Election Sermon

p. 1An Election SREMON,

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their Synagogues, being Glorified of all.

GOOD news from a far Country, [Prov 25. 13, 25. v. Comp.] by the hand of a faithful Messenger, is at all times very acceptable. What better news then Salvation for Sinners? What farther Country then Heaven? What more faithful Messenger then the Lord Jesus Christ?

THE Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, [Isai. 6 • . 〈◊〉 .] because the Lord hath anointed me to preach Good Tydings. Which here, in the immediate Context, the Increated Angel of the Covenant Applies to himself; And there was delivered unto him the Book of the Prophet Esaias; & when he had opened p. 2the Book, [Luk. 4.15, 22.] he found the place where it is written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel, &c. And he began to say unto them, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth.

BUT in the preceeding Context, we have a more Ancient Prophesy fulfilled, [Gen. 3.15.] viz. That Original Gospel Promise, That the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents head: For the Son of God, being now the Son of Man; and having been owned both by a Voice from Heaven, and the descent of the Holy Ghost upon him at his Baptism, as in the foregoing Chapter, in the last verse of which Christ is called the Son of Adam; We have him, in the beginning of this Chapter, obtaining a compleat Victory over the Devil that mighty Conquerour, who finds the Second Adam his overmatch, v. 1. to 13, which brings us to our Text: And when the Devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the Region round p. 3about. And he taught in their Synagogues, being Glorified of all.

p. 3IN which two Verses three or four things are Observable.

1. WHAT it was that fitted Christ for his Mediatorial Offices, particularly that of a Prophet: it was the Spirit which he received, not in a limited degr◊◊, as Water is contained in a Vessel; but immeasurably, as living Waters in a flowing Fountain. He returned in the Power of the Spirit, and Tau't. Observe.

2. THE Place where Christ now began his Publick Ministry; [Isai. 9. 1.] it was in a remote and obscure part of the Country, [Mat. 4. 16.] even in Galilee. Thus the People which sat in Darkness, saw great Light: and to them which sat in the region and shadow of Death, Light is sprung up.

MAY the Gospel be still and further sent to the Dark Parts of these Provinces, [Prov. 29. 18.] where Thousands of Precious, Immortal Souls, have been perishing for lack of Vision.

3 TO summ up divers things together; we may Observe the Occasions Christ took, the wise Method he Used, and the Success he had in his Ministry. When they were met togther in the Publick p. 4places of their Solemn Assemblies, the great Master of Assemblies was present to Instruct them. He taught in their Synagogues. [Prov. 1. • 0, 21.] Wisdom crieth without, she uttereth her Voice in the Streets. She crieth in the chief place of Concourse; &c. He cast the net where were a multitude of Fishes: But he did not take them by force, or carry them away blind told: it was in his Commission to open their Eyes, Context. v. 18. He therefore Taught them; informing their Understandings, that he might perswade their Wills; which brings to the last thing that falls under our Observation. In Dividing the Text, viz. The welcome reception Christ found in some of his first Sermons, in the Country: Multitudes were mightily affected. They had never heard such a clear & powerful Preacher, in any of their Synagogues. He taught them as one having Authority and not as the Scribes. There was in his Discourses, such an unparalled Conjuction of Majestick Authority, and gracious sweetness, that many of his Hearers were fill'd at once with Love and Awe; the effect whereof was Admiration and Praise. There went out a Fame of him through all the Region round about.

p. 5He was Gorified of all. Besure, all that heard his Internal, Efficacious Voice, counted it the joy of their Hearts, and made it the business of their Lives to shew forth his Praises. All were Obliged to Glorifie him; But some were constrained to do it. The Great Truth before us is this.

DOCTRINE.

THAT all who hear the Gospel are Obliged, and as many as do experience the Power of it, will be constrained to Glorifie the Lord Jesus Christ.

This Important and all concerning Truth may be considered under several Propositions.

PROP. I. CHRIST is Doctrinally revealed in the Gospel, and by the P◊◊aching thereof as 〈…〉 of all Honour and ◊word 〈…〉.

FOR it is the Gospel that 〈…〉 the Mystery of Mysteries, [Mat 28. 19▪] in the Doctrine of the Trinity; [〈◊〉 Co • 13. 14▪] and reveals our Lord Jesus Christ, [〈◊〉 Joh 〈◊〉 7.] to be the Eternal Son of God by ineffable Generation: [P • o 8 2 • . & 30 4.] and as such, he is held forth as a Party in the Eternal p. 6Covenant of Redemption; [J ••• 3.16.] which is the Foundation of all Hope and Comfort to a ◊◊st World. [Psal. 89. 19 37.]

THE Chosen People of God, [Isai 49. 1. & 5. 50. 5. & on with the whole 53. Chap.] being given to his Son, to be Redeemed from Sin and Wrath; He undertook to Answer all their Debts and Obligations, Bonds and Forfeitures, unto the great Creditor: And to that end himself became Bound, as their Surety, to take on him their whole Nature, that he might bear their Sins in his own Body, [1 Pet. 2. 24.] on the Tree; and make his Soul an Offering for sin: [Isai. 53. 10.] On the Credit of which Obligation it was, [Heb. 11. 39, 40.] that the Old-Testament Believers were Saved by the Lamb, Virtullay Slain from the foundation of the World. [Rev. 13 8.] And in this Faederal Transaction from Eternity, was the Foundation laid for everlasting Revenues of Glory to the Crown of Heaven. And according to Ingagement, in the fulness of Time, the Son of God became the Son of Man, & Immanuel dwelt amongst his People, and they beheld his Glory.