of the hope that is in us 1 Pet. 3.15 with meekness and fear 2. And to preach the Gospel when lawfully called thereunto 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3 4. Rom. 10.14.15 You know that the whole course of our lives is often compared to a Way Walk or Journey and also to a Warfare and for either of these men do make such provision and preparation as is necessary and so we must do here as the Text here teacheth us the point is That Doct. We who are Christian Soldiers must make diligent preparation to profess and practise the Gospel and also to preach and publish the same as we shall be lawfully called thereunto ☞ This point doth consist of two branches The first of which concerns all and the second concerns only the Preachers of the Gospel We shall take them a sunder and begin with that which is universally necessary for all Christians viz. To profess and practise the Gospel of Christ. Exp. The Gospel is so called q.d. a Goodspel or Gods-Spell viz. of Christ Gal. 1.6 7. and 3.8 which was preached unto Abraham long since and it doth contain 1. The History and Narration of the things which Christ spake and did which are of excellent use for our Instruction Imitation and Consolation Mark 1.1 2. The whole Doctrine of the Word both of Law and Grace and whole matter of instruction to rule to guide us under Christ Who Mark 1.14 Came preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God And thus we stand bound and hear believe profess and practise the same 3. The glad tidings of remission of sins and eternal salvation the Doctrine of Free grace and obtaining righteousness by faith and teaching the true way how to attain perfect Righteousness and Eternal Life This was manifested of old in referrence to Christ to come to Abraham Gen. 12. In the Covenant Gal. 3.8 To us in respect to Christ already come Luke 2.10 Rom. 11.27 18. This is my Covenant c. as concerning the Gospel they are enemies for your sakes c. This Gospel we are commanded frequently to hear and believe Mark 1.15 Acts 1.57 To yield obedience to it Rom. 16.17 16. Titus 2.11 12. And to walk uprightly according to the truth of it This is styled 1. Glorious 2 Cor. 4.4 1 Tim. 1.1 2. The power of God to Salvation Rom. 1.16 3. Childrens bread Mat. 15 26. Milk for babes 1. Pet. 2.2 4. The word of Gods grace Acts 14.2 5. The word of Faith Rom. 10.8 6. The Savour of his knowledge 2 Cor. 2.14 15 16. 7. The ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3 8. and of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.18 19. 8. The Word of Truth Ephes 1.13 9. Of life Phil. 2.16 10. The Doctrine which is according to godliness 11. The form of sound words 2. Tim. 1.13 12. The good word of God Heb. 6.5 Reasons which may be added to these honourable appellations of the Gospel are because by this we are begotten to God 1 Cor. 4 15. And in it we have our legacy of peace and salvation Isa 52.7 and of all things conducible thereunto This requires Faith Love Repentance Self-denial Crucifying the flesh a new Creature the putting off the old man and putting on the new man Thus we have heard what the Gospel is viz. it is good tidings and what it doth contain How we ought to hear believe and obey it walking uprightly according to the truth of it and that from divers motives wrapt up in the manifold Honourable Appellations wherewith God hath crowned it in reference to our great benefit by it and these do induce the main Reasons by which we are induced hereunto And likewise we have heard what it doth require of us that we may be saved Concerning all the particulars which it doth require It doth concern us to enquire whether our selves or our Conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ walking worthy of the Lord who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light and also unto his Kingdom and Glory and of our heavenly Vocation wherewith we are called Ephes 4.1 Ap. If we walk regularly answerable to any one of these then we are rightly said To walk worthy of them all or else we walk worthy of none of them I. To walk as it becometh the Gospel is to lead a life agreeable to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that because 1. The Gospel may not be evil spoken of through us young women must be so qualified that the word of God be not blasphemed Titus 2.5 So also Propfessors and Instructers of others must take heed of breaking the Law lest the name of God be blasphemed through us Rom. 2.17 as those Captives of Israel profaned the name of the Lord among the Heathen Ezek. 36 19 2. The Gospel may be adorned by them in all things as those good servants did Titus 2.9 10. And those whom the Apostle so exhorteth 3. And that we may be exemplary to others and instruments of their Conversion This is to walk as becomes the Gospel and those that do walk so shall be blessed Gal. 6.16 Have peace and salvation at the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2.11 12 13. For the grace of God i. e. the Gospel that bringeth salvation hath appeared c. II. To walk worthy of the Lord is in a conformity to his Image our relations to him as of a good Wife to so worthy a husband dutiful Children to so good a Father loyal Subjects to such a Magnificent King who is the blessed and only Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6.15 Ap. Every of which doth conclude us in all the Duties of each Relation and doth discover unto us the Iniquity Folly and Misery of all such who do desert this husband for any other or disobey so good and tender a Father or rebel against and revolt from this blessed Potentate and do become voluntary Subjects to the prince of darkness you will all say This is a bad change yet how many are guilty of all these transgressions referring to each relation and do make this change usually III. To walk worthy of the holy and heavenly Vocation which Christ hath given us by the Gospel wherewith we are called by Christ in the Gospel and by which we receive the Spirit whereby we are sealed to the day of Redemption Ephes 4.30 This Vocation or Calling is holy and heavenly because it is a voice descending from heaven infusing heaven into us here and inducting us into heaven at the last all which it doth effect by calling us to Holiness which it begetteth and cherisheth in us here and crowneth with perfection for ever in Heaven This Vocation is either external by the Preachers or internal by the Spirit as Acts 2.10 Both are the fruit of Gods Free Grace and of his love to mankind And this holy Calling teacheth us how to walk worthy of the Lord and this Vocation it self and the Gospel
by which we are so called and they do walk worthy of all these who walk in the sight of Gods presence and in a lively sense of the same do make an holy progress in the ways of God from strength to strength that walk suitably with the nature of God and example of Christ by rule in integrity with constancy as Zachariah Elizabeth Luk. 1.5 6. In the light whiles they have it wisely and honestly toward them that be without neither giving nor learning any evil example Ap. But alas for Grief how many do not only forget and vary from but do walk quite contrary to all the forenamed particulars I should now descend to the Uses and improvement of all these and the Subject of this piece of Armour being as broad as the whole Gospel of Peace by the knowledge and practise of which we are thus shod and prepared to walk on and go forward in our spiritual journey heaven-ward as also to war and march on in this spiritual warfare with the more confidence and comfort in hope of victory over such potent and prevalent enemies I say the whole Gospel being useful to both these ends the Uses would be exceeding large and the improvement of these shooes might be as long lasting as the shooes and other Apparrel of the Israelites was in their journey from Egypt to Canaan which was forty years Deut. 8.4 Ap. But this hath been my work so long already in my publick imployment to teach men to be thus shod and prepared and I trust both you and I shall make it the work of our whole lives and be so shod and prepared by the Gospel of Christ that we may comfortably finish our Walk and our Warfare heaven-ward and at last get home and enter into an everlasting peace therefore I shall not hoise Sails in so vast an Ocean nor undertake the discovery of so large a Continent in the improvement of this particular This being the drift of the whole Gospel and the labor of the longest life ☞ I shall only give you a few keys with which you may open doors and enter into certain gardens or fields of meditation where you may take a view of your souls from time to time and may there see 1. How the good fruits corn or seeds do prosper 2. And how the weeds tares or brambles do encrease 3. And so apply your selves accordingly for the cherishing of the one or the checking of the other Is it so then That we Christian Souldiers must make diligent preparation 1. To profess and practise the Gospel And 2. To preach and publish it when lawfully called thereunto Then the Uses of all sorts fall under these keys or heads viz. 1. How few are their wills and affections which as the Feet are the beginners of motion and action thus shod i. e. thus furnished fenced and strengthned with the Gospel of Christ to march and pass on in their way to heaven through all difficulties and opsitions Ap. Hence it is viz. through the want hereof that so many stumble and slide and fall from the right both in opinion and practise 2. How few do hear believe and obey the Gospel as we should which we are so often commanded to do or do care to know and be well acquainted with it but do wilfully remain ignorant although we should be therein as it is said of Apollos That he was a man mighty in the Scriptures Acts 18.24 To each of these keys or heads you may subjoyn Uses of Information Exhortation Reproof or Comfort as you please 3. How few do prize the Gospel and value it according to its names and Analogies our Legacy contained in it our new birth effected by it Children should honour their Parents by whom as Instruments they have a natural being a temporal provision and proportionable Legacies suitable with the Parents Ability Ap. How much more should we honour our Spiritual Parents and regard our new birth and spiritual being which is effected by the immortal and incorruptible seed of the World of God 1 Pet. 1.23 And value our Legacies of Grace and glory contained in the Gospel 4. How little Faith Love Repentance Self-denial Mortification and Renovation can be found in most men 5. How few do live as becomes the Gospel honour it and adorn it and shine according to it but do rather cause it to be evil spoken of and shame the profession of it by the deeds of darkness and by the works of the world the flesh and the devil do give evil examples to others and alienate them from walking according to the truth of the Gospel 6. How few do walk worthy of the Lord either in the imitation of his Image or in answering our many and near Relations to him as a good Wife Children Servants Subjects a people like Israel redeemed and saved by the Lord who is the only Refuge Shield of help c. And should we not answer these things with duty 7. How few do walk worthy of their holy and heavenly Vocation according to the forenamed marks i. e. As in the sight of God making an holy progress suitable with the nature of God and example of Christ by Rule with integrity and Constancy in and according to the Light wisely and honestly toward them that be without Ap. But instead of walking thus how many do not only forget and vary much from but do walk quite contrary to all the forenamed particulars 8. And lastly How irregular in general is mens practise to the rule of the Gospel with which we should be thus shod and prepared 1. Rulers inverting Authority to wrong ends 2. Soldiers exceeding their limits Luke 3.14 3. All people of all sorts ranks and qualities breaking their bounds and transgressing against the directions of the Gospel Ap. In consideration of all which we may well complain and say What a bare-foot world do we live in ☞ All these keys do open doors affording abundant matter for Information Exhortation and Consolation to all those that are so shod and do thus walk as you have been taught For they shall be sure to share in all Legacies Comforts Promises and Performances of the Gospel which are innumerable invaluable and far beyond all our thoughts Ephes 3.20 Thus I have done with the first branch of this Doctrine viz. That we who are Christian Soldiers must make diligent preparation to profess and practise the Gospel of peace I do now descend to the second branch of it which only concerns Preachers viz. Doct. That some of us Christian Soldiers must make a like diligent preparation to preach and Publish the Gospel of Christ when we are lawfully called thereunto 1. This I think no man makes doubt of but that there must be some Preachers of the Gospel 2. And that this some or number of Preachers must themselves be Christian Soldiers yea as Commanders and Leaders in an Army to march with and before others in this spiritual Warfare 3. And that they must
will bring him to an untimely End in despight of all his Friend and indeed none must or can hinder it ☞ Annotations upon this miraculous support to the Emperour from above the Poet Claudiam wrote those Verses though no Christian O Nimium dilecte Deo cui Militat Aether Et conjourati veniunt ad clasfica venti Englished thus O Gods belov'd whom power Aereal And winds come arm'd to help when thou dost call Sure thou art much belov'd of God to whom the ayr and winds bring ayd against thine Enemies or come in with ayd c. These Verses are variously cited by several Authors See August de civit Dei l. 5. c. 26. with L. vives Comment Alsted Theol. Cat. pag. 732. Simps Hist. Cent. 4. p. 67. Ap. In the end of these before-named and their violent deaths Observe what may be expected by such but the usual End of Traytors Tyrants and Vsurpers and what mercy should be shewed unto them more then to those Husbandmen who conspired together saying This is the Heir come let us kill him and let us seize on his Inheritance that shall be ours and thereby we shall be rich Mat. 21.33 Mark 12.1 Luke 20.9 But how long did they hold and enjoy the Inheritance and what was the end and final event of this Conspiracy c. the Lord of the Vineyard came ere long and miserably destroyed those wicked men and did let out his Vineyard to others This must be the End of wicked and Blood-guilty men Have we had none such in this Nation within these twenty Years and could they think that it was so often written in vain that the spoylers of others must be spoyled themselves Esay 33.1 Eze. 39.10 Habak 2.8 and they that take the Sword in unjust Quarrels and wit hout a just Calling according to the Ordinance of God shall perish with the Sword saith our Saviour Mat. 26.52 yet Peter drew his Sword in a very good Cause one would think Causes of War had need to be well examined before Men fight spoyl and kill else there will be a retaliation of such things Jer. 25.14 God will Recompence men herein and with what measure men meet to others it shall be measured to them again Mat. 7.2 For he that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity or be led by others he that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword In the mean time here is work for the prayers the patience and the Faith of the Saints Rev. 13.10 ☞ These things may encourage us to be unwearied in prayer For faith patience and prayers work wonderfully still as in former Ages on the Churches behalf and have we not lately had experience of it For do we not think that prayers had not the most powerful Efficacy in the great Alteration who God in much mercy hath made in our Land in May last An. Dom. 1660. Yea and that besides and beyond any other military Force in reducing the King Charles the Second so many Years banished and the Ancient Government of the Kingdom so long and so miserably oppressed and spoiled by cruel and wicked Usurpers and that contrary to the cursed intentions of so many and beyond the very hopes and expectations of all men in so strange a way Quest And why did God do this but to verifie and justifie his manifold promises to Kingdomes and Nations in that case so frequently Sol. All which you may sum up in that short Sentence of the Psalmist Psa 34.6 with the variation of one word This poor Nation cryed and the Lord heard and saved or delivered us out of all our troubles Sit Deo Gloria Thus you have had the Uses of Reproof to sundry persons and of Exhortation with divers Motives to perswade us thereto To these I shall subjoyn some Advertisements and Directions concerning Prayer and so conclude this Subject and close up this Text. I. You know what prayer is viz. A making known of our Requests to God in every thing by Supplication c. conjoyn'd with Thanksgiving Phil. 4.6 And this may be done Mentally or Vocally by Ejaculatory Expressions or studied Petitions upon a sudden or at a set-time privately or publickly as the present necessity occasion or opportunity of the Affair doth require and will permit II. Who must pray I answer All persons out of duty to God the Great Creator and bountifull Benefactor of all things of men in a special manner Psalm 8. Acts 14.17 Hypocrites within and Infidels without the bosome of the Church all may and must pray thus out of duty and sometimes they may perform it successefully as Ahab 1 Kings 21.27 Those Marriners in a storm Jonah 1.5 though Heathens and the Ninevites Jonah 3.8 But the Elect of God pray only effectually and to purpose and of these all that are truly godly do in a most special manner apply themselves to this Duty and that because he best knows that this is a Service due to the Lord who is Paramount the chief Lord from whom we hold all things he is acquainted with the duty and receives the Spirit of Adoption to help him therein Rom. 8. And he is qualified for it both in his person and Graces 1. In his person he is not in the state trade and bondage of sin for God hears not such Joh. 9. But he is Righteous c. and to such is the promise made Psalm 34.15 2. In Graces and that in his Understanding Will and Affections In the understanding with knowledge faith to believe that God is and that he is a Rewarder c. Heb. 11.6 that our persons are accepted through Christ and that out Suits are welcome to God through him In the will and affections with a right posture upon the right Object viz. God not upon sin Psalm 101.3 For if we regard iniquity in our hearts he will not hear us Psalm 66.18 Sincerity desiring Bonum sub Ratione Boni Grace because it is Grace to such is that Promise Psalm 145.18 Zeal must be in our will and affections and that in a right proportion This Sacrifice must have some Fire such prayers are effectual James 5. Not if cold or dead These and all such persons so qualified of whatsoever sex age state or condition c. may and must pray privately according to their owne proper station place and Imployment c. But for publick prayers in Church they only must perform them which are lawfully and publickly called to Church-Employment as Timothy was by Paul c. Act. 6.4 1 Tim. 2.1 2. Thus there may be an intrusion upon publick work whether prayer or preaching or administring the Sacraments c. The publick Minister is the mouth of the people to God in prayer of God to the people in preaching III. To whom must we pray Answ To God He only is to be worshipped with our holy prayers Deut. 6.13 Mat. 4.10 This is an Homage only due to him God claimes it as his peculiar prerorative
superfluous Branch to be cut off when our hearts are too much set upon this World The World you know is three-fold 1 The old World which perished by Water 2 Pet. 3.6 2. The present World in which we do now live which is evil 2 Tim. 4.10 And passeth away 1 John 2.17 3. The World to come Luke 18.30 c. where is Life everlasting It were well if we did mind this last World more then we do It is then the present World and the things thereof which I speak of And by worldliness or earthly mindedness I mean setting our hearts on these things below Principally and in the first place as Esau and the Prodigal Unconscionably as Ahab and the unjust Steward did Inordinately and impatiently as Rachel and the Horsleech Insatiably as the grave barren womb the Earth and the Fire Prov. 30.15 16. Securely and voluptuously relying upon the World as they did Luke 12.16 c. This minding of the world and affecting it too much is a Bait which shewes the best but hides the worst from us A beam in our eyes that we cannot see what is best for us A Thorn in our Feet that we cannot walk for strength A Canker in our mouthes that we cannot eat the best Food A Snare to our Souls that prevents all our chief good Ap. This hinders our growth extreamly when we so set our hearts upon these sublunary things which we are apt to do Mark the Caution Psalm 62.10 Trust not in oppression c. If riches encrease set not your hearts upon them This made some err from the faith 1 Tim. 6.9 10. The Love of money c. And Demas to forsake the Apostle 2 Tim. 4.10 ☞ These are weeds Brambles indeed which must be cut off and rooted up Which the better to effect and do The best Instrument that I can supply you now with is Heavenly mindedness Take the Apostles Counsel Col. 3.1 2. Seek the things above and set your affections on them The Apostle useth two words of great weight and emphatical signification 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seek Ad totius hominis vires refertur c. Zanchius A man must put forth his whole strength after these things as the Apostle did labour and strive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Decertans striving as a man would do for his life Col 1.29 For these as ambitious studious poor impertinent men do for what they like Honour Learning c. Not so for earthly things 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Set your affections Ad totum mentem refertur The whole soul with all the powers thereof must act this way and the word importeth To mind and regard to love and care for those things most which are above and heavenly And those things are The blessed Trinity God the Father his only Son Jesus Christ and the holy Spirit of God blessed for ever and ever and also all the fruits graces and blessings which proceed from the Father from Christ and his holy Spirit and are poured out upon and performed to us both here and hereafter in this and in the life to come Such are the means of salvation the Graces and the priviledges of Saints all tending to the final perfection and glory of a Christian in heaven all are from above In a word Holiness and Happiness are above in the presence of Christ If we were acquainted with and our hearts set upon these things above we should soon set a right price upon all earthtly things and look upon all sublunary comforts as base and brittle in their own nature and in comparison of other things and unable and insufficient to stead us at our need because they cannot fill the heart and satisfie the desire Eccles 1.8 Isa 55.2 Why do ye c. Nor lengthen life Psalm 49.6 No ransome to live ever Prevent Gods Judgement Zeph. 1.17 18. Ezek. 7.17 18 19. Nor comfort a distressed conscience Dan. 5.6 Nor purchase good to the soul Micah 6.6 7 8. Heb. 10.4 Not Bulls and Goats 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Not gold or silver c. Nor can they extend themselves nor continue with us to eternity but all bid fare-well at the death-bed Psal 49.17 Vanish like a dream Isa 29.8 And pass away 1 Cor. 7.31 Were these and the like things rightly considered and practised it would soon cure us of our earthly-mindedness and stock up by the roots these weeds and brambles which do so hinder the growth of better fruit 4. The custome and allowance of smaller sins in the worlds account at least such are lying petty oaths fleshly lust This is like the ill diet of some young people which eat Oat-meal and other odd things till they overthrow their health Or like the small flyes that blast the flourishing Boughs of the fairest trees and will destroy the trees at length though not so soon as a Thunder-bolt or an Ax. Ap. These must be smothered and kil'd or they will spoil all They war and fight against the soul 1 Pet. 2.11 to destroy it even as those do against the health and life of people and trees And a small leak in a Ship may sink it a Needle or Bodkin may kill a man as well as a great Cannon-Bullet or any other Weapon of War and Violence I have read how the greatest Beasts Fishes and Serpents are annoyed with things the Elephant Whales c. For the cure of this Annoyance to the choicest plants I can prescribe you no better means or remedy then the Conscience of all even the smallest duties which God hath commanded Judgement and Mercy c. must be done yet Mint Annise and Cummin must be tithed Mat. 23.23 The Conscience of Duty will expell the custome of sin Acquaintance and intercourse with God by duty will exclude the allowance of any iniquity 5. Evil Company and bad society is a great hinderance These are like Ash-trees in an Orchard or Cole-worths among the Vines or Weeds and Brambles in the Garden or Corn-field This is certain that neither Orchard nor Vineyard nor Field or Garden can ever prosper if they be so attended These are such under-brances such Suckers at the Tree-root that they quite spoil the growth and stature the flourishing and fruitfulness of the Trees amongst which they are permitted and suffered to grow Such Society as this doth always leave an evil blast behind them among the Trees of the Garden of God i. e. Good men for that it will be conjectured and much suspected whether they be not of the same quality with these unworthy weeds or at least in danger to be wrought upon to be for their guide and practise c. This is no small hurt The only remedy which I can prescribe for this malady is Good fociety This doth as it were Transform a man into another shape it doth possess him with those Notions which do prevalently perswade him into another practise In which being habituted by continuance he is well armed and fortified against all Opposites