to Judge them Thirdly The Papists who as if Gods Law were imperfect and when he spake all these Words he did not speak enough add their Canons and Traditions to the Moral Law This is to tax Gods Wisdom as if he knew not how to make his own Law And surely 't is an high provoking Sin Rev. 22.18 If any Man shall add to these Words God shall add unto him the Plagues written in this Book As it is a great evil to add any thing to a Man 's sealed Will so much more to add any thing to that Law God himself spake and wrote with his own Fingers Use 3. If God spake all these Words viz. of the Moral Law then this presseth upon us several Duties 1. If God spake all these Words then we must hear all these Words the Words which God speaks are too precious to be lost As we would have God hear all our Words when we Pray so we must hear all his Words when he speaks We must not be as the deaf Adder which stoppeth her Ears He that stops his Ears when God cries shall cry himself and not be heard 2. If God spake all these Words then we must attend to them with Reverence Every Word of the Moral Law is an Oracle from Heaven God himself is the Preacher this calls for Reverence If a Judge gives a Charge upon the Bench all attend with Reverence In the Moral Law God himself gives a Charge God spake all these Words therefore with what Veneration should we attend Moses was to put off his Shoes from his Feet in token of Reverence when God was about to speak to him Exod. 3.5 6. 3. If God spake all these Words of the Moral Law then we must remember them Sure all God speaks is worth remembring those Words are weighty which concern Salvation Deut. 32.47 It is not a vain thing for you because it is your Life Our Memory should be like the Chest in the Ark where the Law was kept Gods Oracles are Ornaments and shall we forget them Ier. 2.32 Can a Maid forget her Ornaments 4. If God spake all these Words then believe them See the Name of God written upon every Commandment The Heathens that they might gain Credit to their Laws reported that they were inspired by the Gods at Rome The Moral Law fetcheth its Pedigree from Heaven ipse dixit God spake all these Words Shall we not give credit to the God of Heaven How would the Angel confirm the Women in the Resurrection of Christ Mat. 28.7 Lo saith he I have told you I speak in the Word of an Angel Much more should the Moral Law be believed when it comes to us in the Word of a God God spake all these Words Unbelief enervates the Virtue of God's Word and makes it prove Abortive Heb. 4.2 The Word did not profit not being mixed with Faith Eve gave more credit to the Devil when he spake than she did to God 5. If God spake all these words then love the Commandments Psal. 119.97 O how love I thy Law It is my Meditation all the day Consider how I love thy Precepts Psal. 119.159 The Moral Law is the Copy of Gods Will our Spiritual Directory it shews what Sins to avoid what Duties to pursue The Ten Commandments are a Chain of Pearl to adorn us They are our Treasury to enrich us They are more precious than Lands of Spices or Rocks of Diamonds Psal. 119.72 The Law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of Gold and Silver The Law of God hath Truth and Goodness in it Nehem. 9.13 Truth for God spake it and Goodness for there is nothing the Commandment enjoyns but is for our good O then let this command our Love 6. If God spake all these words Then teach your Children the Law of God Deut. 6.7 These words which I command thee this day shall be in thy Heart and thou shalt teach them diligently to thy Children He who is Godly is both a Diamond and a Load stone a Diamond for the sparkling of his Grace and a Load-stone for his attractive Virtue in drawing others to the Love of Gods Precepts Vir bonus magis aliis prodest quam sibi You that are Parents discharge your Duty Though you cannot impart Grace to your Children yet you may impart Knowledge Let your Children know the Commandments of God Deut. 11.19 Ye shall teach them your Children You are careful to leave your Children a Portion Leave the Oracles of Heaven with them instruct them in the Law of God If God spake all these words you may well speak them over again to your Children 7. If God spake all these words then the Moral Law must be obeyed If a King speaks his words command Allegiance Much more when God speaks all his words must be subscribed to Some will obey partially obey some Commandments not others like a Plow which when it comes to a stiff piece of Earth makes a Baulk But God that spake all the words of the Moral Law will have all obeyed God will not dispense with the Breach of one Law Indeed Princes for special Reasons dispense sometimes with Penal Statutes and will not take the Severity of the Law But God who spake all these words binds Men with a Subpoena to yield Obedience to every Law This condemns the Church of Rome who instead of obeying the whole Moral Law blot out one Commandment and dispense with others 1. They leave out the second Commandment out of their Catechises because it makes against Images and to fill up the number of Ten they divide the Tenth Commandment into two Thus they run themselves into that dreadful Premunire Rev. 22.19 If any Man shall take away from the words of this Book God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life 2. As they blot out one Commandment and cut that knot which they cannot untye so they dispense with other Commandments They dispense with the sixth Commandment making Murther Meritorious in case of propagating the Catholick Cause They dispense with the seventh Commandment wherein God forbids Adultery The Pope dispenseth with the Sin of Uncleanness yea Incest only paying such Fines and Summs of Mony into his Coffer No wonder the Pope takes Men off from their Loyalty to Kings and Princes when he teacheth them Disloyalty to God Some of the Papists say expresly in their Writings That the Pope hath Power to dispense with the Laws of God and can give Men a License to break the Commandments of the Old and New Testament That such a Religion ever get foot in England the Lord in Mercy prevent If God spake all the Commandments then we must obey all He who breaks this Hedge of the Commandments a Serpent shall bite him Object But what Man alive can obey all Gods Commandments Resp. To obey the Law in a legal Sense viz. To do all the Law requires no Man alive can Sin hath cut the Lock of original Righteousness where
Prov. 5.8 Come not nigh the Door of her House He who would be free from the Plague must not come near the Infected House Under the Law the Nazarite was forbid to drink Wine nor might he eat Grapes of which the Wine was made Rule 4. In relato subintelligitur correlatum Where one Relation is named in the Commandment there another Relation is included Where the Child is named there the Father is included Where there is the Duty of Children to Parents mentioned there is included also the Duty of Parents to Children Where the Child is commanded to honour the Parent there is implyed that the Parent is also commanded to instruct to love to provide for the Child Rule 5. Where greater Sins are forbidden there lesser Sins are also forbidden Though no Sin in its own Nature is little yet comparatively one may be less than another Where Idolatry is forbidden there is forbidden Superstition or bringing any Innovation into God's Worship which he hath not appointed As the Sons of Aaron were forbid to worship an Idol so to Sacrifice to God with strange Fire Lev. 10.1 Mixture in Sacred things is like a dash in the Wine which though it gives it a colour yet doth but debase and adulterate it 'T is highly provoking to God to bring any Superstitious Ceremony into his Worship which he hath not prescribed it is to tax God's Wisdom as if he were not Wise enough to appoint the manner how he will be served Rule 6. The Law of God is Copulative Lex est Copulativa The First and Second Table are knit together Piety to God and Equity to our Neighbour These Two Tables which God hath joined together must not be put asunder Try a Moral Man by the Duties of the First Table Piety to God and there you will find him Negligent Try an Hypocrite by Duties of the Second Table Equity to his Neighbour and there you find him Tardy He who is strict in the Second Table but neglects the First or he who is zealous in the First Table but neglects the Second his Heart is not right with God The Pharisees were the Highest Pretenders to the First Table Zeal and Holiness but Christ detects their Hypocrisie Mat. 23.23 Ye have omitted Judgment Mercy and Faith They were bad in the Second Table they omitted Judgment that was being Just in their Dealings Mercy in Relieving the Poor and Faith that is Faithfulness in their Promises and Contracts with Men. God wrote both the Tables and our Obedience must set Seal to both Rule 7. God's Law forbids not only the Acting of Sin in our own Persons but being accessary to or having any Hand in the Sins of others Quest. How and in what Sense may we be said to partake and have an Hand in the Sins of others Resp. 1. By Decreeing Unrighteous Decrees and imposing on others that which is unlawful Ieroboam made the People of Israel to Sin he was accessary to their Idolatry by setting up golden Calves So David though he did not in his own Person kill Uriah yet because he wrote a Letter to Ioab to set Uriah in the Fore-front of the Battle and it was done by his command therefore he was accessary to Uriah's Death and the Murther of him was laid to David's Charge by the Prophet 2 Sam. 12.9 Thou hast kill'd Uriah the Hittite with the Sword 2. We become accessary to the Sins of others by not hindering them when it is in our power Qui non prohibet cum potest jubet If a Master of a Family sees his Servant break the Sabbath or hears him Swear and lets him alone doth not use the power he hath to suppress him he becomes accessary to his sin Eli for not punishing his Sons when they made the Offering of the Lord to be abhorred made himself guilty 1 Sam. 3.14 He that suffers an Offender to escape unpunished makes himself an Offender 3. By counselling abetting or provoking others to sin Achitophel made himself guilty of the Fact by giving Counsel to Absalom to go in and defile his Fathers Concubines 2 Sam. 16.21 He who shall tempt and solicit another to be Drunk though he himself be sober yet being the occasion of anothers sin he is accessary to it Hab. 2.15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink that puttest thy Bottle to him 4. By consenting to anothers sin Saul did not cast one stone at Stephen yet the Scripture saith Saul was consenting to his Death Acts 8.1 Thus he had an hand in it if several did combine to Murther a Man and they should tell another of their intent and he should give his consent to it he were guilty though his hand were not in the Murther yet his Heart was in it Though he did not act it yet he did approve it so it became his sin 5. By Example Vivitur Exemplis Examples are powerful and cogent setting a bad Example occasions another to sin and so a Person becomes accessary If the Father Swears and the Child by his Example learns to Swear the Father is accessary to the Childs sin he taught him by his Example As there are Diseases Hereditary so Sins Rule 8. The last Rule about the Commandments is this that though we cannot by our own strength fulfil all these Commandments yet doing quoad posse what we are able the Lord hath provided Encouragement for us There is a three-fold Encouragement 1. That though we have not Ability to obey any one Command yet God hath in the New Covenant promised to work that in us which he requires Ezek. 36.27 I will cause you to walk in my Statutes God commands us to love him Alas how weak is our Love It is like the Herb that is hot only in the first Degree But God hath promised to Circumcise our Hearts that we shall love him Deut. 30.6 He that doth command us will inable us God commands us to turn from sin but alas we have not power to turn therefore God hath promised to turn us to put his Spirit within us and turn the Heart of stone into flesh Ezek. 36.26 There is nothing in the Command but the same is in the Promise Therefore Christian be not discouraged though thou hast no strength of thy own yet God will give thee this strength The Iron hath no power to move but when the Load-stone draws it it can move Isa. 26.12 Thou hast wrought all our works in us 2. Though we cannot exactly fulfil the Moral Law yet God will for Christ's sake mitigate the Rigour of the Law and accept of something less than he requires God in the Law requires exact Obedience yet he will accept of sincere Obedience He will abate something of the Degree if there be Truth in the inward parts God will see the Faith and pass by the Failing The Gospel remits something of the Severity of the Moral Law 3. Wherein our personal Obedience comes short God will be pleased to accept us in our Surety Eph.
while they do any eminent Service for God seek themselves and so their very serving of him is a dshonouring him 4. We show Honour to our Heavenly Father by Celebrating his Praise Psal. 71.8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the Day Rev. 5.13 Blessing Honour Glory and Power be unto him that sits upon the Throne Blessing God is honouring of God It lifts him up in the Eyes of others it spreads his Fame and Renown in the World In this manner the Angels the Quiristers of Heaven are now honouring God they Trumpet forth his Praise In Prayer we act like Saints in Praise like Angels 5. We show Honour to our Heavenly Father by suffering Dishonour yea Death for his sake St. Paul did bear in his Body the Marks of the Lord Iesus Gal. 6.17 As they were Marks of Honour to him so Trophies of Honour to the Gospel The Honour which comes to God is not by bringing that Outward Pomp and Glory to him as we do to Kings but it comes in another way by the Sufferings of his People They let the World see what a good God they serve and how they love him and will fight under his Banner to the Death Thus you see how you are to Honour your Heavenly Father God is worthy of Honour Psal. 104.1 Thou art Cloathed with Honour and Majesty What are all his Attributes but Glorious Beams shining from this Sun He deserves more Honour than Men or Angels can give him 2 Sam. 22. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised God is worthy of Honour Often times we confer Honour upon them that do not deserve it Many Noble Persons we give Titles of Honour to who are sordid and vicious they do no deserve Honour but God is worthy of Honour Neh. 9.5 Blessed be thy Glorious Name which is exalted above all Blessings and Praise He is above all the Acclamations and Triumphs of the Arch-angels O then let every true Child of God honour his Heavenly Father Tho the wicked dishonour him by their Flagitious Lives yet let not his own Children dishonour him Sins in you are worse than in others A Fault in a Stranger is not so much taken notice of as a Fault in a Child A Spot in a black Cloth is not so much observed but a Spot in Scarlet every ones Eye is upon it A Sin in the Wicked is not so much wondred at it is a Spot in black But a Sin in a Child of God here is a Spot in Scarlet this is more visible and brings an Odium and Dishonour upon the Gospel The Sins of God's own Children go nearer to his Heart Deut. 32.19 When the Lord saâ— it hâ— abhorred them because of the provoking of his Sons and Daughters O forbear doing any thing may reflect Dishonour upon God Will you disgrace your Heavenly Father Let not God complain of the Provocations of his Sons and Daughters let him not cry out as Isa. 1.2 I have brought up Children and they have rebelled against me So much for the First If our Earthly Father be to be honoured then much more our Heavenly Vse II. Exhort First Branch Doth God Command Honour thy Father and thy Mother Then let it exhort Children to put this great Duty in Practice be living Commentaries upon this Commandment Honour and Reverence your Parents not only obey their Commands but submit to their Rebukes You cannot honour your Father in Heaven unless you honour your Earthly Parents To deny Obedience to Parents entails God's Judgments upon Children Prov. 30.17 The Eye that mocketh at his Father and despiseth to obey his Mother the Ravens of the Valley shall pick it out and the young Eagle shall eat it Eli's Two Disobedient Sons were slain 1 Sam. 4.11 God made a Law that the Rebellious Son should be stoned the same Death the Blasphemer had Lev. 24.14 Deut. 21.18 If a Man have a stubborn and rebellious Son which will not obey the voice of his Father or the voice of his Mother then shall his Father and his Mother lay hold on him and bring him out unto the Elders of the City and all the Men of his City shall stone him with Stones that he die A Father once complaining Never had Father a worse Son than I have Yes saith the Son my Grandfather had A Prodigy of Impudence that can hardly be parallel'd Manlius when he was grown old and poor and had a Son very rich the old Father desired some Food of him but the Son denied him Relief yea disclaimed him from being his Father and sent him away with reproachful Language The poor old Father let Tears fall as Witnesses of his Grief But God to revenge this Disobedience struck this unnatural Son with Madness of which he could never be cured Disobedient Children stand in the place where all God's Arrows fly Second Branch Let Parents so carry it as they may gain Honour from their Children Quest. How may Parents so carry it towards their Children that their Children may willingly pay the Debt of Honour and Reverence to their Parents Resp. 1. If you would have your Children honour you 1. Be careful to bring them up in the Fear and Nurture of the Lord Ephes. 6.4 Bring them up in the Admonition of the Lord. You conveyed the Plague of Sin to them Ergo Endeavour to get them healed and sanctified Austin saith his Mother Monica travelled more for his Spiritual Birth than his Natural Timothy's Mother instructed him from a Child 2 Tim. 3.15 She did not only give him her Breast-milk but the sincere Milk of the Word Season your Children with good Principles betimes that they may with Obadiah fear the Lord from their Youth 1 King 18.12 When Parents instruct not their Children they seldom prove Blessings God oft punisheth the carelesness of Parents with Undutifulness in their Children It is not enough that in Baptism your Child is Dedicated to God but it must be Educated for God Children are young Plants which you must be continually watering with good Instruction Prov. 22.6 Train up a Child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it when he is old The more your Children fear God the more they will honour you 2. If you would have your Children honour you keep up your Parental Authority over your Children be kind but do not cocker them If you let them get too much Head they will Contemn you instead of Honouring you The Rod of Discipline must not be with-held Prov. 23.14 Thou shalt beat him with the Rod and deliver his Soul from Hell A Child indulg'd and humour'd in Wickedness will be a Thorn in the Parents Eye David cockered Adonijah 1 Kings 1.6 His Father had not displeased him at any time in saying Why hast thou done so And he afterward was a Grief of Heart to his Father and was false to the Crown ver 7 9. Keep up your Authority and you keep up
the scar winks at her failing and only takes notice of the good that was in her her Obedience to her Husband She obeyed Abraham calling him Lord nay that good which the Saints scarce take notice of in themselves God in a special manner observes Matth. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me meat I was thirsty and ye gave me drink Then shall the Righteous say Lord when saw we thee an hungred and fed thee They did as it were over-look and disclaim their own Works of Charity yet Christ doth take notice I was an hungred and ye fed me What a Comfort is this God spyes the least good in his Children he can see a grain of Corn hid under Chaff Grace hid under Corruption 5. If God be our Father he will take all we do in good part Those Duties we our selves censure God will crown When a Child of God looks over his best Duties he sees so much Sin cleaving to them that he is even confounded Lord saith he there is more Sulphur than Incense in my Prayers but for your comfort if God be your Father he will crown those Duties which you your selves censure God sees there is sincerity in the hearts of his Children and this gold though light shall have grains of allowance Though there may be defects in the services of Gods Children yet God will not cast away their offering 2 Chron. 30.20 The Lord healed the people The Tribes of Israel being straitned in time wanted some Legal Purifications yet because their Hearts were upright God healed them he pardoned them God accepts of the good Will 2 Cor. 8.12 A Father takes a Letter from his Son kindly though there are blots or bad English in it What blottings are there in our holy things yet our Father in Heaven accepts Saith God it is my Child and he would do better I will look upon him through Christ with a merciful eye 6. If God be our Father then he will correct us in measure Ier. 30.11 I will correct thee in measure and that two ways 1. It shall be in measure for the kind God will not lay upon us more than we are able to bear 1 Cor. 10.13 he know our frame Psal. 103.14 he knows we are not Steel or Marble therefore will deal gently he will not over-afflict As the Physician that knows the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and temper of the Body will not give Physick too strong for the Body nor will he give one dram or scruple too much God hath not only the Title of a Father but the Bowels of a Father he will not lay too heavy burthens on his Children least their spirits fail before him 2. He will correct in measure for the duration he will not let the affliction lye on too long Psal. 125.3 The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous It may be there and not rest Isa. 57.16 I will not contend for ever Our Heavenly Father will love for ever but he will not contend for ever The torments of the damned are for ever Rev. 14.11 The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever The wicked shall drink a Sea of Wrath but Gods Children only taste of the Cup of Affliction and their Heavenly Father will say transeat calix let this cup pass away from them Isa. 35.10 A sting a wing 7. If God be our Father he will intermix Mercy with all our Afflictions If he give us Wormwood to drink he will mix it with Honey In the Ark the Rod was laid up and Manna With our Fathers Rod there is alwayes some Manna Ashers shooes were iron and brass but his foot was dip'd in oyl Gen. 33.24 Affliction is the shooe of brass that pincheth but there is mercy in the affliction there is the foot dipped in oyl When God afflicts the Body he gives Peace of Conscience there is Mercy in the Affliction An Affliction comes to prevent falling into Sin there is Mercy in the Affliction Iacob had his Thigh hurt in wrestling there was the Affliction but then he saw Gods face and received a Blessing from the Angel Gen. 32.30 there was Mercy in the Affliction In every Cloud a Child of God may see a Rainbow of Mercy shining As the Limner mixeth dark shadows and bright colours together so our Heavenly Father mingles the dark and the bright together Crosses and Blessings and is not this a great happiness for God thus to checker his Providences and mingle goodness with severity 8. If God be our Father the evil one shall not prevail against us Satan is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the evil one emphatically He is the grand enemy of the Saints and that both in a Military sense as he fights against them with his temptations and in a Forensical or Law-sense as he is an accuser and pleads against them yet neither way shall he prevail against Gods Children as for his shooting his fiery darts God will bruise Satan shortly under the Saints feet Rom. 16.20 As for his accusing Christ is Advocate for the Saints and answers all bills of inditement brought in against them God will make all Satans temptations promote the good of his â—hildren 1. As they set them more a praying 2 Cor. 12.8 Temptation is a medicine for security 2. As they are a means to humble them 2 Cor. 12.7 Least I should be exalted above measure there was given me a thorn in the flesh The thorn in the flesh was a temptation this thorn was to prick the bladder of pride 3. As they establish them more in Grace A Tree shaken by the Wind is more settled and rooted the blowing of a temptation doth but settle a Child of God more in Grace Thus the evil one Satan shall not prevail against the Children of God 9. If God be our Father no real evil shall befal us Psal. 91.10 There shall no evil befal thee 'T is not said no trouble but no evil Gods Children are priviledged persons they are priviledged from the hurt of every thing Luke 10.19 Nothing shall by any means hurt you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys. The hurt and malignity of the affliction is taken away Affliction to a wicked Man hath evil in it it makes him worse Rev. 16.9 Men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God But no evil befalls a Child of God he is bettered by affliction Heb. 12.10 That ye may be made partakers of his holiness What hurt doth the Furnace to the Gold it only makes it purer What hurt doth Affliction to Grace only refine and purifie it What a great priviledge is this to be freed though not from the stroke of Affliction yet the sting No evil shall touch a Saint When the Dragon hath poysoned the water they say the Unicorn with his horn doth draw out the poyson Christ hath drawn out the poyson of every Affliction that it cannot prejudice a Child of God Again no evil befalls a Child
that which is already forgiven 2. This opinion that sins to come as well as past are forgiven doth take away and make void Christ's Intercession Christ is an Advocate to interceed for daily Sins 1 Iohn 2.1 but if sin be forgiven before it be committed what need is there of Christ's daily Intercession What need have I of an Advocate if sin be pardoned before it be committed So that God tho' he forgives all sins past to a Believer yet sins to come are not forgiven till Repentance be Renewed Aphorism 10 Faith doth necessarily antecede Forgiveness there must be Believing on our part before there is forgiving on God's part Acts 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of Sins So that Faith is a necessary Antecedent to Forgiveness There are two Acts of Faith to accept Christ and to trust in Christ to accept of his Terms to trust in his Merits and he who doth neither of these can have no Forgiveness he who doth not accept Christ cannot have his Person he that doth not trust in him cannot have benefit by his Blood So that without Faith no Remission Aphorism 11. Tho' Justification and Sanctification are not the same yet God never pardons a sinner but he doth Sanctifie him Justification and Sanctification are not the same 1. Justification is without us Sanctification is within us The one is by Righteousness imputed the other is by Righteousness imparted 2. Justification is equal Sanctification is gradual Sanctification doth recipere maegis minus one is sanctified more than another but one is not justified more than another One hath more Grace than another but he is not more a Believer than another 3. The matter of our Justification is perfect viz. Christ's Righteousness but our Sanctification is imperfect there are the spots of God's Children Deut. 32.5 Our Graces are mixed our Duties are defiled Thus Justification and Sanctification are not the same yet for all that they are not separated God never pardons and justifies a sinner but he doth sanctifie him 1 Cor. 6.11 but ye are justified but ye are sanctified 1 Iohn 5.6 This is he that came by Water and Blood even Iesus Christ. Christ comes to the Soul by Blood that denotes Remission and by Water that denotes Sanctification Let no man say he is pardoned that is not made Holy And This I the rather urge against the Antinomians who talk of being forgiven their sin and having a part in Christ and yet remain unconverted and live in the grossest sins Pardon and Healing go together Isa. 57.19 I create the fruit of the lips peace and I will heal him Peace is the fruit of pardon and then it follows I will heal him Where God pardons he purifies As in the Inauguration of Kings with the Crown there is the Oyl to anoint So when God crowns a man with Forgiveness there he gives the anointing Oyl of Grace to sanctifie Revel 2.17 I will give him a white Stone and in the Stone a new Namâ— A white Stone that is Absolution and a new Name in the Stone that is Sanctificationâ— 1. If God should pardon a man and not sanctifie him this would be a Reproach to him then he should love and be well pleased with men in their sins which is diametrically contrary to his Holy Nature 2. If God should pardon and not sanctifie then he could have no Glory from us God's people are formed to shew forth his Praise Isa. 43.21 but if he should pardon and not sanctifie us how could we shew forth his Praise how could we glorifie him what Glory can God have by a proud ignorant prophane Heart 3. If God should pardon and not sanctifie then that should enter into Heaven that defileth but Revel 21.27 Nothing shall enter that defileth Then God should settle the Inheritance upon men before they are fit for it contrary to that Col. 1.12 He hath made us meet for the Inheritance how is that but by the Divine Unction so that whoever God forgives he Transforms Let no man say his sins are forgiven who doth not find an inherent Work of Holiness in his Heart Aphorism 12. Where God remits sin he imputes Righteousness This Righteousness of Christ imputed is a Salvo to God's Law and makes full satisfaction for the breaches of it This Righteousness procures God's favour God cannot but love us when he sees us in his Sons Robe which both covers and adorns us In this spotless Robe of Christ we Out-shine the Angels Theirs is but the Righteousness of Creatures this is the Righteousness of God himself 2 Cor. 5.21 That we might be made the Righteousness of God in him How great a Blessing then is Forgiveness With remission of sin is joyned imputation of Righteousness Aphorism 13. They whose sins are forgiven must not omit praying for forgiveness Forgive us our Trespasses Believers who are pardoned must be continual Suitors for pardon When Nathan told David The Lord hath put away thy sin 2 Sam. 12.13 yet David after that composed a penitential Psalm for the pardon of his sin Sin after pardon Rebels Sin like Sampson's Hair tho' it be cut will grow again We sin daily and must as well ask for daily pardon as for daily bread Besides a Christian's pardon is not so sure but he may desire to have a clearer Evidence of it Aphorism 14. A full Absolution from all sin is not pronounc'd till the day of Judgment They day of Judgment is called a time of Refreshing when sin shall be compleatly blotted out Acts 3.19 Now God blots out sin Truly but then it shall be done in a more publick way God will openly Pronounce the Saints Absolution before Men and Angels their Happiness is not compleated till the day of Judgment because then their Pardons shall be solemnly Pronounced and there shall be the Triumphs of the heavenly Host. At that day it will be true indeed that God sees no sin in his Children They shall be as pure as the Angels then the Church shall be presented without wrinkle Eph. 5.27 She shall be as free from Stain as Guilt then Satan shall no more accuse Christ will shew the Debt-book crossed in his Blood Therefore the Church doth so pray for Christ's coming to Judgment Rev. 22.17 the Bride saith Come Lord Iesus Light the Lamps then burn the Incense Vse 1. Informaet From this word forgive we learn that if the debt of sin be no other way discharg'd but by being forgiven then we cannot satisfie for it Among other damnable Opinions of the Church of Rome this is one Man's power to satisfie for sin The Councel of Trent holds that God is satisfied by our undergoing the Penalty impos'd by the Censure of Priests And again we have Works of our Own by which we may satisfie for the wrong done to God by these Opinions let any judge what the Popish Religion is They intend to pay the debt they
Priest might offer up Prayer for sins of Ignorance but not of Presumption but Christ's Intercession extends to all the sins of the Elect Of what a bloody colour was David's sin yet it did not exclude Christ's Intercession Quest. What doth Christ in the Work of Intercession Resp. Three things 1. He presents the Merit of his Blood to his Father and in the Virtue of that Price paid pleads for Mercy The High Priest was herein a lively Type of Christ Aaron was to do four things 1. Kill the Beast 2. to enter with the Blood into the Holy of Holies 3. to sprinkle the Mercy Seat with the Blood 4. to kindle the Incense and with the smoak of it cause a Cloud to arise over the Mercy Seat and so the Atonement was made Lev. 16.11 12 13 14 15 16. Christ our High Priest did exactly answer to this Type He was offered up in Sacrifice that Answers to the Priests killing the Bullock And Christ is gone up into Heaven that Answers to to the Priests going into the Holy of Holies And he spreads his Blood before his Father that Answers to the Priests sprinkling the Blood upon the Mercy Seat And he prays to his Father that for his Blood sake he would be propitious to Sinners that Answers to the Cloud of Incense going up And through his Intercession God is pacified that Answers to the Priests making Atonement 2. Christ by his Intercession answers all Bills of Indictment brought in against the Elect. Believers do what they can Sin and then Satan accuseth them to God and Conscience accuseth them to themselves now Christ by his Intercession answers all these Accusations Rom. 8.33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's Elect it is Christ who makes Intercession for us When Aesculus was accused for some Impiety his Brother stood up for him and shewed the Magistrates how he had lost his hand in the Service of the State and so obtained his pardon Thus when Satan accuseth the Saints or the Justice of God lays any thing to their charge Christ shews his own wounds and by Virtue of his bloody Sufferings he answers all the Demands and Challenges of the Law and counter-works Satan's Accusations 3. Christ by his Intercession calls for an Acquittance Lord let the sinner be absolved from guilt and in this sence Christ is called an Advocate 1 Iohn 2.1 He requires that the Sinner be set free in the Court An Advocate differs much from an Orator an Orator useth Rhetorick to perswade and entreat the Judge to shew Mercy to another but an Advocate tells the Judge what is Law thus Christ appears in Heaven as an Advocate he represents what is Law When God's Justice opens the Debt-Book Christ opens the Law-Book Lord saith he thou art a just God and will not be pacified without Blood lo here the Blood is shed therefore in Justice give me a Discharge for these distressed Creatures 'T is equal that the Law being satisfied the Sinner should be acquitted And upon Christ's Plea God sets his hand to the Sinner's Pardon Quest. In what manner Christ interceeds Answ. 1. Freely he pleads our Cause in Heaven and takes no Fee An ordinary Lawyer will have his Fee and sometimes a Bribe too but Christ is not Mercenary How many Causes doth he plead every day in Heaven and will take nothing As Christ laid down his Life freely Iohn 10.15 18. so he interceeds freely 2. Feelingly He is sensible of our condition as his own Hebr. 4.15 We have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmity As a tender hearted Mother would plead with a Judge for a Child ready to be condemned O how would her Bowels work how would her Tears trickle down what weeping Rhetorick would she use to the Judge for Mercy Thus the Lord Jesus is full of Sympathy and Tenderness Hebr. 2.17 that he might be a merciful High Priest Though he hath left his Passion yet not his Compassion An ordinary Lawyer is not affected with the Cause he pleads nor doth he care which way it goes It is Profit makes him plead not Affection But Christ interceeds feelingly and that which makes him interceed with Affection is it is his own Cause which he pleads He hath shed his Blood to purchase Life and Salvation for the Elect and if they should not be saved he would lose his purchase 3. Efficaciously It is a prevailing Intercession Christ never lost any Cause he pleaded he was never Non-suited Christ's Intercession must needs be effectual if you consider 1. The Excellency of his Person if the Prayer of a Saint be so prevalent with God Moses's Prayer did bind God's hands Exod. 32.10 Let me alone and Iacob as a Prince prevailed with God Gen. 32.28 and Eliah did by Prayer open and shut Heaven Iam. 5.17 Then what is Christ's Prayer He is the Son of God the Son in whom he is well pleased Matth. 3.17 What will not a Father grant his Son Iohn 11.42 I know that thou always hearest me If God could forget that Christ were a Priest yet he cannot forget that he is a Son 2. Christ prays for nothing but what his Father hath a mind to grant There is but One Will between Christ and his Father Christ prays Sanctifie them through thy Truth and this is the will of God even your sanctification 1 Thess. 4.3 so then if Christ prays for nothing but what God the Father hath a mind to grant then he is like to speed 3. Christ prays for nothing but what he hath power to give What he prays for as he is Man that he hath power to give as he is God Iohn 17.24 Father I will Father there he prays as Man I will there he gives as God This is a great comfort to a Believer when his Prayer is weak and he can hardly pray for himself Christs Prayer in Heaven is mighty and powerful Though God may refuse Prayer as it comes from us yet not as it comes from Christ. 4. Christ's Intercession is always ready at hand The People of God have sins of daily incursion and besides these sometimes they lapse into great sins and God is provoked and his Justice is ready to break forth upon them but Christ's Intercession is ready at hand he daily makes up the Breaches between God and them he presents the Merit of his Blood to his Father to pacifie him When the Wrath of God began to break out upon Israel Aaron presently step'd in with his Censer and offered Incense and so the Plague was staid Numb 16.47 so no sooner doth a Child of God offend and God begins to be angry but immediately Christ steps in and intercedes Father it is my Child hath offended though he hath forgotten his Duty thou hast not lost thy Bowels O pity him and let thy Anger be turned away from him Christ's Intercession is ready at hand and upon the least failings of the Godly he stands up and makes
cross to Flesh and Bloud Faith obeys Heb. 11.8 By faith Abraham obeyed Faith is not an Idle Grace as it hath an Eye to see Christ so it hath an Hand to work for him Faith doth not only believe God's Promise but obey his Command It is not your having Knowledge will evidence you to be Believers the Devil hath Knowledge but wants Obedience and that makes him a Devil And the true Obedience of Faith is a chearful Obedience God's Commands do not seem grievous Have you the Obedience and obey chearfully What say you to this do you look on God's Command as your Burden or Priviledge as an Iron Fetter about your Leg or a gold Chain about your Neck 4. Faith is an assimulating Grace it changeth the Soul into the Image of the Object it makes it like Christ. Never did any look on Christ with a believing Eye but he was made like Christ. A deformed Person may look on a beautiful Object but not be made beautiful but Faith looking on Christ transforms a Man and turns him into his Similitude Faith looking on a bleeding Christ causeth a soft bleeding heart Looking on an holy Christ causeth sanctity of Heart looking on an humble Christ makes the Soul humble As the Camelion is changed into the Colour of that which it looks upon so Faith looking on Christ changeth a Christian into the similitude of Christ. 2. By the growth of it if it be a true Faith it grows living things grow Rom. 1.17 From faith to faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quest. How may we judge of the growth of Faith Answ. Growth of Faith is judged 1. By strength We can do that now which we could not do before When one is Man-grown he can do that he could not do when he was a Child he can carry a heavier burden so thou canst bear crosses with more patience 2. Growth of Faith is seen by doing Duties in a more spiritual manner viz. with fervency we put coals to the Incence from a principle of love to God When an Apple hath done growing in bigness it grows in sweetness thou dost Duties in love and now are sweeter and come off with a better relish Object But I fear I have no Faith Resp. We must distinguish between weakness of Faith and nullity a weak Faith is true The bruised Reed is but weak yet it is such as Christ will not bruise Though thy Faith be but weak yet be not discouraged 1. A weak Faith may receive a strong Christ. A weak hand can tye the Knot in Marriage as well as a strong a weak Eye might have seen the brasen Serpent The Woman in the Gospel that but touched Christ received Vertue from him The Touch of Faith 2. The Promise is not made to strong Faith but to true The Promise doth not say Whosoever hath a Giant-faith that can remove Mountains that can stop the mouth of Lions shall be saved but whosoever believes be his Faith never so small Though Christ sometimes chides a weak Faith yet that it may not be discouraged he makes a Promise to it Matth. 5.3 Beati qui esuriunt 3. A weak Faith may be fruitful Weakest things multiply most the Vine is a weak Plant but it is fruitful Weak Christians may have strong Affections How strong is the first love which is after the first planting of Faith 4. Weak Faith may be growing The Seed springs up by degrees first the Blade then the Ear then the full Corn in the Ear. Therefore be not discouraged God who would have us receive them that are weak in Faith Rom. 14.1 will not himself refuse them A weak Believer is a Member of Christ and though Christ will cut off rotten Members from his Body yet not weak Members Effectual Calling ROM 8.30 Them he also called Quest. XX. WHat is effectual Calling Answ. It is a gracious work of the Spirit whereby he causeth us to embrace Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel In this Verse is a golden Chain of Salvation made up of four Links this is one Vocation Them he also called Calling is nova Creatio a new Creation the first Resurrection There is a twofold Call 1. An extrinsick or outward Call 2. An intrinsick or inward effectual Call 1. An extrinsick or outward Call which is God's offer of Grace to sinners inviting them to come in and accept of Christ and Salvation Matth. 20.16 Many are called but few chosen This outward Call shews Men what they ought to do in order to Salvation and renders them inexcusable in case of Disobedience 2. There is an intrinsick or effectual Call when God with the offer of Grace works Grace by this Call the Heart is renewed and the Will effectually drawn to embrace Christ. The outward Call brings Men to a profession of Christ the inward to a possession of Christ. Quest. What is the means of this effectual Call Resp. Every Creature hath a Voice to call to us The Heavens call to us to behold God's glory Psal. 19.1 Conscience calls to us God's Judgments call to us Repent Mic. 6.9 Hear ye the Rod. But every Voice doth not convert There are two means of our effectual Call 1. The preaching of the Word which is the sounding God's silver Trumpet in Mens Fears God doth not speak by an Oracle he calls by his Ministers Samuel thought it had been only the Voice of Eli that called to him but it was God's voice 1 Sam. 3.6 So perhaps you think it is only the Minister speaks to you in the Word but it is God himself speaks Therefore Christ is said Now to speak to us from Heaven Hebr. 12.25 How doth he speak but by his Ministers as a King speaks by his Ambassadors Know that in every Sermon preached God calls to you and to refuse the Message we bring is to refuse God himself 2. The other means of our effectual Call is the Holy Spirit The Ministry of the Word is the Pipe or Organ the Spirit of God blowing in it doth effectually change Men's hearts Acts 10.44 While Peter spake the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the Word of God Ministers knock at the door of Men's hearts the Spirit comes with a Key and opens the door Acts 16.14 A certain woman named Lydia whose heart the Lord opened Quest. From what doth God call Men Resp. 1. From sin He calls them from their Ignorance and Unbelief 1 Pet. 1.14 By Nature the Understanding is inveloped with Darkness God calls Men from darkness to light Eph. 5.8 as if one should be called out of a Dungeon to behold the Light of the Sun 2. From Danger As the Angel called Lot out of Sodom when it was ready to rain fire so God calls his People from the Fire and Brimstone of Hell and from all those Curses they were exposed to 3. He calls them out of the World as Christ called Matthew from the Receipt of Custom Iohn 17.16 Ye are not of the world Such as are
him to pieces The German History relates of a Youth who was given to Swearing and did use to invent new Oaths the Lord sent a Canker into his Mouth which did eat out his Tongue whereupon he died 2. Blasphemy He who did Blaspheme God the Lord caused him to be stoned to death Lev. 24.11 23. The Israelitish womans Son blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed And Moses spake to the People of Israel that they should bring forth him that had cursed and stone him with stones Olympias an Arian Bishop Reproached and Blasphemed the Sacred Trinity whereupon he was suddenly stricken with three Flashes of Lightning which burned him to Death Felix an Officer of Iulian seeing the Holy Vessels which were used in the Sacrament said in Scorn of Christ See what precious Vessels the Son of Mary is served withall Soon after he was taken with a Vomiting of Blood out of his Blasphemous Mouth whereof he died 2. Or if God should not execute Judgment on the Profaners of his Name in this Life yet their Doom is to come God will not remit their Guilt but deliver them to Satan the Goaler to torment them for ever If God justifie a Man who shall condemn him but if God condemn him who shall justifie him If God lay a Man in Prison where shall he get Bail or Main-prize God will take his full blow at the Sinner in Hell Heb. 10.31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God EXOD. XX. 8 Remember the Sabbath-Day to keep it Holy Six Days shalt thou labour and do all thy Work But the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any Work thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-Servant nor thy Maid-servant nor thy Cattel nor thy Stranger that is within thy Gates For in Six Days the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is and rested the Seventh Day Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-Day and hallowed it This Commandment was engraven in Stone by God's own Finger and it will be our Comfort to have it engraven in our Hearts The Sabbath-Day is set apart for God's Solemn Worship it is God's Enclosure and it must not be alienated to common Uses The Lord hath set a Preface before this Commandment he hath put a Memento to it Remember to keep the Sabbath-Day holy This Word Remember shows that we are apt to forget Sabbath-Holiness therefore we need a Memorandum to put us in mind of sanctifying this Day I shall explain the Words I. Here is a Solemn Command Remember the Sabbath-Day to keep it holy II. Many Cogent Arguments to induce us to observe the Command I. In the Command 1. The Matter of it viz. The sanctifying of the Sabbath which Sabbath-Sanctification consists in two things First In resting from our own Works Secondly In a Conscientious Discharge of our Religious Duties 2. The Persons to whom the Command of sanctifying the Sabbath is given 1. Either Superiours and they are 1 st More Private as Parents and Masters Or 2 ly More Publique as Magistrates Or 2. Inferiours First Natives as Children and Servants Thy Son and thy Daughter thy Man-Servant and thy Maid Servant Secondly Foreigners The Stranger that is within thy Gates II. The Cogent Arguments to obey this Command of keeping Holy the Sabbath 1. From the Rationality of it Six Days shalt thou labour and do all thy Work As if God had said I am not an hard Master I do not grutch thee time to look after thy Calling and to get an Estate I have given thee Six Days Six to do all thy Work in and have taken but one Day for my self I might have reserved Six Days for my self and allowed thee but one but I have given thee Six Days for the Works of thy Calling and have taken but One Day for my own Service therefore it is equal and rational that thou shouldst set this Day in a special manner apart for my Worship 2. The Second Argument is taken from 2 ly The Iustice of it The Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God As if God had said The Sabbath-Day is my Due I challenge a special Right in it and none hath any thing to do to lay claim to it He who robs me of THIS DAY and puts it to common Uses is a Sacrilegious Person he steals from the Crown of Heaven and I will in no wise hold him guiltless 3. The Third Argument for sanctifying the Sabbath is taken from God's own Pattern he rested the Seventh Day As if the Lord should say Will not you follow my Pattern Having finished all my Works of Creation I rested the Seventh Day So you having done all your Secular Work on the Six Days you should now cease from the Labour of your Calling and Dedicate the Seventh Day to the Lord as a Day of Holy Rest. 4. The Fourth Argument for Sabbath-Sanctification is taken ab Vtili from the Benefit which redounds from a Religious Observation of the Sabbath The Lord blessed the Seventh-Day and hallowed it It is not only a Day of God's Benediction God did not only appoint the Seventh-Day but he blessed the Seventh Day The Sabbath-Day is not only a Day of Honour to God but a Day of Blessing to us it is not only a Day wherein we give God Worship but a Day wherein he gives us Grace on this Day a Blessing drops down from Heaven This is a great Argument for the keeping the Sabbath-Day Holy God is not benefited by it we cannot add one Cubit to his Essential Glory but we our selves are advantaged The Sabbath-Day religiously observed entails a Blessing upon our Souls our Estate our Posterity As the not keeping this Day Holy brings a Curse Ier. 17.27 God curseth a Man's Blessings Mal. 2.2 The Bread which he eats is poysoned with a Curse So the Conscientious Observation of the Sabbath brings all manner of Blessings with it These are the Arguments to induce Sabbath-Sanctification And so I have divided the Commandment into its several Parts and explained the Sence of it The thing I would have you observe is That this Commandment about keeping the Sabbath was not abrogated with the Ceremonial Law but it is purely Moral and the Observation of the Sabbath is to be continued to the end of the World Where can we show that God hath given us a Discharge from keeping one Day in seven So that I say this fourth Commandment is Moral and obligeth Christians to the perpetual Commemoration and Sanctification of the Sabbath Quest. Why God hath appointed a Sabbath Ans. 1. In respect of Himself it is requisite that God should reserve one Day in Seven for his own immediate Service that hereby he might be acknowledged to be the great Plenipotentiary or Sovereign Lord who hath Power over us both to command Worship and appoint the Time when he will be worshipped 2. In respect of Vs. The Sabbath-day
Wife for himself Thirdly Faithfulness in a Servant is seen in standing up for the Honour of his Master When he hears him spoken against he must vindicate him As the Master is careful of the Servant's Body so the Servant should be careful of the Master's Name When the Master is unjustly reproached the Servant cannot be excused if he be possessed with a dumb Devil Fourthly Faithfulness is when a Servant is true to his Word He dares not tell a Lie but will speak the Truth tho it be against himself A Lie doubles the sin Psal. 101.7 He that telleth Lies shall not tarry in my sight A Liar is of near a-kin to the Devil Ioh. 8.44 And who would let any of the Devil's Kindred live with him The Lie that Gehazi told his Master Elisha entailed a Leprosie on Gehazi and his Seed for ever 2 Kings 5.22 A Faithful Servant his Tongue is the true Index of his Heart Fifthly Faithfulness is when a Servant is against Impropriation He dares not convert his Masters Goods to his own Use. Tit. 2.10 Not purloyning Ne aliquid haereat in digitis What a Servant filcheth from his Master is damnable Gain The Servant who enricheth himself by stealing from his Master stuffs his Pillow with Thorns and his Head will lie very uneasie when he comes to die Sixthly Faithfulness is in preserving the Masters Person if unjustly in Danger Banister who betrayed his Master the Duke of Buckingham in King Richard the Third's Reign it is remarkable how the Judgments of God befell that Traiterous Servant His eldest Son ran mad his Daughter of a singular Beauty was suddenly struck with Leprosie his younger Son was drowned and he himself arraigned and had been executed had he not been saved by his Clergy That Servant who is not true to his Master will never be true to God or his own Soul 4. The Servant is to honour his Master by serving him as with Love for Willingness is more than the Work so with Silence That is without repining and without replying Titus 2.9 Exhort Servants to be obedient to their Masters not answering again Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not giving cross Answers Some Servants are quick of Speech tho slow at Work and instead of being sorry for a Fault they provoke by unbeseeming Language Were the Heart more humble the Tongue would be more silent They are the Apostles Words not answering again And to those Servants who do thus honour their Masters or Family-Fathers by Submission Diligence Faithfulness Love and humble Silence for their encouragement let them take that Col. 3.24 Servants obey in all things your Masters according to the Flesh not with eye-service knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the Reward of the Inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ. In serving your Masters ye serve Christ and he will not let you lose your Labour ye shall receive the Reward of the Inheritance From serving on Earth you shall be taken up to Reign in Heaven and shall sit with Christ upon his Throne Rev. 3.21 EXOD. XX. 12 Honour thy Father and thy Mother c. If we are not just we cannot be holy Having shown you how Servants are to honour their Masters the Fathers of Families I shall next show how Masters are to carry it towards their Servants that they may gain Honour from them 1. In General Masters must remember that they have a Master in Heaven who will call them to Account Eph. 6.9 Knowing that your Master is also in Heaven 2. More Particularly 1. Masters must have a care to provide for their Servants As they cut them out Work so they must give them their Meat in due season Luke 17.7 And the Food should be wholsom and sufficing It is an unworthy thing in some Governors of Families to lay out so much upon their own Backs as to pinch their Servants Bellies 2. Masters should encourage their Servants in their Work by commending them when they do well Tho a Master is to tell a Servant of his Faults yet he is not always to beat upon one string but sometimes take notice of that which is praise-worthy This makes a Servant more chearful in his Work and gains the Master Love from his Servant 3. Masters must not over-burden their Servants but proportion their Work to their Strength If you lay too much load on a Servant he will faint under it Christianity teacheth Compassion 4. Masters must endeavour the Spiritual Good of their Servants they must be Seraphims to kindle their Love to Religion They must be Monitors to put them in mind of their Souls They must bring them to the Pool of the Sanctuary waiting till the Angel stir the Waters Iohn 5.4 They must seek God for them that their Servants may be his Servants They must allow them Time convenient for secret Devotion Some Masters are cruel to the Souls of their Servants they look that they do the Work about the House but abridge them of Time they should employ in working out Salvation 5. Masters should use mild gentle Behaviour towards Servants Eph. 6.9 Forbearing Threatning Lev. 25.43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour but fear thy God It requires Wisdom in a Master to know how to keep up his Authority yet lay down his Austerity We have a good Copy to write after Our Master in Heaven is slow to Anger and of great Mercy Psal. 145.8 Some Masters are so harsh and implacable that they are enough to spoil a good Servant 6. Be very exact and punctual in the Compacts and Agreements you make with your Servants Do not prevaricate keep not back any of their Wages nor deal deceitfully with them as Laban did with Iacob changing his Wages Gen. 31.7 Falseness in Promise is as as bad as False Weights 7. Be careful of your Servants not only in Health but in Sickness They have got their Sickness in your Service use what means you can for their Recovery Be not like the Amalekite who forsook his Servant when he was sick 1 Sam. 30.13 but be as the good Centurion who kept his sick Servant and sought to Christ for a Cure Mat. 8.6 If you have a Beast that falls sick you will not turn it off but have it look'd to and pay for its Cure Will you be kinder to your Horses than your Servants Thus should Masters the Fathers of the Family carry themselves prudently and piously that they may gain Honour from their Servants and may give up their Accounts to God with Joy Fifthly The Natural Father The Father of the Flesh Heb. 12.9 Honour thy Natural Father This is so necessary a Duty that Philo the Jew placed the Fifth Commandment in the First Table as tho' we had not perform'd our whole Duty to God till we had paid this Debt of Honour to our Natural Parents Children are the Vineyard of the Parents planting and Honour done to the Parent is some of the Fruit of the Vineyard Quest. Wherein are
are more than conquerours How are Gods Children more than Conquerours Because they conquer without loss and because they are crowned after death which other Conquerours are not 15. If God be our Father he will now and then send us some tokens of his Love Gods Children live far from home and meet sometimes with coarse usage from the unkind World therefore God to encourage his Children sends them sometimes tokens and pledges of his Love What are these He gives them a return of Prayer there is a token of Love he quickens and enlargeth their Hearts in Duty there is a token of Love he gives them the first fruits of his Spirit which are Love-tokens Rom. 8.23 As God gives the wicked the first fruits of Hell horrour of Conscience and Despair so he gives his Children the first fruits of his Spirit Joy and Peace which are foretasts of Glory Some of Gods Children having received these tokens of Love from their Heavenly Father have been so transported that they have dyed for Joy as the Glass oft breaks with the strength of the Wine put into it 16. If God be our Father he will indulge and spare us Mal. 3.17 I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him Gods sparing his Children imports this his clemency towards them he doth not punish them as he might Psal. 103.10 He hath not dealt with us according to our sins We oft do that which merits Wrath grieve Gods Spirit relapse into Sin God passeth by much and spares us God did not spare his Natural Son Rom. 8.32 yet he will spare his Adopted Sons God threatned Ephraim to make him as the Chaff driven with the Whirlwind but he soon repented Hos. 13.4 Yet I am the Lord thy God ver 10. I will be thy King Here God spared him as a Father spares his Son Israel oft provoked God with their complaints but God used clemency towards them he oft answered their murmurings with Mercies here he spared them as a Father spares his Son 17. If God be our Father he will put Honour and Renown upon us at the last day 1. He will clear the innocency of his Children Gods Children in this Life are strangely misrepresented to the World they are loaded with invectives they are called factious seditious Elijah the troubler of Israel Luther was called the trumpet of Rebellion Athanasius was accused to the Emperor Constantine to be the raiser of Tumults the Primitive Christians were accused to be infanticidii incestus rei killers of their Children guilty of Incest as Tertullian St. Paul reported to be a pestilent person Acts 24.5 Famous Wickliff called the Idol of the Hereticks and that he dyed drunk If Satan cannot defile Gods Children he will disgrace them if he cannot strike his fiery darts into their Conscience he will put a dead fly into their Name but God will one day clear his Childrens innocency he will roll away their reproach As God will make a Resurrection of Bodies so of Names Isa. 25.8 The Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces and the rebuke of his people shall he take away God will be the Saints compurgator Psal. 37.6 He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light The Night casts its dark mantle upon the most beautiful Flowers but the light comes in the Morning and dispells the darkness and every Flower appears in its orient brightness so the wicked may by misreports darken the honour and repute of the Saints but God will dispel this darkness and cause their Names to shine forth He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light As God did stand up for the honour of Moses when Aaron and Miriam went about to eclipse his Fame Numb 12.8 Wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses So will God say one day to the wicked wherefore were not ye afraid to defame and traduce my Children They having my Image upon them how durst ye abuse my Picture At last Gods Children shall come forth out of all their calumnies as a Dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold Psal. 68.13 2. God will make an open and honourable recital of all their good deeds As the Sins of the Wicked shall be openly mentioned to their eternal infamy and confusion so all the good deeds of the Saints shall be openly mentioned and then shall every man have praise of God 1 Cor. 4.5 Every Prayer made with melting eyes every good service every work of Charity shall be openly declared before Men and Angels Matth. 25.35 I was an hungred and ye gave me meat thirsty and ye gave me drink naked and ye clothed me Thus God will set a Trophy of Honour upon all his Children at the last day Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father Matth. 13.43 18. If God be our Father he will settle good land of inheritance upon us 1 Pet. 1.4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus who hath begotten us again to a lively hope to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled A Father may be fallen to decay and have nothing to leave his Son but his Blessing but God will settle an Inheritance on his Children and an Inheritance no less than a Kingdom Luke 17.32 It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom This Kingdom is more Glorious and Magnificent than any Earthly Kingdom it is set out by Pearls and precious Stones the richest Jewels Rev 21.19 What are all the Rarities of the World to this Kingdom The Coasts of Pearl the Islands of Spices the Rocks of Diamonds In this Heavenly Kingdom is that which is satisfying unparallel'd Beauty Rivers of Pleasure and this for ever Psal. 16.11 At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Heavens eminency is its permanency and this Kingdom Gods Children shall enter into immediately after Death There is a sudden transition and passage from Death to Glory 2 Cor. 5.9 Absent from the body present with the Lord. Gods Children shall not stay long for their Inheritance it is but winking and they shall see God How may this comfort Gods Children who perhaps are low in the World your Father in Heaven will settle a Kingdom upon you at death such a Kingdom as eye hath not seen he will give you a Crown not of Gold but Glory he will give you white Robes lined with Immortality It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you a kingdom 19. If God be our Father it is Comfort 1. In case of loss of Relations Hast thou lost a Father yet if thou art a Believer thou art no Orphan thou hast an Heavenly Father a Father that never dyes 1 Tim. 6.16 Who only hath immortality 2. It is comfort in case of Death God is thy Father and at Death thou art going to thy Father Well might Paul say Death is yours 1 Cor. 3.22 it is your friend that will carry you home to your Father
gives his Friend this Counsel to be ever well employ'd that when the Tempter came he might find him working in the Vineyard If the Hands be not working the Head will be plotting sin Micah 2.1 7. Subtilty Of Satan is to give some little Respite and seem to leave off tempting a while that he may come on after with more Advantage As Israel made as if they were beaten before the Men of Ai and fled but it was a Policy to draw them out of their fenced Cities and ensnare them by an Ambush Iosh. 8.15 The Devil sometimes raiseth the Siege and feigns a flight that he may the better obtain the Victory He goes away for a time that he may return when he sees a better season Luke 11.24 When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a man he walks in dry places seeking rest and finding none he saith I will return to my House whence I came out Satan by feigning a flight and leaving off tempting a while causeth Security in persons and they think they are safe and are become Victors when on a sudden Satan falls on and wounds them As one that is going to leap runs back a little that he may take the greater Jump Satan seems to retire and run back a little that he may come on again with a Temptation more furiously and successfully Therefore we need always to watch and have on our spiritual Armour 8. Subtilty Of the old Serpent is either to take men off from the use of means or to make them miscarry in the use of means First He labours to take men off from Duty from praying and hearing his design is to Discourage them and to do that he hath two Artifices 1. He discourageth them from Duty by suggesting to them their Vnworthiness they are not worthy to approach to God or have any signals of his Love and Favour They are sinful and God is Holy how dare they presume to bring their impure Offering to God This is a Temptation indeed that we should see our selves unworthy is good and argues Humility but to think we should not approach to God because of unworthiness is a conclusion of the Devils making God saith Come tho' unworthy By this Tentation the Devil takes off many from coming to the Lords Table O saith he this is a solemn Ordinance and requires much Holiness how darest thou so unworthily come lest thou eatest and drinkest unworthily Thus as Saul kept the people from eating Hony so the Devil by this Temptation scares many from this Ordinance which is sweeter than hony and the hony-comb Secondly Satan endeavours to discourage from Duty by objecting want of Success When men have waited upon God in the use of Ordinances and yet find not that Comfort they desire now Satan disheartens them and 〈◊〉 them upon resolves of declining all Religion they begin to say as that wicked King 2 Kings 6.33 Why should I wait on the Lord any longer When Saul saw God answered him not by Dreams and Visions Satan tempted him to leave God's Worship and seek to the Witch of Endor 1 Sam. 28.6 No answer of Prayer comes therefore saith Satan leave off praying who will sow seed where no Crop comes up Thus the Devil would by his subtil Logick dispute a poor Soul out of Duty But if he sees he cannot prevail this way to take men off from the use of means then he labours 2. To make them miscarry in the use of means By this Artifice he prevails over multitudes of Professors The Devil stands as he did at Ioshua's right Hand to resist men Zach. 3.1 If he can't hinder them from Duty he will be sure to hinder them in Duty two ways First By causing Distraction in the Service of God and this he doth by proposing Objects of Vanity or by whispering in mens Ears that they can scarce mind what they are doing Secondly Satan hinders by putting men upon doing Duties in a wrong manner 1. In a dead formal manner that so they may fail of the success Satan knows duties done superficially were as good be left undone That Prayer which doth not pierce the Heart will never pierce Heaven 2. He puts them upon doing duties for wrong ends Finis specificat actionem He will make them look a-squint and have by-ends in Duty Mat. 6.5 Be not as the Hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men Prayer is good but to pray to be seen of men this was a dead fly in the Box of Oyntment the Oyl of vain-glory fed their Lamp sinister Aims corrupt and fly-blow our Holy Things Here is Satans Policy either to prevent Duty or pervert it either to take men off from the use of means or make them miscarry in the use of Means 9. Subtilty Satan can colour over sin with the name and pretence of Virtue Alcibiades hung a Curtain curiously Embroidered over a foul Picture full of Satyrs so Satan can put the Image of vertue over the foul Picture of sin Satan can cheat men with false Wares he can make them believe that Presumption is Faith that intemperate Passion is Zeal Revenge is Prudence Covetousness is Frugality and Prodigality good Hospitality Come see my Zeal for the Lord saith Iehu Satan perswaded him it was a Fire from Heaven when it was nothing but the Wild-fire of his own Ambition 'T was not Zeal but State-Policy This is a subtil Art of Satan to deceive by tempting and put men off with the dead Child instead of the live Child to make men believe that is a Grace which is a Sin as if one should write Balm-water upon a Glass of Poyson If Satan hath all these subtil Artifices in tempting are not we in great Danger of this Prince of the Air and had not we need often pray Lord suffer us not to be led into Temptation as the Serpent beguil'd Eve with his Subtilty 2 Cor. 11.2 Let us not be beguil'd by the Snares and Policies of this hellish Machiavel Satan is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he hath a Dexterity in subtil Contrivances He doth more hurt as a Fox than a Lion His Snares are worse than his Darts 2 Cor. 2.11 We are not ignorant of his Devices 10. The next Subtilty of Satan is He labours to ensnare us by Lawful Things In licitis perimus omnes more are hurt by lawful things than unlawful as more are kill'd with Wine than Poison Gross Sins affright but how many take a surfeit and die in using lawful things inordinately Recreation is lawful Eating and Drinking is lawful but many offend by Excess and their Table is a Snare Relations are lawful but how oft doth Satan tempt to over-love how oft is the Wife and Child laid in God's Room Excess makes things lawful become sinful 11. Subtilty of Satan is to make the Duties of our General and Particular Calling hinder and justle out one another Our General Calling is serving God
Profess or Pray and Hear in a formal manner This doth him no hurt nor them no good but he doth oppose Meditation as being a means to compose the heart and make it serious Satan can stand your small shot so you do not put in this Bullet He cares not how much you Hear nor how little you Meditate Meditation is a chewing of the cud it makes the VVord digest and turn to nourishment Meditation is the Bellows of the Affections The Devil is an enemy to this When Christ was alone in the Wilderness giving himself to Divine Contemplations then the Devil comes and tempts him to hinder him He will thrust in Worldly Business something or other to keep Men off from Holy Meditation 2. Duty which Satan by his tempting would keep us from is Mortification This is as needful as Heaven Col. 3.5 Mortifie your Members which are upon the Earth uncleanness inordinate affection Satan will let Men be angry with sin exchange sin restrain sin which is keeping sin Prisoner that it doth not break out but when it comes to the taking away the Life of Sin Satan labours to stop the Warrant and hinder the Execution When Sin is Mortifying Satan is Crucifying 3. Self-examination 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Metaphor from Metal that is pierced thorow to see if it be Gold within Self-examination is a Spiritual Inquisition set up in ones Soul a Man must search his heart for sin as one would search an house for a Traitor or as Israel sought for Leaven to burn it Satan if it be possible will by his Temptations keep Men from this Duty He useth a great deal of subtilty 1. Here First he tells them Their Estate is good and what need they put themselves to the trouble of Examination Though Men will not take their Money on Trust but will examine it by the Touchstone yet Satan perswades them to take their Grace on trust The Devil perswaded the Foolish Virgins they had Oyl in their Lamps 2. Satan hath another Policy he will shew Men the Faults of others to keep them from searching their own See what a Proud Covetous Man goes there He will allow them Spectacles to see what is amiss in others but not a Looking-glass to behold their own Faces and see what is amiss in themselves II. Satan's Policy is to discourage us in Duty When one hath been about the performing of Holy Duties then the Devil stands up and tells him He hath play'd the Hypocrite he hath served God for a Livery he hath had sinister ends His Duties have been full of distraction they have been Fly-blown with Pride He hath Offered the blind and lame and can he expect a reward from God Satan tells a Christian He hath encreased his sin by Prayer and by this Temptation he would make a Child of God quite out of conceit with his Duties he knows not whether he had best Pray or no. III. Or Thirdly if this Plot will not take Satan labours by Temptation to put a Christian on too far in duty If he cannot keep a Child of God from duty he will run him on too far in it For instance humiliation and mourning for sin is a duty but Satan will put one on too far in it Thou art not saith he humbled enough And indeed Satan never thinks a Man is humbled enough till he despairs He would make a Christian wade so far in the Waters of Repentance that he should wade beyond his depth and be drown'd in the Gulph of Despair Satan comes thus to the Soul Thy sins have been great and thy sorrow should be proportionable to your sin But is it so Canst thou say thou hast been as great a Mourner as thou hast been a Sinner Thou didst for many years drive no other Trade but sin And is a drop of Sorrow enough for a Sea of Sin No thy Soul must be more humbled and lie steeping longer in the brinish waters of Repentance Satan would have a Christian weep himself blind and in a desperate mood throw away the Anchor of Hope Now lest any here be troubled with this Temptation let me say this This is a meer Fallacy of Satan for sorrow proportionable to sin is not attainable in this Life nor doth God expect it It is sufficient for thee Christian if thou hast a Gospel-sorrow if thou grievest so far as to see Sin hateful and Christ precious If thou grievest so as to break off Iniquity if thy Remorse end in Divorce this is to be humbled enough Then the Gold hath lain long enough in the fire when the Dross is purged out then a Christian hath lain long enough in Humiliation when the Love of Sin is purged out This is to be humbled enough to Divine Acceptation God for Christ's sake will accept of this Sorrow for Sin therefore let not Satans Temptations drive to despair You see how subtil an Enemy he is to hinder from Duty or discourage in Duty or put Men on too far in Duty that he may run them upon the Rock of Despair Had we not then need having such a subtil Enemy Pray Lord lead us not into temptation As the Serpent beguiled Eve let us not be beguiled by this Hellish Machiavel 23. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting to the act of sin is the hopes of returning out of it by speedy Repentance But this is a fallacy it is easie for the Bird to fly into the Snare but it is not so easie to get out of the Snare Is it so facile a thing to Repent Are there no pangs in the New Birth Is it easie to leap out of Dalilah's Lap into Abraham's Bosom How many hath Satan flattered into Hell by this policy that if they sin they may recover themselves by Repentance Alas Is Repentance in our Power A Spring lock can shut of it self but it cannot open without a Key We can shut of our selves to God but we cannot open by Repentance till God open our heart who hath the Key of David in his hand 24. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting is to put us upon doing that which is good unseasonably 1. To Mourn for sin is a duty The Sacrifices of God are a broken heart Psal. 51.17 but yet there is a time when it may not be so seasonable After some eminent Deliverance which calls for Rejoycing now to have the Spirits dyed of a Sad Colour and to sit Weeping is not seasonable There was a Special Time at the Feast of Tabernacles when God call'd his People to Chearfulness Deut. 16.15 Seven days shalt thou keep a Solemn Feast to the Lord thy God and thou shalt surely rejoyce Now if at this time the Israelites had hung their Harps upon the Willows and been Disconsolate it had been very unseasonable like Mourning at a Wedding When God by his Providence calls us to Thanksgiving and we sit Drooping and with Rachel refuse to be comforted this is very evil and savours of Ingratitude
Salvation Heb. 2.10 2. We have good Armour Grace is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Armour of God's making Ephes. 6.11 3. Satan is beaten in part already Christ hath given him his Deaths-wound upon the Cross Col. 1.15 4. Satan is a Chained Enemy his Power is limited He cannot Force the Will It was all Eve complained of that the Serpent deceived her not constrained her Gen. 3.13 Satan hath astutiam Suadendi not potentiam Cogendi he may perswade not compel 5. He is a Cursed Enemy and God's Curse will blast him Therefore put on Holy Gallantry of Spirit and Magnanimity Fear not Satan Greater is he that is in you than he that is against you 15. If we would not be overcome of a Temptation let us call in the help of others If an House be set on fire would you not call in help Satan tempts that he may rob you of your Soul acquaint some Friends with your Case and beg their Counsel and Prayers Who knows but Satan may be cast out by the joynt-prayer of others In case of Temptation how exceeding helpful is the Communion of Saints 16. If we would not be overcome of Temptation let us make use of all the Encouragements we can If Satan be a Roaring Lion Christ is the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah if Satan Tempts Christ Prays If Satan be a Serpent to Sting Christ is a Brazen-Serpent to Heal if the Conflict be hard look to the Crown James 1.12 Whilst we are fighting Christ will Succour us and when we overcome he will Crown us What makes the Soldier endure a bloody fight but hope of a Golden Harvest Think that shortly God will call us out of the Field where the Bullets of Temptation fly so fast and he will set a Garland of Glory upon our head How will the case be altered Instead of Fighting Singing instead of an Helmet a Diadem instead of a Sword a Palm-branch of Victory instead of Armour White Robes instead of Satan's Skirmishes the Kisses and Embraces of a Saviour The viewing these eternal Recompences would keep us from yielding to Temptation Who would to gratifie a Lust lose a Crown Use 4. A word of Counsel to such as are Tempted Be so wise as to make good use of your Temptations as we should labour to improve our Afflictions so to improve our Temptations We should pick some good out of Temptation as Sampson got Honey out of the Lion Quest. What Good comes out of a Temptation Can there be any good in being set upon by an Enemy Can there be any good to have fiery darts shot at us Yes God that can make a Treacle of Poison can make his People get much good by their Temptations First Hereby a Christian sees that Corruption in his heart which he never saw before Water in a Glass looks pure but set it on the fire and the Scum boils up So in Temptation a Christian sees that Scum of Sin boil up that Passion and Distrust of God as he thought had not been in his heart Secondly Hereby a Christian sees more of the Wiles of Satan and is better able to withstand them St. Paul had been in the Fencing School of Temptation and he grew expert in finding out Satan's Stratagems 2 Cor. 2.11 We are not ignorant of his devices Thirdly Hereby a Christian grows more humble God will rather let his Children fall into the Devil's hands than be Proud Temptation makes the Plumes of Pride fall 2 Cor. 12.7 Lest I should be exalted above measure there was given me a thorn in the flesh Better is that Temptation that Humbles than that Duty which makes one Proud Thus you see how much good a Christian may get by Temptation which made Luther say Three things make a good Divine Prayer Meditation Temptation Vse 5. To such as have been under sore Temptations and Buffetings of Satan to Lust Revenge Self-murder but God hath stood by them and given them strength to overcome the Tempter 1. Be very thankful to God say as 1 Cor. 15.57 Thanks be to God who gives us the Victory Be much in Doxology Why were we kept more than others from falling into sin Was it because Temptation was not so strong No Satan shoots his darts with all his Force Was the Cause in our Will No such a broken Shield would never have conquer'd Satans Temptations know that it was Free-grace that beat back the Tempter and brought us off with Trophies of Victory O be thankful to God had you been overcome by Temptation you might have put black-spots in the face of Religion and given occasion to the Enemies of God to blaspheme 2 Sam. 12.14 Had you been overcome you might have lain sick of a Wounded Spirit and cried out with David of Broken Bones After David yielded temptation he lay for above three quarters of a year in horror of Mind and some Divines think he never recovered his full joy to the day of his Death O therefore what cause have they to stand upon Mount Gerizim blessing of God who in a Field-battel have got the better of Satan and been more than Conquerours Say as the Psalmist Psal. 124.6 Blessed be the Lord who hath not given us as a prey to their Teeth So blessed be God who hath not given us as a prey to Satan that Roaring Lion When God puts Mercy in the Premisses we must put Praise in the Conclusion 2. You that have been tempted and come off Victors be full of Sympathy pity tempted souls shew your Piety in your Pity Do you see Satan's darts sticking in their sides do what you can to pull out these darts communicate your experiences to them tell them how you broke the Devils snare and your Saviour was your Succourer The Apostle speaks of restoring others in the Spirit of meekness Gal. 1.6 The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to restore alludes to Chirurgians who set Bones out of joint So when we see such as are tempted and Satan hath as it were put their bones out of joint labour to set them in joint again with all love meekness and compassion A word spoken in season may relieve a Soul fainting in Temptation and you may do as the good Samaritan drop in oil and wine into the wound Luk. 10.34 Vir spiritualis consilia magis quà m convitia meditatur Aug. 3. You that have got a Conquest of Satan be not Secure Think not that you shall never be troubled with the Tempter more He is not like the Syrians 2 King 6 23. The bands of Syria came no more into the Land of Israel A Cock if he be made once to run away he will fight no more But 't is not so with Satan He is a Restless enemy and if you have beaten him back he will make a fresh onset Hannibal said of Marcellus a Roman Captain That whether he did beat or was beaten he was never quiet When Christ had worsted Satan he went away from Christ but ad Tempus for a Season