The Believer's Riddle; or, The Mystery of Faith
“JD> EADER, the following enigmatic song
Does not to wisest nat’ralists belong: Their wisdom is but folly on this head; They here may ruminate, but cannot read. For tho’ they glance the words, the meaning chokes. They read the lines, but not the paradox. The subject will, howe’er the phrase be blunt, Their most acute intelligence surmount, If with the nat’ral and acquired sight They share not divine evangelic light.
Great wits may rouse their fancies, rack their And after all their labour lose their pains; [brains, Their wisest comments were but witless chat, Unapt to frame an explication pat. No unregen’rate mortal’s best engines Can right unriddle these few rugged lines; Nor any proper notions thereof reach, Though sublimated to the highest stretch. Masters of reason, plodding men of sense, Who scorn to mortify their vain pretence. In this mysterious deep might plod their fill; It overtops the top of ail their skill. The more they vainly huff, and scorn to read The more it does their foolish wit exceed.
ue ;i man so account of us, as of the ministers ofChrisI and stewards of the mysteries <>t’ God. LCoriCh: tVer I TilE BELIEVERS RIDDLE. 115
Those sinners that are sanctify VI in part, May read this riddle truly in their heart. Yea, weakest saints may feel its truest sense, Both in their sad and sweet experience. Don’t overlook it with a rambling view, And rash suppose it neither good nor true. Let Heaven’s pure oracles the truth decide; Renounce it, if it can’t that test abide. Noble Bereans soon the sense may hit, Who sound the divine depth of sacred writ, Not by what airy carnal reason saith, But by the golden line of heaven-spun faith.
Let not the naughty phrase make you disprove The weighty matter which deserves your love. High strains would spoil the riddle’s grand intent, To teach the weakest, most illiterate saint, That Mauanalm is his proper name; In whom two struggling hosts make bloody game. That such may know, whose knowledge is but rudet How good consists with ill, and ill with good. That saints be neither at their worst nor best, Too much exalted, or too much deprest.
This paradox is fitted to disclose The skill of Zion’s friends above her foes; To difference by light that Heaven transmits, Some happy fools from miserable wits, And thus (if bless’d) it may in some degree Make fools their wit, and wits their folly see. Slight not the riddle then like jargon vile, Because not garnish’d with a pompous style. Could th’ author act the lofty poet’s part Who make their sonnets soar on wings of art, He on this theme had blush’d to use his skill, And either dipt his wings, or broke his quill.
Why, this enigma climbs such divine heights As scorn to be adorn’d with human flights, These gaudy strains would lovely truth disgrace, purest paint deforms a comely face.
HeavVs mysteries are ‘bove art’s ornamenr, Immensely brighter than its brightest paint. No tow’ ring lit’rator could e’er outwit The plainest diction fetched from sacred writ By winch mere blazing 1 het’ric is outdone, As twinkling stars are by the radiant sun. The soaring orators, who can with ease Strain the quintessence of hyperboles, And clothe the barest theme with purest dress, Might here expatiate much, yet say the less, If wi’ th’ majestical simplicity Of scripture orat’ry they disagree.
These lines pretend not to aftect the sky, Content among inglorious shades to lie, Provided sacred truth be fitly clad, Or glorious shine ev’n through the dusky shade. Mark then, though you should miss the gilded strain,, If they a store of golden truth contain: Nor under-rate a jewel rare and prime, Though wrapt up in the rags of homely rhime.
Though haughty Deists hardly stoop to say, That nature’s night has need of scripture day: Yet gospel-light alone will cleariy shew How ev’ry sentence here is just and true, Expel the shades that may the mind involve, And soon the seeming contradiction solve. All fatal errors in the world proceed From want of skill, such mysteries to read, Vain men the double branch of truth divide. Hold by the one, and slight the other side.
Hence proud A rminians cannot reconcile Freedom of grace with freedom of the will. The blinded Papist won’t discern nor see How works are good unless they justify. Thus legalists distinguish not the odds Between their home-bred righteousness and God’s,- Antinomists the saints perfection plead. Nor duiv sever ‘tween Ihcm and their Head*
Tur. relieyer’s riddle. 117
Socinians won’t these seeming odds agree, How heav’n is bought, and yet salvation free. Bold Arians hate to reconcile or scan, How Christ is truly God and truly man: Holding the one part of ImmanueTs name, The otner part outrageously blaspheme. The sound in faith no part of truth controul: Heretics own the half, but not the whole.
Keep then the sacred myst’ry still entire; To both the sides of truth do favour bear, Not quitting one to hold the other branch; But passing judgment on an equal bench; The Riddle has two feet, and were but one Cut off, truth falling to the ground were gone. Tis all a contradiction, yet all true, And happy truth, if verify’d in you.
Go forward then to read the lines, but stay read the riddle also by the way.
* Prov.-i. j, to 7.
SECT. I.
The Mystery of the Saints’ Pedigree, and especially oftltcfc Relation to Christ’s wonderful Person
IX/TY life’s a maze of seeming traps5,
A scene of mercies and mishaps c;
A heap of jarring to and froes d,
A field of joys, a flood of woes e.
I’m in mine own and others eyes,
A labyrinth of mysteries f.
I’m something that from nothing cameg,
Yet sure it is, I nothing am*.
h Joshua xxii. 13. And Joshua said, Know for a certainty, that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, Sec, Psalm exxiv. 7. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
c Or miseries, Lam. iii. 19. Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. Ver. 22. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Psalm ci. 1. I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. ’
a Psalm cii. 10. Thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. Psalm cix. 23. I am tossed up and down as the locust.
e Hab. iii. 17, 18. Although the rig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat, the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
1 Isaiah viii. 18. Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath given ire, are for signs, and for wonders in Israel; from the Loid of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. Zexh. iii. 8. Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thv fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at, &c. Psal- lxxi. 7. I am as a wonder unto many, but thou art my strong refuge.
8 Gen. i. 1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. V. o. xi. 3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by jfchc word of God, so that things which are seen were not made oi things which do appear.
b Isa. xl. 17. All nations before him are as nothing, and they arc accounted to him lesc than nothing, and vanity* Dai>» iv. 35. All lH’ Inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing*
Once was I dead, and blind, and lame’,
Yea, 1 continue still the saniek;
STet wkat I was, I am no more,
Nor ever shall be as before™
My Father lives n, my father’s gone*,
My vital head both lost and won p.
My parents cruel are and kind1”,
Of one, and of a diff ‘rent mind s.
My father poison’d me to death,
My mother’s hand will stop my breath u;
1 Ephes. ii. i. And ycu hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses 2nd sins. Rev. iii. 17. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased In .gojds, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Isa. xxxv. 6. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing; tor in the wilderness shal waters break out, and streams in the desert.
k Rom. vii. 14. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am -carnal, sold under sin. Ver. 24. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of thi death?
1 Rom. vii. 17. Now thf-n, ;t ip no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Ver. 20. Now, if I do that I would net, it is no more I that do it, kit sin that dweilcth in me. John ix. 25. He (the blind man) answered and said, Whether he be a dinner, or no, I know not; one thing •I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see.
m Rom. xi. 29. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, Jer. xxxii. 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
n Isa. ix. 6. His name shall be called — The everlasting Father. Rev i. 18. lam he that livcth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen.
0 Hos. xiv. 3. In thee the fatherless fmdeth mercy. Zech. i. 5. Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
p 1 Cor. xv. 45. It is written, The first man Adam was made a living toul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
r Psalm ciil. 13. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Isa. xliii. 27, Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.
b Job xxiii. 13. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth even that he doth. Rom. viii. 5- For they that are after the rlesh, do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Ver. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity’* against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can bej
r Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and •4eath by sin; and so death passed upon ail men, for that all have sinned.
41 Gen. iii. 16. Unto the woman he said; I will greatly multiply rhy
Her womb, that once my substance gave, Will very quickly be my grave*.
My sisters all my flesh will eat,
My brethren tread me under feet2;
My nearest friends are most unkind?
My greatest foe’s my greatest friend b.
He could from feud to friendship pass,
Yet never change from what he wasc.
He is my Father, he alone
Who is my Father’s only Son d.
sorrow, and thy conception: in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children, &c.
x Psalm cxlvi. 4. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Eccles. iii. 20. All go unto one place, all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
y Jobxvii. 14. I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. Chap. xix. 26. And though after my skin worms destroy this b*>dy, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
a Even in a moral sense, Jer. xii. 10. Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. Ezek. xxxiv. 18. Seemeth it a small thing unto you, to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of vour pasfures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?
a Psalm lv. 12, 13, For it was not an enemy that reproached me, then 1 could have borne it; neither was it he that hated me, that did magnify himself against me, then I would have hid myself from him. But it was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. Mic. vii. -, 6. Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. For the son dishonoured the father, the daughter riseth up against the mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the mea of his own house.
b Psa m vii. 11. God is angry with the wicked every day. 2 Cor. v. 19. God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them.
c Mai. iii. 16. For I am the Lord, I change not: therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Hos. xiv. 4. 1 will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.
41 John xx. 17. Jesus faith unto her [Mary], Touch me not, for I am ♦iot yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God. Isa. ix. 6. Unto us a Son is given: and his name shall be called — The everlasting Father. John i. 14. And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among ui (and we beln-ld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of tnc Father) full of £iace auu truth,
I am his mother’s sonc, yet more,
A son his mother f never bore,
But born of him*, and yet aver
His Father’s son my mother’s were*.
I am divorc’d, yet marry’d still *,
With full consent, against my will*.
llly husband present is, yet gone*,
AVe diiVer much, yet still are one
He is the first, the last, the all °,
Yet number’d up with insects small ?.
The first of all things1”, yet atone
The second of the great Three-one5.
e S ng III- 4. It was but a little that I passed from them, hut T foond him whom my soul loveth: I held him and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. Ver. 11. Go forth, O ye daughters of Ziou, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousal-, and in the day of the gladness of hi> heart.
f Viz. his natural mother according to thejteshm
B John i. 13. Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
h Gal. iv. 26. But Jerusalem which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all.
1 Rom.vii. 4. Wh«reforc, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; and that ye should be married to anv*lieF, even to him who is raised from the dead.
k Psalm ex. 3. Thy people hall b» willing in the dav of thy power.
1 Matt, xxviii. 20. Lo, 1 am with you alway, even unto the end of life world.
m John xiv. 2. I go to prepare a place for you.
n John xvii. 21. Thac they all may be on’-, as thou, Father, art in nc, flnd I in thee; that they alpo may be one in us.
0 Rev. i. 1 1. I am Alpha and Omega; the firt and the last. C I II. Christ is all, and in all.
p Psalm xxii. 6. But I am a worm, and no man.
r Col. i. 15, 16. Who is the image or” the invisible God, *’.. uf every creature: for by him were all things created that are in and that are in earth, risible cau invisible, whether they be throne*, or dominions, or principalities, or power-: all things wore created by him, and for him.
v 1 John v. 7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Gho-t: and these three are one. xxriii. 19. Go ye therefore and tench all nations, baptizing them in tae name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Hoi- Gacr*.
A creature? never could he be!
Yet is a creature strange I see*;
And own this uncreated one,
The son of man, yet no man’s son u.
He’s omnipresent, all may know*,
Yet never could be wholly sop
His manhood is not here and there2,
Yet he is God-man ev’ry where
He comes and goes, none can him trace b, Yet never could he change his place c. But though he’s good d, and ev’ry where, No good’s in hell, yet he is there0.
* John i. 2, 3. Tn the beginning was the Word, and the Wor3 was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Ver. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (ami we beheld nis glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.
11 Matt. i. 23. Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted, is, God with us. Luke i. 34, 35. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the “highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God,
x Psal. exxxix. 7 — 10. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or, whither shall I rlee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall thv hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
v Luke xxiv. 6. He is not here, but is ‘risen.
7 lohn xvi. 16. A little while anil ye shall not see mc; and, again, a little while and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
Matt. i. 23 See letter :. Chap, xwiii. 10. Lo, 1 am with you al’.vav, even unto the end of the work!.
b John iii. 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou nearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth: 50 IS every one that is born of the Spirit.
c Ta. lxvi. 1. Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me r and
where is the place of my rest?
<! Psalm c. 5. The Lord is good, his mercy is everlastings
Psalm exxxtx. 8. If I maLe my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
him, in him B chosen wash, v- ( i of the choice he’s not the cause’: Tor Boireign mercy ne’er was bought k, Yet through his blood a vent it sought J. In him concentered at his death His Father’s Iovem, his Father’s wrath.”: Even he whom passion never seiz’d0, Was then most angry, when most pleas’dp. Justice requir’d that he should die r Who yet was slain unrighteously5,
f As God. 6 As Mediator.
h Ephes. i. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in l.ve.
1 But himself the Father’s first elect. Isa. xlii. 1. Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delightetn. Matt.xii. 18. Behold my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased.
in iii. 16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, &c. Rom. ix. 11. For the children being not yet born, neither-having c’onc any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth. Ver. 13. It is written, Jacob have I ioved, but Esau have I hated. Ver. 15. God saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
J Rom. iii. 24, 2y Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ: whom God hath set forth to be a pro- itiation, through faith in his blood, to declare hi righteousness for the remission of sins, &.c. Chap. v. 9. Being justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Ver. 21. That as bin hath reigned unto death, even o might grace reign, through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.
m John x 17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay duwn my life, that I might take it again.
Isa. liii. 10. 1 et it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to grief.
0 Isa. xxvii. 4. Fury is not in me.
p Rom. vi i. 23. He spired not his own Son, but delivered him 1 us all. Eph. v. 2. Christ hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
iicb. vi:. 22. By so much was Jesus made the surety of a better teptameat. Chap. ix. 16. For where a testament is, there must also of Slty be the death of the testator Ver* 22, 23. And almoit all things are by the law purged with blood; and without .shedding of blood is no i n. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heaven? should be purified with these j but the heavenly things then etter sacrifices than these. Matt. Lvii. 4. 1 Judas] have sinned, in that I have betrayed th i
.And dy’d in mercy and in wrath,
A lawful and a lawless death1.
With him I neither liv’d nor dy’d,
A rut yet with him was crucify’d”.
Law-eurses stopt his breath, that he
Might stop its mouth from cursing me
‘Tis now a thousand years and moe
Since heav’n receiv’d him, yet I know,
When he ascended up on high,
To mount the throne, ev’n so did I?.
Hence though earth’s dunghill I embrace,
I sit with him in heav’nly place2.
In divers distant orbs I move,
liithrail’d below, inthron’d above.
SECT. II.
The Mystery of the Saint’s Life, State, and Frame*
My life’s a pleasure a and a painb;
A real loss, a real gain c;
cent blood. Ver. 23. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
I Acts ii. 23. Jeias of Nazareth being delivered by the determinate CQUBbel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and shin. Chap, iv. 27. For of a truth against thy holy child Jcus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, Sec,
II Gal, ii. 20. 1 am crucified with Christx Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the cur-e of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Curbed is every one that hangeth on a tree,
y Col. iii. 1. If ye then be risen with Christ, Ice* H<b. vi. 20. Whither the forerunner is for ns entered, even Jesus, 5cc.
1 Ephes. ii. c, 6, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ; and hath raised us <-p together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
u Prov. iii. 17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are pence.
b Pral. cxx. 7. Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesechj that I dwell in the. tmtsofKedar.
L Phil. iii. 7. Bur what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Chap.i. 21 — 24. Fortomelo fivcis Christ, and to die is gain. But
THE fiELIEVEIi’.s HIDDLL. 12i
A glorious paradise ofjoysd;
A grievous prison of annoys0.
I daily joy, and daily mourn f,
et daily wait the. tide’s retard8:
Then sorrow deep my spirit cheers,
Tin joyful in a Hood of tear**.
•. I Hi e in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not, for I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better: nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
i Pet, i. 8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and lull ot glory.
c Psalm cxlii. 7. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name. f 1 Pet. i. 6 Wherein ve greatly rejoice, though now for a season (if need be) ye are in through manifold temptations. 2 Cor. i. 4.
Who corafortetfa us in ail our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which an- in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God, fob •. z. I went mourning without the sen, &c. B Isa viii. 17. And I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face irom. sc of Jacob, and I will look, for him. Zech. iii. 10. Ana I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall k». k upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him a- one mourn et fa for his only son, and phal be in bitter.-. that 1- in bitterness for his first-born E/.ek. xlxvi. 31, 32. Then shall ye Bttneml .. evil wa) s, and your doings that were not good, and shall
yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities, and for your aboxm- 1 this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto yon: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house ol Israel. I. ... He [ ] icob] took hir brother by the heel in the womb,
be had power with v->od: yea, he had power ovi md prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he round h:m in Bethel, and there he spake with us. Luke vii. 3S. And [a woman which faind him weeping; and began t
hiv fqet with tears, and did w :,.; hem with the hairs of her head, and kissed t, and anointed them with the ointment. John xx. 15, 16. Jems saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She,:. saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, te’l me hast laiu him, and I will take him.
1 - 8 tith unto her, Mary She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rahbonij. which i I ister. V«r. ao. I hen were the disciple r,lad when they
sav/Tihe Lord/
G 3
Good cause I have still to be sad, Goo I reason always to be gladk. Hence still my joys with sorrows meet, And still my tears are bitter sweet rn. I’m cross’d, and yet have all my will”; I’m always empty, always full0.
I hunger now, and thirst no more p,
Yet do more eager than before r.
With meat and drink indeed I’m blest s, Yet feed on hunger, drink on thirst L.
‘Rom. vii. 24. O wretehed man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death
k 2 Cor, ii. 14. Thanks be unto God, which alway* causeth us to triumph ?n Chri-t.
2 Cor vi. 20. As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.
m Zech.xii. 10. See letter ;i Psalm cxxvi. 5. They that sow in tears, sftall reap in joy. Isa. lxi. 2, 3. The Lord hath sent rae to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion; to give unt 0 them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment oi~ praise, for the spirit of heaviness, &c. Mat. v. 4. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
II Lukexxii. 42. Father, if thou he willing, remove this cup from me: rtheless, not my will but thine be done. Acts xxi. 14. And when
b< [Paul] would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be vione.
0 2 Cor. vi. 10. As having nothing, and yet possessing all things, P John vi. 3 sp And Jesus said unto them, 1 am the bread of life; he that cometh to me .shall never hunger; and 1 that believeth on me shall never.: P^rn xlii. 1, 2. As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirpteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? ,nd kin. 1. O God, thou art God, early will I seek thee: my soul thjrstesth for thee, my flesh th for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. And lxxiii. 25. Whom have 1 in heaven but thee; and there is none upon earth that I <r bin besides thee? Ka. xxvi. 8, 9. Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee: the desire of our soul is to thy name, ami to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night, yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early.
1 John vi. 55. For my llesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
1 Job xxix. 2, 3, 4. O that I were as in inonthsj)ast, as in the days when
G«>d preserved me, when his candle shines upon my head, and when by his
fight 1 walked through darkness: as 1 was in the days of my youth, when
;ret of God was upon my tabernacle. Psalm lxxvii. io, 1 1> 12. 1
My hunger brings a plenteous store”,
My plenty makes me hunger more
Strange is the place of my abode*
I dwell at home, I dwell abroad7.
I am not where all men may see,
But where T never yet could be*.
I’m full of hell % yet full dfheav’nb; I’m still upright0, yet still unev’n d; Imperfect6, yet a perfect saint f; I’m ever poor2, yet never wanth.
will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High, I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Song v. 8. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye rind my Beloved, that ye tell him that I am sick of love. Chap viii. r. O that thou welt as my brother that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should rind thee without, I would kiss thee, yea, I should not be despised.
u Mat. v. 6. Blts.ed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filh-d.
2 Cor. v. ». For in this we groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. Phil. i. 23. Fori am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better, kc. Song ii. 3,4, 5. I sat down, under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was swettto my taste. He brought me to the banjuettinghouse, and bis banner over me was love. Stay me with flaggons, comfort me with apples; for I am sick of love.
y Job iv. 19. How much less them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth r Psalm xc. i. Lord thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations. And xci. r. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 1 John iv. 16. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.
z Isa. xxxiii. 16. He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munition of rocks. Eph. ii. 6. And has raised us up together, and made us sit togeth.r in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
a Ecc. ix. 3. The heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
b Eph. iii. 19. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge that ye might be rilled with all thefulnes of God.
K Psalm xviii. 23. I was also upright before him: and I kept mvself from mine iniquity.
u Ezek. xviii. 25. JJear now, O house of Israel, are not ycur ways ungual.
e Rev. iii. 2. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which r-main, tha: are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
1 1 Cor. ii. 6. How ben we speak wisdom among them that ire pejfect, feci
No mortal eye sees God and lives’,
Yet sight of him my soul revivesk.
I live best whn I see most bright,
Yet live by faith and not by sight”1.
I’m lib’raln, yet have nought to spare0; Most richly cloth’d p, yetstript and bare My stock is risen by my falls; For, having nothing, I have all K
8 Psalm xl. 17. I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me.
h Psalm xxiii. 1. The Lord is my Shepherd) I shall not want. And xxxiv. ig. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek, the Lord shall not want any good thing,
J Exod.xxxiii. 20. And he said, Thou canst not see my my face: for there shall no man see me and live.
k John vi. 40. And this is the will of him that sent me. that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life. Chap, xx, io. Then were the disciple* glad when they saw the Lord,
2 Cor. iii. 18. But we all, with open lace, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord, Chap. iv. 6. For God who commanded the light to shin.- out of darkness, hath sinned in our heart-, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of fesus Christ.
m Gal.ii.20. lam crucified with Christ: nevertheless 1 live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which 1 now live in the flesh, 1 live by the faith of the S> D of Godj who loved me, and gave himself ior me, 2 Cor. v. 7. For we walk by faith, not by sight.
n Psalm xxvii. 21. The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giverh.
0 Zeph.iii. 12. I -will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.
y) Is., lxi. 10. 1 will greatly rejoice in the Lord, mv soul shall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, ap a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride aorneth heiself with hex jewels.
Iv/ek. xvi. 7. 1 have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Rev. iii. 17. Because thou sayest, 1 am rich, and increased with goods, ar.d have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, old naked*
‘• Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together f i r good to .at love God, and to them w mo ar- the calk cl according to lus purpose,
* z Cor, vi. 10. As having nothing, and yet pWS&siitg all things.
Pm sinful u, yet T have no sin *;
All spotted o’er y, yet wholly clean*.
Blackness and beauty both I share,
A hellish black, a heavenly fair*.
They’re of the dev’l, who sin amain b, But I’m of God, yet sin retain0! This traitor vile the throne assumesd, Prevails, yet never overcomese.
I’m without guile an Israelite f,
Yet like a guileful hypocrite2;
Maintaining truth in th’ inward parth,
With falsehood stirring in my heart1.
n Rom, vii. 14. For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal,, sold under sin. Ver. 24. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
1 Num. xxiii. 21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel. 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin; for his se«d remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
y Psalm xiv. 3. They are all gone a<ide, they are altogether become filthy: there is none thatdoeth good, no not one.
z Song iv. 7. Thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in thee.
a Songi. 5. I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. Ver. 15. Behold thou art fair, my love; behold thou art fair, thou hast dove’s eyes.
b 1 John iii. 8. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devii sinneth from the beginning.
c 1 John i.S. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and tUe truth is not in us.
d Rom. vii. 23. But I see another law in my members, warring against tin- law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members.
e Psalm lxv. 3. Iniquities prevail against me: ap for our transgressions, thou -halt purge them away. Rom. vi.. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, out under grace.
t J”hn i. 47. Je-up saw Nathariael coming to him,andsaith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile. Psalm xxxii. 2. Blis the man unto whom the Lord imoutcth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
lira six, 12. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from faults.
11 Psalm li. 6. Behold thou desirest truth in the inward parts; and in the hjdden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
1 Mat. xv. 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thought*, murders,. adulteries, fornications, thefts, fahc-wit mica.
Two masters, sure, I cannot serve k,
But must from one regardless swerve;
Yet self is for my master known
And Jesus is my Lord alone ln.
I seek myself incessantly n
Yet daily do myself deny °.
To me ’tis lawful, evermore,
Myself to love and to abhor p.
In this vain world I live, yet see
I’m dead to it, and it to mer.
My joy is endless yet at best
Does hardly for a moment last’.
k Mat. vi. 24. No man can serve two master*: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Hos. x. i. Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto him -eh: according to the multitude of his fruit, he hath increased the altars; according to the g odness of his land, they have made goodly images. Matt, xvi, 24. Then said Jesus unto his’ disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
m Isa. xxvi. 13,0 Lord our God, other lords beside thee, have had dominion over us: Eut by thee only will we make mention of thy name. John XX. 28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
11 James iv. 2. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts, Jcr. xlv. 2,5. Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel unto thee; O Baruch, And meekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not; for behold, I will bring evil upon all tiesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.
0 Mat. xvi. 24. See letter1.
p Lev. xix. 18. Thou -halt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am tin: Lord. Eph. v. 20. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church. Jihnxii. 25. He that loveth his life, .shall lose it: and he that loseth his life in this world, pha!l keep it unto life eternal. Job xlii. 6. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dubt and ashes.
‘Col. iii. 3. For ve are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Gal. vi. 14. But God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and 1 unto the world.
John xvi. 22. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man Cakcth from you. 2 The.ss. ii. j6. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God the Fatheifc. which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, fcft thg believer’s riddle, 131
SECT. III.
jftjysteries about the Saint’s Work and Warfare; their Sins, Sorrows, and Joys.
The work is great, I’m calTd unto3,
Yet nothing’s left for me to do b:
Hence for my work Heav’n has prepared
No wages c, yet a great reward*.
To works but not to working deade; From sin, but not from sinning freed f,
; Psalm xxx. 7. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to „tand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. Ia. xlix. 13. 14. Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: For the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
a Phil. ii. 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence; work out your -own salvation with fear and trembling.
b Phil. ii. 13. For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to <b of his good pleasure. Lev. xx. 7, S. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy r For I am the Lord your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you.
c Rom. vi. 23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through jesu- Christ our Lord. Chap. xi. 6. And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it b of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
d Psalm xix. 1 1. Moreover, by them [the judgments of the Lord] i rhy servant warned 1 And in keeping of them there is great reward. Psalm lviu. ’ 1. Verily there is a reward for the righteous; verily he is a God that
g th in the earth.
e Rom. vii. 4. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law fey the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is rai-eU from the dead, that we should bring fonh fruit unto God. Gal. ii. 19. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
f 1 John i. 8. If we saw that we have no rpin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Chap. iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit pin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, beta is born of God.
I clear myself from no offence g,
Yet wash mine hands in innocence h.
My Father’s anger burns like fire,
Without a spark of furious irek:
Though still my sins displeasing be,
Yet still I know he’s pleas’ d wTith mera.
Triumphing is my constant trade11,
Who yet am oft a captive led0.
My bloody war does never cease p,
Yet I maintain a stable peace r.
8 Rom. vii. 1 8. For I know, that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good, I find not.
h Psalm xxvi. 6. I will wash mine hands in innocency; so will I compass thine altars, O Lord.
1 i Kings, xi. 9. And the Lord was angrv with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice.
k Isa. xxvii. 4. Fury is not in me. Chap. liv. 9, 10 For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of N<>ah should no more go over the earth j so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thte.
1 Hab. i. 13. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity. Jer. xliv. 4. Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophet rising early and sending them, saying, Oh do not this abominable thing that I hate.
m Matt. iii. 17. And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaded. Rom. v. to. When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.
n 2 Cor. ii. 14. Now thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Chri-t.
0 Rom. vii. 2 3. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, Which is in my members.
‘See letter. 1 Tim. vi. r2- Fight the good fight of faith, Sec. Gal. v. 17. For the ilc*h luteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are Contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
‘Rom. v. r. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Isa* liv. 10. See tetter k.
vaulting conquer me,
el ne’er obtaio the victoi
For all m battles, lost pr won.
Were gain’d before they were begi
I’m still at ease, and still opprest; Have constant trouble, constant r( Both clear and cloudy x, tree and hound v; “Both dead and riving2, lost and found*.
Sin for my good does work and win*;
Yet ’tis not good for me to sin c.
tn. Til. 23. See letter Chap. viii. 3-. Nay in all these things M”: are more than c nqj.erors, through him that loved u-.
1 1 Cor. xv. 57, But thanks be to God, which giveth us the v. through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. iv. 8. We are troubled on every side, yet n.’.: we
., but not in despair. John xvi, 33. These things have I.;’.:at in me ve might have peace. In the wind y
t be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Hcb, iich have believed do enter into r’*t. h. xiv. 6, 7. And it shall come to pa.-s in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark. But it shall be one day, which -
. not day nor night: but it shall come to pa — , I evening-time it sh-ill be light. Mic. vii S. Rejoice not agaiu-t me, O tiemv; when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord” a light unto me. n viii. 36. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ve shall be free indeed. Acts •:... 13. The Holy Ghost witnessed) in every city, say- .. it bonds and a Hictions abide me.
2 CoTi vi. 9. As dying, and behold we live. Col. iii. 3. For ve are and your life is hid with Christ in God.
It itt. xviii. 11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was •,.. have gone astray like a lost sheep, .»eek thy
;. Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righte- -, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of( the righteousness which is of God by faith,
l’ Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good, in that love God, to them who air- the called according to his purpose. Chap. xi. 11. I say then, Have they stumbled thai fill? God forbid; but rather through th ■.:’:on. is come unto
the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
. ji, 3;.. If they break my statutes, and keep not my tndments, then will I visit their transgression with tht rod, and rith stripes,
My pleasure issues from my paind;
My losses stilt increase my gain*.
I’m healVI, ev’n when my plagues abound1’, CoverM with dust, ev’n when I’m crowu’d2: As low as death, when living Wgh*, Nor shall I live, yet cannot die ?.
For all my sins my heart is sad,
Since God’s dishonour’ d £, yet I’m glad;
Though once I was a slave to sin,
Since God does thereby honour win m.
d P:>alm cxix. 67. Before I was -afflicted, I went astray: but now haw I kept thy word. Ver. 71. It is good for me that I have been aihicted that I might learn thy statutes. James i. 2. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations.
e Matt. x. 39. He that loseth his life, for my sake, shall find it. Mark x. 29, 30. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundredfold now, in this time; hou-e*, and brethren, an<l sifters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the -world to come eternal life.
f Rom. vii. 24, 25. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God, through Jesus Chript our Lord.
E Viz. with mercy* Job xlii. 5, 6. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dut and ashes. Ezek. xvi. 63. That thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame; when I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God.
h 2 Cor. vi. 9. As dying, and behold, we live.
1 Heb. ix. 27. It is appointed unto men once to die. John v Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Chap. vi. 40. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life. Ver. 50, Jl. This is the bread which comelh down from heaven, that a man may cat thereof and not die. 1 am the living bread, which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ererj and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
- Psalm li. 4. Against thee, thee only have I sinned; and done this evil i’. thy sight.
1 Rom. vi. 17. But God be thanked, that ye were the Mivants of sin, have obeyed, from the heart, that form of doctrine which was delivered unto you.
la, /.li. 24. Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout,
.Hi; BEIrlEVERS RIDDLE. l3o
are ever in his eye*,
4> et he beholds no sin in meo:
His mind that* keeps theni all in store,
u ill yet remember them no more*.
ft a use my sin a are great, I feel
Great fears of heavy wrath r; yet still
For mercy seek, for pardon wait,
Because my sins are very great5.
I hope, when plung’d into despair;
I tremble, when I have no fear”.
ye lower parts of the earth: break, forth into singing, ye mountains, O ‘forests, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the glory of his grace. Ver. 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory.
n Rev. iii. 1. I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest, and an dead. Ver. 15. I know thy works, that thou art neither coid nor hot.
0 Numb, xxiii. 21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel. Song iv. 7. Thou art all fair, my love, ihere is no spot in thee. Ezek. xvi. 14.. And thy renown went forth among the heathen, for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comelirns which 1 had put upon thee, saith the Lord God.
* Isa. xliii. 25. I, even I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins, Jer. xxxi- 34. I will forgive their iniqoiry, and I* will remember their sin no more. Heb.vhi. 12. I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
r Ezra ix. 13, 14. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us le-s than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this, should we again break thy commandments, and join in arhnity with the people of these abominations? would-t not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? Psalm xxxviii. 1. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath; neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
s Psalm xxv. 1 1. For thy name’s sake, O Lid, pardon mine iniquity y for it is great. Jer. xiv. 7. O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do. thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings arc many, we have sinned against thee.
1 Rom. iv. 18. Who [Abraham] against hope believed in hope. 1 Cor. 1.8, 9. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of iife: but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the <icad.
u PbliiL i:- Wherefore, mv b -loved, as ye have always obeyed, not
‘II 8
Pardons dispel my griefs and fears*,
And yet dissolve my heart in tears*.
SECT. IV.
Mysteries in FaitRs Extractions, Way and Walk. Presets and Answers, Heights Und Depths, Fear and Love*
With wasps and bees my busy bill
Sucks ill from good, and good from illa:
Humil’ty makes my pride to grow,
And pride aspiring lays me low b.
as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence; work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Luke i. 74, That he would rrant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear.
x Matt, ix. 2. Jesus said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good Cheer, thy sin4: be forgiven thee.
Ezek. xxxvi.25. 2^* Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall he clean: irom all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a hew spirit will I puc within yon, and 1 will take away the stony heart out of your fleshy and I will give you an heart of flesh, Ver. 31. Then shall ve remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loath yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Chap. xvi. 63. That thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast d ne, saith the Lord God.
a Rom, ii. 4. Ordespisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance, and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God ieadeth thee to repentance? Chap. vi. 1, 2. What shall we say then? shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid: how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? Ver. 15, What then, shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Chap. viii. 28. And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to hi* purpose. Phil. i. 12. But 1 would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out unto the furtherance of the gospel. Psalm xix. 71. It is good for me that I have been aillieted; that I might learn thy statutes.
lJ 2 Cor. xii. 7. And lest I should be exalted above measure, through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in tin flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet me, lest I should be exalted measure. Prov. xxix. 23. A man’s pride shall bring him low; but honour hall uphold the humble in spirit. 2 Chron. xxxii. 26. He/.ekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart (both he and the inhabitants [< rusalem), so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in th Hf?ekkh.
My standing does my fall procure c,
My falling makes me stand more sured.
My poison does my physic prove0,
My enmity provokes my lovef.
My poverty infers my wealth g,
My sickness issues in my health1*:
My hardness tends to make me soft,
And killing tilings do cure me oftk.
“While high attainments cast me down,. My deep abasements raise me soon ]:
c Psalm xxx. 6, 7. And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled..
d Prov. xxiv. 16. For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again* Psalm xxxvii. 24., Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
e 2 Cor. xii. 7, 8. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, th- mesv/nru-r of Sal;... .0 buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I bes »i ght the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. Isa. xxvii. 8,9. In measure when it shooteth forth, th pu wilt debate with it; he stayeth his rough wind in the day of his east-wind. By this therefore -hall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit, to take away his sin.
f Gal. v. 27. The flesh lustcth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. Ver 24. And they that are Christ’s, have crucified the rlesh, with the affections and lusts.
8 Rev. ii. 9. I know thy poverty, but thou art rich. 2 Cor. vi. 10, As having nothing* and yet possessing all things.
b Matt i. 12. They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.. Isa. lvii. 17, iS. For the iniquity of his covetousness was 1 wroth and smote him: I hid me and was wroth, and he went on froward.y in the way of his heart. 1 have seen his ways, and will heal him: 1 will ledd him also, and restore comforts unto him, and to his mourners.
1 Isa. h«ii. 1 7. O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways? and hardened our heart from thy fear r Return, for thy servant’s sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.
k 2 Cor. j, 9. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the lW<. H<>-# v. 15. I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. Chap. vi. Come and let us letuxn unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
1 1 Pet. v. 6. Be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for Goxl rcsistcth the proud;, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble
ii a
My best things oft have evil brood m,
ISIy worst things work my greatest good
My inward foes that me alarm,
Breed me much hurt, yet little harm0.
I get no good by them *, yet see,
To my chief good, they cause me flee p.
They reach to me a deadly stroke”,
Yet send me to a living rock s.
They make me long for Canaan’s banks?
Yet sure I owe them little thanks.
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you »rx due, time. Psalm cxvi. 6. I was brought low, and he helped me.
m P>»alm xxx, 6, 7. And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou <hdst hide thy face, and I w?s troubled. Deut. xxxii. 14, 15. Butter of kine, end milk of sheep, with fat of lambs and rams of the breed of Bashan; and goats, with the fat of kidneys, of wheat: and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape. But jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness 1 then he forsook the God which made him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation.. V> 1 cvi. 7. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt, they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies, but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red Sea.
. !m xx. 1 1, Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness., Rom. viii. -;.S. See letter.
0 Jer. x. 19. Woe is me for my hurt, my wound is grievous! But I aid, rruly this is a grief, and I must bear it. 1 Pet.iii. 13. Who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
* Viz. in themselves but jnuch evil. 1 Pet. ii. 12. Dearly beloved, I
“fceseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which
v. at” a gainst the soul. Tames i. 14, 15. But every man is tempted, when he
.en away by his own lust, and enticed, Then, when lust hath con-
.., it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth
>’’ Psalm cxliij. 9. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; I flee unto thee t<> hide me.
n. viii. 13. If ye live after the. flesh, ye shall die. V ialm xviii. 46, 47. The Lord livcth, and blessed be my rock: and f nay salvation be exalted. It is God that avengeth me, and Stibdueth the r me.
1 Psalm lv. 6. And i said, O that I had wings like a dove! for then
would 1 flee away and be at n t, Andcxx. c. Woe is me that I sojourn,
in Mcscch, and dwell in the tents of Kedar. Rom. viii. 20 — 23. For the
made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who
‘hath subjeued the same in hope: because the creatine itself also shall be
I travell’, yet stand firm ami fast*:
I ruuy, but yet I make no baste ■’.
1 take away, both old and new J,
Within my sight’0, yet out of view
My way directs me, in the way-,
And will not suffer me to stray c:
Though high and out of sight it be,
I’m in the way; the way’s in me.
delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of’ the children of God. For we know the whole creation groaneth, and travaileth in pain together until now: and not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
u Heb. xi. 13. And confessed that they wore strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
x 1 Cor. xvi. 13. Watch ye, Hand fast in the faith; quit you like men 5 be strong.
y Heb. xii. 1. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
2 Isa. xxviii. 16. He that believeth shall not make haste.
a Jer. vi. 16. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways and sec, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for vour souls. Heb. x. 19, 20. Having therefore, brethren, baldness to enter into the holiest by the blood ot Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil that is u say, his flesh.
u 1 Cor. xiii. 12. For we now see through a glas, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as 1 aLo am known.
c John xvi. 10. I go to my Father, and ye see me no more.
d John xvi. 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way: no man cormth unto the Father, but by me.
ML. xlii. 16. And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. Chap, v. 4. Behold 1 have given him to be a leader and commander to the people.
r Isa. xxxv. 8. And an high- way shall be there, and a way; and it shal) he called the way of holiness, the unclean shall not pass overall; but it shall be for those, The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. John xv. 14. Abide in me and I in you. Chap. xvii. 23. I in them and thou ia me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may knowp that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Ver.
. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the Herewith thou hast loYCd mc; m m; and I in them, ‘Tis straight g, yet full of heights and depths h; I keep the way, the way nie keeps k. And being that to which I tend, My very way’s my journey’s end K
When I’m in company I groan,
Because I, then am most alone1”;
Yet, in my closet secrecy,
Tin joyful in my company”.
I’m heard afar0, without a noise;
I cry without a lifted voice0:
g Matt. iii. 3. This is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
b Isa. xL 3, 4. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, prepare, ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway fcr our God. Every va ley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rouch places plain. Chap. xlii. 16. See letter “. Psalm lxxvii. 13. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary. Yer. 19. Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
1 Psalm xxxvii. 34. Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land.
k Psalm exxi. 3, 4. He will not suflfer thy foot to be moved: he that keepetn thee will not slumber. Behold he that keepeth Israel, shall neither slumber nor s.eep.
1 Heb. xii. 22, 23, 24. But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven; and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better ihings than the blood of Abel. I Thess. iv. 17. Then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Iyprd.
m Song i. 3. Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon? For why should 1 be a* one th.it turneth aside by the ilocks of thy companions?
“Song vii. 1 1, T2. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field, let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us see if the vine nourish; whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud f rth; for there will 1 give thee my loves.
“Psalm xx. 6. Now know 1, that the Lord saveth his anointed: he will luar him from his holy heaven, with the saving ^rength of his right-hand.
r 1 Sam. i, 13, 14, 15. New Hannah, she spake in hei beitf, only
ll moving in devotion’s sphere1”,
,* et suMuiii steady persevere8.
Pin heard when answer’d soon or late.;
And heard when I no answer get ‘:
iTea, kindly answered when refus’d x,
And friendly treat when harshly usVU.
My fervent pray’rs ne’er did prevail *>: e’er of pre valency fail a.
J, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had
been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken?
wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my
Lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit; I have drunk, neither wine nor
strong drink, but have poured out my soul, before the Lord-.
r i Thess. v. 17. Prav without ceasing.
s Hos.vi.4. O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning-cloud, and as the earlv dew it goeth v
r In. xlix. 8. Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee.
Mr/t.xxvi. 39. And Jesus went a little further, and fell on his face, and praved, saying, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not a: 1 will, but as thou wilt.
v Psalm xxii. t, a, 3. My God, my GoJ, why hast thou forsaken me? wiry art thou so tar from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the day-time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Heb. xii. 5, 6, 7, 3, 9, 10. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which ^peaketh unto you as children, My son, despise not thou the cha-tening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth: if ye endure chastening, God deakth with you as with sons; for what son is he: whom the father chasteneth not? But if yc be without chastisement, whereof all are partaker:, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which corrected us, and we gave them: nail we not, much rather, be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily fal ^ha-tened us, after their
own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be- partakers of his holiness.
z Dan. ix. 8, 19. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine
eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name;
do not present our supplications befbn ihee foroui righteousness, but
great mercies, OLord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord) hearken
and do; deter not, for thine own sake; O my God: for thy city, and thy
tiled by thy name.
16. The erl.ctual fervent prayer of >. j man availeth
I wrestle till my strength be spent b, Yet yield when strong recruits are sent**.
I languish for my Husband’s charms Yet faint away when in his armsc: My sweetest health does sickness prove; When love me heals, Tin sick of love f.
I am most merry when I’m sadg;
Most full of sorrow when I’m gladh:
Most precious when I am most vile,
And most at home when in exile k.
b Gen.xxxii. 24, 25. And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with him.
c Psalm cxxxviii. 3. In the day when I cried, thou answeredst me: and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Gen. xviii. 32, 33. And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but this once. Peradventure ten shall be found there. And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
d Psalm lxiii. 2. My flesh longeth to see thy power and thy glory, so as 1 have seen thee in the sanctuary. And xxvii. 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple,
e Rev. i. 17. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead; and he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, fear not; I am the first and the last.
f Song ii. 4, 5, He brought me to the banquetting house, and his banner over me was love. Stay me writh flaggons, comfort me with apples: fori am sick of love..
B 1 Cor. vii. 10. For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of. Eccl. vii. 3. Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance, the heart is made better.
h Prov. xiv. 13. Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
1 Job xl. 4. Behold, I am vile, what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Chap. xlii. c;f 6. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eve seeth thee. Wherefoie 1 abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashe*. Jer. xxxi. 18, 19, 20. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning lumsch thus. Thou hast chastised me, and I was 1 bastUed, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn th pu me, and I shall tied; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that 1 was turned, ftted; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was i»] uned j yea, even, confounded, because I did bear the reproach oi my My base and honourable birth Excites my mourning, and my mirth; I’m poor, yet stock’d with untold rentmj Most weak, and yet omnipotent”.
On earth there’s none so great and high0, Nor yet so low and mean as I?:
youth. Is Ephraim my dear son J Is he a pleasant child? for «ince I *pakc - him, I do earnestly remember him still. Therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.
k Ezvk. i. i. Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, (as I was among the captive:? by the river of Chebar), that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions oi I Rev. i. 9, 10. I, John, who also am your brother, and companion in triouhtion, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that i< cal’ed Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, &c. John xvi. 32. Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me-Esek. xvi. 3, 4. Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem, Thy birth lnd thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born, thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee: thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. John i. 13. Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of G cl. Psal. li. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 2 Pet. i. 3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Je*u3 Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jepus Christ from the dead.
Cl Rev. iii. 17. Because thousayeM, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in. the fire, that thou may est be rich: and white raiment, that thou mayrst be clothed, and that the shame of thv nakedness do not appeal anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. Eph. iii. 8. la. to me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
D John xv. 5. Without mc ye can do nothing. Phil, iv. I j. 1 can do all things, through Christ w huh strengthened! me.
Psalm xvi. 3. But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent in whom is all my delight. I&a. xliii. 4. Since thou wapt precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thv life
Eph, iii. 8. See letter “. 1 Tim. i. 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jc, came into the world to ave si.mers; of whom I am chief.
None or so foolish1”, or so wise8,
So often fall, so often rise *.
I seeing him I never sawu, Serve without fear, and yet with awe*. Though love when perfect, fear remove y; Yet most I fear when when most I love z.
All things are lawful unto me%
Yet many things unlawful be b;
r Psalm lxxiii. 22. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a r*ast before thee. Prov. XXX. 2, 3. Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
s 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him arc vein Christ Jesuc, who of God is made unto lis wisdom, Sec. Matt. xi. 25, 26. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and carthp because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. Chap, xiii. 11. Jesus answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
r Prov. xxiv. 16. A just man falleth seven times, and liseth up again.
u 1 Pet. i. S. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom though now x ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Heb. xi. /. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
x Luke i. 74. That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear. Heb. ;i. 2^. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us frave grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.
y 1 johniv.iS. There is no fear in lover but perfect love castcth out fear, because fear hath torment: he that feareth is not made pel I love.
Fer. xxxiii. 9. And it shall be to me a name and joy, a praise and an honour, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them; and they shall fear and tumble for all the aess, and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it. Hos. iii. 5. Afterwards shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and Davd their king, and .-hall fear the Lord, and his gooc: latter days.
r Cor. vi. 12. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient. All thingp are lawful for me but 1 will not be brought under the power of any.
‘’ Exod. xx. 1,2, 3, kc. And God spake all these words, saying, 1 am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land 01; out of the house of bondage, rhou bhalt have no other gods beiore me,
To some I perfect hatred bearc,
Yet keep the law of love entired.
I’m bound to love my friends0, but yet
I sin unless I do them hate1:
J am oblig’d to hate my foes5,
Yet bound to love and pray for those
Heart-love to men I’m calfd t’ impart, Yet God still calls for all my heart3. I do him and his service both By nature lovek, by nature lothe1.
c Psalm exxxix. 21, 22. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
* 2 Chron. xix. 2, And Jehu, the son of Hanani the seer, went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldst thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord; therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.
e Lev. xix 18. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.
1 Luke xiv. 26. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and si&ters, yea, and his own life aUo, he cannot be my disciple.
B As they are the foes of God, Judgesv. 3 1. So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord; but let them that love him, be as the sun when he goeth faith in his might. Psalm xvii. 13, 14. Arise, O Lord, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword; from men which are thy hand; O Lord, from m n of the world, which have th :ir portion in this life, and whose belly thou fittest with thy hiu treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their bab.
M.ut. v. 44.. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite* fully use you, and persecute you.
1 Matt. xix. 19. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love thv neighbour as thyself. Chap. xxii. 37. Thou shah love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
K 1 John v. 2. By thU we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.
* Rom. viii. 7. The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it i
I to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Col. i. 2 1. And you that mctimes alienated, and enemies in vour rniud by wicked WOft »ih he reconciled.
SECT. V.
Mysteries about Flesh and Spirit, Liberty and Bondage, Life and Death.
Much like my heart, both false and true% I have a name, both old and newb. No new thing is beneath the sun c; Yet all is new, and old things gone d.
Though in my flesh dwells no good thing0,
Yet Christ in me I joyful sing’.
Sih I confess, and] deny:
For though I sin, it is not IX
a Jer. xvii. 9. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? Heb. x. 22. Let us draw near with a true hearr, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
b Rom ix. 25, 26. As he saith also in Osee. I will call them mv people, which were not my people: and her beloved, which was not my beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called, The children of the living God. Rev. ii. 17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit sairh unto the churches.. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna; and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it. Chap. iii. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will wnte upon him the name of my God, the name of the city of my God. which is New Jerusalem, which curmth down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name.
c Ecc. i. 9. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be 1 and t’hat which is done, is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun..
u 2 Cor. v. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are past away, behold all things are become new. Rev. xxi. 5. And he that cat upon the throne, said, Behold I make all things new.
e Rom. vii. 18. For I know, that in me (that is, in mv flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not.
1 Col. i. 27. To whom G pd would make known what is the riches of the gWy of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is, Christ in you the hope of glory.
B Rom. vii. 14 — IO For we know that the ‘aw IS spiritual; hut 1 am carnal, sold under sin. For that which 1. do, I allow not; for what 1 thai do 1 not; but what 1 hate, that do 1. If then 1 do that which 1 would
1 sin against and with ray willh;
I’m innocent, yetgurlty still1.
Though fain I’d be the greatest saint k,
To be the leasl I’d becontent1.
My lowness may my height evince m,
I’m bo:li a beggar and a prince n.
With meanest subjects I appeare,
With kings a royal sceptre bear*.
not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know, that in me (that is, in my floh) dwelleth no rood thing; for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which ip good, I find not For the good chat I would, I do not; but the evil which 1 would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it ib no more I that do it, but bin that dwelleth in me. i Johniii. 9. Whos ever is born of God, doth not commit bin; for his seed remaiueth in him: and he cannot bin, because he is born of God.
h Rom. vii. 21 — 25. I find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. For 1 delight in the law c f God, after the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring againbt the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through ]c-.ap Chribt our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of G^;d, but with the flesh the law of sin.
‘Psalm xix. 13. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous MnS) let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. And cxx,3. If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquuicb; O Lord, who shall stand r
- Psalm xxvii. 4. One thing have 1 desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the hou-e of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the L’>rd, and to inquire in his temple.
Psalm Uxxiv, 10, For a day in thy courts ib better than a thousand: I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
,n Job v. 11. To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.
S .m. ii. S. The Lord raised) up the poor out of the du, and lifteth up the beggar from the dung hill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of.glory: for tlv pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and he hath set the world upon them. G u :xxii. 28. Andtheang Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; ce thou
ver with God and with men, and ha I •. i. ;, 6. Unto
him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his father; to him be glory and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen,
Phil. ii. 10. That at the name of fesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. I I 6. And again when he bringeth in the m rid, he
saith, And kt all the angels of God worship him.
I’m both unfettered and involv’cK
By taw condemn’d, by law absolv’d*.
My guilt condignly punish’d see,
Yet I the guilty wretch go free*.
My gain did by my loss begin u;
Mj righteousness commenced by sin*;
My perfect peace by bloody strife7;
Life is my death, and death my lifez.
I’m (in this present life I know)
A captive and a freeman too2;
r Rev. ii. 26, 27. And be that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them as with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
r Psalm cxvi. 16. O Lord, truly I am thy servant, I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. Rom. vii. 23. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mindp and bringing ire into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members.
s r John iii. 20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Rom. viii. r. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Ver, 33»34* Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth: who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that-is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
“Rom. iii. 23, 24. or all have sinned and come short of the glory of God: being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ,
Rom. iii. 5. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Chap. v. 20, 21. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.
J Col. i. 20. And (having made peace through the blood of his cross) by him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
The life of sin is our duith. 1 Tim. v. 6. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. The death of Christ our life. 2 Cor. v. i.|, [5. For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died f -r all, 1 a all di ad: and tl -it he died for all, that they
which live should not henceforth &YC unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rot arliin,.
And though my death can’t set me free,
It will perfect my liberty
I am not worth one dust;/ grain,
Yet more than worlds of golden gain;
Though worthless Im; life,
I shall as worthy walk in white0.
SECT. VI.
The Mystery of free Justification through ChrisPs Obedience and Satisfaction.
No creature ever could or will
For sni yield satisfaction full*;.
Yet from rhe creature’s hand
Both sou ylt and got its full demands. Hence though I am, as well I know, A debtor0, yet I nothing owed.
rn.yli.^. See letter. Chap. viii. 2, For rhc law of the spirit of
the law or” sin and
shall make you free, ye shall be free
Rev. xiv. 13. And I heard a voice
in the Lon!, from sa th the Spirit, that /hey may re t from tfei rks v.
them. 2 Cor. v. 4. for we that ar 2Tlj;,:->
. ..i be unclothed, bat clothed up tt: :rc. c Geh.XxKH. 10. lam: pf the least 06- all the mercies);
for with :r. 1 [or dan, and now 1 am bee me two bands. Rev. iii. 4,
. n in Sardis, which ] iled their, garments;
k with me in white”: for r y are worthy.. For the red >, lu it
. forever. Isa. xl. 16. And Lebanon is not Sufficient to burn, nor :ient for a burnt-offering.
and offering thou didst not deshr. * thou
ig and sin-offering hast thou not required.. 7. Wherefore, when he cometh into I, he saith, S..
nnr thou wouldst not, hut a body ha-t thou prepared for ra bjint-orVcnngs and sacrifices for sin, thou hast had:
Lo, I come (in the volume of thj book it :-> •.- f to do rhy will, O
God. Eph. v. 2. Christ hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an orVering and a sacr’hec to God, tor a sweet-smelling savour.
vi. 12. And forgive us ourdebt, as we torsive our debtors. rt Rom. iii. 24, 25. Being justified frcclv by his grate, through life
My creditor has nought to say?
Yet never had I aught to pay*.
He freely panloif d ev’ry mites,
Yet would no single farthing quit11,
Hence ev’ry bliss that falls to me
Is dearly bought, yet wholly free1*.
All pardon that I need I have,
Yet daily pardon need to crave*.
The law’s arrest keeps me in awe,
But yet ‘gainst me there is no lawra.
redemption that is in Jesus Christ: whom God hath set Forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness tor the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God, Heb. x. 14, For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
e Rom.viii. 33, 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s ekct: it is God that justifieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is ever at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
f Rom. v. 6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died f r the ungodly* Ver. 8. But God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,
B Acts xiii. 3S, 39. Re it known unto you, therefore, men and brethren, through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
11 Rom. iii. 24, 25, See letter d. Chap. viii. 22. He spared not his c a n Son, but delivered him up for us all.
1 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible thing:, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Larnb without blemish and without spot, Fph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption, through his blood, the forgiveness cl sins, according to the riches of his grace. 2 Tim. i. 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling; not according to our works, but according to his owq purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
► Psalm ciii. 3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. And xxv- 11, For thy name’s sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity j for il is very great, Luke xi, 4. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us. Dan. ix. 19, O Lord hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own vakc; O my God; for thy city, and thy people are called by thy name.
Psalm cxix. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments, Rom.vii. 9, 1 was alive without the law once: but when the commandment camej sin revived, and I died. Ver. 13, Wa->
Though truth my just damnation crave n,
Yet truth’s engag’d my soul to save0.
My whole salvation conies by this,
Fair truth and mercy’s mutual kiss p.
Law-breakers ne’er its curse have miss’d;
But I ne’er kept it, yet am bless’cK
I can’t be justify M by it%
And yet it can’t but me acquit1.
il.cn that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death unto me by that which is good; tha; sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
Gal. v. 23. The fruit of the spirit is- — meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. 1 Tim. i. 9. Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, &c.
n Ezek. xviii. 4. The soul that sinneth, it shall die.
0 1 Tim. i. 15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom 1 am chief.
p Psalm lxxxv. 10. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
r Gal. iii. 10. As many as are of the works of the law are under the cure: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Ver. 13, 14. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit, through faith.
b Rom. iii. 20. Therefore by the deeds of the Jaw, there shall no flesh be justihed in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ; that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the work of the law: for, by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Chap. iii. 1 1. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for, the iust shall live by faith.
: Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Ver. 3,4. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the rlesh, God sending his own Son, in the likenes.s of sinful ilesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness <>f the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the rleph, but after the Spirit. 2 Cor. v. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of G”d in him. Jtlom. iii. 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness j vht he might be just, and tbejustificr A him which bdievcth in J*tu:>
I’m not obliged to keep it more11,
Yet more oblig’d than e’er before w.
By perfect doing life I find*,
Yet do and live no more me bind y.
These terms no change can undergo,
Yet sweetly chang’d they r z: for lo,
Liv doing caused my Mtea, but now
My life’s the cause that makes me doh>
Rom. vi. 14. Sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but undej grace. Gal. v. 1 — 4.. Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free; and be not ntangled again with the yoki of bondage. Behold,! Paul say unto you that if ye be circumcised; Jhri- t shall profit you nothing. For I testify again, to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Chrl t is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you arc justified by the lav;; ye are fallen from grace.
. w Rom. vi. 1,2. What shall I say then? shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid: hew shall we that are (.k?.d to sin live any longer therein? Ver. 1 £. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace r God f ,rhid.
* Rom. v. i”, x8, 19. They which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ — By the righteousne sof one. the free gift came upon all men unto justification ot liie. — By the obedience ofoneshalj many be made righteous.
y Rom, x. 5 — .9. For Moses descriheth the righteousness which is of the law, ‘I hat the man which doth those things, shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise; Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above;) or, who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead;) but what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith which we. preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and Shalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
‘Rom. iii. 31. Do we then make void the law through faith: God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
a Rom. x. 5, See letter-.
h John xiv. 10. Because 1 live, ve shall live also. Chap. xv. 5, I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and 1 in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. Rom. vii. 4. Where foro, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ J that ye should he married to another, even to him who is rais; d from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unt 0 God, Y./ek.. 27. And 1 will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk, fa
my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them.
Though works of righteousness I store c, 5 et righteousness of works abhor d;
Tor righteousness without a flaw
Is righteousness without the law e.
In duties way I’m bound to lief,
Yet out of duties bound to fly8:
Hence merit I renounce with shame
Yet right to life by merit claim i#
Merit of perfect righteousness
I never hadk, yet never miss;
c Phil. i. ii. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God.
Phil. iii. 9. And be found in himxnot having mine own righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Isa. lxiv. 6. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. Rom. iv. 6, Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without, works.
c Rom iii. 2^, 21, 22. Therefor? by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh he justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all, and upon all them that believe j for there is no difference.
1 Prov. viii, 34. Blessed is the man that hearcth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
u Isa. lvii, 12. I will declare thy righteousness, and thv works, for they shall not profit thee. Luke xvii. 10. When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
h Psal. xvi. 2. O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord; my goodness extendi th not to thee. Ezek. xxxvi. 32. Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.
1 Rom. v. 1^, 19. By the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Isa, xlv, 24, 25. Surely, shall one say, In the Lord have I righteoupncsp and strength: even to him shall men come, and all that arc incensed against him shall he ashamed. In the Lord ihall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glorv.
k Rom. iii. 9, 10. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wipe: for we have proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under bin; as it is written, There Is none righteous, n 1 not one. lr. 19. Now we know, that what things soever the lav.’ saith, it saith to them who are under the law j that every mouth may be stopped, and a1: the world may become guilty before God.
On this condition I have all m,
Yet all is unconditional11.
Though freest mercy I implore0,
Yet i am safe on justice score1’;
Which never could the guilty free*,
Yet fully clears most guilty mes.
1 i Cor. i. 30. But cf him are ye in Christ Jesus; who of God is made linto us righteousness, La. xlv. 24. See letter1. Jer. xxiii. 6. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safelv: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUS-NESS.
m Isa. xlii. 21. The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness sake, he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Matt. iii. 15. Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Vcr. 17. And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Isa. lv. 1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price. Rev. xxii. 17. Whosoever will, le;. him take the water of life freely.
0 Psal. li. 1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
p Rom. iii. 24, 25, 26. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justificr of him which believeth in Jesus. 1 John, i. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful, and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
r Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed — The Lord, The Lord God, — -that will by no means clear the guilty.
8 Rom. iv. $, To him that worketh not, but believeth on him thai; Justified! the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
tiil believer’s riddle* 153
SECT. VII.
The Mystery of God th$ Justifier, Rom. iii. 26. Justifitd both in his justifying and condemning; wr Soul-just** Jication and Self-condemnation,
My J^sus needs not save yet mustu;
He is my hopew, I am his trust
He paid the double debt, well known
To be all mine, yet all his own7.
Hence, though I ne’er had more or less
Of justice-pleasing” righteousness2,
Yet here is one wrought to my hand,
As full as justice can demand a.
: Rom. ix. 5. Christ is overall, God blessed for ever. M John x. 16, And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold t them aNo I must bring, and they shall hear mv voice: and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Vet. iS. No man taketh it [mv life] from me, but I lay it down of myself: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have 1 received of my Father. Luke ii. 49. And Je<us said unto them [Joseph and his mother], How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? w Jer. xiv. 8. O the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, &c. Chap. xvii. 17. Be not a terror unto me, th pu art my hope in the day of evil. 1 Tim. i, 1. Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Saviour, and the Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.
“John xvii. 6. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me, 2 Tin. i. 12. I know whom I have believed; and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Esa. liii. 4, 5,6. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our * mows: vet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and a:!,icted. But he vaa wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone a-trav: we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Ver. 8- For the transgression of my people was he stricken. Heb. vii. 22. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. Rom. iii. 9, 10, 19. See letter forecited.
a Dan. ix. 24. Seventy weeks arc determined upon thy people, and upon thy holv city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of tins and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousjics-Sj See. Zechi sin. 7. Awake, O sword, against my Shepherd, and
By this my Judge is more appeasM
Than e’er my sin his honour leas’d b.
Yea, justice can’t be plens’d so well
By all the torments borne in heir.
Full satisfaction here is such,
As hell can never yield so muchd;
Though justice therefore might me damn,
Yet by more justice sav’d I amc.
against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the Shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered j and 1 will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
b Rom. v. 8 — ii. But God commendeth his love towards us, In that “while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Heb. ix. 14. How much moie shall the blood of Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
c Heb. x. 5, 6. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Saciifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared for me: in burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Ver. j 4. By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. Ver. 49. Of how much sorer punishment siipp se ye, shall he be thought worthy, who have trudden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
d Rom. v. 11. See letter Eph. v. 2. Christ hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. 1 Pet. i. Jf8, 19. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot. Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.
e 1 Pet. iii. 18. Christ hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust (that he might bring us lo God), being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, Rom. iii. 26. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the juatfticr of him which believtth in Jesus. 1 John ii. 2. And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Chap* IV. 10. Jrlercin is love, not that we loved God. but that he iosed us, and lent his feon, to be the propitiation for our sin*.
Here ev’ry divine property
Is to the highest set on high*;
Hence God Ins glory would injure,
It’ my salvation were not sure
My peace and safety lie in this,
My Creditor my Surety is0,
The judgment-day I dread the less,
My Judge is made my righteousness p.
He paid out for a bankrupt crew
The debt that to himself was due;
And satisfy’d himself for me,
“When he did justice satisfy r.
m Rom. iii. 2 v Whom God hnth set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are papt, through the forbearance of God. Psalm lxxxv. 10. !ercy and truth are met together; righteousness rod peace have kissed ejeh other. i C pr. v. iS, 19. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath gi en to us the ministry of rcconcinati pn, to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath commuted unto us the word of reconciliation. Ver. 21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Luke ii. 14. Glory to God m the highest, and on earth peace, good-will tQWctrd men.
I-.i. xiiv. 23. Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord “hath done it; shout, vc lower paths of the’eanh: break forth into singing ye mountain — , O forest, and every tree therein; for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the glory or’ his grace, wherein he h:uh made us accepted in the beloved. Ver. 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ,
“Psalm cxix. 122. Be surety for thy servant for good; let not the proud oppress me. Heb. vii. 22. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a 1: testament.
!> 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God, is made unto us righteousness. Chap. xv. ^5, 56, 57. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin “, and the strength of ua is the law: but thanks be to God, which giveth us die victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 ‘A eh. xiii. 7, See letter r. Rom. ix. 5. Christ is over all, God foe ever. Phil. iii. 6, 7, 8. Christ Jesus being in the form of God, il no robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and tcok upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeot men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, aad became obedient unto death, even the death of thecrosa, He to the law, though Lord of it, Did most obediently submits. What he ne’er broke, and yet must die, I never kept, yet live must I
The law, which him its keeper kill’d,
In me its breaker is fulfilPdu;
Yea magnify’ d and honour’ d more
Than sin defac’d it e’er before w.
Hence though the law condemn at large* It can lay nothing to my charge*;
Nor find such ground to challenge me,
As heaven hath found tojustifyy.
s Ibid. Gal. iv. 4, 5, But when the fulness of the time was come, Goei sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under tlje law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
c 1 Pet. iii 18. See letter ‘. 2 Cor. v. 21. See letter In. 1 John iv. 9. Tn this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him,
u Rom. viii. 3,4. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the Mesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
* Isa. xlii. 21. The Lord is well pleaded for his righteousness sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Rom. v. iS — 21. Therefore, as by the c rfence of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so, by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. P’or, as by one man’s disobedience manv were made sinners; so, by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous* Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so, might grace reign, through rlghteousncsss, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.
* Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Ver« 3, 4. See letter ‘. Vet. 33, 34. AN ho shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth: who is he that condemned? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right” hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
y Job xxxiii. 24. Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom. Rom* iii. 2^ 26. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to dv< larc his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, L say, at this time his righteous that he might be justj and the justiikr of him which believed) in Jesus.
l th pugh he freely me remit,
1 never can myself acquit2.
My Judge condemns me nut, I grant;
Yet justify myself, I can’t
From him I have a pardon got,
But yet myself I pardon nots.
His rich forgiveness still I have,
Yet never can myself forgive0.
The more he’s toward me appeas’d,
The more I’m with myself displeas’dd.
The ‘more I am absolv’d by him,
The more I do myself condemn0.
1 2 Sam. xii. 13. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not die. Psalm li. 2, 3. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Fori acknowleege my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me.
Rom.viii. 1, 33. See letter Job ix. 20. If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me j if I say I am perfect, it shall also prove m perverse.
b 2 Cor. vii. 11. For behold, this self-same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort; what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge?
c I -a. xxxviii. 15. What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.
rt Ezek. xvi. 63. That thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee, for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God.
e Luke xvii. 13, 14, And the publican standing afar off, would not lift up ^0 much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, G d be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself, shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted. Ezek. xxxvj. 31, 32. Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your d pings that were not good, and shall loath yourselves in your own sight, for your Iniquities, and for your abominations. Not for vour sake-> do I do this, saith the Lord God, be ii known unto you; be ashamed and confounded tor your own ways, O house of Israel. Jer. xxxi. 19. Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, 1 smote upon mv thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach yf my youth.
K2
When he in heav’n dooms me to dwell,
Then I adjudge myself to helif;
Yet still I to his judgment ‘gree,
And clear him for obsolving me&.
Thys he clears me, and I him clear,
1 justify my Justifierh,
Let him condemn or justify,
From all injustice I am free1.
f Matt. xxv. 34 — 39. Then shall the King say unto them on his righj hand. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for yon, from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me: 1 was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto mc. Then shall the righteous answer him, saving, Lord, when saw we thee an hungrcd, and fed thee: or thirsty, an.d gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came into thee? 1 Cor. xi. 31. If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. Luke xv. 20, 21. And he [the prodigal sonj arose and came to hi: u.ther. Eut when he was yet a great way oil, his father saw him-, and had compassion, and ran, and fell an his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned, against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be enl’ed thy son. Gen. xxxii. 9, 10. And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my lather Isaac, the Lord which -aids;, unto me Return unt thy country, and to to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: 1 am not wolthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast shewn unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands.
: Psalm li. 4. Against thee, thee only have 1 sinned, and done this evU in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. And xi. 7. The righteous Lord loveth righteous-, his countenance doth behold the upright. And clxv. 16, 17, Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The Lord i ii 1 teous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Rev. xv. 3, And the v &Sng the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, v .in: — .Great and marvellous arc thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
Rom iii. 26. To declare, I saw, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifierof him that believeth in Jesus, lsa. xlv. 21. There is no God else beside me, a just God and a Saviour. Ver. 24. Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have 1 righteousness and strength. Chap, lxiii. I. Who is he that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength - I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Zech. ix. 9. Rejoice gr O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy King Cometh unto thee; he is jusr, and having salvation, &e.
1 Job ..w. 4, 5j 6. Uoyv then can man be justified with God? or lvpw
SECT. VIII.
The Mystery of Sanctification imperfect in this Life; or the Believer doing ail, and doing nothing.
Mine arms embrace my Goda, yet I
Had never arms to reach so highb;
His arms alone me ho!dc, yet lo
1 hofd, and will not let him god.
I do according to his call,
And yet not I, but he does all ^;
can he be clean that is born of a woman? Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; vea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much lew man that is a worm; and the son of man that is a worm? Psa m txxxix. 14. Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. And: cvii. 2. Cloud- and darkness are around about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne Rom. iii. 19, 20. Npw we know? that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are and 1 the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become g lilty before God. Therefore by the of the law iherc shall no flesh he justified in hi? sight: for by the lew is the kn -in. Ver. 23, 24, 25. For all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God: being justified freely by his grace, through the Aon that is in Je*.us Chirst: whom Cod hath set forth to be a pro pitiation, through faith in his blood, to u.-ciare his righteousness for the sine that are past, through the forbearance of God. Psalm xxii. 2, 3. O my God, I crv in the day -time, but thou hearest nor; and in the. and am not silent* But thou art holy, O thou that in habi test the praises or Israel.
Song iii. 4. It was but a little thatl passed from them, but I found
him whom my soul loveth; i held him, and would not let him go, until I
had brought lum into my mother’s house* and into the chamber of herd me.
Im lxi. 2. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when
my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
c Psalm L iii S My ttoul followeth bard after thee: thy right hand npholdeth me. ha. xfi. 10. Fear thou not, fori am with thee: be not ed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will he’p thee, yea, I will uphold thee with tin right hand of my righteousn< ss.
1 Gen. itxxii. 26 And he [the angel J said, Lit me go, for the cay
breaketh: and he [Jacob] said, 1 will not let the.. ;hou bless me.
e 1 Cor. xv. to. But by the grace of God I am what I am. And his
l bkh was bestowed up n nn, was not in vain; but I laboured more
Lhafl they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which ww wilV
K 3
gosfe: SOmET!
- to will and i
I withe.. freely U
II and n g e full well
Yei iisagre* ike heav’n and hell,
El - itu e’s ack, ind mine is h -.
s - ..ever that nor tfa -
I know him and his nar irn
He and his name can ne’er be known’.
r dkmiscc ming makes me do;
1 i 5, yet know not hov.
xs ye toe
- L
md to d»
i c..;
f -. - -
!
-
1
:
-
-
!
THE DLLIEV£k’- k
I hare no iood but what be e
be commends th
.
Mj w to him
Bi
I’m bound r p it yet ‘(
i whither 1: ‘• one that hp bora
-
i C ‘-
people, that we should be l port: for all
Tme of thee, and of thine own ha*.*:
mmendeth. ,, therefore,
, that ye present your bodies a living sacri
. rentable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And
-:.
‘’:.:■ ■’:.. 0 hot.: I
.^nse; and the lifting c:
with confidence by the faith of h.tn. Heb. to enter into the holier by th -
- I -
. stranger that join ther
L
.. •.
‘/. ..ich I com mane
J they not take hold of your:; they
thought to do unto us, accofd-
; to our doings, so hath he deak with us
t ashamet
to every one that
believeth; t •: To the
. -:’
The frond on my part cannot last? Yet on both sides stands firm and fastV
1 break my bands at ev’ry shock,
Yet never is the bargain broke ho
Daily, alas! I disobey0,
Yet yield obedience ev’ry day d.
I’m an imperfect perfect man c,
That can do all, yet nothing conf.
everlasting up n them that fear him; and his righteousness unto children1* chiklrtn: to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. John xvii. 6. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
y Psalm lxxxix. 33 — 36 Nevertheless, my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor altei the thing that i.-> gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn, by my holiness, that I will not lie unto David. His seed. shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
2 Psalm ixxxix. 30, 31, 32. If his children forsake my lav.-, and walk, not in my judgments; if they break my *ta<.ute, and keep not my commandment; then will I visit their transgressions with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
•’ P-alm lxxxix. 2, 3,4. Fori have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever; thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with my Chosen, 1 have sworn unto Da- id my servant. Thy seed will 1 establish for ever, and btiild up thy throne to all generations. Ver. 28, 29. My mere)’ will 1 keep for evermore and my covenant shall .^tand fast with him. His seed also will 1 make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. Jer. xxxii. 40 /• nd I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good, but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.. b Psalm lxxviii 37. Their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. Isa. liv, 10. The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindne.-s shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee.
c James iii. 2. In many things we offend all.
d Psalm lxi. 8. So will I sing praise unto thv name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. Heb. iii. 13. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day; lest any of you be hardened through the dcccitfulness ef sin.
e Psalm xxxaU. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the cud of that man is peace. Rev. iii. 1. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are reaeiy to die: fori have not found thy works perfect before’ God.
‘Phil. iv. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengthenuh
I’m from beneath g, and from above h,
A child of wrath ‘, a child of lovek.
A stranger e’en where all may know;
A pilgrim, yet 1 nowhere go1.
I trade abroad, yet stay at homem;
My tabernacle is my tombn.
I can be prison’d, yet abroad;
Bound hand and foot, yet walk with God0.
me. John xv. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abldeth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.
8 John viii. 23. And Jesus said unto the Jews, Ye are from beneath — ye are of this world, &c.
h Gal. iv. 16. Jerusalem which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all. Ver. 28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. John i. 13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the ilesh, nor of the will of :nan, but of God. And iii. 5, 6. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee [Nicodemus], Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God, — That which is born of the Spirit, is spirit.
1 Ephes. ii. 3. We — were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
k Rom. iv. 8. The children of the promise are counted for the seed.
1 Heb. xi- 13. These all — confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 1 Pet. ii. 11. Deariy beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, &c.
m Phil. iii. 20. For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Cor* v. 1, 2. For we know, that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hand.*, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan earnestly, desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. Ver. 4. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would he unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
“Acts xvi. 24, 25, The jailor having received such a charge, thrusr them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silap prayed, and sang praises unto God. 2 Tim. ii. 9. Wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer, elen unto bonds; but the Word of God is not bound. 2 Cor. vi. 4, $. But in all things approving iurwlvts as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necesin distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, In UbaurU) % fin fastings.
SECT. IX.
77><y Mystery of various Names given to Saints and Church of Christ; or, The Flesh and Spirit described from hair vimated Things, Vegetables and Sensitives.
To tell the world my proper name,
Is both my glory and my shame p;
For like my black but comely face,
My name is Sin, my name is Grace’*
Most fitly I’m assimilate
To various things inanimate;
A standing lake8, a running flood
A fixed staru, a passing cloud w.
P Hos. i. 9. Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. And ii. 1. Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi, and to your sisters, Ruhamah. Ver. 23. And I -will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy, and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
r Song i. 5. I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon. 1 Tim. i. 15. 1 his is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesna came in» the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Isa. lxii. 2, 3- And ths Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory. And thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the band of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
s Jer. xlviii. n. Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he hath settlt d on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.
I Isa. xliv. 3. I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I wall pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.
II Dan. xii. 3. And they that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever. And in opposition to those culled wandering stars, Jude 13.
f Hosv’1.4. O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what, shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is ap a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
A cake unturnM, nor cold, nor hotx;
A vessel sound >’, a broken potz:
A rising sun % a drooping wingb;
A flinty rockc, a [lowing spring d,
A rotten beam e, a virid stemf;
A menstruous cloth*, a royal gem h;
A garden bair’d, an open field k;
A gliding stream, a fountain seal’d m.
x Hos. vii. 8. Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people, Ephraim is a cake not turned. Rev. iii. 15. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wcrl cold or hot.
* Rom. ix. 21. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
z Psa’m xxxi. 12. lam forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
Matt. xiii. 43. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
h Psaim lv. 6. And I snid, O that I had wing< like a clolt! for then lyould I fly away, and be at rest.
c Zech. lii. 12. They made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in, “his Spirit by the former prophets.
d John iv. 13, J4. Jcsup answered and -aid unto her,Whosoever drinketh of the water that I chall give him shall never thirst: but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
e Isa. xvii. 9, 10, In that dav shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left, because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation. Because thou hast forgotton the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength: therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shah set it with strange slips. Chap, xxvii. n. When the boughs thereof arc withered, they shall be broken off. The women came and set them on fire; for it is a people of no understanding, Sec.
f Prov. xL 28. The righteous shall flourish as a branch. Psalm xcii. 12, 13. The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree: he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God.
f Isa. xxx. 22. Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold. Thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. Chap. lxiv. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all uur righteous-I - - ire as filth y
h Isa. lxii. 3. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the Land of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
1 Song i. 12. A garden inclosed is mv sister, my spo
* Matt. xiii. 24, 25. Another parable put he forth unto them, Baying
168 t;ospll sonnets.
Of various vegetables see
A fair, a lively map in me.
A fragrant rose n, a noisome weed °;
A rotting p, yet immortal seed ‘.
Fm withering grass % and growing corn r; A pleasant plant u, an irksome thorn w; An empty vine*, a fruitful treey; An humble shrub2, a cedar high a.
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field; hut while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
1 Song iv. 5. [My sister is] a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
n) Song iv. 12. A spring shut up, a fountain sealed is my sister, my spouse.
n Isa. xxxv. 1. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
0 Isa. v. 4. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I ha-le not done in it? wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes.
p Gen. iii. 19. In the sweat f thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
r 1 Pet. i. 23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever.
s Isa. xl. 7. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; because the Spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
r H s. >;iv. 7. They that dwell under his shadow shall return, they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.
u Isa. v. 7* The vineyard of the Lord of hosts Is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant.
w Mic. vii. 4. The best of them is a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn- hedge.
* Hos. x. t. Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself.
y Palm i, 3. And lie shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doth shall prosper.
7 Ezek. xvii. 5, 6. He [a great eagle] took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field, he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow-tree. And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whor><* branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him; £0 it became a vine, and brought forth branches ar>^ snot forth sprigs. Ver. 24. And all the trees of the field shall know that 1 the Lord have brought down the hih tret-, have exalted the low tree, have, dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the Lord have spoken mul have done it, Mark iv. 30, 31. And Jesus said, Whcreu.nto shall w-THE BELIEVERS RIDDLL. 16§
A noxious brierh, a harmless pine*;
A gapless twigd, a bleeding viuec:
A stable firf,a pliant bush*;
A noble oakh, a naughty rush
With sensitives I may compare,
While I their various natures share:
Their distinct names may justly suit
A strange, a reasonable brute k.
liken the kingdom of God? or, with what comparison shall we comp.ire k * It is a like a grain of mustard-seed, which when it is sown in the cam1., i? less than all the seeds that be in the earth.
d Psalm xcii. 12. The righteous shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. b Mie. vii, 4, See letter x.
c Isa. xli. 12. I will set in the desert the fir-tree, and the pine, and the box -tree together.
]oli xv. 4. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ve aoiue in me. Vcr. 6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and 13 wit he reel.
c John xv. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and 1 in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can. do nothing. Song ii. 13. The rig-tree putteth forth her green rig-, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smelh Ver. 1 ^, Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes.
1 Isa.tr. 13. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the briar shall tome up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign tint shall not be cut off. And Ix. 13. i he r-^.’irv of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box together, to beautify the lace of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
t- Matt. xi. 7. And as they departed) Jesus began to saw unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see r A reed shaken with the wind?
h Isa. vi. 1 3. But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaun: as a teil-tree, and as an oak, whose subscanee is in them when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
‘Isa. lviii. 5. Is it such a tapt that I have chosen? a day for a ma 1 to afflict his soul r is it to bow d uvn his head as a bulrush, and to spread sakcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable d.ly to theLord -
oin lxxiii. 22. So foolish was I (“Asaph] and ignorant, I was a beast before thee. Prov. xxx. z. Surely I [AgurJ am more uiuush than any nidn, and have not the understanding of a man.
17$ <€OSPEL SONNETS.
The sacred page my state describes
From volatile and reptile tribes;
From ugly vipers, beauteous birds™;
From soaring hosts », and swinish herds0.
Fni rank’d with beasts of difT rent kinds,
“With -spiteful tigers p, loving hinds’; And creatures of distinguish’ d forms, With mounting eagles % creeping worms1*
A mixture of each sort I am;
A hurtful snake”, a harmless lamb*;
A tardy assy, a speedy roe2;
A lion bolda, a timorous doe b.
1 Matt. iii. 7. But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Saclducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, &c.
m Song ii. 12. The time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
n Isa. lx. 8. Who are-these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
0 Matt. vii. 6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ve your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you. 2 Pet. ii: 22. But it is happened to them according to -the true proverb, The dog is turned to his owu vomit again: and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
p Psalm xxii. 16. For dogs have compassed me, the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. Phil. iii. 1, ‘Beware of dogs, beware of evil-workers, beware of the concision.
r Psalm xviii. 33. God maketh my feet like hind’s feet, and setteth me lipon my high places. Prov. v. 19. Let her [the wife of thy youth be as the loving hind, and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee, at all times, and be thou ravished always with her love.
s Isa xl. 31. — They shall mount up with wings as eagles. * Psalm xxii. 6. But I am a worm and n man. Isa. xli. 14. Fear not thou worm of Jacob, and ye men of Israel, &x.
“Psalm lviii. 5. Their poison is like the poison of a serpent; they are like the deaf adder that ttopptth her ST.
v f Jin xxi. 1^. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these f lie saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
y Jobxi. 12. Vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild
cok. 1 Prov. vi. 5. Deliver thyself [my son] as a roe from the hand of the hunter.
a Prov. xxviii. r. The righteous arc bolda* a lion.
b lid. ii. 10. And they Jull go into the holes of the rocks and into the
A slothful owl’*, :i busy ant d;
A dove to mourn0, a lark to chant. f;
And with h m i quale to compare,
Au ugly toadg, an attgel lair.
SECT. X.
The Mystery of the Saints old and new Man further described; and the Means of their spiritual Life*
Temptations breed me much annoy %
Yet divers such I count all joy b.
On eartlr I see confusion reel c.
Yet wisdom ordering all things well d.
caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his Majesty when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
c Psalm cii. 6. I am like ati owl of the desert.
d Prov. vi. 6. Go to the ant thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wis ■, &c.
e Isa. xxxviii. 14. Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did
mourn as a dove; mine eyes fail with looking upward: O Lord, I am
ed, undertake forme. Ezek. vii. 16. But they that escape of them
TLrael j, -hall escape, and ^-hall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys,
allot” them mourning, every one for his iniquity,
‘Song ii. 12. The time of t lie singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle ip heard in our land.
! Rom iii. 13. — The poison of asps is under their lips. Job. xl. 4. Behold, I am vile, what shall I answer thee: I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
11 Acts vi. 1 5. And all that sit in the council, looking stedfastly on him [Stephen], siw his face as it had been the face of an angel. 2 Cor. iii. 18. Bat we all with open face beholding a in a glass, the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to gl »ry, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
1 Heb xii. 11. Now rro chastening fpr the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous, &c. 1 Pet. i. 6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season (ii need be) ye are in heavmeps through manifold temptations.
b Janes i. 2. My brethren, count it ail joy when ye fall into divers temptations.
c Psalm lxxxii 5. They know not. neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
1 P.^alm xxix. 10. The Lord sitteth upon the ll><>d; yea, the L’>rd silteth
king for ever. And lxxxix. 9. Thou rudest the raging sea: when the
waves (hereof arise, thou stillest them. Rom viii. 28. And we know that
all things work v- d, to them that love Gjd, to them who arc
iljed according to his purpose-L S
I sleep, yet have a waking ear6;
Fm blind and deaf, yet see and hear*:
Dumb, yet cry, Abba, Father, plain
Born only once, yet born again
My heart’s a mirror dim and bright1*, A compound strange of day and night*: Of dung and diamonds, dross and gold; Of summer heat and winter coldm.
e Song v. 2. I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocktth, saying, Open to me, my sister, my iove, my dove, my unclehlec!; for my head is rilled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.
f Isa. xlni. 18, 19. Hear, ye deaf, and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant; or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant? And xxxv. 5. 7 hen the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall b? unstopped.
u Ioa. xxxv. 6. Then shall — the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. Rom. viii. 1 5. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye hale received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
h John iii. 3 — 6. Jesus answered and said unto him [NicodemusJ, Verily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ‘Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Je-us answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh, is rlesh: and that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit.
1 Lam. v. 17. For this our heart is faint, for these things our eyes are dim. Isa- xxxii. 3. And the eyes of them that see, shall not be dim, &c.
k Zech. xiv. 7. But it shall be one day, which shall be. known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pa;S, that at evening-time it shall be light.
1 Mai. ii. -3. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your facer., even the dung of your solemn feasts, ami one shall take you away with it. Phil. iii. 8. Yea, dou’ntless, and I count all things but los, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my L rd: for whom I have suffered the lo-s of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ. Isa. lxii. 3. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Fa. i. 2^. And I wiil turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dros-j, and take away all thy tin. Job xxiii. 10. God knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, 1 shall come forth as gold.
m P-^alm xxxix. ^. My heart was hot within me, while I was muring the fire burned. Luke xxiv. ^2. And they said one to another, Did not our hearts burn within lis, while he talked with us by the way, and while
Down like a stone I sink and dive11,
Yet daily upward soar and thrive0.
T<> heav’n I fly, to earth I tend*;
>Stiil better grow but never mendr.
My heav’n and glory’s sure to me,
Though therefore seldom sure I be s:
uc the scripture? Matt. xxiv. 12. And because Iniquity shall love of many shall wax cold. Rev. ii. 4. Nevertheless, 1 against thee because thou hast left thy rirpt love. n Psalm llii. 67. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will 1 remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. Deep calleth unto deep, at the noise of thy waterspouts: allthv waves and thy billows are gone over me.
P aim xlii. 8, 9.” Yet the Lord will command his loving-kindness in the day-time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my lire. I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? Ver 1 1. W hv art thou ca-t down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? 1 lope thou in God, for I will yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
C I. iii. 1, 2. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections Olf filings above, not on things on the earth. Psalm >:liv. 25. Our soul is bowed down to the dust: out belly eleaveth unto the earth.
‘” Hos. xiv. c. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, ?lu cast forth hi- rpots as Lebanon. Ver. 7. They that dwell under his shadow -hall return, they shall r v ‘:• e as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof, shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Phil. iii. 12, 13, 14. Not as though I had already attuned, either were already perfect 1 but t fntlow aft r, if that 1 mav apprehend t. at tor which also 1 am appr. ’ of Chrfct Je« n 1 count not myself to have apprehended: but
this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto rh which are before, I press toward the mark, for the
prize of the high calling of God in Chri: [1 5. Rom. vii. 2;, 24. But I see another law in 1 rs, warring against the law of my mind,
me intocaptivity to the law of sin, which is in mv mei l bed man that 1 am! who shall deliver me from the body of this
s John ::vi. 2, 3. In mv Father’s house are many mansions; if it not -o, I would ha e told you: I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and - 1 Bi to
. that where I am, there ye may be also, 2 Pet. i. 10. XA :<cr, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election Feb. rv. r. Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of err rest) any of you should seem to come short of it.
174 ffOSTEL SONNETS,
Yet what makes me the surer is,
God is my glory *, I am Ins u.
My life’s exposed to open view w;
Yet closely hid and known to few x.
Some know my place, and whence I came,
Yet neither whence, nor where I am
I live in earth, which is not odd:
But, lo, I also live in God z:
A spirit without flesh and blood,
Yet with them both to yield me food*.
I leave what others live upon,
Yet live I not on bread alone;
But food adapted to my mind,
Bare words, yet not on empty wind b.
* Psal. iii. 3. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head Isa. lx« 19. The sun shall be no more thy light by day, neither for brightness shall the moon give li&ht unto thee, but the Loid shall be unto t kce an everlasting light and thy God thy glory.
u Isa. xivi. 13-! will place salvation in Zion tor Israel my glory. 2 Cor. viii. 23. Vi hot her any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-helper concerning jox: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
* Psalm xliv. 23. Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.
x Col. iii. 3. Your life is hid with Christ in God.
John iii. 9, 10. Ni cod emus answered and said unto him, How can these things be r Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and know est net these things? Prov. xiv. 10. The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy. 1 John iv. 16. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.
* Gal. ii 20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I. but Christ liseth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
a John iv. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth. And vi. 53, 54, 55. Then said Jesus unto them, [the Jews |, Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye cat the rlesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateih my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and 1 will raise him up at the labt day. For my flesh is meat indeed) and my blood is drink indeed.
b Mat. iv. 4. But Jesus answered and said [unto the tempter J, Itjis written man shall not Uve by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of Oou. jer. xv. 16. 1 by words were found, and 1 did eat them 4
THE nLLIEVEIt’s lilDDLi;. 1 7 .>
I’m no Anthropophagite hide,
Though fed with human flesh and blood;
But live superlatively fine,
My food’s all spirit, all divine c.
1 feast on fulness night and davd,
Yet pinch’d for want, I pine away c,
My leanness, leanness, ah! I eryf;
Yet lat and full of sap am I g.
As all amphibious creatures do,
I live in land and water tooh:
To good and evil equal bent’,
Tin both a devil k, and a saint1.
and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart, for I ami ailed by thv name, O Lord God of host*.
‘John vi. 57, 58. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; 90 he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: no” as your fathers did eat manna, and M€ dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. Ver. 63. It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the rle-h proriteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
‘Isa. xxx. 6. And in this mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat thing* full of marrow, of wines on the lees well rehned. Psal. i. 2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
e Isa. xli. f 7. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, 1 the Lord will hear them, 1 the God of Israel will not forsake them. Palm xl. 17. But I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my dciherer, make no tarrying, O my God.
1 Isa. xxiv. 16. From the uttermost parts of the earth have we heard song<, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me. The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealerp have dealt very treacherously.
1 Psalm xcii. 13, 14. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord, khall nourish in the courts of our God, They shall still bring forth fruit in old ae: they shall be fat and llouri-hing. And civ. 16. 1 he trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted.
b Psalm cxvi. 9. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. And lxix. 1, 2, Save me, O God, for the waters arc come in unto mv soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I am come into deep waters, where the floods overfl ow me. Psalm lxxxviii. rj, Thv terrors come round about mc daily like water, they compassed me about together. 1 Rom. vii. 21. 1 hnd then a law, that when I would do good, evil is ll with mc.
While some men who on earth are gods’% Are with the Go t of heaven at odds’1, My heart, where hellish legions are0, Is with the hosts of lie IL at warjP,
My will fulfils what’s hard to tell, The counsel both of heav’ur, and hell8; Heav’n, without sin, vvilj’d sin to be Yet will to sin, is sin in me u,
k John vi. 70. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? And viii. 44. Ye are of your fa;h< r the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. James iii. i =;. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but i earthlv, sens, al, devilish’.
1 1 Cor. vi. 11. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
111 Psalm ) :xxii 6. I have said, Ye are gods: and all of you are chil* dren of the Most High.
,! Palm lxxxii. 1, 2 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked r Selah. Ver. 5. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: ail the foundations of the earth are out of course.
0 Matt. XV- 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murder?, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. Luke viii. 30, And Jesus asked him, saving, What is thy name? and he said, Legion; because many devils were entered into him.
: Eph. vi. r2. For we wrestle n t against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickednos, in high places.
Rev. xvii. 17. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
s E|)h. ii. 3. Among whom also we ail had our conversation in times past, in the lests of our ilesh; fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
1 James i. 13. Let no man say when he is tempted, 1 am tempted of God: for G d cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. Acts vi. 1,. 5, 16. And in those days Peter Stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before con* cerning Judas, which wap gr.ideto them that look Jesus. And ii. 23. Jesus of Nazareth, being d< liv< red by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have ciueiliedand slain. And iv. 27, 28. For of a truth, against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, boih Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people. -.,’<’ [srael, were gathered together, for to d% whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined be lure 10 be done.
rHE ijkliever’s riddll, 177
To duty seldom I adhere w,
et to the end I persevere x.
I die and rot beneath the elod y9
Vet live and reign as long as God*.
SECT. XI.
The Mystery of Christ, his Names, Natures, and Offices.
My Lord appears; awake my soul,
Admire his name, the Wonderful?
An infinite and finite mindb,
Eternity and time conjoin’dc.
The everlasting Father stvTd,
Yet lately born the virgin’s child
0 Hos. v. ti. Ephraim is oppressed, and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. 2 Cor. viii. 11, 12. Now therefore, perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which you have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
w Psalm exix. 176. I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
* Hcb. >:. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that brlieve to the saving of the soul.
>’ Psalm >.c. 3. Thou tamest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.
1 John v. 24. Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and -hall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Rev. iii. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne. And xxii. 5. There shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for eler and ever.
a Isa. ix. 6. For unto as a child i>* b prn, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful.
b Psalm cxlvii. 5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. Luke ii. ^1. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with G d and man.
c Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law.
rt Isa. ix. 6. For unto us a child is born: and his name shall b;j 1 The everlasting Father. Matt, i, 23. Behold, a virgin shall be v. ith child*
Nor father he nor mother had,
Yet full with both relations clad0.
His titles differ and accord,
As David’s son, and David’s lord
Through earth and hell how conqu’ring rode
The dying man, the rising God g!
My nature is corruption doom’dh;
Yet when my nature he assuni’d,
He nor on him (to drink the brook)1
My person nor corruption tookk.
and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call his name Emanuel, which being interpreted, is, God with us.
e Heb. vii. 3. For this Melchisedec — without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest continually. Luke ii. 48, 49. And when they saw him, they were amazed; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou so dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye bought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
f Matt. xxii. 41 — 45. While the pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, the Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit ihou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool r If David then call him Lord, how is hs his son? 8cc«
B Matt. xxi. 5. Tell ye the daughter of Zion, behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass. Ver. 8, 9. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way: others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitude that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest. Ver. 12. And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables ot the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves. Col. ii. 15. And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it [his cross]. Rom.iv. 25- Jesus our Lcrd was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Eph. iv. 8. Wherefore he [Davidj saitbj V hen he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Rom. i. 4. Jesus Christ our Lord was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
h Eph. iv. 22. Put off concerning the former conversation, the old man which is corrupt, according to the- deceitful lusts.
1 Psalm ex. 7. He shall dunk of the brook in the way, thereof shall he lift up the h
k Rom. viii. 3. God sent his own Son, in the likeness of sinful flesh*
THE EELIEY’£uls RIDDLE- 179
Yet he assumM my sin and guilt1.
For which the noble blood was spilt,
Great was the guilto’erflowing Hood,
The creature’s and Creator’s bloodm!
‘idle Chief of chiefs amazing camen,
rro bear the glory and the shame0;
Anointed Chief With oil ofjoyp,
CrownM Chief with thorns of sharp annoy r.
and Fat sin condemned sin in the flesh. John i. 14. And the Word was made aesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth. Luke i. 35. And the angel answered and said unto Mary, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the- power’ of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of Go;!. Heb.li. 16. For verily he took not on him the nature <>f angels; but he pn him the seed of Abraham. And vii. 26, 27. For such an high priest became us, who is h ly, harmless, updeflled, separate from sinners* and made higher than the heavens; who needeth not daily, as those high priest-, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this j when he ffered up himself.
1 Isa. liii. 5, 6. All we Iikf sheep have gone a«tray: we have turned
one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of
. 2 Cor. v. 21. God hath made Christ to be sin for us, who knew
no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Matt.
:-,x. 2^. The Son of man came to give his life a random for manym Rom. iii. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through
faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that
t, through the forbearance of God. .Acts xx. 28. Feed the church of
God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 1 Pet, i. 18, 19. For
as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as
silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers; but with the p» — cioui blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish
and without spot. 1 John iii. 16. Hereby percehe we the love of God,
e lie laid down hi’, life for US.
J1 Rev. i. 4, 5 Grace be unto you, and peace from Jesus Christ, wh<> is
the faithful witness, and the rlrst begotten of the dead, and the prince of the
kings of the
0 Zech.vi. 12, i”. Behold the man whose name is the BRANCH — he shall build the temple of the. Lord, and he shall bear the glorv. Heb. xii. 2. Jesvu, for the joy thai was set before him, endured the truss, du-pising the shanp
I’lji. - i - Thou lovest righteousness, and hates: wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fell
r Mat. rxvli, 20. When they had platted a crown of thorn-, they put it or his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the kuec beforjc Jtun, and tracked him, saying, Hail, king of the J
Lo, in his white and ruddy face
Roses and lilies strive for places;
The morning star, the rising sun,
With equal speed and splendour ran*.
How glorious is the church’s head.
The Son of God, the woman’s seedu!
How searchless is his noble clanw,
The first, the last, the second manx!
With equal brightness in his face, Shines divine justice, divine grace y; The jarring glories kindly meet, Stern vengeance and compassion sweet2.
s Song ii. i. I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the alleys. Chap. V. 10 My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
1 Rev. xxii. 16. I [Jesus] am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning-star. Mai. iv. 2. But unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow Op as calves of the stall.
u Col.i. iS. And Christ is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead: that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. John iii. 16. God so loved the world, that he g.ive his only begottten Son, that whosoever believeth on him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. Gen. iii. 1 5, And I [the Lord GodJ will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed 5 it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
. w Isa. liii. 3. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? Proe. xxx. 4. Who hath ascended up into fieaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his rists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the endp of the earth? what is his name, and what is his Son’s name, if thou canst tell r
* Rev. i. 1 r. I am Alpha an Omega, the first and the last. 1 Cor xv. :«. The last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Ver. 47. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
y 2 Cor. i. 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of dark-r.ess, h4th shined in our beans, to give the light of the knowledge of the of God, in the face of Jesus Christ. Rom. iii. 24, 2:5,26. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that i in Jesus Christ. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the lvmision of sins that are past, through prbearance of God; to declare, 1 saw, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justirier of him which believeth in Jesus. fiph. i. 6, 7. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein be hath made us accepted in the beloved: in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to tin iicb.es ot his grace,
* Rom. v. 20, 21. But where tin abound* d, grace did much mure aboundj
TlfC EALIKTE&’fl RIDDLE. 181
God is Spirit, seems iL odd
To sing aloud the blood of God 7?
Yea, hence my peace and joy result,
And here my lasting hope is built*.
Love through his blood a vent has sought,
et divine love was never bought;
Mercy could never purchas’d be,
Yet ev’ry mercy purchas’d heb.
His triple station brought my peace,
The Altar, Priest, and Sacriiicec;
His triple office ev’ry thing,
My Priest, my Prophet is, and King*.
that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign thr ugh righteousness unto eternal lire, by Jesus Cnrist our Lord. P>aim 1 .-. M I cy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kis-ed each other.
z John iv. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Acts >:x. 2S. Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
* Rom. v. 1. Therefore being justified by frith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 10. For if when we were enemies, we wnt- reconciled to God by the death of his Son: much more b- ing reconciled, we shall be awed by his life. 1 Pet. iii. 15. Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. Ver. 18. For Christ hath also once offered for sin-, the just for the unjust (that he might bring us to Gud), being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirt.
D Rom v. 9. Much more then being now justified by his blood, we shall be awed frpin wrath through him. Ver. 21. See Lttcr >’. JVm iii. 16. God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever bfelieveth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. Rom. i God saith to Muses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Eph.i, 3. B ‘God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath b’.epsed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly p!ac< s in C
c Heb. xiii. 10. We have an altar whereof they have no right t 1 ear, which serve the tabernacle. Chap. ii. 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren: that he might be- a :. and faithful high priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconci for the sins of the people. Chap. i. 26. Jjut now world, hath Christ appeared to put away pin by the
(1 Acts vii. 37. This is that Moses which -:iid onto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise 1 p unto you ofyourbn thn n, me; him shall ye hear, I-a. XX xiii. 22. ‘I he Lord is ourjud^Cj the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord i;> our kin;,, he will save Ua.
This King, who only man became,
Is both the Lion and the Lambc;
A King of kings, and kingdoms broad ■;
A servant both to man and God s.
This Prophet kind himself has set
To be my book and alphabet,
And ev’ry needful letter plain,
Alpha, Omega, and Amenh.
e i Tim. iii..r6. And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: Gud was manifest in the flesh, Sec. Rev. v. 5, 6. And one of the elders saith unto me [John], Weep not.: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed 10 open the book, and to loope the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eves, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into ail the earth. Ver. 12. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
* Rev. xix. 16. And he [the Word of God] hath on his venture, and on his thigh, a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF JvORDS. Isa. xxxvii. 1 <;, 16. And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord, raying, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwelleth between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth, thou hast made heaven and earth. Rev. xi. 15. And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign tor ever and ever.
g Matt. xv. 28- The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Phil. ii. 7. Christ Jesus made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Isa. xhi. 1. Behold my servant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my soul delighteth. Chap, liii. 11. By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.
h Rev. i. 8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Ver. ir. T am Alpha and Omega, the rirst and the last: and, what thou [John] secrpt, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Via. Chap. xxi. 6- I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end: I will give unto him that is athirst, of the fountain of the water of life freely. And xxii. 1 3. 7 am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and th the first ;^d tfce last. Chap. iii. 14. V.wi unto the angel of the church of Laodtceans write, These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God, &c.
SFCT. XII.
The Mystery of the BeKever’sjifred State [further enlarged; and his getting forth out of Evil.
Behold, I’m all defil’d with sin3,
Vt lo, all glorious am within b,
In Egypt and in Goshen dwell c;
Still moveless, and in motion still ^.
Unto the name that most I dread,
I flee with joyful wings and speed e.
My daily hope does most depend
On him I daily most offend f.
All things against me are combined,
Yet working tor my good I find-.
I’m rich in midst of poverties h,
And happy in my miseries1.
a Isa. lxiv. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteous-B€9Se* are as filthy rags.
* Palm xlv. 13. ‘I he King’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
L Psalm cxx. 5, 6. Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar. My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. Psalm xvi. 5, 6. The L>rdis the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup: thou maintained my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in plea-rut places; yea, I hale a goodly heritage.
rt 1 Cor. xv. 58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
e Psalm cxliii. 2. O L< id, enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be jusiifced. Ver. 9. Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; I flee unto thee to hide me.
1 Psalm xxv. 11. For thy name’s pake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it i.i great. Jt.r. xiv. 7. O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned agaimt thee.
Gen. xlii. 36. And Jacob their Father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph i- not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Pcnjamin away: all these things. re against me. Rom. ii I - £&. And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love Clod, to them who arc the called according to his purpose.
1 Rev. ii. 8, 9. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write, things saith the first- and the lapt, which was dead and is alive; I know thy work-, and tribulation, and poverty (but thou art rich),
M 9
Oft my Comforter sends me grief,
My Helper sends pa’e uo reliet*.
Yet herein my advantage lies,
That help and comfort lie denies1.
As seamsters into pieces cut
The cloth they into form would put,
He cuts me down to make me up,
And empties me to fill my cupra.
I never can myself enjoy,
Till he my woeful self destroy;
And most of all myself I am,
When most I do myself disclaim a.
1 Rom. v. 3, 4, 5. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation workcth patience; and patience experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is ghvn unto us* 2 Cor. j ii. 10. Therefore I [Paul take pleasure in inrhmitiesin reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses fox Christ’s sake: for when 1 am weak, then am I strong.
Lam- i. 16. For these things I weep, mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter, that should relieve my soul is far from me. isa. xlv. 15. Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel the Saviour.
Isa. xxx- 18. And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be graciou unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy apod you; t ••;■ the Lord is a God of judgment; blessed are all they that wait for him.
- HoSf v. 15. 1 will go and return unto my place, till they acknowledge their ftence, and &eek my face. In their aiiiiction they will seek me early. Clap vi. i,?.. Come and let us return unto the Lord; for he hath torn, and in will heal is; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us, in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Psalm cvii. 9. God satisfietb the longing soul, and hlleth the hungry soul with g<odness. Luke i. 53. And Mary said — He hath filled the hungry with good thing-, and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Luke ix. 23, 24. And Jesus said to them all, If any man will come after me-, Let him deny himself, and take, up his cfOSS daily and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lore it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Rom. liii. 13. If ye live after the ftesh, ve: shall die; but if vi through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the Vody, ye shall live. 2 Cor. xii. 10. See letter ‘.
I glory in infirmities0,
et daily am asbatn’d of these p;
Yea, all my pride gives up the ghost,
When once 1 but begin to boast r.
My chemistry is most exact,
Heav’n out of hell I do extract8:
This art to me a tribute brings
Of useful out of hurtful things*.
I learn to draw well out of woe,
And thus to disappoint the foe u;
° 2 Cor. xii. o. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirm:- tie:, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
p Psalm Lxiii. i-:, 16. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me Psalm lxxvii. 8, 9, ro Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? hath God forgotten to be gracious r hath he in anger shut up hi tender mercies? Seiah. And I said, This is mv infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.
1 a. lv. 24, 25 Sutcly shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come, and all that are incensed againct him shall be ashamed. In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be ;, and shall glory. Psalm xliv. 6. I will Dot trust in mv bow-, neither shall my sword save me. Ver. 8. In God we boast all the d:rr long: and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
1 Jonah ii. 1, 2. Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out* of the nh’<« belly, and said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard mej out f the belly of hell cried 1, and thou heardst my voice, Ver. 3. Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet 1 will look again toward thy holy temple. Matt, xv. 26,27,28. I inswered and
said [unto the woman ofCanaanJ, It is not meet to take the children’s bread and cast it to dogs. And she s;ud, Truth, Lord; vet the dogs rat of the crumbs which fali from their master’s table. Then jesus answered and ^oid
r, O woman, great is thy fa th: be it unto thee even as the. And her daughter wap made whole from that very hoer. Psalm xlii. I. 7. £. O my God, my & ul ip cast down within me: then fore will I r» n. ma the land oi Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hi!! •, at the noise of the water-spouts: 2 and tl v. gone over me. Yet the Lord willcommani
kindness in the day-time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
k Rom.. See letter.
1 M;c. vii. 8. Rejoice not against me, O mine rnemv: when I faF; ] U arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord .«hall be a light tf*ti w-M 3
The thorns that in my flesh abide,
Do prick the tympany of pride”.
By wounding foils the field I win.
And sin itself destroys my sin*:
My lusts break one another’s pate,
And each corruption kills its mate?.
I smell the bait, I feel the harm
Of corrupt ways, and take th’ alarm.
v 2 Cor. xii. 7. Lest I should be exalted above measure, through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Rom. viii. 35, 37. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors, through him that loved us. Psa’.m lxv. 3. Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgre:>sir.ns, thou shalt purge them away, z Chron. xxxii. 2.4, 2£j, 26. In those days Hezekiah was sick to death, and prayed unto the Lord: and he spake unto him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah rendered not again, according to the benefit done unto him: for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. Notwithstanding, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart (both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem), so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in thedavs of Hezekiah.
y Rom. vii. 7, 8, 9. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin but by the law: for I had n t known Just, exo it the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment 1 wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alile without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. Ver. 11. For sin taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Ver. i 3. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is that sin, by the commandment, might become exceeding sinful. Where you see the sight und feeting of sin killed self. John ix. 39, 40, 41. And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world; that they which see not, might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some oi the Pharisees which were with him, heard these woid>, and tad 1 nto him, Are we blind also? Jepus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye sh< e.id have no sin; but now ye saw, We see; therefore) your sin rtinaintth. Psalm lix. it. Slay them not, lest my people f rget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord, our shield. Matt. X: i- :-., 54 i’eter answered and said unto him, Though all men should be offended because of thee, yet will 1 never be offended. yesus said unto him, eriJv I saw unto thee, that this niht, befere the cock crow, thou shall ujeny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
I taste the bitterness of sin,
And then to relish grace begin r.
I hear the fools profanely talk,
Thence wisdom learn in word and walk8:
I see them throng the passage broad,
And learn to take the narrow road b.
SECT. XIII.
The ?tly$lcry of the Saints’ Adversaries and Adversities.
A lump of woe affliction is,
Yet thence I borrow lumps of blissa;
2 Rom. vi. 21. What fruit had ye then in those things, whereof ye are now a-hamed? for the end of those things is death. Psalm >:ix. n. M< lvwwr by them [the judgments of the Lord J is thy .servant warned: and in keeping o: them there is great reward. Psalm lxxiii 17, .18, 19. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they an- utterly consumed with teir rs. Jcr. ii. 19. Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee. Know therefore and see, that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast for aken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts.
a Job >:xi. 13, 14, 15. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire nor the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have if we pray un o him? Eph. iv. 2C, II, 22. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ve have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the treth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. Chap. v. 6, 7, 8. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comtth the wrjth of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of the light, Ver. 11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
b Matt. vn. 13, 14. Enter ye in at the straight gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadcth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that rind it.
a Heb xii. 1 t. Now no chastening for the present scemeth to be joyous* but grievous: nc eriheless, afterward it yielded) the peaceable :. righteousr.es?, unto them v, hkh are exercised thereby. James i. 1 z. BU s;cd
Though few can see a blessing in’t,
It is my furnace and my niintb.
Its sharpness does my lusts dispatch0; Its suddenness alarms my watch d, Its bitterness refines my taste, And weans me from the creature’s breast8. Its weight iness doth try my back, That faith and patience be not slack f: It is a fawning wind, w lie re by I am unchalf ‘d of vanity g.
A furnace to refine my grace h,
A wing to lift my soul apace*:
Hence still the more I sob distrest,
The more 1 sing my endless restk.
is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried he shall receive the ciown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love them.
b Isa. xxxi. 9. And he j~the Assyrian] shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the: ensign, saith the Lord, whose fire is in Zio.i, and his furnace in Jerusalem.
c Psalm xlv. 5. Thine arrows are shaip in the heart of the king’s enemies: whereby the people fall under thee.
d Mark iii. 35, 36, 37. Watch ye, therefore, (for ye know not when the master of the house Cometh: at even, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning), lest coming suddenly, lie find you sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch.
c Jer. ii. 19. Sec letrer foiecitcd. Jer. iv. 18. Thy way and thy doing* have procured these things unto thee, this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheih unto thine heart.
f James i. 2, 3, 4. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diveFS temptations: knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh pati< nee. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
1 Isa. xxvii. 8,9. In measure when it shootcth forth, thou wilt debate with it; he stayeth his rough wind in the day of his east wind. y this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his sin.
h Mai iii- 2. And he [the messenger of the covenant] shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purity the sons ol Leu, and purge them a<- rold and silver, that they may orkr unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
‘Psalm cxliii. 9. Deliver me, O J ord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide
k 2 Cor.iv. 16, T7. For which cause we faint not, hi t though our outward ir.rn perish, jet the inward man is renewed day by day. For cor light
Mine enemies that seek my hurt,
Of all their bad designs come short1:
They serve mc duly to my mind,
With favours which they ne’er designM™.
The fury of my foes makes me
Fast to my peaceful refuge flee n:
And every persecuting elf
Does make me understand myself0.
Their slanders cannot work my shame p, Their vile reproaches raise my name r;
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceed;.*^ and eternal weight of glory.
1 Psalm xxxiii. 10. The L-rd bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
r Gen. 1. 20. And Joseph said unto his brethren — As for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
: Psalm lv. 23. But thou, O God, shall bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee,
, rift, Iseu xlii. 24. Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. Illy duty, 2 Sam. xvi. 11, 12. And David said to lbiphai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son which came forth of my bowels sceketh my life j how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him. It may be that the Lord may look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day. Mic. vii. 8, 9. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when 1 fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because 1 have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring mc forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. 3/y safety, Psalm xix, 9* 10. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name, will put their trust in thee. Ver. 16. The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion, Selah.
1 Psalm xxxi. 13, 14. For I have heard the slander of many, fear was ry side, while they took counsel together against me they devised to take away my life. But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God.
’ 1 Pet. iv, 14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their pan, lv is c if spoken of, but on your part he h glorified*
In peace with heav’n my soul can dwell, Ev’u when they damn me down to hell5.
Their fujy can’t the treaty harm *,
Their passion does my pity warm u;
Their madness only calms my blood”’:
By doing hurt they do me good x.
They are my sordid slaves I wot;
My drudges, though they know it not:
s Num. xxiii. 7, 8. And Balaam took up his parable,ar,d said, Balak the k: ng of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the eat, saying, Come, curse me Jacbb, and come, defy me Lrael. How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath nt defied? Ver. 23. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither’ is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob, and of Israel, What hath God wrought!
1 Prov. xxvi. 2. As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by ilying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
u 1 Pet. iii. 8, 9. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous j not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise, blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
w Psalm lxix. 12, 13. They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards. But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation,
x Gen. I. 20. See letter rr forecited. Esther ix. 2c — 25. And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, to establish this among them, that they slv uld keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same yearly: as the days wherein the Jews rested fr< m their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them clays of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them. Because Haman, the son of Hamedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had ca’-t Pur (that is, the lot), to consume them, and to destroy the m: but when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters, that his wicked device which be devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
‘Jer. xxv. 8, 9. Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts. Because yc have not heard my words, behold I will bend and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against alls these nations round about, ^n< will utterly destroy them, anet make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolation*
They act to me a kindly part,
With little kindness in their heart*.
They sweep my outer-house when foul,
Yea, wash my inner filth of soul*:
They help to purge away my blot,
For Moab is my washing potb.
Ver. ti. It shal! come to pis, when seventy years are aecomplMled, that 1 will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, saith the Lord, fur their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. La. x. <, 6. O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is m:ne indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation; and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Ver. 12. Wherefore it shall come to pass, “that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion, and on Jerusalem-, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high 1 oks. Chap. xliv. 24, 28. Thus .saith the Lord thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord — that saith of Cyrus, he !-> my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shak be built ,• and to the temple, Thy foundations shall be laid. Chap. xlv. i. Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings to open before him fhe two-leaved gates, and the gates shall not be shut Ver. 4. For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name; 1 have sirnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
‘• Matt. v. 10, 11, T2. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men ^haii revile you, and persecute you, and shall saw all manner of evil for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven: for .so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Luke vi. 22, 23. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall repreaeh vi u, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that ci.r. •; for behold your reward is great in heaven; for
in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
:. iv. 3,4, =;. And it shall come to pass, that he that 19 left in Zion, and he that remainah in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every on»- that is -written among the living in Jerusalem; when the Lord shall have washed the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midpt thereof, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning* The Lord w.il create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion,
a cloud, and smoke by day, and the shin:; flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory shall be a defence. Chap. xxvii. cj. Ry this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and all Lne Luit to-take away his tin; when lie ir.aketh all the stones of the altar l£)2 GOSPEL SONNETS.
SECT. XIV.
The Mystery of the Believers Pardon and Security frqyt revenging Wrath* notwithstanding his Sins Dwelt.
I, though from condemnations free,
Find such condemnables in me,
As makes more heavy wrath my due
Than falls on all the damned crewc.
But though my crimes deserve the pit,
I’m no more liable to it;
Remission seai’d with blood and death
Secures us from deserved wrath d.
And having now a pardon free,
To hell obnoxious cannot be,
Nor to a threat, except anent * * about.
Paternal wrath and chastisements
as chalk, stones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall nor stand up
b Psalm lxviii. 8. Moab is my wash pot, Sec.
c Rom. viii. i- There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Chap, vii. 1 8. For I know, that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing; for to will is present with me, but how to pc rform that which is good, 1 find not. I Tim. i. 15, 16. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
“Gal. iii- 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse tot us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. Rom. v. 9. Much more then being now justified by his blood, we .shall be saved from wrath through him. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.
e 1 Xhess. i. 10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead* even Jesus- which delivered us from the wrath to come. Jsa. li .9, 10. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me; for as 1 have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee. For the mountains Fhall depart, and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that bath mercy on thee. Psalm lxxxix. 3c — 33. If his children i. jus laWj and walk not in my judgments; iF they break my statutes, and ktcf
My soul may oft be filPri indeed With slavish tear and hellish dread f: This from my unbelief does springs, My faith speaks out some better thing:
Faith sees no legal guilt again,
Though sin and its desert remain h:
Some hidden wonders hence result;
I’m full of sin, yet free of guilt1:
Guilt is the legal bond or knot,
That binds to wrath or vengeance hotk:
But sin may be where guilt’s away,
And guilt where sin could never stay.
Guilt without any sin has been,
As in my Surety may be seen:
The elect’s guilt upon him came,
Yet still he was the holy Law!)1.
not my commandments; then wi.l I visit their transgression with the rod*, and tlu-ir iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my loving-kindness wili i not utterly take from him, nor sutler my faithfulness to tail.
1 Matt.xfv. 26. And when the disciples saw iesus walking on rheseaf they Were troubled, saying. It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
rk iv. 40. fe us said unto his disciples, Why are ye so fearful: how i it that ye have no faith?
b Rom.vii. 6. But now we are delivered from the law, that bein wherein we were held; that we should serve m newness ol Spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. Chap. viii. ;, 4. For what the law could not <lof in that it was weak through the flesh, G pct sending his own Sou in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in tl 1 t the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
1 Rom. iv. 14. For we know that the law ft spiritual; bet I am carnal,
sold under sin. Chap, vim ;:, 54. Who shall lav any thing to the charge
of God’> elect: it is God that justiheth: who is he that condemn th: I; is
Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand
, who also maketh intercession foru>.
I at. xwii. 26. Cursed be he that confirmcth not all the words do them: and all the people shall say, Amen. Rom. i. H. For the wrath ot G<d is revealed from hea* en against all ungodliness, and onrighte- 9 of men, who hold the- truth in un right
liii. 6. The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of as all. Heb. vii« 16. For such an high*priest became us, who il holy, harmless, un< Sin without gui)t may likewise be, As may appear in pardonM me: For though my sin, alas! does stay, Yet pardon takes the guilt away ,n.
Thus free I am, yet still involved;
A guilty sinner, yet absolv’dn;
Tho’ pardon leave no guilt behind,
Yet sin’s desert remains I finde.
Guilt and demerit differ here,
Though oft their names confounded are,
I’m guilty in myself always,
Since sin’s demerit ever stays p.
Yet in my head I’m always free
From proper guilt affecting me;
Because my Surety’s blood cancelPd
The bond of curses once me held1.
m Rom. vii. 24. O wretched man that I am ’ who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Acts xiii. 38, 39. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
“Rom. iii. 19. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it
saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped,
and all the world may become guilty before God. Vcr. 23, 24. For all
tuned and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by
his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
0 Rom iv. 6, 7, 8. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed ;vn: th«y whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed I-, the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Psalm li. 3, 4. For I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou xnightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 1 1 cxliii. 2. O Lord, enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy tight shall no man living be justified.
Horn. vii. 13, 14. Was then that which is good, made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appeal sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding fcinful. For we kaow that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under kin. Eph. .6. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of 1. th the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
1 Rom. v. Bed p faith, ce with God, through 0 r Lord [esus CI ri 1 Ver. 9. Much more then being now justified by lis blood, we efa I U’oui wrath through Dim. Vcr. u*
The guilt that pardon did divorce,
From legal threat’nings drew its force4;
But sin’s desert that lodges still,
Is drawn from sin’s intrinsic ill*
Were guilt nought else but sin’s desert,
Of pardon I’d renounce my part:
For were I now in heav’n to dwell,
I’d own my sins deserved hell u.
This does my highest wonder move
At matchless justifying love,
That thus secures from endless death
A wretch deserving double wrath x.
And not only so, but we also joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
s Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the bo pk of the law to do them. Ver. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse f ;r u.>; for it is. written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
I Palm li. 4. See letter” forecited. Luke xv. iS. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.
II Luke xv. 19. — And am no more worthy to be called thy son. Rev. v. 4. And I [John] wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon, Ver. 9. They suug a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Ver- n, 12, 13. I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, anJ the beasts, and the elders; and the number or them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying, with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I, saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the 1 amb for ever and ever.
* Rom. vii. 24, 25. O wretched man that I am’ who shall deliver’mc from the body of this death? I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Chap. viii. 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which arc in Christ Jesus, wno walk not after the llesh but after the Spirit. 1 Tim. i. 13. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious. But I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly, in unbelief. Ver, 1 >, 16, 17. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, thai Chri-t fesus carnc into the world to save sinner.;; of whom I am chief. Huwbeit, for lhl$
N 2
Though well my black desert I know,
Yet I’m not liable to woe;
While full and complete righteousness
Imputed for my freedom isy.
Hence my security from wrath,
As firmly stands on Jesus’ deaths
As does my title unto heav’n
Upon bis great obedience giv’n a*
The sentence Heav’n did full pronounce,
Has pardon’d all my sins at once;
And ev’n from future crimes acquit,
Before I could the facts commit b.
cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth ail long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
y i Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us — righteousness and redemption. 2 Cor. v. 21. God hath made Christ to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Rom. iv. 11. And he [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which be had yet ‘being uncircumeised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. Ver. 22 — 25. And therefore it was imputed to him forrighteuusness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, it we behele on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
2 Rom. v. 9. Much more then being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
a Horn. v. 17, 18, lo — They which receive abundance of grace, and of the gifi of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. — -By tl e righteousness of one, the free gift came ion all men unto justification of life. — By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Yer. 21.. Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ cur Xiorl
b Psalm ciii. 3. Bless the Lord, O my soul, — who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who heajeth all thy diseases. 2 Cor.. 19. God was in Christ, reconciling th( world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, Ver. ii* See letter abovecited. Dan. ix. 24. Seventy weeks are determim d upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, .and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniqaity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness. Isa. liv. bo. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee,: ©either shalLthc covenant of peace be removed, saithlhe Lord, that hah
I’m always in a pardon’d state
Before and after sinc; but yet,
Thar, vainly I presume not hence*
I’m seldom pardon’d to my sensed
Sm brings a vengeance on my head,
Though from avenging wrath I’m freed*.
And though my sins all pardon’d be,
Their pardon’s not apply’d to me f.
Thus though I need no pardon more,
Yet need new pardons ev’ry hour g.
In point of application free;
Lord, wash anew, and pardon me.
mercy on thee. Heb. viii. 12. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
c Rom. viii. 1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the rlesh, but after the Spirit. Ver. 33’ 34» 35j 3“> y> 39> “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justirieth; who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ, shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay in all these things we are more than conqueror-;, through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
d Psalm xxv. 1 r. For thy name sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity, tor it is great. Psalm li. 8, 9. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that 1 he b nes which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins; and blot out all mine iniquities. Vera 12.. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy tree Spirit.
L Psalm xcix. 3. Thou ausweredst them,. O Lord our God; thou wast a G. pd that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. 1 Thess. i. 10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Psalm xxx*. 3. O L prd, say unto my soul, lam thy salvation. Psalm XXXV. 8. I will hear what God the Lord w ill speak; for he will speak peace unjto his people, and to his saints: bur let them not ium again to folly. Matt, i’. 2. And behold they br pughtto him a m in sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jeuis seeing their faith, said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be; prgiv.Cll
12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 1 John i. 7, 8. If we walk in the light as God is in the light, we
, with another* and the blood of fesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and tut truth is not in us.
SECT. XV.
The Mystery of Faith and Sight, — if which more. Part VI. chap. vi.
Strange contradictions me befal,
I can’t believe unless I see2;
Yet never can believe at all,
Till once I shut the seeing eyeb.
When sight of sweet experience
Can give my faith no helping hand %
The sight of sound intelligence
Will give it ample ground to stand d.
I walk by faith, and not by sight6:
Yet knowledge does my faith resound f,
Which cannot walk but in the tight*,
Ev’n when experience runs a ground h.
* John vi. 40. Artel this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and bclicvcth on him, may have everlasting” life.
‘- John xx. 29. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
1 lsa’ viii. 17 I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look, for him. Chap. 1. 10. Who is among you that fcareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.
Eph i. 15 — 19. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the X^ord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, in the knowledge of him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope o{ his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to os-ward who believe, according to the Working of his mighty power, &c. 2 Cor. iv. 6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the flight of the km glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ.
* 2 Cor. v. 7.! by faith, not by sight.
i John n. II. This beginning of miracles did jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
* Psalm ix, 10. And they that know thy name will put their trust in
tllCC.
THE KELIEVEU S RIDDLE. ln9
Bj knowledge I discern and spy
in divine iiglvt the object shown’;
By faith I take and close apply
The glorious object as mine ownk.
My faith thus stands on divine light,
Believing what it clearly sees 1;
Ai et faith is opposite to sight,
Trusting its ear, and not its eyesm.
Faith list’ning to a sweet report,
Still conies by hearing, not by sight”; Yet is not faith of saving sort,
But when it sees in divine light0.
In fears I spend my vital breath,
In doubts I waste my passing years p!
Yet still the life I live is faith,
The opposite of doubts and fearsr.
h Psalm xxvii. 14. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shaH strengthen thine heart: wait, I bay, on the Lord.
1 2 Cor. iii. 18. But we all with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
k John i. 12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
1 Gal. i. 16. But when it pleased God — to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Heathen; immediately I conterred not with flesh and blood.
,r Ephes. i. 13. In Chript ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the go:pel of your salvation.
Rom. x. 17, So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
0 Psalm xxxvi. 7. How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. Ver. 9. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
p Psa. lxxvii 3, 4. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and mv spirit was overwhelmed, belah. Thou holder mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that 1 cannot speak. J>;hn xx. 25. But Thomas said unto the other dipciples. Except 1 shall see in his hands the print ot the nai**> md put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand int« his,! will not believe, Luke xxiv. zi. We trusted that it had been he which should have re..;eem:d Israel.
Gal. ii. 10. 1 am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, hut Christ liveth in me And the life which 1 now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who Loved me, and gave himself fof int.-
U 1
Tvveen clearing faith and clouding sense,
I walk in darkness and in light3.
I’m certain oft, when in suspense,
While sure by faith, and not by sights
SECT. XVI.
The Mystery of Faith and Works, and Rewards of Gmct and Debt*
I. Of Faith and Works.
He that in word ofTendeth not
Is call’d a perfect man I wota;
Yet he whose thoughts and deeds are bad,
The law-perfection never hadb.
Mark v, 36, As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, on y believe. Matt. viii. 26. And Jesus saith unto his disciples, Why are ye so fearful, O ye of little faith? Chap. xiv. 31. And Jesus said unto Peter, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
* Job xxix. 1,2, 3. Moreover-, Job continued his parable, and said, Oh that 1 were a.^ in months past, as in the days when God preserved mc: when hi1- candle shined upon my head, and when by his light 1 walked through darkness. Psalm cxii. 4. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness.
I Pet. i, 8. Whoqa having not seen, ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of glory; Rom. iv. 13 — - 21. Abraham against hope, believed in bone, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed- ‘be And being not weak in faith, he considered not hi- own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadnass ol Sarah s womb, lie staggered not at the promise of G<d through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving gH>ry to God; and being fully persuaded, that what he had promised, hje was. able also to perform. P&al. 1 >-)-■■• 56 — J9 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as tie mi:, before me. It shall be established for ever, as tin moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Sclah. ButThou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wr< ih witl thine anointed, Thou hast made void ihc covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown, by casting it to the ground.
James iii. 2. li any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and al le also to bridle the whole b pdy.
b James ii. iq. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet 1 in one jointj he is guilty of all.
I am designed a perfect soul,
Ev’n though L never keep the whole,
Nor any precepts*; for ’tis known,
He break them all, that breaks but one d.
By faith I do perfection claim0,
By works I never grasp the namef;
Yet without works my faith is nought*
And thereby no perfection brought.
Works without faith will never speed*,
Faith without works is wholly dead1:
Yet I am justify’d by faith,
Which no law-works adjutant hathk.
c Rom. Iv. g, 6. To him that worketh not, but believeth on hijbstiriYth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. K David also deser,bith the blessedness of the man unto whom God in righteousness without works. Job i. i. There, was a man in the land of V /. 9 hose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. Psalm lxxL 16. 1 will go in the strength of the Lord G<xl; I will make mention of thy righteousness; even Eccl. vii 20. For there ip not a just man upon earth, that doth good and sinneth not. Jame; ii. ic. See letter *. c Ph::.jii. 9 I count aj! tilings but dung, that I may win Christ, and be bound in him. .not having mine own righteousness which is of the la1. thai which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which ii of faith.: Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man b not justified by the worksofthe Jaw, but by the faith 0 |, Christ: even we
Christ; that we might be justified by r( I id not by the
tall no ile*h be justified.: James ii. 1.y. What c. my brethren, though a man say
htli faith, and have not him:
. Wi faith it b ii .lease G(A: for be that
to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of that diligently seek him. Rom. xxiv. 13. Whatsoever U nut of faith, is sin.
faith, if it hath nor works, is dead, being alone. For as the budy without the Spirit is dead, so faith without
m. iii. 21, 22. But now the righteousness of God without the: nanifested, being witnessed by thi law amJ the prophets; even the righ-God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto ail, and upon afl them 1 1 here is no dim Chap. iv. 4, 5, 6* Nov. t*
h rketh, is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. Kk
fcp him d .. not, but believeth on him that iustineth the ungodly*,
Yea, gospel works no help can lend l,
Though srill they do my faith attend”5:
Yet faith, by works is perfect made,
And by their presence justify’d n.
But works with faith could never vie,
And only faith can justify °:
Yet still my justifying faith
No justifying value hath p.
Vis faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the fcles-edness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.
Phil. iii. 4 — 9. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the rlesh, I more; — touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus mv Lord. For whom I have sufiered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, n t having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Isa. lxiv. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and ii 11 our righte usnesses are as filthy rags. Hos. xiii. 9. O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thine help. Isa. xlv. 24, 25. Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come, and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the Lord shal ail the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.
m Tit. i i. 8. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou sfrirm constantly, that they which have believed in God, miht be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. J.imes ii. iP. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and 1 have woiks: shevs nte tii faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my W<
n James ii. 21, 22. Was net Abraham our father justified by works,
When he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith
wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect r er. 24.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
‘Rom. iv, 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to
nd the promise might ‘»:«• sure to all the seed. Thus iii. 4 — 7. But
after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Dot by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us by the wishing of regeneration, and renewing ot the
•: which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our
lt; i hat being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according
hope of eternal life. Acts X. 43. To him gale all the prophets
; ;■] 1 his name, whosoever believeth in him, shall r»ccivr
remission of sins.
Gal. iii. 21, 22. Is the law then against the promises of God ’ 0od Lo, justifying grace from heav’n ’
Is foreign ware, and freely giv’n’:
And saving faith is well content
To be a mere recipients.
Faith’s active in my sanctity •:
But here its act it will deny u,
And frankly own it never went
Beyond a passive instruments
forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But tKe scripture hath concluded all un ‘er sin, thai the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Luke xxii. 31, 32. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our ciency is of God. Chap. xxii. 5. Of such an one will I gLry; yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
r Rom. v. 16, 17 The free gift is of many offences unto justification — they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life, by one, Jesus Christ. Chap iii. 24. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
s Rom. v. n. And not only so, but we also joy in God, through our Lord Jlsus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Ver. 17. See letted.
r Gal. v. 6. For in Jesus Christ, neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor tmtircumcision, but faith which worketh by love. Acts xv. 9., God put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Chap. ?:xvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to tight, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive a-s- of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me,
R< m. iv. 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be grace. Chap, xi. 6. And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace.
w Eph. ii. 8, 9. For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not Of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest anv man should 1 Cor. iv. 7. For who maketh thee to differ from another? and. what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hndst not received it? 1-L b. xi. it. Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive veecy and Was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised,. x er. 17. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isac. And he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten x)n Vi r. 19. Accounting that God was able to laise him up, cncii fmm the dead; from whence aipo he received him in a £gnr<s Veju jc. Wcrain recoived their dead raised to life again; and others wctc.
n a
I labour much like holy Paul;
And yet not I, but grace does all x;
I try to spread my little sails,
And wait for pow’rful moving gales y.
When powYs convey VI, I work; but see, ‘Tis still his pow’r that works in me. I am an agent at his call, Yet nothing am, for grace is all*.
II. Of Rewards of Grace and Debt.
Is all my works I still regard
The recompense of full rewards;
Yet such my working is withal,
I look for no reward at all c.
tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.
i Cor. xv. 10. But by the grace of God I am what I am. And his grace which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain; but 1 laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was With me.
Prolm lxxi. 16. I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. Song iv. 16. Aw ike, O north wind, and come, thou south, blow upon my garden, that the vices thereof mav flow out.
Phil.ii. 12, 13. Wherefore, mv beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence onlv, but now much more in my absence; work out y ur own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Gal. ii. 20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I,. but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, 1 live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 2 Cor. xii. 9. And the Lord said unto me? My grace is suH cient for thee; for my strength 16 made perfect in weakness. Mo-t gladly therefore will I rather glory in my intir-
. mitie<, that the power of Christ may rot upon me. /
b Heb. xi. 24 — 26. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused
lo be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter: choosing rather to suffer ailliction with the people oi God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a
n: esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures
in Egypl: for he had respect unto the recompense ol the reward.
1 1 Tim. i- 9, God bath saved 11^, and called us with an holy calling, not according to. ur works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us inC. before the world began. Titus iii. e«
Vol by works of rightCQtteness, which we ha vp done, but according tolas
Cod’s ray reward exceeding great,
No lesser heav’n than this I wait4:
But where’s the earning work so broad,
To set me up an heir of God c:
Rewards of debt, rewards of grace,
Are opposites in ev’ry casef;
Yet sure I am they’ll both agree,
Most jointly, in rewarding meg.
Though belfs my just reward for sin h, Heav’n as my just reward I’ll win l.
mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Gen. xv. r. After these things the word af the Lord came unto Abram
in a vision, saving, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding
great reward. Psalm lxxiii. 2:, 26. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that 1 de-ire besides ihee. My flesh and my heart raileth :• but God is the strength of my heart,, and my portion for ever.
E/.ek. xxxvi. 32. Not for yoursakes do I this, aith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded lor your own way-, O house of Israel. Rom. viii. 16, 17. ‘I he Spirit itself beareth witness with our >{>int, that we are the children of G d. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.
1 Rom. i. 4. Now to him that worketh, i the reward not reck one J of grace, but of debt.
Psalm hiii. 11. Verily there is a reward for the righteous; vtrily he IS a God that judgeth in the earth. Isa. lxii. 11. Behold the Lotd hath proclaimed unto the isnd of the world, say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And 1. 10. Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
h Rom. vi. 21. What fruit had ye then in thopc things, whereof ye are now ashamed r for the end of those thing- is death. Vei 23. The wages ot sin is death. Eph. v. 6. Let no man deceive you with vain word-; for because of these thing.- cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Gal. in. 10. For as many a- are of the work- ot” the law, are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
1 Gal. iii. 13, 14. Christ hath redeemed as from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us! for it is written, Cursed i- every w that hangeth on a tree. That the ble-.-ing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Eph. i. 13, 14. In Christ also after that ye belie.
leakd with the holy Spirit of promise, which is 1 if our
inheritance, until LheisdcmpUoa of the purchased po-e.ion, unto the praise
Both these my just rewards I know,
Yet truly neither of them so *.
Hell can’t injustice be my lot,
Since justice satisfaction gotk;
Nor heav’n injustice be my share,
Since mercy only brings me there1.
Yet heav’n is mine by solemn oath,
Injustice and in mercy both m:
And God in Christ is all my trust,
Because he’s merciful and just*;
ef his glory. Rom. v. 21. Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. And vi. 23. The gift of God is eternal life, through fesus Christ our Lord.
* Through these opposite voices of law and gospel.
k Rom iii. 25, 26. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sin- that are past, through the forbearance of God, to declare, 1 say, at this time his righteousness; that he might be just, and theju-tirierof him which believeth in Jesus.
‘R un. ix is, 16. God -aith to Mo=es, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and will rnve compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth; but of God that sheweth mercy. Titus iii. 4 — -7. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and rem wing of the Holy Ghost: which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Psalm btxxiK. 35j y6. Once hale I sworn by my holiness, that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and hi- throne as the sun before me. Heb. vi. 17^ 18. Wherein G d willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a stn ng consolation, who have lied for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before US. Psalm lpx>:i. 14, Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne; mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Ver. 16. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalt d. Ver. 24. Hut my faithfulness and my nv rcy shall be with him David my servant |; and in my name shall his horn be called. V« r. 28. My mercy will I keep for him for evermore,. and my covenant shall stand fat with him.
“Hrb. ii. 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren: that he might be a merciful and faithful high-priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the .sins ft the people* l John i. 7, X, 0. If we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Je.su* Christ his bun ckanseih
C O N C L U S I O X.
Here is the riddle, where’ s the mat)
Of judgment to expound?
For masters fam’d that cannot scan,
In Isra’l may be found0.
We justly those in wisdom’s list
Efttablish’d saints may call,
Whose bitter-sweet experience blest
Can clearly grasp it all?
Some babes in grace may mint* and mar, * essay.
•Yet aiming right succeed’;
But strangers they in Isra’l are,
Who not at all can read s.
vis from all sin. If we saw that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our Bins, he ip raithful and just to forgive us our pins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
0 John iii. 10. Jesus answered and said unto Nicodemu, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowet not these things?
p Matt. xi. 25. At that time Jepus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid thepe things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Chap. iii. ri. Jesus answered and said unto his disciples, Because it ip given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven- but to them it is not given.
r 1 Cor. i. 2. And I, brethren, co. Id not spenk unto you a unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I hale i:d you with milk, and not with meat; for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither vet now are ye able. Heb. v. 12, 13, 1 4.. For when for the time ve ought to .hers, ye have need that one teach you again which he the rir-t principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of string meat. For every one that uscth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth t them that are of full age, even those who, byrea-on of use, have their sensep eperci«rcd ■rn good and evil. Chap.vi. 1. Therefore leaving the princi] f
the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; Dot laving again tl e foundation of repentance from dead work-, and of faith toward- G ri, &c. 1 John ii. 12, 13. I write unto, little children, becau.se your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. — I write unto you, little children, because ye hale known the Father.
1 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4. But if our gospel be hid, it is him to them that are lost; in whom the god of” this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the imac,e of God, ihoukl shine unto them,