THE Apostle in the pre­ceeding Verse, declares concerning the Persons be directed his Epistle unto, That they did Rejoyce with [Page 2] Joy unspeakable and full of Glory. In this Verse he gives the reason why they did so, It was because, They were sure of the Salvation of their Souls, though this Salvation they did not receive in this World in the Fulness of it, yet had a [...]u­rance of it, because of the Faith God had given them.

IN the Prosecution of this Doc­trine, I shall only speak unto Two Particulars.

I. WHAT is implied in the Sal­vation of the Soul.

II. HOW it appears that True Believers in CHRIST may be assured of the Salvation of their Souls.

I. E [...]q. WHAT is implied in the Salvation of the Soul.

[Page 3]For Answer,

1. Prem. THE Soul is put for the Whole Man, [...] of Body and Soul. Man consists of these Two Essential Parts; a Humane Body and a Reasonable Soul, the Believer serves God with both, both with his Body and with his Soul▪ [...] Cor. [...]6. 20. Glorify God in your Body and in your Spirit, which are Gods. The Body is not Saved without the Soul, but the Soul is Saved without or before the Body; the Soul is present with the [...] before the Body is. Thus Lazarus when Dying, his Soul was immediately in the Hands of Angels: And the Scripture speaks of the Souls or Spirits of Just Men made Perfect. It is said of Abraham, when he left this World, he was Gathered to his Fathers, viz. to She [...], Noah, and to those Just Men that were gone out of the World before him. [Page 4] God sent His Holy Angels to carry Abrahams Soul to them.

2. THE Salvation of the Soul implies a Deliverance from [...] Evil whatsoever. Psal. 121. 7. The Lord shall preserve thee from [...] Evil, He shall preserve thy Soul. The Preservation of the Soul implies a Preservation from all that Evil which Sin has brought on a Wo­ful World; especially Deliverance from Sin is implied therein. Be­lievers are delivered from Sin they are delivered from the Dom [...] ­nion of Si [...] [...] this World Rom. 6. 14. [...] not have do­minion over you. Also from the very being of Sin, when the leave this World, 7. Verse of the Chapter, He that is dead is freed from Sin. Believers when Dead they are perfectly freed from all Sin, freed from the Woful Effect and Consequences of Sin. They are also delivered from Death [Page 5] especially from the Second Death, delivered from the Death of the Body and of the Soul too. That is implied in the Salvation of the Soul.

3. IT implies positive Good, all posi­ [...]ive Good. Spiritual Blessings in Hea­venly Places; all that Good that is contained in the Covenant of Grace, Justification, Sanctification, Adoption, Eternal Life in Heaven, all this is implied in this One World Salvation. But then, How does it appear that Believers on Christ shall have this Salvation that has been thus described.

1. IT is evident, because they belong to the Election of God. I The [...]. 1.4. Knowing brethren, your Election of God. Some know it, more might know it, if the fault were not their own. They are not so diligent in the use of means as they should be, therefore did the Apostle exhort, 2 Pet. 1. 10. Give [Page 6] all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure;. And it is said concerning the Gentiles, Acts 13. 48. As many as were ordained unto Eternal Life believed. All that are Ordained unto Eternal Life either do, or shall become Belie­lievers in Jesus Christ. Election is that which shall not be disap­pointed. Men may purpose and not perform, but what God has purposed He will surely perform. The Apostle mentions some that had made a Profession of Religion and afterwards fallen away, of whom were Hymeneus and Phile­tus, nevertheless (says he) the foundation of God stands sure. The Election of God that stands sure God will see to the Performance of what, He has determined to do. It is foretold false Prophets shall arise and deceive Men, if it were possible the very Elect themselves, that implies, It is not possible [Page 7] that the Elect of God should be deceived, that any one Soul God has set down in His Book of Election should miscarry. There­fore Believers in Christ shall not fail of Eternal Life.

2. TRUE Believers are such as Obey the Lord JESUS CHRIST. They yield Obedience to the great Commandment of Christ. Heb. 5. 9. He is the Author of E­ternal Salvation to all that Obey him. Eternal Salvation follows upon Obedience unto the great Commandment of Christ. Now the great Commandment of Christ is that Men should Believe. Christ has said, This is His Com­mandment, that we Believe. This Commandment in a special man­ner Salvation turns upon. There­fore it was said to one, [...] on the Lord Jesus Christ on [...] shalt be Saved. By Faith the [...] is Purified▪ 1 Pet. 1. 22. [...]e [Page 8] purified your Souls in obeying the Truth. Where there is Obedi­ence there is a Purified Soul, and a Purified Soul shall be admitted into Heaven.

3. TRUE Believers, they are Sanctified, therefore shall be Saved. It is said, They shall have an Inhe­ritance among them that are Sancti­fied. All that are Sanctified shall have an Inheritance in Heaven given to them. Thus it is with Believers, they are Sanctified, when God works Faith in any Man, that Faith does not come alone, but there are other Graces of the Spirit of GOD that come along with it, 2 Pet. 1. 5, 6. All the Graces of the Spirit of God are in the Soul of the Believer [...] is come down into the [...] of the Believer in respect [...] Grace wrought there [...] his Soul shall go [...] when he dies.

[Page 9]4. WHERE there is Faith there is Repentance for Sin. Faith and Repentance always go together, Acts 20. 21. Testifying Repentance toward God, and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Where there is true Faith in Christ there is Repen­tance toward God. Now Repen­tance is said to be unto Salvation, if it be true Repentance. There­fore it is said concerning the Gentiles, Acts 11. 18. That God had given to them Repentance unto Life. Where there is true Repentance, Eternal Life will certainly follow. There are two things implied in true Repen­tance. One is that of Forsaking Sin, Prov. 28. 13. Whoso Confesseth and Forsaketh shall find Mercy. He that Confesses Sin ever so much but Forsakes not Sin shall find no Mercy, but whoso Confesses and Forsakes shall be Forgiven. Ezek.11 30. Repent and turn from [Page 10] all your Transgressions, so Iniquity shall not be your Ruin. The othe [...] thing implied in true Repentanc [...] is, a turning to God, Isai. 55. 7▪ Turn to the Lord and He will [...] ­bundantly pardon. So Repentance includes in it a For [...]aking of Sin▪ a turning unto God, a becoming His Servants, living to His Glory▪

5. AS for true Believers thei [...] Sins are all forgiven to them therefore they shall go to Hea­ven when they die and leave thi [...] Worl [...]. God for Christ's sak [...] has Forgiven them, E [...]h. 4. 32▪ God for Christ's sake hath Forgive [...] you. God has so Forgiven all Si [...] to them, that their Sins shall b [...] as though they had never bee [...] committed, Jer. 50. 20. In th [...]s [...] days, and in that time, [...]aith the Lord, the Iniqui [...]y of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none and the Sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will Par­don [Page 11] them whom I reserve. Their Sins shall be as though they had not been. God deals with the Believer as to his Eternal State, as though he had never been Guilty of any one Sin, therefore he shall have the Inheritance of Hea­ven given to him. It is only Sin that keeps out of Heaven. As for Believers their Sins are as if they had never been, therefore they are said to be blotted out; a Debt blotted out is as though it had never been.

Lastly, BELIEVERS are the Righteous. It is said, The Righte­ous shall go into Life Eternal, Mat. 25. 46. Believers in Jesus Christ are those Righteous Ones. They become Righteous through the Righteousness of Christ imputed to them. It was a notable Speech of one of the Martyrs, Here is a Wonderful Exchange, Christ has my Sins and I have His Righteousness. [Page 12] The Scripture speaks after the same manner, 2 Cor. 5. 21. Christ was made Sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him. How was Christ made to be Sin? Only by Imputation; He had no Sin of His own but the Sins of Believers were Imputed to Him. How are we made Righteous but by having His Righteousness Im­puted to us? It is a great Scrip­ture Truth, Christ becomes the Surety of Believers, He has under­taken for their Cause, to Answer For their Sins, to bring in a Righ­teousness that shall be sufficient to Save them. These things are evident proofs of the Doctrine before us.

SOLOMON in these Words speaks of the Excellency of Spiritual Wisdom, he compares it to things most Desireable to Men; and gives the [Page 29] Preference to Wisdom; he com­ [...]res it, first to Silver, then to God, thirdly to precious Pearls, to Rubies which are more preci­ous than Gold; then says, All the things thou canst desire, are not to be Compared unto her. But then the Inquiry will be, What is this Wisdom? For Answer to that, o­ther Scriptures tell us what it is, what is meant thereby, especially Psal. 111. 10. The fear of the Lord, that is Wisdom. That is meant here, and the Fear of the Lord expresses itself in a due care to keep the commandments of God.

I shall mention some things that are Demonstrations of the Truth before us.

[Page 30]First, WE may argue by way of Comparison. All other things that are Desireable are not to be C [...] ­pared with this Wisdom. Ri [...] ­es are Desireable among Men, [...] the great Things of this World are not the True Riches, Luk. 16. 11. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the Unrighteous [...], who will commit to your trust the True Riches. The True Riches is a being Rich towards God. When a Man is Rich in Faith Rich in good Works; when he does much Good in his Genera­tion, and is Glorifying God con­tinually, then he is Rich indeed Worldly Riches are not to be compared unto Grace in the Soul Who does God give the great Things of this World to? He gives them to the Nimrods, Se [...] ­nacharibs, Nebuchadnezzars of this World, to the worst of Men, Dan [...] 4. 17. God setteth over Kingdom [Page 31] the basest of Men. God gives these Things, even a great portion of them to His Enemies, but Grace in the Soul He gives to none but His Friends, to those that are His Children. It was a Luther saying, of that vast Do­minion God has given to the Great Turk, that it was, A Bone which God did throw down from His Table for that great Dog the Turk to run away with. Health is Preferable to Wealth, many that have had great Riches when they have been in racking Pain, would have gi­ven all their Estate to enjoy the poor Man's Health. What then is the Health of the Soul? As John said to Gaius, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in Health, even as thy Soul prospereth. He had a Soul full of Grace, in that respect did Pros­per; Strength of Body is a great Mercy, what then is the Strength [Page 32] of Soul? Psal. 138. 3. Thou hast strengthened me with strength in my Soul. Paul Prayed for those he wrote to, that they might be str [...]ng­thened with might in the inward man. Thus if we compare Spiri­tual Wisdom to the things of this World, they are not compa­rable to it; the great Things of this World are not comparable to it.

AGAIN, If we Compare it with Spiritual Gifts and Attainments, though they are Desireabl [...] [...] they are not to be compared with Grace in the Soul. So says Paul, 1 Cor. 12. 31. Yet shew I un­to you a more excellent way. A more excellent way then that of Gifts, Learning, Attainments which are very Desireable, yet a Man may have them and for all that Perish. If I speak with the Tongue of Men and Angels (says the Apostle) and have not Charity [Page 33] what am I but sounding Brass and tinkling Cymbal. If I have not Grace in my Soul notwithstand­ing these Gifts and Attainments I am nothing. A Man may have excellent Gifts, yet be but an In­strument of Satan. Austin said to a Young Man, of great Gifts, the Devil longs to have those Parts of thine to serve his Interest. A Man of excellent Gifts yet not Serving and Glorifying God with them, may Perish to Eternity. Saul was among the Prophets, and he that was among the Prophets is now among the Damned in Hell. Judas was adorned with admirable Gifts, yet was a Son of Perdition and Cast away fore­ver. This Demonstration proves the Doctrine before us, That Grace is most Desireable.

2. Demon. AS for Grace the Excellency of it does appear from the Perpetuity of it. As for other [Page 34] Things they are not Lasting, much less Everlasting. But Grace is so, 1 Cor. 7. 31. The fashion of this World passes away. They don't endure forever, but Grace in the Soul that endures forever. They shall fear me forever, says the Lord. If a Man hath True Grace it will Last forever. They that have the Grace of Faith it shall abide with them as long as they Live in this World. The good Things of this World may de­part from a Man; A Man may be a very Rich Man to Day, yet be as poor as Job to morrow, Grace lasts not only for Time, but for Eternity. These Outward things Death comes and puts an end to them all. Psal. 49. 17. He shal [...] carry nothing away with him. But if a Man has Grace in his Soul, he will carry that away with him, that will continue with him till he comes to Heaven, [Page 35] and will be in a greater Perfecti­on in Heaven than ever it was here in this World. Thence Grace is compared to Living Waters, to a Living Spring that never runs dry. Hence Christ said to the Woman of Sameria, The Water that I shall give, shall be Living Waters, springing up into Everlast­ing Life. Grace is compared unto a River, John 7. 38. He that Be­lieveth in me, out of his belly shall flow Rivers of Living Waters. Ri­vers continue from One Age to another. Thus it is when True Grace is wrought in the Soul, it continues forever; therefore the excellency of Grace appears to be above the things of this World from the Continuance of it.

3. Demon. IF a Man has Grace in his Soul, he shall have of the Things of this World, such a portion as Infinite Wisdom shall see best for him. It may be the Wisdom of [Page 36] God does not see Good for some of His Servants to have much of this World, therefore denies it to them, Jam. 2. 5. The poor of this World, rich in Faith. Christ said to the Angel of the Church in Smyrna, I know thy poverty, but thou are rich. Rich in Grace, tho' poor in this World. When God sees his Servants would receive Damage by having much of this World, in Love and Faithfulness He denies it to them; but He gives them that which is much better. 1 Tim. 4. 8. Godliness has the pro­mise of the Life that now is, as well as of that which is to come. God­liness has a Promise of Blessings that respect this present Life, so far as Infinite Wisdom shall see good for them. Psal. 84. 11. No good thing will be withheld from them that walk uprightly. Is so he such a Thing is a good Thing in it self and good for such a Man, [Page 37] he shan't want it. Psal. 34. 9. O fear the Lord ye his Saints, for there is no want to them that fear him. They may be without this and the other good Thing, but they shan't want it. God will give them such a portion of the good Things of this Life as in His Infinite Wisdom He sees best for them.

4. Demon. A further Evidence of the Truth, is, in that Grace in the Soul is a wonderful Pr [...]serva­tive. It preserves from the worst and greatest of Evils, it preserves Men from Sin and from Satan too, that he shan't have his Will over them. 1. John. 5. 18. He that is born of God sinneth not, he cannot Sin because he is born of God. He cannot Sin as others do, he cannot Sin without Repentance for it. He cannot Sin with his whole Heart and Soul as Ungod­ [...]y Men do, and he that is born of [Page 38] God keepeth himself, and the wicked One toucheth him not. The Devil shan't come at him, shan't ruine him. Grace in the Soul pre'erves from the power of Satan and from Sin: We see notable instances of this in the Scriptures, as now, there was that instance of Joseph that was tempted by his leud Mistress; he had the Fear of God in his Heart, that kept him from being overcome by that Tempta­tion. Says he, How shall I do this Wickedness and Sin against God. He cannot do it. Thus it was with David divers times, said he, Psal. 18. 23. I kept my self from mine iniquity. It was from the Grace in David's Heart that he was kept from that Iniquity, which he was in special danger by; there was that Iniquity of Killing Saul, he had opportunity to have done it, and was urged by other Men to do it, so he might have delivered [Page 39] himself from the Hand of his E­nemy, but he did it not, he kept himself from that Iniquity, he knew that God would be Disho­noured if he did that thing. So when in his Passion purposed to have Destroyed the House of Nabal and all his Family; when Abigail came to him and gave him good Advice, said he, Blessed be thou and Blessed be thy Advice, thou hast kept me from shedding of Blood: In my Passion I resol­ved to be revenged on such an un­grateful Wretch, but now I have [...]ltered my Mind. Thus Grace keeps Men from Sin. If Men live in Places where there is much danger of their Sinning, if they have Grace in their Souls they will be Preserved notwith­standing. It is said of Obadiah, He feared the Lord greatly, 1 Kin. 18. 3. Therefore he did not do as Ahab's Courtiers did, when ma­ny [Page 40] Prophets were cut off. This Man that Feared the Lord, did take Care of the Prophets of the Lord. Thus Daniel, when in the Court of a King that was a great Idolater, he did not fall in with that Idolatry, he was bold as a Lion, he would rather be throw among the Lions than be Guilt of such Idolatry. Nehemiah brought up in the Court of Persia, he was not as other Courtiers, so did not I, says he, because of the Fear of God. Be sure there are two Sins that if a Man hath Grace in his Soul he shall be kept pure from he shall never become Guilty of. One is the Sin against the Holy Ghost. Psa [...]. 19. 13. I shall be in­nocent from the great Transgression. The Sin against the Holy Ghost is the great Transgression, but the Gracious Soul shall be kept [...] from it. The other Sin that the that have Grace in their Soul [Page 41] shall never become Guilty of, is the Sin of Final Impenitence. It is true a good Man may fall into very grievous Sins in an Hour of Temptation: As we see in Peter, a very good Man, yet in an Hour Temptation he fell grievously, but he did not persist in his fall but did immediately repent, he went out and wept bitterly. David Sinned grievously in that matter of Uriah, the Hittite, but he Re­pented of it and published his Repentance before the whole World, Psalm Fifty-first is the Psalm of Davids Repentance on the account of that grievous Sin. So Solomon was Guilty of great Backsliding from God, but he Re­pented of it: The Book of Eccle­siastes is the Book of Solomon's Re­pentance. They that have Grace in their Souls may fall grievously but not utterly, he shall arise a­ [...]ain. So we see that Grace is the most Desireable Thing.

[Page 42]5. Demon. GRACE is the mo [...] Needful Thing that can be, that se [...] forth the De [...]ireableness of it. N [...] ­thing in the World is so Needf [...] as for a Man to have Grace [...] his Soul. Luk▪ 10. 42. One thi [...] is Needful. What is that thing▪ Is it for a Man to have a grea [...] Portion in the World, is that th [...] One thing Need [...]ul? No verily▪ if it was, Agur so wise and goo [...] a Man, would never have pray­ed to God that he would no [...] make him a Rich Man, he prayed [...] much against Riches as again [...] Poverty, says he, Give me neither Poverty nor Riches, Feed me wit [...] Food conv [...]nient for me. That is the One Thing Needful, that will stand a Man in stead in a Dying Hour, when all the World shall for­sake him; and that is Grace i [...] the Soul. Prov. 14. 32. The Righteous hath Hope in his Death. If he is Righteous, if he has [Page 43] Grace in his Soul, it will go well with him at his Death. Joh. 8. 51. If a Man keep my saying he shall never see Death. That is F­urnal Death, the Death of his Soul, he shall never see it if he has Grace in his Soul. So that Grace is the One thing Needful. I [...] [...]ill make a Man have confi­denc [...] and boldness in the Day of Judgment; when he thinks of the Day of Judgment, he can think of it with Joy and Triumph, 1 Joh. 4. 17. We have Boldness in the Day of Judgment, because as he is so are we in this world. We have the same Grace though in a poor degree, yet of the same Na­ture that was in the Lord's Heart, therefore have we Boldness in the Day of Judgment; It shall do us no hurt, it will be a happy Day to us; that is most Needful which is Necessary to bring a Man to Heaven. So is Grace [Page 44] in the Soul, Joh. 3. 3. Except a Man he Born again be cannot see the Kingdom of God. Grace in the Soul, that is Regeneration, a Man cannot see God without it. He [...]. 12. 14. Without Holiness no Man shall see the Lord. Then Holiness of Grace in the Soul is the most Needful Thing: For without that, a Man shall never see the Lord.

6. Demons. IF a Man has Grace in his Soul he will be an active In­strument to Glorify GOD in the World. That is an Excellent thing, what more Desireable than to Glorify GOD in the World? But if a Man has Grace in his Soul he will do thus. God chooses such to be Instruments to Glorify His Name, 1 Sam. 16. 6, 7. When Eliah appeared before Samuel he thought that was the Man God Designed to make use of to Glo­rify His Name, he being a goodly [Page 45] Person, but says God to him, The Lord seeth not as Man seeth, for Man looketh upon the Outward ap­pearance but the Lord looketh on the Heart. God looked on the Heart of David, he saw the Grace that was wrought in his Soul, he was the Man God chose to be a speci­al instrument to Glorify His Name. If a Man has Grace in His Soul he will improve whatever Talent God has bestowed upon him, to his Glory. If a Man has Grace in His Soul he will be a Fruitful Christian and that will be for the Glory of God, Joh. 17. 8. Herein is my Father Glorify [...]d that ye bear much Fruit. If a Man has Grace in his Soul he will bring forth Fruits of Righteous­ness and Holiness. If a Man has Grace in his Soul he will be made a Blessing, he will not only be Blest but be made a Blessing to others. Therefore the Righ­teous [Page 46] are compare [...] Trees plan­ted by the Rivers of Water, the World fares the better for such Trees as those are, they are Bles­sings to the World. If a Man is only a Servant in a Family, if he has Grace in his Soul he will be a Blessing to that Family. Of One­simus it was said, he was unpro­fitable, but now Profitable, now that he is Converted, now he has Grace in his Soul, now he is pro­f [...]table. Jacob when he dwelt in his Uncle Laban's Family, Laban found by Experience that the Lord had Blessed him for his sake. A Godly Servant is a Bles­sing to his Master he will pray for his Master, as Eleazer did, that prayed, O Lord God I pray Thee, Bless my master, Abraham. Little does the World think how much they are beholden to a few good, honest Men in it. It is said, The Righteous is an Everlasting [Page 47] foundation. The World stands for their sakes; if all the good Men in the World were gone out of it, the World would not stand one Day longer: God would set the World on Fire and Consume it. If the Master of a Family has Grace, the whole Family with fare the better for him; it may be he may pray down Grace into the Souls of his Children, and that would be a happy thing in­deed. Likewise other Blessings, as God said to Abraham, I have heard thee, concerning Ishmael, I will bless him. Many times there are those in public Places, that many are the better for them. There may be a Man, and there may be Thousands in the World that will Bless God to all Eternity, that ever they knew that Man. They are Partakers of Spiritual, Eternal Blessings by means of this or that Man, that they will Bless [Page 48] God forever that ever they knew that Man. Therefore Grace in the Soul is most Desireable.

7. Demon. IF a Man has true Grace in his Soul, he is very like these in Heaven, that shows how Desireable a thing Grace is. It makes Men like the Spirits of Just Men that are gone to Heaven. Here they have but a little Grace, a few drops of Grace, but in Hea­ven their Souls are full of Grace, that which is in part is there done away, that which is perfect being then come, it makes Men to be like the Angels in Heaven. The Angels they are Holy and are always Pleasing and Glorify­ing God, and that Man that has a great degree of Grace is very like to the Angels of Heaven. One speaking of the Martyr Bradford, who was a very holy Man, said he, that Angel of God John Brad­ford. Nay, Grace in a Man's [Page 49] Soul makes him like unto the Son of God, makes him like unto the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Of his fulness we receive and Grace for Grace, Joh. 1. 16. We receive Grace that is answer­able to the Grace that is in the Heart of Christ, though as to degrees not comparable to it, He received of the Spirit without Measure; they that have Grace are more like to Christ than other Men, the more Grace a Man has the more he resembles the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace makes a Man like to the Blessed GOD Himself, GOD is infinitely Holy; Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almigh­ty. God the Father is Holy, God the Son is Holy, God the Spirit is Holy; the more Holiness Men attain to, the more like are they to God. Grace is called His I­mage, and it is called the Divine Nature. Grace makes Men like [Page 50] to God [...] therefore of all things most Desireable. I shall mention but One thing more to prove the Doctrine.

8. Demon. IF a Man has Grace in his Soul be is bound for Heaven and will soon be there. Grace in his Soul gives him a Title to Heaven, Psal. 84. 11. God will give Grace and Glory. If God give Grace, He will surely give Glory in due time. Such a Man is bound for Heaven, Heaven is come down into his Soul when Grace comes down into his Soul. Therefore it is said, He that be­lieves hath Everlasting Life. Not only that he shall have it, but he has it already in the Begin­ni [...]gs of it, This is Life Eternal to know thee the only true God and him whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ. A Man that has Grace, that knows God, that knows Je­sus Christ, Life Eternal is begun [Page 51] in his Soul, and he will soon be there. It may be he has a long time been Serving God, it may be he feared God when he was a Youth, certainly he will be in Heaven in a very little time. You may then conclude, That Grace in a Man's Soul is of all Things most Desireable.

THE Apostle in these Words makes a com­parison between Christ and Moses: he does acknowledge that Moses had a [Page 58] Glory, a Dignity belonging to him; but not comparable to that Glory which belongs to our Lord JESUS CHRIST. This he Confirms by divers Simi [...]i [...]udes, in that the Builder of the House is Worthy of more honour than the House. JE­SUS CHRIST is the Builder of the Church, Moses was Builder but of Part of it. He that Built all Things concerning the Church of GOD is CHRIST Himself. He then is Worthy of more Glo­ry than Moses. Moses did act as a Servant in what he did, CHRIST as a Son, a Son is Wor­thy of more Honour than a Ser­vant.

[Page 59]NO Man has, nor ever was there any Man that had that Glory, that is Comparable to what is to be affirmed concern­ing the Man CHRIST JESUS.

For Clearing the Doctrine I shall mention several Things that Evince it.

1. THE most eminent Persons that have ever been in this World were only Types of JESUS CHRIST. As for Moses, the Apostle prefers JESUS CHRIST above Him. Moses, it was said of him he was King in Jeshurun, his Power, his Dominion was only in Jeshu­run, that is among the Children of Israel. JESUS CHRIST He is the Head and Ruler even over the whole Church of GOD, over the Spiritual Israel, as well as over the Natural Israel, John 1. 49. Thou art the Son of God, thou [Page 60] art the King of Israel. Moses in­deed was a Lawgiver, CHRIST has given another Law, the Mo­ral Law, that CHRIST has Con­firmed, the Ceremonial Law, that CHRIST has Abolished by His Coming. John 1. 17. The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ▪ Christ has given a Law that is a more gracious dispensation. M [...]s [...]s was a Man that had a greater familiarity with God than ever any Man in this World had; it is said, God spake ▪o Moses face to face as a Man speaketh to his friend. Now Jesus Christ had a greater familiarity with God than ever M [...]s [...]s had: No m [...]n has [...] God at any time but the Son, [...]e [...] ▪ seen him, that lies in the [...] of the Father, and has made suc [...] ▪ discove [...]ies of the bosom [...] i [...] the heart of the Father as never [...] Man did before [...] [Page 61] If we speak of Melchised [...]ck he was a Man of great Renown and Glory. He [...] ▪ 7. 4. It is sa [...]d, [...] how great this Man was. Yet he was but a Type, a Sha­ [...]ow of the Lord Jesus Christ. Melch [...]s [...]d [...]ck, he was King of Sa­ [...]m, King of Righteousness. It is [...]id Christ is so more emi [...]ently. Mel [...]his [...]d [...]ck was like to the Son of GOD, but Christ is really so. Melchised [...]ck was withou [...] Beg [...]n­ [...]ng or End of Days, H [...]s [...]ically [...]e was so, there is nothing said [...] the Scripture where he was [...]orn, whe [...]ce he came, he was [...]I [...]torically without beginning [...] end of Days. Christ is so [...]ally and Truely, therefore greater than M [...]l [...]h [...]s [...]d [...]ck.

IT is supposed that Melchise­ [...]ck said the Foundation of the [...] Jerusalem, besure Christ [...] that has laid▪ the Foundati­ [...] of the Spiritual Jerusalem, [Page 62] He built that to the Glory of GOD. Abraham was a Man of great Renown, the Jews did highly admire him, yet the Jews would say when Messiah shall come, He shall be greater than our father Abraham. So He was, Abraham had a Glorious Ti­tle of being the Father of the Faithful, Christ has a far more Glorious Title, He is said to be the Everlasting Father. Abraham counted it his great happiness that he should have Redemption by Jesus Christ, that Christ would come as a Redeemer into the World and Die for his Elect, that He would Rise from the the Dead; and how did Abraham know this? John 8. 56. Christ, said to the Jews, Your father A­braham saw my day and r [...]j [...]yced. he saw it and was glad. By Faith he knew that all nations should be Blessed in Him. That is in res­pect [Page 63] of the Messiah, the Coming of Him. When Isaac was bound and laid on the Altar ready to be offered up, but was wonder­ [...]lly delivered from that Death. Hereby God instructed Abraham, that Christ should come and Die, and thereby accomplish that Re­ [...]emption that he and all the E­lect of God should partake of. David was a Man of great Re­ [...]own and Glory. Christ was greater than he, therefore Christ says, Psal. 110. 1. The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand. So likewise Solomon was a great Man and Renowned, but when Christ was in the World, it was said, A Greater than Solomon is here. Who is that greater than Solomon? it was none but Christ Jesus; and He was greater in that wherein Solo­mon's chief Excellency did con­ [...]t, his Wisdom. It is said, [Page 64] Solomon was Wiser than all Men, but Jesus Christ had greater Wisdom than Solomon. It is said of Him. Col. 2. 3. In [...] are bid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge. The Wisdom of God appears more in what He has done by Jesus Christ than in all things whatsoever God did. Christ Himself was full of Wis­d [...] ▪ all Treasures of Wisdom were hid in Him, so then He was greater than Solomon. Thus we see the most Eminent Men that have ever been in the World, were only Types and Shadows of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. THIS Man my Text speaks of Jesus Christ, is God as well as Man. God and Man in One Per­son, which cannot be said of any One else such a Glory as may not be Affirmed of any other Man that ever was, or is, or shall be [Page 65] in the World. Christ in the Scripture has the Name of God given to Him. Job knew this to be a Truth, therefore said, Job. 19. 25. I now that my Redeemer [...], and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the Earth, though after my Skin Worms [...] this Body, yet in my flesh shall see God. Christ is said to be God, not only as Princes are said to be Gods, but He is stiled the Migh­ [...]y GOD, the Great GOD, the GOD over all Blessed forever. There­ [...]ore He is said to be the Son of God, not the Son of God as An­gels, by Similitude, or as Belie­ [...]ers by Adoption, but God's own son, Rom. 8. 32. God spared not his own Son, but delivered him to Death for us all. Spared not His own Son, now an own Son is e­qual with His Father in respect of Nature, so is Jesus Christ the son of God. It is said of Him, [Page 66] He counted it no robbery to become equal with God. If He had [...] been really so, it would have been the greatest Robbery to have pretended an Equality with God. The Jews thought Christ was Guilty of the highest Bla [...] ­phe [...]y, when He said He was equal with the Father, that He was God's own Son, Christ said I have [...] many good works, for which of these do you go about to stone me? They said to him not for thy good works do we stone [...] but for thy Blasphemy, in that [...] being a Man makest thy self God. If any other Man in the World had said so, the Blasphemy would have been very great, but when Christ said so, it was a most Glo­rious Truth necessary to be Be­lieved. Zech. 13. 7. Awake [...] sword against the Man that is [...] Fellow, faith the Lord of Host. What Man is it that is the F [...] ­low [Page 67] of the Lord of Hosts that is equal with Him, but only the Man Christ Jesus; therefore He [...] to be acknowledged as God, [...]s the true God, and that Name that belongs to the true God and to Him only is given to Christ, namely, the Name of JEHOVAH, Psal. 18.18. He whose Name alone [...] Jehovah. None but the true God has that Name of Jehovah given to him without the great­ [...]st blasphemy, but this Name is given to Christ: Therefore Christ says, Rev. 1. 8. I am he, which is, and which was, and which is to come. That is the interpre­ [...]tion of the Name Jehovah. The Essential Attributes that be­long to God are affirm'd concern­ing our Lord Jesus Christ. That Attribute of Eternity is peculiar to God, to be without beginning and end of days; this is true concerning Jesus Christ: He [Page 68] says, Rev. 1. 11. I am the first and the last: the first Being, and can­not but endure to all Eternity. He then is Eternal, and so is the true God, therefore the Name of, I AM, is given to Him. He said to the Jews, before Abraham was, I AM. When Moses would know what His Name was, He said, I am that I am: That denotes His Eternity, that He always was, and al­ways will be. So Omnipotence, and Omnipotent are Essential Attri­butes of God. Job says, Thou can [...]t do every thing. The like is to be said concerning Christ, He can do every thing; and He gives to Himself that Name of, The Almighty, Rev. 1. 8. There­fore He is the true God. Omni­presence, that is an Essential At­tribute of God; to be in all places at the same time. Christ says, No Man hath ascended up [Page 69] to Heaven, but the Son of Man which is in Heaven, Joh. 3. 13. Christ was on Earth then, He was in Heaven and on the Earth at the same time, therefore Omni-present. And because He is the true God, He is Omnisci­ [...]ent, He knows all Men and all things, He knows what Men are. When there were some that did pretend to be Christi­ans, it is said of Christ, Joh.2.24. He would not trust himself with them, for he knew all men. And Christ said from Heaven, the Churches shall know, that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts. It is God's Prerogative to search the Heart, whether Men are sincere in their pre­tences to Religion. But Christ knows this, He knows the hearts of Men, this is true concerning our Lord Jesus Christ. Concern­ing [Page 70] this very Man the Text speaks of, who is God as well as Man.

3. JESUS CHRIST is the Me­diator between God and Man. Moses indeed was a Typical Mediator, I stood between God and you, says Moses. But now Christ and He only is the Medi­ator between God and all His Elect; they being under the Mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ are Saved by Him. 1 Tim. 2. 5. There is One God and One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. He is called the Saviour of the World, He is the Saviour of all Men that shall be Saved. God has laid help upon One that is Mighty to Save. Isai. 63. 1. Who is this that is travelling in the greatness of his strength, Migh­ty to Save. Christ as Mediator [Page 71] has a Threefold Office belonging to Him, that of a Prophet, Priest and King; that is greater Glory than can be said of any other Man; divers have had Two of these Offices, David was a Pro­phet and a King, not a Priest. Samuel was a Prophet and a Priest, but he was not a King. Whereas Jesus Christ has all these Glorious Offices. Moses [...]pake of Him when he said, The Lord shall raise up to you a Prophet like unto me. Other Prophets were so but for One Generation, they were subject to Death as well as other Men. Do the Prophets live forever, Zech. 1. 5. No, the Prophets are Dead, all the old Prophets are Dead, they were Prophets but for One Ge­neration, but Jesus Christ is a Prophet to the Church of God through all Generations, from the Beginning to the End of the [Page 72] World. The Jews said very truly, when Christ was among them, There is a great Prophet arisen up. There never was such a Prophet seen in the World as Jesus Christ was. He is also [...] great High Priest; says the Apos­tle, Having such a great High Priest, Let us draw nigh to God. Never was there such an High Priest in the World that did do as He did, Offer a Valuable Sa­cri [...]ce to God to make Atone­ment for the Sins of Men, all the Creatures were not sufficient for that, Lebanon was not suffici­ent for a Burnt-offering, could not obtain Reconciliation with God: but now Christ as Priest has Offered such a Sacrifice as is suitable to the Majesty of GOD, for He has Offered Himself, Heb. 9. 26. He hath put away Sin by the Sacrifice of Himself. That now was more than if all the Crea­tures [Page 73] in the whole World were Offered a Sacrifice to Appease the Wrath, & to Satisfy the Justice of God. He Himself was a Di­vine Person, though it was not the God head but the Manhood that Suffered, but that Man be­ing an Infinite Person, His Sacri­ [...]ice was of Infinite Value to make Reconciliation for the Sins of His People, therefore this Man is worthy of greater Glory than ever any o­ther Man is or could be; and He is a King also, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The most Excellent King that ever was, and the most Glorious Lord that ever was, that has all the World under His Dominion. Ma­ny have Attempted to obtain an Universal Monarchy, but no Man ever attained to it. But Jesus Christ is King of the Universe, and the Day will come when He [Page 74] shall be Acknowledged to be so, Zech. 14. 9. There shall be One Lord and One King over all the Earth. Christ is King over all the Earth, and not only so but He is King in Heaven too, which cannot be said of any other. Christ therefore said to His Dis­ciples, All Power in Heaven and on Earth is given to me. There­fore such a Glory belongs to Him as cannot be said of any other.

4. IT is evident in that Christ is greater than the Angels. Ezek. 1. 26. It is said, Over the Living Creatures was a Throne, and a Man sat upon it. Christ is He that sits upon a Throne, and He is over the Living Creatures which are the Angels, they are all under His Dominion. The old Jews had a saying among them, that was very true, That when [Page 75] Messiah co [...]es He shall be greater than our Father Abraham, greater than Moses, yea, greater than the Angels. This is Affirmed in the Scripture co [...]cerning Christ, [...]hat He is greater than the An­gels, better than they, Heb. 1. 4, [...]3. Unto which of the Angels said [...] at any time, Sit thou at my right hand. Now Christ's [...]itting [...]t the Right Hand of God de­ [...]otes the greatest Glory that possible can be, nay the Angels Worship Him, ver. 6. Worship Him all ye his Angels. There is [...]ot an Angel in Heaven but must Worship and does Worship the Lord Jesus Christ. We read in the Revelations that Every living Crea­ture in Heaven, is saying, Blessing and Hon [...]ur, Glory and Power be u [...]o Him that [...]itteth upon the Throne and to the Lamb forever and ever. And the Angels are said to be made Subject to Him, they go [Page 76] at his sending, I Jesus have sent mine Angel; they come at His Call, they are Obedient to Him, He is their General. Among Men the General is greater than his Soldiers, so it is here, the Armies of Heaven follow Him. The Angels of Heaven they fol­low Christ, they are under His Command, His Conduct, so that this Man is Greater than Mo­ses, Greater than ever any Man in this World ever was or shall be.

5. CHRIST has done, does do, and will do such Things as none else can do. Miraculous Things He has done, that shows what a Glorious One He is, Joh. 2. 11. It is said, This beginning of Miracles, Jesus did in Cana of Galilee: and manifested forth his Glory. Christ shewed forth His Glory not only by His begin­ning [Page 77] of Miracles, but by all the Miracles that ever He wrought, thereby shewed He was such a Glorious Man as the like never was in the World. Therefore when there was a Man born Blind and was healed by the Lord Jesus Christ, it was said to the Pharisees, it is a marvellous thing that ye know not from whence He is. It was never known since the World began, that a Man should open the Eyes of one that was born Blind, Joh. 9. 32. Therefore He is no ordinary Man. Christ cast out Devils by speaking [...] Word. The Disciples came to Him saying, Lord, Even the De­ [...]ils are subject to us through thy Name. He stilled the Tempest. There was a time when the D [...] ­ciples were in great danger at Sea, of being Castaway, Christ was in the Vessel, they came to Him saying, Lord, carest thou not [Page 78] that we perish; and Christ com­manded the Winds and Sea to be quiet and immediately the Storm ceased, that the People were amazed, saying, What man­ner of Man is this, that even the Winds and the Sea obey him. Yea, Christ has done greater things than these, He has caused the Dead to come to Life again, when Lazarus was Dead and in his Grave some Days, Christ stood over the Grave and said, Lazarus come forth. And immediately up­on Christ's speaking the word he that was Dead came forth. And there shall a Day come, When all that are in their Graves shall hear the Voice of [...] Son of God; and they that hear shall come forth, some to Everlasting Life and some to the Resurrection of Damnation. All the Men in the World, not one Soul in this Congregation, but shall hear the Voice of the Son [Page 79] of God one Day, and be restored to Life again, after they have been Dead, the Lord knows how many Years.

6. EVERY Man is beholden to the Lord Jesus Christ Christ is God, they are beholden to Him for their very Beings. It is said of Christ, Joh. 1. 3. All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made. Therefore it is said, Rev. 3. 14. He is the beginning of the Creation of God. We may not imagine that the meaning of these Words [...]s as Arians say, Christ was the first Creature that was made, no, no, but that all Creatures recei­ved their beginning, their Being from Him. Men are beholden to Christ for their Preservation, Col. 1. 17. By him all things consist. Heb. 1. 3. He upholds all things by the word of his power; Being God as well as Man. Men are behold­ [...]n [Page 80] to Christ to that they have the means of Grace, are under a dis­pensation of Divine Patience. Thou had [...]t been in Hell long be­fore this Day if it had not been for the Lord Jesus Christ. He has obtained this favour of God, that Mankind should be put un­der a dispensation of Divine Pa­tience. He is the Saviour of all Men, especially of them that Be­lieve; and whatever Men enjoy that is desireable they are behold­en to Jesus Christ for it. Some have greater power and dominion than others, it is Christ that has given it to them. By him Kings reign, and Princes decree justice Some have greater Wisdom than others, it is Christ that has given it to them. Some have a far greater measure of Grace than o­thers have, it is Christ that has given it to them, Eph. 4. 7. Unto every one of us is given Grace, [Page 81] according to the measure of the gift of Christ. So that all Men are beholden to the Lord Jesus Christ for what they enjoy: This is what cannot be said of any other Man than this God-man I am speak­ing of.

7. CHRIST fills the Heaven of Heavens with His Glory. Ezekiel had a Glorious Vision of the Tem­ple, and he says, The inner court, which was a Type of Heaven, was filled with the Glory of the Lord, Ezek. 43. 5. So the New Jerusalem, it is said, There was no need of the Sun to give light, nei­ther of the Moon to shine in it, for the Glory of God and the Lamb is the Light thereof. Christ now in Heaven sits on a Throne, and whose Throne is it He sits on, Rev. 3. 21. I am sit down with my Father in his Throne. Isaiah had a most wonderful Vision, Isai. 6. He saw the Seraphims, that is the Angels [Page 82] called Seraphims, they covered their Faces, they are not able to look upon the Glory of Christ with­out Admiration at it; and what did the S [...]phims say, they said, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of Hosts, the whole Earth is full of thy Glory. So the Angels are saying in Heaven, The whole Heaven is full of thy Glory. The Apostle John says, Isaiah spake this when he saw His Glo­ry. We see the Truth confirmed in the Particulars mentioned. A Word by way of Application.