Mountebanks speak you fair and big distrust them the more beware of self conceitedness be not wise in your own eyes dread the smallest Beginnings of evil in opinion affection or converse The sums of this arsnick rats-bane and mercury will distemper you before you be aware Avoid the first step to avoid all the rest Beware of the brink if you fear the Precipice if you keep ill diet and feed on venom wonder not at your wasting and decayes Remember Ephesus who sadly miscarried by neglect of this care Make sure of Christ upon his own terms and keep close to him The noble Bereans shewed their Nobleness in trying daily the Doctrine of Paul by the Scripture-rule duly examined take heed what you hear and how you hear it so Christ directs you bring all things still to the Lords Touch-stone to his Rule and standard to his Ballance and Test to move you consider That Doct. 3. All Christians even the best need still warning to keep themselves from Error and Apostacy SAith the Text keep your selves well that you may be kept be very active that you may not suffer This voice answers the Hebrew Hithpael keep your selves with all delight and diligence let every power of soul and body be kept on the watch All Christians need this yea the very best They must take warning from every part Heaven and Earth do warn and must be hearkened to Christ warns in conscience by his Spirits motions in his Word and Providence by the same Spirit His motions are regular and harmonious still they are seasonable and proportionable He warns by friends and sometimes by foes in adversity and prosperiry Satans motions are irregular unseasonable and unproportionable They are unscriptural in the scope and substance though often disguised with Scripture expressions sadly perverted All do need warning though but few take it The best find most need and benefit thereof Peter warns the Christian Hebrews here though well grounded and settled in the Truth Warning never hurts it cannot but do good if it be well taken The best retain much sin and weakness still They cannot but feel their sinfull Reliques To prevent Relapses and remove much evil warning must be given The Physitians warnings are of singular use to all sorts of Patients None stands so fast but he still stands on slippery ground The world is a great Ice very dangerous The enemy is subtile and numerous vigilant and active We cannot but find many lurking fiends in our own bosoms our hearts are deceitfull and desperately wicked We stand no longer then we keep our hold God indeed keeps his unto Salvation and therefore bids them keep themselves He appoints the means as well as the end As he keeps them by his own power so must they keep close to him by faith They shall never fall totally nor finally but they may often fall partially and dreadfully If left to themselves they would kill themselves They must therefore be faithfully warned Objection But what needs all this if the Elects salvation be sure Answer 1. All are not elect that seem to be such many are called but few are chosen 2. Though Salvation be sure to the Elect yet must it be assured to them Warnings must be taken that they may obtain such an assurance They may have the Grace without the comfort All diligence is therefore required to make their Calling and Election sure 3. Though Salvation be sure to the Elect yet must it be wrought out by them with fear and trembling because its God that works in them both to will and to do of his good Pleasure He will be sought and found in every one of his waies that he may still meet them with a Blessing 4. Though Salvation be sure to the Elect yet because they are men mixed among men he deals with them by men after the manner of men Rational creatures must act rationally and so be acted with He changes not the substance but their qualities in renewing them They are so moved that they are enabled to move themselves in following him Though the Elect cannot perish utterly yet they may fall very sinfully Warnings well taken are effectual means to prevent much shame sorrow and loss God warns his children that they may be taught good manners Conditional Threats are intended to prevent the mischief treatned and are effectually blessed to Gods Elect. 6. The assurance of the Elect lies not in themselves as it flows not from themselves The Fathers Purpose and the Sons purchase the Spirits indwelling and the Covenant-Promises made by the Father in his Son through his Spirit to them are their efficacious Grounds In subserviency thereto all due means are therefore needed and blessed warnings among the rest God neither promises nor commands in vain His word is still sure as all ages have found Psal 93. 5. 7. There is a peculiar vertue attending the word and means of Grace to all Gods Elect in due time and order That quickning power raises a Lazarus leaving others dead destitute thereof That saving Grace of Heaven betters the good plants under every shoure when the weeds grow worse That discriminating Influence from the Sun of Righteousness makes the flowers fragrant though is occasions the dung-hill to stink Thereby is Gods word made a savour of Life to some whilst it proves a savour of death to others Who makes a man to differ from another What hath he that he hath not received Must not the prime and ultimate cause resolve into Gods Will Do not you else subject Gods Will to mans There can be surely but one Independant either God or man which is to be chosen let reason it self judge by scripture-Light Consect 1. SE the usefulness of a Gospel-Ministry Christs Officers are given especially to that end the Churches watch-men are called to this great work He sets them apart by an orderly call to be his Heraulds and Ambassadors his criers and publishers The Father sets them in the Son gives them to the Holy Ghost makes them overseers in the Lords flock They are especially charged to warn the unruly to prevent Error and Revolt Therefore did Christ receive and give so many royal Coronation-gifts upon his triumphant assention for the perfecting of the Saints c. that we hence forth migh be no more Children tossed too and fro with every wind of Doctrine by the craftiness of Seducers c. The best need warning Christs sheep must attend their Shepheards who are deputed to office by that grand Shepheard of their Souls Such must be set a part thereto from age to age as Timothy was charged by Paul to chuse and charge such who should be able to instruct others all indeed are bound in their several â—alces to instruct each other charitatively according to their abilities and opportunities But
us and we have seen his Glory So the beloved Apostle witnesses of him He took on him not the nature of Angels but the seed of Abraham Thus the Son of God became the son of man being miraculously conceived of the Holy Ghost in the womb of Mary the Virgin over-shadowed by Gods Spirit and born of her in the humane nature like to us in all things except sin Thus was God the Son made manifest in the flesh by assuming the Nature not the person for then had he been two sons and two persons of man to himself This Man Christ Jesus hath body and soul the two substantial parts of Man even as we have as appear'd in his whole progress both which he hath Glorified not nullified This Fatherless man is as Wonderful as the same motherless God for who can declare his Generation as to the manner of it Thus Infiniteness confined himself God eternal was born of a finite poor Virgin Here is an Object indeed for the best knowledge of the best man God become man 3. Christ is God-man Emmanuel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God with us The true Ithiel God with me the very Vcal who is All. In him by hypostatical Union the humane nature with the Divine do both subsist in God the Son the second person of the divine Trinity Here is indeed a complication of ineffable wonders As there one Divine Nature subsists distinctly in three divine Persons So here two Natures the divine and humane subsist both in one person each of them acting and remaining distinctly conjunctly and inseparably incommutably and unconfusedly as the Fathers expressed it to avoid Errors on both hands Here is no mixtion nor composition no confusion nor conversion but a mysterious and transcendant Union from whence flow the various expressions of Scripture 1. When that is attributed to each Nature which properly belongs thereto as suffering to humane Nature and also when that is attributed to the person which therein belongs to both natures as to be Mediatour this is most proper Secondly When that which is common to the whole Person as to be Mediator is attributed only to one of the Natures suppose to the humane this is more improper Thirdly When that which is proper to one Nature is attributed to the other Nature in concreto by a name denoting the whole Person In that sense its true that God purchased his Church by his Blood and that the King of Glory was crucified by communication of Properties Yet this acception is the most improper of the three being Metonymical as the second is Synecdochical In man two imperfect Natures Soul and Body are coadunated with reservation of Proprieties to the constituting of one Suppositum and Person by the vertue of God Christs Person in the divine Nature being most perfect took the humane nature into the unity of one person by his own Vertue So that its one and the same Christ visible according to the humane invisible according to the divine Nature This hypostatical Union was the work of the Trinity mediately of the Holy Ghost immediately and of the Son terminatively The Fathers compare this Mysterie to the joint work of three Sisters making up one vesture and putting it all conjunctly upon the second of them It was necessary that Christ should be God 1. To impart an infinite value and vertue to his compleat Obedience 2. To overcome all sufferings and enemies 3. To communicate all effectually by his Spirit to his people It was as needful that he should be man 1. Because the Godhead could not suffer Secondly because the same Nature that had offended was to satisfie 3. That our Nature corrupted by the first Adam might be restored by the second Christ Jesus our Lord. Thus is Christs Person the Amiable Object of our Knowledge Secondly CHrist considered in his Office is a precious Object his chief business as Mediator being to procure effectual Reconciliation to the saving of his people by his perfect Oblation presented to God for them and applied to them by Gods Spirit He assumed the Name and function of Jesus the Saviour He was anointed as the Christ of God with all suitable qualifications and made Lord of all but especially made our Lord and Saviour by personal appropriation and effectual application Thus was Christ voluntarily made of a woman under the Law subjecting himself in that wonderful dispensation of his Mediation to receive from the Father his Call to that redeeming Function There was no defect in God but in us only who wanted skil power and will utterly to the curing and saving of our selves Christ therefore was divinely anointed to be our Soveraign Prophet Priest and Prince to effect all for us and in us needful to salvation As a Prophet he Reveals the whole Council of God As a Priest he makes full expiation to God and Intercession for us As a Kingly Prince he subdues all spiritual Enemies and makes all things serviceable to the guidance and protection of his people under his Soveraign Rule and Government All this he did and doth by his Eternal Spirit as the Scripture Records freely fully surely and singularly being therein a glorious Object of Christian knowledge Thirdly Christ in his Progress is considerable under a double state of Humiliation and Exaltation 1. HIs Humiliation appeared in all the steps of his Conception and Birth of his Life and Passion of his death and Burial most wonderfully This God head was then covered with the dark vail of his humane Nature mourning as it were in the sad habit of his infirmities for his peoples Enormities He willingly then eclipsed his divine light within the dark Lanthorn of this submissive state he humbled himselfe to exalt us he emptied himself that he might fill us He parted with all that he might give us all He shewed himself to be the Son of man to the lowest degree that he might bring all his into the state of Children Had there not been an absolute necessity thereof he had never done it Had not our case been so desperate could any other way have expiated and destroyed his peoples sins Christ had not come down from the height of Glory to the bottom of ignominy Here is an object of admiration indeed God humbled to a childs state growing up by degrees in Stature and Grace doing and suffering every moment for his enemies in rebellious arms Behold the Son of man wrastling with earth and hell yea with heaven it self conflicting with mans rage the devils fury and the wrath of God! What think you of sin the murtherer of this Christ and of that Love which gave him to the death Thus made he his soul a sacrifice for sin that he might see his seed and the good will of the Lord prospering in his hands He laid in the grave to confirm his
habits and acts inclinations and allurements provocations and examples yea every appearance of evil in our selves and others 3. Is our Joy spiritually delighted in that Soveraign good presented to us to be certainly and intimately enjoyed both in free and present fruition Do we rejoice thus in the Lord always from the possession of that Kingdom of Christ which is Peace Righteousness and Joy in the Holy Ghost Doth the Pledge and Earnest of his eternal Glory given us thereby fill us with that Joy both unspeakable and full of Glory Is this Joy of the Lord our strength to quicken and supple all the wheels of our souls 4. Is our Sorrow spiritually active in grieving for all sin Original habitual and actual for the great dishonor still done to Christ the contempt of his Gospel abusing his Mercies breaking of his Laws slighting his warnings hardning under his Judgements Do we mourn for the failings and distempers of his people and make their case ours among his Mourners marked for safety 5. Doth our Desire move spiritually with unsatisfiableness after that Good not yet attained setting an edge upon all endeavours sweetning all troubles in the way facilitating all difficulties spurring on sluggishness and teaching all Improvements of what 's received in order thereto 6. Doth our Disdain act spiritually to scorn all sinfull baseness which might hinder us from the good desired Doth it make us flie from whatsoever might keep that from us by keeping God at distance Doth it make us disown what might grieve Christ and offend his Spirit whose acquaintance is our chief desire 2. The sensitive Appetite moves irascibly against all difficulties by the Affections of Hope and Despair Fear Confidence and Indignation Doth this knowledge of Christ act thus within us 1. DOth our Hope stir spiritually towards the full enjoyment of eternal good though surrounded with discouragements from Earth and Hell Doth it cast Anchor within the vail upon the rock of Ages to stay our souls in the midst of all storms Is it that Helmet which safeguards our head in all Conflicts with many Legions of sins and devils 2. Do we spiritually despair not of Christ but of sin of selfe of all creatures expecting all good only from Christ in the use of good means appointed by him but not from themselves much less from self or sin 3. Is our fear spiritually active lest we should displease him and frustrate our own good by neglecting our duty or doing any thing contrary to him Doth this filial fear move us with Noah by faith to prepare all things and repair to the Ark casting out all slavish tormenting fears 4. Doth our Confidence appear spiritually in Christian resolutions against all Christs enemies to the discharge of our proper Duty he calls us to Are we bold with a generous audaciousness to follow Christ the Captain of our Salvation through all Impediments 5. Doth our spiritual Indignation move in holy Zeal to the removing of all obstacles that lie in the way of our Allegiance to our Soveraign Christ Are we enflamed with that prudent zeal which consumed the very heart of Christ for the purging and settling of his house Is our fire kindled against sin whilst our heart melts for the sinners good as far as possible It it not a blind but a well-guided zeal not a wild fire but duly ordered III. Natural Life appears in the Rational faculties by the several Acts of the Mind and Judgement Conscience and Will Memory and Affections doth our spiritual Life appear therein also 1. DOth our mind act spiritually in understanding of spiritual Matters and apprehending the mind of Christ made known to us by his Spirit Word and Providence 2 Doth our Judgment act in discerning of things that differ and reasoniug of things answerably to his divine Reason signified to us either expresly or consequentially Do we judge our selves first and our own sins that Satan may be judged in us and by us 3. Doth our conscience move spiritually in a due reflection on self with subordination to Gods Judgement Doth it speak for God as becomes his Deputy and Substitute in Teaching and Ruling in Witnessing and Recording in Judging and Executing according to Gods Will Is it not blinded bribed and feared Is it not benum'd deaded and gangrened by self-love and corrupt Opinions 4. Doth our will spiritually stir in chusing true good and refusing true evil Is it brought over to subject freely and fully to the will of Christ Hath the Key of Heaven opened the great Spring to lift up these everlasting Gates to the King of Glory Is thy heart of stone turned into flesh and this Iron sinew melted into Gods mould 5. Doth our Intellectual memory spiritually act in laying up those things which those faculties have committed to its charge Doth it recal such things to Remembrance by its peculiar Acts of Reminiscency and recovering those many useful things which accidentally had slipt away Doth it carry it self like a good Steward indeed bringing out of its store good things new and old 6. Do our rational Affections move spiritually towards good against evil under the guidance and Rule of these superiour Powers which are stil to follow the dictates of Heaven Do these wheels and weights stir Regularly Do these wings and feet carry our souls orderly Do these Sails and Oars convey us safely through the current of all our Relations to the service and enjoyment of God Thus may we take a due Estimate by this scantling and Abstract of our spiritual Acquaintance with God according to our measure of this gracious Knowledge variously acting toward Christ and from Christ for him and through him by his Spirits Energetical motions He that hath the Son hath life he that hath not the Son hath not life Vse 4. This Truth speaks singular Consolation to the real friends of Christ Choyce is the Jewel afforded to them as former particulars do fully evince This precious Cordial will be of excellent use against all corruptions and temptations against all Afflictions and desertions There will a season come for the benefit thereof to all Gods people It concerns all to make the best of it Objection This is good indeed may the trembling heart say but it s none of mine that am so far from the Knowledge of Christ I fear I am a stranger to him yet Answ It s bad indeed to be far from Christ but its good to be sensible of it The knowledge of thy disease is a good step to the cure There is hopes of good in sensible sinners nothing but wo to sensless Perfectionists Answ 2. But what makes thee fear thy estrangedness Is not thy desire
had faithfully promised it and therefore required the same There is no Precept nor Condition in Gods Word that hath not a Promise to answer it Do as Jacob did to make use of all 7. Come penitentially with a bleeding heart to a bleeding Saviour looking upon him whom thou hast pierced mourning over him and judging thy self for abusing him Come from the sensible sight of thy sinfull Revolts condemning thy self as unworthy to be his Servant Come as Abigail did unto David as the Prodigal did towards his Father His infinite kindness must needs aggravate thy horrid unkindness He forgets thy sins but thou must remember them He forgives thee freely and fully that thou maist forsake them accordingly Come then with a tender heart to such a tender Christ with lively Repentance never to be repented of Such Musick on these waters will be found most sweet 8. Come obedientially because he commands it who is thy Soveraign Come to do thy homage in loyal Allegiance to him that is thy God to worship and serve him It s a loving and faithfull Obedience he expects from thee as his proper due most dearly bought Thou art ransomed with a divine price that thou maist be his wholly and eternally If any part of thee be at any time given up to sin against thy husband what treasonable Adultery will it prove Come then to thy Lord to be ruled by him in every Ordinance in every Providence Come to thy Fathers house to shew all loving dutifulness there not to be lawless or a servant to sin His royal Law cals to perfect Liberty that thou maist be as free as the Children of the most high God 9. Come lovingly with fervent Affections to this royal feast of Christs own wedding that so nearly concerns thy self Let the Joy of the Lord be thy strength herein to tune the whole man to the highest strain of heavenly delight Is not this Solemnity so incomparable to be observed with sutatable Enlargements Stir up thy soul in coming to Christ that the vigor of all thy faculties may sweetly embrace the great King of Saints Purity and Fervency meet here admirably at the Celebration of this wonderfull match Christ comes to thee and all over with zeal thou must meet him in the like apparell Observe the Brides Attire in that glorious Type of Solomons marriage answerable to his that thou mightest learn how to come to Christ thy divine Solomon 10. Come gratefully to thy Benefactor with hearty thanks for his unspeakable Gifts Cast thy Crown at his feet and give him the Glory of all his Mercies Let him wear the Crown who hath done and suffered so wonderfully for thee Begin betime that Angelical Duty which shall be thy task and thy happiness to Eternity Triumph in thy God that makes thee to triumph Let thy soul be harmoniously set to sing forth his praises in the sweet Consort of all thy Powers and Parts In all things give thanks to the wonderfull Dispenser of all things Bless him continually who thus blesses thee 11. Come diligently in the use of all means appointed by him Seek him in all his ways attend him in his road hearken to his Spirit study his Word seek his face often think much of him inquire of others neglect no help and rest on none but on Christ himself Thus nominal Christians should be perswaded to make sure of Christ in closing with him upon his own terms to make them real Partakers of Christ and Possessors as well as Professors Secondly REal Christians should also be pressed to make use of this gracious Knowledge by keeping close to Christ in the spiritual Improvement thereof Each of us should strongly be quickned thereto by all the former Considerations This singular Jewel is given for use not meerly to gaze at The best find much need still to be quickned to their Duty herein that this choice Mercy may be well improved 1. Personally in our several places our fruitfulness should demonstrate still that we have learn'd to know Jesus Christ in a saving way This gracious knowledge must have influence into every thought every word and work In every Duty to be performed in every Mercy to be improved in every sin to be mortified in every Grace to be exercised Remember Christian who ever thou art that hast been effectually taught in the School of Christ thy constant work must be to practise the Lessons got there Action is the end of Contemplation Thy Speculations must never be idle Thy general and particular Calling will still find thee matter for the spiritual use of this gracious knowledge Mind Christ still then in every Duty towards God and Man 1. In thy generrl Calling look for him attend him in every Ordinance The Charets and Walks of Communication between him and his 1. OBserve him in his Word speaking to thee that thou maist know his divine Oracles hearken to this voice who speaketh from Heaven by men and means to us Hath not he promised that all his people shall be taught of God hear him then in hearing his servants appointed and duly called to his work that you may not teach one another still Pharisaically as the Sect-masters did hearken to his orderly appointments that you may receive his Anointing from above to teach you all things gradually so as you shall not need to be put a fresh to your first Elements to spell the principles in a childish manner Minding of him will put you further towards perfection that you may be able to teach others also Read often those precious Love-letters sent unto you from your best friend above and search the Scriptures for the Records of him who is the Treasure of those golden Mines Behold in that Gospel-glass of his his glorious Image that thou maiest be transformed into the same 2. Visit him often in spiritual prayer secret private publike This is the line of Communication between Heaven and Earth whereby Christs Souldiers keep correspondency with each other as with their General This fiery Chariot may carry thy soul Eliah like to thy dear Saviour in Abrahams bosom on any occasion It s a sure and a speedy Post for any dispatch It s a choise key that will unlock all the stories of his al-sufficiency It will avail much if it be fervent for what ever thou askest in his name thou maist be sure he will do it in the best way and season He is the God that heareth prayers that will be sought and found in every thing 3. In Meditation retire thy self into a private walk that thou maist enjoy him the more freely to renew thy acquaintance more familiarly Thus a man having sequestred himself from the croud of Creatures seeks and intermeddles with all divine Wisdom This choise Duty is the
By his Spirit he draws home his Elect from among the rest to a conjugal acquaintance with himself This gracious knowledge is to be improved for a singular Antidote against sinfull Errors It hath appeared to be so in all ages and will still be so upon solid grounds which divine Reason suggests to us Reason 1. Because it removes and prevents the causes thereof External and Internal The cause removed the Effect will cease 1. THE External Causes called evident among Physicians are all such as from without endanger men as ill Company Disorders Infection Wounds c. from Sin and Satan thus spiritually many external causes do still assault us which the knowledge of Christ prevents and removes A well grown Christian hath his senses exercised to discern aright between good and evil The spiritual man judges of all things comparing of them spiritually He is not easily caught into the snare but wisely foresees it and escapes He believes not every Spirit but tries them all by the Lords Touch-stone He is forewarned and forearmed still against Infectious Temptations of all sorts 2. Internal Causes are either Antecedent and remote or continent and proxime which are bred within by congestion and defluxion of several ill humors putrifying gradually and variously to the distempering of the several parts and of the whole also Thus sinfull Corruption doth spiritually disorder mens souls Spiritual Growth affords Christs own help to the purging out of such ill Humors Vapors and Spirits It kils the worms takes away stoppages cleanses the parts by all convenient helps internal and external It purges the whole and then the parts in a due Method using revulsions and derivations with all sort of evacuations So far as Grace is grown up within by the knowledge of Christ so far is corruption purged out gradually He that knows him purifies himself even as he is pure Christs own Physick dispenced daily in his Word and Providence is through his Spirit improved that way He that is born of God doth not so sin as he did before neither can he so sin either totally or finally because the seed of God abides in him As he finds corruption breeding afresh within it s his desire and design his delight and labor to crush the Cockatrice in the shell and suppress the first beginnings He hath a tender heart sensible of the first stirs of the least vain thoughts and keeps himself that the evâ—l one touch him not as before Reason 2. Because it corroborates and fortifies the noble parts and thereby all the rest against all internal Corruptions and outward Temptations Thus health and strength are procured and improved against the malignity of all spiritual distempers Corroboration is a singular help as in the bodies so in the Souls of men against all diseases Ill Humors do leave in the parts affected an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Discomposure which enfeebles it and by a ferment and a sickly Spawn makes it prone to new disorders Error and Sin work in the like manner upon mens souls striking chiefly at the Vitals and Chief The knowledge of Christ duly improved doth orderly eradicate and extirpate it by Communication of his divine strength to vivification of every Grace and Mortification of the old man in all its Members The more a soul lives in him and by him the more of his renewed Supports and supplies come in which compose the Christian into spiritual health rectifying every part All the faculties are secured and fortified thereby against Relapses and struglings of sin Such can do all things through Christ strengthning them The sense of their own insufficiency drives them still to his Al-sufficiency that his Grace may be sufficient for them and his Vertue perfected in weakness Reason 3. Because it derives still a specifick Vertue out of Christ himself whose Soveraign Property mingled with all due means of his appointing affords still a sure Preservative Physicians observe the specifick Vertue of natural Medicines simple and compound which renders the whole effectual towards bodily cures Such a signally peculiar force is found in the Lords choice Antidote dispensed to his Patients The knowledge of Christ duly improved fetches out of him that wonderfull Grace which he mingles with all the Medicines appointed for their good His Blood is that Aurum potabile and Panpharmacum that Catholicon and Elixer of Life which sanctifies all things effectually to his Peoples good The more any soul grows up into acquaintance with him the more use is made of that Soveraign Balm of Gilead flowing from the Physicians very heart The Pelican is said to cure his little ones with his own blood Christ to be sure makes this good to his His Grace is the Basis of every Dose of every Topick of every means appointed by him The strongest poison is quelled thereby the stoutest humors are subdued the sorest obstructions are removed and the worst Maladies cured by the same He healed all manner of diseases and sicknesses among the people in their bodies and souls in his progress on earth and he doth so still by his Spirit from heaven His Word and Ordinances are the proper means used by him for application thereof He employes his servants of the Magistracy and Ministry to observe his will in the right use thereof by all fit helps Spiritual and Civil His Providence points out the case to be dealt with all spiritual skil Our Antidote improved affords every Christian to manage all aright His special Blessing he affords in all according to Promise The Reason is good make good use of it Vse 1. Corollar 1. Hence may we view the Ground and Cure of our spiritual Distempers in all Relations 1. THE Ground is much from want of spiritual Growth in the best as from want of Life in most Were Christ known to better purpose both Church and State would not be so sickly But the most are ignorant of him and the best much too blame Thence so many diseases and sores in all Relations and Societies Every Person every Family finds cause to complain because the Lord Christ is so much slighted No wonder if the sickness increase and the venom spreads when such a Physician with his Antidote are so basely used Wise men easily see whence this evil comes and is aggravated Gross wilfull unbelief is the forest disease that aggravates the case making it desperate This was the case of Gods people of old in the wilderness and Canaan again and again They slighted Christ and his Messengers till they were grown beyond all Remedy It may give us warning 2. The Cure and Method of Relief is hence observable the Lord hath not left us yet remediless There is Balm in Gilead and a Physician there with Soveraign Vertue to cure
up to believe those lies deceiving and being deceived The Scripture indeed sometimes Allegorizes and teaches the use of Tropes and figures by the best Rhetorick We must therefore be sure to keep close to it least we turn substantial Truth by Chymical Evaporations into Notional smoak Too many of late have followed those woful courses of enervating Scripture by Allegorical strains till they had lost Reason and Religion at once Such Paracelsian Fumes quickly Intoxicate mens Brains breeding the Giddiness and then Convulsions to extremity 13. Christs Ordinances by his Word appointed are not spared but are opposed too First By the forenamed deceits Secondly By our modern Seekers and Familists as by the old Gnosticks accounting them but childish weak things fit only for inferior Christians in their lower form Thirdly By many Luke-warm Laodiceans of this Age of a neutral indifferent spirit towards Christs Instituted Worship Fourthly By all Papists and Traditionists who set up wayes and parts of Worship of mans devising as religious use of Images prayer for the dead Invocation of Saints and Angels Veneration of Reliques sale of pardons and Indulgences Fictions of Purgatory and Limbus patrum infantium Prayer in an unknown Tongue by roat upon Beads vain Babling and Tautologies repeated over and over superstitious uses of Crosses and Crossings Altars and Tapers Vestments and Dressings Mimical Gestures and ridiculous Stage-playes in Worship corrupting of every Ordinance by many foppish additions and tricks Fifthly By Ranters and Quakers who jeer and blaspheme Christs Institutions as our sad experience testifies in all places AGainst such gross Evils the right Knowledge of Christ will arm us and prove that they are but fools who think themselves too wise for Christs School That the highest Christians have alwaies used them and pressed all others thereto with all diligence That they are the Charets and Conduits of communication between the Lord and us That they are all suited to the case of all Gods people on earth That we should live above them in the use not in the neglect of them That our bodies shal cease from needing food when our souls shall cease to need Ordinances That Christ promises his presence therewith to the worlds end That he meets his people with a choice Blessing where ever he records his name and therefore bids them seek his face evermore That therein our Homage is paid unto him in a special manner That the Lord will be sought and found in all his ways That his familiarity is to teach us manners not sauciness That to be neutral and meteor-like in the Lords worship is sad and sinfull in a high degree That Prayer and Singing are jointly prescribed and directed to for spiritual use That the abuse thereof by any should not cannot excuse us from our duty All are bound and bidden to use them yet none can use them spiritually but by a special Grace That a moral performance of Duty is better far then non-performance That men are to serve God as well as they can still learning of him how to serve him better That God is ready to give more still to such as improve what they have received That its better to serve Christ outwardly then to serve sin and Satan by omitting good or committing evil That the preaching and hearing Gods Word requires of necessity meditation and repetition reading and studying thereof That Christ will be honoured in every Relation by every one without exception as in publique and secret so likewise in our several Families That he threatens a curse to such Nations and such Families as know not and call not on his name That his morning and evening Mercies challenge good manners in duty from us That Christ himself taught how to pray and praise on the solemn use of the Lords creatures That to rest on Duties is Idolatry and to neglect the same is Rebellion That all mixtures of humane Inventions do but soil and deface the Lords pure worship that therefore all Romish Innovations are sufficiently confuted by the bare rehersal That Will-worship can never please him who will be worshipped in Spirit and Truth That the Heathens pleaded the like excuses for their superstition and Idolatry as the Papists do for theirs That a great part of the Popâ—sh trash is but borrowed from Pagans with disguises That in many things they renew those Rites which by Christs coming were to have an end that vows contrary to Scripture-Duty can shew little savour of Scripture-Verity that the ready way to obscure our Light is to besmear and and paint our Windows That Scripture-simplicity loves not the dressing of a pompous whore That a fair Complexion needs no painting and truth hath most power when most purity That Antiquity pleads not at all for their grossest Tricks That in the things wherein some of the Fathers seem to plead for them there is much mistake and much forgery That however Truth is the eldest and he wants no Antiquity that wants not Scripture-Truth Many words were innocently used by the Fathers as Merit Altar c. which are turned quite into another sense among Papists now 14. Christs holy-Day his Sabbath of rest suffers peculiarly as 1. From the foresaid Enemies of Truth So secondly From too many seeming friends some wholly rejecting some mangling of it and some indifferent to this or to that Thirdly By Quakers and all Enthusiasts who slight all or most of Christs Ordinances and this especially Against such mistakes and abuses the knowledge of Christ will teach and enable us to observe his day as becomes a Sabbath It s called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lords Day to express his special property therein and sanction thereof as the Eucharist is called the Lords Table and the Lords Supper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Command enjoining it is placed in the heart and Center of the Decalogue with a signal Memento prefixed It s largely expressed both positively and prohibitively In the precept and close he names the Sabbath though in the amplification he mentions the seventh day or a seventh day He adds strong Reasons to enforce it from his Propriety Example and Blessing as also from the Equity thereof By this one Command he often expresses his whole Worship He couples it sometimes with one Precept of the first Table and after with one of the second Table to signifie the great Influence it hath into the observance of both It s abundantly confirmed enforced and renew'd in every part of Scripture old and new The reason that enforced the use of the seventh day Sabbath extends as fully to the first day Sabbath That was the Lords rest day from his Creation-work This is his rest day from his Redemption-work The change of the day in its quando made by God himself alters not the
Life a Turning of men from darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God by opening of their eyes and renewing their Will It s expressed by taking away the heart of stone and giving a heart of flesh in putting his Spirit within us and giving a new heart and a new spirit in our special effectual Calling It s said to be our Regeneration and being born again absolutely needful to open an entrance into Gods Kingdom Though there be some Reliques of natural and moral Endowments left in men since the fall in their powers and parts as appears by the Heathens Improvements yet these only testifie the wofulness of mans desperate fall in ruining so glorious a Fabrick Thence the blindness and perversness of his mind and will are so aggravated the crooked distortions of his Affections the searedness and corruption of his Conscience with the disorder of every part are set forth so Emphatically to convince every man Thence men are said before Conversion to be Godless and hopeless because Christless Thence is the wonderful operation of Renewing Grace so extolled still in this new creation bringing forth Light out of darkness in making man partaker of the Divine Nature This supernatural Work is carried on rationally by the Spirit of Christ in a way suitable to mans rational Being He works strongly yet sweetly he opens their heart-springs with a special Key of his own framing This Renewing Grace runs parallel with the Fathers Electing and the Sons Redeeming Grace whom God did foreknow and predestinate those he calls effectually seasonably savingly Their corrupt nature doth much resist it till Grace prevails and conquers all its Forts The outworks of the Mind and Judgement Christs Spirit conquers first thence breaking through the Iron Gate of mans Will into the possession of all the powers and parts of the soul Many sins remain still in every part like so many Cananites and Tories to be gradually subdued These Rebels being broken in their Head and Reign Grace doth orderly dispatch by mortifying exercise The Spirit of Christ carries on his work in supporting and supplying still those gracious Beginnings which are weak at first By the Gospel Light he communicates his gracious Life Thus he perswades enables his people to embrace Jesus Christ upon Gospel terms by a Covenant of Marriage and Adoption Thus is mans dunghil heart by Renewing Grace broken up and dressed into a spiritual Garden sown and set with the fruits of his holy Spirit It differs exceedingly from common convictions and external Reformations as earth differs from Heaven That difference is still morally-specifical though it seems to be Physically but Numerical and gradual It s the same Spirit that works conviction on the Reprobate and on the Elect but not in the same manner He knocks at both and is resisted He leaves the Reprobate justly he opens the Elects heart mercifully and prevailingly The Reprobate may be externally and professedly sanctified in a partial superficial way Gods Elect are specially sanctified universally in every part and gradually through every part Mans free will by sin subjected to Satan is through this Renewing Grace set at liberty so far as Grace prevails The unregenerate is free only to spiritual evil being an enemy to spiritual good The Regenerate soul is so far free to spiritual good as it s renewed When Grace is compleated in Glory the soul like good Angels shall be free only to good The Nature of mans will is thus bettered by Grace which was made a slave by sin The Devils and damned do freely will sin so do unregenerate souls on earth yet necessarily Thus necessity man stand with freedom both to good and evil By this Renewing Grace the regenerate soul is made conformable to Gods Image and is so far called the new man and gradually learns to be holy as God is Holy That Seed and Root of Grace cast into it at first grows up by degrees as the grain of mustard seed as the corn as the Light as the living Child Thereby the soul is enabled to believe and Repent and further to actuate every sort of Grace being excited corroborated and directed still by the same Spirit Thence is the conflict so continuall between the spirit and flesh the Law in the members and the Law in the Mind Grace and sin which ends not till the death of sin in bodily death Thus acti agimus Implanted Grace then co-works still with the Lords gracious Spirit who works in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure This Grace appears also most free and full most choice sure to the glorifying of all Divine Attributes Man could not be conceived to have any skil power or will to procure the same By Grace the Lord cals unto Grace and so to Glory By Grace are we saved through Faith and that not of our selves it s the gift of God not of works least any man should boast for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works so that it s not in him that wills nor in him that runs but in God who shews mercy Of his own will begat he us by the Word of Truth that we might be to the praise of his Glory Object But why then is man commanded to believe and repent to change his heart c Answ Because as we hinted before God deals with men by men rationally orderly to convince all of their Duty and insufficiency to humble and awaken them to put them upon all due means to render the most inexcusable and moralize many to convey his Grace into his Elect through those very means peculiarly sanctified to the spiritualizing of their heart Object But is not God partial in so doing Answ No. For he is not bound to any further then he pleases neither is he led by any sinful respects which render men partial Object But why doth he yet complain of the Reprobates if he give them not sufficient Grace as to others how can they help it Ans God justly complains of the wicked for insolvency and squandring away his goods wilfully and rebelliously both in their first Father and by themselves They smart not but for their fault their being Bankrupts is no payment nor discharge of their debts to him He gives them more then they could expect or make right use of Though they cannot change their own heart yet they might use the means better then they do they are still wilfully negligent and selfish in all they do and suffer justly for their demerits Can the wicked say they sin not wilfully Will not their own conscience condemn them Are they not all corruptly estranged from the womb and speaking Lyes by time Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Can the
prophecy in Sackcloth the woman is fed in the wilderness Yet did not Christ forget his Interest but in the worst time maintained his Ministry Brittain Ireland Germany and France shew large Catalogues of undoubted Truth to verifie it Waldus and Wicklef John Hus and Jerom with many thousands testified the same The Reformation by Luther and Calvin was but a more solemn carrying on of the Work We have antiquities of approved credit shewing Successions of faithful Ministers from the Apostles time all along to this day as in other parts so in these Nations The Scriptures are not the worse nor the Ministry for passing through the hand of Romish Antichrist Gold loses not its worth for touching a leprous hand nor Gods Temple by the sitting of the man of sin when their pollutions are but once removed If any defilment be proved to attend our Ministry we are ready to yield and remove the same When the Wen is cut off and the body cured health being restored is to be improved If any will stil lord it over Brethren we shall disclame such usurpations Christs Ministry is to feed and teach to rule and to cure Ministerially Our weapons and work are spiritual not Political nor Monarchical As Nurses appointed for the Childrens good it s our desire to attend Christs house An orderly Call unto this office as he doth appoint so will he still bless How shall men believe if not preached to How shall men preach right if they be not sent Internal gifts are very needfull yet not sufficient to make out this Call No man self-called is owned by God no more then Corah and Jeroboams Priests A Souldier though able without Commission shall never be owned for an Officer A person of Parts without Authority cannot act the part of Justice or Judge Every Christian is to improve Gifts but within his place and fit relation Gods word doth appoint an orderly way of Calling persons into the Ministry They must be well proved and approved of then chosen and ordained to a proper charge He that hears and receives persons so called in the name of Christ hears and receives Jesus Christ himself by his own witness He that abuses and rejects such abuses and rejects the Lord Christ thereby If any be bad let them be questioned and reap their deserts We pretend to no Infallibility but would be tried still in Doctrine and Life by the word of Truth Christs work its we are sent about the devil would marr it by slandering tongues False Christs false Prophets are now very rife Sick brains are heaping Teachers to themselves to please itching ears They that thus run before they are sent shall not profit but deceive the people The chief rage of Foxes and Wolves disguised will stil be bent against the Shepherds Jeroboams Priests with his Golden Calves brought in division deceit and ruin If the Lords Mercy do not prevent it our sin and sorrow will be too like theirs The Cavils pleaded against this clear Truth have been fully dissolved again and again It was Julians attempt to starve the Ministry and Schools as the sure way to ruin Christianity The like design is revived of late to the same end The Laws of Nature and of Nations as well as Gods positive Laws are brought in by Paul to prove the just Rights of Ministers maintenance The Corinthiane are blamed for putting him to shift and work with his hands He commends them highly that had been free towards his relief 25. Christ suffers also in his Providence as by the former Errors So first By Atheists Stoicks Epicures that ascribe events to fortune fate or chance Secondly By Divers Jesuits and Arminians charging his purpose and execution with Contingency and Dependency Thirdly By Star-gazers and Astrologers who pretend to divine of humane Events by their judicial Prognostications AGainst this Malady the gracious Knowledge of Christ improved will give us still a Soveraing Remedy It shews by Scripture Light that the hand of Christ who first made the world doth uphold it still with Rule and Order by the word of his power His eternal purpose he still executes in doing of good and over-ruling evil What evil of sorrow that the Lord sends not What evil of sin that he limits not What good temporal or spiritual that comes not still from his Providence His Rule is so sweet and so soveraign that all fulfill his Will in fulfilling theirs what ever opposes his revealed Will is still over-ruled by his secret Will The Will of his purpose men do then fulfill when they disobey the Will of his precept The Instance of Joseph and Jesus suffice to demonstrate Christs Soveraign Rule Things most contingent as to men and means do yet come to pass by a necessary and sure providence The very Sparrows fall not to the earth nor the hairs of man without Gods special hand Astrologers sin is so much condemned by Scripture Reason and Experience that they should not proceed any further seeing their folly is made so manifest Some use we grant of Astronomy if modestly handled natural Astrology may hint at some things though very uncertainly But that judicial Astrology which pretends to foretel the success of affairs acted among men is an Errand cheat and dreadfull Imposture such an Art descends from old Magicians that learned of Satan among the Nations Caldeans and Diviners with all South-sayers are noted in Scripture with Aegypts Magicians Indian Gymnosophists Brachmans and Pawawes the Druids of Gaul the Bards of Brittain the Dervis's of Turkie are of the like school The rules of this Art are certainly known to be most absurd vain and uncertain Mirandula and Perkins who searched into their depths discovered fully their juggling Impostures as their Writings testifie Some profound Scholars who had curiously pryed into their secrets came off with remorse and abhorrings thereof This Profession hath been in all ages justly detested by the wise and good Such Affinity it hath had still with Satanical Oracles that its unsufferable in a Christian State There is vertue indeed in heavenly bodies But who can find out the same distinctly An Apollonius Faustus or Hildebrand may pretend somewhat from Satans teaching in this black study But shall Christians go to the devils school to learn Christs mind Starry Constellations have their Influence on sublunary bodies but they cannot reach the souls and Acts of men How far they may affect this earth none can know but that our Reason and humane Events are beyond their reach is easily known The Constellations of Christs Providence compared with his word are the proper Rules of our Prognosticks personal and publique Thence should Christians cast a divine figure to find out a true scheme of their State and Acts. Learn we to calculate our spiritual birth and observe the positure of souls under Chris thence all conjunctions and