then he could doe if he were on the Earth if the Sun were lower what wouâ—d become of the Earth But being so remote and so farre above he hath opportunity to shine over the greatest part of the Earth at once being greater then the Earth he shineth over more then halfe the Earth at once Christ being in Heaven as the Sunne of Righteousnesse he shines more gloriously over all and we have more comfort and benefit and influence from Christ now in Heaven then we could if he were on Earth Must we needs make him bodily present every where as the Papists doe and other Heterodox strange conceited men in Germanie What need we doe thus when there may be influence from Christ now in Heaven to us on Earth as we see in other things without confusion of his Divine properties to his Body or making his Body as his God-head is Therefore seeke him not bodily any where but in Heaven Those Opinions overthrow three Articles of our Faith at once He ascâ—nded into Heaven He sitteth at the right hand of God and He shall come to judge the quicke and the dead And where is his Body in the meane time in the Sacrament No he is received up in glory Therefore we must have our thoughts in heaven when we are about that businesse we must lift up our hearts as it is in our Liturgie which is taken out of the ancient Liturgie We lift them up unto the Lord we must have holy thoughts raysed up to Christ in Heaven Againe is Christ received up to glory Here is singular comfort considering what I said before that he is ascended as a publike person in our behalfe in our nature for our good Therefore when we thinke of Christ in Heaven think of our Husband in Heaven thinke of our selves in Heaven We are set together in heavenly places with Christ as the Apostle saith Ephes. 2. We have a glorious life but it is hid with Christ in Heaven When Christ himselfe shall be revealed our life shall be revealed though we creepe upon the Earth as wormes yet notwithstanding we have communion and fellowship with Christ who is joyned with us in the same Mysticall Body who is now at the right hand of God in Heaven and he that hath glorified his naturall Body in Heaven that he tooke upon him he will glorifie his Mysticall Body for he tooke flesh and blood his naturall Body for the glory of his Mysticall Body that he might bring his Church to glory Therefore we ought as verily to beleeve that he will take his Mysticall Body and every particular member of it to Heaven as he hath taken his naturall Body and hath set it there in glory It is a comfort in the houre of death that we yeeld up our soules to Christ who is gone before to provide a place for us this was one end of his taking up to Heaven to provide a place for us Therefore when we die we have not a place to seeke our house is provided before hand Christ was taken up to glory to provide glory for us Even as Paradise was provided for Adam before he was made so we have a heavenly Paradise provided for us we had a place in Heaven before we were borne What a comfort is this at the houre of death and at the death of our friends that they are gone to Christ and to glory We are shut out of the first Paradise by the first Adam our comfort is that now the heavenly Paradise in Christ is open This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise sayth Christ to the good Theefe There was an Angell to keepe Paradise when Adam was shut out but there is none to keepe us out of Heaven nay the Angels are ready to convey our soules to Heaven as they did Lazarus and as they accompanied Christ in his Ascension to Heaven so they doe the soules of his children Likewise in our sinnes and infirmities when we have to deale with God the Father whom we have offended with 〈◊〉 sinnes let he 〈…〉 comfort from hence Christ is ascended into Heaven to appeare before his Father 〈◊〉 a Mediator for us and therefore God turnes 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 from us we have a friend a favorite in the Court of Heaven the Sonne of God himselfe at his Fathers right hand he makes inteâ—â—â—ssioâ— for us As Ionathan appeareth in 〈◊〉 Court to speake a good word and to plead for David so our Ionathan Iesus Christ but with farre better successe appeares in the Court of Heaven for us continuing our peace with God in our daily breaches perfuming our prayers And there is no danger of his death for He is a Priest for ever at the right hand of God to make intercession for us his very presenting himselfe in Heaven speaks for us As if he should say These persons that aske in my Name they are such persons as I was borne for such as I obeyed for such as I dyed for such as I was sent into the world to work the great wolke of Redemption for for he wrought our Redemption in his abased estate but he applyes it as he is exalted application is as necessary as merit we have no good by the worke of Redemption without application and for that end he appeares in heaven for us and pleads for us For even as there is speech attributed to Abels blood it cryed Vengeance Vengeance so Christ appearing now in heaven for us his blood cryes Mercie Mercie these are those I shed my blood for Mercie Lord The very appearing of him that shed his blood it cryes for mercy at the Throne of Mercie which is therefore a Throne of Mercie because he is there he shed his blood to satisfie Justice to make way for Mercie In the Law the High-Priest after he had offered a Sacrifice of blood he was to goe into the Holy of Holies so Christ after he had offered himself for a Sacrifice he went into the Holy of Holies into heaven to appeare before God And as the High-Priest when he went into the Holy of Holies he had the names of the twelve Tribes on his brest to shew that he appeared before God for them all so Christ being gone into the Holy of Holies into heaven he hath all our names upon his brest that is in his heart the name of every particular beleever to the end of the world to present them before God Therefore when we have to deale with God thinke of Christ now glorious in heaven appearing for us God can denie him nothing nor denie us any thing that we aske in his Name we have his Promise for it It is a ground likewise of contentment in all conditions whatsoever our wants be What if we want comfort houses c. on Earth when we have Heaven provided for us and Glory provided for us when we are already so glorious in our Head Shall not any condition content a man in this world
are Angels even of children of little ones Nay let a man be never so poore even as Lazarus he shall have the attendance of Angels in life and death There is no Christian of low degree of the lowest degree that shall thinke himselfe neglected of God for the very Angels attend him as we see in Lazarus there is a generall commission for the least the little ones Likewise it may comfort us in all our extremities whatsoever in all our desertions the time may come beloved that we may be deserted of the world and deserted of our friends we may be in such straits as we may have no body in the world neere us Oh but if a man be a true Christian he hath God and Angels about him alway A Christian is a King he is never without his Guard that invisible Guard of Angels What if a man have no body by him when he dies but God and his good Angels to carry his soule to Heaven is he neglected Every Christian if he hath none else with him he hath God the whole Trinitie and the Guard of Angels to helpe and comfort him and to convey his soule to the place of happinesse Therefore let us never despaire let us never be disconsolate whatsoever our condition be we shall have God and good Angels with us in all our straits and extremities Goe thorow all the passages of our life we see how readie we are to fall into dangers In our infancie in our tender yeeres we are committed to their custodie after in our dangers they pitch their Tents about us as it is Psal. 34. The Angels of the Lord pitch their Tents about those that feare the Lord. In our conversion they rejoyce There is joy in Heaven at the conversion of a sinner At the houre of death as we see in Lazarus they are readie to convey our soules to the place of happinesse Lazarus soule was carryed by Angels into Abrahams bosome At the Resurrection they shall gather our dead bodies together it is the office of the Angels In Heaven they shall prayse and glorifie God together with us forever for Christ shall come with a multitude of heavenly Angels at the Day of Judgement when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints then we shall for ever glorifie God Saints and Angels together in Heaven Therefore in Heb. 12.22 it is said We are come to the innumerable multitude of Angels What is the meaning of that That is now in the New Testament by our communion with Christ we have association with the blessed Angels innumerable companie of Angels sayth the Holy-Ghost there we have association with them even from our infancie till we be in glory Indeed they are as Nurses They shall carry thee that thou dash not thy foot against a stone as it is Psal. 91. they keepe us from many inconveniencies But you will say Gods children fall into inconveniencies how then are they attended by Angels I answere First of all Gods Angels preserve those that are his from many inconveniencies that they know not of And certainely we have Devils about us continually and there is a conflict betwixt good Angels and Devils about us continually And when we doe fall into any inconvenience it is because we are not in our way if we goe out of our way they have not the charge over us they are to keepe us in our wayes And if they keepe us not from dashing our foot against a stone if they keepe us not from ill yet they keepe us in ill and deliver us out of ill at length for they deliver us not onely from evill that we fall not into it but they keepe us in ill and deliver us out of ill nay and by ill if we suffer in the custodie of Angels any inconveniencie it is that we may be tryed by it that we may be exercised and bettered by it There is nothing that falls out to Gods children in the world but they gaine by it whatsoever it is This therefore doth not prejudice the attendance of Angels Therefore let us comfort our selves in all conditions for our selves and for the State put ease it be brought to a very small number that the enemies were thousands more then wee many thousands and millions yet if we be in the Covenant of Grace and in good tearmes with God we have more for us then against us we shall have Angels fight for us You know Elisha's servant when he saw a multitude of enemies his eyes were opened to see a companie of Angels and sayth the Prophet there are more for us then against us So let us be to the eye of the world never so few and never so weake let us but have Elisha's eye the eye of Faith and we shall have his Guard about us alway and about the Common-wealth this should comfort us But then we must learne this dutie not to grieve these good Spirits As it is wondrous humilitie that they will stoupe to be servants to us that are of a weaker baser nature then they so it is wondrous patience that they will continue still to guard us notwithstanding we doe that that grieves those good spirits one motive to keepe us in the way of obedience that we doe not grieve those blessed spirits that are our Guard and attendance Let us consider when we are alone it would keepe us from many sinnes no eye of man seeth I but God seeth and conscience within seeth and Angels without are witnesses they grieve at it and the Devils about us rejoyce at it These meditations when we are sollicited to sinne would withdraw our minds and take up our hearts if we had a spirit of faith to beleeve these things Let us learne to make this use likewise to magnifie God that hath thus honoured us not onely to take our nature upon him to be manifest in the flesh but also to give us his owne attendance his owne Guard a Guard of Angeâ—s Indeed we are in Christ above Angels advanced higher then Angels what cause have we to prayse God How are we advanced above them We are the Spouse of Christ and so are not Angels they are under Christ as a Head of government and a Head of Influence they have strength and confirmation from Christ he is not a Head of redemption but of confirmation to them Saint Paul calls them elect Angels that stand they stand by Christ they have good by him but they are not the Spouse of Christ we are the Spouse and members of Christ He hath honoured our nature more then the Angelicall he did not take upon him the nature of Angels but of men and as he hath advanced us above Angels so his dispensation is that those glorious creatures should be our attendants for our good and they distaste not this attendance And this is that we should know what care God hath over us and
to the Truth it selfe he would have men regard the things spoken not for the person that speaks them but for the excellencie of the things If some glorious creatures as the Angels should preach to us we should regard the excellencie of the Preachers more then the Truth it selfe we should beleeve the Truth for the Messengers sake And then God would knit man to man by bonds of love now there is a relation betweene Pastor and people by this ordinance of God And then it is more sutable to our condition we could not heare God speake or any more excellent creature God magnifies his power the more in blessing these weake meanes And it is more proportionable to our weakenesse to have men that speake out of experience from themselves that preach the Gospel that they have felt the comfort of themselves it works the more upon us Therefore those that first preached the Gospel they were such as had felt the sweetnesse of it themselves first S. Paul a great sinner out of the Church and S. Peter in the Church he fell after he was in the state of Grace that these great Apostles might shew to all people that there is no ground of despaire if we humble our selves if they be sinnes out of the Church if they be sinnes against the first Table as Paul he was a blasphemer or against the second he was a persecutor yet he found mercy notwithstanding and for this end he found mercy he sayth that he might teach the mercy of God to others that he might be an example of the mercy of God to others And so if we relapse and fall let none despaire Peter a great Teacher in the Church an Apostle see how foulely he fell Now when men subject to the same infirmities shall discover the mercie of God out of the Booke of God it workes the more upon us It is good for us to have a right esteeme of the Ordinances of God because the prophane heart of man doth thinke it a needlesse matter Some are ready to say Cannot I as well reade privatly at home Yes but the use of private Exercises with contempt of the publike they have a Curse upon them instead of a Blessing It is with such men as with those that gathered Mannah when they should not it stanke Hath God set up an Ordinance for nothing for us to despise Is not he wiser to know what is good for us better then we doe for our selves God accompanies his Ordinance with the presence of his blessed Spirit The Truth read at home hath an efficacy but the Truth unfolded hath more efficacy As we say of Milke warmed it is fitter for nourishment and the raine from Heaven hath a fatnesse with it and a speciall influence more then other standing waters so there is not that life and operation and blessing that accompanies other means that doth Preaching being the ordinarie meanes where it may be had I but this Ordinance of God Preaching it is only for the laying the foundation of a Church it is not for a Church when it is built then other helpes or Prayer and the like without this may suffice Those that have such conceits they make themselves wiser then the Spirit of God in S. Paul we see in Ephes. 4. Christ when he ascended on high he led captivitie captive he gave gifts to men some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists for the edifying and building up of the Church So that this Ordinance it is necessarie for building up still and for the knitting of the members of Christ together still Therefore that is a vaine excuse Oh but what need much lesse would fere he turne Thus people grow to contemne and despise this heavenly Mannah but those that are acquainted with their own infirmities they thinke it a happinesse to have plentie for naturally we are dull we are forgetfull we are unmindfull though we know we doe not remember and though we remember yet we doe not minde things we are naturally weake and therefore we need all spirituall supports and helpes that may be to keep the vessell of our soules in perpetuall good case the more we heare and know the fitter we are for doing and suffering our soules are fitter for communion with God for all passages both of life and death therefore we cannot have too much care this way Oh let us therefore chuse Maries part the better part that will never depart from us and take heed of prophane conceits in this kind it is to the prejudice of our soules We must know that whensoever God sets up an Ordinance he accompanies it with a speciall blessing And wee are not so much to consider men in it but consider the Ordinance which is his and being his there is a speciall blessing goes with the dispensation of the Word by the Ministerie Others object they know it well enough and therefore they need not to be taught The Word of God preached it is not altogether to teach us but the Spirit going with it to worke grace necessarie to strengthen us in the inward man And those that say they know it enough deceive themselves they know it not Religion is a Mysterie and can it be learned at the first There is no Mysterie but it requires many yeeres to learne if it be but a handy-craft men are six or seven yeeres learning it and is Religion and the Mysteries and depths of it learned so soone thinke we There is a Mysterie in every Grace in Repentance in Faith in Patience that no man knowes but those that have the Graces what belongs to those Graces Religion consists not in some parts and abilities to speake and conceive of these things and yet that is hardly learned being contrarie to our nature having no seedes of these things even the outside of Religion that is the preparative to the inward there is somewhat to doe to bring our hearts to these things But then Religion it selfe it is a deepe Mysterie it requires a great deale of learning Let us therefore set a price upon Gods Ordinance there must be this dispensation Christ must be preached Preaching is the Chariot that carryes Christ up and downe the world Christ doth not profit but as he is preached For supernaturall benefits if they be not discovered they are lost as we say of Jewels if they be not discovered what is the glory of them Therefore there must be a discoverie by Preaching which is the Ordinance of God for that end Whereupon God stirred up the Apostles before that were the maine converters of the world they had some Prerogatives above all other Preachers they had an immediate Calling extraordinarie Gifts and a generall Commission in them was established a Ministerie to the end of the world Christ when he ascended on high and led captivitie captive he would give no meane Gift then
not only meditation of these things that will cause us to be heavenly-minded but Christ as a Head of influence in Heaven conveyes spirituall life to draw us up When I am ascended I will draw all men after me There is a vertue from Christ that doth it there is a necessitie of the cause and consequence as well as strength of reason and equitie there is an influence issuing from Christ our Head to make us so indeed therefore those that are otherwise they may thanke themselves The best of us indeed have cause to be abased that we betray our comfort and the meanes that we have of raysing up our dead and dull hearts for want of meditation Let us but keepe this Faith in exercise that Christ is in Heaven in glory and we in him are in Heaven as verily as if we were there in our persons as we shall be ere long and then let us be uncomfortable and base and earthly-minded if we can To conclude all As the soule of man is first sinfull and then sanctified first humble and then raysed so our meditations of Christ must be in this order first thinke of Christ as abased and crucified for the first comfort that the soule hath is in Christ manifested in the flesh before it come to received up into glory Therefore if we would have comâ—ortable thoughts of this Christ received up in glory thinke of him first manifest in the flesh let us have recourse in our thoughts to Christ in the Wombe of the Virgin to Christ borne and lying in the Manger going up and downe doing good hungring and thirsting suffering in the Garden sweating water and blood nayled on the Crosse crying to his Father My God my God why hast thou forsaken me finishing all upon the Crosse lying three dayes in the Grave have recourse to Christ thus abased and all for us to expiate our sinne he obeyed God to satisfie for our disobedience Oh here will be comfortable thoughts for a wounded soule pierced with the sense of sinne assaulted by Satan To thinke thus of Christ abased for our sinnes and then to thinke of him taken up into glory In the Sacrament our thoughts must especially have recourse in the first place to Christs Body broken and his blood shed as the Bread is broken and the Wine poured out that we have benefit by Christs abasement and suffering by satisfying his Fathers wrath and reconciling us to God Then thinke of Christ in Heaven appearing there for us keeping that happinesse that he hath purchased by his death for us and applying the benefit of his death to our soules by his Spirit which he is able to shed more abundantly being in that high and holy place Heaven for the Spirit was not given in that abundance before Christ was ascended to glory as it hath beene since In this manner and order we shall have comfortable thoughts of Christ. To thinke of his glory in the first place it would dazle our eyes it would terrifie us being sinners to thinke of his glory being now ascended but when we thinke of him as descended first as he sayth Who is he that ascended but he that descended first into the lower parts of the Earth So who is this that is taken up in glory is it not he that was manifest in our flesh before This will be comfortable Therefore let us first begin with Christs abasement and then we shall have comfortable thoughts of his exaltation These points are very usefull being the maine grounds of Religion having an influence into our lives and conversations above all others other points have their life and vigour and quickning from these grand Mysteries which are the food of the soule Therefore let us oft feed our thoughts with these things of Christs abasement and glory considering him in both as a publike person the second Adam and our Suretie and then see our selves in him and labour to have vertue from him fitting us in body and soule for such a condition The very serious meditation of these things will put a glory upon our soules and the beleeving of them will transforme us from glory to glory FINIS ANGELS Acclamations OR THE NATIVITY of CHRIST celebrated by the heavenly Host. BY The late learned and reverend Divine RICHARD SIBS Doctor in Divinity Master of Katherine Hall in Cambridge and sometimes Preacher at Grayes-Inne ISAI 9.6 To us a Child is borne to us a Sonne is given 1 PET. 1.12 Which things the Angels desire to looke into LONDON Printed by E. P. for N. Bourne at the Royall Exchange and Rapha Harford at the gilt Bible in Queenes head Alley in Pater-noster Row 1638. ANGELS ACCLAMATIONS LUKE 2.13 14. And suddenly there was with the Angell a multitude of the heavenly Host praising GOD and saying Glory to GOD in the highest and on earth peace Good will towards men THE Words are few and pregnant very precious having much excellency in a little quantity The Heavens never opened but to great purpose when God opens his mouth it is for some speciall end and when the Angels appeared it was upon some extraordinary occasion This was the most glorious Apparition that ever was setting aside that that was at Christs Baptisme when the Heavens opened and the Father spake and the Holy-Ghost appeared in the likenesse of a Dove upon the head of Christ when all the Trinity appeared but there was never such an apparition of Angels as at this time and there was great cause for there was never such a ground for it whether we regard the matter it selfe the incarnation of Christ there was never such a thing from the beginning of the World nor never shall be in this World for God to take mans nature on him for Heaven and Earth to joyne together for the Creator to become a creature Or whether we regard the benefit that comes to us thereby Christ by this meanes brings God and man together since the fall Christ is the accomplishment of all the Prophesies of all the promises they were made in him and for him therefore he was the expectation of the Gentiles Before he was borne he was revealed by degrees First generally The seed of the woman c. Then more particularly to Abraham and his seed and then to one Tribe Iudah that hee should come of him then to one family the house of David and then more particularly a Virgin shall conceive and beare a sonne and the place Bethlehem till at the last Iohn Baptist pointed him out with the finger Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sinnes of the world Even as after midnight the Sun growes up by little and little till his beames stâ—â—ke forth in the morning and after it appeares in glory so it was with the Sunne of Righteousnesse as he came nearer so hee discovers himselfe more gloriously by degrees till hee was borne indeed and then you see here a multitude of Angels
to be an Host of Angels Beloved we have need of such comforts and let it not seeme slight unto us to heare of Angels because we see them not It is a thing forgotten of us too much why are we so cold and dead and dull and distrustfull in dangers wee forget our strength and comfort this way There is now at this time an earthly Host against the Church men led with antichristian spirits Let us comfort our selves we have an heavenly Host with us as Elizeus said to his servant there are more with us then against us If God see it good this outward Host of Heaven the Sun the Moon and Starres hee can make them fight for his Church as in Sisera's case But there is another Host that see the face of God that is that observe and wait on his will and command wee have an heavenly Host within the heavens that having a command from God can come downe quickly for the defence of the Church and for every particular Christian not onely one Angell that is but an opinion that every one hath his Angell but even as God sees good one or two or more a multitude an Host of Angels God useth Angels not for any defect of power in himselfe to doe things that hee must have such an Host but for the further demonstration of his goodnesse he is so diffusive in goodnesse he will have a multitude of creatures that they may be a meanes to diffuse his goodnesse Angels to the Church and the Church to others it is for the spreading of his goodnesse for hee is all in all in himselfe Let it take impression in us that we have such glorious creatures for our service We see here this Host of heavenly Angels they attend upon the Lord of Hosts at his birth for Christ is the Creator of Angels the Lord of them not onely as God but as Mediator As God he is the Creator of Angels as Mediator hee is the head of Angels Col. 1.16 It was fit therefore that an Host of Angels should attend upon the Lords of Angels It was for the honour of Christ. God would let the world know although they heeded it not there was no such thought in Augustus Court at that time that there was an excellent glorioâ—s person borne into the world God himselfe tooke our nature Christ Emanuel though he were neglected of the world and faine to lye in a manger yet God tooke better notice of him then so heaven tooke notice of him when earth regarded him not therefore God to shew that he had another manner of respect and regard to Christ then the world had he sends a multitude an Host of heavenly Angels to celebrate the nativity of Christ. There is much solemnity at the birth of Princes and God that is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords he makes a solemnity likewise at the birth of his Sonne the greatest solemnity that ever was an Host of heavenly Angels but these things I doe but touch And suddenly there was c. Suddenly in an unperceivable time yet in time for there is no motion in a moment no creature moves from place to place in a moment God is every where Suddenly it not only shewes us somwhat exemplary from the quick dispatch of Angels in their businesse we pray to God in the Lords prayer Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven that is willingly suddenly cheerefully But also it serves for comfort if we be in any sudden danger God can dispatch an Angell a multitude of Angels to encampe about us suddenly therefore though the danger be present c the Devill present and devilish minded men present to hurt us God hath a multitude an Host of Angels as present to defend us nay as himselfe is every where so in the middest of his Church he is present more then Angels can be he is not onely among us but he is in us by his Spirit to comfort and strengthen us therefore let us stirre up the Spirit of God in us in all difficulties and dangers whatsoever considering we have such grounds of comfort every way What is the use and end of this glorious apparition in regard of the poore shepherds to confirme their faith and in them ours for if one or two witnesses confirme a thing what shall a multitude doe If one or two men confirme a truth much more an Host of heavenly Angels Therefore it is base infidelity to call this in question that is confirmed by a multitude of Angels and to comfort them likewise in this Apparition we see by the way that for one Christian to confirme an Angelicall worke for one man to discourage another it is the worke of a Devill when Christ was in his agony the Angels appeared to comfort him wee may take notice how willing and ready these glorious Spirits were to attend upon our blessed Saviour Iesus Christ in all the passages from his Incarnation to his glory we see they appeared here at his Incarnation they ministred unto him after his temptation at his Resurrection then they were ready to attend him and at his Ascension they were ready then but oh the welcome when he entred into Heaven There was the glorious imbracings when all the Host of heaven entertained him at his Ascension In the garden as I said they comforted him let us imitate them in this blessed worke if there be any in distresse that need comfort and confirmation we love examples of great noted persons here you have an example above your selves the example of Angels who to confirme and comfort the poore Shepherds appeare in an host 〈◊〉 multitude of heavenly Angels The Angels as they attend upon Christ so for his sake they attend upon us too for he is that Iacobs Ladder Iacobs Ladder you know stood upon the earth but it reached to Heaven and the Angels went up and down upon the Ladder that is it is Christ that knits heaven and earth together God and man and the Angels by Christ have communion and fellowship with us as I noted out of the place Heb. 12.22 Wee are come to an innumerable company of Angels so that they attend upon us for Christs sake whose members we are they attend upon Christ mysticall as well as Christ naturall For they are ministring Spirits for the sakes of them that shall be saved Heb. 1. And therefore in our childhood and tender yeeres they have the custody of us committed to them as Christ saith Their Angels behold the face of God and in our dangers they pitch their Tents about us and at our death they carry our soules to the place of happinesse as they carryed Lazarus soule into Abrahams bosome and at the resurrection they shall gather our dead bodies together so that as they never left our blessed Saviour from his birth to his Ascension so they alwayes attend upon his members his Spouse for
ready to serve the Lord of Hosts against his enemies as hee saith Isay 1. Ah I will be avenged on mine enemies Indeed here God shewes his patience and our long life that we thinke a great favour It is a treasuring up of wrath against the day of wrath and then when Gods wrath comes at the day of Judgement when God hath forsaken sinfull men when God the Judge of all hath said depart ye cursed no creature shall minister them the least comfort the Sunne shall shine upon them no more the earth shall beare them no longer as wee see Dives hee had not a drop of water to comfort him in those flames therefore if wee be not at peace with the Lord of Hosts every creature is ready to be in armes against us As for the Devils they will be ready to be tormentors they that are incentives to sinne will be tormentors for sinne afterwards As for the Church what comfort can a wicked man looke for from the Church whom he hath despised and whose Ministery he hath rejected And for the damned spirits they are all in that cursed condition with himselfe therefore Where shall the ungodly appeare ere long whence shall hee hope for comfort neither from God nor Angels nor Devils nor wicked men nor good men none of them all will yeeld him a dram of comfort Let us not therefore delude our selves but get into Christ get into the Arke in time that when any publike calamity shall come wee may be safe in Christ if wee be at peace with God by repentance of sinnes and by faith in Christ every thing will minister thoughts of comfort to us we cannot thinke of God but as our Father of Christ as our Redeemer and reconciler that hath brought God and us together the Holy-Ghost takes upon him the terme of a comforter for such Angels they are ministring Spirits as for the Church it selfe Gods people they all have a common stocke of prayers for us every one that saith Our Father thinks of us and all other things they are at peace with us as Iob saithâ— The stones in the street nay the stone in a mans body the terrible pangs that comes from that disease they have a blessing upon them in the greatest extremities a soule that is at peace with God however God doe not deliver him from the trouble yet he delivers and supports him in the trouble and as the troubles increase so his comforts increase and the very troubles themselves are peace with him all worke for the best to them that love God And in the greatest confusions and tumults of States yet the righteous is affraid of no ill tydings Psal. 112. Because his heart is fixed upon Gods love in Christ. The wicked when warre and desolation and signes of Gods anger appeare from heaven they shake as the trees of the Forrest as a wicked Ahaz Isay 7. as Belshazzer when there is but a feare of trouble how did he know that the hand-writing was against him it was nothing but this naughty conscience hee knew not what it was till it was expounded so when any troubles comes upon wicked men their consciences upbraâ—d them with their former life their knees knocke together and they grow pale as Belshazzar oh the misery of a man that hath not made his peace with God in the evill day and the comfort of a man that hath there is the difference betweene godly and ungodly man consider them in calamities the one is at peace with God in the middest of all calamities and troubles nay as I said even troubles themselves are peaceable to him Yea when death comes which is the upshot of all the sting of it is taken away and it is for our greatest good he that hath made his peace with God hee can say with old Simeon Lord now let thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seene thy salvation mine eyes have seene Christ with the eye of â—aith he is willing to yeeld his soule to God because he is at peace with God their graves are their beds and their soules rest with God they dye in peace and commend their soules to God as to a faithfull Creator with a great deale of confidence as Saint Paul saith I have fought the good fight I have kept the faith I have runne my race henceforth is reserved for me a Crowne of righteousnesse and not for me onely but for all those that love the blessed and glorious appearing of Christ oh the comsort of a gracious soule in the houre of death that hath made its peace with God when the King of feares death shall looke with a gastly terrible looke upon men that have not made their peaâ—e but to the other it is the end of misery the in let to eternall happinesse Blessed are those that dye in the Lord in the peace of the Lord They rest from their labours from the labour of sinne of callings of afflictions there is no resting till then Saint Paul himselfe was troubled with the remainders of sinne with afflictions and troubles of his calling but blessed are they that dye in the peace of God in Christ they rest from their labours And after death what comfort are those in that have made their peace with God in Christ then their Saviour is to be their Judge hee that makes intercession for them in heaven will be their Judge and will the head give sentence against the members the Husband against the Wife and Spouse oh no therefore the godly have comfortable and sweet thoughts of those blessed times that astonisheth wicked men they have a glorious expectation of the times to come they cannot thinke of death and judgement when their soules are in a good frame without much comfort Lift up your heads for your redemption drawes neere Therefore let us not conceive sleightly of this peace it is not a freedome from petty ills and an advancement to a little good but it is a freedome from ills that are above nature from the wrath of God before which no creature can stand no not the Angels themselves from hell and damnation the curse of God from the Kingdome of Satan it is a freedome from that condition that all the powers of the world shall tremble at how can they stand before the Anger of God and it is an advancement to the greatest good a freedome from bondage an advancement to Son-â—hip therefore let us have high thoughts of this peace as the Angels had when they sang Glory to God on high on earth peace Good will towards men Divers Copies have it otherwise On Earth peace to men of good will some have it Good will towards men the sence is not much different Peace on earth To men of Gods good will of Gods good pleasure that God hath a pleasure to save or good will towards men of Gods good pleasure Peace on earth to men of Gods good will
at the birth of Christ Good will to men All these agree very well Châ—â—sts free grace and faith For what wee have by grace wee have onely by Christ because he hath given satisfaction to Gods Justice that so grace may be conveyed and derived unto us without prejudice to any other Attribute in God and then the imbraceing power and grace in us is faith so these three agree I say whatsoever wee have from Gods free love now wee have it in Christ the free love of God is grounded in Christ wee in our selves especially considered in the corrupt masse cannot bee the object of Gods love God cannot looke upon us but in him the best beloved first therefore all is Christ in the carriage of it wee are elected in Christ called in Christ justified by Christ sanctified by the Spirit of Christ glorified in Christ We are blessed with all spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ. This is my beloved Sonne I am well pleased in him it is the same word there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In whom I delight Isay 42. Out of which the Father takes his speech This is the Sonne I delight in Now all Gods delight is first fixed in his Sonne and in us because we must have communion with the Sonne so the first object of Gods free love is Christ and then he lookes upon us in him The Trinity have a wondrous complacencie in looking upon mankind now in Christ God loves us as redeemed by Christ Christ loves us as electeâ— by the Father and given by the Fathers choyce to him to redeeme the Holy Ghost hath a speciall liking to us as seeing the love of the Father in chusing us and of the Son in redeeming us And surely if wee would see likewise those sweet interviewes of God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost it should be our maine delight too to see how God hath chosen us and given us to Christ to save how Christ hath redeemed us from this very respect that the Father hath chosen us and given us to him as it is in Iohn 17. Thine thâ—y were thou gavest them me and how the Holy Ghost is a spirit of communion the Communion of the Holy Ghost that hath communion with the Father and the Son and issueâ— and proceedes from them both how he witnesseth this love to our soules and applies it to us the Holy Ghost applies all the Father decreed and ordained all the Sonne workes and dispenseth all the consideration of the point is wondrous comfortable Whatsoever good will the Father hath to us it is as we are in Christ. And why in Christ Because Christ is the first thing that God can love hee is the onely begotten Sonne of God whosoever is loved to glory in a spirituall order is loved in the first beloved Christ is loved of God as the character of his owne image the Sonne represents the Father he is loved of God as Mediator by office so God lookes upon us in Christ as the Sonne of his love so he is called by Saint Paul Coloss. 1. Then if we consider our selves this must bee so alas we are not objects of Gods love in our selves nor cannot be but in some other that is loved first for what are we and what is the glory to which God loves us To love such as wee to such glory and to free us from such misery due it must be by another foundation then our selves therefore Gods good pleasure is founded upon his Son Christ this is a cleare point the Scripture beates much upon it hee is our elder brother and wee must bee conformed to him To make some use of it First of all then we see here that all that are not in Christ lye open to the vengeance and wrath of God his good wil towards men is only in Christ. Againe if all Gods good will and pleasure be in Christ as our high Priest without whom we can offer no sacrifice as wee know whatsoever was not offered by the high Priest it was abhominable Therefore wee should looke to God in Christ love God in Christ performe service to God in Christ pray to God in Christ give thanks to God in Christ desire God in Christ to to make all things acceptable for Christs sake because it is in Christ that God hath any good will and pleasure to us It is a point of marvellous comfort that Gods love and good pleasure is so well founded as in Christ he loves Christ eternally and sweetly and strongly is not Gods love to us the same doth he not love us with the same love that hee loves his Son he loves his mysticall body with one love that is Christ head and members Iohn 17. That the love thou bearest to me may bee in them what a sweet comfort is this God loves Christ and me with one love he loves me strongly and sweetly and constantly as hee doth his owne Sonne his love to me is eternall because the foundation of it is eternall it is founded upon Christ. The love of a Prince if it be founded on a Favourite he loves dearely must needs be firme and strong Now Gods love to Christ is ardent and strong and sweet as possibly can be conceived therefore it is so to us his good will to us being founded on Christ. Why should a believer feare that God will cast him away he will as soone leave his love to his owne Sonne as to us if we continue members of his Sonne it is an undefeasable love it is a point of wondrous comfort What shall separate us saith the Apostle Rom. 8. from the love of God founded in Christ neither things present nor things to come nor life nor death nor any thing many things may sever the soule and body but there is nothing in the world but sinne that shall sever either soule or body from the love of God in Christ because both body and soule are members of Christ therefore let us treasure it up as a point wondrous comfortable To come to an use of tryall how shall wee know wither Gods good will be to us in Christ or no how shall I know that he loves my person that I am in the state of grace and love with him The Holy Ghost must ascertaine this for as the worke of salvation was so great that onely God could satisfie God so the doubts of mans heart and the guilt of his conscience when it is upon him and the feare of Gods wrath upon just guilt is such that God must assure him that God is reconciled to him God the Sonne must reconcile God the Father and God the holy Ghost must seale and ascertaine this to the soule The soule will never bee quiet before it see and know in particular God reconciled in Christ the Spirit that is God that is above conscience must seale it to the Soule being above conscience he can set downe and quiet our conscience Now
the more we shall attaine this Therefore let us labour that Christ may be all in all in us that as the soule doth act the body so the Spirit of Christ may act us that Christ may speake in us and think in us and love in us by his Spirit that he may dwell in us and joy and hate in us by his Spirit that we may put off our selves and our carnall affections and the Spirit of the world and that we may put on Christ and be clothed with him that we may say with S. Paul I live not but Christ lives in me by his Spirit whence was Paul stirred up to that Oh saith he Christ loved me and gave himselfe for me Gal. 2. The grace of Christ stirred him up Christ loved me and gave himselfe for me and by his Spirit he witnesseth to my soule that he did so Therefore the life that I live is by the Spirit of Christ Christ lives in me But to come to the particular duty whereunto the grace and example of Christ should stir us up to be like him that is in kindnesse and mercy and bounty to the poore Saints for that is the scope of the Apostle here in this and the next Chapter You know the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ who though he was rich he became poore c. Wherfore doth the Apostle bring all this To move them to the duty of bounty and liberality This duty it is legall from the example of Christ it is a thing that hath much equity in it and it is enough to a Christian heart that hath the love of God to put him in minde of the grace of God to him you need not beat upon him or presse him further then thus You know the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ remember you are a Christian you have felt the experience of Gods love in Christ every man will judge of the equity that we should therefore be gracious and kinde and loving to others in imitation of Christ because he hath beene so to us Wherein stands the equity First it may appeare in this if we consider in how neere a relation those that need our help are to us and likewise to Christ. First what is their relation to us Not only that they are our flesh for so are all men but they are heires of the same salvation bought with the death of the same Christ such as Christ feeds with his owne body and blood such as he clothes with his owne righteousnesse they are fellow members with us fellow heires of Heaven and members of Christ such as he died for to redeeme with the price of his owne blood there is an undeniable equity if we consider their condition their relation to Christ and to us Againe there is a marvellous binding equity to see the grace of God to us in particular Christ became poore to make us rich in grace here and in glory hereafter and shall not I out of my riches give somewhat to the poore Is it not equall Christ from Heaven came in my nature and flesh to visit me as it is in the Song of Zachary The day spring from on high hath visited us and shall not I visit Christ in his members He came from Heaven to Earth to take notice of my wants and miseries to doe and suffer that that I should have done and suffered he feeds me with his body and blood that is with his satisfaction to Divine justice by his death and shall not I feed his poore members Christ clothes me with his righteousnesse and shall not I cloth Christ in his poore members In the consideration of these things the Spirit of God will be effectuall to stir us up to this marvellous neglected duty of kindnesse and mercy to those that stand in need And because Christ is our paterne herein let us labour to imitate Christ in the manner of releeving and shewing kindnesse and communicating to others that we may doe it as CHRIST hath done How is that First Christ prevented us when we never desired him so we should prevent others Sometimes the modesty of those that want is such that they will not lay open their wants we should see it and prevent it he gives too late oft times that gives to a man that asks him Therefore herein let us imitate Christ to consider of the miseries of others he looked on and considered the miseries of mankinde and it drew him from Heaven to the Virgins wombe from thence to the Crosse to the grave even as low as Hell in his preventing love and mercy Therefore when wee see any need especially if there be any worth in them in any kinde let us not stay till it be wrested from us by intreaty for it is dearely bought oft times that comes that way but prevent them in mercy as Christ hath done to us Secondly what Christ did for us he did marvellous chearfully and readily oh what a desire he had to eate his last Passeover a little before he was crucified With a desire have I desired to eat this passeover with you he was chearfull in it he had a great desire to doe us good and as he saith Ioh. 4. when his disciples put him in mind of eating when he had not eat in a long time before saith he It is meat and drink to me to do the will of my Father so whatsoever we do to others we should do it chearefully and readily as he did Againe whatsoever Christ did for us he did it out of love and grace and mercy he did it inwardly from his very bowels so when we do aâ—ny thing for others we should not onely doe the deed but doe it from an inward principle of love and mercy Therefore the Scripture phrase is powre out thy bowels and saith S. Iohn if a man see his brother in need and pretend he loves God and yet relieves him not how is there bowels in such a man and so in Micah 6. He hath shewed thee oh man what is good to love mercy not onely to be mercifull to do works of mercy but to love it to do what we do out of love and affection and powre out thy heart to thy flesh as it is in I say to give the heart and affection when we do any thing or else we may give with the hand and denie with the heart A man may give a thing so untowardly that one may see it comes against his heart and will Therefore let us labour to doe that we doe with our whole man especially from our heart and affection and bowels It is said of Christ in the Gospell when he saw the people in misery his bowels yearned within him the workes of grace and mercy in Christ they came from his bowels first Let us worke our hearts to pitie and love and mercy first that it may come from the soule as well as from the outward man Againe Christ
and praying to him and then using the meanes with dependance upon him Let us therefore acknowledge God this way by committing our wayes and affaires to him Wee need knowledge and strength and a comfortable issue for all that is necessay in our affaires let us acknowledge God and fetch all these from him Well the last thing that wee have any use of trusting God withall is when we are dying to trust our soules to commit them to God and yeeld them up to him our depositum to lay it with him He that hath inured himselfe to trust God all his life and to live by faith he will be able at length with some comfort to dye by faith Hee that hath trusted God all his life with all things that God hath trusted him he can easily trust God with his soule and he that hath not inured himselfe to trust God in this life undoubtedly he will never trust God with his soule when he dies it is but a forced trust Thus you see in all the passages of our lives we must learne to trust God and to make use of God for God is so abundant that hee is never drawne dry he joyes when he is made use of it is an honour to him Let us try our selves by that I have said whether we truly trust God or no let us not deceive our owne soules but labour to trust God for all things Let it be our daily practise in the use of meanes look to the course that he prescribes us and then looke up to him for strength and blessing and successe This ought to be the life of a Christian Oculus ad Coelum as they say of the Governour of a Ship he hath his hâ—nd to the Sterne and his eye to the Pole-star to be directed by that so the life of a Christian he must have his hand to the sterne he must be doing that that God prescribes him and hee must have his eye to the Starre to be guided in his course by Gods direction he that doth not this knowes not what it is to trust in God How shall we bring our soules to this so necessary a duty Indeed it is a very hard matter we know what it is to live by our wits by our wealth by our lands but what it is to live by faith in depending upon God few soules are acquainted with that Therefore in the first place learne to know God you see here we must trust in his name We know men by their names God and his name are all one his name is himselfe and himselfe is his name Therefore let us learne to know God as he hath discovered himselfe know him in his workes but especially in his word know him by that worke is he hath discovered himselfe in his word Let us know his promises and have them in store for all assaies whatsoever promises fâ—r grace and for direction in this world God will not faile us nor forsake us he will be in all extremities with us In the fire and in the water and the promises of issue All things shall work for good to them that love God and the promise of his Spirit He will give his holy Spirit to them that ask him Besides particular promises a world of them in Scripture let us know God in these promises they are our inheritance our portion And if we should go to God and not be acquainted with these he will aske us upon what ground How shall wee bee able to go to God But when we have his promise we may say boldly with the Psalmist Lord remember thy promise wherein thou hast caused thy servant to trust We may put God in remembrance not that he forgets but he will have us mindfull of what he promiseth and put him in minde Aâ—d it is an evidence to our soules that he will grant any thing when we have faith to put him in minde of his promise Lord remember thy promise wherin thou hast caused thy servant to trust Lord thou canst not deny thy word and thy truth and thy selfe and they promise and thy name by which thou hast made thy selfe knowne Thus we should know God in his word as it is Psal. 9. They that know thy name will trust in thee oh Lord. We never trust a man till we know him and those that are not good we say they are better knowne then trusted but the more we know God the more we shall trust him And know him in his speciall Attributes that the word sets him out in besides the promises that we may know that he is able to make good all these promises and then wee shall trust him What are those Attributes He hath made himselfe knowne to be All-sufficient what a world of comfort is in that He saith to Abraham I am God All-sufficient walk before me and be perfect take thou no thought for any other thing I am God All-sufficient There is in him whatsoever may be for an object of trust he is All-sufficient he hath power our trust is in the name of the Lord that made Heaven and Earth There is a consideration to strengthen faith there is power enough we beleeve in a God that made Heaven and Earth and there is will to helpe us he is our God and there is skill to helpe us as S. Peter saith he knowes how to deliver it is his practise he hath used it from the beginning of the Chuâ—ch and will to the end hee knowes how to deliver them to protect and stand by them he hath power and will and skill to doe it And then againe he is every wheâ—e he is such a Castle and Tower and defence we have him neere us in all times he is a present helpe in trouble as it is Psal. 46. what an object of trust is here if we had buâ— faith to make use of it Let us therefore know God in his word in his Attributes and this will bee a meanes to strengthen trust as it is Psal. 36. How sweet is thy goodnesse therefore shall the sonnes of men trust under the shaddow of thy wings Why come we under the shaddow of Gods wing Because his goodnesse is sweet he is a fit object for trust The things of this world the more wee know them the lesse we trust them for they are but vaine but there is such infinitenesse in God that the more we know him the more we shall trust him therefore let us grow in the knowledge of Gods word and truth And adde experimentall knowledge it helpes trust marvellously the experience of others and our owne experience when wee see God hath helped his Church in all times especially when they have sought him by fasting and prayer Our Fathers trusted in thee and were not confounded Psalme 22. Therefore if we trust in thee we shall not be confounded So for our owne experience Thou hast beene my God from my mothers wombe I have depended
Christian. True Christian who 1 6 Church Angels attend on the Church 1 211 Greatest sinnes committed in the Church 1 231 Church of God will be after us 2 85 Civill Civill men who 1 91 Comfort To comfort others an Angelicall worke 1 210 Gods love in Christ ground of comfort 1 287 See Time Conformity Conformity to Christ wherein 1 179 Conscience Comfort when conscience is awaked 1 60 What to do in trouble of conscience 1 61 Constant. Good works must be done constantly 2 73 Contraries A Christians estate in contraries 2 30 Controversie Godlinesse a mystery without controversie 1 42 Covenant Covenant renewed to maintaine peace 1 269 Covenant of grace 1 283 Courage Ground of courage in Christs cause 1 188 Crosse. See humble D Death COnfidence in death 1 277 Comfort after death 1 278 Comfort before death 2 72 Comfort in death 2 77 Trouble in death whence Ibid. To trust God with our soules in death 2 147 Debt Our debts discharged by Christ 2 18 Delight Delight in God how wrought 1 289 Despaire Comfort against despaire 1 58 145 2 54 Difference Difference of people 2 83 Diligence Diligence to know Christs grace 2 56 Discretion Discretion in almes-giving 2 74 Disgrace Comfort in disgrace 1 80 Doubting Doubting the cause of it 2 57 Earth HOw to glorifie God on earth 1 216 Why the Angels wish peace on earth 1 261 Enemy Gods enemies must be ours 1 264 Envie Nature of Angels without envy 1 213 See Angels Esteeme From what ground to esteeme our selves 2 37 Evill Freedome from evill by Christ 2 25 Example Example forcible 2 5 Example of Christ should move us 2 62 How to profit by Christs example 2 63 Motives to follow Christs example 2 66 Excellency Excellency of people what 1 136 Experience Experience of our miseries in Christ 1 53 F Faith REason must stoope to faith 1 22 Faith marries the soule to Christ 1 138 Faith the grace of application 1 140 Christ the object of faith 1 142 What conceit to have of faith 1 151 Faith put for all graces 1 153 Trials of faith 1 155 Faith to be cherished 1 161 Faith in those that do good in their life time 2 72 Faith the nature of it 2 135 See Nature Fall Fals of Gods children why suffered 1 230.2 117 Favour How to know we are in Gods favour 2 53 Feare Faith keepes out base feare 2 139 Few Gods children few 2 86 Flesh. What meant by Christ manifest in the flesh 1 52 Free All good by Christ free 1 283 Fruitfull Fruitfulnesse whence it is 2 112 See Love and Grace G Gentiles GEntiles what they were 1 128 Why they were not called before 1 129 Calling of them a mystery 1 130 Why they were not called till Christ came 1 131 Glory Glory what 1 165 217 Whence we have glory 1 175 Glory of Christ suspended why 1 185 Angels wished glory in heaven why 1 215 Glory of God our chiefe aime 1 218 Glory of God wherein shewed most 1 219 Glory of God to Moses wherein 1 224 How to know we glorifie God 1 232 Hindrances of Gods glory 1 238 How to glorifie God 1 243 Riches of glory by Christ 2 21 First fruits of glory 2 22 See Peace God God how a Spirit 1 71 Christ God before he was man 2 7 Our Mediatour must bee God why 2 9 Afflictions bring us to God 2 100 Godlinesse Godlinesse what 1 4 Godlinesse what breeds it 1 5 From what reasons we must be godly Ibid. Good Christ to be imitated in doing good 2 70 Bounty must bee especially to the good 2 74 Good-will Good-will of God the ground of all good 1 282 Gospell What our affections and carriage must be to the Gospell 1 48 The manner of publishing the Gospell 1 119 Double spring of the Gospell 1 131 What use to make of the Gospell 1 131 Sinnes against the Gospell 1 134 High esteeme of the Gospell a signe of peace 1 266 Gospell why it converts 2 64 Grace Grace the ground of peace 1 280 Christians why poore in grace 2 40 Excellency of grace 2 41 All our riches from Christs grace 2 43 47 Grace what 2 44 Christ the meritorious cause of grace 2 47 Foure descents of grace 2 48 We are justified by grace 2 49 Grace twofold Ibid. Grace of Christ fruitfull 2 52 We cannot pray for grace of our selves 2 118 Works of grace not to be denied 2 127 Two graces alway requisite 2 132 See Mystery and Diligent Great What makes times and persons great 1 36 Christ at the lowest did the greatest works 1 75 H Hate MEn by nature hate God 1 263 Hatred of sinne a signe of peace with God 1 265 Heaven See Earth Hidden Riches of a Christian hidden 2 26 Holinesse Holinesse enforced from Christs ascension 1 190 Host. Angels called an host why 1 205 Humble Humility Humility to understand Gods mysteries 1 28 Humility to improve Christs riches 2 41 Crosses should humble us 1 102 I Ignorance IGnorance hinders Gods glory 1 238 Imputation Imputation of Christs righteousnesse a part of our riches 2 19 Incarnate Second person incarnate why 1 51 Incarnation of Christ the ground of other benefiâ—s 1 218 See wonder Independent Love of God independent 1 282 Infirmities What infirmities Christ took 1 52 Comfort in daily infirmities whence 1 177 Infidelity Signe of infidelity 1 195 Inwardly We must do good to others inwardly 2 71 Ioy. Ioy how to be imployed 1 212 Iustifie Iustified Iustified what 1 71 Christ justified in spirit how 1 75 To whom Christ is justified 1 77 Why Christ justified himselfe 1 78 Iustification double 1 85 How we justifie Christ Ibid. How we jâ—stifie our profession 1 88 To justifie God in our abasement 2 97 Spiriâ—uall poverty in justification 2 113 Iudgement Gods children suffer sometimes in common judgements 2 90 K Knowledge Knowne WHat knowledge condemns 1 49 Grace may be knowne 2 55 What knowledge this 2 56 God trusted as he is knowne 2 134 148 Knowledge experimentall 2 150 L Ladder â—Acobs Ladder what it signified 1 100 Law Law why preached 1 118 The Law implied in the Gospell 1 119 Liberality Christs example should stirre up to liberality 2 68 Liberty Liberty to the throne of grace 2 20 Life Life the end of it what 1 247 Love Love to men 1 251 Love to mans nature 1 281 Love of God to us how knowne 1 288 Love of God how gotten 1 291 Love of God fruitfull 1 296 Greatnesse of Christs love 2 31 M MArriage See Faith Mediator See Beginning Meditate Order to meditate on Christ 1 197 Meditation 1 243 Men. Why the Gospel dispensed by men 1 120 See God Meritorious See Grace Mercy Mercy-seat Mercy-seat a type of Christ 1 99 Mercy in God answereth all objections 1 225 Some thinke their sins greater than Gods mercy 1 241 Meditation of Gods mercy a help to glorifie God 1 243 Mistake in applying Gods mercy 1