the matter that interrupteth his joy may be taken away Those that will be joyfull and not search to the bottome must needs with shame be brought backe to sorrow When wee will joy to purpose let us judge our selves that we may not be judged of the Lord mourne for our sinnes and then lay hold upon the promise that all they that mourne for sinne shall be comforted And blessed are they that shed teares here for all teares shall be wiped away Wee are subject to wrong our selves both good and bad for the good thinke if they be in misery they shall be ever so the bad if they be in prosperity they shall allwaies be so and they blesse themselves in it Now the the joy of the hypocrites is as the crackling of thornes and the griefe of the godly is but short and therefore let not the wicked foole themselves with groundlesse hopes nor the godly vex themselves with needlesse feares but put off conceitednesse of the long continuance of troubles time is but short and ere long God will wipe away all teares from our eyes No mists no clouds shall be extended to heaven the state in heaven shall be like the state of heaven there is no cloud there but all pure all serene Therefore in Christianity consider not their beginning but their ends Marke the end of the upright for the end of the upright is peace Psal 37. 37. Wayes have their commendation from the terme in which they end If by any meanes I may attaine the resurrection of the dead saith Paul Phil. 3. 11. Through thicke and thinne faire and foule rugged windes dry or bloudy death If by any meanes I may come to the resurrection of the dead the first degree of glory all is well it s a good way that ends well Non qua sed quo consider not what way he brings us to heaven but whither he brings bs If he bring us to heaven through a valley of teares it s no matter for in heaven all teares shall be wiped from our eyes And therefore Christianity is called wisdome And this wisdome is justified of her children What is the chiefest point of wisdome To looke home to the end and to direct all meanes to that end He is wise that is wise for eternity The wicked will have their payment here But woe to them that laugh for they shall mourne saith Christ Luke 6. 25. They will not stay for ground of joy hereafter but will have present payment But though the wayes of Christians be foule and wet with teares yet blessed are they for God will wipe away all teares from their eyes comfort one another with these words THE Sixth Sermon ISAIAH 25. 8. And he shall swallow up death in victory and God will wipe away teares from all faces that the rebukes of his people may be taken away from off the earth for the Lord hath spoken it YOu have heard heretofore of a feast provided for Gods people the founder of it being God himselfe who only can indeed comfort that which is specially to be comforted the soule and the conscience he being above the conscience The place where the feast is kept is Mount Syon the Church of God the delicacies are described by fat things wine refined on the lees c. The best of the best that can be thought of which is Christ with all his benefits who is bread indeed and drinke indeed that cherisheth and nourisheth the soule to life everlasting And because there should be nothing to disturbe the solemnity of the feast he promiseth to destroy the face of covering to take away the vaile spread over all nations the vaile of ignorance and infidelity to shine upon the soule and fill it full of knowledge and heavenly comfort And because there can be no comfort where death is feared being the greatest enemy in this life therefore he will swallow up death in victory and all that makes way for death or attends death and when this is taken away all the attendants vanish with it God will wipe away all teares from all faces Because the best things have not the best entertainment in the world nor the best persons God promiseth that the rebukes of his people shall be taken away from off the earth what they are they shall be knowne to be These be very great matters and therefore there is a great confirmation they have a seale and what is that The Lord hath spoken it The last day I shewed that Gods children shall shed teares and that they have cause to do it I will now inlarge it a little It is the condition of men since the fall in Paradise before there was no cause of teares nothing was out of joynt all inframe there was no sinne therefore no sorrow therefore no apprehension of sorrow And so in heaven there shall be no teares because no cause of it they shall be as farre from heaven as the cause This life is a valley of teares a life of misery and therefore we shed teares here And wee want no cause of it as long as sinne is in the world and sorrow and misery that followeth sinne Our own sins and the sins of others our owne miseries and the miseries of others And surely a child of God finds this the greatest cause of mourning in this world that he hath a principle in him alwaies molesting him in the service of God he cannot serve God with that chearfulnesse his unfeelingnesse that he cannot be so sensible of God dishonoured by himselfe and others is his burthen hee is grieved that he cannot grieve enough he can find teares for other things matter of this enough as the heathen man could say A man loseth his estate and hath teares for them but forceth teares for other things which are the true ground of griefe a child of God hath a remainder of corruptions which puts him on to offend against God and hinders him in his service in the liberty and chearfullnesse of it And this he complaines of with Paul and others Miserable man that I am not for his affliection though that was much but who shall deliver me from this body of death I will here adde a case Some say they cannot weep but they can grieve whether then is it necessary or no to weepe Teares are taken for the spring of teares griefe all griefe shall be taken away Teares are but the messengers of griefe and often times the deepest apprehension that takes things deepely cannot expresse it in teares In some the passages fetching the conceit to the heart are made more tender that they can weepe Now the griefe of a Christian is a judiciall griefe a rationall griefe not onely sensible teares must have sensible griefe but a Christians griefe is a sensible judiciall griefe hee hath a right judgement of things that cause sorrow willeth it and teares are onely an expression of it But how shall I know whether
enough to Pilate thus it hath bin and will be to the end of the world Therefore we had need to be wise that wee be not misled Men will never leave to speake ill till they have learned to speak better till the spirit of God hath taught them Now it is said that Christ will take away the rebukes of his people That is the promise as they are they shall be knowne to be he will set all in joynt againe Harmony is a sweet thing and order is a sweet thing time will come when things that are now out of order to appearance shall be all set in their due order againe Those that are basest shall be lowest and those that be excellent shall be highest this is a working and framing now In this confusion we must looke to the catastrophe the conclusion of all hee will take away the rebukes of all God is the Father of truth and truth is the daughter of time time will bring forth truth at last And those that be honourable indeed shall be honourable It is as true as God is just for goodnesse and holinesse are beames of God and will he suffer it alwaies to passe under a falfe vaile There is not an attribute of God but shall shine forth gloriously even all his excellency and dignity There is nothing shall be above him and his excellency noe though he seemes for a a while not to rule in the world or have power but fers them to goe away with it that are his enemies he is working another thing by suffering them he is working the glory of his children and confusion of his enemies There is nothing in God but shall gloriously shine and nothing in his children no beames of God but shall gloriously shine to the confusion of the world They that are good shall be knowne to be good God will bring their righteousnesse to light The Witnesses that vexed the world and had base entertainement they were slaine and disgraced but they rose againe and were carried to heaven as Elias So there will be a resurrection of name a resurrection of reputation That that is good shall be good and that that is bad shall be bad it shall be knowne to be as it is This is for comfort You hear therefore what course to take under disgrace what shall wee doe when the Church passeth under disgrace as it is now A Protestant is worse then a Turke or a Jew amongst the railing Papists Among our selves wee see under what reputation the best things goe it is too well knowne to speake of And the scandall taken from hence doth extreamely harden it keepes men from religion it draweth many from religion that have entred into it because they have not learned so much selfe denyall as to venture upon disgrace And surely where no selfe-denyall is there is no religion Christ knew what doctrine he taught when he taught self-denyall in this respect What shall wee doe therefore Labour first of all for innocency that if men wil reproach they may reproach without a cause Then labour for a spirit of patience to serve Christ with great is your reward when men speake evill of you for a good cause It is the portion of a Christian in this life to doe well and suffer ill Of all certainely they are best that out of love to goodnesse are carried to goodnesse without looking to rewards or disgrace that followes with a single eye Labour therefore for patience and not onely so but for courage for the Moone goeth its course and lets the dog barke Wee have a course to runne let us keepe our course constantly passe through good reports and bad reports be at a point what the world thinkes wee seeke applause at another theater then the world Againe then labour for sincerity under rebukes that wee have a good aime such an aime as Paul had If I be mad and out of my wits he being earnest for his Master Christ they count him out of his wits If I be out of my wits it is for Christ If I be sober it is for you the love of Christ constraineth me to be so Get the love of Christ and that will make a man care for nothing If I goe beyond my self it is to God As David said when he was mocked by Micholl It is to the Lord when he danced before the Arke Bonus ludus a good dance where Micholl scoffeth and David danceth where gracious men magnifie God and have Micholls to scoffe at them it is bonus ludus God will looke upon them for it is to the Lord. Labour that our aimes be good and it is no matter what the world judgeth of them And when all will not doe commend our credits to God by prayer as wee commend our soules and conditions so or reputations that he would take care of them that hee would bring our righteousnesse to light that it should shine out as the noone day So David doth hee complaines to God and commendeth all to him prayeth him to take part against his enemies to right his cause and when wee have done that wee have done our duty yet with all hope for better things be content to passe under the world as unknowne men and to be inwardly worthy and passe as unknown men Rich men if truly rich they will applaud themselves in their bosomes though the world disgrace them yet at home I am thus furnish'd And so a Christian that knoweth his worth that he is a child of God heire of heaven that he is attended upon by Angels that hee is a jewell to God in his esteem to be absolutely the best thing in the world Hee knoweth the worth of a Christian and his owne worth as being a Christian he applauseth and comforteth himselfe in that he knoweth he hath a hidden life a state of glory hidden in Christ Now it is covered with disgrace and disrespect in the world scorned and reproached but what is that to him it is an hidden life and for the present he knoweth his owne excellency and therefore can passe through good report and bad report I care not for mans day saith Paul there is another day to which I must stand And thus if we do as Peter saith There is a spirit of glory shall rest upon us The ground wee have of comfort under rebuke and disgrace there is a spirit of glory what is that a large spirit inlarging our hearts with inward comfort inward joy inward love of God A spirit of glory shall rest upon you and shall continue with you as long as disgrace shall continue hee opposeth this to all disgrace he meeteth with in the world God putteth sometimes a glory and excellency upon his children under disgrace and ill usage in the world that he will daunt the world as Stephens face did shine as the face of an Angell which came from a spirit of
excellent society 3 Is a Mountaine 1. Hath strong foundations 4 2. Is in some measure visible ib. Of the Marriage feast between Christ and his Church 5 The Lord of Hosts is the founder of this feast 6 Some of all sorts invited to this feast 1. Iewes 2. Gentiles 7 Christ is the chief dish and greatest chear at this feast 8 Christ and his benefits fitly compared to a feast 8 1. Because all we have in Christ is of the best things 8 2. Much variety in Christ 9 3. Fulnesse and sufficiency is to be had in Christ 10 4. Because there is much company here 11 5. There is rich attire worne at this feast 12 This Gospel-feast was typed out 1. By the Paschall Lamb. 12 2. By Manna 12 3. By the Rock 14 4. By the Jewish festivall 15 A comparison between Christ and Manna 13 The sacrament of the Lords super is this feast specially 15 We ought to be prepared for this feast 1. Get large hearts 16 2. Spirituall appetite 16 Means to get spirituall appetite to this feast 17 1. Sense of sinne 17 2. Purge the soule from sinfull corruptions 18 3. Spirituall exercise and activenesse for God 19 4. Holy company 20 5. Consideration of the danger of Spiritual famine 20 We must get a spirituall taste and spirituall sences 21 1. To relish what is good 22 To disrelish and reject what is evill 22 We must get a spirituall Digestion 23 and wait in the strength of this heavenly feast 23 Consequents of the Gospel-feast are 24 1. Chearfulnesse 25 2. Thankfulnesse 25 3. Iustifying of the wayes of God and Religion 25 Religion doth not make people melancholy 26 A Christian at his worst condition is better than a worldlings best 27 We must labour to have a part and portion at this feast and to honour Gods bounty 28 29 We must bring empty soules unto this feast 32 Connexion between the sixth and seventh verst 33 Of the Vaile that is over mens hearts 35 All men naturally have such a Vaile 35 There is a Vaile over spirituall things for they are hid 35 36. Naturall men 1. Want spirituall sight 36 light 36 2. Are ignorant 3. See not spirituall things spiritually 38 4. Have light without heat 39 5. Are unbelievers 40 Ignorance and unbeliefe acts in every sinne 41 God onely can take away this vaile 42 Men nor Angels cannot remove it 42 43 44 Onely Gods people have this vaile removed 44 Where this vaile is removed there is a Feast 45 We ought to use meanes to have this vaile taken off 46 47 1. By attending upon Ordinances 48 2. By practising what we know 49 3. By praying unto God 50 When the vaile is taken off from the heart then 1. A Christian will wonder at the things of faith 51 2. Desire more and more to know them 51 3. This vaile hath been removed by the Word 51 4. A Christians knowledge is a transforming knowledge 52 Of Death and Christs victory over Death 55 Death is 1. The King of Feares 56 2. Spares none 56 3. Is let in by sinne 56 4. Is attended on by Hell 56 Christ swallowes up death in victory 1. By satisfying for sin 57 2. By his suffering death 59 60 We ought to believe that death is conquered to us 60 We ought to be one with Christ crucified 61 70 We must be thankfull unto God 1. For victory over death 62 2. For benefits by death 62 The slavish feare of Death is unbecomming a Christian 62 63 67. Death is conquered to a Beleever though he die 63 64 Death is terrible to wicked men 64 Duellists foolishly out-brave death 65 Death to Gods children not onely a conquered enemy but is made a friend 66 c. Of Christians Teares 72 Good men are apt to weep 1. For sinne of others 74 75 2. Miseries of others 74 75 We ought to weep 74 and yet to rejoyce 76 God will wipe away all teares 77 78 God is a God of tender mercy 79 Christians are not to bee judged by appearance and by their sufferings 81 Christians have a mixt condition and a mixt disposition 82 There was no sorrow in Paradise and shall be none in heaven 84 Sinne is the greatest cause of sorrow 85 Mourning accepted from them that cannot weep 86 Then a Christians teares are right when 1. They spring from the love of God 86 2. When we weep for our owne sinnes 87 3. When they are secret 87 4. When they are reforming 88 Of the Rebukes and reproaches of Gods people 89 Christ and his members subject unto reproaches 89 90 Wicked reproach the godly from the enmity of 2 seeds 91 Wee must not be scandalls to Religion nor scandalized at the reproaches of it 92 Christ will take away reproaches from his people and will vindicate them 93 Directions how to carry our selves under Reproaches 94 1. Be patient 94 2. Innocent 94 3. Couragious 95 4. Sincere 95 5. Pray much to God 95 6. Rejoyce and glory in them 96 Of the Holy Scriptures 99 God is the Author of them 99 The scriptures sole supreme judge of controversies 100 The Scriptures may be knowne to be Gods VVord by 1. The Majesty of them 101 2. Their mysteriousnesse 101 3. From Reason 103 4. From Experience 101 5. From the witnesse of the Spirit 102 6. From their efficacy 101 1. In warning the soule 101 2. Changing the soule 101 3. Casting down the soule 101 4. Searching the soule 102 5. And comforting the soule The holy Scriptures are and have been preserved from Corruption 103 VVe ought to heare the word as the word of God 104 God will make good all his promises if we believe 105 We must pray for the Spirit that indited the Scriptures that so we may relish them 106 Of Gods Promises and the performance of them 107 to 112 Gods Promises are full and free and spring from his bounty and are our greatest treasure 111 112. We ought to be ashamed of infidelity in Gods promises 105 It is somtimes long between the promise performāce 113 1. To exercise our faith 113 2. To waine us from creatures 113 3. To indeare the things promised 114 4. And to fit us for the enjoyment 114 Of Waiting upon God 115 We have but a tast here of what we shall have hereaft 115 Waiting carries with it all other graces 116 1. Patience 117 2. Long-suffering 117 3. Contentment 118 4. Silence from murmuring 118 5. Watchfulnesse 118 6. Faithfulnesse 118 Want of waiting cause of much wickednesse 119 All is overcome with waiting 120 God will perform his word to all true waiters 121 152 God keeps the time of performance in his own hands 121 God fully performes his promises in heaven 122 123 124 The things hoped for uphold the heart in waiting 125 God will have his people continue waiting 150 1. That we may live by faith and not by sight 150 2. VVhen we are fitted for what is promised wee
and life goeth together with a christian as Christ saith he is the light of the world and the life of the world First light for life commeth with light and light conveyeth life All grace is dropt into the will through the understanding and wheresoever Christ is life he is light because true knowledge is a transforming knowledge but if religion be not knowne to purpose it hardens and makes worse We are now by Gods good providence come to farther businesse to partake of these mysteries yet it should be the desire of our soules that our eyes may be opened that in these divine and precious mysteries he would discover hidden love which is not seen with the eyes of the body they may see and taste and relish his love and goodnesse in Jesus Christ that as the outward man is refreshed with the elements so the inward man may be refreshed with his spirit that they may be effectuall to us that we may justifie the course God takes so farre as to come charitably and joyfully to them THE Fourth Sermon ISAIAH 25. 7 8. I will destroy in this Mountaine the face of the covering cast over all people and the vaile that is spread over all Nations He will swallow up death in victory c. WE have heretofore at large spoken of the spirituall and eternall favors of God set out in the former Verse In this Mountain will the Lord of Hosts make a Feast of fat things While our soule is in the body it is much guided by our fancy spirituall things are therefore presented by outward and conveyed to the soule that way onely we must remember that there is a farre greater excellency in the things themselves than in their representation for what is all Banquets fatnesse with Marrow Wine on the Lees to the joy and sweetnesse of Religion begun here and accomplished in the world to come In Christ there is nothing but all Marrow and sweetnesse in Religion that may refresh a man in the lowest condition if hee can but have a taste of it Now because the spirituall things of Christ doe us no good as long as they are hid therefore the Holy Ghost setteth downe a Promise That God will take away the covering cast on all people and the vaile spread over all Nations But there be some things that will dampe all mirth Now here is security against them that our joy may bee compleat and this in the next verse to which I now come Hee will swallow up death in victory hee will wipe away teares from all faces The Prophet having spoken of a great Feast before an excellent Feast sets forth here the services of that feast what is it that accompanies it First of all there shall be light to discover the excellency of the feast the vaile is taken away and a knowledge given to know divine things in a spirituall manner Then which will damp all feasts the feare of death is taken away He will swallow up death in victory and wipe away all tears that is all sorrow the effect is put for the cause This is an excellent promise an excellent Service in this spirituall banquet Suppose a man were set at a Feast furnished with all Delicates royally attended Cloaths suitable and had a Sword hung over his head ready to fall upon him it would cast such a dampe on his spirit as would spoile the joy of this feast So to heare of Spirituall excellencies and yet death and hell and damnation comming along alas where is the comfort you speake of And therefore to make the feast more perfect there is not onely light and knowledge but removall of it ever may dampe the feast So this must needs come in to comfort all the rest He shall swallow up death in victory and wipe away tears from all faces Death is here represented to us under the word victory as a Combatant as one that we are to fight withall a Captaine And then here is the victory of him Christ overcomes him and overcomes him gloriously It is not onely a Conquest but a swallowing of him up Usually God useth all sorts of enemies in their owne kinde he causeth them that spoile to be spoyled them that swallow up to be swallowed up So Death the great swallower shall be swallowed up Beloved Death is the great King of Kings and the Emperor of Emperors the great Captaine and ruling King of the world for no King hath such Dominion as Death hath it spreads its government and victory over all Nations he is equall though a Tyrant As a Tyrant spares none he is equall in this he subdueth young and old poore and rich he levels Scepters and Spades together he levels all there is no difference between the dust of an Emperor and the meanest man he is a Tyrant that governeth over all And so there is this equity in him he spares none He hath continued from the beginning of the world to this time but he is a Tyrant brought in by our selves Rom. 5. Sin let in Death it opened the doore death is no Creature of Gods making Satan brought in sin and sinne brought in death So that we be accessary our selves to the powerfull stroak of this prevailing Tyrant And therefore sinne is called the cause of death Sinne brought in death and armeth death the weapon that death fights with and causeth great terror it is sinne The cause is armed with the power of the wrath of God for sinne the feare of hell and damnation So that wrath and hell and damnation arming sinne it bringeth a sting of it self and put as venome into death All cares and feares and sorrowes and sicknesses are lesse and petty deaths harbingers to death it selfe but the attendants that follow this great King are worst of all As Rev. 6. I saw a pale horse and death upon it and after him comes hell what were death if it were not for the Pit and Dungeon that followeth it So that death is attended with hell and hell with eternity Therefore here is a strange kind of prevailing There is no victory where there is no enemy and therefore death must needs be an enemy yea it is the worst enemy and the last enemy Death is not planted in the forlorne hope but it is planted at last for the greatest advantage and is a great enemy what doth death It depriveth us of all comfort pleasure communion with one another in this life callings or whatsoever else is comfortable The grave is the house of oblivion Death is terrible of it selfe even to nature as Augustine saith where it is not swallowed up of Christ for it is an evill in it selfe and as I said armed with a sting of sinne after which followes Hell Now this death is swallowed up When the Scripture puts a person upon death it is not uncomly for us to speak as the Scripture doth The Scripture puts a persouupon death and a kind of triumphing spirit in
this is said for the time to come he wil swallow up death but Paul saith it is also past and swallowed up already faith saith it is done and so it is in our head Were it not comfortable now to all true hearted Christians to heare that the Church fareth better and that the enemies were swallowed up for they be but the instruments of this inferiour death let us get the spirit of faith and see them all conquered for certainly they shall have the worst at last He that hath swallowed up death in victory will swallow up all that be the cause of death And therefore the Scripture speaks of these things as past Babilon is fallen as a milstone cast into the bottome of the Sea Get a spirit of faith and wee shall never be much troubled with Babilon for all the enemies of Christ and adherents to that man of sinne must downe and partake of the judgement threatned in the Revelations Heaven hath concluded it and all the policy of Rome and hell cannot disanull it they be already swallowed up to faith and Christ will rule till hee hath put them all under his feet which shall be done not only to destroy them but to raise himselfe higher in giving them up to their confusion Againe if death be swallowed up in victory labour to be one with Christ crucified for union with him begin with union with Christ crucified The first union is with Christ abased and then with Christ glorified And therefore labour to see sinne that brought in death subdued by the power of Christs death in some measure and then wee shall have comfort in his death glorified For in my holy mount death is swallowed up that is the true Church of Christ labour to be members of Christ otherwise death will come as a tyrant indeed armed with a terrible sting in his full force to assaile you It is the most terrible thing to see death come armed with the wrath and anger of God and attended with hell and damnation Labour therefore to be one with Christ crucified to get our sinnes crucified and our selves partakers of his death and then no damnation no feare of death to them that are in Christ they may die but they are freed from eternall death and they shall rise againe even as Christs body rose to glory Get therefore into Christ and desire the power of his death subduing sinne In what measure we grow in that wee grow in boldnesse and joy and whatsoever priviledges follow Christ Againe when wee be in Christ true members of him then let us be thankfull to God for this victory thankfull to Jesus Christ that hath given us victory when wee thinke of death of sinne of judgement of hell of damnation let us be framed as a Christian should Now let him that hath the most terrible and fearfull things in the world as conquered enemies say oh blessed be God for Christ and blessed be Christ for dying for us and by death disarming death of his sting that now wee can thinke of it in our judgements quietly now we can thinke of all these as conquered enemies this is the fruit of Christs death they are not onely enemies but friends in Christ Sinne the remainder of it the guilt of it that bindeth over to damnation is taken away the remainders of it serve to humble us make us feele the power of pardon and to desire another world where we shall be all spirituall so that death is a part of our joynture All things are yours life and death death doth us many excellent services it is a doore and passage to life death is the death of it selfe destroyeth it selfe Wee never truly live till wee die and when wee die we are past feare of death So that sinne dieth misery dieth death dieth though it takes us from comforts and employments and friends here yet it is a change to a better place and better company and better employments and better condition to be in a glorious condition to eternity and therefore wee have cause to blesse God in Christ that tooke our nature and in our nature disarmed our greatest enemy sinne and so disarmed death and freed us from the wrath of of God and hell and damnation Oh we can never be thankfull enough for this Againe if death be swallowed up in victory let us be ashamed of the feare of death because Christ saith he will swallow him up as he hath already in his own person Shall wee be afraid of an enemy that is swallowed up in our head and shall be swallowed up in every one of us If we cherish feare we shew we looke not for an interest in this promise for it is a promise that in this holy mountaine death shall be swallowed up in victory and why should we feare a conquered enemy none will feare an enemy that is conquered Object But how came Christ to feare death and we not to fear Answ Christ had to deale with death armed with a terrible sting with sinne and the wrath of God for sin And therefore when he was to die Father let this cup passe from me But death is disarmed to us He had to encounter with sinne and the wrath of God and death in all its strength But we are not so we are to deale with death like the brazen Serpent that hath the shape of death but no sting at all It s become a drone ever since it lost its sting in Christ Life tooke death that death might take life as he said The meaning is Christs life it selfe tooke death that wee that were so subject to death that we were death it selfe might take life Oh blessed consideration nothing comparable to the consideration of the death of Christ it is the death of deaths And then againe wee are sure of victory it is conquered in our head and shall be in us But you say wee are to conflict with the pangs of death and many troubles meet in death It is true but it is conquered to faith and in Christ our head we must fight Christ traineth us to overcome death our selves by faith and then wee are sure of victory Joyne these two together it is conquered in Christ our head and shall be conquered of us death keeps our dust and must give them all againe Obj. But in the mean time we die Ans 'T is so but we are sure of victory he will protect us in our combate that hath conquered for us we fight against death and the terror of it in the strength and faith of his victory joyne these three together Hee that hath been our Saviour in life will be so to death and not exclusively then to leave us but to death and in death for ever yea most ready to helpe us in our last conflict Indeed to wicked men death is terrible for he sendeth the devill to fetch them out of the world but for these that be his he
he would make good his Covenant of grace to take away our stony hearts and give us hearts of flesh that we may be sensible Most of graces are founded upon affection and all graces are but affections sanctified what would become of grace if wee had not affections therefore as there is cause of griefe and teares from griefe wee ought to grieve It is a condition and a duty a condition following misery and a duty following our condition Take heed of that which hinders sensiblenesse of troubles and judgement that is hardnesse of heart forgetfulnesse studying to put away sorrow with sinne For we ought to be sensible and ought to labour to be sensible to know the meaning of every crosse in our selves and others But suppose wee have crosses and we must be sensible of them then it followeth God will wipe away all teares from our eyes Is there nothing for the present no ground of comfort yes As we ought to be sensible of griefe so we ought to be sensible of matter of joy for the present specially if we consider the time to come The life of a Christian is a strange kind of life hee ought to grieve and he ought to joy hee hath occasion of both and hee ought to entertaine both for that that wee ought to aime at specially is joy and if we grieve it is that afterwards wee might joy We must be sensible of any affliction that wee might joy afterwards and wee ought to labour for it For is not the joy of the Lord our strength Are not we fit to doe service when our spirits are most inlarged And is it not a credit to Religion when we walke in comfort of the holy Ghost Is it not a scandall when we droope under the crosse Wee ought to be sensible yet not so as to forget matter of joy and comfort And therefore as wee ought to grieve so wee ought when we have grieved to keep up the soule with consideration of joy for the present as much as wee can yea to picke out matter of comfort from the very crosse That is the heart of a Christian not onely to joy in other matters but to picke comfort out of griefe God suffers me to fall into this or that condition it is a fruit of his fatherly love he might suffer me to runne the broad way to be given up to a reprobate sense and hard heart but he doth not doe so Picke out matter of comfort from griefe Then consider the presence of God in it indeed I have matter of griefe but I finde God moderating it It might be farre worse it is his mercy I am not consumed I finde God by it doing me good I finde my selfe better by it I cannot well be without it Who would not labour to be sensible of a crosse when he looketh up to Gods crosse and justice and mercy he hath rather cause to joy than to grieve in the very crosse it self But specially marke what the holy Ghost saith here wee ought not to be cast downe overmuch with any crosse considering God will wipe away all teares from our eyes that is all naturall teares and the miseries of this life There shall be no more misery no more sicknesse no more trouble And then all teares that arise from consideration of sinne and misery following sinne Death is the accomplishment of all mortification It is a comfort wee shall not alwaies leade this conflicting life but the warre between the flesh and spirit will be taken up the sense wil be removed wee shall be out of Satans reach and the worlds reach one day which is a great comfort to consider Whatsoever the cause is the cause shall be removed ere long If the cause be desertion for that God leaveth us comfortlesse wee shall be for ever hereafter with the Lord If the cause be separation from friends why wee shall all meet together ere long and be for ever in heaven If the cause be our owne sinnes wee shall cease hereafter to offend God and Christ will be all in all Now sin is almost all in all sinne and corruption beare a great sway in us If the matter of our griefe be the sinnes of others and the afflictions of others there is no sinne in heaven no uncleane thing shall enter there The soules of perfect men are there and all are of one mind there is no opposition to goodnesse there all shall goe one way there howsoever they cannot agree here all shall have mutuall solace and contentment in one another they in us and wee in them and that for ever you cannot name them or imagine a cause of teares but it shall be removed there Nay the more teares we have shed here the more comfort wee shall have As our troubles are increased here our consolation shall increase That wee suffer here if for a good cause will worke our eternall and exceeding weight of glory wee say Aprill showers bring forth May flowers It is a common speech from experience of common life It is true in Religion the more teares wee shed in the Aprill of our lives the more sweet comfort we shall have hereafter If no teares are to be shed here no flowers are to be gather'd there And therefore besides deliverance from trouble here is comfort God will take away all cause of griefe and all kindes of griefe whatsoever And therefore thus think of it The next thing to be considered is the order First we must shed teares and then they must be wiped away After a storme a calme after sowing in teares comes reaping in joy What is the reason of that order The reason is our owne necessity we are in such a frame and condition since the fall that we cannot be put into a good frame of grace without much paine The truths of God must crosse us and afflictions must joyne with them For the sinnes contracted by pleasure must be dissolved by paine Repentance must cost us teares we may thank our selves if wee have brought our selves to a sinfull course For the necessity of this order a diseased person must not bee cured till hee feele some smart of the wounds Againe consider it is for our increase of comfort afterwards that God will have us shed teares and then to have our teares wiped away because we be more sensible of joy and comfort after sorrow We cannot bee sensible of the joyes of heaven unlesse wee feele the contrary here And therefore of all men heaven will be the most heaven to them that have had their portion of Crosses and afflictions here First therefore shed teares and then they must be wiped away because joy is most sensible As it is with the wickedest of all men they be most miserable that have been happiest because their soule is inlarged by their happinesse to apprehend sorrow more quickly and sensibly so they that have been most miserable here shall
glory that rested upon him and expressed himselfe to be the servant of God He that takes away from our good report if we be good he addeth to our reward Our Saviour Christ saith as much Blessed are you when you be ill spoken of for great is your reward THE Seventh Sermon ISAIAH 25. 8. And the rebukes of his people shall he take away from all the earth For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it THis is a great promise and I pray you be comforted with it For of all grief that Gods people suffer in the world there is none greater than reproach disgrace and contumely Movemur contumeliis plus quam injuriis We are more moved with reproaches than injuries Injuries come from severall causes but disgrace from abundance of slighting No man but thinks himselfe worthy of respect from some or other Now slanders come from abundance of malice or else abundance of contempt and therefore nothing stickes so much as reproaches specially by reason of opinion and fancy that raiseth them over high Our Saviour Christ endured the Crosse and despised the shame That shame that vaine people cast upon Religion and the best things they despise that and make that a matter of patience They knew the Crosse would not be shaken off Persecution and Troubles must be endured and therefore they endured the Crosse and despised the shame Now to bear Crosses take the counsell of the Holy Apostles look up to him consider Christ and whatsoever disgrace in words or carriage wee shall endure we are sure though wee shall never know it till wee feele it by experience The spirit of glory shall rest upon us and rebuke shall be taken away Ere long there will be no glory in heaven and earth but the glory of Christ and of his Spouse for all the rest shall be in their owne place as it was said of Judas that he went to his place Their proper place is not to domineere but to be in hell and ere long they shall bee there Heaven is the proper element of the Saints that is the place of Christ the head And where should the body be but with the head where the Spouse but with the Husband I say this shall come to passe that all the wicked shall be in their place and all the godly in theirs with Christ and then shall the rebukes of Gods people be taken away A great matter and therefore it is sealed with a great confirmation The Lord Jehovah hath spoken it therfore it must and will be so The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it This is not in vaine added for the Lord knoweth well enough we need it to believe so great things that there is such a Feast provided And that there is such a victory over death our last enemy and that there will be such glory that all the glory shall bee Christs and his Spouses that the wicked that are now so insolent shall be cast into their proper place with the Devill by whose Spirit they are led They bee great matters and there is great disproportion between the present condition and that condition in heaven and infidelity being in the soule its hard to fasten such things on the soule that so great things should be done but they are no greater than God hath said and hee is able to make good his Word The Lord hath said it and when God hath said it heaven and earth cannot unsay it when heaven hath concluded it earth and hell cannot disanull it The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it That is truth it selfe hath spoken it that cannot lye A man may lye and be a man and an honest man too he may sometimes speak an untruth it taketh not away his nature But God who is pure truth unchangable truth truth it selfe cannot lye When we heare of great matters as matters of Christianity be great matters they be as large as the capacity of the soule and larger too And yet the soule is large in the understanding and affection too When wee heare of such large matters wee need a great faith to believe them Great faith needeth great grounds and therefore its good to have all the helps we can When we heare of great things promised great deliverances great glory to strengthen our faith remember God hath spoken them He knoweth our weaknesse our infirmity and therefore helps us with this prop The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Let us therefore remember those great things are promised in the word of God in the word of Jehovah that can make them all good that gives a being to all his promises He is being it selfe and gives being to whatsoever he saith he is able to doe it Set God and his power against all opposition whatsoever from the creature and all doubts that may arise from our owne unbeleeving hearts The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it But yee will say the Prophet Esay saith it whose words they were I answer Isaiah was the Pen-man God the mouth the head dictateth the hand writeth Christ the head dictates and his servant writeth So that holy men write as they were inspired by the holy Ghost a better spirit than their owne Why doe yee look on me saith Isaiah thinke not it is I that say it I am but a man like your selves but the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it VVee should not regard men nor the Ministerie of men but consider who speaks by men who sendeth them with what commission doe they come Ambassadors are not regarded for themselves but for them that send them And therefore Cornelius said well We are here in the presence of God to heare what thou wilt speake in the name of God Acts 10. 33. And so people should come with that reverend expression VVee are come in the presence of God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost in the presence of the blessed Angells to heare what thou shalt say in the Name of God by the Spirit of God VVe are not to deal with men but with God And therefore he saith The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Hence may this question be easily answered VVhence hath the Scripture authority VVhy from it selfe it is the Word it carryeth its owne Letters testimoniall with it Shall God borrow Authority from men No the Authority the Word hath is from it selfe It hath a supreame authority from its selfe And wee may answer that question about the Judge of all controversies What is the supreame Judge the Word the Spirit of God in the Scriptures And who is above God It is a shamelesse ridiculous impudency of men that will take upon them to be Judges of Scripture as if man would get upon the Throne and as a Judge there Judge The Scriptures must judge all ere long yea that great Antichrist Now an ignorant man a simple man that perhaps never read Scriptures must judge of
consistent 88 Wee must justifie God in all 25 K. KNOVVLEDGE True knowledge is transforming 52 Desires to know more 51 Practise what wee know 49 L. LIGHT Naturall men want light 36 Naturally their light without heat 39 M. Majestie of the Scriptures 101 Christ compared to Manna 13 Religion makes not melancholy 26 Why Christians are melancholy 26 Christians have a mixture here 82 Church compared to a Mountaine 4 Mysteriousnesse of Scriptures 101 P. Plenty at the Gospell-feast 11 Preparation for this feast 16 Wee must purge the soule of sinne 16 Practise of what we know 49 Of Gods promises and their performance 107 Promises free and full 112 Promises long before performed why 113 114 Promises shall bee surely performed 121 152 Time of performance in Gods hand 152 Gods time best of performmance 154 Reason of Gods performance 152 R. Of the Rebukes of Gods people 89 Christ and his Members subject unto Reproaches 90 Christ will rowle away Reproach 93 How to carry our selves under Reproach 94 15 How wee must Relish the Word 22 Scriptures may bee proved to be the word of God by Reason 103 Christ a Rock 14 S. Sacrament of Lords Supper a feast 15 Sense of sinne 17 Soule hath her senses 21 Men naturally want sight 36 We must not judge by sight 79 Scandals against Religion 92 Holy Scriptures Word of God 99 Are supreame Iudge 100 Searching power of the Word 102 Spirit indited and interprets the Word 106 Sinne greatest cause of Sorrow 85 No Sorrow in heaven 84 Comfort in Sufferings 81 Naturall men see not things spiritually 38 Spirituall things are mysterious 35 36 Church excellent society 3 Wee must walke in the strength of Spirituall Refreshment 23 T. Of spirituall Taste 22 Wee have but a Taste here of what wee shall have hereafter 115 TEARES vide WEEP God will wipe away Tears 77 78 Signes of right Teares 86 87 88 Thankfulnesse to God for removing vaile 25 for Christs Conquest over Death 62 for accomplishment of promises 156 Gods Time of performance set best 154 Types of the Gospel 12 13 14 15 V. A Vaile over mens hearts 35 Unbeliefe is that Vaile 40 God onely can take away the Vaile 42 43 Meanes to have the Vaile removed 46 47 There is variety in Christ 10 Unbeliefe in every sinne 41 Christs victory over death 55 57 W. Of WAITING Our duty to waite upon God 115 It s hard to wait on God 118 Waiting overcomes all 119 120 Many graces exercised in waiting 116 117 Why God will have us to wait 150 151 Incouragements to waite 153 154. Good men apt to weepe 72 73 74 75 Though wee cannot weep yet wee must mourne 86 Spirit witnesses that the holy Scripture is Gods Word 101 Gods Word is to bee heard as the Word of God 104 God will make all his VVord good 16 FINIS The principal subjects handled in these Sermons 1. Of the Marriage-feast between Christ his Church Prov. 9. 2. Matth. 22. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isai 55. 1. Rev. 22. 17. Gen. 49. 20. Super omnia vultus accessére boni 2. Of the vail of ignorance and unbeliefe and the removall of it 3. Of Christs conquest over Death Heb. 2. 14 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hos 13. 14. 4. Of the Christians teares and the wiping them away 5. Of the Rebukes and Reproaches of Gods people and the taking of them away 6. Of the Promises 7. Of the holy Scriptures and the divine Authority of them 8. waiting upon God Isai 26. 8. Isai 8. 17. The connexion of the Text. 1 Observ The Church the most excellent of all societies The Church built upon the strongest foundation 2 Obs Of the visibility of the Church The Mountaine is the Church God makes a Feast for his people The Lord of Hoasts the founder of the Feast This Feast is for all people Christ the chiefe dish in the Feast Why Christ with his benefits is compared to a Feast 1. Because the favours we have by Christ are choice ones 2. There is variety of favours in Christ Christ like the Indian plant Coquus good for all things 3. There is sufficiency and fulnesse in Christ 4. As a Feast for many so Christ is a feast for the community of Saints 5. Because we have the glorious attire of Christ as men put on choice garments at Feasts 6. Because he was resembled by the Paschal Lambe which was choosen foure daies before out of the flock 2. By Manna to which Christ answers in many particulars Surely those that are spirituall taste Christ 3. By the rock in the wildernesse 4. By all the Jewish festivalls 5. By the Sacrament of the Lords Supper Use Be prepared for this Feast 1. Labour for large hearts to receive much 2. Labour for spirituall appetite First means to get appetite soure herbes sense of sin and misery Second Means Third Means Fourth Means Acquaintance with those that are good Fifth Means We know not how long wee have to live Wee should hold out against hunger to come â—… 3. Get a spirituall disposition of soul to heavenly things The soule hath her senses Two things in spirituall tast Vse 4. Wee must labour for a digestion of spirituall things Vse 5. Wee must walk in the strength of spirituall favour Consequents of this Feast is spirituall chearfulnesse 2. Thankfulnesse 3. Justifie the waies of God against carnall slanders Object Religious people are melancholy Answ It s because they are not more religious A man may be ignorant of his comforts A Christian at the worst is happier then a worldling at the best Labour to partake of this Feast All invited We are sure to perish without Christ Honour God by taking alotted comforts The Spirit of God must work us to a relish of spirituall things We must bring something to the Feast though not of our owne Wee must bring empty soules and a spirit of Faith and a spirit of Love The services of this Feast Obs There is a vail over all mens spirits by nature A two-fold vaile 1. Of the things themselves 2 Of the souls not seeing or not beleeving 3 There must be a light to make things visible All things in religion are mysterious 1. There 's a vaile of ignorance on all naturall men Naturall men know not spirituall things in their proper species A godly man sees spirituall things intritively The light of the godly is a light with influence the light of the wicked is without it Simile Simile Simile There is a vaile of unbeliefe over the unregenerate Ignorance and unbeliefe act in all sinnes 2. Obser God only can take off the vaile of ignorance and unbeliefe Reas Because of the unsuitablenes between the soule and spirituall things Foure things required in sight Foure degrees of discerning things Reas 2. Reas 3. And a disproportion also Reas 4. No creature Angels or men can bring light into the soule 3 Obs It s peculiar to the Church to have the vaile taken away It s
peculiar to the Church to know the greatest good and greatest evill 4 Obs Where the vaile is taken away there is spirituall joy and feasting Reason The same Spirit is a Spirit of Revelation and consolation Use 1. To labour to have this vaile taken off Meanes For this wee must attend on Ordinances Smile 3. Fashion not our selves after the times 4. Be carefull to practise what we know Quest Answ 5 Love what we know Use 2. Make our studies and closets Oratories for the getting of knowledge We can shut but not open our hearts to divine truths Quest How shall we know that we have heavenly light Answ 1. By a marvelling at the things of faith and the goodnesse of God in revealing them to us 2. By being carried with desire to know more and more 3. When the vaile is taken off by sanctified meanes which we can justifie by our owne experience of them Fourthly When our knowledge worketh upon us Application of this to the Sacrament Death is the great King of Kings Death spares none Death hath continued from the beginning let in by sin Sin armeth Death Hel the attendant of death Christ swallows up death in victory for himselfe and his Reas Because hee hath satisfied for sin A double kingdome of Christ 1. A kingdom of patience 2. A kingdom of power Christ conquereth for us and in us Death was conquered by Christ when he had given way to be under the power of it Use 1. First we see God gives way to his enemies for a time when he will give glorious victory Death is already swallowed up to faith Vse 2. Labour to be one with Christ crucified Vse 3. Be thankfull to God for this victory in Christ The benefits of death to a person that is in Christ Vse 4. Let those that are in Christ be ashamed of the feare of death Death terrible to the wicked They are fools that in a carnall bravery contemn death before disarmed in Christ Of Duellist Vs Of consolation to those that are in Christ Death is not only subdued but made a friend It s profitable to some to fal Satan hath advantage by our fearing death The worst the world can doe is to take away life and in that they doe the godly a pleasure Christ will draw his mysticall body to him into heaven Our comfort by Christ should make us fruitfull to Christ It s better to dye in the Lord than for the Lord. Prepare for death by getting into Christ Sin hath no Law in us to rule by * Good men easie to weepe Christ in heaven not without compassion * Psa 119. 136 * Phil. 3. 18 We have cause to weepe for the sinnes of others 1. From our love to God 2. From love to the Church and our brethren Simile Vse To condemne Stoicisme * Isa 1. 5. The best men aptest to grieve Vse 2. It s good wee doe grieve Avoid what hnders sensiblenesse The life of a Christian is a mixture of joy and sorrow Uses of joy in Christians We should picke matter of comfort out of griefe All causes of sorrow shall be removed The more teares here the more joy hereafter The Order First shed teares and then have them wiped away Reason 1. Our own necessity Simile Reason 2. For the increase of our comfort Simile Use 1. Take notice of the tender mercy of God in this that he will wipe away teares Judge not by sight for the godly here mourn most * 1 Cor. 15. 19. Be not discouraged for our own or Churches causes of griefe * Mat. 5. 4. Christians have more cause of joy than griefe and they ought to eye both This is comfortable while we live and when we die A carnall man is all joy or all sorrow The godly have a mixt condition and should have a mixt disposition Wayes are to be esteemed by their end Mat. 11. 19. Man since the fall subject to sorrow No sorrow in Paradise nor shall any be in heaven The greatest cause of the godlies mourning sin within him Rom. 7. 24. 1. A case about teares Psa 56. 8. God hath no bottle for some teares Marks of good teares 1. When their spring is the love of God 2. When wee weepe for our own sins and sins of others Truth of grace appeares more in grieving for others sins then our own 3. When our teares are shed in secret Jer. 13. 17. 4. When they tend to reformation of what they are shed for 2. Case How can a Christian joy and grieve together Phil. 4. 4. Gods people here are under rebuke and reproach Psal 137. Psal 22. 78. This text points at the conversion of the Jewes Reas There be two seeds in the world 1. Of the Serpent 2. Of the woman Carnall men would have all men thought of alike Men put a false vaile both on godlinesse and wickednesse Use 1. Take heed of laying scandal on religion Use 2. To study to be wise that wee be not misled by the misrepresentation of things The devill a lyar that he may be a murtherer Why it s the course of the world to slander Things shall be known to be as they arâ— Reason From Gods justice Revel 11. Use 1. To direct what course to take under disgrace and scandall 1. Labour to be innocent 2. To be patient 3. To be couragious 4 To be sincere 2 Cor. 5. 13. 14 2 Sam. 6. 20. 21. 5. Commend our credits to God by prayer Comfort your selfe in your own true worth 1 Cor. 4. 3. 1 Pet. 4 14. God putteth a glory upon his children under disgrace Mat. 5. 11. 12. Vse 2. For comfort to the godly their rebukes shall bee taken away God is the author of promises Use Consider God in the Promises to helpe our faith Quest How is it the the word of God sith Isaiah spake it Answ He did but write God did dictate Wee should not so much look on the Ministers as from whom they speak Quest 2. Whence hath the Scripture authority Answ From its selfe The Spirit of God in Scriptures Judge of all controversies Quest 3. How may wee know it is the Word of God but by the Chuâ—ch Answ As wee know a Letter from a friend Simile The word knowne to be of â—od 1. By its Majesty 2. Mysteriousnesse 3. Witnesse of the Spirit 4. Divine efficacy 1. In warming 2. Comforting 3. Changing 4. Casting down the soul Acts 16. 31. Adam nearest damnation 5. Searching b 1 Cor. 14 25. c Heb 4. 12. 5. The word proved to be of God from our experience 6. By reason Object The word may bee corrupted Answ The Jews lookt to the Old Testament Hereticks over the new Use 1. Let us regard heare Scriptures as the word of God Use 2. Know 1. God will make every part good Every threatning in it is ratified in heaven Use 3. Let us take shame to our selves for our infidelity in the promises Meanes To regard the word labour 〈◊〉 spirit that indited them Relishing the word makes a man a Christian indeed The points considerable Promises of God flow from Gods goodnesse Promises free and full Use Let us count promises our best treasure God taketh a long day for performance of promises Reas 1. To exercise our faith Reas 2. To waine from the creature Reas 3. To indear the things promised Reas 4. To fit us for injoyment Simile Simile A condition of waiting is a mixt condition of imperfection and perfection Wee have a taste here of what we shall have hereafter to support us Waiting is a grace whereby God sits us for an imperfect condition Waiting carrieth with it all graces 1. Patience 2. Long suffering 3. Contentment 4. Silence from murmuring 5. Watchfulnesse 6. Fruitfulnes Want of waiting the cause of wickednes Many rubs between us and heaven We are of unsetled dispositions It s hard to overcome tediousnesse of time All to be overcome by waiting God will performe promises to them that wait God keeps times and seasons in his own power There is a glorious day yet for Christians There be particular dayes of performance in this life Good to observe what dayes of performance God gives in A sight of God comparative here Absolute in heaven There 's an influence from the thing hoped for to uphold graces in waiting Simile Wee should look to the last end to fit us for it God will have us continue in a state of waiting Reas 1. It s his pleasure we should live by faith not by sight Reas 2. We are not yet fitted for sight of Glory Reas 3. Because God would have us enjoy the best at last Waiting not an empty thing Simile God fits heaven for us and us for heaven As there is a time of waiting so there will be a time of performing 1 Reas God is Jehovah Reas 2. God is faithfull Reas 3. He hath bowels of compassion towards his people Reas 4. Because the grace we have is but an earnest of what we shall have Our faith should answer Gods dealing Waiting the character of Gods people Directions to help waiting 1 Gods time is the best time 2 God will effect things though by contraries Times are in Gods hands There 's suitable action for every affection In performance of promises be much in thankfulnesse Experience of Gods performances should stir up waiting We ought to treasure up experiences God an inexhaust fountain Gods carriage towards his children is salvation Our joy and happinesse is in the enjoyment of God The joy of a Christian ends in glorying Begin to glory in God here Interest in God Christ is the ground of all rejoycing Therefore we are to make good that interest whilst we are here 1 By Union 2 By acquaintance with him The Church cannot be without Christ nor Christ without the Church In heaven nothing but in its admirable 1 Be not offended at the meanenesse of the Church 2 Nor offended with Religion for there 's a glory to come 3 Be not afraid to dye for heaven is our rest and center 4 Neither rest in any measure of grace or comfort here 5 Be not overmuch dejected for the desolation of the Church The fore taste of heaven is better than all worldly happinesse