1 John 3.8 The Devil sinneth from the beginning Therefore he is not so destroyed as if he did no more desire the Ruine and Destruction of Men. He is as malicious as ever The Devil is always at the old Trade of destroying Souls and watcheth all Advantages and observeth our Motions and Inclinations to make use of them 2. Affirmatively it remaineth that it is ratione Potentiae in regard of his Power But the Question returneth How far is his Power destroyed For he still governeth the Wicked and possesseth a great part of the World Therefore the Devils are called Ephes. 6.12 the Rulers of the Darkness of this World He molesteth the Godly whether considered singly and apart or in their Communities and Societies Singly and apart he may sometimes trouble them and sorely shake them as Wheat is winnowed in a Sive Luke 22.31 Simon Simon Behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as Wheat And in their Communities and Societies Psal. 129.1 2. Many a time have they afflicted me from my Youth may Israel now say Many a time have they afflicted me from my Youth Answ. Though he may afflict and molest the People of God yet he cannot totally prevail over them 1. There is enough done by way of Merit to break the Power of Satan or that whole Kingdom of Darkness which is united under one Head called the Devil The Price and Ransom is fully paid for captive Souls The Lamb of God taketh away the Sin of the World John 1.29 There need no more to be done by way of Merit and Satisfaction to bruise the Serpent's Head and to dissolve that woful Work which he hath introduced into the World Now not only the Comfort of particular Believers is ascribed to the Death of Christ but the Success of the Gospel over false Religions as 1 Pet. 1.18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold from your vain Conversation received by Tradition from your Fathers but with the precious Blood of Christ. He purchased the Power of recovering Souls out of their Apostacy at a dear rate Therefore though the Superstitions of the World were entailed on People by a long Descent yet when we go forth to preach the Gospel in the Virtue and Value of the Blood of Christ that will work mighty Wonders for the Destruction of the Kingdom of the Devil 2. Christ is upon the Throne and we are under his Protection therefore the Devil cannot totally prevail as to those who have Interest in him As to single Believers Iohn 10.28 None is able to pluck them out of my Hand Or as to their Communities and Societies Matth. 16.18 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it The Gates of Hell signify the Power and Policy of Hell for there was their Armoury and their Counsel Christ expecteth their most subtile and furious Assaults but all should be but as the dashing of Waves against a Rock end in Foam and Shame to the Aggressors and Assailants So that besides his Merit on the Cross there is his Power in Heaven as now sitting upon the Throne 3. The Victory is carried on so as that our Duty and Trials may not be excluded 1 st Though Satan's Head be crushed yet still there is room for our Duty that we may use the Means for our Safety as good Souldiers of Christ and live as in a continual Fight These are set down 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Be sober and vigilant because your Adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour whom resist stedfast in the Faith 1. Sobriety or an holy Moderation as to the Comforts and Delights of the present Life The Devil the Flesh and the World are in Conspiracy By the Baits of the World he inticeth our Flesh to a neglect of God and heavenly things therefore we must use the World as if we used it not lest our Hearts be burdened and depressed and disabled from seeking after our great End and Happiness 2. Vigilancy and Watchfulness is necessary that we may stand upon our Guard avoiding Snares and forecasting Hazards lest we fall as a ready Prey into the Mouth of the Tempter 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit your selves like Men be strong The first Point of a Christian Souldier is to watch Conscience must stand Porter at the Door examining what cometh in and what goeth out The Devil watcheth all Advantages against us that he may spy where we are weakest and if the Enemy watch and we sleep we cannot be safe 3. Stedfast Resistance in the Faith When we are yielding Satan gets ground but when we believingly and stedfastly resist he is discouraged This stedfast Resistance in the Faith is first Adhering to the Privileges of the Gospel as our Happiness secondly Persevering in the Duties thereof as our Work resolving not to let go our hold but by patient Continuance in Well-doing to wait for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus unto eternal Life Now if Christ should so destroy the Devil as to exempt from this Duty the whole Gospel would be in vain and the Promises and Precepts of it to no purpose and all the Furniture of Grace which Christ hath purchased for us and promised to us be lost and useless Surely Christ hath not so crushed the Serpent's Head but that we need to be sober and watchful and stedfast in the Faith otherwise we were not his Souldiers but his Enemies 2 dly Not to exempt us from Trials of our Sincerity God will have all Obedience to be tried and honoured by Opposition and sometimes by sharp and grievous Opposition Rev. 2.10 The Devil shall cast some of you into Prison that you may be tried Thus Iob was remitted to Satan for his Trial chap. 1.12 And the Lord said unto Satan Behold all that he hath is in thy Power And Paul had his Messenger of Satan for his Trial to see what shift he could make with sufficient internal Grace under outward and vexatious Evils 2 Cor. 12.7 8 9 10. Now better undergo the fiery Trial than the fiery Torment Tried we are then but not destroyed God may let loose the Wolf to drive us into the Fold and exercise us with Temptations but not suffer us to be overwhelmed 4. In the external Management of the Mediatorial Kingdom there are many Vicissitudes and Interchanges of the outward Condition of the Church Sometimes God doth notably defeat Satan and his Instruments and the Devil's Kingdom visibly goeth to wrack As at the first Promulgation of the Gospel though the World was captivated under Satan rooted in former Superstitions yet Christ prevailed and got ground by the Rod of his Strength and the Word of his Kingdom Tho Satan every-where had his Temples wherein he was worshipped and his Oracles were resorted to with great Reverence Till the Hebrew Child silenced him he are the Fat
blessings indeed by an holy Education Oh it will be a great happiness to be Parents to such as shall be Heirs of Glory As Children ought to be looked upon as a great mercy so also as a great trust which as it is managed may occasion much joy or much grief If Parents doat upon them they make them Idols not servants of the Lord If they neglect Education they will surely prove crosses and curses to them or if they taint them by their example Young ones are very apt to follow the example of those they see or converse with or are related to them Those Forty two Children 2 Kings 2.23 24. That were devoured of two She-Bears and cryed Bald pate to the Prophet of the Lord were Children of Bethel which was a nest of Idolatry Therefore Parents had need see what example they give or suffer to be given to their Children in contemning the Servants of the Lord or in any other kind of sin 3. Reproof to Children born of Godly Parents and notwithstanding dedication and education break out into unseemly and wicked courses For Children born in a godly Family to be naught is the greatest degeneration that can be Ungodly Children of godly Parents these wrest themselves out of the Arms of mercy and instead of a blessing become a burden and a curse They cast off their Fathers God Prov. 27.10 Thine own Friend and thy Fathers Friend forsake not But what shall be said of them that forsake their Fathers God They break off and interrupt the course of the Blessing Jer. 2.12 13. Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord For my People hath committed two evils they have forsaken me the fountain of living water and hewed them out Cisterns broken Cisterns that will hold no water He would have the Sun to look pale the spheres to cast out their stars Wilt thou be a Traytor to thy Fathers God Solomon continued allyance with Hyram because he had been a Friend to David And wilt thou break off the Grace of the Covenant Cain excomunicated himself Gen 4.16 Cain went out from the presence of the Lord. Ishmael for scoffing malignity against the power of godliness was cast out of Abrahams Family Gen 21.9 Esau for sensual prophaneness Heb. 12.15 Despising Spiritual priviledges for sensual satisfactions The Jews were cast off 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for unbelief Rom. 11.20 or positive rejection of the Gospel Christ made them the first offer 2. Vse To exhort Parents to bring up their Children for God For if they be an heritage from the Lord they must be an heritage to the Lord give them up to Him again as you had them from Him at first For whatever is from Him must be improved for Him Dedicate them to God and Educate them for God and he will take possession of them in due time Hannah though her Son were a Levite born and her eldest Son yet she Solemnly Dedicateth him to God 2 Sam. 1.27 28. I Prayed for this Child and the Lord hath given me my Petition which I asked of him therefore I have lent him to the Lord as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. Give God his portion Now if the Dedication be sound it will ingage you to a serious Education God dealeth with us as Pharaoh's Daughter did with Moses his Mother Exod. 2.9 Take this Child away and Nurse it for me Motives 1. The express charge of God who hath made it your Duty Ephes. 6.4 Fathers bring up your Children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord Deut. 6.7 These words shalt thou teach diligently unto thy Children and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house and when thou walkest by the way and when thou lyest down and when thou risest up Prov. 22.6 Train up a Child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Now we should make Conscience of these commands as we will answer it to God another day 2. The example of the Saints who have been carefull to discharge this trust God presumeth it of Abraham Gen 18.19 For I know him that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Observe God reckoneth upon it and disappointment is the worst vexation And it is a means to obtain the Promise and the blessing 2 Tim. 3.15 And that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from a Child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures How by his Grandmother Lois and Mother Eunice as is expressed elsewhere Surely they are unworthy to have Children that do not take care that Christ may have an interest in them 3. The importance of this Duty Next to the preaching of the Word the Education of Children is one of the greatest Duties in the World For the service of Christ and of the Church and State dependeth upon it Families are the Seminaries of Church and Common-Wealth Religion dwelt first in Families and as they grew into numerous Societies they grew into Churches As Religion was first hatched there so there the Devil seeketh to Crush it The Families of the Patriarchs were all the Churches God had in the World And therefore when Cain went out of Adam's Family he is said to go out from the presence of the Lord Gen. 4 16. If the Devil can subvert Families other Societies and Communities will not long flourish Towns and Nations are made up of families A fault in the first Concoction is not easily mended in the second Here is the first making or marring And Solomon telleth us Prov. 20.11 That even a Child is known by his doings 4. To countermine Satan who hath ever envyed the succession of Churches and the growth and progress of Christs Kingdom and therefore seeketh to crush it in the Egg by seeking to pervert Persons while they are young and like wax capable of any form and impression As Pharaoh would destroy the Israelites by killing their Young ones So Satan who hath a great spight at the Kingdom of Christ knoweth there is no such compendious way to subvert and overcome it as by perverting Youth and supplanting Family Duties He knoweth that this is a blow at the root Therefore what care should Parents take to season Children with holy Principles that they may overcome the wicked one by the word of God abiding in them 1 John 2.14 I have written unto you Young men because ye are strong and the Word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one And cleanse their Hearts by a regard to Scripture direction Psal. 119.9 Wherewithal shall a Young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word They are defiled already not as Vessels taken out of the Potters shop but as Vessels tainted and polluted 5. To make good
be had at Mr. Nathaniel Manton's at the 3 Pigeons in the Poultrey A TABLE of the Texts treated on in this Fourth Volume Part I. TITUS 2.11 For the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men Ver. 12. Teaching us that denying Vngodliness and worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Ver. 13. Looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Iesus Christ Ver. 14. Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works In 22 Sermons pag. 1. Heb. 6.18 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 In 5 Sermons p. 195 John 14.1 Let not your Heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me In 2 Sermons p. 235 Luke 12.48 For unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required and to whom Men have committed much of him they will ask the more In 2 Sermons p. 249 Deut. 32.51 Because ye trespassed against me among the Children of Israel at the Waters of Meribah-Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the Children of Israel In 1 Sermon p. 267 Acts 17.30 And the times of this Ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all Men every where to repent Ver. 31. Because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judg the World in Righteousness by that Man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given Assurance unto all Men in that he hath raised him from the Dead In 1 Sermon p. 275 Mark 10.17 And when he was gone forth into the way there came one running and kneeled to him and asked him Good Master what shall I do that I may inherit eternal Life Ver. 18. And Iesus said unto him Why callest thou me Good there is none Good but one that is God Ver. 19. Thou knowest the Commandments Do not commit Adultery Do not kill Do not steal Do not bear false Witness Defraud not Honour thy Father and Mother Ver. 20. And he answered and said unto him Master all these have I observed from my Youth Ver. 21. Then Iesus beholding him loved him and said unto him One thing thou lackest go thy way sell whatsoever thou hast and give to the Poor and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven and come take up the Cross and follow me Ver. 22. And he was sad at the Saying and went away grieved for he had great Possessions Ver. 23. And Iesus looked round about and saith unto his Disciples How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God Ver. 24. And the Disciples were astonished at his Words but Iesus answereth again and saith unto them Children how hard is it for them that trust in Riches to enter into the Kingdom of God Ver. 25. It is easier for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle than for a rich Man to enter into the Kingdom of God Ver. 26. And they were astonished out of Measure saying among themselves Who then can be saved Ver. 27. And Iesus looking upon them saith With Men it is impossible but not with God for with God all things are possible In 15 Sermons p. 284 2 Thess. 1.3 We are bound to thank God always for you Brethren as it is meet because that your Faith groweth exceedingly and the Charity of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth In 5 Sermons p. 420 Matth. 8.5 And when Iesus was entred into Capernaum there came unto him a Centurion beseeching him Ver. 6. And saying unto him Lord my Servant lieth at home sick of the Pâ—lsie grievously tormented Ver. 7. And Iesus saith unto him I will come and heal him Ver. 8. The Centurion answered and said Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my Roof but speak the Word only and my Servant shall be healed Ver. 9. For I am a Man under Authority having Souldiers under me and I say unto this Man Go and be goeth and to another Come and he cometh and to my Servant Do this and he doth it Ver. 10. When Iesus heard it he marvelled and said to them that followed Verily I say unto you I have not found so great Faith no not in Israel In 1 Sermon p. 459 Matth. 15.21 Then Iesus went thence and departed into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon Ver. 22. And behold a Woman of Canaan came out of the same Coasts and cried unto him saying Have Mercy on me O Lord thou Son of David my Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil Ver. 23. But he answered her not a Word and his Disciples came and besought him saying Send her away for she crieth after us Ver. 24. But he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost Sheep of the House of Israel Ver. 25. Then came she and worshipped him saying Lord help me Ver. 26. But he answered and said It is not meet to take the Childrens Bread and to cast it to Dogs Ver. 27. And she said Truth Lord yet the Dogs eat of the Crumbs which fall from their Master's Table Ver. 28. Then Iesus answered and said unto her O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt and her Daughter was made whole from that very Hour In 1 Sermon p. 466 John 8.56 Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my Day and he saw it and was glad In 1 Sermon p. 474 Rom. 4.18 Who against Hope believed in Hope that he might become the Father of many Nations according to that which was spoken So shall thy Seed be Ver. 19. And being not weak in Faith he considered not his own Body now dead when he was about an hundred Years old neither yet the Deadness of Sarah's Womb. Ver. 20. He staggered not at the Promise of God through Vnbelief but was strong in Faith giving Glory to God Ver. 21. And being fully perswaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform In 1 Sermon p. 482 Mark 3.5 And Iesus looked round about on them with Anger being grieved for the Hardness of their Hearts In 3 Sermons p. 497 Exod. 4.21 I will harden his Heart that he shall not let my People go In 2 Sermons p. 519 Gen. 3.15 It i. e. the Seed of the Woman shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel In 2 Sermons p. 533 Gen. 24.63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the Field at the Even-tide In 10 Sermons p. 601 Part II. LUKE 16.30 And he said Nay Father Abraham but if one went unto them from the dead they will repent Ver. 31. And he said unto him If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead In 2 Sermons p. 671 Heb. 13.20 Now the
upon them that they are instrumental Saviours 1 Tim. 4.16 In doing this thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee We are employed in a subserviency to his Grace that so we might be Saviours unto you O do not rob us of the Honour God hath put upon us let not our Employment be in vain The Apostle urgeth this Argument Phil. 2.16 Holding forth the Word of Life that I may rejoice in the Day of Christ that I have not run in vain neither laboured in vain Discover that it is a Word of Salvation in your Lives This would be the Minister's Crown and Rejoicing to see the Fruits of the Word of Life now in your Conversation and hereafter in your Glorification when a Minister shall present himself and all his Converts to God Behold I and the Children which thou hast given me Heb. 2.13 Therefore do not rob us of the Honour God hath put upon us to be instrumental Saviours What shall we do Take these Directions 1. Get a sense of your dead and lost Condition by Nature The killing Letter makes way for the Word of Life The Law shews us that we are dead and then we enquire after the way of Life and Salvation The Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost Luke 19.10 We must be lost in our own sense and feeling before we can be saved It is very notable that only those that were pricked in Heart said What shall we do to be saved Acts 2.37 Now when they heard this they were pricked in their Heart and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren what shall we do So Paul Acts 9.6 And he trembling and astonished said Lord what wilt thou have me to do So the Jaylor Acts 16.29 30. He came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas and brought them out and said Sirs What must I do to be saved Till we are pinched in Conscience we trouble our selves with other Questions As the Disciples had many superfluous Questions Iohn 9.2 Master who did sin this Man or his Parents that he was born blind and nice Disputes Acts 1.6 Lord wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel they were taken up with terene Expectations Such a Question Peter propounded to Christ Iohn 21.21 Lord and what shall this Man do But when we are soundly humbled we say Lord what must I do to be saved I see I am a lost Creature an hunger-bitten Beggar will seek Relief Such Questions are rare now because the Law has not a kindly Work Men think the Gate of Heaven wide and the Way easy to find they never came to see how far off they were But those that know themselves to be lost are inquisitive after a Remedy and more pliable to God's Counsel O where is the Word of Salvation what shall we do They are ready to submit to any Terms God shall prescribe Others make dry Confessions of Sin and give in a Narrative but are not so sollicitous about the Remedies and Redresses but poor wounded Spirits that are sensible of their Misery by Nature say Good Sir shew us the way let God write down what Articles he pleaseth we would be glad to subscribe to them Bonds of Iniquity are much more sure than Bonds of Duty 2. Let us attend more conscionably both upon the reading and hearing the Word of the Gospel for both are instituted Upon the reading of it we should often consult with it it is the Counsel of God to poor loâ—t Souls and the Charter of our Salvation Do not think reading will be altogether unprofitable The Eunuch was reading and wanted an Interpreter then God sent Philip Acts 8.33 He that â—ent Philip to the Eunuch will send the Spirit to thee Then attend more upon the hearing of the Word of this Salvation Hearing is necessary He that refuseth God's Ordinance refuseth Life and Salvation When Men think they can get as much Good by reading at Home as by hearing Sermons they set up their foolish Judgment against God's Wisdom as if they could tell a better Means of Salvation than God himself God's Word read is an Ordinance and God's Word taught is an Ordinance Are we so wise as to be above the help of Church-Gifts yet we are not above God's Ordinance When God hath instituted two Things we should observe both He hath instituted Baptism and the Lord's Supper we must not because we have been Baptized neglect the Supper so we must not neglect Hearing because we have Reading As God hath instituted Prophets and Apostles to write Scripture so likewise Pastors and Teachers to open explain and apply Scripture and therefore the Ministry must not be contemned Object But you will say God's Blessing goeth with the Gospel and when we read the Scriptures at Home we are sure of pure Gospel but we cannot say so of the Sermons of Men who are liable to Miscarriage and Error Answ. The Scripture is pure Gospel of it self and by it self and the Sermons of Men for the Scripture's sake for they are but comparing one Scripture with another they differ but as the Cloth and Garment Scripture is the Cloth and Sermons make it up into a Garment for use or as Corn and Bread the same Substance remaineth in both An Apothecary when he tempers several Ingredients to make a Medicine he doth not destroy the Nature of the Simples but compounds them to make the Medicine more effectual so by Gifts in the Church the Gospel is not destroyed but ordered and compounded that it may be more useful Indeed you must look to it that there be no Sophistication in the Composition a spiritual Man hath a distinguishing Appetite therefore be much in Reading much in Hearing When the Wind is laid the Mill stirs not and a Ship under sail goes the â—wifter for Oars so the hearing of the Word moves the Affections but when we cannot come to hear it our Affections are laid and stir not 3. In reading and hearing the Word receive all the Parts of it Acts 20.27 I have not shunned to declare to you all the Counsel of God The Receipts of a Physician must not be altered neither by the Apothecary nor Patient so We must not alter God's Receipts nor You neither We must not shun to declare nor You to receive the whole Counsel of God For instance there is the History of Salvation the Doctrinal and Historical Part must be kept pure that 's the Foundation You read in Gen. 26.20 there was a great strife between Isaac's Herds-men and the Herds-men of Gerer about Wells O certainly we should earnestly contend for the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints Jude 3. these are Wells of Salvation Take away one of the Natures of Christ or destroy one of his Offices and you lose a Fountain of Comfort there is a Well of Salvation dammed and stop'd up So the promissory and hortitory Part is necessary to quicken us
Labour and Charge the more Resistance the more Glory God's Children are glad that they may not serve God with that which cost them nothing as David professeth 2 Sam. 24.24 I will not offer a Burnt-offering unto the Lord my God of that which did cost me nothing Certainly Men are not zealous and their Hearts are not set upon the Ways of God when every slight Excuse will serve the turn and every little Profit draws them away and every petty Business doth hinder them and break off Communion with God and every slender Temptation doth interrupt and break off all their Purposes and Resolutions to Duty and Obedience be it Prayer Charity or Acts of Righteousness We must be resolute for Gal. 4.18 It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing 3. To be zealous of good Works imports Diligence and Earnestness to advance Piety to the highest pitch when we are not contented with any low degrees of Obedience but would fain carry out a godly Conversation to the uttermost to do it with all our Heart Is he zealous that is contented with a little Charity with a little Worship only Sloth and Idleness will not stand with Zeal Rom. 12.11 Not slothful in Business fervent in Spirit serving the Lord. Thus it will be when we are seething hot in Spirit as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies A large Affection cannot be contented with mean things and low degrees of Holiness nor lay a dead Child in the room of a living one This the Apostle calls being rich in good VVorks 1 Tim. 6.18 One or two Acts will not serve the turn Thus Dorcas is said to be full of good VVorks Acts 9.36 How full It is not an Allusion to the fulness of a Vessel that is full of Water or a Chest full of Clothes but to the fulness of a Tree loaden with Fruit James 3.17 Full of Mercy and good VVorks Those that are planted into this noble Vine Jesus Christ are full of good Works 4. To be zealous of good Works is to be constant to the End The Fire on the Altar never went out but it was always maintained and kept in so we must never let the Fire of Zeal go out Zeal is not like Fire in Straw Alas sudden Fervours are soon spent they are but Freewill-Pangs the Birth of an unrenewed Will but it is like Fire in Wood that casts a lasting Heat Gal. 4.18 It is good to be zealously affected always Not at first only for a Fit or Pang that doth not come from Sanctification therefore you should keep up your Fervour Watch against all Decays especially in Age. The Motions of Youth are very vehement for Youth is full of eager Spirits and seems to be all on fire but many times these Motions are not so sincere but the Actions of Age are more solid tho many times they want Vigour and Heat Therefore strive to keep up your Zeal Gal. 5.7 Ye did run well who did hinder you Carnal Men when their first Heats are spent give over they grow cold careless and indifferent in Matters of Religion But shall all these Heats and Desires of Reformation be in vain and shall we give over at length In worldly things we will not give over when we have been at great cost but shall all that is past in Religion be in vain Gal. 3.4 Have you suffered so many things in vain if it be yet in vain His meaning is It is not like to be in vain it will but tend to your greater Condemnation An Adulteress is punished more than an Harlot It is more Dishonour and Ingratitude to God to tire at length III. The Respect and Place of Zeal in good Works it is a Note of God's People and a Fruit of Christ's Death 1. It is a Note of God's People Vnumquodque operatur secundum suam formam There is in the New Creature a Propensity and Inclination to good Works As all Creatures are created with an inclination to their proper Operations such a willing tendency is there in the New Creature to those Actions which are Heavenly As Sparks fly upwards and a Stone moves downward so the New Creature is carried to Obedience and Holiness from a free Principle within The Nature of every thing is the Principle of its Motion Faith will discover it self therefore we read of God's fulfilling the VVork of Faith with Power 2 Thess. 1.11 Hope is called lively from the Effect 1 Pet. 1.3 He hath begotten us to a lively Hope by the Resurrection of Iesus Christ from the Dead Love constraineth 2 Cor. 5.14 The Love of Christ constraineth us Good Works are a Note of the New Creature We are the Workmanship of God created in Christ Iesus unto good VVorks Ephes. 2.10 As an Artificer sets a Mark upon his Workmanship that he might know it so God sets a visible Mark upon his Servants he doth not make a new Creature for old Works Good Works are Christianae Fidei quasi testes Witnesses that you can bring to evidence the Truth and Power of Grace Luther saith Good VVorks are Faith incarnate that is Faith is manifested by them as the Son of God was manifested in the Flesh. They are Witnesses to the World to your selves and unto God that you are his They are Signs and Witnesses to the World This is the Badg by which God would have his peculiar Children known not by Pomp and worldly Splendor not by any outward Excellency Riches Greatness and Estate but by Zeal to good Works There are no barren Trees in Christ's Garden it is not for the Honour of God for our heavenly Father would be glorified in his Servants bringing forth much Fruit John 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much Fruit so shall ye be my Disciples God standeth much upon his Honour Now it is for the Honour of God that all which are planted and grafted into Christ should be full of good Works And they are Testimonies to our selves 2 Pet. 1.10 Give diligence to make your Calling and Election sure Some Copies add 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make your Calling and Election sure by good VVorks certainly it may be collected from the Context he bids them ver 5. add to their Faith Vertue to Vertue Knowledg c. and so they might come to make their Calling and Election sure Graces are not discerned by their Habits but by their Acts and Exercise Look as in a Tree the Sap and Life is hid but the Fruit and Apples do appear so Zeal of good Works is that which appears and so it manifests and clears up your Condition This is the great Note of Difference between us and the Prophane they are zealous for the Devil's Kingdom Factors for Hell Iohn 8.44 Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father you will do They are known by their Works they are earnest for Satan zealous for the Devil follow Sin with earnestness and do Evil with both hands
and neglected It is very sad when God is provoked to swear to the Damnation of any Creature Who are the Persons that may stand in dread of this Oath why they that believe not Heb. 3.18 To whom swear he that they should not enter into his Rest but to them that believe not It is the Sin of Unbelief after many tenders and offers of Mercy which provokes God to this Indignation Here is Oath against Oath the one to drive us the other to draw us and pull in the Heart to God If you continue in this course you shall have neither Part nor Portioâ— in Christ nor in the Land of Promise It is better to be satisfied with God's Oath in Mercy than to run the hazard of his Oath in Judgment Therefore speak to Conscience Do I come up to this Certainty and Confidence Is the Controversy ended between God and me Are all Suspicions laid aside Obj. But you will say I do not doubt of the Truth of the Gospel but of my own â—nterest I doubt that I am the Person to whom God hath sworn The Truth of God is sure but my Interest is not clear Sol. In Answer to this consider 1. It doth but seem so that all Doubts are about our own Interestâ— but it is not so indeed If once you were heartily perswaded of God's good Affection in Christ Doubts and Scruples about our own Estate would soon vanish Look as the Fire when it is well kindled bursts out of its own accord into a Flame so if Faith were once well laid in the Soul if Men could rest upon these two immutable things Consolation would not be so far from them if there were a firm Assent to the Doctrine of the Gospel there would not be so many Buts if you did firmly believe his Mercy in Christ it would soon end in a stedfast Confidence This appeareth from the nature of the thing All Uncertainty ariseth either from a Neglect of the great Salvation or else from Trouble of Conscience Now carnal Men neglect it because they are not perswaded of the Worth and Excellency of it and Men under Horrors of Conscience distrust it they are such Sinners they dare not apply it and are so full of Doubts and Scruples because they are not perswaded of the Truth of the Gospel See how the Apostle proposeth the Gospel 1 Tim. 1. â—5 This is a faithful Saying and worthy of all Acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the World to save Sinners of whom I am chief If negligent and carnal Men would but look upon it as worthy of all Acceptation and troubled Conscience look upon it as a faithful Saying there would be more regular Actings and Effects found in their Hearts and Lives the Negligent would give more Diligence and the Contrite would rise up into a greater Hope and Confidence If Men did believe the Worth of Salvation they would not run after lying Vanities If they did believe the Truth of Salvation for Sinners there would not be so many Scruples and Fears It is notable that the Scriptures very seldom do press Assurance of the Subject but Assurance of the Object in very many places to believe the Doctrine it self for there is the greatest Difficulty and in the Word of God we have no Precedent of any that were troubled about their own Interest If an Earthly King should proclaim a general Pardon and an Act of Grace to all Persons in Rebellion only on terms of Submission and laying down their Hostility and returning to their Duty and Allegiance the Doubt would not be of their own Interest but of the truth of his Intention to shew them such Grace and Mercy So it is with God he hath proclaimed Terms of Grace in the Gospel provided we will lay down the Weapons of our Defiance and return to the Duty of our Allegiance now that which we suspect is the Heart of God and the Gospel in the general whether there be Mercy for such kind of Sinners as we are 2. Because we cannot perswade Men to a Certainty against their Consciences what should hinder but that now you should establish your Interest and that you now make your Plea and Claim according to God's Word and Oath for Joy must arise from a Sense of it Your complaining is not the way to ease your Conscience but Obedience It is an Advantage to find our selves in an ill Condition not a Discouragement As the Woman in the Gospel made an Argument of that that she was a Dog Mat. 15.27 Truth Lord yet the Dogs eat of the Crumbs that fall from their Masters Table As when the Man-slayer saw the Avenger of Blood at his Heels this made him mend his pace and fly for Refuge so when we see we are under the Wrath of God this should make us more earnest to look after Christ and Salvation in and by him The Cities of Refuge under the Law stood open for every Comer and there was free Admission till their Cause was heard So Christ is the Sanctuary of a pursued Soul and whosoever comes shall be received Iohn 6.37 Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out God excludeth none but those that exclude themselves No Sin is excepted but the Sin against the Holy Ghost Therefore make your Claim till your Cause be heard The great Affront we put upon God's Oath is not so much doubting of our Condition but not running to Christ for Refuge If we still stand complaining of our lost Estate and do not attempt the Work of Faith we put an Affront upon God's Oath If the Lord had bid thee do some great thing I allude to the Speech of Naaman's Servants wouldst thou not have done it to be freed from Death and Hell How much rather when he saith unto thee Only come fly as for thy Life and see if I will cast thee out Take up a Resolution to try God and see if he will not be as good as his Word and Oath Say Lord thou hast given two immutable Grounds of Hope here I come I will wait to see what thou wilt do for me in Christ. 3. I answer Do but see whether thy Interest in Christ be not established or no Here is the lowest Qualification of an Heir of Promise and yet the highest and most solemn way of Assurance Here are two immutable Grounds and yet what 's the Description we who have fled for Refuge to lay hold upon the Hope set before 〈◊〉 Here is a driving Work that belongs to the Law implied in these words We fly 〈◊〉 Refuge then a drawing Work which belongs to the Gospel in these words To lay hold on the Hope set before us The Law begins and works preparatively as Moses brought the Children of Israel to the Borders then Ioshua led them into the Land of Canaan The Law shews us our Bondage and makes us fly for Refuge but then the Gospel pulls in the Heart to God There is a necessity of the preparing
it is most probable to imagine that he intended he should smite the Rock with it as was before done at Rephidim Exod. 17.6 Thou shalt smite the Rock and there shall come Water out of it that the People may drink But here there is no Command of smiting therefore some think he should only have lifted up his Rod in the Eyes of the People as the Signal of former Miracles Others think his Error was in smiting twice when once had been enough to declare their Faith and Reliance on God's Promise But the Scripture doth seem to refer us to another cause their Disobedience and Unbelief not manifested in his smiting so much as in his speaking Psal. 106.32 33. They angred him also at the Waters of Strife so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes because they provoked his Spirit so that he spake unadvisedly with his Lips Therefore the Sin was Impatience mingled with Diffidence and this in the sight of all the People 1. He was in a great Passion more than was usual with him at other times as appeareth by the manner of his speaking Ye Rebels and also the doubling of his Stroke sheweth the Heat of his Anger Now the Wrath of Man worketh not the Righteousness of God James 1.20 The Passion was in it self a fault but withal it disturbed him so that he could not discharge that Duty which was incumbent upon him in the manner that he ought to do it with Faith and Affiance in God or so as he might set out his Goodness Power and Truth He spake in a Provocation not as became a meek and faithful Servant of the Lord that desired to glorify him in the Eyes of the People 2. There was Unbelief and Distrust in it Must we fetch you Water out of this Rock A Speech that savoured of doubting which needed not considering what an express Promise they had from God Therefore God saith Numb 20.12 Because ye believed me not They spake as if it were impossible to fetch Water out of the Rock when God had assured them of the contrary or at least such an abundance for them all as might be sufficient for all the Multitude with their Beasts and Cattel Or if their Faith in God's Power was clear they might doubt of his Mercy that God would do such a thing for a murmuring and unthankful People 3. There was Scandal in it In this they did not endeavour as they ought to set forth God's Glory and Power in the Eyes of all the People They should have charged the Rock to yield forth Water and have given the People a good Example of believing and obeying God's Words in their greatest Straits ver 12. Ye believed me not to sanctify me in the Eyes of the Children of Israel That is they did not publickly before the People shew Affiance in God as became them Therefore the words are to be noted ver 13. This is the Water of Meribah because the Children of Israel strove with the Lord and he was sanctified in them Tho Moses and Aaron sanctified him not by Faith and Obedience yet God sanctified himself 1. Among the People by giving Water for their Thirst So it 's said Isa. 48.21 When he led them through the Deserts he caused the Waters to flow out of the Rock for them he clave the Rock also and the Waters gushed forth And as for them so for their Cattel yea the wild Beasts of the Wilderness had benefit by this Mercy of God to his People So Isa. 43.20 The Beasts of the Field shall honour me the Dragons and the Owls because I give Waters in the Wilderness and Rivers in the Desert to give Drink to my People my Chosen 2. He was sanctified in Moses and Aaron by punishing their Disobedience Thus it is taken Ezek. 38.16 That the Heathen may know me when I shall be sanctified in thee O Gog before their Eyes that is by punishing them for their Sins for thereby God makes himself known to be an holy and powerful God So Levit. 10.3 I will be sanctified in them that come nigh unto me and before all the People I will be glorified either by doing good to them that serve him aright or by punishing them that transgress his Precepts This is the History Now observe it in three things 1 st The State and Quality of the Persons 1. Moses was an eminent Servant of the Lord faithful in all his House Deut. 34.5 So Moses the Servant of the Lord died Tho Men be holy for the main yet it doth not justify their Failings or excuse their evil Actions as if they were not Sins nor hinder God's Wrath from breaking out upon them temporally tho they be exempted from eternal Condemnation For God is no Respecter of Persons Behold the Righteous shall be recompensed in the Earth much more the Wicked and the Sinner Prov. 11.31 If the Faults of the Righteous whom God loveth with a Fatherly Love in Christ be not without Chastisement surely the Wicked cannot escape Their Sins are not by design but by surprise not committed with a strong Will but out of Frailty and being commited they are retracted by Repentance As Moses often mentioneth this Sin and at his Death maketh here an acknowledgment of God's Justice against him for it that his Example might be a warning to all People not to disobey God's Commandments or disbelieve his Word Yet God will be known to be an holy God by the notable Inconveniences God's People often bring upon themselves here in the World This Truth is ushered in with an Ecce Behold the Righteous shall be recompensed in the Earth that is observe the just and most wise Government of our supream Lord Behold it it is a certain Truth and deserveth our most solemn Consideration Many Miseries we may have in our Pilgrimage for they are recompensed upon Earth and our Chastisements are confined only to the present Life 2. He was a very meek Man Numb 12.3 Now the Man Moses was very meek above all the Men that were upon the Face of the Earth This Commendation the Spirit of God giveth to Moses tho by Moses his own Pen. Now Meekness is a Vertue which keepeth a mean in Anger and avenging our selves when we are offended wronged and contemned Yet this meek Man could be thus angry Psal. 106.32 They angred him also at the Waters of Strife and ver 33. They provoked his Spirit In the holiest Men there are Relicks of Sin unmortified and such Weakness as they may readily fall into Sin in the hour of Temptation and such Sin as may cost them dear Who would have thought his Spirit should be so grieved and imbittered It is a dangerous Sin to mingle our Passions with God's publick Service or to go about the Work that he sets us to do with any carnal Perturbation Therefore we had need watch over our selves 3. He was a Man greatly provoked yet this doth not exempt him from Blame and Correction Tho Men
if Men under Grace could live under the Dominion of any one Sin they are shut up by the Curse we must look to Christ and give up our selves to him This Man in the Text had the Love of the World reigning in his Heart and Christ turns him away and afterwards it is said he went â—â—way sad III. VSE To instruct us if we would be prepared for Christ what we must do we must study the Law the Purity of it and the binding Force it hath on all under it 1. We must be able to understand it Christ saith to the Young man Thou knowest the Commandments he appealeth to him as to one that had some Knowledge of the Law Those that live in the Church should not be ignorant of the Commandments or Law of God but well acquained with them God complaineth Hosea 8.12 I have written to him the great things of my Law but they were counted as a strange thing To be Strangers to the Word of God little conversant in it and to make little use of it is a great Affront done to God We should acquaint our selves not with the Letter only as little Children learn it by rote but with the sence and purpose of it 2. Meditate often thereupon Psal. 1.2 His delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and Night Deep and ponderous Thoughts have most Efficacy without a Study of the Law Men are without the Law while they have it Rom. 7.9 I was alive without the law once Who more zealous for the Law than Paul Gal. 1.14 I profited in the Iews Religion above many my Equals in mine own Nation being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my Fathers but while he did not ponder of it he was without the Law 3. Judge your selves by it One great use for which the Moral Law serveth is to bring men to a sight and sense of their Sins and Imperfections and humble them before God Rom. 7.7 I had not known Sin but by the law for I had not known lust except the Law had said Thou shalt not covet and to undeceive them of Conceits of their own Goodness and Righteousness Look into thy Bill what owest thou 4. Beg the Light of the Spirit to shew thee thy Sin and Misery Rom. 7.9 Whâ—n the Commandment came in the Light and Evidence of the Holy Spirit Sin revived and I dyed Men that have the Letter of the Law may be without the Light and Power of it Without the Spirit we guess confusedly concerning things as the Man that saw men like Trees walking and have but general cursory confused Thoughts SERMON IV. ON MARK X. v. 20. And he answered and said unto him Master all these have I observed from my Youth YOU have heard of a necessary Question propounded by a Noble Young man to Christ What shall I do that I may inherit Eternal Life We have spoken to Christ's Answer Now in this Verse we have the Young man's Reply All these have I observed from my Youth wherein there is expressed or pretended at least 1. An Vniversality of Respect to the Will of God All these have I observed 2. An early Beginning to do so from my Youth He was still a Young man but by these words from my Youth he means ever since I had the use of Reason as soon as I begun to distinguish between Good and Evil strait and crooked Certainly this Answer were good if it were true Some goodness there is in it therefore we will observe something from it for it is said in the next Verse when he had answered thus Iesus beholding him loved him First It is good in the first Respect as an Vniversality of Obedience is pretended and I may drop this Note Doct. They that would keep the Commandments must observe not only one but all It is true of the Law of God as it belongeth to the Covenant of Works or to the Covenant of Grace 1. As it belongeth to the Covenant of Works Gal. 3.10 Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them Every Sin the least is damnable by that Covenant and deserveth a Curse if he should omit any thing required or commit any thing forbidden the Curse seizeth upon his Throat So Iames 2.10 Whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all As one Condition not observed forfeits the whole Lease therefore it concerns this Legalist to make good his Plea and Conceit of Perfection by the Law to say All these things have I done 2. But is not the Covenant of Grace more favourable No it gives not allowance to the least failings but binds us to make Conscience of all as well as of some 1. Because the Authority is the same Exod. 20.1 God spake not one or two but all these words they are all ratified by the Great God and Law-giver So that the same reason that moves us to one moves us to another also that we do it out of Conscience to God we must walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work Col. 1.10 That we should obey Parents keep the Sabbath not Steal be careful of his Institutions not worship him by an Idol this is pleasing to God and so is that 2. The Heart can never be Sincere when we can dispense with any thing which God hath Commanded And you cannot have the Testimony of a good Conscience approving your Sincerity when you allow your selves in the least Failing Psal. 119.6 Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments I confess it is chiefly meant of our final Judgment But in all Conditions in the World if we would be found faithful with God and not lest to shame we must respect all his Commandments Luk. 1.6 Zachary and Elizabeth were both righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless And saith David Psal. 66.18 If I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me If you would not break your Confidence and freedom of Heart when you come to God in Prayer but come with Assurance of Welcome and Audience not one Sin must be regarded When we set up a Toleration in our own Hearts and dispense with any one Duty it is either some Pleasure or Profit or Honour that maketh the Duty contrary to us but this will not stand with Sincerity that any petty Interest or Affection of ours should be preferred before the Will of God for these Men do not serve God but their own Lusts when they will only obey God so far as Pleasure Honour or Profit or some Lust will permit them to yield Obedience to him 3. God giveth Grace to keep all Wherever he Renews and Sanctifies it is throughout he fills the Soul with the Seeds of all Grace so as to dispose and encline us to every Duty
whether to God or Man the World or our Fellow Saints 2 Pet. 1.7 Add to Godliness Brotherly-kindness and to Brotherly-kindness Charity An Infant as soon as Born into the World thô it hath not the Bulk Stature and Strength of a Man yet it hath all the Essentials of a Man and is a perfect Man In the New-Birth the Inward Man is perfect in parts all Grace is given that is necessary for all Conditions Ye are inriched in all things in Christ there is a suitableness to the whole Law of God Rom. 7.22 I delight in the Law of God after the inward man VSE To Reprove those that would keep some Commandments but not all Herod did something at the Motion of Iohn the Baptist but he would not leave his Incestuous Marriage with his Brothers Wife Some Persons may be very forward in some good things but they will not leave this or that Sin their Swearing or Lying or Uncleanness or vain Company or Gaming or idle Fashions they refrain some Sins but not all some Duties you shall have them very forward in but not all they are halving it with God There is such an Union betwixt all the parts of the Law of God that one cannot be violated without a breach of all the rest As one leak in a Ship if let alone may sink it so one Sin indulged and allowed may prove the Bane of the Soul And therefore take heed of obeying God by halves and think not to please him or have any true Comfort in thy Conscience by any such Obedience The Young man so far spake well if he had spoke truly All these have I kept Secondly There is another thing that is good in the Reply the Young man maketh that is his early Beginning I have kept all from my Youth It is certainly a good thing to begin with God Betimes and to frame our Hearts to the Will of God as soon as we come to years of Discretion and that upon a three-fold Reason 1. Because it will be a Help to us all our Lives afterwards before Affections are forestall'd and pre-ingaged to begin with God and to have the Inclinations of Youth set right by a good Education to be restrained from our own Will and be train'd up in a way of Abstinence from Bodily Pleasures A sober Education prevents much Sin Psal. 119.9 Wherewithall shall a Young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto according to thy Word Mark it is not Wherewith shall a Young Man guide or direct but cleanse his way When Men are well principled and seasoned in Youth it sticketh by them nay the Vessel is seasoned already The word cleansed presupposeth some Defilement A Child is not like a Vessel which newly comes out of the Potters shop indifferent for good or bad Infusions No the Vessel is fusty already and hath a smatch of the Old man we come seasoned into the World for we were born in Sin and in Iniquity Psal. 51.5 Behold I was shapen in Iniquity and in Sin did my Mother conceive me Well then to begin betimes what good may we get by it Our Work is to stop the growth of Sin and that we do not settle in an evil Course and that will be a great Advantage to us all our Life after On the the other side the want of a good Education is a great disadvantage to Grace a maim hardly cured it leaves a Scar and makes a Man limp as long as he lives if he doth not begin with God betimes thô afterwards he be Converted for when a Man is not framed betimes to God he suffers the Canker of Self-will to fret so deep that Reason Law and Religion hath much ado to bring them to the Denyal of themselves To give you an Instance in Adonijah 1 Kings 1.5 6. Who exalted himself saying I will be King A rough Self-willed Young man he would have Soveraignty and a Crown and not stay for it till David was Dead or submit to the Appointment of a Successor I will be King and why It is said His Father had not displeased him at any time in saying Why hast thou done so He had too much of his Will when he was a Youth As Plutarch noteth of Coriolanus a Noble Roman that for want of a good and seasonable Education being left young under the Tutelage of his Mother and she left him to his own Will was so impatient and wilfull that no Man could hardly converse with him O Christians when Religion begins late and Men have to do with Corruptions habituated and confirmed by long time and loose Education it cannot shew it self with such Lustre and Advantage Therefore it is good to break the Will of Young Ones to train them up to bear the Yoke from their Youth otherwise thô they should be subdued by Grace and in a great measure broken yet this disadvantage remains with them to their Dying day Those that are seasoned well with sober Education either they are not so bad as others or it worse becomes them to do evil and they cannot Sin without many checks of Conscience which others have not Therefore a good and sober Education is a great Advantage to be train'd up from our Youth thô it be but to Moral Vertue 2. While Parents and Governours are careful to season those tender Vessels the Lord is pleased many times to replenish them with Grace from above and to give in his Blessing upon their Education and many have been Converted that way We read of Obadiah 1 Kings 18.12 But I thy Servant fear the Lord from my Youth Iosiah 2 Chron. 14.3 In the eighth year of his Reign while he was yet young he began to seek after the God of David his Father So Timothy 2 Tim. 1.5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned Faith that is in thee which dwelt first in thy Grandmother Lois and thy Mother Eunice and I am perswaded that in thee also His Mother and Grandmother were full of Faith and Sobriety and they were seasoning of him and training him up from his Youth to be acquainted with the Will of God and what a notable Instance of Abstinence and Sobriety did he prove 2 Tim. 3.15 And that from a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation Certainly it is much to have Youth brought up in Knowledge and in the Power of Godliness Families are Societies to be sanctified to God as well as Churches and Governours of Families have a Charge of Souls as well as Pastors of Churches and therefore they should be careful of them and may wait for God's Blessing upon the Education of Youth There be many offer their Children to God in Baptism and they do well in so doing but Educate and Train them up for the World and the Flesh which they renounce in Baptism You will bewail any Natural Defect of your Children and seek to cure it while they are young if they have a Stammering
Diseases he ascended up into a Mountain or retired into a Ship and leaves the Multitude and when they would have crowned him King he refused it all these were Arguments and Instances of his Humility Hear and wonder at what you read Iohn 13.3 Iesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he was come from God and went to God A magnificent Preface Now one would have thought that some rare act of Empire Soveraignty and Domination should have followed No Verse 4.5 He riseth from Supper and laid aside his Garments and took a towel and girded himself After that he poureth water into a bason and began to wash his Disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded The Disciples did not wash the feet of their Lord but the Lord washed the Disciples feet and what was the meaning of this see Verse 15. For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you 3. In Love to the Saints Iohn 13.34 A new Commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another And Iohn 15.12 This is my Commandment that ye love one another as I have loved you Oh how express are these Injunctions There is nothing in which Christ was more Eminent than in his Love no rancour of Spirit no boyling up of Envy but all Love The Apostle propounds it to Husbands Eph. 2.25 Husbands love your Wives even as Christ loved the Church Now how did Christ love his Church with a great Love so as to dye for his Church The Love of Christ was sincere not for By ends he loved Saints as Saints because of his Interest in them So should we love those in whom we see most of the Image of God It was not a blaze but a constant abiding Love whom he loves he loves unto the end so must we love the Saints It is true Jesus loved some above others Iohn was the beloved Disciple John 21.20 There was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Flower of the Disciples whom he loved most but he loved them all We should Love not in Word but in Deed and in Truth Oh be filled with Love to God and Love to the Saints who have his Image stamped upon them You that are Believers have cause to love one another have we not all the same Father Are we not Children begotten of the same Holy Seed the Word Do we not all suck at the same Breasts of the Promises Do we not all sit at the same Table at the Lords Supper Are we not all cloathed with the same Robe of Christ's Righteousness and do we not all expect the same Glory 4. In his Vsefulness and Profitableness And of this the whole Gospel is a Narrative and History Therefore when the Apostle would summ up the Life of Christ he tells us this Acts 10.38 He went about doing good giving Eyes to the Blind Feet to the Lame Speech to the Dumb healing every sickness and every Disease among the people Matth. 9.35 full of Compassion to the Souls of Men. Jesus Christ was nothing else but Charity covered over with Flesh and Blood he was always either giving of Blessings or forgiving of Sins All his Miracles were not actions of Pomp but of Relief and Succour unless it were blasting the Fig. tree and sending the Herd of Swine into the Sea and the Figg-tree was Barren and the Swine was of little use in the Jewish Countries All the Miracles of Christ were salutary and healing We never read he destroyed one Man by Miracle but saved many Eph. 5.1 2. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear Children and walk in love as Christ also hath loved us Oh that we could learn this none is born for himself but for the Community and it is better to give than to receive 5. In his Piety towards God If you consider the History of Christ you will find him much in Acts of Devotion he was Frequent and Fervent and Reverent in Prayer Frequent Mark 1.35 And in the morning rising up a great while before day he went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed And Luke 6.12 He went out into a Mountain to pray and continued all night in Prayer to God Alas we are weary in our ordinary stinted Offices of the day how soon do we grow weary of calling upon God! but Christ spends whole Nights in Prayer He was Fervent Luke 22.44 And being in an Agony he prayed more earnestly And he was Reverent when he was in the Garden he kneeled down and prayed Luke 22.41 And he fell on his face and prayed Mat. 26.39 He was a most diligent Observer of the Sabbath Luke 4.16 As his custom was he went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day he was diligent in frequenting the Publick Assemblies Oh how doth this confute those that out of height of Spirit and a proud Conceit of themselves are above Ordinances and say they were appointed only for Christians of the lower form He praised God for mean and course fare when he had but five Barley Loaves and two Fishes He took the loaves and when he had given thanks he distributed to the Disciples John 6.11 Alas when our Tables are full furnished we have scarce any serious Thoughts of God that giveth us richly all things to enjoy 6. In his Spirituality and Heavenly-mindedness Christ came from Heaven and he lived in Heaven all the while he was upon the Earth When he was at the Well of Samaria conferring with the Woman there he discourseth of the Well that springs up to Everlasting Life Iohn 4.14 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 into everlasting life He drew her from a Discourse of ordinary water to a Discourse of the Water of Life When he was at Supper at the Pharisee's House he discourseth of eating Bread in God's Kingdom Luke 14.15 Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the Kingdom of God When he had wrought the Miracle of the Loaves he discourseth of the Bread of Life and the Mannah that came down from Heaven Iohn 6.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for the meat which endureth to everlasting Life which the Son of Man shall give unto you When he was at the Feast of Tabernacles where they were wont to pour out water and so to make a Pool near the Temple he discourseth of Rivers of water and of the flowings of the Spirit Iohn 7.38.39 He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water This spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive A rare Pattern for us to follow We should labour as to see all things in God so to see God in all things and to be heavenly minded
Treasure in Heaven the Purchase whereof is certain the Possession firm and the Price incomprehensible The Lord will keep you aloof from Temptations he knows that if you were rich you would grow sensual insolent and negligent of spiritual things God knoweth what Condition is best for you you should have a greater account to make he expecteth from others Charity from you Patience Besides says Iob Chap. 1.21 The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away blessed be the Name of the Lord. Some think it is the greatest Misery to have been sometimes happy but that is through Corruption when former Enjoyments make Men more nice delicate and tender and so less able to bear the present Cross. But if we consider rightly the less we have been afflicted the less are our Afflions on that behalf is it nothing that God hath given us to pass over some of our dayes with Peace and Comfort should we be so unthankful as to account that no benefit because it is past Iob 2.10 What! shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil is not what you have received a Pledge of what he can do for the future 3 VSE To the Rich to shew them what need they have of special Grace to manage that Condition aright It would seem an hard Censure upon this sort and order of Men yet it is a Truth and spoken by him who is Truth it self It concerneth you to look after special Grace more than others your danger is great and your difficulties in order to Eternal Life not a few You need peculiar Grace 1. To prevent the Evils and to heal those Diseases that are incident to Riches As Contempt of God We are apt to neglect and despise him when our Necessities do not drive us to him such is the Pravity of our Natures Hosea 5.15 In their Affliction they will seek me early Make God your refuge and he will be your habitation Psal. 91.9 Because thou hast made the Lord thy refuge even the most high thy habitation Neglect of Christ and Salvation by him they that have an Happiness in their hands already see no want in their Condition The whole need not a Physitian take heed of being heart-whole then you will have no relish for the Gospel It disposeth to Apostacy you have something of Value which you must esteem as nothing for Christ. It maketh us neglect Heaven Psal. 4.6 7. There be many that say who will shew us any good Lord lift thou up the light of thy Countenance upon us Thou hast put gladness in my heart more than in the time that their Corn and their Wine encreased An Estate without God is not good Lord let me not have my All here for these things must be left It maketh you proud and scornful Remember there are the true Riches without which a Person is but Vile He is most honourable before God that hath most Grace The Value of Men is otherwise in the World to come than in the present World Your Humility is your Crown It makes you to be more Sensual Wealth is the Pander of Pleasure the Purveyor for the Flesh but it should not be thus There is more cause of Fear than Rejoycing Gal. 6.8 He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption It makes us Worldly as Chains to detain us under the Power of Satan and enslave us to the World It doth but betray you into mischief Do you desire your way to Heaven should be made more hard that is hard enough already 2. That you might devote your Riches to the Lord and be holy and heavenly in the midst of so great Temptations that you may not by momentary and temporal things forfeit eternal but rather further them Luk. 12.21 So is he that layeth up treasures for himself and is not rich towards God 1 Tim. 6.18 19. That they be rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold of eternal life Wealth rightly imployed makes us capable of a greater Reward hereafter as it makes us more useful here SERMON XI ON MARK X. v. 24. And the Disciples were astonished at his words But Iesus answered again and said unto them Children how hard is it for them that trust in Riches to enter into the Kingdom of God IN these Words you have two things 1. The Entertainment which the Disciples gave to his former speech They were astonished at his words 2. Christ's further Explication of himself But Iesus answered again and said unto them Children how hard is it for them that trust in Riches to enter into the Kingdom of God Wherein Observe 1. The Manner of our Saviour's speaking in that kind Compellation Children 2. The Matter of the Explication How hard is it for them that trust in Riches to enter into the Kingdom of God 1. For the Entertainment which the Disciples gave to his former speech They were astonished at his words This Astonishment was caused either by the legal Dispensation under which Obedience was rewarded with visible and temporal Blessings and therefore they marvelled that rich men should find such difficulty of entering into Heaven Or else it was occasioned by the Jewish Expectation of a pompous Messiah wherewith the Disciples themselves were levened expecting to share of the Honours and Riches of that Kingdom which Christ would set up Now Christ's Answer was quite blank contrary to these Carnal Hopes therefore they marvelled Or it may be upon the common reason that the Gates of Heaven should be shut to them to whom the gates of the World do always ly open Thus hardly are good Men brought to disesteem worldly things and rightly to ponder and weigh the Doctrine of the Cross which Christ had so frequently taught them 2. For Christ's Explication And there 1. The Compellation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Children so he bespeaks them who were sincere for the main thô a little leavened with Carnal Conceits and to sweeten the Doctrine which seemed so contrary to their humour 1 Thes. 2.11 As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a Father doth his Children Novices and weak ones are to be used with all Indulgence for they had not received the Spirit in that plentiful measure as afterward 2. The Matter of his Explication How hard is it for them that trust in Riches c He had said before How hardly do they that have Riches now he explains himself they that trust in Riches He instanceth in this 1. As one common Disease of Rich Men as soon as they have any thing in the World they are apt to trust in it Some abuse Riches one way some another some to encrease their Worldly Cares and desire of having others to feed their Pride and Sensuality this way or that way according to their different Temper and Constitution of Body and
is to lay hold upon eternal life 1 Tim. 6.12 that is seize upon it as ours as assured to us by the Word of God or to take it as our Happiness and accordingly pursue after it Eph. 1.13 In whom ye trusted after ye heard the word of Truth the Gospel of your Salvation Now when we choose this Felicity for our Portion set our Hearts upon it make it the chief Care and Business of our Lives to seek it and do all as Means thereunto carry our selves as Strangers and Pilgrims in the World and look for no great Matters here but wholly depend upon God's faithful Word for this Happiness to come then is Faith wrought in us 4. 'T is our Strength and Preservative against all Temptations from the Devil the World and the Flesh The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit Eph. 6.17 A Weapon of excellent use in the Spiritual Warfare And 't is said 1 Ioh. 2.14 Ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one This helpeth us to ward off the bloâ—â— of any Temptation When the Heart is well stocked and furnished with this Word of God you have something to oppose still to Darken the Splendoâ— of the World to check the Desires of the Fâ—esh and so do the better carry on a continual Warfare and Watchfulness And so the Fleshly Inclination is overruled and the Profits Honours and Pleasures of the World have less force upon us VVhen the Devil sheweth the Bait and the Flesh is ready to swallow it Faith sheweth the Hook A Belief of the VVord of God being of a lively and vigorous Nature produceth Noble effects in us It casteth down all that rebellâ—th against God and casteth out all that would be preferred before him Psal. 37.31 The Law of his God is in his heart none of his steps shall slide A lively active Sense of his Duty is kept fresh upon his heart 5. To be our Comfort and Cordial in our Afflictions Psal. 119.59 This is my Comfort in my Affliction thy VVord hath quickened me Verse 92. Vnless thy Law had been my delight I should then have perished in my Affliction Heb. 12.5 Ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto Children My Son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord nor faint when thou art rebuked of him So Psal. 94.19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy Comforts delight my Soul God's Comforts are such as God alloweth or God worketh The Matter of both is in the Scriptures though the Spirit be the Author of them and the Instrument he worketh by is Faith In Wants and Streights how sweet is it to a Believer to consider how amply we are provided for in the Covenant When Gods Hand is heavy upon us and Providence represents him as an angry Judge yet the Covenant represents him as a Father In a time of Tryal one promise of God will give you more true Comfort and Support than all the arguings of men Fourthly The Notes whereby we discern a strong and grown Faith as to this Property of it its respect to the Word 1. When the Consolations laid down in the Word of God are more prized than any extraordinary Dispensations Certainly 't is a weakness when Men undervalue the Comfoâ—ts of the Word as slender empty unsatisfactory and would have the Manifestations of God's Love exhibited to them in some singular and extraordinary way Eliphaz chargeth it on Iob wrongfully Iob 15.11 Are the Consolations of God small with thee is there any secret thing with thee God's ordinary way is the sure way the other layeth us open to a Snare Surely our Consciences are best settled in the ordinary way of God's Word in a way of Faith Repentance and close walking with God but as Naaman despised the Waters of Iordan so many despise the ordinary Comforts and would have Signs and Wonders to assure them These may long sit in darkness because if God comforts them not in their way they will not be comforted at all Now though God sometimes in Condescention to his People may grant their desires as Christ did to Thomas yet 't is with an upbraiding of their Weakness and Unbelief Ioh. 20.28 You should acquiesce in the common allowance of God's People least you seem to reflect on the Wisdom and Goodness of God and lay open your selves to some false Consolation and dream of Comfort while we affect new Rules without the Compass of the Word especially when we find not our expectations there speedily answered like hasty Patients ready to tamper with every Medicine they hear of rather than submit to a regular Course of Physick Gregory telleth us of a Lady of the Emperors Court that never ceased importuning him to seek from God a Revelation from Heaven that they should be saved Rem difficilem petivit inutilem 'T was a thing difficult and unprofitable difficult for him to obtain and unprofitable for her to ask having a surer way by the Scriptures 2 Pet. 1.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We have a more sure word of Prophecy than Oracles The adhering of the Soul to the Promises is the unquestionable way to obtain peace Luther as he confesseth was often tempted to ask for Signs or some Special Revelation He tells also how strongly he withstood these Temptations Pactum feci cum Domino meo ne mihi mittat Visiones vel etiam Angelos contentus enim sum hoc dono quod habeo Scripturam Sanctam quae abunde docet suppeditat omnia quae necessaria sunt tam ad hanc vitam tam ad â—uturam I indented with the Lord my God that he would never send me Dreams and Visions I am well contented with the Gift of the Scriptures 2. When the Word is matter of Joy and firm Confidence to us before there is any appearance of performance This in two Cases 1. In Case of Delay when 't is long e're God appeareth and Faith doth not require the Existence and Pre-essence of the thing believed only the Promise of it Therefore though the Promise be delayed it eyeth the Blessing at a distance Heb. 11.13 These all dyed in Faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off were perswaded of them and embraced them Abraham was one of them Ioh. 8.56 Your Father Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad And we if we would be strong Believers must do likewise Heb. 6.12 Be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and Patience inherit the promises A Christian is not to be valued by his Enjoyments but his Hopes Heaven is all performance Here he dealeth with us by Promises but you will find his payment sure and that God in effect is better than all his Promises for they cannot signifie and convey the full Sense of all that God meaneth to bestow Therefore we must wait whether the Promise be to be fulfilled in this Life or
than in the time that their Corn and their Wine encreased And Cant. 1.4 We will be glad and rejoice in thee we will remember thy Loves more than VVine The choicest Contentments of the Flesh are nothing so satisfying as the Joy of his Salvation This Joy is called unspeakable and glorious as being better felt than uttered 1 Pet. 1.8 The strength of it is seen when other Comforts fail How precious are thy Thoughts unto me O God! Psal. 139.17 How great is the summ of them Sixthly The sixth Property of Faith is Victory over the World 1 Ioh. 5.4 5. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the VVorld and this is the Victory that overcometh the VVorld even our Faith who is he that overcometh the VVorld but he that believeth that Iesus is the Son of God I shall dispatch this briefly and shall shew you 1. What is the World that is to be overcome All worldly things whatsoever so far as they lessen our Esteem of Christ and Heavenly things or as they hinder us in our Duty to God In short the Delights and Terrors of this World for we must be Armed on both sides with the Armour of Righteousness both on the right hand and the left 2 Cor. 6.7 The Fears of this World are apt to stagger us so do Snares pervert and inveigle us Moses had Temptations of all kinds right-hand Temptations from Riches Honours Pleasures Heb. 11.24 25 26. By Faith Moses when he was come to years refused to be called the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the People of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt Left-hand Temptations Ver. 27. By Faith he forsook Egypt not fearing the wrath of the King for he endured as seeing him who is invisible The Armour of the right hand is called Temperance of the left hand Patience 2 Pet. 1.6 To Knowledge Temperance and to Temperance Patience In the Parable of the Sower sowing his seed we read that which fell on the Stony ground withered in Persecution Luk. 8.13 They on the rock are they which when they hear receive the Word with joy and these have no root which for a while believe and in time of temptation fall away That which was sown in the Thorny-ground was choaked with the Cares Riches and Pleasures of the World Verse 14. And they which fell among Thorns are they which when they have heard go forth and are choaked with Cares and Riches and Pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to perfection If the Terrors of Sense assault our Constancy we must set Loss against Loss Pain against Pain Fear against Fear Matth. 10.28 Fear not him that can kill the Body and do no more but fear him that can cast both Body and Soul into Hell If they threaten a Prison remember God threatens Hell If they threaten Fire God threatens everlasting Fire If they threaten loss of Estate loss of Heaven is much worse If the Delights of Sense are likely to Corrupt us to pervert or divert our Minds from better things we must look to it and remember what better things are reserved for us Persecution is opposite to Prosession without but this obstructs the very Vigour Life and Power of Godliness within Ioh. 2.15 If any Man love the World the Love of the Father is not in him And then for Pleasures 2 Tim. 3.4 Lovers of Pleasures more than lovers of God Heb. 12.16 Or prophane Person as Esau who for one Morsel of Meat sold his Birth-right Honours are baneful to our Faith Ioh. 5.44 How can ye believe which receive Honour one of another and seek not the Honour that cometh from God only They eat out the Heart of it These are our daily Temptations 2. The Necessity of Overcoming the World 1. 'T is by the World that our spiritual Enemies have advantage against us The Devil seeketh to tempt or fright the fleshly Nature in us either by the Terrors or Allurements of Sense therefore Conquer the World and the Tempter is disarm'd he blindeth us as the god of this World 2 Cor. 4.4 In whom the god of this World hath blinded the minds of them which believe not least the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them He Vexeth as the Prince of this World and having a strong Party in the World he findeth it no great matter to entice a sensual Worldly Mind to almost any thing that is evil The Baits and Provisions of the Flesh are in the World 1 Ioh. 2.16 For all that is in the World the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the World The World fits us with a Bait agreeable to every Appetite or a Dyet that suiteth with every Distemper of our Souls A proud Mind must be Honour'd and Humoured and will go nothing lower than high Place and Pomp of living a Sensual Mind must have its Pleasures and the Covetuous the Increase of Wealth and Religion is either cast off or neglected and made an Underling 2. The World is the great Lett and Impediment to our Obedience In the first Epistle of Iohn ch 5. in the Context to the Words that I am now explaining Verse the 2 d and 3 d. it is said By this we know that we love the Children of God when we love God and keep his Commandements for this is the love of God that we keep his Commandements and his Commandements are not grievous Then it followeth Verse 4. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the VVorld c. So Titus 2.11 12. For the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all Men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present VVorld The one must be done that the other may be done We shall soon be tempted to make a Breach upon Righteousness Sobriety or Godliness if we do not labour to overcome the World So Psal. 119.36 Incline my Heart unto thy Testimonies and not to Covetousness 3. This Victory over the World distinguisheth the Spiritual from the Animal Life The World of Mankind is distinguished into two sorts some that live the Animal Life and some that live the Spiritual Life They that live the Animal Life are such as only behave themselves meerly as living Creatures or as a wiser sort of Beasts and the Comfort of their Life is only kept up by the good things of this World Land Heritages Honours Pleasures Riches and so Reason is subjected to Sense all their Contrivance is for the Flesh But the Spiritual and Divine Life is supported by the Comforts of the Spirit and the Foresight of Eternal Joyes in the World to come and so Reason is raised and sublimated by Faith These two Lives are distinguished Ioh. 3.6 That which is born of
great stay to the Souls of true Believers to cause them with Comfort to trust themselves and all their Affairs in the hands of Christ. We have no reason to doubt of his Care Protection and Merciful Disposal of us and if poor sick and desolate you may go to him it is in the power of his hands to help you 1. There is no want but he can easily supply it Psal. 23.1 The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want 2. There is no pain or suffering but he can easily mitigate or remove it Mat. 8.2 Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean 3. There is no danger so great from which he is not able to deliver thee Dan. 3.17 18. If it be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King But if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the golden Image which thou hast set up 2 Cor. 1.10 Who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us Where can we be so safe as in the Love and Covenant of such an Almighty Saviour Get but this imprinted upon your Hearts and it will beget a strong and stedfast Confidence in him 6. He reasoneth from the strict Discipline observed in the Roman Armies where there was no disputing of Commands or questioning Why and Wherefore I am a man under Authority having Soldiers under me and I say to this man go and he goeth and to another come and he cometh and to my Servant do this and he doth it Verse 9 th Where he compareth Person with Person I am a Man thou a God Condition with Condition a subordinate Officer with Christ the Supream Lord He knew what it was to obey and to have Power over others Power with Power his Power over Soldiers and Servants with Christ's Command over all Events Health and Sickness Life and Death Reasoning for God and his Promises is a great advantage We are Naturally acute in reasoning against Faith but when the Understanding is quick and ready to invent Arguments to encourage Faith it is a good sign VSE Go you and do likewise From the Example of the Centurion let me encourage you 1. To readiness of Believing Iames 3.17 The wisdom that is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be intreated This is opposite to that slowness of Heart to believe which we read of Luke 24.25 Oh Fools and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken These are more receptive and easie to entertain a Doctrine than others Iohn 7.17 If any Man do his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God The Sincere and Renewed need less ado to convince them There is a light Credulity Prov. 14.15 The Simple believeth every word and there is the readiness of a Sincere Mind to embrace the Truth We are to captivate our Understandings to the Obedience of Faith but not every Fancy lest we be like Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4.14 No a Christian must not be like a Reed shaken with the Wind nor believe every Spirit but yet where the Truth is sufficiently evidenced we must embrace it Most of our Hesitancy in Religion comes not so much from the Conflict between our Light and the Doubts of our Mind as from the Conflict between our Light and Lusts which maketh us irresolute but a sincere Heart soon overcometh the difficulty 2. To represent our Necessity to Christ and referr the Event to him to commit and submit all to him There is an Alsufficiency of Power and Infinite Pity and Goodness that we need not trouble our selves about the Event Submission before the Event is Faith as after it is Patience This is true Faith in such Cases as the Centurion came about to referr all to Christ. 3. To be Humble In all our Commerce with Christ Faith must produce a real Humility Faith is most high when the Heart is most low Luke 18.11 12 13 14. The Pâ—arisee stood and prayed saying God! I thank thee I am not as other men are c. I fast twice a week I give tithes of all that I possess And the Publican standing afar off would not so much as lift up his eyes to Heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a Sinner I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted The one changelled a Debt the other begged a Favour Humble Supplications to God become us better than proud Expostulations 4. To meditate often on the Soveraign Dominion of Christ and his Power over all things that fall out in the World To keep us from warping and running to unlawful shifts God propoundeth his Alsufficiency to our Faith when we enter into Covenant with him Gen. 17.1 I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect He hath Power enough to help defend and reward us we need not seek elsewhere for a Protector or Paymaster the Word of his Providence is enough he can heal our Diseases supply our Necessities or bless a little as he did the Pulse to the captive Children Dan. 1.15 Their Countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the Children which did eat the portion of the Kings meat A SERMON ON MATTH XV. v. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. Then Iesus went thence and departed into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon And behold a Woman of Canaan came out of the same Coasts and cryed unto him saying Have mercy on me O Lord thou Son of David my Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil But he answered her not a word and his Disciples came and besought him saying Send her away for she cryeth after us But he answered and said I am not sent but unto the lost Sheep of the House of Israel Then came she and worshipped him saying Lord help me But he answered and said It is not meet to take the Childrens bread and cast it to Dogs And she saith Truth Lord yet the Dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Masters Table And Iesus answered and said unto her O Woman great is thy Faith be it unto thee even as thou wilt And her Daughter was made whole from that very hour WE come now to the Second Instance of a Great and Grown Faith This ought to be considered by us In the Centurion me had an Instance of a reasoning Faith now of a wrestling Faith Faith wrestling with grievous Temptations but at length obtaining help from God We ought to consider this for these Reasons 1. Because Christ pronounceth it to be great Faith and so proper for our Imitation O Woman great is thy Faith It is the Faith of a Woman a
must open the Nature of it The Hardness of Heart discovereth it self by two Properties it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an insensible Heart and an inflexible Heart 1. An insensible Heart as a brawny Substance or callous piece of Flesh like the Labourer's Hand and Traveller's Heel This the Apostle intimateth Ephes. 4.18 19. Having the Vnderstanding darkned being alienated from the Life of God through the Ignorance that is in them because of the Blindness of their Heart Who being pâ—st feeling c. In one Verse he chargeth them with Hardness of Heart and in the first Words of the next Verse with loss of Feeling Feeling of all Senses though it be not the most noble yet it is the most necessary there is no Life without it it is diffused throughout the whole Body and in what Member soever it is lost there is no more Intercourse of vital and animal Spirits and where 't is totally lost there is no more Life There may be Life when other Senses are wanting a Man may be deaf and yet live blind and yet live but if he utterly lose his Feeling he cannot live Such a dead sensless Heart is the hard Heart as appeareth in the Wicked by that great Security Ease and Quiet which they naturally have though lying under the Guilt of many and grievous Sins and though they be obnoxious to the Wrath of God yet they are never troubled nor affected with any sense of their Condition They can sin freely in Thought foully in Act without any Remorse and Shame Ab assuetis non fit Passio Men are not moved by such things as they are much used to As they that live by the fall of great Waters sleep quietly because they are accustomed to the Noise so Men that are accustomed to Sin can swear and be drunk and commit Filthiness or go on in some other Trade of Wickedness and are never troubled Mithridates through the Custom of drinking Poison made it so familiar to him that he drank it without danger Elementa non gravitant in suis locis Elements weigh not in their proper place A Fish in the Water feeleth no Weight Sin is not burdensom to wicked Men it is in its own place This Insensibleness is the greater where Men will not be awakened out of their Lethargick Fit by all the Means which God useth to them by the Threatnings of his Word or the Judgments of his Providence There is a Method in God's Dispensations he threatneth that he may not punish and punisheth now that he may not punish for ever Now the Children of God are startled at the Threatnings and tremble when they see a Storm in the Clouds before it falleth As Iosiah had a tender Heart and melted at the Threatning 2 Chron. 34.27 And they are said to tremble at the Word Isa. 66.2 and Ezra 9.4 But wicked Men think this is a vain Scarecrow and though they are most obnoxious to the Judgment and Wrath of God yet they have no sense and tender feeling of it Therefore God goeth on to his second Dispensation he punisheth now that he may not punish for ever As Absalom set Ioab's Barley-field on fire that he might draw him to come and speak with him so God seeketh to make Men serious to bring them to the Throne of Grace and sue out their Pardon by many temporal Judgments But still wicked Men start aside and will not turn to him that smiteth them Ier. 5.3 Thou hast stricken them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive Correction As the Anvil is smoothed into Hardness by many Blows and Strokes so are Men more insensible of their Condition and will not regard the meaning of God's Providences Well then an hard Heart is insensible of what they have done against God or what God hath or may do to them And so far as we lose our Sense and Tenderness so far is the Heart hardned 2. It is an inflexible Heart it is not easily bent to God's Purpose say he what he will Men are as light as vain as mindless of Heavenly Things as basely wedded to the Delights of the Flesh as ever and obstinately and against all Means to the contrary refuse the Counsel of God for their Good Though God hath the highest Reasons of his side and great Variety of powerful and alluring Motives to gain Souls to his Obedience and these represented not only to the Ear by his Messengers but to the Heart by his Spirit yet Men are so addicted to their own Wills and Lusts that they will not suffer themselves to be perswaded by him to accept of his Offers and rich Mercies in Christ they will not obey the sweet Directions of his Word nor regard the Motions and Strivings of his Spirit to let their beloved Lusts go and comply with the Will of God 1. They are inflexible to the Counsels of his Word where God interposeth in the way of the highest Authority straitly charging and commanding us under pain of his Displeasure and reasoneth with us in the most potent and strong way of Argumentation from the Excellency of his Commands and their Sutableness to us as we are reasonable Creatures from his great Love in Christ whom he hath given to die for us from the Danger if we refuse him which is no less than everlasting Torment from the Benefit and Happiness of complying with his Motions which is no less than eternal and compleat Blessedness both for our Bodies and Souls and all is bound upon us by a strict impartial Day of Accounts when we are to answer for our Neglects or else to receive the Reward of our Diligence But alas the hard Heart defeateth the End of this whole Contrivance Neither the Awe of God's Authority nor the Reasonableness of his Commands nor the wonderful Love of Christ nor the Joys of Heaven nor the Horrors of everlasting Darkness nor the Strictness of the last Day 's Account will work Man to a sense of his Duty or gain him to make serious Preparation for his own Happiness and everlasting Salvation Out of what Rock was the Heart of Man hewen What will work upon you if this Doctrine upon which God hath laid out all the Riches of his Wisdom and Grace will not work upon you Hath God another Son to die for you a better Heaven to bestow upon you or an hotter Hell to scare you withal Would you have the Day of Judgment more exact and severe or greater Obligations to all Holiness and Godliness of Conversation than those already propounded or more Charms and Perswasiveness added to the Gospel O no that cannot be Infinite Wisdom hath already stated these things Or would you have God save you against your Wills or thrust these things upon you without your Consent Surely it is Obstinacy plain Obstinacy and hardness of Heart that maketh you stand out against God Psal. 58.4 5. They are like the deaf Adder that stoppeth her Ear which
SERMON V. GENESIS xxiv 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the even-tide 4. Case WHEN must we Meditate 1. In the General something should be done every day seldom Converse begetteth a strangeness to God and an unfitness for the Duty It is a Description of Gods Servant Psalm 1.2 His delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night At least we should take all convenient occasions It is an usual way of Natural Men to make Conscience of Duties after a long neglect they performe Duties to pacifie a Natural Conscience and use them as a Man would use a sleepy Potiori or Strong Waters they are good at a pinch not for constant Drink Alass we lose by such wide gaps and distances between performance and performance it is as if we had never done it before 2. For the particular time of the day when you should meditate that is Arbitrary I told you before you may do it either in the silence of the Night when God hath drawn a Curtain of Darkness between you and the things of the World or in the freshness of the Morning or in the Evening when the Wildness and Vanity of the Mind is spent in Worldly Business 3. There are some special solemne times when the Duty is most in season As 1. After a working Sermon after the Word hath fallen upon you with a full stroak it is good to follow the blow and when God hath cast Seed into the Heart let not the Fowls peck it away Matth. 13.19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom and understandeth it not then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart Ruminate on the Word chew the Cud many a Sermon is lost because it is not whet upon the Thoughts Iames 1.23 24. He is like a man that beholdeth his Natural face in a glass For he beholdeth himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was Matth. 22.22 When they heard these things they marvelled and left him and went their way You should rowl the word in your thoughts and deeply consider of it 2. Before some solemn Duties as before the Lords Supper and before special times of deep Humiliation or before the Sabbath Meditation is as it were the breathing of the Soul that it may the better hold out in Religious Exercises it is a good preparative to raise the Spirits into a frame of Piety and Religion When the Harp is fitted and tuned it doth the better make Musick so when the Heart is fixed and setled by a preparative Meditation it is the fitter to make Melody to God in Worship 3. When God doth specially revive and enable the Spirit It is good to take advantage of the Spirits gales so fresh a Wind should make us hoise up our Sails Do not lose the Spirits Seasons the Spirits Impulses are good significations from God that now is an acceptable time 5. Case What time is to be spent in the Duty I Answer That is left to Spiritual Discretion Suck the Teat as long as Milk cometh Duties must not be spun out to an unnecessary length You must neither yield to laziness nor occasion Spiritual wearyness the Devil hath advantage upon you both wayes when you rack and torture your Spirits after they have been spent it makes the Work of God a Bondage And therefore come not off tiâ—l you find profit and do not press too hard upon the Soul nor oppress it with an indiscreet Zeal It is Satans Policy to make you out of Love with Meditation by spinning it out to a tediousness and an unnecessary length 6. Case Whether should the time be set and constant I Answer It is good to bind the Heart to somewhat and yet leave it to such a liberty as becomes the Gospel Bind it to somewhat every day that the Heart may not be loose and arbitrary we see that necessity quickneth and urgeth and when the Soul is engaged it goes to work the more throughly Therefore the Lord asks Ier. 20.21 Who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me It is good to lay a tye upon the Heart and yet I advise not to a set stinted Hour lest we create a snare to our selves Though a Man should resist Distractions and Distempers yet some business is unavoidable and some Distempers are invincible I have observed this that even Religious Persons are more sensible of their own Vowes then of Gods Commands when Men have bound up themselves in Chains of their own making their Consciences fall upon them and dogg them with restless Accusations when they cannot accomplish so much Duty as they have set and prescribed to themselves And besides when Hours are customary and set the Heart groweth formal and superstitious 7. Case Are all bound to meditate Are the Ignorant Are Men of an unquiet Nature Are Servants Are Ministers 1. Are the Ignorant and Men of barren Minds that have not a good stock of Knowledge I answer Yes they are bound to this as well as other Duties though they cannot do it well it is their Duty to strive that the Word of God may dwell richly in them It is a mark of a Godly Man every Man is bound to be skilful in the Scriptures Ier. 31.34 They shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. God hath no Child so little but he knows his Father therefore all are bound in some measure to be able to discourse of God and of the things of God 2. But some are of an unquiet Nature fit for Publick Duties but not for Private Exercises are they bound as well as those of softer Spirits and fitter for Meditation I answer This is not Temper but Distemper the unquiet Spirit must not totaliter cessare wholly discontinue this work They are to mind wherein they may serve God most but not totally desist from a work so necessary and of such great importance 3. Are Servants bound to it whose time is not their own I Answer They should do what they can God is more merciful to them but those that are in bondage to others may find some leisure for God 4. Are Ministers obliged Their whole work is a Study their Imployment is a continual Meditation I Answer There is a difference between Meditation and Study In Study we mind the good of others in Meditation the good of our own Souls Things work with us according to our end and the aims that we propose to our selves Things work with us according to our end and the aims that we propose to our selves Publick Teaching is no such Tryal of our Hearts there is a Natural Pride in us to urge us to teach others and that makes so many intrude into the Ministry there is some kind of Authority in it that we exercise over others but we are to mind the good of our own Souls and to regard
Ambition and Aspiring thought but Man sinned by the Devils suggestion certainly it is more to be a Tempter than a Sinner and he that sinneth himself doth not offend God himself so much as he that made Israel to Sin However it be we have cause to bless God that he hath revealed his Justice against them and his Mercy to us 2. Observe Gods Wisdom fetched a large compass and circuit and those things which we count the ruine of Man were through the Wisdom of Providence his Preservation The fall of Angels the fall of Man those crooked things which seemed to be the destruction of the Creature through the over-ruling of God made for the manifestation of his Glory Gregory called the Sin of Adam Foelix Scelus because it occasioned the coming of Christ. Providence hath many creeks and turnings but all concur to the Beauty of the whole Frame The Apostle calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the manifold wisdom of God Ephes. 3.10 Therefore we are not to judge by present Sense Gods mending is better than his making he would have all fall to pieces to discover more of his Mercy Man must commit a shameful Act and Christ must suffer a shameful Death and all this to advance his own Glory As a Vessel that is crackt and sodered is the stronger there or a Legg that has been broken and set again by a skilful hand is the stronger so the Lord would first have Man to fall and ruine himself that he might be the better established by his own Grace 3. Observe again that God should pitch upon this way of sending his Son God was not limited or bound up he could have done it by an Angel or of his own will have released the Creature of his offence but it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell Col. 1.19 it was Gods Will that Salvation should be brought about this way In the whole business of Salvation God would proceed by choice not necessity I confess supposing the determination of the Divine Decrees no Creature was qualified to do us good the Angels do but their work they could not so fitly super-erogate for us But if God would send his own Son he might have come as a King in Glory and Triumph and wrestled with Satan and rescued all the Elect out of his hands but the Lord would not now discover Power but Love he had discovered Power in Creation Rom. 1.20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal Power and Godhead but in Redemption he discovered his Wisdom every Attribute of God was to be discovered in its season Again the Lord would meet with the Sin of Men and Angels The Angels had lost their Holyness out of a desire of greatness they would be over all and under none And Man was sick of the same Disease and did desire to be rather great than good Adam would be as God Adam fell by Pride and to counter-work this Christ was to restore Mankind by Humility When he cometh to save Mankind he layes aside his Majesty and puts on a humble garb he would not save Mankind by Power but by Suffering the Lords design was by the quality of the Remedy to shew the Nature of the Disease 4. Observe Man or Angel could not have found out such an excellent Plot or Design as this is It could not have come into our heads or hearts and therefore it came meerly from the Breast of God it was devised by Father Son and Holy Ghost Rom. 11.34 Who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his counsellor What Creature did prescribe to God or direct him to such a way The Apostle sheweth it could not enter into the Creatures thoughts 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him You will find by the Context he speaks of the Doctrine and Contrivance of Christ crucified neither Sense nor Fancy nor Reason could suggest such a thing to the Creature There are some seeds of the Law in Nature but not the least seeds of the Gospel We see in other Nations they cannot so much as think of a way of a Recovery Isa. 56.19 He saw that there was no man and wondred that there was no Intercessor therefore his arm brought salvation unto him it is chiefly understood of the Everlasting Salvation by Christ. If the Lord had tarryed till Man had devised a way for his own Comfort we had been miserable to all Eternity 5. Observe God discovered this design before it was accomplished in the fullness of time Isa. 42.9 Before they spring forth I tell you of them This Love was too big to be contained in his Heart but he must open his Mind the Prophecies and Promises of the Old Testament were the Eruptions and Overflows of Gods Love his Heart was so full of Love that it could not be contained within the bounds of secrecy he openeth his Heart and gives vent to his Love in the midst of Anger Assoon as Man had displeased him God drops out the Promise That the Seed of the Woman should break the Serpents Head 6. Observe again God discovered this by Degrees first in Types then in Truths first in Promises then in Performances God spake to his People formerly not so much by Words as by Things We teach Children to fight with Puppets and in the Oriental Nations it is their genius to be taken with Allegories and Figures God would prepare the World by degrees as the day groweth till it cometh to high Noon to us he hath opened all his good Treasure And further it was for our instruction that wickedness should be perfectly discovered And besides the former Ages needed Restraints more than Comforts Every Age had sufficient Revelation for what God required of them 2. Follow this Meditation by Arguments There could not have been a better way to save the Creature whether we respect Gods Glory or the Creatures Comfort and Profit 1. If we consider Gods Glory It was the best way to commend his Love Rom. 5.8 But God commended his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Herein was the commendation of the Divine Love that God would give up the Son of his own Love and Bosom to dy for us that were Sinners As the Apostle saith Heb. 6.13 When God made promise to Abraham because he could swear by no greater he sware by himself So when the Lord could give us no greater gifts he gave us his Son David seems to be amazed with wonder when he considers the Power of God in making such Creatures as the Moon and Stars much more when he considers the Love of God in framing of Man Psal. 8.3 4. When I consider the heavens the work of thy fingers the moon and the stars which
further 2 Pet. 1.18 19. And this voice which came from heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy Mount who have also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more sure word of prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts What greater confirmation could the Apostles expect than that voice from Heaven This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Matth. 17.5 Yet Peter who heard that voice telleth us that comparatively we have greater security from and by the written Word not in it self but as it is given in evidence to us so that there is no compare between it and one from the dead 2. We have sensible Confirmations VVe are wrought upon by sence now is not ordinarily the word as sensibly confirmed to us as it would be by a Vision or Apparition from the dead 1. There is the Holyness of Professors 1 Cor. 14.25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth 1 Pet. 4.4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot speaking evil of you Is it not more wonder to see a Living Man that hath not devested himself of the Interests and Concernments of Flesh and Blood to deny himself for things to come then to hear a tale from a dead Man 2. There is the constancy of the Martyrs that have ratified this Truth with the loss of their dearest concernments Revel 12.11 And they overcame by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death 'T is possible a Man may suffer for a false Religion and Sacrifice a stout Body to a stubborn mind But is there no true Gold because there hath been some counterfeit Coin The Devils Martyrs have not been so many for number nor for Temper and Quality so Holy so VVise so Meek as the Champions of the Truth The Christian Religion can shew you Persons of all Ages young and old of all Sexes Men and VVomen of all Conditions of Life Noble and of Low Degree of all Qualities Learned and Unlearned See Sermons on John 17. p. 256. 3. Then there is the inward feeling of Gods Children they find a Power in the word convincing changing comforting fortifying their hearts These can speak of what they hear feel and tast as well as one that cometh from the dead They have answerable impressions on their hearts Heb. 8.10 I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts 2 Cor. 3.3 Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the spirit of the living God not in tables of stone but in fleshly tables of the heart All this stampt upon the heart in legible Characters A true Christian is the lively transcript of his Religion the Scriptures are the Original and every Believer is the Copy it is gone over again in his heart 4. Those that have no Experience of this have a secret fear of the power of the word Iohn 3.20 For every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh to the light lest his deeds should be reproved He will not come to the light because he is afraid of the Majesty of God shining forth in the Scriptures Men dare not muse upon and seriously consider the Doctrine therein contained Atheisme lyeth in the heart the Seat of desires Psalm 14.1 The fool hath said in his heart there is no God Men question the word because they would not have it true they are willing to indulge their lusts and therefore they are afraid of the word that forbiddeth them As Ahab was loath to hear Michajah because he prophesied evil Strong Lust maketh us incredulous A Malefactor desireth to destroy the Records and Evidences that are against him 5. There are also outward Effects of the Power of the VVord its propagation throughout all the VVorld within thirty years or thereabout the Doctrine it self contrary to Nature it doth not court the Senses nor woe the Flesh it doth not make offers of splendour of Life or Pleasures and Profits but biddeth us deny these things and expect troubles the drift of it is to teach Men to row against the stream of Flesh and Blood to renounce our Lusts deny our Interests And this was done by a â—ew Fishermen who had no long Sword no Publick Interest or Authority to back them and that in the face of the Learned VVorld when all Civil Disciplines were in there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and height The word prevailed against Ancient Customs the Ark was to be set up in the Temple that was already occupied and possessed by Dagon 6. Then consider the many sensible Effects of the VVord as the Accomplishment of Prophecies Promises Threatnings and Answer of Prayers Gods Providence is a Comment upon Scripture It is an Authentick Register and Infallible Prognostication and Kalender VVe need not have one come from the dead to tell the truth of it it is fulfilled before our eyes every day 4. Or else they can convey a Power or expect that God will co-operate more with their report than with the Holy Scriptures Surely they are finite Creatures though passed out of this Life Nothing can convert and turn the heart of Man but the Infinite Power of God all the Angels in Heaven cannot pluck one Sinner out of the State of Nature VVe read one Angel could destroy One Hundred Eighty Five Thousand in Senacheribs Hoast 1 Kings 19.35 But all the Angels cannot convert one Soul But will God co-operate Alas when all prejudices are removed Men are nothing the better till the Lord puts in his Grace the Iews suppose Moses and the Prophets to be of God they were confirmed by notable Miracles the fame of which continue among them But the matter is about Gods Efficacy But now God concurreth with his instituted Course common means of Gods appointing have a singular efficacy annexed as Reading Acts 8.32 Hearing Mark 4.24 Meditation Acts 17.11 Christ dyed to sanctifie Ordinances Eph. 5.26 and there if ever shall we meet with the Power and Grace of God Secondly Against it There are more rational prejudices that lye against any other way than this way that God hath taken As to instance in the matter in hand 1. It is no mean scruple about the lawfulness of hearkning to one that should come from the Dead since they are out of the Sphere of our Commerce and it is a disparagement to the great Doctor of the Church Against consulting with the Dead See Deut 18.10 11 12 with 14 15. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire or that useth divination or an observer of
of our discharge but as he dyed for our offences so he rose again for our justification Rom. 4.25 As having perfectly done his work As the Eather delivered him to Death so he brought him back again from the Dead The Apostle layes a great weight upon this Rom. 8.34 Yea rather that is risen from the dead There is some special thing in Christ's Resurrection comparatively above his Death which hath influence on our Justification Was not Christs Death enough to free us from Sin Yes but the visible evidence was by his Resurrection It is as it were an acquittance from those Debts of ours which he undertook to pay As Simeon was dismissed when the Conditions were performed and Ioseph satisfied with the sight of his Brother Gen. 43.23 He brought Simeon out unto them 2. Christs Office is allowed so that he is the great shepherd of the sheep that is the Blessed Saviour into whose hands God hath put his Flock to be justified sanctified and saved and from whom we may expect all that comfort which a flock hath from a good and faithful Pastor We are put into his hands as he is Mediator not by way of alienation for they are in the Fathers hands still Iohn 10.29 My Father which gave them me is greater than all and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand But oppignoration laid at pledge in his hands A Shepherd is not Lord of the Flock but as a Servant to take care of them They are not his as Mediator by way of Original Interest and Dominion but in point of trust and charge He hath an Office about them and giveth an account of them at the last day He is sometimes called simply without any addition The shepherd 1 Pet. 2.25 Ye are returned unto the shepherd and bishop of our souls Sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The good shepherd as Iohn 10.11 And here The great shepherd and the chief shepherd 1 Pet. 5.4 because of the Dignity of his Person and Office And surely if we put our selves into the hands of this Shepherd we can lack nothing Psalm 23.1 The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want We may look for all manner of supplies from Christ. 3. God is so far appeased that there is a new Covenant procured and constituted called here the everlasting covenant partly because it shall never be repealed and continueth unalterable and the called obtain by it the title and possession of an Eternal Inheritance Heb. 9.15 They which are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance And partly because Christs Blood is the foundation of this Covenant and the vertue of it never ceaseth therefore this Covenant is Everlasting also and made effectual and able to obtain its ends which is the Eternal Salvation of sinful Man once converted and reconciled to God This Covenant also is called the Covenant of Gods Peace because it is a publick Demonstration that God is pacified Isa. 54.10 But my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed Ezek. 37.26 I will make a covenant of peace with them Partly because in this Covenant this Peace and Reconciliation is published and offered to us that Man may not stand aloof from God as a condemning God So it is said Eph. 2.17 Christ came to preach peace to those that are near and to those that are afar off Acts 10.36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel preaching peace by Christ he is Lord of all Partly because in this Covenant the terms of this Peace between us and God are stated God bindeth himself to sinful Man to give him Remission of Sins and Eternal Life begun by the Spirit and perfected in Heaven upon the Conditions of Faith Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God and Repentance Acts 3.19 Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out as our Entrance and new Obedience as to continuance Heb. 5.9 He became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey him IV. How we come to be Interested in this Peace and Reconciliation or the conveyance of it to us For this Peace may be considered as to the Impetration and Application of it 1. As to the Impetration and laying down of the price that was done by Christ on the cross Therefore it is said 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself Then was God propitiated and the Merit and Ransom interposed by vertue of which we are pardoned and reconciled 2. As to Application when God is actually reconciled with us and we enter into his Peace and are restored unto his Favour This may be considered either as to the first gift God is never actually reconciled to us nor we to him till he give us the regenerating Spirit that is our receiving the atonement Rom. 5.11 It was made on the Cross but received at our Conversion and Regeneration Or else it may be considered as to the further measure of his sanctifying Grace called here perfecting us for every good work and working in us that which is pleasing in his sight This is given with respect to our reconciled Estate as we are actually at Peace and in Covenant with God 2 Cor. 5.17 18. Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature old things are passed away behold all things are become new And all things are of God who hath reconciled us to himself by Iesus Christ. The summ is this At the Death of Christ there was such a foundation laid that we need no other ransom nor propitiation He hath so far satisfied Divine Justice that he hath obtained the New Covenant The first Grace is given us meerly with respect to the Merit of his Sacrifice for Christ purchased the Mercies promised and power to performe the conditions Farther Grace is given us because we are already reconciled unto God which is a ground of the greater Joy and Confidence For our actual Reconciliation giveth us a title to all consequent acts of Friendship which can be expected or received For in Gods way we shall have further Sanctification and after that Salvation V. The Reasons why all increase of Grace comes from God as the God of Peace 1. From the Giver God will not set us up with a new Stock of Grace till satisfaction be made for the breach of his Law We must not look upon him as pars offensa the Offended Party but as Rector Mundi the Governour of the World Private Persons may forgive offences as they please but the Governour and Judge of the World would not pass by the offence of Man till the ends of Government be secured or that the Law fall not to the ground which it doth not whilst God standeth upon the satisfaction of Christ and the submission of the Sinner The right of passing by a wrong and the right of releasing a punishment are different things Because punishment is a common Interest
The Church complaineth Psalm 102.10 Thou hast lifted me up and cast me down A sad dejection after some comfortable Elevation All outward Glory is like a glass transparent but brittle Paul was wrapt in the Third Heaven and was full of unspeakable Ravishments and Revelations yet presently he talketh of a Thorne in the Flesh. Now at your best think of this that you may inure your Thoughts to Changes and settle your solid Happyness in God David when he had a Glorious Victory speaketh of loosing and Gods blasting their Armies Psalm 60.10 compared with the Title He acknowledgeth past Judgments as the fruit of God's Displeasure In the Roman Triumphs there was one to remember them of their Mortality in the midst of their Pomp. Yea under the Law Leavened Cakes were allowed in Peace-Offerings and Sacrifices of Thanksgiving which were forbidden in other Sacrifices Levit. 7.13 He shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace-offerings To teach us to temper our Joyes with the Thought of Sorrow and Affliction A SERMON On LUKE xxii 31 32. And the Lord saith Simon Simon Behold Sathan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat But I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not and when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren IN the words observe two things 1. A warning of Danger approaching in the 31. verse 2. A Comfort propounded in the 32. verse 1. In the first branche observe 1. The Person to whom Christ directeth his words to Peter Though they concerned all the rest for it was not him only whom Sathan desired to sift but all of them But Christ speaks to him in particular because it most concerned him The Devil would vex all of them but our Lord foresaw that he would more grievously fall than his fellow Disciples and being more fervent and confident than the rest was more exposed to Temptations and when he addresseth his Speech to him he calleth him not Peter but Simon It was Matthew 16.18 Thou art Peter and upon this rock will I build my church q. d. The Name by which thou art known to me signifieth a Rock and Stone But this was when he uttered his good confession but now he was to be an Instance of Humane Frailty he calleth him not Peter but Simon And mark the ingemination of his Simon Simon This doubling of his Name doth partly intimate Affection and is as much as to say My dear Simon partly to stir up a serious attention that he might mark what is said 2. The danger it seâ—f Behold Sathan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat Where observe 1. The Author and Procurer of this Trouble the Devil called here Sathan that is an Adversary Our danger is mainly from the Devil he hath a great hand in the troubles of Gods People He assaulteth them himself by his Wills and Fiery Darts Eph. 6.11 and 16. and stireth up his Instruments to persecute them Luke 22.53 This is your hour and the power of darkness That was the time when the Devil and his Instruments were permitted to work their Wills on Christ When the Shepheard was smitten and the Flock scattered abroad 2. The way how he bringeth it about he hath desired to have you It intimateth two things 1. He asketh leave for Sathan and his instruments cannot touch any of Gods Children without Gods permission Therefore he asketh leave to have the Disciples of Christ in his power to vex them So for Iob he has leave to touch his substance but must not meddle with his person Iob 1.11 12. But put forth thine hand now and touch all that he hath and he will curse thee to thy face And the Lord said unto Sathan behold all that he hath is in thy power only upon himself put not forth thy hand Then to afflict his Body with Biles and Soars but he must spare his Life Iob 2.5 6. But put forth thine hand now and touch his bone and his flesh and he will curse thee to thy face And the Lord said unto Sathan Behold he is in thine hand but save his life Nay he was fain to ask leave to enter into the herd of Swine Mat. 8.31 So the Devil besought him saying if thou cast us out suffer us to go away into the herd of swine Surely then the Flock of Christs Sheep need not be troubled If the bristles of the Swine be numbred much more are the hairs of your heads 2. It is a kind of suing out of his right The word signifieth the putting in of a Plea and Suit not a bare asking leave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 poposcit vos ad poenam Sin giveth Sathan some right of claim and when we have committed some Sins we provoke God to give us over to Sathan to be disciplined Therefore this desiring to have you is his accusing you to God and requiring that he may have the shaking of you For the Devil is an Adversary 1 Pet. 5.8 Because your adversary the devil as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Adversary Sathan is an Enemy at Law he is alwaies inditing and accusing you before God that he may get you into his power and reach Oh how watchful should the Children of God be when they have an Adversary that pleadeth Law and Equity on his side and pursueth his right against them to bring them to the Tryal But how could he do so in the case of the Apostles and of Peter in particular Possibly it might be something criminously done by them in that contention of the Disciples about Primacy and Superiority who should be chiefest Mentioned verse 24. And there was a strife among them which of them should be accounted greatest And the indignation of the ten against the two Brethren Iames and Iohn and in that contest Peter might be most faulty he being with them two Those of the Disciples whom Jesus most loved Peter Iames and Iohn were often admitted to his privacies when others were excluded Oh it is a sad thing when we give occasion to Sathan to demand us to the Judgment 3. His aim and purpose to sift you as wheat that is to toss and shake you as Grain in a Sieve The meaning is The Devil would have permission from God wholly to subvert you and cast you away A great Judgment is expressed by this Phrase Amos 9.9 I will sift the house of Israel among all nations like as corn is sifted in a sieve This is the Devils aim utterly to destroy God's People But he can obtain no more than to shake and molest them for Tryal In sifting two things are considerable 1. The Agitation or tossing of the Corn now this way now that way from one side to another 2. The Separation of the Wheat from the Chaff The Devil only intends the former but God the latter He would have Peter and the rest of
pricked in their heart 2. Desire Would not the stung Israelite desire a cure So must you Matth. 5.6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled Saith the Church Lament 3.51 Mine eye affecteth my heart 3. Trust. You see nothing by the Eye of Sense but his Memorials which God hath instituted as helps of Faith yet to appearance as despicable and as unlikely to produce any great effect as a Figure of Brass to cure a raging wound But things under an Institution are under a Blessing 1 Cor. 1.21 It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe You may think a Crucifix a more lively representation no that is not under the blessing of an Institution as Bread broken and Wine poured forth is that is too much a matter of Sense and begetteth bare thoughts which stirreth up fond pity and gross and wrong thoughts this conveyeth a Blessing You are to behold not only a dying Man put to a cruel Death but the Son of God in his deep kxinanition not carnally to pity him but to see his Love and the Wrath of God and the desert of Sin that you may abhor it to see the great price paid for our Ransom the necessity of having the vertue of his Cross and finally our thankful subjection to God Behold him that you may bless and praise God for your Redeemer The Type had its effect and shall not Christ Oh labour to feel the comfortable effects of his Death 3. Beg of God the Spirit to open your Eyes Christ crucified is only seen in the Light and Evidence of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.4 My speech and my preaching was not with the enticing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power The Eyes of our Minds are opened by the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation for our Light is but darkness 4. See him so as to expect not only Comfort but Healing Isa. 53.5 With his stripes we are healed That Heart is to be suspected that looks to Comfort more than Duty Look to him that you may live by him Gal. 2.20 I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me Look to him that you may be like him 2 Cor. 3.18 For 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. Look to him that you may loath Sin Ezek. 36.31 Then shall you remember your own evil wayes and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations The First SERMON On I. Thessalonians v. 16 Rejoyce evermore THE words are brief and short and therefore they may be easily carried away They are independant on the Context and therefore will need no long deduction They press you not to a painful but pleasant Duty therefore you should be readily induced to practice it But yet when we look more intrinsecally into the Nature of it it is not so easie as we first imagined every one cannot receive this saying it is hard to keep the Heart in such an exact frame as to rejoyce evermore pray without ceasing and in every thing to give thanks as Christ saith in another case He that is able to receive it let him receive it Matth. 19.12 But what if we prove it to be a Duty incumbent on all Christians and that at all times The Text seemeth to enforce it rejoyce evermore In which words take notice of two things 1. The Duty to which we are exhorted rejoyce 2. The constancy and perpetuity of it in the word evermore Delight and Pleasure are greedily sought after in Christianity it is not only part of our Wages but much of our very Work Doctrine That Gods Children should make conscience of rejoycing in God at all times and under all conditions Here is a Precept for it not only a liberty given but a Command If you look upon the Words as a License or Liberty given you may conceive of them according to the Apostles Speech of Marriage 1 Cor. 7.39 She is at liberty to be married to whom she will 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but only in the Lord. But it is not only a liberty given but a command for he addeth verse 18. This is the will of God in Christ Iesus concerning you The will of God is the Supream Reason of all Duties and the Will of God in Christ Iesus falleth upon the Conscience with a double force the Law of the Mediator binding us to delight in God as well as the Primitive Duty which we owe to God as the Creator And that this Clause respects all the Three Duties is evident to any considering Mind In the opening of this Duty I shall shew you 1. What Rejoycing the Apostle intendeth 2. How this must be constant and perpetual 3. The many Reasons which do inforce this Duty upon us I. What Rejoycing the Apostle speaketh of There is a double Rejoycing A Carnal Rejoycing and a Spiritual Rejoycing 1. The Carnal Rejoycing is in the World and the good things of this World apart from God Luke 12.19 Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thine ease eat drink and be merry 2. The Spiritual rejoycing is in God Phil. 3.1 Finally my Brethren rejoyce in the Lord Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord alway and again I say rejoyce These two sorts of rejoycing must be carefully distinguished for they differ in their Causes to the one we are prompted by carnal Nature which taketh up with present things and the other is excited in us by the Spirit of God therefore often called joy in the Holy Ghost The one is called the joy of Sense the other the joy of Faith the joy of Faith is in God the joy of Sense in the Creature the joy of Faith is most in future things the joy of Sense in present things the joy of Faith is in the good of the Soul the joy of Sense in the good of the Body or the provisions of the Flesh the joy of Faith is built on the Covenant and the Promises of God Psalm 119.111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever they are the rejoycing of my heart The joy of Sense on the Blessings that flow in the Channel of Common and General Providence Now the first sort of rejoycing the Apostle would not press us unto Nature there needeth a Bridle rather than a Spur but to the latter in delight in God and in all things that come from God and lead to him This delighting our selves in God must be the thing which must be further explained 1. God himself as God is a lovely Nature and the Object of our Delight for he is good even before and
time with words they pray for fashions sake but sit down with the work wrought they Pray but do not look after the answer of Prayers as Children shoot away their Arrows but mind not where they fall They find it in their Tongues but not in their Hearts 2. Carnal Vehemency Men may lust and long but do not pray Iam. 4.2 Ye Lust and have not Motions of Lust are violent and rapid Psal. 78.18 They tempted God in their Hearts by asking Meat for their Lust. These ask things unlawful or lawful things to a carnal purpose Here is no gracious bent for they do not prefer the best things in their desires Mat. 6.33 Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof 3. The fluency of Gifts These make Prayer the work of Invention and Memory The Tongue exciteth the fancy but the Heart hangeth off from God They that are Carnal may come behind in no Gift but the Affections do not keep pace with the Expressions These may personate Faith Hope and Love but they have not that real Inclination that Meekness and Humility which is necessary for the Addresses of a sinful Creature to God 4. Natural Fervency 1. They may be Instant and Earnest for temporal Blessings They have no more to do with God but only that he would deliver them from their troubles Ier. 2.27 In the time of their trouble they will say Arise and save us Exod. 10.17 Intreat the Lord your God that he may take away this Death only It is the temporal Inconvenience they mind more than the removal of Sin and they pray more to get ease of their trouble than repent of their Sins which procured them 2. If they pray for spiritual things 't is but a dictate of Conscience not a desire of the renewed Heart and such as is seconded with constant endeavours to obtain what we ask of God and submission to the means and terms upon which the suit may be granted 3. They soon grow weary and give over if they be not speedily relieved Isa. 58.3 Wherefore have we fasted say they and thou seest not c. Mal. 3.13 Your words have been stout against me saith the Lord yet ye say what have we spoken so much against thee 2 King 6.33 He said this evil is of the Lord what should I wait for the Lord any longer 4. And usually there is more of murmuring than of Prayer in their Addresses to God And that fervency which seemeth to be in them floweth not from Humility Love and Hope but from Pride Bitterness and Diffidence their Prayers are muddy full of Passions Doubts and Fears III. Vse To exhort us to find in our Hearts whatever Prayer we make to God 1. In Private Prayer Let us come as inclined by Love as encouraged by Faith and Hope 1. As inclined by Love So we ask of God all things in order to God We first pray to God for God and next for the Grace of the Redeemer and then for all other subordinate Blessings Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Whatever quiets us in the neglect of God or want of God is esteemed more than God 2. As encouraged by Faith and Hope 1 By Faith Believing the being and bountiful Nature of God Heb. 11.6 He that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him And believing his many Promises which are Yea and Amen in Christ 2 Cor. 1.20 For all the Promises of God are in him Yea and in him Amen Believing his gracious Relation to those in Covenant with him Ioh. 20.17 I ascend to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God Mat. 6.32 Your Heavenly Father knoweth you have need of these things Luk. 12.32 Fear not little flock it is your Fathers good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom 2. By Hope which is a certain and desirous Expectation of the asked and promised Blessing None can come to God aright but those that hope to be the better for coming Christ has taught us How to pray and not to faint Luk. 18.1 Luk. 11.7 8.9 with 11.12 13. Gods not answering us is no call to us to give over but to go on still There is hope in waiting however matters go 'T is best to resolve to lye at Christs door rather than take our answer and go away Our Perseverance should shew how we are affected with our wants and how resolvedly we adhere unto and depend upon God tho' he seem not to pity us but to pursue us with his strokes 2. In Prayer with others If either God direct their Tongues to speak to our Case or in general requests suited to the Necessity of all Christians we must find it in our Hearts or else we are under a Distemper Prayer is nothing else but the language of Faith Love and Hope of Faith a believing of Gods Being and Bounty that he is willing and able to succour us of Love which directeth us to the prime Fountain of all the good we have and would have and to the end the Glory of God and regulateth all our choices by it and to those means which conduce to the enjoying of God and of Hope which is a desirous Expectation of the promised Blessing If we have a Holy Fervour a Confidence in the Power and Goodness of God a Sense of Need and Hope in his Mercy we cannot but find it in our Hearts Prayer is the language of an upright Heart feeling its own wants and craving a supply of God Prayer is a work of the inner man not lifting up the Voice but the Heart to God it is the yearning of the Spirit Rom. 8.26 The Spirit it self maketh Intercession in us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with groanings that cannot be uttered Hannah spake in her Heart only her Lips moved but her Voice was not heard 1 Sam. 1.13 The cry of the Lips doth not pierce the Clouds Eccles. 5.2 Be not rash with thy Mouth and let not thy Heart be hasty to utter any thing before God Have a care of raw tumultuary indigested thoughts a man should before hand meditate on his wants and the necessities of others that he may be affected with them Certainly Prayer must be gone about with Reverence Some rush upon Prayer prophanely others carelesly 1. Some Prophanely they go from their Pots to Prayer They let loose their Hearts eat and drink without Fear and Sobriety profane their Mouths with Light and unfruitful Speech and yet presently call to Prayer as if every frame of Spirit were fit for this work 2. Others Carelesly Prayer is gone about with little or no Reverence at all some talking some trifling some working some toying till the very instant of Prayer yea till he that prayeth in the Name of the rest be upon his Knees and hath begun the Prayer which is offered up to God in all their Names as
this mutual bond to precede that he and his creatures might come near to each other with the greatest familiarity and bind themselves to each other by reciprocal ingagements and consents II. That no Covenant can be made with God without the interposing of and respect unto a sacrifice 1. In the old Church when Israel entred into Covenant with God there were solemn sacrifices The manner you have described Exod. 24. from vers 4. to the 10 th And explained by the Apostle Heb. 9.19 20. When Moses had spoken every Precept unto all the People according to the Law he took the blood of Calves and of Goats with Water and scarlet Wool and Hyssop and sprinkled both the Book and all the People saying This is the Blood of the Testament which God hath enjoined unto you In this Action you may observe that after the writing of the Law Moses built an Altar under the Hill and twelve Pillars according to the Twelve Tribes of Israel Exod. 24.4 The Altar represented God the first and chief party in the Covenant And the twelve Pillars of stone represented the other confederate Party the People of Israel who were to come before the Lord as his obedient People Now both the parties were not only thereby dead representation or in Image and Figure but there were also lively Types of the Glory and Presence of the God of Israel for it is said vers 10. They saw the God of Israel and there was under his feet as it were a paved Work of a Sapphire Stone and as it were the Body of Heaven for clearness God was there in great Majesty to Solemnize the Covenant You know Heaven is his Throne and the Church his Foot-stool Therefore when the Church was desolate it is said Lam. 2.1 God remembred not his footstool in the day of his Anger On Israels part there were present Moses and Aaron and Nadab and Abihu and Seventy of the Elders of Israel and they were to worship afar off vers 1. To express their reverence to this great God who was to enter into Covenant with them Moses alone was to come up to Iehovah but the Elders went up but half way Moses went up unto the top of the Mount in a Dark Cloud as the Mediator and the People abode beneath at the foot of the Mount and the Elders went up but half way Well then the Covenant is propounded to the People Moses came and told the People all the words of the Lord and all the judgments And they make Answer All the words which the Lord hath said will we do vers 3. But before the full confirmation of his Covenant you read that Moses sent the Young men of the Children of Israel who offered Burnt-offerings and sacrificed Peace-offerings of Oxen unto the Lord v. 5. The Young men that is the first-born who had the right of Priest-hood before the Levites were chosen and taken instead of the first-born of Israel Numb 3.41 And by their Burnt-offerings and Peace-offerings it was declared that we cannot enter into Covenant with God without sacrifices These sacrifices did Figure the Death of Christ and the benefits thence accrueing to us There were Burnt-offerings to shew the means of their propitiation with God and Peace-offerings to shew their thankfulness for the peace and Salvation which by it they obtained The next thing in this Action was that Moses took half the blood and put it in basons and half the blood he sprinkled on the Altar vers 6. And then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the Audience of the People and they said All that the Lord hath said will we do and be obedient vers 7. Then he took the rest of the blood and sprinkled it on the People He sprinkled it on the Altar to shew that God took upon him an obligation to bless And the reading of the Book of the Covenant in the Audience of the People sheweth That those that will enter into Covenant with God should understand their Duty and be ready to fullfil it Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the People and said Behold the blood of the Covenant which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words vers 8. The blood sprinkled on the People may be meant of the twelve Pillars set up to represent the People They take an obligaâ—â—â—n to obey One Party is not bound and the other free but both bound to each other Thus the first Covenant was not dedicated without the blood of a sacrifice Well then God is the principal Party covenanting and binding himself to the People by his Promises And the People binding themselves to his precepts that they might avoid the penalty threatned and obtain the blessings promised And this Covenant was confirmed by blood and this blood sprinkled and so made inviolable There is but one circumstance more and that is Vers. 11. And upon the Nobles of the Children of Israel he laid not his hand also they saw God and did eat and drink That is these select and chosen men the Elders spoken of before were not hurt and affrighted by God and did feast in his presence in token of their reconciliation with him and joy in his grace This was the way of entrance by the Jewish Church all which are Mysterious and Typical God that otherwise driveth a sinner from him is made propitious to us that we need not be afâ—righted at his presence yea may hope for all good things from him yea we mâ—y feast chearfully in his presence 2. The Christian Church doth also make a covenant with him by sacrifice This will appâ—ar in three things 1. thaâ— Christs death hath the true notition and vertue of a sacrifice 2. That this sacrifice hath respect to the covenant of Grace 3. That our manner of entering into Covenant with God is by the same moral acts by which they were to be Conversant about a sacrifice 1. That Christ's Death hath the true Notion and full vertue of a Sacriâ—â—ce 1. The true notion Ephes. â— 2. He hath loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour His death is a mediatory sacrifice a propitiatory sacrifice for the expiation of the sins of his People In all the sacrifices of the Law there was shedding of blood without which was no remission of sins All were killed â—layed Some were burnt some rosted some fryed on coals some seethed in pots All which were but shadows of the painful sufferings of our Lord Christ which he indured for our sins Christ is the only true and real sacrifice wherein provoked justice doth rest satisfyed Christ in this sacrifice was the Priest who as God did offer up himself Heb. 9.14 Who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God As man he was the sacrifice Heb. 10.10 By which will we are Sanctified through the offering of the Body of Iesus Chrâ—st once for all We may add
an Heart in them that they would fear me and keep all my Commandments always 'T is done to God who will not be mocked And every Consecration implieth an Execration But for the present see no Lust be reserved If you live or resolve to live in any known Sin or do not resolve against it God will say What hast thou to do to take my Covenant in thy mouth Psal. 50.16 If there be any unsincerity the Covenant is marred in the making Psal. 78.37 Their Heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant If there be any partial reserve the Heart is not right All former Vanities must actually be renounced 4. Having made Covenant with him you must be exact in keeping it Psal. 25.10 All the paths of the Lord are Mercy and Truth to such as keep his Covenant and his Testimonies Therefore be ever mindful of it 1 Chron. 16.15 Be ye mindful always of his Covenant Deut. 4.23 Take heed to your selves lest ye forget the Covenant of the Lord your God Do not deal falsly in it upon any Temptation whatsoever Psal. 44 17. All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant 5. Take heed of an unmortified Heart For an unmortified Professour will never be faithful with God Every Sacrifice shall be salted with Salt Mark 9.49 Remember Gods Judgments upon those that have broken his Covenant Levit. 26.25 I will bring a Sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of my Covenant Isa. 14.5 The Earth also is defiled under the Inhabitants thereof because they have transgressed the Laws they have broken the Everlasting Covenant Entring into Covenant is called entring into a Curse Nebem 10.29 They clave to their Brethren their Nobles and entred into a Curse and into an Oath to walk in Gods Law and to observe and do all the Commandments of the Lord our God and his Iudgments and his Statutes A Sermon on Psalm Cxxvii 3 Lo Children are an Heritage of the Lord and the Fruit of the Womb is his Reward THis Psalm beareth Title A Song of degrees for Solomon In the Margin it is of Solomon or concerning Solomon that is spoken in the Spirit of Prophecy concerning him indeed the passages are in their intrinsick meaning applicable to him He was a builder of the Temple and an inlarger of the State and Dominion of the Iews There is a plain Allusion to his Name Iedidiah and Solomon in the latter end of the second verse For so he giveth his beloved Sleep For Iedidiah see 2 Sam. 12.24 25. She bare a Son and he called his Name Solomon and the Lord loved him and he sent by the Hand of Nathan the Prophet and he called his Name Jedidiah because of the Lord i. e. Beloved of the Lord. And for his other Name Solomon see 1 Chron. 22.9 10. Behold a Son shall be born to thee and he shall be a man of rest and I will give him rest from all his Enemies round about for his Name shall be Solomon i. e. Peaceable and I will give Peace and Quietness in his days He shall build an House for my Name and I will be his Father and he shall be my Son and I will establish the Throne of his Kingdom for ever Well now it is in vain for you Absolom and Adonijah to set your Wits on the rack to torture your selves with your own Ambition God will give Iedidiah the Kingdom and he shall be Solomon have Rest and Peace We read in the History 2 Sam. 15.2 Absolom rose early in the Morning and stood in the Gate to salute every one that passed by Adonijah made a great bustle But Gods will concerning Iedidiah shall stand Hâ— was to be the Builder he was to be the Son by whom the Succession of the â—egal line was to be continued Upon this David comforteth himself and acknowledgeth Gods Mercy Lo Children are an Heritage of the Lord and the Fruit of the Womb is his Reward In the Words Children are represented as a Blessing In which are two things 1. The Author from whom Children come from the Lord. 2. The Quality in which we receive this Blessing set forth by a double Notion 1. As an Heritage 2. As a Reward The Word Heritage is often by an Hebraism put for a man's Portion be it good or bad It is used in a bad sence as Iob 20.29 This is the Portion of a wicked man from God and the Heritage appointed unto him by God In the good sence Isa. 54.17 This is the Heritage of the Servants of the Lord. Reward is put for any Gift that cometh by Promise or with respect unto Obedience Because in a Promise there is a contract implyed if we will do so and so God will do so and so for us Doct. It is a Blessing that we have from God and so it should be accounted that we have Children born of our Loins It is not only a bare gift so it is to the Wicked but a Blessing one of the Temporal Mercies of the Covenant Psal. 128.1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord that walketh in his ways One of the Blessings is Ver. 3. Thy Wife shall be as a fruitful Vine by the sides of thy House thy Children like Olive Plants round about thy Table This is a part of our Portion and Heritage the Saints have so acknowledged it Gen. 33.5 Who are these with thee And he said the Children which the Lord hath graciously given thy Servant Iacob speaketh like a Father and like a godly Father Not only given but graciously given As a Father he acknowledged it a Gift as a godly Father coming from meer Grace This may be gathered from the Story of Iob. Compare Chap. 1. ver 2 3. with 18 19. Observe when his Blessings are reckoned up first his numerous Issue is mentioned before his great Estate The chief part of a mans Wealth and Prosperity are his Children the choicest of outward Blessings Children are first mentioned But observe again in the 18. and 19. verses the loss of Children is mentioned as the greatest Affliction to put the top-stone upon his Trial the last Affliction is the saddest and so giveth the dead stroke 1. There is much of Gods Providence exercised in and about Children 1 In giving Strength to conceive It is not every ones Mercy Sarah obtained it by Faith Heb. 11.11 Through Faith Sarah received Strength to conceive Seed Though bringing forth Children be according to the course of Nature yet God hath a great hand in it Many Godly Parents have been denied the Benefit of Children and need other Promises to make up that want Isa. 56.4 5. Thus saith the Lord unto the Eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths and choose the things that please me and take hold of my Covenant Even unto them will I give in mine House and within my Walls a Place and a Name better than of Sons and of Daughters
a great King As God pleadeth it when they brought a corrupt thing for a Sacrifice Mal. 1.13 No Terrors comparable to his Frowns no Comforts to his Smiles So â—sal 2 11. Serve the Lord with fear rejoice with trembling Obey him most circumspectly with all carefulness watchfulness and diligence making it your chief business to please him 5 'T is a considerable part of our work to look for our Wages or expect the endless blessedness to which we are appointed â—it 2.13 Looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearance of the great God Col. 3.1 2. If ye be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth at the Right Hand of God Set your affection upon things above and not upon the Earth Phil. 3.20 But our Conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for a Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ. That we may see that we have conâ—iderable Motives to do what Christ requireth of us 'T is for our Masters Honour and besides it puts life into our Work and maketh our painful Obedience comfortable and sweet to us for all this is but the way to Eternal Life 6. The Reign of Christ doth not only establish your Duty but is the ground of your safety for he is set down upon the Throne of Majesty to protect his Subjects and destroy his Enemies besides the endless reward in another World there are many evidences of his goodness and signal preservations and deliverances in this World at least peaceable opportunities of serving Him while he hath a mind to employ us He can powerfully support us against all our Enemies Isa. 33.22 The Lord is our Iudge the Lord is our Lawgiver the Lord is our King He will save us As a Soveraign protects his Subjects that continue loyal to Him so will Christ be our Sovereign upon this confidence must we carry on our obedience notwithstanding opposition 1 Tim. 4.10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all Men especially of those that believe 7. One part of our obedience helpeth another Sets the Soul in a right posture As in the Wheels of a Watch the whole motion is hindred by a defect in a part the less compleat you are in all the Will of God the more difficult will it be A Sermon on Luke II. 52 And Iesus increased in Wisdom and Stature and in Favour with God and Men. THese words are spoken of our Lord Jesus Christ. In them two things are observable 1. Christs Groâ—th 2. The consequent of it 1. Christs growth both as to Body and Soul He encreased in Wisdom and Stature 2. The consequent of it He attracted the Love of God and Men. The point I am to speak off is this Doct. Iesus Christ himself in respect of his Humane Nature which consisteth of Body and Soul did grow and improve 1. Let us state this growth of Christ. 2. Give you the reasons of it For stating it 1. Certain it is that there are two distinct Natures in the Person of Christ Divine and Humane The one Infinite and Uncreated The other Created and Finite For he is Emmanuel God with us Mat. 1.23 Of the Seed of David and yet declared to be the Son of God with power Rom. 1.3 4. The Word was made Flesh Ioh. 1.14 The Man God's Fellow Zech. 13.7 A Child yet the Everlasting Father Isa. 9.6 Born at Bethlehem yet his goings forth were from Everlasting Micah 5.2 The Bud of the Lord and the Fruit of the Earth Isa. 4.2 Now according to this double Nature so must his growth be determined surely not of the Divine Nature for to the perfection of it nothing can be added an infinite thing cannot increase So his Knowledge is infinite he knew God and all things 2. In his Humane Nature there are two parts his Body and his Soul The Text saith he grew in both As to his Body and growing in Stature there is no difficulty As to his Soul the doubt is whether he grew really or in manifestation only I think really his Soul improved in Wisdom as his Body in Stature as others of his Age are wont to ripen by degrees In the same sense that he is said to increase in Stature he is said a so to increase in Wisdom for both are coupled together and he increased in Stature really in deed and in truth so that he daily became a more eminent person in the Eyes of all 3. 'T is not said he grew in Grace but in Wisdom To want degrees of Grace cannot be without sin And our High Priest was Holy Harmless Vndefiled separate from Sinners Heb. 7.26 yet his Knowledge as Man was perfected by degrees We always grow in knowledge follow on to know the Lord. He was ignorant of some things as the Day of Judgment for in Mark 13.32 'T is said But of that Day and Hour knoweth no Man no not the Angels which are in Heaven neither the Son but the Father His Divine Nature was ignorant of nothing but as to his Humane he was ignorant of it Some say he knew it not to reveal it so the Father may be said not to know it as well as the Son This simple Nescience was no Sin 4 This Knowledge or Wisdom wherein Christ grew may be understood thus 1. There is the Habitual Knowledge and the actual apprehension of things Christ had the Foundation and Root of all Knowledge when conceived by the Spirit from his very Conception but the Actual Knowledge came afterwards He had the Spirit of Wisdom and promptness of understanding but the act of knowing is as occasion is offered 2. There is a Knowledge of Generals when singulars are not actually known so Christ was deceived in the Fig-Tree Mat. 21.19 And he enquireth for Lazarus Grave Ioh. 11.34 And he said Where have ye laid him 3. There is a knowledge Intensive and Extensive Intensive a clear knowledge Extensive to more objects Christ grew in both He grew as to clearness of apprehension and as he knew more objects 1. There is a knowledge infused and experimental So Christ knew more by experience 2 Cor. 5.21 Who knew no sin That is by experience in himself and Heb 5.8 He Learned Obedience by the things which he suffered 2. For Confirmation 1. By Scripture 2. By Reason 1 By Scripture Next the Text take that Isa. 7.14 15 16. Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call his name Immanuel Butter and Hony shall he eat that he may know to refuse the evil and chusethe good For before the hild shall know to refuse the evil and chuse the good the Land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her Kings The Child spoken of should not be any fantastical appearance or meer imaginary Matter but a very Man-child fed and brought up with such food as other Children were that by growing up he may come to years of discretion He
the preference intended 1. On the one side here is sitting at the Threshold on the other side dwelling in the Tents He had distinguished before the Travellers to the House of God and the Dwellers in the House of God vers 4. c. Here a day in God's Courts and a perpetual service in God's House The lowest degree and place about God is more honourable for one day though they die the next as Kimchi than to have a perpetual abode in the Tents of wickedness 2. He calleth the one the House of God the other but a Tent to shew the stability of their estate who live in Communion with God and the uncertainty of their Happiness who are strangers to him they live but in a Tent a moveable Habitation 3. He calleth the one the House of my God as challenging an interest in him And so the place of his Presence Power and Habitation being the more dear to him as every thing that relateth to God is made precious for his sake But he calleth the other Tents of wickedness There was great wealth but nothing but profaneness and corruption Well then you see that David speaketh as a man that had a mind to prefer the one before the other One day in God's Courts Not in Atriis suis Coelestibus in his Court of Heaven as some of the Antients would carry it but here in his Church A few hours spent with God were more than the longest life without him Doct. 1. That God's People have a great value and an high esteem for his Ordinances 2. They do not only value them but value them and esteem them above other things 1. The esteem and value they have for his Ordinances simply considered This is a reason of the Context why there was such longing desire on his own part such earnest pressing forward on the Peoples part who came up to worship at Ierusalem For a day in thy Courts c. Reasons of it 1. Nature or a spiritual instinct All Creatures naturally desire to preserve that life which they have and therefore by a natural propension run thither from whence they received it Meer instinct without instruction carrieth the brute Creatures to the Teats of their Dams And every effect looketh to the cause to receive from it its last perfection Trees that receive life from the Earth and the Sun send forth their Branches to receive the Sun and spread their Roots into the Earth which brought them forth Fishes will not live out of the Water that breedeth them Chickens are no sooner out of the shell but they shroud themselves under the Feathers of the Hen by whom they were at first hatched The little Lamb runneth to the Dam's Teat though there be a thousand Sheep of the same Wooll and Colour as if it said Here I received that which I have and here will I seek that which I want By such a native inbred desire do the Saints run to God to seek a supply of strength and nourishment 1 Pet. 2.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As New born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby Young Children are not taught to suck The young born Child runneth to the Dug not by instruction but instinct Iam. 1.18 19. Of his own will begat he us by the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures Wherefore my beloved Brethren let every man be swift to hear The same thing that teacheth the young Lambs to suck or new born Babes to draw the Dug or the Chicken to seek a cherishing under the Dam's wings the same thing teacheth the Children of God to prize the Ordinances The cause is inbred appetite not persuasion and discourse but inclination Grace is called a New Nature which hath an appetite joyned with it after its proper supplies 2. The next cause of this value and esteem is experience They find it so sweet that they long for more 1 Pet. 2.2 3. As new born Babes desire the sincere Milk of the Word that ye may grow thereby if so be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious Certainly a man that hath had any taste of Communion with God will desire a fuller measure as by tasting of excellent meats our appetite to them is not cloyed but the more provoked Carnal men do not know what it is to enjoy God in his Ordinances and therefore they do not long for them They never tasted the sweetness of the Word nor of God's Love in Christ. David says Psal. 19.10 The Statutes of the Lord are more to be desired than Gold yea than much fine Gold sweeter also than the Honey or the Honey-comb The Children of God find more true pleasure in the Ordinances of God than in all things in the World What is the reason that to carnal men they are but as dry chips burdensom exercises melancholy interruptions but to the other nothing so sweet more pleasurable than the richest and choicest sensualities that are most eagerly pursued and gustfully enjoyed by us The reason is given in the 11th verse Moreover by them is thy Servant warned and in keeping them there is great reward There we come to learn wisdom against our spiritual dangers and there we learn the way of godliness and obedience which besides it own sweetness heapeth upon us the richest rewards as having the promises of this life and that which is to come He commendeth the Word from his own experience He had felt the effects and good use of it in his own heart he had his broken heart bound up They find that Christ doth heal their Souls remove their anguish sanctifie their Natures give them the promised help in Temptations warn them of sins and snares relieve them in distress bridle their corruptions So Psal. 63.1 2. O God thou art my God early will I seek thee my Soul thirsteth for thee my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty Land where no Water is To see thy Power and thy Glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary He that once hath had a sight of God and a taste of God would not be long out of his company He compareth his desire of Communion with God with hunger and thirst and maketh it greater than the hunger and thirst which men suffer in a dry Wilderness where there is no refreshment to be had He had seen God and would fain see him again the remembrance of the pleasures of the Sanctuary revived his desires So that besides Nature there is Experience 3. There is yet a third Cause and that is Necessity We should take delight in the Means of Grace and Ordinances of God though we stood in no need of them because they carry such a suitableness with the New Nature and because they are means to exhibit more of God to us But our Imperfection is great and this is the only way to get it supplied Decays are very incident to us and how else shall
only by Possession but by Estimation and choice Psal. 4.7 Thou hast put gladness in my Heart more than in the time that their Corn and their Wine increased They place their Happiness in them So on the other side Lazarus Evil things as the Rich man had abundance of Ease Pleasure and Prosperity so Lazarus had his Portion of Afflictions 2. In the World to come Mark 1. The time presently upon Death Now. The Sleep of the Soul is a vain Figment 2. The different recompences in the Words Comforted and Tormented 3. The Order in both the Begger had first Temporal Evils and then Eternal good things but the Rich man had first Temporal good things and then Eternal Evil things As many that do well here in this World fare full ill in the World to come the one hath his Bliss and the other his Torment and both without any allay and mixture Doct. That it is the greatest Misery that can light upon men to be condemned to worldly Happiness The Rich-mans Disposition is but intimated but his Condition is expressed as the ground of his Misery that in his Life-time he had received his good things Gregory professed that he could never read this Scripture without trembling as being afraid to have his Portion in this World or his Happiness here And what is here represented in the Scheme and Draught of a Parable is elsewhere positively asserted in plainer Scriptures as Luke 6.24 Wo unto you that are Rich for ye have received your Consolation You have all that you can look for you shall not have a double Heaven here and hereafter Ier. 17.13 They that depart from me shall be written in the Earth Luke 12.20 Thou Fool this Night thy Soul shall be required of thee and then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided Psal. 17.14 From men which are thy hand O Lord from men of the World which have their Portion in this Life and whose Belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure they are full of Children and leave the rest of their Substance to their Babes Not as if all that live prosperously here in this World shall be Eternally miserable or on the contrary that all that live miserably here shall be comforted hereafter No it is not the Condition but the Disposition which is regarded For 1. Riches are in themselves Gods Blessings Prov. 10.22 The Blessing of the Lord maketh Rich. And are promised to his People Psal. 112.3 Wealth and Riches shall be in his House And accordingly bestowed upon some of them as upon Abraham Gen. 24.35 The Lord hath blessed my Master greatly and he is become great So was Iob Chap. 1.3 He was the greatest of all the men in the East So David Solomon Lazarus of Bethany Ioseph of Arimathea and others By these instances God sheweth that he can and will give Wealth to his People if it were for their good Some Godly men may be Rich and Wicked men Calamitous The Lord giveth to both a taste of their future Condition Godliness hath the Promises of this Life and Ungodliness forfeiteth them 2. It is not the having but the abuse The Apostle speaketh 2 Pet. 1.4 Of the Corruption that is in the World through Lust or our own unmortified Corruptions The Poyson is not in the Flower but the Spider that Carnal Disposition that is in us maketh us drown our Mind our Time and our Affections in the World and the Cares and Pleasures thereof and to be ensnared thereby and hindred from looking after Heavenly Happiness To blame Riches simply is to blame him that made them and distributeth them according to his Will as if he did bait his hook with seeming Blessings and did set golden snares to intangle the Souls of men The good things of this World are profitable to them that make a good use of them if we use Wealth well or want it patiently It is no matter what part we Act on the World so we Act it well As in a Chore of Voices some sing the Base some the Treble it is no discommendation to sing either part so we sing it well So some are Poor some are Rich if we carry a full â—up without Spilling we may Honour God by being Rich if we patiently bear the burden imposed upon us we may Honour God with a meek and humble Poverty Dormit pauper Lazarus in sinu Abrahami divitis Poor Lazarus slept in Rich Abrahams Bosom The Rich man was not condemned because he had Wealth and Ease and Prosperity but that he was puffed up with these things he wholly gave up himself to Pride and Luxury neglecting Piety and Charity But Lazarus believed Gods Promises bore the burden imposed upon him patiently and by the Obedience of Faith wholly submitted himself to Gods Will. 3. However a full Condition is apt to be a snare and must be watched with the greater Caution That Context is very notable Mark 10.23 24 25 26 27. And Iesus looked round about and saith unto his Disciples How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God And the Disciples were astonished at his Words But Iesus answered again and saith unto them Children how hard is it for them that trust in Riches to enter into the Kingdom of God It is easier for a Camel to go through the Eye of a Needle than for a Rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God And they were astonished out of measure saying among themselves who then can be saved And Iesus looking upon them saith With men it is impossible but not with God for with God all things are possible That Discourse between Christ and his Disciples sheweth us three things 1. That it is impossible to trust in Riches and enter into the Kingdom of God 2. That 't is impossible to man to have them and not to trust in them 3. And that the special Assistance of the Divine Grace can only cure this Evil. It is very hard to injoy Ease and Idleness and Pleasures here and to be exercised with no Affliction and yet keep right with God Prov. 1.32 The Prosperity of Fools shall destroy them Men being drunk with Prosperity are forgetful of their Duty A rank soil is apt to breed many weeds And on the other side Afflictions are an help to the Godly to make them profit in Piety But having obviated this Difficulty I shall shew three things 1. That God useth to give many Temporal good things to carnal men 2. That those Carnal men whose Hearts are taken up with these good things as their only and chief Happiness while they continue so can look for no more at Gods hand but are condemned to worldly Felicity 3. That their Misery is great before Death at Death and after Death I. God useth to give many temporal good things to Carnal men for several Reasons 1. Because he will be behind hand with none of his Creatures but all that are made by him shall know him to be a
refreshments 3. They are described by their constant progress till they came to the place they aimed at that is in the Text They go from strength to strength every one of them in Zion appeareth before God That is having found some refreshment and reparation of strength they are encouraged to go on their way till they appear before God in the Holy Feast and have communion with him in his publick worship and then chearful joyful Souls they In which words 1. Their progress is described 2. The term and end of their journey I. Their progress They go from strength to strength That is they are always gathering new strength and courage notwithstanding their difficulties It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is increasing their power and strength yet more and more so far are they from being weary faint and discouraged as Rom. 1.17 The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith that is our Faith still increasing And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from glory to glory 2 Cor. 3.18 that is Our Glory increasing more and more So they go from strength to strength that is they increase in Strength and Courage Some read from Company to Company or from Troop to Troop or Squadron to Squadron As the word signifieth Strength in the general so sometimes a Troop of Men. It was their fashion to repair to these Feasts in great Troops For David saith Psal. 42.4 I had gone with the multitude I went with them to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise with a multitude that kept holy day Luke 2.44 They supposing him to be in the company went a days journey and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance The croud was so great that Christ was lost in the throng So they go from Troop to Troop from one of these Companies to another the later overtaking the foremost which sheweth their alacrity in this journey But we may keep our reading 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from strength to strength II. The term and end of the Journey Every one of them in Zion appeareth before God At length they come to the Tabernacle the Type of Christ's promised Incarnation God's pitching his Tent in Humane Flesh and so these Godly Travellers reap the benefit of their long trouble and enjoy the pleasure of God's publick Worship The Sept. Read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The God of Gods shall be seen in Zion The words of them are opened Now the use of them is double as Zion was a Figure of the Church or as it is a Figure of Heaven 1. As Zion was a Figure of the Church so it doth express the Zeal of God's Children to joyn themselves to his Militant Church in this World and to make after the Ordinances there to injoy Christ notwithstanding all difficulties with which such a purpose is incumbred Those that may have comfortable Communion with God in his Holy Worship must expect Troubles and yet they many times meet with a Spring or a Pool by the way some mitigations of Providence and Refreshments in their Miseries at length they shall obtain their Desire 2. As Zion is a Figure of Heaven of Ierusalem that is above the City that hath Foundations And so it doth notably express the condition of those that aspire after the Triumphant Church in Heaven and all things in this Psalm concerning these passengers are sweetly applicable to this David compareth himself to two sort of Israelites ver 4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy House they shall be still praising thee Some Saints are at home already dwelling with God and praising him is their perpetual Exercise These are in Patria in their Country Others in via in the way Travellers home 1. Their Hearts are in the ways thereof their whole Time Care Thoughts and Affections are set upon this how they may get home Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ. Mat. 6.20 21. Lay up for your selves Treasure in Heaven where neither Moth nor Rust doth corrupt and where Thieves do not break through nor steal for where your Treasure is there will your Heart be also 2. These have a Wilderness to get thorough and a comfortless Valley full of discouragements For through manifold tribulations we must enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14.22 Only now and then God giveth them a little refreshing a Spring by the way or a Pool sometimes inward sometimes outward Comforts and Supports that they may not be afflicted above measure and beyond what they are able to bear 3. In this valley of Tears and in the midst of Sorrows they find strength renewed to them and supports given so that the further they go the more chearful they are 4. At length our troublesome pilgrimage in this world is rewarded with the Beatifical vision of God in a better World and then we shall find that all our pains though never so great are well bestowed when the God of Gods is seen in Zion I. Those whose Hearts are set upon the ways of God and do in the midst of all difficulties hope to come before him in Zion that is above it is their Priviledge and Duty to go on from Strength to Strength II. Those that go from Strength to Strength shall at length appear before God in a Blessed and Heavenly Estate 1. Doct. Those whose Hearts are set upon the ways of God and do in the midst o◠〈◊〉 difficulties hope to come before him in Zion it is their priviledge and Duty to go on 〈◊〉 Strength to Strength 1. It is their priviledge as they grow older to grow better wiser and stronger Isai. 40.31 They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as Eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint They that wait on the Lord that do with patience expect the performance of his promises shall still have a new supply of strength enabling them to bear up when they seem to be clean spent so as to Mount as on Eagles wings which are Fowls that fly strongly and swiftly and renew their Youth Psal. 103.5 Thy youth is renewed like the Eagles Whether as those Fowls are famous for long life vigorous and healthful as if always young or it respects some particular qualities of the Eagle Some say the Eagle by casting her Feathers reneweth her youth As Micah 1.16 Inlarge thy baldness as the Eagle Some by casting her Bill when the upper Beak groweth crooked with age and shutteth up the lower Well then this is the priviledge of God's Servants so Psal. 92.13 14. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God They shall bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing Those Plants which our Heavenly Father hath planted in the midst o◠all their troubles and difficulties they flourish as Trees stand all weathers
others to whom he hath not the like respect or relation He debateth with them in measure or with much moderation meting out their sufferings in a due proportion Isai. 27.8 In measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it he stayeth the rough wind in the day of the east wind He dealeth with them as a Father with others as a Judge with the one out of love with the other out of vindictive wrath Ier. 10.24 O Lord correct me but with Iudgment not in thine Anger lest thou bring me to nothing With his people not according to the strict rule of Law and Justice but according to his Wisdom and Love And Lastly because he soon relenteth Ier. 31.20 Is Ephraim my dear Son is he a pleasant child for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy upon him saith the Lord. What! is my dear Son my darling Child in such a sad condition Are these the Moanings of Ephraim Surely I am mindful of him my Bowels are towards him as those of a Mother towards her tender Child Thus God sheweth himself a Father IV. The qualification of the persons to whom God maketh this promise in the context They that feared the Lord and thought upon his name Those whom God owneth for his peculiar people See the same qualification Psal. 103.13 Like as a Father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth those that fear him 1. It is necessary for them For the best need to be spared as a Father spareth his own Son that serveth him or else what would become of them If they were not under such a pardoning Covenant How could they maintain any peace in their own Souls being guilty of so many daily failings which they resent more tenderly than others do fouler faults And that they are also more sensible of the effects of his Anger in his Providence for they dare not despise the chastening of the Lord but have a greater reverence for their Fathers Anger than the rest of the world have and therefore the Lord expresseth his Indulgence for their comfort and satisfaction Those that walk most closely with God and exactly according to Rule need Peace and Mercy Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this rule peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God We still stand in need of Mercy free and undeserved Mercy that our failings may be pardoned our Persons and Duties accepted our Afflictions moderated and we may be accepted and go to Heaven at last 2. It is peculiar to them There is a conditional offer of Pardon to the wicked if they will repent but Fatherly dealing and Indulgence is assured to those who are admitted into God's Family He hath a paternal affection towards them and they have filial dispositions towards him And though he doth express his common Goodness and Bounty to all his Creatures yet his Special and Fatherly Love is to his Saints to whom he hath given a new Being and an Holy Nature The whole Commerce that is between God and them on God's part is Fatherly on their part Child-like on God's part in a way of Grace and Love pardoning their Sins and Frailties and their carriage is loving and obedient unto God Love is at the bottom of God's Dispensations towards them and at the bottom of their Duty unto God He loveth them as a Father and they love him as dear Children Fatherly benefits are fullest sweetest and surest and filial Duty is the choicest Now those that are not Children cannot look for a Child's portion Certainly the obstinate and impenitent are excluded Deut. 29.20 The Lord will not spare him but the Anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoke against that man and all the Curses that are written in this Book shall lie upon him But if any fear him and serve him they may hope for his Mercy Psal. 147.11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him in those that hope in his mercy They that live in a constant Obedience to his Commands and an Holy Trust and Affiance in him not by any tenure of Merit in themselves but free and undeserved Mercy in him they are spared they are accepted yea they are Blessed and God delights in their welfare 3. It is congruous proper and suitable For this is God's end in sparing that he may be reverenced and feared Psal. 130.4 But there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayst be feared He intended forgiveness as a new foundation of Obedience Love and Thankfulness that we should love him more because forgiven Be the more Holy because pardoned as she loved much because much was forgiven her Luke 7.47 Contempt and commonness of Spirit in dealing with God is the worst use we can make of it Therefore if there be no love to God nor reverence of him nor delight in him if you take the more liberty to Sin upon an hope that God will spare you and not be so severe to you though you indulge your selves in pleasig the Flesh These abuse his Grace and turn it into wantonness some more openly others more secretly as they are leavened with this Teint they draw incouragements from it to Sin and Folly whereas the true temper is to fear the Lord and his goodness Hos. 3.4 To have a deeper Reverence of God because of his Goodness in the new Covenant and his pardoning Mercy should be the great ingagement to Gospel-obedience 1. Use Is Caution and Warning to the People of God that they do not entertain jealousies of God as one that watcheth all opportunities and advantages against us to punish us as if he seemed to be glad at our halting No this is a Blasphemy against his Holy and Gracious Nature and a flat contradiction to the discoveries and expressions of his Love in his Covenant Yet such Thoughts are wont to haunt us Iob's words import little less Iob 4.16 17. For now thou numbrest my steps Dost thou not watch over my sin My transgression is sealed up in a bag and thou sewest up mine iniquity He speaketh as if God severely marked and would strictly call his people to an account for all their sins This apprehension of God's severe dealing is very natural to us in our sore Affliction For Iob so speaketh as if God had strictly marked all his Sin and kept the Record sealed up in a Bag to make out his Process against him Obj. But what other Thoughts can we have when Troubles come thick and threefold and God seemeth to be reckoning with us for our Transgressions Answ. 1. God's sparing Mercy may sometimes be concealed and not alway visibly expressed to the Sense of the Believer and Faith should see Mercy in God's Heart when his Hand is heavy and smart upon us Iob 10.13 These things hast thou hid in thine heart I know that this is with thee What things Life and Favour and Gracious Supports and Visits of
the same Covenant It is a common Charter Acts 2.39 For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even to as many as the Lord our God shall call 3. They have the same Redeemer 1 Cor. 1.2 Iesus Christ both theirs and ours Rich and Poor gave the same Ransom Exod. 30.15 Half a shekel One has not a more worthy Christ than another Rom. 3.22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Iesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference 4. The Faith of the one is as acceptable to God as the other 2 Pet. 1.1 Simon Peter a servant and an Apostle of Iesus Christ to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our saviour Iesus Christ. The same for kind though not for degree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A jewel held by a Child's hand is a Jewel as well as that held by a Man's Well then the Expressions of God's love to his People of old have their use for the establishment of our Comfort and Hope Rom. 15.4 Whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of of the Scriptures might have hope Rom. 4.23 It was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also As Judgments on the Wicked are for our Admonition 1 Cor. 10.6 These things were our examples So Promises are for our Consolation The Word is not only an History but a Book of Precedents As a Painter hangeth forth his Master-Pieces to draw Custom so here God's kindnesses to his People are advantageous to us only let us take heed that we have the same Spirit 2. I observe that it is a capacious Promise applicable to several purposes To Ioshua to imbolden him against Dangers To Iacob to make him patient under Crosses To Salomon to quicken him against coldness in God's Service To Israel to hearten them against Enemies To all Believers to support them under Family-wants and Straights One Promise hath several Uses it is good for Wants good for Wars This one Promise well observed will teach us to live well and dye well for still God is with us To live without carking for then God is with us and to dye without discomfort for then we are with God If one Promise yield so much Comfort what will all It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a common Remedy for every Disease As the Scripture saith in another case Mark well her Bulworks tell her Towers There is no Case to which God hath not spoken no Blessing but it is adopted into the Covenant 3. I observe that it is a Promise emphatically delivered 1. For the Matter I will not leave thee nor forsake thee That is I will be so far from forsaking or casting thee off that I will not so much as leave thee for a time It is such another as that Psal. 121.4 Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep There is no time that his People are left to shift for themselves but they are under the Care of his Providence continually 2. For the Form 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will not not leave thee neither not not forsake thee Five Negatives He will not yea he will not surely he will not forsake his Servants or neglect them and withdraw his Presence and Providence from them 3 For the Duplication I will not leave thee nor forsake thee Ioseph told Pharaoh the Dream was doubled because it was established by God Gen. 41.32 All this is to shew how dull and stupid we are in conceiving of God's Promises O ye fools and slow of heart to believe Luke 24.21 We are backward to every thing but especially to Faith or dependance on God for something that lyeth not in our own power Before we are serious and put to tryal nothing seemeth more easie than dependance upon God but when it cometh to the push it is evinced Now it is God's condescention that he will press these things again and again that we may not lose the comfort of the Promise The Expression is universal to awaken our attention to engage our Hearts to believe that he will not forsake us in our streights 4. I observe that it is a promise that every one must particularly apply to his own case God doth not say I will not leave you nor forsake you as speaking to his People collectively but distributively thee And that not only to Ioshua but to Israel Deut. 31.6 8. Be strong and of a good courage fear not nor be afraid of them for the Lord thy God he it is that doth go with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee As in the Decalogue that every one might look upon himself as concerned God speaketh in the singular number to every individual Person Thou shalt have no other Gods So here Thou as if spoken to by name Thou Peter Andrew Thomas I will not forsake thee Oh that we had this Spirit of Application and could read our Names in Christ's Testament Omnis operatio fit per contactum the closer the touch upon our Hearts the greater the Efficacy Break out your own Portion of the Bread of Life Iob 5.27 Loe this we have searched it so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good Christian how many Promises dost thou know for thy good Canst thou say Here is my Portion blessed be God for this comfortable Promise to me Doctr. That God never utterly forsaketh or leaveth his People destitute to utter and insupportable Difficulties Why 1. The tenderness of his Love will not permit it Isa. 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee There is no such Affection as God hath to his Children The Mother if she leave her sucking Child she doth not utterly forsake him but runneth to the cry So will God he is unchangable Mal. 3.6 I am the Lord I change not He is immutable in his Grace and constant in his Promise as well as his Being He needs no after-thoughts his purpose of Love stands firm he willeth a Change but changeth not his Will Though he uses various contrary Means yet his Love altereth not as our Condition altereth We are full of Inconstancy but not he Death doth not make void Christ's Interest nor cause his Affection to cease when we are rotting in the Grave Where God has once fixed his Dwelling-place he will never leave it again Psal. 37.28 The Lord loveth judgment and forsaketh not his saints By Judgment is meant Righteousness or Holiness the Rule for conformity to the Rule that is the Ground His Truth is plighted in his Promises God hath ever stood upon his Credit especially when his Promise hath drawn forth the faith of his People Psal. 111.5 God will ever be mindful of
I will give you rest 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 Now in the Scriptures pardon of Sin is revealed which was a great Secret to nature for they were at a great loss about the way to obtain it Mich. 6.6 7. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bow my self before the High God Shall I come before him with Burnt-Offerings with Calves of a year old Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of Rams or with ten thousands of Rivers of Oyl Shall I give my first born for my Transgression the fruit of my body for the Sin of my Soul And Life and Immortality are brought to light through the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 Now the good Man is wholly busied about observing God's direction how the sore that hath so long run upon him may be cured and a proper Happiness which man gropeth after may be obtained Acts 17.27 That they should seek the Lord if happily they might feel after him and find him We are fallen from God and cannot be happy but in returning to him again nor compleatly happy till we attain to the full enjoyment of him 2. By his Spirit when David speaketh of chusing God for his portion he presently addeth Psal. 16.7 I will bless the Lord who hath given me Counsel we had else been as witless fools as others rejoycing in the Creature apart from God in the midst of Soul-dangers Without this nothing will reclaim us from our Wandrings neither Reason nor Experience nor common Grace Now Reason It is easie to prove the vanity of the Creature that it is not Man's Happiness to enjoy the pleasures of the World or to seek to be well here We may argue against their Carnal practices but what will our arguings avail Still they are as Worldly as ever and seek satisfaction in their own ways This their way is their folly yet their posterity approve of their sayings Psal. 49.13 Men may stand over the Graves of their Ancestors and say where is now their Worldly Honour esteem and favour for which they neglected God sleighted Christ and sold their Salvation Yet those that succeed them neglect true Happiness as much as they that went before and are as careless of Heavenly things We see great ones die as well as others but who is better'd by it The survivors are as greedy of gain as sensual as vain and doating upon Worldly greatness as their Fore-runners were So for experience compare Deut. 29.2 3 4. Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your Eyes in the Land of Aegypt unto Pharoah and all his Servants and to all his Land yet the Lord hath not given you an Heart to perceive and Eyes to see and Ears to hear unto this day with Psal. 90. and 12. So teach us to number our days that we may apply our Hearts unto Wisdom God must teach us the plainest Lessons So for common Faith though we have been Trained up in the Scriptures though we know that we must enjoy God or we can never be happy yet still we are wedded to Carnal Vanities Our respects to God are but Notions and Complements The fervency and reality of our Affections is intercepted by the World or else there could not be so many Covetous Christians Voluptuous Christians Ambitious Christians Heart-Idolatry is the most dangerous Men are sooner Convinced than Converted Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof 2 Tim. 3.5 Nay though there be some common work of the Spirit and they do not only talk by rote but have some sense of the vanity of the World and of the necessity and excellency of God's favour some tast of the good word of God and the powers of the world to come Heb. 6.45 Yet though they would have Christ for their Consciences the World hath their Affections We desire happiness as Children would fain have something but are pleased with Rattles or any Toy We would be happy but take up with any thing that cometh next to hand Thus we do till God cureth us by inlightning our Minds or giving us counsel in our Reins and inclining our Hearts Psal. 119.36 Incline my Heart unto thy Testimonies and not unto Covetousness The good Man liveth in obedience to these Sanctifying motions of the Spirit IV. That as to the event they are both filled but in a different Sense First I shall shew how the Wicked are filled with their own ways A Wicked Man he hath enough of Sin in the Punishment Therefore 't is said they shall eat of the Fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices Prov. 1.31 As a Man that hath surfeited of pleasant Meat hath enough of it when he feeleth the Torments and Gripes of his Surfeit Now 1. When is this and 2. Why 1. When It may be in this Life but surely in the next 1. It may be here partly by disappointment when those Honours and Pleasures and Riches which they sought after prove an occasion of much misery to them and they see they had been safer if they had stood longer This often falleth out in the World Many desire greatness to their hurt Solomon compareth them to Fishes taken in an evil Net or Birds caught in the snare Eccles. 9.12 They play about the bait so long till they meet with the Hook or their height ruine them Iob 5.12 13. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty so that their hands cannot pâ—rform their enterprize He taketh the wise in their own craftiness and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong partly by Death which bloweth away all vain conceits Ier. 17.11 As the Partridge sitteth on Eggs and hatcheth them not so he that getteth Riches and not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days and at his end shall be a fool And Iob 27.8 What is the hope of the Hypocrite tho' he hath gained when God taketh away his Soul And 1 Iohn 2.17 The World passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever Oh that Men were so careful to seek and serve God and save their Souls as they are to provide for their Bodies and satisfie their Lusts Usually when Men are going out of the World they complain how the World hath deceived them It had been better if they had lived in a strict obedience 2. In the World to come The errors of Mens choice are not well seen in this life but afterwards all will be manifested What will they think of their foolish and vain course when they are cast into Hell They have enough then indeed of Sin when their Worldly Portion is taken from them and the Heavenly Blessedness denied to them For no man shall have more than he sought after whilst he was alive The Conscience of his foolish choice will be a part of his Torment and who can express the other sorrows of the
strength is not the strength of Bulls it doth not lie in brutish force but strength of Reason Our own Reason is too feeble to encounter our Passions if not assisted by Grace they are not healed by Time but spiritual Wisdom Psal. 94.19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. 2. Expostulate with your selves and cite all your Passions before the Tribunal of Reason Psal. 42.5 Why art thou cast down Oh my soul Why art thou disquieted within me God puts Ionah to the Question Ionah 4.4 Dost thou well to be angry So should we argue with our selves with whom are you displeased Is it with God He doth what he pleaseth he might cast thee into Hell and art thou angry because of his Temporal Chastisement He hath bestowed many Mercies upon thee and shall he not take his seasons to chastise thee Art thou angry with Man But is not God's hand in it Hast not thou done so to others Eccles. 7.22 For oftentimes also thy own heart knoweth that thou thy self likewise hast cursed others A Sermon on LUKE xxiii 34 Father forgive them for they know not what they do THE Words of the Dying are wont to be much observed when Men depart out of the Body they are usually more serious and divine and speak with greater weight As a Man that is to take a Journey trusseth up his Bundle or Fardle so when Men are to take a Journey to God and are upon the brink of the everlasting State they are wont to gather up whatever is of a divine and immortal Nature Especially the Speeches of the Godly dying are to be regarded who having laid aside worldly Affairs and earthly Thoughts are wholly exercised in the Contemplation of heavenly Things Therefore in Scripture we read of David's last Words 2 Sam. 23.1 and of Ioshua cap. 23. ver 14. And behold this day I am going the way of all the Earth But before he goes he would leave this Testimony for God Ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you all are come to pass unto you and not one thing hath failed thereof So Iacob Moses Simeon Luke 21.29 30. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word For mine eyes have seen thy salvation Paul 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith Henceforth there 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 all them also that love his appearing Now certainly if any Man's dying Speeches are to be observed Christ's are much more Iob said Iob 19.23 24. Oh that my words were now written Oh that they were printed in a book That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever It were well if Christ's Words were written not in Cedar but in our own Hearts They reckon seven short Speeches of Christ upon the Cross and this is the first when he begins to break off his silence it is to pray for his Persecutors Father forgive them for they know not what they do In which Words there is 1. Christ's Request Father forgive them 2. The Argument by which it is enforced For they know not what they do I. Christ's Request Father forgive them Father is a word of Confidence towards God and of Love to his Enemies he mentioneth the sweetest Relation Father is a word of blandishment as Children when they would obtain any thing at their Parents hands cry Father Some observe that when he speaketh of his own Desertion he criâ—th My God! my God! But now when he prayeth for the Pardon of his Enemies he useth a more endearing Relation Father But the Observation is fond and nice for Christ in his own case useth the same endearing Title Mat. 26.39 Oh my father if it be possiâ—le let this cup pass from me and there is a special Reason why in his Desertion he should say My God! my God! as suiting the Title to his case Eli Eli My strong One my strong One He wanted the strong Support and the sensible Consolations of his Godhead It is most comfortable to observe how Christ upon the Cross calleth God Father he felt him a Judge and believeth him a Father The special Work of Faith in Afflictions is to maintain the Comfort of Adoption Heb. 12.5 Ye have forgotten the exhortation that speaketh unto you as unto children My son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord. Those that are under chastening may be Sons God doth not always put on the Person of a Judge when he taketh the Rod in his hand the change of your Condition doth not alter nor make void your Interest God is the God of the Valleys as well as the God of the Hills Christ was now as a Man forsaken and rejected of God left to the Assaults of Satan and Scorns of Men and yet in the height of his Pains and Passion he retaineth his Confidence Father forgive them The whole World is not worth the comfort that is wrapped up in that one word Father It is a great folly in the Children of God to question his Love meerly because of the greatness of their Afflictions We presently cry out as Iob 30.21 Thou art become cruâ—l to me with thy strong hand thou oâ—pâ—sâ—st thy self against me That he hath put off all Fatherly Affection because we judge of the Cross according to the sense of our own Flesh. And therefore meerly to question God's Love because of Afflictions is folly rather we may conclude the contrary of the two Bastards are left to a looser Discipline than Sons the Bramble of the Wilderness is suffered to grow and spread when the Vine is cut and pruned and pared The Stones that are to be set in the Building are most hewed and squared others lie neglected in the Quarry and are left to their own roughness Multiplied Afflictions are a sign God hath a care of you he will not suffer you to run wild And therefore in defiance of the Cross learn to call God Father look through the Cloud of the present Dispensation to the Love of God towards you Father forgive them Christ speaks as foreseeing the Danger and Punishment which they would bring on themselves as the fruit of their Madness and Folly and therefore he prays Father forgive them This Act was provocation enough to move God to dissolve the Bonds of Nature to cleave the Earth that it might swallow them up quick or to rain Hell out of Heaven upon them Lesser Offences have been thus punished and one word from Christ's mouth had been enough But Father forgive them we hear nothing but words of mild pity when he says Forgive he means also convert them for where there is no Conversion there can be no
away The Party displeased and provoked is God and the Party defiled is the immortal Soul of Man which being subject to the Power of God and bound by his Laws upon Disobedience is conscious to it self of the Merit of Death and Punishment and debarred from all Communion with God And it cannot have any sound Peace till it knows that God is satisfied and that it shall be admitted again into terms of Grace and Favour with him That Sin hath made us filthy and loathsom to God that we cannot please him nor be accepted with him the Word doth not only assert it Psal. 14.2 3. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the Children of Men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Job 15.14 What is Man that he should be clean and he that is born of a Woman that he should be righteous Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean not one But Conscience is in part sensible of it so that a Sinner hath a secret Dread and Shiness of God especially upon the commission of actual Sins 1 Iohn 3.20 21. For if our Heart condemn us God is greater than our Heart and knoweth all things Beloved if our Heart condemn us not then have we Confidence towards God I know generally Man looketh to the Foulness and Cleanness of the body but is insensible of the Stain of the Soul Yet we cannot always exempt no not the worst from a secret Sense of this However our Misery and Happiness dependeth upon God's Judgment not our own If in the Eye of God all of us are polluted and unclean lying in our Blood defiled with the Guilt of Sin already committed and the filthy Vileness of Sin yet in-dwelling This is evident we were miserable enough till God found out a Remedy And this Misery is the deeper because Man loveth what God loatheth as the Swine loveth wallowing in the Mire and therefore it is a Creature loathsom to us We count Sin a Bravery when it is the greatest Impurity a Filthiness deeply ingrained in our Natures and therefore not easily washed away both as to the Guilt as also to the Stain and â—lot 2. This being our Misery Christ came to wash us and with no other Laver than his own Blood as a Priest offering himself a Sacrifice for our Sins The Remedy for so great a Mischief must have a noble and excellent Cause That Blood was necessary appeareth by the Types of the Law for the typical Expiation was made by the Blood of Bulls and Goats offered in Sacrifice And that no Blood but the Blood of Jesus Christ would serve the turn is evident if you consider the Party displeased and provoked who was God the Party defiled the immortal Spirit of Man and the heinous Nature of the Offence which was a Breach of his righteous and eternal Law Therefore it is said 1 Iohn 1.7 The Blood of Iesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin Heb. 1.3 He by himself purged our Sins And Heb. 9.13 14. If the Blood of Bulls and of Goats and the Ashes of an Heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the Flesh How much more shall the Blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without Spot to God purge your Conscience from dead Works to serve the living God There is Virtue and Efficacy enough in the Blood of Christ partly from the Institution of God and its own manifold Worth and Value as being the Blood of God partly by the way and manner in which it was offered by an Act done in our Nature of the greatest Obedience and Self-denial that ever was or can be and so God is fully repaired in point of Honour 3. This Sacrifice thus offered was accepted of God in the Behalf of sinful Man as a full Price and Merit to procure for us both Justification and Sanctification We needed both being polluted both with the Guilt and Stain of Sin Both are a Trouble to a sensible Conscience or an awakened Sinner who is in the next Capacity to receive this Sacrifice 1 Iohn 1.9 If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins and to cleanse us from all Vnrighteousness As a Man that hath broken his Leg is not only troubled with the Pain but would have it set right again Both are implied in this Washing and both are effectually accomplished by virtue of his bloody Death and Sacrifice 1 Cor. 6.11 And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of our Lord Iesus and by the Spirit of our God And Christ hath obtained both by virtue of his bloody Death and Sacrifice for our Pardon and Restitution to God's Grace and Favour Rom. 5.1 Therefore being justified by Faith we have Peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ As also the Gift of the Spirit to sanctify and renew us to the Image of God Tit. 3.5 6. Not by Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Iesus Christ our Saviour 4. Besides the Impetration of this Benefit we must consider the Application The Sacrifice had Power to purge us and wash us from our Sins as soon as it was offered and accepted of God The procuring of the Power is the Impetration which was antecedent to actual Pardon and Sanctification Therefore it is said When he had by himself purged our Sins he sat down at the right Hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1.3 Then he interposed the Merit then was the first Grant made or Liberty given But then for the Application It is applied when we submit to those terms that are agreed upon between our Redeemer and God as our supream Judg and Lawgiver As when this Sacrifice is believed and depended on and pleaded in an humble and broken-hearted manner and improved to Thankfulness and Resolutions to return to the Obedience of our Creator then is Sin actually pardoned and our Hearts cleansed He did not pardon nor cleanse nor sanctify as soon as this Blood was shed upon the Cross until it be effectually applied to the filthy Soul by a lively Faith Acts 15.9 Purifying their Hearts by Faith and a serious and broken-hearted Repentance 1 Iohn 1.9 If we confess our Sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our Sins We must bewail our Sins depend upon the Sacrifice of Christ sue out the Virtue of it by Prayer Psal. 51.2 VVash me throughly from mine Iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin Extinguish the Love of Sin by godly Sorrow and all holy means and mortify the Flesh by the Help of the Spirit Rom. 8.13 If ye through the Spirit mortify the Deeds of the Body c.
of their Sacrifices and drank the Wine of their Drink-offerings yea often the Blood of their Sons and Daughters whom they sacrificed to him yet all of a sudden his strong Holds were demolished the Idols broken whom they and their Fathers had worshipped and prayed unto in their Distresses and Adversities and blessed in their Prosperities the Temples broken down the Altars polluted and set at nought and the World turned from these Vanities to the living God But a little while after the Fires were kindled and the Professors of the True Religion were butchered and slaughtered but then they overcame him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and not loving their Lives unto the Death Rev. 12.11 So that when the Church seemed weakest and her Enemies strongest then she had more for her than against her When Satan's Instruments were killing Christians then they were pulling down Satan's Throne and advancing Christ's So that it is better to be a simple Souldier on Christ's side than Commander of a whole Army against him When the Persecutors had done Satan raised up Hereticks in the Church as Worms that bred in the Body and devoured it Yet Christ confounded them and a little Time brake each Sect in pieces and those that were the great Scourge and Vexation of one Age were scarce known to the next but by their Names and some obscure Reports The Light of the Gospel did soon scatter these Mists as soon as they did arise Last of all came the great Apostacy of Antichristianism whereby the Simplicity of the Christian Doctrine was turned into School-Niceties the Worship of the Gospel into a Theatrical Pomp and the Pageantry of ridiculous Ceremonies and the Discipline of the Church into a Temporal Domination And all this supported by the Blood of the Saints and worldly Grandeur and the combined Interests of many Popish Nations And here are the Ebbs and Flows between the two Shores of Christ and Antichrist amongst us You know by what a bloody Design Hagar the Bond-woman that was cast ouâ— sought to weaken and vaunt it over Sarah but the Lord broke the Snare and our Foot is escaped 5. If the promised Seed had not bruised the Serpent's Head the World had been in a worse Case than it is There is some Conviction and Restraint where Conversion taketh not place Consider how Satan reigneth where Christ hath not pursued him with his Gospel or where Christ hath withdrawn his Gospel for the Ingratitude of Men. Surely there is a difference between the Places where People live in the Dregs of Christianity and there where the Devil is worshipped and Idolatry set up 6. Though there be not a total Destruction of the Kingdom of Satan yet it is in an absolute Subjection to the Throne of the Mediator The Kingdom of Sin and Satan are so far destroyed as not to hinder the Demonstration of Mercy to the Elect and as to be subservient to the Demonstration of his Justice to others who neglect or contemn the Remedy offered which is God's great Design that the Elect may obtain though the rest be hardned 7. That in time Christ will destroy all opposite Reigns and Kingdoms He doth some sooner others later but there will be an universal and absolute Subjection to Christ at the Day of Judgment Infernal Spirits shall then bow the Knee to him Phil. 2.10 with Rom. 14.10 11. and that with Isa. 45.23 Then Saints shall judg Angels 1 Cor. 6.2 and the whole Mystery of Iniquity will then be finished and come to nothing Vse 1. Thankfulness and Praise to our Mediator The Eternal God hath selected a People from the rest of the World to praise him for the Mystery of his Love Here in the Assemblies of his People for God inhabiteth the Praises of Israel Psal. 22.3 And hereafter that he may have the Thanks of his glorified Saints for ever Consider to this end how Satan's Design is crossed and counterworked in the Mystery of our Redemption 1. Satan's Design was to dishonour God by a false Representation as if envious of Man's Happiness Gen. 3.5 God doth know that in the Day that ye eat thereof then your Eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing Good and Evil. And so to weaken the esteem of God's Goodness Now in the Work of our Redemption God is wonderfully magnified and represented as amiable to Man not envying our Knowledg and Delight but promoting it by all Means even with great Care and Cost 1 John 4.8 God is Love 2. To depress the Nature of Man that in Innocency stood so near God Now that the Humane Nature so depressed and abased by the malicious Suggestions of the Devil should be so elevated and advanced and be set up far above the Angelical Nature and admitted to dwell with God in a personal Union O let us now chearfully remember and celebrate this Victory of Christ Our Praise now is a Pledg of our everlasting Triumph This Table is spread for us in the sight of our Enemies and we come to have intimate Communion and Fellowship with him at his Table Vse 2. To exhort us to make use of Christ's Help for our Recovery out of the Defection and Apostacy of Mankind O let Satan be crushed in you and the old carnal Nature destroyed He that so willingly entred into the Conflict on the Cross though his Heel were bruised will as willingly imploy the Power of the Spirit to help you the one was in order to the other Christ doth not only enter upon the Work by Conquest but hath much to do with every individual Person before he can settle his Kingdom in their Hearts There is a Combate between Christ and Satan for the rescue of every Sinner and we are not easily brought to change Masters Now yield to him suffer him to save you You look to the outward Interest of Christ in the World and you do well but it is easier to bring Men to own a true Religion than to bring them under the Power of it Christ's greatest Victory is the overcoming Mens Corruptions and carnal Inclinations to purify their polluted Souls and to set up Christ's Government in the Heart where once Satan ruled The Kingdom of Christ within us is the most excellent Kingdom Luke 11.20 If I with the Finger of God cast out Devils no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you If once we become Christ's we will more really care for his Interest in the World Vse 3. To shew us the Nature of Christ's Victory and wherein it consisteth Not in an Exemption from Troubles nor in a total Exemption from Sin for the present 1. Not in an Exemption from Troubles No you must expect Conflicts Tho Satan's deadly Power be taken away our Heel may be crushed Christ hath delivered us from the present evil World Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from this present evil World Not that the World should
Alnis Luke 6.38 Give and it shall be given unto you good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosom for with the same measure that ye meet withall it shall be measured to you again To Ordinances So here in the Text as you deal with God so will he deal with you Look what measure of Diligence and Conscionable Care is in you to hear the Word the like measure of Spiritual Fruit and Profit shall you reap by the Blessing of God 2. A Promise grounded upon a Proverb and unto you that hear shall more be given Those that make use of what is said to them that mark diligently and practice accordingly more Knowledge and Grace is increased This is built on a Proverb habenti dabitur for he that hath to him shall be given To have doth not only signifie the Possession of a thing but the use which is the end of Possession So he that hath is he that hath to purpose that occupieth the Gift and Grace received A Man that useth and employeth that which he hath and so maketh it to appear to the World that he hath such a Talent from God for in Scripture we are said to have that we make use of To him shall be given He shall increase his stock He shall be having and having and having till he come to a glorious Estate in all Spiritual Riches Knowledge Love Humility Zeal Temperance and Patience and all manner of Grace That the expression is Proverbial is out of Question with the Learned for it is an assertion verified in all Ages and Places That the Rich have many friends and he that hath much shall have more Every one will be giving to them and they have greater advantages of improving themselves than others Upon this occasion were the words first used which our Saviour is pleased to translate and apply to his own purpose of growth in Grace by a diligent use of the means Doct. That a serious attention to the Doctrine of the Gospel is the means appointed for the attaining of saving Grace and a plentiful increase therein In stating this point let me observe to you 1. That in the Communication of Grace as well as Nature God observeth the order of means Because he dealeth with us as reasonable Creatures and this becometh the Wisdom of his Government and so he meeteth with us in our way and we meet with him in his way So Christ is the principal means and called therefore the way to the Father Iohn 14.8 Other Subordinate means are instituted by him 2. That among the Subordinate means the principle is the Word called therefore the power of God unto Salvation Rom. 1.16 All the parts of it are fitted to their Sanctifying use His Doctrine to teach and fill us with due Conceptions and Apprehensions of God Threatnings to drive Promises to draw Examples to move and all these formed into a Covenant strongly to ingage us to God 3. This word that it may profit us must be diligently attended unto For this is Christ's Admonition in the Text Take heed what you hear The Gospel deserveth it our profiting requireth it 1 The Gospel deserveth it partly for the sublimity and excellency of the Mysteries therein contained which are enough to ravish the thoughts of Angels 1 Pet. 1.12 Therefore we cannot conceive of them without much consideration Great and Excellent things do even force their way into our Minds Now all other things are but Toys and Trifles to this What is a greater speculation than God made accessible to us in Christ as he was manifested in the Flesh than God reconciled by the propitiatory sacrifice of his Death What is all the Glory of the World to Everlasting Communion with God These things are a feast to the Minds of all wise and rational Men. And partly because of their profit they are things that nearly concern us Needless speculations we may well spare or other Mens matters but surely we should mind their own things What doth more nearly concern us than to have God for our God and Christ for our Saviour and Redeemer and the Spirit for our Sanctifier and Comforter This is life Eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent Iohn 17.3 And partly their Necessity We are undone for ever if ignorant of these things Acts 4.12 Neither is there Salvation in any other for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we can be saved And Condemned by the Gospel if we make light of them Iohn 3.19 This is the Condemnation that light is come into the World and Men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil Not to think that worthy of a serious thought which was brought about with so much ado Matth. 22.5 And they made light of it This is not only vile ingratitude but obstinate contempt of Grace which will cost us dear 2. Our profiting by the Gospel requireth it for otherwise How can we have a sufficient understanding of those Mysteries if we content our selves with a few cursory and â—areless Thoughts 2 Tim. 2.7 Consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things Lay this to thy Heart and God give thee a right use of it or a judgment to do all things which belong to thee 2. That we may feel the force and power of it Acts 16.14 And a certain woman named Lidia a seller of purple of the City of Thyatira which worshipped God heard us whose heart the Lord opened that she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul without attendency the Truth is lost and doth us no good There must be Attention and Intention before there can be choice or pursuit For the Gospel doth not work like a charme as if we could find the efficacy of it whither sleeping or waking 3. To move the Soul to Obedience For Take heed what you hear is as much as See you practice what you have heard that you bring forth the fruit accordingly He that heareth my sayings and doth them I will liken him to a wise builder Matth. 7.24 Hearing tendeth to Practice Knowledge to Practice Faith to Practice Affection to Practice without which our Hearing is but a bodily Task our Knowledge but an empty Speculation Faith a dead Opinion Affection but a vanishing Impression These things do not attain their consummate and proper effect 4. This diligent attention consisteth in three things Sound Belief Serious Consideration and close Application Sound Belief 1 Thess. 2.13 For this cause we thank God without ceasing because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe Serious Consideration Deut. 32.46 And he said unto them Set your hearts unto all the words which I testiste among you this day which
you shall command your Children to observe to do all the words of this Law Luke 9.44 Let these sayings sink down into your Ears Close Application Rom. 8.31 What shall we then say to these things if God be for us who can be against us Job 5.27 Loe thus we have searched it so it is hear it and know thou it for thy good And therefore as things are duly thought on so they must be closely applied These three acts of the Soul have each of them a distinct and proper Work Sound belief worketh on the clearness and certainty of the things asserted Serious Consideration on the greatness and importance of them Close Application on their pertinency and suitableness to us See all in one place 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a true saying worthy of all acceptation That Iesus Christ came into the world to save Sinners of whom I am chief These are all necessary to make any truth operative Sound belief for we are not affected with what we believe not Heb. 4.2 For unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them but the word preached did not profit them not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it Therefore to awaken diligence the truth of things is pleaded 2 Pet. 1.5 10 16. Give all diligence to add to your Faith Virtue and to Virtue Knowledge Give diligence to make your calling and Election sure for we have not followed cunningly devised Fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Iesus Christ but were Eye-witnesses of his Majesty Heb. 2.3 4. For if the word spoken by Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him The first rousing Question when Men heard any Sermon about any Truth or Doctrine of the Gospel was Is this true For Consideration Heb. 3.1 Wherefore holy Brethren partakers of the Heavenly calling consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Christ Iesus our Lord. Without Consideration the weightiest things lie by as if they were not Sleepy reason is as none The most important Truths have no force upon us till Consideration awakeneth us Then for Application what concerneth us not is passed over Unless we hear things with a care to apply them we shall never make use of them Eph. 1.13 In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of our Salvation In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise 'T is not enough to know the Gospel to be a Doctrine of Salvation to others but we must look upon it as a Doctrine that bringeth Salvation to our own doors and leaveth it upon our choice A Plaister doth not heal at a distance till it be applied to the Sore Truths are too remote till we set the edge and point of them to our own Hearts Well then by this way we Preach to our selves Day and Night by exciting our Faith in God and Christ and Glory to come and by serious Consideration stirring up all God's graces in our selves and reproving our selves for all our Sins and calling a backward Heart to all the duties required of us This is the work of Close Application 5. They prosper best in Grace that most faithfully and diligently use the means Here I shall prove two things 1. That we are to use the means For wherefore hath Christ appointed them but that we should use them His Church is not like a Statuaries Shop where the Image or Statue doth nothing but the Carver or Artificer doth all But 't is compared to a School where Christ is the Teacher to teach us our Duty and we are Disciples to learn it And to a Kingdom where Christ is the Monarch and Sovereign and we are Subjects ingaged by Covenant to Obey him and the manner of his Government 't is not meerly natural ruling us as he doth the other Creatures by a Rod of Iron or in a way of absolute power as they cannot do otherwise but Moral by Laws Promises Threatnings working Faith by preaching and Love Hope and Obedience are the ends of Faith Certainly he governeth Man as Man not by Physical Motions only but by Moral Motives to which we must attend consider and improve Hosea 11.4 I drew them with the Cords of a Man with bands of Love Christ hath not to deal with Stones or Brick or Timber but with Men. God hath fitted the means to do their work and for these ends we must use them If he did ordinarily work without them he would never have appointed them to this end He could have done it with one powerful fiat one creating word or beck of his will but he hath set another train and order of Causes and therefore he will work by them because he worketh on all things according to their Nature and this is suitable to the nature of Man We never knew of any Man that came to Knowledge Faith or Love without means Therefore 't is presumption for us to expect it And the greatest neglecters and despisers of Means are every where the most graceless and the worst of Men Therefore it concerneth us to use them 〈◊〉 the greater diligence and care We may learn from our Adversary the Devil he sheweth his Malice to Souls in opposing the means either by depriving Men of them 2 Thess. 2.18 Wherefore we would have come unto you even I Paul once and again but Satan hindred us or keeping them from them by thraldom or filling them with prejudice Iohn 8.4.4 Ye are of your Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father ye will do he was a Murtherer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him 2 Cor. 44. In whom the God of this World hath blinded the Eyes of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine upon them Or from the Faithful using of them Matth. 13.19 When any one heareth the word of the Kingdom and understandeth it not then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sowen in his Heart He watcheth them in all their Postures As soon as Men begin to be serious and to take heed what they hear he disturbeth the Work Well then the Means have an Aptitude and subservient Efficacy which we ought to regard 2. They prosper best that do most faithfully and diligently use the means I shall prove that by the double reason of the Text. 1. With what measure you meet it shall be measured to you again In the Allegation of this Proverbial Speech I shall observe two things 1. That there is a Law of Commerce between God and his Creatures or else how shall we know what to expect And the ordinary Rule