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THE SOULS EXALTATION.A TREATISE containingThe Souls Union with Christ, on 1 Cor. 6.17.The Souls Benefit from Union with Christ, on 1 Cor. 1.30.The Souls Justification, on 2 Cor. 5.21.By T. H.ROM. 8.30.And whom he called, them he also Justified; and whom he Justified, them he also glorified.LONDON, Printed by John Haviland, for Andrew Crook, and are to be sold at the black Bear in S. Pauls Church-yard, 1638.THE SOVLES EXALTATION.A TREATISE containingThe Soules Vnion with Christ, on 1 Cor. 6.17.The Soules Benefit from Vnion with Christ, on 1 Cor. 1.30.The Soules Justification, on 2 Cor. 5.21.By T. H.ROM. 8.30.And whom he called, them he also Iustified; and whom hee Iustified, them he also glorified.LONDON, Printed by Iohn Haviland, for Andrew Crooke, and are to bee sold at the black Beare in S. Pauls Church-yard, 1638.Title page of The souls exaltation A treatise, London, 1638The souls exaltation A treatiseThe soules exaltation A treatiseThomas Hooker, 1638

Text

pp. 13091 passagespart 1 of 3

Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.

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THE SOULS BENEFIT FROM UNION WITH CHRIST.

THE SOVLES BENEFIT FROM VNION WITH CHRIST.

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By T. H.

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LONDON, Printed by John Haviland, for Andrew Crook, and are to be sold at the Black Bear in S. Pauls Church-yard. 1638.

LONDON, Printed by Iohn Haviland, for Andrew Crooke, and are to be sold at the Black Beare in S. Pauls Church-yard. 1638.

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THE SOULS BENEFIT from Union with CHRIST.

THE SOVLES BENEFIT from Vnion with CHRIST.

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1 CORIN. 1.30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

1 CORIN. 1.30. But of him are yee in Christ Jesus, who is made unto us wisdome, righteousnesse, sanctification, and redemption.

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:120p. 58–60

Secondly, there must be an intercourse or a communication of the sap in the stock to the graft: so it is with Christ, what ever he hath, he hath for his Church and people, and what ever he doth, he doth for his Church and servants; so that there is a kind of conveyance of the virtue of his merits, and power of his grace, unto the souls of those that believe in him, and are knit unto him by a true and a lively faith: we have done with the […] that the soul hath with Christ: we are ⟨p. 59⟩now to speak of the heavenly and spiritual communion, the intercourse between the Lord and the soul, when the soul is married unto him; and this is that we aim at, this is that we look at at this time; and this I must tell you by the way, that our purpose is not to meddle with the particulars at this time, but only with the general nature of the communion of the soul with Christ: now for the discovery of this work, we have chosen the words of the text now read unto you, and the scope of the words it is mainly this; to discover unto us the dowry and feoffment of all that spiritual grace that is conveyed and made sure to the believing soul, being made one with the Lord Jesus: that look as it is with a man that hath a fair estate to himself, it is only his own, but when the wife is wooed, and brought home, & married, he gives over the right of himself unto her, and if he make over his estate unto her, she hath title thereunto: this now is the dowry of a Christian, the Lord Jesus Christ is no bad match, you must not think you could have done better; it is a wonder, that ever our Saviour would take us to himself, or show favour to us, but the case is clear, if a believer be called, and brought home to Christ, Christ is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; Christ hath all, and whatsoever Christ hath, it is all yours, you have title thereunto, and shall receive sap and benefit therefrom, if you have hearts to take that good God offers, and you may receive: we will not now ⟨p. 60⟩meddle with the severals in the verse, but these two things must be specially attended to in the words, that we may make way for our selves in the point we have to trade withal;

Secondly, there must be an intercourse or a communication of the sap in the stock to the graft: so it is with Christ, what ever he hath, he hath for his Church and people, and what ever he doth, he doth for his Church and servants; so that there is a kinde of conveyance of the vertue of his merits, and power of his grace, unto the soules of those that beleeve in him, and are knit unto him by a true and a lively faith: wee have done with the 〈…〉 that the soule hath with Christ: we are ⟨p. 59⟩now to speake of the heavenly and spirituall communion, the intercourse betweene the Lord and the soule, when the soule is married unto him; and this is that wee aime at, this is that wee looke at at this time; and this I must tell you by the way, that our purpose is not to meddle with the particulars at this time, but onely with the generall nature of the communion of the soule with Christ: now for the discovery of this worke, wee have chosen the words of the text now read unto you, and the scope of the words it is mainly this; to discover unto us the dowrie and feofment of all that spirituall grace that is conveyed and made sure to the beleeving soule, being made one with the Lord Jesus: that looke as it is with a man that hath a faire estate to himselfe, it is only his owne, but when the wife is wooed, and brought home, & married, he gives over the right of himselfe unto her, and if hee make over his estate unto her, shee hath title thereunto: this now is the dowry of a Christian, the Lord Jesus Christ is no bad match, you must not thinke you could have done better; it is a wonder, that ever our Saviour would take us to himselfe, or shew favour to us, but the case is cleare, if a beleever be called, and brought home to Christ, Christ is made to us wisdome, and righteousnesse, and sanctification, and redemption; Christ hath all, and whatsoever Christ hath, it is all yours, you have title thereunto, and shall receive sap and benefit therefrom, if you have hearts to take that good God offers, and you may receive: wee will not now ⟨p. 60⟩meddle with the severals in the verse, but these two things must be specially attended to in the words, that we may make way for our selves in the point we have to trade withall;

:125p. 61

Lastly, because while we wander up and down this vale of tears, and in this pilgrimage of ours, we shall be oppressed with many evils, that will lye upon us, and death it self, which is the last enemy, will seize upon us, and captivate our bodies in the grave, therefore Christ is made unto us redemption, he will take away all trouble, and wipe all tears from our eyes, nay, he will break open the grave, and deliver his Saints from thence. The Heathen to make the Saints of God sure in time of persecution, they first slew them, and then they burnt their bodies to ashes, and then threw them into the water, and then they said, Let us now see how they will rise again; alas, poor creatures, why, the Lord loves the very dust, the very ashes of his Saints in the grave, and the Lord will redeem our bodies from the grave, and our names from dishonour, and our lives from trouble, and our souls from sin, and will set us free from all miseries and inconveniences at the great day of account; these are the four things, wherein the dowry and feoffment of a believing soul consists: I will not now trade in the particulars, but only in the general, and show how that every believing soul, that rests upon Christ by faith, hath an interest in these.

Lastly, because while we wander up and downe this vale of teares, and in this pilgrimage of ours, wee shall bee oppressed with many evils, that will lye upon us, and death it selfe, which is the last enemy, will seize upon us, and captivate our bodies in the grave, therefore Christ is made unto us redemption, he will take away all trouble, and wipe all teares from our eyes, nay, hee will breake open the grave, and deliver his Saints from thence. The Heathen to make the Saints of God sure in time of persecution, they first slew them, and then they burnt their bodies to ashes, and then threw them into the water, and then they said, Let us now see how they will rise againe; alas, poore creatures, why, the Lord loves the very dust, the very ashes of his Saints in the grave, and the Lord will redeeme our bodies from the grave, and our names from dishonour, and our lives from trouble, and our soules from sinne, and will set us free from all miseries and inconveniences at the great day of account; these are the foure things, wherein the dowry and feofment of a beleeving soule consists: I will not now trade in the particulars, but only in the generall, and shew how that every beleeving soule, that rests upon Christ by faith, hath an interest in these.

:126p. 61–62

The second thing considerable is this, to whom all these things belong, and the text tells us, Christ is made all this to us; and the truth is, it is made over to all believers, there is not one man exempted, not one man excluded, every believing creature hath a part and portion herein: however ⟨p. 62⟩the holy Apostle crowds in for a share, and if we look into the 26, 27, 28. verses, we shall see to whom this belongs, Ye know your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the things that are mighty; why then to you fools, why then to you weak things, Christ is made wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; to you poor ones, to you weak ones Christ is made all this; nay, look into the 28. verse, God hath chosen the base things of the world, and the things that are despised; nay, and the things that are not, to bring to nought the things that are; that is to say, the off-scouring of the world, the scrapings, as I may so say: look as a man flings away the scrapings of things as nothing worth, why so the parings of the world, you that are nothing in the esteem of the world, a company of poor base simplicians; Christ is made wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption to them; in a word then be it known to every believing creature, though he have not a strong faith, yet if he have but a true faith, to you Christ is made all that mercy and grace, that the word discovers, and the Lord hath purchased, and you need.

The second thing considerable is this, to whom all these things belong, and the text tels us, Christ is made all this to us; and the truth is, it is made over to all beleevers, there is not one man exempted, not one man excluded, every beleeving creature hath a part and portion herein: however ⟨p. 62⟩the holy Apostle crowds in for a share, and if wee looke into the 26, 27, 28. verses, wee shall see to whom this belongs, Ye know your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mightie, not many noble are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weake things of the world, to confound the things that are mightie; why then to you fooles, why then to you weake things, Christ is made wisdome, and righteousnesse, and sanctification, and redemption; to you poore ones, to you weake ones Christ is made all this; nay, looke into the 28. verse, God hath chosen the base things of the world, and the things that are despised; nay, and the things that are not, to bring to nought the things that are; that is to say, the off-scouring of the world, the scrapings, as I may so say: looke as a man flings away the scrapings of things as nothing worth, why so the parings of the world, you that are nothing in the esteeme of the world, a company of poore base simplicians; Christ is made wisdome, and righteousnesse, and sanctification, and redemption to them; in a word then bee it knowne to every beleeving creature, though he have not a strong faith, yet if he have but a true faith, to you Christ is made all that mercie and grace, that the word discovers, and the Lord hath purchased, and you need.

:127p. 62–63

Now add the last thing, the text saith, Christ is made all this; the meaning is, Christ is appointed, and set apart, and fitted by God the Father to this purpose, to be wisdom and righteousness, ⟨p. 63⟩and to the poor, and the base, and despised, and to the things that are not, God hath set him apart to this purpose; as for the wise, and honourable, and mighty, they must shift for themselves, and trust to their own strength and sufficiency; but you that are poor and base, you that believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, he is made unto you, all that the soul can want, or the heart desire; so that now then we have done with the meaning of the words, and the opening thereof, so far as serveth our purpose, intending only to trade in the general, concerning the communion of the graft with the stock; we have showed you, how the soul is made one with the Lord Jesus, and how the soul is contracted to Christ; and now we shall come to show the feoffment that God hath promised, and we shall receive at his Majesties hand.

Now adde the last thing, the text saith, Christ is made all this; the meaning is, Christ is appointed, and set apart, and fitted by God the Father to this purpose, to be wisdome and righteousnesse, ⟨p. 63⟩and to the poore, and the base, and despised, and to the things that are not, God hath set him apart to this purpose; as for the wise, and honourable, and mighty, they must shift for themselves, and trust to their owne strength and sufficiencie; but you that are poore and base, you that beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ, hee is made unto you, all that the soule can want, or the heart desire; so that now then we have done with the meaning of the words, and the opening thereof, so farre as serveth our purpose, intending only to trade in the generall, concerning the communion of the graft with the stock; wee have shewed you, how the soule is made one with the Lord Jesus, and how the soule is contracted to Christ; and now wee shall come to shew the feofment that God hath promised, and wee shall receive at his Majesties hand.

:128p. 63–64

Doctrine. The doctrine is, that there is a conveyance of all spiritual grace, from Christ, to all those that believe in him, I doubt not, but every man would be content, if he had a fair estate, to see his evidences, and every woman that matcheth with a man, would see what she might hold her self to; what if the man dye? and what if his means decay, what will he estate her in? now see your dowry, and the point is this, that there is a conveyance of all spiritual grace from Christ to all faithful believers in the world; well then, you see the point; we will add a little by way of confirmation, and you shall see the consent of the Scriptures, how they agree together herein, and ⟨p. 64⟩we will add somewhat also by way of explication, to unfold the nature thereof, that we may see what these invaluable treasures are: for the proof of the point, one or two places will be sufficient to cast the case; Ephes. 1.3. there Paul blesseth God in Jesus Christ, that hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; so that there are blessings of three sorts, all blessings, all spiritual blessings, all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, and all given freely, but it is in Christ, he is the conduit that conveyeth this, and wherein the streams of life and grace flow amain, to make glad the city of God, to make glad the Saints of God, and the souls of those that believe in him; hence (it is remarkable Jude 2.) it is called, Common salvation by Christ; and so Christ is said to be a common Saviour consequently, not common to all the world, that every beast may browse upon him, and sin, and have a Saviour to save him, but he is common to all the faithful, common to all believers: that look as it is in a common or forrest, every dweller, and every inhabitant upon the common hath a share therein, no man can challenge any part of the common peculiar to himself, and say, This part is mine, and no man shall put any cattle here but I, but the common is every mans that dwells thereupon, and the poorest man may put on his cattle without control, and drive his cattle whither he list, on to the best part thereof, and improve it to his best benefit, without contradiction:

Doctrine. The doctrine is, that there is a conveyance of all spirituall grace, from Christ, to all those that beleeve in him, I doubt not, but every man would be content, if he had a faire estate, to see his evidences, and every woman that matcheth with a man, would see what she might hold her selfe to; what if the man dye? and what if his meanes decay, what will hee estate her in? now see your dowrie, and the point is this, that there is a conveyance of all spirituall grace from Christ to all faithfull beleevers in the world; well then, you see the point; we will adde a little by way of confirmation, and you shall see the consent of the Scriptures, how they agree together herein, and ⟨p. 64⟩we will adde somewhat also by way of explication, to unfold the nature thereof, that wee may see what these invaluable treasures are: for the proofe of the point, one or two places will be sufficient to cast the case; Ephes. 1.3. there Paul blesseth God in Jesus Christ, that hath blessed us with all spirituall blessings in heavenly places in Christ; so that there are blessings of three sorts, all blessings, all spirituall blessings, all spirituall blessings in heavenly places, and all given freely, but it is in Christ, hee is the conduit that conveyeth this, and wherein the streames of life and grace flow amaine, to make glad the city of God, to make glad the Saints of God, and the soules of those that beleeve in him; hence (it is remarkable Iude 2.) it is called, Common salvation by Christ; and so Christ is said to be a common Saviour consequently, not common to all the world, that every beast may brouse upon him, and sinne, and have a Saviour to save him, but he is common to all the faithfull, common to all beleevers: that looke as it is in a common or forrest, every dweller, and every inhabitant upon the common hath a share therein, no man can challenge any part of the common peculiar to himselfe, and say, This part is mine, and no man shall put any cattell here but I, but the common is every mans that dwels thereupon, and the poorest man may put on his cattell without controll, and drive his cattell whither he list, on to the best part thereof, and improve it to his best benefit, without contradiction:

:129p. 64–65

so Christ is a common Saviour, and the ⟨p. 65⟩richest mercies, and the preciousest promises, and the greatest grace and salvation that is in Christ Jesus, every poor believing soul, thou art a commoner, and a borderer, and it is a common salvation, there is a fountain set open for Judah and Jerusalem to wash in, thou mayest take any, and receive benefit from the greatest and preciousest promises that the word reveals, or thou standest in need of; 1 Pet. 1.3. he then saith, that God through his divine power hath given unto us all things belonging to life and godliness, through the acknowledgement of him that hath called us to glory and virtue, what ever it is a man would have or can need, belonging to life or godliness, he hath given unto us all things through the acknowledgement of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; if thou canst rest upon Christ in believing, then God will give unto thee all things through Christ, belonging to life and godliness; so then we have the proof of the point, by the joint consent of several Scriptures: now we will add a word or two by way of explication, that we may see the value of this dowry, that God hath promised, and will bestow upon those that love and fear his name: now for the explication of the point, we will do these two things;

so Christ is a common Saviour, and the ⟨p. 65⟩richest mercies, and the preciousest promises, and the greatest grace and salvation that is in Christ Iesus, every poore beleeving soule, thou art a commoner, and a borderer, and it is a common salvation, there is a fountaine set open for Iudah and Ierusalem to wash in, thou maist take any, and receive benefit from the greatest and preciousest promises that the word reveales, or thou standest in need of; 1 Pet. 1.3. hee then saith, that God through his divine power hath given unto us all things belonging to life and godlinesse, through the acknowledgement of him that hath called us to glory and vertue, what ever it is a man would have or can need, belonging to life or godlinesse, hee hath given unto us all things through the acknowledgement of him that hath called us to glory and vertue; if thou canst rest upon Christ in beleeving, then God will give unto thee all things through Christ, belonging to life and godlinesse; so then we have the proofe of the point, by the joynt consent of severall Scriptures: now wee will adde a word or two by way of explication, that we may see the value of this dowry, that God hath promised, and will bestow upon those that love and feare his name: now for the explication of the point, wee will doe these two things;

:133p. 66–67

The first is this, there is fully enough in the Lord Jesus for every faithful soul, that whatever grace, or whatever mercy he shall stand in need of or want, there is no scarcity, there is no kind of scantness in the Lord Christ this way; in all other graces in this world, in all temporal things, when any estate is to be imparted, it is but in some particulars, either money must be paid such a day, or land must be possessed when such a party dies, but there was never any man could make such tenure, as if a man should make a feoffment to his wife, of long life, and peace, and grace, and salvation, it is in no mans power to do this; some men have a great deal of good things in this world, and many have little besides; and again, all men have not an all-sufficiency to supply and succour a man according to all his necessities; but here is the excellency of this dowry, that whatever it is the soul wants or stands in need of, the Lord hath it in himself, and will communicate it to the soul for his good; Colos. 2.3. this is that the Apostle implies, In whom, saith he, are all the treasures of wisdom and holiness; ⟨p. 67⟩and mark the value and worth of the phrase; he doth not say, great sums of holiness, and wisdom, and mercy, and the like, but the treasures, and not some treasures, but all: the richest men in the world, that have the greatest estates and treasures, one mans estate lieth in lands, another mans lieth in goods, another mans lieth in money, but no man hath all treasures, but in Christ are all the treasures of all mercy, and all compassion, of all grace and salvation, whatever is needful for us, and may be beneficial to those that believe in him, and rest upon him by a true and a lively faith; and however the soul may think this treasure may be spent, and this fountain of mercy, and compassion drawn dry, and can my sins be pardoned? and my corruptions subdued? Christ doth prevent this also; we may spend what we will, there is still enough to spend upon; Ephes. 3.8. There are insearchable riches in Christ; as who should say, Thou knowest no end, thou findest no bottom of the vileness of thy heart, that doth pollute thee and defile thee, why there is no end of the riches of Christ, no bottom of the Ocean sea of Gods mercy, that may comfort thee and relieve thee upon all occasions; John 3.34.

The first is this, there is fully enough in the Lord Jesus for every faithfull soule, that whatever grace, or whatever mercie hee shall stand in need of or want, there is no scarcity, there is no kinde of scantnesse in the Lord Christ this way; in all other graces in this world, in all temporall things, when any estate is to be imparted, it is but in some particulars, either money must bee paid such a day, or land must be possessed when such a partie dies, but there was never any man could make such tenure, as if a man should make a feofment to his wife, of long life, and peace, and grace, and salvation, it is in no mans power to doe this; some men have a great deale of good things in this world, and many have little besides; and againe, all men have not an all-sufficiencie to supply and succour a man according to all his necessities; but here is the excellencie of this dowry, that whatever it is the soule wants or stands in need of, the Lord hath it in himselfe, and will communicate it to the soule for his good; Colos. 2.3. this is that the Apostle implies, In whom, saith he, are all the treasures of wisdome and holinesse; ⟨p. 67⟩and marke the value and worth of the phrase; hee doth not say, great su•mes of holinesse, and wisdome, and mercie, and the like, but the treasures, and not some treasures, but all: the richest men in the world, that have the greatest estates and treasures, one mans estate lieth in lands, another mans lieth in goods, another mans lieth in money, but no man hath all treasures, but in Christ are all the treasures of all mercy, and all compassion, of all grace and salvation, whatever is needfull for us, and may be beneficiall to those that beleeve in him, and rest upon him by a true and a lively faith; and however the soule may thinke this treasure may be spent, and this fountaine of mercy, and compassion drawne dry, and can my sinnes be pardoned? and my corruptions subdued? Christ doth prevent this also; we may spend what we will, there is still enough to spend upon; Ephes. 3.8. There are insearchable riches in Christ; as who should say, Thou knowest no end, thou findest no bottome of the vilenesse of thy heart, that doth pollute thee and defile thee, why there is no end of the riches of Christ, no bottome of the Ocean sea of Gods mercy, that may comfort thee and releeve thee upon all occasions; Iohn 3.34.

:134p. 67–68

the text saith, Christ received the Spirit above measure, as if Christ would prevent the cavils of a poor creature, and pluck up a discouraged heart; when the sinner thinks, my sins are out of measure sinful, and my heart is out of measure hard; why think and remember, that in Christ there is mercy out of measure merciful, ⟨p. 68⟩and grace out of measure powerful, there thou shalt see bloody Manasseh, idolatrous Manasseh, abominable Manasseh, in the Lord Jesus he hath received the pardon of all his sins, and yet there is pardon enough for thee too: there thou shalt see Paul a persecutor, and the bloody jailer; there is that power in the Lord Jesus, that crushed the pride of the heart of Paul, and that brake the heart of the bloody jailer, that stood it out a long time, the earth shook, and the prison shook, and the doors flew open, he stood still all this while, at last the Lord made him shake and all, as well as the earth; why, and yet there is power enough for thee too; in Christ there is fullness without measure, take you may what you will, there is enough still for all; Ephes. 1 last verse, the text saith, that Christ is the head of all his church, and the church is his body, and what followeth? even The fullness of him that filleth all in all things, that is, he fills all his servants with all that grace, and mercy, and compassion they need, so that there is a fullness in the Lord Jesus, and there is enough to supply all the wants of a believing creature, and to relieve him in regard of all those necessities, that lye upon him; that is the first.

the text saith, Christ received the Spirit above measure, as if Christ would prevent the cavils of a poore creature, and pluck up a discouraged heart; when the sinner thinks, my sinnes are out of measure sinfull, and my heart is out of measure hard; why thinke and remember, that in Christ there is mercy out of measure mercifull, ⟨p. 68⟩and grace out of measure powerfull, there thou shalt see bloudy Manasses, idolatrous Manasses, abominable Manasses, in the Lord Jesus he hath received the pardon of all his sinnes, and yet there is pardon enough for thee too: there thou shalt see Paul a persecutor, and the bloudy jaylor; there is that power in the Lord Iesus, that crushed the pride of the heart of Paul, and that brake the heart of the bloudy jaylor, that stood it out a long time, the earth shooke, and the prison shooke, and the doores flew open, hee stood still all this while, at last the Lord made him shake and all, as well as the earth; why, and yet there is power enough for thee too; in Christ there is fulnesse without measure, take you may what you will, there is enough still for all; Ephes. 1 last verse, the text saith, that Christ is the head of all his church, and the church is his body, and what followeth? even The fulnesse of him that filleth all in all things, that is, he fils all his servants with all that grace, and mercie, and compassion they need, so that there is a fulnesse in the Lord Jesus, and there is enough to supply all the wants of a beleeving creature, and to releeve him in regard of all those necessities, that lye upon him; that is the first.

:135p. 68–70

Secondly, as there is enough in Christ to supply all the wants of his Saints, so in the second place Christ doth supply unto them whatever is fitting for them, there is enough for every Saint of God, and the Lord doth supply whatever is most fit for every man, whatever is most proportionable to the need of a poor soul, and to the place ⟨p. 69⟩and condition wherein God hath set him; this is the limits of Gods bounty, whatever may supply my need or fit my place, that God hath see me in and called me to, that God supplies and gives sufficient grace and mercy, answerable thereunto; I will open the point at large, because it is somewhat difficult; look as it is with a wise father that hath a fair estate, and hath enough for his children, and those that depend upon him, and is willing also to bestow abundantly upon them according to their occasions; this is the wisdom of a wise father, he will stock his child according to the calling wherein he is; so many hundreds will do no more than serve one man in that place whereunto he is called, whereas so many scores haply will serve another man; if one man hath less, he cannot trade; if another man hath more, he cannot use it, he hath more stock than he can employ; the merchant that ventures far, hath great employments, many thousands will scarce furnish him: but a poor man, as a weaver, or a shoemaker, or the like, many thousands are more than he can use in his trade: again, the wise father considers, if the child be a spend-thrift and in debt, there is more required to set up him, than him that is but now going into the world, or haply aforehand: so Christ as a wise father deals with his faithful servants, there are many of Gods faithful servants, which are advanced, some to greater places in the Church, some in the commonwealth, some godly Magistrates, and religious Ministers; now there is a great deal ⟨p. 70⟩of wisdom required for a Magistrate that stands in the face of the world, and in the mouth of the canon, to accomplish great things for the glory of God, and the good of his Church; so a Minister, a little grace which is sufficient to save a mans soul, is not enough for him to trade withal; some again are leaders and commanders, as masters of families; some again are able Christians, which are fit to be helpful unto others;

Secondly, as there is enough in Christ to supply all the wants of his Saints, so in the second place Christ doth supply unto them whatever is fitting for them, there is enough for every Saint of God, and the Lord doth supply whatever is most fit for every man, whatever is most proportionable to the need of a poore soule, and to the place ⟨p. 69⟩and condition wherein God hath set him; this is the limits of Gods bounty, whatever may supply my need or fit my place, that God hath see me in and called me to, that God supplies and gives sufficient grace and mercie, ans•erable thereunto; I will open the point at large, because it is somewhat difficult; looke as it is with a wise father that hath a faire estate, and hath enough for his children, and those that depend upon him, and is willing also to bestow abundantly upon them according to their occasions; this is the wisdome of a wise father, he will stock his childe according to the calling wherein he is; so many hundreds will doe no more than serve one man in that place whereunto hee is called, whereas so many scores haply will serve another man; if one man hath lesse, hee cannot trade; if another man hath more, hee cannot use it, hee hath more stock than he can employ; the merchant that ventures farre, hath great employments, many thousands will scarce furnish him: but a poore man, as a weaver, or a shoomaker, or the like, many thousands are more than hee can use in his trade: againe, the wise father considers, if the childe bee a spend-thrift and in debt, there is more required to set up him, than him that is but now going into the world, or haply aforehand: so Christ as a wise father deals with his faithfull servants, there are many of Gods faithfull servants, which are advanced, some to greater places in the Church, some in the commonwealth, some godly Magistrates, and religious Ministers; now there is a great deale ⟨p. 70⟩of wisdome required for a Magistrate that stands in the face of the world, and in the mouth of the canon, to accomplish great things for the glory of God, and the good of his Church; so a Minister, a little grace which is sufficient to save a mans soule, is not enough for him to trade withall; some againe are leaders and commanders, as masters of families; some againe are able Christians, which are fit to bee helpfull unto others;

:136p. 70–71

again, some are cast behind hand in a Christian course, who, before God opened their eyes, and discovered their sins, and brought them home, they lived a riotous course, those old arrearages of pride and looseness many years together, a man is wonderful in debt in this manner; now to bring home such a sinner, and to pardon such a sinner, and to sanctify such a soul, there is a great deal of mercy required, and a great deal of grace required, there are many proud-hearted, and many stout-hearted, as Beelzebub himself, that take up arms against God himself, and stand in defiance against the Lord of hosts: now answerable to their conditions and corruptions, answerable to their debts and base courses, when God will bring such a creature home unto himself, he hath answerably strange blows for him; as it is said of Nebuchadnezzar, the Lord humbled him mightily; so when the Lord comes to meet with an old loose adulterer, and an old base drunkard, and a sturdy persecutor as Paul was, an ordinary stroke will not do the work, therefore as he had a great deal of mercy for Paul, so he had a great ⟨p. 71⟩deal to do before he could humble Paul, he flung him off his horse, as he was posting to Damascus, and might have broken his neck: again, men sometimes are driven to great trials and straights, as when God calls men to great trials and sufferings; now God doth apply to every man, according to his estate and condition; he that God hath set as a commander in his Church, as a Minister to teach, and a Magistrate to rule, and a master of a family, Gods fits graces unto them, according to their estates, the Lord takes measure of a mans estate as it were, and suits him proportionably with all graces necessary for his condition: again, they that are meaner and poorer, they shall have wisdom, and sanctification, and redemption, but answerable to their conditions; that is observable, Ephes. 4.16. Paul there calling our Saviour Christ the head of the Church, and his faithful servants the members of this head, he saith, By whom all the members being knit together, according to their effectual working in their measure they receive increase;

againe, some are cast behinde hand in a Christian course, who, before God opened their eyes, and discovered their sinnes, and brought them home, they lived a riotous course, those old arrerages of pride and loosnesse many yeares together, a man is wonderfull in debt in this manner; now to bring home such a sinner, and to pardon such a sinner, and to sanctifie such a soule, there is a great deale of mercy required, and a great deale of grace required, there are many proud-hearted, and many stout-hearted, as Beelzebub himselfe, that take up armes against God himselfe, and stand in defiance against the Lord of hosts: now answerable to their conditions and corruptions, answerable to their debts and base courses, when God will bring such a creature home unto himselfe, hee hath answerably strange blowes for him; as it is said of Nebuchadnezer, the Lord humbled him mightily; so when the Lord comes to meet with an old loose adulterer, and an old base drunkard, and a sturdy persecutor as Paul was, an ordinary stroke will not doe the worke, therefore as he had a great deale of mercy for Paul, so hee had a great ⟨p. 71⟩deale to doe before hee could humble Paul, hee flung him off his horse, as he was posting to Damascus, and might have broken his neck: againe, men sometimes are driven to great trials and straights, as when God cals men to great trials and sufferings; now God doth apply to every man, according to his estate and condition; he that God hath set as a commander in his Church, as a Minister to teach, and a Magistrate to rule, and a master of a family, Gods fits graces unto them, according to their estates, the Lord takes measure of a mans estate as it were, and suits him proportionably with all graces necessary for his condition: againe, they that are meaner and poorer, they shall have wisdome, and sanctification, and redemption, but answerable to their conditions; that is observable, Ephes. 4.16. Paul there calling our Saviour Christ the head of the Church, and his faithfull servants the members of this head, hee saith, By whom all the members being knit together, according to their effectuall working in their measure they receive increase;

:137p. 71–73

as for example, in the body so much life and spirit, as belongs to the finger is in the finger, but there is more in the arm than in the finger, and more in the bulk of the body than in the arm, that which suits with such a part, it hath it, and that which suits with such a part, nature bestows it, there is not so much in the finger, as in the hand, nor so much in the hand, as in the arm, nor so much in the arm, as in the body, because it is not suitable and proportionable; nature will not do it, God will not ⟨p. 72⟩suffer it: so some Christians are arms in the body of the Church, some fingers, some legs; some are strong Christians, that bear up a great weight in profession, stout, and strong, and resolute, and the like: now the Lord communicates all grace and mercy suitable for every mans place and condition; thou that art a finger, shalt have so much grace as befits a finger; and thou that art an hand, thou shalt have so much grace as shall save thee, and is fit for thy place; but another is an arm, and he shall have more, but all shall have that which is fitting; therefore the text saith, Christ is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; that look as a man that makes a garment, he takes measure of the man for whom he makes it, and fits every part according to the part of the body, the arm of the doublet is suitable to the arm of the body, and so Christ is made righteousness and sanctification to all poor believing creatures; thou art an arm in the body of Christ, he is made so much wisdom and sanctification to thee, as will serve thy turn; thou hast had a great many sins, and hast been a rioter and a roister before God opened thine eyes, and brought thee home to himself: why, there is great mercy in Christ suitable to thy sins, there is mercy in Christ to justify thee, if thou hast never so few sins, and there is mercy enough in Christ to justify the greatest sinner, if he can but believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; and this is the second passage in this article of agreement, in the tenure of the conveyance ⟨p. 73⟩of grace from Christ to the soul: the Lord hath enough for all, and he doth communicate what is fit and proportionable to every mans estate and condition.

as for example, in the body so much life and spirit, as belongs to the finger is in the finger, but there is more in the arme than in the finger, and more in the bulk of the body than in the arme, that which suits with such a part, it hath it, and that which suits with such a part, nature bestowes it, there is not so much in the finger, as in the hand, nor so much in the hand, as in the arme, nor so much in the arme, as in the body, because it is not sutable and proportionable; nature will not doe it, God will not ⟨p. 72⟩suffer it: so some Christians are armes in the body of the Church, some fingers, some legs; some are strong Christians, that beare up a great weight in profession, stout, and strong, and resolute, and the like: now the Lord communicates all grace and mercy sutable for every mans place and condition; thou that art a finger, shalt have so much grace as befits a finger; and thou that art an hand, thou shalt have so much grace as shall save thee, and is fit for thy place; but another is an arme, and hee shall have more, but all shall have that which is fitting; therefore the text saith, Christ is made unto us wisdome, righteousnesse, sanctification, and redemption; that looke as a man that makes a garment, hee takes measure of the man for whom he makes it, and fits every part according to the part of the body, the arme of the doublet is sutable to the arme of the body, and so Christ is made righteousnesse and sanctification to all poore beleeving creatures; thou art an arme in the body of Christ, hee is made so much wisdome and sanctification to thee, as will serve thy turne; thou hast had a great many sinnes, and hast beene a rioter and a roister before God opened thine eyes, and brought thee home to himselfe: why, there is great mercy in Christ sutable to thy sinnes, there is mercy in Christ to justifie thee, if thou hast never so few sinnes, and there is mercy enough in Christ to justifie the greatest sinner, if hee can but beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ; and this is the second passage in this article of agreement, in the tenure of the conveyance ⟨p. 73⟩of grace from Christ to the soule: the Lord hath enough for all, and he doth communicate what is fit and proportionable to every mans estate and condition.

:138p. 73–74

The third thing is this, as the Lord doth communicate what is fit, so he doth preserve what he doth bestow and communicate, and give to the believing soul; he doth not give grace to the believing soul, and there leave him, and let him manage his estate, but when he hath wrought grace in the soul, he preserves it, and nourisheth his own work; Psal. 16.5. there the Prophet David saith, The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and he maintaineth my lot; he doth not only give him his lot, but he maintains his lot: it is a comparison taken from the children of Israel, when they came into the land of Canaan, it was divided to every tribe by lot; now God did not only bring them into the land, and give them their lot, but he maintained that lot, he defended them, and relieved them from the fury and rage of their adversaries, that went about to take away that which God had bestowed upon them; now the Psalmist saith, The Lord is my portion, and he maintaineth my lot; every believing soul hath a lot and portion in Christ, so much grace, and holiness, and so much assurance; now the Lord doth not only give this, but when you are weak and feeble, the Lord keeps your grace, and preserves your grace which he hath bestowed upon you; therefore Christ is said to be the preserver of his Church, Jude 1. To you that are called, and sanctified, ⟨p. 74⟩preserved by Jesus Christ; Christ is not only the giver of grace, but he is the preserver of his Church, and that is the meaning of that phrase, when our Saviour had implanted grace in the heart of Peter, he did not only plant it by his Spirit, but he watered it by his prayers, that it might not wither away, I have prayed, that thy faith fail not, he did not only give him faith, that was not enough, but he watered his faith by his prayers, that it might not wither, and dye, and decay; 1 Pet. 1.4. hence it is said, that he preserves us by the power of God through faith unto salvation; and faith keeps the soul, and Christ keeps faith, faith is the hand that lays hold upon Christ, and Christ lays hold upon faith, and we have a kingdom preserved for us, and he preserveth us for it, and this is the pith of that phrase, Psal. 1. the text saith, The righteous man is like the tree planted by the rivers side, that brings forth fruit in due season, whose leaf shall not fade;

The third thing is this, as the Lord doth communicate what is fit, so he doth preserve what hee doth bestow and communicate, and give to the beleeving soule; hee doth not give grace to the beleeving soule, and there leave him, and let him manage his estate, but when hee hath wrought grace in the soule, he preserves it, and nourisheth his owne worke; Psal. 16.5. there the Prophet David saith, The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, and he maintaineth my lot; he doth not only give him his lot, but he maintaines his lot: it is a comparison taken from the children of Israel, when they came into the land of Canaan, it was divided to every tribe by lot; now God did not onely bring them into the land, and give them their lot, but he maintained that lot, he defended them, and releeved them from the fury and rage of their adversaries, that went about to take away that which God had bestowed upon them; now the Psalmist saith, The Lord is my portion, and hee maintaineth my lot; every beleeving soule hath a lot and portion in Christ, so much grace, and holinesse, and so much assurance; now the Lord doth not onely give this, but when you are weake and feeble, the Lord keeps your grace, and preserves your grace which hee hath bestowed upon you; therefore Christ is said to be the preserver of his Church, Iude 1. To you that are called, and sanctified, ⟨p. 74⟩preserved by Iesus Christ; Christ is not only the giver of grace, but he is the preserver of his Church, and that is the meaning of that phrase, when our Saviour had implanted grace in the heart of Peter, he did not only plant it by his Spirit, but he watered it by his prayers, that it might not wither away, I have prayed, that thy faith faile not, hee did not only give him faith, that was not enough, but he watered his faith by his prayers, that it might not wither, and dye, and decay; 1 Pet. 1.4. hence it is said, that hee preserves us by the power of God through faith unto salvation; and faith keeps the soule, and Christ keeps faith, faith is the hand that layes hold upon Christ, and Christ layes hold upon faith, and wee have a kingdome preserved for us, and he preserveth us for it, and this is the pith of that phrase, Psal. 1. the text saith, The righteous man is like the tree planted by the rivers side, that brings forth fruit in due season, whose leafe shall not fade;

:139p. 74–76

he doth not say, his sap shall not wither, but his leaf shall not wither, not only that gracious disposition of heart which is wrought shall never decay in the Saints of God, but a zealous profession shall never decay in conclusion; how ever a tree be nipped with the cold and frost, yet in conclusion it will bud forth again: so the sap of grace that Christ works in us, and conveyeth to us, being planted by the fountain of the Lord Jesus in the midst of persecution and fiery trial, they shall grow humble, and meek, and holy in despite of what can befall them, for a Christian is not conquered when he loseth his life, but ⟨p. 75⟩when he loseth his grace; as take a man that is led into captivity, into Turkey, into Algeir, or the like, the aim of him that takes him, is not to take away his life, but to make him deny his colours and commander, and if he can make him do this, then he conquers him, but if he dye under the hand of the tyrant, if he be more able to stand for his commander and country, than he is to drive him from it, if he can bear misery better than he can inflict it, then he is not conquered, but conquers; so it is here, a Saint of God is never mastered, before his patience be mastered, and his holiness crushed; but when a man is more able to bear misery, than the enemy to lay misery upon him, if his patience hold, and his courage hold, and his uprightness hold, he is not conquered in this case, but he is a conqueror: therefore the place is excellent, Isaiah 58.8. see how the Lord preserves his people, he is said to be the whole army of his servants, (however there be many storms, yet the rivers of water make glad the people of God) the text saith, Thy righteousness shall go before thee, and the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward; (when a man doth walk uprightly and sincerely, we must presume, that a man is in a combat, for why doth he speak of the rearward else) there are two parts in a battle; first, the vaunt-guard, which is the former part of the battle; Secondly, the rear- ward, which is the hinder part of the battle; now Christ is both these, you shall have enemies before you in the vaunt-guard, and you shall have enemies behind you to smite you in ⟨p. 76⟩the rear-ward, now righteousness shall go before thee, that is the vaunt-guard;

he doth not say, his sap shall not wither, but his leafe shall not wither, not onely that gracious disposition of heart which is wrought shall never decay in the Saints of God, but a zealous profession shall never decay in conclusion; how ever a tree be nipt with the cold and frost, yet in conclusion it will bud forth againe: so the sap of grace that Christ workes in us, and conveyeth to us, being planted by the fountaine of the Lord Jesus in the midst of persecution and fiery triall, they shall grow humble, and meeke, and holy in despight of what can befall them, for a Christian is not conquered when hee loseth his life, but ⟨p. 75⟩when he loseth his grace; as take a man that is led into captivitie, into Turkie, into Algeir, or the like, the aime of him that takes him, is not to take away his life, but to make him deny his colours and commander, and if hee can make him doe this, then he conquers him, but if hee dye under the hand of the tyrant, if he be more able to stand for his commander and countrie, than he is to drive him from it, if he can beare misery better than hee can inflict it, then hee is not conquered, but conquers; so it is here, a Saint of God is never mastered, before his patience bee mastered, and his holinesse crushed; but when a man is more able to beare misery, than the enemy to lay misery upon him, if his patience hold, and his courage hold, and his uprightnesse hold, he is not conquered in this case, but he is a conquerer: therefore the place is excellent, Esay 58.8. see how the Lord preserves his people, hee is said to be the whole army of his servants, (however there bee many storms, yet the rivers of water make glad the people of God) the text saith, Thy righteousnesse shall goe before thee, and the glory of the Lord shall bee thy rearward; (when a man doth walke uprightly and sincerly, wee must presume, that a man is in a combat, for why doth hee speake of the rearward else) there are two parts in a battell; first, the vant-gard, which is the former part of the battell; Secondly, the rear- ward, which is the hinder part of the battell; now Christ is both these, you shall have enemies before you in the vant-gard, and you shall have enemies behinde you to smite you in ⟨p. 76⟩the rear-ward, now righteousnesse shall goe before thee, that is the vant-gard;

:141p. 76–77

The fourth part of the tenure and conveyance of grace to the faithful soul is this (and I speak but only in the general) the Lord doth not only preserve what grace he gives, but he quickens that grace he maintains, he draws forth that ability he bestows, he puts life unto that strength and succour which he vouchsafeth to work in the hearts of his children; hence all those places are marvellous pregnant, God giveth the will and the deed, so that it is not only the having, but the doing, that we have need of from God; and Paul professeth, that he hath not only grace from Christ, but he lives not, but Christ liveth in him, if Christ did all in him, and this is that we shall observe, Luke 1.74. That he would grant us, saith the text, that being redeemed from the hand of our enemies, we might serve him without fear; take notice of two things here, First, that the Saints of God are redeemed and justified by Christ, and now one would think a man that is justified, and hath Christ, ought trade for himself, no, but that he would grant us, that being redeemed from the hand of our enemies, we might serve him without fear, it is one grant to be redeemed, and it ⟨p. 77⟩is a new grant to serve him without fear; as it is a mercy for God to bestow ability before we have it, so it is a mercy to quicken that ability which he vouchsafes, that we may honour him by it, and he may honour himself by us; therefore it is a most pregnant place, Colos. 1. last verse, when Paul was there labouring what he could, yet as though he had nothing, as though he did nothing, he gives all to God; for mark the manner of the sense of the words, Whereunto, saith he, I also labour and strive; (the word in the original signifies, I sweat at it, and take great pains) according to his working, which worketh in me mightily; Paul laboured and strived; but how comes this about? his striving is by the working of Christ, and by his working he works; as who should say, It is grace I have any grace, it is he assisting, it is he co-operating, it is he accompanying, (I know not what to say) it is his work works, and he works mightily in them that work and strive to advance the glory of God: so then we have those four particulars, that in reason almost might satisfy any man; what you want, Christ hath; what is fit, Christ will bestow;

The fourth part of the tenure and conveyance of grace to the faithfull soule is this (and I speake but only in the generall) the Lord doth not onely preserve what grace hee gives, but hee quickens that grace he maintains, he drawes forth that ability hee bestowes, hee puts life unto that strength and succour which hee vouchsafeth to worke in the hearts of his children; hence all those places are marvellous pregnant, God giveth the will and the deed, so that it is not onely the having, but the doing, that wee have need of from God; and Paul professeth, that hee hath not onely grace from Christ, but he lives not, but Christ liveth in him, if Christ did all in him, and this is that wee shall observe, Luke 1.74. That hee would grant us, saith the text, that being redeemed from the hand of our enemies, we might serve him without feare; take notice of two things here, First, that the Saints of God are redeemed and justified by Christ, and now one would thinke a man that is justified, and hath Christ, •ght trade for himselfe, no, but that he would grant us, that being redeemed from the hand of our enemies, wee might serve him without feare, it is one grant to be redeemed, and it ⟨p. 77⟩is a new grant to serve him without feare; as it is a mercie for God to bestow ability before wee have it, so it is a mercy to quicken that abilitie which hee vouchsafes, that wee may honour him by it, and he may honour himselfe by us; therefore it is a most pregnant place, Colos. 1. last verse, when Paul was there labouring what hee could, yet as though hee had nothing, as though hee did nothing, he gives all to God; for marke the manner of the sense of the words, Whereunto, saith he, I also labour and strive; (the word in the originall signifies, I sweat at it, and take great paines) according to his working, which worketh in me mightily; Paul laboured and strived; but how comes this about? his striving is by the working of Christ, and by his working he works; as who should say, It is grace I have any grace, it is hee assisting, it is he co-operating, it is he accompanying, (I know not what to say) it is his worke works, and hee works mightily in them that worke and strive to advance the glory of God: so then we have those foure particulars, that in reason almost might satisfie any man; what you want, Christ hath; what is fit, Christ will bestow;

:143p. 77–79

Fifthly, therefore as he quickens what he maintains, so he perfects what he quickens, he doth not only enable us to do what we should, but he ⟨p. 78⟩makes us make work of it, and he brings to perfection what he bestows, Heb. 12.23. there the text speaks of the spirits of just and perfect men, he begins the work, and never leaves, till he makes the work perfect; it is Christ that puts a mans weapons into his hands, it is Christ that teacheth him to fight with those weapons, and it is Christ that gives him the victory in that fight; 1 Corin. 15.55. O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law, but blessed be God, that hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ; the weapons are Christs, and the fight is Christs, and the victory is Christs; he will not only bring you into the field, and put weapons into your hands, but give you the victory and all: you Saints of God that sink under the fierceness of temptations without, and corruptions within, he will give you grace, he will give you weapons, and you shall triumph over all your enemies; therefore Ephes. 4.13. it is said, He will bring his body to a perfect stature; all the Saints of God are compared to members, now look as it is in the body, every member doth increase, according to its measure, till it come to its full bigness; so it is in the body of Christ, all the members thereof shall increase, till they come to be perfect: hath God given thee a heart to look towards Zion? and hast thou any intimation of his love? then though the word and means may fail, he will provide help and means, he will never leave thee, till thou art a perfect man and ⟨p. 79⟩woman, till thou hast attained to be a perfect member in the body of the Lord Jesus Christ: there is no withered bow in this stock of the Lord Jesus Christ, but as he gives grace, so he will bring it to perfection in its measure, God will never leave thee till he hath brought thee to that perfection he hath appointed: now a man would think here were enough, but yet a little further, and then I am as far as I can go, my thoughts can reach no higher.

Fiftly, therefore as he quickens what hee maintains, so hee perfects what hee quickens, hee doth not only inable us to doe what we should, but he ⟨p. 78⟩makes us make worke of it, and he brings to perfection what he bestowes, Heb. 12.23. there the text speaks of the spirits of just and perfect men, hee begins the worke, and never leaves, till hee makes the worke perfect; it is Christ that puts a mans weapons into his hands, it is Christ that teacheth him to fight with those weapons, and it is Christ that gives him the victory in that fight; 1 Corin. 15.55. O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victorie? the sting of death is sinne, and the strength of sinne is the law, but blessed be God, that hath given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ; the weapons are Christs, and the fight is Christs, and the victory is Christs; he will not onely bring you into the field, and put weapons into your hands, but give you the victory and all: you Saints of God that sinke under the fiercenesse of temptations without, and corruptions within, hee will give you grace, hee will give you weapons, and you shall triumph over all your enemies; therefore Ephes. 4.13. it is said, Hee will bring his body to a perfect stature; all the Saints of God are compared to members, now looke as it is in the body, every member doth increase, according to its measure, till it come to its full bignesse; so it is in the body of Christ, all the members thereof shall increase, till they come to be perfect: hath God given thee a heart to looke towards Zion? and hast thou any intimation of his love? then though the word and meanes may faile, he will provide help and meanes, he will never leave thee, till thou art a perfect man and ⟨p. 79⟩woman, till thou hast attained to bee a perfect member in the body of the Lord Jesus Christ: there is no withered bow in this stock of the Lord Jesus Christ, but as he gives grace, so he will bring it to perfection in its measure, God will never leave thee till hee hath brought thee to that perfection he hath appointed: now a man would think here were enough, but yet a little further, and then I am as farre as I can goe, my thoughts can reach no higher.

:144p. 79–80

Sixthly, then when the Lord hath perfected that grace he hath bestowed upon us, then when a man comes to the end of his days, he crowns all the grace he hath perfected; it were enough, and a child's portion to give us grace, and vouchsafe us mercy, but when we come in heaven, when he hath given us weapons, and taught us to fight, and made us conquerors, then he will crown us, and is not this enough? but so it is, 2 Tim. 4.6. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, from henceforth is laid up for me a crown of glory, and not for me only, but for all those that love the appearing of his coming; he makes us work, and he rewards us for what he hath wrought in us; he enables us to do the service, and he pays us our wages: in the second commandment, the text saith, I will show mercy to thousands of generations, in them that love me; one would think now, that they which loved God deserved mercy, no, I will show mercy, what you do, it is all from Gods mercy, if you love God, it is mercy, and if God crown that mercy, it is love also; so Paul saith, The Lord ⟨p. 80⟩show mercy to Onesiphorus, for he relieved me; one would think that this would have merited everlasting life; no, the Lord show mercy, he hath refreshed me in my trouble, and done service of love to me, and glory to God, now the Lord show mercy to him; so that the Lord gives us grace, and he crowns that grace he gives, he makes us work, and he rewards the work, he gives us the victory, and he makes us triumph, and be more than conquerors; thus then we have the tenure of this conveyance: and now I may read your feoffment to you, you poor Saints of God, you live beggarly and basely here, yet this is the best match that ever you made in the world, you are made for ever, if you have a Saviour, it is that which will maintain you, not only Christianly, but triumphantly; you shall have enough here, & too much hereafter, if too much can be conceived or received; what you want Christ hath, you need not go a begging to other mens doors; Secondly, you need not think he is churlish and unkind, but whatsoever you need, and is fit for you, he will give you, but you must not be malapert and saucy with the Lord Jesus, and say, Why have not I this as well as others? no, you shall have what is fitting; Thirdly, he will maintain what he gives;

Sixtly, then when the Lord hath perfected that grace hee hath bestowed upon us, then when a man comes to the end of his dayes, he crowns all the grace he hath perfected; it were enough, and a childes portion to give us grace, and vouchsafe us mercy, but when wee come in heaven, when he hath given us weapons, and taught us to fight, and made us conquerors, then he will crowne us, and is not this enough? but so it is, 2 Tim. 4.6. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, from henceforth is laid up for me a crowne of glory, and not for me only, but for all those that love the appearing of his comming; he makes us worke, and he rewards us for what hee hath wrought in us; he inables us to doe the service, and hee payes us our wages: in the second commandement, the text saith, I will shew mercie to thousands of generations, in them that love me; one would thinke now, that they which loved God deserved mercy, no, I will shew mercy, what you doe, it is all from Gods mercy, if you love God, it is mercy, and if God crowne that mercy, it is love also; so Paul saith, The Lord ⟨p. 80⟩shew mercy to Onesiphorus, for hee releeved mee; one would thinke that this would have merited everlasting life; no, the Lord shew mercy, hee hath refreshed mee in my trouble, and done service of love to mee, and glory to God, now the Lord shew mercy to him; so that the Lord gives us grace, and hee crowns that grace hee gives, hee makes us worke, and hee rewards the worke, hee gives us the victory, and he makes us triumph, and be more than conquerors; thus then we have the tenure of this conveyance: and now I may read your feofment to you, you poore Saints of God, you live beggarly and basely here, yet this is the best match that ever you made in the world, you are made for ever, if you have a Saviour, it is that which will maintaine you, not onely Christianly, but triumphantly; you shall have enough here, & too much hereafter, if too much can be conceived or received; what you want Christ hath, you need not goe a begging to other mens doores; Secondly, you need not thinke he is churlish and unkinde, but whatsoever you need, and is fit for you, he will give you, but you must not be malepart and sawcy with the Lord Jesus, and say, Why have not I this as well as others? no, you shall have what is fitting; Thirdly, he will maintaine what he gives;

:146p. 81–82

Use. 1 Is it thus then? to us, saith the text, to us; who are those? I pray, inquire of it; look into the 26. verse, You know your calling, that is, those that are called, those that believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; to us, those are the people mentioned, those are the persons intended; therefore in the first place it is a matter of lamentation and complaint, which we shall in a word intimate, to those to whom it belongs, if all this good be appointed for all the servants of God, and only the servants of God, for the called, and none but the called, then it is a thunderbolt, able to break the heart, and sink the soul of every unbelieving creature under heaven, and make him shake at the misery of his condition, and the evil that shall betide him: you that are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity, that have stood it out with Christ, and he could never prevail with you, but you would take up your own courses, and he hath come, and called, and knocked, will that proud heart never come? will that drunken wretch never be reformed? you that are such, whatever you be, I say, know this, and know it to your sorrow, and trouble, and vexation of spirit, you are shut out from sharing in, you are cut off from partaking of the riches of the grace, and the ⟨p. 82⟩plentiful redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ to this day, you that are unbelievers, I say, to this day you are in darkness, your minds were never enlightened, to this day the guilt and curse of sin lies upon your consciences, and the pollution of sin lies upon your souls and defiles them, to this day condemnation hangeth over your heads, John 3.18. He that believes not, is condemned already, and he shall never see light, but the wrath of God abideth on him; I beseech you observe it, this is that which one would think, should cut a mans conscience, and be a corrosive to his soul, whatsoever he doth, wheresoever he is, we think this should crush all his delight, he that believes not, shall never see light; he may see his gold and the profits of the world, and he may see his friends, and the comforts of this life, and then he hath his portion;

Vse. 1 Is it thus then? to us, saith the text, to us; who are those? I pray, inquire of it; looke into the 26. verse, You know your calling, that is, those that are called, those that beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ; to us, those are the people mentioned, those are the persons intended; therefore in the first place it is a matter of lamentation and complaint, which wee shall in a word intimate, to those to whom it belongs, if all this good be appointed for all the servants of God, and only the servants of God, for the called, and none but the called, then it is a thunderbolt, able to breake the heart, and sinke the soule of every unbeleeving creature under heaven, and make him shake at the misery of his condition, and the evill that shall betide him: you that are in the gall of bitternesse, and in the bond of iniquitie, that have stood it out with Christ, and he could never prevaile with you, but you would take up your owne courses, and hee hath come, and called, and knocked, will that proud heart never come? will that drunken wretch never bee reformed? you that are such, whatever you be, I say, know this, and know it to your sorrow, and trouble, and vexation of spirit, you are shut out from sharing in, you are cut off from partaking of the riches of the grace, and the ⟨p. 82⟩plentifull redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ to this day, you that are unbeleevers, I say, to this day you are in darknesse, your mindes were never inlightned, to this day the guilt and curse of sinne lyes upon your consciences, and the pollution of sinne lyes upon your soules and defiles them, to this day condemnation hangeth over your heads, Iohn 3.18. He that beleeves not, is condemned already, and he shall never see light, but the wrath of God abideth on him; I beseech you observe it, this is that which one would thinke, should cut a mans conscience, and be a corasive to his soule, whatsoever he doth, wheresoever he is, we thinke this should crush all his delight, he that beleeves not, shall never see light; hee may see his gold and the profits of the world, and hee may see his friends, and the comforts of this life, and then hee hath his portion;

:147p. 82–84

all you drunken unbelieving wretches, all you stubborn, profane, malicious creatures, you have your portion, much good do you with your sops, you have your part, but there is no meddling for you with the consolation and redemption that is in the Lord Jesus Christ: the text saith, He is made to us; you poor Saints of God, do not suffer them to scramble, and take the meat off the table, he was made to us, take you your portion, and God refresh your hearts therewith, but you that are unbelievers, have no part nor portion at all in this rich revenues and precious dowry that God vouchsafeth to his Saints; I know what they will be ready to say, but they cozen themselves; we are haply naught, and our ⟨p. 83⟩courses are vile, but yet I hope there is mercy, and sanctification, and redemption in the Lord Jesus Christ: aye, it is true, there is enough, there is rich mercy, that is more, and there is plentiful redemption, I tell you that too; but this is thy misery, thou poor creature, thou hast no part nor share therein, when a man that is hungry shall see all dainties prepared, when a man that is almost starved, shall see abundance of provision, wardrobes of clothes to cover him, and abundance of meat to refresh him, and yet one starves, and the other famisheth; this is the greatest misery of all, to see meat and not to eat it, to see clothes and not to put them on; now the Lord open your eyes, and prevail with your hearts, there are many unbelievers, there are a world of unbelievers, but now take notice of it, this will be thy misery, because thou shalt see whole treasures of mercy counted out before, mercy for Manasseh, and mercy for Paul, and mercy for the bloody jailer, and mercy for such a rebellious sinner, that humbled himself before God, and no mercy for thee, there is plentiful, rich, abundant redemption in the Lord Jesus Christ, but thou shalt never partake thereof; when thou shalt see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and a company of poor creatures go into heaven at the day of the resurrection, when thou shalt see a company of poor creatures go up to Christ, and receive mercy, and great redemption, and thou shalt go without, this will be gall and worm-wood to thy soul, and strike thy soul into everlasting despair, ⟨p. 84⟩therefore the Lord open thine eyes, that thou mayest come in, and receive mercy at his Majesties hand:

all you drunken unbeleeving wretches, all you stubborne, prophane, malicious creatures, you have your portion, much good doe you with your sops, you have your part, but there is no medling for you with the consolation and redemption that is in the Lord Jesus Christ: the text saith, He is made to us; you poore Saints of God, doe not suffer them to scramble, and take the meat off the table, he was made to us, take you your portion, and God refresh your hearts therewith, but you that are unbeleevers, have no part nor portion at all in this rich revenues and precious dowrie that God vouchsafeth to his Saints; I know what they will bee ready to say, but they couzen themselves; we are haply naught, and our ⟨p. 83⟩courses are vile, but yet I hope there is mercie, and sanctification, and redemption in the Lord Jesus Christ: aye, it is true, there is enough, there is rich mercie, that is more, and there is plentifull redemption, I tell you that too; but this is thy miserie, thou poore creature, thou hast no part nor share therein, when a man that is hungrie shall see all dainties prepared, when a man that is almost starved, shall see abundance of provision, wardrobs of clothes to cover him, and abundance of meat to refresh him, and yet one starves, and the other famisheth; this is the greatest miserie of all, to see meat and not to eat it, to see clothes and not to put them on; now the Lord open your eyes, and prevaile with your hearts, there are many unbeleevers, there are a world of unbeleevers, but now take notice of it, this will be thy miserie, because thou shalt see whole treasures of mercie counted out before, mercie for Manasses, and mercie for Paul, and mercie for the bloudy jaylour, and mercie for such a rebellious sinner, that humbled himselfe before God, and no mercie for thee, there is plentifull, rich, abundant redemption in the Lord Jesus Christ, but thou shalt never partake thereof; when thou shalt see Abraham, and Isaak, and Iakob, and a companie of poore creatures goe into heaven at the day of the resurrection, when thou shalt see a companie of poore creatures goe up to Christ, and receive mercie, and great redemption, and thou shalt goe without, this will bee gall and worm-wood to thy soule, and strike thy soule into everlasting despaire, ⟨p. 84⟩therefore the Lord open thine eyes, that thou maist come in, and receive mercie at his Majesties hand:

:149p. 84–85

Use. 2 The second use therefore is a ground of comfort, and that is the proper inference and collection from the former doctrine; is it so, that the Lord Jesus Christ conveyeth all grace to all believers, to all his poor servants from day to day? then you that have a share therein, and have interest to all the riches of Gods goodness, let this be a cordial to cheer your drooping hearts, and stay your souls, notwithstanding temptations, notwithstanding persecution, notwithstanding opposition, notwithstanding any thing that may befall you for the present, or any thing you may fear for the future time, cheer up your drooping spirits in the consideration hereof, and be for ever comforted, for ever contented, for ever refreshed; you have a fair portion, what would you have? what can you desire? what would quiet you? what will content you? would the wisdom of a Christ satisfy you? would the sanctification of a Christ please you? would the redemption of a Christ cheer you? you complain your hearts are hard, and your sins great, and your selves miserable, ⟨p. 85⟩and many are the troubles that lie upon you: will the redemption of a Christ now satisfy you? if this will do it, it is all yours; his wisdom is yours, his righteousness is yours, his sanctification is yours, his redemption is yours, all that he hath is yours, and I think this is sufficient, if you know when you are well: therefore go away cheered, go away comforted, Christ is yours, therefore be fully contented. I would not have the Children of God drooping and dismayed, because haply of the policy of the world, their parts are great, and they reach deep, and in the mean time your parts are small, and your ignorance great, and your memories feeble: 1 Pet. 11. Be not thou troubled, be not thou discontented, because of that which they have thou wantest: for know, thy portion is better than theirs; the wisdom of Christ, is better than all the policy of the world; the sanctification of a Christ, is better than all the reformation, and all the tricks of all cunning Hypocrites under Heaven; the redemption of a Christ, is better than all the hope and safety the world can afford: this is thy part and portion, therefore be thou satisfied therewith: the wisdom, saith James, that is malicious and envious, and the like, it is earthly, carnal, sensual, and devilish;

Vse. 2 The second use therefore is a ground of comfort, and that is the proper inference and collection from the former doctrine; is it so, that the Lord Jesus Christ conveyeth all grace to all beleevers, to all his poore servants from day to day? then you that have a share therein, and have interest to all the riches of Gods goodnesse, let this be a cordiall to cheare your drooping hearts, and stay your soules, notwithstanding temptations, notwithstanding persecution, notwithstanding opposition, notwithstanding any thing that may befall you for the present, or any thing you may feare for the future time, cheare up your drooping spirits in the consideration hereof, and be for ever comforted, for ever contented, for ever refreshed; you have a faire portion, what would you have? what can you desire? what would quiet you? what will content you? would the wisedome of a Christ satisfie you? would the sanctification of a Christ please you? would the redemption of a Christ cheare you? you complaine your hearts are hard, and your sinnes great, and your selves miserable, ⟨p. 85⟩and many are the troubles that lie upon you: will the redemption of a Christ now satisfie you? if this will doe it, it is all yours; his wisedome is yours, his righteousnesse is yours, his sanctification is yours, his redemption is yours, all that he hath is yours, and I thinke this is sufficient, if you know when you are well: therefore goe away cheared, goe away comforted, Christ is yours, therefore be fully contented. I would not have the Children of God drooping and dismaid, because haply of the policy of the world, their parts are great, and they reach deepe, and in the meane time your parts are small, and your ignorance great, and your memories feeble: 1 Pet. 11. Be not thou troubled, be not thou discontented, because of that which they have thou wantest: for know, thy portion is better than theirs; the wisedome of Christ, is better than all the policy of the world; the sanctification of a Christ, is better than all the reformation, and all the trickes of all cunning Hypocrites under Heaven; the redemption of a Christ, is better than all the hope and safetie the world can afford: this is thy part and portion, therefore be thou satisfied therewith: the wisdome, saith Iames, that is malicious and envious, and the like, it is earthly, carnall, sensuall, and devillish;

:150p. 85–87

but the wisdom that is from above, it is first pure, then meek, then abundant in good works: one drop of this wisdom of a Christ, is better than all the wisdom in the world: art thou a poor creature, and knowest Christ to be thy Saviour, and hast an intimation of the love of God to be thy Father, ⟨p. 86⟩and the Spirit thy Comforter? thy knowledge is more worth, than all the knowledge of all the great Cardinals, and mighty Popes, and learned Clerks, upon the face of the earth; a dram of gold is better than a cart-load of earth, it is little, but it is precious; so it is here, a dram of spiritual wisdom, it is golden wisdom, it is heavenly wisdom, it is able to make thee wise unto salvation; a dram of that wisdom, though it be little, is worth a thousand cart-loads of that dung-hill, carnal wisdom, that all the machiavellian Politicians in the world can have or improve; therefore quiet thy self, and content thy soul, that it is sufficient, that what thou wantest, Christ will supply unto thee, dost thou want wisdom? Christ will be thy wisdom; dost thou want memory? Christ will be thy remembrance; hast thou a dead heart? Christ will enlarge thee; whatever is awanting on thy part, there is nothing awanting on Christs part, but he will do whatsoever is fitting for thee; therefore let nothing hinder thee from that comfort that may bear up thy heart in the greatest trial: but I know what troubles you; the poor soul will say, Is Christ wisdom to me? that is a like matter, did I but think that, were my judgement convinced, and my heart persuaded of that, I were satisfied; What I? what such a base creature as I am? let not that baseness that hangs upon thee, nor the means of thy condition that troubles thee, discourage thy heart, for that cannot withdraw Gods favour from thee, nor abridge thee of that favour and ⟨p. 87⟩mercy, that is tendered unto thee in the Lord Jesus Christ, all the baseness of the place wherein thou art, and the means of thy condition cannot hinder thee of this favour; look upon the text, to whom is this promise made? to whom doth the Apostle speak? He is made to us; to us base ones, to us foolish ones; thou art ignorant and foolish, be it so; thou art base and weak, grant that; despised in the world and made nothing of, confess that, and all:

but the wisedome that is from above, it is first pure, then meeke, then abundant in good workes: one drop of this wisdome of a Christ, is better than all the wisdome in the world: art thou a poore creature, and knowest Christ to bee thy Saviour, and hast an intimation of the love of God to be thy Father, ⟨p. 86⟩and the Spirit thy Comforter? thy knowledge is more worth, than all the knowledge of all the great Cardinals, and mightie Popes, and learned Clearks, upon the face of the earth; a dram of gold is better than a cart-load of earth, it is little, but it is precious; so it is here, a dram of spirituall wisdome, it is golden wisdome, it is heavenly wisdome, it is able to make thee wise unto salvation; a dram of that wisdome, though it be little, is worth a thousand cart-loads of that dung-hill, carnall wisdome, that all the machivilian Politicians in the world can have or improve; therefore quiet thy selfe, and content thy soule, that it is sufficient, that what thou wantest, Christ will supply unto thee, dost thou want wisdome? Christ will be thy wisdome; dost thou want memory? Christ will be thy remembrance; hast thou a dead heart? Christ will inlarge thee; whatever is awanting on thy part, there is nothing awanting on Christs part, but he will do whatsoever is fitting for thee; therefore let nothing hinder thee from that comfort that may beare up thy heart in the greatest triall: but I know what troubles you; the poore soule will say, Is Christ wisdome to me? that is a like matter, did I but thinke that, were my judgement convinced, and my heart perswaded of that, I were satisfied; What I? what such a base creature as I am? let not that basenesse that hangs upon thee, nor the meanes of thy condition that troubles thee, discourage thy heart, for that cannot withdraw Gods favour from thee, nor abridge thee of that favour and ⟨p. 87⟩mercie, that is tendered unto thee in the Lord Jesus Christ, all the basenesse of the place wherein thou art, and the meanes of thy condition cannot hinder thee of this favour; looke upon the text, to whom is this promise made? to whom doth the Apostle speake? He is made to us; to us base ones, to us foolish ones; thou art ignorant and foolish, bee it so; thou art base and weake, grant that; despised in the world and made nothing of, confesse that, and all:

THE SOULS BENEFIT from Union with CHRIST.

THE SOVLES BENEFIT from Vnion with CHRIST.

Reformers309

Puritans1,782

Westminster Assembly24

Evangelicals36

THE SOULS BENEFIT from Union with CHRIST.

THE SOVLES BENEFIT from Vnion with CHRIST.