amongst the greatest outward curses which can befall the sons of men Sometimes God takes away a mans tast so that he can rellish no more sweetnesse in these things then in the white of an egge Otherwhile God takes away a mans rest so that he lies all night tossing to and fro and can take no rest his sleep falls from him and his eyelids can take no slumber divitias invenisti requiâ—m perdidisti thou hast got riches and lost thy rest Stobaeus hath a story of one Anacreon who when Polycrates had give â—im five talents he could not sleep two nights together he immediatly restor'd them saying * Reddidit ea inquiens non tanta esse quauta ipsorum nomine curâ laboraret Stob. cap. 39. they were not so much worth as to countervaile that care which was undertooke to keepe them But admit thou art not yet blasted in thy estate though usually the great ones of the world feel this by wofull experience yet there 's a fierce lyon which a long time slept at thy dore which now being awakened flies upon thee this is thy conscience wâ—â—h presents unto thee the history of thy life in all its ugly deformities it paints thee out in thy proper colours and this mappe discovers a mare mortuum a dead sea even a sea of blood destruction and misery thy fatall period Quis tanti emet paenitentiam So Diogenes said concerning Lais the strumpet who then of any understanding would purchase thâ—sâ— worlds goods at so deare a rate to be thus in a restlesse condition never at quiet distracted with thoughts perplexed with cares and wounded in conscience Honour proves a torment To be degraded is the height of infelicity No disgrace parallel to that as to be advanc'd high and immediatly pul'd down in the dust It was Wolseyes complaint Had I been as carefull to serve the God of Heaven as I have been to serve my Lord and master on earth he would never have left me in my gray haires Riches prove the greatest crosse when God blowes upon them To be as Job one while the richest of all the sons of the East and then ere long become a proverb of poverty this is an exceeding misery Pleasures are vexations laughter is madnesse Eccl. 2. 2. Wouldst thou then have that which might quiet thy spirit thou must seeke it else where if thou seek'st it amongst the great things of this world thou seek'st all this while for the living among the dead No earthly thing can quiet the soule There 's much vexation in the greatest things of this world here below and therefore seeke them not But admit they have wearied us in vexatious suites tossing us from court to court and so by many delayes and troubles hath impoverish'd us yet if at the last they afforded any satisfaction this would make amends for all but no earthly thing can satisfie the soule This is my second consideration They bring us into suites 2 Consid Earthly things cannot satisfie the Soule weary us in them and at last cast us The world brings us into a lottery where we come with heads full of hopes but at the last return away with hearts full of blankes the Teraphim is a lye All the creatures may be compar'd to bags full of holes and deceitfull weights The Lord denounceth this as a fearfull judgment thou shalt eat but not be satisfy'd The world is an errand hypocrite like the painted Mich. 6. v. 11. 14. sepulchers gaudy without full of dead mens bones within or like the Egyptian temples where there were a stately Frontispice and a magnificent structure but naught within but an ugly Ape the ridiculous Idol of the people They are emptinesse it selfe and can emptinesse fill the soule The things of this world are wells without water and can these quench our thirst they are broken reeds and can they stay us from falling when you can hoard up grace in your coffers when you can replenish your bags with divine wisdome then and not till then can an immortall soule rest satisfyed in the fruition of the transitory things of this present life As Homer fancyed that the Gods sed upon Nectar and Ambrosia and not Hom. Iliad 1. upon such food as men doe so the soule of man being divinae particulâ—aurae having an heavenly borne beeing cannot be satisfied with any terrene things spirits and bodies heaven and earth admit no correspondence Had'st thou a Monopoly of the choicest delights under the sun these could not satisfy thee because they are but finite and thy desires are infinite and you know between finite and infinite there 's no proportion Solomon tells us Prov. 14. 14. A good man shall be satisfied from himselfe Inward peace and tranquility of conscience affords us true contentment and satisfaction unto the soule The light of Gods reconcil'd countenance reviv'd Davids spirit this was his onely desiderable good Lord list thou up the light of thy countenance upon us Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart more then in the time that their corne and wine encreas'd Psal 4. 6 7. Moses the man of God cries for mercy to satisfy him O satisfy us with thy mercy that we may rejoyce and be glad all the daies of our life Psal 90. 14. Only Christ and his comforts can fill up the soule The waters which he gives will never make us thirst againe whereas the well-springs of the world will the more inrage our thirst 3. Great things here below cannot helpe thee in the evill day 3 Consider Earthly things cannot helpe in the evill day An evill day will come a day of darknesse and gloominesse a day of clouds and thick darknesse and for this day Solomon requires a memento Ecol 11. 8. But if a man live many yeares and rejoyce in them all yet let him remember the daies of darknesse for they shall be many When sicknesses and diseases render thy life disconsolate and when death the King of terrours is approaching thy house and ready to lay his mace upon thee to arrest thee to appeare before the great Judge of Heaven and Earth Now can thy riches and friends bribe this serjeant and adde one moment unto thy life Aske thy joviall Comrades and boone Companions whether they can helpe thee the very sight of them brings thy sins to remembrance and makes thee sensible of the very flashings of hell-fier Aske thy bags whether they can helpe thee alas they are full of holes and let out all comfort Aske thy dignities and high places whether they can doe thee any good these all come and give evidence against thee on this manner Thou hast been a corrupt and carelesse Magistrate feare of men hath justled out the feare of God Thou hast bin a lazy and debaucht Minister thou hast sought thine owâ— things and not Christ Thus one day high places and promotions if abus'd will come in and witnesse against thee O how nearly doth this concerne all those whom God
ten thousand pounds for a good conscience nay all his estate riches c. but all these cannot bribe death to stay one minute longer nor can they all make any atonement for the soule Riches honours c. are not a suitable proportionable price sor these are materiall and corruptible the soule immateriall and incorruptible and between these there 's no proportion Thirdly The price paid to redeem our soules is infinitely superlatively more worth then millions of worlds what 's that see 1 Pet. 1. 18. The soul was redeemed with the price of bloud even of him who was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not one soule saved any other way not the richest in the world nor the poorest can come any other way to heaven but by Jesus Christ The soule of the poorest saint though his person be trampled on by the world is bought by so great a price as the effusion of the bloud of Jesus Christ Hence it evidently appeares that the soul is more worth then the world Christ died not for the world he prayed not for them John 17. 9. but he died for his own whom his father had given him out of the world O Consid 2. Jesus Christ alone and the graces of his spirit can adorne the soule pretious heavenly-born-being soule 2ly It 's Jesus Christ alone the graces of his spirit that can beautifie enrich and adorne the soule Aske a covetous Mammonist where lies his riches he 'll tell you in such a stock of cattell such lands revennues gold silver c. Aske a child of God where are his riches he 'll tell you his riches are in Christ his treasures are in heaven his high place and preferment is in his fathers house Aske your stately Gallants whâ—re their ornaments are They will shew you their necklaces and bracelets of pearles their Diamond-Rings Gorgeous apparrell But what 's all these to the soule The soule is not beautified with golden chains costly raiment pretious jewels I le tell you of a chaine of pearls which will adorne your soules and enrich you more then all the pretious gemmes the Universe can afford read 2 Pet. 1. 5. Ps 45. 13 14. Ezek. 16. 9 10 11 c. Thou mayest be rich in the world yet poor in grace thou mayest have a beautifull face and a polluted soule goodly brave stately apparrell and a foule rotten conscience outward beauty inward deformity fair without foule within Now Christ his graces can alone make thy soule beautifull His graces are the best ornament and therefore beseech him to beautifie thy soule and to adorne thee with faith love and the rest of the Graces of his spirit Thirdly Consider God out of the riches of his free grace and mercy Consid 3 God puts a price into our hands to improve for our souls puts a price into your hands by the Gospell dispensations which he expects you should improve for the best advantage of your soules Force not the Lord to complaine as Prov. 17. 6. you have sermon upon sermon Manna falls frequently round about your tents will you not stir out of your doores to gather it you have the ordinances frequently dispensed amongst you you have bread in the morning and bread in the evening many occasionall sermons All these helpes and meanes are afforded by God for the good of your soules you have publick assemblies continued your eyes behold your teachers you enjoy Sabbaths dayes of humiliation dayes of thankesgiving wherein Gods keeps open market for the good of your soules and it s your duty to husband them all for the eternall welfare of your soules The Spirit knocks at your hearts by the sermons you hear by all the mercies you enjoy to take care of your pretious soules The salvation of your soules is the intention and end of all our preaching It 's the only designe we have upon you to win you to Jesus Christ all the Ordinances are the food of your soules to keep your soules in heart the sabbaths are the market of your souls you have soule-fatting Ordinances Oh take heed lest a leanenesse enter into your soules The markets will not alwaies last the shops will not alwayes be open now come and buy wine c. Improve the Sabbaths Sermons all your Gospel-opportunities for the eternal benefit of your soules Fourthly Consider This present time of life whilst you are in this Consid 4. This is the present time to regard our soules world is the only season and opportunity offered to make provision for your pretious soules see John 9. 4. This is the time to worke out your salvation in as Phil. 2. 12. The time of seeking God Isa 55. 6. This is the time of working the worke of faith the labour of love and patience of hope 2 Thes 1. 3. This is the time of making our peace and reconciliation with God Now we presse upon you the Doctrine of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. 20. If thou livest and diest in an unregenerate and unreconciled estate to God thou wilt remaine so even to all eternity Now thou must run otherwise thou shalt never obtaine now thou must fight the good fight of faith otherwise thou shalt never obtain the end of thy faith the salvation of thy soule Now thou must wrestle otherwise thou wilt never obtein the blessing Now thy peace must be made whilst thou art on this side hell otherwise it will never be made hereafter There 's no time for purgation in another world for perfecting thy faith and hope this time of life is the seed time and according as a man soweth so shal he reape This time of life is a time of working in heaven there will be a resting from our labours As therefore thou tendrest the eternall welfare of thy soule whilst thou hast life breath space opportunity whilst thou art on this side the grave on this side of eternity set seriously upon the businesse of greatest weight and consequence to make thy peace with God to make thy calling and election sure that so when death separates thy soule from thy body nothing may be able to separate it from the love of Jesus Christ Consid 5. This present life is but for a moment Fifthly Consider This present life is but for a moment and upon this moment depends eternity The longest life is but a moâ—ent if compared with eternity and this moment is a short moment compared in Scripture to bubbles vapours spans weavers shuttles flowers things of shortest continuance And this moment is a shortning moment each day each hour each minute shortneth thy life and makes thee nearer eternity each step thou treadest is a step nearer thy Grave each moment thou breathest is a drawing on to thy home And further this moment when once past is irrecoverable all the world cannot call back one minute of time and when this little inch and moment of time is past thou shalt be in eternity in that condition which is unalterable as long
of the Laborer in Gods Vineyard upon pretence that his maintenance is Jâ—wish or Anti-Christian will not be excused at the day of account when as covotousness and self-interest is the usual moving cause of defrauding the Ministers It plainly appears that many like Water-men look one way and row another they serve the Ministers in these days as the Pagans did the Primitive Christians They put them first into Bears skins and then they worryed them For there are many who stigmatize their â—alling and Maintenance as Anti-Christian that so they may the more securely run away with their maintenance Just like Demetrius and the Crafts-men who cryed up Diana Great is Diana of the Ephesians but he had more minde to Act. 19. 34. ver 25. the Silver Shrines By this craft saith he we get our living Now all these things one day shall come to light even the most hidden things of darkness All the Machivialian politick juglings of men all the secret designs men drive at for advantage all the Hypocritical defalkations and reservations such as were in Ananias and Saphyra all the Meanders Windings Diverticles shall all be made naked at the day of Judgement then unjust persons Hypocrites Time-serving Politicians false-hearted persons shall appear pourtrayed forth in their proper colours and be the astonishment and open disgrace â—â— men and Angels But I proceed to a second Use and that is for Exhortation I Use 2. For Exhortation beseech you in the fear of God in the Bowels of Jesus Christ to labour after holyness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Let the motive of the Text be set home upon your hearts What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness You that are young vigorous and have marrow in your bones labor to be holy Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth God loves the Eccles 12. 1. Mich. 7. 1. first ripe fruits our best service away with that wicked Proverb Angelicus juvenis senibus satanizat in annis The Sun cannot rise too early unless it be to a sluggard You cannot begin too soon Defer not a day not a moment longer O that in this Garden of Learning there might be a great increase of Plants of Righteousness that as Plants planted in Gods garden they may bring forth more fruit in their elder age It 's usually said Spes Ecclesiae est in juveâ—tute Far be it from me to envy but I desire to be thankful and rejoyce to see a sprinkling of holy young men who are grave serious and studious and breath after God and bend their studies to attain to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ The Lord of heaven adde unto their number an hundred-fold It s oftentimes observed that the Universitie proves the marring or making of many insomuch as a Scholar hath a censure given him like that of Origen Vbi bonus nemo melior ubi malus nemo pejor Look to it you are in your prime and fresh green years O consecrate your selves unto the service of God It was the exhortation of Joshuah Josh 3. 4. Sanctifie your selves for the Lord will do wonders amongst you The Lord may imploy you in great services and make you instruments of great good What a wonder is it for a young Timothy to be able to grapple with the old Leviathan and throw him on his back Consider with your selves all your Philosophical learning though I discard not but â—commend in its due place and distance will doe you no good at the great day It 's holynesse an holy life that will comfort you when you come to dye It 's the knowledge of Jesus Christ that will stand you in stead when all vain Philosophy will Mat. 27 3. doe you no more good than the High Priests did Judas They said what 's that to us see thou to that Mat. 27. 3. O therefore now in your youth labour to be holy Happy is it for any of you with whom God begins betime And to you that are old I addresse my Exhortation you should be examples of holyness you are Beacons Job 32. 7. set upon a hill the eyes of thousands of young ones are upon you Let daies speak and multitude of years teach wisdom You have one foot in the grave would you have comfort in your death O labour to lead holy lives Would you die the death of the righteous O labour to live the life of the righteous your riches your dignities your learning will doe you no good when you come to dye you shall then be degraâ—ed levelled stript naked of all and if you have not the robes of Christs righteousnesse for your cover you had better never have been born What was that which comforted Hezechiah when he received the sentence of death you may read it to be the walking before the Lord in truth and with a perfect heart This 2 King 20 3 is that which will give you comfort and this alone even the remembrance of an holy lise The assurance of a God reconciled in Christ will cause you to bid welcome to the King of terrours That which the Philosopher accounts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will be your Marriage day the welcomeâ—â— day that ever your eyes beheld And because I love from myheart plain dealing give me leave yet a litle more plainly particularly to set home a seasonable word of Exhortation You Fathers and Brethren whom God hath made â—ulers in Israel Govern in the University O labour for holyness your selves and to plant holynesse in your societies Root out scossing Ishmaels prophane Esaus suffer not a scoffer at holynesse to be within your walls Let Joshuahs resolution be your continual Monitor I and my house will serve the Lord Set up holy Ordinances Preaching Divinity Lectures and a plain way of Catechizing what abundance of good may this doe Some doe give good examples in this kind I hope the rest will follow after that all our societies may be called Jehovah Shammah the Lord is there In your Elections principally look after holynesse Incourage such as have the Image of Christ stampt on them and are willing to receive Instruction You that are Tutors have great prices put into your hands you have young tender twigs flexible tractable they are some of them instar tabulae rasae in some sense pray with your Scholars Catechize them ground them in the Principles of Religion and season them with grace betimes Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem testa diu Trouble not young heads with disciplinarie Controsies and doubtful Disputations Instruct them in the mystery of Regeneration in the Doctrines of Holynesse Faith and Repentance and Self-denial these are the most needfull things In doing good to one Scholar you may do good to a whole City or Parish if you quit your trust and be faithfull and play the men thousands may have cause to praise God and rise up and call you blessed You
in their greatest estate and confluences yet in comparison of Christ he sets upon them this brand of infamy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luther had such high esteeme of Christ and such a regard unto precious soules as he professeth satius est conturbari Lutheri loc com Adveniat verbum Dei adveniat et si sexcentum habuissemus ora cisummitteremus omnia Baldassar Minist Germ. Acts 17. 34. collidi totum terrarum orbem quam Christum non praedicari c. Baldassar Minister of Germany profest Let the Word of God come let it come if I had 600 necks I would submit unto it T is verified by experience what Luther was wont to say Praedicare verbum Dei nihil aliud est quam derivare in se furorem totius inferni satanae Yet God in his wisdome hath ordained this for a medium to convert soules And where the word of God is preached in sincerity the messengers meete with the same entertainment as Paul at Athens though some mocked and accounted him a babler yet others cleaved unto him Here then my Brethren is a point of wisdome to follow the example of Christ his Apostles and servants It was their wisdome to beget soules unto God It was their principall businesse according to their commission to open their eyes to turne them from darknesse unto light and from the power of Satan unto God Acts 28. 18. Goe you and doe likewise It 's a sound glosse upon the text Ex his colligitur c. Hence we gather wherein consists the Cartwright in locum true praise of Ministers not in others applauding of them and setting forth their parts but here 's their wisdome and knowledg indeed in converting soules unto God So judicious Carthwright 2. I proceed to the other demonstration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here my taske 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Why it is so Arguments will be in laying downe some Arguments for confirmation of the truth The Arguments I 'le cast into 4 heads 1. In respect of God 2. In respect of the Object 3. In respect of the worke And 4ly In respect of the reward Arg. 1. In respect of God 1. In respect of God God hath a tender care of his own glory and this must be the end of the whole creation And above all the reasonable creature must act in every thing for the attainment of the last end the glory of God Now wherein is God more glorified then in the conversion of soules It s said John 15. 8. Herein is my Father glorified that ye beare much fruit And amidst variety of good fruit this is one of the most sweet and acceptable to God to pluck a sinner out of the Devils snare and convert him to Jesus Christ And this should be the sole end and designe of every one that enters into the Ministeriall function to promote the glory of God in saving of their own soules and those that heare them when this end is first in thine eye and accompanied with a consciencious sedulity in the exercise of the meanes thou mayest expect the blessing of God crowning thy endeavours with good successe And such a person is a man of wisdome who is so highly honoured by God as to be an instrument to convert but one soule unto God Arg. 2. In respect of soules The second Argument is in respect of the object soules and that rationall soules endowed with noble faculties the understanding and the will the very breath of God Gen. 2. 7. The peculiar creation of God not ex traduce not by propagation it 's God that formeth the spirit of man within him Zech. 12. 1. And God is terminus a quo ad quem both Eccl. 12. 7. The spirit shall returne unto God that gave it The soule is immateriall and spirituall a Heavenly borne being not made of the earth as the body was but infused by creation and created by infusion and though the body moulder into A nima creando infunditur insundendo creatur Aug. dust and see corruption yet the soule runs parallel with the longest line of eternity Men and Divels banding together cannot kill the soule And hereupon against perplexing feares and cares Christ gives a seasonable caution Matth. 10. 28. Feare not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soule but rather feare him which is able to destroy both body and soule in Hell Now then in the third place in respect of the excellent work Arg. 3. In respect of the wâ—râ—e employed upon so noble an object as an immortall soule the wisdome of the worker will be more enhaunc't We must know that God is the sole efficient cause of the salvation of a sinner man onlyan instrument subservient to Gods commands To preach pray conserre meditate is the Ministers duty but the successe is the work of God We are earthen vessels encompassed with infirmities men of like passions but in the weaknesse of the instrument the strength of God more eminently appeares and God works by weake meanes men of meane presence and low esteeme amongst men that no flesh may glory â—n his presence and all the honour may redound to God But the Lord had never any speciall service but he raised up persons of suitable spirits for the performance of it Bezaleel and Aholiab were filled with wisdome for building of the tabernacle God raised up the spirits of Ezra Nehemiah Haggai Zacharie Zerubbabel for the reedifying of the temple And now adaies God raiseth up men of heroicall spirits both of the Magistracy and Ministry to carry on the worke of reformation both in Church and State maugre all the hostile oppositions plots and projects of Sanballats and Tobiahs even all Jesuiticall Malignantfactions which are the Pests and Gangrenes of the kingdome Remora's and obstructions of reformation That prophesy doth afford many hopes against in any feares Dan. 9. 25. The street shall be built againe and the walls in troublous times Thus then I argue To conquer potent enemies to subdue places of great strength and reduce them to outward obedience is an argument of wisdome in the conquerours but to subdue unruly affections to conquer mens spirits to winne soules unto Christ this must be a higher piece of wisdome indeed 4. And lastly In respect of the reward the excellency of this wisdome shines forth more clearly He that gaines a soule doth Arg. 4. In respect of the reward an excellent worke so James sets it forth James 5. 19 20. Brethren if any one of you do erre from the truth and one convert him let him know that he which converteth a sinner from the errour of his way shall save a soule from death and shall hide a multitude of sins The very worke it selfe is sometime counted a reward the work and the reward are used assynonymous termes Isay 49 4. Yet surely my judgmâ—nt is with the Lord and my work with my God And besides no man
great matter they shall bring unto thee but every small matter they shall judge so shall it be easier for thy self and they shall bear the burthen with thee He must be an able man 1. He must first be a man of judgement Qualif I. A Judge must be an able Man and understanding well skilled in the Laws He must have a spirit of discerning to discern between right and wrong Judges pass many years study at Inns of Court before they come to this promotion They must be men of mature age and solid parts Learned Grave and Judicious 2. He must be able in respect of moderation and equanimity able to subdue and get the mastery of his own passions not suffering his affections to pervert judgement Hercules Club they say was made of Olive Wood There must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a Judge he must be willing to bear and forbear the rusticity and homely delivery of Evidences from illiterate people and stoop to the capacity of the meanest Countrey-man who comes for Iustice 3. A Iudge must be able in respect of courage Iudges are to turn the Wheel over the Wicked they are to encounter with Beasts of Ephesus they must be of such a Lion-like spirit as to pluck the prey out of the Lions mouth Hereupon it 's conceived that Judah the Law-giving Tribe had the Lion couchant sitting by the prey for its Scutcheon The Lion couchant is not afraid of any Resâ—uer This likewise was symboliz'd in the steps of Solomons Throne adorned with Lions A Judge must grapple with the Hydra of sin and oppose the Current of Times and Torrent of Vice he must be of a resolved courage with Esther If I perish I perish and with Luther when he went to Wormes If every tile was a Devil yet he would goe to Wormes and preach Christ Come what will come a good Judge accounts this Maxime like the Law of the Medes and Persians Fiat justitia ruat coelum The second Qualification of a Iudge is He must be a man fearing Qualif 2. A Judge must be a man â—eaâ—ing God God 2 Sam. 23. 3. The God of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake unto me he that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God Only a godly man is fit to be a Iudge though I abhor that Anabaptistical Opinion Dominium temporale fundatur in gratiâ yet I am assured that the fear of God planted in the heart of a Iudge moves him to judge righteous judgement This serves him as a compass to steer his actions by And when he is tempted to pervert Iustice by great mens Letters he sets Josephs resolution before him as a continual Monitor How shall I do this great wickedness and sin against God He will neither be threatned nor intreated nor Courted nor Complemented nor Flattered nor Over-awed to wound his Conscience by perverting Iustice This this it is even the fear of God that will beautisiâ— the soul of a Iudge The Iudges Scarlet Robes puts a glory and lustre upon the Beholders eyes but Divine Graces make him more glorious within Such a Cloathing is of wrought Gold If the fear of God be wanting in a very short time judgement will be turned into gall and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock Wisdom will degenerate into craft and subtilty Power into private revenge Valour and Courage into violence and peremptory obstinacy Now the fear of God will set all right if this be in the heart it will set all right in the practice of the life 3. A Iudge must be a man of truth A true-hearted Nathaniel Qualif â— A Judge must be a man of truâ—â— no Machivilian nor Iesuitical Politician He must be a plain-hearted man His heart must dictate to his tongue and the Spirit of God dictate to his heart He is such a Prudent Man that his Heart addeth Learning to his Lips Prov. 16. 23. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth and addeth learning to his lips He 's a Man of Integrity he speaks truth loves truth and searcheth every Thicket and sifteth the matter to the bottom to finde out the truth and it 's his care to keep men of truth about him even such servants as are persons of integrity Psalm 101. 7. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight 4. A Iudge must be a man hating covetousness Covetousness is Qualif 4. the mother of Oppression Bribes blinde his eyes he dares not meddle with them Bribes are pitch he dares not touch them lest he be defiled He 's afraid that his hands will wither therefore he shakes his hands of them He 's afraid that they will prove like Equus Sejanus or aurum Tholossanum a Moth a Canker to consume the rest of his substance Job 15. 34. The câ—ngregation of hypocrites shall be desolate and fire shall consume the Tabernacles of Bribery Corrupt Iudges are Icterici they as was before hinted cannot see aright But an upright Iudge seeth clearly he washeth his heart and his hands both He dares not take a Bribe in a private Chamber he fears lest the Timber and Stones may cry out against him When he comethon the Bench he fixeth his eye neither before him on the person nor about him on the Beholders nor behind him for Bribes but he looks upward towards God remembring that he who sits now to judge others shall himself be judged at a higher Tribunal by the impartial Iudge of Heaven and Earth and there give an exact account of all his proceedings Thus Right Honorable you have the Glass of Jâ—thro set before you wherein you may behold your own face You have heard what manner of Persons you ought to be who undertake this weighty Calling 2. In the next place give me leave to set down the Rules which 2. you ought to observe in execution of Iustice You must execute judgement speedily yet deliberately impartially according to truth regularly and compassionately Iustice must be executed speedily Such a charge we read Ezra Rule 1. Justice must be executed speedily 7. 26. Who will not do the Law of God and the Law of the King let judgement be executed speedily upon him whether it be to Death to Banishment or to Consiscation of Goods or to Imprisonment English delays as some have observed are worse then Spanish Strappado's Let not the poor Client be tired out by tedious attendances tossed up and down and never a whit the nearer from Court to Court but let his business be dispatch'd with all convenient expedition Unconscionable Lawyers deal like unconscionable Chyrurgions who keep the Wound long in Cure for their own advantage Non missura cutem nisi plena cruoris hirudo You that are Lawyers doe not snarle and intangle a cause and so bring it into Mazes and Labyrinthes but with what facility and expedition may bee let the controversie bee decided
Creatours commands And though the understanding be blinded and the will depraved the affections disordered by reason of Adam's fall yet Christ giveth his eye-salve to his people to cleare up their understanding and subdueth their wills unto his will These are noble faculties The memory conscience affections are reduced unto these two These faculties difference men from bruit beasts 6. Consider the invaluable price pay'd to purchase the soule Even Singul. 6. The price paid for the soule no less than the effusion of the bloud of Christ He pay'd his life for the redemption of his people the soule must needs be of invaluable worth that was bought purchased and pay'd for with the bloud of the Son of God O! invaluable price more worth than millions of worlds more then all Angels in heaven could doe more than if Adam and all his posterity had suffered unto eternity That the Son of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the eternal God should become a child the Antient of days should become the Infant of days the Divine person should assume an humane nature by an hypostaticall union that he should disrobe himselfe and weare the ragges of mortality come into the world not to reigne as a King but as a servant to dye a painefull shamefull and cursed death this was an incomparable price never to be parallel'd And what was the end of all but to save the soules of his people to pacifie God's wrath reconcile man to God by the death on his crosse 7. Consider the difficulty to save our soules Wee have a battle to fight a race to run we must be wrestlers warriours racers Singular 7. It 's a difficult matter to save the soule we are to enter in at a strait gate Few are saved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It 's no easy taske as the ignorant world dreames of to make our peace with God when the Son of man commeth shall he find faith on the earth so shall he find Repentance and Love A common temporary faith a formall Repentance a pretended love are every where to be found as the sicamores in the valley for abundance but a justifying purifying faith a repentance not to be repented of a love without dissimulation are hard to be found rare hearbes which grow in few gardens The world cheates their soules with a shell a picture a fancy of faith they believe as their parents did before them and so they cheat their soules with a picture and fancy of repentance they think repentance enough if they can but mumble over that neck-verse Lord have mercy upon me but such lasy easy formall devotions will not serve the turne see 1 Thes 1. 3. There is a worke of faith a labour of love and a patience of hope Cheap easy lasy ways are suspicious ways It s the greatest work in all the world to work out our salvation some indeed have a sharper some an easier birth None are without pangs and throws one time or other Heart wounding goeth before heart healing Act. 2. 37. But whoever belongeth to God shall feele the gall and wormewood the bitterness of sinne Sinne cost David Peter Mary-Magdalen Paul deare Now then that it is such a weighty difficult worke to save thy soule hence the excellency of the soule is the more inhanced and raised On the contrary as I have inhanced the soules excellency in 7 singularities so I will debase and vilifie the world in as many aggravations 1. The world is a stye and sinke of impurity 1 Joh. 5. 19. Agrav 1. The world is a sink of impurtly What 's pure religion see Jam. 1. 27. To kâ—ep ones selfe unspotted from the world The world is the mother pollution the daughter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pet. 2. 20. The world may not be loved 1 Joh. 2. 15. You may soone know that all the world hath 1 Joh. 2. 16. The lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life 2ly The world is a grand impostor an arrant jugler There Agrav 2 The world is a grâ—â—d Imposter are three words Eph. 4. 14 which describe the world to the life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it courts and complements as Joab did Abner and Amasa as Jaâ—l served Sisera as the Panther leaves a sweet sent and allures the passenger to come to her and presently hee 's devoured as they say the Syrens songes first lull men asleep then devoures them The world puts a gaudy faire vizzard on the soulest actions it calleth drunkenness covetousness whordome by mincing plausible appellations The lewd strumpet tels of her bed of ornaments and braveries Prov. 7. 16 17 But mentions not a syllable of the dart striking through the liver vers 23. So the wine wherewith the drunkard is intoxicated allures him with it's colour Prov. 23. 31 but forewarnes not of it's biting vers 32. The world never represents sinne in it's proper colours but sub specie boni Take heed of the world it will serve thee as Jacob served Laban change thy wages 7 times It will serve thee as the High-Priests served Judas Matth. 27. 4. When an anguish came upon his spirit and hee restored the thirty peeces of silver saying I have sinned in that I have bâ—trayed the innocent bloud and they said what is that to us see thou to that Then thirdly the world is a merciless cruel tormentour Solâ—mon found it to be so by lamentable experience Ecclâ—s 1. 14 The covetous man is upon a Rack his bed is a bed of thornes his bread gravell for the losse of his God Mammon The ambitious man loseing honour and preferment is disquieted that he cannot enjoy himselfe so was Haman nothing could satisfie him so long as he wanted Mordâ—caie's bended knee The want of a complement more vexed him than all his honours contented him At what a great losse was the young man when he must foregoe all his possessions At what a losse were the foolish Gadarens when their swine were drowned they even preferred their swine before a Jesus 4. The world in it's best estate is vanity Eccles 1. 2. The riches Aggrav 4. The world is vanity honours and pleasures in this world are empty broken cisternes trees without fruit bare leaves or apples of Sodome which as Historians relate are goodly to the eye but being touched dissolve into cinders and ashes Isai 55. 2. Not bread The worlds goods are things which are but shadows pictures shels emptiness vanity nothing in reality and truth Chimera's entia rationis brain fancies Great expectations we have Parturiunt montes c. The world is a meere lottery we come to it with heads full of hopes but returne back with hearts full of blankes 5. The world is unsatisfying and unsuitable to the soule The Aggrav 5. The world is unsatisfying world is materiall corruptible earthly the soule immateriall incorruptible heavenly How can these be reconciled What agreement can there be between them Ther 's no proportion nor
as God and Christ are world without end Oh that God would work this consideration and set it home upon your serious thoughts that considering your life daily hastens to an end you might timely and seriously prepare for that life which shall never end The Lord give you grace to make the best use of this moment to beautify your soules to trim up your lampes to walke every day as if it were your last day that so when the Lord summons you by death you may have nothing to do but to die and with comfort and confidence you may breath out your soules into the armes of Jesus Christ Cons 6. There will â—e a day of Judgment 6. Consider there will be a day of judgment for soule and body There 's a day of visitation a day of accompt a generall Assize held for all the world 2 Cor. 5. 10. And Christ's coming is like a theefe in the night There 's a different sentence Matth. 25. viz. Come ye Blessed Go ye cursed A different place heaven and hell no medium no tertium Purgatory is a Popish dream If thou beest not purged here thou shalt never be purged hereafter Body and soule shall be reunited and either be companions in woe or blisse unto all eternity 7. Consider as death leaves thee so judgment will find thee As Cons 7. As Death leaves us so Judgment will find us the tree falls so it lies If thy soule be filthy and guilty and unwasht by the blood of Christ when separated from thy body it will ever so remain in that condition If thou diest unreconciled to Iesus Christ judgment will find thee so and so thou shalt remain even unto all eternity If sanctification be not begun yea and in some measure wrought in this world it will not be wrought in another If here thou hast not the first fruits of the spirit the hansell part of payment thou wilt never reape the whole harvest in another world If thou art not justifi'd by grace nor sanctified by the spirit nor acquitted by the bloud of Christ before thou departest this world death will give a returne unjustif'd unsanctify'd unacquitted and judgment will so find the returne and passe upon thee an irrevocable sentence O then be perswaded so to live as ye may have hope in your deaths and so to die as you would have judgment to find you judgment will neither find you better nor worse then death hath left you 8. Consider the riches of Gods mercy free love and grace abounds exceedingly That thou art yet alive on this side the grave Cons 8. The riches of free grace and mercy hell and judgment and God gives thee this gracious warning God might justly cut thee off in thy wickednesse and send thee to hell speedily But Oh! infinite patience and long suffering Now God expostulates why will ye die oh house of Israel God delights not in your blood see Acts 17. 30. Isai 55. 7. Isai 55. 1. God gives you warning sends his messengers to premonish you to bid you look to your souâ—es It 's the whole drift and scope of Gods messengers to perswade you to have a speciall care of your soules Now you have food for your soules now you have sabbaths the desire of daies and many pretious Gospel opportunities It 's free grace you enjoy them For you have forfeited them all Oh! wonderfull mercy that God doth not take the forfeiture Consid 9. This may be the last warning 9. And lastly Consider this for ought any of us know may be the last warning that God will give any of us You may not live to hear another Sermon you may not live to enjoy another sabbath God may say to you because you loath this spirituall Mannah I 'le take it from you Because you misuse my messengers I 'le take them away from you Because you sâ—eight all the admonitiâ—ns and counsels for the good of your soule I 'le not have these pearles cast any more before you I will suffer my messengers no more to be abused my pearles no more to be trampled unâ—er foot this is the last warning I will give yâ—u my spirit shall no longer strive with you I 'le no longer stand and wait knocking at your dores Brethren we cannot promise to our selves a moment of time we have none of us a lease of our lives VVe are Tenants at will whether many or any shall live to heare any further warnings none of us can determine Let 's therefore be perswaded to look upon these counsels I have given you as for ought you know may be the last warning we may have And Oh! that God would give us grace to take warning VVeigh seriously in your most retired sad thoughts those 9 forementioned considerations and the Lord go along with them The 4th Use shall be for a strict triall and examination whether Use 4. For Examination we take care for our souls yea or no Ask the vilest of people what do ye not take care for your soules They will tell you t' were pitty else they should live But to undeceive the world I le propound some searching queries 1. Dost thou set a higher price of thy soule then all things under Qu. 1. the sun Dost thou foregoe pleasures profits father mother wife children the dearest and nearest relations when they come in competition with or opposition to thy soule Dost thou foregoe thy beloved sins thy constitution sins sins of profit antiquity delight Dost thou take up weapons against thy soules enemies and resolvest never to give over till thou returnest with the trophies of victorie If so it 's apparent that thou lovest thy soule 2ly Dost thou survey the windings diverticles and turnings Qu. 2. of thy soule Dost thou study to know thy soule it's angles and lurking places Dost thou reveiw the breaches in thy soule and endeavourest the reparation of them Dost thou take a twofold Candle the Candle of the word and the Candle of thy conscience and searchest into the meanders recesses and most inward corners of thy soule This is a signe that thou hast a care of thy soule 3ly Dost thou keep strict watch and sentinell over thy soule Qu. 3. Dost thou watch over thy thoughts words and actions As watchmen examine passengers so dost thou examine thy heart call thy selfe to account for vain thoughts misplaced words evill actions and when thou findest them dost thou labour to exterminate them and to execute justice on them Dost thou watch against vagrant lusts not willing to give entertainment to straglers but as thou findest them thou casheerest them if so this is a signe that thou takest care of thy soule 4. Dost thou endeavour to wash and cleanse thy soule A pure Qu. 4. fountain is stil a purging Dost thou purge out thy corruptions Dost thou lament over thy soule for sin water thy couch with thy teares and as sin comes and corruption surprizeth thee art
marroâ— in your bones you are in the flower and prince of your age your spirits are vigorous your memories mosâ— retentive O then consecrate all the members of your bodies and faculties of your soules to the service of the Lord. We usually say Spes Ecclesiae in Juventute There are many hopefull young plantâ— in Gods garden they must bring â—orth more favory fruit in their elder age In a word let me exhort you so to spend your time as when you come to be old you may look back upon your young dayes with comsort and blesse God that hath seasoned you with his fear from your youth Both to old and young let me apply my self and fasten on them these few moving considerations which may be as so many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or preservatives and meanes to prevent sinne 1. Consider seriously the omniscience of God so did Joseph 1 Consider the omniscience of God †Metaphora ab animalibus dissectis excoriatis Hyperius Gen. 39. 9. This was a Monitour to Job chap. 10 14. and Heb. 4. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as I may say naked and anatomized before him Imagine God to be as the Arabians fansied 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all eye to see thee He knowes thy thoughs penetrates thy secretest recesses knowes the Meanders windings and diverticles of thy heart Did men seriously consider that they are alwayes in the presence of an Omniscient Lord This consideration might prevent sinne 2. Consider as God knowes thy wayes so he keeps exact Records 2 Consider God keeps exact records Here is a Chirograph in the text for iniquities and he keeps a Book of remembrance of the Saints religious conferences together Mal. 3. 16. In a proper sense we cannot say that God keeps a Book the formality of writing down is infinitely below God This is a sigurative speech the meaning is that all that is thought done or spoken is alwayes before him Conscience likewise keepes a Book that one day will act the part of witness accuser and judge 3. Consider before hand what sinne will cost thee Reckon the 3 Consider before hand what sinne will cost thee cost of it Rom. 6. 21 old and young will have cause of shame as Peter Martyr * observes Who of understanding would be a slave to so unprofitable a master as sin is When you are tempted to sinne aske †Si vel Seni vel Juveni aliquid revocetur inmemoriam quod non recte videatur factum erubescunt ob dolorem dedecoris in quod sevident incurrisse Pet. Martin thy self the Question shall I displense an holy God shall I defile my soul wound my Conscience by sinne will there not be bitternes in the end When thou art tempted to uncleannesse consider â—ore hand that he that is abhorred of God is enticed of a Whore â—nd wouldest thou be abhorred of God I'have read that a young â—â—an thus tempted by a Whore bit off a peece of his Tongue that so he pain of it might divert him from so wicked a Temptation Say â—ot Whoâ—edome is a Trick of youth such youthfull tricks unless â—epented of will damne thy soule to all eternity When thou art empted to Immoderate Drinking consider before hand thy body â—hould be the Temple of the Holy Ghost shall I make it a Temâ—le for Bacchus will not dayes of mourning follow dayes of Jolliâ—ye â—nd Carrousing will not cups of trembling follow cups of healthâ—ng may not there be such an Hand-writing against me as was against Belshazzar In a word could men seriously premeditate aâ—orehand what sinne would cost them they would not so rashly â—dventure upon it to wound their conscience and displease so holy a Lord God 4. Consider the four last things Death and Judgment Hell and 4 Consider the four last things 1 Consider Death Heaven 1. Consider Death It s the statute law of Heaven That all shall dye and every one shal see death as we read Heb. 9. 27. Psal 8. 9 40. This life is of a short continuance compared to a flower a vapour a Weavers Shuttle Young dye as well as Old Upon this moment depends eternity And in eternity we return to the Land of the living We all stand at the doore of eternity we may be summond by death presently for ought we know So ought we to live every day as if it were our last day that we may have nothing to doe but to dye Wouldest thou have death call thee suddainly art thou prepared Dost thou so live as thou canst look the King of â—errours in the face and with comfort and confidence breath out thy soul unto Jesus Christ O therefore cleanse thy soul set upon the work of purification Trimme up thy soul to entertain Jesus Christ 2. Consider of the day of judgment 2 Cor. 5. 10 Consider before 2 Conâ—ider the day of Judgment hand that of Solomon Eccles 11. 9. Consider there will come a day of account As death leaves thee so judgment will find thee If thy peace be not made with God before thou dyest Judgment will return thee an enemy to Jesus Christ And if Christ be thy enemy who is thy Judge thou wilt wish that the hills might fall upon thee and that the mountaines might cover thee from the face of the Lamb. Let the consideration of the day of â—udgment be always in your thoughs and aske thy self the Question Doe I that which I can answere at the day of judgment shall I not be called to an account for these things 3. Consider the Torments of Hell the lot and portion of all 3 Consider the torments of Hell those who are unreconciled to Jesus Christ Aske thy self the Question doth not Whoredome Drunkeness c. lead thee away into the pit will not cursed delights in burning lusts end in eternall burnings Will not sinne cry aloud for its wages and bring with it but a dead pay 4. Consider of the joyes of Heaven the inheritance of the 4. Consider the joys of Heaven Saints noe unclean thing shall enter there nothing that defiles shall ever enter into the new Jerusalem Would I then be in Heaven hereafter Heaven must begin in me upon earth Doe I desire happiness I must labour to be holy Mark to whom blessedness is appropriated Psal 119. v. 1 To the undefiled and pure in heart Matth. 5. 8. Every one of these considerations seriously layd to heart may be preservatives against sinne In the next place I must prescribe some Directions which that I may doe I le descend to A third Use which shall be for direction You that would Use 3. For direction gladly have this Châ—rographum in my Text cancelled and be healed of the sores and wounds of sin I prescribe these means 1. â—e humbled to the dust for all your sins Be afflicted and Dir. 1. Be humbled for all your sins mourn let your laughter be turned into heavyness and your joy into mourning Let there
lives and keep strict Luk. 16. 2. sentinell over both That saying give an account of thy stewardship should be still ringing in the ears of Ministers Governours and Tutors We shall one day be called to an account let 's labour to be faithfull Stewards that so we may give up our account with joy and not sorrow It 's a known story that the young man committed by Euseb Hist the Apostle to the Elders care was dissolute and a companion of Theives and is there termed a dead man i. e. dead to God and goodness O let it not be our default our negligence that any under our charge are dead souls As the Captain beseeched that his life and the life of his fifty might be pretious in the Prophets eyes 2 Kings 1. 13 Whe her we have more or fewer let their souls be pretious and let us put forth our selves in all our places and capacityes to give one another a lift toward heaven A day of judgment is coming let that be a Frontlet before our eyes upon this consideration let Christians doe brotherly offices and manifest their love to the souls of their brethren Hereupon we are exhorted to avoid rash judgment Rom. 14. 10. 1 Cor. 4. 5. There 's wisdome understanding consideration all joyned together Deut. 32. 22. It s a patheticall speech and he 's a wiseman in the esteem of the Holy Ghost who considers his of latter end We should all of us fix this meditation upon our hearts entertain serious thoughts what will become of our our precious souls to all Eternity Will not a day of Judgement come May not thou or I be summon'd forthwith at that impartial Tribunal This being so What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness In the second place to confirm the Point by evidence of Reason why the consideration of the Day of Judgement should engage us unto holiness 1. Because onely holy persons shall be able to stand in Judgement Reas 1. Because only holy persons shall stand in Judgement When the wicked the Goats that stand on the left hand and shall wish that the Hills might â—all on them and that the mountains might cover them from the face of the Lamb Then shall the godly lift up their heads and behold Christ who is their Judge their Redeemer This comforted Job on the Dung-hill Rev. 20. 6. Job 19. 25. Matth. 5. 8. Heb. 12. 14. I Know that my Redeemer liveth They that are holy here shall be happy to all eternity They onely shall be partakers of the blessed Visâ—on Now it s much controverted whether the Saints shall have their sins mentioned at all at the day of Judgement some conceive that their sins shall be brought in onely as a cancell'd â—ond others are of opinion that they shall be mentioned that Gods mercy may the more be glorified in the greatness of the Pardon And others say they shall not be mentioned at all because in several Scriptures the Lord saith He will remember their sins no more and that he will câ—st all our sins into the depth of the Sea and that he casteth Isa 43. 25. Mich. 7. 19. Isa 38. 17. our sins behinde his back without all controversie that shall be done that conduceth most to â—ods glory and their happiness There 's no condemnation to the Saints the day of Judgement will be a day of refreshing to them an addition to their happiness soul and body being re-united and made companions in bliss unto all â—ternity Seeing then holy persons shall be able to look the Judge in the face since they onely shall stand in judgement the consideration of this great day should sink deep into our hearts and make deep impression upon our spirits exciting alluring and prevailing with us to a sanctified life and conversation 2. â—ecause the time of this life is the onely Season appointed 2 Reas This is the present time by God to labor after holyness The Exhortation runs in the present â—ense 1 Pet. 1. 15. 1 John 3. 3. Q. 3. But can we be perfectly holy A. We must have perfection of parts i. e. Sincerity In Heaven there will be perfection of degrees we must have truth of holyness we must begin here and strive after more In Heaven we shall attain the complement thereof we may not content our selves with what we have attained unto but we must labor after perfection pressing forward toward the mark for the price of the high calling that is in Jesus Christ as Id qui faciunt fructum colligent satione sua dignum coacervabunt enim quod male dispereat Calv in loc Gal. 6. 8. the Apostle did Phil. 3. 14. Now then consider the time of this life is the Seed-time the Harvest is reserved in Heaven As you sow so you shall reap If you sow to the flesh you shall of the flesh reap corruption if you sow to the spirit you shall of the spirit reap life everlasting Therefore in your most serious thoughts consider that you deal for life and immortallity your negotiations are for the great things of Eternity In this World in this present time of life you must labor to be holy Purgatory is a Blasphemous Popish dream No purgation left for another World No Prayer no Sermon will work upon thee after this life Here then holyness is wrought lay these things to heart 3. Because Judgement returns us just as death leaves us As the 3. Reas Because judgment returns us as death lest us Tree falls so it lies and as death leaves us so judgement will finde us He that is filthy let him be filthy still He that dies unreconciled to Jesus shall be so returned The day of Judgement is most impartially just in all proceedings And Judgement returns none neither better nor worse but as death leaves them Now then if thou livest and diest in an unregenerate estate so thou wilt remain unto all Eternity After death no tears no crys will prevail There 's no door of hope the damned are without hope and this heightens their misery Time is past time is past The Judge hath vail'd his face having past a Sentence irrevo cable Noâ— whilest you are alive on this side Hell and Eternity there 's hope left you are under the sound of the Gospel and the Ambassadoâ— are sent offering unto you terms of reconciliation We pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled to God O follow after holyness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pursue it hard give not over This day is a working 2 Cor. 5. 20. Heb. 12. 14. day and it 's but short a day of Judgement which is a day of restitution and recompense is approaching So live as you desire to die Do you desire to be happy in your deaths Labor to live holy in your lives Thus much for the Doctrinal part Now to set all home by particular Application I have five Uses to make of this Doctrine
be such a day then 1. â—e counselled to break off your sins by repentance Be sensible of the evil of your doings 2. Kisse the Son hast and delay not to make your peace with Jesus Christ for he is our prayse Eph. 2. 14. 3. Make choice of other paths enter into the way of holyness Isa 35. 8. 2 Pet. 3. 14. Then to the godly Here lyeth your duty 1. To have your thoughts meditations and desires fixed on that day Be longing for the sight of Christ coming in the clouds and pray come Lord Jesus come quickly 2. Comfort your selves with the assurance of Gods love to you so was Paul comforted 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. 3. Let your conversation be in heaven Phil. 3. 20 21. 4. Bee not afraid of death for to the Saints death is a conquered enemy the sting is taken away the Serpents teeth are knockt out What need they be afraid of death who shall be acquitted before the Judges And their Judge is their Advocate their friend their Redeemer Jesus Christ which brings in the last Doctrine Doct. 3 That at the day of judgement Jesus Christ shall be the Judge In handling of this Doctrine I shall give clear proof from Scripture and Reason then answeâ— several Queâ—ies and Objections and conclude with particular Application 1. For Scripture proof That Christ shall be judge is plain from 1 The Doctrine proved by Scripture several Scriptures viz. Joh. 5. 22 27. Act. 10. 42. Act. 17. 31. Mat. 28. 18. John 5. 21. Christ for this purpose rose again that he might be Lord over quick and dead Rom. 14. 9 10. and part of his dominion is the last judgement The Reasons why Christ shall be Judge are drawn 1 From equity Reas 1. From equity and retaliation retaliation Christ shall judge those that judged him Christ shall judge Pontius Pilate the High Priest the Jewes c. And this will be for the confusion of Christs enemies that though Christ was reproached buffered crowned with thornes and crucified set at nought by the wicked of the world yet now he shall be in triumph and be the judge of quick and dead Joh. 19. 37. They shall looke upon him whom they have pierced Reas 2. For the comfort of the godly Reas 3. For the terror of the wicked 2. Christ shall be Judge for the comfort of the godly Heb. 2. 11. Eph. 5. 30. Christ is their head redeemer elder-brother intercessour Christ hath promised everlasting life Joh. 3. 36. Joh. 5. 24. 3. For the terrour of the wicked Rev. 1. 7. But in the next place here are many questions to be resolved Q. 1. Is the Father excluded from judgement I answer Neither the Father nor the Holy Ghost are excluded The Father is said to judge by the Son Act. 17. 31. Now judgement is peculiarly by a kind of appropriation ascribed to the Son Joh. 5. 22. Pater occultus Filius manifestus as Austine observes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the whole Trinity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the Son this judgement appertains â—ut 2. It will be asked How shall Christ appear at that day Ans â—e shall 1. Appear visibly This judgement the Father hath committed to Christ God and man â—nd Chrisâ— shall not onely judge according to his divine nature but also according to his humane nature So that Christ shall be seen vissibly and locally Act. 1. 11. Mat. 24. 30. 2. Christ shall come gloriously and this will be cleared in sour Particulars 1. Hee shall come in the glory of his Father Mat. 10. 27. 2. With an innumerable company of Angels Mat. 25. 31. 3. With the sound of the trumpet 1 Thes 4. 16. 4 With Power Mat. 24. 30. 3. Christ shall come suddenly as a theef Mat. 24. 4â— As a snare Luk. 21. 34. Unexspectedly Luk. 12. 46. 1 Thes 5. 2 3. A 3. Question is whom Christ shall judge Ans The Scripture is evident Men and Angels 1 For Men universally all Men Rom. 14. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 10. both quick â—nd dead Act. 10. 42. 1 Pet. 4. 5. 2 Tim. 4. 1. 2. For Angels Jude v. 6. Rev. 20. 10. A 4. Question is What will be the manner of Christs judging To answer this Question we are to consider the preparation to this judgement the Proceeding of this Judge and the â—ule of judging 1. For preparation That will appear in these particulars 1 1 Consider the preparations to the day of judgement There will be a transmutation of heaven and earth Rev. 21. 4 5. 2 Pet. 3. 10. 2. Christ will appear in a throne of glory Mat. 19. 28. 3. There will be a summoning of all sorts of men quick and dead shall be summoned to appear before the judgement seat of Christ Joh. 5. 28 29. 1 Thes 4. 16 17. 4 There will be a separation and division a placing of the sheep on the right hand and the goats on the left hand Mat. 25. 32 33. 2 Consider the proceedings of the judge 2. Let us consider the proceedings of the Judge Wherein we are to note 1 The books shall be laid open Rev. 20. 12. The devil shall accuse Angels shall be witnesses And no need of their accusation or witness for each mans conscience shall be accuser and witness and judge Every book of conscience shall be opened and there shall be either excuseing or accuseing and Dan. 7. 10. There 's a book of Gods remembrance mentioned Mal. 3. 16. And there is a book of a mans owne conscience which shall be opened at that great day This is the book for rectifying whereof all other Ideoscribuntur omnes Labri ut unus emendetur conscientiae Bern. books were written Now there lyeth no appeal from these books no possibility of falsifying Gods book and the book of Conscience And if any one should plead not done not guilty conscience as good as a thousand witnesses would protest against it 2. In Christs proceeding we are to consider of a different sentence one of absolution the other of condemnation 1 For the sentence of absolution Mat. 25. 34. Come there is a gracious invitation ye blessed there is a comfortable appellation of my Father there is a glorious adoption inherit there is their title and donation the Kingdome there is the royalty of it prepared there is the predestination for you there is the propriety of the Saints from the foundation of the World there is the antiquity the antient tenure before the creation of Adam 2 There is a sentence of condemnation Mat. 25. 14 Depart there 's a barre of exclusion a dreadful dismission from mee there is the punishment of losse the heaviest of punishments Qui te non habet Domine Deus totum perdidit saith Bernard Ye cursed there 's their brand of infamy Into Bernard everlasting fire there 's poena Jensus exquisite unspeakable torments there 's fire to burn and torment and eternal fire no mitigation of pain unto all eternity prepared
from our bodies Yet a little while and grisly death the King of terrours will seize on us Here then must we be inquisitive what will become on our souls afterwards We see God writing vanity on all sublunary things and they are full of vexation The greatest riches are uncertain and perishing All the honours and riches in their greatest estate and confluence cannot helpe a man in the evil day nor satisfy an immortal soul nor bring a man to eternity Wherefore our great care and wisdome should be to get an endureing substance to get assurance of the love of God in Christ and his love isan eternal love We should be exhorted in the language of the Apostle Col. 3. 2 3. Set your affections on things above and not on things below For ye are dead c. Let me in a few words to press upon you the study of eternity adde these Moving considerations 1. This study of eternity is an honourable study It 's a most sublime noble study suitable to the soul The understanding of 1. Consid This is an honourable study man is a noble faculty of the soul and what more suitable for such a noble faculty to contemplate then the thoughts of eternity God and Christ and Glory the blessed vision communion with the Father and the Son these are objects fittest for the contemplations of an immortal soul What a degenerate sordid thing is it for Princes children to converse with base persons All Gods children are children of the great King of Heaven and Earth and for such to have their thoughts stuffed with trash and pelfe of the world O how unsuitable and unworthy is it The Lapwing is accounted an embleme of infelicity because she feeds on dung though she weares a Coronet upon her head Shall then our heavenly-born-being soules be prostituted to Mammon shall our thoughts be low and creeping Our thoughts and negotiations ought to be on life and immortality even the great things of eternity Our studyes and meditations should be on the things above heavenly treasures an inheritance that 's immortall undefiled that fadeth not away This is that noble that honourable study wherein we ought to be imployed 2. This study of Eternity is a most sweet delightsome soul-ravishing 2. Consid This study is sweet and delightsome study Job on the dunghill was comforted with the consideration of a better life and a glorious resurrection Job 19. 25 26 27. For I know that my redeemer liveth and this comforted Stephen when by the eye of faith he saw Christ even when the Acts 7. 55. stones were about his eares his temporall life was then a going away and he was hastening to a better That life was transient this permanent Oh! how sweet is the meditation of a God reconciled of a crowne of glory the price of our high calling This makes the Saints desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ The consideration of heavenly consolations sweeten the bitterest pills of afflictions For one moment in heaven will abundantly make amends for all our sufferings and sorrows on earth This serious consideration of Eternity will be a cordiall in all troubles I have read that Q. Eleanor suck'd the poyson out of the wound of the King her-husband I am sure the meditation of our everlasting estate will suck the poyson out of those wounds which affliction bring Oh! how delightfull is the thought of a haven to such as are tost up and down with stormes and tempests This world is a tempestuous sea rough and troublesome how delightfull is this meditation to a child of God to think I am passing through the rough sea of the world to an eternall Harbour 3. This is a most profitable study We read of treasures crowns 3. Consid This is a most profitable study high places inheritances layd up for the saints In this world riches fail in heaven is an induring substance In this world honours lie in the dust many are degraded in Heaven no degradation That honour is permanent Godliness hath the promise of this life and that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. Wherefore then should we carke and care and turmoile for the pelfe of this world and in the mean time neglect eternal riches What a doe What a hurry What sollicitous turmoyling is here to get estates in this world What projecting torturing of mens braines complying with men and times to get honours and riches in this world Whereas all these things are not bread they are not the true treasure nor abideing substance But in the mean time how few are there that labour for spiritual riches and lay up their treasures in heaven No treasure like this this onely inricheth the owners 4. And lastly this is a seasonable study What are our life 's but Consid 4. This is a most seasonable study a blast Our breaths soon depart and then all our thoughts vanish every affliction every disease puts us in minde that here is not our rest here we have not an abideing citty Revolutions of Providence read Lectures to us of the changeable condition of the world What then more proper and more seasonable then to have our hearts took off these transient things and fixed upon permanent things There is no certainty here but there is in another world The world with all it's bravery passeth away And there shall be a dissolution of this frame visible to our eyes How nearly doth it concerne us and how seasonable a duty is it to minde heavenly things to fix our thoughts meditations totum hominem totumque hominis upon those excellent things of eternity Let 's study this subject more then ever and let us make more diligent inquiry after our eternal condition THE MALE IN THE FLOCK OR The best must he offered to God Unfolded from Mal. 1. 14. But Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his Flock a Male and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing for I am a great King saith the Lord of Hosts and my Name is dreadfull among the Heathen THe first word But imports a Connexion on what went before Serm. 9. at S. Mary's Oxon Octob. 21. 1657 1 Gods love 2 The peoples ingratitude 1. Wherefore I hope it will be time well spent to premise a brief Analysis upon the whole chapter before I fall upon the words of the Text The whole chapter may be divided into two parts The former whereof containes a Protestation of Gods abundant love unto the people of the Jewes The latter containes a sad complaint and charge against them for their stupendious ingratitude Then here 's abundantly declared Gods singular love unto them and to their father Jacob v. 2. I have loved you saith the Lord yet ye say Wherein hast thou loved us was not Esau Jacobs brother saith the Lord Yet I loved Jacob and I hated Esau Jacob was elected and Esau was reprobated Neither the election of the one nor the reprobation of the other
the dore of the Sanctuary is yet opened and a * Ezra 9. 8. nail is yet left in the holy place you have bread in the morning and in the evening and more plenty of spirituall food on the Sabbath day and week daies then heretofore Much is given unto you and much required from you Where God hath sown so liberally he expects as plentifull an harvest Now you hear the joyfull sound even the word of reconciliation and substance of our Embassie is to intreat you to consider the value and dignity of your Heavenly born being soules and to seek after reconciliation otherwise you are undone to all eternity Now Christ holds out a white flag for a parley of peace now the King of Heaven holds out the golden Scepter O come and touch the top thereof and live The Port-cullis is not yet let down The Judge hath not yet vailed his face The dore of hope is not yet shut up the holy Ghost calls †Isa 55. 6. Seek the Lord whilest he may be found call upon him whilest he is neer ‖ 2 Cor. 6 2. Nemo tam divos habuit faventes crastinum ut possit sibi polliceri Senec. Now is the day of salvation None of us can promise to our selves a morrow no not the least moment of time and if we neglect this golden opportunity and season of grace offered we may never live to have another tendred unto us All the World cannot call back the least minute of time when once it is past it 's like a swift stream or an arrow out of a bâ—w not to be recalled Wherefore as you consult the eternal good of your immortal souls be intreated to improve all the prizes and Talents that God puts into your hands to get Wisdome withall When the Lord bids you seek his face O that your hearts with all readinesse might return this answer * Psal 27. 8. Thy face Lord will I seek God hath put this word into my mouth and here fixt my thoughts after I had severall other subjects in my eye and hath sent me on this very errand to treat on this great Theame of reconciliation unto God And now what message shall I return unto him that hath sent me What account shall I give at the last day of the entertainment of this word What shall I say more You have life and death set before you this day viz. The happinesse of a reconciled estate and the misery of an unreconciled estate O that the Lord would engage you all to make the better choyce by hearkâ—ing unto this word of reconciliation and unfainedly embracing the same and so your souls shall live †2. Tim. 2. 7. Consider what I have said and the Lord give you understanding in all things THE MINISTERY OF ANGELLS Heb. 1. 14. Are they not all Ministring spirits sent forth to Minister for them who shall be heires of salvation TO draw down the context to the text we are to Sermon 2. Preached at S. Marye's Oxon. Oct. 3. 1658. Vers 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Solis radii sunt ejusdem naturae cum sole ab eodem propagatione distinguuntur avelluntur nunquam hac Metaphorâ divinam filii naturam convenientissime expressit Apostolus Et character â—icitur expressa imago Archetypi Pareus in loc take speciall notice of the Excellency and dignity of Christ represented unto us in this chapter especially Vers 3. Who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power when he had by himselfe purged our sinnes sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High And by way of Comparison the Apostle further inhanceth the honour and preheminence of Christ For after he had compared Christ with the Angells he sets the Crown on Christs head his name is more excellent than theirs Vers 4. 5. Being made so much better then the Angells as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they For unto which of the Angells said he at any time Thou art my son this day have I begotten thee And againe I Will be to him a Father and he shall be to me a Son Christ is a Son the Angells his servants they may not be worshipped themselves but they must worship Christ Vers 6. 7. Let all the Angells of God worship him Of his Angells he saith who maketh his Angells spirits and his Ministers a flame of fire And further honour is ascribed to the Son which is not to Angells Vers 8. 9. Vnto the Son he saith Thy throne O God is for ever and ever a scepter of righteousnesse is the scepter of thy Kingdome Thou hast loved righteousnesse and hated iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse above thy fellowes And further Christ is a Lord and Creatour the Angells servants and creatures Christ is advanced to the Throne He is the Soveraign Lord of all Vers 13. The Angells ministering spirits subservient to Christ and at his command and when commissionated by him helpfull and serviceable unto all the children of God It is demanded by way of interrogation in the Text Are they not all Ministring spirits c. Which scripture sets forth clearly the Protection of Angells their Ministery and serviceablenesse unto the children of God A point seldome taught yet very usefull comfortable and of singular concernment unto all the children of God! And being that its the duty of the Minister to declare unto people the whole councell of God that which hath oft been in my intention I shall now endeavour to handle with all the perspicuity that I can The words contain a question Are they not all Ministring spirits Divis which being resolved the answer is obvious that the Angells are all Ministring spirits More particularly we are to observe a Description of Angells 1. From their nature Spirits 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 implied 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exprest 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. From their office Ministring 3. Their commission Sent. 4. Whose Ministers they are 1. Primarily Christs And secondarily Christs children 5. The universality All All the Angells Here 's the universality of the object and it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and universality of the subject all the Angells All that are heires none left out none exempted from the benefit of the service of all the Angells of God All that are heires of Salvation all Christs children have interest in their protection Many scruples may be made and many things require explication what requires opening shall be endeavoured in the enlargement of one intire doctrine whereon I purpose to fix Thus I propound it to you That it pleaseth God to make use of the Ministery of Angells for Doct. the good of his Children This is the point I aime at from this
after a manner enquire yet not in truth and faith his enquiring was after a slight manner after an hypocriticall formall way like that of Balaam Numb 23. 10. Let me dye the death of the righteous and let my last end be like unto his and like unto Israels howling Hos 7. 14. And they have not cryed to me with their hearts when they howled upon their beds they assembled themselves for corne and wine c. Wherefore then should we give God a slight service He requireth the Male the best of the flocks and there 's a dreadfull Curse Mal. 1. 14. Cursed be the deceiver which hath in his flock a Male and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing But in the second place here is a word of exhortation that we Vse 2. For Exhortation would all unite our forces for the Church in generall even the whole body of Christ however dispersed and distressed throughout the world How many of Christs body suffer hard things Some are imprisoned we must pray for the prisoners enlargement Some are under Antichristian Tyranny and Christ hath a Church even where Satan dwells we must pray that they may hold fast their profession without wavering Great things God hath granted to a praying people and he is the same God still as good and as gracious as ever The Army called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prayed and raine was poured down in abundance to refresh the Pagan Army of the Emperour Insomuch ex ore adversariorum it was confest great was the God of the Christians Constantine that excellent Eccl. Hist Euseb Prince and Patron of Christians would not after the example of his Predecessours suffer his picture to be drawn standing in a stately posture but kneeling for he ascribed his victories to the answer of prayers Let us remember likewise all the distressed Churches beyond the Seas such as are in misery where their enemies are the chiefe we should give them the Charity of our prayers counsells compassions purses our Bowells should be opened wide towards their release Polonia other places cry out in the language of Job to his friends Have pity upon me have pity upon me O ye my friends for the hand of God hath touched me To such as are afflicted pitty Job 19. 21. should be shewed We should all imitate the Apostle being alike affected with our Brethren rejoycing with them that rejoyce c. We should make their cases our own of this excellent temper was the Apostle Who is weake and I am not weake who is offended and I 2 Cor. 11. 29 burn not as if all the burthens of the Saints were laid upon his shoulders he was willing to beare them all Jerome writing a commentary upon Ezekiel and hearing of the sacking of Rome a place where he formerly lived was so affected that a long time he could think of nothing else He laid to heart so much the suffering of Gods people there as he imagined himselfe to be in their stead Furthermore in a more particular manner let us remember in our prayers the Land of our Nativity the Church of England Scotland and Ireland We expect shortly a Parliament and we hope in the multitude of Councellours there may be safety Formerly we have been frustrated of our expectations High-raised hopes have been disappointed That of the Prophet may truely be applyed to this purpose Hast thou utterly rejected Judah hath thy Jer. 14. 19. soule loathed Zion why hast thou smitten us and there is no healing for us We looked for peace and there is no good and for the time of healing and behold trouble We have been justly crost in our hopes because we have Idolized men and relyed too much upon an arme of flesh We are to call upon the great counsell as the man of Macedonia did Come and help us and they likewise call upon us help us with your prayers We may hope to speed the better if we pray the more Let us pray as one man that the Lord would instruct the Counselllours after his own will and teach the Senators wisdome What farther I shall speak in this use shall come under these two heads 1. What speciall things we must pray for that our Jerusalem our Church of England may be established a praise in the earth 2. What moving inducements may be assign'd to incourage us in the duty of prayer For the first Above all we must pray for the advancement of Religion for the establishing the power of Godlinesse It is Religion that beautifies and adorns a Nation the Kings daughter Gods Church and People are glorious within their decking is of pure gold Grace ennobles and puts a glorious lustre upon a people To name a few particulars 1. Let us in an especiall manner pray for the encrease of Godly 1. Pray for Magistâ—ates Magistrates Reprovers in the gate such as will do judgment and justice There is a great promise made in those Gospell daies Isaiah 49. 23. Kings shall be thy nursing Fathers and their Qâ—eens thy nursing Mothers they shall bow down to thee with their face towards the earth and lick the dust of thy feet c. Our duty is to pray for them so runs the Apostles command 1 Tim. 2. 1. I exhort therefore that first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made For all men for Kings c. Godly Rulers are a blessing to a Nation Jer. 5. 1. Run ye to and fro thorough the streets of Jerusalem and see now and know and seek in the broad places thereof if yee can find a man if there be any that executeth judgment that seeketh the truth and I will pardon it So Amos 5. 15. Hate the evill and love the good and establish judgment in the gate it may be that the Lord God of hoasts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph Where such Magistrates are we must pray for their continuance and for a supply of their mortality that the Lord would send continually such as may dispence justice impartially and may be a terror unto evill doers and a praise to them that do well 2. Pray for faithfull soul-saving Ministers Many such in mercy 2. Pray for Ministers the Lord hath given us We must pray that the Lord would increase the number of them But the Prophets live not for ever wherefore we must pray for a Godly succession of Ministers that such may be incouraged who are workmen that needeth not to be ashamed and such may be removed as unsavory salt who make the sacrifice of God to be abhorred There are yet left a faithfull remnant sound in the faith and holy in life who are as farre from Antichristianisme as their false accusers are from Charity who labour in season and out of season and are willing to spend and be spent for the salvation of soules These in an especiall manner must be incouraged by our prayers that the Lord would give them The
an inordinate love of his Brother Philips wife Saul slew many of the Amalekites but he was but a carnall man he obeyed the commandment of God too halves He was partiall in his obedience Judas was a disciple of Christ yet but a carnall man he was carried away with an inordinate lust of covetousnesse he was a Theefe and carried the bagge Joh. 12. 6. 2. Hereby we are informed what a spirituall man is he is one that crucifieth his lusts hee 's a man crucified unto the world and the world unto him hee 's a wrastler and a warrior against flesh and blood even against corruptions he makes it his businesse to give a deadly blow to them all 2. The second Use is for Reproofe of severall sorts of persons Vse 2. For Reproofe 1. It Reproves those common sort of Protestants who would be accounted Christians and Protestants but there 's no change at all wrought in their hearts nor in their lives they professe themselves Christians but they live without Christ they know not what Regeneration Adoption the new Creature meanes The old sent still remaines in them they are covetous worldly minded Sabbath-breakers swearers c. And yet these would go under the name of Christians but where 's the crucifying of the flesh where 's the mortifying of their lusts the want whereof evidently proves them to be only nominall not reall Christians 2. This Doctrine reproves such in whom there is some beginning of a change but it 's but partiall it 's not a thorough change some sinnes they leave which are most crosse to their profit and reputation but others they hugge and foster some sweet sinne some antient pleasant customary sin they will not forgoe a beloved bosome sinne they will not crucify they would have a dispensation in this with Naaman and would be faine pardoned in that but these fosterings of a darling sinne shew the heart to be rotten David profest his uprightnesse by keeping himselfe from his own iniquity Psal 18. 23. Right eyes ought to be pluckt out and right hands cut off 3. This reproves those that love not to heare their sinnes reproved if a preacher touch them to the quick and tell them of coâ—senage in the trade double dealing equivocation c. and shew them the evill of their worldly mindednesse pride and vaine glory c. They cannot abide such plaine dealing but account of such a plain dealing Preacher as Ahab accounted of Michaiah a great enemy and as the Apostle Paul himselfe was accounted an enemy because he told them the truth 3. The third Use is for Exhortation to presse home the duties Vse 3. For Exhortation of the Text to set upon this great work of crucifying the flesh let the proud man labour to crucify his pride the voluptuous man his pleasures the worldly man his covetousnesse the cholerick man his anger here 's a great work indeed it cannot be done easily There 's required sweat and blood there 's much diligence A Christian must be in fastings and watchings often often tugging hard at the oare often in prayer and wrastling with God It 's a greater victory for a man to conquer his pride anger earthly mindednesse c Then to take a City by storme Prov. 16. 32. I will cast in further two or three Considerations to move us to this duty impartially 1. Consider execution of justice upon Gods enemies is acceptable Consid 1. Execution of justice is acceptable unto God unto him after Achan was stoned the vally of Achor was a dore of hope Hos 2. 14. The workes of the flesh are enemies to God and must be destroyed impartially 2. If we be not the death of sinne it will be the death of us Consid 2. If we kill not sin it will kill us it will bring eternall death shall not we rather kill then be killed rather slay sinne and destroy it then let it slay and destroy us Every sinne is destructive to the soule there 's a pit of destruction whereinto sinners fall Psal 55. 23. 3. Of all sinnes those that are most pleasing to flesh and blood Consid 3. c. delightfull sinnes those are most pernicious and destructive to the soule Immoderate mirth and jollity at Ammons Feast were the harbingers of his ruine when his heart was merry with wine then was he slaine Le ts then every one beware of the Syren songs of the flesh let us not hearken to them least we be inchanted therewith to our utter destruction But I proceed to a fourth Use for Examination Here 's the Vse 4. For Examinat grand Question to be put home unto us all whether we are such persons that have Crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts Ans For Answer hereunto by way of Character I le set down the Properties of a crucified person 1. A crucified person hath his affections crucified to the deeds 1. Crucifixion of the affections of the flesh hee 's none of those of whom the Apostle speaks Rom. 8. 5. who mind the things of the flesh The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now a crucified person doth not rellish nor savour fleshly things his love desires hopes Joyes are not fixt upon carnall sensuall pleasures what a wonderfull change is here wrought when as in the state of unregeneracy carnall lusts sensuall pleasures took up a mans joy desire and delight his discourses heart pleasure and all These were carried downe with this stream but after God had broke in upon the heart and renewed the mind and sanctified the affections the man becomes another manner of man what he formerly lov'd now he hates what he formerly most rejoyced in are now his greatest burthens and causes of sorrow and what 's the reason Because he is a mortified person he hath mortified his members as the Apostle speaks Col. 3. 5. and not only particular members but the whole body likewise even the deeds of the body Rom. 8. 13. 2. A crucified person hath a quickning vertue from Christ 2. There 's quickning vertue from Christ to bring forth the fruits of the spirit as love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse c. Gal. 5. 22. A crucified person is dead and alive i. e. dead to the workes of the flesh and alive to the fruits of the spirit By vertue of Christs death sinne is mortified and by vertue of his resurrection we are raised up to newnesse of life 3. A crucified person is weary of the world The world is a 3. A crucified man is weary of the world burthen to him and what 's the Reason but because the love of the world is enmity against God A man upon the crosse O what paines doth he endure his heart hankers not after honours pleasures pompe and vanities hereupon the Apostle glorieth upon the crosse of Christ By whom saith he the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world Gal. 6. 14. But with a caution you must
understand this A man may not be so weary of the world as to be impatient of life and unwilling to live against the will of God with Job we must wait our appointed time till our change come Job 13. 14. Much lesse may any hasten their owne death and be their own executioner this is selfe murther It was said of Cleombrotus that when he had read over Plato's book of the Immortality of the Soule he threw himselfe down a steep Rock to be made partaker of immortality this was a desperate act of wickednesse But my meaning is this we being crucified unto the world dare not set up our rest our hearts our affections upon the world we cannot be satisfied with worldly accommodations and pleasures the soule can take no acquiescency in earthly things O how many are there that are acquainted with God of the Apostles mind Phil. 1. 23. Who have a desire to depart and to be with Christ 4. All crucified person live another life then the men of the Charact. 4. A crucified person lives another life then the men of the world doe world do they live a life that the world is not acquainted with all and that is a life of faith Gal. 2. 20. This life gives them a sacred acquaintance with God a sight of him that is invisible as was said of the Patriarchs Heb. 11. 21. Hereupon it comes to passe that they mind heavenly things have their conversation in heaven and set their affections on things above and not on things below This life of faith is a heavenly life it causeth a Christian to find a heaven upon earth it 's the sweetest of all lives none like thereunto 5. I proceed to a fifth Use for Direction and this use I shall cast Vse 5. For Direction into two heads 1. What we are to crucify 2. What duties are especially requisite for the crucifixion of them Q. 1. What we are to crucify 1. All inordinate affections 1. What we are to crucify For Answer it s said in the Text affections and lusts more particularly 1. All inordinate affections ought to be crucified as immoderate love of any earthly thing Rachel was so importunate for children as she said in a great passion Give me children or else I dye and so for joy the Rich man in the Gospell did sing a Requiem unto himselfe and said to his soule eate drinke and be merry Thus voluptuous men desire pleasures and Ambitious men desire honours and rich men hope in their riches and say to the wedge of Gold thou art our confidence 2. All Ruling lusts are to be crucified Pride Passion Envy 2. Ruling corrâ—ptions must be crucified these are to be crucified those three are to be crucified especially viz. the Lusts of the flesh the lusts of the eye and the pride of life And there 's great reason why Ruling lusts should be crucified 1. Because Ruling lusts are the fountaine of all mischiefe Jam. 4. 1. 2. They are the soules enemies 1 Pet. 2. 11. 3. They allure and entice the soule to evill 2 Pet. 2. 18. Now these impediments being thus removed the duties that are to be put in practice are these 1. To inquire after and get a knowledge of the evill and great Dut. 1. Inquire into the evill of sinne mischiefe which the waies of sinne and the pursuits of carnall Lusts bring unto the soule they are deceitfull Eph. 4. 22. We expect this and the other satisfaction from them and they beguile and deceive our expectations they are called foolish and hurtfull lusts 1 Tim. 6. 9. Destructive worldly lusts Tit. 2. 12. Dut. 2. Be acquainted with the pleasures of Godliness Dut. 3. Study the beauty riches of Christ 2. Be well acquainted with the pleasure and profit in the waies of Godlinesse for pleasure Prov. 3. 17. for profit 1 Tim. 4. 8. 3. Study the Beauty Riches and all the excellencies that are in Christ Christ is beauty it selfe he is the fairest of ten thousands for riches he hath all treasures for wisdome he is the wisdome of the Father Had men their senses exercised and their understandings inlightend they would not be such fooles as to pursue brutish pleasures and vaine delights and in the meane time neglect their pretious soules Had men their eyes in their heads they would not make merchandise of trifles and neglect the pearle of price but multitudes there are now a daies who bestow more paines to satisfy a lust then to get Jesus Christ and with lesse paines they might get Christ then get a lust satisfied 4. Give not the least liberty to the flesh to sinne Christians Dut. 4. Give not liberty to the flesh to sinne have great liberty by Christ but no liberty to sinne no allowance in any lust not for a Cloake of Malitiousnesse 1 Pet. 2. 16. Saints are not the Servants of Corruption 2 Pet. 2. 19. 5. Labour to keep thy body undefiled Know yee not that your Dut. 5. Keep thy body undefiled body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6. 19. Shall I prostituâ—e my body to Mammon c. Shall a lust be entertained in Gods Temple shall a base lust be where Gods Temple should be Christ will not dwell in a polluted body in a cage of uncleane birds Dut. 6. Be a fighting against every corruption 6. Be a fighting wrastling and strugling against every corruption never lay down thy armes but hold up thy weapons fighting against every corruption Labour to destroy the flesh by the sword of the spirit take the whole armour of God as you are exhorted Eph. 6. 13. 7. And lastly apply Christ crucified home unto your owne Dut. 7. Apply Christ crucified unto the soule soules and believe that Christ is not only crucified for us but that we are crucified with him Where this faith is sinne shall have no dominion over you Believe that Christ is able to subdue thy lusts and mortify thy corruptions and therefore go to him for strength to conquer thy lusts and begge that he would beate downe Satan under thy feet believe that help is laid on Christ who is mighty and that he is able to save to the uttermost Heb. 7. 25. Do thou thy duty in striving against sinne and apply Christ by faith and believe that there 's vertue in his blood to cure thee of all diseases His blood is the blood of sprinkling which speaks better things then the blood of Abel His blood is mortifying blood cleansing healing meritorious blood Go then to Christ for victory against sinne Christ is the great Phisitian only able to heale thee He is a Counsellour for wisdome a Rock for strength a Treasure for riches a Fountaine opened There 's fulnesse in him Col. 1. 19. compare this with Joh. 1. 16. And of his fulnesse we have received grace for grace 6. The sixth Use is for Consolation unto Gods Children who Vse 6. For Consolation have been
begotten of the Father full of grace and truth And this is the great mystery of Godlinesse mentioned 1 Tim. 3. 16. And without controversy great is the mistery of godlinesse God was manifest in the flesh justified in the spirit seen of Angells preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up into glory Christ was God from all Eternity Joh. 8. 58. Jesus said unto them Verily verily I say unto you before Abraham was I am There he speaks of his Godhead A further proofe we have Phil. 2. 6. Who being in the forme of God thought it not robbery to be equall with God Compare this with Zech. 13. 7. Awake O sword against my shepheard and against the man that is my fellow saith the Lord of hosts smite the shepheard and the sheep shall be scattered and I will turne mine hand upon the little ones This is love unparrelleld unexpressible 4. Christ himselfe voluntarily undertook this great work of Proposit 4. Christ voluntarily undertook the worke of our Redemption our redemption he laid down his own life freely And because the Godhead could not suffer death he united our nature unto himselfe and took flesh upon him There are two words setting forth his humiliation Phil. 2. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he made himselfe of no reputation c. Joh. 1. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and he dwelt among us c. He took the man hood as if he should unite a clodde of dust unto himselfe who was God from all Eternity As if the Antient of daies should become the infant of daies the Eternall God become a Child As if he that the heaven of heavens could not containe should be inclosed nine months in the wombe of a Virgin Thus it was in respect of his humane nature he was born of Virgin wrapt in swadling cloathes laid in a manger He who had heaven and earth at his command was laid in a manger Herein appeares the singular love of Christ in condescending to take mans nature to take a body that he might accomplish the great work of our redemption by suffering upon the crosse Heb. 10. 5 6 7. Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not but a body hast thou prepared me In burnt offerings and sacrifice for sinne thou hast had no pleasure Then said I loe I come in the volumne of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God 5. Christ by his active and passive obedience made full compleate Proposit 5. Christ by his obedience hath made full satisfaction and absolute satisfaction to his Fathers Justice for all those that were given him by the Father Rom. 3. 25. Whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousnesse for the remission of sinnes that are past through the forbearance of God To the same effect the Apostle speaks Eph. 2. 13. But now in Christ Jesus yee who sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the blood of Christ Col. 1. 20. And having made peace through the blood of his Crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himselfe by him I say whether they be things in earth or in heaven Christ gave himselfe a sacrifice to expiate for sinne He trod the winepresse of his Fathers sury By his stripes we are healed who his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his owne body on the tree that we 1 Pet. 2. 24. being dead to sinne should live unto righteousnesse by whose stripes we are healed He is the reconciler Col. 1. 20. The price of our redemption 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 6. 20. For yee are bought with a price Matth. 20. 28. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministred unto but to minister and to give his life a ransome for many See Christ's great end of coming into the world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to give his life a ransome for many Christ is the high Priest that entred into the holy of holiest and offered up himselfe a sacrifice Thereby as a surety he paid our debt satisfied his Fathers justice to the utmost Isai 53. 5 11. But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed He shall see of the travell of his soule and be satisfied by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many for he shall beare their iniquities And this is a thorough satisfaction 2 Cor. 5. 21. For he hath made him to be sinne for us who knew no sinne that we might be made the righteousnesse of God in him Tit. 2. 14. Who gave himselfe for us that he might redeeme us from all iniquity and purify unto himselfe a peculiar people zealous of good workes Hereby we are justified Rom. 5. 9. Much more being now justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him Hereby we are sanctified Rev. 1. 5. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithfull witnesse and the first begotten of the dead and the Prince of the Kings of the earth unto him that loved us and washed us from our sinnes in his owne blood Feare not we are now made nigh Eph. 2. 13. But now in Christ Jesus yee who were farre of are made nigh by the blood of Christ By him we are reconciled Col. 1. 20. And having made peace through the blood of his Crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himselfe by him I say whether they be things in earth or in heaven By Christ we are blessed Gal. 3. 13 14. Christ hath redeemed us from the Curse of the law being made a Curse for us for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us And that Christ doth fully satisfy is evident because he continually interceds for his people and pleads the vertue and benefit of his perfit satisfactionion Heb. 7. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the utmost that come unto God through him seeing he ever liveth make intercession for them And what was the motive that moved him to do all this for his people to be incarnate to live on earth amongst sinners to suffer reproaches contempts and infamies what moved him to drinke that bitter Cup to poure his blood out of his side and become obedient unto the death of the Crosse Nothing moved him but his love his good will his compassion moved him to heale bodily diseases and his compassion love and mercy moved him to heale soule diseases 6. This love of Christ is a distinguishing speciall love for a peculiar Proposit 6. The Love of Christ is a distinguishing Love sort of people He sweat drops of blood in the garden he was afflicted smitten wounded but all this he endured for the transgression of his own people Isai 53. 8. He was taken from prison and from judgment and who
the heart of a man glad and oyle makes him have a chearfull countenance and the field is so pretious as Solomon tells us Eccles 5. 9. The King himselfe is served by the field Moreover flocks in the fold and herds in the stalls are of continuall use and service unto man weigh them together and they will proove too light they will frustrate thy hope and renew thy feares and griefes Let me instruct thee in this truth that Gods owne people may be brought unto such great streights and miseries as all creature comforts may faile them Now it 's the time of their triall for the time of miserie tries the truth and sincerity of their faith when they are almost ready to sinke and to be overwhelmed with sorrowes then most opportunely the Lord reacheth out a Cable to draw them out In the most tempestuous weather hope remaines the Anchor of their soules be their hearts never so much over-clowded with sorrow they are revived by the joy of Gods reconciled countenance It 's God alone who is the supporter of the sinking soule they feele sweetnesse in God surpassing the sweetnesse of the fig-tree they feele refreshings in him incomparably more delightfull then those which the Vine and Olive affords and they feed on food which the world knowes not of even the bread of life which yeilds more nutritive and reall sustenance then all the flocks and herds in the universe The Lord is the Godly mans food comfort rejoycing his only joy God is all in all nay better then all unto him Hee 's a Portion Treasure Rock what not to his Children Whereupon out of the strength of faith he breakes forth with my Prophet into this heroicall resolution yet I will rejoyce c. My Text is the Triumph of a Christian or the sanctuary of an Divis afflicted soule in the very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or highest pitch of afflictions The first word in my Text is a redditive particle tamen yet this resembles a prop and a supporter to a house which holds it up against blustering winds and stormess Secondly Here 's the person I i. e. the Prophet Habakkuk Thirdly His resolution expressing strength of affection I will rejoyce I will joy the Septuagint renders them by two words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The joy is more then ordinary for here 's an exaltation he leapes for joy and takes much delight and comfort in it Fourthly The object which is described by his names topfull of power comfort and mercy a Lord a God and a God of salvation Each Title is a severall forcible argument to excite and elevate the affection Fifthly and lastly here 's the Propriety hee 's mine The pronoune possessive mine appropriates the divine goodnesse unto a mans selfe in particular and this makes Application of this most comfortable doctrine The version of the septuagint is most Emphaticall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Each name hath an Article prefixt to make the Emphasis greater The summe and scope of all comes to this effect the prophet was very sensible of the â—violls of Gods wrath powred down upon the Nations the whole world was in a combustion one misery fell upon the neck of another as one billow in a tempestuous sea followed another how could he think himselfe secure why might not instruments of death be prepared against him and he have his share in these common calamities but this prudent man hath a remedy to apply to these sores amidst these stormes he can find a hiding place for shelter though sorrowes come thick and threefold yet heel 'e have recourse unto his God and fetch down joy and consolation from him in abundance From hence observe this experimentall truth of Doctrine which shall constitute the subject of my ensuing meditations That when all creature comforts faile us and render our outward Doct. condition disconsolate then there appeares sure mercies and comforts superabundant matter of Consolation of joy and rejoycing in the Lord our God Or take the point more briefly thus Amidst all sorrowes losses and crosses joyes supplies and comforts are to be found in the Lord our God Yet saith my Prophet I will rejoyce in the Lord. The verse immediatly following set's out the exuberance of joy pressed by strength of Argument The Lord God is my strength Look for no strength else-where in him it 's most eminent Admit thou art exceeding weake yet God is strong and his strength will be manifested in thy weaknesse The consideration of the divine supportation that it is sufficient for thee should animate thee to trust thy God with all thy comforts he goes on and he will make thy feet like hinds feet and he will make me to walke upon mine high places i. e. he will give me strength and agility to break through all oppositions and therefore the last breath he puts out is Eucharisticall To the chiefe singer on my stringed instruments You see it cleare in my Text the Prophet David professed out of universall experience that Gods rod and his staffe did comfort him and in the multitude of his sorrowes Gods comforts refresht his soule He had fainted but for the goodnesse of the Lord. This holy man was a man of sorrowes and yet a man of comforts the wrath of Saul was inkindled against him and The wrath of a King saith Salomon is like the roaring of a Lion He pursued him like a Partridge on the mountaines and when he was at the brinke of danger then appeares a method of deliverances when he was hemm'd in and compassed round about then the divine providence contrived a way to escape then there came a messenger unto Saul saying Hast thee and come for the Philistines have invaded the land wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David and went against the Phylistines In this streight an unexpected providence procures his preservation Indeed if we had leisure to inquire into the passages of the divine disposing hand concerning this one man we should conclude them to be as so many continued Acts of the Finger of God When Ziglag was burnt and the people wept till they could weepe no more even then in that lamentable condition David encouraged himselfe 1 Sam. 30. 6. in the Lord his God His God refresht his drooping spirit he was more pretious more sweet unto his soule then a goodly habitation the wife of his bosome a numerous posterity The least glimpse of comfort from the blessed Trinity makes amends for all Not to passe by poore Hagar when her bottle was spent and she cast under a shrub her child expecting ever and anon his death and in the bitternesse of her soule she lift up her voyce and wept then God opened her eyes and she saw a wâ—ll of water and over and above God promiseth to make him a great nation Gen. 21. 18 19. Here 's sorrow turn'd into joy and God himselfe becomes the comforter The three children had the presence of God for their preservation in the flames Daniel
had the Angell of the Lord to shut the Lions mouth Job saw a redeemer comforting him in the dunghill Peter had an Angell to deliver him God will have the prisoner the shackles fall off the dores fly open the Iron gate opens of it's owne accord Herod though he thought that he had made all sure worke must be disappointed 'T is true Peter was a sleepe he might dream of no such thing Gods people who have peace with God and their Consciences can enjoy quiet rest and repose in a prison Thus you see how God performes his promise to his people in giving unto them the oyle of joy for mourning beauty for ashes the garment of praises for the spirit of heavinesse God is alwaies at hand to support his servants to bring them out of the greatest streights O that thou wouldst in the greatest feares and dangers expostulate on this wise with the Kingly Prophet David Psal 42. 11. Why art cast downe O my Soule and why art thou disquieted within me hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance and my God and with the blessed Apostle thou may'st argue What Rom. 3. 31. shall we say then to these things if God be for us who can be against us Let the world the flesh and the Devill the three grand enemies of thy soule muster up all their forces against thee yet raise up thy spirit be of good courage and feare not if the Lord be on thy side thou hast more with thee then against thee For the further confirmation of this truth I find foure Arguments 4. Argum. drawn from the Text. to my hand in my Text I say in the most piercing sorrows there 's still left matter of rejoycing in God 1. Because he is stiled Lord. 2. He is stiled a God 3. A God of Salvation 4. A God of our Salvation 1. He is the Lord Jehovah and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are promiscuously used 1. Lord. in the Septuagint this is a name of Dominion Soveraignty and Majesty he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of himselfe Lord of all David pickt much comfort out of this name the Lord was his shepheard refuge buckler rock of defence and therefore the close of Psal 144. 15. is full of comfort Happy is that people that is in such a case yea happy is that people whose God is the Lord. O do not stand in thy own light and inhance thy griefe by refusing comfort with Rachell Art thou in a tottering condition ready to sink under thy burthen Consider the promise Psal 37. 17. The Lord upholdeth the righteous and vers 24. The Lord upholdeth him with his hand Art thou as weak as water and thy heart failes thee like water spilt upon the ground Yet couldst thou believe with David The Psal 29. 11. Lord will give strength unto his people and the Lord will blesse his people with peace then thy life would be more comfortable thou wouldst go on couragiously in the strength of the Lord and be confident in the power of his might Although no comfort appeares in thy Horrizon yet could'st thou but wait upon the Lord and by patience possesse thy soule so many thoughts of Infidelity would not arise in thy soule didst thou but delight thy self in the Lord thou wouldst soone discerne all thy desires satisfied This name of Lord as it 's a name of Power and Majesty so of joy and Consolation and hence we are instructed in a submissive deportment fixing our resolutions upon this argument with old Elie 1 Sa. 3. 18. It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good and with Hezekiah when he received heavy tidings Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken The consideration hereof makes a dutifull child kisse the rod because the Lord sends it it holds up a mans heart and makes a man cheerefull under the pressure of a smarting crosse because the soule can discerne the hand of the Lord. Thus you see what 's the fuell to inkindle thy joy what matter of rejoycing this comfortable name of Lord administers unto thy soule and therefore this should be a prevailing argument with thee to rejoyce because it is in the Lord. 2. From the glorious name of God abundant matter of joy 2 God is derived upon thy soule I stand not upon usuall Etymologies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For it is undoubtedly true that God fills all places and knowes all things Omnipresence and Omniscience are his peculiar Attributes Men are circumscribed to a place and when they are present with us are unable to afford the least help and succour unto us but the Lord is every where and hath a store house of comforts for the supplying of our necessities David professeth that God is our refuge and strength a Psal 46. 1. very present help in time of trouble God is good to Israel even to such as are of a cleane heart Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered Psal 73. 1. and let those that hate him fly before him When God goeth Psal 68. 1. forth with an Army one shall be able to chase a thousand and two to put ten thousand to fleight When a man hath a lingring sicknesse and hee 's become a very Skeleton let him know that unto God belongs the issues from death When the church is under hatches and a furious enemie makes havock of it yet there 's a God in heaven which judgeth the Nations who will wound the hairy Scalpe of the wicked his heire will not be his safe-guard God can bring light out of darknesse and now in the times of afflictions hee brings out the most pretious Cordialls unto his people when friends the dearest and nearest forsake thee thou art no looser when thy God takes care for thee when thy heart is overwhelmed with sorrow if God let downe some spirituall refreshments then thou canst hold up thy head with comfort If where ever thou goest bonds imprisonments and afflictions and all the calumnies and Nick-names which the malice of man or Devill can invent continually attend thee yet all these shall cooperate for thy good they shall do no more harme then the Arrow did Christ which Julian the Apostate threw into the ayre or the doggs unto the Moon notwithstanding their daily barking It was the sweet saying of a devout Martyr Who would have thought that in a prison I should have found a Palace in an infernall dungeon a Paradise of pleasure Where God is sweetnesse may be extracted from the most bitter pill of affliction This is a second Argument of Comfort drawne from the sacred name of God But if these names are not effectuall to set thy affections a working 3. God of Salvation here 's an unparalled expression in the third Argument the sweet name of a Jesus hee 's a God of Salvation and therefore saith a Father Exultabo in Deo Jesu meo Salvation belongs to
the Lord Psal 3. 8. And from hence the Psalmist drawes a practicall inference Psal 9. 4. I will rejoyce in thy Salvation Hereupon the Kingly Prophet in a hard time when God frowned upon him as they say skilfull Chymists can extract oyle out of a flint found Serenity in this meditation Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my Song he also is become my Salvation Therefore saith the Prophet With joy yee shall draw water out of the wells Isai 12. 3 4. of Salvation In the Prophesy of Obadiah where direfull menaces are threatned against the Edomites and indeed the whole Prophesy may resemble that Scrole of Ezekiel full fraught with mourning Lamentation and woe but the day cleares up and the Catastrophe is most pleasant vers 21. And Saviours shall come upon mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau and the Kingdome shall be the Lords You cannot imagine how welcome redemption is to a Turkish gally slave and in a dangerous skirmish a Rescuer is gratefull Le ts then pawse a while and consider former gratious passages of Gods dealings towards us when we were at our wits end our contrivances were nonplus'd and we knew not which way to turne us and we were ready to perish then the Lord breakes in and discovers wayes and meanes for our preservation Let your particular experiences suggest instances in this particular When there were but a heyre's breadth between us and death then the same God that brought us to the grave raised us up When men and Devills banded themselves in opposition against us when the Pope and his Cardinalls contrived the Spanish invasion and when that miscarried there followed a conspiracy in the Vault a deed of Romish darknesse then appear'd a God of Salvation to blow and scatter their Shipps and afterward to bring deliverance betweene the match and the powder Maugre all the plots and projects of all Achitophells and underminers of Zion blessed be God we are here alive as you see this day to Celebrate the Praises of the God of our Salvation 4. And so I am fallen upon my fourth and last Argument in my 4. My. Text drawne from that propriety My I speak not of a good by heare say in which others have the sole interest but it 's our own The God of my Salvation the pronoune Possessive My reduceth the comfort unto my selfe and intitles me unto it by a particular application The use and vertue of medicines is knowne when they are applied and the most comfortable promises of God and doctrines of Salvation then proove effectuall unto my soule when I make use of them in my life and Conversation How frequently doth David call God the God of our Salvation Moses having a large testimony hereof by the overthrow of Pharaoh and his host breakes forth into this triumphant Song Exod. 15. 2. The Lord is my strength and my song he is become my Salvation he is my God and I will prepare him an habitation my Fathers God and I will exalt him Certainly my brethren Christians would lead more comfortable lifes ever find a heaven upon earth if they could make a profitable Observation of Gods former dealings each one with himselfe in particular Men are apt to sink under the sense of any present evill that presseth them because they reflect not upon Gods former waies of mercies towards them It were an excellent course todraw home such Experimentall Arguments as these I have knowne a famine and felt a pinching season when scarce I could get bread from hand to mouth I out-liv'd that time the divine providence cared for me and carried me through that plunge and distresse I have felt a sore disease and have been in the mouth of the grave and yet I live to praise Gods power I have drunke deepe of the cup of affliction I have been even drencht in my owne sorrowes and yet out of them all the Lord hath delivered me and let his countenance shine upon me I have known feares and troubles dangers and distractions both in Church and state yet the Lord became the Reconciler and brought all to a blessed conclusion and still there 's the same God as full of bowells of compassion to commiserate our calamities as full of power to effect of wisdome to contrive as full of fidelity to performe his owne promises as before and therefore my resolution stands firme and unmoveable that I will wait upon God in the waies of his own mercy and rest in the constancy immutability indeficiency of that God with whom there is no variablenesse nor shadow of change Had men such spirituall prudence as to uphold their hearts by their experiences and review often Gods former proceedings they might with more stablisht and quiet affections expect the salvation of the Lord againe I have resum'd these Arguments as you find them layd downe in my Text A Lord and willing A God and able A Saviour and my Saviour each word severally abounds in comfort and now when they are all united how much do they concurre to the complement and perfection of our joy I told you before to this effect that no condition was ever so disconsolate but still some matter of joy and rejoycing was to be found in God Me thinks I could dwell upon this sweet Theme and say as Peter said at Christs transfiguration It 's good being here For the further discovery of this most excellent and necessary truth be pleased to weigh and seriously consider with me these five cleare and evident demonstrations 1. All joy and comforts are treasured up in God 5. Demonstrations 2. There 's no reall solid joy to be found else-where 3. Amidst the greatest crossesse streights and extremities then is Gods opportunity to send comforts causing them to appeare and shew themselves 4. The least of Gods comforts will make a super abundant recompense for all the discomforts in the world 5. And lastly all the waies and proceedings of God are waies and proceedings of joy and comfort For the further Inlargment of these particulars 1. I say all 1. All comforts are treasured up in God comforts are treasured up in God There must needs be water at the well head there must needs be drops in the Ocean God is the Fountaine and Originall of all our Consolations The earth saith the Psalmist is full of thy riches so is this great and wide Psal 104. 24 25. sea where in are things creeping innumerable both small and great beafis What canst thou want if thou hast made God thy portion thou maist say with Jacob I have enough I have all In Christ all fulnesse dwells Col. 1. 19. In Christo est quicquid requiritur ad Davenant in Loc. conâ—tituendum perfectum Redemptorem There 's in Christ fulnesse of wisdome to direct fulnesse of power to defend fulnesse of merit to satisfy and effect mans salvation fulnesse of righteousnesse
all this to the soule His Mammon is his God the wedge of gold is his confidence Hee 's earth'd before his time his heart is rivetted upon the world Surely he dreames of an eternity upon earth and of heaven upon earth Hee heeds not nor regards any hereafter His breath smels of earth his discourse is earthly his whole life and conversation is an earthly worldly conversation But what will all his riches availe him when death arrests him See Zeph. 1. 18. Luk. 12. 17 18 19 20 and the 21. v makes the Application Thou canst not carry thy riches to another world they cannot bribe the flames of hell nor corrupt the Tormentor wherefore then shouldst thou labour thus greedily for that wich is not bread for those things which are not wherefore shouldst thou take such care for trash and pelfe the base transitory trash of the of the world which lasts but for a short season and in the interim neglect thy pretious soule which abides unto all eternity O! that God would alter thine affections as Col. 3. 2. O! that God would work in thee a serious beliefe of this truth that thy soul is more worth than all the world 3ly Let me expostulate the case with the ambitious man who aspires unto great places dignities honours and promotions in the world What are all these in comparison of his soule Many have great Titles honourable names in this world who shall be degraded of all in the world to come What 's honour It 's but momentany Honor est in honorante it 's that which a wicked man may have Haman Nimrod Hâ—red had it What would rich Coates of armes great dignitis popular observance advantage thy pretious soule The Apostle tels us not many 1 Cor. 1. 26. c. Hee doth not say not any some are ennobled by a spiritual as well as by a natural birth But oft times great dignities preferments honours promotions are clogges and hinderances to the soule Marcus Galâ—acius Caracciolus knew it well and renounced all for Christ so did Moses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 11. 24. So must thou What high places preferments dignities thou fearest will insnare thy soule and withdraw thee from Christ thou must foregoe them all so farre forth as they stand in competition with or opposition unto Christ What will it profit thee to have a great name written on earth but no name at all written in the book of life Wherfore then doest thou pursue high preferments see Jer. 45. 5. Art thou fit and preferred for those great high places thou lookest after Hast thou taken an Antidote before hand to prevent the poysonous inflations of pride Or art thou sure thou shalt speed and obtaine thy desire Honor fugientem sequitur sâ—quentem fugit see Psal 75. 6. Prov. 3. 35. Remember Haman's period Wolseyes fall c. Thou that art higher by the head than thy brethren as Saul was elevated to great dignities must come the same way to heaven as the poorest Christian Wherefore then should any man labour more for greatness than goodness preferring favour of men before the favour of God high places on earth before the high places in heaven The reason is because they prefer the world before their soules Consider seriously of all these The voluptuous Epicure never ceaseth swallowing the covetous Mammonist never ceaseth scraping the ambitious Parasite never ceaseth climbing But what will it profit the voluptuous man to have his fill of pleasures the covetous man to have his coffer crammed with gold the Ambitious man to have honours promotions and great titles enough to clogge his memory and yet in the interim to lose their pretious soules Let your serious thoughts be exercised herein and then return an answer whether your soules be not of more value than the whole world I proceed to a third Use for exhortation Suffer I beseech you the Use 3. For Exhortation word of exhortation above all other things to take speciall regard and care what will become of your soules to all eternity above all your gettings get this understanding to know the incomparable worth of your immortall soules Above all trades which you drive for the world learne this soule trade this soule thrist I perswade you to take the most thriving most gainfull way in the world whereas others labour for corne and oyle wealth dignities which are failing perishing things which are not bread and cannot satisfie let me perswade you to labour for that which endureth to eternity Be therefore good husbands for your soules learne this spirituall husbandry to improve your time talents and opportunities for the everlasting benefit of your pretious soules Tell men of a wise rich honourable thriving way for the world they will readily embrace it I represent before you this day the most wise rich honourable thriving way for your pretious soules This course is wise Deut. 32. 29. It 's rich and honourable Prov. 3. 16. The godly are most honourable It 's thriving and gainfull 1 Tim. 6. 6. Up and set about the worke Above all workes work out your salvation with fear and trembling Methinks I might spare Motives what will ye not doe good to your own soules Will you neglect your choicest Jewell will you leave your soule at randome neglected unregarded Do ye not know the singular worth of your soule To quicken your affections I shall recommend to your serious thoughts these 9 moving considerations 1. One soule is more pretious then all the kingdomes of the Consid 1. One soule is more worth than the world world and the glory of them Seest thou a poor man picking off a dunghill old cast rags another picking sticks or coles out of the kennel almost ready to famish by reason of hunger or to starve for want of fire seest thou others working for a penny a day going many a mile to earn a penny and scarce able to go through weaknesse however these poore people may seem vile and contemptible in the eyes of the world yet their soules are more worth and highlier to be valued then all the pomp and bravery of the world My Reasons are 1 Because the world is transitory fading perishing the soule permanent abiding to eternity The forme of the world passeth away this goodly structure of this visible globe shall be dissolved and burnt up with fire but the soule is incorruptible capable of no consumption now that which is permanent is of more worth then that which is transient therefore the soule is more worth then the world Secondly all the riches honours bravery c. in the world cannot redeem one soule If a man would give all his lands gold and silver c. to save his soule it could not be obtained the Mannors Lands and richest treasures of the whole world put altogether cannot purchase one soule the soule cannot be bought nor purchased by such a price when death arrests a sinner to appeare before the judgement seat the sinner would give