Life that is Sealed and turn thee to thy Name or who shall bring thee a Certificate that it is Written there Behold it is nigh thee even in thine Heart The Work of Grace there the Law Written on the Tables of thine Heart by the Finger of the Spirit is the Exemplification and Counterpane of that Decree The safest Way the best Way the only Way to make sure of Election is first to make sure of thy Vocation SECT VI. Fourthly Satan Tempts to Despair by causing the Soul to pore too much upon its own Unworthiness You are Unworthy saith Satan of the least Crumb of Bread or of the least Drop of Water and how canst thou therefore think of expecting any Good from the Hands of God Remedy The only way to stop Satan's Mouth in this Respect is by Assenting thus far That I am Unworthy it is true and that I do not deserve a Crumb of Bread or Drop of Water it is alike true And yet I do not erre if I say I am Unworthy and yet Worthy I deserve Nothing and yet Merit what I Have Unworthy and yet Worthy like the Spouse in the Canticles Black and yet Comely Black in Her Self and yet Comely in Her Beloved SECT VII Fifthly Satan Tempts to Despair by suggesting to the Soul that no Man's Faith is so Weak as his Behold how Weak Imperfect Staggering and Trembling it is Remedy What of all that may the Soul Reply A little Faith is ‖ Faith as a Sparkle of Fire is Fire Faith though weak yet it will Entitle us unto Christ. A Child's Hand can receive a Pearl as well as the Hand of a Gyant Out of this little Grain of Mustard-Seed Heaven will grow In this Smoking Flax there 's a Divine Spark Though the Smoke of Doubts and Temptations muffle it up in Obscurity it will break out at last into Flames of Love and Ioy. Our Imperfect Faith will entitle us unto a Perfect Righteousness SECT VIII Sixthly Satan Tempts to Despair by making the Soul to infer Evil from Adversity Thou art Poor and Indigent Beggarly and Despicable saith Satan In Answer unto which I would refer the Reader unto Pag. 66 67. where this is Answered fully SECT IX Seventhly Satan Tempts to Despair by causing the Soul to think much on the Sharpness of Death Thou Gloriest now saith Satan but ere long thy Condition shall be changed Thou Rejoycest but yet know that still thou art a Dying Creature It is not thy Faith Love and Hope that can shroud thee from Death which is the King of Terrors That Universal Monarch which hath made even the Strongest and Stoutest to stoop unto him Remedy What though Death may the Believing Soul say is stiled The King of Terrors yet if I am a Child of God it can do me no hurt 'T is an Enemy I know to the Mortal Part but a Friend to the Spiritual The Bee by Stinging looseth its Sting so Death while it Stung Christ on the Cross hath quite lost its Sting to a Believer Death is the Gate of Life It puts off our Rags and gives us Change of Rayment All the Hurt it can do us is to put us into a better Condition The Devil therefore is a Liar in saying That it is not our Faith Love and Hope that will Exempt us from Death Whereas we know well enough that though we shall not be freed from Death yet by having Faith in Iesus Christ we shall be freed from that which renders Death so Formidable viz. its Sting Death's Pale Face looks Ruddy in the Blood of Sprinkling Death will free us from all Corporal and Spiritual Maladies It is our Best and Last Physician It will Cure the Aching Head and the Unbelieving Heart Sin was the Mid-wife that brought Death into the World and Death shall be the Grave to Bury Sin Why then should we be unwilling to Die seeing Death gives us a Receipt of Ease from Infirmities and Weaknesses from all Aches and Pains Griefs and Gripings Distempers and Diseases both of Body and Soul Here Sin will keep House whether we will or no Evil Thoughts are continually arising out of our Hearts as Sparks out of a Furnace When we would Pray the Heart is as a Viol out of Tune When we would like a Bird flie up to Heaven upon the Wing of Meditation our Corruption like a String tied to the Leg pulls us down again But after Death we shall be Proud no more grieve the Spirit no more Come hither therefore Oh ye Trembling Souls who through the Fears of Death have all your Life-time been subject to Bondage Set your Feet upon the Neck of this King of Terrors Assume that Triumphant Challenge of the Apostle Oh Death where is thy Sting Oh Grave where is thy Victory 1 Cor. 15. 25. The Glimmering Presence of God with a Believer here below may Conquer the Fear of Death But how much more methinks should the Consideration of the full Enjoyment of him after Death Faith gives us a Propriety in Heaven and Death gives us a Possession in Heaven Death is only a Dirty Lane saith one through which the Saint passeth to a Kingdom to a great Kingdom to a glorious Kingdom to a quiet Kingdom to an unshaken Kingdom to a durable Kingdom to a lasting Kingdom yea to an Everlasting Kingdom Death is a dark short Way through which the Saints pass to the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb. Ever with the Lord saith an Eminent Divine This puts Lillies and Roses into the Gastly Face of Death and makes the King of Terrors to out-shine Solomon in all his Glory A few Lines that Comforted me once in the same Case I will adventure here to Transcribe out of that Little Useful Treatise of Reverend Mr. Wadsworth my Spiritual Father viz. Oh! when Death draws near do not startle Cry not out as one undone as if when thou Diest thou must needs totally Perish But rather then lift up thy Head and Triumphantly proclaim to the Standers by Now doth the Day the Hour the Moment of thy Redemption draw nigh Now art thou drawing near thy Home Heaven is within Sight and its Melody almost within Hearing Thy Lord hath the Curtain in his Hand ready to draw it to shew thee all that Glory that hitherto he hath been but telling thee of and give thee a Possession of all that which hitherto thou hast enjoyed only in Hopes and Title What dost thou fear and shrug and tremble at my Soul Thou peevish froward Creature Shall thy Father tell thee thou must go Sleep and lay his Commands upon thee to lie down in Peace Shall thy dear Lord and Saviour stand by perswading thee so to do and by the Sweet and Glorious Promises of Eternal Life and Living with him in the Heavens allure thee quietly to obey thy Father and Himself to go to Rest Shall he sing thee a Lullaby of his own falling Asleep and
things â—…ither with Means without Means or â—…ontrary to Means and against all Opâ—…osition what-so-ever And do you think there is any Existing so Almighty Why is it then that the Interest of God which you call it is so opposed in the World as it is Answ. To which the Soul may Answer That God is Almighty I do firmly Believe and that he can do Things either with Means without or contrary to Means is a Verity that 〈◊〉 do not at all question And thaâ—… God's Interest in the World is oftentimes opposed is not but that he caâ—… Advance his own Interest withoâ—… Opposition but he permits it to be opposed that the Glory of his Omnipotency and Wisdom in effecting such and such things notwithstanding Opposition may shine forth more Perspicuously And thus I have giveâ—… you a Sight of the Wiles of Satan especially those that he makes use oâ—… in Tempting to Atheism abusing 1. The Invisibility of God 2. The Trinity of Persons in One Diuine Essence 3. Several of his Incommunicable Attributes SECT V. I have already shew'd something of Satan's Subtilty in Tempting unto Atheism I now come to speak of Satan's Subtilty in his Temptations unâ—…o Security being such as follow Temptation I. One way that Satan hath to make â—…oor Souls Secure is by presenting God unto them as a God only of Mercy O! saith the Devil why â—…rt thou so concern'd about thy Salvaâ—…ion Dost thou think God that Made â—…hee will be so Cruel to Damn thee â—…nd He who Form'd thee will not Save â—…hee Alas God is more ready to Pardon than to Punish Mercy is his â—…areling Attribute but Judgement is his Strange Work And thus Satan doth to make Souls Careless and Fearless Careless of their Salvation and Fearless of their Damnation Reply To Repel this Temptation must be by considering that as God is Merciful so he is Just Just in himself and so will Punish all Sin Merciful in the Face of Christ and so will Punish no Sin he having in our stead born the Punishment A Just God towards an hard-Hearted Sinner a Merciful God towards an Humble Sinner God is not all Mercy and no Justice nor all Justice and no Mercy Submit to him his Mercy embraceth thee Resist him his Justice pursues thee Do not the Devils themselves and all the Howling Reprobates in Hell shew that God is ‖ Just Is not Hell and Sodom a Monument of God's Iustice And are not all the Crosses Losses Sicknesses and Diseases that be in the World Tokens of God's Displeasures Besides Doth not the pouring-out of his Wrath upon Iesus Christ his dearly Beloved Son shew that our God is a Just Iudge More-over to argue from Grace to Sin from Love to Lust from Mercy to Iniquity from Immunity to Impiety is the Dialect of Hell and the Sophistry of the Prince of Darkness To sin I say because Grace abounds is the Devil's Logick and who-so-ever useth such kind of Language you may write THIS SOUL IS LOST In fine The Apostle Rom. 12. 1. and the Saints all a-long have made God's Mercy the greatest Motive to Repentance Temptation II. Another way that the Devil maketh use of to make poor Souls Secure is by telling them That all the World are Sinners as well as them and they may make as good a Shift as the rest What if you do go to Hell You shall not go alone you shall have others with you Reply Here is Audacity and Absurdity One would think that the Devil should be ashamed to argue thus considering what a Scholar he is in Logick Philosophy and School-Divinity and yet by Raciocination of this kind doth he prevail upon dark Souls Such kind of Reason if it may be called Reason in effect is thus much Some have Cut their Throats I must do it also because in it I shall do no more than what others have done before me A great Multitude of People are resolv'd to run into the River of Thames to see how they can tread Water and Dance upon it therefore I must do the like because with me I shall have Company though in the Close I shall lose my Life I 'le leave you to apply it Temptation III. The next thing that Satan doth to make poor Souls secure is by telling them That Christ is a Saviour and what though they do sin Christ has Dy'd and is Risen again for their Justification Reply It is true Christ is a Saviour but if He is not My Saviour may the Soul say what doth this argue for me Christ hath Dyed but if I cannot believe his Death and Sufferings will be of little Advantage unto me He is Offered but if I do not Receive Him I shall not be Sav'd There may be Vertue enough in a Plaister to Heal a Sore but if it be not Applyed it will not Heal my Sore So there is Vertue enough in Christ to Wash and Cleanse but if it be not Applyed to my Soul by Faith it won't Wash or Cleanse me Temptation IV. Surely saith Satan God loves thee or else he would not Bless thee in thy Outward Estate as in thy Corn Children Calling and Friends Reply Seriously consider O Soul that God's Love is Two-fold Common and Special God's Common Love I reckon is that which all partake of viz. Good Men and Bad Men. Now for any to have a great Estate and to Prosper therein together with his Wife and Children is that which is common to all some only excepted Now it is not Common Favour but Special Favour that must save thee and a Token or Evidence of it will Comfort thee but this thy Prosperity in the World is not being that which is more ordinary to those who go to Hell than such who go to Heaven And therefore let not the Children of God grudge and repine at the Wicked Man's Prosperity because all the Wicked shall have Misery enough Hereafter for the little present Pleasure that they enjoy Here. They that have their Heaven Here are in danger to lose it Here-after God seldom gives his Children Heaven and Earth too Nihil infelicius felicitate peccantium saith St. Augustine The Wicked Man's Felicity is great Infelicity Doubtless hence it was that David prayed Deliver me from the Wicked who have their Portion in this Life only Psal. 17. 14. Nothing is so great a Signe of God's Curse as the Prosperity of the Wicked The Lord will proportion Torment to all the Pleasure the Wicked have had Revel 18. 7. How much She hath lived Deliciously so much Torment and Sorrow give Her That Story of the Roman who was by the Court-Marshal Condemned to Dye for breaking his Rank to steal a Bunch of Grapes is pregnant to our purpose For as he was going to Execution some of the Souldiers envyed him that he had Grapes and they had none Saith he Do you envy me for my Grapes I must pay dear for them So Wicked Men
shall pay dear for their great Grandieur Dignities and Offices How art thou fallen from Heaven O Lucifer Son of the Morning Isa. 14. 12. Temptation V. The Thief on the Cross saith Satan though a Sinner during his whole Life yet Repenting was saved So saith Satan if thou canst but Repent or Reform an Hour before thou Diest doubt not but God will have Mercy on thee Reply It is true the Thief Repenting and Believing in Christ was saved at the very Last But was not this Miraculous Did not Christ now upon a special Occasion to shew the Effect of his Blood the Power of his Passion and to demonstrate unto the World his Deity even now at his lowest Ebb of Humiliation shew his Power in the Conversion of the Thief Must this Extra-ordinary Example now be propounded as a President for ever that was but once Miraculous and Wrought upon special Occasion But further consider First It is not Impossible but that this was the First Time of the Call of this poor Thief that he never heard Christ's Sermon before or had any Outward Call before this time and so his Sins being of Ignorance might excuse in part as Paul speaketh of his The Lord shewed Mercy because I did them Ignorantly 1 Tim. 1. 13. But now thou canst not plead this Ignorance in-as-much as thou hast lived under the Gospel and hast had an Outward Call by the Preaching of the same Secondly This Example of the Penitent Thief as it was Extraordinary so we see it Singular the Scriptures not leaving us one Example more of the like Now Particular Examples are not to be urged for a General Practice especially in so weighty a Thing as the Salvation of the Soul is If therefore Satan doth suggest unto thee of Repenting at thy own Pleasure tell him from me That it is a Thousand-fold more probable that thou shalt Die as thou hast lived and so be Damned rather than to have such a Singular Grace given thee and Mercy shew'd at the last Hour Many more Temptations of Satan probably there are unto Security but I shall add no more SECT VI. The Third thing that Satan Tempts unto is The Love of the World Ah! saith Satan All these things the Kingdoms of the World and the Glory of them will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and Worship me Here are fine and brave things Grandeur and Gallantry Pleasures Pomp and Profit Here are the Lusts of the Eye the Flesh and Pride of Life And thus Satan doth in making poor Souls fall in Love with the World Now there are several Antidotes that might be prescribed to expel this Poison which Satan would fain invenom poor Souls with Consider the World in its Honour Pleasures and Profits and you shall find abundance of Deceit in all these 1. What is the Honour and Glory of this World but fading and dying Is it not a Gilded Misery a secret Poyson a hidden Plague the Engineer of Deceit Mollerus on Psal. 73. 20. tells the World Honours and Dignities are but as idle Dreams Splendid Braveries and Lucid Phantasies St. Matthew calls the World's Glory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Opinion St. Luke calls â—…grippa's Pomp 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Phantasie or Vain Shew And St. Paâ—… calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Mathematical Figure which is a meer Notion and nothing in Substance How many have been blown to Hell while they have failed with the Wind of Popular Applause Doth the Honour of this World make a Man really the Better Surely no but often the Worse Is it not Magnum Nihil a Great Nothing and a Glorious Phantasie What is become of Proud Haman and Pharaoh And what will become of thy Honour when thou art in the Grave when Death makes its Approach towards thee Will the Glory and Honour of this World stand thee instead at the Day of Iudgement Will not Heaven's Glory â—…en transcend it Wilt thou not â—…hen be mad with thy self to think â—…hat Heaven's Glory was once offered â—…nto thee but thou to chose the World's refusest Heaven 's Secondly Consider this World in the Pleasures of it And what are they Be they Satisfying No And are they not Killing Yea. Some of the Philosophers did place Men's Happiness in the Pleasures of this World which are but the sad Transformations of Men into Bruits sayes that Worthy Gentleman Mr. Polhil And yet how many are there that cannot refrain themselues from these ‖ Sensual Pleasures but whose Delight in them is Inordinate singing the Epicurean's Divinity Ede bibe lude post mortem nulla voluptas Let us Eat Drink and be Merry for to Morrow we shall Die Carnal Man is for the Things of the Flesh pleasing his Flesh and loving that which is Fleshly But consider O vain Man that pursues so hotly after the Pleasures of this World these three things Death Iudgement and â—…ternity Let the Remembrance of Him that was Crucifyed Crucify in thee all the Desire of Pleasures Let the Remembrance of Hell-fire quench in thee all the Fire of Lust. Compare the short Moment of Pleasure with Eternal Punishment Pleasures do but Captivate our Hearts that they cannot be free in the Love of God Thirdly Consider this World in that which they call the Profits of it and you may easily understand the Vanity of them This Life is the Way to our Eternal Country What then do much Riches profit They do rather burden the Traveller Christ the King of Heaven is the Riches of God's Servants The true Treasure must be within a Man and not without him That is the True Treasure which thou canst carry away with thee to the General Iudgement but all these outward Goods are taken from us in Death Riches do but take themselves Wings and fly away Nothing more uncertain than they Fading Dying and Perishing they are For their Transitoriness they may be compared unto a Shadow a Ship a Bird an Arrow a Post that passeth by Comforts here below are no Comforts though supposed and so eagerly pursued after by Faithless Men and Women Luther did solemnly protest God shouldnot put him off with these things here Below Things present may be Pleasing but then they are not Permanent SECT VII The Fourth thing that Satan Tempts unto is Hypocrisie Oh! saith Satan if thou art resolved to be Serious rather than so get a Shew of it Paint thy self and play the Hypocrite and so thou mayest go amongst Men for a Good Christian. Reply But hereunto the Soul may Answer in this Form First Thou may'st tell the Devil That it is true by having the Form of Godliness thou may'st seem Holy Pious and Religious among Men in the Sight of Men but not in the Sight of God Thou may'st indeed deceive Men but thou canst not deceive God He is privy to all thy Treachery though thou keeps it under Lock and Key Thy Heart he
can read without a Commentary Time will not be long when God shall pull off thy Paint unmask thee and put thee in thy Proper Dress Though thou goest among Men for an Eminent Saint yet at the Day of Iudgement God shall show what a Devil Incarnate thou art what a Gilded Hypocrite thou hast been SECT VIII The Fifth thing that the Devil Tempts unto is a False Faith If thou art so much for Jesus Chrisi believe that he is able to save thee and so thou hast this Lively Faith which will justify thee live as thou wilt Reply Tell the Devil That Presumption is not Faith and that the Faith which will enable thee to lay hold on Christ will also enable thee to walk in Him And though Faith Justifies us not yet Works there must be to Justify our Faith SECT IX Thirdly Satan shews his exceeding great Subtilty in the Methods of Tempting As First He paints his Temptations with pleasing Colours and Plausible Pretences If Satan's Temptations were to appear like themselves the Heart of Man would not consent so soon as many times it doth but rather flee from the same Hence therefore it is that Satan very frequently Transforms himself into an Angel of Light 2 Cor. 11. 14. The Devil knows very well that unless he is Disguised he cannot prevail and have what he designes upon the Souls of Men and Women Many Vices there are that the Devil Tempts us unto and this he doth by giving them pretty Names and Titles As for Instance When he Tempts to Pride he presents it to the Soul under the Name and Notion of Neatness and Comliness Covetousness he calls Good Husbandry Drunkenness Good Fellowship Riotness Liberality and Wantonness a Trick of Youth Secondly He is Gradual in his Temptations a little now and a little then The Devil won't Tempt too much at first lest Suspicion gets ground He creeps into the Soul by degrees and that Step by Step until such times the Soul becomes his own Satan will first draw thee to Sit with the Drunkard and then to Sip with the Drunkard and at last to be Drunk with the Drunkard Thirdly He is in his Temptations full of Politick Retreats The Devil many times makes the Soul believe that he flies when it is only under a Pretence and with a Designe to over-come Pray take notice of this Satan is not alwayes over-come when he flies from you He sometimes draws back that the Christian by following him and going out of the Trenches may suddenly on the Plains be foyl'd Fourthly He doth in his Temptations reserve still fresh On-sets as occasion shall require Satan Commander-like hath more Assaults to bring on as others do decay When one Temptation is beat back he can soon come on with another Therefore Soul cry not Vici Vici when thou over-comest one Temptation or so but let this Rule be observed by thee scil When one Temptation is over-come expect another CHAP. V. I Have treated of Satan's Subtilty in Tempting unto a Sinful Licentiousness I shall now consider it in his Tempting Believers unto a Sinful Despair And Satan's Subtilty as in the former so in this it shews it self in Two things 1. In the Seasons of Temptations 2. In the Temptations themselves SECT I. First Satan shews his exceeding great Subtilty in choosing those Seasons for Tempting unto Despair that may proue most Advantageous unto him being such as followeth First Satan Tempts to Despair after great Manifestations of God's Favour and Love to the Soul When God smiles and opens himself a little Familiarly unto us we grow Wanton and thereupon God with-draws we sink in our Faith and Satan eyes us on to Despair by making of us to conclude That because God is withdrawn he will never come again There is not a larger and more pregnant Proof for this than Peter Had ever any a greater Testimony from Heaven than Peter Who making an Excellent Confession of his Faith Matth. 16. 17. Christ immediately pronounceth him Blessed puts a singular Honour upon him and makes him the Representative for all the Saints Now without doubt this Favour to Peter stirred up the Envious Spirit the sooner to Assail him No marvel it was that Satan did shew his Spite even when and where Christ loved most dearly Therefore soon after we find the Devil at Peter's Elbow making him his Instrument to Tempt Christ who soon espyed his Cloven Foot and therefore Rebukes Peter with a Get thee behind me Satan He that seem'd a Rock but just now is through Satan's Policy become a Stone of Offence for Christ to stumble at Secondly Satan Tempts to Despair at the Hour of Death and indeed his Assaults are usually sharpest then And the Reason why he is so busy with Christians when they come to Die is because he knows his time is then very short As our Extremity is God's Opportunity to help us so likewise it is the Devil's Opportunity in what he can to destroy us When Death approacheth we are Weak and our Strength beginning to decay Satan thereupon furiously Assails us yea he doth reserve his firiest Darts his deadliest Poyson and his sharpest Sting till he meets us on our Death-Bed SECT II. Secondly Satan shews his exceeding great Subtilty in the Temptations themselves which he works from the Consideration 1. Of our Sins 2. Of God's Anger 3. Of Eternal Election 4. Of our Unworthiness 5. Of the Weakness of our Faith 6. Of great Adversity 7. Of the Sharpness of Death And here I shall shew you how Satan from these things makes many to Despair with proper Remedies against the same Prescribed and that in these following Sections SECT III. First Satan Tempts to Despair by making Sin very Great and drawing up a Black Charge against the Soul Thy Sins saith Satan are very many and very great nay they are Infinite for as much as they have been against an Infinite God Thou knowest very well that thy Sins are of no Ordinary Dye and that the Wages of the least Sin is Death Sin Indefinitely whether great or small And therefore how canst thou saith Satan expect Mercy who art a Sinner Mercy from God whom thou hast offended and provoked to Wrath Surely if ever any shall be Damn'd thou shalt Thou especially because thou hast been more than an Ordinary Sinner Remedy Truly when Satan doth Assail us in this kind I know no other way to Foil him than by Answering him as the Sick Man who when he was Dying the Devil appeared and shew'd him a Parchment that was very long wherein was written on every side the Sins of the poor Sick Man Seest thou Behold thy Vertues saith Satan Unto which he Replyed It 's true Satan but thou hast not sâ—…t down all for thou should'st have added The Blood of Iesus Christ Cleanseth us from all Sins When Satan tells thee of thy Sins do thou tell him of Christ's Blood whose Blood is of a
and the Worse Things Good Things and Evil Things certainly are included in All Things and if Evil Things as well as Good Things then surely Temptation And if so Why then do some say as I have heard I am not a Child of God because I am Tempted Rather from thence conclude That thou art a Child of God They are Bastards and not Sons that have not been Tempted more or less God had one Son without Sin but no Son without Stripes Christ the Corner-Stone was Tried the rest of the Stones in the Heavenly Building must also be Tried Why murmurest thou because of thy Temptations thinking amiss of thy self because of them when-as thou can'st not be a Refined Christian before thou passest through this Furnace Since then it is so content thy self believing that unless God had intended Good to thee thou shouldst not have been Tempted as thou hast been and say Take O Lord the Trial of thy own Grace bestowed upon thy Unworthy Servant SECT III. If it be so That Satan may Foil Eminent Christians then learn whence it is that Satan is a Proud Spirit Pride indeed he had before ever he Foil'd our First Parents and our Selves for Pride it was that made him a Devil Yet doubtless this adds much to his Pride That he sometimes by Permission doth over-throw many of our Brave Christians Satan did much Rejoyce when he had gotten Advantage of Peter One so Eminent in the Church of Christ. Oh! therefore Believers beware of Satan's Devices because if thou Fallest he will Triumph SECT IV. If this be so then we may hence learn That if Eminent Believers do Over come Satan it is not in and by their own Strength But when they are Foil'd it is because they went against him in their own Strength Of our selves we can do nothing it is God in Christ that must do all for us If we Fight alone with the Goliah of Hell we are sure to be vanquished Separate the Soul from the Body and it is incapable of Action or Service And so take God from the Soul and it will be incapable of Wrestling with such a Mighty Spirit as the Devil is Let Believers be like the Vine that being weak twists about the Elm to support it Being Conscious of our own Imbecillity we should twist by Faith about Christ 2 Cor. 12. 9. And in Him we are more than Conquerours Phil. 4. 13. I can do all things through Christ which Strengthens me Sampson's Strength lay in his Hair Ours lies in our Head Christ. Iesus Christ hath laid his Feet upon the Neck of that Old Serpent and will enable you so to do if you will trust in him and accept of him as the Captain of your Salvation If Christ Iesus doth but bring in his Auxiliary Forces Satan shall then be trodden down SECT V. If this be so then from hence we may learn What a mighty Power of God that Power is which is concern'd in the Preservation of a Believer What a Mighty Power of God is concern'd in our Preservation as we are Creatures more as we are Christians Consider Man as he is a Creature and we may stand amaz'd at the exceeding Great Power of God in his Preservation What a Tender thing is Man when he is in the Womb of his Mother and how subject is he to Mis-carrying even while he is there And what Expectation is there of his Coming forth into the World mingled with Hopes and Fears lest he should become Abortive And Lo God in time brings him forth and a Perfect Man he is as to the Limbs and Lineaments of his Body notwithstanding the Perils and Dangers that encompassed him about when he was but an Embryo in the Womb. And then afterwards Consider him not only in the Womb but consider him also in his Infancy Child-hood Youth Riper Years and Old-Age the Miseries that are proper to all these and the Dangers that he has gone through in all these and it is a Miracle that Man should live to Old-Age But further Consider him as a Christian and so you may have a greater Prospect of the Admirable Power of God A Soul is no sooner New-Born but immediately Trials Agonies and Conflicts do come in upon him as a great Tempestuous Sea The first Cry sayes one of the New-Born Infant Allarums all the Devils of Hell The Devil and the World set themselves in Battle-Array against the Children of God And one would think it impossible for one to become a Christian Nay indeed all things considered and it is a Miracle to be a New-Creature And when a Man becomes a New-Creature what an Admirable Power is concerned in the Preserving of him as such What Difficulties goes he through and wrestles with before he gets into the Port of Heaven So that indeed all that are Saved are Saved with a great deal of Difficulty CHAP. X. COntaining the Eighth and Last Deduction SECT I. If this be so then hence I infer the Reason Why many of God's own Children walk with sad Countenances hanging down their Heads like so many Bull-Rushes 'T is because the Devil many times Bruises them by Falls and breaks their Bones insomuch that they can have no Rest at all We should be in a perpetual Shine were it not for Showers of Rain ever and anon falling from the Eyes by reason of Cruel Buffetings from Satan Here we are troubled with a Vigilant Subtil Adversary that breaks our Peace and Disquiets us exceedingly Were it not for a Tempting Devil and a Deceitful Heart what brave Lives might we live But because these attend us therefore are we oft-times disquieted our Strength declines and our Knees wax feeble Good Lord vouchsafe therefore thy Strength and let thy Comforts delight our Souls else the Devil that Nimrod and Cruel Hunter will pursue our Souls even unto Death This Creates in us Longings after Heaven because then we shall be Tempted no more Here we are in a perpetual Hurry and in a constant Fluctuation Our Lives are like the Tide sometimes Ebbing and sometimes Flowing What is this Life but a Warfare When one Temptation is over another comes Would to God the Winter was past and the Singing of the Birds were come Were we but in Heaven we should be out of Gun-shot Heaven is a Place of Rest no Bullets of Temptation flie there We long till Death sound a Retreat and calls us off the Field where the Bullets flie so thick to receive a Victorious Crown where not the Drum or Canon but the Harp and Viol shall be ever sounding Come Lord Jesus Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Rev. 22. I long to be Dissolved and to be with Christ Jesus which is far better Phil. 1. 23. SECT II. If this be so hence I infer the Necessity of a Spiritual Armour which Demonstrateth its self in two things 1. In that it is Commodious for a Souldier besides it is Commanded Ephes. 6. 11. 2.
Now Who can Speed better in this Suit than God's own Son Iesus Christ is the Son of God Two manner of wayes 1. By Eternal Generation according to his Godhead Psal. 2. 7. 2. By Grace of Personal Union according to his Manhood Luk. 1. 35. If You who are Earthly Parents can find in your Hearts to Give unto your Children when they Ask How much more then shall God Give unto us his Heavenly Children when we Ask of him But I shall ascend higher If God our Heavenly Father can Give unto us his Adopted Children his Children that are only made so How much more will God Give unto Iesuâ—… Christ his Son by Nature and Generation If we the Children by Grace can prevail so much with God the Father How much more then his Soâ—… by Generation betwixt whom there iâ—… an Unity not only of Nature but Wiâ—… also Ioh. 10. 32. More-over see whaâ—… God himself says to Christ Psal. 2. 8. Ask of me and I will Give thee SECT IV. Secondly If we consider the Intercession it self 1. In its Nature 2. In its Perpetuity First In its Nature which is a Presenting his Person Sufferings and Merits unto his Father for what he desires Father sayes Iesus Christ let such a Soul Persevere Why so may the Father Reply Because sayes Christ I Suffered to this end So that God the Father according to his Iustice which is Unspotted sayes to his Son Be 〈◊〉 unto thee as thou wilt So that Matter of our Saviours Request is but Just and Reasonable What Christ desires is not desired Gratis upon Terms unbecoming the Holiness and â—…ighteousness of God to grant Iesus Christ can Plead Merit in his Prayers â—…inally God the Father is under a Coâ—…enant Tye and Bond to do what he â—…ks For he Promised us to Christ on Condition of his Dying for us 〈◊〉 be his and Ruled by Him as he pleased Where-upon Christ Accepted and a Body was Prepared for him and so he became Obedient unto Death even unto the Death of the Cross. So that this Number for whom Christ Dyed is really his according to the Faederal Transaction between the Father and Him Accordingly also the Mercies that Christ Intercedes for are as due to him as the Hire of the Labour is when the Work is Faithfully done Secondly Let us consider our Saviours Intercession in the Perpetuity oâ—… it He ever Liveth to make Intercessioâ—… for us Heb. 7. 25. Our Names are alwayes upon thâ—… Heart and Shoulders of this our Greaâ—… High-Priest before God Christ's Intercession is Importunate and Perpetual From hence we may draw saitâ—… Mr. Flavel abundant Encouragemenâ—… against all Heart-Straitnings and Dead ness of Spirit in Prayer Thou complainest thy Heart is Dead Wandring and Contracted in Duty 〈◊〉 but remember Christ's Blood speaks when thou canst not Though the Vigour of thy Affections may sometimes Decay in Duty yet know then even then Christ maketh Intercession When thy Prayer is done Christ's Prayer is still going on His Praying is a Praying without ceasing Yea he Incessantly Prays for us Christ is a Mediator for Ever and his Intercession is a Daily Intercession It is the Business of Christ now in Heaven to Intercede for us Behold Christ Intercedes for you in Heaven And therefore question not the Duration of your Faith Many things here occur that hinder the Permanency and the Potency of our Prayers But Christ in Heaven meets with nothing that interrupts his Praying to and Interceding with the Father on our Behalf Christ Iesus is now in the Exaltation of his Prophetical Sacerdotal and Regal Office and therefore what he Wills is Granted He Christ ever Liveth to make Intercession for us SECT V. Thirdly If we consider the Persons for whom Intercession is made being such whom God the Father has a Kindness for Did Iesus Christ indeed Intercede for such that the Father was no Well-wisher unto it were something But now these for whom Christ Intercedes are the Friends of God and the Children of God and the Brethren of Christ Therefore these must Persevere Iesus Christ Prayes not for the World which is Enmity to God but for a Select Number whom God the Father has determined to bring to Everlasting Life through this Prevalent and Successful Intercessor in Heaven SECT VI. Having Finished the Doctrinal Part viz. Christ's Intercession which is an Act of his Priestly Office is on Grounds of a Believers Perseverance in Faith I shall only Answer this Inquiry that may be made about the Intercession of Christ. But why doth Christ Pray now seeing he is in Heaven and can do all Things Answ. 1. Christ could do all Things when he was upon Earth and yet he Prayed 2. Christ Prayeth now in Heaven because as Man he Rejoyceth both to be Subject unto God and to Acknowledge him as the Greater and the Author of all Good As Christ is Man he ought not to omit those Things which are proper to Men viz. Prayer SECT VII For-as-much as I have only been admitted to make use but of one Argument for the Asserting of Believers Perseverance viz. Christ's Intercession which the Doctrine only contained I shall therefore furnish you only with some Scriptures that may Evince this Truth now in the Close For loath I am to leave such a Comfortable Doctrine as this is Dark Although what has been said already about it might suffice yet in regard that the Holy Scriptures do abound with Arguments for it I shall just touch upon them and that shall be all CHAP. XIX Containing Eleven Arguments from Scripture for Believers Perseverance with the Iudgement of the Learned Antient and Modern about it SECT I. Arg. 1. First The Father in his Election is Insallible Matth. 24. 24. For there shall arise False Christs and False Prophets and shall shew great Signs and Wonders Insomuch that if it were possible they shall Deceive the very Elect. Those whom God hath Determined to be Saved shall be Saved let the Power of Devils Power of Corruptions and Power of this World work joyntly together against the Children of God The Elect cannot be Deceived There is an Impossibile in the Case Rom. 8. also and vers 30. More-over whom he did Predestinate them he also Called and whom he called them he also Iustified and whom he Iustified them he also Glorified 2 Tim. 2. 19. Neverthess the Foundation standeth Sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth them that are his Arg. 2. Secondly The Son in his Redemption shall not be frustrated Heb. 2. 14. Isa. 42. 7. Rev. 3. 7. Matth. 1. 11. Tit. 2. 14. Certainly Christ Dyed to some purpose He would not have Deserted his Father's Bosom and Palace for nought Arg. 3. Thirdly The Spirit in Application of the Benefits of Christ's Passion is Irresistible and Unchangeable Zach. 36. 25 26 27 28 29. Isa. 11. 6. Luk. 3. 5. SECT II. Arg. 4. Fourthly The Regeneration of God's People is Perpetual 1 Pet. 1. 2 3. 1 Ioh. 3.
for such whose Healths he has Preserved Soundness of Body is a great Mercy What is Life what is Riches what is Honour without Health These Things 't is granted in Conjunction with Health are Pleasing unto Man But Health not Enjoyed will render all the former things Unprofitable Now here God Does much for a Person with Respect to his Health Thirdly Estate Omni rerum copia affluet Once thou wast Poor not a Penny in thy Purse nor a Piece of Bread in thy Cubboard But now thy Case is changed from Worse to Better The Candle of Prosperity shines upon thee and an Flourishing Estate thou hast now about thee Here is God's Doing much for a Person with Respect to his Estate Fourthly God's Doing much for a Person is sometimes discover'd in a Man's Good Name being Bestowed and Preserved Once a Cloud of Infamy and Reproach was drawn over thy Name but now it is dissipated and scattered A Good Name is one of the Greatest Blessings upon Earth No Chain of Pearl doth so Adorn is this How many are there in the World that are still paring off the Credit of their Neighbours And they make thick Parings they sometimes pare off all that is Good nothing is left but the Core The Children of God are thus oft-times served It was David's Complaint Psal. 35. 11. They laid to my Charge Things which I knew not Surius the Iesuite reported of Luther That he learnt his Divinity of the Devil and that he died Drunk But Melancthon who wrote his Life affirms That he died in a most Holy Pious manner and made a most Excellent Prayer before his Death Has God now preserved or delivered thy Good Name from the Unmercifulness of others What is this but a doing much for thee with Respect to thy Name Fifthly and Lastly God has done much for those whom he hath Blessed in their Negotiations When thou didst first set forth in the World what Cares and Fears did distract thee lest thou shouldst not do well and so become Bankrupt But now contrary to thy Fears God has Prosper'd thee and a Brave Trade thou hast and Blessed thou art in thy Building Planting Journeying or what ever thou goest about The Honey-Comb of a Blessing shall be still dropping upon thee Thus much concerning God's Goodness with Respect to the less Noble Part of a Man viz. His Body SECT III. I now come to consider in what Sense God may be said to do much for a Person 's Soul which is the most Noble Part of him The Body is but a Shadow the Soul is the Substance The Body is but a Shell the Soul is the Kernel The Body is but a Cabinet the Soul is the Jewel The Soul is the Man of the Man The Soul of Plato is Plato But to proceed to the Point in Hand viz. How God may be said to do much for our Souls see made forth as followeth SECT IV. God can never be said in a strict Sense to do much for the Soul of a Man till such time he Converts it to Himself So that it will not be out of the way to Enquire a little into the Nature of True Conversion But this would be too large a Field for me to enter in and therefore I shall only touch briefly upon it SECT V. True Conversion consists in a Change upon the Inward and Outward Man 1. In a Change upon the Inward Man which I shall only insist on First The Understanding is turned from Darkness unto Light Horrible Ignorance of God and the Things of Salvation covers the Soul of every Man as Darkness upon the Face of the Deep Unconverted Persons are therefore called Darkness in the very Abstract Ephes. 5. 8. and that because of their Original Acquired and Judicial Blindness which their Minds are possest with All the World is said to sit in Darkness From whence may be gathered That by Nature we are desperately Ignorant about God and the Things of God Which made our Saviour to say to Peter upon his Confession Flesh and Blood had not Revealed these Things unto him In the State of Integrity our Minds were furnished with all Glorious Perfections and Abilities as the Firmament with Stars There was Sapience in respect of God Science in respect of all Natural Things to be known and Prudence in respect of all Things to be done But since the Fall Man has received such a Bruise in his Understanding as that unless God Recovers it it will remain for ever Irrecoverable Therefore the first Thing that God doth in order to Conversion is to set up a Light in the Soul and take off that Vail of Darkness which has over-spread it So that God does much for the Soul in helping of the Understanding and doing much for it Secondly Our Memories are in part by Conversion Cured Oh! the Sinful Weakness Barrenness and Pollution of our Memories How Teâ—…acious is it with Respect to Evil But How Fallacious is it with Respect to Good Why is it that many can better Remember a Piece of News than a Line of Scripture That little Children can better Remember Obscene Songs and Ballads than the Principles of Religion or a Good Sermon The Memory by Nature is like a Sieve that lets the Corn and Weighty Grain fall through but the Light Refused Stuff that it Retains Thus what is Solid and would do thy Soul Good that quickly passeth away Hence it is that many of our Hearers are so Unprofitable as they are They forget the Good Sermons they Hear and go from Church no more better'd than the Stones in the Wall But now where God intends to do much for the Soul he then does help the Memory and Cures it in part of its Weakness Pollution and Unfaithfulness The Memory will then Retain all manner of Good something of Good in every Thing or at leastwise it will be better in Remembring Spiritual Things than Carnal Things If not all the Sermon part of the Sermon the Soul can now carry away with her Yea and she can tell what Sermon among divers so many Years past at such a Time in such a Place and by such a Person did her good So that a Wonderful Change is here pass'd upon the Memory to the just Admiration of the Free-Grace of God Thirdly Where True Conversion is a Change is also on the Will of Man that Great Faculty which will either be the Chair of Lust or Throne of Grace We may say of it what the Prophet did of the Figs Those which were Good were very Good and that were Bad were very Bad. The Will in Innocency was Regular It did Eccho to God's Will But since the Fall though it retains its Freedom in Moral Actions yet as to Spiritual it is depraved If the Will could cease from Sinning saith Bernhard there would be no Hell Since the Fall the Will is not only Impotent but Obstinate Acts 7. 51. Ye have alwayes Resisted the
that Respect he Died Innocently Secondly Iesus Christ Died willingly Matth. 26. 39. Nevertheless not as I will but as Thou wilt Christ's Death was a Free and Voluntary Death not Constrained or Forced Austin saith That Christ Died quia voluit and quando voluit and quomodo voluit Because he would when he would and how he would There was no Law to Enjoyn him no Force to Compel him Nothing could have fastened Christ to the Cross but the Golden Link of Love Christ was big of Love Therefore he freely Opens all the Pores of his Body that his Blood may flow out from every Part as a Precious Balsom to Cure our Wounds The Bowels of Christ was so Big with Tender Compassions that they Travelled again till they did break forth into a Bloody Sweat But now it may be Objected from the Scripture a-fore quoted The former Part whereof are these Words Father if it be possible let this Cup pass from me Therefore say they Christ did not Die so Willingly as you think he did Answ. Read the whole Text and so you will find in it 1. Vox Natarae the Voice of Nature Let this Cup pass from me 2. Vox Officii the Voice of his Mediatory Office Nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt The First Voice Let this Cup pass is a great Argument of our Saviour's Humanity That he was Man as well as God in that he dreads a Dissolution Christ owed it to Himself as a Creature to desire the Conservation of his Being And on this Score he would have become Unnatural to Himself had he not Fear'd Death The Latter Voice Nevertheless not as I will but as Thou wilt Expresseth the Full and Free Consent of his Will Complying with the Will of his Father in that grand Everlasting Designe of bringing Man's Soul unto Glory Here he Died Freely and Willingly Thirdly Iesus Christ Died Patiently he never Resisted never Rebelled never Opposed He was Led as a Sheep to the Slaughter and as a Lamb Dumb before the Shearer he Opened not his Mouth Acts 8. 32. Isa. 53. 7. And when he was Reviled he Reviled not again when he Suffered he Threatned not Lastly We are to Apply this Doctrine And the Uses that it affords are these 1. Of Information 2. Of Reprehension 3. Of Examination 4. Of Exhortation The First is a Use of Information consisting of Branches Branch 1. First Are Believers Christ's Sheep Hence learn then That Christ is the Believers Shepherd If we are Christ's Sheep then Christ is our Shepherd and he Performs the Office of a Good Shepherd to us Nine Ways 1. He Marks us and that with the Marks of Election and Vocation 2. He goes before us and Shepherd-like Leads the way 1. In Doctrine 2. In Life 3. In Love 4. In Suffering 3. He Feeds us as Shepherds do their Sheep 1. In the Valleys of the Scriptures 2. In the Hills of Vertue 3. In the Pleasant Fields of his Grace 4. He bears us up with the Strong Water or Wine of Consolation 5. He Washes us his Sheep 1. In the Laver of his own Blood 2. In the Laver of Repentant Tears 6. He Heals us Psal. 103. vers 3. 7. He Seeks us as the Shepherds do his Sheep Psal. 119. 175. Luk. 15 c. 8. He Carries us upon his Shoulders Luc. 15. 5. 9. He brings us Home Ier. 17. 24. Branch 2. Secondly Is it so that Believers are Christ's Sheep Then hence we may learn that Unbelievers are not Christ's Sheep They are only the Cruel Beasts of the Forrest such as Bears Lions Wolves and Tigers So the Scripture calls them Branch 3. Thirdly Is it so that Christ Died also for Believers his Sheep Hence learn then the Condescension and Love of Christ. The Condescension of Christ that he should Die and how was he fain to Humble himself before he could become Capable of Dying He was forced to become Man And Oh great Condescension That he who was the Son of God Heir of Heaven Prince of Peace should be inclosed in a Womb and come into this World Oh Infinite Humility That a Saviour should become a Servant That the Lord of Glory should lay aside his Robe and become a Shepherd nay a Dying Shepherd too 'T is just as if a King should leave his Throne and wait at Table The Love of Christ in that he should Die for his Sheep lay down his Life What a Shepherd is this and What a kind of Love is this Love Here is a Pattern without a Parallel Oh the Hights Depths Breadths and Lengths of the Love of God in Christ That Christ should Die and that for Sheep Silly Sheep Lost as we all were before the Great Shepherd sought us Use 2. Of Reprehension Here is Reproof unto such that Persecute Believers because God will look upon them as so many Wolves that Pursue his precious Sheep And do you hear this Oh ye Ungodly of the World Those whom you so Violently Persecute are the Sheep of Christ And therefore you Incurr the Displeasure of Christ that is their Shepherd Use 3. Of Examination Let us Examine our selves Whether we are Believers and the Sheep of Christ Have we taken Christ for our Shepherd And do we Act Faith upon him under all our Exigencies and Indigencies Knowing that because he is our Shepherd therefore we shall want no Good thing If we are Christ's Sheep we are Innocent Meek Simple and very Profitable c. Use 4. Of Exhortation This Use of Exhortation has a double Aspect 1. It looks to Believers that are Christ's Sheep 2. It looks to Unbelievers that are not Christ's Sheep First It looks to Believers that are Christ's Sheep Is it so That Christ has Died for you his Sheep Then you his Sheep be willing to Die for Him your Shepherd Christ did not Fear Men for you don't you then Fear Men for Him He Endured the Cross and Despised the Shame he went through a Sea of Wrath and a Sea of Blood to Save you And what Will you do nothing for him He Loved you with a Love stronger than Death Love him therefore with a Love stronger than Life We know not how soon an Hour of Temptation may come This we may be assured of Christ's Love has been Tried for us Why then should not our Love be Ttied for Christ His Life was laid down for us his Blood was shed for us and we have no such Blood to shed for him as he had to shed for us Is our Love grown to such a High Stature that we could Lay down Ten Thousand Lives had we them for the Cause and Interest of Christ Secondly It looks to Unbelievers You that are not Christ's Sheep Do you this Day become Believers that ye may be the Sheep of Christ. Would you be Invested with Glorious Priviledges would you have your Souls Saved would you have an Interest in all the Benefits of Christ Come over to him then You must be
〈◊〉 2. Iesus Christ did Bleed in the Garden Clodders of Blood came then from him Luke 22. 44. 3. Iesus Christ did Bleed when he was Fastned and Nailed to the Cross Then Streams of Blood came from him Luke 23. Iohn the Beloved Disciple was an Eye-witness of the Streaming out of Christ's Blood as he stood by Christ's Cross uttering these Words O Gates of Heaven O Windows of Paradise O Palace of Refuge O Tower of Strength O Sanctuary of the Just O Flourishing Bed of the Spouse of Solomon Methinks I see Water and Blood running out of his Side more Freshly than these Golden Streams which ran out of the Garden of Eden and Watered the whole World Thirdly For whose Sake viz. For us Now this For us must be understood Exclusively Not the World Inclusively That Part of the World which are Elected and that in time are Effectually Called For us i. e. We that were Dead in Trespass and Sin as well as others Secondly Proof of the Point That Iesus Christ was Baptized in Blood Willingly and Desirously much has been spoken of this in the Fore-going SERMON I would not therefore swell when there is no need Vide Page 384. APPLICATION Use 1. Of Information Branch 1. HEnce learn the Love of our Lord Iesus What a Transcendant Love it is For it has brought him through a Sea of Wrath a Sea of Sin and a Sea of Blood to make us a Peculiar People unto himself Our Saviour's Baptism of Blood Evidenceth the Greatness of his Love towards us That shews how Pure and how Excellent it is O the Heights Depths Breadths and Lengths of the Love of God in Christ My Line is too Short to found this Bottom Finally This Love is a Surpassing Love that which Excelleth all Loves whatsoever Branch 2. Hence learn the Believers Duty Was Iesus Christ Baptized in Blood for You Then be you willing to be Baptized for him He did not Fear Men but Endured the Cross and Despised the Shame He bear'd the Wrath of God for us let us therefore be willing to bear the Wrath of Men for him This is but Lex talionis Branch 3. Hence learn the Believers Priviledges VVas Iesus Christ Baptized in Blood for you Three great Priviledges Result there-from First The Dominion of Sin is taken away Rom. 6. 14. For Sin shall not have Dominion over you For ye are not under the Law but under Grace Though Iesus Christ as yet has not Freed Believers from the Presence of Sin yet he has Freed Believers from the Dominion of Sin and the Reigning Power of it in their Souls And ere long he will quite Free them also from the Presence of Sin Secondly The Sting of Death is taken away 1 Cor. 15. 55. O Death where is thy Sting Christ by Dying has Over-come Death And therefore Believers need not fear it though it has a Grim Visage and a Ghastly Looks Iesus Christ has Knock'd out the Teeth of this Lion Finally Christ's Baptism of Blood makes the Pale Face of Death look Ruddy and Pleasant Thirdly The Door of Heaven is opened Christ's Bloody Baptism is the Key that Unlocks it Sin has shut up the Open Way to Heaven but Christ's Blood has Unlocked it Use 2. Of Exhortation SEcondly Let Unbelievers get into Christ that his Baptism of Blood may avail them For if they have not Union with Christ what-ever then Christ has done or suffered signifies not any thing to them SERMON IV. MATH 10. Vers. 16. Be ye therefore VVise as Serpents and Harmless as Doves THE Words are an Inference from what Immediately goes before Behold I send you forth as Sheep in the mid'st of Wolves Be ye therefore Wise as Serpents and Harmless as Doves Be Wise lest ye be Circumvented by others and Harmless lest ye Hurt others is the Sense of all Expositors on the Place Christian Religion is a Compound of these two viz. The Serpent's Wisdom and the Dove's Simplicity The Serpent without the Dove is too Mischievous and the Dove without the Serpent is too Silly Christ sends us here to the School of Nature that we may Learn Be ye therefore Wise as Serpents c. The Text consisteth of two Parts 1. A Precept which is double 2. A Pattern which is double 1. A Precept which is double and that is We must be Wise and Innocent 2. A Pattern which is double i. e. The Serpent and the Dove The Serpent for Wisdom and the Dove for Simplicity Be ye therefore Wise as Serpents c. From the Words resulteth two Points of Doctrine Doctrine 1. That we must not disdain to be Taught of the most Despicable and Contemptible of Creatures What more Contemptible than a Serpent VVhat more Despicable than a Dove Yet we are admonished to Learn of them Doctrine 2. That Wisdom and Simplicity must go together 'T is the First that I shall at this time handle viz. That we must not disdain to be Taught of the most Contemptible and Despicable of Creatures VVhat more Contemptible than a Serpent What more Despicable than a Dove Yet we are Admonished to Learn of them These Creatures viz. the Serpent and the Dove have Wisdom and Simplicity not for Themselves but for Us. The Iews must borrow Bracelets and Ear-rings even of the Egyptians So we may Receive some Good from wicked Men. Elias Refuseth not Meat though brought by a Raven The Herbalist looks not out of what Garden his Simples comes but what Saladine Power it hath Be ye therefore Wise as Serpents c. Let us therefore see what there is in the Serpent and Dove that is imitable First We will begin with the Serpent Now there is in the Serpent that which is imitable and not imitable But from both we may learn much Good The Wisdom of the Serpent shews it self in these Properties worthy of our imitation First The Serpent is a very quick-sighted Creature Whence it is that he is not so soon Entangled as other Creatures are viz. the Dove and the Sheep Herein should Christians answer the Serpent They should be quick-sighted and apprehensive of those Perils and Snares that attend them here below For while Believers are Pilgrims Satan can assail them The World below is a Place in which Nets every where is spread to catch the Souls of Men as so many Birds for Prey The Best of Christians had need be Quick-sighted like the Serpent because of Dangers and when they go they need to go on Tip-toe because of Nets spread abroad by that Fowler the Devil Secondly The Serpent will cast his Skin and so loseth his Deformity and Reneweth his Age. In this the Serpent also is very imitable unto us We must cast our Skin i. e. our Sins we must Abhor Leave and Eschew them For they do Deform us and make God and us at Variance Ezek. 18. 31. Cast away from you all your Transgressions whereby ye have Transgressed Sin doth run Parallel with a Disease
may kâ—…ow his Election by his Effectual Calling * It is altogether Irregular Anomalous for the Soul to pry into Election 'T is dangerous to tread on the highest Round first †Vocation Comments upon Election God's Decrees that were set from Everlasting do bud and blossom bring forth Fruit in time The Book was written before the Foundation of the World were laid but it was not Publisht till God himself gave it an Imprimatur The Letter was Dated from Eternity the Superscription was Writ in time in Vocation Now you know though the Letter be Writ first yet the Superscription is Read first by him that receives the Letter 'T was decreed from Eternity that Decrees should be known in time And the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Fulness of Time is the Time when God's Decrees are fulfilled When the Decrees of God are Ripe then he lets the Soul tast them and then they are Sweetest Then thou perceivest that thou art a Vessel of Honour when God puts thee upon an Honourable Employment That Fountain of Love which ran under-ground from Everlasting bubbles and flows to thee in time That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that was in Election becomes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Vocation †We deserve nothing but Hell so that what we have and enjoy is through a Precious Redeemer †Cruciger on his Death-Bed prayed thus Invoco te Domine languidâ imbecillâ fide sed fide tamen Lord I call upon thee with a weak and languishing Faith but yet with a Faith * What is said of the Natural Serpent may be said of Satan that Old Spiritual Serpent Nunquam nisi moriens producitur in longum He is never seen at his full Length till Dying ‖ Death is like the Pillar of Cloud It hath a dark Side to a Sinner but it hath a Light Side to a Believer * Death like a Snake may Hiss and Wind about the Body but the Sting is pulled out †Death is not Mors Hominis but Mors Peccati not the Death of Man but the Death of his Sin * Filia devorabit Matrem ‖ Ultimus morborum medicus Mors. †Nemo ante funera felix Solon * St. Chrysostom admires the Bravery of the Apostle's Spirit ‖ Mr. Cases Mount-Pisgah * Faith's Triumph over the Fears of Death pag. 71. †The Christians Defence against the Fears of Death pag. 375. cap. 20. ‖ The Devil if permitted can hurt both Soul and Body * The Devil hurts the Body how and after what manner †The Devil hurts the Soul how and after what manner ‖ The Devil is a Potent Enemy * Est autem horum i. e. malorum Angelorum quoque numerus magnus sed in Scriptura non definitus Piscat in Calvin Institut pag. 20. ‖ In summa triplicitur possunt nocere supra nos intra nos circa nos Supra nos tempestates procellas ciendo fulgura tonitrua ejamlaudo fragores horrendos edendo nubes cogendo Intra nos sensus internos externos voluntemque movendo impellendo sive id fiat ex parte organi sive ex parte objecti turbando humores loco motivam impellendo vitio rum somites subministrando Circa nos loco movendo bono nostra edes concutere convellere fluviorum cursus alveos mutare pascua noxiis succis imbuere fructus mutare excutere pecudes morbis afficere Alsted Syst. Theolog. Deduct 2. †Though I should Dye with thee yet will I not Deny thee Matth. 26. 34. * Fox Act. and Mon. †Si vis esse securus semper time ‖ Blessed Bilney tried his Finger by himself in the Candle before his whole Body in the Flames at the Stake * Pre-apprehension is the Mother of Prevention †Selâ—…-Examination is a Root which bears Self-Knowledge and at the Top of it grows Assurance which is Apex Fidei The Highest Nature of Faith ‖ Quid est diu vivere nisi diu torqueri Aug. †Life is interlarded with Trouble Watson * Believers should alwayes keep their Recumbence upon the Goodness and Mercy of God †Mundus turbatur amatur * Mittamus preces cordis legatos Cypr. Matth. 6. 13. 2 Cor. 12. 8. Deduct 3. Heb. 2. 18. Deduct 4. ‖ This is Jacob's Staff in the Hand of Faith with which we may Walk cheerfully to the Mount of God What will satisfy or give content if this will not Watson in Loc. †Temptations stir up the Paternal Compassions in God to them who are Tempted Idem Deduct 5. * Pride was the first Sin that ever Reigned Deduct 6. †Venit Diabolus subvenit Christus ‖ God is above the Devil should be every Tempted Soul ' s Motto Deduct 7. * We are kept by the Power of God thro Faith unto Salvation 1 Pet. 1. 5. Deduct 8. †Nullae ibi insidiae Daemonum Bern. Deduct 9. Quest. Answ. Vide Sedgwick's Military Discipline pag. 27 c. * Doubtless as that Systole and Dyastole of which the Anatomists speak are to the Heart so the Affections are to the Will the Openings the Contractings of it †Oculus meus depraedatus est animam meam ‖ Do as Mariners when they know of a Rock that will split them they go not near it * One Traitor within the Castle may do more Hurt than a Multitude of Enemies without Holy Policarp in the time of the Fourth Persecution when he was Commanded but to Swear One Oath made this Answer Four-score six Years have I served God all this while he never hurt me How then can I speak Evil of so good a Lord and Master who hath thus long preserved me I am a Christian and cannot Swear Let Heathens and Infidels Swear if they will I cannot do it were it to the Saving of my Life Not able also is that Instance of Marcus Arethusius †Haeret mihi semper in animo tua Lex ne unquam ab illa declinem qua in re te offendam Simeon de Muis. ‖ Gladius dicitur Sermo Divinus quia sicut gladius carnes praecidit sic Sermo Divinus concupiscentias carnales Chrysoft hom 8. in Matth. * Vide Capel on Tentation pag. 97 98 99 100 101 102 103. * Believers when they are Tempted should plead as Christ their Saviour Scriptum est It is Written †Mitttamus preces cordis Legatos Cypr. ‖ Dei sacrificium Diaboli flagellum Christiani subsidium ‖ What the Key is to the Watch that Prayer is to Religion It winds it up and sets it going †Prayer is the Guard to secure the Fort Royal of the Heart Prayer is the Porter to keep the Door of the Lips And Prayer is the Strong Hilt which defendeth the Hands ‖ Prayer is like the Ring which Queen Elizabeth gave to the Earl of Essex bidding him If he were in any Distress send that Ring to her she would Help him †Mr.
Divine * The Affections be the Pedes Animae the Feet of the Soul †Conscience is God's Preacher in the Bosom A thousand Witnesses for or against a Man A Heaven or Hell on Earth A great Friend or a great Enemy ‖ Praecepta docent Exempla movent * Faith Iustifies our Works and our Works Testify our Faith Job 31. 16. 21. Mercy even to the Bruit Creatures shall prolong our Dayes much more then Mercy unto Men. ‖ Prov. 11. 25. The Liberal Soul shall be made Fat †1 Kings 17. 16. Luk. 6. 36. * Da quod non potes retinere ut accipias quod non potes amittere †Dives denyed Lazarus a Crumb of Bread Dives was denyed a Drop of Water ‖ O that it might not be said of Christians now a-dayes as it was of an Emperor that had a Large Empire but a narrow scamy Heart Augustum imperium angustum animum ‖ There are Two sorts of Sacrifices Expiatory the Sacrifice of Christ's Blood and Gratulatory the Sacrifice of Alms. †Eleemosyna non est divitiarum dispendium sed ditescendi potius compendium quaestusque omnium uberrimus Giving Alms is not the way to Waste our Wealth but the Art of Thriving the most Compendious Course to come unto Riches * Terrena servando amittimus largiendo servamus Isidor Our Earthly Goods are lost by keeping and kept by giving away It is reported of Cyrus that he should say That by doing Good he hoarded up Riches for himself Blessed Mr. Bradford counted that Time lost wherein he did not some Good by his Tongue Pen or Purse ‖ Our Alms-Deeds shall be Rewarded with Permanent Blessings Quae stultitia est illic relinquere unde exiturus es illuc non praemittere quo iturus es Chrysost. in Matth. 6. †One of our Translations have Waters for Wet Faces signifying that Poor Men do oft-times Weep 1 Thess. 5. 14. * Chrstians should be like Christ and Mary the One alwayes Doing Good the Other was alwayes Receiving Good Mr. Hooks Saints Priviledges on Earth beyond those in Heaven Rom 1. 9. Ephes. 1. 16. 1 Thess. 1. 2 3. 2 Tim. 1. 3. Philem. v. 4. Hostis gratiae inimicâ—…salutis Bern. ‖ It was a Saying of Lycurgus Prodigiosa res esset beneficium non rependere Therefore among all the Laws he made he would not Establish against Ingratitude looking upon it as most Monstrous But this the Sinner is Guilty of †AElian * Ungrateful Sinners like Vultures draw Sickness from the Perfumes of God's Bounties †To be Unthankful where there is great reason to be Thankful is Folly in the Abstract ‖ The Word As notes Similitude not Equality Scriptural Examples Ecclesiastical Examples Act. and Mon. Clark's Examples * Shall we Love the Father not the Child Shall we Love the Head and not the Body Shall we Love the Mediator and not the Members ‖ Witness the Fire of London †God grants no Man a Patent for Riches Durante vita but Durante beneplacito as the Lawyers speak * Mr. Watson on the Beatitudes Pag. 217. †A Good Man once High but now Low told me That the Consideration of his doing Good to others when he was in Capacity was a great Comfort to him in his Poverty ‖ God sees what-ever we do for others What need we therefore care who else see us * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theod. †That Text which you have 〈◊〉 Heb. 6. 10. is an Excellent Text. The Words divided * As the Hinde or the Hart a Beast Thirsty by Nature and whose Thirst is Increased when she is Hunted The Hinde the Female is here meant as the Word annexed She Brayeth the Greek Article He Elaphos manifest And in Females the Passions are stronger than in Males Ainsworth in Loc. Deus est summum bonum Beatitudo formalis consistit in fruitione Beatitudinis objectivae Beatitudo autem objectiva est Deus quia est bonum perfectum satians appetitum †True Prayer is a Lifting up of the Mind and Soul to God Elevatio mentis ad Deum ‖ Constantine the Great when Hearing a Sermon would ever and anon start out of his Chair of State and Hearing that the Gracious Soul only desires Such an one comes not to Hear for the Sake of Man but for the Sake of God and of his Soul He knows 't is God that Speaks and not Man Such Persons cannot Sleep at a Sermon stand up for a while being Affected it may be Terrifyed with the Word in-so-much that his Courtiers were amazed because such a Posture did not become so High a Place Euseb. de Vit. Constant l. 3. c. 17. * To Feed upon an Ordinance without Christ is as Feeding upon the Dish instead of the Meat * Omnes Creaturae sine Deo non possunt esse sufficiens objectum Humanae beatitudinis Star de Beat Dis. Sect. 1. Solus Deus sine consortio ejus Creaturae est sufficiens objectum beatitudinis Lib. Sect. 2. The Soul that Princely Part of Man is only the Subject of such Noble Desires †Imbred in him as a Christian not Imbred in him as a Creature ‖ When a People do not prize the Word of God by the Worth of it they shall be brought then to prize the same by the Want of it * The Hart by Natural Instinct they say knoweth where the Serpent's Holes are He goeth to the Hole where he seeth and thinketh a Serpent is breatheth upon him until he is forced to come out of his Hole And then he setteth upon him and teareth him to pieces or els Eateth him up Franzius ‖ God can Look sowerly Chide bitterly and Strike heavily even when and where he Loves most â—…early †Heaven is a Place where the Bullets of Temptations shall noâ—… fly * Christ's Kingdom is not of this World therefore are they of his Kingdom hated because they are not of this VVorld Use of Exâ—…mination Signs of our Spiritual Thirst. ‖ Paul was Empty when he said In me there dwells no Good †The Spiritual Infant is not Born without its Pangs ‖ Quamdiu is such a Soul's Motto * There must be Cogent Endeavors as well as Vehement Desires Our Endeavors do Demonstrate the Reality of our Desires †i. e. In Publick Ordinances Brightman in Loc. * Dying is the highest Decree of Love that can be ‖ The Property of the Creature is to Abhor nothing so much as Death and to Desire nothâ—…ng so much as Life †Life is Short yet Sweet Eurip * It has been the Lot of God's Children in all Ages to have Things Fathered on them that they have been Clear from Surius the Jesuite reported of Luther That he Learned his Divinity of the Devil and that he died Drunk But Melancthon who Wrote his Life tells us That he died Piously and made a very Good Prayer before his Death ‖ Naturalists observe of it Swine and other Creatures are unwilling to be Caught when they are about being Slain they will make such an Hideous Noise as can scarcely be endured †Sheep are often troubled with Weak Infirm Heads having nothing of Craft and Subtilty in them * Temerity is a Grace implanted in the Hearts of God's Children †Sheep commonly are together ‖ Believers are oft-times Wandring Sheep †The Sheep is not so Strong as the Lion so Subtil as the Fox or so Swift as the Deer as that it is the most Unarmed of all Creatures ‖ A Weak Christian and a Strong Christ says one can do Mighty Things * Observe how some Creatures are made to Labour as Horses and Camels some only for Food as Hogs some for both as Oxen some for Safety as Dogs †All Ungodly Men are Bears and Swine though not in Physicks yet in Morals ‖ Christ died Innocently * Christ died Freely Voluntarily †That Eternity should be Born That he who Rules the Stars should Suck the Breasts That he who Thundered in the Clouds should Cry in a Cradle ‖ Who can Draw out Christ's Love to the Life Qui habet Christum habet habentem omnia Oportet me multa pati tandem trucidari ut sanguine meo perfundar †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quomodo coarctor a Metaphor taken from such Narrow Places where by meeting with an Enemy we are put to it by reason of the Enemy and by reason that we cannot find out any other Passage * Our Lives Condemn us but the Name of Jesus will Save us ‖ We are Christians because we have Union with Christ. †The Church is a Mystical Body the Head whereof is Christ. * The Soul is the Life of the Body Christ is the Life of the Soul ‖ Christ will Plead for Believers as the Advocate doth for his Clients †1. Baptismus Fluminis 2. Flaminis 3. Sanguinis * Christ was Baptiz'd in Water but once yet he was Baptiz'd in Blood divers times Ephes. 2. vers 1. ‖ The Greatest Logician Rhetorician in the World the Greatest Oracle and Orator in the World the Greatest Cicero Demosthenes in the World cannot set out Christ's Love to the Life †If Christ Loved us with a Love stronger than Death we should then Love him with a Love stronger than Life * Sin the Tyrant is Conquered The Text Divided ‖ The Properties of the Wise Serpent †Memento Mortis tuae non peccabis Cypr. ‖ Totum corpus in orbem circum voluit ut caput occultet * Simplex est animal felle caret Bish. Lake †Husbandry Spiritualized ‖ Caryl in Loc.
more Capable of Resisting Temptation and the more Freed from Inconveniencies that may attend them when they are Singly and Apart by themselves Sixthly The Sheep when once it Strayeth never Returneth again of it self unless the Shepherd himself brings it Home So a Believer is subject to go Astray i. e. Sometimes And when it does thus Stray it never of it self Returns unless the Lord Iesus Christ the Great Shepherd of Souls brings it Home upon his Shoulders Thus Peter he had never of himself Returned were it not for a Look from Christ Iesus A Look from Christ melted his Heart and caused him to think on his Wayes with Shame and Compunction of Heart Luk. 22. 61. Seventhly The Sheep when it is Pursued by the Wolf has nothing where withal to Defend it self Nature sayes one has denyed this Creature any thing where-withal to defend her self that unless the Shepherd steps forth she becometh a Prey both to Man and Beast Just so it is with Believers When they are Pursued by that Wolf the Devil that Nimrod that Mighty Hunter the Devil They have no Strength of their own whereby to Resist him and Defend themselves That unless Iesus Christ the Great Shepherd of Souls appears for them they are undone to all Eternity 'T is Christ that must work in them both to Think and Do Without Christ they can do Nothing whereas through Christ they are Enabled to do All Things Phil. 4. 13. Eighthly A Sheep is the most Profitable of Creatures Living and when Dead Some Creatures are Profitable Living but not Dead as the Horse and the Dog and some Creatures are Profitable Dead and not Living as the Hog c. But the Sheep is Profitable Living and Dead The Sheep when it is Alive is Profitable to us these manner of wayes She giveth Milk bringeth fortâ—… Lambs Her Wool will also make uâ—… Cloath When she is Dead she iâ—… Profitable these manner of wayesâ—… Her Skin will serve as formerly for Garments her Guts will makâ—… our Musick and her Dung will makâ—… the Ground Fertil So Christians they are Profitablâ—… Living and Dying As for instance When they are Alive they wilâ—… make good Parents good Masters good Governours good Neighbours and so is Profitable in every one oâ—… these When Dead their Souls stilâ—… Live their Names still Live theiâ—… Instructions still Live and their Examples still Live And when dead and gone yet they are still Profitable in their Instructions and Examples Ninethly The Sheep were most Profitable under the Law for Sacrifices The Iews Offered more Sheep than any other Creature 'T is Confessed they Offered also Calves Goats Oxen Heifers Kids Turtles and Pidgeons But their Daily Sacrifices consisted chiefly of Sheep for above One Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty Two Years all the while that the Mosaiâ—…l Law was observed Thus Christ and Christians Christ was Sacrifice to Divine Iustice for our Sins and Christians Boâ—…ies are Sacrifices in the Service of â—…od And also when they Die for Christ they bear in their Bodies with â—…he Apostle Paul the Marks of our Lord â—…esus and Seal his Truth with their â—…wn Blood Rom. 12. 1. I beseech you therefore Brethren by 〈◊〉 Mercies of God that ye Present our Bodies a Living Sacrifice Holy â—…cceptable unto God which is your Reasonable Service Thus might I still go along Paralâ—…ling Sheep and Believers one with â—…other might it not be deem'd Superfluous I could shew how that Sheep are â—…ommonly Marked So Christ he â—…arks Believers that are his Sheep and the Marks are Election and Vocation The Sheep is a very Cleanlâ—… Creature and cannot endure likâ—… the Swine to be in Dirty Places So Believers they are Clean buâ—… Wicked Men are Swine never coâ—…tent but when wallowing in thâ—… Mire of Sin Sheep Love the Greeâ—… Meadows and Clear Water So Believers they are for the Purest Ordâ—…nances of the Gospel and the Word 〈◊〉 God Sheep will go Freely of themselves we do not use to bind theâ—… in Chains So Believers they neeâ—… not be pulled or haled to their Duty they serve God with a Free anâ—… Enlarged Heart The Sheep is alsâ—… very subject to Diseases no Creaturâ—… so subject as the Man Horse anâ—… Sheep are unto Diseases So God iâ—… all Ages hath been pleased to Exercise his Church with many Afflictâ—…ons and Calamities Therefore wâ—… find the Church in Scripture compareâ—… to a Sheep that is Fatted for thâ—… Slaughter Lastly When once thâ—… Sheep hath the Scab he is Separateâ—… from the rest of the â—…lock So here as respecting Christians Any one that is a Notorious and Scandalous Sinner is not to have Communion with the Rest in Special Communion and Fellowship For as one Scabby Sheep Infecteth the whole Flock so the Slips and Failings of one Christian is often the Cause of the Fall of many Weak Ones Thus have I Performed the First Thing Proposed The Second Thing is this What kind of Sheep Believers â—…re 1. There are your Straying Sheep Isa. 53. vers 6. All We like Sheep have gone Astray 2. There are Lost Sheep that is such who have wandred so far as that they know not the way Home again Such an one was the Prodigal Son Luk. 15 c. and the Iews in Christ's Time 3. There are your Seeming Sheep but Inwardly are Ravenous Wolves Matth. 7. Take heed of them 4. There are your Spotted Sheep such as Iacob's were Gen. 30. 5. There are your Sheep without Spot or Blemish In a Strict Sense Christ only is such a Sheep He is that Immaculate Lamb of God that Lamb without Spot and Blemish 1 Pet. 1. 19. Next to Christ Believers themselves are those Spotless Sheep because no Sin is imputed to them Thirdly I am to prove That Christ did Die for Believers his Sheep That Christ Died nothing is more Evident in Scripture And that he Died not for Himself but for Others is as Evident And that those whom he did Die for were his Sheep that is to say a Number Elected out of the World is as Plain also Let two or three Places of Scripture suffice Iohn 15. 13. Greater Love hath no Man than this that a Man lay down his Life for his Friends Rom. 5. 8. But God commendeth his Love towards us in that while we were yet Sinners Christ Died for us Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that Condemneth It is Christ that Died. Fourthly I am to shew how Iesus Christ Died for Sinners First Though Iesus Died in the Place Room and Stead of Sinners yet he himself was all this while Innocent Blameless he had neither Original Blemish nor Actual Blot No Sin in his Heart no Sin in his Life He was no Sinner Actually or Inherently but our Iniquities were laid upon him So that Christ Died Innocently 1 Pet. 3. 18. For Christ also hath once Suffered for Sins the Just for the Unjust Christ Died for Sins yet not for his own but for ours And therefore in