a Fountain in the Garden makes it pleasant that heart is most delightful to God which hath a Fountain of sorrow running in it Mary stood at Christs feet weeping Luke 7.38 Her tears were more fragrant and odoriferous than her oyntment the incense when it is broken smells sweetest when the heart is broken for sin now our services give forth their sweetest perfume There is joy in heaven over a sinner that repenteth Luke 15.7 Whereupon St. Bernard calls tears Vinum Angelorum the wine of Angels and sure God delights much in tears else he would not keep a bottle for them Psal 56.8 One calls tears Holocaustum pingue a fat sacrifice which under the Law was most acceptable Lev. 3.3 St. Hierom calls Mourning a plank after shipwrack Chrysostom calls tears a spunge to wipe off sin tears are powerful Orators for mercy Eusebius saith there was an Altar at Athens on which they poured no other sacrifice but tears as if the Heathens thought there was no better way to pacifie their angry gods than by weeping Jacob wept and had power over the Angel Hosea 12.4 Tears melt the heart of God When a Malefactor comes weeping to the Bar this melts the Judges heart towards him When a man comes weeping in prayer and smites on his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner this doth melt Gods heart towards him Prayer saith Hierom inclines God to shew mercy tears compel him God seals his pardons upon melting hearts tears though they are silent yet have a voice Psal 6.8 Tears wash away sinne raine melts and washeth away a ball of snow repenting tears wash away sinne That sinne saith Ambrose * Quod defendi non potest ablui potest Ambr. which cannot be defended by argument may be washed away by tears 4. The sweetnesse of tears mourning is the way to Motive 4 solid joy the sweetest wine is that which comes out of the Wine-presse of the eyes * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys the soul is never more enlarged than when it can weep Closet teares are better than Court-musick When the heart is sad weeping easeth it by giving vent the soul of a Christian is most eased when it can vent it self by holy mourning Chrysostome observes David who was the great mourner in Israel was the sweet singer in Israel Psal 43.3 my teares were my meat on which place Ambrose gives this glosse No meat so sweet as teares the teares of the penitent saith Bernard are sweeter than all worldly joy a Christian thinks himself sometimes in the suburbs of heaven when he can weep when Hannah had wept she went away and was no more sad sugar when it melts is sweetest when a Christian melts in teares now he hath the sweetest joy when the daughter of Pharaoh descended into the river she found a babe there among the flags so when we descend into the river of repenting teares we finde the babe Jesus there who shall wipe away all teares from our eyes Well therefore might Chrysostom solemnly blesse God for giving to us this Lavor of teares to wash in 5. A mourner for sinne doth not only good to himself Motive 5 but to others he helps to keep off wrath from a Land as when Abraham was going to strike the blow the Angel staid his hand Gen. 22.12 so when God is going to destroy a Nation the mourner stayes his hand teares in the childs eye sometimes move the angry father to spare the child penitential teares melt Gods heart and binde his hand Jeremy who was a weeping Prophet was a great intercessor God saith to him pray not for this people Jer. 7.16 as if the Lord had said Jeremy so powerful are thy prayers and teares that if thou prayest I cannot deny thee Si quid opus est impera as he said in Plautus teares have a mighty influence upon God sure God hath some mourners in the Land or he had destroyed us before now Motive 6 6. Holy mourning is preventing physick our mourning for sinne here will prevent mourning in hell hell is locus ejulatus a place of weeping Matth. 8.12 the damned mingle their drink with weeping God is said to hold his bottle for our teares Psal 56.8 They who will not shed a bottle full of teares shall hereafter shed rivers of teares Luke 6.25 Woe to you that laugh now for ye shall mourn You have sometimes seene sugar lying in a damp place dissolve to water all the sugred joyes of the wicked dissolve at last to the water of teares now teares will do us good now it is seasonable weeping 't is like a shower in the spring if we do not weep now it will be too late did we hear the language of the damned they are now cursing themselves that they did not weep soon enough O is it not better to have our hell here than hereafter is it not better to shed repenting tears than despairing tears he that weeps here is a blessed mourner he that weeps in hell is a cursed mourner The Physitian by letting the Patient blood prevents death by the opening a veine of godly sorrow we prevent the death of our souls Motive 7 7. There 's no other way the Gospel prescribes to blessednesse but this blessed are they that mourn This is the road that leads to the new Jerusalem There may be several wayes leading to a City some go one way some another but there 's but one way to heaven and that is by Bethlehem the house of weeping Acts 26.20 Perhaps a man may think thus If I cannot mourn for sinne I will get to heaven some other way I will go to Church I will give Almes I will lead a civil life Nay but I tell you there 's but one way to blessednesse and that is through the valley of teares if you go not this way you will misse of Paradise Luke 14.3 I tell you nay except you repent ye shall all likewise perish There are many lines leading to the Centre but the heavenly Centre hath but one line leading to it and that is a tear dropping from the eye of faith a man may have a disease in his body that twenty medicines will heale sinne is a disease of the soul which makes it sick unto death now there is but one medicine will heale and that is the medicine of repentance 8. Consider what need every Christian hath to be conversant Motive 8 in holy mourning a man may take physick when he hath no need of it many go to the Bath when they have no need 'T is rather out of curiosity than necessity But O what need is there for every one to go into the weeping bath Think what a sinner thou hast been thou hast fill'd Gods book with thy debts and what need hast thou to fill his bottle with thy tears Thou that hast lived in secret sinne God enjoyns thee this penance mourn for sinne but perhaps some may say I have no need of mourning for I have
is mine The natural man who remains still in the old Family hath nothing to do with these promises he may read over the promises as one may read over another mans Will or Inventory but hath no right to them the promises are like a Garden of flowers paled in and enclosed which no stranger may gather only the children of the Family Ishmael was the son of the bond-woman he had no right to the Family Cast out the bond-woman and her son as Sarah once said to Abraham Gen. 21.10 So the unbeliever is not adopted he is none of the houshold and God will say at the day of judgement Cast out this son of the bond-woman into utter darkness where is weeping and gnashing of teeth Privi ∣ ledge 10 10. If we are children then we shall have our Fathers blessing Isa 61.9 They are the seed which the Lord hath blessed We read that Isaac blessed his son Jacob Gen. 27.28 God give thee of the dew of heaven which was not only a prayer for Jacob but a Prophesie of that happiness and blessing which should come upon him and his posterity * Luther Thus every adopted child hath his heavenly Fathers benediction there is a special blessing distill'd into all that he possesseth Exod. 23.25 Psal 29.11 The Lord will bless his people with peace He will not only give them peace but they shall have it with a blessing the wicked have the things they enjoy with Gods leave but the adopted have them with Gods love the wicked have them by Providence the Saints by Promise Isaac had but one blessing to bestow Gen. 27.38 Hast thou but one blessing my father But God hath more blessings than one for his children he blesseth them in their souls bodies names estate posterity he blesseth them with the upper-springs and the nether-springs he multiplies to bless them and his blessing cannot be reversed as Isaac said concerning Jacob I have blessed him yea and he shall be blessed Gen. 27.33 so God blesseth his children and they shall be blessed 11. If we are children then all things that Privi ∣ ledge 11 fall out shall turn to our good Rom. 8.28 All things work together for good to them that love God 1. Good things 2. Evil things 1. Good things work for good to Gods children 1. Mercies shall do them good 1. The mercies of God shall soften them Davids heart was overcome with Gods mercy 2 Sam. 7.18 Who am I and what is my house c I who was of a mean Family I who held the Shepherds staffe that now I should hold the Royal Scepter Nay Thou hast spoken of thy servants house for a great while to come Thou hast made a promise that my children shall sit upon the Throne yea that the blessed Messiah shall come of my Line and Race and is this the manner of man O Lord God! as if he had said Do men shew such kindness undeserved See how this good mans heart was dissolved and softned by mercy the flint is soonest broken upon a soft pillow 2. Mercies make the children of God more fruitful the ground beats the better crop for the cost that is laid upon it God gives his children health and they spend and are spent for Christ he gives them Estates and they honour the Lord with their substance the backs and bellies of the poor are the Field where they sowe the precious seeds of their charity a childe of God makes his Estate a golden Clasp to binde his heart faster to God a foot-stool to raise him up higher towards heaven 2. Ordinances shall work for good to Gods children 1. The Word preached shall do them good 't is a savour of life 't is a Lamp to their feet and a Lavor to their hearts the Word preached is Vehiculum salutis a Chariot of salvation 't is an ingrafting and a transforming word it is verbum cum unctione it not only brings a light with it but eye-salve anointing their eyes to see that light the preaching of the Word is the Lattice where Christ looks forth and shews himself to his Saints this golden pipe of the Sanctuary conveys the water of life To the wicked the Word preached works for evil even the Word of life becomes a savour of death the same cause may have divers nay contrary effects * Eadem causa varios habet effectus the Sun dissolves the yce but hardens the clay To the unregenerate and profane the Word is not humbling but hardning Jesus Christ the best of Preachers was to some a Rock of offence the Jewes sucked death from his sweet lips 't is sad that the breast should kill any the wicked suck poyson from that breast of Ordinances where the children of God suck milk and are nourished unto salvation 2. The Sacrament works for good to the children of God in the Word preached the Saints hear Christs voyce in the Sacrament they have his kiss The Lords Supper is to the Saints a Feast of fat things it is an healing and a sealing Ordinance in this Charger or rather Chalice a bleeding Saviour is brought in to revive drooping spirits The Sacrament hath glorious effects in the hearts of Gods children it quickens their affections strengthens their faith mortifies their sin revives their hopes encreaseth their joy it gives a prelibation and fore-taste of heaven 2. Evil things work for good to Gods children Psal 112.4 Unto the upright ariseth light in darkness 1. Poverty works for good to Gods children it starves their lusts it enricheth their graces James 2.5 Poor in the world rich in faith Poverty sends to prayer when God hath clipped his childrens wings by poverty they flie swiftest to the Throne of Grace 2. Sickness works for their good it shall bring the body of death into a consumption 2 Cor. 4.16 Though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day like those two Laurels at Rome when the one did wither the other did flourish when the body withers the soul of a Christian doth flourish How oft have we seen a lively faith in a languishing body Hezekiah was better on his sick bed than upon his Throne when he was upon his sick bed he humbles himself and weeps when he was on his Throne he grew proud Isa 39.2 Gods children recover by sickness in this sense out of weakness they are made strong Heb. 11.34 3. Reproach works for good to Gods children it encreaseth their grace and their glory 1. Disgrace encreaseth their grace the Husbandman by dunging his ground makes the soile more rich and fertil God lets the wicked dung his people with reproaches and calumnies that their hearts may be a richer soile for grace to grow in 2. Reproach encreaseth their glory he that unjustly takes from a Saints credit shall adde to his Crown the Sun shines brighter after an Eclipse the more a childe of God is eclipsed by reproaches the brighter he shall shine in the Kingdom of
give them a Kingdom above all the Princes of the earth nay far above all heavens God thinks nothing too good for his children We many times think much of a tear a prayer or to sacrifice a sin for him but he doth not think much to bestow a Kingdom upon us How will the Saints read over the Lectures of free-grace in heaven and Trumpet forth the prayses of that God who hath crowned them with loving kindness Infer 3 3. It shews us that Christianity is no disgraceful thing Wise men measure things by the end what is the end of godliness it brings a Kingdom a mans sin brings him to shame Prov. 13.5 Rom. 6.21 What fruit had ye in those things whereof you are now ashamed but Religion brings to honour Prov. 4.8 it brings a man to a Throne a Crown it ends in glory it is the sinners folly to reproach a Saint 't is just as if Shimei had reproached David when he was going to be made King it is a Saints wisdom to contemn a reproach say as David when he danced before the Ark I will yet be more vile 2 Sam. 6.22 If to pray and hear and serve my God be to be vile I will yet be more vile This is my excellency my glory I am doing now that which will bring me to a Kingdom O think it no disgrace to be a Christian I speak it chiefly to you who are entring upon the wayes of God perhaps you may meet with such as will reproach and censure you binde their reproaches as a Crown about your head despise their censure as much as their praise remember there is a Kingdom entailed upon godlinesse Sin draws hell after it grace draws a Crown after it 4. See here that which may make the people of God Infer 4 long for death then they shall enter upon their Kingdom Indeed the wicked may fear death it will not lead them to a Kingdom but a Prison hell is the iayle where they must lie rotting for ever with the Divel and his Angels To every Christlesse person death is the King of terror but the godly may long for death it will prefer them to a Kingdom When Scipio's father had told him of that glory the soul should be invested with in a state of immortality why then saith Scipio do I tarry thus long upon the earth why do I not hasten to die * Tully in Somn. Scip. Believers are not perfectly happy till death When Croesus asked Solon who he thought happy he told him one Tellus a man that was dead a Christian at death shall be compleatly installed into his honour the anointing oyle shall be poured on him and the Crown-royal set upon his head The Thracians in their funerals used musick The Heathens as Theocritus observes had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Funeral banquet because of that felicity which they supposed the parties deceased were entred into The Saints are now heirs of the Kingdom James 2.5 Doth not the heir desire to be crowned Truly there is enough to weane us and make us willing to be gone from hence The Saints eate ashes like bread they are here in a suffering condition Psalm 141.7 Our bones are scattered at the graves mouth as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth When a man hewes and cuts a tree the chips flie up and down here and there a chip so here a Saint wounded there a Saint massacred our bones flie like chips up and down for thy sake are we killed all the day long Rom. 8.36 But there is a Kingdom a coming when the body is buried the soul is crowned Who would not be willing to saile in a storm if he were sure to be crowned as soone as he came at shore How is it that the godly look so gastly at the thoughts of death as if they were rather going to their execution than their Coronation though we should be willing to stay here awhile to do service yet we should with Saint Paul desire to be dissolved and be with Christ The day of a believers dissolution is the day of his inauguration SECT 5. Containing a scrutiny and tryal whether we belong to this Kingdom Use 2 BUT how shall we know that this glorions Kingdom shall be setled upon us at death Trial. 1. If God have set up his Kingdom within us Luke 17.21 The Kingdom of God is within you by the Kingdom of God there is meant the Kingdom of Grace in the heart Grace may be compared to a Kingdom it swayes the Scepter it gives out Lawes there is the Law of love Grace beats down the Divels garrisons it brings the heart into a sweet subjection to Christ Now is this Kingdom of Grace set up in thy heart Do'st thou rule over thy sins Canst thou binde those Kings in chaines * Psal 149.8 Art thou a King over thy pride passion unbelief Is the Kingdom of God within you While others aspire after earthly greatnesse and labour for a Kingdom without them do'st thou labour for a Kingdom within thee Certainly if the Kingdom of Grace be in thy heart thou shalt have the Kingdom of glory If Gods Kingdom enter into thee thou shalt enter into his Kingdom But let not that man ever think to reign in glory who lives a slave to his lusts 2. If thou art a believer thou shalt go to this blessed Kingdom James 2.5 Rich in faith heirs of the Kingdom Faith is an heroical act of the soul it makes an holy adventure on God by a promise this is the crowning grace Faith puts us into Christ and our title to the Crown comes in by Christ By Faith we are borne of God and so we become children of the blood-royal By Faith our hearts are purified Acts 15.9 and so we are made fit for a Kingdom rich in faith heirs of the Kingdom Faith paves a Causey to heaven believers die heirs to the Crown 3. He that hath a noble Kingly spirit shall go to the heavenly Kingdom set your affection on things above Col. 3.2 Dost thou live in mundo supra mundum in the world above the world The Eagle doth not catch flies she soars aloft in the aire dost thou superna anhelare pant after glory and immortality Hast thou a brave majestick spirit an heavenly ambition dost thou mind the favour of God the peace of Sion the salvation of thy soul Dost thou abhor that which is sordid and below thee Alexander would not exercise at the Olympick-games Canst thou trample upon all sublunary things Is heaven in thy eye and Christ in thy heart and the world under thy feet He who hath such a Kingly spirit that looks no lower than a Crown he shall dwell on high and have his throne mounted far above all heavens SECT 6. A serious exhortation to Christians Use 3 USE 3. Exhortation And it hath a double aspect it looks Exhort 1. towards the wicked Is there a Kingdom to be had a
pleasant Flowers within a little while he grows weary but it is not so in heaven there is no surfet * Ibi nec fames nec fastidium Bern. we shall never be weary of seeing God for the Divine Essence being infinite there shall be every moment new and fresh delights springing forth from God into the glorified soul the soul shall not so desire God but it shall still be full nor shall it be so full but it shall still desire so sweet will God be that the more the Saints behold God the more they will be ravished with desire and delight 7. It will be a beneficial sight it will tend to the bettering and advantaging of the soul some colours while they delight the eyes they hurt them but this intuition and vision of God shall better the soul and tend to its infinite happiness Eves looking upon the Tree of knowledge did prejudice her sight she afterwards grew blind upon it but the Saints can receive no detriment from the inspection of glory this sight will be beatifical The soul will never be in its perfection till it comes to see God this will be the crowning blessing 8. This sight of God shall be perpetuated here we see objects awhile and then our eyes grow dim and we need Spectacles but the Saints shall always behold God as there shall be no cloud upon Gods face so the Saints shall have no Mote in their eye their sight shall never grow dim but they shall be to all Eternity looking on God that beautiful and beatifical object O what a soul-ravishing sight will this be God must make us able to bear it we can no more endure a sight of glory than a sight of wrath * Sensibile forte destruit sensum but the Saints after this life shall have their capacities enlarged and they shall be qualified and made fit to receive the penetrating beams of glory 9. It will be a speedy sight There are some who deny that the soul is immediately after death admitted to the sight of God but I shall make good this Assertion that the Saints shall have an immediate transition and passage from death to glory assoon as death hath closed their eyes they shall see God if the soul be not presently after death translated to the beatifical Vision then what becomes of the soul in that juncture of time till the Resurrection 1. Doth the soul go into torment That cannot be for the soul of a believer is a member of Christs body mystical and if this soul should go to hell then something of Christ should go to hell a member of Christ might be for a time damned but that is impossible 2. Doth the soul sleep in the body as some drowsily imagine How then shall we make good sense of that Scripture 2 Cor. 5.8 We are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. If the soul at death be absent from the body then it cannot sleep in the body 3. Doth the soul dye so the Lucianists held that the soul was mortal and did dye with the body but as Scaliger observes it is impossible that the soul being of a spiritual uncompounded nature should be subject to corruptibility * Luke 12. ◠Such as say the soul dies I would demand of them wherein the soul of a man then differs at death from the soul of a brute By all which it appears that the soul of a believer after death goes immediatly to God Luk. 23.43 This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise That word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with me shews clearly that the Thief on the Cross was translated to heaven for there Christ was Ephes 4.10 And the other word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this day shews that the Thief on the Cross had an immediate passage from the Cross to Paradise so that the souls of believers have a speedy Vision of God after death it is but winking and they shall see God SECT 2. The sinners misery that he shall not see God Use 1 1. SEE the misery of an impure sinner he shall not be admitted to the sight of God the pure in heart only shall see God Such as live in sin whose souls are dyed black with the filth of hell they shall never come where God is they shall have an affrighting Vision of God but not a beatifical Vision they shall see the flaming Sword and the burning Lake but not the Mercy-seat God in Scripture is sometimes called a consuming fire sometimes the Father of lights the wicked shall feel the fire but not see the light Impure souls shall be covered with shame and darkness as with a Mantle and shall never see the Kings face they who would not see God in his Ordinances shall not see him in his glory SECT 3. That we should labour to be rightly qualified for this Vision Use 2 2. IS there such a blessed priviledge after this life then let me perswade all who hear me this day 1. To get into Christ We cannot come to God but by Christ we cannot see God but through Christ Moses when he was in the Rock did see God Exod. 33.32 In this blessed Rock Christ we shall see God 2. Be purified persons it is only the pure in heart who shall see God it is only a clear eye can behold a bright transparent object those only who have their hearts cleansed from sin can have this blessed sight of God sin is such a cloud as if it be not removed will for ever hinder us from seeing the Sun of righteousness Christian Hast thou upon thy heart holiness to the Lord then thou shalt see God there are many saith Saint Austin could be content to go to heaven but they are loth to take the way that leads thither they would have the glorious Vision but neglect the gracious Union There are several sorts of eyes which shall never see God the ignorant eye the unchaste eye the scornful eye the malicious eye the covetous eye if you would see God when you dye you must be purified persons while you live 1 John 3.2 3. We shall see him as he is and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself SECT 4. A Cordial for the pure in heart 3. LET me turn my self to the pure in heart Use 3 1. Stand amazed at this priviledge that you who are worms crept out of the dust should be admitted to the blessed sight of God to all Eternity it was Moses his prayer I beseech thee shew me thy glory Exod. 33.18 The Saints shall behold Gods glory the pure in heart shall have the same blessedness that God himself hath for what is the blessedness of God but the contemplating his own infinite beauty 2. Begin your sight of God here let the eye of your faith be still upon God Moses by faith saw him who is invisible Hebr. 11.27 Oft look upon him with believing eyes whom you hope to
Gentiles Oh let us do nothing unworthy of our heavenly Father 7. Let us carry our selves as the children of God in chearfulness It was the speech of Jonadab to Amnon Why art thou being the Kings son lean 2 Sam. 13.4 Why do the children of God walk so pensively Are they not heirs of heaven perhaps they may meet with hard usage in the world but let them remember they are the seed-royal and are of the Family of God Suppose a man were in a strange Land and should meet there with unkind usage yet he rejoyceth that he is son and heir and hath a great Estate in his own Countrey So should the children of God comfort themselves with this though they are now in a strange Countrey yet they have a title to the Hierusalem above and though sin doth at present hang about them for they still have some relicks of their disease yet shortly they shall get rid of it at death they shall shake off this viper 8. And lastly Let us carry our selves as the children of God in holy longings and expectations Children are still longing to be at home 2 Cor. 5.2 We groan earnestly c. There is bread enough in our Fathers house how should we long for home death carries a childe of God to his Fathers house Saint Paul therefore desired to be dissolved 't is comfortable dying when by faith we can resign up our souls into our Fathers hands Luk. 23.46 Father into thy hands I commend my spirit MATTH 5.10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the Kingdome of heaven CHAP. XXI Concerning Persecution WE are now come to the last Beatitude Blessed are they which are persecuted c. Our Lord Christ would have us reckon the cost Luke 14.27 28. Which of you intending to build a Tower sitteth not down first and counteth the cost whether he have enough to finish it c. Religion will cost us the tears of Repentance and the blood of persecution but we see here a great encouragement that may keep us from fainting in the day of adversity for the present blessed for the future crowned The words fall into two general parts 1. The condition of the godly in this life They are persecuted 2. Their reward after this life Theirs is the Kingdom of heaven I shall speak chiefly of the first and wind in the other in the Applicatory Doctr. Doctr. The observation is that true godliness is usually attended with persecution Acts 14.22 We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God Acts 13.50 The Jewes stirred up the chief men of the City and raised persecution against Paul c. Luther makes it the very definition of a Christian Christianus quasi crucianus though Christ dyed to take away the Curse from us yet not to take away the Cross from us Those stones which are cut out for a Building are first under the Saw and Hammer to be hewed and squared the godly are called lively stones 1 Pet. 2.5 And they must be hewen and polished by the Persecutors hand that they may be fit for the heavenly building the Saints have no Charter of exemption from tryals though they be never so meek merciful pure in heart their piety will not shield them from sufferings they must hang their harp on the willows and take the Cross the way to heaven is via spinosa sanguinea though it be full of Roses in regard of the comforts of the Holy Ghost yet it is full of thorns in regard of persecutions Before Israel got to Canaan a Land flowing with milk and honey they must go through a Wilderness of serpents and a red Sea So the children of God in their passage to the holy Land must meet with fiery Serpents and a red Sea of persecution It is a saying of Ambrose there is no Abel but hath his Cain Saint Paul fought with Beasts at Ephesus 1 Cor. 15.32 Set it down as a Maxim if you will follow Christ you must see the Swords and Staves put the Cross in your Creed For the amplification of this there are several things we are to take cognizance of 1. What is meant by persecution 2. The several kinds of persecution 3. Why there must be persecution 4. The chief persecutions are raised against the Ministers of Christ 5. What that persecution is which makes a man blessed SECT 1. Shewing what is meant by persecution 1. WHAT is meant by persecution the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to persecute signifies to vex and molest sometimes to prosecute another to arraign him at the Bar and to pursue him to the death a persecutor is a pricking bryar * Ezek. 28.24 therefore the Church is described to be a Lilly among thorns Cant. 2.2 SECT 2. Setting forth the several kinds of persecution 2. WHAT are the several kinds of persecution There is a two-fold persecution A persecution of the hand A persecution of the tongue 1. A persecution of the hand Acts 7.52 Which of the Prophets have not your fathers persecuted Rom. 8.36 For thy sake are we killed all the day long Gal. 4.29 This I call a bloody persecution when the people of God are prosecuted with fire and sword So we read of the ten persecutions in the time of Nero Domitian Trajan c. And the Marian persecution England for five years drank a Cup of blood and lately Piedmont and the confines of Bohemia have been scourged to death with the Rod of the Persecutor Gods Church hath alwayes like Abrahams Ram been tyed in a Bush of thorns 2. The persecution of the tongue which is two-fold 1. Reviling this few think of or lay to heart but it is called in the Text persecution when men shall revile and persecute you this is tongue-persecution Psal 55.21 His words were drawn swords You may kill a man as well in his name as in his person a good name is as precious oyntment Eccles 7.21 A good conscience and a good name is like a gold Ring set with a rich Diamond Now to smite another in his name is by our Saviour called persecution Thus the Primitive Christians endured the persecution of the tongue Hebr. 11.36 They had trial of cruel mockings David was the song of the Drunkards Psal 69.12 They would sit on their Ale-bench and jeer at him how frequently do the wicked cast out the Squibs of reproach at Gods children These are the holy ones little do they think what they do they are now doing Cains work and Julians they are persecuting 2. Slandering so it is in the Text When they shall persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsly Slandering is tongue-persecution thus Saint Paul was slandered in his Doctrine it was reported he should preach Men might do evil that good might come of it Rom. 3.8 Thus Christ who did cast out Divels was charged to have a Divel John 8.48 The Primitive Christians were falsly accused for killing their children and
think all is well there is a curse belongs to him who puts sin in a secret place Deutr. 27.15 The hiding and concealing a disease proves mortal Prov. 28.13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper 3. If sin be a soul-sickness then what need is there Branch 3 of the Ministry Ministers are Physitians under God to cure sick souls God hath set in his Church Pastors and Teachers Eph. 4.11 The Ministers are a Colledge of Physitians their work is to finde out diseases and apply medicines 't is dura provincia an hard work while Ministers are curing others they themselves are nigh unto death Phil. 2.30 They finde their people sick of several diseases some have poysoned themselves with error some are surfeited with the love of the creature some have stab'd themselves at the heart with gross sin O how hard is it to heal all these sick gangren'd souls many Ministers do sooner kill themselves by preaching than cure their Patients * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but though the work of the Ministry be a laborious work it is a needful work while there are sick souls there will be need of spiritual Physitians How unworthy then are they who malign and persecute the Ministers of God 1 Cor. 4.9 O unkind world thus to use thy Physitians Can there be a greater injury to souls would it not be a piece of the highest cruelty and barbarism if there were an Act made that all Physitians should be banished out of the Land And is it not worse to see multitudes of sick souls lie bleeding and to have their spiritual Physitians removed from them which should under God heal them This is a wrath-procuring sin 2 Chron. 36 16. They misused his Prophets untill the wrath of the Lord arose against his people till there was no remedy See what is inscribed in Levies blessing Deutr. 33.8 11. And of Levi he said Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy One bless Lord his substance and accept the work of his hands smite through the loyns of them that rise against him and of them that hate him that they rise not again The Lord will wither that arme which is stretched out against his Prophets Use 2 1. If sin be a soul-disease let this serve to humble us Exhort the Scripture often calls upon us for humility 1 Pet. Branch 1 5.5 Be ye cloathed with humility if any thing will humble this consideration may sin is a soul-disease if a woman had a fair face but a cancer in her breast it would keep her from being proud of her beauty So Christian though thou art endued with knowledge and morality which are fair to look upon yet remember thou art diseased in thy soul here is a cancer in the breast to humble thee this certainly is one reason why God leaves sin in his own children for though sin be healed as to the guilt of it yet not as to the stain of it that the sight of their sores may make their Plumes of pride fall There are two humbling sights a sight of Gods glory and a sight of our diseases Uzziah the King had no cause to be proud for though he had a Crown of gold on his head he had the Leprosie on his fore-head 2 Chron. 26.19 Though the Saints have their golden graces yet they have their leprous spots seeing sin hath made us vile let it make us humble seeing it hath taken away our beauty let it take away our pride if God saith Saint Austin * Si Deus superbientibus Angelis non pepercit did not spare the proud Angels will he spare thee who art putredo vermis but dust and rottenness Oh look upon your boyles and ulcers and be humble Christians are never more lovely in Gods eyes than when they are loathsome in their own those sins which humble shall never damn 2. If sin be a soul-disease and the most damnable Branch 2 disease let us be afraid of it Had we diseases in our bodies an ulcer in the lungs or hectick feaver we would fear lest they should bring death oh fear sin-sickness lest it bring the second death Thou who art a Drunkard or a Swearer tremble at thy soul-maladies I wonder to see sinners like the Leviathan made without fear Why do not men fear sin why do they not shake with this disease surely the reason is 1. Stupidity as they have the Feaver of sin so withall a Lethargy 1 Tim. 4 2. Having their conscience sear'd with an hot iron He that hath an unbelieving heart and a sear'd conscience you may ring out the Bell that mans case is desperate 2. Presumption Many fancy that they can lay a fig upon the boile though they be sick they can make themselves well it is but saying a few prayers 't is but a sigh or a tear and they shall presently recover but is it so easie to be healed of sin is it easie to make old Adam bleed to death is it easie when the pangs of death are on thee in an instant to have the pangs of the new birth oh take heed of a spiritual lethargy fear your disease lest it prove mortal and damnable Physitians tell of a disease which makes men dye laughing so Satan tickles many with the pleasure of sin and they dye laughing 3. If sin be a soul-distemper then account them your Branch 3 best friends that would reclaim you from your sins The Patient is thankful to the Physitian that tells him of his disease and useth means to recover him When Ministers tell you in love of your sins and would reclaim you take it in good part the worst they intend is to cure you of your sickness David was glad of an healing reproof Psal 141.5 Let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness and let him reprove me it shall be an excellent oyle which shall not break my head Ministers are charged by vertue of their office to reprove 2 Tim. 4.2 They must as well come with Corrosives as Lenitives * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Titus 1.13 Rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuttingly as a Chyrurgion searcheth a wound and then lanceth and cuts out the gangren'd flesh or as a Physitian useth Leeches and Cupping-glasses which put the Patient to pain but it is to restore him to health so must the Ministers of Christ rebuke sharply that they may help to save their dying Patients Who is angry with the Physitian for prescribing a bitter potion Why should any be angry with Christs Ministers for reproving when in regard of their office they are Physitians and in regard of their bowels they are fathers but how few are they who will take a reproof kindly Amos 5.10 They hate him that rebuketh in the gate But why do not men love a reproof 1. Because they are in love with their sins a strange thing that any should love their disease
healed because they do not look out Answ 3 after a Physitian If they have any bodily distemper upon them they presently send to the Physitian their souls are sick but mind not their Physitian Christ John 5.40 Ye will not come unto me that ye may have life Christ takes it as an undervaluing of him that we will not send to him some send for Christ when it is too late when other Physitians have given them over and there is no hope of life then they cry to Christ to save them but Christ refuseth such Patients as make use of him only for a shift Thou that scornest Christ in time of health Christ may despise thee in the time of sickness * Medicum spernens sanari nequit Bern. Answ 4 4. All are not healed because they would be self-healers they would make their duties their saviours the Papists would be their own Physitians their daily sacrifice of the Mass is a blasphemy against Christs Priestly Office but Christ will have the honour of the cure or he will never heal us not our tears but his blood saves Answ 5 5. All are not healed because they do not take the physick which Christ prescribes them they would be cured but they are loth to put themselves into a course of physick Christ prescribes them to drink the bitter potion of Repentance and to take the pill of Mortification but they cannot endure this they had rather dye than take physick if the Patient refuseth to take the Receits the Physitian prescribes no wonder he is not healed Christians you have had many Recipes to take have you taken them ask conscience There are many hearers of the Word do like foolish Patients who send to the Doctor for Physick but when they have it they let the physick stand by in the glass but do not take it it is probable you have not taken the Receits which the Gospel prescribes because the Word hath no operation on your hearts you are as proud as earthly as malicious as ever Answ 6 6. All are not healed because they have not confidence in their Physitian it is observable when Christ came to work any cure he first put this question Believe ye that I am able to do this Matth. 9.28 This undoes many oh saith the sinner There 's no mercy for me Christ cannot heal me Take heed thy unbelief is worse than all thy other diseases Did not Christ pray for them that crucified him FATHER FORGIVE THEM Some of those were saved that had an hand in shedding his blood * Acts 2.36 37 Why then dost thou say Christ cannot heal thee unbelief dishonours Christ it hinders from a cure it closeth the Orifice of Christs wounds it stauncheth his blood Matth. 15.58 Millions dye of their disease because they do not believe in their Physitian 5. The fifth and last particular is That Christ is the best Physitian That I may set forth the praise and honour of Jesus Christ I shall shew you wherein he excels all other Physitians no Physitian like Christ 1. He is the most skilful Physitian he hath his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is no disease too hard for him Psal 103.3 Who healeth all thy diseases The Pool of Bethesda might be an emblem of Christs blood John 5.4 Whosoever first after the troubling of the water step'd in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had There are certain diseases Physitians cannot cure as a consumption in the lungs some kinde of obstructions and gangrenes Non est in medico semper relevetur ut ager Some diseases are opprobria medicorum the reproaches of Physitians * Rhetor non semper suadebit nec Iatros sanabit but there 's no immedicabile vulnus no disease can pose Christs skill he can cure the gangrene of sin when it is come to the heart he healed Mary Magdalen an unchaste sinner he healed Paul who breathed out persecution against the Church insomuch that Paul stands and wonders at the cure 1 Tim. 1.13 But I obtained mercy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I was bemercied Christ heals head-distempers and heart-distempers which may keep poor trembling souls from despair O saith the sinner never was any so diseased as I but look up to thy Physitian Christ who hath healing under his wings he can melt an heart of stone and wash away black sins in the crimson of his blood there are no desperate cases with Christ * Omnipotenti nihil insanabile Aug. he hath those salves oyles balsomes which can cure the worst disease Indeed there is one disease which Christ doth not heal namely the sin against the Holy Ghost this is called a sin unto death if we knew any who had sinned this sin we were to shut them out of our prayer There is a sin unto death I do not say that he shall pray for it 1 John 5.16 There 's no healing for this disease not but that Christ could cure this but the sinner will not be cured The King could pardon a Traytor but if he will have no pardon he must dye The sin against the Holy Ghost is unpardonable because the sinner will have no pardon he scorns Christs blood despights his Spirit therefore his sin hath no sacrifice Hebr. 10.26 29. 2. Christ is the best Physitian because he cures the better part the soul * Christus medicus animarum Aug. other Physitians can cure the Liver or Splene Christ cures the heart they can cure the blood when it is tainted Christ cures the conscience when it is defiled Hebr. 9.14 How much more shall the blood of Christ purge your conscience from dead works Galen and Hippocrates might cure the stone in the Kidneys but Christ cures the stone in the heart he is the best Physitian which cures the more excellent part The soul is immortal angelical man was made in the Image of God Gen. 1.27 Not in regard of his body but his soul Now if the soul be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so divine and noble then the cure of the soul doth far exceed the cure of the body 3. Christ is the best Physitian for he causeth us to feel our disease The disease of sin though it be most damnable yet least discernable many a man is sin-sick but the Divel hath given him such stupifying physick that he sleeps the sleep of death and all the thunders of the Word cannot awaken him but the Lord Jesus this blessed Physitian awakes the soul out of its lethargy and then it is in an hopeful way of recovery The saylor was never so near a cure as when he cryed out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sirs What must I do to be saved Acts 16.30 4. Christ shews more love to his Patients than any Physitian besides which appears five wayes 1. In that long journey he took from heaven to earth 2. In that he comes to his Patients without sending for The sick send to their Physitians and use many entreaties here the Physitian comes
say the Ring heals but it is not the Ring but the stone in the Ring that doth the cure so faith saves and heals not by its own vertue but as it layes hold on Christ and fetcheth down his sacred influences into the soul 2. If Jesus Christ be a spiritual Physitian let us labour to hasten the cure of our souls Consider 1. What a little time we have to stay here and let that hasten the cure Solomon saith there is a time to be born and a time to dâ—e Eccles 3.2 but mentions no time of living as if that were so shoâ—t that it were not worth naming the body is called a vessel 1 Thes 4.4 This Vessel is filled with breath sickness broacheth it and death draws it out Oh hasten thy souls cure death is upon its swift march and if that surprizeth you suddenly there is no cure to be wrought in the grave Eccles 9.10 There is no work nor device nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest 2. Now is properly the time of healing now is the day of grace now Christ poures out his balsomes now he sends abroad his Ministers and Spirit 2 Cor. 6.2 Now is the accepted time There were certain healing dayes wherein the King healed them that had the evil The day of grace is an healing day if we neglect the day of grace the next will be a day of wrath Rom. 2.5 Oh therefore hasten the cure of thy soul rather neglect thy food than thy cure sin will not only kill but damn To get a cure 1. Come to the healing pool of the Sanctuary the Spirit of God may on a sudden stir these waters the next Sabbath for ought thou knowest may be an healing day to thy soul 2. Pray others to pray for you when any disease is upon your body you desire the prayers of others the prayers of the Saints are pretiosa balsama precious balmes and medicines to cure sick souls 3. Is Jesus Christ a soul-physitian then let me speak to you who are in some measure healed of your damnable disease I have foure things to say 1. Break forth into thankfulness though sin be not quite cured there are still some grudgings of the disease yet the reigning power of it is taken away you are so healed that you shall not dye John 3.16 John 11.26 Those that were cured by the Brazen Serpent afterwards dyed but such as are healed by Christ shall never dye Sin may molest it shall not damn oh then what cause have you to admire and love your Physitian The Lord Jesus hath taken out the core of your disease and the curse publish your experiences Psal 66.16 I will tell you what God hath done for my soul As a man that hath been cured of an old disease how glad and thankful is he he will tell others of the medicine that cured him So say I will tell you what God hath done for my soul He hath cured me of an old disease an hard unbelieving heart a disease that hath sent millions to hell Truly we may chearfully bear any other sickness if this soul-sickness be cured Lord saith Luther strike and wound where thou wilt if sin be pardoned Oh let the high praises of God be in your mouth Psal 149.6 God expects thankfulness as a tribute he wonders men bring not their thank-offering Luk. 17.17 Were there not ten cleansed but where are the nine 2. Are you healed take heed of coming into infected company lest you take the infection the wicked are Divels to tempt to sin Lot was the worlds wonder that lived in Sodom when it was a Pest-house yet did not catch the disease 3. Take heed of relapses Men are afraid of a relapse after they are cured beware of soul-relapses Hath God softned thy heart take heed of hardning it Hath he cured thee in some measure of deadness do not relapse into a drowsie security Thou mayest have such an uproar and agony in thy conscience as may make thee go weeping to thy grave Oh take heed of falling sick again sin no more best a worse thing come unto thee John 5.14 4. Pity your friends that are sick unto death shew your piety in your pity Hast thou a childe that is well and lusty but hath a sick soul pity him pray for him David wept and fasted for his sick childe 2 Sam. 12.16 Thy childe hath the plague of the heart and Thou hast conveyed the plague to him weep and fast for thy child Hast thou a wife or husband that though they do not keep their bed yet the Lord knows they are sick they are under the raging power of sin oh let thy bowels yearn over them lift up a prayer for them the prayer of faith may save a sick soul Prayer is the best physick can be used in a desperate case you that have felt the disease of sin and the mercy of your Physitian learn to pity others 4. And lastly Is Christ a soul-physitian then let us go to Christ to cure this sick dying Nation England God knows is a sick Patient the whole head is sick the whole heart is faint Physitians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when no part of the body is free from distemper The body Politick hath a Kakexy it is ill all over Magistracy Ministry Commonalty are diseased and those who pretended to be our Healers are Physitians of no value We have spent our money upon these Physitians but yet our sores are not healed Jer. 14.19 Why hast thou smitten us and there is no healing for us Instead of healing us those who should have been our Physitians have encreased the Nations malady by giving a toleration this is like giving strong water in a Feaver which doth more inflame the disease Ah sick England because sinful England sick of error uncleanness drunkenness so sick that we may fear our Funerals are approaching And which is the worst symptom though balm hath been poured into our wounds the precious Ordinances of God have been applied yet we are not healed a signe of bad flesh that is so ill to be cured This sin-sickness in the Land hath brought forth many direful effects division oppression blood-shed the very bowels and arteries of the Nation are almost torn asunder so that now God hath fulfilled that threatning upon us Micah 6.13 I will make thee sick with smiting thee We have made our selves sick with sinning and God had made us sick with smiting Now what remains but that we should go to the great Physitian of souls whose blood sprinkles many Nations * Isa 52.15 that he would apply some healing medicines to dying England God can with a word heal he can give repentance as well as deliverance he can put us in joynt again Let all the people of the Land lie between the Porch and the Altar saying Spare thy people O Lord Joel 3.17 Our prayers and tears may set Christ on work to heal us Psal 106.23 Therefore he said that he would
words are mandatory for all counsels in Scripture carry in them the force of a command Keep thy heart Here is Gods solemn charge to every man like the Judges charge given upon the Bench. I shall first explain then apply 1. Keep the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to keep hath various significations 1. Sometimes it signifies munire to arm or fence a stroak at the heart kills fence thy heart 2. Sometimes it signifies câ—rare to take care of a thing that it be not lost as one would take care of a piece of plate that it be not taken away 3. Sometimes it signifies custodire to keep in safe custody so keep thy heart lock it up safe that it may be forth-coming when God calls for it 2. Thy heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the heart is taken diversly in Scripture sometimes it is taken for the vital part Judg. 19.5 sometimes for the soul Deutr. 13.3 sometimes for the mind Prov. 10.8 sometimes for the conscience 1 John 3.20 sometimes for the will and affections Psal 119.36 I shall take it in its full latitude for the whole soul with all its noble faculties and endowments this is the depositum or charge every man is entrusted with the heart 3. With all diligence the original carries it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all keeping the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to keep with watch and ward a Christian is to set a continual guard about his heart Some read the words Keep thy heart supra omnem custodiam above all keeping * Junius nothing requires such strict custody a Christians heart must ever be in his eye 4. For out of it are the issues of life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the heart is the fountain of life if the heart lives the body lives if the heart be touched death follows So the soul is a spiritual fountain out of it issues either sin or grace from this spring-head flow the streams either of salvation or damnation In the words there is 1. A duty Keep thy heart 2. The manner with all diligence 3. The reason for out of it are the issues of life Doctr. Doctr. It must be a Christians great care with all keeping to keep his heart we are to keep our eyes Job set a watch there Job 31.1 I made a Covenant with mine eyes c. We are to keep our lips David bridled his tongue Psal 39.1 I will keep my mouth as with a bridle but especially we are to look to our hearts Keep thy heart with all keeping The heart like Dinah will be gadding abroad and it seldom returns home but it is defiled It was the saying of an Heathen I never come home with such good desires as I went out with Christian thy chief work lies with thy heart Keep thy heart The Serpent when any danger is near keeps his head and to preserve his head will expose his whole body to injury so a wise Christian should especially keep his heart he should adventure his skin to keep a wound from his heart To amplifie this I shall shew that the heart must be kept 1. With all kind of keeping 2. At all times 3. The Reasons enforcing 1. The heart must be kept with all kinde of keeping 1. Keep the heart with all kind of keeping 1. Keep thy heart as thou wouldst keep a Temple the Temple was an hallowed place set apart for Gods worship so the heart is Augustissimum Dei Templum * Seneca the Temple of God 1 Cor. 3.16 This heart-temple must be kept pure and holy no filth * 2 Chron. 29.16 musâ— lie here sweep the dust out of the Temple * Mundemus â—oc Templum quod non fumo nec pulvere sed malâ— cogitatio nibus sordidatur Lactan. the vessels of the Temple were cleans'd 2 Chr. 29.15 Thus the memory affections conscience these Temple-vessels must be cleansed 2 Cor. 7.1 Christ whipped the buyers and sellers out of the Temple John 2. The cares of the world will be crowding into the heart now you must get a whip made of the threatnings of the Law and drive these money-changers out of the Temple of your heart let not Gods Temple be made an Exchange the Temple had a fire burning on the Altar take heed of strange fire but keep the fire of zeal and devotion flaming upon the Altar of thy heart do Temple-work offer up the sacrifice of a broken heart When the heart is Dei sacrarium a consecrated place an Holy of holies now God will walk there Many a mans heart is a Pest-house a Bedlam being polluted with sin this is to put Swine into Gods room this is to let the Divel come into Gods Temple Davids heart was a Temple dedicated Psal 119.38 2. Keep thy heart as thou wouldst keep a treasure A man that hath a great treasure of money and jewels will keep it with lock and bolt that it be not stollen Christian thou carriest a precious treasure about thee even all that thou art worth an heart * Particula divinae aurae the Divel and the world would rob thee of this jewel oh keep thy heart as thou wouldst keep thy life if thou art robbed thou art ruined few know the value of their hearts an husbandman can set a price upon corn but not on pearle men know not the worth of that treasure they carry about them therefore prefer other things keep thy heart as a treasure 3. Keep thy heart as thou wouldst keep a Garden Thy heart is a Garden * Caâ— 4 1â— weed sin out of thy heart Among the flowers of the Spirit weeds will be growing the weeds of pride malice covetousness these grow without setting therefore every day be weeding thy heart by prayer examination repentance 1. Weeds hinder the herbs and flowers from growing the weeds of corruption hinder the growth of grace where the weed of unbelief grows it hinders the flower of faith from growing 2. Weeds spoil the walks Christ will not walk in an heart over-grown with weeds and bryars Christ was sometimes among the lillies Cant. 6.3 never among the thistles Poor sinner thou complainest thou hast not communion with God time was when God did make himself known to thee but now he is grown strange and never comes near thee this is the reason sin hath spoiled Christs walks thy heart lies like the field of the sluggard Prov. 24.30 And will Christ walk there Indeed we read Christ was once in the wilderness when he was tempted Matth. 4.1 But he did not go thither for delight but that he might duel and skirmish with Satan 't is the garden Christ delights in oh weed thy heart daily let not thy heart be a Thicket for Satan 4. Keep thy heart as thou wouldst keep a Garrison The heart of man is a Garrison * Cor hominis tanquam castellum Bern. or Fort-royal this Garrison is besieged the Divel shoots his fiery darts of tentation
of Thievery they steal upon a people And as they come without a Call so they stay without a Blessing Jer. 23.32 I sent them not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therefore they shall not profit this people at all And so much for the first the Preacher The Pulpit 2. The Pulpit where Christ preached 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He went up into a Mountain The Law was at first given on the Mount and here Christ expounds it on the Mount This Mount as is supposed by Hierom and others of the Learned was Mount Tabor It was a convenient place to speak in being seated above the people and in regard of the great confluence of hearers 3. The occasion 3. The occasion of Christs ascending the Mount 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeing the multitude The people thronged to hear Christ and he would not dismiss the Congregation without a Sermon but seeing the multitude he went up Jesus Christ came from heaven as a Factor for souls he lay legend here a while preaching was his business the people could not be so desirous to hear as he was to preach he who did compassionate faint bodies Matth. 15.32 did much more pity dead souls it was his meat and drink to do his Fathers will John 4.34 And seeing the multitude he goes up into the Mount and preacheth This he did not only for the consolation of his hearers but the imitation of his Ministers Doctr. From whence observe Doctr. That Christs Ministers according to Christs pattern must embrace every opportunity of doing good to souls praying and preaching and studying must be our work 2 Tim. 4.2 Preach the Word be instant in season 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut omnem scil arripiant concionandi occasionem out of season* Peter seeing the multitude lets down the Net and at one Draught catcheth three thousand fouls Acts 2.41 How zealously industrious have Gods Champions been in former Ages in fulfilling the work of their Ministry as we read of Chrysostom Austin Basil the great Calvin Bucer and others who for the work of Christ were nigh unto death The Reasons why the Ministers of Christ according to his pattern should be ambitiously desirous of all opportunities for soul-service are 1. Their Commission God hath intrusted them as Ambassadors 2 Cor. 5.20 Now you know an Ambassador waits for a day of Audience and as soon as a day is granted he doth faithfully and impartially deliver the mind of his Prince Thus Christs Ministers having a Commission delegated to them to negotiate for souls should be glad when there is a day of Audience that they may impart the mind and will of Christ to his people 2. Their Titles 1. Ministers are called Gods Seeds-men 1 Cor. 9.11 therefore they must upon all occasions be scattering the blessed seed of the Word The Sower must go forth and sowe yea though the seed fall upon stones as usually it doth yet we must disseminate and scatter the seed of the Word upon stony hearts because even of these stones God is able to raise up children to himself 2. Ministers are called Stars therefore they must shine by Word and Doctrine in the Firmament of the Church Thus our Lord Christ hath set them a pattern in the Text Seeing the multitude he went up into the Mountain here was a light set upon an hill the bright Morning Star shining to all that were round about Christ calls his Ministers Lux Mundi the light of the World Matth. 5.14 therefore they must be always giving forth their lustre their light must not go out till it be in the socket or till violent death as an extinguisher put it out 3. Christs Ministers must ansam arripere catch at all occasions of doing good to others in regard of the work which they are about and that is saving of souls what a precious thing is a soul * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macar Christ takes as it were a pair of scales in his hands and he puts the world in one scale and the soul in the other and the soul out-weighs Matth. 16.26 The soul is of a noble original of a quick operation 't is a flower of eternity here in the bud in heaven fully ripe and blown The soul is one of the richest pieces of Embroidery that ever God made the understanding bespangled with light the will invested with liberty the affections like Musical Instruments tuned with the finger of the Holy Ghost The soul is Christs Partner the Angels Familiar now if the souls of men are of so noble an extract and made capable of glory oh how zealously industrious should Christs Ministers be to save these souls if Christ did spend his blood for souls well may we spend our sweat It was Austins prayer that Christ might find him at his coming aut Precantem aut Praedicantem either Praying or Preaching What a sad sight is it to see precious souls as so many Pearls and Diamonds cast into the dead Sea of Hell 4. The Ministers of Christ seeing the multitude must ascend the Mount because there are so many Emissaries of Satan who lie at the catch to subvert souls How doth the Old Serpent cast out of his mouth floods of water after the woman to drown her Revel 12.15 What floods of Heresie have been poured out in City and Country which have over-flown the banks not only of Religion but Civility Ignatius calls Error the invention of the Divel and Bernard calls it dulce venenum a sweet poyson Mens ears like Spunges have sucked in this poyson Never were the Divels Commodities more vendible in England than now a fine tongue can put off bad wares the Jesuit can silver over his lyes and dress error in truths Coat a weak brain is soon intoxicated when flattery and subtilty meet with the simple they easily become a prey The Romish Whore enticeth many to drink down the poyson of her Idolatry and filthiness because it is given in a golden Cup Revel 17.4 If all who have the plague of the head should dye it would much increase the Bill of Mortality Now if there be so many Emissaries of Satan abroad who labour to make Proselytes to the Church of Rome how doth it concern them whom God hath put into the work of the Ministry to bestir themselves and lay hold on all opportunities that by their spiritual antidotes they may convert sinners from the error of their way and save their souls from death Jam. 5. ult Ministers must not only be Pastores but Praeliatores in one hand they must hold the bread of life and feed the Flock of God in the other hand they must hold the Sword of the Spirit and fight against those errors which carry damnation in their front 5. The Ministers of Christ should wait for all opportunities of soul-service because the Preaching of the Word hath so many Remora's that hinder the progress and success of it never did Pilot meet with so many Euroclydons and cross
dangerous and their hearts are ready to despond It will not be amiss therefore to set the Crown of blessedness before them to animate their courage and to inflame their zeal How many Scriptures bring this Olive-branch in their mouth the tydings of blessedness to believers Matth. 24.46 Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing Mat. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my Father Blessedness is the perfection of a rational creature it is the whet-stone of a Christians industry the heighth of his ambition the flower of his joy blessedness is the desire of all men Aquinas calls it the ultimus finis this is the White every man aims to hit to this Center all the lines are drawn Quest Wherein doth blessedness consist Answ Millions of men mistake both the nature of blessedness and the way thither Some of the Learned have set down two hundred eighty eight several opinions about blessedness * Austin and all have shot wide of the mark I shall shew wherein it doth not consist and then wherein it doth consist SECT 1. 1. WHerein blessedness doth not consist It doth not lie in the acquisition of worldly things happiness cannot by any Art of Chymistry be extracted here Christ doth not say Blessed are the Rich or blessed are the Noble yet too many Idolize these things Man by the fall hath not only lost his Crown but his Head-piece How ready is he to terminate his happiness in extrinsecals which makes me call to mind that definition which some of the Heathen Philosophers gave of blessedness * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it was to have a sufficiency of subsistence and to thrive well in the World And are there not many who go for Christians that seem to be of this Philosophical opinion if they have but worldly accommodations they are ready to sing a requiem to their souls and say with that brutish fool in the Gospel Soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thy ease Luk. 12.19 Quid turpius quam bonum rationalis animi ex irrationalibus nectere * Seneca Alas the Tree of blessedness doth not grow in an earthly Paradise Hath not God cursed the ground for sin Gen. 3.17 yet many are digging for felicity here as if they would fetch a blessing out of a curse a man may as well think to extract oyle out of a flint or fire out of water as blessedness out of these terrestial things King Solomon arrived at more than any man he was the most magnificent Prince that ever held the Scepter 1. For his Parentage he sprang from the Royal Line not only that Line of which many Kings came but of which Christ himself came Jesus Christ was of Solomons Line and Race so that for Heraldry and Nobility none could shew a fairer Coat of Arms. 2. For the situation of his Palace it was in Hierusalem the Princess and Paragon of the earth Hierusalem for its Renown was called the City of God it was the most famous Metropolis in the World Whither the Tribes go up the Tribes of the Lord Psal 122.4 3. For Wealth his Crown was hung full of Jewels he had treasures of gold and pearle and gave silver as stones 1 Kings 10.27 4. For worldly joy he had the flower and quintessence of all delights sumptuous Fare stately Edifices Vineyards Fish-ponds all sorts of Musick to inchant and ravish the senses with joy if there were any Rarity it was a Present for King Solomons Court thus did he bath himself in the perfumed waters of pleasure 5. For Wisdome he was the Oracle of his time when the Queen of Sheba came to pose him with hard questions he gave a solution to all her doubts 1 Kings 10.3 He had a key of knowledge to unlock Natures dark Cabinet so that if wisdome had been lost it might have been found here and the whole world might have lighted their understanding at Solomons Lamp He was an earthly Angel so that a carnal eye surveying his glory would have been ready to imagine that Solomon had entred into that Paradise out of which Adam was once driven or that he had found another as good never did the World cast a more smiling aspect upon any man yet when he comes to give in his impartial verdict he tells us that the World hath vanity written upon its Frontispiece and all those golden delights he enjoyed were but a painted felicity a glorious misery Eccles 2.8 And behold all was vanity Blessedness is too noble and delicate a Plant to dwell in Natures soile That blessedness doth not lie in Externals I shall prove by these five Demonstrations 1. Those things which are not commensurate to the desires of the soul can never make a man blessed but transitory things are not commensurate to the desires of the soul therefore they cannot render him blessed nothing on earth can satisfie Eccles 5.10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver Riches are unsatisfying 1. Because they are not real the world is called a fashion 1 Cor. 7.31 The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a Mathematical Figure sometimes a shew or apparition Riches are but tin'd over * Bracteata faelicitas Sen. they are like Alchymy which glisters a little in our eyes but at death all this Alchymy will be worn off Riches are but sugred lyes pleasant impostures like a gilded Cover which hath not one leaf of true comfort bound up in it 2. Because they are not sutable The soul is a spiritual thing riches are of an earthly extract * Effodiuntur opes and how can these fill a spiritual substance a man may as well fill his Chest with grace as his heart with gold if a man were crowned with all the delights of the world nay if God should build him an house among the Stars yet the restless eye of his unsatisfied mind would be looking still higher he would be prying beyond the heavens for some hidden rarities which he thinks he hath not yet attained to so unquenchable is the thirst of the soul till it come to bath in the River of life and to center upon true blessedness 2. That which cannot quiet the heart in a storme cannot intitle a man to blessedness but earthly things accumulated cannot rock the troubled heart quiet therefore they cannot make one blessed If the Spirit be wounded can the creature poure in wine and oyle into these wounds if God sets on conscience and it flies in a mans face can worldly comforts take off this angry fury Is there any Harp to drive away the evil Spirit outward things can no more cure the agony of conscience than a silken stockin can cure a gouty leg When Saul was sore distressed 1 Sam. 28.15 could all the Jewels of his Crown comfort him if God be angry whose fury is poured out like fire and the Rocks are thrown down by him Nahum 1.6 can a wedge of gold be
that could finde out a new pleasure but the comforts of the Spirit are satisfactory they recruit the heart Psal 94.19 Thy comforts delight my soul There is as much difference between heavenly comforts and earthly as between a banquet that is eaten and one that is painted on the wall 6. The comforts God gives his Mourners in this life are glorious comforts 1 Pet. 1.8 Joy full of glory 1. They are glorious because they are a prelibation and fore-taste of that joy which we shall have in a glorified estate * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys These comforts are an handsel and earnest of glory they put us in heaven before our time Ephes 1.13 14. Ye were sealed with that holy Spirit which is an earnest of the inheritance the earnest is part of the sum behind so the comforts of the Spirit are the earnest the cluster of grapes at Eshcol * Num. 13.23 the first-fruits of the heavenly Canaan 2. The joyes of the Spirit are glorious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in opposition to other joyes which compared with these are inglorious and vile A carnal mans joy as it is aery and flashy so it is sordid he sucks nothing but dregs Amos 6.13 Ye rejoyce in a thing of naught A carnal spirit rejoyceth because he can say this house is his this estate is his but a gracious spirit rejoyceth because he can say this God is his Psal 48.14 For this God is our God for ever and ever The ground of a Christians joy is glorious he rejoyceth in that he is an heir of the promise the joy of a godly man is made up of that which is the Angels joy he triumphs in the light of Gods countenance his joy is that which is Christs own joy he rejoyceth in the mystical union which is begun here and consummate in heaven Thus the joy of the Saints is a joy full of glory 7. The comforts which God gives his Mourners are infinitely transporting and ravishing so delightful are they and amazing that they cause a jubilation which as some of the Learned speak is so great that it cannot be expressed * Jubiliatio dicitur cum cordis laetitia oris efficacia non expletur of all things joy is the most hard to be deciphered 't is called laetitia inenarrabilis joy unspeakable 1 Pet. 1.8 You may sooner taste honey then tell how sweet it is the most pathetical words can no more set forth the comforts of the Spirit then the most curious Pensil can draw the life and breath of a man the Angels cannot express the joyes they feel some have been so overwhelmed with the sweet raptures of joy that they have not been able to contain but as Moses have dyed * Plurimis mortem attulit gaudium ingens Gell. with a kiss from Gods mouth Thus have we seen the glass oft breaking with the strength of the liquor put into it 8. These comforts of the Spirit are powerful they are strong cordials so the Apostle phraseth it Hebr. 6.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strong consolation Divine comfort 1. Strengthens for duty Nehem. 8.10 The joy of the Lord is your strength Joy whets and sharpens industry a man that is steeled and animated with the comforts of Gods Spirit goes with vigour and alacrity through the exercises of Religion he believes firmly he loves fervently he is carried full sail in duty the joy of the Lord is his strength 2. Divine comfort supports under affliction 1 Thes 1.6 Having received the Word in much affliction 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with joy The wine of the Spirit can sweeten the waters of Marah * Amaritudines mundi dulces reddit Aug. They who are possessed of these heavenly comforts can gather grapes of thorns and fetch honey out of the Lyons carcass They are strong consolations indeed that can stand it out against the fiery tryal and turn the flame into a bed of Roses How powerful is that comfort which can make a Christian glory in tribulation Rom. 5.3 A believer is never so sad but he can rejoyce the Bird of Paradise can sing in Winter 2 Cor. 6.10 As sorrowing yet alwayes rejoycing Let sickness come the sense of pardon takes away the sense of pain The Inhabitant shall not say I am sick Isa 33.24 Let death come a Christian is above it O death where is thy sting 1 Cor. 15.55 At the end of the Rod a Christian tastes honey these are strong consolations 9. The comforts Gods Mourners have are heart-quieting comforts they cause a sweet acquiescence and rest in the soul * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist Ech. The heart of a Christian is in a kind of ataxy and discomposure like the Needle in the Compass it shakes and trembles till the Comforter comes Some creatures cannot live but in the Sun a Christian is even dead in the Nest unless he may have the Sun-light of Gods countenance Psal 143.7 Hide not thy face from me lest I be like them that go down into the pit Nothing but the breast will quiet the child 't is only the breast of consolation quiets the believer 10. The comforts of the Spirit are abiding comforts as they abound in us so they abide with us John 14.16 He shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever Worldly comforts are still upon the wing ready to flie they are like a land-flood or a flash of lightning Mart. Saepe fluunt imo sic quoque lapsa sinu All things here are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the comforts with which God feeds his Mourners are immortal 2 Thes 2.16 Who hath loved us and hath given us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 everlasting consolation Though a Christian hath not always a full beam of comfort yet he hath a dawning of it in his soul he hath still a ground of hope and a root of joy there is that within him which bears up his heart and which he would not on any terms part with Use Use Behold the Mourners priviledge he shall be comforted David who was the great Mourner of Israel was the sweet singer of Israel The weeping Dove shall be covered with the golden feathers of comfort O how rare and superlative are these comforts Quest But may not Gods Mourners want these comforts Answ Spiritual Mourners have a title to these comforts yet they may sometimes want them God is a free Agent he will have the timing of our comforts he hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a self-freedom to do what he will The holy one of Israel will not be limited he will reserve his Prerogative to give or suspend comfort pro libitu and if we are awhile without comfort we must not quarrel with his dispensations for as the Mariner is not to wrangle with Providence because the wind blows out of the East when he desires it to blow out of the West nor is the Husbandman to murmure when God stops the bottles of heaven in
most profound search I am no more able to express it than I can span the firmament or weigh the earth in a pair of balances 7. It will be a great Supper in regard of the continuance it hath no end Epicures have a short Feast and a long reckoning but those who shall sit down at the heavenly Banquet shall not rise from the Table the cloth shall never be taken away but they shall be always feeding upon those dulcia fercula those sweet junkets and delicacies which are set before them We read King Ahashuerus made a Feast for his Princes that lasted an hundred and fourscore dayes Esther 1.4 But this blessed Feast reserved for the Saints is for ever Psal 16.11 At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore Use Consolation Use Consol How may this be as Bezar stone to keep the hearts of Gods people from fainting they shall be comforted †they shall sit with Christ upon the Throne * Merces tua Domine magna nimis neque enim magnus et tu parva merces tuas Austin Rev. 3.21 and sit down with him at the Table Who would not mourn for sin that are sure to meet with such rewards They shall be comforted The Marriage-supper will make amends for the valley of tears O thou Saint of God who art now watring thy plants and weeping bitterly for sin at this last and great Feast thy water shall be turned into wine thou who now mortifiest thy corruptions and beatest down thy body by prayer and fasting shalt shortly sup with Christ and Angels thou who didst refuse to touch the forbidden Tree shalt feed upon the Tree of life in the Paradise of God Thou impoverished Saint who hast scarce a bit of bread to eat remember for thy comfort in thy fathers house there is bread enough and he is making ready a Feast for thee where all the dainties of heaven are served in O feed with delight upon the thoughts of this Marriage-supper after thy Funeral begins thy Festival long for supper-time Longa mora est nobis quae gaudia mellea differt Christ hath paid for this Supper upon the cross and there is no fear of a reckoning to be brought in wherefore comfore one another with these words MATTH 5.5 Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth CHAP. XII Concerning Christian meekness WE are now got to the third step leading in the way to blessedness Christian meekness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Blessed are the meek See how the Spirit of God adorns the hidden man of the heart with multiplicity of graces The workmanship of the Holy Ghost is not only curious but various it makes the heart meek pure peaceable c. The graces therefore are compared to Needle-work which is different and various in its flowers and colours * Psal 45.14 In the words there is a duty meekness and that Duty like the Dove brings an Olive-leaf in the mouth of it They shall inherit the earth Doctr. The Proposition I shall insist on is That meek persons are blessed persons For the right understanding of this we must know there is a two-fold meekness 1. Meekness towards God 2. Meekness towards man 1. Meekness towards God which implies two things 1. Submission to his Will 2. Flexibleness to his Word 1. Submission to Gods Will when we carry our selves calmly without swelling or murmuring under the dispensations of Providence 1 Sam. 3.18 It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good The meek-spirited Christian saith thus Let God do what he will with me let him carve out what condition he please I will submit God sees what is best for me whether a fertile soil or a barren let him chequer his work as he please it sufficeth God hath done it it was an unmeek spirit in the Prophet to struggle with God Jonah 4.9 I do well to be angry to the death 2. Flexibleness to Gods Word When we are willing to let the Word bear sway in our souls and become pliable to all its Laws and Maxims he is spiritually meek who conforms himself to the mind of God and doth not quarrel with the instructions of the Word but the corruptions of his heart Cornelius his speech to Peter did savour of a meek spirit Acts 10.33 Now therefore we are all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God How happy is it when the Word which comes with Majesty is received with meekness * James 1.21 2. Meekness towards man this Basil the great calls the indelible Character of a gracious soul Beati Mites Blessed are the meek To illustrate this I shall shew what this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or meekness is Meekness is a grace whereby we are enabled by the Spirit of God to moderate our passion 1. In is a grace The Philosopher calls it a vertue * Mititia est virtus quae mediocritatem servat circa iram Piccolom but the Apostle calls it a grace therefore reckons it among the fruits of the Spirit Gal. 5.23 it is of a Divine Extract and Original 2. By it we are enabled to moderate ou◠passion By nature the heart is like a troubled Sea casting forth the foam of anger and wrath now meekness doth calm the passions it sits as Moderator in the soul quieting and giving check to its distempered motions 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Moon doth serve to temper and allay the heat of the Sun so Christian meekness doth allay the heat of passion meekness of Spirit doth not only fit us for communion with God but civil converse with men and thus prae omnibus virtutibus principatum tenet * Piccolom Meekness hath a divine beauty and sweetness in it it credits Religion it wins upon all this meekness consists in three things 1. Bearing of injuries 2. Forgiving of injuries 3. Recompencing good for evil 1. Meekness consists in bearing of injuries I may say of this grace it is not easily provoked a meek spirit like wet Tinder will not easily take fire Psal 38.12 13. They that seek my hurt spake mischievous things but I as a deaf man heard not Meekness is fraenum irae the bridle of anger the passions are fiery and head-strong meekness gives check to them meekness bridles the mouth it tyes the tongue to its good behaviour meekness observes that Motto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bear and forbear * Epictetus There are four things opposite to meekness 1. Meeknesse is opposed to hastinesse of spirit Eccles 7.9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry for anger rests in the bosome of fools When the heart boyls in passion and anger as Seneca saith sparkles forth in the eye this is far from meeknesse anger rests in the bosome of fools Anger may be in a wise man but it rests in a foole The angry man is like flax or Gunpowder no sooner do you touch him but he is all on fire Saint
promise should not be fulfilled 3. God will fill the hungry soul because he himself hath excited and stirred up this hunger he plants holy desires in us and will not he satisfie those desires which he himself hath wrought in us as in case of prayer when God prepares the heart to pray he prepares his ear to hear Psal 17.10 So in case of spiritual hunger when God prepares the heart to hunger he will prepare his hand to fill it is not rational to imagine that God should deny to satisfie that hunger which he himself hath caused Nature doth nothing in vain Should the Lord inflame the desire after righteousness and not fill it he might seem to do something in vain 4. God will fill the hungry from those sweet Relations he stands unto them they are his children we cannot deny our children when they are hungry we will rather spare it from our selves Luke 11.13 When he that is born of God shall come and say Father I hunger give me Christ Father I thirst refresh me with the living streams of thy Spirit can God deny Doth God hear the Raven when it cries and will he not hear the righteous when they cry when the Earth opens its mouth and thirsts God doth satisfie it Psal 65.9 10. Doth the Lord satisfie the thirsty Earth with showres and will he not satisfie the thirsty soul with grace 5. God will satisfie the hungry because the hungry soul is most thankful for mercy when the restless desire hath been drawn out after God and God fills it how thankful is a Christian The Lord loves to bestow his mercy where he may have most praise we delight to give to them that are thankful Musitians love to play where there is the best sound God loves to bestow his mercies where he may hear of them again The hungry soul sets the Crown of praise upon the head of free-grace Psal 50.23 Who so offereth praise glorifies me 3. How God fills the hungry soul Answ There is a three fold filling 1. With Grace 2. With Peace 3. With Bliss 1. God fills the hungry soul with Grace Grace is filling because sutable to the soul Stephen full of the Holy Ghost Acts 7.55 This fulness of Grace is in respect of parts not of degrees There is something of every Grace though not perfection in any Grace 2. God fills the hungry soul with peace Rom. 15.13 The God of hope fill you with joy and peace this flows from Christ Israel had honey out of the Rock this honey of peace comes out of the Rock Christ John 16. ult that in me ye might have peace So filling is this peace that it sets the soul a longing after heaven this Cluster of Grapes quickens the appetite and pursuit after the full Crop 3. God fills the hungry soul with bliss Glory is a filling thing Psal 17. ult When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy image When a Christian awakes out of the sleep of death then he shall be satisfied having the glorious beams of Gods image shining upon him then shall the soul be filled brim-full the glory of heaven is so sweet that the soul shall still thirst yet so infinite that it shall be filled Qui te Christe bibent dulci torrente refecti Non sitient ultra sed tamen sitient Use What an Encouragement is this to hunger after righteousness such shall be filled Use God chargeth us to fill the hungry Isa 58.10 He blames those who do not fill the hungry Isa 32.6 And do we think he will be slack in that which he blames us for not doing Oh come with hungrings after Christ and be assured of satisfaction God keeps open house for hungry sinners he invites his Guests and bids them come without money Isa 55.1 2. Gods Nature inclines him and his Promise obligeth him to fill the hungry Consider Why did Christ receive the Spirit without measure John 3.34 It was not for himself he was infinitely full before but he was filled with the holy unction for this end that he might distill his grace upon the hungry soul Art thou ignorant Christ was filled with wisdom that he might teach thee Art thou polluted Christ was filled with grace that he might cleanse thee Shall not the soul then come to Christ who was filled on purpose to fill the hungry we love to knock at a rich mans door in our Fathers house there is bread enough come with desire and you shall go away with comfort you shall have the vertues of Christs blood the influences of his Spirit the communications of his love Here are two Objections made against this Object 1 1. The carnal mans Objection I have saith he hungred after righteousness yet am not filled Answ 1 Answ 1. Thou sayst thou hungerest and art not satisfied perhaps God is not satisfied with thy hunger thou hast opened thy mouth wide * Psal 81.10 but hast not opened thine ear * Psal 40.9 When God hath called thee to Family-prayer and mortification of sin thou hast like the deaf Adder stopped thine ear against God Zach. 7.11 No wonder then thou hast not that comfortable filling as thou desirest though thou hast opened thy mouth yet thou hast stopped thine ear the child that will not hear his parent is made to do pennance by fasting 2. Perhaps thou thirstest as much after a tentation as after righteousness At a Sacrament thou seemest to be inflamed with desire after Christ but the next tentation that comes either to drunkenness or lasciviousness thou fallest in and closest with the tentation Satan doth but becken to thee and thou comest thou openest faster to the Tempter than to Christ and dost thou wonder thou art not filled with the fat things of Gods house 3. Perhaps thou hungerest more after the world than after righteousness The young man in the Gospel would have Christ but the world lay nearer his heart than Christ hypocrites pant more after the dust of the Earth * Amos 2.7 than the water of life Israel had no Manna while their Dough lasted such as feed immoderately upon the Dough of earthly things must not think to be fill'd with Manna from heaven if your money be your god never look to receive another God in the Sacrament 2. The godly mans Objection I have had unfeigned Object 2 desires after God but are not filled Answ 1. Thou mayst have a filling of grace Answ 1 though not of comfort if God doth not fill thee with gladness yet with goodness Psal 107.11 Look into thy heart and see the distillations of the Spirit the dew may fall though the honey-comb doth not drop 2. Wait a while and thou shalt be filled the Gospel is a spiritual Banquet it feasts the soul with grace and comfort none eat of this Banquet but such as wait at the Table Isa 25.6 9. In this Mountain shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a Feast of fat things a Feast of wines on
Tell them in what a sad condition they are in the gall of bitterness Shew them their danger they tread upon the banks of the bottomless pit if death gives them a jog they tumble in and we must dip our words in honey use all the mildness we can 2 Tim. 2.25 In meekness instructing c. Fire melts oyntment mollifies words of love may melt hard hearts into Repentance this is soul-mercy God made a Law Exod. 23.5 that whosoever did see his enemies Ass lying under a burden he should help him On which words saith Chrysostom We will help a Beast that is fallen under a burden and shall we not extend relief to those who are fallen under a worse burden of sin 3. Soul-mercy is in reproving refractory sinners there is a cruel mercy when we see men go on in sin and we let them alone and there is a merciful cruelty when we are sharp against mens sins and will not let them go to hell quietly Lev. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour and not suffer sin upon him Fond pity is no better than cruelty Titus 1.13 Rebuke them sharply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuttingly the Chyrurgion cuts and lanceth the flesh but it is in order to a cure they are healing wounds so by a cutting reproof when we lance mens consciences and let out the blood of sin we exercise spiritual Chyrurgery this is shewing mercy Jude 23. Others save with fear pulling them out of the fire If a man were in the fire though you did hurt him a little in pulling him out he would be thankful and take it as a kindnesse Some men when we tell them of sin say O this is bitternesse no it is shewing mercy If a mans house were on fire and another should see it and not tell him of it for fear of waking him were not this cruelty when we see others sleeping the sleep of death and the fire of Gods wrath ready to burn about their ears and we are silent is not this to be accessory to their death 4. Soul-mercy is in praying for others This is like physick used in a desperate case and oft it recovers the sick patient James 5.16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much as it cures the sick body so the sin-sick soul There is a story of one who gave his soul to the Divel who was given in to the prayers of Luther When Eutychus fell down from an high loft and was taken up dead Paul fell on him * Affectus vehementia Beza that is he did effectually pray over him and he prayed him alive Acts 20.9 11. By sin the soul is fallen from an high loft viz. a state of innocency now fervent prayer oft-times fetcheth life in such a dead soul Use 1. See what a blessed work the work of the Ministry Use 1 is The preaching of the Word is nothing but shewing mercy to souls This is a mighty and glorious engine in the hand of the Lord of Hosts for the beating down of the Divels strong-holds The Ministry of the Word doth not only bring light with it but eye-salve anointing the eyes to see that light It is a sin-killing and a soul-quickning Ordinance it is the power of God to salvation What enemies are they to their own souls that oppugne the Ministry They say the people that live under the line curse the Sun and are glad when the sun sets because of its burning heat Foolish sinners curse the Sun-rising of the Ministry and are offended at the light of it because it comes near their sins and scorcheth their consciences though in the end it saves their souls Use 2 Use 2. It reproves them that have no mercy to souls Reproof 1. Evil Magistrates 2. Evil Ministers 1. Evil Magistrates who either take away the Key of knowledge * Luke 11.52 or give a Toleration to wickednesse suffering men to sinne by a Licence The meaning of Toleration is this if men will to hell none shall stop them Is not nature enough poyson'd Do not men sin fast enough but must they have such political engines as scrue them up higher in wickednesse Must they have such favourable gales from the breath of great ones as serve to carry them full sail to the Divel This is far from soul-mercy * Meminerit princeps non solum quantum sibi commissum sed quatenus permissum fit Cicero What an heavy reckoning will these Statists have in the day of the Lord 2. Evil Ministers 1. Such as have no bowels to the souls of their people They do not pity them pray for them they seek not them but theirs they preach not for love but lucre their care is more for Tythes than souls How can they be called spiritual fathers who are without bowels These are mercenarii not ministri 2. Such as feed not the souls of their people with solid truths When Christ sent out his Apostles he gave them their Text and tells them what they must preach Matth. 10.7 Preach saying the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Upon which place saith Luther the Ministers of Christ must preach quae ad regnum coelorum conducant Things that pertaine to the Kingdom of God pardon of sin sanctification living by faith ne aliter ex ecclesiâ faciant politiam They are unmerciful to souls who instead of breaking the bread of life fill their peoples heads with very speculations and notions who rather tickle the fancy than touch the conscience and give precious souls rather musick than food 3. Such as darken knowledge with words and preach so as if they were speaking in an unknown tongue Some Ministers love to soar aloft like the Eagle and flie above their peoples capacities endeavouring rather to be admired than understood They are like some crabbed Authors which cannot be read without a Comment Indeed God calls his Ministers Ambassadors 2 Cor. 5.20 but they must not be like those Out-landish Ambassadors that cannot be understood without an Interpreter 'T is unmercifulnesse to souls to preach so as not to be understood Ministers should be Stars to give light not clouds to obscure the truth Saint Paul was learned yet plain Clearnesse and perspicuity is the grace of speech 'T is cruelty to souls when we go about to make easie things hard This many are guilty of in our age who go into the Pulpit only to tie knots and think it their glory to amuse the people this savours more of pride than mercifulnesse 4. Such as see others going on in sin but do not tell them of it When men declare their sin as Sodom it is the Ministers duty to lift up his voice like a trumpet and shew the house of Jacob their sin Isa 58.1 Zeal in the Ministry is as proper as fire on the Altar he who lets another sin and holds his peace is a man-slayer That Sentinel deserves death who sees the enemy
see with glorified eyes Psal 25. Mine eyes are ever towards the Lord while others are looking towards the Earth as if they would fetch all their comforts thence let us look up to heaven there is the best prospect the sight of God by faith would let in much joy to the soul 1 Pet. 1.8 Though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable 3. Let this be as Cordial-water to revive the pure in heart Be comforted with this you shall shortly see God The godly have many sights here that they would not see they see a body of death they see the Sword unsheath'd they see Rebellion wearing the Mask of Religion they see the white Divel these sights occasion sorrow but there is a blessed sight a coming they shall see God and in him are all sparkling beauties and ravishing joyes to be found 4. Be not discouraged at sufferings all the hurt affliction and death can do is to give you a sight of God as he said to his Fellow-Martyr One half houre in glory will make us forget our pain the Sun arising all the dark shadows of the night flie away When the pleasant beams of Gods countenance shall begin to shine upon the soul in heaven then sorrows and sâ—fferings shall be no more the dark shadows of the night shall flie away the thoughts of this beatifical Vision should carry a Christian full sail with joy through the waters of affliction this made Job so willing to embrace death Job 19.25 26. I know that my Redeemer liveth and though worms devoure this body yet in my flesh shall I see God MATTH 5.9 Blessed are the Peace-makers c. CHAP. XVIII Concerning Peaceableness THIS is the seventh step of the golden Ladder which leads to blessedness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The name of peace is sweet and the work of peace is a blessed work Blessed are the Peace-makers Observe the Connexion the Scripture links these two together Pureness of heart and peaceableness of spirit Jam. 3.17 The wisdom from above is first pure then peaceable Hebr. 12.14 Follow peace and holiness and here Christ joyns them together Pure in heart and Peace-makers as if there could be no purity where there is not a study of peace that Religion is suspitious which is full of Faction and Discord In the words there are three parts 1. A Duty implied viz. peaceable-mindedness 2. A Duty expressed to be Peace-makers 3. A Title of honour bestowed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They shall be called the children of God 1. The Duty implied peaceable-mindedness for before men can make peace among others they must be of peaceable spirits themselves before they can be promoters of peace they must be lovers of peace Doctr. 1 Doctr. 1. That Christians must be peaceable-minded this peaceableness of spirit is the beauty of a Saint 't is a jewel of great price 1 Pet. 3.4 The ornament of a quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price The Saints are Christs sheep John 10.27 the sheep is a peaceable creature they are Christs Doves Cant. 2.14 therefore they must be sine felle without gall it becomes not Christians to be Ishmaels but Solomons Though they must be Lyons for courage yet Lambs for peaceableness God was not in the Earth-quake nor in the fire but in the still small voyce 1 Kings 19.12 God is not in the rough fiery spirit but in the peaceable spirit There is a four-fold peace that we must study and cherish 1. An Oeconomical peace peace in Families it is called vinculum pacis the bond of peace Eph. 4.3 Without this all drops in pieces peace is a girdle that tyes together members in a Family it is a golden Clasp that knits them together that they do not fall in pieces we should endeavour that our houses should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 houses of peace 'T is not fairness of Rooms makes an house pleasant but peaceableness of dispositions there can be no comfortableness in our dwellings till peace be entertained as an inmate into our houses 2. There is a Parochial peace when there is a sweet harmony a tuning and chiming together of affections in a Parish When all draw one way and as the Apostle saith are perfectly joyned together in the same mind 1 Cor. 1.10 One jarring string brings all the Musick out of tune one bad Member in a Parish endangers the whole 1 Thes 5.13 Be at peace among your selves 'T is little comfort to have our houses joyned together if our hearts be asunder a Geometrical union will do little good without a Moral 3. There is a Political peace peace in City and Countrey this is the fairest flower of a Princes Crown 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peace is the best blessing of a Nation It is well with Bees when there is a noise but it is best with Christians when as in the building of the Temple there is no noise of Hammer heard Peace brings plenty along with it How many Miles would some go on pilgrimage to purchase this peace therefore the Greeks made peace to be the Nurse of Pluto the God of wealth Political plants thrive best in the Sunshine of peace Psal 147.14 He maketh peace in thy borders and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat Omnia pace vigent The Ancients made the Harp the Emblem of peace How sweet would the sounding of this Harp be after the roaring of the Canon Pacem te poscimus omnes All should study to promote this Political peace the godly man when he dyes enters into peace Isa 57.2 But while he lives peace must enter into him 4. There is an Ecclesiastical peace a Church-peace When there is unity and verity in the Church of God never doth Religion flourish more then when her children spread themselves as Olive-plants round about her Table Unity in Faith and Discipline is a mercy we cannot prize enough this is that which God hath promised Jer. 32.39 and which we should pursue Zach. 8.19 Saint Ambrose saith of Theodosius the Emperour that when he lay sick he took more care for the Churches peace than for his own recovery The Reasons why we should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peaceable-minded are two 1. We are called to peace 1 Cor. 7.15 God never call'd any man to division that is a reason why we should not be given to strife because we have no call for it but God hath called us to peace 2. It is the nature of grace to change the heart and make it peaceable By nature we are of a fierce cruel disposition when God cursed the ground for mans sake the curse was that it should bring forth thorns and thistles Gen. 3.18 The heart of man naturally lies under this curse it brings forth nothing but the Thistles of strife and contention but when grace comes into the heart it makes it peaceable it infuseth a sweet loving disposition it smooths and polisheth the most knotty piece it files
heaven 4. Persecution to Gods children works for good the godly may be compared to that Plant which Greg. Naz. speaks of It lives by dying and grows by cutting * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. The zeal and love of the Saints is blown up by sufferings their joy flourisheth Tertullian saith the Primitive Christians rejoyced more in their persecutions than in their deliverance 5. Death works for good to the children of God it is like the whirle-wind to the Prophet Eliah which blew off his mantle but carried him up to heaven so death to a childe of God is like a boysterous whirle-wind which blows off the mantle of his flesh for the body is but the mantle the soul is wrapped in but it carries up the soul to God this is the glorious priviledge of the sons of God every thing that falls out shall do them good the children of God when they come to heaven as Chrysostom speaks shall bless God for all cross Providences Privi ∣ ledge 12 12. And lastly If we are children we shall never finally perish John 5.24 John 10.28 Those who are adopted are out of the power of damnation Rom. 8.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Will a father condemn his own son God will never disinherit any of his children fathers may disinherit for some fault Reuben for incest lost the Prerogative of his birth-right Gen. 49.4 What is the reason Parents disinherit their children surely this because they can make them no better they cannot make them fit for the inheritance but when we are bad our heavenly Father knows how to make us better he can make us fit to inherit Col. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father who hath made us meet for the inheritance Therefore it being in his power to make us better and to work in us an idoneity and meetness for the inheritance certainly he will never finally disinherit Because this is so sweet a priviledge and the life of a Christians comfort lies in it therefore I shall clear it by Arguments that the children of God cannot finally perish the entail of hell and damnation is cut off not but that the best of Gods children have that guilt which deserves hell but Christ is the friend at Court which hath beg'd their pardon therefore the vis damnatoria the damning power of sin is taken away which I prove thus 1. The children of God cannot finally perish because Arg. 1 Gods justice is satisfied for their sins the blood of Christ is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the price paid not only meritoriously but efficaciously for all them that believe this being the blood of God justice is fully satisfied and meddles not to condemn those for whom this blood was shed and to whom it is applied Jesus Christ was a Sponsor he stood bound for every childe of God as a Surety he said to justice Have patience with them and I will pay thee all so that the believer cannot be liable to wrath God will not require the debt twice both of the Surety and the Debtor Rom. 3.24 25 26. God is not only merciful in pardoning his children but righteous 1 John 1.9 He is just to forgive it is an act of Gods equity and justice to spare the sinner when he hath been satisfied in the Surety 2. A damnatory sentence cannot pass upon the children Arg. 2 of God because they are so Gods children as withal they are Christs Spouse Cant. 4.11 There is a marriage-union between Christ and the Saints every child of God is a part of Christ he is Christ Mystical Now shall a member of Christ perish A child of God cannot perish but Christ must perish Jesus Christ who is the husband is the Judge and will he condemn his own Spouse Arg. 3 3. Every child of God is transformed into the likeness of Christ he hath the same spirit the same judgement the same will he is a lively picture of Christ as Christ bears the Saints names upon his breast so they bear his image upon their hearts Gal. 4.19 Will Christ suffer his own image to be destroyed Theodosius counted them Traytors who defaced his image Christ will not let his image in believers be defaced and rent he will not endure to see his own picture take fire the Sea hath not only stinking carrion but jewels thrown into it but none of Gods jewels shall ever be thrown into the dead Sea of hell Arg. 4 4. If Gods children could be capable of final perishing then pardon of sin were no priviledge the Scripture saith Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven Psal 32.1 But what blessedness were there in having sin forgiven if afterwards a final and damnatory sentence should pass upon the heirs of promise What were a man the better for the Kings pardon if he were condemned after he were pardoned Arg. 5 5. If the children of God should be finally disinherited then the Scripture could not be fulfilled which tells us of glorious rewards Psal 58.11 Doubtless there is a reward for the righteous God sweetens his commands with promises he ties duty and reward together As in the body the veins carry the blood and the arteries carry the spirits so one part of the Word carries duty in it and another part of the Word carries reward now if the adopted of God should eternally miscarry what reward were there for the righteous and Moses did indiscreetly in looking to the recompence of reward Hebr. 11.26 And so by consequence there would be a door opened to despair By all which it appears that the children of God cannot be disinherited or reprobated if they should lose happiness Christ should lose his purchase and should dye in vain Thus we have seen the glorious priviledges of the children of God What an encouragement is here to Religion how may this tempt men to turn godly Can the world viey with a childe of God Can the world give such priviledges as these as Saul said 1 Sam. 22.7 Will the son of Jesse give every one of you Field and Vineyards and make you all Captains of thousands Can the world do that for you as God doth for his children Can it give you pardon of sin or eternal life Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the Vintage of Abjezer◠Is not godliness gain What is there in sin that men should love it the work of sin is drudgery and the wages death They who see more in sin than in the priviledges of Adoption let them go on and have their ears boared to the Divels service CHAP. XX. Containing several Vses drawn from the Proposition Use 1 Reproof Use 1 HERE is a bill of Inditement against those who declare to the world they are not the children of God all profane persons these have damnation written upon their fore-head 1. Scoffers at Religion it were blasphemy to call these the children of God Will a true childe jeer at his fathers picture 2.
Prince of the Divels Art thou ignominiously used so was Christ Mark 14.65 Some began to spit upon him Art thou betrayed by friends so was Christ Luke 22.48 Judas betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss Is thy Estate sequestred and do the wicked cast lots for it so Christ was dealt with Matth. 27.34 They parted his garments casting lots Do we suffer unjustly so did Christ his very Judge did acquit him Luke 23.4 Then said Pilate to the chief Priests and to the people I finde no fault in this man Art thou barbarously dragged and haled away to suffering so was Christ Matth. 27.2 When they had bound him though he came to loosen them they led him away Dost thou suffer death so did Christ Luke 23.33 When they were come to Calvary there they crucified him They gave him gall and vineger to drink the one deciphering the bitterness the other the sharpness of his death Christ under-went not only the blood of the Cross but the curse of the Cross Gal. 3.13 He had an agony in his soul Matth. 26.38 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death The soul of Christ was over-cast with a cloud of Gods displeasure the Greek Church speaking of the sufferings of Christ calls them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unknown sufferings Did the Lord Jesus endure all this for us and shall not we suffer persecution for his Name say as holy Ignatius * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. I am willing to dye for Christ for Christ my love was crucified Our cup is nothing to the cup which Christ drank his cup was mixed with the wrath of God and if he did bear Gods wrath for us well may we bear mans wrath for him 4. Great is the honour we bring to Christ and the Gospel by suffering it was an honour to Caesar that he had such Souldiers as were able to fight with hunger and cold and endure hardship in their marches It is an honour to Christ that he hath such listed under him as will leave all for him it proclaims him to be a good Master when his servants will wear his Livery though it be sullied with disgrace and lined with blood Pauls iron chain made the Gospel wear a golden chain Tertullian saith of the Saints in his time they took their sufferings more kindly than if they had had deliverance * Magis damnati quam absoluti gaudemus Tert. Apolog. O what a glory was this to the truth when they durst embrace it in the flame And as the Saints sufferings adorn the Gospel so they propagate it Basil saith the zeal and constancy of the Martyrs in the Primitive times made some of the Heathens to be Christianized Sanguine fundata est Ecclesia sanguine crevit The showres of blood have ever made the Church fruitful Phil. 1.13 Pauls being bound made the truth more enlarged the Gospel hath alwayes flourished in the ashes of Martyrs 5. It is that we have engaged our selves to in Baptism there we took our press-money we solemnly vowed that we would be true to Christs interest and fight it out under his Banner to the death and how often have we in the blessed Supper taken the oath of allegiance to Jesus Christ that we would be his liege servants and that death should not part us Now if when being called to it we refuse to suffer persecution for his Name Christ will bring our Baptisme as an inditement against us Christ is called the Captain of our salvation Hebr. 2.10 We have listed our selves by name under this Captain now if for fear we shall flie from our colours it is perjury in the highest degree and how shall we be able to look Christ in the face another day * Summum crede nefas c. Juvenal sat 10. That oath which is not kept inviolably shall be punished infallibly where doth the flying roule of curses light but in the house of him that sweareth falsly †* Zach. 5.4 6. Our sufferings are light 2 Cor. 4.17 This light affliction c. It is heavy to flesh and blood but it is light to faith affliction is light in a three-fold respect 1. It is light in comparison of sin he that feels sin heavy feels suffering light sin made Paul cry out O wretched man that I am Rom. 7. He doth not cry out of his iron chain but of his sin the greater noise drowns the lesser when the Sea roars the Rivers are silent he that is taken up about his sins and sees how he hath provoked God thinks the yoke of affliction light Micah 7.9 2. Affliction is light in comparison of hell what is persecution to damnation what is the fire of Martyrdom to the fire of the damned it is no more than the pricking of a pin to a deaths wound Who knoweth the power of thine anger Psal 90.11 Christ himself could not have born that anger had he not been more than a man 3. Affliction is light in comparison of glory the weight of glory makes persecution light if saith Chrysostom the torments of all the men in the world could be laid upon one man it were not worth one houres being in heaven and if persecution be light we should in a manner set light by it let us neither faint through unbelief nor fret through impatience 7. Our sufferings are short 1 Pet. 5.10 After ye have suffered awhile or as it is in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a little our sufferings may be lasting not everlasting affliction is compared to a cup Lam. 4.21 The wicked drink of a Sea of wrath which hath no bottom it will never be emptied but it is only a cup of Martyrdom and God will say Let this cup pass away Psal 125.3 The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous the rod may be there it shall not rest Christ calls his sufferings an houre Luke 12.53 Can we not suffer one houre persecution is aspera but brevis though it hath a sting to torment yet it hath a wing to flie Isa 35.10 Sorrow shall flie away it is but awhile when the Saints shall have a Writ of ease granted them they shall weep no more suffer no more they shall be taken off the torturing wrack and laid in Christs bosome the people of God shall not alwayes be in the iron Furnace a year of Jubile will come the water of persecution like a Land-flood will soon be dried up 8. While we suffer for Christ we suffer with Christ Rom. 8.17 If we suffer with him c. Jesus Christ bears part of the suffering with us oh saith the Christian I shall never be able to hold out but remember thou sufferest with Christ he helps thee to suffer As our blessed Saviour said John 16.32 I am not alone the Father is with me So a believer may say I am not alone my Christ is with me he bears the heaviest end of the Cross 2 Cor.
all our burdens to supply all our wants there can be no defect in that which is infinite Use 1 Use 1. Information And it hath six Branches Inform. Branch 1 1. It shews us the glorious fulness of Jesus Christ He is all in all Christ is a Panoply a Magazin and Store-house of all spiritual riches you may go with the Bee from flowre to flowre and suck here and there a little sweetness but you will never have enough till you come to Christ for he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all in all Now in particular Christ is all in six Respects 1. Christ is all in regard of righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made to us righteousness The Robe of innocency like the vail of the Temple is rent asunder ours is a ragged righteousness Isa 64.6 Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags As under rags the naked body is seen so under the rags of our righteousness the body of death is seen we can defile our duties but they cannot justifie us but Christ is all in regard of righteousness Rom. 10.4 Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to them that believe * Domine Jesu ego sum peccatum tuum tu es justitia mea Luth. That is through Christ we are as righteous as if we had satisfied the Law in our own persons Jacob got the blessing in the garment of his elder brother so in the garment of Christ our elder brother we obtain the blessing Christs righteousness is a coat woven without seam 2 Cor. 5. ult We are made the righteousness of God in him 2. Christ is all in regard of Sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made to us Sanctification Sanctification is the spiritual enamel and embroydery of the soul 't is nothing else but Gods putting upon us the jewels of holiness the Angels glory by it we are made as the Kings daughter all glorious within Psal 45.13 This doth disponere ad coelum it doth tune and prepare the soul for heaven it turns iron into gold it makes the heaâ— which was Satans Picture Christs Epistle The Virgâ—â— â—â—â—her 2.12 had their dayes of purification they 〈◊〉 first to be perfumed and anointed and then they were to stand before the King we must have the anointing of God 1 John 2.27 and be perfumed with the graces of the Spirit those sweet odours and then we shall stand before the King of heaven there must be first our dayes of purification before our dayes of glorification what a blessed work is this a soul beautified and adorned with grace is like the coelum stellatum the firmament bespangled with glittering stars O what a Metamorphize is there I may allude to that Cant. 3.6 Who is this that comes out of the wilderness with myrrhe and frankincense and all the powders of the Merchant So who is this that comes out of the wilderness of sin perfum'd with all the graces of the Spirit Holiness is the signature and engraving of God upon the soul but whence is this Christ is all he is made to us Sanctification he it is that sends his Spirit into our hearts to be a refiners fire to burn up our dross and make our graces sparkle like gold in the Furnace Christ ariseth upon the soul with healing under his wings Mal. 4.2 He heals the understanding and saith Let there be light he heals the heart by dissolving the stone in his blood he heals the will by filing off its rebellion Thus he is all in regard of Sanctification 3. Christ is all in regard of Divine acceptance Eph. 1.6 He hath made us accepted in the Beloved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he hath made us Favourites so Chrysostom and Theophylact render it through Christ God is propitious to us and takes all we do in good part A wicked man being out of Christ is out of favour as his â—oughing is sin Prov. 21.14 so his praying is 〈◊〉 â—â—ov 15.8 God will not come near him his breaâ—â— infectious God will hear his sins and not his prayers but now in Christ God accepts us Eccles 9.7 Go thy way eat thy bread with joy and drink thy wine with a merry heart for God now accepts thy works as Joseph did present his Brethren before Pharaoh and brought them into favour with the King Gen. 47.2 so the Lord Jesus carries the names of the Saints upon his breast and presents them before his Father so bringing them into repute and honour through Christ God will treat and parly with us he speaks to us as Isa 62.4 Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken but thou shalt be called Hephêªibah for the Lord delighteth in thee Through the red glass every thing appears of a red colour through the blood of Christ we look of a sanguine complexion ruddy and beautiful in Gods eyes 4. Christ is all in regard of Divine assistance a Christians strength lies in Christ Phil. 4.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I can do all things through Christ Whence is it a Christian is able to do duty to resist tentation but through Christs strengthning * Nunquam Caesar tanto impetu civitates oppugnavit quanto Satan conscientias piorum Luther Whence is it that a sparkle of grace lives in a Sea of corruption the storms of persecution blowing but that Christ holds this sparkle in the hollow of his hand Whence is it that the roaring Lyon hath not devoured the Saints but that the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath defended them Christ not only gives us our Crown but our Shield he not only gives us our garland when we overcome but our strength whereby we overcome Rev. 12.11 They overcame him that is the accuser of the Brethren by the blood of the Lamb. Christ keeps the Fort-royal of grace that it be not blown up Peters shield was bruised but Christ kept it that was not broken I prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Luke 22.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it be not in a total Eclipse The Crown 〈◊〉 all the Saints victories must be set upon the head of Christ Rom. 8.38 In all these things we are more than Conquerors through Christ Write the name of Michael upon all your conquests 5. Christ is all in regard of pacification when conscience is in an agony and burns as hell in the sense of Gods wrath * Job 6.4 now Christ is all he poures the balm of his blood into these wounds he maketh the storm a calm Christ doth not only make peace in the Court of heaven but peace in the Court of conscience he not only makes peace above us but within us Joh. 16. ult That in me ye might have peace in me tanquam in fonte saith Cyprian all our golden streams of peace flow from this fountain John 14.27 Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you Jesus Christ not only purchased peace for us but speaks peace to us he is called the Prince of peace Isa 9.6 Peace
Christian Why art thou troubled for wanting that which a reprobate have when thou hast that which the glorified Saints have Thou hast Christ with all his Perquisites and Royalties Suppose a father should deny his son furniture for his house but should settle all his Land upon him had he any cause to complain If God denies thee a little furniture in the world but in the mean time settles his Land upon thee he gives thee the field wherein the pearle of price is hid hast thou any cause to repine A Christian that wants necessaries yet having Christ he hath the one thing needful Col. 2.10 Ye are compleat in him what compleat in Christ and not content with Christ Luther saith the Sea of Gods mercy should swallow up our particular afflictions surely this Sea of Gods love in giving us Christ should drown all our complaints and grievances let the Christian take the Harp and the Viol and bless God Branch 6 6. If Christ be all see the deplorable condition of a Christless person he is poor he is worth nothing Rev. 3.17 Thou art wretched and miserable and poor c. The sadness of a man that wants Christ will appear in these seven particulars 1. He hath no justification what a glorious thing is it when a poor sinner is absolved from guilt and is declared to be rectus in curia but this priviledge flows from Christ all pardons are sealed in his blood Acts 13.39 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By him all that believe are justified So then he who is out of Christ is unjustified the reaâ— us or guilt of sin cleaves to him he must be responsible to justice in his own person and the curse stands in full force against the sinner 2. He that wants Christ wants the beauty of holiness Jesus Christ is a living spring of grace John 1.14 Full of grace and truth Now a Christless person is a graceless peâ—son he hath not one shred of holiness The siens must first be engrafted into the stock before it can receive sap and influence from the root we must first be engrafted into Christ before we can of his fulness receive grace for grace John 1.16 A man out of Christ is red with guilt and black with filth he is an unhallowed person and dying in that condition is rendred uncapable of seeing God Hebr. 12.14 3. He that wants Christ hath no true Nobility it is through Christ that we are akin to God of the blood-royal of heaven it is through Christ that God is not ashamed to be called our God Hebr. 11.16 But out of Christ we are looked upon as ignoble persons the Traytors blood runs in our veins a man out of Christ is base-born whoever is his natural father the Divel is his spiritual father John 4.48 4. He that wants Christ wants his freedom nihil durius servitute John 8.36 If the Son make you free you shall be free indeed A man out of Christ is a slave when he sins most freely 5. He that wants Christ hath no ability for service he is as Sampson when his lock was cut his strength is gone from him he wants a vital principle he cannot walk with God he is like a dead member in the body that hath neither strength nor motion John 15.5 Without me ye can do nothing The Organs will make no sound unless you blow in them so unless Christ by his spirit breath in the soul it cannot make any harmony or put forth strength to any holy action 6. He that wants Christ hath no consolation Christ is called the consolation of Israel Luk. 2.25 A Christless soul is a comfortless soul how can such a 〈◊〉 have comfort when he comes to dye he is in debt and hath no surety his wounds bleed and he hath no Physitian he sees the fire of Gods wrath approaching and hath no screen to keep it off he is like a ship in a tempest sickness begins to make a tempest in his body and sin to make a tempest in his conscience and he hath nowhere to put in for harbour oh the terror and anguish of such a man at the houre of death Isaiah 13.8 Their faces shall be as flames an elegant expression the meaning is such fear and horror shall seize upon sinners in the evil day that their countenances shall change and be as pale as a flame what are all the comforts of the world to a dying sinner he looks upon his friends but they cannot comfort him bring him his bags of gold and silver they are as smoak to sore eyes it grieves him to part with them bring him Musick what comfort is the Harp and Viol to a condemned man There are in Spain Tarantula's venemous spiders and those who are stung with them are almost dead and are cured with Musick * Tarantula icti tibiis aut tympanis curantur but those that dye without Christ who is the consolation of Israel are in such hellish pangs and agonies that no Musick is able to cure them 7. He that wants Christ hath no salvation Eph. 5.23 He is the Saviour of the body he saves none but them who are members of his body mystical a strong Scripture against the doctrine of universal redemption Christ leaped into the Sea of his Fathers wrath only to save his Spouse from drowning he is the Saviour of the body so that those who dye out of Christ are cut off from all hopes of salvation Use 2 2. It reproves them who busie themselves about other things with a neglect of Christ Reproof magno conatu nihil agunt Isa 55.2 Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not If you get all the world you are but golden beggars without Christ The Physitian finds out noxious diseases but is ignorant of soul-diseases and while he gets Receits to cure others he neglects the receit of Christs blood to cure himself The Lawyer while he clears other mens titles to their Land he himself wants a title to Christ The Tradesman is busied in buying and selling but neglects to trade for the pearle of price like Israel who went up and down to gather straw or like the load-stone that draws iron to it but refuseth gold These who so mind the world as to neglect Christ their work is but spider-work Hab. 2.13 Is it not of the Lord of Hosts that the people shall labour in the fire and weary themselves for very vanity 1. If Christ be all then set an high valuation upon Use 3 Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.7 Exhort To you that believe he is precious If there were a jewel which contained in it Branch 1 the worth of all jewels would you not prize that such a jewel is Christ so precious is he that Saint Paul counted all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dung that he might win Christ Phil. 3.8 Oh that I could raise the appretiation of Jesus Christ prize Christ above
soul embroydered it is divinely inlaid and enamel'd The body is but the sheath Dan. 7.15 I was grieved in the midst of my body in the Chalde it is in the midst of my sheath The most beautiful body is but like a velvet sheath the soul is the blade of admirable mettal The soul is a sparkling Diamond set in a rig of clay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. The soul is a vessel of honour * Macarius God himself is serv'd in this vessel The soul is the bird of Paradise that soars aloft it may be compared to the wings of the Cherubims it hath a winged swiftnesse to fly to heaven The soul is Capax beatitudinis capable of communion with God and Angels * Bern. The soul is Gods house he hath made to dwell in Heb. 3.6 The Understanding Will and Affections are the three stories in this house What pity is it that this goodly building should be let out and the Divel become Tenant in it The preciousnesse of the soul is seen in two particulars It hath 1. An intrinsecal worth 2. An estimative worth 1. The soul hath an intrinsecal worth Which appears in two things 1. Spirituality 2. Immortality 1. Spirituality The soul is a spiritual substance 'T is a saying among the Ancients our souls are tempered in the same mortar with the heavenly spirits * In eodem cratere temperatas esse animas nostras cum caelestibus Now the soul is spiritual three manner of wayes In its Essence Object Operation 1. The soul is spiritual in its Essence God breathed it in Gen. 2.7 It is a sparkle lighted by the breath of God The soul may be compared to the spirits of the wine the body to the dregs the spirits are more pure refined part of the wine such is the soul the body is more feculent the soul is the more refined sublimated part of man Mistake me not when I say the soul is spiritual and that it is a beam of God I do not mean that it is of the same substance with him as Servetus Ofiander and others have held for when it is said God breath'd into man the breath of life they erroneously thought that the soul being infused did convey into man the spirit and substance of God which opinion is absurd and sinful For if the soul should be part of the Divine Essence then it will follow that the Essence of God should be subject not only to change and passion but which is worse to sin which were blasphemy to assert so that when we say the soul is spiritual the meaning is God hath invested it with many noble endowments he hath made it a mirror of beauty and printed upon it a surpassing excellency as the Sun shining upon a Chrystal conveys its beauty not its being 2. The soul is spiritual in its object it contemplates God and heaven God is the orb and center where the soul doth fix if you could lift up a stone into the highest Region though it did break in an hundred pieces it would fall to its center God is the terminus ad quem the soul moves to him as to its rest Psal 116.7 Return to thy rest O my soul He is the Ark to which this Dove flies nothing but God can fill an heaven-born soul if the earth were turned into a globe of gold it could not fill the heart it would still cry Give Give The soul being spiritual God only can be the adequate object of it 3. The soul is spiritual in its operation it being immaterial doth not depend upon the body in its working The senses of seeing hearing and the rest of those Organs of the body cease and dye with the body because they are parts of the body and have their dependance on it but the soul as Aristotle saith hath a nature distinct from the body it moves and operates of it self though the body be dead and hath no dependance upon or coexistence with the body Thales Milesius an ancient Philosopher defines the soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He calls the soul a self-movable it hath an intrinsecal principle of life and motion though it be separate from the body And thus you have seen the souls spirituality 2. The preciousness of the soul appears in its immortality There are some that say the soul is mortal indeed it were well for those who do not live like men if they might dye like beasts but as Julius Scaliger well observes it is impossible for any thing of a spiritual uncompounded nature to be subject to death and corruption the souls of believers are with Christ after death Phil. 1.23 Oecolampadias said to his friend who came to visit him on his death-bed Good news I shall be shortly with Christ my Lord. And the devout soul shall be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. ult The Heathens had some glimmerings of the souls immortality Cicero saith that the Swan was dedicated to Apollo because she sings sweetly before her death by which Hieroglyphick they intimated the joyfulness of vertuous men before their death as supposing the Elizian delights which they should alwayes enjoy after this life And we read it was a custom among the Romans that when their great men dyed they caused an Eagle to flie aloft in the Ayre signifying hereby that the soul was immortal and did not dye as the body The souls immortality may be proved by this Argument That which is not capable of killing is not capable of dying but the soul is not capable of killing our Saviour Christ proves the minor proposition that it is not capable of killing Luke 12.4 Fear not them that kill the body and after that have no more that they can do Therefore the soul not being capable of killing is not in a possibility of dying the essence of the soul is Metaphysical it hath a beginning but no end it is eternal a parte post The soul doth not wax old * Anima non senescit it lives for ever which can be said of no sublunary created glory Worldly things are as full of mutation as motion and like Jonah's Gourd have a worme eating at the root 2. The soul hath an estimative worth 1. Jesus Christ hath set an high value and estimate upon the soul he made it and he bought it therefore he best knows the price of it He did sell himself to buy the soul Zach. 11.12 They weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver Nay he was content not only to be sold but to dye this inhanceth the price of the soul it cost the blood of God Acts 20.28 1 Pet. 1.19 Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ God must dye that the soul may live the heir of heaven was morgaged and laid to pawn for the soul of man What could Christ give more than himself what in himself dearer than his blood O precious soul that hast the image of
while you let out the bad blood have a care to preserve the heart-blood while you purge out the ill humours do not destroy the spirits while you are taking away the snuffs do not eclipse the lights of Gods Sanctuary it is a work fit for a Julian to suppress the Orthodox Ministry and open the Temple of the Idol The Romans sacked the City of Corinth and raz'd it down to the ground for some incivility offered to their Ambassador God will avenge the affronts offered to his Ministers Psa 105.15 Oh take heed of this if souls be of such infinite value how precious should their liberties be whose very design and negotiation is to save souls 1 Tim. 4.16 Jude 23. 1. If the soul be so precious take heed of abusing Use 2 your souls Exhort Socrates exhorted young men that they should look their faces in a glass and if they saw they Branch 1 were fair Caverent ne quid ea pulchritudine indignum committerent they should have a care to do nothing unworthy of their beauty Christians God hath given you souls that sparkle with divine beauty oh do nothing unworthy of these souls do not abuse them There are foure sorts of Persons that abuse their souls 1. They that degrade their souls 1. That set the world above their souls who pant after the dust of the earth Amos 2.7 As if a mans house were on fire and he should take care to preserve the lumber but let his childe be burnt in the fire 2. That make their souls Lackies to their bodies The body is but the brutish part the soul is the angelical the soul is the Queen-regent who is adorned with the jewels of knowledge and sways the Scepter of liberty oh what pity is it that this excellent soul should be made a vassal and be put to grinde in the Mill when the body in the mean time sits in a Chair of State Solomon complains of an evil under the Sun Eccles 10.7 I have seen servants upon horses and Princes walking as servants upon the earth Is it not an evil under the Sun to see the body riding in pomp and triumph and the soul of man that royal and heaven-born thing as a Lacky walking on foot 2. They abuse their souls that sell their souls 1. The covetous person sells his soul for money as it is said of the Lawyer he hath linguam venalem a tongue that will be sold for a Fee so the covetous man hath animam venalem a soul that is to be set to sale for money Achan did sell his soul for a wedge of gold Judas did sell his soul for silver Judas sold cheap penny-worths for thirty pieces he did sell Christ who was more worth than heaven and his own soul which was more worth than a world how many have damn'd their souls for money 1 Tim. 6.9 10. It is observed that the Eagles quills or feathers mixed with Hens feathers will in time consume them such is the world to the soul if you mix these earthly things with your souls and let them lie too near you they will in time consume and undo your souls 2. The ambitious person sells his soul for honour as Alexander the sixth did sell his soul to the Divel for a Popedom and what is honour but res imaginaria a Torch lighted by the breath of people with the least puff of censure blown out Miserum est alienae incumbere famae How many souls have been blown to hell with the winde of popular applause 3. The voluptuous person sells his soul for pleasure Heliogabalus drowned himself in sweet water so many drown their souls in the sweet perfumed waters of pleasure Plato calls pleasure the bait that catcheth souls Ea capiuntur ut pisces hamo Pleasure is a silken halter a flattering Divel it kills with embracing 3. They abuse their souls that poyson their souls error is a sweet poyson Ignatius calls it the invention of the Divel * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignat. Epist 2. ad Trallianos A man may as well damn his soul by error as vice and may assoon go to hell for a drunken opinion as for a drunken life 4. They abuse their souls that starve their souls these are they that say they are above Ordinances but sure we shall not be above Ordinances till we are above sin The Apostle saith that in the blessed Sacrament we are to remember the Lords death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 till he come 1 Cor. 11.26 That is untill Christ comes to judgement How then can any omit Sacraments without a contempt and affront offered to Christ himself if Sant Paul and the Apostles those Gyants in grace needed the Lords Supper to confirme and corroborate them much more do we need such holy Ordinances who have but an infant-faith but Satan likes these fasting dayes he would have men fast from Ordinances if the body be kept from food it cannot live long Branch 2 2. If the soul be so precious a thing take heed you do not lose your souls consider what a loss it is as appears in two things 1. It is a foolish loss to lose the soul Thou fool this night thy soul shall be required of thee Luk. 12.20 It is a foolish loss to lose the soul in a three-fold respect 1. Because there is a possibility of saving the soul we have time to work in we have light to work by we have the Spirit offering us help The soul is like a ship laden with jewels the Spirit is a gale of winde to blow if we would but loosen anchor from sin we might arrive at the Port of happiness 2. It is a foolish loss because we lose the soul for things of no value worldly things are infinitely below the soul they are non entia Prov. 23.5 Wilt thou set thine eyes on that which is not The world is but a bewitchery these things glister in our eyes but at death we shall say we have set our eyes on that which is not He that thinks to finde happiness here is like Ixion that hug'd the cloud instead of Juno and like Apollo that embraced the Laurel Tree instead of Daphne Now to lose the soul for such poor inconsiderable things is a foolish loss 't is as if one should throw a Diamond at a Pair-tree he loseth his Diamond 3. It is a foolish loss for a man to lose his soul because he himself hath an hand in it is it not folly to give ones self poyson a sinner hath his hands embrued in the blood of his own soul Perditio tua ex te thy destruction is of thy self Hosea 13.9 They lay wait for their own blood Prov. 1.18 The foolish sinner nourisheth those lusts that kill his soul the Tree breeds the worm and the worm eats the Tree were it not folly for a Garrison to open to the enemy that besiegeth it the sinner opens to those lusts which war against his soul 1 Pet. 2.11 this
Judges 11.35 Alas my daughter thou hast brought me very low so may the soul say Alas my sin thou hast brought me very low thou hast brought me almost to the gates of death 3. Sickness doth eclipse the beauty of the body This I ground on that Scripture Psal 39.11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man thou makest his beauty to consume away like a Moth. The Moth consumes the beauty of the cloth so a fit of sickness consumes the beauty of the body Thus sin is a soul-sickness it hath eclipsed the glory and splendor of the soul it hath turned ruddiness into paleness that beauty of grace which once sparkled as gold now it may be said How is this gold become dim †* Lam. 4.1 That soul which once had an orient brightness in it it was more ruddy than Rubies its polishing was of Saphyr the understanding be spangled with knowledge the will crowned with liberty the affections like so many Seraphims burning in love to God now the glory is departed Sin hath turned beauty into deformity as some faces by sickness are so disfigured and look so ghastly they can hardly be known So the soul of man is by sin so sadly Metamorphiz'd having lost the image of God that it can hardly be known Joel 2.31 The Sun shall be turned into darkness Sin hath turned that Sun of beauty which shined in the soul into a Cimmerian darkness and where grace is begun to be wrought yet the souls beauty is not quite recovered but is like the Sun under a cloud 4. Sickness takes away the taste a sick man doth not taste that sweetness in his meat so the sinner by reason of soul-sickness hath lost his taste to spiritual things The Word of God is pabulum animae it is bread to strengthen wine to comfort but the sinner tastes no sweetness in the Word A childe of God who is spiritualized by grace tastes a savouriness in Ordinances the promise drops as an honey-comb Psal 19.10 but a natural man is sick and his taste is gone since the tasting of the forbidden Tree he hath lost his taste 5. Sickness takes away the comfort of life a sick person hath no joy of any thing his life is a burden to him So the sin-sick soul is void of all true comfort and his laughter is but the pleasing dream of a sick man he hath no true title to comfort his sin is not pardoned he may be in hell before night for any thing he knows 6. Sickness ushers in death it is the prologue to death sickness is as it were the cutting of the Tree and death is the falling of the Tree so this disease of sin if not cured in time brings the second death 2. What the diseases of the soul are Adam by breaking the box of original righteousness hath filled the soul full of diseases the body is not subject to so many diseases as the soul I cannot reckon them all up Psal 19.12 Who can understand his errors * Psal 40.12 Only I shall name some of the worst of these diseases Pride is the tympany of the soul lust is the feaver error the gangrene unbelief the plague of the heart hypocrisie the scurvy hardness of heart the stone anger the phrenzy malice the Wolf in the breast covetousness the dropsie spiritual sloth the green sickness apostasie the epilepsie here are eleven soul-diseases and when they come to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the full heigth they are dangerous and most frequently prove mortal 3. The third thing to be demonstrated is that sin is the worst sickness To have a body full of plague sores is sad but to have the soul which is the more noble part spotted with sin and full of the Tokens is far worse as appears 1. The body may be diseased and the conscience quiet Isa 33.24 The Inhabitant of the Land shall not say I am sick He should scarce feel his sickness because sin was pardoned but when the soul is sick of any reigning lust the conscience is troubled Isa 57. ult There is no peace to the wicked saith my God When Spira had abjured his former faith he was put IN LITTLE EASE his conscience burned as hell and no spiritual physick that Divines did apply could ever allay that inflammation 2. A man may have bodily diseases yet God may love him Asa was diseased in his feet 2 Kings 15.23 He had the Gout yet a Favourite with God Gods hand may go out against a man yet his heart may be towards him diseases are the Arrows which God shoots pestilence is called Gods Arrow Psal 91.5 This Arrow as Gregory Nazianzene saith may be shot from the hand of an indulgent father But soul-diseases are symptoms of Gods anger as he is an holy God he cannot but hate sin he beholds the proud afar off Psal 138.6 God hates a sinner for his plague-sores Zach. 11.8 My soul loathed them 3. Sickness at worst doth but separate from the society of friends but this disease of sin if not cured separates from the society of God and Angels The Leper was to be shut out of the Camp this leprosie of sin without the interposition of mercy shuts men out of the Camp of heaven Rev. 21.8 This is the misery of them that dye in their sins they are allowed neither friend nor Physitian to come at them they are excluded Gods presence for ever in whose presence is fulness of joy Use 1 1. See into what a sad condition sin hath brought us it hath made us desperately sick Inform. nay we dye away in Branch 1 our sickness till we are fetch'd again with the water of life O how many sick bed-rid souls are there in the world sick of pride sick of lust sin hath turned our Houses and Churches into Hospitals they are full of sick persons What Davids enemies said reproachfully of him is true of every natural man Psal 41.8 An evil disease cleaveth fast unto him He hath the plague of the heart 1 Kings 8. And even those who are regenerate are cured but in part they have some grudgings of the disease some ebullitions and stirrings of corruption nay sometimes this Kings Evil breaks forth to the scandal of Religion and from this sin-sickness ariseth all other diseases * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys de poen hom 5. Plague Gout Stone Feaver 1 Cor. 11.29 30. He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself for this cause many are weak and sickly among you Branch 2 2. If sin be a soul-sickness then how foolish are they that hide their sins it is folly to hide a disease * Insipientium malus pudor ulcera celat Job 31.33 40. If I covered my transgression as Adam by hiding my iniquity in my bosome let thistles grow instead of wheat c. The wicked take more care to have sin covered than cured if they can but sin in private and not be suspected they
with and the son breaks the father is not bound to set him up again God gave Adam a stock of grace to begin the world with Adam did break and make all his children Banquerupts God is not tyed to give him grace again 2. God may justly deny his grace to every wicked man because he is a despiser of grace he tramples this pearle under foot Prov. 1.7 Is God bound to give grace to them that despise it If a Kings pardon be rejected once he is not bound to tender it any more but I shall not launch forth any further into this 4. The cogency and necessity of grace it is most needful because it fits us for communion with God 2 Cor. 6.14 What communion hath light with darkness God can no more converse with an ungracious soul than a King can converse with a Swine it is by grace that we keep a constant intercourse with heaven 1. Let me with the greatest zeal and earnestness perswade Use 1 all who have souls to save Exhort to endeavour after grace this is the Unum Necessarium grace will be desirable at death it is as useful now and more seasonable to look after Prov. 4.7 With all thy getting get understanding Alexander being presented with a rich Cabinet of King Darius he reserved it to put Homers works in as being of great value The heart is a spiritual Cabinet into which the jewel of grace should be put we should desire grace above other things above the gifts of the Spirit nay above the comforts of the Spirit Comfort is sweet but grace is better than comfort bread is better than honey we may go to heaven without comfort not without grace it is grace makes us blessed in life and death I shall shew you twelve rare Excellencies in grace I shall set this fair Virgin of grace before you hoping that you will be tempted to fall in love with it Excellency 1 1. Grace hath a soul-quickning excellency in it Hebr. 10.38 The just shall live by faith Men void of grace are dead they have breath yet want life they are walking ghosts Eph. 2.1 The life of sin is the death of the soul * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A sinner hath all the signs of one that is dead he hath no pulse the affections are the pulse of the soul his pulse doth not beat after God he hath no sense Eph. 4.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who being past feeling Dead things have no beauty there 's no beauty in a dead flower dead things are not capable of priviledge the dead heir is not crowned but grace is the vital artery of the soul it doth not only irradiate but animate therefore it is called lumen vitae the light of life John 8.12 And believers are said to have their grave-cloaths pulled off and to be alive from the dead Rom. 6.13 By grace the soul is grafted into Christ the true Vine John 15.5 and is made not only living but lively 1 â—et 1.3 Grace puts forth a Divine Energy into the soul 2. Grace hath a soul-enriching excellency 1 Cor. 1. Excellency 2 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ye are enriched in all knowledge As the Sun enricheth the world with its golden beams so doth knowledge bespangle and enrich the mind * Vera divitiae non opes sunt sed virtutes Bern. Faith is an enriching grace Jam. 2.5 Rich in faith plus fulget fides quam aurum faith brings Christs riches into the soul it intitles to the promises the promises are full of heavenly riches Justification Adoption Glory Faith is the key that unlocks this Cabinet of the promises and empties out their treasure into the soul The riches of grace excell all other riches the merchandize of it is better than the merchandize of silver Prov. 3.14 1. These riches make a man wise wisdom is the best possession * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menand other riches cannot make one wise A man may ditescere delirare he may have a full purse and an empty brain Many a rich heir though he lives till he be of age yet he never comes to years of discretion But these riches of grace have power to make a man wise Psal 111.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom The Saints are compared to wise Virgins Matth. 25. Grace makes a man wise to know Satans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his devices and subtilties 2 Cor. 2.11 It makes him wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Grace gives the Serpents eye in the Doves head 2. These spiritual riches sanctifie other riches Riches without grace are hurtful they are not divitiae but insidiae they are golden snares they are the bellows of pride the fuel of lust they set open hell gates for men * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Menand they are unblest blessings but grace sanctifies our riches it corrects the poyson it takes away the curse it makes them beneficial to us riches shall be Certificates of Gods love wings to lift us up to Paradise Thus grace by a Divine Chymistry extracts heaven out of earth and gives us not only the venison but the blessing 3. Grace satisfies other riches cannot Eccles 5.10 Riches can no more fill the heart than a Triangle can fill a Circle but grace fills up every chink and hiatus of the soul it dilates the heart it ravisheth the affections with joy Rom. 15.13 which joy as Chrysostom saith is a foretaste of heaven Excellency 3 3. Grace hath a soul-adorning excellency it puts a beauty and lustre upon a person 1 Pet. 3.4 5. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plating the hair and of wearing of gold but let it be the hidden man of the heart even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price for after this manner in the old time the holy women also who trusted in God adorned themselves If a man hath Plate and Jewels Cloth of Gold Hangings of Arras these adorn the house not the man the glory of a man is grace * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chaysost Prov. 4.9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace The graces are a Chain of pearle that adorns Christs Bride the heart inlaid and enamel'd with grace is like the Kings daughter all glorious within * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret. Psal 45.13 A gracious soul is the image of God curiously drawn with the Pensil of the Holy Ghost an heart beautified with grace is the Angels joy Luke 15.7 and is Gods lesser heaven Isa 57.15 Eph. 3.17 Reason doth not so far exceed sense as grace doth reason grace changeth corruption into perfection nothing so graceth a man as grace doth grace is the purest complexion of the soul for it makes it like God Grace is the flower of delight which Christ loves to smell to grace is to the soul as the eye to the body as the Sun to the
obedience The Saints renowned of old have ever received their commendations and titles of honour from their obedience Moses a man mighty in words and deeds Acts. 7.22 Cornelius a man fearing God giving much alms When Christ pronounceth the sentence of absolution see how it runs Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom for I was an hungred and ye gave me meat thirsty and ye gave me drink Matth. 25.34 35. Christ is not said at the last day to reward men according to their knowledge but their deeds Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man according as his works shall be Rev. 22.12 So then if the Scripture that Mercurial rod points out no other way to happiness but practice then it is in vain to expect it any way else 2. It appears by Reason happiness is not attainable but in the use of means now the use of means implies practice Salvation must not only be sought out by knowledge but wrought out by practice Phil. 2.12 There can be no Crown without running no recompence without diligence If happiness comes only in the use of means then it is neither imaginable or feasible without practice Use 1 1. If it be only the doing part of Religion makes men happy Reproof Then it sharply reproves them who know much yet do nothing they talk of God but do not walk with God men are all for knowledge because it is counted an Oâ—nament they would be stuck with this gay flower but one leaf of the tree of life is worthy all the tree of knowledg T is better to practice one truth then to know all herein most Christians are defective they have with Rachel good eyes but they are barren Mephibosheth caught a fall and became lame 2 Sam. 4.4 Since Adams fall men are lame on their feet they walk not in the wayes of obedience Men know coveteousness is a sin The Greek word for coveteousness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies an immoderate desire of getting * Ex vi nominis significat studium semper plus habendi Ger. like Midas who desired every thing he touched might be turned to gold the several species of sin grow upon this root of coveteousness 2 Tim. 3.2 Yet men live in this sin and nothing can cure them of this dry dropsie Amos 2.7 that pant after the dust of the earth Men know swearing is a sin for this the land mourns Jer. 23.10 Sinners let their oaths flie and God sends a flying roul against them Zach. 5.2 3. Yet they will not leave this sin They know drunkenness to be a sin there is death in the Cup yet the drunkard will drink it off Men know uncleanness to be a sin Exod. 20.14 it wasts their strength blots their name wounds their conscience wronges their posteritie damnes their souls Rev. 22.15 yet they will follow this sin and burn in lust though they burn in hell Transiens est quod delectat aeternum quod cruciat Men know they should be winged with activity in the duties of religion but they can be content to let these duties alone They know they should mortify the flesh pray in their families be just in their dealing give alms to the poor but if there were no other Bible to teach us these things than the lives of most we should not know there were any such duties Commanded For the most part men are no changlings what they were twenty thirty years ago they are the same still as proud and unreformed as ever The best Tooles have been either broke or worn out upon their rockie hearts yet they are as unhewn and unpolished as ever The Bellows are burnt the lungs of Gods Ministers are wasted yet how much reprobate silver remaines still in many of our Congregations If none are happy but doers of the word how few will be saved But why do so few come up to the Practical part of religion Surely it is 1. for want of deep humiliation he that hath the spirit of bondage let loose upon him apprehends himself as it were in the Forlorne-hope he sees the sea of his sins before him ready to swallow him up and the justice of God behind pursuing and ready to overtake him he cries out as St. Paul Act. 9.6 Lord what wilt thou have me do Wilt thou have me repent believe I stand ready prest to what ever service thou Commandest the humbled sinner doth not dispute but obey The seed that had not depth of earth withered and came to nothing Math. 13.5 6. The reason men do not bring forth the fruits of obedience is because they have not depth of earth they were never yet deeply humbled for sin A proud man will never obey instead of trampling his sins under his feet he tramples Gods Laws under his feet Jer. 43.3 4. He who stoops in humility is the likeliest to put his neck under Christs yoak he that sees himself within an inch of hell asks the Jailors question What must I do to be saved Act. 16.30 What will not a condemned man do for a pardon 2. Want of Practice is for want of faith Isa 53.1 Who hath believed our report This makes Sermons to be like showres of raine falling upon a rock they neither mollifie nor fructifie because men are in part infidels they had rather dispute then believe such as live Scepticks die Atheists Did men believe sin were so bitter that wrath and hell followed it would they take this serpent into their bosom Did they believe there were a beautie in holiness did they believe godliness were gain that there were joy in the way and heaven at the end would they not turn their feet into the way Men have some slight transient thoughts of these things but their judgments are not fully convinced nor their conscience fully captivated into the belief of them This this is Satans master-piece his draw-net by which he drags millions to hell by keeping them in infidelitie he knows if he can but keep them from the belief of the truth he is sure to keep them from the practice of it 3. Mens backwardness to Practice is from the difficultie of the practical part of religion it is easie to hear a truth to give some assent to commend it to make a profession of it but to digest a truth into practice this is hard and men are overgrown with sloth they are loth to put themselves to too much trouble Prov. 19.15 Can men dig for gold and not for the Pearl of price Can they take pains in the pursuing of their sins and will they be at no paines for the saving of their souls I dare be bold to say It costs many a sinner more sweat and labour in toyling about his lusts then it costs a Saint in serving his God * Impij quare strenuè serviunt diabole Cypr. 4. The World comes between and hinders The thorns choak the seed of the Word Men practice so much in the world
to be gray-headed in Religion what a credit when it shall be said of him His last works are better than his first Revel 2.19 A good Christian is like wine full of spirits which is good to the last drawing A Limner makes his last work more compleat and curious blessed is that man who the nearer he is to death moves swifter to the heavenly Center FINIS THE TABLE Alphabetical A. ABusers of their souls page 462 Acceptance through Christ 422 Adoption wherein it consists 291 Afflictions no sign of Gods anger 321 322 Afflictions light 395 Angels in some sence inferiour to Saints 319 Anger opposite to meekness 133 Appearance of sin to be avoided 242 Appearing of Christ 579 Arguments to brotherly love 618 Assurance to be laboured after p. 437 Assurance though feisible yet difficult to be attained 440 It is useful 441 How this jewel of assurance may be had 442 B. BAlm of Gilead 490 Beauty of grace 511 Blessedness in reversion 17 Wherein blessedness doth not consist 18 Wherein it doth consist 24 Believe a blessedness to come 27 The godly in some sense blessed in this life 31 32 Blood of Saints pretious 317 C. CHearfulness 588 Childship a state of freedom 332 Children of God 290 291 They labour to make others Gods Children 310 They have boldnesse in Prayer 331 All things turn to their gaod 335 They shall never finally perish 338 They should endeavour to carry themselves as Children 343 Christ the best of Preachers 2 Christ our Righteousness 421 Christ a most transcendent blessing 432 Christ a soul-Physitian 485 Why a Physitian 486 The best Physitian 493 Christs love to his Patients 495 Christ can cure a relapse 504 Christianity no disgraceful thing 60 The nature of Christianity 363 Christians should shine forth in their Relations 594 Comforts belonging to mourners in this life 108 111 In the life to come p. 125 Commands of God not grievous 402 Concatenation of the Graces 38 Conversation must be pure 246 Covetousness a multiplying sin 234 235 D. DAnger of despair 98 99 Dangerous to phancy sin less than it is 101 Deceit of the heart 538 539 Dead in sinne healed by Christ 498 Debt of love differs from other debts 624 Degrees of fruit 607 Deriding holiness a fatal sinne 237 Desertion 323 Differences between true and false desires 194 195 Differences between the Christian race and other 559 Divisions dangerous 626 E. EMissaries of Satan 8 Examples of meekness 143 Excellency of grace 516 Excellency of the mourners comfort 113 Exhortation ton to mutual love p. 627 F. FAith in our heavenly Physiitian 505 Faith makes us Children 952 Faith a suffering grace 381 How faith enables to suffer 382 Fences about the heart 550 Fear an enemy to suffering 370 Fickleness of the heart 540 Flesh not to be listned to 371 Forethoughts of sufferings 366 Forgiving of injuries 138 Forsaking of sinne may have its deceits 241 Fruitfulness 591 Fruit in the season 595 Exhortation to fruitfulness 604 Fulness of Christ 417 G. GOod Conscience 373 Glory proportioned to the service we do for God 65 Godly have cause to long for death 61 Gospel-precepts facill compar'd with the severity of the Law 409 Grace severally taken in Scripture 512 Grace not bestowed on all p. 514 Grace quickneth the soul 516 Grace enricheth 517 Grace adorneth 518 Grace a Spiritual perfume 520 Grace the ballast of the soul 523 Grace fits for glory 523 524 How grace is to be obtained 526 H. HArdness of heart dangerous 87 Heart-custody 529 Heart kept with all kind of keeping 531 At all times 534 Heart the Fountain of our actions 541 Motives to heart-custody 552 Hindrances of the successe of the Word 9 10 Honour of Gods children 315 Honour to suffer for Christ 391 Hope of a Christian 576 Hope and Faith differenced 577 Signs of a true hope 583 How Christ heals 489 Hunger of the soul described 153 A reproof of those who have no spiritual hunger 156 Who hunger after unrighteousness 160 Signs of Spiritual hunger 162 Helps to spiritual hunger p. 170 Hungry shall be filled 172 173 I. IMpure hearts deciphered 229 230 Interest in Christ to be laboured after 431 Joys of heaven resembled to a feast 116 K. KEeping the heart 531 Kingdom of heaven excells other Kingdoms 56 57 How we may know we belong to it 62 Thoughts of this Kingdom sweetens poverty 66 Knowledge alone will not make a man happy 633 634 L. LIfe to be denied for Christ 377 Loss of the soul foolish 464. Fatal 465 Love of God in making us his children 313 Love to be centred on Christ 445 Love to Gods Children 307 Love of the world an enemy to suffering 369 Love among Christians 616 617 M. MAlice mental murder 134 Manner of the Spirits comforting p. 111 112 Manner of our seeing God in heaven 259 Means of a Spiritual cure 507 Meekness what it is 132 Motives to meekness 145 146 Directions for meekness 152 Mercifulness 180 Mercifulness to mens souls 183 Names 188 Estates 193 Offences 194 Wants 195 Exhortatâ—â—n to mercifulness 206 Motives to mercifulness 210 Rules about showing mercy 218 Ministers must take all opportunities for soul-service 6 Ministers Seedsmen 7 Their dignity 12 Ministers under the torrid zone of persecution 354 What need there is of Ministers in the Church 477 Misery of a Christless person 428 Mourners are blessed 67 Sin the object of mourning 69 What is not the right mourning for sin 70 What is the right mourning p. 72 Mourn for the sins of others 80 For the miseries of the Church 82 Seasons of mourning 83 Degrees of mourning 85 Motives to mourning 91 Hinderances of mourning 98 Helps to mourning 106 N. NAmes of others not to be wronged 188 189 Nicities in Religion too much minded 159 This discovers want of appetite ibid. O. OBjections of sinners answered 501 502 Opposites to meekness 133 Opposite to mourning 86 Ordination needful for Preachers 4 5 6 Outward things not suitable to the soul 20 Not durable 21 P. PAssions to be watched over 548 Patience abused grows furious 105 Patience a Christians Armour of proof p. 386 Peaceable mindedness 269 Motives to it 277 Peace-makers blessed 285 People to encourage their Ministers 14 15 Persecution 347 VVhy it must be 351 352 What that persecution is which will not make a man blessed 358 What that is will make him blessed 359 A reproof to such as refuse to suffer persecution 364 To such as inflict persecution 365 How to prepare for persecution 368 Persecution cannot hinder blessedness 397 Poverrty of spirit 41 How poverty of spirit differs from humility 42 How from self-denial ibid. Why Christians must be poor in spirit 43 Signs of poverty of Spirit 47 Practice of Religion makes us happy 638 What it is hinders practice 642 Pretiousness of the soul 451 Pride of spirit dangerous 45 Priviledges of Gods Children 320 Procrastination dangerous 103 Promises made to suffering p. 388 Purity of heart 222 Why we must be pure 224 Why the heart must be 226 Purity the souls beauty 227 Signs of a pure heart 238 An exhortation to peart purity 248 Means for heart purity 254 R. REasons why mourners want comfort 122 123 Reasonings of the flesh dangerous 379 Recompencing good for evil 140 141 Regarding iniquity what it is 231 Regeneration 301 Rejoycing in Christ 448 Religion a Race 554 Reproof to be taken kindly 479 Reverence in Gods worship 245 Rewards for Christs Martyrs 399 Righteousness what it implies 154 Righteous person who 368 S. SAints perseverance 524 Saints glorified are Kings 53 Scandals p. 415. Self-denial needful for suffering 375 Scripture to be resorted to 374 Signs of Gods Children 298 Signs of sincerity 238 Sins commands grievous 411 Sin a deadly evil 106 Sin a soul desease 469 How resembled to sickness 469 470 Sin the worst sickness 475 Sick souls think themselves well 481 The reasons of that mistake 482 Sin spreads over the whole soul 470 471 Sin a spiritual sleep 545 Soul more precious than a world 458 Spirit of Adoption a Spirit of supplication 302 303 Sufferings of Christ 392 Suffering-graces 381 T. TEaching 330 Tears pretious 92 Tenderness of heart 299 Thankfulness for Christ 450 Thoughs to be watched over 549 Tongue-persecution 350 Torments of the damned unexpressably grievous 412 Trial of grace p. 526 Truth to be prized 373 V. VAnity of the Creature 425 Vindication of the Church of England 200 Vision of God in heaven glorious 260 It will be speedy 264 Unbelief how great a sin 233 Unfruitfulness 600 Unmercifulness reproved 203 Unworthiness should not keep us from Christ p. 501 W. WAant of love reproved 625 Watchfulness needful in prosperity 537 Witness of the Spirit 305 Word of God healing 489 Works commendable 201 Z. Zeal 305 FINIS
approaching and gives not warning Ezek. 3 20. 5. Such as poyson souls with Error how dangerous is the leprosie of the head a Frenzy is worse than a Fever what shall we say to such Ministers as give poyson to their people in a golden cup are not these unmerciful others there are unworthy the name of Ministers itineraries the Divels journey men who ride up and down and with Satan compasse the earth to devour souls it would pity ones heart to see poor unstable creatures misled by rude and illiterate men who diet the people with blasphemy and non-sence and make them fitter for Bed-lam than the New Jerusalem all these are unmerciful to souls Let me beseech all that fear God to shew soul-mercy Strengthen the weak reduce the wandring raise up them that are fallen James 5.20 He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death SECT 2. Shewing that Christians must be tender of one anothers names 2. WE must be merciful to the names of others A good name is one of the greatest blessings upon earth no chaine of Pearl doth so adorn as this it being so we ought to be very tender of names They are to be accounted in an high degree unmerciful who make no conscience of taking away the good names of their brethren Their throats are open Sepulchres to bury the fame and renown of men Rom. 3.13 'T is a great cruelty to murder a man in his name Cant. 5.7 The keepers of the wall took away my vaile from me some Expositors interpret it of her honour and fame which did cover her as a beautiful vail The ground of this unmercifulnesse to names is 1. Pride Pride is such a thing as cannot endure to be out-shined it loves not to see it self exceeded in parts and eminency therefore will behead another in his good name that he may appear something lower The proud man will be pulling down of others in their reputation and so by their Eclipse he thinks he shall shine the brighter the breath of a proud man causeth a blast or mildew upon fame 2. Envy 1 Pet. 2.1 An envious man maligns the dignity of another therefore seeks to mischief him in his name Religion teacheth us to rejoyce in the esteem and same of others Rom. 1.8 I thank my God for you all that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is divulged with fame A good report is a credit to Religion Heb. 11.4 If persons professing godliness have not a good name Religion will have no very good name but envy consulting with the Divel lays a Train and fetches fire from hell to blow up the good name of another Quest How many wayes may we be unmerciful to the names of others Quest Answ Divers ways 1. By misreporting them a sin Answ 1 forbidden Exod. 23.1 Thou shalt not raise a false report Eminency is commonly blasted by flander Psal 64.3 Their tongues are as arrows shot out The tongue of a slanderer shoots out words to wound the fame of another and make it bleed to death The Saints of God in all Ages have met with unmerciful men who have fathered things upon them that they have not been guilty of Surius the Jesuite reported of Luther that he learned his Divinity of the Divel and that he dyed drunk but Melancthon who wrote his life affirms that he dyed in a most pious holy manner and made a most excellent prayer before his death It was Davids complaint Psal 35.11 They laid to my charge things which I knew not The Greek word for Divel signifies slanderer 1 Tim. 3.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not slanderers in the Greek it is not Divels Some think it is no great matter to defame and traduce another but know this is to act the part of a Devil O how many unmerciful men are there who indeed go for Christians but play the Divel in venting their lyes and calumnies wicked men in Scripture are called Dogs Psal 22.16 Slanderers are not like those Dogs which licked Lazarus his soars to heal them but like the Dogs which are Jezebel they rend and tear the precious names of men Valentinian the Emperour did decree Capitali sententiae subjugandum that he who was openly convicted of this crime of slander should dye for it And Pope Gregory did decree that such a person should be excommunicate and not have the Communion given him I think it was a just Decree Answ 2 2. We are unmerciful to the names of others when we receive a slander and then report what we hear Lev. 19.16 Thou shalt not go up and down as a Tale-bearer among thy people A good man doth not evil to his Neighbour nor taketh up a reproach against his Neighbour Psal 15.3 We must not only not raise a false report but not take it up To divulge a report before we speak with the party and know the truth of it is unmercifulness and cannot acquit itself of sin The same word in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to raise a slander signifies to receive it Exod. 23.1 The receiver is even as bad as the Thief it is well if none of us have in this sense received stollen goods when others have stollen away the good names of their Brethren have not we received these stollen goods there would not be so many to broach false rumors but that they see this liquor pleaseth other mens tast Answ 3 3. We deal unmercifully with the names of others when we diminish from their just worth and dignity when we make more of their infirmities and less of their vertues Jam. 4.11 Speak not evil one of another I have read a story of one Idor an Abbot that he was never heard to speak evil of any man Saint Austin could not endure that any should eclipse and lessen the fame of others therefore wrote those two Verses upon his Table Quisquis amat dictis absentum rodere famam Hanc mensam vetitam noverit esse sibi Whosoever loves anothers name to blast This Table is not for him let him fast Wicked men are still paring off the credit of their Neighbours and they make thick parings they pare off all that is good nothing is left but the Kore something that may tend to their disparagement Unmerciful men know how to boile a Quart to a Pint they have a Divellish Art so to extenuate and lessen the merit of others that it is even boiled away to nothing Some though they have not the power of Creation yet they have the power of Annihilation They can sooner annihilate the good which is in others than imitate it 4. We are unmerciful to the names of others when we know them to be calumniated yet do not vindicate Answ 4 them A man may sometimes as well wrong another by silence as slander he who is merciful to his brother is an Advocate to plead in his behalf when he is injuriously traduced