*''^A^^i<*%»,.#^^ v.^
- rTnMBMr"^^'"^'*^'^^'''*^'*'''^'^"^'"
•A\<,\V^^i
^v\sv
<>i iwt ®iwo%««r ^,^^^.^
%
PRINCETON, N. J-
Shelf.
Divisioi:
Section .,
Niunber .
-»
^.
>5;^-
m:
K.ncbinj-cn del. cC St.
Pi.Loliih.ed Iry Henrj^ Tisjier, Caztoiu LanioiL. 1523.
WORKS
OF
ISAAC AMBROSE,
SOMETIME MINISTER
OP
GARSTANG, IN LANCASHIRE;
NAMELY,
THE PRACTICE OF SANCTIFICATION,
EXEMPLIFIED IN THE BELIEVERS PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES.
iloofemjj unto S^sus;
OR,
THE SOUL'S EYEING OF JESUS AS CARRYING ON THE GREAT WORK
OF
MANS SALVATION^
AND, THE
MINISTRATION OF, AND COMMUNION WITH,
ANGELS,
WITH A SHORT MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY HENRY PISHEK, AT THE CAXTON PRES3,
( Printer to His Majesty J
PUBLISHED AT 38, NEWGATE STREET 3 AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSEI LERS.
BRIEF MEMOIR
OP THE
/2^F. IS^^C AMBROSE, B. A.
-ii'
>•( The subject of this Memoir, a native of Lancashire, was a
descendant of an ancient and respectable family of Ambrose
Hail in that County. His father was a clergyman ; but of his
personal history little is known. His situation in life, however,
enabled him to favour his son with a liberal education, every
way suited for the ministerial functions which he was trained up
to discharge.
Having obtained a competent degree of learning from local
seminaries, Isaac was sent to the University of Oxford, and in
1621 was admitted into Brazen Nose College, where he took a
degree of Bachelor of Arts.
In Mr. Rees* Cyclopedia it is asserted, ^^ that in 1641 he left
the Established Church, joined the Presbyterian Party, took the
covenant, and preached first at Garstang, and afterwards at Pi*es-
ton, in his native county ; and that his zeal against the established
Clergy, recommended him to the office of assistant to the com-
missioners, for ejecting such as were called scandalous and ig-
norant ministers, and schoolmasters."
Of these particulars, which, although they compliment his
piety and zeal, indirectly charge him with being influenced by
the fanatical spirit of the times. Dr. Calamy, in his account of
the Ejected Ministers, takes no notice, with the exception of his
preaching at the two places above mentioned ; but even of these,
the order is inverted. In the Nonconformist Memorial, we are
informed, that he was for some time minister of Preston, that
from thence he removed to Garstang, where the act of Uniformity
found him in 1662.
It appears, that soon after the Restoration of Charles II.
when the clouds began to gather round the Church, which led
to the tempest, from the awful effects of which she has not yet
recovered, a meeting was held at Bolton by about twenty minis-
ters, of which number Mr. Ambrose was one, to consult what
course they should take in the present alarming crisis. At this
meeting Mr. Ambrose and Mr. Cole of Preston declared, in the
presence of their brethren, that they would read the Common
MEMOIR OF THE REV. JSAAC AMBROSE.
Prayer^ and should do it, the state of their respective places
requiring it ; and that otherwise their services among their con-
gregation would necessarily be at an end. The ministers present,
considering the circumstances of their case, approved of this
decision. But Mr. Cole, afterwards Dr. Cole, declaring that he
could not thus far comply, was turned out from Preston, He,
however, found some stronger motive in Essex than operated in
Preston, since he finally conformed, and became a lecturer at
Dedham in that county. - o. : , ^
With respect to Mr. Ambrose, notwithstanding the preceding
declaration, it is well known that he lived and died a Noncon-
formist ; but of the particular circumstances which led to the
steps in which his character became decided, we have no account.
We are, however, in possession of facts that are of much more
importance ; namely, that he was a man of substantial worth,
of eminent piety, and that, for his exemplary life, he was highly
respected both as a private Christian, and an approved minister
of God. It is to be lamented, that his contemporaries had not
collected and preserved a narrative of the various incidents which
marked his life, of his unwearied assiduity in composing his va-
rious publications, of his manner of living, of his family, and as-
sociates, and of the superintending providence of God over him,
when for conscience sake he abandoned his prospects of aggran-
disement, and even surrendered his livelihood.
In his manner of life, there is one particular circumstance that
deserves to be recorded. It was his custom, once in every year,
to withdraw from all human society for about a month, which
time he spent in a small hut that w\as erected in a wood not far
from his dwelling, giving himself up to meditation, prayer, and
divine contemplation. Much of this spirit, which may be sup-
posed to be cherished by a holy man in solitude, appears in his
writings; and no doubt, by this means he became better quali-
fied for the discharge of his ministerial duties throughout the
rest of the year.
The latter part of his life was spent at Preston, in warning
and exhorting those around him, to make preparation for their
approaching dissolution, enforcing, by his pious example, the
precepts which he taught. As his end drew near, he appears
to have had a strong presentiment of the solemn event. Though
in perfect health, on paying a visit to his distant friends, he took
his leave of them under a serious conviction that he should see
them no more ; and on his returning to his home, he proceeded
to set every thing m order against the termination of his mortal
career.
The intelligence of this awful presentiment reaching his
absent friends, many, particularly from among his hearers at
Garstang, came to visit him. These he received with his usual
cheerfulness j and after giving them pious counsel, and converging
MEMOIR OF THE REV. ISAAC AMBROSE.
freely on the things of God, he informed them that he was now
ready to depart whenever his Lord should think fit to summons
him to appear before his fLice, as he had finished all that he
ever intended to write, and on the preceding evening had sent
away his -Discourse concerning Angels to the press. When his
friends were about to take their leave, he accompanied them to
the door, and waited until they had mounted their horses j and
having taken his leave, he came back, shutting himself in his
parlour, the place of his soUloquy, meditation, and prayer. Being
thought to tarry longer than usual, the door was opened, and he
was found just expirmg. The state in which he was discovered
rendered all assistance unavailing, his mortal course being brouo-ht
to an end. This took place in the year 1664, in the 72d year of
his age.
His character may be comprised in a few expressions : — He
was holy in life, happy in his death, honoured of God, and held
in high estimation by all good men.
His works, which are numerous, are still read with much
respect and profit, and no doubt they will long continue in re-
quest, among the pious of all denominations. Of these works
tlie following are the titles : Prima, Media, et Ultima; or Re-
generation, Sanctitication, and Meditations on Man's Misery and
God's Mercy. — Looking unto Jesus. — ^War with devils. — Minis-
tration of, and communion with, Angels, &c. — ^These works,
though they had previously appeared, were all collected and
printed together in folio in the year 1689. Since that time seve-
ral of them have repeatedly been published in various forms, and
in some few instances, from the liberty which has been taken
with them, they have been made to speak a language which their
author never intended. To this edition, these charges cannot
apply.
On the amiable spirit which these writings breathe, the im-
portant doctrines which they inculcate, and the practical godli-
ness which they invariably enforce, but one opinion can be enter-
tained. Like the writings of Baxter, they have a vigorous pulse
beating in every page ; and it will be difficult to select a para-
graph in which the author does not appear in earnest for the
salvation of his readers. It is this sacred principle, rather than
the learning (though even of this they are by no means destitute)
which they display, that has brought them downward on the
stream of time to the present hour ; while many that could boast
of more splendid diction and outward decorations, have sunk to
rise no more.
In his treatise on Communion with Angels, he has collected
together a mass of evidence in fav'^our of his positions, much
stronger than might have been expected. His conclusions he
has also attempted to fortify by making an appeal to recorded
incidents. Many of these, however, being taken from the dark
MEMOIR OF THE KEV. ISAAC AMBROSE.
ages^ and others being of doubtful authority, it is very probable,
that in the eyes of several judicious readers, he will appear to
have injured the cause he intended to promote. This work dis-
plays strong powers of mind, an acuteness of mvestigation, and
much learning ; but notwithstanding its numerous excellencies,
it must be acknowledged, that fancy appears predominant in
jnany parts 5 and, in its wild exuberances, attributes to super-
natural agency, various phenomena which might be traced to
natural/causes. Many of the incidents which he has recorded
are, of a very remarkable character, but by no means improbable.
But there are others which are of such a nature, as to stagger
eyen credulity itself.
These blemishes are however, of little moment, when com-
pared with the life and power that he has infused into the various
subjects of which he treats. These are so strong and so influ-
ential, that the most insensible can scarcely read without catching
something of his pious spirit, and admiring that devotional feeling
which ammates every sentence.
Mr. Ambrose was one of those excellent divines, by which the
turbulent age in which he lived was distinguished. These, in
their combined effulgence, irradiated the gloom of moral darkness
which then prevailed, and it is to their indefatigable exertions
that we are indebted for many blessings which we now enjoy.
He was a star of no common magnitude, in that bright constella-
tion of worthies, who have enriched the world by their writings,
and bequeathed their example to posterity.
CONTENTS.
The Doct?ine of Regeneration,
The occasion and method of this Treatise,/?, 28. — First means
to get into the new birth, ib. — Second means, 34, — ^Tliird
means, 35. — Means to be delivered out of the pangs of the
new birth, 37.
Directions to a Man iri the Act of the New Birth,
The Soul's preparation, 40. — General circumstances of prepara-'
tion on God's part, 41. — Substantial parts of preparation on
God's part, 44. — Substantial parts of preparation on Man's
part, 50.— -Call on God's part for the soul to close with, and
to rely on, Christ, 61 . — Answer on Man's part for the soul
to close with, and to rely on Christ, 62. — Growing of the
soul with Christ, 73.
The Practice of Sanctification,
The Believer's privileges, 7^- — Gf duties in general, 7^- — ^The
equity of duties, ih, — Insufficiency of duties, t'A. — Healing
of duties, 80. — No resting in duties, 81. — Use and end (J
duties, 83.- — Essential requisites in duties, 85.
Of Self Denial,
The nature of self-denial, 87- — Denial of sinful self, %b. — Denial
of our external relations, 89. — ^Denial of our special gifts,
92. — Denial of our worldly profits, 94. — Denial of our
worldly pleasures, 97. — -Denial of our honour, praise, and
good name among men, 49. — ^Denial of our life for Jesus
Christ, 101. — Self-denial even with regard to the graces of
God, 103.
Of the Life of Faith,
The nature of the life of faith, 107.— Manner of tliis life of faith
in particular, as in temporal evils, 109. — Manner of this life
of faith in temporal blessings. Ml. — Manner of this life of
faith in spiritual evils, IH.-^Manner of this life of faith in
CONTENTS,
spiritual blessings, as derived to us from God in Christ, and
the spirit of Christ, 1 15. — Manner of tliis life of faith in
spiritual graces, 118. — Manner of this life of faith in spi-
ritual duties, 120. — Manner of this life of faith in things
eternal, 121.*— Manner of this life of faith in regard of
others, 122.
Of Family D-uties,
The nature of family duties, 124. — Preparatives to family duties,
125. — Duties of governors in general, ih, — ^Duties of parents
to their children, 127. — Duties of masters to servants, 129. — •
Duties of the husband and wife, 130. — Duties of children to
parents, 134. — Duties of servants to their masters, 135.
Looking unto Jesus,
Address to the Reader, ---------- 1 37
Book I. Looking unto Jesus, the beginner and finisher ~> ,.,
of our faith ------------j
Book II. Looking unto Jesus from the Creation until hisi , -. .
first coming ----.------ J
Book 111. Looking unto Jesus in his Birth, - - - 205
Book IV. Looking unto Jesus in his Life, ----- 249
Book V. Looking unto Jesus in his Death, ----- 299
Book VI. Looking unto Jesus in his ResuiTCction, - - 348
Book Vll. Looking unto Jesus in his Ascension, Session -» 001
and Mission of his Spirit, ------- /
Book Vlll. Looking unto Jesus in his Intercession, - - 413
Book IX. Looking unto Jesus in his second coming, - - 441
The Ministration of and Communion with Angels,
The coherence and division of the text, Heb. i. 14. 473. — Scrip-
tures for Angels' Ministration, 480. — Reasons for Angels'
ministration, 482. — The time when Angels first begin their
ministration, 495. — Ministration of Angels in our Infancy
and Childhood, 500. — Ministration of Angels in our riper
years, 509. — Ministration of Angels at @ur Death, 538. —
Ministration of Angels at our Resurrection, 535.
WORKS
OF
mAA(B AieieiE®^!!.
^larf^w iRJYop
• DOCTRINE '^^- '^"V '««'
REGENERATION.C^^^^
Except a man be horn again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John iii. 3.
In the prosecution of these words, we shall follow the order
set down by the Holy Ghost ; where is,
1. The necessity of it.
2. The generality of it.
3. The manner of it.
4. The issue of it.
First, the necessity of it : Except a man be new born, he can
never be saved. It is our Saviour's speech, and he avers it
with a double asseveration. Verily, verily, I say unto thee.
Again, God the Father thus counsels, not only Nicodemus,
but all the Jews of the old church, saying. Make you a new
heart and a neio spirit, for why will you die, O house of Israel ?
Ezek. xviii. 31. Notwithstanding all their privileges, yet
here is one thing necessary, that must crown all the rest ;
they must have a new heart, and a new spirit, that is, they
must be new born, or there is no way but death.
Nor is this doctrine without reason or ground. For, man is
first unholy, and therefore most unfit to enter into heaven ;
Without holiness no man shall see God, Heb. xii. 14. And what is
man before he is new born? If we look upon his soul, we may
see it deformed with sin, defiled with hist, outraged with pas-
sions ; and thus is that image of God transformed to the ugly
shape of the devil. Should we take a more particular view,
every faculty of the soul is full of iniquity; the understanding
understands nothing of the things of God, 1 Cor. ii. 14. the will
1. B
10 The Doctrine of Regeyieration.
wills nothings that is good, Rom. vi. 20. the affections affect
nothing of the Spirit, Gal. v. 17. In a word, the understanding
is darkened, the will enthralled, the affections disordered,
the memory defiled, the conscience benumbed, all the inner
man is full of sin, and here is no part that is good, no not
one. How needful now is a new birth to a man in this case!
Can he enter into heaven, that savours all of earth? Will
those precious gates of gold and pearls open to a sinner? No,
he must be new moulded, and sanctified.
Secondly, Without this, man is God's enemy : no greater
opposition than betwixt God and a sinner ; his name and na-
ture is altogether opposite to sin and sinners. View we those
attributes of God, his justice, truth, patience, holiness, anger,
power; his justice in punishing the impenitent according to his
deserts, his truth effecting those plagues which he hath spoken
in his word, his patience forbearing sinners* destruction till
they are grown full ripe, his holiness abhorring all impurities,
his anger stirring up revenge against all offered injuries, his
power mustering up his forces, yea, all his creatures, against
his enemies ; and what can we say, but, if all these attributes
are at enmity with sinful man, woe to man because of offences !
Better he had never been born, than not to be new born.
Thirdly, Except by a new birth, man is without Christ; for
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature : and if he be
not in Christ, what hopes of that man? It is only Christ that
opens heaven, it is only Christ that is the way to heaven; be-
sides him, there is no way, no truth, no life.
Fourthly, Except a man be born again, he is a very limb of
Satan, a child of drakness, and one of the family of hell. Con-
sider this, ye that are out of the state of grace, in what misera-
ble thraldom are your souls ! Should any call you servants, you
would take it highly in disdain; but take it as you please, if
you are not regenerate, you are in no better case. Paul appeals
to your own knowledge. Know you not that to lohomsoever you
give yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom you
oheyl Rom. vi. 16, 23. If then ye obey the devil's suggestions,
what are you but the devil's servants? And if he be your
master, what is your wages ? The wages of sin is death : death
of the body, and death of the soul; death here, and death
hereafter in hell-fire. Alas, that Satan should have this power
on man ! that he who is the enemy, and means nothing to a
sinner but death and damnation, should be his lord, and tyran-
nize it over him at his own will and pleasure ! Would any man
be hired to serve lions and tigers? And is not the devil a roar-
ing lion, walking about, and seeking whom he may devour? To
serve him that would devour his servant, is a most miserable
bondage; and what pay can one expect from devils, but roar-
ing and devouring, and tearing souls?
The Ihctnne of Regemration. 1 1
So that whether we consider man in regard of himself, or of
Ood, or of Christ, or of Satan, he is (except he be new-born)
unholy, God's enemy, out of Christ, in Satan.
And if the new birth be thus necessary, how should we
labour to be born again? Now then, as you tender your souls,
and desire heaven at your ends, endeavour to attain this one
thing necessary; lift up your hearts unto God, that you may
be washed, justified, sanctified, in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and that by the Spirit of God you may walk in new ways, talk
with new tongues, as being new creatures, created unto good
works. Thus would you wait on God in his way, I trust the
Lord in mercy would remember you, and his Spirit would
blow upon you, and then you would find and feel such a
change within you, as that you would bless God for ever,
that you were thus born again.
Such is the necessity of being born again. And as to the
generality of it, all men (or all mankind) must be regenerated
before they be saved ; not one of all the sons of Adam shall
ever go to heaven, except he be born again: let your contem-
plations (guided by God's word) go into the paradise above ;
all the saints that now walk in the light of it, were first purged
by the Lamb, and sanctified by the Spirit ; first they were
regenerated, and so they were saved.
Secondly, (as all men, so all man) all the members of his
body, all the faculties of his soul. Sanctification, if saving,
must be perfect and entire, though not in respect to degrees,
yet in respect of part^; every part and power of body and
soul must have its part of sanctification.
And should we consider man in his parts, every part must
bear a part in this birth ; his body must be regenerated, his
soul must be renewed : he is moulded anew, and all the mem-
bers of his body are conformed to the sovereignty and rule of
grace; yea, his body is preserved blameless, holy, and accept-
able unto God ; it is a member of Christ, the temple of the
Holy Ghost : happy man that is blest with this body ! Sure a
man thus born again, shall see the kingdom of God.
Thirdly, as the body, so the soul of this man is to be renewed
by grace ; Therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit,
1 Cor. vi. 20. The body and the spirit must both glorify God ;
and as all the parts of the body, so all the powers of the soul.
First, the understanding, that in the old man is blind and
ignorant about heavenly things, or if it know many things, yet
never can attain to saving knowledge; in the new man must
be anointed with the eye-salve of the Spirit, inspired with the
knowledge of divine truths, especially with those sacred and
saving mysteries which concern the kingdom of God. Again,
the will that in the old man affects nothing but vile and vain
things, is froward and perverse in the ways of godliness; in
12 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
the new man must prove what is the good, and acceptable,
and perfect will of God ; yea, it must attend and be subordi-
nate to the grace of God, since God indeed, and God only,
works in us both the will and the deed, Phil. ii. 13. Again, the
memory that in the old is slippery in the things of God, or if
naturally good, yet not spiritually useful 5 in the new man must
be sanctified to good performances, and although it cannot
increase to a great natural perfection, (for grace doth not this,)
yet the perfections it hath must be straight, and right, and
guided to Godward : Remember the Lord thy God, saith Moses,
Deut. viii. 18. Again, the conscience that in the old man
sleeps and slumbers, or if it be awake, tears and roars, as if a
legion of devils possessed it; in the new man must be calm
and quiet, and yet not sleep or slumber, but rather in a friendly
loving manner check and control wheresoever sin is, yea, never
be quiet, till with kind and earnest expostulations it draws the
sinner before God, to confess his fault, and to seek pardon
for it. Again, the affections that in the old man are sensual,
inordinate, bewitched, and set on wrong objects; in the new
man must be turned another way. To sum up all ; all must be re-
newed, the understanding, will, memory, conscience, affections.
First, I say, in the new man the understanding must be re-
renewed ; so the apostle. The new man is renewed in knowledge,
Col.iii. 10. and this knowledge implies two 'h?Jb\i'^,iuisdomand
prudence, Col. i. 9. First, wisdom; that is speculative: second-
ly, prudence ; and that is practical. By the one, the child of
God, having the eyes of his mind opened and enlightened,
doth see the mysteries of salvation, the secrets of the kingdom,
the whole counsel, and the wonders of the law of God ; by the
other he is enabled, with a judicious sincerity, to determine in
cases of conscience, in the practice of piety, and the experi-
mental passages of a christian man. If we consider the first,
wisdom ; how is it possible that a man unregenerate should
know the mysteries of salvation? He may go as far as the
power of natural discourse, and light of reason, can bear sway,
he may be furnished with store of rare and excellent learning,
and yet for all this want the true spiritual wisdom. The man
regenerate hath the saving knowledge ; he only knows God
with a stedfast apprehension, he only knows himself a mean,
base, and contemptible thing; his new birth hath learned him
how wicked a creature he naturally is, and therefore in that
respect is he odious to himself, and loathsome in his own
eyes : or if we consider the second, prudence; how is it pos-
sible that a man unregenerate should experimentally know the
practice of piety? Should we instance in this mystery of rege-
neration : here is a ruler of the Jews, and a teacher "of Israel;
yet, as learned as he was, if he confer with Christ about the
salvation of his soul, he is strangely childish, and a mere infant j
The Doctrine of Regeneration. 13
tell him of the new birth, and he thinks it as impossible as for
an old man to return into his mother's womb, and be born : the
natural man cannot discern the operations of grace, he knows
not that dark and fearful passage, which leads from the state of
nature, into the rich and glorious happiness of the kingdom of
Christ; and hence it is that many a silly man or woman, whom
the woxldly-wise pass by with scorn, are in spiritual affairs
more wise and learned than the learnedst doctors.
Secondly, the will must be renewed; and this will of the re-
generate contains two things, righteousness and readiness : it
is first rectified, conformed to the will of God; secondly, it is
so inflamed wdth the love of goodness, that he pursues it with
alacrity of spirit. If we consider the first, the rectitude of the
will, we see by experience the will of the unregenerate is all out
of course, he-wills nothing but that which is evil: how should
he, considering his want of God's image, his blindness of
heart, his proneness to evil, together with the vehemency of
his affections, which draw the will after them? but in the man
that is regenerate, the will being moved, it afterwards moves
itself; God's grace that concurs with it, quickens it, and re-
vives it; so that now his will is nothing but God's will: or if
w^e consider the second, the readiness of the will to good,
alas ! the will of the unregenerate hath no pleasure in good-
ness, he understands not the sweetness of it, and therefore
nothing is more irksome to him than the ways of godliness ;
whereas the will of the regenerate is willing, and this willing-
ness indeed is the perfection of his will.
Thirdly, the memory must be renewed ; and this memory
reflects occasionally on a double object, on God, and the things
of God. First, on God, by remembrance of his presence every
where. Secondly, on the things of God, by calling them to
mind at useful times. If we consider the first object, God ;
the unregenerate hath no mind on God, God is not in all his
thoughts : like the hood-winked fool, that seeing no body,
thinks no body sees him; so hath he said in his heart, Hoio
doth God knoic ? Can he judge through the dark cloud ? Thick
clouds are a covering to him that he secth not, and he ivalketh in
the circuit of heaven. But, contrary wdse, the regenerate man
remembers his Creator in the days of his youth. And though
God, as being a spirit, is absent from his senses, yet by virtue
of his sanctified memory, (that makes things absent as present,)
his eye is on God, and he considers God as an eye-witness of
all his thoughts, and words, and doings. Or, if we consider
ihe second object, (the word of God,) the unregenerate never
burdens his memory with it ; if sometimes he falls upon it, it
is either by constraint or by accident, never with any settled
resolution to follow it; but the soul that is regenerate, with
Mary, keeps all these things in his heart : whatsoever lessons
14 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
he learns, like so many jewels in a casket, he lays them up safe
and, as need serveth, makes all the good use of them he may.
Fourthly, tlie conscience must be renewed, and that two
ways, either by drawing the soul to good, or from evil : first,
to good, by restraining and bridling. If we consider its first
office, (in that it draws and leads the soul to good,) the unre-
generate hath not that conscience ; for the most part his con-
science lies dead in his bosom, or, if it stir sometimes, he
labours all he can to smother it. It is otherwise with the
regenerate, his conscience excites him to good, and he doth
good out of conscience ; he stands not upon terms of pleasure
or profit, but his conscience being guided by the rule of God's
holy truth, he submits to it merely oift of his obedience to
God: hence it is, that come what will come, his eye is fixed
on God; and if man oppose where God commands, he is
quickly resolved. Or if Ave consider the second office of con-
science, in drawing the soul from evil, the unregenerate either
hears not, or heeds not, his reclaiming conscience : if it speak,
he first goes about to lull it asleep again; or if it cry out, and
will not peace, then, in spite of goodness, he runs out of one
sin into another, and usually from presumption to despair. On
the other side, the regenerate hath a conscience that draws
him from, and keeps him out of, evil : it is known especially
by these two properties, remorse and tenderness ; remorse hath
an eye on all sins past, and tenderness hath an eye on all sins
to come : by remorse is bred sorrow for sin, ^nd loathing of
sin; no sooner he considers how by his manifold sins he hath
offended God, crucified Christ, grieved the Holy Spirit, but
his heart bleeds and breaks that he hath done so wickedly
against so gracious a God : this sorrow for sin brings with it
a loathing of sin; he hates the very thought of it; every look
back is a new addition of detestation, and every meditation
makes the wound of his remorse to bleed again : by tenderness
of conscience is bred a care and watchfulness to avoid sin to
come; for no sooner is sin presented to his conscience, but he
startles at its sight, and meditates on that strict account he must
one day make for it ; which thoughts and sin put together in
the balance, he dares not do wickedly for a world of gain :
and you may observe it, this tenderness, or easiness to bleed
at the apprehension of sin, is peculiar to that conscience that
is enlightened, and sanctified, and purged by Christ.
Fifthly, the affections must be renewed, and that is done by
setting them upon right objects; I shall instance in some of
them, as love, hatred, hope, fear, joy, sorrow. Love I place
first, which in the unregenerate man is fastened inordinately
upon the creature ; and as one sin begets another, so on what-
soever object it falls, it gets some sin; thus the love of riches
breeds covetousness, love of beauty breeds sensuality : whatso-
The Doctrine of Regeneration, 15
ever he loves, the object being earthly, it brings with it some
sin ; and thereby, the worst of all, he wickedly prefers earth to
heaven, a dunghill to paradise. But the regenerate man settles
his love upon other objects : as he that is carnal, minds things
carnal, so he that is spiritual, loves things spiritual ; no sooner
is he turned, by a sound and universal change of the whole
man, from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan
unto God, but he presently begins to settle with some sweet
contentment, upon the flowers of paradise, saving graces, and
his infinite love runs higher and higher, till it embrace him
that dwells in the highest, God Almighty: and how sweet is
that love that casts itself wholly into the bosom of his Maker!
How blessed is that man, that yearns, and melts, and cleaves,
and sticks unto his gracious God above all !
The second affection is Hatred, which in the unregenerate is
so inordinate, that he is an hater of God, Rom. i. 30. not that
he hates God in himself, but in some particular respect, be-
cause he restrains him from his pleasure, or punisheth him
for his sin, or crosseth his appetites by his holy commands.
As he hates God, so likewise his brother. Hence arise those
envies, emulations, jars, contentions, among those that profess
themselves Christians ; but of all brethren he hates them most,
of whom our Saviour is the first-born. God's faithful ones ever
were and ever will be signs and wonders, and monsters, unto
many; a scorn, reproach, and derision, to them that are round
about them : but he that is regenerate hates sin in whomsoever
it rules ; in others, and in himself, when after the commission
of any evil he begins to repent, and to abhor himself , as Job
did, in dust and ashes, Job xlii. 6.
The third affection is Hope. Now this hope in the unrege-
nerate is fastened on this world, and the things of this world ;
he hopes for preferment, riches, or the like ; as for his hope of
heaven, it is but a waking man's dream: a dream? said I. Yes,
as dreams in the night fill us with illusions, (you know a beggar
may dream he is a king,) so hope, abusing the imagination of
the unregenerate, fills their souls many a time with vain or
empty contentments: but the hope of the regenerate both
enjoys the right object, and right means; his eye is fixed on
future good ; and he endeavours to pursue it, till he get the
possession. If in the pursuit he meets with crosses, griefs,
disgraces, sicknesses, or any other calamities, his hope is able
to sweeten the bitterest misery that can possibly befall him;
the afflictions of this life bid him look for a better, a cross
here minds him of the glory above.
The fourth affection is Fear, which in the unregenerate is
either worldly or servile: if it fasten on the world, then he
fears the loss of his credit or of his profit, and because he and
the world must part at last, he fears this separation above all
16 The Doctrine of Regemratioii.
fears : O death, saith the wise man, how bitter is the remem-
brance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions,
unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath pros-
perity in all things ! Or if his fear reflect on God, then it is a
servile fear; for as the servant or hireling works not for love
of his master, but only for fear of punishment; so he fears God,
for fear of punishment due to him from God : it is otherwise
with the man that is born again ; his fear is either initial or
filial : in pangs of the new birth, or in the new-born babe, it is
called initial ; because then he casts away sin both out of God's
love, to which he hath partly attained, and out of the woeful
effects of sin, which he hath thoroughly considered; with the
right eye he beholds God, and with the left eye he beholds
punishment; so that this fear is a middle, as it were, betwixt
servile and filial fear ; and as the needle draweth in the thread,
so this fear draweth in charity, and makes way for filial fear ;
to which, if by growth in grace he be fully ripened, then he
fears God out of love to God, as the prophet Isaiah proclaimeth.
The fear of the Lord is his treasure, Is. xxxiii. 6. Never was
treasure more dear to the wordlings, than is God's fear to him:
his love of God, his desire to please God, and his fear of being-
separated from God, keep him in such awe, that thoug^i no
punishment, no death, no hell, were at all ; yet he woula not
sin for a world of treasures.
The fifth affection is Joy, which in the unregenerate is sensual
and brutish; it hath no better objects than gold, greatness,
honours, or the like : and what are all these but a shadow, a
ship, a bird, an arrow, a post that passeth by? or rather, as
crackling of thorns under a pot, as flashes of lightning before
everlasting fire? But the joy of the regenerate is a spiritual joy,
and the matter of it is the light of God's countenance, right-
eousness, or the promises of God's word ; or, above all, God
Almighty, blessed evermore : Thus David, Whom have I in
heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides
thee, Psal. Ixxiii. 25. This is that joy which no man can con-
ceive, but he that enjoys it; this is that white stone, Rev. ii. 17.
whose splendour shines only upon heavenly hearts ; this is that
glimpse of heaven's glory, which springing up in a sanctified
heart, out of the wells of salvation, and carried along with addi-
tion of fresh comforts (from the word and sacraments) through
a fruitful current and course of man's life, at last falls into the
boundless and bottomless ocean of the joys of heaven.
The sixth affection is Sorrow, which in the unregenerate is a
worldly sorrow, and the effects of it are death ; so the apostle.
The sorrow of the world worheth death, 2 Cor. vii. 10. In this
kind, how endless are the sorrows of men for their losses or
crosses that may befal them ; and howsoever some may endea-
vour to comfort them in Christ, nothing can relish with thera
The Doctrine of Regeneration, 17
that concerns heaven or salvation. But in the regenerate, the
beholding of sin breeds sorrow, and this the apostle calls godly
sorrow, working repentance to salvation not to be repented of.
Examine then yourselves, you that desire heaven at your
ends. Would you inlierit the kingdom? Would you live with
angels? Would you save your souls? Examine and try whe-
ther your bodies and souls be sanctified; and if you have no
sense or feeling of the nev/ birth, then never look to see in
that state, the kingdom of God ; but if you perceive the work-
ing of saying grace effectually in you, (and you cannot but
perceive it if you have it,) if you feel the power of godliness
first seizing the heart, and after dispersing itself over all the
parts and powers of body and soul ; if your hearts be softened
by the Spirit, if your eyes wait upon God, if your ears listen to
his word, if your tongues shew forth his praise, if your under-
standings attain to saving knowledge, if your wills conform to
the will of God, if your memories be stored with heavenly doc-
trine, if your consciences be tender and sensible of the least
sin, if you love that which is good, if you hate that which is evil,
if you hope for the blessings above, if you fear him that can
destroy both body and soul; in a word, if you joy in goodness,
if you sorrow for sin, then are you born again. Happy man in
this case that ever he was born ! and thus every man must be,
or he cannot be happy. Except a man (every man, every part
of man) he born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
We come now to speak of the manner of it.
Except a man be regenerated, or begotten, saith Valla, as
man that is born of a woman is begotten of a man, so he that
is born again must have a begetting too. If you ask of whom
is the new man begotten, St. James tells you, (Jam. i. 18.) Of
his oxen will begat he us with the word of truth : the former words
note the impulsive cause, the latter the instrument; it was
God that begat us, and with the seed of the word.
It was the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but in respect of
the last act, it is of the Holy Ghost, and not of the Father or
the Son; and thus our Saviour concludes, John iii. 6, 8. That
which is born of the Spirit, is spirit; and so is every one that is
born of the Spirit.
Secondly, as God's spirit is the principal, so God's word is
the instrumental, cause of our regeneration. Ye are born again^
not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the word of God,
which liveth and abideth for ever, 1 Pet. i. 23. And this word,
saith the author of the Hebrews, is quick and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edffed sword, S^c. arid is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents oj the heart, Heb. iv. 12. They that are
born again, cannot but remember how quick, and powerful,
and sharp, God's word was at their regeneration: first, like
an hammer it beat on their hearts till it broke them all to
1 c
1 8 The Doctrine of Regeneration,
pieces ; and then like a sword, by a terrible cutting, piercing
power, it struck a shaking and trembling into the very centre
of their souls; last of all, like oil it began to supple their
wounds, and to heal their bruises, and to refresh the weak and
tender heart with all the promises of God revealed in Christ.
And thus a man being begotten of the Spirit with the word of
truth, he comes at last to the birth ; to be born again, to be
Dorn after the spirit; and this is that second birth: a man is
first born of the flesh, and he must be again born of the Spirit.
Hence appears the difference of the first and second birth —
the first birth is of the earth, earthly, the second birth is of
the Lord from heaven; the first birth is of nature, full of sin;
the second is of grace, full of sanctity ; the first birth is ori-
ginally of flesh and blood, the second birth is originally of
the Spirit and water: in a word, the first birth kills, the
second gives life ; generation lost us, it must be regeneration
that recovers us. O blessed birth, without which no birth is
happy; in comparison of which, though it were to be born
heir of the whole world, all is but misery !
As to the new birth itself, I know it is not wrought in all
after one manner, nor is the manner known to us, but only so
far as it is sensible in us, and therefore we must consider man
before baptism, in baptism, and after baptism.
In some is the new birth wrought before baptism, as in the
eunuch under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, Acts viii. 37.
and in Cornelius, together with his kinsmen and near friends.
Acts X. 47. and so our charity tells us, that every infant dying
before baptism, is renewed by the Spirit; but the manner of
this working we know not, for it is the secret of the Spirit of
God. In others is the new birth wrought in baptism, which
indeed is the sacrament of the new birth, and seal of regene-
ration; but howsoever we see the outward seal, yet we see not
the manner of the inward working; for this also is the secret
of the Spirit of God. In others is the new birth wrought after
baptism; for whensoever men receive Christ by faith, then do
they feel the power of God regenerate them, and work all
things in them which he offered in baptism : now the manner ol
this feeling, or of God's Spirit working, proceeds usually thus .
There are certain steps by which it passeth ; and howsoevei
in those whom God hath blessed with great favour of holy edu-
cation (the Spirit of God dropping grace into their hearts be-
times) these steps or degrees are not so easily perceived; yet
in those men who have lived long in sin, no sooner come they
to a new birth, but they can feel grace work in them step after
step, and these steps we shall reckon to the number of eight.
The first is a sight of sin, and this our Saviour reckons the
first work of the Spirit: When he is come, he will reprove the
world of sin, John xvi. 8. Of sin, how? Why thus: no «ooner
The Doctrine of Regetieratioj?, ' 19
begins this blessed change from nature to grace, but the con-
science, wrought upon by God's word, opens its book, and
presents the soul a roll of those many, mighty, heinous sins,
committed against God ai>d man : there he may read in bloody
burning lines the abominations of his youth, the sins of all his
life; and to bring them into method, the commandments of
God stand as a remembrancer before his eyes : the first tells
him of his loving somewhat above God; the second, of his
worshipping a false god, or a true God after a false manner;
the third, of his dishonouring the great and mighty name of
God; the fourth, of his breaking the Lord's day, either in
doing the works of the flesh, or leaving undone the works of
the Spirit : nor is this all ; as against God, so against his neigh-
bour hath he sinned ; the fifth tells him of his stubbornness
and disobedience; the sixth, of his passions, and desires of
revenge; the seventh, of his lewdness; the eighth, of his
covetous thefts; the ninth, of his lies and slanders, backbit-
ings, and rash judgments ; the tenth, of his covetous thoughts,
and motions of the heart to all manner of evil. Good Lord!
what a number of evils, yea, what innumerable swarms of law-
less thoughts, and words, and actions, doth he read in his
conscience? But above all, his beloved sin is writ in greatest
characters ; this he finds to have bewitched him most, and to
have domineered above all the rest in his wasted conscience ;
where, that he may read it, together with his other sins, the
Spirit of God now opens the eyes of his mind, and lets him
see the very mud and filth of his soul, that lay at the bottom
before unseen and undiscerned. This is the first working of
the new life, to wit, a feeling of the old death of his soul in
sins and trespasses : and here the axiom is true, no genera-
tion without corruption ; a man must first feel this death,
before he is born again.
The second step is a sense of divine wrath, begetting in him
fear. No sooner hath the man a sight and feeling of his sin,
but then God's spirit, now called the spirit of bondage, pre-
sents to him the armoury of God^s flaming wrath and fiery
indignation ; this makes him to feel as if he were pricked with
the stroke of an arrow, or point of a sword, that he is a most
accursed and damnable creature, justly deserving ail the mise-
ries of this life, and all the torments of hell in that life to come ;
yea, this makes him tremble, and stand, and look, as if he were
thoroughly frighted with the angry countenance of God Al-
mighty. "Would you view him in this case ? his conscience
hath now awaked him out of his dead sleep, by the trumpet
of the law ; his heart is now scorched with the secret sense of
God's angry face ; his soul is now full sorely crushed under the
most grievous burden of innumerable sins : his thoughts are
now full of fear and astonishment, as if no less than very hell
20 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
and horror were ready to seize upon his body and soul. I say
not what measure of this wrath is poured on all men, for I
suppose some feel more and some less ; but I verily believe,
some there are that, in these pangs of the new birth, have been
scorched, as it were, with the very flames of hell. And no
wonder, for this is the time of fear; now it is that Satan strives
busily to stifle the new man in the womb ; and therefore he
that before diminished his sins, and made them appear little in
his eyes, when he once sees the man smitten down in the place
of dragons, and covered with the shadow of death, then he puts
into his mind his innumerable sins, and, that which immediate-
ly follows, the curse of the law, and the wrath of God, which
he yet makes more grisly and fierce, with a purpose to plunge
him into the abyss of horror and despair. By this means he
persuaded Cain to cry out. My iniquity is greater than can be
forgiven. Thus far the unregenerate goes with the man born
again, — both have a sight of sin, and sense of wrath, — but here
they part; for the man unregenerate either sinks under it, or
labours to allay it with worldly comforts. But the man born
again, seeks the right way to cure it, and at last, by the help
of God's spirit, he passeth quite through it; I mean, through
this hell upon earth, into the spiritual pleasures of the king-
dom of grace, which is to be born again.
The third step is, sorrow for sin, and this is more peculiar to
God's child; his heart grieves, his eye weeps; the way to
God's kingdom is to cry like children coming into the world ;
the way to be new-born is to feel throes, as a woman in travail ;
and so is Christ formed in us. Can a man be born again with-
out bitterness of soul? No, if ever he come to a sight of sin,
and that God's sanctifying Spirit work in him sorrow for sin,
his soul will mourn. True it is, some infants are born with more
pain, and some with less : but more or less, it cannot be so
little, but the man that labours in these pangs shall mourn.
The fourth step is, seeking rightly for comfort. He runs not
to the world, or flesh, or devil, miserable comforters all ; but
to scripture, to prayer, or to the ministry of God's word ; if he
finds comfort in scriptures, he meets with it in the gospel: and
if it please God that the man, now labouring in his pangs of
the new birth, do but rightly settle his thoughts on the gospel
of Christ, no doubt but thence he may suck the sweetest com-
forts that ever were revealed to man. Or if he find comfort in
prayer, to which he ever and anon repairs in every step, then
is it by Christ, in whose name he only approacheth to that
throne of grace : no sooner had the king of Nineveh humbled
himself, but his proclamation runs. Let man and beast be covered
with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God. Who can tell if God
will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger? And
thus the man, now wrestling witn grievous terrors of con-
The Doctrine of Regeneration. 21
science ; — who can tell, saith he, if God will turn away his
fierce anger? Let me then cry mightily unto the Lord of
heaven; let me cry, and continue crying, until the Lord of
mercy look upon me : and if for all this God give him a repulse,
for reasons best known to himself; if at the first, second, third,
fourth, or at many more times, he seem to have cried in vain,
at last he flies to the ministry of the word, and if he may have
his will, he would hit upon the most soul-searching man
amongst God's messengers. At last he comes to God's minis-
ter, with a what shall I do? what must I do to be saved? Alas!
now I feel the wounded conscience, the broken heart, the
spiritual blindness, the captivity and poverty, of which often
you have told me : if then there be any instruction, direction,
or duty, which may tend to my good, now direct me in God's
fear, and I will willingly follow it with my utmost endeavours.
And now, and not till now, hath God's minister a strong
and seasonal)le call to magnify the sufficiency of Christ's
death and passion: were the blood of Christ, and promise of
salvation, proffered to an unwounded conscience, what were
it, but like the pouring of a most sovereign balsam upon a
sound member of man? It is the only, right, everlasting
method, first to wound by the law, and then to heal by the
gospel; and therefore when the heart is broken, then hath the
man of God his warrant to bind it up again, then may he
magnify God's mercy, then may he set out to the height the
beauty of Christ's passion and person, and thus by his high
and holy art of comforting the afflicted, at last the child of
God, prepared for his birth, is born again.
The fifth step, is a clear, I say not a general sight, which he
had before, but the clear sight of Christ laid open to the eye
of faith : no sooner is the poor wounded soul informed tho-
roughly in the mystery and mercy of the gospel, but he then
looks on his Saviour as the Jews on the brazen serpent, and
seeing him lifted up on the cross, he cannot but see in him
an infinite treasury of mercy and love, a boundless and bot-
tomless sea of tender-heartedness and pity, a whole heaven
of sweetness, happiness, peace, and pleasures. After the
spirit of bondage, enters the spirit of adoption ; the terrors of
the law lead him to the comforts of the gospel; his sorrow
for sin brings him to the clear light of his Saviour; and then
as a man in death-pangs, that lifts up his eyes to heaven, so
he in birth-pangs lifts up his eyes to Christ, who must either
help him, or he sinks under his sin to the bottom of hell.
And this sight of Christ Jesus to an humbled sinner, together
with those glorious privileges which he brings with him, is a
most pleasant, ravishing, heavenly sight. Not all the curious
sights on earth, nor all those glittering spangles in heaven,
can possibly afford such pleasure to the eye of man, as doth
22 The Doctiine of Regeneration^
this one object, Christ bleeding on the cross, to the soul of
a sinner. Imagine you saw some malefactor led to the place
of execution; if this man should suddenly see his king run-
ning towards him with his pardon in his hand, what a sight
would this be! Thus it is with the man sorrowing for sin;
whilst he is weeping his case, and confessing what a little
step there is between him and damnation, in amaze he looks
upon Christ, whom he sees with a spear in his side, with
thorns on his head, with nails in his feet, with a pardon in
his hands, offering it to all men, that will but receive it by
faith. Oh ! here is a sight indeed, able to revive the wickedest
man upon earth, dead in trespasses and sins. And now there
is hopes of the birtii. We may call this the stirrings of God's
child, or the first feelings of life, before he is born again.
The sixth step is, an hungering desire after Christ and his
merits. O here is a thirst above all thirsts! It breeds ardent
desires, vehement longings, unutterable groans,* mighty gasp-
ings, just like the dry and thirsty ground, that gasps and
cleaves and opens for drops of rain. This is that violent
affection that God puts into the hearts of those who seek him
in sincerity and truth: never was Ahab more sick for a vine-
yard, nor Sisera for milk, nor Samson for water, than is a truly
humbled soul after Christ; ever thirsting and longing that he
may hide himself in that blood which his Saviour shed for
him. I have read of a gracious woman, who labouring in
these pangs, and longing after Christ Jesus, cried out, " I
have borne nine children with as great pains as other women,
and yet I would with all my heart bear them all over again,
yea, bear them all the days of my life, to be assured of my
part in Christ Jesus." One replying, ** Doth not your heart
desire and long after him?" — ** Oh, (said she,) I have an hus-
band and children, and many other comforts; I would give
them all, and all the good I shall ever see in this world, or in
the world to come, to have my poor thirsty soul refreshed with
that precious blood of my Saviour." So eager and earnest is
the heart of each man, parched with the angry countenance
of God, after this blood of his: I thirst, I faint, I languish, I
long, saith he, for one drop of mercy; my spirit is melted in
me into tears of blood ; my heart, because of sin, is so s?liaken
and shivered, — my soul, because of sorrow, is so wasted and
parched, — that my thirst is insatiable, my bowels are hot
within me, after Christ. Stay; all these expressions are far
short of those longings : no man knoweth them, save he that
receives them, save he that is born again.
The seventh step is, a relying on Christ : a man no sooner
considers those invitations of our Lord and Saviour ; If any
man thirsty let him come unto me: Ho! every one that thirsteth,
come ye to the waters : Come unto me, all ye that are rveary and
The Doctrine of Regeneration, 23
V
heavy laden; but, resting himself on these blessed promises,
he throws himself into the merciful arms of his crucified
Lord. Come life, come death, come heaven, come hell, come
what M^ll, here will he stick for ever : Who, saith Paul, shall
sepctrctte vsfrom the love of Christ 1 shall tribulation , or distress,
of persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No,
I am persuaded, (not these, nor more than these,) neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, ?ior powers, nor
things present, nor things to come, ^c. shall be able to separate
US from the love of God, ivhich is in Christ Jesus our T,ord, Rom.
viii. 35, 38, 39. Thus it is with the man labouring in this
birth: What! saith he, doth Christ call the heavy-laden?
Why, Lord, I am heavy laden with a weight, a mass of sin;
and if he may come that is called. Lord, 1 come, I come, and
now I come ; with thee will I build my tabernacle, with thee
will 1 rest for ever. This affiance, dependence, reliance, or
whatsoever else we call it, upon the merits of Christ, is the
right justifying faith, whither if a man once come, there is
but one degree more, and he is then born again.
The last and highest step is, universal obedience to Christ.
No sooner hath he cast himself upon him, but he takes him,
not only as a Saviour to redeem him from the miseries of sin,
but as an husband, a lord, a king, to serve him, love him,
honour him, and obey him: now will he take his yoke upon
him; now will he bear his cross, and follow him; now will he
walk in the holy path; now will he associate himself to
that sect that is every where spoken against ; now will he
oppose himself against all sin whatsoever; now will he shake
off his old companions, brethren in iniquity; now will he
keep peace and a good conscience towards God and man;
now will he watch over his secret sins, occasions of evil; now
will he direct his words to the glorifying of God, and to give
grace to the hearers ; now will he conform all his actions to
the sovereignty of grace; now will he delight in the word,
the ways, the saints, the services, of God; will sell all, all
that he hath, even all his sins, to the last filthy rag of his
beloved bosom sin. And now old things are passed awaj/,
behold all things are become new, 2 Cor. v. 17. His heart, his
eye, his ear, his tongue, his understanding, his will, his me-
mory, his conscience, his love, his hatred, his hope, his fei\r,
his joy, his sorrow, (will you any more?) his thoughts, his
words, his actions, his affections — are all new; this conver-
sion is universal, this change is a thorough change; now is
Christ formed in him, now is he transformed into a new crea-
ture, he is made new; God the Father accepts him for his son,
God the son stamps upon him the image of his Father, but
more immediately God the Holy Ghost hath thus moulded
and fashioned him, as I have let you see him, and now he is
24 The Doctrine of Regeneration,
born again, which except a man be, — he (shall not) cannot
see the kingdom of God.
Lo here those steps that raise up a man to the state of
regeneration; — a sight of sin, sense of misery, sorrow for
sin, seeking for comfort, a sight for Christ, desire after
Christ, relying on Christ, obedience to Christ. One
word more before we have done.
You see how God brings along the man whom he purposeth
to make his ; and yet let no truly humbled sinner be dis-
couraged if he observe not so distinctly the order of these
steps, and especially in that degree as we have related ; for
if in substance and effect they have been wrought, if he have
them in truth, though perhaps not in this degree, I dare pro-
nounce, that he is surely born again. It is one of our
worthies has said, " In our humiliations, and other prepara-
tive dispositions, we do not prescribe precisely just such a
measure and quantity, we do not determine peremptorily upon
such or such a degree and height, we leave that to the wis-
dom of our great Master in heaven. But sure we are, a man
must have so much, and in that measure, as thoroughly to
humble him, and then to bring him to his Saviour; he must
be weary of all his sins, and of Satan's bondage wholly, will-
ing to pluck out his right eye, and cut off his right hand ; I
mean, to part with his beloved bosom-lusts, to sell all, and
not to leave so much as an hoof behind: he must see his
danger, and so haste to the city of refuge ; he must be sen-
sible of his spiritual misery, that he may heartily thirst for
mercy; he must find himself lost, that Christ may be all in
all unto him ; and after must follow an hatred of all false and
evil ways for the time to come, a thorough change of former
courses, company, conversation, and setting himself in the
practice of sobriety, honesty, and holiness." And another
speaks, " That the discovery of the remedy as soon as the
misery, must needs prevent a great part of the trouble, and
make the distinct effects on the soul to be with much more
difficulty discerned : nay, the actings of the soul are so quick,
and oft so confused, that the distinct orders of these work-
ings may not be apprehended, or remembered. And per-
haps the joyful apprehension of mercy may make the sense
of misery sooner forgotten.'^ The sum is — of every soul
is required thus mucli: first, a truly penitent sight, sense,
and hatred, of all sin. Secondly, a sincere and insatiable
thirst after Christ, and his righteousness, both imputed and
inherent. Thirdly, an unfeigned and unreserved resolution
of an universal new obedience for the time to come. If any
man hath had the experience of these affections and effects in
The Doctr'me of Regeneration, 25
his own soul, whatsoever the order, or whatsoever the mea-
sure be, he may go on comfortably in the holy faith*
Now then let me advise thee, whosoever thou art that read-
est, to enter into thine own soul, and examine thine own state,
whether or no thou art yet born again? Search and see, whe-
ther as yet the spirit of bondage hath wrought its effects in
thee; whether thou hast been enlightened, convinced, and
terrified with a sensible apprehension, and particular acknow-
ledgment, of thf wretched estate? Search and see, whether as
yet the Spirit of adoption hath sealed thee for his own; whe-
ther, after thy heart being broken, thy spirit bruised, thy
soul humbled, thy conscience wounded and awakened, thou
hast had a sight of Christ, and hast thirsted after him, and
hast followed his ways and commandments by an universal
obedience : If upon search thou canst say,without self-deceit,
that so it is with thee, then mayest thou bless God that ever
thou wast born; certainly, I dare say it, thou art born again.
But if not, if all I have spoken are very mysteries to thee,
what shaU I say? If ever thou meanest to see the kingdom
of God, strive, endeavour with all thy might, to become truly
regenerate. Thou mayest say, perhaps, it is not in thy power;
who can command the Spirit of the Lord, that bloweth where
he listeth? I answer, it is indeed the Spirit, and not man,
that regenerates or sanctifies ; but I answer withal, the doc-
trine of the gospel is the ministration of the Spirit, and
wheresoever that is preached, as I preach it now to thee,
there is the Holy Ghost present, and thither he comes to re-
generate. If then as yet thou feelest not this mighty work
of God in thee, and yet fain wouldst feel it; I shall lend thee
two wings to bear thee, two hands to lead thee, to the foot of
the ladder, where if thou ascend these steps aforesaid, I dare
certainly pronounce of thee, thou art born again.
The first wing is prayer, which first brings thee to God's
throne, and then to the new birth; Hos. xiv. 2. Take with you
words, and turn to the Lord; sat/ unto him, Take away all ini-
fuity, and receive us graciously ; — and then it follows, / will
eal their backsliding, I will love them freely. — The soul may
object, I may say thus, and be no better. But I answer. Say
it, though you be no better, because God bids you say it: Say
it, and say it again ; it may be he will come in when you say
it. — The soul may object again. How can I pray, and have
not faith? I answer^ Put thyself upon prayer, and who^knows
but blessing and faith may come ? it is the Lord that con-
verts, and heals, and saves ; and prayer is the means to pro-
duce this effect: when we are required to pray, to repent,
and believe, we are not to seek strength in ourselves, but to
search into the covenant, and turn the promise into prayer.
Therefore bow thy kn^es, and humbly, heartily, frequently,
I. D
26 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
fervently, implore the influence of God's blessed Spirit.
Wouldst thou ask, and continue asking, wouldst thou cry, and
continue crying, then could I assure thee of the promise which
God hath made, and cannot deny; He that asketh receivethf
and he that seeketh Jindeth, and to him that knocketh (by conti-
nuance and perseverance) it shall be opened, Matt. vii. 8.
The second wing that bears thee to these steps of the new
birth, is, constant hearing of the word : thou must attend the
gates of wisdom, and wait on her posts : thou must come to
God's house, and hearken to the ministry of the word; and
thou shalt see at one time or other God will remember thee
in mercy : it is true I know not when, and therefore I wish
thee miss no day to repair to God's house, lest the day of thy
neglect might have been the day of thy conversion. Certain
it is, no man should expect God's blessing without his ordi-
nances, no eating of bread without ploughing and sowing, no
recovering of health without eating and drinking; so no
blessing, no grace, no regeneration, without waiting upon
God in his ways, and in his ordinances. Now then, as thou
desirest heaven, or the way to heaven, to be born again, I
beseech thee make high account of this ordinance of God. In
preaching of the gospel, light, motion, and power, go out to
all, which men resist; and some are destroyed, not because
they could not believe, but because they resist, and will not
obey, and so die. Acts vii. 51. Luke xiii. 34. Ezek. xxxiii. 11
Hos. xiii. 9. and yet I wish thee not only to hear it, but after
thou hast heard, consider of it, ponder on it ; and lay the
threats and reproofs, the precepts and promises, unto thine
own soul: thus if thou hearest and meditatest, I doubt not
but God's word will be a word of power to thee, and, toge-
ther with prayer, bring thee towards the new birth.
To see, is all one as to enjoy; yet a man may see that which
he doth not enjoy : but without regeneration there is no sight,
much less possession, of the kingdom of God.
If by the kingdom of God, is meant the kingdom of grace,
whereof our Saviour speaketh. The kingdom of' God is within
you, Luke xvii. 21. see to what a privilege the new man hath
attained; all the graces of God, all the fruits of the Spirit,
are now poured into him. If you ask, what graces? what
fruits? Paul tells you. Gal. v. 22. Love, joy, peace, long-snf-
Jering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; or,
would you have us to contract them? Paul doth it elsewhere.
The kingdom of God is, — righteousness, peace, and joy in the
Holy Ghost, Rom. xiv. 17.
First, Righteousness. No sooner is a man born again, but
he enters into the holy path, he declines all evil, and stands
at the sword's point with his beloved sin; or if ever any sin,
through the violence of temptation, seize on him again, he
The Doctrine of Regeneration. 27
is presently put again into the pangs of the new birth, and so
renewing his sorrow, and repairing repentance, he becomes
more resolute and watchful over all his ways. And as he
abhors evil, so he cleaves to that which is good: his faith,
like the sun, sets all those heavenly stars on shining, — hope,
and love, and zeal, and humility, and patience; in a word,
universal obedience, and fraitfulness in all good works: not
one, but all good duties, of the first and second table, begin
to be natural and familiar to him.
Secondly, no sooner is a man righteous, but he is at peace
with man, at peace with God, at peace with himself. He is
at peace with man ; The wolf shall dicell with the lamb, and
the leopard with the kid, saith the prophet Isaiah, chap. xi. 6.
The meaning is, that in the kingdom of Christ, when a man is
called into the state of grace, howsoever by nature he is a
wolf, or a leopard, or a lion, or a bear, yet he shall then lay
aside his cruelty, and live peaceably with all men. He is at
peace with God, he hath humbled himself, and confessed his
fault, and cried for mercy, and cast himself upon Christ; so
that now God, by his word, hath spoke peace to his soul ; by
the mediation of Christ it is obtained, and by the testimony
of the Spirit he feels it within him. This is that peace which
passeth all understanding. He is at peace with himself, I
mean his own conscience ; that which before stirred up the
fire, that brought him to a sight of sin and sense of divine
wrath, that filled him with fearful terrors, remorse and sor-
row, is now quiet. Solomon calls it a continual feast, Prov.
XV. 15. Who are the attendants, but the holy angels? What
is the cheer, but joy in the Holy Ghost? Who is the feast-
maker, but God himself, and his good Spirit dwelling in him?
Nor is this feast without music; God's word and his actions
make a blessed harmony, and he endeavours to continue it by
keeping peace and a good conscience towards God and man.
Thirdly, from this peace issueth joy in the Holy Ghost: no
sooner is a man at peace with man, with God, with himself,
but he is filled with joy that no man can take from him: this
joy I take to be those blessed stirrings of the heart, when the
seal of remission of sins is first set unto the soul by the Spirit
of adoption. For thus it is, the soul having newly passed
the pangs of the new birth, it is presently bathed in the blood
of Christ, lulled in the bosom of God's mercies, secured by
the spirit of its inheritance, and so ordinarily follows a sea of
comfort, a sensible taste of everlasting pleasures.
If by the kingdom of God, is meant the kingdom of glory,
see then what a privilege waits on the new man ; no sooner
shall his breath and body be divorced, but his soul, mounted
on the wings of angels, shall straight be carried above the
starry firmament, there to inherit the kingdom of God, truly
28 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
called so, for 'tis a kingdom of God's own making, beautifying,
and blessing; a kingdom beseeming the glorious residence of
the King of kings. But here my discourse must give way to
your meditations. In this fountain of pleasure, let the new-
born Christian bathe his soul ; for his it is, and he it is only
that shall see it, enjoy it: Except a man be horn again, no man
shall ever see the kingdom of God.
Thus far of the privileges of the new birth : there waits on it
faith, and righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost;
in a word, the kingdom of grace and the kingdom of glory.
THE
DOCTRINE OF REGENERATION,
FURTHER EXPLAINED.
CHAP. I.
THE OCCASION AND METHOD OF THIS TREATISE.
Some there are, who, hearing the new birth to be so neces-
sary to salvation, but never feeling in themselves any such
change, have desired further helps. I advised them in the
former treatise to be frequent in prayer, and hearing of the
word : But so we have done, say they, and yet we feel no con-
version. It may be so, for not always the doing of them, but
perseverance in them, through Christ, obtains the blessing. I
shall for their further satisfaction, give them a more particu-
lar method.
Two things necessary for them that would have part in the
new birth, are, 1. To get into it. 2. To be delivered of it.
1. The means to get into it, are, 1. Examination of them-
selves. 2. Confession of their sins. 3. Hearty prayer for the
softening of their hearts. By which are obtained the three
first steps; sight of sin, sense of divine wrath, sorrow ibr sin.
2. The means to be delivered of it, is, by application of the
promises'; and these produce their several effects; as, a sight
of Christ, a desire after Christ, a relying on Christ; and obe-
dience to Christ.
CHAP. II.
The first Means to get into the Neio Birth*
1. The means to get into the new birth, is, first, examina-
tion ; and the way to examine, is to set before men that crys-
tal-glass of the law for their light and rule : to this purpose I
The Doctrine of Regeneration, 29
have here annexed a catalogue \ not that I can possibly enu-
merate all sins, but only the kinds ; and if herein I come short,
yet conscience may hereby bring into their thoughts those
others not mentioned.
Now then, whosoever thou art that beginnest this blessed
work, examine thyself by this catalogue, but do it warily, and
truly; and where thou findest thyself guilty, either note it in
this book, or transcribe it into some paper, that so they may
be ready for thine eye when thou comest to confession.
£1. SINS AGAINST THE FIRST COMMANDMENT.
In every commandment we must observe both the duties
required, and sins forbidden, for both these are implied in
every one of the commandments ; if in the first thou art guilty,
thou must answer negatively ; if in the second, thou must
answer affirmatively.
Now then to proceed :
" Thou shalt have no other Gods hut me/*
For the Duties required. — Say, first. Hast thou ever
took the true God in Christ to be thy God? 2ndly, Hast thou
abounded in those graces by which thou shouldst cleave unto
God, as in knowledge, and love, and fear, and joy, and trust-
ing in God? 3dly, Hast thou observed God's mercies, and pro-
mises, and works, and judgments upon thee, and, by a parti-
cular application, took special notice thereof? 4thly, Hast
thou communicated with the godly, and joined thyself to
God's people, and delighted chiefly in them?
For the Sins forbidden. — Say, first. Hast thou not
sometimes been guilty of blasphemy, or idolatry, or witchcraft,
or atheism? 2ndly, Hast thou not been guilty of pride, a sin
flatly opposing God, and first committed by devils? 3dly, Hast
thou not inward reasonings that there is no God, or that he
seeth not, or knoweth not, or that there is no profit in his ser-
vice? 5thly, Hast thou not trusted in man, or feared man, or
loved the world, and thereby alienated thy heart from God?
6thly, Hast thou not resorted to witches, or in the first place
to physicians, and not to the living God? 7thly, Hast thou not
tempted God, and in the matters of God been either cold, or
lukewarm, or preposterously zealous? 8thly, Hast thou not
been careless to perform the inward duties of God's worship
in sincerity and truth? If in those thou hast transgressed,
then hast thou broken this commandment.
III. sins againt the second commandment.
" Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven imaged
For the Duties required. — Say, first. Hast thou ever
worshipped the true God purely according to his will? 2ndly,
30 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
Hast thou observed all those outward duties of his worship,
as prayer, and vows, and fasting, and meditating, and the
rest? 3dly, Hast thou repaired to God's house, observed family
duties, received the preachers of the gospel?
For the Sins forbidden. — Say, first. Hast thou not
sometimes walked after the imaginations of thy own heart,
serving God out of custom? 2ndly, Hast thou not committed
idol-worship, conceiving of God in thy mind in the likeness
of a creature? 3dly, Hast thou not made an image to liken
God to it, or used any gesture of love and reverence to any
such images? Hast thou not been careless to worship God, to
call upon the Lord, to receive God's ministers, or to perform
any other of the outward duties of God's worship? If in any
of these thou hast transgressed, then hast thou broken this
commandment.
IV. SINS AGAINST THE THIRD COMMANDMENT.
" Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain"
For THE Duties required. — Say, first. Hast thou been
a constant learner, hearer, and doer, of God's word and will?
2ndly, Hast thou prayed with perseverance, understanding, and
power of the spirit, without doubting or wavering? 3dly,
Hast thou come preparedly to the sacrament of the Lord's
supper, and being come, hast thou discerned the Lord's body?
4thly, Hast thou used all the titles, and properties, and works,
and ordinances, of the Lord with knowledge, faith, reverence,
joy, and sincerity.
For the Sins forbidden. — Say, first. Hast thou not
sometimes, in thy talk, dishonoured the titles, attributes, reli-
gion, word, people, of God, or any thing that hath in it the
print of his holiness? 2ndly, Hast thou not caused the name
of religion, or people of God, to be ill thought of by thy ill
course of life? 3rdly, Hast thou not rashly, or unpreparedly,
or heedlessly, read the word, heard sermons, received the
sacraments, or performed any other part of the worship of
God? 4thly, Hast thou not thought or spoken blasphemously,
01 contemptuously, of God, or of any thing whatsoever per-
taining to God? If in any of these thou hast transgressed,
then hast thou broken this commandment.
V. sins against the fourth commandment.
" Remember thou keep holy the Sahhath-day ."
For the Duties required. — Say, first. Hast thou, accord-
ing to the equity of this commandment, ever observed the
Lord's day, and other days and times set apart for God's service ?
2ndly, Hast thou always prepared thy heart, before thou wentest
into the house of the Lord, by meditation of God's word and
The Doctrine of Regeneration, 31
works, by examination and reformation of thy ways, by prayer,
thanksgiving, and holy resolution to carry thyself as in God's
presence, and to hear and obey whatsoever thou shouldst learn
out of the pure word of God? Hast thou repaired to God's
house in due time, and stayed the whole time of prayer, read-
ing, preaching of the word, singing of psalms, receiving of the
sacraments? Hast thou performed private religious offices upon
the Lord's day ; in private prayer and thanksgiving, in acknow-
ledging thy offences to God, in reconciling thyself to those
thou hast offended, or with whom thou art at variance; in
visiting the sick, comforting the afflicted, contributing to the
necessity of the poor, instructing thy children and servants,
and the rest of thy family, in the fear and nurture of the Lord ?
For the Sins forbidden. — Say, first. Hast thou not
sometimes spent the Lord's day in idleness, or in worldly busi-
ness, in vanities, or in sin? 2ndly, Hast thou not omitted pub-
lic duties, or camest in too late, or wentest out too soon?
3dly, Hast thou not employed thy cattle, or servants, or chil-
dren, or any other, though thou workedst not thyself? Hast
thou not profaned the Lord's day, by needless works, words,
or thoughts, about thy calling, or about thy recreation? Hath
not the strict observance of the duties of that day been
tedious unto thee, saying in thine heart. When will the day be
gone? If in any of these thou hast transgressed, then hast
thou broken this commandment*
VI. SINS AGAINST THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT
" Honour thy father and thy mother.^*
For the Duties here required: they are either in
the family, commonwealth, or church.
First, for the family: Say, if thou art an husband: \. Hast
thou loved thy wife, and dealt with her according to know-
ledge, giving honour to her as to the weaker vessel, and as
being heirs together of the grace of life? Hthou art a wife :
2. Hast thou submitted to thine own husband, as unto the
Lord, in every thing? 3. Hast thou put on the ornament of a
meek and quiet spirit? If thou art a parent: 4. Hast thou
brought up thy children in the nurture and admonition of the
Lord? 5. Hast thou corrected them, yet not provoked them
by immoderate correction? 6. Hast thou provided for them in
their callings, or outward estates? If thou art a child : 7. Hast
thou obeyed thy parents, and received correction with submis-
sion and reverence? 8. Hast thou relieved them in their wants?
9. Hast thou observed their instructions, and covered their
infirmities? If thou art a master: 10. Hast thou entertained
God's servants, and given unto thy servant that which is just
and equal? If thou art a servant: 11. Hast thou been obe-
32 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
dient to thy master according to the flesh, with fear and trem*
bling, in singleness of heart, as unto Christ; not answering
again, not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity?
Secondly, for the commonweath ; if thou art a magistrate:
12. Hast thou executed just laws? 13. Hast thou reformed
others' abuses, according to the power that is in thee? If thou
art a subject: 14. Hast thou obeyed the higher powers in all
just commands? 15. Hast thou been subject unto them, not
only for wrath, but also for conscience sake?
Thirdly, for the church; if thou art a minister: 16. Hast
thou taught in season, and out of season? 17. Hath thy light
shined before men, that they might see thy good works ? If
thou art an hearer: 18. Hast thou communicated to them that
teach thee in all good things? 19. Hast thou obeyed them,
and prayed for them, and loved them, and followed them^
considering the end of their conversation?
For the Sins forbidden. — And first, for the family; say,
if thou art an husband: 1. Hast thou not sometimes abused
thy wife, or injured her in thought, word, or deed? If thou
art a wife : 2. Hast thou not been wasteful, or froward, or idle ?
If thou art a parent: 3. Hast thou not been careless, especially
of thy children's souls? If thou art a child: 4. Hast thou not
despised thy father's or mother's instructions? 5. Hast thou
not mocked them, or shamed them, or grieved them? If thou
art a master : 6. Hast thou not governed thy family negli-
gently? 7. Hast thou not withheld that which is just and
equal in diet, wages, encouragement? If thou art a servant:
8. Hast thou not been idle and slothful? 9. Hast thou not
served grudgingly, and not from the heart?
Secondly, for the commonwealth; if thou art a magistrate:
10. Hast thou not been as a lion, or a bear, roaring and raging
over the poor? 11. Hast thou not decreed unrighteous decrees,
respecting the persons of the poor, or honouring the persons
of the mighty? If thou art a subject: 12. Hast thou not reviled
the gods, or cursed the rulers of thy people? 13. Hast thou
not disobeyed the higher powers, or denied tribute, or cus-
tom, or honour, or fear, to whom they are due?
Thirdly, for the church; if thou art a minister: 14. Hast
thou not been profane in thy life and conversation? 15. Hast
thou not run before thou wast sent? or being sent, hast thou
not been negligent in the gift that is in thee? 16. Hast thou
not caused God's people to err? 17. Hast thou not committed
simony, or sought indirectly for the fleece, not regarding the
flock? 18. Hast thou no tstrengthened the hands of evil-doers,
in preaching peace to wicked men? 19. Hast thou not given
heed to fables, or to some unprofitable matter, rather than
godly edifying? If thou art an hearer: 20. Hast thou not
resisted the minister, and the word preached by him? What-
The Doctrine of Regeneration. 33
soever thou art, husband, or wife, or parent, or chila, or
master, or servant, or magistrate, or subject, or minister, or
hearer, if in any of these thou hast transgressed, then thou
hast broken this commandment.
VII. SINS AGAINST THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT.
" Thou shah do no murder.'*
The Duties required. — Say, Hast thou ever desired
and studied, by all lawful means to preserve thine own person,
and the person of thy neighbour?
For the Sins forbidden. — Say, first. Hast thou not
sometimes envied others? 2ndly, Hast thou not offended others
in words, by censuring, or reviling, or rendering evil for evil,
or railing for railing ? 3dly, Hast thou not offended others in
deeds, plotting against the just, or doing evil to any man?
4thly, Hast thou not been angry with thy brother without
cause, or continued long in anger? 5thly, Hast thou not re-
joiced at others' fall? or wished a curse to their souls? 6thly,
Hast thou not done evil to thyself, by inordinate fretting, or
frieving, or drinking, or saying in thy passions, would to God
were dead? 7thly, Hast thou not been a sower of discord, or
some way or other an occasion of the discomfort, or the death,
of thy neighbour ? If in any of these thou hast transgressed,
thou hast then broken this commandment.
viii. sins against the seventh commandment.
*' Thou shalt not commit adultery."
For the Duties required. — Say, Hast thou ever kept
thyself pure in soul and body, both towards thyself and others?
For the Sins forbidden. — Say, first. Hast thou not some-
times been defiled with whoredom, adultery, polygamy, or self-*
pollution? 2ndly, Hast thou not offended in the occasions of
uncleanness, as in idleness, gluttony, drunkenness, wanton
company, or gay attire ? 3dly, Hast thou not sinned in thy
senses, or gestures, or words? 4thly, Hast thou not harboured
in thy heart impure thoughts, inordinate affections? 5thly,Hast
thou not behaved thyself immodestly, using some manner of
dalliance and wantonness? If in any of these thou hast trans-
gressed, then hast thou broken this commandment.
IX. sins against the eighth commandment.
" Thou shalt not steal:'
For the Duties required. — Say, Hast thou, by all good
means, furthered the outward estate of thyself and of thy
neighbour?
For the Sins forridden. — Say, first. Hast thou not
sometimes got thy living: by an unlawful calling? 2ndly, Hast
2. E
34 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
thou not impoverished thyself by idleness, or unnecessary ex-
penses? 3dly, Hast thou not withheld from thyself, or others,
that which should have been expended? 4thly, Hast thou not
gotten or kept thy neighbour's goods by falsehood or force,
and made no restitution? 5thly, Hast thou not stolen by
usury, or oppression, or fraud in buying or selling? 6thly,
Hast thou not robbed God of his tithes and offerings? 7thly,
Hast thou not some way or other impaired thy neighbour's
estate? If in any of these thou hast transgressed, then hast
thou broken this commandment.
X. SINS AGAINST THE NINTH COMMANDMENT.
" Thou shalt not hear false witness.'^
For the Duties required. — Say, Hast thou ever by all
means sought to maintain thy own and thy neighbour's good
name, according to truth and a good conscience?
For the Sins forbidden. — Say, first. Hast thou not
sometimes loved, or made, a lie? 2ndly, Hast thou not raised
a false report? 3dly, Hast thou not censured or judged others?
4thly, Hast thou not flattered thyself and others, saying unto
the wicked, thou art righteous? 5thly, Hast thou not con-
demned some without witness, or forborne to witness for
others when thou knewest the truth? 6thly, Hast thou not
been uncharitably suspicious, or a despiser of thy neighbour?
7thly, Hast thou not told a lie, whether jestingly, or officiously,
or perniciously? If in any of these thou hast transgressed,
then hast thou broken this commandment.
XI. sins against the last commandment.
" Thou shalt not covet.'*
For the Duties required. — Say, first. Hast thou ever
been truly contented with thy own outward condition?
2ndly, Hast thou rejoiced at others' good, and loved thy neigh-
bour as thyself?
For the Sins forbidden. — Say, first, Hast thou not
sometimes conceived evil thoughts in thy heart? 2ndly, Hast
thou not been discontented with thy own condition? Hast
thou not coveted after something or other that was thy neigh-
bour's? If in any of these thou hast transgressed, then hast
thou broken this commandment.
CHAP. III.
The second Means to get into the New Birth.
After examination, which may serve thee for one day's
work or two, the next duty is, confession. Take a catalogue of
The Doctrine of Regeneration. 35
those sins which thou hast noted, and spread thy catalogae
before the Lord ; there read thou seriously, and particularly,
saying, O Lord, I confess I have committed this sin, and the
other sin, (as they are before thee in order,) of all these sins
I am guilty, especially of those sins wherein I delighted, my
darlings, my bosom-sins, (take notice of them, and confess
them again,) of all these sins I am guilty; and now, O Lord,
standing, as it were, at the bar of thy tribunal, I arraign my-
self, and accuse myself, and judge myself worthy of the utmost
of thy wrath and indignation : for one sin thou castedst Adam
out of paradise, for one sin thou castedst the angels out of
heaven, and what then shall become of me, that have com-
mitted a world of sins? — (Here pause a while, and meditate
on thy unworthiness.) — O that I should be so foolish, so
brutish, so mad, to commit these sins, these manifold sins! O
that by these sins I should break so holy a law, provoke so
good and great a majesty? What should 1 do, but, remember-
ing my evil ways, even loathe myself in my own sight, yea
abhor myself in dust and ashes, for my iniquities and my
abominations? For conclusion, thou mayest imitate the pub-
lican, who, not daring to lift up his eyes, smote his breast: So
do thou, and say with him, God he merciful to me a sinner.
CHAP. IV.
The third Means to ^et into the New Birth.
After confession, which may well serve thee for another
day's work, seek for true sorrow and mourning for thy sins :
seek thou must, and never leave seeking, till thou feel thy
heart melt within thee. To this purpose read some tracts of
death, of judgment, of hell, of Christ's passion, of the joys of
heaven; last of all, and I take it best of all, resolve to set
every day some time apart to beg it of the Lord : and at the
time appointed fall down on thy knees, spread thy catalogue,
confess, accuse, judge, condemn thyself again; which done,
beg of the Lord to give thee that soft heart he promised, Ezek.
xxxvi. 26. A new heart will I give you, and a neiv spirit will I
put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your
Jlesh, and t will give you an heart of fesh. Say then to thy-
self, is this the Lord's promise? O Lord, perform it to my
heart; take away my stony heart, and give me a heart of flesh,
a new heart, a new spirit, 8cc. — (Here make thine own prayer:
be not careful of words, only let the words be the true voice
of thy heart.) — Pray, and call, and cry, with vehemency and
fervency not to be uttered. When thou hast done, if the Lord
Uo not yet hear thee, pray again the next day, and the
36 The Doctrine of Regoieration.
next day, yea, put on this resolution, that thou wilt never
leave praying till the Lord hear thee in mercy, till he make
thee to feel thy heart melt within thee, yea, if it may be. Hit
thou seest thy tears trickling down thy cheeks, because of
thy oifences. The Lord will, perhaps, hear thee at the first time,
or at the second time, or, if he do not, be not discouraged, God
hath his times ; God speaketh once and twice, and man per-
ceiveth not; happy he who relenteth at last; give i't not over,
persist thou, thy suit is just, and importunity will prevail.
2. The Jirst Reason for this Sorrow. — This must be done;
first, because " without pangs no birth : the pangs of a peni-
tent man are as the pangs of a woman. Now as there can be
no birth without pains of travail going before, so neither true
repentance without some terrors of the law, and straits of
conscience. Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to
fear, saith the apostle to the Romans ; to shew us they once
did receive it. When? but in the very first preparation to con-
version: then it was that the Spirit of God in the law did so
bear witness unto them of their bondage, that it made them
to fear. And certainly thus it is with every man in his first
conversion ; his contrition must be vehement, bruising, break-
ing, rending the heart, and feeling the throes, as a woman
labouring of child, before there can be a new birth.
3. The second Reasofifor this Sorrow. — Again, without con-
trition, no Christ; " therefore it was that John Baptist," saith
Chrysostom, " first thoroughly frighted the minds of his
hearers with the terror of judgment, and expectation of tor-
ment, and when he had thus taken down the stubbornness,
then, at length, he makes mention of Christ.'^ Certainly, the
first thing that draws to Christ, is to consider our miserable
state without him; no man will come to Christ, except he be
hungry; no man will take Christ's yoke upon him, till he
come to know the weight of Satan's yoke: to this end, there-
fore, must every man be broken with lashes of conscience,
that so despairing of himself, he may fly unto Christ.
4. 'The third Reason for this Sorrow. — Again, without hearty
sorrow, no spiritual comfort. We must first be humbled be-
fore the Lord, and then he will lift us up. God pours not the
oil of his mercy, save into a broken vessel; God never com-
forts thoroughly, save where he finds humiliation and repent-
ance for sin. "" The word of God," saith one, " hath three
degrees of operation in the hearts of his chosen ; first, it fall-
eth to men's ears as the sound of many waters, a mighty, a
great and confused sound, and which commonly bringeth nei-
ther terror nor joy, but a wondering and acknowledgment of
a strange force; this is that which many felt, hearing Christ,
when they were astonished at his doctrine. The next effect is,
the voice of thunder, ^yhirh bringeth not only wonder, but
Tht Doctrine of Regeneration. 37
fear also ; not only filleth the ears with sound, and the heart
with astonishment, but moreover shaketh and terrifieth the
conscience. The third effect is, the sound of harping, while
the word not only ravisheth with admiration, and striketh the
conscience with terror, but also, lastly, filleth it with sweet
peace and joy. Now albeit the two first degrees may be
without the last, yet none feel the last, who have not in some
degree felt both the first." He saith true, in some degree,
though commonly the deeper the sense of misery, the sweeteip
is the sense of mercy.
CHAP. V.
The Means to be delivered out of the Pangs of the New Birth.
1. And now, if, by God's blessing, thou feelest this sorrow
and melting of heart, the next thing thou must do, is to seek
for the remedy, which remedy consists of these ingredients :
first, A sight of Christ. 2ndly, A desire after Christ. 3dly,
A relying on Christ. 4thly, An obedience to Christ. Sthly^
A comfort in Christ, sought for and obtained. Thou wilt say,
these ingredients are pearls indeed, but how should I obtain
them? I answer, by application of the promises; and since
every ingredient hath its particular promises, I shall let thee
see them in order, only do thou apply them thyself: some may
object, I dare not look to the promise, I cannot believe; if I
could believe, then I could expect good from the promise. —
I answer, thou shalt never believe upon these terms; thou
must not first have faith, then go to the promise, and from
thence receive power to believe. O then go to the promise,
and expect faith from thence ; this is the rule, " I must not
bring faith to the promise, but to receive faith from it, and
therefore there will I hang, and wait till the Lord please to
work it."
2. The Promises procuring a Sight of Christ,
The first step that brings comfort to thy heavy soul, is the
Bight of Christ : and to procure this sight, thou hast these
promises.
Matt. i. 21. " Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall
save his people from their sins."
John i. 29. " Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away
the sins of the world."
John iii. 16. ** God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him
should not perish, but have life everlasting."
lioin. iii. 25. " God hath set forth Christ Jesus, to be
reconciliation through faith in his blood."
38 The Doctrine of Regeneration,
1 Cor. i. 30. " Christ Jesus, of God is made unto us wisdom,
and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."
1 Tim. i. 15. " This is a true saying, and by all men worthy to
be received, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sin-
ners."
\John ii. 1, 2. " If any sin, we have an advocate with the
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation
for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of
the whole world."
All these tell thee, that as thou art a sinner, so thou hast a
Saviour; only do thou apply them, and certainly they will help
thee in the first step of this remedy, to wit, the sight of Christ.
3. The Promises procuring a Desire after Christ.
Thou mayest say, I see Christ, and I see that his person,
and death, and blood-shed, are precious and saving; but how
may I make him mine ? how may I know that he is my Sa-
viour? I answer, Thou must hunger and thirst after him; this
desire is the second step : and to provoke thee to this duty,
consider these promises :
Isa. Iv. 1. '•' Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the
waters ; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat; yea,
come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price."
John vii. 37, 38. " In the last day, that great day of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried, saying. If any man thirst, let him come
unto me and drink : he that believeth on me, as the scripture
hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."
Rev. xxii. 17. " Let him that is athirst come; and whoso-
ever will, let him take the water of life freely."
These may provoke thee to thirst after Christ, that sovereign
fountain, opened to the house of David, and to the inhabit-
ants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.
4. The Promises procuring a Relying on Christ.
Yet thou mayest say, I thirst indeed, but I dare not drink ;
I desire, but I dare not come near, to lay hold on Christ ; I am
a most vile, unworthy wretch, and my sins are of a scarlet dye.
True ; for thee to pretend part in Christ, wallowing yet in thy
sins! for thee to believe that Christ is thy righteousness, pur-
posing to go on in any one known sin, were a most cursed,
horrible presumption indeed ! But where all is a burden, there
a man may be bold. A man may? Yes, he must: if thou
groanest under sin, if thou longest after Christ, apply these
promises, and they will force thee to lay hold upon the Rock,
to take Christ for thine own, to throw thy sinful soul upon
his bleeding wounds, and to cast thyself with confidence into
the bosom of his love : —
Matt. xi. 28. " Come unto me, all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest.*'
The Doctrine of Regeneration, 39
Isa. Iv. 1, " Ho, every one that thirsteth, come' ye to the
waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea
come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price."
And lest thou say, I am so far from bringing any thing in my
hand, that I bring a world of wickedness in my heart, and
my sins, I fear, will hinder my acceptation ; No, saith he : —
Isa. Iv. 7. " Let the wicked forsake his way, and the un-
righteous man his thoughts, [and this is thy desire, thy case]
and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon
him, " &c. If all this will not do without a more solemn
invitation, see how the Lord of heaven sends forth his ambas-
sadors to entreat thee to come in : —
2 Cot, v. 20. " Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as
though God did beseech you by us : we pray you in Christ's
stead be ye reconciled unto God." Or if he cannot woo thee,
lo, he commands thee : —
1 Jo/m iii. 23. " And this is the commandment, that we
should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ." Or yet to
drive thee to Christ, he not only commands, but threatens: —
Heh. iii. 18. " And to whom sware he that they should not
enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?"
How is it possible, but that all, or some of these, should bring
in every broken heart to believe, and every one that is weary
of his sins, to rely upon the Lord of life for everlasting welfare?
5. The Promises procuring Obedience to Christ.
And yet thou mayest say, I have cast myself on Christ; is
this all I must do? No, there is yet another step ; he is not only
to be thy Saviour, but thy husband; thou must love him, and
serve him, and honour him, and obey him; thou must endea-
vour not only for pardon of sin, and salvation from hell, but for
purity, obedience, ability to do or suffer any thing for Christ.
And to provoke thee to this duty, consider these texts : —
Jer. xxxi. 33. " This shall be the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel: After those days, saith the Lord, I
will put my law into their inward parts, and write it in their
hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Matt. vii. 21. " Not every one that saith. Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will
of my Father which is in heaven,"
Matt. xi. 29. ** Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me,
for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto
your souls."
Matt. xvi. 24. " If any man will follow me, let him take up
his cross and follow me."
2 Cor. V. 15. " He died for all, that they which live, should
not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died
for them."
40 The Doctrlm of Regetieration,
1 John i. 6, 7. " If we say we have fellowship with him, and
walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk
in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another ; and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us
from all sin."
. 1 John ii. 5, 6. " He that keepeth liis word, in him verily is
.the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in
him. He that saith, he abideth in him, ought himself also to
walk, even as he walked."
1 John iii. 6, 9. " Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not. —
Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin, for his seed re-
maineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."
All these may invite thee to enter into the holy path, and
to fight under Christ's banner, against the world, the flesh,
and the devil, unto thy life's end.
DIRECTIONS TO A MAN IN THE ACT OF
THE NEW BIRTH.
THE OCCASION OF THIS TREATISE.
'Hitherto I have given the doctrine of the new birth; yet
one thing is wanting, to wit, the practice of some saint in this
one necessary thing : and what man hath writ more on this
subject, than T. Hooker? Therefore I thought fit, not only to
contract his books in this appendix; but also, to set before
you those pathetic expressions of his soul-pangs in the new-
birth, as matter for your im.itation.
CHAP. 1.
The SouVs Preparation.
Before the soul can share in Christ's merits, (to speak in
the author's language, without any alteration,) two things are
required :
1. A preparation to receive Christ.
2. An implantation of the soul into Christ.
That there must be a preparation, is the first ground we lay;
and herein observe we, the matter, the manner, and the means,
of this preparation.
1 . For matter : the soul of a sinner must be prepared for
Christ, before he can entertain him. When kings go to any
place, they send, to make readiness, their harbingers before
them : if Christ, the King of saints, come into a soul, there
must be a preparation before he enter; and good reason, for he
The Doctrine of Regeneration, %\
.is not a mere man, an ordinary person, but a King, a King of
glory.
2. The manner of this preparation consists in these three
passages; 1st, the soul breaks that league which formerly it
had with corruptions : 2ndly, the soul is willing to give way
to Christ Jesus, and to let him overthrow whatsoever shall
oppose him: 3dly, the soul is content that God should rule
all, not only the eye, or hand, or tongue, or heart, but the
whole man; it opens all the gates, and desires Christ to come
and take all the keys of the house upon him.
3. The means of this preparation is the powerful ministry,
which God hath appointed for this work ; and it is discovered
in three particulars : 1st, in -a particular application of the truth
to the souls of men. 2ndly, in a confirmation of the truth by
soundness of argument, and plain evidence of scriptures. 3dly,
in a kind of spiritual heat in the heart and affections of the mi-
nister, answerable to that which he communicates to the people
If any soul that hath enjoyed these means any while, is not
yet fitted and prepared, it is a fearful sign; the state of that
soul is extremely dangerous. Go home, t'hen, if there be any
such, and plead, saying, ** Lord, why am I not yet humbled
and prepared? Will exhortations never prevail with me? Will
terrors and reproofs never break my heart into pieces? I have
heard sermons that would have shaken the very stones; the
tire of hell hath flashed in my face ; and if any thing can do
me any good, why not these exhortations, admonitions, and
"reproofs?" The Lord turn the heart of such a poor sinner,
that he may lay hold on mercy in due time.
CHAP. XL
I he general Circumstances of Preparation on God's part.
\. In this preparation, two things are considerable; the ge-
neral circumstances, and the substantial parts.
The general circumstance^i are, some on God*s part, some
on man's part.
On God's part there are these. 1. The offer of Christ and
grace. 2. The condition of this offer. 3. The easiness of this
condition.
On man's part, two things are considerable : — 1 . That cort
ruption doth oppose this grace. 2. That God will remove
this corruption.
The first general circumstance of the soul's preparation, is
on God's part; wherein is the offer of Christ Jesus, the condi-
tion of this offer, and the easiness of this offer. We may have
?tll in this one comparison: As with a malefactor convicted ol
2. V
42 The Doctrine of Regeneration^
high treason, if, after the discovery of all passages, the king
make a proclamation, that upon the surceasing of his enter-
prises, he shall be pardoned ; nay, if the king shall send mes-
sage after message, to tell him, that would he yet lay down
his arms, and take a pardon, he shall be graciously accepted :
if this traitor now should rather fling away his pardon than
his weapons, then should the king raise an army and over-
come him, and take him, and execute him without any mercy ;
1 appeal to your own consciences, is he not justly rewarded?
Why, this is the condition of every poor soul under heaven ;
we are all rebels and traitors ; and yet, after all our pride and
stubbornness, the Lord is pleased to proclaim mercy still to
every one that will receive it: " All you that have disho-
noured ray name, all you that have profaned my sabbaths,
and contemned my ordinances, all ye cursed wretches, come;
come who will, and take pardon;" therein is the offer: only
let them lay aside all their weapons ; therein is the condi-
tion: and then have Christ for the taking; therein is the
easiness of the condition.
Blessed God, may every soul say, if I will not do this for
Christ, I will do nothing: had the Lord required a greater
matter of me to have attained salvation ; had he required thou-
sands of rams, and ten thousand rivers of oil; had he required
the first-born of my body for the sin of my soul ; one drop of
mercy at the last gasp would have quit all this cost: but what
goodness is this, that the Lord should require nothing of me,
but to lay down my weapons, and to receive Christ offered !
Lo, the Lord hath this day sent from heaven, and offered
salvation unto you sons of men; the Lord Jesus is become a-
suitor to you, and I am Christ's spokesman. Shall the Lord
and his messengers thus woo and entreat? and will any yet
stand out against God, and say, " I will none of Christ, 1 will
try it out to the last." O then, if the great God of heaven and
earth shall come with ten thousand thousand of judgments,
and execute them upon that man! If he shall bring a whole
legion of devils, and say, " Take him, devils, and torment
him in hell for ever, because he would not have mercy when
it was offered, he shall not have mercy." If God should thus
deal with that man, the Lord should be just in so doing.
II. The general circumstances of the preparation on man's
part. — The second general circumstance of the soul's prepa-
ration, is on man's part; and herein is observable,
1. That corruption opposeth grace.
2. That God will remove this corruption.
The first is clear, I Cor. ii. 14. " The natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them."
Give us a man in the state of nature — and though all the mi-
nisters under h^^ien should i^reach mercy unto him ; though
The Doctrine of Regeneration, 43
all the angels in heaven should exhort and entreat him ; though
all glory and happiness were laid before ^ m, and he were
wished only to believe and take it, and it Sould be his for
ever; yet in his natural condition he could have no power to
receive so blessed an offer ; howsoever, this hinders not but
he is to wait upon God in the means. And then,
Secondly, God may remove this corruption, which he him-
self cannot do: herein observe we, first, the author; and
secondly, the time, of this grace
First, the author is God; I tvill take away their stony heart,
saith God, and give them an heart of flesh. The taking away
of the indisposition of the soul to any duty, and the fitting
and disposing it to perform any spiritual service, is the alone
work of God.
Quiet then thy soul: thou mayest say, " I have an hard
heart, and it will receive no good ; the word prevails not, the
sacraments have no power over me ; all the means, and cost,
and charges, that God hath bestowed upon me, is lost, and my
heart is not yet humbled, my corruptions are not yet weakened.*'
But in this be thou comforted; though means cannot do it,
yet the Lord can do it, there is nothing difiicult to him.
Be then exhorted, you that have stony hearts, to have re-
course unto this great God of heaven. You wives that have
husbands with stony hearts, and you parents that have children
with stony hearts, tell them you have heard this day of a phy-
sician that will cure them, and exhort them to repair unto him.
Secondly, the time of this grace, is either in regard of the
means, or the men.
1. In regard of the means; and that is, wnen the sons of
men have the gospel shining in their faces; if ever God work
upon their hearts, it will be then.
This should teach us how thankful we ought to be unto the
Lord, that enjoy these liberties in the land of the living.
That a man was born in such a time, in such a place, wherein
the way of life and salvation is so fully, so plainly, and so
powerfully made known, that the sun of the gospel shines
full in his face. O how thankful should he be!
And for those that neglect the means of their salvation, how
should we pity them! Methinks I see a poor creature, that
slighted mercy and salvation when it was offered him, lying
upon his death-bed ; light is departing from his eyes, and his
soul is departing from his body ; methinks I hear such a man
say at his last gasp, '* The day is gone, the gate is shut, and
now it is too late to enter:" and thus the soul departs from
his body, the body to the grave, and the soul to hell. Oh, what
bitter lamentations will that soul make in hell ! " Oh, the
golden time that I have seen, and not regarded! Oh, the gra-
cious opportunities of salvation that my eyes have beheld.
44 The Doctrine of Rcgejicrat'wn.
jand yet I neglected! Oh, the mercy and e^vace, and goodness
of God, that have been ottered unto me ! All these 1 huve con-
temned, and trampled under my feet, and therefore now must
J be tormented w ith the devil and his angels, from everlasting
to everlasting." Now the Lord give us hearts to take notice of
these things. If I were now breathing out my last breath, I
would breathe out this legacy to all surviving Christians,
This is the accepted time, this is the day of salvation.
2. In reoard of the men, on whom God works ; that is to saV,
on some in their tender age, on some in their ripe age, on
some in their old age. But however the Lord doth at seve-
ral times convert several of his servants, yet most, and most
usually, before their old age.
O let this provoke us, that while the flower is in prime, ^e
Would use all means for our good; let us nOw, in the summer
of our days, improve ourselves in good works, so that when
the harvest comes, we may be gathered into God's barn. Oh !
would we be exhorted to take the best time and opportunity
of salvation, then might we receive the fruits of our labours,
the salvation of our souls.
CHAP. III.
The Substantial Parts of Preparation on God's Part.
.Hitherto of the general circumstances of the soul's pre-
paring for Christ. The substantial parts of this preparation
are generally two : the dispensation of God's work on the
soul, and the disposition of the soul by God's work.
The dispensation of God's work discovers itself in drawing
the soul, from sin, to himself.
But because these two are made up by one action and mo-
tion, we shall therefore handle them together : and the sum is
this, that God by an holy kind of violence (whch is called draw-
ing, John vi. 44.) doth pluck the soul from those sins that harbour
in it, unto himself: wherein we may consider two things ;
1. What the nature of his drawing is.
2- The means whereby God draws.
First, For the nature of this drawing; it is of a double kind :
1. There is a moral drawing, when by reasons propounded,
and good things offered, to the understanding and will, a man
comes to have his mind enlightened, and his will moved; thus
was it with Paul, when he was constrained by Lydia to abide ai
her house. Acts xvi. 15. 2. There is a phisical drawing, when
the Lord is pleased to put a new power into the soul of a sin-
ner, and withal to carry the will to the object propounded;
when the Lord not only offers good things to the soul, but
enables the soul to lay hold on the things offered : and thus
th€ Lord draws a sinner ftom sin unto himself.
The Doctrine of Regeneration, 45
Secondly, For the means whereby he draws; they are these
four:
First, the Lord lets in a light into the soul of a poor sinner,
and discovers unto him that he is in a wrong way : this the
soul marvels at, because usually it comes on a sudden, the
sinner perceiving nothing less.
Secondly, though a man would defeat the power of this light,
yet God still follows it with forcible arguments, and draws with
the cord of his mercy; I taught Ephraim to go, saith God, tak-
ing him by the arms ; I drew them by the cords of love, and with
the bands of a man. This love is made up of four cords :
1. The Lord reveals himself to be ready to receive, and will-
ing and easy to entertain, sinners when they come to him: Let
the wicked J or sake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts,
and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon
him, and unto our God, for he will abundantly pardon. The
word in the original is, he will multiply pardons. Hast thou
multiplied rebellions? the Lord will also multiply pardons ; the
bowels of compassion are still open, and the arms of mercy
are still spread abroad ; his pardons are multiplied ; there is
yet mercy for thee also, and for a thousand thousand more.
2. The Lord is not only ready to forgive when men come to
him, but that they may come, he also calls and commands them.
** O, but may I," saith a poor sinner, " shall I, dare I, go unto
the Lord God for mercy? May I be so bold to press in for fa-
vour at the hands of the Lord? I have been a grievous sinner^
and have heaped abomination upon abomination; I am afraid,
therefore, to approach near unto the Lord's presence." Is it so?
Hear what the Lord saith : " Come unto me, ye rebellious peo-
ple, and I will heal your rebellions. You that never prayed,
never came to hear, all rebels, come unto me." And then the
people answer. Behold, we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord
X)ur God. This is great encouragement to a poor sinner; he be-
gins now to wonder, and say, " Lord, shall all my sins be par-
doned ? Shall all my abominations be forgiven ? I that slighted
^o many mercies, and committed so many follies, shall I be
entertained?" "Yes," saith the Lord, " Come unto me, and
thou shalt be forgiven. Come; I command you come."
3. The Lord doth not only command a poor sinner to come,
but when he says, ** There is mercy with God, but not for me ;"
the Lord followeth him still, and sends another cord after him,
that if it be possible, he may win him, and woo him to receive
xnercy. If command therefore prevail not, he entreats and be-
seeches him to come and receive mercy; and this, methinks,
(Should move the hardest heart under heaven. We, saith the
apostle, are ambassadors from Christ, as though God did beseech
^ou by us; we pray you in Christ's Mead, be ye reconciled u/ilo
(jod. Rather than you should go away ixom Christ, eren
46 The Doctrine of Regeneration,
mercy itself will come and kneel down before you, and beseech
and entreat you, " for the Lord Jesus's sake, to pity your poor
souls, and receive pardon for your sins ;" a sinner is not able
to comprehend this, but he begins to be at a stand: — *' What,
that the Lord should beseech him? Oh, that thou wouldst re-
ceive pardon for thy sins, and be blessed forever! Good
Lord !" saith the soul, " is this possible, that the great King
of heaven should come and beseech such a traitor, such a rebel
as I am, to take pardon ? That a king on earth should pro-
claim a pardon to some notorious traitor, this were much ; but
that the King of heaven should lay down his crown, and be-
seech me, on his knees as it were, to take mercy; this is a
thing beyond all expectation. What, shall heaven stoop to
earth? Shall majesty stoop to misery? Shall the great God of
heaven and earth, that might have condemned my soul, and if
I had perished and been damned, might have took glory by
my destruction : is it possible that this God should not only
entertain me when I come, and command me to come, but en-
treat and beseech me to come, and receive mercy from him !
Oh, the depth of the incomprehensible love of God !" Imagine
you saw God the Father entreating you, and God the Son be-
seeching you, as he doth this day, *' Come now, and forsake
your sins, and take mercy, which is prepared for you, and shall
be bestowed upon you ;" would not this make a soul think thus
with itself, *' What, for a rebel? Not only to have mercy offered,
but to be entreated to receive mercy, it were pity, if I will not
take it, but I should go to hell, and be damned for ever." The
Lord, he complains. Why iinll ye die? As I live, saith the Lord,
I desire not the death of a sinner: turn ye, turn ye, why will ye
diel *' Mercy is offered ye, the Lord reacheth out his hand to
you;" fain would he pluck the drunkard out of the alehouse,
and the adulterer from his whore. Oh! if you break this cord.
I know not what to say to you : this is able to break moun-
tains in pieces; — Shake, O mountains, saith the prophet; why?
because God hath redeemed Jacob: the redemption of Jacob
was enough to break a mountain ; let his mercy break our
hearts; it is God that begs, the blessing is our own.
4. If yet this prevail nothing at all, the Lord will then wait,
and stay in long patience and suffering, to see if at any time a
sinner will turn unto him. Our Saviour follows poor sinners
from alehouse to alsehouse, and says, " I beseech you, drunk-
ards, take mercy, and have your sins pardoned." The Lord, as
we may say, wearieth himself with waiting, one day after an-
other, and one week after another : " It may be," saith Christ,
" this week, this sabbath, this sermon, a sinner will turn unto
me : what, will it never be ?" Are you not ashamed, my friends,
that the Lord Jesus should thus wait your leisure, and follow
you from place to place ; nay, that Christ should every morn-
The Doctrine of Regeneration. 47
ing appear to your understanding, and every night come to your
bedside, saying, " Let this be the last night of sinning, and
the next day the first day of repentance : Oh ! when will you
be humbled ? When will you receive mercy, that it may go well
with you, and with your's for ever?' If none of the other will
move you, yet, for shame, let this cord draw you to the Lord :
hear his pangs; O Jerusalem, will thou not be made clean? Oh!
when will it once be? A woman that is in travail. Oh, how she
expects and longs for her delivery! now a throb comes, and
then she cries ; anon comes a second throb, and then she cries
again; Oh! when comes deliverance? Thus God the Father
takes on him the person of a travailing woman ; he travails and
travails until he bring forth a son, until some soul be converted,
and brought home unto him; O Jerusalem, wilt thou not be
made clean? When will it once be? "I have waited; one, ten,
twenty, thirty, forty years long, have I waited on this genera-
tion; when will it once be?" The Lord thus travails in patience,
looking when we will receive mercy. Will our proud hearts
never be humbled ? Will our stubborn hearts never be sof-
tened? Will our profane hearts never be sanctified? When
will it once be ? Christ hath waited this day, this week, this
month, this quarter, this year, these ten, twenty, thirty, forty
years, on us : you old sinners, that are grey-headed in your
wickedness, how long hath the Lord waited on you ? Oh ! for
shame, let him wait no longer, but turn, turn ye unto him,
that ye may receive mercy from him.
Thirdly, if bonds of love move not, the Lord hath iron cords,
that will pluck in pieces; to wit, the cords of conscience;
which thus disputes, ** He that being oftened reproved, doth
still harden his hearts, shall perish everlastingly." But thou,
being often reproved, doth still harden thy heart; therefore,
thou shalt perish everlastingly.
In the first proposition, conscience gives the sinner a moni-
tion, to come from sin upon pain of the heaviest judgment that
can be inflicted. It is the Lord that sends the conscience on
this errand, " Go to such a man, and tell him. You have spoken
against God's saints, and you have broken God's sabbaths, and
you have contemned God's ordinances :" — " Be it known unto
thee, saith the conscience, that I have a command from heaven,
and from God; I charge you, as you will answer at the dreadful
day of judgment ; take heed of those evils that heretofore you
have committed, lest you damn you souls for ever." Will you
question his commission? See Prov. xxix. 1. He that being
iften reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed. If
you are often reproved, and will not be bettered, then the Lord
says, and conscience from the Lord tells you, " Be it at your
own peril, ye shall suddenly be destroyed." No sooner con-
science thus speaks, but the sinner hangs the wing, and with-
48 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
draws himself from his former lewd courses. But now when
wicked persons see their companion is gone, they make after
him amain, and then conscience plucks one way, and they
pluck another way ; at last by carnal company, and cursed per-
suasions, the soul is drawn back again to its former courses,
and so perhaps this twist is broken, and the sinner is gone.
2. If so, conscience, that was a monitor, now turns accuser;
before it was only God's herald, to forewarn him, but it is be-
come a sergeant to arrest him : it follows him to the alehouse,
and pursues him home; then takes him in his bed, and arrests
him in his sleep ; there, by a meditation, it hales the soul before
the tribunal of God, saying, *' Lo, Lord, this is the man, this is
the drunkard, the adulterer, blasphemer, this is he. Lord; an
enemy to thy servants, an hater of thy truth, a despiser of thy
ordinances : at such a time, in such a place, with such a com-
pany, this man despised thy truth ; this is he. Lord, this is the
man.'' And when conscience hath thus dragged him before
God, and accused him, then, " Take him, jailor; take him,
devil," saith the Lord, ** and imprison him; let vexation, and
horror, and trouble, and anguish, lie upon his soul, until he
confess his sins, and resolve to forsake them."
In this case was David, when he was forced to say. My bones
waxed old through my roaring all the day long; for day and night
thy hand was heavy upon me, my moisture is turned into the
drought of summer: then, said David, / acknowledged my ain
unto thee; I confessed my transgressions unto thee, O Lord, and
so thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. David folded up his
gins at the first, and therefore his bones were consumed, and
he roared continually ; and when the Lord had him on the rack,
he made him roar again, and v.ould never leave tormenting,
till David came to confessing ; but Vv hen he confessed his sin,
then the Lord forgave him the iniquity of it. Thus conscience
brings the soul of a sinner on the rack, (as traitors are used
that will not confess otherwise,) and makes him confess his
sins ; and then he cries, " Oh ! the abominations I have com-
mitted, which the sun never saw; in such a place, at such a
time." Thus conscience receives some satisfaction, and begins
to be quiet; and now, having got some quiet, his cursed com-
panions set upon him again, he listens again, and then he
begins to follow his old sins, perhaps with more eageTness
than ever, and now is another twist broken.
3. If so, conscience, that was a monitor and accuser, turns
executioner. The first proposition admonished, the second ac-'
cused ; if neither of these prevail, then conscience concludes.
Thou must to execution, thou shalt perish everlastingly. And
now conscience cries. Monitions or accusations could not pre-
vail with this man; come, ye damned ghosts, and take away
this drunkard, this blasphemer, this adulterer, and throw him
The Doctrine of Regeneration. 49
headlong into the pit of hell; he would not be amended, let
him be condemned ; he would not be humbled, therefore let
him be damned." The man hearing this, is amazed, and thinks
himself past hope, past help, past cure : did you ever see or
hear a tormented conscience in these pangs? He cries, " Lo
there devils stand; the heavens frown ; God is incensed; hell's
mouth is opened !" and now a minister is sent for, who dis-
plays to this despairing soul, the mercy and grace of God in
Christ Jesus : " Oh," replies he, '* this is my bane, my damna-
tion. If I had never heard of mercy, if I had never lived
under the gospel and the means of salvation, then had I been
an happy man; alas ! it is mercy I have neglected, it is sal-
vation I have contemned, how then should I be saved? O the
persuasions of the Lord that I have had ! the Lord hath even
wept over me, as he did over Jerusalem, Oh that thou hadst
knoum the things belonging to thy peace! yet all these persua-
sions have I contemned, and therefore certainly to hell I must
go." The minister replies. Truth it is, you have done thus,
but would you do so still? Is it good now to be drunk, or to
blaspheme, or to rail on God's saints, or contemn God's ordi-
nances? ** O, no, no," saith he, *' I now find what the end
of these wicked courses will be ; God's word could not pre-
vail with me, the minister could not persuade me. O the
good sermons that I have heard, but alas ! I despised the
word, and mocked the minister: woe, unto me for ever!"
The minister replies again. The truth is you have done thus;
but would you do so now? Would you still blaspheme, and
curse, and be drunk, and riotous ; or rather vv ould you not
now part with these, and take mercy instead of them? Then
the poor soul cries out, " Now the Lord for his mercies' sake
remove these sins from me : O, I had never so much delight
in my sins heretofore, as now I have misery for them ; but
alas! it is not in my power to help my soul; if the Lord
would do this, let him do what he will with it." What, saith
the minister, you are then willing to part with your sins : " O
yes," saith the soul, " I would rather offend all the world than
God; I had rather go to hell than commit a sin; if it would
please God to help me, I would forsake my sins with all my
heart." Why, now the poor soul is coming again, and God
is drawing him again from his corruptions.
Fourthly, when the soul is thus loosened, the Lord then
fully plucks it by the cord of his Spirit; with an almighty
hand he cuts the soul off from sin, and takes it into his own
hand, that he may govern him, and dispose of him, according
to his own good pleasure. Thus much of preparation, for the
substance of it, on God's part.
2.
80 The Doctrine of Regeneratmi.
CHAP. IV
The Substantial Parts of Preparation, on Man^s Part.
Now are we to observe the disposition of the soul on man's
part, which God works on the heart. It is known in two
works: 1. Contrition, whereby the soul is cut off from sin. 2.
Humiliation, whereby the soul is cut off from itself.
For so it is, that either the soul seeth no need to depart from
sin, or else it thinks it can help itself out of sin. The first is
called security, when the soul, seeing no need to be better,
desires it not: against this the Lord sends contrition, causing
men thereby to know the misery of sin, and to see need of a
change. The second is carnal confidence, when a sinner be-
gins to seek succour, and to scramble for his own comfort
in his self-sufficiency : against this the Lord works humiliation,
causing the soul hereby to see the weakness and emptiness
of its duties, and that there is enough in his best services to
condemn him for ever.
The first is security; when the soul is taken up with a se-
cure course, and therefore never seeth any need of a change.
Now, while a man lives thus, and blesses himself in his sin, it
is impossible he should receive faith, or by faith repair unto
Christ: the Lord, therefore, to remove this let, burdens the
soul, and says, " You will live in drunkenness, in covetous-
ness; you will have your sins : then take your sins, and get
ye down to hell with them." At this voice the sinner begins
to see where he is: " Is this true?" saith he; ** then I am the
most miserable creature under heaven." So the soul comes
to a restless dislike of itself; and saith, ** I must be other-
wise, or I am a damned man for ever."
Secondly, when the soul seeth his wound and his sin ready
to condemn him, it thinks, by Duties, or some such like mat-
ters, to succour itself; and it begins to say, ** My hearing and
my prayer, will not these save me?" Thus the soul in conclu-
sion rests on duties : I will not say but these duties are all
good, honourable, and comfortable; yet they are not God, but
the ordinances of God. It is the nature of a sinful heart, to
make the means as meritorious to salvation: a man that seeth
his drunkenness, and his base contempt of God, voweth to take
up a new course, and cries, " No more drunkenness, no more
scoffing at those that go to hear the word; and then he thinks,
what can I do more? to heaven I must s:o." All this is but a
man's self; Christ, who is the substance of all, is forgotten;
and therefore the poor soul famisheth with hunger. Mistake
not, I pray you ; these duties must be used, but a man must
not, stay here : prayer saith, there is no salvation in me ; and
the sacraments and fasting say, there is no salvation in us:
all these are helps, no causes of salvation. A man will use his
The Doctrine of Regcneratio)i. 51
bucket, but he expects water from the well ; these means are
the buckets, but all our life and grace is in Christ. If you
say your bucket shall help you, you may starve if you let it
not down into the well : so, though you boast of praying, and
hearing, and fasting, and of your alms ; if none of these bring
you to, or settle you on Christ, you shall die, though your
works were as the works of an angel. As it is with a graft
therefore, first it must be cut off from the old stock ; secondly,
it must be pared, and made fit for implantation into another :
so the soul by contrition being cut off from sin, then humi-
liation pares it (pares away all a man's privileges) and makes
it fit for ingrafting into Christ. Thus much of the lets ; now
for the works of contrition and humiliation.
1. A Sight of Si?i.
For a further discovery of these two necessary things, we
shall enter into particulars, and begin first with Contrition;
which contains these steps: A sight of sin; a sense of divine
wrath; and, a sorrow for sin.
The first step is a sight of sin: and sin must be seen clearly
and convictingly.
First, clearly, it is not a confused sight of sin that will serve
the turn; it is not enough to say. It is my infirmity, we are all
sinners: no, this is the ground why we mistake our evils, and
reform not our ways. A man must search narrowly, and prove
his ways, as the goldsmith doth his gold in the fire : I consi-
dered my ways, saith David, and turned away my feet unto
thy testimonies; in the original, I turned my sins upside down.
And this clear sight appears in two particulars :
1. A man must see his sin nakedly, in its own colours: we
must not look on sin through the mediums of profits and plea-
s\:fres; but the soul of a true Christian, that would see sin clearly,
must strip it of all content and quiet that ever the heart re-
ceived in it; as the adulterer must not look upon sin in regard
of the sweetness of it, nor the covetous man on his sin in regard
of the profit of it : you that are such, the time will co-me, when
you must die, and then consider what good these sinful courses
will do you; how will you judge of sin then, when it shall
leave a blot on your souls, and a guilt on your consciences?
2. A man must look on sin in the venom of it : and that you
may do partly, if you compare it with other things ; and partly,
if you look at it in regard of itself. 1. Compare sin with those
things that are most fearful and horrible; as suppose any soul
here present were to behold the damned in hell, then propound
this to your heart. What are those pains which the damned en-
dure? And your heart shall quake at it; yet the least sin that
ever you did commit, is a greater evil, in its own nature, than
the greatest pains of the damned in hell. 2. Look at »in simply
52 The Doctrine of Regency^ at lort.
as it is in itself, what is it but a profest opposing of God him-
self? A sinful creature joins side with the devil, and comes
in battle array against the Lord God of hosts ! I pray you in
cold blood consider this, and say, " Good Lord! what a sinful
wretch am I? that a poor damned wretch of the earth, should
stand in defiance against God : that I should submit myself to
the devil, and oppose the Lord God of hosts!"
Secondly, convictingly, that sin may be so to us, as it is
in itself; and that discovers itself in these two particulars :
L When, whatsoever sin is in general, we confess it the same
in our own souls : it is the cursed distemper of our hearts, how-
soever we hold the truth in gerieral, yet when w^e come to our
own sins, to deny the particulars. The adulterer confesseth
the danger and hlthiness of that sin in gross, but he will not
apply it to himself: the rule therefore is, *' Arrest thy soul,
whosoever thou art, of those sins particularly whereof thou
standest guilty : to this purpose say, '* Are pride, and drunken-
ness, and uncieanness, svich horrible sins? O Lord, it was my
heart that was proud and vain; it w^as my eye that was wan-
ton, and my heart that was unclean; Lord, here they are."
Thus bring thy heart before God.
2. When the soul sits down with truth, and seeks no shift
, to oppose it. The minister saith, God hates such and such a
sinner: *' And the Lord hates me too," saith the soul, *' for I
am guilty of that sin." Thus many a time, when a sinner comes
into the congregation, if the Lord please to work on him, the
mind is enlightened, and the minister meets with his corrup-
tions, as if he were in his bosom, and he answers all his cavils,
and takes away all his objections: with tha,t the soul begins
to be in amaze, and saith, " If this be so, as it is for aught I
know, and if all be true that the minister saith, then the Lord
be merciful unto my soul, I am the most miserable sinner
that ever was born ?"
You that know not your sins, that you may see them convict-
ingly, get you home to the law, and look into the glass thereof,
and then enumerate all your sins in order thus. " So many sins
against God himself in the first commandment, against his wor-
ship in the second, against his name in the third, against his
sabbath in the fourth : nay, all our thoughts, words, and actions,
B.11 of them have been sins, able to sink our souls into the bot-
tom of hell." And, secondly, that you may see them clearly,
consider their effect, both in their doom, and in the execution :
only to instance in their doom ; methinks I see the Lord of
heaven and earth, and the attributes of God, appearing before
him, " the mercy of God, the goodness of God, the wisdom of
God, the power of God, the patience and long-suffering of God ;"
and they all come to a sinner, and say, Mercy hath relieved you,
goodness hath secured you, wisdom hath instructed you, power
The Doctr'uie of Regeneration, '5*3
hath defended you, patience hath borne with you, long-suffer-
ing hath endured you : now all these bid you adieu, " Farewell,
damned souls ; you must go hence to hell, to have your fellow-
ship with damned ghosts : mercy shall never more relieve you,
goodness shall never more succour you, wisdom shall never
more instruct you, power shall never more defend you, pa-
tience shall never more endure you." And then shall you to
endless, easeless, and remediless torments, where you will ever
remember you sins, and say, " My covetousness and pride
was the cause of this ; I may thank my sins for this." Think
of these things, I beseech you, seriously, and see your sins
here, to prevent this sight hereafter.
2. A Sense of Divine Wrath.
The sinner by this time having his eyes so far opened, that
he beholds his sins, begins to consider that God hath him in
chase ; and this sense of divine wrath discovers itself in these
two particulars :
1. It works a fear of some evil to come.
2. It possesseth the soul with a feeling of this evil.
First, the soul considers, that the punishment which God hath
threatened, shall be executed on him sooner or later: he cries,
therefore, " What if God should damn me ? God may do it : and
what if God should execute his vengeance upon me ?" Thus
the soul fears, that the evil discovered will fall upon him. It is
with a soul in this fear, as it was with Belshazzar, when he com-
manded the cups to be brought out of the house of the Lord;
An hand-writing came against him on the ivall, and when he saw
it, his thoughts troubled him, and his knees knocked one against
another: so it is with this fear; he that r-ms riot in the way of
wickedness, there comes this fear and hand-writing against
him, and then he cries, " These are my sins, and these are the
plagues and judgments threatened against them : therefore why
may not I be damned? why may not I be plagued?"
Secondly, the Lord pursues the soul, and discharges that evil
upon him which was formerly feared ; and now his conscience is
all on a flame, and he saith to himself, " Oh ! I have sinned, and
offended a just God, and therefore I must be damned, and to
hell I must go." Now the soul shakes, and is driven beyond
itself, and would utterly faint, but that the Lord upholds it with
one hand, as he beats it down with the other; he thinks every
thing is against him, he thinks the fire burns to consume him,
and that the air will poison him, and that hell's mouth gapes
under him, and that God's wrath hangs over him, and if now the
Lord should but take away his life, that he should tumble head-
long into the bottomless hell : should any man, or minister, per
suade the soul in this case to go to heaven for mercy, it replies
in this manner; *' Shall I repair to God? Oh, that's my trouble
54 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
is not he that great God, whose justice and mercy, and patience,
I have abused? And is not he the great God of heaven and
earth, that hath been incensed against me? Oh! with what a
face can I appear before him? and with what heart can I look
for any mercy from him? I have wronged his justice, and can
his justice pardon me? I have abused his mercy, and can his
mercy pity me ? What, such a wretch as I am ? If I had never
enjoyed the means of mercy, I might have had some plea for
myself; but Oh ! I have refused that mercy, and have trampled
the blood of Christ under my feet; and can I look for any
mercy? No, no, I see the wrath of the Lord incensed against
me, and that's all I look for."
3. Sorrow for Sin.
The next step is, sorrow for sin; concerning which are two
questions : 1. Whether it be a work of saving grace ? 2. Whe-
ther God work it in all alike?
To the first. — There is a double sorrow; one in preparation,
the other in sanctification : — they differ thus : sorrow in prepa-
ration, is when the word of God leaves an impression upon the
heart of a man, so that the heart only bears the blow of the Spirit ;
and hence come all those phrases of scripture, as wounded,
pierced, pricked ; so that this sorrow is rather a sorrow wrought
on me, than any work coming from any spiritual abilility in me ;
but sorrow in sanctification, flows from a spiritual principle of
grace, and from that power which the heart hath formerly re-
ceived from God's Spirit ; so that in this a man is a free worker.
To the second, I answer : Howsoever this work is the same in
all for substance, yet in a different manner is it wrought in most :
two men are pricked, the one with a pin, the other with a
spear; so the Lord deals gently with one soul, and roughly
with another. There is the melting of a thing, and the break-
ing of it with hammers ; so there is a difference in persons.
For instance, if the person be a scandalous liver, and an op-
poser of God and his grace ; if a man have continued long in
sin ; if a man have been confident in a formal, civil course ; or,
if God purpose by some man to do some extraordinary work :
in these four cases he lays a heavy blow on the heart; the
Lord will bruise them, and make them seek to a faithful mi-
nister for direction, and to a poor Christian for counsel, whom
before they despised. But if the soul be trained up among godly
parents, the Lord may reform this man, and cut him off from his
corruptions kindly. But give me a Christian that God doth please
to work upon in this extraordinary manner, and to break his
heart soundly, and to throw him down to purpose, though it cost
him full dear; this man walks usually with care and conscience,
hath more comfort himself, and gives more glory unto God.
Is it so, that the soul of a man is thus pierced to the quick,
and run through by the wrath of the Almighty? then let this
The Doctrine of Regeneration. 55
teach all how to carry themselves towards such as God hath
thus dealt with. Are th^y pierced men? O pity them: O let
the bowels of compassion be let out toward them ! Let us never
cease to do good to them ! O pray, and pity these wounds and
vexations of spirit, which no man finds nor feels, but he that
hath been thus wounded. It is to be feared that soul is wholly
devoted to destruction, that hath a disdain against poor
wounded creatures. Is it possible there should harbour such
a spirit in any man? If the devil himself were incarnate, I can-
not conceive what he could do worse.
2. If ever thou wouldest be comforted, and receive mercy
from God ; never be quiet till thou dost bring thy heart to a
right pitch of sorrow: thou hast a little slight sorrow; but oh!
labour to have thy heart truly touched, that at last it may
break in regard of thy many distempers ; remember, the longer
seed-time, the greater harvest: Blessed are they that mourn, for
they shall be comforted. Matt. v. 4.
4. The Extent of this Sorrow.
Hitherto of this Contrition ; the next work is Humiliation,
which differs from the other, not in substance, but circum-
stance : for humiliation is only the extent of sorrow for sin, of
which we have spoken; and it contains these two duties: 1.
Submission; 2. Contentedness to be at the Lord's disposal.
The first part of humiliation, is Submission, which is wrought
thus : the sinner now having had a sight of his si-ns^ and a sor-
row in some measure; he seeks far and wide, improves all
means, and takes up all duties, that, if it were possible, he might
heal his wounded soul : thus seeking, but finding no succour in
what he hath, or doth, he is forced at last to make trial of the
Lord : it is true, for the present he apprehends God to be just,
and to be incensed against him ; yet because he sees he cannoti
be worse than he is, and that none can help him but God,
therefore he falls at the footstool of merce, and subits himself
to the Lord, to do with him as it seemeth good in his eyes.
He saith, " This I know ; all the means in the world cannot
save me : yet who can tell but the Lord may have mercy on
me, and cure this distressed conscience, and heal all these
wounds that sin hath made in my soul?'*
Or, for a further light, this subjection discovers itself in;
four particulars :
First, he seeth and confesseth that the Lord may, and, for
ought he knows, will proceed injustice against him, and exe-
cute upon him those plagues that God hath threatened, and
his sins have deserved.
Secondly, he conceives, that what God will do, he cannot
avoid it; if the Lord will come, and require the glory of hia
justice against him, there is no way to avoid it, nor to bear it.
56 The Doctrine of Regeneration,
And this crusheth the heart, and makes the soul to be beyond
all evasions, whereby it may seem to avoid the dint of the
Lord's supper.
Thirdly, he casts away his weapons, and falls down before
the Lord, and resigns himself to the sovereign power of God.
Thus David, when the Lord cast him out of his kingdom, said
to Zadok, " Carry back the ark of God into the city; if I shall
find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back
again, and shew me both it, and his habitation : but if he thus
say to me, I have no delight in thee ; behold here I am, let
him do with me as seemeth good in his eyes."
Fourthly, the soul freely acknowledgeth, that it is in God's
power to dispose of him as he will ; and therefore he lies and
licks the dust, and cries, Mercy, mercy. Lord! he thinks not
to purchase mercy at the Lord's hands, but only saith, *' It is
in God's good pleasure to do with him as he will, only he looks
for favour, and cries, Mercy, Lord, mercy to this poor dis-
tressed soul of mine !" O, replies the Lord, dost thou need
mercy? Cannot thy hearing, and praying, and fasting, carry
thee to heaven? gird up now thy loins, and make thy fervent-
est prayers, and let them meet my justice, and see if they can
bear my wrath, or purchase mercy. *' INTo, no," saith the sinner,
•* I know it by lamentable experience, that all my prayers and
performances will never procure peace to my soul, nor give
satisfaction to thy justice; I only pray for mercy, and I desire
only to hear some news of mercy, to relieve this miserable
soul of mine; it is only mercy that must help me. O mercy,
if it be possible, to this poor soul of mine !"
The second part of humiliation is Contentedness to be at
the Lord's disposal; and this point is of an higher pitch than
the former. This contentedness discovers itself in these three
particulars :
First, the soul reflects on God's mercy, which though he
begged when he submitted, yet now he seeth so much cor-
ruption in himself, that he acknowledgeth himself unfit for
it: ** O mercy, mercy, Lord!" — What, saith the Lord, can-
not your own duties purchase mercy? — " O no," saith the
soul, ** it is only mercy that must relieve and succour me;
but such is my vileness, that I am not fit for the least mercy;
and such is the wickedness of this wretched heart of mine,
that whatsoever are the greatest plagues, I am worthy of
them all, though never so insupportable : all the judgments
that God hath threatened, and prepared for the devil and
his angels, they are all due to my wretched soul. Had
the devils had such hopes, and such ofl:ers of mercy,
they would, for aught I know, have given entertainment to
it? And what, do I seek for mercy? The least of God's mer-
cies are too good for me, and the heaviest of God's plagues
The Doctrine of Regeneration, 57
are too little for me ! I only for one sin deserve eternal damna-
tion, for the wages of all sin is death, being committed against
divine justice, and against an infinite majesty; and then what
do all my sins deserve, committed and continued in, ao-ainst
all checks of conscience, and corrections, and the lio-ht of
God's word? Hell is too good, and ten thousand helfs too
little, to torment such a wretch as I am. What, I mercy? I
am ashamed to expect it: with what heart can I beg this
mercy, which I have trodden under my feet? The Lord hath
often wooed me, and when his wounds were bleeding, his side
gored, and his cries coming into mine ears. My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me? then, even then, this Christ have I
slighted, and made nothing of his blood ; and can this blood of
Christ do me any service ? Indeed I crave grace, but how do I
think to recei ve any? It is more than I can expect, I am not worthy
.of any; oh! no, I am only worthy to be cast out for ever."
Secondly, the soul reflects on justice, and now it acknow-
ledgeth the equity of God's dealings, be they never so harsh ;
he confesseth that he is as clay in the hands of the potter,
and the Lord may deal with him as he will! Yea, the soul is
driven to an amazement at the Lord's patience, and that he
hath been pleased to reprieve him so long, that God hath not
cast him out of his presence, and sent him down to hell long
ago. Hence it is that the soul will not maintain any kind of
murmuring, or heart-rising, against the Lord's dealings : or if
nature will be striving sometimes, and say, " Why are not
.my prayers answered? I see such a soul comforted, and
why not I as well as he?" Then the soul stifles, and crushes,
and chokes these wretched distempers, and doth also abase
itself before the Lord, saying, ** What if God will not hear
my prayers; what if God will not pacify my conscience;
doth the Lord do me any wrong? vile hell-hound that I am,
I have my sin and my shame; wrath is my portion, and hell is
my place, thither may I go when I will ; it is mercy that God
thus deals with me." And now the soul clears God in his
justice, and saith, " It is just with God that all the prayers
which come from this filthy heart of mine, should be abhorred,
and that all my labours in holy duties should never be blessed ;
it is I that have sinned against checks of conscience, against
knowledge, against heaven, and therefore it is just that I
should carry this horror of heart with me to the grave; it is
1 that have abused mercy, and therefore it is just that I should
go with a tormenting conscience down into hell: and Oh!
that if I be in hell, I might have a spirit to justify thy name
there; and say. Now I am come down to hell amongst you
damned creatures, but the Lord is righteous in all his doings,
and I am justly condemned."
Thirdly, hence the soul comes to be quiet under the heavy
2. ■ H
5S The Doctrine of Regeneration,
liand of God in that helpless condition : it takes the blow, and
lies under the burden, and goes away quietly and patiently : O
this is an heart worth gold ! " O," saith he, " it is fit that God
fc;hould glorify himself, though I be damned for ever: what-
soever 1 have, it is the reward of my own works, and the end
of my ov/n ways : if I be damned, I may thank my pride, and
lay stubbornness, and my peevishness of spirit: what shall I
repine against the Lord, because his wrath and his displeasure
lies heavy upon me? Oh no, let me repine against my sin, the
cause of all; let me grudge against my base heart, that hath
jiourished these adders in my bosom, but let me not speak one
Av ord against him/' Thus you see what is the behaviour of
the soul in this contentedness to be at the Lord's disposal.
But some may object, Ought the soul to be thus content to
be left in this damnable condition?
I answer. This contentedness implies two things ; first, a car-
nal security, and this is a cursed sin: secondly, a calmness of
soul, not murmuring aginst the Lord's dispensation towards
him : and this contentedness (opposed against quarrelling with
the Almighty) every humbled soul doth attain to, although in
every one it is not so plainly seen. A thief taken for robbery,
on whom the sentence of death hath passed, should not neglect
the means to get a pardon ; yet if he cannot procure it, he must
not murmur against the judge for condemning him: so we
should not be careless in using all means for our good ; but still
seek to God for mercy : yet we ought to be contented with
whatsoever mercy shall deny, because we are not worthy of any
favour. The soul, in a depth of humiliation, first stoops to the
condition that the Lord will appoint ; he dares not fly away from
God, nor repine against the Lord, but lies down meekly. 2. As
he is content with the hardest measure, so he is content with the
longest time, saying, " Although the Lord hide his face, and
turn away his loving countenance from me, yet I will look to-
wards heaven, so long as I have an eye to see, and an hand to
lift up ; the Lord may take his own time :" nay, the poor broken
heart resolves thus; ** If I lie and lick the dust all my days,
and cry for mercy all my life long; if my last words might be
Mercy, mercy, it were well." 3. As he is content to stay the
longest time, so he is content with the least pittance of mercy :
" Let my condition be never so hard," saith the soul, " do.
Lord, what thou wilt with me, let the fire of thy wrath con-
sume me here, only recover me hereafter; if I find mercy at
the last, I am content; and whatsoever thou givest, I bless thy
name for it." He quarrels not, saying, *' Why are not my
graces increased? and why am I not thus and thus comforted?"
No, he looks for mercy, and if he have but a crumb of mercy,
he is comforted and quieted for ever.
Hience we collect : 1 . That they which have the greatest parts,
The Doctrine of Regeneration. 59
and gifts, and honour, are, for the most part, hardly brought
home to Christ; they that are most hardly humbled, are most
hardly converted : what is humiliation, but the emptying of
the soul from whatsoever makes it swell? The heart must^not
joy in any thing, nor rest upon any thing, but only yield to the
Lord, to be at his disposing. Now these parts, and abilities,
and means, are great props for the heart of a carnal man to
rest upon; whence the apostle. Not many -wise men after the
Jiesk, not many mighty, not many rioble, are called; indeed,
blessed be God, some are, but not many : few, that have so
i^uch of themselves, are brought to renounce themselves.
2. That an humble heart mades all a man's life quiet, and,
marvellously sweeteneth whatsoever estate he is in: indeed
sometimes he may be tossed and troubled, yet he is not dis-
tracted, because he is contented ; as it is with a ship on the sea,
when the billows begin to roar, and the waves are violent, if
the anchor be fastened deep, it stays the ship : so this work of
humiliation is the anchor of the soul ; and the deeper it is
fastened, the more quiet is the heart. When Job, in his ex-
tremity, gave way to his proud heart, he quarrelled with the
Almighty, his friends, and all; but when the Lord had hum-
bled him, then. Behold I am vile; once have I spoken, yea twice,
but now no more. And this humiliation quiets a man both in
the fiercest temptations, and in the heaviest oppositions.
L In the fiercest temptations : when Satan begins to besiege
the heart of a poor sinner, and lays a battery against him, see
how the humbled heart runs him out of breath at his own wea-
pons ! Dost thou think, says Satan, to get mercy from the
Lord? God will not respect the prayers of such vile sinners.
*' True,'' saith the poor soul, " I have often denied the Lord
when he called upon me, and therefore he may justly deny me
all the prayers I make ; yet thus he hath commanded, that
seek to him for mercy I must, and if the Lord will cast me
away, and reject my prayers, I am contented therewith: what
then, Satan?" What then? saith the devil; I thought this
would have made thee to despair ; but this is not all, for God
will give thee over, and leave thee to thyself, to thy lusts and
corruptions, and thy latter end shall be worse than thy be-
ginning. To this answers the humbled soul, '* If the Lord will
give me up to my base lusts, and if the Lord will leave me to
my sins, because I have left his gracious commands ; and if I
^hall fall one day, and be disgraced and dishonoured, yet let
the Lord be honoured, and let not God lose the praise of his
power and justice, and I am contented therewith: what then,
Satan?" What then? saith the devil; I sure thought now thou
wouldst have despaired : but this is not all, for when God hath
left thee t.o thy sins, then will he break out in vengeance against
thee, and make thee an example of his heavy vengeance to
60 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
all ages ; and therefore it is best for thee to prevent this timely
judgment by some mitimely death. To this replies the soul,
*' Whatsoever God can or will do, I know not, yet so great are
my sins, that he cannot, or, at least, will not do so much
against me as I have justly deserved : come what will come, I
am contented still to be at the Lord's disposal : what then,
Satan?" And thus he runs Satan out of breath.
So in all temptations of Satan, lie low, and be contented to
be at God's disposing, and all these fiery temptations shall
not be able to hurt you.
2. In the heaviest oppositions: when Satan is gone, then
comes troubles and oppositions of the world, in all which hu-
miliation will quiet the soul. Cast disgrace upon the humble
heart, and he cures it thus : he thinks worse of himself than
any man else can do, and if they would make him vile and
loathsome, he is more vile in his own eyes than they can make
him : O that I could bring your hearts to be in love with this
blessed grace of God !
Is there any soul here that hath been vexed with the temp-
tations of Satan, oppositions of men, or with his own dis-
tempers? and would he now arm himself, that nothing should
disquiet him, but in all, to be above all, and to rejoice in all?
Oh ! be humbled, and then be above all the devils in hell ;
certainly they shall not so disquiet you, as to cause you to be
misled, or uncomforted, if you would but be humbled.
What remains then? Be exhorted, as you desire mercy and
favour at God's hands, to this humiliation. And for motives,
consider the good things that God hath promised, and which
he will bestow upon all that are truly humbled: I shall
reduce all to these three :
First, by humiliation we are made capable of all those trea-
sures of wisdom, grace, and mercy, that are in Christ.
Secondly, humiliation gives a man the comfort of all that is
good in Christ. To be truly humbled, is the next way to be
truly comforted ; the Lord will look to him that hath an humble
contrite heart, and trembles at his word. The Lord will give him
such a gracious look, as shall make his heart dance in his breast.
Thou poor humble soul, the Lord will give thee a glimpse of his
favour, when thou art tired in thy trouble; when thoulookest
up to heaven, the Lord will look down upon thee, and will re-
fresh thee with mercy : Oh ! be humbled then every one of you,
and the Lord Jesus, who comes with healing under his wings,
will comfort you, and you shall see the salvation of our God.
Thirdly, humiliation ushers glory : Whosoever humbles him-
self as a little child, shall be greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
He shall be in the highest degree of grace here, and of glory
hereafter : for as thy humiliation, so shall be thy faith and
sanctification, and obedience, and glory.
The Doctrhic of Rcgeitcrat'wn. 61
Now the Lord make me, and tliee, and all of ns humble, that
we may have this mercy. Who would not have the Lord Jesus
to dwell with him? Who would not have the Lord Christ, by
the glory of his grace, to honour and refresh him? Methinks
your hearts should yearn for it, and say, O Lord, break my
heart, and humble me, that mercy may be my portion for ever:
then might you say with comfort on your death-beds, " Though
I go away, and leave wife and children behind me, poor and
mean, in the world, yet I leave Christ with them:" when you
are gone, this will be better for them than all the gold or ho-
nours in the world. What can I say? Since the Lord offers so
kindly, now kiss the Son, be humble, yield to all God's com-
mands, take home all truths, and be at God's disposing; let
all the evil that is threatened, and all the good that is offered,
prevail with your hearts : or if means cannot, yet the Lord
prevail with you; the Lord empty you, that Christ may fill
you; the Lord humble you, that you may enjoy happiness
and peace, and be lifted up to the highest glory, there to
reign for ever and ever.
CHAP. V.
The Call on God's Part, for the Soul to close with, and to rely
on Christ.
Hitherto of our first general, the preparation of the soul
for Christ: the next is, the implantation of the soul into
Christ; and that hath two parts, 1. The putting of the soul
into Christ; 2. The growing of the soul with Christ.
As a graft is first put into the stock, and then it grows to-
gether with the stock : these two things are answerable in
the soul, and when it is brought to this, then a sinner comes
to be partaker of all spiritual benefits.
The first part is, the putting in of the soul : when the soul is
brought out of the world of sin, to lie upon, and to close with,
the Lord Jesus Christ: and this hath two particular passages ;
the call on God's part, and the answer on man's part.
The call on God's part is this: when the Lord by the call of
his gospel, and the work of his Spirit, doth so clearly reveal
the fulness of mercy, that the soul, humbled, returns answer.
In which observe the means, and the cause whereby God
doth call.
L The means is the ministry of the Gospel; the sum thereof
is this, That there is fulness of mercy, and grace, and salvation,
brouo-ht unto us throuoh the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence the
phrase of scripture calls this gospel, or this mercy, A treasury;
All the treasures of icisdom and holiness are in Christ: not one
treasure, but all treasures : where the gospel comes, there is joy
G2 The Doctrine of Regeneration,
for the sorrowful, peace for the troubled, strength for the
weak, relief seasonable and suitable to all wants, miseries,
and necessities, both present and future.
If then sorrow assail thee when thou art come thus far, look
not on thy sins, to pore upon them ; neither look into thy own suf-
ficiency, to procure any good there. It is true, thou must see
thy sins and sorrow for them, but this is for the lower form, and
thou must get this lesson before-hand; and when thou hast
gotten this lesson of contrition and humiliation, look then
only to God's mercy, and the riches of his grace in Christ.
2. For the cause : the Lord doth not only appoint the means,
but by the work of the Spirit, he doth bring all the riches of
his grace into the soul truly humbled. If you ask, how ? First,
with strength of evidence the Spirit presents to the broken-
hearted sinner, the freeness of God's grace to the soul : and
secondly, the Spirit by an over-piercing work, doth leave a
supernatural and spiritual virtue on the heart.
Now the word of the gospel, and the work of the Spirit,
always go together; not that God is tied to any means, but that
he tieth himself to the means : hence the gospel is called, the
power of God to salvation, because the power of God ordi-
narily, and in common course, appears therein : the waters of
life and salvation run only in the channel of the gospel ; nay,
observe this, when all arguments fail to persuade the heart to
go to God, one text of scripture will stand a man in stead,
above all human learning and inventions; because the Spirit
goes forth in this, and none else.
CHAP. VI.
The Answer on Man's Part, for the Soul to close with, and to
relij on Christ.
HiTHEUTO of the call on God's part; now we are come to
the answer on man's part. No sooner hath the gospel and
God's Spirit clearly revealed the fulness of God's mercy in
Christ, but the soul gives answer to the call of God. Mercy is
a proper object of the mind to be enlightened, of hope to be
sustained, of desire to be supported, of love to be cheered ;
nay, there is a full sufficiency of all good in Christ, that so the
will of man may take full repose and rest in him; therefore
the Lord saith. Come unto me, all that are weary and heavy
laden; come, mind, and hope, and desire, and love, and will,
and heart. They all answer, We come : the mind saith, let
me know this mercy above all, and desire to know nothing
but Christ, and him crucified : let me expect this mercy, saith
hope, that belongs to me, and will befall me : desire saith, let
me long after it; oh! saith love, let me embrace and welcome
The Doctrine of Regeneration, 63
it : o'h ! sfeith the heart, let me lay hold on the liandle of salva-
tion • here we will live, and here we will die, at the footstool
of God's mercy.
2. A Sight of Christ, or of Mercy in Christ^
But for a further discovery of these works of the soul, we
shall enter into particulars: and for their order; first, the
Spirit lets in a light into his heart, and discovers unto him,
that God will deal graciously with him. It is with a sinner,
as with a man that sits in darkness, haply he seeth a lio-ht in
the street out of a window, but he sits still in darkness, and
is in the dungeon all the while, and he thinks, " How good were
it, if a man might enjoy that light!" So, many a poor sinner
seeth God's mercies at a distance : ** Ah !" thinks he, " I am in
darkness still, and nevier had a drop of mercy vouchsafed untb
me." At last the Lord lets a li^ht into his house, and puts
the candle into his own hand, and makes him see by particu-
lar evidence, thou shalt be pardoned.
The manner how the Spirit works this, is discovered m
three passages:
First, the Spirit of the Lord meeting with an humble, broken
sinner, (he that is a proud, stout-hearted wretch, knows nor-
thing of this matter,) opens the eye, and now he begins to se6
some glimmering, that he can look into the things of God.
2. Then the Lord lays before him all the riches of the trea-
isure of his grace ; no sooner hath he given him an eye, but he
lays colours before him, (the unsearchable riches of Christ,)
that he may look, and fall in love with those sweet treasures ;
and then saith the soul, " Oh, that mercy, and grace, and par^
don, were mine ! Oh, that my sins were done away !" The Lord
saith, " I will refresh them that are heavy-laden." Then saith
the soul, *' Oh, that I had that refreshing!" You shall have
rest, saith God. ** Oh, that I had rest too!" saith the «oul:
and now the soul looks after mercy and compassion.
3. The Spirit of the Lord doth witness thoroughly and effec-
tually to the soul, that this mercy in Christ belongs to him :
observe, none in heaven or in earth, but only God's Spirit,
can make this certificate; when it is night, ail the candles in
the world cannot take away the darknes-s : so, though all the
means of grace and salvation, all the candle-light of the mi-
nistry, are good helps, yet the darkness of the night will not
be gone, before the Sun of righteousness arise in our hearts.
Hence it is that it proves so difiicult a matter to comfort a
distressed soul ; " I shall one day go down to hell," saith the
^biil. Let all the ministers under heaven cry, " Comfort ye,
comfort ye;" still he replies, " Will the Lord pardon me?" Let
me speak therefore to you that are ministers : You do well to
64 The Doctmie of Regeneration.
labour to give comfort to a poor fainting soul; but always
say, ** Comfort, Lord : O Lord, say unto this poor soul, that
Thou art his salvation."
3. Hope in Christ
The mind being enlightened, the Lord calls on the affec-
tions ; come desire, come love ; but the first voice is to hope.
Now this aff'ection is set out to meet mercy afar off, it is the
looking out of the soul: ** Oh, when will it be. Lord? Thou
sayest mercy is prepared, thou sayest mercy is approaching;
Oh, when will it come. Lord?"
The manner how God's Spirit works this, is discerned in
three particulars : the Lord doth sweetly stay the heart, and
fully persuade the soul, that a man's sins are pardonable, and
that all his sins may be pardoned, and that all the good things
he wanteth may be bestowed : when a poor sinner seeth no
rest in the creature, nor in himself, though all means, all help,
all men, all angels, should join together; then the Lord lifteth
up his voice, and saith from heaven. Thy sins are pardonable
in the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. The Lord doth sweetly persuade the soul that all his sins
are pardonable ; the Lord persuades his heart that he intendeth
mercy; by this means hope comes to be assured, knowing the
promise shall be at the last accomplished : the former only sus-
tained the heart, but this comforts the soul, that undoubtedly
it shall have mercy: the Lord Jesus came to seek, and to save,
that which was lost: now saith the broken and humble sin-
ner, God saith. Come inito me, all ye that are weary and heavy
laden: ** I am weary, and unless the Lord intend good unto
me, why should he invite me, and bid me come? surely he
means to shew me mercy, nay, he promiseth to relieve me
when I come, therefore he will do good unto me."
3. The Lord lets in some taste of the sweetness of his love,
so that the soul is deeply affected with it ; it is the letting in
the riches of his love, that turneth the expectation of the soul
another way, yea, it turneth the whole stream of the soul
thitherward.
I desire you, I entreat you, if you have any hope of heaven,
if you have any treasure in Christ, labour to quicken this affec-
tion above all; the means are these: 1. Labour to be much
acquainted with the precious promises of God, to have them
at hand, and upon all occasions : these are thy comforts, and
will support thy soul.
2. Maintain in thy heart a deep and serious acknowledgment
of that supreme authority of the Lord, to do what he will, and
how he will, according to his pleasure. Alas ! we think too often
to bring God to our bow ; " We have hoped thus long, and God
hath not answered; and shall we wait still?" Wait! ay, wait.
The Doctrine of Regeneration, 65
and bless God that you may wait ; if you may lie at God's feet,
and put your mouths in the dust, and at the end of your days
have one crumb of mercy, it is enough. Therefore, check those
distempers. '* Shall I wait still?" It is a strange thing, that a
poor worm, worthy of hell, should take state, and stand upon
terms with God ; " he will not wait upon God :" Who must wait
then? Must God wait, or man wait? It was the apostles' ques-
tion. Wilt thou no20 restore the kitigdom to Israel? To whom
our Saviour answered. It is not for you to know the times and
seasons; as who should say. It is for you to wait, and to expect
mercy, it is not for you to know. * If you begin to wrangle,
and say, '* How long. Lord? — When, Lord? — And why not
now. Lord? — Why not I, Lord?" now check thy own heart,
and say, " It is not for me to know, it is for me to be humble,
and abased, and wait for mercy."
4. A Desire after Christ.
When the soul is humbled, and the eye opened, then he be-
gins thus to reason ; " Oh, happy I that see mercy ; but misera-
ble I, if I come to see this, and never have a share in it! O
why not I, Lord? My soul now thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty
land; my affections now hunger after righteousness, both in-
fused and imputed." Now this desire is begotten thus:
When the soul is come so far, that after a thorough convic-
tion of sin, and sound humiliation under God's mighty hand, it
hath a seasonable revelation of the glorious mysteries of Christ,
of his excellencies, invitations, truth, tender-heartedness, of
the heavenly splendour of the pearl of great price ; then doth
the soul conceive, by the help of the Holy Ghost, this desire
and vehement longing: and lest any cozen themselves by any
misconceits about it ; — it is then known to be saving,
1 . When it is j oined with an hearty willingness and unfeigned
resolution, to sell all, to part with all sin, to bid adieu for ever to
our darling delight. If thou desirest earnestly, thou wilt work
accordingly; for as the desire is, so will thy endeavour be.
2. When it is earnest, vehement, extreme thirsting after
Christ, as the parched earth for refreshing showers, or the hunted
hart for the water-brooks. We read of a Scottish penitent,
who, a little before his confession, freely confessed his fault, to
the shame, as he said, of himself, and of the devil, but to the
glory of God : he acknowledged it to be so heinous and horri-
ble, that had he a thousand lives, and could die ten thousand
deaths, he could not make satisfaction. " Notwithstanding,"
saith he, ** Lord, thou hast left me this comfort in thy word,
that thou hast said, * Come unto me, all ye that are weary and
heavy laden, and I will refresh you:' Lord, I am weary; Lord,
I am heavy-laden with my sins, which are innumerable ; I am
ready to sink, Lord, even into hell, unless thou in thy mercy
3 I
66 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
put to thine hand, and deliver me: Lord, thou hast promised,
by thine own word out of thy mouth, that thou wilt refresh the
weary soul/' And with that he thrust out one of his hands, and,
reaching as high as he could towards heaven, he with a louder
voice cried, " I challenge thee. Lord, by that word, and by that
promise thou hast made, that thou perform and make it good
to me, that call for ease and mercy at thy hands." Proportion-
ably, when heavy-heartedness for sin hath so dried up the
bones, and the angry countenance of God so parched the heart,
that the poor soul begins now to gasp for grace, as thirsty land
for drops of rain; then the poor sinner, though dust and ashes,
with an holy humility thus speaks unto Christ, " O merciful
Lord God, thou art Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
end ; thou sayest it is done, of things that are yet to come, so
faithful and true are thy promises. Thou hast promised by
thine own word out of thine own mouth, that unto him that is
athirst, thou wilt give of the fountain of the water of life freely.
O Lord, I thirst, I faint, I languish, I long for one drop of mer-
cy: as the hart panteth for the water-brooks, so panteth my
soul after thee, O God, and after the yearning bowels of thy
compassions : had I now in possession the glory, the wealth, and
pleasures, of the whole world ; nay, had I ten thousand lives,
joyfully would I lay them down, to have this poor trembling
soul received into the bleeding arms of my blessed Redeemer.
O Lord, my spirit within me is melted into tears of blood, my
heart is shivered into pieces ; out of the very place of dragons,
and shadow of death, do I lift up my thoughts heavy and sad
before thee. The remembrance of my former vanities and pol-
lutions, is a vomit to my soul, and it is sorely wounded by the
grievous representation thereof; the very flames of hell. Lord,
the fury of thy just wrath, the scorchings of my own conscience,
have so wasted and parched mine heart, that my thirst is in-
satiable, my bowels are hot within me, my desire after Jesus
Christ, pardon, and grace, is greedy as the grave; the coals
thereof are coals of fire, which have a most vehement flame ;
and. Lord, in thy blessed book thou callest and criest, Ho,
every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. In that great day
of the feast, thou stoodest, and criedst with thine own mouth.
If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink; and these
^re thine own words, Those who hunger and thirst after righ-
teousness, shall be filed. I challenge thee. Lord, in this my
extremest thirst after thine own blessed self, and spiritual
life in thee, by that word and by that promise which thou
hast made, that thou make it good to me, that lies grovelling
in the dust, and trembling , at thy feet: Oh! open now that
promised well of life, for f must drink, or else I die."
The means to obtain this desire, are these three :
, 1 Be acquainted thoroughly with thine own necessities, with
The Doctrine of Regeneration. 67
that emptiness that is in thyself. A groundless presumption
makes a man careless; see into thine own necessities, confess
the want of this desire after the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Labour to spread forth the excellency of all the beauty
and glory that is in the promises of God : couldest thou but
view them in their proper colours, they would even ravish
thee, and quicken thy desires.
3. After all this, know it is not in thy power to bring thy
heart to desire Christ; thou canst not hammer out a desire
upon thy own anvil, hew thy own rock as long as thou wilt ;
nay, let all the angels in heaven, and all the ministers on
earth, provoke thee, yet if the hand of the Lord be wanting,
thou shalt not lift up thine heart, nor step one step towards
heaven : then go to him who is able to work this desire in thy
soul. Remember, desires grow not in thy garden, they spring
not from the root of thy abilities : O seek unto God, and con-
fess, " In truth. Lord, it is thou from whom come all our good
desires, it is thou must work them in us ; and therefore, Lord,
quicken thou this soul, and enlarge this heart of mine, for thou
,only art the God of desire." Thus hale down a desire from
the Lord, and from the promise, for there only must thou
have it; the smoking flax God will not quench. Flax will
not smoke, but a spark must come into it, and that will make
it catch fire and smoke. Thus lay your hearts before the
Lord, and say, " Good Lord, here is only flax, here is only a
stubborn heart, but strike thou by the promise one spark from
heaven, that I may have a smoking desire after Christ, and
after grace.
5. A Love of Christ.
We have run through two affections, Hope and Desire, and
the next is Love. A possible good stirs up hope; a necessary
excellency in that good, settleth desire; and a relish in that
good settled, kindles love. This is the order of God's work;
if the good be absent, the understanding saith, it is to be de-
sired, O that I had it! Then it sends out hope, and that waits
for good, and stays till he can see it; and yet if that good
cannot come, then desire hath another work ; it goes up and
down- wandering, and seeketh and sueth for Christ Jesus.
After this, if the Lord Jesus be pleased to come himself into
the view of the heart which longeth thus after him, then love
leads him into the soul, and tells the will of him, saying, Lo !
here is Jesus Christ the Messiah, that hath ordered these
great things for his saints and people.
The ground of this love is God's Spirit in the promise, let-
ting in some intimation of God's love into the soul. We love
him, because he loved us first: the burning glass must receive
heat of the beams of the sun, before it burn any thing; so
there must be a beam of God's love to fall upon the soul, be-
68 The Doctrine of Regeneration,
fore it can love God again ; / dreio them with the cords of a
man, even with the bands of love. God lets in the cords of love
into the soul, and that draws love again to God.
This love of God doth beget our love in three particulars:
First, there is a sweetness and a relish which God's love lets
into the soul, and warms the heart with. A fainting sinner is
cold at heart, and therefore the Lord lets in a drop of his
loving-kindness, and this warms the heart, and the soul is
even filled with the happiness of the mercy of God.
Secondly, as that sweetness warms the heart, so the free-
ness of the love of God begins to kindle this love in the soul,
that it sparkles again: God setteth out his love towards us,
seeing that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. This
commends the love of God, the Lord sends to poor and misera-
ble sinners, and saith, Commend my mercy to such a one, and
tell him, that though he hath been an enemy to me, yet I am
a friend to him; and though he hath been. rebellious against
me, yet I am a God and a Father to him. When a poor sinner
considers this with himself, he saith, " Is the Lord so merciful
to me? I that loved my sins, and continued in them, had it
not been just that I should have perished in them? But will
the Lord not only spare his enemy, but give his Son for him?
let my soul for ever rejoice in this unconceivable goodness
of God!" Be thy heart never so hard, if it have but the sense
of this, it cannot but stir thee to love.
Thirdly, the greatness of the freeness of this mercy of God,
being settled upon the heart, inflames it; the sweetness warms
the heart, this freeness kindles the fire ; and when the greatness
of the sweetness comes to be valued, this sets the heart all on a
flame. This will make the soul say. What ! I that havedone all
that I could against this good God ! O, it breaks my heart to
think of it ! There was no name under heaven that I did blas-
pheme more than this ; no command under heaven I so much
despised, as the command of God and of Christ; no spirit that
1 grieved so much as the good Spirit of God ; and therefore
had the Lord only given me a look, or spoken a word to me, it
had been an infinite mercy ; but to send his Son to save me, it is
incomparable : I could not conceive to do so much evil against
him, as he hath done good to me : O the breadth of that mercy
beyond all limits ! O the length of that mercy beyond all time !
O the depth of that mercy below a man's misery ! O the
height of that mercy above the height of my understanding!
If my hands were all love, that I could work nothing but love ;
and if mine eyes were able to see nothing but love ; and my
mmd to think of nothing but love ; and if I had a thousand
bodies, they were all too little to love that God, that hath
thus unmeasurably loved me, a poor sinful hell-hound. O
Lord, my strength, O how should I but love thee I
The Doctrine of Regeneratian. 69
But how may I know whether my love be a true love, or a
false love? How may I know that my love is of the right
stamp?
Let every man put his love upon the trial, and examine
thus, whether thou dost welcome Christ and grace according
to the worth of them? If thou dost, it will appear in these
particulars :
1. Observe the root from whence thy love came. Canst
thou say, I love the Lord, because he hath loved me? Tlien
thy love is right. God cannot but like that love which came
from himself. Is thy soul affected and enlarged in love to the
Lord because thou hast felt the sweetness of his grace? Canst
thou say, the Lord hath let in a glimpse of his favour? And
the Lord hath said in his truth, he looks to him that trembles
at his word; the minister said it, and the Spirit saith it, that
my mercy is registered in heaven: O how should I love
the Lord ! My sins are many, which I have bewailed ; my sighs
I have put up to heaven, and at the last the Lord hath given
me a gracious answer: O how shall I love the Lord my
strength? If it be thus with thee, thy love is sound.
2. If thou entertain thy Saviour as it beseems him, thou
must entertain him as a king, give up all to him, and entertain
none with him, but such as are attendants upon him ; love
all in Christ, and for Christ, but express thy love and joy to
Christ above all : he is a king, and all the rest are but as re-
tainers. He that loves any thing equal with Christ, doth not
rightly love Christ.
3. The soul that rightly entertains Christ is marvellously
weary and watchful that he may not sadden that good Spirit
of God, to grieve him, and cause him to go away. The spouse
sought long for her beloved, and at last brought him home ;
and v/hen she had welcomed him, she gives a charge to all the
house not to stir, nor awake her love. When a prince comes
into the house of a great man, what charge is there given to
make no noise in the night! The soul, when it hath received
the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, doth thus ; he gives a peremptory
charge to keep watch and ward, and gives a charge to hope,
and desire, and love, and joy, and the mind, and all, not to
grieve or molest the good Spirit of God ; let there be no mo-
tion but to entertain it, no advice but to receive it, and do
nothing that may work the least kind of dislike unto it.
And now let me prevail with your hearts to this duty ; love
the Lord, all ye his saints. Whom will you love, if you love not
him? Oh ! you poor ones, love ye the Lord, for you have need ;
and all you rich ones, love ye the Lord, for you have cause ;
and you little ones too : — he knocks at every man's heart, and
persuades every man's soul; love ye the Lord.
The means are these: 1. Give attendance daily to the pro-
70 The Doctrine of Regeneration,
mise of grace, and Christ; drive away all other suitors from
the soul, and let nothing come between the promise and it.
2. Labour to be thoroughly acc[uainted with the beauty and
sweetness of Christ in the promise.
Christ is worthy in himself: if we had a thousand hearts to
bestow, we were not able to love him sufficiently. What would
you love? Wouldst thou have beauty? then thy Saviour is
beautiful; Thou art fairer than the children of men, Psal. xlv. 2.
Wouldst thou have strength? then thy Saviour is strong;
Gird thy sicord on thy thigh, O most mighty, Psal. xlv. 3.
Wouldst thou have riches ? thy Saviour is more rich, if it be
possible, than he is strong; He is heir of all things, Heb. i. 1.
Wouldst thou have wisdom? then thy Saviour is wise, yea,
wisdom itself; Li him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge. Col. ii. 3. Wouldst thou have life eternal? Christ
is the author of life and happiness to all that have him.
And Christ deserves our love, in regard of beneiits to us.
Be man never so worthy in himself, yet if he have expressed
the part of an enemy, a woman saith, I will not have him
though he have all the world. This takes off the affection.
It is not so with the Lord Jefsus : as he is worthy of all love
in himself, so he hath dealt mercifully with you. In your
sickness, who helped you? in wants, who supplied you? in
anguish of heart, who relieved you? It was Jesus Christ. Oh!
therefore love him ; deal with him as he deserves ; enlarge
your hearts to him for ever.
Yea, Christ seeks our love : here is the admiration of mercy,
that our Saviour, who hath been rejected by a company of sin-
ful creatures, should seek their love ! For shame, refuse him
not, but let him have love ere he go. Had the Lord received
us when we had come to him and humbled our hearts before
him, had he heard when we had spent our days and all our
strength in begging and craving, it had been an infinite
mercy: but when the Lord JesusChrist shall seek to us by his
messengers, (it is all the work we have to do, to woo you for
the Lord Jesus Christ,) when he shall come and wait upon us,
and seek our love; Oh, this is the wonder of mercies! He
looks for no portion, he will take thee and all thy wants.
Get you home then ; and every one, in secret, labour to deal
truly with your own hearts; make up a match in this manner,
and say, ** Is it possible that the Lord should look so low? that
a prince should send to a poor peasant? that majesty should
stoop to meanness? heaven to earth? God to man? Hath the
Lord offered mercy to me? and doth he require nothing of
me but to love him again?" Call upon your hearts, I charge
you, and say thus, *' Lord, if all the light of mine eyes were
love, and all the speeches of my tongue were love, it were
all too little to love thee: Oh, let me love thee!"
The Doctrine of Regeneration. 71
6. A Itelying on Christ.
We are now come to the work of the will, which is the great
wheel of the soul. The former affections were but as hand-
maids to usher in Christ. The mind saith, " I have seen Christ ;"
Hope saith, *' I have waited :" Desire saith, " I have lono-ed:"
Love saith, " I am kindled :" Then saith the will, " I will have
Christ, it shall be so :" and this makes up the match. The
seeds of faith went before ; now faith is come to some perfec-
tion; now the soul reposes itself upon the Lord Jesus.
And this reposing or resting itself, discovers a five-fold act :
First, it implies a going out of the soul to Christ: when the
soul seeth this, that the Lord Jesus is his aid, and must ease
him, and pardon his sins, then, " Let us go to that Christ,"
saith he ; ** it is the Lord's call. Come to mc, all ye that are
weary." this voice coming home to the heart, and the pre-
vailing sweetness of the call overpowering the heart, the soul
goes put, and flings itself upon the riches of God's grace.
Secondly, it lays fast hold upon Christ : when the Lord saith.
Come, my love, come my dove, O come away ! *' Behold I
come," saith she ; and when she is come, she fasteneth upon
Christ, saying, *' My beloved is mine, and I am his :" faith
lays hold on the Lord, and will not let mercy go, but cleaves
unto it, though it conflict with the Lord ; Should he slay me,
saith Job, yet ivill I trust in him.
Thirdly, it flings the weight of all its troubles, guilt, and
corruptions, upon the Lord Jesus Christ. As when a man can-
not go of himself, he lays all the weight of his body upon ano-
ther; so the soul goes to Christ, and lays all the weight of itself
upon Christ, and saith, " I have no comfort, O Lord ; all my
discomforts I lay upon Christ, and I rely on the Lord for com-
fort and consolation:" Viho is ^A^s, saith Solomon, that cometh
up from the ivilderness, leaning on her beloved! Cant. viii. 5. The
party coming is the church, the wilderness is the troubles
and vexations the church meets with, and the beloved is the
Lord Jesus Christ; now the church leans herself all upon her
husband, she walks along with him, but he bears all the bur-
den : Cast all your cares upon him, saith Peter, ybr he careth
for you, 1 Pet. v. 7.
I^ourthly, it draws virtue, and derives power, from the Lord
Jesus Christ for succour and supplies ; and here is the espe-
cial life of faith, it goes for mercy, and grace, and comfort in
Christ; he knows 'tis to be had from him, and therefore he
fetched all from him : With joy shall ye draw water out of the
wells of salvation, Isa. xii. 3. The fountain of salvation is
Christ, and all the waters of life, of grace and mercy, are in
Christ Jesus : now it is not enough to let down the bucket
into the well, but it must be drawn out also ; it is not enough
72 The Doctrine of Regeneration.
to come to Christ, but we must draw the water of grace from
Christ to ourselves.
Fifthly, faith leaves the soul with the promise ; yea, not-
withstanding all delays, denials, discouragements from God,
faith brings on the heart still ; it will be sure to lie at the gate,
and keep the soul with the promise, whatever befals it. The
faithful soul lays hold upon the Lord for mercy, pardon, power,
and grace, and though the Lord seem to give him up to the
torment of sin and corruption, yet the soul saith, " Though
my soul go down to hell, I will hold here for mercy, till the
Lord comfort and pardon, and subdue graciously these cursed
corruptions, which I am not able to master myself."
Hast thou gotten! faith? then labour to husband this grace
well. It is a shame to see those that have a right and title to
grace and Christ, yet live at such an under-rate : I would have
you to live above the world, for the Lord doth not grudge his
people comfort, but would have them live cheerfully, and have
strong consolations, and mighty assurance of God's love. Is
there not cause? surely there is. Why, faith, if it be right, will
make the life of a Christian most easy, most comfortable.
Unfaithful souls sink in their sorrows upon every occasion, but
faith gives ease to a man in aH his conversation: 1. Because
faith hath a skill to put over all cares to another. We take up
the cross, but faith casts all the care on Christ: an easy matter
it is to lie under the burden, when another bears all the weight
of it. Look how it is with two ferry-men, the one hales his
boat about the shore, and cannot get oiF, but tugs and pulls,
and never puts her forth to the tide ; the other puts his boat
upon the stream, and sets up his sail, and then he may sit still,
and the wind will carry him whither he is to go : — just thus is it
with a faithful soul and an unbeliever ; all the care of the first,
is to put himself upon the stream of God's providence, and set
up the sail of faith, and take the gale of God's mercy ; so he goes
cheerfully, because it is not he that carries himself, but the Lord
Jesus : whereas every unfaithful soul tugs and pull at the busi-
ness, and can find neither ease nor success. 2. Because faith
sweetens all afflictions : howsoever it apprehends all troubles
and afflictions, yet withal it apprehends the faithfulness of God,
ordering all for our good ; and that's the reason why all our
troubles are digested comfortably, without any harshness at all.
You will say. If faith brings such ease, how may a man that
hath faith, improve it, to have such comfort by it? I answer,
the rules are four :
1. Labour to gain some evidence to thy own soul, that thou
hast a title to the promise : the reason why poor Christians
go drooping, and are overwhelmed with their sins and miseries,
is because they see not their title to mercy, nor their evidence
of God's love.
71ie Doctrine of Regeneration, 73
2. Labour to set an high price on the promises of God :
one promise, and the sweetness of God's mercy in Christ, is
better than all the honours or riches in the world ; prize these
at this rate, and thou canst not choose but find ease and be
contented.
3. Labour to keep the promises ever at hand. What is it
to me, though I have a thing in the house, if I have it not at
my need? Now, for the Lord's sake, let me entreat thee be
wise for thy poor soul. There is many a fainting-fit comes
over the heart of many a poor Christian, persecutions with-
out, and sorrows and corruptions within ; therefore keep thy
cordials about thee, and be sure to have them within reach ;
take one, and bring another, and be refreshed by another,
and go singing to the grave, and to heaven for ever.
CHAP. VIL
The groicing of the Soul icith Christ.
Hitherto of the first part of the soul's implantation; to
wit, of the putting the soul into Christ. We are now come to
the second, which is, the growing of the soul with Christ.
These two take up the nature of ingrafting a sinner into the
stock, Christ Jesus. Now this growing is accomplished by
two means :
1. By an union of the soul with Christ.
2. By a conveyance of sap or sweetness (all the treasures
of grace and happiness) that is in Christ, to the soul.
First: Every believer is joined unto Christ, and so joined
and knit, that he becomes one spirit. 1. He is joined, as a
friend to a friend, as a father to a child, as a husband to a
wife, as a graft to a tree, as a soul to a body. So is Christ
to a believer; ** I live, yet not I, but the Lord Jesus liveth in
me." 2. So joined, that the believer comes to be one spirit
with Christ: this mystery is great, and beyond the reach of
that little light I enjoy; only I shall communicate what I
conceive, in these three conclusions: 1. That the Spirit of
God, the third person in the Trinity, doth really accompany
the word, but more especially the precious promises of the
gospel. 2. The Spirit, accompanying the promise of grace and
salvation, doth thereby leave a supernatural power, a spiritual
and overpowering virtue, upon the soul, and thereby brings
it unto Christ: it is not so much any thing in the soul, as a
spiritual assisting, and moving, and w^orking upon the soul, by
virtue whereof it is moved and carried to the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. The Spirit of grace in the promise, working thus upon the
heart, causeth the heart to close with the promise, and with
itself in the promise; and this is to be one spirit.
3. K
74 The Doctrine of Regeneratio?t.
This may shew us that the sins of the faithful are grievous
to the blessed Spirit; not only because of mercies, bonds,
and engagements, which the believer hath received, but be-
cause a man is come so near to Christ and the Spirit, as to be
one spirit with Christ. What, lodge an unclean spirit with a
clean spirit of the Lord ! The Holy Ghost cannot endure this :
Let nojieshly communication come out of your mouth, Ephes. iv.
29. Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, because by it you are
sealed unto the day of redemption : the good Spirit of the
Lord hath sealed you unto redemption, and knit you unto
himself; and will you rend yourselves from him, and grieve
him? O grieve not the holy Spirit.
Secondly : As there is an union with Christ, so there is a
conveyance of all spiritual grace from Christ, to all those that
believe in him: 1. There is fully enough in the Lord Jesus
Christ for every faithful soul. 2. As there is enough in Christ,
so Christ doth supply or communicate whatsoever is most fit.
3. As the Lord doth communicate what is fit, so he doth pre-
serve what he doth bestow and communicate. 4. As the Lord
doth preserve what he communicates, so he quickens the grace
that he now doth preserve ; and in the end he crowns it all.
Hence we see whither the saints of God should go, to fetch
supply of whatsoever grace they want, yea, increase and per-
fection of what they have already. Christ is made all in all
to his servants : why then, away to the Lord Jesus ; he calls
and invites, *' I counsel thee to buy of me eye-salve." If thou
be an accursed man, buy of Christ justification; if thou be a
polluted creature, buy of Christ sanctification : With thee is
the well-spring of -life, saith David, and in thy light we shall
only see light. It is not with us, but with thee ; it is not in
our heads, or hearts, or performances, 'tis only in Christ to be
found, only from Christ to be fetched. I deny not but we
should improve all means, and use all helps ; but in the use
of all, seek only to Christ; with him is the well of life. Away
to Christ; wisdom, righteousness, all is in him, and there we
must have them.
You will say, What are the means to obtain these graces
from Christ? I answer: First, eye the promise daily, and keep
it within view. Secondly, yield thyself, and give way to the
stroke of the promise, and to the power of the Spirit. For
instance, imagine thy heart begins to be pestered with vain
thoughts, or with a proud haughty spirit; you must not be
discouraged; no, but eye the promise, and hold fast thereon,
and say. Lord, thou hast promised all grace unto thy servants,
take therefore this heart, and these affections, and let thy
Spirit frame them aright according to thy own good will : by
that Spirit of wisdom. Lord, inform me; by that Spirit of
eanctihcation. Lord, cleanse me from all my corruptions ; by
The Doctrme of Regetieratlo/h 75
that Spirit of grace. Lord, quicken and enable me to the dis-
charge of every holy service. Thus carry thyself by the
power of the Spirit of the Lord, and thou shalt find thy heart
strengthened upon all occasions.
For conclusion, to dart this use deeper into your hearts : If
every believer be joined with Christ, and from Christ there be
a conveyance of all spiritual graces unto every believer; then
above all labour for Christ in all things : never let thy heart
be quieted, never let thy soul be contented, until thou hast
obtained Christ. Grace indeed is good, and duties are ^ood :
seek for all, we should do so ; perform all, we ought ^o do
so; but oh! Christ in all, above all, more than all. Thus I
have shewed you the way to the Lord Jesus ; I have shewed
you also how you may come to be implanted into the Lord
Jesus: and now I leave you in the hands of a Saviour, in
the bowels of a Redeemer; and 1 think I cannot leave you
better.
THE
PRACTICE
OF
SANCTIFICATION:
EXEMPLIFIED IN
THE BELIEVER'S PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES.
THE BELIEVER'S PRIVILEGES.
THE ENTRANCE.
You have heard the doctrine, precepts, and the pattern of
a man in his second, or new birth : now remains what follows
all his life ; and therein,
1. His privileges 2. His duties.
1. His privileges, as he is now a believer in Christ, are —
Justification, — Sanctification, — Glorification,
The first privilege which immediately follows our union
with Christ, is justification.
A man may be said to be justified either virtually, or ac-
tually ; either in Christ, or in himself.
1. Virtually, in Christ: and this is from the day of Christ's
passion, and in the virtue of his satisfaction ; yet this in-
tendeth no more but that satisfaction is made, and remission
purchased, by the blood of Christ.
2. Actually, in himself: when a man hath the possession of
justification, immediately after his union with the Lord Jesus
Christ. Now this justification, considered as it is a state of
favour with God, which a man at his first believing is put into,
is not reiterated ; yet the particular acts of pardon, and im-
putations of Christ's righteousness, are continually by God
communicated unto the believer. In this respect this actual
justification, or particular acts of pardon, hath its degrees of
progression : the beginning thereof is laid in our first union
with Christ; the consummation of it is not till the Judge at
the last day hath solemnly pronounced the sentence of final
absolution. Between these, there is a progressive work of
justification, by the constant actings of the Spirit applying
the blood of Christ by faith, to the quiet and comfort of the
The Practice of Sanctification. 77
soul; the first we may term initial justification, the second
progressive, the last perfective : the first is wrought and sealed
in the first sacrament ; the second is wrought and sealed in
the second sacrament ; and both these branches of sacramen-
tal justification are to us the pre-assurance of that perfect
justification.
It hath been commonly said by some of our best divines,
that justification is transacted in our first incorporation into
Christ; at which time, it is conceived that the pardon of all
sin is sealed to the believer at once. But I fear the misunder-
standing of this point hath laid the ground, upon which some
build that unhappy structure, which turneth the grace of God
into wantonness. Who knoweth not that justification, ac-
cording to the scripture, is the act of a judge pronouncing a
judicial sentence, wherein he absolveth the person of the sin-
ner from all sin and punishment due to him for sin, and that
for the alone righteousness of the surety, Christ, freely im-
puted, and by faith received of him? And according to this,
I suppose we shall not err if we say, 1. That a work of
justification is even as yet to us future, viz. at the last day,
when we shall receive a final discharge, and when God shall
wipe away all tears from our eyes: and yet, 2. That in our
first union with Christ there is a work of justification, viz.
actual imputation of Christ's righteousness, and actual remis-
sion of all sin, or of what sin for the present the soul stands
guilty of, at once, or at that time v.hen it is first united to
Christ. I dare not say, that justification is one individual
act; or that all sins, past, present, and to come, are remitted
to the believer at once ; but this I say, that in our first union,
all our sins, past and present, are actually pardoned; and
this favour received, is a pledge of assurance, that in future
also, by applying ourselves to Christ, we may receive the for-
giveness of our daily sins, and that at the last day we shall
at once be absolved from all accusations laid in against us,
and that justification, besides those particular acts of pardon,
and imputation of Christ's righteousness, doth note a state
of grace, and reconciliation with God, for the imputed right-
eousness of Christ.
And being justified by faith, we have peace with God; that is,
Christ's righteousness being imputed, and sins pardoned, we
have peace with God ; not, only peace from God in our con-
sciences, but peace with God in our reconcilement to him,
and in his favour towards us. This reconciliation consists in
two things: 1. In our peace with God, whereby the Lord lays
by all acts of hostility against us: 2. In the love and favour
of God; he now loves us, not only with a love of good-will,
but with a love of complacency and delight. Oh ! consider
what a blessed state this is I
78 The Practice of Sanctlfication,
Adoption follows reconciliation; whereby the Lord ac-
counts us sons : Behold icliat manner of love the Father hath
bestoiced iipon us, that we should be called the sons of God. The
Lord accounts us just in our justification, friends in our re-
conciliation, sons in our adoption : now this adoption is
either begun in this life, or perfected in the world to come,
when we shall receive all the privileges of sons.
Sanctification follows adoption: no sooner are we sons,
but we receive the image of our heavenly Father in sanctifi-
cation ; the manner of it is thus :
1. The Spirit works in us a principle of spiritual life: the
scripture sometimes calls it a seed, sometimes a spring or foun-
tain, sometimes the life of Christ, because it is conveyed unto
us by the Spirit of Christ, by means of our union with Christ.
What name soever we give it, we may not conceive it to be a
new faculty added unto those which are in men by nature, but
an improvement of those abilities to work spiritually, as they
did naturally before regeneration; hence it is that a regene-
rate man in scripture is said to walk after the Spirit, — to be
led by the Spirit, — to walk in the Spirit.
2. From this fountain spring all those habits of spiritual
grace, which are severally distinguished by the name of faith,
hope, love. Although, to speak properly, they are but the
diversifications of that spiritual principle within us, distin-
guished by these names.
3. From these habits of grace abiding; in us, proceed spiri-
tual motions and operations. And as it is with natural habits,
so it is with spiritual ; they are much increased and strength-
ened by the use and exercise of them, and are as much weak-
ened by disuse and neglect of such an exercise.
The excellency of this privilege appears in these particulars :
1. This is our glory and beauty, even glorification begun:
what greater glory than to be like unto God? We are changed
into the same image, from glory to glory: every degree of grace
is glory ; and the perfection of glory in heaven consists chiefly
in the perfection of grace.
2. This will give us abundance of sweet peace. From whence
come troubles, and doubts of God's favour and love? Is it not
some guilt or decay here? is it not our secret dalliance with
some known sin? On the other side, what was Paul's rejoicing?
Hezekiah's peace? The one cried, that in all sincerity and sim-
plicity he had his conversation among men; the other. Lord,
remember I have walked before thee uprightly : not that this
was the ground of their peace, (for that only is free grace in
Christ) but the means of their peace : that is a cursed peace,
that is kept by looking to Christ, and yet loving our lusts>
3. By this we have comfortable evidence of our justification :
nor is this a running upon the covenant of works ; — is not sane-
The Practice of Sanctification , 79
iification, the writing of the law in our hearts, a privilege of
the covenant of grace, as well as justification? and can the
evidencing of one privilege by another, be a running upon the
covenant of works ? Oh ! consider, how many evangelical pro-
mises are made to persons invested with such and such o-races;
as of poverty, mourning, meekness. And to what end, but that
every one may take, and be assured of, his portion manifested
particularly therein? Surely none are justified, but they are
sanctified ; or if not sanctified, they are not justified.
Glorification is the last in execution of God's eternal pur-
pose : and herein we are made partakers of those endless and
unutterable joys, which neither eye hath seen, nor ear hath
heard, nor the heart of any man conceived.
OF DUTIES IN GENERAL.
SECT. I.
Of the Equity of Duties.
No sooner is the soul translated into the state of grace, and
crowned with those glorious privileges, but immediately it
cries out, O Lord, what shall I do for thee? how shall I live to
thee? Good reason the soul should now give up herself to
Christ, for she knows she is not her own, but Christ's. Can
there be such a heart in any Christian, as to continue in sin,
because so much grace hath abounded? Oh no! The love of
Christ constrains us, saith the apostle, because ice thus judge, — •
that he died for all, that they ivhich live, should not live unto them-
selves, hut unto hijti ivhich died for them, and rose again. There
is a principle of love in the hearts of believers, and this love
of Christ constrains them to live to Christ : Ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people ;
that ye should shew forth the praises of Christ, who hath called
you out of darkness into his mafvellous light.
SECT. II.
Of the Insufficiency of Duties.
But, alas! what are these duties to my Lord? Or what are
these duties in themselves?
1. All the duties of man are nothing at all unto God: Cafi
a man he prof table unto God, as he that is wise can be prof table
unto himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art
righteous? or is it a gain to him, that thou makest thy ways per-
80 The Practice of SanctificatiofL
feet? If thou be righteous, ichat givest thou him? or ivhat re-
ceiveth he from thine hand? All the service of men and angels,
thouoh they run parallel with the longest lines of eternity, are
no sufficient recompense for my soul's deliverance ; when we
have done all, still we must say, we are unprofitable servants.
2. All the duties of man, are in some respect sinful : '* Chris-
tians may distinguish between that which is the Spirit, in
works after renovation, and the whole work after they have
done it: now althouo:h the motions and assistance of the
Spirit be pure, holy, and without skum, in the spring, (to wit,
in itself,) yet by that time these motions and assistances have
passed through the channels of their hearts, and have been
mixed with their manifold corruptions in doing, even the
whole work thereby becomes polluted. If this be so, that
our best recompense to Christ for his loves be unprofitable to'
him, eind sinful as done by man ; what shall I say ? how must
I carry myself to my Redeemer?
SECT. III.
Of the Healing of Duties.
I DARE not but obey; though all the duties in the world are
insufficient to recompense those bowels of God's mercies in
Christ, I must not therefore cast away duties. It is true, I can-
not but sin in all I do, my best duties are tainted and mingled
with sin : but will it follow, that because I cannot be more
clean, therefore I must be more filthy than needs ? Nay, O
my soul, if thou art married to that bridegroom, Christ, duties
and all things else are clean to thee. There is an healing of
duties, if we be in Christ. Certainly that fruit which cometh
from a root of faith, must needs be good fruit. I believe, there-
fore I speak, saith the Psalmist : O my soul, canst thou say,
I believe, therefore I pray ; I believe, therefore I sanctify the
Lord's day; I believe, therefore I do all duties of obedience.
Thy obedience then is the fruit of paradise, for it grows on
the very tree of life. Christ is the sun of righteousness, that
ariseth with healing in his wings : Christ is that sun, that by
his heat of love extracts all the sin out of thy duties, and
so thy duties are healed ; the spiritual part of them being pre-
sented by the intercession of Christ, and the defects covered
by the righteousness of Christ.
2. But how should I knov/ that Christ thus takes my duties
and heals them, and mingles them with his own incense, and
carries them in unto God the Father?
Didst thou never find a spiritual fire come down, as it were,
upon thy heart, in duty, or after duty? In the times of the Old
Testament, if they offered up a sacrifice, and a material fire
The Practice of Sanctlfication. 81
came down from heaven, and burnt up the sacrifice, it was a
certain testimony that the sacrifice was accepted : now, in
the times of the gospel, we must not expect material fire to
come down upon our duties; but hath the Lord at any time
caused an inward and spiritual fire to fall down upon thy
heart, warming the spirit in duty? there the Lord speaks thus
much to thee, that thy sacrifice is turned into ashes, and it is
accepted by Jesus Christ.
This fire issues from the blood and intercessions of Christ,
our great High-Priest ; it is the efticacy of his blood, and power
of his glorious intercession, that, when thou feelest any good
in duties, doth at that very instant prevail with God the Father
for what thou feelest: say then. Do I now in this ordinance,
or in this duty, feel my heart warmed, or savingly affected ?
Oh! I see the Lord Jesus, who sits in glory at the right hand
of God, now remembers me a poor worm on earth; now I feel
the fruit of his Spirit, power, grace, comfort, presence, sweet-
ness; now I taste, I drink, I enjoy, and am abundantly satis-
fied with, his rivers of pleasures; and if this presence of
Christ be so sweet, what is himself then? O my soul, if ever
thou dost relish the blood and Spirit of Christ upon thy spirit
iu duties, go thy way, and give glory to God,
—^^.^.^ —
SECT. IV. . '
No Resting i)i Duties.
And yet be wary, O my soul ! It was Luther^s saying, '* Take
heed, not only of thy sins, but also of thy duties." Couldst thou
desire and pray till heaven and earth shook, till thou hadst
worn thy tongue to the stumps; couldst thou fast till thy skin
and bone cleave together; couldst thou purpose with resolu-
tion to be better; couldst thou reform thy heart, head, life,
tongue, some, nay all sins; couldst thou live like an angel,
shine like a sun, walk up and down the world like a distressed
pilgrim; couldst thou die ten thousand deaths; lie in hell so
many millions of years, as there are piles of grass on the earth,
or sands on the sea-shore. Or stars in heaven ; I tell thee, not
one spark of God's wrath against thy sins can be quenched
by all these duties, nor by any of these sorrows or tears.
It was Austin's saying, though it sounds harsh, " That re-
pentance damns more than sin;" meaning, thousands did
perish by resting therein.
But how shall any man know that he rests in his duties?
By these signs following:
1. It is a sign that a man rests in his duties, if he never found
it a hard matter to come out of his duties : if thou canst not tell
the time when thou didst rest in duties, and didst groan to be
3. L
82 The Practice of Sanctification.
delivered from these entanglements, thou hast just cause to
fear. \ , ^
2. ti is h! sign that a man rests in duties, if he exceedingly
prize the bare performance of duties : those duties that carry
thee out of thyself unto Christ, make thee to prize Christ.
Now tell me, dost thou glory in thyself? Dost thou say, I
was before ignorant, hard-hearted; but now I understand
better, now I can sorrow for my sins, I can pray with some
life? Alas, poor soul! these things do argue only the Spirit
of God breathing on thee, not dwelling in thee. If thou
restest here, if thou thus enhancest the price of duties, then
do I pronounce from God, that thou dost rest in duties : Those
things, saith. Paul, / accounted gain, i. e. before his conver-
sion, ^wf 710W I account them loss. This is the reason why a
child of God, commonly after his prayers, doubts much of
God's love towards him; whereas another man, that falls
short of him, never so much as questions his estate : the first
seetn much vileness in his best duties, and so judgeth meanly
of himself; but the other is ignorant of any such vileness^
and therefore esteems highly of them. : J
3. It is a sign that a man rests in his duties, if he never
came to be sensible of their poverty, and utter emptiness of
any good in them. Didst thou never feel thyself in this man-
ner? Oh! I am ignorant as any beast, as vile as any devil;
what a nest of sin and rebellion works in my heart? I once
thought, at least my heart and desires were good ; but now I
feel no spiritual life. O dead heart ! I am the poorest, basest,
and blindest creature, that ever lived ! If thou ever feelest
thyself thus, thou never earnest out of thy duties.
4. It is a sign that a man rests in his duties, if he gain no
evangelical righteousness by duties, i. e. if he prize not, desire
not, delight not in union with, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence a
6hild of God asks himself after sermon, after prayer, after sacra-
iaeht, What have I gained of Christ? Have I got more know-
ledg-e of Christ? more admiring of the Lord Jesus Christ? Have
mv affections been raised, my graces acted, my soul refreshed
•ivith the delights of Christ? On the contrary, a carnal heart,
that rests in his duties, asketh only, what have I done? I thank
God, saith the Pharisee, / am not as other men are, &c. — so, I
pray, and hear, and reform, and sorrow for sin, therefore I shall
be saved. No such matter: let a man have a bucket of gold,
doth he think to get water because he hath a bucket? No, no,
he must let it down into the well, and draw up water with it:
so must thou let down all thy duties into the Lord Jesus
Christ, and draw life, and light, and grace, from his fulness,
otherwise thou shalt perish without Christ. Oh ! that the mi-
nisters of Christ would become sons of thunder in this matter!
Many hav^had experience of Christ's enlarging the common
The Practice of SanctyiQation. 83
gifts of his Spirit ; but what have they felt of Christ's renew-
ing, sanctifying, and healing their lusts? Oh! it is far more
comfortable, to find Christ's power melting thy heart for sii^,
mortifying thy lusts, quickening thee to holiness, than to find
ten thousand enlargements in holy performances.
SECT. V.
Of the Use and Ends of Duties,
And canst thou not, O my soul, be saved by thy duties? To
what end then shouldest thou pray, or hear, or sorrow, or re-
pent, or meditate, or examine ? I answer,
1. That hereby you may express obedience to God's will : Me-
joice evermore, pray without ceasing, in every thing give thanks;
for this is the luill of God in Christ Jesus concerning i/ou.
2. That God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, may be
honoured by the performance of these duties: Herein is my
Father glorified, that you bear much fruit. Abraham believed,
and gave God glory. So we should pray, and meditate, and
hear, and all should tend to the glory of God.
3. That duties may be as evidences of God's love to them
who are in Christ Jesus : they cannot save, but they let the
soul in to Christ, and follow and accompany such a man as
shall be saved. Duties bring you in to Christ, and are evi^
dences when you are in Christ, that the Lord and mercy is
yours ; even as at the sacrament, the elements of bread and
w^ine are outward signs to bring Christ and the heart together.
Indeed, the heart must not rest in these signs ; but when the
soul is let in to Christ, then faith must let go the outward ele-
ments, and treat immediately with the Lord Jesus. So grace
and duties are inward signs ; and while men make use of them
only as signs and means to let them come in unto Christ, and
their rejoicing is not in them, but in Christ, their confidence
is not pitched upon them, but upon Christ, there will be no
danger at all in making such use of signs; neither is it more
derogatory to free grace, or to Christ's honour, for God to
make such effects signs of our union with him, than it was to
make outward signs of his presence : it's true, these are not
full testimonies, without the Spirit of Christ.
4. That they that exercise duties may obtain the promises :
Godliness is profitable unto all things, saith the apostle, having
the promise of the life that noio is, and of that ivhich is to come.
There are many promises scattered up and down in the word ;
and hereby if God be not a debtor unto thee, yet he is to him-
self, and to his own faithfulness. — Thou, Lord, payest debts,
and owest none : it was free for thee, before thou hadst pro-
84 The Practice of Sanctificatlon.
mised, whether to give me heaven, or no ; but now the word is
out of thy mouth, I use duties as means, though I adhere only
to thee, and to thy faithfulness, who hast promised." Duties
are considered, first, as services, in respect of the command;
and secondly, as means to obtain blessing's at God^s hands,
in relation to his promise : now most in the world perform
duties as acts of obedience only, and so rest in the present
performance ; but if we do them in faith, we should have an
eye to the promise, and look on duties as means to obtain
some mercy, yea, salvation itself, at God's hands, Phil. ii. 12.
Kom. X. 10. 2 Cor. vii. 10. 1 Pet. i. 9.
V But is not this to be saved by duties?
•* No : for herein we speak not of duties originally, but instru-
mentally, and with relation to the Lord Jesus Christ; not as
meritorious causes, but as subordinate means of our salvation
in the name of Christ: the best of duties, in their own natures,
are but mere empty pits, and dry channels, though never so
curiously cut out; but Christ fills them.
5. That these duties may turn to our comforts. Not so as to
put confidence in them, to take comfort from them, as causes;
that cannot be, for who can look upon any thing he doth with
that boldness? but as the testimony of God's love to us, and
as the means of consolation. Thus Hezekiah, not as a proud
Pharisee, but as a thankful acknowledger of what was in him,
prayed, / beseech thee, O Lord, remember me, how I have walked
before thee in truth, and with a perfoct heart, and have done that
which is good in thy sight. We may therefore take comfort
Irom duties, not so as to rest in them, but as a means, and so
as to praise God thereby.
6. That others might receive good, and glorify God. These
things are good and profitable mito men, saith the apostle ; and.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your lather ivhich is in heaven. Christ doth
not here encourage vain-glory, but he propounds the true ends
of our visible holiness. There is an exhortation to wives, so
to walk that their husbands may be w on to the Lord : sweet
soul, it may be thou prayest for thy husband in a carnal con-
dition ; thou desirest him to ^o to hear such a minister, such
a sermon: go on in these duties, adding this to the rest — see
that thy life also may convert him.
7. That duties may carry us to the Lord Jesus Christ: he
alone is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God
by him, i. e. in the use of the means. Hear a sermon, to carry
thee to the Lord Jesus; fast and pray, and get a full tide of
affections in them, to carry thee to Jesus Christ, i. e. to get
more love of him, more acquaintance with him, more union in
him, and communion with him : use thy duties as TVoah's dove
did her wings, carry thee to the ark of the Lord Jesus Christ
The Practice of Sanctijication. S5
where only there is rest: if she had never used her wings, she
had fallen into the waters ; and if she had not returned to the
ark, she had found no rest. So, if thou shalt use no duties,
but cast them all off, thou art sure to perish ; and if they con-
vey thee not to Christ, thou mayest lie down in sorrow.
8. That the Lord Christ may be exalted, and advanced by
duties. The main end of duties, is the glory of him who hath
redeemed us with the price of his blood, and the power of his
Spirit; this sets the crown on his head. How many perform
duties, not to set the crown on Christ's head ! But this is the
main end of ri^ht obedience, that the crown may be set on
Christ's head, that he who is King of saints, may have the
honour given him due to his kingly office. O my soul, in
respect of all those ends, use and exercise duties; but be sure
of Christ in all, above all, more than all : O let Christ have
the crown set on his head, give him all the glory. Cast not
away duties, but cast them down at the feet of Jesus Christ,
as the twenty-four elders cast their crowns, saying. Thou art
worthy f Lord, to receive glori/, and honour, and power: for
thou hast created all things, (all duties,) and for thy pleasure
they are and were created.
And yet let me warn you of one dangerous snare : some
think, if they fetch in their comfort by duties, as by prayer,
meditation, &c. that then it would be a comfort only of their
ow^n hammering out, and not the genuine joy of the Holy
Ghost. A desperate mistake ! they set the workings of God's
Spirit and their ow^n spirit in opposition; when their spirits
must stand in subordination to God's: God's Spirit usually
works our comforts, by setting our own spirits awork upon
the promises, and by raising our thoughts to the objects of
our comforts. And yet I deny not, that if any should so think
to work out his comforts by meditation, prayer, reading the
word, as to attempt the work in his own strength, and do not
all in subordination to God, and the Spirit's assistance, the
comfort will be nothing but vanity, a comfort indeed of their
own hammerins: out.
SECT. VI.
Of the essential Requisites in Duties.
But what are they we call duties? or what are those essen-
tial requisites in duties? Many by duties intend nothing but
that which is external, as, coming to the church, and receiv-
ing of sacraments.
I answer, these are like clothes upon a dead man, that cannot
warm him, because there is no life within. The soul of all du-
ties is that which is internal; in which respect three ingre-
86 The Practice of Sanctification.
dients are necessary, viz. 1. that they be from God, 2. through
God, and 3. to God.
1. From God : it is of the very essence of a duty, that it be
commanded by God. Look to this in thy duties; know the
Commands, and do them because they are commanded; if"
thou dost them, and yet knowest not that God commands
tl^em, this is no true obedience ; or if thou knowest they are
commanded, but yet dost them not because they are com-
manded, neither is this obedience to God. In all duties,
rightly performed, there must be a knowledge of, and an eye
to, the will of God, Kom. xii. 2. Eph. v. 17.
2. Through God, i. e. 1. Through the Spirit, who doth spi-
ritualize them. 2. Through Christ, who presents them, and
makes them acceptable to God.
(1.) Through the Spirit of God: now the Spirit works on
our spirits to the performance of our duties ; and therefore
look, how much there is of the holy Spirit in duty, so far it is
sanctified, so far it is accepted, and no further. God is my
witnesSy saith Paul, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of
his So7i. In every service we perform, our spirit, stirred up by
God's Spirit, must needs have a hand in it, or it is but the
carcase of a right service : the soul, will, and affections, must
go together with our duties, (that I mean by our spirit,) or
the vitals are wanting. If a man come to confess his sins,
and yet slights them inwardly in his heart; if a man pray for
reconciliation with God, and yet have no longing in his heart
after it; if he ask grace, or the spirit of mortification, and
yet his heart doth not inwardly seek it ; — he prays not in the
spirit, and therefore God will not accept it.
(2.) Through Christ: for Christ perfects, perfumes, and pre-
sents our duties to his heavenly Father : As duties come from,
us, they savour of flesh, but the angel of the covenant mingleth
incense with them, and so he offers them upon the golden altar
which is before the throne. Here is sweet comfort, O my soul !
what though thy duties are weak, and cold, and confused ; yet
through Christ they are enlivened with his intercessory Spirit;,
through Christ they are perfumed with the precious odours of
his fresh bleeding merits and blessed mediation, and so they
are made acceptable to God, that he may receive them.
Observe here a double intercessor :
One is the Spirit, that helps our infirmities :
The other is Christ, that makes them acceptable to God.
* 3. To God : that is, to set forth his glory; for as his name
is blasphemed when we walk in wickedness, so it is glorified
in doing our duties. This is the end of all our duties, indeed
of all our doings : Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do,
do all to the glory of God. One duty sanctifying Christ in the,
- heart, is more than a thousand. Young Christians,, it may be^
The Practice of^Sanctification. ^j^,
do more works, but not in works oif grace ; the more evangeli-
cal our works are, the more to God, the better they are: We
are of the circumcision, loho rejoice in the Lord JesaSy worship
God in the Spirit y and have no confidence in thejievh.
OF SELF-DENIAL.
LiiJOO \ ,r
SECT. I.
Of the Nature of Self-Denial.
• Self-denial is a total, thorough, utter abnegation ojT a
man's own ends, counsels, affections, and a whole prostration
of himself, and of all that is his, under Christ Jesus. And thus
\ye have the meaning of Christ, If any man icill come after me,
let him deny himself; i. e. let him lay aside his own wisdom as
an empty lamp, his own will as an evil commander, his own
imaginations as a false rule, his own affections as corrupt
counsellors, and his own ends as base and unworthy marks to
be aimed at. Let him deny himself, whatsoever is of himself,
within himself, or belonging to himself, as a corrupt and car-
nal man ; let him go out of himself, that he may come to me ;
let him empty himself, that he may be capable of me, and that
I may reign and rule within him. As in Joseph's dream, the
sun, moon, and the eleven stars, did obeifsance to him, and all
the sheaves in the field to his sheaf; so, in the regenerate man,
all the supernatural gifts and graces, all the moral endowments
and abilities, all the natural powers and faculties, of the soul,
with all the members of the body, and all the labours of tlie
life, and whatsoever else, must do obeisance, and be made
subject unto Jesus Christ. And this is true self-denial
SECT. II.
Of the Denial of Sinful-self.
First, we must deny sinful-self, and this we are to deny
simply and absolutely, whether it be the whole body of cor-
ruption and concupiscence, or those personal corruptions
which we in our particulars are more notably carried unto.
1. We are absolutely to deny the whole body of corruption
and concupiscence : we are to mortify and subdue, to crucify
and to revenge the blood of Christ against this sin. This is
the meaning of the apostle : Mortifi/ your 7?iembers which are
upon earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection , evil
88 The Practice of Sanctificatlou .
concupiscence. Now for the denying or mortifying of this
concupiscence, observe these directions: —
1. Be sensible of it, cry out, O lo ret died man that I am, who
shall deliver me from the body of this death ?
2. Endeavour we to get a willing heart to have this sin
mortified.
3. Be we peremptory in denying the requests of concupis-
cence, bar up the doors, give it no audience : so Christ gave
Peter a peremptory denial, when he would have persuaded
him from his passion, saying. Get thee behind me, Satan.
4. Take we pains to mortify this sin. / rn?i not in vain, as one
that beats the air: that is, I take pains, but not in vain ; I take
no more pains than I must needs ; if I took any less, I could
not come to that I aim at: the less pains we take in subduing
this corruption, the more will it increase ; we must use the
means God hath appointed, as the word, and praying, and
fasting, and watching, and weeping, and mourning; to these
I may add covenants and vows; provided that, 1. they be of
things lawful; 2. that we esteem them not as duties of abso-
lute necessity; and, 3. that we bind not ourselves perpetually,
lest our vows become burdens to us ; and if we will vow, let
us but vow for a time, that when the time is expired, we may
either renew or let them cease, as necessity requires.
5. Labour we to get the assistance of the Spirit of Christ.
The wind bloweth ivhere it listeth; i. e. the Spirit worketh where
it listeth ; yet this hinders not, but that the Spirit may list to
blow in the use of the means. — Surely there are means to get
the Spirit, and to hinder the Spirit; the Spirit may be won
or lost, in the doing, or not doing these things : —
1. If we would have the Spirit, then we must know the
Spirit; we must so know him, as to give him the glory of the
work of every grace : the want of the knowledge of Christ's
Spirit is the very reason why men receive not the Spirit. The
first means to have the Spirit, is to know the Spirit, that we
may give him the glory of every grace.
2. If we would have the Spirit, take heed that we queiich
not the Spirit; I mean not, by quenching the Spirit, a quite
putting of it out: but 1. a growing careless and remiss in the
duties of religion: 2. a not cherishing every good motion of
the Spirit in our hearts.
3. If we would have the Spirit, take heed that we grieve not
the Spirit; let us not drive him by our sins out of the temples
of our souls, disturb him not in his gracious and comfortable
operations there, but so demean ourselves that he may stay in
our spirits, and manifest, without any eclipses or interrup-
tions, his sweet and powerful presence within us.
We are absolutely to deny those personal corruptions which
we are more notably carried unto. Now for the denying and
The Practice of Sanctijication, 89
mortifying of this sin, whatsoever it may be, observe these di-
rections : —
1. Labour we to see the disease : no man will seek for cure,
except he see the disease ; the sight of the disease is half the
cure of it. Endeavour we to find out what is our special sin.
2. Abstain we from all beginnings and occasions of this sin :
quench it at first ; if we cannot put out a spark, how should
we put out a flame ? If we get not the mastery over the first
motion to sin, how shall we overcome it when it is brought to
maturity ?
3. Turn we our delights to God, and Christ, and heavenly
things : there is no true self-denial, that is only primitive ; a man
cannot leave his earthly mindedness, but presently he must be
heavenly-minded : as a man cannot empty a vessel of water but
presently air ivill come in its place ; so a man cannot deny sin-
ful-self, but grace will immediately enter, and take possession of
his heart. And Oh ! when it is thus, when the intentions of our
mind, which we spent upon vanities, are now drawn into prayer
and meditations, then lusts wither.
4. Labour after further discoveries of Christ. Believe more
and depend more upon Christ ; yea, let us trade immediately
with Christ, for Christ is the only agent in the work of self-
denial. Mistake not ; I do not say that we are mere passives
in self-denial ; in our progress we are workers together with
Christ : and therefore it is said, that we purge ourselves, and
that we purify ourselves, and that we by the Spirit mortify the
deeds of the flesh, because Christ still, in going on to purge us
and mortify our lusts, doth it by stirring up our graces, and
useth therein acts of our faith, and love, and many motives and
considerations, to do it. Let us therefore use all means required,
but above all let us bring our hearts to be more and more
acquainted with Christ.
SECT. in.
Of the Denial of our external Relations,
Secondly, we must deny natural self; and this we must deny
only conditionally, and upon supposition of God's call.
1. We are conditionally to deny our external relations; to
this purpose saith Christ, If any inan cometh to me, and hateth
not father, and mother, and children, and brethren, and wife, and
sisters — he cannot be my disciple. Not that religion teaches or
endures a saint to break the ties of religion or nature ; you see
it puts in a plea against such unnaturalness. Honour thy father
and mother.
Relations are the blessings of God j they are God's gifts, and
4 M
90 The Practice of Sanctification,
bestowed on the saints in a way of promise. They are the lov-
ing tokens which Christ sends to our souls^ that so he might
draw our loves to him again ; and hence it is lawful and com-
mendable to rejoice in them in their way, and especially to lift
up our souls in thanksgiving to God for them ; for every crea-
ture of God is good_, (much more the children of our loins, and
wives of our bosoms,) if received with thanksgiving.
Yet we must deny them for God in these cases,—
1 . If they retard us in the way to Christ, if they entice us to
make baitings in our runnings through fire and through water to
the Lord Jesus. If our dearest relations should beckon us out
of the way, or retard us in the way, to Jesus Christ, we must not
respect father or mother, we must not acknowledge our bre-
thren, nor know our own children. And Christ gives the rea-
son : He that loveth father or mother more than me^ is not wor-
thy of me ; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is
not worthy of me, A man should love father and mother, and a
man will love son and daughter, for love descends rather than
ascends ; but if any man love father, or mother, or son, or daugh-
ter, more than Christ, he is not fit to be a disciple of Christ.
2. If they draw contrary ways ; Christ drawing one way, and
relations drawing another way. In this case, as Christ said. If
a man hate not father, and mother, and wife, and children, and
brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot he my
disciple. If any man hate not, ^. e. if a man renounce not all
carnal afi*ection, if a man be not disposed, where these loves are
not compatible, to hate father, and mother, and all, for the
love of Christ, he cannot belong to Christ. These two cases
may be summed up thus : if our relations do either retard our
way to Christ, or draw us from Christ, in this sense they ought
to be forgotten.
The directions of self-denial, in respect of our relations, are
these :
I. Let us have them, as if we had them not ; this is the ex-
pression of the apostle : The time is short ; it remains that both
they that have ivives be as though they had none, and they that
weep as they that ivept not, and they that rejoice as if they that re-
joiced not. — 1. The time is short : the apostle here alludes to sea-
faring men, that have almost done their voyage, and begin to
strike sail, and are even putting into the harbour ; so it is with
us, our time is short, as soon as we begin our voyage, we are
ready to strike sail. — 2. It remains that both they that have
wives, be as though they had none, &c. q. d. You that are ready
to cast anchor, trouble not yourselves about these things, but
rather be ye stedfast, gird up the loins of your minds, let your
care be the greatest for heaven ; and as for these outward rela-
tions, be as if you had none, or think as soon as you are ashore
The Practice of Sanctification, %\
you shall have none ; do not glut yourselves, but moderate your
hearts in all such comforts as these.
2. Let us resign up all to God. This we have done, and this
we must do still. — I. This we have done, in that day when we
made our bargain for Christ. Every soul that comes to Christ,
parts with all to buy that pearl ; and in selling all, he sells not
only his corruptions and lusts, but his father, mother, wife,
children, all relations, conditionally. — ^2. This we must do still ;
we must give up all to God ; we and they, and all, must be at the
command of Christ, at the pleasure of God and Christ : indeed
nothing is properly called our own, but God and Christ ; all other
things are God's gifts, lent of God, and therefore, as occasion
is, we must give up all to God again.
3. Let us imitate them, as occasion is, who for Christ's sake
have actually parted with their dearest relations.
Thus did Galeacius Caracciolus, the noble marquis of Vico.
Vico was one of the paradises of Naples ; and Naples was the
paradise of Italy ; and Italy is the paradise of Europe ; andEu
rope the paradise of all the earth. Yet this marquis being
brought to hear a sermon of Peter Martyr's, God pleased so to
work upon his spirit, that he began to enter into serious thoughts,
whether his way of popery, wherein he was trained, was right or
not. — At last, having further light let into his soul, his resolu-
tions were strong to leave the court, and his honours, together
with his father, wife, and children, and whatsoever was dear to
him. Many grievous combats he had betwixt the flesh and the
spirit when he resolved on his departure, but the greatest trou-
bles were his relations : for —
1 . As often as he looked on his father, which he almost did
every hour, so often he was stricken at the heart with unspeak-
able grief ; his thoughts ran thus ; ^ What ! and must I needs
forsake my dear and loving father ? and cannot I else have God
my father ? Oh ! unhappy father of my body, which may stand
in competition with the Father of my soul ?'
2. No less was he grieved in respect of his wife ; for, having
no hope that she would renounce popery, and go with him, he
resolved also for Christ's sake to leave her, and to follow Christ ;
whereupon his thoughts ran thus : " And shall I forsake my
wife, the only joy of my heart in this world, and that not
for a time, but for ever ! — How many doleful days, how many
waking nights, will she pass over ? — "
3. There was yet a third care, and that was for his children ;
which were six in all. It was the more grief, in that they were
so young, as that they could not conceive what it was to want a
father. The eldest was scarce fifteen, and the youngest scarce
four years old ; towards them his thoughts ran thus : " Shall I
within these few days utterly forsake these sweet babes, and
leave them to the wide and wicked world, as though they had
92 The Practice of Sanctification.
never been my cliildren, nor I their father ? — Poor orphans j
what will become of you when I am gone ? Your hap is hard,
even to be fatherless, your father yet living ! — Yet thus must I
leave you all, weeping and wailing one with another, and I, in
the mean time, weeping and wailing for you.
Thus resolved, he left his family, and went to Geneva ; who
was no sooner gone, but his friends and family were so aston-
ished, that nothing was heard or seen amongst them but lamen-
tations. By his father's commands, and his wife's entreaties, he
was persuaded to see them once, and take his journey from Ge-
neva to Vico : having stayed a while, and now ready to return
to Geneva, his father, at his farewell, gave him many an heavy
and bitter curse ; his wife embraced him, and took him about
the neck, beseeching him in a most loving and pitiful manner,
that he would have care of himself, of his dear wife and chil-
dren, and not so willingly cast them all away : his young children,
all upon their knees, with arms stretched out, and hands holden
up, and faces swoln with tears, cried out unto him to have
pity on them, his own bowels, and not to make them fatherless
before the time : his friends, with heavy countenances and
watery eyes looked on him, and though for grief they could
not speak, yet every look, and every countenance, and every
gesture, was a loud cry and a strong entreaty that he would
stay, and not leave so ancient and noble a house in such a deso-
late case. But above all, there was one most lamentable sight :
— ^Among his children he had one daughter of twelve years old,
who crying out amain, and wallowing in tears, fell down, and
catching fast hold about his knees, held him so hard that he
could by no means shake her off; and the affection of a father
wrought so with him, as he could not oifer with violence to
hurt her : he laboured to be loose, but she held faster 5 he
went away, but she trailed after ; crying to him, not to be so
cruel to her his own child, who came into the world by him. This
so wonderfully wrought with his nature, that he thought, as
he often reported, that all his bowels rolled about within him,
and that his heart would have burst presently, and he should
instantly have died. But notwithstanding all this, being armed
with a supernatural fortitude, he broke through all those temp-
tations, and for Christ's sake denied all, and so returned to
Geneva. — A glorious self-denial, or a glorious denier of his
natural-self !
SECT. IV.
Of the Denial of our Special Gifts.
We are conditionally to deny our special gifts and endow-
ments ; as learning, wisdom, power, or any other abilities of
mind and body.
The Practice of Sttnctification. 93
lndeed_, learning, wisdom, abilities, are in themselves excellent
things. iEneas Silvius said, " That if the face even of human
learning could but be seen, it is more beautiful than the morning
star." How much more may be said in respect of divine learning,
whose subject is God, artd Christ, and the things of God ? In
this respect therefore we must not deny them.
Yet we must deny them in these cases, —
1. In respect of any high thoughts of our own excel-
lencies : Me not wise in your own conceit, saith the apostle j
to which agrees that of Solomon, Lean not thine own under-
standing.
2. In respect of any use of them according to the world. Of
this God speaketh when he saith, / will destroy the ivisdom of
the wise, and will bring to nothi?ig the understanding of the pru-
dent. Thus the apostle trhmiphed, saying, JVhere is the wise f
where is the scribe ? tvhere is the disputer of this world "?
Hath not God made foolish the tvisdom of this ivorld? Worldly
wisdom usually scorns the great mysteries of godliness, foolish-
ness of preaching, simplicity of the saints ; but this wisdom de-
scendeth not from above, saith the apostle, this wisdom is but
earthly, sensual, devilish. — I. Earthly; it minds only earthly
things. — 2. Sensual ; it prefers the pleasures of sense, and pleasing
the appetite, before the peace of conscience and sense of God's
favour.— 3. Devilish ; for it imitates the devil in contriving tlie
mischief and i-uin against the glory of God, the plantation of his
grace in the hearts of men : or it is devilish, because the devil
usually sets those on work that have a little more wit to do him
service ; he knows they are more able and active to quarrel, rad,
slander, disgrace the truth of God, or ministry of Christ. — O
poor souls ! how do you bark and snatch at those hurtless hands,
which would heal and bind up your bleeding souls ! O poor
idiots ! what wisdom is it for you to endeavour their extirpation,
who are as stars in the right-hand of Christ ! They that would
do Christ's ministers any deadly harm, they must pluck them
thence.
The directions of self-denial in respect of our special gifts,
are these : —
1 . Think we soberly of ourselves, according as God hath dealt
to every man the measure of faith. We are not sober, in the
apostle's phrase, if either we take that upon us which we have
or brag of that which we have.
2. Mind the true ends of learning, wisdom, abilities. What
are those ends ? 1. To do God more excellent and more glo
rious service. 2. To furnish the soid for an higher degree, and
a greater measure, of sanctification.
3.«Endeavour to walk before God in lowliness of mind. What !
are thy gifts more eminent than others ? It is the Lord that
makes thee differ; and as God hath been favourable to thee, so
94 The Practice of Sanctificatioii.
should his favours be as obhgations to obedience, humility,
meekness.
4. Remember, it is not the greatness, but the well-using of the
gift, that is the glory of the receiver. It is not the having any
thing, whether much or little ; but the having of Christ with it,
that makes it full and satisfactory.
5. Observe and weigh well, that the issue of all depends not
upon the abilities of man, but upon the all-disposing hand of
God. The race is not to the sivift, nor the battle to the strong ;
neither yet bread to the ivise, nor riches to ineti of understanding.
All our abilities are under God's providence, who puts an efficacy
into man's abilities, even as he pleaseth.
6. Esteem we ail abilities, gifts, knowledge, as dung and
dross, in comparison of the excellency of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus, our Lord. All knowledge, art, learning, is no-
thing to Christ ', there is no excellency in that man's knowledge
that knows not Christ. If we know not Christ, it is nothing, if
we know never so much. If we know Christ, it is enough, though
we know nothing more ; enough indeed, for in knowing him we
have all knowledge. In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge. Among wise men, he is the choicest that knows
most of Christ ; it is Christ that puts a fulness into our know-
ledge, as the shining of the sun in the air puts a fulness of light
into the eyes ; hence Paul made Christ crucified, the centre and
circumference of his knowledge, the breadth, and length, and
depth, and height, of his knowledge ; this was the full latitude
of his knowledge, to know Jesus Christ : and this is excellent
knowledge, excellent for the author, matter, subject, fruits, and
effects of it; this is saving knowledge, this is life eternal, to know
thee, and him whom thou hast sent. Oh ! never speak of learn-
ing wisdom, gifts, abilities, in comparison of Christ. Bernard
could say, " If thou Avritest, it doth not relish with me, unless I
read Jesus there ; if thou disputest or conferrest, it doth not relish
with me, unless Jesus sound there.'" All learning is but igno-
rance in comparison of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.
Come then, and down with all knowledge in this respect ; come,
and submit to that true, spiritual, experimental knowledge of
Jesus Christ.
SECT. V.
Of the Denial of our Worldly Profits.
We are conditionally to deny our common ends, which natu-
rally men pursue and seek after, as profit, pleasure, and honour.
I shall begin with the first.
The Practice of Sanctijication. 95
It must be granted that worldly profits^ such as liouses, lands,
possessions, are a blessing of God, because they serve for the
refreshing, comforting, supporting, of our frail weak bodies,
while we live in this world.
Yet we must deny them in these cases : —
1. As temptations and snares ; when they are either baits unto
sin ; or when they are the fruits and wages of sin. Thus Zac-
cheus denies himself in all his unjust gain which he had gotten.
Restitution, as it is a most necessary, so it is one of the hardest
parts of self-denial. Unjust gain is like a barbed arrow, it
kills if it stay within the body, and pulls the flesh away if it be
drawn out.
2. x\s oblations and sacrifices ; when Christ calls us to dedicate
them unto him, then we must deny them. Thus when Abraham
was called from his country into a land which he knew not ; and
when Daniel was called from a king's court to a den of lions ;
when Moses was called from the honours of Egypt, to the afflic-
tions of God's people ; immediately they consulted not with flesh
and blood, but willingly left their own comforts to obey God's
commands. All we are, or have, we have it on this condition, to
use it, to leave it, to lay it out, to lay it down, unto the honour
of our Master, from whose bounty we received it.
The directions of self-denial in respect of our worldly profits,
are these : —
1. Look we on worldly profits as vanity, nothing. Wilt thou
set thine eyes upon that which is not, says Solomon ; for riches
certainly make themselves icings ^ they jiy away as an eagle. —
Observe first, that riches are not, they are nothing ; those things
that make men great in the eye of the world, are nothing in the
eyes of God. — 2. Observe, the Holy Ghost would not have us
so much as set our eyes upon riches, they are not objects worth
the looking on. — 3. Observe with what indignation he speaks
against those that will set their eyes upon them : wilt thou set
thine eyes upon that which is not ? As if he had said, what a
vain, unreasonable, senseless thing is this? — 4. Observe, that
he says, their parting from us is by way of flight, that is, a
sudden, swift, and irrecoverable motion. — 5. Observe, that this
flight is by the wings of an eagle, which of all birds hath the
most sudden, the most swift, and the most irrecoverable motion. —
6. Observe, that none needs to put wings upon them to fly away,
for they make themselves wings 5 there is matter enough in them-
selves to put them into a flight. Oh that the glory of the world
were darkened in our eyes, as one day it shall be, that it might
not be so dear unto us as it is !
2. Consider them as instabilities, uncertainties. All worldly
things are like the sea, ebbing and flowing ; or like the moon,
always increasing or decreasing ; or like a wheel, always turning
up and down Such a story we have of Sesostris, king of Egypt,
^6 The Practice of Scmctificatton.
who would have his chariot drawn with four kings, and one of
them had his eyes continually on the wheel ; whereupon Sesostris
asked, what he meant by it ? He answered, It put him in mind
of the mutability of all earthly things, " For I see," said he,
^•^ that part of the wheel, which is now up on high, is presently
down beneath ; and that part which is now below, is presently up
on high :" whereupon Sesostris being moved, considering what
might be his own estate, would never have his chariot drawn
after that manner any more.
3. Consider them as snares and thorns. To this purpose cried
Solomon, Allis vanity andvexdtion of spirit. — Worldlings ! do you
not feel this true ? Mark but how your worldly cares do rush upon
you in the morning as soon as you awake ; mark but how they
accompany you in the day ; mark but how they follow you to your
beds at night ; mark but how they hinder your sleeps, and afflict
you in your dreams : Oh ! what fears ! what suspicions ! what un-
dermining one another ! what disappointments ! what vexations !
what a clutter of businesses crossing one the other ! what snares
and temptations lie in your way at every hand 1 You walk all
the day long upon snares ; upon dangerous snares, that bring
much sin and guilt, and will bring much sorrow and misery.
4. Consider them as fading in regard of use, which yet prove
eternal in regard of punishment. Oh ! what a dreadful noise is
that in hell ! — we have lost eternity, for setting our hearts upon
things that were but momentary. What will be thy thoughts at
the hour of death ? It may be these : Now are all my hopes at
an end, now I must bid farewell to all my comforts, I shall never
have mirth any more ; the sun is set, the season is at an end for
all my comforts ; now I see before me a vast ocean of eternity,
and of necessity I must launch into it : O Lord, what provision
have I for it ? Oh, there is a thought that will rend the heart in
pieces ! Oh, what a dreadful shriek will that soul give, that sees
before it that infinite ocean of eternity, and sees no provision
made for it 1 What will it think, but here is an ocean of hot
scalding lead, and I must launch into it, and I must swim naked
in it for ever and ever ? I know not how this word may work,
but if it be trampled under foot, it may be within this year or
two, it will be said of thee. Such an one was at such a sermon,
or read such a book, and learned that worldly profits were but
momentary ; but now he is gone : Or it may be thou wilt say on
thy death-bed. Such a book I read, that all worldly profits were
but momentary, and that I had not only a river to swim over, but
an infinite ocean to launch into, and yet I would not be warned ;
and now my season is gone, and I am launching into eternity, the
Lord knows what will become of me.
5. Appear for God and his cause, his truth and people, though
the issue may seem dangerous. Thus Esther did with that brave
resolution of her's. If I perish^ I perish. Oh ! let not a good
J'he Practice of Sancttfication. 97
cause be dashed and blasted, and none have a heart to appear for
it, for fear of worldly profit.
6. Let all go, rather than commit any sin : it is better to want
all the profits that earth can aftbrd, than to lose the delights that a
good conscience will bring in. Oh ! let the bird in the breast be
always kept singing, whatsoever we suff'er for it ; it is better we
lose all we have, than to make shipwreck of a good conscience ;
in this case we must be willing to lose all, or else we are lost in
the enjoyment of all.
SECT. VL
Of the Denial of our Worldly Pleasures.
The next common end which men naturally pursue, and which
we must deny, is pleasure.
^Tis true, some pleasures are lawful, and, in a sober, moderate,
seasonable use of them, serve for the refreshing, comforthig, and
supporting of our frail bodies. Yet we must deny them in
these cases.
1. When they are baits to draw us into sin.
2. When they are sin, or the concomitants of sin, or the fruits
and wages of sin.
The directions of self-denial, in respect of worldly pleasures,
are these : —
1 . Look on pleasures, not only as vain, but as vanishing : they
are soon gone from us, or we are soon gone from them. 1 . They
arc soon gone from us, the fashion of this ivorld passeth away :
all pleasures are but like a mountain of snow, that melts away
presently. 2. We are soon gone from them ; it is but a while,
and then we and all our pleasures must together vanish ; if death
draw the curtain, and look in upon us, then we must bid a fare-
well to them all, never laugh more, never have merry-meeting
more ; never be in jollity any more. Oh ! when we are called to
eternity, then all our delights will leave us, and bid us adieu for
ever ; and how doleful will this be to all the sons and daughters
of pleasure ! your season is done, you have had your time, it is
gone, it is past, and cannot be recalled.
2. Consider, this is not the season that should be for pleasure.
The apostle James lays it as a great charge upon those in his
time, that they lived in pleasure upon earth. This is a time to
do the great business for which we were bom. Oh ! did we think
that eternity depended upon this little uncertain time of our lives,
we would not say that sensual pleasures were now in season.
Surely this time should be spent in seeking to make our peace
with God; this is a time of suing out our pardon, of mourning, and
sorrow and trouble of spirit, and no time for jollity, and fleshly
4. N
1>S The Practice of Sanctificatlon.
delights. If a condemned man had two or three days granted him
that he might sue out his pardon, were that a time for pleasure
and sports ? Thus it is with us ; the sentence of death is upon
us, only a little uncertain time is granted us, to sue out a par-
don 5 let us know then what is our work, and let us apply our-
selves to it.
3. Ponder the carriage of the saints before us. You know
the mean provision that John the Baptist, the forerunner of
Christ, had ; his fare was locusts and wild honey, and yet there
was not a greater born of woman before. Timothy, although he
was sickly, yet would not take liberty to drink a little wine, but
only water, till Paul wrote to him ; and in that liberty there was
but little granted, and that for his stomach's sake, and his often
infirmities. Basil, in an epistle to Julian, mentions the mean
fare he and others with him lived on ; they had no need of cooks,
all their provision was the leaves of plants, and a little bread : and
Hieroni reports of Hilarion, that he never ate any thing before
the sun went down, and that which at any time he ate was very
mean : and Hierom himself lived so abstemiously, that he had
uothing daily but a few dried figs with cold water.
4. Do we for Christ, as Christ hath done for us. What ! was
he content to part with the pleasures of heaven, the bosom of his
Father, to redeem poor man ? and shall not we part with the
pleasure of a little meat or drink for him ? Is not all his glory,
revealed in his word and work, sufficient to shew him worthy of
our loves, and to make us willing to part with such empty, poor,
slight things, as sensual pleasures ? Surely the daughters of
pleasure must undress, if ever they will be beautiful in Christ's
eyes ; their ornament must not be the outward adorning of plaiting
the hair, and of wearing of gold, and putting on of apparel, but
the hidden man of the heart, the ornament of a meek and quiet
spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
5. Meditate on those pleasures above, and say, (you that have
the experience of the pleasantness of God's ways,) If the nether
springs be so sweet, what will the upper be ? If the lower Jeru-
salem be paved with gold, surely that upper Jerusalem is paved
with pearls ! It is an excellent speech of Bernard, "^ Good art
thou, O Lord, to the soul that seeks thee ; what art thou to the
soul that finds thee ? If grace be pleasant, how pleasant is
glory ?" Therefore the saints die so pleasantly, because there is
a meeting of grace and glory : grace is delightful, glory more
delightful; but when both these meet together, what delight
wiU there then be !
The Practice of Saiictification, 91)
SECT. VII.
Of the Denial of our Honour, Praise, good Name, among Men.
The next end which naturally men pursue, and which we must
deny, is honour, praise, good name.
We grant, honour, praise, good name, are the gifts and
blessings of God. David speaketh expressly. Both riches and
honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all.
Yet we must deny them for God, in these cases : —
1. When they are as snares and baits unto sin. And in all
those, honour, praise, good name, there are dangerous snares ;
how prone do they make a man to those sins of vain-glory, self-
admiration, self-estimation ! Surely it is a great mercy of God
if any man be preserved from these sins, that enjoys those
blessings !
2. When we are called by God to dedicate them to God.
The Lord never gave us these things, honour, praise, good name,
upon any other terms, but that we should be willing to part with
them for the honour of his name ; God never made us owners,
but stewards of them for his service, and if ever we were brought
to Christ, into covenant with God in him, we then resigned up
all to him, we professed to part with all for him. And good
reason, for whatsoever honour or excellency we have, it is he
that gives it : — the rainbow is but a common vapour, it is the sun
that gilds it, that enamels it with so many colours : the best of
us are but a vapour ; and if any of us be more glorious, more
honourable, than others, it is the Lord that hath shined upon us,
and hath put more beauty, more lustre upon us, than upon other
vapours.
The directions of self-denial in respect of our honour, favour,
grace, good name, among men, are these : —
1. Look on honour, praise, favour, applause, as vanity, no-
thing. Vanity of vanities, saiththe preacher; vanity of vani-
ties, all is vanity. Observe his expression ; \. Vanity, not orAy
vain, but vanity itself. 2. Excessive vanity, for it is vanity of
vanities. 3. An heap of vanities, for it is in the plural number,
vanity of vanities. 4. All is vanity, not only profit, and plea-
sure, but honour too ; Solomon had experience of them all, and
all is vanity. There is no reality in honour, praise, favour,
applause of men, which are so much admired and magnified ;
honour is but a shadow, a fancy, a wind, a breath ; there is no
internal excellency in it.
2. Beware of those attendants, or companions of honours ;
vain-glory, self-love, self-admiration. Let us not be desirous of
vain-glory : let us not exalt ourselves above others : let us not
study to be magnified by others : let us not please ourselves in
the applause of others. It is not human applause, but God's
100 The Practice of Sancttficahvn.
approbation, which ministers matter of true honour to a Christian.
We should rejoice to see God honoured, but fear to hear our-
selves applauded, lest either we be idolized, or God's honour
obscured.
3. Be convinced, that of all vices, vain-glory, self-admiration,
hunting after men's praise, are the most invincible. The roots
thereof are so deep and strong, and so largely spread in the
heart of man, that there is no disease in the soul so hardly cured,
no weed in the garden of man's heart so hardly plucked up.
4. Let us herein conform ourselves to Christ. He came from
the bosom of his Father, and from that infinite gloiy he had with
him before the world was. He left the honour which he might
have had from all the angels, and all to save poor wretched sin-
ful creatures : he that was equal with God, so emptied himself
that he became man ; nay, he was made a scorn of men, he made
himself of no reputation, he came in the form of a servant, he
was made a curse, as if he had been the vilest of men living ;
and yet this was the honour of Christ himself, because it was all
for God. Oh ! then, who is he that knows any thing of Jesus
Christ, that can think it much to lay down all his honour for him ?
What can be more unworthy, what more detestable, than that
a man should magnify himself after he had seen God humbled.
It is intolerable impudence, that where majesty hath emptied
himself, a worm should be puffed up.
5. Let us submit to the meanest service of our God, though
it darken our honours, never so much in the eyes of the world.
Thus Hierom writ to Panachius a young nobleman, that he would
have him to be eyes to the blind, feet to the lame, hands to the
weak, yea, if need were, to carry water, and cut wood, and
make fires ; for what are all these, saith he, to bonds, buffetings,
spittings, whippings, death ?
6. Let us willingly join with those of lower degree in any way
of honouring God. Mind not hig/i things, saith the apostle,
hut condescend to men of low estate. Who knows but that the
poorest creature may be far more honourable m the eyes of God
and of his saints, than we ? Where greater graces sit below us,
let us acknowledge their inward dignity.
7. We must bear our reproaches wisely. Though we should
not be insensible, yet we should not take too much notice oi
every reproach. But how then should we stop their mouths ? I
answer : 1. Let us walk innocently ; innocency will overcome all
in time. 2. Let us labour to be eminent in that which is quite
contrary to that we are reproached for. Perhaps you are re-
proached for a dissembler, labour for the greatest eminency of
plainness and sincerity : perhaps you are reproached for covet-
ousness, labour to be eminent in liberality, in heavenly minded
ness, in doing good,
8. We must bear reproaches patiently. What are we ? or
The Practice of Sanctification. 101
what is our names, that we should think much to bear repit)ach ?
Consider, have not other of God's servants, far holier than we
are, been under exceeding reproach ? Nay, how is God and
Christ reproached ? how is the name of God slighted ? how is
the majesty, and sovereignty, and authority of God contemned
in this world ? what reproaches endured Christ in his own per-
son, in his preaching ? how was he contemned when he preached
against covetousness ? The Pharisees scorned him : the word
signifies they blew their noses at him. He was called a devil, a
Samaritan, a wine-bibber, a friend of publicans and sinners ; wliat
worse can be imagined than was cast upon Christ ? they spat
on his face, that blessed face of his, that the waves of the sea
were afraid of, and that the sun withdrew his light from, as not
being fit to behold it ; they put thorns on his head, and bowed
to him in reproach. This argument should, methinks, move us
to bear reproaches patiently.
9. Make we our moans to God, and lay our case before him,
as Hezekiah (when Rabshakeh came and reviled God and the
people of God) went and spread the letter before God ; if we
can but do likewise, we shall find unsj^eakable refreshments to
our souls, and that will be a great argument of our innocency.
My friends scorn me, saith Job, but mine eye poureth out tears
unto God. — The mouth of the wicked, saith David, and the
mouth of the deceitful, ai'e opened ugainst me ; but I give my-
self unto prayer,
10. We must bear reproaches fruitfully. Christians should
not think it enough to free themselves from reproach, but they
must improve it for good ', and to that end —
1 . Consider what ends God aims at by it, and labour to work
them upon ourselves.
2. Draw what good instiTictions we can from the reproaches
of others, as thus : when I hear men reproach and revile, — Oh
what a deal of evil is there secretly in the heart of man, that is
not discovered till it have occasion ! Again, do I see another so
vigilant over me, to find out any thing in me to reproach me, — >
How vigilant should I be ovei- myself, to find out what is in ma
to humble me !
SECT. VIII.
Of the Denial of our Life for Jesus Christ.
I HAVE done with the denial of natural self in regard of well
being, I now consider the denial of natural self in regard of very
being, and so it imports our life, together with the faculties
and powers of nature, our understanding, will, affections,
senses, fleshly members ; all within us must be captivated to
102 The Practice of Sanctijication,
Christ, and all without us must endure to suffer for the name of
Christ.
1. The understanding must be captivated, as it hinders from
Christ. Suppose the word of Christ be contradicted or checked
by reason. In this case I must deny my reason, and believe
Christ ; I must captivate my understanding to the obedience of
faith.
2. The will must be renounced in reference to Christ. Ser-
vants must not follow their own will, but their master's directions ;
how much more ought we, who always may justly suspect our-
selves, and can never suspect the will of Christ. It is meet that
Hagar should stoop to Sarah, our will to Christ's will.
3. Our affections and senses must be denied, as they are che-
rishers of evil, or opposers of good. This latter is that crucify-
ing of the flesh, with the lusts and affections, which the apostle
mentions. But all these being within the compass of natural
life, I shall only insist on that.
Life, as it is the gift, so it is the blessing, of God ; hence the
promise of life, and of long life, is made to obedient children j
and this, tm*ned into prayer by the believing parents, is usually
called by the name of blessing.
Yet we must deny it for God, in these cases : —
1. As a saxirifice. If God vrill rather be honoured by death
than life, by the sufferings than by the services, of his saints,
in this case we should be willing to submit to God. Thus many
of the martyrs who had opportunity of flight, yet tarried to wit-
ness the truth, and gave their lives to the flames.
2. As temptation. Thus, rather than sin, the primitive Chris-
tians, when apprehended, chose willingly to die. And if it be
on this condition that we may avoid sin, that by losing life we
may go to Christ, in whom we shall find, with an infinite over-
plus, whatsoever we can lose for his sake ; then we must deny
life itself.
The directions of self-denial in respect of our natural being,
or life, are these : —
1. Apprehend God's love to our souls in his Son : he thought
nothing too good for us, God so loved the luorld that he gave his
oyily begotten Son; and this he did for us, when we were
enemies ; nay, God hath not only given us his Son for a Saviour,
but he hath given us himself for an husband ; let us often by
sad and solemn meditation renew the sense of his love to us
in Christ, and we cannot but give up all we have, and all we
are, to God.
2. Maintain a godly jealousy of our own hearts ; for want of
this, all the disciples fainted, especially Peter, and shamefully
denied Christ. Memorable is that story of Pendleton and San-
ders : Sanders, as fearful he should not endure the fire ; Pendle-
ton seemed resohite, ^^ Be not fearful,* saith he to Sanders, '^ for
The Practice of Sanchfication. 1(>3
thou shalt see me, and this fat flesh of mine, fry in the fire be-
fore I will yield." Yet he that was so strong in his own strength,
fell away ; and the other, so fearful, was enabled by God to burn
for his truth.
3. Be acquainted with the promises of self-denial ; have
always a word at hand to reheve ourselves in the worst of suf-
ferings. Now these promises are of several sorts. 1. Of
assistance,— 2. of acceptance, — 3. of reward. And agahi, the
promises of reward are,— 1. of this life ; He that forsakes all
for Christ, shall receive an hundred fold ; the joy, the peace he
shall have shall be an hundred times better than the comfort of
these outward things. ' Oh ! but,' may some say, ' what will
become of my children ? 1 shall leave them fatherless and help-
less.* To this, by way of answer, God often styles himself the
Father of the fatherless, and if of any fatherless, then surely of
those whose parents have lost their lives for Jesus Christ. Leave
thy fatherless children, saith the Lord, I will preserve them alive,
and let thy widows trust in me. — 2. Of eternal life ; such shall
inherit eternal life. '' Be of good comfort," says Bradford to his
fellow martyr, " we shall have a merry supper with the Lord
this night." — Christians ! what would we have ? The soul indeed
is of a large capacity, all things here below can never satisfy it ;
but eternal life, the inheritance above, will fill the understanding
with knowledge, and the will with joy; and that in so great a
measure, that the expectation of the saints shall be exceeded ;
for he shall be admired of them that believe.
4. Mind the principle that must carry us through death, and
make death itself honourable. We read, Heb. xi. — thdt by faith
some quenched the violence of fire. — Others ivere tortured.--^
They were stoyied, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted,
they were slain by the siuord ; and all this by faith. — Faith is
the grace that enables us to deny ourselves, yea, life itself;
other graces may do much, but faith hath the principal work
in this. By faith ye stand, said the apostle to his Corinthians :
it is faith that makes a man stand in his greatest trials ; and
therefore when Christ saw how Peter should be tempted, he tells
him, that he had prayed that his faith should not fail ; noting,
that while his faith held, all would be sure.
SECT. IX.
Of Self-denial, even with regard to the Graces of God.
Notwithstanding these are God's special gifts, yet we
must deny them comparatively, and in some respects : —
1. In point of justification. It is a dangerous thing to hang
the weight of a soul upon any thing which hath any mixture of
104 The Practice of Sanctification,
w.eakness, imperfection, or corruption in it, as the purest and
best of all our duties hav^e ; it is a dangerous thing to teach that
faith, or any other evangelical grace, as it is a work done by us,
doth justify us : there is nothing to be called our righteousness,
but the Lord our Righteousness. Faith itself doth not justify
habitually, as a thing fixed in us, but instrumentally, as that
which receives the righteousness of Christ shining through it
upon us ; as the window enlightens by the sun-beams which it
lets in, or as the cup feeds by the wine which it conveys. So
then, in point of justification, we are to renounce all our duties
and graces.
2. In point of sanctification : for we are to attribute the glory
of all our graces and duties unto Jesus Christ, and nothing to
ourselves. And yet understand we aright, though every be-
liever is thus to deny himself in spiritual things, even in the point
of sanctification, yet he is not to speak evil of the grace of God
within himself : he may not miscall his duties and graces, saying,
these are nothing but the fruits of hypocrisy, for then he should
speak evil of the Spirit, whose works they are ; neither is he to
trample on those graces of God. For a man to say, all this is
nothing but hypocrisy, that is not self-denial ; properly, self-
denial in spiritual things, as to the matter of justification, is, to
renounce all ; and as to the matter of sanctification, it is to
attribiite the strength and the glory of all unto Jesus Christ,
and nothing to one's self.
The directions of self-denial in this respect, are these : —
1 . Let us be sensible of, and humbled for, our pride in spiri-
tual things. There is nothing that a Christian is more apt to be
proud of than spiritual things. It was Mr. Fox's speech : " As
I get good by my sins, so 1 get hurt by my graces." It is a
dangerous thing to be proud of man's duties and spiritual gifts ;
we had better be proud of clothes, or friends, or honours ; for
this pride of spiritual things is directly opposite to a man's justi-
fication. The first step to humility is, to see one's pride ; the
first step to self-denial is, to be convinced of one's desire after
self-exalting, self-admiring, self advancing. — O what a proud
heart have I ! What a self-advancing heart have I ! — There is
no believer, till he is fully renewed, but what hath something of
self. We had need therefore to be jealous of ourselves ; and if
at any time self break out, if at any time the soul begins to be ad-
vanced in regard of duty or spiritual things, let us fall down
before God, and humble ourselves for — the pride of our hearts.
2. Have Christ in your eye. — ^The more we see an humble
Christ, a self-denying Christ, the more shall we learn humility
and self-denial. Christ was the most eminent example of selr-
denial that ever was. He thought it no robbery to he equal with
God ; and he humbled himself, and took upon him the form of a
servant. Was there ever such a self-denial as this ? — Christians !
The Practice of Sanctification . ' 105
consider your Christ, and the more will you learn even in spi-
ritual things.
3. Rest not on any tiling below Jesus Christ. Neither grace,
nor duties, nor holiness, are to be trusted in. We must hold
them fast in point of practice and obedience ; but it is our sin
and danger to hold them fast in reliance and confidence. — I de-
sire to be rightly understood in this truth: Some, beca\ise
they need not rely on duties, let go their duties ; they let prayer,
and repentance, and sorrow for sin, go ; they say, it is no matter
for duties, they need not to trouble themselves, Christ hath done
all. This is to turn the grace of God into wantonness : we must
let go both our graces and duties in point of justification, but
hold them we must as our lives. Prayer, hearing, fasting,
repenting, must not die whilst we live ; do them we must, but
glory in them we must not: we must not rest in any thing
whatsoever below Jesus Christ. — I shall instance in these par-
ticulars :
1. We must not rest upon our own preparations for duties.
It is a commendable thing to prepare our hearts ; we must pray
that we may pray; we must have secret communion with our
God, before we come to seek communion with him in a sermon :
but we must not rest upon our own preparation when we have
prepared; if we advance that into the throne of Jesus Christ,
and rest upon that when we should only rest upon him, it is the
way to make all our preparations miscarry.
2. We must not rest upon our enlargements in duties. — It
may be we have a spring-tide of assistance comes in ; a minister
preaches with great presence of the Spirit of God, and a saint
prays (as we find it) in the Holy Ghost : i. e. he finds the holy
Spirit of God sending him from petition to petition, melting with
brokenness when he is confessing sin, filling him with rejoicing
when he is remembering mercy, raising him with an high wing,
as it were, of importunity, when he is begging of favour; and
now as soon as the duty is done, it may be, he goes away, and
strokes himself, — ^ O what an admirable prayer was here ! surely
I shall do well this day!' — This is the very way to miscarry,
thousands have found it ; so that when he comes to pray again,
it may be, he prays most dully and flatly ; the Spirit is grie\ed
and gone, and he can say little or nothing.
3. We must not rest upon the comforts we have in duty, or after
duty. It may be, when we have been at duty, and have
had some ravishments ; Oh ! now we think oiu' nest is built \cvy
high, and our rock is firm, and we shall go on vigorously. Chry-
sostomhath a saying to this purpose, " Methinks," saithhe, "a
saint, when he comes from a sacrament, should be able to fly iu
the face of a devil ; and though he walk in the midst of snares,
yet he should be able to encounter with them all." Comforts are
very sweet things, and indeed strengthening things : The Joy of
4. o
106 The Practice of Sanctification.
the Lord is our sh^ength, saith Nehemiah. Nothing more ani-
mates the soul than joy; only here is the danger^ if we rest on
these joys and comforts; the Spirit of God is a most choice and
tender thing, it dwells in none but a clean, pure temple.
4. We must not rest upon graces. This was Peter's fault; he
had grace, and he rested on it. Lord, though all forsake thee,
yet will not I; yet soon after Peter did forsake and deny his
Master: and we do not find Peter so confident afterwards.
When Christ said to him, Simon Peter, lovest thou me more
than these? no comparative words now; no more than. Lord,
thou knowest I love thee.
5. Be often putting forth new faith in Jesus Christ. Self-
denial in spiritual things is not to be found in the law, but in the
gospel : the law, though it hath its use, and we dare not but use
it, yet it will not make a man deny himself, but rather seek him-
selt^ in spiritual things : ' Obey and live,' saith the law, ' but
if thou failest in any one point, thou art lost for ever.' In this
case, if there were no other ^^'ay, who would deny his own righ-
teousness ? Nay, who would not seek to save himself by his own
righteousness? ^ But now,' saith the gospel, ^by works thou
canst not live ; but if thou wilt throw down all thy own righteous-
ness at the feet of Christ, and believe on him, and rest only on
him, thou shalt be saved.' This will make a man deny his own
righteousness, and deny himself in spiritual things. Go we
therefore to Christ, let us maintain believing apprehensions of
the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is the humble, self-denying
person, that seeks justification, not by works, but by faith only.
6. Let it be the joy of our souls to exalt and set up Christ
within our souls. Though in order to justification we must deny
our graces, eye Christ without us ; yet in order to sanctification
we must have a care to see and feel Christ's kingdom within us,
to set up Christ in our hearts, and to discern him ruling and com-
manding there, as a king in his throne. And there is true self-
denial in this, for wherever Christ reigns, there sin goes down.
As the people would have all men put to death, which would
not have Saul to reign over them ; so doth a true believing soul
mortify whatsoever opposeth Christ's kingdom: he removeth
whatsoever may hinder Christ's spiritual dominion, he makes all
stoop for Christ's exaltation witliin him. O then let Christ
reign over all within us : in our understandings, as a prophet
enlightening us ; in our wills, as a king commanding us ; in our
affections, as a priest mortifying us ; in our loves, as a husband
marrying us; let the whole man be subject unto the whole
Christ. This is the character of a true self-denier; Christ rules
within him, he every way subjects himself to Christ : — in his
understanding, to know Christ; in his will, to choose Christ; in
his thoughts, to meditate upon Christ; in his fear, to serve and
honour Christ; in his faith, to trust and depend upon Christ;
The Practice of Sanctification, 1G7
in his love, to affect Christ; in his joy, to delight in Christ; in
his desire, to long after Christ; in his endeavours, to exalt
Christ ; in all his duties, graces, gifts, abilities, to make them
serviceable unto Christ : this is to attribute the glory of all our
duties and graces to Jesus Christ, and nothing to ourselves.
Now is Christ all in all; now we truly deny ourselves.
OF THE LIFE OF FAITH.
SECT. I.
Of the Nature of the Life of Faith.
To live by faith, is, by faith in Christ, to possess the whole
word of God as our own in all states and conditions, resting
quietly upon his gracious and faithful promise, and yielding
ourselves unto his good pleasure, in sincere, universal, and con-
stant obedience : or, to live by faith, is to feed upon the several
promises of God made in his word, and to apply them to our
ownselves, according to our needs ; and so to uphold, comfort,
and encourage ourselves against all temptations, and unto every
good duty. This life of faith is a very heaven upon earth, a
sweet sanctuary to any hunted soul; hereby our hearts will be
cheered, our life will be sweet to us, God will be glorified, and
the glory of his truth advanced. O blessed duty !
That we may live by faith, we must endeavour two things,
1. TPo get matter for our faith to work upon.
2. That we may provide matter for our faith to work upon,
we must observe three things : 1 . That we store up all the good
promises of God, and our own experiences.
2. That we laj-^ in promises of all kinds. We had better leave
than lack : it is the wisdom of a man, that he may not live feebly
and poorly, but to have somewhat to spare.
3. That we so lay them up, that we may have them at hand.
It is a folly to say, '' I have as good provision as can be, but I
have it not here."" Let the word of God dwelt in you plenteously
and richly in all ivisdom.
That we order our faith aright in the work, observe these
directions :
1 . Take possession of the promises, and value fhem as our
own. There is no godly man or woman but is a great heir.
Whensoever they look in God's book, and find there any pro-
mise, they make it their own ; just as an heir that rides over divers
fields and meadows, saith, * This meadow is my heritage, and
this corn-field is my heritage.' And then he sees a fair house,
and saith, * This fair house is my heritage.' And he looks upon
108 The Practice of Sanctijication.
them with another manner of eye than a stranger that rides over
those fields. A carnal heart reads those promises, but merely as
stories, not as having any interest in them ; but a godly man,
every time he reads the scriptures, (remember this when you are
reading the scriptures,) and there meets with a promise, ought
to lay his hand upon it, and say, ^ This is a part of my heritage ;
it is mine, and I am to live vipon it/
2. Expect nothing from the promise, but that which is suit-
able to the nature of it. Some promises are absolute, which
God hath simply determined to accomplish; as the promise of
the Messiah, Isa. vii. 14. and of the calling of the Gentiles, Rom.
xi. 26. Some promises are conditional, which God will accom-
plish in his own time, and in his own manner and measure ; they
are no fiirther promised, than God seeth to be most meet for liis
glory and our good; as all temporal blessings, less principal
graces, and the measure of ail sanctifying graces : now in all
these expect nothing from them, but that which is suitable to
the nature thereof.
3. Eye that particular good in the promise which we stand in
need of, and set God's power, and faithfulness, and wisdom
awork, to bring it about : for instance, thou art in persecution,
and either thou wouldst have deliverance out of it, or comfort
and refreshment in it ; in this case see all this in the promise,
(referring the order, and time, and manner, to God,) and then
set God's power and faithfulness awork that can do it, and his
wisdom awork to contrive it which way he knows best : this is
the meaning of that text, Commit thy luays tmto the Lord,
trust in him, and he shall bring it to pass.
4. By faith wait upon God, in that way he hath appointed. It
is true, God will work that good for us, yet we must use the
means, and meet God in the course of his promise, otherwise
we live not by faith, but tempt God, and throw away his pro-
mises and all.
5. Set it down, that God will do whatsoever he hath promised,
and we shall receive it in the ways of his providence : this is
the very work of faith itself; thus it draws sap and virtue from
the promise, when it concludes, that according to the good in
the promise, it is sure to be done.
6. But imagine the Lord doth not suddenly accomplish, then
must faith take up its stand, and stay till it come : he that be-
lieveth, maketh not haste, the vision is for an appointed time,
and therefore wait for it. So the Psalmist, ^s the eyes of a ser-
vant look to the hand^ of his master, and the eyes of a juaiden to
her mistress, so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until he
have mercy upon us: not until we will, or until we see fit, but
until he will have mercy upon us.
.,. 7- Imagine the Lord not only delays, but seems t-o frown, and
to say. He will not hear. In this case, with an holy hunii-
The Practice of Sanctification, 109
lity contend with God, for the Lord loves to be overcome thus.
When Jacob wrestled with God, Let me go, saith the Lord: /
ivill not let thee go, saith Jacob. So do we catch the Lord Je-
sus, and strive. with him, and leave him not, till we have those
comforts he hath promised. Surely this is the glory, and victory,
and triumph of faith, when the Lord is, as it were, fain to lay
down his weapons, and to yield himself as conquered: Thy name
shall he no more called Jacob, hut Israel; hecause thou hast
prevailed with God.
SECT. IL
Of the maimer of this Life of Faith in particular, as in tern-
poral Evils.
In particular, that we may live by faith, observe we —
L The promises.
2. The exercise of faith concerning the promises.
We begin with temporal evils; and, concerning them, first
give you the promises ; and secondly, the exercise of faith in
the respect of those promises.
1 . The promises to prevent afflictions, you may read in the
word, and they are these, and the like : Psal. xci. 10. Psal.
cxxi. 7* Job V. 19. Zech. ii. 5. where the Lord promiseth, to be
a wall of fire to his people; (not of stone or brass, saith Theo-
doret,) that it may both fray afar off, and keep off at hand ; pro-
tect them, and destroy their enemies.
2. The promises to qualify evils, are these, and the like :
Psal. ciii. 13, 14. Isa. xlix. 13, 14, 15. Hos. xi. 8, 9. In this
last promise, God imitates parents, says Theodoret, when any
misery is upon their child, their bowels yearn more; never sits
the child so much on the mother's lap, never lies so much in her
bosom, as when he is sick. Is there, or can there be, any richer
or fuller expression of Tully, than there is in the apostle's Greek,
where there is both an elegant antithesis, and double hyper])ole,
beyond Englishing: — for affliction, glory; for light affliction,
heavy, massy, substantial glory, a weight of glory ; for momen-
tary affliction, eternal glory : nay, the apostle adds degrees of
comparison, yea, goes beyond all degrees, calling it more excel-
lent, far more excellent, exceeding, excessive, eternal weight of
glory, 2 Cor. iv. 17.
3. The promises to bear them, or in due time to remove them,
are these and the like: Ps. xxxvii. 24. Jer. xxix. 11. Mic.
vii. 8, 9. Ps. xcvii. 11. — As sure as harvest follows seeding, so
to the righteous, comfort follows mourning. Job xvi. 20. 1 Cor.
X. 13.
1. For sickness : the promises to prevent it are these and the
like, Exod. xv. 26. Dcut. vii. 15. Ps. xci. 10.
110 The Practice of Sanctijication,
2. Promises to qualify sickness, are these, and the like, Ps.
xli. 3. Heb. xii, 6, 7, 8.
3. Promises to remove sickness, are these, and the like,
Exod. xxiii. 25. Dent. vii. 15. Isa. xi. 31.
2. For poverty, we may store up these promises, Psal. xxiii.
throughout. Ps. xxxiv. 9, 10. xxxvii. 25. Heb. xiii. 15. —
The wicked indeed may have more abundance than the Christian,
but here is the difference, the wicked hath all by a providence,
the Christian hath all by a promise : and this distinction the poor
Christian would not part with for a world of gold.
3. For famine, we mav store up these promises. Job. v. 19, 20.
Ps. xxxiii. 18, 19. ProV. x. 2, 3. Ps. xxxvii. 18, 19. Isa.
xli. Y] ^ 18. — Some martyrs being cast into prison, and denied
necessary food, they had faith to return this answer, ^' If men
will give us no meat, we believe God will give us no stomach.*
4. For war, we may gather up these promises, and the like.
Job V. 20. Prov. iii. 24, 25, 26. Jer. xxxix. 17, 18.
5. For captivity, gather in these promises, and the like, Deut.
XXX. 3, 4. which very promise Nehemiah sueth out, Neh. i. 9.
Ps. cvi. 46. Ezek. xi. 16.
6. For oppression, we have these promises, Ps. xii. 5. Ixviii.
5. cxlvi.7,8, 9.
2. For the exercise of faith, concerning these promises, that
we may live by them, use meditation and prayer.
1 . For meditation, consider,
1. That all affliction comes from God: — Shall there he evil
in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? — I form the light, and
I create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord
do all these things.
2. That as God sends it, so none can deliver us out of it, but
God : — O our God, wilt thou not judge them f We have no might
against this great company that cometh against us, neither know
we what to do, hut our eyes are upon thee. This meditation
draws the heart from repose in means or friends ; it expels vexa-
tion and distracting cares, and estrangeth from the use of unlaw
ful means of deliverance : 7%e horse is prepared against the day
of battle, but safety is of the Lord.
3. The cause of all miseries and sorrow is sin, and therefore
it is time to examine our ways, to humble ourselves, and to set
upon reformation.
4. That now God trieth our faith, patience, and meekness.
He hath said unto crosses. Go ye to such a man, not to weaken
his faith, or to waste any grace of the Spirit, but to purge him,
refine him, try him, exercise him, to breed the quiet fruits of
righteousness. This meditation makes the heart willingly, freely,
and constantly, to resign itself to the good pleasure of God in all
things,
5. That 'tis God's will we should use all lawful means of help
The Practice of S^anttiJicatUm. \ \ \
which God in his providence affords ; but in point of dependence,
that we solely rest on God's promises. Faith coupleth the means
and the end, but looketh to the promiser, (whose truth, and wis-
dom, and power, and mercy, never fails,) and not to the probability
of the thing promised.
2. For prayer, observe this method :
1. Lay open our sorrow before the Lord, pour out our com-
plaints into his bosom.
2. Confess our sins with hatred and godly sorrow ; for want of
this God threatened the Israelites : / will go and return to my
place, till they acknoivledge their offences.
3. Direct we our supplications to our God : Lord, how long
wilt thou look on? — O rescue my soul from their destruction,
my darling from the lions.
4. Then press we the Lord with his promises : Lord, thou
hast said. The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the
righteous: thou hast said. Yet a little while, and the indignation
shall cease. These are thy promises ; Lord, make them effectual
to my poor soul.
5. For conclusion, tell we the Lord, whatever becomes of us
we will trust in him : Though thou slay me, yet will I trust in
thee.
These are the acts of faith by which it puts forth, and exer-
ciseth itself, in time of affliction.
SECT. in.
Of the Manner of this Life of Faith in Temporal Blessiiigs.
CoNCERNrNG temporal blessings, the general promises are
these, and the like, I Tim. iv. 8. Ps. xxxiv. 8, 9. Ixxxiv. 11.
Phil. iv. 19. 1 Cor. iii. 21. — All things are your's; we are heirs
of all the world.
The special promises have a relation, some to our name, some
to our bodies, some to our estates, some to our callings.
1 . Those promises that have a relation to our good name, are
such as these, I Sam. ii. 30. Prov. iii. 16. iv. 8. xiv. 19. Isa.
Ivi. 3, 4, 5.
2. Those promises that have a relation to our bodies, are either
for long life, concerning which, Deut. v. 16, 33. Prov. iii. 1,2. —
or for health, concerning which, Prov. iii. 8. Ps. ciii. 3, 4, 5. —
or for safety, concerning which, Prov. i. 33. Job xi. 8. Hos.
ii. 18. Job V. 23. — or for peace, concerning which. Lev. xxvi.
6. Ps. xxix. 11. xxxvii. 11. Prov. xvi. 16. — or for sleep,
concerning which. Job xi. 19. Prov. iii. 24. — or for food, con-
cerning which, Ps. xxxvii, 3. cxi. 5. Joel ii. 26. — or for rai-
112 The Practice of Sanctification.
ment, concerning which, Deut. x. 18. Matt. vi. 25, 30, 32. — •
or for posterity, the fruit of the body, concerning which, Deut.
viii. 12, 13, 14.
3. Those promises that have relation to our estates, are tliese,
ob xxii. 24, 25. Prov. viii. 18, 19. Ps. xxxvii. 5.
4. Those promises that have a relation to our calling, are
either for plenty, concerning which, Prov. x. 4. xii. 11. xiii. 4.
xxxviii. 19. — or for protection, concerning which, Ps. xci. 11.
or for promotion, concerning which, Prov. xii. 24. xxii. 29. —
or for good success, concerning which, Prov. xii. 14. Isa. Ixv.
21, 23. — I deny not but the wicked may enjoy all these temporal
blessings by a general providence, but only the just have a spi-
ritual right to them ; they only have them as encouragements of
their righteousness, as testimonies of God's love and care over
them, and by virtue of a promise.
2. For the exercise of faith concerning these promises, ob-
serve that we may live by them, either in the want, or in the
enjoyment of these temporal mercies. In the want of them go
we to meditation and prayer.
1. For meditation; consider, if thou return to the Almighty
thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put iniquity far from thy taber-
nacles : then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of
Ophir as the stones of the brooks. This advice faith digests, and
labours the reformation of what is amiss, and whatsoever hinders
the promises.
2. That faith is painful, provident, and frugal; it shakes off
idleness, takes the opportunity, husbands thriftility, and observes
God's providence in all affairs ; otherwise we live not by faith, but
tempt God, and throw aw^ay his promises.
3. That faith preserves from the use of all unlawful means.
The believer consults ever what is truly just ; not what is gainful,
or what may be compassed by honest courses, not what may be
gained by fraud, deceit, or the like carnal dealings : Better is a
little with righteous7iess, than great revenues without right.
4. That faith leans upon the providence of God, who will keep
back nothing from us, but what is hurtful and pernicious. Here's
a sweet act of faith, it submits to God's wisdom, and rests on his
providence, after the use of all lawful means ; and this maintains
a Christian in true contentment.
2. For prayer, observe this method :
1 . Confess our sins, especially those sins which upon search we
are persuaded hinders prosperity.
2. Importune the Lord for his temporal blessings, so far as he
seeth them to be for our good, and for the glory of his great
name,
3. Then press the Lord with his promises, as with so many argu-
ments : — Lord, thou hast said. Godliness hath the jjromise of the
life that now is, as well as that ivhich is to come: — -thou hast said.
Tlie Practice of Sanctijication., 113
Fear the Lord, ye his mints, for there is 710 want to them tJiat
fear him. These are thy promises ; make them good to us, as it
stands best with thy wisdom.
2. In the enjoyment of these temporal blessings, go we to
meditation and prayer.
1. For meditation, consider,
1. Faith, in prosperity, keeps the heart in a lioly temper, in
humility, meekness, tenderness and compassion towards others ;
in thankfulness, obedience, and in the fear of the Lord. Satan
himself could reply to the Lord, Doth Job fear God for nou^^htf
Hast thou not made a hedge about him f In this case faith will
remind man of his duty, and persuade him to be so much more
serviceable, as God's mercies are plentiful upon him.
2. That faith makes a man heavenly-minded in the possession
of a prosperous estate ; as it receives all earthly blessings from
God, so it pulls up the soul to God again : faith considers these
things as pledges of God's love, as parts of our child's portion,
and so it makes us look at the better part, those never-fading
riches which God hath reserved in heaven for all that fear him.
3. That faith breeds a godly jealousy, lest the heart should be
dra\vn away with the pleasing delights of things transitory 3 for
by grace it is that we are conscious of our own weakness, and of
the snare that is in every creature to entangle us : prosperity is
pleasing, but dangerous ; as man may quickly surfeit of sweet-
meats. This makes the waking believer circumspect, watchful,
and jealous ; and suspicious of his own heart, lest he miscarry in
prosperity, considering there is a snare in it.
4. That faith minds a change even when our mountains seem
strongest
2. For prayer observe this method :
1. Acknowledge God's mercy both in his promises and per-
formances ; say. Lord, thou hast promised, that no good thing
wilt thou withhold from them that walk uprightly ; and surely
thou art true in thy sayings. I believe by virtue of thy promise
I enjoy this land, and those goods. I have nothing. Lord, but
merely of free grace, and by virtue of a promise »
2. Importune the Lord for sanctification of prosperity, and for
God's blessing upon the means : the more we prosper, the more
earnest should the prayers of faith be; for of ourselves we have no
power to wield a good estate well, no ability to preserve or keep
it : in greatest wealth we lie open to many temptations, and if
we pray not earnestly that God may sanctify all his temporal
blessings to us, we shall cool in grace.
3. Praise God for his mercies, and devote ourselves unto him
from whom we have received alJ .
4.
114 The Practice of Sanctlficatlon.
SECT. IV.
Of the manner of this Life of Faith in Spiritual EviU.
Evils spiritual arise either from the devil^ or the flesh, or the
world, or from man, or God, or from our own selves.
1 . Those evils that arise from the devil, are temptations of
several sorts ; and the man whose heart is upright, shall find
strength enough against every temptation : to that purpose,
consider these promises. Matt. xvi. 18. 1 Cor. x. 13. 1 John
V. 18.
2. Those evils that arise from the flesh, are lusts or tempta-
tions of uncleanliness ; and for strength and ability against such a
temptation, consider these promises, Prov. ii. 10, 11, 16. Eccl.
vii. 26. 1 Thess. v. 23, 24.
3. Those evils that arise from the world, are covetousness,
cares, evil company; and for strength against such, consider
these promises, 2 Cor. vi. 14, 17, 18. Gal. i. 4. 1 John v. 4.
Heb. xiii. 5. There are five negatives together in the original,
that strongly affirm ; as if he had said, I tell thee, I will never,
never, never, never, never, forsake thee.
4. Those evils that arise from men, are either oppositions
against truth ; concerning which. Matt. x. 19. Acts xviii. 9,
10. — or oppositions against goodness. Matt. v. 10. 1 Pet. iii.
14. — or oppositions against both, and so they fall either on our
good name, concerning which, Ps. xxxvii, 6. where, howsoever
thy innocency be at some times covered with a thick and dark
mist of slander and oppression, yet the Lord will in his good time
scatter and dissolve the mist, and so make thy innocency appa-
rent to the world ; yea, he will make thy righteousness as evi-
dent as the sun when it ariseth ; yea, as noon-day, when it is at
highest, and shines brightest, Ps. Ixviii. 13. Matt. v. 11, 12.
1 Pet. iv. 14, &c. — or they may fall on us in respect of our liber-
ty, concerning which, Ps. Ixix. 32, 33. cii. 19, 20. Rev. ii.
10. — or they may deprive us of our goods, concerning which,
2 Chron. xxv. 9. Matt. xix. 29. Hab. iii. \7, 18.-— or they
may take away life, concerning which. Matt. x. 39. John xii.
25. Rev. xiv. 13.
5. Those evils which arise from God, are desertions ; and for
comforts against them, consider these promises, Isa. xlix. 14,
15, 16. liv. 7, 8, and 1. 10.
6. Those evils that arise from ourselves, are sins and infirmi-
ties ; and they are either spiritual blindness, concerning which,
Uuke iv. 18. 1 John ii.27. Isa. xxxv. 4, 5. — or spiritual lame-
ness, concerning which, Isa. xxxv. 6. and xl. 31 — or heaviness
of mind, concerning which, Isa. xxxv. 1, 2. Jer. xxx. 15, 16,
17. — or weakness of memory, concerning which, John xiv. 26.—
The Practice of Sanctifieation. H5
or Mrs of losing God's love, concerning which, Isa. Ixix. 15
and liv. 10. Jer. xxxiii. 20. Psalm Ixxxix. 33, 34, 35. John
xiii. 1. Rom. xi. 29. — or indisposition, distraction, defects in
our best performances, concerning which. Numb, xxiii. 21.
Cant. ii. 14.— or particular falls, daily frailties, and infirmities,
concerning which, Isa. Iv. 7. Jer. iii. 1 . Ps. xxxvii. 24. cxlv.
14. Hosea xiv. 4. 1 John i. 9.
2. For the exercising of faith ; concerning these promises that
we may live by them, go we to meditation and prayer.
1. For meditation, consider,
1. That of om-selves we cannot resist these spiritual evils ; all
our comfort is, that neither the devil, nor the world, nor the flesh,
nor sin^ can oppose any farther than God will give them leave ; not
the devil himself can tempt who he will, nor how long he will,
but in all these he is confined by the providence of God.
2. That faith fortifies the soul against all oppositions ; the
more they rage, the more faith heartens the soul to believe, and
to keep close under the shadow of the Lord's wings : as the child
affrighted clings faster to the mother, so the poor soul pursued
by the devil, or the world, or flesh, or man, or God, or our own
corruptions, runs to Christ, and in his name resists all these evils,
and in his name gets the victory.
2. For prayer, observe this method.
1 . Confess our sins of former ignorance, vanity of mind, self-
confidence, misinterpreting of the Lord's doings, &c. which set
open the soul to all other spiritual evils.
2. Importune the Lord for pardon of sin, and for help against
all oppositions.
3. Then press the Lord with his promises, as with so many
arguments : Lord, thou hast said, that the gates of hell shall not
prevail against us ; that whoso pleaseth God, shall escape the
strange woman ; that whosoever is born of God overcometh the
world ; that if we suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are we ;
that, in a little wrath I hid 7ny face from thee for a moment, hut
with everlasting kindness ivill 1 have mercy upon thee. These are
precious promises ! Now, Lord, make them good to my soul ] let
me draw the virtue from every of these promises ; let not a word
of these promises fall to the ground ; let me have a share, and
part, and portion, in these comfortable promises, through the
Lord Jesus.
SECT. V.
Of the manner of this Life of Faith in spimtual Blessings, as
derived to us from God and Christ, and the Spirit of Christ.
1. From God proceeds his Love of us—Presence with us—
Frovidehce over us.
116 The Practice of Sanctificatton,
1 . Concerning his love of us, we have these promises, Deut.
vii. 7^ H^ 13. Isa. liv. 8. Jer. xxxi. 3. Hosea ii. 19. xiv. 4.
John iii. 16. Eph. ii. 4. 1 John iv. 19.
2. Concerning his presence with us, we have these promises.
Gen. xxvi.24. xxviii. 15. Exod. iii. 12. Josh. i. 5. Jer. i. 8.
1 Chron. xxviii. 20. Isa. xli. 10. Matt, xxviii. 20. Rev. ii. 1.
3. Concerning his providence over us, we have these promises,
Ps. xxxiv. 7. xci. 11, 12. Job. xxxvi. 7. Zech. ii. 8.
2d. From Christ we have promises, — 1. Of the person of
Christ. 2. Of the benefits that flow from Christ.
1. Of the person of Christ, in Genesis iii. 15. where was the
first promise, and the foundation of all other promises, because
God intended to make good every promise in Christ.
2. Of the benefits that flow from Christ :
1. Concerning redemption, we have these promises. Tit. ii. 14.
Eph. i. 7. Gal. iii. 13. Heb. ix. 12.
2. Concerning vocation, we have these promises. Acts ii. 39.
Rom. viii. 30.
3. Concerning justification, we have these promises, Iriaiah
liii. 11. Acts xiii. 39. Rom. viii. 33.
4. Concerning reconciliation, we have these promises, 2 Cor.
V. 18, 19. Eph. ii. 14, 16. Col. i. 21, 22.
5. Concerning adoption, we have these promises. Gal. iii. 26.
John i. 12. Rom. ix. 26. Gal. iv. 4, 5, 7.
3d. From the Spirit of Christ we have promises, — 1 . Of the
Spirit himself. 2. Of the operation of the Spirit.
1. Of the Spirit himself, in Joel ii. 28, 29. Acts ii. 17, 18.
John xiv. 16, 17- Eph. i. 13. Gal. iii. 14.
2. Of the operation of the Spirit, and that — 1. In general,
as sanctification. 2. In special, as spiritual graces, and spiritual
duties.
2. Concerning sanctification, we have these promises, Micah
vii. 19. Jer. xxxi. 33, 34. Heb. viii. 10. and x. 16. 1 Thess. v.
23. 1 John i. 7- Rev. i. 5.
Concerning graces and duties, we shall handle them anon.
2. For the exercise of faith concerning the promises, that we
may live by them, go we t^ meditation and prayer.
1 . For meditation, consider these things :
1 . That faith (considering the privileges of God's children,)
admires and adores : OA, how great is thy goodness which thou
hast laid up for them that fear thee^ which thou hast wrought for
them that trust in thee, before the sons of men.
2. That faith, on this account, rests upon God, and Christ,
and the Spirit of Christ, to receive whatsoever may be good and
profitable to the soul : The Lord is my shepherd, I shall 7iot want.
What can they want, who have God for their Father, Christ for
their Saviour, the Spirit for their sanctifier ?
3. That faith hereupon sets an high price upon Christ, upon
The Practice of Sancttfication, Hjr
God in Christ, upon the Spirit of Christ. These promises are
more worth than kingdoms, empires, the whole worid. Plea-
sures, profits, honours, all are vain and empty, and nothing is
to be rested on, but Jesus Christ ; yea, there is a full content in
Jesus Christ.
4. Faith in these promises doth greatly enlarge the heart to-
wards God, and stirreth up to earnest study of holiness -, if a
Christian be much in the meditation of God's singular goodness
in Christ, it will even constrain him to yield up himself wholly
to God, in all manner of godly conversation.
5. Faith ever runs to these promises in all straits, and here it
finds comfort. Where can it take up a surer and safer refuge
than with God and Christ, and the Spirit of Christ ? Indeed
God it dares not look at, but in Christ ; and the Spirit pro-
ceeds not but from Christ : to Christ therefore it runs immedi-
ately ; it is Christ, ivho of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctijication, and redemption. ' Come,*
saith faith, ^ let us go to Christ, and if he receive us not pre-
sently, let us stay a little -, he is full of bowels and tenderness
towards poor sinners ; he keeps open house for all comers ; he
invites all, entertains all, old sinners, young sinners, great sin-
ners, less sinners ; his promise is sure too : Him that cometh unto
me, I will in no ivise cast out.
2. For prayer, observe this method ;
1. Confess and acknowledge God's mercies both in his pro-
mises and performances.
2. Pray for this increase of faith, and for a farther and far-
ther sight of this belief; * Give me, gracious Father, to believe
as thou hast promised ; create in me the hand of faith, and make
it stronger and stronger, that I may eff'ectually receive what in
mercy thou reachest forth ', and then give me the spirit of reve-
lation, that I may discern truly what thou ?iast given me, that
my lips may sing of thy praise all the day long.'
3. Praise God for his mercies, and quietly rest in the pro-
mises : ^ O Lord, thou hast freely loved, and redeemed, and
sanctified, my soul ; O how should I praise thee ? Lord, thou
hast given Christ for my wisdom and sanctification, as well as
for righteousness and redemption : Lord^ thou hast appointed
Christ to be the beginner and finisher of my holiness, and surely
he will not leave the work imperfect, whereunto he is ordained
of the Father. Were the progress of this building committed to
my care and oversight, there might be cause of fear ; but since
thou hast laid all upon Christ, my only and all-sufficient Re-
deemer, Lord, increase my faith, that I may hold him fast and
be safe, and so at last may sing hallelujahs to thee in heaven for
ever and ever.
1 18 The Practice of Sanctificettion^
SECT. VI.
Of the Manner of this Life of Faith in spiritual Graces,
The operation of the Spirit appears in spiritual graces, and
spiritual duties.
1. The kinds of graces are these ; faith, hope, joy, love, fear,
obedience, repentance, humility, meekness, patience, zeal, and
perseverance : concerning which the Lord hath made gracious
promises, to give them, and to reward them.
The first grace is faith j and we find promises, 1. Of it, Eph.
ii. 8. Job. vi. 37. Observe here these promises of assurance,
the highest measure of faith, Psal, 1. 23. Ezek. xxxiv. 30. Isa.
Ix. 16. Psal. xcvii. 11. — 2. To it, 2 Chron. xi. 20. Prov. xxix.
25. Isa. xxvi. 3. Acts x. 43. Rom. xviii. 4. Acts xiii. 39. John
i. 12. vii. 38. iu. 16, 36, v. 24. and vi. 4/.
The second is hope ; and we find promises, 1. Of it, Psal. Ixv.
4. Prov. xiv. 32. Job. xiii. 15. — 2. To it, Psal. xl. 4. Rom. iv„
18, 22. and viii.24.
The third is joy ; and we find promises, 1 . Of it, Psal. xxxvi.
8, 9. Ixiv. 10. Ixviii. 3. xcvii. 11. cxviii. 15. Isa. xii. 2, 3. xxxv.
throughout, Ivi. 7. Ixvi. 13, 14. John xvi. 22. Rom. xiv. 17^ —
2. To it, Psal. Ixxxix. 15, 16.
The fourth is love ; especially of God, and we ma}?" find pro-
mises, 1. Of it. Cant. i. 4, Deut. xxx. 6. — 2. To it, Psal. xci. 14.
cxlv.20. Prov. viii. 21. Deut. vii. 9. 1 Cor. viii. 3. ii. 9, 10.
James i. 12. ii. 5.
The fifth is fear ; and we find promises, 1 . of it, Jer. xxxii.
39,40. Hos. iii.v.— 2.To it, Psal. ciii. 11. xxxi. 19. cxlvii. 11.
Mai. iii. 16, 17.
The sixth is obedience; and we find promises, 1. Of it, Ezek.
xi. 19, 20. xxxvi. 25, 27.— -2. To it, Deut. xxviii. 1,2, to 14.
The seventh is repentance; and we find promises, 1. Of it,
Acts V. 30, 31. Ezek, xi. 19. xx. 43. xxxvi. 31.— 2. To it, Mai.
iii. 7. Isa. Iv. 7. 2 Chron. vii. 14. Isa. i. 16, 17, 18. Job iii. 27,
28. Jer. iv. 14.
The eighth is humility ; and we find some promises, 1 . Of it, 2
Cor. x. 4, 5. Gal. v. 22. — 2. To it, Prov. xv. 33. xxii. 4. James
Iv. 6. 1 Peter V. 5. Isa. Ivii. 15. Matt. v. 3.
The ninth is meekness; and we find promises, 1. Of it, Isa. xi.
6, 7, 8. Gal. v. 22, 23.-2. To it, Psal. xxxvii. 11. cxlvii. 6.
Isa. xxix, 9. Psal. xxv. 9. Zeph. ii 3. Matt. v. 5. and xi. 29.
Psal. cxlix. 4.
The tenth is patience ; and we find promises, 1 . Of it, James
i, 5. — 2. To it, Heb. x. 36. James v. 11.
The eleventh is zeal; and we find some promises, 1. Of it,
Jer. XX. 9. 2 Cor. vii. II.— 2. To it. Numb. xxv. 12, 13. Rev.
iii. 19, 20.
The Practice of Sanctification, 119
The twelfth is perseverance ; and we find some promises, 1 .
Of it, Psal. Ixxxix. 28. Prov. xii. 3. Isa. xlvi. 4.-2. To it. Matt!
X. 22. Rev. ii. 26.
The degrees of graces follow; and we find some promises, 1.
Thereof, Isa. xliv. 3, 4. Mai. iv. 2. Psal. Ixxxiv. 7. Prov. iv.
18.— 2. Thereto, Rom. xiii. 11. 2 Pet. 1, 8.
2. For the exercise of faith concerning these promises, that
we may live by them, go we to meditation and prayer.
1. For meditation, consider.
1 . That of ourselves we have no ability to attain any of these
graces : every one can say, I purpose well ; but the question is,
whether they build not on their own strength ? Many a man
(especially in time of his sickness, danger, disgrace) will make
fair promises of amendment ; but when the rod is removed, all is
forgotten : what may be the reason ? He stands on his own feet,
he presumes to go of himself, and then no marvel if he falls. If
we will have any of these graces, then deny we ourselves : / will
keep thy statutes, said David : but immediately he cries, O for-
sake me not utterly ! Purposes thus grounded, bring forth holy
performances ; but of ourselves we can expect nothing.
2. That God's Spirit will infuse these graces, and the increase
of these graces, into them that believe : many would fain have
hope and joy, but they exercise not their faith to believe God
and his promises : 1 knew a man in Christ, off and on, unstayed,
dismayed at his manifold slips, strong corruptions, little pre-
vailings againgst them, and, when all came to all, he could find
no help till he went to a promise, and believed that God would
do the. whole work for him. It is good to believe that, accord-
ing to his promise, God will sanctify our natures, enable us to
holiness, and bestow all his graces upon us.
3. That for the degrees of these graces, it is necessary to im-
prove them. God ever bestows the greatest measure, where he
finds a care to put them forth to advantage : Whosoever hath, to
him shall he given, and he shall have more abundance. As men
increase their substance by labour, and learning by diligence ;
so he that improves graces, shall more and more abound hi
them.
2. For prayer, observe this method :
1 . Acknowledge your inability : ' O Lord, I have no grace by
nature, I have no power to cleanse my own heart : O Lord, I
have defaced thine image, but I cannot repair it ; I may say
with the apostle, When Iwoulddoivell, evil is present with me,
but I find no means to perfect what I desire : Oh ! when shall I
be set at liberty, that I might do the ^vork of God, and run the
race of his commandments 3 Oh 1 that I had faith, and hope, and
jqy, and love I*
2. Look we up to the power, and grace, and truth of God,
a^d press him therewith : ' Loid, I have heard of thy power.
120 The Practice of Sanctification ,
thou callest the things that are not, as if they were ; thou canst,
if thou wilt, work in me these graces, as thou didst gloriously
create them in Adam : Lord, I have heard also of thy grace and
truth ; thou art as faithful to keep, as free to make, these pre-
cious promises. Thy grace is unsearchable, thy word purer than
silver seven times refined. O make good thy promises ! I press
thee witL thy power, grace, and truth; O replenish me with
thy graces !'
'3. Look we on the promises, and pray by them, or turn them
into prayer. Faith hearkeneth what the Lord speaketh, and
speaketh back again in fervent groans and desires to whatsoever
it heareth : hence we can make no prayer in boldness, faith, or
comfort, but for things promised, and in that manner as they are
promised. Thus Jacob (Gen. xxxii. 9.) and David (2 Sam. vii.
27j 28, 29.) prayed by a promise, and thus should we pray by a
promise, and then we may be sure we pray according to his
will.
SECT. VIL
Of the Manner of his Life of Faith in spiritual Duties.
The first duty is prayer ; to which are affixed these promises,
Psal. V. 3. X. 17. Ixv. 2. Prov. xv. 29. Psal. 1. 15. xii. 17, 18,
19, 20. Zech. xiii. 8, 9. Rom. viii. 13. James v. 15.
The second is praise ; to which are affixed these promises, 1
Sam. ii. 30. Psal. 1. 23. andlxviii. 5, 6.
The third is preaching ; to which Matt, xxviii. 20. John v. 25.
The fourth is reading the word ; to which Psal. xix. 8. Prov. i. 4.
The fifth is fasting ; to which James iv. 9, 10. Matt. vi. 18.
The sixth is meditation ; to which Psal. i. 2. Prov. xiv, 22.
Phil. iv. 8, 9.
The seventh is examination; to which 1 Cor. xi.'31. Gal. vi. 4.
The eighth is sanctification of the Lord's day ; to which Isa.
Iviii. 13, 14. Ivi. 2. Jer. xvii. 26.
The ninth is reproof; to which Prov. xxlv. 25. xxviii. 23.
The tenth is almsgiving ; to which Psal. xii. 1, 2, 3. Luke xiv.
13, 14.
The eleventh is waiting on God ; to which Isa. xl. 31. Lxiv. 4.
xlix. 23.
2. For the exercise of faith concerning these promises, that
we may live by them, go we to meditation and prayer.
For meditation, consider : —
1. That God deals graciously with his people. He might, out
of his absolute sovereignty, command only, and we were boimd
to obey in every of these duties ; but he is pleased, the better to
quicken us to obedience, to annex these gracious promises.
2. That aa he is gracious to us; so we should be cheerful i»
The Practice of Sanctif cation. 121
our duties to him : this cheerfulness of service is the very l^cst
fruit of faith; by faith Ahel brought of the firstlings of hisjlock,
and of the fat thereof , an offering to the Lord. By faith David
went with the multitude unto the house of God, ivitli the voice of
joy and praise. It is the voice of faith, — I will sing and give
praise w^ith the best member I have.
2. For prayer, observe this method :
1 . Acknowledge the goodness and free-grace of God in tliesc
promises : ^ O Lord, why shouldst thou allure me to that which
I am every way bound to ? If I had none of these promises, I
have already in hand a world of mercies, which infinitely bind
me to duty ; and wilt thou yet add this and that promise, to this
and that duty ? O the miracle of mercies 1 O the goodness of
Godr
2. Bewail your own dulness and sloth to the duty : ^ And yet,
Lord, how dull, and remiss, and slight, am I in the practice of
this or that duty ? Thou hast said. Cursed is the 7na?i that doth
the work of the Lord negligently : Oh ! then what is my portion ?
No marvel if I feel no power, no sweet, in the ordinances, whilst
1 deal partially, hear perfunctorily, pray coldly, labour not to
feed on the promise. O Lord, thou lovest a cheerful giver;
but my services are maimed, corrupt, dead, superficial, and very
uncheerful.'
3. Importune the Lord to quicken your dead hearts to the
duty; so prays David, Teach me to do thy ivill; thy Spirit is
good, lead 7ne in the land of ujwightness : so prays the church,
'^ Draw me, and we will run after thee ;'' and so let us pray,
^ Give me a cheerful heart in thy service, enliven my heart by thy
blessed Spirit, give me to do what thou requirest, inchne my
heart to thy statutes.'
4. Implore the assistance of God's Spirit to every good duty ;
beg acceptance of your persons and performances in the Lord
Jesus Christ ; press him with his promises, to set on duties, and
to reward duties ; and whatever duty you do, press him with
that especial promise belonging unto it. Thus if we meditate and
pray, and pray and meditate, we may live by faith in reference
to spiritual duties.
SECT. VIII.
Of the Manner of the Life of Faith in Things eternal.
1. Concerning damnation, or eternal confusion, we have
these promises against it, Isa. xlv. 17- Rom. viii. 1.
2. Concerning salvation, we have these promises for it, Rom.
vi. 23. 1 Thess. iv. IJ. God hath promised us a kingdom. Matt.
XXV. 34. an heavenly kingdom, Matt. vii. 21. an eternal king-
5 Q,
122 ' The Practice of Sanctification,
dom, 2 Pet. i,'!!. a croiun of life, James i. 12. a erotvn of
righteousness, 2 Tim. iv. 8. an immarcessihle croiun of glory,
1 Pet. V. 4.
4. For the exercise of faith concerning these promises^ that we
may live by them, go we to meditation and prayer.
1. For meditation, consider,
1 . That faith in the precions promises of eternal life, quiets
and cheers the heart in the midst of discouragements.
2. That fulness of glory is reserved for the life to come ; but
the beginnings of glory, as peace, joy, sanctification, are vouch-
safed here. Grace is the beginning of glory; and now as grace
grows, so we enter upon the possession of our inheritance.
3. Faith earnestly desires and longs after full glory. Our-
selves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even ive our-
selves groan luithin ourselves, ivaiting for the adoj^tion, to wit,
tlie redemption of the body.
2. For prayer, observe this method : — •
1 . Confess we our former carelessness to enter upon this in-
heritance : ' O Lord, I have slighted thy promises, I have neg-
lected the motions of thy holy Spirit, I have not carefully
improved the gifts received, I have not laboured more and
more to be sealed with the promised Spirit : — Ah, Lord ! what a
dwarf am I in holiness ! By reason of my sloth, the powers of
grace are so enfeebled, that I can scarce breathe or sigh in the
way to heaven,'
2. Pray that the Lord would increase our faith, seal us by his
Spirit, lead us in the way of peace, cause us to grow up in holi-
ness, make us wise to prize and value^ to taste and relish, the
very joys of heaven : and above all, that he would assure our
consciences of our right and title thereto.
3. Praise God for his promises of eternal life : ' O Lord, thou
hast looked on my base estate, and visited me with mercy from
on high ; of a stranger and a foreigner, thou hast made me a free
denizen of the new Jerusalem : now I see, I read it in thy precious
promises, that my name is registered in heaven; an eternal
Aveight of glory is reserved for me ; heaven is my home, my
hope, my inheritance : Oh ! where shall my heart be, but where
my treasure is ! — Oh ! the incomprehensible love and favour of
my dear Lord ! What a mercy is this ! what promises are these !
— My soul rejoicetfi in thee my God, my spirit shall bless ttiy
name for ever and ever.
SECT, IX.
Of the Manner of this Life of Faith in regard of Others,
We have done with the promises that concei'u oiu'selves : now
follow SMch special promises as we find in holy writ concerning
The Practice of Sanctijication. 123
others ; and they have reference^ either to our own family^ to
godly society farther enlarged, or to the church of Christ.
1st. The members of our family are, husband and wife, parent
and child, master and servant.
1 . For the husband and wife ; they have promises from the
Lord, Ps. cxxxviii. Prov. xxxi. 28. and xi. 16. Job v. 25.
2. For parent and child ; God hath made a gracious covenant
with them. Gen. xvii. 7, 9. Acts ii. 39. Jer. xxxii. 39. Prov. xx.
7. Good parents, though poor, leave their children a good patri-
mony, for they have laid up many prayers for them in heaven,
and they leave God's favour for their possession, and his pro-
mises for a sure inheritance, Psal. xxxvii. 25, 26. Prov. xi. 21.
Psal. cxii. 2. and xxv. 13. and xxxvii. 29. Prov. xiii. 22. Isa.
xliv. 3, 4. and liv. 13. — And children obeying their parents have
these promises, Exod. xx. 12. Eph. vi. 2. Jer. xxxv. 18, 19.
Prov. i. 8, 9. and vi. 20.
3. For master and servant : they have sweet promises, Prov.
iii. 33. Job viii. 16. Prov. xiv. 1 1 . — especially the servant that
is truly obedient. Col. iii. 23, 24. 1 Pet. ii. 19.
Here consider magistrates, Deut. xvii. 19, 20. Ps. cxxxii. 18.
— and ministers, Psal. cv. 15. Rev. ii. 1 . Isa. xlix. 4.
2d. Godly society, out of our own families, hath precious pro-
mises, as Prov. xiii. 20. Mai. iii. 16, 17- Matt, xviii. 20.
3d. The church of Christ, whether particular, (as public assem-
blies,) hath blessed promises, Isa. xxxiii. 20, 21. lix. 21. Matt,
xviii. 20. 1 Cor. v. 4. Rev. ii. 1. Psal. xxvi. 8. and cxxxiii. 3.
Mic. iv. 4^ 11, 12. — or whether general and universal, it hath
glorious promises, as Matt. xvi. 8. Isa. xxvii. 3. Psal. cxiiv. 2.
Zech. ix. 16. Here come in all the promises : first, of calling
the Jews, as Isa. lix. 20. Rom. xi. 23, 26. Hos. xiii. 14. and
xiv. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7^ 8.; secondly, of bringing in the Gentiles,
as Isa. xlix. 22, 23. Rev. xxi. 24. John x. 16. Isa. Ix. 3, 5, 8.
Acts X. 14. Eph. ii. 12, 19.; thirdly, of the destruction of An-
tichrist, as 2 Thess. ii. 8. Rev. xvii. 16. and xviii. 21. where
each word hath almost a gradation, in that an angel, a mighty
angel, taketh a stone, a great stone, even a millstone, which he
letteth not barely fall, but casteth into the sea, whence nothing
ordinarily is recovered, much less a millstone, thrust from such
a hand, and with such force.
Now for the exercising of faith concerning these promises,
that we may live by them, go we to meditation and prayer.
For meditation, consider,
1. That we have had the performance of many of these pro-
mises f and this may persuade us that the residue (especially of
the church's flourishing, and of Antichrist's downfall) is as sure
as that part already accomplished; experience should strengthen
faith, and breed an assured hope in God's people, of the Lord's
most glorious appearing.
124 The Practice of Sajictification,
2. That the time is now for the church's restoring, and for
bringing in more kingdoms from Antichrist to Christ. What
else mean all tlie shakings in all the kingdoms of the world ?
Therefore study we this time of God, and, in our places and call-
ings, work with providence, now we have a season, to help up
the church, God's holy mountain.
For prayer, observe this method :
r. Confess our former neglect in our several relations : ^ O
Lord, I have not done my duty in my own family, among Chris-
tians, in the churches of Christ ; I have not performed my vows,
served my generation, helped onward the building of Zion.
And now. Lord, what shall I say, but confess it to thy glory, and
my own shame?'
2. Pray for a blessing on others, as on our ownselves ; forget
not our relations to others in our best prayers ; be importunate
with God, more especially for Zion. — O look upon ZioUy the
city of our solemnities; let thine eyes see Jerusalem a quiet habi-
tation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; let not one of
the stakes thereof be 7'emoved, nor any of the cords be broken,
3. Press we the Lord with all his precious promises, either to
our families, or Christian societies, or the churches of Christ.
We have a promise, that the Lord ivill create upon every dwell-
ing-j^lace of mount Zion, and upon the assemblies, a cloud anxl
smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night, for
upon ail the glory shall be a defence: ' Now, Lord, make good
thy word.'
Conclude with, I believe, that whatsoever God hath said in
any of these respects, he will fulfil it in his own time : Heaven
and earth shall pass away, but not one jot, one tittle, of God's
tcord shall fail. It may be for the present things seem con-
trary, yet God hath said it, and that is enough for me : if I can
but really acknowledge and believe that God is able to do it, he
will then speak from heaven, as he did once on earth, — Accord-
mg to your faith be it unto you.
OF FA MIL Y D UTIES.
SECT. L
Of the Nature of Family Duties.
Hitherto of the duties which concern every man, in his own
particular; next to them succeed family duties, which ought to
be jointly or respectively observed by the families and houses of
the people of God. This is implied by that threat. Pour out thy
fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families
The Practice of Sanctification. \ 25
that call not upon thy name; and by that example of Joshua, But
as for me and my house, ive luill serve the Lord; and by that pro-
mise of God, At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God
of all the families of Israel^ and they shall be my peo'ple.
SECT. II. ,
^ Of the T reparatives to Family Duties.
Now that we may comfortably carry on these family duties,
observe we —
1 . Our entrance into them.
2. Our proceedings in them.
For entrance, we must lay a good foundation in those that
belong to this family :
1st. In the governor, whose duty it is,
1 . To endeavour in a special manner for knowledge in God's
word, and for holiness of conversation ; this would tend much to
the preservation of his authority, who otherwise will be slighted
and disregarded.
2. To marry in the Lord, and then to live chastely in wedlock,
that there may be an holy seed.
3. To beware whom he admits to dwell with him. See David's
resolution herein. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land,
that they may diuell ivith me : he that ivalketh in a perfect way
shall serve me; he that ivorketh deceit shall not dwell within my
house; he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
2d. In the governed, whose duty it is both to join together in
the performance of family duties with their governor, and to sub-
mit to his government: — 3fy son, hear the instmction of thy fa-
ther, and forsake not the law of thy mother ; for they shall be an
ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
SECT. III.
Of the Duties of Governors in general.
In the proceedings of these family duties, we are to consider
the duties, 1. Of the governors ; 2. Of the governed.
I. The governors, if (as it is in marriage) there be more
than one, as first, the chief governor, to wit, the husband ; se-
condly, the helper, to wit, the wife : both these owe duties to
their families, and duties to one another.
The duties they owe to their families, are, — In general, to the
whole : in particular^, according to their several relations.
126 The Practice oj Sanctijicat'ion,
That which in general they owe to the whole family, is both
to their bodies and souls.
1 . To their bodies ; concerning which, saith the apostle. He
that provideth not for his own, and especially for those of his
own house, hath deiiied the faith, and is ivorse than an infidel.
2. To their souls ; concerning which, some duties they are to
perform to the family, and some to require of the family.
1st. The duties they must perform to them, are —
1 . To provide that they may live under the public ministry ;
for otherwise how should they be brought into the sheepfold of
Christ, if they hear not the voice of the Chief Shepherd speaking
unto them by those whom he hath sent.
2. To oversee the ways of their families, that they serve God ;
and as in all other duties, so especially in sanctifying the Sab-
bath : to this the very words in the fourth commandment bind
all masters of families; Remember thou, and thy son, and thy
daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid: — where the Lord
speaks by name to the governors, as if he would make them
overseers of this work of sanctifying of his Sabbaths.
3. To offer prayers and praises to the Lord, morning and
evening. This was David's practice ; Evening, and morning,
and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud, and he shall hear my
voice.
4. To instruct their families privately in matters of religion,
that they may not only profess, but feel the power of religion.
This duty implies, —
1. A familiar catechizing of them in the principles of religion.
Thus were parents commanded of old. Thou shalt teach these
words diligently unto thy children, and shall talk of them ivhen
thou sittest in thine house, and luhen thou ivalkest by the ivay,
and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
2. A daily reading of scriptures in their hearing, directing them
to mark and to make use of them : so Timothy was trained up by
his parents, and that from his childhood.
3. A careful endeavouring that they profit by the public mi-
nistry : to this end, they must prepare them to hear the word, by
considering God's ordinances, promises, and their own necessi-
ties. 2. They must remind them to look into the word for
Christ, and for communion with Christ. 3. They must examine
them after the ordinance, what they have learned, and what use
they can make of it.
2d. The duties they are to require of the family, are both care-
fully to frequent the public ministry, and diligently to be conver-
sant in the private worship of God, and constantly to practice all
holy and christian duties ', and they are to require these things,
not only by telling them, calling on them, catechizing them,
admonishing them; but if they be negligent, by correcting
them.
The Practice of Sanctificatwn, 127
Now this correction must be ministered in wisdom and
patience.
1 . In wisdom, whose property it is to find out the right party
that committed the fault, to consider of what sort the fault is, to
weigh circumstances of age, discretion, and occasions ; and to
look to the mind of the doer, whether negligence or mere sim-
plicity brought him to it.
2. In patience, whose property it is to make the faidt manifest
to the offender, that his conscience may be touched therewith ;
to hear what the offender can say in his own defence, and accord-
ingly to allow or disallow; to avoid bitterness, which sooner
will harden the heart, than reform the manners of the offender.
These rules being observed, and the heart lifted up in prayer to
God for direction and blessing, this correction is necessary, as
is evident in Gen. xxx. 2. Prov. xiii. 24. xix. 18.
These are the duties that governors owe to families in respect
of their souls ; to correct them, catechize them, admonish them,
call on them, read to them, pray for them.
SECT. IV.
Of the Duties of Parents to their Children.
The duties in particular which governors owe to the family,
according to their relations, are, as parents to their children, or iis
masters to their servants.
1st. The duties of parents to the bodies of their children, are
in many particulars, but may be all comprised under this one
head, a provident care for their temporal good.
1. The first age of a child is his infancy, and the first part of
his infancy, is while it remaineth in the mother's womb : here
the duty lies principally upon the mother, to have a special care
of it, that it may be safely brought forth.
The next degree of a child's infancy, is while it is in the swad-
ling-band, and remains a sucking child : in this also the care
more especially lies on the mother, whose duty it is to take all
pahis she possibly may, for the education of her child.
2. The second age of a child is its youth, from the time it be-
gins to be of any discretion, till it be fit to be placed forth : now
the duty of parents at this time is, 1. To nourish, and 2. To
nurture their children.
Under nourishment, are comprised food, apparel, means for
recovery of health when they are sick 3 in which if parents pro-
vide not for their children, they are worse than infidels: and
under nurture are comprised good manners, a good calling, fre-
quent admonition, reprehension, correction, the last remedy^
128 The Practice of Sanctification,
which may do i^ood when nothing else can. Pro v. xix. 18. xxiii.
13, 14. xxix. 17.
2d. The duty of parents to the souls of their children extends
itself also to all times ; as, 1. To their infancy, 2. To their youth,
3. To the time of the parents' departure out of this world.
1. The first age of a child is his infancy, and the first part of
its infancy is while it remaineth in the mother's womb. Now
the duty of parents at that time are these : 1 . That they pray for
their children: thus did Rebekah, while the children were
quick in her womb. Those parents that neglect this duty
to their children, consider not rightly that they are conceived
in sin.
2. That they make sure, so much as in them lies, that their
children be born under the promise, or under the covenant, in
respect of the spiritual part of it : how ? By making sure that
they be under the promise or covenant themselves. If God in
Christ be their God, they may have a comfortable hope that God
will be the God of their seed, according to the promise, / ivill he
thy God, and the God of thy seed.
The next degree of a child's infancy is, when it is born; and
the duty of parents then is, to give up their children unto God,
casting them into the hands of his providence, into the arms of his
mercy, begging for them a gracious acceptation with God ; and
to tender them to the ordinance, the sacrament of baptism, to
get the seal of tlie covenant set upon them.
2. The second age of a child is its youth : now the duty of pa-
rents to their children at this time is, to train them up in true
piety, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
To this end,
1 . When children begin to read, let them read the holy Scrip-
tures : so was Timothy trained up from a child.
2. Let children be catechized constantly from day to day : only
with this caveat, that parents deal with their children as skilful
nurses and mothers do in feeding their children, i. e. not to
give them too much at once ; overmuch dulls a child's understand-
ing, and breeds wearisomeness to it. It is most suitable to give
\h^i\\ jJTecept upoji precept, precept upon precept, line iqmn line,
line upon line, here a liUle, and there a little : thus shall they
learn with ease and delight, and in time a great measure of know-
ledge will be gained thereby.
3. Let parents declare to their children, the admirable works
that God in former times hath done for his church, especially such
works as he hath done in their time. Outward sensible things
do best work upon children, and therefore this direction was
given under the law. Josh. iv. 6, 21.
4. Let parents be to their children a good pattern, leading them
to Christ by their examples : this will take place with children,
more than all precepts.
The Practice of Sanctification, 129
5. Let parents reprove and correct their children for sin; and
that the Lord may sanctify this correction unto them, consider
this, O ye parents ! Do you observe such and such sins in your
children ? Enter into your own hearts, examine yourselves, whe-
ther they come not from you: consider how justly the hand of
God may be upon you ; and when you are angry with your chil-
dren, have an holy anger with your ownselves, and use this or the
like meditation with your own souls : Lord, shall I thus punish
my own sin in my child ? How then mayest thou be displeased
with me for the too carnal conception of my child : it may be, I
then lay in some sin, or I asked it not of thee by prayer : be
merciful to me, O Lord, and in thy good time shew thou pity on
me and my child !
6. As children grow in years, and in the knowledge of Christ,
and of justification by Christ, let parents train them up in the
exercise of all duties ; as prayer, meditation, self-examination,
watchfulness, and all means, public and private : if this be done,
the world to come may reap the benefit of their education. Such
children as you bring up, such parents will they be (when you
are gone) to their children.
3d. 'The last time to which the duty of parents extends itself,
is the time of their departure out of the world ; and then they owe
to their children good direction, and faithful prayer.
\. For direction: when parents observe their time to draw
near, it is their duty then especially to connnend some wise and
wholesome precepts unto their children, the better to direct them
in their Christian course. The words of a dying parent are espe-
cially regarded, and make a deeper impression.
2. For prayer : then is the most proper time for parents to pray
for, and bless all their children. As they commend their own souls
unto God's hands, so let them commend their children unto God's
grace. God's providence and promises are the best inheritance
in the world ; and if parents, in their prayers, leave these to their
children, they can never want any thing that is good. Oh 1 the
faithful prayers of parents for their children (especially when they
are leaving their children and going to God) must needs, in, for,
d throuffh Christ, prevail mightUy with God.
-»n
SECT. V.
uj the Duties of Masters to Servants.
The duty of masters to their servants, is either to their bodies
or to their souls.
1. The duty of masters to the bodies of their servants, consists
in these particulars, viz. in a due provision of food for them,
Prov. xxxi. 5L and xxvii. 27. — in a wise care for their clothing,
5, R
130 The Practice of Sanctification,
Prov. xxxi. 21. — in a well-ordering of their labour, so as they
may be able to undergo it : in their ease, rest, and intermission
from labour at seasonable times : in paying them sufficient wages,
Deut. xxiv. 14, 15. — in a careful preserving of their health, and
using means for their recovery in case of sickness. Mat. viii. 6.
and that not of the servant's wages, but of the master's own
charge, otherwise they undo not the heavy burden, but rather lay
burden upon burden.
2. The duty of masters to the souls of their servants consists
in these particulars, viz. In teaching them the principles of re-
ligion, and all duties of piety; — in causing them to go to the
public ministry of the word and worship of God; — in taking
account of their profiting by the public and private means of
edification ; — in praying for them, and, as they observe any grace
wi'ought in them^ in praising God for it, and praying for the
increase of it.
SECT. VI.
Of the Duties of the Husband and Wife*
The duties which the chief governor and his helper owe to
one another, are either common and mutual, or peculiar to each.
1 . The common mutual duties betwixt man and wife, are ma-
trimonial unity, and matrimonial chastity; loving aifection of one
another : and provident care of one for another.
The former duties presupposed ; there ought to be-—
1 . A loving and tender-hearted pouring out of their hearts,
with much affectionate dearness, into each other's bosom. This
mutual melting-heartedness, being preserved fresh and fruitful,
will infiuilely sweeten and beautify the marriage state. — Now for
the preservation of this love, let them consider,
1 . The compassionate and melting compellations which Christ
and his spouse exchange in the Canticles : My fair one, my love,
my dove, my undefiled^my well-beloved , the chief of ten thousand.
Such a fervent and chaste love as this, all married couples should
imitate.
2. The command of God; Husbands, love your wives, Eph.
V. 25. and. Wives (or young women) love your husbands, Tit.
ii. 4. Methinks this charge, oft remembered, should ever beat
back all heart-rising and bitterness, all wicked wishes that they
had never met together. When the knot is tied, every man
should think his wife the fittest for him, and every wife should
think her husband the fittest for her, of any other in the world.
2d. A provident care of one for another ; which extends to the
body : No man hateth his own flesh, but nourisheth aiid cherish-
eth it : but especially to the soul ; in praying together, for, and
with one another; in taking notice of the beguming and least
The Practice of Sanctification. 131
measure of grace, and approving the same ; in conferring about
such things as concern the same, mutually propounding ques-
tions, and giving answers, one to another; in maintaining holy
and religious exercises in the family, and betwixt their own-
selves, in stirring up one another to hear the word, to receive
the sacraments, and to perform all the parts of God's public
worship. In case the one prove unconverted, let the other wait
and pray, and expect God's good time : or in case the one be a
habe in Christ, let the other deal lovingly, meekly, and let our
Lord Jesus, in his tender-heartedness to spiritual younglings,
teach us mercy this way, who is said to gather the lambs ivith
his arms, and to carry them in his bosom, and gently to lead
those that are with young.
2. The peculiar duties of each are : —
1 . Of the husband, whose duty it is — 1 . that he dearly love
his wife; — 2. that he wisely maintain and manage his authority
over her.
1 . No question the wife is to love her husband, and a brother
to love his brother, and a friend to love his friend, but more
especially is the husband to love his wife. To this purpose she
is called, the wife of his bosom, to shew that she ought to be as
his heart in his bosom. He must love her at all times, he must
love her in all things ; love must season and sweeten his speech,
carriage, actions, towards her; love must shew itself in his
commands, reproofs, admonitions, instructions, authority, fami-
liarity with her : the rise of which love must not be from her
beauty or nobility, but especially because she is his sister in the
Christian religion, and an inheritor with him of the kingdom of
heaven; because of her graces and virtues, because she bears
him children, the heirs of his name and substance, and because
of the union and conjunction of marriage. Love, growing on
beauty, riches, lust, or any other slight grounds, soon vanisheth ;
but if grounded on these considerations, and especially on this
union of marriage, it is lasting and true : the want hereof is the
fountain of strife, quarrelling, and debate, which converts the
paradise of marriage into an hell.
For the manner of this love, the apostle gives it thus, Hus-
bands, love your own wives, even as Christ also loved the church.
Now the love of Christ to his church, is commended to us in
these particulars : —
1. His love was every way free : so should husbands love their
wives, though there be nothing in wives to move them, but
merely because they are their wives.
2. Christ began it to the church, before the church could love
him; so should husbands begin to love their own wives. I know
some wives prevent their husbands therein, but the greater is
their glory. This pattern of Christ should rather stir up their
husbands to go before them.
132 The Practice of Sanctification.
3. Tlie truth of Christ's love was manifested by the fruit&
thereof to his church ; he gave himself for it, that he might sanc-
tify and cleanse it, and 'present it to himself a glorious church,
not having spot or wrinkle: so must husbands love their wives
in truths by guiding them in the way of life -, for this is the true
character of a sincere love.
4. Christ's love is an holy^ pure^ and chaste love; as he him-
self is_, so is his love : such must be the love of husbands, an holy,
pure, and chaste love. Away with all intemperate, excessive,
or any ways exorbitant, pollutions of the marriage bed; from
which, if the fear of God, imitation of Christ, love of purity,
awfulness of God's all-seeing eye, cannot draw ; yet that horror,
lest God should punish such a couple with no children, or mis-
shapen children, or with idiots, or wicked children, or with
some other heavy cross, one would think should be able to
affright them.
5. Christ having loved his own, loved them unto the end. Such
must be the love of husbands, a firm love, an inviolable love : the
ground of it must be God's ordinance, and the support of it
must be an inviolable resolution, that no provocation shall ever
change it. Husbands must pass by all infirmities, endeavouring
in love tt) redress them, if possibly they can, or, if not, to bear
with them.
The second duty of a husband, is, wisely to maintain and
manage his authority : now the management of it consists in
two things : —
1 . That he tenderly respect her.
2. That he carefully provide for her.
1st. He must tenderly respect her, as his wife, companion,
yoke-fellow, as his delight, and the desire of his eyes, and never
be bitter against her. This bitterness ordinarily turneth the
edge of his authority ; if therefore any matter of unkindness arise,
as sometimes certainly it will, then must he carefully, with all gen-
tleness and patience, quiet all ; and never suffer himself nor his
wife to sleep in displeasm'C. Let not the sun go down upon your .
rvroth : or if he shall have occasion to reprove her, he must keep
his words until a convenient time, not in presence of others,
and then in the spirit of meekness and love. Surely, if she be
not corrected by a word of wisdom, she will never amend by
threats or rigorous carriage ; and if she once begin to lose her
shamefacedness in the presence of her husband, it is likely there
will be often quarrels betwixt them, and the house will be full
of disquietness : it is best therefore to deal wisely with her, to
admonish her often, to reprehend her seldom, never to lay violent
hands on her ; if she be dutiful, to cherish her, that she may
so continue ; if wayward, mildly to suffer her, that she wax not
worse.
2d. He must carefully provide for her; to this purpose he is
The Practice of Sanclification, 13S
called her head, as Christ is head of the clmrch. The head, you
know, is the fountain of motion, quickening, life, to the body ;
so should the husband be as the well-spring of liveliness, light-
someness, light-heartedness, to his wife : she hath forsook all for
him, and therefore she should receive from him a continual in-
fluence of cheerful walking, and comfortable enjoying herself.
2. The duties proper to the wife, are these : —
1. That she be in submission to her husband.
2. That she be an helper to him all her days.
1st. Wives must be in subjection to their oivn husbands.
Sarah obeyed Abraham, and called him lord. But here is a case
of conscience :
1. What if her husband be a son of Belial, and an enemy to
Christ, must she then yield subjection? Yes, because in his
office her husband is as in Christ's stead. The church is com-
pared to a lily among thorns, she remains lily-like, white, soft,
pleasant and amiable, though she be joined with thorns, which
are prickly and sharp : so a wife must be meek, mild, gentle,
obedient, though she be matched with a crooked, perverse, and
wicked husband : she must, in this case, remove her eyes from
the disposition of her husband's person to the condition of his
place, and by virtue thereof, seeing he beareth Christ's image,
be subject unto him as unto Christ.
2. What if her husband command things contrary to Christ,
must she therein be subject? No, submit as unto the Lord: if
she submits to things contrary to Christ, she submits not as to
the Lord. Conscientious wives must remember they have an
husband in heaven, as well as on earth, betwixt whom there is a
greater difference than betwixt heaven and earthy and therefore
in case they bid contrary things, they must prefer God before
man, Christ before all men.
2d. Wives must be helpers to their husbands. Now this help -
fulness consists in these things :
1 . That she be careful to preserve his person, in sickness or
health, in adversity or prosperity, in youth or old age.
2. That she learn and labour to forecast, contrive and man-
age household affairs ; for which see a glorious pattern in Prov
xxxi.
3. That she may help her husband, in erecting and establish-
ing Christ's glorious kingdom in their house, and especially in
their own hearts. This is that one necessary thing, \\ith(nit
which their family is but Satan's seminary, and a nursery for
hell. This will marvellously sweeten all reproaches cast upon
them by envenomed tongues ; this will sweetly seal unto them
their assurance of meeting together in heaven.
Thus much of the duties of governors, mc now come to the
governed.
134 The Practice of Sanct'ification.
SECT. VII.
Of Duties of Children to Parents.
1. The inward duties which children owe to their parents, are
love and fear : love, like sugar, sweetens fear; and fear, like salt,
seasons love. There must be a loving fear, and a fearing love.
Hence the fear of a child is opposed to the fear of a slave : for a
child's fear bemg mixed with love, hath respect to the offence
which a parent may take; but a slave's fear, which is ordinarily-
mixed with hatred, hath respect to nothing but the punishment
which his master may inflict upon him. This love-like fear
is so proper to children, that the awful respect which the
saints bear to God, is called a filial fear. Children have re-
ceived their substance from the very substance of their parents,
and therefore they are to perform this duty of love and fear to
them.
2. The outward duties, or the manifestation of this love and
fear in children, appears,
1. In their reverence, in speech and carriage. They must
give to their parents reverend and holy titles, meek and humble
speeches, obeisance as becomes their age and sex. Thus Jo-
seph and Solomon bowed, the one to his father, and the other to
his mother. Contrary thereto is mocking and despising father
and mother ; of which said Solomon, The eye that mocketh at
his father, arid despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the
valley shall pick it out. A phrase that sets forth the end of a
notorious malefactor, that is hanged in the air till the ravens pick
out his eyes.
2. In their obedience to the commands, instructions, reproofs,
and corrections, of their parents, Eph. vi. 1. Prov. i. 8, 9. The
reason is, because of God, whom the father represents : chil-
dren must remember, that whatsoever they do to their parents,
they do it to God ; when they disobey them, they disobey God ;
when they please them, they please God; when their parents
are justly angry with them, God is angry with them, nor can
they recover God's favour, though all the saints of heaven should
entreat for them, till they have submitted themselves to their
parents, only with this limitation, that they submit o)' obey them
in the Lord, Eph. vi. 1.
3. In their recompense. This is a duty whereby children en-
deavour, as much as in them lies, to repay what they can for
their parents' kindness, care, and cost towards them, in way of
thankfulness. In sickness, they must visit them; in want, they
must provide for them ; in time of danger, they must endeavour
their protection.
The Practice of Sanctification, 135
SECT. vm.
Of the Duties of Servants to their Masters.
Duties of servants to their masters, are either inward, as fear;
or outward, as reverence and obedience.
1 . The inward duty is fear : Servants, he subject to your mas-
ters with all fear, ojtid account them ivorthy of all honour. So
proper is this fear to a servant, that where it is wanting, there is
a plain denial of his master's place and power. If I he a master,
where is my fear? said God. I mean not slavish fear, as when
a servant fears nothing but the revenging power of his master ;
but an awful fear of provoking his master, so that it makes him
consider every way how he may please him ; and such a fear
draws him on cheerfully to perform his duty.
2. Outward duties which issue from this fear, are reverence
and obedience.
1. Reverence, which is manifested in speech and carriage.
Thus servants must give reverend titles to their masters, as
father, lord, and master, &c. They must yield obeisance to
them ; as the children of the prophets, when they saw that the
spirit of Eflijah rested on Elisha, came to meet him, and bowed
themselves to the ground before him.
2. Obedience, which hath respect to the commands, instruc-
tions, reproofs, and corrections, of their masters, 1 Pet. ii. 18,
19, 20. But here is a case or two of conscience.
1. How far they must obey; or what is the extent of ser-
vants' obedience to masters. The apostle answers. Servants,
obey in all things your masters according to the flesh. It is not
sufficient that servants perform well their duties in some things ;
they must do it in all things ; yea, in things that may be against
their own liking, if their masters will have it so. Like as Peter,
when Christ bid him launch out into the deep, and let down his
net for a draught, he answered. Master, we have toiled all the
flight, and have taken nothing ; nevertheless, at thy word I will
let down the net. So must servants say, when they have a
peremptory command, though contrary to their own judgments,
' This or that, in all humility, I suppose ; nevertheless, at your
word I will let down the net, I will do as you please.*
2. But what if God and a master should command contrary
things ? In such a case, the apostle sets down an excellent Ihnita-
tion in these four phrases, 1. As unto Christ. 2. As the servants
of Christ. 3. Doing the will of God. 4. As to the Lord. All
these imply, that if masters command their servants any thing
contrary to Christ, they may not yield to it : upon this ground
the midwives of the Hebrew women would not kill the Hebrew
children; they feared God, saith the text, and did not as tlie
king commanded them. In this case, Joseph is commended in
136 The Practice of Sanctification.
not hearkening to his mistress; and the servants of Saul are
commended for refusing to slay the Lord's priests at their mas-
ter's command. When masters command or forbid any thing
against God and Christy they go beyond their commission^ and
their authority ceaseth ; so that ser\"ants may say. We ought to
obey God rather than man.
I have now run through the family, and informed you of the
duties, both of governors and governed. — Christians ! look within
you, look about you ; that man is not a good man, that is not
good in all his relations. The same God that requires us to
serve him as private persons, requires us to serve him in our
relations; and therefore though you be never so careful of your
duty in the former respect, yet you may go to hell for neglecting
your duties as masters, servants, husbands, wives, parents, or
children. Though if you should be good in one relation, yet if
you endeavour not to be good in every relation, you shall
never go to heaven ; for the same God that commands you to
serve him as a master, commands you to serve him as a father,
as an husband. And he that keeps the whole laiv^ and offends
in one pointy is guilty of alL
LOOKING UNTO JESUS;
OR^ THE
SOUL'S EYEING OF JESUS,
AS CARRYING ON
THE GREAT WORK OF MAN'S SALVATION.
TO THE READER
A MONGST all the duties I formerly mentioned^ I omitted one,
-^-^ that I look upon as chief and choice of all the rest : this is the
duty I call Looking unto Jesus, and if I must discover the occa-
sion of my falling on it, I shall do it truly and plainly. In the
Spring, 1653, I was visited with a sore sickness, and as the Lord
began to restore my health, it came into my thoughts what Jesus
had done for my soul, and what he was doing, and what he would
do for it, till he saved it to the uttermost. In my conceptions of
these things, I could find no beginning of his actings, but in that
eternity before the world was made ; nor could I find any end of
his actings, but in that eternity after the world should be unmade ;
only betwixt these two extremities I apprehended various trans-
actions of Jesus Christ, both past, and present, and to come.
In the multitude of these thoughts within me, my soul exceed-
ingly delighted itself, and that delight stirring up in me other
affections, I began to consider those texts in scripture, which
seemed to impose the working of my affections on so blessed an
object, as a gospel-duty. Then I resolved if the Lord Jesus
5. s
138 -To the Reader.
would but restore my health, and prolong my life, I would en ^
deavour to discover more of this gospel-duty, than ever yet I
knew. And that my pains herein might not hinder my other
necessary labours, my purpose was to fall on this subject in my
ordinary preaching, wherein I might have occasion both to search
into Scripture, several authors, and my own heart.
In process of time I began this work, begging of God that he
would help me to finish, as he inclined me to begin, and that all
might tend to his glory, and the church's good. In the progress
of my labours I found a world of spiritual comfort, both in respect
to the object that I handled, Jesus Christ, and in respect of the
act, wherein consisted my duty to him, in looking unto Jesus.
1. For the object, it was the very subject whereon more
especially I was bound to preach : Christ in you the hope of
glory, said Paul to his Colossians ; and he immediately adds,
whom ive preach, Col. i. 27, 28. and. Unto me, ivho am less than
the least of all the saints, is this grace given : what grace ? that
I should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ, Eph. iii. 8. Ministers ought in duty more abundiintly
to preach Jesus Christ. And I may feelingly say, it is the sweet-
est subject that ever was preached on. Is it not as an oint-
ment j^oured forth, whose smell is so fragrant, and whose savour
is so sweet, that therefore all the virgins love him ? Is it not
comprehensive of all glory, beauty, and excellency, whether of
things in heaven, or things on earth ? Is it not a mystery sweet
and deep? Surely volumes are written of Jesus Christ ; there is
line upon line, sermon upon sermon, book upon book, and yet
Buch is the mystery, that we are all but as yet at the first side of
the catechism of Jesus Christ. Solomon was but at What is his
name f and I fear many of us know neither name nor thing. It
is a worthy study to make further and further discoveries of this
blessed mystery ; and it were to be wished, that all the ministers
of Christ would spend themselves in the spelling, and reading,
and understanding of it. As some great point doth require
the abilities of many scholars (and all little enough when joined
together) to make a discovery thereof; such is this high point,
this holy, glorious mystery, worthy of the pains of all the learned ;
and if they v/ould all bring their notes together, and add all their
studies together, they should find still but a little of this mystery
known, in comparison of what remtiins unknown.
2. For the act of looking unto Jesus, as it is comprehensive
of knowing, hoping, believing, loving, so also of joying. How
then should I but be filled with joy unspeakable and glorious,
whilst I was studying, writing, and especially acting my soul in
the exercise, of this looking ! If there be any duty on earth re-
sembling the duty uf the saints in heaven, I dare say, it is this,
Mr. Rutherford writeth thus, " An act of living in Christ, and
on Christ, in the acts of seeing, enjoying, embracing, loving.
To thef Reader, I39
resting on him, is that noon-day divinity, and theology of beati-
fical vision. There is a general assembly of immediately illumi-
nated divines romid about the throne, who study, lecture, preach,
praise, Christ night and day. — Oh ! what rays, what dartings of
intellectual fruition, beholdhig, enjoying, and living in him, come
from that face, that God- visage of the Lord God Almighty, and
of the Lamb that is in the midst of them ! — And, oh, what reflec-
tions, and reachings forth of intellectual vision, embracing, loving,
wondering, are returning back to him in a circle of glory f" Now
if this be the saints's duty, who are perfect in glory, do we not
imitate them, and feel something of heaven in our imitation, in
our looking also unto Jesus ? I write what in some measure I have
felt, and of which I hope to feel yet more ; and therefore who-
ever thou art that readest, I beseech thee, come, warm thy heart
at this blessed fire ! Oh, come, and smell the precious ointments
of Jesus Christ ! Oh, come, and sit down under his shadow with
great delight ! Oh, that all men (especially those into whose
hands this book shall come,) would presently fall upon the prac-
tice of this gospel art of looking unto Jesus ! If herein they find
nothing of heaven, my skill will fail me : only let them pray,
that as they look to him, so virtue may go out of him, and fill
their souls.
Reader, one thing more I have to say to thee : If thou wouldst
know how to carry on this duty constantly, as thou dost thy morn-
ing and thy evening prayer ; it were not amiss if every day, either
morning or evening, thou wouldst take some part of it at one
time, and some part of it at another time, at least for some space
of time together. I know some, that in a constant daily course
carry on in secret those two necessary duties of meditation and
prayer. What the subject matter of their meditation is, I am
not very certain only our experience can tell us, that be it
heaven or be it hell; be it sin, or be it grace, or be it what it will ;
if we are in exercise of the self-same subject either constantly,
or frequently, we are apt to grow remiss, or cold, or formal ; and
the reason is, one thing tires quickly, unless that one be all :
now that is Christ, for he is all, CoL iii. 11. If then but once a
day thou wouldst make this Jesus Christ thy subject to know,
con-sider, desire, hope, believe, joy in, call upon, and conform
unto, in his several respects of performing any redemption into
his birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension, session, inter-
cession, and coming again, and that one of these particidars
might be thy one day's exercise, and so every day thou wouldst
proceed from first to last, in thus looking unto Jesus, I suppose
thou wouldst never tire thyself : and why so ? there is variety in
this matter to be looked unto, and their is variety in the maimer
of looking on it. For instance : one day thou mightest act thy
knowing of Jesus ; the next day thou mightest consider Jesus in
that respect; and the next day thou mightest desire after Jesus
140 To the Reader.
in that respect ; and the next day thou mightest hope in Jesus in
that respect ; and so on, till thou coraest to the last day of the
work. Now would not this variety delight ? It is the observation
of Mr. Lockyer, on Col. i. 16. that, " An holy soul cannot tire
itself in the contemplation of Jesus :'* how much less can it tire
itself in loolving unto Jesus, which is far more comprehensive
than contemplating of Jesus ! Come, try this duty, and be
constant in it at least one year, and so every year during thy
life; and then for thy meditations on any other subject I shall
not take thee quite off, but leave the remainder of the year to
thy own choice. If thou art so resolved, I shall say no more,
but the Lord be with thee ; and if sooner or later thou findest
any benefit by this work, give God the glory, and remember
him, in thy prayers, who hath taken these pains for Christ's
honour, and thy soul's good. — So rests
Thy servant in Christ Jesus,
I. A.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS.
BOOK I.
Looking unto Jesus, the beginner and Jinis her of our faith.
Heb. XII. 2.
CHAP. I.
TJie Division and Opening of the TFords.
The most excellent subject to discourse or write of^ is Jesus
Christ. Augustin having read Cicero's works, commended them
for their eloquence^ but he passed this sentence upon them,
'^ They are not sweety because the name of Jesus is not in them."
Indeed all we say is but unsavoury, if it be not seasoned with
this salt. I determined not to know any thing among you, saith
Paul, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. He resolved with
Iiimself, before he preached among the Corinthians, that this
should be the only point of knowledge that he would profess him-
self to have skill in, and that in the course of his ministry he
would labour to bring them to. This he made the breadth, and
length, and depth, and height, of his knowledge. Yea, doubt-
less, saith he, ayid I count all things but loss, for the excelle)icy
of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. In this knowledge
of Christ there is an excellency above all other knowledge in the
world. There is nothing more pleasing and comfortable, more
animating and enlivening. Christ is the sun and centre of all
divine and revealed truths : we can preach nothing else as the
object of our faith, which doth not some way or other either meet
in Christ, or refer to Christ. Only Christ is the whole of man's
happiness ; the sun to enlighten him, the physician to heal him,
the wall of fire to defend him, the friend to comfort him, the
pearl to enrich him, the ark to support him, the rock to sustain
him under the heaviest pressures ; As an hiding-place from the
ivind, arid a covert from the te?npest, as rivers of waters in a
dry place, and as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
Only Christ is that ladder between earth and heaven, the Me-
diator betwixt God and man; a mystery which the angels of
heaven desire to pry into. Here is a blessed sul^jcct indeed:
who would not be glad to be acquainted with it ? This is life
eternal, to know God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.
Come then ! let us look on this Sim of righteousness ; we cannot
142 Looking unto Jesus »
receive harm, but good, by such a look. Indeed, by looking long
on the natural sun we may have our eyes dazzled, and our faces
blackened ; but by looking unto Jesus, we shall have our eyes
clearer, and our faces fairer. If the light of the eye rejoice the
heart, how much more when we have such a blessed object to
look upon ! As Christ is more excellent than all the world, so
this sight transcends all other sights. Looking unto Jesus, is the
epitome of a Christian's happiness, the quintessence of evangeli-
cal duties.
In the text we have the act and object. The act in the origi-
nal is very emphatical, but the EngHsh doth not fully express
it; it signifies a drawing of the eye from one object to another :
there are two expressions ; the one signifies a turning of the eye
from all other objects ; the other, a fast fixing of the eye upon
such an object, and only upon such. So is it both a looking off,
and a looking on. On what ? That is the object, a looking unto
Jesus : a title that denotes his mercy, as Clirist denotes his office.
My meaning is not to insist on this name, in contradiction to any
other names of Christ. He is often called Christ, and Lord,
and Mediator, and Son of God, and Emmanuel : but Jesus is
all these ; Jesus is Christ, as he is the Anointed of God ; and
Jesus is Lord, as he hath dominion over all the world ; and Jesus
is mediator, as he is the reconciler of God and man ; and Jesus
is the Son of God, as he was eternally begotten before all worlds ;
and Jesus is Emmanuel, as he was incarnate, and so God with
us. Only because Jesus signifies Saviour, and this name was
given him upon that very account ; for he shall save his people
from their sins : I shall make this my design to look at Jesus
more especially, as carrying on the great work of our salvation
from first to last. This indeed is the glad tidings, the gospel,
the gospel privilege, and our gospel duty — looking unto Jesus.
W%'«'«A/V«V%'«-^>VWW
CHAP. II.
The Duty of looking off' all other Things, confirmed and cleared.
But first we must look off all other things. We must take
off our minds from every thing, which might divert us in our
Christian race from looking unto Jesus.
But what things are they we must look off in this respect ? I an-
swer ; 1. Good things. 2. Evil things.
1 . Good things. The apostle tells us of a cloud of witnesses^
in the former verse, which no question in their season we are to
look unto. But when this second object comes in sight, he ,
scatters the cloud quite, and sets up Jesus himself : now the
apostle willethus to turn our eyes from them, and to turn
hither to Jesus Christ \ as if he had said. If you will indeed see
Looking unto t/esus, 143
a sight once for all, look to him. The saints, though they be
guides to us, yet are they but followers to him ; he is the leader
of them, and of us all ; look on him. There is a time, when
James may say. Take, my hrethren, the 2^rophets, who have
spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example ; but when
Jesus comes forth, that saith, / have given you an example,
an example above all examples, then be silent all flesh before
the Lord. Let all saints and seraphim then cover their faces
with their wings, that we may look on Jesus, and let all other
sights go.
2. Evil things. We must look off all that is in the world ;
and that the apostle compriseth under these three heads, the
lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh, the pride of life ; or,
pleasures, profits, and honours.
1. We must look off this world in respect of its sinful plea-
sures. Jude tells us, such as are sensual have not the Spirit,
We cannot fixedly look on pleasures, and look on Jesus, at once.
2. We must look off this world in respect of its sinful profits.
A look on this keeps off our looking unto Jesus. H^hosoever
loveth the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Just so
much as the world prevails in us, so much is God's love abated
both in us and towards us. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, saith
St. James, know ye not that the friendship of the world is
enmity with God f When we have enough of God and Christ,
and yet desire to make up our happiness in the creature, this is
plain spiritual whoredom.
3. We must look off the world in respect of its honours.
What is this desire to be well thought of, or well spoken of ?
As if a man should run up and down after a feather flying in the
air. It is a question whether ever he get it ; but if he do, it is
but a feather : such is honour ; it is hard to obtain it, but, if ob-
tained, it is but the breath of a few men's mouths 5 but what is
worst of all, it hinders our sight of Christ. Not many wise men
after the flesh, not many rnighty, not many noble, are called.
Worldly honour keeps many back from Christ.
But why must we look off every thing that diverts our look-
ing unto Jesus ?
1 . Because we cannot look fixedly on Christ, and such things,
at once. The eye cannot look upwards and downwards at once ;
we cannot seriously mind heaven and earth in one thought. No
man can serve two masters; especially such as jar, and have
contrary emplojnnents, as Christ and Mammon have.
2. Because whilst we look on these things, we cannot see the
beauty that is in Christ. Our wishing looks on other things,
makes Christ but mean and contemptible in our eyes.
3. Because all other things, in comparison of Christ, are not
worthy a look ; they are but poor, low, mean, base things, in
comparison of Christ : / count all things but loss, saith St. Paul,
144 Looking unto *Iesus.
for the excellency of the knmvledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, —
/ count them hut dwig that I may win Christ. Some translate
it, from the original, chaff, others dog's meat, others excre-
ments, dung : all agree, it is such a thing as men usually cast
away from them with indignation.
4. Because it is according to the very law of marriage : There-
fore shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave unto his
ivife. The Lord Christ marries himself to the souls of his
saints ; and for this cause the soul must forsake all, and cleave
unto Christ.
5. Because Christ is a jealous God. Now jealousy is a pas-
sion i(i the soul, that will not endure any sharing in the object
beloved. And so Christ caiinot endure that we should look on
an}?- other things, so as to lust after them.
6. Because all other things can never satisf}' the eye. All
things are full of labour, saith Solomon, man cannot utter it ;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing : it is but wearied with looking
on divers objects, and yet still desires new ones ; but once
admit it to that glorious sight of Christ, and then it rests fully
satisfied.
CHAP. III.
Sect. I. — An Explanation of the Act and Object of Looking.
An experimental looking on Jesus, is that my text aims at :
it is not a swimming knowledge of Christ, but an hearty feeling
of Christ's inward workings ; it is not notions of Christ, but
hearty motions towards Chnst, that are implied in this inward
looking.
2. For the object ; you must look on Jesus. It is the bless-
edest object that the eye of the mind can possibly fix upon.
Of all objects under heaven, Jesus hath the pre-eminence in
perfection, and he should have the pre-eminence in our medi-
tation. It is he that will make us most happy when we posses
him, and we cannot but be joj^ful to look upon him, especially
when looking is a degree of possessing. Jesus signifies Saviour,
it is an Hebrew name ; the Greeks borrowed it from the He-
brews, the Latins from the Greeks, and all other languages
from the Latins. It conies from the Hebrew word Jehoshua, or
Joshua, which in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah (written after
the Babylonian captivity) is Jeshua ; and so is our Saviour's
name always written in the Syriac translation of the New Testa-
ment. This name, Jesus, was given to Christ the Son of God,
by his Father, and brought from heaven by an angel , first to
Mary, and then to Joseph ; and on the day Avhen he was cir-
cumcised, as the manner was, this name was given him by his
parents, as it was commanded from the Lord, by the angel Ga-
briel. It includes both his office, and his natures. He is the
Looking iinto Jesus'. I45
alone Saviour of man ; for there is iione other name under hea-
ven given among tnen, whereby ive nmst he $aved. And he is a
perfect and absolute Saviour ; he is able to save them to the ut-
termost, that come unto God by him ; seeing he ever liveth to
make intercession for them. I will not deny, but that the work
of salvation is common to all the three Persons in the Trinity :
it is a known rule, " All outward actions are equally common
to the three Persons." For as they are all one in nature and
will, so must they be also one in operation ; the Father saveth
the Son saveth, and the Holy Ghost saveth; yet we must dis-
tinguish them in the manner of saving : the Father saveth by
the Son ; the Son saveth by paying the ransom and price of our
salvation 5 the Holy Ghost saveth by a particular applying of
that ransom unto men. Now whereas the Son pays the price of
our redemption, and not the Father, nor the Holy Ghost ; there-
fore, in this special respect, he is called our Saviour, our Jesus.
Herein is set forth the offices of Christ, the two natures of
Christ, the qualities of Christ, the excellencies of Christ. Oh !
what variety of sweet matter is in Jesus ! he hath in him all the
powders of the merchants. An holy soul cannot tire itself in
viewing Jesus. We know one thing tires quicklj^^ unless that
one be all : Christ is so, and none else ; he is all, and in all ; all
belonging to being, and all belonging to well-being. In things
below Jesus, some have this excellency, and some have that,
but none have all. Oh ! what variety is in Jesus ! variety of
time, he is Alj^ha and Omega ; variety of beauty, he is white
and ruddy ; variety of quality, he is a lion and lamb, a servant
and a son ; variety of excellency, he is man and God. Oh !
where shall we begin in this view of Jesus ? JVho shall declare
his generation V All the evangelists exhibit unto us the Saviour,
but every one of them in his particular method. Mark describes
not all the genealogy of Jesus, but begins his history at his bap-
tism. Matthew searcheth out his original from Abraham. Luke
follows it backwards as far as Adam. John passeth further up-
wards, even to the eternal generation of this TVord that teas
made jlesh. So they lead us to Jesus, mounting up four several
steps : in the one, we see him only among the men of his own
time ; in the second, he is seen in the tent of Abraham ; in the
third, he is yet higher, to ^vit, in Adam ; and finally, having
traversed all ages, through so many generations, we come to
contemplate him in the beginning, in the bosom of the Father,
in that eternity in which he was with God before all worlds.
And there let us begin, still looking unto Jesus, as he carries
on the great work of our salvation from first to last, from ever-
lasting to everlasting.
6.
146 Looking unto Jesus, ^
Sect. 11. — The main Doctrine and Confirmation of it.
But for the foundation of our building, take this note —
Inward expermiental looking unto Jesus^ such as stirs up
affections in the heart, and the effects thereof in our life, is
an ordinance of Christ, a choice, an high gospel ordinance.
Or thus : inward experimental knowing, considering, desiring,
hoping, believing, loving, joying, calling on Jesus, and
conforming to Jesus, is the most precious ordinance of
Jesus Christ.
Ix)oking unto Jesus, is that great ordinance appointed by
God for our most especial good. How many souls have blessed
themselves in the use of other means, and though in them Christ
hath communicated some virtue to them, yet because they did
not trade more with them, they had little in comparison ? Such
a one as deals immediately with Christ, will do more in a day
than another in a year ; and therefore I call it a choice, a com-
plete, an high gospel-ordinance.
1. Jesus is the object ; and Jesus, as Jesus, as he is our Sa-
viour, as he hath negociated, or shall yet negociate, the great
business of our salyation. Looking unto, is the act ; but such
as includes all these acts, knowing, considering, desiring, hoping,
believing, loving, jo^dng, enjoying of Jesus, and conforming to
Jesus. It is such a look as stirs up affections in the heart, and
the effects thereof in our life ; it is such a look as leaves a quick-
ening upon the spirit ; it is such a look as works us into a warm
affection, raised resolution, an holy and upright conversation :
briefly, it is an inward, experimental looking unto Jesus.
This was the Lord's charge to the Gentiles of old ; Look unto
me, and he ye saved^ all the ends of the earth. — ytind I said, be-
hold me ! behold ine ! unto a nation that teas not called by my
name. And according to this command was their practice ;
Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord, saith David. They looked
nnto him, and were lightened, and their faces ivere not ashamed.
And according to this command is the practice of gospel be-
lievers ; iVe all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory
of the Lord, are changed into the sa?ne image, fro7n glory to
glo7y, evoi as by the Spirit of the Lord. Instead of the vail of
Mosaical figures, God hath now given to his church the clear
glass of the gospel : and hence all believers under the gospel do,
by contemplative faith, behoM Christ, together with the glo-
rious light of his mercy, truth, and the rest of his divine attri-
butes ; and by means thereof, they are made like unto him in
the glory of holiness, and in newness of life.
Sect. III. — Use of Reproof .
Well then ! is inward experimental looking unto Jesus a
choice, an high gospel- ordinance ? How may this reprove thou-
Looking unto Jesus^ 147
sands ? how many are there that mind not this duty ? The truth
is, that as the whole world lies in wickedness, so the eyes of the
whole world are misplaced. There are few that have a care of
this choice, of this high gospel-ordinance. 1 shall therefore
reprove both the ungodly and godly.
i. For the ungodly; not Christ, nor God, is in all their
thoughts. Alas ! they cannot tell what it means, to look unto
Jesus. Nor speak I only of poor Indians, and other savages,
who came into the world, not knowing wherefore ; and go out of
the world, not knowing whither ; but of such as live within the
Christian church, that have nothing to distinguish them from
those Indian miscreants, but outward formalities, the charity
of others, and their own slight imaginations. Why, alas ! these
are they that the Lord complains of, that they have eyes, and see
not. My people have forgotten me days without number.
You will say. Is there any such here ? Can I tax any of you,
that you do not look up to Jesus ? are not your eyes towards
Christ in your prayers, praise, public and private duties ? nay,
are not you now in the duty, whilst I am speaking, and you
hearing ? I answer. However you may deem that you do this or
that, yet God reckons it as a thing not done in these respects > —
1. When it is not done to purpose: as, if ovir looking to
Christ makes us not like Christ ; if there be no effectual impres-
sion upon the heart, Christ takes it as if we had never looked
towards him at all.
2. When it is done unwillingly. Let no man deceive him-
self ; though he cast his eyes towards heaven all the day long,
if he love not his work, he doth nothing ; he looks not at Jesus.
3. When a man makes it not his course to look unto Jesus.
A man may come unto a carpenter's house, and take up his tools,
and do something at his w^ork, but this makes him not a car-
penter, because it is not his trade. So, ungodly men may look
and think of Christ ; but because this is not their course and
trade, they make it not their work to look to Christ ; they are
therefore said, not to look to him.
Consider, you that plead that you are Christians, and that you
mind Christ at this very instant, that you are in the duty, even
whilst I am speaking of it, and yet you neither do it to purpose, nor
•willingly ; is it not with you as it is with them of whomChrist spake.
Many will say to me at that day, Lord, Lord, have we not pro-
phesied in thy name, and in thy name, have cast out devils ? and in
in thy name have done many wonderful works ? They will plead
at the last day, as you plead now ; but for all that, you know the
answer, I never knew you; depart from me ye workers of iniquity.
2. For the godly, are not they careless of this duty ? I know
lot whether through want of skill, or through want of will ; but
?ure I am, this duty lies neglected of most of the people of God :
their faults I may express in these respects :
148 Looking imto Jesus.
1. In not i>oin ting their minds towards Jesus ; I write unto
you, saith the apostle^ to stir up your minds, by way of reWiem-
brance : it is in the original, to awaken your pure minds ; and it
was but need. Awaking, is a word that imports rousing, as birds
that provoke their young ones by flight to make use of their
wings : now how few are there who thus call upon themselves !
It was the prophet's complaint, ]Vo mail stirs up himself to take
hold of God ; — O what a shame is this ! Is it fit that our under-
standings, which God hath entrusted us with, should be no more
improved ? Is it fit that our minds (those golden cabinets which
God hath given us, to be filled with heavenly treasure) should
either be empty, or stuffed with vanity, nothing, worse than
nothing ? Oh ! that such glorious things as our immortal spirits,
should run after vanity, which, if rightly improved, should walk
with angels, shouid lodge themselves in the bosom of the glo-
rious God ! Do*we not see how Christ is sending out to us con-
tinually ? The" thoughts of his heart are love, eternal love. And
shall not we send out our thoughts towards him ? shall not we
let our minds run out towards him ?
3. In not bending of their minds to this work. It maybe
the mind looks up, but it is so feeble, that, like an arrow shot
from a bow weakly bent, it reacheth not the mark. It is the
Wiseman's counsel. Whatsoever thy hand Jindeth to do, do it
luith all thy might. Oh ! that God's people should be so lazy,
dull, sluggish, slothful, in this spiritual work ! As Jesus said to
the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the luil-
derness to see f so may I ask believers, in their looking unto Jesus.
What went ye out to see ? When you crawl, and move, as if you
had no hearts nor spirits within you, whom go ye forth to see ?
Him that is the Lord of glory? him that is the brightness of his
Father s glory, and the express image of his2^erson f What ! are
such heavy and lazy aspects fit to take in such a glory as this is ?
You see in what large streams your thoughts fly forth to other
things ; and are you only languishing, weak, and feeble, in
things of so great concernment ? Oh ! that Christians should be
cold in spirituals, and hot in the pursuit of temporal things !
3. In not binding of their minds to this object, in not staying
the eye on Jesus Christ. Some may give a glance at Christ,
but they are presently wheeled off again. But why doth not the
eye abide there ? Is not Christ worthy, on whom our souls should
dwell ? Certainly if we love our Jesus, that love will hold us : as
the load-stone, having drawn the iron, keeps it fast to the object
loved. Is Christ so tender in his love towards us that he ever
minds us ; and shall our minds be so loose to him ? shall there be
no more care to bind ourselves in cords of love to him who hath
bound himself in such cords of love to us ?
4. In not daily exercising this blessed duty. It may be now
and then they are awakened, and they get up into heaven to see
Looking unto Jesus. 149
their Jesus ; but it is not daily. Oh ! consider, is this now and
then going to heaven within the veil, to live the life of friends ?
is this to carry ourselves as children ? What ! to be so strange at
home ? there to be seldom, where we should always be ? Is Jesus
Christ such a mean thing, that a visit now and then should serve
the turn ? The queen of Sheba, hearing Solomon's wisdom,
said. Blessed are those thy servants, that always stand before
thee, and hear tky ivisdom : if she was so taken with Solomon,
remember that a greater than Solomon is here. And shall we
deprive ourselves of that blessedness, which we might enjoy by
standing always in the presence of Christ, to hear his wisdom,
and to behold his glory ?
O my brethren, let us take shame to ourselves, that to this
day we have been so careless in sending, bending, and binding
our minds to this blessed object, Jesus Christ ; yea, let us blush
that we have not made it our daily business. David describes
the blessed man by his delighting in the law of the Lord, and by
his meditating thereon day and night ; how then is he to be re-
proved, that neither meditates on the law of the Lord, nor on
the Lord, the law-maker, day and night ?
Sect. IV. — Use of Exhortation,
Is inward, experimental looking unto Jesus, a choice and
high gospel-ordinance ? then I beseech you by the meekness and
gentleness of Christ ; I beseech you brethren, for the Lord
Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, to look unto
Jesus ; or, if my beseeching will not prevail, yet look on me as
an ambassador of Christ ; consider as though God did beseech
you by rae. I beseech, I pray you, in Christ's stead ; it is a mes-
sage that I have from God to your souls, to look unto Jesus ; and
therefore set your hearts to all the words that I testify to you this
day, for it is not a vain thing, but it is for your lives.
Oh ! that I should need thus to persuade your hearts to look
unto Jesus ! What, is not your Jesus worthy of this ? why then
are your thoughts no more upon him ? why are not your hearts
continually with him ? why are not your strongest desires, and
daily delights, in, and after, the Lord Jesus ? What is the mat-
ter ? will not God give you leave to approach this light ? will he
not suffer your souls to taste and see ? why then are these words
in the text ? why then doth he cry, and double his cry. Behold
me ! behold me ! Ah ! vile hearts 1 how delightfully and unwea-
riedly can we think of vanity ! how freely, and how frequently,
can we think of our pleasures, friends, yea, of our miseries,
wrongs, sufferings, and fears ! And what ! is not Christ in all
our thoughts ? Christians, humble and cast down your sensual
hearts, that have in them no more of Christ. O chide them for
their wilful or weak strangeness to Christ ! O turn yo\ir thoughts
150 Looking unto Jesus,
from off all earthly vanities, and bend your souls to study
Christ ; habituate yourselves to such contemplations, and let not
those thoughts be seldom or cursory, but settle upon them,
dwell there, bathe yom* souls in those delights, drench your affec-
tions in those rivers of pleasures, or rather in the sea of conso-
lation. Have your eyes continually set on Christ. Say not you
are not unable to do thus ; this must be God's w^ork only, and
therefore all our exhortations are in vain. A learned divine can
tell you, though God be the chief disposer of your hearts, yet
next under him you have the greatest command of them your-
selves. Though vrithout Christ you can do nothing, yet under
him you may do much ; or else it will be undone, and you undone
through your neglect. Do your own parts, and you have no
cause to distrust whether Christ will do his. It is not usual with
Christ to forsake his own people in that very work he sets them
on. If your souls were sound and right, they would perceive
incomparably more delight in knowing, thinking, believing,
loving, and rejoicmg in Jesus Christ, than the soundest stomach
finds in his food, or the strongest senses in the enjopnent of their
objects. Now, for shame never say, you cannot reach it : I can
do all things, saith Paul, through Christ that strengtheiieth me.
It is our sloth, our security, our carnal mind, which is enmity
to God and Christ, that keeps us off.
Sect. V. — Motives from our Wants in case of Neglect,
To quicken us to this duty, I shall propound some moving
considerations : ponder them with an impartial judgment ; who
knows but through the assistance of Christ they may prove effec-
tual ^vith your hearts, and make you resolve upon this excellent
duty of looking unto Jesus.
Consider, 1 . our wants in case of neglect. If Christ be not
in view, there is nothing but wants.
Suppose first a Christiess soul, a poor creature - without any
ray of this Sun of righteousness, and what a sad condition is he
in 1 I may say of such a one —
1. He is without light : there is no oil of saving knowledge, no
star of spiritual light arising in his soul. Ye tuere once darkness,
saith the apostle to his Ephesians : not only dark, but darkness
itself ; they were wholly dark, universally dark, having no mix-
ture nor glimpse (whilst without Christ) of spiritual light in them.
2. Such a one is without grace, without holiness. Christ is our
sanctification, as well as righteousness and redemption. Where
Christ is not, there is no inclination to the ways and works of
sanctification.
3. Such a one is without content. The soul in this case finds
nothing but emptiness and vanity in the greatest abundance.
Let a man have what the world can give, yet if he have not
Looking unto Jesus, 151
Christ, he is nothing worth. Christ is the marrow and fatness,
the fuhiess and sweetness, of all our endowments ; separate Christ
from them, and they are bitter, and do not please us ; empty,
and do not fill us. Joram asking Jehu, Is it peace ? was answered,
fF7iat hast thou to do with peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy
mother Jezebel, and her witchcrafts, are so many ? A Christless
man asking. Is it peace, O messenger of God ? can look for no
other but Jehu's answer, TVhat hast thou to do ivith peace, so
long as thy lusts are so strong within thee, and thy estrangements
from the Prince of peace so great ? The soul that is without
Jesus Christ, is an enemy to the God of peace, an alien to the
way of peace. There is no peace to the wicked, saith my God.
4. Such a one is without life. He that hath not the Son, hath
not life, saith John ; Christ lives not in that soul, it is a dead
soul, dead in sin and trespasses. As the dead see nothing of all
that sweet and glorious light which the sun casts forth upon them,
so the dead in sin have no comfortable apprehension of Christ,
though he shine in the gospel more gloriously than the sun at noon.
And as the dead know not any thing, so the dead in sin know
nothing of the wisdom of Christ guiding them, or of the holiness
of Christ sanctifying them, or of the fulness of Christ satisfying
them, or of the death of Christ mortifying their lusts : yea, sup-
pose those that have known Christ, but do not now look unto
Jesus, how great is the sin and sadness of those souls ! Oh, the
wants attending such poor creatures !
1. They have not that wisdom, knowledge, discerning of Christ,
as they might have. By looking, and serious observing of Christ,
we gain more and more knowledge of Christ ; but if we will not
look, how should we understand those great mysteries of grace ?
Without looking on Christ, we cannot expect that virtue should
go out of Christ
2. They do not so taste the goodness of Christ, as they might ;
Christ is no other unto them, but as an eclipsed star : Christ is
not sweet to them in his ordinances, they find not in them that
delight and refreshment, which they usually minister. — They are
in the case of Barzillai, luho could not taste what he did eat, or
what he did drink ; nor could hear any more the voice of singing
men or of singing women : so they cannot taste the things of God,
nor hear the spiritual melody which Christ makes to the souls of
them that look unto him.
3. They have not that sense of Christ's love, which those that
exercise his duty have. Whilst the soul neglects Christ, it cannot
possibly discern the love of Christ ; it perceives not Christ apply-
ing the doctrines of his love to the conscience : Christ appears
not in his banqueting-house, he enables not the soul to pray with
confidence, he makes it not jo^^ul in the house of prayer. And
hence it is, that such souls move so slowly in God's service ; they
are just like Pharaoh's chariotsy without wheels ; they perceive
152 Looking unto Jesus.
not the love of Christ, either in the clear revelation of his secrets,
or in the free community of his graces, or in the sanctifying and
sweetening of their trials, or in sealing the pardon of their sins.
Oh, the want ! Oh, the misery of this want !
Thus far of their wants, that neglect this duty of looking unto
Jesus.
Sect. VI. — Motives from our Riches, in case tve are lively in
this Duty.
2. For our riches, in case we are lively in this duty ! Oh, the
blessed incomes to such souls ! we may reckon up here those very
particulars which the other wanted :
1. That Christ gives light unto them. As the receiving of the
sun gives light to the body, so the receiving of the Sim of righte-
ousness gives spiritual, heavenly, comfortable light to their souls.
2. That Christ gives grace and holmess unto them. Of his
fulness we receive grace for grace. As the print upon the wax
answers to the seal, or as the characters upon the Son answers
to the Father ; so there are certain stamps of the grace of Christ
upon the saints, that what good they do, it springs not from ex-
ternal motives only, but from Christ working in them.
3. .That Christ gives content or satisfaction unto them. As
the pearl satisfied the merchant in the parable, so Christ satis-
fieth the soul with understanding, with the sense of his love in
the heart, with sure and blessed peace in the conscience. They
that rightly look unto Jesus, may say as Jacob did, I have
enough.
4. That Christ gives life unto them. He that hath the Son,
hath life. He that hath Christ in his heart, as a root of life
living in him, or as a king setting up his throne within him, or
as a bridegroom betrothing himself in loving kindness to him, he
hath life, the hfe of grace, and the earnest of the life of glory.
5. That Christ gives a taste of his goodness unto them. They
cannot look unto hhn, but he makes them joyful with the feeling
of himself and Spirit : and hence it is that many times they break
out into psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, and make melody
in their hearts unto the Lord. Here is a goodness of illumina-
tion, regeneration, sanctification, and spiritual freedom, flowing
from Christ to the souls of his saints, which to carnal men is a
sealed well, whose waters their palates never tasted.
6. That Christ gives the sense of his love to them. They
cannot look on Christ, but they see him loving and embracing
their humble souls ; they see him binding up their broken hearts ;
they behold him gathering to himself, and bearing in the bosom
of his love, and comforting with the promises of his word, their
wounded spirits ; they behold him, like Jacob, serving in the heat
and in the cold for Rachel, serving in manifold afflictions from
his cradle to his cross, to make a spouse unto himself.
Cooking unto Jesus, " 155
7. That Christ gives the sense of his own worth and excellency
unto them. They see now in Christ is wisdom sm-passing the
brightness of the sun^ even all the treasures of wisdom 5 in Christ
is power excelling the strength of rocks, he is not only strong,
but strength itself; in Christ is honour transcending all the kings
of the earth, for he is King of kings, and Lord of lords; in
Christ is beauty excelling the rose of Sharon, and lily of the
vallies; he is fairer than all the flowers of the field, than all the
precious stones of the earth, than all the lights in the firmament,
than all the saints and angels in the highest heavens.
8. That Christ gives all things unto them. All things are
yours, saith the apostle, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas^
or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to
come, all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's,
All things are yours : first, all the ministers of Christ from the
highest to the lowest, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas ;
they are your servants, they are men that watch over you for
j'^our salvation. Secondly, the world is yours : indeed the world
stands but for your sakes ; if your number were but once com-
pleted, quickly would the world be set on fire. Thirdly, life is
yours: it is a fitting you for a better life, even for eternit}^
Fourthly, death is yours : for you shall die just then when it is
best for you. Death shall serve but as a servant to your advan-
tage. Fifthly, things present, and things to come, are yours.
Godliness hath the promise of this life, and of that tvhich is to
come. Sixthly, the Lord himself is yours : take God, and look
on him in his greatness, in his mighty power, even this great
God, the Lord of heaven and earth, is yours ; he is yours, and all
that he hath is yours, and all that he doth is yours, and all that
he can do is yours. / ivill be thine, saith God to Abraham, /
tvill be to thee an exceeding great reward. Here is a catalogue,
an inventory, of a Christian's riches : have Christ, and have all.
When an heathen was but asked, where all his treasure was, he
answered, '^ Where Cyrus my friend is :" and if any asked you,
where all your treasure is, you may answer. Where Christ your
friend is : in this respect you may truly say, there is no end of
your riches ; they are called the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Paul could find no bottom of these riches. Oh ! who would not
look unto Jesus ? If Christ be yours, God is yours, the Father
is yours, the Spirit is yours, all the promises are yours ; for in
Christ they are all made, and for him they shall be performed.
Come, let the proud man boast in his honour, and the mighty
man in his valour, and the rich man in his wealth ; but let the
Christian pronounce himself happy, only happy, truly happy,
fully happy, in beholding Christ, enjoying Christ, having Christ,
— in looking unto Jesus.
6. u
154 Looking unto Jesus,
LOOKING UNTO JESUS,
FROM THE CREATION UNTIL HIS FIRST COMING.
BOOK II.
CHAP. I.
Sect. I. — Of Christ promised by Degrees.
In this period we shall first lay down the object; and then
direct you how to look upon it.
The object is Jesus, carrying on the work of man's salvation
in that dark time before his coming in the flesh.
No sooner is the world made, and the things therein, but man
was created. And now it was that God's eternal purpose was to
come into execution. Indeed, at the first there was no need of
Christ ; for man was made in holiness, the image of God, and to
bear rule over the rest of the visible creatures ; though this his
state was but of a short standing, for it was not long before
Adam by his sin deprived himself, and all his posterity, of the
image of God. All mankind was in his loins, so by the appoint-
ment of God all mankind partake with him in the guilt of
his sins.
In this sad hour of temptation, God stept in. He will not
leave man without hope : he tells the devil, who begun this mis-
chief, I will put enmity between thee and the luoman, and between
thy seed and her seed : it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt
bruise his heel. At the very instant, when God was pronouncing
judgment upon the several delinquents, nay, before judgment
was pronounced on the persons tempted, Jesus is hinted, the
covenant of grace is proclaimed. Oh ! the infinite riches of the
mercy of God in Christ.
But you will say, how comes Jesus in ? How carried he on
the great work of our salvation in this dark time ?
I answer, 1. By assuming the shape of man, and so dis-
charging some special offices. We read often of Christ's appa-
rition before his incarnation, and then especially when he had to
do with man's eternal happiness. After man had sinned, Christ
appeared to Adam, then to Abraham, then to Isaac, then to
Jacob, then to Moses. First, he appeared to Adam in the
garden : And they heard the voice of the Lord God, walking in
the garden in the cool of the day, God, as he is God, hath
neither voice to speak, nor feet to walk, but assuming the
form of a man, he exercised both ; and so he was the first that
Looking unto *Iesus, 155
published that first promise to the worlds It shall bruise thy
head. — 2. He appeared to Abraham in the plain of Mamre,
where the Lord talked with Abraham ; and Abraham calls him
the Judge of all the earth, which can be ascribed to none but
Christ the judge of quick and dead. — 3. He appeared to Isaac,
Gen. xxvi. 2. — and to Jacob, Gen. xxxii. 24, 30. — and to
Moses, Exod. xx. 1, 2, 3. — and to many others: and these
apparitions of Christ were as preludiums of his incarnation.
2. Christ carried on the great work of our salvation in the
dark time, not by himself exhibited (as when he was incarnate)
but only promised. The great King would first have his
harbingers to lead the way, before he would come in person.
To this purpose we read, that as Christ, so the covenant of
grace (which applies Christ to us) was first promised, and then
promulgated. The covenant of promise was that covenant which
God made with Adam, Abraham, Moses, and David, and all
Israel, in Jesus Christ; to be incarnate, crucified, and to rise
from the dead ; and it was meet that the promise should go be-
fore the gospel, and be fulfilled in the gospel, that so great a
good might earnestly be desired, before it was bestowed. In a
time of darkness, men desire liglit. As the morning watch
watcheth and longeth for the morning, so the obscure revelation
of Christ in a promise raised the hearts of the patriarchs to an
earijest desire of Christ's coming in the flesh. But in this
obscurity we may observe some degrees : before the law given by
Moses, the promise was more obscure ; the law being given, even
to the time of the prophets, the promise was a little more clear:
in the time of the prophets, even to John the Baptist, it was clearer
yet ; as the coming of the Messias did approach nearer and nearer,
so was the promise clearer and clearer still. Just as the approach
of the sun is nearer or further ofi^, so is the light that goes be-
fore it greater or lesser : in like manner was the revelation that
went before Christ more dim or clear, as the rising of the Sim of
righteousness was more remote, or nigh at hand. My present
business is to set forth Jesus in the covenant of grace, as pro-
mised ; and because the promise receives distinction of degrees
according to the several breakings out of it to the dark world,
we will consider it as it was manifested,
1. From Adam until Abraham.
2. From Abraham until Moses.
3. From Moses until David.
4. From David until the Babylonish captivity.
5. From the Captivity until Christ.
In every of these periods will appear further and further dis-
coveries of God's mercy in Christ; of our Jesus carrying on the
great work of man's salvation in that dark time.
15<5 JLookinff unto t/esus.
Sect. II. — Of the Covenant of Pi'omise, as manifest in Adam,
The covenant of grace is a compact made betwixt God and
man, touching reconciliation, and life eternal, by Christ. This
gracious covenant was, immediately after the fall, expressed in
these words ; Iivillput enmity betiveen thee and the woman, and
hetiveen thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head^ and thou
shall bruise his heel.
This promise contains good news of the overthrow of Satan's
kingdom, and of man's freedom by the death of Christ.
For the sense of the words we shall open these terms, 1 . Who
is the serpent? 2. Who is the woman? 3. What is the seed
of the -serpent? What is the seed of the woman ? 5. What is
that hu (in our bible translated it?) 6. What is the serpent's
head, and the bruising of it ? 7« What is the heel of the seed
of the woman, and the bruising of it ? 8. Amongst whom was
the enmity, or rather enmities? (for in the text we find many;)
/ luill put enmity between thee and the woman, and betiveen thy
seed and her seed.
1. Who is tlie serpent? It xvas both Satan and the serpent;
the serpent possessed of the devil. Satan could not provoke
our first parents to sin by any inward temptation, nor could he
enter into their bodies or minds; and therefore he presumed to
take a beast of the earth, and by disposing of his tongue, he
speaks within him.
Such was God's love to man, that he condemns both the
author and instrument of that evil : as one that in anger breaks
the sword wherewith his son or his friend was wounded. The
serpent is punished according to the letter of the text, and Satan
in the spiritual meaning.
2. The woman, wheresoever mentioned in this text, is Eve,
and none but Eve ; she it was whom the tempter had seduced,
and, in just judgment for her familiarity with the tempter, God
meets with her, saying to the serpent, I will put enmity between
thee and the woman.
3. The seed of the serpent is taken collectively, for all the
families of devils, for the devil and his angels, as Christ calls
them; and for all the sons of the devil, i. e. for all reprobate
men, whose father and prince is the devil ; as Christ told the
Jews, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your
father ye ivill do : and as John tells us. He that commit teth si)i
is of the devil. In this the children of God are manifest, and
the children of the devil.
4. The seed of the woman is that posterity of the woman
which do not degenerate into the seed of the serpent. Hence
all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution,
saith the apostle : And I will put enmity, saith God, hettveen
Looking unto J^esus. 157
thee and the woman; also between thy seed and her seed. And
who can deny but these enmities have been ever since betwixt
Satan's brood and the saints ?
5. What is that hu, (in our bible translated, W^) It shall
h'uise thy head. He, or it, or that same seed, i. e. one person
of that same seed, even Jesus, the Son of the living God. Here
is the first hint of Jesus that ever was read or heard of in this
world. This was the first gospel that ever was published after
the creation. Oh, blessed news, fit for God's mouth to speak,
and to break first to the world now fallen ! As David alone of
all the host of Israel goes forth to fight with Goliath, and over-
comes him ; so Christ alone, of all the seed of the woman, was
to fight with the serpent, to overcome him, and to bruise his
head.
(2.) The bruising of the head doth plainly discover this it, or
he, is Jesus Christ ; for none can bruise the serpent's head but
only God. The God of peace, saith the apostle, shall hruise
Satan under your feet shortly. Now there was none of the seed
of the woman, that was ever God, but only Christ, God-man,
blessed for ever; and therefore it must needs be Christ, and only
Christ, that can bruise this serpent's head.
(3.) God himself in other places of scripture doth expressly
declare that this seed here promised is Christ. Mark but where
this promise is repeated to the patriarchs, as when the Lord said
to Abraham, In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth he
blessed: and when the Lord said to David, / ivill raise up thy
seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons, and I will establish
his kingdom; and you may see it clear that this seed is Christ,
and only Christ : that promise to Abraham, the apostle so inter-
prets. Now to Abraham and his seed were the p7'o?mses made;
he saith not, and to seeds, as of many, but as of one, and to thy
seed, which is Christ: and that promise to David, the prophet so
interprets. He shall sit upon the throne of David, and upon his
kingdom, to order it, and to establish it. — Who is that ? In the
former verse, his name is TV^onderful, Counsellor, the mighty
God, the everlastiiig Father, the Pnnce of peace.
Yet I will not deny, but by way of participation this promise
may pertain to the whole body of Christ : Through him that
loved us, ive are more than conquerors, saith the apostle. We
may conquer Satan, though not in our own strength; and so in
a secondary sense, by way of communication with Christ, under
this seed all the faithful may be contained : 1 . Because the head
and members are all one body. Both he that sanctifieth, and
they who are sanctified, are all one. 2. Because the faithful are
called the seed of Christ. When thou shall make thy soul an
offering for sin, he shall see his seed. 3. Because Satan's over-
throw by Christ our head is diffused to all the members. In this
sense many extend this seed to the whole body of Christ; but
158 Looking unto Jesus,
primarily and properly it belongs to none but the Lord Jesus
Christ.
6. What is the serpent's head, and the bruismg of it? 1. For
the serpent's head, it is the power, rage, reign, and kingdom of
Satan. It is observed, that in the head of a serpent lies the
strength, power, and life of a serpent ; so by a phrase of speech
fitted to the condition of this serpent that was Satan's instru-
ment, God tells the devil of the danger of his head, i. e. of his
power and kingdom. Now this power and kingdom of Satan
consists more especially in sin and death; for the stiiig of death
is sin, and the power of death is in Satan. 2. For the bruising
of this head, it is the overthrowing of Satan's power. He shall
bruise thy head, i. e. Christ shall break thy power, Christ shall
destroy sin and death, and him that hath the power of death,
that is, the devil. I say Christ shall do it, though, as I have said,
in a secondary sense the faithful shall do it. Christ overcomes
by his own power, and the faithful overcome by the power of
Christ. The serpent's head is bruised, i. e. the devil, and sin,
and death, and hell, are overthrown; not only the devil in his
person, but the works of the devil, which by the fall he had
planted in our natures; as, pride, vam-glory, ignorance, lust;
not only Satan's works, but the fruits and effects of his works,
as death and hell; so that all the faithful may sing with Paul,
O death, where is thy sting ? O grave, where is thy victory ?
Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through Jesus
Christ our Lord?
7. What is the heel of the seed of the woman, and the bruising
of it ? 1. The heel is the humanity of Christ. 2. The bruising
of his heel, is the miseries, mockings, woundings, death and
burial, of Christ, all which he endured in his heel, ^. e, in his
humanity; or, it extends further, to all the' hurts, reproaches,
afflictions, persecutions, of the faithful, by the devil and his
agents.
8. Amongst whom was the enmity, or this hostile war ? We
find in the text three hosts, and three battles :
1. Betwixt Satan and the woman : I will put enmity bettveen
thee and the woman : i. e. betwixt thee, the seducer, and her
whom thou hast seduced. This enmity is opposed to the amity
which had been between the woman and the serpent; not but
that enmity must be betwixt the devil and man, as well as be-
twixt the devil and the woman : but because the woman had
more tampered with Satan, and, being deceived by Satan, was
first in the transgression, therefore she only is named ; I will put
enmity bettveen thee and the woman,
2. Betwixt Satan's seed, and the seed of the woman. / will
put enmity, not only between thee and the woman, but also
between thy seed and her seed; as if he had said. This enmity
shall not cease with the death of the woman, but it shall continue
Looking unto Jesus, 159
to her seed, and to her seed's seed, even to the end of the world.
We see to this day how the serpent and serpent's seed are war-
rmg agamst the church; and a wonder it is, considering the
malice of the enemy, that there is a church upon earth, but only,
that we have Christ's promise. The gates of hell shall not prevail
agamst it: and, Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of
the ivorld.
3. Betwixt Christ and the serpent. This is a bloody conflict
on both sides. He shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise
his heel, 1. He shall bruise thy head; Christ shall break thy
power. He fights not so much with the seed, as with the ser-
pent : if Satan be overthrown, his seed cannot stand. 2. Thou
shall bruise his heel; thou shalt afflict him and his, thou shalt
cast out of thy mouth a flood of persecutions ; thou shalt make
war with him, and all them which keep the commandments of
God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
We learn hence, 1 . That a Saviour was promised from the
beginning of the world. 2. That this Saviour should free all his
saints from sin, death, and hell ; the head and the power of the
devil. 3. That to this end this Saviour should be a Mediator;
for God would not grant an immediate pardon, but the promised
seed must first intervene. 4. That this Mediator should be of the
seed of the woman, that is, a man, and yet stronger than the
devil, endued with a divine power, and so he is God. 5. That
this Man-God should, according to his priestly office, be a sa-
crifice for sin, the serpent should bruise his heel; he should suf-
fer and die for the people, and yet, according to his kinglj'^ office,
he should overcome Satan ; for he should bruise his head, over-
throw his kingdom, and make us more than conquerors, 6.
That this promise of Christ, and of our justification, is free ; God,
of mere mercy and free grace, brings forth this promise. There
could be now after the fall no merit in man ; and even now he
promiseth remission of sins and life eternal, in, for, and through,
the Lord Jesus Christ. No question but in belief of this pro-
mise, the patriarchs and fathers of old obtained life, and glory,
and immortality. By faith, the elders obtained a good report,
By faith, Abel obtained witness that he was righteous. By faith,
Enoch was translated, that he should not see death. By faith,
Noah became heir of the righteousness of Christ, And how
should it but revive us in these last times, to hear that the first
thing that ever God did after the world was fallen, was this act
of mercy, to make a promise of Christ, and to reconcile lost man
to himself through the same Jesus Christ ? Surely he began to
do that soon, which he meant to be always doing, even to the
end of the world. Thus far of the promise, as it was manifested
from Adam to Abraham.
160 Looking unto %/esus.
Sect. III. — Of the Covenant of Promise^ as manifested to
Abraham.
The second breaking forth of this gracious covenant was to
Abraham : and now it shines in a more glorious light than it did
before. At first it was propounded in dark terms ; but in this
second manifestation, we have it laid down in plainer terms : /
will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed
after thee, in their generation, for an everlasting covenant, to be
a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee. For the right under-
standing of this, we shall examine these particulars : —
1 . What a covenant is ?
2. What is the establishing of this covenant ?
3. Betwixt whom is the covenant to be established ?
4. For what time is the established covenant to endure )
5. What are the privileges of this covenant?
6. What is the condition of this covenant ?
7. Who is the head, both as the undertaker, purchaser, and
treasurer, upon whom this covenant is established ?
1 . What is a covenant ? It is a contract of mutual peace and
good-will, obliging parties on both hands to the performance of
mutual offices. Thus was the covenant betwixt God and Abra-
ham : there was a mutual stipulation in it on God's part, to per-
form his promises of temporal, spiritual, and eternal grace 5 and
on Abraham's part, to receive this grace by faith, and to per-
form due obedience to God. Hence a little nearer, we say the
covenant is a mutual compact betwixt God and man, whereby
God promised all good things, especially eternal happiness, unto
man 5 and man doth promise to walk before God in all accept-
able, free, and willing obedience ; expecting all good from God,
and happiness in God, according to his promise, for the praise
and glory of his grace. Others describe the covenant of grace
thus : " The covenant of grace is a free and gracious compact,
which God, of his mere mercy in Jesus Christ, hath made with
sinful man, promising unto him pardon of sins, and eternal
happiness, if he will but repent of sin, and embrace mercy reach-
ing forth by faith unfeigned, and walk before God in willing,
faithful, and sincere obedience." In this description many
things are considered ; as 1 . That the author of this covenant is
God ; not as our Creator, but as our merciful God and Father in
Christ Jesus. 2. That the cause of this covenant is not any
worth, or dignity, or merit in man, but the mere mercy, love,
and favour of God. 3. That the foundation of this covenant is
Jesus Christ, in and through whom we are reconciled unto God ;
for since God and man were separated by sin, no covenant can
pass betwixt them, no reconciliation can be expected, nor par-
don obtained, but in and through a Mediator. 4. That the party
covenanted with is sinful man 5 the fall of our first parents was
Looking 2into t/esus. 161
the occasion of this covenant ; and God was pleased to permit
the fall, that he might manifest the riches of his mercy in man's
recover)-. 5. That the form of this covenant stands^ on God's
part, in gracious and free promises of forgiveness, holiness, and
happiness ; and on man's part, in a restipulation of such duties
as will stand with the free grace and mercy of God in Christ.
6. That the stipulation, on man's part required, is repentance
from sin, belief in the promises, and a yielding of fear, reve-
rence, worship, and obedience, to God, according to his word.
2. What is the establishing of this covenant ? The Lord had
before made a covenant with Abraham, Gen. xv. 4, 5. And
now he doth not abolish the former and make another, but ra-
ther confirms and establisheth the former. It may be there was
some doubting in Abraham, but nowGod would assure him infallibly
of his will ; so he adds the seal of circumcision. Ye shall circumcise
the flesh of your foreskin, saith God, (md it shall be a token of the
covenant hetivixt meandyou. But what is circumcision to the cove-
nant ? Much every way. Circumcision was not without shedding
of blood, because the covenant was not yet established in the
blood of the Messiah : sure there was much in this, however the
right of itself was nothing ; yet as it led the faithful patriarchs to
the blood of Christ, and as it assured the purging awav of sin by
the blood of Christ, and as it signed the circumcision of the heart
by the Spirit of Christ, so it found acceptance with God.
3. Betwixt whom is the covenant to be established ? Betwixt
me and thee, saith God, and thy seed after thee. The two heads
of this covenant are God and Abraham 5 on God's part are, the
whole Trinity of persons, the blessed angels, and all the host of
heaven ; on Abraham's jD^rt are all his seed, i. e. the spiritual
seed of Abraham. Now, under the seed, 1. all believing Jews,
and 2. all Gentiles, are comprehended. All may be called the
spiritual seed of Abraham, that walk in the steps of the faith of
Abraham ; and indeed thus runs the promise : Li thee shall all
the families of the earth he blessed, Gen. xii. 3. And in thee shall
all nations of the earth be blessed. Gen. xviii. 18. Christians I
here is your happiness ; the covenant was not written for Abra-
ham's sake alone, but for us also, if we believe on him that raised
up Jesus our Lord from the dead. You may think all this while
we are only discovering the privileges of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacobi and of the Jews ; no, blessed be God, heaven is no freer to
a Jew than to a Gentile. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
7ieitlier bond nor free, male nor female ; — Met if ye be Christ's, then
are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the jjromise.
4. For what time is the established covenant to endure ? It Is
not for a few days, or months, or years, but for ever and ever :
it is an everlasting covenant ; and indeed, the word established
sounds this way ; / will establish my cavenant, I will have it
stand and continue for ever,
6 X
162 Lookinsi' unto Jesus.
C5
5. What ai'e the privileges of the covenant ? I answer, As they
are great things, and great blessings, which our great God pro-
miseth, so they are very many and numerous. The covenant is
full of blessings, it is a rich store -house, replenished with all
manner of blessings ; it is not dry, nor barren, but like the fat
olive or fruitful vine ; it is a well of salvation, a fountain of good
things, a treasure full of goods or unsearchable riches, which
can never be emptied. Hence it is that our narrow capacities
can never apprehend the infinite grace that this covenant con-
tains ; yet as we may see things darkly in a map, so let us en-
deavour, as we are able, to view them in some map ; that by the
little we see, we may be raised up to the consideration of things
not seen, which shall be revealed in due time. ' •
The privileges of the covenant are folded up in the promises
of it : every promise contains a privilege, but the time of unfold-
ing every promise is not yet come. Then only shall all the pro-
mises of ail sorts be unfolded, when the heavens as a vesture
shall be folded up. I shall, for the present, confine myself
to those promises and privileges which were manifested to Abra-
ham. And they were,
1st. Of things temporal. Thus we read God promiseth Abra-
ham, Itvill make of thee a great nation^ and I ivill bless thee, and
make thy name great, and thou shalt he a blessing ; and I will
bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curselh thee, and
unto thy seed will I give this land. By myself have I sworn,
saith the Lord, that in blessing I luill bless thee, and in multi-
plying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as
the sand upon the sea-shore ; and thy seed shall possess the gate
of his enemies.
( 1 .) / ivill make of thee a great nation. It seemed a thing in-
credible, because Abraham was old, and Sarah was barren and
old ; yet for all this, God is all-sufficient : Abraham shall have his
desire, he shall be a father, not only of a few children, but of a
numerous nation, yea, of many nations.
(2 ) I will bless thee, saith God : and this blessing had relation
to his wealth : Abraham was very rich in cattle, in silver and in
gold. No question those riches came from this blessing : The
blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich.
(3.) / will make thy name great, saith God. No monarch was
ever so famous in conquering nations, as Abraham for his faith
and obedience. God hath magnified his name amongst the He-
brews, who for these three thousand years and upwards have
acknowledged none, except Moses, greater than Abraham : and
God hath so magnified his name amongst Christians, that all be-
lievers look upon it as a glory to be called children of Abraham,
(4.) Unto thy seed ivill I give this land, saith God, as an ever-
lasting possession. Gen. xvii. 8. The answer is, that the word
translated everlasting, doth not ever signify that which shall have
Looking unto Jesus, 163
no end, but an age, a term, or continuance 5 as it was said of
Samuel, He shall appear before the Lord, and there abide for
ever : i. e. as long as he lived. And the desolations of the cap-
tivity were called perpetual desolations, i. e. long desolations,
even for seventy years.
(2d.) Of things spiritual thus we read. Fear not, Abraham, I
am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reivard ; I am God all-
sufficient or omnipotent, the Almighty God, and I will be a God
unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Oh, what precious pro-
mises are these ! — 1. I am thy shield, to keep thee from all evil,
such a shield that no creature can pry through, such a shield as
shall cover thee over ; nay, such a shield as shall cover thee about.
2. / am thy exceeding great reward : I am the Almighty God : I
will be a Godun<-o thee. This is the veiy soul of the covenant, and
of all the promises of God. All I am is thine, myself, my goods,
my grace, my glory, whatsoever is in me, all that I have, and
all my attributes, are thine. My power, my wisdom, my good-
ness, my riches, whatsoever is mine in the whole world, I will
give it thee for thy portion ; I and all that I have are thine, for
thy use. Christians ! was not this an exceeding great reward ?
Who can understand the height and depth, and length and
breadth, of this reward ? — Surely happy is the people that is in
such a case ; yea, happy is that people whose God is the Lord.
6. What is the condition of this covenant ? I answer, the
condition of the covenant of grace is faith, and only faitli ; to
this purpose it was said of Abraham, He believed i?i the Lord,
and he counted it to him for righteousness. And that act of
faith, whereby Abraham believed that he should have a son, and
that his children shoidd possess the land of Canaan, was a sha-
dow, a pledge, of that main act of faith, whereby he believed the
promised seed, in whom himself and all the nations of the earth
should be blessed. But let this be remembered, that Abraham
did not only believe the temporal promises, but every promise ;
as, / will be thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward : Now
who is our shield, but Christ ? and who is our reward, but Christ ?
Especially he believed the promise of the seed ; and who is the
head of the seed, but Christ ? Yea, he believed in that promised
seed, in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed ; and
who was that, but Christ ? Your Father Abraham, saith Christ,
rejoiced to see my day ; and he saw it, and was glad. He saw
it ! how could he see it ? Thou art not yet fifty years old, said
the Jews, and hast thou seen Abraham f or could Abraham see
thee, or thy day ? Yes, even then he saw it when he beUeved
in Christ, he could see it no other ways but by faith ; and there-
fore no question he believed in Christ, and that ivas counted to
him for righteousness.
7. Who is the head, both as undertaker, and purchaser, and
^treasurer, upon whom this covenant is established ? I answer,
164 Looking unto Jesus.
Christ : All the promises of God hi Iiim are yea and amen, unto
the glory of God by us. This was darkly set forth in the first
manifestation of the covenant to Adam, but in this second, it is
fully expressed and often repeated ; thus, Gen. xii. 3. In thee
shall all the families of the earth he blessed ; and. Gen. xviii. 18.
All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in Abraham, and
Gen. xxii. 18. In thy seed shall all the 7iations of the earth he
blessed. In comparing these texts, we have a clear understand-
ing thereof : in thee, in Abraham, shall all the families and nations
of the earth be blessed ; but lest Abraham himself should be
thought author of this universal blessing, therefore is the expli-
cation, in thee, i. e. in thy seed; which, saith the Apostle ex-
pressly, is Jesus Christ.
Thus far of the covenant of promise, as it was manifested
from Abraham to Moses.
Sect. IV. — Of the Covoiant of Promise as maiiifested to
Moses.
The next breaking forth of this gracious covenant was to
Moses. The revenging justice of God had now seized on man-
kind for many generations, so that now it was high time for God
in the midst of wrath to remember mercy, and to break out into
a clearer expression of the promise. To this purpose the Lord
calls up Moses to mount Sinai, and there of his infinite love and
undeserved mercy, he makes and renews his covenant with him
and the children of Israel. / am the Lord thy God, which
brought thee out of the land of Lgypt, out of the house of bon-
dage : Thou shall have no other gods before me.
For the right understanding of this, we shall examine these
particulars :
1 . Whether the law was delivered in a covenant way ?
2. In what sense is the law a covenant of grace ?
3. How may it appear that the law in any sense is a covenant
of grace ?
4. Why should God in the law deal ^vith us in a covenant- way,
rather than a mere absolute supreme way ?
5. What are the good things promised in this expression of
the covenant ?
6. What is the condition of this covenant on our part ?
7. Who was the mediator of this covenant ?
8* What of Christ, and his death, do we find in this mani-
festation of the covenant ?
For the first. Whether the law was delivered in a covenant
way ? — It is affirmed on these grounds :
1st. In that it hath the name of a covenant. 2d. In that it hath
the real properties of a covenant. — (1). The name of a covenant,
afii it appears in these texts : — Jlnd the Lord said unto Moses,
Looking U7ito Jesus. 165
Write these tvords ; foi^ after the tenor of these tvords, t have
made a covenant with thee, andivith Israel, And he wrote upon
the tables the ivords of the covenant, the ten commandments. —
A7id he declaimed unto you his covenant, which he commanded you
to perform, even the ten commandments^ and heivrote them upon
two tables of stone.
(2.) The law hath the real properties of a covenant^ which arc
the mutual consent and stipulation on both sides. You may see
a full relation of this in Exod. xxiv. 3 — 8. And Moses came and
told all the luords of the Lord, and all the judgments : and all
the people answered with one voice. All the words which the Lord
liath said luill lue do. And Moses wrote all the words of the
Lord, and rose up early in the morning, — and he took the book
of the covenant, and read iii the audience of the people ; and they
said. All that the Lord hath said will we do, and he obedient.
And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the peoyle, and
said. Behold the blood of the covenant, tuhich the Lord hath
made with you concerning all these words. In the words you
may observe these properties of a covenant ; — 1. That God on
his part expresseth his consent and willingness to be their God.
2. That the people on their part give their full consent and
roady willingness to be his servants.
2. In what sense is the law a covenant of grace ? I answer,
The law may be considered in several senses, as, 1 . Sometimes it
signifies largely any heavenly doctrine, whether it be promise
or precept ; and in this sense the apostle tells us of the law of
works, and of the law of faith. 2. Sometimes it signifies any
part of the Old Testament, in which sense Jesus answered the
Jews, Is it not writteti in you law, I said ye are gods f 3.
Sometimes, it signifies the whole economy, and peculiar dispen-
sation, of God's worship unto the Jews ; in which sense it is said
to continue until John, The law and the prophets were until
John. 4. Sometimes it is taken for some acts of the law only.
Against such there is no law. 5. Sometimes it is taken only for
the ceremonial law. The law having a shadmv of good tJiijigs to
come. 6. Sometimes it is taken for that part of the moral law
which is merely perceptive, without any promise at all. 7- Some-
times it is taken for the whole moral law, with the preface and
promises added to it ; and in this last sense we take it, when we
say it is a covenant of grace.
3. How may it appear that the law in this sense is a covenant
of grace ? — It appears, (1.) By that contract betwixt God and
Israel before the promulgation of the law. If ye will obey my
voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar
treasure unto me above all people, for all the earth is mine ; and
ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy 7iation.
Whereunto the prophet Jeremiah hath refcrejice, saying, Obey
my voice^ and do according to all which I command you, so shall
166 Looking unto Jesus,
you he my people, and Iivillheyour God, Both these scriptures
speak of the moral law, or ten commandments, contaming the
preface and promises ; and how should that law be any other but
a covenant of grace, which runs in this tenor, — I will be your
God, and you shall be my people ; my peculiar treasure ; a king-
dom of priests, an holy nation, if yovi will hear and obey my
commandments. Surely these privileges could never have been
obtained by a covenant of works. What ! To be a kingdom of
priests, an holy nation, a peculiar treasure to the Lord ? What !
To be beloved of God as a desirable treasure (for so it is in the
original,) which a king delivers not into the hands of any of his
officers, but keepeth it to himself ? This cannot be of works ;
no, no, these are privileges vouchsafed of mere grace in Jesus
Christ ; and therefore Peter applies this very promise to the
people of God under the gospel, 1 Pet. ii. 9.
(2.) It appears by that contract betwixt God and Israel in the
promulgation of the law ; then it was that God proclaimed him-
self to be the God of Israel, saying, / am the Lord thy God,
tvhich brought thee out of the land of EgyjJt, out of the house of
bondage. This is a preface to the whole law, prefixed as a reason
to persuade obedience to every commandment. But all acknow-
ledge that is a free covenant, which promiseth pardon of sin,
and requireth faith in the Messiah. When God saith to Israel —
I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of
Egypt — doth he not propomid himself as their King, Judge, Sa-
viour, and Redeemer ; yea, and spiritual Redeemer, from their
bondage of sin and Satan, whereof that temporal deliverance
from Egypt was a type ?
4. Why should God in the law deal with us in a covenant-way
rather than in a mere absolute supreme way ? I answer, (I .) In re-
spect of God : it was his pleasure in giving the law not only to ma-
nifest his wisdom, and power, and sovereignty, but his faithfulness,
and truth, and love, and the glory of his grace. If he had given
the precept without any promise, he might fully have discovered
his supreme power, but his dear love and faithfulness could not
have been known. Now therefore let the world take notice of
his singular love and faithfulness ; as Moses said to Israel, Be-
cause the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath
which he hadsivorn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought
you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the hands
of bo7idmen, from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Know
therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God,
which keepeth covenant and mercy ivith them that love him, and
keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.
(2.) In respect of us, God would rather deal with us in a
covenant- way, than in a mere absolute supreme way, upon these
grounds: — 1. That he might bind us the faster to himself. A
covenant binds on both parts. The Lord doth not bind himself
Looking unto Jesus. 16/
to us, and leave us free ; no, / will bring you, saith God, into
the bond of the covenant. You may say a command binds as well
as a covenant. It is true ; but a covenant doth, as it were,
twist the cords of the law, and double the precept upon the soul.
When it is only a precept, then God alone commands it ; but
when I have made a promise to it, then I command it and bind
it upon m^^self.
(3.) That our obedience might be more willing and free. An
absolute law might seem to extort obedience, but a covenant
and agreement makes it clearly to appear more free and willing.
This is the nature of the covenant of grace : First, God pro-
misetii mercy, to be our exceeding great reward; and then we
promise obedience, to be his free, willing people : and thus we
become God's, not only by a property founded in his sovereign
power and love, but by a property growing out of our own
voluntary consents. We are not only his people, but his willing
people.
(4.) That our consolations might be stronger ; that in all our
difficulties and distresses we might ever have recourse to the
faithfulness and love of God. This indeed was the prime end
why God delivered his law in way of a covenant, that he might
endear himself to us, and so draw us to him with cords of love.
Had God so pleased, he might have required all obedience from
us, and when he had done all, he might have reduced us into
nothing, or at least not have given us heaven for an inheritance,
or himself for a portion ; but his love is such, that he will not
only command but he will covenant, that he might further ex-
press and communicate his love. How then should this encou-
rage us to go to God in ail distresses ? — Oh ! what thankful loving
thoughts should we have of God that would thus infinitely con-
descend to covenant with us !
5. What are the good things promised in his expression of
the covenant ? Not to reckon up the temporal promises, the
great mercies of God are expressed in these terms : / am the
Lord thy God, ivJiich brought thee out of t e land of Egypt,
out of the house of bondage. This is the great promise of the
covenant, it is as great as God himself. That we may better
see it and know it, I shall take it in pieces : the gold is so pure,
that it is pity the least filing should be lost. Here God describes
himself by these notes : — 1. By his only eternal and perfect
essence, / am the Lord. 2. By the plurality of persons in that
one essence, / am the Lord God, Jehovah Elohim. 3. By the
propriety his people have in Jehovah Elohim, I am the Lord thy
God. 4. By the fruit of that propriety in reference to Israel,
fVhich brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house
of bo7idage.
(I.) I am Jehovah. This name denotes both his being, and
his performance of his promise. Thus he was not known to the
168 Looking unto %/esiis»
patriarchs : they only were sustained by faith in God's almighty
power, without receiving the thing promised; but when the
Israelites came to receive the promise, and to have full know-
ledge and experience of his power and goodness, then they knew
the efficacy of his name Jehovah.
(2.) / a?n Jehovah Elohim, ' This denotes the plurality of
persons. God, in delivering of the law, doth not only shew his
l3eing, but the manner of his being, or the trinity of persons in
the unity of essence. The word signifies strong, potent, mighty ;
or if we express it plurally, it signifies the almighties, or the
almighty powers. Hence the scriptures apply the general name,
God, to the persons severally, the Father is God, Heb. i. 1.2.
The Son is God, Acts xx. 28. And the Holy Ghost is God,
Acts V. 3, 4.
(3.) lam the Lord thy God, Herein is the propriety, and
indeed here is the mercy, that God speaks thus to every faithful
soul, lam thy God. By this appropriation God gives us a right
in him, yea, a possession of him. 1 . A right in him : as the
woman may say of him to whom she is married, this man is my
husband, so may every faithful soul say of the Lord, he is my
God. 2. A possession of him : God doth not only shew himself
unto us, but he doth communicate himself unto us in his holiness,
mercy, truth, grace, and goodness ; hence it is said. We have
fellowship with the Father, and ivith his Son Jesus Christ,
Herein God gives himself to be wholly ours, consider God essen-
tially or personally. Consider Jehovah Elohim, all is ours. God,
in his essence and glorious attributes, communicates himself to us
for good ; and God, personally considered, as Father, Son, and
Holy Ghost, they all enter into covenant with us.
[1.] The Father enters into covenant with us. He promiseth
to be a Father to us : hence saith the Lord, Israel is my Son,
my first-horn.
[2.] The Son is in covenant with us, and speaks to us in this
language ; Thou art mine ; I have redeemed thee, I have called
thee by thy name, and therefore thou art mine. This is Christ's
covenant with us ; he brings us back to his Father, from whose
presence we were banished, and sets us before his face for ever.
He promiseth to restore us to the adoption of sons ; and not only
to the title, but to the inheritance of sons, that we might be
where he is.
[3.] The Holy Ghost makes a covenant with us. By one offer-
ing he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified ; ivhereof
the Holy Ghost also is a zvitness. This is the cove?ia?it that I
will make luith them ; Iivillput my law into their hearts, and in
their minds ivill I turite them. I know the Father is implied in
this, yet here is the proper work of the Holy Ghost. What the
Father hath purposed, and the Son hath purchased for us, that
the Holy Ghost effects in us. He applies the blood of Christ foi?
Looking unto Jesus, 169
the remission of sins ; he writes the law in our hearts ; he comforts
us in our sadness ; he supports us in our faintings^ and guides us
in our wanderings. Now in that he effects these things for us,
and in our behalf, he is said to make a covenant with us. Thus
Elohim, God personally considered. Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost, are in covenant with us. i
(4.) Let us see the fruit of this in reference to Israel : — ^which
brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bon-
dage. This was God's promise long before to Abraham : Know
of a surety, that thy seed shall be a stranger iti a land that is
not their s, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four
hundred years : And also that nation whom they shall serve, will
I judge; and afterwards they shall come out with great sub-
stance. See here, Israel must be strangers in the land of Egypt,
and serve the Egyptians four hundred years ; but then he will
bring them out of the land of Egypt, and out of their servile bon-
dage. Why, this argues that God is Jehovah. Now he has per-
formed what he had foretold 5 and this argues that God in Christ is
our Redeemer ; for what was this redemption from Egypt, but a
type of our freedom from sin, death, and hell ?
6. What is the condition of this covenant on our part ? The
condition of this covenant is faith in Jesus, which is implied in
the promise, I will be thy God, or I am the Lord thy God; and
commanded in the precept built upon it ; thou shalt have me to
be thy God, or, thou shalt have no other gods before me. But
Avhere is faith in Jesus Christ mentioned, either in promise or
precept? I answer. If it be not expressed, it is very plainly
intended. God is not the God of Israel, but in and through the
Mediator ; neither can Israel take God to be their God, but by
faith in the Messiah. But to go further ; What is the meaning of
this first commandment in the affirmative part, but to have one
God in Christ to be our God by faith ? It is true there is no
mention made of Christy or faith ; but that is nothing. There is
no mention of love, and yet our Saviour discovers it there ; when
the lawyer tempted Christ, — Master, ivhich is the great com-
mandment in the law ? You know Christ's answer. Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God tvith all thy heart, with all thy soul, and
with all thy mind; this is the Jirst ojiid great commandment,
Matt. xxii. 36, 37, 38. Now as our Saviour discovers love
there ; so in like manner is faith and Christ there, the necessary
consequents.
But you may object. What say we to obedience? Is not that
rather the condition of this covenant in the law ? The law is
considered either more strictly, as it is a rule of righteousness,
setting forth Hfe upon no other terms but perfect obedience, or
more largely, as that whole doctrine delivered on mount Sinai,
with the preface and promises adjoined: in the former sense it is
a covenant of works, but in the latter it is a covenant of grace,
6. Y
170 Lookms; unto Jesus,
And yet I dare not say, that as the law is a covenant of grace, it
doth exclude obedience. In some sort, obedience, as well as
faith, may be said to be a condition of the covenant of grace. I
shall give you my thoughts in this distinction : obedience to all
God's commands, is either considered as a cause of life, or as a
qualification. In the former sense, it cannot be a condition of
the covenant of grace ; but in the latter, it may. If by condi-
tion we understand whatsoever is required on our part, as pre-
cedent, concomitant, or subsequent, to the covenant of grace, re-
pentance, faith, and obedience are all conditions: but if by
condition we understand whatsoever is required on our part as
the cause of the good promised, though only instrumental, why
then faith is the only condition. Faith and obedience are op-
posed in the matter of justification and salvation; not that they
cannot stand together, (for they are inseparably united,) but
because they camiot meet together in one court, as the cause of
justification or salvation. Now, when we speak of the condition
of the covenant of grace, we intend such a condition as is among
the number of true causes. Indeed, in the covenant of works
obedience is required as the cause of life ; but in the covenant
of grace, though obedience must accompany faith, yet only faith
is' the cause of life contained in the covenant.
7. Of this covenant, Moses was a typical, but Christ the spi-
ritual. Mediator. There is a great deal of difference betwixt
Moses and Christ, as, 1. Moses only received the law, and
delivered it to the people ; but Christ, our true Moses, fulfilled it.
2. Moses broke the tables, to shew how we in our nature had
broken the law; but Christ, our true Moses, repairs it. 3. Mo-
ses had the law only writ in tables of stone ; but Christ writes it
in the tables of our hearts. 4. Moses was mere man ; but Christ
is God as well as man. 5. Moses wiis only a servant in God's
house; but Christ is a son, yea, Christ is Lord of his own house,
the church. 6. Moses's meditation was of this use, to shew
what WTcS the true manner of worshipping God; but he did not
inspire power to follow it : he could not reconcile men to God,
as of himself; and therefore it appeared that there was need of
another reconciler, viz, the Lord Jesus Christ.
8. What do we find of Christ, and of his death, in this mani-
festation of the covenant? I answer, (1.) In delivering the law,
we find something of Christ. Some of the learned are of opi-
nion, that Christ the Son of God did? in the shape of a man,
deliver the law.
(2.) In the law itself, as it is a covenant of grace, we find
something of Christ: in the preface he proclaims himself to be
our God ; and in the first commandment we are bound to take
this God to be our God ; and in the second, he gives us a double
motive to obey ; For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God; I
sheiv mercy unto thousands of them that love me^ and keep my
Looking unto Jesus. 171
commandments. And in the fifth commandment he gives a pro-
mise of long life in Canaan, which is either to be looked at as a
type of heaven, or literally, for a prosperous condition here on
earth; -but, howsoever, it is by virtue of the covenant, and as a
testimony of God's love. Now all these promises are made in
Christ. God is not our God, but in and through Jesus Christ.
God will not shew mercy unto thousands, nor unto one of all the
thousands of his saints, but as they are in Jesus Christ. God
will not give us long life here, or eternity hereafter, but in, for,
and through, the Lord Jesus Christ. What if Moses writ not
down the word Christ, yet certainly Moses writ of Christ : his
words imply Christ, as Christ himself told the Jews, Had ye
believed Moses, ye would have believed me ; for Moses wrote of
me. Surely Christ was, if not the only subject, yet the only
scope, of all the writings of Moses ; and therefore in the law
itself, you see, we find something of Christ.
(3.) In the exposition of the law, as Moses gives it here and
there, we find something of Christ. Yea, if we observe it, Moses
brought something more to the expression of Christ, and of the
covenant of grace, than ever was before. In the first promise it
was revealed, that Christ should be the seed of the woman; in
the second manifestation of the promise, it was revealed that
Christ should be of the seed of Abraham; but in Moses's
writings, and Moses's time, we learn more expressly that Christ
was to be incarnate, and to have his conversation amongst men.
The promise runs thus : And I will dwell among the children of
Israel, and ivill he their God; and they shall know that I am
the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of
Egypt, that I may dwell amongst them ; I am the Lord their
God. Again, Moses, writing of Christ, The Lord thy God,
saith he, will raise up unto thee a prophet from tlie midst oftliee,
of thy brethren, like unto me; unto liim shall ye hearken. Was
not this a plain expression : Peter, in his sermon to the Jews,
preached Jesus Christ; and he tells the Jews, that this Jesus
Christ was preached unto them before. When before ? Even in
Moses's time; and for proof he cites this very text. For Moses
truly said unto the fat Jeers, xi pirophet shall the Lord your God
raise up unto you, of your brethren, like unto 7ne; him shall ye
hear in all things, whatsoever he shall say unto you.
(4.) In the confirmation of the law, we find something of Christ.
It was confirmed by seals and sacrifices. What were all these
but a type of Christ ? In the former expression of the covenant
we found the seal of circumcision, but now it pleased God to
add unto the former another seal for confirmation of their faith,
namely, the passover. And was not this a type of Christ, the
immaculate Lamb of God, whicli taketti away the sins of the
world? Again, in this manifestation Moses brought in the
priesthood as a settled ordinance, to offer sacrifices for the peo-
172 Looking unto *7esus.
pie I and was not this a type of Christy our true and unchange-
able high priest ? No question, the death and resurrection of
Christ, the priesthood and kingdom of Christ, were prefigured
by the sacrifices, the brazen serpent, the priesthood of Aaron,
and the kingdom of Israel. And I cannot but think that the
godly spiritual Jews understood this very well ; and that these
did not rest in sacrifices or sacraments, but that by faith they did
really enjoy Christ in them.
(5.) In the intention of God's giving the law, we find some-
thing of Christ. The very end of God in promulging the law,
was, that upon the sense of our impossibility to keep it, and of
our danger to break it, we should desire earnestly, and seek out
diligently for Jesus Christ. To this purpose, saith the apostle,
Tlie law is our schoolmaster, to britig us to Christ, that ive might
he justijied by faith. A schoolmaster, you know, doth not only
correct, but also teach : so the law doth not only curse if the
work be not done, but it shews where pow.er and help is to be
had, that is, from the Lord Jesus Christ. If this be so, how
much to blame are they that, under pretence of free grace and
Christ, cry down the law ? Rather let us cry it up ; and this is
the way to set up free grace and Christ. Surely, he that dis-
covers his defects by the perfect rule of the law, and whose soul
is humbled because of those defects, must needs prize Christ,
desire Christ, advance Christ in his thoughts, above all the men
in the world.
And thus far of the covenant of promise, as it was manifested
from Moses to David.
Sect. V. — Of the Covenant of Promise, as manifested to David.
The next breaking forth of this gracious covenant was to
David ; and in this manifestation, appears yet more of Christ.
The expression of it is chiefly in these words : Although my
house he not so with God, yet he hath made with me an everlast-
ing covenant, ordered in all things, and sure.
For the right understanding of this, we shall examine these
particulars : —
1 . Who is the author of this covenant ?
2. To whom is the covenant made ?
3. What is this, that the covenant is said to be made ?
4. How is the covenant ordered ?
5. Wherein is the covenant sure?
6. Whether is Christ more clearly manifested in this breaking
forth of the covenant, than in any of the former ?
1 . Who is the author of this covenant ? David says. He hath
made it: He, i. e. God; The rock of Isimel, the everlasting
rock ; the rock of their salvation, Psal. viii. 2. 2'he rock of
their refuge, Psal, xciv, 22. Their rock, and their Redeemer,
Lookifig unto f/esus, 17S
Psal. xix. 14. The Psalmist is frequent in this style^ to shew
that God is the mighty, stable, and immutable defence of all the
faithful, who fly unto him, and will trust in him. He is such a
rock as will not fail his creatures. Man is unstable; but he is
God, and not man, who is the author of this covenant.
2. To whom is the covenant made ? Why, saith David, He
hath made with me an everlasting covenant; i. e. either with
Christ the antitype, or else with David himself, the type of
Christ. Some are wholly for a covenant betwixt God and
Christ, and they deny any such thing as a covenant betwixt
God and man : but are not the testimonies express ? Take heed
to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant which the Lord hath
made ivith you. And, I ivill make a neiu covenant luith the
house of Israel, and with the house of Judah. Oh ! take heed of
such doctrines as tend unto licentiousness ; the covenant God
makes with us binds us faster to God, and if there be no cove-
nant betwixt God and us, it opens a gap to the looseness of our
spirits ; for how should we be charged with unfaithfulness unto
God, if we have not all entered into a covenant with God ?
3. What is this, that the covenant is said to be made ? This
exhibits to us the freeness of God's entering into covenant with
us. When God makes a covenant, then he gives grace unto all
that he takes into covenant with him. The Lord set his love
upon you, said Moses to Israel, to take you iiito covenant with
him ; not because ye ivere more in number than other people , but
because he loved you, and chose your fathers,
4. How is the covenant said to be ordered? The word
ordered sets out to us a marshalling, and fit laying of things
together, in ojjposition to disorder and confusion. As we see in
an army, every one is set in rank and file ; so every thing in this
covenant is so ranked, disposed, and ordered, that it stands at
best advantage to receive and repel the enemy.
(1.) It is well ordered in respect of the root out of which it
grew. This was the infinite wisdom and mercy of God. 1. It
was founded in wisdom. The covenant of grace was a result of
council ; it was no rash act, but a deliberate act with infinite
wisdom. God being the sovereign of all his creatures, and
seeing mankind in a perishing condition, determined within him-
self deliberately to make such a covenant of peace. 2. It was
founded in mercy; i. e. in the goodness of God flowing out to
one in misery.
(2.) It is well ordered, in respect of the method. First, God
begins ; then we come on : — First, God on his part gives grace ;
and then we, on our parts, act faith and obedience. God hath
ever the first work : as, first, / ivill be your God, and then yc
shall be my people : first, / will take away the stony heart, and
give an heart of flesh; and then ?/om shall loathe yourselves for
your ifiiqtiities, and for your abominations : first, I ivill sprinkle
174 Looking unto Jesus.
water upon you, and then ye shall be clean from all your Jilthi-
ness: first, I will put my Spirit into you, and cause you to walk
in my statutes : and then ye shall keep my judgrnents, and do
them: first, I will pour out my Spirit of grace and supplication
upon you, and then you shall mourn as a iinan mourneth for his
only son: first, / will do all, and then ye shall do something.
A troubled spirit is apt to cry out, Alas ! I can do nothing : I
can as well dissolve a rock, as make my heart of stone a heart of
flesh ! Mark how the covenant stands well ordered like an
army : / will do all, saith God, and then thou shalt do some-
thing : / ivill strengthen and quicken you, and then ye shall
serve me, saith the Lord.
(3.) It is well ordered, in respect of the end and aim, to which
all the parts of the covenant are referred. The end of the cove-
nant is the praise of the glory of his grace : the parts of the
covenant are the promise and the stipulation; the promise is
either principal, and that is God and Christ; or secondary, and
that is justification, sanctification, and glorification: and the
stipulation on our parts are faith and obedience ; we must be-
lieve in him that justifies the ungodly, and walk before him in all
well-pleasing. Observe now the main design of the covenant,
and see but how all the streams run towards that ocean . God
gives himself to the praise of the glory of his grace. God gives
Christ to the praise of the glory of his grace. God gives par-
don, sanctification^ and salvation, to the praise of the glory of
his grace ; and we believe, we obey, to the praise of the glory of
his grace ; and good reason, for all is of grace, and therefore all
must tend to the praise of the glory of his grace. It is of grace
that God hath given himself, Christ, pardon, sanctification, and
salvation, to any soul. It is of grace that we believe ; by grace
ye are saved through faith, not of yourselves, it is the gift of
God. Oh ! the sweet and comely order of this covenant ! All
is of grace, and all tends to the praise of the glory of his grace ;
and therefore it is called the covenant of grace. Many a soul is
forced to cry, I cannot believe ; I may as well reach heaven with
a finger, as lay hold on Christ by the hand of faith : but mark
how the covenant stands, like a well-marshalled army, to repel
tliis doubt ; if thou canst not believe, God will enable thee to
believe. To you it is given to believe. God will not only pro-
mise good things, but helps us by his Spirit to perform the con-
ditions. He works our hearts to believe in God, and to believe
in Christ. All is of grace, that all may tend to the praise of the
glory of his grace.
5. Wherein is the covenant sure ? I answer. It is sure in the
performance and accomplishment of it. Hence the promises of
the covenant are called the sure mercies of David ; not because
they are sure unto David alone, but because they are sure unto all
the seed of David, that are in covenant with God, as David
Looking unto Jesus. 175
was. Tlie promises of God's covenant are not yea and nay,
various and uncertain ; but they are yea and amen, sure to be
fulfilled. Hence the stability of God's covenant is compared to
the firmness and immoveableness of the mighty mountains ; nay.
Mountains may depart, and the hills he removed, by a miracle ;
hut yny kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the
covenant of my peace he removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy
on thee. Sooner shall the rocks be removed^ the fire cease to
burn, the sun be turned into darkness, and the very heavens be
confounded with the earth, than the promise of God shall fail.
6. Christ is more clearly manifested in this breaking forth of
the covenant, than in any or the former. For here we see,
(1.) That he was God and man, in one person; David's son,
and yet David's Lord. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou
on my right-hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
(2.) That he suffered for us : and in his sufferings how many
particulars are discovered ! As, first, his cry, My God! my
God ! ivhy hast thou forsaken me f Secondly, the Jews' taunts.
He trusted on the Lord, that he would deliver him, let kirn deli-
ver him, if he delight in him. Thirdly, the very manner of his deajh.
They pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my hones ;
they look and stare upon me : they part my garments among
them, and cast lots ii])07i my vesture.
(3.) That he rose again for us. Thou wilt not leave my soul
in hell; iieither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
(4.) That he ascended up into heaven. Thou hast ascended
up on high ; thou hast led captivity captive ; thou hast received
gifts for men.
(5.) That he must be King over us, and over his enemies.
2Vie Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right-hand, until
I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall seiid the
rod of thy strength out of Zion; rule thou in the midst of thine
enemies.
(6.) That he must be Priest, as well as King; and Sacrifice,
as well as Priest. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent :
Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedech.
Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest ivickedness ; therefore
God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above
thy felSnus: (i. e. above all Christians, who are thy fellows, con-
S(^)rts, and partners, in the anointing :) sacrifice and burnt-offer-
ing thou wouldst not have ; but mine ear hast thou bored: bunit-
offering and sin-offhnng hast thou not required. Then said I,
Lo, I come : in the volume of the book it is ivritten of me, that I
should do thy ivill, O God. Mine ears hast thou bored, or
digged open. The Septuagint, to make the sense plainer, say,
But a body hast thou fitted me, or prepared for me: meaning,
that his body was ordained and fitted to be a sacrifice for the
sins of the world, when other legal sacrifices were received as
176 Looking unto Jesus.
unprofitable. See how clearly Christ is revealed. It was never
thus before.
And thus far of the covenant of promise^ as it was manifested
from David till the Captivity.
Sect. VI. — Of the Covenant of Promise, as manifested to Israel
about the time of the Captivity,
The great breaking forth of this gracious covenant was to
Israel about the time of their captivity. By reason of that cap-
tivity of Babylon^ Israel was almost clean destroyed; and^ there-
fore, then it was high time that the Lord should appear like a
sun after a stormy rain, and give them some clearer light of
Christ. He doth so, especially in these words : Behold, the days
come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the
house of Israel, and luith the house of Judah; not according to
the covenant ivhich I made with their fathers, in the day that I
took them hy the hand to bring thein out of the land of Lgypt;
which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto
them, saith the Lord. But this shall be the covenant that I will
make with the house of Israel: After those days, saith the Lord,
I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their
hearts; and I ivill be their God, and they shall be my people ;
and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every
man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know
me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, saith the
Lord; for I ivill forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin
no more. In this expression of the covenant, we shall examine
these particulars :
1 . Why it is called a new covenant ?
2. Wherein the expression of this covenant doth excel the
former, which God made with their fathers ?
3. How doth God put the law into our inward parts ?
4. What is it to have the law written in our hearts ?
5. How are we taught of God, so as not to need (compara-
tively) any other kind of teaching ?
6. What is the universality of this knowledge, in that all shall
know me, saith the Lord f
1 . Why is it called a new covenant ? I answer, it is called
new, in contradiction to the covenant of promise before Christ
came. The very same words are repeated in the Epistle to the
Hebrews : Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will
make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and the house of
Judah. In that he saith a new covenant, he hath made the first
old; noiv that which decay eth, a?id waxeth old, is ready to
vanish away. The, new covenant is usually understood in the
latter sense ; it is new, because diverse from that which God
made with the fathers before Christ ; it hath a new worship.
Looking unto Jfesus. 177
new adoration, a new form of the church, new witnesses, new
tables, new ordinances : and these never to be disannulled, never
to wax old, as the apostle speaks.
2. Wherein doth this covenant excel the former, which God
made with their fathers ? I answer, —
(1.) It excels in the benefits and graces of the Spirit. We
find, that under tins covenant they were more plentifully be-
stowed upon the church than formerly.
(2.) It excels in the discovery of the Mediator, in and through
whom this covenant was made. In the former expression we
discovered much, yet in none of them was so plainly revealed
the time of his coming, the place of his birth, his name, the pas-
sages of his nativity, his humiliation and kingdom, as we find in
this.—
[1.] Concerning the time of his coming. — ^Seventy weeks
shall be determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to
finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin, and to makf
reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteous-
ness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the
most holy.'
[2.] Concerning the place of his birth. — ^ But thou Bethlehem
Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah,
yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me, that is to be ruler
in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from
everlasting.'
[3.] Concerning his name. — ^ Unto us a child is born, unto us
a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders ;
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty
God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace. — In his days
Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely ; and this is
his name whereby he shall be called. The Lord our Righte-
ousness. — Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and
thou, O virgin, shalt call his name Immanuel.'
[4.] Concerning the passages of his nativity. — That he should
be born of a virgin, Isa. vii. 14. That at his birth all the infants
round about Bethlehem should be slain, Jcr, xxxi. 15. That
John the Baptist should be his forerunner, to prepare his way,
Mai. iii. 1. That he should flee into Egypt, and be recalled
thence again, Hos, xi. 1 . I might add many particulars of this ,
kind.
[5.] Concerning his humiliation. — '^ Surely, he hath borne
our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him
stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted: but he was wounded
for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities,
the chastisement of our p^ace was upon him, and with his
stripes we are healed. — He was oppressed, and he was
afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. — He was taken from
prison and from judgment, and who shall declare his gene-
r. z
1/8 Looking unto J^esus.
ration ? for he was cut off out of the land of the living : for the
transgression of my people was he stricken. — It pleased the Lord
to bruise him^ he hath put him to grief. — ^Therefore will I divide
him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with
the strong, because he hath poured out his soul unto death^ and
he was numbered with the transgressors, and he bare the sin of
many, and made intercession for the transgressors.' One would
think this were rather a history than a prophecy of Christ's
sufferings.
[6.] Concerning his kingdom. — ' Rejoice greatly, O daughter
of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem, behold thy King
cometh unto thee: he is just^ and having salvation^ lowly, and
riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." Behold
a King, behold thy King; behold thy King cometh^ and he
cometh unto thee. — 1. He is a King, and therefore able. 2. He
is thy King, and therefore willing. Wonderful love, that he
would come \ but more wonderful was the manner of his coming :
he that before made man a soul after the image of God, then
made himself a body after the image of man. And thus we
see how this covenant excels the former in every of these
respects.
3. How doth God put the law in our inward parts ? I an-
swer, God puts the law into our inward parts, by enlivening a
man with the graces of his holy Spirit, suitable to his command-
ment. First, There is the law of God without us, as we see it
or read it in scriptures ; but when it is put within us, then God
hath wrought an inward disposition in our minds, that answers to
that law without us : For example ; This is the law without.
Thou slialt love the Lord thy God with all thy hearty and with
all thy soul, and with all thy strength. To answer which there
is a promise, / ivill circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy
seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul. Now, when this promise is fulfilled, when God hath put
love in our hearts, then is the law put into our inward parts.
4. What is it to have the law written in our hearts? This
writing contains the former, and is something more. It is said
to be written, that there might be something within answerable
to the law without ; it was written without, and so it was written
within. This writing is the very same with copying or tran-
scribing. The writing within is every way answerable to the
writing without. Oh ! what a mercy is this, that the same God
who writ the law with his own finger in the tables of stone,
should also write the same law with the finger of his Spirit in the
tables of our hearts ! As you see in a seal, when you have put
the seal on the wax, and you take it oft' again, you find on the
wax the same impression that was on the seal : so it is in the
hearts of the faithful; when the Spirit hath once softened them,
then he writes the law, i. e. he stamps an inward aptness, and
Looking unto Jesus. 1/9
and inward disposition, on the heart, answering te every parti-
cular of the law.
5. How are we taught of God, so as not to need comparatively
any other kind of teaching ? I answer —
(1.) God teacheth inwardly. — In the hidden part thou hast
made me to know wisdom, saith David : and again, / thank the
Lord that gave me counsel, my reins also instruct me in the
night season. The reins are the most inward part of the body, and
the night-season the most private time : both express the intimacy
of Divine teaching. God, who commanded light to shine out
of darkness, hath shined into our hearts. Man's light may shine
into the head, but God's light alone doth shine into the h'eart.
(1.) God teacheth clearly. Elihu offering himself instead of
God to reason with Job, he tells him. My words shall be of the
uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge
clearly. If ever the word come home to an heart, it comes
with a convincing clearness. So the apostle, Our gospel came
unto you, not in word only, hut in power, and in the Holy Ghost,
and in much full assurance. The word hath a treble emphasis —
assurance, full assurance, and much full assurance: Here is
clear work.
(3.) God teacheth sweetly and comfortably. — Thou hast taught
me, saith David; and then it follows, how sweet are thy tvords
unto my taste! yea, siveeter than honey to my mouth. Luther
said, " He would not live in paradise, if he must live without
the word; but with the word,'' said he, " I could live in hell.''
When Christ put his hand in by the hole of the door to teach the
heart, her bowels were moved, and then her fingers dropt upon
the handles of the lock sweet-smelling myrrh. Cant. v. 5. The
teachings of Christ left such a blessing upon the first motions of
the spouse's heart, that with the very touch of them she is re-
freshed ; her fingers drop myrrh, and her bowels are moved, as
the monuments of his gracious teachings.
Christians, these are the teachings of God ! and in reference
to this, we shall no more teach every man his neighbour, and
every man his brother, saying. Know the Lord. God's teaching
is another kind of teaching than we can have from the hands of
men ; there is no man in the world can teach us : and there-
fore, they whom God teacheth, need not any other kind of
teaching, respectively or comparatively.
6. What is the universality of this knowledge ? — They shall
all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them,
saith the Lord. The meaning is, that all that are in the cove-
nant of grace shall be so taught of God, that they shall every
one know God inwardly, clearly, experimentally, sweetly, and
savingly.
1 have now propounded the object we are to look unto; that
is, Jesus, as held forth in a way of promise or covenant ; in that
ISO LooJcin^' unto Jesus.
,b
dark timCj from the creation till his first coming in the llesh : our
next business is to direct you in the mystery of grace^ ho\y you
are to look to him in this respect.
CHAP. II.
Sect. I. — Of Knoiving Jesus, as carrying on the great Work
of our Salvation from the Creation until his F'irst Cojnlug.
Looking comprehends knowing, considering, desiring, hop-
ing, believing, loving, joying, calling on, conforming to^ as you.
have heard; and accordingly, that we may practise, 1. We
must know Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation in
the beginning, and from the beginning, of the world. Come,
let us learn what he did for us in the morning of this world : he
made it for us, and he made us more especially for his own glory;
but presently after we were made, we sinned and marred the
image wherein God made us. This was the saddest act that
ever was ; it was the undoing of man, and, without the mercy
of God, the damning of all souls to all eternity. And, O my
soul, know this for thyself, thou wast in the loins of Adam at
that same time, so that what he did, thou didst ; thou wast par-
taker of his sins, and thou wast to partake with him in his
punishment : but well mayest thou say, Blessed be God for Jesus
Christ ! at the very instant when all should have been damned,
Christ intervened ; a covenant of grace is made with man, and
Christ is the foundation, in and through whom we must be re-
conciled unto God. Come, soul, and study this covenant of
grace in reference to thyself. Had not this been, Avhere hadst
thou been, nay, w^here had all the world been, at this day ?
Surely it concerns thee to take notice of this great transaction.
After man had fallen by sin, Christ is promised ; and that
all the saints might partake of Christ, a covenant of grace is
entered; this, at the beginning of the world, was more dim;
but the nearer to Christ's coming in the flesh, the more clearly
it appeared. Howsoever, dimly or clearly, thus it pleased God
in Christ to carry on the great work of our salvation at that
time ; viz. by a promise of Christ, and by a covenant in Christ.
And for thy better knowledge of it, study the promise made to
Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, and Israel. Study these se-
veral breakings out of the covenant of grace. It is worth thy
pains ; it is a mystery which hath been hid from ages and from
crenerations, but now is made manifest to the saints. Here lies
the firm foundation of a Christian's comfort; it thou canst but
assure thyself of thy part in this, thou art blessed for ever. Oh !
hov/ satisfying is it to know the faithful engagements of the
Almighty God through that Son of his love, in a covenant of
grace !
Looking unto Jesus. 181
Sect. II. — Of Considering Jesus in that respect.
We must consider Jesus carrying on the great work of our
salvation in that dark time. It is not enough to study it and
know it, but we must seriously meditate, ponder, and consider
of it, till we bring it to some profitable issue. This is the con-
sideration I mean, when we hold our thoughts to this or that
spiritual subject, till we perceive success, and the work prosper
in our hands. Now, to help us in this, —
I. Consider Jesus in the first promise made to man. It shall
bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. When all men
were under the guilt of sin, and in the power of Satan, and when
thou, my soul, wert in as bad a case as any other; then to hear
the sound of these glad tidings, then to hear of Jesus, a Saviour
and Redeemer, sure this was welcome news. Come, draw the
case nearer to thyself: thou wast in Adam's loins; suppose thou
hadstbeen in Adam's stead; suppose thou hadst heard the voice
of the Lord walking in the garden, suppose thou hadst heard him
call, Adam, where art thou ^ Peter, Andrew, Thomas, where art
thou ? What 1 hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded
thee that thou shouldest not eat ? Appear, and come to judg-
ment; the law is irrevocable. In the day that thou eatest thereof
thou shalt surely die. There is nothing to be looked for but
death temporal, death spiritual, and death eternal. Oh ! what
a fearful condition is this, no sooner to come into the world, but
presently to be turned over into hell ! for one day to be a mo-
narch of the world, and the very next to be a slave of Satan, and
bound hand and foot in a darksome dungeon ! for a few hours
to live in Eden, to enjoy every tree in the garden, pleasant
to the sight, and good for food, and then to enter into the con-
fines of eternity, and ever to be tormented* with the devil and
his angels ! It is no wonder if Adam hid himself from the presence
of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. O my soul,
in that case thou wouldst have cried to the rocks and to the
mountains. Fall on me, and hide me from the face of him that sitteth
on the throne. If God be angry, who may abide it ? When the
great day of his wrath is come, who shall be able to stand ? And
yet despair not, O my soul ; for in the midst of wrath God is pleased
to remember mercy. Even now, when all the world should have
been damned, Jesus is proclaimed and promised; and he it is
that must die, according to the commination, for he is our surety,
and he it is that by death must overcome death and the devil. It
shall bruise thy head, saith God to Satan ; as if he had said. Come,
Satan, thou hast taken captive ten thousands of souls : Adam and
Eve are now ei-isnared, and in their loins all the men and women
that ever shall be : now is thy day of triumph, but thou shalt not
carry it thus. Out of the seed of the woman shall spring a branch,
and he shall bruise thy head; he shall break thy power, he shall
182 Loohins: unto Jesus.
&
tread thy dominion under foot, he shall lead thy captivity captive,
he shall take away sin, he shall point ovit to men and angels the
glory of heaven, and a new world of free grace. In this pro-
mise, O my soul, is wrapped up thy hope, thy heaven, thy sal-
vation ; and therefore consider it, look on all sides of it, view it
over and over ; it is a field that contains in the bowels of it a
precious treasure ; there is in it a Saviour, a Redeemer, a De-
liverer from sin, death, and hell.
2. Consider Jesus in that promise made to Abraham : / will
establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after
thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a
God to thee, and to thy seed after thee. In respect of this
covenant, Abraham is called the father of the faithful : and they
which are of the faith, are called the children of Abraham. And,
O my soul! thou dost by faith draw it through Abraham, to
whom this promise was made ; for if ye be Christ's, then are ye
Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Consider
what a mercy this is, that God should enter into a covenant with
thee in the loins of Abraham. God made a promise of Christ, and
inclusively a covenant of grace, in his comforting Adam; but
he makes a covenant expressly under the name of covenant, with
Abraham and his seed. Be amazed! What! that the great
and glorious God of heaven and earth should make himself a
debtor to us ! O my soul, think of it seriously : He is in heaven,
and thou art on earth ; he is the Creator, and thou art his crea-
ture. Ah ! what art thou, or what is thy father's house, that thou
shouldest be raised up hitherto ! The very covenant is a wonder,
as it relates to God and us. What is it but a compact, a bind-
ing of God and us. When Jehosaphat and Ahab were in
covenant, see how Jehosaphat expresseth himself, I am as
thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses ; so
it is betwixt God and us. If once he gives us the covenant,
then his strength is our strength, his power is our power, his
armies are our armies, his attributes are our attributes, we have
interest in all. There is an offensive and defensive league, as I
may say, betwixt God and us ; and if we put him in mind of it
in all our straits, he cannot deny us. Thus runs the tenor of
his covenant : / will be a God to thee, and to thy seed after
thee. This is the general promise ; I may call it the mother-
promise, that carries all other promises in its womb. Consider,
that it is God in Christ that is propounded to us in this phrase,
I will be a God to thee. Here is the greatest promise that ever
was made. Christ, God, is more than grace, pardon, holiness,
heaven; as the husband is more excellent than the marriage-
robe, bracelets, rings. The well and fountain of life is of more
excellency than the streams. Christ Jesus is far above a created
beatitude which issueth from him, O my soul, is not this worthy
of thy inmost consideration ?
Looking unto Jesus. 183
3. Consider Jesus in that promise made to Moses and the
Israelites, / am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the
land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, Muph hath been
said to this promise ; but to contradict it, consider in the promise
the sufficiency and propriety. First, here is sufficiency. It is
a promise of infinite worth, an hid treasure, a rich possession,
an overflowing blessing, which none can rightly value ; it is no
less than the great and mighty, and infinite God. If we had a
promise of a hundred worlds, or of ten heavens, this is more
than all: heaven indeed is beautiful, but God is more beautiful;
for he is the God of heaven : and hence it is that the saints in
heaven are not satisfied without their God. It is a sweet ex-
pression of Bernard, " As whatsoever we give unto thee. Lord,
unless we give ourselves, cannot satisfy thee ; so whatsoever
thou givest ujito us. Lord, unless thou givest thyself, it cannot
satisfy us." J\nd hence it is, that as God doth make the saints
his portion, so God is the portion and inheritance of his saints.
Consider the greatness, the goodness, the all- sufficiency of this
promise, I am the Lord thy God! No question but Moses had
many other rich promises from God, but he could not be satis-
fied without God himself: If thy presence he not with us, bring
us not hence. And no wonder; for without God all things are
nothing ; but in the want of all other things, God himself is in-
stead of all: it is God's sole prerogative to be an universal
good. The things of this world can but help in this or that par-
ticular thing; as bread against hunger, drink against thirst,
clothes against cold and nakedness, house against wind and
weather, riches against poverty, physic against sickness; but
God is an all-sufficient good : he is all in all both to the inner
and outward man. Are we guilty of sin ? there is mercy in God
to pardon us. Are we full of infirmities ? there is grace in God
to heal us. Are we strong in corruptions ? there is power in
God to subdue them in us. Are we disquieted in conscience ?
there is that Spirit in God, that is the Comforter, that can fill us
with joy unspeakable and glorious. And for our outward man,
all our welfare is laid up in God : He is the God of our life,
Psal. xlii. 1. He is the strength of our life, Psal. xxvii. I. He
is a quickening Spirit, 1 Cor. xv. 45. Which though it be in
regard of the inner man, yet there it is spoken of the outward
man, which the Lord shall quicken after death, and doth now
keep alive by his mighty power ; for in him we live, and move,
and have our being.
O my soul, that thou wouldst but meditate and consider this
promise in all thy wants. When means fail, and the streams run
no more. Oh ! that thou wouldest then go to the fountain, where
the waters run sweeter, and more sure ! For as Joseph said to
Pliaraoh, — It is not in me, God shall give Pharaoh an answer
of peace : so may silver and gold, and such things, say to thee.
184 Looking unto Jesus.
It is not in us ; God shall give enough out of himself. Have
God, and have ail : want God, and there is no content in the
enjoyment of all. It was the apostle's case ; as having nothingy
yet possessing all things. Surely he lived to God, and enjoyed
God, and he was an ail-sufficient good unto him. God may be
enjoyed in any condition ; in the meanest, as well as the greatest;
in the poorest, as well as the richest. God will go into a wilder-
ness, into a prison, with his people, and there he will make up
all that they are cut short of. Thy discontents therefore arise
not from want of inward means, but from want of inward
fellowship witli God : and if thou dost not find a sufficiency, it
is because thou dost not enjoy him, who is thy all-sufficient good.
Oh 1 stir up faith, and consider the covenant ; think seriously
on this promise — / am God all-sufficient ; I am the Lord thy
God.
Here is the propriety of saints — the Lord thy God. What is
this, that God is thy God ? Heaven and earth, angels and men,
may stand astonished at it. What ! that the great and mighty
God, God almighty, and God all-sufficient, should be called
thy God ! It is observable what the apostle speaks, God is not
ashamed to he called their God. Would not a prince be ashamed
to take a beggar, a base and adulterous woman, to be his wife ?
But we are worse than so, and God is better than so ; sin hath
made us worse than the worst of women ; and God is better,
holier, higher, than the best of princes; and yet God is not
ashamed to own us, nor ashamed that we own him as our own —
/ am thy God. It is as if the Lord should say. Use me, and all
my power, grace, mercy, kindness, as thine own. Go through
all my attributes; consider my almighty power, consider my
wisdom, understanding, goodness, truth, faithfulness; consider
my patience, long-suffering, forbearance, all these are thine : as
thus, — my power is thine, to work all thy works for thee, and in
thee, to make a passage for thee in all thy straits, to deliver
thee out of six troubles, and out of seven : my wisdom is thine,
to counsel thee in any difficult cases, to instruct thee in things
that be obscure, to reveal to thee the mysteries of grace, and
the wonderful things contained in my law : my justice is thine,
to deliver thee v/hen thou art oppressed, to defend thee in thy
innocence, and to vindicate thee from the injuries of men. What
needs more ? O my soul, think of these, and all other God's
attributes ; say in thyself, All these are mine : nay more ; think
of God in Christ, (for otherwise what hast thou to do with God
in a covenant of grace ?) and say in thy heart, Jesus Christ is
mine, my Saviour, my Redeemer, my Head, my elder Brother.
His doings are mine, and his sufferings are mine ; his life and
death, his resurrection and ascension, his session and intercession,
all are mine : nay more ; If Christ be mine, why then all good
things are mine in Clirist ; I say, in Christ, for they come not
Looking unto Jesus, 18a
immediately, but through the hands of a Redeemer ; and though
he be a man who redeemed us, yet because he is God as well as
man, there is more of God, and heaven, and free-love, in all our
good things, than if we received them immediately from God.
Ravens have their food, and devils have their being, from God by
creature-right ; but we have all we have, from God in Christ, by
covenant-right. This, surely this very promise, is the principal
promise of the covenant ; it is the very substance, soul, and life of
all. Oh then ! how careful shouldst thou be to improve the strength
of thy mind, thoughts, and affections, on this only subject !
4. Consider Jesus in that promise made to David, He hath made
with me an everlasting covenant, ordvved in ail things, and sure,
(1.) An everlasting covenant. — Christ hath built and prepared
a kingdom, that shall never fade 5 a spiritual and a heavenly
kingdom, which shall never cease. And as he hath prepared it,
so if thou believest, he hath entered into a covenant with thy
soul to bestow it on thee ; it is an everlasting covenant, and he
will give thee everlasting life.
(2.) It is ordered in all things. — The covenant of -grace is so
marshalled and ordered, that it stands at best advantage to
receive and repel all thy objections. Many an objection hast thou
raised : how often have such thoughts been in thee ; Oh ! I
am miserable, I shall not live, but die ; my sins will damn me ;
I am lost for ever ! And again. If God hath made with me a
covenant, why then I have something to do on my part ; (for
this is the nature of the covenant, to bind on both parts ;) but,
alas ! I have failed, I can do nothing ; I can as well dissolve a
rock, as make my heart of stone a heart of flesh ; I can as well
reach heaven with a finger, as lay hold on Christ by the hand of
faith ! Have not such arguings as these been many a time in
thy heart ? Consider how the covenant is ordered in respect of
the author of it, of the person's interest in it, of the parts of
which it consists, and of the end and aim to which it refers : and
in some of these, if not in all of these, thou wilt find thy objec-
tions answered.
(3.) It is sure. — God is not fast and loose in his covenant.
Heaven and earth shall pass away, before one jot or tittle of his
word shall fail. Consider, Omy soul, he both can and will perform
his word : his power, his love, his faithfulness, all stand engaged.
What sweet matter is here for a soul to dwell upon ! What needs
it go out toother objects, whilst it may find enough here? but.
especially, what needs it to bestow itself upon vain things ? Oh !
that so much precious sand of our thoughts should run out after
sin, and so little after grace, or after this covenant of grace !
5. Consider Jesus in that promise which God made with
Israel and Judah : I will put my law in their iiiward jmrts, and
ivrite it in their hearts, and I will he their God, and they shall
he my people : and they shall teach no more every man his 7ieigh-
7. ■ 2 a
186 Lookins^ unto Jesus,
i5
hour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord ; for
they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of
them, saith the Lord : for I will forgive their iniquity, and I
will remember their sins no more. Oh, what an error is it, that
there is no inherent righteousness in the saints, hnt only in
Christ ! Is not this the ordinary scripture-phrase — / will put
my Sjnrit within you: and, the luater that I shall give you, shall
he in you a luell of water springing up into everlasting life : and,
the anointing which you have received of him, abideth in you :
and, Christ in you the hope of glory. Observe how the spirit
of the living creatures was in the wheels ; so that when the spirit
went, they went ; and when the spirit was lifted up, they were
lifted up : even so is the Spirit of Christ, acting, guiding,
framing, and disposing them to move and walk according to his
laws : The kingdom of heaven is witliin you, saith Christ. And I
delight to do thy will, O God, saith David, yea, thy laiu is within
my heart. O my soul, if thou art in covenant with God, besides
the indwelling of the Spirit, there is a spiritual principle of grace,
which Christ by his Spirit hath put into thy heart, enabling thee
to move thyself towards God. Oh ! consider this inward princi-
ple ; it is an excellent subject, worthy of thy consideration !
(1.) I will be their God, and they shall be my people. — Con-
sider God essentially, and personally — God the Father, God the
Son, and God the Holy Ghost ; God in himself, and God in his
creatures. This very promise turns over heaven, earth, sea,
land, bread, clothes, sleep, the world, life and death, into free
grace. No wonder if God set this promise in the midst of the
covenant, as the heart in the midst of the body, to communicate
life to all the rest. This promise hath an influence into all other
promises ; it is the great promise of the new covenant ; it is as
great as God is : though the heavens, and heaven of heavens, be
not able to contain him, yet this promise contains him ; God shuts
up himself, as it were, in it : Iiuill be their God.
(2.) They shall be my people, — i. e. they shall be to me a pe-
culiar people. Tit. ii. 14. The word hath this emphasis in it,
that God looks upon all other things as accidents in comparison,
and his substance is his people ; they are his very portion : for
tlie Lord' s portion is hisjjeople, Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
They are his treasure, his peculiar treasure, above all people.
If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then shall
ye be a peculiar treasure imto me, and above all people : for all
the earth is mine. Observe, O my soul, all the earth is mine,
that is, all people is my people ; but I have a special interest in
my covenanted people, they only are my portion, my peculiar trea-
sure. The saints are those that God hath set his heart upon ;
they are children of the high God ; they are the spouse that are
married to the lamb ; they are nearer God in some respects than
the very angels themselves, for the angels are not in a mystical
Looking unto Jesus » 1:87
anion so manied to Christ as God*s people are. Oh, the happi-
ness of saints ! I will he their God, and they shall he my people^
(3.) They shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and
every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord ; for they shall
all knov7 me, from the least to the greatest, saith the Lord. —
Consider this, O poor soul ! Thou complainest of thy weakness,
thou knowest little or nothing : why, see here a glorious pro-
mise ; if thou art but in covenant with God, thou shall be taught
of God, and then thou shalt know God far more clearly than the
Jews of old ; he will open to thee all his treasures of wisdom
and knowledge ; he will bestow on thee a greater measure of his
Spirit, so that out of thy helly shall Jioiv rivers of living water.
We say, a good tutor may teach more in a day than another in a
month. Now the promise runs thus, that all thy children shall
be taught of God. Not that private instruction, or public mi-
nistry, must be excluded, we know these are appointed mider the
new testament, and are subordinate to the Spirit's teaching;
but that the teachings of God far surpass the teachings of men,
and therefore the knowledge of God under the new testament
shall far surpass that under the old. Herein appears the excel-
lency of Christ's prophetical office, — he is such a prophet as
enlightens eveiy man within that comes into the world ; he is
such a prophet as baptizes with the Holy Ghost, and with fire ;
he is such a prophet as makes men's hearts to burn within them
when he speaks unto them ; he is such a prophet as bids his
ministers. Go, teach all nations, and I will he tuith you;
and I will make you able ministers, not of the letter, but of the
Spirit ; — he is such a prophet as teacheth inwardly, clearly,
experunentally, and sweetly : no man in the world can say
this, or do this, but Jesus Christ, the great prophet of the
church, whom God hath raised up, like unto Moses, yet far
above Moses. O my soul, consider if thou art thus taught of
God!
(4.) I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their
sins no more. — Consider of this ! Blessed are they whose ini-
quities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Consider, O
my soul ; suppose thy condition thus : As thou livest under the
laws of men, so for the transgression of those laws thou art
called to account : the judge weighs, and gives just judgment,
he dooms thee to the axe, or rack, or wheel ; and because of the
aggravation of thy crime, he commands thee to be tortured lei-
surely, that bones, sinews, joints, might be pained for twenty,
thirty, forty, fifty years ; that so much of thy flesh should be
cut off every day ; that such and such a bone should be broken,
such and such a day ; and that by art the flesh should be re-
stored, and the bone cured again, that for so many years thou
mightest be kept every day dying, and yet never die ; that all
this while thou must have no sleep, nor ease, nor food, nor
188 Looking unto Jesus,
clothing : that whips of iron, scourges of scorpions, that racks,
wheels, caldrons full of melted lead, should be prepared, instru-
ments of thy continual torments ; in this case, suppose a mighty
prince, by an act of free and special grace, should deliver thee
from this pain and torture, and not only so, but should give thee
a life in perfect health, should put thee into a paradise of plea-
sures, where all the honour, love, and service, of a world of men
and angels, should await thee, and where thou shouldst be ele-
vated to the top of all imaginable happiness, above Solomon in
the highest royalty, or Adam in his first innocence; were not
this mercy ? Wouldst thou not think it the highest act of grace
and love that any creature could extend to his fellow-creatm-e ?
And yet all this is nothing but a shadow of grace, in comparison
of the love and rich grace of God in the justification of a sinner.
If thou hast a right to this promise. I luill forgive thy iniquity^
and remember thy sin no more, thou art delivered from eternal
death, and thou art entitled to an eternal kingdom. Oh ! know
thy "blessedness aright ; consider how infinitely thou art engaged
to God, and Christ, and mercy, and free-grace 1 This promise
sounds forth nothing but grace and blessing ; grace from God,
and blessing on us : it is grace, because nothing but grace and
mercy can forgive ; it is grace, because God, if he will, hath
power in his hand to revenge ; he doth not pass by sin as men do
offences, when they dissemble forgiveness ; they may forgive,
because they have not power to avenge : it is otherwise with
God — To me belongs vengeance, saith God : he is able to de-
stroy, and yet he chuseth to forgive. This is his name, — strong,
and gracious.
O my soul, thou art apt to say. Will the Lord forgive my
sins ? what reason hath God to look on me, to pardon me, to
pluck me as a firebrand out of the fire of hell ? why should (^od
forgive me ? But now consider, if thy heart be humbled, the
Lord will do it.
(1.) Because he delighteth in mercy : it is a pleasure to God
to forgive sins. Never did we take more pleasure, nor so much
pleasure, in committing sin, as he doth in pardoning sin. He
is the Father of mercies ; he delights in mercy, as a father in his
children ; it doth him good to see the fruits of his own mercy, in
taking away the sins of his own people.
(2.) Because it is his nature and inclination to pardon sin.
This appears,
[1.] In the proclaiming of his name : The Lord, the Lord,
merciful and gracious, long-suffering, abundant in goodness arid
truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and
transgression, and sin,
[2.] In his gracious invitations : Come unto 7ne, saith Christ :
if sin burden you, I will ease you.
[3.] In his patience, and waiting for repentance. He waits
Looking unto Jesus, 189
to this very end, that he might be gracious, and that he may have
mercy,
[4.] Because it is his promise to pardon sin : /, even I, am he
that blotteth out thy tra?isgresswns for my own sake, and will
7iot remember thy sins. This promise of pardon is one of the
great blessings of the covenant of grace. You hear the words,
/ will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins
no more.
Now come, consider, O my soul, of every particular in this
gracious covenant, and be serious in thy consideratio n ! Surely
there is too much expense hi thy spirit upon vain, and transitory,
and worldly things. Alas ! thou hast but a short time to live ; and
the strength of thy mind is the most precious thing thou hast. O
then let thy inmost thoughts and deep affections be acted and
exercised on this subject. If God and Jesus, and all thy good, be
included here, why should not thy whole soul be intent on this ?
why shouldst thou spend it on the creature ? why shouldst thou
be so subject to carnal griefs and fears ? Surely all these are fitter
to be fixed on God in Christ, on Jesus in a covenant of grace.
Sect. III. — Of Desiring Jesus in that resjject.
We must desire Jesus, carrying on the great work of man's
salvation before his coming in the flesh. It is not enough to
know and consider, but we must desire. This is the order of
God's work : no sooner hath his Spirit clearly revealed the good-
ness of the promise that we come to know, but the soul considers
of it, views it in all its excellencies, weighs it in the balance of
its best and deepest meditation. This done, the affections begin
to stu', and the soul begins thus to reason : * Oh ! happy I, that
I see the goodness of this gracious promise ; but miserable I, if
I come to see this, and never have a share in it ! O ! why not
J, Lord ? why not my sins pardoned ? why not my corruptions
subdued ? why not the law written in my heart, and put into my
inward parts ? why may not I say. My Lord, my God ! Or, /
am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine f Why not this cove-
nant established between God and me ? Now, my soul thirsts
after this as a thirsty land, my affections hunger after Jesus.
Oh ! I would fain be in covenant with God ; for this is all my
salvation, and all my desire ! 2 Sam. xxiii. 5.
Come then, my soul, and whet thy desires in every one of
these respects : as, 1 . desire thy interest in the covenant : 2. de-
sire thy improvement of the covenant : 3. desire the continuance
of thy covenant state : 4. desire Jesus, the great business, or the
all in all, in a covenant of grace.
1 . Desire thy interest in the covenant. Say in thyself : ^ Is
the world willing to receive me to his grace ? Was that his voice
in the streets, Hoiv long, ye simple ones, luill ye loi'e simplicity ?
190 Looking unto Jesus.
Turn ye at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my Spirit upon
you. Was that his proclamation. Ho, every one that thirsteth,
come ye to the waters, — incline your ear and to come unto me, —
and i will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure
mercies of David ? And are these the promises offered in the
covenant, I will put my law into their imvard parts, a7id I will
ivrite it in your hearts; and I will he your God, and ye shall be
my people f Oh, the blessed condition of those people that are
in covenant vrith God ! Blessed art thou, O Israel, who is like
unto thee a people saved of the Lord! Happy is the people
that are in such a case, yea, happy is that people whose God is
the Lord. — But ah, what can I say ! No sin Hke unto my sin, no
misery like Tinto my misery. Alas, I die for hunger, whilst
those that are in my Father's house have bread enough. Oh,
that I were in their condition 1 Never did David long more for
the waters of the well of Bethlehem, than my soul, now touched
with the sense of sin, doth desire to be at peace ^vith God, and
in covenant with him. Oh ! I thirst, I pant, I gasp after him,
I long for communion and peace with him ; with my soul do I
desire thee in the night, yea, with my spirit within me do I seek
thee early.'
2. Desire the improvement of the covenant : It may be, God
hath given thee an interest in it ; but, alas ! thy hold is so weak
that thou scarce knowest the meaning of it ; the Lord may an-
swer, but yet he speaks darkly, as some time he spake to the
woman, Go thy way, and sin no more. It is a middle kind of
expression, neither assuring her that her sin was pardoned, nor
yet putting her out of hope that it might be pardoned. So it may
be, God hath given thee some little ease, but he hatji not spoken
full peace. Go on then, and desire more confirmation ; say in
thine heart, ^ O Lord, thou hast begun to shew grace unto thy
servant ; but oh ! manifest to me all thy goodness : thou hast
given me a drop, and I feel it so sweet that now I thirst, and long
to enjoy the fountain : thou hast given me a taste, but my desire
is not thereby diminished, but enlarged ; and good reason, for
what are these drops, and tastes, but only the first-fruits and
earnests of the Spirit. Oh ! then, what are those harvests of
joy ? What are those treasures of \^isdom and free grace hid
in God ? I have indeed beheld a feast of fat things, of fat
things full of marroiv , of wines on the lees, of wines on the lees
well refined : but oh ! what a famine is yet in my spirit ! — OLord,
I have longed for thy salvation. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!'
3. Desire after continuance of the covenant- state. Many a
soul cannot deny but that the Lord hath shewed mercy on him,
but he fears that he shall not hold out. He feels within such a
power of conniption, such strong temptations, that now he
doubts, O what will become of my poor soul ? what will be the
issue of this ? Come now, and desire perseverance. When
Looking unto Jesus, 191
Peter was ravished on the mount. It is good being here, says he,
ieftis build three tabernacles: his desire was to have continued
there for ever. O come with these pantings and breathings after
God ; put forth thy desires in these or the Hive expressions : ^ O
Lord, thou hast said, I will betroth thee unto me for ever : then.
Lord, I desire the accomplishment. O fulfil what thou hast said I
It would break my heart if ever the covenant should be broken
betwixt me and thee. My desire is towards thee ; and the more
I enjoy thee, the more I desire and pant after thee. My desires
are like thyself, infinite, eternal, everlasting desires.
4. Desire Jesus, the great business, or the all in all, in a
covenant of grace. The most proper object of desire, especially
to fallen man, is Jesus Christ. Hence it is that a poor sinner,
under the sense of sin, cries out with the vehemency of desire,
' Christ and none but Christ ; give me Christ, or I die, I am
undone, I am lost for ever.' But what is Christ, or Jesus, to a
covenant of grace ? I answer, he is the great business, he is
the all in all.
(1.) Christ is the messenger of tliis covenant : The Lord whom
ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of
the covenant, whom ye delight in. Christ travels with tidings
between parties of the covenant :
[1 .] He reports of God to us, he commends his Father unto
us. Ministers cannot speak of Christ, and of his Father, as he
can do himself. O my soul, to excite thy desires, come and hear
Christ speak of Christ, and of his Father, and of heaven j for he
saw all.
[2.1 He reports of us to God ; he commends us to his Father.
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee, but I have
known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. Happy
souls,- of whom Christ is telling good tidings in heaven ; for he
is the Angel of the covenant.
(2.) He is the witness of the covenant ; he saw and heard
all. Behold I have given him for a witness to the people; and he
is called. The faithful Witness ; the Amen ; the faithful and
true JVitness. The covenant saith, The Son of man came to
seek and save that which was lost : Amen ; saith Christ, / can
zuitness that to be true. The covenant saith, Christ died, and
rose again for sinners : Amen, saith Christ, / was dead, and
behold I live for ever more. Amen. There is not any thing said
in the covenant, but Christ is a witness to it ; and therefore we
read in the very end of the Bible, this subscription, as I may
call it, in relation to Christ, He which testifieth of these thiiigs
saith : Surely I come quickly; Amen.
(3.) Christ is the surety of the covenant. Inasmuch as not
ivithout an ooih he was made a priest, by so much luas Jesus made
a surety of a better testament. The covenant of works had a
promise ; but because it was to be broken, and done away, it
19^ Looking unto Jesus,
had no oath of God, as this hath. O doubting soul, thou that
sayest thy salvation is not sure, think on this scripture ; thou
hast the oath of God for it 5 it is a sworn article of the covenant,
Relieve in the Lord Jesus ^ and thou shalt he saved. And to this
end Christ is a surety.
[1.] Surety for God : he undertakes that God shall fulfil his part
of the covenant ; Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father s
good pleasure to give you the kingdom. And him that cometh
unto me, I will in no wise cast out.
[2.] Surety for us : and to this purpose he hath paid a ransom
for us, and giveth a new heart to us.
(4.) Christ is the mediator of the covenant. The apostle calls
him, Jesus the Mediator of the 7iew covenant. He hath some-
thing of God, as being true God, and something of man, as
sharing with us of the nature of man : hence he is mediator by
office, and layeth his hands on both parties, as a days-man doth ;
and in this respect he is a friend, a reconciler, and a servant. 1 .
A friend to both parties : he hath God's heart for man, to be
gracious ; and he hath man's heart for God, to satisfy justice.
2. A reconciler of both parties : he brings down God to a treaty
of peace, and he brings up man by a ransom paid ; so that he
may say unto both, ' Father, come down to my brethren, my
kindred and flesh ; and, thou my sister and spouse, come up to
my Father, and thy Father, to my God and thy God.' 3. He is
a servant to both parties : Behold my servant, saith God, my
righteous servant : yea, and our servant. He came not to be
served, hut to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
(5.) Christ is the testator of the covenant. He died to this
very end, that he might confiiin the covenant. Where a testa-
ment is, there must also of necessity he the death of the testator:
for a testament is of force after men are dead, otherwise it is of
no strength at all whilst the testator liveth. Christ then must
die, and Christ's blood must be shed, to seal the covenant of
grace. It is not every blood, but Christ's blood, that must seal
the everlasting covenant, Heb. xiii. 20, and his blood being shed,
he is then rightly called the testator of the covenant.
O what fuel is here to set our desires on flame ! Come, soul,
and bend thy desires towards Christ, as the sunflower towards
the sun, the iron to the loadstone ; yea, the nearer thou drawest
towards Christ, the more do thou desire Christ. " He that thirsts,
let him thirst more," saith Bernard, "and he that desires, let
him desire yet more abundantly." Is there not cause ? O what
excellencies hast thou found in Christ ! Poor soul ! thou hast
undone thyself by sin, there's but a step betwixt thee and dam-
nation ; but, to save thy soul, Christ comes leaping on the moun-
tains, and skipping on the hills : he enters into a covenant with
God ; he is the messenger of the covenant, the witness of the
covenant, the surety of the covenant, the mediator of the cove-
Looking unto Jesus. 193
nant, the testator of the covenant, the great business, the all
in all. If David could say, My soul breaks for the longing that
it hath to thy judgments at all times; how mayest thou say,
' My soul breaks for the longings that it hath to thy mercies, (and
my Jesus,) at all times/ Oh ! I gasp for grace, as the thirsty
land for drops of rain. I thirst, I faint, I hmguish, I long for, an
hearty draught of the fountain opened to the house of David,
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Oh ! that I could see
Jesus flying through the midst of heaven, with the covenant in
his hand. Oh! I long for that angel of the covenant; I long
to see such another vision as John did, when he said, And I saw
another angel in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting
gospel to preach unto them that dwell upoti the earth. What ! is
that covenant in the hand of Christ ? And is my name written
in that roll ? Say, Lord, is my name written on the heart of
Clu*ist ? Oh ! if 1 had the glory of all the world ; if 1 had ten
thousand worlds, and ten thousand lives ; I would lay them all
down, to have this poor trembling soul of mine assured of this.
Oh ! my thirst is insatiable, my bowels are hot within me ; my
desire after Jesus is greedy as the grave, the coals thereof are as
coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
Sect. IV. — Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect.
Hope is a certain confidence that the desired good will come.
All the question is, whether those promises contained in the
covenant of grace belong unto me ? and what are the grounds
on which my hope is built ? If the grounds be weak, then hope
is doubtful, or presumptuous ; but if the grounds be right, then
hope is right, and I may cast anchor, and build upon it.
In the disquisition of these grounds, we shall only search into
those qualifications which the scripture tells us they are quali-
fied with, with whom the Lord enters into a covenant of grace :
and these we shall reduce — I. To the condition of the covenant.
2. To the promise of the covenant.
I . If thou art in a covenant with God, then hath God wrought
in thee that condition of the covenant, a true and lively faith.
Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved. The pro-
mise of life contained in the covenant is made only to believers.
This is §0 sure a way of trial, that the apostle himself directs us
thereunto : Examine yourselves whether ye he in the faith. But
how shall I examine ? Why, thus :
(1.) True faith mil carry thee out of thyself unto Christ : /
live, yet not /, hut Christ liveth in me. A faithful man hath
not his life in himself, but in Christ Jesus ; he hath his spiritual
being in the Father, and in his Son Jesus Christ ; he is joined
to the Lord, and is one spirit ; he seeth the Father in the Son,
7. 2 b
194 Looking unto Jesus,
and the Son within himself, and also the Father within himself
through the Son. Know ye not that Christ Jesus is in yott,
except ye be reprohatesf Ye shall know me, saith Christ, that I
am i?i the Father, and you in me, and I in you.
(2.) True faith will carry thee beyond the world. A believer
looks on Christ overcoming the world through him : — this is the
victory that overcometh the world, even your faith.
(3.) True faith is ever accompanied with true love. If once
by faith thou apprehendest Christ's love to thee, thou canst not
but love Christ, who loved thee, and gave himself for thee : — We
love him, because he first loved us.
(4.) True faith purifies the heart, and purgeth out sin. When
God discovers this, that he will heal backsliding, and love freely,
and turn away his anger, then Ephraim shall say. What have I
any more to do with idols f If ever Christ reveal himself as
the justification, he will be sure to present himself as the pattern
of our sanctification. The knowledge of God's goodness will
make us in love with holiness.
(5.) Above all, observe the rise. True faith is ever bottomed
upon the sense and pain of a lost condition. This is faith's
method — be condemned, to be saved; be sick, and be healed.
Faith is a flower of Christ's own planting, but it grows in no
soul, but only on the margin of the lake of fire and brimstone ;
in regard there's none so fit for Christ and heaven, as those who
are self-sick, and self- condemned to hell. They that be whole,
need not a physician, saith Christ, but they that are sick. I
know Satan argues thus : Thou art not worthy of Christ, and
therefore what hast thou to do with Christ ? But faith con-
cludes otherwise : I am not worthy of Christ, I am out of measure
sinful, I tremble at it, and I am sensible of it, and therefore
ought I, and therefore must I, come to Christ ? This arguing
is gospel-logic, and the right method of a true and saving faith ;
for what is faith, but the act of a sinner humbled, weary, laden,
poor, and self-condemned ? Oh ! take heed of their doctrine, who
make faith the act of some vile person never humbled, but apply-
ing, with an immediate touch, his hot, boiling, and smoking
lusts, to the bleeding, blessed wounds and death of Jesus
Christ !
2. If thou art in covenant v/ith Grod, then hath God fulfilled
in some part the promises of this covenant to thy soul.
(1.) Then hath God put the law into thy inward parts, and
writ it in thy heart. Look, as face in the glass answers face, so
does the conformity of thy heart to the law of God : thou obeyest
God's will, and delightest in that obedience ; thou sayest with
David, I delight to do thy will, O God; yea, thy law is within
my heart.
(2.) Thou art by covenant as one of the people of God.
Christ hath thy soul, thy body, thy affections 5 thou art Christ's
Looking unto Jesus. 195
by marriage ; thou hast passed thyself over unto him to be his
spouse, his crown, his servant, his child, for ever.
Are these, O my soul, the grounds of thy hopes; a lively
faith in Jesus ? an accomplishment in some measure of the pro-
mises of the covenant? Why, these are the fuel of hope. If
this be thy case, act thy hope strongly on Christ, and on the
covenant of grace. Oh! hope in Jesus. Draw on thy hope
yet more and more. Be not content only with an hope of ex-
pectation, but bring it on to an hope of confidence, or assurance •
thou canst not fail, if thou hangest thy hope on Jesus.
Sect. V. — Of Believing in Jesus in that respect.
We must believe in Jesus carrying on this great work of our
salvation in a way of covenant. Consider, O thou soul, to this
end, these following passages :
1. Consider the gracious nature of God. That which undoes
broken hearts, and trembling souls, is misconceivings of God.
We have many times low thoughts of God's goodness, but we
have large thoughts of his power and wrath. Now, to rectify
these misapprehensions, consider his name, and therein his
nature : The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-
siiffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy
for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgressions, and sins.
2. Consider the gracious nature of Jesus Christ. Our thoughts
of God are necessarily more strange than of Jesus Christ, be-
cause of our infinite distance from the Godhead ; but in Christ,
God is come down into our nature, and so infinite goodness and
mercy is incarnate. Art thou afraid, O my soul, at his name
Jah, and Jehovah? Oh ! remember his name is Emmanuel ; the
lion is here disrobed of his garment of terror : see thy God dis-
robed of his terrible majesty; see thy God is a man, and thy
Judge is a brother. Oh, that name Jesus ! that name that
sounds healing for every wound, settlement for every distrac-
tion, comfort for every sorrow. But here's the misery; souls
in distress had rather be poring on hell than heaven. O my
soul, how canst thou more contradict the nature of Christ, than
to think him a destroyer of men ? But wherein appears the
gracious nature of Christ ? I answer, 1 . In his being incarnate.
How could Jesus have manifested more willingness to save,
than that the Godhead should condescend to assume our nature ?
2. In his tender dealing with all sorts of sinners. He professed
that he came into the world not to condemn the world, but that
the world through him might be saved. He wept over Jeru-
salem, saying, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how oft woidd I have
gathered thee as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings ?
but ye would not. And when his disciples would have had fire
come down from heaven to consume those that refused him, he
196 I^ooking unto tfesus,
reproved them, and told them, they knew not of what spirits
they were. 3. In his care of his own; not caring what he suf-
fered, so they might be saved. Alas, alas; that the Lord
Jesus should pass through a life of misery, to a death more miser-
able, to manifest ojfenly to the world the abundance of his love,
and yet that my soul should suspect him of cruelty, or unwilling-
ness to shew mercy! Ah, my soul, believe; never cry out,
my sins, my sins! there is a gracious nature in Jesus Christ to
pardon all.
3. Consider of those tenders and offers of Christ, those en-
treaties and beseechings to accept of Christ, which are made in
the gospel. What is the gospel? or what is the sum of all the
gospel, but this ! O take Christ, and life in Christ, that thou
mayst be saved. What mean these free offers ? Ho every one
that thirsteth, come to the waters; and whosoever luill, let hini
take of the luaters of life freely ; and, God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever helieveth on
him should not j^erish, hut have everlasting life. God is the
first suitor and solicitor ; he first prays the soul to take Christ.
Hark at the door ! who is it that knocks there ? who is it that
calls now, even now ? Open unto me, my sister, my love, my
dove, my undefiled; for my head is Jilted with dew, and my locks
with the drops of the night. See him through the \vindows.
This can be none but Christ ; his sweet language of sister, love,
and dove, bespeaks him Christ ; his suffering language, that his
head is filled with dew, and his locks with drops of the night,
bespeaks him Christ. But hearken the motion he makes to thy
soul : Soul ! consider what price I have given to save thee. This
my body was crucified, my hands and feet nailed, my heart
pierced, and through anguish I was forced to cry, my soul is
heavy, heavy unto death ! and now what remains for thee but
only to believe ? See all things ready on my part, justification,
sanctification, salvation. I will be thy God, and thou shalt be
of the number of my people. I offer now myself and merits,
and benefits flowing therefrom, and I entreat thee to accept of
this offer. Oh ! take Christ, and life and salvation in Christ.
What, is this the voice of my Beloved ? are these the entreaties
of Jesus ? and, O my soul, wilt thou not believe ? wilt thou not
accept of this gracious offer of Christ ! Oh ! consider who it is
that proclaimeth, inviteth, beseecheth. If a poor man should
offer thee mountains of gold, thou mightest doubt of perform
ance, because he is not of that power ; if a covetous rich man
should offer thee thousands of silver, thou mightest doubt of per-
formance, because it is contrary to his nature : but Christ is
neither poor, nor covetous ; as he is able, so his name is gra-
cious, and his nature is to be faithful in performance, his cove-
nant is sealed with his blood, and confirmed by his oath, that
all shall have pardon that vrill but come in, and believe. Oh !
Looking unto Jesus. 197
then let these words of Christ, whose lips are dropping down
myrrh, prevail with my soul. Say amen to his offer; I believe.
Lord help my unbelief.
4. Consider those commands of Christ, which, notwithstand-
ing all thy excuses or pretences, he fastens on thee to believe.
And this is his commandment, that tve should believe on the name
of his Son Jesus Christ. Surely this command should entirely
outweigh all countermands of flesh and blood, of Satan, nature,
reason, sense, and all the world. Why, this command is thy
very ground and warrant, against which the very gates of hell
can never prevail. When Abraham had a command to kill his
only son with his own hand, though it was matter of as great
grief as could possibly pierce his heart, yet he would readily
submit to it ; how much more shouldst thou obey, when God
commands no more, but that thou shouldst believe on the name
of his Son Jesus Christ ? There is no evil in this command ; no,
it comprehends in it all good imaginable. Have Christ, and
thou hast with him the excellency and variety of all blessings
both of heaven and earth; have Christ, and thou hast with him
a discharge of all those endless and easeless torments of hell ;
have Christ, and thou hast with him the glorious Deity itself, to
be enjoyed through him to all eternity. O then, believe in Jesus 1
Suffer not the devil's cavils, and the groundless exceptions of
thine own heart, to prevail with thee against the direct com-
mandment of Almighty God.
5. Consider the messages of Christ, which he daily sends by
the hands of his gospel ministers. /^Te are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you, in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled unto God. What a wonder is
here ! would not an earthly prince disdain to send to his rebel-
lious slaves for reconcilement? It is otherwise with Christ; he
is content to put up at our hands all indignities and affronts ; he
is glad to sue to us first, and to send his ambassadors day after
day, beseeching us to be reconciled unto him. O uicompre-
hensible depth of unspeakable mercy and encouragement to come
to Christ ! Wilt thou take Christ to thy bridegroom, and for-
sake all others ? This is the message which God hath bid me
to deliver to thee : the Lord Jesus expects an answer from thee ;
and I should be glad to return a fit answer to him that sent me.
Say then, wilt thou have Christ for thy husband ? wilt thou enter
into covenant with him ? wilt thou surrender up thy soul to thy
God? wilt thou rely on Christ, and apply Christ's merits par-
ticularly to thyself? wilt thou believe? for that is it I mean by
taking, receiving, and marrying of Christ. O happy if I could
but join Christ and thy soul together this day ! O happy thou,
if thou wouldst this day be persuaded by a poor ambassador of
Christ ! Blame me not, if I am an importmiate messenger. If
ever I hear from thee, let me hear some good news, that I
198 Looking unto Jesus,
may return it to heaven, and give God the glory. Come, say
on; art thou willing to have Christ? wouldst thou have thy
name enrolled in the covenant of grace ? shall God be thy God,
and Christ thy Christ ? wilt thou have the person of Christ, and
all those privileges flowing from the blood of Christ ? sure thou
art willing, art thou not ? Stay then ; thou must take Christ on
these terms ; thou must believe on him ; thou must take him as
thy Saviour and Lord ; thou must take him, and forsake all
others for him. This is the true faith, the condition of the cove-
nant. Oh ! believe in Jesus, and the covenant is established,
and all doubts removed.
Sect. VI. — Of Loving Jesus in that respect,
6. We must love Jesus, as carrying on this great work of our
salvation. Go on then, O my soul, put fire to the earth, blow
thy little spark, set before thee God's love, and thou canst not
but love.
In God's love consider, 1. The time. 2. The properties.
3. The effects of it.
1. For the time. — 1. He loved thee before the world was made.
Hast thou not heard, and wilt thou ever forget it — were not
those ancient loves from all eternity? — 2. He loved thee in
the very beginning of the world. Was not the promise ex-
pressed to Adam intended for thee ? As thou sinnedst in his
loins, so didst thou in his loins receive the promise. It shall
bruise thy head. And not long after, when God established his
covenant with Abraham and his seed, wast thou not one of that
seed of Abraham ? 3. He loves thee now more especially, not
only with a love of benevolence, as before, but with a love of
complacency: not only hath he struck covenant with Christ,
with Adam, with Abraham, in thy behalf, but particularly and
personally with thyself. And Oh ! what love is this ? If a
woman lately conceiving, love her future fruit ; how much more
doth she love it when it is born and embraced in her arms ? So,
if God loved thee before thou hadst a being, yea, before the
world, or any creature in it, had a being ; how much more now ?
Oh the height, and depth, and length, and breadth, of this im-
measurable love ! O my soul, I cannot express the love of
God in Christ to thee. I do but draw the picture of the sun
with a coal, when I endeavour to express God's love m Christ.
2. For the properties of this love. — 1. God's love to thee is a
free love. I will love them freely, saith God. And, The Lord
did not set his love upon you, and chuse you, because ye were
more in number than any people, — but because the Lord loved
you. There can be no other reason why the Lord loved thee,
but because he loved thee. 2. God's love to thee is the love of
all relations. Look, what a friend's love is to a friend, or
Looking unto Jesus, 1 99
what a father's love is towards a child, or what an husband's
love is towards a wife, such is God's love to thee : thou
art his friend, his son, his daughter, his spouse 5 and God is thy
all in all.
3. For the effects of his love. — 1. God so loves thee, as that
he hath entered a covenant with thee. Oh, what a love is this !
Tell me, O my soul, is there not an infinite disparity betwixt
God and thee ? He is God above, and thou art a worm below :
he is the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name
is holy, and thon art less than the least of all the mercies of
God. O wonder at such a condescension ! that such a potter,
and such a former of things, should come on terms of bargaining
with such clay as is guilty before him ! Had we the tongues of
men and angels, we could never express it.
God so loves thee, as that in the covenant he gives thee all his
promises. Indeed, what is the covenant but a heap t^i pro-
mises ? As a cluster of stars makes a constellation, so a mass
of promises concurreth in the covenant of grace. Wherever
Christ is, clusters of divine promises grow out of him, as the
rays and beams are from the sun. As God hath given thee his
Son, so he hath given thee himself, and in that God hath given
thee his Son and himself; this is a greater degree of love.
Christians ! stand amazed. Oh, what love is this to the chil-
dren of men ! Oh, that we should live to have our ears filled
with this sound from heaven ! I will be a God to thee and to
thy seed after thee; I am the Lord thy God, I will he their
God, and they shall he my people, O my soul, where hast
thou been ? Rouse up, and set before thee all these passages of
God's love in Christ: are not these strong attractives to gain
thy love ? Canst thou chuse to love the Lord thy God? Shall
not all this love of God in Christ to thee constrain thy love ?
God in Christ is the very element of love. Every element will
to its proper place. Now God is love, and whither should thy
love be carried, but to this ocean or sea of love ? Come, my he-
loved, said the spouse to Christ, let us go up early to the vine
yards, let us see if the vines flourish, whether the tender grapes
appear ; there ivill I give thee my loves. The flourishing of the
vine, and the appearing of the tender grapes, are the fruits of
the graces of God in the assemblies of his saints. When thou
comest to the word, prayer, meditation, be sure of this, to give
Christ thy love.
Sect. VII. — Of Joying in Jesus in that respect,
1. We must joy in Jesus, as carrying on the great work of
our salvation. I know our joy here is but in part; such is the
excellency of spiritual joy, that it is reserved for heaven. God
will not permit it to be pure and perfect here below ; and yet
200 Looking unto t/esus.
such as it is^ though mingled with cares and pains, it is a blessed
duty ; it is the light of our souls ; and were it quite taken away,
our lives would be nothing but horror and confusion.
O my soul, exercise this joy. Is there not cause ? Come, see
and own thy blessedness. Take notice of the great things the
Lord hath done for thee. — 1. He hath made a covenant with
thee of temporal mercies. Thou hast all thou hast by freehold-
ing of covenant-grace. Thy bread is by covenant, thy sleep is
by covenant, thy safety from sword is by the covenant, the very
tilling of thy land is by a covenant of gi'ace, Ezek. xxxvi. 34.
O how sweet is this ! Every crumb is from Christ, and by virtue
of a covenant of grace.
2. He hath made a covenant with thee of spiritual mercies ;
even a covenant of peace, and grace, and blessing, and life for
evermore. God is become thy God. He is all things to thee ;
he hath forgiven thy sins, he hath given thee his Spirit, to lead
thee, to sanctify thee, to uphold thee in that state wherein thou
standest ; and at last he will bring thee to a full enjoyment of
himself in glory. Oh ! lift up thy head, strengthen the weak
hands and the feeble knees ; serve the Lord with gladness, con-
sidering the day of thy salvation draweth nigh. Write it in
letters of gold, that thy God is in covenant with thee, to love
thee, to bless thee, and to save thee. Yet a little while, and
he that shall come will come, and receive thee to himself, and
then thou shalt fully know what it is to have a God to be thy
God. If a man in covenant with God looks on him, he saith.
This is my Father ; if on Christ, This is my elder Brother ; if
on angels. These are my keepers; if on heaven. This is my
house ; if on the signs of heaven, fire, meteors, thunder. These
are but the effects of my Father's power ; if on prosperity, God
hath yet better things for me in store ; if on adversity, Jesus
Christ hath suffered much more for me than this ; if on the devil,
death, and hell, O death ! where is thy sting f O grave ! where
is thy victory f Come, poor soul, is it not thus with thee ?
What ! art thou in covenant with God, or art thou not ? If yet
thou doubtest, review thy grounds of hope, and leave not there,
until thou comest up ta assurance. But if thou art persuaded
of thy interest. Oh ! then rejoice therein. Is it not a gospel-
duty to rejoice in the Lord, and again to rejoice ! The Lord
is delighted in thy dehghts ; he would fain have it thy constant
frame and daily business to live in joy, and to be always de-
hghting thyself in him. Bless the Lord, O my soul, saith David,
and all that is ivithin me, bless his holy name. So, rejoice in the
Lord, O my soul; and all that is mthin me, rejoice in the name
of God. This is true joy, when the soul unites itself to the
good possessed in all its parts. And was there ever such an
object of true joy as this? Hearken, as if heaven opened, and
the voice came from God in heaven : / ivill be a God to thee^
Looking unto Jesus ^ 201
ami to thy seed aftm^ thee, lam the Lord thy God; and^ /
tvill he thy God, What ! doth not thine heart leap in thy bosom
at this sound ? John the Baptist leaped in his mother's womb
for joy, at the sound of Mary's voice ; and doth not thy soul
spring within thee at this voice of God ? O wonder ! some can
delight themselves in sin ; and is not God better than sin ? If
there be in thee any rejoicing faculty^ now awake, and stir it up.
It is the Lord thy God whom thou art to rejoice in ; it is he who
is the top of heaven's jo}^, their exceeding joy : and it is he
who is thy God, as well as their God. Enough, enough ! or if
this be not enough, hear thy duty, as the Lord commands thee :
Rejoice in the Lord, Phil. iii. 1 . Be g tad, ye children of Zion,
and rejoice in the Lord your God, Joel ii. 23. Bejoice in the
Lord, all ye righteous, for praise is comely for the tipright.
Psalm xxxiii. 1. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give
thanks at the remembrance of his holiness, Psal. xcvii. 12. Let
all those that put their trust in thee rejoice ; let them shout for
joy, because thou defendest them : let them also that love thy
name, be joyful in thee, Psalm v. 11 .
Sect. VIIL — Of Calling on Jesus in that respect.
We must call on Jestis, or on God the Father in and througli
Jesus, in reference to this gracious covenant. Now this calling
on God contains j^rayer and praise.
1. We must pray. We must use arguments of faitli, chal-
lenging God, — turn thou me, and I shall be turned. Why ?
For thou art the Lord my God, This covenant is the ground
on which all prayers must be bottomed. The covenant, we know,
contains all the promises ; and what is prayer but promises
turned into petitions ? Thus prayed the prophet Jeremiah, Do
not abhor us, for thy name's sake ; do not disgrace the throne of
thy gloi-y. Remember, break not thy covenant with us. Why ?
^rt not thou the Lord our God ? And thus prayed the prophet
Isaiah ; Be not wroth very sore, neither remember iniciuity for
ever. Behold, we beseech thee ! And vvhy so ? TFe are thy
people. Be thy soul in trouble for sin and corruption ; yet go to
God, and plead his promise and covenant : say, as Jehoshaphat,
Lord, I know not what to do, only mine eyes are unto thee;
Oh! do thou subdue mine iinquities. Be thy soul troubled for
want of strength to do this or that duty ; yet go to God and
Christ, and say, ' Lord, thou knowest I have no strength in
myself ; I am a barren wilderness ; but thou hast entered into a
covenant with me, that thou wilt put thy law into my inward
parts, thou wilt cause me to keep thy judgments, and do them,'
Ezek. xxxvi. 27- Here is the way ; in every want, or strait, or
necessity, fly to God and Christ, saying, ' Thou art my Father,
and we are thy people ; O break nOt thy covenant with us.'
8. 2e
^02 Looking unto Jesus.
2. We must praise. — (1.) If we would have the blessmg, let
us seek it with a purpose to have grace exalted : thus Moses
sought pardon to this very end, that God's mercy might appear.
If thou wilt pardon their sin, thy mercy shall appear, and we
shall he thankful unto thee for it ; so the words are made out
by expositors, which in the text are either passionately or mo-
destly suspended. These are prevailing requests with God, when
we plead for the glorifying of his own grace. Father, glorify thy
name, said Christ ; and presently there comes a voice out of the
cloud, I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.
(3.) If we have the blessing already, then be sure to ascribe
glory unto him that hath made good his promise -unto us. TVho
is a God like unto thee, who passeth by the transgressions of the
remnant of his heritage f Who shall make the praise of his grace
to ring through the world, that heaven and earth may wonder
at the grace that hath been shewed us. / will mention the
loving -kindness of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, accord-
ing to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the g^eat
goodness towards the house of Israel, which he hath bestoiued on
them according to his mercies, and accordiiig to the multitude of
his loving-kindnesses. See how the prophet mentions the kind-
nesses, the loving-kindnesses, the multitude of his loving-kind-
nesses, the goodness, and the great goodness, of God : he could
hardly get off it ; he would have God and grace to have all the
glory. O, my soul ! hath God entered thee into a covenant of
grace ? Why, then, bless the Lord, O my soul ; and all that is
within me, bless his holy name.
Sect. IX. — Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect.
We must conform to Jesus in reference to this covenant of
grace. We are changed, by beholding, into the same image.
If we look unto Jesus in this respect, this look will have such
an influence upon us, that we shall conform to Jesus. But
wherein consists this conformity ? I answer, in these parti-
culars :
1 , God in Christ offers a covenant of grace to us : so we,
through Christ, should embrace this gracious offer. His offers
have appeared from first to last; as, 1. To Adam. 2. To
Abraham. 3. To Moses. 4. To David. 5. To Israel, and to
Judah. Take notice of it in that great promise of the cove-
nant, I will he thy God. So God is first with us, he is the first
mover, he begins with us before we begin with him : / will
bring them, saith God, into the bond of the covenant. Now in
this let us conform. Doth he offer ? let us embrace the offer.
Doth he lead the way ? let us follow him step by step in that
very way. Let us not prescribe unto God, let us not presume
to appoint the conditions of the covenant. But come, take God
Looking unto Jesus, 203
and Christ upon his own terms ; submit to that way of the cove-
nant, and to those conditions of peace, which the Lord pre-
scribe th.
2. God in Christ keeps covenant -with us ; so we, through
Christ, should be careful to keep covenant wjth God. But we
must keep it. The Lord never will, never hath, broken cove-
nant on his part : but, alas ! we, on our parts, have broken the
first covenant of works. Let us take heed we break not the
second : for then there remains not any more place for any more
covenants. As the Lord keeps covenant with us ; so let us keep
covenant with him ; and therein is the blessing. The mercy of
the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, — to such as keep his
covenant.
Sundry acts of faith are required to this keeping of co-
venant :
(L) Faith in keeping the covenant, hath always an eye to the
rule and command of God. As in things to be beUeved, faith
looks on the promise ; so in things to be practised, faith looks
on the command. Faith will present no strange fire before the
Lord, it knows that God will accept of nothing but what is
according to his own will.
(2.) As faith takes direction from the rule ; so m keeping of
the covenant, it directs us to the right end, that is, to the glory
of God. We are of him, and live in him ; and by faith we
must live to him and for him. For none of us liveth to himself
and no m,an dieth to himself : for whether we live, we live unto
the Lord ; and whether we die, ive die unto the Lord ; whether
we live therefore or die, ive are the Lord's,
(3.) Faith in keeping the covenant shields the soul against all
hinderances that it meets with. Sometimes we are tempted by
the baits and allurements of the world. All these will I give
thee, saith the world, if thou wilt be mine ; but then faith over-
comes the world, by setting before us better things than these.
Sometimes we are tempted by crosses, afflictions, persecutions,
and sufferings for the name of Christ ; but then faith makes us
conquerors through Christ that loved us, by setting before us
the end of our faith and patience.
(4.) Faith encoiu'ageth the soul, that the Lord will have a
gi'acious respect unto its keeping covenant. In every nation
he that fear eth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted of
him. Surely this is no small encovn-agement to well-doing. What
would not a servant do, if he knew his lord would take it in
good part ? Now faith assures the soul, there is not one prayer,
one holy desire, or one good thought, or word which is spoken
or done to the glory of God, but God takes notice of it, and
accepts it in good part.
Oh my soul ! art thou acquainted with these acts of faith,
enabling thee in some good measure to keep covenant with.
204 Looking unto J^e^us.
God ? Then is there a sweet conformity betwixt thee and
Jesus.
3. God in Christ hath highly honoured us, as we are his peo-
ple ; so we through Christ should honour him highly, as he is
our God. This is the main end of the covenant. Oh my soul !
be like to God, bear the image and resemblance of God thy
Father, in this respect : he hath humbled himself to advance
thee ; then humble thyself to advance him, and endeavour eveiy
way to exalt his name.
We are willing to be in covenant with God, that we may
set up ourselves, that we may sit upon thrones, and possess a
kingdom ! but we must think especially of setting up the Lord
upon his throne. Ascribe greatness to our God, saith Moses,
make it a name and a praise unto him, that he hath vouchsafed
to make us his people, and to take us into covenant with himself.
Honour him^ as he is God ; but honour him more abundantly,
as he is our God. Who should honour him, if his people da
not ? The world knows him not ; the world will not seek after
God ; — God is not in all their thoughts. And shall God have no
honour ? shall he that stretched out the heavens, and laid the
fomidations of the earth, and formed man upon it, have no
glory ? Oh yes ! The Lord himself answers, 21iis people have
I formed for myself , they shall shew forth my j^^'ctise. Surely,
God will have praise from his own people, whom he hath taken
unto himself. He will be glorified in all that come near him.
But, how should we honour God ? I answer, — We must lie
under the authority of every word of God, and conform our-
selves to the examples of God ; that is, we must labour to be-
come followers of God, and imitate his virtues. It is a part of
that honour which children owe to their parents, to obey their
commands, and to imitate their example. We cannot honour
God more, than when we are humbled at his feet to receive his
v/ord, than when we renounce the manners of the world, to
become his followers as dear children. Oh ! think of this ; for
w^hen we conform indeed, then we are holy as he is holy, pure
as he is pure ; and then, how should this but tend to the honour
and glory of our good God ?
Thus far we have looked on Jesus as our Jesus in that dark
time before his coming in the flesh. Our next work is to look
on Jesus as carrying on the great work of man's salvation in his
first coming or incarnation.
» % ■> i#m» v»* ^*»»t
Looking unto Jesus, 205
LOOKING UNTO JESUS,
IN HIS BIRTH.
BOOK III.
GHAP. 1.
Sect. I.— 0/ the 2'idings of Christ.
JN this period, as in the former, we shall first lay down the
object ', and, secondly, direct you how to look unto it.
The object is Jesus, carrying on the work of man's salvation,
in his first coming in the flesh, until his coming again. But be-
cause in this long period we have many transactions, which we
cannot with conveniency dispatch together ; we shall therefore
break it into smaller pieces, and present this object, Jesus
Christ — 1. In his birth. 2. In his life. 3. In his death. 4. In
his resurrection. 5. In his ascension, cessk)n at God's right
hand, and mission of his Holy Spirit. 6. In his intercession for
his saints ; in which business he will be employed till his second
coming to judgment.
1. First, For the transactions of Jesus in his birth. Some
things w^e must propound before, and some things after his Ijirth ;
so that we shall continue this period till the time of John's bap-
tism, or the exercise of his ministry upon earth. Now in all the
transactions of this time, we shall especially handle these: 1. The
tidings of Christ. 2. The conception of Christ. 3. The dupli-
city of natures in Christ. 4. The wonderful union, notwithstand-
ing that distinction. 5. The birth of Christ. 6. Some conse-
quents after his birth, whilst yet a child of twelve years old.
The first passage in relation to his birth, is, the tidings of
Christ : this appears, Luke i. 26, 27, 28, &c. And in the sixth
month the angel Gabriel ivas sent from God, &c. I shall a little
insist on some of these words.
1. The messenger is an angel. Man was too mean to carry
the news of the conception of God. Never any business was
conceived in heaven, that did so much concern the earth, as the
conception of the God of heaven in a womb of earth ; no less,
therefore, than an angel was worthy to bear these tidings;
and never angel received a greater honour, than of this
embassage.
206 Looking unto tiesus,
2. Tliis angel salutes the Virgin ; Hail, thou that art highly
favoured, the Lord is with thee ; blessed art thou among women.
Many men and women have been^ and are, the spiritual temples
of God; but never vras any the material temple of God, but
only Mary ; and therefore, blessed art thou amongst women :
and yet we cannot say that she was so blessed in bearing Christ,
as she was in believing in Christ 3 her bearing was more mira-
culous, but her believing was more beneficial to her soul.
3. This virgin is troubled at this salute. She might well be
troubled ; for 1. If it had been but a man that had come in so
suddenly, when she expected none ; or so secretly, when she
had no other company ; or so stronglj^, the doors being probably
shut ; she had cause to be troubled : how much more, when the
glory of the angel heightened the astonishment ? 2. Her sex
was more subject to fear : if Zachary was amazed with the sight
of this angel, how much more the Virgin ! But the angel com-
forts her; Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favour with God.
4. Here is the foundation of her comfort, and our happiness ;
Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,
a7id shalt call his name Jesus. Never was mortal creature thus
honoured, that her womb should yield that flesh, which was per-
sonally united to the godhead ; that she should bear him that
upholds the world. There is one wonder in the conception,
another in the fruit ; both are marvellous, but the latter is more
mysterious, and fuller of admiration : the fruit of the womb is
Jesus, a Saviour, the Son of the Highest, a King ; God shall
give him a throne, and he shall reign for ever ; for of his king-
dom there shall be no end. Here was a Son, and such a Son as
the world never had before ; and here was the ground of Mary's
joy: how could she but rejoice, to hear what her Son should be
before he was ? Surely, never was any mother so glad of her
son born, as this virgin was of her son before he was con-
ceived.
The ground of this joy lay more especially in that name of
Jesus. Here, Christians, is the object that you are to look
unto. The first title that the angel gives our Saviour, is,
Jesus Saviour. Oh come ! let us dwell a little here. Without
Jesus we had never known God our friend ! and without Jesus,
God had never known us for any other than his enemies. This
name Jesus is better to us than all the titles of God. Indeed,
there is goodness and greatness in the name Jehovah ; but
we merited so little good, and demerited so much evil, that
in it alone there had been small comfort for us ; but in the name
of Jesus there is comfort, and with the name of Jesus there is
comfort in the name of God. In old times, God was known
by his names of power, and of majesty ; but his name of mercy
was reserved till now, when God did purpose to pour out the
whole treasure of his mercy, by the mediation of his vSon. And
Looking unto Jesus. 207
as this name is exalted above all names ; so are we to exalt his
mercy above all his works. Oh, it is an useful name ! In all
depths, distresses, miseries, perplexities, we beseech God by
the name of Jesus, to make good his own name, — not to bear it
for nought ; but as he is a Saviour, to save us : and this is our
comfort, that God will never so remember our sins, as to forget
his own blessed name ; and especially this name Jesus. It is the
highest, the dearest, the sweetest name to us of all the names
of God.
The reason of this name was given by the angel to Joseph :
Thou shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from
their sins. But why from their sins ? We seem rather willing
to be saved from poverty, ignominy, prison, death, hell. Sin
is a thing that troubles but few : alas ! sin, if we understand it, is
the very worst of evils ; there is no poverty but sin, there is no
shame but sin ; there is no prison, but that prison is a paradise
without sin ; there is no death that has any sting in it, but for sin ;
the sting of death is sin ; take out the sting, and you may put
the serpent in your bosom ; nay, I'll say more, there would be
no hell, were it not for sin : sin first kindled the fire of hell, sin
fuels it ; take away sin, and that tormenting flame goes out.
Had it not been for sin, the devil had no business in the world ;
were it not for sin, he could never hurt a soul.
What abundance of benefits are here in one word. He shall
save his people from their sins ! There is no evil incident to
man, but it ceaseth to be evil when sin is gone. If Jesus takes
away sin, he doth bless our very blessings, and sanctify our
afflictions : he fetcheth peace out of trouble, riches out of po-
verty, honour out of contempt, liberty out of bondage : he pulls
out the sting of death, puts out the fire of hell : as all evils are
wrapt up in sin ; so he that saves us fi-om sin, saves us from all
evils whatsoever.
This is that Jesus, the Son of God's love, the author of
our salvation, in whom alone God is well pleased ; and whom the
angel published before he was conceived : Thoit shall conceive,
and bring forth a Son, and shall call his iiame Jesus.
Sect. II. — Of the Conception of Christ,
The conception of Christ, was the conclusion of the angel's
message. No sooner had the Virgin said, Be it to me according
to thy word ; but according to that word it was : immediately
the Holy Ghost overshadowed her, and forms our Saviour in her
womb. Now ! brethren, now was the time of life. Well may
we say, Now was it that the day brake up, that the sun arose,
that darkness vanished, that wrath gave place to favour and
salvation : now was it, that free grace came down from heaven,
thousands of angels waiting on her 5 the very clouds part, as it
208 Looking unto Jesus,
d
were, to give her way; the earth springs to welcome her; the
floods clap their hands for joy ; the heavenly hosts sing as she
goes along. Glory to God in the highest, peace upon earth, good
will towards yuan : truth and righteousness go before her, peace
and prosperity follow after her, pity and mercy wait on either
hand ; and when she first sets her foot on the earth, she cries,
^ A Jesus ! a Saviour ! — Hear, ye sons of men ! — The Lord hath
sent me down to bring you news of Jesus ! — Grace and peace be
unto you : I will live with you in this world, and you shall live
with me in the world to come." Here was blessed news : this
is gospel, pure gospel ; this is glad tidings : free grace proclaims
Jesus ; and Jesus is made up as it were all of free grace. What
eternal thanks do we owe to the eternal God ! How may we say
with the angels. Glory to God for Jesus Christ !
But in this conception of Christ are so many wonders, that
ere we begin to speak them, we may stand amazed : TVithout
controversy, great is the mystery of godliness : God manifest in
the flesh. Say, is it not a wonder, a mystery, a great mystery,
that the Son of God should be made of a woman, even made of
that woman which was made by himself ? Is it not a wonder,
that her womb then, and that the heavens now, should contain
him, ivhom the heaven of heavens cannot contain ! — Concerning
this conception of Christ, I shall speak but a little : what man
can conceive much of this ? Our greatest light we borrow from
the angel, who describes it thus : The Holy Ghost shall come
tipo7i thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee.
Out of these words, observe, 1 . The agent. 2. The effect.
1. The agent or efficient cause of Christ's conception, is the
Holy Ghost. This agrees with that speech of the angel to
Joseph: That luhlchis concebwd in her, is of the Holy Ghost,
This conception of Christ was by the operation, or virtue of the
Holy Ghost ; or by the energetical command and ordination of the
Holy Ghost, whereby that part of the Virgin's blood, or seed
whereof the body of Christ was to be framed, was so cleansed
and sanctified, that in it there should be neither spot nor stain
of original pollution.
2. llie effect was the framing of Christ's manhood, in which
we may observe the matter and manner. 1 . For the matter :
observe we the matter of the body, and of the soul, of Christ.
(1.) The matter of the body of Christ was the very flesh and
blood of the Virgin : he ivas made of a woman, saith the apostle,
i, e. of the flesh and blood, and substance of the woman ; and,
he was made of the seed of David, saith the apostle, according to
flesh; otherwise he could not have been the Son of David
according to the flesh. (2.) The soul of Christ was not derived
from the soul of the Virgin, but it was made as the souls of other
men be, i. e. of nothing, by the power of God ; and so infused
into the body by the hand of God.
Looking unto J^esus. 209
2. For the manner of forming Christ's hmnan nature, it was
miraculous. The angel ascribes two actions to the Holy Ghost
in this great work : the one, to come upon the Virgin ; the other,
to overshadow her: by the first is signified the extraordinary
work _ of the Holy Ghost in fashioning the human nature of
Christ.
The second action ascribed to the Holy Ghost, is, oversha-
dowing of the Virgin : this teacheth us that we should not search
overmuch into this great mystery. Alas ! it is too high for us ;
if the course of ordinary generation be a secret, how past all
comprehension is tlris extraordinary operation ! ^^ I know the
Word was made flesh," saith Chrysostom; "but how he was
made, I know not."
Sect. III. — Of the jyuplieity of Natures in Christ,
The duplicity of natures in Christ appears, in that he was
truly God and truly man. To tis a child is born^ saith the pro-
phet ; there is a nature human : mid he sftall he called the mighty
God ; there is a nature divine. God sent his Son, saith the
apostle, therefore truly God ; and that Son made of a woman,
therefore truly man.
That Christ is true God, both apparent scriptures, and unan-
swerable reasons drawn from scriptures, evince.
1. The scriptures call him God. In the beginning was the
ivord, and the word was with God, and the word was God. —
Jtnd unto the Son he saith. Thy throne, O God, is for ever. —
^nd Thomas ansivered and said unto him, My Lord, and my
God! — Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock, to feed
the church of God, ivhich he hath ^mrchased with his own blood,
— And hereby i^erceive we the love of God, because he laid down
his life for us. — Jlnd we know that the Son of God is come.
This is the true God, and eternal life. — And without contro-
versy, great is the mystery of godliness, God luas manifested in
the flesh.
2. Unanswerable reasons drawn from scriptures, prove him
God : tlms it appears —
(1.) From those incommunicable properties of the Deity whicli
are ascribed unto him: He is eternal as God, Rev. i. IJ. He
is infinite as God, Matt, xxviii. 20. He is omniscient as God,
Matt. ix. 4. He is omnipotent as God; He that cometh from
above is above all — He is able to subdue all things unto himself
— H<i hath the keys of hell and death.
(2.) From thdse acts ascribed to him, which are only agreeable
to the dinne nature ; as, to hear the prayers of the people, Jobn
xiv. 14. To judge the quick and the dead, John v. 22. And
thus he creates as God, John i. 4. He commands as God, Matt*
8. 2d
210 Looking unto Jesus.
viii. 26. He forgives as God, Matt. ix. 6. He sanctifies as
Godj John i. 12. He glorifies as God, Jolm x. 21.
(3.) From all those acknowledgments given to him by the
saints, which are only proper unto God; and thus he is be-
lieved on as God, John iii. 18. He is loved as God, 1 Cor.
xvi. 22. He is obeyed as God, Matt, xvii, 5. He is prayed to
as God, Acts vii. 59. He is praised as God, Rev. v. 13. He
is adored as God, Heb. i. 6. Phil. ii. 10. Surely all these are
strong demonstrations, that Christ Jesus is God. But why was
it requisite that our Saviour should be God ? I answer,
1 . Because none can save souls, nor satisfy for sin, but God
alone. There is 7ione, saith the Psalmist, that can hy any means
redeem his brother, or give a ransom for him, — But God will re-
deem my soul from the jiower of hell. 2. Because the satisfaction
which is made for sin, must be infinitely meritorious : and infinite
wrath cannot be appeased, but by an infinite merit ; and hence
our Saviour must needs be God, to the end that his obedience
and sufferings might be of infinite worth. 3. Because the burden
of God's wrath cannot be endured by a finite creature : Christ
therefore must be God, that he might abide the burden by
his divine power. 4. Because the enemies of our salvation
were too strong for us : how could any creature overcome Satan,
death, hell, damnation ? Ah ! this required the power of God ;
there's none but God that could destroy him that had the power
of death, that is, the devil.
2. As Christ is God, so he is true man. He was born as man,
and bred as man, and fed as man, and slept as man, and wept
as man, and sorrowed as man^ and suffered as man, and died as
man.
But more particularly. (1 ,) Christ had a human body : Where-
fore when he came into the world he said, Sacrifice and offering
thou wouldst not, hut a body hast thou prepared.
(2.) Christ had an human reasonable soul : My soul is heavy
unto death, saith Christ ; and again. Father, into thy hands I
commit my spirit. " Surely,' ' saith Nazianzen, '' either he had
a soul, or he will never save a soul.''
(3.) Christ had all the properties that belong either to the soul
or body of a man : nay, more than so, Christ had all the infirmi-
ties of our nature, sin only excepted : I say the infirmities of
our nature, as cold, and heat, and hunger, and thirst, and weari-
ness, and weakness, and pain.
But why was it requisite that our Saviour should be man ? I
jtnswer, 1 . Because our Saviour must suffer and die for our sins,
which the godhead could not do. 2. Because our Saviour must
perform obedience to the law. 3. Because our Saviour must
satisfy the justice of God in the same nature wherein it was
offended. 4. Because hy this means we might have free access
to the throne of grace, and might find help in our necessities^
Looking unto Jesus. 211
having such an High-priest as luas in all things tempted like
unto us, Heb. iv. 15.
A real distinction of these two natures is evident : 1 . In re-
gard of essence ; the godhead cannot be the manhood, nor can the
manhood be the godhead. 2. In regard of properties, the god-
head is most wise, just, omnipotent, yea, wisdom, justice, omni-
potence itself; and so is not the manhood, neither can it be.
3. Tliey have distinct wills : Not my willy hut thy will be done,
O Father f plainly differencing the will of a creature from the
will of a Creator. 4. The very actions in the work of redemp-
tion are inseparable, and yet distinguishable: / lay down my
life, and take it up again. To lay it down was the action of
man, not of God ; and to take it up, was the action of God, not
of man : in these respects we say each nature remains in itself
entire, without any conversion, commixtion, or confusion : there
is no conversion of one into the other, as when he changed the
water into wine ; no composition of both, no abolition of either,
no confusion at all. — It is easy to observe this real distinction
of his two natures from first to last : as, 1 . he was conceived as
others, and so he was man ; but he was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, as never man was, and so he is God.
2. He was born as others, and so he was man ; but he was
born of a virgin, as never man was, and this speaks him as God.
3. He was crucified, died, and was buried, and so he was man;
but he rose again from the dead, ascended into heaven, and
from thence shall come at last to judge the quick and the dead,
and so he is God.
Sect. IV. — Of the Union of the tivo Natures of Christ in one
and the same Person.
The union of two natures of Christ, in one and the self-same
person, is that great wonder, which now we must speak of as we
are able. But, alas ! how should we speak of this union, and
not be confounded in ourselves ? It is a great mystery, a secret,
a wonder. Many wonders have been since the beginning of the
world; but all the wonders that ever were must give place to
this. Neither the creation of all things out of nothing, nor the
restoration of all things into their perfect being; I mean, neither
the first work, nor the last work, of God in this world (though
most admirable) may be compared with this. This union of the
two natures of Christ in one person, is the highest pitch of God's
wisdom, goodness, power, and glory.
In the explication of this union, that which I shall insist on,
as the most necessary for our understanding, is, I. The union
itself. II. The effects or benefits of it.
I. For the union itself we shall discuss, 1 . Wherein this union
consists. 2. The scriptural texts that confirm this union. 3. The
212 Looking unto Jesus.
person assuming; and the nature assumed: and of these as
briefly as I may.
This union consists in that dependence of the human nature
on the Word, and in that communicating of the person or sub-
stance of the Word, with the human nature that is assumed ; so
that it is such an union that both natures make one person of
Christ.
2. For the scriptural texts that confirm this union: among
many I shall only cite these :
When Christ asked his apostles, Who do men say that I the Son
of man am ? — Si?non Peter ansiuered, Thou art the Christ, the
Son of the living God. Now if but one Christ, then surely but
one person : and if the Son of man be the Son of the living God,
then surely there are two natures in that one person. Observe
how the Son of man and the Son of God, very man and very
God, concentre in Christ; as the soul and the body make but
one man, so the Son of man and the Son of God made but one
Christ : thou art Christ, saith Peter, the Son of the living God.
So Paul, speaking of Jesus the Son of God, tells us, that he
was made of the seed of David, according to the flesh; and
declared to bt the Son of God, according to the spirit. First,
made of the seed of David; of the substance of the Virgin, who
was David's posterity. Secondly, declared to be the Son of God:
the word in the original signifies a declaration by a solemn sen-
tence or definitive judgment. / will declare the decree : the
Lord hath said unto me, thou art my Son. That which I point
at : he is the son of David, in respect of his manhood ; and he is
the Son of God, in respect of his godhead ; here be the two
natures ; but in the words before, these two natures make but
one Son, Jesus Christ our Lord : and in the very words them-
selves he is declared to be the Son of God ; he doth not say
Sons, as of two ; but his Son Jesus Christ, first before, and then
after ; to shew unto us, that as before his making, so after his
making, he is still but one Son, or one person of the two distinct
natures subsisting.
To the same purpose is that text ; In him dwelleth all the
fulness of the godhead bodily ; by the union of the divine nature
with the human in the unity of his person, the godhead dwelleth
in Christ as the soul in the body : it dwelleth in him bodily ; not
seemingly, but really ; not figuratively, and in a shadow, as he
dwelleth in the temple ; not by power and efficacy, as he dwells
in all the creatures ; not by grace, as in his people ; nor by glory,
?.s in the saints above ; but essentially, substantially, personally,
the human nature being assumed into union with the person of
the Word. Observe the passages : he in whom that fulness
dwells is the person ; that fulness, which doth so dwell in him,
is the nature : now there dwells in him not only the fulness of
the godhead, but the fulness of the manhood also 3 for we believe
Looking ujito Jesus, 213
him to be botli perfect God, begotten of the substance of his
Father before all worlds ; and perfect man, made of the substance
of his mother in this world: only he, in whom the fulness of the
godhead dwelleth, is one ; and he in whom the fulness of the
manhood dwelleth, is another ; but he in whom the fulness of both
these natures dwelleth, is one and the same Immanuel, and con-
sequently one and the same person; in him, i. e. in his person,
dwelleth all the fulness of the godhead, and all the fulness of
the manhood : In him dwelleth all the fulness of the godhead
bodily.
3. For the person assuming, and the nature assumed: (1.)
The person assuming, was a divine person : it was not the divine
nature that assumed an human person, but the divine person
that assumed an human nature ; and of the three divine persons,
it was neither the first nor the third, neither the Father nor the
Holy Ghost, that did assume this nature ; but it was the Son, the
middle person.
(2.) The nature assumed was the seed of Abraham ; For verily
he took not 07i him the nature of angels, hut he took on him the
seed of Abraham. Elsewhere the apostle calls it the seed of
David; he is made the seed of David according to the flesh :
and, elsewhere, he is called the seed of the woman : / ivill put
enmity between thy seed and her seed; and when the fulness of
the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a ruoman :
No question she was the material principle of which that pre-
cious flesh was made, and the Holy Ghost, the agent and effi-
cient; that blessed womb of her's was the bridechamber, wherein
the Holy Ghost did knit that indissohible knot betwixt our
human nature and his deity : the Son of God assuming into the
unity of his person, that which before he was not, even our
human nature. Oh ! with what astonishment may we behold
our dust and ashes assumed into the unity of God's own
person !
These are the deep things of God, and indeed so exceed-
ingly mystical, that they can never be perfectly declared by any
man. Bernard compares this ineffEible mystery of the union of
the two natures, with that incomprehensible mystery of the
trinity in unity. In the Trinity are three persons and one nature ;
in Christ are two natures and one person ; that of the Trinity is
indeed the greatest, and this of the incarnation is like unto it;
they both far exceed man's capacity; for his ways is in the sea,
and his path in the great waters, arid his footsteps are not
know7i.
II. For the eff'ects and benefits of this union ; they are either
in respect of Christ, or in respect of Christians.
1st. Those in respect of Christ, are, 1. An exemption of all
sin, 2. A collation of all graces. 3. A comnmnication of all
the properties.
214 Looking unto Jfesus.
1. We find that although Christ appeared as a sinner, and
that he was numbered among the wicked, or with the trans-
gressors, Isa. liii. 12. yet in truth he did no sin, neither was
any guile found in his mouth, 1 Pet. ii. 22. The apostle tells us,
he was holy, harmless, undeliled, and separate from sinners : he
assumed the nature of man, yet by reason of this pure concep-
tion, and of this union, he was conceived, and born, and lived
without sin ; he took upon him the seed of man, but not the sin
of man, save only by imputation.
2. The graces collated unto the humanity of Christ by reason
of his union, are very many : I shall instance in some :
(1.) That the manhood is a peculiar temple for the deity of
Christ to dwell in : it is the place wherein the godhead shews
itself more manifestly and more gloriously than in any other
creature : it is true, that by his providence he shews himself in
all his creatures, and by his grace in his saints ; but he is most
gloriously, eternally, according to the fulness of his deity, in the
humanity of Jesus Christ : in him dwelleth all the fulness of the
godhead bodily. Some are of opinion, that as now in this life,
no man cometh unto God but by Christ : so hereafter, in the next
life, no man shall see God, but in the face of Jesus Christ.
(2.) That the manhood of Christ, according ..to its measure, is
a partner with the godhead in the work of redemption and
mediation : as he is Immanuel in respect of his person, so he is
Immanuel in respect of his office. He must needs be man as
well as God, that he might be able to send this comfortable
message to the sons of men ; Go to my brethren, and say unto
them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my
God and your God.
(3.) That the manhood of Christ, together with the godhead,
is adored and worshipped with divine honour : not that we wor-
ship the manhood alone, as merely a creature ; but that we adore
the person of Christ, which consisteth of the manhood and of
the godhead.
(4.) That the manhood hath an extraordinary measure of ha-
bitual graces poured into it. In this he excels the very angels,
for to them was given grace only by measure ; but to the huma-
nity of Christ was given grace without measure ; even so much
as a creature is any ways capable of. Never was there any but
Christ, whose graces were no way stinted, and was absolutely
full of grace. Divines tell us of a double grace in Christ; the
one of union, and that is infinite ; the other of unction, (which is
all one with grace habitual,) and that is in a sort infinite ; for
howsoever it be but a finite and created thing, yet in the nature
of grace, it hath no limitation, no bounds, but includeth in itself
whatsoever any way pertains to grace. The reason of this
illimited grace bestowed on the nature of man in Christ, was,
for that grace was given to it as to the universal cause, whence
Looking unto Jfesus. 215
it was derived unto all others. He is the fountain of grace, and
of his fulness we receive grace for grace.
3. For the communication of the properties. It is a kind of
speech peculiar to the scriptures, when the properties of either
nature of Christ considered singly are attributed to the person
of Christ, Thus we may say, that God was born of a virgin,
and that God suffered, and God was crucified; not simply in
respect of his godhead, but in respect of his person, or in respect
of the human nature which God united to himself. And thus we
may say, that the man Christ is almighty, omniscient, omnipre-
sent, yet not in respect of his manhood, but in respect of the
person which is God and man ; or in respect of the divine nature '
of the man Christ Jesus : for here, man signifies the whole per-
son of Christ, and not the human nature : but on the contrary,
we may not say, that the godhead of Christ was born of a virgin,
or sufl:ered, or was crucified ; nor may we say, that the manhood
of Christ is almighty, omniscient, omnipresent; because the
godher.d and manhood are such words, as note to us the two
natures of Christ, the one divine, and the other human, and not
the person of Christ.
2d. The eflfects or benefits of this hypostatical union, in re-
spect of Christians, are their spiritual union and communion with
God and Christ.
1 . There is a spiritual union of Christians vA\h God in Christ.
Oh, the wonder of these two blessed unions ! first, of the per-
sonal union ; secondly, of the spiritual or mystical union. In
the personal union, it pleased God to assume and unite our hu-
man nature to the deity; in this spiritual union, it pleased God
to unite the person of every believer to the person of the Son of
God. This union is mystical, and yet our very persons, natures,
bodies, souls, are in a spiritual way conjoined to the body and
soul of Christ ; so that we are members of the body of Christ,
and of the flesh of Christ, and of the bones of Christ; and as this
conjunction is immediately made with his human nature, so there-
by we are also united to the divine nature ; yea, the person of the
believer is united to the glorious person of the Son of God.
Now, concerning this union, for our better understanding,
observe these three things.
(1.) It is a most real union : it is not a mere notional union,
that consists oxAy in the understanding; it is not an imaginary
thing, that hath no other being but only in the brain; no, it is a
true, real union. In natural unions, I confess, there may be
more evidence, but there cannot be more truth.
(2.) It is a very near union. You will say, how near ? If an
angel were to speak to you, he cannot satisfy you in this ; only
as far as our understanding can reach it, and the creatures can
serve to illustrate these things, take it thus: whatsoever by
way of comparison can be alleged concerning the combination
216 Looking unto Jesus.
of am^ one thing with another, that, and much more, may be
said of our union with Jesus Christ. See how near the father
and the child are, how near the husband and the wife are ; see
what union is between the branches and the vine, the members
and the head ; nay, one thing more, see what the soul is to the
body : such is Christ and so near is Christ, and nearer, to the
person of every true believer. / live^ yet not I, saith Paul, but
Christ liveth in me. As if he had said, As the soul is to the body
of a natural man, so is Jesus Christ to my sovd and body.
(3.) It is a total union ; that is, v/hole Christ is united to the
whole believer, soul and body. If thou art united to Christ,
thou hast all Christ ; thou art one with him in his nature, in his
name ; thou hast the same image, grace, and spirit in thee, as
he hath ; the same j^recious promises, the same access to God
by prayer as he ; thou hast the same love of the Father ; all that
he did or suffered, thou hast a share in it ; thou hast his life and
death ; all is thine. So, on thy part, he hath thee wholly, thy
nature, thy sins, the punishment of thy sins, thy wrath, thy
curse, thy shame ; yea, thy wit, and wealth, and strength, all
that thou art, or hast, or canst do possibly for him. It is a total
union : My beloved is mine, and I am his : whole Christ is mine,
and all that I am, have, or can do, is his.
2. There is a spiritual communion with God in Christ. Both
these are the effects of Christ's personal union : first, union to
his person, and then communion with his benefits. Union, in
proper speaking, is not unto any of the benefits flowing to us
from Christ; we are not united to forgiveness of sin, holiness,
peace of conscience, but unto the person of the Son of God
himself: and then, secondly, comes this communication of all the
benefits arising from this union to the Lord Jesus — ^that as Christ
was priest, prophet, and king; so we also by him are, after a
sort, priests, prophets, and kings ; for being made one with him,
we are thereby possessed of all things that are his.
Sect. V .—Of the Birth of Christ.
The birth of Christ now follows. A thing so wonderful, that
it was given for a sign unto believers seven hundred and forty
years before it was accomplished : Therefore the Lord himself
shall give a sign ; behold a virgin shall conceive and hear a son.
But come a little nearer ; let us go to Bethlehem, as the shep-
herds said, and see this thing which is come to pass ! If we step
but one step into his lodging, heaven's wonder is before our
eyes : now look upon Jesus ! look on him as in fulness of time
he carried on the great work of our salvation. Here you may
read the meaning of Adam's covenant, Abraham's promise,
Moses's revelation, David's succession; these were but veils,
but now shall we draw aside the curtains. Come, take a view
Looking unto Jesus. 217
of the truth itself. What a strange birth is this ! Look on the
babe, there is no cradle to rock him, no nurse to lull him, no
linens to swaddle him, scarce a little food to nourish him. Look
on the mother; there's no midwives' help, no downy pillows, no
Jinen hangings, scarce a little straw where she is brought a-bed.
Look on Joseph, his supposed father; he rather begs than gives
a blessing ; poor carpenter ! that makes them a chamber of an
ox-stall. Mary must bear a Son; an angel tells her, the Holy
Ghost overshadows her; the days are accomplished, and she is
delivered.
No sooner was Christ born, but righteousness looked down
from heaven; she cast her eye upon earth, and seeing truth
freshly sprimg there, she looked and looked again : certainly it
was a sight to draw all the eyes of heaven to it. It is said of
the angels, that they desired to look into these things. They
looked wishfully at them, as if they would look through them.
No question but righteousness looked as narrowly and piercingly
as the angels. Some observe, that the Hebrev/ word, she looked
down, signifies, that she beat out a window, so desirous was
righteousness to behold the sight of Christ born, that she beats
out a window in heaven. Before this time, she would not so
much as look down towards the earth: righteousness had no
prospect, no window open, this way. But now the case is alter-
ed : no sooner doth our vine bud upon the earth, but she is will-
ing to condescend, and so willing, that she breaks a window
through the walls of heaven to look down : and no marvel ; for
what could righteousness desire to see and satisfy herself in, that
was not to be seen in Jesus Christ ? He was all-righteous,
there was not the least spot of sin in him : his birth was clean,
his life was holy, and his death was innocent. Both his soul and
body were without all sin ; both his spirit and his mouth were
without all guile : whatsoever satisfaction righteousness would
have, she might have it in him. Lay judgment to the line, and
righteons7iess to the balance, and there is nothing in Jesus but
straightness for the line, and full weight for the balance.
For the meeting and agreement of all God's attributes as the
effect of this, the verse before tells us, that mercy and truth are
Tuet together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. —
Many means were made before Christ's time for this blessed
meeting ; but it would not be : Sacrifice and burnt-offering thou
tvouldest not; these means were not prevalent enough to cause
it. Where stuck it ? you will say : surely it was not long of
mercy, she was easy to be entreated : she looked up to heaven,
but righteousness would not look down; and indeed here was
the business: righteousness must and will have satisfaction;
either some satisfaction for sin must be given to God, or she
will never meet more ; better that all the men in the world were
damned, than that the righteousness of God should be un-
Q 2e
218 Loolihig unto Jesus,
righteous. But our Saviour is born; and this birth occasions a
gracious meeting of the attributes: such an attractive is this
birth, that all meet there ; indeed they cannot but meet in him,
Christ is mercy, and Christ is truth, and Christ is righteousness,
and Christ is peace.
1. Christ is mercy. Thus Zacharias prophesied ; that through
the tender mercy of our God the day-spring (or branch) from on
high hath visited us : and God, the Father of Christ, is called the
Father of mercies ; as if mercy were his Son, who had no other
Son but his dearly beloved Son, in whom he is well pleased.
2. Christ is truth. / am the ivay^ and the truth, and the life;
that truth, in whom is accomplished whatsoever was prefigured
of the Messiah. And this is his name. The Lord, The Lord
God, abundant m goodness and truth. — He is a God of truth,
said Moses ; — plenteous in mercy and truth, said David ; — full
of grace and truth, said John. He is truth by name, and truth
by nature, and truth by office.
3. Christ is righteousness. This is his name luherehy he shall
he called. The Lord our righteousness,
4. Christ is peace. This is his name tvhereby he is called;
Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace, And according to his type, Melchisedech,
as he was King of righteousness, so also he was King of Salem,
which is King of peace. Thus Christ is mercy, and Christ is
truth, and Christ is righteousness, and Christ is peace. Now
where should all these meet, but in him who is them all ? Surely
there they meet, and at the meeting they all ran first and kissed
the Son ; and that done, truth ran to mercy, and embraced her ;
and righteousness to peace, and kissed her : they that had so
long been parted, now they meet, and are made friends again.
O the blessed effects of this birth of Christ ! It is Christ that
reconciled them, and reconciled us to them. He reconciled all
things, saith the apostle, whether they be things in earth, or
things in heaven. Now is heaven at peace with itself, and heaven
and earth at peace one with another ; and that which glues all,
and makes the peace, is this birth of Christ.
Sect. VI. — Of some Consequents of Christ's Birth,
Some consequents of the birth of Christ may be touched, till
he was a child of twelve years old.
I . When he was but eight days old, he was circumcised, and
named Jesus. In this early humiliation he plainly discovered
the riches of Jbis grace : now he sheds his blood in drops, and
thereby gives an earnest of those rivers which he afterwards
poured out for the cleansing of our nature, and extinguishing
the wrath of God ; and for a further discovery of his grace, at
this time his name is given him, which was Jesus. This is the
Looking unto t/esus. 219
nanie which we should engrave on our hearts^ rest our faith on,
and place our help in, and love with the overflowings of charity,
joy, and adoration ; above all things, we had need of Jesus, a
Saviour for our souls, both from our sins, and from tlie ever-
lasting destruction which sin will otherwise bring upon our souls.
Hence this name Jesus, and this sign circumcision, are joined
together ; for by the effusion of his blood he was to be our Jesus,
our Saviour : fVithoiit shedding of blood is no remission^ no sal-
vation. Circumcision was the seal, and now was it that c^
Jesus was under God's great seal to take his office : Him hath
God the Father sealed, John vi. 27. It is his office and his very
profession to save, that all may repair unto him to that end :
Come unto me, all ye that are weary ; and him that cometh unto
me, I will ill no zvise cast out,
2. When he was forty days old, he was brought to Jeru-
salem, and presented to the Lord; as it is written in the
law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the tvomb shall
be called holy to the Lord, O wonder! there was no im-
purity in the Son of God, and yet he is first circumcised 3 and
then he is brought, and offered to the Lord. He that came to
be sin for us, would in our persons be legally unclean, that by
satisfying the law, he might take away our uncleanness. He
that was above the law, would come under the law, that he
might free us from the law. We are all born sinners ; but O the
unspeakable mercies of our Jesus, that provides a remedy as
early as our sin : first, he is conceived ; and then he is born, to
sanctify our conceptions and our births : and after his birth, he
is first circumcised, and then he is presented to the Lord ; that
by two holy acts, that which was naturally unholy might be hal-
lowed unto God. Christ hath not left our very infancy without
redress, but by himself thus offered he cleanseth us presently
from our filthiness. Now is Christ brought in his mother's arms
to his own house, the temple ; and as man, he is presented to
himself as God. You will say. What is this to me, or to my
soul ? O yes ! Jerusalem is now every where ; there is no church-
assembly, no christian heart, which is not a temple of the living
God ; and there is no temple of God, wherein Christ is not pre-
sented to his Father. Thus we have the benefit of Christ's ful-
filling the law of righteousness : God sent his Son, made of a
ivoman, made under the law, that he might redeem them that
were under the law, that ive might receive the adoption of sons.
3. When he was yet under one year old, as some, or about
two, as others, he fled into Egypt. As there was no room for
him in Bethlehem, so now there is no room for him in all Judea.
No sooner he came to his o^\^l, but he must fly from them : what
a wonder is this! Could not Christ have quit himself fr^m
Herod a thousand ways ? What could an arm of flesh have done
against the God of spirits ? but hereby he taught us to bear the
220 Looking U7ito *Jesus,
yoke even In our youth : thus would he suffer^ that he might
sanctify to us our earthly afflictions. What a change is here !
Israel^ the first-born of God, flies out of Egypt into Judea \ and
Christ, the first-born of all creatures, flies out of Judea into
Egypt. Now is Egypt become the sanctuary, and Judea the
inquisition-house, of the Son of God. Surely he that is every
where the same, knows how to make all places alike to his.
He knows how to preserve Daniel in the lion's den, the three
children in the fiery furnace, Jonah in the whale's belly, and
Christ in the midst of Egypt.
4. When he was now five years old, say some, an angel ap-
pears again in a dream to Joseph, saying, Arise, and take the
young child and his mother, and return again into the land of
Israel, for they are dead ivhich sought the young child's life,
Herod, that took away the lives of all the infants in or about
Bethlehem, is now himself dead, and gone to his own place. O
the wonderful dispensation of Christ in concealing himself from
men ! All this while he carries himself as an infant ; take the
young child and his mother. He suppressed the manifestation
and exercise of that godhead whereto the infant nature was con-
joined: as the birth of Christ, so the infancy of Christ was
exceedingly humble. O how should we magnify him, or deject
ourselves for him, who himself became thus humble for our sakes !
5. When he was twelve years old, he, with his parents, goes
up to Jerusalem, after the custom of the feast. This pious act
of his younger years intends to lead our first years into timely
devotion: but I shall not insist on that; I would rather observe
him sitting in the midst of the temple, both hearing them and
asking them questions. He who, as God, gave them all the wis-
dom they had, doth now, as the Son of man, hearken to the wis-
dom he had given them ; and when he had heard, then he asks ;
and after that, no doubt he answers : his very questions were
instructions ; for I cannot think that he meant so much to learn,
as to teacli those doctors of Israel. Surely these rabbins had
never heard the voice of such a tutor ; they could not but see
the very wisdom of God in this child ; and therefore saith the
text, they all 2vo?ider, or they were all astonished at his under-
standing and answers : their eyes saw nothing but a child, but
their ears heard the wonderful things of God's law. But why
did ye not, O ye Jewish teachers, remember now the star and
the sages, the angels and the shepherds ? why did ye not now
bethink yourselves of Herod, and of his inquiry, and of your
answer, that in Bethlehem of Judea Christ should be born? You
cited the prophets, and why did you not mind that prophecy
now, that unto us a child is horn, and unto us a Son is given ,
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty
God, the €verlasti)ig Father, the Prince of Peace? Fruit-
less iy the wonder that endelh not in faith. No light is
Looking unto Jesus, 221
sufficient, where the eyes are held through unbelief and pre-
judice.
6. After this, from the twelfth to the thirtieth year of his age,
we read nothing of the acts of Christ, but that he went down
with his parents unto Nazareth, and was subject to them. As
he went up to Jerusalem to worship God, so he goes down to
Nazareth to attend his particular calling. This is the meaning
of those words, mid he was subject to them. Christ's subjection
to his parents extends to the profession and exercise of his life.
Certainly Christ was not all that time, from twelve to thirty
years, idle : as he was educated by his parents, so of his reputed
father he learnt to be a carpenter 3 this, I take it, is plain in
these words. Is not this tlie carpenter , the Son of Mary f
Oh, the poverty, humility, severity, of Jesus ! It appears at
this time especially, in his labouring, working, hewing of wood,
or the like. Here's a sharp rej^roof to all those who spend their
time in idleness, or without a particidar calling. What ! are
they wiser than Christ ? Our Jesus would not by any means
thus spend his time.
But concerning this time of his youth, because in scripture
there is so deep a silence, I shall therefore pass it by.
Thus far have I propounded the object we are to look unto; it
is Jesus, in his first coming, or incarnation, whilst yet a child of
twelve years old. Our next work is to direct you in the art or
mystery, how we are to look unto him in this respect.
CHAP. II.
Sect. I. — Of Knoiving Jesus as carrying on the great Work of
our Salvation in /lis Birth,
What looking comprehends, you have heard before : and that
we may have an inward experimental look on him whom our
souls pant after, let us practise all these particulars.
1 . Let us know Jesus carrying on the great work of our sal-
vation in his incarnation. Let us learn what he did for us when
he came amongst us. There is not one passage in his first ap-
pearing, but it is of mighty concernment unto us. Is it pos-
sible that the great God of heaven and earth shoidd so infinitely
condescend, but on some great design ? And what design could
there be but only his glory and the creatures' good ? O my soul !
if thou hast any interest in Christ, all this concerns thee : the
Lord Jesus, in these very transactions, had an eye to thee; he
was incarnate for thee, he was conceived and born for thee.
Ivook not on the bare history of things, for that is unprofitable ;
the main duty is <^'ycing the end, the meaning of Christ, and
222 Looking unto Jtsus,
especially as it relates to thyself. Alas ! what comfort were it
to a poor prisoner, if he should hear that the king, of his mere
grace, visited all the prisoners in this or that dungeon, and that
he made a gaol-delivery, and set all free, but never came near
the place where he lies bound in irons ? or suppose he gives a
visit to that very man, and offers him grace and pardon, if he
will but accept of it 3 and, because of his waywardness, per-
suades, entreats, commands him to come out and take his liber-
ty ; and yet if he will not regard or apply it to himself, what com-
fort can he have ? what benefit can he receive ? Dear soul, this
is thy case, if thou art not in Christ ; if thou hast not heard the
offer, and embraced and closed with it, then what is Christ's
incarnation, conception, nativity, unto thee ? Come, learn, not
merely as a scholar, to gain some notional knowledge ; but as a
Christian, as one that feels virtue coming out of Christ in every
of these respects. Study closely this great transaction in refer-
ence to thyself. I know not how it happens ; this subject either
savours not with some Christians, or it is seldom thought of by
the most. O God forbid we should throw out of doors such a
blessed necessary truth ! If rightly applied, it is a Christian's
joy : Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, that shall he
to all people; for unto you is born in the city of David, a
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord, Sure the birth of Christ is
of mighty concernment unto thee 3 unto us a child is bori^r, unto
us a Son is given. There is not any piece of this transaction
but it is of special use. How many break their brains, and
waste their spirits, in studying arts and sciences, things in com-
parison of no value ? Whereas Paul determined not to know any
thing but Jesus Christ. To know Jesus Christ in every point,
whether in birth, or life, or death, is saving knowledge. O
stand not upon cost, whether pains or study, tears or prayers,
peace or wealth, goods or name, life or liberty; sell all for this
pearl. Christ is of that worth that thou canst never over-buy
him, though thou gavest thyself and all the world for him. The
study of Christ is the study of studies ; the knowledge of Christ
is the knowledge of every thing that is necessary, either for this
world, or for the world to come. O study Christ iii every of the
aforesaid respects.
Sect. II. — Considering Jesus in that respect.
Let us consider Jesus carrying on this great work of our
salvation, at his first coming or incarnation. It is not enough to
study and know these great mysteries ; but, according to the
measure of knowledge we have, we must muse, meditate, pon-
der, and consider them. This consideration brings Christ closer
to the soul. Consideration fastens Christ more strongly to the
soul, and, as it were, rivets the soul to Jesus Christ. A soul
Looking unto Jesus. 223
that truly considers and meditates of Christ, thinks and talks of
nothing else but Christ : it takes hold, and will not let him go.
I will keep to thee (saith the soul in meditation) for thou art my
life. Thus, O my soul, consider thou of Christ, and of what he
did for thee when he was incarnate ! and that thou mayest
not confound thyself in thy meditations, consider apart these
particulars.
1 . Consider Jesus in his forerunner, and the blessed tidings
of his coming in the flesh. Now the long-looked for time drew
near, a glorious angel is sent from heaven, and he comes with
an olive-branch of peace ; first he presents himself to Zachary,
and then to Mary; to her he imparts the message on which
God sent him into this world : Behold^ thou shalt conceive in tfiy
womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
Till now, human nature was less than that of angels ; but by the
incarnation of the Word, it was to be exalted above the cheru-
bim. What blessed tidings was this message ! The decree of
old must now be accomplished, and an angel proclaims it upon
earth. ^ Hear, O ye sons of Adam, this concerns you as much
as the Virgin : were ye not all undone in the loins of your first
father ? was not my soul and thy soul in danger of hell-fire ? was
not this our condition, that after a little life upon earth, we should
have been thrown into eternal torments, where had been nothing
but weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth ? And now that God
and Christ should bid an angel tell the news — Ye shall not die:
Lo, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and he shall be your
Jesus : he shall save you fi'om this hell, and death, and sin ; he
shall deliver your souls, he shall save to the utmost : his name is
Jesus, and he shall not bear his name for nought : believe in
him, and ye shall live with him in gloiy.' O blessed news !
Men may talk what they will of this and that news, but none is
so welcome to one ready to perish, as to hear of a Saviour. Tell
a man in his sickness of one that will make him well again ; tell
a man in captivity, of one that will set him free ; tell a man in
prison, condemned to die, of one with a pardon that will save his
life ; and every one of these will say, this is the best news that
ever was heard. Oh ! then, if it be good tidings to hear of a
saviour, where it is only a matter of loss of life, or of this earth ;
how much more when it comes to the loss of heaven, to the
danger of hell ; when our souls are at stake, and likely to be
damned for ever ! what glad tidings would that be, to hear of
one that could save our souls from that destroyer ! Is not such
a Saviour worth the hearkening after ? were not the birth of such
a one good news ? O my soul, ponder on these words, as if an
angel, seeing thee stand on the brim of hell, should speak to
thee, even to thy soul.
2. Consider Jesus in his conception. No sooner is the news
heard, but Christ is conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Virgin's
224 Looking unto Jesus.
womb: this conception i« worthy our consideration. Wlmt!
that the great God of heaven should condescend so far as to
take our nature upon him, and to take it in the same way, and
after the same manner, as we do ? We must not be too curious,
to inquire after the manner of the Holy Ghost's operation. This
is work for our hearts, and not merely for our heads. Humble
faith, and not curious inquisition, shall find the sweetness of
this mystery. It was David's complaint. Behold Itvas shcqyen
171 iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. O my soul,
this was thy case in thy very first being, and hadst thou died in
that condition, the word is express, that nothing undejiled nor
unclean should enter i?ito the kingdo7n of glory. But here's the
remedy, thy sinful conception is sanctified by Christ's holy con-
ception : the holiness of thy Jesus serves to hide thy original
pollutions from the eye of God. Oh ! consider this conception
thus, till thou bringest it near and close to thy soul, till thou
feelest some sweetness and power coming and flowing from Jesus
in the womb.
3. Consider the duplicity of natures in Jesus Christ : the
Word made flesh. No sooner was he conceived, than he was
God-man ; he was perfectly framed, and instantly united to the
eternal Word : God sent his Son, there is the nature divine ;
made of a luoman, there is the nature human. Certainly great
is this mystery, that the Word is made flesh ; that the Son of
God is made of a woman ; that a star gives light to the sun ;
that a branch doth bear the vine ; that a creature gives being to
the Creator !
Admire, O my soul, at this ! but withal consider, that all this
was for us and our salvation : he was man, that he might die for
us ; and he was God, that his death might be sufficient to save
us. Had he been man alone, not God, he might have suftered,
but he could never have satisfied for sin ; he could not have been
Jesus, a Saviour of souls : had he been God alone, not man, he
had not been akin to our nature offending ; and so he could not
have satisfied the justice of God in the same nature wherein it
was offended; neither could he, as God alone, have died for
sin ; and the decree was, that our Redeemer must die for sin ;
for without shedding of blood, thtre is no remission ; and no
shedding of blood could possibly befall the godhead of Christ.
O my soul, consider this in relation to thyself: he is God-man,
that he might suffer and satisfy for thy sins ; he is God-man, that
he might be able and fit to finish the work of thy salvation. As
God he is able, aixl as man he is fit, to discharge the office of
Mediator : as God, he is able to bear the punishment of sin ;
and as man, he is fit to suffer for sin. Oh the wisdom of God in
this 1 man's nature can suffer death, but not overcome it ; the
divine nature can overcome death and all things, but he can-
not sufter it : and hence there is a duplicity of natures in
♦ Lookmg unto Jesus, 225
Jesus Christ. O muse on this \ it is worthy thy serious conside-
ration.
4. Consider the real distinction of these two natures in Christ.
As the unapproachable light of the godhead was put into human
flesh, so these two natures remained entire, without any con-
version or confusion. They were not as wine and water, that
become one by mixing ; there is no such blending the divine and
human nature : they were not as snow and water, that become
one by dissolving of the snow into water; there is no such
changing of the human nature into the divine, or of the divine
into the human. Look, as at the first moment of his conception
he was God and man, so these two natures continued distinct in
substance, properties, and actions. Consider this, O my soul,
in reference to thyself: by this means thou hast free access unto
the throne of grace ; and as thou hast free access, so thou mayest
boldly draw near. His deity indeed confounds, but his huma-
nity comforts feeble souls : his divine nature amazeth, but his
human nature encourage th us to come unto him. Even after his
resurrection, he was pleased to send this comfortable message
to the sons of men ; Go to my brethren, and sat/ unto them, I
ascend to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your
God. Now, as long as he is not ashamed to call us brethren,
God is not ashamed to be called our God. Oh, the sweet fruit
that we may gather off this tree, the real distinctions of two na-
tures in Christ ! As long as Christ is man as well as God, we
have a motive strong enough to appease his Father, and to turn
his favourable countenance towards us. Here is our happiness,
that there is one Mediator between God and man, the man
Christ Jesus.
5. Consider the union of the two natures of Christ in one and
the same person. As he was the branch of the Lord, and the
fruit of the earth, so these two natures were tied with such a
knot as sin, hell, and the grave were never able to disunite :
5^ea, though in the death of Christ there was a separation of the
soul from the body, yet in that separation the hypostatical union
remained unshaken. Li this meditation thou hast great cause,
O my soul, to admire and adore ! Wonderful things are spoken
of thee, O Christ ! He is God, so as neither the Father nor the
Holy Ghost were made flesh ; and he is man, in the nature of
man. This is a mystery that no angel is able to comprehend.
We have not another example of such an union. If thou wilt con-
sider this great mystery of godliness any further, review what
hath been said in the object propounded, where this union is set
forth more largely and particularly : but especially consider the
blessed effects of this union in reference to thyself. As our
nature in the person of Christ is vmited to the godhead, so our
persons in and by this union of Christ are brought nigh to God.
Hence it is that God doth set his sanctuary and tabernacle
8. 2f
226 Looking unto Jesus,
among us^ and that he dwells with us ; and, which is more, that
he makes us houses and habitations, wherein he himself is
pleased to dwell by his holy Spirit. By reason of this hypo-
statical union of Christ, the Spirit of Christ is given to us in the
very moment of our regeneration. And because ye are sons^
God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,
crying, Abba, Father : and hereby we know that ive dwell in him,
and lie in us, because he hath given us of his Sp rit. As the
members of the body, howsoever distinct amongst themselves,
and all differing from the head, yet by reason of one soul in-
forming both the head and members, all make one man ; so all
believers in Christ, howsoever distinct persons amongst them-
selves, and all distinct from the person of Christ, and especially
from the godhead, which is incommunicable, yet by one and the
same Spirit abiding in Christ and in all his members, they be-
come one. There is one body, and one Spirit : — he that is joined
to the Lord is one spirit. O my soul, consider this ; and in
considering, believe thy part in this; and the rather because the
means of this union on thy part is a true and lively faith. Faith
is the first effect and instrument of the Spirit of Christ, dis-
posing and enabling thy soul to cleave unto Christ; and for this
cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ —
that Christ may divell in your hearts by faith,
6. Consider the birth of Christ, who in his divine generation was
the Son of God ; in his human generation was born in a stable, for
the saving of the children of men. Suppose the Holy Ghost came
upon thee, to form and fashion thee in Jesus Christ, (thus Paul
bespeaks the Galatians; 3fy little children, of whom I travel in
birth again until Christ be formed in you,) would not this affect ?
would not the whole soul be taken up mth this ? Come, receive
Christ into thy soul ; or if that work be done, if Christ be formed
in thee, O cherish him ! (I speak of the spiritual birth,) O keep
him in thy heart ! Let him there bud, and blossom, and bear
fruit ; let him fill thy soul with his divine graces : O that thou
couldst say it feelingly, / live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me,
O that this were the issue of thy meditation on Christ's birth !
even whilst thou art going with the shepherds to Bethlehem, and
there findest thy Saviour lying in a cratch, that thou wouldst
bring him thence, and make thy heart to be his cradle ! I would
not give a farthing for a meditation merely on the history of
Christ's birth : either draw virtue from him within, or thy medi-
tation will be fruitless.
7. Consider those few consequents after Christ's birth ; every
action of Christ is our instruction. Here are many particulars,
but none in vain. Christ is considered under much variety of
notions, but he is still sweet under all. Is it possible, O my
soul, that thou shouldst tire thyself in the contemplation of
Jesus Christ ? If one flower yield thee not pleasure or delight.
Looking unto Jesus, 227
go to a second, a third. For a while observe the circumcision
of Jesus Christ, and gather some honey out of that flower.
Christ had never been circumcised, but that the same might be
done to our souls that was done to his body. O that the same
Christ would do that in us that was done to him for us !
Again, observe Christ's presentation in the temple. This
was the law of those that first opened the womb. Now Christ
was the first-born of Mary, and indeed the first-born of all
creatures; and he was consecrated unto God, that by him we
might be consecrated and made holy, and that by him we might
be accepted when we are oft'ered unto the Lord.
Again, observe Christ's flight into Egypt : though the infancy
is usually most quiet, yet here life and toil began together ; and
see how speedily this comes after Christ's dedication vmto God.
Alas ! we are no sooner born again, than we are persecuted. If
the church travel, and bring forth a male, she is in danger of the
dragon's streams.
Again, observe Christ's return into Judea; he was not serit
but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; with them alone
he was personally to converse in his ministry, in which respect
he was called a minister of the circumcision. And where should
he be trained, and shew himself, but amongst them to whom
God had sent him ? The gospel first began there, and, as a
preparation to it, Christ now ia his childhood returns thither.
Again, observe Christ disputing with the doctors in the tem-
ple. See how early his divine graces put forth themselves; In
him were hid, saith the apostle, all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge: all the treasures were hid in him, and yet some of
those treasures appeared very early; his wisdom in his very in-
fancy is admired at, nor is it without our profit, for of God he is
made wisdom unto us.
Again, observe how he spent the remainder of his youth. In
all his examples he meant our instruction; he went down luitk
his parents, and luas subject to them : he was not idle bred, but
serves his generation in the poor way of a carpenter. It i^
every way good for a man to bear God's yoke, even from his in-
fancy. Christ is inured betimes to the hardships of life, and the
strict observation of the law, both of God and nature.
See, O my soul, what a world of matter is before thee : here
is the annunciation of Jesus, the conception of Jesus, the dupli-
city of natures in Jesus, the real distinction, the w^onderful
union, the nativity of Jesus, together with some consequents
after it. Go over these with frequent thoughts ; give not over
till thou feelest thy heart warm. True meditation is as the
bellows of the soul, that doth kindle and inflame holy aflfections ;
and by renewed thoughts, as by renewed and stronger blasts, it
doth renew and increase the flame.
228 Looking unto Jesus.
Sect. III. — Of Desiring Jesus in that respect.
Let us desire Jesus^ carrying on the gi-eat work of our salva-
tion at his first coming or incarnation. It is not enough to
know and consider, but we must desire. Now, what is desire,
but a certain motion of the appetite, by which the soul darts
itself towards the absent good, purposely to draw near, and to
unite itself thereunto? The incarnation of Christ, according
to the letter, was the desire of all nations. O how they that
lived before Christ, desired this coming of Christ ! Abraham
desired to see that day, two thousand years and more before it
came. It was the expectation of all the patriarchs : O when
will that day come 1 And surely the incarnation of Christ in the
fruit or application, is, or should be, the desire of all Christians.
There is virtue in Jesus Christ, in every passage of Christ, in
his conception, incarnation, in his birth, and in those conse-
quents after his birth. Now, to make these our's, that we may
have our share and interest in them, we must here begin. O
my soul, do thou desire, do thou seek to possess thyself of Christ !
Set thy desire (as the needle point) aright, and all the rest will
follow : never will union be with the absent good, but the soul,
by desire, must first dart itself towards it. True it is, millions
of souls stand at a distance from Christ ; and why ? they have no
desire towards him : but, O that my soul, and thy soul, who-
soever thou art that readest, would desire ! O that we could
desire and long after him until we languish, and be com-
pelled to cry out with the spouse. Comfort me, for I tun sick of
love.
Is there not good reason for it ? what is there in Christ that is
not desirable? View over all those excellencies of his con-
ception ; of his two natures really distinguished, and yet won-
derfully united 5 of his birth; of those few consequents after his
birth : but above all, see the fruit of all ; he was conceived, that
our conceptions might be sanctified ; he was the Son of man,
that he might suff'er for us ; and the Son of God, that he might
satisfy divine justice; he was God and man in one person, that
we might be one with him, members of his body, of his fleshy
and of his bones. He was born of the Virgin, that there might
be a spiritual birth of Christ in our virgin -hearts. Are not these
desirable things ? Never tell me of thy present enjoyments ; for
never was Christ so enjoyed in this life, but thou hast cause to
desire more of Christ. It is worth thy observation^ that spiri-
tual desires after Christ do neither load nor cloy the heart, but
rather open and enlarge it for more and more. Who was better
acquainted with God than Moses ? and yet who was more
importunate to know him better ? / beseech tJiee, shew me thy
glory. And who was more acquainted mth Christ than Paul ?
Looking unto Jesus, 229
and yet who was more importunate to be with him nearer? /
desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ. Further and fur-
tlier, union with Christy and communion with Christy are most
desirable things, and are not these the fruits of his incarnation,
the effects of his personal union ? More and more peace, and
love, and reconciliation, betwixt God and us, are desirable
things : and are not these the fruits of Christ's birth ? was it
not then that 7^ighteousness looked down from heaven ? that mercy
and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each
other? An higher degree of holiness, likeness to God and
Christ, are desirable things : and are not these the fruits of cir-
cumcision, and presentation to the Lord, the effects of all those
consequents that follow after his birth ? Come, stir up thy de-
sires: true desires are not wavering, but resolute and full of
quickness. Observe how the nature of true desire in scripture,
is set forth by the most strong similitudes of hunger and thirst ;
and those not common neither, but by the panting of a tired
hart after the rivers of water, and by the gaping of dry ground
after seasonable showers. O then ! how is it that the passages
of thy desires are so narrow, and almost shut up ? Nay, how is
it that thy vessels are so full of contrary qualities, that there is
scarce any room in thy soul for Christ ? Will not the desires of
the patriarchs witness against thee ? how cried they after Christ's
coming in the flesh ? Bow the heavens, O Lord, and come down,
Psal. cxliv. 5. Oh, that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that
thou wouldest come down, Isa. xliv. 1. Droj) down, ye heavens,
from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness ; let the
earth open, and bring forth salvation, Isa. xlv. 8. Is it possible
that their desires should be more vehement after Christ than
our's ? They lived on the dark side of the cloud, but we on the
bright side ; the veil was upon their hearts, which veil is done
away in Christ. They saw Christ afar off, and their sight was
very dim ; but we all with open face, as in a glass, behold the
gloiy of tJie Lord. One would think, the less any thing is
known, the less it should be desired. O my soul, either thou
art more ignorant of Christ than the patriarchs of old, or thy
heart is more out of frame than theirs : suspect the latter, and
blame thy heart, it may be thy sluggish nature hath laid thy de-
sires asleep. If an hungry man will sleep, his hunger will sleep
with him : but, oh ! stir up and awake thy desires. Present be-
fore them that glorious object, the incarnation of Jesus Christ : it
is an object which the very angels desire to look into ; and art not
thou more concerned in it than the angels ? Is not the fruit of the
incarnation thine, more especially thine ? Come then, stir up those
motions of thy appetite, by which the soul darts itself towards
the absent good. Draw nearer and nearer, till thou comest to
union and enjoyment ; cry after Christ, TFhy is his chariot so
long in coming f why tarry the wheels of his chariots ?
230 Looking unto Jesus,
Sect. IV. — Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect.
Let us hope in Jesus^ carrying on the great work of our
salvation at his first coming. Only here remember, I speak not
of every hope, but only of such an hope as is grounded on some
certainty and knowledge. This is the main question, whether
Christ's incarnation belongs unto me ? The prophet tells us,
that unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. But how
may I hope that this child is born to me ? and that this Son is
given to me ? what ground for that ? Out of these words of
the prophet I shall draw a double evidence, which may be in-
stead of all : our first evidence from the former ^^'ords, unto us
a child is born; our second evidence from the latter words, u7ito
us a Son is given,
1 . From the former words, I lay down this position, imto us a
child is born, if we are new-born. The surest way to know
our interest in the birth of Christ, is to know Christ born in us,
or formed in us, as the apostle speaks. The new-birth is the
eflect of Christ's birth, and a sure sign that Christ is born in us.
Say then, O my soul, art thou born anew ? is there in thee a
new nature, a new principle ? is the image of God and of Christ
in thy soul ? so the apostle styles it, the bearing of the image of
the heavenly ; then was Christ incarnate for thee. Come then,
look to it, my soul ; what is thy principle within ? Consider
not so much the outward actions, the outward duties, of religion,
as that root from whence they grow, that principle from whence
they come : are they fixed ones, settled ones, by way of life, in
thee ? Clocks have their motions, but they are not motions of
life, because they have no principles of life within. Is there life
within ? Then art thou born again, yea, even unto thee a child is
bom. This is one evidence.
2. From the latter words I lay down this position, unto us a
Son is given, if we are God's sons. The best way to know our
interest in the Son of God, is to know ourselves to be God's
sons by grace, as Christ was God's Son by nature. — Christians,
to whom Christ is given, are co-heirs with Christ ; only Christ is
the first-born, and hath the pre-eminence in all things. Our
sonship is an eifect of Christ's Sonship, and a sure sign that unto
us a son is given. Say then, O my soul, art thou a son of God ?
dost thou resemble God according to ' thy capacity, being holy,
even as he is holy f Why then, Christ was incarnate for thee, he
was given to thee. If thy sonship be not clear enough, thou by
these following rules mayest try it further : —
(1.) The sons of God fear God: If I be a Father, where is
mine honour f saith God ; if I be a master, where is my fear ?
If 1 be a son of God, there will be an holy fear and trembling
upon me in all my approaches unto God. I know there is a
Looking unto Jesus, 231
servile fear, and that is unworthy and unbeseeming a son of
God ; but there is a filial fear, and that is an excellent check
and bridle to all our wantonness. What son will not fear the
frowns of his loving father? I dare not do this, (he will say^) my
father will be offended. Agreeable to this is the apostle's
advice, If ye call on the Father, pass your sojourning here in
fear.
(2.) The sons of God love God, and obey God out of a prin-
ciple of love. Suppose there were no heaven to bestow upon a
regenerate person, yet would he obey God out of a principle
of love ? Not that it is unlawful for the child of God to have an
eye unto the recompense of reward : Moses's reason of esteem-
ing the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of
Egypt, was^ for that he had respect unto the recompense of
reward. He had respect; in the original, he had a fixed intent
eye : there was in him a love of the reward, and yet withal a
love of God ; and therefore his love of the reward was not mer-
cenary : but this, I say, though there were no reward at all, a
child of God hath such a principle of love within him, that for
love's sake he would obey his God. He is led by the Spirit,
and therefore he obeys : now the Spirit that leads him is a spirit
of love, and as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons
of God.
(3.) The sons of God imitate God in his love and goodness to
all men. Our Saviour amplifies this excellent property of God :
he causeth his sun to shine on the good and the had. And thence
he concludeth, be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Goodness to bad men, is as it were the perfection of all. Oh !
my soul, canst thou imitate God in this ? Consider how thy Fa-
ther bears it, though the wicked provoke him day by day, yet for
all that he doth not quickly revenge. God seeth all ; and for all
that, he doth not make the earth presently to gape and devour
us : he puts not out the glorious light of the sun, he doth not
dissolve the work of creation, he doth not for man's sin pre-
sently blast every thing into dust : what an excellent pattern is
this for thee to write after 1 Canst thou forgive thy enemies ? do
well to them that do evil to thee ? This is a sure sign of grace
and sonship. It is storied of some heathens, who beating a
Christian almost to death, asked him, ' What great matter did
Christ ever do for him ?' '' Even this/' said the Christian, "^ that
I can forgive you, though you use me thus." Here was a child of
God indeed ! It is a sweet resemblance of our Father, and of
our Saviour Jesus Christ, to love our enemies, to bless them that
curse us, to do good unto them that hate us, to pray for them
that despitefuUy use us, and persecute us. Oh ! my soul, look
to this, consult this ground of hope ; if this law be written in
thy heart, write it down amongst the evidences that thou art
God's son, yea, that even unto thee a Son is given.
232 Looking unto Jesus,
To review the grounds : — What ! is a child born to me ? and a
Son given to me ? What ! am I new born ? am I indeed God's
son or daughter ? Do I upon search find in my soul new desires,
new comforts, new contentments ? Are my words, my works, and
affections, and conversation, new ? Is there in me a new nature,
a new principle ? Hath the Spirit given me a new power, a seed
of spiritual life, which I had not before ? Do I upon search find
that I fear God, and love God, and imitate God in his love and
goodness towards all men ? Can I really forgive an enemy,
and according to my ability do good unto them that do evil unto
me ? Why should I not then confidently and comfortably hope,
that 1 have my interest in the birth of Christ, in the blessed in-
carnation and conception of Jesus Christ? Away, all despair
and dejection. If these be my grounds of hope, it is mine to
hold up my head, and heart, and hands, and all with cheerfulness
and confidence, and to say with the spouse, / am my beloved's,
and my beloved is mine.
Sect. V. — Of Believing in Jesus in that respect.
Let us believe in Jesus, carrying on the great work of our
great salvation at his first coming or incarnation. I know many
staggerings are oft in Christians, ^ What ! is it likely that Christ
should be incarnate for me ? that God should do such a thing,
for such a sinful abominable wretch as I am ?' Ah ! poor soul,
put thy property in Christ's incarnation out of dispute, that thou
mayest be able to say, ' As God was manifest in the flesh, and
I may not doubt it ; so God is manifest in me, and I dare not
deny it.'
To help the soul in this, I shall, 1 . propose the hinderances of
faith. 2. The helps of faith in this respect. 3. The manner
how to act our faith. 4. The encouragements to bring on the
soul to believe its part in the blessed incarnation of Jesus
Christ.
For the first, there are but three things that can hinder faith ;
(1 .) The exceeding unworthiness of the soul ; and to this pur-
pose are those complaints, ^ What ! Christ incarnate for me ?
for such a dead dog as I am ? I am less than the least of all
God's mercies ; I am fitter for hell and devils, than for union
and communion with God and Christ; I dare not, I cannot
believe.
2. The infinite exactness of divine justice, which must be
satisfied. A soul deeply considering of this, startles, and cries.
Oh ! what will become of my soul ? One of the least sins that I
stand guilty of, deserves death, and eternal wrath : the wages of
sin is death; and I cannot satisfy. Though I have trespassed
many millions of talents, I have not one mite to pay. Oh ! then
how should I believe ? What thoughts can I entertain of God's
Lookins^ %mto Jesus. 233
"<b
mercy and love to me \ God's law condemns me, my own con-
science accuseth me, and justice will have its due.
(3.) The want of a mediator, or some suitable person which
may stand between the sinner and God. If on my part there
be unworthiness, and on God's part severe justice ; and withal I
see no mediator, which I may go unto, before I deal with the
infinite glory of God himself; how should I but despair, and cry
out. Oh wretched man that I am ! Oh that I never had been !
I cannot believe ; there is no room for faith in this case.
2. The helps of faith, in this sad condition, are these :
(L) A consideration that God is pleased to overlook the un-
worthiness of his poor creatures. This we see plain in the very
act of his incarnation ; himself disdains not to be as his poor
creatures, to wear their flesh, to take upon him human nature ;
and in all things to become like unto man, sin only excepted.
(2.) A consideration that God satisfies justice, by setting up
Christ, who is justice itself. Now was it that mercy and truth
met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other ;
now was it that free grace and merit, that fulness and notliing-
ness, were made one ; now was it that truth ran to mercy, and
embraced her ; and righteousness to peace, and kissed her ; in
Christ they met, yea, in him was the infinite exactness of God's
justice satisfied.
(3.) A consideration that God hath set up Christ as a Media-
tor ; that he was incarnate in order to reconciliation, and sal-
vation of souls ; and but for the accomplishment of this design,
Christ had never been incarnate. The very end of his uniting
fleeh unto him, was in order to the reconciliation of us poor souls.
Alas ! we had sinned, and by sin deserved everlasting damna-
tion ; but to save us, and to satisfy himself, God takes our nature
and joins it to his Son, and calls that Christ a Saviour. This is
the gospel notion of Christ ; for what is Christ but God himself
in our nature, transacting our peace ? In this Christ is fulness,
and righteousness, and love, and bowels to receive the first acts
of our faith ; and to have immediate union and communion with
us. Indeed we pitch our faith immediately on God himself; yet
at last we come to him, and our faith lives in God, as one faith,
before it is aware, through the intervention of that person, which
is God himself, only called by another name — the Lord Jesus
Christ : and these are the helps of faith, in reference to our un-
worthiness, God's justice, and the want of a Mediator betwixt
God and us.
3. The manner how to act our faith on Christ incarnate,
is this :
(1.) Faith must directly go to Christ. We find indeed some
particular promises of this and that grace ; but the promises are
not given without Christ : no, first Christ, and then all other
things. Incline your ears, and come unto me : Come unto
9. 2g •
234 Loohins: unto Jesus,
Christ, and then / will make an everlasting covenant, (which
contains all the promises) even the sure mercies of David. As
in marriage, the woman first consents to have the man, and then
all the benefits that follow ; so the soul by faith first pitcheth
upon Christ, and then on the privileges that flow from Christ.
Say, dost thou want any temporal blessing ; suppose it be the
payment of debts, thy daily bread, health ; look through the
scripture for promises of these things, and let thy faith act thus,
' If God hath given me Christ, the greatest blessing, then cer-
tainly he will give me all these things, so far as they may be for
mv good. In the twenty-third psalm we find a bundle of pro-
mises ; but he begins. The Lord is my shepherd, therefore I
shall not ii*!xnt. The believing patriarchs through faith subdued
kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped
the mouths of lions, did wonders in the world ; but what did they
chiefly look to in this their faith ? Surely to the promise to come,
and to that better thing, Christ himself : and therefore the apos-
tle concludes, having such a cloud of witnesses, that thus lived
and died by faith, let us look unto Jesus, the author and finisher
of our faith.
(2.) Faith must directly go to Christ as God in our flesh.
Some think it a carnal apprehension of Jesus Christ, to know
him as in flesh : I confess, to know him only so ; to consider
Jesus no other way but as having flesh, is no better than a carnal
apprehension ; but to consider Christ as God in flesh, and to
.consider that flesh as acted by God, and filled with God, is a
true and spiritual apprehension of Jesus Christ ; and hither is
faith to be directed immediately. Suppose a case of danger by
some enemies, and I find a promise of protection from my ene-
mies ; I look on that : but in the first place thus I argue. If the
Lord hath given me Christ, (God in the flesh) to save me from,
hell, then much more will he save me from these fleshly enemies.
(3.) Faith must go and lie at the feet of Christ ; faith must
fasten itself on this God in our flesh. Some go to Christ, and
look on Jesus with loose and transient glances, they have but
coarse and common apprehensions of Jesus Christ. Oh ! but
we should come to Christ with solemn and serious spirits ; we
should look on Jesus piercingly, till we see him as God is in him,
and as such a person thus and thus qualified from heaven ; we
should labour to apprehend what is the riches of this glorious
mystery of Christ's incarnation ; we should dive into the depths
of his glorious actings ; we should study this mystery above all
other studies. Nothing is more pleasant, and nothing is more
deep. That one person should be God and man ; that blessed-
ness should be made a curse ; that heaven should be let down
into hell ; that the God of the world should shut himself up, as
it were, in a body 5 that the invisible God should be made visible
to sense 5 that God should make our nature, which had sinned
Looking unto Jesus, 235
against him, to be the great ordinance of reconciling us unto
himself ; that God should take our flesh, and dwell in it with all
his fulness, and make that flesh more glorious than the angels,
and advance that flesh into oneness with himself, and through
that flesh open all his rich discoveries of love and free grace
untt) the sons of men ; that this God-man should be our Saviour,
Redeemer, Reconciler, Father, Friend ; Oh what mysteries are
these ! No wonder if when Christ was born, the apostles cry.
We saw his glory , as of the only begotten Son of God ; noting,
that at the first sight of him, so much glory sparkled from him
as could appear from none, but a God walking up and down the
world. Oh ! my soul, let not such a treasury be unlooked into.
Set faith on work with a redoubled strength. Surely we live
not like men under this great design, if our eye of faith be not
firmly and stedfastly set on this. Oh, that we were but ac-
quainted with these lively discoveries ! how blessedly might we
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us, and gave him-
self for us.
(4.) Faith must look principally to the end of Christ, as God
coming in the flesh. Now what was the design of Christ in this ?
The apostle answers, Rom. viii. 3. God sent his Son in tlie
likeness of sinful jieshy to condemn sin in t/iejlesh, i. e. God the
Father sent into the world his only begotten Son, to abolish in
the first place original sin. Mark these two words : he co?i-
demned sin in the flesh. The first word condemned^ is, by a me-
tonymy, put for that which follows condemnation, namely, for the
abolishing of sin ; as condemned persons use to be cut off and
to be taken out of the world, that they may be no more ; so
Christ hath condemned or abolished this sin. By the second
word, in the flesh, is meant the human nature which Christ
assumed. He abolished sin altogether in his own nature : and
that flesh of his being perfectly holy, and the holiness of it being
imputed unto us, it takes away our guilt in respect of the im-
pureness of our nature also. Christ had not the least spot of
original sin ; and if we are Christ's, then is the sin in some mea-
sure taken out of their hearts. But howsoever the filth of this
sin may remain in part, yet the guilt is removed : in this respect
the purity of Christ's human nature is no less reckoned to us for
the curing of our defiled nature, than the sufTerings of Christ
are to us, for the remission of our actual sins. O my soul, look
to this end of Christ as God in the flesh. If thou consider him
as made of flesh and blood, think withal, that his meaning was
to condemn sin in our flesh. There flows from the holiness of
Christ's nature such a power as countermands the power of our
original sin, and acquits and discharges from the condemna-
tion of the same shi. Not only the death and life, but also
the conception and birth, of Christ, hath its influence in our
justification.
236 Looking unto Jesus.
4. The encouragements to bring our souls to believe on Christ
incarnate, we may draw —
(1.) From the excellency of this object. This incarnation of
Christ is the foundation of all other actings of God for us ; it is
the very hinge on which all turn ; it is the cabinet wherein all the
designs of God do lie, redemption, justification, glorification^
all are wrapt up in it ; it is the highest pitch of the declaration of
God's wisdom, goodness, power, and glory. Oh, what a sweet
object of faith is this ! I know there are some other things in
Christ, which are most proper for some acts of faith ; as, Christ
dying is most proper for the pardon of actual sin ; and Christ
rising from the dead, is most proper for the evidencing of our
justification ; but the strongest and purest acts of faith are
those which take in Christ as such a person, laid out in all this
glory. Christ's incarnation is more general than Christ's passion
or Christ's resurrection, and, as some would have it, includes all.
Christ's incarnation holds forth Christ in his fidness, and so is
the complete subject of our faith.
Come, poor soul, thy eyes are running to and fro the world,
to find comfort and happiness on earth : O cast thy eyes back,
and see heaven and earth in one object ! Look fixedly on
Christ incarnate ! There is more in this than in all the variety
of this world, or of that world to come. Here is an object
of faith, and love, and joy, and delight ; here is a compendium
of all glories.
(2.) From the suitableness of this object. Christ incarnate is
most suitable for our faith to act upon. We are indeed to be-
lieve on God, but we cannot come to God but in and through
Christ. Alas ! God is offended, and therefore we cannot find
ground immediately to go to God. Hence you heard, that faith
must directly go to Christ as God in our flesh. O the infinite
condescension of God in Christ ! God takes up our nature, and
joins it to himself as one person, and lays that before our faith ;
so that here is God, and God suited to the particular state of
the sinner. Now with what boldness may our souls draw nigh
to God ! Why art thou strange, poor soul ? Why standest thou
afar off, as if it were death to draw nigh ? Of whom art thou
afraid ? Is God come down amongst men, and canst thou not see
him, lest thou die and perish ? Oh, look once more, and be not
discouraged 1 See, God is not come down in fire. God is not
descended in the armour of justice and everlasting burnings; no,
he is clothed with the garments of flesh, he desires to converse
with thee after thy own form, he is come down to beseech thee
to see with thine own eyes thy eternal happiness. Oh, the won-
der of heaven ! It is the cry of some poor souls, O that I might
see God ! Lo here God is come down in ihe likeness of man,
he walks in our own shape amongst us. It is the cry of others, O
that I might have my heart united to God ! Why, he is come.
f Looking unto Jesus, 237
down on this very purpose, and hath united our nature unto
himself. Surely God hath left all the world without excuse : O
that ever there should be an heart of unbelief, after these sen-
sible demonstrations of divine glory and love ! Why wilt thou
now stand off ? Tell me, what wouldst thou have God do more ?
Can he manifest himself in a more suitable way to thy condi-
tion ? Is there any thing below flesh, wherein the great God can
humble himself for thy good ? Come, think of another and a
better way, or else for ever believe. Methinks it is sad to see
believers shy in their approaches to God, or doubtful of their
acceptance with God, when God himself stoops first, and is so
in love with our acquaintance, that he will be of the same nature
that we are. Oh ! let not such a rock of strength be slighted,
but every day entertain precious thoughts of Christ being incar-
nate : inure thy heart to believing on this Jesus, as he carries on
the great work of thy salvation at his first coming.
(3.) From the offers of this blessed object to our souls. As
Christ is come in our nature to satisfy, so he comes in the gos-
pel freely and fully to offer the terms of love ; therein are set out
the most alluring expressions that possibly can be ; therein is set
out, that this incarnation of Christ was God's own acting, out of
his own love, and grace, and glory ; therein is set out the birth,
and life, and death of Christ ; and this he could not do but he
must be incarnate : God takes our flesh, and he useth that as an
instrument whereby to act ; he was flesh to suffer, as he was
spirit to satisfy, for our sins. Methinks I might challenge un-
belief, and bid it come forth ; let it appear, if it dare, before
this consideration : what, is not God incarnate, enough to satisfy
thy conscience ? Come nigh, hear the voice of Christ inviting :
Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden with sin.
And, Oh ! let these rich and glorious openings of the heart of Christ
overcome thy heart. What if God should have done no more
than this ! Had he only looked down from heaven, and hearing
sinners cry out, O wo, wo unto us for ever ! we have broken God's
law, incurred the penalty, damned our own souls ; O who should
deliver us ? Who will save us from the wrath to come ? In this
case, if God hearing sinners thus crying out ; had he, I say,
only looked down and told them, I will pardon your sins ; I made
the law, and will dispense with it ; fear not, I have the keys of
life and death : what soul would not have been raised up, even
from the bottom of hell at this very voice ? I know a poor soul
would have scrupled at this, and have said. What then should
become of infinite justice ? But, to remove all controversies,
God hath not only spoken from heaven, but he himself is come
down from heaven to speak unto us. O see this miracle of
mercy ! God is come down in flesh, he is come down as a
price j he himself will pay himself according to all the demands
238 Looking unto Jesus.
of his justice ; and all this done, now he offers and tenders
himself to thy soul.
O my soul, why shouldst thou fear to cast thyself upoii thy
God ? I know thy objection of vileness : notwithstanding all
thy vileness, God himself offers himself to lead thee by the hand,
and to remove all doubts ; God himself hath put a price sufficient
in the hands of justice ; or if yet thou fearest to come to God,
why come then to thy own flesh ; go to Christ, as having thy
own nature ; it is he that calls thee. What can be said more to
draw on thy trembling heart ! If God himself, and God so fit-
ted and qualified, as I may say, will not allure, must not men
die and perish in unbelief ? What ! O my soul, is God come
down so low to thee ? and dost thou now stand qxiestioning whe-
ther thou shouldst go or come to him ? What i^ this but to say.
All that God is, or does, or says, is too little to persuade me to
faith ? I cannot tell ; but one would think that unbelief should
be strangled, quite slain, upon this consideration. All this, O
my soul, thou hearest in the gospel : there is Christ incarnate
set forth to the life ; there is Christ suing thy love, and oflfering
himself as thy beloved in thy own nature ; there it is written,
that God is come down in flesh, with an olive branch of eternal
peace in his hand, and bids you all be witness he is not come to
destroy, but to save. Oh that this encouragement might be of
force to improve Christ's glorious design to the supplying of all
thy wants, and to the making up of all thy losses ! Believe, Oh,
believe thy part in Christ incarnate.
Sect. VI. — Of Loving Jesus in that respect.
Let us love Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our
salvation at his first coming or incarnation. O my soul, canst
thou possibly light on any object more attractive than the incar-
nation of Jesus Christ ? If love be the loadstone of love, what
an attractive is this before thee ! Methinks the very sight of
Christ incarnate is enough to ravish thee with the apprehension
of his infinite goodness. See how he calls out, or, as it were,
draws out the soul to union, vision, and participation of his
glory ! O come and yield thyself up unto him : give him
thyself, and conform all thy affections and actions to his will.
O love him, not with a divided, but with all thy heart.
But to excite this love, I shall only propound the object,
which will be argument enough. Love causeth love : now as
God's first love to man was in making man like himself, so his
second great love was in making himself like to man. Stay then
a while upon this love ; for I take it, this is the greater love of
the two. The evangelist expresseth it thus, God so loved the
world, that he gave his only begotten Son ; he gave him to be
Looking unto Jesus, 239
incarnate, to be made flesh, and to suffer death 5 but the ex-
tension of his love Hes in that expression, he so loved. So !
how ? why, so fully, so freely, as no tongue can tell, no heart
can think.
It is usually said, that it is a greater love of God to save a
soul, than to make a world ; and I think it was a greater love of
God to take our nature, than simply to save our souls : for a
king to dispense with the law, and by his own prerogative to
save a murderer from the gallows, is not such an act of love and
mercy as to take the murderer's clothes, and to wear them as
his richest livery ? Why, God in taking our nature, hath done
thus, and more than thus : he would not save us by his mere
prerogative, but he takes our clothes, our flesh, and in that flesh
he personates us, and in that flesh he will die for us, that we
might not die, but live through him for evermore. Surely this
was love, that God will be no more God, as it were, simply, but
he will take up another nature, rather than the brightness of his
glory shall undo our souls.
It will not be amiss (whilst I am endeavouring to draw a line
of God's love in Christ from first to last in saving souls) that
here we look back a little, and summarily contract the passages
of love from that eternity before all worlds unto this present.
1 . God had an eternal design to discover his infinite love to
some besides himself. Oh, the wonder of this ! Was there any
necessity of such a discovery ? Though God was one, and in
that respect alone, yet God was not solitary ; in that eternity
within his own essence there were three divine Persons, and
betwixt them there was a blessed communication of love. Though
in that eternity their was no creature to whom these three per-
sons could communicate their love ; yet was there a glorious
communication and breaking out of love from one to another.
Before there was a world, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost did
infinitely glorify themselves, t/oh7i xvii. 5. What need then was
there of the discovery of God's love to any one besides himself ?
only thus was the pleasure of God ; JEven so, Father, for so it
seemed good in thy sight. Such was the love of God, that it
would not contain itself within that infinite ocean of himself, but
it would needs have rivers and channels, into which it might run
and overflow.
2. God, in prosecution of his design, creates a world of crea-
tures ; some rational, and only capable of love ; others irrational,
and serviceable to that one creature, which he makes the top of
the whole creation ; then it was that he set one man, Adam, as
a common person, to represent the rest ; to him he gives a])un-
dance of glorious qualifications, and him he sets over all the
work of his hands. If we should view the excellency of this
creature, either in the outward or inner man, who would not
wonder ? His body had its excellency, which made the psalmist
240 Looking unto Jesus.
say, / will praise thee, for I am fearfully aiid ivonderfully
7nade, and curioiisly wrought in the lowest parts of the earth,
Psalm cxxxix. 14. It is a speech borrowed from those who
work arras-work : the body of man is a piece of curious tapestry,
consisting of skin, bones, muscles, sinews, and the like. What
a goodly thing the body of man was before the fall, may be
guessed from the excellent gifts found in the bodies of some men
since the fall. If all these were but joined in one, as certainly
they were in Adam, what a rare body would such a one be ? But
what was this body in comparison of that soul ? The soul was it
that was especially made after the image of God : the soul was it
that was tempered in the same mortar with the heavenly spirits :
the soul was God's sparkle, a beam of his divine glory, a ray or
emanation of God himself : as man was the principal part of the
creation, so the soul was the principal part of man. Here Avas it
that God's love and glory were centred. Here was it that
God's love fixed itself in a special manner, whence flowed that
communion of God with Adam, and that familiarity of Adam
with God.
3. Within a while, this man, the object of God's love, fell
away from God, and as he fell, so all that were in him, even the
whole world, fell together with him ; and hereupon God's face
was hid. Not a sight of him but in flaming fire, ready to seize
on the sons of men. And yet God's love would not thus leave
the object : he had yet a further reach of love, and out of this
dark cloud he lets fall some glimpses of another discovery : these
glimpses were sweet ; but, alas ! they were so dark that very few
could make any comfortable application of them ; but by degrees
God hints it out more, he points it out by types and shadows,
he makes some model of it by outward ceremonies, and yet so
dark, that in four thousand years men were but guessing and
hoping through promises for a manifestation of God's love. This
is the meaning of the apostle, who tells us of the mystery that
was hid from ages and from getierations, hut now is inade mani-
fest to his saints. This love of God was hid in the breast of
God from the sons of men for an age, so that they knew 'not
what to make of this great design : I speak of the generality of
men ; for in respect of some particulars, the Lord made his love
clear to them ; and still the nearer to Christ, the clearer and
clearer was the covenant of grace.
4. At last, God fully opens himself ; in the fulness of time,
God takes the flesh of those poor sinners which he had so loved,
and joins it to himself, "and calls it Christ, a Saviour. Now was
it that God descended, and lay in the womb of a virgin ; now
was it that he is born as we are born ; now was it that he joined
our flesh so nigh to himself, as that there is a communication of
properties betwixt them both; that being attributed to God
which is proper to flesh, as to be born, to suft'er ) and that being
Looking unto Jesus. 241
attributed to flesh which is proper to God^ as to create^ to re-
deem. Who can choose but wonder^ that God should be made
flesh, and dwell amongst us ? that flesh should infinitely pro-
voke God, and yet God, in the same flesh, should be infinitely
pleased ? that God should veil himself, and darken his glory
with our flesh, and yet unveil at the same time the deepest and
darkest of his designs in a comfortable way to our souls ? O my
soul! how shouldsl thou contain thyself within thyself? how
shouldst thou but leap out of thyself, if I may so speak, as one
that is lost in the admiration of this love ? Surely God never
manifested himself in such a strain of love as tiiis before.
Well, hitherto we have followed the passages of his love, and
now we see it at full-sea. If any thing will beget our love to
God, surely Christ incarnate will do it. Come then, O my soul,
I cannot but call on thee to love thy Jesus ; and to provoke thy
love, fix thy eye on this lovely object. Draw yet a little nearer ;
consider what an heart of love is in this design i God is in thy
own nature, to take upon him all the miseries of thy nature.
Oh ! my heart, art thou yet cold in thy love to Jesus Christ ?
Canst thou love him but a little, who hath loved thee so much ?
How should I then but complain of thee to Christ ! and for
thy sake beg hard of God : O thou sweet Jesus, that clothest
thyself with the clouds as with a garment, and now clothest
thyself with the nature of a man ; Oh ! that nothing but thy-
self might be dear unto me, because it so pleased thee to vilify
thyself for my sake.
Sect. VII. — Of Joying in Jesus in that respect.
Let us joy in Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our
salvation for us at his incarnation. If it be so, that by our de-
sire, and hope, and faith, and love, we have reached the object
which our souls pant after, how should we but joy and delight
therein ? The end of our motion is to attain quiet and rest ; now
what is joy, but a sweet and delightful tranquillity of mind,
resting in the fruition of good ? What ! hast thou in some mea-
sure attained the fi-uition of Christ, as God incarnate, in thy
soul ? It is then time to joy in Jesus ; it is then time to keep a
sabbath of tliy thoughts, and to be quiet and calm in thy spirit.
But you will say, how should this be before we come to heaven ?
I answer, there is not indeed perfection of joy whilst we are
here, because there is no perfection of union on this side heaven ;
but so far as union is, our joy must be. Examine the grounds
of thy hope, and the actings of thy faith, and if thou art but
satisfied in them, then lead up thy joy 3 here is matter for it to
work upon : if thou canst rejoice in any thing, rejoice in the
Lord ; and again I say, rejoice.
9. 2 H
242 Looking unto Jesus,
Is there not cause ? What is the meaning of the gospel of
Christ ? What is gospel, hut good spell, or good tidings ? And
wherein lies the good tidings, according to its eminency ? Is it
not in the glorious incarnation of the Son of God ? ' Behold, I
bring you a gospel,' so it is in the original ; or, behold^ I bring
you good tidings of great joy , which shall be to all people ; for
unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which
is Christ the Lord. The birth of Christ is the comfort of com-
forts, and the sweetest balm that ever was. O my soul, what
ails thee ? Why art thou cast down and disquieted within me ?
Is it because thou art a sinner ? Why, unto thee is born a
Saviour; his name is Saviour, and therefore Saviour, because
he will save his people from their sins. Come then, and bring
out thy sins, and weigh them to the utmost aggravation, and take
in every circumstance both of law and gospel, and set but
this in the other scale, that unto thee is born a Saviour ; surely
all thy iniquities will seem lighter than vanity, yea, they will be
as nothing in comparison thereof : 3Iy soul doth magnify the
Lord, said Mary, and my sj)irit rejoiceth in God my Saviour.
Her soul and her spirit within her rejoiced at this birth of Christ.
There is cause that every soul and every spirit should rejoice,
that hath any interest in this birth of Christ. O my soul, how
shouldst thou but rejoice, if thou wilt consider these parti-
culars :
1. God himself is come down into the world. Because it was
impossible for thee to come to liini, he is come to thee. This
consideration made the prophet cry out. Rejoice greatly, O thou
daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold thy
King comet h unto thee: he is called a King, and therefore he is
able; and he is thy King, and therefore he is willing: but in
that thy King cometh unto thee, here is the marvellous love of
God in Christ. Kings do not usually come to wait upon their
subjects; it is well if poor subjects may come to them. Oh!
but see the great King of heaven and earth, the King of kings,
and Lord of lords, stooping, and bowing the heavens, come down
to thee ! Surely this is good tidings of great joy, and therefore ^
rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion !
2. God is come down in flesh. He hath laid aside, as it were,
his own glory, whilst he converseth vvdth thee. When God ma-
nifested himself on mount Sinai, he came down in thunder and
lightning ; and if now he had appeared in thunder and lightning,
if now he had been guarded with an innumerable company of
angels, all having their swords of justice drawn, well might poor
souls have trembled, and have run into corners ; for who could
ever be able to endure his coming in this way? But God is
come down in flesh, he hath made his appearance as a man, as
one of us, and there is not in this regard the least distance be-
twixt him and us; surely this is fuel for joy to feed upon. O
Looking unto Jesus, 243
why should God come down so suitably^, so lowly^ as in our
nature, if he would have thy poor soul to be afraid of him?
Doth not tliis very design intend consolation to thy soul ? O
gather up thy spirit, anoint thy heart with the oil of gladness.
See, God himself is come down in flesh to live amongst us ! he
j^rofesseth he will have no other life but amongst the sons of
men. See what a sweet way of famiharity and intercourse is
made betwixt God and us.
3. God hath taken on him our nature, that his godhead may
flow out in all manner of sweetness upon our hearts. If God
had come down in flesh, only to have been seen of us, it had
been a wonderfid condescension : If I have found favour in thy
eyes, said Moses, shew me the way that I may knoiv thee : but
to come down in flesh, not only to be seen, but to dispatch the
great business of our soul's salvation, here is comfort indeed:
with what joy should we draw water out of this well of sal-
vation.
O my soul, thou art daily busy in eyeing this and that ; but
above all know, that the fulness of God lies in Christ incarnate,
to be emptied upon thee. This was the meaning of Christ's
taking upon him flesh, that through his flesh he might convey to
thee whatsoever is in himself as God. As for instance, God in
himself is good, and gracious, and powerful, and all-sufficient,
and merciful, and what not ? Now by his being in flesh, he con-
veys all this to thee. Observe this for thy eternal comfort; God
in and through the flesh makes all his attributes and glory ser-
viceable to thy soul.
4. This discovering Christ incarnate is the first opening of all
God's heart and glory unto the sons of men: and from this we
may raise a world of comfort ; for if God begins so gloriously,
how will he end ? If God be so full of love, as to come down
in flesh now in this world, Oh what matter of hope is laid up
before us, of what God will be to us in that world to come ? If
the glory of God be let out to our souls so fully at first, what
glorious openings of all the glory of God will be let out to our
souls at last ? Christians 1 what do you think will God do with
us, or bring us unto, when we shall be with him in heaven ! You
see now he is manifested in flesh, and he hath laid out a world
of glory in that : but the apostle tells us of another manifesta-
tion, for we shall see him as he is; he shall at last be manifest
in himself: Naw we see through a glass darkly, but then face
to face; noiu we know in part, but then we shall know eveii as
we are known.
O my soul, weigh all these passages, and make an applica-
tron of them to thyself; and then tell me if yet tliou hist not
matter enough to raise up thy heart, and fill it with joy urfspeak-
able and full of glory. When the wise men saw but the star of
Christ, they rejoiced with an exceeding great joy; how much
244 Lookins: tinto Jesus.
'^
more when they saw Christ himself ? Your father Abraham,
said Christ to the Jews^ rejoiced to see my day, and he saiv it,
and ivas glad. He saw it indeed but afar off^ with the eyes of
faith 5 they before Christ had the promise^ but we see the per-
formance : how then should we rejoice ! How glad shouldst thou
be^ O my soul^ at the sight of Christ's incarnation ? If the angels
of God^ 3 ea, if the multitudes of angels, could sing for joy at his
birth. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good
luill toivards men ; how much more shouldst thou, whom it con-
cerns more than the angels, join with them in concert, and sing
for joy this joyful song, of good will towards men? Awake,
awake, O my soul, awake, awake, utter a song ! tell over these
passages, that God is come down into the world; that God is
come down in flesh; in order to thy reconciliation; that
God is come down in the likeness of man, that he may bring
thee up into the likeness of God; and that all these are but
the first openings of the grace, and goodness, and glory,
of God in Christ unto thy soul: and Oh, what work will
these make in thy soul, if the Spirit come in, who is the
Comforter !
Sect. VIII. — Of Calling on Jesus as carrying on the great
TFork of our Salvation in his Birth.
Let us call on Jesus, or on God the Father in and through
Jesus. Now this calling on Jesus contains prayer and praise.
I . We must pray that all these transactions of Jesus at his first
coming may be our's; and is not here encouragement for our
prayers? This very point of Christ's incarnation opens a door
of rich entrance into the presence of God: we may call it a
blessed portal into heaven. This is that new and living way
which he hath consecrated for lis through the veil, that is to say,
his flesh. With what boldness may we now enter into the holiest,
and draw near unto the throne of grace ! Why, Christ is incar-
nate, God is come down in the flesh ; though his deity may con-
found us, if we should immediately and solely apply ovirselves
unto it, yet his humanity comforts our faint and feeble souls.
God in his humility animates our souls to come unto him, and to
seek of him whatsoever is needful for us. Go then to Christ;
away, away, O my soul, to Jesus, or to God the Father in and
through Jesus, and .desire that the fruit, the benefit, of his con-
ception, birth, and of the wonderful union of the two natures of
Christ, may be all thine. What ! dost thou hope in Jesus, and
believe thy part in this incarnation of Christ ? Why then, pray
in hop'e, and pray in faith. What is prayer but the stream and
river of faith, an issue of the desire of that which I joyfully
beheve? Thou, O Lord God of hosts, God of Israel, hast
Looking unto Jesus. 245
revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house,
therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer
unto thee.
2. We must praise. This was the special duty practised by
all saints and angels at Christ's birth ; Blessed he the Lord God
of Israel, said Zachary, for he hath visited and redeemed his
jieojjle. — And, Glory to God in the highest, said the heavenly
host : only one angel had before brought the news. Unto you is
born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ
the Lord; but immediately after there were many to sing praises;
not only six cherubims, as Isaiah saw ; not only four and twenty
elders, as John saw ; but a multitude of angels, like armies,
that by their hallelujahs gave glory to God. O my soul, do
thou keep concert with those angels : O sing praises ! sing
praises. Never was the like case since the first creation ; never
was the wisdom, truth, justice, mercy, and goodness of God so
manifest before. I shall never forget that last speech of a dying
saint, " Blessed be God for Jesus Christ!" O my soul, living
and dying, let this be thought on ; What ! Christ incarnate for
me ? Why bless the Lord, O my soul j and ail that is within
me, bless his holy name
Sect. IX. — Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect.
Let us conform to Jesus, in reference to this great transaction
of his incarnation. Looking to Jesus is the cause of this ; the
sight of God will make us like to God, and the sight of Chrtet
will make us like to Christ ; for as a looking-glass cannot be ex-
pqsed to the sun, but it will shine like the same, so God receives
none to contemplate his face, but he transforms them into his own
likeness ; and Christ hath none that dive into these depths of his
glorious incarnation, but they carry along with them sweet im-
pressions of an abiding and transforming nature. Come then,
let us once more look on Jesus in his incarnation, that we may
conform to Jesus in that respect.
But wherein lies this conformity to Jesus ? I answer, in these
and the like particidars :
1 . Christ was conceived in Mary by the Holy Ghost -, so must
Christ be conceived in us by the same Holy Ghost. To this
purpose is the seed of the word cast in, and principles of grace
are by the Holy Ghost infused; he hath begotten us by the
word, saith the apostle, James i. 18. God hath appointed
no other means to convey supernatural life, but after this
manner. Where no preaching is, there is a worse judgment
than that of Egypt, where there was one dead in every family.
By the word and spirit the seeds of all grace are sown in
the heart, and the heart closing with it, Christ is conceived in
the heart.
246 Looking unto Jesus.
2. Christ was sanctified in the Virgin's womb ; so must we be
sanctified in om'selves: Be ye holy as I am holy. Souls rege-
nerate must be sanctified: Everyman, saith the apostle, that
hath this hope in kirn, purifieth himself, even as he is pure, I
know our hearts are, as it were, seas of corruptions, yet we
must daily cleanse them. Christ coidd not have been a Saviour
for us, unless first he had been sanctified ; neither can we be fit
members unto him, unless we be purged from our sins, and
sanctified by his Spirit. To this purpose is that of the apostle ;
I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God. In the
Old Testament they did kill beasts, presenting them unto the Lord ;
now we are to mortify the flesh with the affections and lusts; all
our inordinate passions, all our evil affections of anger, love, joy,
hatred, are to be crucified, and all that is our's must be given
up to God : there must be no love in us but of God, and in re-
ference to God; no joy in us, but in God, and in reference to
God ; no fear in us, but of God, and in reference to God ; and
thus of all other the like passions. O that we would look to
Jesus, and be like unto Jesus in this thing ! if there be any ho-
nour, any happiness, it is in this : we are not fit for any holy duty,
or any rehgious approach unto God, without sanctification ; This
is the will of God, saith the apostle, even your sanctification.
All the commands of God tend to this ; and for the comfort of us
Christians, we have, under the gospel, promises of sanctification
to be in a larger measure made out unto us : In that day there
shall be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness unto the Lord; —
yea, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness unto the
Lord. Every vessel under Christ and the gospel must have
written upon it Holiness to the Lord: thus our spiritual ser-
vices, figured by the ancient ceremonial services of the Jewish
dispensation, are set out by a larger measure of holiness than
Avas in former times.
3. Christ the Son of man, is by nature the son of God ; so
we, poor sons of men, must, by grace, become the sons of God,
even of the same God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ :
For this end God sent his own Son, made of a woman, that we
might receive the adoption of sons. — Wherefore thoua rt no more
a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through
Christ. This intimates, that what relation Christ hath unto
the Father by nature, we should have the same by grace : by
nature, he is the only begotten Son of the Father ; — and' as
many as received him, saith the apostle John, to them gave he
pmver to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on
his name.
4. Christ the Son of God was yet the son of man : there was
in him a duplicity of natures really distinguished ; and in this
respect the greatest majesty, and the gi-eatest humility, that ever
Looking unto Jesus, 247
was, are found in Christ: so we, though sons of God, must
remember ourselves to be but sons of men : and our privileges
are not so high, but our poor conditions, frailties, infirmities,
sins, may make us low. Who was higher than the son of God ?
and who was lower than the son of man ? As he is God, he is
in the bosom of his Father ; as he is man, he is in the womb of
his mother : as he is God, his throne is in heaven, and he fills
all things by his immensity; as he is man, he is circumcised in a
manger. Well, let this mind he in you, ivhich luas also in Christ
Jesus ; ivho heing in the form of God, thought it 7io robbery to
he equal with God ; but made himself of no reputatio7i, took
upon him the form of a servant, and ivas made in the likeness of
men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself:
he that thought it no robbery to be equal with God, humbled him-
self to become man. We should have found it no robbery to be
equal with devils, and are we too proud to learn of God ? What
an intolerable disproportion is this, to behold an humbled God,
and a proud man ! Shall the son of God be thus humbled for
us, and shall not we be humbled for ourselves ? I say, for our-
selves, that deserve to be cast down among the lowest worms.
What are we in our best condition on earth ? Had we the best
natures, purest conversations, happiest endowments, pride over-
throws all ; it thrust Nebuchadnezzar out of Babel, proud Saul
out of his kingdom, proud Lucifer out of heaven. Poor man !
how ill it becomes thee to be proud, when God himself is
become thus humble ! Learn of me, saith Christ, for I am
7neek and lowly in spirit, and you shall find rest unto your
souls.
5. The two natures of Christ, though really distinguished, yet
were inseparably joined ; so must our natures, tbough at great
distance from God, be inseparably joined to Christ, and thereby
to God. I pray, saith Christ, that they all may be one, as thou,
leather, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one hi
us. That union of Christ's two natures, we call an hypostatical
union -, and this union of Christ with us, we call a mystical and
spiritual union ; yet though it be mystical and spiritual, this hin-
ders not but that it is a true, real union, whereby the believer is
united to the Son of God. O what a privilege is this ; a poor
believer, be he never so mean a man or miserable in the eye of
the world, yet is one with Christ, as Christ is one with the Fa-
ther. Our felloiv ship is luith the Father, and ivith his Son Jesus
Christ. Every saint is Christ's fellow ; there is a kind of pro-
portion between Christ and his saints in every thing ; if we take
a view of all Christ, what he is in his person, in his glory, in
his spirit, in his graces, in his Father's love, and in the access
he hath to the Father, in all these we are, in a sort, fellows with
Christ ; only with this difference, that Christ hath the pre-emi-
nence in all things : all comes from the Father, first to Christ j
248 Looking unto Jesus.
Christ by his union hath all good things without measure, but
we by our union have them only in measure, as it pleaseth him
to distribute. But herein if we resemble Christ, whether in his
union with the Father, or in his union of the two natures in one
person of a Mediator, if by looking on Christ, we come to this
likeness, to be one with Christ, O what a privilege is this !
Had we not good warrant for so high a challenge, it could be no
less than a blasphemous arrogance to lay claim to the royal blood
of heaven ; but the Lord is pleased to dignify a poor worm, that
every believer may truly say, I am one with Jesus Christ, and
Jesus Christ is one with me.
Nay, yet more, my sufferings are Christ's, Col. i. 24. and
Christ's sufferings are mine, Rom. viii. V] . I am in Christ an
heir of glory, Rom. viii. V] . O my Christ, my Ufe, what am I,
or what is my father's house, that thou shoiddst come down into
me ? that thou shouldst be conceived in my poor sinful heart,
that thou shouldst give my soul a new, a spiritual life, a life be-
gun in grace, and ending in eternal glory ! I shall not reckon
up any more privileges of this union. Methinks I should not
need. If I tell you of grace and glory, what can I more ?
Glory is the highest pitch, and Christ tells you concerning it.
The glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they
may he one, even as we are one. Ah, my brethren, to be so like
Christ, as to be one with Christ, it is near indeed ! O let us
conform to Christ in this : he is one with our nature in an hypo-
statical, personal union ; let us be one with him in a spiritual,
holy, and mystical union. If God be not in our persons as truly,
though not as fully as in our nature, we have no particular com-
fort from this design of his personal, hypostatical, and wonder-
ful union.
6. When Christ was born, all Jerusalem was troubled ; so
when this new birth is, we must look that much commotion and
much division of heart will be. The devil could not be cast out
of the possessed person, but he would tear and torment him.
We cannot expect that Christ should expel Satan from the do-
minion he hath over us, but he will be sure to put us to great
fear and terror. Besides, not only the evil spirit, but God's
Spirit is for a while a spirit of bondage. There are many pre-
tenders to the grace of God in Christ, but they cannot abide to
hear of any pains in this new birth. Oh, this is legal ! But I
pray thee tell me, dost thou know any woman bring forth in her
sleep, or in a dream, without feeling any pain ? And how then
should the heart of man be thus changed and moulded without
several pangs and troubles ; ^?^ sorrow shall thou bring forth
children : so it is, and must be, in our spiritual birth ; there is
usually (I will not gay always, to such or such a degree) many
pangs and troubles, there is many a throb, and many a heart-
ache, ere Christ can be formed in us.
Looking unto Jesus. 249
7. Christ after his birth did and suffered many things in his
childhood; so should we learn to bear God's yoke in our youth.
O ye parents, do your duties, and in that respect imitate Joseph
and Mary in their care of the holy child Jesus: and O ye
children, do your duties, and imitate Jesus, the blessedest pat-
tern that ever was, that as you grow in stature, you also might
i^row in favour with God and man.
Thus far we have looked on Jesus, as our Jesus in his incar-
nation. Our next work is to look on Jesus carrying on the great
work of man's salvation duringiiis life, from John's baptism until
his dying on the cross.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS,
IN HIS LIFE.
BOOK IV,
1 John i. 2.
For the life was manifested, and we have seen it.
CHAP. I.
Sect. I. — Of the Beginnmg of the Gosjjel.
In this piece, as in the former, we must first lay down the
object, and then direct you how to look to it.
The object is Jesus carrying on the work of man's salvation
during the time of his life. — Now in all the transactions of this
time, we shall observe them as they were carried on successively
in those three years and a half of his ministerial office.
For the first year, the evangelist Mark begins thus : The
beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God; q. d.
the beginning of that age of the world, which the prophets
pointed out for the time of good things to come ; or the begin-
ning of the completion of that gospel, which, in respect of the
promise, was from the beginning of the world.
That now was the beginning of the gospel, appears, in that
baptism (which was only used among the Jews, for the admission
of heathens to their church,) is now proposed to the Jews them-
selves ; shewing, that now they were to be transplanted into a
9. 2 I
250 Looking unto Jesus.
new profession ; tliat the Gentiles and they were now to be knit
into one church and body. Indeed the doctrine of John was of
a different strain from the literal doctrine of the law, in the
sense of the Jews ; for that called all for works, do this and live :
but John called for repentance, and for the renewing of the
mind, and for belief in him that was coming after, disclaiming
all righteousness by the works of the law.
Hence one observes that the evangelist Luke points out this
year in a special manner; it was the "fifteenth year of Tiberius
Caesar; at which time," said he^ " Pilate was governor of Judea,
Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, Philip was tetrarch of Iturea,
Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, and Annas and Caiaphas were
high-priests. And then, even then, the word of God came unto
John the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness." See how exact
the evangelist is, that so remarkable a year of the beginning of
the gospel might be made known to all the world. I shall
begin the first year of Christ's life with the beginning of
John's preaching, which was six months current before the
ministry of Christ.
Sect. II. — Of the Preaching of John Baptist.
Now was it that the gospel began to dawn ; and John, like
the morning star springing from the windows of the east, fore-
tells the approach of the Sun of righteousness : now was it that
he laid the first rough stone of the building in mortification, self-
denial, and doing violence to our natural affections. I read not
that ever John wrought a miracle, but good works convince
more than miracles themselves. To this purpose, I suppose,
John the Baptist spent his time in prayer, meditation, and collo-
quies with God, eating flies arjd wild honey in the wilderness,
that he might be made a fit instrument of preparation of the
gospel of Christ.
John's sermons were to those of Jesus as a preface to a
discourse : —
His usual note was repentance, the axe to the root, the fan
to the floor, the chaff to the fire. As his raiment was rough, so
was his tongue ; and thus must the way be made for Christ, in
obstinate hearts. Plausibility, or pleasing of the flesh, is no fit
preface to regeneration. If the heart of man had continued
upright, Christ might have been entertained without contra-
diction ; but now violence must be offered to our corruptions,
ej-e we can make room for gi'ace. If the great way-maker do
not cast down hills and raise up valleys in the bosoms of men,
there is po passage for Christ ; never mil Christ come into that
soul, where the herald of repentance, either in one motive or
other, hath not been before him.
Shall we hear that sermon that John preached, in his own
Looking u7ito t/esus. 251
words ? Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. These
are the words when he first begun to preach the gospel of Christ ;
and mdeed we find Christ himself doth preach the same doctrine,
in the same words : Jesus began to preacli, and to say, Repent ;
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,
O how seasonable is this sermon to Christians ! Hath not the
kingdom of heaven approached unto us ? Take the kingdom of
heaven for the kingdom of glory, are we not near to the door of
glory, to the confines of eternity ? What is our life, but a vapour
that appeareth for a little time, and after it vanisheth away?
We know not but ere the sun have run one round, our souls may
be in that world of souls, and so either in heaven or hell. — Or
take the kingdom of heaven for the church of Christ, and what
expectation have we now of the flourishing state of Christ's
church here upon earth ? Then shall the children of Israel and
of Judah he gathered together, for great shall he the day of
Jezreel, Hos. i. 11. A time is at hand, that Israel and Judah
shall be called together, that the fulness of the Gentiles shall
come in; and what is this but the great day of Jezreel? Then
what manner of persons ought we to be ; how spiritual, how
heavenly-minded ! Arise, arise, shake off thy dust, for thy light
is coming, and the glory of the liOrd is rising upon thee. — But
I will not dwell on this; my design is to consider of Jesus, and
of the transactions of Jesus in reference to our souls' health :
now, John's sermons were only a preparative to the manifesta-
tion of Jesus.
Sect. III. — Of the Baptism of Jesus,
He that formerly was circumcised, would now be baptized;
he was circumcised to sanctify his church that was, and he was
baptized to sanctify his church that should be ; we find him in
both testaments opening a way into heaven. This was the first
appearing of Christ in reference to his ministerial office ; he that
lay hid in the counsel of God from all eternity, and he that lay
hid in the womb of his mother for the space of forty weeks, and
he that lay hid in Nazareth for the space of thirty years, now
at last begins to shew himself to the world: he comes from
Galilee to Jordan, to John, to be baptized of him. Now was
the full time come that Jesus took leave of his mother and his
trade, to begin his Father's work, in order to the redemption of
the world. — For the clearer understanding of Christ's baptism,
we shall examine these particulars :
1 .. What reason had Christ to be baptized ?
2. How was it that John knew him to be Christ ?
3. Why was it that the Holy Ghost descended on Jesus?
I . What reason had Christ to be baptized ? We find John
himself wondering at this ; / have need to he baptized of thee,
252 Looking unto tiesus.
and earnest thou to nief Many reasons are given for Christ's
baptism: (1.) That he might bear witness to the preaching and
baptism of John^ and might reciprocally receive a testimony
from John. (2.) That by his own baptism, he might sanctify the
Avater of baptism to his own chiirch. (3.) That he might fulfil all
righteousness \ not only the moral, but the figurative, ceremonial,
and typical. Some think, that the ceremony which our Saviour
looked at in these words, was their washing of the priests in
water, when they entered into their function : And Aaron and
his sons thou shalt bring to the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation^ and shalt ivash them ivith luater. And surely this
was the main reason of Christ's being baptized, that by this bap-
tism he might be installed into his ministerial office.
2. How did John know him to be Christ ? the Baptist speaks
expressly, I knew him not, but he that sent me to baptize with
water, the same said unto me, On whomsoever thou shalt see the
Spirit descending, and abiding on him, the same is he that bap-
tizeth luifh the^ Holy Ghost. Now, this descent of the Holy
Ghost was not till after baptism ; how then did he know him to
be Christ?
It is not unlikely but John knew Christ at his first arrival by
revelation. Thus Samuel knew Saul; and thus John might
know Christ. That knowledge he had after baptism, was a fur-
ther confirmation of that knowledge that he had before baptism,
and that not so much for his own sake, as for the people's ; /
saw, a7id bare record, that this is tlie Son of God.
3. Why was it that the Holy Ghost descended on Jesus ? I
answer, For these reasons, 1. That John the Baptist might be
satisfied ; for this token was given John, when he first began to
preach, That upon whom he should see the Spirit descending
and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the
Holy Ghost. (2.) That Christ himself might be anointed or in-
stalled to his function : The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidi?igs unto
the meek* As Aaron and his sons were anointed with material
oil, when they entered into their offices ; so Christ was by the
Spirit (as it were) anointed, that so he might receive this con-
secration and institution for the office that he was to enter on,
viz. the preaching and ministry of the gospel.
4. Why in the form of a dove, rather than some other form ?
— Perhaps,
(1.) To shew Christ's innocency, purity, and love. (2.) To
answer the figure in Noah's flood; for as a dove at that time
brought tidings of the abating of the waters, so now it brings
tidings of the abating of God's wrath,- upon the preaching of the
gospel.
Observe, the baptisra we use, and the baptism of John, arc in
nature and substance one and the same. 1. John preached the
Looking unto */esus. 253
baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins. They have
therefore the same doctrine, and the same promise. 2. The bap-
tism ministered by John pertained to the fulfiUing of all righte-
ousness. And Luke testifies, that the publicans and people
being baptized of John, they justified God. But the Pharisees
despised the counsel of God against themselves, and were not
baptized. Only herein lies the difference, that John baptized in
Christ that should die and rise again; but we baptize in the
name of Christ that is dead, and risen again. It is a difference
in respect of circumstance, but not of the substance : Oh, take
heed of throwing away the baptism of water, upon the pretence
of baptism only with fire ! Christ, we see, hath joined them
together, and let no man separate them asunder: Christ him-
self was baptized with fire ; and ^et Christ himself was bap-
tized with water.
Sect. IV. — Of the Fasting and Temptatio7i of Christ.
No sooner is Christ come out of the water of baptism, but he
enters into the fire of temptation. No sooner is the Holy Spirit
descended upon his head, but he is led by the same Holy Spirit
to be tempted in the wilderness. No sooner doth (lod say,
2Vds is my Son; but Satan puts it to the question, If thou be
the Son of God? All these are but Christ's preparatives to his
prophetical office. In the former, Christ was prepared by a
solemn consecration; now he is further prepared by Satan's
temptation. In the same method as the evangelist lays it down.
Matt. iv. 1 — 12. I shall proceed. Then was Jesus ledupofthe
Sjririt into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil. In the
whole, we may observe these several branches : First, the place
where the temptation was, the wilderness ; Secondly, the cause
of Christ's going into the wilderness, the Spirit's leading; Thirdly,
the end of the Spirit's leading Christ into the vrilderness, to be
tempted of the devil; Fourthly, the time and occasion of the
devil's onset, at the end of forty days^ fast, and when he was an
hungered ; Fifthly, the temptations themselves, which are in
number, three ; to which are added as many victories, which
Christ had over the tempter; who therefore left him, and so the
angels came and ministered unto him. — I shall begin first with
the place where the temptation was ; to wit, in the wilderness.
This wilderness was not that same wilderness, or not that
same place of the wilderness, wherein John Baptist lived. Matt.
iii. 1. for that wherein John Baptist lived, was a place inhabited.
There was in that place cities and towns, and a number of
people to whom John preached ; but this wilderness was devoid
of men, full of wild beasts. So saith Mark — He was tempted of
Satan, and was with the wild beasts. As Adam, in his inno-
cency, lived with wild beasts, and they hurt hbn not ; so Christ,
254 Looking unto Jesus,
the second Adam^ lives here in a wilderness with wild bea^jts,
and has no hurt at all. He is Adam-like in his safety and secu-
rity; above Adam in the resisting of temptation. Probably,
during his forty days' abode, Christ was continually exercised in
prayer and fasting : but he knew he had the great work of re-
demption to promote; and therefore his conversation for this
interval must be preparatory to it; in this respect, I know not
but the wilderness might be an advantage to Christ's design : in
this solitary place he could not but breathe out more pure inspi-
ration. Heaven usually is more open, and God usually is more
familiar in his visits, to such places.
2. The cause of Christ's going into the wilderness, was, the
Spirit's leading: Then iv as Jesus led of the Spirit into theivil-
derness. Christ was led by the good Spirit, to be tempted by
the evil spirit : O wonder ! that same Spirit which was one with
the Father and the Son, that same Spirit w^hereby Christ was
conceived, now drives him or leads him into the wilderness, to
be tempted of the devil. Christ himself would not go into tlie
combat uncalled, unwarranted ; how then should we poor weak-
lings presume upon any abilities of our own ! Who dares
grapple with the devil in his ovv'n strength ? Oh, take heed !
If we are to pray not to be led into temptation, much more are
we to pray not to run into temptation before we are led: and
yet for the comfort of God's people, if it be so that we are led —
if by divine permission, or by an inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
we are engaged in an action, or in a course of life, that is full of
temptations — let us look upon it as an issue of divine providence,
in which we must glorify God.
3. The end of the Spirit's leading Christ into the wilderness,
was either immediate, or remote. 1. The immediate end was,
to be tempted of the devil : to this purpose was Christ brought
thither, that Satan might tempt him. One would think it a very
strange design, that the Son of God should be brought into a
wilderness to be set on by all the devils in hell ; but in this also,
God had another remote end, i. e. his own glory and our good.
1. His own glory appeared in this; had not Satan tempted
Christ, how should Christ have overcome Satan? Herein was
the power of Christ exceedingly manifested : the devil having the
chain let loose, lets fly at Christ with all his might; and Christ
both overcomes him, and triumphs over him. And herein were
the graces of Christ exceedingly manifested : how was the faith,
patience, humility, zeal, and valour of Christ set forth; which
they could not have been, if he had always lain quietly in garri-
son, and never had come into the skirmish? (2.) As it was for
his glory, so also for our good. Now we see what manner of
adversary we have, how he fights, and how he is resisted, and
how overcome ; now we see, the dearer we are to God, the more
obnoxious we are to temptation; now we see that the best of
Looking unto Jesus. 255
saints may be tempted or allured to the worst of evils^ since
Christ himself is solicited to infidelity, covetousness, and idolatry :
now we see that we have not an High-priest that cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but such a one as was
in all things tempted in like sort, yet without sin ; and therefore
we may go boldly to the throne of grace, that we may receive
mercy, and find grace in time of need.
4. The time and occasion of the devil's onset; it was at the
end of forty days' fast, and ivhen he luas an hungered. Moses
fasted forty days at the delivery of the law; and Elias fasted
forty days at the restitution of the law ; and to fulfil the time of
both these types, Christ thinks it fit to fast forty days at the
accomplishment of the law, and the promulgation of the gospel.
In fasting so long, Christ manifests his almighty power ; and in
fasting no longer^ Christ manifests the truth of his manhood, and
of his weakness : to shew that he was man as well as Ood, and
so a lit Mediator betwixt God and man, he would both feed and
fast; make use of the creature, and withal fulfil hunger. — And
now our Saviour is an hungered. This gives occasion to Satan
to set upon him with his fierce temptations. He knows well
what baits to fish withal, and when and how to lay them. He
considers the temper and constitution of the person he is to
tempt. And he observes all exterior accidents, occasions, and
opportunities.
5. The temptations themselves are in number three; whereof
the first w^as this : If thou he the Son of God, command that
these stones be made bread. What an horrible entrance is this :
If thou be the Son of God! No question, Satan had heard the
glad tidings of the angel; he saw the star, and the journey and
the offerings of the sages ; he could not but take notice of
the gratulations of Zachary, Simeon, and Anna. And of late, he
saw the heavens open, and heard the voice that came down from
heaven: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
And yet, now that he saw Christ fainting with hunger, as not
comprehending how infirmities could consist with a godhead, he
puts it to the question. If thou be the Son of God. Here is a
point in which lies all our happiness : how miserable were we, if
Christ were not indeed the Son of God? Satan strikes at the
root, in this supposition : surely, all the work of our redemp-
tion, and all the work of our salvation, depends upon this, that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. If Christ had not been the Son
of God, how should he have ransomed the world ? How should
he have done, or how should he have suffered, that which was
satisfactory to his Father's wrath ? If Christ be not the Son
of God, we are all gone; we are lost, we are undone, we are
damned for ever. Farewell glory, farewell happiness, farewell
heaven. If Christ be not the Son of God, we must never come
there. Well, Satan, thou beginnest thy assault like a devil
256 Looking unto Jesus.
indeed : If thou he the Sojt of God; but what then ? Command
tliat these stoties be made bread. He knew Jesus was hungry ;
and therefore^ he invites him to eat bread only of his own
providing, that so he might refresh his humanity, and prove his
divinity. There is nothing more ordinary with our spiritual
enemy, than, by occasion of want, to move us to unwaiTantable
courses : if thou art poor, then steal ; if thou canst not rise by
honest means, then use indirect means. I know Christ might
as lawfully have turned stones into bread, as he turned water
into wine; but to do this in a distrust of his Father's providence,
to work a miracle of Satan's choice, and at Satan's bidding, it
could not be agreeable with the Son of God. And hence Jesus
refuseth to be relieved ; he would rather deny to manifest the
divinity of his person, than he would do any act which had in it
the intimation of a different spirit. O Christians! it is a sinful
care to take evil courses to provide for our necessities. Come,
it may be thou hast found a way to thrive, which thou couldst not
do before. O take heed; was it not of the devil's prompting,
to change stones into bread? sadness, into sensual comforts?
If so, then Satan hath prevailed: alas, he cannot endure thou
shouldst live a life of austerity, or self-denial, or mortification ; if
he can but get thee to satisfy thy senses, and to please thy na-
tural desires, he then hath a fair field for the battle. It were a
thousand times better for us to make stones our meat, and tears
our drink, than to swim in our ill-gotten goods, and in the ful-
ness of voluptuousness.
But what was Christ's answer ? It is written, Man shall not
live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God.
1 . It is written. He easily could have confounded Satan by
the power of his godhead ; but he rather chuses to vanquish him
by the sword of the Spirit. Surely this was for our instruction.
By this means he teacheth us how to resist, and to overcome.
Nothing in heaven or earth can beat the forces of hell, if the
word of God cannot do it : O then, how should we pray with
David, Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes — and take
not from me the words of truth; let them be my songs in the
house of my pilgrimage — so shall I make answer to my blas-
phemers.
2. Man shall not live by bread. Wliilst we are in God's work,
God hath made us a promise of the supply of all provisions
necessary for us. Jesus was now in his Father's work, there-
fore he was sure to be provided for, ^ according to God's word.
Christians ! are we in God's service ? God will certainly give us
bread; and till he does, we can live by the breath of his mouth,
by the light of his countenance, by the refreshment of his pro-
mises, by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Every word of God's mouth can create a grace, and every grace
hooking unto Jestis. 2^7
can supply two necessities, both of the body, and of the spirit.
I remember one kept straitly in prison, and sorely threatened
with famine : he replied, " That if he must have no bread, God
would so provide that he should have no stomach/' If our
stock be spent, God can lessen our necessities : if a tyrant w ill
take away our meat, God our Father knows how to alter our feint,
and feeble, and hungry appetites.
The-second temptation is not so sensual; the devil sees that
was too low for Christ, and therefore he comes again with a
temptation something more spiritual : He sets him on a jnnnacle
of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou he the Son of God,
cast thyself down; for it is loritten, he shall give his angels charge
concerning thee. He that was content to be led from Jordan
into the wilderness, yields to be led from the wilderness to Jeru-
salem. The wilderness was fit for a temptation arising from want,
and Jerusalem for a temptation arising from vain-glory.
Methinks it is a sweet contemplation of an holy divine; he
supposed as if he had seen Christ on the highest battlements of
the temple, and Satan standing by him with this speech in his
mouth: ' Well then, since in the matter of nourishment thou
wilt needs depend upon thy Father's providence ; take now a
further trial of that providence, in thy miraculous preservation :
cast thyself from this height; and if thou be God, now the eyes
of all men are fixed upon thee, there cannot be devised a mure
ready way to spread thy gloiy, and to proclaim thy deity : and
for danger, if thou art the Son of God, there can be none;
what can hurt him that is the Son of God?' Come, cast thy-
self down, saith Satan : but why did not Satan cast him down ?
He carried him up thither; and was it not more easy to throvv^
him down thence? O no, the devil may persuade us to a fail,
but he cannot precipitate us without our own act; his malice i.s
infinite, but his power is limited : he cannot do us any harm,
but by persuading us to do it ourselves ; and therefore saith lie
to Christ, Cast thyself doivn.
To this Christ answers, Thou, shall not tempt the Lord thy
God. Though it is true, that God must be trusted in, yet he
must not be tempted; if means be allowed, we must not throw
them away upon a pretence of God's protection. Christ kne\v
well enough that there were ordinary descents by stairs from the
top of the temple, and therefore he would not so tempt God a*
to throw himself headlong. All the devils in hell could not so
tempt Christ, as to make him tempt his Cxod.
The third temptation is yet more horrid; the temple \<^as not
high enough, so that Satan takes him up to the top of an ex-
ceeding high mountain, and shews him all ihe kingdoms of the
world, and the glory of them, saying, All these will I gif)e thee,
if thou wilt fall doivn and worship me. In this temptation the
devil united all his power; by an angelical power he drew into
10. 2 K
2»38 Looking' unto Jesus.
o
one centre ail the kingdoms and glories of the worlds and made
an admirable map of beauties, '^.\\(X represented them to the eyes
of Jesus : he thought ambition more likely to ruin him, because
he knew it was that which prevailed upon himself; therefore. Come,
saith Satan, all these ivill I give thee, if thou ivilt fall doivn and
worship nie. How ! God worship the devil ? Was ever the like
blasphemy since the creation ? The Lamb of God, that heard
all the former with patience, could by no means endure this : he
commands him aAvay, and tells him. It is lur'itteii, Thou shall
worship the Lord thy God, andhim only shall thou serve. Now
was the devil put to flight, and, in his stead, the angels came
and ministered unto Jesus ; i. e. after his fast they minister such
things as his necessities required.
O Christians ! what shall we say to this ? If Christ was thus
tempted by Satan, what may we look for ? Sometimes it cheers
my heart to think that Christ was tempted, because thereby he
knows how to succour those that are tempted; and sometimes it
affrights my soul to think that Satan durst be so bold with Jesus
Christ. Oh what may he do with me ! how easily may he pre-
vail against my soul ! When he came to tempt Christ, he found
nothing in him to join with him in the temptation; but in my
heart is a world of corruptions, and, unless the Lord prevent, I
am quickly gone.
Sect. V. — Of the First Manifestation of Christ,
To manifest Christ were many witnesses. As, L From heaven
the Father is witness : For see, saith Christ, the Father that sent
me, hearetli ivitness of me : and the Son is witness ; for so saith
Christ, / am one that hear witness of myself ; and though I bear
record of myself, yet my record is true, for I know whence I
came, and whither I go: and the Holy Ghost is witness; so
saith Paul, 2%e Holy Ghost also is a ivitness to us; and
to that purpose he descended like a dove, and lighted upon
him. 2. On earth, John the Baptist is witness; for so saith
Christ: Ye setit unto John, and he hare ivitness unto the truth;
he came for a ivitness, to hear witness of the light, that all men
through Christ might believe. No sooner was John confirmed
by a sign from heaven that Jesus was the Christ, but he imme-
diately manifests it to the Jews, and first to the priests and Le-
vites sent from the Sanhedrim; and secondly:, to all the people
he professeth, wheresoever he saw Jesus Christ, This is he; yea,
he pohits him out with his finger. Behold the Lamb of God, that
take^. away the sins of the ivorld. Then he shev/s him to Andrew,
Simon Peter's brother, and then to another disciple with him,
ivho both followed Jesus, and abode with him all tiiglit. Andrew
brings his brother Simon with him. Then Jesus himself finds
out Philip of Bethsaida, and bade him follow him ; and Philip
hooking nnto tlesus. 259
finds out Nathanael, and bids him come and see, for the Messiah
was found. Thus we see no less than five disciples found out at
first, which must be so many witnesses of Jesus Christ.
And yet we find more witnesses : The works, saith Christ, that
I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. These
works or miracles of Christ were many; but because we are
speaking of his first manifestation, I shall instance only in his
first work, which was at a marriage in Cana of Galilee. The
power of miracles had now ceased since their return out of cap-
tivity; the last miracle that was done by man until this very
time, was Daniel tying up the mouths of the lions; and now
Christ begins. He that made the first marriage in paradise,
bestows his first miracle upon a marriage-feast. O happy feast
where Christ is a guest ! I believe this was no rich or sumptuous
bridal : who ever found Christ at the magnificent feasts or tri-
umphs of the great ? The poor bridegroom wants drink for his
guests; and as soon as the holy virgin hath notice of it, she
complains to her son : — whether we want bread or wine, necessa-
ries or comforts, whither should we go but to Christ? But
Jesus answered her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? 3Iine
hour is not yet come. This shews, that the work he was to do
must not be done to satisfy her importunity, but to prosecute the
great work. In works spiritual and religious, all outward re-
lation ceaseth : matters of miracle concerned the godhead only ;
and in this case, O woman, what have I to do with thee f We
must not deny love and duty to relations ; but in the things of
God, natural endearments must pass into spiritual; and like
stars in the presence of the sun, must not appear. Paul could
say, Henceforth knouj ice no man after the Jlcsh ; yea, though
we have known Christ after the flesh, yet noiv henceforth know
we him no more.
At the command of Jesus, the water-pots were filled with
water, and the water by his divine power is turned into wine;
where the different dispensation of God and the world is highly
observable: Every man sets forth good wine at Jirst, and then
the worse: but Christ not only turns water into wine, but into
such wine that at the last draught is most pleasant. These were
the first manifestations of Jesus; you see he had several wit-
nesses to set him forth ; some from heaven, and some on earth :
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost witness from heaven; the
Baptist, disciples, and his works, witness on earth ; and there's
no disagreement hi their witness, but all bring in this testimony
of Jesus, that he is the Messiah ; that is, being interpreted,
the Christ.
But what are those manifestations to us ? or to that great de-
sign of Christ in carrying on our souls' salvation ? Much every
way. For either nmst Christ be manifested to us even by these
witnesses, in the preaching of the gospel, and manifested in us
260 Lookiitg unto Jesus.
by that one witness, his Holy Spirit, or we are undone for
ever.
1. Christ must be manifested to us in the preaching of the
gospel. This mercy we have this day; nay, you see every sab-
bath-day all the witnesses speak in us. What do w^e, but in
God's stead, in the Baptist's steady in the disciples' stead, mani-
fest Christ to you in every sermon ! It is the commission w^hi(-h
Christ hath given us of the ministry; Ga^. preach the gospel to
everi/ erenture.
2. Christ must be manifested in us by his IJoly Spirit.
Christians ! look to your hearts ; what manifestations of Christ
are there? When Paul speaks of the gospel in general, he
adds in particular, that it pleased God to reveal Christ in me.
And when Peter speaks of the word of God, he adds. That we
take heed thereunto — until the day dawn, and the day-star (that
is, Christ, Rev. xxii. 16.) arise in your hearts: until then,
thougii we be circled with gospel-discoveries, our hearts will be
full of darkness ; but when Christ, (whom the prophet calls, IVie
Sun of Righteousness, and Peter, The Day -star,) shall arise
vvithin us, we shall be full of light.
'Sect. Y I. --^0/ Christ's JVhipping the Buyers and Sellers out
of the Temple.
Concerning Christ's whipping the buyers and sellers out of
the temple, we read in the gospel, that the Jews' passover being
at hand, Jesus went up to Jerusalem: thither, if we follow him,
the first place that we find him in, is the temple; where, by the
occasion of the national assembly, was an opportune scene for
Christ's transactions, in that temple Christ first espies a mart ;
there w^ere divers merchants and exchangers of money, that
brought beasts thither to be sold for sacrifice against that great
solemnity; at the sight of which Jesus being moved with indig-
nation, makes a whip of cords, and drives them all out of the
temple, overthrows the accounting tables, and commands them
that sold the doves, to take them from thence.
Sometimes I wonder at the irreverent carriage of some hear-
ers; laughing, talking, prating, sleeping, in our congregations:
what ! is this a demeanour beseeming the presence of Christ ?
Wouldst thou carry thyself thus in the presence of a prince, or of
some earthly majesty ; " If thou goest but into a king's palace,"
as Chrysostom speaks, '*^ thou composest thyself to a comeliness
in tiiy habit, look, gait, and all thy guise ; and dost thou laugh ?"
I may add, dost thou any way carry thyself undecently in
God's presence? Some there are, that in the very midst or
oruiuaiices the devil usually rocks them asleep : but O ! dost
thou not fear that thy damnation sleeps not ? How justly migit
Christ come against thee in his wrath, and whip thee out of the
Looking unto tlesus. 261
temple into hell ? Surely we should do well to behave ourselv^es
in such a presence with the thoughts of heaven about us ; our
business here is an errand of religion, and God himself is the
object of our worship: how then should our actions bear at least
some degrees of proportion to God and Christ ?
And now was the first passover after Christ's baptism.- — This
was Jthe first year of Christ's ministry : whereof the one half was
carried on by his forerunner, John the Baptist ; and the other
half (betwixt his baptism and this first passover) was carried on
by himself. And now hath Christ three years to his death. I
shall come on to the second year, and to his actings therein in
reference to our salvation.
CHAP. II.
Sect. I. — Of the Second Year of Christ's 3Iitiistri/.
Now was it that the office of the Baptist was expired ; and
Christ beginning his prophetical office, he appears like the sun
in succession of the morning-star ; he preacheth the sum of the
gospel, faith and repentance : Repent ye, and believe the gospeL
Mark i. 15. Now, what this gospel was, the sum and series of
all his following sermons expressed.
By this^ time Jesus saw it convenient to chuse more dis-
ciples : with this family he goes up and down Galilee,
preaching the gospel of the kiiigdom, healing ail manner of
diseases.
It is not my purpose to enlarge on all the sermons, miracles,
or colloquies of Christ with men : in this year, therefore, I shall
limjit myself to the consiideration of Christ in these two parti-
culars : — 1. His preaching. 2. His miracles: both these relate
to the exercise of his prophetical office.
^ Sect. II. — Of Christ's Sermons this Year •
1. His preaching this year was frequent; and, amongst others, '
now it was that he delivered his first sermon. Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at ha?id.
2. Now was it that he delivered that spiritual and mystical
sermon of regeneration, at which Nicodemus wonders; How
can a man he born when he is old? Can he enter a second time
i?ito his mother's womb, and be bom f But Jesus takes off the
wonder, in telling him, this was not a work of flesh and blood,
but of the Spirit of God ; for the Spirit bloweth where it listeth,
aud is as the wind, certain and notorious in the effects, but secret
in the prijiciple and manner of production .
262 Looking unto Jesus,
3. Now was it that the throng of auditors forced Christ to
leave the shore. Whilst he was upon land, he healed the sick
bodies by his touch ; and now he w^as upon sea^ he cured the
sick souls by his doctrine: he that made both sea and land,
causeth both to conspire to the doing good to the souls and
bodies of men.
4. Now it was that he preached that blessed sermon on that
text. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed
vie to preach the gospel to the poor. No question but he preached
both to poor and rich, Christ preached to all ; but for the power
and fruit of his preaching, it was only received by the poor in
spirit. In the following particulars, his office is set out still
in an higher tenor : To heal the broken-hearted, to preach deli-
verance to the captives, and recove^nng of sight to the blind; or,
as it is in Isaiah, Ixi. 1. the openijig of the prison to them that
are bound. A sad thing to be in captivity, but sadder to be
bound in chains, or locked up in a prison there; but 'tis most
sad of all to be imprisoned, having one's eyes put out, as
was the case of Samson and Zedekiah. Now the evangelist,
iviUing to render the prophet to the highest sense that might be,
useth an expression that meets with the highest mystery; that
is, when a man is not only shut up in a prison, but himself
also hath his eyes put out: to such Christ should preach, not
only deliverance to the captives, but also recovering of sight to
blinded persons.
5. Now it w^as that he delivered the admirable sermon, called.
The serm.on on the mount. It is a breviary of all those precepts
which are truly called christian ; it contains in it all the moral
precepts given by Moses, and a more severe exposition than the
Scribes and Pharisees had given ; it holds forth the doctrines of
meekness, poverty of spirit, christian mourning, desire of holy
things, mercy and purity, peace and patience, and suffering of
injuries; he teacheth us how to pray, how to fast, how to give
alms, how to contemn the world, and how to seek the kingdom
of God and its appendant righteousness.
And thus Christ being entered upon his prophetical office ; in
these and the rest of his sermons he gives a clear testimony, tliat
he was not only an interpreter of the law, but a law-giver ; and
that this law of Christ might retain some proportion at least with
the law of Moses, Christ, in his last sermon, went up into
a mountain, and from thence gave the oracle. I cannot stand
to paraphrase on this, or any otner of his sermons ; but seeing
now we find Christ in the exercise of his prophetical office, let us
observe, first, his titles in this respect., 2. The reasons of his
being a prophet. 3. The excellency of Christ above all other
prophets.
Lookinsi' unto Jesus. 263
'<b
Sect. III. — Of Christ's Prophetical Office.
1. The titles of Christ in respect of his prophetical office,
were these ; 1. Sometimes he is called Doctor^ or Master : Be
ye not called masters, for one is your Master, even Christ. The
word in the original signifies a doctor, moderator, teaching-
master, a guide of the way. 2. Sometimes he is called a Law-
giver : There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and destroy.
The apostle speaks of the internal government of the conscience,
in which case the Lord is our judge. 3. Sometimes he is called
a Counsellor; and his name shall be called JFo)iderful, Coun-
sellor: — Counsel is mine, and sound wisdoui, saith Christ; Iain
understanding, and I have strength. 4. Sometimes he is called
the Apostle of our profession : Wherefore, holy brethren, par-
takers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High-
priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. God sent him as an am-
bassador, to make known his will; he came not unsent : the very
word imports a mission, a sending; How shall they preach,
except they be sentf 5. Sometimes he is called the Angel of
the covenant : even the Angel of the covenant, ivhom ye delight
in. Christ was the publisher of the gospel covenant; and in
this respect he is called a Prophet, Acts iii. 22. whose office it
was to impart God's will unto the sons of men, according unto
the name, angel. 6. Sometimes he is called the Mediator of the
new covenant: For this cause he is the Mediator of the
new testament, saith the apostle. Now, a mediator is such a
one as goes betwixt two parties at variance, imparting the
mind of the one to the othery so as to breed a right understand-
ing, and thereby to work a compliance betwixt both : and thus
Christ is a Mediator betwixt God and us, an Interpreter, an
inter-messenger betwixt God and his people.
2. The reasons of Christ's being a Prophet, were these: — L
That he might reveal to his people the will of his Father. 2. That
he might open and expound the same, being once delivered.
3. That he might make saints understand and believe the
same.
(L) As a Prophet, he delivers to the people his Father's will,
both in his own person, and by his servants the ministers : in his
own person, when he was upon earth, as a minister of the cir-
cumcision ; and by his servants the ministers, from the beginning
of their mission until the end of the world.
(2.) As a Prophet, he opens and expounds the gospel. Thus,
being in th© synagogue on the sabbath-day, he opened the book,
and found the place wiiere it was written. The Spirit of the
Jjord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gos-
pel to the poor, &^c. and then he closed the book, and said. This
day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. The gracious purpose
*264 Looking unto J^esiis/
of God towards lost mankind^ was a secret locked up in the
breast of the Father ; and so it had been even to this day, had
not Christ, who was in the bosom of the Father, revealed it unto
us: hence Christ is called the interpreter of God: no man
knoweth the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son
will reveal him, by his interpretation.
(3.) As a Prophet, he gives us to understand and to believe the
gospel. Then opened he their understanding, that they might
understand the scriptures; and thus was the case of Lydia,
whose heart the Lord opened. He that first opens scriptures,
at last opens hearts; he is that true light which enUghteneth
every man that cometh into the world. He enlightens every
man that cometh into the world. He enlightens every believer,
not only with a common natural light, but with a special super-
natural hght, of saving, spiritual, and effectual knowledge.
Now there is no prophet can do this, save only Jesus Christ ;
he only is able to cause our hearts to believe and to understand
the matter Vv'hich he doth teach and reveal : other prophets may
plant and water; Paul may plant ^ and Apollos may water y but
he, and he only, can give the increase.
3. The excellencies of Christ, above all other prophets, are in
these respects :
(1.) Other prophets were but types and shadows of this great
Prophet; even Moses himself was but a figure of him: A
Prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto yon of your brethren^
like unto me, saith Moses. These words, like unto me, plainly
shew that Moses was but an image and shadow of Christ. Now
as substances far excel shadows, so doth Christ far excel all
the prophets.
(2.) Other prophets revealed but some part? of God's will, and
only at some times. God, saith the apostle, at sundry times,
and in divers maniiers, spake hi time past unto t tie fathers by the
prophets; i. e. he let out his light by little and little, till the
Day-star and Sun of righteousness arose ; but in these last days
he tiath spoken by his Son, i. e. he hath spoken more fully and
plainly ; in this respect, saith the apostle, the heirs of life and
salvation were but children before Christ's incarnation. — As
now we see but through a glass darkly, towards what we shall
do in the life to come ; so did they of old in comparison of us ;
their light, in comparison of ours, was but an obscure and glim-
mering light.
(3.) Other prophets speak only to the ears of men, but Christ
spake, and still speaks, to the heart : He hath the keys of David,
tliat openeth and no man shuttetli, tliat shutteth,-mnAl no man
openeth; it is a similitude taken from them that keep the keys
of a city or castle, without whom none can open or shut;
no more can any man open the heart, or break in upon the
spirit, but Christ; he only is able to open the eyes of the
Ltooking ujito %/esus. 265
mind by the secret, kindly, and powerful working of his own
Spirit.
(4.) Other prophets had their commission and authority from
him : The ivords of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened
by the masters of the assemblies, ivhich are given from one shep"
herd; i. e. The words of the wise are divine and heavenly in-
structions ; the masters of assemblies are gospel-ministers j and
Christ is that one shepherd, from whom these words are given,
and from whom these masters have their authority.
Sect. IV. — Of Christ's Miracles.
1. The miracles of Christ this year were many: now what
were these miracles but a pursuance of the doctrines delivered
in Christ's sermons ? One calls them, ^^ a verification of Christ's
doctrine, a signal of Christ's sermons.^' If we observe, we shall
find him to work most of his miracles in actions of mercy : indeed
once he turned water into wine, and sometimes he walked upon
the waters; but all the rest were actions of relief, according to
the design of God, who would have him manifest his power in
shewing mercy to men.
(1.) Amongst all his miracles done this year, now was that
at Cana, where he wrought the first miracle. He does a second*.
A certain nohlonan, or courtier, came to Jesus, and besought
him to come down to his house, and to heal his son, ivho luas at
the point of death. We do not find Christ often attended with
nobility; but here he is. This noble ruler listens after Chrisi; in
his necessity : happy was it for him that his son was sick, for else
he had not been so well acquainted with his Saviour. The first
answer Christ gives, is a word of reproof; Except ye see signs
and wonders, ye will not believe. Incredulity was the common
disease of the Jews, which no receipt could cure but wonders :
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign. The
doctrine of Christ, and ail the words that he spake, must be made
up with miracles, or they will not believe. O what a sin is this !
Christ's next answer is a word of comfort : go thy ivay, thy so9i
liveth. O the meekness and mercy of Jesus Christ ! When we
would have looked that he should have punished this suitor for
not believing, he condescends to him ihat he may believe : go thy
way, thy son liveth. With one word doth Christ hettl two
patients, the son and the father; the son's fever, and the father's
unbelief. We cannot but observe here the steps of faith, he
that believed somewhat ere he came, and more when he went,
grew to more faith in the way, and when he came home he en-
larged his faith to all the skirts of his family. And the man be-
lieved the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his
way; and in the way one meets him and tells him, thy son
liveth; which recovery he understands to be at the same time
10. 2l
266 Looking unto Jesus.
&
that Christ had spoken those healing words, mid himself believed,
and his ivhole house.
(2.) Now was it that a centurion came unto Christ, beseeching
him, and saying. My servant lieth at home, sick of the palsy,
grievously tormented. Many suitors come to Christ, one for a
son, another for a daughter, a third for himself, but I see none
come for his servant but this one centurion ; and if we observe
Christ's answers to his suit, we see how well pleased Christ is
with his request : ^nd Jesus saith unto him, Iivill come atul heal
him. He is no respecter of persons, but he that feareth him
and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him. It may be this
servant had more grace, or he had more need, and therefore
Christ will go down to visit this poor sick servant. Nay,
says the centurion, / am not 2vorthy, Lord, that thou shouldest
come under my roof: q. d. Alas, Lord, I am a Gentile, an alien,
a man of blood, but thou art holy, thou art omnipotent ; and
therefore only say the ivord, and my servant shall be whole. The
centurion knew this by the command he had ov^r his own ser-
vants : I say to this man, go, and he goes; and to another, come,
and he comes; and to a third, do this, and he doth it. Oh that
I were such a servant to my heavenly Master ! Alas ! every of
his commands says, do this, and I do it not : every of his hihi-
bitions say, do it not, and I do it. He says. Go from the world,
and I run to it. He saj^s, Come to me, and I run from him.
Wo is me ! this is not service, but enmity : Oh that I could come
up to the faith and obedience of this exemplar, that I could serve
my Christ as these soldiers did their master ! Jesus marvels at
the centurion's faith. We never find Christ wondering at gold,
or silver, or costly and curious works ; but when he sees the
acts of faith, he so approves of them that he is ravished with
wonder. And he that both wrought this faith, and wondered at
it, doth now reward it : Go thy ivay, and as thou hast believed,
so be it unto thee ; and his servant was healed in the self -same
hour.
(3.) Now it was, even the day after, that Jesus goes into the
city of Nain. The fruitful clouds are not ordained to fall all in
one field ; Nain must partake of the bounty of Christ, as well as
Cana or Capernaum. He no sooner enters the gate, but he meets
a funeral ; a poor widow, with her weejiing friends, is following
her only son to the grave; Jesus observing her sad condition, he
pities her, comforts her, and at last relieves her: here was no
solicitor but his own compassion. In his former miracles he
was sued to : but now Christ offers a cure, to give us a lesson,
that " whilst we have to do with the Father of mercies, our mi-
series and afflictions are the most powerful suitors." Christ sees
and observes the widow's sadness, and presently speaks com-
fortably to her. TVeep not: and he said. Young man, I say
unto thee, arise. .See Iiow the Lord of life speaks with com-
LooJxing unto Jefnis. 267
mand ; the same voice speaks to him, that shall one day speak to
us, and raise us out of the dust of the earth. So at the sound
of the last trumpet, by the power of the same voice, we shall arise
out of the dust, and stand up gloriously : This mortal shall put
on immortaliti/ , and this corruptible shall put on incorrup-
tion. Antl lest our weak faith should stagger at so great a
difficulty, by this he hath done, Christ gives us a taste of what
he will do; the same power that can raise one man, can raise
a world.
(4.) Now it was that in the synagogue he finds a man tliat had
a spirit of an unclean devil. This, I take it, is the first man
that we read of as possessed with a devil : Artd he cried, Let us
alone; luhat lutve ive to do ivith theef Sfc. In these words the
devil dictates, the man speaks ; and whereas the words are
plural, let us alone, it is probable he speaks of himself, and the
rest of the men in the synagogue with him. So high and dread-
ful things are spoken concerning the coming of Christ, (Mai.
iii. 2. IFho may abide the day of his coming f and who shall
stand IV hen he appeareth?) tliat the devil by this takes oppor-
tunity to affright the men of the synagogue with the presence
of Christ; he would dissuade them from receiving Christ by the
terrors of Christ, as if Christ had come only to destroy them :
Thou^ Jesus of Nazareth, art thou come to destroy us? I know
thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked
him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. The word,
hold thy peace, is, in the original, he muzzled; it was not a bare
command of silence, but there was such power in it, that it cast
a muzzle upon the mouth of Satan, that he could speak no more :
and ivhen the unclean spirit had torn him, not with any gashes
in his flesh, or dismembering of his body, for he hurt liim not,
but with some convulsion-fits, as it is supposed, then he threw
hi)n in the midst, and made an horrid cr}-, and so came out.
They all take notice of the doctrine attested by so great a
miracle. What a word is this ! Surely this was the great design
of all the miracles of Christ, to prove his mission from God, to
demonstrate his power unto men, to confirm his gospel, to en-
dear his precepts, to work in us faith to lielp us heavenward :
These signs are written that we migiit believe, — and that be-
lieving, we might have life through his name.
I have given you several instances of the miracles of Christ
in this second year of his ministry; only a few words on thi:»
doctrine of miracles for our information : as —
1 . What they are ?
2. Why they are?
3. Whether they are continued in this great transaction of our
salvation ?
For the first. What they are r Miracles are unusual events,
wrought above the course or possibility of nature : uuch were
268 Looking unto Jesus,
the miracles of Christ, and such were the miracles of the pro-
phets and of the apostles of Christ; for what they did was above
nature; and all the difference betwixt their miracles and the
miracles of Christ, was only in this, viz. they wrought them not
in their own name and power, as Jesus Christ did.
For the second, Why they are ? many reasons are given, but
this is the main : " miracles are wrought for the grounding or
confirming of some divine truth or doctrine at its first settling."
To this purpose, miracles were as the trumpets or heralds by
which the gospel was first commended mito us ; as the law of
Moses was first authorized by manifold miracles wrought in
Sinai, and in the desert, which afterwards ceased when they were
settled in the promised lands ; so the gospel of Christ was first
authorized by manifold miracles, but the sound thereof having
now gone through all the world, these miracles cease.
For the third. Whether they are continued in this great trans-
action of our salvation? I answer, yea; in this respect miracles
cease not; 'tis without controversy that Jesus Christ, in carry-
ing on our salvation, is adding miracle to miracle : there is a
chain of miracles in the matter of our salvation from first to
last: as —
1 . It was a miracle, that God, before we had a being, should
have once tiiought of us ; especially that the blessed Trinity should
contrive that astonishing plot of the salvation of our souls : Oh
what a miracle was this !
2. it was a miracle that God for our sakes should create the
world, and, after our fall in Adam, should preserve the world,
especially considering that our sin had unpinned the whole frame
of tiiC creation ; and that God, even then sitting on his throne of
judgment, ready to pass the doom of death for our first trans^
gression, should give a promise of a Saviour, when justly he
might have given us to the devil, and to hell, according to his
own law : In the day that thou eat est thereof, thou shalt die.
3. It was a miracle that God's Son should take upon him our
nature, and that in our nature he should transact our peace;
tliat he should preach salvation to us all, if we would believe;
and to the end that we might believe, that he would work so
many signs and miracles in the presence of his disciples, and of
a world of men.
4. It was a miracle that God should look upon us in our blood :
O mu'acle of mercies ! If creation cannot be without a miracle,
surely the new creature is a miracle indeed. So contrary are our
Eerverse natures to all possibilities of salvation, that if salvation
ad not marched to us all the way in a miracle, we should have
perished in the ruins of a sad eternity. Indeed every man living
in the state of grace, is a perpetual miracle ; in such a one his
reason is turned into faith, his soul into spirit, his body into a
temple, his earth into heaven, his water into wine, his aversations
Looking unto t/esus. 269
from Christ into intimate union with Christ. O what a chain of
miracles is this ! Why, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me
clean. Say thus, you that are yet in your blood ; Lord, I believe,
kelp thou my unbelief.
CHAP. in.
Sect. L — Of the third Year of Christ's Minis Iri/.
Hitherto all was quiet: neither the Jews nor the Sama-
ritans, nor Galileans, did as yet malign the doctrine or person
of Jesus Christ ; but he preached with much peace on ail hands,
till the beginning of this year. I shall not yet speak of his
sufferings, neither shall I speak much of his doings ; only such
things as refer more principally to the main business of our sal-
vation, I shall touch in these particulars : — as, 1 . The ordina-
tion of the apostles. 2. His reception of sinners. 3. The
easiness of his yoke^ and the lightness of his burden.
Sect. IL — Of Christ's Ordination of his Apostles,
In the ordination of his apostles, are many considerable
things. The evangelist Luke lays it down thus : And it came
to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray,
and continued all flight in prayer to God. And when it ivas
day, he called unto fiim his discijjles. and of them lie chose twelve,
whom also he named apostles. Till novv^ Christ taught alone ;
but because after his ascension he must needs have a ministry,
until the end of the world — in the hrst place, he chooseth out
some, whom he would have on purpose to wait upon him all the
time of his ministr)^, till he was taken up into heaven. In this
election, or ordination, here is the first person by whom they
are chosen, Jesufe Christ. 2. The place where they are chosen,
in a mountain. 3. The time when they were chosen, after his
watching and praying all night. 4. The company out of whom
they were chosen, they were his disciples. 5. The number of
them that were chosen, they were twelve. 6. The end to which
they were chosen, it was an apostleship ; he chose twelve, whom
he also named apostles.
1 . The person by whom they are chosen is Jesus Christ. They
chose not themselves, but were chosen of Christy this call wa&
immediate, and therefore most excellent.
2. The place where they were chosen, it was on a mountain.
Mountains are open and in view, which shews their ministry must
be public; again, mountains are subject to winds and tempests,
which 'shews their callings must me^t with many oppositions.
270 Looking unto %Tesus.
3. The time when they are chosen ; after he had continued all
night in prayer to God : he goes not to election^ but first he
watches and prays all the night before. This shews the singular
care that Christ had in this great employment : what ! to set
men apart to witness his name, and to publish to the world
the gospel of Christ? This he would not do without much
prayer.
4. The company out of whom they are chosen, He called unto
him his disciples, and out of them he chose twelve. A disciple
of Christ is one thing, and an apostle of Christ is another thing.
Those were Christ's disciples, that embraced Christ's doctrine
of faith and repentance. It was not material to the constituting
of a disciple of Christ, whether they followed Christ, as many
did, or returned to their own homes, as others did. The man
out of whom the legion of devils were cast, besought Christ thiit
he might be with him ; but Jesus sent him away, saying. Return
to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done to
thee. I make no question but Christ at the election of his apos-
tles had many disciples both waiting on him, and absent from
him; and out of them that waited on him, his apostles were
chosen : Christ's ministers should be first disciples. O how unfit
are any to take upon them the ministry of Christ, that were
never yet the disciples of Christ ! First, the grace of God must
be within us, and then must that grace of God be discovered
by us.
-5. The number of them that were chosen, they were twelve.
Very probably the number was figured out to us in twelve
tribes of Israel.
6. The end to which they were chosen, it was to an apostle-
ship; i. e. that they might be Christ's legates to the sons of
men, that they might be sent up and down the world to per-
suade men to salvation.
Sect. III. — Of Christ's Reception of Shiners.
I CANNOT limit this only to one year of Christ's ministry, but
I shall only mention it this year. Now this will appear^ — 1. In
the doctrine of Christ; 2. In the practice of Christ.
1. In his doctrine; Christ lays it down expressly: Come unto
me^ all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. It is no more but, come, and welcome. The gospel shuts
none out of heaven, but those that by unbelief lock the door
against their own souls. Christ is so willing to receive sinners,
as that he sets all his doors open, and he casts out none that will
but come in. And why so? For I came down from heaven,
not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 1.
I came down from heaven. It was a great journey from heaven
lo earth ; and this great journey I undertook for no other pur-
Lookins; unto %/esus. 2/1
pose but to save sinners. " Great actions/' as one says well,
" must needs have great ends." Now this was the greatest thing
that ever was done, that the Son of God should come down from
heaven. And, what was the end, but the reception and salva-
tion of sinners ? For the Son of man is come to seek and to
save that which was lost. Had not Christ come down, sinners
could not have gone up into heaven ; and therefore that they
might ascend, he descends. 2. I came down from heaven, not
to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. His
Father had sent him on purpose to receive and to save sinners j
and, to this purpose he is called the apostle of our profession, —
who w^as faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was
faithful in all his house. His Father could not send him on any
errand, but he was sure to do it. His Father's mission was a
strong demonstration that Christ was willing to receive those
sinners that would come to him.
Again, Jesus stood and cried, saying. If any man thirst, let
him come unto me, and drink. The very pith, heart, and marrow
of the gospel is contained in these words : the occasion of them
was thus ; on that last day of the feast of tabernacles, the Jews
were wont, Avith great solemnity, to draw water out of the
fountain of Siloam, at the foot of mount Sion, and to bring it
to the altar, singing out of Isaiah, TFithjoy shall ye draw water
out of the ivells of salvation. Now Christ takes them at this
custom, and recals them from earthly to heavenly waters ; allud-
ing to that of Isaiah, " Ho ! every one that thirsteth, come ye
to the waters. — Incline your ears, and com.e unto me, and your
souls shall live. The Father saith. Come; the Son saith. Come;
the Spirit saith. Come ; yea, the Spirit and the bride say. Come;
let him that heareth say. Come; and let him that is at hirst come;
and whosoever tvill, let him chink of the water of life freely.
All the time of Christ's ministry, we see him tiring himself, in
going about from place to place, upon no other errand than this,
to cry at the markets, ' Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye
to the w^aters ! If any sinners love life, if any will go to heaven,
let them come to me, and I will shew them the way to my Fa-
ther's bosom, and endear them to my Father's heart.'
2. Christ's reception of sinners appears yet more in his
practice. How welcome were all sorts of sinners unto him!
He cast out none that acknowledged him for the Messiah; he
turned none away that gave up their souls to be saved by
him in his own way. This he manifests — 1. Parabolically ; 2.
Really.
(1.) Parabolically, especially in those three parables, of the
lost goat, and of the lost sheep, and of the lost son ; I shall
instance in this last, whicJi may serve for all the rest. — When
the prodigal was yet afar off, his father saw him, and had com-
passiofi on him, jukI r;m, and fell on his neck, and kisiscd hitn.
272 Looking unto J^es^us,
In these words, observe^, 1. His father sees him, before he sees
his father; no sooner a sinner thinks of heaven, but the Lord
spies him, and takes notice of him. 2^ The Lord sees him while
he was yet a great way off; he was but in the beginning of his
way : his father might have let him alone until he hail come quite
home to his house, and it had been a singular mercy to have bid
him welcome then ; but he takes notice of him yet a great way
off. Sinners may be far off from God in their own apprehensions,
and yet the Lord even then draws near; whilst thus they appre-
hend. 3. His father had pity or compassion on him; the Lord's
bowels yearn within him, at the sight of his returning prodigals.'
4. His father ran; there is much in this : as, (1.) It had been
mercy though his father had stood still until his son had come.
(2.) What a mercy is this, that his father will go, and give his
son the meeting ! (3.) But, above all, O what abundant mercy
call we this, that the father will not go, but run 1 If he would
needs meet his son, might he not have walked towards him in
a soft slow pace ? O no, if a sinner will but come, or <;reep to-
wards Christ, mercy will not go a foot-pace, but run to meet
him : bowels full of mercy, out-pace bowels pinched with hunger ; '
God's mercy is over all his works, and so it is over all our needs,
and over all our sins. 5. He ran, and fell on his neck; i. e.
he hugged and embraced him ; O wonder ! who would not have
been loth to have touched him ? was he not in his loathsome, •
stinking rags ? we see mercy is not nice : When I passed by,
said God, I saw thee polluted in thy oivn hlood, and I said unto
thee when thou ivast in thy bloody Live; yea, I said unto thee
luhen thou wast in thy blood, Live: that very time of her blood,
was the time of love. 6. He ran, and fell on his neck, and
kissed him : there is a passage somewhat like this, ^4nd Msau
ran to meet Jacob, and he embraced him, and fell on his neck^
and kissed him ; before, he had thought to have killed him, but
now he kissed him : it is not to tell how dear the father was to
his prodigal son, when he ran, and fell on his neck, and em-
braced, and kissed him. The scope of the parable is this,
that Christ is willing and glad to receive sinners. Turn ye, ^
turn ye, from your evil vv^ays ; for ivhy will ye die, O house of
Israel f
Christ manifests this willingness in his practice really; amongst
many instances I shall insist only on one, a notable instance of
this year : one of the Pharisees, named Simon, invited Christ to
eat with him, into whose house when he had entered, a certam
woman, that was a sinner, abiding there in the city, heard of it :
she came to Jesus in the Pharisee's house, and no sooner come,
but she lays her burden at Jesus' feet, and presents him with a
broken heart and weeping eye, and an alabaster box of oint-
ment : She stood at his feet behind him, tveeping, and began
to tvask his feet tvith her tears, and to ivipe them with the hairs
Looking unto Jesus. 273
of her head; arid she kissed his feet, and anointed them with
ointment. 1. She stands at his feet^ a sign of her humility. O
what a change ! She that was before a noble personage, a native
of the town and castle of Magdal, from whence she had her
name of Magdalen — and therefore took her liberty of pride and
lust — ^comes in remorse and regret for her sins ; and throwing
away her former pride, stoops, and waits, and humbly stands at
Jesus's feet. 2. She stood at his feet behind him; it compre-
hends a tacit confession of her sins, she knew herself unworthy
of Christ's presence: she durst not look him in the face; but,
she waits behind him ; her shame speaks her repentance. 3. She
stood at his feet behind him weeping, her grief burst out in
tears; she heeds not the feast, or feaster, but, falling down,
weeps bitterly for her sins. 4. ^\iQ began to wash his feet with
tears ; she wept a shower of tears, great enough to wash the
feet of her blessed Jesus. This was the manner of the Jews,
to eat their meat lying down, and leaning on their elbows ; and
in this posture, Jesus sitting or lying at meat, Mary had the con-
venience to weep on his feet. 6. She wipes his feet with the
hairs of her head ; her hair being added to her beauty, she made
it a snare for men ; but now she consecrates it to her Lord ;
worthy fruit of serious repentance. 6. She kissed his feet, in
token of her new choice, and new affection ; her kisses had for-
merly been to wantons, but now she bestows them on the feet of
Christ. 7- She anointed them with ointment; which expression
was so great an ecstacy of love and sorrow, that to anoint the
feet of the greatest monarch was long unknown, and in all the
pomps of Roman prodigality, it was never used until Otho
taught it Nero. When Simon observed this sinner so busy, he
thought within himself, that Christ was no prophet, that he did
not know her to be a sinner ; for although the Jews' religion did
permit harlots to live, yet the Pharisees would not admit them
to the benefits of ordinary society: and hence Simon made an
objection within himself, which Jesus knowing, (for he under-
stood his thoughts as well as words,) first makes her apology,
and then his own ; the scope gives us to understand, that Christ
was not of the same superciliousness with the Pharisees ; but
that repenting sinners should be welcome unto him ; and this
welcome he publisheth first to Simon, Her sins which are many,
are forgiven ; and then to the woman. Thy sins are forgiven
thee, thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace.
What ! is Christ most willing to receive sinners ? O then !
who would not come to Jesus Christ ? Methinks now all sin-
ners, of all sorts, should say, though I have been a drunkard, a
swearer, an unclean person, yet now I hear Christ is willing to
receive sinners, and therefore I will go to Jesus Christ. This
is my exhortation, O come unto Christ, come unto Christ ; be-
hold here in the name of the Lord I stand, and make invitation
10. 2 M
274 Looking unto Jesus.
to poor sinners ; O will you not come ? How will ye answer it
at the great day, when it shall be said. The Lord Jesus made a
tender of mercy to you, and you would not accept of it ? O come
to Christ, and believe on Christ; as Christ is willing to receive
you, so be you willing to give up your souls to him.
Sect. IV. — Of Christ's easy Yoke and light Burden.
For the easiness of Christ's yoke, and the lightness of Christ's
burden, Christ delivers it in these words : Take my yoke upon
you, and learn of me, — for my yoke is easy, and my hurdeii is
'light.
My yoke, i. e. my commandments, so the apostle John gives
the interpretation, Flis commandments are not grievous. My
yoke is easy, i. e. My commandments are without any incon-
venience : the trouble of a yoke, is not the weight, but the un-
easiness of it, and Christ speaks suitably. My yoke is easy, and
my burden, i.e. my institutions : the v/ord primarily signifies
the freight or ballast of a ship, which cuts through the waves,
as if it had no burden ; and without which burden there were no
safety in the ship.
The christian religion, and the practice of it, is full of sweet-
ness, easiness, and pleasantness.
The reasons of the sweetness, easiness, and pleasantness of the
christian religion, and the practice of it, I shall reduce to these
heads :
1. The christian religion is most rational. If we should look
into the best laws that the wisest men in the world ever agreed
upon, we shall find that Christ adopted the quintessence of them
all into his ov/n law. The highest pitch of reason is but as a
spark, a taper, which is involved and swallowed up in the body
of this great light, that is made up by the Sun of righteousness.
Some observe, that Christ's discipline is the breviary of all the
wisdom of the best men, and a fair copy and transcript of his
Father's v/isdom ; there is nothing in the laws of the christian
religion, but what is perfective of our spirits. Indeed the
Greeks, whom the world admired for their wisdom, accounted
the preachmg of the gospel foolishness, and therefore God
blasted their wisdom, as it is written, I luill destroy the luisdom
of the ivise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the pru-
dent, 1 Cor. i. 19. The gospel may be as foolishness unto some,
hut unto them which are called, — Clirist the power of God, and
the wisdom of God.
The christian rehgion is all composed of peace ; her luays are
the ivays of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace, Prov.
xvii. 3. Christ framed all his laws in compliance of his design
of peace; peace within, and peace at home, and peace abroad.
1. It holds forth a certain heavenly peace and tranquillity
Looking unto Jesus. ■ 275
within : Gi^eat peace have they which love thy law, and nothing
shall offeyid them. But on the contrary : the wicked are like the
troubled sea, ivhen it cannot rest; luhose waters cast up mire
and dirt : — there is no peace, saith my God to the ivicked. Their
passions were never yet mortified; and such passions usually
rage in wicked men as are most contrary, and demand contrary
things : the desire of honour cries, spend here ; but the passion
of avarice cries, hold thy hands : lust cries, venture here ; but
pride saith, no such thing, it may turn to thy dishonour : anger
cries, revenge thyself here ; but ambition says, it is better to dis-
semb)e: and here is fulfilled that of the psalmist, I have seen
violence and strife in the city. The vulgar renders it, ' I have
seen iniquity and contradiction in the self-same city.' First, Ini-
quity, for all the demands of these passions are unjust. And,
2. Contradiction, for one passion cries out against another. But.
now, great peace have they that love thy lav/; for by the aid of
Christ and his grace, their passions are subdued, and they pass
on their life sweetly and calmly, without any perturbations much
troubling their spirits; they h^ive ihsit peace tchich jjasseth all
understanding, which the world can neither give nor taste of.
2. It holds forth peace at home : the laws of Jesus teach us
how to bear with the infirmities of our relatives ; and, indeed,
whosoever obeys the laws of Jesus Christ, he seeks with sweet-
ness to remedy all differences, he throws water upon a spark, he
lives sweetly with his wife, afi'ectionately with his childreH,
discreetly with his servants ; and they all look upon him as their
guardian, friend, and patron: but, look upon an angry man,
not subject to these christian laws, and when he enters upon his
threshold, it gives an alarm to his house, every little accident is
the matter of a quarrel, and every quarrel discomposes the
peace of the house, and sets it on fire, and no man can tell how
far it may burn. O the sweetness, easiness, and pleasantness of
the christian religion ! Where that is embraced and followed,
the man is peaceable, and charitable, and just, and loving, and
forbearing, and forgiving; and how should there be but content
in this blessed family ?
3. It holds out peace abroad ; it commands all offices of kind-
ness, gentleness, love, meekness, humility; it prescribes an aus-
tere, and yet a sweet deportment ; it commands all those labours
of love, to relieve the stranger, to visit the sick, to wash the
feet of the poor ; it sends upon charitable embassies, to unclean
prisons, nasty dungeons, and, in the cause of Christ, to lay
down our lives one for another : it teacheth us how to return
good for evil, kindness for injuries, a soft answer for the rough
words of an enemy. Ol when I think of this, I cannot but
think of him who said, " That either this was not the christian
religion, or we v/ere nc/t Christians." For my part, I am easily
persuaded, that if we would but live according to the christian
276 Looking unto Jesus.
religion, one of those great plagues that vex the world (I mean
the plague of war) would be no more. Certainly this was one of
the designs of Christianity, that there should be no wars, no jars,
no discontents amongst men. And if all men that are called
Christians, were indeed charitable, peaceable, just, loving, for-
bearing one another, and forgiving one another, what sweet
peace should we have ? How would this world be an image
of heaven, and of the society of saints and angels in glory ?
Thus far I have held forth Jesus in his life, or during the time
of his ministry : and now was it that Jesus knew his hour was
come, and that he should depart out of this world unto the
leather : but of that hereafter. Our next business is to direct
you in the art or mystery, how we are to look unto Jesus in
respect of this life.
CHAP. V.
Sect. I. — Of Knowing Jesus as carrying on the great Work of
our Salvation in his Life,
From the object considered, that we may pass to the act, —
1 . Let us know Jesus carrying on the great work of our sal-
vation during his life. We have many books of the lives of men ;
of the lives of heathens, of the lives of Christians ; and by this
we come to know the generations of old : but above all, read
over the life of Jesus, for that is worth thy knowing. To this
purpose we have four Evangelists, who in blessed harmony set
forth his life : these should be read over and over ; then shall we
know, saith the prophet, if we follow on to know the Lord.
Ah ! my soul, that which thou knowest of Christ already is but
the least part of what thou art ignorant of. JVe know but in
part, saith Paul of himself and others. The highest knowledge
which the most illuminate saints have of Jesus Christ is but im-
perfect. Come then, and follow on to know the Lord : still in-
quire after him ; imitate the angels, who ever desire to stoop down
and to pry into the actings of Christ for our salvation. And for thy
better knowledge, (1.) Study over those passages in the first
year of Christ's ministry: as, the preaching of John, the baptism
of Christ, his fasting and temptation in the wilderness, his first
manifestation by his several witnesses, his whipping of the buyers
and sellers out of the temple. (2.) Study over those passages
in the second year of Christ's ministry ; as, those several sermons
that he preached ; and because his miracles were as signals of
his sermons, study the several miracles that he wrought : thou
hast but a few instances in comparison of all his miracles, and
yet how fruitful are they of spiritual instructions ! (3.) Study
Looking unto Jesus. 277
over those passages in the third year of Christ*s ministry; as^ his
commissioning his apostles to call sinners, his readiness to re-
ceive them that would come in, and his sweetening the ways of
Christianity to them that are come ; for his yoke is easy, and his
burden is light.
O what rare matter is here for christian study ! Some have
took such pains in the study of these things, that they have writ
large volumes. Men have been writing and preaching a thou-
sand six hundred years of the life of Christ, and they are writing
and preaching still. O, my soul, if thou dost not write, yet
study what is written. Come with fixed thoughts to that blessed
subject, that will make thee wise unto salvation. Paul account-
ed all things but dung for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus our Lord. If thou didst truly understand the
excellency of this knowledge, thou couldst not but account all
things loss in comparison of it.
Sect. II. — Of Considering Jesus in that respect.
Let us consider Jesus carrying on the great work of our sal-
vation during his life. It is not enough to study and know, but
we must muse and meditate, and consider it, till we bring it to
some profitable issue. By meditating on Christ, we may feel a
kind of insensible change; as those that stand in the sun for
other purposes, they find themselves lightened and heated;
therefore, look further, O my soul, have strong apprehensions of
those several passages of the life of Christ.
1. Consider the preaching of John Baptist. We talk of
strictness, but shew me among all the ministers or saints of this
age, such a pattern of sanctity and singular austerity. He had
an excellent zeal, and a vehement spirit in preaching, and the
commentary upon all his sermons was his life ; he was clothed in
camels' hair, his meat was locusts and wild honey. He contemn-
ed the world, resisted temptations, despised honours, and in all
passages was a rare example of self-denial and mortification:
and by this means made an excellent preparation for the Lord's
coming. O my soul, sit a while under this preacher. See, what
efiect doth it work on thy heart and life ? Dost thou feel in thee
a spirit of mortification ? Dost thou with the Baptist die to the
world? Dost thou deny thy will? Dost thou abstain from
pleasures, and sensual complacencies, that the flesh being sub-
dued to the spirit, both may join in the service of God? O, n.y
soul, so consider the preaching of this forerunner of Christ,
till thou feelest this consideration to have some warmth in thy
heart, and influence on thy life, in order to holiness, self-denial,
and mortification.
2. Consider the baptism of Christ. He was baptized, that in
the symbol he might purify our nature, whose stains and guilt
278 Looking unto Jesus,
he had undertaken. S«rely every soul that lives the life of grace,
is born of water and the Spirit ; and to this purpose, Christ, who
is our life, went down into the waters of baptism, that we, who
descend after him, might find the effects of it, pardon of sin, and
holiness of life. Had not Christ been baptized, what virtue had
there been in our baptism ? As it became him to fuiiil all righte-
ousness, and therefore he must needs be baptized, so he fulfilled
it not for himself, but for us. Christ's obedience in fulfilling the
law is imputed to all that believe unto righteousness, as if them-
selves had fulfilled ; so that he was baptized for us, and the virtue
of his baptism is derived unto us ; therefore, if thou art in Christ,
thou art baptized into his death, and baptized unto his baptism ;
thou partake st of the fruit and efficacy both of his death, and life,
and baptism, and all.
3. Consider the fasting and temptation of Christ in the wil-
derness. Now we see what manner of adversary we have, how
he fights, how he is resiiited, how overcome. In one assault,
Satan moves Christ to doubt of his Father's providence ; in an-
other, to presume on his Father's protection ; and v/hen neither
diffidence nor presumption can fasten upon Christ, he shall be
tried with honour : and thus he deals with us ; if he cannot
drive us to despair, he labours to lift us up to presumption ; and
if neither of these prevail, then he brings out pleasures, profits,
honours, which are indeed most dangerous. O, my soul, whilst
thou art in this warfare, here is thy condition; temptiil ions,
like waves, break one in the neck of another : if the devil was so
busy with Christ, how shouldst thou hope to be free? How
mayst thou account that the repulse of one temptation will ])ut
invite to another ? But here is thy comfort, thou hast such a
Saviour as was in all things tempted in like sort, yet without sin.
How boldly therefore mayst thou go to the throne of grace to
receive mercy, and to find grace to help in time of need ! Christ
was tempted, that he might succour them that are tempted.
Never art thou tempted, O my soul, but Christ is with thee
in the temptation. He hath sent his Spirit into thy heart, to
make intercession for thee there ; and he himself is in heaven,
making intercession, and praying for thee there ; yea, his own
experience of temptations hath so wrought it in his heart, that
his love and mercy is most of all at work when thou art tempted
most. As dear parents are ever tender of their children, but
then especially when they are sick and weak : so, though Christ
be always tender of his people, yet then especially when their
souls are sick, and under temptation ; then his bowels yearn over
them indeed.
4. Consider Christ's first manifestations by his several wit-
nesses. We have heard of his witnesses from heaven, the Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost ; and of his witnesses on earth, the Bap-
tist, his disciples, and the v/orks that he did in his Father's name ;
LooMns^ unto Jesus. 279
^b
and all these witnesses being lively held forth in the preaching
of the gospel^ they are witnesses to us; even to this day is
Christ manifested to us ; yea, and if we are Christ's^ even unto
this day is Christ manifested within us. O my soul, consider
this above all ! It is this manifestation within that concerns
thee most; — because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit
of his Son into your hearts. If Christ be not manifested in thy
heart by his blessed Spirit, thou art no son of God ; and there-
fore the apostle puts thee seriously on this trial : Examine your-
selves, whether ye he in the faith, prove yourselves ; know ye
not your oivn selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye
be reprobates f Is Christ manifested in thee ? Surely this is
more than Christ manifested to thee. The bare history is a
manifestation of Christ unto thee, but there is a mystery in the
inward manifestation. The apostle speaking of the saints, adds.
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles, ivhich is Christ in you, the
hope of glory. O the riches of the glory of this mysteiy ! God
might have shut thee up in blindness with the world; but hath
he revealed Christ in thee ? Hath he let thee see into the won -
ders of his glory ? Hath he given thee the light of his glory
within ? This only the experimental Christian feels.
5. Consider the preaching of Christ. O the admirable ser •
mon& of this great prophet ! Read and peruse those he hath
left on record. How spiritual was that sermon of Christ ! Ex-
cept a man he bom again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,
It may be thou art a doctor, a master of Israel, thou art a learned
scholar, thou art a man of parts and abilities in other things ; it
may be thou hast read so long in the Bible, thou hast heard
so many and so many sermons ; but, ah ! miserable sovd, it may
be ail the work is to do still within. Come, say this sermon of
Christ to thine own soul : ' Unless I be born again, I cannot
enter into heaven. Born again ! O Lord, what is that ? Was
ever such a thing done upon me ? Was I ever cast into the
pangs of a new birth ? and continued I in those pangs until
Christ Jesus was formed in jne ? Are all things done away, and
all things now become new ? Is the old man, the old lusts, the
old conversation, quite abandoned and left ? Are my principles
new? my aims and ends new ? my life and conversation new?'
Thus might I paraphrase on all the sermons; but I intend bre-
vity. Only consider, O my soul, as if this sermon, and all the
rest, had been preached to thee ; realize Christ standing by thee,
and opening his mouth, and teaching thee thus and thus. Surely
there is a speaking of Christ from heaven : See that ye refuse 7iot
him (saith the apostle) that speaketh from heaven. And besides,
he hath his ministers here on earth, and they are daily preaching
over these sermons of Christ ; they preach such things as were
first spoken by the Lord himself: they beseech and pray
280 Looking U7ito *Jesus.
thee in Christ's stead. O then, meditate on these things, and
give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear
to all.
6. Consider the miracles of Christ in pursuance of the doc-
trine delivered in his blessed sermons. Here is a world of mat-
ter to run over; such miracles as never man did before. O my
soul, consider of these miracles, and believe that doctrine which
was ratified with arguments from above. How shouldst thou
but assent to all those mysterious truths which are so strongly
confirmed by an almighty hand.
7. Consider Christ's ordination of his apostles: He chose
twelve, whom he named apostles. And what was the office of
these apostles, but to go and teach all nations ? The gospel
was first preached in Jewry, but afterwards the sound of it
came unto us. O the goodness of God in Christ! What!
that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in
his name, beginning at Jerusalem, and afterwards among all
nations ! Of what near concernment, O my soul, is this to thee !
What art thou but a sinner of the Gentiles ? Understand that
term: when the apostles would express the greatest sinners
that the world had, he calls them sinners of the Gentiles. Why ?
The Gentiles knew not God, the Gentiles were unacquainted
with Christ, the Gentiles walked in nothing but sin. O then
what a love is this, that God should ever have thought of good-
will towards thee ? How shouldst thou be ravished in this one
meditation 1 What ! that the sun of his gospel, now in these
latter times, when the sun is set in Zion where it first arose, should
make a noon with us, and shine more brightly here, for ought I
know, or can yet learn, than in any other nation, country, king-
dom, throughout all the world ! O the depth of the riches, both
of the wisdom and counsel of God ! How unsearchable are his
judgments, and his ways past finding out!
8. Consider Christ's reception of sinners. He sent forth his
apostles to call them in ; and if they would but come, how ready
was he to receive them ! This was Christ's errand from heaven :
Ah, poor soul 1 why shouldst thou despair because of sin ? Look
on Christ as spreading out his arms to receive thee. Look on
the gracious nature that is in Christ: look on the office of
Christ ; 'tis an office of saving, and shewing mercy, that Christ
hath undertaken ; 'tis an office to receive sinners \ yea, to seek
and to save that which was lost ; to bring home straying souls to
God; to be the great Peace-maker between God and man.
Certainly the devil strangely wrongeth many a poor troubled
soul, that he can bring them to have hard thoughts of Jesus
Christ : how can they more contradict the office of Christ ? How
can they more contradict the gospel-description of Christ, than
to think him a destroyer of his creatures, and one that hath more
mind to hurt than help them ? Resolve, O my sOul, to throw
Looldng unto Jesus » 281
thyself on him for hfe and for salvation : why, if thou wilt but
come, he hath promised freely to make thee welcome : all the
day long he stretcheth out his arms, and would fain gather thee
and all others into his embraces.,
9. Consider the easiness of his yoke, and the lightness of his
burden. Many a one is willing to take Jesus as their Saviour,
but they are un\villing to take him on his own terms ; they ima-
gine it an hard task, and a heavy burden : it is otherwise with
Christians ; for his commandments are not grievous. O mj^ soul,
if thou canst but taste, thou wilt find a world of sweetness in
Christ's ways : there is sweetness in the word, Hoio sweet are
thy words to my taste, yea, sweeter than honey to my 7nouth!
There is sweetness in prayer; hast thou not known the time that
thou hast tasted the joys of heaven in prayer? There is sweet-
ness in meditation : now, O, my soul, thou art in the exercise of
this duty, now thou art in the meditation of the easiness of
Christ's burden, tell me, is there nothing of heaven in this
meditation ? O if men did but know what ravishiny; sweetness^
'to
were in the ways of God, they could not but embrace them, and
esteem one day's society with Jesus Christ better than all tlie
gold in the world !
10. Consider the holiness of Christ's nature, and the holiness
of his life.
(1.) For the holiness of his nature; if thou couldst but clearly
see it, what work would it make in thy breast 1 Christ's inward
beauty would ravish love out of the devils, if they had but grace
to see his beauty. This loveliness of Christ ravishes tlie souls
of the glorified. How is it, O my soul, that thou art not taken
with this meditation ? But, —
(2.) Go from the holiness of his nature to the holiness of his
life, it may be that will make deep impressions on thy spirit.
Consider his charity, his self-denial, his contempt of the world,
his mercy, his bounty, his meekness, his pity, his humility, his
obedience to his Father. A fruitful meditation on these par-
ticulars cannot but make thee like Ciu'ist. O the vv'dnder that
any should disclaim the active obedience of Christ, as to his own
justification ! Away, away with these cavils, and consider the
obedience of Christ in relation to thyself. " God sent forth his
Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them
that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption
of sons." That is, under the whole law : the one half of the law,
which is the directive part, he was made under that, and satisfied
it by the innocency of his life, without breaking one jot or tittle
of the law, and so he answers that part, as it might be the prin-
cipal; the other half of the law, which is the penalty, he was
under that also, and satisfied it by suffering a wrongful death,
no way deserved or due by him, and so he answered that part, as
it might be the forfeiture. But if we come now to ask. For
10. • 2 N
282 Looking unto Jesus.
whom is all this ? It is only for us, that we might be redeemed
and adopted ; redeemed from all evil, and adopted or interested
into all good. If this be so, O who would, for a world of gold,
lose the influence and the benefit of Christ's active obedience !
Consider of this, O my soul, until thou feelest some virtue to
come out of Christ's life into thyself.
Sect. III. — Of Desiring Jesus in that respect.
Let us desire Jesus, carrying on the work of salvation in his
life: it is not enough to know and consider, but we must desire;
our meditation of Christ should draw forth our affections to
Christ ; and amongst all aftections I place this first of all, a de-
sire after Christ.
But what is it in Christ's life that is so desirable ? I answer,
eveiy passage, every thing of Christ, is desirable. Ail that
concerns Christ in any kind whatsoever is very precious, and
excellent, and necessary, and profitable, and comfortable, and
therefore desirable : but to put them in order, —
1. The meanest things of Christ are desirable things. The
very filings of the gold, the dust of precious stones, are of real
value. Hence we read,^ that one poor woman sought no more
but to wash Christ's feet, and to kiss them : another breathes out
these desires ; If I may but touch the hem of his garment, I
shall be whole. John the Baptist thinks it an honour to unloose
the latchets of his shoes ; David, to be a doorkeeper of the house
of God. Yea, he puts a happiness on the sparrow and the
swallow, that may build their nests beside the Lord's altar.
2. The more considerable actions of Christ are especially
desirable. O my soul, run through his life, and consider some
of his more eminent actions. (1.) To his friends, he was sweet
and indulgent : where there was any beginning of grace, he did
encourage it; so was the prophecy, A bruised reed shall he not
break, atid smoaking flax shall he not quench. And so the
people that fainted, that were scattered abroad as sheep having
no shepherd; he was moved with compassion on them; he
was bowelled in heart, his very bowels were moved within him.
(2.) To his enemies he was kind and merciful : many a time he
discovers himself most of all unto sinners ; he was never more
familiar with any at first acquaintance, than with the woman of
Samaria, that was an adulteress: and Mary, that had been a
sinner, how sweetly did he appear to her at the very first view 1
How ready was he to receive sinners ! How ready to pardon
sinners! How gracious to sinners after pardon 1 See it in
Peter : he never upbraided hiui ; only he looks upon him, and
afterwards, Love^st thou me? Often he was wronged by men;
but what then ? Did he call for fire down from heaven ? indeed,
bis disciples would fain have had it so -, but he sweetly replies.
Looking unto Jesus. 283
You know not what spirits you are of; the Son of man is not
come to destroy men's live^, but to save them. Sometimes we
find him shedding tears for those very persons that shed his
blood : O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, — if thou hadst known, even
thou, at least in this thy day, the things belonging to thy peace.
Well might they sing in that day in the land of Judah^ — In the
way of thy judgments, O Lord, have lue waited for thee; the
desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of
thee.
3. The ever-blessed and holy person of Christ is desirable
above all. My beloved is the chief est of ten thousand; yea,
he is altogether lovely, or desirable^ so Vatablus renders it,
" Christus est totus desideria," Christ is all desires. If the
actions of Christ be desirable, what must himself be ? he is the
express image of the person of his Father; as the print of the
seal on the wax is the express image of the seal itself, so is
Christ the highest representation of God. And hence it is that
Christ is called the Standard-bearer of ten thousands : all ex-
cellencies are gathered in Christ, as beams in the sun. Come,
poor soul ! thy eyes run to and fro in the world to find comfort
and happiness ; cast thy eyes back, and see heaven and earth in
one ; look if thou wilt, at what thy vast thoughts can fancy, not
only in this world, but in the world to come ; see that, and infi-
nitely more, shining forth from the pefson of Jesus Christ : no
wonder if the saints adore him, no wonder if the angels stand
amazed at him, no wonder if all creatures vail all their glory
to him.
O, what are things in the world to Jesus Christ ! Paul com-
pares them together, with this one thing : And I account all
things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.
And I account all things : surely all things is the greatest ac-
count that can be cast up; for it includeth all prices, all sums;
it takes in earth and heaven, and all therein; what are they in
comparison of Christ, but as feathers, dung, shadows, nothing ?
If there be any thing worthy a v, ish, it is eminently, transcend-
ently in the Lord Jesus Christ: there is no honour, no felicity,
like that which Christ hath ; some are sons, Christ is an only
Son ; some are kings, but Christ is King of kings ; some are
honourable, none above angels ; Christ is above angels and arch-
angels : To which of the anqels said he at any time, 2Viou art my
son, this day have I begotten thee ? Some are wealthy, Christ
hath all the sheep on a thousand hills ; the very uttermost parts
of the earth are his : some are beautiful, Christ is the fairest of
all the children of men ! he is spiritually fair, he is all glorious
within. If the beauty of the angels (which I beheve are the
beautifullest creatures the world has) should be compared with
the beauty of Christ, they would be but as lumps of darkness : the
brightest cherub is forced to screen his face from the dazzling
284 Looking unto Jesus.
bri'^htness of Christ. Alas! the cherubim and seraphim are
but as stars in the canopy of heaven; but Christ is the
Sun of righteousness, that at once illuminates and drowns
them all.
Come then, breathe, G my soul, after the enjoyment of this
Christ ; ^ O that this Christ was mine ! O that the actions of
Christ and the person of Christ, were mine ! O that all he said,
and all he did, and all he were, were mine ! O that 1 had the
silver v/ings of a dove, that in all my wants I might fly into the
bosom of Christ; If I must not sit at table, O that I might but
gather up the crumbs ! Surely there is bread enough in my
Father's house ; Christ is the bread of life ; Christ is enough for
all the saints in heaven and earth to feed on ; and what, must I
pine away, and perish with hunger ? Thousands of histructions
dropped from him while he was on earth ; O that some of that
food might be my nourishment ! O that my ways were directed
according to his statutes ! Many a stream, and wave, and line,
and precept, flowed from this fountain, Christ; O that I might
drink freely of this water of life ! He hath proclaimed it in my
ears: If ciiu/ man thirsty let him come unto me and drink. O
that I might come and find welcome ! Sure I thirst, I feel in
me such a burning drought, that either I must drink or die;
either the righteousness of Christ, the holiness of Christ, the
holiness of his nature, and the holiness of his life, must be im-
puted unto me, or farewell happiness in another world. Coniv",
Lord Jesus, come quickly ; I long to see the beauty of thy face 1
Such is thy beauty, that it steals away my heart after thee, and
I cannot be satisfied until, with Absalom, I see the King's face.
Come, Christ ! or if thou wilt not come, / charge yon^ O
daughters of Jerusalem, if ye Jiyid my beloved, that ye tell him
I am sick of love.'
Sect. IV. — Of Hojmig in Jesus in that respect.
Let us hope in Jesus, carrying on the great work of our salva-
tion in his life. By this hope, I mean an hope well grounded.
The main question is, whether Christ's life be mine ? whether
all those passages of his life laid open, belong unto me ? whe-
ther the habitual righteousness, and actual holiness, of Christ be
imputed to my justification ? and what are the grounds and
foundations on which my hope is built ? The apostle tells us,
that God gives good hopes through grace ; if hope be right and
good, it will manifest itself by operation of saving grace; O
look into thy soul ! what gracious effects of the life of Christ
are there? Certainly his life is not without some influence
on our spirits, if we be his members, and he be our head. O
the glorious effects flowing out of Christ's life, into a believer's
soul !
Lookmiy unto Jesus. 285
'<b
1. If Christ's life be mine, then am I freed from the law of
sin; this was the apostle's evidence : — for the law of the spirit of
life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and
death. Christ's life is called the spirit of life, because of its
perfection ; and this spirit of life hath such a power in it, here
termed a law, that it works out, in believers, a freedom from the
law or power of sin. Look to this ! Doth the power of Christ's
life throw out of thy heart and life the power of sin ? Here is
one ground of hope.
2. If Christ's life be mine, then I live, yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me. Paul speaks out this evidence; I am crucified
with Christ, ?ievertheless I live, Sfc. He conjoins the death of
Christ, and the life of Christ, in one and the same soul : as if he
had said, No man krft)ws the benefit of Christ's death, but he
that feels the virtue of Christ's life; there is no assurance of
Christ's dying for us, but as we feel Christ living in us ; if the
power of Christ's death mortify my lusts, then the virtue of
Christ's life will quicken my soul : / live, yet not I, hut Christ
liveth in me: I live to God, and not unto myself; I live to
Christ, and ix>t unto the world ; I live according to the will of
God, and not after my own lust and fancy. O my soul ! question
thyself in these few particulars ; dost thou live to God, and not
thyself ? Dost thou live to Christ, and not to the world ? Dost
thou derive thy life from Christ ? And hath that life of Christ
a special influence in thy soul? Dost thou feel Christ living
in thy understanding and will, in thy imagination and affections,
in thy duties and services ? 1 . In thy understanding, by prizing
the knowledge of Christ, by determining to know nothing in
comparison of Christ. 2. In thy will, by making thy will free
to choose and embrace Christ; and by making his will to rule in
thy will. 3. In thy imagination, by thinking upon him with more
frequency and delight ; by having more high, and honourable,
and sweet apprehensions of Christ than of all the creatures.
4. In thy affections, by fearing Christ above all earthly powers,
and by loving Christ above all earthly persons. 5. In thy duty
and services, by doing all thou doest in his name, by his assist-
ance, and for his glory. Why then, here is another ground of
thy hope ; surely thou hast thy part in Christ's life.
Away, away with all doubts and perplexing fears ! If thou
findest the power of sin dying in thee ; if thou livest, and livest
not, but in truth it is Christ that lives in thee ; then thou may-
est assure thyself that Christ's habitual righteousness, and actual
holiness, is imputed to thy justification ; thou mayest confidently
resolve that every passage of Christ's Hfe belongs to thee. Would
Christ have ever lived in thee, have been the soul of thy soul,
the all of thy understanding and will, imaginations and affections,
duties and services, if he had not purposed to have saved thee
by his life ? Surely it is good that I both hope, and quietly wait
286 Looking unto Jesus,
fpr the salvation of God. I cannot hope in vain^ if these be the
grounds of my hope.
Sect. V. — Of Believing in Jesus in that respect.
Let us believe in Jesus cariying on the great work of our
salvation in his life. Many souls stand aloof, not daring to make
a particular application of Christ and his life to themselves ; but,
herein is the property of faith, it brings all home, and makes use
of whatsoever Christ is, or does, for himself.
1. In order to this, faith must directly go to Christ. Many
poor souls, humbled for sin, run immediately to the promise of
pardon, and rest on it, not seeking for, or closing with Christ in
the promise ; this is a common error, but we should observe, that
the first promise that was given, was not a bare word, simply
promising pardon, peace, or any other benefit; but, it was a pro-
mise of Christ's person, as overcoming Satan, and purchasing
those benefits : JVie seed of the womun shall bruise the serpeiifs
head. So, when the promise was renewed to Abraham, it was
not a bare promise of blessedness and forgiveness, but of that
seed, that is, Christ, (Gal. iii. 6.) in whom that blessedness was
conveyed : Iri thee shall all the nations of the earth he blessed.
So that Abraham's faith first closed with Christ in the promise,
and therefore he is said to see Christ's day, and rejoice. Christ,
in the first place, is every where made the thing which faith em-
braced to salvation, and whom it looks unto and respects, as it
makes us righteous in the sight of God. God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever helieveth in
him, should not pe7'ish, but have everlasting life. And hence it
is called the faith of Christ, Gal. ii. 16. Phil. iii. 9. Because
Christ is it whom faith apprehends immediately; and, as for the
other promises, they depend all on this, — Whosoever helieveth on
him, shall receive remission of sins; and, he that helieveth on the
Son of God shall have life everlasting. O remember this, in the
first place, faith must go unto Christ; and yet I mean not to
Christ, as nakedly considered, but to Christ as compassed with
all his promises, privileges, benefits.
2. Faith must go to Christ, as God in the flesh. But now
under the New Testament, our faith more usually and immedi-
ately addresseth itself unto Christ, as God dwelUng in our
nature, than to the Father, who is merely God. God in the
flesh is more distinctly set forth in the New Testament, and so he
is more distinctly to be apprehended by the faith of all believers.
Remember this; let our faith, m the more direct and imme-
diate exercise of it, be pitched upon Christ, as God in the
flesh.
3. Faith must go to Christ, as God in the flesh, made under
the law. And hence it is, that the apostle joins these together ;
Looking unto Jesus. 287
God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law : if
Christ had been out of the compass of the law, his being incar-
nate, and made of a woman, had done us no good. Suppose
one in debt, and danger of the law, to have a brother of the
same ilesh and blood, of the same father and mother; what will
this avail, if that same brother will not come under the law, that
is, become his surety, and undertake for him ? This is our case,
— we are debtors to God, and there is an hand-writing agamst
us. Here is a bond of the law, which we have forfeited; now,
what will Christ avail, if he had not come under the law, if he
had not been our surety, and undertook for us? Our faith,
therefore, must go to Christ, as made under the law, not only
taking our nature upon him, but our debt also ; our nature as
men, and our debt as sinful men : " he hath made himself sin for
us, who knew no sin ;'' that is, he made him to be handled as a
sinner for us under the law, though he knew no sin on his part,
but continued in all things \mtten in the book of the law, to do
them. He both satisfied the curse, and fulfilled the command-
ments ! O remember this : as Christy, and as Christ in the flesh,
so Christ in the flesh made under the law, is principally to be in
the eye of our faith. If we put all together, our first view of
faith is to look on Christ, God in the flesh, made under the
law.
4. Faith going to Christ as God in the flesh, and as^ made
under the law, is principally to look to the end of Christ, as
being God in the flesh, and as fulfilling the law.
The apostle tells us of a remote, and of a more immediate end.
(1 .) Of a remote end. " God sent forth his Son, made of a wo-
man, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the
law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.'' This was the
remote end of Christ. Alas ! we were strangers from the adop-
tion, and lay under the law, as men whom sentence had passed
on. Now, from this latter we are redeemed ; he was under the
law, that we might be redeemed from vmder the law; nor is that
all, but as we are redeemed, so are we adopted the children of
God : and, this end I rather attribute to the life of Christ, that
we might receive the adoption; that is, from the estate of
prisoners Condemned, that we might be translated into the estate
of children adopted. O the mercy of God ! who ever heard of
a condemned man to be afterwards adopted ? Would not a con-
demned prisoner think himself happy to escape with life ? But
the zeal of the Lord of hosts hath performed this; we are in
Christ both pardoned and adopted; and, by this means, God's
heavenly inheritance is estated upon us. O let our faith look
mainly to this design of Christ ! He was made under the law,
yea, and under the directive part of the law, by his life ; he ful-
filled every tittle of the law by his obedience, that we might be
entitled to glory.
288 Looking unto Jesus.
(2.) For the more immediate end of Christ : the apostle tells
us Christ was made mider the law, or fulfilled all righteousness,
that the law might be fulfilled in us. O my soul, look to this I
Herein lies the pith and the marrow of thy justification. Of
thyself thou canst do nothing good ; but Christ fulfilleth the law
in thy stead; and if now thou wilt but exercise thy faith, thou
mayest feel the virtue and efficacy of Christ's righteousness
flowing into thy own soul. But here is the question, How should
I manage my faith^ to feel Christ's righteousness my rigliteous-
ness? I answer, i. Thy way is to discern this righteousness of
Christ, this holy and perfect life of the Lord Jesus, in the whole,
and in all the parts of it, as it is laid down in the written word.
2. Thy way is to believe and to receive this as sacred and un-
questionable in reference to thy own soul. 3. Thy vvay is to
apply and improve this discovery according to those ends, to
which thou beUevest they were designed. Yea, but there lies
the question, how may that be done ? I answer, —
[1.] Setting before thee that discovery, (that perfect life of
Christ,) first endeavour to be deeply humbled for thy great incon-
formity thereto in whole and in part.
[2.] Still keeping thy spirit intent on the pattern, quicken,
provoke, and increase thy sluggish soul, with renewed, redoubled
vigilancy and industry, to come up higher towards it, and (if it
were possible) completely to it.
[3.] Yet having the same copy before thee, exercise faith
thereupon, as that which was performed, and is accepted on thy
behalf. And so go to God, and offer Christ's holy life and active
obedience unto him. And that, first to fill up the defects of
thy utmost endeavour. Secondly, to put a value and worth
upon what thou doest, and attainest to. Thirdly, to make
Christ's righteousness thy own, that thou mayest say with the
psalmist, in way of assurance : O God my righteousness.
Sect. VI. — Of Loving Jesus in that respect.
Let us love Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our sal-
vation, during his life. O what a lovely object is the life of
Christ ? Who can read over his life, who can think over his
worthiness^ both in his person, relations, actions, and several
administrations, and not love him with a singular love ?
O my soul, much has been said to persuade thee to faith;
and if now thou believest thy part in those several actings of
Christ, let thy faith take thee by the hand, and lead thee from
one step to another ; from his b^iptism to his temptations ; from
his temptations to his manifestations; and so on. Is not here
fuel enough for love ? Canst thou read the history of love, (for
such is the history of Christ's life), and not be all on a flame ?
Looking unto ^Tesus. 289
Come, read again ! There is nothing in Christ but what is lovely,
winning, and drawing.
1. When he saw thee full of filth, he goes down into the
waters of baptism, that he might prepare a way for the cleansing
of thy polluted soul.
2. When he saw the devil ready to swallow thee up, he him-
self enters in the list, and overcomes him, that thou mightest
overcome, and triumph with Christ in his glory.
3. When he saw thee in danger of death through thy unbelief,
he condescends so far to succour thy weakness, as to manifest
himself by several witnesses. Tliree in heaven, and three on
earth; yea, he multiplies his three on earth to thousands of
thousands : so many were the signs witnessing Christ, that the
disciples which testified of them, could say. If they should be
written every one) the world could not contain the books that
should be written.
4. When he saw thee like the horse and mule, not having
understanding, he came with his instructions, adding line unto
line, and precept on precept, teaching and preaching the gos-
pel of the kingdom; and sealing his truths with many miracles,
that thou mayest believe, and in believing mightest have life
through his name.
5. When he saw thee a sinner of the Gentiles, stranger from
the commonwealth of Israel, and without God in the v/orld, he
sent his apostles and messengers abroad, and bade them preach
the gospel to thee : ' Go to such a one in the dark corner of the
world, an isle at such a distance, and set up my throne amongst
that people, open the most precious cabinet of my love there ;
and amongst that people, tell such a soul that Jesus Christ came
into the world to save sinners, of whom he is one.
6. When he saw thee cast down, and refusing thy own mercy,
crying and saying, ^ What ! is it possible that Jesus Christ should
send a message to such a dead dog as I am ?' He then appeared,
and even then spread his arms vride to receive thy soul: he
cried, ' Come unto me, thou that art wxary and heavy laden
with sin, and 1 will give thee rest.'
7. When he saw thee in suspense, and heard thy complaint,
^ Oh it is a hard passage, and a high ascent up to heaven ! —
Oh, what shall become of my poor soul T He told thee that
all his ways were ways of pleasantness, and all his paths peace ;
— that thou shouldst find by experience his yoke was easy, and
his burden light.
8. When he savr the wretchedness of thy nature, and original
pollution, he took upon him thy nature, and by this means took
away thy original sin. Here is the lovely object! What is it
but the absolute holiness of the nature of Christ ? This is the
fairest beauty that ever eye beheld : this is that compendium of
all £(lories. Now if love be a motion and union of the appetite
^ 11. 2o
290 Looking unto Jeaus,
to what is lovely, how shouldst thou flame forth in love upon the
Lord Jesus Christ ! — See, O my soul, here is the sum of all the
particulars thou hast heard, — Christ loves thee, and Christ is
lovely ; his heart is set upon thee, who is a thousand times fairer
than ail the children of men. Doth not this double consideration,
like a mighty loadstone, snatch thy heart unto it ! ^ It pleased
thee, my Lord, to say to thy poor church. Turn away thine eyes
from me, for they have overcome me : — But O let me say to thee,
Turn thine eyes to me, that they may overcome me : my Lord,
I would be thus ravished, I would be overcome; I would be thus
out of myself, that I might be all in thee. — How chill and cold
art thou in thy converses with Jesus Christ ! Surely, had Christ's
love been like this faint and feeble love of mine, I had been a
damned wretch without all hope. O Christ, I am ashamed that
1 love thee so little; I perceive that loves are great, by all those
actings in thy life : come, blow upon my garden, persuade me
by the Spirit, that I may love thee ; many sins are forgiven me,
O that I may love thee much !'
Sect. VIL — Of Joying in Jesus in that respect.
Let us joy in Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our
salvation during his life,
1 . In order to this, let us contemplate this life of Christ, let
us spend our frequent thoughts upon this blessed object; the
reason we miss of our joys, is, because we are so little in con-
templations of our Christ. It is said, ' that he pities us in our
sorrows; but he delights in us, when we delight in him.' Cer-
tainly he would have us to delight in him; and to that purpose he
way-lays our thoughts, that wheresoever w^e look, we shall still
think on him : O my soul, cast thine eyes which way thou wilt,
and thou shalt hardly look on any thing, but Christ Jesus hath
taken the name of that very thing upon himself. What ! is it
day, and dost thou behold the sun ? — he is called the Sun of
righteousness. Or is it night, and dost thou behold the stars ?
— he is called a star; there shall come a Star out of Jacob. Or
is it morning, and dost thou behold the morning star? — he is
called, the bright morning Star. Or is it noon, and dost thou
behold clear light all the world over? — he is that light that
lighteth every man that cometh into the world. Come a little
nearer : If thou lookest on the earth, and takest a view of the
creatures about thee ; seest thou the sheep ? — as a sheep before
her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Or, seest
thou a lamb ? — behold the Lamb of God, ivhich taketh away the
sins of the world. Seest thou a shepherd watching over his
flock : — / am the good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am
known of mine. Or seest thou a fountain, rivers, waters ? — he is
called a fountain : Jn that day there shall be a Fountain opened
Looking unto Jesus, 291
t<M the house of David. Or seest thou a tree, good for food, or
pleasant to the eye? — he is called the Tree of life: and, as the
apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved aynong
the S071S. Seest thou a rose, a lily, any fair flower in a garden ?
— he is called a Rose, a Lily: lam the Rose of Sharon, and the
Lily of the valleys. To come a little nearer yet; art thou
adorning thyself, and takest a view of thy garments ? — he is a
garment : put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. Art thou eating
meat, and takest a view of what is on thy table ? — he is the Bread
of God, true Bread from heaven, the Bread of life. Thus Christ
way-lays our thoughts, that wheresoever we look, we should
ever think of Christ. Now, I cannot think of Christ, or the life
of Christ, of Christ preaching, or of Christ preached, but I must
rejoice in Christ; as sometimes the apostle said, Christ is
preached, I therein rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
2. Let us upon good grounds hope our share in the life of
Christ. Hope and joy go together: if 1 have but assured hope
that Christ's life is mine, I cannot but rejoice therein. Look to
this, O my soul : peruse again and again thy grounds of hope :
do not slightly run them over; thou canst not be too sure of
Christ. When Zaccheus in the sycamore tree heard but Christ's
voice, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down, for to-day I must
abide in thy house; O what haste made Zaccheus to receive
Christ ! He came down hastily, and received him joyfully.
This offer of Christ to Zaccheus is thine as well as his, if thy
hope be right : — Come down, poor soul, saith Christ, This day
7nust I abide in thy house. Then what joy should there be in
thy heart when Christ comes in, or when thou feelest Christ come
in! The friend of the bridegroom rejoiceth greatly because of
the bridegroom's voice. How much more may the bride herself
rejoice !
3. Let us come up to more and more fruition of Christ : all
other things work our delight but as they look towards this.
Now in this fruition of Christ are contained these things: (1.)
A propriety unto Christ ; for, as a sick man doth not feel the
joy of a sound man's health, so neither doth a stranger to Christ
feel the joy of a believer in Christ. How should he joy in Christ
that can make no claim to him ? (2.) A possession of Christ.
This exceedingly enlargeth our joy. O how sweet was Christ
to the spouse, when she could say, / am my beloved's, and my
Beloved is mine. Many are taken up with the joy and comfort
of outward possessions, but Christ is better than all : in one
Christ, is comprised every scattered comfort here below. Christ
mine, (saith the soul) and all mine. O the usefulness of Christ
to all believing souls ? The scriptures are fidl of this, as appears
by all his titles in scripture : he is our life, our light, our bread, our
water, our milk, our wine ; His flesh is meat indeed, and his blood
is drink indeed. He is our father, our brother, our friend, our hus-
292 Lookins; unto Jesus.
band, our king, our priest, our prophet: he is our justification,
our sanctification, our wisdom, our redemption : he is our peace,
our mediation, our atonement, our reconciliation, our all in all.
Alas ! I look on myself, and I see I am nothing ; I have nothing
without Jesus Christ. Here is a temptation, I cannot resist it ;
here is a corruption I cannot overcome ; here is a persecution, I
cannot down with it : well, but Christ is mine, 1 have interest
in Christ, and I have possession of Christ, and I find enough in
Christ to supply all my wants.
Those that lived with him, all rejoiced for the glorious things
that were do7ie by him. And doth not thy heart leap within
thee, O my soul ? I cannot but check thee for thy deadness : it is
said, that when Christ was at the descent of the mount of olives,
the whole multitude of the disciples hegan to rejoke, and praise
God with a loud voice, for all the mighty works that they had
seen. What ! a multitude of disciples rejoicing in Christ's acts ?
And art thou not one amongst the multitude ? If thou art a dis-
ciple, rejoice thou: surely it concerns thee as much as them;
and therefore rejoice, lift up thy voice in harmony with the rest,
rejoice, and again rejoice. .
Sect. VIII. — Of Calling 07i Jesus in that respect.
Let us call on Jesus, or on God the Father in and through
Jesus. Thus we read, that looking up to Jesus, or lifting up
the eyes to Jesus, goes for prayer in God's book: My prayer
will I direct to thee, saith David, and will look up. Faith in
prayer, will often come out at the eye. Thus Stephen looked up
to heaven ; let us look up to Jesus by calling on him : now this
calling on him contains prayer and praise.
1 . We must pray that all these transactions of Jesus during
his life, or during his ministry upon earth, may be ours : we hope
it so, and we believe it to be so ; but for all that, we must pray
that it may be so. There is no contradiction betwixt hope, and
faith, and* prayer; Lord, I believe, yet help my unbelief; be it
to me according to my faith, how weak soever.
2. We must praise God for all those passages in Christ's life.
Thus did the multitude : They praised God with a loud voice,
saying, Blessed be the King that comes in the name of the Lord,
peace in heaven, and glory in the highest! What, my soul, hath
Christ done this for thee ? Was he made under the law to re-
deem thy soul, and adopt thee for his son, to the inheritance of
heaven ? Came he down from heaven, and travelled so many
miles on earth, to woo and win thy heart ? Spent he so many
sermons, and so many miracles to work thee into faith ? O how
shouldst thou bless, and praise, and magnify his name ! How
shouldst th^ou break out into that blessed hymn ; To him that
loved us, and hath made us kings a7id priests imfo God, and
Looking unto Jesus. 293
his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Amen,
Sect. IX. — Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect.
Let lis conform to Jesus, as he acted for us in his life.
Looking to Jesus, intends this especially: we must look as one
looks to his pattern ; as mariners at sea, that they may run a right '
course, keep an eye on that ship that bears the light : so in the
race that is set before us, we must have our eye on Jesus, our
blessed pattern. This must be our constant query, ' Is this the
course that Jesus steered?'
In this particular I shall examine these three queries: 1.
Wherein we must conform? 2. Why we must conform? 3.
How we must conform to this life of Jesus ?
For the first, I answer, —
We must not, cannot, conform to Christ in those works proper
to his godhead; as in working miracles. — Nor need we to con-
form to Christ in some other particulars : as, in his voluntary
poverty, and ceremonial performances.
But we must conform to Christ's life.
1. In respect of his judgment, will, affections; look we at his
Spirit, observe what mind was in Jesus Christ, Let the same
7nind he in you which was in Christ, Phil. ii. 5. 1 Cor. ii. 16.
2. In respect of his virtues, graces, holiness. Learn of me,
saith Christ, for lam meek and lowly in heart. I might instance
in all other graces ; for he had them all in fulness : And of his
fulness have we all received, grace for grace.
3. In respect of his words. The very officers of the priest
could say, Never man spake like this man : and sometimes they
all wondered at the gracious ivoi'ds which proceeded out of his
mouth; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again.
4. In respect of his carriage, conversation, close walking with
God. The apostle sets forth Christ as an high priest, who was
holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners: and in
like manner saith Peter; Ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, cm holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should
sheiv forth the virtues of him who hath called you out of dark-
ness into his marvellous light; — that ye should in your lives and
conversations express those graces and virtues which were so
eminent in Jesus Christ; that you should, not only have them,
but that you should hold them forth. The word signifies
properly, to preach : so clearly should we express the virtues of
Christ. As if our lives were so many sermons of the life of
Christ.
As for all other saints, though they are imitable, yet with
limitation, only so far as they express his life in their conversa-
tion ; Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Christ.
294 Looking unto >Je^us.
For the second ; — Why must we conform ? upon what motives ?
I answer; 1. Because Christ hath done and suffered much to
that end. If it had not been for thy imitation, I cannot think
that Christ would have Hved on earth so many years, to have
done so many glorious and meritorious works.
2. Because Christ is the best and highest exemplar of holi-
ness that ever the world had : hence we must needs conform to
Christ. Christ is the head of the body, the heginnin^, thefir&t-
bomfrom the dead, in all things lie hath the pre-eminence : and
the rule is general, that, that \A'hich is first and best in any
kind, is the rule and measure of all the rest. Why, such is
Christ; O then let him be the guide of our life, and of our
manners.
3. Because Christ doth not only give us an example, but he
doth succour and assist us by its easiness. Some sweetly ob-
serve, that Christ's piety (which we must imitate) was even,
constant, unblameable, complying with civil society, without any
prodigious instances of actions greater than the imitation of
men. We are not commanded to imitate a life, whose story tells
us of ecstasies in prayer, of abstractions of senses, — no; but a
life of justice, piety, and devotion: and it is very remarkable,
that besides the easiness of this imitation, there is a virtue and
efficacy hi the life of Christ : it may be, we think our way to
heaven is troublesome, obscure, and full of objection: ^ Weil,'
saith Christ, ' but mark my footsteps ; come on, and tread where
1 have stood, and you shall find the virtue of my example will
make all smooth and easy; you shall find the comforts of my
company, you shall feel the virtue and influence of a perpetual
guide.*
4. Because Christ in his word hath commanded us to follow
his steps : Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart. —
And ye call me blaster and Lord, and ye say well, for so I am ;
if I then, your Lord and 3Iaster, have washed your feet, ye
also ought to wash one another's feet, for I have given you an
example, that ye should do as I have done to you. — And as he
which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all ina^iner of con-
versation; because it is written. Be ye holy, for lam holy. We
must be holy as Christ is holy, yet still we must look at the holi-
ness of Christ, as the sun, and root, and fountain; and that our
holiness is but as a beam of that sun, but as a branch of that
root, but as a stream of that fountain.
For the third, How must we conform to this life ? I an-
swer : —
1 . Let us be humbled for our great unconformity to this copy.
What an excellent pattern is here before us ; and how far, how
infinitely, do we come short ! Alas ! if Christ will not own me,
unless he see his image written upon me, what will become of
ray poor soul ? Why, Christ was meek, and humble, and lowly
Looking unto Jesua, 295
in spirit ; Christ even went about doing good : and now, when I
come to examine my own heart according to this original, I am
as opposite to Christ as hell to heaven. O wo is me ! what a
vast disproportion there is betwixt Christ's Mfe and mine !
Thus, O my soul, shouldst thou humble thyself; each morning,
each prayer, each meditation, each self-examination, shouldst
thou fetch new, fresh, clear, particular occasions of humiliation :
as thus, lo there the evenness, gravity, holiness, heavenliness, of
Jesus Christ; lo there the dear love, tender pity, constant in-
dustry, unwearied pains, self-denial, contempt of the world, in
Jesus Christ ; lo there those continual devout breathings of soul
after God his Father's glory, after the immortal good of precious
souls. O the sweet expressions, gracious conversation? O
the blessed lustre of his divine soul! O the sweet counte-
nance, sacred discourse, ravishing demeanour, winning deport-
ment, of Jesus Christ ! and now reflect I upon myself; O the
wide disproportion of mine therefrom ! I should punctually an-
swer, perfectly resemble, accurately imitate, exactly conform to,
this life of Christ : but, ah ! my unevenness, lightness, vanity !
ah, my deformity, slightness, execrableness ! ah my sensuality,
brutishness, devilishness ! how clearly are these, and all my other
enormities, discovered by the blessed life of Jesus !
2. Let us quicken our sluggish souls to conform to Christ. If
this was one of the ends of Christ's coming, to destroy the works
of the devil, to deface all Satan's works, especially his work in
me, and to set his own stamp on my soul; how then should
I but endeavour to conform ! I read but of two ends of Christ's
coming into the world in relation to us ; whereof the first was
to redeem his people, and the other was to purify his people :
He gave himself for us, that he might redeem its from all ini-
quity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works. The one is the work of his merit, which goeth up-
wards to the sanctification of his Father ; the other is the work
of his gi*ace, which goeth downwards to the sanctification of his
church : in the one he bestoweth his righteousness on us by im-
putation, in the other he fashioneth his image in us by renova-
tion ; and what, O my soul, w^ouldst thou destroy the end of
Christ's coming in the flesh ? Thus let us provoke our souls to
this conformity ; let us excite our faint, drooping, languishing
affections, desires, endeavours. Let us with enlarged industry en-
gage and encourage our backward spirits to fall upon this duty ;
let us come up higher towards it, or if possibly we may, completely
to it ; that the same mind, and mouth, and life, may be in us that
was in Jesus Christ, that we may be found to walk after Christ,
that we may tread in the very prints of the feet of Christ, that
we may climb up after him into the same heavenly kingdom ; that
we may aspire continually towards him, and grow up to him,
even to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
296 Looking unto Jesus,
3. Let us regulate ourselves by the life of Christ ; whatsoever
action we go about, jet us do it by this rule, — would Christ have
done this ? It is true, some things are expedient and lawful with
us, which are not suitable to the person of Christ : Marriage is
honourable with all men, and the bed undejiled, but it did not
benefit his person. Writing of books is commendable with men,
because, like Abel, being dead, they may still speak; but it
would have been derogatory to the person and office of Christ :
for it is his prerogative to be in the midst of the seven golden
candlesticks, to be present to all his members; to teach by
power, and not by ministry ; to write his law in the hearts of his
people, and to make them his epistle. In these things we must
only respect the allowance of Christ, but in other things we must
reflect upon the example of Christ, as, 1 . In sinful acts eschewed
by Christ. 2. In moral duties that were done by him.
(1.) In sinful acts eschewed by Christ, as when I am tempted
to sin, then am I to reason thus with myself: would my blessed
Saviour, if he were upon earth, do thus and thus ? If he were
to live again, would he live after this manner ? Would this be
his language? would such speech as this drop from his lips?
(2.) In case of moral obedience, concerning which we have
both his pattern and precept. I look upon Christ as my rule ;
and I question thus. Did Christ frequently pray with his disciples,
and ^ alone? And shall I never in my family, or in my closet,
think upon God ? Did Christ shew mercy to his very enemies ?
And shall I be cruel to Christ's members ? O my soul, look in
all thy sins, and in all thy duties, to thy original, and measure
them by the holiness of Christ ! Whether in avoiding sin, or in
doing duty, think — what would my blessed Saviour do in this
case, or what did he in the like case, when he was upon earth ?
If we had these thoughts every day, if Christ were continually
before our eyes, if in all we do or speak we should still muse on
this — what would Jesus Christ say, if he were here ? it would be
a blessed means of living in comfort, and spiritual conformity to
the commands of God.
Let us look fixedly on Jesus Christ; let us keep our spiritual
eyes still on the pattern, until we feel ourselves conforming
to it ; let us set the copy of Christ's life in our view, and let
us look upon it with the eye of reason, and with the eye of
faith.
But how should we keep the eye of our faith on this blessed
object, until we feel this conformity in us ? I answer, —
1 . Let us set apart some times on purpose : the day begins to
close ; if together with our closet prayer we would fall on this
duty of looking unto Jesus by lively faith, how blessed a season
might this be ?
2. Let us remove hinderances : Satan labours to hinder the
soul from beholding Christ with the dust of the world. The
Loohing unto Jesus, 297
god of this world blinds the eyes of men : O take heed of fix-
ing our eyes on this world ! Our own corruptions are also great
hinderances to this view of Christ : away with all carnal passions,
sinful desires ; unless the soul be spiritual, it can never behold
spiritual things.
3. Let us fix our eyes only on this blessed object; amoving
eye sees nothing clearly : when the angels are said to look into
these things, the word signifies, that they look into them nar-
rowly ; as they who bowing or stooping down look into a thing,
so should we look narrowly into the life of Christ ; our eye of
faith should be set upon it in a steady manner, as if we for-
got all the things behind, and had no other business in the
world.
4. Let us look on Christ with a craving eye, with an humble ex-
pectation to receive a supply of grace. Lord, thou art not only
anointed with the oil of gladness above thy fellows, but for thy fel-
lows ; I am earthly-minded, but thou art heavenly ; I am full of lusts,
but the image of God is perfect in thee ; thou art the fountain of
all grace, an head of all influence, as well as of eminence ; thou
art not only above me, but thou hast all grace for me : O give me
some portion of thy meekness, lowliness, heavenly-mindedness,
and of all the other graces of thy Spirit. Surely thou art an
heaven of grace, full of bright shining stars : O that of that ful-
ness thou wouldst give me to receive grace for grace.
5. Be ye assured that our prayer (if it be in faith) is even now
heard ; never any came to Christ with strong expectations to
receive grace, or any benefit prayed for, that was turned empty
away ; besides, Christ hath engaged himself by promise, to make
us like himself : as he which hath called us is hoh/, so should (yea,
and so shall) ive he holy in all inanner of conversation. O let us
build on his gracious promise : heaven and earth shall pass away
before one tittle of his word shall fail ; only understand we that
our conformity must be gradual : Tfe all ivith open face, he-
holding as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into
the same image from glory to glory, i. e. from grace to grace ;
or from glory inchoate in obedience, to glory consummate in
heaven.
6. If, notwithstanding all this, we feel not for the present this
conformity in us, at least in such a degree ; let us act over the
same particulars again : the gifts of grace arc therefore com-
municated by degrees, that we might be taken off from living
upon a received stock of grace, and that we might still be run-
ning to the spring ; we have continual need of Christ's letting
out grace into our hearts, and therefore we must wait at the
well-head, Christ ; we must look on Christ as app6inted on pur-
pose by his Father to be the beginner and finisher of our holi-
ness ; and we must believe that he will never leave that work
imperfect, whereunto he is ordained of the Father. O then
11. 2 p
298 Looking unto Jesus,
be not weary of this work^ until he accomplish the desires of
thy soul.
I have now done with this subject; only^ before 1 finish^ one
word more. I deny not other helps ; but amongst them all^ if I
would make choice which to call upon, that I may become more
and more holy, I would set before me this glass ; i, e. Christ's
holy life, the great exemplar of holine&s ; and this image we lost
through our sin, and to this image we should endeavour to be
restored by imitation ; and how should this be done but by look-
ing on Christ as our pattern ? In this respect I charge thee, O
my soul (for to what purpose should I charge others, if I begin
not at home?) that thou make conscience of this evangelical
duty : O be much in the exercise of it ; not only in the day, but
when night comes, and thou liest down on thy bed, let thy
pillow be as Christ's bosom, in which John the beloved disciple
was said to lean ; there lean thou with John ; thus mayest thou
lie down in peace, and the Lord only will make thee to dwell in
safety; and when day returns again, have this in mind, yea, in
all thy thoughts, words, and deeds, even look unto Jesus as thy
holy exemplar : say to thyself. If Christ my Saviour were now
upon earth, would these be his thoughts, words, and deeds?
would he be thus disposed as I now feel myself? would he
speak these words that I am now uttering? would he do this
that I am now putting my hand unto ? O let me not yield my-
self to any thought, word, or action, which Jesus would be
ashamed to own : yea, if it were possible, going and standing,
sitting and l>nng, eating and drinking, speaking and holding thy
peace, by thyself or in company, cast an eye upon Jesus, for by
this means thou canst not chuse but love him more, and joy in
him more, and trust in him more, and be more and more familiar
with him, and draw more and more grace, and virtue, and sweet-
ness, from him : O let this be thy wisdom, to think much of
Christ, so as to provoke thee to imitation ; then shalt thou learn
to contemn the world, to do good to all, to injure no man, to suf-
fer wrong patiently, yea, to pray for those that despitefully use
thee, and persecute thee; then shalt thou learn to '^ bear about
in thy body the dying of our Lord Jesus Christ, that the life of
Jesus may be made manifest in thy body." This is to follow
Christ's steps: he descended from heaven to earth for thy sake;
do thou trample on earthly things, seek after the kingdom of God
and his righteousness, for thy own sake : though the world be
sweet, yet Christ is sweeter ; though the world prove bitter, yet
Christ sustained the bitterness of it for thee : and now he speaks
to thee, as he did to Peter, Andrew, James, and John, Come,
follow me ; O do not faint in the way, lest thou lose thy place in
thy comitry, that kingdom of glory. •
Lookifig unlo Jesus. 299
LOOKING UNTO JESUS,
IN HIS DEATfi
BOOK V
CHAP. I.
Sect. I. — Of the Day of Christ's Sufferings, divided into Parts
and Hours.
1 H E Sun of righteousness, that arose with healing, we shall
now see go down in a ruddy cloud. And in this piece, as in the
former, we must first lay down the object, and then direct you
to look upon it. *
The object is Jesus, carrying on the work of man's salvation
during the time of his sufferings ; we shall observe them, as they
were carried on successively in those few hours of his passion
and death.
The whole time of these last sufferings of Christ, I shall re-
duce to somewhat less than one natural day; day before us,
consisting of twenty-four hours ; and begin with the evening,
according to the beginning of natural days from the creation, (as
it is said, The evening and the morniiig made the first day.) In
this revolution of time, I shall observe these several passages. —
1. About six in the evening, Christ celebrated and eat the
Passover with his disciples, at which time he instituted the sa-
crament of the Lord's supper, and this continued till the eighth
hour.
2. About eight in the evening, he washed the disciples' feet,
and then leaning on the table, pointed out Judas that should be-
tray him ; and this continued until the ninth hour.
3. About nine in the evening, (the second watch in the night,)
Judas went from the disciples ; and in the mean time, Christ
made that spiritual sermon, and afterwards that spiritual prayer,
recited by John, chap. xiv. xv. xvi. xvii. and this (together
with a psalm they sung) continued at least until the tenth
hour. That which concerns his passion, follows immediately
upon this ; and that only I shall take notice in my follomng
discourse.
This passion of Christ I shall divide between the night and
day. 1, For the night, and his sufferings therein, we may ob-
serve these periods :
300 Looking unto Jesus,
1. From ten to twelve, he goes over the brook Cedron, to ti.
garden of Gethsemane, where he prayed earnestly, and sweat
blood.
2. From twelve to three, he is betrayed, bound, brought to
Jerusalem, and carried into the house of Annas, the chief
priest.
3. From three till six, they led him from Annas to Caiaphas,
when he and all the priests of Jerusalem set upon Jesus Christ;
and there it was that Peter denied Christ, and at last the whole
Sanhedrim gave their consent to Christ's condemnation.
4. At six in the morning, about sun-rising, our Saviour was
brought unto Pilate, and Judas Iscariot hanged himself. — About
seven, Christ is carried to Herod, who the year before had put
John the Baptist to death. — At eight, our Saviour is returned to
Pilate, who propounded to the Jews, whether they would have
Jesus or Barnabas loosed. — About the ninth, (vvhich the Jews
call the third hour of the day,) Christ was whipped and crov/ned
with thorns. — About ten, Pontius Pilate brought forth Jesus out
of the common-hall, saying. Behold the man f and then, in the
place called Gabbatha, publi(;ly condemned him to be crucified.
— About eleven, our Saviour carried his cross, and was brought
to the place called Golgotha, where he was fastened on the
cross, and lifted up, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilder-
7iess. — About twelve, (which the Jews call the sixth hour,) that
supernatural eclipse of the sun happened. — And about three in
the afternoon, which the Jews call the ninth hour,) the sun now
beginning to receive his light, Christ cried. It isjimshed! and
commending his Spirit into his Father's hands, gave up the
Ghost. — I shall add to these; that about four in the afternoon,
our blessed Saviour was jjierced with a spear, — iVnd about five,
(which the Jews call the eleventh, and the last hour of the day,)
he was buried by Joseph of Arimathea andNicodemus. — So that
in this round of our natural day, you see the wonderful trans-
action of Christ's sufferings.
Sect. II. — Of the Brook over which Christ passed.
The first passage of that night, was Christ's going over the
brook Cedron, to the t>arden of Getbscmane. TFhoi Jesus had
spoken these ivords, he luent forth ivith his disciples over the
hrook Cedron, ivhere ivas a garden, into which he entered, and
his disciples.
In this passage observe we these particulars. 1 . The river
over which they passed. 2. The garden into which they entered.
3. The prayer he made. 4. The agonies he suffered.
1 . He and his disciples went over the brook Cedron. So it
was called, say some, from the cedars that grew along the banks ;
or, say others, from the darkness of the valley, so kader signifies
Looking unto Jesus, 301
darkness ; find this was done to fulfil a prophecy : He shall drink
of the brook in the ivay. By the hrook, we may understand
mystically the wrath of God, and rage of men, the afflictions
which befell Jesus Christ; and by his drinking of the brook,
Christ's enduring afflictions.
2. In the way, he hath a serious conference with his disciples :
so the evangelist; And when they lutd simg an hymn, they went
out towards the mount of Olives, and then saith Jesus unto
them,. All ye shall he offended, because of me this ?ifght; for it is
written, Iivill smite the Shepherd, and the sheep ofthejiock shall
be scattered abroad. Christ now begins the story of his passion,
the Shepherd shall be smitten; and he proves it from the pro-
phecy of the prophet Zechariah, xiii. 7« Aiuake, O sword,
against my Shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow. —
Smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad.
God the Father is here brought in, as drawing and whetting his
sword, and calling upon it to do execution against Jesus Christ.
Christ's sufferings were long since resolved on in the councils of
heaven ; and now in the way, the only-begotten Son, which lay
in the bosom of his Father, reveals this story ; he tells his dis-
ciples. It is ivritten, I will smite the Shepherd, and ilie sheep of
the jiock shall be scattered.
3. The disciples hearing this, are amazed ; Peter, vv ho seems
boldest, speaks tirst : Though all men should be offended because
of thee, yet ivill I never be offended. O rash presumption ! it
appears in these particulars: — 1. Peter prefers himself before
the rest, as if ail other disciples had been v/eak, and he only
strong : Thovgh all should lie offended, yet will not I. 2. Peter
contradicts Christ, with a few bragging words; as if he had said,
'What, though Zechary hata said it, yet I will never do it;
Though I should die ivith thee, I will not deny thee.' 3. Peter
never mentions God's assistance; whereas the apostle's rule is.
Ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this and
tliat: so Peter should have said, ' By God's assistance I will not
be offended, by the Lord's help I will not deny thee.'
4. Ah, my brethren ! let us remember we are pilgrims and
strangers upon earth, and our way lies over the brook Cedron ;
we cannot expect to enter with Christ into glory, but we must
fiv^t drink of t lie brook in the way; that is, we must endure
many afflictions, variety of afflictions. You will say. Tins is an
hard saying, who can liear itf ^.Vhen Jesus told his disciples
of his sufferings to be accomplished at Jerusalem, Peter takes
the boldness to dehort his Master, Be it far from thee. Lord,
this sliall 7iot be unto thee: Jesus thereupon calls him Satan,
meaning that no greater contradictions can be offered to the
designs of God, than to dissuade us from sufferings. There is
too much of Peter's humour amongst us ; O, this doctrine of
afflictions will not down with Antinomians ; and hence we believe
302 Looking unto Jesiis.
we have our congregations so thin^ in comparison of some of
tiieirs; they that can break off the yoke of obedience, and present
heaven in the midst of flowers, and offer great liberty of living
nnder sin, shall have their schools filled with disciples; but they
that preach the cross, and sufferings, and afflictions, and strict-
ness of an holy life, shall have the lot of their blessed Lord; that
is, they shall be ill thought of, and deserted, and railed against.
Well, but if this be the way that Christ hath led us, let us
follow him over the brook.
Sect. III. — Of the Garden into which Christ entered,
Matthew relates it thus : IVien cometh Jesus with them unto
a place called Gethsemane ; that is, a valley of fatness ; certainly,
it was a most fruitful and pleasant place, seated at the foot of
the mount of Olives ; accordingly John relates it thus : Jesus
went forth tvith his disciples over the brook Cedron^ where was a
gai'den. I believe it is not without reason, that our Saviour goes
into a garden. 1 . Because gardens are solitary places, fit for me-
ditation and prayer; to this end, we find Christ sometimes on a
mountain, and sometimes in a garden. 2. Because gardens
are places fit for repose and rest, when Christ was weary with
preaching, working of miracles, and doing acts of grace in Jeru-
salem, then he retires into this garden. 3. Because a garden
was the place wherein we fell, and therefore Christ made choice
of a garden, to begin the work of our redemption. 4. Christ
goes into this garden, that his enemies might the more easily
find him out; the evangelist tells us, Judas, which betrayed him,
knew the place, for Jesus oftentimes resorted thither ivith his
disciples: sure then he went not thither to hide himself; but
rather to expose himself, to appear first in the field, and to ex-
pect his enemies. Thus it appears to all the world, that Christ's
death was voluntary. He poureth forth his soul unto death,
saith the prophet ; He gave himself for our sins, saith the apos-
tle ; nay, himself tells us, Therefore doth my Father love rne,
because I lay down my life : no man taketh it from me, but I lay
it down of myself; I have power to lay it doivn, and I have
power to take it up again.
Sect. IV. — Of the Prayer that Christ there made,
Jesus entering the garden, left his disciples at the entrance
of it, calling with him Peter, James, and John ; they only saw
his transfiguration, the earnest of his future glory, and there-
fore his pleasure was, that they only should see of how great
glory he would disrobe himself, for our sakes. —
He betakes himself to his great antidote, which himself pre-
scribed to all the world: he prays his heavenly Father; he
)
Looking unto Je^us, 303
kneels down; and not only so, but falls flat upon the ground;
he prays with an intension great as his sorrow, and yet with a
submission so ready, as if the cup had been the most indifferent
thing in the world. The form of his prayer ran thus, O yny
Father, if it he possible, let this cup jyassfroni me ; nevertheless,
not as I will, but as thou wilt. In his prayer observe we
these particulars : 1 . The person to whom he prays, O my Fa-
ther. 2. The matter for which he prays ; let this cup jmssfrom
me. 3. Tlie limitation of this prayer; if it be possible, and if it
be thy ivill.
1 . For the person to whom he prays ; it is his Father. As
Christ prayed not in his godhead, but according to his manhood ;
so neither prayed he to himself as God, but to the Father, the
first person of the godhead.
2. For the matter of his prayer. Let this cup pass from me,
some interpret thus : " Let this cup pass from me ; though I must
taste it, yet O that I may not be too long!" That which leads
unto this last interpretation, is that of the apostle: Christ, in the
days of his jiesh, offered up prayers and supplications ivith
strong cries and tears, unto him that was able to save him from
death; and he was heard in that which he feared, Heb. v. 7'
How was he heard ? not in the removal of the cup, for he drank
it all up ; but in respect of the tedious annoyance ; for though
it made him sweat drops of blood, though it laid him dead in
his grave, yet presently, within the space of forty hours, he
revived, and awaked, as a giant refreshed with wine : and so it
passed from him, as he prayed, in a very short time ; and by that
short death, he purchased to his people everlasting life.
3. For the limitation of his prayer ; If it be possible, if it be
thy ivill. He knows what is his Father's will, and he prays
accordingly, and is willing to submit unto it ; if the passing of the
cup be according to the last interpretation, we shall need none of
those many distinctions to reconcile the will of God and Christ.
If it be possible, signifies the earnestness of the prayer; and.
If it be thy will, the submission of Christ unto his Father : the
prayer is short, but sweet. How many things needful to a
prayer do we find concentred in this ! Here is humiUty of spirit,
lowliness of deportment, importunity of desire, a fervent heart, a
lawful matter, and a resignation to the will of God. Some
think this the most fervent prayer that ever Christ made on
earth: If it be possible, let this cup pass from me. And, I
think it was the greatest submission to the will of God, that ever
was found upon the earth ; for whether the cup might pass or
not pass, he leaves it to his Father; nevertheless not as I will,
but as thou wilt: as if he had said, 'Though in this cup are
many ingredients, it is full red, and hath in it many dregs, and I
know I must drink, and suck out the very utmost dreg; yet,
w hether it shall pass from me hi that short time, or continue with
304 Looking unto Jesus.
me a long time, I leave to thy will ; I see, in respect of my huma-
nity, there is in me flesh and blood ; I cannot but fear the wrath
of God; and therefore I pray thus earnestly unto my God : O
my Father, if it he possible, let this cup pass from me; never-
tJieless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
But what was there in the cup, that made Christ pray thus
earnestly that it might pass from him ? I answer —
1. The great pain that he must endure; the buffetings,
whippings, bleedings, crucifyings ; all the torments from first to
last, throughout all his body ; all these now came into his mind,
and all these were put into the cup of which he must drink.
2. The great shame that he must undergo. Now came into
his thoughts, his apprehending, binding, judging, scorning, re-
viling, condemning; and, O, what a bloody blush comes into the
face of Christ, whilst in the cup he sees these ingredients !
3. The neglect of men, notwithstanding both his pain and
shame. I look upon this as a greater cut to the heart of Christ,
than both the former; when he considered, that after all his
sufferings and reproaches, few would regard. This was a bitter
ingredient ! Naturally men desire, if they cannot be delivered,
yet to be pitied ; but when it comes to this, that a poor wretch is
under many sufferings, and finds none to regard, it is an heavy
case; hence was Christ's complaint: Have ye no regard, O all
ye that pass by the way ? Consider^ and behold if ever there
were sorrow like unto my sorrow! Christ complains not of the
sharp pains he endured, but of this. Have ye 7io regard? He
cries not out, '^ O deliver me, and save me;' but, ' O consider
and regard me :' as if he had said, ' All that I suffer, I am con-
tented with, I regard it not; only this troubles me, that you will
not regard : it is for you that I endure all this ; and do you so
look upon it, as if it nothing at all concerned you ? Christ is
willing to redeem us with his own precious blood ; but he saw
many to pass by mthout any regard, yea, ready to trample his
precious blood under their feet, and to account the blood of the
covenant cm unholy thing: this was another spear in the heart
of Christ, a bitter ingredient in this cup.
4. The guilt of sin which he was nov/ to undergo; upon him
was laid the iniquity of us all. All the sins of all the world,
from the first creation to the last judgment, were laid on him:
O what a weight was this ! Surely one sin is like a talent of
lead : O, then, what were so many thousands of millions ! The
very earth itself groans under the weight of sin until this day.
David cried out, that his iniquities were ^ a burden too heavy
for him to bear.* Nay, God himself complains, Behold, I am
pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.
Then no wonder if Christ, bearing all the sins of Jews and gen-
tiles, bond and free, cry out. My soul is heavy ; for sin was heavy
on his soul : — Christ, his own self, bare our sins in his oion body
Looking unto tfesus. 305
on the tree. How bare our sins on the tree, but by his sufferings ?
— And he hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. How laid on
him, but by imputation ? — A?id he hath made him to be sin for us,
who knew no sin. How made sin for us ? Surely there was in
Christ no fundamental guilt ; no, but he was made sin by impu-
tation : he was our surety, and so our sins were laid on him, in
order to punishment : as if now in the garden, he had said to
his Father, ' Thou hast given me a body ; as I have taken the
debts and sins of all the world upon me, come now, and arrest
me as the only paymaster. Lo here I am, to do and suffer for
their sins whatsoever thou pleasest,' Psal. xl. 6, 7? 8. Heb. x.
4 — ^9. Now this was no small matter ; little do we know or con-
sider, what is the weight and guilt of sin. And this was another
ingredient in Christ's cup.
5. The power and malice of Satan : the devil had full leave ; not
as it was witli Job, Do ivhat thou ivilt, but save his life. No, he
had a commission without any such limitation ; the whole power
of darkness was let loose to afflict him, as far as possibly he could;
and this our Saviour intimates, when he saith, that the prince of
this world comet h. Now was it that the word must be accomplish-
ed. Thou shall bruise his heel. If we look on the devil in respect
of his evil nature, he is compared to a roaring lio7i : not only is
he a lion, but a roaring lion ; his disposition to do mischief, is
ahvays wound up to the height ; and if we look on the devil in
respect of his power, there is no part of our souls or bodies that
he cannot reach; the apostle describing his power, gives him
names above the highest comparisons ; as principalities, poivers,
7'ulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness above.
Devils are not only called princes, but principalities; not only
mighty, but poivers; not only rulers of a part, but of all the
darkness of all this ivorld; not only wicked spirits, but spiritual
wickedness; not only about us, but aAoi;e ?«5; they hang over our
heads continually : you know what a disadvantage it is to have
your enemy get the upper ground ; and this they have naturally,
and always. O then, what a combat must this be, when ali the
power, and all the malice, of all the devils in hell, should, by the
permission of God, arm themselves against the Son of God.
Surely this was a bitter ingredient in Christ's cup.
6. The wrath of God himself: this, above all, was the most
bitter dreg; it lay in the bottom, and Christ must drink it also.
The Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce angei". God
afflicts some in his mercy and some in anger; this was in his
anger : and yet in his anger God is not alike to all ; some he
afflicts in his more gentle and mild, others in his fierce anger;
this was in the very fierceness of his anger. Christ saw himself
bearing the sins of all, and standing before the judgment-seat of
God ; to this end, are those words, Nmv is the Judgment of this
world, and the prince of this world shall be cast out. Now is
11. 2q
306 Looking unto J^esus,
the judgment of this world; as if he had said, ^ Now I see God
sitting in judgment upon the world ; and as a right representa-
tive of all the world, here I stand before his tribunal, ready to
undergo all the punishment due to them for their sins : there is
no other way to save their souls, and to satisfy justice, but that
the fire of thy indignation should kindle against me ; as if he had
said, ' I know it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the
living God : I know God is a consuming Jire ; ivho can stand he-
fcyre his indignation ? and who can abide in the fierceness of his
anger ? his fury is poured out like Jire, and the rocks are thrown
doivn by him. But for this end came I into the world. O my
Father, I will drink this cup. Lo here an open breast ; come,
prepare the armoury of thy wrath, and herein shoot all the arrows
of revenge. — And yet, O my Father, let me not be swallowed up
by thy wrath ; there is in me flesh and blood, in respect of my
humanity, and my flesh trembleth for fear of thee ; I am afraid
of thy judgments ; O ! if it be possible, if it be possible^ let this
cup pass from me,*
Sect. V. — Of the Agonies that Christ suffered,
Christ's passion in the garden, was either before, or at, his
apprehension ; his passion before is declared, 1 . By his sorrow.
2. By his sweat.
1. For his sorrow. The evangelists diversly relate it: He
began to be sorrowful and very heavy, said Matthew : He began
to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy, saith Mark : And being
in an agony, he prayed more earnestly, saith Luke : Now is my
soul troubled, and luhat shall I say f Father, save me from this
hour; but for this cause came I unto this hour, saith John. All
avow this sorrow to be great, and so it is confessed by Christ
himself: Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrow-
ful, even unto death. Ah, Christians ! who can speak out this
sorrow ? The SpiiHt of a 7nan will sustain his inflrmity, but a
wounded spirit who can bear? Christ's soul is sorrowful; or, if
that be too flat, his soul is exceeding sorrowful; or, if that lan-
guage be too low, his soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto
death; such, and so great, as that which is used to be at the
very point of death ; and such as were able to bring death itself,
had not Christ been reserved to an heavier punishment. Many
a sorrowful soul have been in the world ; but the like sorrow to
this, was never since the creation. Surely the bodily torments
df the cross, were inferior to this agony of his soul : it was a
sorrow unspeakable.
2. And his sweat was us it were great drops of blood falling
down to the ground. 1. His sweat was as it were blood. Here
is the first step ; his sweat was a wonderful sweat, not a sweat of
water, but of red gore-blood.
Looking unto Jesits. 307
3. Great drops of blood, Opofi^oi aifiaro^. This bloody sweat of
Christ, came not from him in small dews, but in great drops;
they were drops, and great drops of bloody thick drops ; and
hence it is concluded as preternatural : for though in faint bodies,
a subtile thin blood, like sweat, may pass through the pores of
the skin; tliat through the same pores, thick and great drops of
blood should issue out, could not be without a miracle.
4. They were great drops of blood falling doivn to the ground:
great drops, and those so many, that they went through his
apparel, streaming down to the ground. Now was it, that his
garments were dyed with crimson. That of the prophet, though
spoken in another sense, yet in some respect may be applied to
this : Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments
like him that treadeth the ivine-fat? O what a sight was here !
His head and members are all on a bloody sweat, his sweat
trickles down to the ground. O happy garden, watered with
such tears of blood! how much better are these rivers than
Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus; yea, than all the
waters of Israel ; yea, than all those rivers that water the garden
of Eden !—
Thus far of Christ's passion before his apprehension. And
now we may suppose it about midnight, the very time which
Christ called the hour and power of darkness. What followed
from twelve till three at night, we shall discover in the next
section.
Sect. VI. — Of Judas' s Treason, Christ's Apprehension, Bind-
ing, and Leading unto Annas,
By this time, the traitor Judas was arrived at Gethsemane,
and being near the garden door, Jesus goes to his disciples, and
calls them from their sleep : by an irony (as some think) he bids
them 'Sleep on now, and take their rest;' meaning, if they
could ; but withal adds. Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son
of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners; arise, let us be
going, behold he is at hand that doth betray me. That it might
appear he undertook his sufferings with choice, he not only re
fused to fly, but calls his apostles to rise, that they might meet
his murderers. And now they come luith swords and staves ; or,
as John adds, tvith lanterns and torches, and (Judas going be-
fore them, and drawiiig near unto Jesus to kiss him) they
took him, and bound him, ayid led him away to Annas Jirst,
In this period, I shall observe; 1. Judas's treason. 2.
Christ's apprehension. 3. Christ's binding. 4. Christ's leading
to Annas.
1. Judas's treason: And while he yet spake, behold a multi
tude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went be-
fore them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. This traitor is
not a disciple only, but an apostle ; not one of the seventy, but one
308 JLookin^ unto ties us.
£>
of the twelve. Augustine speaks of many offices of love, that
Christ had done to Judas in an especial manner ; he had called
him to be an apostle, made him his friend, his familiar, caused
him to eat of his bread, and sit at his table. And that now
Judas should betray Christ ; how doth this add to the sufferings
of Christ ! Behold a multitude, and Judas in the front. The
evangelist gives the reason of this, that he might have the better
opportunity to kiss him ; this was the sign he gave the rout :
JVhomsoever I shall kiss, that is he, lay hold on him. He begins
war with a kiss, and breaks the peace of his Lord by a symbol
of kindness. Jesus takes this ill ; What, Judas, hetrayest thon
the Son of man with a kiss ? as if he had said, ^ What ! dost
thou make the seal of love, the sign of treachery ? What a
friendly reproof is here !
2. For Christ's apprehension: Then came they aiid laid
hands on Jesus, and took him. Before they took him, he
himself begins the inquiry, and leads them into theu- errand ;
he tells them, that he was Jesus of Nazareth, whom they
sought : this was but a breath, a meek and gentle word ; yet
had it greater strength in it than the voice of thunder ; for God
was in that still voice, and it struck them to the ground. And
yet he suffers them to rise again, and they still persist in their
inquiry after him : he tells them once more^ / am he ; he offers
himself to be sacrificed ; only he sets them their bounds, and
therefore he secures his apostles to be witnesses of his sufferings.
In this work of redemption, no man must have an active share
besides himself; he alone was to tread the wine-press : If there-
fore ye seek me, saith Christ, let these go their tvay. Thus he
permits himself to be taken, but not his disciples.
3. For Christ's binding. The evangelist tells us, that the
band, and the captain, and the queers of the Jews, took Jesus,
and hound him, ebr^rrav, they bound his hands with cords; cer-
tainly they wanted no malice, and now they wanted no power,
for the Lord had given himself into their hands. Binding ar-
gues baseness : fools and slaves were accustomed to be bound,
and so were thieves ; but is our Saviour numbered amongst any
of these ? O yes ! In that same hour said Jesus to the multi-
tude. Are ye come out as against a thief, with sivords and staves?
O wonderful condescension of Christ ! He that was eminently
just, is reputed a thief; he that was equal with God, is become
a servant; he that was stronger than Samson, is bound with
cords, and, as a lamb, continues bound for the slaughter; and
thus began our liberty from sin and death. Christ was faster
bound with his cords of love, than with iron fetters ; his love
was strong as death ; it overcame him who is invincible, and
bound him who is omnipotent: the Jews' cords were but the
symbols and figures ; but the dear love, the tender bowels of
Jesus Christ, were the things signified.
Looking unto ^esus. 309
■ 4. For his leading to Annas. John records, that they led him
to Annas first, for he ivas father-in-law to Caiaphas, who tvas
the high-priest that same year. 1 . They led him away ; ainj^ar^ov,
they snatched, haled him from the garden back again to Jeru-
salem, over the brook Cedron. — 2. They led him first to Annas;
he was chief of the Sanhedrim, father-in-law to Caiaphas, and
high-priest the next year following.
Come, Christians, let us lay our hands upon our hearts, and
cry, ' O my pride ! O my covetousness ! (3 my malice and re-
venge ! O my unbelief ! O my unthankfulness ! O my uncharit-
ableness to the needy members of Christ ! These were the rout,
these were they that led, and dragged, and drew Jesus (as it
were) by the hair of his head ; these were they that pulled him
forwards, and shewed him in triumph to that bloody Annas -, nay,
these were the Judas, Jews, Annas, and all. O that ever I
should lodge within me such sins^ such betrayers, such murderers
of Jesus Christ!'
We may now suppose it about the third hour, or the last
watch. In the gospel it is called the fourth watch of the night,
the morning watch, which continueth until the morning.
Sect. VII. — Of Christ's Examination and Condemnatioii,
Now it was that they led him from Annas to Caiaphas ; and
presently a council is called of the high priests, scribes, and
elders ; these were the greatest, gravest, learnedst, wisest men
amongst them, and they all conspire to judge him, who is the
great Judge both of quick and dead. In their proceedings we
may observe, I. The examination of the high-priest. 2. The
smiting of one of the servants. 3. The accusations of the wit-
nesses. 4. The sentence of the judges. 5. The denial of Peter.
6. The abuses of the attendants.
1 . For the examination of the high-priest : TJie high-priest
then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. (1.) Of
his disciples. What the questions were, is not expressed; and
to them he ansivered nothing.
(2.) He asked him of his doctrine. — And to this question our
Saviour answers; (O how wisely!) I spoke openly to the world;
I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the
Jeivs ahvays resort ; and in secret have I said nothing : why ask-
est thou me? ask them ivhich heard me, what I have said unto
them; behold, they knoiv what I said. As if he had said, I appeal
to the testimony of the enemies themselves. I tell the truth; I
spake nothing in secret ; that is, nothing in the least manner tend-
ing to sedition. Ask these mine enemies, these wlio have appre-
hended, and bound, and brought me hither : they know what I
have said; let tb^m speak, if they can, wherein I have trans-
gressed the law
310 Looking unto J^esus*
2. For the stroke given Christ. One of the officers which stood
hy, struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest
thou the high-priest so f That holy face, which was designed to
be the object of heaven, was now smitten in the presence of a
judge; and howsoever the assembly was full, yet not one amongst
them all reproved the fact, or spake a word for Christ.
If a subject should but hft up his hand against the son of an
earthly sovereign, would he not be accounted worthy of punish-
ment ? How much more in this case, when the hand is lifted up
against the King of kings, and Lord of lords !
Come, look upon this lively and lovely picture of patience ; he
was struck on the face, but he was never moved in his heart.
Notwithstanding the abuse, he shewed all mildness and gentle-
ness towards his enemies. O what art thou that canst not
bear a distasteful speech, that canst not put up with the smallest
offence ! Come, learn of Christ, If ever we mean to have a
share in his sufferings, let us conform to him in meekness and
patience.
3. For the accusation of the witnesses. He is falsely charged
with the things that he never knew. In his accusation I observe
these things : 1 . That they sought false witnesses ; for true wit-
nesses they could have none : Now the chief priests and elders,
and all the council, sought false witnesses against Jesus to put
him to death. They were resolved in a former council that he
should not live ; and now palliating their design, they seek out
for witnesses. 2. Though many false witnesses came in to tes-
tify against him, yet they found no7ie, because their witnesses
did not agree together. The judges seek out for witnesses, the
witnesses for proof, those proofs for unity and consent, and no-
thing was ready for their purpose. 3. At last, after many
attempts, came two false witnesses, and said. This fellow said, I
am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three
days. They accuse him for a figurative speech, which they
could not understand.
Observe their false report of the words he had spoken : he said
not, I am able to destroy this temple of God, and to build it in
three days; but, destroy ye this temple, and in three days I will
raise it up. The allegation differs from the truth in these
particulars: (1.) I am able to destroy, say they; destroy ye,
saith Christ. (2.) / am able to destroy this temple of God, say
they; but, destroy ye this temple, saith Christ; ^m\^\y this tem-
ple, without addition, (3.) / am able to destroy this temj^le of
God, a7id to build it in three days, say they ; destroy ye this
temple, and in three days I will raise it up, saith Christ. He
spoke not of building an external temple, but of raising up his
own body. These were the accusations of the false witnesses,
to all which Jesus answered nothing. But, (4.) Another accu-
sation is brought in. Caiaphas had a reserve, which he knew
Looking unto Jesus. 311
i^houUl do the business in that assembly. I adjure thee, says he,
by the living God, that thou tell us luhether thou be the Christ,
the Son of God. The holy Jesus being adjured by so sacred a
name, would not now refuse an answer, but confessed himself to
be the Christ, the Son of the living God, And this the high-
priest was pleased (as the design was laid) to call hlasphemij ;
and in token thereof he rends his clothes, prophetically signify-
ing, that the priesthood should be rent from himself.
4. For the sentence of these judges: Caiaphas, prejudging all
the Sanhedrim, in declaring Jesus to have spoken blasphemy, and
the fact to be notorious, he then asked their votes. What think
yef And they answered and said, He is guilty of death. They
durst not deny what Caiaphas had said ; they knew his faction
was very potent, and his malice great, and his heart was set upon
the business, and therefore they all say, as he would have them.
He is guilty of death. But they had no power at that time to
inflict death, they only declared him worthy of death.
5. For Peter's denial. While these things were thus acting, a
damsel comes to him, and tells him. Thou wast luith Jesus of
Galilee', and then another maid tells the bystanders. This fellow
teas also with Jesus of Nazareth. And after a while, they that
stood by spake themselves. Surely thou art one of them, for thy
speech hetrayeth thee • as if he had said. Thy very idiom de-
clares thee to be a Galilean. Peter thus surprised, shamefully
denies his Lord ; and, 1 . He doth it with a kind of subterfuge,
1 know not what thou sayest. He seems to elude the accusation
with this evasion — I know not thy meaning. 2. At the next
turn, he goes on denying Christ with an oath: I know not the
man. And, lastly, he aggravates his sin so far, that he denies
his Lord with cursing a7id swearing, I know not the man. Here's
a lie, an oath, and a curse. O Peter, is the man so vile, that
thou wilt not own him? Hadst thou not before confessed him to
be the Christ, the Son of the living God? and dost thou not
know him to be man, as well as God ? Is not this the God-
man, that called thee and thy brother Andrew at the sea ot
Galilee, saying, Follotu me, and I will make you fishers of men f
Is not this he whom thou sawest on mount Tabor, shining more
gloriously than the sun ? Is not this he whom thou sawest walk-
ing on the water, and to whom thou saidst. Lord, if it he thou,
bid me come unto thee on the water? How is it then that thou
sayst, / know not the man? Surely here's a sad example of
human infirmity; and vdthal, a blessed example of repentance.
No sooner the cock crew, and Christ gave a look on Peter, but
he goes out, and weeps bitterly.
Let us learn hence to think modestly and soberly of ourselves :
Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall. If Peter could
first dissemble, and then lie, and then forswear, and then blas-
pheme and curse; O let us not be high-minded, but fear.—
312 Looking unto J^esus,
And in case we fall indeed^ as Peter did^ yet let us not despair,
as Judas didj but still, upon our repentance, let us trust in
God.
6. For the abuses the base attendants offered to Christ; the
evangelist tells us. Then did they spit in his face, and huffeted
him, and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying.
Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that smote thee? And,
as Luke adds. Many other things blasphemously spake they
against him.
(1.) They spit in his face. This was accounted among the
Jews a matter of great infamy and reproach.
(2.) They buffet him. We heard before, that one of the
officers struck Jesus with the palm of his hand ; but now they
buffet him.
(3.) They covered his face, Mark xiv. 65. Several reasons
are rendered for it; that they might smite him more boldly, and
without shame.
(4.) They smote him with the palms of their hands, saying,
Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that smote thee? Some
reckon these taunts among the bitterest passages of his passion.
Nothing is more miserable, even to the greatest misery, than to
see itself scorned of enemies.
Consider, Christians, whether we had not a hand in these
abuses. (1 .) They spit in the face of Christ, who defile his image
in their souls. (2.) They buffet him, who persecute Christ in his
members : Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me ? (3.) They mock
and scoff at Christ, who scorn his messengers. He that despiseth
you, desjnseth me, saith Christ. O that we would lay these things
to our hearts, and observe wherein we stand guilty of these sins,
that we may repent. You that take your name from Christ,
how should you admire the immensity of this love of Christ !
Was it a small thing that the wisdom cjf God should become the
foolishness of men, and scorn of men, and contempt of the
world, for your sin's sake ? O think of this !
And now the dismal night is done, what remains but that we
follow Christ, and observe him in his sufferings the next day.
The psalmist tells us, Sorrow may endure for a flight, but joy
cometh in them^orning: only Christ can find none of this joy nei-
ther morning nor evening ; for after a dismal night, he meets
yAth. as dark a day.
CHAP. II.
Sect. I. — Of Christ's Indictment, and Judas' s fearful £!nd.
About six in the morning, Jesus was brought unto Pilate's
house. The7i led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the judgment^
Looking unto Jesus, 313
hall, mid it ivas early. — When the morning was come, all the
chief priests and elders of the j)eople took counsel against Jesus
to put him to death : and when they had hound him, and led him
away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor; then
Judas which had betrayed him, hanged himself. O the readiness
of our nature to evil ! When the Israelites would sacrifice to
the golden calf, they rose up early in the morning. If God
leave us to ourselves, we are as ready to practise mischief as the
fire is to burn. The tj-ansactions of this hour I shall consider
in these two passages, — Christ's indictment, and Judas's fear-
ful end.
In Christ's indictment, we may observe, 1. His accusation.
2. His examination.
In his accusation we may observe, 1. Who are his accusers.
2. Where he was accused. 3. What was the matter of which
they accuse him.
(1.) His accusers were the chief priests ayid elders of the
people. The very same that before had judged him guilty of
death, are now his accusers before the temporal judge : but why
must our Saviour be twice judged ? Was not the Sanhedrim,
or ecclesiastical court, sufficient to condemn him ? I answer,
he is twice judged, I. That his innocency might more appear.
2. Because, said the Jews, It is not lawful for us to put any man
to death. The Romans had come and restrained the Jews from
the execution of their laws.
(2.) Tiie place of the accusation was at the door of the house.
They ivould not go into the judgment -hall, lest they should be de-
filed, but that they might eat the passover. They are curious of
a ceremony, but make no strain to shed innocent blood : they are
precise about matters of the law; but mercy, judgment, fide-
lity, and the love of God, they let them pass.
(3.) The matter of which they accuse him. 1. That he sedu-
ced the people. 2. That he forbad to pay tribute to Caesar.
3. That he said he was a king. How great, but withal how
fiilse, were these accusaticfns !
2. For his examination. Pilate was nothing moved with any
of the accu^?^.tions, saving the third ; and therefore letting all
the rest pass, he asked him onl}^. Art thou the king of the Jews?
To whom Jesus answered. My kingdom is not of this world. By
which Pilate knew well that Christ was no enemy to Caesar.
Christ's kingdom is spiritual, his government is in the hearts of
men, and what is this to Caesar ?
How many lessons may we learn from hence? 1 . Christ was
accused ; who can be free ? The chief priests and elders of the
Jews accused Christ. No wonder if those that are chief and
great among us accuse poor Christians : there's a perpetual enmi-
ty between the seed of the woman, and the seed of the serpent j
an everlastmg, irreconcileable, implacable enmity.
314 Looking unto Jesus.
(2.) Christ is examined only of his usurpation : Art thou the
king of the Jews? The men of this world mind only worldly
things. Pilate regards not Christ's doctrine; but he is afraid
lest he should aspire to the kingdom : and concerning this our
Saviour puts him out of doubt^ My kingdom is not of this world.
O eternity! to be for ever in heaven with God and Christ, how
shall this swallow up all other thoughts and aims !
2d. Then Judas ivhich betrayed him, when he saiu that he was
condemned, repented Jiimself. There is a repentance that comes
too late. In hell men shall repent to all eternity, and such a
repentance was this of Judas. About midnight he had received
his money in the house of Annas, and now betimes in the morn-
ing he repents his bargain, and throws his money back again.
The end of this tragedy was, that J udas died a miserable death ;
he perished by his own hands. He went and lianged himself.
And he fell lieadlong, and burst asunder in the midst, and all
his bowels gus/ied out.
Who would die such a death for the pleasure of a little sin !
The Lord keep our so^ls from betraying Christ, and from de-
spairing in God's mercy through Christ. Amen, Amen.
Sect. II. — Of Christ's mission to Herod.
About seven in the morning, Jesus was sent to Herod, who
himself was also at Jerusalem at that time. The reason of this was,
because Pilate had heard that Christ was a Galilean ; and Herod
being tetrarch of Galilee, he concludes that Christ must be under
his jurisdiction : Herod was glad; for lie teas desirous to see
Clirist of a long seaso?i, because tie had lieard many tilings of
him, and tie Jioped to have seen some miracle done by liim. That
which I shall observe in this passage is,
1. Herod's questioning of Jesus Christ. 2. Christ's silence to
all his questions. 3. Herod's derisioa; and Christ's dismission
back again to Pilate.
1. Herod questioned with him in many words. Herod could
not abide to hear his word, but he was well content to see the
miracles of Christ.
2. Whatever his questions were, he ansivered liim nothing.
Herod had been sottishly careless of Jesus Christ; he lived in
in the place where Jesus more especially had conversed, yet
never had seen his person, or heard his sermons. It gives us to
learn thus much, that if we refuse to hear the voice of Christ in
the time of mercy, Christ may refuse to speak to us in our time
of need.
3. This silence they interpret for simplicity; and so, He-
rod with tiis men of luar set him at nought, and mocked hiniy
and arrayed him in a gorgeous rohe^ and sent him again to
Looking unto Jesus. 315
Pilate, They arrayed him with a white, glittering, gorgeous
raiment : the meaning of Herod was not so much to declare his
innocence as his folly. In this posture they sent him away again
to Pilate 5 to all their former derisions they added this, that now
he was exposed in scorn to the boys of the streets.
Was the uncreated Wisdom of the Father reputed a fool ? No
wonder if we suffer thousands of reproaches. We are made a
spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men; we are
fools for Christ's sake. W^e are made as the filth of the world,
and are the off- scouring of all things unto this day. Christians
must wear the badge and livery of Jesus Christ : we cannot ex-
pect to fare better than _Dur Master. I never knew Christians
in better temper than when they are styled by the name of Puri-
tans, hypocrites, formalists, or the like.
Let Us not judge of men by their outside garments. Wisdom
is often clad in the coat of a fool.
Let us admire at the condescension of Christ, who came down
from heaven to teach us wisdom. Wisdom itself was content to
be counted a fool, that those who are accounted the foolish
things of the ivorld, might be wise unto salvation.
Do not we set Christ at nought? Do not we mock him, and
array him in a gorgeous robe ? Whatsoever we do to one of the
least of his saints, he tells us that we do it to himself. Matt,
XXV. 40, 45. and have we not dealt thus with his saints? Have
we not dealt thus with his ministers? When Elisha was going
up to Bethel, there came little children out of the city and mocked
/dm, and said tinto him, Go up, thou bald head, Go up, thou
hald head. A reproach of bald head, round head, given to a
faithful Elisha, or a minister of Christ, proclaims you as bad as
those little children, yea, as bad as Herod, and his men of war.
Such Herods were a little before the destruction of Jerusalem.
Some there were then that mocked the messengers of God, and
despised his luords, aiul misused his prophets, until the wrath of
the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
Sect. IIL — Of Christ and Barahhas compared; and of the
Question debated betiuixt Pilate and the Jews.
About eight in the morning Christ is returned to Pilate, who
propounded to the Jews, whether they would have Jesus or
Barabbas loosed unto them. Ye have a custom, said he, that I
should release unto you one at the passover; will ye therefore
that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they
all again, saying. Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas
tuas a robber. It is supposed, that in this passage Pilate endea-
voured Christ's liberty; he knew that for envy they had delivered
liim, and he saw that Herod had sent him back uncondemned ;
and therefore now he propounds this medium to rescue him:
-316 Looking unto Jesus,
WTiom willi/e that Ii^elease unto you^ Barahhas, or Jesus Wu
is called Christ? In prosecution of this passage, I shall observe,
1. Who this Barabbas was. 2. What is the difference betwixt
him and Christ. 3. How they vote. 4. Pilate's query upon the
vote. 5. Their answer to his query. 6. His reply unto their
answer. 7« Their reduplication upon his reply.
For the first. What was this Barabbas ? One that had made
insurrection, and committed murder in the insurrection, Mark
XV. 7- Oi^e that was the greatest malefactor of his time; and
must he be taken, and Jesus cast !
2. What is the difference betwixt him and Christ. Let
us weigh them in the balance, and we may find, 1 . Barabbas
was a thief, and by violence took away the bread of the needy ;
but Christ was a feeder and supplier of their needs. 2. Barabbas
was a murderer, and had slain the living ; but Christ was the
Saviour, restoring life unto the dead. 3. Barabbas was a man
of blood; but Christ was a meek and quiet spirit. Here's a com-
petition indeed ! the author of sedition with the Prince of peace ;
a murderous mutineer, w^th a merciful Mediator; a son of Belial,
with the Son of God.
3. For their votes, they give them in thus : Not this man,
but Barahhas. A strange vote, to desire the wolf before
the lamb, the noxious and violent before the righteous and
innocent.
4. For Pilate's query upon the vote. What shall I do then with
Jesus luhich is called Christ? There is more pity in Pilate than
in all the Jews. In some things Pilate did justly: as, first^ he
would not condemn him before his accusations were brought in ;
nor then neither, before he was convicted of some capital crime :
and because he perceives that it was envy that drove on their
design, he endeavours to save his life by balancing him with Ba-
rabbas ; and now he sees that they prefer Barabbas before Jesus,
he puts forth the question. What shall I do then with Jesus,
which is called Christ? As if he had said, I know not what to
do with him ; it is against my light to condemn him to death, who
is of innocent life.
5. And they all said unto him. Let him he ^rucijied. This
was the first time that they speak openly their design. It had
long lurked within them, that he must die a cursed death, and
now their envy breaks out. The cross was a gradual and slow
death, it spun out pain into a long thread, and therefore they
make choice of it, as they made choice of Jesus; let him die ra-
ther than Barabbas, and let him die the death of the cross rather
than any speedy death.
6. For Pilate's reply unto this answer. Why, what evil hath
he done? Sometimes the Jews themselves could say, ' He hath
done all things well ; he maketh both the deaf to hear, jind the
dumb to speak.' Surely he hath done all things well : he stilled
Looking unto Jesus, 317
the winds^ and calmed the seas ; he raised the dead ; he gave
grace^ and he forgave sins ; and by his death he merited for his
saints everlasting life : why then should he die, that hath done
all things well? No wonder if l^ilate object against these ma-
licious ones. What evil hath he done?
7. But they cried out the more, saying, let him be crucified.
Instead of proving some evil against him, they cried out the
more ; they were instant with loud voices ; they made such a
clamour, that the earth rang with it. And now is Pilate threat-
ened into another opinion, they require his judgment; and the
voices of them, and of the chief-priest, prevailed : so it follows,
And ivhen he saiu lie could prevail nothing, hut that rather a
tumult ivas made^ then Barabhas is released unto them, and Jesus
is delivered to be scourged.
(1.) Give me leave to look amongst ourselves : Is there not some
or other amongst us that prefer Barabbas before Jesus ? O, yes !
those that listen to that old mutiuous murderer in his seditious
temptations; those that reject the blessed motions of God's own
spirit in his tenders and offers of graces those that embrace the
world, wdth its pleasures and profits, and make them their por-
tion; all these chuse Barabbas, and reject Jesus Christ.
(2.) Give me leave to look on the love and mercy of God in
Christ. Our Jesus was not only content to take our nature upon
him, but to be compared with the greatest malefactor of those
times ; and by public sentence to be pronounced more worthy of
death than Barabbas. O the love of Christ! He died, that we
might live : it was the voice of God, as well as men. Release
Barabbas, every believing Barabbas, and crucify Jesus.
Sect. IV. — Christ tvhipped, clothed luith Purple, and crowned
with Thorns,
About nine (which the Jews call the third hour of the day)
was Christ whipped, clothed with purple, and crowned with
thorns.
1. When Pilate saw the Jews ^\'ere set upon his death, he
consented. Then the soldiers of the governor look Jesus into the
common hall, ajul gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers ;
ami they stripjied him. They pulled off his clothes, and made
him stand naked before them all. He that adorns the heaven
with stars, and the earth with tiowers, is now himself stripped
naked.
2. Pilate gave him to be scourged. This some tliink he did
upon no other account, but that the Jews might rest satisfied,
and so desist from taking away his life. That Pilate might give
him to be scourged on that account, is very probable; because,
after the scourging^ he brings him out to the Jews, proclaiming,
I find no fault in him. '' And before his scourging, he speaks it
318 Looking unto J^esus,
more expressly; He hath done nothing tvorthy of death, I will
therefore chastise him, and release him.
We may read here a lecture of the immense love of God in
Christ to us poor Gentiles. Was there ever love like unto this
love ? Had he not been God as well as man^ he could never
have had in his heart such a love as this. It was a divine love ;
a love far surpassing either the love of men^ or women, or
angpls.
3, They put upon him a purple robe, or a scarlet robe. John
calls it purple, and Matthew scarlet. Howsoever some differ-
ence may be, yet because of their likeness they are put some-
times one for another. It is in the original, a scarlet cloak. It
was a loose short garment, at first used only by kings or empe-
rors, and the colour of it was suitable to Christ's condition, for
he was now purple all over : his body and his garment were both
of a deep-dyed sanguine colour. What is his scarlet garment,
but the emblem of his wounded body ? that, as he spake of the
woman, she anointed him before-hand unto his burial; so Pilate,
in the mystery, clothes l^m aforehand unto his bloody death.
4. They platted a crown of thorns, and put it upon his head.
A goodly crown for the King of kings ! We read of many sorts
of crowns, as of the triumphal, laurel, naval, mural, but never
till this did we read of a crown of thorns. A crown it was to
deride him, and a crown of thorns to torment him. In this we
may read both his pain and shame. After they had put it upon
his head, they took a reed, and smote him on the head: that is,
they smote him on the head to fasten the crown of thorns upon
him surer, and to imprhit it deeper.
How many lessons might we draw from hence ! They put
upon his head a crown of shame, of death, of torture; who
came to give us a crown of victory, of life, of glory. O what a
shame is it for any of us to crown our heads with rosebuds, to
spend our time in vanity, folly, sin, when Christ our Lord had
such a grove of thorns growing on his sacred head ! The disciple
is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord ; It is
enough for the disciple that he he as his master, and the servant
as his lord. If our Lord and Master was. crowned with thorns,
surely the members of Christ should not be soft, delicate, effe-
minate, sensual, or given up to pleasures.
Sect. V. — Of Christ brought forth, and sentenced.
About ten, Christ was brought forth, and sentenced. 1. For
his bringing forth, I shall therein observe these particulars ; as,
(1.) We find Pilate bringing forth Jesus out of the common-hall,
and shewing this sad spectacle to the people. 2'hen came Jesus
forth, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe; and
Pilate saith unto them. Behold, the man ! He thought the very
Lookins: unto Jesus^^ 319
'<b
sight of Christ would have moved them with compassion : they
had lashed him almost unto death, they had clothed him with
purple, crowned him with thorns; and now they bring him out,
and expose him to public view; Pilate crying, Behold the maul
As if he had said, ' Behold a poor, miserable, distressed man.
Behold how he stands disfigured with wounds, behold him
weltering in his own blood ; and let this sufficient, yea, more than
sufficient punishment, suffice to satisfy your rage.'
2. We find the Jews more enraged against Jesus ; When the
chief priests and officers saiv him, they cried out, saying. Crucify
him! crucify him! O ye Jews, children of Israel, seed of Abra-
ham, is not this he, concerning whom your fathers cried, O that
thou wouldest rend the heavens, ttiat thou luouldest co)ne down,
that the mountains might Jiow doivn at thy presence! How is it
that you should despise him present, whom they desired absent ?
How is it that your cry and theirs should be so contrary ?
3. We find Pilate and the Jews yet debating the business;
Pilate is loth to pronounce the sentence, and the chief of the
Jews provoke him to it with a threefold argument : as —
(1.) ' They had a law, and by their law he ought to die, be-
cause he made himself the Son of God :' the text tells us, that
Pilate hearing the argument, was the more afraid. " Pilate,"
saith Cyril, " was a heathen idolater, and so, worshipping many
gods, he could not tell but that Christ might be one of them."
This was the meaning of Pilate's question, Whence art thou ^ of
what progenitors art thou sprung ? And from thenceforth Pilate
sought to release him.
(2.) The Jews came with another argument; they threatened
Pilate, If thou let this man go, thou art not Ccesars friend:
a forcible reason, as the case then stood. It was no small matter
to be accused of high treason against Caesar, and therefore under
this obligation, Pilate seems to bend : whom the fear of Christ's
divinity had restrained, him the fear of Caesar's frown provoked
to go on. And yet before he gives sentence, he takes water, and
washeth his hands before the multitude, saying, lam innocent of
the hlood of this just person, see ye to it.
(3.) In reference to this, they engaged themselves for him,
which was their last argument. His blood be upon us, and upon
our children. Thus far of the first general.
(4.) For the sentence itself: When Pilate heard that, — he sat
doivn in the judgment-seat, in a place that is called the Pave-
ment, (because erected of stones;) but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
This word signifies an high-place, and raised above; it was so,
on purpose that the judges might be seen when they pro-
nounced sentence. And here Pilate sitting down, gave sentence
that it should be as they required; and then, he delivered Jesus
to their will.
From this sight of Christ, as he was presented by Pilate to
320 Lookbis^ unto Jesus,
d
the people, we may learn remorse ; not any of us who have cru-
cified Christ by our sins, but we are called on at this time to
behold the man. Suppose we saw him with our bodily eyes;
suppose we had the same view of Christ as the Jews had, when
he was thus presented ; suppose we saw him in the midst of us,
wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe, and the reed
held in his right hand : suppose we heard the voice of Pilate
speaking to us, as he did to the Jews, Behold the man; suppose
we saw the purple robe lifted up, that we might see all under,
how his body was torn; and that same voice from heaven should
come to us, saying, ^ This same is he v»'hom ye have butfeted,
scourged, crowned, crucified with your sins.' Were not this
enough to prick us in our hearts, and to make us cry. Men and
brethren^ what shall ive do? We look on Pilate, on the soldiers,
on the Jews ; but we look not on our sins, saying, Could we but
realize our sins as the principal of these sufferings of Christ,
methinks our hearts should break. Consider, yesterday so many
lies were told, and so many oaths were sworn ; little did we
think, that all this while we had been stripping Christ naked,
whipping Christ with rods, clothing Christ with a purple -scarlet
rol)e, platting a crown of thorns, and putting it on his head,
sceptering him with a reed, and saluting him with scorn. Hail,
Kiugof the Jews! Men, brethren, and fathers, be not deceived,
Christ is mocked, scorned, and thus abused by you when you
sin ; your sins thus dealt with Christ, and in God's acceptation
your sins thus deal with Christ even unto this day. Never say,
it was long since Christ was crucified, and he is now in heaven,
for by your sins you crucify again the Lord of glory, you put him
again to open shame. O look on him whom you have pierced !
Pilate thought that if the Jews would but behold the man, their
hearts would have mollified ; and shall not I think as well of you ?
It is a blessed means to make sin bitter, and to breed in our hearts
remorse for sin, if we will but hearken to this voice of Pilate^
Behold the man.
Sect. VI. — Of Christ Crucifying,
About eleven, they prepare with all speed for the execution.
In this hour we may observe these several passages. 1. Their
taking off the robe, and clothing him again with his own raiment.
2. Their leading him away from Gabbatha to Golgotha; bearing
the cross, with Simon's help. 3. His comforting the women
who followed weeping. 4. Their giving him vinegar to drink,
mingled with gall. 5. Their crucifying, or fastening him on the
cross.
1. The evangelist tells us. They took the robe off from him,
and they 'put his own raiment 07i him. Origen observes, " They
took oft' his robes, but they took not off his crown of thorns." It
Loohing unto Jesus. 321
is supposed this small business could not be done without great
pain ; after his sore whipping, his blood congealed, and by that
means stuck to his scarlet mantle ; so that in pulling off the robe,
and putting on his raiment, there could not be but a renewing of
his wounds.
2. They led him aivay^ hearing his cross. Tliey had scarce
left him so much blood or strength, as to carry himself, and must
he now bear his heavy cross ! Yes, till he faint and sink, so
long he must bear it, and longer too, did they not fear that he
should die with less shame and smart than they intended him;
which to prevent, they constrained one Simon, a Cyrenian, to
hear his cross after fiim. The cross was a Roman death, and so
one of their abominations; hence they themselves would not
touch the tree of infamy, lest they should have been deliled; but
to touch the Lord's anointed, to crucify the Lord of glory, they
make no scruple at all.
3. He comforted the women who followed weeping. Jlnd
there followed him a great company of people, and of women,
zvhich also beivailed and lamented him ; but Jesus turning to tfiem,
said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, hut weep for
yourselves, and for your children. In the midst of his misery,
he forgets not mercy ; in the midst of all their tortures and scorn,
he can hear his following friends weeping behind him, and neg-
lect all his own sufferings to comfort them. He hath more
compassion on the women that follow him weeping, than of his
own mangled self, fainting and bleedhig unto death : he feels
more the tears that drop from their eyes, than all the blood that
flows from his own veins. We heard before, that he would not
vouchsafe a word to Pilate that threatened him, nor to Herod
that entreated him; and yet, unasked, how graciously doth he
turn about his bleeding face to these weeping women, affording
them looks and words too, both of compassion and of consolation.
Daughters of Jerusalem xueep not for me, but fn- yourselves. —
And yet observe, he did not turn his face to them, until he heard
them weep ; nor may we think to see his face in glory, unless we
first bathe our eyes in sorrow. It is a wonder to me that any
in our age should ever decry tears, remorse, contrition, com-
punction. How many saints do we find, both in the Old and
New Testament, confuting by tlieir practices those gross opi-
nions. The promise tells us, They that sow in tears shall reap
in Joy ; he that follows Christ, or goeth forth weeping, bearing
precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing
his sheaves luith hi??!.
But what's the meaning of this, ff^eep not for me? May we
not weep for the death of Christ? Do we not find in scri[)ture
that all the people wept at the death of Moses ? tliat all the
church wept at the death of Stephen ? that the women lament-
ed the death of Dorcas ? And, did not Clirist himself weep for
12. 2 s
322 Looking unto Jesus,
Lazarus, and Jerusalem ? Nay, is he not here weeping showers
of blood, all along the way ? O, what's the meaning of this,
JVeep not for me, hut weep for yourselves?
I answer, the words are not absolute, but comparative. Christ
doth not simply forbid us to weep for our friends, but rather to
turn our worldly grief into godly sorrow for sin.
Christ pointed the women to the true cause of all their sorrow,
which was their sins ; and thus we have cause to weep indeed.
Our sins were the cause of the sufferings of Christ; and in that
respect, O that our heads were fountains, and our eyes rivers of
tears ! O that the Lord would strike these rocky hearts of
ours with the rod of true remorse, that water might gush out !
O that we could thus mourn over Jesus, whom we have pierced
and be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his
Jirst-born,
4. No sooner was he come to the place of execution, but
they gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall : this was a
custom amongst Jews and Romans, that to the condemned
they ever gave wine to drink. But in that they gave him vine-
gar mingled with gall, it was an argument of their cruelty and
envy.
5. They crucified him, that is, they fastened him to the cross;
and then lift him up. That I mean to observe of this crucifying
of Christ, I shall reduce to these two heads, viz, the shame and
pain.
(L) For the shame, it was a cursed death; Cursed is every
one that hangeth on a tree. When it was in use, it was chiefly
inflicted upon slaves, that either falsely accused, or treacherously
conspired their master's death ; but on whomsoever it was inflict-
ed, this death, in all ages among the Jews, hath been branded
with a special kind of ignominy; and so the apostle signifies
when he saith, He abased himself to the death, even to the death
of the cross.
(2.) For the pain, it was a painful death ; as appears several
ways. L His legs and hands were violently racked, and pulled
out to the places fitted for his fastening, and then pierced
through with nails. 2. By this means he wanted the use both of
his hands and feet, and so was forced to hang immoveably upon
the cross, as being unable to turn any way for his ease. 3. The
longer he lived, the more he endured ; for by the weight of his
body, his wounds were opened and enlarged, his nerves and veins
were rent and torn asunder, and his blood gushed out more and
more. 4. He died by inch-meal, as I may say, and not at
once : the cross kept him a great while upon the rack. It was
full three hours betwixt Christ's affixion and expiration; and
it would have been longer, if he had not freely and willingly given
up the ghost: it is reported that Andrew the apostle was two
whole days upon the cross before he died ; and so long might
Looking unto Jesus, 323
Christ have been, if God had not heightened it to greater de-
grees of torment.
I may add to this, as above all this, the pains of his soul while
he hanged on the cross ; for there also Christ had his agonies and
conflicts, these were those wSii^e^ Oavc'nH, those pains, or pains of
death, from which Peter tells us Christ was loosed. The word
wtiii^e?, properly signifies the pain of a woman in travail ; such were
the pains of Jesus Christ in death : the prophet calls it t/ie travail
of his soul; and the psalmist calls it the pains of liell: The sor-
roivs of death coinpassed me, and thepaiiis of tie 1 1 gat hold upon
me. The sorrows or cords of death compassed his body, and the
pains of hell gat hold upon his soul : and these were they that
extorted from him that passionate expostulation, Mi/ God, my
God, IV hy ha^.t thou forsaken me ? He complains of that which
was more grievous to him than ten thousand deaths. ' My God,
my God, why hast thou withdrawn thy wonted presence, and left
my soul (as it were) in hell ? '
And now we reflect on the shame and pain : O the curse and
bitterness that our sins have brought on Jesus Christ ! When I
but think on these bleeding veins, scourged sides, furrowed back,
harrowed temples, digged hands and feet, and then consider that
my sins were the cause of all; methinks I should need no more
arguments for self-abhorring. Christians, would not your hearts
rise against him that should kill your father, mother, brother,
wife, husband ? O then, how should your hearts and souls rise
against sin 1 Surely your sin it was that murdered Christ, that
killed him who is instead of all relations, who is a thousand times
dearer to you than father; mother, husband, child. One thought
of this should, methinks, be enough to make you say, as Job did,
/ abhor myself in dust and ashes. O, what's that cross on the
back of Christ ? My sins. O, what's that crown on the head
of Christ ? My sins. O, what's that nail in the right-hand, and
that other in the left-hand, of Christ ? My sins. O, what's that
spear in the side of Christ? My sins. O, what are those nails
and wounds in the feet of Christ? My sins. With a spiritual
eye I see no other engine tormenting Christ; no other Pilate,
Herod, Annas, Caiaphas, condemning Christ; no other soldiers,
officers, Jews, or Gentiles, doing execution on Christ, — but only
sin. O my sins, my sins !
Comfort we ourselves in the end of this death of Christ:
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the
Son of man be lifted up; that ivhosoever believe/ h in him should
not perish, but have eternal life. Without this consideration,
the contemplation of Christ's death would be altogether unpro-
fitable. Now what was the end? Surely this, Christ lifted up,
that he might draw all men unto him : Christ hanged on a tree,
that he might bear our sins on the tree. This was the plot which
God aimed at in the crucifying of Christ ; and thus our faith must
324 Looking unto Jesus.
take it up : indeed our faith hangs on this. The design of Christ
in his sutferings is that welcome news, (O remember this,) Christ
is crucified ! And why so ? That ivhosoever helievetJi in him
should not perish^ but have everlasting life.
Sect. VII. — Of the Consequents after Chrisfs Crucifying,
1. About twelve, when the sun is usually brightest, it began
now to darken. This darkness was so great, that it spread over
all the land of Jewry: some think, over all the world; so we
translate it in Luke, And there ivas darkness over all the earth:
and many Gentiles, besides Jews, observed the same as a gi'eat
miracle.
The cause of this darkness is diversely rendered by several
authors. Some think that the sun, by divine power, withdrew,
and held back its beams. Whatsoever was the cause, it con-
tinued for the space of three hours as dark as the darkest winter's
night.
2. About three, which the Jews call the ninth hour, the sun
now beginning to receive his light, Jesus cried with a loud voice,
Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani? My God, my God, ivhy hast thou
forsaken me? — And then, that the scripture might he fulfilled,
he said, I thirst. — A7id wheii he had received the vinegar, he said.
It is finished. — And, at last, crying tuith a loud voice, he said,
Father, iiito thy hands I commend my spirit: and havi?ig said
thus, he gave up the ghost. I cannot stay on these seven words
of Christ which he uttered on the cross : his words were ever
gracious, but never more gracious than at this time. We can-
not find, in all the books of men, in all the records of time, either
such sutferings or such sayings, as were these last sayings and
sufl:erings of Jesus Christ.
3. About four in the afternoon he was pierced with a spear,
and there issued out of his side both blood and water. A7id one
of the soldiers with a sjjear j)i6rced his side, and forthwith came
thereout blood and water. This was a fountain of both sacra-
ments, the fountain of all our happiness, the fountain opened to
the house of David, a7id to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin
and for uncleanness. There are three that bear witness on earth,
saith John, the Spirit, the water, and the blood. Out of the side
of Christ, being now dead, there issues water and blood; signi-
fying that he is both our justification and sanctification.
4. About five (which the Jews call the eleventh, and the last
hour of the day) Christ was taken down, and buried by Joseph
and Nicodemus.
Thus far we have propounded the blessed object of Christ's
suffering and dying for us. Our next work is to direct you how
to look unto him in this respect.
Lookws: unto t/estis. 325
CHAP. III.
Sect. I. — Of Knowhig Jesus as carrying on the great ivork of
our Salvation in his death.
1 . Let us know Jesus carrying on the great work of our
salvation during his sufferings and death. This is the high point
•which Paul was ever studying : preaching, / determined not to
knotv any tiling among you^ saveJes^is Clirist, and Inm crucified.
Christ crucified, is the rarest piece of knowledge in the world.
The person of Christ is a matter of high speculation ; but Christ
farther considered, as clothed with his garments of blood, is that
knowledge which especially Paul pursues : he esteems not, de-
termines not, to make any profession of any other science or
doctrine. O my soul, how many days, and months, and years,
hast thou spent to attain some little measure of knowledge in
the arts, and tongues, and sciences ? And yet what a poor skill
hast thou attained in respect of the many thousands of them that
knew nothing at all of Jesus Christ ! And what if thou hadst
reached a greater proficiency ? Couldst thou have dived into the
secrets of nature ? Couldst thou have excelled " the wisdom of
all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egjpt,
and the wisdom of Solomon, who spake of beasts, of fowls, of
iishes, of all trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon, even
to the hyssop that springeth out of the wall," yet without the
saving knowledge of Christ crucified, (Christ suffering, bleeding,
and dying,) all this had been nething, see Eccl. i. 18. and above
all, that is the rarest which shews him suffering for us, and so
freeing us from hell-sufferings. Come then, and spend thy time
for the future more fruitfully in reading, learning, knowing, this
one necessary thing. Study it therefore, but be sure thy study
and knowledge be rather practical than speculative. Do not
merely learn the history of Christ's death, but the efficacy, virtue,
and merit of it. Know what thou knowest in reference to thy-
self, as if Jesus had been all the while carrying on the business
of thy soul's salvation; as if thou hadst stood by, and Christ had
spoke to thee, as to the woman, ' Weep not for me, but for
thyself; thy sins caused my sufferings, and my sufferings were
for the abolition of thy sins.'
Sect. II. — Of Considering Jesus in that respect.
Let us consider Jesus carrying on this great work of our
salvation during his sufferings and death. They shall look iquni
me whom they liave pierced, saith the prophet ; that is, tiiey sliall
consider me : and accordingly the apostle was looking unto Jesus,
or considering Jesus, the author and Jinishcr of our faith, ivlio
326 Looking unto Jesus.
for the joy set before him, endured the cross, and despised the
shame. It is good in all respects^ and under all considerations,
to look unto Jesus from first to last; but, above all, this text
relates to the time of his sufferings : and hence it is that Luke
calls Christ's passion Oewplav, a theory or sight : And all the peo^
pie that came together to that sight, smote their breasts and re-
turned. Not but that every passage of Christ is a sight, wor-
thy our looking on, or considering; Christ in his Father's pur-
pose, Christ in the promise, Christ in performance, Christ in
his birth, and Christ in his life. O vrhat blessed objects are
these to look upon ! But, above all. Consider him, saith the
apostle, that endured such coiitradiction of sinners against him-
self. — Cotisider him, who, for the joy that was set before him,
e7idured the cross, and despised the shame. Of all other parts,
acts, or passages of Christ, the Holy Ghost hath only honoured
Christ's passion (his sufferings and death) with this name, theory,
and sight. O then let us look on this, consider this.
1. Consider him passing over the brook Cedron. It signifies
the wrath of God, and rage of men. Through many tribulations
must they go, that will follow after him to the kingdom of glory.
Consider him entering into the garden of Gethsemane: in a
garden Adam sinned, and in this garden Christ must suffer.
Into this garden no sooner was he entered, but he began to be
agonized : all his powers within him were in conflict. Consider,
O my soul, how suddenly he is struck into a strange fear. Ne-
ver was man so afraid of the torments of hell, as Christ, stand-
ing in our room, is of his Father's wrath ; nor was he only afraid,
but very heavy. My soul is exceeding sorroivful, even unto
death. His sorrow was deadly, it melted his soul as wax is
melted with heat ; it continued with him till his last gasp ; his
heart was like wax burning all the time of his passion : nor was
he only afraid and heavy, but he began to be sore amazed. This
signifies an universal cessation of all the faculties of the soul
from their several functions. We usually call it a consternation.
It is like a clock stopped for the while from going, by some hand
or other laid upon it; such a motion of the mind as whereby for
the present he was disabled to mind any thing else, but the
dreadful sense of the wrath of God. O what an agony was this !
what a struggling passion of mixed grief ! ^ O, my Father '
Sinner, thou hast bent thy bow, lo here an open breast! fix
herein all thy shafts ; better I suffer for a while, than that all
men should be damned for ever : thy will is mine : lo, I will bear
the burden of sin: shoot here thy arrows of revenge !' And
thus, as he prayed, he sweat, ayid his sweat was as it were great
drops of blood falling down to the ground. O what man or
angel can conceive the agony, the fear, the sorrow, the amaze-
ment of heart, that, without all outward violence, bled through
the flesh and skin ; not some faint dew, but solid drops of blood !
Looking unto Jesus, 327
O my soul, consider this; and if thou wilt bring this considera-
tion home, say, thy sins were the cause of this bloody sweat.
2. Consider his apprehension. Judas is now at hand, with a
troop following him. See how, without all shame he set himself
in the van, and, coming to his Lord and Master, gives him a most
traitorous kiss: TFhat, Judas, betray est thou the son of man
with a kiss? Hast thou sold the Lord of life to such cruel mer-
chants as covet greedily his blood ? At what price hast thou
set the Lord of all the creatures ? At thirty pence ? What a
slender price for the Lord of glory. At that time said Christ,
Ye be come as against a thief, with swords and staves; I sat daily
among you teachi?ig iyi the temple, and ye never laid hands on
me; but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
Now the prince of darkness exercised his power; now the
ravenous wolves assaulted the most innocent lamb in the world :
now they furiously haled him this way and that way. What
cries, and shouts, and clamours made they over him ! Now they
lay hold on his holy hands, and bind them hard with rough and
knotty cords. Now they bring him back again over Cedron.
Now they lead him openly through the streets of Jerusalem, and
carry him to the house of Annas in triumph. O, my soul, con-
sider these several passages leisurely, and with good attention,
till thou feelest some motions in thy affection. He that is fairer
than all the children of men, is besmeared with weeping, and
troubled with sorrow of heart. Surely there is something, O
my soul, in thee that caused all this : hadst not thou sinned, the
Sun of righteousness had never been eclipsed.
3. Consider the hurrying of Jesus from Annas to Caiaphas.
There a council is called, and Caiaphas the high-priest adjures
our Lord to tell him, if he was Christ the Son of God ? No
sooner he affirms it, but he is doomed guilty of blasphemy.
Now again they disgorge all their malice and revenge ; each one
gives him buffets and strokes : they spit upon that divine face,
they hoodwink his eyes, and strike him on the cheek, scofhng,
and jesting, and saying, fVho is it that smote thee? O my
soul, why dost thou not humble thyself at this so wonderful
example? How is it that there should remain in the world
any token of pride after this so marvellous example of humility !
I am astonished this so great patience overcomes not my anger,
this so great abasing assuageth not my pride, these so violent
buffets beat not down my presumption: Jesus Christ by these
means should overthrow the kingdom of pride, and yet that there
should remain in me the relics of pride ! Consider all those
night- sufferings of Christ ; now was the season that all creatures
should take their rest. AH the night long Christ is tormented
by thy sins. Not one jot of rest hath Christ, whom thou by the
alarm of thy sins disquieted, both at evening, at midnight, and
at the cock-crow, and at the dawning.
328 Lookins" unto Jesus,
&
4. Consider the hurryings of Christ from Caiaphas to Pilate*
Now he stands before Pilate, where he was accused of sedition
and usurpation. Not only Jews, but Gentiles, have their hands
imbrued in the blood of Christ : Pilate was delegated from Caesar^
yet not without a prophecy : Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and
all things that are written hy the prophets concerning the Son of
man shall he accomplished; for he shall be delivered unto the
Gentiles, At the Gentile tribunal, being questioned of his kingdom,
he answers both the Jews and Gentiles, that they need not fear
his usurpation : My kingdom is not of this ivorld. He gives king-
doms that are eternal ; but he will take away none that are tem-
poral. Christ came not into the world to be Caesar's, or Pilate's,
or Herod's successor; but, if they had believed, to have been
their Saviour. O that I could but contemn the world as Christ
did ! O that I could seek the kingdom of God, and his righte-
ousness. O my soul, I feel it, unless I can be free from the
affection of all creatures, I cannot with freedom of mind aspire
unto divine things ; unless I be willing with Christ to be despised
and forsaken of all, I can have no inward peace, nor be spiritually
enlightened, nor be wholly united unto the Lord Jesus Christ.
5. Consider the hurryings of Jesus from Pilate to Herod.
There is he questioned of many things, but justly is the Lamb of
God dumb, and opened not his mouth ; upon this he is mocked,
and arrayed in a gorgeous robe. Wisdom is taken for folly,
and the justifier of sinners for a sinner. See how he emptied
himself, and made himself of no reputation, that he might fill
thee with goodness, and make thee wise unto salvation.
6. Consider the hurryings of Jesus from Herod back again to
Pilate. O my Saviour, how art thou now abused ! New accu-
sations are forged ; and when Pilate sees that nothing will do,
but Christ must die, he delivers him to be stripped, whipped,
clothed in purple, crowned with thorns, and sceptered with a
reed. Who can number the stripes wherewith . they tore his
body, one wound eating into another ! O my heart, how can I
think of this without tears of blood ! O joy of angels, and glory
of saints, who hath thus defiled thee with so many bloody blows ?
Certainly they were not thy sins, but mine. Love was the cause
why thou didst bestow upon me all thy benefits, and mercy moved
thee to take upon thee all my miseries.
7. Consider that sad spectacle of Jesus, when he came forth
wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe, and Pilate
saying unto them. Behold the man ! O my soul, fix thy eyes on
the sad object! Suppose thyself in the case of Jesus; what if
in so sensible and tender a part as thy head is, men should fasten
a number of thorns ! Alas ! thou canst hardly abide the prick
of a pin, much less the piercing of so many thorns : O, but thy
Jesus was crowned with thorns, and sceptered with a reed, and
that reed was taken out of his hands to beat the ci'own of thorns
}Lookm£>' unto Jesus. 329
'<i)
into his head ; thy Jesus was whipped with cords and rods ; and
being in this plight^ thou art called to behold the man ! Canst
thou consider him at present, as if thou hadst a view of this very
man ? Methinks it should make thee break out, and say, ' O the
brightness of thy Father's glory^ who hath thus cruelly dealt with
thee? O unspotted glass of the majesty of God, who hath thus
wholly disfigured thee ? O river that flows out of the paradise
of delights, who hath thus troubled thee? It is my sins, O
Lord, that have so troubled thee : my sins were the thorns that
pricked thee^ the lashes that whipped thee, the purple that
clothed thee : it is I, Lord^ that am thy tormentor, and the very
cause of these thy pains.'
8. Consider Pilate's sentence, that Jesus should be crucified
as the Jews required. Now they had him in their will, and they
did to him what seemed them good 4 Follow him from Gabbatha
to Golgotha. See how they lay the heavy cross upon his tender
shoulders, that were so rent and torn with whips. Accompany
him all the way to the execution^ and help to carry his cross to
mount Calvary; and there see him lifted up on that engine of
torture, the bloody cross : he hangs on nails, and as he hangs,
his own weight becomes his affliction. O see how his arms and
legs were racked with violent pulls, his hands and feet bored with
nails, his whole body torn with stripes, and gored with blood.
And now, O my soul, run with all thy might into his arms, held
out at their full length to receive thee* O weigh the matter 1
Because sin entered by the senses, therefore the head, in which
the senses flourished, is crowned with searching thorns ; because
the hands and feet are more especially the instruments of sin,
therefore his hands and feet are nailed to the cross for satisfac-
tion. Be enlarged, O my thoughts, and consider it, and con-
sider it again*
9. Consider the darkness that spread over all the earth. Now
was the sun ashamed to shew his brightness, considering that the
Father of lights was darkened with such disgrace : the heavens
discoloured their beauty, and are in mourning robes : the lamp
of heaven is immantled with a miraculous eclipse. The sun in
the firmament will sympathize with the Sun of righteousness. It
will not appear in glory, though it be mid-day, because the Lord
of glory is thus disgraced. And now hear the voice that comes
from the Son of God, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken
me? Christ, in the garden, tasted the bitter cup of God's fierce
wrath, but now he drunk the dregs of it. O but what's the mean-
ing of this; My God, My God, luhy hast thou forsaken me?
Surely, 1 . This was not a perpetual, but a temporary forsaking.
The godhead was not took away from the manhood, but the union
remained still, even now when the manhood was forsaken. 2.
This was not a forsaking on Christ's part, but only on the Fa-
ther's part; the Father forsook Christ, but Christ went after liini.
12. 2 I
330 Looking unto Jesus,
God took away the sense of his love ; but the Son of God laid hold
upon hmi, crying, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken
mef 3. This forsaking was not in respect of his being, but in re-
spect of the feeling of God's favour, love, and mercy. Certainly
God loved him still ; but his sense of comfort was now quite gone,
so as it never was before. In his agony there was now and then
some little flash of lightning to cheer him ; but now all the sense
and feeling of God*s love was gone. Christ now took the place of
sinners, and God the Father shut him out, as it were, amongst
the sinners ; he drew his mercy out of sight, and therefore he
cried out in a kind of wonder. My God, My God, why hast thou
forsaken me? After this he speaks but a few words more, and
gives up the ghost. He die^, that we might live -, he is dissolved
himself, that we might be united to his Father. O my soul, see
him now, if thou canst for weeping ; his eyes are dun, his cheeks
are wan, his face is pale, his head is bowing, his heart is pant-
ing, himself is dying. Come, and die with him by mortifica-
tion. Look pale, like him, with grief and sorrow, and trouble for
thy sins.
10. Consider the piercing of his side with a spear, whence
came out a stream of blood and water. O fountain of everlasting
waters ! Methinks I see the blood running out of his side more
freshly than those streams which ran out of the garden of Eden,
and watered the whole world. Consider the taking of his body
down by Joseph, the burying of it by Joseph and Nicodemus.
O my spirit, go with me a little ! Christ being dead, it is pity
but he should have a funeral. According to the letter, let
Joseph and Nicodemus bear his corpse ; let the blessed Virgin
go after it sighing and weeping, and at every other place look-
ing up to heaven ; let Mary Magdalen follow after with precious
ointment, and with her hair hanging, ready, if need were, to
wipe his feet again. Now, let every sinner, according to the
nature of his sin, draw something from the passion of Christ to
the mortifying of his sin ; yea, let all turn mourners ; let all bow
their heads, and be ready to give up the ghost for the name of
Christ. O my soul, that thou wouldst thus meditate, and thus
imitate, that so thy meditation might be fruitful, and thy imita-
tion real ; I mean, that thy life and death might be conformable
to the life and death of Jesus Christ.
Sect. III. — Of Desiring Jesus in that respect.
Let us desire Jesus, carrying on the great work of our sal-
vation in his death. Indeed nothing doth so cool and refresh a
parched and thirsty soul, as the blood of Jesus ; which made the
'poor woman cry out so earnestly, " I have an husband, and
children, and many other comforts, but I would give them all,
and all the good that ever I shall see in this world, or in the
Looking unto Jesus, 331
world to come, to have my poor thirsty soul refreshed with that
precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But what is there in Christ*s blood or death that is so desirable ?
1 answer,
1. There is in it the person of Christ, he that is God-man,
the brightness of his Father s glory, and the express image of
his person. It is he that died; every drop of his blood was
not only the blood of an innocent man, but of one that was God
as well as man. God with his own blood purchased the church.
Now surely every thing of God is desirable.
2. There is in it a worth. Christ considered under the notion
of a sacrifice, is of infinite worth. No wealth in heaven or
earth besides this, could redeem one soul; and therefore the
apostle sets this against all corruptible things, as silver and gold,
the things so much set by amongst the men of this world : Ye
were not redeemed ivith corrupfit)le things, such as silver and
gold, — but tvith the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb with-
out blernish, and without spot.
3. There is in it a merit and satisfaction. The scripture doth
not expressly use these words, but it hath the sense and meaning
of them; as in that text. He hath made ns accepted itt the Be-
loved, in whom we have redemption through his blood. The very
words, redeeming and buying, plainly demonstrate, that a satis-
faction was given to God by the death of Jesus ; He gave himself
for us, that he might redeem, us. — Ye are bought ivith a price.
And what price was that? Why, his ovvn blood; Thou ivast
slain, and hast r^edeemed us to God by thy blood; that is, by thy
death and passion. This was the \vrpov, that ransom which Christ
gave : The So7i of man came to give his life a ransom for many ;
or, as the apostle, He gave hbnself a ransom for all: the word is
here nvrlXvTpoi^, which signifies an adequate price, or a counter-
price ; as when one doth or undergoeth some thing in the room
of another ; as when one yields himself a captive for the redeem-
ing of another out of captivity, or gives up his own life for the
saving of another man's Hfe; so Christ gave himself nvTiXmpov, a
ransom, or counter-price, submitting himself to the like punish-
ment, that his redeemed ones should have undergone.
4. There is in it not only a true, but a copious and full satis-
faction. Christ's death and blood is superabundant to our
sins: The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant, 1 Tim.
i. 14. vTrcpe-n-Xeovaae, it was over full, redundant, more than enough.
Many an humble soul is apt to complain, H) if I had not been
so great a sinner, there might have been hope.' This is to mi-
dervalue Christ's redemption, this is to think there is more in sin
to damn, than in Christ's sufferhigs to save : whereas all thy sins
to Chiist, are but as a little cloud to the glorious svni ; yea, all
the sins of all the men in the world, arc but, to Christ's merits, as
a drop to the ocean.
332 Looking unto %/e^us.
5. There is in it remission of sins, so saith Christ : This is
my Mood of the new Testament, which is shed for many for the
remission of sins. Remission of sins is attributed to Christ's
death as a cause; it is not thy tears or prayers, or rending of
heart, that could pay the least farthing : Without shedding of
Mood, saith the apostle, there is no remission. God will have
tears, and blood also, though not for the same purpose; for all
thy tears, thou must fly to Christ only as the cause : it is true thou
must mourn, and pray, and humble thyself, but it is Christ's blood
only that can wash us clean. O remember this ! God will not
pardon without satisfaction by the blood of Christ. And surely
this makes Christ's death so desirable : ^ O, my sins afflict me,'
cries many a one ; ' O I am loathsome in my own eyes, much
more in God's; surely God is offended with my dulness, sloth-
fulness, and my thousand im^^erfections ; I am all the day long
entangled with sin.' But let this contrite spirit look on Christ's
death, and therein he may find all sin is pardoned. See here
what an argument is put into thy mouth, from these sufferings of
Christ ; well mayest thou say, ' O Lord, I am unworthy, but it is
just and right that Christ obtain what he died for; O pardon my
sins for his death's sake, and for his precious blood's sake.
6. There is in it reconciliation and peace with God. In
Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were afar off, are made nigh by
the Mood of Christ, for he is our peace, ivho hath 7nade both one,
and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, —
JVhen we were enemies, ive were reconciled to God by the death
of his Son. — This certainly should support the drooping soul; it
may be thou criest, ^ My sins have made a breach betwixt God
and my soul; I have warred against heaven, and now God wars
against me ; and O what odds ! if the Lord be angry, yea, but a
little, what will become of my poor soul ? Is stubble able to con-
tend with the consuming fire ? How then shall I contend with
God?' But come and look on Christ's death, as the means and
meritorious cause of reconciliation ; and thou canst not but say,
* O, this death is desirable !' When God the Father looks at a
sinner in the bloody glass of Christ, then saith God, ' Fury is
not in me, I have no more controversy with this soul : seeing
Christ hath suffered, it is enough, I have as much as my justice
can demand, my frowns are now turned into smiles.' Why, this
is it that makes Christ's death and blood so desirable to the soul ;
what shall Jacob so rejoice in seeing Esau's face altered to him ?
shall he say to Esau, I have seen thy face, as the face of God?
How much rather may the humble and believing sinner be filled
with gladness, when God, through Christ's blood, shall be thus
appeased and reconciled with him 1
There is in it a blessed virtue to open heaven, and to make
passage thither for our souls, liberty to enter into the holiest by
the blood of Jesus. It is the blood of Christ that rends the veil.
Looking unto Jesus. 333
and makes a way into the holy of holies, that is, into the king-
dom of heaven. Without this blood, there is no access to God.
It is only by the blood of Christ, that heaven is open to our
prayers, and that heaven is open to our persons : this blood is
that key that unlocks heaven, and lets in the soids of his re-
deemed ones. And Hooked^ saith John, and behold a door luas
open in heaven, and the first voice I heard ivas as itiuere of a
trumpet talking with me, which said, Come up hither; and no
sooner was he in the spirit, and entered in, but he heard the
new song : Thou art wortJiy to take the book, and to open tlie
seals thereof, for tliou ivast stain, and hast redeemed us to God
by thy blood.
Come now, and gather in all these particulars ; there is in
Christ's blood, the person of Christ, the price of souls, a merit
and satisfaction, a copious and full satisfaction, remission of sins,
reconciliation with God, a passage into glory; 1 might add all
other privileges, benefits, dignities of the soul, for they all flow
from the blood of Jesus, and they are all contained, either ex-
pressly or virtually, in the blood of Jesus ; and is not all this
worth the looking after? O my soul, where is thy languor and
fainting towards this blessed object? When David desired
strongly God's law, he expressed his longings, by the breaking
and fainting of his soul : My soul breaketh for tlie longing that
it hath to thy judgments at all times; — and my soul faint eth for
thy salvation. O where be these breakings and faintings?
Strength of desire, is expressed by the apostle, by groaning,
which is the language of sickness. O where be these groan ings
after Christ's death ? When I call to mind that Christ's death
is my ransom, that Christ's stripes are my cures, that Christ's
blood is my fountain to wash in, and to be clean ; how should I
but pray in this sense. His blood be upon us, and on our children !
O, I am undone, except I have a share in tliis blood ! It is only
this fountain, that can quench my thirst; and now I have seen
the fountain opened, how should I but thirst, and cry out with
the woman of Samaria, O give me this luater, that I may thirst
no more! But alas, I say it, I only say it. O that I could feel
it ! O my Jesus, that thou wouldst breed in me ardent desires,
vehement longings, unutterable groans, mighty gaspings. When
my spirit is in right frame, I feel some desires after Christ's blood ;
but how short are these desires, how unworthy of the things
desired ! Come, Lord, kindle in me hot, burning desires, and
then give me the desirable object.
Sect. IV. — Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect.
Let us hope in Jesus, carrying on the great work of our
salvation, in his sufferings and death. By this hope, I intend
only that which the apostle calls full assurance of hope. It is
334 Looking unto Jesus.
not every hope that is a well-grounded hope ; that we may dis-
cern that the grounds of our hope in Christ's death are not false,
I shall lay down these signs : —
1 . If Christ's death be mine, then is that great end of his death
accomplished in me ; viz. 3y the sacrifice of himself he hath
put away sin, even my sin; — and, in him I have redemption
through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. As on this
account he suffered, to finish the transgression, to make an end
of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity ; so if his
death be mine, I may assuredly say. My sins are pardoned, and
mine iniquities are done away. Come then, and try by this sign,
canst thou assure thyself that thy sins are forgiven thee? hast
thou heard the whisper of God's spirit, ' Son, or daughter, be
of good comfort, thy sins are remitted?' there is no question
then, but thou art redeemed by his blood, thou hast part in his
sufferings.
2. If Christ's death be mine, then am I made conformable to
Christ in his death. The same that was done to Christ in a
natural way,* is done in the believer in a spiritual way; that is,
as Christ died, so the believer dies ; as Christ died for sin, so
the believer dies to sin : In that he died, he died unto sin, — Like-
luise reckon ye yourselves dead unto sin. Observe here the ana-
logy and resemblance betwixt Christ and us ; both die unto sin ;
Christ by way of expiation, for the sins of others ; we by the
way of mortification, and crucifying our sins. I look upon this
sign as the very touchstone of a Christian.
Two questions I suppose needful, to resolve the grounds of our
hope concerning our interest in the death of Christ.
1 . Whether in truth our sins are mortified ?
2. Whether we grow in mortification ?
For the first : whether in truth our sins are mortified, it is a
skill worth our learning, because of the many deceits that are
within us ; sin may seem to be mortified when the occasion is
removed ; or, when it is not violent, but quiet ; when it is but
removed from one sin unto another; or, when the sap and
strength of sin is dead : as the lamp goes out, when either the
oil is not supplied, or taken away. Now that in this scrutiny we
may search to the bottom, and know the truth of our mortifica-
tion, it will appear by these rules :
1. True mortification springs from a root of faith. If we
can make out, that we believe in Christ for life and salvation,
and that now we feel in us the decay of sin, we may conclude
from the cause, that this decay of sin is true mortification : it is a
blessed effect arising from a right cause.
2. True mortification is general ; not only one sin, but all sins
are mortified in a true believer. As death is unto the members of
the body, so is mortification unto the members of sin; now
death seizeth upon every member, it leaves not life in any one
Looking unto Jesus, 335
member of the body ; so neither doth mortification leave life in any-
one member of sin. It is good to observe the degrees of morti-
fication : The first is, to forbear the practice of gross sins, in- word
and deed. The second is, to deny consent and will to all frail-
ties and infirmities. The third is, to be free from any liking of
any evil motion ; not only to deny consent, but also to deny the
very thought or imagination. If when these motions first arise,
we presently quench, reject, detest, and cast them away from
us; therein is true mortification.
2d. Whether we grow in our mortification? True mortifica-
tion is that which grows. Now the growth of our mortification
will appear by these following signs : —
1. Growing mortification hath its chief conflicts in spiritual
lusts. At first we mortify grosser evils; but when we grow in
this blessed duty, we then set ourselves against spiritual wicked-
ness ; as pride, presumption, self-confidence. This method the
apostle sets down; Let us cleanse ourselves from all Jilt hiness of
jiesh and spirit. First, from all filthiness of the flesh or body,
and then from all filthiness of the spirit.
2. Growing mortification is constant, lasting, durable. Wheil
there is in the heart a sudden flowing and reflowing, it comes
from those vast seas of corruption that are within us : in this
case, mortification is very weak. But on the contrary, if we find
our standing more firm and sure, if for the main we walk evenly,
and keep closely to the Lord; it carries with it an evidence that
our mortification grows.
3. Growing mortification feels lust more weak, and the spirit
more strong in its ordinary actings. Suppose it be a lust or
fancy, it cannot boil up to gross fancies as it was wont; or,
suppose it be pride, it boils not up to such a spirit of pride
as formerly; instead of bringing forth fruit, it now brings forth
blossoms ; or, instead of bringing forth blossoms, it now brings
forth nothing but leaves : this is a sign that this lust is withering
more and more; when the waters abate, and overflow less
ground, we may conclude, that mortification grows.
4. GroT\dng mortification hath more ability to abstain from
the very occasions and beginnings of lust. When a man can-
not endure to come where such a one is that he loves not, when
he cannot endure the sight of him, or any thing that puts
him in mind of him, not so much as to parley or speak with
him; this is a sign of strong hatred: and so when a man
hates the very garment spotted with the flesh, here's a good
sign.
O my soul, try now the growth of thy mortification by these
signs : hast thou overcome grosser sins, and is now thy chief
conflict with spiritual wickednesses ? Is thy standing and walk-
ing with God more close, and even, and constant, than sometimes
it hath been ? Is thy lust more weak, and thy grace more strong,
336 Looking unto Jesus.
in ordinary actings ? Hast thou now more ability to quench the
flame of sin in the very spark, to abstain from sin in its first
motion ? Why, then is the promise accomplished. He will sub-
due our iniquities : surely thou art a growing Christian ; thou
hast fellowship with Christ in his sufferings ; thy ground is solid,
firm, and stable 5 thy hope hath foundation, and thou mayest build
upon it, that Christ's death and sufferings are thine, even
thine.
Sect. V. — Of Believing in Jesus in that respect.
Let us believe in Jesus, carrying on the great work of our
salvation during his sufferings and death. Every one looks
upon this as an easy duty; only the humble soul cries out, ^ O
what a hard thing is it, considering my enmity against Christ,
to believe that Christ died for me, that he gave himself to the
death, even to the death of the cross, for my soul !'
Trembling soul ! throw not away thyself by unbelief. It may
be thou wouldst not die for an enemy, an irreconcileable enemy ;
but are not the mercies of God above all the mercies of men ?
Look on Jesus as lifted up, and then look at the end and mean-
ing; why was Jesus thus lifted up?
L One design of Christ's death, was to redeem us from the
slavery of death and hell. We were carnal, sold under sin;
whereupon the law seized on us, locked us up, as it were, in a
dungeon; yea, the sentence passed, and we but waited for
execution. Now, to get us rid from this dismal, damnable estate,
Christ himself is made under the law, that he might redeem us :
not by way of entreaty; that would not serve the turn. Sold we
were, and bought we must be, it was a matter of redemption :
but with what must we be redeemed ? Ye were not redeemed
with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but tvith the precious
blood of Christ. His precious blood was the price we stood him
in ; which he paid when he gave his life a ransom for many.
The case stood thus betwixt Christ and us in this point of re-
demption ; we all, like a company of malefactors, were ready to
be executed. Now, what said Christ to this ? ^ I will suffer
that which they should suffer ; I will take upon me their execu-
tion, upon condition I may redeem them.' Now this he did at
his death, and this was the end why he died, that by his death
we might be redeemed from death and hell.
2. Another design of Christ's death, was to mortify our mem-
bers which are upon the earth. Not only would he remit sin,
but he would destroy it, kill it, crucify it; he would not have it
reign in our mortal bodies, that we should obey it in the lusts
thereof. "^This design the apostle sets out in these words. He
bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead unto
sin, should live unto righteousness, Christ, by his death, had
Looking unto Jesus. 337
not only a design to deliver us from the guilt of sin, but also
from the power of sin. God forhid that I should glory, save
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, In/ whom the world is ctu-
cified unto me, and I unto the luorld. Paul was a mortified man,
dead to the world, and dead to sin. But how came he so to be ?
Why, this he attributes to the cross, the death of Christ. The
death of Jesus was the cause of this death in Paul: How muck
more shall the blood of Christ — purge our consciences froin dead
luorks, to serve the living God? There is in the death of Christ,
first, a value, and, secondly, a virtue ; the former is available to
our justification, the latter to our sanctification. Now sanctifi-
cation hath two parts, mortification aiid vivification: Christ^s
death, or passive obedience, is more properly conducible to the
one ; his life, or active obedience, to the other.
my soul, look to this : herein lies the pith and marrow of
the death of Christ ; and now if thou wilt but exercise thy faith
in this respect, how mii^htest thou draw the virtue of his death
into thy soul ? But here's a question, How should I manage my
faith, to draw down the virtue of Christ's death, and so to feel
the virtue of Christ's death in my soul, mortifying, crucifying, and
killing sin ?
1 answer, 1. In prayer, n\editation, self-examination, and re-
ceiving of the Lord's supper. I must propound to myself the
Lord Jesus Christ, as having undertaken and performed that
painful w^ork of suffering even unto death, yea, that of the
cross. 2. I must look upon those grievous, painful, shameful
sufferings of Christ as very strange and wonderful; but espe-
cially the spiritual part of his sufferings, viz. the sense and
apprehension of God's forsaking and afflicting him in the day of
his fierce anger. How should I but stand aghast at these so
wonderful sufferings of Jesus Christ! 3. 1 must weigh and
consider what it was that caused all this, viz. sin, yea, my sin ;
yea, this and that sin particularly. This comes nearer home,
and from this I must now gather these several conclusions.
1. It was the design of Christ, by his sufferings, to give satis-
faction to the infinite justice of God for shi. 2. it was intended
to give the world a most eminent demonstration of the odiousness
and execrableness of sin. 3. It holds forth, as sin is horrid in itself,
so it cannot but be exceeding grievous and offensive to Christ ; it
put him to all this pain. How then should it but offend him above
any thing in the world! 4. If therefore there be in me any
spark of love towards Christ, or any likeness to Christ, or if I
would have Christ bear any love unto me, it will absolutely be-
hove me by all means to loath sin, and cast it away from me ; to
root it up, to quit my hands, and to rid my heart of it. The
truth is, I cannot possibly give forth a more pregnant proof of
ray sincere love to Christ, than by offering all violence, all holy
severity, against sin for his sake.
12. 2 u
338 Lookmg unto Jesus,
Now when the heart is thus exercised, God, by his Spirit,
will not fail to meet us ; our desire and endeavour to weaken and
kill sin in the soul is not without its reward ; but especially when
sin hath in this way, and by this means, lost the affection of the
soul, and is brought into hatred and disesteem, it decays and
dies of itself: so matters going thus and thus in the heart, the
influence that should nourish sin is cut off, and it withers by
degrees till it be finally destroyed.
Sect. VI. — Of Loving Jesus in that respect-
Let us love Jesus as carrying on the great work of our sal-
vation during his sufferings and death. What ! did he suffer
and die ? Greater love than this hath no man, that a man should
give his life for his friends. — But God commendeth his love to-
tvards us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
Here's an argument of love indeed ; how should we but love him
who thus loved us ? In prosecution of this, I have no more to
do, but first to shew Christ's love to us, and to exercise our love
to him again.
1 . For his love to us : it is worth our while to consider it in
an holy meditation. — Indeed, with what less than ravishment of
spirit can I behold the Lord Jesus, who from everlasting was
clothed with glory and majesty, now exposed to hunger, thirst,
weariness, danger, contempt, poverty, revilings, scourgings,
persecution ! But let them pass : into what ecstacies may I be
cast, to see the Judge of all the world accused, judged, con-
demned ! to see the Lord of life dying upon the tree of shame
and curse ! to see the eternal Son of God struggling with his
Father's wrath ! to see him who had said, / and my Father
are one, sweating drops of blood in his agony, and crying. My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mef O whither hath
his love to mankind carried him ? Had he only sent his creatures
to serve us, had he only sent his prophets to advise us in the way
to heaven ; had he only sent his angels from his chamber of pre-
sence to attend us, and to minister to us, it had been a great
deal of mercy : or if it must be so, had Christ come down from
heaven himself, only to visit us, or had he come only and wept
over us, saying, ' O that you had known, even in this your day,
the things belonging to your peace ! O that you had more con-
sidered my goodness ! O that you had never sinned !' this would
have been such a mercy as that all the world would have won-
dered at it : but that Christ himself should come, and lay down his
life for his people ; and yet I am not at the lowest, that he should
not only part with life, but part with the sense and sweetness of
God's love, which is a thousand times better than life ; that he
should be content to be accursed, that we might be blessed;
that he should be content to be forsaken, that we might not be
Looking unto Jesus. 339
forsaken ; that he should be content to be condemned, that we
might be acquitted : O what raptures of spirit can be sufficient
for the admiration of this infinite mercy ! Be thou swallow-
ed up, O my soul, in this depth of divine love; and hate to
spend thy thoughts any more upon the base objects of this
world.
Look upon him ! He hangs on the cross all naked, torn, and
bloody ; betwixt heaven and earth ; he hath a crown indeed, but
such a one as few men will touch, none will take from him : his
hair is all clotted with blood, his face all clouded with black and
blue ; he is all over pitifully rent, outwards, inwards, body and
soul. I will think the rest : alas ! had I the tongues of men and
angels, I could not express it. O love more deep than hell ! O
love more high than heaven ! The brightest seraphims that burn
in love, are but as sparkles to that mighty flame of love in the
heart of Jesus.
2. If this be Christ's love to us, what is that love we owe to
Christ ! O now for a heart that might be some ways answerable
to these mercies! O for a soul sick of love, yea, sick unto
death ! This only sickness is our health, this death our life ; and
not to be thus sick, is to be dead in sins and trespasses : why,
surely I have heard enough, for which to love Christ for ever.
The depths of God's grace are bottomless, they pass our under-
standing, yet they recreate our hearts ; they give matter of ad-
miration, yet they are not devoid of consolation. O God, raise
up our souls to thee ; and if our spirits be too weak to know
thee, make our affections ardent and sincere to love thee.
The whole gospel is no other thing than a motive to draw man
to God by the force of God's love to man. In this sense the
holy scriptures may be called the Book of true Love, seeing
therein God both unfolds his love to us, and also binds our love
to him ; but of all the motives we may draw from Christ, and of
all the arguments we may find in the gospel of Christ, there is
none to this, the death of Christ, the blood of Jesus. Is not this
such a love-letter as never was the like ? Read the words. For
his great love tvherewith he loved us, Eph. ii. 4. O consider it,
is not this a great love ? Are not all mercies wrapt up in the
blood of Christ? It may be thou hast riches, honours, friends,
means; O but thank the blood of Christ for all thou hast. It
may be thou hast grace, and that is better than corn, or wine, or
oil ! For this thank the blood of Jesus ; surely it was the blood
of Christ that did this for thee ; thou wast a rebellious soul,
thou hast a hard and filthy heart, but Christ's blood was the
fountain opened, and it took away all sin and all uncleanness.
Christ is in all, and Christ above all, and wilt thou not love him ?
O that all our words were words of love ; and all our labour,
labour of love ; and all our thoughts, thoughts of love, — that
we might speak of love, and muse of love, and love this
340 Looking unto J^esus,
Christ, who hath first loved us_, with all our heart_, and soul, and
might !
Sect. VII. — Of Joying in Jesus in that respect.
Let us joy in Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our
salvation in his sufferings and death. What ! hath Christ suf-
fered for us ? hath he drunk off all the cup of God's wrath, and
left none for us ? how should we but be cheered ! Precious souls,
why are you afraid ? There is no death, no hell, no condemna-
tion to them that are in Christ Jesus. There is no divine
justice for them to undergo, that have their share in this death
of Christ. O the grace and mercy that is purchased by this
means of Christ ! O the waters of comfort that flow from the
sufferings and obedience of Christ ! Christ was amazed, that
we might be cheered ; Christ was imprisoned, that we might be
delivered 3 Christ was accused, that we might be acquitted;
Christ was condemned, that we might be redeemed ; Christ suf-
fered his Father's wrath, that the victory might be ours, and that
in the end we might see him face to face in glory. Is not here
matter of joy ? It may be, sin, and justice, and conscience, and
death, and hell, may appear as enemies; but is there not enough
in the blood of Christ to chase them away ? Give me leave but
to frame the objections of some doubting souls, and see whether
Christ's death will not sufficiently answer them all.
1 . One cries thus, ^ O ! I know not what will become of me,
my sins are ever before me: Against thee, thee only, have 1 sin-
ned, and done this evil in thy sight, I have sinned against a
most dear, and gracious, and merciful God and Father, in our
Lord Jesus. O the aggravations of my sins ! Are they not sins
above measure sinful?'
It may be so, but the blood of Christ is a fountain opened for
sin a7id iincleanness. — And now once i7i the end of the world hath
he appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. — As
the scape-goat under the law had upon his head all the iniquities
of the children of Israel, and so was sent away hy the hand of
a Jit man into the wilderness ; so the Lord Jesus (of whom that
goat was a type) had all our iniquities laid upon him by God his
Father, and bearing them, he took them away; Behold the
Lamb of God, tvho taketh away the sins of the world! He went
away with them into the wilderness, or into the land of forget-
fulness. See what comfort is here.
2. Another cries thus, ' O ! I know not what will become of
me, I have transgressed the law, and it speaks terribly : Cursed
is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in
the book of the law to do them.
Say not so ; for by the death of Christ, though the law be
broken, yet the cursQ is removed. Thp apostle is clear; Christ
Looking ujito Jesus, 341
hath redeemed us from the curse of the laiv, bei7ig made a curse
for us. He was made a curse for us ; that is^ the fruits and
effects of God's curse, the punishment due to sinners, the penal
curse which justice required, was laid upon Christ, and by this
means we are freed from the curse of the law. There is no con-
demnation to them that are in Christ Jesus : the law is satisfied,
and the bond is cancelled. O what comfort is this !
3. Another cries thus, ^ O ! I know not what will become of
me, I have offended justice; and what, shall I appeal from the
seat of justice to the throne of grace ! My sins are gone before,
and they are knocking at heaven-gates, and crying. Justice,
' Lord, on this sinner.'
By this death of Christ, free grace and justice are both thy
friends. Thou needest not appeal from the court of justice to
the mercy-seat. In this mystery of godliness there may be as
much comfort in standing before the bar of justice, as at the
mercy-seat. And yet I speak not against relying on God's
mercy for pardon; but what need we appeal from justice to
mercy, when by faith we may tender the death of Christ, and so
find acceptance with the justice of God itself? Come, and let
me tell thee, if thou hast any share in the death of Christ, thou
hast two tenures to hold thy pardon by, mercy and justice, free
grace and righteousness; mercy in respect of thee, and justice
in respect of Christ. Not only is free grace ready to acquit
thee, but a full price is laid down to discharge thee of all th)'^ sins :
so that now when the prince of this world comes against thee,
thou mayest say, ^ How can he accuse me, seeing Christ is my
surety; seeing the bond hath been sued, and Christ Jesus would
not leave one farthing unpaid ?'
4. Another cries thus, ^ O ! I know not what will become of
me ; I see death standing before me : O, this is he that is the
king of fears, the inlet to all those plagues in another world,
and die I must, there is no remedy : O ! I startle, and am afraid
of it.'
And why so ? It is Christ that died, and by his death took
away the sting of death. Come, meditate upon the death of
Christ, and thou shalt find matter enough in his death, for the
subduing of thy fears of death, both in the mrrit of it, in the
effect of it, and in the end of it. 1. In the merit of it; Christ's
death is meritorious, and, in that respect, the writ of mortaHty ia
but to the saints a writ of ease, a passage into glory. 2. In the
effect of it, Christ's death is the conquest of death; Christ went
down into the grave, that the grave, which was before a prison,
might now be a thoroughfare, so that all his saints may witli ease
pass through, and sing, O death, where is thij sting f 3. In the
end of it, Christ's deatli, amongst other ends, aims at the ruin
of him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and to
deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their life-
342 Looking unto Jesus.
time in bondage. Christ pursued this end in dying, to deliver
thee from the fear of death ; and if now thou fearest, thy fear-
ing is a kind of making Christ's death of none effect. O come,
and with joy draw water out of this well of salvation !
Come then, and comfort yourselves, all believers, in this death
of Christ ; do you believe ? Why then do you sit drooping ?
What manner of communications are these that you have, as ye
walk and are sad? Away, disquietness of spirit; Christ is dead,
that you might live ; in this respect every thing speaks comfort ;
God and men, heaven and earth, angels and devils ; the very jus-
tice of God is now your friend, and bids you go away comforted,
for it is satisfied to the full ; heaven itself waits on you, and keeps
the doors open, that your souls may enter. O my soul, I see
thou art poring on sin, on thy crimson sins, but I would have
thee dwell on that crimson blood of Christ; it is the blood of
sprinkling, it speaks better things than the blood of Abel; it
cries for mercy, and pardon, and refreshing, and salvation : thy
sins crj^. Lord, do me justice against such a soul: but the blood
of Christ hath another cry; I am abased, I have answered all.
Methinks this should make thy heart leap for joy; it is the spi-
ritual wine that makes merry the heart of man ; and it is the
voice of Christ to all his guests, ^ Eat, O friends ; drink, yea
drink abundantly, O beloved.*
Sect. VIII. — Of Calling on Jesus in that respect.
Let us call on Jesus, or on God the Father, in and through
Jesus.
1 . We must pray that all these transactions of Christ in his
sufferings and death may be ours; if we direct our prayers im-
mediately to Jesus Christ, let us tell him what pains he hath
suffered for our sakes ; and let us complain against ourselves,
' O what shall we do, who by our sins have so tormented our
dearest Lord ? What contrition can be great enough, what tears
sufficient, what hatred and detestation equal to those sad and
heavy sufferings of our Jesus?' And then let us pray, that he
would pity us, and forgive us those sins wherewith we crucified
him; that he would bestow on us the virtue of his death, that
his wounds might heal us, his death might quicken us, and his
blood might cleanse us from all our filth of sin; and lastly, that
he would assure us that his death is ours ; that he would per-
suade us, that neither death, nor life, nor aiigels, nor princi-
palities, nor poivers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor
height, nor depth, fior any creature, should be able to separate
us from the love of God, ivhich is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. We must praise the Lord for all these sufferings of Christ.
Hath he indeed suffered all these punishments for us ? Then,
what shall wc render unto the Lord for all his benefits ? What
Looking unto t/esus. 343
"O
shall we do for him, who hath done and suffered all these things ?
But especially, if we believe our part in the death of Christ ; in
all the virtues, benefits, victories, purchases, and privileges of
his precious death ; then what manifold cause of thankfulness and
praise is here ? Be enlarged, O my soul ; sound forth the praises
of thy Christ, tell all the world of that love of Christ, which
flowed with his blood out of all his wounds into thy spirit; tune
thy heart-strings aright, and keep concert with all the angels of
heaven, and all his saints on earth ; sing that psalm of John the
divine : Unto him that loved us, and iv ashed us from our sins in
his oiun blood, and hath made us kings andjmests unto God; to
him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Sect. IX. — Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect.
Let us conform to Jesus in respect of his sufferings and death :
looking unto Jesus is effective of this. Come then, and let us
look on Christ, and conform to Christ in this respect.
In this particular, I shall examine these queries ; 1 . Wherein
we must conform ? 2. What is the cause of this conformity ?
3. What are the means of this conformity ?
For the first. Wherein we must conform ? I answer. In his
graces, sufferings, and death.
1. In the graces that most eminently shined in his bitter
passion; his life indeed was a gracious life, but his graces
shined most clearly at his death : I shall instance in some of
them.
(1.) His humility; that the most high God of God, should
vouchsafe to be contemned, and less esteemed than Barabbas a
murderer ; that Christ should be crucified betwixt two thieves,
as if he had been the ringleader of all malefactors; O what
humility was this !
(2.) His patience; Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an
example, that we should follow his steps; — who when he teas
reviled, reviled not again ; when he suffered, he threatened not,
but committed himself to him that Judge th righteously. O the
patience of Christ !
(3.) His love ; Herein is love, not that ive loved God, but that
he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our si?is.
This love is an exemplar of all love, it is the fire that should
kindle all our sparks : Be ye followers of God, saith the apostle,
as dear children ; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us,
and hath giveyi hhnself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God,
for a siveet-smelling savour. Some observe, that in the temple
there were two altars, the brazen and the golden ; the brazen altar
was for bloody sacrifices, the golden altar was for the offering of
incense : now the former was a type of Christ's bloody offering
upon the cross, the latter of Christ's intercession for us in his
344 Lookijig unto Jesus.
glory ; in regai*d of both, the apostle tells that Christ gave him-
self both for an offering and sacrifice of sweet-smelling savour
unto God. O what love was this !
(4.) His meekness ; in all his passion, he shewed not the least
anger; he suffered himself to be carried like a sheep to the
butchery, and as a lamb before the shearer is dumb, so he opened
not his mouth: he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter: a
lamb goes as quietly to the shambles, as if it were going to the
fold : and so went Christ to his cross. O the meekness of
Christ !
(5.) His obedience : He became obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross, — He sought not his own ivill, but the will of
him that sent him. There was a command that the Father laid
on Christ from all eternity : ^ O my Son, my only begotten Son,
thou must go down, and leave heaven, and empty thyself, and die
the death, even the death of the cross, and go and bring up the
fallen sons of Adam out of hell.* All which the Lord Jesus did
in time; he was obedient to death, even to the death of the
cross.
Now in all these graces we must conform to Christ. Learn
of me, for I arn meek and lowly, — And, walk in love, as Christ
also hath loved us. It is as if Christ had said, Mark the steps
where I have trod, and follow me in humility, in patience, in
love, in meekness, in obedience unto death.
We must conform to Christ in his sufferings, if he calls us to
them; this was the apostle^s prayer. That I may know him and
the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sifferings:
it was his desire that he might experimentally know what exceed-
ing joy and comfort it was to suffer for Christ, and with Christ.
Concerning this, the other apostle speaks also, Christ suffered
for us, leaving us an example that we should follow his steps.
But the text that seems so pertinent, and yet so difficult, is that
of Paul ; / now rejoice in my sifferings for you, and Jill up that
which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my Jlesh, for his
body's sake, which is the church. One would wonder how Paul
should fill up that which is behind of the sufferings of Christ :
were Christ's sufferings imperfect, and must Paul add to them ?
no surely ? for by one offering, Christ hath perfected for ever
them that are sanctified. I suppose this is the genuine meaning
of the passage. Now rejoice I in my sufferings for you, tv hereby
I fulfil the ineasure of these tribulations, luhich remain yet to be
endured of Christ in his mystical body, which I do for the body's
sake, not to satisfy for it, but to confirm it, to strengthen it, by
my example in the gospel of Christ. The sufferings of Christ
are either personal or general ; his personal sufferings were those
he endured in his own body, as Mediator; which once for ever
he finished. His general sufferings are those which he endures
in his mystical body, the church ; as he is a member with the
Looking unto */t'sus. 345
rest ; and these are the sufferings Paul speaks of, and wliicli
Paul lills up.
But wherem is the conformity betwixt our sufferings, and the
sufferings of Christ ? I answer :
1. Our sufferings have no conformity with Christ in these
two things. 1. Not in the office of Christ's sufferings; for
his were meritorious and satisfactory, our's o!dy*for edification.
2. Not in tlie weight and measure of Christ's sufferings ; for
his were such as would have pressed any other creature as low
as hell.
2. Our sufferings must have conformity with Christ. 1 . In
the cause of them : Christ's sufferings were instrumentally from
Satan and ^vicked men ; we must look to suffer by the enemies of
Christ, if we have any share in Christ. 2. In the manner of
imdergoing them; we nmst suffer with a proportion of that
humility, and patience, and love, and meekness, and obedience,
w^liich Christ shewed in his sufferings. 3. In respect of the
issue of them ; we must look upon Christ's issue, and expect it
to be our's. Ought 7iot Christ to have suffered these things, and
so enter into glory f — And, If so he that ive suffer with Christ,
we shall be glorified together with Christ, — If tve suffer with
him, ive shall also reign luith him.
By reason of this conformity, we have communion with
Christ in all these particulars ; as, 1 . We have Christ's strength
to bear sufferings. 2. His victories to overcome sufferings.
3. His intercession to preserve us from falling away in suffer-
ings. 4. His compassion to proportion our sufferings to the
measure of strength which he hath given us. 5. His Spirit to
draw in the same yoke with us, and to hold us under all suffer-
ings, that ^yQ sink not. 6. His graces, to be more glorious by
our sufferings ; as a torch, when it is shaken, shines the brighter.
7. His crown to reward our sufferings, when we shall have
tasted our measure of them.
O my soLii ! study this conformity, and be content with thy
portion : yea, comfort thyself in, this condition of sufferings ;
must we not drink of our Saviour's cup ? Never wonder that
thou art hated or persecuted of men : why, I tell thee, if Christ
himself were now amongst us in the form of a servant, in tliat
very condition that sometimes he was, and should convince
men of their wickedness, as search ingly as sometimes he did,
I verily think he would be the most hated man in all the
world.
3. We must conform to Christ in his deatli, carrying in us a
rejemblance and representation of his death. But w hat death
is this ? I answer in a word, A death unto sin : so the apc^stle,
/;/ tliat he died, he died unto ^in; — likewise rechm yeyaursdves
to he dead indeed unto sin. There is a likeness betwLxt Christ's
death, and our death, in this respect j we are planted together
13. 2x
346 Loohins: unto Jesus.
t)
ill the likeness of his death. True mortificatioii carries a re-
semblance of the death of Christ. As for instance,
1. Christ's death was a voluntary death. / lai/ dow7i my
life that I may take it again ; no man taketh it from me, bict I
lay it dotvn of myself ; I have power to lay it down, and I have
power to take it again. Not all men on earth, nor all devils
h\ hell, could have enforced Christ's death, if he had not pleased:
his death was a spontaneous act; so is our mortification. T'hy
2)eople shall be ivilling in the day of thy poiver : many may
leave their sins against their wills ; but this is not true mortifi-
cation ; it bears not in it the likeness of Christ's death, for he
died, willingly.
2. Christ's death was a violent death ; he died not naturally,
but violently ; He was put to death in the flesh; hewashrought
as a lamb to the slaughter. So is our mortification, it is volun-
tary in respect of us, but violent in« respect of sin : when a man
lays violent hands on his sins ; when he cuts them off, being
yet in their strength ; when he pulls up those weeds before they
wither in themselves, this is true mortification.
3. What is the cause of this conformity ? I answer. The death
of Christ.
1. It is a meritorious cause ; Christ's death was of so great a
price, that it deserved at God's hands our conformity to Christ :
Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it, that by his
death he might sanctify it, and cleanse it ; — and present it to
liimself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any
such thing ; but that it should be holy and ivithout blemish.
2. It is an examplary cause ; He suffered for us, leaving us
an example, that lue should follow his steps. He died for us,
leaving us an example that we should die to sin, as he died for
sin.
3. It is an efficient cause, it works this conformity by a secret
virtue issuing from it. Thus Christians are said to be engrafted
with Christ in the likeness of his death,
4. It is an impelling, or a moving cause, as all objects are ; for
objects have an attractive power. Christ crucified doth heal sin,
beget grace, encourage to sufferings by being looked upon with
the eyes of faith ; look unto Jesus, and the very sight of him
will draw you after him. Christ crucified hath an attractive
power. And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men to me.
5. What are the means of this conformity ? I answer :
1. Go to the cross of Jesus Christ. It is not all our resolu-
tions, promises, vows, endeavours, without this, that will effect
our conformity to Christ in his death ; no, this conformity is a
fruit of the death of Christ, and therefore whosoever would have
• this work \yrought in him^ let him first have recourse to Christ's
cross.
2. Look up tq him that hangs upon it^ contemplate the death
Looking unto J'esus, 347'
of /esus Christ ; consider seriously his bitter, shameful, painful
sufferings. Much hath been said, only here draw it into son>^
epitome: as, 1. Consider who he was. 2. What he suffered.
3. Why he suffered. 4. For whom he suffered. 5. For wliat
end he suffered. 6. With what mind he suffered. Every one
of these will make some discov^eries eitlier of his graces, or of
his gracious actings in our behidf ; and who can tell how ibxthis
very look may work on us to change us, and transform us inty
the image of Jesus Christ ?
3. Let us humbly bewail our defect and inconformity, either
to the graces, sufferings, or death of Christ. As thus : " Lo here
the profound humility, wonderful patience, fervent love, admi-
rable meekness, constant obedience, of Jesus Christ ! These
are the particulars to which 1 shall conform. But, O alas ! what
a wide distance is there betwixt me and them ! Christ in his
sufl'ierings shined with graces, his graces appeared in his buffer-
ings, like so many stars in a bright winter's night ; but how dim
are the graces in my soul 1 His sorrows and sufferings were so
great, that some think it dangerous to define them : but how poor,
liow little, are my sufferings for Jesus Christ ! 1 have not yet re-
sisted unto blood, and if I had, what were this in comparison of
his sufferings ! Christ in his sufferings died ; his passive obedience
was unto death, even to the death of the cross : he hung on the
cross till he bowed his head and gave up the ghost ; he died
unto sin once; but, alas ! how do I live in that for which he died?
To this day my sin hath not given up the ghost ; to this day the
death of Christ is not the death of my sin ; my sin is not yet
crucified : O how unanswerable am I to Christ in all these
respects !'^
4. Let us quicken, provoke, and rouse up our souls to this
conformity ; let us set before them exciting arguments : ex. gr.
The greatest glory that a Christian can attain to in this world,
is to have a resemblance to Jesus Christ. Again, the more like
we are to Christ, the better he is pleased with us. Again, A
likeness to Christ in his death, will cause a likeness to Christ in
his glory : ifwc have been phnited together i/i the lilieness of his
death, ice sfiall he also in tlie likeness of /lis resurrection. Thus
let us quicken and provoke our souls to this conformity.
5. Let us pray to God that he will make us conformable to
Jesus Christ. Is it grace we want ? Let us beg of him, that of
that fulness that is in Christ, we may in our me:isure receive
grace for grace. Is it patience, or joy in sutYerings, that we
Avant ? Let us beg of him, that as he hath promised, he will send
us the Comforter, that we may follow Christ cheerfully, from
his cross to his crown, from earth to heaven. Is it mortification
(mr souls pant after ? This indeed makes us most like to Christ
in his sufferings and death 3 why then, pray we for this morti-
fication.
348 Looking imto Jesus,
6. Let us frequently return to our looking unto Jesus Christ, to
our believing in Christ, as he was lifted up. There is something
flowing into the soul, while it is acting faith on the death ol
Christ, which, for the rise, or the manner of its working, is
beyond what tongue can speak, or pen can Avrite, or pencil can
delineate. Come then, if we would have grace, endure afflic-
tions, die to sin, grow in mortification : let us again and again
return to our duty of looking unto Jesus, or believing in Jesus,
as he was lifted up.
LOOKING UNTO JESUS,
IN HIS RESURRECTION.
BOOK VI.
CHAP. I.
Sect. I. — Of the Time mid Reasons of Christ's Resurrection,
The sun, that went down in a ruddy cloud, is risen again with
glorious beams. In this piece, as in the former, we shall first
lay down the object, and then give directions how to look
upon it.
The object is Jesus, carrying on the great work of man's sal-
vation in his resurrection, and during the time of his abode on
earth after his resun-ection. Now in all the transactions of this
time, I shall only take notice of these two things : 1 . Of his
resurrection. 2. Of his apparitions. First, he arose ; and se-
condly, he shews himself that he was risen.
The scripture tells us, that he rose again the third day. In
this point 1 shall observe these particidars. ] . When he arose.
2. Why he arose. 3. How he arose.
1 . When he arose ; it was the third day after his crucifying.
Had he rose sooner, a doubt might have been of his dying.
2. Why he arose. We have these reasons :
(1.) That he might powerfully convince or confound his adver-
saries, notmthstanding their care, their watch, their seal, their
making all as sure as possibly they could ; at the very same time
he told them before, he broke open the gates of death, and made
the gates of brass to fly asvmder.
Looking unto Jesus. 349
(2.) That he might confirm the faith of all his followers. IJ
Christ he not risen your faith is vain, saith the apostle. Christ's
resurrection both confirms our faith, as to his person, and to his
office : for his person ; this speaks him to be the eternal Son of
God, by the resurrection from the dead : and as for his office,
this speaks him to be the promised Messiah, tlie King and Savi-
our of his churcli.
(3.) That it might appear he had full}- satisfied the justice of
God for sin : so it was, that God laid tlie forfeiture of the bond
on Christ ; he arrested him, brought him to the goal, the grave,
and there he was until the debt M'as paid to the uttermost far-
thing ; and then, that it might clearly appear the bond was can-
celled, he arose again from the dead.
(4.) That he might conquer sin, death, and the devil : and
hence the apostle cries victory upon the occasion of Clirist's re-
surrection : O death, ivhere is thy sting f O grave, where is thy
victory? Now was the day that he spoiled principalities and
powers, that he trode on the serpent's head, that he came upon
him, took from him his armour wherein he trusted, and divided
his spoils.
(5.) That he might become the first-fruits of them that slept.
Christ is called the first-fruits in a double respect. 1. In respect
of the day whereon he rose : Paul was an excellent critic, the
very feast carried him to the word, as the day of his passion was
the day of the passover ; and the apostle thence could say,
Christ is our passover, 1 Cor. xv. 7- ^o the day of Christ's
rising was the day of the first-fruits ; and the apostle thence
could say, Christ is our first-fruits. Concerning this feast of
the first-fruits, we read. Lev. xxii. 10, 11. It was their first
harvest of their basest grain, barley; the full harvest of their
best grain of wheat, was not until pentecost. Now, upon this
day, the morrow after the sabbath, the beginning of their first
harvest, when the sheaf of their first-fruits was brought unto
the priest, and waved before the Lord, Christ arose from the
dead, and in this respect Paul calls him the first-fruits of them
that sleep, of all the saints. He arose first on this day ; for the
full harvest is not till the general resurrection-day. 2. He is
called the first-fruits in respect of them whom he there sanctified :
for as an handful of the first-fruits sanctified the whole fiehl of
corn that was growing ; so Jesus Christ, the first-fruits of the
dead, sanctifies all those who are lying in the grave to rise again
by his power, even when they are in the dust of death. Jf
Christ be not riseii, saith the apostle, ye are yet in your sins. —
J3ut notv is Christ rise?i from the dead, and become the first-
fruits of them that sleep.
(6.) That being formerly abased as a servant, aiul crucified as
a siimer, he might thus be declared to be the Son of God, and
exalted to be a Prince and Saviour; and so his name might be
350 Looking luito Jesus,
glorified of all the world. He ivas made of the seed of David
according to the flesh, and declared to he the Son of God with
power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection
from the dead. It was of necessary consequence^ that he that
was so humhled, must be thus exalted : therefore luill I divide
him a portion tuifh the great, and he shall divide the spoil with
the strong, because he hath poured out his soul unto death. Of
all the reasons of Christ's resun-ection^ we must look upon this
as the main ; for as he hath made all things for his own glory, so
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father;
by the gfcry, or to the glory, or for the glory, of himself, and of
his Father.
Sect. II. — Of the Manner of Christ's Resurrection,
How he rose ; the manner of his resurrection we may consi-
der in these particulars :
1. That Christ rose again as a common person, he stood in
our stead ; Adam, we know, was reckoned before the fall as a
common person, not standing singly for himself, but as repre-
senting all mankind to come of him ; so Jesus Christ is reckoned
to us, both before his death, and in his death, and after his
death, as a common person ; not living, dying, or rising again,
singly, for himself, but as representing all the believers in the
world. As amon^ all the sheaves in the field, there was some
one sheaf, that in the name of all the rest was lift up and waved
before the Lord ; so when all Avere dead, Christ as the first-fruits
rose again from the dead. . Let this ever be remembered, that
Christ rose again as the first-fruits, as an head, as a commoa
person.
2. That Christ rose again by his own power : this he meant
when he said. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise
it up. He saith not. Destroy you, and some other shall raise it
up ; no : but I, even I myself, will do it ; yea, and by my own
power : here is a plain argument of the divine nature of Christ,
tor none ever did, ever could do that, but God himself.
It is true that tlie Father raised him, and yet this contradicts
not but that he raised up himself : Whatsoever the Father dothy
J do, saith Christ. Christ's resurrection is the invisible work of
the blessed Trinity; it is a work common to all the three persons :
there is but one power of the Father, and of the Son ; so that
of both it is true, the Father raised him, and the Son raised
himself.
3. That Christ rose again with an earthquake : And behold
there ivas a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended
from heaven. The earth shook at his death, and now it trembles
at his resurrection ; plainly speaking that it could neither endure
his suffcrmg, nor hinder his rising.
Looking unto Jcs//s. 351
4. That Christ rose again, afigels ministering to him. An
ungel came and rolled hack the stone from the door, and safe upon
it. Christ's power was n-ot hichided in the grave, but extended
to heaven, and to the hosts therein : however, tlie chief priests
and Pharises conspired together to close him in the earth ; they
sealed the stone, and set a watch; yet, the angels of heaven are
ready to w^ait on him as their sovereign Lord. An an<':el de-
scended to roll away the stone : not th.'it Christ was unable to
do it hmiself; he shook the earth, and could not he lift a stone?
yes ! but thus he would manifest his power, by declaring his
power over the mighty angels -, lie need but to say unto his angel.
Do this, and he doth it.
5. That Christ rose again accompanied with others : And the
graves were o^jened, and many bodies of saints which slept, arose,
and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and icent
into the holy city, and appeared unto many. It may be the
graves were opened when Christ was laid down in his grave,
yet the spirits came not into the dead bodies till Christ's resur-
rection ; the text is plain, that they came not out of their graves
until Christ was raised. Christ is the beginning, saiih the apos-
tle, the first-born from the tlead, both in time and efficacy.
1. In time; he rose to eternal life the first of all men. 2. In
respect of efficacy ; Christ rose first, that by his power all the
rest might rise. It is a question what became of those bodies
which riow rose : some think they died again ; but it is more
probable, that seeing they rose to manifest the quickening \ir-
tue of Christ's resurrection, they were also glorified with Christ :
and as they rose with Christ arising, so they ascended up hito
heaven with Christ ascending.
6. That Christ rose again with a true, perfect, incorruptible,
powerful, spiritual, agile, and glorious body.
1. He had a true body, consisting of flesh, and blood, and
bone ; so he told his disciples when they supposed him a spirit:
Handle me, and see, said he, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones,
as ye see me have. I know, this body, after his resurrection,
was comparatively a spiritual bod)' ; yet for all that, he never
laid aside the essential properties of a true bodj'.
2. He had a perfect body : however he was cut and mangled
before his death, yet after his resurrection all was perfect.
3. He had an incorruptible, immortal body. The apostle is
express : Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more ;
death hath no inorc dominion over him. Consonant hereunto is
that of Christ; lam he thatlivcth, and tvas dead ! and, behold,
1 am alive for evermore. Amen,
4. He had a powerful body. Luther could say of the glorified
saints, that they h'ad a power so great as to toss the greatest
mountains in the world like a ball . and Anselm hath an ex-
pression not much unlike, " They have such a power, as they
352 Looking unto Jesus.
are able to shake the whole earth at their pleasure.'^ How much
more could Christ cause that great earthquake at the rising of his
body!
5. He had a spiritual body : it needed not meat, drink, or re-
freshings, as it did before ; it is true, that the disciples gave him
a piece of broiled Jish, and of an honey comb, and he took it,
and did eat before them; but this he did only to confirm their
faith ; he ate out of power, and not out of necessity.
6. He had an agile body : it was in his pleasure to move as
'well upwards as downwards, as it may appear by the ascension
of his body into heaven ; which was not caused by constraint, or
by any violent motion, but a property agreeing to all bodies glo-
rified. Augustine hath an expression concerning the glorified
saints, ^'That they shall move to any place they will, and as soon
as they will;" they shall move up and down like a thought ; how
much more may it be said of the body of Christ !
7. He had a glorious body : this appeared in his transfigura-
tion, when his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment ivas
zuhite as light ; but especially after his resurrection and ascen-
sion, ivhen I As head and his hairwert ivhite as snow , and his eyes
were as ajlame of fire, and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they
burned in a furnace. It is true, that from his resurrection, until
his ascension, his body appeared not thus glorious unto them
that saw it : but whether his glory was delayed during his forty
days' abode upon earth, or whether he so far condescended for
his disciples' sake, as to keep in his glory, that it might not dazzle
them, is hard to determine. I am apt to think, that in some sort
he might draw" in the beams of his glory, and jet that he was not
entered into that fulness of glory, as after his ascension ; and so
some expound those words of Christ to Mary, Touch me not, for
I am not yet ascended to my Father; q. d. Fix not your thoughts
so nuich upon my present condition, for I have not yet attained
the highest pitch of my exaltation, nor shall I until I ascend unto
my Father.
From this resurrection of Christ, how are we informed that
Christ is the Son of God ? Thus Paul speaks, He icas declared
to be the Soti of God luith power, according to the Spirit of holi-
7iess, by the resurrection from the dead. — And how are we in-
formed that Christ is Lord over all things ? For to this end Christ
both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of
the dead and living. — And how are we informed*that Christ rose
again for us ? But now is Christ risen from the dead, and be-
come the first-fruits of them that sleep. — And how are we in-
formed that by his resurrection we are justified ? Who was
delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justifi-
cation : and that by his resurrection at the last day we shall be
raised ; for the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead
shall also quicken our mortal bodies : and that by his resurrection
Looking unto Jesus. ZhZ
finally we shall be saved; for after we are raised, we shall never
die any more, hut be equal unto the angels, and he the children
of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Sect. III. — Of the Arguments of Christ's Resurrection.
Christ after his passion shewed himself alive by many infalli-
ble proofs. And so he had need, to persuade men into the faith
of so strange a truth ; if we consult with primitive times, or latter
times, never was matter carried on witli more scruple, and slowness
of belief, with more doubts and difhculties, than was this truth of
Christ's resurrection. Mary Magdalen saw it first, and reported
it 3 hut they believed her not, Mark xvi. 10. The two disciples
that went to Emmaus, they saw it also, and reported it, but
they believed them not, Luke xxiii. 37- Divers women together
saw him, and came and told the disciples; but their words
seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed, them not, Luke
xxiv. 11. Ihey all saw him, and even seeing him, yet they be-
lieved not for joy, but wondered, l^uke xxiv. 41. When the
Avonder was over, and the rest told it but to one that liappened
to be absent, you know how peremptory he was : not he ; except
he saw in his 'hands the print of the 7iails, and put his fingers
into the print of the nails, and thrust his hands into his side, he
would not believe, John xx. 25. — In after-times the whole world
stopt their ears at this report of the resurrection of Christ, it was
witii tiie Grecians at Athens a very scorn; ivhen they heard of
the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. Acts xvii. 22. It was
with Festus, the great Roman, a plain frenzy; Festus said with
a loud voice. Paid, thou art besides thyself, much le<irni)ig doth
make thee mad. Acts xxvi. 24. — But 'come we to our own times,
the resurrection of Christ is to this day as much opposed by
Jews and Atheists, as any one article of our creed. And surely
we had need to look to it; for if Christ he not risen, (as the
apostle argues,) then is our preaching vain, and your faith is
also vain, 1 Cor. xv. 14. If Christ be 7iot risen, ye are yet in
your sins; and they which are fallen asleep in Chrst arc pe-
rished, 1 Cor. XV. 17, 18. Of all the precious truths in the
book of God, we had need to be, well skilled in the defending
this of the resurrection of Jesus Chri>t.
I mean not to enter into controversies; only 1 shall declare
those clear demonstrations, that substantially prove Christ to
have risen again; namely, the several apparitions that Christ
made to others after his resurrection.
1. He appeared to Mary Magdalen apart. As a woman was
t]>e in-at instrument of death, so was a woman the fn-st messen-
ger of life.
2. He appeared to all the Marys together, as they returned
13. 2 V
354 Looking unto Jesus
homewards from the sepulchre : never any truly sought for
Christy but^ v/ith these women, they were sure to find Christ.^
3. He appeared to Smion Peter alone; he first went mto
the sepulchre, and he first saw him that was raised thence.
4. He appeared to the two disciples journeying towards
Emmaus : the name of the one was Cleopas ; and probable it
is the other was Luke, '^ who out of modesty concealed his
own name," saith Theophilact.
5. He appeared unto the ten apostles, when the doors
were shut.
6. He appeared to all his disciples, and Thomas \vas with
them; and then he shewed them his wounds, to strengthen
the weak faith of his wavering servants.
7. He appeared to Peter, and John, and James, and Na-
thaniel, and Didymus, and two other disciples, when they were
a-fishing at the sea of Tiberias : there he proved the verity of
his deity, by that miracle of the fishes; and the verity of his
humanity, by eating meat with them.
8. He appeared unto more than five hundred brethren at once ;
of this we read not in the evangelists, but the apostle Paul re-
cords it.
9. He appeared unto James the brother of the Lord : i. e. the
cousin-german of Christ according to the flesh ; called James the
Just, in regard of his upright life.
10. He appeared to the eleven disciples, on mount Tabor in
Galilee. And this Matthew intimates, when Jesus bade the,
woman tell his brethren thiit he was risen, and that they should
go into Galilee, and there they should see him ; and accordingly
in that mountain where Jesus had appointed them, they saw him,
and worshipped him.
11. He appeared to all his apostles and disciples upon mount
Olivet by Jerusalem, when in the presence of them all he as-
cended up into heaven.
12. He appeared unto Paul travelling unto Damascus.
My meaning is not to speak of all these apparitions in order,
but of the most considerable.
Sect. IV. — Of Christ's Apparition to Mary Magdalen,
On the first day were many apparitions : but I shall speak
only to one or two, as related by the evangelist John.
1 . Christ appeared to Mary Magdalen apart : The first day of
•the week conieth Mary Magdalen^ early ^ ivhen it was yet darky
unto the sejmlchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the
sepulchre: she came whilst it was yet dark; she departed from
home before day, and by that time she came to the sepulchre,
the sun was about to rise ; thither come, she finds the stone rolled
away, and the body of Jesus gone : upon tjjis she runs to Peter
Looking unto *Tesus, 355
and John, and tells them, They have taken away the Lord out of
the scpnlchrc^ and we know not wliere tliey iiave laid Inm. Then
Peter and John ran to see ; they looked into the sepulchre, and
not finding tiie body there, they presently returned. By this
time Mary Magdalen was come back, and howsoever tiie dis-
ciples would not stay, yet she was resolved to abide by it, and to
see the issue. ' .
We find this apparition, for our farther assurance, compassed
and set about with each ueedi'ul circumstance : here is the time
when, the place wliere, the persons to whom, the manner how,
he appeared; together with the consequents after his appa-
rition.
1. For the time when he appeared : No7v upon t lie first day of
the week, very early in tlie morning. It was the first day of the
week, the next day to their sabbath ; and it was very early in the
morning : the apparition was early, but Mary's seeking Christ
was so early, that it was yet dark : she sought him early whom
she loved entirely ; they tlK:t will not seek Christ until they have
given over seeking other things, may justly fear to miss Cln-ist.
2. For the place where he appeared : it was in the garden,
where Christ was buried.
3. For the person to whom he appeared : it was Maiy Mag-
dalen ; she that sometimes lived a sinful life, that was no better
than a common courtezan, now is first up to seek our Saviour.
Let never any despair of mercy. Her love to Christ appears at
this time: But Mary stood ivithout at tJie sepulchre, 7ceepinsr;
and as sJie wept site stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre.
(1.) Mary stood at the sepulchre; she stood by the grave of
Christ; it signifies her great love : Mary chuseth Christ's tomb
for her best home, and his dead corpse for her chief comfort ;
Iiaving lost that light of the Sun of righteousness, she desired to
d\^ ell in darkness, in the shadow of death.
(2.) But jMary stood at tlie sepulchre, tveeping. This was
love indeed ; see how every word is a degree of love. She cannot
think of Jesus as lost, but she weeps; she weeps for having lost
him whom she loved ; at first she mourned for the departure of
his soul out of his body, and now she laments the taking his body
out of the grave.
(3.) And as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the
sepulchre. She did so weep as she did seek Mdthal ; her weep-
ing hindered not her seeking: she sought, to what jKirpose?
that Christ is not in the tomb, her own eyes have seen, the dis-
ciples' hands have felt ; and yet for all this she will be stooping
down, and looking in; she would rather condemn her own eyes
of error, she would rather suspect all testimonies for untrue, than
not to look after him whom she had lost.
4. For the manner how he appeared; it was first by his
angels, and secondly by himself.
356 Looking unto Jesus.
(1.) There wat) an apparition of angels : she seeth /z<;o an^e/.s*
in white, sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet,
where the body of Jesus had lain. The apparition of angels
was only a preparation to Christ's apparition.
In this apparition we see further^ a question and answer : the
angels question Mar}^, JFoman, why weepest thouf She saith
unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know
not where they have laid him. Here was the cause of Mary's
tears ; she knew not whither to go to find any comfort ; her Lord
is gone, his life is gone, his soul is gone, his body is gone ; yea,
gone, and carried she knows not whither.
(2.) After this, Christ himself appears, but first as unknown,
and then as known. 1. As unknown. She turned herself back,
and saw Jestis standing, and knew not that it ivas Jesus. Jesus
saith unto her, TFoman, why iveepest thou? whom seekest thou?
she supposing him to be the gardener, &c. In this apparition of
Christ unknown, I shall only take notice of Christ's question,
and Mary's inquisition ; his question is in these words : PFoman,
why weepest thou ? ivhom seekest thou ? I . TVhy weepest thou f
As if he had said, There is no cause of weeping now ; lo, I am
risen from the dead, and become the first-born of them that
sleep !
(3.) Whom seekest thou f She seeks Christ, and Christ asks
her, TVoman, whom seekest thouf A shower of tears comes be-
twixt her and him, and she cannot see him, or it may be,
her eyes were holden that she should not know him ; or it may be
he appeared in some other shape, such as resembled the gardener,
whom she took him for.
(4.) For Mary's inquiry : she, supposing him to he the gardoicr,
Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him,
and I will take him away.
Her words to Christ are not much unlike the answer she gave
the angels ; only she seems to speak more harsh to Christ, than
she did to the angels : to them she complains of others ; They
have taken away my Lord; but to Christ she speaks as if she
would charge him with the fact. But pardon love ; as it fears
where it needs not, so it suspects very often where it hath no
cause : when love is at a loss, he, or any that comes but in our
way, hath done it, hath taken him away.
Something she spoke now to Christ, which she had not men-
tioned to the angels. She said unto them. Tell me where he is,
and I will take him away : there is no essay too hard for love ;
she speaks without fear, she promises without condition, she
makes no exception, as if nothing were impossible that love
suggesteth.
5. Christ appears as known : Jesus saith unto her, Mary ;
she turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni, ivhich is to say.
Master, — Sorrow may endure for a night, but joy comes in the
Looking unto Jesus. 35/
morning. She that hitherto had sought without finding, and
wept without comfort, and called ^vithout answer, even to her
Christ now appears; and at his apparition these passages are
betwixt them : first, he speaks unto her, Jlari/; and then she
replies unto him, Rabboni, ivkich is to sai/, Master.
1. He speaks unto her, 3I(ny! it was but a word, but O what
life ! what spirit ! what quickening and reviving was in the word !
the voice of Christ is powerful; "If the Spirit of Christ come
aJone with the word, it will rouse hearts, raise spirits, work won-
ders." And at this word her tears are dried up; no more tears
now, unless they be tears for joy. Observe the way how you
may know the voice of Jesus Christ : if it be cll'ectuaf, it usually
singles a man out ; yea, though it be generally spoken by a mi'-
nister; yet the voice of Christ will speak particular!}' to the very
heart of a man, with a marvellous kind of majesty and glory
stampt upon it, and shining in it. Take a broken, drooping
spirit, he hears the free offer of grace, the precious promises of
God in Christ; but he casts by all promises; but when the
Lord comes in, he speaks particularly to his hecut, he meets
with all his objections, that he thinks, — this*isthe Lord, and this
is to me.
2. She said unto him, Rahboni, ivhich is to sai/, blaster. As
she was ravished with his voice, so, impatient of delay, she takes
his talk out of his mouth ; and to his lirst and only ^^•ord, she an-
swered but one other, Rahbo7ii, ivhich. is to say, Cluster. A
wonder that in this verse but two \i^ords should pass betwixt
them two ; but some give this reason, that a sudden joy rousing
all her passions, she could neither proceed in her own, nor give
him leave to go forv\^ard in his speech.
3. For the consequents after this apparition, Jesus saith unto
her, Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father ;
but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my
Fattier and to your Father, and to my God and your God.
Touch me not. Mary is not satisfied to see her Lord, nor is
she satisfied to hear her Lord, but she must touch him, embrace
his feet ; but on a sudden he checks her ibrv/ardness ; as if he
had said, O Mary, fix not thy thoughts so nmch upon my pre-
sent condition, inasmuch as this is not the highest pitch of my
exaltation ; 1 am not as yet attained to that, nor shall I attain to
it until I ascend ; the degrees of my exaltation {u*e, 1 . M}' re-
surrection. 2. My ascension. 3. My session at God's right
hand ; but that is not yet.
4. But go to mi/ h^^ethren, and say unto them, I asroul unto
my Father and your Fattier, and to my God and your God :
this was the command of Christ ; instead of touciiing Inin, she
must go with a message to his apostles, and thii was more ix-n;'-
ficial both to her and them.
But what means he to speiik of the ascension, whvn us yet wo
358 Looking 2mto Jesus,
are but upon the resurrection ? I suppose this was to pre-vcnt
tJieir mistake^ who might have thought^ if Christ be risen^ then
we shall have his company again, as heretofore : No, saith Christ,
I am not risen to make any abode with you ; my rising is in
reference to my ascending.
But whither will he ascend ? 7b his Father and our Father ;
to his God and our God. O blessed message ! This is the
voice of a fcither to his son ; all that I have is thine, Novv^ if
this Father be also God, and if all that is God's be also ours, what
can we desire more ? But here's the question, whether his Fa-
ther and God, be also ours ? That he is Christ's Father, and
Christ's God, is without all question : but that his Father should
be our Father, and that his God should be our God ; this were
a gospel indeed. O then what a gospel is this ! ^ Go unto my
bretliren, and say unto them, that our relations and interests are
ail one ; the same Father that is mine, is their's ; and the same
Giod that is mine, is their's.'
Sect. VI. — Of Christ's Apparition to his ten Disciples.
On this day some reckon five apparitions ; but I shall now
only take notice of the last. Then the same day at evening,
being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where
the disciples ivere assembled, for fear of the Jews, came Jesus,
and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you ;^
and ivhen he had so said, he shelved unto them his hands and his
feet. In these words we have the apparition of Christ, with all
its circumstances.
As, 1 . When he appeared.
2. Where he appeared.
3. To whom he appeared.
4. How he appeared.
So necessary was it to confirm this point, that not a needful
circumstance must be wanting. , And first is laid down the time ;
Then the scone day at evening, being thejirst day of the week.
1. It was the same day, that is, the very day of rising; the
same day that he appeared to Peter, to the two disciples going
to Emmaus, to the woman coming to the sepulchre, and to Mary
Magdalen; the very same day he appears to the ten.
2. It was the same day at evening : both at morn, noon, and
evening, Christ shewed himself alive by many infallible proofs.
Early in the morning he appeared to Mary, and presently after
to the three Marys, who touched his feet, and worshipped him.
About noon he appeared to Simon Peter : in the afternoon he
travelled with two of his disciples almost eight miles, to the
castle of Emmaus ; and in the evening of the same day, he re-
turned invisible from Emmaus to Jerusalem. At all times of the
day, Christ is prepared, and preparing grace for his people.
Looklns:; unto Jesus. 359
3. It was the same clay at evening, heing the first of the week.
When Joseph shewed himself unto his bretln-en, he would not do
. it at first, and yet he dealt very kindly with them : hut Christ's
kindness is far above Joseph's ; for on the hrst day of the week, the
very same day that he rose from the dead, he appears unto them.
4. The place is laid down in this passage, wliere the disciples
were assembled. The evangelist Luke speaks expressly, it was
in Jerusalem ; but in what house in Jerusalem, it is unknown ;
only some conjecture, that it was in the house of some disciple,
therein was an upper room ; this upper room, according to the
manner of their buildings at that time, was the most large and
ca^^acious of any other, and the most retired and free from dis-
turbance. Christ came in when the doors were shut, either
causing the doors to give place, the disciples not knowing how 5
or else altering the very substance of the doors, that his body
might pass through them without destruction. I know not but
he that thickens the waters to carry his body, might also attc-
luiate the doors, to make way for his body.
5. The persons to whom he appeared, were his disciples;
they that were shut up, not daring to step out of doors, for fear
of the Jews. It is Christ's usual course to appear to tliem who
are fall of fears and griefs, and most in dangers : Wlien tliou
2yassest. through the ivaters, I will he with tliee; and through tlie
rivers, they shall not overjlow thee.
6. For the manner how he appeared : 1 . He stood in the
midst. 2. He said, Peace be unto you. 3. He sfiewed ttiem
his hands and his side.
(1.) He stood in the midst. O what comfort is here, to see
Jesus Christ stand in the midst; now may the disciples behold
him as their blessed peace-maker, their mediator, as one that
hath slain the enmity ; not only that enmity betwixt men and
men, Jews and Gentiles, but also betwixt God and men. This
he did by his death, and now he declares it at his resurrection ;
having slain the enmity by his cross, lie came a)id preac/ied peace :
Jesus came and stood in tfie midst, and said unto them, Peace be
unto you.
(2.) He said, Peace J)c unto you. A seasonable salutation;
for now were the disciples in fear and trouble: they had no
peace with God, or man, or with their own consciences; and
therefore a more welcome news couhl not have come.
[1 .] It speaks their peace with God. . Sin was it that brought
a difference betwixt God and man : now this ditVerence Jesus
Christ had taken away by his death : Behold the Lamb 0/ God^
tvhich taheth cnray the 'sins of the world. This was tlic great
design of Christ's coming, to makepeace betwixt (iod and man;
his Father imposed this ofhce upon him, and Jesus Christ under-
took it, and discharged it, and he proclaims it, in the tirst place,
to his disciples. Peace be unto you.
360 Looking unto Jesus,
[2.] It speaks their peace with man. I know no reason why
we should exclude civil peace out of Christ's wish; many a pro-
mise and precept we have in the word, scattered here and there^
to this pm-pose: And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall
lie down, and none shall make you afraid. — Folloiv peace, and
holiness, without luhich no man shall see God. ' Orbem paca
tern,' was ever a clause in the piayers of the primitive church,
that the world might be quiet; I am sure it is Christ's command.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with
all men.
[3.] It speaka their peace among themselves, peace one with
another; such is, or should be, the condition of the church. Je-
rusalem is builded as a city that is at unity within itself: the
apostle dwells on this unity : There is one body, and one spirit^
and one liope, and one Lord, and one faith, and one baptismy
and one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through
all, and in you all. The church is a court, whose very pillars are
peace. The building, or Christianity, knows no other material
to work upon. If we look upon the church itself, there is one body :
if upon the very soul of it, there is one spirit: if upon the endow-
ment of it, there is one hope : if upon the head of it, there is one
Lord: if upon the life of it, there is one faith : if upon the door
of it, there is one baptism : if upon the father of it, there is one
God and Father of all, zvho is above all, and through all, and
in you a' I. It was sometimes Christ's command unto his apos-
tles. Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
And as a blessed elfect of this salutation, (for 1 look upon them
as words full of virtue,) the apostles and churches of Christ kept
a most sweet harmony : the multitude of them that believed ivere
of one heart and of one soul.
[4.] It speaks peace within, peace of conscience. The apos-
tles had exceedingly fallen from Christ ; one betrayed him, and
another denied him, all left him alone in the midst of his ene-
mies ; and yet to them he speaks, Peaxe he wito you. I know
not a better ground for comfort of poor humbled sinners than
this is : it may be you have dealt very unkindly with Jesus Christ,
you have forsaken him, denied him, forsworn him ; O but con-
sider, all this hindered not Christ's apparition to his apostles ; he
comes unexpected, and quiets their spirits : he stays nut till they
had sued to him for mercy, but of his, mere lo^e he stills the waves,
and calms their troubled spirits, working in them according to
his word. Peace be unto you.
(3.) He shewed unto them his hands and his side. I look
upon this as a true and real manifestation of his resurrection ;
Christ's body yet remaining on earth was not entered into that
fulness of glory ; and therefore he might then retain some scars
or blemishes, to manifest the truth of his resuiTCction to his dis-
ciples. O the wonderful condescensions of Christ ! what helps
Looking unto Jesus. 361
doth he contmually afford to beget in us faith ! If we are igno-
rant^ he instructs us ; if we err, he rethiceth us ; if we sin, he
corrects us ; if we stand he holtls us up ; if we fall, he lifts us
up again; if we go, he leads us; if we come to him, he is ready
to receive us ; there is not a passage of Christ between him and
his, but is an argument of love, and a means either of begetting
or increasing faith.
CHAP. II.
Sect. I. — Of knowing Jesus as carrying oii the great Work of
our Salvation in Ms Itesurrcction.
That in all respects we may look on Jesus, — 1. Let us knov/
Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation in his resurrec-
tion, and during the time of his abode upon the eartli after his
resurrection. This is worth the knowing: on it depends oui*
justification, salvation; for if Christ he not risen, we are yet in
our sins, and our faith is in vain, and our hope is in vain. O
my soul, study this point ; many take it up in gross, they can
run over this article of their creed, " The third day he rose again
from the dead;" but for a particular understanding of it, in re-
spect of the time, or the end, or the manner, or the certainty,
how many are to seek; I shall appeal to thyself; are not many
discoveries already made, which before thou never tookest notice
of? and if thou wouldst but study this point, how much more
might yet appear ! especially to thine own good ; it is not enough
to know Christ's resurrection, unless thou know it for thyself.
Be sure thou hast this mind, that Christ rose again; but
what is that to me ? Saving knowledge is ever joined \\ith a
particular application;' if Christ be my head, then he could not
rise, but I rose with him, and in him : and thus, O my soid, look
on Christ ; and thus search into every particular of Christ's re-
surrection : come study when he rose ; study the argiuuents that
make out Christ's resurrection sure and certain ; study all the
apparitions of Jesus Clu-ist; O what delightful studies are these !
Hadst thou been with them to whom Christ appeared, Mouhl not
thy heart have leaped with joy ! Come, study it closely, for the
benefits of these apparitions extend to thee. Know this for
thyself.
Sect. II. — Of considering Jesus in that respect.
Let us consider Jesus carrying on this work of our salvation
in his resurrection.
1. Consider the time when Christ rose again. As Christ had
his three days, and no more; so nuist thou have the same three
13. 2 z
362 Looking unto Jesus,
days like unto his : the first day was called the day of prepara-
tion; the second was the sabbath-day; and the third day was
the resurrection day : so thy first day is a day of preparation, a
day of passion, wherein thou must strive against sin and Satan,
wherein thou must suffer all their darts until thou diest; and thy
second day is a day of rest, wherein thy body must lie in the
grave, and thy flesh rest in hope ; wherein thou shalt enter into
peace, and rest in thy bed, until the trumpet sound, and bid thee
arise, and come to judgment; and thy third day is a day of
resurrection.
2. Consider the reasons why Christ arose ; was it not to con-
found the Jews ? They could not endure to hear of Christ's
resurrection, and therefore when Peter and the other apostles
spoke on that point, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel
to slay them. Again, was it not to confirm the faith of Christ's
followers ? Until he was risen, their faith was weak ; but after
he had shewed himself alive by many infallible proofs, they could
then cry out. My Lord and my God ! Again, was it not to evid-
ence that he had fully satisfied all our debts ? The apostle tells
us, that Christ was our surety ; at his death he was arrested, and
cast into prison, whence he could not come till all was paid;
and therefore to hear that Christ is risen, is a clear evidence that
God is satisfied. Again, was it not to conquer sin, death, and
the devil ? Now he took from death his sting, and from hell its
standard ; now he seized upon the hand- writing that was against
us, and nailed it to his cross ; now he spoiled principalities and
powers, and carried away the keys of death and hell ; now he
came out of the grave as a mighty conqueror, saying, as Deborah
did in her song, O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength^
thou hast marched valiantly. Again, was it not to become the
first-fruits of them that slept? Christ was the first that rose
again to die no more ; and by virtue of his resurrection (as being
the first-fruits) we must rise again : As in Adam all die, even so
in Christ shall all be made alive ; — every man in his own order,
Christ the first-fruits, and afterwards they that are Christ's at
his coming. Again, was it not that he might be declared to be
the Son of God? Was it not that he might be exalted and glo-
rified ? This is the main reason of all ; see thou to this ! O give
him the glory of his resurrection ; so meditate, and consider on
this transaction, as to ascribe to his name all honour and glory.
What, is he risen from the dead? Hath God highly exalted
him, and given him a name above every name ? O then let every
tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
3. Consider the manner of Christ's resurrection. 1 . He arose
as a common person ; in which respect his resurrection concerns
us no less than himself. We must not think that when Christ
was raised, it was uo more than when Lazarus was raised; his
Looking unto Jesus. 363
resurrection was the resurrection of us all ; it was in the name of
us all, and had in it a seed-like virtue, to work the resurrection
of us all. — 2. He rose by his own power; and so did none but
Jesus Christ from the beginning of the world. O my soul, he
was able to raise himself, much more is he able to raise thee up,
3. He rose with an earthquake : O the power of Christ! What
ailed thee, O earth, to skip like a ram ! The Lord reigneth,
and therefore the earth is moved. O what a rocky heart is mine !
How much harder than that rock that moves not, melts not, at
the presence of God, the presence of the God of Jacob.
4. An angel ministered to him at his resurrection : An angel
came, and rolled back the stone from the door, a)id sat npon if.
Angels were the first ministers of the gospel, the first preachers
of Christ's resurrection ; they preached more of Christ than all the
prophets did : they first told the women that Christ was risen ;
and they did the first service to Christ at his resurrection, in roll-
ing the stone from the door's mouth. O my soul, that thou weit
but like these blessed angels ! How is it that they are so forward
in God's service, and thou art so backward ? One day thou ex-
pectest to be equal with the angels, and art thou now so far be-
hind them? — Many of the bodies of the saints arose out of their
graves at his resurrection ; as the angels ministered, so the saints
waited on him; look upon them as the fruit of Christ's resurrec-
tion, and as an earnest of thy own. — Christ rose again with a
true and perfect body, with an incorruptible and powerful body,
with a spiritual and agile body, with a glorious body, brighter
than the sun in his utmost glory; and he shall change our vile
bodies, that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body. O
consider of it, until thou feelest the influence, and comest to the
assurance, of this blessed change.
1. Consider the several apparitions of Jesus Christ.
2. Muse on his apparition to Mary Magdalen : O the grief
before he appeared ! and, O the joys when he appeared ! —
1. Before, slie apprehended nothing, but that some or other had
taken away her Lord : these were all the words she uttered ;
They hare taken away my Lord, atid I knoiu not where they
have laid him. — 2. After lie appeared, she was filled with joy:
when nothing else would satisfy, Jesus himself appears. At
first he is unknown, she takes him for the gardener; but within
a while he utters a voice that opens both her ears and eyes : And
Jesus saith unto her, Mai^j. It was the sweetest sound that
ever she heard; hereby the cloud is scattered, and the Sun of
righteousness appears; this one word lightens her eyes, and
cheers her heart.
I know not in all the book of God a soul more depressed m ith
sorrow, and lifted up with joy : O meditate on this ! if Christ be
absent, all is night; but if Christ appear, he turns all again into
lightsome day.
364 Looking unto Jesus,
8. Muse on his apparition to the ten disciples. When the
doors were shut for fear of the Jews^ then came Jesus^ and stood
in the midst, saying to them, Peace be unto you. Before his
apparitions^ sorrow and fear had possessed all their spirits ; some-
times they walked abroad, and were sad ; and sometimes they
kept within, and shut the doors upon them, as being exceedingly
afraid : in this condition Jesus Christ (that knows best the times
and seasons of grace and comfort) comes and stands in the midst
of their assembly; he comes in, they know not how; and no
sooner is he in, but he salutes them, Peace he unto you.
Tliis was the prime of all his wishes ; no sooner is he risen,
but he wisheth peace to all his apostles ; no sooner meets he with
them, but the very opening of his lips was with these words :
they are tiie first words, at the first meeting, on the very first
day. A sure sign that peace was in the heart of Jesus Christ ;
howsoever it is with us, peace or war, there is the commonweal
Avhere Christ is King, and there is nothing but peace. Come,
examine : art thou, O my soul, a member of this body ? a subject
of this commonweal? Hath the influence of Christ's peace
(wrought and declared at his resurrection) any force on thee ?
hast thou peace with God — and peace within — and peace with-
• /lit ? Dost thou feel that ointment poured upon Aaron's head,
.'\nd running down the skirts of his garments ? Doth the spirit
iissure thee, that Christ the Prince of peace hath made peace
and reconciliation betwixt God and thee ? O hoiu heaictiful upon
the ynountains ivould the feet of him he, that should publish peace,
that should bring these good tidings, that thou art a citizen of
that Jerusalemiuhere God is King, and Christ the Prince of j^eace 1
where all the buildings are compact together^ as a city that is at
unity within itself.
Sect. III.— 0/ desiring Jesus in that respect.
Let us desire Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation
in his resurrection.
But what is there in Christ's resurrection, that should move
our souls to desire it ?
I answer, 1. Something in itself. 2. Something in reference
to us.
1. There is something in itself. Had we but a view of the
glory, dignity, and excellency of Christ, as raised from the dead,
it would put us on this heavenly motion ; we should Jly as the
eagle that hasteth to eat. The more excellent and glorious any
good is, the more eager should our desires be : now Christ raised
from the dead is an excellent object; the resurrection of Christ
is the glorifying of Christ ; yea, his glorifying took its beginning
at his blessed resurrection ; now it was that God highly exalted
him, and gave him a name above every name.
Looking tmto Jesus. 365
2. There is something in reference unto us ; as^ 1 . He rose
again for our justification. I must needs grant, that Christ's
death, and not his resurrection, is the meritorious cause of our
justification ; but on the other side, Christ's resurrection, and
not his death, is for the applying of our justification: as the
stamp adds no virtue, nor matter of real vahic, to a piece of gold,
but only it makes that value, which before it liad, act ually appli-
cable and current unto us ; so the resurrection of Christ was no
part of the price or satisfaction which Christ made to God, yet
is it that which applies all his merits, and makes them of force
unto his members. If Christ he not risen again, ye are yet in
your si}is, and your faith is in vain. Remission of sin (which
is a part of our justification) though purchased by Christ's death,
yet could not be applied to us, or be made ours, without Christ's
resurrection ; and in this respect, O how desirable it is !
3. He rose again for our sanctification. So the apostle, He
hath quickened ns together ivith Christ, and hath raised us
np together ivith Christ. If you would know how you that were
blind in heart, uncircumcised in spirit, utterly unacquainted with
the life of God, are now light in the Lord, afiecting heavenly
things, walking in righteousness ; it comes from this l^lessed resur-
rection of Jesus Christ : we are quickened with Christ, it is Clu'ist's
resurrection that raised our souls. Whence reckon yourselves
to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Tliis is the end of Christ's resurrection, that we should
be new creatures, of new lives, new principles, new conversa-
tions ; he rose again for our sanctification.
4. He rose again for our resurrection to eternal life : Christ is
the pattern, and pledge, and cause of the resurrection of our
bodies ; for since by nutn came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead. There is a virtue flowing from Christ
to his saints, by which they shall be raised up at the latter day :
not but that all the wicked shall be raised again l)y the power of
Christ, as he is a Judge; for alt that arc in their graves shall
hear his voice, and they shall come forth ; yet with this difiVrence,
they that have done good unto the resurrection of life ; and they
that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.
5. He rose again for the assurance of our justification, sancti-
fication, and salvation. This is the reason why the apostle useth
these words to prove the resurrection of Christ, / tvill give you
the sure mercies of David: none of God's mercies had been sure
to us, if Christ had not risen again from the dead. But now all
is made sure ; his work of redemption being fully finished, the
mercy w^hich thereupon depended, was now made certain, (and
as the apostle speaks) sure unto all the seed.
Methinks a thougiit of this object, in respect of itself, and in re-
spect of us, should put our souls into a longing frame. Is it not a
desirable thing to see the King in his beauty ? If Christ incarnate
366 Looking unto Jesus,
was the desire of nations^ how much more is Christ in gloi'j'^ ! If
it was Augustin's great wish to have seen Christ in the flesh, how
should we wish to see Christ risen from the dead ? In this con-
sideration we cannot fathom the thousand thousandth part of the
worth and excellency of Jesus Christ. Or if Christ's resurrection
in itself will not stir up our desires, is it not desirable in reference
unto us ? What, that he should rise again for our justification !
That by virtue of his resurrection, thy soul should appear righte-
ous before the judgment-seat of God ! O my soul, that thy por-
tion may be with theirs who have right and title to this blessed
resurrection of Jesus Christ ! O that thou wert on the wing in
thy desires after Christ ! O that feelingly thou knewest him,
and the power of his resurrection ! that thou wert resolved to give
no sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eye-lids, until thou
couldst sav, Christ's resurrection is mine !
Sect. IV. — Of hoping in Jesus in that respect.
Let us hope in Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our
salvation in his resurrection. We may examine the firmness of
our hope in Christ's resurrection by these signs :
1. If Christ's resurrection be mine, then is Christ's death
mine ; the fruits or effects of Christ's death and resurrection can-
not be severed; Ifivehave been planted together iii the likeness
of his death, ive shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
2. If Christ's resurrection be mine, then is Christ's spirit mine,
yea, then I am quickened by the Spirit of Christ. If any man
have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his : — But if the
Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you,
then he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken
your mortal bodies, (and I may add, ^^our immortal souls,) by his
Spirit that dwelleth in you. Christ's Spirit (if Christ's resurrec-
tion be ours) will have the same effect in our souls, that it had in
his body ; as it raised up the one, so it will raise up the other ; as
it quickened the one, so it will quicken the other : but how shall
we know whether we have received this quickening Spirit?
Many pretend to the Spirit, but how may we be assured that the
Spirit is ours ? I answer,
(1.) The Spirit is a Spirit of illumination ; here is the begin-
ning of his work, he begins in light ; as in the first creation, the
first-born of God's works was light. And God said. Let there be
light, and there was light; so in this new creation, the first work
is light ; God, luho commanded the light to shiiie out of darkness,
hath shined into our hearts; to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God ill the face of Jesus Christ. There is a light
in the mind, and a light in the heart, of those who have the Spirit
of Christ ; not only to know the truth, but to love it, believe it,
embrace it. Consider whether any of this new light of Jesus
Looking unto Jesus, 30/
Christ hath shined into thy heart ; take heed, deceive not thy-
self, thou mayest have a great deal of wit and knowledge, and
yet go to hell; this light is a light shining into thy heart; this
light is a Christ-discovering light; this light is a sin-discovering
light; this light will cause thee to find thy hypocrisy, deadness,
dulness in spiritual duties ; if thou hast not this light, thou art
near to eternal burnings : darkness is one of the properties of
hell, and without this light, inward darkness will lead to utter
darkness, where is iueepi)ig, andwaUing, (uid gnasliing of teeth.
(2.) Thy quickening spirit is a spirit of sanctification ; such
was the Spirit whereby Christ was raised. He was declared
mightiJi/ to he the Son of God, according to the Spirit of sancti-
fication, hy the resurrection from the dead. Tluit Spirit mJucIi
raised up Jesus Christ, was the same Spirit which sanctilied his
human nature : and such is that quickening Spirit to all in wliom
it dwelleth ; it is a Spirit of holiness, and it works holiness,
changing the heart, and turning the bent of it from sin to holi-
ness. If any man he in Christ, he is a new creature; old thi/tgs
are passed away, behold all things are hecome new. O my soul,
try thyself by this sign; dost thou find such an inward change
'wrought in thy soul ? Dost thou find the law of God a law of holi-
ness written on thy heart ? Dost thou find a law within thee con-
trary to the law of sin, commanding with authority that which is
holy and good ? If so, surely tiiis is no other hut the law of
the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus; or the law of this quickening
Spirit, communicated from Christ unto the soul.
(3.) If Christ's resurrection be mhie, then am I planted to-
gether in the likeness of Christ's resurrection ; then I am made
conformable to Christ in his resurrection : now if wq would
know wherein that resemblance is, the apostle tells us, That like
as Christ was raised upfront the dead hy the glory of the Father,
even so ive also should urn Ik in /leunicss of life. ()ur mortifica-
tion is a resemblance of Christ's death, aiul our viAilication is a
resemblance of Christ's resurrection. In this ground of our hope
concerning our interest in the resurrection of Christ, 1 shall
propound these questions :
1. Whether our souls are vivified?
2. Whether we grow in our vivification '
For the first, the truth of our vivification will appear by these
rules :
(1.) True viv-ification is general, both in respect of us, and in
respect of grace.
In respect of us, it is diffused throughout the whole man : 2'//^
I'ery God of peace sanctify you ivholly, saith the apostle. And,
in respect of grace, it is in every grace. Indeed, some Chris-
tians are eminent in some graces ; and some in others ; some have
more love, and some knowledge, and some more patience, and
some more self-denial : but all that are true Christians have each
368 LookiJig unto Jesus.
of these graces in some measure : if vivification be true^ there is
a whole work of grace both in heart and life ; as the light in the
air runs through the whole hemisphere^ so does grace run through
the whole man.
(2.) True vivification is a new life acting upon a new principle
of faith. The lift which I now live in the flesh , I live hy the
faith of the Son of God. Paul's life is a spiritual life, and the
spring of his life is the Son of God. Jesus Christ is essentially,
fundamentally life itself; and by his incarnation, passion, resur-
rection, he is life for his saints 5 they live by him, and in him, and
for him, and through him; he is the heart of their spiritual life.
O my soul, dost thou live this life of faith on the Son of God ?
canst thou make use of Christ in every condition ? dost thou look
up to Jesus, and desirest no more good name, repute, or honour^
than Christ will afford thee ? or, in case of death, dost thou,
like Stephen, resign thy soul to Christ ? dost thou see death con-
quered in the resurrection of Christ? dost thou look beyond
death ? dost thou over-eye all things betwixt thee and glory ?
O the sweet of this life of faith on the Son of God ! If thou
knowest what this means, then mayest thou assure thyself of thy
vivification.
(3.) True vivification is a new life acting upon a new principle
of hope of glory. Blessed he the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath he-
gotten us agaifi to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and unde-^
fded, that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. By
Christ's resurrection we have a lively hope of our resurrection
unto glory : is not Christ our head ? and if he be risen to glory,
shall not his members follow after him ? Certainly there is but
one life, one Spirit, one glory of Christ and his members : The
glrny which thou gavest yne, I have given unto them, said Christ,
The soul that is vivified, hath a lively hope of glory on several
grounds. As, 1. Because of the promises of glory set down in
the word ; now on these promises hope fastens her anchor ; if
Christ hath promised, how should I but maintain a lively hope ?
2. Because of the first-fruits of the Spirit; there are sometimes
foretastes of the glory, drops of heaven poured into a soul ; whence
it comfortably concludes, — if I have the earnest and first-fi'uits,
surely in his time Jesus Christ will give the harvest. 3. Because
of Christ's resurrection unto glory: now he arose as a common
person, and he went up into heaven as a common person ; whence
hope is hvely, saying. Why should I doubt, seeing I am quick-
ened together with Christ, and raised up together with Christ,
and am made to sit together with Christ in heavenly places ?
Try, Q my soul, by this sign : art thou lively in the hope of
glory ? doth thy heart leap within at the thought of thy inhe-
ritance in heaven? In a lively fountain the waters will leap
Looking unto Jesus. 369
and sparkle ; so if thy hope be lively, thou wilt have living
joys, living speeches, living delights : amidst all thy afflictions
thou wilt say, These will not endure for ever ; I myself shall
away ere long, glory will come at last. O the sweet of this life
of hope ! If thou feelest these stirrings, it is an argument of thy
viv^ification.
(4.) True vivification acts all its duties upon a x\^\\ principle of
}ore to Christ ; men not enlivened by Jesus Christ may do much,
iind go far in outward service, yea, they may come to* sutfering ;
and yet without love to Christ, all is lost, ail comes to nothing.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and angeh^ — though
I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and
all knowledge, — though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,
and though I give my body to be burnt, and have not love, — it
^irofiteth me nothing. But how may we know that all our act-
ings are out of love to Jesus Christ? I answer,
1. If we act by the rule of Christ, if ye love me, keep my
commandmeyits. — He that hath my commandments, and hcepeth
them, he it is that love.th me. — If any man love me, he will keep
my commandments. He that loves Christ, will look upon every
act, every service, every performance, whether it be according to
the rule of Christ, and then on he goes with it.
2. If we act to the honour of Christ. We may pray, and hear,
and preach, and act for ourselves, more than ior the honour of
Jesus Christ : while Christ shewed miracles, and fed his follow-
ers to the full, they cried up Jesus, and none like Jesus ; but
when he pressed sincerity upon them,, and preparation for suffer-
higSj/ro??! that time many of his disciples ivent back, and walked,
no more with him. It is no news for men to fall off when their
ends fail ; only they that love Christ, look not at these outward
things : and hence it is that in all their actings, they will carry on
the design of the Father, in advancing the honour of the Son,
wliatever it cost them. O my soul, apply this to thyself; if thou
livest the life of love, if in all thy actings, duties, services, thou
art carried on with a principle of love to Jesus Christ, it is a sure
sign of thy vivification.
For the second question, Whether we grow in our vivification ?
We may discover it thus :
1. We grow, when we are led on to the exercise of new
graces; this the apostle calls adding one grace unto anotlier:
Add to your faith, virtue; and Yo rnrtue, knowledge ; and to
kncnvledge, temperance ; and to temperaiire, patience ; and fn
patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and
to brotherly kindness, charity. At first a Christian doth not
exercise all graces ; though all gi-aces be planted in him, yet the
exercise of them is not all at once : but, as wicked men are led
on from one sin unto another, and so grow worse and worse ; so
good men are led from cue grace to another ; and so increase,
14. 3 a
370 Looking unto Jesus,
tribulation working patience, and patience experience, and expe-
rience hope.
2. We grow when we find new degrees of the same grace \
as, when love grows more fervent, when knowledge abounds,
and hath a larger apprehension of spiritual things, when faith
goes on to plerophory, or full assurance of faith. When godly
sorrow proceeds from mourning for sin, as contrary to God's
holiness, to mourn for it, as contrary to him who loves us ; when
obedience enlargeth its bounds, and we abound more and more
in the work of the Lord. / know thy works, said Christ to the
church of Thiatyra ? / knoiv thy tvorks, and the last to be more
than the first.
3. We grow, when the fruits and duties we perform grow more
ripe, more spiritual, and more to the honour of Christ : it may
be we pray not more nor longer than sometimes we used; it
may be our prayers have not more wit, or memory, than some-
times they had; yet they are more savoury, more spiritual, and
more to Christ's honour, than sometimes they were. Now we
must know, that one short prayer, put up in faith, with a broken
heart, and aiming at the honour of Christ, argues more growth
in grace, than prayers of a day long, and never so eloquent,
without the like qualifications. In every duty we should look at
their ends and aims ; for if we debase om'selves, in the sense of
our own vileness, and emptiness, and inability, and if we aim at
God's honour, and praise, and glory, it is a good sign of growth :
we call this the spiritual part of duty, when it is from God, and
tlirough God, and to God.
4. v¥e gi'ow, when we are more rooted in Christ : so the apos-
tle describes it, a grmjuing up unto him in all things. Growth
of grace, is usually expressed by the growing into Christ : grow
in grace, and in the knoicledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Ciirist. As if to grow in grace without him, were nothing, as
indeed it is not. Philosophers, moral men, and others, may
grow in virtues, but not in Christ. Come then, search and try
whether we are more rooted in Christ : when a young plant is
new set, the roots are a small depth in the earth, one may pull
them up with his hands ; but as the tree shooteth up in height,
so it strike's the root deeper and deeper : so it is with us ; we
have not so fii'm and near a conjunction with Christ, at our first
union ; but the more we live with him, like good trees, bringing
forth the fruits of righteousness, the more we strike root down-
wards.
O my soul, try the growth of vivificatipn by these few signs :
Art thou led on to the exercises of new graces, adding grace to
grace ? dost thou find new degrees of the same grace ? is thy
love more hot, thy faith more firm ? all thy boughs more laden
and filled with the fruits of righteousness ? are all thy duties more
spiritual ? arc thy ends more raised to §iim at God, to sanctify
Looking unto *Tesus\ 371
o
iiini, and to debase thyself? art thou more rooted in Christ ? in
all thy duties, graces, and gracious actings, hast thou learnt
habitually to say, I live, yet not I, but Christ livcth in me ? dost
thou interest Christ more and more in all thou dost ? dost thou
know and aftect Christ more and more ? Come, search, try : it
may be little winds have formerly shaken thee ; but thy root is
struck lower into Christ ; and now thou art not so soon shaken
with every wind ; surely thy hope is well grounded, thou hast a
part in Christ's resurrection.
Sect. V. — Of BeUcvins; in Jestfs in flint respect.
Let us believe in Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our
salvation in his resurrection.
Scrupulous souls ! throw not away your confidence ; ought not
Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory ?
Was not satisfaction and justification, payment of debt, and dis-
charge of bonds, required of him, and of necessity, for us ! O
believe ! and that I may persuade to purpose, I shall lay down,
as before; 1. Some directions; and, 2. Some encouragements
of faith.
1. For directions of faith, in reference to Christ's resurrection,
remember
( I .) Faith must directly go to Christ.
(2.) Faith must go to Christ, as God in the flesh.
(;}.) Faith must go to Christ, as God in the flesh, made under
tlie law.
(4.) Faith must go to Christ, not only as made under the di-
rective part of the law by his life, but under the penal part by
his death.
(5.) Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh, made under
the directive and penal part of the law, and as quickened by the
Spirit. He wa^ put to death in the flesh, saith Peter, and
quickened by the Spirit. And accordingly must be the method
and order of our faith. After we have looked on Christ as dead in
the flesh, we must go on to see him as quickened by the Spirit : If
Christ was not 7'aised, or quickened, saith the apostle, your faith
were in vain ; as if he had said, To believe in Christ as only in
respect of his birth, life, death, and to go no farther, were but
a vain faith ; therefore all the sermons of the apostles represented
Christ, not only as crucified, but as raised. This was the wav
of the apostles' preaching ; they told a history (I speak it with
reverence) of one Jesus Christ, that was the Word of God, and
that was become man, and how he was crucified at Jerusideni,
and how he was raiaed from the dead ; and all this in a plain,
simple, spiritual manner : and while they were telling those
blessed truths, the Spirit fell upon the people, and they had
faith wrought in theui. Faith is not wrought eo much in the wajr
3/2 Looking unto Jesus.
of ratiocinatioiij as by the Spirit of God coming upon the souls
of the people, by the relation or representation of Jesus Christ to
the aoul. And this oiu* Lord himself hints : As Moses lifted up
the sei^ent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be
lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, hut
have everlasting life. Come then, set we before us Christ raised ;
and in that respect, we must look up to Jesus.
(6,) Faith in going to Christ, as raised from the dead, is piin-
cipally and mainly to look to the end of Christ in his resurrec-
tion ; the very devils may believe the history of Christ^s resur-
rection, they believe and tremble ; but the people of God are to
look at the meaning of Christ, why he rose from the dead. 1 .
The supreme end was God's glory, and that was the meaning of
Christ's prayer. Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that
thy Son also may glorify thee ; with which agrees the apostle,
He rose again from the dead, to the glory of the Father, 2.
The subordinate ends were many: as, 1. That he might tread
on the serpent's hend. 2. That he might destroy the works of
the devil. 3. That he might be the first-fruits of them that sleep.
4. That he might assure our faith, that he is able to keep that
which we have committed to him against that day. 5. That he
might be justified in the Spirit ; as he was begotten in the womb
by the Spirit; led up and down in the Spirit, offered up by the
eternal Spirit, so he was raised from the dead by the Spirit, and
justified in his spirit at his resurrection. Christ v/as under the
greatest attainder that ever man was, he stood publicly charged
with the guilt of a world of sins ; and therefore he was raised up
from the power of death, that he might be declared a righteous
person. 6. That he might justify us : As by the offence of one,
judgment came upon all for condemnation ; even so by the righ-
teousness of one, the free gift came on all men unto justification.
(70 That he might beget us anew by his resurrection : Blessed
he the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which accord-
ing to his abundant mercy hath begotten UrS again — by the resur-
rection of Jesus Christ from the dead. And this he doth two
v/ays : 1 . As our pattern ; Lfike as Christ was raised from tlie
dead, — even so ive also should walk in newness of life: and like-
yjise reckon ye yourselves to be alive unto God, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. 2. As the efficient cause thereof : For when
we were dead in sin, he hath quickened tis together with Christ;
and ye are risen ivith him, through the faith of the operation of
God, who hath raised him from the dead. O the power of Christ's
resurrection ! If we saw a man raised from the dead, how
t'hould we admire at such a wondrous power ; but the raising of
one dead soul, is a greater work, than to raise a church-yard of
dead Dodies. ■ i "nr. ■ '
(8.) That he might sanctify us, which immediately follows the
other : But yield yourselves unio God, as those that are alivs
Lookuii>' unto Jtsus. 3/3
from the dead, and i/our mtjnbers as iustrutnents of righteousness
unto God. In our regeneration wc are risen with Christ, it is the
apostle's argument : Ifi/e then be risen with Christ, seek those
things which are above; — set your affeetions on things above, and
not on things on the earth. As the death of Christ hath a special
influence upon our mortification, so the resurrection of Christ
hath a special influence on our vivification : He hath quickened us
together with Christ, and hath raised us up together with Christ.
But how should I manage my faith, to draw down tlie virtue
of Christ's resurrection for my vivification ? I answer : —
Go to the well-head; look into the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This one act contains in it these particulars ; As, 1 . I'hat I must
go out of myself, to something else ; this is that check that lies
upon that work of grace, to keep out pride, that faith sees the
whole good of the soul in a principle extraneous, even the springs
of Jesus. 2. That 1 must attribute wholly, freely, joyfully, all
that I am, to Jesus Christ, and to the eff'ectual working of his
grace. 2?v the grace of God I am luhat I am; and I laboured
more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God
which ivas with me. The life of grace springs only from the life
and resuiTection of Jesus Christ ; and therefore, as I must deny
myself, so I must attribute all to him from what it comes. 3. 1
must lie at his feet with an humble dependance upon him, and
him alone, for the supplies of grace ; this was the apostle's prac-
tice : O that I may be found in him! O that I may know him^
and the power of his resurrection ! O that by any means I might
attain unto the resurrection of the dead! Christ is the fountain
of life ; faith is the means of life ; the power and original of life
is entirely reserved to Jesus Christ ; but faith is the band^ oa
our part, whereby we are tied unto Christ, and live in Christ;
and thus saith Christ himself, / am the res-urrection and the life.
Is that all ? No, He that believeth in me, though he iverc dead,
yet shall he live. And, / am the bread of life. Is that all ?
No ; He tfmt cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that
believeth in me shall yiever thirst.
• Therefore pray for an increase of faith ; complain to Christ,
tell him that thou canst not believe as thou wouldest, thou canst
not get in so much of Christ into thy soul as thou desirest.
And act thy faith vigorously on Christ's resurrection, for a far-
ther degree of quickening. Christ is an overflowing fountain,
and he would have believers to partake abundantly of what is in
him ; he cannot abide that any should content themselves with a
present stock of grace : Christ is not as a stream that fails, or as a
channel that runs dry ; no, Christ is the fountain of life, he is the
chief ordinandi of life that ever God set up. I know there are
other means of Christ's appointment; but if thou wilt live at the
spring, drink in there, yea, drink abundantly, according to the
overflo^'r'iDg of this fountain.
374 Looking unto Jesus.
Thus for directions : now for the encouragements of our faith,
to beheve in Christ's resurrection.
1. Consider of the virtue and influence of this object, into all
that golden chain of privileges ; If Christ he not raised, you are
yet in your sins; — then they also which are fallen asleejJ in Christ
are perished. From the resurrection of Christ flow all those
privileges, even from justification to salvation. TJie first is clear,
and therefore all the rest.
2. Consider that Christ's, resurrection, and the effects of it,
are nothing unto us, if we do, not believe. It is faith that brings
down the particular sweetness and comforts of Christ's resur-
rection unto our souls : it is faith that puts us in tlie actuiil pos-
session of Christ's resurrection ; whatsoever Christ is to us before
faith, yet really we have no benefit by it, until we believe it : it
is faith that takes hold of all that Christ have done for us, and
gives us the actual enjoyment of it ; O let not the work stick in
us ! ¥/hat ! is Christ risen from the dead ? and shall we not
eye Christ, and take him home to ourselves by faith ? The apos-
tle tells us, tliat he that helieveth not, hath made God a liary
because he helieveth not the record that God hath given of his
Son, Unbelief belies God in all that he hath done for us. O
take heed of this ; without faith, what are we better for Christ's
resurrection ?
3. Or, if we are dazzled, hear his voice, Fear not, I am the
first and last ; I am he that liveth, and teas dead ; and heJiold I
am alive for evermore, Amen. As if he had said; Come, cast
your souls on me ; it is I that have conquered sin, death, and
hell, for you. It is I that have broke the serpent's head, that
have taken away the sting of death, that have cancelled tlie bond
of the hand-writing against you, tliat have in my hands a general
acquittance of your sins. Come, take it, take me, and take all
with me ; only believe in him v/ho is risen again for your justi-
ii cation.
Sect. VI. — Of loving Jesus in that i^espect.
Let us love Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our
salvation :
1. In his apparition t^ Mary, Jesus saith unto her, JVoman
why weepest tliou? whom seekest thou? Were not these kind
words from Jesus Christ ? How often hath thy heart sighed out
/ charge you,
ye teli
in the
mount ? was not thy extremity his opportunity ? did lie not be-
speak thy comforts with these words, TFhy lueepest thou f whom
seekest thouf What wouldest thou have, that I can give thee ?
And what dost thou want, that I can give thee ? If any thing in
Looking unto Jesus, 37»>
heaven or earth will make thee happy, it is all thy ()^vll ; wouUlent
thou have pardon ? thou shalt have it, I freely forj^ive thee all
the debt: wouklest thou luw-'e myself? Behold I am thine, thy
friend^ thy Lord, thy husband, thy head, thy CJod. Were not
these - thy Lord's reviving words ? Were not these healing,
quickening passages of Christ's love.
2. In his apparition to the ten. Jesua stood in tlie midst, a?id
saith unto t/iem, Peace he unto you. Lo here more words of
love ; in the midst of their trouble Christ stands in the midst,
speaking peace to their souls ; and hath not Christ done the like
to thee ? Hast thou not many and many a time been in troubles,
that thou knowest not which way to turn thee ? A?ul even then,
hath not Christ come to thy spirit with an olive branch of peace?
hath he not wrought wonders in the seii, of thy restless thoughts?
hath he not made a calm ? and more than so, hath he not tilled
thee with joy and peace in believing ? hath he not sent thee
away from thy prayers and complaints, with a piece of heaven
m thy soul ?
I might thus go on to consider other passages, in other appa-
ritions ; but are not these enough to draw thy love ? O what
love w^as this ! O what humility was this ! that Christ after his
rcsuiTection should converse \vith men forty days ! worthy he was,
after so many sorrows, sufferings, reproaches, after so cruel,
ignominious, and bitter a death, immediately to have gone to
glory. And for the confirmation of his disciples' faith, he might
have commanded the angels to have preached his resurrection ;
no, he himself would stay in person, he himself would make it
out by many infallible proofs ; he himself would by his own ex-
ample learn us a lesson of love, of meekness, and patience, in
waiting after suffering for the reward.
Methinks a few of these passages should set all our hearts on
a flame of love ; if Christ be risen, set your affections on things
above, and not on things on the earth. O if the love of Christ
were in us, it would make us wholly to^ despise this world ; it
woiUd make us to forget it, as worldly love makes a man forget
God; nay, it would be so strong and ardent, that mc should not
be able freely to think on any thing else but Jesus Christ; we
should not then fear contempt, or care for disgrace, uc siiould
not fear death, or the grave, or hell, or devils, but \/e should
sing in triumph, () death, icliere is tiiy sting? O graic, where is
thy victory? — Tltanks he to God, 2vhich gave us tlie victory
tliroKgh Jesus Christ our Lord,
Sect. VII. — Of Joying in Jesus in that respa t.
Lf.t us joy in Jesus, as carrying on tlic gical \u»rK dI uui
salvation in his resurrection. Tliis i^^ 1 he great gosjirl (]\\\\ ; we
should rejoice hi the Lord, yen, njoiee evermore. A < hri^tiau
376 Looking unto Jesus.
estate should be a joyful and comfortable estate, and have such
cause of joy as the children pf Zion : Singy O daughter ofZion;
shout y O Jerusalem; be glad and^rejoice with all thy hearty O
daughter of Jerusalem. A thousand reasons might be rendered;
but here is one, Chi'ist is risen from th^ dead, and become the
first-fruits of them that sleep. A commemoration of Christ's
'resurrection hath ever been a means of rejoicing in God.
Vv iiat can be the condition of thy soul, wherein thou mayest
not draw sweet from Christ's resurrection ?
1 . Is thy conscience in trouble for sin ? The apostle tells thee,
The ansicer of a good conscie7ice towards God, is by the resurrec-
tion of Jesus Christ from the dead.
2. Art thou afraid of condemnation ? The apostle tells thee,
He was delivered for our offences, ajid tie was raised again for
our justification .
3. Dost thou question thy regeneration ? The apostle tells
thee. He hath hegotteii us again by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead,
4. Art thou distressed, persecuted, troubled on every side ?
The apostle tells thee wherein now consists thy confidence, com-
fort, courage ; to wit, in the life of Christ, in the resurrection of
Christ. fVe always bear about in the body the dying of Jesus,
that the life of Jesus inight also be made manifest in our body ;
for we tvhich live, are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake,
that the life also of Jesus might be mcule ma7iifest iii our mortal
flesh.
5. Art thou afraid of death, hell, and the power of the gi'ave ?
Why, now remember that Christ is risen from the dead, and by
his glorious resurrection, death is swallowed up in victory. Job
was so transported with this, that he eminently breaks out, O
that my ivords were now written, O that they were printed in a
book! that they were graven with an iron jy^u and lead, in the
rock, for ever! For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that
he shall sta7id at the latter day iipon the earth ; and though
after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesJi shall I
see God; ivhom I shall see for my self, and mine eyes shall behold,
and not another, though my i^eins be consiimed within me. No
man ever since Christ did speak more plainly of Christ's re-
surrection and his own, than Job did here. Observe in it, O my
soul. Job's wish, and the matter wished; his wish was, that
certain words which had been cordial to him, might remahi to
memory. 1. I'hat they might be written. 2. That they might
be registered in a book ; enrolled upon records, as public instru-
ments. 3. That they might be engraven in stone, and in the
hardest stone, the rock ; records might last long, yet time might
injuf-e them, and these Avords he would have last for ever. Moses
and Job are said to have lived at one time ; now Moses writ
the law in stone, and considering that these words m ere gospel.
Lookins" unto Jesus, 377
'o
there was no reason that the law should be in tables of stone,
and the gospel on sheets of paper 5 no, it were lit that this should
be as firm and durable as that : O that my words were now
written, O that they were printed in a hook.
The matter wished, or the words he would have written, are
these ; I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that I shall live
agaiii. Here is, first, his Redeemer rising. 2. His own rising,
and his seeing God. This was the matter of his joy, his Re-
deemer must rise again; and he must rise too, and see his Re-
deemer. As Christ said of Abraham, Your father Abraham re-
joiced to see my day ; and he saw it, and ivas glad. So it ap-
pears of his servant Job, he saw Christ's day, both his first day
and his latter day, and he rejoiced and was glad.
Away, all doubtful thoughts; consider what joys were of old,
at the foresight of Christ's resurrection; but, especially, what
joy was all the world over, when he rose again from the dead :
then came the angels from heaven, and appeared in white ; the
disciples were exceeding glad when they saw the Lord ; all the
primitive saints rejoiced at this news, and, because of it, loved
the very day on which Christ arose. Certainly the Lord's day
was in high esteem with the ancient church ; and the principal
motive was, because of Christ's resurrection from the dead. O
that on these days we could rejoice in the Lord, and again re-
joice ! O spend more of this day in spiritual rejoicing, especially
in commemoration of Christ's resurrection, (yea, and of the whole
work of redemption,) or else you will not answer the institution
of om* Lord.
Sect. VIIL — Of calling on Jesus in that res2)ect.
Let us call on Jesus :
L Let us pray that Christ's resurrection may be ours, and
that we may be more and more assured of it. Let us say with
the apostle, O that I may know him and the power of his resur-
rection. O that the. Spirit of holiness, which quickened Christ
from the dead, would by the same glorious power beget holiness,
and faith, and love, and all other graces, in my poor soul. O
that Christ would, by his resurrection, apply his active and pas-
sive obedience to me; O that he would be to me the Lord of the
living, and the Prince of life ; that he would overcome in me the
death of sin, and that he would regenerate, quicken, renew, and
fashion me, by the power of godliness, to become like him-
self!
2. Let us praise God for Christ's resurrection, and for all the
privileges flowing from it into our souls. " Clniht is risen ; by his
resurrection he hath justified, sanctified, quickened, saved our
souls; and therefore, (blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ,) surely God requires a thousand hallelujahs,
14. 3 b
378 Looking unto Jesus.
and that we should bless him upon a thousand- stiinged instru-
ment. Here is fuel enough; the Lord kindle a great fire in
every one of our hearts, to burn out all our lusts, and to iniiame
ail our hearts with a love to Jesus Christ 1 Can we ever too
much praise him for all his actings in our behalf? Are not all
God's creatures called upon to rejoice with us, and to bless God
for his redeeming of us ? Sing, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath
done it; shout, ye tower iiarts of the earth; break forth into
singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein, for the
Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorijied' himsetfin Israel. This
is the duty we shall do in heaven, and I believe we are never
more in heaven (whilst on earth) than when we are in this exer-
cise of praising God, and blessing God for Jesus Christ.
Sect. IX. — Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect.
Let us conform to Jesus in respect of his resurrection.
In this particular, I shall examine these queries : 1 . Wherein
we must conform? 2. How this conformity is wrought?
3. What are the means of this comformity?
For the first. Wherein we must conform? I ansAver in a
word. In vivification. Christ's resurrection was to newness of
life ; it was a new life, a life different from that which he lived
bsfore: and so is our vivification a new life; it is a life from a
new principle, of a new income, and of a new kind.
1 . It is a life from a new principle : before vivification our
principle was the flesh ; but now we have a new principle, the
Spirit of God ; even as the soul dwells in the body, so doth the
Holy Ghost dwell in the soul of a regenerate person, animating,
and actuating, and enlivening it.
2. It is a life of a new income ; I mean of grace, power, and
light. Before vivification there was no such income : a man be-
fore his conversion might hear, pray, and do all duties ; but, alas !
he feels no power, no communication, with Christ. But after
this, thou wilt, in the use of ordinances, frequently feel the saving
incomes of God. In prayer thou wilt feel the Spirit carrying
thy soul al)ove itself: in hearing the v/ord, thou wilt see the
windows of heaven set open, and all manner of spiritual comforts
showered dov/n upon thee. In meditation of the promises, or of
divine love, thou wilt find quickenings, encouragings, filling thy
heart with gladness, and thy mouth with praises and songs of
rejoichig. O what fountains of life are the promises to a living
man ! What food ! what strength ! what life ! is a thought of
Christ, of heaven, and of God's love ? Whereas all these glorious
things of the gospel are, to the natural man, but as a
withered flower, a sealed book, a dry and empty cistern ; he hath
no use of them.
3. It is a life of another kind. Before vivification, we were
Looking unto Jesus, 379
dead in sin whilst alive : but after vivification we live a spiritual
life^ a heavenly life, an immortal life. If Christ be in you, the
body is dead because of sin, bid the spirit is life because of righte-
ousness: the body indeed is subject to corporal death through
the remainders of sin; but the spirit is life here, and shall be
hereafter, even for ever. I shall answer only to the vivification
usually wrought : First, in the understanding. Secondly, in the
will.
First, the understanding lets in the truth of what the gospel
hath recorded; and thence inferreth as to a man's own self, that
by the assistance of the Spirit of holiness, who raised up Jesus
fi'om the dead, it is possible for him to attain this life.
Then it has yet some brighter believing beams; it confidently
closeth with this truth, that it is the will of the Lord that he
should come, and live, and believe, and lay hold on Christ ; that
God doth particularly call, and bid him come to Christ, the foun-
tain of life.
2. And now the answer to this call is wrought in the will.
(1.) The will summons all its confidences, and calls them off
from eveiy other bottom, to bestow them wholly upon Christ;
and this consists in our voluntarily renouncing all other helps,
excepting Jesus Christ alone ; now it renounceth its own righte-
ousness; it calls home dependence from every other object.
(2.) Hereupon there is a willing and cheerfid receiving of
Christ, and resignation of ourselves to his actual disposal, to
quicken us, and save us in his own way.
(3.) Upon this follows the soul's confidence, and dependence
upon Jesus Christ for life and for salvation ; a clear beholding or
God in Christ, and Christ in the promises, doth present such
variety and fulness of arguments, to bear up hope and affiance,
that the heart is resolved, and so resolved that we commit our-
selves, and give our souls in charge, to Christ : / know ivhom I
have believed, and I am persuaded he is able to keep that ivhich
I have committed unto him, against that day.
That union which thereby comes to be enjoyed with Christ, is
such a union as is fruitful in begetting a quickening power in.
the heart. Justification and sanctification are twins of a birth ;
and hence it is, that vivification (which is one part of sanctifica-
tion) is wrought in the soul after the self-same manner. First,
the understanding is enlightened. 2. The will is changed.
3. All the affections are renewed. 4. The internals being quick-
ened, there ensueth the renewing of the outward actions, life,
and conversation. And immediately upon this, joy is made in
heaven by the angels, God himself applauded it : for this my
son ivas dead, and is alive; he luas lost, and is found.
For the third question; What are the means of this confonnity,
or vivification, on our parts ?
1 . Wait upon God in the ministry of the word ; this is a mp-^^c
380 Looking unto Jesus.
whereby Christ ordinarily effecteth this vivification : and by this
means it is that dead souls are quickened ; the ministry of the
word is the trumpet of Jesus Christ; when that sounds, who
knows but he may quicken the dead ! Hearken therefore to this
word of God.
2. Exercise faith upon the Lord Jesus, as to justification.
As is the clearness of our souls in bottoming ourselves on Christ
for righteousness, so will be our quickness, and successful pro-
gress, in the work of holiness.
3. Trace every ordinance and every duty for the appearings
of the Son of God. Be much in prayer, hearing, reading, fel-
lowship with saints, the sacraments; be much in secret con-
versings with God, in meditation, inquiries, searchings; and
(which is a precious work) be much in diligent watching of, and
hearkening to, the movings, workings, intimations, of the Spirit
of God ; be much in observing the methods and interpreting the
meanings and language of God in all his secret dispensations
with the soul. Certainly there will be abundance of the life of
God conveyed to him that walks in these paths. O for a spirit
of prayer and meditation; O for a spirit swallowed up in com-
munion with God ! Thou tneetest hbn that ivorketh righteous^
ness, and those tliat remember thee in thy ways.
4. Look much at Christ raised, Christ glorified; Christ's re-
surrection was the beginning of his glory ; and therein is com-
prehended both the glory that draws desires towards Christ, and
the grace and power that establisheth faith in its dependence.
Could we keep our hearts in a more constant view and believing
meditation of the glory of Christ, our faces would certainly bring
some beams of divinity with them from the mount ; the very be-
holding of Christ hath a mighty virtue to leave the impressions of
glory upon our spirits.
5. See our own personal vivification bottomed upon the resur-
rection of Christ ; v/hen we can by faith get a sight of this, it is
not to speak hov/ courageously and successfully the soul will
grapple in the controversies of the Lord against the devil and our
' own deceitful hearts : O that I could act my faith more frequently
on Christ's resurrection, so that at last I could see it by the light
of God to be a principle of my vivification in particular ! What
a blessed means would this be !
6. Walk, as we have Christ Jesus for an example. This ex-
ample of Christ yields much to our vivification ; who can deny,
but that acting with the pattern ever in one's eye, is very advan-
tageous ? Come then, and if we would live the life of God, let
us live as Christ lived after his resurrection.
Looking unto •Jesus. 381
LOOKING UNTO JESUS,
IN HIS ASCENSION, SESSION, AND MISSION OF HIS SPIRIT.
BOOK VII.
CHAP. I.
Sect. I. — Of Christ's Ascension.
Thus far we have traced Jesus in his actings for us, until the
day in luhivh he ivas taken up. That which immediately follows,
is his ascension, session at God's right hand, and mission of
his holy Spirit ; in prosecution of which, as in the former, I shall
first lay down the object; and secondly, direct you how to look
upon it.
The object threefold. 1. He ascended into heaven. 2. fle
sat down at God's right hand. 3. He sent down the Holy
Ghost.
1. For the ascension of Christ; this was a glorious design,
and contains in it a great part of the salvation of our souls. In
prosecution of this, I shall shew: — 1. That he ascended.
2. How he ascended. 3. Whither he ascended. 4. Why he
ascended.
(1.) That he ascended. [1.] The prophets foresaw it :/ .vaw
in the nighty visions; and behold one, like the Son of man, came
with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and
they brought him near before him; and there was given him do-
jiiinion, glory, and a kingdom. [2.] The evangelists relate it:
He was received up into heaven, — He ivas carried up into heaven.
[3.] The eleven witness it : For rvhile they beheld, he ivas taken
up, and a cloud received him Out of their sight. [4.] The holy
angels speak it : For ivhile they looked stedfastly toivards heaven,
as he weiit up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel,
which also said. Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into
heaven? This same Jesus, tchich is taken up from you into heaven,
shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
(2.) How he ascended. [1.] He ascended blessing his apos-
tles: While he blessed them, he ivas parted from them, and
carried up into heaven. It is some comfort to Christ's ministers,
that though the world hate them, Christ doth bless them ; yea,
he parted with them in a way of blessing : as Jacob, leaving the
world, blessed his sons ; so Christ, leaving the world, blessed his
382 Looking unto Jesus,
apostles^ and all the faithful ministers of Christ unto the end of
the world.
[2.] He ascended visihly in the view of the apostles : While
they beheld, he was taken up ; he was not suddenly snatched
from them, as Elijah was, nor secretly and privily taken away, as
Enoch was ; but in the presence of them all, both his apostles
and disciples, he ascended up into heaven.
[3.] He ascended principally by the mighty power of his god-
head : thus never any ascended up into heaven but Jesus Christ ;
for though Enoch and Elijah were assumed into heaven, yet not
by their power, nor by themselves, it was God's power by which
they ascended, and it was by the help and ministry of angels.
[4.] He ascended in a cloud : While they heheld, he was taken
up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. Hereby he
shews that he is Lord of all the creatures; he had already
trampled upon the earth, walked upon the sea, vanquished hell
or the grave, and now the clouds receive him, and the heavens
are opened to make way for this King of glory to enter in.
2. When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and
gave gifts unto men, (1.) He led them captive, who had capti-
vated us. Death was led captive without a sting; hell was led
captive as one that had lost her victory; the serpent's head being
bruised, was led before him in triumph, as was Goliath's head by
David, returning from the victory. (2.) He gave gifts unto men ;
this was as the shutting up Christ's triumph, in his ascension up
to heaven : what these gifts were, we shall speak in the mission
of the Holy Ghost.
(3.) Whither he ascended, the gospel tells us, into heaven;
only Paul saith, that he ascended far above all heavQns, But
the meaning is, he went above all those visible heavens, into
those heavenly mansions, where the angels and the spirits of the
just have their abode.
(4.) Why he ascended; the reasons are, 1. On Christ's part,
that through his passion he might pass to glory. Ought not
Christ to have suffered these things, and so to enter into his
glory?—
2. On our part :
1 . That in our stead he might triumph over sin, death, and
hell. In his resurrection he conquered, but in his ascension he
led sin, death, and the devil in triumph, at his chariot wheels.
And the meaning of the psalmist, and of the apostle. When he
ascended up on high, he led captivity captive; is. He vanquished
and triumphed over all our enemies ; he overcame the world, he
bound the devil, he spoiled hell, he weakened sin, he destroyed
death, and now he makes a public triumphal show of them in his
own person. It is to the same purpose that the apostle speaks
elsewhere. Having spoiled p7'incij)alities and poivers, he made a
shew of them openly, triumphing over them in himself; it is *
Looking unto Jesus, 383
manifest allusion to the manner of trimnphs, after victories,
amongst the Romans : first, they spoiled the enemy upon the
place, ere they stirred off the field ; and this was done by Christ
on the cross : and then they made a public triumphal show ; they
rode through the streets in the greatest state, and had all their
spoils carried before them ; and the kings and nobles whom they
had taken, they tied to their chariots, and led them as captives :
and this did Christ at his ascension ; then he openly triumphed
in himself, that is, in his own power and strength.
2. That he might lead us the way, and open to us the doors of
glory.
3. That he might assure us that now he had run through all those
offices which he was to perform here on earth for our redemption.
First, he was to act as our surety, and then he was to ascend as
our head, our advocate, as the first-fruits, the captain, the prince
of life, the author of salvation, the forerunner of his people.
4. That he might thoroughly convince believers, of their per-
fect righteousness. The Spirit, when he comes, saith Christ, shall
convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment : —
of sin, because they believe not on me; — of righteousness, because
I go to my Father, and ye see me no more. If Christ had not
fulfilled all righteousness, there had been no going to heaven for
him, nor remaining there; but his ascension to heaven pro-
claims openly — 1 . That he hath completely finished the work he
had to do for us here. 2. That God was well pleased with Jesus
Christ, and with what he had done and suffered for us. 3. That
we have our share in heaven with him; he went not up as a
single person, but virtually, or mystically, he carried up all be-
lievers with him into glory. 4. That he hath a new design to
be acted in heaven for us : he is taken up into glory, that he may
act gloriously the second part of our righteousness ; I mean that
he might apply it, and send down his Spirit to convince us of it.
Three great things, Christ acts for us now in glory. First, he
is in place of an advocate for us, he liveth to intercede for us.
Secondly, he is the great provider for us ; he is laying in a stock
of glory for us against we come there : In my Father's house are
many mansions. — I go to prepare a place for you. Thirdly, he
sends down his Spirit to convince us, that Christ's righteousness
is ours. Indeed the means of procuring this, was the life and
death of Christ ; but the means of applying this righteousness, are
those following acts of Christ's resurrection, ascension, session,
intercession. By his death he obtained righteousness for us, but
by his ascension he applies righteousness to us.
Sect. II. — Of God's Right Hand, and of Christ's
Session there.
For the session of Christ at God's right hand, I shall examine,
—I. What is God's right hand? 2. What is it to sit there?
384 Looking unto Jesus,
3. According to what nature doth Christ sit there? 4. Why is
it that he sits at the right hand of God ?
1 . What is this right hand of God ? I answer^ The right hand
of God is the majesty^ dignity, dominion, power, and glory of
God. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of
the Lord doeth valiantly, — Thy right hand, O Lord, is become
glorious in power: thy right handy O Lord, hath dashed in
pieces the enemy.
2. What is it to sit at the right hand of God ? I answer, it is
not any corporal session at God's right hand; which Stephen
contradicts, saying, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man
standing on the right hand of God. The words sitting or stand-
ing, are both metaphorical, and borrowed from the custom of
kings, who place those they honour, and to whom they commit
tlie power of government, at tlieir right hand ; more particular-
ly, this sitting at God's right hand implies two things: 1. His
glorious exaltation. 2. The actual administration of his
kingdom.
(1.) Christ is exalted: therefore God also hath highly ex-
alted him, and given him a name above every name, that at the
name of Jesus every knee shall bow. This session is the supreme
dignity and glory given by the Father unto Christ, after his as-
cension ; this session is the peerless exaltation of the Mediator
in his kingdom of glory. But how was Christ exalted ? I an-
swer : 1 . In the regard of his divine nature ; not really, or in
itself. Impossible it was that the divine nature should receive
any intrinsical glory, because all fulness of glory essentially be-
longed unto it ; but declaratory, or by way of manifestation ; so
it was, that his divinity, during the time of his humiliation, lay
hidden and overshadowed : but now, in his session, that divinity
and glory which he had always with the Father, was shewed forth
and declared : He luas declared to be the Son of God with poiverf
both at his resurrection and at his session. 2. In regard of his
human nature ; and yet that must be understood soberly, for 1
cannot think that Christ's human nature was at all exalted in
regard of the grace of personal union, or in regard of the
habitual perfections of his human soul, because he possessed all
these from the beginning; but in regard of those interceptions of
the beams of the godhead and divine glory, and in respect of
the restraints of that sense and sweetness, and feeling operations
of the beatifical vision, during his humiliation : in these respects
Christ was exalted in his human nature, and had all the glory
from the Deity communicated to it, which possibly in any way
it was capable of.
(2.) Christ reigns, or actually administers his glorious king-
dom ; and this is the principal part of Christ's sitting at God's
right hand. So the psalmist : The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit
thou at my right hand, until I make thine e7iemies thy footstool:
Look'ins: unto Jesus, 385
'05
the Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion, rule
thou in the midst of thy enemies. The apostle is yet more large :
God set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far
above all jirincipality, and power, and might, and dominion, and
every name that is named, not only in this world, hut also in that
ivhichis to come; and hath put all things under Ins feet, and
gave hitn to he the head over all things to the church, ivhich is his
body, the fulness of him that fillet h all in all. Some describe
this session at God's right hand, to be all one with his reigning in
equal power and glory Avith the Father; but the Son hath always
so reigned, and the Holy Ghost hath always so reigned, who yet
is not said in scripture to sit at the right hand of the Father : 1
believe therefore there is sometliing in this session or reign of
Christ, which doth difference it from that reigning power and
glory of the Father, and of the Son as only God, and of the
Holy Ghost ; and if we would know what that is, I would call it
an actual admhiistration of his kingdom, or an immediate exe-
cuting of his power and glory over every creature as Mediator.
And this made Christ say. The Father judgeth no man, hut hath
committed all judgment unto the Son, as Mediator. You may
object, Christ was Mediator immediately after his incarnation,
but he did not actually administer his kingdom then. I answer,
it is true ; Christ for a time did empty himself, and laid aside the
actual administration of his kingdom ; but immediately after his
ascension^ the Father, by a voluntary dispensation, resigned it
to the Son again : ' Come now,' saith the Father, ' and take thou
power over every creature, till the time that all things shall be
subdued under thee.' This right the one relinquished in the time
of that humiliation of himself, and this right the other conferred
at the time of the exaltation of his Son.
o. According to what natiu'e is Christ said to sit at the right
hand of God ? I answer, accordmg to both natures : first, he
sits at God's right hand as God ; hereby his divinity was declared,
and his kingdom is such, that none that is a poor creature can
possibly execute. 2. He sits at God's right hai^d as man too ;
hereby his humanity was exalted, and a power is given to Christ
as man : He hath given him power to execute judgment, in as
much as he is the Son of man.
Sect. III. — Of the Reas())is wJn/ Christ doth sit oil God's
Right Hand.
Why doth Christ sit at the right hand of God ? I answer :
1. On Christ's part, that he might receive power and dominion
over all the creatures. All pcrwtr is given unto me in heaven and
in earth: he speaks of it as done, because it was immediately to
be performed ; Christ at his session received a power imperial
over every creature.
14. 3c
386 Looking unto Jesus.
2. On our part, many reasons might be given ;
1 . That he might be the head of his church ; in a strict sense,
as the head is conjoined with the body and members, so is Christ
the head of his church. To this purpose he sits at God's right
hand, that having now fuhiess of grace and glory in himself, he
might be ready to communicate the same to his church, who are
as the members of his body, that he might give them grace here, '
and glory hereafter ; when he shall deliver up his kingdom to his
Father, and be all in all.
2. That he might be the object of divine adoration; then espe-
cially it was said and accomplished. Let all the angels of God
worship him : and let all men honour the Son^ as they honour the
Father. After Christ's session, Stephen looked up into heaven,
and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand
of God, and then he worshipped ; and called upon God, saying,
Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. It is true, the ground of this di-
rine adoration, is the union of the two natures of Christ, and
therefore the Magi worshipped him at his birth ; and as soon as
ever he came into the world, the angels of God worshipped him ;
but because by his session at God's right hand, the divine nature
was manifested, and the human nature was exalted to that glory
which it never had before ; therefore now especially, and from
this time, was the honour and dignity of worship communicated
to him as God and man. God highly exalted him, and gave him
a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus
every knee shall how, of things in heaven, and things in earth,
and things under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess
that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
3. That he might intercede for his saints. JVow of the things
which we have spoken, this is the sum : JVe have such an High
Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty
in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true taber-
nacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. He is set on the
right hand of God, as an high priest or minister to intercede for
us : for as Chnst is not entered into the holy place made with
hands, ivhich are the figures of the true ; hut into heaven itself,
noiu to appear in the presence of Godfo^^ us.
4. That true believers may assuredly hope, by virtue of Christ's
session, to sit themselves in the kingdom of glory. Christ living
in heaven is the very figure of us ; Christ's person is the great
model and first draught of all that shall be done to his body, the
saints : therefore he is said to be the captain of our salvation,
that leads us on ; he is said to be our forerunner into glory.
He breaks the clouds first, he appears first before God, he sits
down first, and is glorified first, and then we follow.
5. That he might defend the church against her enemies; and
at last destroy all the enemies of the church.
6. That he might send down the Holy Ghost : to this purpose
Looking unto %TesuS. 387
Christ told his disciples whilst he was yet on earthy that he must
ascend into heaven, and reign there : It is ejcpedient foi' you that
I go away, for if I go not aivay, the Comforter will not come
unto you; hut if I depart, I tuill send him to you, Christ is
now in heaven, and sits at God's right hand, that he may send us
his Spirit, by whose forcible working we seek after heaven, and
heavenly things, where now Christ sits.
Sect. IV. — Of the Time when, and the Persons to whom, the
Holy Ghost was sent.
No sooner was Christ set down at God's right hand, but he
sends down the Holy Ghost. It was an use amongst the an-
cients, in days of great joy and solemnity, to give gifts and to
send presents unto men : thus Christ, in the day of his majesty
and inauguration, in that great and solemn triumph, when he
ascended up on high, led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto
men.
And when the day of the Pentecost was fully come, they ivere
all with one accord in one place; and suddenly there came a
sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and itjilled all
the house where they were sitting ; and there appeared unto ihem
cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them ; and they
tvere all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance. Out of these words
I shall observe these particulars : The time when — the persons
to whom — the manner how — the measure what — and the reasons
why, the Holy Ghost was sent.
I . For the time when the Holy Ghost was sent, it is said. When
the day of Pentecost was fully come. This was a feast of the Jews,
called TrevrrfKo^Trj ; bccausc it was ever kept on the fiftieth day after
the second of the passover. Fifty days were the appointed time
of the Jews' harvest : their harvest being bounded, as it were,
with two remarkable days, the one being the beginning, and the
other the end thereof : the beginning was the second of the pass-
over; the end was the fiftieth after, called Pentecost; upon the
beginning they offered a sheaf of the first-fruits of their harvest.
Upon the Pentecost they offered two wave loaves ; the sheaf
being offered, all the after-fruits throughout the land were sanc-
tified ; and the two loaves being offered, it was a sign of the har-
vest being ended ; and now we find, that as there were fifty
days betwixt the beginning and the Pentecost, so there were
fifty days betwixt Christ's resurrection, and the coming down of
the Holy Ghost. As on the day of Pentecost, the Israelites
came to mount Sinai, and received the law ; so the very same
day is accomplished that prophecy, Out of Zion shall go forth
the laiv, and the ivord of the Lord from Jerusalem : now was the
promulgation of the gospel, called by James, the royal law, as
388 ^Looking unto Jes^us.
o-iven by Christ our King, and written in the hearts of his ser-
vants by this Holy Ghost ; it seems to shadow out the great
difference betwixt the law and the gospel ; the law is given with
ten-or, in hghtning and thunder ; but the gospel is given without
terror, there was no lightning and thunder now ; no, the Holy
Ghost slides down from heaven, and with joy sits on the heads,
and in the hearts, of his saints.
2. For the persons to whom the Holy Ghost was sent ; it is
said. To all that were with one accord in one place: who they
were, it is not here expressed 5 yet from the former chapter we
may conjecture, they were the twelve apostles, together with
Joseph, called Barsabas, and the women, and Mary the mother
of Jesus, and his brethren ; these all continued with one accord
in one place, for so was Christ's command, that they should not
depart from Jerusalem^ hut wait for the promise of the Father,
ivhich, saith he, ye have heard of me. It was the great promise
of the Old Testament, that Christ should partake of our human
nature ; and it was the great promise of the New Testament,
that we should partake of his divine nature ; he was clothed with
our flesh according to the former, and we are invested with his
Spirit according to the latter promise. For this promise the
apostles and others had long waited, and for the accomplishment
they were now fitted and disposed. 1 . They had waited for it
from the ascension day, till the feast of Pentecost ; he told them
at the very instant of his ascension, that he would send the Holy
Ghost, and therefore bid them stay together until that hour;
upon which command they continued waiting until the day of
Pentecost was fully come. He that helieveth shall not make
haste, saith Isaiah. But, 2. As they waited for the Spirit,
so they were rightly disposed to receive the Spirit, for they
were all with one accord in one place. To those that accord,
is the Spirit given ; where is discord, jars, divisions, factions,
there is no Spirit of God ; for the Spirit is the author of concord,
peace, unity, and amity : and can we imagine that essential unity
will enter but where there is unity ? Can the Spirit of unity come,
or remain, but where there is unity of spirit ? Verily there is
not, there cannot be, a more certain disposition to make us meet
for the Spirit, than that quality in us that is likest to his nature ;
and that is unity, love, concord. Do we marvel that the Spirit
doth scarcely pant in us ? Alas, we are not all of one accord ;
the very first point is wanting to make us meet for the coming of
the Holy Ghost upon us.
Sect. V. — Of the Manner how the Holy Ghost was sent.
For the manner how he was sent, or how he came to these
apostles ; v/e may obscr\ e these particidars : —
He came suddenlv ; which cither shews the majesty of the
Looklnsr unto %Tcsus. 389
•&
miracle that is gloriously done, which is suddenly done ; or the
truth of the miracle, there could be no imposture or fraud in it,
"Nvhen the motion of it was so sudden ; or the purpose of the mi-
racle, which was to awake and affect them to whom it came ;
usually sudden things startle us, and make us look up. We
may learn to receive those holy motions of the Spirit, which
sometimes come suddenly, and we know not how ; I am per-
suaded tlie man breathes not amongst us Christians, that some-
times feels not the stirrings, movings, breathings, of the Spirit
of God ; O that men would take the wind while it blows, and the
water while the angel moves it ; as not knowing wheii it will, or
whether ever it will blow again.
2. He came fi-om heaven. The place seems here to commend
the gift : as from earth, earthly things arise ; so fi-om heaven,
heavenly, spiritual, eternal things.
3. He comes down from heaven like a wind ; the comparison
is most apt. Of all bodily things, the wind is least bodily ; it is
invisible, and comes nearest to the nature of a spirit : it is quick
and active as the spirit is. But more especially the Holy Ghost
is compared to a wind in respect of its irresistible workings ; as
nothing can resist the whid, so nothing can resist the Spirit of
God. Again, the Holy Ghost is compared to wind, in respect
of its free actings ; the wind bloweth where it listeth, and so the
Spirit bloweth where it listeth: grace makes no gain of man's
work ; free-will may indeed move and run, but if it be too good,
it must be moved, and driven, and breathed upon by God's free
grace.
4. He came like a rushing mighty wind : as the wind is some-
times of that strength, that it rends in sunder mountains and
rocks, it pulls up trees, it blows down buildings; so are the
operations of the Holy Spirit ; it takes down all before it, it
made a conquest of the world, beginning at Jerusalem, and
spreading itself over all the earth.
5. He filled all the house where they were sitting; there were
none there that were not filled with the Holy Ghost ; all the men
and women (an hundred and twentj^,) in this room were visited from
on high, for the Holy Ghost came upon them, and dwelt in them ;
it filled all the house where they were sitting, to signify that all
the other houses of Jerusalem felt none of this mighty rushing
wind : have we not sometimes ex])erience of this in our very con-
gregations ? One sound is heard, one breath doth blow, and it
may be one or two, and no more hears the sound, or feels the
breath inwardly, saving ; it may be one here, and another there,
shall feel the Spirit, shall be touched with it sensibly ; but twenty
on this side them, and forty on that side them, all becalmed, and
go their way no «iore moved, than when they came into God's
presence. O that this Spirit of the Lord would come daily and
constantly into our congregations ! O that it Moidd blow through
,90 Looking unto Jfcsus.
them and through ! O that it would fill every soul in the assem-
bly^ with the breath of heaven ! Come, Holy Spirit; aivake, O
north wind, and come, thou south, and blow upon our gardens,
that the spices thereof may flow out,
6. He came down in the form of tongues. The apostles were
not only inspired for their own benefit, but they had gifts be-
stowed on them, to impart the benefit to more than themselves.
But why did the Holy Ghost appear like tongues ? I answer,
the tongue is the sole instrument of knowledge, which conveys
the same from man to man : though the soul be the fountain from
whence all wisdom springs, yet the tongue is that channel where-
by this wisdom and knowledge is communicated. In the like
manner the Holy Ghost is the sole teacher of all truth ; though
Christ be the ^nsdom of God, yet the Holy Ghost is the teacher
of this wisdom to men ; and hence it is, that the Holy Ghost
appeared in the form of tongues.
And yet not merely in the form of tongues, but, 1 . They were
cloven tongues, to signify that the apostles should spertk in divers
languages : if there must be a calling of the Gentiles, they must
needs have the tongues of the Gentiles wherewith to call them :
if they were debtors not only to the Jews but to the Grecians,
nor only to the Grecians but to the Barbarians also, then must
they have the tongues not only of the Jews, but of the Grecians
and Barbarians, to go and teach all nations. 2. They were fiery
tongues ; to signify that there should be an efficacy or fervour
in their speaking ; the world was so overwhelmed with ignorance
and error, that the apostles' lips had need to be touched with a
coal from the altar : tongues of flesh would not serve the turn,
nor words of air, but there must be fire put into the tongue, and
life into the words they speak : O that we of the ministry had
these fiery tongues ! O that the Spirit would put live coal into
our speeches ! may we not fear that the Spirit is gone while the
people are dead, and we are no more lively in our ministry ? It
is said of Luther, that when he heard one preach very faintly,
*^ Cold, cold," says he, " this is cold preaching, here's no heat at
all to be gotten." O, when the Spirit comes, it comes with a
tongue of fire ; instead of words, sparks of fire will fall from us
on the hearts of hearers.
3. These cloven tongues sat upon each of them, to signify
their constancy and contiiuiance ; they abode still, they continued
steady, without any stirring or starting.
Sect. VI. — Of the Measure of the Holy Ghost now given, and
the Reasons why he was sent.
For the measure, what or how much of the Spirit was now
given ? This question is necessary, because we bring in the
Spirit's mission after Christ's ascension, as if the Holy Ghost
Looking unto Jesus. 39 1
had not been given before his time. That this was the time of
the coming of the Holy Ghost, is very plain ; but that the Holy
Ghost was not given before this time, we cannot say; certainly
the prophets spake by him, and the apostles had him, not only
when they were first called, but more fully when he breathed on
them, and said unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost. So that
if ye study the reconciliation of these things, I know not any
way better, than to put it on the measure or degrees of the
Spirit : here was the difference ; before this the Spirit was but
sprinkled, as it were, upon them, but now they were all blown
upon with a mighty wind.
3. At first he was sent only in drops and dew, but now he was
poured out in showers and abundance : The Holy Ghost, saith
Paul, was shed on us abundantly. As there are degrees in the
wind — a breath, or a blast, or a stiff gale ; we cannot deny de-
grees in the Spirit, — the apostles at Christ*s resurrection received
the Spirit, but now they were fiUed with the Spuit of Christ.
4. For the reasons why the Holy Ghost was sent, they are
several.
1 . That all the prophecies concerning this mission be accom-
plished. Isaiah speaks of a time when the Sjnrit should be
poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness should be a
fruitful field. And Zachary prophecies, that in that day I will
pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jeru-
salem, the spirit of grace and supplication. And Joel pro-
phecies yet more expressly : It shall come to pass, that I will
pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daugh-
ters shall prophesy ; your old men shall dream dreams, your young
men shall see visions ; and also upon the servants, and upon the
handmaids, in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they
shall prophesy . But of all the prophecies concerning the mission
of the Holy Ghost, our Saviour gives the clearest and most par-
ticular : / ivill pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit
of truth. Behold, I send the jwomise of my Father upon you,
but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued luith
power from on high. It is expedient for you that I go away ;
for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you : but
if I depart, I will send him unto you. It was of necessity that
all these prophecies and promises must be accomplished, and
therefore was the Holy Ghost sent amongst us.
2. Tliat the holy apostles might be furnished with gifts and
graces suitable to theu' estates, conditions, stations, places. To
this purpose, no sooner was the Spirit sent, but they were filled
with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak icith other tongues, as
the Spirit gave them utterance. They were filled with the Holy
Ghost; not that they were before empty, but now they were
moi*e full of the Spirit than ever^ and they spake ^vith other
392 Looking unto Jesus.
tongues, other than they had learned ; probably they understood
no tongue but the Syriac^ till this time, but now on a sudden
they could speak Greek, Latin, Arabic, Persian, Parthian, and
what not ! the wisdom and mercy of God is very observable
herein, that the same means of divers tongues, which was the
destroying of Babel, should be the means conferred on the apos-
tles, to work the building of Sion ; that confusion of tongues
bhould be united to God's glory.
3. That he might fill the hearts of all the saints, and make
them temples for the Holy Ghost : Know you not that your body
is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of
God: and ye are not your own? It is said, that after the mighty
rusliing mnd and cloven fiery tongues, they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost, and began to speak luith other tongues. First,
they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and when they spake with
other tongues : the Holy Ghost begins inward, and works out-
ward : it first alters the mind, before it changes the speech ; it
first works on the spirit, before on the phrase of utterance ; this
was the first ^^'ork of the Spirit, it filled them. And thus for the
daily ministration, such must be appointed as were full of the Holy
Ghost. And Stephen is said to be full of the Holy Ghost ; and
Barnabas is called a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost is usually said to fill the saints : only whether it
be the person of the Holy Ghost, or the impressions of the Holy
Ghost, is a very great question ; for my part, I am apt to incline
to their mind, who say, not only the impressions of the Spirit,
tlie qualities of holiness, the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost,
or as some think habitual ; the Holy Ghost himself doth fill, and
dwell, and reign, in the hearts of all regenerate men.
CHAP. II.
Sect. I. — Of Knowing Jesus as carrying on the great Work of
our Salvation in his Ascension, Session, and Mission of the
Spirit.
Let us know Jesus, carrying on the great work of our salva-
tion in his ascension into heaven, in his session at God's right
hand, and in his mission of the Holy Ghost: these are points
of great use ; if these transactions had not been, where had we
been ? Here is an object of admiration indeed ; the very angels
at the sight of it stood admiring and adoring ; it took up their
heart, astonished their understanding. Come then, and, O my
soul, do thou take a view of that which they admire, the design
concerns thee in particular ; and therefore study close this argu-
ment, and know it for thyself. Study first the ascension of Christ.
Lookino' mito Jesus. 393
o
how, and wliither, and why he ascended. Secondly, study the
session of Christ at God's right hand: O the riches of that spiri-
tual, heavenly knowledge !
3. Study the mission of the Holy Ghost; not a circumstance
in it, but deserves thy study : what endeavours have there been
to dive into the secrets of nature ! what vobmies have been
written of physic, metaphysics, mathematics ! and is not tliis
subject Christ? Is not every of these subjects, Christ's ascen-
sion, Christ's mission of the Holy Spirit, of more value and
benefit than all Jthose ! Come, study that piece of the Bible,
wherein these are written ; there is not a line or expression of
Christ in the Scripture, but 'tis matter enough for a v, hole age to
comment on; thou needest not to leave old principles for new
discoveries, for in these very particulars thou mightest find suc-
cessive sweetness unto all eternity.
Sect. II. — Of considermg Jesus in that i^espect.
Let us consider Jesus, carrying on this work of oiu* salvation
in these particulars :
And to take them in order, —
1. Consider Christ's ascension into heaven. Whcit, shall he
ascend, and shall we not in our contemplations follow after
him? Gaze, O my soul, on this wonderful object; thou needest
not fear any check from God or angel, so that thy contemplation
be spiritual and divine. No sooner had Christ finished his work
of redemption here on earth, but on the mount called Olivet he
assembles with his disciples, where having given them commands,
he begins to mount ; and being a little lifted up into the air, pre-
sently a cloud receives him into her lap. Herein is a clear
demonstration of his godhead; clouds are usually in scripture
put for the house, or temple, or receptacle of God himself. How
often is it said, that the glory of the Lord appeared hi the cloud?
and that he called unto Moses out of the nddst of the cloud? and
that the Lord descended in the cloud? is not the clouds God's
own chariot ? Behold, the Lord rideth on a s;ivift cloud ! And
O my Lord my God, thou art very great, saith David; great
indeed, and he proves it thus, ivho maketh the clouds his chariot.
Jesus Christ in his ascension to heaven enters by the way into a
cloud ; tliis was his chariot, led by ten thousands of his angels.
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of
angels ; the Lord is among them in Sinai in the holy place: thou
hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive, thou hast
received gifts for men.
But stay not thy contemplation in the cloud, he ascends yet
higher, through the air, and through the clouds^ and through
that heaven of fixed stars, nor stood he still till lie came to the
heaven of heavens. In all this triumphant march, some tell us
14. 3 i>
394 Looking unto Jesus.
of an heavenly harmony made by the blessed angels ; and that
this is the meaning cf the psalmist : God is gmie up icith a shout,
the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. In this meditation pass
not over thy duty, which immediately follows : Sing praises unto
God, sing praises; sing praises unto our King, sing praises ; — -
sing unto God, sing praises to his 7iame, extol him that rideth
upon the heavens, hy his name J AH, and rejoice before him. Thou
hast cause, O my soul, to praise him, and to rejoice before him,
especially if thou considerest that Christ ascended not for him-
self, but for thee; it is God in our nature that is gone up to
heaven, Christ as a public person ascended up to heaven; thy
interest is in this very ascension of Jesus Christ, and therefore
dost thou consider thy head as soaring up ? O let every member
praise his name !
And yet stay not by the way, but consider further; Christ
being now arrived at heaven doors, those heavenly spirits that
accompanied him began to say. Lift up your heads, O ye gates,
even lift up yourselves, ye everlasting doors, and the King of
glory shall come in I To whom some of the angels that were
within, not ignorant of his person, but admiring his majesty and
' glory, said again, ff^ho is the King of glory f And then they
answered, 77ie Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in
battle; and thereupon those twelve gates of the holy city of New
Jerusalem opened of their own accord, and Jesus Christ with
all his ministering spirits entered in. O my soul, hov/ should
this heighten thy joy, and enlarge thy comforts, in that Christ is
now received up into glory 1 every sight of Christ is glorious,
and in every sight thou shouldest wait on the Lord Jesus Christ
for some glorious manifestations of himself. Come, live up to
the i-ate of this great mystery ; view Christ as entering into glory,
and thou wilt find the same sparkles of glory on thy heart.
2. Consider Christ's session at God's right hand: no sooner
was Christ entered into heaven, but he is brought before his
heavenly Father ; and a dominion was given him above all crea-
tures, above the hierarchy of all the angels : O the glory of Christ
at his first entrance into glory ! immediately all the angels fell
down and worshipped him, immediately his Father welcomed
him with the highest grace that ever was shewn. Come, said he,
sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy foot-
stool. O my soul, meditate on this session of, Christ at God's
right hand, and thence draw some virtue into thyself: what!
was Christ exalted ? had he a name given him above every name ?
walk then as becomes those that have so glorious ahead: O
defile not that nature which in thy Christ was so highly
honoured !
3. Consider the mission of the Holy Ghost : TFhen he ascended
on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. He
ijave gifts, or the gift of gifts, the gift of the Holy Ghost: O
Looking unto t/esus. 395
my soul, consider this princely gift of Christ ' Such a gift was
never before, but when God gave his Son ; God so loved the
world, that he gave his Son; and Christ so loved the world, that
he gave his Spirit. But consider especially to whom this Spirit
was given; the application of the gift is the very soul of thy me-
ditation: Unto us a Son is given, said the prophet; and, uiito
us the Holy Ghost is given, saith the apostle. And yet above
all, consider the reasons of this gift in reference to thyself; was
it not to make tliee a temple of the Holy Ghost ? Stand a while
on this ! admire, O my soul, at the unspeakable love of Christ in
this ! It was infinite love to come down into our nature ; but
this is more, to come down into thy heart by his Holy Spirit :
he came near to us then, but he comes nearer now, for now he
unites himself unto thy person, now he comes and dwells in thy
soul by his Spirit; come ! here's that which will content thy vast
desires : Christ is in thee hy his Spirit; will iiot this content the
utmost capacity of an heart? surely he is too covetous whom
God himself cannot suffice : if thou hast Christ, thou hast all
things ; ai\d if thou hast the Spirit of Christ, thou hast Christ
himself, not notionally, but really, essentially, substantially, by
his Spirit; it is the very Spirit of Christ, the Spirit itself, the
Holy Ghost itself in his own person, that is united to thee, and
dwells in thee ; nor only comes he in person, but he brings along
with him all his train : hath he not endowed thee with gifts ? hath
he not divided a portion to thee in thy place and calling ? ob-
serve it, and be thankful, if thou hast a gift of prayer, of pro-
phecy, of wisdom, of knowledge, it flows from this Holy Spirit :
Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of
the gift of Christ, or according to the measure of the Spirit, who
is the gift of Christ. And, all these ivorketh that one and the
same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. But
besides a gift, hath he not endowed thee with his grace ? hath
he not planted in thy soul the power, the principle, of
grace? hast thou itot felt the quickenings, stirrings, of the
Spirit of God, commanding thy faith, love, zeal, and other
graces ? hath he not many a time, at some mighty streight,
at some prevailing temptation, when thou wast even ready
to yield to Satan, come in as betwixt the bridge and water,
and given thee grace to help in time of need? O the sweet
incomes of the Spirit of God! as he is a holy Spirit, so he
makes holy hearts ; and if there be holiness in thy heart, what
is it but an emanation of the Spirit of God ? hast thou not some-
times felt the joy unspeakable and full of glory? a drop of
heaven's joy, as the earnest of thy inheritance ? why, all these are
but the workings of the promised Comforter : / 2vill pray the
Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you for ever. Another effect is, the seal of the Spirit
stamped on thee. I will not say this is absolutely necessary.
396 ' Looking unto Jesus.
but hast thou not sometime been assured of thy salvation, by an
irradiation of the Spirit on thy graces ? Sometimes the vSpirit
is pleased to shhie with its bright, and glorious, and heavenly
beams into our souls, and then we are assured : hence the apostle
prays for the Ephesians, that they might have the Spirit of
revelation. If the Spirit shhie upon our graces, then it seals :
O consider this shining- sealing work, and leave not till the Spirit
dart in a spiritual hght, and give thee a revelation, knowledge,
and persuasion, of thy effectual calling.
Sect. III. — Of Desiring Jesus in that respect.
Let us desire Jesus carrjdng on the great w^ork of our salva-
tion in these particulars : who seeing Christ ascending into heaven,
would not be glad to ascend up with him ? seeing Christ, to sit
down with him ? Wlio seeing Christ scatter his gifts and spin*",
amongst his saints, would not cry, ^ Come, Holy Spirit ; O Christ,
give me thy Spirit ; thou that givest gifts unto men, come, and
bestow these gifts on me ! even upon me V The believing soul
cannot hear of Christ in any true discovery of his grace and glory,
but it must needs send out many breathings after him. — ^ O that
Christ were mine 1 O that I had any -interest in this transaction 1'
It is true, these transactions are past, but the virtue of them
continues still ; and accordingly the virtue, power, and influence
of these transactions must be the object of our desires ; now what
is the virtue of Christ's ascension, but that we might ascend?
And what the virtue of Christ's session, but that we might sit
down with him in his throne ? And what the virtue of the missipn
of his Spirit, but that we might partake of the Holy Ghost ? O
let these be the objects of our desires; let us pant and breathe
after these things.
1 . Let us see Christ ascending, and so desire to ascend -svith
him : when Christ ascended, it Vv'as not merely for himself, but
also in our stead : he ascended as a common person ; as the high
priest ascending into the holy of holies, he carried all the names
of the twelve tribes on his breast; so Jesus Christ ascending
into heaven, carried the names of all believers in the world on
his breast, thereby shewing that they were likewise to come
after him : hi this case how should we long after him, and cry
after him, as Elisha after Elijah when he saw him ascending.
My father I my father I the chariots of Israel^ and the horsemen
thereof! How should we cry after him, ' O my Lord and my
God! see that my name be written on thy breast! O that
virtually I may ascend with thee, and that really and bochly I
may at last ascend after thee!' A desire after Christ, and his
ascension is the way to heaven; if thou wilt ascend after. Christ,
set thy desires upon Christ ; if thou wilt arrive at true glory,
breathe after Christ ascending up into his glory. O when will
Looking unto Jesus, 397
it once be, that by the virtue of Christ's ascension I shall
ascend !
2. Let us see Christ sitting down at the right hand of God,
and so desire to sit with him ; when Christ sat down, it was not
in his own right simply, as it is his inheritance, but with relation
to his members : He liatk quickened us together luith Christ,
and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in
heavenly places in Christ Jesus. He sat down as a common
person, thereby shewing that we were to sit down with him in
our proportion : Him that overcometh, I ivill grant to sit ivith
me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set doivn with
my Father in his throne. O my soul, desire this, for this is
worthy of thy desire : this is a great thing, an high exaltation,
another manner of honour than any this world affords ; only take
heed of apprehending it after a carnal way. This very exaltation
consists in the image of God, and communion with God ; what-
ever thou givest or deniest. Lord, give me this, and I have enough
for ever.
3. Let us see Christ's mission of his Holy Spirit, and desire
a share in that gift. We cannot expect to sit with Christ, but we
must first have the spirit of Christ. Consider, O my soul, all things
here below are either temporal or spiritual ; and of things spiri-
tual this is the sum, the indwelling of the Spirit. O Lord, give
me thyself, and that contains all gifts ; O give me thy Spirit, and
thou canst not but with him give me all things. O what longings 1
O what pantings and gaspings should there be in thy spirit after
this Spirit ! come. Holy Spirit, O come and dwell in my soul ! I
know thou wilt make the place of thy feet glorious ; if I have
but thy presence, I shall be all glorious within.
Sect, IV. — Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect.
Let us hope in Jesus, carrying on the great work of our sal-
vation in these particulars; this w^as the apostle's prayer: Now
the God of hope Jill you ivith all joy and peace in helievi7ig ; that
ye may abound in hope, through the poiuer of the Holy Ghost:
could we abound in hope that Christ's ascension, session, and
mission of his Spirit did belong to us, we should never be ashamed :
O then let us look to our hope, and be sure that it be of the right
stamp ! which in reference to every of these passages, we may
examine thus :
L If Christ's ascension be mine, then am I ascended with
Christ: for we may ascend into heaven by faith and love,
though for the present we are on earth : If ye he risen ivith Christ,
seek those things which are above, ivhere Christ sitteth at the
right hand of God: set your affections on things above, and not
on things on the earth. If Christ our head be ascended, then
we that are his members must follow after him in our affections.
398 Looking unto Jesus.
Christ tells us, luhere our treasure is, there will our hearts be
also. If Christ oiir treasure be ascended into heaven, our loves,
our affections, our hearts, will follow after him ; and if our hearts
be in heaven, no question but we ourselves, both souls and bodies,
shall at last ascend. '
2. If Christ's session be mine, then am I set down with Christ
in heavenly places ; I mean not bodily, but by faith, which faith
makes it as sure to my soul as if I had a foot already in heaven :
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of
things not seen. By faith I now sit in heavenly places, in that I
verily believe I shall do it one day; my hope is now certain, in
that I am as sure of that I look for, as I am of that I have al-
ready received. The apostle said of Christ, TFe see not yet all
things put under him; but he presently answers, /Fe see Jesus,
luho luas made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory
and honour: and so we may be sure the thing is as good as done ;
for if he be above, all must come under ; in like manner we see
not ourselves in present possession, but we see Christ crowned,
and ourselves sitting with him virtually ; and therefore at last we
shall see ourselves actually crowned, and sitting together with
Christ in heavenly places.
3. If Christ's Spirit be mine, and sent to me, then have I both
the person and train of the Spirit of Christ. It is the having
the Spirit, and the working of the Spirit in me, that is my evi-
dence of the Spirit's mission : I look upon this as the greatest
question, and the weightiest case of conscience, that can be pro-
pounded — whether the Spirit of Christ doth reside in us ? or
whether we have a well-grounded hope to say of ourselves, that
we have the indwelling of the Spirit of God ? Know ye not that
ye are the temple of God, saith the apostle, and that the Spirit
of God dwelleth in you ? And again. Know ye not that your
bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost? In this he seems to
put it out of question, that true Christians know the Spirit of
God dwells in them ; if we know not this, we cannot know that
we have any part in Christ, because the Holy Spirit is the prin-
cipal bond of our union ; if we know not this, we cannot know
that we are justified, for we have nothing to do with Christ's
righteousness, by which we are justified, until by our spiritual
union Christ is made ours; if we know not this, we cannot know
that we are the adopted children of God, for it is the Spirit of
adoption, whereby we cry in our hearts, Abba, Father: if we
know not this, we cannot know that we are sanctified, for it is
the Spirit which is the beginner and perfecter of our sanctifica-
tion : if we know not this, we cannot know that our prayers are
heard, for it is the Spirit that helps our infirmities, and that
makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered :
if we know not this, we cannot know whether we are in error or
truth, or whether our religion be true or false, for it is the Spirit
Looking unto %Iesus. 399
who enlightens, and leads us into all ti-uth : if we know not this,
we cannot know our own comforts, for he is the only true com-
forter. Come then, and put we ourselves to the trial; let us
search whether we have the Spirit of Christ ; which we may re-
solve, (if we will not deal deceitfully with our own hearts,) by
these following signs : —
1. The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of illumination. If he
dwell in us, he will enlighten our eyes, reveal to us those saving
truths of God as they are in Jesus : But the Comforter, which is
the Holy Ghost, ivhoiii the Father will send in my name, he shall
teach you all thhigs. — But ye have an unction from the Holy
One, and ye know all things. — But the anointing which ye have
neceived of him ahideth in you, and ye need not that any men
teach you, hut as the same anointing teacheth you all things; and
hence it is that this Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of luisdom
and revelation in the knowledge of God.
2. The Spirit of Christ is a spirit of prayer. / ivill pour upori
the house of David, aiid upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the
spirit of grace and of supplication. — Likewise the Spirit also
helpeth our injirmities ; for lue know not what ive should j^ray for
as ive ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings that cannot be uttered. It is not said that the Spirit
teaches us words, and fluent phrases, but it teaches us to pray in
the heart with sighs and groans.
3. The Spirit of Christ is a spirit of sanctification. The apos-
tle having told the Corinthians that they had been notorious sin-
ners, saith further, that they ivere ivashed and sanctified by the
Spirit of God. Hence the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of
holiness, because he makes us holy. If we have this Spirit, it
inclines our hearts to things above, it mortifies our lusts, it brings
us nearer to God : the spirit therefore that is impure, and encou-
rages men in sin, and cries up carnal liberty, is certainly none
of" the Spirit of Christ ; and by this one sign many carnal
pretenders of our times may be convicted.
4. The Spirit of Christ is a spirit of love. God is love; and
he that dwelleth in love diuelleth in God, and God in him : as the
Spirit is love, so it begets love in the hearts of his people : The
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long -suffer iiig, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. All these graces are the
fruits of the Spirit, but the first grace in the link is love : by his
Spirit we are taught to love God, not only for his benefits, but in
respect of his nature ; for his goodness, justice, holiness ; by his
Spirit we are taught to love any thing that hath the stamp and
image of God upon it : but as touching brotherly love, ye need
not that I write unto you, f of ye yourselves are taught of God to
love one another.
5. The Spirit of Christ is a witnessing Spirit. The Spirit
itself beareth witness with our spirit, that ive are the children
400 Looking unto Jesus.
of God: and everi/ one that helieveth hath the witness in hint'
The witnessing of the Spirit is an office of the Spirit, whereby
it works the soul into a knowledge, persuasion, or conclusion of
its acceptance with God in Christ.
2. How doth the Spirit thus witness ? 1 answer, 1. Immedi-^
ately. 2. Mediately.
1 . Concerning the immediate testimony of the Spirit there is
some controversy : Antinomians would have no other testimony
but this ; all other evidences (say they) are deceiving evidences ;
or if not deceiving, yet to make use of them were but to light a
candle to the sun ; for what ai'e the graces of the Spirit in com-
parison of the Spirit's own testimony ? and it may be the running
into this extreme hath caused others absolutely to deny any such
testimony, or at least to say, — -for these enthusiasms or inspira-
tions, let them boast of them that have them, we know no such
thing. Methinks a middle betwixt these is most consonant to
truth, for neither can 1 reject the graces of our assurance, neither
dare I deny but there is something of the work of the Spirit's
testimony which is an immediate work.
Certainly there is a work, wherein the Spirit acts as in illu-
mination ; and infusion of good motions into us, wherein by a
secret influence upon the heart, he quiets and calms the troubled
soul concerning its condition by his own immediate power, with-
out any grounds from scripture without, or graces within.
There is a threefold v/ork of the Spirit, saith Mr. Caryl:
1. To convey and plant grace in the soul. 2. To help us to
exercise the graces which are planted there. 3. To shine upon
and enlighten those graces : this last work the Spirit fulfils two
ways ; 1 . By arguments and inferences, which is a mediate work,
2. By presence and influence,- which is an immediate work; this
the apostle calls, witness-bearing; there are three that bear ivit-
?iess in earth, the Spirit, and water, and blood: the Spirit brings
in the witness of water and blood, which is a mediate work : but
besides and above these, he gives a distinct witness of his own,
which is his immediate work, and is, in a way of peculiarity and
transcendency, called the witness of the Spirit. As it is with the
motions of the Spirit, many a time the Spirit excites a man to
such or such duties, by laying his hand immediately upon the
heart, and thereby inclining it to obey those motions : so in this
case, when a poor soul sits in darkness, and sees no light, some-
times it is, as it were, taken up into the third heaven ; and this
is in such a way, that though the spirit of a man is immediately
calmed by it, yet it cannot tell how it came to pass.
But for fear of mistakes, in this case observe we these rules :
1 . That although the Spirit may immediately testify without
express or formal application of a word, yet he never testifies but
according to the word. If a man that never felt sin a burden.
JLookinij: unto J a; us. 401
'o
that throws away all duties of religion, that never prays^ reads,
hears, or meditates, shall say, that he is filled with joy, peace,
and the assurance of God's Avord, it is certain the holy Spirit is
not the author of this, because the promise of peace belongs to
none of his stamp ; see Mat. xi. 28. haiah ivii. 15. Mai. v. 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8. . .
2. That ordinarily the Spirit brings in his testimony either in
duty, or after duty: I have seen his lu ays, and I will heal Itiin; I
icill lead hiin also, and restore coinforts to him and to his 7/iourners :
I create the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him that is far ojf,
and to him that is near, saith the Lord, and I ivill heal him. I
kno\7 there may be a case of grievous temptations, and at such
time the Spirit of God may come in by a sudden irradiation, and
cheer the soul wonderfully, tliough it knows not how ; yet
usually the Spirit brings in his testimony either in duty, or not
long after duty.
3. That such testimonies of the Spirit beget only an actual
assurance during the present exigency, or in order to some pre-
sent design that God is workhig thereby.
2. The Spirit v/itnesseth immediately ; and that either without,
or with argumentation, — but both from the word.
1 . Without argumentation ; and that is when the Spirit applies
some suitable word to the soul, and without more ado enables the
soul to close with that word. As for instance ; thou art bur-
dened for sin, and thou hast prayed earnestly for pardon of sin,
and even then a secret whisper of the Spirit casts that word into
thy heart, Iw ill heal thi/ hackslidings, and-love thee freely ; or such
a voice as that, Come unto me, all ye that labour, and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. Now this is a direct testimony ;
only I dare not leave it without a caution. Some can relate ex-
traordinary passages of providence attending the coming in of
such and such a word : as, that they did not know there was any
such scripture, nor did they know where it was ; and yet in open-
ing the book, it was the very first place they cast their eye upon ;
or they wanted a book, and in the use of some other means unex-
pectedly a word was spoken, or remembered, so pat to the case,
as if it had been a message from heaven : certainly the Spirit's
hinting of words thus is veiy observable ; yet a bare giving in
of a word is no warrant that it comes from the Spirit, unless the
soul come up to some end which the word itself pomteth atj for
the ends it aimeth at, as quickening, comforting, supporting,
acting of some graces, or such like ; and by this we may know
that the testimony is true, and proceeds from the Spirit of God.
2. With argumentation ; and that is, when the Spirit brings iu
the testimony of blood and water : I may call it a testimony of
graces, written in our hearts, and brought out by the Spirit in
a way of argument ; as thus — He that btlieveth hath everlasting
life : but I believe, therefore I have everlastitig life. The first pro-
15. 3 E
402 , Loohinfir unto Jesus.
position is the gospel ; and in this way it is the first work of the
Spirit to open our eyes for the understanding thereof. The
second proposition is thy case^ or my case ; and here the Spirit
enlisrhtens the soul to see itself under that condition. But I
believe —
In all cases^ the assurance that the Spirit gives, maintains a
soul in a way of reliance and dependence, when it sees no reason
why he should do so ; or it may be, when he sees reason why it
should not be so : as it is said of Abraham in another case, that
he believed in hope against hope; faith told him there was hope
that he should be the father of many nations, when reason told
liim there was none. Again, the assurance that the Spirit gives,
is attended with an high esteem of prayer, duties, ordinances ;
and in the issue (which is the most sure mark) it purifies the
soul; he that hath this hope purijieth himself, even as he is pure ;
he is ever washing himself from sin, and watching against sin,
and taking all possible care to keep himself pure and unspotted
in this world ; it keeps the soul humble and lowly, it being im-
possible that such a testimony of the Spirit, and so intimate a
converse with God, and the light of his countenance, should not
^ reflect low thoughts upon a man concerning himself; such a
man cannot but say, ' Lord, what am I that thou hast brought
me hitherto ? What, for such a peevish, unbelieving, impatient
soul as mine, to be carried in thy arms, and cheered with thy
smiles, and to enjoy the comforts of thy Spirit? O what a won-
derful, merciful, gracious God have I?*
O my soul, try now the hope of the Spirit's indwelling by
these several signs : Art thou enlightened savingly in the know-
ledge of God, and of Christ ? Hast thou a spirit of knowledge
and supplication ? a spirit of sanctification ? a spirit of love ?
Hast thou ever had the immediate testimony of the Spirit ?
Hast thou ever had the mediate testimony of the Spirit without
any argumentation ? Hast thou unexpectedly lighted on some
places of scripture that hath satisfied thy soul as with marrow
and fatness ? Or if not so neither, hast thou the immediate
testimony of the Spirit with argumentation ? Canst thou argue
thus ; He that helieveth shall be saved : but I believe, therefore I
shall be saved. Or if any doubt be made of the assumption ;
canst thou prove it by such other graces as accompany faith, and
are the fruits of faith ? Canst thou say, by the help and shinhigs
of the Spirit, that these and these graces are in me, I love God
and Christ, I repent of my sins : — surely then thy hope is well
grounded ; thou hast the indwelling of the Spirit ; it is thine ;
even thine.
Sect. V. — Of Believing in Jesus in this respect.
Lkt us believe on Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our
sidvation inthes<? p'uticulars. Many scruples are in many hearts:
Looking unto t/esas. 403
* What ! is it pofesible that I should have any share in Christ's
ascension^ Christ's session, Christ's mission of his Spirit! Was
it ever in God's heart that I should partake with Christ in all
these glories ? What is this, that earth should go up to heaven,
that men should ascend to God? yea, that my soul with Christ,
and by Christ, should ascend to God, and sit down with God in
heavenly places ? that my soul should have for its inmate the
vcr}' same Spirit that Christ himself hath ? O, 1 cannot, I dare
not believe.'
Scrupulous souls, be not faithless, but believing ; there is none
of these particulars for which we have not a warrant out of the
word of Ciod ; and therefore believe: I shall lay down, 1. Some
directions, and 2. Some encouragements of faith.
1st. For directions of faith, observe, as before, these particulars.
1 . Faith must directly go to Christ.
2. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh.
3. Faith must go to Christ as God in the flesh made under
the law.
4. Faith must go to Christ, not only as made under the
directive part of the law by his life, but under the penal part of
the law, by his death.
5. Faith must go to Christ, not only as put to death in the
flesh, but as quickened by the Spirit.
6. Faith must noi only go to Christ as quickened by the
Spirit, but as going into glory, as sitting down at God's right
hand, and as sending the Holy Ghost. Faith should eye Christ
as far as he goes : if he be ascended, so should faith ; if he go
into glory, and sit down there, and act there for his people, so
should faith ; and so should we in a way of believing follow after
him, and take a view of all his transactions where he is : we have
heard before how faith should go to Christ as dying, and as
rising again ; but yet faith is low, \vhile it doth not go within
the vail, and see him in glory ; it is not enough to have only a
faith of justification, but of glorification. O come let us see
Christ in heaven, and we can have no less than a glorious faith 1
how many are there that never yet came to Christ as a glorified
Christ ! We are still in the lower form ; many of us take in no
more of Christ than wiiat was done on the cross, we seldom fol-
low Christ into heaven, to see what he is doing for us. O my
soul ! O my faith ! mount up, and be upon the Ming : Christ is
gone up to heaven, Christ is sat down at God's right hand ;
Christ hath sent down his holy Spirit. He gave the gift of gifts,
even the gift of the Holy Ghost himself. What ! art not thou
a partaker of this gift ? O then look up unto Jesus in reference
to all this, set him before thee : Christ in all these particulars is
a right object for thy faith.
7. Faith in going to Christ, his ascension, session, and mission
of the holy Spirit, is principally to look to the design of Christ,
404 Looking unto Jesus.
in each of these particulars : Christ did iiothiufi^, but he had art
end in it for our good ; iind here is the life of faith^ to eye the
meanin"" of Christ in all his doings. Now the ends of Christ's
ascension, session, and mission of his Spirit, were several; I shall
instance only in these few.
1. Christ ascended, that we might ascend. Look, whatever
God acted on Christ's person, that he did as on our behalf, and
he means to act the same on us. Was Christ crucified? So are
we. Is Christ risen again ? So w^e are risen v/ith him. Is Christ
gone up into glory ? So are we : heaven is now opened and
possessed by Jesus Christ for us, and at last we shall ascend even
as he ascended. How should faith pry into this ? As we must
go through all ordinances and creatures till we come to Christ,
so through all conditions of Christ until we come to glory.
2. Christ sat down, that we might sit with him in heavenly
places : what is the end of Christ's session, but that he might
invest all his saints with the same privilege ? In this height of
glory, Christ is the pattern of what we shall be ; surely this is
the very top of heaven ; Christ is exalted above the heavens, that
we might in our measure be exalted with Christ : it was Christ's
prayer, that his Father, and he, and we, might be one, as thou
Father art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may he one iii us,
O how should faith stand, and gaze on Christ in that respect ?
What ! is he on God's right hand ? and is he there preparing
a mansion for my soul ? What, shall I sit at the right hand of
Christ ? Admire, O my soul, this aim of Christ, the meaning of
his exaltmg himself, it was to exalt thee ; and the meaning of his
exalting thee on this manner, is to manifest to all the world, what
the Son of God is able to do, in raising so poor a creature to so
rich a glory.-
3. Christ sent down the Holy Ghost, that he might dwell in
our soids, endow us with gifts and graces ; that he might com-
fort us, seal us unto the day of redemption ; fit us for glory.
Amongst the many ends for which Christ sent down his holy
Spirit, I shall insist only on these two —
1. That he might hel]) us to cry, Abba Father ; and make us
come boldly to the throne of grace, as children to a father. It is
the Spirit that takes us by the hand and leads us to the Father,
when others stand at a distance, and cannot come near. Though
others are kept out, yet the adopted child, who hath received the
Spirit of adoption, can say, Let me come to my Father; guards
are appointed to keep out strangers, but not sons.
2. That he might guide us into all truth ; I mean into all ne-
' cessary, fundamental, saving truths : In this respect we have
need of the Spirit. He it is that dictates to us which is the
true religion ; he it is that transcribes upon our hearts that which
was before only written in our books ; he it is that not only
reveals truth from without, but imprints it also upon the soul.
Loohln^ unto Jesus ^ 405
o
as a man doth a seal by iinpressiiig it on the wax ; as the written
word is the testimony without us, so are these impressions of the
Spirit the testimony witliin us, by which we may know every
necessary truth as it is in Jesus : unbeUevers have a testimony
without them, but beUevers have a double testimony, one with-
out, and one within ; and this witness within us will go with us
and accompany us through all streights and difficulties. Men
may take from us our bibles, teachers, friends, or imprison us
where \^'e cannot enjoy them; but they cannot take from us the
Spirit of Christ ; this witness ; O what an excellent help is here to
a poor Christian, beyond all the fiu-niture of the most learned
men, that want this testimony of tlie Spirit of Christ ! surely
this advantage Avill exceedingly furnish us against all temptations
to any error, that is plainly contrary to the essentials of religion.
2d. For the encouragement of our faith to believe in Christ in
reference to his ascension, session, and mission of his Spirit.
1. Consider the excellency of this object. What is it but
Christ? Christ in his ascendant, regnant power ? Christ in his
inarching, conquering, triumphing postures ? in his free, and
large, and magnificent gifts ? When he ascended on high, he led
captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. O the glory, O the
excellency, of Christ in these respects ; I believe this is the top
of heaven's glory, to see and wonder at the virtues of him that
sits on the throne at the right hand of God ; to be filled, but
never satiated, with the glory of Christ.
2. Consider the power, virtue, and influence of this object
unto our souls' salvation. O what a stately tower have we here
erected to see heaven on ? Faith may stand, as it were, on this
mount, and see itself in glory ; O the flowings, the rich emana-
tions of grace and glory that come from hence ! O why do we
toil ourselves in gathering sticks, when to-morrow we shall be
out of this world, and go to Christ.
3. Consider of the suitableness of these objects to our several
conditions ; Behold he comes leapi?ig upon the mountains, and
skippi?ig upo7i the hills, Cant. ii. 8. Gregory, that measured his
leaps, thus gives them : he first leaps from his Father's man-
sion to his mother's womb; from her womb to the manger; from
hib manger to his cross ; from his cross to his grave ; from his
grave up again to heaven : great leaps indeed, that shewed both
his readiness to love, and willingness to save. O believe ! believe
thy part in Christ's ascension, Christ's session, Christ's mission
of his holy Spirit, and thou mayest go singing to thy grave ! a
lively faith in such particulars would set a soul in heaven, even
whilst on earth.
Sect. VI. — Of Lovifig Jesus in that respect.
Let us love Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our salva-
tion in these particidars. Much has been said already of Christ's
4 06 Looking unto Jeaus,
conception, birth, life, death, resurrection ; such arguments of
love as are enough to swallow up souls in love; but as if all those
were not enough for God, see here new mines, never known in
the world before, opened in Jesus Christ. ^ See ! Christ for us
and for our salvation is gone up to heaven, is set down at God's
right hand, and hath sent down the Holy Ghost into our hearts.
In the pouring out of these springs of heaven's love, how
should our souls but open the mouth wide, and take in the
streams of Christ's honey and milk 5 I mean his precious love-
breathings ? '
Two things I shall instance in, which may be as the load-
stones of our love to Christ ; the first is his glory, and the second
his bounty.
1 . For his glory : No sooner was he ascended, and sat at
God's right hand, but John the divine had a sight of him, and
O what a glorious sight ! He ivas clothed ivith a garment down
to the feet, and girt about the paps ivith a golden girdle ; his head
and his hairs ivere white like wool, as ivhite as snow, and his eyes
were as aflame of fire, and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they
burned in a furnace, a^ul his voice as the sound of many tvaters;
and he had in his right-hand seven stars, and out of his mouth went
a sharp two-edged sword, and his countenance was as the sun that
shineth in his strength: when John saw him thus, he swoons at
his feet. But Christ, for all his glory, holds his head, saying.
Fear not; I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth, and
was dead, and behold lam alive for evermore, amen, and have the
keys of hell and death. A glorious Christ is good for dying sin-
ners : would sinners but draw near and come and see this King
in the chariot of love, and come and see his beauty, he would
certainly draw their souls mito him : nay, say that all the damned
in hell were brought up with their fiery chains to the door of
heaven ; could we let them look in^ and behold the throne, and
the Lamb, and the troops of glorified spirits clothed in white,
with crowns of gold upon their heads, and palms in their hands,
singing the eternal praises of their King ; O how woidd they be
sweetened in their pain, and ravished with those joys that
are in Christ's face for evermore ! O who can think of
the glory that is in this delightful one, and not be swallowed
up in love ? Who can think of Christ's sitting at God's right
hand, and sparkling in his glory round about^ and casting out
beams of glory through east, and west, and north, and south,
through heaven, and earth, and hell, and not love him with a whole
heart? I remember one dying, and hearing some discourse of
Jesus Christ : O (said she) speak more of this, let me hear more
of this; he not weary of telling his praise; I long to see him, how
should I hut long to hear of him! Surely I cannot say too much
of Jesus Christ : O the loveliness, beauty, and glory of his coun-
tenance ! can I speak or you hear of such a Christ ? and are
ZfOo/cmg unto Jesus, 4 07
we not all in a burning love ? O my heart ! how is it thou art
not love-sick r how is it thou dost not charge the daughters of
Jerusalem as the spouse did ; / charge ye, O daughters ofJeru-
satem, ifyejind my beloved, tliat ye tell him I am sick of love?
2. For his bounty : No sooner was he ascended, and sat down
at God's right hand, but he gives gifts unto men; and he sends
down the Holy Ghost. I shall only weigh two circumstances in
this gift, either whereof both dignifies, and casts a beam of
bounty from the giver, into the heart of the receiver, to move him
to love.
(1.) One circumstance is, the greatness of the giver : O my
soul, how shouldest thou but love Christ, the great emperor of
heaven and earth : It was he that gave thee his Spirit, it was he
that took of the Spirit which is upon him, (so is the expression
of God to Moses, and put it upon thee ; and doth not the person
of Christ, the dignity of Christ,) enhance the value of the gift ?
As all gifts are signs of love, so the love of a great personage,
and the gifts issuing from such a love, ought more to be
accounted than any gifts of any meaner person whatsoever.
(2.) Another circumstance is, the greatness of the gift: this
argueth the greatness of the good will ; and consequently deserv-
eth a correspondence of affection. Now, what greater gift had
Christ in store, than to give his own Spirit ? The Spirit proceed-
eth from him, and is the same essence with himself; the Spirit
is the third Person of the true and only Godhead, proceeding
from the Father and the Son, and co-eternal, co-equal, and con-
substantial with the Father and the Son ; this appears by those
divine attributes and properties which are attributed to the holy
Spirit : as 1 . Eternity ; In the hegiiining God created heaven and
earth, and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters,
2. Omnipotency ; because he, together with the Father and the
Son, createth and preserveth all things : By tiis Spirit he hath gar-
n ished the heavens ; the Spirit of God hath made me ; atidall these
things tvorketh that one and the self -same Spirit, dividing to every
man severally as he will. 3. Omnisciency, or the knowledge of
all things; For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep
things of God. I might add miracles, and the institution of sacra-
ments, and prophecies, and gifts, and graces, as the eftects of his
divinity: / cast out devils (saith Christ) by the Spirit of God;
and baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Holy Ghost.
And the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith. And we are changed into the same
image yfrom glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. See
now how the holy Spirit is God, co-eternal, co-equal, consubstan-
tial with God the Father, and God the Son ; is not this a great
gift ? Yea, as great a gift as possibly can be given ; what can he
do more, than to give himself, and to give his Spirit ? O the
bonds of love that are upon man towards Christ in this respect !
40S Looking' unto Jesus
Come, my soiil^ and take a viev/ of tlie glory and bounty of
Jesus Christ ! if tiiy heart be not all brass and iron, how shouldest
thou but chuse to love ? If either beauty or bounty, if either
majesty or magnificence, can draw thy affection, Christ will have
it; for in him is all : O let him be thy all ! surely if thou hast any
thing besides himself, he is the donor of all, he is the beauty of
all, the sum of all, the perfection of all, yea> is the author,
preserver, and finisher of all.
S^CT. VII. — Of Joying in Jesus in that respect.
Let us joy in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our salva-
tion in these particulars ; there is not a particular under con-
sideration, but it is the object of a Christian's joy. —
1. How should it heighten my joys, and enlarge my comforts,
when I consider that Christ is ascended into glory ! By this it
is clear that Christ is accepted of the Father for me, or otherwise
he should never have been received into heaven : O what joy is
in this !
2. How should it heighten my joys, and enlarge my comforts,
when I consider that Christ is set down at God's right hand.
Now he hath the keys of heaven delivered into his hands ; All
power is given unto him in heaven and in earth, and now he can
do what he will : God the Father hath given away (as it were)
all his prerogative unto Jesus Christ : All judgment is committed
to the Son, for the Father judgeth no man. Now he is in a
capacity of acting all his love to me in the most glorious way 5
he is highly advanced, and thereby he hath the advantage to
advance me, and to glorify me : O what joy may enter into this
poor, dark, disconsolate soul of mine^ whilst I think over these
glorious passages of Christ in glory !
3. How should it heighten my joys, when I consider that
Christ hath sent down his holy Spirit into my heart ! O what
comfort is this, to know that the Spirit of Christ is my inmate !
that my soul is the temple, the house and dwelling, of the Spirit
of God ! that Christ is in me of a truth, and that not only by
the infusion of his grace, but by the indwelling of his Spirit !
Christ in his bodily presence went away, but Christ, in his Spirit
continues still : Lo, lam ivithyoualiv ays, even unto the endoffhe
world: He is with us, and, which is more, he is in us ; Christ in
you, the hope of glory. Not Christ in sermons which we hear,
nor Christ in chapters which we read, nor Christ in sacraments
which we receive, but Christ in our hearts by his Spirit, is unto us
the hope of gloiy.
And now, O my soul, spread thyself on this great good,
Christ's ascension, Christ's session, and Christ's mission of his
holy Spirit. There is not any particular here before thee, but
it is ftiel for joy. O what joy was in heaven when Christ
LooMns: unto Jeaus. 409
aBcendcd^ and wlicu Christ sat down at God*B right-hand, and
when Christ sent down the Holy Spirit ! Suppose thyself to have
been in heaven, when he first entered into it, and when he first
sat down at God's right hand, and sent down the Comforter to
his saints; was not heaven full of joy? Methinks the very
thought of Christ's bright face, and white throne, and Christ's
harpers, and heavenly troop, surrounding the throne, and Christ's
welcome to his Father, both for himself and all his saints, and
his carrying thy name upon his breast before his Father, should
fill thy soul as full of joy, as possibly it can hold. O the first-
fruits of Emmanuel's land, that lies beyond time and death? O
the joys that were in heaven at Christ's first entrance into heaven 1
C) my soul, why dost thou not check thyself, and lay aside thy sad
complaints, and forget this earth, and earthly troubles ! Why
dost thou not look up to Jesus Christ, and rejoice in him who
hath done all this for thy salvation ? Either the Spirit of God is
not thy comforter, or thou canst not but receive comfort in these
passages.
Sect. VIII. — Of Calling on Jesus in that respect.
Let us call on Jesus : I mean —
1. Let us pray that we may have our part in these trans-
actions; or let us pray for more and more assurance thereof unto
our souls, for though we do believe, yet may we not be without
our doubts ; and in case of doubts, if once we are but assured,
what better means than prayer ?
2. Praise God for these great transactions of his Son ! Are
they not mercies, like mountains, lying one upon another, and
retching up to the very heavens ? Did not love break out first
in I direct line, and as it went along, hath it not wound up itself
in such a variety of unthought of discoveries, as that it amazeth
men and angels ? What ! that Jesus Christ should not only act
for IS here on earth, but also ascend for us into heaven, and sit
do\m there at God's right hand, above the heavens ; that all
this should be done for us and our salvation, and to that purpose
that he should send down liis Spirit into our hearts, to prepare
us for his glory ? Now bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that
is u'ifliin me, hless his holy name: bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
Sect. IX. — Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect.
Let us conform to Jesus in the aforesaid respect. A serious
beholding of Jesus in his ascension, session, mission of his Spirit,
is enough to change us into the same image from glory to glory.
It was the sweet saying of an experienced saint. View a glorified
Christ, see him as in that relation and condition, and you will soon
15. 3 F
410 Looking unto Jesus,
have the sparkles of the same glory on your hearts, Christ is now
exalted ', he is now in glory at the right-hand of God : O let all
our actions be glorious, let all our walking, joys^ breathings, be as
in glory. I shall not in this transaction lay out many particular
conformities to Christ, but gather all into one, which is, heavenly
conversation; seek things above, set your affection on things
above : Christ is gone up, and Christ is sat down at God's right-
hand; and herein if you will conform, let your hearts be in
heaven, let your affections be in heaven, let your conversations
be in heaven.
In prosecution of this, I shall examine,
1st. What do we mean by our conversation in heaven?
2. Why must our conversation be in heaven?
3. By what means must we come up to this conversation in
heaven ?
1 . By our conversation in heaven, I mean our aim at heaven :
as heaven is our home, so our eye is there ; whatever we do, our
end, our scope, is to fit us for heaven, and to lay in heaven : We
look not at things luhich are seen, but at things luhich are not
seen; for the things ivhich are seen are temporal , hut the things
ichirh are not seen are eternal.
By our conversation in heaven, I mean, our communion with
Christ in heaven: Truly our fellowship is tvith the Father, and
ivith his Son Jesus Christ. As it is among friends that converse
together, they act mutually for the comfort one of another ; there
is a communion, or a mutual acting of the soul upon Christ, and
of Christ upon the soul.
By our conversation in heaven, I mean, oiu* affections on
heaven, or on Christ in heaven : Set your affections on things
above, that is, set your desires, loves, hopes, joys, on heavenly
things. Our affections are precious things, and are only t) be
set on precious objects. O what a shame is it to set our affections
on the things in this life ! Have we not a kingdom, a God, a Christ,
a crown, in heaven, to set our affections upon ? And shall -we set
them upon dross, and dung? Are not all our pleasures and
vanities base in comparison of Christ ? O be not we so base as to
set our affections on earthly things, but rather on God and Christ,
and this is our heavenly conversation.
By our conversation in heaven, I mean, we caiTy and behave
ourselves in this life as free denizens of the city of heaven : our
city, whereof we are citizens, and whereunto we have a right, is
in heaven above : in this respect we trade not in trifles, as other
men do, but we trade for great things, for high things ; we mer-
chandise for goodly pearls, even for God, and for Christ, who
sitteth at the right-hand of God. We see now what is meant by
our conversation in heaven.
2. Why is the conversation of the saints in heaven ?
,1. Because they know that the original of their souls came
Looking unto niesus, 411
from God in heaven : the body indeed was of the dust of the
ground, but the soul was the breath of God ; so it is said of the
first man, God breathed into his nostrils the hreath of life, and
man became a living soul. The soul had a more heavenly-
original than any of the other creatures that are in the world ; and
when God works grace in the soul, and it begins to know itself,
it looks on all things here below as vile and contemptible ; it then
looks upward, and begins to converse with things suitable to its
original.
2. Because their best and choice things are already in heaven.-
As their Father is in heaven, and their Saviour in heaven, their
husband is in heaven, their elder brother is in heaven, and their
king is in heaven, their treasure is in heaven, their inheritance
is in heaven, their hope is in heaven, their mansion is in heaven,
their chief friends are in heaven, their substance is in heaven,
their reward is in heaven, their wages are in heaven : and all
these things being in heaven, no m^arvel their conversations be in
heaven.
3. Because they are going towards heaven evpn whiles yet
they are on earth. If the nobleman do once know his condition,
and begin his travel homeward towards his father's court, will
he not, every morning that he rises, converse with them that come
from his father to conduct him home ? Doth it not do him good
to hear any man speak of his father's country ? Is it not in his
thoughts, in his talk, in his eye, at every step ? O my soul, if
thou art indeed travelling towards heaven, how shouldst thou but
have it in thy motions, affections, and conversations ?
3d. By what means should we come to have our conversation
in heaven ?
1. Let us watch opportunities for heavenly exercises. God
now by his ministers calls, Come ye to the ivaters, come buy and
eat; come, buy wine and milk without money ; come to me, and
your souls shall live. Why, 7iow is the accejited time, behold now
is the day of salvatio7i : whilst ministers call, and we live under
the droppings of the word ; these are opportunities from hea-
ven : O then, he that never prayed, let him pray ; and he that
never heard, let him hear : the Lord is now near to us, Christ
Jesus is calling, and mercy is entreating, and love is beseeching,
and wisdom is ciying after us ; O lay hold on these opportuni-
ties for heavenly exercises, and then we shall come to heavenly
conversations.
2. Take heed of resting in the formality of duties. Many
souls that have enlightenings of conscience, dare not but take
opportunities for heavenly duties 3 but then comes in the tempta-
tions of the devil, and corruptions of their own hearts, and then
they say, Noiu the duty is done, and what needs more ? Alas I
It is not what have zee done? but, where have we beeri f What,
have om- souls been in heaven, \vith God and with Christ ? Have
412 Looking unto Jesus.
we had communion with the Father^ and with the Son, in our
duties ? O take heed of formaUty ; it will exceedingly hinder our
conversation in heaven ! O keep our eye still upon our heart !
ask in duty, what affections have been? How much are we got
nearer heaven thereby ? And by this means we shall come to an
heavenly conversation.
2. Look up unto Jesus as hanging on the cross, and as sitting
on the throne; this is the apostle's rule: Looking unto Jesus,
the author and Jinisher of our faith, 2u ho for the joy that was set
before hbn, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set
doivn at the right-hand of the throne of God. These two are the
objects of a Christian's look, who studies an heavenly conversa-
tion, viz. Christ's cross, and Christ's session: by the cross he is
author, and by the throne he is the linisher, of our faith ; in the
first is set down his love to us, in the second is set down our hope
of him : come then, and settle your thoughts and looks on this
blessed object; a sight of Christ's cross, but especially of
Christ's throne, is a blessed means to wean us from the world,
and to raise our alTectlons to things above, yea, to form our con-
versation towards heaven.
4. Let us wait for the appearing of Jesus Christ : Our conver-
sation is in heaven (saith the apostle) from ivhence also we look
for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. Where his expectations
are, there a man's conversation will be; if we expect ere long
that the Lord Jesus will appear in glor}^, and that we shall see
him, not Avith other, but with the same eyes, the very waiting for
these things will help our conversation to be heavenward. Cer-
tainly the day is coming, when Jesus Christ shall come with his
angels in his glory, and then shall the bodies of the saints shine
gloriously before the face of God, and Jesus Christ: O the
wonder of this day ! the glory of Christ shall then darken the
gloiy of the sun, and moon, and stars ; but my body shall not be
darkened, but rather it shall shine like the glorious body of Christ
Jesus,
5, Let us observe the drawings and movings of the Spirit, and
follow his dictates : to this purpose Christ ascended, and sat
down at God's right-hand, and sent down the holy Spirit, that
the Holy Ghost being come down, he might do his office, in
bringing our souls towards salvation; and if ever our souls get
above this earth, and get acquaintance in heaven, it is the Spirit
of God that must be the chariot of Elijah, yea the very living
principle, by which we must move and ascend; O then take
liced of quenching its motions, or resisting its workings. Take
we heed of grieving our guide, or of knocking off the chariot
wheels of his Holy Spirit. We little think how much the life of
grace, and the happiness of souls, doth depend upon our ready
and cordial obedience to the Spirit of God : when he forbids us,
and we will go on, ^vhen he telJs us which is the Avay, and we will
Looking unto tTcsus* 413
not regard ; no wonder if we are strangers to an heavenly con-
versation ; if we will not follow the Spirit, how should it leatl us
to heaven, or bring our hearts unto the presence of God ? O
learn we this lesson, and let not only the motions of our bodies,
but the very thoughts of our hearts, be at the Spirit's beck ! if we
cherish these motions, and hearken to the Spirit, O what a help
should we find to this heavenly conversation 1
LOOKING UNTO JESUS,
IN HIS INTERCESSION.
BOOK VIII.
CHAP. I.
Sect. I. — What the Intet'cessio7i of Christ is.
We have spoken of Christ's entrance into heaven, and of his
immediate actings after his entrance there 5 that transaction which
yet remains, and will remain until his coming again, is, his
intercession for the saints. In these actings of Christ in
heaven, if we follow him, we must go from glory to glory:
no sooner come we out of one room of glory, but presently we
step into another. One would think enough had been said
already of the glory of Christ, and our glory in Christ ; who
would not wilUngly sit down under the shadow of this happiness,
and go no further? But yet this is not all; so thick and fast
doth the glory of Christ break in upon us. O what a blessed
thing is it to be looking up to Jesus Christ ! Saints might do
nothing else but ravish their hearts with the diversity of heavenly
light and comfort, ^which breaks forth from the bosom of Jesus
Christ. Here is now another mystery, as great and amazing as
the former, which springs out before our eyes in this transaction
of Christ's intercession.
And in prosecution of this, as in the former, I shall first lay
down the object, and secondly dh'ect you how to look upon it.
The object is Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation
in his intercession : In ordering of which, I shall examine these
jparticidars y —
414 Looking imto Jesus.
1 . What is this intercession of Christ ?
2. To whom is Christ's intercession directed^ and for whom ?
3. What agreement betwixt Christ's intercession, and the
intercession of the high priests of old, and what diiference ?
4. What are the properties of this intercession ?
5. Wherein it doth more especially consist?
6. How powerful Christ's intercessions are with God?
7. What are the reasons of this great transaction of Christ's
intercession for his people ?
1. What is the intercession of Christ? Some define it thus:
Christ's intercession is that part of his priestly office, whereby
Chinst is advocate, and entreater of God the Father, for the
faithful. I shall give it thus : Christ's intercession is his gracious
will, fervently and i?n?noveably desiring, that for the j^crpetual
virtue of his sacrifice, all his members might, both for their per-
sons and duties, he accepted of the Father, 1. I call the inter-
cession of Christ his own gracious will; for we must not imagine
that Christ, in his intercession, prostrates himself on his knees be-
fore his Father's throne, uttering some submissive form of words ;
that is not beseeming the majesty of him that sits at God's right-
hand : when he was but yet on earth, the substance of his request
for his saints ran thus. Father, I will, that they also whom thou
hast given me be ivith me where lam; and much more, now he is
in heaven, is this the form of his intercession — Father, I will this.
2. The foundation of Christ's intercession, is the death of Christ ;
and hence we make two parts of Christ's oblation; the one ex-
piatory, when Christ suffered upon the cross : the other presenta-
tory, when he doth appear in heaven before God for us : the one
was finished on earth, when Christ suffered within the gate ; the
other is performed in heaven, now Christ is within the city; the
one was a sacrifice indeed, the other is not so much a sacrifice
as the commemoration of a sacrifice ; the first was an act of humi-
liation, this latter is an act of glory : the first was performed once for
all, this latter is done continually ; the first was for the obtaining
redemption, and this latter is for the application of redemption.
^ The matter interceded for, is, that all the saints and their ser-
vice might find acceptance with God : first, Christ's intercession
is for our persons, and then Christ's intercession is for our works ;
by Christ's intercession is Christ's satisfiiction applied to our
persons, and by coiuseqiience the defect of our duties is covered
and removed; and both we and our works are approved and
accepted of God the Father.
Christ intercedes, according to both natures. 1. According
to his humanity ; partly by appearing before his Father in heaven,
and partly by desiring our salvation. Christ is entered into hea-
ven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us : — And I
say not unto you that I will pray, or desu'e the Father for you,
for the Father himself loveth you. 2. According to his Deity j
Looking unto Jesus, 415
partly by applying the merit of his death, and partly by willing
the salvation of his saints ; and as the effect thereof, by making
requests in the hearts of the saints with sighs vmspeakable.
Elect, through sanctification of the Spirit, and sprinkling of the
blood of Jesus Christ ; — this sprinkling is the applying of the
blood of Jesus, and that is an act of intercession. Again, Father,
I will that they whom thou hast given me, be with me where I
ara : he desires as man, but he wills as God ; and as the effect of
this, he gives the Spirit. The Spirit itself makes intercession for
us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. But what are the
intercessions of the Spirit, to the intercessions of Christ? ^ I
answer, much every way; the Spirit's intercessions are as the
effect, and Christ's intercessions are as the cause; the Spirit's
intercessions are as the echo, and Christ's intercessions are as
the first voice; the Spirit intercedes for men in and by them-
selves, but Christ intercedes in his uwn person ; there is a depend-
ence of the Spirit's intercession in us, upon Christ's intercession
in himself. First, Christ by his intercession applies his satisfac-
tion made, and then sends down his holy Spirit into our hearts,
to help our infirmities, and to teach us what to pray, and how
to pray as we ought. Now this he doth as God, for who shall
give a commission to the Spirit of God, but God himself ?
Sect. II. — To zvhom is Christ's Intercession directed^ and
for whom?
To whom is Christ's intercession directed ? I answer. Imme-
diately to God the Father; If any man sin, we have an advocate
ivith the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. In the work of inter-
cession, are three persons : a party offended, a party offending,
and the intercessor distinct from them both : the party offended
is God the Father ; the party offending is sinful man ; and the
intercessor, distinct from them both, is Jesus Christ. I deny not
but Christ's intercession is made to the whole Trinity, but yet
immediately and directly to the first person, and in him to the
rest, — i.e. three persons, and hut one God.
This intercession is made, in one sense, for the world: so
Christ, upon the cross, prayed for the bloody Jews ; Father, for-
give them, for they know not what they do. But in a particular
manner for all and every faithful man. As the high priest went into
the sanctuary with the names of the twelve tribes upon his breast,
so Christ entered into the holiest of all, with the names of aU
believers upon his heart, and still he carries them upon his
breast, and presents his will and desire unto his Father for
them ; nor doth he only intercede in general, but whatever thy
name is, John, Peter, Thomas, Mary, Martha, if thou art a
believer, Christ prays for thee: it is our common practice to
416 Looking unto Jesus.
desire the prayers one of another ; but 0_, who would not have a
^hare hi the prayers of Jesus Christ ? Why, certainly, if thou
believest in Christ, Christ prays for thee.
Sect. III. — What Agreement there is hetwixt Chrisfs Interces-
sions and the Intercessions of the High-jyriests of old, and
what Difference,
What agreement is there betwixt the intercessions of Christ,
and the intercessions of the high-priests of old ? Among the
Jews, in the times of the old Testament, they had an high-priest,
who was in all things to stand betwixt God and them. Now as
the Jews had their high-priest to intercede for them, so the Lord
Jesus was to be the high-priest of our profession, and to inter-
cede for us ; it will therefore give some light to this doctrine of
intercession, if we conipcire these two -. and first, consider what
agreement betwixt Christ and the high-priests of old ; betwixt
Christ's intercession, and the high-priest's intercessions ?
1 . Christ, and the high-priests of old, agreed in name ; not
only they, but Christ himself is called an High-priest : JVe have
such an high-priest ^ who is set; down at the right-hand of the
majesty on high.
2. They agreed in office ; that consisted of two parts, oblation
and presentation : first, they offered a sacrifice ; and secondly,
they presented it in the holy of holies, with prayer and inter-
cession, unto God; the one was done without, the other within
the holy of holies ; and in answer thereunto, there are two dis-
tinct parts of Christ's priesthood. (1.) The offering of himself a
sacrifice upon the cross. (2.) The carrying of himself, and of his
Idood, into the holy of holies, or into the heaven of heavens ; where
he appears and prays in the force of that blood : and indeed this
part of his priesthood is of the two the more eminent ; and there-
lore it is held forth to us in the types of both these two orders of
priesthood that were before him, and figures of him, both that
of Aaron and Melchisedech. [1.] This was typified in that
Levitical priesthood of Aaron and his fellows : the highest ser-
vice of that office, was the going into the holy of holies, and
making an atonement there; yea, this was tlie height of the
high-priest's honour, that he did this alone, and it constituted
the difference betwixt liim as he was high-priest, and other
priests ; for they killed and offered the sacrifices without, as well
as he; but only the high-priest was to approach the holy of
hoUes with blood, and that but once a year. [2.] This was
typified by Melchisedech's priesthood, which the apostle argues
to have been much more excellent than any of Aaron's, in as
much as Levi, Aaron's father, paid tithes to this Melchisedecli
in Abraham's loins; now Melchisedech was his type, not so
Looking unto tTesus. 417
much in respect of his oblation, or offering sacrifice, as in respect
of his continual presentation and intercession in heaven; and
therefore the same clause, for ever, still comes in when Mel-
chisedech is named ; Thou art a priest for ever, after the order
of Melchisedech, Here then is the agreement betwixt Christ, and
the high -priests of old : in respect of name, both were priests 3
and in respect of office, both had their oblations, and presenta-
tions, or intercessions with God in glory.
3. In the point of intercession, they agree in these par-
ticulars : — •
1. The high-priests of old, usually once a year, went into the
most holy place within the veil; and so is Christ, our great high-
priest, passed into the heavens within the veil, even into the holy
of holies.
2. The high-priests of old had a plate of pure gold upon
their foreheads, which was to hear the iniquity of the holy things,
that they might be accepted before the Lord; and so doth Christ
bear the iniquity of our holy things. Spiritual Christians ! here
is your comfort, you are not able to perform any duty to God,
but there is a great deal of sin in the same ; you cannot hear,
nor pray, nor confer, nor meditate, without much sin ; but Christ
bears all these sins, even the iniquity of your holy things, and he
presents your persons and prayers, without the least spot, to the
Father ; he is the angel of the covenant, that stands at the altar,
having a golden censer with much {license, to offer it ivith the
prayers of his saints, and so they are acceptable before the Lord.
3. The Jewish high-priests bore the names of the children of
Israel on a breast-plate upon their hearts, for a memorial before
the Lord; and so doth Christ, our great high-priest, bear the
names of his people upon his heart before the Lord continually.
1 . In presenting them to his Father without spot, as righte-
ous in his own righteousness : Christ loved the church, that he
might present it to his Father, and, in him, to himself, a glorious
church, Jiot having spot, or tvr inkle, or any such thing, but that
it should be holy and without blemish.
2. In remembering them ; The righteous shall be had in con-
tinual remembrance ; this is the soul's comfort in a time of deser-
tion, or in an evil day ; if any cry out, as sometimes David did.
How long wilt thou forget me. Lord? for ever? How long
wilt thou hide thy face from mef Let such a one remember,
that Christ's redeemed ones are upon his heart, and he cannot for-
get them. But Zion said. The Lord hath forsaken me, and my
Lord hath forgotten me : O no ! Can a woman forget her suck-
ing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her
womb f Y^a, they may forget, yet I luill not forget thee.
3. In loving them : they are near and dear unto him, he hath
set them as a seal upon his heart ; so was the prayer of the spouse,
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm; and
15. 3 G
418 Looking unto Jesus »
then it follo\vs,/(>r love is strong as death, Christ hath an entire
love to his saints, he died for them, and now he intercedes for
them ; he keeps them close to his heart, and there is none shall
pluck them out of his hand. Thus far of the agreement betwixt
Christ's intercessions and the high-priests, of old.
The difference betwixt Christ and them, and betwixt Christ's
intercessions and their intercessions, may appear in these par-
ticulars : —
1. The high-priests then were but for a time, but Christ is a
priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedech, Melchisedech
(saith the apostle) was without father y without mother, without
descent, neither havitig beginning of days, nor end of life; that
is, as far as it is known : and so is Christ without a father on earth,
and without a mother in heaven ; without beginning, and without
end; he abides a priest perpetually, even to the end of the
world ; yea, and the virtue of his priesthood is infinitely beyond
all time, even for ever and ever.
2. The high-priest then entered only into that place that was
typically holy, but Christ is entered into that place which is
properly holy; he is entered into the heavens.
3. The high-priests then did always intercede for the people ;
only once a year the high-priest entered into the holy of holies,
but our great high-priest is ascended into the holy of holies,
never to put off his princely, priestly garments. Nor does he
only once a year sprinkle the mercy-seat with his sacrifice, but
every day ; he lives for ever to intercede. O what comfort is
this to a poor dejected soul ! He intercedeth ever, till he shall
finish thy salvation ; the smoke of his incense ascends for ever
without intermission.
4. The high-priests then interceded not for sins of presump-
tion : If a man sinned ignorantly, there was indeed a sacrifice
and intercession for him, but if a man sinned presumptuously, he
was to he cut off from among his people; no sacrifice, no inter-
cession, by the high-priest then : but we have such an high-
priest as makes intercession for all sins ; every sin, though it
boil up to blasphemy, (so it be not against the Holy Ghost,) shall,
by virtue of Christ's intercession, be forgiven : In that day there
shall he a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the in-
habitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness, (i. e.) for sins
of all sorts : Verily I say unto you, all sins shall be forgiven unto
the sons of men (i. e.) scarlet sins, or crimson sins ; sins of the
deepest dye, shall by Christ's intercession be done away; the voice
of his blood speaks better things than the blood of Abel; it
intercedes for the abolition of bloody sins.
5. The high-priests then interceded not without all these ma-
terials, viz. a temple, an altar, a sacrifice, a censer of burning
coals taken off the altar, a putting the intense upon the fire,
that the cloud of the incense .might cover the mercy -seat, a
Looking tmto Jesus, 419
fiprinkling the mercy-eeat with the blood of the bullock and of
the goat : but Jesus Christ in his intercessions now needs none
of these materials ; but rather he himself, and his own merits,
are instead of all : as, 1. He is the temple; Destroy this temple,
(saith Christ) and I will build it again in three days : it was de-
stroyed ; and God found it an acceptable sacrifice, and smelt in
it a sweet savour, as in a temple. 2. He is the aJtar, according
to his Deity ; for as the altar sanctifies the gift, so doth the God-
head sanctij^ the manhood. 3. He is the sacrifice properly,
according to the manhood ; for although, by communication of
properties, the blood of the sacrifice is called the blcx^d of God,
yet properly the human soul and flesh of Christ, was the whole
burnt-oftering roasted in the fire of his Father's wrath.
6. His merits are the cloud of incense, for so the angel;
Christ is said to have a golden censer, and much incense, that he
should offer it with the prayers of all saints, upon the golden
(jiltar tvhich was before the throne; and the smoke of the incense
which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before
God, out of the angel's hand: the merits of Christ are so mingled
with the prayers of his saints, that they perfume their prayers,
and so they find acceptance with God his Father. We see now
the diflPerence betwixt Christ's intercessions and the intercessions
of the high-priests of old.
Sect. IV, — What the Properties of this Intercession of Christ
are?
What are the properties of this intercession of Jesus Christ ?
I answer: — 1. It is heavenly and glorious; and that appears in
these particulars : —
1. Christ doth not fall upon his knees before his Father, as in
the days of his humiliation; for that is not agreeable to that
glory he hath received; he only presents his pleasure to his
Father, that he may thereto put his seal and consent. 2. Christ
doth not pray out of private charity, as the saints pray one for an-
other in this life, but out of public ofl&ce of mediation : There is
one God, and one Mediator between God and inan, the man Christ
Jesus, 3. Christ prays not out of humility, but out of authority,
which is the desiring of a thing, so as withal he hath a right of
bestowing it, as well as desiring it. 4. Christ prays not merely
a& an advocate, but as a propitiation too; Christ's Spirit is an
advocate, but only Christ is advocate and propitiation : Christ's
Spirit is our advocate on earth, but only Christ in his person
applies his merits in heaven, and furthers the cause of our sal-
vation with his Father in heaven. In every of these respects we
may see Christ's intercession is heavenly and glorious.
2. It is ever eff*ectual and prevailing : as he hath a power to
intercede for us, so he hath a power to confer that upon us for
which he intercedes : / will pray the Father, and he shall give
420 Looking unto Jesus,
you another Comforter. If I go not away, the Comforter will
not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
If Christ prayed on earthy he was ever heard ; but if Christ prayed
in heaven, we may be sure the Father ever heareth and answereth
there : when Christ as man prayed for himself, he was heard in
that which he feared; but now Christ as mediator, praying for
us, he is ever heard in the very particular which he desireth.
3. It is, of all other the transactions of Christ till the very end
of the world, the most perfect and consummate ; without it all
the other parts of Christ's mediatorship would have been to little
purpose. As the sacrifices under the law had not been of force,
had not the bigh-priest entered into the holy place to appear
there, and to present the blood there unto the Lord ; so all that
ever Christ did or suffered upon earth, had been ineffectual unto
us, had he not entered into heaven, to appear there in the pre-
sence of God far us. In his life and death Christ was the meri-
torious cause, but by his intercession Christ is the applying cause,
of our souls' salvation.
Sect. V. — Wherein the Intercession of Christ consists?
Wherein more especially doth the intercession of Jesus Christ
consist? I answer, In these particulars :
1 . Christ's intercession consists in the presenting of his person
for us : he himself went up to heaven, and presented himself;
the apostle calls this, an appearing for us : Christ is not entered
into the holy place made with hands, but into heaven, now to
appear in the presence of God for ns. I believe there is an
emphasis in the word appearing for us. But how appears he for
us ? I answer ; 1 . In a public manner : whatsoever he did in this
kind, he did it openly and publicly; he appears for us in the
presence of God the Father; he appears for us in the presence
of his saints and angels ; heaven's eyes are all upon him in his
appearing for us. 2. He appears for us a mediator, he stands in
tlie middle betwixt God and us ; hence it is, that he is God-man,
that he might be a mediator betwixt God and man. 3. He ap-
pears for us as a sponsor and a pledge : surely it is a comfort for a
man to have a friend at court, that may own him, and appear for
him; but if tliis friend' be both a mediator and surety, a mediator
to request for him, and a surety to engage for him, O what corn^
fort is this ! thus Christ appeared in every respect; he is a me-
diator to request for us ; and he is a surety to engage for us ; as
Paul was lor Onesimus, a mediator, / beseech thee for my son
Onesimus; and a sponsor, if he hath wronged thee, or oive thee
ought, put that on my account, I will repay it. So is Jesus Christ
for his saints : he is the mediator of a better covenant, Heb. viii. 6.
And he is a surety of a better testament, Heb. vii. xii. 4. He
appears as a solicitor, to present and promote the desires and
Looking unto Jesus, 421
requests of his saints, in such a way as that they may find accept-
ance with his Father. — 5. He appears as an advocate : If any
man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous. An advocate is more than a solicitor ; an advocate is
one that is of council with another, and pleadeth his case in
open court; and such an advocate is Jesus Christ unto his
people. 1 . He is of counsel with them ; that is one of the titles
given him by the prophet Isaiah, Wonderful Counsellor; he coun-
sels them by his word and Spirit. 2. He pleads for them, and
this he doth in the high court of heaven, at the bar of God's
own justice; there he pleads their case, and answereth all the
accusations that are brought in by Satan, or their own con-
sciences. But of this anon. — 6. He appears as a public agent,
or ambassador : what that is, some tell us in these particulars ;
1. His work is to continue peace; and surely this is Christ's
work. He is our peace, (saith the apostle,) that is, the author of
our peace ; he purchased our peace, and he maintains our peace
with God; to this purpose he sits at God's right-hand, to inter-
cede for us, and to maintain the peace and union betwixt God
and us ; thereforebeing justijiedhy faith, we have peace with God,
through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. His work is to maintain in-
tercourse and correspondency; and surely this is Christ's work
also : By him we have an access unto the Father, In him we
have boldness, and access with confidence. The word access doth
not only signify coming to God in prayer, but all that resort and
communion which we have with God, as united by faith to Jesus
Christ; according to that, Christ hath once suffered for sins, the
Just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. This benefit
have all believers, in and by Christ ; they come to God by him,
they have free commerce and intercourse in heaven. — 3. His
work is to reconcile and take up differences; and this is Christ's
work also : he maketh intercession for the transgressors ; he takes
up the difterences that our transgressions make betwixt God and
us. — 4. His work is to procure the welfare of the people or state
where he negociates; and this is no less Christ's work, for he
seeks the welfare of his people, he sits at God's right-hand to
intercede for them, and, commending their estate to his Father,
he makes it his request, that his members may have a continual
supply of the Spii'it of Jesus Christ, that they may be strength-
ened in temptations, confirmed in tribulations, delivered from
every evil work, enabled to every good duty, and finally preserved
unto his heavenly kuigdom.
2. Christ's intercession consists in the presenting of his
wounds, death, and blood, as a public satisfaction for the debt of
sin, and as a public price for the purchase of our glory.
We read in the law, that ivhe?i the high-priest went within the
veil, he took the blood of the bullock, a)td sprinkled it tvith his
finger upon the merry-seat east-ward ; and before the mercy-seat,
422 Lookins^ unto *Iesus.
iy
he sprinkled the blood with his finger seven times. Surely these
were patterns of things to be done in the heavens, Christ, that
was slain without the gate, carried his own blood into the holy of
holies^ or into the heaven of heavens, for, bi/ his otvn blood, he
entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal re-
demption for us : And thither come, he sprinkles it, as it were,
upon the mercy- seat, (i, e.) he applies it, and obtains mercy by
it. By the blood of Christ, God's mercy and justice are recon-
ciled in themselves, and reconciled unto us. Christ's blood was
shed upon earth, but Christ's blood is sprinkled now he is in
heaven ; heaven is all besprinkled, as the mercy- seat in the holy
of holies was ; the earth is all besprinkled, as the altar out of the
holy of holies was. Heaven and earth are all besprinkled with
the blood of Jesus ; so that the saints, and the people of God,
are no where, but thek doors, and their posts, and their houses,
(I mean their bodies and souls,) are all besprinkled with the
blood of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world : why,
this is that blood of sprinkling that speaks better thitigs than that
of Abel. Mark that : Christ's blood hath a tongue ; it speaks,
it cries, it prays, it intercedes; — Christ's blood crieth out, it
makes a loud cry, it fills heaven and earth with the noise ; yea,
the Lord's ears are so filled with it, that it drowns all other
sounds, and rings continually in his ears.
I will not say, that the very blood which Christ shed on the
cross, is now in heaven, nor that it speaks in heaven ; these cry-
ings are merely metaphorical ; yet this I maintain as real and pro-
per, that the power, merit, and virtue of Christ's blood is pre-
sented by our Saviour to his Father, both as a public satisfaction
for our sins, and as a public price for the purchase of our glory.
3. Christ's intercession consists in the presenting of his will,
his request, for us, grounded upon the virtue of his glorious
merits: Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me,
be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which
thou hast given me. This was a piece of Christ's prayer while
yet he was on earth ; and it is a summary of Christ's intercession,
which now he makes for us in his glory ; he prayed on earth, as
he meant to pray for us when he came to heaven ; he hints at this
in the beginning of his prayer, for he speaks as if all his work
had been done on earth, and as if then he were beginning his
work in heaven : / have glorified thee on earth, I have finished
the work which thou gavest me to do; and now, O Father, glorify
thou me with thy ownself, with the glory which I had with thee
before the world was,
4. Christ's intercession consists in the presenting our persons,
in his own person, to his Father; so that now God cannot look
upon the Son, but he must behold the saints in his Son ; and
this was shadowed out by that act of the high-priest, who went
into the holy of holies, with the names of all the tribes of Israel
Looking unto J'esus. 423
upo7i his shoulders, and upon his breasts; and this the apostle
speaks yet more plahily; bj/ him we have an access unto the
Father, and in him we have boldness and access with confidence.
We find in the law, that Aaron ivas to put two stones upon the
shoulders of the ephod, for stones of memorial unto the children
of Israel; and so Aaron was to bear tlie names before the Lord
upon his two shoulders, for a memorial. And again ; Aaron was
to bear the naynes of the children of Israel in the breastplate of
Judgment upon his heart, whe?i he ivent into the holy place for a
memorial before the Lord continually. Here we find the names
of the twelve tribes of Israel engraven in stones, which the high-
priest usually took with him into tlie holy place, when he ap-
peared before the Lord ; a lively type of Christ's intercession,
who being entered into the heavens, there appears in our behalf,
and he presents our persons to his Father, bearing them (as it
were) upon his shoulders, and upon his heart ; thus Christ takes
our persons into heaven, and represents them in his own person
to his Father. Secondly, we find in the gospel a gracious pro-
mise, that by Christ we have access unto the Father, and in Christ
%ve have access with confidence. Where the word for access, signi-
fies properly a manuduction, or leading by the hand to God ; an
introduction, or bringing into God; alluding to the custom in
princes' courts, where none may come into the presence chamber,
unless they be led, or brought in, by some favourite or courtier
there ; thus none may have access into the presence of God, un-
less they are brought in by this favourite of heaven, the Lord
Jesus Christ, whose very office it is to bring men unto Godj he
takes us by the hand, and leads us to the Father.
5. Christ's intercession consists in the presenting our duties
unto God. Not only doth he take our persons, and leads them
into the presence of God, but together with our persons he presents
all our services in his own person. Alas ! all our righteousnesses
are as filthy rags, but Christ draws out the evil of duty, and fail-
ings in duty, before he will present them unto God. And he ob-
serves what good there is in any of our duties or performances,
and with that he mingles his own prayers and intercessions, and
presents all as one work interwoven or mingled together to God
the Father. It is Jesus, and only Jesus, that presents our prayers,
and sanctifies our prayers, and mingles our prayers, with his
merits, and so makes them penetrate sweetly before his God.
6. Christ's intercession consists in presenting our plea, or
answer, in heaven, to all those accusations that are brought in
against us. And this I take to be the meaning of the challenge,
JVho shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect f It is God
htat justifies, who is he that condemneth f It is Christ that died,
yea, rather that is risen again, ivho is even at the right-hand of
God, who atso maketh intercession for us. Christ intercedes ; and
who shall condemn ? Christ takes off all accusations; and who
424 Looking unto Jesus,
shall charge ? if sin, or Satan, shall dare to accuse, our Jesus 13
ready, at God's right-hand, to answer all. And in this respect
he is truly called our advocate : If any man sin, lue have an ad-
vocate luith the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. We have an
advocate that pleads for us, that answers for us ; that in a way of
equity (grounding all upon his own merits) calls for the pardon
of our sins, and for the salvation of our souls.
Sect. VI, — Hoiv powerful Christ's Intercessions are with God?
How powerful are Christ*s intercessions with God ? This will
appear, if we consider : —
1. That Christ is our great high-priest to God; We have such
an high-priest, ivho is set down at the right-hand of the ynajesty
on high : now, it was the way of God to lend his ear in an especial
manner to the high-priests ; Samuel called nnto the Lord, and
the Lord sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people said
to Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God. And
Samuel said unto the people, God forbid that I should sin against
the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. Now such an high-priest as
this, (though with far more eminency,) is Christ to God ; he in-
tercedes for his people, (God forbid that he should ever cease to
pray for his jjeople,) and he hath God's ear in an especial man-
ner ; if ever God lend his ear to any one, it must needs be to
this high-priest, because of his office to intercede betwixt God
and his people. Christ stands next to God, as our great high-
priest; and therefore he must needs prevail with God in every
petition he puts up for us.
2. That Christ was called to this office by God, his Father:
Christ glorified not himself, to be inade an high-priest ; no, no:
but he was called of God, as Aaron ivas; it was God the Father
that designed him to it, and that furnished him for it, and that
invested him in it : The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent,
thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedech. Now
to what puqiose should God call him to this office, but especially
to intercede for them, to whom God was willing to communicate
salvation ? Surely the Father is engaged to hear the Son, in that
he is an high-priest to God, and called to his office by God.
3. That Christ is God's Son; and that is more than God's
high-priest ; he is his beloved Son, his Son that never gave him
the least offence ; sure then when he comes and intercedes for a
man, he is most like to speed ; if a child do but cry, 3Iy Father,
My Father, he may prevail very much, especially with a Father
who is tender-hearted : Jesus Christ is the precious Son of God
the Father; and God the Father is a dear and kind-hearted
Father; how then should the intercessions of Christ but be most
powerful with God ? All the relations of son and father in the
world, are but a shadow of this relation betwixt God and Christ ;
Looking unto Jesus. 425
it is so near, that though they are two, yet Christ speaks of them
as one, / and my Father are one; if then the Father should
deny him any thing, he should deny himself, or cease to be one
with his Son; which can never be. Christ is God's Son, his
natural Son, his beloved Son : This is my beloved Son, in ivhom
I am tvell pleased, saitli God. O then how prevalent must
Christ's intercession be with God !
4. That Christ is God himself : how powerful in this respect,
must his intercessions be unto the Father : it is true, that Christ
is another person, but one and the same God with the Father ;
Christ is the very essential, substantial representation of God
himself ; Christ is the very self of God, both God sending and
God sent ; Christ is the fellow of God : Awake, O siuord, against
7ny shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow ; na}^, Christ
is God, and not another God, but one God ; God of God, light
of light, very God of very God; hegotten,7iot made, being of one
substance with the Father, by luhom all thiiigs were made. Can
we imagine now that God himself should be denied any boon
of God himself ? If God sometimes spoke to his servants. Ask
of me, command ye me^ concerning all the work of mine hands ;
will not God much more say to Christ, Ask of me, and I shall
give thee the heat hoi for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts
of the earth for thy possession f We have brought it now so near,
that if God be God; and God be omnipotent, that he can do,
and can have, whatsoever he pleases; then Christ being one God
with his Father, he must needs prevail.
Sect. VII. — Of the Reason of Chrisfs Intercession.
What are the reasons of this great transaction of Christ's
intercession for his people ? I answer :
1. It is the Father's will that it should be so; he called Jesus
Christ to his office, the command of God is upon Jesus Christ;
Ask what thou ivilt for thy redeemed ones, I willingly engage my-
self to grant, only it is my pleasure thou shouldest ask : as sometimes
he said to the house of Israel, / the Lord have spoken, and I will
do it; notiuithstanding, I will yet for this be inquired of by the
house of Israel, to do it for them : so saith God to Christ, I the
Lord have spoken, and will do it; only, my Son, I ivill be inquired
of by thee. I look upon this as the main reason of Christ's inter-
cession ; Even so. Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight.
2, It is Christ's own inclination to do this office. What is
the will of the Father, is the \vill of Christ ; so that what the
Father would have Christ own, he cannot but own ; for the same
Spirit is in Christ, which is in the Father, and in the self-same
measure. As God is captivated with love towards all captives,
so am I, saith Christ. As God would have all be saved, and to
come to the knowledge of the truth, so would I too, saith Christ ',
16. 3h
426 Looking unto Jesus.
the same bottomless sea of love that fluctuates in my Father's
breast is in my breast ; for I and my Father are one.
3. It is Christ's love to his saints ; he intercedes for them for
ever. They are in covenant with Jesus Christ, and therefore in
nearer relation than any others ; hence it is, that they are called
the portion of God, the treasure of God, the peculiar people of
God, those that God and Christ satisfy themselves in, those that
God and Christ have set their hearts on, the children of God the
Father, the very spouse and bride of God the Son, in some
respect nearer than the angels themselves, for the angels are not
so married to Christ in a mystical union, as God's people are.
Now, is it any wonder, that those who are so very dear to Christ,
should be in the prayers of Christ ? If they were so much in his
lieart, that he shed his blood for them, will he not now intercede
for them ? O yes ! to this end he carries them on his breast or
lieart, as near as may be, that they may be in a continual remem-
brance before the Lord for ever ; his very love compels him to
intercede for them.
4. It is Christ's compassion that causeth intercession : Christ
is such an high-priest, (saith the apostle) as cannot hut he touched
with the feeling of our infirmities. He was in all points tempted
like as ive are, yet ivithout sin. When he was on earth, he felt
our infirmities, frailties, miseries : and as a man that hath felt
the stone, or gout, or fever, or especially that hath felt soul
troubles, cannot but compassionate those that are in the like
condition ; so Christ having had the experience of our outward
and inward sufferings, cannot but compassionate us ; and hence
it is (his very compassion is moving) that he intercedes to his
Father in our behalf. It is observed, that the very office of the
high-priest, was to sympathize with the people of God ; only in
the case of the death of his kindred, he was not, as others, to
sympathize or mourn : but Jesus Christ goes beyond all the
high-priests that ever were before him ; he doth fully sympathize
with us, not in some, but in all conditions ; In all our ajfiict'ions
he is afflicted. I believe Christ hath carried a man's heart up
with him to heaven: and though there be no passions in hmi, as
he is God ; yet the flower, the excellency, of all these passions
are infinitely in him, as he is God ; he striketh, and trieth, and
yet he pitieth ; when Ephraim bemoaneth himself, God replies.
Is Ephraim my dear son f is he a pleasant child ? For since I
spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still, therefore my
bowels are trouhled for him. Surely there's a violence of heavenly
passioivin Christ's heart, as God-man, which makes him to break
out into prayer to God, and into compassions towards men. O
that tempted souls would consider this ! It may be Christ is giv-
ing you a cup of tears and blood to drink, but who knows what
bowels, what turning of heart, what motions of compassion, are
in Jesus Christ all the while ? Those who feel the fruit of
Lookin^s; unto Jesus, ^ 427
Christ's intercession, know this ; and cannot but subscribe to
this truth. O ye of little faith, why do ye doubt of Christ's
bowels ? Is he not our compassionate high-priest ? he is touched,
saith the apostle, with the feeling of infirmities ; it is an allu-
sion to the rolled and moved bowels of God, in Jeremiah xxxi.
20. Christ in heaven is burning and flaming in compassion to-
wards his weak ones ; and therefore he pleads, intercedes, and
prays to God for them.
CHAP. II.
Sect. I. — Of Kiimving Jesus as carrying on the great Work of
our Salvation, in his Intercession.
Let us know Jesus carrying on this great work of our salvar
tion, in his intercession. Ever since his ascension into heaven,
he hath been doing this work 3 it is a work already of above
sixteen hundred years ; and summer and winter, night and day,
Christ hath been still praying, still interceding; Christ's love
hath no vacation, no cessation at all ; yea, even now whilst you
read this, Christ is acting as an advocate for you, Christ hath
your names engraven, as a seal on his heart ; and standing right
opposite to the eye of his Father, the first opening of the eyelids
of God, is terminated upon the breast of Jesiis Christ ; is not
this worth the knowledge? O my soul, leave off* thy vain studies;
if they do not conduce to the right understanding of this, they
are not worth the while ; what is it for an Aristotle to be praised
where he is not, and to be damned where he is ? O the excel-
lency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ ! Such a knowledge
(if true) is no less than saving. Come, study his intercession in
all the former particulars ; only remember this, that in Christ's
intercession are many secrets, which we must never know on this
side heaven : O take heed of entering into this labyrinth, with-
out the clew of the word ; above all, desire the guidance of the
Spirit to enlighten thy darkness^, and whatever thou knowest,
know it still for thyself I
Sect. II. — Of Considering Jesus in that respect.
L^T us consider Jesus carrying on this work of our salvation,
in his intercession ; is it not as incense, a sweet odour with God
himself ? And shall not each thought of it be sweet to us ?
Come, let us be serious in this duty ; and that we may do it
thoroughly, let us consider it in these particulars :
I. Consider the nature of Christ's intercession: what is it.
428 Looking unto Jesus.
but the o-racious will of Christ, fervently dejsiring, that for the
virtue of ''his death and sacrifice, thy person and performances
mio-ht he accepted of God ? As Christ on earth gave himself to
tht? death, even to the death of the cross, for the abolition of sin ;
so now in heaven he prays the Father, hy his agony and bloody
sweat, by his cross a?id passion, by his death and sacri/ice, that thy
sins may be pardoned, thy service accepted, and thy soul saved.
This is the will of Christ, even thy justification, sanctitication,
and salvation ; accordingly he represents his will, ' Father, I will
that all those privileges flowing from my death, may be conferred
on such a person ; such a soul is now considering my inter-
cession, and my ^nll is, that his meditation may find acceptance
with God/ O what workings would be in thy heart and spirit,
if thou didst but consider that Christ even now were speaking
his will, that thy person and duty may both find acceptance, and
be well-pleasing with God !
2. Consider the person that intercedes for thee : it is Christ
in both natures ; it is thy mediator, one betwixt God and man :
in this respect thou mayest consider him as one indiff'erent, and
equally inclining to either party; A mediator is ?iot of oyie, saith
the apostle : Christ indifferently partook of both natures, god-
head and manhood, that so he might be fit to stand in the gap
between his Father and us.
3. Consider the person to whom Christ intercedes : is it not
to his Father ? Thou art sm*e to speed well, O my soul, for God
is the Father of thy intercessor. If I had a suit to some majesty,
and the prince would but mediate, I might hope to speed; Christ
is God's prince (as I may call him) and in respect of us, the first
begotten of many brethren; and herein is thy rejoicing, that the
party offended is Christ's own Father, and fathers cannot be cniel
to their own dear children.
4. Consider the persons for whom Christ intercedes : it is for
all believers, and in particular for thee. O that ever the world,
or flesh, or devU, should steal this meditation out of my heart !
x) that ever I should forget that Christ is gone to heaven, that
he is entered into the holy of holies, and that he carries my name
into the presence of God the Father ! I speak the same to thee
that readest : if thou art a believer, there is no doubt but Christ
is speaking to his Father in thy behalf ; he can no more forget
thee in his intercessions, than a mother can forget her sucking
child. Look up to Jesiis, and never leave looking, till thou spiest
thy own name writ on his heart.
5. Consider the agreement and difference between Christ's
intercessions, and the intercessions of the high-priests of old :
they did both intercede, but Christ is more faithful than ever
high-priest was ; Christ is more compassionate than ever high-
priest was ; and hence it is that he hath the title of 7ro\va7fkar^x^°^>
One of many commiserations : all is mercy, and love, and sweet-
Look'mg unto Jesus. 420
ness, and more than motherly affection, that comes from Christ.
my soul, why shouldest thou say with Israel, My way is hidden
from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over by my Godf as
if Jesus Christ had left thee out of the count of his people, and
out of the roll of those whom he is to look after. No, no; he is
a faithful and merciful priest ; far above all the high-priests of
the old testament ; and if they were so careful not to leave out
of their breast-plate one name of all the twelve tribes, how much
more careful is ('hrist not to leave out thy name in his intercession ?
6. Consider the properties of Christ's intercession : is it not
heavenly and glorious, effectual and prevailing ? O give me the
intercession of Christ above all the intercessions of men or angels.
1 know the saints on earth pray mutually one for another, but
they pray not in their own names, or for their own merits, but in
the name and for the merits of Jesus Christ : and as for the saints
and angels in heaven, Cyprian and Jerome seem to grant, that
they pray for the state of the church militant ; but if so, they do
it only out of charity, as brethren, not of office, as mediators ; such
an intercession as this, so heavenly, so effectual, is proper only
for Christ. I would be glad of the prayers of every saint upon
earth ; but above ail let me have a property in those prayers and
intercessions that are proper only to Christ, such as are heavenly,
glorious, and effectual.
7. Consider the particulars wherein more especially Christ's
intercession consists : is it not in presenting of his person, blood,
prayers ? is it not in the presenting of our persons, perform-
ances, pleas or answers to the accusations of Satan ? Men little
think how busy our mediator, sponsor, solicitor, advocate, is
now in heaven for us ; men little think that Christ is appear-
ing, and his blood is crying, and his prayers are ascendhig, and
his robe of righteousness is covering us, and the iniquity of our
holy things : O my soul, look up, consider Jesus thy Saviour in
these respects ! I am persuaded, if thou didst but know, if thou
couldest but see, what a deal of work Christ hath in hand, and
how he carries it on for thy salvation, it would melt thy heart
into tears of joy. O think on it, that Christ, and Christ's blood,
and Christ's prayers, are all at work ! that Christ pleads thy
cause, and perfumes thy duties in this incense ; and takes thy
person to God his Father, and cries, O my Father, be merciful to
this sinner, jyardon his sins, and save his soul, for the sake oj
Jesus: O blessed mediation ! O blessed is the ma?i, that knows
how to meditate on this day and night!
8. Consider the power of Christ's intercession with his Father.
Is he not to this purpose a priest to God, and called thereto by
God ? Is he not the Son of God, yea, God himself ? Is not the
Father's heart as much towards us, as to our salvation, as Christ's
own heart ? As sure then as Christ is gone into heaven with thy
430 Looking imto Jesus,
name engraven on his heart, so sure slmlt thou follow him, and be
with him where he is.
9. Consider the reasons of Christ's intercession : many are
triven, but this may be sufficient, It is God's own ordinance; the
verv wisdom of God found out this way, that a high-priest should
be appointed, who should die for sinners, and afterward present
his death to his Father by way of intercession on their behalf.
Now then, if God himself found out this way, and hath said,
Tids is my pleasure, that Christ my Son shall he ajjriesf, and that
he shall offer himself, and present himself, and his offering, andhis
prayer, to me for hispteople: O my soid, dispute not, but rest on
tliis, admire the contrivance of God; say, O the depth! question
no farther, only meditate, and ponder, and consider it, till thou
feelest Christ's intercession darting its influence and efficacy on
thy sin-sick soul.
Sect. III. — Of Desiring Jesus in that respect.
Let us desire Jesus carrying on this great work in his inter-
cession. O my soul, rouse up, and set this blessed object before
thy face ! Take a full view of it, until thy affections begin to be
warm, and thou beginnest to cry, O for my part in Chrisf s inter-
cession ! O I would not he left out of Christ's heavenly prayers
for ten thousand luorlds ! Come and be serious ! the object is
admirably precious ; long for it, pant after it ! God understands
the rhetoric of thy breathing, as well as of thy cry. But what
is there in Christ's mtercession that is so desirable ? I answer —
1. In Christ's intercession Ues the present transaction of our
soul's salvation. Such passages as hitherto we have spoken of,
are done and past ; the virtue and influence of all these transac-
tions continue, and will continue for ever and ever; but the several
actings had their periods ; and only Christ's session, and mission
of his Spirit, and his blessed intercession, both were, and now are,
the present employment of Jesus Christ. Now he prays, now
he presents his person, merits, intercession. This is the present
transaction of Jesus Christ, and therefore most desirable : me-
thinks I long to know what Christ is now doing in heaven for
my soul ; and is it not this, is not all his time spent either in
reading pardons for his redeemed ones, or in presenting petitions
for them, and pleading for them ? Surely he is still interceding
every day, it is his present work for our souls, O desirable work !
2. In this present transaction lies the application of all
Christ's former actings, whether of his habitual righteousness,
or of his active and passive obedience. All these passages of
Christ's incarnation, conception, birth, life, and death, which
more especially we look upon as the meritorious causes of our
salvation, had been nothing to us, if they had not been applied
Looking unto Jesus. 431
by Christ : Christ purchased salvation by those acts, but he pos-
sesseth us of our salvation by this consummate act of his inter-
cession. But if Christ's intercession be the applying cause, if it
bring home to my soul all the former transactions of Christ,
saying. All these are thine, even thine, O how desirable must this
intercession be !
3. In this application lies that communion and fellowship
which we have with the Father and the Son : I pray for these,
that as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, they also may he
one in us. Understand this soberly : we cannot think that there
should be that oneness in equality betwixt God and us, as be -
twixt God and Christ ; no, but there is oneness in similitude,
even in this life ; by virtue of Chr'ist's intercession we have one-
ness with God and Christ, not only in comforts, but also in
graces ; 1 pray you mark this ; when I speak of communion with
God in this life, I mean especially the communion of grace be-
tween God and the soul ; on God's part there is a special influence
of grace and favour to man, and on man's part there is a special
return of grace and honour to God. Some trembling souls are
apt to think, that all communion with God and Christ consists
only in the comfort of the holy Spirit; whereas Christians may as
really have communion with God in secret conveyances of grace,
inward supports, in the hidden drawings of the soul Godward^
as in the more open and comfortable manifestations of God unto
the soul : communion with God is a familiar friendship, (I speak
it in an holy, humble sense ;) now do we not as usually go to a
friend for advice as for comfort? In a friend's bosom we entrust
our sorrows as well as our joys. Suppose a soul even overwhelmed,
and ready to break, betaking itself unto God, and venting itself
before the Lord ; if after, the soul hath no more ease, than by the
bare lancing of the sore, if God pours in no balm at all, but only
gives support ; shall we say that this soul in this case hath no
communion with God ? O yes ! that soul lives, the sun shines,
though a cloud interposeth ; God smiles, though the soul doth
not perceive it ; thou hast his strengthening presence, if not his
shining : now, this is the fruit of Christ's blessed intercession ;
and this is the subject matter of Christ's intercession, O my Fa-
ther, that these may he one in us; I in them, and thou in me; I in
thein by the influence andpoioer of my Spirit, and thou in ine hy
the fulness and power of the Godhead, And is not this a most
desirable thing ?
4. In this communion lies the fruition of Christ in glory,
grace brings to glory : if communion here, we shall have com-
munion hereafter ; and this also is a part of Christ's prayer and
intercession. Father, Iivill that they also whom thou hast given
me he luith me where I am, that they may behold my gloyy which
thou hast given me. This communion mth Christ is above all
432 Looking unto Jesus,
desirable ; the communion wliicli the saints shall have with
Christy never will wander after any other objects; O the iuti-
mac}^ that will be then betwixt Christ and Christians ! O what
comnmnication of glory will there be to each other 1 These shall
walk with me, (saith Christ,) for they are ivorthy,
O my soul, if this be the business of Christ's intercession, if
all these particulars are contained in the bowels of this one trans-
action, how is it that thou art not gasping, groaning, sick unto
death, with the vehement thirst after thy portion hi Christ's in-
tercession ? If there be such a thing as desire in this heart of
mine, O that now it would break out ! O that it would vent
itself with mighty longings, and infinite aspirings after this
blessed object 1 Lord, 1 desire, but help thou my faint desires ;
blow on my dpng spark, it is but little; and if I know any thing
of my heart, I would have it more; O that my spark would
tlame"^ ! Lord, I desire that I might desire ; O breathe it into me,
and I will desire thee.
Sect. IV. — Of Hoping in Jesus in this respect.
Let us hope in Jesus carrying on this great work of our salva-
tion in his intercession. O my soul, hope in Jesus, but rest not
till thou canst give a reason of thy hope, till thou canst prove
that they are the hopes w^hich grace, and not only nature, hath
wrought; that they are grounded upon scripture promises, and
sound evidences ; that they purify the heart; that the more thou
hopest, the less thou sinnest ; that they depend on sure and
infallible causes, as on the truth, power, and mercy of God; on
the merits, mediation, and intercession of Jesus Christ; is this
among the rest the spring of thy hope ? Canst thou follow the
stream, till it brings thee to this fountain, that now thou canst
say, O this intercession is mine f Come, search and try, it is
worth the pains.
1. If Christ's intercession is mine, then is the Spirit's inter-
cession mine : in this case we need not ascend up into heaven to
learn the truth, rather let us descend into our own hearts, and
look whether Christ hath given us of his Spirit, which makes us
cry unto God with sighs and groans which cannot be uttered ; O
come and let us ransack our own consciences; let us search
whether we feel the Spirit of Christ crying in us, Abha Father :
Certainly these two are as the cause and the effect : Christ's in-
tercession in heaven, and his Spirit's intercession, are as twins of
a birth ! Or rather, Christ's intercession in heaven breeds another
intercession in the hearts of his saints. It is the same Spirit
dwelling in Christ and in all his members, that stirs them to cry,
Abba Father. Here then is my argument ; if Christ hath put his
Spirit into thy heart, and if the Spirit hath set thine heart on
Looking unto t/esus. 433
work to make incessant intercessions for tliyseif^ then is Christ's
intercession thine. O my soul, hath God sent forth the Spirit of
his Son into thy heart ? Hast thou the indwelling of the Spirit 3
and now by the help of the Spirit canst thou pray witli earnest-
ness, conhdence, and an holy importunity? Canst thou cry,
uJbba, Father ? Canst thou cry with earnestness, with confidence.
Father ? and Abba, Father^ (or Father, Father,) with an holy
importunity? These are the signs of the Spirit's intercession.
O that thou wouldst deal faithfully with thyself; canst thou by
the help of the Spirit go to thy Father in the name of Christ ?
As Christ is gone before into the holy of holies to intercede ; so
canst thou with boldness follow after, and enter into the Jioliest
hi/ the blood of Jesus? Canst thou say, God h.ith given me his
Spirit, and his Spirit hath shewn me Christ as my mediator at
the right-hand of God ; and now, under the wing of such a me-
diator, I can with the Spirit's assistance go with boldness to speak
any thing in the ears of God ? Surely this is the fruit, the efiect,
of Christ's intercession, and therefore thou mayest comfortably
conclude, CJirisfs i?itercession is tnine.
2. If I feel a holy disposition to pray and intercede for others,
especially for the distresses of the church of God, then is Christ's
intercession mine. We should, as near as we may, in every thing
conform to Christ ; and this conformity is an evidence of our in-
terest in Christ: O my soul, go down into the inmost closet of
thy heart, look what disposition there is in it towards the mem-
bers of Christ; and thou mayest conclude; there is in Christ's
heart the very same disposition towards thee. Can I tliink that
my narrow, straitened, sinful bowels, are larger than those wide,
compassionate, tender bowels of Jesus Christ? As a drop of
water is in comparison of the ocean, and as a gravel stone
is in comparison of the sand; so is my heart to Christ's,
and my love to Christ's, and my bowels to Christ's. Come then,
and try by this sign : HereJji/ lue know tliat we are translated
from deat/i to life, if we love tJie bretJiren; tie t/iat loveth not his
brotJier, ahideth in death. — Hereby perceive we tlie love of God,
because tie laid doivn hi,s life for tlie bretfiren. Is not this plain?
if I love the brethren, Christ loveth me ; if I feel in my heart an
holy disposition to go to God, and to pray, and cry, and intercede
for a saint hi misery, surely the Lord Jesus hath as much bowels
towards me, to go and intercede for me, and to present my
prayers unto God the Father; his intercession is mine.
Sect. V. — Of Believing in Jesus in that respect.
Let us believe in Jesus, as carrying on this great work of our
salvation in his intercession : silence, unbelief! be not tyrannical
to thyself, for Christ will not, sin shall do thee no hurt, nor
Satan, no, nor God himself, for Jesus Christ can work him to any
16. 3 I
434 Looking unto Jesus,
thing ; if he but open his wounds in heaven, he will so work his
Father, that thy wounds on earth shall close up presently.
Go to Christ as interceding for his saints \ this act of Christ
is for the application of all the former acts on Christ's part : and
our faith closing with it, is for the application of this, and all
the other actings of Christ on our part. Now is our faith led up
very high; it may at once see earth and heaven; it may see all
that Christ hath acted for it here, and all that Christ doth act,
and will act in heaven for it hereafter. It is not an ordinary,
single, particular act of faith, that will come up to this glorious
mystery ; it is a comprehensive act, it is such an act as puts the
soul into a condition of glorious triumph ; Andheing made per feet y
(saith the apostle,) he became the author of eternal salvation to alt
them that obey him : now therefore lead up thy faith to this blessed
object, and thou hast under consideration the whole of Christ's
actings in this world from first to last ; in respect of mediatiouj
this is the upshot, the period, the consummation, the perfection
ofaU.
In going to Christ as interceding for us, look to the purpose,
end, intent, and design of Christ's intercession : now the ends
of Christ, in reference to us, are these : —
1 . That we might have fellowship wdth the Father, and the
Son ; I pray for these, that as thou, Father, art in me, and I in
thee, they also may be one in lis,
2. That we might have the gift of the Holy Ghost ; Iivillpray
the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that lie
may abide with you for ever, eveii the Spirit of truth.
3. That we might have protection against all evil; I pray
(saith Christ) that thou ivouldst keep them from evil.
4. That we might have free access to the throne of grace; so
the apostle. Seeing then lue have a great high-priest that is
passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast
our jjrofession, and come boldly to the throne of grace. And
again. Having therefore boldness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus, and having an high-priest over the house of God,
let us draw near ivith a true heart, in full assurance of faith.
5. That we might have the inward intercession of the Spirit,
which is, as it were, the echo of Christ's intercession in our
heart; The Spirit maketh intercession for us luith groanings
which caniiot be uttered. It is the same Spirit groans in us, which
more distinctly in Christ prayeth for us. These things I spake
in the ivorld, (saith our Saviour,) that they might have my joy
filled in themselves. I have made this prayer in the world, and
left a record and pattern of it in the church, that they feeling the
same heavenly desires kindled in their own hearts, may be com-
forted in the workings of that Spirit of prayer in them, which testi-
fieth to their souls the quality of that intercession which I made for
them in the heaven of heavens; certainly there is a dependence
Looking unto Jesus. 435
of our prayer on Christ's prayer : as it is with the sun, though
the body of it abide in the heavens, yet the beams of it descend
to us here on earth ; so the intercession of Christ, though it is
made in heaven, yet the groans and desires of the touched heart,
as the beams thereof, are on earth.
6. That we might have the sanctification of our services ; of
this the Levitical priests were a type, For they hare the iniquity
of the holy things of the children of Israel, that they might he
accepted; and lie is the angel of the covenant, ivho hath a golden
censer, to offer up the prayers of the saints. Some observe a three-
fold evil in man, of every of which we are delivered by Christ :
First, an evil condition under the guilt of sin : Secondly, an evil
nature under the corruption of sin : Thirdly, an evil in all our
services by the adherence of sin ; for that which toucheth an un-
clean thing, is made unclean thereby. Now, Christ by his righ-
teousness and merits justifieth our persons from the guilt of sin;
and Christ by his grace and Spirit doth purify our faculties from
the corruption of sin ; and Christ by his incense and intercession
doth cleanse our services from the adherence of sin, so that in
them the Lord smells a sweet savour, and both we and our ser
vices find acceptance with God.
7. That we might have the pardon of all sin. It is by virtue
of Christ's intercession that a believer sinning of infirmity, hath
a pardon of course, for Christ is his advocate to plead his case ;
or if he sin of presumption, and the Lord give repentance, he
hath a pardon at the hands of God the Father by virtue of this
intercession.
8. That we might have the salvation of our souls in the day of
Jesus; Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me,
he ivith me were I am, that they may behold my glory, O to
see the Lord Jesus Christ glorified, must be a glorious thing ; what
is it to see his glory, but to behold the lustre of his divinity
through his humanity ? We may be sure God shall appear through
the humanity of Christ, as much as is possible for the divinity to
appear in a creature; and therefore men and angels will be con-
tinually viewing of Christ. I know there is another glory of
Christ, which the Father will put upon him ; Because he humbled
himself, therefore God ivill exalt him, and give him a name
above every name; and we shall see him in this glory. O the
ravishing sight I Christ is so lovely, that the saints cannot leave,
but they must and wWifolloiv the Lamb ivheresoever he goes; there
shall be no moment to all eternity, wherein Christ shall be out of
sight to so many thousand thousands of saints. Is not this a
blessed end of Christ's intercession ? Hither tend all the rest ; and
for this above all Christ intercedes to his Father, Father, I would
have my saints with me. O that all the daughters of Zion may
behold king Soloinon^with the crown ivherewith thou hast crow?ied
436 Looking unto Jesus.
him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of
his heart.
Let our fiiith then act dcpencleiitly upon the intercession of
Christ, in these very ends -, this is the very nature of faith, it
rehes upon God in Christ, and upon all the promises of Christ :
So then, is there a desirable end in Christ's intercession which
we aim at ? O let us act our faith dependently ; let us rely, stay,
or lean upon Christ to that same end ! let us cast ourselves upon
the very intercession of Jesus Christ : saying, O Christ, there is
enough in thee, and in this intercession of thine, and therefore
there will I stick, and abide for ever.
Faith also must ever and anon be crying, wrestling with God,
tiiat virtue may go out of Christ's intercession into our hearts.
/ have heard, Lord, that there is an office erected in heaven, that
Christ, as jmest, should he ever praying and interceding for his
people : O that I may feel the efficacy of Christ's intercession ! and
nmv in prayer, O that I could feel in this prayer, the warmth, and
heat, and spiritual fire, ivhich usually falls doiuti from Christ's
intercession into the heart! Lord, warm my spirit in this duty ;
give me the kisses of thy mouth; O that I may noiv have com-
munion with thee, thy Spirit upon me, thy protection over me I
O that my pardon may he sealed, my grace confirmed, my soul
saved in the day of Jesus!
Sect. VI. — Of Loving Jesus in that respect.
Let us love Jesus, as carrying on this great work of owx sal-
\ation in his intercession. Now, two things more especially will
, excite our love. 1. Christ's love to us. 2. Our propriety in
Christ. For the first, many acts of Christ's love have appeared
before, and every one is sufficient to draw our love to him
again.
1 . Li the beginning of time he loved man above all creatures,
for after he had made them all, he then spake as he never did
before : Let us make man after our own image, after our likeness,
and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over all
the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth;
and thougli nnui unmade himself by sin, Christ's love yet was
not broke off, but held forth in a promise till the day of perform-
ance, the seed of the ivoman shall bruise the serpent's head.
2. In the fuhiess of time his love was manifest; the seed then
blossomed, and the birth then came out in an high expression of
love ; the love of Christ was born, and saw the light : After that,
saith the apostle, the kindness and love of God our Saviour to-
wards man appeared. I shall not need sure to instance in succeed-
ing passages ; so far as we have gone, we have clearly seen Christ's
life was a perfect muTor of hislove : as there is no beam in the
Looking unto Jesus. 437
sun, in which there is no light ; so there was no act in the life of
Christ, but to a spiritual eye it shines with the light of love.
3. At this time there is a coal of burning love in the breast of
Christ : this fire was indeed from everlasting, but the flames are
as hot this day as ever ; now is it that Christ loves, and lives ;
and wherefore lives, but only to love us, and to intercede for
us? Christ makes our salvation his constant calling; he is ever
at work, yesterday, and to-day, and for ever ; there is not one
hour in* the day, nor one day in a year, nor year in an age,
wherein Christ is not busy with his Father in this heavenly em-
ployment of interceding for us. He loved us before he died for
us, his lore being the cause why he died for us; and he loves us
still, in that now he intercedes for us : It is as much as to say,
Christ hath loved us, and he repents not of his love: love made
him die for us, and, if it were to do again, he would die over
again ; O the love of Christ towards our poor souls ! how many
thousands of particulars might I draw out of scripture, express-
ing Christ's love to us in this respect.
2d. Another motive of our love to Christ is our propriety in
Christ : Ye are not your own, said the apostle of us ; and he is not
his oivn, may we say of Christ : if any ask how this may be ; I
answer, that the soul in loving Christ is not her own, and in re-
gard of loving, Christ is not his own; every one makes over
itself to another; and propriety or interest to itself on both sides
ceaseth ; 3Iy beloved is mine, and lam his, saith the spouse ; not
as if Christ should leave off to be his own, or to be a free God,
when he becomes ours ; no, but he so demeans himself, in re-
spect of love, as if he were not his own ; he putteth on such
relations, and assumes such offices of engagement, as if he were
all for us, and nothing for himself; thus he is called a Saviour,
a Redeemer, a King, a Priest, a Prophet, a Friend, a Guide, a
Head, a Husband, a Leader, Ransomer, Intercessor; and what
not, of this nature !
() my soul, come hither ; if thou hadst as many hearts in one,
as there are men and angels in heaven and earth, all these would
be too little for Jesus Christ : only go as far as thou canst, and
love him with that heart thou hast, yea, love him with all thy
heart, and all thy soul, and all thy might; and as Christ, in lov-
ing thee, is not his own, so let thy soul in loving Christ be not
her own: come, love thy Christ, and not thyself; possess thy
Christ, and not thyself; enjoy thy Christ, and not thyself; live
in thy Christ, and not in thyself; solace thyself in Jesus Christ,
not in thyself; say with the apostle, / am crucified ivifh Christ,
')ieverthel€ss, Hive, yet not /, hut Christ liveth in me. Certainly,
if ever thou comest to love Christ truly, thou canst not but deny
thyself and all created lovers. This love will screw up thy soul
so high above the world, and above thy flesh, and above thy life,
and above all other lovers, that nothhig*on this side Christ, whe-
438 Looking unto */esiis.
ther in heaven or earth, will come in competition with him. O
for a soul filled with the fulness of God ! O for a soul stretched
out to its widest capacity for the entertainment of God ! O my
soul that thou wert but aide to compreJiend with all the saints,
what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to
know the love of Christ, that ^^asseth knowledge!
Sect, VII. — Of Joying in Jesus in that respect.
Let us joy in Jesus, as carrying on this great Avork oi our sal-
vation in his intercession.
O I am much opposed (says one :) Dogs have cornjjassed me,
the assembly of the ivicked have enclosed me; they persecute, re-
proach, revile, so that I am killed all the day long. — And what
then ? What matters opposition of men, so long as Christ doth
intercede for thee in heaven ? And tell me, hast thou no ex-
perience of this truth ? Doth not relief come in strangely now
and then ? Why, write upon the forehead of such favours, I have
a merciful and compassionate Mediator in heaven,
O I am much opposed (says another) that I cannot pray; alas !
my prayers are dull, weak, and dry, and without spirit and life.
If so, be humbled for it; and yet know this, that when thou
canst not pray, Christ prays for thee, and he prays that thou
mayst pray : and tell me, hast thou no experience of this truth ?
hath not sometimes thy spirit been enlarged in prayer? hast
thou not sometimes felt thy heart warmed? hast thou not
sometimes in prayer been lifted up above thyself, and above the
world ? Conclude then, my intercessor above hath sent me this
gift; it is not I, but Christ's intercession, that by a secret ope-
ration hath given me the Spirit to help mine infirmity ; these are
the intercessions of the Spirit of Christ, and they are the very
echo of the intercession of Christ in his ovni person.
Sect. VIII. — Of Praying to, and Praising Jesus in that respect.
Let us pray, and praise our Jesus in that respect.
1. Let us pray or sue our interest in this intercession; call on
Jesus, or on God the Father in and through Jesus, that Christ's
intercessions may be ours, and that he would make it out to us
in a way of assurance every day more and more.
2. Let us praise, let us bless God and Christ for every trans-
action in heaven for us. Heaven is full of his praises; why
should not earth ring with the sound thereof? Praise the Lord,
O my soul, and all that is within me, praise his holy name.
Sect. IX. — Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect.
Let us conform to Jesus in respect of his intercession. I can-
not think but in every action of Christ there is something imi-
Looking unto Jesus, 439
•o
table of us. As to the present, I shall instance only in these
particulars.
1. Christ appears in heaven for us; let us appear on earth for
him. Is there not equity, as well as conformity to this duty ?
O my soul, consider what Christ is doing, consider wherein the
intercession of Jesus Christ consists ! is not this the first part of
it? He appears in heaven before saints and angels, and before
God and his Father in thy behalf; and art thou afraid of worms,
mortals^ dust and ashes, in his cause, or for his truth ? Shall
Jesus Christ own thee in heaven, and wilt thou not own Jesus
Christ here in this world ? O what a mighty engagement is here
to stand to Christ, and to appear for Christ, and to own his cause
in these backsliding times ; in that Christ, who sits at the right
hand of God, is ready to appear in person for us, both as a me-
diator, sponsor, solicitor, advocate, and ambassador !
2. Christ spends all his time for us and our salvation ; let us
spend all our time for him, and in his service. The apostle tells
us, that he ever lives to make intercession for us; it is not for a
day, or a month, or a year, but he lives for ever upon this ac-
count ; for ever (i, e.) during all the time from his ascension,
mtil the end of the world, he is still interceding ; surely people
do not think what Christ is doing in heaven for them. If you
would but seriously consider, that Christ, without any weariness
or intermission, is ever interceding; how would this engage you
in his service ? Ah Christians ! if you should continue praying,
praising, reading, hearing, all this day without any intermission ;
how would you say. When will the day he do7ie, when luill the
Sabbath be at an end? Well, but Christ is not weary of serving
you : when you have done your duties, he takes your persons
and duties, and presents all unto his Father ; he prays over your
prayers, continues praying, and saying, Lord accept of a short,
poor, imperfect service done on earth, for my sake, and for those
merits' sake luhich I am continually presenting to thee m heaven.
O why do we not come up to this conformity ? O why are we
so uncomformable to the actings of Christ? We cannot but
judge this to be most equal, that they luho live, should not hence-
forth live unto themselves, but unto him luho ever lives to make
intercession for them.
3. He prays for us, and for all believers, to Ms Father. Let
us pray for ourselves, and for all our brethren, and for all sorts of
men, though they be our enemies, for we were no better to Jesus
Christ. Learn of me, saith Christ ; and so far as he is imitable,
let us follow him. Doth Christ pray ? let us pray. Doth he
pray for us and others ? let us pray for ourselves, and then let
us pray one for another.
4. Christ takes our prayers, and mingles them with his own
prayers, intercessions, incense, and so presents all his own
work unto God the Father. O let this be om* care, to put up all
440 Looking unto J^esiis,
our prayers to God in the name of Christ ; and to stay ourselves
upon the intercessions of Christ : When all is done, let us beg
the acceptance of our prayers, not for our sakes, but for his sake,
who perfumes our prayers, by interweaving them with his prayers.
Many a poor soul is afraid to pray to God; for want of the due
consideration of this conformity, such a one goes to prayer, and
he looks upon it as it lies upon his own heart, or as it comes
from himself, and then he cries, O ivhat a poor, weak, sinful,
prayer is this? Well, but if this weak prayer of thine ije once
mingled with the glorious and heavenly prayer of Jesus Christ,
the weakness will soon vanish, and thy prayer will find accept-
ance with God. O conform to Christ in this point ; he will not
present thy prayers to God, but he will first mingle it with his
own prayers ; no more shouldst thou present a prayer to God,
but in Christ's name, considering that all thy prayers find accept-
ance in, for, and through the intercession of Jesus Christ.
5. Christ by his intercession, saves us to the uttermost. O let
us serve him to the uttermost ; surely all we can do is too little
to answer so great a love as this. O Christians ! why should it
be esteemed a needless thing to be rigorously and exactly cir-
cumspect? Christ paid our debt to the uttermost farthing,
drank every drop of our bitter cup, and now presents all unto his
Father, by way of intercession, and saves us thoroughly to the
uttermost ; why should not we labour to perform his service, and
to fulfil every one of his commandments, thoroughly and to the
uttermost also ? Certainly there is a duty which concerns us, to
be hot in religioii. Rev. iii. 16. to be zealous of good works.
Tit. ii. 14. to ivalk circumspectly, or precisely, as the word
carries it, Ephes. v. 15. to be fervent i?i Sjnrit, Rom. xii. 11.
to strive to enter in at the strait gate, Luke xiii. 24. to contend
for the faith, Jude iii. with an holy kind oi violejice to lay hold
upon the kingdom of heaven. Matt. xi. 12. O that ever men
should be afraid of taking God's part too much, or fighting too
valiantly under the colours of Christ ; of being too busy about
salvation ; of being singular (as they call it) in the duties of re-
ligion. 1 observe, men are content to be singular in any thing,
save in the service of God : you desire and labour to be singularly
rich, and singularly wise, and singularly proud ; but you can by
no means endure singularity or eminency in zeal, and the Lord's
service ; in matters of religion you are resolved to do as the most
do, though in so doing you damn your own souls ! O come and
learn this lesson of Christ, he saves us to the uttennost; let us
serve him with all our hearts, and with all our souls, and with all
our might.
Looking unto Jesus, 441
LOOKING UNTO JESUS,
IN HIS SECOND COMING.
BOOK IX.
CHAP. I.
Sect. L-— 0/ Christ's preparing for Judgment.
And is not all done yet ? O the unwearied patience, love,
mercy, free grace of Christ, in carrying on this mighty work !
He begun it before the beginning of the world ; since then he
hath been labouring in it about six thousand years ; and now the
time of restoring being come, he will perfect what he hath begun.
In this also, as in the former, we shall first lay down the object,
and then give directions how to look upon it.
The object is Jesus carrying on that great work of our salva-
tion, in his coming again to earth ; and taking up with him all
his saints into heaven. In this work I shall set before you these
particulars :
1. Christ's preparing for judgment. %.
2. Christ's coming to judgment.
3. Christ's summons of the elect, to come under judgment.
4. Christ and the saints meeting at the judgment- day.
5. Christ's sentencing or judging the saints for eternal glory.
6. Christ and the saints judging the rest of the world.
7. Christ and his saints going up into heaven ; when shall be
the end of this world.
8. Christ surrendering up the kingdom to God, even the
Father.
9. Christ's subjection to the Father, that God may be all
in all.
10. Christ (notwithstanding this) being all in all to his blessed,
saved, redeemed saints, to all eternity.
1. For bis preparing for judgment. When once the number
of his elect shall be completed, and the work of his intercession
shall be at an end, then immediately will follow these particulars :
(1.) ^ great voice comes out of the temple of heaven, saying, It
is done. It comes out of the temple of heaven, that we may un-
derstand it to be the voice of Christ. And if this speech be di-
rected unto God, it is as if Christ had bespoke his Father thus :
16. 3 k
442 Looking unto Jesus.
* And now, O my Father, I have done ; that office of the priest-
hood wliich we erected, is at an end ; I have sat at thy right-hand,
intercedino- for my samts ever smce my ascension ; and now their
number is completed, I am resolved to unpin the fabric of the
world, and take it down ; it stands but for their sakes, and there-
fore now let the seventh angel blow his trumpet, that the mys-
tery of God may be finished: I swear hy him that lives for ever,
that time shall he no longer'
(2.) No sooner is this said, but the seventh angel sounds. This
seventh angel, saith Parens, is the archangel that proclaims
Christ's coming, with a great and mighty shout; For the Lord
himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and ivith the trump of God. The Lord shall
descend with a shout '. But before he descends, and I believe upon
the very discovery of his coming down, there will be a shout in
heaven ; for so it follows. And the seventh angel sounded, and
there were great voices in heaven ; the voices of blessed souls, and
Messed saints, and blessed angels in heaven: no sooner Christ
bids the angel sound, that is, summon all souls, and all angels,
and bid them wait on me ; now I resolve to go down, and to judge
the world. No sooner, I say, Christ bids the angel sound, but
presently, at the joy of his command, all the voices in heaven
give a shout: this is the long-looked-for day, the day of perfect-
ing the number of the saints; the day of joining the souls and
bodies of the saints together ; the day of convening all the fa-
milies both of saints and angels; the day of bringing up the
bride unto the Lamb, and of completing the marriage solemnity ;
and therefore no wonder if, at this news, great voices and cries
(such as are used by mariners, or gatherers of the vintage) were
made in heaven. Now they shout, and sing a new song. The
kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and
of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever.
(3.) After this shout. The four and twenty elders, wtiich sit
before God on their seats, fall upon their faces, and'worshij)ped
God, saying. We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, tvhich
art, and wast, and art to come ; because thou hast taken to thee
thy great power, and hast reigned. By these we understand all
God's saints of the Old and New Testament, comprehended un-
der the twelve patriarchs, and twelve apostles ; first they praise,
and then they pray. 1. They praise God for taking to himself
his own power. 2. They pray Christ to go on to judgment.
(4.) God the Father is well pleased with Christ's purpose of
judging the world : The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my
rig lit- hand until I make thine enemies thy foot-stool. I know
these words were spoke to Christ at his ascension into heaven, yet
that hinders not, but that now God speaks them again to Christ ;
for as yet, saith the apostle, ive see not all things put under him;
and God's purpose was, that Christ should rule until he had put all
Looking unto Jesus. 443
things in subjection under his feet. There is a difference betwixt
Christ's reign before^ and his present reign; at the day of judg-
ment Christ hath a double throne, wherein he sits and reigns :
To him that overcomes will I give to sit with me on my throne^ as
I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
That kingly rule that Christ hath from his ascension, is upon his
Father's throne ; but the kingdom that Christ shall have at the
day of judgment, and ever after, is the joint reign of him with the
Fatlier; he shall have a throne himself, and the saints shall sit
with him in his own throne. And now, saith the Father, Sit thou
at my right-hand, sit on thy own throne by me ; go on to judge
the nations ; I will not judge them, but only in thee, and by thee ;
Lo, I have committed all judgment unto the Son; and do thou
judge them, until thou hast rewarded thy friends, and made thine
enemies thy footstool.
Christians, I cannot but wonder at this joy in heaven, and that
we have so little of this on earth 5 we say with cold lips, and fro-
zen hearts. Thy kingdom come, thy ivill be done on earth, as it is
in heaven; but if our prayers were real and fervent, if we could
but imitate those heavenly citizens, what longings would be in
our hearts after Christ's coming ? How should we rejoice at the
very thoughts thereof? Christ comforting his disciples in re-
spect thereof, speaks these words, TVhen these things begin to
come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your re-
demption draweth nigh. The fulness of our redemption is a
ground of consolation ; all the spirits above are sensible of this ;
God, and Christ, and the angels and saints, rejoice : The Spirit
and the bride say. Come; and Christ himself saith. Surely I come
quickly ; O let us say amen to it; even so come, Lord Jesus^
Sect. II. — Of Christ coining to Judgment,
No sooner is Christ prepared, and all in readiness, but he de-
scends from his throne, to the judgment-seat. In this passage I
shall observe these particulars :
1. He descends with his train. He comes with his royal
attendants out of heaven : Behold, the Lord comes with mighty
angels. Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints, to
execute judgme) it unto all. Certainly a numberless number shall
w^ait upon him. Daniel tells us of a thousand thousand, that
this day minister unto Christ; A thousand thousayid ministered
unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before liim:
Or, if heaven have more, I believe heaven will empty itself of all
the saints, and all the angels ; not one spirit shall stay when
Christ descends : The Son of man shall come in his glory, and
all the holy a7igels with him. O what a glorious day will this be ;
If one sun make the morning sky so glorious, \^'hat a glorious
morning will that be, when so many thousaudis of suns shall
444 Looking unto Jesus,
shine over our heads, the glorious body of Christ surpassing
them all in glory ! Here's a new heaven of suns and stars, such
as this nether world never saw, Xo, the Sun of Righteousness,
with all his 7nor?iing stars si?igi72g and shouting for joy. Heaven
now empties itself of all its created citizens, and cleaves asunder
to make way for Christ and all his train.
2. In his descent through the heavens, he shakes the heavens.
And the poivers of heaven shall he shaken. The whole frame of
heaven, the mighty bodies thereof, most mighty in their sub-
stance, motion, and operation, shall be shaken : At his nod the
pillars of heaven tremble and are astotiished. As yet they are
subject to vanity, and therefore it is no wonder, if at the coming
of Christ they tremble. In this shaking, the evangelist adds,
that the glorious lights of heaven shall be altered : lYie sun shall
be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stains
shall fall. The coming of Christ shall bring with him such a
light, that the splendour of the sun and moon shall be obscured.
3. As he passes through the elementary world, a fire doth
usher him : Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; afire
shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round
about him. — Behold the Lord tvill come with fire, and with his
chariots like a whirlwind. — And the Lord Jesus shall be revealed
from heaven, ivith his mighty angels, in flaming fire. In which
respect, Daniel saw his throne like the fiery fla^ne, and his iv heels
as burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before
him. And at last this fire shall have that effect, that the very
elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the
works that are therein, shall be burnt up. O Christians ! What
cause have we to make the apostle's use of this point, ' Seeing all
these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we
to be in all holy conversation and godliness ? Looking for and
hastening vmto the coming of the day of God, wherein the
heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall
melt with fervent heat.'
He descends lower and lower, till he is inwrapt with clouds :
Hereafter shall you see the Son of man sitting on the right-hand
of])oiver, and coming in the clouds of heaveji. When he went
up into heaven, it is said that a cloud received him out of their
sight; and the angels then said. Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye
gazing up into heaven f This same Je&us, luhich is taken up into
heaven, shall so come, in like mamiei' as ye have seen him go into
heaven. He went up in clouds, and he shall come down in clouds :
I saw in the night visions, andbehold one like the Son of man came
with the clouds of heaven. Here is the first sight of Christ to men
on tlie earth ; when once he is come down into the clouds, then
shall they lift up their eyes, and have a fiill view of Jesus Christ:
a cloud first received him out of their sight 3 and a cloud now
diHcovcrs him to their sight; Then shall appear the sign of the
Looking unto %Iesus. 445
Son of man in heaven; and they shall see the Son of man coming
in the clouds of heaven ivith poiver and great glory. Is it not
plaiii^ that the first appearing and sight of Christ, at his second
coming from heaven, is in the midst of clouds ; Behold he Com-
eth with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also 7vhich
pierced him. Shall not we, at the first view of him in the clouds,
cry out, O yonder is he, whose blood redeemed us, whose Spirit
cleansed us, whose prayers prevail for us, whose law did govern
us : yonder comes he in whom we trusted, and now we see he
hath not deceived our trust; yonder is he for whom we waited
long, and now we see we have not waited in vain.
I verily believe, thus it will be with us one day ; we shall have
comfort then. O let us comfort ourselves with these words; and
ever and anon ciy, ^ Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly ! — make
haste, my beloved, and be thou like a roe, or a young hart, upon
the mountain of spices/
Sect. III. — Of Christ's summoning of the Elect to come under
Judgment.
No sooner is he in the clouds, but he sends his holy angels with
a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his
elect from the four winds, from one end of the heaven to another.
1. He shall send his angels. This was their office from their
first creation ; they were still sent of God this way, and that way ;
and indeed herein is one diff'erence betwixt Christ and the angels,
he was to sit at God's right-hand, but they were sent abroad, to
minister to the saints and people of God.
2. The commission given the angels, immediately to sound the
trumpet; so it follows. And he shall send his angels ivith a great
sound of a trumpet: some would have it to be a material trumpet,
others more probably look upon this as a metaphor; or a sound
formed in the air, like the sound of a trumpet. A voice it is,
without all controversy; and, metaphorically, it may be called a
trumpet, both from the clearness and greatness of the sound ; so
loud shall it be, that it will pierce into the ears of the dead in
their graves ; it ivill shake the world, rend the rocks, break the
mountcmis, dissolve the bonds of death, burst down the gates of
hell, and unite all spirits to their own bodies. The Lord himself
shall descend from heaven ivith a shout, ivith the voice of the arch-
angel, and with the trumjyet of God. In these words is shewed
the coming of Christ in three particulars ; with a shout, with a
voice, and with a trumpet. It is agreed by most, that the transac-
tions at the giving of the law on mount Sinai, were a representation
of the proceedings which shall be at the great day of judgment;
now in that transaction we read of a three-fold voice, ttie voice
of God, the voice of thunder, and the voice of a trumpet, (Exod.
xix. 16. compared with Exod. xx. 1.) and accordingly we find
446 Loohing unto Jesus.
the apostle speaking of a three-fold voice, of the voice of Christy
of the voice of thunder, and of the voice of a trumpet,
1 . The Lord himself shall descend ivith a shout, Lyra and
others think this to be the voice of Christ himself, saying, with a
loud voice. Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment. Thus Jesus
cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth; and with such a
voice will he call on the dead at the last day. So much Christ
himself hath taught us ; The hour is coming, and now is, when
the dead shall hear the voice of tlie Son of God, and they that
hear sliall live. The hour is, because by the voice he raised some
at his first coming. And the hour is coming, because in the like
manner he will raise up all men at the last day : Marvel not at
this, (saith Christ,) for the hour is coming in the which all that
are in the graves sliall hear his voice, and they^shall come foi^th.
As at the creation of the world he said. Let there he light, and
there was light; so at the dissolution of the^vorld he will say.
Let the dead rise; let the sea give up the dead that are in it, and
death and hell deliver up the dead which are in them; and it will
be so.
2. The Lord shall descend, with the voice of the archangel.
Some argue this archangel to be Gabriel, others Raphael,
others Michael. The Jews have an ancient tradition, that there
are seven principal angels that minister before the throne of God,
and therefore called archangels. The scriptures seem to speak
much that way, calling them, seven lamps of fire burning before
the throne; and seve7i horns, and seven eyes of the Lamb; and
t/ie seven Spirits of God sent forth into all t/ie earth; and seven
eyes of the Lord, luJiich run to and fro througJi tlie ivhole earth;
and yet more plainly, seveti angels that stand before God, Now,
which of these seven is the archangel here spoken of, is hard to
determine ; only probably it is, that all the archangels, and all tl}e
angels, are hereby understood, as comprehended under that
one.
But what is this voice of the archangel? I conceive that
thereby we are to understand thunder. Here is a manifest allu-
sion to the proceedings at the giving of the law; now the voice
there mentioned, besides the voice "of God and the voice of a
trumpet, is tlie voice of thunder : And it came to pass on the
third day, in tlie morning, there were thunders,
2. The Lord shall descend, with the trumpet of God, Such a
voice was used also at the giving of the law ; and so it will be now,
when men are called to account for the keeping or breaking of it.
For tlie understanding of this, our last translation tells us, that
I /j1»)t'/ fhnll l<rtn\il hin <^^->.r^»/„ .'xZ. j/. * 1 f • «•
voice, like the voice of a trumpet.
But why is this sound as of a trumpet, called the trumpet of
Looking unto tiesusc 447
God? I answer, for the greatness of it; for it is usual in the
Hebrew language, for the setting forth of the greatness of a thing,
to add the name of God to the word, whereby the thing is signi-
fied: as, 6rew. xxiii. 6. A prince of God, that is, a mighty
prince, Gen. xxx. 8. ; luith the ivrestlings of God, that is, with
great wrestlings, Psal. xxxvi. 6. ; mountains of God, tliat is, great
mountains, Psal. Ixxx. 10. ; cedars of God, that is, very high
cedars ; so here, the trump of God, that is, a very great sound,
like the sound of a trumpet. It is said in the law, there were
thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount; and
the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud, so that all the people that
were in the camp trembled; and if there was trembling at the
giving of the law, O what trembling will be at the general assize,
when sinners shall be condemned for breaking of it ?
3. No sooner is the shout made, but the saints arise ; it is
true, the saints that are alive need no resurrection, but upon
them will this trumpet have its effect. Something like death
shall seize upon them, and they shall be changed. The order of
this is given in by the apostle, from the Lord : This we say unto
you hy the word of our Lord, that we which are alive, and remaiji
unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are
asleep; for the Lord himself shall desceyid from heaven in a shout,
with the voice of the archangel, and luith the trump of God, and
the dead iii Christ shall rise first; then lue ivhich are alive, and
remain, shall be caught up together with him in the clouds. The
first that shall be called are the saints that sleep, and then the saints
that are alive. O what a day will this be ! What a strange sight
to see all the dead, ever since the beginning of the world, rise out
of their graves ! The bodies of saints were sown in corruptio7i,
but they are raised in incorruption ; they were soivn in dishonour,
but raised in glory; they were sown in weakness, but raised in
power; they ivere sow7i natural bodies, but raised spiritual bodies.
4. No sooner are the saints raised, and their souls and bodies
re-united with excellent majesty, but all the elect of God, from
first to last, are gathered together ; from the most hidden, inward,
secret bosom of the earth, all shall be gathered ; howsoever their
dusts may be scattered into a thousand thousand parts, yet the
power of Christ shall restore all those dusts, and bring them
together into their several compacted bodies.
The elect must resort to Christ wheresoever he is ; and the
apostle is express, that Christ is in the air, and in the clouds:
and therefore thither must the elect be gathered ; they shall be
caught up by the holy angels into the clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air.
Is it possible that such a meditation should pass without some
tincture on our spirits ? If my ears shall hear that sound, and if
my eyes shall see these sights, is it not time for me to lay these
things to heart, that I may be found faithfid and well-doing ? As
448 Looking unto Jesus,
sure as I have this book in my hand, I must be one of those that
shall hear the sound of the trumpet, and away I must go from the
mouth of my grave, wherever I shall be buried, to the cloud
where Christ doth sit ! How would I rise ? O my God ! set this
home on my soul ! O where is my lamp ? and where is my oil ?
are all ready, and am I ready and prepared to meet the Lord in
the air?
Sect. IV. — Of Christ and the Saints meeting at the Judgment
Day.
No sooner are the saints lifted up, and set before the Judge,
but these things follow : —
1. They admire the infinite glory, and beauty, and dignity, and
excellency, that is in Christ. So the apostle, TFhen he shall come,
he shall be glorified in his saints, and shall be admired in all them
that believe. All that believe shall break out into admiration of
Jesus Christ ; they shall at the first sight observe such an excel-
lency in Jesus Christ, as they shall be infinitely taken with it :
here we speak of Christ, and in speaking we admire; but how
will they admire, when they shall not only speak or hear, but see
and behold him, who is the express image of God, and the bright-
ness of his Father s glory,
2. They adore and magnify the grace and glory of Jesus
Christ ', as it is said of the twenty-four elders, that they fell down
' before hi?)! that sat on the throne, and worshipped him that liveth
for ever and ever, and cast their croiuns before the throne, sayiiig.
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and
power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they
are and ivere created. So all the saints, now advanced to stand
before the throne, fall down before Christ, and worship him that
lives for ever, shouting and singing about Jesus Christ, and setting
out his glory, grace, and goodness : After this Ibeheld (saith John)
and lo a great multitude, which no man could number, of all
'nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood before the
throne, and before the Lamb — and cried with a loud voice. Say-
ing, Salvation to our God,ivhich sittethuponthe throne, and unto
the Lamb ; and all the angels stood round about the throne, and
about the elders, and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on
their faces, and worshipped God, saying. Amen; blessing, and
glory, and tvisdom, and thatiksgiving, and honour, arid power,
a)id might, be unto our God, for ever and ever. Amen.
3. Christ sets them on his right-hand; Upon thy right-hand
doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir. When he himself ascended
up into heaven, then said the Father to him. Son sit thou down
at my right-hand ; and no sooner the saints are ascended up to
Christ, but he speaks the same to them, Sit down at my right-
hand: Christ entertahis them, as God the Father entertahied
him; he at the right-hand of God, and they at the right-hand of
Looking unto Jesus, 449
Christ. The Lord now puts upon his saints heaven's glory ; he
adorns them with all his ornaments for the marriage day, and
indeed here is the beginning of the solemnity of the marriage of
the Lamb ; not but that the contract was before, but the solem-
nity was reserved for this day, and all the glory of this day is for
nothing else but to set out the solemnity of the marriage.
Sect. V. — Of Christ's Sentencing his Saints,
No sooner are they set on his right-hand, but he prepares for
sentence.
L The book must be opened. And Isaiv the dead, small and
great, stand before God; and the books were ope)ied, and another
was opened which is the book of life. It is spoken after the man-
ner of men, in whose public judgment are produced all the \vrit-
ings of the process, informations, depositions of witnesses, to
shew that all actions, even the most secret ones, shall then be re-
hearsed and made manifest. The books of the Old and New
Testament, wherein all things either to be done, or omitted, are
prescribed by God. And the books of our consciences, which
now are shut up and concealed from men, but then shall be
made manifest to all the world. Likewise another book, which
is the book of life : this book contains in it the names of all that
are saved, from first to last.
2. All the actions, demeanours, graces, duties, and (it may be)
sins, of saints, shall be produced and laid open ; the Holy Ghost
tells us, that the dead were judged out of those things which were
icritten in the book. It appears hence, that not only names, but
things, were wTitten, and these things were produced, and accord-
ingly they were judged.
Then shall the King say to them on his right-hand. Come, ye
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the ivorld. Every word here is full of life
and joy: 1. Come. This is the King's invitation of his saints to
his court; he hath summoned them before to his presence, and
now they are about him, they must come nearer yet, they must go
with him into his presence-chamber. 2. Come, ye blessed of my
Father ; Christ blessed them when he went up to heaven, and
whilst yet on earth he pronounced them blessed many a time ; but
now he calls them the blessed of his Father; it is the Father's will,
as well as Christ's, that they should be blessed. Ye blessed of my
Father. 3. Inherit the kingdom. Christ had told them before.
It is your Father s j)leasure to give you the ki?igdom; but then
they were only servants, or as children under age, now they are
heirs, heirs of God, joint -heirs ivith Christ; and therefore they
must have the inheritance in possession ; they must all be kings.
This word is the anointing, the setting of the crown upon the heads
of the saints ; Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown ofrigh-
16. ' 3 1.
450 Looking unto Jesus,
teousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at
that day; and not for me only, hut unto them also that love his ap-
pearing. 4. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you. In the begin-
ning God created heaven : his first work was to make heaven for
himself and his saints to dwell in ; he prepared it for them, and
then he prepared them for it : but why for them ? Were not an-
gels the first creatures that possessed it ? Nay, were they not
created in it, or together with it ? Yes, but yet the angels are
not properly the heirs, sons, members, spouse of God and Christ,
as the saints are : the angels are but ministering spirits, and the
servants of the bridegroom ; but the saints are the bride himself,
heirs, and co-heirs with Christ, as the saints are. 5. Prepared
for you from the foundation of the world. This was the great
design of God and Christ from all eternity.
Sect. VI. — Of Christ and his Saints judging the Rest of the
TForld.
No sooner shall the saints be acquitted, anointed, crowned,
but presently they must be enthroned, and sit with Jesus Christ
to judge the world.
1. As Christ is on a throne, so must the elect be set on
thrones; To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in
my throne. Thrones are for kings and judges ; and in that Christi
hath now lifted up his saints to this condition, he will have them
sit with him as so many judges, and as so many kings ; or if it
be more honour to have thrones for themselves, than to sit with
Christ on his throne, John in his vision saw many thrones -, And
I saw thrones, a7id they sat upon them, and judgment iv as given
unto them.
2. The goats on the left hand shall then be called to receive
their doom. Now shall their hearts fail them for fear ; now shall
they seek death (O how gladly would they die again !) but shall
not find it ; now they shall cry to rocks and mountains. Fall on
us, and hide us from the face of hitn that sitteth on the throne,
and from the wrath of the Lamb; but all in vain; the command
is out, angels and devils will force them to the bar, for the Lord
hath spoken it; Those mine eneinies ivhich ivould not that J
should reign over them, bring them hither,
3. They shall look on Christ, and his saints, now sitting on
their thrones, as prisoners that stand at the bar in the face of the
judge ; so must these reprobates look the Judge and all his asses-
sors in the face.
1 . For the Judge, they shall look on him. Behold he comet k
with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which
pierced him. And this very sight will be as convincing as if they
heard Christ say, ' Thou art the man that didst murder me, thou
art the man that hast pierced me ; this wound, this scar, and this
Looking unto J^esus. 451
print of the nails in my hands and feet, were thy doings, in sin-
ning against me. I am he whom you did crucify afresh; I am
he whose person you despised, whose commands you disobeyed,
whose ministers you abused; whose servants you hated, whose
offers you rejected ; and of whom you said. There is no beauty in
him that we should desire him/
2. For the saints, they shall look on them. In the Apocryphal
book there is a plain description of this : ^ Then shall the righte-
ous man stand in great boldness before the face of such as have
afflicted him, and made no account of his labours ; and when
they see it, they shall be troubled with terrible fear, and shall be
amazed at the strangeness of his salvation, so far beyond all that
they looked for; and they, repenting and groaning for anguish of
spirit, shall say within themselves. This is he whom we had
sometimes in a derision, and a proverb of reproach : we fools
accounted his life madness, and his end to be without honour ;
how is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is
amongst the sahits ? ' Here is a sight that will trouble and amaze
the wicked, that those who sometimes were their footstools should
now be on thrones ; that poor Lazarus, who lay at the gates of
that rich man, should now shine like a star near the Sun of righ-
teousness ; that they who were reproached, reviled, massacred,
murdered by them, should now be their judges, joining with
Jesus Christ to sentence them to hell.
4. A particular, strict account, shall be then required, and
given,
1 . Of sins : Come, (will Christ say) now confess all your sins
before all the world; time was that you concealed your sins, but
now every sin shall be laid open before God, angels, and men :
and now is the book of their consciences opened, wherein appear
all their sins, original and actual, of omission and commission.
O the numberless number of evil thoughts, words, and deeds, that
are now laid open. In the book are not only written all sins
done, but all such sins as were intended to be done ; all the pro-
jects of the heart, though never acted, those very thoughts,
secrets, purposes, and projects, shall come to light; or if there
be any thing more hidden or secret, as the very bent and frame
of your hearts, the very inclinations of your souls to this or that
evil, shall then be manifest to all the world. Nay, yet more,
such sins, as by the sinners themselves were never taken notice
of, either before, or at, or after the commission of them, shall
this day come out. Conscience is such a kind of notary, that it
keeps records of all acts and deeds, whether you observe them or
no; conscience hath the pen of a ready writer, and takes in
short-hand from your mouths as fast as you speak, and from
your hearts as fast as you can contrive. O what a day will this
be, when not a sin committed by any reprobate from the begin-
ning of the world, but now it shall be rehearsed I
452 Looking unto Jesus,
2. As an account of all sins, so an account of all temporal
gifts which God hath imparted to reprobates must now be given.
Some have the gifts of the world, as, riches, honours, places of
authority ; others have the gifts of the body, as health, strength,
beauty, life ; others have the gifts of the mind, as understanding,
wisdom, learning; now of all these gifts they must give an ac-
count. Come, you that are rich, (saith Christ) render an account
of your stewardship ; how have you spent your riches ? The like
will he say to others according to the talents bestowed on them :
you excelled in strength, beauty, health of body, lei^th of days ;
and now tell me, and publish it to all the world, how were these
improved ? I believe many a sad answer will be given to Christ
of these things.
3, Christ and his saints proceed to sentence. First, Christ the
chief Judge shall pronounce it. Depart from me, ye cursed, into
everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Every
word breathes out nothing but vengeance and woe : to depart from
that glorious presence of Christ were hell enough, but they must
go with a curse ; not only so, but into fire ', and that must be
everlasting; and therein they shall have no other company, or
comforters, but devils, and they insulting over them with hellish
spite, and stinging exprobations.
2. The saints shall judge the very self-same judgment : Do ye
not know that the saints shall judge the ivorld? That they as
well as Christ shall judge the world, is without controversy : Aiid
judgment ivas given to the saints of the most High. Ye also
shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Behold, the Lord cometh ivith ten thousand of his sab Us, to
execute judgment upon all. Know ye not, that ye shall judge
the angels f Nor only shall we judge the world, but the god of
the world, the principalities and powers that captivate wicked men
at their pleasure ; even they must be judged by those whom they
formerly soiled; so chen there is no question but they shall judge.
Only how the saints shall judge together with Christ, is a very
deep question. For my part, I am apt to think that it shall not
be directly kno\v^l, ere it be seen or done.
O what terror it will be to all wicked men ! When not only
Christ, but all the saints, shall say of them. Away with them,
let them be damned. You that are fathers, it may be that your
children will thus sentence you. I remember when the Jews told
Christ, that lie cast out devils through Beelzebub the prince of
devils, he answered, If I through Beelzebub cast out devils, by
whom do your children cast them out f Therefore they shall be
your judges. They liked well enough of the miracles of their
children, but they could not endure them in Christ ; and there-
fore he tells them, that their children whom God had converted,
and to whom he had given power to do the same works as he
did, even they sliould be their judges to condemn them. And
Looking unto Jesus ^ 453
BO it may be with you, if any of your children be converted to
the Lord, and you remain still in a natural estate, your very chil-
dren shall be your judges, and condemn you to hell.
Sect. VII. — Of Christ and his Saints going up into Heaven,
and of the End of this World,
No sooner are the reprobates gone to their place, but the
saints ascend ; now Christ ariseth from his judgment-seat, and
with all the glorious company of heaven, marches toward the
heaven of heavens. O what a comely march is this ! what songs
of triumph are sung ! Christ leads the way, the cherubim attend,
the seraphim wait on, angels, archangels, principalities, powers,
patriarchs, prophets, priests, evangelists, martyrs, and confessors
of God's law and gospel, following, attend the Judge, and King
of glory ; singing with melody as never ear hath heard, shining
with majesty as never eye hath seen, rejoicing without measure as
never heart conceived. O goodly troop of captains ! each doth
bear a palm of victory in his hand, each doth wear a crown of
glory upon his head; the church militant is now triumphant;
with a final overthrow have they conquered devils, death, and
hell; and now must they enjoy God, life, and heaven.
No sooner Christ and his company are in heaven, but this
whole world is set on fire.
The heavens shall pass away with a noise, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the ivorks that
are therein, shall he burnt up.
Christians ! what is the matter that we are so busy about this
world? Look about you, not one of these visible objects shall
that day remain, or have a being; that glorious heaven whjch
rolls over our heads, shall be rolled together as a scroll, and all
the host shall fall down as a leaf falleth from the vine, and as a
falling Jig from the Jig-tree, — the heaven shall vanish away like
smoke. Alas ! what do we do toihng all the day (it may be all
our life) for a little of this little, almost nothing — earth ? You
that have an hundred, or two hundred, or a thousand acres, if
every acre were a kingdom, all will be at last burnt up ; so that
none shall say that here was Preston, or here was London, or
here was England, or here was Europe, or the globe of the earth
on which men trod ; let others boast as they will of their inherit-
ances, but. Lord, give me an inheritance above all these visibles,
heaven shall remain when earth shall vanish. Here we have no
abiding city, but O let us seek one to come, even that which will
abide for ever and ever. Amen,
454 Looking unto Jesus,
SKcr. VIII. — Of Christ's Delivering up the Kingdom to God
even the Father,
No sooner is he in heaven but —
1 . He presents tlie elect unto his Father ; of this the apostle
sj^eaks. You hath he reconciled hi the body of his flesh through
death, to present you holy and unhlameahle and unreproveable
in his sight: to this end Christ died, that he might wash us and
cleanse us by his blood, and then present us without spot unto
his Father.
2. He presents all his commissions to his Father. So now he
comes with all his connnissions in his hand, and he delivers them
all up to his Father again. In this case it is with Christ as it is
with some general, whom the king sends forth with regal au-
thority to the war, who having subdued the enemy, returns in
triumph, and all being finished, makes a surrender of his place ;
thus Christ having discharged all his offices imposed on him,
now the work is finished, leaves his function by delivering up his
commissions to his Father.
Christ is said to deliver up the kingdom.
1 . Because he ceaseth to execute that authority, which never-
theless he hath; as a judge that goeth from the bench is a judge
still, although he giveth no judgment, but employeth his time
about other occasions.
2. Because the manner of his kingdom after the judgment-
day shall be wholly changed : there is no need in heaven of good
laws to keep men from starting into wickedness; the orders of
this life are changed into a new kind of government, and in that
respect he is said to give over the kingdom.
3. He presents unto his Father not only his offices, but Christ
himself is presented, and subjected unto God. Christ is con-
sidered cither as God, or as man, and mediator betwixt God and
man. Christ, as God, hath us subject to him, and is subject to
none; but Christ, as man and mediator, is subject to his Father
together with us.
In the same way as Christ delivers up the kingdom to the
Father, is Christ also to be subject to his Father; but Christ de-
livers up his kingdom as man, and as mediator betwixt God and
man ; in these respects Christ (as we have heard) must reign no
more, at that day his luediatorship shall cease, and by consequence
in respect of his mediatorship, or in respect of his humanity, he
shall that day be subject to his Father. Now it is God reigns
over us, but only by Christ as mediator. God's immediate reign
we discern not so clearly for the present, but when the end shall
come, and Christ shall surcease his office of mediatorship, then
shall the glory of Christ's divinity appear more eminently, not
only above all creatures, but above the brightness of Christ's hu-
Looking unto Jesus, 455
manity itself; and in this respect Christ shall then he subject^ if
not by a new subjection, so as he never was before.
O my soul, where wilt thou stand ? or what wilt thou say,
when Christ shall take thee by the hand, and bring thee into the
presence of his glorious Father; when he shall present thee, and
present all his commissions which he received for thee, and pre-
sent himself unto his Father with thee and all saints, saying, O
my Father, here we are all before thy glorious Godhead; wel-
come me, and welcome mine, we all stand here before thy glorious
throne, and expect every way as high an entertainment as heaven,
or the God of heaven, can afford !
Sect. IX. — Of Christ's Subjection to the Father^ that God may
be all in all,
Christ therefore subjects himself unto his Father, that God
himself might be all in all; here we enjoy God by means, as, in
the use of the word and sacraments, but when that kingdom
(where these administrations are made use of) shall be delivered
up, then shall God himself be all in all, without means, without
defect, without end.
In prosecution of this, I shall discuss; 1. The meaning, what
it is for God to be all in all ; 2. The particulars, wherein more
especially is God all in all.
1. For the meaning ; it is a periphrasis of our complete enjoy-
ment of God : that God may be all in all, is as much as to say,
that we may enjoy God alone to all intents and purposes, neither
wanting nor willing any thing besides himself; thus God is to
the saints in glory, he is their exceeding great reward ; they had
need nothing besides himself, their dmughts of happiness are
taken in immediately from the fountain, and they have as much
of the fountain as their souls in their widest capacity can pos-
sibly hold.
2. For the particulars wherein more especially is God our all
in all ? I answer ;
1. In our enjoying God immediately; here we enjoy God by
means; either he communicates himself unto us, through his
creatures or through his ordinances, and hence it is, that we
know him but in part, we see him but in a glass darkly; but
when he shall be our all in all, we shall see him face to face ; we
shall then see God as he is, clearly and immediately.
2. It consists in our enjoying God fully : Noiu I know in part
(saitli the apostle) but then shall I know, eve7i as I am known :
our enjoyment of God is but here in its infancy, there it will be
in its full age ; here it is in drops, there it will be in the ocean ;
here we see the back parts, and we can see no more, but there
we shall see his face, not his second face, (as some distinguish)
456 Looking unto Jesus.
which is his grace and favour enjoyed by faith, but his first face,
which is his divine essence, enjoyed by sight.
3. It consists in our enjoying God solely. Not as if there
were nothing else in heaven but only God; but that God in hea-
ven shall be all in all, and instead of all : it is God in heaven that
makes heaven to be heaven; the saints* blessedness, and God's
own blessedness, doth consist in the enjoyment of God himself;
we shall not properly enjoy any thing else but God; and indeed
what can we imagine to be in heaven which is not eminently in
God himself: If it be greatness, power, glory, victory, or majesty,
all these are his; if it be joy, love, peace, or beauty, or anything
amiable or desirable, all these are in him. It is he only that fills
the whole capacity of the soul ; it is he that so fills it that it can
hold no more; it is he only that is the object of love, and there-
fore he only is properly enjoyed, he only is possessed with full
content, as portion enough, and as reward enough, for the soul for
ever.
But shall not the saints have to do with something else in
heaven ? O yes ! I believe there stall be in heaven a commu-
nion of the blessed spirits in God, an association of the saints
and angels of God. Yet this shall not take away the sole enjoy-
ment of God, that he should not be their all in all : for they
shall not mind themselves or their own good and created things,
but altogether God ; they shall not love them, or one another, as
for themselves, but only for God : here we love God for himself,
and it is gracious love ; but there we shall love ourselves for God,
and it is a gracious love ; this is to enjoy God solely, and in this
respect he is all in all; — whom have I in heaven but theef
Sect. X. — Of Christ's (notivithstanding this) being all in all to
his Redeemed^ to all Eternity,
Some may object. If God be all in all, what then becomes of
vChrist ? Is not this derogatory to Jesus Christ ? I answer. No,
in no wise; for
1 . It is not the Father personally and only, but the Deity es-
sentially and wholly, that is our all in all, when we say God is all
in all, we do not exclude the Son and the Holy Ghost, for the
whole Godhead is all in all to all the saints, as well as the first
person in the Trinity : the Father is all, the Son is all, the Holy
Ghost is all ; and in that Christ is God, and the Son of God, we
may say of Christ, that he is all in all ; only the truth of this
position is not from the human nature, but from the divine na-
ture, of Jesus Christ.
2. It is not derogatory to Christ, but rather it doth exceed-
ingly advance Christ in the thoughts of all his saints ; while it
was necessary, Christ veiled his Deity, and when his work of
Looking unto Jesus, 457
mediation is fully finished^ Christ then shall reveal his deity to
his saints more than ever before. It is true, that God only, and
God fully, and God immediately, is all in all 5 but doth that hinder
that Jesus Christ is not also onlj^, fully, and immediately, all in
all ? See how the scripture joins them together : I saw no temple
in the city, for the Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the
temple of it; and the city had no need of the sun, neither of the
moon, to shine in it, for the glory of God doth lighten it, and the
Lamb is the light thereof.
Now then, as I have spoken of God, so that I may speak of
Christ, and conclude all with Christ, I assert this doctrine, that
the glory of Christ, which the saints shall behold in Christ to all
eternity, is their all in all. In the discussion of which, I shall
open these particulars : — -1 . What is the glory of Christ ? 2. How
the saints shall behold his glory ? 3. W herein is the comprehend
siveness of this expression, that the beholding of Christ is our all
in all?
1st. What is the glory of Chiist? I answer, that the glory of
Christ is either human or divine.
1 . There is an human glory, which in time was more espe-.
cially conferred upon his manhood.
2. There is an essential or divine glory, which before time and
after time, even from everlasting to everlasting, issueth from the
Godhead; I shall speak to both these, that we may rather take a
view of Christ in those glories (as we are able) wherein he Mill
appear to his saints to all eternity.
1 . For his human glory, that is either in regard of his soul, or
body; for his soul, Christ was from the first instant of his
conception full of glory, because even then he received grace
not by measure. It is true, that by the special dispensation of
God, the fulness of glory was withheld in the time of his passion,
and the redundancy of glory from his soul unto his body was
totally deferred until the exaltation of Christ; but Christ was no
sooner exalted, and set on the right-hand of God, but imme-
diately the interruption of joy in his soul, and the interception of
glory from his soul to his body, was altogether removed. Then
it was that his soul was filled with all joy which could possibly
flow from the sight of an object so infinitely pleasing, as is tlie
essence, majesty, and glory of God. And then it was that his
body was replenished with as much glory as was proportionable
unto the most vast capacity of any creature. Surely Christ's
manhood is exalted unto an higher degree of glory than the most
glorious saint or angel ever was or shall be; principalities^
powers, mights, and dominions, fall short of his glory, ^
2. For his essential, divine glory, it is that gloiy which Christ
hath as God : this he never laid* aside ; but as the sun in a dark
gloomy day may not send forth his beams, so Christ the Son of
Righteousness, in the tune of his abode upon earth, (except ^
17. 3 ivj
458 Looking unto Jesus.
little fflimpse only in his transfiguration^) tlid not send forth his
glorious beams \ but hereafter the body or humanity of Christ
shall not hinder the breaking forth of all his divhie glory. ^ But
what is the essential glory of Christ? 1 cannot answer, it is a
question not to be resolved by all the men in the world ; we
know little of the glory of saints^ how should we know any thing
of the essential glory of Christ as God?
2d. How shall the saints behold this glory ? I answer : As
Christ hath a twofold glory, so there is a twofold manner of
beholding it, that is, ocular and mental.
1. There is an ocular vision, a sight of Christ with our very
eyes ; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold him ;
with these eyes in our heads we shall one day behold the human
glory of Christ : I doubt not we shall behold the beauty of heaven,
the shining bodies of the saints, but above all, our very eyes shall
delightfully contemplate Christ's glorious body 5 and indeed this
shall drown all other sights.
2. There is a mental vision, a sight of Christ by the eyes of
our understandings-; and surely this exceeds the former, the eye
of the body is only on the body of Christ, bat the eye of the soul
is on the body and soul, on the humanity and deity, of Jesus
Christ. This is the very top of heaven, when saints shall be
illightened with a clear and glorious sight of Christ as God;
divines usually call it the beatifical vision.
3d. Wherein is the comprehensiveness of this expression, that
the beholding of Christ is our all in all? I answer —
1. It comprehends the immediate seeing and looking upon all
that majesty and glory which Jesus Christ hath.
2. It comprehends the enjoyment of Christ in his glory.
Surely the saints shall not be mere idle spectators of the glory of
Christ, but they shall enjoy him, and be taken into fellowship
with him : It was said of Moses, that he did see the land of
Canaan, but he was not admitted into it; it is otherwise with
the saints, they shall see heaven, and they shall enter into heaven.
Come, thou faithful servant, and enter into thy master' s Joy ; not
only behold it, but enter into it ; they must behold Christ, and
take possession of Christ, and enjoy him as their own. In this
respect more especially is Christ our all in all. He is aU in
himself, and, if we enjoy him, he is all in all unto us.
Looking unto Jesus. 459
CHAP. II.
Sect. I. — Of Knoiving Jesus as carrying on the great Work of
our Salvation in his Second Coming.
Let us know Jesus, carrying on the saints' salvation in his
second coming, and taking them to heaven. Many excellent
things are in this transaction; is it not of high concernment
that he that now sits at God's right-hand interceding for us,
should thence come again to judge the world, and after judgment
take up the saints with him into glory ? Cast thyself at the feet
of Christ, and cry out, O the depth of glory, and majesty, and
goodness, and grace, in thee! O the riches of love, that thou
shouldst let out thyself in these admirable dispensations ! Come,
be exact in this study ; gather up all the crumbs and filings of
this gold; the least beams of the glory of Christ (especially as it
shines and glitters at his second coming) having so much light,
and love, and splendour in them ! every part of this knowledge
will be of special use and worth, yea, the low and imperfect know-
ledge of this mystery, of infinitely more value than the high and
perfect knowledge often thousand things besides.
Sect. II. — Of Consideritig Jesus in that respect.
Let us consider Jesus, carrying on this great work of our sal-
vation in his second coming. It is not enough to know, but we
must meditate and seriously consider of it. When the under-
standing works seriously and spiritually, it will fetch thmgs into
sight, hold them there, and fasten upon them; so a man eyes
Christ, till he have more of Christ, more of his presence, of his
light, of his favour, and of his image. O let this be our work;
let us consider Jesus in reference to his second coming to judg-
ment. And that we may do it in order —
1. Consider Christ's preparing for judgment; realize it as if
thou sawest or heardest the same ; no sooner the time determined
which God hath appointed, but Christ commands, ^ Make ready,
ye angels, souls that now are with me ; it is the Father's pleasure,
and it is my pleasure, to go down into the nether world, and to
call before me all the men and women that ever lived in it ; there
will I pass my doom upon all flesh, and reward every one ac-
cording to his works. ^ O what a shout may I imagine in heaven
at this news ! What joy is in the souls of saints, that now they
must go to their bodies, and enter into them, that both their
souls and bodies, which sometime lived together, may now dwell
460 " Lookmg tmto Jesus.
togetlier with Christ in glory, and never part more ! If those
that live on earth are commanded by Christ to lift up their head.^
because their redemption draweth nigh; how much niore shall
they joy in heaven, who also have waited for the adoption, to wit,
the redemjjtion of their bodies^ that now the long-looked for day
is come ! It is come ! O the exultation of the angels at these
tidings '
2. Consider Christ's coming to judgment; all now in rea-
diness; the Son of God comes forth v/ith all his glorious attend-
ants ; For the Son of man shall come forth in the glory of his
Father, with his angels, and with the souls of saints, that for a
time have been in paradise. O what a goodly sight is here ! In
this meditation I may see, with John, the Neiu Jerusalem coming
down from God out of heaven, prepared as a hnde adorned for her
hushand. Down comes Christ, and the angels, and spirits of the
just made perfect: and as they come along, see how they shake
the heavens, and dim and dark the very lights of heaven ! see
what a flood of fire goes before them ! see how they pass into the
cloud, where Christ makes a stand, and erects a throne for him-
self to sit on 1 Sure it will be a glorious cloud, when Christ with
all his celestial servants shall sit upon it.
3. Consider Christ and the saints judging the rest of the
world. No sooner are the saints sentenced, but Christ turns to
the wicked, and bids them^o into everlasting fire ; in which sen-
tence the saints shall join with Christ himself. Do ye not know
that the saints shall judge the ivorldf When the saints appear,
it is not only by a summons, but with commission ; not only to
be judged, but to judge ; not only shall they stand at Christ's
right-hand, but they shall sit down on the throne of the Son of
God, to judge the wicked angels and the world.
4. Consider Christ and his saints going up into heaven. No
sooner hath he done his work with the world and sent them away,
but he shall go with all his troops following him into heaven.
Hath not Christ said tso ? If I go away, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself, that where lam, there you may be also,
those songs of joy, and shouts of praise, that will fill the world
<it that day ! and thus, as they go along, heaven opens unto them,
and they enter in. What welcomes they have here, is past my
telling.
1. It is the day of adoption, and the redemption of our bodies.
It is the day of our sonship and deliverance ; I deny not but that
the saints are adopted and redeemed before this day; but this
adoption and redemption is not consummate before Christ come
again to judgment ; then shall Christ say, These are my sons whom
1 have redeemed; and as I have set them free, so now shall they
live and reign with me for ever and ever,
2. It is the day of Christ's coming. He was here not long
fcince^ travelling about the earth, and about our business 3 which
Looking unto Jesus, 461
done, he went away to heaven, upon a special errand for his
saints ; and there now he is to intercede for them, to be their
advocate ; and withal there, now he is to prepare tlieir mansions
for eternity. And no sooner shall he have dispatched his busi-
ness there, but he will come for earth again; he will bow the
heavens, and come down to give a report of his transactions there ;
hath he not left us a letter to that etfect, / will come again, and
receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also f
O why are his chariots so long a- coming ? why tarry the wheels
of Ids chariots ?
3. It is the day of Christ's bright and glorious apj^earing.
When he was upon the earth, he appeared in our dress. Many
then saw him, v/ho said, TJiere is iCo beauty in him that we should
desire him. O ! it v, as a sad sight to see him crowned with
thorns, and scourged with whips, and nailed to the cross. But
in his next appearing we shall see him in his best attire, arrayed
in white, attended with the retinue of glory, riding in his chariot
of light, and smiling upon all his saints. Now, is not this desir-
able ? The apostle tells us of the saints' looking for the glorious
appearing of the great God, and of our Saviour, Jesus Christ;
therefore surely they desire it.
4. It is the marriage-day of the Lamb, The saints are be-
trothed to Christ, when iirst they believe in Christ; this is
Christ's word, / will betroth thee unto me, my sister, my spouse,
not my wife : thou art not ye: married, only contracted here.
But at that day the marriage of the Lamb will be complete, and
tiien vrill the voice be heard. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give
honour to him, for the marricge of the Lamb is come, and his
wife hath made herself reaily . O the joy that Christ, and saints,
and angels, and all that belong to heaven, will make at this
marriage 1 Blessed are they thct are called to the mamage sup^
per of the Lamb 1
5. It is the day of Christ's glory. What glorious descriptions
have we in scripture of Christ's coming to judgment; 2Vie Son
of man shall come from heaven with power and great glory ; and
the work no sooner done, but he shall return again into heaven
with power and great glory. Not to mention the essential glory
of Christ, O the glory of Chris' as mediator ; all the glory that
AhasLierus could put upon his favourites, was nothing to this
spiritual and heavenly glory, which the Father will put upon the
Son ; it is a glory above all the glories that ever were, or ever
shall be; it is an eternal glory: not but that Christ shall at last
give up his kingdom to his Father; he shall no more discharge
the acts of an advocate or intercessor for us in heaven, only the
glory of this shall always contiiue ; it shall to all eternity be re-
corded that he was the mediator, and that he is the Saviour that
hath brought us to life and immortality ; and upon this ground
the tongues of all the saints shall be employed to all eternity, to
462 Looking unto Jesiis,
celebrate this glory. This \vill be their everlasting song : Unto
him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Fattier, to
him he glory and dominion for ever and ever, Amen. O what
desire should the Spirit and the bride have to hear what Christ
shall say to his angels, Make ready for the journey, let us go dotvn
and divide the skies, and bmv the heavens; I gat tier my j)riso7iers
of hope unto me, behold I come quickly to judge the nations! I
conclude this with the conclusion of the bible. He fhat testifieth
these things saith, Surely I come quickly, Amen. Even sO: come
Lord Jesus.
Sect. III. — Of Hoping in Jesus in that respect.
Let us hope in Jesus as carrying on the great work of our
salvation in his second coming; let us say, on certain grounds,
TVe hope Christ ivill come again, and receive us to himself, that
ivhere he is, there ive may be also.
Such an hope is a sure anchor, that will hold the ship in a
storm ; only because our souls lie upon it, we had need to look
to it, that our hopes be true ; the worst can say, ^ They hope to
be saved as well as the best;' but the hopes of many will be
lamentably fiiistrated. To clear this point, that our hopes are
right, and not counterfeit hopes^ I shall lay down some signs,
whereby we may know that Christ's coming is for us, and for our
good, and for the grace that is to be given us at the revelation of
Jesus Christ.
1 . If we are born again, then will his glorious coming be, to
glorify us : Blessed be the God aid Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, ivho, according to his ahundatit mercy, hath begotteyi us
(xgain unto a lively hope, to a7i inheritance incorruptible. Come
then, you that hope for glory, try yourselves ; is there a change
in your hearts, words, and lives i Is there a mighty work of
gi'ace upon your spirits ? Are yoii experienced in the great mys-
tery of regeneration ? Why, here :s your evidence that your hopes
ai'e sound, and that you shall sit upon thrones to judge the world.
2. If we long for his coming, tien will he come to satisfy our
longings : Blessed are they that hunger and thirst, for they shall
be satisfied; how satisfied, but in being saved? Christ ivas
offered to bear the sins of many ; and unto them that look for him,
shall he appear the second time, without sin, to salvation: unto
them that look for him, or long for him, shall he appear the second
time unto salvation; this looking for Christ, is in scripture a fre-
quent description of a true believer in Christ. Who are sound
Christians, but such as live in a perpetual desire and hope of Christ's
blessed coming ? They are ever lookiiig for, and hastening unto,
the coming of the day of God. Here are two signs in one verse,
looking for, and hastening unto; true believers are not only in a
Looking unto Jesus, 463
posture, looking for the coming of Jesus Christ, but also, as it
were, going forth to meet Jesus Christ with burning lamps.
Dost thou look and long for the coming of Christ in the clouds ?
These are firm grounds of an assured hope. Content not thyself
with an hope of possibility, or probability; but reach out to that
plerophory, ov full assurance of hope. The hope of possibility is
but a weak hope, the hope of probability is but a fluctuating
hope, but the hope of certainty is a settled hope. Such an hope
sweetens all the thoughts of God and Christ, of death and judg-
ment, of heaven, yea, and of hell too, whilst we hope that we are
saved from it. And are not the scriptures written to this very
purpose, that we might have this hope? We are justified by his
grace, tliat lue might be heirs in hope, heirs accorditig to the hope
of eternal life! And was not this David's confidence. Lord, I
have hoped for thy salvation ? Why then art thou cast down,
O my soulf and ivhy art thou disquieted within mef Hope
thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my
countenance, and my God,
Sect. IV. — Of Believing in Jesus in that respect.
Let us believe in Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our
salvation in his second coming.
Go to Christ, as coming again into this nether world to judge
the quick and the dead. This is the last act of faith, in refer-
ence to Christ : From thence he shall come to judge the quick and
the dead. The coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead,
the change of the living, the last judgment, and the glory of
Christ with his saints to all eternity, is that transaction which
must be dispatched at the end of the world : now this is the
object of faith, as well as the former; Christ's work is not fully
perfected, till all these be finished ; nor is our work of faith fully
completed, till it reach to the very last act of Christ in savhig
souls. — O what an excellent worker is Jesus Christ ! He doth
all his works thoroughly and perfectly. The greatest work that
ever Christ undertook, was the work of redemption : that work
would have broken men and angels, and yet Jesus Christ will
carry it on to the end ; and then will he say, not only prophe-
tically, but expressly, I have Jinished the work which thou gavest
me to do.
1. Faith must principally and mainly look to the design and
end of Christ in his second coming. Now the ends are — 1 . In
respect of the wicked, that they may be destroyed, for he must
reign till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. He shall
come with flaming tire, and then he will take vengeance on them
that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ ; who shall bepunishedwitheverlasting destruction fromthe
vresence of the Lwd, and from the glo^n of his power. O the fear-
464 Looking unlo Jesus.
■ "' /,-,
ful sounds that wall then be heard 1 Sure that noise must'needs
be terrible, when millions of men and women at the same iiistant
sludl fearfully cry out, and when their cries shall mingle with the
tluniders of the dying and groaning heavens, and with the crack
of the dissolving worlds when the whole fabric of nature shall
shcilvc into dissolution and eternal ashes : Now consider this, ye
that forget God, lest he tear you in ineces, and there he none to
deliver you.
2. In respect of the godly, that they may be saved, that they
may see and enjoy Christ to all eternity. This is a main end of
Christ's coming : I will come again, and receive you unto myself,
that where I am, there ye may he also. — i\nd. Father, I will that
those luhom thou hast given me, he with me where lam, that tJiey
may hehold the glory which thou hast given me,
3. In respect of Christ himself, that he may be glorified. Now
in two things more especially will he be glorified at that day :
1. In his justice. 2. In his mercy.
1. His justice will be glorified, especially, in punishing the
wicked : on earth little justice is done on most offenders ; though
some public crimes are sometimes punished, yet the actions of
the closets and chambers, the designs and thoughts of men, the
business of retirement, and of the night, escape the hand of jus-
tice ; and therefore God hath so ordained it, that there shall be a
day, wherein all that are let alone by men, shall be questioned by
God; then all thoughts shall be examined, and secret actions
viewed on each side, and the infinite number of those sins which
escaped here, shall be blazoned there. O how will God glorify
his justice at that day! Surely his justice shall shine, and be
eminently glorious, in every passage.
2. His mercy will be glorified in rewarding the saints. And
this is the main, the supreme end of his coming to judgment.
He shall come (saith the apostle,) to he glorified in his saints;
not but that the angels shall glorify the riches of his grace, as well
as saints, but because the angels never sinned, (they have now
kept their rohes of innocency ahovefive thousand years, without
one spark of dirt, or change of colour ;) therefore the glory of his
grace is more especially fastened on saints, that sometime were
sinners. Is not this their everlasting song, which they begin at
this day, Glory to the Lamb, and glory to his grace, that sitteth
on the throne for evermore'^
Tims for directions ; one word of application, or a few motives
to work faith in you in this respect.
1. Christ in his word invites you to believe; these are his
letters from heaven : Come all to the marriage supper of the
Lamb I Ho every one that thirsts, come in ; heaven's gate is open
to all that knock, but fools, foolish virgins, foolish souls, which
have no faith, nor will have any, to render them fit for heaven.
There is Rahab the harlot, and Manasseh the murderer, and
Looking u7ito t/esus. 4(55
Mary that had so many devils. A man that hath many devils
may come where there is not one. Ah ! poor soul, why dost thou
make exceptions, where God makes none ? Why shouldest thou
exclude thyself out of these golden gates, when God doth not ?
Believe, only believe in the Lord Jesus, and the promise is sure,
and without all controversy, thou shall he saved.
2. Christ, by his ministry, entreats you to believe. Come, say
they, we beseech you believe in your judge ! It may be you
startle at this. What ! to believe in him who is a-coming to be
your judge ? But if your judge be Jesus, if the same person who
died for you, shall come to judge you, why should you fear ? In-
deed if your judge were your enemy, you might fear ; but if he,
who is your Lord, and who loves your souls, shall judge you,
there is no such cause. Will a man fear to be judged by his
dearest fiiend ? a brother by a brother ? a child by a father ? or a
wife by her husband ? Consider ! Is not he your judge, who came
down from heaven, and who being on earth was judged, con-
demned, and executed, in your stead ? And yet are ye fearful,
ye of little faith .
3. Christ by his Spirit moves, excites, and provokes you to
believe. Sometimes in reading, and sometimes in hearing, and
sometimes in meditating, you may feel him stir. Have j^^ou felt
no gale of the Spirit all this while ? It is the Spirit that convinceth
the world of sin, especially of that great sin of unbelief : and then
of righteousness, which Christ procured by going to his Father.
Observe here, it is the work of the Spirit thus to convince,
so that all moral philosophy, and the wisest directions of the
most civil men, will leave you in a wilderness ; yea, ten thou-
sands of sermons may be preached to you to believe, and yet you
never shall, till you are overpowered by God's Spirit. It is the
Spirit that enlightens and directs you, as occasion is, saying,
2Vds is the way, lualk in it. It is the Spirit that rouseth and
awakeneth you by his effectual motions, Arise, my love, my fair
one, and come away. He stands at the door, and knocks ; if while
1 press you to believe in Jesus, you feel the Spirit in his stirrings,
surely it concerns you to believe, it concerns you to yield, it con-
cerns you to co-operate with the Spirit ; say with him in the
gospel, I believe. Lord, help my unbelief : I believe what ? ' I be-
lieve, when Jesus comes again, he will receive me to himself,
and I shall be for ever with the Lord.' Amen, Amen.
Sect. V. — Of Loving Jesus in that resjyect.
Let us love Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our salva-
tion in his second coming. In prosecution of this, I must first
set down Christ's love to us, and then our love to Christ.
1 . Christ will come. Is not this love ? As his departure was a
rich testimony of Ixis love, It is expedient for you that I go away}
17. 3 N
466 Looking unto Jesus.
so is his returning, I will not leave you comfortless, I will come
unto you ; O how can we think of Christ's returning, and not
meditate on the greatness of his love ? Might he not send his
ano-cls, but he must come himself ? O the love of Christ in this
one act, he will come again ; he i.^ but gone for a while, but he
will come again in his own person.
2. Christ will welcome all his saints into his presence ; and is
not this love ? After he is come down from heaven, he stays for
them a while in the clouds 5 and commanding his angels to bring
them thither, anon they come ; and O how his heart springs
within him at their coming 1
3. Christ will sentence his saints to eternal life ; here is love
indeed ! every word of the sentence is full of love ; it contains
the reward of his saints, a reward beyond their work, and beyond
their wages, and beyond their promise, and beyond their thoughts,
and beyond their understanding : it is a participation of the joys
of God, and of the inheritance of the Judge himself. Never was
more love expressed in words, than Christ expresseth in this
sentence. Come, ye blessed, &c.
4. Christ will take up all his saints with him into glory ; where
he will present them to his Father, and then be their all in all to
all eternity. This is the height of Christ's love ; this is the im-
mediate love that comes out from the precious heart and bowels
of Jesus Christ.
5. And if Christ love thus ; how should we love again for
such a love ? Can we love as high, as deep, as broad, as long, as
love itself, or as Christ himself ? No, no ; all we can do is but
to love a little ; and O that, in the consideration of his love, we
could love a little in sincerity ! O that we were but able feel-
ingly to say, Lord, I love thee, I feel I love thee, even as I feel I
love myfrieiid, or as I feel Hove myself, O thou who art the ele-
ment or sun of love, come with thy poiver, let out one heam, one
ray, one gleam of love upon my soul ; shine hot upon my heart ;
remember thy p7'omise to circumcise my heart, that I may love the
Lord my God with all my heart, and with all my soul !
Sect. VI. — Of Joying in Jesus in that respect.
Let us joy in Jesus, as carrying on the great work of our sal-
vation in his second coming. Christ delights to have his people
look upon him with delight ; for a soul to be always under the
spirit of bondage, and so to look upon Christ as a judge, a lion,
or an offended God, it doth not please God. The Lord Jesus is
tender of the joy of his saints: Rejoice, a7id he exceedbig glad,
saith Christ ; Rejoice evermore, — Rejoice in the Lord aliuays ; and
again I say. Rejoice. Let the righteous be glad, let them rejoice
before God; yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. All that Christ doth
to hia saints tends to this joy, as tiie upshot or end of all : if he
Looking unto Jesus. 467
cast dowii^ it is but to raise them up ; if he humble, it is but to
exalt ; if he kill, it is but to make alive; in every dispensation,
still he hath a tender care to preserve their joy. If you find it
an hard thing to joy in Jesus, in reference to his second coming,
think of these motives, —
1. Christ's coming is the Christian's encouragement; so
Christ himself lays it down : You shall see the Son of man coming
in a cloud, withpoiver and great glory ; and when these things be-
gin to come to pass, then look up, a7id lift up your heads, for your
redemption draiveth 7iigh. The signs of his coming, are the liopes
of your approaching glory ; and what should we do then, but pre-
pare for it with exceeding joy ? Many evils now surround you
every where ; Satan hath his snares, and the world its baits, and
your own hearts are apt to betray you into your enemies' hands ;
but when Christ comes, you shall have full deliverance, and per-
fect redemption ; and therefore look up and lift up your heads.
The apostle speaks the very same encouragement : The Lord
himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ
shall rise first ; then we which are alive, and remain, shall be_
caught up together ivith them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in
the air, — wherefore comfort one another with these words.
2. Christ will lead us into glory. As the bridegroom, after
nuptials, leads his bride to his own home, that there they may
live together : so Christ, our royal bridegroom, will lead us into
the palace of his glory. And is not this joy of our Lord enough
to cause our joy ? O what welcomes shall we have in this city !
There shall we see Christ in his garden, there shall we be set as
a seal on Christ's arm, and as a seal upon his heart ; there shall
we be filled with his love, enlightened with his light, encircled
in his arms, following his steps, and praising his name, and ad-
miring his glory ! there shall be joy indeed. For in thy presence
there is fulness of joy, and at thy right-hand there are pleasures
evermore.
Sect. VII. — Of Calling on Jesus in that respect.
Let us call on Jesus, as carrying on our souls' salvation at his
second coming.
1 . Let us pray for the coming of Christ ; this was the constant
prayer of the church, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. The Spirit ,
and the bride say. Come. Well knows the bride that the day of
Christ's coming is her wedding day, the day of presenting her
unto his Father, and therefore no wonder if she pray for the
hastening of it : Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a
roe, or to a young hart ; — thy kingdom come.
2. Let us praise him for his coming. Our engagement to
Christ is so great, that we can never enough extol his name ; at
468 Looking unto Jesits.
that day the books shall be opened, and why not the book of our
engagements to Jesus Christ ? I can surely tell you it is written
fulJ ;^the page and margin, both within and without. O then let
our hearts be full of praises 5 let us join with those blessed elders
that fell down before the Lamb, and sung, Worthy is the Lamb
that urns slain, to receive poicer, arid riches, and wisdom, and
strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Sect. VIII. — Of Conforming to Jesus in that respect.
Let us conform to Jesus, as coming again to judge the world.
Looking unto Jesus, contains this. When the apostle would
persuade Christians to patience under the cross, he lays down
first the cloud of witnesses, all the martyrs of the church of
Christ ; and secondly, Jesus Christ himself is of more virtue
than all the rest.
But how should we conform to Christ in this respect ? I
answer : —
1. Christ will prepare for judgment. O! let us at all times
prepare for his judging of us ; doth it not concern us to prepare
for him, as well as it concerns him to prepare for us ? If Christ
come, and find us careless, negligent, unprepared, what will
become of us ? The very thought of Christ's sudden coming to
judgment, might well put us into a waiting, watching posture,
that we might be still in readiness. It cannot be long, and, alas,
what is a little time when it is gone ! is it not high time then to
prepare our lamps, to trim our souls, to watch, and fast, and
pray, and meditate, and to remember that for all our deeds, good
or evil, God will bring us to judgment? O! let us against his
coming prepare for him !
2. Christ at his coming will summon all his saints to arise,
and to come to him in the clouds. Let us summon our souls to
arise, and to go to Christ in the heavens. What Christ will do
really at that day, let us do spiritually on this daj^ Alas ! we had
need to be continually stirring up the gifts and graces that are
in us. It is the Lord's pleasure that we should daily come to
him, he would have us on the v/ing of prayer, and on the whig
of meditation, and on the wing of faith ; he would have us to
be still arising, mounting up in divine contemplation to his
majesty.
3. Christ will at the last judge all our souls, and judge all the
wicked to eternal flames ; O let us judge ourselves, that we may
not be judged of the Lord : but in what manner should we judge
ourselves ? I answer : —
(L) VVc must search out our sins. Winnoiu yourselves, O
people, not worthy to be beloved. There should be a strict scru-
tiny, to find out all the profaneness of our hearts and lives, all
our sins against light, and love, and checks, and vows -, Winnow
Looking unto Jesui,, 469
yourselves. If you will not^ I pronounce to you from the eternal
God, that ere long the Lord will come in the clouds, and then
will he open the book wherein all your sins are written ; he will
search Jerusalem with candles, he will come with a sword in his
hand, to search out all secure sinners every where, and then will
all your sins be discovered to all the world.
(2.) We must confess our sins before the Lord; we must
spread them before the Lord, as Hezekiah did his letter 5 only in
our confessions, observe these rules ; as, —
[1.] Our confession must be full of sorrow, I will declare my
iniquity (saith David,) I ivill he sorry for my sin,
[2.] Our confession must be a full confession ; we must pour
it out. Thus David styles one of his psalms, A prayer of the
cifflicted, IV hen he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint
before the Lord, We must pour out our complaints, as a man
poureth water out of a vessel : Arise, cry out in the 7iight, in the
beginning of the ivatches; pour out thine heart, like water, before
the face of the Lord. Water runs all out of a vessel ; when you
turn the mouth downward, never a spoonful will stay behind :
so should we pour out our hearts before God, and (if it were
possible) leave not a sin unconfessed, at least for the kinds, if not
for the particular sins.
[3.] Our confession must be with full aggravation ; we should
aggravate our sins by all the circumstances, that they may shew
them odious : — O, my sins were out of measure sinful; they were
sins against knowledge, and light, against many mercies received,
against many judgments threatened, against many checks of con-
science, against many vows and promises ; thus oft, and in this
place, and at that time, and in that manner, I committed these
and these sins : but of all the aggravations, let us be sure to re-
member how we sinned against the goodness, and patience, and
love, and mercy of God ; surely these circumstances will make
our sins out of measure sinful. Say, ^ O my God, thou art my
Father ; was I ever in want, and thou didst not relieve me ? Was
I ever in weakness, and thou didst not strengthen me ? Was I
ever in straits, and thou didst not deliver me ? Was J ever in
sickness, and thou didst not cure me ? Was I ever in misery,
and thou didst not succour me ? Hast thou not been a gracious
God to me ? All my bones can say. Who is like unto thee ?
Lord, who is like unto thee ? And shall 1 thus and thus reward
the Lord for all his mercies towards me ? Hear, O heavens, and
hearken, O earth ; sun, stand thou still, and, thou moon, be thou
amazed at this ! hear angels, and hear devils ; hear heaven, and
hear hell ; and be you avenged on such a sin as this is ! '
4. We must condemn ourselves, or pass sentence against our
souls ; ^ Lord, the worst place in hell is too good for me ; Lord,
here is my soul, thou mayest, if thou pleasest, send Satan for it,
and give me a portion among the damned.'
470 Looking unto Jesus,
5. We must plead pardon, and cry mightily to God in Christ,
for the remission of all our sins. This is the way of judging
ourselves ; we see nothing but hell and damnation in ourselves,
but then we fling down ourselves at God's gate of mercy. We
despair not in God, though in ourselves. God in Christ is
gracious and merciful, forgiving iniquitj^, transgression and sin ;
and hence we make bold to entreat the Lord for Christ's sake to
be merciful to us. ^ Lord, pardon. Lord forgive, for tliy name's
sake, promise sake, mercy's sake, and for the Lord Jesus' sake :
O let free gi'ace have his work ; Lord, glorify thy name, and
glorify the riches of thy grace in saving us.'
6. Christ at his coming will be glorified in his saints; not
only in himself, but in his saints also ; whose glory, as it comes
from him, so it will redound to him. O let him now be glorified
in us, let us now in some high way conform to the image of his
glory, let us look unto Christ till we are like Christ, not only in
grace, but in glory ; and this glory, as it comes from him, so let
it redound to him. Let us so behold the glory of the Lord in the
glass of the gosjiel, as that ive may be changed into the same image
from glo^^y to glory y from a lesser measure to an higher measure
of glory.
O that something of the glory of Christ might rest upon us !
O that having this glory in our thoughts, we could now feel a
change from glory to glory ! Is it so, that the Lord Jesus will be
glorified in all his saints ? And shall we have inglorious souls ?
base and imworthy affections and conversations ? Or shall we
content ourselves with a little measure of grace ? O be we holy,
even as he is holy ; let our conversation be heavenly, let us purify
ourselves even as he is pure ; let us resemble him in some high
measure of grace. And, lastly, let us glorify him in "bodies and
spirits ; all our glory is from him; and therefore let all our gloiy
redound to him ; let us now begin that gospel tune of the eternal
song of free grace, which one day we shall more perfectly chant
in glory ; Allehdah! and ^gdiwAlleluiah ! and A}nen, Alleluiah!
salvation, and glory, and power, and praise, and thanksgivhig,
and obedience be unto him that sits on the throne, the Lamb blessed
for ever a?id ever. Amen,
Now all is done, shall I speak a word for Christ, or rather for
ourselves in relation to Christ ; if I had but one word more to
speak in the world, it should be this. O let all our spirits be
taken up with Christ ! Surely Christ is enough to fill all our
thoughts, desires, hopes, loves, joys, or whatever is within us,
or without us. Christ alone comprehends all the circumference
of all our happiness. O the worth of Christ ! Compare we other
things with him, and they will bear no weight at all ; cast into
the balance with him angels, they are wise, but he is wisdom ;
cast into the balance with him men, they are" liars, lighter than
vanity, but Christ is the amen, the faithful witness ^ cast into the
Loohini^ unto Jesus. 471
"(b
scales kings, and all kings, and all their glory ; cast in two worlds,
and add to the weight millions of heavens of heavens, and the
balance cannot down, the scales are unequal ; Christ outweighs
all. Shall I yet come nearer home ? What is heaven, but to be
w^ith Christ ? What is life eternal, but to believe in God, and in
his Son Jesus Christ ? Where may we find peace with God, and
reconciliation with God, but only in Christ ? All the goodness
of God comes out of God through this golden pipe, the Lord
» Jesus Christ. It is true, those essential attributes of love, grace,
mercy, and goodness, are only in God, and they abide in God, yet
^ the mediatory manifestation of love, grace, mercy, and goodness, ^
is only in Christ. Christ alone is the treasury, storehouse, maga-
zine, of the free goodness and mercy of the Godhead. In him
» we are justified, sanctified, saved. He is the ivay, the truth, and •-
. the life ; he is honour, riches, beauty, health, peace, and salva- »
tion ; all the spiritual blessings wherewith we are enriched, are
♦ in and by Christ : God hears our prayers by Christ ; God forgives ^
^ our iniquities through Christ ; all we have, and all we expect to ,
/ have, hangs only on Christ ; he is the golden hinge, upon which ^
all our salvation turns.
O how should all'hearts be taken with this Christ ! Christians,
turn your eyes upon the Lord ; Look, and look again unto Jesus.
Shall I speak one word more to thee that believest ? Remember
how he came out of his Father's bosom for thee, wept for thee,
" bled for thee, poured out his life for thee, is now risen for thee, v
gone to heaven for thee, sits at God's right-hand, and rules all
^ the world for thee, makes intercession for thee, and at the end of v
H the world will come again for thee, and receive thee to himself, ^
^ to live with him for ever and ever. Surely if thus thou believest,v
< and Uvest, thy life is comfortable, and thy death will be sweet j*
^if there be any heaven upon earth, thou wilt find it in the practice •-
and exercise of this gospel duty, in Looking unto Jesus,
THB BKD.
THE
MINISTRATION OF
AND
COMMUNION WITH ANGELS.
CHAP. I.
r
Sect. I. — Are they not all Ministering Spirits, sent forth to
minister for them, ivho shall be heirs of salvation, Heb. i. 14.
THE COHERENCE AND DIVISION OF THE WORDS,
X HE apostle is here making a comparison betwixt Christ and
the angels. As the world is wonderfully inclined to superstition,
so it is wont many times to darken the glory of Christ, by too
much exalting of angels : good reason it is therefore that they
should be put in their place ; the angels are excellent, but Christ
more excellent ; the angels are glorious, but Christ more glorious :
now the prelation of Christ before the angels, the apostle proves
by several arguments: as, 1. From the name of Christ : he is
called God's Son ; so are not the aiigels. 2. From the rule and
dominion of Christ : he is the head and prince ; so are not the
angels. 3. From the office and place of Christ : ' He sits at God's
right-hand,' (i. e.) he hath the second place given him after the
Father, he is the Father's lieutenant, or his chief ambassador, to
exercise all power : so are not the angels ; and therefore it fol-
lows that Christ is more excellent and glorious than them all.
Indeed they are spirits, and therein they have a title of great
excellency given them ; but they are ministering spirits, and that
takes off, and holds them within the compass of their degree ; if
they but minister, they must needs be inferior to Christ, who is
Lord over all: and though it may be objected, that Christ is
sometimes called a minister, and that ^ he came to minister;*
yet that is not in regard of need, but of good will ; the angels do
17. 3 o
474 Communion with Angels.
it of necessity^ but Christ voluntarily : it is natural in the angels,
but only by accident in Jesus Christ; and therefore in all things
Christ hath the pre-eminence. Yet let not this doctrine pass
without some consolation to the saints and people of God; be it
known to you^ that as angels are ministering spirits, so they are
Bent forth to minister for you ; ' Are they not all ministering
spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of sal-
vation ? '
You see I had need to be careful what I say of the angels ; lest
that honour which should be given to God and Christ, may in
any sort redound to them. This hath been the error of former
ages j and of all errors there is almost none more ancient than
this. Paul himself had much to do with some, who so advanced
the angels, that in a manner they would have brought Christ
under subjection ; Let no man beguile you of your reward (saith
he) in a voluntary humility, and worshipping of angels. Indeed
there shines in them such a brightness of the majesty of God,
that there is nothing whereunto we are more easily drawn, than
with a certain admiration to fall down in worshipping of them ;
this very thing John in the Revelation confesseth of himself, but
he addeth withal, that he received this answer. See thou do it not,
for I am thy fellow -servant, and of thy brethren that have the
testimony of Jesus; icorship God — there is no worshipping of
angels : and yet we must not throw away the comfortable doctrine
of angels ; I hope before I have done to convince you of a won-
derful pledge of Christ's love to your persons in the administra-
tion of angels, — Are they not all administering spirits, &;c.
In this text is a description of angels; w^herein, I. Of their
nature, Are they not spirits? 2. Of their office. Are they not
ministering spirits? 3. Of their conjunction in this office. Are they
not all ministering spirits ? 4. Of their commission and execution
of this office so undertaken, Are they not all ministering spirits,
sent forth to minister? 5. Of the object about which the execution
of their office is most conversant. Are they not all ministering
spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of sal-
vation ?
Sect. II. — Of the several Doctrines deduced from the words.
From every part I may deduce a several doctrine ; as, 1 . That
the angels are spirits. 2. That the office of the angels is to minis-
ter and serve. 3. That the highest angel is not exempted from
this office. 4. That they have their commission from God and
Christ to execute their office of ministration. 5. That the minis-
tering office of the angels is not for all, but only for heaven's
heirs. On the four first 1 shall only give a touch, but on the last
I shall insist, and (if the Lord help) enlarge my discourse to the
iuU of my design.
Communion with Angels, 475
CHAP. II.
Sect. I. — Of the First Doctrme.
The angels are spirits; and so is God, and so are the souls of
men, but with this difference, God is a spirit most simple, with-
out any composition at all : the souls of men are spirits con-
joined with flesh and blood; thus the philosopher describes the
soul to be the act of the body ; now betwixt these two spirits are
the angels, who are neither without all composition, as God is ;
nor are they covered with flesh and blood, as the soul of man is.
I know it is a question, whether the angels have bodies ? And,
1. The Peripatetics and school-men are for the negative;
' The angels,* say they ^ are altogether incorporeal;' and for this
opinion are brought in by others these very texts, ' Who maketh
his angels spirits,' — and ' Are they not all ministering spirits?'
2. The Platonists and many of the ancients are on the other
side: ^The angels have their proper bodies,' saith TertuUian,
and, although invisible to us, yet visible to God. Augustine is
of the same mind : and herein, saith Lombard, he followed many
famous authors, as all the Platonics, Origen, Lactantius, Basil,
•with all the writers almost of his time : and some more modern
agree with them herein; All spirits have their bodies, saith
Bernard, as need is, excepting only God himself; and the need
that the angels have, he proves from his text, ' Are they not all
ministering spirits ? For how can they execute their ministry/
saith he, ' without a body, especially amongst them that are in
the body ? Besides, they could not discourse, nor move from
place to place, without a body.' Nor speaks he of bodies
assumed, but of bodies proper and peculiar to themselves.
Methinks a middle betwixt both these comes nearest truth,
^ That in comparison of God they are bodies, but in comparison
of us they are pure and mighty spirits.' Certainly the angels are
not simply spirits, as God is, who is a spirit most simple, without
any composition at all; nor are they infinite or immense, as God
is, but are terminated in their dimensions, and move from place
to place as bodies do. Hence Zanchy approves rather of the
ancients, than of the school-men, ^ that angels are not simply
and altogether incoi-poreal ; only their bodies,' saith he, ^ are not
earthly, nor airy, nor heavenly, as the Stoics would have them,
for all such bodies were created of that chaos, Ge?i. i. I. but
rather, as the imperial heaven is a corporeal substance far dif-
ferent from these nether heavens visible to us, so the angels,
made together with that heaven, are corporeal substances, far
purer and more subtile, than either earth, or air, or fire, or the
matter of these visible heavens.' I will not say they are of the
476 Communion with Angels >
game body, but they may have like bodies to that glorious body
of the highest heaven, or seat of the blessed; and so in respect
of us, or of our gross bodies, they may be called pure and mighty
Spirits.
CHAP. III.
Of the Second Doctrine,
The office of the angels is to minister and serve ; it is time,
they are called principalities, powers, mights, thrones, domi-
nions; so the apostle speaks of Christ, that he was set at God's
right-hand in heavenly places, far above all principalities, and
powers, and might, and dominion. And by him iv ere all things
created in heaven, ivhether thrones, or dominions, or principali-
ties, or powers: by all which, though we understand not divers
dignities of angels, whereby in nature they excel one another,
yet we must needs understand the dignity, excellency, authority,
and power, of every one of the angels.
And yet this hinders not, but that these mighty powers are
ministering spirits; and therefore in other places of scripture we
find other titles given to them; as sometimes they are called
watchers, I saw in the visions of my head, and behold a watcher,
and an Holy One came down from heaven. And sometimes they
are called soldiers, ^ And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of heavenly soldiers, (or of the heavenly host) praising
God.' Most frequently they are called angels, which is not a
name of their nature, but of their office ; the word signifies a mes-
senger, as if they were ever running errands betwixt heaven and
earth : So ^ Jacob dreamed of a ladder set on earth, whose top
reached to heaven, and behold the angels of God ascending and
descending on it." Now this is clear, that watchers, soldiers, and
messengers, are but ministers and servants. If it be demanded
what is their ministry, or service ? It is either to God, or to men ;
in respect of God, they are said to do his commandments, to
hearken to the voice of his woyxl, to behold the face of God, to
celebrate the praises of God, and of Jesus Chinst ; and in respect
of men, they do them many offices of love and service, which we
shall discover in the last point, for are they not all ministering
spirits, sent forth to minister unto them (I say, unto them) who
shall be heirs of salvation.
Communion with AngeU. A77
CHAP. IV.
Of the Third Doctrine,
The highest angel is not exempted from this office. Are they
not all ministering spirits ? It is not one, nor ten, nor an hun-
dred, nor a thousand, but all angels and archangels, principalities
and powers, thrones and dominions, are * all ministering spirits.'
A question there is, 1 . Of the order of angels 5 and if that be
admitted, 2. Whether the chief of that order may be considered
as ministering spirits ?
For the first, Dionysius (I will not say the Areopagite) tells
of nine orders, because of nine words in the scripture relating to
the angels, as seraphims, cherubims, thrones, powers, hosts,
dominions, principalities, archangels, and angels ; and at large
he describes their several natures, distinctions, and properties, as,
that the first three orders are for immediate attendance on the
Almighty ; and the next three orders^ for the general government
of the creatures; and the last three orders, for the particular
good of God's elect ; that the archangels surpass the beauty of
angels ten times, principalities surpass the archangels twenty
times, powers surpass the principalities forty times, &c. How
he, or any other, came to this learning, is yet unknown, yet hath
this hierarchy, in these several orders, passed for current through
many ages of the church.
Learned Mede, in his Diatribae of the Angels, tells of seven
principal angels, which minister before the throne of God, and
therefore are called archangels, some of whose names we have in
scripture, as, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael; to this purpose he
cites several texts : As I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels,
which stand and minister before the glory of the Holy One. And,
These seve?i are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through
the whole earth. And, I saw, saith John, seven lamps before the
throne, which are the seven Spirits of God; and I beheld, andlo
in the midst of the throne stood a Lamb, as it had been slain,
having seven horns, and seven eyes, ivhich are the seven Spirits
of God, sent forth into all the earth. And, Isaiv the seven angels
which stood before God. And the archangel Gabriel speaks of
himself to Zacharias in the very same language, / am Gabriel,
that stand in the preseiice of God.
That there is order amongst the angels, I do not doubt; God
is the God of order, and as he orders all things below, so no
question he observeth a most exact order in the court of heaven :
amongst us, some are superior and some inferior, some greater
and others lesser; equality hath no place either on earth, ar in
hell ; and in this visible heaven, one star, saith the apostle, diners
478 Communion with Angels.
from another in glory : how then should we imagine any disorder
or confusion to be in heaven ? Certainly there is a most beautiful
distinction and order amongst the blessed angels, yet I am apt to
think and do believe, that the difference of those glorious spirits
in heaven, is not in their nature, but in their offices: for as
among men there is a parity and equality in the respect of nature,
and the excellency of one above another is but by accident ; so it
is with angels, they are equally spiritual substances, all equally
created good, and pure, and perfect, and their imparity is because
of the divers kinds of their offices, wherein they are employed :
Hence, ^ some are simply called angels, some archangels, some
principalities, some dominions,' &c.
But, 2. admitting this order and distinction of angels, whe-
ther are not the highest angels ministering spirits ? The Plato-
nists that first divided them into three orders, as, some above hea-
ven, called supercelestes ; others in heaven, called celestes ; and
others under heaven, called subcelestes — do suitably give them
several offices ; as, 1 . They above heaven (I mean this visible
heaven) continually stand before God (as they say) praising, and
lauding, and magnifying his name. 2. They in heaven are there
seated, to move, and rule, and govern the stars. 3. They under
heaven, are some to rule kingdoms, others provinces, others
cities, others particular men. Many Christians, that write of the
hierarchy of the angels, follow these opinions. Now, by this sur-
mise, the highest angels do not minister to the saints, but only
and immediately to God himself. But on the contrary, did not
' Michael,' one of the seven, ^ contend with Satan about the body
of Moses ? ' And was not Gabriel, ^ who stands before the
presence of God,' sent to speak to Zacharias, and to Mary, and
to shew the glad tidings of the gospel ? And were not those
seven archangels, called, seven eyes, and the seven spirits of God,
sent forth into all the earth ? Surely then neither seraphims, nor
cherubims, nor thrones, nor powers, are exempted from this
office, they are all ministering spirits.
CHAP. V.
Sect. I. — Of the Fourth Doctrine.
They have their commission from God and Christ, to execute
their office of ministration ; they will not go, unless sent forth:
as Christ would not do the office of mediator until he was called,
Heb. V. 4, 5. so neither will the angels execute their office with-<
out a call : in this respect, the angels are said to wait on Christ,
they stand behind him, and receive deputations to their several
Communion with Angels, 479
offices : Isaiv hy night, and behold a man — and behind him were
there red horses, speckled and white, (i. e.) ministering spirits,
prepared for judgment and mercy. When Zachary knew not who
they were, the man that stood among the myrtle trees, Christ
(the captain of the Lord's host) answered and said, These are
they luhom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the
earth : The Lord first sends them, and then, as agents and spies,
they give intelligence of all things done in the world : they will
not stir without a commission ; ]jut if he sends them, they run,
they fly. Isaiv the Lord sitting on his throne, saith Micaiah, and
all the host of heaven standing by him, on his right-hand, and on
his left ; and the Lord said. Who shall persuade Ahab, that he
may go up and fall at Bamoth-gilead f And one said on this
manner, and another said on that manner ; and there came forth
a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I ivill persuade him.
And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith f And he said, Iivill
go forth, and Iivill be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his pro-
phets. And he said. Thou shall persuade him, a7id prevail also;
go forth, and do so. All this discourse is by way of resemblance :
as it is with kings and princes, so it is said of God, all his host
(good and bad angels) stand about him, and receive their com-
misions from him : no sooner is any design agreed on, but he gives
out the word of command, go forth, and do so. See here the com-
mission, ^o/or^A, said God: are they not all ministering spirits
setif forth, said the apostle.
Sect. IL — A Transition to the last Point.
On these four several doctrines, I have no mind to insist, and
the rather, because they are so very speculative, and so full of
controversy : for my part, I shall never forget what Graserus said
he had found in his visiting the sick, and in his own preparations
for well dying, — that most of the controversies in divinity were
utterly useless, and did entangle the consciences of the simple,
just as the human inventions in popery formerly did; and there-
fore he begun with full bent of mind to shun or abhor them, and
in his public preaching to propound only those things which
tended to the kindling of true faith in Christ, and to the exercise
of true godliness, according to the word of God, and to the pro-
curing of true consolation both in life and death: nor shall I
forget what is writ of Abraham Buchaltzer, whose care in his
public ministry was to avoid those questions that do but gender
unto strife, and to instruct his auditors how to live well and die
well. Some indeed blamed him of cowardice, for that being
endowed by God with such excellent abilities, yet he would never
enter into the lists with the fanatic adversaries of those times ;
but the reason was, because he always affected peace, having no
delight in wrangling, which caused him to say to a friend, Desii
480 Communion with Angels,
disputofi'e, C(jepi suppntare, quo7iium illud dlssipationem^ hoc col-
lectionem sigmficat. Besides, he saw that the greatest antago-
nists to the church's peace had not so much as one spark of grace
in them; and that there came no profit, but much hurt, to the
church of Christ, by those continual quarrels amongst divines.
I will not deny, nay, I dare not but acknowledge, that in our
pulpits we may, and must (as occasion is) propound such a sub-
ject as this of the angels, and no question but out of it we may
draw matter for faith, and life, and comfort : but as to these parti-
culars of the angels, that they are spirits, ministers of several
orders, and all delegated (as the Lord pleaseth) to this or that
office, they are very abstruse points, wherein we may vn-angle, and
do as boys in sport, who strive to strike most sparks out of their
flints, but never intend to kindle thereby for use ; so we may dis-
pute and jangle about words, or strive to strike out the most sub-
tile and finest-spun notions that we can invent, but, alas, they
will not profit our souls, nor tend much to practice, which is the
life and spirit of religion : upon this 1 verily believe it is, that we
have far less written in God's word of the nature of angels, than
of God himself; because the knowledge of God is far more prac-
tical, and less controversial, and more necessary to salvation, than
the knowledge of angels or archangels ; only if there be any thing
of angels revealed in scripture, and most worthy of our knowledge,
(as certainly there is,) I take that to be it, which the school-men
in aU their learning took the least notice of, and that is, of the
ministration of angels in reference to God's people : with this
one use, saith Zanchius, could the apostle content himself, as
knowing that, in the doctrine of angels, this was the most prin-
cipal, and indeed most practical; and therefore on this point 1
mean to enlarge, and the other points 1 shall leave to others.
CHAP. VI.
Sect. I. — Of the last Doctrine.
The chief point yet remains, viz. that this tninistering office
of the angels is not for all, but only for heaven^ s heirs: on this
I mean to insist, and to enlarge my discourse ; wherein I shall,
1. Confirm, 2. Apply. 1. For confirmation, we have scripture
and reason.
Sect. II. — Scriptures for Angels' Ministration,
He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy
ways; they shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy
foot against a stone.
Communion with Angels. 481
In this scripture we may observe these particulars, —
1. That the elect are so precious with God, that for their sakes
he gives out commands.
2. That he commands the angels (his choice and chief ser**
vants) for the good of his chosen : he shall give his angels charge
over thee. It is the usual way of his providence, to command the
strong in behalf of the weak, and commend the weak to those
that are more strong ; thus it is between children and parents,
wives and husbands, the sick and sound, the saints and angels ;
he commands the angels over saints, or he commends the saints
unto his angels.
3. That the end or meaning of the command, is for the elect's
custody, to keep thee : they must not exercise a power or domi*
nion over them, they must not exact adoration or worship from
them, as the evil spirits do from all their followers ; but the
command is to preserve them, defend them, and deliver them,
keep them.
4. That the keeping of saints is limited to their ways, they
shall keep thee in all thy ways: i. e. in all thy necessary lawful
ways, not in thy sinful devious wanderings.
5. That the obedience of the angels to this command, is pre^
cise, exact, and diligent, they shall bear thee up in their ha?idsy
i. e. they shall accompany thee, go before thee, wait upon thee,
follow thee, as the shadow follows the body, compass thee round,
lead thee, observe thee, and in all straits or necessities lend thee
an hand.
6. That the issue of this obedience is safety and security ; lest
thou dash thy foot agaiiist a stone. By this one danger we un-
derstand, by a synecdoche, all other dangers ; q. d. not any hurt,
be it never so little, shall befall the elect : so far shall they be
from harm in the head, that it shall not reach the foot ; indeed
neither foot nor head, nor an hair of their head, shall perish to
their prejudice, Luke 21. 28.
The sum of all this is. As nurses and mothers deal with their
children, so must the angels deal with the children of God, that
is, they must keep them in their ways, they must bear them up
in their hands : children often stumble and fall, unless they be
led and carried in hands and arms ; and therefore God hath
given his angels a charge over his children, to keep them, and
carry them as in arms, lest they dash their feet against thp
stones.
The angel of the Lord encampeth round ahout them that fear
him, and delivereth them : they that sometimes are compared to
nurses and mothers, are other whiles compared to soldiers that
encamp themselves about the saints ; thus, wlien the young man
had his eyes opened at Elisha's praj^er, he saw, and behold the
mountain was full of horses, and chariots of fire, round about
Elisha. Many military services are they ever and anon per.
482 Communion with Angels,
forming for the saints ; they are watchful centinels, giving a
timely alarm to prevent the enemy : Arise, and take the hahe and
his mother, and flee into Egypt, and he their until I bring thee
luord, for Herod luill seek the babe to destroy him. They are
faithful life-guards, preserving the saints in the midst of dan-
gers : There shall no evil hefal thee, neither shall any plague
co}ne nigh thy dwelling, for he shall give his angels charge over
thee. They are safe convoys, bringing the saints through their
wilderness to their heavenly Canaan. Jacob had experience
thereof : And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met
him ; and when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host ; and
he called the name of that place 3Iahanaim, i.e. two hosts or
camps, the one before and the other behind, or the one on one
side, and the other on the other side ; or they placed themselves
in such sort, as to give Jacob assurance of safety every way.
Sect. III. — Reasons for Angels' Ministration.
But why should they minister for the saints? The reasons
are, 1. In respect of God. 2. In respect of them. 3. In respect
of us.
1 . There are some reasons in respect of God : as, —
1. It is his will and pleasure that they should so minister.
Thus Nebuchadnezzar could acknowledge. He doth according to
his ivill in the army of heaven. The Lord's will is the rule of all
justice, and a most perfect law, whereby he governs the army of
heaven, that is, the angels : hence they are described to be God's
ministers that do his pleasure ; they inquire no further what is to
be done, or why it should be done, but acquiesce in the disco-
very of his will and pleasure. Indeed all things and actions are
resolved into tliis first principle, the good pleasure of his will ;
He worketh all things after the counsel of his luill. This is the
supreme reason.
2. It is his command that they should so minister ; every
thing that God wills, he doth not command ; he wills sin to be
in the world, but he doth not command it, for then he would be
the author of sin ; but as for angel-ministration, he wills and
commands them to it : Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel
in strength, that do Ids commandments, hearkening to the voice of
his word : upon this ground is the Lord very often called, the
Lord of hosts, i. e. the Lord of angels, for so Jacob called the
two armies of angels, God's host ; and the multitude of angels
that praised God at Christ's nativity, are called a multitude of the
heavenly hosts. Look, as commanders say to their soldiers, go,
and they go ; so saith God to his angels, go, and they go ; go and
minister to my saints, and presently they minister.
3. It is goodness that they should so minister. Alas, if the
Lord shofuld deal with us according to our demerits^ rather tigers
Communion with Angels. 483
and dragons should wait upon us, than the angels : it is more
than we can challenge, that any creature after the fall should be
serviceable unto us ; but that all the hosts of heaven should be
abased to so low a work, as to be sent forth to minister for the
meanest saint, even for us poor sinful wretches, dust and ashes.
Oh ! what goodness is this ! Upon this account, of the love,
mercy, and goodness of God, we read so often of the Lord's
sending his angels to attend his saints : thus Abraham told his
servant. The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his angel ivith
thee: And thus God told Moses, I will send an angel before thee:
And thus Daniel told the king, My God hath sent his angel and
hath shut the lions' mouths, tliat tliey have not Jmrtrne. So gracious
is that King of heaven, that he will spare his own courtiers out
of heaven, and send them on errands to his saints for their pre-
servation ; whence David reasons. Oh taste and see that the Lord
is good ! Oh the goodness of God !
2. There are other reasons in respect of the angels : as,— -
1 . It is their duty ; not the brightest angel but is subordinate
unto God, and therefore must act and move as the Lord appoints :
This is the living creature that Isaiv under the God of Israel, and
I knew t/iat they tvere the cherubims. The cherubims are glorious
angels, of great wisdom, strength, and agility, and yet they are
subservient to the Lord, and therefore are said to be under the
God of Israel : Surely that word of the psalmist, they do tiis
pleasure, is the very image of tine obedience, q, d. they minister
not at their own pleasure, but at God's : now what is God's
pleasure, but the saints' welfare ? lie hath pleasure in the pros-
perity of his servants. The angels, that know this, stand not
upon terms with God, all they do is but to hearken to the voice
of his word, and then they fly : theti did the cherubims lift up
tlieir ivings, and the iv heels beside them. It is a note of a divine
upon these words ; ' All things are under the God of Israel, he
hath the pre-eminence, he is above wheels, and angels are under
him, at his disposal : if he give out the word, the cherubims
move, lift up their mngs, and order the wheels ; if he say, go and
minister to yonder saints, presently they go, as it is their duty.'
2. It is their delight to attend the saints : they know that one
day they shall live together, and sing together, and rejoice
together ; they know that the saints shall supply the room of
the fallen angels ; and when they meet, O the joy that will be
betwixt them ! In the mean time, it is their desire and delight
to attend their partners in heaven's joy, for they are acquainted
with Gi)d's design and purpose to save them ; they know what
Christ hath done and suffered for them ; the mystery of godliness
is seen of angels ; it is so seen, that they take great delight to
behold it, yea, they are ra\dshed in the very beholding of it, as at
some new and strange object ; they look into it, saith Peter their
whole spirits are taken up with it, as if it were the blessedest
484 Communion with Angels,
sio-ht that ever they could behold ; and they that are so mvished
at^the work of our redemption, how should they but with delight
attend the redeemed ones of Jesus Christ.
3. It is their honour to wait on the saints. It is true^ in some
respects they are of an higher form, they come nearest to God of
all the creatures in the world, and they have kept their cloth of
gold unstained six thousand years : O the purity, agility, beauty,
glory, sanctity, and excellency of the angels ! Man in his greatest
honour, advanced to the highest pinnacle of happiness, is yet in
many things below the angels. Thou hast made him a little lower
than the angels ; and yet it is no indignity for them to attend the
saints, for herein they are but fellow- workers with God and Christy
My Father ivorketh hitherto, and I work. My Father is bene-
ficent in preserving saints ; and I work by the same power, saith
Christ. At first I created, and still I preserve. Now if God and
Christ thus work and wait, well may the angels co-work with
them. It was Paul's honour that he wrought together with God :
We then, as luorkers together ivith him, beseech you also. Ser-
vants of God (such as men and angels) cannot but look on it as
their glory, to put to their hands in the same work with their
sovereign Lord, the King of glory : if Christ himself came not
to be ministered unto, but to minister, the angels may well think
it an honour to imitate him, and to minister also.
3. There are other reasons in respect of saints: as, —
1 . It is for their consolation : a mighty comfort it is, that
other creatures should do them service, that heaven and earth,
and all herein, should be made for them, and be continued and
preserved for their sakes ; and yet as if all this were not enough,
except the angels also were subservient, that creatures of the
highest order, of the finest make, of the noblest spirits, who
behold the face of God himself, and are taken up with the im-
mediate enjoyment of his fulness, that they, even they should
be destined by Christ, the King of saints, to minister to his
Baints, Oh what a comfort is this ! If whatsoever things were
wHtten aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures, might have hope ; surely
this that is written of the angels, as concerning their office and
ministration, must be full of comfort, indeed reprobates and
Unbelievers have none of this comfort ; alas, they are not within
the verge of this blessed text, they have nothing to do with the
scripture of heaven's heirs ; it is for them, and only for them,
who shall be heirs of salvation.
2. It is for their benefit both of body and soul : some observe,
that were it not for the angels, the devils, that are ever seeking
to devom-, would quickly tear the bodies of the saints into atomvS.
We read, how, afore Christ's death, the bodies of many were pos-
sessed of devils, and, when they had torn them, by the command
of Christ they were dispossessed ; but after the great work of
Communion with Ann^eis, 485
iy
t)ur redemption, the devils were more restrained in their power *,
I^ow shall the pHnce of this ivorld be cast out. Christ so boimd
him in chains by his holy angels since that time, that now he
hath not his liberty as before to hurt the saints : it is time, that
he is still in the world, and rules in the air, but the good angels
so defend our bodies against the e\'il angels, that they cannot
touch an hair to our hurt, and, as for our souls, they are in their
special care ; it is not to tell how many are the benefits they ad-
minister that way ; they teach us truth s, they open God's will,
they reveal the secrets and mysteries of grace, and by these
means they promote the salvation of souls : this they did some-
times by dreams in the night, and sometimes by conference in
the day, when they assumed bodies ; but now still they admo-
nish our minds, and, in a secret unperceivable way, they persuade
as to the reading, hearing, and obeying of God's word. But of
these, and the like soul-services of the angels, we shall enlarge
another time.
Sect. IV. — Use of Terror,
Well then ; is the ministering office of the angels not for all,
but only for heaven's heirs ? What terror is this to the wicked ?
Alas, they have no angels to keep them, or take care of them, they
are devoid of the presence and ministry of the heavenly angels ;
or if they have any inspection of them, it is but a general in-
spection, such as Hagar and Ishmael had, who are set out in
scripture as the types of those that are rejected of the Lord.
And this, I take it, is the reason why reprobates live, and are not
all suddenly struck dead, to wit, because the angels have some
general charge and care over them, that they may be preserved
to their condition, but they are not properly guardians of any
such men : O woe, woe, woe to the wicked world, when one woe
K9 past, behold there come tiuo more woes after. As it was with
Saul, when God was gone from him, then the Philistines made
war against him, and he was sore wounded of the archers, and
at last he fell on his own sword and died : so where the angels
of God stand aloof, and will not rescue, one woe follows after
another, there the evil spirits keep their rendezvous, the devil
works in them mightily, they are hoodwinked, and besotted and
blinded by the god of this world, having no power so much as
to groan or to wish for deliverance ; we may say of all reprobates
as it was said of Saul, An evil spirit is upon them, and God is not
with them : they are already taken in the snare of the devil, he
hath them in a string, and leads them captive at his will : and no
wonder, for they have not those aids, those contrary whisperings,
they have not the good angels to conflict with the bad, they have
not' the spirit, a new nature, much less the external helps and
guards, of holy and blessed angels ; ah, woe to these men !
486 Co7nmunion with Angels.
Sect. V. — Use of Encouragement.
What encouragement is this to the godly ? Though the
Tvicked have not such guards, yet the godly are the proper
objects of the angels' ministry : Are they not ministering spirits,
sent forth to minister for them ? It is a question that puts all
out of question : the wicked indeed are left to the wide world, but
God is at the charge of giving the saints tutors, and governors,
and guardians ; here is a mighty encouragement to the people of
God ; I know not the condition that any saint in the world may
be in, wherein we cannot find in scripture some encouragement
or other drawn from an angel: Art thou in a journey? so was
Abraham's servant when Abraham told him, He shall send his
oigel before thee, and prosjjer thy ivay : Art thou in battle, or
ready to march against the enemy ? so was Israel, when the
Lord told Moses, For mine angel shall go before thee, andbi'ing
thee inunto the Amorites, and theUittites, and the Perrizzites,^c.
and I tuill cut them off : Art thou in oppression, under the
tyranny of wicked men ? so Moses told Edom the Israelites
were. Thou knowest of all the travel thai hath befallen us, hoiv
our fathers ivent down into Egypt, and the Egyptia^is vexed us
and our fathers ; and when we criedunto the Lord, he heard our
voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Ejgypt^
Art thou in persecution for religion, and forced to fly for thy
life ? so was Elijah, when he requested for himself that he might
die, and said. It is enough now, O Lord, take away my life, for I
am not better than my fathers ; and as he lay and slept under a
juniper-tree, behold an angel touched him,andsaid unto him. Arise,
and eat. Art thou traduced, maligned, censured, imprisoned,
and condemned to death for righteousness' sake, or for the truth ?
so was Daniel, whom God yet delivered by an angel : My God
hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have
not hurt me, for as much asbefore him innocency was fmmd in me.
And so it was with Peter, For behold the angel of the Lord came
upon him, and a light shined in the prison, — and when Peter was
come to himself, he said. Now I know of a surety that the Lord
hath sent his ayigel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of
Herod. Art thou amidst a people, whom God for sin hath de-
creed to destruction ? so was Lot, whom the angels hastened out
of Sodom, lest he should be consumed in the iniquity of the city.
But I am saved this labour of searching any further into scrip-
ture ; a worthy author had framed us the variety of their assist-
ance in this same scheme : ' One while they lead us in our way,
as they did Israel ; another while they instruct us, as they did
Daniel : one Mobile they fight for us, as they did for Joshua ; an-
other while they purvey for us, as they did for Elijah : one while
thi^y fit us to our holy vocation, as they did Isaiah ; another while
Communion with A7igeU'. 487
they dispose of the opportunities of our calling for good, as they
did of Philips, to the eunuch : one while they foretel our danger,
as to Joseph and Mary ; another while they comfort us in our
afflictions, as they did Christ and his apostles : one while they
resist our offensive courses, as they did Moses ; another while
they encourage us in our devotions, as they did Paul : one while
they deliver us from durance, as tliey did Peter ; another while
they preserve us from death, as the three children : one while
they restrain our presumption, as the cherub before the gate of
paradise ; another while they excite our courage, as to Joshua,
Gideon, and the other judges : one while they cure our bodies,
as at the pool of Bethesda ; another while they cany up our
souls to heaven, as they did to Lazarus. It were endless to
instance in all the gracious offices which the angels perform.' —
And is not here great encouragement to all the saints ? The
children of princes are not without their guard, no more are
God's children ; as they have an heavenly Father, so they have
an heavenly guard to wait upon them, and to minister unto
them : O mighty encouragement !
Sect. VI . — Use of Admiration .
How may this angel-administration cause the saints to admire at
the kindness of the Lord towards them ? You darlings of the
Almighty, if others regard not, you have cause to wonder at this,
that the angels, those created citizens of glory, should receive
you in your straights, march after you in your ways, counsel you
in your doubts, defend you in your dangers ; in a word, that God
should charge all his elect angels to shew love and respect unto
you, yea, to serve and to minister unto you : stand amazed at
this, O ye saints ! The angels are the most glorious creatures
in tlie world,, they are the glittering courtiers of heaven, and the
beautiful companions of Jesus Christ. Job calls them morning
stars, in that being newly created, they gave glory to the Creator,
even as the birds in spring begin their notes, and sing at break
of day ; and he calls them sons of God, in that he doth use
them as children, they are very near to him, they do always
attend him, and continually see his face, they have the privilege
of sons : The mornii^g stars sing together, and the sons of God
shout for joy . Now, that such creatures should wait on sinful
wretches, dust and ashes, worms and not men, it is enough to
cast any man in the world into an amazement or astonishment.
A w^onder it is, that any creature, though inferior, should be
serviceable to man, that by sin hath lost his dominion over the
creatures; a wonder it was, that the ravens should minister unto
Elijah ; but that all the host of heaven should be abased (if we
may speak after the manner of men) to so low a work, that angels
should perform offices of respect to the meanest creatures 3 that
438 Communion with Angels,
an angel clothed with light and glory should come to Zachary,
to Mary, and to the shepherds \ what, angels of God to wait
upon those who are the most despised and rejected of men ?
Stand and wonder at this ! When I consider the heavens (saith
Pa\dd) the work of thy fingers^ the moon and the stars which thou
hast ordained ; what is man, that thou art mindful of him, and
the Son of man, that thou visitest him, f for thou hast made him a
little lower than the angels. This indeed is applied to Christ, Heb.
2. 6, 7, 9, 11, who was ^nade a little lower than the angels by the
suffering of death, hut now is crowned with glory and honour ;
yet (saith the apostle) he that sanctifieth, and they who are sancti^
fied, are all one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them
brethren, Christ and we are of the same nature, which though
in some respects it be lower, yet it is but a little lower than the
angels ; nay, in some respects are we higher than the angels, for
the angels wait on the saints, and the angels are not so married
to Jesus Christ in a mystical union, as the saints and people of
God, restored to his image, are. Admire at this, all ye saints !
verily there is somewhat in holiness more than the world seeth
or knoweth, there is some worth, or excellency, or consanguinity,
in the saints to Christ, or I cannot think that Christ would set
such a guard upon them as his own courtiers. The angels are
indeed near in alliance to Christ, but the saints are nearer ; the
angels are God's progeny, the sons of God, and so Christ is their
brother ; but man is allied nearer to Chiist than so, in that man
is of God's lineage, and Christ is of man's lineage : and hence it
is, that the angels must now stoop, and bow, and wait, and serve,
and minister to the saints. Are they not nearer allied than
all the angels ? Unto which of the angels said he at any time,
you are my sons, my kinsmen, brethren, mother, sister, spouse ?
An angel is constantly called a ministering spirit, but is no where
read a friend of God, the Son of the Father, the delight of the
Son of man, the temple of the holy Spirit, wherein the thrice
glorious Trinity takes up his mansion. Christians, admire, here
is enough to cast you into an ecstasy : come, view the saint's
pedigree, and tell me what you think o'f it.
«W-%/K.«/V^/«^W*
The Saints' Pedigree,
Our Lord, 1 Cor. 1.2.
Our Friend, Cant. 5. 16.
Our Flesh and Blood, Heb. 2. 14.
I Our Brother, Heb. 2. I7.
Our Father, Isa. 63. 16.
.Our Husband, Rom, 7. 4,
Communion with Angels, 489
His Servants, Rom. 6. 22.
His Priends, Joliii 15. 14.
His Kinsmen, Mariv 3. 21.
His Brethren, Job J. 3.
His Sons, Gal. 3. 2(5.
His Spouse, Sister, Love, Dove, Sec.
Cant. 4. 9.
^ ^ One Vine, John 15. 1.
One Seed, Gal. 3. 1(5.
One Temple, Ephes. 2. 15.
S ^One Body, Rom. 12. 5.
^ I One Spirit, 1 Cor. 6. IJ.
^ VOne Christ, 1 Cor. 12. 12.
1^
Upon the view of this line, genealogy, pedigree, (call it what
you please,) methinks, my brethren, we should all cry out. Lord,
what is man that thou art mindful of him f for thou hast made
him higher than the angels , and hast croiuned him with glory and
honour ; thou hast made him to have domiiiion over the ivorks of
thy hands, thou hast put all things u?ider his feet: — O Lord, our
Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the world!
Sect. VII. — Use of Magnanimity,
Do angels wait on heaven's heirs ? Come then, ye holy ones,
and take an holy state upon you, think yourselves too good to
abase yom'selves to the world, or to sin, or to be slaves of men :
why, 5^ou are kings, and have a mighty guard, and therefore you
should carry yourselves answerably. Little do the men of this
world think of this, or believe this truth ; if they see a man to
have at his heels a long train of earthly followers, in silks, satins,
golden chains, and such like braveries ; Oh how such sights are
gazed on ! and how are such men usually titled, your greatness,
highness, excellency ! Alas, alas ! all is but beggary to the glory
of the least of the saints of God, and of their attendants. I see
indeed a great deal of glitter in some of these earthly state so-
lemnities, yet in all their pomps they had need of a fair day, and
clear sun-shine, or else half their show will be lost : but angels,
(the saints' attendants) enlighten the greatest darkness, Luke 2.
9. Acts 12. 7. /*■ not their countenance as lightning, and their
raiment white as snow ? Matt. 28. 3. Oh then ! how should this
greaten the spirits of God's people ! Why, think of it, you whom
it most concerns ; it was an high favour for Mordecai, a poor
porter, to have Haman, the great pompous peer of the empire,
to be his attendant, his lacquey, or his footmen, for an hour:
how much more honour is it for you poor worms, to have those
mighty peers of heaven, little roys, demigods, to wait upon you
continually ! King Solomon in all his royalty, in the midst of his
18. 3 Q
490 Communion with Angels.
two hundred targets, and three hundred shields of beaten gold,
was not like one of the lilies of the field, much less like a saint
environed and encompassed with a wall of angels : hence was
that saying of Christ, Despise not one of these little ones ; and
why so ? because in heaven their angels do always behold the
face of my Father. The brightest angels that look in the face
of God, despise not to attend on the meanest saints ; and how
then should any despise them whom the angels honour? How
should any think them unworthy of their company or counte-
nance, whom the great angels think most worthy of their service
and attendance ? But, especially, how should any presume to
WTong the saints, or to rush into God's paradise, such as every
true Christian is, where stand the angels of God with a flaming
sword which turns every way ? It is enough, one would think,
to affright all the men in the world from offering any violence
to any of God's people ; but howsoever they carry, let Chris-
tians carry as heaven's heirs, let them w^alk worthy of God, who
hath called them to his kingdom and glory : let them consider
what servitors and ministers God hath appointed to w^ait on
them, and in the name of God let them carry themselves an-
swerably, and be holily magnanimous. Plutarch tells of The-
mistocles, that he accounted it not to stand with his state to
stoop down to take up the spoils of the enemy Avhom he had
scattered in flight ; but says to one of his followers, you may, for
you are not Themistocles. If others mind the earth and earthly
things, as the swane that follow the trough, and can look no
higher, yet let the saints (w^hich the angels wait on) walk above
the world, and above all things that are here below. Citizens
of Rome might not accept of any other freedom in any other
city; they accounted it a dishonour to the freedom of Rome,
to take freedom any where in the world besides : you that are
free of the kingdom of heaven, and that have the created citizens
of heaven to be your life-guards. Oh do not entangle yourselves
with the things of earth, seek not to be free here, as if you had
no better portion : surely if you understand your own privileges,
you are spiritual kings and queens of an otherwise kingdom than
this world ; you have the privileges of a council, to wit, God's
testimonies, Psa. 119. 24. and the privileges of a guard full of
state and strength, to wit, God's angels; O how should this
greaten your spirits : Let the saints be joyful in glory, let them
sing aloud upon their beds, let the high praises of God be in their
mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hands, to execute ven-
geance upon the heathen. This honour have all his saints.
Coimnunion with Angels, 491
Sect. Vlll. — Use of Exhortation,
Is the ministering office of the angels for heaven's heirs ? then
to your duties of connnunion with them. Oil improve this
ordinance ! Why, here is an ordinance of Jesus Christ scarce
thought on ; the angels minister to saints, and the saints almost,
if not altogether, forget their duties which they owe to God and
Christ in that respect. What, my brethren, are you ignorant of
such an ordinance ? or do you know it, and yet are you negli-
gent ? If you are simple, ignorant, and that your ignorance is
of pure negation, and not of evil disposition, it is then high time
to discover this mystery of godliness to you, that you m;iy be in
the exercise of such duties yet unknown; or if you know them,
and are negligent of them, it is then high time to rouse up your
spirits, and to ^ stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance,
— that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before
by the holy prophets, and of the commandments of the apostles,
of our Lord and Saviour.' Howsoever the case stands with you,
I beseech you to hear, learn, practise, and make use of, this present
book and work; it is another message that I have from God,
another ordinance that I would discover ; therefore ' set your
hearts to all the words that I testify to you this day, for it is not
a vain thing, but it is for your lives.'
The motives I use, shall be only these, —
1 . Angel -administration, and our communion with them, is an
ordinance of Jesus Christ; it is an institution of Christ, which
hath connected to it some kind of spiritual efficacy to work on
souls. Amongst other intervening mediums (saith one) there is
one great ordinance, which we have not so much considered of,
viz. That the good angels (the chariots and horses) should reUeve
us, as they did Elisha ; nor is their relief only as to outwards, but
in relation to our religious walking, and to our inward man.
Were it not sad to lose an ordinance of Jesus Christ ? Or if it be
not lost in respect of the living instruments on their parts, yet is
it not sad that we should make no use of them ? Ministers are
an ordinance of Christ, they are messengers, interpreters, (even
as the angels, and therefore are called angels. Rev. i. 20.) their
office is to declare unto man his righteousness ; to pray men in
Christ's stead to be reconciled unto God ; to gather together the
saints ; to be Christ's paranymphs ; to deal about the getting of a
wife for the Lamb ; to cater for heaven ; to bring in custom for
the kingdom of God. Ministers and angels are m the very same
employment. Now were it not sad, that the ministers of Christ
should be neglected or despised ? What if you have ministers ;
is there no use to be made of such an ordinance ? The apostle
tells you, you cannot have saving knowledge, regeneration, or
faith, ^v^thout their use: I do not speak what God may do
492 Communion with Angels.
extraordinarily, but this is God's ordinary way : How can they
helieve on him of whom they have not heard f and how can they
hear ivithout a preacher? I may say the same of angels in their
way, for they are rational and living instruments, they are minis-
ters of God, and they administer to us saving truths : an angel
told that first news of the gospel. Behold, I bring you good tidings
of great joy, ivhich shall be to all people. And shall this ordi-
nance of Christ be without any consideration how we may receive
good from it ? God forbid.
2. The angels are an ordinance ever present; some other
ordinances may be taken from us : men may take from us our
bibles, teachers, pastors, or they may imprison us where we can-
not enjoy them, but they cannot take from us the holy angels:
JVhen the high priest, and all that were with hiyn, laid hands on
the apostles, and put them in the common prison, then the angel
of the Lord by night opened the 2^rison doors, and brought them
forth, and said. Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people
all the words of this life. And when Peter was in prison, sleep-
ing between two soldiers, hound ivith two chains, and the keepers
before the door kept the prison, behold the angel of the Lord came
upon him, and a light shined in thej)rison; and he smote Peter
on the side, and raised him up, saying. Arise up quickly. No
prison is so close, no keepers are so vigilant, as to keep out angels :
though we want, and may Avant other ordinances, yet we have the
angels as an ordinance, to walk up and down with us, wheresoever
we are, or whithersoever we go. I cannot but remember that
speech of a great divine, which at the first reading exceedingly
struck me : ' The good Lord forgive me, for that, amongst my
other offences, I have suffered mj^self so much to forget, as his
Divine presence, so the presence of his holy angels : it is, I con-
fess, my great sin that I have filled my eyes with other objects,
and have been slack in returning praises to my God for the con-
tinual assistance of those blessed and beneficent spirits, which
have ever gi-aciously attended me, without intermission, from the
first hour of my conception to this present moment, neither shall
ever, I hope, absent themselves from my tutelage and protection
till they shall have presented my poor soul to her final glory/ If
a good man, of an holy gracious spirit, was so forgetful of them,
that he was fain to cry Peccavi, (I confess my great sin, and, the
good Lord forgive me,) methinks it should be a prevailing mo-
tive to work on us, so to converse with them, and to perform
our respective duties to them, as being ever present, without
intermission they may wait on us : yet how is it that days without
number we should forget them, and their ministration ?
3. The angels are an ordinance, improving other ordinances of
Jesus Christ; in this respect there is no fear of clashing with
other ordinances: it is true that the Lord never calls any
assembly to two divers employments at one and the same time.
Comimmion with Angels. 493
iiiilcj^s they be subservient the one to the other. Hence it is
V\e blame them, who, coming into our congregations when some
pubHc ordinances are in hand, they betake themselves to their
private devotions, and will not reverently (without more ado)
compose themselves to join with the assembly in that ordinance
of God which is in hand : we would not have ordinances clash^
only angel-ministration in religious affairs will not hinder, but
further our religious services ; and angel-administration in civil
affairs v/ill not hinder, but further our civil business. 1. In reli-
gious services, the angels are assistants ; it is said, that they sug-
gest suitable, seasonable, and pious thoughts at such a time :
when Cornelius was praying, he saw an angel, saying unto him,
thy prayers and thy alms are come up for a memorial before
God : and while Zacharias was executing the priest's office before
God, there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord on the right
side of the altar of incense, saying, thy prayer is heard. 2. In
civil affairs the angels are assistant; — they shall keep thee m all
thy ways ; in thy vocation, or particular calling. Now, herein is
the excellency of such an ordinance, that it is an addition and im-
provement to all other ordinances ; an argument sufficient to bind
us to our duties in reference to it.
4. Angel-ministrations, and our communion with them, is an
ordinance in opposition to Satan's temptations, and our com-
munion with him : it were enough to amaze poor souls to con-
sider the powers and principalities that are against them ; were
they but w^eak, they were less considerable ; but we wrestle not
against flesh and blood, (said the apostle,) but against spirits, yea,
against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places. And yet as great
as the power and policy of devils are, they are less in power than
the holy angels : There was war in heaven, Michael and his
angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his
angels, and prevailed not. — And I saw an angel come down from
heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain
in his hand, and he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent,
ivhich is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.
Now, here is the encouragement to our duties ; not only for God
and Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith, but even
spiritual substances of good angels, proportionable to the other
of bad angels, contend with them, and stand most valiantly on
our side.
But what are those duties of communion we owe the angels in
this respect ? I answer, 1 . In general. 2. In special.
1 . In general : as is their mmistration, so is our duty of com-
munion with them. Now in several ways do they administer to
us, and so in several respects do we owe duties to God and them.
There is a proportion (if we can find it out) betwixt their minis-
tration and our duty, and they answer one another, as, in the
glass, face answers face: if they serve us, certainly there is
494 CoininuHion luith Angels.
something of service that we owe God and them : as the Lord
could say, If I be a Father, where is mine honour ? Arid if I be
a master, luhere is my fear? So if the angels stand in any such
relation towards us, it cannot be but proportionable or suitable
duties are to be performed by us.
2. In special: as the kinds of their ministration differ at
several times, so are we to observe their ministration at these
times, and to return suitable duties. At the first they minister
in one kind, and anon they minister in another kind : as our
several needs are at several times, so are their several ministra-
tions at those times, ^^t*. gr. When I was in my mother's
womb, they ministered thus ; and when I was born, and yet an
infant, they ministered thus ; and when I was grown, and come
to riper years, they ministered thus; and when I die, and go
out of the world, they will minister thus ; and when I shall rise
again, and come to judgment, they will minister thus. Now
here is my duty : 1 . To consider their several ministrations at
those several times. 2. To return suitable duties at times sea-
sonable, as I am^ in their season, to perform all other duties.
Sect. IX. — Use of Direction,
And this is that special use which I aimed at, and which I
had at first in my eye when I begun this work ; it is an use of
direction, wherein 1 shall first lay down the office of angels, and
then our office. First, what they do in their times, and then
what we must do in our times, in answer to them and their
ministrations. And O that the Lord would bless this work to
thee that readest ! O that he, on whose errand I come, would
speak himself to thy soul, for he is able to instruct; yea, when
he teacheth, all are scholars.
Communio7i tvith Ans^eh. 495
<b
MINISTRATION OF,
AND
COMMUNION WITH ANGELS.
CHAP. I.
Sect. I. — Of the Time when the Angels first begin their
Ministration,
1 HE first period wherein the angels minister to heaven's heirs,
is, from their quickening in the womb, till their birth. Come
then, and first see the ministration of angels at this time ; and,
secondly, learn and practise we those several duties that espe-
cially concern the saints in that respect.
1 . For the ministration of angels in that period, most probable
it is that then they begin their ministration. The exact begin-
ning is indeed questionable ; some would have it begin at the
first hour of conception: They have ever graciously attended
me (saith one) without intermission, from the first hour of my
conception to this present moment. Others, at the first infusion
of the soul : Their care begins (say they) as soon as the child is
quickened in the womb, for that they have then another distinct
charge to look after. Others at the birth of the elect ; God re-
vealing to the angels who are such, by requiring their attendance
on them then : From their birth to the end of their life, saith
Zanchius, angels are assigned of God to wait on the elect.
Others at the baptism of infants : Origen, recounting many
opinions, doth mention this ; ^vhich is very improbable, for then
it is in the power of parents, who set the time of baptism, to
say when the angels shall begin their office over their children :
but the elect are as precious and dear to God before, as after the
ordinance of baptism. Others at the time of conversion. Of
which two reasons are given : —
1. Because the angels know not the decrees before that
election be declared in conversion : but this we deny.
2. Because in the state of nature a man is under the wrath of
God, and is vexed with evil spirits, that hurry him to sin, and
rule in the children of disobedience : but although this cannot be
denied, yet God is resolved that all his elect shall have invisible
supports against Satan, to preserve them charily, as chosen
496 Communion with Angels.
vessels, against the time that he shall manifest himself unto
them ; and it is sufficient to angels, that God wills their attend-
ance, and that hereafter they shall discern some fruit of their
attendance. For my part, amidst all these differences, I close
only with them who say, that the angels begin the execution of
their charge when the soul is infused: and the reasons are
solid —
1. Because the child hath then a distinct being of his own.
2. Because then it is a person consisting of soul and body.
2. Because God's providence over soul and body (of which
the angels are servants) taketh date thence ; Thou hast covered
one, saith David, in my mother s womh : The Lord, in framing our
bodies and creatmg our souls in our mother's womb, did then
cover his tender work with his mighty power from all incon-
veniences, as with a shield ; and therefore then did the angels
begin their ministration.
Sect. II. — Of the Manner of Angel-ministration at that Time,
But how do the angels minister at such a time ? I answer,
they keep, preserve, defend, deliver, sustain, and strengthen the
babes, even in the womb. I cannot think that they have only
one office at such a time, but that sometimes they attend them
for good, and sometimes they deliver them from evil. The case
stands thus ; in the creation or infusion of the soul, (which is all
one, for creando infunditur et infundendo creatur) the angels re-
ceive their commission ; as if the Lord should say, come, blessed
angels, here is a creature that shall at last fill up the room of
some fallen angel, and then it shall be like to yourselves, and
you shall love it as yourselves, but, in the mean time, it is my
pleasure that you should minister unto it, and keep it safe;
which is no sooner said, but they are prompt and ready to do
God's will.
We may wonder at this, that the angels should thus minister
to man after his fall, which they never did before. In that col-
lation betwixt innocent Adam, second Adam, renewed Adam,
and old Adam, it is said, that the angels did neither minister
unto, nor keep the first Adam, before the fall, because he was in
no danger, only they loved him : the angels indeed ministered
to Christ, the second Adam, and loved him, but did not keep
him, for he was comprehensor as well as viator; Christ is the
head of angels, and therefore he is not kept by them : the angels
now minister to the renewed Adam, yea, they love him, and keep
him, and yet this argues not any prerogative that the saints have
above Christ, but rather their weakness and wants, that they have
need of the angels to preserve them, as young children stand in
need of nurses to wait upon them: but as for old Adam, or
wicked reprobates, the angels neither minister to them, nor love
Communion with Angels. 497
them, nor keep them, in respect of any special and particular
keeping : it may be the angels are sometimes ministers of out-
ward things even to the wicked, as the angels brought down
manna in the wilderness to the bad Israelites, as well as good;
but they have not that particular care of the wicked, as they
have of the elect of God; they come not up and down the
ladder, Christ, to minister to them, as they do to the elect.
Now this keeping of the elect, is not only in this life, but all the
while that they are in then* mother's womb.
Sect. III. — Experiences of this Truth,
Of this, as of all the rest, I would give in some experiences
for further clearing : —
1 . An ancient matron having many children, and having left
bearing for about the space of twelve years, the Lord then un-
expectedly gave her to conceive: she wondered, and appre-
hending nothing but ill health, purposed on such a day to take
physic ; but the night before (if I mistake not) she felt the child
stir in her womb, and then she brake out, as Sarah did ; " What !
after I am waxed old, shall I bear a child, my lord being old
also?" Hereupon the physic was removed, the child preserved,
and rightly called Isaac, in imitation of old Abraham and Sarah,
who laughed at the news of the angel, that they should have a
son in their old age. Gen. 17. 17* and 18. 12.
2. Three godly women, in the island of Guernsey, were con-
demned to be burnt for their religion; and though one of them
was great with child, yet found she no favour : as they were all
three in the fire, the belly of the woman breaking with the vehe-
mency of the flame, the infant being a fair man-child, fell into
the fire ; which being caught, and carried to the bailiff, he com-
manded it to be had back, and thro^vn into the fire; whereby
after it was born, and preserved by the angels, it died a martyr.
Clarke,
Sect. IV. — Of the Duties that concern us in this respect,
2. The duties that concern us in this respect, are either
parentKs' duties, or children's : —
1st. For the parents.
1. Parents may rejoice at this, that the holy angels attend
them, and those little pieces and pictures of themselves. You
that are mothers great with child, are you not sometimes in
trouble, fear, and peril? Be not discouraged, for the angels
attend your motions, and all occurrences, for the safety and pre-
servation both of you and your's. It is observed, that when
Mary saluted Elizabeth, the babe sprang in her womb for joy,
and EUzabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. Some think
18. 3 R
498 Communion with Angels,
that this springing of the babe was by the presence of an angel
with John, otherwise that little embryo had been incapable of
such affections and motions^ according to the course of nature ;
and immediately it follows, " Elizabeth was filled with the Holy
Ghost/' A serious consideration of the angels ministering to
such embryos, may be a blessed means to fill you with the
comforts of God's Spirit. O rejoice in this! Nor is that all:
for —
2. Parents ought to pray, not to the angels, but to the God of
angels, for the favour, assistance, and protection of the angels to
their infants. I know such prayers are not usual; but is not
that a neglect of duty to our babes? When David prayed
against his enemies, he could say, ^' Let the angel of the Lord
chase them; and let the angel of the Lord persecute them:''
How much more may we say for our tender infants in the
womb. Let the angel of the Lord guard them, and let the angel
of the Lord keep them. Manoah and his wife were very care-
ful what to do for the babe which must be born to deliver Israel
out of the Philistines' hands; and therefore after the angel had
appeared to the woman, and told her, then Manoah entreated the
Lord, and said, " O my Lord, let the man of God (or the
angel of God) which thou didst send, come again unto us, and
teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born : and
God hearkened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God
came again." Indeed when he came, he would have no burnt-
offering offered unto him, but gave direction, " If thou wilt offer
a burnt-offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord." Angels
would not be prayed unto, nor worshipped. Rev. 19. 10. & 22. 9.
But yet, in reference to the angels, we find Manoah praying
and offering unto the Lord; and if he prayed for angel-direction,
how much more may we turn the promises into prayers for
angel-protection and ministration to these poor infants yet
unborn !
2d. For the children or parties themselves, when grown.
1 . Let them know and be acquainted with their angel-keepers.
When David considered how he was made in secret, and curi-
ously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth, and covered in
his mother's womb, he cried out, « Marvellous are thy works,
and that my soul knoweth right well." It is not enough to have
angel-keepers before we are born, but in time we should endea-
vour to know them: it is sad to be ignorant still of such a glo-
rious truth; surely God would have us acquainted with his
works, and to bear witness of what we know for his glory.
2. Let them praise God for the angels ministering to them in
the womb. " Thou art he (saith David) that took me out of the
womb :" and thou art he that preserves me in the womb. The
Lord doth many things for us, which, at the time when he doth
them, we cannot observe; it is our duty therefore to look upon
Communion with Angels, 499
them afterwards, that they may furnish us with matter of praise
to God. But why is not praise rendered to the angels, as well
as to God ? Because God will not give his glory to another :
angels must have their due, but they must not rob God of his
praise; whatsoever instruments and means the Lord makes use
of, the spiritual eye pierceth through them, and looks on God,
and gives him all the glory. You that hear of this angel-minis-
tration in the womb, O praise the Lord ! It is, if you rightly ap-
prehend it, a smothered wonder, and so glorious a work of God,
that he deserves perpetual praise from you for that one work.
^^ Thou art he that preserved me in, and took me out of, my
mother's bowels ; my praise shall be continually of thee."
3. Let them act their faith and trust in God, even because
of this : to this end are all the experiences of God's love to his
saints, that they might store up their faith, and trust God more.
O then, among other experiences of God's dealings, make use of
this, for strengthening of your faith ! ^^ Thou art my hope, O
Lord God ; thou art my trust from my youth ; by thee have I
been holden up from the womb." As Satan makes assault after
assault against faith, so should we raise bulwark after bulwark,
for defence thereof: after we have looked upon other men's
experiences, we should recount our own experiences of God's
care towards us, and make use of all God's dealings for our
strengthening. ^ Thus, Lord, thou didst for me in my youth,
and childhood, and infancy. Thou didst make me hope when I
was upon my mother's breast; I was cast upon thee from the
womb ; thou art my God from my mother's belly ; yea, in the
womb, before I was born, thou did&t cover me, and guard me
by the angels : and, therefore, how should I but believe ? How
am I forced to acknowledge that the Lord never leaves me, even
when I least perceive his presence?' Here is mighty encou-
ragement for faith.
4. Let them love God and his angels, for this early ministra-
tion of the angels. Ancient love is a loadstone of love; were it
but a little love, yet long love might beget love again. Why, God
hath loved us from everlasting, and the angels have loved us from
our first beginning, and therefore how should we but love them
again? David's consideration of God's mercy towards us in the
womb, took up his heart and ravished his spirit ; yea, he was so
exceedingly taken with it, that he could not off it. " Thine eye
did see my substance yet being unperfect, and in thy book all
my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned,
when as yet there was none of them. — How precious are thy
thoughts unto me, O God; how great is the sum of them ! if I
should count them, they are more in number than the sand:
when I awake, I am still with thee." Oh that our souls were
awaked, and oh that our spiritual senses were renewed, that upon
a serious consideration of God's love, and of the angels' love to
500 Communion with Angels,
us in the womb, we might love again, and in a holy pang cry out.
How precious are thy thoughts unto me, O God ! and how pre-
cious are your thoughts unto me, O ye angels of God ?
«W%«'V«<«V%'W%'«iV«
CHAP. II.
Sect. I. — Of the Ministration of Angels in our Infancy and
Cliildhood,
The second period wherein the angels minister to heaven's
heirs, is, from their birth to their youth, or riper years ; this lakes
up the time of infancy and childhood. And in prosecution of
this, first set we the object before us at this time ; and, secondly,
learn and practice we those several duties that will naturally flow
from such an object.
I. For the object, viz. The ministration of angels in our
infancy and childliood. Tlie scriptures are express: ^'Take
heed that ye despise not one of these little ones ; for I say unto
you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my
Father which is in heaven. '^ By little ones, I do not exclude the
adult, who resemble little children in some imitable qualities ; nor
would I exclude little children, whom our Saviour propounds as
a pattern for the imitation of the adult. Matt, xviii. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
But I would rather lake all In, and say, that by little ones is meant
either those who are little in stature, as the child set in the midst
of them ; or, little in grace, parts, esteem, as some of the dis-
ciples were; or little in their own eyes, as all the elect are or
must be : all these have their angels, and therefore none of these
must be despised. When Christ was but a babe, ^^ the angel of
the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying. Arise, and take
the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be
thou there until I bring thee word.'* And when Herod was dead,
^' the angel appeared again unto Joseph, in Egypt, saying. Arise,
and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of
Israel." Thus was Christ provided for in his cradle by an angel.
When Hagar had not wherewithal to feed her child, " she cast
the child under a shrub ; and she went and sat her down over
against him a good way off", saying. Let me not see the death of
the child : and she sat over against him, and lift up her voice,
and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the
angel of the Lord called Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her.
What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not, for God hath heard the voice
of the lad where he is ; arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in
thine hand, for I will make him a great nation : and God opened
Communion with Angels, 501
her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled her
bottle with water, and gave the lad drink/* Here was an angel
calling, comforting, and directing Hagar in her child's behalf : or
if Hagar and Ishmael were not elect, when Jacob blessed the
two sons of Joseph, he said, " The angel which redeemed me
from all evil, bless (or keep) the lads.'* Many think this was the
great Angel of the covenant, to whom Jacob prayed for a blessing
on Joseph's sons ; and the rather because he is said to redeem
him from all evil, which is properly peculiar to Jesus Christ : but
others say, that this form of prayer was only an interpretative
kind of imploration, that God would bless or keep Joseph's sons
by his angels : and for that of redeeming, if this was spoken of
eternal redemption, it were indeed peculiar to Christ ; but Jacob
(saith a late writer) speaks here of redemption and deliverance
from temporal evils, which is confessed to be a main office of
angels. And Chrysostom, Basil, Rivius, Mercerius (as he cites
them) quote this very place for the deputation of angels.
Sect. II. — Of the Manner of Aiigel Ministration at that Time.
But how do the angels minister to us in our childhood? I
answer : —
1. They keep us from evil. Were it not so, into how many
dangers should we fall ? Indeed, a wonder it is, that most chil-
dren are not disfigured and lamed with bruises and fearful mis-
carriages, with cutting and burning themselves, as hundreds and
thousands of opportunities are offered, but that angels are very
diligent to keep them out of harm's way : "^ When father and
mother forsake me (saith David) then will the Lord take me up :"
when parents are without natural affection, when nurses are
careless, and children are of restless, stirring, and climbing dis-
positions, then doth the guardianship of angels especially appear.
^To this purpose is Chemnitius cited by the aforesaid author,
saying. That infants are obnoxious to such and so many dangers,
that no anxiety of parents, or diligence of servants, can secure
them, without the tuition of angel's. And Gerson observes the
like : ^ Whence is it (saith he) that little children are conserved
from so many perils of their infancy, as fire, water, falls, suffoca-
tion, but by the agency of angels?'
2. They keep us in health : some say, that much physic should
not be administered to infants, it is not safe to be too much
tampering with such tender things ; and I suppose there is less
need, in that angels themselves are instead of physicians to such
weak patients. It is Mr. Dyke's saying, Angels help to remove
diseases and evils, as the devils help to bring them on us : and
to that purpose they may have an hand in the use of such means
as are for our bodily health. — Angels are the rockers (saith the
same author) of babes and suckhngs j their invisible hands are
502 Cormnunion tvith Angels,
doing for them, when we little think of any such matter. It may
be some are sick, and yet recover, and we attribute it to this or
that means, when indeed the instrument was an heavenly angel.
^ Certainly (said our divine Seneca) there are many thousand
events, wherein common eyes see nothing but nature, which yet
are effected by the ministration of angels : as when sudden cures
were wrought at the pool of Bethesda, it might perhaps be
attributed by many to some beneficial constellation; but we
know, out of the evangelist, that an angel descended and moved
the water, and made it sanative ; where we find a probability of
second causes in nature, we are apt to confine our thoughts from
looking higher, yet even then there are many times unseen hands :'
How much more when the work is above the power of any se-
condaiy cause ! this carries its own evidence, without dispute,
that if it be not of nature, it must needs be of an higher efficiency.
Ex. gr. Have we seen a poor weak child raised up from deadly
sickness, when all natural helps have given him up ; then have the
angels of God been his secret physicians.
2. They teach and tutor us. Some think, that angels do help
little infants to speak and go ; but, howsoever, they are as tutors
and schoolmasters to them. Zanchy compares them first to
nurses, and then to schoolmasters, that they may instruct them,
admonish them, correct them, comfort them, defend them from
all evil, and provoke them to all good. Amidst all their offices
(which are almost infinite) this I believe is the angels' care of little
children, that they be brought up in the nurture and admonition
of the Lord. Heaven is the place whence many good angels are
fallen ; and the good angels would have these places filled up
again with saints. Hence they take care especially of their soul,
tacitly revealing to them the mysteries of grace : not so as if the
angels' office were to preach the word ; that ministry is not com-
mitted to them, but to the apostles, and others called to it; but
it is at least the angels' care that both children and adults should
be taught in the church by men appointed and prepared by the
angels : thus the angel spake to Philip, when he was to preach
the gospel to the eunuch, saying, ^^ Arise, and go towards the
south;" and another angel speaks to Cornelius, saying, ^^ Send
to Joppa, and call for one Simon Peter, who shall tell thee what
thou oughtest to do." If the angels are not our ordinary preach-
ers, lest they dazzle us, their brightness being unsuitable to our
weak conditions; yet are they God's instruments to provide
preachers for us, that by them we may be instructed in the law
of God, and mysteries of the gospel. And something more the
angels do, in that they suggest to infants pious thoughts, and
tacitly provoke them to a pious life, and draw out of them such
gracious holy words, that the Psalmist's saying is verified, " Out
of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained
strength. Thus when the children cried in the temple.
Communion with Angels, 503
" Hosanna to the Son of David/' and therefore the priests and
scribes were sore displeased ; Jesus made their apology, saying,
" Have ye never read, Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
hast thou perfected praise ?'* Certainly those Hosannas of the
children were above nature, or acquired parts, or parents* educa-
tion ; and therefore they were taught them by the angels.
Sect. HI. — JEa;periences of this Truth.
Experiences : —
1. For keeping us from evil.
An infant being laid in his bed with some servants, he was
near morning found out of the bed among wooden and iron tools,
enough to have killed him ; he was taken up cold, yet without
any harm, and, being laid in the warm bed, he revived, and so
was graciously preserved.
A child fell into a river of water, and, being carried down the
stream, was at last taken up for dead, but after some time he
revived; and the next day I saw him, and telling him that
God had given him a new fife, the child wept : I desired him to
remember it, improve it, and to thank God for that mercy all his
days.
A child playing by the side of a pond, fell into it, where it
was like to perish ; near the pond was an house, where only one
man was reading in a book, but it pleased God that he was sud-
denly so troubled, though he knew not for what, that he could
read no longer : whereupon he walked up and down the room, but
could not be quiet ; then he walked forth, and espied a straw hat
swimming upon the water, and, looking earnestly, he saw the
child rise to the top of the water ; and so catching hold of it,
drew it out, and saved its life. — TFJiite.
There was a maid, who lived with her mother in Bargamus,
and was in one and the same night by a strange wonder brought
into the city of Venice ; they in the family where she arrived,
were near allied to her, and, coming in the morning into the
chamber where she wus, and finding her unexpectedly stark
naked, without any linen, not so much as a rag to cover her,
gently demanded of her how she came thither? where her
clothes were? and what was the cause of her coming? The
poor girl being much ashamed, ttnd mixing her blushes with
many tears, made answer to this purpose : ' This very night,
(said she,) when I lay betwixt asleep and awake in bed, I per-
ceived my mother steal softly from my side, thinking I had
not seen her; and stri23ping herself from all her linen, she took
from her closet a box of ointment, which opening, she anointed
herself there^vith under the arm-pits, and some other parts of the
body; which done, she took a staff, which stood ready in a
corner, M'hich she had no sooner bestrid, but in the instant she
504 Coimmmion with Angels*
rid (or rather flew) out of the wmdow, and I saw her no more ;
at which being much amazed, and the candle still burning by me^
I thouo-ht in myself to try a childish conclusion, and rising from
mv bed, took down the same box, and anointing myself, as I
had before observed her, and making use of a bed-staif in the
like manner, I was suddenly brought hither in a moment, where
I was no sooner entered, but I espied my mother in the chamber
^vith a knife in her hand, with purpose, as 1 thought, to kill this
my young nephew, (pointing to a child in the cradle,) but she was
hindered by finding me here \ who no sooner saw me, but she
began grievously to threat me, and came near to strike me, in
which fear I began to call upon God to help me ; whose name
I had no sooner uttered, but she instantly vanished, and I am
left here, even as you found me/ Whereupon his kinsman, the
master of the house, writ down her story ; and, keeping the maid
still with him, sent to the inquisitor of the place, where the mo-
ther of the girl, his kinswoman, lived in good reputation, and no
way suspected . before whom she was called and questioned, and
(as the manner of that country is, upon the like probability and
suspicion,) put to the mercy of the tormentor, and at length she
confessed every particular before mentioned : to which she added,
that she had no less than fifty sundry times been transported by
the devil, only with a malicious intent to kill that young child;
but she found him always at her arrival so guarded [by angels
and] by the blessings and prayers of his devout and religious
parents, that she had no power over him. — Barthol, Spinceus,
2. For preserving of health and life.
A child being begotten and born of ancient, sickly, and dis-
eased parents, was hereditarily infirm, and so oppressed with
children's maladies, that the physician concluded he could not be
long-lived; whence the father, drawing nigh to his death, and
making his will, gave him such a portion, in case he should live
to the age of fourteen years. Weak he was, and many sicknesses
he had, and yet still the Lord raised him up, and unexpectedly
restored him to health and strength, that he passed over those
fourteen years, and yet lives. Oh that it may be to God's glory,
and the church's edifying !
At the taking of Bolton by prince Rupert, amongst others
then slain, there was one William Isherwood and his wife ; and
Felice her daughter, being then but eleven weeks old, lay piti-
fully crying at the breast of her dead mother : but it so pleased
God, that an old woman, the wife of one Ralph Heine, of the
same town, aged above seventy years, who had not given suck
above twenty years before, seeing and hearing the child, com-
passioned it, and took it up ; and having neither food for herself
nor for tlie infant, in that common calamity, to still the child, she
laid it to her breast ; and behold the goodness of God, who pro-
vides for the young ravens that cry I the child sucking, milk came
(hmmiinion ivith Angch. 505
into her breast, wherewith she nourished it, to the admiration and
astonishment of all beholders.
Isenbard, an earl in Swevia, had to wife one Jermentrudis,
who grievously accused one of her neighbours for adultery, be-
cause she had been delivered of six children at a birth ; but it so
fell out afterward, that herself (her husband being abroad in the
fields) was delivered of twelve children, all males : she fearing
the like infamous punishment, that by her instigation had been
inflicted on the former woman, commanded her nurse to kill
eleven of them : the nurse going to execute the will of her lady,
was met by her lord, then returning homewards -, he demanded
what she carried on her lap ? she answered, puppies : He would
needs see them, and opening her apron, found the infants :
whereupon he examined the matter, found out the truth, en-
joined the nurse to be secret, and to put the children to some
nurse abroad ; and when they were six j^ears old, he made a feast,
apparelled the young boys alike, and presented them to their
mother : she misdoubting the truth, confessed her fault, obtained
pardon, and owned her children. — Heylin.
A minister, in the late rebellion of Ireland, flying for his life
to Dublin, his wife and children followed after him : in their
journey, being very weary, they all agreed, when night came, to
sit down together under the lee of an Irish mountain, for it was
frost and snow. The minister's wife had a young child, called
John Teate, hanging upon her breasts, which were become dry
through her manifold griefs, and want of sleep three nights toge-
ther ; the child cried and groaned, and, for want of nourishment,
was ready to die, in such sort, that the sad mother, not being-
able any longer to endure the groans and cries of her babe, arose
up from the company, (who sat all together, as close as they could,
with children in their laps, to keep one another warm,) purposing
to leave the child by himself, that she might be freed from those
heart-piercing sobs and wailings. And here, behold, the Lord,
who hath promised to be seen of his servants in time of need,
appeared even literally in this mount ; for as she stooped down
with a bleeding heart, and eyes full of tears, there to leave her
little one upon the ground, she spied, or rather felt upon the
rock (it being then something dark, only the snow cast some
little light) a sucking-bottle, ^vhich she opening, tasted of what
was within it, and found it to be full of good milk, which the
Irish call bonny-clabber ; she put it into her child's mouth, with
fear lest he, never having sucked before out of any bottle besides
her breast, would not draw it ; but he readily sucked his bellyful,
and fell asleep : the mother hereat astonished, returned to the
company, and shewed them what she had found : who much
admired at it, how or whence the bottle came thither, consi-
dering that the place was far remote from any habitation at all,
and the vessel lav upon tlie top of the snow lately fallen ; but
18. ' 3 s
506 Communion with Angeh,
some of tliem called to mind Hagar's story, and related it to the
rest, how that ^^ when she was wandering in the wilderness of
Beersheba, the water was spent in the bottle ; and she cast her
child under one of the shrubs, and went and sat her down a good
way off, for she said, let me not see the death of the child : and she
lift up her voice and wept : and then God heard the voice of the
lad : and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and
God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, whereat she
filled the bottle, and gave the lad drink/' These things, com-
pared and laid together, afforded them matter of thankfulness to
God, for his providence, and of more comfort than any feast
could h-ave done : from thence they concluded, (as if the angel
had spoke to them as well as Hagar,) that they should not fear,
and that God, who had so wonderfully preserved the infant,
would in like manner preserve them all : which accordingly came
to pass ; for the next day they came to Virginia, where they all
found free, unexpected, and plentiful refreshing, even a table in
the wilderness 3 and within two or three days after, they came
safe to Dublin, their desired harbour. — Dr. Teate.
3. For teaching or tutoring of infants.
A child being very young, much affected his ancient and reve-
rend father with his reading of the bible, and with his questions
and answers : which drew from the father these very words, that
if the child but lived, he verily believed he would suck in learn-
ing as a child doth milk. This reminds me of what was said
of Origen, (in whom was certainly much of the angel's tutoring,)
that his father brought him up from his childhood most studi-
ously in all good literature, but especially in the reading and
exercise of the holy scripture, wherein he had such inward and
mystical speculation, that many times he would move questions
to . his father of the meaning of this place or that place in scrip-
ture ; insomuch, that his father divers times would uncover his
breast, being asleep, and kiss it, giving thanks to God, who had
made him so happy a father of such an happy child. This
Origen, being but yet a child, would needs have suffered mar-
tyrdom with his father Leonides, had not his mother privily in
the night-season conveyed away his clothes and his shirt ; where-
iipon more for shame to be seen, than for fear to die, he was
constrained to remain at home ; yet then he wrote a letter to his
father with these very words ; Cave tibi, ne quid propter nos
aliud quam Martyrii constanter faciendi propositum cogites,
Eusebius, 1. 6. c. 3.
In the primitive persecutions, we read of one Romanus, who
first being scourged with whips, with knobs of lead at the end,
instead of tears, sighs, and groans, he sung psalms all the time
of his whipping ; and after, his face being buffeted, his eyelids
torn Avith nails, his cheeks cut with knives, and his teeth struck
out, that his pronunciation at least might be impaired, whilst he
Communion with Angeh, 507
preached Christ ; he only said, I thank thee, O persecutor, that
thou hast opened to me many mouths, whereby I may preach my
Lord and Saviour : look how many wounds I have, so many
mouths I have to praise my God. But being reviled, that Christ,
his God, was but of yesterday, and that the gods of the Gentiles
were of great antiquity ; he made a long oration of the eternity of
Christ : which done, he said. Give me a child but of seven years
old, which age is free from malice and other vices, wherewith
riper age is commonly infected, and you shall hear what he will
say. His request was granted, a pretty boy was called out of the.
multitude, and set before him : Tell me, my babe (quoth the
martyr) whether thou think it reason that we worship one Christ,
and in Christ one Father, or else that we worship infinite gods ?
Unto whom the babe answered. That certainly whatsoever it be
that men affirm to be God, must needs be one ; which with one,
is one and the same ; and insomuch as this one is Christ, of ne-
cessity Christ must be the true God, for that there be many
Gods, we children cannot believe. And after this was the babe
martyred. — Fox's Martyrology.
Sect. IV. — Of the Duties that co7icern us in this respect,
2. For the several duties that concern us in this respect, they
are such as these : —
1 . Let us know our privileges, which God in Christ gave us
from our birth : The angels were appointed our guardians in the
womb, and they have guarded, preserved, and tutored us in our
infancy and childhood ; many a time were we in great danger of
fire, and water, and falls, and suffocations ; many a time have we
been in the extremity of sickness, and very near to death ; many
a lesson have we had taught us, and many a motion and holy
thought hath been suggested to us : — and is not all this worthy
our notice, knowledge, and understanding ? Did we but see little
children of poor men waited on by a guard of rich, noble, strong,
and valiant men ; would not all admire ? But if he knew this to
be our own condition, that when we were babes and sucklings,
and could not discern between our right hand and left, that we
had then a guard full of state and strength, even of angels them-
selves ; would not this fill us with the sense of the goodness of
God ? Certainly it concerns us to know thus much, that we may
better know the goodness of our God, in thus providing for us :
" The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear
him,^' saith David ; and then, " O come, and taste and see that
the Lord is good.*' God would not have his favours unregarded ;
for if we know them not, never shall we attain to conceive of God
himself, especially in his goodness, love, and mercy towards us.
But of these more particiUarly in another section.
508 Commnmon ivilh Angels.
2. Pause a while, and to everj^ particular ministration in our
infancy set we a Selah : this was the manner of David in his
psalms : when some especial thing worthy attention or observa-
tion was delivered, he added, Selah ; that, by a little stop or
pause of the breath, the matter, worth, or excellency of the thing
might be considered. Methinks it is sad that the angels should
do such excellent offices for us, as mothers, nurses, physicians,
tutors, and that either we should forget them, or not seriously
consider and pause vipon them ; in other things of lesser conse-
quence, we can speak with delight, — oliin meminisse juvahit : but
are not these passages of God's providence, whereof the angels
are especial instruments (as, to keep us from evil, to preserve us
in health, to teach us God's will in our infancy or childhood,) of
far more excellency, profit, and delight ? O then let us set a star
at the margin of such notes ; and whilst Ave either read or sing
them, let us stop awhile, that we may dwell upon them, and see
the want of them on all sides ; let us say with Jacob, when he
saw the ladder on which angels ascended and descended, '' Surely
the Lord (or the angel of the Lord) was in this place, (or in this
passage,) and 1 knew it not."
3. Bless we God for his free love to us in our first and ignorant
times : whilst we were infants, we could neither deserve nor de-
sire such a glorious guard, and yet even then had the angels a
charge to keep us from evil, to keep us in health, and to be our
tutors : O adorfi wp this frep grare ! Say we, as the sweet singer
of Israel ^^ O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all
the earth ! who hath set thy glory above the heavens : out of the
mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou founded praise.'^ Very
children themselves could sing Hosanna to Christ by the help of
angels, which occasioned him to cite this text, " Out of the
mouths of babes and sucklings has thou perfected praise."
Most rightly it is said, '' out of the mouths," because they speak
not from their own understanding ; but by his virtue, and minis-
tration of the angels, their tender tongues were led to speak those
words : how much more should we that are adult, and of capa-
city to understand our duty ; I say, how much more should we
praise him, by the help of angels, for the help and ministration of
his angels ! Come, and sing we an Hosanna to him, set we the
crown upon the head of free love, free grace : let us join with
angels to bless God for his angels, and for their ministration in
our infancy and tender years. Is there not cause, in regard of the
frceness of his love ? It was bestowed on man unmerited, un-
dcsired, and placed on him in infancy, yea, even in the dark
womb.
4. Live we up to the mercies we received when we discerned
little or nothing of them. If any friend do me a kindness
unknown to me, I shall take it kindly, and exceeding kindly,
when I know it ; and if, before, I was unable to requite it, yet
Communion with Angels, «509
when I am able^ I should think myself strongly engaged to
retaliate : surely thus it is with the people of God ; our friends,
the heavenly angels, waited on us in our infancy and childhood,
but we neither saw them, nor had them in our thoughts, notwith-
standing they went on in the discharge of their office, and
sometimes they were as nurses, otherwhiles as physicians, and
otherwhiles as tutors and schoolmasters to us : and now that we
know this, now that the light of the knowledge of the glory of
God, and of his angels, shines in our hearts, oh how should we
live up to these mercies ! how should we gratify the angels, who
have been thus to us, and have done all this for us ! The angel
that appeared to Gideon under an oak, was for the present
vmknown ; but when he had ^^ caused fire to rise up out of the
rock, and to consume the flesh, and the unclean cakes, then
Gideon perceived that he was an angel, and said, Alas, O Lord
God, for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face 1'*
Upon this, God was pleased to encourage him, saying. Peace be
unto thee, fear not, thou shalt not die. And then Gideon built
an altar there unto the Lord, and threw down the altar of Baal,
and cut down the grove by it; and afterwurds became a judge of
Israel till he died. Angels' presence and encouragements, once
discovered and made known, are enough, through the blessing of
God, to work in us a fear of God, and obedience to his laws.
^-V^A-WV^ vw« % ^ v«
CHAP. in.
Sect. I. — Of the Ministration of Angels in our riper Years.
The next period wherein the angels minister to heaven's
heirs, is, from their riper years unto their death. And in order
to this, we shall j&rst observe their ministration; and, secondly,
our duties.
I. For their ministration, I shall follow the same method as
before.
1. That it is so, the scriptures abundantly prove, Psa. 34. 8.
Psa. 91. 11, 12. Gen. 19. 15, 16. 2 Kings 6. 16, 17. If I may
give instances. Lot was led out of Sodom by an angel ; Daniel
was taught by an angel; CorneUus was answered by an angel;
an angel appeared to Joseph, Mary, Zachary, Peter, Paul, on
several errands. Scarce any remarkable thing befell the people
of God, but it was accomplished by the ministry of angels. But
what needs more ? *^ arc they not all mhiistering spirits, sent
forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
510 Communion with Angeh,
Sect. II. — Of the Kinds of Angel-ministration at that Time, as
to our Bodies,
2. For the kinds of their ministration^ it runs in several
streams : as^ first, to our bodies ; secondly, to our souls.
1st. For our bodies.
1 . They keep us from evil : so they did in our infancy ; but
now they do it with this limitation, " they keep us in all our
ways,^' (i. e.) in all those courses appointed us by God. The
devil left out that clause in the psalm, when he set Jesus Christ
on a pinnacle of the temple, and tempted him to cast himself
down ; he told him the promise, that the angels should keep
him ; but he omitted the main point, ^^ in all his ways.'' Certainly
there is some special treasure enclosed in this, or the'devil would
never have concealed it from our Saviour : then we may expect
angel-protection, when we are in the ways God hath appointed
us ; it was no way for Christ to cast himself down headlong from
the pinnacle, for the way lay down the stairs : if we keep not in
our ways, neither will the angels keep us from external evils :
the prophet that went out of his way, and beyond the bounds
appointed him by God, " a lion met him by the way, and slew
him.''
But do not many external evils befall God's people, even
walking in the ways and courses appointed them by God? 1
answer, —
It cannot be denied, but that sometimes such things do befall
the godly : Mephibosheth, a cliild of five years old, son to a good
father, and afterwards a good man himself, was lamed by a fall
from his flying nurse. Satan was permitted by God to destroy
the goods, children, and health of Job, thougTi by the Spirit of
God he was styled '^ a perfect and an upright man, and one that
feared God, and eschewed evil, and that there was none like him
in the earth." ' The Lord (say some) can countermand angelical
protection, and give instruction to those powers (in some cases,)
to suspend their attendance and care of us, yet the promise is not
null, and of none effect, for, —
^ 1 . Angelical attendance doth mitigate the evil, so that God's
people do not utterly miscarry; they may be " troubled on every
side, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; perse-
cuted, but not forsaken ; cast down, but not destroyed." Angels
are not always to keep us from, but sometimes in troubles ;
Christ could have prayed that many legions of angels should
have kept him from suffering, this he did not, yet the angels
ministered unto him in the wilderness, and in the garden, where
he sweat drops of blood.
^ 2. The promise of angel-protection (as all temporal promises)
runs with this tacit reservation and condition, always provided.
Communion with Angels. 511
that God in his infinite wisdom, for reasons best known to him-
self, do not judge the contrary more conducive to his glorj", and
our inward good : we know Job was afflicted, that he might be
tried, and the Lord doth sometimes suspend the protection of his
angels, that we may the more depend upon himself; as the nurse
gets behind the screen, that the infant may go into the mother's
arms without crying ; if the angels do not help us, it is that we
may call upon God for aid.'
2. They keep us in health ; so they did in our infancy, but
the promise runs without limitation to every age of our life;
^' Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and
from the noisome pestilence : — A thousand shall fall at thy side,
and ten thousand at thy right-hand, but it shall not come nigh
thee :'' and the reason follows, '^ for he shall give his angels
charge over thee." And the conclusion is this, " With long life
will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation." It is the opinion
of good divines, that good angels help to remove diseases, and
to conserve bodily health ; and, on the contrary, evil angels are
God's instruments of inflicting sore and grievous maladies. As
in the midst of his agonies, the Lord Jesus (saith one) was com-
forted and refreshed by an angel, Luke 22. 43. so are the angels
with the faithful, helping and easing them in their sickness. — For
my own part (saith another) I believe that God's works in the
world are usually by instruments, and not immediate ; and that
good angels are his instruments in conveying his mercies both to
soul and body, and that evil angels are instruments of inflicting
his judgments both corporal and spiritual. Hence God is said
to send his evil angels among the Israelites, Psa. 78. 49. Hence
Satan did execution on the children, cattle, and body of Job :
so then I judge that Satan is the instrument in our ordinary
diseases, &c. And I may add, on the same grounds, that the
angels are the instruments in continuing or restoring our bodily
health. — The ministry of angels (saith a third) is for the pro-
moting of our health ; I mean not only of the health of the soul,
but of our bodily health : no question but the devils, who are
our enemies, and continually stand about us, would quickly rush
upon our bodies, and either tear them, or aff'ect them with divers
maladies, but that the good angels do defend us by divine com-
mand. I cannot deny, but that sometimes God afflicts men by
the ministry of his holy and blessed angels ; for Sodom was de-
stroyed by the angels ; and Sennacherib's host was slain by the
angels ; and David saw the angel of the Lord, having a drawn
sword in his hand, and stretched out over Jerusalem ; and an
angel of the Lord smote Herod, and he was eaten of worms :
but this is not God's ordinary dispensation towards his saints.
Surely their ordinary employments, and wherein they delight, is
according to the promise, " He shall give his angels charge over
thee."
512 Communion with Angels,
3. They carefully furnish us with all other necessaries for this
life. Thus when the Israelites were in the wilderness, they were
provided for by the angels : '^ Man did eat angels' food, he
' sent them meat to the full;" or, as others translate, " Man did
eat the bread of the mighties, he sent them meat to satiety ;"' It
is all one; for what is the bread of the mighties, but the bread
of the angels, which are mighty in strength ? And manna is
called their bread, either because it came from heaven, the habi-
tation of the angels, or because it was excellent, so as the angels
(if they needed any food) might eat it ; or especially (as I think)
because God sent it by the ministry of- angels, they were the
purveyors of it for the Israelites. Thus when Elijah went into
the wilderness, and lay and slept under a juniper- tree, '' behold,
an angel touched him, and said unto him. Arise and eat : and he
looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a
cruse of water on his head ; and he did eat and drink, and laid
him down again. And the angel of the Lord came again the
second time, and touched him, and said. Arise, and eat/' The
same God that provided for him in the time of drought by the
ministry of ravens, now again fed him by the ministry of angels.
I know these provisions were miraculous ; but where no mira-
cles are, the angels have an hand even in ordinary provisions.
^^ The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear
him :" And what then ? ^' O fear the Lord, ye his saints, for there
is no want to them that fear hini; the young lions do lack, and
suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord shall not want any
good thing/' I know we see not the angels providing for us;
but what then ? Abraham's servants saw no angel going along
with him, and yet Abraham could say, " The Lord God of hea-
ven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land
of my kindred, he shall send his angel before thee:" The
Israelites saw no angel going along with them, and yet the Lord
could say, " I will send an angel before thee, and I will drive
out the Canaanites," &c. For my part, I see no angel removing
me from place to place, yet I am fully persuaded, that no minis-
ter of Christ removes his station, or goes to a people as their
pastor, but an angel of God, or the God of angels, doth so order
it : This is the office of angels (saith Zanchy) by a command of
God, to send the doctors of the church to such or such a people :
accordingly, it was an angel that appeared to Paul in a vision by
night, saying, " Come over to Macedonia, and help us."
Eusebius tells us a like story of Alexander bishop of Jerusalem,
that after his agonies, and constancy of confession, shewed in the
persecution of Severus, he was admonished by a vision in the
night-season to take his journey up to Jerusalem; and drawing
near to the city, a vision, with plain words, was given to certain
chief heads of Jerusalem to go out of the gates of the city, and
there to receive the bishop appointed them by God: And though
Cormhunion with Angels. 513
vision or i-evelation, I have none, yet (as the most revereiid doc-
tor said) since I am convinced that the unfelt hands of the angels
are in many occurrences of my life, I have learned so much wit
and grace, as rather to yield them too much, than too little stroke,
in ordering all my concernments for this life. It is true, their
appearings are ceased, but not their workings ; their converse is
not so sensible, yet it is as real as ever it was before.
Sect. III. — Of the Kinds of Angel-ministration at that time ^
as to our Souls.
2. For our souls : —
1. The angels declare to us what is the wiU and mind of God.
Thus Daniel being troubled with the visions of his head, he
went near unto one of the angels which stood by, and asked him
the truth and meaning of them. " So he told me, (saith Daniel,)
and made me know the interpretation of the things." And in
another vision, when Daniel sought the meaning : "Behold, there
stood before me (said he) as the appearance of a man; and I
heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called,
and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the \dsion." —
And he said unto me, Understand, O son of man. And at anctlier
time, the man Gabriel, whom he had seen in the vision at the
beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched him about the
time of the evening oblation, and informed him, and talked Avith
him, and said, '^ O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee
skill and understanding." Nothing is more usual in God's word,
than for angels to inform the saints what is the will and mind of
God ; the conception of Christ, and the birth of Christ, and the
death of Christ, and the resurrection of Christ, and the ascension
of Christ, and his return to judgment, were all told by the angels ;
only you may look upon these as extraordinaries, and that appa-
ritions of angels, and such teachings or enlightenings of our
understanding, in these days you cannot expect. All this I grant,
and yet withal I add, that if visibly they do not teach us, they
may do it invisibly ; yea, and I verily believe they do in ordinary
though invisibly, teach and instiiict all the people of God.
But how can that be, when they do neither speak to us, nor
reason wiih us, after the manner of men ?
I answer ; They have other ways of speaking, or of reasoning
with us : as, —
1 St. They understand us, though we neither speak to them, nor
reason with them : One of our light, in his Child of Light
walking in Darkness, tells us, that evil angels know much
within us, and to that purpose they have more advantages than
we men have to know one another by : for, —
1 . l^hose spirits can discern all coqioreal actions ; and though
the species, in them, and their manner of knowing corporeal
things, differ from ours, yet they are analogical with ours.
19. 3t
514 Communion with Angels,
2. They make it their business to study men, it is their trade
to go up and down, and consider men ; ^' Hast thou not con-
sidered (says God to Satan) my servant Job ? ''
3. They are and can be present at all our more retired actions ;
they are with us at bed and board, in all companies, and in all
solitary places.
4. By what they see outwardly of our actions, they may guess
at our inwards, which are as the principles of them.
5. They have an insight into the fancy, and the images
therein, which follow and imitate the inward thoughts of the
mind, as the shadow doth the body : in this respect they go into
a room further than we can go, yea, into a room next to the
privy chamber, which yet remains fast locked up unto them.
This last goes beyond all the former ; and yet (saith my author)
all divines grant, that the devils may know and discern our phan-
tasms intuitively, as we do things which are present before us.
6. As they may see into the fancy, so, if God permit, evil
aDgels may go into the head, and see those very images and
species in the fancy, that are for the present in direct conjunction
with the understanding, and which it is then thinking and musing
of. Indeed the immediate knowledge of our thoughts, and hearts,
and understandings, is proper only to God; '^I the Lord search
the heart, I try the reins ; " yet arguitive, and as they do transpire,
and appear in the images of the fancy, and so, quasi in aliis, and
mediately, they may be very far discerned and looked into by evil
angels ; and so by discerning those very phantasms which the
understanding actually at present vieweth, and maketh use of,
they may then judge what it is that the mind for the present is
musing on : all this is discussed at large concerning the evil
angels.
And if the evil angels may know thus much of what is within
us, do not the good angels know thus much ? The evil angels
have by their sin lost much of their knowledge, and therefore are
called darkness, and the power of darkness, because they are
exceedingly dark in themselves, and in comparison of the holy
angels ; but the good angels never sinned, and therefore never
were deprived of the least measure of knowledge conferred on
them. I must therefore conclude, that, without speaking to them
or reasoning with them after the manner of men, they understand
as well, (or wherein they do not, God is pleased often to discover
it to them by an especial dispensation of favour and grace,) as to
the angel in Daniel was revealed the mystery of the seventy
weeks.
2d. We may understand them, though they never speak to us,
or reason with us, and so we are capable of their teaching 3 you
will say, how may we do that ? I answer, —
1 . Observe we their work upon our fancies ; there they are busy
day and night, to set together the images for our understanding
Communxon with Angels, 515
of them : Look, as a coinpositor^ in printing, takes his letters
that lie confused afore him, and orders and sets them in words
and sentences, to represent to the reader's eye what he would
have read by him ; so do the angels set and compose the images
in our fancies, to represent to our understanding such things as
they would have us know : it is good therefore to observe their
work day and night, for they may work on our fancies in our
dreams.
2. Set we ourselves to think or muse upon those images set
together by them. Thus when the angel Gabriel saluted Mary,
it is said, that ^' she cast in her mind what manner of salutation
this should be." And after the angels had appeared to shepherds,
and that all wondered at those things which the shepherds told
them, it is said, that " Mary kept all those things, and pondered
them in her heart." Certainly it is our duty, when angels have
been communicating their minds to us, to ponder, and muse, and
meditate, and to cast in our mind what manner of communication
this should be.
3. Try we their work upon our fancies, whether it be agreeable
to the word of God : It were sad, if we should take that for the
speaking of angels, which is the very voice of devils ; now though
evil spirits can transform themselves into angels of light, yet they
may be discerned, if we will try their work by the word. The
good angels are distinguished from the bad, either by their appa-
ritions, or by their actions ; the former I omit, for the latter poet
gives them in thus ;
Who so will sift their actions, he shall find.
By their success, if well or ill inclin'd.
The one fiom other j for the blessed still
Square all their actions to th' Almighty's will.
And to man's profit :
The cacodaemons labour all they can
Against God's honour and the good of man.
Indeed, this is a sure and indubitable character; the good
angels never speak any thing contrary to the word, or, which is
all one, the good angels are employed in nothing save the honour
of God, and the profit and preservation of good men; but evil
spirits aim all their enterprises and endeavours to derogate from
God's worship, and to assume it to themselves, and by their
flattering deceptions and oily insinuations with man, to work the
utter subversion both of body and soul. It is good therefore to
try their works upon our fancies, and, if we find it agreeable to
God's word, or if it aim at God's honour and man's profit, we
may conclude, this was the speaking of an angel of God.
But methinks I hear some object, — You tell us of a work of
angels upon our fancies day and night ; and indeed in the night
we can more easily obberve some such like impressions or work
516 Communion with Aiigds,
upon us in our dreams : but are not these things spoken against ?
wds not this the way of false prophets, to observe their dreams,
and by them to delude the people, saying, " I have dreamed, I
have dreamed?" Jer.23. 25.
I answer —Such dreams as tend to the leading of men from the
holy word of God, to wicked doctrines or opinions, which are
painted over with the pretence or colour of revelations and divine
visions, when tiiey are indeed the mere delusions of Satan,
transforming- Ziimself into an angel of light, are not to be heeded,
but rejected; and such were the dreams of the false prophets,
tending to idolatry, against whom God spake ; " If there arise
among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee
a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder come to pass,
whereof he spoke unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods,
(whom thou hast not known,) and let us serve them ; thou shalt
not hearken to the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of
di-eams, for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether you
love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
sbul."
Yet this hinders not, but such dreams as come into us by God's
special and sometimes extraordinary work of providence, must
needs be directed unto some weighty and good end, as we must
conclude, if we either consider the hrst mover, which is God, or
the instruments, which are his holy angels : such dreams will
challenge our very serious consideration, and diligent care to take
notice of what they offer unto us, and the neglect or contempt
thereof cannot be committed without great impiety ; and there-
fore we have not only a warrant, but an unavoidable and invio-
lable obligation in point of duty, to take notice of such dreams,
and to make use of them according to their importance and pur-
pose : " \\\ a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep
falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed, then he openeth
the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction."
But because dreams are of several sorts, some proceeding only
from the constitution of the heavens, or from the disposition of
tlie air, or from previous cogitations, or from the temper of the
body, or from the affection of the mind, or from the procuration
of tlie devil, and only some few from the operation of good
angels ; it is therefore worthy our pains to know some such
marks or characters, whereby we may distinguish these last from
all others of the former dreams.
A learned writer, in his book of the Baptized Turk, hath laid
down these marks of tliose dreams procured by angels :
1 . When they move unto tliat which is truly and eminently
good, or from the contrary evil, and have nothing in them that
stands opposite to the tiiith or holiness of the word of God, or
sound reason, nor that addeth any thing to God's words, as a new
way of righteousness or salvation.
Communion with Angels. 517
2. When they are of a wise, sober^ just, and orderly frame
and composure, without any tincture of lightness, jingling, or
vanity in them.
3. When they come unto us, bemg in an holy temper and
disposition of spirit.
4. When they leave both an holy, and humble, and also a strong
and certain impression upon the mind, moving it not upon car-
nal, but spritual principles and motives ; to which we may add,
an holy clearness and consolation in the spirit, an increase of
vigour and readiness to godly obedience and hoUness.
5. When they agree with some work that God hath in hand,
and have something in them that seems to be above human in-
ventions, and have an excellent agreement in the several parts
thereof, presenting the same or several things.
6. When they come unsought and unexpected ; for if any man
doth purposely seek divination by dreams, composing himself
thereunto by superstitious rights or ceremonies, this were ex-
pressly against the word : '-' For thus saith the Lord of hosts,
the God of Israel, Let not your prophets and your diviners, that
be in the midst of you, deceive you ; neither hearken to your
dreams, which ye cause to be dreamed." — But enough of this
matter.
2. The angels persuade us to that which is good ; they do not
only declare to us what is God's will, but they advise us to it.
This is the ordinary office of blessed angels, to instil good mo-
tions, to suggest good thoughts, to admonish and persuade us
on all occasions to that which is good. As Satan is ever com-
passing the earth, seeking whom he may devour, here and there
laying his snares to catch poor souls in, tempting and enticing
them to all sorts of sin, as he espies occasion and opportunity
for it ;. so are the good angels ever and anon suggesting good
and pious thoughts ; they tacitly admonish our minds, and pro-
voke us to good duties of holiness and obedience ; this makes
some affirm, that whatsoever the evil angels can do in evil, the
elect angels can do in good : if the devils can suggest sin, surely
the angels of God are stronger and wiser than devils.
But how do the good angels suggest good ?
I answer, \. They inspire, inject, or cast into our minds, some
lioly motions : seldom passes the day over our heads, but we
may feel these injections — Come, this is the way, walk in it;
Strive to enter in at the strait gate, &c.
2. They provoke and stir us up with much impunity to this
or tliat duty ; " Ho every one that tlilrsteth, come ye to the
waters," &c. They know well enough our sluggish, dull, and
heavy dispositions, our spiritual laziness, and therefore they add
stirring, quickening, soul-enlivening expressions, or exclamations,
*'• Ho, come ye to the waters ; ' yea, they double it, or treble it,
^^ Come ye to the waters ; — Come ye, buy and cat \ — Come
518 Co7iwiunwn with Angels,
ye buy wine and milk without money and without price : *' ITiey
are not willing to give over^ till they have made us willing to
yield to their motions for our own salvation.
You may object^ Surely this is the genuine work of the Holy
Ghostj thus to inspire and provoke us to good. Very true, and
yet that hinders not but that the good angels may be instruments,
or agents : We say, the Holy Ghost is the prime Spirit, and yet
the angels are as ministering spirits ; the Holy Ghost is the foun-
tain, or head of water, but the angels are as cisterns and channels
of water ; it is the will of the Holy Ghost to employ the angels,
and to communicate himself to us by the ministry of angels, and
therefore the Holy Ghost and angels need not clash. Indeed,
motions, inspirations, and holy suggestions, are ever originally
and primarily for the Spirit of Christ ; and hence it is, that
commonly we put them all on that score, we give them all to
Christ's spirit ; yet I cannot forget the author's opinion I cited
before, that God's works in the world are usually by instruments,
and not immediate ; and that good angels are his instruments,
in conveying his mercies both to soul and body. Another speaks
as confidently every whit ; For my part, (with the good leave of
my learned and religious brethren, be it spoken,) I doubt not but
good angels suggest good counsels, tender holy motions, offer
pious thoughts, yea, refresh the often-parched spirits of gracious
men with inward joy. Shall the devil work in the children of
disobedience ? (Ephes. 2. 2.) enormously disquiet the affections,
(1 Sam. 16. 15.) yea, inject wicked thoughts into godly men with
success, (1 Chron. 21. 1.) and shall the good angels be excluded
from all actions and operations upon the inward senses of
men ? — I can never believe it.
3. The angels repel temptations, or prevent occasions of sin.
This was the meaning of Michael's contending with the devil
about the body of Moses. It was the devil's design to dis-
cover Moses' grave, and the archangel was ready to resist
him ! But why should the angel resist him ? To what end
was the dispute about the body of Moses ? Why might not
the body and burial-place of Moses have been discovered to all ?
Surely the angel would not have it known, lest the people should
have idolized and worshipped it in after times. The devil loves
idolatry ; and of all kinds of idolatry, the devil abuseth the world
most with idolatrous respects to the bodies and relics of dead
saints. Now, the archangel knew his design, and therefore he
would by no means have those burial-places known. Thus
Ainsworth paraphraseth on that text of Deuteronomy, " He
was buried in the valley of Moab, over against Beth-peor ; but
no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. The angel
would have no occasion of superstition or idolatry thereby : Oh
what ])lcssed steps have we for preventing of sin ! How busy
arc the angels in our behalf, (wlien we little think of it,) to repel
Communion with Ans^els. 519
(b'
temptations, and to prevent occasions of evil ? As our good en-
deavours are often hindered by Satan, — " I would have come to
you, even I Paul, once and again, but Satan hindered us ; '^ — so
are our evil actions hindered by the heavenly angels, else were
not our protection equal to our danger. A good angel opposed
Balaam in an evil way ; and if an heavenly spirit obstruct the
course of the evil, and stand in the way of a sorcerer's sin, how
much more ready are those spiritual powers to stop the spiritual
miscarriages of God's dearest children.
4. The angels quicken our dulness, encourage our weakness,
and comfort us in our sorrows : all these may be read together
in one chapter : " I was in a dead sleep (said Daniel) on my face,
and my face towards the ground, and behold an hand touched
me, which set me upon my knees, and upon the palms of my
hands ; and he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved,
understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright,
for unto thee am I now sent : and when he had spoken this word
unto me, I stood trembling ; then said he unto me. Fear not,
Daniel. — And there came again, and touched me one like the
appearance of a man ; and he strengthened me, and said, O man
greatly beloved, fear not, peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be
strong ; and when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened,
and said, Let my Lord speak, for thou hast strengthened me."
In like manner we find an angel quickening, encouraging, and
strengthening Elijah to his work, 2 Kings 1. 3, 15. and Isaiah to
his work, Isa. 6. 6, 'J , and Paul to his work. Acts 27. 23, 24.
But especially in the sufferings of his saints, how usual was it
with God to send down his angels for their comforters ! When
Christ was in his agony, " there appeared an angel unto him
from heaven, strengthening him." When Peter was in prison,
" behold the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined
in the prison." When Paul was in his dangerous voyage,
^^ there stood by him that night the angel of God, whose he was,
and whom he served, saying. Fear not, Paul," Acts 27. 23. In
the succeeding times of the church, how frequently did the angels
appear to blessed martyrs for their comfort and encouragement !
Thus Theodorus saw and felt the refreshing hand of an angel :
thus Theophilah, Agnes, Lucia, Cecilia, and others, saw the
good angels as their comforters, and protectors of their chastity.
And although they do not appear to us now in bodily shapes, as
in those times, yet the same offices are performed by them in
their spiritual and mysterious waj's ; now they quicken our dul-
ness, encourage our weakness, and comfort us in heaviness.
Sect. IV. — Whether the Angels contribute any thing to onr
Conversion.
Before I pass this, I would propound a question or two :
as, —
520 Communion with Angels.
1 . Whether the angels contribute any thing to our conversion ?
We have heard at large, that devils do what they can to hinder
our conversion : and are the angels less active to good, than they
are to evil ? I cannot think it. We may be sure, that as the bad
angels Ao bad offices, so the good angels are in their way prompt
and ready to do all the good offices they can, as to our good ;
and my reason is, their will is conformed to the -will of God,
" They do his commandtnents, they hearken to the voice of his
word.'' Whatsoever God wills, they will: now God wills the
conversion of sinners ; " As I live, 1 desire not the death of a
sinner, but rather that he should repent and live;" and therefore
they will it, and, as they will it, so they reduce that will into
several acts, or else it were in vain. But what those acts are
may be another question.
Sect. V. — Wherein do the Angels contribute to 07ir Conversion.,
The several acts of angels as to our conversion, are such as
these: —
1. They inform our judgments : we have heard before, how
they invisi])ly teach us, instruct us, enlighten us, and herein do
they contribute to our conversion : for Vv^hat is the first work of
conversion, but illumination ? As hi the f^rst creation, the first-
born of God's works was light, '^ God said, let there be light,
and there was light :" so, in the new creation, the first work is
light;" *^ God, who commanded the light to shine out of dark-
ness, hath shined into our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Hence the state
of nature is called darkness, and the state of grace is called light;
"Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord;"
and, ^'He hath called yoxx out of darkness into his marvellous
light." Now, if in this w^ork the angels are assistant, they must
needs contribute to our conversion in the first work of it, which
is illumination.
2. They move our will : This is that we said before, that the
good angels persuade us to that which is good, they instil good
motions, they suggest good thoughts, they provide us to duties
of holiness and obedience, and especially to this main work of
conversion and regeneration ; well they know, that without this,
all is nothing ; " Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God." And their desires are strong, that the places
made void in heaven by the falling angels, should be supplied by
men and women ; and therefore they do what they can to move
and persuade us to a change. I know they cannot efficiently
move or turn the will ; we leave to Christ and his Spirit tlie
efficacy and blessing of all; they only move, and persuade, and
make use of arguments, to do this or that, but the holy Spirit
makes effectual, and gives the issue to what they move. If you
Communion with Angels. 521
*ay. What needs this ministration^ for Christ can move or per-
suade without them ? I may as well ask, What need ministers,
preaching, sacraments ? It is enough to silence and stop our
mouths, when we hear that these are God's ways of administra-
tion, these are God's ordinances, of which the anp^els are a great
part ; and according to the good pleasure of God, they act, and
stir, and move, and persuade us to conversion.
3. They work on our affections, endeavouring to settle them,
and keep them on right ol)jects : It is true, they cannot turn the
stream and current of our affections back, (God only can turn this
Jordan back,) but they can drive them faster, and cause them to
swell above their natural channels ; it is the spirit of bondage
which worketh fear, but when fear is wrought, they can blow it
up, and intend it more, as the Spirit's instruments. Sometimes
you have heard how evil angels could work further and deeper
fears than the Holy Ghost by himself intended ; and cannot the
good angels do regularly, what the evil angels can do irregularly?
If the evil angels cannot only propound such objects as shall
move us to fear, bvit also can stir up such humours in the body,
which such a passion doth act and stir in : — E.i\ gr. If they can
electively work upon melancholy, so as to put a man into a
timorous and trembhng disposition ; how much more can the
good angels propound objects, and stir up humours, and so work
on the affections, whether of fear, or hope, or sorrow, or joy, or
love, or hatred ?
4. They repel temptations. You have heard abundantly how
the soul is haunted with several temptations ; when the work of
conversion is passing upon it, then is Satan busy, by way of
revenge, for the soul's revolt from him ; but are not the good
angels as busy as Satan ? and if they resist him, what can all the
troops of hell'hurt us ? We know the good angels have as much
advantage of their strength over Satan, as they have of their
station ; how then should that evil one stand in the encounter ?
or what need we fear in so mighty and sure hands ? He that
passeth with a strong convoy through a wild and perilous desert,
scorns the dangers of wild beasts or robbers, no less than if he
were in a strong tower at home; so may we the onsets of the
powers of darkness, whilst we are guarded by the angels, who
both defend us, and resist Satan in all his fiery darts.
5. The joy in the conversion of sinners, so that heaven rings
Mith the joy': " Likewise I say unto you, (saith Christ,) there is
joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that
repenteth." What manner of joy this is, is unknown to us, and
so shall be, until that time, that time shall be no more ; only this
we believe for the present, that the conversion of sinners is the
jubilation of angels ; and this, I take it, is the plain sense or
meaning of Christ's words, that when they see the ranks and
files of lapsed angels filled with new recruits, men and womenj
1Q ,^ r
522 Communion with Angels.
penitent for their sins, this is matter of joy, of ecstatical joy, to
the holy angels of God.
Sect. VI. Experiences of this Truth, as to our outivardMan.
For some experience of this blessed truth,, in respect of our
bodies : —
1 . They keep us from evil.
One going seasonably to bed, about midnight he awoke, and
could not sleep; there upon he awaked his wife, and talking with
her, suddenly he espied a light in his chamber, which came
through a box-hole ; he demanded of her what that light was ;
she opened her eyes, but could not tell ; anon she arose out of
bed, and looking through the box-hole, (which by a gracious
Providence was that night open, though usually shut,) she espied
a fire kindled on some wood in the house, which quickly would
have set all in a flame, that no way they could have escaped with
life : but they both hastened out of their chamber, and, coming
into the house, they timously quench the fire, and admiring at
God's providence in each circumstance, they returned in safety
to bed, and found that rest and sleep after, which before they
could not obtain.
The same person riding over a deep water, his horse in the
midst ot the stream laid him down under him : thus man and
horse both plunged in ; the man with much ado having recovered
himself, and getting through, he rode home wet and cold, which
cast him into a fever ; yet in time he recovered, and blessed that
God, who, by the ministry of his angels, delivered him from the
danger both of fire and water.
The same person being at home, a daughter came to visit him,
who one evening was very importunate to go more early than
ordinarily they used to bed ; her importunity so far prevailed,
that presently they went to prayers, and commending themselves
to God for his custody, all in the family made up the stairs to
their several lodgings : no sooner were they dropped asleep, but
presently a noise, like thunder, awaked them all ; he wondered,
and asked his wife if she heard the thunder; who answered, that
she being last in bed, was scarcely asleep, but could not tell
whether it was a clap of thunder, or a fall of some part of the
house ; and rising out of bed to go to the chamber were their
daughter and a servant maid lay in two beds ; at the entrance into
the chamber, the daughter cried. Stay, mother, or you endanger
your life, for I believe the chamber floor, and chamber adjoining,
is fallen down. By that caution she trembling stayed her foot,
and drew back to tell her husband the news ; lie desired her to
go down stairs into the house, light a candle, and to see the
matter ; but endeavouring to open the door below into the house,
the passage was stopped with the floor of the chambers fallen
Communion with Angels, 523
down : their daughter, that lay in one of the two chambers, seated
over the house, cried, that her bed cracked, and she was afraid
to he in it ; thereupon they advised her to hasten out of it, and
with the maid to creep into a corner of the chamber which was
more secure. In the mean time, a cry or call was made through
a casement for some neighbour's help ; by this means a candle
was brought, but no passage being possible through the doors,
the stanchion of a casement was cut, and one came in at the
window with his Hght ; then it was seen how two chambers over
the house wTre suddenly fallen, with all the weight of wood, and
clay, and furniture above, and that nothing remained unfallen,
but a little room of one chamber, where the two beds stood,
wherein the two women lay. At first view they all stood amazed,
but recollecting themselves, the two women were by a ladder
safely brought down from the corner of the fallen chamber, and
being brought into another chamber, they took their rest till the
morning. At day-light they saw their wonderful preservation ;
and, viemng the circumstances, it appeared : 1. If that night all
had not gone to bed before their ordinary time, they had been all
sitting in the house, which then would have fallen upon them,
and have slain them all. 2. If his wife had not then stayed her
step, wlien the daughter cried, Stay mother, she had fallen down
into the nether room amongst rubbish, and probably had lost her
life. 3. If those two beds had not stood, wherein the two women
lay, when all besides fell with one crash, they had both perished,
especially the daughter, who was in the first stage of her preg-
nancy. In every circumstance appeared the finger of God, and
the promise was minded, " He shall give his angels charge over
tl.ee, to keep thee in all thy ways ; they shall bear thee up in
their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."
Simon Grinseus, a learned and holy man, coming from Heidel-
burgh to Spires, was desirous to hear a certain preacher in that
city, who in his sermon did then let fall some erroneous propo-
sitions of popish doctrine ; wherewith Grinffius, not being a little
offended, craved speedy conference with the preacher, and,
layhig before him the falsehood and danger of his doctrines, ex-
horted him to an abandoning and retraction of those misopinionsj
the preacher gave good words and fair semblances to Grineeus,
desiring farther and more particular conference with him, and
each imparted to other their names and lodgings 5 yet inwardly,
as being stung with that just reproof, he resolved a revenge, by
procuring the imprisonment, and, if he might, the death of so
sharp a censurer. Grinaeus, misdoubting nothing, upon his
return to his lodgings, reports the passages of the late confer-
ence to those who sat at the table \vith him, amongst whom
Melancthon being one, he was called out of the room to speak
with a stranger, newly come into the house : going forth accord-
ingly, he finds a grave old man, of a goodly countenance, seemly
524 Co7)wiU7iion with Angels,
and richly attired, who in a friendly and grave manner tells him,
that AV'ithin o\\^ hour there would come to their inn certain
officers as from the king of the Romans, to attach Grinaeus, and
so carry him to prison ; willing him to charge Grin^eus, with all
possihle speed, to flee out of Spires, and requiring Melancthon
to see that this advantage were not neglected ; which said, the
old man vanished out of his sight. Instantly Melancthon, return-
iiio- to his companions, recounted unto them the words of this
stran"-e monitor, and hastened the departure of Grinaeus accord-
ino-lv, who had no sooner hoated himself on the Rhine, than he
was'eao-erly sought for at his said lodgings. Of this, Melancthon,
in his commentary on Daniel, writes, and acknowledges God's
fatherly providence in sending this angel of his for the rescue of
his faithful servant.
John Spangenberge, pastor of Northense, was no sooner stept
out of his house, with his family, to go to the bains, but the
house fell right down in the place. — Our own experience at home
is able to furnish us with divers such instances : If a man by some
strong instinct be warned to change that lodging, which he con-
stantly held for some years, and finds his wonted sleeping place
that night crushed with the unexpected fall of an unsuspected
contiguation ; to what cause can we attribute this, but to our
iittending angels ? — Or, have we been preserved from mortal
dangers, which we could not tell how by our providence to have
evaded ? Our invisible guardians have done it.
In the true portraiture of his sacred majesty Charles the
Second, it appears, that by God this king reigns, in that he hath
exercised those providences over him, that are hardly exercised
over ten thousands of us ; that star in the east, at his highness's
l)ii-th, speaks much this way : the powers in heaven, that so
watchfully guarded him through those sad days, wherein thou-
sands fell at his right-hand and ten thousands at his left, aimed
at some great prize : his royal life (the care of angels) must not
go out privately, and be lost unprofitably in a corner. Oh how
the angels forbade those millions of profane hands, that would
rudely have touched the Lord's anointed! His escape at Wor-
cester was almost miraculous : he sought his way all along five
miles from Worcester ; then he turned to the less-frequented
ways that could be, until he came to the borders of Staffordshire;
then he removed to an adjoining wood, where he, and one only
with him, walked securely awhile, until they found an oak for
majest}', in tlic hollow of which he lodged himself for three days
and nights, until my Lord Wilmot providing for his majesty a safe
lodging, and then seeking him in the wood, with much ado found
his sacred person guarded, and (as I may say) fed by angels.
2. They keep us in, or restore us to health.
One going to London, inned and lodged all night at the
Maiden-head in Cateaton- street^ where the same night died a
Communion with Angels. 525
young ^vife of the pestilence ; as another had died before^ the
sickness and death of the pai'ties bemg concealed : he arose in
the morning, and took some repast, and went about his occa-
sions ; but at his return in the afternoon, as he was going into
the inn, a friend called him back, and told him the truth ; in the
midst of the discourse, he saw the gates shut before his eyes, and
presently was written upon them, Ijord, have mercy upon us.
This hath minded him of God's providence and promise, "Surely
he shall deliver thee from the noisome pestilence, for he shall
give his angels charge over thee/'
John Trelille, a poor cripple in Cornwall, that for sixteen years
together was fain to walk upon his hands, by reason of the close
contraction of the sinews of his legs ; upon three monitions
in his dream, to wash in a well called Maderness, was suddenly
so restored to his limbs, that I saw him (saith my author) able
both to walk, and to get his own maintenance. — Marcus Aure-
lius Antonius, in his dream received the prescript of a remedy
of his disease, which the physicians could not cure : whence
came this, but by the suggestion of angels? Have we been
raised up from deadly sickness, wlien all natural helps have
given us up? God's angels have been our secret physicians. —
Bishop Hall.
3. They furnish us with all necessaries for this life.
Mr. Samuel, a godly minister in Queen Mary's days, Avas con-
vented before Bishop Bonner, who committed him to prison, and
there chained him up to a post, in such sort, that standing on tip-
toes he w^as fain to bear up all the weight of his body in that
manner, to his intolerable pain ; besides, he allowed him but
three morsels of bread tind three spoonfuls of vi^ater a daj-, so
that he was extremely tormented with hunger and thirst, and had
his body so miserably dried up, that he would fain have drunk
his own water, but he could not make one drop. But after he
had continued in this miserable case three days, he fell asleep,
and one clad all in white seemed to stand before him, telling
him, that from henceforth he should neither hunger nor thirst
any more ; which also came to pass, though he was not burnt
till many days after. — White's Poiver of Godliness.
A doctor of divinity, of singular learning and piety, sent his
maid to the market, to get provision for the following week. But
all the money he and his wife could make, was but five shillings;
his wdfe fell a weeping, and told her husband, that there was little
likelihood they could live together, and that therefore she would
take one or two of her children with her, and live among her
friends, if he could provide for himself and the rest of his chil-
dren. Nay, dear wife, said he, we have lived thus long together,
let us not now part, let us rely on God's providence. She in her
grief and haste answered. Well, send Providence to market, and
see what it will bring home. It was so that day, that a nobleman.
5^^ Communion with Angels.
who knew this doctor very well, dining with divers gentlemen at
an inn looking out of the window, saw the doctor's maid, whom^
iDeino- in ancient servant, he knew, sent for her up, asking her
howlier master did? she answered, Very^vell, and fell a weep-
inff ; he inquiring the cause, she told him what straits they were
brougiit to ; he, wondering, and being troubled at it, called the
innkeeper, and wished him to give that maid ten pounds, and
e\'eiy one of the gentlemen gave twenty shillings apiece. So the
doctor, sending Providence (of which the angels are servants and
instruments) to market, it brought him home fifteen pounds.
Doubtless it is because we do not trust, not because God either
cannot or will not give, that makes us so often want mercies ;
and such providences would be usual, if our confidence in God
were but so. — Idem ibidem.
There was a certain poor family, who being in great want, and
having little or nothing for the' children in it ; when dinner
came,^they put them off with playthings, and told them they
would see if they could get them something for supper ; and
when supper came, they would give some small piece of bread,
and so get them to bed : and thus they used them so long, while
at last the children would not go to bed, but cried for bread.
That night it was so, that the Lord Faulkland, waking before
midnight, could not sleep ; and then it came into his mind that
this family was in great want, insomuch that he called up some
of his servants, and sent them with a great loaf and a cheese to
the house ; when they came, they found the children crying for
bread, and the parents weeping by tli em, who with a great deal
of joy and eagerness received that unexpected provision. Thus
the Lord ordered it by his providence, that they were not only
then reheved, but their necessities being related to the Lord
Faulkland, he took care of them for the future. — Idem ibidem.
Luther hath this story : A certain woman, in the time of fa-
mine, having nothing at all for her children and herself to eat,
being brought to very gi'eat extremity, she resolved upon this
course ; she made herself and all her children ready, and with a
great deal of comfort and confidence she walked to a spring, not
far from her house : as she was going, one met her, who asked
lier whither was she going with her children ; she told him, that
all her provision was quite spent, and she was going with her
children to such a fountain close by, being confident that God,
that had provided drink for her and her children, would there
provide food for them also ; and he that heard the young ravens,
and provided for them, would much more take care of her, and
her little ones : he that met her, wished her to return home, for
she should meet with provision that was ready for her there : she
returned, and found a considerable quantity of meal, which was
food for her and her children ; but whence this provision came,
bhe knew not, nor knew the man who told her of it.
Communion with Angels. 527
Sect. IV. — Experiences of this Truthy as to our Inward Man,
3. For some experiences of this blessed truth, in respect of
our souls : —
1 . They declare to us God's will ; of old they did so to Abra-
ham, Lot, Moses, Jacob, Manoah, Gideon, David, Elijah, Elisha,
Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zachary : and in the New Testament they
did so to Joseph, Mary, Zachariah, the shepherds, Mary Magda-
len, Peter, Philip, Cornelius, Paul, John the evangelist, and to all
the apostles. At this time they do not invisibly declare God's
will, nor must we trust to visions or revelations ; yet many times
they teach us by dreams, and many times they coin impressions
on our fancy and imaginations whilst we are waking : they can
make rare and wonderful compositions of what they find in us :
so that to me, here is the difference between the converse of men
and angels ; men can speak to the understanding by the media-
tion of our external senses, but the angels go a nearer way to
work, and speak first of all to the internal senses, making
such compositions there as the understanding presently takes
off, and reads what is written : Do we not, waking and sleeping,
see impressions in our fancy, of things that we thought we had
forgotten ? This is done by the angels.
One being a long while trained up in ceremonies, notionals,
fables, unprofitable matter, rather than sound and saving know-
ledge, which is in faith ; at last, conversing with some godly
men, and with practical books, he found some impressions in his-
fancy of another kind of divinity, and so inclined, that divinity
was rather practical than speculative ; and that such kind of
preaching as was usually delivered in an affected spruceness of
language, and vain-glorious trimness of the windy and dead let-
ter, would never save souls. These impressions were more and
more fixed in him, and at last he was satisfied, that many poor
illiterate souls, that felt the power of godliness on their own
hearts, had more true knowledge of divinity, than many learned
doctors and rabbles, that had nothing but orthodoxy, or a swim-
ming knowledge of truth ; and that many unlearned snatched
heaven, and took it by violence, while many learned with their
learning perished, and went down to hell. The efficacy of this
light he gives to the Spirit, but the instrumentality of it, as
working upon the fancy or imagination, he ascribes to the angels.
A godly woman, falling into great dissertions, at last the Lord
in secret prayer came in with abundance of light and comfort ;
but within a month after, she being to receive the Lord's supper,
all her former tears and troubles returned upon her, insomuch, that
a little before the bread was administered to her, though she could
not say that the devil appeared to her in a bodily shape, yet he
seemed to her as if he did, and told her, that she should not eat ;
528 Communion with Angels.
but then tlie Lortl was pleased to bring into her mind that pas-
saj,re in the Canticles, " Eat, O my friends : " Notwithstanding,
SaUm still continued terrifying of her, and when she had eaten,
told her, she should not drink ; but the Lord brought that second
clause of tlie verse into lier mind, " Drink, yea drink abundantly,
mv beloved;" and so she drank also^ and presently was filled
wftli such unspeakable joys, that she knew not how she got
home ; which soul-ravishing joys continued for a fortnight after,
and filled her mouth with songs of praise, so that she could
neither sleep, nor eat, more than she forced herself to do out of
con.science of duty. — JVhiie.
2. They advise us to that which is good.
The light being presented to one, as before, many blessed mo-
tions came in, to make the beginning of saving practical truth ;
and this he understood was the doctrine of regeneration; and
therefore, if ever he would be happy, he must have some feeling
of that. Many objections were raised, that the wind bloweth
Adhere it listeth ; and we are not sufficient of ourselves to think ;
and it is not of him that willeth_, nor of him that runneth, &c.
I'he objections are not formally now remembered : but notwith-
standing them, the motions to fall on the work continued fresh,
and finding them daily upon his spirit, at last he submitted
willingly to those inspirations, and every day set some time apart
to be in the duty ; it proved tedious and difficult at first, but
afterwards sin appeared very sinful, and the Spirit set it home on
his soul, and by degrees successively he was led from a sense of
misery, to some hope of mercy in Christ : and before he had
done, (though many a day it continued,) the holy Spirit infused
faith, whereby he closed with Jesus Christ, as Saviour, and as
Lord, and King, and Husband. This work, begun by the angels
by instilling good motions, was the joy of angels, when it was
perfected: " There is joy in the presence of the angels of God
<3ver one sinner that repenteth.''
One, about the time of Reformation of religion, desired much
of God the guidance and assistance of an angel ; and from the
thirty-seventh year of his age he had sensible manifestations of a
-spirit that assisted him, and followed him till his death. In his
<3 reams or visions, he was sometimes admonished of this or that
vice, and sometimes advertised of this or that danger^ and some-
times resolved of this or that doubt, and sometimes persuaded
to this or that duty : Once I heard a voice from heaven, saying,
* 1 will save thy soul.' Usually in the morning, about the fourth
hour, the angel would have beat at his door to have awaked him,
and if he had done any good or evil, he would have manifested
the approval or disapproval of it by some sign : if hi company
he had spoken any unwary words, he was sure to be advertised
and reproved of it by a dream in the night following : if he ha,fl
read any book that was not good, the angel would have struck
Communiofi with Ant^els. 529
<b
Upon the book, to have caused him to have left it, and laid it
aside : Often would the angel have provoked him to prayer, and
alms-deeds, and other duties. Bodinus asking him, whether ever
he had seen the form of this angel ? He answered, that he never
saw any thing, but only a bright and shining light in a round
orb ; and once after prayer upon his bed, that he saw a sweet boy,
in v/hite apparel, of admirable beauty. — Bodinus de Magorum
demonomania.
3. They repeal temptations, or prevent occasions of sin.
One having many temptations offered him, especially in his
dreams in the night, he observed, that at the same times such
thoughts have come in, that in those very dreams he confidently
cried — Avoid, Satan ; and again. Avoid, Satan ; for it is written,
" Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt
thou serve ; '' which he believes were put in by the angels.
One Natalius, that had formerly suffered great persecutions
for the cause of Christ, was seduced by Asclepiodotus and
Theodorus, two sectaries, to be the bishop of their sect, pro-
mising to pay him an hundred and fifty crowns of silver every
month, and so he joined himself to them; but the Lord in mercy
not intending to lose him that had suffered so much for his sake,
admonished him by a vision, to adjoin himself to the true church
again ; which the good man for the present, blinded with lucre
and honour, did not regard as he ought to have done. The night
after he was scourged by angels, whereupon, in the morning,
putting on sackcloth, with much weeping and lamentation, he
went to the Christian congregation, praying them, for the
tender mercies of Christ, that he might be received into their
communion again ; which request was accordingly granted unto
him. — Clarke's General Martyrology,
Cyprian relates a story of one of his fellow-ministers, who in
the midst of his torments began to faint, being greatly afraid of
death, and desired to be released ; at which time there appeared
to him a young man of admirable beauty, and so bright, that
man's mortal eye could scarce endure to behold him ; who angrily
said to him,Pa^t timetis,exire non vultis,quidfaciamvobis? ^To
suffer you dare not, to go out you will not, what shall Ida with
you f ' — Idem. ibid.
4. They quicken, encourage, and comfort us,
A certain godly woman riding behind her husband, who was a
persecutor of Mr. Bolton, as they were riding, it thundered and
lightned extraordinarily, so that he trembled exceedingly : his
wife with a cheerful voice said. Husband, what ails you ? why do
you tremble thus ? He answered. Do you not hear how terribly
it thunders ? She answered. Yes, I hear it. And, said he, do
you not tremble also ? She answered. No, she was not at all
afraid, for she knew it was but the voice of her Father. He was
amazed at her cheerfulness and answer, and began to think with
10. 3x
530 Communion with Angels,
himself, Surely the^e Puritans have something within them, that
thev are able to bear up in such storms ; and that they have
peace, and are cheerful, while I tremble. And being not far off,
immediately he did ride to Master Bolton, beseeching pardon
that he had persecuted him, and desired that he would tell him
what he should do to be saved.
Thomas Ward, of Tiso, in Warwickshire, was all his younger
days very loose and dissolute, an enemy to goodness, and an
hater of good men ; but it pleased God at last to convert him,
after a strange and wonderful manner, which was thus: In a
morning, as he lay in his bed, plotting and contriving how to
molest and persecute some of his godly neighbours, there
appeared a vision to him, of a city, wherein there were many poor
ragged lambs in the streets, and a man driving of them ; and he
heard a voice saying to him. What are these ? To which he
anwered, Sheep. Then said the voice again. These are my
sheep whom thou persecutest. Presently after he saw another
vision, of a pile of fagots, and heard the voice, saying, What
are these ? He answered. Fagots : Then said the voice. As these
are bound up for the fire, so thou deservest to be bound hand
and foot, and cast into everlasting iire. He answered. Truth,
Lord ; yet ^\ithal he cried earnestly to the Lord for mercy : and
presently after he saw in another vision a pillar of brass, but so
])right and glorious, that he was not able to look upon it : then
said the voice. Be of good comfort, for thou art a chosen vessel,
which shall suffer many things for my name's sake. To which
he said. Lord, if it be thy will, let it be now : and presently he
had a blow given him on his side, as with a dagger, the mark
%vhereof he carried with him to his grave. After this, it pleased
God to raise him up with comfort, and he became an eminent
professor, and was very zealous for the truth. — White,
A little before the eighth persecution began, God by a vision
revealed it to Cyprian, saying to him. Be quiet, and of good
comfort, for peace will come, albeit a little stay there is for a
while, for that some remain yet to be proved and tried. —
Clarke,
Theodorus, for singing a psalm at the removing of the body
of Babilas, being apprehended, was examined Avith exquisite
torments, and so cruelly excruciated from morning till almost
noon, that hardly he escaped with life ; and being afterwards
itfeked by his friends, how he could endure such extreme tor-
inents, said. That at first he felt some pain, but afterwards there
stood by him a young man, who as he was sweating with the
pain, wiped away his sweat, and oft-times so refreshed him with
cold water, wherewith ho Was so delighted, than when he was
let down from the engine, it grieved him more than before. —
Chirlit.
Whilst Aiigtistine Was yet a Manichee, his mother Monica had
Conimunion with Angela , 531
a dream, that she was standing upon a wooden rule, and being
very sad, saw a glorious young man very joyful, and of a cheerful
countenance coming unto her, and that he asked her the cause
of her sadness ; and when she had declared that it was by reason
of sorrow that she had for her son, who was then in the way of
destruction, he bid her be of good cheer, and wished her to mark
and observe, and that she shoidd see her son to be with her
where she was ; and so she saw her son, standing with her upon
the same rule. — August. Confess. 1 . 3.
Sect. VIII. — Experiences of this Truth, as to Conversion.
For some experiences of the angels contributing to our con-
version :
On a time, Augustine being in great heaviness, and deep con-
trition of heart, cried out. Oh ! what is this ? what suffer I under
the tyranny of sin ? Unlearned men take heaven by violence,
and we, with all our learning, lie grovelling in flesh and blood.
After this he had a great conflict, for all his past pleasures repre-
sented themselves before his eyes, saying. What, wilt thou depart
from us, and shall we be no more with thee for ever ? And then
a marvellous tempest of weeping came upon him, so that he cast
hmiself on the ground under a fig-tree, and gave full scope to his
eyes, which brought forth presently whole floods of tears ; and
then, behold, he heard a voice, as if it had been of a boy or maid
singing, and saying, Tolle Sf lege, tolle Sf lege ; ' Take up and
read, take up and read ; ' Wherefore repressing the force of l)\s
tears, interpreting that this voice came from heaven, and was
spoken by angels, he took up the book of Paul's epistles which
he had with him, with a purpose to read the first chapter that h^
should find, and opening it, his eye fixed on these words, " The
night is spent, the day is at hand, let us therefore cast off the
works of darkness, and let us put on the iu'mour of light ; let us
walk honestly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not
in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but put
ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, &c." iVnd by this means he was
converted. — Aug. I. 8. Co7if. c. 12.
A woman telling me of her great trouble and grief, and of her
long continuance in the pangs of the new birth, she said, that she
heard at last a voice, plainly and distinctly saying to her, as she
was bewailing her sins. If thou wilt forget, I will forget ; If thou
wilt forget, I will forget.
A man labouring in the pangs of liis new birth, heg^n to 4e-
spair of salvation, ai>4 at last concluded he s1k)uV1 be dai)H;edj
wliereupon plotti^)g and coiitrivii^g wl?i^t >vi\s biest to do, he I'/e-
t>Qlv.cd to.iuail>e ^\\Wyi>yith l^^iu^fc^^^^^ u^ijl not,.tf> liic any Ippge-r;
for these reasons; 1 . because >^'q^qiKTiv.e^,.,tlieJo^>ger he Jived.?
o32 Coinnmnwn with ^^^ngcls.
the more and greater would be his sin ; and, 2. the more would
God by his sin be dishonoured ; and;, 3. the more and greater
would his torment proportionably to his sin be in the fire of hell :
And even now going to the place where he had appointed the
execution and self-murder, there suddenly came into his mind
(as if a dart of light had been injected) this very word, Who
knows ? on which pondering and ruminating, he asked himself.
Who knows what ? and presently was thrown in (as he conceived)
the end of the sentence. Who knows what is God's decree or
mind concerning me ? neither angels, devils, nor men. On
which words pausing and considering awhile, he reasoned thus
with himself. If I know not God's mind, it may be 1 shall be
saved. Upon this he staid his purpose, put on by Satan, and
probably prevented by an angel, and so went to prayer ; and
within three days after he received comfort.
Sect. IX. — Of the Duties that concern us in this respect,
1 . In all dangers let us stir up faith, and exercise it on the
promises of angel-protection : Art thou a soldier ? do violence
to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with thy
wages ; march, charge, retreat, do dut)^ according to command ;
God shall cover thy head in the day of battle, for thou art in thy
ways : but if thou invadest the ministerial office, presuming to
preach, who never was sent ; look to thyself, thou canst not
without usurpation pretend to God's keeping, for thou art out
of all thy ways : Nor do I fear the frowns of any if offended
hereat, and reproving me for giving this just reproof ; I am sure
I am in my calling, in my ways ; and therefore with comfort and
confidence may rely on God, and his angels' protection ; only
that we abuse not the promise as the devil did, let us keep in
our ways, that we may be kept safe by the angels ; then only is
angel-protection to be expected, when we are in the ways God
hath appointed ; that is to say, within the compass of our general
and particular callings : they shall keep thee in all thy ways, or
in all thy bounds, or in all thy courses appointed thee by' God.
Surely we have need to look to ourselves in all our actions, as
in eating, drinking, riding, sporting, for even in these God hath
set us our ways. We hear of many sad disasters of God's dear-
est servants, and we need not wonder, if we but consider their
wanderings. Alas, they keep not within compass, they are out
of their ways, or otherwise they might walk safely without any
danger. If Jacob keep but in his ways, he may safely meet with
his brother Esau coming against him with four hundred men.
Mr. Dodd would say, he cared not where he was, if he could but
answer these two questions well : Who am I ? and what do I
here ? Am I a child of God ? and am I in my way ?— If we were
careful of these things, we might free ourselves from all other
cares : Oh let us look to our ways !
ComiiMULon luith Angels. 533
2. In our sicknesses, sores, dangers of plague or pestilence, let
lis eye the promise of angel-ministration ; " Surely he shall de-
liver thee from the noisome pestilence : — ^Thou shalt not be afraid
for the terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day, nor
for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruc-
tion that wasteth at noon-day ; a thousand shall fall at thy side,
and ten thousand at thy right-hand, but it shall not come nigh
thee : — There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague
come nigh thy dwelling ; for he shall give his angels charge over
thee." Many other promises we have, both to prevent and qua-
lify, and to remove sicknesses, as Exod. 15. 26. Dent. /• 15.
Ps*a. 41.3. Heb. 12. 6, 7, 8. Isaiah 40. 31. And well may we
live by faith on such promises as these. But why should the
promises of angel-ministration be out of use ? To what end are
these promises, if we may not rest or roll ourselves upon them
as well as others ? Should God say in our sicknesses. Send to
such a physician, and make use of him, and you shall be cured ;
we should submit : And are not these heavenly physicians of
more value ? And have we not an express promise, that in
their ministration we shall have health ? Oh let us eye these
promises !
3. In our outward wants, let us have some thoughts of angel-
ministration, as to supplies. It is a wonder how all the creation
is serviceable to man ; the very plants and herbs administer to
his food ; the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air, are for
his sustenance ; the sun and stars contribute to his being and
preservation : if any piece of the creation should escape his
ministry, one would think it should be the mighty and blessed
angels ; and yet behold an angel provides bread for Elijah, and
water for Ishmael, and all other necessaries for God's children.
The world is yours, saith the apostle : — God would never have
made this field (the world) were it not for the corn (the godly)
growing in it : and as of this corn the angels are the reapers, so
they have the care of it for its nourishment and preservation :
Art thou a saint, and in want ? Surely it concerns thee to shake
off idleness, to take the opportunity, and to observe God's pro
vidence in all affairs ; and amidst those several providences of his
ordering, forget not the ministration of the angels : For my part
if together with the word, my own experiences may be any
encouragement ; I do verily think, that rather than thou shouldst
die for thirst, an angel will open thy eye to see a fountain, out
of which thou mayest fill thy bottle with water, and take and
drink.
4. In learning the whole counsel, will, and mind of God, let
us turn over those leaves which speak of angels ; these are the
invisible attenders of the blessed Deity, and without some know-
ledge and apprehension of them, we shall never attain to con-
ceive of their God and ours, as we ought to do : but in this
^34 Cominuiiion ivith Angels.
knowlcdo-e let us mind especially their ministration to our in-
ward man ; herein are many depths, yet they are sweet, deliglit-
ful and most profitable truths : they come to our phantasms,
(the species of sounds, of shapes, or whatsoever else, as they are
kept and preserved by the inward senses,) and they move them
at pleasure, and put together such conceptions or apprehensions,
as are most accommodate and fitted for the knowledge of that
truth, ^vhich they would suggest to our minds. Is not this wor-
thy our knowledge ? Shall the angels take pains to speak to
us, and to acquaint us with the knowledge of saving truths, and
shall not we willingly hearken to them ? O let us listen to what
they say ; and tiiat they may have matter to work upon, and to
speak to us about, let us be ever ready and prompt to receive
good images and impressions of things into our fancy ; It is said,
that the ajigels cannot put into our fancies what never was there
])cfore, as they cannot make a man born blind to dream of
colours and their differences ; but they can make many compo-
sitions and deductions of the images they find there, to the say-
ino- of what they will ; and therefore let us hear all the good wp
can, and take heed of receiving ill impressions by our ears, or
eyes, or any other way. If any one tell us an ill story once, the
devil will tell it us a thousand times ; it is a great happiness to
this purpose not to know ill : And on the other side, if we see
or hear good objects, and that our memories (which are as trea-
sures of all we see or hear) be stuffed and filled with many such
«'-ood things, then may we comfortably hope, that the angels will
make use of all those images to converse with us, and tell us
over and over what is the will and mind of God.
5. In the many motions, inspirations, and holy suggestions t/O
this or that good, let us stop awhile, and seriously consider
whence these come ; certainly if they are of good, and tend to
good, they come eitlier from the Spirit of God, or from his holy
and blessed angels. I confess the efficacious power on the heart
belongs only to the Spirit of God ; it is the Holy Ghost that
overrules, and melts, and new-moulds us ; that so persuades us
to charm, and turn, and captivate our souls : yet the angels are
ordinances, means and helps of God's own appointment ; they
are ministering spirits, sent from God to counsel and persuade
us to this and that duty : And whether the good motions instilled
proceed from the holy Spirit, or from these ministering spirits,
it is good for us to listen and hearken to these movings, work-
ings, hints, intimations. Methinks we should hearken to the
advice of a friend, how much more to God and his angels 1 O
how sad is it for my soul by sin to counterwork the actings of
angels, and breathings of the Spirit ! that the angels should
knock at our heart, and that the Spirit should put in the hajixl
by the hole of the door, and yet that neither should be yieldeil
untO; but both resisted j this must needs grieve the Holy.Ghp&t,
Communion with Angels, 535
and grieve the holy angels, that would persuade us, and seal us
up unto the day of redemption.
6. In the occasions of evil, or temptations to this or that sin,
observe we the stops and lets which often are made by the holy
and blessed angels ; we little think how busy the angels are for
our good ! the devil, we know, is like a roaring lion, and the day
passeth not over our heads, wherein he offers not this or that
temptation to ensnare our souls : And are not the good angels at
counter- work ? Do not they as often puil us back ? Or do not
they at least very often hedge and block up our ways, by with-
standing the occasions of many a sin ? O then say, as Jacob did,
" Surely the angels of the Lord were in the preventing of this
temptation, and I knew it not/' It were enough to strike us iiito
a dread, and to break forth into praises of God, if in the over-
coming of any temptation, we had some thoughts of the protection
and ministration of angels : Surely (should we say) the Lord and
his angels have helped and relieved us, or Satan had prevailed^
and we had been quite foiled.
7. In our deadness, fears, sorrows, afflictions, let us remember
the words of Elisha to his servant, " Fear not, for they that b<5
with us are more than they that are against us." Seldom did the
angels appear to any, but this was their language, ^' Fear not ; "
as, ^^ Fear not, Daniel ; " and, " Fear not, Zacharias ; " and,
" Fear not, Mary;" and, " Fear not. Shepherds;" and, "Fear
not, Paul : " it is one of their prime offices, " to strengthen the
weak hands, to confirm the feeble knees, and to say to them that
are of a fearful heart. Be strong, fear not ; behold your God vrill
come with vengeance, even God with a recompence ; he vr^
come and save you. When David said to Abiathar, that may we
imagine the angels to say to us, " Fear not, ye sons and daughters
of the Almighty, we are your protectors, strciigtheners, comfort-
ers ; and with us, and by us, you shall be in safeguard." O the
many quicken ings, encouragings, comfortings, that the saints have
by the ministration of angels ! Next to my God, and my Saviour,
(saith one,) I shall ever place my greatest comfort and confidence
in the angels of God, neither hath earth nor heaven any creature-
comforters like unto these ; there is none like them, or to be
compared with them.
8. At all times and seasons, let us think and carry ourselves
as in the presence of God, and the sight of his angels. If I may
instance in some times : As, 1 . In time of temptation, let us
think of it then. Seneca gave Lucilius this counsel, Whatever he
was doing, that he should imagine some of the Roman wortliies
did behold him, and then he would do nothing dishonourable.
Surely, if the eye of God, and of his angels, were ever , in our
eye, this would be a supersedeas and counter-poison against all
sin : Tell me, hoAv dare you sin in their presence, or do that in
their view, Ivttch you would not dare to do in the sight and pre-
536 Communion ivith Angels.
seiice of some earthly man ? *^ I charge you before God and our
Lord Jesus Christy and the elect angels/' saith Paul, q, d. Con-
sider God's presence, and Christ's presence ; or if they work but
little with you, consider the presence of the elect angels : surely,
the nearer things come to the manner of our presence, the more
they will affect us ; and therefore consider, that the angels are
present with us, in the very room where we are acting our very
wickedness : I blush to think (said the author above cited) how
often I have done that whereof the angels were ashamed for
me ; I abhor myself to recount their just dislikes, and do wil-
lingly profess how unworthy I am of such friends, if I be not
hereafter jealous of their just offence. 2. In time of public ser-
vice, and public duty, think on it then : " For this cause (saith
the apostle) ought the women to have power over her head
(that is to say, to be modestly veiled) because of the angels."
Elect angels are exact and careful observers, and eyewitnes-
ses, of our behaviour and deportment in the public ordinances.
To this end were the curtains of the tabernacle pictured full
of cherubim b, to signify, that about our solemn meetings,
whole troops of angels take notice of our carriage. Surely,
if this were considered, we should be very serious in God's wor-
ship ; yea, how spiritual and heavenly should we be, if om*
hearts were but fixed on these glorious angels ! O ye blessed
spirits (said a saint) ye are ever by me, ever with me, ever about
me, but especially in God's house I do as good as see you, for I
know you to be there, I reverence your glorious persons, I
bless God for you, I walk awfully, because I am ever in your eyes;
I walk confidently, because I am ever in your hands. My bre-
thren, we are even now, at this time of public meeting, amidst
watchful and waking overseers ; we are looked and looked
through in all our ways, as if heaven were all eyes round about
us : Oh then with what fear and trembling, with what reverence
and devotion, should we stand or wait here before God and his
holy angels ?
9. In reference both to others and ourselves, let us learn to
imitate the angels : —
1 . For others, let us imitate thus, they are as our guardians,
physicians, purveyors, tutors, instructors, soldiers, quickeners,
encouragers, comforters ; so let us in our several stations and
places iispire to angelical work ; if the angels guard us, let us be
as guardians of one another ; if they study our health, let us wish
health, and endeavour it as we may, one for another ; if they
purvey for us, let us relieve the necessity of the saints ; if they
tutor us, let us acquaint one another with the mysteries of grace ;
if they instruct us, and persuade us to our duties, let us consider
one another, to provoke unto love and to good works : ^^ Exhort
one another daily, while it is called to day : " If they fight for us,
and take part with us against the evil angels, let us take part with
Coinmnmon wiih Angeh, 537
the saints against the oppressions and violence of all wicked men ;
if they quicken, encourage, and comfort us, let us quicken the
slothful, confirm the weak, and comfort the feeble-minded.
Surely the way to have angels' reward, or to see the face of God
is to do the work of angels. Oh let us improve this piece of the
creation to our use, as well as all the rest !
2. For ourselves, let us imitate thus : 1 . Reverence the ma -
jesty of God as they do, Isaiah 6. 2. 2. Stand ready prest to
execute the will of God, as they do, Psa. 103. 20. 3. Let us
study holiness, as they do 5 they are of a most holy nature, and
therefore are they called holy angels. So be we holy, even as
they are holy. It is but equal, that we who expect to be like
the angels in glory, should be like them in grace : Many would
strive to be like them for gifts and parts, but not for holiness,
which yet is the special thing propounded to our imitation ;
When we say, " Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven : "
no question, this principally is intended, that we should lead here
angelic lives ; that is, in heaven they are ever doing God's will,
there is no sin there, so we should keep harmony with the angels
of heaven, and do his will here.
10. To conclude : In all our duties, in reference to the angels,
let us " look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith : "
they are as the means and instruments of our good, but he is the
author and finisher, and all the efficacy flows from him. Hence
it is that we must chiefly apply ourselves to him : " Trust not in
man, no, nor in princes," saith the Psalmist ; so may I go on.
Trust not in princes, no, nor in angels, nor archangels absolutely,
but still in subordination unto Jesus Christ. This use the
Psalmist teacheth us of angel-protection : '^ The angel of the
Lord encampeth round about them that fear him : " and what
then ? " O taste, and see that the Lord is good ; blessed is the
man that trusteth in him ;" not in them, but in him : our chief
confidence must be in none that is on this side God. When
God promised Moses that an angel should go before Israel, and
yet withal threatened the subduction of his own presence, (^^ I
will send an angel before thee, but I will not go up in the midst
of thee ; ") no marvel if Moses were no less troubled, than if
they had been left destitute and without a guard ; and that he
ceased not his importunity, till he had won the gracious engage-
ment of the Almighty for his presence in that whole expedition ;
^' If thy presence go not with us, carr}^^ us not up hence." For
what is the greatest angel in heaven without his IVIaker ? O then
let us e^'e God, and eye Jesus Christ, in all, above all, and be-
yond all angel-ministration. It was a sweet saying of one we
mentioned before : Blessed be God for the angels, as the author
of them and their protection ; and blessed be the angels under
God, as the means used by him, for our protection, and other
blessings : Let the angels have their due, but let God in Christ
20 3y
538* Communion ivith Angels,
be our all in all \ for as by him the angels were created, so were
thev created for hiin; " and he is before all things^ and by hiiu
all tliino:s consist.
'»
CHAP. IV.
Sect. I. — Of the 3Iinistratio7i of Angels at our Deatlu
Thus far have we observed the angels' ministration, even until
death ; and yet they have not done, for no sooner death seizeth
on the elect, but they minister to them, and in some respects
continue their ministration till the resurrection-day. In order to
this, we shall first observe their ministration ; and secondly, our
duties.
1 . For their ministration, that known place is most obvious :
" And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried by
the ano-els into Abraham's bosom." And we read of Michael
the archangel, contending with the devil about the body of Moses.
Whence some observe, that angels have a care not only of the
souls, but of the bodies ; yea, even of the dead bodies of the
saints.
Sect. II. — Of the manner of Angel-raimstration at that Time.
FoijL the manner of their ministration, it relates both to bodies
and souls : —
1st. For the bodies of the faithful :
1. In the very agony of death they help and ease them : Thus
was Christ refreshed in the midst of his agony by an angel. In
like manner are they serviceable to the saints ; for if ordinary
physicians have their electuaries, how much more can the angels
minister cordials in then* way ?
2. After death they guard the bodies of the saints : The devil
would have abused the dead body of Moses, but Michael the
archangel contended with him, and rescued the body out of his
hands : Satan's malice is without end, and therefore hath he
stirred his instruments to abuse the dead bodies of many martyrs ;
he loves not that dust wherein the holy Spirit dwelleth, but the
angels take care of every dust, so that not one shall be lost at the
general day : suppose them scattered up and down the world, yet
are they but thrown and sown in the earth, that they may spring
out again to a glorious incorruption ; and in the mean time the
angels are a guard, and liave a regard to them in their sleep, till
the morning of their resurrection day.
2d. For the souls of the faithful : —
Communion ivith Angels. 539
1 . The angels^ in the very article and point of death, are vi-
gilant over them, and oft-times inspire the parting souls with a
spirit of divination, or consolation, surpassing all human know-
ledge. Thus Gregory could say, That sometime souls, before
their departure, came to the knowledge of things by revelation ;
and sometimes by heavenly inspiration they penetrate with their
spiritual eyes the very secrets of heaven itself. Do we not see by
experience, that when the soul is drawing into a separate con-
dition, it is in a great part delivered from bodily operations, and
from the business of the outward senses, and from the com-
merce with external and worldly matters, which puts it, as it
were, into a kind of sabbath, or state of rest ? Now the more
quiet the soul is, and the more sequestered from earthly and
outward things, the more apt it is to enjoy the benefit of internal
light, and the better fitted for spiritual commerce with God him-
self, or with his angels, which (saith one) may also lead us to
understand something towards a reason, why men dra^^dng near
their departure, are observed to be disposed to presage and pro-
phesy, to be full of comfort, as if heaven entered into them,
before they could enter into heaven.
2. The angels stand ready to receive souls separate from their
bodies, into their embraces. Macarius, a learned monk, could
say, that immediately after death, the choirs of angels received
the souls of saints into their own side, into the pure world, and
so brought them unto the Lord : Wicked men, when they die,
shall have a black guard of angels to receive them, and to haul
them down to hell : but the godly shall have a white guard, the
same angels that were said before to bear them up in their hands,
will then receive them into their arms, and fall upon them with
hugs, and kisses, and embraces.
3. Angels convey souls in their hands, or on their wings,
through the air and middle region, up into heaven : we cannot
go from eartli to heaven, but we must needs pass through the
devil's territories, or through the air, (for so is Satan called,
*' the prince of the power of the air ; " that is to say, of the airy
dominion or princedom,) thither were devils, with Satan their
prince, exiled from heaven : whence the Jews have a tradition,
that all the space betwixt the earth and the firmament, is full of
troops of evil spirits. As it is the opinion of all doctors, (saith
Hierome,) that devils have their mansion and residence in that
space between the heaven and the earth. And although some
against this allege those texts, " For if God spared not the
angels which sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered
them into chains of darkness, to be reiservcd unto judgnu^nt ;" — >
and, " The angels which kept not their first .estate, but left their
own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains, unxler
darkness, unto the judgment of the great day : " yet learned M<^de
hath expounded the first text thus, That he ciuit them down to
540 Com?jiU?iton wit It An^^cU.
hellwarJ, or to this lower orb, there to be reserved for chains of
darkness at the day of judgment; — and the hitter text thus, That
the evil spirits which fell into this lower region, were there to be
reserved, as in a prison, for everlasting chains of darkness, at the
judgment day. This is the valley of the shadow of death, through
Avhich the souls of saints are to go to heaven ; and because of the
dangerous voyage, the angels scour and clear the passage for
them ; they go with them, and light for them, and with speed
and triumph at last convey them to their Father's house. Oh in
what pomp and triumph did Lazarus' s soul ride on the wings of
angels ! Never was Dives so honoured in his life, as was Lazarus
at his death ; he might ride in some chariot drawn with horses,
but Lazarus was, and the souls of all believers shall be, drawn at
their deaths in fiery chariots ; they shall be carried and conveyed
into heaven by the angels of God.
4. The angels welcome the souls of saints, in this heavenly
progress, to their heavenly Canaan : they are not only porters to
carry souls, but they are porters also to receive souls, they stand
ready at heaven's gates, to set open the doors, and to bid them
enter into their Maker's joy. In that vision which John had of
tlie great city, the holy Jerusalem, he saw twelve gates, and at
the gates twelve angels : Our English annotations say, that these
angels are as porters to receive men into heaven : howsoever
Adam was kept out of paradise by cherubims, yet cherubims,
and seraphims, and all the host of heaven, are ready to receive
the saints into this glorious city. O what a joy will be in heaven
at the first admission of these souls ! what clasping, closing,
kissing, embracing, will be at this entrance betwixt saints and
angels ! Welcome, say the angels ; and welcome, say archangels;
yea the principalities triumph^ and powers rejoice, and vutues
shine, and thrones glitter, and cherubims give light, and sera-
phims burn in love at the soul's arrival \ what congratulations are
those amongst the angels, that now the worst of their service is
past, that now the poor souls they had in charge, are by their
good help escaped, and freed from all the miseries of the world,
and snares of the devil, and pains of hell, and are now entered
through the gates into the city, where they and their charge shall
live together, and love together, and sing together, Jehovah's
praise ! Never had the saints such welcome in this world, as at
this day they have, or shall have, by the angels of God, into the
kingdom of God.
5. The angels present the souls of saints before Christ in his
tlirone, and there immediately they receive their sentence. This
must needs follow, the angels cannot leave their charge, till they
bring them to him, who gave them the charge of them ; away
therefore they fly to the Lamb in his throne, and covering their
faces with their wings, there they present with cheerfulness of
spirit his redeemed ones \ — y. (/. ^ Glorious King of saints.
Cvininunlo?i with Angels. 541
hither we bring these souls which thou gavest us in charge to
keep, their dusts are indeed returned to earth as they were, hut
their spirits must needs return to God who gave them ; come
take them into thy bosom and glory, they are spirits, yea, spirits
sublimated, (as being born again of water, and of the Spirit,) and
therefore assimilated to thyself; they are pure sparks, now freed
and severed from their dust and ashes, and therefore they fly up,
or they come up hither on our wings, unto thee the great Spirit,
tliat element of spirits ; O that they may find union and coali-
tion with thee ! O that they may be with thee where thou art,
and that they may for ever behold the glory which thou hast
given them ! To whom answer is given, as from the throne.
Welcome, dear souls, into this glorious kingdom of mine, this is
that inheritance I prepared for you before the foundation of the
world : Why, you are they whom I created in my own image,
after my own. likeness ; you are my offspring, created imme-
diatel)^ by my hand, and in my image, as to your very substance.
It is true, I made all the world, and something I made out of
nothing, as the chaos was made, but my image other creatures
did not bear ; you only are spiritual substances, and vital-light ;
you only have those luminous substances, or substantial lights,
from the gift of your creation, which is a degree above the angels,
for they have not any light genial and inherent to their essence,
but are only mirrors of the increased light : And though a taint
came upon you by reason of sin, so that this image wherein you
were created, was exceedingly marred, yet by works of grace 1
renewed this image, and thereupon, that original affinity to me,
the God of Spirits, is not only restored, but endeared.' And
now this is my sentence, " Well done, good and faithful ser-
vants, you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you
rulers over many things : enter you into the joy of your Lord."
6. The angels now begin to join in concert with the souls of
saints, and to sing those halleluiahs that never shall have end.
''And round about the throne were four beasts, full of eyes
before and behind, — and they rest not day and night, saying.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and
is to come ! And when these beasts give glory, and honour, and
thanks, to him who sits on the throne, who liveth for ever and
ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sits
on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and
cast their crowns before the throne, saying. Thou art worthy, O
Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power, for thou hast
created all things, and for thy sake they are and were created. —
And I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne,
and the beasts, and the elders ; and the number of the angels
was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thou-
sands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was
slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength.
542 Communion with A niseis.
<b
and honoiu-, and glory, and blessing. — After this I beheld, and
lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations^
and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne'
and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in
their hands, and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our
God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb • and
all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders
and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces and
worshipped God, saying. Amen ; blessing, and glorj^, and wis-
dom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and pov/er, and mio-ht
be unto our God, for ever and ever. Amen." Lo, here,^ali
God's saints of the Old and '^.^vf Testament, called twenty-four
ciders, comprehended under the tvreive patriarchs ; and twelve
apostles, and all the ministers of Christy called four beasts or
living weights, comprehended under the four evangelists ; and
all the angels of heaven, an innumerable company "of ano-els
all joining in one concert: Oh vvhat joys are here !* what
hiirmonies are these ! what warbling of saints and ano-els !
If Francis (as Bonaventure stories it) hearing but one angef play
upon an harp, ^vas so transported with the melody, that he
thought himself in another world ; how are the souls of saints
transported, who no sooner arrive in glory, but they hear more
than twelve legions of angels, accompanied with a numberless
number of glorious saints, ail singing at once. Halleluiah ; Holy
holy, hoi)', Lord God Almighty T praise, and honour, and o-bry
and po^ver, be unto God, and Christ, and the Spint of Christ'
for ever and ever ! ^
Sect. IIL— 0/ the Experiences of this Truth,
<
I SHALL add some experiences of this blessed truth :—
L They help us and ease us in the pangs of death.
JVir. Hawkes, being entreated of his friends, that in the midst
of the flame, wherein he must die, he v/ould shew them some
token, if he could, that the fire was not so intolerable, but a man
nnght therem keep his mind quiet and patient ; this he assented
to, and pronnsed, that if the rage of the pain were intolerable, he
would hit up his hands above his head, before he ^ave up the
ghost. ^ At the stake, he mildlv and patiently addre'ssed himself
to the fire, and, after his fervent prayers made to God, fire was
put to him ; in it he continued long : and when his speech was
taken away by the flame, his skin drawn ail together, and his
nigers consumed with the fire, so that all men thought he had
been dead; he being mindful of his promise, suddenly hited up
his hands burning of a liglit fire, and with great joy clanped
them tliree times together; whereupon there was suclislioutin-
amongst the people, especially by those who knew the meariin^
or It, as the like had scarce been heard ; and so tlie blessed ma-
Comnmnion with Angeh\ 543
tyr, preseiitl}^ sinking down into the lire, gave up his spirit unto
God. — Fo.vs Murti/r.
My. James Bainliani, being at a stake to be burnt, in the midst
of the flames, which had half consumed his arms and his legs,
he spake these words : O ye papists, beliokl, ye look for miracles,
and here now ye may see a miracle, for in this fire I feel no more
pain, than if I were in a bed of down ; yea, it is to me as a bed
of roses. — Idem, ibid. : i
There was in Mechlin one x\ndrew Thissen, who had three;
sons, w^iom he carefully brought up in the knowledge of the,'
truth : two of them were condemned to the lire, and one of them :
feeling the violence of the flame, said, O what a Small pain is
this, compared to the glory to come ! and so qomiliitting their
spirits into the hands of god, they finished their race.
Henry Voes and John Esch, being brought tp the stake, for;
their testimony to the Protestant religion, when the fire was
kindled at their feet,pne of them said, Methiuks you do strew roses -
under my feet ; and presently lifter they quietly slept in the Lord.
William Cow^per, being ready to die, said,- Now, . my soid, be •,
glad, for at all parts of this prison the Lord hath set to his pio- )
neers to loose thee ; head, feet, milt, and liver, are. fast failing, -
yea, the middle strength of the whole body, the stomach, is \yeak-
ened long ago ; arise, make ready, shake oft* thy fetters, mount »
up from the body, and go tli}'' way.
2. They inspire our souls with divination, or comfort.
A child of a christian gentlewoman 'vvas so given to prayer
from its infancy, that before it could well speak, it would use to
get alone, and go to prayer ; and as it grew, it was more fi*equent
in prayer; at last, when the child w^as but five years old, and,
whipping of his top, on a sudden he flung away his scourge,, •
stick, and top, and ran to his mother, and with great joy said-,
unto her. Mother, I go to God ; will you go with me ? She .
answered. My dear child, how dost thou know thou shalt go to
God ? He answered, God hath told me so ; for I love God, and
God loves me : mother, wall you go with me ? She answered.
Dear child, I must go when God pleaseth ; but why wilt thou
not stay with me ? The child answered, I will not stay, I must
go to God. And the child did live about a month after, but'
never cared for play more, and then fell sick, always speaking,
that he must go to God ; and died m that sickness. — IVIiite.
Charles Bridgcman prophesied his departure ; and how strange
a prophecy ! not only that he must die, ])ut foretelling the very
day. On the Lord's day (said he) look to me ; neither was that
a word of course, which appeared by his often repetition, every
day asking, till the day came indeed. What, is Sunday come ? At
last the looked-for day came on, and no sooner had the sun
beautified that morning, but he fell into a trance : What (think
you) meant his blessed soul, whilst the body itself used such au
544 Comimmion ivlth Angels.
action ? his eyes were fixed, his face cheerful, his lips smiling,
his hands and arms clasping in a bow, as if he would have
received some blessed angel, that there was at hand to receive
his soul ; but he comes to himself, and tells them about him ;
how he saw the sweetest boy that ever eyes beheld, and bids
them be of good cheer, for he must presently go with him : One
standing near, as now suspecting the time of his dissolution, bids
him say, Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Yes, said he,
Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit, which is thy due ; for
why, thou hast redeemed it, O Lord my God most true. And
presently after he died.
If a man, without all observation of physical criticisms, sliall
receive and give intelligence, many days before, what day or hour
shall be his last, to what cause can we attribute these but to our
attending angels.
A good gentlewoman, laying on her death-bed, Mr-. Dodd was
sent for to her, who spake of heaven ; and to fit her for that
glory, she told him, that she felt the comforts of God, and that
she could as hardly at that time forbear singing, as formerly in
child-bearing she could forbear crying; and shortly after she died.
— Clarke Mart,
Mr. Holland, the day before his death, calling for a bible,
continued his meditations and expositions on the eighth to the
Romans, for the space of two hours ; but on the sudden he said,
stay your reading ! what brightness is this I see ? And they
said. It is the sunshine. Nay, (saith he) it is my Saviour's shine:
now farewell world, welcome heaven, the day-star from on high
hath visited my heart ; I doubt not but you all see that light, but
1 feel a light within me, that none of you all can know. And then
turning himself to the minister who preached his funeral sermon,
he said. Sir, I desire you would preach my funeral sermon, for
this night I die, and speak this from me, that God deals familiarly
with man ; I feel his mercy, I see his majesty ; whether in the
body or out of the body, I cannot tell, God knoweth, but I see
things that are unutterable. And being thus ravished in his
spirit, he roamed towards heaven w^ith a cheerful look, and soft
sweet voice ; but what he said was not understood : at last rais-
ing himself on his bed, as Jacob did upon his staff, he ended his
blessed life with these blessed words ; O thou fiery chariot, that
camest down to fetch up Elijah, carry me to my happy hold;
and all you blessed angels, that attend the soul of Lazarus, to
bring it to heaven, bear me, O bear me into the bosom of my
best beloved, Amen. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly ;
and so he fell asleep. — Leigh,
Mrs. Drake, a woman of great temptations and desertions, at
last growing sickly, and free from her desertions, she became
incessant in her discourses of heaven, and of the things of God.
The Lord's day before her death, she called all her children
Communion with Angels, 545
together, and with many admonitions, and zealous instructions,
and heavenly discourses, she spent much time that day with
them ; the Tuesday following, Mr. Dodd came, and spent some
time in heavenly discourses, and then went to prayer ; and sud-
denly as prayer was done, she brake forth in a wonderful manner
in these expressions: Oh, ho, ho, what is this? what is this?
what is this ? I am undone, undone, undone, I cannot endure it ;
O, O, O, let me be gone, let me be gone, I must be gone, I can-
not tarry ? Oh what shall I do ? Lo, lo, the angels are come,
they wait, and stay for me : O dear mother, why hold you me ?
I must be gone : Oh he is come, he is come, he is come ; now
you have it, you have it, you have it, (meaning that now they had
the issue and fruits of all their prayers,) why hold you me ? let
me be gone, my work is done : O call, call, call ! where is my
crown, fetch me my crown, bring me my white robes, quickly,
quickly, quickly ; why run ye out ? the angels stay. O it over-
comes, overcomes, overcomes me : what shall I do ? what shall I
do ? what shall I do ? with innumerable such swift expressions as
could not be remembered ; and withal she heaved up still all the
time with fixed eyes towards the house-top, as though she had seen
some vision, and would have flown away from them all. — Idem,
Robert Milner, o\\ his death-bed, was so filled with joy for many
days together, that he could not hold, but proclaimed the sweet-
ness and goodness of God from day to day : he professed his
joys were unutterable ; he carried, as if he had been in heaven
aforehand ; only once talking with some Christians about him,
he cried out. Oh I have lost it ! But presently he added. Oh I have
it again, it is come, it is come ! At last, drawing near his end,
he sent for the relator as formerly, and desired his prayers ; and
whilst he was in duty, commending his soul unto God, he sud-
denly roused and stirred up his body, crying and saying aloud
with much vehemency, "The Lord, the Lord, merciful and
gracious, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity,
transgressions and sin :" and in the very act and heat of his pro-
claiming the name, and goodness, and sweetness, and mercy of
God, he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Lord Henry Otto, being sentenced to death for religion, he
told the minister waiting on him, I was troubled, but now I feel
a wonderful refreshing in my heart ; adding, with his hands lifted
up to heaven, I give thee thanks, O mercifiil Father, who hast
been pleased to fill me with so much comfort ; O now I fear
death no longer, I will die with joy. As he was going to the
scaffold, he said to the minister, I am sure that Christ Jesus
will meet my soul with his angels, that he may bring it to an
everlasting marriage, where I shall drink of a new cup, a cup of
joy for ever. Upon the scaffold, lifting up his eyes to heaven,
he said. Behold, I see the heavens open ; pointing with his hand
to the place, where others also observed a certain brightness
20. 3 z
546 Communion with Angels,
which dazzled their eyes.— And so he received the stroke of the
sword. Clarke s Mart, in Bohemia. — In Hke manner^ Bandicon
being on the scaffold with his father, fixing his eyes upon heaven,
said to his father. Behold, I see the heavens open, and millions
of an^^els ready to receive lis ; Father, let us rejoice and be glad,
for the joys of heaven are open to us. — Idem, in his Persecution
of the Church in the Low Countries.
3. They stand ready to receive us into their embraces, and
convey us through the air into heaven.
Romula being trained up by Redempta, fell into a palsy, that
she was fain to keep her bed ; but the sickness of her body being
sanctified, and tending to her soul's health, on a certain night
she hastily called for" Redempta, saying. Come mother, come
mother ; who straitways, with her other disciple, rose up ; aiid
as they were about midmight by her bedside, suddenly there earner
a light from heaven which filled all the room, and then they heard
a noi^e, as if it were of many that came in ; the door being-
shaken, and thrust open, as though there had been a great press
of people : straight after that light followed a wonderful pleasant
smell, which did greatly comfort their trembling hearts. Romida
perceiving that they could not endure that abundance of light,
with sweet words comforted Redempta, that stood trembhng by
her bedside, saying. Be not afraid, mother, for I shall not die at
this time. And when she" had often repeated those words, by
little and little the light vanished away, but yet the sweet smell
remained still. Upon the fourth night after, she called again for
Redempta, who coming in with her other disciple, as formerly,
suddenly they heard two choirs, singing before the door without,
the one as the voices of men, that began the psalms, and the
other of women that answered ; and while those heavenly fune-
rals were in celebrating before the door, the holy soul departed
this life, and was carried in that manner up into heaven; and
the higher these two choirs did ascend, the less did they hear
that celestial music, until at length they heard no more. And
then also that sweet and odoriferous smell vanished away — Greg,
Dialog. 1. 4.
Fructuosus, bishop of Tarracona in Spain, with his two
deacons, Augurius and Eulogius, suffered martyrdom ; the cause
of their punishment was, for professing of Christ's mame ; their
judge and condemner was Emilianus ; their death was by fire,
into wliich they were all cast, with their arms bound behind
them ; but their bands and manacles being loosed by the fire,
they lifted up their hands to heaven, praising the living God, to
the great admiration of them that stood by ; praying also, that
the element which seemed to fly fi-om them, might work his full
force upon them, and speedily dispatch them, which was after
their request obtained. In the mean space, as they were in the
fire, there was a certain soldier in the house of Emilianus, who
Communion with Angels. 547
did see the heavens above to open, and these aforesaid martyrs
to enter into the same ; which soldier likewise shewed the sight
the same time unto the daughter of Emilianus the president who
^holding the same sight >v^th the soldier, was a l>--iitwitness
of the btessedness of them whom her cruel father had con-
demned.— i'"o^ ^f'« ««<' -''^""""""''*' '^"''- ^ • . ,• 1 n,
RiiUp de Mornay, L. of Plessis Marly ymg on his death-
bed, in the midst of his prayers was heard to say, I fly, I % to
hea;en ; the angels of he-wen are carrying me into the bosom of
mvSs:^\iJW.— Clarke' s Life of Fhilipde Mornay.
Vrs Stubbs, on her death-bed, speaking to them that were
bv said ; ' Oh would to God you saw but what 1 see ! for be-
hoi,r s^e infinite millions of most glorious angels stand abmrt
ne with fiery chariots ready to defend me : these holy angels,
X^e mbis'iring spirits, ar^ =^I!P°-*'=Vu?°h ^IdthX^^ feci
into the kin.'dom of heaven, where I shaU behold the l^oid tace
to fac^! and shall see him, not vvath other, but with these same
eves.'— iiVV and Death of Mrs. Katharine Stuhbs
t They welcome us into heaven, and present us before Christ
"' Helmonrin his Vision of the Soul, tells, that in the year 1610,
•ifter aZ''wem-iness of contemplation, that he might acquire
some .'^^^larknowledge of his own mind fallen by chance in o
•1 calm sleep, and rapt beyond the Umits of reason, he seemed to
be in a haU sufticiently obscure ; on his left hand was a fctble, and
on t a fa r la " viol, wherein was a small quantity of liquor, and
a vocetni fat liquor spake unto him, Wilt thou honour and,
richesV Atthis unwonted voice he became surprised with ex-
XrZ. aiXment; and by and by, on h s ngh hand, appea ed a
1 • i it tViP will through which a light invaded lire eyes with uu-
tntei s enctour; t Wch made him wholly forgetful of the liquor,
vo"fe andformer counsel. Presently he awakened but his an-
cknt 'iirtense desire of knowing the nature of Ins soul, m which he
Wl I nt!d incessantly for thirteen years together, constantly re-
had P'";*" , "S^'°X lencrth, amidst the anxious afflictions of va-
;":::: fo^nswhef yet he hojed a sabbath of tranquillity, he had
nTv sk n Tight of his soul : it was a transcendant hglit in the
fi".ure of amam whose whole was homogeneous, actively discern-
i4ra\nbs;anc; spiritual, crystaUine, and lucent by Its ow^^^^^^
slndom-. And then it was revealed to him, *a^^th.s Jrg * ^a^
the same which he had a glimpse of before. If the demand De,
!^r.t becomes of this light after its separation from the body ?
D Ch irleto- , who translated that book of Hehnont, gave it in
S ; poe y X«mm de Lwnine, " Light ofhght, ^nAUght to
/rA/"Vhe angels of Ught take these luminous substances, or
substantial lights', and prc'ent them before that uncreated Ugh ,
the Lord of ^lorv Whit the estate of this lite is, and what it will
be is suns bv ftlr. Moor, in his Pre-existency of the Soul:
548 Communion with Angels,
Like to a lights fast lock'd in lantern dark.
Whereby by night our weary steps we guide
In slabby streets, and dirty channels mark.
Some weaker rays through the black top to glide.
And flusher streams perhaps from horny side :
But when we've past the peril of the way,
Arriv'd at home, and laid that case aside.
The naked light how clearly doth it ray.
And spread its joyful beams as bright as summer's day.
Even so the soul, in this contracted state,
Confin'd to these straight instruments of sense,
More dull and narrowly doth operate ;
At this hole hears, the sight may ray from thence,
Here tastes, there smells 5 but when she's gone from thence.
Like naked lamps, she is one shining sphere.
And round about has perfect cognizance :
Whate'er in her horizon doth appear.
She is one orb of sense, all eye, all airy ear.
So nothing now in death is to be dread.
Of him that wakes to truth and righteousness.
The corpse lies here, the soul aloft is fled.
Unto the fount of perfect happiness ;
As earth returns to earth, this light no less
Returns to him that gave it, where it is
Presented by the angels with excess
Of strange melodious music, joy, and bliss,
O then how doth that Great Light this light greet and kiss !
5. They joy in sweet harmony of praises that never shall
have an end.
A certain man, called Servuius, drawing near his end, called
for all such strangers as lodged in his house, desiring them to
sing hymns with him : and as he was singing, all on a sudden he
cried out aloud, saying. Do you not hear the great and wonderful
music which is in heaven ? and even in that instant his soul de-
parted this mortal life. All that were present felt a most plea-
sant and fragrant smell, whereby they argued the verity of his
saying ; and that he and angels were then in concert singing hal-
leluias together in heaven. — Gregor, Dialog, 1. 4.
Another, called Guthlake, drawing near his end, told Berterline
his scholar : The time is come, my dear son, wherein I must pass
to Christ : and lifting up his hands and eyes to heaven, he yielded
up his soul ; when, at the very instant, Berteline saw as it were
a fiery tower reaching from heaven down to the earth, the
brightness whereof was so wonderful, that the pale sun might
envy so great a lustre, whilst the angels themselves were heard
to sing melodious tunes of joy. — Felix,
Cortvtnunion with Angels, 549
Sect. IV. — Of the Duties that concern us in this respect,
2. For the several duties that concern us in this respect :■ —
1 . Weigh not the pains or pangs of death, as if they were
intolerable ; but rather pitch we the anchor of our hope on the
firm ground of the word of God, who hath promised " in our
weakness to perfect his strength, — and not to suffer us to be
tempted above that we are able to bear, — and to give his angels
a charge to bear us up in their hands." If the Lord lay one
hand upon us, he puts another hand under us ; yea, he chargeth
his angels to bear us up in their hands, and to allay our pains ;
it proves so to many, that the very thoughts of death more pains
than the pangs of death ; howsoever, it may comfort us that the
angels stand by us, who either will help us in, or help us through,
those pangs of death, that we be not swallowed up by them.
2. Take we no care of our bodies after death, save only to com-
mit them to the earth. Methinks the angels might take off
that carkmg care which many have : what if thy body be used as
the Irish papists used the bodies of dead Protestants, who cast
some into ditches, and left others to be devoured of ravenous
beasts ; yea, and digged up others that have been formerly buried,
and then left them as dung on the face of the earth ; yet the
angels see and take care that every part, and piece, and member
of thy body shall be preserved and kept safe unto that day of our
Lord ; the earth in her womb, or the sea in her gulfs, or beasts in
their bellies, or whatever is the grave of the bodies of saints, they
are but as God's close chests, to keep in them a part of the Lord's
own treasure ; and when these chests shall be opened, (as they shall
be in that great day of the resuiTcction of saints,) then shall those
bodies be brought out again by the holy angels ; and then shall
they be as good, nay, better than ever they were before ; ^^ for
our vile body shall be made like the glorious body of our Lord
and Saviour, according to the working whereby he is able even
to subdue all things unto himself."
3. The nearer we draw to our end, let us draw nearer to God
and his holy angels. This is done by having a special care of
our souls, and by doing those duties that we owe both to God
and his angels. I list not to enter into controversies; I deny
that any worship is to be given them, or that we ought to pray
to them; yet (as the contemplative bishop said) this devotion we
do gladly profess to owe to good angels, that though we do not
pray unto them, yet we do pray to God for the favour of their
assistance and protection, and we do praise God for the pro-
tection and ministration that we have from them. And yet
further, wc come short of our duties to these blessed spirits, if
we entertain not in our hearts an high and venerable conceit of
their wonderful majesty, glory, and greatness, and an awful
550 Commu7iion with Angels,
ackiiowledo-ment,, and reverential awe^ of their glorious presence ;
an holy joyj and confident assurance, of their vigilant care; and
lastK', a fear to do ought that might cause them to turn away
their faces in dislike from us. All these dispositions are copu-
lative ; for certainly^ if we have conceived so high an opinion of
their excellency as we ought, we cannot but be bold upon their
mutual interest, and be afraid to displease them by our heinous
and abominable sins. The man that is going out of the world,
and within a step or two of death, should, methinks, be very fear-
iul of neglecting the angels, or of grieving the angels : Why, alas,
if they watch not over him now, if now they inspire not the soul
with blessed motions and pious thoughts ; if now they fail of
their office, w^hen there is more need of it than ever was or ever
will be 5 oh what will a poor soul do ? Come, think we of this,
ere it be too late ; yea, the nearer we draw to our end, the more
tender let us be of our care, and to respect these blessed spirits ;
and who can tell, but as in the very agony Christ was comforted
by an angel, so these ministering spirits may at such a time mi-
jiister comfort and consolation to our souls ? We have seen an
lieaven of joy entering into some, before they entered into the
joy of heaven.
4. Make to ourselves friends of the angels, that when we die,,
they may receive us into everlasting habitations. Thus Christ
advised us in respect of riches ; — make use of them by your bene-
ficence to the poor, that they may pray for you, and make your
advantage of being rewarded by God : this is the meaning of
" make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness."
And if worldly riches, that either in getting, using, or keeping,,
do administer matter of sin, (and therefore are called unrighteous
mammon,) may be so improved, how much more may we im-
prove the angels, and gain by the angels, if we make them our
friends 1 But how should we make them our friends ? I answer r
1 . Let us resemble them in their purity, piety, innocency. Suit-
ableness of spirit and life, will breed friendship : if we are but pure
in our measure as they are pure, they will delight to befriend us
here, and to lay a foundation for a far more familiar acquaintance
in heaven hereafter. 2. Let us apply ourselves to them, as desir-
ous and willing of their friendship : let us converse with them as
friends, assenting to what they say, and making up holy conclu-
sions with them, and replies, which they will find ways to un-
derstand. O the blessed motions that they make continually to
our souls ! Is it not their joy to gain us, and to win upon us ?
and to that purpose are they not suggesting this and that good
thought to save our souls ? O then let us answer them in their
motions, and receive whatever they administer !
5. Though we go through the valley of the shadow of death,
let us fear no evil, for the angels will be with us. It is natural
for us to fear death 5 and indeed, as it is the destruction of the
Communion with Angels, 551
creature, and parts body and soul ; as it leads the body through
a dark, dirty way, the grave ; and as it leads the soul through the
devils territories, the air, — it is no wonder if nature startle, and
be afraid of it. But the Christian hath many considerations to
allay his fear, and to cheer up his spirit : as, 1 . Death is but the
separation of the soul and body ; it is not the annihilation of soul
and body, but a fair shaking hands between two parting friends :
it is as if the wife should take leave of her husband to go see her
father ; to whom the husband says, that he will follow after her,
and be with her in the morning : Farewell, my dear, says the soul,
I must ^o to my father ; And farewell, my dear, says the body, I
will come after thee, and be with thee in the morning of the re-
surrection. It is true, they cannot part without many a tear and
kiss ; but what needs fear ? the morning comes, as well as the
night. 2. The body's passage through the grave, though dark
and dismal, yet is safe and secure, and fit for rest and sleep :
'* He shall enter into peace, they shall rest in their beds." When
a righteous man dies, or his body is buried, he is but gone to
bed; and therefore we call those places where the dead are laid
up and buried, dormitories, or sleeping-places ; they sleep for a
time ; but tliey shall awake, and rise up again at the last da5\
3. The soul's jDassage through the air, though full of devils, yet
it is accompanied with a safe convoy : there is a white regiment
of glorious angels that will bring the souls of saints through all
perils *' to mount Sion, to the city of the living God, to the
heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
to the general assembly and church of the first-born which are
written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits
of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new
covenant." Now, can the wife fear an enemy, when the husband
hath sent a puissant army to convey her safely to himself ? How
then should we fear the way, or fear death, or devils, when the
angels (who are stronger than all enemies) have a charge to
conduct us to the Bridegroom of our souls ? and they "vvill not,
cannot fail of what they have in charge : they are the army of
heaven, the saints' own guard, the officers and soldiers of tlie
Lord of hosts ; and therefore they will be sure to perform their
trusts, we need not fear it.
6. Let us prepare and make ready for that glorious welcome
which the angels will give us into glory : would you know how to
prepare? L Procure their joy by your conversion? "There is
joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that
repenteth.'" The conversion of a sinner is the gratulation of
angels ; and if they joy at your repentance, how much more will
they joy to see you in heaven with them ! 2. Procure their love
by the strictness and holiness of your lives ; live like angels ;
bring soul and body, as near as may be, into a spiritual frame ;
552 Communion with Angels,
this is the way of friends to procure welcomes here on eurrii, if
they will but uuiiutain a familiarity, and sympathy, and nearness,
and* likeness to one another in mind and manners : O thus do
you, and then you may expect angels' welcome into that city of
glory.
7. Wait upon God, with encouragement that one day the
ano-els will present us to Christ in his throne without spot and
blameless. It is now our complaint. Oh the sin whereof we are
fniilty ! and oh wTctched men that we are, who shall deliver us
from this body of death ! but the day is coming when we shall
be freed from these complaints. As Christ's ministers have a
charge, and when they have done their work they will present
to us Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 11. 2. ; and as Christ himself hath a
charge, and when he hath done his work, he will present us to
liimself, Judg. 24. and to his Father, Colos. 1. 22.; so the holy
ano-els have a charge also, and when they have done their work,
they will present us to Jesus Christ ; how ? even as ministers
do, " that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ ;'' or as
Christ himself cloth, "^ that he might present us to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, nor wrinkle, or any such thing,
but that it should be holy, and without blemish : " so will the
angels do, ^^ even present us faultless before the presence of his
glory with exceeding joy .*' Let us press on to perfection, even
upon these hopes, that howsoever it is with us now, surely we
shall be faultless, we shall be equal unto the angels, equal in
grace, and equal in glory ; for to that end will they present \is to
Christ in his throne, and accordingly will Christ pronounce his
sentence, " Enter ye into the joy of your Lord."
8. Praise we God for his mercy of angel-ministration from
first to last. This we must do in heaven, only begin we this
tune and ditty while we are upon earth ; and if we cannot do it
as we would, let us call in angels to join with us in blessing,
praising, and admiring God : this was David's practice ; ^^ Praise
ye the Lord, praise ye the Lord from the heavens, praise ye him
in the heights ; praise ye him, all his angels ; praise ye him, all
his hosts." The angels desire no better employment that such
as this ; they love to sing the tune of the gospel most ; and there-
fore stir we up them, and stir we up ourselves with them, to be
much in praises of our God. Surely he deserves a thousand
thousand hallekiias, and that we should bless him upon a thou-
sand stringed Instruments. Here is fuel enough ; the Lord
kindle a great fire in erery one of our hearts, to inflame them
with the love of such a God as this is ! It was the last speech of
dying Chrysostom ; Glory be to God from all creatures ! And if
1 should die this hour, I could wish my soul in no better temper :
'' Bless the Lord, O my soul ; and all that is within me, bless
liis holy name. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in
Communion with Angels. 553
strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice
of his word. Bless the Lord, all ye his hosts ; ye ministers of
his, that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all his works, in all
places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul."
CHAP. V.
Sect. L — Of the ^Finistration of Angels at our Resurrectmi.
The last period wherein the angels minister to saints, is, from
the resurrection to the glorification of their souls and bodies in
heaven. In this last, as in all the former, I shall observe,
1. Their ministration. 2. Our duties.
L For their mmistration, we may consult these texts : —
^^ And he shall send his angels with the great sound of a
trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect fron^ the four
winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
" The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God."
" The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall
gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which
do iniquity. — So shall it be at the end of the world ; the aiigels
shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just."
^^ Also I say unto you. Whosoever shall confess me before
men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the aiigels of
God. — And I will not blot his name out of the book of life, but'f
will confess his name before my Father, and befoi'e his angels.'^
Sect. IL — Of the Kinds of Angel-ministration at t/ris Time.
For the kinds of their ministration at this time : —
1. The angels will summon all the saints to appear before
Jesus Christ, in his judgment-seat. This is done by the sound
of a trumpet : ^^ And he shall send his angels with a great sound
of a trumpet. — ^The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of
God." What this trumpet is, I have discussed elsewhere ; and I
take it to be metaphorical, viz. a sound formed in the air like the
sound of a trumpet ; and for the archangel, it is not so limited to
one, but that all the archangels, and all the angels of God, are
thereby miderstood. O the day, when all the angels shall be sent
of Christ to bid all the world to appear before him ! lliis is that
voice on which Jerome so often meditated : Whether I cat, or
drink, or ^vhatsoever I do, mcthinks I always hear that voice
of the trumpet sounding in mine ears, " Arise, ye dead, and come
to judgment." This is that voice, of which Chiysostom said, O
the terrible trumi>et, that all elements shall obey ! it shall shake
the world, rend the rocks, break the mountains, dissolve the bonds
20. 4 A
554 Communion with Angels,
of death, burst down the gates of hell, and unite all spirits to
their own bodies. This voice shall take from death all her spoils,
and cause her to restore again all that she hath taken away from
the world. In this ministration the saints may rejoice ; be it
never so terrible to the wicked, it is nothing to them but an
awakenuig out of a sleep ; as if the angels should shout and say.
Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust ; for, lo, the winter is
past, the rain is over and gone, the time of the singing of birds
is come ; arise, arise, ye saints, and come away.
2. The angels will gather all the saints together to the judg-
ment-seat of Christ. In this are involved these particulars :
1. That the angels will collect the dust of all the bodies of the
saints. This all the sclioolmen hold. The collection of the dusts
of the blessed is by the ministry of the blessed angels. They can
move and remove bodies as they please. As gross and inferior
bodies are in order governed by those that are superior and more
subtle ; so are all bodies ruled and disposed of by spirits endoAved
with life. Augustine goeth further, and says, that irrational spirits
are governed by rational ; and rational creatures that transgress,
are governed by rational creatures that are just. Gregory joins
with him, saying, invisible creatures do give motion and sense to
carnal bodies which are visible ; and so nothing is disposed of in
this visible world, but by another creature which is invisible.
Hence Aquinas concludes, that in all things which are corporally
done of God, he is pleased to use the ministry of angels, and that
therefore the gathering of the dust and the reparation of the bodies
of all the samts, is only by the ministry of the angels at the
resurrection- day. Come, Christians ! keep faith and a good con-
science ; though men prevail over our bodies to kill them, and
so scatter the ashes of them all the world over, let never any un-
comfortable damp of slavish fear vex your blessed hearts : be not
you afraid of evil tidings, or of destruction when it cometh ; for
the angels have a care of every piece, and part, and particle, of
your bodies ; not one hair of your heads, not one atom of the
substance of those bodies you bear about you, shall be left in the
grave, or in any part of the world, but it shall be gathered by
angels, and brought together into one heap or lump.
2. That the angels will form, and fashion, and organize, those
dusts so brought together, into perfect, complete, and solid
bodies 5 this also is affirmed by schoolmen : ^ Whatsoever apper-
tains to the transmutation of bodies, as to the condensation of
some parts, God is pleased therein to use the ministry of angels.'
Indeed, the animation or enlivening of the body by the infusion
of the soul, is (as they say) immediately of God, without any
operation of angels ; for as the soul was immediately created of
God, so must the soul be again united to the body by the imme-
diute hand of God himself ; yet the collection, preparation, and
reparation, of our bodies, are done by angels. O the power of
Communion with Angels. 555
angels ! This eye shall be put to this head, and this hand to this
arm, and this arm to this body, and so every part to part, and
member to member, by the ministration of angels : What need
we care if all these be eaten of worms, or serpents, or other crea-
tures, yea, of cannibals, or savage men ? Certainly they must all be
restored again ; I shall not want this eye, this hand, this finger,
this joint, this nail on my finger's end, at the resurrection-day.
" The hand of the Lord was upon me, (saith Ezekiel,) and carried
me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst
of the valley, which was full of bones ; and he caused me to pass
by them round about, and behold there were very many in the
open valley, and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me.
Son of man, can these bones live ? And I answered, O Lord Grod,
thou knowest.'* — ^Then the Lord bade him prophecy, and as he
prophesied '^ there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the
bones came together, bone to his bone, and then the sinews of
the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them above, but
there was no breath in them ; " and then the Lord bade him pro-
phesy unto the wind, '' Come from' the four winds, O breath,
and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." Why, thus will
it be at the resurrection-day : the angels* ministry will be like the
prophet's prophecy; they will give a shout, and collect the bones,
and then put them together, bone to his bone, and then cover
them with sinews, and flesh, and skin ; only the breath or soul
must be infused immediately by God himself, and then shall the
saints live, and stand upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
3. lliat the angels will bring the saints, thus raised, organized,
and quickened, to Christ's judgment-seat. The apostle speaks
home to this, " The dead in Christ shall rise first ; and then we
which are alive, and remain, shall be caught up together with
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." A willing
welcome-force is here upon the saints, to transfer them, or carry
them into the air, where Christ is in his throne : Now, how shall
this be done ? Why, they shall be caught up, saith the apostle.
By whom ? Some think by the clouds, as if the clouds should
first descend, and then enwrap the saints, and so serve as chariots
to carry them up to Christ in the air ; but I would rather think,
by angels, as if the apostle should say. All the saints at the last
day, both those raised and those changed, shall be caught up by
the holy angels into the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air :
And is not this agreeable to the words of Christ, that angels
shall gather together his elect ? Whither together, but to the
clouds, or to that place in the air where they shall meet the Lord ?
O the blessed ministry of endeared angels ! They that before
carried up Lazarus 's soul into Abraham's bosom, must now carry
up Lazarus's soul and body, yea, all the souls and bodies of aU
the saints, into the air, where shall be the blessedest meeting that
ever was ; there shall Christ meet with his saints, and never part
again : indeed, here sometimes we meet, and anon we part ; now
556 Communion with Angels.
he comes, and gives us the kisses of his mouth, but ere while he
is gone, and we C17 after him, *^ O where is he whom my soul
lovetb ? I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my
beloved, that you tell him that I am sick of love : but when the
ano-els shall bring us together at this day, we shall never part
more \ for we shall meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we be
for ever vdth the Lord."
4. The angels will separate the good and the bad, the sheep
and goats. " They shall gather out of the kingdom all things
that offend, and them which do iniquity. — They shall sever the
wicked from amongst the just." This separation is sometimes
given to Christ, '«^he shall separate them one from another, as
a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats ; and he shall set
his sheep on the right-hand, but the goats on the left." Christ
shall do it originally, but the angels ministerially, derivatively,
and by way of execution ; Christ commands it, and the angels
accomphsh it. O the joy, and O the horror, of this particular !
•—horror to the wicked, but O what joy will it be to the saints to
meet together, and to see all the wicked in the world thrust out
of their society ! they were before thorns in their sides, and pricks
in their eyes 5 many a tear did they cost the saints to see their
wickedness ; '' Rivers of tears run down mine eyes, because man
keep not thy laws % " many a heart-grieving heart- vexmg thought
hath pierced the saints, to know their sinfulness ; just Lot was
vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. Ah poor man,
it was an hell to him, to dwell with Sodomites, for that righteous
man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righ-
teous soul from day to day with their milawful deeds. Well,
but now they shall never grieve them, trouble them, vex them
any more ; the angels will not only deliver just Lot out of his ill
neighbourhood for a time, but they will free all the righteous
from all the unrighteous in the world for ever and ever : Not one
♦Sodomite, nor one impenitent sinner, shall stand with Christ's
sheep on his blessed right hand ; never more shall the saints cry
out, and say, *^ Woe is us, that we are constrained to dwell with
Mesech, and to have our habitations amongst the tents of Kedar ;"
but rather shall they go on with the Psalmist, and say as in the
next verse, " Our souls have long dwelt with them that hate
peace and holhiess, but now we shall never dwell with them any
more." This will be the angels' work at the last day, they will
gather out of the kingdom all things that offend, all scandalous
wretches, and vile persons, all frov/ard hearts, and privy slan-
derers ; all that have high looks, and proud hearts, all that David
said he would throw out of his house, and from the city of the
Lord, will they also throw out of the kingdom of God, and of
Jesus Christ, that they molest not Christ's sheep any longer.
4. The angels wUl be spectators, admirers, witnesses, ap-
provers, of the mystery of godliness, in the sentence of Christ
on his saints. This piece or part of Christ's meditation in absolv-
Co7mnunio7i with Angels, 567
mg saints, is amongst the rest of those great mysteries of god-
liness seen of angels. Seen ? how seen ? It is not a bare sight,
but such a sight as astonisheth the understanding, and takes up
the heart of blessed angels, " which things the angels desire to
look unto ; " their whole spirits are taken up with it, they cannot
look off it, but stand, and view, and admire, and leap for joy to
see the passages ; they are wrapt up above themselves, to hear the
blessed sentence coming out of Ciirist's moutli, '^ Come, ye
blessed of my Father;" nor is that all, but as they see, so they
witness and approve the acts and passages of Christ in rewarding
saints, '' I will confess them (saith Christ) before the angels of
God;" that is, at the last day I will take them for mine, I will
confess them to belong to me, I will pronounce on them the sen-
tence of absolution, I will do to them as if a king should come
in company, and choose out one, and salute him familiarly, and
call him by his name, and take him by the hand, and confess him
before all to be his friend ; so will I confess the saints to be " my
friends, my jewels, my peculiar treasure, my temple, and taber-
nexcle, where I place my name, the dearly beloved of my soul,
children of the kingdom, yea, the kingdom of heaven itself; " or,
if more honour can be given them, I will confess them to be
^^ my garden, my vineyard, my spouse, my second self, one with
me, as I and my Father are one :" And be ye witnesses of this
my sentence, O ye angels ! I would have you to take notice of
it, to see it, behold it, hear it, admire at it, and to witness with
what equity and proportion I deal with saints ; they confessed
me before men, I confess them before angels : they are not
ashamed of me, nor of my name, before kings and princes, and
therefore now I am not ashamed of them, nor of their name ; so
far am I from blotting their name out of the book of life, tliat
now I " confess their name before my Father, and before his
angels !" Witness it, O ye angels, yea, and approve of it, consent
to my sentence, acknowledge my goodness, justice, mercy, in
saving these souls, by saying Amen, and bidding them welcome
into heaven, and then you have done with your ministration.
At this last passage the angels receive that augmentation of
joy, of which some divines have written. Hall and Andrews,
stars of great magnitude in this orb of the English church, have
both supposed, that angels themselves shall receive an augmen-
tation of happiness at the day of the last judgment, when they
shall be freed from all their charge, and employments. As rest
is the end of all motion, so the perfection of l)lesscdness consists
in rest, and therefore the angels being now discharged of that
charge which they took at the beginning, they have no more to
do, but in one choir to join with tlie saints, and everlastingly to
sing halleluiah, and again halleluiah, and amen halleluiah.
Sect. III. — 0/ the Duties that concern us in this respect,
II. For the duties that concern us in tliis respect : —
558 Communion with Angels,
1. Meditate as if you heard the angels sounding their trumpets,
and sayings Come out of your graves, and appear before Jesus
Christ your judge. Surely these ministering spirits, these espe-
cial messengers, these new-covenant officers, that now wait on
us, and as tender nurses will ere long lay us asleep in the bed of
the grave, will in the morning of the resurrection awake us out
of sleep, and say to us, as the angel to John, Come up hither.
And is not this worthy our morning thoughts, or evening thoughts,
or midnight thoughts ? When we are awake in the night, and
compassed with darkness, and all is quiet and still, suppose then
we heard the sound of angels shouting in the air, Now, souls,
come to your sentence, either of eternal weal, or eternal woe.
Methinks this meditation should work and make every one of us .
say. Lord, if it were thus, what would become of my soul ? In
what case were I ? In what condition were I, if the angel now
sounded ? Was my repentance such when I went to bed, as that
now I dare look the Judge in the face ? was my faith so active,
or is it now so strong, that I can with confidence go to Christ,
and say. Speak, Lord, speak out the doom that thou intendest
to pass upon my soul, for I trust in thee. If so, it is well ; the
Lord keep us continually in such a prepared frame : but if it be
otherwise, O let us think of it, and prepare for it ; let us not put off
repentance from day to day, but let the instant or present mo-
ment be the time of turning from all sin to God, and let us be-
come now, even now, as we would wish to be then, " when the
Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.'^ It were a
blessed meditation that would work us into such a frame ; now
the Lord come in, and both set us at it, and appear to us in it.
2. Cheer up, ye saints, '^ Arise, shine, for your light is coming,
and the glory of the Lord will rise upon you : — who are these
that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?" No
sooner is the summons given, but all the saints " shall be
gathered together from the four winds, from the one end of hea-
ven to another." O what a sight will it be to see the eastern
saints, and western saints, and nothern saints, and southern
saints, flying on the wings of angels, to Christ on his throne !
Why, here is matter of joy: if our evidences are but clear, if we
are but assured that he that is our Judge, hath shed his blood for
us, and given himself for us, I wonder that we are not more spi-
ritually cheerful. Come, though the world scatter us, pei'secute
us, drive us to hills and holes, yet we shall meet together at the
great marriage-supper of the Lamb, and there will be joy indeed ;
the very four- thoughts of this should, methinks, fill our hearts with
joy unspeakable, and full of glory; ''Let us be glad and rejoice,
for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made
herself ready. — Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the
marriage supper of the Lamb ; these are the true sayings of God."
Blessed sayings ! in which, if we open the eye of faith, we may
Communion with Angels, 559
see matter of truest joy, and spiritual ravishment : we are all
invited, if we are but saints, to the marriage- supper of the Lamb.
" Come, and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the
great God : " If you say, how should we come, that must die,
and lie buried in graves, till we rot, and return to our first prin-
ciples ? I answer, these remoras will not, cannot hinder ; for our
very dusts shall be carefully gathered by the hands of angels ; and
when they are gathered and brought together, they shall be put
into form and fashion, far better and perfecter than now they are,
by the ministration of angels ; and when they are formed, and
fashioned, and revived, and spiritualized, we shall be caught up
by the angels into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, thus far
will the angels minister to us ; and therefore, what should hinder
but that we must all meet him, and feast with him ? And if so,
how merry should we be in the mean time, who are admitted,
and invited, to this gracious and glorious feast ! Away, away, all
horrors of guiltiness, false fears, slavish terrors, damps, and
droopings ! Christians ! we must part, and for a time lie and
sleep in solitude and rottenness, but we shall meet again ; there
will be such a congregation of saints at the last day, as never was
since the world's creation ; and as we hope to be a part of that
general assembly, and church of the first-born which are written
in heaven, let us now rejoice in the Lord, and again rejoice.
3. Comply with the angels in separating yourselves from the
society of the wicked. I know the command, " Let both grow
together until the harvest ; " the angels do not, nor must they
separate the wheat and tares before the last day, but then will
God say to his reapers, "• Gather thee together first the tares, and
bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my
barn.^' Come then, and do you know on your part that which the
angels will do on their part at the last day. You w^ill say. What,
would I have you separatists ? I answer, not in opinions, or
heterodox doctrines, but in conversation ; my meaning is, I would
not have you to run with the world into the same excess of riot ;
'' If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous,
or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or extortioner, I would
have you with such an one not to keep company, no, not to eat.
And yet that I be not mistaken, some kind of society, or famili-
arity, I allow withal ; there is a society, more common, and
cold, and general, as in trading, bargaining, buying, selling, &c.
And this. Christians must needs exercise with the men of this
world, except they will go out of the world : but there is a so-
ciety more special, dear, and intimate, and in this respect " I have
written to you (saith the apostle) not to keep company with for-
nicators," (?'. e.) not to have any ordinary, voluntary, friendly,
dear, and intimate society with them. Alas ! who in his right
wits would run upon a man, whom he sees hath the plague-sore
running upon him ? And what Christian in his right mind spi-
ritually, having any fear of God iu his heart, life ui his soul, or
560 Commu7iion with Angels.
tenderness in his conscience, would delightfully thrust himself
into the company of wicked men ? It was writ of Jesus Clirist,
that he was " holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sin-
ners." And such a separatist was David, " I have not sat mth
vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers ; I have hated
the congregation of evil doers, and will not sit with the wicked."
And indeed to think of the angels' work at the last day, it were
enoui?h to make us comply, and to prepare for such a work all
the days of our life. Oh 'what should we do with them m our
hearts* and dearest thoughts, who shall have no better compa-
nions hereafter than devils and the damned !
4. Confess Christ before men, that he may confess you at the
last day before the angels of God ; you may think you are in
prosperity, and flourish, you fear not martyrdom, there is not the
least occasion of the confession of Christ, his truth, and gospel,
unto death, or danger, as the word imports : and therefore this
last advice is not seasonable. But I answer, 1 . We see the bold-
ness of our common adversaries : error on all hands grows inso-
lent, and proud, and daring ; so that now God calls to us from
heaven ' AVho is on my side ? who ? ' 2. We know not how soon
occasion may be both for confession and martyrdom. One ob-
serves, that ' usually before any great persecution befell the church,
the holy men of those times observed, that there was some gi'eat
decay of zeal, and of the power of godliness, or some mutual con-
tentions and quarrels amongst the people of God, or some such
sin or otiier that provoked God against them ; and then, as the
shepherd sets his dog upon the sheep, when they go astray, to
bring them in, so God lets loose wicked persecutors upon his
own children, to bring them in unto himself. And he applies this
to ourselves. It is true (saith he) through God's mercy, we yet
enjoy the gospel of peace, and the peace of the gospel; but how
short a time it may continue, no man knows — this we know,
that schisms, heresies, and blasphemies, never abounded more in
the church of England than at this da}^, that the spirit of division
never raged more, that profaneness never more outfaced the glo-
rious sunshine of the gospel, than at this day ; and surely these
are the forerunners of judgment.' O then let us learn this lesson,
as we would have comfort at the last day ! Come what will come,
let us confess him before men ; let no creature make us to deny
the Lord Jesus Christ ; if his tmth call for it, let us stand it out
against all his enemies, yea, even against the gates of hell, and
devil and all. And then we may comfortably hope, that when
Christ shall come in the clouds with his mighty angels, he will
confess us, and pronounce a blessed sentence upon us, before
God, angels, and men. Amen, even so be it. Amen, and Amen.
Printed by Henry Fisher, at the Caxton Press, London.
f
r, Seminary-Speer Library
1 1012 01131 1927
- cliyffiS Stei___
