Selected quad for the lemma: earth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
earth_n	body_n	earthly_a	soul_n	2,499	5	5.3816	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96661	Mount Ebal levell'd or Redemption from the curse. Wherein are discovered, 1. The wofull condition of sinners under the curse of the law. 2. The nature of the curse, what it is, with the symptomes of it, in its properties, and effects. 3. That wonderful dispensation of Christs becoming a curse for us. 4. The grace of redemption, wherein it stands, in opposition to some gross errors of the times, which darken the truth of it. 5. The excellent benefits, priviledges, comforts, and engagements to duty, which flow from it. By Elkanah Wales, M.A. preacher of the Gospel at Pudsey in York-shire.	Wales, Elkanah, 1588-1669.	1658 (1658)	Wing W294; Thomason E1923_1; ESTC R209971	189,248	382

lighter skirmishes for having emptied himself of his glory so that he did not appear to be that which indeed he was and subjected himself to the state of a servant and so a meet object of suffering he became a man of sorrows all his life long Isa 53.3 compassed about with infirmity Heb. 5.2 as soon as he was born he was laid in a manger because there was no room for him in the Inne while he was very young he was persecuted and forced to flie into Aegypt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was tempted of Sathan Quod illud dictum civium satis arguit Usser Annal. per poster p. 552. he wrought for his living at the trade of his reputed father as it is more than probable by that speech of the Mazarenes Mar. 6.3 Is not this the carpenter c He was the object of mans reproach he was called a wine-bibber a friend of publicans and sinners an enemy to Caesar one that hath a devil he was subject to the infirmities which are incident to mankind as hunger thirst poverty he was betrayed by Judas forsaken by his disciples abused by the Jews mocked buffetted spit upon crowned with thorns accused arraigned condemned as the vilest malefactor In one word he was a worm and no man Psal 22.6 2. The main brunt it self was that he was struck with death The Sacrifice in the Law was to be slain the goat which was to be offered for a sin-offering for the people must be killed and the blood of it must be brought within the veil Lev. 16.15 The same courses as to killing was to be taken with the burnt-offering peace-offering and trespass-offering as we may see in the 1 3 5 6 7. chapters of Leviticus So it was prophesied Isa 53.12 he poured out his soul unto the death and elsewhere often Now this death which Christ did undergo was both of the body and soul 1. He suffered the death of the body called the first death this Gabriel the Angel revealed to the Prophet Daniel some 1006 years before Dan. 9.26 the Messiah shall be cut off the accomplishment whereof the stories of the Evangelists relate very largely Isa 53.8 Acts 8.33 his life is taken from the earth We by sin had deserved the first death the taking down of this earthly frame by the separation of the soul and body therefore Christ our surety must die that death for us the particular end of death which he should and did suffer was the death of the cross which was so designed and ordered by the all-wise counsel and providence of God both because it was very painfull and grievous and also because it was a most shamefull and ignominious death but especially because it was even by divine appointment stigmatized with this brand of infamy that whosoever was hanged on a tree was to be accounted ceremonially accursed as it is avouched in the close of the verse It was not necessary that he should suffer all the several sorts of death as stoning burning sawing beheading c. it was sufficient that he suffered that one kind of death which the wisdom of God saw to be most fit and suitable neither yet was it necessary that his death should be attended with such cruelties as some men have been enforced to suffer as pulling the flesh from the bone pinching it with hot pincers and the like These are rather personal than natural and meerly accidental not essential to the first death Therefore the legs of Christ were not broken and although his body was laid in the grave yet he saw no corruption because these infirmities did not consist with the dignity of his person and the latter would have made void the fruit and effect of his sufferings Therefore the Scripture declares both these to be contrary to Gods will See Jo. 19 33-36 Acts 2.31 2. He suffered the death of the soul or that which is called the second death Sin brought death into the world not onely that death which pulls down this earthly frame but also that which makes a wofull separation of the whole man from God Therefore the Lord Jesus must undergo this death too Isa 53.10 he made his soul an offering for sin And this death stood in these two things 1. There was a stoppage or withdrawing of the sense of his fathers love and favour from his soul This he complains of as a forsaking Psal 22.1 and it answers to that poena damni punishment of loss which we should suffer But we must understand this to be done in such manner and measure as becomes the person suffering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it was not a pulling the Godhead from the manhood this union continued entire all the time of his sufferings and shall do to all eternity Neither was it a deprival of the spirit wherewith his humane nature was filled even from the womb that did still abide in him and shall never be taken away from him according to that precious promise Isa 59.21 which I conceive must be fulfilled first in him and then in his seed with him Neither was it a total or perpetual withdrawing but onely in part and for a time the Lord turned away his face from him for a little season he hid himself out of his sight and would not be found he took off the sweet influence of the joy and comfort of the spirit suspending them for a time and keeping off from him at a great distance Psal 22.1 yet all this while God was present with him by his supporting grace so that he had some intermissions and an Angel came to comfort him Luke 22.43 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and he was heard in that he feared H●b 5.7 or he was heard from his feare that is he was heard and delivered 2. There was a letting out and seizing of the Lords wrath and indignation upon his soul God did put into his hand a cup of the red wine of his wrath full of the mixture of the bitterest ingredients and he drank it off This answers to that p●na sensus punishment of pain which we should suffer All the waves of Gods displeasure went over his head See Psalm 18.4 5. 88.6 7 16 17. This supernatural death he suffered in both the kinds before mentioned first in the garden and after that on the cross In the garden Mat. 26.36 John 18.1 there the wrath of God did encounter him and he was put to grapple with it hand to hand he bare three several storms one after another and so took a deep draught of this bitter cup. The manner of it is described by sundry expressions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mark 14.33 he began to be sore amazed which notes a dreadfull astonishment arising from a sudden commotion of all the powers of his soul together and to be very heavie that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be surprized and possessed with a very great and pressing anguish of spirit through the unspeakable horrour of divine

of peace and salvation to the lost world but every mothers childe of us had continued in the bond of iniquity and had suffered the extremity of the curse in our own persons for ever For this is the very next bottome whereupon all Gospel-grace and whatsoever is necessary to the salvation of sinners doth stand and as it were the soul from which it hath both being and breathing The excellency of the cause hath a strong influence into the effect to make it excellent also If we look upon the nature and frame of man in the first Creation his body curiously wrought out of the dust of the earth his soul breathed into him from heaven to be both a living creature and made after the Image of God Gen. 1.26 2.7 and all this done with a word we cannot but say it is a very excellent and precious work David stands wondering at it Psal 139.14 15. How much more excellent and precious is the work of grace which is the fruit of Redemption our second Creation for the effecting whereof the Lord did not onely Let it be but as if that were not sufficient the second person must lay aside his glory and take upon him the form of a servant and not onely bear our nature but also our sin and curse even to the death Phil. 2.7 8. By this we should estimate the exceeding great worth of that grace which is brought unto us by the revelation of the Gospel If some good things of nature be precious much more are those of grace Deut. 33.1 c. Prov. 3.14 15. And if we cannot but wonder at some of the eminentest works of nature how much more cause have we to admire the beauty and glory of that great work of grace which the Apostle calls marvellous light 1 Pet. 2.9 See 1 Pet. 1.12 4 God will have a Church Although Adam and all his posterity revolted from God and ran away into the tents of Satan his utter enemy to his dishonour and their own ruine yet for all that he hath a designe to fetch back and recover a number of them to make them his own people and thereby to glorifie the riches of his grace towards them in an eminent measure Me thinks I hear the Lord speaking on this manner What hath the crooked Serpent of hell served me thus Hath he enticed Adam unto rebellion against me and cheated him into the curse of my Law Alas poor man I pitty thee that thou hast suffered thy self to be thus ensnared How art thou fallen from thy dignity Into what a gulf of perdition hast thou implunged all thy posterity Ier. 48.30 But I know Satan his pride his malice and his envy that he would not leave me a people on the earth to serve me I know his wrath but it shall not be so his lyes shall not so effect it I will take a speedy course to befool him in his own plot I will have a people that shall be for my praise in despite of him Having therefore predestinated from eternity a considerable number of this forlorn generation and finding them now among the pots covered all over with filth and shame through their Apostacy his infinite wisdome deviseth a way to recover them out of captivity He gives the Lord Jesus out of his own bosome tha● by taking upon him the curse due to them he might ransome them from the curse and separate them from the lost world which lyes in wickedness and under the power of Satan and so form them for himself that they might shew forth his praise Isa 43.21 These are the very matter whereof the Church consists I mean the invisible Church which may be defined a chosen company of the posterity of Adam whom God hath purchased with his own blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People Mat 16.18 and Nation to be a peculiar people to himself Act. 20.28 Rev. 5.9 Tit. 2.14 Thus out of the ashes of this ruined world God raiseth up to himself a glorious Phenix Eph. 5.26 A Church which shall never dye but shall be established for ever Psal 102.28 125.1 5 The Church is very dear and precious in the eyes of the Lord Jesus They are the purchase of his own blood and thereby are become his peculiar people The costliness of any commodity puts upon it a suitable preciousness endearing it to the person which bare the cost of it Jacob served a hard service for Rachel and that inhanced her worth in his heart and increased his love to her so that the dayes seemed to him but a few Gen. 29.20 Michal Davids wife cost him two hundred fore-skins of the Philistims 1 Sam. 18.27 A great adventure an high exploit This doubtless rendred her the more dear to him which appears by his peremptory requiring her after she was unjustly taken away from him and had been some years another mans wife Probably seven years 2 Sam. 3.13 14 c. Jesus Christ served a very hard service and wrought a very great exploi● that he might purchase unto himself a Church to be his Spouse and having compassed her with much difficulty he looks upon her as his Sister his Love his Dove his fair One yea all fair the fairest among women the One the onely One the choice One his heart is ravished with her Cant. 4.9 she is as the poor mans little Ewe Lamb that lay in his bosome and was unto him as a Daughter 2 Sam. 12.31 A Kingdome or City wonne in battel with confused noise Hephzibah Isa 62.4 Multo sanguine ac vulneribus ea victoria stetit and garments rolled in blood Isa 9.5 is so much more dear to the Conquerour because it cost so dear The Kingdome of heaven the City of the great King is conquered out of the the hands of Satan at a very dear rate It cost the Lord Jesus strong crying and tears yea much blood and many wounds therefore surely it is very near to his heart and precious in his sight Isa 43.4 6 The condition of the invisible Church and all the members of the Lords chosen people is incomparably happy They are the onely renowned Society in the world for they are the Lords Redeemed ones This glorious design when once it takes place in poor lost sinners and is laid in their bosomes puts them into a glorious estate We may say of the Church as Moses of Israel Deut. 33.29 Happy art thou who is like unto thee O people saved by the Lord c. That we may take the length and breadth of this happiness let us look upon Redemption in its 1 Properties 2 Benefits 3 Priviledges Sect. 2. Three properties of Redemption and three Benefits issue from it 1 REdemption by Christ hath these three excellent Properties 1 It s free and gracious As the Israelites sold themselves to their corporal enemies for naught so we became slaves to our spiritual enemies without price and as they so we are redeemed without

but what then is the curse of him who is the God of all people that 's but a flea-biting to this 2. It 's a grounded and authorative curse It hath a superscription and stampe of divine warrant upon it the power of heaven goes along with it which puts weight upon it and makes it heavie and bitter Elisha cursed the mocking children in the name of the Lord and that curse commissioned and enraged the 2 she beares to teare them in peices 2. Kin. 2.23.24 So the Law curseth the sinfull children of Adam in the name of the Lord and this curse armeth all Gods judgments against them The causles curse is contemptible it shall not come Pro. 26.2 But the Law of God finds abundant cause in the sonnes of men and therefore it curseth with authoritie and efficacie When a naturall father curseth his children as Noah Cham Gen. 9.25 And Jacob Simeon and Levi Gen. 49.7 This breaths out authority and therefore it strikes deep When the Pope curseth with bell book and candle as they say his seduced slaves which have received his marke tremble at it because they apprehend though falsly the authoritie of Christ himself to be in it how much greater cause of trembling is there when the father of the spirits who is God over all curseth transgressours 3. It 's an imp●●●iall and thorough-dealing curse it overtakes all sinners none can escape or avoyd it Cursed is every one that continueth not in al things c. vers 10. Before No abilitie of nature or religious priviledge or any excellencie whatsoever can possibly shelter or safeguard thee from it till thou arrivest at Jesus Christ We read of Levi that he knew not his father nor his mother nor his brethren nor his owne children Deut. 33.9 So the curse of the Law saith unto every one without exception I have not seen thee I doe not know thee it falls downe-right on all without respect of persons They use to picture Justice blind even the justice of humane Lawes so the justice of the divine Law is after a sort blind it can neither be bribed nor dashed out of countenance it cannot be swayed either by feare or favour it takes no notice of any by considerations which might turne it aside from it's right course Zach. 5.3 The flying roule goes over the face of the whole earth to cut of every one that stealeth and every one that swea●eth c. Yea it 's so impartiall that it will not spare or favour a justifyed person who is now under the wings of Christs blessing but will look grimly upon him and reach him some sharp lashes if it find him faultie or miscarrying 4. It 's a subtil and a spirituall curse it peirceth into the inwards and goes downe into the bowels of the bellie it can strike the very spirit of the sinner so that oftentimes when no curse appeares without yet then there is nothing but curse within when the outward man is compassed about with blessings the inward man lies in the midst of all evil yea is filled with the curse of God The bodie is fat and faire liking the bones flourish like an herb the Estate prospers their name is up no bands in their death c. but even then God sendeth leanness into their soules Psal 106.15 Their minds are more blinded their hearts more hardened their consciences more seared they are more crusted they grow more secure and uncapable of any good Lam. 3.65 Give them obstinacie of heart thy curse upon them Let their hearts be covered over as with a buckler to keep of every blow from Gods word or hand This is Gods curse on the heart so that while all things are so well composed without that they promise to themselves nothing but blessing yet even then the curse of God sits close on their spirits and ripens them insensibly for destruction 5. It 's a standing and abiding curse The Justice of God hath brought it so home and given it such a deep expression into the nature of man that it 's unremoveable No power either of man himself or of any or all the creatures in heaven or earth is able to take it off The sinfull soule under the curse of the Law is like to a prisoner bound hand and foot and throwne into the dungeon readie for execution he cannot loose the chaines nor get himself out he is sure for starting No power abilitie disposednes in or from the sinner himself can availe any thing towards the ridding of him from the jawes of the curse No footsteppe or possibilitie of help by or from the creature man or Angell to put to a little finger towards his release from it The flying Roule which enters into the house of the Theife and swearer must remaine in the midst of his house and consume it timber and stones and all Zach. 5.4 The wrath of God abides on the disobedient sinner Jo. 3.36 Time cannot wear it out Isa 65.20 If a remedie be tendered to the sinner he is utterly uncapable of it * 1 Cor. 2.14 He hath nothing which can concur with grace whereby to further his recovery in the least measure but contrariwise he fastens the curse more upon himself * Rom. 2.5 and runs more and more into the clutches of it and further still out of the reach of blessedness Lay all these things together and judge in your selves what cause we have to reflect sadly upon our selves and to lie downe in dust and ashes under the sence of our owne miserie as finding and knowing our selves to lie under the stroke of his great and terrible curse Woe is me for the lamentable ignorance and sottishnes of our people generally which sport and sing and walk merrily under this burthen as if they were the happiest creatures under the Sun But oh be convinced of it and put it not away from you any longer Why will you not acknowledge your selves to be such as the Lord and his Law have found and voted you to be will you goe about to make the Law a vaine thing and the Lawgiver a liar That thou canst never doe the word of the Lord endureth for ever let God be true and every man a lyar Come downe into the dust cast away thy plumess thy corrupt fancies of an imaginarie blessednes thou art really a cursed man Please not thy self in this Hell of thine as if it were an Heaven but be advised to take downe this unquestionable truth and know it for thy self that it may lie neer to thy heart and thou mayst be humbled under thy wofull condition Thus much of the 2d use Sect. 4. Use 3d 4th THirdly let us heare pause a while that we may consider and admire the wonderfull condescension of the Lords goodnes and wisdome towards the sonnes of men in that he doth so sweetly allay and mitigate the curse that it doth not poure out all it's furie upon us All the inhabitants of the world being

their breathing in the air treading on the earth and the like common favours are the fruits of Redemption Every Son and daughter of Adam is beholding to the grace of the Redeemer for their very lives and their reprival from the damnation of hell yea were it not for this the whole world might probably have been turned into a Chaos again It 's certain that this great visible fabrick with all the creatures in it both living and liveless Sun Moon Starres Elements Plants c. is subject to vanitie God hath subjected it in his just judgement for man's Apostasie So that it lies under the bondage of corruption the creatures have lost much of their beauty and virtue they are forced to do service to the servants of sin Matth. 5.45 The good things of the earth are put to bad uses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mundi partium in ea summus est consensus quod omnes una finem istorum malorum expectant Beza and imployed to the dishonour of the Creator Hos 2.8 under this heavy burthen they sigh yea they travel in pain and that together with joynt consent earnestly exspecting an end of these evils which shall be at the day of the general judgement when all things shall be restored Acts 3.21 and the children of God shall be possessed of full redemption The creature was made for man and as it became a sharer with him in the bondage of corruption so it shall be also according to its capacity in his deliverance and glorious liberty to come Rom. 8.19 20 c. How this shall be by what means and in what manner it is not easie to determine Some think by a total abolition of the substance and if it cease to be it ceases to be under bondage The most say by an alteration of qualities it shall be so changed as it shall seem to be not the same but another and the Scripture tells us that the heavens and earth that are now are reserved to be burnt with fire 2 Pet. 3.7.10 which say they So some expound Job 14.12 see Caryl on that text at large is meant of their purgation not their annihilation Howsoever it be for the manner the thing is without question the creature shall be delivered Now this priviledg flowes from the Redemption wrought by Christ For 1. As it was man's sin that brought the curse upon the creature so the taking away of the sin of man is the taking of the curse from the creature even as the restoring of a Traitor is the restoring of all that depends upon him 2. The present Liberty and glory of the sonnes of God is an effect of Redemption therefore so is the Liberty and glory which the creature shall enjoy with them this being an appurtenance to that and as the shadow to the body It behoves us to take notice of this for our selves It should sadden our hearts when we consider that the Creature fares worse through our Apostasie and yet it may rejoyce us that it fares better by our recovery But I have dwelt too long on the use of Information I shall therefore dismiss it and proceed to another CHAP. VII Use 3. Sect. 1. Consolation against sinnes old and new severally 3. THe Lords Redeemed may with joy draw up cordial waters of Consolation out of this well of salvation The former use hath afforded us much matter of refreshing having sent forth sundry crystal streames of comfort to make glad the city of our God Yet there is moee behinde The main Conclusion Isa 12.3 that Christ hath ransomed us from the curse by becoming a curse for us is a solid ground of consolation to poor sinners against sundry distempers or annoyances whereunto they are subject in this life as 1. Against sinne which may be considered 1. as it was in there old estate of bondage 2. as it is now in their restored condition 1. For the former The humbled soul looking back upon his old slavery under sin may conceive cause of discouragement by sundry aggravations of it which will present themselves unto him But the right understanding of this truth will afford him help against them I observe especially four 1. The greatness and heynousness of his sinnes in particular Oh saith he were mine iniquities of an ordinary size I could have hope but alas they are mighty ones like the great mountains some of them are of a deep die crying crimson scarlet sinnes outragious miscarriages they are gone over my head and reach up to the heavens But oh poor soul dost thou think that thy sinnes can be greater than Christs satisfaction or that he took upon him the curse of small sinnes Dicat terra redempta sanguine Magna iniquitas mea sed ma●or est redemptio tua Aug. 2 King 21.1 2 c. 16. and not of great ones Assuredly this is a mighty redemption a great salvation God made his power wonderfull in the work of Creation and he makes his mercy as wonderfull in this work of new creation Art thou a greater sinner then Manasseh Read his story where the Holy Ghost points him out in his black and ugly colours and tell me if thou didst ever hear of such a monster yet the fruit of this Redemption reached even unto him for upon his humiliation the Lord was intreated of him 2 Chron. 33.12 13. thy greatest sinnes are finite but the merit of Christ's redemption is infinite If some mountains were removed and hurled into the great Ocean it would swallow them up that they could not be seen So the Sea of Christs bloud will drown the huge mountains of thy iniquities Though thy sinnes be as scarlet thy Redeemer will make them white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool Isa 1.18 Oh then never lay the weight of thy guilt in the balance with Christs satisfaction never fear that that will overweigh this Thy surety hath made thy peace for the greatest as well as the smallest faults He was charged with thy most heinous crimes that thou mightest be delivered from the curse of them 2. The multitude and numerousnes of them Though I have not committed such greisly enormous sinnes as some others have done yet I have made that up in the number which is wanting in weight my transgressions are manifold yea innumerable more than the haires of mine head Psal 40.12 or the sands that are on the sea shore Be it so But dost thou think that they are more than Christs merits Hath he born in his body and made satisfaction for all the sinnes of all the Elect from Adam to the last man on earth and dost thou fear thy sinnes are so very many that this satisfaction cannot reach to take them away The Apostle comparing the guilt of the first sin with the free gift by Christ gives the preheminence to this in that the former brought condemnation for one but this latter brings justification for many offences Rom. 5.16 and

in Religion and in common conversation which they kept on foot from father to son as things of necessity and helps to holiness as standing by themselves in the Synagogue to pray by themselves Luke 18.11 that they might not be defiled by being near to sinners washing their hands to their very elbows lest some uncleanness had crept beyond the wrests before they eat washing of cups and tables and many other things in a superstitious imitation of their predecessors From this vain conversation they were redeemed by the blood of Christ and the grace of the Gospel taught them not onely to abandon the lusts of their former ignorance and the apparent breaches of the Law but also those foolish and unsavoury traditions Wilt thou now bring thy state and wayes to this Touchstone Thou hopest that thou art redeemed but canst thou shew us these tokens this resolution and endeavour Hast thou learned to cast away thy old iniquities Dost thou feel really a separation betwixt thy soul and thy formerly beloved sin If not thou deceivest thy self But observe further there be sundry by courses too usual not onely with the men of the world but those also that profess Religion some clearly sinful others at least groundless and unprofitable as communicating onely or necessarily at Easter coming to the Sacrament fasting as more holy dropping down to prayer in the Assembly in time of publick worship idle and unnecessary meeting in the Ale-house to drink shots for good-fellowship mixt dancing garish attire curious dressings flaring long haire Doing one ill turn for another Mat. 5 38 ●9 So did they and so do we these and the like practices are at the best but so many parcels of a vain conversation and if thy soul have truly tasted the sweetness of this precious benefit thou canst freely let them fall both out of thine heart and hands and say unto them Get you hence If thou hast no minde to part with them but holdest them fast and stretchest thy wit to plead for them I feare thou hast yet no portion in this benefit Sect. 3. Other three marks of interest in Redemption 4. SEparation from the world from the earth from men They are not of the world even as their Redeemer is not of the world Joh. 17.14 St. Paul doth solemnly profess that the world was crucified to him 1 Ioh. 5.4 and he to the world by the Cross of Jesus Christ Gal. 6.14 Those hundred forty four thousand which stood on Mount Sion with the Lamb are redeemed from the earth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and from among men Rev. 14.3 4. They are partakers of the Divine nature and so escape the corruption that is in the world through lust 2 Pet. 1.4 They are more excellent than their neighbours Prov. 12.26 Their designes desires delights aimes are higher than the earth they aspire above it On the contrary those that abide in their sin have their portion in this life Psal 17.14 And its one bad property of the enemies of the Cross of Christ that they minde earthly things Phil. 3.19 What saith thy heart to this Art thou carried up above the world Doth the earth and the things of it seem mean and base and vile in thine eyes Art thou in the frame and carriage of thy soul above the common pitch and scantling of the sons of men So that thou thinkest not willest not affectest not as they do but goest in an higher orbe thy conversation is more in heaven than in earth Phil. 3.20 This is a sweet evidence of a redeemed soul But art thou a friend to the world Is it thy Darling Do the profits pleasures Iam. 4.4 contentments of it allure and prevaile with thee to fall down and worship them and to devote thy self to their service Is the earth thine element Do the things of this life take up thy thoughts thy cares thy imployments so that thou art even drowned in them and thou hast not an heart that can savour things of a better life Dost thou walk as a man Are thy words actions aimes like thy neighbours Are they no better nor higher than other mens Why then it seems thou art still in thine old bondage 5. Walking in and after the Spirit The walk of the natural man who is the Devills bond-slave is in and after the flesh The corrupt wisdome of the old man which is enmity to God Rom. 8.7 is his light and the will thereof is the very life of his soul He hath neither light nor life within him available to salvation the instinct and dictatings of his fallen nature carry him on in his whole course But when the grace of Redemption is brought home to the soul and the Son hath set him free then the Spirit of the Son who of a slave hath made him a Son doth animate act lead and guide him all along in the residue of his conversation according to that remarkable promise Ezek. 36.27 and the Apostles grave Aphorisme Rom. 8.14 The flesh abiding in him will be still lusting against the Spirit and drawing him out of his way but his frame bent desire and constant endeavour is to be at the direction and appointment of the Spirit in all his wayes He looks upon the flesh as a very bad guide and not to be trusted therefore if at any time he be misled by it when he perceives it he turns away from it with sorrow for his folly It is the Spirit of God which he chuseth for his guide unto it speaking in the word he repairs continually for counsel and resignes himself up to follow it in all things This is the signal evidence which the Apostle gives of those that are freed from condemation by Jesus Christ and he makes it out upon this ground Because the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath freed them from the law of sin and death Rom. 8.1 2 3. When the Angel of the Lord had rowsed up Peter in the prison and caused the chaines to fall off from his hands he gave him a command to follow him Peter being now set at liberty goes after him from one place to another Act. 12.7 8. c. Even so when the Spirit of God hath loosed a sinner from his bonds by setling upon him the benefit of Redemption he is then fit and ready to walk after the same Spirit from one stage of duty to another As in Ezekiels Vision the Spirit that was in living creatures acted the wheels to go when they went and to stand when they stood Ezek. 1.19 20 21. So the members of Christ are carried on by the breathings of his Spirit dwelling in them in all their wayes But take notice that it is not a private spirit but the Spirit of God speaking in the word not a spirit opposed to the Scriptures but the Spirit speaking in the Scriptures which is the Guide whom the Redeemed follow The word of God revealed in them is the breathing and voice of

lawfull selflove in your breasts if you have not wholy abandoned all compassion of your selves and are become your own enemies be awaked from your sloth and look about you Do you thus requite the Lord Jesus O foolish people and unwise Is not he thy father Rom. 7.9 that hath bought thee Rather let my counsel be acceptable to you in these few particulars 1. Give way to the Light and authority of the Law in the ministry of it to bring thee to a thorough conviction of thy misery and extream need of the help of their Redeemer Think it not sufficient that the Law hath lent thee light enough to say All men are sinners and so to wrappe thy self in gross with them and to be content to be reckoned among them seeing thou canst not avoid it but bring it home to thy conscience believe thy self to be his accursed sinner and say I am the man Imprison not the truth in unrighteousness but let it so overpower thy soul that thou mayest be no longer able to resist it but mayest yield thy self into the arrest of God's justice that the spirit of bondage may cause thee to fear the curse and wrath of God and thou mayest lie slain Deut. 32.6 and dead in thy self utterly unable to recover thy self and therefore helpless and hopeless as to thy self or any thing in the world Let the Law have its free course to work thee into this frame When the Lord meane's to apply the ransome to a poor sinner for his deliverance from the pit he first open's his ears and scale's his instruction that he may hide pride from him Job 33 17.-24 If thou be wise thou wilt meet the Lord in this way though it be unpleasant yet it is profitable But if thou either continuest dead and blockish under the discoveries of the Law or favourest thy self in thy sloth and ease or liftest thy crests in confidence of the safety of thy condition there is no hope for the present of any saving good towards thee And yet alas how is the Spirit of the Law straitened in these sad times Our people will not suffer it to come near them much less to master them If any thing be offered them in way of conviction they either drown it in their cups or sing it away in merry Jiggs or laugh it out of countenance or at the best suffer it to wear off and to die in their hands But in the fear of God beware of these things I tell thee thou mayest be quite dismounted and cast down at the Lords feet All wayes must be block'd up whereby the carnal heart may take occasion to nourish hope of escaping out of this prison 2. Being at this loss advisedly resolve not to abide in this condition but to make hast out of it Say to thy self O my soul Where in what case art thou It 's no tarrying here It 's too hot to be under the curse in the flames of hell Who can dwell with the devouring fire with everlasting burnings Isa 33.14 Search enquire ask counsel Go to the ministers of Christ and say unto them as these Acts 2.37 Men and brethren what shall we do and the Jaylour Acts 16.30 Sirs what must I do to be saved They are the messengers of the Lord of hosts their lips should preserve knowledge and you must seek the law at their mouths Mal. 2.7 Their office is to publish this ransome and to declare unto the humbled sinner his righteousness in pronouncing him delivered by virtue of that Ransome Job 33.23 24. But oh alas if there be a Minister in the Town an Interpreter one that is willing according to the measure of the gift bestowed on him to reveal the counsel of God to poor sinners how long may he sit at home before any of his neighbours will knock at the door to tell him that they are wretched prisoners under the Curse and know not how to get out yea although he be accounted one of a thousand scarcely four persons in a whole twelve-moneth will come to him travelling under their burthen and propounding such questions as these Oh how shall I get from the Curse of the Law who shall draw me out of this woful dungeon wherein I ly Truly this speaks sad things to such a people and testifies against them that they are seared in their consciences and sealed up unto condemnation 3. Fall down before the glorious Majestie of the great Lawgiver the Lord of heaven and earth as forlorne prisoners and condemned Slaves Spread your case before him by a free and full Confession ripp up the bowels of that darkness and death that sinkhole of hell that lies in your souls Tell him in what a desperate state thou art deal plainly seriously and sincerely leave no covert or shelter or figg-leaf to hide thy self under but lay thy soul bare and naked before him Let thy Laughter be turned into mourning James 4.9 and in the sence of thine undone condition crie mightily as the prisoner at the barre for mercy and deliverance Ionah 3.9 who can tell but that the Lord will returne and have compassion on thee that thou perish not in the hands of the Curse When Saul was stricken down to the earth by a light and voice from heaven and stood before the Lord trembling and astonished he forthwith falls to this work Lord saith he What wilt thou have me to do as if he should say Lord thou hast overcome I must yield what shall I do in this exigent If thou wilt shew me thy minde and the way which I should go Lo I am here willing to obey Acts 9.3 4 c. and the Lord speaking of him to Ananias mentions it as a thing very remarkable even with a starre in the forehead Behold See Iob 3● 26 he prayeth verse 11. And certainly If the Spirit of bondage hath brought the Curse close home to thy soul and caused it to sting thee to the purpose thou wilt not be restrained but thy chamber and closet and every corner where thou canst have Libertie to disburden thy self will be witnesses of thy complaints and petitions and thou wilt let the Lord see that thou art in good earnest But wo is me while our people continue so sottish and prophane and their hearts so unaffected with their misery that they cannot bow nor bend they have neither expressions nor affections of prayer it is no marvel if the grace of Redemption lie altogether neglected Restraint of prayer argues security Iob 15.4 If the bankrupt debtor be so stout and stiff that he will not fall down and beseech his Creditor to have patience and compassion on him he may lie by it who can pittie him 4. In the mean time take notice that there is a Ransome paid for sinners by Jesus Christ that he hath taken upon him the Curse to buy them out from it Take it for granted and write upon it as unquestionable that redemption is feasable

not my mountain stands strong I can manage all things my self my welfare is in mine own hands When thy soul is filled with comfort by the light of Gods countenance lifted up upon it do not now trust thy self with thy spiritual happiness say not I shall carve so for my self as it shall be ever thus with me but lean upon thy Redeemer as the soveraign disposer of all thy concernments Psal 138.8 Especially look to this in the dayes of adversitie or danger by afflictions of soul or body then thou shalt be put to it thrust thy self under the wings of thy Saviour and deliver up all thine interests into his hands who hath bought thee for himself and will not see thee miscarry Is there any person or creature in heaven or earth whom you can betrust with them in assurance of safetie None besides him The Apostle Peter gives this savourie counsel to suffering Christians 1 Pet. 4.19 and we have two choice examples pertinent to this purpose The former of the Psalmist Psal 49 5-15 who in the dayes of evil when the iniquity of his heels should compass him about that is when he shall be exercised with afflictions and chastisements for his sinfull strayings and uneven walking yet resolves that he will not be afraid because he hath committed his soule unto God being assured that he would redeem it from the power of the grave in the morning of the resurrection while the men of the world whose trust is onely in the broken staffe of the creature shall fall short of their hopes and be miserably devoured by death eternal The latter example is the Apostle Paul 2 Tim. 1.12 who beares up courageously in the midst of his sufferings for the Gospel upon this ground He hath deposited his soul 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vide Bezam and the glory prepared for him in the hands of Christ and he was perswaded that he was able and willing too that is implyed to keep that which he had committed to him against that day 4. When the summons of death come to arrest thee and call thee hence then commit and commend tby spirit into the hands of the Lord God thy Redeemer Thus did David when Saul and his men hemmed him in on every side so that there was no way of escape open but he said he was cut off a gone man Psal 31.5 22. Some interpreters do probably take this See Mollerus and Piscator to be the occasion of his penning that Psalm The story is 1 Sam. 23.26 Jesus Christ thy Redeemer being readie to give up the Ghost on the Cross uttereth the same words Luke 23.46 and in this commending his soul into the hands of his father He hath respect to his members and thereby undertakes the safe keeping of all their soules Omnes suorum animas custod●endas suscep●t Calvin So that thou needest not fear to commit thy spirit at death unto him as he committed his to his Father Some of the most precious servants of God are recorded in Scripture as Presidents herein That expression of holy Jacob breathed out in the midst of his solemne speech to his sonnes on his death bed doth clearly imply this gracious practise Gen. 49.18 and Stephen the first Gospel-martyr followed the example of his master Jesus herein Acts 7.59 Go thou and learn that lesson that thou mayest have it in readiness on the day that thou shalt go hence and be no more Say thus Oh Lord here I am an unworthy creature but thou hast in pure love to my soul bought me out from the Curse and so delivered me from the pit of corruption Isa 38.17 and now that I must lay down this earthly Tabernacle I do freely render thee thine own I am thine save me Psal 119.94 I humbly wait for that Crown of righteousness the full possession of glory in perfect union with thy blessed self which thou hast purchased with so dear a price and is laid up for me and many poor soules in heaven 2 Tim. 4.8 Thus much of the Fifth Use which was for exhortation CHAP. XII Use 6. Admonition 6. LAstly I would improve this Truth by way of Admonition and from this as a new ground briefly whet upon your hearts that inference which I drew from the first Conclusion concerning Cursing that it is both irrational and irreligious So shall the just condemnation of that wicked practise be established in the mouth of two approved witnesses Deut. 17.6 As it is madness to wish a curse to our selves or others seeing we are all under the stroak of it by nature So truly it is a double madness to do it now that we are redeemed from it by grace Your own reason may disswade you from it on the former ground unless you be so desperate as to continue still under the curse and to implunge your selves deeper into the gulf and Religion may take you off on the latter ground unless you will resolve thus Christ indeed hath delivered sinners from the Curse but we are content to tamper with it still and so make your selves a thousand times more the children of wrath than you were before Yet alas how common is this miscarriage even among them that profess themselves to be redeemed by Christ It is too usual with some men to wish a curse to their own souls thereby either to confirm the truth of something or to binde themselves to do that which they have purposed in their hearts to do It is true we have examples of the best men in Scripture which have so done as Job chap. 31.7 8. c. and David Psal 7.3 4 5. but these were for the most part rather necessitated than voluntary for the clearing of their innocency alwayes advised and weighty with solemn reverence in the presence of God from whom they did certainly expect the accomplishment of their wish against themselves in case they should bee found faulty And thus they may be lawfull being used very sparingly But this cannot justifie the too frequent use of them without necessity upon trivial occasions rashly headily brutishly when the fear of God in the heart doth not manage the business to render it accepted As for the cursing and banning of others Oh how rife is it How easily do the common people fall into that base language If they be but a little provoked if passion get the upper hand in a small measure their tongues are forthwith all on a flame in bitter imprecations It is true also that some holy men are reported in Scripture to have cursed others It is commanded Jud. 5.23 It was practised by David Psal 69.22 c. By Elisha 2 King 2.24 By Nehemiah chap. 13.25 and Jeremy chap. 18.20 21. But these are meerly extraordinary being predictions of evill against others uttered by the Spirit of Prophesie which cannot warrant us to do the like And I suppose we shall scarcely meet with one approved example in the Book of God which will bear us