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in his work, and the undertaking of it. 3. A testimony was
given unto his person and office. 4. Direction is given unto
the church, in all wherein they have to do with God, what they
should attend unto, namely, what is written. 5. The things
which concern Christ the mediator, are the head of what is
contained in the same records,
20. Whereas the apostle doth plainly distinguish and distribute all
sacrifices and offerings, into those on the one side which were
offered by the law, and that one offering of the body of Christ
on the other side, the pretended sacrifice of the mass is utterly
rejected from any place in the worship of God,
21. God, as the sovereign lawgiver, had always power and autho-
rity to make what alteration he pleased, in the orders and insti-
tutions of his worship,
22. Sovereign authority is that alone which our faith and obedi-
ence respects in all ordinances of worship,
23. As all things from the beginning made way for the coming of
Christ in the minds of them that did believe, so every thing was
to be removed out of the way, that would hinder his coming, and the discharge of the work he had undertaken. Law, tein- ple, sacrifices, must all be removed to give way unto his coming,
24. Truth is never so effectually declared, as when it is confirmed
by the experience of its power in them that believe it, and make
profession of it,
25. It is a holy glorying in God, and no unlawful boasting, for
men openly to profess what they are madle partakers of by the
grace of God, and blood of Christ,
26. It is the best security in differences in and about religion, (such
as these wherein the apostle is engaged, the greatest and highest
that ever were) when men have an internal experience of the
truth which they do profess,
27. The sovereign will and pleasure of God, acting itself in infi-
nite wisdom and grace, is the sole, supreme, original cause of
the salvation of the church,
VERSES 11-14.
1. If all those divine institutions in the diligent observance of them
could not take away sin, how much less can any thing do so,
that we can betake ourselves unto for that end!
Page
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487
ib.
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489
491
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2. Faith in Christ doth jointly respect both his oblation of himself
by death, and the glorious exaltation that ensued thereon,
3. Christ in this order of things is the great exemplar of the church, ib.
4. It was the entrance of sin, which raised up all our enemies
against us,
498
502
5. The Lord Christ, in his ineffable love and grace, put himself be-
tween us and all our enemies,
6. The Lord Christ by the offering of himself, making peace with
God, ruined all the enmity against the church, and all the ene-
mies of it,
7. It is the foundation of all consolation to the church, that the
Lord Christ, even now in heaven, takes all our enemies to be
his; in whose destruction he is infinitely more concerned thau
we are,
8. Let us never esteem any thing, or any person, to be our enemy,
but only so far, and in what they are the enemies of Christ,
9. It is our duty to conform ourselves to the Lord Christ in a quiet
expectancy of the ruin of all our spiritual adversaries,
10 Envy not the condition of the most proud and cruel adversa-
ries of the church,
11. There was a glorious efficacy in the one offering of Christ,
12. The end of it must be effectually accomplished towards all for
whom it was offered,
13. The sanctification and perfection of the church, being that
end designed in the death and sacrifice of Christ, all things ne-
cessary unto that end must be included therein, that it be not
frustrate,
VERSES 15-18.
1. It is the authority of the Holy Ghost alone, speaking to us in
the Scripture, whereunto all our faith is to be resolved,
2. We are to propose nothing in the preaching and worship of the
gospel, but what is testified unto by the Holy Ghost,
3. When an important truth consonant unto the Scripture is de-
clared, it is useful and expedient to confirm it with some express
testimony of Scripture,
VERSES 19-23.
1. It is not every mistake, every error, though it be in things of
great importance, while it overthrows not the foundation, that
can divest men of a fraternal interest with others in the heaven-
ly calling,
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504
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509
2. This is the great fundamental privilege of the gospel, that be-
lievers, in all their holy worship, have liberty, boldness and con-
fidence, to enter with it and by it, into the gracious presence of
God,
3. Nothing but the blood of Jesus could have given this boldness,
nothing that stood in the way of it could otherwise have been
removed, nothing else could have set our souls at liberty from
that bondage that was come upon them by sin,
512
514
4. Rightly esteem, and duly improve the blessed privilege which
was purchased for us at so dear a rate,
3. Confidence in an access unto God not built on, not resolved in-
to the blood of Christ, is but a daring presumption which God
abhors,
6. The way of our entrance into the holiest, is solemnly dedicated
and consecrated for us, so as that with boldness we may make
use of it,
515
7. All the privileges we have by Christ are great, glorious and ef-
ficacious, all tending and leading unto life,
516
S. The Lord Christ doth peculiarly preside over all the persons,
duties, and worship of believers in the church of God,
9. The heart is that which God principally respects in our access
519
unto him,
520
10. Universal internal sincerity of heart, is required of all those
that draw nigh unto God in his holy worship,
11. The actual exercise of faith is required in all our approaches
unto God, in every particular duty of his worship,
12. It is faith in Christ alone, that gives us boldness of access unto
13. The person and office of Christ, are to be rested in with full
assurance, in all our accesses to the throne of
grace,
14. Although that worship whereby we draw nigh unto God be
wrought with respect to institution and rule, yet without internal
sanctification of heart we are not accepted in it,
15. Due preparation, by fresh applications of our souls unto the ef-
ficacy of the blood of Christ, for the purification of our hearts,
that we may be meet to draw nigh to God, is required of us,
16. Universal sanctification upon our whole persons, and the mor-
tification in an especial manner of outward sins, are required of
us in our drawing nigh unto God,
17. These are the ornaments wherewith we are to prepare our
souls for it, and not the gaiety of outward apparel,
18. It is a great work to draw nigh unto God, so as to worship
him in spirit and in truth,
522
523
524
19. There is an internal principle of saving faith required unto
our profession of the doctrine of the gospel, without which it
will not avail,
527
20. All that believe, ought solemnly to give themselves up unto
Christ and his rule, in an express profession of the faith that is
in them, and required of them,
21. There will great difficulties arise in, and opposition be made.
unto, a sincere profession of the faith,
22. Firmness and constancy of mind, with our utmost diligent en-
deavours, are required unto an acceptable continuance in the
profession of the faith,
528
23. Uncertainty and wavering of mind, as to the truth and doc-
trine we profess, or neglect of the duties wherein it doth con-
sist, or compliance with errors for fear of persecution and suffer-
ings, do overthrow our profession, and render it useless,
24. As we ought not on any account to decline our profession, so
to abate of the degrees of fervency of spirit therein, is danger-
ous unto our souls,
25. The faithfulness of God in his promises, is the great encou-
ragement and supportment, under our continual profession of our
faith against all oppositions,
VERSE 24.
1. The mutual watch of Christians, in the particular societies.
whereof they are members, is a duty necessary unto the preser-
vation of the profession of the faith,
530
2. A due consideration of the circumstances, abilities, temptations
and opportunities for duties, in one another, is required hereunto, ib.
3. Diligence, or mutual exhortation unto gospel duties, that men
on all grounds of reason and example may be provoked unto
them, is required of us, and is a most excellent duty, which in
an especial manner, we ought to attend unto,
VERSE 25.
1. Great diligence is required of us in a due attendance unto the
assemblies of the church for the ends of them, as they are in-
stituted and appointed by Jesus Christ,
533
2. The neglect of the authority and love of Christ in the appoint-
ment of the means of our edification, will always tend to great
and ruinous evils,
3. No church order, no outward profession, can secure men from
apostasy,
534
4. Perfection, freedom from offence, scandal, and ruinous evils, are
not to be expected in any church in this world,
5. Men that begin to decline their duty in church relations, ought
to be marked, and their ways avoided,
6. Forsaking of church assemblies, is usually an entrance into apostasy,
7. When especial warnings do not excite us unto renewed dili
gence in known duties, our condition is dangerous as unto the
continuance of the presence of Christ amongst us,
8. Approaching judgments ought to influence unto especial dili-
gence in all evangelical duties,
9. If men will shut their eyes against evident signs and tokens of
approaching judgments, they will never stir up themselves, nor
engage into the due performance of present duties,
536
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539
10. In the approach of great and final judgments, God, by his
word and providence, gives such intimations of their coming, as
that wise men may discern them,
11. To see evidently such a day approaching, and not to be sedu-
lous and diligent in the duties of divine worship, is a token of a
backsliding frame, tending unto final apostasy,
VERSES 26, 27.
1. If a voluntary relinquishment of the profession of the gospel,
and the duties of it, be the highest sin, and be attended with the
height of wrath and punishment, we ought earnestly to watch
against every thing that inclineth or disposeth us thereunto,
2. Every declension in or from the profession of the gospel, hath
a proportion of the guilt of this great sin, according unto the
proportion that it bears unto the sin itself,
3. There are sins and times wherein God doth absolutely refuse to
hear any more from men in order unto their salvation,
4. The loss of an interest in the sacrifice of Christ, on what ac-
count, or by what means soever it fall out, is absolutely ruinous
unto the souls of men,
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543
6. God oftentimes visits the minds of cursed apostates, with dread-
ful expectations of approaching wrath,
5. There is an inseparable concatenation between apostasy and
eternal ruin,
ncaten
544
7. When men have hardened themselves in sin, no fear of punish.
ment either will rouse or stir them up to seek after relief,
8. A dreadful expectation of future wrath, without hope of relief,
is an open entrance into hell itself,
9. The expectation of future judgment in guilty persons, is and will be at one time or another, dreadful and tremendous,
10. There is a determinate time for the accomplishment of all di-
vine threatenings, and the infliction of the severest judgments,
which no man can abide or avoid,
545
11. The certain determination of divine vengeance on the enemies
of the gospel, is a motive unto holiness, a supportment under
sufferings in them that believe,
12. The highest aggravation for the greatest sins, is, when men
out of a contrary principle of superstition and error, do set
themselves maliciously to oppose the doctrine and truth of the
gospel, with respect unto themselves and others,
13. There is a time when God will make demonstrations of his
wrath and displeasure, against all such adversaries of the gospel,
as shall be pledges of his eternal indignation,
14. The dread and terror of God's final judgments against the
enemies of the gospel, is in itself inconceivable, and only sha-
dowed out by things of the greatest dread and terror in the
world,
VERSES 28, 29.
1. It is the contempt of God and his authority in his law, that is
the gall and poison of sin,
2. When the God of mercies will have men shew no mercy, as in
the temporal punishment, he can and will, upon repentance,
shew mercy as to eternal punishment,
3. Though there may be sometimes an appearance of great seve-
rity in God's judgments against sinners, yet when the nature of
their sins, and the aggravation of them, shall be discovered,
they will be manifest to have been righteous, and within due
measure,
547
548
550
553
4. We ought to take heed of every neglect of the person of Christ,
or of his authority, lest we enter into some degree or other of
the guilt of this great offence,
5. The sins of men can really reach neither the person nor autho-
rity of Christ,
6. Every thing that takes off from a high and glorious esteem of
. the blood of Christ, as the blood of the covenant, is a danger-
ous entrance into apostasy,
555
7. However men may esteem of any of the mediatory actings of
Christ, yet are they in themselves glorious and excellent,
8. There are no such cursed pernicious enemies unto religion as
apostates,
556
557
9. The inevitable certainty of the eternal punishment of gospel
despisers, depends on the essential holiness and righteousness of
God, as the ruler and judge of all,
10. It is a righteous thing with God thus to deal with men,
11. God hath allotted different degress of punishment unto the
different degrees and aggravations of sin,
558