4. We must part with all our good parts, and good gifts, and good natures for Christ, 1 Cor. 3.18. If any man seem wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be wise; we must lay aside all carnal wisdom and reasonings, and be content to be counted fools, that we may win Christ.

4. We must part with all our good parts, and good gifts, and good natures for Christ, 1 Cor. 3.18. If any man seem wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be wise; we must lay aside all carnall wisdome and reasonings, and be content to be counted fools, that we may win Christ.

2. We must part with all common graces, which commonly choke all hypocrites, who having received some common gifts and graces, they think they have part in Christ, or else he would not have vouchsafed them such graces, Matth. 7.21, 22. We see there they not only plead their privileges, but their gifts and graces, that they had prophesied in his Name, &c. and so trusting in them, they fell short of saving grace. And it is a wonder to think what a strange change a Spirit of Prophecy works, 1 Sam. 10.10. 1 Sam. 19.20. As in a Scholar, when a man hath been given to loose vain courses, yet when God begins to enlighten his mind, and to enlarge his affection, and comfort his soul; 'tis a wonder to think what a change it will work in a Scholar; so that now he will leave his old vain courses, and compose himself to more edification and spiritualness in his teachings: why; such a change works such a confidence in him, that he thinks all the Congregation may sooner perish then he; and if Ministers may be deceived upon those common gifts and graces, how much more may people be deceived? Herod's joy, and Jehues zeal, all these you may have and yet want Christ, a man may have these, and yet not prize Christ, not give up himself to him, he may still reserve some lust which he favours; therefore if thou hast such common graces, observe, in the midst of those, whether thou cleavest not to some lusts, for so Christ shall tell such at the last day, Depart from me ye workers of iniquities: if thou beest a worker of iniquity, all thy good gifts and parts will deceive thee in the end, but if in the midst of such gifts and graces, thou hast a care to keep thy heart clean, and doest favour no lust, and dost not place any confidence in these, but in Christ, thy case is safe; for this is a true rule: hypocrites though they have many good common gifts and graces, yet they are given up to some sinful way, by which the world shall know ⟨p. 386⟩what they are, by their fruits shall you know them. 3. We must part with all confidence, even in the saving graces of God, Spirit, trust not to them for justification, look not to be justified by them; if you think to be justified by your own works or graces, Christ shall profit you nothing, only by faith in Christ stands our justification, Rom. 4.5, 8. 1 Cor. 4.4.

2. We must part with all common graces, which commonly choake all hypocrites, who having received some common gifts and graces, they think they have part in Christ, or else he would not have vouchsafed them such graces, Matth. 7.21, 22. We see there they not only plead their priviledges, but their gifts and graces, that they had prophesied in his Name, &c. and so trusting in them, they fell short of saving grace. And it is a wonder to think what a strange change a Spirit of Prophesie works, 1 Sam. 10.10. 1 Sam. 19.20. As in a Scholar, when a man hath been given to loose vain courses, yet when God begins to enlighten his mind, and to enlarge his affection, and comfort his soul; 'tis a wonder to think what a change it will work in a Scholar; so that now he will leave his old vain courses, and compose himselfe to more edification and spiritualnesse in his teachings: why; such a change works such a confidence in him, that he thinks all the Congregation may sooner perish then he; and if Ministers may be deceived upon those common gifts and graces, how much more may people be deceived? Herods joy, and Jehues zeal, all these you may have and yet want Christ, a man may have these, and yet not prize Christ, not give up himselfe to him, he may still reserve some lust which he favours; therefore if thou hast such common graces, observe, in the midst of those, whether thou cleavest not to some lusts, for so Christ shall tell such at the last day, Depart from me ye workers of iniquities: if thou beest a worker of iniquity, all thy good gifts and parts will deceive thee in the end, but if in the midst of such gifts and graces, thou hast a care to keep thy heart clean, and doest favour no lust, and dost not place any confidence in these, but in Christ, thy case is safe; for this is a true rule: hypocrites though they have many good common gifts and graces, yet they are given up to some sinfull way, by which the world shall know ⟨p. 386⟩what they are, by their fruits shall you know them. 3. We must part with all confidence, even in the saving graces of God, Spirit, trust not to them for justification, look not to be justified by them; if you think to be justified by your own works or graces, Christ shall profit you nothing, only by faith in Christ stands our justification, Rom. 4.5, 8. 1 Cor. 4.4.

I know nothing by my self, that is, wherein I have failed yet am I not thereby justified, and this is the error of the Romish Church, if God give them any common graces, they look to be justified by them.

I know nothing by my selfe, that is, wherein I have failed yet am I not thereby justified, and this is the errour of the Romish Church, if God give them any common graces, they look to be justified by them.

3. We are said to have Christ by way of Covenant, Isa. 49.8. Psal. 50.5.7. Gather my Saints together to me, those that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice, and then vers. 7. I am God, even thy God, and so the tenure of the Covenant runs, Gen. 17.17. Deut. 29.10. to 13. Deut. 26.17, 18. This day thou hast avouched God to be thy God, Sponsionem stipulatus es, Junius reads it, When Gods people give up themselves to the Lord, and yield themselves to what God requires, the God is their God, and they his people, 2 Cor. 6.17, 18. This Covenant is made by Sacrifice, Psal 50.5. and he means that solemn Sacrifice then offered before the Lord, Exod. 24.7, 8. wherein they promised before the Lord, to be obedient to all the Lord would command them, and on the other side Moses sprinkled the people, and said, Behold the blood of the Covenant, which the Lord hath made with you, which implies when we come to make a Covenant with God, we confess before God that death is our just portion▪ and therefore we look up to Christ, that his blood being sprinkled on us, he might impart life to us; this is to make a Covenant with God: for burnt offerings typed out Christ the meat offerings typed out the people, giving up themselves to God, and when we do thus, God for his part promiseth, to be our God, Gen. 17.7. I will be thy God, that is, not only a good Father a good Mother, a good King, a good friend, but whatsoever is good in the creature, that he promiseth to be to us, he will be a good Father, and Ruler, and Friend, and Husband to us, partly in his own person; that if all those fail, he will be all these unto us, or else he will dispense himself so in those instruments, that we shall see Gods goodness in every creature; when therefore we desire God to be our God, we desire him to do all that good for us that our estate in this life, or another world requires. 2 We on our parts offer our selves to be obedient to every command, and to expect from him all that goodness that he hath promised; and as we offer up our selves to God, so must we offer up all our children and servants and friends, all that are under our reach, we promise before God, that as much as in us lies, we and our household will serve the Lord.

There is a threefold Covenant that passeth between men in civil society in this world. 1 There is a Covenant between Prince and people, 2 Chron. 23.16. 2. Between man and wife, Matth. 2.14. 3 Between friend and friend, thus David and Jonathan made a Covenant together, 1 Sam. 20.16. Now in all these respects God makes a covenant with his people.

1. He makes the covenant of a Kingdom with them that as a King he will rule us and defend us, and we for our part promise to be at his command, and to be obedient subjects to him.

1. He makes the covenant of a Kingdome with them that as a King he will rule us and defend us, and we for our part promise to be at his command, and to be obedient subjects to him.

2. There is a covenant of marriage between God and his people. Jer. 3.14. Turn O back sliding children, for I am married to you, that as a wife promiseth to be for her husband alone, and he for her only; so doth the church promise, that she will be for Christ alone, and he for her, Hos. 3.3.

2. There is a covenant of marriage between God and his people. Jer. 3.14. Turn O back sliding children, for I am marryed to you, that as a wife promiseth to be for her husband alone, and he for her only; so doth the church promise, that she will be for Christ alone, and he for her, Hos. 3.3.

3. There is a covenant of friendship betwixt God and his people, 2 Chron, 13.5. Ought you not to know that the Lord gave the Kingdom to David, and his sons for ever by a Covenant of salt, that is, a covenant of friendship, such a covenant as friends that eat salt together, make and its a perpetual covenant, 2 Chron. 34.31, 32. and this covenant implies not only subjection and affection, but communication of secrets and counsels one to another, and to do all things out of friendship and love, heartily, and readily; thus God said of Abraham, I know that Abraham will command his family to keep the way of the Lord; therefore saith God, shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? If God be our friend, he will communicate many secrets to us, which the world shall not know of, Psal. 25.14. And 2. he will counsel us for the best, Psal. 25.22, so that in a doubtful case, he will still tell us what way to take, he will guide us by his eye, Psal. 32.8. 2. We on our parts shall communicate all our counsels to him, that we shall do nothing, but we shall acquaint him with it, we shall acknowledge, Lord we know not what to do, but our eyes are towards thee, and withal we are ready to do whatsoever God commands us, Psal. 119.5. & 24.

3. There is a covenant of friendship betwixt God and his people, 2 Chron, 13.5. Ought you not to know that the Lord gave the Kingdome to David, and his sons for ever by a Covenant of salt, that is, a covenant of friendship, such a covenant as friends that eat salt together, make and its a perpetua•l covenant, 2 Chron. 34.31, 32. and this covenant implyes not only subjection and affection, but communication of secrets and counsells one to another, and to doe all things out of friendship and love, heartily, and readily; thus God said of Abraham, I know that Abraham wil command his family to keep the way of the Lord; therefore saith God, shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to doe? If God be our friend, he will communicate many secrets to us, which the world shall not know of,

Try therefore if such a covenant have past betwixt you and God, have we for our parts given up our selves to God, be sure God hath prevented us in all this, if there have no such covenant past between you and God, then God is not your God, you have not Christ.

Object: Who is there to be found, that so looks to his own ways, and his households, that he walks so strictly with God as you require?

Object: Who is there to be found, that so looks to his own wayes, and his housholds, that he walks so strictly with God as you require?

Answ. True they that do make a covenant with God often break, even as often as there is a thought, or word, or action that was not from Gods word, or mouth, or counsel, but this is our hope. 1. We have Christ for our surety of this covenant, Heb. 7.22. and he will make up all breaches; when therefore we break covenant with God, let us renew our humiliations, and be ashamed of our breach of covenant and charge our souls for it, and acknowledge, that as we have broken covenant with God, so might God justly break covenant with us, and if we thus return and humble our selves, then God will renew his covenant with us again.

Answ. True they that doe make a covenant with God often break, even as often as there is a thought, or word, or action that was not from Gods word, or mouth, or counsel, but this is our hope. 1. We have Christ for our surety of this covenant, Heb. 7.22. and he will make up all breaches; when therefore we break covenant with God, let us renew our humlliations, and be ashamed of our breach of covenant and charge our souls for it, and acknowledge, that as we have broken covenant with God, so might God justly breake covenant with us, and if we thus return and humble our selves, then God will renew his covenant with us again.

2. We have Christ by way of acceptance, this is expressed, Joh. 1.12. To as many as received him he gave them power to become the sons of God; to receive him, as divers express this place, is to receive him as a Father, as a King, as an Husband, but it may rather be conceived, that to receive Christ, is to receive him into an house or Temple, and this may be gathered from the precedent words, vers. 11. [Greek or Hebrew], is meant his own place or own home, for so it is used, Joh. 19.27. [Greek or Hebrew], he took her into his home, so as many as received him, as many as received him into their hearts, as into a Temple, when we thus receive him, we have him.

2. We have Christ by way of acceptance, this is exprest, Joh. 1.12. To as many as received him he gave them power to become the sons of God; to receive him, as divers expresse this place, is to receive him as a Father, as a King, as an Husband, but it may rather be conceived, that to receive Christ, is to receive him into an house or Temple, and this may be gathered from the precedent words, vers. 11. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, is meant his own place or own home, for so it is used, Joh. 19.27. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, he took her into his home, so as many as received him, as many as received him into their hearts, as into a Temple, when we thus receive him, we have him.

Quest. How do we receive Christ as into a Temple?

Quest. How doe we receive Christ as into a Temple?

Answ. Three ways, 1. When we prepare a way, for him to come into his holy Temple, Mal. 3.1.

Answ. Three wayes, 1. When we prepare a way, for him to come into his holy Temple, Mal. 3.1.

Now what is this preparation? Isa. 40.3, 4.