words are mandatory for all counsels in Scripture carry in them the force of a command Keep thy heart Here is Gods solemn charge to every man like the Judges charge given upon the Bench. I shall first explain then apply 1. Keep the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to keep hath various significations 1. Sometimes it signifies munire to arm or fence a stroak at the heart kills fence thy heart 2. Sometimes it signifies câ—rare to take care of a thing that it be not lost as one would take care of a piece of plate that it be not taken away 3. Sometimes it signifies custodire to keep in safe custody so keep thy heart lock it up safe that it may be forth-coming when God calls for it 2. Thy heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the heart is taken diversly in Scripture sometimes it is taken for the vital part Judg. 19.5 sometimes for the soul Deutr. 13.3 sometimes for the mind Prov. 10.8 sometimes for the conscience 1 John 3.20 sometimes for the will and affections Psal 119.36 I shall take it in its full latitude for the whole soul with all its noble faculties and endowments this is the depositum or charge every man is entrusted with the heart 3. With all diligence the original carries it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all keeping the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to keep with watch and ward a Christian is to set a continual guard about his heart Some read the words Keep thy heart supra omnem custodiam above all keeping * Junius nothing requires such strict custody a Christians heart must ever be in his eye 4. For out of it are the issues of life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the heart is the fountain of life if the heart lives the body lives if the heart be touched death follows So the soul is a spiritual fountain out of it issues either sin or grace from this spring-head flow the streams either of salvation or damnation In the words there is 1. A duty Keep thy heart 2. The manner with all diligence 3. The reason for out of it are the issues of life Doctr. Doctr. It must be a Christians great care with all keeping to keep his heart we are to keep our eyes Job set a watch there Job 31.1 I made a Covenant with mine eyes c. We are to keep our lips David bridled his tongue Psal 39.1 I will keep my mouth as with a bridle but especially we are to look to our hearts Keep thy heart with all keeping The heart like Dinah will be gadding abroad and it seldom returns home but it is defiled It was the saying of an Heathen I never come home with such good desires as I went out with Christian thy chief work lies with thy heart Keep thy heart The Serpent when any danger is near keeps his head and to preserve his head will expose his whole body to injury so a wise Christian should especially keep his heart he should adventure his skin to keep a wound from his heart To amplifie this I shall shew that the heart must be kept 1. With all kind of keeping 2. At all times 3. The Reasons enforcing 1. The heart must be kept with all kinde of keeping 1. Keep the heart with all kind of keeping 1. Keep thy heart as thou wouldst keep a Temple the Temple was an hallowed place set apart for Gods worship so the heart is Augustissimum Dei Templum * Seneca the Temple of God 1 Cor. 3.16 This heart-temple must be kept pure and holy no filth * 2 Chron. 29.16 musâ— lie here sweep the dust out of the Temple * Mundemus â—oc Templum quod non fumo nec pulvere sed malâ— cogitatio nibus sordidatur Lactan. the vessels of the Temple were cleans'd 2 Chr. 29.15 Thus the memory affections conscience these Temple-vessels must be cleansed 2 Cor. 7.1 Christ whipped the buyers and sellers out of the Temple John 2. The cares of the world will be crowding into the heart now you must get a whip made of the threatnings of the Law and drive these money-changers out of the Temple of your heart let not Gods Temple be made an Exchange the Temple had a fire burning on the Altar take heed of strange fire but keep the fire of zeal and devotion flaming upon the Altar of thy heart do Temple-work offer up the sacrifice of a broken heart When the heart is Dei sacrarium a consecrated place an Holy of holies now God will walk there Many a mans heart is a Pest-house a Bedlam being polluted with sin this is to put Swine into Gods room this is to let the Divel come into Gods Temple Davids heart was a Temple dedicated Psal 119.38 2. Keep thy heart as thou wouldst keep a treasure A man that hath a great treasure of money and jewels will keep it with lock and bolt that it be not stollen Christian thou carriest a precious treasure about thee even all that thou art worth an heart * Particula divinae aurae the Divel and the world would rob thee of this jewel oh keep thy heart as thou wouldst keep thy life if thou art robbed thou art ruined few know the value of their hearts an husbandman can set a price upon corn but not on pearle men know not the worth of that treasure they carry about them therefore prefer other things keep thy heart as a treasure 3. Keep thy heart as thou wouldst keep a Garden Thy heart is a Garden * Caâ— 4 1â— weed sin out of thy heart Among the flowers of the Spirit weeds will be growing the weeds of pride malice covetousness these grow without setting therefore every day be weeding thy heart by prayer examination repentance 1. Weeds hinder the herbs and flowers from growing the weeds of corruption hinder the growth of grace where the weed of unbelief grows it hinders the flower of faith from growing 2. Weeds spoil the walks Christ will not walk in an heart over-grown with weeds and bryars Christ was sometimes among the lillies Cant. 6.3 never among the thistles Poor sinner thou complainest thou hast not communion with God time was when God did make himself known to thee but now he is grown strange and never comes near thee this is the reason sin hath spoiled Christs walks thy heart lies like the field of the sluggard Prov. 24.30 And will Christ walk there Indeed we read Christ was once in the wilderness when he was tempted Matth. 4.1 But he did not go thither for delight but that he might duel and skirmish with Satan 't is the garden Christ delights in oh weed thy heart daily let not thy heart be a Thicket for Satan 4. Keep thy heart as thou wouldst keep a Garrison The heart of man is a Garrison * Cor hominis tanquam castellum Bern. or Fort-royal this Garrison is besieged the Divel shoots his fiery darts of tentation
God Wilt thou repine and be sad when thou art blessed Esau wept because he wanted the blessing Gen. 27.38 Bless me even me also O my Father and Esau lift up his voice and wept But shall a child of God be immoderately cast down when he hath the blessing Adam sin'd in the midst of Paradise how evil is it to be blessed and yet murmure Branch 4 Branch 4. What an encouragement is this to godliness we are all ambitious of a blessing then let us espouse Religion Psal 112.1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord. But you will say this way is everywhere spoken against 't is no matter seeing this is the way to get a blessing Suppose a Rich man should adopt another for his heir and others should reproach him he cares not as long as he is heir to the Estate So what though others may reproach thee for thy Religion as long as it entails a blessing upon thee the same day thou becomest godly thou becomest blessed CHAP. IV. MATTH 5. â— Blessed are the Poor in Spirit HAving spoken of the general notion of blessedness I come next to consider the Subjects of this blessedness and these our Saviour hath decyphered to be the Poor in Spirit the mourners c. But before I touch upon these I shall a little Preface or Paraphrase upon this Sermon of the Beatitudes 1. Observe the Divinity in this Sermon which goes beyond all Philosophy The Philosophers use to say contrarium contrarium expellit one contrary expels another but here one contrary begets another poverty useth to expel riches but here poverty begets riches for how rich are they that have a Kingdom mourning useth to expel joy but behold here mourning begets joy They shall be comforted Water useth to quench the flame but the water of tears kindles the flame of joy Persecution useth to expel happiness but here it makes happy Blessed are they that are persecuted These are the sacred Paradoxes in our Saviours Sermon * Evangelicam Philosophiam à Paradoâ—is inchoavit Dominus â—nd Clâ—â— 2. Observe how Christs Doctrine and the opinion of carnal men differ They think beati divites blessed are the rich The world would count him blessed who could have Midas wish that all he touch'd might be turn'd into gold But Christ saith Beati pauperes blessed are the poor in spirit The world thinks Blessed are they on the Pinacle but Christ pronounceth them blessed who are in the Valley Christs reckonings and the worlds do not agree 3. Observe the nature of true Religion Poverty leads the Van and Persecution brings up the Reare Christianus quasi Crucianus Every true Saint saith Luther is heire to the Crosse Some there are who would be thought religious displaying Christs Colours by a glorious profession but to be poor in spirit and persecuted durus hic sermo they cannot take down this bitter pill they would weare Christs Jewels but wave his Crosse these are strangers to Religion 4. Observe the certain connexion between grace and its reward they who are poor in spirit shall have the kingdom of God They are as sure to go to heaven as if they were in heaven already Our Saviour would encourage men to Religion by sweetning Commands with Promises he ties duty and reward together As in the body the veines carry the blood and the arteries the spirits so one part of these Verses carries Duty and the other part carries reward As that Scholar of Apelles painted Helena richly drawn in costly and glorious apparel hung all over with orient pearl and precious stones So our Lord Christ having set down several qualifications of a Christian poor in spirit pure in heart c. draws these heavenly vertues in their fair colours of blessednesse and sets the magnificent crown of reward upon them that by this oriency he might the more set forth their unparallel'd beauty and entice holy love 5. Observe hence the concatenation of the graces poor in spirit meek merciful c. where there is one grace there is all As they say of the Cardinal vertues virtutes sunt inter se connexae the vertues are chained together so we may say of the graces of the Spirit they are link'd and chain'd together he that hath poverty of Spirit is a mourner he that is a mourner is meek he that is meek is merciful c. The Spirit of God plants in the heart an habit of all the graces the new creature hath all the parts and lineaments as in the body there is a composition of all the Elements and a mixture of all the humours The graces of the Spirit are like a Row of pearl which hang together upon the string of Religion and serve to adorn Christs Bride This I note to shew you a difference between an hypocrite and a true child of God The hypocrite flatters himself with a pretence of grace but in the mean time he hath not an habit of all the graces he hath not poverty of spirit nor purity of heart whereas a child of God hath all the graces in his heart at least radically though not gradually These things being premised I come in particular to those heavenly dispositions of soul to which Christ hath affixed blessedness And the first is POVERTY of SPIRIT Blessed are the Poor in Spirit Chrysostom and Theophylact are of opinion that this was the first Sermon that ever Christ made therefore it may challenge our best attention Blessed are the Poor in Spirit Our Lord Christ being to raise an high and stately Fabrick of blessedness lays the foundation of it low in poverty of Spirit but all poverty is not blessed * Non omnis paupertas beata Bâ—ugensis I shall use a four-fold distinction 1. I distinguish between Poor in Estate and Poor in Spirit there are the Divels poor poor and wicked whose cloaths are not more torn than their conscience There are some whose poverty is their sin who through Improvidence or Excess have brought themselves to want these may be poor in Estate but not poor in Spirit 2. I distinguish between spiritually Poor and Poor in spirit he who is without grace is spiritually poor but he is not poor in Spirit he knows not his own beggery Rev. 3.17 Thou knowest not that thou art Poor He is in the worst sense poor who hath no sense of his poverty 3. I distinguish between Poor-spirited and Poor in spirit They are said to be poor-spirited who have mean base spirits who act below themselves 1. As they are men such are those Misers which having great Estates yet can hardly afford themselves bread who live sneakingly and are ready to wish their own throats cut because they are forced to spend something in satisfying Natures demands This Solomon calls an evil under the Sun Eccles 6.2 There is an evil which I have seen under the Sun a man to whom God hath given Riches so that he wants nothing for his soul of all that he desireth yet
without cutting or forcing Mary Magdalens repentance was voluntary she stood weeping Luke 7. She came to Christ with ointment in her hand with love in her heart with teares in her eyes God is for a freewil-offering he loves not to be put to distrain 2. Gospel-mourning is spiritual that is when we mourn for sinne more than suffering Pharaoh saith Take away the plague he never thought of the plague of his heart A sinner mourns because judgement follows at the heeles of sinne but David cries out my sinne is ever before me Psal 51. God had threatned that the sword should ride in circuit in his family but David doth not say the sword is ever before me but my sinne is ever before me The offence against God troubled him he grieved more for the treason than the bloody axe thus the Penitent Prodigal Luke 15.21 I have sinned against heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and before thee he doth not say I am almost starved among the husks but I have offended my father In particular our mourning for sinne if it be spiritual must be under this threefold notion 1. We must mourn for sinne as it is an act of hostility and enmity Sinne doth not only make us unlike God but contrary to God Levit. 26.40 and that they have walked contrary unto me Sinne doth affront and resist the Holy Ghost Acts 7.51 Sinne is contrary to Gods nature God is holy sinne is an impure thing sin is contrary to his will if God be of one minde sinne is of another sinne doth all it can to spight God The Hebrew word for sinne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies rebellion a sinner doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 now when we mourn for sinne as it is a walking Antipodes to heaven this is a Gospel-mourning nature will not bear contraries 2. We must mourn for sin as it is a piece of the highest ingratitude it is a kicking against the breasts of mercy God sends his Sonne to redeeme us his Spirit to comfort us we sinne against the blood of Christ the grace of the Spirit and shall we not mourn We complaine of the unkindnesse of others and shall we not lay to heart our own unkindnesse against God Caesar took it unkindly that his son Brutus should stab him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou my son may not the Lord say to us these wounds I have received in the house of my friends * Zach. 13.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Theocr. Israel took their jewels and ear-rings and made a golden Calfe of them the sinner takes the jewels of Gods mercies and makes use of them to sin ingratitude dies a sin in grain hence they are called crimson sinnes Isa 1.18 sinnes against Gospel-love are worse in some sence than the sinnes of the Divels for they never had an offer of Grace tendred to them Diabolus peccavit in innocentia constitutus ego vero restitutus ille perstitit in malitia Deo reprobante ego vero Deo revocante ille obduratur ad punientem ego vero ad blandientem sic uterque contra Deum ille contra non requirentem se ego vero contra morientem pro me ecce cujus imaginem horrebam in multis aspicio me horribiliorem Anselm de Casu Diab Now when we mourn for sin as it hath its accent of ingratitude upon it this is an Evangelical mourning 3. We must mourn for sinne as it is a Privation it keeps good things from us it hinders our communion with God Mary wept for Christs absence John 20.13 they have taken away my Lord. So our sinnes have taken away our Lord they have deprived us of his sweet presence Will not he grieve who hath lost a rich jewel When we mourn for sinne under this notion as it makes the Sun of righteousnesse withdraw from our Horizon when we mourn not so much that peace is gone and trading is gone but God is gone Cant. 5.6 My beloved had withdrawn himself this is an holy mourning the mourning for the losse of Gods favour is the best way to regaine his favour If thou hast lost a friend all thy weeping will not fetch him again but if thou hast lost Gods presence thy mourning will bring thy God again 3. Gospel-mourning cogit ad Deum it sends the soul to God When the Prodigal sonne repented he went to his father Luke 15.18 I will arise and go unto my father Jacob wept and prayed Hos 12.3 The people of Israel wept and offered sacrifice Judg. 2.5 Gospel-mourning puts a man upon duty the reason is because in true sorrow there is a mixture of hope and hope puts the soul upon the use or means That mourning which like the flaming sword keeps the soul from approaching to God and beats it off from duty is a sinful mourning 't is a sorrow hatch'd in hell such was Sauls grief which drove him to the Witch of Endor 1 Sam. 28.7 Evangelical Mourning is a spur to prayer the childe who weeps for offending his father goes into his presence and will not leave till his father be reconciled to him Absalom could not be quiet till he had seen the Kings face 2 Sam. 14.32 33. 4. Gospel-Mourning is for sin in particular Dolosus versatur in generalibus It is with a true penitent as it is with a wounded man he comes to the Chyrurgion and shews him all his wounds here I was cut with the Sword here I was shot with a Bullet So a true penitent bewails all his particular sins Judg. 10.10 We have served Baalim they mourned for their Idolatry And David layes his finger upon the sore and points to that very sin that troubled him Psal 51.4 I have done this evil he means his blood-guiltiness a wicked man will say he is a sinner but a child of God saith I have done this evil Peter wept for that particular sin of denying Christ Clemens Alexandrinus saith he never heard a Cock crow but he fell a weeping there must be a particular Repentance before we have a general pardon 5. Gospel-tears must drop from the eye of faith Mark 9.24 The father of the childe cryed out with tears Lord I believe our disease must make us mourn but when we look up to our Physitian who hath made a playster of his own blood we must not mourn without hope believing tears are precious when the clouds of sorrow have overcast the soul some Sun-shine of faith must break forth the soul will be swallowed up of sorrow it will be drowned in tears if faith be not the bladder to keep it up from sinking though our tears drop to the earth our faith must reach heaven after the greatest rain faith must appear as the Rainbow in the cloud the tears of faith are botled as precious wine Psal 56.8 6. Gospel-Mourning is joyned with self-loathing the sinner doth admire himself the penitent doth loath himself Ezek. 20.42 Ye shall loath your selves in your own sight for all your
Divel let me tell you God hath charg'd every man not to meddle or have any league of friendship with you Prov. 22.24 Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man thou shalt not go What a monster is he among men that every one is warned to beware of and not come near as one who is unfit for humane society make no league saith God with THAT MAN if thou takest him into thy society thou takest a Snake into thy bosome with a furious man thou shalt not go Wilt thou walk with the Divel the furious man is possessed with a wrathful Divel Oh that all this might help to meeken and sweeten Christians spirits Object But it is my nature to be passionate Answ 1. This is sinful arguing it is secretly to lay our sin upon God we learned this from Adam Gen. 3.12 The woman whom thou gavest to be with me she gave me of the tree and I did eate rather than Adam would confesse his sin he would father it upon God the woman thou gavest me as if he had said it thou hadst not given this woman to me I had not eat So saith one it is my nature this is the froward peevish nature God hath given me oh no thou chargest God falsly God gave thee no such nature he made man upright Eccles 7.25 God made thee straight thou madest thy self crooked all thy affections at first thy joy love anger were set in order as the Stars in their right orb but thou didst misplace them and make them move Excentrick at first the affections like several Musick-instruments well-tuned did make a sweet consort but sin was the jarring string that brought all out of tune vain man plead not 't is thy nature to be angry thank thy self for it natures spring was pure till sin poysoned the spring Answ 2. Is it thy nature to be fierce and angry this is so far from being an excuse that it makes it so much the worse it is the nature of a Toad to poyson that makes it the more hateful if a man were indited for stealing and he should say to the Judge Spare me it is my nature to steal were this any excuse the Judge would say Thou deservest the rather to dye Sinner get a new nature flesh and blood cannot enter into the Kingdom of God SECT 3. How to attain this grace of meekness Quest HOW shall I do to be possessed of this excellent grace of meekness Answ 1. Often look upon the meekness of Christ the Scholar that would write well hath his eye often upon the Copy 2. Pray earnestly that God will meeken thy spirit God is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the God of all grace 1 Pet. 5.10 He hath all the graces in his gift Sue to him for this grace of meekness if one were Patron of all the Livings in the Land men would sue to him for a Living God is Patron of all the graces let us sue to him mercy comes in at the door of prayer Ezek. 36.26 37. I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them Meekness is the commodity we want let us send prayer as our Factor over to heaven to procure it for us and pray in faith when faith sets prayer on work prayer sets God on work all divine blessings come streaming to us through this golden channel of prayer MATTH 5.6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after Righteousness CHAP. XIII Describing the Nature of spiritual hunger WE are now come to the fourth step of blessedness Blessed are they that hunger The words fall into two parts 1. A Duty implied 2. A Promise annexed 1. A Duty implied Blessed are they that hunger 1. The Duty implied Spiritual hunger is a blessed hunger Doctr. Quest 1. What is meant by hunger Answ Hunger is put for desire Isa 26.9 Spiritual hunger is the rational appetite whereby the soul pants after that which it apprehends most sutable and proportionable to it self Quest 2. Whence is this hunger Answ Hunger is from a sense of want he who spiritually hungers hath a real sense of his own indigence he wants righteousness Quest 3. What is meant by righteousness Answ There is a two-fold righteousness 1. Of Imputation 2. Of Implantation 1. Justitia imputativa 1. A righteousness of Imputation viz. Christs righteousness Jer. 23.6 He shall be called the Lord our righteousness This is as truly ours to justifie as it is Christs to bestow by vertue of this righteousness God looks upon us as if we had never sinned Num. 23.21 this is a perfect righteousness Col. 2.10 Ye are compleat in him this doth not only cover but adorn he who hath this righteousness is equal to the most illustrious Saints the weakest believer is justified as much as the strongest this is a Christians triumph when he is defiled in himself he is undefiled in his head in this blessed righteousness we shine brighter than the Angels this righteousness is worth hungring after 2 Justitia implantativa 2. A righteousness of Implantation that is inherent righteousness viz. the graces of the Spirit holiness of heart and life which Cajetan calls universal righteousness this a pious soul hungers after This is a blessed hunger bodily hunger cannot make a man so miserable as spiritual hunger makes him blessed this evidenceth life a dead man cannot hunger hunger proceeds from life the first thing the child doth when it is born is to hunger after the breast spiritual hunger follows upon the new birth 1 Pet. 2.2 Saint Bernard in one of his Soliloquies comforts himself with this that sure he had the truth of grace in him because he had in his heart a strong desire after God * Certus sum per gratiam defiderium â—ui habere me in toto corde Bern. Solil 't is happy when though we have not what we should we desire what we have not the appetite is as well from God as the food SECT I. The Inferences drawn from the Proposition 1. SEE here at what a low price God sets heavenly Use 1 things it is but hungring and thirsting Inform. Isa 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters buy Branch 1 without money We are not bid to bring any merits as the Papists would do nor to bring a sum of money to purchase righteousness Rich men would be loth to do that all that is required is to bring an appetite Christ hath fulfilled all righteousness we are only to hunger and thirst after righteousness this is equal and reasonable God requires not Rivers of oyle but sighs and tears the invitation of the Gospel is free if a friend invite Ghuests to his Table he doth not expect they should bring money to pay for their Dinner only come with an appetite so saith God T is not pennance pilgrimage self-righteousness I require only bring a stomack hunger and thirst after righteousness God
it comes to a Duty by Examination and Ejaculation When the Earth is prepared then it is fit to receive the seed when the Instrument is prepared and tuned it is fit for Musick 2. Watching the heart in a Duty An holy heart labours to be affected and wrought upon his heart burns within him There was no Sacrifice without fire a pure Saint labours to have his heart broken in a duty Psal 51.17 The incense when it was broken did cast the sweetest favour Impure souls care not in what a dead perfunctory manner they serve God Ezek. 33.31 They pray more out of fashion than out of faith They are no more affected with an Ordinance than the Tombs of the Church God complains of offering up the blind Mal. 1.8 And is it not as bad to offer up the dead O Christian say to thy self How can this deadness of heart stand with pureness of heart Do not dead things putrifie 3. Outward reverence Purity of heart will express it self by the reverend gesture of the body the lifting up of the eye and hand the uncovering the head the bending the knee Constantine the Emperour did bear great reverence to the Word When God gave the Law the Mount was on fire and trembled Exod. 19.18 The reason was that the people might prostrate themselves more reverently before the Lord. The Ark wherein the Law was put was carried upon bars that the Levites might not touch it Exod. 25.11 14. To shew what reverence God would have about holy things Sitting in prayer unless in case of weakness and having the Hat half on in prayer is a very undecent irreverent practice let such as are guilty reform it We must not only offer up our souls but our bodies Rom. 12.1 The Lord takes notice what posture and gesture we use in his worship If a man were to deliver a Petition to the King would he deliver it with his Hat half on The careless irreverence of some would make us think they did not much regard whether God heard them or no. We are run from one extream to another from superstition to unmannerliness Let Christians think of the dreadful Majesty of God who is present Gen. 28.17 How dreadful is this place this is none other but the house of God and this is the gate of heaven The blessed Angels cover their faces crying Holy holy Isa 6.1 An holy heart will have an holy gesture 6. A pure heart will have a pure life 2 Cor. 7.1 Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. Where there is a good Conscience there will be a good Conversation Some bless God they have good hearts but their lives are evil Prov. 30.12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes and yet are not washed from their filthiness If the stream be corrupt we may suspect the spring-head to be impure Aaron was called the Saint of the Lord Psal 106.16 He had not only an holy heart but there was a golden plate on his fore-head on which was written holiness to the Lord. Purity must not only be woven into the heart but engraven upon the life Grace is most beautiful when it shines abroad with its golden beams The Clock hath not only its motion within but the finger moves without upon the Dyal Pureness of heart shews it self upon the Dyal of the Conversation 1. A pure soul talks of God Psal 37.30 His heart is seen in his tongue the Latines call the Roof of the mouth Coelum Heaven He that is pure in heart his mouth is full of heaven 2. He walks with God Gen. 6.9 He is still doing Angels work praising God serving God he lives as Christ did upon Earth Holy duties are the Jacobs Ladder by which he is still ascending to heaven Purity of heart and life are in Scripture made Twins Ezek. 36.27 I will put my Spirit within them there is purity of heart and they shall walk in my statutes there is purity of life Shall we account them pure whose Conversation is not in heaven * Phil. 3.20 but rather in hell Micah 6.11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances and with the bag of deceitful weights How justly may others reproach Religion when they see it kicked down with our unholy feet a pure heart hath a golden Frontispice grace like new wine will have vent it can be no more conceal'd than lost The Saints are called Jewels Mal. 3. because of that shining lustre they cast in the eyes of others 7. A pure heart is so in love with purity that nothing can draw him off from it 1. Let others reproach purity he loves it as David when he danced before the Ark and Michal scoffed if saith he this he to be vile I will yet be more vile 2 Sam. 6.22 So saith a pure heart If to follow after holiness be to be vile I will yet be more vile Let water be sprinkled upon the fire it burns the more The more others deride holiness the more doth a gracious soul burn in love and zeal to it If a man had an inheritance befallen him would he be laughed out of it what is a Christian the worse for anothers reproach 't is not a blind mans disparaging a Diamond that makes it sparkle the less 2. Let others persecute holiness a pure heart will pursue it Holiness is the Queen every gracious soul is espoused to and he will rather dye than be divorced Paul would be holy though bonds and persecutions did abide him Acts 20.23 The way of Religion is oft thorny and bloody but a gracious heart prefers inward purity before outward peace I have heard of one who having a Jewel he much prized the King sent for his Jewel Tell the King saith he I honour his Majesty but I will rather lose my life than part with my Jewel He who is enriched with the Jewel of holiness will rather dye than part with this Jewel When his honour and riches will do him no good his holiness will stand him instead Rom. 6.22 Ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life SECT 5. Exhorting to heart-purity Use 3 3. LET me perswade Christians to heart-purity the Harlot wipes her mouth Exhort Prov. 30.20 But that is not enough Wash thy heart o Jerusalem Jerem. 4.14 And here I shall lay down some Arguments or Motives to perswade to heart-purity 1. The necessity of heart-purity it is necessary 1. In respect of our selves Till the heart be pure all our holy things are polluted they are splendida peccata Titus 1.15 To the unclean all things are unclean their offering is unclean Under the Law if a man who was unclean by a dead body did carry a piece of holy flesh in his skirt the holy flesh could not cleanse him but he polluted that Hag. 2.12 13. He who had the Leprosie whatever he touched was unclean if he had touched the
above others He who is born of God honoureth them that fear the Lord Psal 15.4 The Saints are the dearly beloved of Gods soul Jerem. 12.7 They are his jewels Mal. 3.17 They are of the true blood-royal and he who is divinely adopted sets an higher estimate upon these than upon others 2. We shew our love to the children of God by prizing their company above others Children love to associate and be together the communion of Saints is precious Christs Doves will flock together in company pares cum paribus c. Psal 119.63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee though a childe of God is courteous to all * 1 Pet. 3.8 We read that Abraham bowed himself to the children of Heth Gen. 23.7 A childe of God hath a love of civility to all but a love of complacency only to such as are fellow-heirs with him of the same inheritance By this persons may try their Adoption it appears plainly that they are not the children of God who hate those that are born of God they soile and black the silver wings of Christs Doves by their aspersive reproaches they cannot endure the society of the Saints As Vultures hate sweet smells and are killed with them so the wicked love not to come near the godly they cannot abide the precious perfume of their graces they hate these sweet smells it is a sign they are of the Serpents brood who hate the seed of the woman 7. The seventh sign of Gods children is to delight to be much in Gods presence Children love to be in the presence of their father where the King is there is the Court where the presence of God is there is Heaven God is in a special manner present in his Ordinances they are the Ark of his presence Now if we are children we love to be much in holy duties in the use of Ordinances we draw near to God we come into our Fathers presence in prayer we have secret conference with God the soul while it is praying is as it were parlying with God In the Word we hear God speaking from heaven to us and how doth every childe of God delight to hear his Fathers voyce In the Sacrament God kisseth his children with the kisses of his lips he gives them a smile of his face and a privy-seal of his love oh it is good to draw near to God Psal 73.28 It is sweet being in his presence every true child of God saith a day in thy Courts is better than a thousand Psal 84.10 Slighters of Ordinances are none of Gods children because they care not to be in his presence they love the Tavern better than the Temple Cain went out from the presence of the Lord Gen. 4.16 not that he could go out of Gods sight Psal 139.7 but the meaning is Cain went from the Church of God where the Lord gave visible signs of his presence to his people 8. The eighth sign is compliance with the will of our heavenly Father A child-like heart answers to Gods call as the eccho answers to the voyce it is like the flower that opens and shuts with the Sun so it opens to God and shuts to Tentation this is the Motto of a new-born Saint Speak Lord thy servant hears 1 Sam. 3.9 When God bids his children pray in their Closets mortifie sin suffer for his Name they are ambitious to obey they will lay down their lives at their Fathers call Hypocrites court God and speak him fair but refuse to go on his errand they are not children but rebels 9. The last sign is He who is a childe of God will labour to make others the children of God the holy seed of grace propagates Gal. 4.19 Philâ—m 10. He who is of the seed-Royal will be ambitiously desirous to bring others into the Kindred Art thou divinely adopted thou wilt studiously endeavour to make thy childe a childe of the most High There are two Reasons why a godly parent will endeavour to bring his childe into the heavenly Kindred 1. Out of conscience A good parent sees the injury he hath done his childe he hath conveyed the plague of sin to him and in conscience he will endeavour to make some recompence In the old Law he that had smitten and wounded another was bound to see him healed and pay for his cure Parents have given their children a wound in their souls and therefore must do what in them lies by admonition prayers tears to see the wound healed 2. Out of a flaming zeal to the honour of God He who hath tasted Gods love in Adoption looks upon himself as engaged to bring God all the glory he can if he hath a childe or acquaintance that are strangers to God he would gladly promote the work of grace in their hearts it is a glory to Christ when multitudes are born to him How far are they from being Gods children who have no care to bring others into the Family of God! Too blame are those Masters who mind more their servants work than their souls too blame are those parents who are regardless of their children they do not drop in principles of knowledge into them but suffer them to have their head they will let them lye and swear but not ask blessing read Play-books but not Scripture Object 1 Object 1. But say some to chatechise and teach our children is to take Gods name in vain Answ 1. Is the fulfilling Gods command taking Answ 1 his name in vain Deut. 6.6 7. These words which I command thee this day thou shalt teach them diligently to thy children Prov. 22.6 Train up a childe in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it Ephes 6.4 Ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. This three-fold cord of Scripture is not easily broken 2. The Saints of old were continually grafting principles Answ 2 of holy knowledge in their children Gen. 18.19 I know that Abraham will command his children and they shall keep the way of the Lord. 1 Chron. 28.9 And thou Solomon my son know thou the God of thy Father and serve him with a perfect heart Sure Abraham and David did not take Gods name in vain What need is there of instilling holy instructions to over-top the poysonful weeds of sin that grow as Husbandmen when they have planted young Trees they set stayes to them * Ut Agricolae stiâ—pibus pedimenta apponunt to keep them from bending Children are young Plants the heavenly precepts of their parents are like stayes set about them to keep them from bending to errour and and profaness when can there be a fitter season to disseminate and infuse knowledge into children than in their minority Now is a time to give them the breast and let them suck in the sincere milk of the Word 1 Pet. 2.2 2. But it is to no purpose to teach our children the
heaven 4. Persecution to Gods children works for good the godly may be compared to that Plant which Greg. Naz. speaks of It lives by dying and grows by cutting * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Naz. The zeal and love of the Saints is blown up by sufferings their joy flourisheth Tertullian saith the Primitive Christians rejoyced more in their persecutions than in their deliverance 5. Death works for good to the children of God it is like the whirle-wind to the Prophet Eliah which blew off his mantle but carried him up to heaven so death to a childe of God is like a boysterous whirle-wind which blows off the mantle of his flesh for the body is but the mantle the soul is wrapped in but it carries up the soul to God this is the glorious priviledge of the sons of God every thing that falls out shall do them good the children of God when they come to heaven as Chrysostom speaks shall bless God for all cross Providences Privi ∣ ledge 12 12. And lastly If we are children we shall never finally perish John 5.24 John 10.28 Those who are adopted are out of the power of damnation Rom. 8.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Will a father condemn his own son God will never disinherit any of his children fathers may disinherit for some fault Reuben for incest lost the Prerogative of his birth-right Gen. 49.4 What is the reason Parents disinherit their children surely this because they can make them no better they cannot make them fit for the inheritance but when we are bad our heavenly Father knows how to make us better he can make us fit to inherit Col. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father who hath made us meet for the inheritance Therefore it being in his power to make us better and to work in us an idoneity and meetness for the inheritance certainly he will never finally disinherit Because this is so sweet a priviledge and the life of a Christians comfort lies in it therefore I shall clear it by Arguments that the children of God cannot finally perish the entail of hell and damnation is cut off not but that the best of Gods children have that guilt which deserves hell but Christ is the friend at Court which hath beg'd their pardon therefore the vis damnatoria the damning power of sin is taken away which I prove thus 1. The children of God cannot finally perish because Arg. 1 Gods justice is satisfied for their sins the blood of Christ is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the price paid not only meritoriously but efficaciously for all them that believe this being the blood of God justice is fully satisfied and meddles not to condemn those for whom this blood was shed and to whom it is applied Jesus Christ was a Sponsor he stood bound for every childe of God as a Surety he said to justice Have patience with them and I will pay thee all so that the believer cannot be liable to wrath God will not require the debt twice both of the Surety and the Debtor Rom. 3.24 25 26. God is not only merciful in pardoning his children but righteous 1 John 1.9 He is just to forgive it is an act of Gods equity and justice to spare the sinner when he hath been satisfied in the Surety 2. A damnatory sentence cannot pass upon the children Arg. 2 of God because they are so Gods children as withal they are Christs Spouse Cant. 4.11 There is a marriage-union between Christ and the Saints every child of God is a part of Christ he is Christ Mystical Now shall a member of Christ perish A child of God cannot perish but Christ must perish Jesus Christ who is the husband is the Judge and will he condemn his own Spouse Arg. 3 3. Every child of God is transformed into the likeness of Christ he hath the same spirit the same judgement the same will he is a lively picture of Christ as Christ bears the Saints names upon his breast so they bear his image upon their hearts Gal. 4.19 Will Christ suffer his own image to be destroyed Theodosius counted them Traytors who defaced his image Christ will not let his image in believers be defaced and rent he will not endure to see his own picture take fire the Sea hath not only stinking carrion but jewels thrown into it but none of Gods jewels shall ever be thrown into the dead Sea of hell Arg. 4 4. If Gods children could be capable of final perishing then pardon of sin were no priviledge the Scripture saith Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven Psal 32.1 But what blessedness were there in having sin forgiven if afterwards a final and damnatory sentence should pass upon the heirs of promise What were a man the better for the Kings pardon if he were condemned after he were pardoned Arg. 5 5. If the children of God should be finally disinherited then the Scripture could not be fulfilled which tells us of glorious rewards Psal 58.11 Doubtless there is a reward for the righteous God sweetens his commands with promises he ties duty and reward together As in the body the veins carry the blood and the arteries carry the spirits so one part of the Word carries duty in it and another part of the Word carries reward now if the adopted of God should eternally miscarry what reward were there for the righteous and Moses did indiscreetly in looking to the recompence of reward Hebr. 11.26 And so by consequence there would be a door opened to despair By all which it appears that the children of God cannot be disinherited or reprobated if they should lose happiness Christ should lose his purchase and should dye in vain Thus we have seen the glorious priviledges of the children of God What an encouragement is here to Religion how may this tempt men to turn godly Can the world viey with a childe of God Can the world give such priviledges as these as Saul said 1 Sam. 22.7 Will the son of Jesse give every one of you Field and Vineyards and make you all Captains of thousands Can the world do that for you as God doth for his children Can it give you pardon of sin or eternal life Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the Vintage of Abjezer◠Is not godliness gain What is there in sin that men should love it the work of sin is drudgery and the wages death They who see more in sin than in the priviledges of Adoption let them go on and have their ears boared to the Divels service CHAP. XX. Containing several Vses drawn from the Proposition Use 1 Reproof Use 1 HERE is a bill of Inditement against those who declare to the world they are not the children of God all profane persons these have damnation written upon their fore-head 1. Scoffers at Religion it were blasphemy to call these the children of God Will a true childe jeer at his fathers picture 2.
all our burdens to supply all our wants there can be no defect in that which is infinite Use 1 Use 1. Information And it hath six Branches Inform. Branch 1 1. It shews us the glorious fulness of Jesus Christ He is all in all Christ is a Panoply a Magazin and Store-house of all spiritual riches you may go with the Bee from flowre to flowre and suck here and there a little sweetness but you will never have enough till you come to Christ for he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all in all Now in particular Christ is all in six Respects 1. Christ is all in regard of righteousness 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made to us righteousness The Robe of innocency like the vail of the Temple is rent asunder ours is a ragged righteousness Isa 64.6 Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags As under rags the naked body is seen so under the rags of our righteousness the body of death is seen we can defile our duties but they cannot justifie us but Christ is all in regard of righteousness Rom. 10.4 Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to them that believe * Domine Jesu ego sum peccatum tuum tu es justitia mea Luth. That is through Christ we are as righteous as if we had satisfied the Law in our own persons Jacob got the blessing in the garment of his elder brother so in the garment of Christ our elder brother we obtain the blessing Christs righteousness is a coat woven without seam 2 Cor. 5. ult We are made the righteousness of God in him 2. Christ is all in regard of Sanctification 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made to us Sanctification Sanctification is the spiritual enamel and embroydery of the soul 't is nothing else but Gods putting upon us the jewels of holiness the Angels glory by it we are made as the Kings daughter all glorious within Psal 45.13 This doth disponere ad coelum it doth tune and prepare the soul for heaven it turns iron into gold it makes the heaâ— which was Satans Picture Christs Epistle The Virgâ—â— â—â—â—her 2.12 had their dayes of purification they 〈◊〉 first to be perfumed and anointed and then they were to stand before the King we must have the anointing of God 1 John 2.27 and be perfumed with the graces of the Spirit those sweet odours and then we shall stand before the King of heaven there must be first our dayes of purification before our dayes of glorification what a blessed work is this a soul beautified and adorned with grace is like the coelum stellatum the firmament bespangled with glittering stars O what a Metamorphize is there I may allude to that Cant. 3.6 Who is this that comes out of the wilderness with myrrhe and frankincense and all the powders of the Merchant So who is this that comes out of the wilderness of sin perfum'd with all the graces of the Spirit Holiness is the signature and engraving of God upon the soul but whence is this Christ is all he is made to us Sanctification he it is that sends his Spirit into our hearts to be a refiners fire to burn up our dross and make our graces sparkle like gold in the Furnace Christ ariseth upon the soul with healing under his wings Mal. 4.2 He heals the understanding and saith Let there be light he heals the heart by dissolving the stone in his blood he heals the will by filing off its rebellion Thus he is all in regard of Sanctification 3. Christ is all in regard of Divine acceptance Eph. 1.6 He hath made us accepted in the Beloved 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he hath made us Favourites so Chrysostom and Theophylact render it through Christ God is propitious to us and takes all we do in good part A wicked man being out of Christ is out of favour as his â—oughing is sin Prov. 21.14 so his praying is 〈◊〉 â—â—ov 15.8 God will not come near him his breaâ—â— infectious God will hear his sins and not his prayers but now in Christ God accepts us Eccles 9.7 Go thy way eat thy bread with joy and drink thy wine with a merry heart for God now accepts thy works as Joseph did present his Brethren before Pharaoh and brought them into favour with the King Gen. 47.2 so the Lord Jesus carries the names of the Saints upon his breast and presents them before his Father so bringing them into repute and honour through Christ God will treat and parly with us he speaks to us as Isa 62.4 Thou shalt no more be termed forsaken but thou shalt be called Hephêªibah for the Lord delighteth in thee Through the red glass every thing appears of a red colour through the blood of Christ we look of a sanguine complexion ruddy and beautiful in Gods eyes 4. Christ is all in regard of Divine assistance a Christians strength lies in Christ Phil. 4.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I can do all things through Christ Whence is it a Christian is able to do duty to resist tentation but through Christs strengthning * Nunquam Caesar tanto impetu civitates oppugnavit quanto Satan conscientias piorum Luther Whence is it that a sparkle of grace lives in a Sea of corruption the storms of persecution blowing but that Christ holds this sparkle in the hollow of his hand Whence is it that the roaring Lyon hath not devoured the Saints but that the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah hath defended them Christ not only gives us our Crown but our Shield he not only gives us our garland when we overcome but our strength whereby we overcome Rev. 12.11 They overcame him that is the accuser of the Brethren by the blood of the Lamb. Christ keeps the Fort-royal of grace that it be not blown up Peters shield was bruised but Christ kept it that was not broken I prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Luke 22.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it be not in a total Eclipse The Crown 〈◊〉 all the Saints victories must be set upon the head of Christ Rom. 8.38 In all these things we are more than Conquerors through Christ Write the name of Michael upon all your conquests 5. Christ is all in regard of pacification when conscience is in an agony and burns as hell in the sense of Gods wrath * Job 6.4 now Christ is all he poures the balm of his blood into these wounds he maketh the storm a calm Christ doth not only make peace in the Court of heaven but peace in the Court of conscience he not only makes peace above us but within us Joh. 16. ult That in me ye might have peace in me tanquam in fonte saith Cyprian all our golden streams of peace flow from this fountain John 14.27 Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you Jesus Christ not only purchased peace for us but speaks peace to us he is called the Prince of peace Isa 9.6 Peace
wonder Saint Paul was willing to be bound and dye for Christ Acts 21.13 when he knew that Christ loved him and had given himself for him Gal. 2.20 Though I will not say Paul was proud of his chain yet he was glad of it he wore it as a chain of pearle Quest Quest But how shall I get this jewel of assurance Answ Answ 1. Make duty familiar to you when the Spouse sought Christ diligently she found him joyfully Cant. 3.4 The Ordinances are the Lattice where Christ looks forth and gives the soul a smiling aspect As Christ was made known to his Disciples in the breaking of bread Luke 24.35 so in the use of holy Ordinances in the breaking of bread Christ makes a glorious discovery of himself to the soul Christs parents found him in the Temple Luk. 2.46 They who would find Christ with comfort and have the kisses of his lips shall be sure to meet with him in the Temple 2. Preserve the virginity of conscience when the glass is foule you will not poure wine into it but when it is clean so when the soul is cleansed from the love of every sin now God will poure in the sweet wine of assurance * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Socrat. Hebr. 10.22 Let us draw near in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience Guilt clips the wings of joy he who is conscious to himself of secret sin cannot draw near to God in full assurance he cannot come with boldness but blushing he cannot call God Father but Judge assurance is a flowre that grows only in a pure heart before David prayes for joy he first prayes for a pure heart Psal 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God 3. Be much in the actings of faith the more active the childe is in obedience the sooner he hath his fathers smile if faith be ready to dye Rev. 3.2 if it be like Armour hung up or like a sleepy habit in the soul never look for assurance God will not speak peace to thee when thou art asleep it is the lively faith which flourisheth into assurance Abraham had a vigorous sparkling faith Rom. 4.18 who against hope believed in hope That is against the hope of sense he believed in the hope of the promise and how sweetly doth God manifest himself to Abraham he calls him his friend he makes him of his Cabinet-counsel Gen. 18.17 Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do Wouldst thou have Christ reveal his love to thee kâ—ep faith upon the wing this is the Bird which soars aloft and plucks a bunch of grapes from the true Vine 4. If Christ be all then make him so to Branch 4 you 1. Make Christ all in your understanding be ambitious to know nothing but Christ 1 Cor. 2.2 For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I judged not I did not think any thing in my judgement worth knowing in comparison of Christ Austin saith of Cicero he liked his eloquence but he could not take so much delight in reading him quia Nomen Christi non erat ibi because he could not finde the Name of Christ there what will all other knowledge avail a man at his death who is ignorant of Christ Si Christum nescis nihil est si coetera noscis What is it to have knowledge in Physick to be able with Esculapius and Galen to discourse of the causes and symptomes of a disease and what is proper to apply and in the mean time to be ignorant of the healing under Christs wings What is it to have knowledge in Astronomy to discourse of the Stars and Planets and to be ignorant of Christ that bright morning star which leads to heaven what is it to have skill in a shop and ignorant of that commodity which doth both enrich and crown what is it to be versed in Musick and to be ignorant of Christ whose blood makes atonement in heaven and musick in the conscience what is it to know all the stratagems of War and to be ignorant of the Prince of peace O make Christ all be willing to know nothing but Christ though you may know other things in their due place yet know Christ in the first place let the knowledge of Jesus Christ have the preheminence as the Sun among the lesser Planets This is the crowning knowledge Prov. 4.18 The prudent are crowned with knowledge 1. We cannot know our selves unless we know Christ he it is who lights us into our hearts and shews as the spots of our souls whereby we abhor our selves in dust and ashes Christ shews us our own vacuity and indigency and untill we see our own emptiness we are not fit to be filled with the golden oyle of mercy 2. We cannot know God but through Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Out of Christ God is terrible he is a consuming fire it is through Christ that we know God as a friend oh then treasure up the knowledge of Christ he is the golden ladder by which we ascend to heaven to be ignorant of Christ is as if a man were poysoned and there were an herb in the garden could cure him but he is ignorant of that herb 2. Make Christ all in your affections 1. Desire nothing but Christ he is the accumulation of all good things Ye are compleat in him Col. 2.10 Christ is the Christians perfection what should the soul desire less what can it desire more * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignatius Psal 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee David had his Crown and his Throne to delight in I but it was the presence of Christ he chiefly thirsted after without Christ all his other comforts were not only emptiness but bitterness 2. Love nothing but Christ love is the choycest affection it is the purest stream of the soul it is the richest jewel the creature hath to bestow oh if Christ be all love him better than all let your Rivers still run into this golden Sea Every mans heart is set upon his treasure in Christ there are unsearchable riches Ephes 3.8 Though the Angels have lived so long in heaven yet to this day they know not how rich Christ is Take the most precious pearle or Diamond that is and the Jeweller can set the full value of it he can say This is worth so much and no more but the riches of Christ are unsearchable it cannot be said he is worth so much and no more neither man or Angel are able to set the full value of the pearle of price and shall not Jesus Christ lie nearest our hearts shall he not have the cream of our love Consider 1. If you love other things when they dye your love is lost but Christ lives for ever to requite your love 2. You may love other things in the excess but you cannot
God to beautifie thee and the blood of God to redeem thee Christ was the Priest his Divine Nature the Altar his blood the sacrifice which he did offer up as an atonement for our souls Now reckon what a drop of Christs blood is worth and then tell me what a soul is worth 2. Satan doth value souls he knows their worth he saith as the King of Sodom did to Abraham Give me the persons and take the goods to thy self So saith Satan Give me the Persons He cares not how rich you are he doth not strive to take away your estates but your souls Give me the persons saith he take you the goods whence are all his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his warlike stratagems his subtile snares but to catch souls Why doth this Lyon so roar but for his prey he envies the soul its happiness he layes the whole train of tentation to blow up the whole Fort-royal of the soul Why doth he lay such sutable baits he allures the ambitious man with a Crown the covetous man with a golden apple the sanguine man with beauty why doth he tempt to Dalilah's Lap but to keep you from Abrahams bosome Latet anguis in herba The Divel is angling for the precious soul to undo souls is his pride he glories in the damnation of souls it is next to victory to dye revenged If Sampson must dye it is some comfort that he shall make more dye with him if Satan that Lyon must be kept in his hellish Den it is all the heaven he expects to reach forth his paw pull others into the Den with him 2. Having shewed you the souls preciousness the next thing to be demonstrated is that the soul is more precious than a world 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The world is made of a more impure lump Rudis indigestaque moles The world is of a courser make of an earthly extract the soul is heaven-born of a finer spinning of a more noble descent the world is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Origen calls it a great Book oâ— Volume wherein we read the Majesty and Wisdom of him that made it but the soul is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Image of God Gen. 1. The soul is a studied piece when God made the world it was but fiat let it be and it was done but when he made the soul all the persons in the Trinity sate together at the Councel-table Gen. 1.26 Come let us make man in our own likeness The soul is a Glass wherein some Rayes of Divine Glory shine much of God is to be seen in it though this glass be cracked by the fall yet it shall one day be perfect we read of spirits of just men made perfect Hebr. 12.23 The soul since the fall of Adam may be compared to the Moon in its conjunction very much obscur'd by sin but when it is sanctified by the Spirit and translated from hence it shall be as the Moon in the full it shall shine forth in its perfect glory 1. If the soul be so precious see then what that Use 1 worship is that God doth expect and accept namely Inform. that which comes from the more noble part of the soul Branch 1 Psal 25.1 To thee O Lord do I lift up my soul David did not only lift up his voyce but his soul though God will have the eye and the knee the service of the body yet he complains of them that draw near with their lips when their hearts were far from him Isa 29.13 * Neque enim in Sacrificiis munera eorum sed corda intuebaâ—ur Deus Cypr. The soul is the jewel David did not only put his Lute and Viol in tune but his soul in tune to praise God Psal 103.1 Bless the Lord O my soul his affections joyning together in worship made up the consort The soul is both Altar Fire and Incense it is the Altar on which we offer up our prayers the Fire which kindles our prayers and the Incense which perfumes them Gods eye is chiefly upon the soul bring an hundred dishes to Table he will carve of none but this this is the savoury meat he loves He who is best will be served with the best when we give him the soul in a duty now we give him the flowre and the cream by an holy Chymistry we still out the spirits A soul inflamed in service is the cup of spiced wine and the juyce of the Pomgranate which the Spouse makes Christ to drink off * Cant. 8.2 without the worship of the soul all our Religion is but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bodily exercise 1 Tim. 4.8 which profits nothing without the soul we give God but a carcass What are all the Papists Fastings Pennance Pilgrimages but going to hell in more pomp and state What are the Formalists prayers which do even cool between his lips but a dead devotion It is not sacrifice but sacriledge he robs God of that which he hath a right to his soul Branch 2 2. If the soul be so precious then of what precious account should Ordinances and Ministers be 1. Ordinances they are the golden ladder by which the soul climbs up to heaven they are conduits of the water of life O how precious should these be to us they that are against Ordinances are against being saved 2. Of how precious account should Ministers be whose very work is to save souls their feet should be beautiful 1. Their labours should be precious they are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 6.1 They labour with God and they labour for your souls all their sweat their tears their prayers are for you they woe for your souls and oftentimes spend their lives in the suit 2. Their liberties should be precious Constantine was a great honourer of the Minstry if indeed you see any of them who are of this holy and honourable function like that drug the Physitians speak of which is hot in the mouth but cold in operation if you see them either idle or ravenous if they do not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 divide the Word rightly and live uprightly censure and spare not God forbid I should open my mouth for such In the Law the lips of the Leper were to be covered that Minister who is by office an Angel but by his life a Leper ought to have his lips covered he deserves silencing A good Preacher but a bad liver is like a Physitian that hath the plague though his advice and receits which he gives may be good yet his plague infects the Patient so though Ministers may have good words and give good receits in the Pulpit yet the plague of their lives infects their people If you finde a Hophni and Phineas among the sons of Levi whose unholy carriage makes the offering of God to be abhorred you will save God a labour in ejecting them but be sure you distinguish between the precious and the vile
Experience worketh hope A Believer can bring in a Catalogue of experiences Psal 119.65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant So can a Believer say God hath dealt well with him In several cases he hath had experiences of God when his sins and tentations have been strong God hath come in with Auxiliary Forces and his grace hath been sufficient When his heart hath been sinking under fears God hath boyed him up out of quicksands and lifted up his head out of deep waters Psal 3.3 Thou art O Lord my glory and the lifter up of my head When his heart hath been dead in duty the Spirit of God hath been sweetly tuning of his soul and now he makes melody in his heart to the Lord Ephes 5.19 A godly man hath many signal experiences of Gods favour to him and experience breeds hope So that a godly mans hope hath a foundation it is a well-built hope that hope must needs stand strong which stands with one foot upon a promise and with the other foot upon an experience But a wicked mans hope is tela aranea a Spiders Web he hath nothing to ground his hope upon his hope is an imposture a golden dream Isa 29.8 It is as when an hungry man dreameth and behold he eateth but he awaketh and his soul is empty The hope of a sinner is like a dying mans will that hath neither seal set to it or witnesses in the will he promiseth to bequeath such a Mannor and Lordship so many thousand pounds to such a one but the will being without seal and witnesses it is null and void in Law just such is the hope of a wicked man his hope promiseth him great matters that Christ is his and all the priviledges of heaven are his but alas it is a meer delusion of his false heart when things come to be examined he wants both seal and witnesses he wants the seal of the Word to confirm his Title and the witness of the Spirit Plurimi spe periclitantur * Aug. this is a sad thing for a man to go to hell with the hope of heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * Eurip. 2. The Spider spins the web out of her own bowels she fetcheth all from her self The Bee fetcheth all from without the matter of her Comb and Honey the sucks from the flower The Spider fetcheth all from within her self A true Christian like the Bee fetcheth all from without he sucks from the sweet flower of Christs Righteousness Isa 45.24 In the Lord have I righteousness and strength But a wicked man like the Spider fetcheth all his hope from within â—he spins the thread of his hope out of himself his duties and moralities thus his hope is like the Spiders Web. 3. The Spiders Web is but weak the least blast shakes it the least touch breaks it Such is the sinners hope the least terror of Conscience shakes it Job 8.14 whose hope shall be cut off commonly before a wicked mans life is cut off his hope is cut off The godly man hope is a good hope it is solid and scriptural the other is a spiders Web. 4. A true hope is a Persevering hope Heb. 3.6 Whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence of hope firm unto the end True hope doth not faint it is not broken with affliction it is an Adamantine grace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hope makes us endure therefore it is compared to an Anchor which holds the ship in a storm and to an Helmet 1 Thes 5.8 The Helmet keeps off the blow of the sword or arrow from entring So hope as an helmet keeps off the stroke from a Christian that it shall not hurt or dismay him In time of publick calamities hope keeps the soul from sinking Joel 3.16 The Lord shall roar out of Sihon the heavens and earth shall shake but the Lord will be the hope of his people Though heaven and earth be ready to come together yet a Believers hope abides Sola spes in miseriis consolatur * Cicero A Believer doth never cast away his Anchor The Jews were prisoners in Babylon yet prisoners of hope Zach. 9.10 Turn to your strong hold ye prisoners of hope When a Christan is on his death-bed and all hope of life is taken away yet his hope in God is not taken away 3. What unspeakable comfort is this to a child of Use 3 God that upon a serious trial finds he hath a well-built hope * Solamen vitae mortalis est spes vitae immortalis Austin when Christ shall appear Consolation â—t will be a glorious appearing to a believer Credula vitam spes fovet A Christian is like a rich heir that hath great Lands in Reversion he hath much in hope Alexander having given away almost all he had in Greece and being asked what he had left for himself answered Hope his meaning was he had hope to conquer more Kingdoms as afterwards he did So if a Christians outward comforts were taken away and one should ask him what he had left he might say The Anchor of hope he hath a confident hope of those eternal Mansions which Jesus Christ is gone to prepare for him John 14.2 When Christ who is his life shall appear then shall he also appear with him in glory Col. 3.4 Oh what comfort is this how may this lighten and sweeten the crosse after the waters of Marah comes the wine of Paradise after a wet Spring a joyful Harvest Use 4 1. Be exhorted to chearfulness Rom. 5.2 We rejoyce in hope of the glory of God Exhort Timorâ— contristatur animum Branch 1 fear begets sorrow hope begets joy Spes non potest esse sine gaudio Divine hope saith Austin cannot be without some mixture of joy hath a Christian hopes of heaven and not rejoyce Prov. 10.28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness Object Object But may some say It is long before we shall enter upon possession of heaven and hope deferred makes the heart sick Prov. 13.12 Answ Answ It is not long Rev. 22.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me This glorious reward we hope for is quickly in faiths account faith makes things future present what hope saith shall be faith saith it is already Christs coming is at hand the bright morning Star begins to appear as a Perspective glass makes those things which are a good way off seem near to the eye So faith makes Christ and heaven and the day of recompence seem to be near it gives a kind of possession of them in this life Oh then Christians rejoyce turn your lamentations into Halelujahs it is but a while and you shall be made partakers of those blessed things you hope for think of the certainty of Christs appearing Behold I come and think of the celerity I come quickly 2. Maintain your hopes against all discouragements Branch 2 either of fear or tentation Christians let
the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy ground blessed shall be thy basket and thy store c. If thou shalt keep the Commandements of the Lord thy God c. He that hath a fruitful Heart shall have a fruitful Crop God will make him to thrive in his Estate And his basket shall not only be full but blessed God will bless what he hath Here is not only the Sack full of corn but money in the mouth of the Sack 2. Spiritual blessings Exod. 19.5 If ye will obey my voice indeed then ye shall be a peculiar Treasure to me above all people You shall be my Portion my Jewels the Apple of my eye I will give Kingdoms for your ransome Jer. 7.23 Obey and I will be your God I will make over my self to you by a deed of gift What a Superlative distinguishing mercy is this Psal 14.4 Happy is that people whose God is the Lord. 3. Eternal blessings Heb. 5.9 Christ became the author of Eternal salvation to all them that obey him It is a salvation that bears date to eternity Oh then who would not be in love with obedience while we please God we pleasure our selves * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer II. We are ready to say as Amaziah 2 Chron. 25.9 But what shall we do for the hundred Talents Ye see brethren you are no losers by Obedience who did ever kindle a fire on Gods Altar for nought Mal. 1.10 3. I shall lay down some Rules to help Christians in Use 3 their Obedience Direction that it may be the Sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour to God Obedience must have these four Ingredients in it It must be cordial Deutr. 26.16 The Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thy heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 6.17 Ye have obeyed from the heart * Obedienta non servili metu sed cordis affectu servanda non timore poenae sed amorae justitiae Obedience without the heart is like fire on the Altar without Incense The heart is the seat of Love and 't is Love perfumes every duty The heart makes service a Free-will offering else it is but a tax Cain brought his sacrifice not his heart it was rather a mulct than an Offering Without the heart our Religion is like the Angels assuming dead bodies those bodies did eat and drink and walk but they had no soul to animate them They did movere not vivere how many do but assume the duties of Religion Obedience without the heart is hypocrisie How canst thou say I love thee when thy heart is not with me Judg. 16.15 2. Obedience must be extensive it must reach to all Gods Commandments 1 King 9.4 Luke 1.6 Quest But who can arrive at this Answ Though we cannot keep all Gods Commandements Legally yet we may Evangellically A good Christian 1. Consents to the equity of the whole Law Rom. 7.12 The Law is holy and just and good he sets his seal to every Law 2. He doth make conscience of every Law David had respect to all Gods Commandments Psal 119.6 his eye was upon all every command hath such authority upon a Christian that he knows not how to dispence with it though he fail in every duty yet he dares not neglect any duty 3. A child of God desires to keep every command Psal 119.5 O that my wayes were directed to keep thy statutes what a child of God wants in strength he makes up in will Rom. 7.18 To will is present The regenerate Will stands bent to all Gods Precepts 4. The gracious soul mourns that he can do no better when he fails he weeps O wretched man that I am Rom. 7.24 O this unbelieving heart how am I clog'd with corruption The good I would I do not Thus doth a Child of God lament his failings and judge himself for them and this is in a Gospel sense to keep every Law Unsound hearts as they are slight in their obedience so they are partial some duty they will dispense with some sinne they will indulge in this thing the Lord pardon thy servant 1 King 5.18 The Hypocrite will walk in some of Gods statutes not in all like a foundred Jade that will not set all his feet upon the ground but favours one foot Such foundered Christians there are who halt and limp and favour themselves in some things though it be to the hazard of their souls Herod could as well die as leave his Incest True obedience is universal as the Papists say we owe to our Mother the Church an Unlimited subjection its true here we owe to our God Unlimited obedience 3. The third Ingredient into obedience is Faith Heb. 11.6 Without faith it is impossible to please God therefore it is call'd the obedience of faith Rom. 16.26 Abel is said by faith to offer up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abetter sacrifice than Cain Sacra solet magnis rebus inesse fides Faith is a vital principle without it all our services are dead * Sicut in arbore quicquid pulchritudinis inest ex radice proficiscitus ita in anima quicquid decorum ex fide Aug. Therefore the Scripture speaks of dead works Hebr. 6.1 But why must this silver thread of faith run through the whole work of obedience I answer because faith looks at Christ in every duty and so both the person and offering is accepted Ephes 1.6 He hath accepted us in the beloved We are not accepted through our duties but through the beloved Faith looks at the Merit of Christ to take away the guilt and the Spirit of Christ to take away the filth which cleaves to the most angelical services thus it procures acceptance The High Priest under the Law looked at Christ in all when he offered up the Sacrifice he laid his hand upon the head of the beast slain which did point at the Messiah Exod. 29.10 So Faith laies its hand in every Gospel-sacrifice upon the head of Christ his Blood doth cleanse and the sweet Odours of his Intercession do perfume our holy things Now Faith looking up to Christ in every Duty finds acceptance Nay Faith doth not only look at Christ but it unites to Christ as the Siens is graffed into the stock Believers are part of Christ Christ and the Saints make one body Mystical no wonder then if God casts a favourable aspect upon those services which Believers present to him 4. Obedience must be constant Revel 2.26 He that keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give the morning star Faith must lead the Van and Perseverance must bring up the Rear There is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 something still remaing for a Christian to do Non currenti sed vincenti datur corona Aug. and he must not leave work till the night of death comes on Mnason of Cyprus an old Discilple Acts 21.16 what an honour is it for one
7.29 but Adam by eating the Apple fell sick and had dyed for ever had not God found out a way for his recovery For the amplification of the Doctrine there are three things to be considered 1. In what sence sin is resembled to sicknesse 2. What the diseases of the soul are 3. That sin-sicknesse is the worst 1. In what sence sin is resembled to sicknesse 1. Sin may be compared to sicknesse for the manner of catching First Sicknesse is caught often through carelesnesse some get cold by leaving off cloaths So when Adam grew carelesse of Gods command and left off the garment of his innocency he caught a sicknesse he could stay no longer in the Garden but lay bed-rid his sinne hath turned the world which was a Paradise into an Hospital Secondly Sicknesse is caught sometimes through superfluity and intemperance Excesse produceth sicknesse When our first parents lost the golden bridle of temperance and did eate of the forbidden tree they and all their posterity surfeited on it and took a sicknesse The Tree of Knowledge had sicknesse and death under the leaves it was fair to the eye Gen. 3.6 but poyson to the taste we all grew desperately sick by eating of this tree Adams intemperance hath brought us to fasting and weeping and besides that disease at first by propagation we have added to it by actual perpetration We have encreased our sicknesse therefore sinners are said to wax worse and worse 2 Tim. 3.13 2. Sin may be resembled to sicknesse for the nature of it As 1. Sicknesse is of a spreading nature it spreads all over the body it works into every part the head stomach it disorders the whole body So sin doth not rest in one part but spreads into all the faculties of the soul and members of the body Isa 1.5 6. The whole head is sick the whole heart is faint from the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundnesse in it but wounds and bruises and putrifying sores c. 1. Sin doth corrupt the understanding Gregory Nazianzene calls the understanding the lamp of reason 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this lamp burns dim Ephes 4.18 Having their understanding darkned Sin hath drawn a vail over the understanding it hath cast a mist before our eyes that we neither know God nor our selves naturally we are only wise to do evil Jer. 4.21 Witty at sin wise to damn our selves the understanding is defiled 1 Cor. 2.14 We can no more judge of spiritual objects till the Spirit of God anoint our eyes than a blind man can judge of colours our understandings are subject to mistakes we call evill good and good evil we put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter Isa 5.20 A strait stick under water seems crooked so to a natural understanding the strait line of truth seemes crooked 2. The memory is diseased the memory at first was like a golden cabinet in which divine truths were locked up safe but now it is like a Colander or leaking vessel which lets all that is good run out The memory is like a Searcer which sifts out the flower but keeps the bran So the memory lets saving truths go and holds nothing but froth and vanity Many a man can remember a story when he hath forgot his Creed Thus the memory is diseased the memory is like a bad stomack that wants the retentive faculty all the meat comes up again So the most precious truths will not stay in the memory but are gone again 3. The Will is diseased the will is the souls commander in chief it is the master-wheele but how irregular and excentrick is it The Will in the Creation was like that golden bridle which Minerva was said to put upon Pegasus to guide and rule him it did answer to Gods Will This was the language of the Will in innocency I delight to do thy will O God Psal 40.8 but now it is distempered it is like an iron sinew that refuseth to yeild and bend to God Isa 48.4 John 5.40 ye will not come to me that you may have life Men will rather die than come to their Physician The Arminians talk of Free-will the Will is sick what freedome hath a sick man to walk the Will is a Rebel against God Acts 7.51 ye do alwayes resist the holy Ghost The Will is diseased 4. The Affections are sick First the Affection of desire a sick man desires that which is hurtful for him he calls for wine in a Feaver So the natural man being sick he desires that which is prejudicial for him he hath no desire after Christ he doth not hunger and thirst after righteousnesse but he desires poyson he desires to take his fill of sin he loves death Prov. 8.36 Secondly The Affection of grief a man grieves for the want of an estate but not for the want of Gods favour he grieves to see the Plague or Cancer in his body but not for the plague of his heart Thirdly the Affection of joy many can rejoyce in a wedge of gold not in the crosse of Christ The Affections are sick and distempered 5. The Conscience is diseased Titus 1.15 Their minde and conscience is defiled Conscience is either 1. Erroneous binding to that which is sinful John 16.2 Acts 26.9 I verily thought with my self I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus Conscience is an ignis fatuus leading out of the right way Or 2. Dumb it will not tell men of sin it is a silenced Preacher Or 3. Dead Ephes 4.19 Conscience is stupified and sencelesse the custome of sinning hath taken away the sence of sinning Thus the sicknesse of sin hath gone over the whole soul like that cloud which over-spread the face of the heavens 1 Kings 18.45 2. Sicknesse doth debilitate and weaken the body a sick man is unfit to walk So this sicknesse ofsin weakens the soul Rom. 5.6 When we were without strength Christ died In innocency Adam was in some sence like the Angels he could serve God with a winged swiftnesse and filial chearfulnesse but sin brought sicknesse into the soul and this sickness hath cut the lock where his strength lay he is now disarmed of all ability for service and where grace is wrought though a Christian be not so heart-sick as before yet he is very faint The Saints prayers do but whisper in Gods eares and if Christ did not pray them over again God could not hear them we sin fervently but pray faintly as David said 2 Sam. 3.39 I am this day weak though anointed King so Christians though they have the oyle of grace poured upon them and they are anointed spiritual Kings yet they are weak sin hath infeebled them they take their breath short and cannot put forth such strong desires after God as they ought When we finde our selves dead in duty our holy affections languishing think thus This is my sickness sin hath made me weak as Jephtha said to his daughter
Judges 11.35 Alas my daughter thou hast brought me very low so may the soul say Alas my sin thou hast brought me very low thou hast brought me almost to the gates of death 3. Sickness doth eclipse the beauty of the body This I ground on that Scripture Psal 39.11 When thou with rebukes dost correct man thou makest his beauty to consume away like a Moth. The Moth consumes the beauty of the cloth so a fit of sickness consumes the beauty of the body Thus sin is a soul-sickness it hath eclipsed the glory and splendor of the soul it hath turned ruddiness into paleness that beauty of grace which once sparkled as gold now it may be said How is this gold become dim †* Lam. 4.1 That soul which once had an orient brightness in it it was more ruddy than Rubies its polishing was of Saphyr the understanding be spangled with knowledge the will crowned with liberty the affections like so many Seraphims burning in love to God now the glory is departed Sin hath turned beauty into deformity as some faces by sickness are so disfigured and look so ghastly they can hardly be known So the soul of man is by sin so sadly Metamorphiz'd having lost the image of God that it can hardly be known Joel 2.31 The Sun shall be turned into darkness Sin hath turned that Sun of beauty which shined in the soul into a Cimmerian darkness and where grace is begun to be wrought yet the souls beauty is not quite recovered but is like the Sun under a cloud 4. Sickness takes away the taste a sick man doth not taste that sweetness in his meat so the sinner by reason of soul-sickness hath lost his taste to spiritual things The Word of God is pabulum animae it is bread to strengthen wine to comfort but the sinner tastes no sweetness in the Word A childe of God who is spiritualized by grace tastes a savouriness in Ordinances the promise drops as an honey-comb Psal 19.10 but a natural man is sick and his taste is gone since the tasting of the forbidden Tree he hath lost his taste 5. Sickness takes away the comfort of life a sick person hath no joy of any thing his life is a burden to him So the sin-sick soul is void of all true comfort and his laughter is but the pleasing dream of a sick man he hath no true title to comfort his sin is not pardoned he may be in hell before night for any thing he knows 6. Sickness ushers in death it is the prologue to death sickness is as it were the cutting of the Tree and death is the falling of the Tree so this disease of sin if not cured in time brings the second death 2. What the diseases of the soul are Adam by breaking the box of original righteousness hath filled the soul full of diseases the body is not subject to so many diseases as the soul I cannot reckon them all up Psal 19.12 Who can understand his errors * Psal 40.12 Only I shall name some of the worst of these diseases Pride is the tympany of the soul lust is the feaver error the gangrene unbelief the plague of the heart hypocrisie the scurvy hardness of heart the stone anger the phrenzy malice the Wolf in the breast covetousness the dropsie spiritual sloth the green sickness apostasie the epilepsie here are eleven soul-diseases and when they come to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the full heigth they are dangerous and most frequently prove mortal 3. The third thing to be demonstrated is that sin is the worst sickness To have a body full of plague sores is sad but to have the soul which is the more noble part spotted with sin and full of the Tokens is far worse as appears 1. The body may be diseased and the conscience quiet Isa 33.24 The Inhabitant of the Land shall not say I am sick He should scarce feel his sickness because sin was pardoned but when the soul is sick of any reigning lust the conscience is troubled Isa 57. ult There is no peace to the wicked saith my God When Spira had abjured his former faith he was put IN LITTLE EASE his conscience burned as hell and no spiritual physick that Divines did apply could ever allay that inflammation 2. A man may have bodily diseases yet God may love him Asa was diseased in his feet 2 Kings 15.23 He had the Gout yet a Favourite with God Gods hand may go out against a man yet his heart may be towards him diseases are the Arrows which God shoots pestilence is called Gods Arrow Psal 91.5 This Arrow as Gregory Nazianzene saith may be shot from the hand of an indulgent father But soul-diseases are symptoms of Gods anger as he is an holy God he cannot but hate sin he beholds the proud afar off Psal 138.6 God hates a sinner for his plague-sores Zach. 11.8 My soul loathed them 3. Sickness at worst doth but separate from the society of friends but this disease of sin if not cured separates from the society of God and Angels The Leper was to be shut out of the Camp this leprosie of sin without the interposition of mercy shuts men out of the Camp of heaven Rev. 21.8 This is the misery of them that dye in their sins they are allowed neither friend nor Physitian to come at them they are excluded Gods presence for ever in whose presence is fulness of joy Use 1 1. See into what a sad condition sin hath brought us it hath made us desperately sick Inform. nay we dye away in Branch 1 our sickness till we are fetch'd again with the water of life O how many sick bed-rid souls are there in the world sick of pride sick of lust sin hath turned our Houses and Churches into Hospitals they are full of sick persons What Davids enemies said reproachfully of him is true of every natural man Psal 41.8 An evil disease cleaveth fast unto him He hath the plague of the heart 1 Kings 8. And even those who are regenerate are cured but in part they have some grudgings of the disease some ebullitions and stirrings of corruption nay sometimes this Kings Evil breaks forth to the scandal of Religion and from this sin-sickness ariseth all other diseases * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys de poen hom 5. Plague Gout Stone Feaver 1 Cor. 11.29 30. He that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself for this cause many are weak and sickly among you Branch 2 2. If sin be a soul-sickness then how foolish are they that hide their sins it is folly to hide a disease * Insipientium malus pudor ulcera celat Job 31.33 40. If I covered my transgression as Adam by hiding my iniquity in my bosome let thistles grow instead of wheat c. The wicked take more care to have sin covered than cured if they can but sin in private and not be suspected they