264
Fear of want discovers a worldly Heart. Page 208
Filth of Sin our Filthiness by Nature. Page 291
- Nothing can cleanse us but the Blood of Christ. Page 291
Finishing, what Christ's finishing his Work signifies. Page 47

GEntleness of Christ in bearing with his Peoples failings. Page 80, 85.
Gift, the Privileges of the human Nature a Gift. Page 48
- Work itself a Gift. Page ibid.
Gifts are fading. Page 148
- Wicked Men's Gifts useful to the Church. Page 316
Given, how Christ had given to his Disciples the Word of God. Page 191
Given to Christ, who are given to Christ. Page 21, 76, 153, 351.
- None given to Christ but they that are the Fathers, vid. Commensurable, Page 72, 107, 109.
- Why God gave the Elect to Christ. Page 77
- How Belivers given to Christ.
  - By way of Charge, vid. Charge. Page 21, 72, 154, 156, 351.
  - By way of Reward, Page 21, 72.154, 155, 351.
- How shall we knowwe are given to Christ. Page 159, 351
- Being given to Christ, a ground of Consolation and Establishment to the Elect. Page 154
- How it is such a ground of Establishment. Page 158
Glory, the fruit of Union as well as Grace. Page 326
- Shame the way to Glory. Page 10
- Christ in his last Will and Testament gives Glory to his People. Page 350
- The Glory that is given by Christ we have as sure, as if in the Possession of it. Page 322
- The freeness of Grace in giving us Glory. Page 349
- Looking to future Glory a remedy in Tribulation. Page 10
Glory of God much advanced by Jesus Christ. Page 11
Glory of Christ's Person what it is. Page 358
- What the Glory was Christ prayed for. Page 9, 61
- Why Christ begged it of the Father. Page 58
- Why he was so earnest for his own Glory. Page ib.
- What Glory Christ retained in his Humiliation. Page 60
- What Glory he wanted. Page ib.
- Our Glory for substance the same that Christ's is. Page 325
- This is matter of Comfort to Believers, and an Encouragement to Holiness. Page 325
Glorify God: what it is to glorify God. Page 49
- What it is to sanctify, justify and glorify God. Page 113
- How are we to glorify God. Page 12, 49, 52
- How Christ glorified God. Page 46
- How God was glorified in Christ. Page ib.
- Why it should be our care to glorify God. Page 55
- Why we should glorify the Name of God. Page 52
Glorify Christ, what it is to glorify Christ. Page 115
- How Christ was glorified by his Disciples. Page 112
- Objections against glorifying Christ answered. Page 118
- Consolations to them that glorify Christ. Page 118
- To glorify Christ an Evidence of our Interest in Father, Son, and Spirit. Page 112
- The great Condition of the Covenant of Grace. Page 113
- Gratifies the Aim of God. Page 114
- Pledg of our Interest in his Intercession. Page ibid.
Glorification of Christ, a Pledg of ours. Page 14, 63
- A Pledg of his Satisfaction. Page 14
- A Ground of Hope to the Creature. Page ib.
- It fits him to do his People good. Page 63
God; that there is a God proved. Page 33
- That God is but one. Page 36
- One God in 3 Persons, the only true God. Page 39
Gospel, a great Blessing. Page 32
- The excellency of the Doctrine of the Gospel. Page 67
- The Motion of the Gospel is directed by the Providence of God. Page 279
- What of God it discovers to us. Page 380
Grace, seeming Grace may be lost. Page 144, 149
- Initial or preparative Grace may fail. Page 144
- True Grace may suffer shrew'd decay. Page ibid.
- The Grace that makes for our well-being in Christ may be taken away. Page ibid.
- If left to ourselves would be soon lost. Page ibid.
- We are not to rest satisfied in any degrees of Grace. Page 230
- No Grace where there is not a sound Apprehension of Truth. Page 237
- The freeness of Grace in giving us Glory. Page 349
Grief at worldly Losses, a sign of a worldly Heart. Page 208

HAppiness; Man is at a loss for Happiness after the Fall. Page 333
- Our Happiness in God completed by degrees. Page 334
Hatred of any Man to be watched against. Page 203
Hatred of Godliness, the evil of the Sin. Page 202
- Those that profess Religion may hate one another for their Strictness in Religion. Page 202
Hatred of Sin, the property of the People of God. Page 141
Hatred of the World to be expected by Christians. Page 192
- Instances of this in Scripture. Page 197
- Reasons of it. Page 193, 196, 200
- This Hatred palliated over with Pretences. Page 198, 199.
- That it ariseth from an Antipathy to Godliness, proved. Page 198
- People of God most hated by the worst of Men. Page 198
- The best of Men most hated of the World, notwithstanding many Excellencies to allay their Malice. Page 199
How the People of God should carry themselves under it. Page 203
- Christians not to be troubled at it. Page 196, 203
- Not to be allayed by carnal meant. Page 196
Head of the Church, why Christ is Head of the Church as God-Man. Page 301
- How we should respect Christ as Head of the Church. Page 309
Hearing: we must take heed, that we hear, how we hear, who we hear. Page 239
- The necessity of Hearing. Page 298
Heart; Frame of the Heart, how it may be known. Page 207
Heaven, the Happiness of our being with Christ in Heaven. Page 353
Heavenly-mindedness exhorted to. Page 126
Heaviness, vid. Sadness of Spirit.
Histories of the Word show it to be from God. Page 261
Holiness, the signification of the word. Page 137
- Difference between the Holiness of God, and of the Creature. Page 137
- In the Creature finite and derivative. Page 138
- The preciousness of it. Page 292
Holiness to be prized. Page 140
- Deriding Holiness a great Sin. Page 140
Holiness a good preparative to the Ministry, and why. Page 230
- No coming to God in Prayer, but in an holy State. Page 140
- What this holy State is. Page 141
Holiness of God, the various Significations of it. Page 136
- What it is. Page 137
- The Properties of it. Page 137
- Essential to God. Page 137
- His Glory. Page 139
- Sight of God's Holiness makes us prize Christ. Page 139
- How we should draw nigh to God as an holy God. vid. Sanctification. Page 140
Holy Father; when we pray to God, we must look on him as a Holy Father. Page 137
- Reasons of it. Page 138, 139
- Why Christ useth this Title in Prayer to God. Page 136
Hope of Heaven, the Certainty of it. Page 350
- The grounds of it. Page 363, 370
- It raiseth a Believer above the World. Page 205
- It maintains Joy. Page 189
Human Nature of Christ, the Innocency of it. Page 281
- Reasons why Ch • ist's human Nature must be innocent. Page 288
Hypocrisy one of Judas 's Sins. Page 175
- To be avoided. Page 178

IDleness, the Mischief of it. Page 53
Jesus, what the Word signifies, vid. Savior. Page 42
- How we should own Christ as Jesu • . Page 43
Ignorance, the danger of it. Page 376
- The sad Condition of ignorant People. Page 90
Incarnation, Christ was incarnate to promote Unity among Christians. Page 161
Intercession of Christ, the Nature of it. Page 103
- Christ is the Intercessor. Page 101
- The advantage of Christ's being the Intercessor. Page 101
- The Advantage, Priviledg, and Fruits of Christ's Intercession. Page 14, 103
- How we may know what Christ is interceding for in Heaven. Page 183
Interest of Christ in Believers. Page 134
Interest of God in Believers. Page 71, 107
- Evidences of God's Interest in us. Page 109
- Ground of Comfort. Page 111
God's Interest in his People moveth him to Mercy. Page 108
- To be urged by Saints in Prayer. Page 108
- Christ pleads it as an Argument in Prayer. Page 71
Interest of Believers in God and Christ. Page 159
Joy, the great use of it in the spiritual Life. Page 184
- The Causes of Spiritual Joy. Page 189
- How it is maintained, vid. Rejoicing. Page 189
- Some Observations concerning Spiritual Joy. Page 185
- It ariseth more from Hope than Possession. Page 185
- It is felt more in Adversity than Prosperity, and why. Page 185
- The feeling of this Joy an uncertain thing. Page 186
- It mars the taste of carnal Pleasures. Page 185
Joy of Believers, why called Christ's Joy. Page 182
- Christ took care to leave his People joyful when he left the World. Page 183
- What a kind of Joy this was. Page 183
- His Heart was much set upon it. Page 184
- Reasons of it. Page 184
Joyful Spirit an Honor to Religion. Page 185
- A Delight to God. Page 185

KEeping the Word, what it signifies. Page 80, 81
- That it is the duty of God's People. Page 81
Kept: Believers kept in a State of Grace, vid. Preservation.
- What it is to be under Christ's keeping. Page 171
Keeping of Christ extends to Body and Soul Page 169, 172
- Various ways of God's keeping his People. Page 172, 217
- The necessity of God's keeping. Page 217
- Why God alone must keep us. Page 218
Keeping of God should teach us Dependance and Confidence. Page 218
Knowledge: there is an insatiable desire in Man after Knowledge. Page 239
- The beginning, increase and progress of Eternal Life lies in Knowledge. Page 25
- Form of Knowledge, what it is. Page 91
- The difference between the Knowledge of carnal Men, and of Believers. Page 91
- The necessity of Knowledge. Page 378
- The excellency of it. Page 378
- That we are to grow in Knowledge. Page 382
- Directions to get Knowledge. Page 27
- Directions for our increase and progress in it. Page 29
- In using means to get Knowledge we must look up to Christ. Page 377
- How Christ gives us Knowledge. Page 377
- How we should seek to Christ for Knowledge. Page 378
Knowledge of God, what it implies. Page 31
- Only way to Blessedness. Page 370
- No Knowledge of God without Christ. Page 30, 371
- No Knowledge sufficient for eternal Life, but the Knowledge of God. Page 30
- This is sufficient. Page 30
- The Reprobate World have no true Knowledge of God. Page 375
- No believing or enjoying God but by Knowledge. Page 371
Knowledge of Christ, what it is. Page 31
- General Knowledge of Christ not sufficient. Page 31
Knowledge of Christ; Christ knows all the Elect. Page 79
- And their Conditions and Necessities. Page 79
- Christ's Knowledge the pattern and cause of ours. Page 377
Kingdom Mediatory of Christ, the extent of it. Page 17
- The Properties of it, Page 73, 156
  - Universal, Page 73, 156
  - Eternal. Page 73, 157
- The manner of Administration of Christ's Kingdom. Page 74
- Believers are the Subjects of it. Page 156
Kingly Office of Christ was little exercised in the World. Page 268

LIbertines, when in Power grow cruel. Page 195
Life: a Christians Life what it is. Page 115
Life eternal Christ's Gift. Page 19
- Lies in Knowledge. Page 25
- The Estate of Heaven expressed by Life Eternal. Page 19
- Begun here, and carried on by degrees. Page 20
Lifting up the Eyes to Heaven in Prayer, what it signifies. Page 13
- Heart to be lift up in Prayer. Page 3
Light: God's way of working in converting Souls is by Light. Page 231
- It must be a true and not a false Light. Page 232
Light Divine, the necessity of it to understand the things of God. Page 69, 70
Light of Nature, not a sufficient Rule to fallen Man. Page 239
Likeness to Christ, what it is, vid. Resemblance, Conformity.
- Why Christ is so earnest to make us like himself. Page 324
- Those are Christ's that are like him. Page 324
  - What we should do to be like Christ. Page 324
Love of Christ to Believers. Page 134
- The excellency of it. Page 106
- Evidenced in his coming from the Father for our sakes. Page 98
Love of God in giving Christ. Page 75, 98
- God loves his People in Afflictions. Page 341
- The Love of God is the ground of all other Favors and Blessings. Page 382
- Yet not to be measured by temporal things Page 265, 385
- But by spiritual Blessings. Page 344
- God's Love towards us, and in us. Page 345, 383
- God's Love in us, in effect, and in sense and feeling. Page 384
- We are to labor after the sense of it. Page 345
- The benefit of the sense of God's Love. Page 345
- Means to get it and increase it. Page 345
- Comfort to them that have the Effects, but not the Sense of it. Page 346
- What may evidence God's Love to thee, when thou wantest the sense of it. Page 346
- How to discern our Interest in God's Love. Page 365
- How we may know whether God's Love be in us. Page 385
- Love of God to Christ, the grounds of it. Page 340
- The Properties of it. Page 341, 362, 363, 364
- The Fruits and Effects of it. Page 342, 363
- God loved Christ as the Son of God, and as Mediator. Page 337, 362
- In God's loving Christ he loved us. Page 363
- How we should love Christ, as God loved him. Page 338
- Wherein God's Love to Christ and to Saints differ. Page 340
Love of God to the Saints: God loves the Saints as he loved Christ. Page 339, 340, &c.
- The grounds of it. Page 340
- The Properties of it. Page 340, 364
- The Fruits and Effects of it. Page 342
- God would would have the World convinced of his Love to his People, vid. Conviction. Page 347
Love to God, a shame to defer it. Page 364
Love to Brethren, how it is a new Commandment. Page 162
Love of the World, natural to us. Page 222
- The heinousness and danger of the Sin. Page 223
Lust within gives advantage to Temptations without us. Page 129, 216

MAgistrates, whether under Christ as Mediator; Aff. Page l7
- To own the Mediator. Page 18
- Magistrates Duty towards Ministers. Page 274
Manifestation: how Christ manifested God's Name to his People. Page 66
Masters of Families, to pray for their Families. Page 105
Mediator: the Office of a Mediator, wherein it consists. Page 2
- Why God appointed a Mediator. Page 77
- Designation of Christ to this Office. Page 265
- The fitness of Christ for it. Page 265
- Why he must be God. Page 40, 265
- Why he must be Man. Page 266
- What Christ received from God as Mediator. Page 82
- How we should make use of Christ as a Mediator. Page 329
Meditation feeds Joy. Page 190
Members: Believers Members of Christ's Body. Page 75, 158
Memory of former Mercies an Encouragement to ask anew. Page 15
- The weakness of Memory in spiritual things. Page 221
Men, why Christ will teach us by Men, vid. Ministers. Page 65
Merit to be disclaimed. Page 364
Ministers to be called, with the necessity of a Call. Page 41, 274
- To be elected by the People. Page 273
- Ordained by the Elders. Page 273
- Confirmed by the Magistrates. Page 273
- How to make out their Calling to the People. Page 276
- Holiness a good preparative to the Ministry, and why. Page 230
- Ministers have more especial need of Holiness. Page 263
- Their Duty in their Conversation, in their Ministry. Page 281
- Their Dignity. Page 278, 280
- To be faithful in their Charge. Page 171, 181
- To pray for their People. Page 104
- They need the Prayers of their People. Page 105
- Success to be desired of Ministers. Page 277
- People to own their Ministers. Page 277
- Ministers to be respected, both their Message, Calling, and Persons. Page 282, 283
- Hated of the World, and why. Page 193
- The Madness of the World in opposing them. Page 282
- Opposition against them, whence it proceeds. Page 282
- Those that wrong and affront them reproved. Page 284
- Affronts to Ministers redound to Christ. Page 283
- Mission of Ministers, vid. Mission.
Ministry, an Office, and a standing Office. Page 275
- The Mercy of God in the Institution of the Ministry. Page 65, 282
- Those that invade the Office of the Ministry reproved. Page 276
Miracles of Christ generally Actions of Relief. Page 249
- Sufficient Argument to prove the divine Authority of the Scriptures. Page 249
- Not necessary now to confirm the Scriptures, and why. Page 249
- How shall we know that Miracles were truly wrought. Page 249
- Not wrought at Man's will. Page 249
Misery of Man by Nature. Page 376
Mission of Christ, vid. Sent.
Mission of Ministers, who are sent. Page 279
- By whom. Page 279
- To whom. Page 279
- For what end. Page 280
Multitude, no excuse to Wickedness. Page 373

NAme of God, what it signifies. Page 67, 143, 379
- None can discover the Name of God but Christ. Page 381
- How Christ manifested God's Name to his People. Page 66
God's Name made known to the Church by degrees. Page 258, 380
- Why Christ would reveal God's Name to his People by degrees. Page 381
- It is the great Priviledg of the Gospel to know God by his right Name. Page 380
New Birth takes Believers off from the World. Page 250

OBedience establisheth our Joy. Page 189
- Whether Christ as Man was bound to Obedience to the Law of God his Maker. Page 287
- Positive Obedience, vid. Positive.
Occasions of Sin to be avoided. Page 216
Offices of Christ exercised in another manner in Heaven than here. Page 15
- The Sublimi • y of Christ's Office. Page 102
Omissions; whether we are more hardened by Sins of Omission or Commission. Page 228
Oneness; our Happiness lies in being one with God through Christ. Page 333
Opinions novel condemned. Page 165
Opposition: We had need be tender in opposing the godly. Page 202
Ordination of Ministers, the Elders Right. Page 274
- Whether Ordination by the Popish Clergy valid. Page 278
Owning Christ; it is praise worthy to own Christ when the World disowns him. Page 372
- This is a sign of God's Love to us. Page 372
- And of our Sincerity. Page 373

PEnmen of Scriptures, their Fidelity. Page 258
- People, their right to choose their Ministers. Page 273
- Advice to them with respect to their Ministers. Page 277, 283
Perdition: Son of Perdition a Name given to Judas and to Antichrist. Page 174
- Carnal Practices will end in Perdition. Page 175
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 what it is. Page 300, 306
Persecution to be expected by God's People in this World. Page 130, 132
- Wicked Men restrained from Persecution by conviction of Sin on their Hearts. Page 316
Perseverance of Saints built on John 17.11. Page 143
- The Point stated. Page 144
- The Grounds of it. (1.) The Father's Love and Power, (2.) The Son's Merit and Intercession. (3.) The Spirit's Influence. Page 146
- Not a discontinued, but constant Perseverance. Page 145
- This Doctrine not shaken by the Defections of Hypocrites. Page 173
- Doth not exclude Prayer. Page 145
- Still Believers are to be wary. Page 145
- And means of Grace not to be neglected. Page 145
- Exhortation to Perseverance. Page 147
- Should excite to Thankfulness. Page 148
- Yields Comfort to the People of God. Page 149
- When this Doctrine more especially yields Comfort to them. Page 150
Person in the Trinity, what it is. Page 38
Person of Christ, the Dignity of it. Page 101
- The dearness of it to the Father. Page 102
Places; in all Places there are Temptations. Page 215
Pleasure of God's ways. Page 186
- Carnal Pleasure to be despised. Page 186
Plots against the Church destroy the Authors of them. Page 179
- Reasons of it. Page 179
Positive Obedience; we must not only depart from Evil, but do good. Page 228
- Reasons of it. Page 229
- Whether the Trial of a Christian lies in departing from Evil, or doing Good. Page 228
Poverty of Christ upon the Earth. Page 205
Power of Christ over all Flesh, what it is. Page 16
- Exercised for the Churches good. Page 18
Power of the Word. Page 251
- How an Argument of the Truth of it to them that never felt it. Page 252
Powers of the World usually set against Christ. Page 130
Practices carnal will end in Perdition. Page 175
Praising and blessing God, how they differ. Page 49, 139
Prayer must follow Preaching. Page 2
- The use of Words in Prayer. Page 5
- The only Guide in Suffering. Page 8
- Providence doth not hinder Prayer. Page 11
- An Encouragement in Prayer to back Requests with Promises. Page 16
- We are to pray for one another. Page 104
- Whether we may pray for wicked Men. Page 106
- Unto a Prayers of great force. Page 162
- When we pray to God, we must look on him as an Holy Father, vid. Holy Father.
- No coming to God in Prayer, but in an holy State. Page 140
- Prayer helps our Joy. Page 190
Prayer of Christ, why he prayed. Page 4
- Why he prayed aloud. Page 5
- The Object of it. Page 94, 294, 295
- Not the Apostles only. Page 99
- Why Christ prayed for them that should believe hereafter. Page 294
- Why Christ prayed for the Elect. Page 107
- Why Christ prayed not for the reprobate World. Page 101
- Prayers of Christ and Merit of Christ of equal extent. Page 295
- How Christ prayed for his Persecutors. Page 100
- Prayers of Christ a Fountain of Consolation. Page 183
Preaching; some Preaching more apt to convert than others. Page 84
Precepts of the Word show it to be from God. Page 260
Priestly Office of Christ the Parts of it, Oblation and Intercession. Page 103, 338
- The Love of God in Christ gives Confidence in both Parts. Page 338
Prepare: how Christ prepared Heaven for us by his Ascension. Page 123
Presence corporal of Christ why withdrawn, (1.) To try his People. (2.) To make way for his spiritual Presence. Page 126, 127
- Why Christ's Spiritual Presence was not vouchsafed till his Corporal Presence was withdrawn. Page 127
Presence Spiritual of Christ to be looked after by Christians, and the advantage of it. Page 128
Presence with Christ in Heaven, a great part of our Happiness there. Page 352, 353
- The Soul goes immediately to Christ's Presence after Death. Page 352
- And the Body at the Resurrection. Page 353
- Wherein our longing for it appears. Page 356
- Why we should long after it. Page 357
Preservation, means of it. Page 172
- What of God's Name is engaged in the Preservation of his People in Grace. Page 150
- None can preserve us but God. Page 151
- Why we are only preserved by God. Page 151
- God's Preservation should excite us to Dependance, Confidence, and Thankfullness. Page 152
Preservation of Scriptures wonderful. Page 253
Pride of wicked Men impatient of rebukes in the Lives of the godly. Page 201
Privileges outward not to be rested in. Page 180
Profession, Professors, Worldliness of Professors brings Trouble on the Church. Page 195
- Profession not to be deferred till times are quiet. Page 196
- Not till the World is agreed. Page 373
- The excellency of our Profession above others. Page 243
Proficiency of the Apostles in Christ's School. Page 83
Promises of the Word show it to be from God. Page 260
- May be pleaded. Page 45
- Shall be made good. Page 250
  - Objections answered. Page 250
- Why temporal Blessings are in the Promise. Page 251
- What Respect and Reverence is due to the Promises. Page 251
Prophecies of the Word show it to be from God. Page 261
- Always fulfilled. Page 250
Prophetical Office of Christ, vid. Teaching of Christ.
Providence doth not hinder Prayer. Page 1 •
Providence of God in guarding Man is observable. Page 172

REading the Scriptures, the advantage of it. Page 27
- Scriptures to be read with Prayer. Page 28
Receiving Christ, what it is. Page 389
- What it is to receive Christ with all the Heart. Page 94
Receiving the Word, what it is. Page 92
- What it is to receive the Word with all the Heart. Page 93
Reconciliation; the Mercy of God in seeking Reconciliation with us. Page 28 •
Redemption: In the work of Redemption the Father the supreme Author, supreme Cause, supreme Judge. Page 86, 87
- Universal Redemption disproved. Page 105
- Covenant of Redemption, vid. Covenant.
Reformation, after Trials and Reformations come Trials and Probations. Page 194
- God oftentimes promotes Reformation by Troubles. Page 194
- What Call the first Reformers had. Page 277
Rejoicing; what reason a Christian hath to rejoice. Page 189
Religion: no Religion but the Christian Religion the way to Salvation. Page 32
Repentance, the Ingredients of it. Page 179
Repetition of the same Truths grievous to Nature, and why. Page 220
- But profitable to Grace, and why. Page 220
- Not to be grievous to us. Page 221
- Directions to Ministers in repeating the same Truths. Page 222
Resemblance between us and Christ as the Son of God, and as Mediator. vid. Likeness. Page 323
Respect of the World, to be suspected. Page 201
Restraint, wicked Men restrained from Persecution by the Conviction of Sin on their Hearts. Page 316
Resurrection; how Christ was raised by the Father, and how by himself. Page 266
Revelation of God's Will to Adam, to the World, to the Church. Page 240, 241
- Various manners of Revelation of God's Will. (1.) By Word without writing. (2.) By Word and writing. (3.) By writing alone. vid. Scriptures. Page 241, 242
Reverence to be used in Prayer. Page 3, 138
Right; God hath a Right to all we have. Page 55
Righteousness of God, how God is said to be righteous. Page 367
Rule; God's Act his Rule. Page 238
- There must be some Rule from God to guide the Creatures. Page 261
- Light of Nature not a sufficient Rule to fallen Man. Page 239

SAcraments promote our Joy. Page 190
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, the end of it. Page 293
Sacrifice; how Christ was both Priest and Sacrifice. Page 288
- Christ offered himself a Sacrifice. Page 288
- This Sacrifice Christ offered not for himself, Page 288
  - But for all the Elect. Page 289
Sadness of Spirit the causes of it. Page 188
- In some it deserves Pity, in others Rebuke. Page 187
- In Christians disproved. Page 187
- It brings a Scandal on Christ's Spiritual Kingdom, and on the Ways of God. Page 188
- A Christian hath cause of Joy, when he hath Sorrow and Sadness of Spirit. Page 188
Salvation: next to God's Glory, Christ's Aim was our Salvation. Page 13
- The business of our Salvation put into safe Hands. Page 158
- No Salvation out of the true Religion. Page 236
Sanctification; the various senses of the Word. Page 226, 287, 293
- It is actual Election. Page 227
- The difference between Civility and Sanctification. Page 237
- The efficient cause of it, God. Page 229
- We cannot sanctify ourselves. Page 229
- Means cannot do it without God. Page 229
- The Instrument of it, the Word of God. Page 231, 233
  - Chiefly the Gospel. Page 233
  - The Gospel worketh not without the Spirit. Page 233
  - This must be received and applied by Faith. Page 233
    - How Faith sanctifies. Page 234
- How we are sanctified by the Word. Page 291
- Why God sanctifieth by his Word. Page 234
- The Word of God is morally accommodated to this. Page 235
- The Excellency of Sanctification. Page 227
- Why we should pray for it. Page 227
- It is God's aim in all his Dispensations. Page 227
- The end of Christ's Death. Page 290
- Those that are sanctified need to be sanctified more and more. Page 230
Sanctify; what it is to sanctify God. Page 243
- What Christ's sanctifying himself signifies. Page 290
- Why Christ sanctified himself. Page 290
Satisfaction of Christ, the value of it. Page 102
Savior; how Christ saves us. Page 42
Scholars: Believers Scholars of Christ's School. Page 74, 157
Scriptures: the necessity of the Scriptures, or written Word. Page 241
- The advantage we have by the Scriptures above what the Jews and Gentiles had. Page 68
- We are to bless God for the Scriptures. Page 245
- The Scriptures not corrupted. Page 254
- The aim of the Scriptures. Page 261
- To be the Judge of Controversies. Page 262
- To be the constant Rule of Faith and Manners. Page 262
- Reading the Scriptures, vid. Reading.
- Divine Authority of Scriptures, why we should inquire into it. Page 242
- Sufficiently assured to us. Page 245
- More Reason to believe, than doubt it. Page 261
- How to settle the Conscience concerning it. Page 261
- What they shall do that stagger about it. Page 244
- Whether wicked Men can have any absolute assurance of the truth of it. Page 243
- Arguments to prove it. Page 246
External: (1.) How God hath owned them. Page 246
- (2.) How the Church hath owned them by Tradition, by Martyrdom. Page 255, 256
- The Churches duty to the Scriptures. Page 255
- What respect we ought to bear to the Churches Testimony. Page 255
- (3.) How the malignant World hath owned them. Page 256
Internal Arguments. Page 257
- (1.) The manner and form of them. Page 257
- The Majesty, and yet the Simplicity of the Style of Scriptures. Page 257
- The Harmony of the Scriptures. Page 258
- The Impartiality of them. vid. Penmen of Scriptures. Page 259
- (2.) The matter of Scriptures, vid. Precepts, Promises, Doctrines, Histories, Prophecies.
Self-Concei • , the causes of it. Page 365
Self-Murder, the sinfulness of it. Page 212
Sending of Ministers, vid. Mission of Ministers.
Sent; Christ was sent by the Father. Page 263
- What it implies. Page 25, 40, 264
- The ends of it. Page 267
- Christ's Condescension in submitting to be sent. Page 269
Sending of Christ, and sending the Apostles compared. Page 270, 271
Separation, a great Crime. Page 165
- What grounds of Separation warrantable. Page 165
Shame, the way to Glory. Page 10
Sight of Christ, the greatness of the Priviledg. Page 360
- vid. Vision.
Sin committed against God chiefly as the wronged Party and highest Judge. Page 86, 263
- Makes God stand at a distance from us. Page 335
Sin prevails by degrees. Page 176
- Wilful Sins, the danger of them. Page 174
Sitting of Christ at God's Right-hand, what it implies. Page 62
Snares; the World full of Snares. Page 214
Sorrow: the Nature of Man more acquainted with Sorrow than Pleasures. Page 186
- vid. Sadness of Spirit.
Spirit; how it confirms the Word. Page 27, 85
- Given to promote Unity. Page 164
- Testimony of the Spirit, how discerned. Page 253
- How we should know whether we have the Spirit of Christ. Page 306, 386
Spirit of the World to be avoided. Page 207
- How it maybe discerned. Page 207
Success to be desired by Ministers. Page 277
- Of the Doctrine the Scripture teacheth. Page 246
Sufferings of Christ the greatness of them. Page 287
- He willingly underwent them, vid. Willingness.
- Did not fall out by chance. Page 180
- Were appointed by the Father. Page 7
- Foretold by the Prophets. Page 8
- Always attended with some Glory. Page 9
Sufferings of God's People short. Page 8
- God's People to prepare for them. Page 194
  - vid Troubles.
- When they come, do not think strange at them. Page 195
- How to know when God is about to bring Trouble on the Church. Page 164
- Cautions in suffering for Christ. Page 117
- Christ hath Experience of his Peoples Sufferings. Page 134

TEaching of Christ the manner of it. Page 69
- Christ the great Teacher of the Church. Page 74
Temptations fitted to every State. Page 135
- To every Condition, Calling, Action, Place. Page 214, 215,
- Lust within gives advantage to Temptations without. Page 129, 260
Tender: God is tender of his Truth and Saints. Page 239, 337
Threatenings of the Word always fulfilled. Page 250
- Objections answered. Page 250
Titles of God in Scripture suited to Requests made to him. Page 136, 349, 367
Toleration, Arguments against it. Page 236
Treason against Christ, one of Judas 's Sins. Page 175
- To be avoided. Page 178
Trinity, the Doctrine of the Trinity opened and proved. Page 37
- vid. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , Person.
- How we are to imitate the Trinity. Page 168, 309
Truth a great Treasure. Page 236
Truth of the Scriptures; Scriptures must be fulfilled. Page 182
- vid. Scriptures Divine Authority.

VIctory over evil to be preferred before Exemption from it. Page 213
Vision of Christ in Heaven ocular and mental, what. Page 358, 359
- Why our Happiness lies in it. Page 359
Vision, the cause of all Fruition in Heaven. Page 359
- It shall be comfortable. Page 361
- Who are they that shall see Christ in Heaven. Page 361
Union moral of Believers one with another what it is, vid. Unity. Page 106, 303
Union mystical of Believers with Christ, what it is. Page 160, 301, 389
- The whole Trinity is concerned in this Union. Page 301
- Whole Christ is united to a whole Believer. Page 301
- This Union is secret and mysterious, but real. Page 302
- Illustrated by the Union of Head and Members. Page 302
  - And by the Conjugal Union. Page 390
- All the Ordinances have an aspect on our Union with Christ. Page 332
- How this Union is brought about, and in what order. Page 389
- What the Act of Faith is, whereby we are united to Christ. Page 389
- The end of it. Page 333
- The advantages Believers have by it▪ Page 305
- Glory the Fruit of Union as well as Grace. Page 326
- The Honor and Happiness of those that are united to Christ. Page 304, 305
- The Resemblance between the Mystical Union and the Union of the Divine and Human Nature in Christ. Page 308
- The disagreement between these two Unions. Page 308
- The Resemblance between the Mystical Union, and the Union of Father and Son in the Trinity. Page 308
- Why Christ prayeth for this Union. Page 303
- How we may know we are united to Christ. Page 305, 391
- Those who are united to Christ to look for greater things than they enjoy. Page 326
- This should teach us Dependance. Page 331
- What those Fruits are of it whereby the World is convinced of the Truth of Christianity, vid. Conviction. Page 311, 320
Unity of Believers hath some resemblance of the Unity of the Divine Persons. Page 167
- What is contrary to it. Page 165
- To be prayed for. Page 163
- Believers to be earnest for it. Page 165
- How much Christ's Heart is set on the Unity of his Members. Page 161
  - vid. Love of Brethren.
- Why Christ so earnestly prays for it. Page 162
- Arguments to press it. Page 166
- It is possible to be attained. Page 163
- What an excellent Blessing it is. Page 162
- The need the Church hath of it. Page 163
- Directions to attain it. Page 166
- Directions to restore it. Page 166
- How God keepeth the Saints together. Page 168
Unity between God and Christ. Page 307
Unworthiness: what we should do when dejected with a sense of our Unworthiness. Page 344
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , the Original and Signification of the Word, vid. Person. Page 38

WAiting • n God a Duty, though we want outward Supplies. Page 172
Walk: Christians to walk wisely towards them that are without. Page 203
Warning: Sinners to take warning by Iudgments on others. Page 180
Watching; what a Believer should watch against. Page 216
Watching and Prayer should go together. Page 216
Welcome of Christ by the Father at his Ascension. Page 123
Willingness of Christ to undertake the Work of Redemption. Page 286
- And to suffer. Page 9, 287
Word of God; the necessity of God's giving us a Word. Page 238
- What it is. Page 240
- To be reverenced. Page 250
- How given to Christ. Page 88
- The proper means to work Faith. Page 88
  - vid. Faith.
- It will work without Miracles. Page 89
- The Spirit will not work without it. Page 89
- The Power of it to convert Souls. Page 89
- The Truth of it, vid. Scripture Divine Authority.
- It helps our Joy. Page 190
Work: every Man hath his Work. Page 52
- This Work is given to him by God. Page 53
- This Work must be finished. Page 54
World; why God permits his People to be in the World. Page 131
- The weakness of the World. Page 105
- The danger of living in the World. Page 129, 214
- The Enemies we meet with in the World. Page 130
- Christ apprehensive of his Peoples danger in this World, and why. vid. Da • ger. Page 133
- Why we should grow weary of the World. Page 135
- How Christians are not of this World. Page 204
- Why Christians are not of this World. Page 204
- Characters of those that live as if they were of this World. Page 206
- How to know whether our Hearts are set on this World, vid. Heart. Page 206, 207
- How should a Christian know when the Wor • d encroacheth upon him. Page 217
- We can never enough be cautioned against the World. Page 222
Worldly Conversation, wherein seen. Page 209
Worldly Men, their dangerous Estate. Page 106
- Men of the World apt to defile the People of God. Page 130
- How the People of God differ from the Men of the World. Page 191
Worldly Spirit to be avoided. Page 224
Worldly things are frail. Page 148
Worldliness expressed by Adultery and Idolatry, and why. Page 217, 223
- Arguments against it. Page 223
Worldliness of Professors brings Troubles on the Church. Page 195
Worship; God to be worshipped in an holy manner. Page 142
- We should go away the more holy from Worship. Page 142

A TABLE Of the Places of Scriptures explained in this PART.

			Pag.
GEn.	3.	15.	197
19.	17.	216
Ex.	28.	12, 29.	265
29.	4.	230
1 Sam.	2.	9.	171
	25.	86, 264
Job	1.	5.	105
4.	18.	138
31.	14.	56
Psalm	14.	1.	33
16.	3, 4.	106
19.	7, 8, 9.	235
24.	7, 8.	253
	11.	122
25.	14.	372
62.	10.	209
93.	ult.	140
112.	96.	235, 259
Proverb.	8.	12.	91
13.	17.	281
14.	13.	187
18.	10.	152
29.	27.	197
30.	8, 9.	214
Eccles.	2.	2.	187
Cant.	2.	2.	243
	13.	97
Isaiah	11.	6, 7.	164
34.	16.	181
43.	11.	132
51.	9.	16
52.	7.	280
63.	1, 2, 3.	122
Jerem.	6.	16.	240
	20.	176
Daniel	7.	13.	122
Matth.	6.	13.	213
7.	29.	257
8.	8, 9.	28
	12.	370
9.	6.	86
12.	4.	154
15.	6.	117
19.	27, 28.	114
20.	23.	350
22.	5.	115
23.	29, 30.	129
24.	14.	193
26.	39.	101
28.	20.	271
Mark	13.	9.	193
Luke	1.	17.	258
4.	4.	276
	17.	207
21.	13.	193
23.	43.	252
John	1.	4.	232
3.	3.	349
5.	19.	87
6.	27.	86, 264
7.	17.	262
8.	27.	207
10.	36.	86
12.	28.	11
	42, 43.	311
13.	10.	230
	27.	287
	34.	162
14.	1.	296
	28.	25
15.	19.	197
16.	8, 9, 10, 11.	312
	15.	110
	26, 27.	11.
	28.	98
	30.	40
17.	5.	269
	12.	76, 153
	20.	100
	22.	164
	26.	100
Acts	1.	12.	121
	18.	177
2.	21.	31
	33.	63
5.	30, 31.	313
6.	3.	273
9.	6.	304
	15.	275
13.	12.	272, 273
16.	7.	279
19.	14, 15.	274
20.	28.	265
Romans	4.	25.	87
5.	5.	384
6.	23.	19
8.	23.	349
11.	29.	146
15.	3.	13
1 Corint.	2.	4.	92
2.	14.	243, 375
6.	17.	302
10.	31.	51
11.	32.	211
12.	4.	164
15.	24.	22, 73, 157
	28.	334
	32.	193
2 Corinth.	3.	3.	321
	18.	281
4.	4.	130, 374.
5.	9.	117
12.	9.	131
Galatians	4.	45.	41, 264, 265
	29.	198
6.	14.	222
Ephes.	1.	10.	161
	23.	304
2.	3.	363
	14, 15, 16.	164
	19.	109
3.	12.	298
	17.	355
4.	6.	164
	24.	141
5.	14.	232
6.	20.	282, 284
Philippian.	1.	1.	274
	23.	352
3.	15, 16.	163
Colossians	1.	24.	304
	27, 28.	280
2.	3.	328
	15.	123
3.	3.	347
	14.	162
	24.	349
2 Thess.	1.	7, 8.	315
1 Tim.	4.	12.	281
2 Tim.	3.	18.	29
Titus	2.	14.	108
3.	3.	365
Hebrews	1.	1.	241
2.	3.	319
	18.	134
3.	1.	41, 25, 157, 267
4.	1.	147
	2.	234
	16.	151
6.	12.	132
8.	3.	134
	4.	124
12.	9.	146
	24.	129
10.	14.	146
	22.	94
12.	14.	140
	15.	198
James	5.	10.	193
2 Pet.	1.	19.	245
1 John	1.	5.	137
3.	1.	340
1 John	3.	9.	148
	12.	197
5.	6.	84, 252
Revelat.	5.	8.	118
21.	27.	154

ERRATA.

PAge 2. line 3. for free, read first. P. 5. l. 12. r. he prayeth as God-Man. P. 16. l. 31. f. agrue r. argue. P. 32. l. 50. f. this, r. his. P. 35. l. 36. f. sure, r. sore. P. 46. l. 15. f. then, r. when. l. 25. f. general, r. several. P. 48. l. 15. f. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , r. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . l. 20. f. this r. the. P. 57. l. 39. f. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , r. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . P. 71. l. 38. f. & tamen, r. attamen. P. 86. l. 58. r. John 6.27. P. 113. l. 33. r. this is one. P. 123. l. 41. dele (;) P. 125. l. 2. r. Accusations. P. 134. l. 19. f. it, r. I. P. 136. l. 35. f. in, r. of. P. 141. l. 30. f. an Act, r. a Care. P. 143. l. 8. f. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 r. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . P. 149. l. 54. f. Goal, r. Goel. P. 154. l. 56. f. Gift, r. Reward. P. 163. l. 33. r. to a sick Person. P. 183. l. 32. f. must, r. might. P. 186. l. 5. f. libera • , r. liberatio. P. 195. l. 36. r. whippeth it out again by the World. God will, &c. P. 211. l. 38. after themselves, add in the depth of Sorrow. P. 222. l. 26. f. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , r. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . P. 241. l. 17. f. Creatures, r. Nations. P. 249. l. 21. f. lessen, r. beseem. P. 250. l. 67. f. Promises, r. promised. P. 263. l. 10. r. as a thing done. P. 312. l. 27. r. as to be put to silence. P. 359. l. 15. f. Men, r. even. P. 370. l. 6. f. Love, r. loose. P. 374. l. 43. f. no, r. not. P. 382. l. 16. dele (), l. 34. f. mere, r. more. P. 388. l. 5. f. Representation, r. representative. P. 392. l. 35. f. these, r. there.

SERMONS UPON THE SIXTH CHAPTER OF THE ROMANS.

SERMON I.

ROM. VI.1, 2.

What shall we say then? shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid! How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

THE drift of the Apostle in this Chapter is to show, That free justification by Faith in Christ greatly tendeth to promote Holiness, which he first proveth from the tenor of Christianity, and then exhorteth the justified to get, increase, and exercise this Holiness in all their actions.

In these Words there are three things,

1. An Objection supposed.
2. A Rejection of it with abhorrence and indignation.
3. A Confutation of it.

First, The Objection is a preposterous Inference from what the Apostle had said, Chap. 5.20. That where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. The Apostle propoundeth it by way of interrogation, What shall we say then? shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? The words may be conceived as a slander raised by Jewish prejudice to make the Doctrine of the Gospel odious, as if it did foster people in sin; an unjust calumny! Or as a temptation incident to loose, carnal, and careless Christians, who are apt to abuse Grace, and have such wretched reasonings in their own hearts, that they might take the more liberty to sin, that the Grace of God might thereby appear more illustrious and abundant. You may therefore look upon it as produced either as a check to an Objection already made, or as a prevention of an Abuse that might afterwards be made.

Secondly, He rejecteth this Inference as absurd and blasphemous, by a form of speech familiar to him. Gal. 2.17. Rom. 3.8.31. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , let this thought be far from us, or this is a thing that all Christian Hearts should abominate.

Thirdly, Paul 's Reason against it, or Confutation of it, represented in an emphatical Interrogation, How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? Where Observe,

First, That to continue in sin, and live longer in sin, are equivalent expressions; for in the Objection the expression is, shall we continue in sin? But in the Apostles Answer and Argument to the contrary, it is, can we live any longer therein?

Secondly, Observe that before Grace, we lived in sin; for when he sai •• , any longer, he implieth, that we were given to sin, enslaved by sin before; but shall we continue this course? far be it from us to think so, or say so, much more to do so.

Thirdly, Observe the Argument lieth here, we that are dead, &c. All that have given their names to Christ, are, or should be dead to sin; now to be dead to sin, and live in sin, are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , things incompetible, the dead are no longer alive.

Because this is the strength of his Argument, it will be good to inquire what it is to be dead to sin. In the strict and rigorous notion, he is said to be dead, who is utterly deprived of all sense and motion, that they are altogether without all feeling and motion of sin; but this strict sense will not stand here, therefore I must tell you the word relateth to the Baptismal Ingagement, as the following verses abundantly do declare, v. 3. Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? Baptism referreth to Christ's Death, and we are baptized into the likeness and power of his Death; the meaning of that Ordinance is to signify our dying to sin, and rising to newness of life; this is that which every Christian knoweth, if he be but a little instructed in the Principles of his Religion. Well then, every good Christian is dead to sin by Vow and Obligation, therefore cannot, should not live any longer therein. There is a double undertaking in Baptism, one on God's part, the other on ours; the undertaking on God's part is to give us the sanctifying Spirit of Grace, to quell the reign of sin; the undertaking on our part, is by the Spirit to mortify the deeds of the Body: Now some make Conscience of this solemn Vow and Promise, others do not; the Apostle considereth not what is done, but what ought to be done; he speak-the de jure, of the Vow and Obligation, we are all bound; not de facto, of the event; not what always cometh to pass: All Christians are bound to be dead to sin, and every good Christian is actually dead to sin, which though it hath some Life and being left, yet it retaineth not its Sovereignty and Dominion over him. Some conceive this latter sort intended, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , as many of us as have died to sin: But rather he considereth the Right than the Fact ; Christianity doth oblige all at their first entrance into the Profession of it, to renounce the Reign and Dominion of sin, and break the power of it yet more and more, so that it dieth, though a lingering Death, as Christ did upon the Cross.

Doctrine. That to take occasion to live in sin, from free Grace or God's mercy to sinners in Christ, is an inference most unjust, absurd, and blasphemous; and that which all Christians hearts should abominate.

Here in the Text such an inference is mentioned with a denial joined with a detestation of the thing denied, the very thought and first mention of it ought to be entertained with abhorrency.

I. I will prove that the corrupt heart of man is apt to draw such a consequence.

II. I will prove the three charges:

First, That it is very unjust and ill grounded.
Secondly, Absurd and contradictory to Christianity.
Thirdly, Wicked and blasphemous.

I. That the corrupt Heart of man is apt to draw such inferences from the Doctrine of Grace. In the general, carnal men are ill skilled at reasoning about spiritual matters. Solomon telleth us, Prov. 26.9. That a parable in a fools mouth is like a thorn in the hand of a drunkard. As a drunkard with a sharp thorn grievously hurts himself and others, neither his mind nor hand can do their office, when the man is distempered with drink; so 'tis with men intoxicated by sin, witness those contrary and different Conclusions, which the carnal and spiritual will draw from the same Principles: from the stated course of Nature the sco •• ers said, 2 Pet. 3.4. Where is the promise of his coming? for since the Fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation. David reasoneth the quite contrary way, Psal. 119.89, 90, 91. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations, thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. So 1 Cor. 15.32. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die: with 1 Cor. 7.29, 30. But this I say, Brethren, the time is short, it remains that both they that have wives, be as though they that had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not. So 2 Sam. 7.2. The King said unto Nathan the Prophet, See now I dwell in an house of Cedar, but the Ark of God dwelleth within curtains: with Haggai 1.2. This people say, The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built. So 2 Kings 6.33. Behold, this evil is of the Lord, what should I wait for the Lord any longer? with 1 Sam. 3.18. It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. So Mary Magdalene upon Christ's pardoning her sin, was more abundant in duty, and mourning for sin, Luk. 7.47. Her sins, which were many, are forgiven; for she loved much: and in the Text, the directly contrary conclusion is drawn, sin because grace doth abound, maketh work for pardoning mercy. But particularly, it is very natural to us to abuse the Gospel, and plead God's grace to quiet and strengthen ourselves in security and sin; the thoughts of men do easily incline them to such conclusions. That which hath been may be; that this hath been, appeareth by the Writings of the Apostles, who everywhere seek to obviate this abuse, and also by evident Reason.

1. We all affect liberty to a degree of licentiousness. This is natural to us, as appeareth by our distaste of Christ's strict Laws, Psal. 2.3. Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us, and our ready hearkening to Seducers, who promise liberty, though they bring us into bondage to sin, 2 Pet. 2.19. and we be the more enslaved to baseness and filthiness.

2. The flesh taketh all occasions to indulge itself, and that it may be done in a plausible cleanly manner, and with less remorse from Conscience, it catcheth at every pretence to countenance it. Sometimes it makes use of bodily Austerities, as a compensation for their sins; and so Hypocrisy, Superstition and Profaneness grow on the same Root. The sensual Nature of men is such, that it is loath to be crossed, which produceth Profaneness; for therefore do men indulge themselves in all manner of sensuality, because they are loath to deny their natural appetites and desires, and row against the stream of Flesh and Blood: but if Nature must be crossed, or else they cannot palliate their carnal indulgences, then they will not mortify the lust, but afflict the body for a while, and in some slight manner, which produceth Hypocrisy, and we excuse the partiality of our obedience by some outward shows of strictness: as Isa. 58.5. They afflict the soul for a day, or bow down the head like a bulrush: and so in the external actions of other Duties. That this deceit may be more strong, they exceed in outward Observances, and that produceth Superstition, or some by-Laws of our own, by which we hope to expiate our sins; as to whip, and gash ourselves. Micah 6.6, 7. Wherewithal shall I come before the Lord, and • ow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? On the other side, if men's Tempers, Education and strain of Religion carry them to another way, and they are all for the Grace of the Gospel, without the Rudiments of men, the Devil knows how to charm and lull Souls asleep in sin by that way of Profession also; and so many take liberty to sin under the pretence, that God may have more occasion to exercise his mercy; and our proneness to please the flesh is countenanced by presumptions of Grace, and the supposition of unreasonable Indulgences of God to the faulty Creature: Psal. 50.21. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence, thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself. God will not be so severe, as is commonly imagined, and so lessening God's Holiness, they abate their Reverence of him. Psal. 68.19, 20, 21. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation, Selah. He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death. But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses. He seeketh to obviate their conceit, how great soever the riches of his Bounty and Grace offered in Christ be, yet he is irreconcilable to those that cease not to follow a course of sin.

3. This conceit is strengthened in us, because many that profess Christianity live licentiously: All sins propagate their kind, and among others abuse of Grace: we see others have great hopes and confidence in Christ, notwithstanding their carnal and worldly course of living, and self-love prompteth us, that we may hope to fare as well as they; and so we leaven one another with a dead, loose, carnal sort of Christianity, instead of provoking each other to love and good works, Heb. 10.24. Self-love is very partial, and loath to think evil of our condition: now this cannot be justified by the Laws of Christianity, yet it is often justified by the lives of Christians; after this Rule they live in the World, and we think we may do as others do.

4. There is another cause, that is, Satan, who abuseth the weakness of some Teachers, and the ignorance of some Hearers, to misapply the Grace of the Gospel, and the comforts of Justification, to countenance their sins. The Devil knoweth, we will not receive his Doctrine in his own Name, and therefore doth what he can to usurp the Name of Christ, and to obtrude his Commands upon us in the Name of Christ, and so conveyeth poison to you by the Perfume of the Gospel: and if he can set Christ against Christ, his Merits and Mercy against his Government and Spirit, his Promises against his Laws, Justification against Sanctification, he knoweth, that he obtaineth his end and purpose, that the Gospel, which was set up to destroy the works of the Devil, will be a means to cherish his Kingdom in the World. And on the Hearers part, he abuseth them also; carnal hearts turn all into fuel for their lusts, and with the more pretence, if they can allege a Dispensation from God himself to serve and please the flesh, and no harm shall come of it. A little trusting in Christ shall serve the turn, though they live never so impure lives. I ascribe all this to Satan, because all Error is from him, who is the Father of Lyes, who often obtrudeth upon the simple credulity of Christians his own Gospel instead of Christ's, and by a partial representation of Christ's Gospel, destroyeth the whole.

II. I come now to make good the Charge.

First, That this inference is very unjust and ill grounded. The Pretence here are those words of the Apostle in the two last verses of the former Chapter.