CHRIST'S Gracious Message from the Throne of GRACE., To all the Prisoners of HOPE.  ZACH. 9.11. 
As for thee also, by the blood of thy Covenant, I have sent forth thy Prisoners out of the pit, where there is no water.  
By TIMOTHY BATT, Physician.  
Printed in the year, 1644.   

TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE CHARLES, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, etc. AND TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS and COMMONS assembled in the High Court of PARLIAMENT. Grace and Peace be multiplied from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.  
SIRS,  
THough it might seem Ingravity that the Sprouts in Libanus might attinge or touch the tops of the Cedars in Libanus. Notwithstanding, it is the most princely dignity, and the highest honour to the highest Cedars of Libanus; to overshadow & defend the lowest sprouts. Was it honourable in King Agrippa, Felix and Festus, to lend audience to Paul a chained Prisoner? And will it not be counted an honourable thing to your Highness, and to Your Honourable Lords to countenance the Contemplation of your Prisoner concerning the Prisoners of Hope? Were the glean of Ephraim better than vintage of Abiezer? and is not our Contemplation concerning Christ's Prisoners, more fruitful than the Vine with its fullest clusters? the Stars which are obscured in the presence of the brightest Sun, are profitable in his absence, giving their light to the sublunary travilers: Howsoever the light of these our Contemplations for the present may seem as darkness, yet if through your Princely favour, and your Honour's protections these may be allowed; they will give a glimmering light to the poorest soul, and most distressed spirit: It will be to them as the flowing springs of Solace, and as the pleasant influence from the highest stars. How will they sing of love because of the Father's dearest love? how will they speak of glory in Christ the prince of glory? when they shall understand that they are set free by the blood of his Covenant out of the pit where in there is no water. Zach. 9.11. As for thee also, by the blood of my Covenant, I have sent forth thy Prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water. When they shall find that their Lord was anointed to set them lose out of the Dungeon of death and darkness: and that he was the chosen Redeemer to break the bars of death, throw upon the gates of hell, and knap in sunder the chains of the Devil. Isa. 61.1, 2, 3. The high and honourable are not ignorant, that the greatest prince under heaven, and the mightiest Monarch in the sublunary world are poor prisoners of hope unto Christ mediator of the covenant, King of his bought & Redeemed. Is the Earth beholding to the watery clouds? and the lowest plants to the highest planers? & are not all Terren & earthly Princes beholding to Christ King of Kings and Lord of Lords for ever. The Prisoners of hope in this state and Kingdom are almost infinite in number. How many thousands lie sick at the pool of Bethesda? how many thousands of mourning and drooping hearts waits for Christ's springs of love more than David did for the waters of Bethlehem? I might say, how many Millions wounded in their consciences, bleeding in their bloods; lies waiting at this hour before the throne of grace for the sweet and clear countenance of God the Father, therefore they sigh and groan for his assurance through his Adoption of children, for his liberty through the Redemption from Eternal bonds, for his righteousness through his presentation glorious, and for his joys and consolation through the law of the Spirit of life and obsignation: as they have found under your Highest, Noblest and worthiest favours, a gracious defence and loving protection, so they doubt not, but that two wings and two shadows will be one wing and one shadow for their prosperity & protection: Considering, that there is such a nearness of union between the Princely Head, and the Honourable shoulders of this Royal state and Kingdom. I with the Prisoners of Hope had neither gold nor silver, riches nor treasures, pearls nor jewels to present unto His Highness, or to the Honourable Assembly; save these lines of love for acceptation: Not doubting, but our present will be as rich as the Queen of Shebaes' was in jerusalem; and as Benjamins and Judah's was in the sight of Joseph, sigh the presenter with the Prisoners of Hope, presents nothing else but a present concerning the Love of God the Father, the rich treasures and the righteousness of Christ Mediator, of the joys, love and peace concerning the Spirit of glory our comforter: knowing that is not convenient for the meanest to be offensive to the highest, and the weakest troublesome unto the Honourable: We by general petition, desire and request that His Majesty with your Honours, might honour the poorest with your shadow and vindication, and we in general shall be bound by an everlasting obligation, to wish all peace, all unity and concord between His Majesty and your Honours for ever. Oh that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah would not only crown the Lion with strength and fortitude; but also honour his poorest Prisoners with peace and sweet tranquillity. Oh that the King of Kings might shine gloriously upon the head of His Majesty, and the Prince of Princes might shine favourably upon the Nobles of this Kingdom. Oh that the gracious favour of him that was in the Bush, and the dear love of him that was upon the Cross might compose these differences, put an end to these great distractions, and make two one in this our Native Country. Whilst we thus desire and wish the welfare, prosperity and dignity of this State and Kingdom; we shall wait for His Highest and Princely acceptation, and your noblest and worthiest approbation of this Treatise concerning the Prisoners of Hope, sigh it is no less than the message of the King of Kings unto a King, an Ambassage from the Prince of glory unto Princes: and a Contemplation of the Throne of grace to all that waits for grace in Israel. Therefore silence shall constrain us, whilst we wish for the highest glory the richest mercy, for the dearest bounty, and for the greatest love that flows from the Throne of grace to fall upon you, that your dews may be more soft than the dews upon the tender herbs, that your light may be more splendorous than the sun in the Meridian, and that the stability, firmness and glory of this State and Commonwealth may be faster fixed than the celestial Orb. Amen, Amen, Amen. Then shall the sons of Zion sing a song of Melodious, the daughters of Jerusalem make a harmony victorious, and the poorest Prisoners of Hope shall sit under your shadows most joyous, each giving glory, praise, honour, truth, and thanksgiving to him that sits upon the Throne now and for evermore: Recording that sentence memorable throughout all ages and generations. Apoc. 4. last. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.  
Your Majesty's most humble subject, and wellwisher to your Royal Crown and dignity; As also to your Honourable Lords and commons, sat in High Court of PARLIAMENT. TIMOTHY BATT.   

❧ An Epistle to the Prisoners of Hope, beloved of the Father, and bought by the blood of Christ their blessed and dear Redeemer.  
IS the knowledge of the unsearchable riches of Christ made known to the Prisoners of misery? and shall not I direct my speech to them in the rarest Elegancy? Are rare things spoken concerning the city of God? are excellent thing spoken concerning the streams that make glad the City of our God? And are not rare and excellent things spoken concerning the Prisoners of our God? I had rather my mind should forget its high conceivement, I had rather my affection should lose it sweet contentment, than I should forget my sentence concerning their solace and delightment. How should I forget them whom our dearest Lord hath not forgotten? Why should I not set them before mine eyes, whom he hath presented in his gracious presence. For whom was he anointed? if not for his distressed flock? For whom was he wounded? if not for wounded consciences and poor distressed caitiffs? For whom was his bloody Cross, his bitter Agony? if not for his dearest ones and Prisoners of great calamity. Will our Lord lead his captives into captivity? No, Will he relinquish his gasping and groan hearts? No, they are more precious to him then the rarest gems, they are more beautiful in his eyes then the beautiful diadems, and more choice to him then the choicest treasure. Who are written between his breasts? if not they, who are charactered upon his heart? if not they, or who are counted or esteemed above all Terrene or Earthly treasures? if not they, For they are beloved of the Father from Eternity, they are bought by the Prince of grace and glory, they are seal a by the spirit of life and liberty: O ye Prisoners of Hope! are you not as dear to your dearest Lord in the day of tribulation as in the day of salvation, in the day of temptation, as in the day of reconciliation, in the day of affliction, as in the day of Adoption. I know you have been wounded by the darts of Satan, been accused by the accuser of the brethren, you have had war with the flesh and corruption, and have been bruised like the bruised reed, and broken like the Potter's vessel. I know that the sun should be as darkness, if that you should not behold the Son of righteousness, that the morning star should be obscure, if the morning star should not appear in purity, and the face of ten thousand Angels should appear as dimness, if that you should not behold the face of the Angel of the Covenant in graciousness. Hence I am assured the word of grace, of life, of hope, ●f peace, of salvation, of reconciliation, ●f justification, and of glorification will be as dear to you as the apple of your ●yes, as precious as your own lives, and ●s near unto you as your own souls; ●herefore as the morning star is to the travellers in the wilderness, as the oriental sun to them that sit in darkness, as the rarest jewels to them that have no riches: So will this message be to you his bleeding Prisoners. Therefore I cease to crave acceptation, sigh these of you are lovingly accepted, ever wishing you grace from your loving Father, blessedness and hope from your blessed Redeemer, to whom be given glory and honour in the Churches for ever and ever, Amen.  
T. B.   


When I in blood involved was,  
cast out to open shame:  
His dearest love did then appear,  
to everlasting fame.   

Before I saw the Sun of light,  
the sun did shine one me;  
Before the morning star arose,  
all darkness I did see.   

But when the Sun and morning star,  
appeared in the day:  
All darkness vanished from my sight,  
I saw a glorious way.   

Of love, of peace, of grace, of hope,  
of rest and great glory,  
Free from all wrath, debate, and jars,  
from malice and envy.   

●n love the Saints do praises sing,  
unto his glorious name,  
The glorious riches of his grace,  
in joys they do declaim.   

While they were chained in fetters strong  
under the power of hell,  
His riches bounty did appear,  
free mercy did excel.   

For he redeemed them from chains,  
from fetters set them free;  
By dearest love and precious blood,  
procuring liberty.   

That they might have access by faith,  
unto his highest grace:  
And live by faith which is in him,  
in his most holy place.   

Hence are the gems of rarest worth,  
appearing in his sight:  
Beholding his most glorious face,  
his everlasting light.   

When clouds of darkness did beset,  
their souls encompassed round:  
Overwhelmed were they by hellish fiends,  
they woe and sorrow found.   

Then shined he forth in the sweet face,  
of Christ the Prince of peace:  
When he by death did reconcile,  
all enmity did cease.   

That they might stand complete in robes,  
more pure than the gold;  
More rich than gems and precious stones,  
a hundred thousand fold.   

When they were naked and unrobed,  
impurest in his sight:  
In vestments pure clothed he did,  
in them he took delight:   

Sith he presented them most pure,  
complete in Christ to be:  
Whilst he gave them to be in Christ.  
their great felicity.   

When they were sons of wrath & death  
shut out of hope most sure:  
He gave to them inheritance,  
amongst the Saints most pure.   

That they might have a lot and hope,  
amongst the Saints most dear:  
All glorying hearts in praises high,  
with Saints that do in fear.   

When they were far from Christ the vine,  
of peace and precious love:  
His gracious face on them did shine,  
his bounty they did prove.   

When they were made one with the vine,  
to be in him for aye:  
Enjoying springs of precious joys,  
in the eternal day.   

When they were prisoners of his hope,  
involved in dust below:  
His throne of freest grace embraced,  
to hell he did not throw.   

Their bleeding hearts and drooping minds,  
involved and wrapped in blood:  
By freest grace and dearest love,  
bought to eternal good.   

That they in love might praises sing,  
unto his glorious name:  
Rich glorious praises of his grace,  
they might to Saints declaim.   

Shall they surcease exalting praise?  
singing free grace for ever:  
His bounty will they not record?  
to Saints that faileth never.   

Praise, glory, now perpetually,  
from his abundant store:  
Oh honour that most glorious name,  
both now and evermore.    

WHilst that my Muses,  
upon high object bend,  
High thoughts poss'd,  
but to what intent;  
Let Prisoners view,  
and these sweet lines peruse,  
Peruse in love,  
and faulty lines excuse,  
The piercing power,  
of my intellect,  
My lowest thoughts,  
to highest did erect,  
Memory Retained,  
thought of a subject rare,  
Queen will consenting,  
somewhat to declare,  
Affection joined,  
with those in combination,  
High thoughts conceived,  
in my contemplation.  
And conscience parallels,  
affection strong,  
Its rarest plea,  
I must my theme prolong,  
Sith that no object,  
to the view or sight,  
Gives such sweet solace,  
to the soul's delight,  
And grace's power,  
grants its free consent,  
That all my theme,  
of Christ was congruent,  
That pen might stay,  
and I might cease my verse,  
Of Christ in prose,  
the more I might rehearse.   

Christ's gracious Message from the Throne of Grace, to all the Prisoners of hope.  
ROM. 8.1, 2. 
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh; but after the Spirit, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  
WHen we look upon the Sun, Moon and Stars, and behold the wisdom, mercy, and power of the Father towards humane generation; it makes us to stand amazed, and astonished, so when we look and behold the wisdom, mercy, and power of the Father shining forth in Christ the morning Star, the Son of everlasting grace and bounty, it makes us to wonder and admire at that which shineth forth to us in the morning star, and glorious Son of righteousness. That which shineth to us by in and by the Creature, is not comparable to that which shineth toward us in and through the Lord Jesus. What is the brightness of the morning star to Christ the morning star? or what is the beauty and glory of the sun, to Christ the Sun of glorious righteousness? or what as the beauty of things terrene & earthly to things sublime or heavenly? hence the Apostle memorates and records the excellency of the Lord Jesus Christ by the privilege the Saints received in and by him, according to the Text. Now then there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit, Rom. 8, 1. Beloved, our manner is by way of exposition or contemplation; Now then there is no condemnation? They have been cast out to the open shame of their faces, they were not swaddled in the day of their Nativity, but trodden in their blood, and overwhelmed with the deepest misery, they have been alienated from the throne of grace, estranged from the mercy seat, and have lived without God in the world, they have been in the black swadle bands of the Devil, under the claves of the roaring Lion the Devil, and have been children of wrath as well as others. The truth of the premises is granted: notwithstanding, there is no condemnation to them, sigh the being of the Saints in Christ frees them from all the gulfs of horrid miseries whatsoever: They have many sins, many infirmities, iniquities and transgressions, they are an offending and erring people out of the way as well as others: they have been silenced before the throne of Justice, they have sinned and shot their arrows below the glory of the Father, the truth of the premises is granted: Notwithstanding, there is no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, sigh the Father of eternal mercy hath given unto them an absolute Nonimputation of offences in the Lord Jesus, in whom he hath reconciled his beloved Saints and peculiar: in the act of Justification he hath given to his Saints a general acquittance, freeing them from sin, iniquity and transgression by the blood of the Lord of life and glory, and by the death of him who was the only beloved of his bosom; hence comes in those rare sentences of divine testimonies. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen? it is God that justifieth, who is it that shall condemn? it is Jesus Christ that is dead, yea, rather that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God making intercession for us. Rom. 8.33, 34. To them is given the privilege and dignity of union, they are branches to Jesus Christ the blessed and fruitful Vine of his Church. I am the Vine, ye are the branches, John 15.5. they are members to Jesus Christ their blessed head and reconciler, to wit, Members of his flesh & of his bones, Eph. 5.30. they are the choice precious and dearest spouse of the Lord Jesus Christ. My beloved is mine, and I am his; he feedeth among the Lilies, Cant. 6.3. they are not only dear to Christ because he hath bought them, but they are near to Christ, because they are made one with him; The glory that thou gavest me, I have given to them, that they may be one as we are one. John 17.22. What Devil therefore shall accuse? the accuser of the Brethren is cast out of the heavenly places. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Now is come salvation, and strength and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ; for the accuser of the brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night, what hell shall terrify? sigh the Lord Christ hath triumphed over hell, death, the devil and all Evils. O death where is thy sting, oh grave where is thy victory. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 15.55, 56, 57 shall the law adjudge us? noe, sigh we have a gracious Mediator who ever presents us glorious in the sight of his gracious and heavenly Father; hence it is spoken by the holy Ghost, that Christ entered into heaven to appear in presence of God for us. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself; now to appear in the presence of God for us. Heb. 9.24. shall death amaze or trouble us? no, for by the death of Christ we are delivered from the servitude and slavery of death. That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil, and deliver them who through fear of death, were all their life time subject to bondage. Heb. 2.14, 15. What though the venamous Serpent seek to sting thee? yet be not thou dismayed: what though the Law moral would accuse, artaigne or condemn thee before the bar of justice? yet be not discouraged: what though death with the sting thereof would amaze thee? yet be thou not amazed, sigh there is no Condemnation to thy soul or conscience, sigh thou art in Christ Jesus, and he pleads thy cause at the right hand of the Father saying, This my people stands righteous before thee in my righteousness, holy through my holiness, and pure through my purity and integrity: am I not their Lord of pure and divine righteousness? am I not their prince of glory who hath presented them pure, spotless and entire in thy sight? Am not I the Mediator of thy everlasting grace & mercy? who was made not only unto them wisdom and redemption, but also righteousness and sanctification? was not I arraigned at the bar of Pontious Pilate, that they might not be arraigned at the bar of justice, accused of my native countrymen, that they might be excused in thy presence, condemned by their injudiciall sentence to free them from condemnation. I stood in the place of Manasseth, that Idolater, in the room of Paul that Blasphemer, in the stead of Peter, that denier, when mine could not bear the heat of thy burning wrath and indignation; I stood and bear their iniquities, when they could not tread the winepress of thy fury, I trod the winepress for them, thou laidest the sins of mine upon my shoulders, thou didst cast thy darts through my sides, I was wounded, I was chastised, I was broken to pieces for them, being made sin for them, who being thy son knew no sin, that they might be made the righteousness of God in me. Now there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Rom. 8.1. I have made death temporal a bed of down, a place of rest, and a sweet passage to my glory, did Israel pass through the red sea and the waters did not overwhelm them? did Judah and Rheuben pass through the waters of Jordan & those did not offend them? and shall not mine pass through the gates of death, and shall that destroy them? no, I have taken away the death of death spiritual, I live in mine by hope, I have made them to cast Anchor in the throne of my grace and dearest mercy, in whom we have an Anchor of the soul, safe and firm, entering into that which is within the veil. Heb. 6.19. Which hope we have as an Anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil. I live in them by love, I have made them live in Me by my love: So that there love to me is above treasures, riches and honours, above Father, Mother, wife and children, above bonds, chains, and fetters, above temptations, anguish or tribulation, above the malice of the Devil, the terrors of the law, the horrors of hell, the darts of the world, and the wars of the flesh. I have made them to leave all things terrene and earthly, and to pitch on those things which are high and heavenly; My love to them in their value and estimation is above Rubies, Saphires, precious gems, carbuncles and precious jewels, ten thousand mountains of gold in their sight are undervalved. I am the chiefest of ten thousand, the loves of men and women are disaccounted, sigh my love to them is above the loves of Jonathan and David. The freeness of my love hath made them love me entirely and freely, and the eternity of my love hath made them love Me eternally, hence have I spoken of them. John 17.28. And I have made known to them thy name, and will make it known, that the love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them. I have made them live the life of faith, though their faith overcoms the world, and this is the victory that overcommeth the wood, even your faith. 1 Joh. 5.4. though their faith repulseth the fiery darts of Satan, above all taking the shield of faith, whereby ye shall be able to quench the fiery darts of Satan, Ephes. 6.16. Though their faith is more precious than gold that is tried in the fire; That the trial of your faith being much more precious then of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, 1 Pet. 1.8. Notwithstanding it is mine, I make them to believe in my Father, and in myself whom he hath sent. I made them my beloved, injoyers of eternal life, glory and beatitude. I made them to abide in me by faith, whilst I abode in them by love, the truth thereof, is witnessed by my Apostle. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I also have taken away death eternal, for I have reconciled mine to the Father by an everlasting reconciliation; I have brought with me the everlasting robes of righteousness, I have taken away all their sins, iniquities and transgressions by my blood most precious: I have made them one by union, that they might enjoy a being in Me and in my Father.  
Hence the second death shall have no power of them, I myself have spoken it. Apoc. 20.6. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be Priests to God, and of Christ's, and shall reign with him a thousand years.  
What hath the world to say to my people? true it is, they have been drunkards, persecuters, blasphemes, they have been alienated from my glory, estranged from my love, and without my presence in the world, but I have washed them in the purest fountain, I have made their scarlet die whiter than the snow, their bloody crimson whiter than the wool; are they defiled like the Menstruous cloth? no, are they leprous as was Naaman the Assyrian? no, they are purer than the purest Nazarene. What hath the flesh to plead against mine? true it is; before I came to live in them, their minds were clouded with Egyptian darkness, there wils resisted my words of reconciliation, their affections were involved in things terrene and sublunary, their hearts harder than the rocks or millstone; and their consciences were the habitation of the black fiends of darkness; but since I took up my rest in them, I appeared the glorious light of the Gospel of life and redemption, I have removed their darkness, I have made them conformable to my sacred and holy will, I have set their affections aloft in the heavenly places, I have softened their obstinate and obdurate hearts, and have cleansed their consciences from sin by my blood most precious. Now old things are passed away, and all things are become new: now they are my workmanship created in Me to good works, that they should walk in them. Now my peace, my joy, my love, my grace, and my liberty dwells in them. Am I not King and Lord commander in the soul? Am I not prince and Lord defender of the conscience? Am I not Master and governor of the affections? yea, though sin is in their flesh, yet my grace is in their spirits, for I am in them both grace and glory; therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.  
What can the world say against those that are my redeemed and reconciled? They will take away their good name, I suffer the Angels of light to bespot their garments, I permit the legalists to defame & to blemish their conversations, but the servant is not greater than his Master, nor the Disciple than his Lord. If they take away their name, I have given them a name which is written in the book of life, & charectered it upon my breast for ever. If they take away their liberty, yet have they always liberty to the throne of my heavenly grace and highest mercy, if they take away their goods, yet are they enriched by my heavenly grace and treasure of wisdom; if they take away their vestments, yet stand they clothed with my garments of everlasting righteousness: And if they take away their lives, yet their lives are hid in me & in my Father. Therefore there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, which walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, Rom. 8.1. There is a threefold ground why there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.  
The first ground is this, sigh the Eternal justice of the Father is satisfied. I argue thus; if the eternal justice of the Father in and by Christ is satisfied, then there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ: But the Eternal justice of the Father is satisfied in & by Christ, therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ. That the justice of the Father is satisfied in and by Christ, is evident: first upon denomination. Christ is called the Son of the Father, in whom the Father is well pleased; so the holy Ghost hath related in the Evangelist. Mat. 3. the last. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. As if the Father should speak thus to his people, Let all my people know that I know of justice no more, of wrath no more, of indignation and vindication no more, true, it is my pleasure to hid my face, my joy, my peace, my rest, my glory, and the rareness of my communion from mine; notwithstanding such hath been my divine and rarest pleasure, that my delight alone is in the Son of my bosom, my glory in the prince of grace and glory, and my rest is in him whom I have constituted and appointed to be Mediator of the Covenant of grace and bounty amongst the Saints triumphant, none are accepted to dwell in my presence but in and through my beloved: amongst my Saints and warriors Militant, none are well-pleasing in my sight but in and through the Son of my bosom, he is the sweet smelling sacrifice most gracious & acceptable before Me, I myself have spoken it. Eph. 5.2. And walk in love, as Christ hath loved us, and given himself an offering: a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. The Myrrh, the Aloes, and the Cassia are not sweet in my presence, the sweetest gums, the frankincense, and pleasant ointments are not pleasant in my nostrils; nothing is pleasant before me but the first begotten from the dead, and prince of the Kings of the earth, I have undervalved all my Angels, respecting none but the Angels of the everlasting covenant, though my pleasure was to give them a song of praise for ever, counting them worthy of the light of my countenance, dignifying them with the honour of messengers & protectors, notwithstanding they could not answer my purity, nor satisfy my justice I have disesteemed the sons of men, though I made them Lords over my creatures, the noblest of my worekmanship, and gave to them both purity and innocency; notwithstanding they cannot answer my demands, nor appease my wrath nor fury. I have disaccounted of the bodies of bulls, of beasts, of goats; and I have prepared a body by and for myself, I myself have spoken it. Wherefore when he cometh into the World, he saith, sacrifices and  offerings thou wouldst not, but a body hast thou prepared. Heb. 10.5. Hence I have accepted of the body of the Lord of life for my people, of the blood of the prince of glory for the children of death and misery, of the death of him that is the Mediator of of the Covenant of life and promises, for the curse and death of my peculiar. Now then there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, which walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, Rom. 8.1.  
The second ground why there is no Condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus.  
Because the law is satisfied, the law is satisfied actively and passively, my beloved was to present my people complete, pure and holy, without spot or wrinkle, unblameable, unreprovable and righteous, to make of unrighteous righteous, of unholy holy, of impure and defiled, pure and undefiled, which in and by him was performed, when he fulfilled all righteousness, when he answered every jot and title of my law required, when he was made sin for mine, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. 5. the last. He answered my law passively, for he was wounded, bruised and broken to pieces, who but your Lord was led as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before the shearer as dumb? who but your Lord, cried out upon the Cross, my God my God, why hast thou forsaken me? who but your Lord sweat water and blood in the day of his passion? beloved, thou camest short of the glory of God, yet thy dear Lord bought thee, the prince of glory sought thee, & the shepherd of the covenant came and performed all for thee, hence, he is the end of the law for righteousness sake. Rom. 10.4. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness sake, to every one that believes; therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not aftert the flesh but after the Spirit, Rom. 8.1.  
The third Ground why there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.  
Because they are united to the Son of my love, had they not been united to the vine of rarest virtue, the Lord of richest wisdom, the bridegroom of sweetest love, then might they have been condemned, but because of their union, they enjoy communion in him and with him: by their union they enjoy a threefold voice.  
The first is the voice of Reconciliation.  
The second the voice of Adoption.  
The third, the voice of Justification and Redemption.  
Of the first, to wit concerning the voice of Atonement or reconciliation, the day hath been that the wall of separation hath been betwixt thee and the Father, the hand writing of ordinances against the conscience, the blackness of darkness had overclouded the soul, thy sins, iniquities, and transgressions had separated between me and thee, and the whole heavens were overcast with the mists of dimness, till I speak of rarest love in the Son of my love, till I speak of peace in the reconciler of my Redeemed, till I spoke of Rest to all your restless souls under heaven, because my Son hath reconciled mine through his pure and precious blood, hence I have nothing against them that are washed in his blood; because I have made an atonement in and through him who hath been my choice and beloved servant: therefore I have no charge against them who have been children of wrath and enemies against my Majesty. As my love, my grace, my peace, my glory rests in him; so my peace abides in him: hence hath he left the Legacy of dearest and precious love. My peace I give unto you, my peace I leave unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you; Let not your hearts be troubled nor fear. Therefore there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Rom. 8.1.  
The second voice of Christ, is the voice of Adoption; As our Justification, our Redemption, our Union, our Reconciliation, our vocation and Glorification are in Christ. So our sonship or Adoption is in Christ: If the Father of glorious mercy account thee a branch, it is because thou art in Christ the vine, if he account thee a member, it is because thou art in Christ the head, If he account thee one of the espoused, it is because thou art in Christ the Bridegroomed, If he account thee a son, it is because thou art in his dear and well-beloved Son; hence I come to draw thy soul to me, I make to thee thy privilege. According as I have related by my servant john. 1 joh. 3.1. Behold how great love the Father hath given to us, that we should be called the Sons of God.  
That though thou wast a slave of hell, a vessel of wrath, a child of perdition, a bondslave to the law, and under the ridged and severe tyranny of the devil: notwithstanding, I have chosen thee to be one of mine by the covenant of my freest grace and bounty, I have redeemed thee for myself, and called thee by my name, I have adopted thee to be one of my sons and children by adoption, when I took up my rest in my beloved: I preached peace to the peaceless, liberty to the bondmen, grace to the graceless, riches to the poor, and assurance of sonship to them who are and have not been my sons by adoption: hence though no creature pity thee, though Angels shut their eyes against thee, and all the sublunary Creatures should bid thee adieu and farewell, notwithstanding I come to embrace thee, and to love and delight in thee for ever, since the day that I adopted thee, have I not filled the soul with the joys, comforts and solaces of my spirit? have not I sealed thee to the day of Eternal redemption by the seal of Adoption? have not I given thee the spirit of prayer and supplication? have not I given thee the assurance of life and salvation? Now then there is no condemnation to thy soul which art in Christ Jesus, for thou walkest not after the flesh but after the Spirit.  
Thirdly, the voice of God in Justification; how in justification? yea beloved, this is the Admirable work of the spirit of glory, that we are assured that we are redeemed by the blood of Christ imcomparable, that we are reconciled by the death of Christ unspeakable, & that we are assured that we are justified by the righteousness of Christ undeclarable, I being justified in Christ, how should I enjoy any thing but salvation? Am I not made complete in him that is the head of all principalities and powers? Am I not clothed with the righteousness of the Son of righteousness? more bright than ten thousand Suns? Am I not washed, purified and cleansed in the purest, rarest and most precious fountain which is in the Kingdom of the dear Son of God? hence I shall enjoy the horn of salvation the great, free and eternal salvation in Christ. Now then there is no condemnation to me that am in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.  
Moreover these three things preserves the Saints from death and condemnation.  

1. The love of Christ.  
2. The power of Christ.  
3. The glory of Christ.   
What said I the Love of Christ? yea: search the heights above, sound the depths beneath, extend thy thoughts abroad to all the parts of the sublunary Orb, and thou shalt find no love like the love of Christ: is the love of a mother so dear to her child? is the love of a husband so dear to the wife of his bosom? as Christ's love is to his Church? no: with the same love wherewith the Father hath loved Christ, with the same love he hath loved the Church and chosen: the Father loved Christ from eternity, Christ hath loved the Church from eternity; the Father through his tender love did not leave his beloved in the day of his Cross, when he cried out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me; Thou wilt not leave my soul in grave, neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. Psal. 16.10.  
Lo the Lord Christ will not leave his poor servants, his dearest jewels & his precious Saints in the days of greatest misery and calamity. Psal. 9 10. The Lord is a refuge to the poor, a refuge in due time, in the day of trouble.  
The Father's love to the Lord Christ was so great, that he set him above principalities, above might, above power, and above all things; that all things in heaven & earth might bow & bend before him: Wherefore God hath exalted him, and given him a name, above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, both of things in heaven, of things on earth, and of things under the earth. Phil. 2.9.10.  
The love of the Lord Christ is: so dear to his, that he hath exalted them above all, to him that overcommeth, I will give to sit with me in my throne, as I have overcome, and sit with my Father in his throne. Revel. 3.21.  
The Father loved Christ so entirely, that he filled him with the riches of righteousness, the treasures of wisdom, and the plenitude of all heavenly excellencies; Christ loves his Church so affectionately, that he fills her with heavenly joys, & he enriches her with all spiritual and heavenly gifts, blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ, Eph. 1.3. therefore through my love there is no condemnation to mine, they not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Rom. 8.1.  
Secondly, Because of the power of Christ, there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ.  
His power is not only the cause of our vivification from the dead, of our Collocation in the heavenly places, of our faith in his name, But also of our conservation to eternal life and salvation. John 17.2. He defends thee by an internal and efficatious power, when thy spirit says that thou art overcome, the spirit saith thou art more than a conqueror through him that loved thee, every day thou art a conqueror through his blood, a victoret through his death, a tryumpher through his righteousness, neither the darts of hell, the fire bales of the Devil, the strength of the law, the wars of the flesh, nor the puissant strength of the world can vanquish thee: for thou art defended by a strength invincible, thou art protected by a power unconquerable, thou art environed by a might insuperable and thou art guarded with a force inexpugnable, Am I not thy Rock, thy shield, thy Buckler, & defender? Am I not thy Sun thy shadow, thy horn of Salvation & deliverer? Am I not he that carries thee above one Eagles wings? that breaks the bow, the spear and shield and vanquisheth, overcommeth and concultateth under my feet all the enemies of thy salvation? my strength is above powers, my might above dominions, my glory above principalities, and my Puissancie above all the opposers of thy life and addoption. Hence there is no condemnation to thee, for thou art kept by my power to salvation, not walking after the flesh, but after the spirit.  
Thirdly, the glory of Christ is the cause why there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, that walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.  
Christ speaks after this manner to his Saints. Beloved, I have written your name upon my breast, I have in graven them in the book of life, I have presented your cause in the presence of my Father by my blood most pure, by my death most victorious, by my righteousness most acceptable, therefore for the glory of my grace, I will not leave you. I that am the Lord of life, the wellspring of living waters, that eternal and everlasting life given of my Father: I have laid up your lives in the throne of my grace, I have treasured them, up in the throne of my mercy and for the glory of my mercy I will not desert you: have I bestowed so great cost as to adventure my life, blood, my death, my righteousness and my glory for thee? did I leave my height of glory to fetch thy Soul from the lowermost hell, from the gates and bars of eternal death, from the black claws, clutches and swadle bands of Satan? have I given thee communion with my Father, and with myself in all the treasures of heavenly righteousness, and made thee one of my members, one of my branches, one of my espoused and dearest friends? and shall I now forsake thee? I am that faithful, Yea and Amen, and will keep my promise, I will be with mine to the end of the world. Mat. 28. verse last. There is therefore no condemnation to mine, they walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.  
We proceed to the second part of the text which walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  
The blessed Apostle argues by evedent arguments; that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. The first Argument is, If that to the Saints victory over sin and death is given to them by Jesus Christ, then is there no condemnation to them that are in Christ. But to the Saints victory over sin and death is given to them by Jesus Christ, therefore there is no condemnation to them. Rom. 7. the last. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God: but with the flesh the law of sin.  
If the law of the Spirit of life hath freed us from the law of sin and death, then is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus: But the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath freed us from the Law of sin and death, therefore there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. Rom. 8.2. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death.  
If God hath sent his Son to redeem his own from sin, and that sin was condemned in the flesh of Christ for there sakes, then is their no condemnation to them; But God sent his own son to Redeem them, and that sin might be condemned in his flesh, therefore there is no condemnation to them. Rom. 8.3. For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh.  
If they who are in Christ Jesus walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit, than there is no condemnation to them; But they that are in Christ Jesus, walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, therefore there is no condemnation to them. Rom. 8 1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  
Those that are in Christ Jesus walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. They live the life of faith, of love, of hope, of peace, of grace, of mercy & consolation, through their union they live the life of freedom, & liberty in the state of grace, the life of praise and prayer to the throne of glory through their Redemption, they live the life of assurance, of Mercy, grace and peace, through there Adoption, they live the life of purity, boldness and joy through their justification, they live the life of holiness, of chastity and sobriety through their Sanctification. My branches walk through the strength of sweetness, my members walk in the power of my wisdom, my spouses walk in the joyfulness of the light of my Countenance. Since the day that I washed them in my blood most pure, they will not pollute their bodies, since the time that I gave them assurance that they were the sons of God, they do walk as dear and loving Children: since the moment that they have been filled with my joys, my comforts, my consolations, my influences of divine grace and solace: they are filled with praises, honouring, and praisings of my holy name: My Spirit leads them into all truth; when the Spirit, of truth shall come, he shall teach you all truth. john 14.26. He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you; My Spirit leads them into all obedience: For as many as are lead by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God: Rom. 8.14 My spirit leads them not to contentions, to backbitings, to slander, to rail, to whisper, to lyings to reproachings, to Envy, Malice, hatred contempt, Disdain & Revenge. But to mildness, gentleness, courtesy, Meekness & lenity, to joy, to peace to love, to graciousness of spirit & sobriety. Gal. 5.18, 19.20, 21, 22, 23. But if ye are led by the spirit, ye are not under the law: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, Fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, &c But the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against these there is no law. There is not a prayer from my grace, to the throne of grace, but my spirit hath been the cause thereof, there is not a praise from the praise of my glory, but my spirit is the instrunent thereof. If they call my Father their Father, it is by the spirit of Adoption, Rom. 8 15. For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father, If mine groans with sighs and groans with unspeakable and unutterable, it is by my Spirit of Sanctification. Rom. 8.26, 27. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself make intercession for us, with groan which cannot be uttered, and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit: because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God. If mine are consolated through consolation, it is by Spirit of consolation. 2 Cor. 1.4, 5. who comforteth us in at our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God; for as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. Do my people encounter with hell, sin, the law, death, the Devil and all evils without my presence? no, do my people Navigate upon the mighty seas of misery, do they sail over the vast Ocean of calamity without my assistance? no, I am not only their Lord victorer to triumph over hell by heaven, over death by my life, over sin by my blood, over the law by the law of the Spirit of life, over the flesh by my spirit, over the Devil by my death, over the world by my glorious and triumphous victory, I am not only their Lord acquirer of glory by relinquishing of my glory, of righteousness by fulfilling all righteousness, of peace by the peace of my cross, of love by the loss of the sense of love, but I am there Lord conductor and leader to my heavenly glory. What morning star conducts them to rest, but I the morning star? what son of beauty leads them to the light of felicity, but I the son of righteousness? I am the sun by day, and the cloud by night: I am the only captain of my redeemed and purchased; I am the day star that always appears in the hearts of mine; Therefore there is no condemnation to them which walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Rom. 8.1.  
A sweet Contemplation.  
Oh the depth of the sweet love and mercy of my Lord that bought Me! what no condemnation to me? No, I am washed in the blood of the lamb immaculate, I am presented spotless in spotless robes, I am Redeemed from amongst the prisoners of no hope, I am united to the son of God, and enjoy communion with him. My soul who shall condemn thee? shall death, shall hell shall the law, shall the Devil, shall the world, shall the flesh? no, for they are not in thy beloved; what though London England and the whole world band themselves against thee, what though legalists, the Angels of light, the world and all the rabble of hell shall beset thee on every side? what though the nearest and them which should be dearest to thee, raise lies, slanders reproaches, rebukes, ignominies and all evils against thee? yet be not dismayed; for there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ; Now thy thoughts shall be continually upon thy free redemption, thy rich justification, thy solid sanctification, thy glorious Adoption, thy wonderful union, and thy eternal glorification; now thy spirit is full of love, of praise, of glory; saying with the Apostle, Rom. 8.1, 2. Now then there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  
The Philosopher saith, there is a hidden and secret virtue in the stars and planets; not in consonant to Scripture: canst thou restrain the sweet influences of Pleiades? And that there is a hidden virtue in gems and precious jewels that none can understand but those that are skilful lapidaries: So there is a hidden and enclosed excellency in Christ the Lord of life and Prince of glory, and who can restrain the influences of his goodness? or who can understand the richness of his love, but those who have known him by experience, who can speak of the glorious robes of righteousness, but those that are clothed with the glorious robes of righteousness? who can make mention of the rareness of Adoption, but those who have obtained inheritance immortal and immarcessable? or who can declare concerning the liberty of grace and glory, but those that have access to the throne of grace by the spirit of glory? hence came the rare experience the blessed Apostle found in and through the hand of the Mediator, who delivered him from the law of sin and death by the glorious and indissoluble Law of life according to the Text. Rom. 8. 2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  
The law in Scripture is taken several ways.  
First, Sometimes for the rule of mercy and peace, because from it the Saints enjoy Mercy from the bowels of mercy in God the Father, & from Jesus Christ Mediator of the Law or Covenant. Gal. 6.16. As many as walk according to this rule, peace be unto them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.  
Secondly, sometimes it is taken for the law of faith, sigh in and by that we do not only believe the pardon of sins through the blood of Christ, the non Recordation of iniquity through the mercy of the Father, and the free enjoyment of God to be our God and heavenly Father in that Covenant of life peace and Adoption, but also because that we by that Covenant are under the command of the Father, the mind and will of the Lord Christ the gracious mediator of the law of life & reconciliation. Rom. 3.27. Where is boasting? excluded, by the law of works, nay, but by the law of faith.  
Thirdly, Sometimes it is called the New Testament, not only in opposition to the old; but because the Father of dearest mercies hath been pleased to reveal and testify a more full fruition and Communion of his love in the remission or condonation of iniquity in the blood of his dear Son, Luke 22.20. Likewise also he took the Cup after Supper, saying, this Cup is the new Testament in my blood which is shed for you.  
Fourthly, Sometimes it is termed the new Covenant, to denote that high dignity, great Prerogative and wonderful privilege that is given to them under this Covenant: sigh, in this he becomes their God and bountiful Father, Remembreth their iniquities no more, Writes his law in their hearts, And teacheth them the high and deep truths of the Gospel. Jeremiah. 31.31, 32, 33, 34. Behold the days come saith the Lord, I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, Not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which my Covenant they break, although I was an husband unto them saith the Lord. But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts: and will be their God and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his Brother, saying, know the Lord. For they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them: saith the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquities, and I will remember their sin no more.  
Fiftly, Sometimes the everlasting Covenant, sigh God, doth not only become our God and Father; But our God and Father to eternity. Not only forgiving and pardoning sin, but forgiving and pardoning sin and iniquity for ever and evermore: Not only writing the law of life and love in the hearts of his people, but he Characters it in their hearts by a Character that cannot be deleted or extinguished. Isay 55.3. Incline your ear and come unto me, hear, and your soul shall live. And I will make an everlasting Covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Isaiah 54.10. For the Mountains shall departed, and the Hills shall be removed, But my kindness shall not departed from thee, neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.  
Sixtly, And in the text it is called the law of the Spirit of life.  
1. Not only because it gives eternal life to the sons of Adoption.  
2. Because that it frees the sons by Adoption from the Law of sin and death: But also because it is established in the hand and breast of the Lord of life. Rom. 8.2. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and death.  
2 Why is it termed the Law?  
1. To answer, The truth of prophecy which hath been delivered by the Holy Ghost. Isaiah 2.3. And the people shall say, come ye, and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob: and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  
2. To distinguish it from the Law of Nature, The Law Ceremonial and the Law Moral. Jer. 31.33. But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord, I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my People.  
3. Metaphorically or Respectively, as the Laws in France are not the Laws of Spain, nor the Laws of Spain, the Laws of England: So the Law of the spirit of life is not the Law of Sin and Death.  
4. To denote that although the Saints are not under the Law of accusation, arraignment, execution, and condemnation: Nevertheless they are un-the Law of grace, Faith, Peace, Mercy and Reconciliation. Rom. 6.14. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the Law but under grace.  
Thirdly, Why the Law of the Spirit.  
First, Because the Spirit reveals it. John 15.14. He shall glorify me, because he shall receive of mine and declare it to you.  
Secondly, Because the Spirit of God engraves it in the hearts of all those that are in Covenant with the Father and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent.  
Thirdly, Because the promise of the Law or Covenant is consonant to the fruits and workings of the Spirit of life and glory. Gal. 5.22. But the Fruits of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is no Law.  
Fourthly, Why in Christ Jesus? Not without grave consideration.  
First, If all heavenly divine and excellent blessings are in Christ Jesus, than the Covenant or Law of life is in Christ Jesus: but all heavenly divine and excellent blessings are in Christ Jesus, therefore the Covenant or Law of life is in Christ Jesus. Ephes. 1.3. Blessed be the God and Fatther of our Lord Jesus, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 1 Cor. 1. ●0. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us Wisdom, and Right●eousnesse, and Sanctification, and Redemption. Is wisdom without him that is the treasure of wisdom? No: Is Righteousness without the Lord of Righteousness? No: Is Redemption without our blessed and most gracious Redeemer? No: Is Sanctification without him that Sanctifieth his by his blood most dear? No: Or is the Covenant of Grace and life without the Lord of life? No: In man there is not only the excellency of memory, the rareness of affection, but also the highness of understanding: in the Sun there is not only beauty, splendour, but rareness of efficacy: So there is not only Redemption, Justice, Sanctification, and Wisdom: But also the Covenant and Law of life and mercy.  
Secondly, This Covenant or Law is established by the death of Christ Mediator: Therefore it is meet and expedient that it should be in Christ Mediator, Heh. 9.15. And for this cause he is Mediator of the New Covenant or Testament, that by means of death for the Redemption of the transgressions that were under the first Testament, they which are called might receive the the promise of eternal inheritance. Heb. 12.24. And to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling: which speaketh better things then that of Abel.  
Thirdly, Because that he hath performed all that the Moral Law requireth, the Moral Law required of thee, absolute complete and entire Righteousness, it demands of thee exact perfect and strict obedience, it binds thee over that thou shalt not speak one word before the bar of Justice, that thou shoot no arrow below the glory of God, & that thou answers eternal infinite & equal commands of the Father, but thou art come too short of his glory, thy obedience is not answerable to his requires, and thy arrows are on this side the throne of grace and mercy: but the Lord Christ became the surety, he hath paid all thy debts; though more in number then the sand upon the Sea shore, he hath borne the sense of anger, of wrath, of heat and justice, when thou stoodst quivering before the bar of justice than he answered for thee. When Angels stood witted and silent, sigh they could not bear the heat of everlasting burning, nor answer the severity and and purity of infinite and eternal Justice, when men were whist and silent, sigh they were involved in their blood, clothed in old rotten rags of Righteousness: and could not answer the purity and Righteousness of the God of Righteousness: when all Creatures might give in their voice we have Gold, Silver, Brass, Tin, Led and Iron: We have Pearls, Jewels, and rare Treasures; the beautiful Diamonds, the costly Rubies, and the richest Saphires, Yet all these cannot redeem one from the Pitt, Justify one in thy presence, bring one to the riches of Inheritance, or to answer thy exact demands or requires: but we all confess the truth of him as it is written of him; and not of us. Psalm. 40.7, 8. Then said I lo I come, in the volume of thy book it is written of me: I delight to do thy will O God; yea thy law is within my heart.  
Fourthly, It hath been expedient that the Law of life should be placed in the Lord of Life: as the old Covenant or the law of Death was placed in the Loins of Adam. It was not convenient that the Law of Faith should be in the Children of Incredulity, that the Law of love and mercy should be in the Children of Wrath and Fury, that the Testament of life and Reconciliation should be in the Sons of Death and Condemnation: had this Covenant been made with us; as the old Covenant was made with Adam, we had broken this Covenant as well as Adam. Therefore such hath been the eternal wisdom of the Father to establish the Covenant in Christ sigh he was the son of Mercy, the son of Love, the son of Grace and Bounty: He was he that was able to make us at once with the Father, to nail our sins to the Cross, to bury them in his grave, to cast our sins into the Sea of Oblivion, he was he that was able being the mind of the Father to reveal the mind of the father: being the son of the bosom, to make known what hath been in his Father's bosom, being the treasures of wisdom, to manifest hidden Knowledge and Wisdom. Hence the Law of the Spirit of life is said to be in Christ, and not in us according to the Text. Rom. 8.2. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the Law of sin and death.  
Fiftly, Why freed Me? not only because of manifestation to the Churches of Christ, that he had interest in the Liberty and Redemption by Jesus Christ, but also that he might have great consolaion in the midst of all sorrows and tribulations, as if he had said, though the Law hath made War against me, hath slain me, hath found me polluted, sinful, and defiled: and made me cry out who shall deliver me from the body of this death, notwithstanding, from that I am rescued and delivered according to the text. Rom. 8.2. For the Law of the spirit of life in Christ jesus, hath made me free from the Law of sin and death.  
Why saith he from the law of sin 〈…〉? some understand this to be law ceremonial, but I understand this to be the law moral; that it is not proper to call the law ceremonial, the law of sin and death, I prove it thus.  
First, That which was the only cause of death to the Beasts, and the figurative imposition upon them to signify eternal life to the redeemed and reconciled, that is not properly called the law of sin and death to us, but the law ceremonial was the only cause of death to the beasts, and the figurative imposition to signify eternal life to them that are reconciled and Redeemed. Ergo.  
Secondly, That which by the Holy Ghost is not called the law of sin and death, is not the law of sin and death, but the holy Ghost hath not called the law ceremonial the law of sin and death; therefore it is not the law of sin nor death: The Holy Ghost hath attributed this to the moral law. Rom. 7.11. For sin taking occasion by the commandment deceived me, and by it slew me. Rom. 3.20, 21. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin, but not the righteousness of God without the law is manifest, being witnessed by the law and the Prophets. 1 Cor. 15.55, 56. O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.  
That law which figures out eternal life, Redemption & reconciliation, that cannot be the law of sin and death, but the law ceremonial figured out eternal life Redemption and reconciliation, therefore that cannot be the law of sin and death, the ground is this, because the figure really answereth to the thing figured, the end of Heave offerings, signified the exaltation of our Lord upon the Cross, the peace offerings, the reconciliation by Christ in the day of his Cross, the  offerings, the satsfying of the justice of the Father, to wit, the appeasement of wrath in the time of his cross; If I should speak of the Cherubims, they signify nothing else but mercy, in that they were covered with gold designs the riches of Christ, in that they spread their wings one towards another, denotes the faith of the Saints towards the throne of grace and mercy, in that the mercy seat was placed above the ark of presence, signifies that Christ the Lord of life and salvation is exalted above all things, and that his presence extends itself to his poorest and meanest servants, in that God answered from the mercy seat between the Cherubims m●kes known to the Saints Adopted, that they are to receive answer of prayers from the breast of Christ to their poor souls.  
The Law.  
The glean of Ephraim, was better than the vintage of Abiezer, the law of life and reconciliation, is better than the law of death and condemnation, the one accuseth before the bar of Justice, the other excuses before the throne of grace, the one arraings before the throne of God's tribunal, the other acquits before the mercy seat, the one condemns the soul and conscience of sin, iniquity, and transgression, the other frees the soul from sin, iniquity, and transgression; the one is the cause of curse and execration, the other the cause of bliss and benediction; the one affrights, amazeth, and consternateth, the other comforteth, refresheth and consolates: one made the children of Israel flee from mount Sina, the other makes us approach near to Mount Zion. Heb. 12. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24. For ye are not come to the mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, not unto blackness and darkness, and tempest; which voice they that heard, entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more, for they could not endure that which was commanded; and if so much as a beast touch the mountain it shallbe stoned or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and tremble: But ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the City of the living God, and heavenly jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of Angels, to the general assembly, and Church of the first borne, which are written in heaven, and God the judge of all, and to spirits of just men made perfect: and to jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel.  
O ye prisoners of hope, weigh, consider and ponder, whether the Law of sin and death, is like to the law of peace and life, hath it revealed redemption to bondmen? Adoption to slaves of hell and children of the devil? reconciliation to those that shaken and quivered in my presence? justification to those that were found unrighteous in my sight? sanctification to those who have been unholy before me? and glorification to those that were shut out from the blessed fruition and communion of my Kingdom? what mention hath it made of the death of the Lord of life, and the incomparableness thereof, of the blood of my dear beloved son, and the richness thereof; of the cross of the prince of glory, and the conquest thereof? If I speak of rest to my restless prisoners, it is by the Gospel of Adoption, If I speak of peace to Captives, it is by my word of reconciliation; If I speak of grace to them that are bound in the black chains of darkness, it is by my message of grace and & salvation. Is the voice of my servant Moses, like the voice of my beloved son no, he was slow of speech, my son is swift to deliver my mind of grace to my people, he was not eloquent, but my beloved he hath the rarest sentences of grace and bounty, Aaron his brother spoke for him to Pharaoh but my beloved for all in matter of Mediation, and to all in the matter of reconciliation, he was unwilling to speak to and for my people, but my beloved hath been willing to speak for my chosen and Adopted. John 17.9. I pray for them, I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me. Heb. 5.7. Who in the days of his flesh offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared. I gave to Moses the law of terrors to terrify them that are wilful sinners, the law of horror to smite a horror into them that are incorriggable transgressors, of severe equity to pronounce woe and misery to them that live in sin and iniquity; I have honoured my son above my servant. Heb. 3.5, 6. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant; for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after, but Christ as a Son over his own house, whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Heb. 5.5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high Priest, but he that said to him, thou art my son to day have I begotten thee. The Son by eternal generation is above the son by Adoption. I thought non worthy in heaven above, in the earth below, o under the earth worthy to deliver my mind, my will, my pleasure to my people, but him whom I have made king & Lord over my people: there is none fit ot declare the words of eternal life, but the fountain & wellspring of life, the words of peace Atonement & reconciliation; but he that by his blood hath purchased peace, atonement and reconciliation, the words of liberty, freedom and redemption, but he that acquired by his death, liberty, freedom & redemption. Apoc. 5.9.10. And they sung 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, & tongue, & people, & nation, and hath made us unto our God, Kings, and Priests, & we shall reign on the earth. The words of protection, justification and sanctification by his death, blood and righteousness, sigh he hath protected his, justified them through righteousness, and sanctified them through his words. John 17.17. he hath spoken of peace, that procured peace. John 14.26. But the comforter which is the holy Ghost, whom my Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I it unto you, let not your hearts be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Words of life and victory, that obtained life and victory. Apoc. 1.18. I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and I have the keys of hell and death. Words of joy and consolation, being the precious river and wellspring of consolation. John 16.22. And ye now therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, & your heart shall rejoice, & your joy no man taketh from you. Who can speak words of my gracious & glorious presence but Jmmanuell my presence? who can speak words of life, but him that is the spring of eternal life, and Lord of life by conquest from the dead? or who can speak words of liberty, freedom & redemption, but him that I have appointed to be the deliverer of my people? the Doctors have wondered at his sentences, the people admired at his gracious speeches, & the Church's delectation was in the rarenss of his voice. Cant. 5. the last His mouth is most sweet, yea he is altogether lovely; this is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of jerusalem! If he speak from the throne of my grace and bounty, his words are only grace and bounty; If he speak from the throne of mercy and pity, he speaks nothing but of grace and pity: is it not thus recorded. Mat. 12.18, 19, 20. Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased; I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgement unto the, Gentiles: he shall not strive, nor cry, neither shall my man hear his voice in the streets: a bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shalhe not quench, till he send forth judgement unto victory. His words are life to the lifeless, grace to the graceless, pity to the pitiless, and truth to the hopeless; his words are freedom to the bound, health to the sick, healing to the wounded, binding to the broken, and riches to the poorest under heaven. The words of Achitophel were like the words of an Oracle. But the words of my beloved are Oracles: his words surpasseth the words of Solomon, he spoke of the nature of trees, of plants, of herbs, and of all sublunary things from the Cedar in Lebanon to the Hyssop upon the walls: The words of Christ are of grace, of mercy, of peace, of truth from the highest mercy to the deepest miseries: all were happy that might stand at the footsteps of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, but they are happy that may stand at the feet of Christ to hear the wisdom of Christ; the Queen of Sheba came from the South to hear the wisdom of Solomon; The Prisoners of Hope departs from the bar of Justice to hear of the riches and glory of Christ; Solomon was the wonder and admiration of the times because of his wisdom and discretion: Christ the wonder and admiration of his Churches because of his speeches and declaration. My soul, he that is thy peace, thy rest, thy love, thy mercy; he shall be thy commander: he that is thy prince of glory, thy Lord of life, he is thy gracious protector, he that is thy vine, thy head, &c thy bridegroom, he shall be thy leader & rule: for grace and peace came by him when the Law came by Moses. joh. 1.17. Redemption, Justification and Reconciliation came by him when Condemnation adjudication came by Moses, Consolations comforts joys and springs of solace came by him, when terrors, horrors, fears and servitude came by Moses. Therefore thou shalt glory and express the praise of glory concerning the words of freedom and liberty. Rom. 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  
2. The Law of the Spirit of life  
It hath been said of Paradise; that it was the rarest place in the habitable world: in respect of Altitude, in respect of Amaenetie, in respect of Profunditude, and in respect of Jucunditie: the same may be spoken concerning the Spirit of life and glory; it is extolled in respect of Altitude, sigh it is in Christ who was placed in the high and heavenly places, of Amaenetie, sigh it is the delight of the beloved Saints and peculiar, of Profunditude, sigh, it soundeth the lowest and deepest misery, of Jucunditie, sigh it makes the drooping soul most joyous and cheerful. Therefore the same that was the joy and glory of the blessed Apostle, is the joy and glory of the drooping soul; joying and glorying in the words of the Apostle. Rom. 8.2. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the Law of sin and death.  
The Law of the Spirit of life. Precious are the gifts and graces which come from the Father of everlasting light, rare are the treasures which come from the Lord of life and peace, rare and precious is the Law of life which is from and of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. What is so jucundious? what is so amaenious? or what is so joyous? as the spirit of Adoption? which sealeth the soul up to the day of eternal Redemption; or what can be so pleasant, so delightsome or joyful as the spirit that consolates the soul in the midst of all distresses? or what can be so rare, so wonderful and admirable as the law of of the spirit of life? that frees us from the law of sin and death, the seal of the spirit doth rejoice thee in the day of thy Adoption, the disconsolated are consolated in the day of Consolation, the wanting & vacuous are filled with joys in the day of impletion, and the soul is filled with all fullness and sweetness in the day of liberation, hence comes in our joyfulness and fullness; that as we receive our peace from the Prince of peace, our righteousness from the Lord of righteousness; so we receive the law of life from the spirit of life in Christ Jesus. If thou hast the revelation of the mystery of the Kingdom it is by the spirit. Mat. 16.11. He 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. If to thee is given to know the deep and profound things of God, it is by the spirit. 1 Cor. 2.10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his spirit, for the spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God. If to thee is given to know the mind of God before the world was, it is by the spirit. Ephes. 4.7. But to every one of us is given grace according to the gifts of Christ. Ephes. 3.5. That to other Generations hath not been known to the sons of men is now revealed to the Apostles and prophets by the spirit. So if there is a revelation of the mystery of glory to Babes and Sucklings and denied to the learned Doctors and Rabbis of the world it is by the spirit. Mat. 11. 25.26.27. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to Babes, even so Father for so seemed good to thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father, and no man knoweth the son, but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father but the son, and he to whom soever the son will reveal him. None can write the law of God in the hearts of the Saints but the spirit of Christ, as none can seal to the Conscience the everlasting love of God the Father, and the precious treasures of Jesus Christ, but the spirit of glory: as none can give the spirit of oration to them that cannot pray, the spirit of consolation, to them that sit in mourning weeds but the spirit of Comfort: so none can write the mind of God in the conscience, or the will of Christ in the spirit of the Saints, but the spirit of assurance or obsignation. Hence it is recorded by the Apostle. 2 Cor. 3.3. Ye are our Epistles, written in our hearts, which is known and read of all men manifest to be the epistle of Christ, etc.  
The same spirit that reveals unto the Saints the unsearchable riches of Christ, that engraves the heavenly and gracious mind of the Father in the consciences of the Redeemed; the same quickens the soul by the mighty power of life and vivification, when we lay dead in sins and trespasses, when we were trodden in our bloods by the Horsemen of Hell and Death, when we were involved in the depth of the gulf of miseries, then by the same spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead, we were quickened, therefore not without cause is he called the spirit of life.  
First, In the respect of Christ?  
Secondly, In respect of the life that the Saints receive through union by the spirit.  
Thirdly, In respect of that life the Saints receive through Faith, Love, and hope by the spirit in the act of communion.  
When our Lord was in the grave, neither hell, nor death, nor law, nor justice, nor all the force of the creature could retain him: for he shown himself the Lord of life by rising from the dead Apoc. 1.18. I am he that liveth and was dead, I am alive forever more, Amen, and have the keys of Hell and death. Lord over sin by the blood of his cross. Col. 2.14.15 Blotting out the hand writing of ordinances which was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross, and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them all. Conqueror over the Devil by the power of his death. Heb. 2.24. For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death; that is the Devil. Victorer over the law and over all accusations by his intercession. Rom. 8.33, 34. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect? it is God that justifieth, who is it 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. Triumpher over Captives, and leading captivity captive by the power of his ascension. It was impossible our Lord should be retained by the bonds of death, the barts of hell, and the power of the Devil: not only because it hath been the determinate counsel of the Father, not to leave his soul in grave, nor suffer his holy one to see corruption. Acts 2.27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. Because of that pity he had to his beloved Spouse, his dearest members, & his tender branches; Ephes. 2.6. And hath raised us up together, & made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, because of the dignity of himself, being King of his Church Lord of life, & Mediatur of the Covenant Acts 2.24. Whom God hath raised up; having gloosed the pains of death because it was not possible he should be holden of it. But also because of the mighty and infinite power of the spirit of glory, which raised up our Lord of life & Prince of glory. O my soul! consider, consider what the spirit of life hath done for thy foul! Had not our Lord been raised from the dead by the spirit of life; sin would have crushed thy conscience to the lowest gulf of misery; the Devil like a roaring Lion would have devoured thee, the law of terrors would have bound thee to the bar of eternal justice to eternity death would have delivered thee to the second death forevermore, and all evils would have ceased upon thy spirit for ever and ever. Then mightest thou have said with the Psalmist, The sorrows of death had compassed thee, and the evils of hell had found thee, thou foundest woe and sorrow than mightest thou have spoken with Hezekiah; That thou wast forsaken as a Shepherds Tent, that justice would have been as a Lion to break all thy bones, thou mightest have mourned as a Dove, & chattered as a Crain to the days of eternity. Saying That thou shouldst behold his gracious face no more, behold his gracious countenance no more, but remain in everlasting chains under darkness for evermore.  
Shouldest thou have been so happy as Jonah? no, he was but in the belly of the Whale, but thou shouldest have been in the belly of hell, he was in the depth of the sea, but thou shouldest have been in the depth of the bottomless pit, the waves of the sea and the bellows thereof encompassed him, but the waves of greatest sorrows and bellows of exceeding wrath should have encompassed thee; he was heard out of the belly of the Whale and his prayer came into his holy temple, but thy prayer should have been shut out from his glorious presence and should not have appeared before the throne of grace, a Gored was provided for him to hid his head from the heat of the Sun, but no shelter nor shadow had been provided for thee to hid thy soul from everlasting burn. Where had been the glorying of the Saints, had our Lord not been raised from the dead? we should have had no cause to glory in the blood and death of his cross, no cause of triumphing in a glorious presentation, in a happy reconciliation, in an absolute abolition of the hand writings which were written against us. Where had been our redemption from death, and the fear thereof, from the grave and the sting thereof, from out of the hands of the Devil, and and the slavery thereof, from the law and the execration thereof? where had been our royal Robes of Righteousness? our garments of glorious salvation & justification in his glorious presencs? if the holy one had seen corruption: the branches of the rarest vine should have withered, the members to the head of purest gold would have perished, and the spouses to our blessed and dearest Bridegroom would have been clothed with shame & reproah for ever. But blessed, thrice blessed be that name is blessed forevermore, sith, he hath raised the head and the members, the branches & the vine, the bridegroom & the spouses together. He that left not our Lord in the grave hath not left the Redeemed of the Lord in the pit of destruction, he that suffered not the son of the bosom to see corruption, will not suffer the sons by adoption to be swallowed up by everlasting perdition. Therefore you sons & daughters of men, we will not only glory in Christ's incarnation, in Christ's crucifixtion, in his grave, burial & glorious ascension, but also in his victorious & triumphous Resurrection. The risse of the son of righteousness is more to us then the sun of morning light, that delights the eye & sense of sublunaries, this the souls of distressed consciences: that causeth the herbs, plants & trees to rise out of the earth, this causeth the branches spouses & members of Christ to rise out of the lowest pit, that removeth darkness & bringeth in a light Diurnal, this removeth darkness & bringeth in a light eternal. That is the plenitude above, and the riches of the earth beneath, this is the riches of the Church Militant, and the plenitude of the Church Triumphant. Therefore will we glory in the spirit of life, according to the Text Rom. 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  
The spirit of life.  
Sweet and pleasant is the expression of Job, Will the wild Ass roar when he hath grass? or will the Ox low when he hath father? or will the dead soul mourn for life? when it hath the spirit of life? No, it will joy itself in the spirit of joy, and consolate itself in the spirit of consolation, triumphing with the Apostle, because the spirit of life hath freed it from the law of sin and death: according to the Text. Rom. 8.2. For he law of the spirit of Life● in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  
Secondly, It is called the spirit of life, sigh that the spirit is the cause of union with the Lord Jesus, by which the Saints receive both life spiritual and life eternal. My prisoners of Hope, and Bond men to the throne of mercy: know and consider, that it is not in your powers to enjoy union with me and Jesus Christ whom I have sent, the spot of your sin, the blot of your transgressions, and the impurity of your iniquities hath prevented, the exactness, rigidness and perfection of my law most pure hath hindered, the eternity, the infinite and the purity of my divine justice letteth. Can your darkness bring itself to my glorious light? I dwell in the light unaccesable. 1 Tim. 6.16. Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light whom no man hath seen, nor can see, to whom be honour, and power everlasting amen. Can your impurity reach my infinite and eternal purity? I am a God that can behold no iniquity. Haback. 1.13. Thou art of pu rer eyes then to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity; wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal● trechearously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he. Can thy death atting and touch my life & being from eternity to eternity.  
I am alone the fountain of living waters. Jer. 2.13. For my people have committed two evils, they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out Cisterns, broken Cisterns that can hold no water. Or can your lowness and profundity: reach the highness of my sublimity? I dwell in the high and the holy place. Isaiah 57.15. For thus saith the high and lofty one, that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Can Dives pass the gulf of hell to the bosom of Abraham? No, can a bird without wings reach the height of the sun? No, can a man without eyes behold the highest orbs? No, or can thy soul that is involved in the law of horrid iniquity unite itself to me? No, this way of union was not found in the habitable world, but in my habitation of glory: this was not found in the depths below, but in the heights above: this was not found in thy breasts and invention, but in my breasts of heavenly compassion: well saith the scripture. Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of the living, the depth saith it is not in me, and the sea saith it is not in me, God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. Therefore this was my wisdom to give this Glory to my beloved son, John 17 22. and the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one even as we are one. That by his blood he might make them which are afar off nigh to me. Ephes. 2.13. But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were fare off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. That by the death of his cross he might make of two one. Ephes. 2.15. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of Commandments, contained in Ordinances, for to make in himself of twain one new man: so making peace. And that he might bring them to me that never knew the riches of my grace. Ephes. 2.18. For through him we both have an access by one spirit unto the father. Until I came to live in my people to make them a habitation & dwelling place, till I made them habitations of glory for the spirit of my glory, they were as fare from me, as my dwelling place is from the lowest hell, as the clearest light is from the greatest darkness, and the bar of my Justice from the throne of mercy. But my spirit gives them a being in the heavenly places, my spirit removed all the lets betwixt me and my people, my spirit gives them to enjoy a being real in me and in the dearest of my breast 1 Thes. 1.1. Paul and Silvanus and Timotheus to the Church of Thessalonica, which is in God the Father; and in the Lord Jesus Christ: grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence all the branches, receive their life from the vine Christ Jesus; hence also the members receive their vital motion from their head Christ Jesus, hence the spouse receiveth her being from the bridegroom Jesus Christ through and by the spirit of life, therefore comes in the glorying and expression of my people according to the text; For the law of the spirit of life in Christ, hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  
Thirdly, because of the life of Faith, and love, and hope which is given thee by the Spirit of life.  
It was not the shadow of Peter that healed the sick and weak, but the overshadowing grace from the throne of eternal mercy: it was not the handkerchiefs and neckcloths of Paul that drove out devils, but the omnipotent power of the eternal mediator; it was not the water in Baptism that washeth away sin, but the blood of Christ: so it hath not been in the purity & strength of the sons of death to free themselves from the Law of sin and death; but in the power of the law of life according to the text. Rom. 8.2. For the Law of the spirit of life in Christ jesus hath made me from the law of sin and death. You that have been Prisoners without hope, as by the blood of my Testament, I have sent you out of the pit where there is no water, so by the law of my life I have freed you from the law of sin & death. I have made you to live the life of faith, when I hid my face, the light of my dearest love and gracious countenance, when I covered myself with darkness, and wrapped myself in a cloud; when I seemed to bid farrwell, as though I would see you no more, than I made you to live by faith which was in me, when as my servant jonas was in the depth of the Sea, in the gulfs beneath, environed in the mighty waters, and in the belly of the devouring whale, I made him to call upon my name, and to look towards my holy Temple: when thou wast in the depths of the sea of miseries, in the ocean of miserable iniquity, notwithstanding I have made thee look to the throne of my grace and bounty, & highest mercy: when I suffered thee to be mocked, scoffed, derided, scorned, to be stoned, deprived of bread convenient, shut out from amongst the dearest and nearest friends, bringing thee to the gates of deepest miseries, and to the prison where thou shouldest have lost thy liberty; notwithstanding, I have made thee live by faith which is in me, I have brought thy faith into Christ; there thou livest, there thou delightest, there thou restest, there thou dwellest, there thou joyest, and there abidest; as the seat of the Eagle is upon the rock undervaluing all inferior places, so thy habitation is in Christ the rock of righteousness and thou undervaluest all sublunary and inferior things. As I have made the promises yea and Amen to the praise of my glory; so I have made thee to rest upon those promises to eternal glory. As I am become thy most benignous and gracious Father in my Covenant to perpetuity, so will I make thee live by love through my Covenant to Eternity. If I have taken up my rest, my contentment, my acquiescence and complacency through atonement: If I have filled the son of my love with the treasures of hidden wisdom and science, the treasures of pure and unspotted righteousness, it is because thou mightest live by faith which is in me: at that time thou mayest answer the words of my faithful Apostle. Gal. 2.20. 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, is by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  
If thou hadst been with Noah in the Ark, thou wouldst have lived above the waters. If with Daniel, in the Lyonsden, thou wouldst have lived by the strength of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. If with Shadrech, Meshech and Abednego in the fiery furnace, thou wouldst have lived by the fire of love and by my promise of deliverance out of the fire. Isaiah 43.2. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee, when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burnt, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Out of the eater comes meat, and out of the strong comes sweetness: from love comes love to Christ again, We love him because he loved us first. 1 joh. 4.19. and out of the strongness of Christ comes the pleasantness and sweetness of the Saints. Ephes. 3.20.21. Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all age's world without end Amen. Hence they are filled with glorious expressions, expressing the love of Christ in their freedom and liberation according to the text. Rom 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Till I appeared in the rare expression of my love, thou lovedst the vanities, the treasures, the glory, the riches and power of the Creature before me; till I poured out the savour of my sweet ointments, and caused my frankincense to smell in thy nostrils, thou lovest thyself above me, till I let my fingers drop the myrrh, the sweet distilling myrrh; thou sattest at rest and soughtest not after me, but in the day of the effusion of my sweet ointments I made thee love me. Cant. 1.2, 3. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mohth, for his love is better than wine, because of the savour of thy good ointments, thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee: in the time of the distillations of my mithe, I made thee seek after me. Cant. 5.4 5, 6. My beloved put in his hand into the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. I risen up to open to my Beloved, and my hands dropped with Myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh upon the handles of the locks. I opened unto my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone, my soul failed when he spoke, I sought him, but I could not find him, I called him, but he gave me no answer. Assuredly thou didst account of the treasures of the mountains, above the riches of the heavenly places, the riches of the seas, above the riches of the sea of sure mercies, thou didst value the riches of Kingdoms, above the riches of my heavely kingdom, and thou didst prise the earthly jewel●s above the jewel of jewels and the precious gems, above the precious stone, the foundation of my Redeemed, when my love appeared above women, than thou didst love me above women; when my love appeared to thee above riches, treasure, honours, kingdoms & provinces, than thou lovedst me above Kingdoms and provinces, above riches, treasures and honours, thou wast not sick of love till my love made thee sick of love. Cant. 5.8. I charge you O daughters of jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, tell him that I am sick of love. Thou wast not overpowred with the overpowrings of my Love, till I overpowred thee with my precious love; can the waters from below water the fruitful and barren soil without me? or can the rain drop showers from the clouds without me? or can the soul have the overflowings of love without my spirit? no. Rom. 5.5. And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. Canst thou know that supereminent love of my son without I show my grace supereminent? no. Ephes. 2.6, 7. And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come, he might show forth the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus. Ephes. 3.19. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Or couldst thou have known the height, the depth, the length or breadth of my dearest faviour without my spirit? No, Ephes 3.16.17, 18. That he would give you according to the riches of his glory, to be strenghened with might by his spirit in the inner man: that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. Hence thy experience witnesseth, that the spirit of life is thy life of love and freedom. Rom. 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made thee free from the law of sin and death.  
What is the light of the Candle to the light of the Moon? or the light of of the Moon to the light of the son? or what is the light of the Sun to Christ the son of glorious righteousness? when by the light of his glorious countenance he shines upon the soul by giving to it the life of faith in God. Acts 26.18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive the forgiveness of sins and inheritance amongst them which are sanctified, through faith that is in me. The life of love in Christ. Ephes. 1.15. Wherefore I also after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints. And the life of hope in the promise. 2 Cor. 1.20. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen: nuto the glory of God by us. Heb. 11.1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. Hence we glory not only in the spirit of life but in the law of the spirit of life. Rom. 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the law of sin and death. I gave to thee the life of faith, faith is my gift. Ephes. 2.10.8. For we are his workmanship created in Jesus Christ unto good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. I gave to thee the life of love, when I gave the son of love. Joh. 3.16. for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth one him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I gave to thee the life of hope, when I gave to thee the lively hope through the resurrection from the dead 1 Pet. 1.3. Blessed be God & the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundance mercy, hath begotten us again to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. When I have made mine to walk in sheep skins, and Goat's skins in dens and caves of the earth for my name's sake, I gave them hope of everlasting righteousness reigning by grace unto eternal life. Rom. 5. last. For as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. When I gave them neither favour Love, nor Footsteps in or amongst the Creature, I have given to them a City whose maker and builder is myself. Heb. 11.16. But now they desire a better Country, that is an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them a City. When I made them undergo Shipwrecks, Stoning, Defamie, Reproach, Disdain, Contempt, Malice, Wrath, Envy, Backbitings, Slander, Scorn, by them that under the profession of my praise and glory; are enemies to the throne of my praise and glory. I gave them hope in the eternal weight of my glory. 2 Cor. 4.17.18. For our light afflictions which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding & eternal weight of glory, while we look not one things that are seen, but one things that are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Hence they expect a new heaven & a new earth, in which is righteousness. 2 Pet. 3.13. We wait for a new heaven and a new earth, in which is Righteousness. Hence they expect the light of my presence, and pleasures for evermore Psalm. 16. last. Thou wilt show me the path of life, in thy presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Hence they look for the Crown of glory, the Crown of life, and the Crown of righteousness. 2 Tim. 4.8. Hence forth is laid up for me a Crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto them also, that love his appearing. And not without cause, sigh I have not only given unto them my oath and promise, but the law of the spirit of my life to free them from the law of sin and death. Heb. 6.18, 19 That by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. Which hope we have as an Anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil. Rom. 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sin & detah.  
The Father hath given to Christ the highest sublimity, and shall I cease to mention so great a dignity? as the plenitude of sentence to conceivement is mystical, so Christ's kingly dignity is unutterable, though the rationals cannot behold the Sun with full spectation, yet the Sun must not hinder them from beholding, though of Christ the Lord of life we make no full dimention, yet the excellency of the law of life must not hinder us from declaring; hence admirable hath been the expression of life from the law of life, sigh by that we are freed from the law of sin and death. Rom. 8.2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made us free from the law of sin and death.  
The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.  
It was said of Jonathan and Saul that they were lovely and amiable in their lives, & were not divided in their deaths. It may be said of Christ that he was Amiable & lovely being the Lord of life, and that his love was not separated from his death; for in his death he abolished sin totally, overcame the devil victoriously, and stopped the mouth of the accusing law wonderfully, in his life we enjoy eternal life, a life spiritual in the heavenly places. Rom. 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made us free from the law of sin and death.  
The rareness or preciousness of the covenant consists in three things.  
First, In the freeness of the Covenant.  
Secondly, in the eternity of the Covenant.  
Thirdly, in the place or collocation of the Covenant.  
The rareness of this Covenant or law of life in Christ is in that it is a free covenant or law of life in Christ: The effects of my covenant are free, I became a God freely to mine in covenant. What beauty? what glory? what splendour? what righteousness? what holiness? what performances have I seen in them? the best of their righteousness were menstruous  and defiled garments. Isa. 64 6. But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away. The purest of their robes are no better than rattered rags of the old Adam, the rarest of their purities, impurities, of their righteousness, unrighteousness, and of their godliness, ungodliness. It was I that washed them from their blood in the blood of my dear son, when they were involved in their blood. Apo. 1.5. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, & the prince of the Kings of the earth, unto him that hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. It was I that clothed them in the robes of pure righteousness, when they were cast out naked to the shame of their faces. Ezek. 16.8. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold thy time was the time of love, and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness, yea I swear unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine. It was I that looked upon mine in the days of shame and reproach, when neither men nor Angels did regard them. Eze. 16.5.6. No eye pitied thee to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee, but thou wast cast out in the open field to the loathing of thy person in the day that thou wast borne: and when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, yea I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood live; Had they obtained mercy, before I by mercy became their God & Father by covenant? No, Hosea 2. the last. And I will sow her unto me in the earth, 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, Were they my people before I said they shall be my people? No. Rom. 9.25, 26, As he saith also in Osea, I will call them my people, which were not my people, and her beloved which was not beloved, & it shall come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them ye were not my people, there they shall be called the Children of the living God. Or were they espoused to me for ever, before I espoused them to me for ever. Hos. 2.19. And I will betrothe thee unto me in righteousness, and judgement, and in loving kindness, and in mercy. Let mine behold the freeness of my love in the pardon of sin through the Covenant of grace and mercy. If I had not pardoned their sins, had I not cast them out of my presence as I cast Adam out of Paradise? Had I not cast them out from the communion of my glory of blessedness, as I cast out my Angels from the fruition of my glory and happiness? Had I not caused hell to swallow them as the earth did Corah, Dathan and Abiram? when all the fountains were shut, I opened to them a precious fountain in the sides of my dearest Son. I gave the blood of the most pure, spotless, and undefiled, without spot, wrinkle, and unstained, incomparable, inestimable and unutterable, though I judge the worth of his blood above the worth of a Thousand worlds, above the price of ten thousand jewels, above the riches of all the celestial wights, yet I gave that for mine, that they by that might be cleansed, and I might see sin no more, that they by that might be reconciled, and I might remember sin no more, hence have I blotted out their sins & iniquities as the thickest cloud. Isay 44.22. I have blotted as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins, return unto me, for I have redeemed thee. Hence I deleted their transgressions for my name's sake. Isay 43.25. I, even I am he, that blotteth out thy transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember thy sins. Hence I cast all their sins into the bottom of the sea. Micah 7.18.19. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage, he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in m●rcy? he will turn again, he will have compassion upon us, he will subdue our iniquities, and thou wilt cast all their sins into the d●●th of the Sea.  
In my Covenant of free grace I have given Christ to be mediator, what is more precious then gold? or what is more excellent than light? or what is of greater value than his intercession in the behalf of my redeemed Is it a small matter for the son of a King to mediate in the behalf of traitorous and rebellious subjects? or it is a small matter that he that is King of Kings should become mediator in the behalf of poor distressed sinres? As I have commended my highest love that he should shed his blood for sinful wretches. Rom. 5.8. But God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. So I have commended my dearest love that he should be mediator for woeful transgressions. 1 Tim. 2.5. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. Whilst neither Angels Cherubins nor celestial wights were able to present my people one how er spotless in my sight & pure presence, he is able to the days of eternity to present all the prisoners of my hope entire before the light of my countenance, for he hath washed them in his blood most pure & undefiled. He hath set them before me in the heavenly places, & they are in his breast without spot presented, I can behold none but the son of my love, being the God & father of love. I can behold none but the Lord of Righteousness, sigh I am the God and Father of Righteousness: when I look upon him who was my delight before the world was, how can I choose but delight in them who were sons of wrath and children of the devil. When I cast mine eye upon him that was the Complacency of my breast & bosom, I cannot choose but have effection towards them who have been distant from my bosom. Whilst I fix mine eye upon the mediator of the Covenant, I will not hearken to the clamours of the world, the roar of the devil, the accusations of the Law, the terrors and complaints of the conscience, nor to any evils whatsoever. I will alone hearken to his plea and Mediation, (he saith) my death is sufficient to redeem and ransom mine from eternal death, my blood incomparable to remove all iniquities, my passion able to remove thy terrible indignation, had I not made a full and entire reconciliation, had I not obtained the throne of grace and mercy, had I left either sin, spot, wrinkle, stain, blemish, or defilement unremoved, had not the value of my blood been above all bloods, the worth of my death above all deaths, and price of Atonement above all Atonements, than thy wrath, thy fury, and indignation might have broken out against my chosen as the inundation of the mighty waters, but now I know thou lovest mine, whom I have purchased, and delightest in mine whom I have ransomed. My mediation surpasseth the mediation of Aaron, that was the son of man, this by me the son of God, hence I sit at the right hand of God to make intercession for mine. Rom. 8.34. 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. Aaron entered into the holy of holiest below, but I enter into the holy of holiest into the heavenly places. Heb. 9.24. But Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Aaron was anointed with oil made with the confection of the Apothicary, but I was anointed with the oil of gladness above my fellows. Heb. 1.9. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity, therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Aaron he only killed beasts for  offerings, for peace offerings and heave offerings, but I was slain for the peace of my people, that I might bring mine to enjoy everlasting fruition and communion of my Father's love and glory. Acts 2.23. Him being delivered by the determinate council and foreknowledge of God, yea have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Aaron died and another succeeded in his place, but I live for ever to make atonement and entercession for my reconciled. Heb. 7.2.5. wherefore he is able to the uttermost to save them which come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Aaron neither entered into the land of Canaan, nor brought others into the land of Canaan. But I have entered into my Father's kingdom & provided that for the children of the kingdom. John 14.2, 3. In my Father's house are many mantions, if it were not so I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, & receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Aaron had the names of the Children of Jsrael engraven in precious stones, and wore them upon his breast that he might present their names and cause in the presence of my Father I have the names of mine engraven upon my breast, that I may ever present the cause of the Israel of God in my Father's presence: hence it is said of of me, that I might appear in the presence of God for mine. Heb. 9.24. For Christ it not entered into the holy places made with hands which are figures of the true, but into Heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us. ut supra  
Secondly, The Father hath given. Christ to be the object of Faith through the Covenants, according to that thy eye beholds, so is thy mind affected, according to that the ear heareth, so is the spirit delighted, according to that thou conceivest of Christ, so thy soul embraceth. The lowest thoughts thou hast it as heigh as the heavenly mansion, and the highest thought thou hast is as heigh as Christ Lord and Mediator, thou knowest or no mercy, no grace, no bounty, no pity, no love, no joy, no rest, no hope, no promise, no glory, nor no felicity without Christ: rest is no rest, if Christ be not thy rest, hope is no hope, if Christ be not thy hope, felicity should be no felicity, If Christ be not thy felicity, and all things are nothing if Christ be not all things. If thou injoyest light diurnal is it not from the sun in the midst of the planets? If thou injoyest rain from the clouds, is it not from the rain therein contained? If thou injoyest hope, rest & felicity, is it not because it is in Christ comprehended? all the rivers of the valley wants water, but Christ's river. Psal. 46.4. There is a river, the streams thereof shall make glad the City of our God. All the Fountains of the world are empty, but Christ's Fountain. John 4.14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up to eternal life. And all the springs upon the earth are vacant or void, but Christ's overflowing sprinsg. Psal. 36.9, 10. For with thee is the fountain of life, in thy light we shall see light. Who from the beginning of the world ever heard of reconciliation, but through him? was not he the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world? who amongst the prisoners of hope ever heard of delivery without him? was not he the promised deliverer? Isaiah 59 20. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob saith the Lord. Who amongst the poor and bruised of the Saints? ever heard of riches and liberty of the Saints without him? is he not the anointed of the Lord? Luke 4.18. The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted to preach deliverance to the Captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. Did Moses hear of mercy, clemency, bounty, patiency and of verity in the rock? and do not we of the same in the rock Christ? yea, he is the rarest object. Doth the sun draw the Comets and Meteors from below above? and the Loadstone draw the needle distant to it? and doth not Christ the Son of beauty and the precious stone of glory, draw the soul in misery to his highest mercies? Joh. 12.32. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men after me. Hosea 2.14. Therefore behold I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. Not only the savour of his ointments allures us, not only his sweet distilling Myrrh affects us, but his strength of operation draws us. Virtue and strength went from Christ, whereby the woman was healed, and the virtue and dignity of Christ is that whereby the soul is fixed. Hence saith the Scripture. John 1.14. And the word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Hence, it doth not only choose Christ to be its Vine of sweetness, its shepherd because of his tender care and pity, the Lord its righteousness because he alone wrought righteousness, but also its object of delight and delectation; sigh he is the only object of delight and delectation. Hence is the Church's delight and delectation. ostend faciem tuam, sonnet vox tua in auribus meis: vox enim tua dulcis, & facies tua decora. O my soul pitch thou alone upon the treasures of his wisdom, the storehouse of his mercy, the plenitude of heavenly blessings, upon his abundant grace truth, righteousness, goodness, clemency, merit, death, and satisfaction, upon his glory, peace, rest and reciliation, upon his liberty from slavery, his freedom from bondage, and everlasting redemption, upon his hope, bliss, felicity and eternal benediction. If thou brayest as the hart brayeth after the rivers of water, it shall be after Christ. Psal. 42.1, 2. As the heart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee my God, my soul thirsteth for God, after the living God, when shall I come and appear before God. If thou thirsteth, as the thirsty land it shall be after Christ. Psal. 63.1. O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee, my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is. If thou wishest after any in heaven above or in the earth below, for him shalt thou wish. Psal. 73.24, 25. Thou shalt guide me with thy council, and afterward receive me to thy glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee, and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. He is thy meat, thy drink, and thy all things, thy water, thy wine, thy fire, and all things, thy being thy wellbeing, thy life, and thy allthings. Hence shalt thou rejoice in the power of the law of life, sigh Christ in that is become thy life. Rom. 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made thee free from the law of sin and death.  
Thirdly, The father hath given the Lord Jesus Christ to be the shepherd of his flock through his Covenant of life and mercy.  
Elkanah gave to Penninah and her children portions, but to Hannah he gave a double portion, Abraham gave to the sons of Keturah gifts, but to Isaac he gave the possession, though to others the Father gives riches and honours, notwithstanding he gives to his everlasting Beatification. Not only in condonation of transgression, in peace of conscience through Christ's intercession, but also by giving them into the hands of the great shepherd of his sheep, that they might enjoy an eternal tuition & protection. All we were wandering sheep, we had lost the image of God, and bear the Image of the devil, deprived of the title of eternal life, being bound with chains to eternal death, bound to bear the burden of iniquity, to undergo the dreadful and terrible sentence of the moral law, we were blind without sight, naked without clothing, spoiled and bereft of all the rare and noble enjoyments which we enjoyed: poor silly sheep wandering upon the craggy mountains of iniquity, the rocks of misery, the desert and wilderness of calamity. Was the groat lost? & not we amongst the lost? were the sheep gone out of the way, and we not gone astray? Notwithstanding, such hath been my tender mercy, my superemenent grace, my yearning bowels of compassion towards you: That I have sent the great and gracious shepherd of Israel, to seek the lost sheep of the house of Israel, the Lord of life, to seek the sons of death, and the son of my love, to call and seek the Children of wrath. Eze. 34.16. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick, but I will destroy the fat and the strong, I will feed them with judgement. Rather than mine should rest upon the lofty mountains of impurity, my beloved shall seek them up by the word of reconciliation, rather than mine should abide upon the craggy rocks of iniquity, my beloved shall seek them up by the word of great salvation. Rom 10.7, 8. But the righteousness which is of faith, speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart who shall ascend up into Heaven, (that is) to bring down Christ 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 neigh the even in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is the word of faith which we preach. There is no such Shepherd as the Shepherd of Israel he loves his sheep to the death. Hath it been recorded that any King hath laid down his life for rebellious Subjects? Hath it been inrowled that any Bridegroom hath lost his life for his Bride? or any Shepherd hath laid down his life for his sheep? but my beloved, the King of my Church & chosen, the Bridegroom to his beloved spouses, and the great shepherd of his sheep hath laid down his life for his wand'ring sheep. John 10.18. No man taketh it 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 I received of my father. He is the careful shepherd of my flock: neither the heat of the day, nor the cold of the night hindered jacob's care of Laban's flock: the heat of my wrath, fury and indignation, nor the coldness of the effections of his peculiar, can prevent his care over my scattered and dispersed flock. Were the shepherd's careful of their flock in the day of Christ's coming? and will not Israel's shepherd be careful of his flock after his coming? he is not only as a father to mine to carry them in his arms. Cant. 2.6 His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me. As an Eagle that bears them upon his wings. Deut. 32.11.12. As an Eagle stireth up her nest, fluttereth with her wings, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, bears them upon her wings. So the Lord alone did lead him, and their was no strange God with him, But as a shepherd who carries his upon his shoulders to the fold of grace and glory. John 10.16. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold & one shepherd. Whilst mine are subject to chances and all evils, he is their defender, whilst they are subject to go astray, he is their gatherer, hence he answereth my Commission. Mat. 15.24. But he answered, and said, I am not sent, but unto the lost sheep of Jsrael. The poorest and meanest of his flock by him are sustained, the strongest and fatest of his flock by him are supported, he leads them by his precious promises, clothes them with his heavenly grace, and gives them a rich inheritance amongst his Saints. Ephes. 1.18. The eyes of your understanding being opened, that ye might know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. If they are scorched by the heat of tribulations, he is their cloud of preservation, if they want light in the darkest night, he is their fire by night for consolation. Isaiah 4.6. And there- shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and a place of refuge, and for a cover from storm and from rain. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress; a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. His sheep are near to him through union. John 27.23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one: and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. They are dear to him through redemption. 1 Pet. 1.18.19. For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptable things as silver and gold from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers: but with the precious blood of Christ, as a Lamb without blemish and without spot. They are precious to him through donation. John 17.9.10. I pray for them, I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, for they are thine, and all mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them. And they are gracious in his sight and presence through acceptation. Ehes. 1.6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved, They are precious Jewels in his account and estimation, they are his tender flock in his account and computation, are their deaths precious in his sight, and are not their lives precious in his presence? Is the vine tender ever its branches? the King loving to his Subjects? the spouse acceptable to the bridegroom? and are not his flock precious & dear to the great shepherd of Israel? neither the Foxes by their cunning, the Wolves by their ravening, the Lions by their roaring, the Tigers by their devouring shall be able to pluck them out of his hand. John 10.28.29. And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand, my father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand. As they have been acquired by an eternal power, purchased by an infinite value, so they are conserved by an eternal power and omnipotency: to the Kingdom of bliss and felicity. 1 Pet. 1.5. Who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Ephes. 1.19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power, to us ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. O my soul, be certainly assured that nothing shall befall thee but that which shall be good for thee. If death, the sting of that is removed, if life, thy life is written in the book of life, If peril, conservation by the hope in Christ, If famine, thou hast the bread of life, if want of water, thou hast the fountain of living water, if sickness, thou hast healing to the wings of Christ, if temptation, thy faith shall be to thee more precious than gold that is tried in the fire, if want of freedom, thou hast liberty through redemption, if loss of the love of the nearest in thy bosom, thy Lord & shepherd is ne'er and dear to thee, and if want of defence, thy Mediator will be thy sun and shield Psalm 84.11. For the Lord God is a sun and shield, the Lord will give grace and glory, no good thing will he with hold from them that walk uprightly. Rom. 8.28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose. Oh! my soul if thou gloriest thou shalt glory in such a shepherd, is he not the great shepherd able to make thee perfect in every good work? Heb. 13.20.21. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant: make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing to you through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever, and ever amen. Hath he not fountains above all fountains? springs surpassing all springs? and pastures more pleasant than all pastures Ezek. 34.23. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David. He shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd, 14.15. verse. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high Mountains of Israel Shall their fold be, there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the Mountains of Israel, I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down saith the Lord God. His voice will I hear, his word will I obey, to his call I will subject, I know the difference between his voice and the voice of strangers, they set up man's inventions, making linsey woolsy garments, and set up man's posts by Christ's posts: they advance man's righteousness, set up legal do and popish performances, they throw the Lord Jesus Christ out of his throne, and pluck him out of his chair, and set up the creature worse than nothing. But the voice of Christ is to speak of the praise of his own righteousness, of the preciousness of his own blood, of the triumph of his own death, of his love to his beloved Church, of the nearness of that union the saints have with his father, and of the pity he hath to the broken spirits. Mat. 11.28. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden: and I will give you rest. And of the gift of eternal life to his adopted. John 17.2. And thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life, to as many as thou hast given him. Of the praise, of the glory, of the honour, of the dominion, of the power, and of the love of his Father. John 17.23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. Of the revelation, teaching, direction, convincement and comfort of the spirit. John 15.26. But when the comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the father, even the spirit of truth which proceedeth from the father; he shall testify of me. Therefore as thou givest praise because he is thy mediator, thy King, thy Bridegroom, thy vine, and thy beloved: so thou shalt give praise, sigh he is become thy eternal, careful, dear and loving shepherd: rejoicing in the law and covenant of life in Christ that is blessed, yea a thousand times blessed for evermore. Rehearsing the words concerning the Law of life in Christ Jesus. Rom. 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made thee free from the law of sin and death.  
Secondly, In respect of Eternity.  
The Celestial body is more excellent than other bodies, in four respects.  
First, Because it is a Cause Universal.  
Secondly, Because it is carried about with a circular motion.  
Thirdly, Because of heavenly light, and fourthly, because it is incorruptible.  
So the Covenant or law of free grace, is not only excellent, because the light of the father's countenance shines in that Covenant, because it is conferred upon the sons of misery and calamity, because it is the cause of all divine graces and mercies given to the Saints, but also sigh it is everlasting and eternal. My Covenant is not as the small dew upon the tender herbs, not as the fading leaf and withering herb, not as the frail life of the sublunary creatures. I made the first Covenant with Adam, and it was momentany, I have made the second in Christ, and it is to perpetuity; when I espoused mine to me to the praise of my glory, I espoused them to me for ever through my mercy. Isa. 54.7, 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercy will I gather thee, in a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy upon thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. Whence once I become their God, I am their God to eternity, when once I become their Father, I am their Father to perpetuity, as there is no end of the blood of the covenant of my grace, as there is no end of the death of the Covenant of my peace so there is no end of my loving kindness in the covenant of grace & peace. Though I have made a covenant it is not like the first covenant I made in mount Sinai. jer. 31.31. Behold the day is come saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Jsrael and with the house of Judah Not according to that I made with their Fathers, etc. Hence my people may glory in my Covenant, had I made a Covenant with them to be their God to day, and their enemy to morrow, to blot out their sins to day, and to remember them to morrow, to write my law in their hearts to day, and blot it out to morrow, to give righteousness, peace, rest, grace, truth, hope, joy, peace, love, reconciliation, redemption, and Adoption to day, and to take these away to morrow, my people should not had cause of glorying in the eternity of my favour: but now have they great cause of glorying in my covenant: sigh it is as fast as the day and the night, though all things fade and wax old as a garment, though the heavens should departed as a scroll, though the hills should flee, and the mountains be removed; notwithstanding this covenant must needs stand for ever. Jsay 54.10. For the mountains shall departed, and the hills shall be removed, but my kindness shall not departed from thee, neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord, that hath m●rcy on thee. Had I made the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, the planets like the fading herb, grass or trees, where had been their rareness? If I had made the gold, the gems, the precious Jewels like the dross of iron: where had been their richness? If I had made my second covenant of peace, of grace, of love and mercy like the first of terrors, of dreads, of horrors and decaying, where had been the preciousness? But my people glory not only because I have made a Covenant, but because I have made a covenant everlasting, they glory not only in righteousness, but in everlasting righteousness, not only in treasures, but in eternal treasures, not only in life, but in eternal life, not only in peace but in perpetual peace, and atonement. So they glory not only in the covenant of life and peace: but also that it is the etarnal covenant of life & peace. Hence they glory with the Apostle. Rom. 8.2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath made us free from the law of sin and of death.  
Thirdly, Because it is placed in Christ.  
The Sun is placed in the midst of the planets, from whence all the planets receive their purest lights, the heart is placed in the midst of man, that all the parts from thence might receive their vital motion: the law of life and grace is placed in Christ Jesus, that from thence the Churches might receive their happiness. Happy, O thrice happy are the Churches than they have such a Lord, and such a law, not of sin and death, but of grace and life. Rom. 8.2. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made them free from the law of sin and death.  
The earth was undecked and undorned, till I adorned the earth with beauty, the heavenly orbs were not beautified, till I beautified them with the Splendour of the Sun, of Moon and Planets. The old law was inglorious by curse, execration and condemnation; but I have made a new, glorious through life, hope and benediction. In whose hand is it blessed? if not in the hand of the blessed mediator, in whose breast is it happi●● if not in the breast of him that is a gracious Redeemer? and in whom can that be glorious? except in him that is King of Kings, and Prince of glory: It would not have stood with the glory of my wisdom, If I should have made my covenant of life with the slaves of the devil, bondslaves to hell, and children of death: it would not have stood with the honour of my wise disposement, should I have placed my second covenant in them that broke my first, and have shot their arrows as fare distant from the throne of my grace as the highest place is from the lowest hell. I should have lost the dignity of my grace, had I made it with Angels who pitied not the prisoners of my hope, neither could they answer the require and severity of my Justice. As I have placed the purest light in the lightest Sun, and the rarest virtue in the purest gems, so I have placed my law of absolute and entire purity in the Son of my rarest excellency. I have made my Covenant to Christ. Gal. 3.16. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made, he saith not, and to seeds: as of many, but as of one, and to thy seed which is Christ. I have made my Covenant with Christ, sigh none could satisfy my justice or fulfil my righteousness but him alone. I made my Covenant in Christ. 2 Cor. 1.20. For all the promises are in him, yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. I made him the Covenant of life and Salvation. Isay 42.6, 7. I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. He was the Character of my person, and the effulgencie of my glory, he was the appointed King, and the Lord commander of my purchased and acquired, the Mediator to and for my Redeemerd and Reconciled, the prince of the kings of the earth, the first begotten from the dead, and the only one and beloved of the bosom: therefore my covenant is to him, with him, and in him. I took up my habitation in him from eternity to eternity, my dwelling and delectation is in him from the beginning to the ending: hence, my Covenant of eternity rests in the bosom of eternity, from whence should the espoused have their Commands but from their bridegroom, I have not married them to the law, but to Christ. Rom 7.4. Wherefore my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law, by the body of Christ, that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. From whence should the subjects have their ordinance but from their King? I have not made Mos●s their king, but Christ King of his Church. Psal. 45.11. So shall thy King greatly desire thy beauty, for he is thy Lord and worship thou him. From whence should the redeemed of the Lord have their rules & precepts but from Christ? I have not made Moses their Prophet, but Christ their Prophet. Deut. 18.18. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, etc. O my soul, if I glory, I will not glory in that which is written in tables of stone, but in that which is written in the fleshly tables of thy heart, not in that which is the ministry of death, but in that which is the ministry of life; not in the ministry of condemnation, but in that which is the ministry of salvation, not in that which gendereth to bondage, but in that which tendeth to liberty, not in that which hath a veil and darkness, but in that which hath light and glory; not in that which disconsolates and discomforts the drooping conscience, but in that which consolates & comforts the drooping spirit. Thou gloriest in the preciousness of his riches, in the rareness of his promises, in the beauty of his righteousness, and shalt thou not glory in the preciousness, rareness & riches of the law of life in Christ? did David desire the waters of Bethlehem above all waters? did Abraham desire a son above the Land of Canaan? and shalt thou not desire this law of life above all laws? if others pitch their tents by Sinai, thou shalt pitch thy tent by Zion, if others follow Moses, thou shalt follow Christ, if others delight in that which drives them from God, thou shalt delight in that which draws thee near to God. The law of sin and death hath not freed thee from the law of sin and death, the law of curse or execration, hath not freed thee from the law of death and condemnation, the law of terrors and horrors hath not freed thee from the law of terror & horror, but the law of life by which thou art dead to the law that thou mayest live unto God. Gal. 2.19. For I through the Law am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God. Hence thou therefore shalt hearken to the Commission of the Father. Mat. 17.5. While he yet spoke, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him. Who hath the words of eternal life but he? John 6.68. Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. Into whose lips hath grace been infused but into his? Psalm 45.2. Thou art fairer than the children of men, grace is poured into thy lips, therefore God hath blessed thee forever. Or who hath the words of peace and reconciliation but he? Ephes. 2.17. And came and preached peace to you which were affarre off, and to them which were nigh, Hence will I glory in the glorying expression of the Apostle Paul Rom. 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath freed them from the law of sin and death.  
Hath freed me.  
Israel had ten portions in the King, when Judah & Benjamen had but two, but it cannot be spoken according to that tenor of the saints beloved, for they have a like inheritance in God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent, sigh they are chosen by one Lord, redeemed by one Christ, sealed by one spirit of life, enjoying the law of life being freed from the law of sin and death. Rom. 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, hath freed me from the law of sin and death.  
Christ is then operative in the soul, when by faith he is particularly applied.  
The transcient passage of the beauty or splendour of an object, is through the eye unto the mind, the passing consolable delectation which is in Christ, is through a Christians application to the soul, in Christ are treasures passing the treasures hid in the sands, the emenency and superemency of all heavenly and divine compassions; passing the compassions of human generation, the excellency, yea, the superexcellency of worth, merit, and value, passing all the valuable things which are wrapped up in the breast of things terrestrial. But what are those treasures passing treasures, the eminency, the superemency of those heavenly and divine compassions, the excellency the superexcellency of that his merit, worth and value without a special or particular applyment. The comfort of the eye is in seeing, of the ear in hearing, of man in moving, the comfort of the soul is in applying. What joy is there to a Rebel to think there is a Kingdom, and yet out of that he shall be banished? what comfort is there to a man to know there are rich treasures wrapped in our mother earth, and he of those shall be deprived? or what joy or comfort can come to the soul or conscience though there are all excellencies wrapped within Christ's bosom, if they of him shall not be enjoyed? other creatures were before man was created, light overspread the earth, before light in the sun was placed: but comfort to the faithful doth not arise before that Christ by faith is applied. Our sad hours, our doleful days, our gloomsome times are then removed: when the virtual efficacy of Christ through faith's application is received: our comfort till we come to heaven's City, our joy till we come to heaven's felicity, and our solid refreshment till we come to heaven's glory is through faiths applying Christ ours all in all. Though the waves of iniquity do roar, the floods of transgression fall, the wind of bitter affliction blow heard upon us, yet if once by applying we cast anchor into Christ: solid joy doth environ the heart and conscience, as light doth encompass the body of a rational, than the terrible, the dreadful, the ireful God against sin and transgression appears most bounteous, most benignous, most clementious through his marvilous compassion, than the covenant of eternal grace and mercy puts to repulse the law of death and misery, than the worth and merit of Christ pleads redemption from the foul black jaws of the Devil, reconciliation between the God of infinite purity, and man who through sin hath procured an infinite misery, and justification in the sight of our heavenly and compassionate father. Anchor being cast in Christ, all becomes a Christians his wisdom, his death, his blood, his power, his spirit, and his Kingdom. If the Bridegroom be the Brides by combination: then his lands, his live, his jewels, his gold, his silver, is hers. If Christ be ours, than his heavenly benedictions, his spiritual blessings, his superabundant, and heavenly treasure are become ours also. All are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is Gods, 1 Cor. 3.22. O my soul apply whole Christ particularly, that thou mayest enjoy him fully. Was he deprived of all, before Pilate, accused of the Soldiers buffited, of the high Priests disdained, and not for thee? he endured that which thou shouldest have sustained, he suffered for that which hadst deserved, Oh what did he sustain? Oh what hath he not sustained? Oh what did he suffer? Oh what hath he not suffered! did he not undergo the burden of thy sin which was insufferable, by a strength and power invincible? at what time the veil of the temple rent, at that time the heavens opened, at what time the earth trembled, at that time through his satisfaction he removed thy trembling estate and condition, at what time the light of the sun was obscured, at that time the merit of thy Saviour shined, the glory of the sun of righteousness, and the beauty of the sun which is collocated in the midst of the planets at one time were darkened, in which time Christ stood in thy place, and for thy sake hath suffered.  
What might I mention concerning Christ, the more the mind conceiveth, the more the tongue relateth, the more the soul by faith apprehendeth, the more the mind is elevated. The Moon is below the sun, the sun below Saturnee, Saturn below the Primum Mobile, the Vegitive creature is be low the sensitive, the Sensitive below the Rational, and the Rational below him that lives by faith in the Lord Jesus. How divine is such a Christian in contemplation? how heavenly in Mediation? how rare i● declaration? how sweet in conversation? never a speech comes from such a Christian, but it is inflamed with the fire of the Holy Ghost, hence all his words are in extolling Christ's righteousness, advancing Christ's goodness, valuing Christ blood, Christ hath drawn his mind to a high pitch of conceivement: hath the sun the power of exhalation, the splendour of a Diamond in the drawing of the affection, & is there not enough in Christ which draws the Christian to high meditation. Though thy mind did rest like the Cock upon the dunghill of this world, though thy affection was as fast enclosed in the creature as a mould in the earth, yet from so low a condition a Christian is brought, when once Christ by his virtue in the conscience takes possession, than not honour's, but Christ's honour, not riches, but Christ's riches, not righteousness but Christ's righteousness, alone for a Christians presentation, the eye is distant from the sun, the eye nevertheless by the light thereof is drawn to behold his beauty, though Christ is distant from a Christian, yet by his efficacy he draws the eye of faith to behold his glory, what only to behold the glory of his victory triumphant, the glory of his mediation delectant, and not the glory of his session magnificent? applying faith is never below the throne of grace and glory, it is never below the seat of God's eternal mercy, where there is not faiths application, death of spirit hath domination, our life by Christ's treasures of wisdom, by the virtue of his death and rising again from the dead: is through faith's application. Let a Christian observe the death of spirit in the hearts of Justiciaries, and inquire the reason, why it is so? and he shall find that it is because they apply not whole Christ to their consciences. Some thing they will have of their own righteousness in Justification, some thing of their own performances in matter of reconciliation, let us speak of Christ freely and boldly, and they stand as people agashed, and amazed. I deny n●t that they have a name to live; But as sure as the sun shines in Europe when it is come to the Meridian, so sure are they dead, yea as a tree twice plucked up by the roots, through the hand of the workman. He that hath the life of faith, he applies all the excellencies of Christ unto himself, what saith such a believing christian? hath Christ redeemed others, and not me? reconciled others, and not me? justified others, and not me? Surely if any be redeemed, if any justified, if any reconciled, than I am one of that number. Through applying faith the soul is sick of love, at the very sight of his riches, of his wisdom, of his righteousness, of his graces and consolations, it cries out, O my beloved, my well beloved, where rests? where remains? where abides my well-beloved? is the love of a woman so to her husband, of a father to a child, of a subject to his Prince, comparable to that love of the soul to Christ? who hath found in Christ all the kinds of sweetest consolations, this applyment of Christ makes the soul desire more of Christ, he who hath felt the sweetness of the honey comb, he desires to taste of the sweetness of that again, he who hath seen the light of the sun, desires to see it again, he that once hath tasted of the sweetness in Christ through application, desires to taste thereof again. Hence are the outcries of such believers. O that I might feel the virtue of Christ's blood in my conscience more efficatiously, that doht purge my conscience from dead works to serve the living God, The blood of Christ, which through the eternal spirit was offered without blame to God, shall purge your consciences from dead works, to serve the living God. Heb. 9.14. O that I might feel more effectually the power of that reconciliation which once upon the cross he fully perfected and finished: that he would give me to understand more fully that I have all my sins pardoned and remittted. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation by faith in his blood, to demonstrate his righteousness, by the forgiveness of sins which are passed through his long suffering. Rom. 3.25. O that I might be more assured that Christ's righteousness is mine, then should I enjoy the sweetest peace of conscience, sigh I should be fully assured that God with me should be well pleased, and that I should be found worthy to abide in the City of our God for ever: there to praise and honour him for ever more. They washed and made white their robes in the blood of the lamb, therefore they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night. Apoc. 7.14.15. O that I might be replenished with the fullness of his grace, than should my empty pitcher be filled with joy, and my mournful heart with consolation, and ye are now in heaviness. But I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy shall no man take from you. John 16.22. O that I might have his spirit to dwell in me, than should I be able to call and cry Abba Father, to make my petitions strongly to my heavenly father, to know assuredly that I am one of those who are purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if the spirit of God dwell in you, but if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Rom. 8.9. O that I might feel the mighty power of the death of my saviour and redeemer, then should I die to sin, and live to righteousness, as the Phoenix by the Sun is consumed, and by virtue of the beams thereof is revived: so if I feel the power of the death of my Redeemer, death shall be abolished and the life of righteousness in me by the life of Christ renewed. Ye are buried by Baptism into his death, that like as Christ is raised from the dead unto the glory of his father, so we also may walk in the newness of life. Rom. 6.4. O that I might feel the mighty operation of Christ's mediation, then should I behold God most propitious and clementious, then should my faith cleave fast to the mercy seat for mercy, and to the throne of grace for grace, thereby should I rejoice abundantly, the singing birds would not so rejoice when winter is gone, and summer doth approach; as I shall rejoice in receiving delectation from Christ's mediation: then should I not run from God with Adam, but have access to God as Ester had to Ahashuerosh. By whom also through faith, we have access unto his grace, by which we stand and rejoice under the hope of the glory of God. Rom. 5.2. O my soul give glory to God thy heavenly Father, and to Jesus Christ thy gracious Redeemer, and to the holy Spirit who sealeth unto thee sure mercies which will never fail thee in the greatest extremities. God's eternal favour in Christ established, the efficatiousnesse of Christ's merits and value, the sealing thereof is not in thine own power, but in the power of the holy Spirit. He that looks upon the Creature, he concludes that the Creature made not itself, but it was made by the hand of the Creator, he that minds how great a matter it is to have the eternal love of God, and the merit of Christ to his conscience sealed, will conclude it is not of himself, but through the work of the Spirit, who is our sealer; And ye are scaled by the holy spirit of promise, who is the earnest of our inheritance, to the obtaining of Redemption unto the praise of his glory. Ephes. 13.14. but to draw unto a conclusion, lest many lines may be offensive unto thy patience, Christian Reader, only choose thou Christ O my soul, that when thy heart fails thee, he may be thy strength and thy portion for ever, is not thy Saviour better than ten thousands, all things are valued, but his value is invaluable, all things are esteemed, yet his worth is inestimable, many things are uttered, yet his excellency is unutterable. Am I not ravished when he is my contemplation? Am I not overjoyed when he is my Meditation? doth not my valley abound with pleasure when the virtue of his grace takes in me possession? is the morning sun so joyous to a traveler, as Christ is to me: when I think of him in the morning, he is more to thee O my soul than riches, than honours, than gold, then silver, yea then precious stones? if thou hadst a kingdom, and wast not assured of his kingdom, what would that profit thee? if thou hadst a world, if thou hadst no interest in that blood which purchased the world to come, what would that avail thee? if thou hadst all the joys and pleasures under heaven, if thou hadst not the joy of his spirit, what would that benefit thee? if thou hadst all the gay apparel in the world, if thou hadst not Christ's righteousness to defend thee from the wrath of God, what fruit would that bring unto thee? if thou hadst all to plead for thee, if thou hadst not Christ to excuse thee in the day of the Lord, what joy could possess thee? it is good for thee to rest where Christ is, so shall he be to thee a resting place, it is good for thee to dwell where he is, for there are joys for evermore. O my soul fear not what man can do unto thee, if they take away thy name, remember thy name is ingraved upon his breast, he bore thy name upon the cross, he beareth thy name now in the sight of thy gracious Father. Though thy name is extinguished, yet not extinguished, though not remembered, yet remembered evermore. Let Justiciaries cast their Arrows by day, and their fiery dares by night, yet know that through thy saviour thou art able to repulse the fiery darts of Satan, much more theirs. Let them take away thy life, thy life is hid with Christ in God. Col. 3.3. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. Let them conclude that thou art vain glorious, thy glorying expression shall be of Christ thy Lord of life and righteousness, sigh if any in heaven or earth are bought to God by our Lord of life & glory, than thou art one of that company, whilst thou as a poor pilgrim wanderest towards heaven's City, make thou a heavenly dimention of his glory; Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain to receive power, & riches, and strength, & wisdom, and honour, and glory, and blessing, and to him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, be ascribed blessing, and honour, and glory, and strength for ever and ever, Amen. Revel. 5.13.13.  
From the law of sin and death.  
O my people! what have I done for you? as Reconciliation to God my Father through my blood and death is the greatest mercy, as my Adoption by my Spirit of glory is the highest love, so my Redemption from the law of sin and death by the Law of the Spirit of life is the freest bounty. Have you not come short of my glory and the glory of my Father Rom. 3 23. For all have sinned & are come short of the glory of God. Have you not been under the curse and execration of the moral law? Gal. 3.10. For as many as are of the 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 book of the Law to do them Have not your Spirit been silenced, and your mouths stopped before my Father's presence. Rom. 3 .19. Now we know that what things soever the Law saith, it saith to them that are under the Law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Hath not Moses accused you before the bar of justice? John 5.45. Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father, there is one that accuseth you even Moses in whom ye trust. Was not the same Law that was made for ungodly, wicked and incorrigable siners made for you? 1 Tim. 1.10. For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. But I have delivered you from the law of Condemnation by the law of Salvation, from the law of execration, by the Law of benediction, from the Law of accusation, by the law of life and reconciliation, and from the law of adjudication, by the law of hope and Redemption. When that I saw that ye were come short of all righteousness, fulfilled all righteousness. Rom. 10.4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness sake, to every one that believeth. When I saw that you were accursed, I became a curse for you, having undertaken to die the cursed death of the Cross. Gal. 3.13. 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 upon a tree. I saw that you could not stand just in the sight of my Father, I gave you another righteousness by faith which is in me. Phil. 3.9. And being found in him, not 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. Now as you are not the sons of death, but children of life, so you are under the law of life: Now as you are not the children of servitude, and bondage, but the children of liberty and Adoption: & are under my law of liberty and Adoption. Gal. 4.1.2. Now I say that the heir as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant though he is Lord of all, but is under Tutors and Governors: until the time appointed of the Father. Gal. 5.1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage. Now are you not children of unbelief and diffidence, sigh I dwell in your hearts by faith which is by me. Ephes. 3.16.17. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, being rooted and grounded in love. Now you are not slaves of hell and wrath, but the dearest and choicest ones through my grace and tender compassion, therefore you are not under the law, but under grace. Rom. 6.14. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Therefore you shall walk as my dearest, my choicest and my redeemed, as my peculiar, my jewels and reconciled? Do I make my branches stately through my union? do I make mine fruitful through my blessed Communion? and do I not make mine subjective through the law of life and benedicton? Now they will live the life of faith in me, the life of love through me, the life of obedience by me. I have not given them the rule of mercy and peace; to walk contrary to the rule of mercy and peace. I have not given them the law of faith, to call in question the faithfulness of my Father's love, and the preciousness of my dearest blood. So I have not given to them the fruits of the Law of life, that they should walk as a dead people, but that they should live by my fountains of living waters, by my nearest union and richness of communion through spirit of life and Adoption; ever triumphing, rejoicing and glorying in my law of life; by which they are freed from the law of sin and death, according to the text Rom. 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sin and death.   
JOHN 16. verse 22. 
And ye now therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your hearts shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.  
THe sad complaint of Israel, (was) mine eyes runneth down with water, because the Comforter is fare from me, he that should relieve my soul will not look upon me, my bowels are troubled, the enemy hath prevailed over me: this is the relation of the Israel of God, mine eye poureth down with waters, my comforter is not fare from me, he that will relieve my soul will look upon me, my bowels are refreshed, the chariots of hell hath not prevailed against me, therefore though I am possessed with sorrow, because I possess not what I shall possess; nevertheless, I shall see his face, my heart shall rejoice, and my joy shall no man take from me.  
And ye now therefore have sorrow.  
What the Saints beloved? are they not delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of my dear son? have they not the spirit of joy and delightful solace? are they not crowned in Zion with everlasting joy upon their heads? do they not rejoice in the garments of Salvation and perfect robes of righteousness? Have they not the oil of joy and gladness in stead of the garments of heaviness? and shall they not sing praise for ever and ever more unto me which am blessed for evermore? notwithstanding they are environed with great sorrow and heaviness. Who lives amongst Tigers, Wolves, Lions and Bears, if not they? who are counted the basest of the creature, the vilest of the earth, the terror to the sons of men, and the scum of the world, if not they? who encounters with the Devil, makes war with the flesh, fights against sin and all evils, if not they? if the roaring Lion the devil seek to devour them, do they not seek to me the Lion of the Tribe of Judah? if the flesh doth burden them, say they not with Paul who shall deliver them from the power of death? if sin doth defile them, do they not desire to be washed in my precious blood? and if the law of terror affright them, do they not fly to the law of life in Christ Jesus? mine would sinne no more, offend no more, but praise me evermore: Sith I have made them new creatures, form them according to my Image, and made them conformable to my mind and pleasure. (True it is) I embrace them, I love them, and I delight in them to days everlasting: yet my divine pleasure hath been to hid my face for a moment, to obscure myself for the twinkling of an eye, as though I would take my leave or farewell of them: notwithstanding, I have done it for their consolation, to show my might and power in conservation, and my superemenent bounty and love in their beatitude and glorification. I that hide my glory, I that gave them not a footstep for habitation, have given to them my heavenly mansion, and though I deprived them of my personal presence, yet my blessed presence shall shine upon them in my heavenly City. What though for a moment they do not possess me in the fullness of communion, in the blessedness of my beatification, in the plenitude of hope and benediction, Yet I will see them again, their heart shall rejoice, and their joy shall no man take from them.  
But I will see you again.  
If I come to mine, who am my Church's King of glory, I will bring her to the habitation of my heavenly glory, if I the loving bridegroom come to my beloved Church and choicest Spouse, I will make her glad with my heavenly and gracious countenance, I will remove away her tears though thousands, her furrows though infinite, and her Lamentations though as the sands upon the sea shore, than she that was wrapped in the dust below, shall sing glory and praise to me on high, for I that take away all tears, will wipe away tears from her face, For I will see her again, her heart shall rejoice, and her joy shall no man take from her.  
I will.  
What I will? it was my pleasure to excercise mine under tribulations, tentations, and trials, afflictions, calamities and miseries, under penury, shame and reproach, under bonds, fetters and chains, under shipwreck, death and tortures, that their faith might be much more precious than gold, their love then the purest gold, their patience answer my commission concerning patience, and that they might prise my delivery and redemption, when I shall deliver and redeem them from tribulation. For I will see them again, their heart shall rejoice, and their joy shall no man take from them.  
I will see you again.  
This was joseph's charge, see my face no more unless you bring your younger brother with you, this was the charge of David to Abner, thou shalt not see my face unless thou bringst with thee Micall Saules daughter: This is the charge of the drooping spirits to the watchmen of Israel, let us hear your voice no more, let us see your face no more, unless you tell us where we may behold the countenance of our beloved: whilst the watchmen saith they see him not, Christ saith he will see his own. I will see them again, their hearts shall rejoice and their joy shall no man take from them. Have I not looked upon you when no eye beheld you? have not I respected you when none respected you? when neither Levit nor Priest had compassion on you in the day of your wounds, than I healed you by my death, blood and righteousness. I exalted you by my resurrection, ascension and mediation, and I comforted you by my adoption, union and justification, as my father beheld his Israel in Egyptian tyranny, to give them delivery: So I beheld you in bond-slaverie, to give you my richest bounty. As I have looked upon you being the morning star that first risen in your hearts: so I will shine upon you as the morning sun that first appeared in your souls. For I will see you again, your heart shall rejoice, and your joy shall no man take from you.  
I will see you,  
The face of Esau was dear in the eyes of Jacob, he counted it as the face of an Angel, the face of Jesus Christ is dear in the sight of the saints, they count it more gracious than the countenance of all the Angels. was there an acceptation of jacob's presents, a safety of the lambs, the children and the aged through Esau's favour? and is there not an acceptation of the offerings of the Saints, and a deliry from death and destruction by the face and favour of Jesus Christ? therefore they are ravished with the joy of my countenance, saying O joy of joys! O solace of solaces! O consolation of consolations! that flows from me their dearest Lord that brought them! when I shall see them again, my countenance. will be to them most dear and precious. What sun like me that am the son of righteousness? what star like me that am the morning star? the stars are darkness, the sun is dimness, the moon is obscurity, when I appear in glory, heaven should be no heaven if my countenance should not be in heaven, the celestial places should be a den of Dragons, if I had not been in the celestial places. If glory be in the soul, it is because I am the hope of glory, if glory be in the heavenly place, it is because I am the prince of glory. What beauty hath the firmament without the sun, moon, and stars? what ornament hath the earth without grass, herbs, trees and plants? or what excellencies hath the soul without my gracious countenance? therefore my dearest servants wait for the time of my appearings Is not my countenance more dear to them then the face of Esau was to Jacob? sigh in the sight thereof there are pleasures for evermore, delivery from the black chains of darkness, righteousness to eternal life, hope of the fruition of my felicity, and praises from the beginning of my grace unto eternity, For I will see them again, and their hearts shall rejoice, and their joy no man shall take from them.  
And your hearts shall rejoice.  
In the day of Tyre, it was said of Tyre, that she was the fame and glory of the world, because her delights were the delights of paradise, she walked in the midst of the stones of fire, she had every precious stone as the Topaz, the the Carbuncle, the Saphire, the Onyx: in the day of the Church's glory, it may be said of the Church, that her delights surpasseth the delights of paradise, that she walks triumphing in the midst of fiery tribulations, and that Christ her precious stone is more to her then all precious stones, he that is to her the choicest stone of delightment, is to her the stream of rare contentment.  
O what city like the city of our God? O what streams are like the streams that refresh the city of our God? as the fountain is only delectable, so the streams are absolutely delightful, for my joys are the joys of my people, my rivers of solace their sole delight, and my fountain surpassing all the fountains under heaven, if they want comfort, I make them rejoice in the robes of purest righteousness. Isai. 61.10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robes of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. If they want solace, I make them to enjoy the holy Ghost the comforter, John 16.7. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will, send him unto you. If they are clothed with the garments of heaviness, I give to them the oil of joy & gladness. Isa. 61.1. The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek. To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called the trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. And if they are crowned with sorrow and lamentation, I cause everlasting joy to spring out of the wells of salvation, Isa. 12.3. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. Shall my people hang down their heads like bulrushes, lower like the Hypocrites, and wear sackcloth and mourning weeds? No, I would have my people dwell by my fountains, my waters are not bitter as the waters of Marah, I would have mine refresh themselves with my rivers, my waters pass the waters of Abanah & Pharpar rivers of Damascus. Have I not left to them the words of full consolation? John 17.13. And now I come to thee, and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves, Have I not removed their fears and perturbations? John 14.1. Let not your hearts be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me. Have not I wished them to rejoice through exhortation? Phil. 4.4. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. What is my bloody cross, my victorious death, my comfortable resurrection, and my powerful mediation But joy to the drooping? what is the covenant of my freest grace, my highest love, my richest mercy, and tender compassions but comfort to the mourning? What is the spirit of adoption whereby mine call my father Father, the spirit of obsignation whereby mine enjoy an inheritance among them which are sanctified, the spirit of sanctification, whereby mine are sanctified in the day of their Communion with me their vine and royal bridegroom; but consolation to the lamenting? as my springs of grace are in the throne of my grace, so I have filled them with the fruits of my grace, as the fountain of my love is in the throne of love, so have I filled mine with my dearest love, when I dwell in their hearts by faith which is in me, when I rule in their consciences by peace which is from me, when I shall lodge in their souls through my spirit of glory, I shall change their garments of lamentation into garments of salvation, their mourning weeds into glorying expression, and their sighs and groans unutterable into the sweetest oration. For I will see them again, and their hearts shall rejoice, and their joy shall no man take from them.  
The rivers that flowed from paradise are not comparable to the streams that makes glad the city of our God, those were water, these wellsprings of living water, those flowed from the earthly paradise, these from the heavenly and celestial paradise, by some of them was Bdelium and the Onyx stone, in these are eternal glory, nearness of union, and the fruition of eternal life and felicity, those were appointed to water the Garden of Eden, these are ordained to water and refresh the Church of Christ beloved, those were placed in paradise by the wisdom and love of God the Father, these were placed and appointed in the Church of Christ redeemer: therefore they admire at the love of God the Father, and the superemenent grace of Christ Mediator. Saying they shall hear the thing they never heard, they shall see the things they never saw, and they shall understand the things they never understood. Their joy in that day shall not be from the influence of the stars, my influence excelleth the influence of all stars, they shall not enjoy the comfort of the Moon, but the comfort of me whose glory is above Sun and Moon. What shall mine enjoy in that day? they shall fully see the throne of grace, fully behold all the hidden, unutterable and unsearchable excellencies that are in me. What shall they possess, when they shall possess me that filleth all in all things? what shall they comprehend, when they shall be comprehended and environed with my glorious presence and the light of my countenance? therefore though the heavens and the earth should be silent, the moutaines and the valleys should be still, yet mine will glory in me their loving prince and effectionate bridegroom. Sith I will see them again, their hearts shall rejoice, and their joy shall no man take from them.  
And your joy no man taketh from you.  
O the love of our loving and glorious father! O the kindness of our Lord our dear and gracious Redeemer! if mine admire at my love, my love is admirable love, if mine contemplate of my grace, my grace is superemenent grace, when they were in the vast and roaring wilderness, I alured them, and brought them into a wilderness, and there I spoke comfortably unto them. Hosea 2.14. Therefore behold I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and spoke comfortably unto her. When mine were tossed like a ship with the roaring waves, reeling like a drunken man, were welneigh dashed in pieces by the craggy rocks and shelves, I laid a foundation for them of precious Stones and Saphires. Isa. 54.11. O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest and not comforted, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundation with Saphires. When they wanted joys, I gave them joys firmer than the earth upon its centre, more fixed than the fixed stars, more stable than the sublunary creatures. Is my righteousness, everlasting righteousness? & is not my comfort everlasting? is my dear hearts blood of an eternal value? & is not my consolations eternal? is my communion and blessedness for ever and ever? and are not my joys for ever and ever? If mine have life, their life is hid in me, if mine have peace, than their peace is treasured in me, if mine have joy, their joy is joy in me. Hath the mists taken away the light of the Sun? No: Hath the mortality of the body taken away the immortality of the soul? No: Or can any take away the consolation of my Redeemed? No: Had I not given to my Redeemed everlasting righteousness, eternal life, an inheritance immutable, than their joy had been momentany and transitory: but because I have given them an everlasting righteousness. Dan. 9.24. Seaventy weeks are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgressions, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, & to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. Eternal life. John 10.28. And I give unto them eternal life, & they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of mine hands. An inheritance immortal and immutable. 1 Pet. 1.4. Therefore their joy is not transitory and momentany. After once I bring my redeemed to the inheritance immortal and incontaminate, they shall sing nothing but praise, honour, glory, power, might, truth, mercy, strength and thanksgiving to my Father blessed for ever; and to me blessed for ever more. They shall know of no sin in the flesh, they shall not hear the accusations of the law before the tribunal seat of justice, they shall not hearken to the temptations of the devil, they shall not feel the burden of sin, nor be affrighted at the fears of death and hell, but they shall enjoy an immediate communion and fruition of my glory to everlasting. For I will take away their heaviness, their heart shall rejoice and their joy no man taketh from them.   
JOHN 15.12. 
This is my Commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you.  
RAre is the Sun in respect of beauty, light and operation, rare are the precious jewels in respect of richness, virtue and estimation: so rare is the love of Christ to us through gifts, graces and communication, as the myrrh and the drops thereof, as the sweet rain and the showers thereof, as the bedewing dew and the overspreading thereof, so is the influence of Christ's freest grace, and the expression of his dearest love, according to the text. John 15.12. This is my Commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you.  
Nothing is so precious as Christ's blood, nothing so victorious as his death, nothing is so pure as his righteousness; so nothing is so tender as the love of our dearest Lord that bought us; who hath left the highest throne of glory for the bondslaves of miseries? but the prince of glory? who hath stood between light and darkness, betwixt heaven and hell, betwixt eternal justice, and the children of unrighteousness: but the Lord our righteousness? 1 Pet. 3.18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit. Who hath been surety for mine in respect of the acquirie of Redemption, to make up the breach of union, to answer the righteousness for justification, to achieve glorious communion, beatification, bediction, felicity and the fruition of my presence; but he that shall stand for ever mediator and intercessor in my presence? or who hath endured that mocking, that buffeting, that scorning, that arraigning, that condemning but he in whom there is no condemnation but eternal life and salvation. Act. 4.12. Neither is there Salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. He hath laid down his life for them that were deprived of the hope of life, he spilt his dearest blood for them that were involved in their blood, he hath ventured his death for the lives of them that were the children of death, had a child of wrath died for a child of wrath, that should not have been excellent, had a child of death, died for a son of death that should not have been superexcellent, but for the beloved of the father to die for miserable caitiffs and captives, that is transcendent. The death of me the Lord of life is more than a thousand Lords, the death of me the prince of peace is more than the death of ten thousand princes, the death of me who am King of Kings is more than the death of all the Kings and Monarches under heaven. I looked and behold the Angels hide their faces, all creatures hide their heads: Sith none could make up the breach of union, a glorious presentation in my father's presence, conquer death through death, overcome the devil through power, blot out impurity through righteousness, remove sin through blood, make peace through atonement, and by grace and glory bring the poor soul to eternal glory. Isay 59.16. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor, therefore his arm brought salvation unto him, and his righteousness it sustained him. 2 Cor. 3. last. 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. Out of my love I give rare gifts and graces to my Saints and servants. Who hath opened the treasures of wisdom and knowledge? if not I; who hath broken open the treasure-house of heaven, opened the throne of grace, unlocked the mercy seat? if not I; who hath placed the heavenly minds in the heavenly places, blessed the people, delivered from the curse with spiritual blessings, and made them that have tasted my love attain to the height of my love? but I. I pour my water upon the thirsty; I give my bread to the hungry, my cloth of righteousness to the naked, and my dearest mercy and love to the lovelesse. I power out my spirit upon my servants, show my visions to the young, and give my dreams to the old. Acts 2.17. And it shall come to pass in those days saith the Lord, I will power out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. My gifts are not of gold, but of that which is more precious than the gold of Ophir, my gifts are not jewels, gems, and precious stones. But that which is more rich than jewels, gems and precious stones. My gifts are not earthly treasures, moral righteousness, worldly, wealth, and things terren and sublunary: but heavenly treasures, and heavenly righteousness, celestial wealth, and things sublime, and heavenly. Hence mine receive abundance from me, the the fullness of the Godhead dwelled in me bodily. Collosians 2.6. verse For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Hence mine receive grace and truth from the fullness of grace and truth: as I have spoken, and mine confess. John 1.16. And of his fullness have we all received and grace for grace. Out of my love, I will not forsake mine in the midst of all their tribulation and temptations, though the heaven should frown, and the earth should lower, the conscience should terrify, justice should amaze, death should trouble, sin should burden, the Devil should roar, the flesh should assault, all evils should environ: notwithstanding I will not forsake my peculiar: though principalities, though powers, though death, though famine, though peril, though sword, though hell, though law, though sin, though the grave, and all evils should beset mine, yet will I not leave them. I love them in wants as if they had abundance, in tribulation as if they were free from tribulation, in temptation as if they were free from temptation, And in sheep skins and goats skins as if they had cloth of gold beset with the rarest jewels. What if they are stoned for my name sake? what if they be banished for my testimony? what if they should be wracked for the witness of the word of my truth? what if they had not a hole with the fox nor a nest with the birds? yet I will not shut them out of my presence. Have I not given a testimony concerning them. Heb. 11.36, 37, 38, 39 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourge, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment, They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword, they wandered about in sheep skins, and goat's skins, being destitute, afflictet, tormented: of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in the deserts, and in mountains, and denns and caves of the earth. And all these have obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise. When Paul and Silas my servants were in prison, did I not make them sing songs of my dearest love? When Peter was in prison, was not the Angel of my presence by him? when my servant Steeven was stoned, did I not make his face to shine as an Angel? and when my servants were in the fire furnace, have I not delivered them from the furnace of fiety afflictions? I am the rock, when there is no rock, I am the refuge, when there is no refuge, & I am their hope and horn of salvation, when there is neither hope nor horn of salvation. Hence mine may conclude with my servant. Psal. 18.18. They prevented me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay. Out of my love I have loved them freely. I regarded neither their righteousness, their holiness, their performances, neither their prayers, their do, nor their excellencies, neither their purity, their innocency, nor their integrity, I have loved my redeemed, and my justified freely, I have respected my reconciled freely, and I regarded my adopted and my glorified freely.  
Though thousands should have presented to me the virtue of the son the moon and stars, the riches of seas of mountains and of the valleys, or the free will of the freewillers: notwithstanding I would refuse it. If I lay down my life for my sheep, is it not out of the freeness of my love? John 10.11. I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. If I give my life for my Church, is it not out of my tender and dear affection? Ephes. 5.25. Husband's love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it. If I give to mine the riches of hidden treasures, the glory of the heavenly mantions, and the sure and firm mercies which are treasured in my breasts, is it not love of my tenderest care and love? Hence out of my love, I express my dearest & tenderest love given to mine, which eye cannot see, which ear cannot hear, nor mind conceive. 1 Cor. 2 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. I have loved them so dear, that I will be their glory in grace, their eternal glory, and their expression of glory, who was their hope and glory. Col. 1.27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, whsch is Christ in you the hope of glory. Who makes them to rejoice under the the hope of glory? If not I. Rom. 5.1.2. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace, wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Who makes them pass one from glory to glory? If not I 2 Cor. 3. last 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. Am I not their glory and crown of life? Am I not their glory and crown of righteousness? Am not I their glory and crown of mercy. Psal. 103.3, 4. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, and healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindness, and tender mercies. The glory of my love is tied to the sweetness of my peace, the glory of my grace to my acceptation: Ephes. 1.6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. The praise of my glory to the choice of my election. Ephes 1.12. That we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ. The assurance and seal of my redemption to the praise of my glory. Ephes. 1.14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession: unto the praise of his glory. The collocation in the heavenly places to the honour of my superemenent grace. Ephes. 2.6.7. And hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus. What beatitude? What communion? What benediction? What frution? What felicity? Or what glory can any enjoy without me the effulgencie, the character and glory of my father? hath the river's waters without the fountains? No, Hath the air light without the Sun? no, or can any possess glory without my glory? no. Hence I have told my choice and dearest ones. John 17.22. And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one even as we are one. And because I have given them this first glory, they sing of my second glory, worshipping me that lives for ever, & falling down be fore my throne of glory. Apoc. And when those beasts gave glory & honour & thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever. The four and twenty Elders fall down before him that sat on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever; and cast their Crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. And they sing not only of my love in word, but also in deed. Answering my command, loving one another as I have loved them. John. 15.12. This is my Commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you.  
The Philosopher saith, that the first movable is moved by Angels, and all secundary motions are moved by the first motion or movable, it is affirmed by the spirit of glory, that the love of the saints to God the Father and of each towards each other, is from that love the Father hath showed towards them. Joh. 1.4.10.12. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us: and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. No man hath seen God at any time, if we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. If they are dear in affection, is it not through my union? they are dear members, precious branches, and loving spouses, sigh I have joined the members to me their head, I have engrafted them into me their vine, and I have espoused them to me their bridegroom, if they enjoy fellowship one with another, it is not through my Covenant? I have not only given them communion with my Father to enjoy fellowship with my Father, communion with myself ●o enjoy an inheritance in my treasures, but I have given mine communion & fellowship one with another; that they might have joy and delectation each with other. 1 John 1.3. That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the father, and with his son Jesus Christ. Hath the air light and not from the sun? hath the hand and foot motion and not from life? and hath mine fellowship, and not through my fellowship? as I have given them the glory of eternal fruition, the honour of perpetual conservation. John 17.11. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee holy father, keep through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are. So I have given mine the glory of union, hence I have made them one as I and the father are one. John 17.22. And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one. I am not only glorified in mine by faith that is in me, by hope which is by me, by affection towards me, but also by their love towards my choicest people. John 17.10. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine, and I am glorified in them. When I sit Lord and King of the conscience, is there not peace and sweetness? when I sit Lord commander of the will? is there not peace and lowliness? when I sit only overswayer over the affection, is there not the tenderest and dearest delectation? so when I throw out the black King of death and darkness, is there not love, delight and delectation? when I reign king of peace and love in the spirit, I remove envy, hatred, malice, wrath, fury, debate, strife, backbiting, slander, whisper, grudge, repine, murmur, for when I fill mine with joys above all sorrow, with loves above all loves, and with my rest above all rests, are they not amiable? when they apprehend my death victorious, my resurrection triumphous, my mediation efficatious, and my cross glorious: are they not peaceable? my Father dwelleth in them, his love abides in them, and rules in them; doth not his free love remain in the conscience? doth not his rich love abide in the heart? and his strong love in the affections? hence comes in the witness of the spirit. 1 John 4.17. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of Judgement? because as he is, so are we in this world. Therefore my people are a quiet people, for they are of the kingdom of my peace and patience. Apoc. 1.9. I John who also am your brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ: was in the Isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I turn Lions into Lambs, Tigers into Sheep, Woolves into Doves, and Serpents and Ravenous Beasts into Turtles, therefore they feed together without killing and slaying one another. Isay 35.9.10. No Lion shall be there, nor no ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there, And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion, with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isay 65.25. The Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together, and the Lion shall eat straw like the bullock, and the dust shall be the Serpent's meat, they shall not hurt nor destoy in all my holy Mountain, saith the Lord. I will neither admit of wolves, of Tigers, or ravenous beasts, of Lions or devouring dogs to join with my people and peculiar. Mine shall not fight with sword or spear, with shield nor buckler, with Helmet nor Habergion, they shall not overcome hell, death, the devil and all evils with the heels of great horses: but with my dearest blood, and the word of my Testimony. Apoc. 12.11. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony: and they loved not their lives unto the death. I know the power of my love binds them, the power of my grace constrains them, the power of my mercy leads them, to learn meekness of me their Lord and master. Mat. 11.29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. As my kingdom is not meat, drink, or cloth: but joy, & peace, & love by the holy Ghost: so my people, the inhabitants and dwellers in my kingdom are not discordious, contentious, quarrellous: but loving, peaceable and joyous. Rom. 14.17. For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, & joy in the Holy Ghost. I have redeemed them from the earth and made them the first fruits to my Father? I have set them in the heavenly places, have I taken away all enmity betwixt my Father & them: that they should not live in wrath & dissension. It is my gracious pleasure that mine should love one another, as I have loved them. I would have their affections so dear, their loves so tender, that they should out of their dearest affection, and tenderest love live one with another. What shall the Citizens of my heavenly Jerusalem be as strangers? what shall they that are of my Father's family be as Aliens? or they that be so near to me as members to the body branches to the vine, as the espoused to the bridegroom, live as a people Alienated and estranged? No. Where is their care over each other? where is their glorying in each other? when they neither see nor behold the sweet and gracious disposition of each other? wherein am I glorified whilst their affections are as fare remote as their habitations, and their loves as fare distant as their dwellings. What breaches? what discontents ariseth, when the world makes war, the legalists slanders, and the Angels of light casts false and bitter aspersions, my love hath been so dear and tender towards them, that I have made them temples of the Spirit of glory, in which I might express my glory: Did my father fill the Temple with his glory? and do not I fill mine with my glory? whilst I in them am the hope of glory. Col. 1.27. To whom God would make known what is the mystery of this glory among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory. I have made them a dwelling place, a habitation of dwelling by my spirit. Ephes. 2.21, 22. In whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord, in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. I have made them Tabernacles fit for my love and favour. John 17. last. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them: And shall not mine live as my choicest & dearest ones? what difference between the children of Sinai, & the children of Zion? what difference between the daughters of the bondwoman, and the daughters of Jerusalem? if they live not as my Saints at Jerusalem? Oh what honour? what glory have mine attained? and grace have they achieved? whilst of them in record it is recorded. Acts 2.44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common, the last verse. Praiseing God and having favour with all the people: and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. I have loved mine with an everlasting love, hence I pass by their sins, their weakness, their infirmities, and all their evils. Though they were tossed like the lofty and roaring waves of the sea: I gave to them a rich and sure foundation. Isaiah 54.11.10. O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with Saphires, and I will make thy windows of Agates, and thy gates of Carbuncles, and all thy borders of precious stones. Though they were left as a widow forsaken, and as a virgin relinquist, I have not left them nor forsaken them. Isay 54.6.7. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken, and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth when thou wast refused saith thy God, For a small, moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee, Though they were not accounted worthy of a being upon the face of the earth, I have given them a heavenly habitation. 2 Cor. 5.1. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. And shall not mine love mine for ever? I will not have my bruised quast, I love the smoking flax, and the bruised reed, I will not have my broken disesteemed, my wounded despised, my sick neglected, my prisoners not visited, my feeble unrefreshed, my poor begging bread, and my distressed consciences uncomforted. To what end do I commit them to my Church's care, to belie, slander, backbite, and speak evil of my people? No, to frown, lower, and pet against my weak ones? No, that they might break, bruise and tread under foot my weakest servants? No, but that they should refresh, comfort, solace and refocilate my weak ones, and my poorest servants: as their names, their lives, their liberties, their consciences are dear to me: so I will have their names, lives, liberties, and deaths precious in my people's sight.  
What rarer than the influences of my grace from my superemenent grace? Yet that have I bestowed upon my jewels, what is purer than the garments of my salvation? Yet that have I given to my choicest ones? and what more precious than my dearest blood? yet that I give to my dearest saints. As I cause the sweet influence of the Plejades to rest upon and in the plants of the field, so I cause the sweet influence of my grace to rest and abide in my peculiar people, and shall not mine distribute their goods, make known their gifts, and spend their lives each for other? 1 John 4.10.11. In this was manifest the love of God towards us, bacause that God sent his only begotten son into the world, that we might live through him, herein is love, Not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins, Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. I have loved mine with a faithful love, am I not that faithful witness? I witness faithfully, are my promises yea and Amen, and am not I yea and Amen? do I sanctify mine with my truth? and am I not the truth itself: If mine have infirmities and failings, I tell it not in the gates of Gath, nor in the streets of Askelon, I carry not the failings of my people from the throne of my grace to the bar of my justice, but I free them from the bar of justice, and accquite them before the throne of grace. And shall not mine love mine, with a faithful love, and an entire affection? what in word, in tongue, in looks, in shadows? No, But in sincerity of spirit, and faithfulness of heart, not speaking evil of mine, as Doeg did of David, not uncovering the shame of mine as Ham of Noah, but speaking graciously of mine as Jonathan of the Lords anointed. Answering my Commission. 1 John 3.18 My little children let us not love in word neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth. I have loved mine freely. They were vessels of wrath, bound under the chains of hell, death and darkness, under the black claws of that roaring Lion the Devil, not withstanding, I looked upon them in mercy, I regarded not the multitude of their performances, the beauty of their righteousness, & the excellency of their gifts, I made the beggar to sit amongst Princes. 1 Sam. 2.9. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, & lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them amongst Princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the earth are the Lords, and he hath set the world upon them, I make the ofscuring of the earth through my blood, Kings and Priests to God my father, Apoc. 1.5.6. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten from the dead, and the Prince of the Kings of the earth unto him that hath 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 & dominion, for ever & ever Amen. I made the distressed valleys of death and darkness, to enjoy an inheritance amongst my sanctified by faith that is in me. Acts 26.18. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive the forgiveness of sins, and inheritance amongst them that are sanctified by faith that is in me. And shall mine not love mine? in sheep skins & goats skins, as if they wear the cloth of gold beset with Diamonds? if they were upon the dunghill, as if they were the greatest, the honourable the richest, and the noble. Shall they not eye the weak, the meanest and the poor of my redeemed flock, as well as the fat, & lusty of my flock beloved? Jam. 2.3, 4, 5. And ye have respect to him that wearrch the gay clothing, and say unto him sit thou hear in a good place. And say to the poor stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool, are ye not partial in yourselves, and are become judgers of evil thoughts. Harken my beloved brethren: hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him. I have loved mine so dear, that I have laid down my life for mine, I might have reasoned and said, these are Rebels against my glory, Traitors against the throne of my grace, Transgressors of my divine and purest law, they have undervalved my word of gracious reconciliation, they have despised the word of my sanctification, and they have disrespected the doctrine of free and plenteous redemption. Who have advanced their own righteousness above my righteousness? if not they, Who hath set their posts by my posts? if not they, Who hath disesteemed the blood of my covenant? if not they, and shall not mine love mine to the death? yea, if I the great shepherd, the tender Bridegroom, the pleasant vine and King of my Church have laid down my life for my Church, shall not the sheep, the spouse, the branches and subjects of my kingdom lay down their lives for each other? O my people, I am the searcher of the hearts and tryer of the reins, I walk in the midst of the golden Candlesticks, to see what love is or should be in the midst of my people. I see my sick not visited, my poor debased, my naked unclothed, my hungry and thirsty not satisfied, my dearest Jewels slandered, my precious servants defamed, and those that speak the truth disdained. In stead of patience, prudence, gentleness, mildness, and graciousness of spirit, there is backbiting, lying, crying and slandering in every corner of the City. But have they not cause to tender one another dearly? are they not fellow Citizens and of the household of of my father? Ephes. 2.19. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and forreners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. Are they not my branches whom I esteem most dear. John 15.5. I am the vine, ye are the branches, he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing. Are they not they that are called to communion with me that am their dear Lord and Master. 1 Cor. 1.9. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. They are not base but noble, all the Kings and Monarches under heaven are not comparable to one of the Kings that I have made to God my Father through my blood most precious. They are Kings of earthly Kingdoms, mine of heavenly and celestial Kingdoms: They are Kings by a Royal progeny, mine are Kings through my blood undefiled, they have crowns of pure gold & precious stones, mine have crowns of life and righteousness, they have guards of men to attend them, mine guards of Angels & the beloved saints. Heb. 1 last. Are they not all ministering Spirits; sent forth to minister for them who shall be heiers of Salvation. Their cloth is better than the cloth of gol● their riches better than the riches of jewels, and their wealth more excellent than the wealth hid in the sands. Though the devil would devour them, I will save them, though the flesh make war with them, I will support them, though death would destroy them, I will give them my salvation. Haback. 3.13. Thou goest forth for the Salvation of the people, even for Salvation with thine anointed, thou woundest the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck Selah. I am their King, and shall not I command them? their Bridegroom, and shall not I will them? their loving Mediator, and shall I not wish them to love on another? I know, if I command them to endure bounds, chains & imprisonments for my sake, that they will obey me, I know if I command them to endure poverty for my poor, penury for my distressed, misery for my afflicted, that they will subject to me. My voice is as dear to them as heaven, my commands as acceptable as my joys; and my wishes. As my love, my glory and my righteousness. Therefore they will answer my command of love: as it is recorded. John 15.12. This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.    

A CONFESSION OF OUR FAITH, According to the Order of the GOSPEL.  

First.  
WE believe that Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God, who was with the Father before the world was; Appointed by an Eternal Election Mediator, Redeemer and Reconciler of all those whom the Father out of his Eternal and free love had ordained unto Eternal Life. John 1.14. And the word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten Son of the Father full of grace and truth. John 1.18. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son which is in thy bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 17.3. And this is life Eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.   

Secondly.  
WE believe that it was the Father's divine pleasure to or deign Jesus Christ to be King over his Church, & peculiar, and the sole & only Prophet from which the Church should receive all her treasures of Divine & rarest wisdom. Ephes. 1.21, 22, 23. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this world, but also in the world to come. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the Church which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Deut. 18.18. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. Col. 1.3. We give thnnkes to God and the Father of Jesus Christ our Lord praying always for you.   

Thirdly.  
WE believe that the Church of Jesus Christ was freely chosen and selected out of the free and eternal love of the Father resting in the bosom of Jesus Christ: to the end that it might be partaker of all the heavenly treasures of divine grace and righteousness, made conformable to the will of God the heavenly Father, and to the mind of Jesus Christ the blessed and glorious Redeemed. Ephes. 1.4, 5. 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 love, having predestinated us unto the Adoption of Sons by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. 2 Pet. 1.4. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Rom. 8.27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the spirit, because he maketh intersession for the Saints according to the will of God.   

Fourthly.  
WE believe that Jesus Christ the Lord of life and salvation laid down his life in special for her according to the absolute and divine appointment of the Father, to the intent that he might confirm upon her the supereminent riches of glory, the exceeding riches of mercy, and the marvilous dispensation of his marvilous Kindness which proceeds alone from his free and divine pleasure. Acts 20.28. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flo●ke over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Rom. 8.32. He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how should he not with him freely give us all things? Eph. 5.25. Husband's love your wives even as Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for it. Apoc. 5.9.10. And they sang 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 out of every kindred, tongue, and people, and nation, and hath made us unto our God Kings and Priests, and we shall reign on the earth. Col. 1.27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentills which is Christ in you the hope of glory. Eph. 2.7. That in ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus.   

Fiftly.  
WE believe that the Church which hath been redeemed by the precious blood of our Lord and Master, that she hath received the spirit of Adoption, Glory, Sanctification and obsignation: to the intent that she might be absolutely assured of everlasting glory of God the Father, the precious riches of grace in Jesus Christ, and the promises which are in Christ yea and Amen. Unto the praise and glory of the Father. Rom. 5.2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace, wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 1 Cor. 1.30. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and Sanctification and Redemption. 2 Cor. 1.20. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen unto the glory of God by us.   

Sixtly.  
WE believe that Jesus Christ having paid an Eternal price and ransom to his Father in the behalf of his Church and peculiar, therefore the price in itself being eternal, infinite and unmeasurable, doth comprehend in itself a remedy for the miseries of All mankind whatsoever. Mat. 20.28. Even as the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to mimister, and to give a ransom his life for many. 1. Tim. 2.6. Who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time.   

Seventhly.  
WE believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel universal, and is to be preached, amongst all creatures whatsoever: to the intent that the Father of eternal love and mercy might single out his people out of the world, show forth the dignity of his own Son, manifest the marvilous riches of his own glory, and leave the Creature without excuse. Mat. 28.19. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Col. 1.23. If ye continue in the faith, grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven: whereof I am made a Minister. Eph. 2.12. That at that time ye are without Christ, being Aliens from the common wealth of Israel, and strangers from the Covenant of grace, having no hope. And without God in the world. 1 John 5.10. He that believeth me the son of God, hath the witness in himself, he that believeth not God, hath made him a liar, because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. John 3.18.19. He that believeth one him, is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil.   

Eighthly.  
WE believe that the Church being called by the word of life and salvation to participate of the glorious riches of Christ, is bound by an everlasting bond of love, and favour to yield all loyal obedience and subjection to Jesus Christ her Lord and Master. 1 Cor. 1.9. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. 12.1, 2. I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable sacrifice, and be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.   

Ninthly.  
WE believe that the Church of Jesus Christ is presented glorious in the sight of God her heavenly Father through union with Jesus Christ, and her interest in her royal robes of righteousness. Phil. 3.9. And being found in him, not 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. Isay 61.10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with he garments of Salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness as a bridegrorme decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her Jewels.   

Tenthly.  
WE believe that neither sin, the Law, nor Justice is any cause of her chastisement; only the free and dear love of her dear Father; to the end that he might teach her the way to glory, weaken the power of the flesh, and make her live by faith and love before him all her days. Heb. 12.6. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Apoc. 3.19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore and repent. Psal. 119.6, 7. Then shall I not be ashamed, when I shall have respect to all thy commandments: I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgements. 2 Cor. 12.7. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should exalted above measure. 1 Pet. 1.6, 7. wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith being much more precious then of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honour, and glory at the appearing of jesus Christ.   

Eleventh.  
WE believe that although her God and father is in every place, and beholds all things, and by consequence seethe sin as it is in the flesh: not withstanding, having presented her just by the act of Reconciliation through the blood of the Son of God. Justified her through the none imputation of iniquity, and made her stand in Christ for ever through union with him; hence she stands in his sight for ever without spot or wrinkle. Heb. 4.13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight, but all things are naked and open unto him with whom we have to do. 2 Cor. 5.17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things things are passed away, behold all things are become new. Col. 1.22. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, & unblamable, & unreprovable in his sight. Ephes. 5.27. That he might present to himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.   

Twelve.  
WE believe, that though in the days of Adam we with Adam stood under the old Covenant; yet that Covenant is wholly abolished, and that now enjoying the law of faith, mercy & peace; we stand for ever under that covenant which hath been proposed in Christ, hence it comes to pass, that we are freed absolutely from the law of sin and death, and are brought under the Law of freedom and life. Jer. 31.32.33. Not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which Covenant they broke, although I was a husband unto them saith the Lord. But this shall be the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Heb. 8.6. But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises. Rom. 8.2. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.   

Thirteenth.  
WE believe that the Saints are to be a dear, a tender, and a loving people, from the love that is given them in and through Jesus Christ, and are bound to walk in the bond of Love, to the intent that they may show themselves children of light, hold forth the love of Jesus Christ, and the glory of God their heavenly and dearest Father. John. 15.12. This is my Commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you. John 17.22. And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them that they may be one; even as we are one.   

Fourteenth.  
WE believe that the expressions of this love stands not only in in the communion of gifts, but also of goods, insomuch that is it possible they are to live in one body as one common wealth; nothing differing from the state of the Churches in the City of Jerusalem. Acts 2.44, 45. And they that believed were together, and had allthings common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men as every man had need.   

Fifteenth.  
THe Saints are to be a quiet peaceable and loving people, sigh they are of the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, God hath called them to peace, having given them a command to have peace with all, and love towards all men. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, Nation shall not lift up swords against Nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isay 65.25. The Wolf and the Lamb shall feed together, and the Lion shall eat straw like the bullock, and dust shall be the serpent's meat, they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my mountains saith the Lord. Apoc. 13.10. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity, he that killeth with the sword, must be killed with the sword; Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints. Apoc. 12.11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.   

Sixteenth.  
WE believe that those that are to enter into a Church's estate, are to make known to the Church their experience of the Spirit and faith in Jesus Christ, insomuch that none are to be admitted into a Church's state but such as are cordial in their faith, and experementall through communion with the Lord Jesus. Acts 8.37. And Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest, and he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Acts 10.47. Can any man forbidden water, that these should not be baptised which have received the holy Ghost as well as we. Acts 9.26, 27. And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself unto the Disciples, but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a Disciple, but Barnabas took him and brought him to the Apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen thk Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus, etc.   

Seventeenth.  
WE understand that although their ought to be an especial love of the Saints one towards another, notwithstanding, they are to show themselves loving, courteous, and gentle to all that are without; not reproaching but praising, praying and blessing God for all that hate them. Mat. 5.44, 45, 46. 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 despitefully use you, and persecute you. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven: for he maketh his Sun to rise on the evil, and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just, and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the Publicans the same?   
FINIS.   

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. Therefore I will look unto the Lord: I will wait for the God of my salvation, my God will hear me. Isa. 50.6, 7. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hide not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.  
WE judge no man. If any man is contrary minded, God shall reveal it according to his Divine Love and rarest Mercy in the beloved.