Joh. 12. 35. He is like Sampson when his eies are put out the Divell may make him grind in any mill use him for any kind of imploiment He can do nothing well nothing acceptable 2 Ignorance of God is damnable our Saviour saith It is life eternall to know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Joh. 17. 3. And therefore it must needs be eternall death to be ignorant of God and of Jesus Christ especiallie when sufficient means for this knowledg is and may be enjoyed It is the complaint of God that his people were destroied for want of knowledge Hos 4. 6. not onely with temporall but eternall destruction And if any soul perish through ignorance under your roofe through your default his soul will be required at your hands What God saith to the Watchman concerning his charge is as applicable to every governour of a family in his sphere If you give not the wicked man warning he shall die but his blood will I require at thy hands Ezech. 33. 8. Every Master of a family is as well and as truly made a Watchman of God to do all domesticall duties within his sphere where of this is one as the Minister is over the Congregation and must as wel be accountable to God for the souls under his charge And therfore God in the 4th Commandement puts the care and inspection of all within the family upon the governours Thou thy Son thy Daughter thy man-Servant c. Thou mightst perhaps be the instrument of saving thy Child or Servant from Hell wert thou carefull of doing thy dutie 6 Consider the justice and equity of this duty That you shouldst instruct those who are thy Children by Nature is but Equitie in as much as the blindness and ignorance which is in them is from thee conveid as the immediate instrumentall cause They drew their blindness from thy loines thou didst beget and bring them forth in thine own sinfull Image whereof this ignorance is a part and therefore thou art bound by all rules of justice to do what thou canst to make restitution And for adopted Children and Servants by contract committed to thy care by friends or guardians the like obligation lieth upon thee in point of justice to teach them the knowledge of the Most Holie according to thy power for though expresly this clause be not put into the engagement yet virtuallie and implicitly it is intended the parent or friends commit their Children into thy hands upon such termes that the soul should be looked after as well as the bodie and if They do not expect it yet Theologically by vertue of thy place as a Master God expects it from thee and thou art not onely uncharitable but unjust also if thou neglect this part of the engagement It will not be enough to say I have instructed them in all the parts of the mysterie I profess I have made them skilfull in their Art but if they be uninstructed in the knowledge of God the least halfe of the Covenant is made good God will both judge punish thee for a fraudulent and unfaithfull man that hast betrayed thy trust 2ly Directions Take these three 1 Thou must be carefull to furnish thy self with a competency of knowledge and understanding in Religion To govern a small familie requires no small knowledge God would have a Master of a familie to be able to instruct both Wife and Children Dwell with thy Wife as a man of knowledge 1 Pet. 3. 7. and the woman is commanded not to speak in the Church but if she want to ask her husband at home 1 Cor. 14. 35. If the Wife must aske the Husband should be able to resolve necessarie questions I doubt the want of knowledge in governours takes them off from this duty indeed renders them uncapable to discharge it Therefore by studying the Scriptures by reading good Catechisms and other good books and by Praier get sound knowledge 2 Pray for a good Conscience and keep a good Conscience As a good conscience will keep men close to God in other Duties so will it do in this and truely though a man have never such plenty of knowledge yet if he want Conscience the work will fall 3 Get large bowels of affections to God to the knowledge of God and the Souls of such as God hath given thee inspection over This will promote the work He that loves God truly will disperse the knowledge of God freely and he who beares any affection to souls will be willing to light his Candle to set them in the waie to life and happinesse He that doth not teach his Child I dare say hath not a true Fatherlie love either to God or his Child Love will seek the best wellfare of that which is beloved 3dly The Objections are these 1. Object If I should instruct thus my Family and be so strict repeat Sermons c. I should be reproached c. Sol. 1. No good man would reproach thee no they would love thee honour thee if Michal scoffe and reproach 't is no great matter vid. 2 Sam. 6. 21 22. 'T is no honour to be praysed no dishonour to be reproached by a wicked man 2. Such reproach is the way to happiness vid. 1 Pet. 4. 14. The Saints of God have gloried in reproaches for Christs sake they have worn them as a Crown 3. If thou art afraid of reproach be afraid of Gods reproach He will reproach thee if thou neglect this duty and that not only here but hereafter vid. Dan. 12. 2. If thou neglect this duty for fear of the Worlds reproach thou mayst lie down at last with the Worlds honour but thou wilt rise again to everlasting shame 2. Object But my Servants they will not submit to instruction they think their Consciences are free and that no such thing should be imposed upon them c. Sol. 1. And what if they should pretend the like freedom of Conscience as they call it for the not doing of thy work in thine employment wouldst thou think it a sufficient Salvo and why wilt thou take it for a discharge from doing Gods work 2. I answered they are not free by any Law of God nay they are bound if Abraham must teach his Houshold the way of Jehovah surelie his Houshold must submit to be instructed else the Commandment is void And Joshuah took it for granted that his House should serve the Lord together with himself Josh 24. 15. He should not dwell in Joshuahs House that would not serve Joshuahs God whatsoever they pretended The Rod of Discipline should teach such other practices if after admonition and conviction they remain obstinate 3. Object But they are catechised and instructed by the Minister therefore its needless I should meddle Sol. The Ministerial instruction doth not excuse Domestical instruction Christ taught his Disciples publickly as a Minister and yet he neglected not private instruction also private instruction helps on the publick and the publick the private 2. Vse This is a Doctrine of singular comfort for the godlie Jesus Christ hath a Familie on Earth still though he be in Heaven and the Church is his Houshold Heb. 3. 6. And it s his Office to teach and instruct now as much as ever when he was on Earth And be confident you ignorant Christians that Christ your Master will untie all knots which you cannot untie your selves Qui docet corda Cathedram habet in Coelo Carry your doubts to him freely FINIS
CHRIST THE Perfect Pattern OF A Christian's Practice Being the substance of severall Sermons about the Imitation of Christ PREACHED By the Reverend and faithfull Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Ralph Robinson late Minister of Mary Wolnoth London Phil. 2. 5. Let this minde be in you which was also in Christ Jesus Eandem humilitatem eligeret servus quam sectatus est Dominus Leo. Quid vobis cum virtutibus qui virtutem Christi ignoratis Ubinam quaeso vera prudentia nisi in Christi Doctrina ubi vera temperantia nisi in Christi vita ubi vera fortitudo nisi in Christi passione Bern. Absonum est membrum superbum delicatum esse sub capite humili spinis coronato Davenantius Published by Sim. Ash Wil. Taylor Sam. Clarke London Printed by J. S. and are to be sold by John Sims at the Crosse-Keys in the new Buildings in Pauls Church-yard 1658. Christ the Perfect Pattern Christian Reader IT is not long since that a Book of Mr. Robinsons attested with Our Names was published the Subject whereof was this That Christ is All in All wherein were opened those Elegant Scripture Similitudes by which it pleased the wisdom of the Holie Ghost to illustrate unto us the Person Dignitie and Offices of our Lord Jesus Christ which Book as we are informed hath been verie acceptable to the People of God especially of those who still retain the fresh remembrance of Mr. Robinson's precious and profitable Ministrie It were to be wished that those Ministers who have leasure answerable to their great parts and abilities would inrich the Church of God with the fruits of their studies and experiences whilst God continues them in this life that so their Works might neither be neglected as posthumous nor suspected as spurious This little Treatise now put into thy hands thou mayst be assured is printed according to the Copy left written by the Authours own hand The subject here handled is most Noble viz. the imitation of Christ who is the grand Exemplar and Perfect Pattern to all Christians Though we dare not say that the onely or main end either of Christs Life and Death was to leave us an Example yet we say that one end thereof was to leave us an Example 1 Pet. 2. 21. We do not dare not press the imitation of Christ upon that design that some have done thereby to enervate the satisfaction propitiation by Christs death For we do abhorre both those opinions viz. that the first Adams sin and the second Adams righteousness are no otherwise ours then by imitation But yet we say that it concerns all Christians so to improve the Example of Christs humilitie meeknes mercifulnes obedience and zeal that they should walk even as Christ hath walked 1 Joh. 2. 6. who hath not onlie left us 1 Pet. 2. 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Copie to write by but also Joh. 13. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a perfect example shewing us and guiding our hearts and hands to vvrite according to that incomparable Copy The Lord Jesus Christ by his Spirit lead thee Christian Reader into all truth So pray Thine in Christ Simeon Ash Sam. Clark Wil. Taylor London Jan. 27. 1657. Imprimatur Edm. Calamy CHRIST The perfect Pattern OF A Christians Practise Mary Wolnoth Aug. 27. 1648. 1 John 2. 6. He that saith he abideth in Christ ought himself so to walk as he walked THe Apostle having laid down the sum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Doctrine of the Gospel in the former Chapter doth in this and the following Chapter make the application of it There are four principal duties to which he exhorts in this Chapter viz. 1. To sanctity and holiness of walking vers 1. ad finem vers 6. 2. To brotherly love ad finem 14. 3. To the contempt of the World vers 15. ad 18. 4. To shun seducers and to be constant in the faith v. 18. ad finem Each of these are urged by sundry Arguments The Arguments exciting us to holiness of life are 1. From the end of the Gospel v. 1. These things write I unto you that ye sin not 2. From the Mediation and intercession of Christ v. 1 2. 3. 'T is an Argument of the truth and sincerity of our Faith v. 3 4. To know Christ is to believe in him 4. 'T is an Argument of the sincerity of our love v. 5. 5. 'T is an Argument of our union with Christ v. 5. latter part which is amplified v. 6. So the Text is the amplification of one Argument pressing holness of life in which we may observe two things 1. A high Dignity 2. A special duty To abide in Christ is the same with that in v. 5. To be in Christ to have fellowship with Christ Chap. 1. v. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Scholiast The Phrase is further opened and illustrated Iohn 1. v. 4 5 6. Explication That great mystery of our union with Iesus Christ it is comprehended in this Phrase There is an external abiding in Christ by outward profession an internal by spiritual union To walk as he walked is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To tread in his steps to follow his Example to imitate him in his holy actions and vertues From the whole Text ariseth this Lesson That 't is the duty and should be the care Doct. of every one who pretends an interest in Jesus Christ to imitate the holy life and conversation of Christ 'T is laid down peremptorily and positively not as an Arbitrary thing but an act of debt he ought This is that which this Apostle enjoynes in other places also vid. Rom. 13. ult 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is the true putting on of Christ which we do not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in our Conversations put on his example Math. 11. 29. Col. 2. 6. To walk in Christ signifies two things To live the life of Christ to persevere in him Phil. 2. 5. There are three things to be done in the explication of this Doctrine 1. What it is to imitate 2. Wherein we must imitate Christ 3. Why we should do so 1. There are three things which must concurre to imitation viz. 1. There must be a performance of the same actions which are done by him whom we imitate Identity of practise 2. A performing of those actions out of a desire to imitate else though there be the same actions yet that is no imitation Children do the same actions which their Parents do viz. eat drink walk c. yet they are not said to imitate their Parents in them because they do them naturally not out of any desire of imitation 3. An endeavour to come as exactly as we can to the Copy So now to imitate Christ is 1. To do the like actions which Christ did 2. To do them out of a desire to be like him 3. To do them with all the care and exactness we can that if it were possible we would
out-strip his example A Christian should be Alter Christus 2. Wherein we must imitate Christ This is not unnecessary because there are some actions of Christ which are not imitable There are three kind of actions which Christ did 1. Some things he did quà Deus his works of Divinity and Omnipotency As his miraculous works of forgiving sins raising the dead casting out Devils and curing Diseases by his word walking upon the Sea c. 'T is the pride of the Papists to imitate Christ in these things as their Quadragesimal Fasts c. These are for our admiration not for our imitation 2. Some things he did quà Mediator his works of office As his Dying to reconcile God and man offering up himself a Sacrifice for sin This is not for our imitation only the moâ—al of these is for us That as Christ did carefully the works of his Calling so should we of our particular Calling 3. Some things he did as he was made man under the Law And tehse were of two sorts Some in obedience to the Ceremonial Law as he was the Son of Abraham according to the flesh As his submitting to Circumcision keeping the Jewish Feasts of Tabernacles Pentecost c. these we are not bound unto Others in obedience to the moral Law those moral actions of Christ the works of piety of charity which he did his vertues as they are called 1 Pet. 2. 9. his humility meekness c. And therefore 't is observed in Matth. 11. 29. Learn of me saith Christ what not to cast out Devils raise the dead c. but learn meekness lowliness c. These are the things which we are tyed toimitate Christ in The Reasons why these are 1. Those Relations between Christ and a Christian call for it viz. 1. Master and Servant this is a Relation of Imitation Matth. 10. 24 25. 't is there spoken in regard of suffering 't is as forcible in regard of doing Our Saviour urgeth us in a particular case upon this very ground Ioh. 13. 13 14. Other Masters cannot require imitation from their Servants in every thing because they mislead but Christ may 2. That of Captain and Souldiers that 's a Relation of Imitation Abimelech to his Souldiers Iudg. 9. 49. Christ is our General and Captain Heb. 2. 10. Iosh 5. 14. 3. That of Father and Children Children should imitate their Parents not in every thing many Parents would lead their Children to Hell should they follow them The Apostle argues upon this ground this duty Eph. 5. 1. 2. 'T is one end of Christs Incarnation There are in reference to man two principal ends of Christs Incarnation for in reference to God his main end was Eph. 1. 6. One was to reconcile God and man by his obedience and suffering and so to bring in everlasting righteousnes The other was that he might set us an example for our Imitation 1 Pet. 2. 21. that there might be found a perfect Pattern of grace and holiness in our natures Now unless we imitate his example we shall as much as lyeth in us frustrate one end of his incarnation 3. 'T is the highest pitch of spiritual perfection 'T is the duty of every Christian to grow up to as great a height as he can in grace and holiness Christians are as Trees which from a small graff grow up to a great stature vid. Mat. 5. ult 'T is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of simiâ—itude not of equality Now the very top of this perfection stands in this that we be like Christ There is a threefold likeness of Christ A likeness of nature so we are all like him A likeness of glory that is reserved for Heaven of which the Apostle 1 Ioh. 3. 2. A likeness of Grace which consists in the renewing of the mind and in walking after this holy Pattern This is the very Apex of that poor imperfect perfection which we can reach to here Greg. Nyssen defines Christianity to be Imitationem Divinae Naturae Qui plus habet Christi plus habet Christianitatis so doth the Apostle also Phil. 3. 10. 4. There is no other perfect Pattern to walk by while we are in this World All men either give us a bad example or else an imperfect example There are two things which make a perfect pattern First That it have exactness of every thing which should be required Secondly That it have no blemish or redundancy of any thing which should not be Now there is no such Pattern besides Christs example The Scripture indeed calls upon us to follow the example of the Saints the Apostle propounds his own example Phil. 3. 17. but there are these limitations 1. We must not imitate them in all things because they had graces in imperfection and because they had obliquities and deformities as well as graces That which is said of Books is as true as men in every thing else Etiam in optimis Authoribus quaedam vitia Moses was not without his murmuring David had his Adultery Peter his denyal These are recorded to be as Shelfs of caution not Copies of Imitation we must follow these only in their reflections and sparks of piety 2. We must not follow the example of any one of them alone because there was in no one of them a compleat Pattern of all grace God scattered his graces among the Saints one was more eminent in one grace a second in another c. Moses for meekness Job for patience Paul for contentment c. This God did to preserve the Communion of Saints as the Apostle speaks in another case 1 Cor. 12. 8. but now we may follow Christs example without any of these limitations for there is in him 1. A full concurrence of all graces compleatly Cont. 5. 10 11. ad finem Col. 1. 19. 2. There is no obliquity in him No spot Cant. 5. 16. The Saints are like the Moon the best of them have a dark side as well as a bright who is she that looketh as the Moon Cant. 6. 10. Christ is as the Sun which is all light without the least spot 5. The Saints are the Image of Christ therefore they ought to walk as he walked As the shadow followeth the substance Christians are as it were the shadow of Christ And the goodness of all the actions and works which we perform doth not stand in the substance of the work but in relation and conformity to the Rule and Example by which they are done Information 1. That 't is the duty of every 1. Use Christian to know and to be acquainted with the life of Christ he that is ignorant of what Christ did cannot possibly walk as he walked What a sad condition are they in who having but one Copy to write after are altogether without the knowledge thereof 2. What a great blessing it is that God hath given unto us the Gospel and with what care and diligence should we bend our selves to the study of it for Christs Example is
It was suitable to his condition he having taken upon him the form of a Servant by taking our Nature upon him Phil. 2. 7. it was meet that he should be humble He came not to be ministred unto but to minister Mat. 20. 28. He was in statu humiliationis as he stood in our stead and it was necessary that his carriage should be suitable to his state 2. He was full of every grace John 1. 14. He was full of the Spirit 3. To teach his Disciples both the twelve 1 Pet. 2. 21. that followed him in the flesh and all others after them how they should carry themselves in the World John 13 14 15 16. Third thing is the Use I will only make one That we would all endeavour to walk as Christ walked in this regard We live in a proud age Christians were never swollen bigger either with corporal or spiritual pride than now they are as though they were not Disciples of Christ but Disciples of Lucifer Hardly is there a foolish garish fashion in the World but it s taken up if not invented by Professors of Religion The Apostle would not have Christians to be conformed unto the World Rom. 12. 2. but most Christians study nothing more than this comformity This flag of pride is not displayed any where larger then in the houses and hearts of those who would be accounted most eminent in Christianity Solomon speaks of such a generation Prov. 30. 13. if ever such a Generation lived upon Earth it lives in the present age The Servants of Christ in former ages walked in another posture they were little in their own eyes See what Abraham saith Lord I am but dust and ashes Gen. 18. 27. God calls him the great man Isa 41. 2. See what Jacob saith Gen. 32. 10. I am lesse c. See what Asaph saith Psal 73. 22. I am even as a Beast before thee Wise Agur what he saith of himself Prov. 30. 10. See what Paul saith I am lesse then the least of all the Apostles I am as one born out of due time 1 Cor. 15. 8 9. And in another place lesse then the least of all Saints Ephes 3. vers 8. In another place The chiefest of sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. David 2 Sam. 7. 18. The Publican Luk. 18. Lord be merciful to me a sinner But what is the Language of Christians now just like that in Esay 65. 5. Stand by thy self come not near me I am holier then thou We may say as he did when he read the Gospel Aut hoc non est Evangelium aut nos non sumus Evangelici The Apostle foretells of the sins of the last days 2 Tim. 3. Pride and high-mindedness are two of those sins Surely that Prophesie is calculated for the meridian of our time They are the two sins of our age what else meanes the bleating of the sheep c. 1. Why else comes it to passe that there is such distance amongst the people of God why such with-drawings one from another Too much pride and too little love is the cause of Schisme Solomon tells us Only by pride comes contention Prov. 13. 10. If contention be the child of pride surely we are guilty 2. Why are Christians of low parts so much despised Is it not for want of humility vid. Phil. 2 3. 3. Why else do men thrust themselves from their private Callings into the Ministery Is it not because of pride They think too well of themselves certainly vid. Psal 131. 1. 4. Why do men sleight the plain wholsom truths of God 5. Why will not men come under the Government of Christ 'T is for want of lowliness of heart Our Saviour hints it in this Text where he puts lowliness of heart and the taking of his yoak together other things are pretended but pride is at the root Be instructed therefore as the Apostle exhorts Col. 3. 12. to put on humbleness of mind Be ye cloathed with humility 1 Pet. 5. 3. Consider your Master as in other respects so in this Phil. 2. 3 4. If you will not be like Christ in his humility you shall not be like him in his exaltation Having fallen upon this necessary subject I shall 1. Presse you by some Motives to this grace 2. I shall lay down some Directions or helps to attain to it 1. Motive From the mischief and danger of pride of heart The danger of high-mindedness will appear in two things 1. It brings men into many sins 2. It brings them into many punishments There are 11. mishapen births of Pride Pride of heart doth beget many sins viz. 1. It will not patiently suffer the word of rebuke neither private from Christian friends nor open rebuke from the publick Ministry Pride will not bear reproof but will rage at it It s a great mercy to be reproved and rebuked for sin Rebuke an Ordinance of God Lev. 19. 17. Pearles Matth. 7. 6. Prov. 10. 17. Ezech. 3. 26. Cap. 12. 1. Cap. 15. 10. David prayes for it Let the righteous smite me it shall be as precious balm Psal 141. 5. But Pride in the heart will make the spirit fret and rise against home-reproofs and against the reprover also Esa 29. 21. Reproofs are veritates mordaces and a proud heart cannot bear them Proud Ahab cannot bear the reproofs of Micajah 1 King 22. 8. Proud Amaziah storms at the rebukes of Amos the Land is not able to bear his words Amos 7. 10. The proud men were they who raged at the reproof of Jeremiah Cap. 43. 2. A humble heart lies open to rebukes for sin will pray for them and bless God when it comes home to his Conscience c. Prov. 9. 8. 2. Pride of heart it will incline them to envy the graces of God in other men A proud person hates and malignes every one who out-strips and out-shines himself he cannot bear either an equal or superior It s a duty to rejoyce in and to blesse God for the excellent gifts and graces of other men Moses did well Would all the Lords People were Prophets Numb 11. 29. Joshua he is a little troubled at it Moses rejoyceth high-minded men are very apt to sleight and grieve and repine at other mens eminency which is a very great sin A proud man is glad to see others eclipsed that he may shine the clearer Yea it s his ingeny and disposition to be blotting and disparaging others to make himself the more glorious Now what a fearful sin is this to hate and despise men for their goodness 3. It will incline a man to be glad at the sins and slips and miscarriages of others It s a very great sin to rejoyce in iniquity 1 Cor. 13. 6. 'T is a very diabolical thing to be delighted to see others fall into sin or into misery It cannot stand with grace 'T is Satans great work and design Now he that is proud in heart is easily tempted to this sin 4. It inclines a man to
vers 2 2. ad 34. wherein we might observe many things 4. The miraculous healing of divers diseased persons in the Land of Gennesaret by the touch of his Garment vers 34. ad finem The words which I have read fall within the third general part And they are a discovering of the employment of our Saviour in the absence of the multitudes of his Disciples He went up into a Mountain apart to pray In which we have two things 1. The Act of Devotion prayer 2. The accommodation for this duty He went up into a Mountain apart Christ had several places of prayer sometimes a Mountain sometimes the desert c. Any place is fit for prayer if the heart be in frame 1 Tim. 2. 8. Put them together and this is the lesson Doct. That our Lord Jesus Christ was very frequent in the duty of private and solitary prayer He was frequent in publick prayer and other publick Ordinances witness his frequent resorting to the Synagogues Matth. 12. 9. Mar 1. 21. insomuch that Luk. 4. 16. its said â—â—at He went as his custom was into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day He did not neglect the publick nor did he omit the private neither as will appear by several Texts of Scripture besides this Mark 6. 46. where the same History is related Luk. 5. 16. when the same of his miracles began to be noysed abroad he withdrawes himself to private prayer Luk. 6. 12. when he ordained his 12 Apostles he spends the whole night before in private prayer And before his passion he was much in this duty so all the Evangelists agree Matth. 26. 36. 39. 42. 44. Luk. 22. 32. 44 45. John 17. per totum His life was a life of prayer In the prosecution of this Doctrine I shall 1. Shew why Christ prayed at all 2. Why he prayed privateâ—y 1. Christ did not pray in regard of want as we do we are alwayes wanting something therefore have constant need of prayer but our Saviour wanted nothing Col. 1. 19. all fulness was in him fulness for himself and fulness for others fulness of the Vessel and fulness of the Fountain He indeed took our nature upon him and so our wants He did not pray because he wanted but because he would pray therefore he would want 2. Christ prayed in reference unto precept and command Prayer is a duty enjoyned of God unto all Christians It s a special piece of Gods worship It s an Act of Adoration Prayer gives unto God the glory of many of his Attributes viz. of his wisdom Power Providence Omniscience And if we should be under no wants yet we should pray It s our sin that we look more at necessity then at duty Now in this respect Christ prayed He being made man under the Law it was necessary that he should stoop to every command thereof 3. Christ prayed to honour prayer Prayer is a very great priviledge as well as a duty Though there were neither necessity to move us nor command to enforce us yet the very dignity and Prerogative were enough that dust and ashes should be admitted into such familiar acquaintance and converse with God this is a great advancement Jesus Christ he honoured prayer by performing it but we are exceedingly honoured by prayer Christ therefore to preach up the worth of this duty was so frequent in it to make us in love with it 4. Christ was Os Ecclesiae the Mediator of the Church our intercessor and high Priest ergo prayer was a very principal part of his mediatorious office and work He was no lesse meritorious when he lay praying in the Garden than when he hung upon the crosse of his passion There are two parts of Christs Priestly Office Satisfaction Intercession He began his Intercession on earth he continues it still in Heaven There is great difference between his prayer in Heaven and his prayer on Earth That is only the prayer of intercession this was also the prayer of supplication vid. John 17. I pray for them whom thou hast given me out of the World c. 5. Christ prayed for our Imitation ut Magister noster that he might teach us to pray Audis Christum orantem saith Austin Disce orare Ideo Christus oravit ut doceret te crare As the Apostle speaks of his sufferings that they were for our imitation leaving us an example that we should follow his steps 1 Pet. 2. 21. Hereupon one well descants upon this Orat miserecordia Tacet miseria Orat innocentia silet impietas Orat is qui non fecit peccatum silet peccator Orat medicus cessat agrotus Orat Judex ut parcat silet reus The Physician prayes to teach the Patient his duty the Judge prayes that he may excite the guilty and condemned sinner to do his duty Mercy is upon her knees to teach misery to bow Vid. Luk. 11. 1. 6. Christ prayed to sanctifie his other performances his preaching his miracles Our Saviour knew well that its prayer which renders other things efficacious Hence it is that we finde prayer following his preaching and his miracles His preaching so it is in Luk. 5. 16. Vid. vers 1. it was after his preaching and so after his miracles so in the Text he had wrought a great work in the sight of the people and afterward he betakes himself to prayer Our Saviour would not have either his Sermons or miracles to fall to the ground ergo he prayes when he ordained his Disciples and sent them abroad to preach the Gospel he spends a whole night in prayer beforehand Luk. 6. 12. Our Saviour was much in publick works Ergo frequent in prayer Every Creature of God is sanctified by the word and prayer saith the Apostle Christians miscarry in other performances ordinarily for want of this duty The Seed sowen doth not prosper for want of the watring of prayer 2. Why Christ used private prayer 1. Obedience to divine Command God hath enjoyned Christians not only the publick but the private also Families apart and their Wives apart Zech. 12. 12 13. Closer-prayer is commanded as well as Church-prayer Matth. 6. 6. Enter into thy Closet As this made him pray so it made him to pray privately to honour private prayer 2. Christ goes apart to pray that he might not be observed He hath given others a Rule and he walks by it himself Matth. 6. 6. Our Saviour did earnestly despise and decline vain glory He did many miracles in private that they might not be known and he prayes in private that he might not be seen of men that he might avoid all ostentation and shews of popular applause 3. That he might not be interrupted in the duty Our Saviour would not be disturbed in prayer therefore he goâ—s apart secresie is an advantage in regard of distraction It is granted that our Saviour could prevent distractions when he was in the greatest concourse of people As he was never simply alone because the Father was
useful to men This Consideration hath put forward the servants of Christ to use all diligence vid. 2 Pet. 1. 12 13 14. And this also made our Saviour so careful vid. John 13. 1. 3 4. c. in a particular case 5th Resol Our Saviour knew the worth and preciousness of time therefore he would not lose one moment He was acquainted with the rareness of opportunity what a Jewel it is 'T is true he could make opportunity whensoever he pleased He was the Lord of time and opportunity But being man as we are he would teach us how to husband time and how to lay hold upon and improve opportunity when t is offered He hath given men a Command to redeem time Eph. 5. 16. And by his own example he will put us upon the work and shew us the worth of opportunity Use of this Doctrine is two fold Conviction Exhortation 1. Vse Conviction and reproof 1 To those who are not able patiently to bear any such discourse from others Many there are who are in a Prison or little-ease when they are in the company of such as would gladly speak something of God They use all their endeavours to silence such language The discourse of Christ and salvation and grace c. these are as smoak to the eyes and Gravel stones to the Teeth unpleasant bitter undelightful They are soon weary of such conference either that must be laid asleep or else they must be withdrawn Vain and unprofitable discourse merry stories discourse about novelties c. in this they can willingly spend dayes c. but conference about things Heavenly makes them very melancholy and heavy There is nothing which discovers a heart more unlike to Christ then this He was never pleased better nor so well as when he was speaking of Heaven c. and they are never discontented more then when they are hedged in with such Discourse Such as these would have been marvellous unfit to have attended upon Christ when he was on Earth and they are as unfit and more for Heaven There is nothing but the Language of Canaan speaking of God and admiring of him discourse which their souls account very unsavoury 2 Others there are who not only neglect this duty but on the contrary are very destructive and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 corrupt in their private discourse they speak but things as do putrifie the hearts heads and lives of the hearers The Apostle speaks of some words which are not only unprofitable but also do subvert the hearers 2 Tim. 2. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Apostle speaks 2 Tim. 3. 6. to some who creep privily into houses and by their private conference do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 instead of edifying them in the faith they lead them headlong to error c. Jesus Christ never came into any house but all the Family were or might have been better for him others their private conference is only to tempt men to sin and profaneness c. to quench their zeal to take them off from godliness These are not the members of Christ they walk not like their Master Christs Discourse was of Heaven and the Scriptures c. their discourse is about sin and wickedness c. what the Apostle saith of some in his time concerning their private actions that they did such things as was even shame to speak of Eph. 5. 12. we have cause enough to say concerning many in our dayes c. every place where they come keeps some infection receives prejudice from them 3 It blames the best of us all for our dissimilitude to Christ in this respect where is the Christian much regards this duty How unprofitably are many houres spent in private Communion even by the Servants of God wherein there is scarce a word spoken for God or which may edifie The Servants of God heretofore were otherwise minded They spake much one to another about the things of God Mal. 3. latter end God was set up in the hearts of Luk. 24. 14 15. one another c. But now even many of Gods own people have as little of God and Religion in their occasional conversings as other men This is one reason why the power of godliness is so much abated c. to what it was in former times What 's the reason of this neglect 1. Pride may be one hindrance some have high parts they will not stoop 2. Want of heavenliness of minde and largeness of affection to spiritual things Christians are grown more worldly then heretofore 3. Want of affection one to another There is not that care in Christians one towards another and one over another which should be Whatever the cause be 't is utterly a fault and that which Satan rejoyceth at 2d Use Exhortation Let every one who abideth in Christ walk in this as Christ walked 1 John 2. 6. Improve your private converse with men for their good Edifie one another Never meet together but let something be said and done that may tend to Gods honour and the good of men Supporting words to the weak reproving sin c. comforting words to the distressed c. set up God where you come c. I would I could say something to perswade you to it Consider two things are much omitted by the godly frequent meetings and improvement of meetings 1 The things of God and salvation are of the greatest worth and moment There is no other thing so absolutely necessary as these things Indeed there is nothing so deserving of your time as the things of God are One houres time is of greater value then the World time is too precious to be consumed with other discourses If the worth of it were known it would be improved A Christians breath is too good to be wasted about other things vid. Luk. 10. 42. Mary gets to Christs feet resolves to have something out of him 2 This is the only way to make society honourable and comfortable This is the chief and principal end of Communion Take away this and there is not much difference between the society of Christians and Beasts They can eat together and drink and they can walk together c. I am sure take away this and there is no advantage more from the society of Christians then of other men This sweetens society 3 God takes notice and especial regard of such discourse vid. Mal. 3. 16. They lived in dayes of trouble and distress when prophaneness was promoted c. and they when they met together used to exhort and comfort one another c. and God hearkens to them and makes them a gracious promise They shall be mine c. and I will spare them as a man spareth his own Son that serveth him 4 God will call all men to account for the improving of their Communion with others God never casts his people into any Company or society but he either sends them to deliver something from him to others or to receive something
Brethren Rev. 12. 10. We may see by his suggestions against Iob Cap. 1. 10. Cap. 2. 4. As fast as he brings Accusations in so fast doth thy Advocate cast them out vid. Zech. 3. 1 2 3 4. When Satan shewes to God the filthy Garments of thy pollution then doth Christ shew the glorious Garments of his righteousness and so non-suites Satan presently and casts out the Bill And this thou mayst the rather be confident of because he is alwayes present in the Court Nothing can be entered or done without his knowledge He lives for this very work Heb. 7. 25. He is yet in the habit of the High Priest vid. Rev. 1. 13. He hath his Robe on him and his curious Girdle even now in Heaven Steephen sees him in his mediatory posture standing at the right hand of God Acts 7. 56. 3d Use Exhortation 1. That you would believingly and fiducially trust Iesus Christ with all your concernments He is able and besides he is faithful Cast all your cares upon him and that without wavering vid. 1 Pet. 5. 7. venture all upon him It was spoken to the Church in scattered times So Psal 55. 22. There are many burdens 1. A burden of sin 2. A burden of duty 3. A burden of suffering 4. A burden of success Throw all these upon him boldly 2 Make that use which the Apostle commands vid. 1 John 2. 6. Let us be like to him in faithfulness let us be faithful to God to men to our selves in all matters of trust reposed in us It was the honour of Jesus Christ that Righteousness was the Girdle of his loyns and faithfulness the Girdle of his reyns Esa 11. 5. Let us get this Girdle about us Faithfulness is one of Christs Names Rev. 19. 11. Let it be our Name also As we are Christiani à Christo so let us be fideles from him who is Faithful 1 We are fallen into unfaithful times Necessity of urging this Doctrine threefold Davids Complaint may be ours Psal 12. 1. or the Prophets complaint Mich. 7. 5. Every Brother is a supplanter Treachery is one of the last dayes sins 2 Tim. 3. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Every where you may hear sad complaints of unfaithfulness Masters complaining of their Servants People of their Ministers Subjects of Rulers Orphans of their Guardians Clients of their Advocates c. Jer. 9. 2. therefore very necessary to presse this Duty of fidelity 2 We all of us have some matter of trust reposed in us some way or other though some more then other yet all in some case or other some one Talent or other As we are Christians God hath trusted us with our souls a great trust life health time As we are particularly related something of trust is committed to us Ministers are trusted with peoples souls Magistrates they are trusted with the Lawes c. Governours of Families they are trusted with Children Servants c. There 's no man but he hath some Feoffeship or other Stewardship is committed to us all Ergo necessary And the lesse the trust the greater the treachery because its easie Your Prentices are trusted in your hands by their Parents for education nurture c. 3 We have all of us the same seed of unfaithfulness which is manifested in any who do betray their trust Ergo treacherous hearts in the best I shall handle this only in a general way And herein I shall 1. Shew you wherein fidelity consists 2. Give some Motives to it 3. Give some helps or meanes 1 Fidelity in discharging any Trust or Office hath these three things in it which makes it up viz. 1 All and every branch and piece of work belonging to that Office must be done respect must be had to every part of the Commission Equal respect These things ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone Universality in respect of the Object of the charge enjoyned You often read in Scripture of keeping the Charge Zech. 3. 7. Partiality overthrowes fidelity To instance in particulars A Minister that is faithful must deliver the whole Councel of God Acts 20. 27. He must teach every truth reprove every sin confute every error which is crept abroad in the age he lives in if he keep back any thing of that which he is enjoyned to deliver he is an unfaithful Minister vid. 1 Tim. 5. 21. A Servant who would be faithful must perform every piece of his Masters work if he do one thing leave another undone he proves unfaithful vid. 1 Sam. 2. 35. An Embassador that would be faithful must deliver the whole Message of him who sent him vid. 1 Sam. 3. 18. A Magistrate that would be faithful must discharge every piece of his Duty An Executor that would be faithful must fulfill the whole will of the Testator pay every debt discharge every Legacy perform every pious and charitable work An Agent or Factor who would be faithful must observe all his instructions pay every peny enjoyned deliver to him that employed him every peny he receives An Advocate must plead every part of the Cause urge every Argument c. look how far any part of our taske is omitted willingly so far we fail of fidelity 2 Fidelity must have diligence in acting and exactness in fulfilling what is undertaken All that is done must be done as well as is possible as seasonably as can be with all the skill strength knowledge we have or can attain to A Minister that is faithful must not only preach every truth confute every error reprove every sin but he must do it convincingly as powerfully as fully as he can A Servant must do his Masters work as carefully perfectly as he can To this purpose is required a very diligent use of all meanes helps to fit a person for his employment undertaken that he may be able to mannage it with all exactness and dexterity vid. Gen. 24. 33. He would not eat till he had delivered his Embassage So Jacob Gen. 31. 6. and vers 40. Let him who hath an Office wait upon his Office vid. Rom. 12. 7 8. A man may be as guilty of an unfaithfulness in a careless and negligent doing as in a total and careless omission As good never a whit as never the better vid. 1 Reg. 20. 33. and 2 Cor. 8. 23. Faithfulness is set out by diligence we have often proved diligent in many things 3 All that which is done must be done out of a sincere respect and love to him that hath intrusted and to those for whom we are intrusted and employed Self-seeking and faithfulness have no agreement they are not consistent If an Embassador discharge all his trust and that with all exactness yet if he aim not at the honour of him who sent him but at his own honour he is not a faithful Embassador If a Minister be exact in discharging his whole trust yet if he aym at his own applause profit c and not at Gods
he had no where to lay his head yet he had Servants the Disciples were his Servants and as he did in all other respects carrie himself as a faithful Master to them so was he not negligent in teaching them the things of God We shall finde our Saviour verie careful of them in this respect he taught them to pray Luk. 11. 2. And upon everie occasion he was dropping Religious knowledge and Instruction upon their souls he did not only preach publiquely to them as he did to others but in secret also and in private his use was to repeat what he had preached in the publique Assemblie with Explanation as need required when he had reproved the hypocritical and ceremonial washings used by the Pharisees before meales and had uttered an obscure passage Mat. 15. 11. we finde that vers 16 17. He interprets that Doctrine in private to his Disciples and makes them understand the meaning of it more perfectly Do ye not know c. That was in private vid. Mar. 7. 17 18. So Luk. 24. 25 26. c. to the two Disciples Mat. 24. 3 4. Mat. 13. 16. The Reasons are these 1 The Disciples were called to be Ministers of the Gospel Therefore it was necessarie they should be instructed Vid. Acts 1. 8. Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Judea and in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the Earth both that they might have fulness of knowledge and might learn willingly to answer scruples privately to any that should repair to them as well as preach in publick so Paul did Acts 20. 20. 2 It was out of sense and compassion to their ignorance Our Saviour knew how blind the heart of man is by Nature to receive the things of God and he had often had experience of his Disciples weaknesses in many things this made him so careful to use all diligence in instructing them and the rather also that he might convince them of their ignorance 3 To teach all Masters and Governours what their dutie is towards such as are under their charge and that they might by his example be helped forward to do their Duty Omnis Christi actio nostra instructio Christ intended mans information by all he did Vse 1. To exhort all persons who have a charge over others to imitate this Example 1 John 2. 6. Christ instructed his Servants and if thou wilt be a Christian thou must walk after thy Masters Example I would here 1 Give some Motives 2 Lay down some helps 3 Answer Objections 1. Motives are these six 1. Consider Gods strict command vid. Deut. 6. 6 7. The Law of God is indispensable every Israelite of God is absolutely bound to the performance Deut. 4. 9. Psal 78. 5 6. thereof Gods command is both the strongest reason and the highest Motive of any dutie and obedience is not pure and sincere till Dixit Dominus prevaile with us 2. Consider the practise of the Servants of God whose names are renowned and whose memories are precious in the book of God I will begin with Abraham Gen. 18. 19. David Pro. 4. 4. and so Bathsheba Pro. 31. 1. And it is not to be questioned but he also taught his Servants as well as his Children The Parents of Timothy they taught him the Scriptures of a Child 2 Tim. 3. 15. These are rare examples and Joshuah 24. 15. he could never have undertaken for himself and houshould had he not been an instructor of his houshould 3 Consider the benefit of it 1 Your Servants will never do your work faithfully if they be not instructed how to do Gods work Those are likely to have the best service from such as are under the charge who are most diligent to teach them their trade of Godlinesse Conscience is the surest and safest obligation in all the world and your servants will without doubt be faithfull to you if you can perswade them to do your duty to God 2 For your Children 't is the way to preserve and keep up the honour of your family There is a naturall desire in every man that his family may be renowned when he is laid in the dust T is Religion and Piety which builds up and keeps up the renown of Families Riches may be imbezeld and titles of honour may die but godlinsse and pietie can never die Isaacs pietie kept up the credit of Abrahams familie when he was in the dust Ishmael was rich but he was wicked Jacob preserved the memory of Isaac by his piety Esau had wealth but his wickednesse was a blot both to himself and his Fathers house It s just that God should curse that man in his posterity in his waies of Religion and its righteous with God that such Servants should become scourges to their Masters as have not been taught by them the knowledge of the Lord. 3 By informing of them which are under your charge you will informe your own souls He that whets the word of God upon his Servants and Children will with that whetting set a sharper edge upon his own affections By repeating a Sermon to others you will strengthen your own memories and warme your own hearts As iron sharpens iron so the heart of a man his friend Pro. 27. 17. 4 You may benefit the Church of God for many generations A good man would have the Church of God to flourish not onely while he lives but after his decease he would have generations to come to know and blesse the Lord. This is the waie to propagate Religion after thine own decease Children and Servants are likely to survive Masters and Parents And if they be not instructed and taught in their youth the next generation may for ought you know be atheisticall and paganish A good man layeth up an inheritance for his Childrens Children Pro. 13. 22. Thou doest not know in what place God may cast the lot of thy Children and Servants They may be instruments of spreading the knowledg of God in remote parts 5 Consider the many present Errours that are sprung up amongst us The firmament of our Church is filled and even darkened with the thick black smoak of profane and grace-destroying opinions And every one of your Children and Servants have a biasse upon their hearts which draweth them violently this waie they may bring the plague of Errors and Heresie into your families they may bring home the leaven of the Pharises and sadduces into your houses The best Antidote against this infection is frequent praier and instruction 5 Consider the great mischief of the ignorance of God and of his wayes together with the happiness of this knowledg 1 Without Knowledge the mind is not good Knowledge is the eie the Candle the Pilot of the soul A man without knowledge is like a blind guide is like a ship without a Pilot he is readie to stumble on every stone he is apt to run upon every Rock he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth