to make the glory of God his supream scope Now there is not a wicked man on earth that do's or can eate oâ— drink c. to divine glory he do's not nor cannot set up the glory of God as the chiefe and ultimate end of his natural and common actions Now who but fooles in folio will reason thus wicked men are to eate and drink c. to divine glory but this they cannot doe Titus 1.15 and therefore wicked men must neither eate nor drink c. But Fifthly The force and spirit of this objection if there were any in it lyes as flat and full against all other religious duties as it do's against prayer it lyes as strong against hearing reading and meditating on the word c. as it do's against prayer and who but such who are sadly left of God and wofully blinded by Satan will be so wretched as to say wicked men must neither heare the word nor reade the word nor meditate on the word because they cannot doe these actions in faith and whatsoever is not of faith is sin Rom. 14. ult But Sixthly There are those that can say by experience that the first special work of God that ever they perceived on their own hearts was while they were pleading with God at the throne of grace there are those that have brought proud hearts to the throne of grace but have returned with hearts humbled and that have brought hard hearts but have gon away with hearts graciously broken and melted and that have brought carnal hearts but returned with spiritual hearts and that have brought worldly hearts but returned with heavenly hearts God sometimes heares prayers for his own sake and for his Sons sake and for his glories sake and for his promise sake when he will not heare prayers for the sinners sake But Seventhly Sinfull omissions lead to sinful commissions yea sometimes they lead to ruine As you may see in the Angels that fell from the highest heaven to the lowest hell and in Adam who fell in paradise from the highest pinacle of glory to the lowest step of sin and misery Those Reprobates in that 25 Math. did not rob the Saints but only omitted the relieving of them and this proved a damning to them Rich Dives did not rob the poore but his not relieving of them was his ruine Luke 16. Moab and Ammon were banished the Sanctuary to the tenth Generation for a meere omission because they met not Gods Israel in the Wilderness with bread and water Deut. 23.3 4 6. Look as the omission of good dyet breeds natural diseases in the body so doth the omission of good duties breed spiritual diseases in the soul all â—â—nful omissions make worke for hell or for the Physitian of souls Oh man thou doest not know what deadly sin what deadly temptation may follow upon a meere single omission Origen going to comfort and encourage a Martyr that was to suffer was apprehended by the Officers and constrained either to offer to the Idolls or to have his body abused by a Blackamore that was ready prest for that service being thus hard put to it to save his life he bowed to the Idolls but afterwards when he came to himselfe he sadly bewailes his sin and confesseth that he went forth that morning without making his prayers unto God which sinful omission God did so severely punish by leaving of him to fal into so great a sin which pierc'd his soul through with many sorrows I am apt to think that many a sin many a snare and many a fall might have been prevented if such and such religious duties had not been omitted sinful omissions prepare the way to sinful commissions and both prepare the way to a fatal destruction I believe many men had never been so abominable vicious if they had not first cast off religious duties he that lives in the neglect of prayer tempts more Devils then one to beset his soule yea to destroy his soule c. But Eighthly and lastly there are several weighty arguments that may be produced to prove that 't is the duty of wicked and unconverted men to performe religious duties as to pray and seek the Lord c. Among the many that may be brought forth I shall only give you these fix First This is evident from divine commands as you may clearly see by comparing of these Scriptures together Isa 55.6 7. Acts 8.21 22 23. Psal 65.2 1 Thes 5.17 Pray without ceasing is an indefinite injunction and who art thou oh man that darest to prohibite what God commands are not his commands oblieging and may not disobedience to the least of them cost thee thy life thy soul thy all Gods commands are neither to be slighted censured nor neglected woe to him that looks upon great commands as little commands and little commands as no commands Math. 23. Oh Sirs 't is a very dangerous thing to act or run Counter-cross to Gods express command it may cost a man deare as you may see in that sad Story 1 Kings 13.24 The Heathens indeed would frequently run cross to their gods commands for when their gods commanded them to offer up a man they would offer up a Candle and so Hercules when he was to offer up a living man he offered up a painted man but do's it become Christians to deale thus with the great God with the living God with the God of gods as the Heathens did by their gods surely no Gods commands are not like unto the commands of the Heathens that might be contradicted and changed but they are like to the commands of the Medes that cannot be reversed nor changed they must be Evangelically obeyed or you will be eternally destroyed Jer. 35.2 5 6 7. Psal 103.20 The Rechabites were very rigid observers of their fathers commands and will you make slight of Gods commands and the Angels that excell in strength doe his Commandements and will you despise them why should the peasant scorne that work in which the Prince himself is engaged But Secondly Prayer is a natural worship and is incumbent upon all men as they are created by God prayer is a duty which the very Law of nature as well as the Law of the word lays upon men And this you may see in those Pagans Jonah 1. â— The Marriners cryed every man to his god That there is a God and that this God is to be called upon are lessons that are taught in natures Schoole Isa 45.20 They pray to a god that cannot save for any man to say a wicked man ought not to pray is to say a wicked man ought not to worship God nor acknowledge him to be his maker and who but such who are either blinde or mad dare speak such language Certainly they that live in the neglect of prayer under the Gospel sin against a double light the light of nature and the light of the Gospel and therefore they shall be double-damn'd there is no hell to these
work to his praying work to his mourning work to his repenting work to his believing work to his waiting work though nothing comes on it though he make no earnings of it though comfort doth not come though joy and peace doth not come though assurance doth not come though enlargements do not come though answers and returns from heaven do not come though good dayes do not come though deliverance doth not come yet such will keep close to their work that have their eye upon divine glory But now such who eye not the glory of God in what they do they quickly grow weary of their work if they can make no earnings of their seekings and fastings and prayings they are presently ready to throw up all and to quarrel with God himself as if God had done them an injurie Isa 58.1 2 3 4. Fifthly and lastly A man that really aims at the glory of God in this or that duty he cannot be satisfied nor contented with the performance of duties without some enjoyments of God in duties without some converse and communion with God in duties his soul cannot be satisfied his soul thirsts and longs to see the beauty and the glory of the Lord in his sanctuary Psalm 63.1 2 3. and without this sight he cannot be quieted Here is the Ordinance but where is the God of the Ordinance Here is prayer but where is the God of prayer Here is the duty but where is the God of duty Here is enlargements but where is the God of enlargements Here are meltings and breakings of spirit but where is the God of these meltings and breakings Psalm 84.2 My soul longeth yea even fainteth for the Courts of the Lord My heart and my flesh cryeth out for the living God The Courts of the Lord without spiritual converses with the living God could not satisfie his soul O saith he Here be the Courts of the Lord the Courts of the Lord but where is the living God where is the living God where is that God that makes men to live and that makes Ordinances to be living lively Ordinances to his childrens souls O the Courts of the Lord are very desireable but the living God is much more desirable The Courts of the Lord are precious and glorious but the living God is infinitely more precious and glorious Here is the mantle of Elijah but where is the God of Elijah 2 Kings 2.12 13 14. Mr. Fox Acts and Mon. Here are the Courts of the Lord but where is the Lord of these Courts It was the speech of holy Mr. Bradford That he could not leave a duty till he had found communion with Christ in the duty he could not give off a duty till his heart was brought into a duty frame he could not leave confession till he had found his heart humbled and melted under the sense of his sin he could not give over petitioning till he had found his heart taken with the beauties of the things desired and strongly carried out after the enjoyment of them Neither could he leave thanksgiving till he had found his spirit enlarged and his soul quickned in the return of praises And so it was with holy Bernard who was wont to say O Lord I never come to thee but by thee Nunquam abs te absque te recedo Bern. Mâ—ditat I never go from thee without thee A man that hath his eye upon the glory of Christ he cannot put off his soul with any thing below communion with Christ in those Religious services and duties that he offers up to Christ Though the breasts of duty are sweet yet those breasts will not satisfie the soul except Christ lies betwixt them Can. 1.13 But now men that have base poor low and by-ends in what they do they can come off easily from their duties though they find no spirit no life no warmth in duty yet they can come off with content from duty though they have no communion no converse at all with God in duty though they have no pledges of grace no pawns of mercy no tastes of love no relishes of heaven in a duty yet they can come off from the duty with content and satisfaction of spirit let but others applaud him and his own heart hug him and he hath enough Psalm 45.1 2. Zeph. 3.9 Can. 4.3 Compare these Scriptures together Prov. 11 30. chap. 1â— 18 chap. 25.11 Mat 7.6 chaâ— 12.35 Col. 4.6 Eph. 4.29 Acts 26.25 John 6.25 1 Pet. 4 11. In the sixteenth and last place A man that is really holy speaks a holy language a holy heart and a holy tongue are inseparable companions if there be grace in the heart there will be grace in the lips if the heart be pure the language will be pure Christ saies his Spouses lips are like a thred of scarlet they are red with talking of nothing but a crucified Christ and they are thin like a thred not swelled with other vain discourses And ver 10. he tells you That the lips of his Spouse drop as the honey-combs or drop honey-combs and that honey and milk are under her tongue You know that Canaan was a land that flowed with milk and honey why the language of the Spouse was the language of Canaan her lips were still dropping such holy spiritual and heavenly matter as was as sweet pleasant profitable desireable and delectable to mens souls as ever honey and millk was to mens palates or appetites and as many were fed and nourished by milk and honey so many were fed and nourished by the holy droppings of her lips Psalm 37.30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom and his tongue talketh of judgement If the heart be holy the tongue will be a talking wisely fruitfully feelingly affectionately of that which may profit both a mans self and others Prov. 10.20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver Quod hominis dignitas excellentia nulla alia re magis cognoscitur quam oratione Pet. Martyr 2. pag. 4. Qui in Christum credunt loquuntur novis the heart of the wicked is little worth Good mens words are of more worth then wicked mens hearts and look as choice silver is known by its tinkling so holy men are known by their talking And as choice silver giveth a clear and sweet sound so the tongue of the just soundeth sweetly and pleasantly in the ears of others Look as choice silver is highly prized and valued among men so is the tongue of the righteous among those that are righteous And look as choice silver allures and draws the hearts of men to a love and liking of it so the tongues of the righteous do allure and draw the hearts of men to a love and liking of vertue and goodness Ver. 21. The lips of the righteous feed many They feed many by their exhortations instructions admonitions and counsels The mouthes of the righteous are like the gates of some hospitable persons where many are fed The
holy that he see no unclean thing in thee and turn away from thee Keep up holiness among you and you shall keep me among you saith God but if you turn away from holiness I will undoubtedly turn away from you a holy God will keep company with none but those that are holy Holiness is the bond that ties God and souls together God will cleave close to them who in holiness cleave fast to him but if he see uncleanness and wickedness among you he will certainly turn away from you The holy spirit gives the lye to those that say they have fellowship with God and yet maintain familiarity and fellowship with sin 1 John 1.6 If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lye The Apostle dares give the lye to any man without fearing the stab who pretends to communion with God and yet walks in darkness Men may be much in Ordinances and yet for want of holiness may have no communion at all with God in Ordinances Isaiah 1.11 18. and though communion with God in Ordinances is the very life and soul of Ordinances yet multitudes who enjoy Ordinances can content and satisfie themselves without that which is the very life soul and quintessense of Ordinances There are many that cry out the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord who have no communion with the Lord of the Temple at all Jer. 7.4 12. Though unholy persons may trade much in Ordinances Isa 29.13 Ezek. 24.21 22. Ch. 33 30 31 32. yet they will never make any earnings any advantage by all their trading and stir because they cannot reach to communion with God in them which is the only means of being enriched by them As many men rise early and go to bed late and make a great deal of stir and do to be rich in the world and yet for want of a stock nothing comes on it they are poor still and beggarly still and low and mean in the world still So many rise early and go late to Ordinances they exercise themselves much in religious duties and yet nothing comes on it their souls are poor and beggarly and thredbare still And no wonder for they want a stock of holiness to trade with Remigius a Judge of Lorraign saith that the Devil in those parts did use to give money to Witches which at first did appear to be good and currant coin but after a while it turned to dry leaves Ah Sirs all duties and Ordinances to a man that wants holiness will be sound at last to be but as dry leaves to be sapless and liveless and heartless and comfortless to him Now if without holiness no man can have any spiritual communion or fellowship with God here then certainly without holiness no man can have a glorious communion with God hereafter if without holiness God will not take us into his arms on earth then undoubtedly without holiness God will never put us into his bosom in heaven But to proceed Unholy persons are fools and what should such do in the presence of God who is wisdom it self the fool and the ungodly man are Synonomaes words signifying the same thing in Scripture Deu. 36.6.21 Psalm 94.8 Psalm 14.1 The fool i. e. the wicked the unholy person hath said in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good Jer. 4.22 For my people are foolish they have not known me they are sottish children and they have no understanding they are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge Prov. 1.7 Fools despise wisdom and instruction that is wicked and ungodly men despise wisdom and instruction and to shew that the world is full of such fools he uses the word in the plural no less then sixteen times in this book of the Proverbs I shall open this truth a little more to you by proving that they have all the characteristical notes and properties of fools So that one face is not more like another then a fool is like a wicked man or then a wicked man is like a fool For First A fool prefers toyes and trifles before things of greatest worth he prefers a brass counter before a piece of gold a fine Baby before a rich inheritance Prov. 1.29 an Apple that pleaseth the eye before a pearl of greatest price so wicked and ungodly men they prefer their lusts before the Lord Isa 65.12 Therefore will I number you to the sword and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter because when I called ye did not answer when I spake ye did not hear but did evil before mine eyes and did choose that wherein I delighted not Such a one was Cardinal Borbonius who profest he would not leave his part in Paris for a portion in Paradise Upon choice they preferred the honours the riches the bravery and glory of the world above their own souls and the great concernments of another world Such fools were Laban and Nabal in the Old Testament whose names by inversion of letters are the same and the latter signifies a fool and such were the two rich fools in the New Testament Luke 12.16 22. and Chap. 16.19 ult I have read of the foolish people of the East Indiâ—s in the Isle Zeylon who preferred a consecrated Apes tooth above an incredible mass of treasure Such fools are all unholy persons who prefer the toyes the trifles of this world before the pleasures and treasures that be at Gods right hand The world is full of such fools Psalm 16.11 Mat. 6.19 10. Si admores hominum respicias mundum universum stultorum domum judicabis saith One if thou beholdest the manners of men thou wilt judge the whole world to be a house of fools Ah friends What folly to that of mens spending their time their strength their lives their souls in getting the great things of this world and neglecting that one thing necessary the salvation of their souls Matth. 16.26 O! What vanity is it to prefer a smoke of honour a blast of fame a dream of pleasure a wedge of gold a Babylonish garment and such like transitory trifles and trash before a blessed eternity Secondly Fools make no improvement of advantages and opportunities that are put into their hands Prov. 17.16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom Like Graâ—hoppers they sing and sport away their precious time and opportunities of mercy c. seeing he hath no heart to it It is to no purpose to put a price into the hand if folly be bound up in the heart if a man had as much wealth as would buy all the grace all the peace all the comforts and all the wisdom in the world yet if he hath neither wit nor will to make an improvement of his wealth what good would his wealth do him To what purpose is the Market open and
there were three Doctors heads of houses one of them was accounted an Innovator the second a Puritan the third a Neuter A witty Scholler presented them thus to the world the first in a Coach driving to Rome the second driving to Genevâ—h the third running on foot begging sometimes the one sometimes the other to receive him but both refused him Neuters shall be refused on all hands at last Newters are Traytors they betray Christ for the worlds sake and the world for Christs sake and themselves for sin and Satans sake And who will not refuse and scorn traytors God will refuse them because he loaths halting Angels will refuse them because they loath halving Good men will refuse them because they loath lukewarmness and bad men will refuse them because they pretend to goodness though they live in wickedness Ambo-dexters in Religion are ignominious disgracers both of the name and profession of Christians they are prodigious traytors to the crown of heaven they are the greatest enemies to the power of godliness they are the very off-spring of Judas and in the day of account it will be found that it had been good for them that they had never been born Neutrality is the spiritual adultery of the heart Aut totum mecum tene aut totum omitte Greg. Nazien Neuters are spiritual Harlots they have their hearts divided between God and Mammon betwixt Christ and other Lovers Now Harlots in Ancient time were to be burnt Gen. 38.24 Certainly hell is for the Neuter and the neuter for hell God will be as severe yea more severe in punishing spiritual whoredom then ever men have been in punishing corporal whoredom God looks upon every neuter as a man in arms against him Matth. 12.30 He that is not with me is against me And therefore Martial Law shall be executed upon them God will blot out their names and hang them up as monuments of his justice and vengeance Sirs do not deceive your own souls no man was ever yet carried to glory in the chariot of neutrality or mediocrity he that is not throughout holy is not really holy and he that is not really holy can never be truly happy it is only throughout holiness that entitles a man to everlasting happiness 1 Pet. 1.15 2 Pet. 3.11 Matth. 24.51 The true mother would not have the child divided she would have all or none you must be for all holiness or for none Neuters now devide and cut those things asunder that God hath closely joyned together but at last God will suite their punishment to their sin and cut them asunder Luke 12.46 Now the neuter chuses here a piece and there a piece and at last God will cut him in pieces 1 Sam. 15.23 as Samuel did Agag Well Neuters now you divide one command from another one duty from another one promise from another one threatning from another one ordinance from another and one way of God from another But the day is a coming wherein God will divide your souls from your bodies and both from himself his Son his Saints and his Glory for ever Sixthly If real holiness be the only way to happiness if men must be holy on earth or they shall never come to a fruition of God in heaven Then this truth by way of conviction looks sowerly and sadly upon all hypocrites who have only a seeming holiness a feigned holiness a counterfeit holiness The Apostle speaks of a true holiness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 4.24 or holiness of truth as the Greek reads it in opposition to that feigned and counterfeit holiness that is in the world pretended holiness is most opposite to the holiness of God Hypocritical holiness is the greatest unholiness Ex. 30.32 33. Who can with patience see Apes in the habit of Nobles saith Lucianus and as God hath so certainly God will still sute the punishment to the sin If it was death in Moses his Law to counterfeit that Ceremonial and figurative ointment what shall it then be to counterfeit the spirit of life and holiness Dissembled sanctity is double iniquity He that professeth religion without being religious and godliness without being godly he that makes counterfeit holiness a cloak to impiety and a Mid-wife to iniquity He that is a Cato without and a Nero within a Jacob without and an Esau within a David without and a Saul within a Peter without and a Judas within a Saint without and a Satan within an Angel without and a devil within is ripened for the worst of torments Matth. 24.5 And shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Hypocrites are the freeholders of hell all other sinners do but hold under them none have so large a portion in hell as hypocrites have No man at last will be found so miserable as he that hath the name of a Saint upon him but not the divine nature in him that hath a profession of holiness upon him but no principles of holiness in him that hath a form of godliness but not the power that can cry up godliness and court godliness but in practise denyes it that is a Jew outwardly but an Atheist a Pagan a devil inwardly Who had a greater name for holiness and who made a greater shew of holiness and who did more despise and insult over men for the want of holiness then the Scribes and Pharisees and who so miserable now as they Mat. 23.14 Hypocritis nihil est crudelius impatientius vindictae cupidius Luther There is not a more cruel creature more impatient and vindictive then an hypocrite said he that had the experience of it in his own person Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye devour widows houses and for a pretence make long prayers therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation Pretended holiness will double damn souls at last Sirs do not deceive your own souls A painted sword shall as soon defend a man and a painted mint shall as soon inrich a man and a painted fire shall assoon warm a man and a painted friend shall assoon counsel a man and a painted horse shall assoon carry a man and a painted feast shall assoon satisfie a man and a painted house shall assoon shelter a man as a painted holiness shall save a man He that now thinks to put off God with a painted holiness shall not fare so well at last as to be put off with a painted happiness The lowest the hottest and the darkest habitation in hell will be his portion whose religion lyes all in shews and shadows Well spiritual Counterfeits remember this it will not be long before Christ will unmask you before he will uncase you before he will disrobe you before he will take off your vizards your hoods and turn your rotten insides outward to your eternal shame and reproach before all the world Counterfeit Diamonds may sparkle and glister
vile what shall I answer thee I will lay my hand upon my mouth Once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twice but I will proceed no further So holy Agur Prov. 30.2 3. Surely I am more brutish then any man and have not * Binath Adam the understanding of Adam the understanding of a man I neither learned wisdom nor have the knowledge of the holy Though all men are brutish yet holy men are most sensible of their brutishness and most affected and afflicted with it wicked men are more brutish then the beasts Isa 1.3 4. yet they see it not they bewail it not but holy Agur both sees his brutishness and bewails it Holy Agur looking upon that rare knowledge that depth of wisdom and those admirable excellencies that Adam was endued with in his integrity and innocency confesses himself to be but brutish to be as much below what Adam once was as a bruit is below a man Psalm 51. So holy David cries not Perii I am undone I shall perish but peccavi I have sinned I have done foolishly And so for his being envious at the prosperity of the foolish Psalm 73.2 3. how doth he befool and be-beast himself Psalm 73.22 So foolish was I and ignorant I was as a beast before thee The Hebrew word Behemoth Therefore the Elephant is called Behemoth in Job 40.15 that is here rendred beast generally comprehends all beasts of the greater sort As an aggravation of his folly he confesseth that he was as a beast as a great beast yea as an Epiâ—ome of all great beasts So the holy Prophet Isaiah complains that he was undone Isa 6.5 that he was cut off not upon any worldly account but because he was a man of unclean lips and dwelt in the midst of a people of unclean lips Dan. 9. So holy Daniel complained not that they were reproached and oppressed but that they had rebelled So Peter Luke 5.8 Depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord Or as the Greek hath it I am a man a sinner O Lord depart from me for I am a mixture and compound of all vileness and sinfulness Rom. 7.23 24. So holy Paul cries not out of his opposers or persecutors but of the Law in his members rebelling against the Law of his mind Pauls body of death within him put him to more grief and sorrow then all the troubles and trialls that ever befell him An holy heart laments over those sins that he cannot conquer a holy person labours to wash out all the stains and spots that be in his soul in the streams of godly sorrow that his sins may never drown his soul Zach. 2.10 Isa 59.1 2. he will do what he can to drown his sins in penitential tears A holy person looks upon his sins as the crucifiers of his Saviour and so they affect him he looks upon his sins as the great incendaries make-bates and separatist between God and his soul and so they afflict him he looks upon his fins as so many reproaches to his God blemishes to his profession and wounds to his credit and conscience and so they grieve and trouble him he looks upon his sins as those that make many a righteous soul besides his own sad whom God would not have sadded and that opens many a sinful mouth that God would have stopped Ezek. 13.22 and that strengthens many a wicked heart that God would not have strengthened and so they fetch many a sigh from his heart and many a tear from his eyes When a holy man sins he looks upwards and there he sees God frowning he looks downwards and there he sees Satan insulting he looks within himself and there he finds his conscience either a bleeding raging or accusing he looks without himself and there he finds gracious men lamenting and mourning and graceless men deriding and mocking the sense of which doth sorely and sadly afflict a gracious soul Some say that Saint Peters eyes after his great falls were alwayes full of tears insomuch that his face was furrowed with continual weeping for his horrid thoughts his desperate words his shameful shifts and his damnable deeds which made him look more like a child of hell then like a Saint whose name was written in heaven Some say of Adam that when he turned his face towards the Garden of Eden he sadly lamented his great fall Some say of Mary Magdalen that she spent thirty years in Galba in weeping for her sins Davids sins were ever before him and therefore no wonder if Tears instead of Gemms were so constantly the ornaments of his bed Wicked Pharaoh cryes out Psal 115.3 Oh take away these filthy frogs take away these dreadful judgments but holy David cryes out O Lord take away the iniquity of thy servant Pharaoh cryes out because of his punishments but David cryes out because of his sin Anselm saith that with grief he considered the whole course of his life I found saith he the infancy of sin in the sins of my infancy the youth and growth of sin in the sins of my youth and growth and the ripeness of all sin in the sins of my ripe and perfect age and then he breaks forth into this patheticall expression What remaineth for thee wretched man but that thou spend thy whole life in bewailing thy whole life By all which it is most evident that holy hearts are very much affected and afflicted with their own unholiness and vileness Now certainly those persons are as far off from real holiness as hell is from heaven who take pleasure in unrighteousness who make a scoff and mock of sin who commit wickedness with greediness who talk wickedly who live wantonly who trade deceitfully who swear horribly who drink stifly who lye hideously and who die impenitently But Seventhly Real holiness naturalizes holy duties to the soul it makes religious services to be easie and pleasant to the soul 1 Pet. 1 2. Jam. 5.15 Hence prayer is called the prayer of faith because holy faith naturalizeth a mans heart to prayer it is as natural for a holy man to pray as it is for him to breath or as it is for a bird to fly or fire to ascend or a stone to descend Rom. 16.26 Psalm 119.166 And hence it is that obedience is called the obedience of faith because holy faith naturalizes a mans heart to obedience As soon as ever this plant of renown was set in the heart of Paul he cryes out Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts 9.6 Gal. 3.2 And hence it is that hearing is called the hearing of faith because this holy principle naturalizes a mans heart to hearing Psalm 122.1 2. I was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the house of the Lord. And so in Isa 2.3 And many people shall go and say Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord to the house of
nihil a great nothing and who then would spend an houres time to secure it neare and deare relations cannot for the delight of Ezekiels eyes is taken away with a stroake Ezek. 24.16 Job 1.10 and all Jobs children are snatcht away in a day all our nearest and dearest relations are like a Nose-gay which the oftner we smell to it the sooner it withers But now holiness may be made sure witness the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven Heb. 12.23 and witness the many thousands of Christians this day in the world who doe experience the principles of holiness in their hearts and who doe evidence the power of holiness in their lives O Sirs if the serious consideration of the preciousness and worth of your souls will not draw you out to study holiness to love holiness to prize holiness and to press after holiness what will O Sirs 't is only holiness that is the happiness of the soul the safety and security of the soul the prosperity and felicity of the soul and the lustre and glory of the soul and therefore why should you not labour as for life after this inestimable Jewel holiness O let the remembrance of the preciousness of your souls be an effectuall means to draw you to heare that you may be holy and to pray that you may be holy and to reade that you may be holy and to mourne that you may be holy and to sigh and groane after holiness as after that which is the souls only happiness O Sirs there is nothing below heaven so precious and noble as your souls and therefore doe not play the Courtier with your souls now the Courtier do's all things late he rises late and dines late and sups late and repents late O doe not poyson your precious souls by gross enormities O doe not starve your souls by the omission of religious duties O doe not murther and damne your souls by turning your backs upon holy Ordinances I have read of a Woman who when her house was on fire so minded the saving of her goods that she forgot her only childe and left it burning in the fire at last being minded of it she cryes out Oh my childe oh my poore childe but all too late all too late so there are many men now so mad upon the world and so bewitcht with the world that they never mind they never regard their poor souls till they come to fall under everlasting burnings and then they cry out O our souls O our poor souls O that we had been wise for our souls O that we had got holiness for our souls O that we had made sure worke for our souls but all too late all too late the Lord make you wise to prevent soul-burnings at last If he be rather a monster then a man that feasts his slave but starves his wife what shall we say of those that pamper their bodies but starve their souls and that have thred-bare souls under silke and sattin Cloaths and that please themselves with deformed souls under beautifull faces surely it had been good for these that they had never been born I have read of a Scythian Captain who having for a draught of water yeelded up the City cryed out Quid perdidi quid prodidi What have I lost what have I betrayed So all unholy persons will at last cry out we have betrayed our immortall souls we have lost a precious Father we have lost a deare Redeemer we have lost the company of glorious Angels we have lost the society of the spirits of just men made perfect and we have lost all the pleasures and joyes and delights that be at the right hand of the most High We have lost these we have lost all these and we have lost them for ever and ever surely there is no hell to this hell For a close of this direction remember this that as the soul is the life and excellency of the body so holiness is the life and excellency of the soul and as the body without the soul is dead so the soul without holiness is dead This my Son was dead and is alive if you get holiness into your souls your souls shall live for ever but if you die without holiness your souls shall die for ever and ever I have read that there was a time when the Romans did weare Jewels on their shooes oh that in these dayes most men did not doe worse oh that they did not trample under feete that matchless Jewel their precisouls But Seventhly If ever you would be holy then set in good earnest upon reading of the holy Scripture many a man has been made holy by reading of the holy Word Luther com in Gen. cap. 19. The Bible is the book of books 't is the onely book all other books in the world are but waste paper to it Augustin crys out away with our writings that room may be made for the book of God notwithstanding the greatness and multiplicity of the affairs of Princes yet they were diligently to read the word Deut. 17.19 And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to do them God looks that the greatest Princes on earth should make use of this Library Though David was a great Prince and had a multitude of weighty businesses upon his hand yet he was so much in reading meditating on the word that he made it his Counsellors the word was Davids Learned Counsel Psal 119.24 to which he reforted for counsel advice and comfort in all his necessities and miseries Alphonsus King of Arragon hath been highly extolled for reading the Scriptures fourteen times over with glosses and expositions notwithstanding his great publike employments And Alphonsus King of Naples read over the Bible forty times notwithstanding many great affairs were upon his hand Theodosius the Emperor and Constantine the Great were much taken up in reading of the Scriptures So Queen Elizabeth when she passed in triumph through the streets of London after her Coronation and had the Bible presented to her at the little Conduit in Cheap-side she received the same with both her hands and kissing it Speeds Hist laid it to her breasts saying That the same had ever been her chiefest delight and should be the rule whereby she meant to frame her Government And 't is very observable that the Eunuch was reading the Scripture when Philip was commanded Acts 8.26.40 by Commission from the Holy Ghost to joyn himself to his Chariot and to instruct him in the knowledge of Christ which proved his conversion and salvation And Junius was converted by the reading of that first of John In the beginning was the Word c. being amazed with the strange majesty of the stile Lib. 8. conf cap. 12. and the profound misteries therein contained And Augustine was
the man of iniquity i. e. the man that is made up of iniquity that is nothing but iniquity now this shews that 't is iniquity in the man that makes the man to be an abomination to the just but now wicked men they abhor the upright for their very uprightness they abhor him that is upright in the way and could wish him quite out of the way and will do what they can to make him away the uprightness of the upright is such a terror to the wicked that they can't but abominate and abhor the upright and therefore no wonder if the upright abominate them and indeed who can look upon wicked men as enemies to God as adversaries to Christ as murderers of their own souls as fighters against the Church as Champions for Satan and as the Pests and Plague of a Nation and not abhor them and not abominate them O sirs not to contemn the wicked is an argument that you your selves are wicked and not to contemn the wicked is a means to make them more wicked not to contemn the wicked is to encourage and tempt the wicked to be seven-fold more wicked yea not to contemn the wicked who contemn God Christ Heaven and holiness c. is to contemn God himself As for such that advance the wicked that magnifie the wicked that flatter the wicked that strengthen the hands of the wicked that are most In with the wicked that joy and glory in the prosperity of the wicked and that sigh and mourn that stamp and take on at the downfall of the wicked these are certainly wicked yea they are eminently wicked and therefore the more to be slighted and scorned by men of integrity and sanctity But Fifthly and lastly To neglect the pursuit of holiness upon the account of this objection is to debase the great God and to overvalue vain man as if there were more power ability policy and malice c. in worthless man to hurt and harm thee then there is power allsufficiency wisdom goodness and graciousness in God to defend thee and secure thee and arm thee against all the reproaches and revilings of slanderous tongues Now who art thou and what art thou O vain man that thou shouldst dare to lessen God greaten man to debase God and exalt man yea to set up man above God himself and to ungod him as much as in the lyes and yet all this thou doest when thou turnest thy back upon holiness because of the revilings and reproaches of wicked men But I shall say no more to this objection because I have spoken very largly to this objection in my former books If you desire further satisfaction to this objection turn to that Treatise called Apples of Gold c. and from Page 311. to Page 327. you will finde seven more distinct answers to it And see also my Mute Christian under the smarting Rod and from Page 304. to Page 326. you will finde eight answers more to this objection I confess several other objections might be made against your pursuing after holiness but because I have spoken to them at large in my former writings therefore I shall not trouble you with them here and therefore let thus much suffice for answer to those objections that usually men make when they are prest home to follow after holiness And so I shall come now to the second part of the Exhortation and that relates to Gods holy ones to his sanctified ones to those that have obtained holiness that have experienced the principles the power the life and the sweetness of holiness And here let me exhort such First To express declare evidence and hold forth both the reality and power of holiness and that First By keeping your selves free from gross enormities from scandalous wickednesses Rom. 2.23 24 25. O remember that one scandalous sin will obscure and cloud all your graces and spiritual excellencies Look as one spot in the face spoils all the beauty The Schoolmen say that if a Sow do but wallow in one miry or dirty hole she is filthy c. and one blot upon the copy obliterates the whole copy and as one drop of Inke coloureth a whole glass of clear water so one scandalous sin will blot and blur all former acts of piety and holiness it will stain all a mans duties and services it will deface all a mans contentments and enjoyments it will dash and rase out all those golden Characters of righteousness and goodness that has been stampt upon the soul Ezek. 36.20 The Babylonians beholding the enormities of the Jews cryed out These are the people of the Lord these are come out of the Lords land Davids one act of folly with Bathsheba made the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme When one commended Alexander for his many noble acts another objected thus against him I but he killed Calisthenes He was valiant and successful in the wars Plutarch in vita I but he killed Calisthenes He overcame the great Darius I but he killed Calisthenes his meaning was that this one unjust and unrighteous action clouded and darkned all his most noble deeds A Christian can't after his conversion fall into a scandalous sin but 't will be objected against him by every one to the defacing and darkning of all his spiritual glory When Naaman the Syrian was cured and as some think converted by the Prophet Elisha he offers gold and rich garments 2 Kings 5.1 One flaw in a Dyamond takes away the lustre and the price of it and if we fall but once into a puddle it will defile us and make every one point at us but he bows in the house of Rimmon he seems to be very devoute and religious but he bows in the house of Rimmon he promises to offer to none but the Lord but yet he bows in the house of Rimmon this Rimmon like the flye in the Alabaster box spoyl'd all his best intentions and highest resolutions and thus one scandalous vice disgraceth all the Noble vertues that be in a Christian O such a man is a very holy man but and such a one is a very gracious experienced Disciple but and such a one is a very wise and understanding man but and such a one is a very active stirring Saint but c. and this but marrs all If there be but one crack in the honey-glass there the waspe will be buzing and if there be but one scandalous sin that a Christian falls into in all his life how will the wicked be still a buzing of that about both in City and Country O sirs there are no sins that opens so many mouthes and that sads so many hearts and that swells so many eyes and that endangers so many souls as scandalous sins doe and therefore above all keeping keep off from them O Sirs as you would not harden sinners as you would not encourage sinners as you would not tempt sinners Rom. 14.13 as you would not stumble sinners yea
service of God and to detract from the excellency and glory of it The Kings and Princes of this world have most severely punisht such who by their base mixtures have imbased their coyne and there is a day a coming wherein the King of Kings will most severely punish all such who have imbased his worship and service by mixing their Romish traditions with his holy institutions Rev. 22.18 Rev. 22.18 For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the prophesie of this booke if any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this booke And no wonder for what horrible pride presumption stoutness and baseness of spirit is it in foolish man to be so bold with the great God as to dare to mix any thing of his own with his worship and service which according to divine institution is so perfect and compleat God will never bare it to see men lay their dirt upon his gold and to put their Raggs upon his Royal Robes Ah Christians Christians evidence your holiness by standing up for holy ordinances and pure worship in opposition to all mixtures whatsoever oh don 't you touch a poluted worship don't you plead and contend for a poluted worship but let Baal plead for Baal and though all the world should wander after the Beast yet don't you wander and though every fore-head should have the mark of the Beast upon it yet doe you abhor his mark and what ever else it be that do's but smell and savour of the Beast It is observable that in Kings and Princes Courts children fools and the rude Rabble are much taken with fine pictures and rich shews and glistering gaudy cloaths c. but such as are wise serious grave Statesmen they mind not they regard not such poor things they look upon those things as things that are much below the nobleness and the greatness of their spirits who have honorable objects and the great and weighty affaires of the State to busie themselves about so my Brethren though the children the fools and the Rabble of the world are much affected and taken with such polutions and mixtures as makes up a glorious pompious worship yet you that have a spirit of holiness and principles of holiness in you O how should you slight such things and pass by such things as things below you as things not worthy of you who have a holy God a holy Christ a holy Gospel and a holy worship to busie your thoughts your minds your heads and your hearts about But Fifthly Evidence the truth and reality of your holiness by bewailing and lamenting the loss of holiness Ah how is this crowne of holiness fallen from our heads Lam. 5.16 O the leanness of souls O the spiritual witherings and decayes in grace and holiness It s very uncomfortable to see the dayes grow shorter and to see friends grow behind-hand in the world that is to be found among many Christians this day Some complaine of the loss of Trade and others complaine of the loss of estate some complaine of the loss of câ—edit and others complaine of the loss of friends but what are all these losses to the loss of holiness and yet how few be there that complaine of the loss of holiness holiness is fallen in our hearts in our families in our streets and in our Churches and yet how few are there to be found that laments the fall of holiness O Sirs will you lament such as are fallen from riches to poverty from honor into disgrace and from the highest pitch of prosperity to the lowest step of beggary and misery and will you not lament such who are fallen from the highest round to the lowest round in Jacobs Ladder O Sirs will you mourne over a decayed estate will you weep over decayed friends and will you sigh and sob over a decayed body and will you not much more lament and mourne over decayed souls c Ah how many have lost that love Rev. 2.4 5. that life that heat that zeale that readiness that forwardness and that resoluteness that once they had for God and godliness Some are fallen from their holiness by giving themselves elbow-roome to sin against the checks and lashes of conscience Psal 51. others are decayed in holiness by their secret resisting and smothering the gracious motions of the Spirit Acts 7.51 Some are fallen frpm holiness either by their neglect of precious means 1 Thes 5.20 or else by their heartless using of the meanes others are fallen from their holiness either by the allurements and enticements of a tempting world 2 Tim. 4.10 or else by the frownes and threatnings of a persecuting world Some are fallen from holiness by their non-exercise of grace and others are fallen from holiness by not discerning their first decayes in grace So that upon one account or another multitudes in these dayes are fallen from that holiness which was once their glory If you look into families there you shall finde Masters complaining that their servants are so careless foolish frothy light slight slothfull unfaithfull proud and lofty that they are not to be spoken to nor trusted and if you look againe into the same Families there you shall finde servants complaining that their Masters and Mistrisses are so exceeding froward pevish passionate worldly neglective of duties and careless of their souls that 't is even a hell to servants to live with them Now what speaks all these sad complaints but either a total want of holiness or else a very great decay of holiness And if you look among all other relations as husbands and wives parents and children Magistrates and people Ministers and Christians oh what sad divisions what fiery contentions and what feareful Jars are there to be found oh what slightings what revilings what under-valuings what heart-risings what heart-swellings and what heart-burnings are to be found amongst them and what doe all these things declare but that the Glory of God is departed from Israel and that holiness is fallen to a very low ebbe ah friends were there but more holiness among you there would be more union among you and more love among you and more sweetness and tenderness among you and more forbearance and patience among you Oh then you would never be snarling one at another nor biting one of another nor plotting one against another nor devouring one of another any more Again if you look among men whose parts are great whose gifts are high whose profession is glorious and whose expressions and notions are very seraphical ah what a little holiness will you finde O Sirs shall the men of this world vex and fret shall they weep and waile and shall their lamentation and mourning be like that of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo 2 Chron. 35.24 25. and that for the loss of a little wealth or for a punctilio of honor or a day of pleasure or
Winter is past and the singing of birds is come and anone you say your Winter is like to be longer then ever now you say there is Balm in Gilead and anon you say your wound is incurable now you say all is your own and anon you are ready to give up all as lost c. and thus your hearts rise and fall according to the working of second causes When you have full purses and powerful Armies and subtle Councellors Psal 30.6 7 8. and great Allies then you are ready to say surely our mountain is strong and we shall never be removed but when your bags are empty and your forces broken and your counsels dissipated and your Allies faln off then you are ready to cry out O now there is no hope there is no help O but now were you eminent in holiness then under the saddest and crossest workings of second causes 2 Chron. 14.11 you would say with Asa O Lord it is nothing with thee to help whether with many or with them that have no power 2 Kin. 6.16 17. Exod. 14.13 and with Elisha They that be with us are more then they that be with them and with Moses Stand still Psal 118.6 and see the salvation of God and with David The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me Holiness in any considerable heighth will set the power of God in opposition to all the power of the world Psal 65.6 11. and then divinely triumph over them Plutarch in vita Pomp. Pompey once gloried in this that with one stampe of his foot he could raise all Italy up in Arms but the great God with one stampe of his foot or with one word of his mouth can raise not onely Italy but also all the Angels in heaven and all the men on earth in Arms at his pleasure and in the power of this God raised holiness will enable a man to glory all the day long Where holiness is weak there men stand and fall as second causes work but where holiness is eminent there men will live upon the first cause and however second causes may wheel about yet such a man will live upon him and look up to him that hath a wheel within every wheel Ezek. 1.15 22. But Seventhly You have but little holiness witness that soul-leanness Psal 106.15 Isa 24.16 and Chap. 10.16 barrenness and unfruitfulness that is among you at this very day Ah how may most cry out with the Prophet Isaiah O my leanness my leanness O our leanness our leanness our barrenness our barrenness c. though God has waited many three years for fruit yet behold nothing but leaves I have read of the Indian Fig-tree how that its leaves are as broad as a Target Athenaeus de Ipnosoph lib. 3. but its fruit is no bigger then a Bean Ah how many Christians be there in these days whose leaves of profession are very broad but their fruits of righteousness and holiness are very small and as the Indian Fig-tree though it be of fair and goodly dimensions yet it riots out all its sap and juce into leaves and blossoms So many in these days who though they carry it fair and make a goodly shew yet they riot out all that spiritual sap and life that is in them into the mear leaves and blossoms of an empty profession Ah how are many of our hearts like to the Isle of Pathmos which is so barren that nothing that is good will grow on 't all the good things that grow there is from the earth that is brought from other places Look as a company of Ants are very busie about a Mole-hill running to and fro and wearying themselves in their several movings and turnings this way and that and yet never grow great for after all their motions and stiring they are still the same as to the slender proportion of their bodies so many Christians in these days run to and fro they run from one duty to another and from one ordinance to another and from one opinion to another and from one principle to another and from one Minister to another and from one Church to another and from one way to another and from one notion to another and yet they make little progress in holiness 2 Pet. 3.18 2 Tim. 3.6 7. they grow but little in the love the life the likeness and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ they are like those silly women that Timothy speaks of who were ever learning and yet never able to come to the knowledge of the truth and they are like Nazianzens country of Ozizala which abounded with gay flowers but was barren of corn so these abound in gay notions and flourishing parts but are barren of grace and holiness Seneca hath long since observed that as the Philosophers in his time grew more and more learned so they grew less and less moral and is there any thing more evident in these days then this viz. that as men grow more and more in empty airy notions and in a pompous Religion and profession so they grow less and less zealous and religious The reason say some why Christ cursed the Fig-tree though the time of bearing fruit was not come was because it made a glorious shew with leaves and promised much but brought forth nothing What 's a barren tree a barren ground or a barren womb to a barren heart Many in our days are like the Cypress-tree Joh. 15.6 which the more it is watered the more it is withered so the more many are watered with the means of grace the more they wither the more the dews of heaven falls upon them and the more heavenly Manna is daily rained round about them the more lean fruitless and barren they grow Such souls may do well to remember that those trees that are not for fruit are for the fire Heb. 6.8 Augustin For a close let me tell you that I fear with that Father that many grieve more for the barrenness of their lands then they do for the barrenness of their lives and for the barrenness of their trees then they do for the barrenness of their souls and for the loss of their Cattel then they do for the loss of Gods countenance But Eigthly lastly You have but little holiness witness that great indifferency and inconstancy that is to be found among you My Lord Paulet kept both great favor and places under Henry the eighth a Papist and under King Edward the sixth a Protestant and under Queen Mary a Papist and under Queen Elizabeth a Protestant being ask'd how he could do so he answered that he always imitated the willow and not the oak Ah how many Christians are there in these days of Gospel-light who are indifferent who they hear or what they hear who are indifferent whether they pray or not or walk in Gospel-order or not or keep Sabbaths or not or maintain
the old man in all our holy offerings the more they are the delight of God the more holiness any man has the less there will be of man and the more there will be of Christ and the Spirit in all his duties and services and doubtless the less there is of man and the more there is of Christ in duties the more pleasant and delightful they will be unto the Lord. The more holy any man is the more there will be of his heart in his duties and the more a mans heart is in his duties the more pleasant and delightful they will be to God God is a spirit Joh. 4.23 24. and he is only taken with those duties wherein the Spirit of a man is the heart is Camera omnipotentis Regis the presence chamber of the king of heaven 't is his bed of spices 't is his royal Throne on which he delights to sit and rule a sanctified heart in duties shall carry it with God for crownes when a silver tongue shall not carry it with God for crums The more holy any man is the more delight and pleasure he will take in religious duties and services the more a mans natural strength is the more easily he walks the more delightfully he works the fuller the wings are of feathers with the more ease and pleasure the Bird flyes so the fuller the soul is of holiness Psal 40.8 Psal 119.32 Math. 11.29 1 Iohn 5.3 the more easily the more pleasantly and the more delightfully will it walk yea run yea flie in all the wayes of Gods commands every yoak of Christ is easie and every command of Christ is joyous to a man that is eminent in holiness now the more any man delights and takes pleasure in religious duties and services the more God delights and takes pleasure in his religious duties and services the more a Christians heart is affected and taken with the duties of Religion the more the heart of God will be affected and taken with those duties Look as there is no duty that affects the heart of God that do's not first affect our own or that takes the heart of God that do's not first take our own so all those duties and services that are divinely pleasing and delightfull to our noble part they are also pleasing and delightful to God himselfe The very heathen as several Authors report had their store pots of water set at the doores of their Temples where they used to wash before they went to sacrifice having this notion and opinion amongst them that their gods did best accept and most delight in those sacrifices that were offered by those who had washed themselves pure and cleane sure I am that the great God who is the God of gods is most pleased and delighted with those sacrifices of prayers and praises that are offered up with the purest hands and with the cleanest heart and therefore as ever you would have God to take singular pleasure and delight in all your duties and services labour after an eminency in holiness But Ninthly To provoke you to labour after higher degrees of holiness Consider that many who have been won over to Christ later then you do yet in holiness much excell you are there not many children who have been in Christ but yesterday as it were and yet how doe they outstrip their parents not only in parts but in piety who have been in Christ many years before them And are there not many servants to be found who have not been in Christ seaven years who yet are more holy more humble more heavenly more spiritual more serious and every way more gracious then their Masters who have been in Christ long before them And are there not many poor meane neglected despised and scorned Christians who have been converted and sanctified but a few years who yet are more fearfull of sinning against God and more carefull of pleasing God and more studious of glorifying of God and more wise and watchfull and circumspect in their walking with God and more laborious and diligent in the use of all holy means whereby God may be exalted and lifted up in the world then many great and rich Christians in the world who yet have been in Christ very many years before them Paul had some kinsmen that were in Christ before him as you may see in that 16 Rom. 5 7. Likewise greet the Church that is in their house salute my well beloved Epenetus who is the first fruits of Achaia unto Christ Salute Andronieus and Junia my kinsmen 2 Cor. 1.12 Ch. 11.22 30. 1 Thes 2.2 13. and my fellow-prisoners who are of note among the Apostles who also were in Christ before me and yet in grace and holiness he excell'd them all You know many men in riding a Journey do often set out after their neighbours and yet they do not only overtake them but also get into their Innes many houres before them And among Sea-men is there any thing more common then for those who set saile some dayes after others yet to get into their Ports before them so there are many Christians who have set out heaven-wards and holiness-wards after others and yet they have not only overtaken them but also in grace and holiness gone far before them Luke 2.46.47 48. As Christ in his non-age put all the Doctors in the Temple down so many Christians even in their non-age as I may say do put down other Christians Hierom writes of Paulinus that in the first part of his life he excellled others and in his latter part he excelled himself who in respect of their years and opportunities might have been Doctors in Christianity In this great City you have very many who have set up many years after others and yet they are grown far greater and richer then those of their callings who have set up many years before them and doubtless there are very many in this City who have set upon the Trade of Christianity the Trade of godliness long after others who yet are grown greater and richer in grace holiness then those who have for very many years driven that Trade And O how should this Alarm all such to double their diligence and to strive and labor as for life to be eminent in holiness yea to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. But Tenthly To provoke you to labor after higher degrees of holiness Consider that there are no persons under heaven that are so strongly obliged and engaged to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord as you are for you are the onely persons on earth that are made partakers of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Dan. 6.3 1 Cor. 2.12 and that have a more excellent spirit in you then the men of this world have and that have more excellent principles in you as knowledge wisdom faith love self-denyal humility c. to help on the advance and increase of holiness then others have whose souls are
it burning The words are an allusion to the fire in the Temple which was alwaies to be kept burning Paul would have Timothy to be alwaies a blowing his spark into a flame Look as fire is preserved and maintained by blowing and stirring of it up so holiness is preserved and maintained in the soul by being stirred and blown up in the soul The habits of grace and holiness are like dull coal-fires which if they are not now and then blown and stirred up will certainly dye and go out O Sirs 't is not the having but the husbanding of holiness that brings glory to God for a man to have the habit of holiness and not to put it in practice is all one as for a man to have a Talent and to wrap it up in a Napkin 'T was a notable observation of Pliny upon Phydeus the famous Painter that had the habit of that Art above all of his time saith hee That great Art and skill that Phydeus had had been to no purpose had hee not exercised and practised it upon some Table so t is with the habits of grace and holiness in the Saints if they are not brought forth into exercise into action 't is all one as if they had no such habits at all Holiness out of action is like a candle under a Bushel that yeelds no comfort to a mans self nor no light to others Though Gold bee Gold in the myne and though it bee the most precious desirable mettle in the world yet so long as t is only in the myne what profit or advantage have we by it but now when t is dig'd out of the myne and becomes a Treasure in mens hands and is fitted for use and service then it brings profit and advantage to men and then the lustre and glory of it appears So though grace and holiness in the habit in the myne bee grace and holiness yet what profit or advantage is there in those habits till they are brought forth into action into exercise and till then all the lustre and glory of grace and holiness lies hid and obscure the more the habits of holiness are brought into action the more holiness will bee augmented and increased and therefore above all look to the frequent exercises actings of that holiness you have and this will bee a ready way to turn your drop of holiness into a sea and your spark of holiness into a flame and your two mites of holiness into a vast treasure But Sixtly If ever you would attain to higher degrees of holiness Mat. 6.5 9. if ever you would perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord then be much insecret prayer be much in closet duties Christ takes a great deal of pleasure to hear and to see his people pour out their souls before him in a corner Cant. 2.14 O my Dove that art in the clefts of the rock in the secret places of the staires let mee see thy countenance let mee hear thy voyce for sweet is thy voyce and thy countenance is comly Look as secret meals are very fatning so secret duties are very soul-inriching secret Prayers are the Pillars of smoak whereby the soul ascends to God out of the Wilderness of this world secret Prayers are the wings of the Soul whereby it flyes to God in a more still and silent way for the Increase and Augmentation of Holiness the tender dew that falls in the silent night will abundantly more cause sweet herbs to flourish and grow than greaâ— showers of rain that falls in the stirring day so secret prayer will abundantly more cause the sweet herbs of grace and holiness to grow and flourish than all those more open and visible duties of Religion which too too often are mingled and mixt with the Sun and Wind of Pride and Hypocrisie O Sirs secret prayer is Jacobs Ladder where you have God in his fulness and holiness descending down into the Soul 't is that Ladder whereby the soul ascends to the highest pitch of communion with God witness Ambrose who was wont to say I am never less alone then when I am all alone for then I can injoy the presence of my God most freely fully and sweetly without interruption And witness that Heaven-born-Lady who spent most of her time in secret duties in closet communion with God and when persons of great quality came to visit her shee would so entertain them as shee would bee sure not to omit her set times for secret prayer shee would rather rudely take her leave of them as some call'd it than omit her closeâ— communion with God And Constantine that great Emperour made it his constant practise as Eusebius reports to shut up himself daily in a secret place in his Palace where hee went to private Prayer Cant. 1.11.12 shee had found such rare advantages by closet duties that shee would not upon any terms neglect them or in the least turn her back upon them And 't was a most sweet and divine saying of Bernard O Saint knowest thou not saith hee that thy husband Christ is bashfull and will not bee familiar in company retire thy self therefore by meditation into thy closet or the fields and there thou shalt have Christs embraces O Sirs 't is an experienced truth that there is no such way under Heaven to bee rich in grace and to bee high in holiness as by driving and maintaining a secret trade with God When had Peter that glorious vision and manifestation of grace but wheâ— hee was alone and on the house top a praying Act. 10.11 12. And when was that soul ravishing that soul cheering Dan. 9.20 21 22 23. and that Soul strengthening message dispatcht by the Angel to Daniel viz. that hee was greatly beloved of God but when hee was alone a praying and doubtless many thousand Saints have had their hearts melted their corruptions weakned their fears scattered their doubts resolved their holiness raised and their assurance seal'd whilst they have been in closet-duties Look as men many times gives their best their choisest and their richest gifts in secret so doth God many times give the choisest discoveries of his love and the sweetest dainties and delicates of glory and the richest measures of grace and holiness to his people in secret Look as there was none so holy as Christ Compare these Scriptures together Mat. 14.23 Mar. 6.46 Luk. 5.16 and cap. 6.12 Mat. 26.36 39 42 44. Luk. 22.32 44 45. John 17.17 so there was none so much in secret prayer as Christ look as many men in this famous City by driving a secret trade a private trade gain very great estates beyond what many do who drive more publick trades so many Christians that drive a secret trade a private trade with God in their closets they grow abundantly more rich in grace in holiness in communion with God and in all gracious experiences than many other Christians who make a great deal of bussel in the world
accustoâ—â—d not to bee overcome of evil but to overcome evil with good But Thirdly When men in the main I say in the main are as holy out of religious duties as they are in religious duties when in the main of their lives they are as spiritual as heavenly as humble as gracious as serious as watchful as circumspect c. as they are in their most religious performances and duties this argues not only the truth of holiness Exo. 34.29 30. â—3 35 but a very high degree of holiness Moses Face did shine as gloriously when he came off from the mount as ever it did shine when he was upon the mount O Sirs if when you come off from the mount of duties there remains some rayes and shinings of God upon you 't is an argument that the waters of Sanctity are risen to a considerable heighth in your Souls Ezek. 47.2 6. Ah how lively how warm how enlarged how holy how humble how heavenly how spiritual how serious how zealous how religious how gracious are many in duties in ordinances but ah how dead how cold how straitned how unholy how proud how worldly how carnal how slight and how irreligious are theâ— out of duties out of ordinances now certainly these have either no holiness at all or else they have attained to but a very little measure of holiness But now when a man in the main when a man in his course is the same out of duties out of ordinances that hee is in duties in ordinances 't is a very great and glorious Argument that such a person hath in a very great measure perfected holiness in the fear of the Lord. But Fourthly The more a man can Divinely joy and rejoyce under tribulations and afflictions the greater measure of holiness hee hath attained to 't is a mercy not to grumble not to mutter not to murmur nor to fret not to faint not to dispond nor not to despair 't is much to bee silent under afflictions and to bee quiet and patient under tribulations oh but divinely to joy and rejoyce under afflictions under tribulations argues a very great height of holiness Rom. 5.3 4. And not only so but wee glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation worketh patience And patience 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 experience and experience hop That glorying and rejoyceing are both one in the New Testament is sufficiently known they differ only in degrees glorying being a step above rejoycing 'T is much to rejoyce in tribulations but 't is more to glory in tribulations yea to glory in them as an Old Souldier glories in all those marks and scars of honour that hee hath met with in the service of his King and Country and yet to this height the beleeving Romans were raised which argues a very great measure of holiness in them And so in that 2 Cor. 7.4 Great is my boldness of speech towards you great is my glorying of you I am filled with comfort I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation or as the Greek runs I do over-abound exceedingly with joy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have a superabundance of joy in all our tribulation and so in chap. 12.9.10 Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ might rest upon me Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproaches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake for when I am weak then am I strong Paul rejoyces and glories more in his heavy afflictions and in his various tribulations than hee did in his glorious and Mysterious Revelations the more hee was afflicted and distressed the more hee had of the visible presence of Christ and the more hee had of the glorious assistance of Christ and the more hee had of sweet communion and fellowship with Christ and the more hee had of the choise supports and singular comforts of Christ and therefore hee takes pleasure in all the pressures that were upon him and so in that Jam. 1.2 My brethren count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations that is into divers afflictions O Sirs to bee divinely merry in misery to rejoyce in the Cross as men rejoyce in a Crown to rejoyce in adversitie as others rejoyce in prosperity to rejoyce in a stinking prison as others rejoyce in their stately palaces to rejoyce in restraint as others rejoyce in liberty to rejoyce in wants as others rejoyce in abundance to rejoyce in reproaches as others rejoyce in their honours c. is very much but to bee joyful in such cases not with a little joy but with exceeding great joy is more All joy is an Hebraism and it signifies great joy full Joy exceeding joy perfect joy O! thus to rejoyce and that not only when you fall into some afflictions but when you fall into divers afflictions argues a very great measure of holiness but ah how rare is it to finde such souls in these daies that can not only bear the Cross but also rejoyce in the Cross that can not only bear reproaches but also wear reproaches as their Crown and Glory But Fiftly The more extensive a mans obedience is to divine commands Num. 14.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vajemalle the Hebrew word is a Metaphor taken from a Ship under fail which is strongly carryed with the wind as if it feared neither rocks nor sands the greater measure of holiness that man hath attained to Caleb had a very great measure of the spirit of holiness upon him and hee is said to have followed the Lord fully or as the Hebrew hath it hee fulfilled after mee that is his obedience was full universal resolute and constant to the end the contrary is affirmed of Solomon in that 1 King 11.6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord and went not fully after the Lord as did David his Father or as the Hebrew hath it hee fulfilled not after the Lord that is his obedience was not so full so universal so sincere so resolute and so constant as Davids his Fathers was Zacharias and Elizabeth were persons of great holinesse and their obedience was very extensive for they walked not only in some but in all the commandments and not only in all the Commandements but also in all the Ordinances of the Lord blamelesse Luke 1.5 6. their obedience was of such an universal extent and latitude that it comprehended and took in all the duties both of their general and particular callings they had an eye to the duties of the second Table as well as they had an eye to the duties of the first and they subjected themselves to the duties of their particular calling Mat. 23.23 as well as to the duties of their general calling As they had an eye to mint annisse and cumming that is to the lesser and lower duties of Religion so they had an eye to the greater and weightier duties of Religion viz. Judgement Mercy and Faith c. But now
Christians at their first conversion and whilst they remain weak in grace and holinesse their obedience is more strait and narrow for commonly they spend much if not most of their time in praying fasting hearing reading Christian-conference c. and neglect a hundred other duties that are incumbent upon them they are very forward and warm in the duties of their general Calling but very cold and remisse in the duties of their particular Calling they are very frequent and fervent in some duties and very rare in other duties but now the more they grow in grace and holinesse the more extensive will their obedience be and the more their hearts will be dilated and extended to all the duties both of the first and second Table But Sixthly The more a man conflicts with heart-sins with spiritual-sins with invisible-sins with sins that lye most hid and obscure from the eyes of the world and the more spiritual victories and conquests a man obtains over them the greater measure of holiness that person hath certainly attained to When the heart rises with all its strength and might against secret Pride secret Self-love 2 Chron. 32.26 Psal 119.80 2 Cor. 12.7 8 9. Psal 30.6 7. Rom. 7.23 24. 2 Cor. 7..1 secret bublings of Lusts secret Carnal-confidence secret Murmuring secret Hypocrisie secret Envy secret Self-applause secret Malice secret Hatred secret Snares secret Temptations c. It is an Argument that Holiness is grown up to some considerable height there A little Grace a little Holiness will work a man to conflict with grosse sins with outward sins with bodily sins with such sins that every one may set their eyes on and lay their hands on yea where there is no Grace no Holinesse at all the light of Nature the common convictions of the Spirit the Laws of Men the eyes of Men the threats of Men the examples of Men a smarting Rod and good Education may work men to conflict with such sins O but when all the strength and might of the soul is ingaged against those very sins that lye not within the sight or reach of the most sharp and piercing men in the world but in the heart and about the heart and are only obvious to an Omniscient eye this argues a great degree of Holinesse And therefore Augustine hit the mark when hee said that it is a harder thing for a man to fight with his lusts understand it especially of heart-lusts of spiritual-wickednesse than 't is to fight with the Crosse Aug. Serm. 4. de verbis Domini Jam. 3.7 Hiraclius motto was a Deo victoria 't is God that giveth victory And Austin hath long since complained that wee do not tame the beasts in our own bosomes O! 't is an easier thing to tame all the beasts in the world than 't is to tame one beast in the bosome all the beasts in the world may be tamed and brought under by a humane power but no power below that power that raised Christ from the Grave can tame the beasts that bee in our bosomes Now look as conflicts with heart-sins with spiritual-sins c. argues some eminency in Holinesse so victory over heart-sins over-spiritual sins over those sins that lye most remote from the eyes of others argues a very great degree of Holinesse when a Christian doth not onely resist heart-sins but vanquishes heart-sins when hee doth not only combate with heart-sins but conquers heart-sins when hee doth not only fight with heart-sins but also overcomes heart-sins when hee doth not only wrestle with heart-sins but also overthrows heart-sins this speaks out holiness in its growth 'T was a good saying of Cyprian there is no such pleasure saith hee as to have overcome an offered pleasure neither is there any greater conquest than that that is gotten over a mans corruptions And 't was an excellent saying of Eusebius Emesenus our Fathers overcame the torments of the flames let us overcome the fiery darts of vices and indeed 't is an easier thing to overcome the flames than 't is to overcome those flaming lusts and corruptions that bee in our own hearts Philosophy may teach us to indure hardships as it did Calanus in Curtius who willingly offered his body to the fire to the flames but 't is only grace 't is only holinesse that can inable us to overcome our lusts our heart-lusts wee read of many that out of greatnesse of Spirit could offer violence to Nature but were at a losse when they came to deal with their corruptions I remember a notable saying of Ambrose Ambros Apâ—l Davâ—d Post. c. 3. speaking of Sampson vincula solvit hostium c. Saith hee hee brake the bonds of his enemies but hee could not break the bonds of his own lusts hee choaked the Lion but hee could not choak his own wanton love hee set on fire the harvest of strangers and himself being set on fire with the spark of one strange woman lost the harvest of his vertue And this saying of Ambrose puts mee in minde of a great Roman Captain who as hee was riding in his triumphant Chariot through Rome had his eyes never off a Courtizan that walkt along the street which made one say Behold how this goodly Captain that conquered such potent Armies is himself conquered by one silly woman O 't is not Philosophy nor Morality nor Civility c. but holinesse but sanctity that will make the soul victorious over iniquity and the more victories and conquests a man makes upon heart sins upon spiritual-sins upon secret-sins the greater measures of holinesse that person hath certainly attained to But Seventhly The more a man is exercised and busied in the most internal and spiritual duties of Religion the greater measures of holinesse that man hath attained to You know there are external duties of Religion and there are internal duties of Religion There are external duties of Religion as publick Preaching hearing the Word reading the Word Mar. 6. ch 23. fasting singing of Psalms Christian conference Communion of Saints and receiving the Lords Supper Now such Christians as have but small measures of grace and holinesse Isa 1.11 19 Isa 58.1 2 3.4 5. Zach. 7.4 5 6 7 and Hypocrites and Formalists that have not the least measure of true grace and holinesse these are most commonly exercised and busied about the external duties and services of Religion but very seldome very rare shall you finde them in the more inward and spiritual duties of Religion but then as there are external duties so there are internal and spiritual duties as Self-examination Self-resignation to God Self-loathing Self-judging Divine-meditation praying in the Spirit Watchfulnesse over the Heart and making application of the blood of Christ the death of Christ the grace of Christ the love of Christ and the word of Christ to a mans own soul Now the more any Christian is exercised and imployed in these internal spiritual and Evangelical duties and services the greater heights and degrees
longer and bee quicker and nimbler in religious duties than others that are more aged in grace and holinesse but yet they that are aged in grace and holinesse do perform religious duties with more spiritual art and accuratenesse and with more divine skill judgement and understanding than they do in whom the spring of holinesse runs low A young Scholar may run over more paper and write more paper and make more letters than his Master doth but yet his Master writes more understandingly exactly and accurately than hee doth So many young converts may run over more duties than others and yet others may perform duties more understandingly and more exactly and more accurately than they do let the duty bee never so short yet if there bee much spiritualnesse holinesse brokennesse seriousnesse and accuratenesse in it it will carry all before it 't will win the blessing and obtain the crown when the longest duties wherein there is no such frame nor temper of spirit shall not prevail with God at all Zach. 7.4 5 6. Isa 58.1 6. It argues a very great measure of holinesse when the soul is habitually carried on in religious duties with much solidnesse seriousnesse spiritualnesse exactnesse and accuratenesse But Tenthly The more any man makes it his great businesse and work in all his duties waies and walkings to approve himself to God and to bee accepted of God Jer. 12.3 Psa 17.3 The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chakreni signifies a very strict careful diligent search and inquisition c. the greater height of holinesse that man hath attained to David was a man of great holinesse and how studious and industrious hee was to approve his heart to the Lord you may see in that 139. Psalm 23 24. Search mee O God! and know my heart try mee and know my thoughts and see if there bee any wicked way in mee and lead mee in the way everlasting The Psalmist knew that God had an eye upon him both at home and abroad both at bed and at board both in publick and in private both in his family and in his closet hee knew that God had an eye in every corner of his house and in every corner of his heart and therefore hee appeals to God and hee approves his heart to God and nobly ventures upon the tryal of God Search mee O God and know my heart c. this frequent repetition and doubling of words Search mee O God and know my heart try mee and know my thoughts c. doth not only note the earnestnesse and seriousnesse of Davids spirit in prayer but also the soundnesse the uprightnesse the plainnesse and the unfeignednesse of Davids heart in that hee was very willing and ready to submit himself to the search tryal examination and approbation of God And so Peter that great Apostle of the Gentiles makes it his great businesse to approve himself to Christ thrice together Joh. 21.15 16 17. Lord thou knowest that I love thee Lord thou knowest that I love thee Lord thou that knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Christ best knew the reality and sincerity of Peters love and therefore Peter appeals to him as to a judge that would bee sure to judge righteous judgement Thou knowest that I love thee And so the Apostle Paul speaking in the Name of his fellow Apostles saith wherefore wee labour that whether present 2 Cor. 5.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or absent wee may bee accepted of him The Greek word that is here rendred labour is a very Emphatical word it signifies to labour and endeavour with all earnestnesse and might to indeavour with a high and holy ambition to bee approved of by God and to bee accepted of God judgeing it to bee the greatest honour and the most desireable happinesse in all the world to bee graciously owned approved and accepted of the Lord as ambitious industrious and laborious as Haman was to bee highly accepted with King Ahasuerus yet he was not more ambitious to bee accepted with the King than the Apostles were ambitious to be accepted of the King of Kings O Sirs when in every Sermon you hear and in every prayer you make and in every fast you keep and in every action you do and in every way that you walk and in every mercy that you enjoy and in every cross that you bear c. you make it your great businesse and work to approve your selves to the Lord and that though the world should discountenance you and friends hate you and near and dear Relations reject you that yet you may find blessed acceptance with God this argues holiness to be upon the Throne when in all your dealings and tradings with God you make it your Heaven to approve your selves to God and when in all your transactions with men you make it your happiness to approve your selves to God 't is an Argument that the springs of holiness are risen high in your souls But Eleventhly The more a man lives by the Rule of Expediency as well as by the Rule of Lawfulnesse the greater measure of holinesse that person hath attained to Joh. 16.7 2 Cor. 8.10 Weak holinesse hath only an eye upon the Rule of Lawfulnesse but raised holinesse hath one eye upon the Rule of Lawfulnesse and the other upon the Rule of Expediency Weak holinesse saith O this is lawful and that is lawful O but saith raised holinesse is it expedient is it expedient as well as lawful That Angelical Apostle Paul had still his eye upon the Law of Expediency 1 Cor. 6.12 All things are lawful unto mee but all things are not expedient all things are lawful for mee but I will not bee brought under the power of any And so ch 10.23 All things are lawful for mee but all things are not expedient all things are lawful for mee but all things edifie not And so in that 2 Cor. 12.1 'T is not expedient for mee doubtless to glory Many things may bee lawful that yet may bee very inexpedient for our place state calling and condition in the world 'T was lawful for the Apostle to eat meat Rom. 14. but 't was not expedient for him to eat meat when his eating of meat would make his weak Brother to offend or grieve or stumble or fall And therefore hee resolves that rather than hee will eat meat to offend 1 Cor. 8.13 hee will never eat meat whilst the world stands The more unchangeably resolved any person is to eye the Rule of Expediency and to live by the Rule of Expediency the greater measure of holinesse that person hath certainly attained to the streams of holinesse runs low in that Christians heart that hath two eyes to behold the Rule of Lawfulnesse but never an eye to see the Rule of Expediency it argues a very great height of holinesse for a man to make as much conscience of living by the Rule of Expediency as hee doth of living by the Rule of
was holiness unto the Lord and the first-fruits of his increase all that devour him shall offend evil shall come upon them saith the Lord. God was wonderfully affected and taken with the love of his people and with the kindness of his people and with the holiness of his people when they were in their wilderness condition Look as stars shine brightest in the darkest nights and as Torches are the better for beating and Spices the sweeter for pounding and young Trees the faster rooted for shaking and Vines the more fruitful for bleeding and Gold the more glittering for scouring So God looks that his childrens graces should shine brightest in the darkest nights of afflictions hee looks that his children should be the better for his Fatherly beating and the sweeter for being pounded in the morter of affliction and the faster rooted in grace and holiness by all divine shakings c. In times of affliction God looks that his children should be true Salamanders that live best in the fire Where afflictions hangs heaviest hee looks that there corruptions should hang loosest hee looks that that grace and holiness which lies hid in nature as sweet water doth in Rose leaves should then be most fragrant when the fire of affliction is put under to distil it out c. But Fourthly When persons that are under a great Profession or in Church Communion shall â—all presumptuously and scandalously when they shall not only do weakly but wickedly when not only infirmities but inormities may be justly and righteously charged upon them When such persons walk so loosely and vainly as that they occasion the Name of God to be blasphemed Rom. 2.21 22 23. Religion to be scorned the Gospel to be despised Profession to be abhorred the Saints to be reviled and young comers on to be discouraged and the ungodly in their wickedness to be hardened and confirmed O this is a time wherein God calls aloud upon his people to be holy O now God expects an extraordinary measure of holiness in his people O now hee looks that his people should rather walk like Angels than live like Saints that so they may in some measure repair and make up the sad breaches that have been made upon his honour and the credit of Religion and that they may live Profession into honour and esteem once more in the world Such blessed effects as these the horrid sin of the incestuous person did occasionally work in the hearts and lives of the Corinthians as you may see by comparing the Scriptures in the Margint together 1 Cor. 5.1 2 3. 2 Cor. 2 4 5 6 7 8. ch 7.11 O Sirs in these daies are there not many that have made a very high Profession that have shined as the stars in the Firmament who are now fallen from their Profession from their Principles and from all things that are good How many now do build the things that they have destroyed what betraying of Christ what betraying of Truth and what betraying of Saints is there this day among many that have pretended very high to Religion how many now approve of those things that before they would never own and that justifie those things now that they have formerly condemned and that comply with those things now that formerly they have abhorred yea that contend for those things now for which they have formerly suffered and therefore certainly these are the very times wherein God calls aloud upon his people to be holy yea to be eminently holy c. But Fifthly In all our approaches addresses and drawings neer to God God calls aloud for holiness Levit. 10. â—3 Then Moses said to Aaron This is it that the Lord spake saying I will bee sanctified in them that come nigh unto mee â—nd before all the people I will bee glorified and Aaron held his peace There is nothing more evident than this throughout the Old Testament that the people of God were alwaies to sanctifie themselves when they were to draw nigh to God Joh. 4.23 24. God is a holy God and there is no drawing nigh to him without holiness the worship that God stands most upon and that is most pleasing and delightful to him is Spiritual Worship and none can offer this but a holy people Such as draw nigh to God without holiness may if they were not deaf hear God saying to them Psal 50.16 17. What have you to do to take my Name into your mouths seeing you hate to bee reformed And who required these things at your hands Isa 1.12 The Renians taught that a man might be saved in any Religion Isa 29.13 14. Mat. 15.8 9. The Persians every morning worship the rising Sun and the Turks their Mahomet and the Papists their Images and some of the Indians worship the first thing that they meet with in the morning and others of them worship a red Ragge and others of them worship the Devil The Romans used to worship Jupiter a hurtful god amongst them not because they loved him but because they would not be hurt or harmed by him And Praxitelles the Painter made the silly people worship the Image of his Strumpet under the title and pretence of Venus And verily all the worship that thou offerest to God is little better if thou drawest nigh to him with thy body without holiness in thy soul O Sirs remember that in all your publick duties God calls aloud for holiness and in all your family duties God calls aloud for holiness and in all your closet duties God calls aloud for holiness times of drawing neer to God should be alwaies times of much holiness you may come to a duty but you will never come to God in a duty without holiness you may come to an Ordinance but you will never come to God in an Ordinance without holiness and therefore in all your drawings nigh to God remember that God calls for holiness in a special manner then But Sixthly When God eminently appears in the execution of his judgements upon wicked and ungodly men O that is a time that God calls aloud for holiness when hee is a raining Hell out of Heaven upon unholy persons God now loâ—ks that his people should be holy yea eminently holy So in that Exod. 19.4 5. Yee have seen what I did unto the â—gyptians you have been eye-witnesses of my dealings with them in Egypt you have seen how I have followed them with plague upon plague because they did so sorely oppress you and would not let you go to worship mee Exod. 24. ult and serve mee according to my own prescriptions And when they were judgement-proof you saw mee drown them in the Red Sea before your eyes and upon this very ground hee urges them to obey his voice and to keep his Covenant vers 5. And so in that Rev. 15.1 2 3 4. And I saw another sign in Heaven great and marvelous seven Angels having the seven last plagues from them is filled up the wrath
that faithful Servant of Jesus Christ John Ball late Minister of the Gospel at Whitmore in Stafford-shire published by M. Simeon Ash Preacher of the Gospel at Austins London Irenicum A Weapon-Salve for the Churches Wounds Or the Divine Right of particular Forms of Church-Government discussed and examined by Edward Stillingfleete Rector of Sutton in Bedford-shire The second Edition corrected An Exposition by way of Supplement on the 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th and 9th Chapters on the Prophecy of Amos where you have the Text fully explained other Texts occasionally cleared many Cases Stated many practical Observations raised and many Polemical Points debated by Tho. Hall B. D. and Pastor of Kings-Norton A Cluster of Grapes taken out of the Basket of the Woman of Canaan or Counsel and Comfort for Beleeving Souls By John Durant late Preacher of the Gospel in Canterbury A Call to the Unconverted By Richard Baxter A Latin and English Grammar By Charls Hool M. A. Books sold by John Sims at the Cross-Keyes in St. Pauls Church-yard CHrist the Pattern of a Christians Practise By Mr. Ralph Robinson Octavo Several Peeces of Mr. Ralph Venning collected into one Volume viz. Orthodox Paradoxes Mysteries and Revelations Canaans Flowings A Warning to Backsliders The Way to True Happiness Mercies memorial 8 to A Practical Discourse of Prayer wherein is handled the Nature the Duty and the Qualifications of Prayer By Tho. Cobbet Minister of the Gospel 8 to Two Treatises of Mr. Brinseley 1. A Groan for Israel 2. The Spiritual Vertigo with two other Treatises viz. Three Sacred Emblems 2. Tears for Jerusalem By the same Author 8 to Irenicum A Weapon-Salve for the Churches Wounds Or the Divine Right of particular Forms of Church-Government discussed and examined By Edward Stilling fleete Rector of Sutton in Bedford-shire The second Edition corrected 4 to FINIS THE TABLE CHristian Reader take notice that the Pages are misfigured for next to page 240. followes page 280. yet doe thou but follow the directionss laid downe in the Table and without any further trouble to thy self thou will find any particular that thou hast a mind to be satisfied in A. OF Adams holiness in innocency Page 5 6 7. The greatness of Adams sin in four particulars Page 52. Of Adoption Reall holiness is a sure evidence of a mans Adoption Page 624 625 626. Of Admiration Holy persons are much taken up in the Admiration of the holiness of God Page 102 103 104 Of being Afflicted Holy persons are much afflicted c. with their own unholyness Page 123 124 125 126. And much affected and afflicted with the unholiness of others Page 139 140 141. Afflictions Of great and heavy afflictions Page 363 364 The more a man can divinely rejoyce under afflictions the greater measures of holiness that man has certainly attained to Page 600 601 602. Of All Things All things shall be sanctified to the holy man Page 629 630. Of Approving a mans self to God The more a man makes it his great business to approve himself to God the greater measure of holiness that man has attained to Page 609 610 611. Of Authors That unholy persons are to be shut out from special Communion with the people of God is made evident by the Judgements of many Learned and approved Authors Page 51 52 53 54. B. Of Beasts Vnholy persons are Beasts yea the worst of Beasts Page 54 55 56. Of Blessings God will certainly bless all a holy mans blessings to him Page 622 623. Of Boldness The more holy any man is the more bold and couragious that man will be for God and Godliness Page 507 508 509. C. Of severall Cannots There is a threefold Cannot 1. A natural Cannot 2. A contracted and habituated cannot 3. A judicial cannot Page 21-25 Of Conformity to Christ True holiness is conformable to the holiness of Christ Page 138 139. Of Civil men Meere civil men shall not go to Heaven Page 77 78 79. Of Company He that will be holy must keep company with those that are holy Page 307 308. And he that will perfect holiness in the feare of the Lord must be most In with them that are most excellent in holiness Page 577 578. Of Communion There is no spiritual communion with God in this world without holiness Page 28 29 30. Vnholy persons are to be shut out from sacred and special communion with the people of God in this world This proved by an induction of ten particulars Page 44-54 The more holy any man is the more communion that man will have with God Page 491 492 493. Of Comparing your selves with others Take heed of comparing your selves with those that are worse then your selves Page 284 285. Of Contrariety Vnholy persons are full of contrariety to God Page 27 28. Of being Condemned Vnholy persons are adjudged and condemned to hell Page 57 58 59 60 61 62. Of Conversion The persecutions of the Saints may issue in the conversion of sinners Page 401 402 403. Many that have been converted later then others do yet in holiness much excell them Page 504 505. D. Of Death Take heed of putting the day of death far from you three arguments to perswade to this Page 288-296 Of Degrees A holy person will be still reaching after higher degrees of holiness Page 107 108 109. Christians must press after the highest degrees of holiness Page 468 469. About degrees of glory in Heaven see Heaven Of Delight The more holy any man is the more he will be the delight of God c. Page 488 489. Tbis is further proved by five Arguments Page 490 491 492 493 494. God takes singular delight both in a holy mans person and in his services to Page 616 617 618 619. Of Self-denyall The more a man can deny himself when he hath power and opportunity to raise himself c. the greater measure of holiness he has attained to Page 612 613 614. 620 621. Of Discord No speciall communion to be held with those that cause discord and division among the Saints Page 46. Of the Doctrine The Doctrine is this That reall holiness is the onely way to happiness All men must be holy on earth or they shall never see the Beatifical Vision they shall never reach to a glorious fruition of God in Heaven Page 5. The Doctrine proved by ten Arguments Page 18-62 Of holy Duties The holy mans duties are most delightfull to God Page 632 633 634. Reall holiness naturaliseth holy duties to the soule Page 126 127 128. The more holy any man is the more singular delight and pleasure God will take in all his Religious duties and services Page 502 503 504. When men in the maine are as holy out of Religious duties as they are in Religious duties t is an evidence of a great measure of holiness that they have attained to Page 600. The more a man is exercised in the most spirituall and internall duties of Religion the more holiness he hath attained to Page 605