all other mens And here is to be observed a plain difference between Christs anointing and all mens besides For whereas all other shadowed anoyntings were imperfect and some had more gifts bestowed and some lesse but none all nor all in one degree Christ was perfectly anoynted and even in his Human nature was adorned with gifts without measure for God gave not him the Spirit by measure Joh. 3.34 and not only with gifts but all gifts in the highest degree above all his fellows Psal 45. men or Angels in none of which ever dwelt the fulnesse of the God-head bodily as it did in him Coloss 2.10 2 Whereas all other received gifts only for themselves and could not by their gifts make others Kings as they were or Priests or Prophets Christ was so anoynted with the Holy Ghost and with power that he could impart his gifts to others in such manner and measure as they might become like unto himself that look as the oyl which was poured out upon Aarons head run down by his beard even to the skirts of his garment and so sweetned his whole body even so such abundance of grace was poured as out of a full horn upon Christ the head of his Church as it distilleth from him to the sweetning and perfuming of all his body to make the same acceptable in the sight of God This the Evangelist expresseth Joh. 1.16 Full of grace of truth and of his fulnesse we receive grace for grace Coloss 2.10 In him dwelleth the fulnesse of the God-head bodily and yee are compleat in him Quest But when was Christ thus anoynted Ans The anoynting of Christ is two-fold 1 In respect of his gifts and with these he was anoynted by the very union of his two Natures into one Person in the Wombe of the Virgin from the first moment of his conception for being admirably conceived by the Holy Ghost his Humane nature was anoynted by the Divine uniting it self thereunto 2 In respect of his calling to the exercise of those gifts and this was then compleat when in the thirtieth year of his age at his Baptism he was solemnly inaugurated by a voyce from Heaven by the opening of the Heaven and the descending of the Spirit of God in a visible shape abiding upon him not that be wanted the Spirit before but that herein as in the former respect also a main difference might be put between his and the anoynting of all that went before who neither were anoynted in the Wombe nor by the union of the Deity nor by any other than material oyl whereas hee was anoynted with the Holy Ghost lighting upon him And this was that which was prophesied before of him Isa 61.1 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because hee hath anoynted me that I should preach c. In the exposition of which place when Christ begun his Ministery in Galilee he said This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears Luk. 4.17 Hence we learn None can bee capâ—â—le of the Office of a Redeemer or Mediator but Châ—ist because none was so anoynted as he 1 That Christ was and is an all-sufficient Saviour and Redeemer for being to this purpose anoynted with the Holy Ghost and with power he cannot but be able fully to work and absolve the work of mans redemption This is not a work to be committed to any King or Emperour nor the greatest state and Potentate in the earth no nor to any Angel or Archangel in Heaven none of these are fit for it because none are capable of this anoynting with the Holy Ghost and with power but hee alone who therefore is able to subdue all the Devils of Hell though they come rushing upon him all at once to overthrow all the armies of Hell Sin Death and Damnation assaulting himself and members with all their might and force in a word able to make his enemies although principalities and powers never so mighty and never so cruel his very foot-stool 1 A greater King than Salomon is here who not only can tread down his enemies but give us strength also so to doe who not only can give us Laws but of his fulnesse grace to keep them God hath anoynted him King and set him upon his Throne and endued him with rare Gifts fit for government in all which regards wee owe unto him simple and absolute obedience 2 A farre more excellent Priest also than Aaron is here he is not anoynted to offer the bloud of Bulls or Goats but to offer himself a sweet smelling Sacrifice and that not often but once for all Heb. 8.6 neither doth he offer only this sacrifice but by this spirit and power with which he is anoynted he applieth it to his Church neither need he offer for himself as they because he was a holy harmlesse and undefiled High Priest Heb. 7.26 neither doth he only pray for his Church but meriteth also to be heard is never denied neither ever dyeth but liveth for ever to make intercession for them vers 25. 3 A more famous Prophet than Moses is here anoynted he was but a servant in the house this is the Son Moses was but the Instrument this is the Author of the word he delivereth Moses could teach but the ear this Prophet teacheth the heart Moses was a Minister of the outward Circumcision this Circumciseth or rather baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and with fire let not us therefore despise him that speaketh from heaven for if they escaped not which refused Moses that spake on earth much more shall not we escape if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven Heb. 12.25 And can we want reason 1 In his anoynting we are commanded by a voyce from Heaven hear him Mat. 17.5 2 He delivereth the whole will of his Father we shall therefore be perfectly taught if we hear him 3 We may safely rest in his Doctrin because with him are the treasures of wisdome 4 In a word hee hath only the words of life everlasting and whither should we goe Joh. 6.68 Secondly hence we learn That seeing every beleever is anoynted with Christ Every Christian must partake of Christ his anoynting and in Christ we must all be careful to find this holy oyl running down from the head upon us the members 1 Joh. 2.27 The anoynting which yee receive of him dwelleth in you And indeed our very name of Christians putteth us in minde that we must have our measure of that oyl of grace which was poured on Christ without measure so as if we carry the name and title of Christ wee must see that the nature and gifts of Christians appear in our lives Revel 1.6 hee hath made us Kings and Priests unto God And it was long before prophesied of the Church of the New Testament that the sons and daughters of it shall Prophesie Joel 2.28 and all this by vertue of this anoynting Adde hereunto that Christ is not perfectly anointed till his Church bee for Christ
sheep but the most are goat some are in communion with him as the sâ—iâ—ns set and growing in the root but the most are out of fellowship with him and are no otherwise knit unto him than a sciens tyed to a tree by a thred I mean by the slender thred of outward profession Now as the Head onely imparteth of the life sence motion protection light and comfort which it hath to the members of its own body and no other even so the Head of this Mystical body quickneth moveth protecteth inlightneth graceth saveth onely such as are in true communion with him for these sheep onely hee giveth his life for these he rose again for these hee spoiled principalities and powers for these he slew hatred yea not for these onely but in these also and in these onely As for all the rest hee prayeth not for the world namely the wicked of the world hee dyed much lesse for them his death killed none of their sins but they are left in their sins and unto the reign and damnation of their sins without all benefit either of the death of Christ or of his resurrection When wee lay then that Christ killed sin wee must bee understood according to the Scriptures onely for and in true Beleevers who only can receive of his fulnesse The latter distinction concerneth sin wherein wee must consider two things 1 the guilt 2 The corruption of it In beleevers the whole guilt of sin is abolished by Christ though not the whole corruption The whole guilt of sin is wholly and at once abolished to all beleevers by means of Christ his Death and Resurrection but not the whole corruption which while they dwel in the body will dwell with them yet so as they neithâ—r live in it not it scarcely live in them For the former the Apostle asketh this Question Rom 6.2 How can wee that are dead to sin live in it and hence it is that such as are in communion with Christ are not onely said to bee dead but buried also with Christ and consequently they leave their sins in his grave even as Christ himself left them there where if they bee left there will bee a â—â—tting and consuming of them away that they will bee every day less than other even as it is with the body that lyeth in the grave and those which remain yet unmortified they will bee even as dead caâ—kases All the motions of sin in the â—â—ct 〈◊〉 only in letting the life of it go loathsome and stinking which above all things the godly desire to bee covered Now how impossible is it that these should be the practices of such as live in sin Nay I say more that all the corruption of sin left in the godly can scarcely bee said to live in them I grant indeed some moving and stirring of it in them but it is such a motion as is in a beast which hath the throat cut it strugleth and striveth in letting life go but the beast is killed and the unclean issues of sin in the godly which indeed are many are like such issues which come from a dead man and are a very parting from them rather than any argument of the life of sin or of any delight in them This is that which the Apostle aimeth at Rom. 6.7 Hee that is dead is freed from sin as the Theef once hanged stealeth no more so sin once dead and executed in Christ liveth no more in state or strength the sinews of this gyant are cut and what strength of motion can bee in it In a word it is in Beleevers but dying sin sin destroyed the whole Host of sin is discomfited though some straglers of the Army wander here and there as Rebels in another mans dominions The second Enemy is Death which entered into the World by sin The second enemy is death and went over all men in that all men had sinned and standeth in full force and state by sin wheresoever it reigneth Now Christ by removing the cause hath also removed the effect for sin being slain death is also swallowed up in victory he hath made his word good O death I will be thy death who although he bee the last enemy that shall bee fully destroyed yet hath hee disarmed him taken away his dart and sting from him and so spoiled him as hee hath left him nothing to harm the elect withall The third Enemy is Hell the gates of which was set wide open by sin for The third Hell In the day thou sinnest thou shalt dye the death namely the second death as well as the former But Jesus Christ by descending into Hell and suffering the sorrows of the second death loosed the same from himself and all such as shall beleeve in his name unto the worlds end Rev. 1.18 I was dead but am alive for evermore Amen and I have the keys of Hell and Death which phrase seemeth to bee borrowed from great Commanders and Conquerours who having won and entered any City presently have the keyes delivered unto them in token of that regiment and authority which now of right belongeth unto them and plainly importeth that howsoever Christ was once dead yet by his death hee hath vanquished Hell and Death and so hath obtained full power and command over them both The fourth Enemy is Satan the arch enemy of mankinde most malitious The fourth Satan being a man-slayer from the beginning and most powerful being the Prince yea the God of this world yet hath the victorious Lyon of the tribe of Judah put to flight this roaring Lyon whose rage and malice made him bold to set upon the Son of God himself that so hee might work his own ruine and overthrow How Christ avoided his sundry fierce assaults and temptations in the wilderness broke his power and forces by his powerful dis-possessing and casting him out of men and women trod upon his neck by the power of his death and resurrection wee might at large out of the Evangelists shew but that wee have spent some time already in this argument so as now the gates of Hell can never prevail against the Faith of the godly the seed of the Woman hath broken the Serpents head the strong man is cast out by a stronger than hee the spoiler is spoyled and lead in triumph by him that appeared for this end to destroy the works of the Devil who hath this Tyrant also in chains reserved for the blacknesse of darkness for ever The last enemy but not the least in strength is the World The fifth the world Satans servant and armour-bearer which by all the power and policy it could use could not keep Christ down in the grave but hee rose again notwithstanding all the opposition of it this is that our Saviour professeth of himself a little before his death Bee of good comfort for I have overcome the world Joh. 16.33 As if hee had said trouble not your hearts although
as any chaff and as easily destroyed as any stubble that it is not consumed But 1 This fire is not kindled against the bush cut of the sparks of Gods wrath Heb. 12.29 Heb. 12.10 and indignation which is indeed a consuming fire but of his Fatherly affection and love not for the hurt of the bush but for the profit of it not to destroy the persons but the sin for the persons sake Wee have indeed kindled and blown up our selves a violent and devouring fire Heb. 10.27 which God might send into our bones Lam. 1.13 Psal 83.14 Lam. 3.22 to burn us up as fire burneth the forrest and as the flames set the mountains on fire But the mercy of God is as water to quench this fire for else would it burn to the bottome of Hell and instead of a Furnace of fury which melteth away his enemies Ezek. 22.22 he setteth up in Zion Isa 27.9 a furnace of favour only to melt the metal consume away the dross and refine his chosen ones to become vessels of honour 2 Because the fuel of the consuming fire of Gods wrath are slaves not sons those wicked brambles Ezek. 15.7 which if they escape one fire saith the Prophet they fall into another which shall consume them but not this bush which is only made brighter and better by the flame but not blacker not worser The chaff and stubble must feed the fire of wrath never to come forth more but the pure metal is cast into the furnace to come forth so much the purer as it hath been the longer tryed Exod. 3.2 3 Because the Angel of God is in the bush This Angel was Jesus Christ the Lord of the holy Angels and the great Angel of the Covenant For Moses saith expresly of this vision ver 4. The Lord appeared unto Moses and God called unto him out of the middest of the bush and S. Luke recording the same vision Act. 7.31 2. greeing with Exod. 3.6 after that hee had called him an Angel bringeth him in saying I am the Lord of Abraham c. This same presence of the Son of God was noted the cause why the three children in that furious furnace of Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 3.25 being cast in bound walked loose in the midst of the flames why not they but their bands were burnt and why not an hair of their cloaths vers 27. and much lesse of their heads were touched no nor smelt of the fire Isa 43.2 Behold the bush burned but not consumed because the King saw four men walking loose having cast in but three bound and they have no hurt for the form of the fourth is like the Son of God Because God is in the midst of it saith David of the Church it shall not bee moved Noâ— potentia urendi sublata ab igâ—e sed operatio tantum ut Dan. 3 for God shall help it very early How partly 1 by restraining the natural force of the fire 2 partly by obfirming and strengthening the bush against it 3 partly by watching it that it spread not too far for himself as it were sits by the fire to tend it 4 partly by slaking and cooling it when it groweth too hot lest the heat smite the bush as the worm did Jonas his gourd By these means Jonab 4.7 the bush in the flame becometh like the Gem Amiantus Amiantus gâ—â—â—a igâ—â— non absumitur sed lucidiâ—â— ac â—urior redditur Dub. Chytrâ—â—s Isa 53.3 which is not consumed by fire but becomes brighter and purer than before This most holy and comfortable truth is fully assured unto us in the person of our Lord and Head as well as in the body who in the daies of his flesh was 1 A bush most able to peirce and wound his enemies in himself most desplicable and base in all outward appearances and in this bush God dwelt not in any visible sign of his presence but as never in any before essentially and bodily 2 A bush in the fire partly of Gods wrath Col. 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isa 53.10 Matth. 26.38 Mat. 27.46 Lam. 1.14 True first in the head and then in the members in inward passion and suffering in his soul the sorrows of the second death which made him cry My God my God why hast thou forsaken me into which flame had the bush of the Church been cast it had been utterly consumed Partly of mans wrath in outward passion and misery such as whereof hee complained that no sorrow was ever matchable to his And partly of Satans wrath in most fiery and furious temptation the which hellish fire was renewed and blown up against him in most violent sort three several times as in the Treatise following we shall by Gods grace discover 3 A bush in the fire not consumed but came forth of the hotest Furnace that ever was kindled more bright and glorious than the Sun in his strength For easy it was with him to convince his temporal adversaries by the mighty raising of himself from the dead through his own Divine power Rom. 1.4 when hee had overcome the wrath of God his Father and not difficult for him that had in his life overcome Satans Temptations and in the wilderness spoiled him of his power and weapons in part Col. 2.15 upon the cross by his death openly and perfectly to destroy his Forces and as on a glorious Chariot to triumph over him This bush burnt but not consumed As he is the end of all the Scriptures so also of the exposition of them in whom and for whose glory I have published this Exposition at the importunate request of some Friends Notwithstanding many discouragements that was on the one hand and sundry godly lights in our own tongue opening the same Scripture on the other Mr. Udal Mr. Perkins Mr. Dike 2 Sam. 23.13 The truth is magnified in the mouth of many witnesses and a poor man may give in as true an evidence as a rich If I may hold Benajahs place in the Church of God and stand for God among the thirties and the many of his Worthies it shall well content me although I attain not unto the first three What ever this labour is I have presumed to dedicate it unto you noble Sir as a testimony of my true and unfeigned affection and duty 1 Because God hath made you a worthy instrument in this place which as well by your authority and care as through your godly affection and countenance of good men and causes hath a long time enjoyed much comfort assistance and refreshing 2 Your sound love to the truth hath invited this truth to run under your patronage 3 As he which hath been once friendly bid welcome will boldly come again so your good entertainment of this doctrin in the delivery of it assures it you will now bid it as welcome to your eye as it was to your ears at the first offer of it
pawn but we must trust in his word that is indeed to trust in God When the case is with us as it was with Moses at the red Sea the Sea afore him the Mountains on both sides Pharaoh and his Host behind then to say Stand still fear not and behold the salvation of the Lord here is sound faith VVhen Aram and mount Seir came against Jehoshaphat and he saw no strength or means of his own he said O Lord we know not what to doe but our eyes are unto thee and so though his Army was small and his enemies like grass on the earth trusting in God he went away with the victory And what a holy and faithful profession was that of Job If the Lord kill me yet will I trust in his mercy Rules to carry our selves by faith in the outward means I. Where they be 1 Faith neglecteth not good means where they be 3 Rules to keep faith in the presence of outward means because Gods providence hath afforded them and appointed them for our good faithful Jacob had a good care to provide for his family Gen. 30.30 Isaac said to his Father Here is the knife and wood but where is the sacrifice Abraham answered God will provide so set us use the means and God will provide the rest that is wanting 2 It hath a right judgement of them not as things to bee trusted to neither art nor labor expressed by the net Hab. 1.16 nor wealth and riches expressed by the wedge of Gold Job 31.24 nor friends and alliance expressed by the arm of flesh Jerem. 17.5 no nor the outward means of salvation Ezek. 33.31 Faith knoweth it is not bread but the staff of bread that man liveth by David looks upon his staff and bow and saith they cannot help him Psalm 42.6 and counteth watching and building but vain except the Lord joyn his helping hand Psal 127.1 2. 3 Faith useth means but expecteth no blessing from them but by the word and prayer Gen. 32.9 Jacob useth good means and policy in dividing his Army and separating his bands but withall giveth himself to Prayer to get Gods arm with him Exod. 17.11 Josâ—â—â— goeth and valiantly fighteth the Lords battel but Moses must bee at prayer in the mount and no longer Joshua prospers than Moses prayeth 3 Actions of faith in the absence of means II. Where they bee not 1 Faith trusteth where means bee wanting or against them Though ten thousand compassed David yet would hee trust Psal 3.6 And Abraham was a notable pattern of Faith when hee had no means but all was against him in himself and his wife still he depended upon the naked word that God was true and able to perform his Promise Rom. 4.9 20 21. 2 Faith when it may useth no evil means it flies not in sickness to sorcery nor in extremity to the Witch as Saul did for which he was rejected from being King 1 Chron. 10.13 It turneth not to fetches of policy nor to digge deep Counsels on which a woe is pronounced Isa 29.15 It deviseth not to smite ones betters with the tongue it taketh not advantage of mens simplicity or forgetfulnesse 3 It observeth how many great things God bringeth to pass without yea against the means to shew how little hee depends upon them and therefore it will not stint the Holy one of Israel but frame the heart to his likeness It sees the walls of Jericho fall down by seven daies compassing Josh 6.3 It sees all Midians Host discomfited by means of a dream of a barly loaf tumbled down from above into the host of Midian Judg. 7.13 and Aâ—hurs Host flye all away supposing the King of the Hittites and Egyptians to come upon them through a noise of Chariots and Horses 2 King 7.6 And surely this is the course in which God often incourageth his Children who thrive and grow they know not how by vertue of the promise that God will fill his with hidden treasures Whereas those that will feed themselves upon the means and trust God no further Gods justice often lets them see their folly revenging their infidelity they eat and are not satisfied they earn mony for a bottomeless bag Hag. 1.6 they go and trust in Physicians as Asa did and pine away their wisdome and Counsel is turned to foolishnesse as Achitophels They have horses and strength and trust to it Psal 20.7 8. but they are fallen there where they trusted And thus God letteth men see that there is neither wisdome counsel power or success against nor without the Lord. Not to think much if with our Lord we find men more savage than beasts Note 4 Christians must not think much to finde men more savage than brute beasts seeing Christ found it so Lazarus found Dogges more pittiful to him than Dives and Paul found the Beasts to which hee was condemned at Ephesus more merciful than the men 1 Cor. 15.31 The like entertainment in the world must every Christian expect Vers 2 And when hee had fasted forty daies and forty nights hee was afterward an hunger Now wee come to the third point in Christs expectation of his enemy namely His imployment and that out of the Evangelists is gathered to bee twofold 1 Fasting to which hee joyned prayer without all doubt this S. Matthew hath that hee fasted forty daies and forty nights 2 Temptation by lighter onsets as Luke saith plainly hee was forty daies there tempted of the Devil and after that hee was hungry and then began these three temptations In his fast consider three things 1 What kind of fast it was 2 The reasons of it 3 The continuance forty daies and forty nights For the first Of fasts there are three kinds Kinds of fasts three 1 Civil as when men fast for the health of their body or when men are so intent upon their affairs as they take no time to eat and drink Thus Saul fasted pursuing the Philistims 1 Sam. 14.24 and those forty that vowed not to eat till they had slain Paul so intent they were upon their wickedness Act. 23.14 This is voluntary there is also one involuntary fast when men want what to eat and drink as Elias fasted 1 King 17.5 This is not here meant 2 Religious which is an abstinence from meats drinks and all delights to testify our true humiliation before God to fit us unto prayer and to further and witness the truth of our Repentance And this is either publike or private of one or of more for one day or longer time But neither is this meant here For 1 Christ had no corrupt wanton or rebellious flesh to mortify or chastise 2 Christ had nothing to repent of no amendment of life no hardnesse of heart no want of faith to bewail no guiltiness to confess by it 3 Hee had no need of fasting to help him in prayer for neither needed hee any grace which he had not by the lighting of the Spirit upon him neither had
must labour to espye Satans suggestion in it together with our own inclinations to swallow down all such temptations and forthwith to cast our eyes upon such Scriptures as may bee back-biasses to our natural motion Satan alloweth his servants stones for bread Vse 3. Note the cold comfort that Satan affords his followers when they need bread hee offers them stones as with Christ here Matth. 7.9 What man is there among you that if his Son ask him bread will give him a stone as if hee had said No Father that loveth his childe can bee so unnatural but Satan who cannot but bee an unnatural murtherer here for bread offers the Son of God a stone It is clean otherwise between God and his children for if Fathers which are evil can give good things to their children much more our heavenly Father giveth good things to them that ask him even things according to their need Your heavenly father knoweth that yee stand in need of all these things If they have need of Christ the bread of life he gives them this bread of life If they need the Holy Ghost hee gives the Holy Ghost to them that ask him that is not only beginnings of grace but increase of it in greater measure and a comfortable feeling and fruition If they need temporal mercies he gives them more than they ask as Salomon yea above all they are able to ask or think VVho would not think himself happy to bee Gods favourite rather than stand to the Devils wages who for bread will reach him stones Use 4. The way to get bread Gods way to get bread contrary to the Devils in three things is not at the Devils appointment to turn stones into bread or use unlawful means but 1 To fear and serve the Lord Exod. 23.25 If thou wilt serve the Lord thy God he shall bless thy bread and thy water the good land and all the fruits of it were promised to the Israelites so long as they were Homagers to God no good thing shall be wanting to such Psal 34.10 If we serve him we shall never need turn stones into bread even as Christ here did not who refusing Satans offer was refreshed of the Angels 2 To live in an honest and lawful trade of life painfully Gods ordinance is that in the sweat of thy brows thou must get thy bread the earth brings not forth so naturally now as at first yet at first Adam must Till the ground 3 In our lawful Calling to depend upon Gods blessing which maketh rich leaving all the success to God and this will make us content with that estate which God maketh our portion by good means Vers 4. But hee answering said It is written Man liveth not by bread only but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God IN this answer of our Saviour repelling the Tempter four things are to bee considered 1 The manner 2 The affection negative But. 3 The matter of it a testimony of Scripture It is written 4 The parts of this testimony 1 Negative Man lives not by bread only 2 Affirmative but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God The manner and quality of the answer appears in the whole answer that it was 1 A reasonable 2 A meek 3 A modest answer First it was a reasonable answer our Lord did not shake off the Temper without an answer though he deserved none but to shew that hee did not refuse the motion of a wilful mind but upon just ground he makes him a sufficient answer whence our Saviour would teach us that Doct. If we be to deal with our most deadly adversaries Christiâ—â— must be reasâ—â—able to most â—nreasonable â—dversaries Reasons suppose them as malicious as Satan to Christ yet we must doe nothing nor speak nothing of a wilful mind but take the guide of reason and the ground of conscience with us For 1 The will of man not ordered by reason is like a wilde Colt without a Rider most untamed and untractable most hateful to God and most hurtful to men and a note of man reserved to the Judgement of the Great Day to bee punished is to bee presumptuous and stand in his own conceit 2 Pet. 2.10 2 Reasonable men must have reason for their actions at the least for herein is a difference between the beasts and men they are lead by sense and appetite but men by reason from which if men depart they degenerate into beasts being lead with sensuality 2 Pet. 2 1â— 3 Our Saviours example carrieth us further that we should not only bee lead by reason in our affairs but by reason sanctified and renewed reason directed by the word and this not only here but in all his course of life Mar. 10 40. when he refused the unreasonable request of the Sons of Zebedeus hee gave a just reason saying It is not mine to give but shall bee given to them for whom it is prepared I must not give the chief seats in my Kingdom according to kindred and affection but according to my Fathers election When he rebuked Peter and called him Satan he giveth a reason for such unwonted sharpness For thou art an offence unto me thou savourest not the things of God thou wouldest hinder mans Redemption and Satan could have done no more Matth. 16.23 Acts 1.7 when the Disciples would know of Christ at his ascension when he would restore the Kingdom to Israel he denies their request and gives a reason It is not for you to know this my father hath put times and seasons in his own power yee have another task to bee witnesses to me c. intend this look to your Apostleship Vse This reproves the frowardness and unreasonable wilfulness of men and especially in their dealings with their adversaries taking violent courses not respecting conscience religion nor reason it self but standing upon their will and saying This I will doe let see who shall hinder me and let him undoe it if he can Now perswade this man Oh but let not passion guide you but shew your self a man cast away this impotent and womanish reason to such as are bruitishly destitute of reason I will because I will No hee is an enemy to all your perswasion his will out-runs his wit and reason his lust is his law his conscience and his religion But if any thing can reclaime such a man if he be not rather an Heathen than a Christian let him set Christs example here before him who would not be wilful without reason to the Devil himself in a most devillish motion and wilt thou to thy brother to thy neighbour yea to thy wife children c. Either set thy self to walk in thy Lords steps or get thee another Master Five reasons of Christs meekness to Satan Secondly this answer of Christ was a most meek answer Christ was omnipotent able with a book to have confounded the Devil hee might by his power have driven him back
in searching till that age were all wasted none of which should come into the Land except Caleb and Joshua vers 40. then they up betimes in the morning and they were ready against the Word of God to goe Moses forbids them tells them God was not with them yet forty four presumed obstinately to goe and were pitifully consumed 2 King 14.10 Amaziah King of Judah having gotten a notable Victory against Edom presuming of Gods hand and help with him but not asking God counsel would also make warre against Israel but unhappily as such attempts prove for he was overcome and Jehoash King of Israel took Amaziah and broke down Jerusalems wall and spoyled the house of the Lord and the Kings house of all the Treasure there Josiah a good King presuming of Gods assistance without his word undertook an unwarrantable warre against the King of Aegypt hee might have thought God would help him who sought the Lord with all his heart against an open Idolater but not seeking the Lord in this he was mortally wounded and left his Kingdom in great trouble and confusion 2 King 23. Reasons Now Satan is most usual in temptations to presumption for these reasons 1 He hath experience how easily we are foyled with this kind of temptation how soon hee foyled our first Parents in the state of innocency how good David was overthrown presuming of his own strength when he forced Joab to number his people And those whom hee could never shake with distrust he hath quite overthrown with presumption 2 Satan knows that of all temptations this is most agreeable to our corrupt nature It is pleasing to us to conceive of Gods mercy and power towards us in any course our selves affect whereas temptations to despair are irksome and grievous to the flesh and have not ordinarily so much help from the flesh to set them forward as this hath and therefore the Devil is sometimes but not half so often in them Again hee knows it goeth with our nature and stream to presume of our own goodness strength and vertue Peter and the rest of the Disciples presumed they should not be offended at Christ nor forsake or deny him but yet not long after even they who professed they would dye with him rather than deny him lest him and fled away Matth. 26.33 c. 3 He knows that presumption is an extream of faith and hope and doth no less extinguish faith than despair nay more often doth foyl it seeing a man in despair is more fearful more watchful but a presumptuous man is fearless careless and will easily thrust himself upon any adventure as fearing no sin 4 Satan knows that presumptions are great sins prevailing sins Psal 19.13 a tempting of the Lord as the answer of our Saviour implies when wee leave his way and means and will try our own a sin which doth much provoke God to displeasure we see it in Peter who fell fearfully above all the Disciples Ubi dixisti sufficio ibi desecisti ubi tibi placuisti ibi periisti Aug. because hee was most presumptuous of all of whom Augustine saith When thou beginnest to say I have enough thou beginnest to fayl when thou hast an over-weening opinion of thy self thou art undone Quest What may we think of Jonathans action who himself alone with one man his Armour-bearer went out against a whole army of the Philistims Was it not a strange tempting of God and a great disorder in time of pitched battel 1 Sam. 14. Ans It may seem so at first but indeed it was not temerity in him for 1 He was guided by a secret and strong instinct of Gods Spirit 2 He had a general promise that so long as his people feared God one should bee able to chase a thousand and two ten thousand and therefore took no more with him than one being fully assured that God would goe out with him and fight for him against Gods and his enemies 3 Hee set God before him with whom he said it was not hard to save with many or with few ver 6. Besides he knew they were Gods enemies saying Let us goe to the uncircumcised 4 The event was a singular deliverance of God in that needful time for God sent a fear among the enemies and an earth-quake c. and armed Jonathan with such a spirit and power that the enemies fell before him for fear even at the sight of him Object But the instinct of the Spirit is strong and not doubtful as this was vers 6. It may be the Lord will be with us Ans The first instinct drew him to the place where hee was to receive a sign of confirmation from God as vers 9 10. If they say Come up wee will goe a sign they were lazie If they say Tarry till we come we will not that was a sign of their courage And this was a certain sign which strongly assured him vers 10 12. Quest Is it lawful now for any so to doo Ans No it was a singular fact not to be drawn into example unless a man can alleadge a new promise seeing all the ordinary promises of Scripture joyn the means and end together Use 1. We must conceive all this doctrin of Christs temptations above an ordinary History not only relating a thing done but belonging also to us to make our use of it as of other Scripture And hence let us learn to beware of these temptations to presumption which are many ways darted against us both in things spiritual and temporal I. In spiritual things 1 When men cast aside the known Word of God they dare swear and curse and blaspheme they dare adventure to break the Sabbath dare lye and be unjust against their conscience they dare doe any thing against the Justice of God though they know his will to bee contrary and all because they presume of Gods mercy which in their conceit hath eaten up all his justice But in Job 19.11 Christ inlargeth the sin of the Jews and Judas because it was against their conscience He that delivered me hath the greater sin he was warned he heard my Doctrin saw my Miracles and so did you And thou that knowest thy Lords pleasure and darest goe against it shalt know how fearful a thing it is to fall into his hands It thy Conscience condemn thee God is greater than thy conscience 2 Others are perswaded that Christ dyed for all and therefore they may be the bolder in their sins grace hath abounded what though sin abound much more Christ hath bloud enough and merit enough what need they fear But here is presumption without warrant For in Christs death before it can be fruitful to us there must be two things 1 An actual accomplishment 2 An effectual application to the soul in particular Physick though never so soveraign if it be in the pocket unapplied doth the Patient no good And if the death of Christ be applied to thee it worketh the death of thy sin
and turning the Book and finding the time expired hee useth the means and is diligent with fasting and prayer that God would accomplish his word Dan. 9.2 Jacob had a promise of God that hee should return into his Country he knew all the Devils in Hell could not hinder the promise yet seeing his brother Esaus wrath was a stop or bar hee useth means to remove this let he goes to God and wrastles with him by prayer then he sends his presents and orders his droves with all the wisdome hee could and by this means prevented the danger Christ himself having stairs will use them Remember for spiritual life and natural hee must eat that would live for spiritual war and temporal hee must carry his weapons that would overcome for earthly and heavenly harvest hee that would reap must sow The sick needs the Physician In our earthly or heavenly travel let us with Jacob prevent whatsoever lets would hinder us from our Countrey or the end of our way 4 Whether thou seest means or no subject thy will to Gods in all things If hee kill thee yet trust in him still David in the want of means of comfort said Behold here am I let the Lord do whatsoever is good in his eyes The three Children seeing no means of escape answered the King thus Our God is able to deliver us and if hee will not yet wee will not worship thy Image wee are sure of his presence either for the preservation of our bodies or the salvation of our souls Vers 8 Again the Devil took him up into an exceeding high Mountain and shewed him all the Kingdomes of the world and the Glory of them 9 And said unto him All these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me NOW are wee come by Gods assistance to the third and last Temptation of our Lord and Saviour which at this time hee sustained and powerfully vanquished For although our Saviour had twice repelled his violence already yet notwithstanding Satan continues his assault Again Doctr. Whence wee may note the importunity of Satan against Christ and his members in temptation to sin That hee is restless herein against Christ appears in that hee dares set upon him here again and again and the third time even so long as hee hath any leave given him And after this our Lord himself lead not a life exempted and freed from temptation for Luk. 4.13 Satan left Christ but for a season And for his members wee may see in Job how many Armies of Temptations hee would have oppressed him withal one could not finish his tale of dismal tydings till another came and overtook him even as one wave in the Sea overtakes another And in Joseph how did hee stir up the hatred of his brethren against him not content with that they must cast him into a pit and there hee must not rest but bee drawn out either to bee slain or at least sold to the Mâ—dianites being in Potiphars house how was hee every day tempted by his wanton Mistress refusing that folly how was hee hated of her and cast into a dungeon by his Master and there he lay a long time till the time came that Gods word must bee verified for his advancement 1 Because hee is eagerly set upon the destruction of mankind Reasons and therefore will bee hardly repulsed hee seeks continually to destroy and leaves no stone unturned 2 Hee hopes at least by importunity to prevail and by continuance of temptations to break those whom at first hee cannot foyl Well hee knows that instance and multiplying of temptations may drive even strong Christians sometimes to bee weary and faint in their minds And the rather because he knows the state of Gods children is not alike but as often in their bodies so the strength of grace in their souls is sometimes weakened and abated 3 His policy is oftentimes to make one temptation a preface and step to another and a lesser way to a greater For 1 Considering Christs hunger it seems small to make stones bread 2 But a greater sin than that to cast himself down where there is no need 3 But the greatest of all is plain Idolatry Worship me 4 If one kind of Temptation will not take so well hee turns to another as here If Christ will not distrust let him presume if neither let him bee covetous Vse 1. To teach us to beware of security seeing Satan takes not any truce but as a raging powerful enemy desperate and yet hopeful of victory will not bee repulled but assail us again and again Yea though wee have once and again overcome his temptations as Christ had done yet must we stand on our watch still for hee will set afresh upon us And why 1 This is the Apostles Counsel 1 Pet. 5.8 because Satan is a continual enemy therefore wee must bee sober and watch 2 Where hee is cast out hee seeks re-entry Matth. 12.24 3 Though God of his grace often restrain his malice it is not to make men secure but to have a breathing time to fit themselves better for further tryal 4 Security after victory in temporal warre hath proved dangerous and hath lost more than all their valour had won as the Amalekites having taken a great spoil of Davids 1 Sam. 30.16 and burned Ziglag sitting down to eat and drink and make merry were suddainly surprised and destroyed by Davids sword But in the spiritual combate security is much more deadly 5 It is the wisdom of a wise Pilot in a calm to expect and provide for a storm and in a troubled Sea after one great billow to expect another in the neck of it Even so while wee are in the troubled Sea of this World it will bee our wisdome to look for one temptation in the neek of another And seeing it is with us as with Sea-faring men who by much experience have learned that in the trouble of the Sea the greatest danger and tossing is towards the Havens where there is least Sea-room therefore let us towards ouâ— end in sickness and towards death look for Satans strongest assaults and in the mean time prepare against them Yea let us learn to prepare against all kinds of temptations as our Saviour here resists all kinds in these three general ones and herein teacheth us so to do for shall Satan dare to renew so many temptations against our Lord and will hee spare any of his members Vse 2. Here is a ground of Comfort for Gods people who when temptations come thick upon them are often dismaied as though God had forsaken them and so grow weary of resistance yea and not seldome they grow into words of impatiency Never were any so molested as they Good David said once This is my death and all men are lyers even all Gods Prophets that told him hee should bee King there was no way but one he must one day fall by the hand of Saul But bee of good comfort
with grace than Eves in her innocency And yet when as Satan let upon her senses he sent in by them such poyson as wrought death unto all her posterity Rules for the ordering of our senses aright 1 Beware of the life of sense which is a brutish life 2 Pet. 2.12 the Apostle speaketh of men led by sensuality even as the brute beasts who follow sense and appetite without all restraint Thus did the Gentiles who were therefore given up to a reprobate sense Rom. 1.24 And the danger of this estate Salomon noteth Eccles 11.9 when hee bids the young man walk in the sight of his own eyes and after the lusts of his heart but withall Remember that for all this he must come to judgement Let such think hereon that think it is free to give up their senses to feed themselves upon every object themselves please 2 Consider that God made the senses to minister to a right ordered heart and not the heart to follow the senses and therefore the heart must be watched that it walk not after the eye which is to invert Gods order And what a deluge of sin over-floweth the soul when the understanding is buried in the senses and the heart drowned in sinful appetites David gives his eye leave to wander and look lustfully after Bathsheba and what wayes of misery one overtaking another did he bring into his soul And what marvel then if natural men neglecting their duty in taking off their eyes from unchaste objects never rest till they come to have eâ—es full of adultery 2 Pet. 2.14 not ceasing to sin according to our Saviours speech Matth. 6.23 If the eye be evil all the body is dark yea and the soul too 3 Keep the parts of Christian armour upon thy senses that thou lye not open there A valiant Captain knowing that the enemy is easier kept out than beaten out of a City hath great care to plant his Garrison about the gates and walls there he sets his most â—aithful watch and ward there he plants his chief munition and ordnance Had David kept his armour on his eye he had not been so foyled by Bathsheba If on his ear he had not been so injurious to Mephibosheth by means of slandring Zaba 2 Sam. 16.3 4. Salomon wisheth us Not to look upon the colour of the wine in the cup that is with too much pleasure to stirre up desire He would have us keep our sence upon our ears not to give ear to a flatterer or whisperer but brow-beat him and drive him away with an angry countenance The Apostle Paul would have our ears shut against evil and corrupt words which corrupt good manners Daniel desires not to taste of the Kings dainties nor will pollute himself with them chap. 1. vers 8. And so we must fence our whole man as we may not touch any unclean thing and yeeld nothing to the course of waters 4 Feed thy senses with warrantable objects 1 God 2 His Word 3 The Creatures 4 Thy Brethren 5 Thy self First our eyes are made to see God himself here below as wee can in his back-parts hereafter as wee would face to face And therefore a base thing it were to fixe them upon the vain pleasures and profits of this life This is fitter for brute beasts that have no higher object Again what fairer or fitter object can we chuse for our senses than himself that made them with all their faculties and gives us so much comfort by them Prov. 20.12 The hearing ear and seeing eye God made them both and both of them as all things else he made for himself Further where can we better place ouâ— senses than upon him from whom all our help cometh How ought our eyes to be continually lifted up in holy and servent prayers and praises considering both our continual necessities and supplies So David I lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence my salvation cometh Psal 121.1 and As the eye of the Hand-maid is lifted up to the hand of her Mistris so are our eyes unto thee Psal 123.1 Lastly how can we place our senses better than upon him who is the most pleasant and durable object To see God in Christ reconciled to hear and know him become our Father is so ravishing a sight as the Saints have runne through fire and water to apprehend it And for the continuance it will feed the senses everlastingly yea when the senses themselves decay and wax dull this object shall feed them and be never the less sweet And therefore as Salomon adviseth Eccles 12.1 while thou hast thy senses fix them upon this object Remember thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth before they be dark that look out at the windows c. If a man set his senses and feed them upon any outward object wealth honour pleasure buildings and the like wee may justly say to him as our Saviour to his Disciples when they gazed upon the beautiful workmanship of the Temple Are these the things your eyes gaze upon verily the time comes when one stone shall not bee left upon another undemolished The like may bee said of all earthly objects whatsoever Only this object shall grow more and more glorious and desirable Secondly God made our senses to be exercised in his holy Word which leads us to himself Heb. 5.14 the Apostle requires that Christians should have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 senses exercised in the word Prov. 2.2 Let thine ear hear wisdom 1 Hence comes faith which is by hearing 2 Hence we draw the comforts of the Scriptures which are the consolations of God in our trouble 3 Hence are we admonished directed and wholsomly corrected Prov. 15.31 The ear that heareth the rebuke of life shall dwell among wise men 4 The danger of neglect is great 1 He that turns his car from hearing the law his prayer is abominable 2 Uncircumcised cars resist the Holy Ghost Acts 7.51 3 Itching ears that turn from the truth doe by Gods just judgement turn unto â—ables 2 Tim. 4.3 5 It is a sign of a man that hath given his heart unto God for he that gives his heart will give his senses too knowing that God requires both Prov. 23.26 My son give me thy heart and let thine eyes that is thy senses delight in my wayes And our Saviour saith He that hath an ear to hear let him hear Seeing therefore that this is so notable a means of guiding our senses let us more carefully give up and take up our eyes and ears with the sight and sound of Gods Word upon all occasions in the hearing and reading of the Scripture I would ask the most carnal man that is whether this in sound judgement bee not a better object for our senses than Bowls or Tables and fitter for all times especially for the Sabbath Thirdly God made our senses to profit our selves by his Creatures that by them we might glorifie him their Creator and not by them corrupt or insnare our selves
condition of Satans profer teacheth us further that Doct. 2. All his drift in his temptations is to draw men from Gods service to his own An example whereof wee have in Saul whom hee drew from his hope and trust in God to seek and sue to himself for help Hee entered also into Judas to draw him from his Masters side and service to his own to make him a Leader and Captain against Christ Luke 22.3 Neither faileth hee of his purpose and scope but effectually prevaileth in the World and in the Children of Disobedience Eph. 2.2 For if we look to that part of the World which is indeed the World not visited by the light of Grace and the Gospel they in general are vassals to Satan and profess homage and service to him in Ceremonies and Rites as Gods people to God himself 1 Cor. 10.20 Those things which the Gentiles sacrifize they sacrifize unto Devils and not unto God Which is spoken not in respect of the intention of the Worshippers but of the mystery in that Idol Worshipped which indeed tended to the Worship of the Devil the deviser and setter forward of the same And at this day in those new-found Countries experience shews how those Heathenish and barbarous people not having the true knowledge of the true God do therefore esteem the Devil as God and the Devil appearing to them in visible shapes they fall down and worship him and offer many services and sacrifices unto him upon this ground because God is merciful and amiable and will not hurt them Non est nocent natura Deus Cic. and therefore they need not bee so obsequious to him but the Devil is terrible and fearfull and churlish and therefore must bee pleased and worshipped No noceat Nay Gods own people and children are often drawn from the worship of their God to the worship of the Devil in the most base and submiss kind of worship The Jewes themselves offered unto Devils and not unto God Deut. 32.17 and what did they offer but their dearest things as Psa 106.37 They offered their sons and daughters unto Devils A marvellous high wickedness wherein the Israelites themselves imitated the barbarous Heathens among whom Satan had brought in this unnatural cruelty to kill their little children and offer them to Molech in the valley of Hinnom vers 38. Thus they shed innocent bloud by a Diabolical fury and polluted their Land at the Devils instigation Thus it was in the time of Ahaz and of Manasseh against which the Lord shewed great indignation and vehemence Jer. 7. and 19. and Ezek. 16. And the rather because it was against a special Law enacted for this purpose which we would think Gods own people should not need Levit. 17.7 They shall no more offer to Devils after whom they have gone a whoring and the sanction follows This shall be an ordinance for ever Yet Gods people forgat Gods institution and natures instinct and so put off all religion and natural affection Reasons And this comes to pass 1 Because of Satans pride and ambition who will not content himself with any thing but that honour that is due to God He being the Prince of the world and the god thereof Joh. 14.31 2 Cor. 4.4 will be worshipped by the world as a God and takes upon him as if he were so indeed whereas he is so only by his own usurpation and affectation and the wickeds delusion and acceptation 2 Because of his malice to God to whom he is most contrary God hath by the Law of Creation of Nature the Moral Law yea by the law of faith and all other bonds tied man to his own service now Satan seeks contrarily to deprive God of his due homage and drawes men from the knowledge and practice of Gods Will that hee may rule them after his own will 2 Tim. 2.26 3 Because of his hatred to Mankind to draw men into the greatest offence and displeasure of God It is an evil thing and bitter to depart from God and his service but to give this to Gods deadly enemy is a sin most hateful and dangerous 4 It is all the business that Satan hath in the world for which he leaves no stone unturned no means unattempted to set up his own kingdom above and against Gods Kingdom a compendious way whereof is to hinder corrupt or destroy the true worship of God 1 Thess 2.18 Satan hindred mee namely the true worship which Paul sought to establish Hee corrupted the worship of God among the Sons of God by the Daughters of men Gen. 6. And hee sought to destroy all Gods worship in the posterity by destroying Abel Quest But is it possible that Satan can so prevail to draw men to worship himself in stead of God And what means useth he to effect it Ans Yea it is plain and usual as we shall easily see if we consider 1 The ways that a man worshippeth the Devil 2 The means how he bringeth men thereunto I The ways are laid down in these four conclusions Conclus 1. Whosoever worshippeth for God that which is not God he worshipeth the Devil for God Deut. 32.17 They offered unto Devils that is to gods whom they knew not In all Divine worship whatsoever is not performed to God is performed to the Devil there being no mean between them in worship But how hath the Devil drawn Pagans and Heathens to set up and worship false gods Devils indeed Mars Jupiter c yea and Gods own people to worship Dagâ—n and Baal and Molech At this day all the Eastern people of Turks and Saracens worship Mahomet a god of their own making And the Papists all give Divine worship to Stocks and Stones the work of mens hands to Raggs and Reliques to their Breaden and baked god in the Sacrament as base an Idolatry as can be found among the Heathens in all which they have fallen down to the Devil and worshipped him Conclus 2. Whosoever worshippeth God in any other means than himself hath appointed he worshippeth the Devil and not God If the manner of Gods worship prescribed by himself in the Scripture be refused that cannot bee Gods worship because the manner is devised by the Devil Thus doe they who profess the true God distinct in three Persons but worship him according to their own devises and humane traditions as the Papists that worship God in Images Pilgrimages and a thousand devises meer strangers to the Spirit of God in Scripture thrust in by Satan for his own service Conclus 3. Numbers will not be perswaded they worship the Devil when indeed they doe For as then we worship God actually when we serve and obey him so then men worship the Devil when they doe the works of the Devil Joh. 8. He that is a slave a vassal to the Devil is an apparent worshipper of him Yea so near a service is between them that the Devil is said to beget many sons in the world Joh. 8.41 now every
power ruling all Creatures and over-ruling in all things The latter is the power of his Office as hee is Mediatour and King of his Church and this power differeth from the former 1 in that it is a power received Matth. 28.18 All power is given mee in heaven and in earth Phil. 2.9 God hath given him a Name above all Names whereas Christs power as God is not received but his own proper power being God 2 That power is essential infinite and incommunicable to any creature this is personal communicated by dispensation of grace after a singular manner unto Christ as God-man and our Mediatour 3 That power is immutable unchangeable everlasting this power shall after a sort bee determined for hee must give up his Kingdome to his Father 1 Cor. 15.24 not that Christ shall ever cease to bee a powerful head of his Church nor that hee shall cease to reign with his Father for all eternity but look as the Father now doth not rule the Church namely as Mediatour but the Son so the Son shall not then rule his Church in the manner as hee now doth as Mediatour but in the same manner as his Father shall Now hee rules and puts forth his power in fighting against his enemies but then all his enemies shall bee trodden under his feet and made his footstool Now hee manifesteth his power in gathering a Church by the Word and Sacraments but then all the elect shall bee gathered Now at his Fathers right hand hee puts forth his power in making intercession for us but then hee shall intercede no more 〈◊〉 us At the end of the World hee shall declare his mighty power in raising all the dead and sitting in judgement on them but then there shall bee no more need of this power when death shall bee swallowed up into victory and a final sentence is given on all flesh So as Christ shall not reign as now hee doth but as his Father Whence it followeth that the power by which Christ subdueth the Devils is not onely that essential power of his Divine nature but the power of his Office whereby even in our nature and flesh hee subdueth them And this power may bee distinguished according to the subjects into two kindes first that power by which hee sweetly ruleth the Church as the head the members or a King his Subjects and this is either directive or coercive Secondly that coercitive and judiciary power which hee exerciseth against his enemies wicked and ungodly men as a King against rebells and foes to his state and person And this power is properly raised against the Devils and his instruments against which they cannot stand Reasons 1 Christ was prophecied to bee the seed of the Woman that must bruise the Serpents head which prophecy plainly shews that Christ as Mediatour in our flesh must disperse all Satans forces planted against us and for this end the Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the Devil and the work doth properly and singularly belong unto Christ although the fruit and benefit of it by communication of grace flow unto the Church as the body of Christ Object But did not others beside Christ command the Devils Act. 8.7 when Philip preached in Samaria unclean spirits crying came out of many and Act. 16.18 Paul turned about and commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the maid Answ 1 Christ did it by his own power they by his 2 The power of Christ is one thing faith in his power is another they did it not so much by power as by faith in this power whence S. Paul chargeth the foul spirit In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ to come out 3 Common men were able to discern a difference between Christs power and others in casting out Devils Mar. 1. and Luk. 4.36 fear came on them and they said among themselves With authority he commands foul spirits and they come out that is by his power and divine authority and not as other Exorcists did 4 Hee did work his as a person that was God other his Disciples as persons with whom God was working and confirming the doctrin with signes and wonders that followed Mar. 16. ult 2 All things are given him and put under his feet Joh. 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand Heb. 2.8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet And as if that were not plain enough hee setteth in the next words a large Comment upon it And in that he hath put all things in subjection under him he left nothing that should not be subject only except him which did put all things under him as it is 1 Cor. 15.27 So as it is plain that excepting God himself nothing is not subject to Christ as Mediatour Now this may bee enlarged by a special induction of all things Angels are subjected to his word 1 Pet. 3.22 to whom Angels and Powers and might are subject with a reason For hee is the Lord of the holy Angels and set far above all Principalities and Powers Eph. 1.21 Unreasonable Creatures hear his word and obey him Luke 8.25 Who is this that commands the winds and the Seas and they obey him Diseases obey him to the Leper hee saith I will bee thou clean and hee is clean immediately Matth. 8. To the Lame man hee saith Take up thy bed and walk and hee doth so Matth. 9.6 Hee meets a blind man Joh. 9.7 and bids him go wash in Siloam and hee comes again seeing Yea death it self heareth and departeth at his word Joh. 11.44 At that word Lazarus came forth bound hand and foot and the time commeth when they that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God and come forth In one word the Apostle ascribeth to Christ that he is able to subdue all things to himself Phil. 3.21 All Creatures all Enemies sin Satan the Grave Hell Death Damnation and whatsoever resisteth his glory in himself or any of his members 3 Christs Kingdome must bee set up against and above all the Kingdoms of the World Dan. 2.45 The little stone cut out of the Mountain without hands breaks in pieces the Clay the Iron Brass Silver and gold that is the Kingdome of Christ shall break all those great Kingdomes and the God of Heaven raiseth a Kingdome to his Son which shall never bee destroyed And therefore for the upholding of this Kingdome hee must bee invested with power which neither the Tyrants of the World nor the god of the World can ever prevail against For never were all the Kingdomes of the World so opposed by the World and the Devil as the poor kingdome of Jesus Christ but this power of Christ is as an hook in Nebuchadnezzars jaws and a chain in which hee holdeth Leviathan limiting him how far he shall exercise malice against the Church and no further 4 Christ as Mediatour was to perform those works which no other creature
1.11 to signifie the same And their hands are under their wings by which is meant that their powerful and secret operation also cannot bee discerned with bodily eyes Therefore hath the Scripture expressed their nature under diverse shapes and ascribed unto them many parts both of men and other creatures in which we may see and understand their work and office as Ezek. 1. Angels are described by four beasts not because they are no more in number for thousand thousands sit at his right hand but because they doe the Commandements of God in all the four quarters of the world These beasts have four several faces 1 The face of a man to note that all of them are reasonable and understanding creatures as man is 2 The face of a Lion to signifie that every Angel is strong and powerful and couragious as the Lion among the beasts Psal 103.20 Praise the Lord yee Angels strong in power One of them is stronger than a number of men yea than a number of Devils 3 The face of an Oxe to note their patience assiduity and unweariableness in their service and ministry as the Oxe is a beast most patient and constant and profitable in his pains 4 The face of an Eagle to note their swiftness and alacrity seeing a faire off many hidden things as the Eagle flying strongly and swiftly that is unresistably as the Eagle holding out not fainting but renewing their strength as the Eagle By the same Prophet they are described chap. 10.22 by the shape of Cherubs which were the faces of little fair boys with wings noting unto us under that resemblance their nature to be voyd of deceit as a child simple innocent not proud or arrogant not envious or malicious Having wings to note their readiness and expedition in their ministery and these wings in their four sides to shew that their ministery extended to all the four sides of the world II. By way of dispensation they have often assumed bodies that were true immediately created of God not imaginary or phantastical as Marcion thought whom Tertullian refuted neither generated nor born as mans body is nor hypostatically united to the Angels as constitutive parts as our body is a constituting part of us but taken upon them for the time of some special service and layd down again even as we doe our apparrel to the end they might familiarly conferre and converse with men till that special service were performed Thus did they visibly appear unto Abraham and Lot thus was the Angel of God seen like a fourth man in the Furnace which the three Children were cast into and in this humane shape I doubt not but they came and appeared to the Son of God in this place My reasons are these 1 If the Angels came often in bodily shape to the servants and adopted children of God why should they not much more to the natural Son of God being cloathed with the same flesh 2 We have formerly proved that the Devil came in assumed bodily shape the more to molest and terrifie the Son of God and therefore the Angels came to him also in bodily shape the more to comfort him 3 The present estate of Christ required it who was man and subject to many infirmities and therefore the Angels came corporally to comfort him 4 The phrase of the text implies a more sensible and peculiar manifestation of them than before as in his agony an Angel appeared to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 22. vers 43. In this coming of the Angels note an happy change in the estate of our Lord and Saviour for in stead of the Devil his deadly enemy come the Angels his friends and houshold servants in stead of one Devil many Angels for all are his to attend him in stead of sharp hunger for forty days together now he hath bodily food and comfort in a moment Doct. God may hide his comforts for a time but at length they shall shine out upon his servants as the Sun from under a cloud All the time of the temptation Christ was without food without Angels nay he endured sharpness of hunger in his body and of Satanical vexation in his soul now the Lord comforts him not only in removing evil from him but restoring to him his whole former peace besides the glory of a most victorious conquest And the same is his dealing with his servants Psal 73.1 David being plunged exceedingly with a grievous temptation of Atheism not whether there was a God or no but whether this God were just and merciful seeing things fell out so cross to good men and so prosperously to the wicked at last breaks out into a setled resolution Yet God is good to Israel He was in the temptation as a man cast into the Sea souzed in one billow after another at length hee descries a shore and with extream toyl and peril he gets thither and crawls up and saith Yet I have escaped drowning Or as a man in a pitcht field that in the thick of his enemies had escaped many blows and deadly thrusts being set beyond the danger saith Yet I am alive So the Lord though in temptation he seem to stand farre off yet at last appears with strength and comfort The same David being in great distress a long time hunted as a Partrich by Saul but strangely delivered from him and Achish concludes Psal 34.19 That how great soever the troubles of the righteous be yet the Lord will at length deliver them out of all To this purpose Salomon saith that though the just man fall seven times a day namely into affliction yet hee riseth again Abraham in his great trial saw nothing but sorrow and vexation for the loss of his Isaac yet in the third day when the case seemed desperate God was seen in the mountain as if he had not seen God till he came into the mountain Whence his posterity used it as a proverbial speech In the mount God will bee seen at the farthest he will be seen there if not before Job assured himself that after darkness he should see light and according to his faith wee see howsoever Satan set upon him with all his might to blaspheme God and his friends would needs prove him an Hypocrite and which was worst of all God not only stood a farre off from him but came upon him and against him as one that strove against the Almighty and one that reproved his Maker chap. 39. vers 35. Yet at length he steps out for him acquits him and rebukes his friends and accepts his servant and turneth his captivity and gives him twice as much as before he had chap. 42. Reasons 1 Herein the wisdom of God joyned with his power shineth forth hereby the Lord knows how to bring light into darkness Psal 112.4 To the righteous ariseth light in darkness No darkness or misery can keep God and the comforts and strength of his Spirit from his children Yea hereby the Lord knows how to
find God sweet to their souls in trials or after them four reasons page 260 Properties of such as to whom Christ will reveal himself three page 77 All promises and threats in Scripture conditional although the condition be not ever expressed page 170 All promises of Satan are miserable soul and deceitful five reasons page 195 Promises of God differ from the Devils how page 196 Profers of Satan all upon some wicked condition or other page 203 Miserable men that accept of Satans profers four instances page 206 Publick persons must especially watch against two things page 4 Publick persons must bee above other careful of Gods glory page 215 Q. QVestion How could Christ be safe among wild beasts page 28 How could Christ be hungry being able to feed so many miraculously page 38 Why Christ took not all infirmities of every particular man three reasons page 39 Why Satan is so restless in tempting three reasons page 45 Whether Christs temptations were in inward motion or external page 48 Why Christ seeing he could would not turn stones into bread five reasons page 74 How to conceive the Word of God by which hee governeth and preserves the Ceatures page 92 Whether St. Matthew or St. Luke observe the right order of the temptations seeing they differ page 100 Whether a man may pray or communicate with an evil man or with a wicked or dumb minister page 108 Whether a man may hear the Word with profit and blessing from a wicked man page 110 Whether Christ was indeed on the pinacle or in vision page 121 How Satan a Spirit could carry Christ his body five considerations page 123 Whether Jonathans action who with his Armour-bearer only set on a whole army of enemies was presumption page 130 Why did not Satan Cast down Christ but saith Cast thy self down three reasons page 137 How Satan is said to fill Ananias his heart Acts 5.3 page 141 Whether it bee not lawful to ask a sign page 174 How Satan can prevail to bring men to worship himself in stead of God ways and means page 207 c. Whether wee may present our selves at Masse thinking to keep our hearts to God page 225 Whether on no occasion we may be present at Masse page 227 Whether the Prophet gave Naaman leave to be present at Idolatry page 228 R. REasons why our Saviour would not yeeld to the last temptation five page 210 Receive nothing from the Devils hand three reasons page 205 Redemption free to us cost Christ dear page 124 Religion set up or held up by bad means is wicked as the Romish page 202 Representation of Satan quick and short three reasons page 187 Restlesness in evil an expresse image of the Devil page 180 Strong resistance of Satan makes him fly four reasons page 235 Means of resisting Satan five page 238 Manner of resistance in five things page 239 Reverence in Gods worship urged six reasons page 229 Riches must not have our hearts four reasons page 98 Romish teachers disarming men of the Scriptures confuted by five reasons page 79 Romish doctrine Idolatrous proved at large page 222 Rules of resisting Satans temptations three page 37 Rules to know when the tempter cometh two page 50 Rules to confirm the heart in the love of God not withstanding outward crosses three page 60 Rules to sence us from using unwarrantable means of our good four page 63 Rules to avoyd seduction by Separatists four page 111 Rules to uphold our selves when Satan would cast us down three page 71 Rules to try whether a Scripture bee wrested seven page 165 Rules of trial whether our obedience be beyond that of the Devils four page 250 Rules to carry our selves free from infection of sin in all places where we come three page 120 S. SAbbath-breakers cast by Gods word notwithstanding all their pleas page 97 Sacrament may be received where open offenders are tollerated page 103 To Sanctifie a mans person hee must set up Gods worship in his heart page 112 The word Satan used by Christ in the last temptation four reasons page 213 Satan cannot hinder Gods Children of salvation he may of comfort page 3 Satans mouth may be stopped but not his malice page 4 Satan an accuser three reasons page 16 Satan tempteth two ways page 21 May allure us cannot force us page 22 Ever taketh us at the weakest three reasons page 42 Cometh to a man two ways page 48 Assayleth the Son of God knowing him so to be four reasons page 50 Aims at four things in his first temptation page 51 In tempting directly opposeth the word of God five reasons page 52 Satan the most eminent and dangerous tempter four reasons page 45 Seeketh ever to blemish the good hee cannot hinder page 63 Inferreth mischievous conclusions upon true premisses four reasons page 64 Never cometh without some stone or other page 70 Alloweth his servants stones for bread ibid. Seeketh chiefly to draw them to sin who have most means against it four reasons page 140 Can tempt but not force us to sin five reasons page 137 His subtilties to be watched six instances page 128 Can alledge Scripture to thrust forward his wicked purposes five reasons page 144 Alledgeth Scripture three ways page 145 Is not content that men sin unlesse they do it most sinfully page 141 In one allegation of Scripture out of Psal 91.11 he hideth eight faults page 147 Never overcome without resistance page 240 Scriptures being our Weapon wee must alwayes have them in readinesse page 80 Scriptures the hammer of Heresies as in six instances page 85 Scriptures how abused to establish errors in doctrin five instances page 149 In practice in many page 151 Scriptures no dumb but speaking Judg. page 158 Scriptures conferred in parallel places page 166 Scriptures collated in unlike places and reconciled in twenty five instances page 167 Scripture most aptly alledged by Christ page 172 Some Scriptures fitter for some to meditate on than others page 173 Security must be watched against after temptation foyled five reasons page 180 Senses must be diligently kept and four rules for the right ordering of them page 188 Service of God must be ruled wholly by God for 1 matter 2 manner 3 end page 231 Service of God two-fold 1 Legal 2 Evangelical page 229 Of Service Evangelical three conditions page 230 Service of God must bee cheerful three reasons page 232 Marks of a good servant of God five ib. Means to be preserved from the service of Satan five page 209 A sign may be asked in four cases page 174 Five vain ends of asking a sign page 175 Three sins above other make men most like the Devil page 181 Sins of Jerusalem the sins of England five instances page 115 Sins of this age fearfully aggravated by our means of grace page 142 Soul liveth by Gods word four ways page 90 Solitary places fittest for temptation two reasons page 14 Directions for solitarinesse four page 16 Spirit of God led Christ
Christ as well as they they seek peace even with the worst and shall obtain it so farre as God seeth good who when a mans ways please him doth so over-rule his enemies hearts as they shall become friendly unto him 3 By setting every Christian at peace with himself who before had no peace 2 With a mans self but now hath obtained 1 Peace of Conscience when his Conscience being pâ—rswaded of his reconciliation with God through Christ it ceaseth to wound and accuse and beginneth to excuse and comfort and so bringeth quietnesse and tranquillity of minde into the soul which passeth understanding 2 Peace in his will and affections which by grace cease to be rebellious and become daily more pliant to the Commandement and obedient to the mind enlightned by the Spirit 3 Peace in Christian combate in that grace getteth daily victory corruption receiveth daily foyls and consumption and so the heart every day more quiet than other from the power and molestation of it Thirdly whereas so long as God himself is our enemy 3 Peace with the Creatures all his Creatures are armed against us to take his part and revenge their Creators wrong upon us by Christ even this curse is also removed and it is an expresse branch of the New Covenant that the Lord will work our peace with the Creatures Hos 2.18 And in that day will I make a Covenant for them with the wild beasts and with the fowls of the heaven and with that which creepeth upon the earth For God being in league with us even the stones in the field and the beasts in the field shall be at league with us also Job 5.23 And the reason is because as then the Creatures rebelled against man when hee became a rebel against God so when men by Christ are reconciled unto God and become his sons by adoption and grace then is their ancient right and rule over the Creatures lost by the fall restored in part so as his children never receive hurt from them but such as the Lord sanctifieth both for the furtherance of his owne glory and their salvation which are the main ends which God respecteth in all his ways with his elect Thus we see what is this peace and how Jesus Christ procureth it us whence wee may observe sundry profitable points of doctrin Observ 1. That there is no sound peace without Christ he is the Prince of peace his doctrin is the message of peace and himself the Messenger of the great Covenant of peace There can be no peace with God by Moses nor by the works of the Law whatsoever dotages Popish teachers hold to the contrary only the obedience and merit of Christ is the matter of it which made the Apostles always pray not for peace from merit but for mercy and peace or grace and peace because it only floweth from the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ Secondly it is as clear as the former That there can be no peace to the wicked man Isa 57.21 because he is out of Christ 1 No inward peace in his Conscience the which howsoever it may slumber for a while or become feared benummed and past feeling yet like a wild beast will it hastily waken and pursue him and make him restlesse as Cain and fly when none pursues him 2 No true outward peace for although their houses may seem peaceable and without fear and all things passe according to their hearts desire yet this iâ— but a truce for a time or rather a respite of a condemned person who where ever he goeth carrieth his sentence of death with him and woe must needs be the end of that peace that maketh men most quiet when their sins cry the loudest for vengeance in the ears of God Thirdly this point affordeth some main differences between true and false peace Difference between true and false peace by which every man may be helped in the examination of his estate For 1 sound Christian peace is always a fruit of righteousnesse and by unrighteousnesse is unsetled and disquieted but the peace of the wicked is for most part a fruit of iniquity and by it is never disturbed but for the time the more sin the more peace as in a number of sinners might bee instanced 2 Peace by Christ ariseth from sorrow for sin whence our Saviour counteth mourners blessed but worldly peace from the fruition of some worldly delight or other 3 The former is rooted in the heart and stablisheth it the latter is a rejoycing in the face not in the heart 2 Cor. 5.12 in the midst of such laughter the heart is heavy or may well bee so it being not unlike the laughter of the theef upon the gallows 4 As none can give the former save the Spirit of God so none can take it away it hath no end because hee that is the Prince of it is also Father of eternity Isa 9. neither can it bee but lasting having such soundness in it self but especially in respect of that infallible promise my peace shall none take from you Whereas the latter though never so faiâ— for the time is as unlasting as unsound Job compareth it to a dream Job 20.5 Solomon to the crackling of Thornes under a Pot Eccl. 6 7. God snatcheth it suddainly from them and as Baltazâ—r was taken at his banquet so God maketh their Sun fall even at noon day and darken them in the clear day Amos 8.9 And which addeth to the misery of the wicked their earthly happiness not onely endeth but the end of it is fulness of woe and heavinesse it self Prov. 14.13 the issues of such pleasing waies are death according to that of the wise man Prov. 9.17 Stoln waters are sweet but they know not that the dead bee there Whosoever then would not bee deceived in his peace let him not own any out of Christ let him look that his joy bee helped out of sorrow that it bee a fruit of righteousness and rooted in the heart for then it is lasting for ever and ever comfortable But let thy peace bee never so great and the light of God shine never so bright upon thy habitation and yet thou hast never been troubled with the sight of thy sin as many profess they never were if it can dwell with iniquity as many jolly fellows who make bold Covenants with Hell and Death if it stablish not the heart with assured hope and comfort in all well doing all this is but a brawn of heart a laughing madness and frenzy and even in the crying of this peace commeth destruction 1 Thess 5.3 and let all that fear to bee at war with God beware of this ungodly and dishonourable peace which is the most general peace in the world at this day the guise of which is then to laugh and rejoyce most when Christ is departed as himself witnesseth Joh. 16.20 The best way to come by peace in the want of it Fourthly In the want
9.22 Master if thou canst do any thing help us but with confidence as the Leper Master if thou wilt thou canst make mee whole Matth. 8.2 or as the Centurion onely speak the word rebuke these dumb and deaf spirits within me and thou who only canst make the dumb to speak the deaf to hear the blinde to see and the lame to leap for joy set mee at liberty work my inlargement chase away these spiritual enemies and thou that art the Son set mee free and I shall bee free indeed In cases of sorcery and bodily oppressions by Satan what to do Again art thou in any affliction of body or mind or goods or name yea bee it in the case of Sorcery or Witchcraft against thy self or any of thine or whatsoever belongeth unto thee look up unto Christ hee can command Fire Water Windes Seas Diseases Death the Devils themselves and if hee see it good for thee he can check all thy grievances hee is of no lesse power now in his glory at his Fathers right hand than he was in his humility upon earth and yet when hee was at lowest hee could command Legions of Devils nay Legions of Angels as at his apprehension much more can hee now command and rebuke the former and pitch the latter round about them that fear him so as without his will all the Devils in Hell cannot make one hair of thy head to fall The superstitious sorcery of such as attempt by amulets and words to drive away Devils and Diseases Thirdly Hence are overthrown sundry superstitious and wicked opinions and practices very rife in the world As 1 Such Popish minded persons as think that by certain words and amulets Devils may bee driven away diseases healed c. And for this they alleadge that in the New Testament onely by naming Jesus such cures were effected To which I answer that it is too gross a conceit to think that there can be any vertue in words to dive away diseases much less Devils or to conceive that by the pronouncing of words but by the vertue and power of Christ working by the Apostles and miraculously put forth with those words both diseases and Devils gave place and so the parties were healed Popish charming 2 Such as think that by the applying of consecrated things as they call them Devils are scared away as by holy Water Salt hallowed Candles reliques of Saints the sign of the Cross Images fashioned in such or such a place All which howsoever very ordinary in the Church of Rome yet indeed are no better than sorcery and charming and the very practices of those who while they will drive the Devil from others plainly prove that themselves are spiritually possessed by him in that they will cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils They object for these reliques that a souldier that was to be buried was revived by touching the dead bones of Elisha 2 King 13.21 But this was a Miracle wrought by the finger of God to confirm the truth preached by that worthy Prophet and is not to be ascribed to the touching of the bones which in themselves nor at any other time had any such vertue They alledge also the example of the Woman having the bloudy issue who was cured by the touching of Christs garment whereas that disease was cured not by the Corporal touching of his skirt but by the Spiritual touching of himself which was by the hand of her faith and therefore our Saviour said be it unto thee not according to thy feeling but according to thy faith They alledge also Acts 19.12 That from Pauls body were brought to the sick Napkins or Handkerchiefs and the diseases departed from them and the evil spirits went out of them Which things had no such power in them but only that it pleased God by such weak means to produce Miracles for the confirmation of that holy Doctrin preached by â—aul And therefore the text ascribeth these Miracles not to the garments of Paul but to God himself who by the hands of Paul wrought them vers 11. Wâ—â—â—ce we may conclude that whosoever use any such means as these shew thâ—mselves not only superstitious and wicked but most foolish and ridiculous to think that any bodily substance whatsoever can work upon or violence a substance which is not bodily such as the Devils is It will be alledged that experience sheweth that such means as these prevail to these intents and purposes which wee grant to bee true but that is by Satans subtilty who often dissembleth a flight as though he were forced by an exorcist to depart or else indeed goeth away that men might be confirmed in their impiety and grow more mad upon such wicked and unlawful means 3 Others who when Gods hand is any way upon them or theirs Against such as leave him with whom God is and run to the Witch with whom the Devil is especially if they conceive it as they are prone enough a case of Sorcery or Witchcraft leave the help of him with whom God is and run to one with whom the Devil is that is the Wizzard or Witch commonly called the Cunning man and Woman or the Wise man and Woman Which because it is so common a sin and so bold as men and women doe not so much as Saul who changed his garments that he might not bee known I will by some reasons prove this conclusion that although a man knew that a Cunning man or Woman so called or a Wizzard could and would help him yet ought hee not to seek or admit of such help were his case never so desperate 1 Besides expresse places of Scripture against it as Deut. 18.10 Levit. 19.31 Levit. 29.6 It is a departure from God to the Devil Isa 8.19 Should not a people inquire at their God from the living to the dead 2 King 1.16 Because thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron was is not because there was no God in Israel and indeed the seeking to such is a service and homage to Satan which he often and for most part being very skilful in Natural things recompenseth with cure of the disease Augustine Hence did the ancient Fathers call this seeking unto them a renouncing of Christianity and an Apostacy from God 2 All help is to be sought of God and in those lawful means which hee hath appointed and promised blessing unto But for words Amulets Characters which are Diabolical Sacraments or good prayers as they call them of the limbs of the Devil whose warrant have they or what power but from the Devil for God never put any such efficacy either into their nature by Creation or by any Divine institution since and therefore their work is from the Devil on his part by Satanical operation and on the Seekers part by Satanical faith and illusion Obj. But they use good means of Physick also Ans Seldome or never but if at any time
governour accuse him with matter of death falsly witnesse it against him moved the people to ask Barabbas and cry Crucify him they are content that his blood bee upon them and their children as it is at this day and this is that which Pilate in his own defence said unto Christ Joh. 18.35 Am I a Jew Thine own Country-men and High Priests delivered thee unto mee as if hee had said I bear thee no hatred or displeasure I am no Jew who best know what thou hast done being a Jew also but thine own nation deeply accuse thee unto mee Whence may be noted sundry instructions First That the lower degrees of murther such as are envy hatred Lowest degrees of Murther condemned and uncharitable proceedings are esteemed murther it self before God for the Jews slew Christ in that they delivered him of envy to the Romans to bee slain The Law of God which condemneth the least injury against the person of our Neighbour doth it in these words Thou shalt not kill The Apostle John speaketh of a mental murther He that hateth his brother is a man-slayer 1 Joh. 3.15 hee hath secretly in his heart slain him already And yet how openly do men testify the malice of their hearts so far as they dare by cursed reviling and murthering speeches that they may shew themselves Murtherers with witness but alas little know they what they do for if the least and lowest degrees of provoking and rancorous speeches as to call the brother fool deserve to be punished with Hell fire Matth. 5.22 what deserve those venemous and spightful speeches which numbers without all conscience accustome their Tongues unto let such consider that the Apostle rangeth Raylers in the rank with Adulterers Buggerers and such beastly persons as shalâ— never enter into the Kingdome of God 1 Cor. 6.20 Others there are even a generation of rough Ishmaels men of a word and a blow whose fists are against every man who instead of seeking peace and pursuing it devise how to quarrel and contend they care not with whom and this is counted courage and man-hood but is indeed a satanical practice and an high degree of Murther which for the most part endeth in the highest to the destruction of others with themselves Secondly Note that it is no less sin to sin by instruments As great a sin to sin by others as by our selves than by our own hands the Jews were as deep if not deeper in this sin as the Romans Calaphas the High Priest was as far in it as Pilate that read the sentence the one gave wicked Counsel the other followed it the receiver partaketh as deep in the sin and punishment as the Theef himself Ahab murthered not Naboth but because hee consented to Jezabel giveth her his ring and concealeth her wicked intent therefore the Lord asketh him if hee had killed and gotten possession 1 King 21.9 as for Jezabel there was another reckoning for her behind David slew not Vriah with his own hands but writing to Joab to put him in the forlorn hope and recoyle back from him that hee might bee smitten by the enemy and dye therefore the Lord asked him wherefore hast thou killed Vriah with the sword 2 Sam. 11.15 12.9 Communication in sin â—undry waies This teacheth us to take heed of setting sinners a work or any way of casting in our lot with them either by 1 Commanding 2 Counselling 3 Countenancing 4 Provoking 5 Flattering 6 Silence 7 Winking at as Ely 8 Defending any sin or sinner for accessories are before God as principals which is the rather to bee considered of because men willingly deceive themselves in this behalf Many Masters will not work themselves upon the Sabbath day but their servants must for them in whom they sin as heinously as if they set their own hands to work for they ought by Gods Law to see that their servants nay their beasts rest on the Sabbath as well as themselves Many Parents may hence also see their great sin who themselves perhaps will not Swear Lye Drink to drunkenness but all these and worse they do in their children over whom they watch not whom they correct not not use good means to reclaim them Many men will not themselves revile or persecute Gods children but can well enough bear it in others without much offence to themselves or defence of the other even when they have a calling often to do it Paul so soon as hee was converted accused himself for keeping the garments of those that stoned Stephen And the truth of grace would make them listen to the Counsel which Pilates wife gave her Husband have nothing to do with that just mâ—â— have no hand no tongue no ear no foot to stir against Christ in his members if thou doest not mean one day dearly to buy it Horrible ingratitude of the Jews noted Thirdly Note The extream wickedness and unthankfulnesse of the Jews whose sin is here aggravated in that they persecute to the death a just and innocent man one that was sent unto them by God that came unto them as unto his own among whom hee had performed all his great works had given sight to their blind healed their sick dis-possessed their Devils raised their dead and all this most freely and cheerfully and yet such was their ingratitude that when hee came to his own his own received him not this chief corner-stone was refused of the builders this chief shepheard was smitten even in the house of his friends Adde hereunto that they persecute such a worthy and the Lord of all with such indignity and despight as they not onely reckoned him among sinners but preferred a Murtherer before the just and holy one of God and wherefore what had the righteous man done which of them could accuse him of sin or might not hee have taken his enemies book upâ—â— his shoulder and have bound it as a crown unto him Job 31.35 yes verily The Apostle hath told us in the words before what Christ had done hee had gone about and spent all his life in doing good unto the Jews but they returned him evil for good to the grief of his soul and therefore as David lamenteth the death of Abner How dyed Abner his hands were not bound nor his feet chained but as a man falleth before wicked men so did hee fall 2 Sam. 3.35 that is Abner was a valiant and worthy man and so would have acquitted himself if hee could have met his enemy face to face and had not been wickedly and trecherously slain by Joab even so Christ continued a worthy person although according to the Counsel of God hee fell before wicked men through malice and envy and as David amplified both the sin and the punishment of such a wretch as so cowardly slew Abner when hee said know yee not that this day a great Prince is fallen in Israel even so the sin of the Jews was hereby heightned that a great Prince fell
1 Seeing a man cannot safely and comfortably pass through any part of the day without the light strength and comfort of the Scriptures it pleased the Lord to set up this publike ministery in his Church that even beleevers themselves by hearing the Scriptures daily explained obscure places opened by those which are clearer and figurative speeches cleared by the proper might attain not onely to a clearer understanding of the Scriptures but also to have them printed in their minds and memories so as they might bee able to draw them into continual use 2 Even the best have nature in them and their daily failings and without daily repair grow weak in faith weary of well-doing and unfruitful in the work of the Lord. And therefore though they should not need to come to increase their knowledge yet have they need to hear their faults controlled to bee provoked unto duty to bee confirmed in their obedience to bee strengthened in their faith reformed in their lives comforted in their troubles and spurred to bring every thing to use and practice and therefore the best may be still Disciples and Learners in the School of Christ 3 The agreement and fellowship of the members of the Church is excellently hereby maintained and preserved not onely by communication of giftâ— and graces while some teach and some learn but also while it is a mean to hold them all of a mind whereas without this publike Ministery if every one were left to hiâ— private sense and reading it could not but brâ—â—d corrupt and private opinionâ— to the dissolving of minds and affections And this special benefit of thiâ— publike ordinance the Apostle aimed at Eph. 4.13 Till wee all meet together in the unity of the Faith and knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man implying that the scope of the Ministry is to bring and preserve all the members of the Church in this unity of faith and knowledge wh ch in this world it cannot do but so soon as it hath done this it self shall ceâ—se namâ—ly in the life to come Hee must needs bee wilfully blind that espieth nâ—t very gr at necessity of the word preached for the strengthening of thâ—se joyâ—â—s and bands whereby beleevers are knit both unto the head as also unto the me◠〈◊〉 From the oppoâ—ition of the Devil and wicâ—ed onâ—â— Thirdly The necessity of this Ordinance appeareth in that the Devil and wicked 〈◊〉 Wâ—â—â—â— have ever resisted it above all other as being the greatest enemy unto his Kingdome which maketh him fall down like lightening in the heart of men Hence is it that hee stirreth up Jannes and Jambres and all the â—able of Egypts Inchanters against Moses and setteth all his power against him to prove him a counterfeit Hence is it that hee will not want a Pashur to sinne Jeremy nor an Amaziah to do as much to Amos. Hence raised hee up many Armies against Paul Elimas and Alexander Hymeneus and Philetus Dâ—otrephes and Demas and from his mouth hee casts out floods of râ—proâ—chful and virulent slanders against him that hee is a pestilent and 〈◊〉 ouâ— fellow that hee speaketh against the Law and against the Temple away with such a fellow it is not fit that hee should live A d hath the Devil grown any whit more calm or can hee digest Pauls preachâ—â— better since Pauls time no sure hee is no changling except because his time is shorter his malice bee stronger and more raging I wish Gods faithful Ministers every where found it otherwise But to omit other proofs 〈◊〉 serve generally the voice of the multitude Where there is no Preacher but some poor creature to serve as they say or starve them rather it is wonderful how well people think themselves with him he shall be commended and defended for a very honest peaceable man or for a very good fellow that will bear his Neighbors company they could not have a better and for all hee cannot preach a worse they f ar will come when hee is gone But whose voice is this and is not the hand of the Devil in all this Well on the contrary where there is by Gods mercy a painful and faithful Minister that Preacheth constantly and conscionably how goeth the cry and common voice of people upon him wee have one that Preacheth indeed often and perhaps is a good Scholar but hee is very unpeaceable a reprover of every man a spy-fault hee hath made such contention in our Parish since hee came that wee wish hee had never come amongst us we were quiet enough and held peace and neighbourhood before he came And thus he is couâ—ted as Jeremy a man that striveth with the whole earth The same proveâ— by experience Fourthly The necessity appeareth by common experience if we compare the people who have had the Ministry planted amongst them with those who have it not In the one what shall a man sooner meet with than woful ignorance Popish opinions superstitious practices heathenish conversation they live as men without God in the world or as if the old Sodomites were alive again But in the other by Gods mercy some seal of the Ministry you shall meet withall some men of knowledge of conscience and out of conscience performing duties in publike and in private in the house of God and in their own houses you shall hear godly and gracious speech in their mouths see good example in their lives holy desires and endeavours to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ And whence is this difference but from the presence or absence of this ordinance and Gods blessing attending or departing from it Vse 1. Ministers must urge themselves to diligence by this necessity The Ministers of Christ must urge upon themselves this self same Commandement to provoke themselves to diligence in pâ—eaching for it layeth necessity upon them and woe unto that Minister that preâ—â—heth not the Gospel A lamentable thing is it to see how little either this commandementâ— or the denunciation of this fearful woe prevaileth with many but some are given up with Demas to imbrace this present world some give up themselves to idleness and voluptuousness of life some to ambition and further preferments some to policy and state matters and very few onely to faithful and painful Preaching Thus this commandement of Christ is generally forgotten the sheep and Lambs of Christ unfed and forsaken the Kingdome of Christ unbuilded and unrepaired and the Kingdome and power of sin generally standeth in the state of it unshaken in the hearts of men 2 Wee see hence what little need wee have of a dumb or blind Ministery unless there hee need of breaking so express a Commandement of Jesus Christ who sealeth no mans Commission but to Preach to his people No need of a duâ—b oâ— blind Ministeâ—y What need is there of wells without water of mouths that speak not of candlesticks without light of stars without shine of salt without
professeth his great love to the Law saith That all the day long his meditation is in it Psal 119.79 Read wee not that the twelve Tribes served God instantly night and day Act. 26.7 and the Apostles were assured they had a good conscience in all things Heb. 13.18 Was this care so incessant commendable in them and is the same godly care now grown a vice an hateful practice or heresie 3 Who being a God of pure eyes will strictly stand for justice And do wee fear wee can bee too strict who are to give account of every idle word and roaving thought much more of every unwarrantable action Are wee not to pass a strict and straight judgement wherein every secret shall be made open and in which it shall bee rewarded according to our works And shall the Devil delude us or the wicked world make us beleeve wee need not bee so straight-laced as to say with David I will look to my wayes Psal 39.1 4 Who if hee ponder all a mans paths how ought hee himself to ponder them For all the wayes of a man are before the Lord and hee pondereth all his wayes Prov. 5.21 2 In respect of our selves no watch or circumspection can bee sufficient to us whose natures are carried to evill as naturally as to our ordinary food The whole frame of the heart of man is evill continually as ready to receive any impression of temptation as the dry tinder a spark of fiâ—â— and not onely to receive such sparks but to conceive them and hatch evil and hammer it out on the anvils of our hard hearts like cunning Work-men Whence it cannot bee avoided but that without our daily watch sin must multiply and grow upon us even over our heads to a numberless number 3 In respect of the wicked amongst whom wee live who are ready to take all advantages and watch for our falls both to harden themselves and reproach through us Gods holy Religion For if they can scorn and contemn the servants of God for well-doing and Religious actions how would these men of Gath and Askelon these uncircumcised Philistims triumph and glory in the falls of any of Gods Worthies Hence was the ground of our Saviours exhortation to his Disciples Behold I send you as sheep among Wolves and therefore bee wise as Serpent Matth. 10.16 Nay wee must not onely by our circumspect wayes stop their mouthes but convince themselves and win them to the same holy profession with us 1 Pet. 3.1 2. 4 In respect of our brethren who some of them are not yet converted some are already called both whom wee offend and scandalize by our unwatchful walking and so the Name of God is blasphemed because of us that profess it as the Apostle speaks of hypocritical Jews Rom. 2.24 Hence are those many exhortations Col. 4.5 Walk wisely towards them that are without leâ—t you give them any just occasion of exception or stumbling and 1 Cor. 10.32 Give no offence neither the Jews nor Grecians nor to the Church of God And how circumspect had hee need to bee that must walk inoffensively between the Jew and Gentile seeing what was given to the one seemed detracted from the other Yet so much is required to walk even between the godly and prophane whose wayes are diametrally contrary 5 The way to heaven is full of snares crosses and dangers by reason of our enemies and therefore requires all our diligence either to avoid them or else wisely to step over them Wee can bee very wary in the dangerours wayes of this world to take direction or company and armour and the day-light to further us And why not in this way to Heaven Besides it is a narrow way and on high all which makes it more perillous to decline from How circumspect had hee need bee that walks upon a narrow high rock a thousand fathom from ground especially where a little slip or error tumbles him down to dash him all to peeces 6 Is there any time afforded us wherein wee may set loose our hearts to any unlawful liberty or cast our selves upon Satans snares as Peter did in going into the High-priests hall Matth. 26.71 or can wee do so and not bee catched by the deceitfulness of sin Stand wee against such enemies as will not take advantages who do nothing but seek them especially when fear is set aside which is the souls Watch man And if men will take liberty and bee at their own hand have they not full leave to fall often lye long rise hardly and being up again walk weakly and not recover their cheerfulness many a day if ever And must they fear nothing so much as lest they keep their watches and preserve themselves from falls Lastly A man may pull down more in one day than hee can build in many And experience shews that a man is more weakned by one dayes surâ—et and negligence than in an hundred wherin hee preserve the care of his health Even so it is in the soul the health whereof is kept in strictness of Diet and observation of Gods Rules 7 Who knoweth not that Christianity is a trade which will not forward if it bee not close followed an Husbandry which the Professor shall never thrive by if hee bee not of a diligent hand wherein something must bee done daily or else the heart shall soon lye like the sluggards field described by Solomon It needeth therefore be hedged and fenced with the fear of God and kept with all diligence Prov. 23.17 8 This alone is the way to attain true comfort which no man can finde by allowing himself in any course which God alloweth not This alone is to walk safely Prov. 10.9 Hee that walks uprightly walks safely And what other means hath the Wise-man appointed to preserve from failing than to take hold of instruction and not leave her This alone is the way to get peace peculiar to the Israel of God to walk by Rule Gal. 6.16 neither can a course not attended stand with this Apostolical injunction of Christian Circumspection CHAP. XXXIV Answering Objections against Circumspect walking ANd whereas our age aboundeth with men of prophane mindes and mouthes who would turn all this our glory into shame and censure this speech of the Holy Ghost which prescribeth a strict precise and accurate walking why say they what need men bee so strict and shall no man come to heaven but such as are so strict and curious and the whole world almost thinks it a most idle and needless course wee will therefore answer some Objections that are made against it Object 1. A great many have lived honestly and well that were never so foolish and strict I hope to serve God and do no man harm and what need more Answ 1. Wee must walk by Rule not by example except it bee of the best not of the most 2 The Pharisees led a civil life were outwardly very just to the tything of Mint and Annise and very devout
in their worship and yet if our righteousness exceed not theirs wee can never enter into the Kingdome of heaven Mat. 5.20 3 The righteousness of God goes beyond all civil and outward righteousness it is inward in Spirit and truth It cuts off not onely outward acts of Murder Uncleanness Theft c. but inward motions of Hatred Wantonness Covetousness It strikes at roots and branches and hates the least and secretest evil which civil righteousness makes no bones of Object 2. But this circumspect and strict walking is taken up but by a few and those of the meanest some men of great wisdome place and learning favour it not but scorn and oppose it Answ 1. Christianity was ever hated by the most of the world because of the Cross the Church is black because the Sun looks on her Cant. 1.5 but comely to God and his Angels and this makes few enter that way 2 The Apostle directly meets with this Objection 1 Cor. 1.27 Not many mighty not many noble not many wise but God hath chosen a few poor people Zeph. 3.11 and they shall call upon his Name And why not many of those Because they cannot so easily deny themselves and this evil world which they must do that will bee saved 3 Let us not wholly cast our eyes upon the examples of the world now declining and at last so at worst but upon such as formerly have been set as eye-marks in the Scripture and wee shall finde some both great and noble and learned going before us in strict and circumspect walking The holy Patriarchs Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob godly and zealous Kings David Solomon Josiah the holy Apostles who endeavoured alwayes to have a clear conscience before God and all men Act. 24.16 Yea the most wise noble and learned that ever was the Son of God whose conversation was such as none could accuse him of sin These are the cloud of witnesses which wee must follow in running the race set before us Heb. 12.1 Object 3. But what an impossible Commandement is this and who can bear it Can wee bee Saints in this world thus to order our selves in every thing Wee are sinners and must bee sinners and cannot bee thus strict as you require Wee hope we generally mean well and God wee hope will supply the rest Answ 1. The scope of this plea is to give over all because they cannot attain all which is but a false fire by which the Devil discourageth many from the narrow way and the narrow looking to their own way For true it is that wee call with the Scripture for a keeping of all Gods Commandements alwayes and to live with God and walk with him but with Evangelical interpretation which accepteth the will desire and endeavour to walk with God in every thing which cannot but in some measure bee found in a true beleever and cannot but in Christ bee accepted where it is true and hearty Thus the Scriptures interpret themselves 1 Chron. 28.7 If Solomon shall endeavour to keep my Commandments c. Hos 6.3 We shall endeavour to know the Lord. What can God accept less or a good heart tender less than hearty wishes where strength is wanting to please God in all things 2 Let us by the strictness of the Commandement consider whence wee are fallen and see our impotency and confess our failings but not therefore allow our selves in any evil or venture on any sin which we might by this Circumsspection avoid or remit our endeavour in respect of all Gods Commandements 3 For such as think it sufficient to mean well in general Consider this that as no Master is pleased if his steward bring him in a general Bill of great summes spent wherein hee may hide much deceit but sets down no dayes accounts or weeks bills of parcels no more in the matter of heavenly treasure is it enough to hide himself in general good meanings but in every particular to avoid deceit and suspicion of it And as it is with a Traveller in an unknown way who will not go at random nor count it a sufficient direction to bee set Eastward or Westward but hee will ask every man of every Town and take good heed of every mark to pass him from one place to another so in this our passage to heaven wee must keep our special directions and walk with God in every thing if wee will happily pass unto heaven Object 4. But what need such daily and continual troubling of our selves What was the Sabbath made for but for Gods service and wee keep our Church as well as any but for the week-dayes wee have Callings to follow and cannot intend such things and it were better if some of these nice fellows were more diligent in their Calling as wee beâ— Answ 1. Seeing the Rule by which wee must walk is to serve God iâ— holiness and righteousness all our dayes Luke 1.75 wee have no liberty to part the week between God and us Neither must wee put on holiness as an holy-day garment to put it off at night neither may wee bee less holy on other dayes than on the Sabbath howsoever wee must exercise our holiness in the publick worship of God on that day and in the private worship and in the pâ—rsonal Callings on the other dayes 2 Hee is a good Christian that keeps a perpetual Sabbath and is not onely one on the Sabbath day The trial of soundness is at home Psal â—01 2 in the midst of a mans house and not at Church where the Phariseee is often above the Publican 3 Thou hast a Calling on the week-day in which thou must sweat and abide who ever thou art but thou must not so play the good husband as to become a worldling Vse the world as not using it 1 Cor 7 31. as not affecting it and acknowledge thy special and personal Calling to bee subordinate to the general for in the whole exercise of thy special Calling thou must shew forth thy knowledge and religious keeping of a good conscience once divorce these two and never look for success on thy labours Object 5. But this is fitter for Ministers and cloystered persons who have given themselves to continual devotion than for ordinary and common men who are not acquainted with such novelties Answ 1. If all Christians bee alike subject to sin all have need to bee continually alike fenced against it If all have the same enemies all had need stand upon their ground If one mans heart bee as wicked as anothers every man had need set a watch round about himself And if any have more need than other it is unlearned and simple persons who want such means of helping themselves as learned Preachers have 2 As for the novelty of this Circumspect course wee must needs say it is so to such as are of Festus his suit who thinks Paul learned even to madness to call him to such strictness or Gallio his Disciples Act. 18. who
it was the top of an exceeding high mountain 2 How Christ came thither the Devil took him into c. 3 Why he chose that place 2 a vision represented here 1 What it was All the kingdomes of the world and the glory of them 2 How he represented them Hee shewed him 3 How long the sight lasted in a moment saith Luke 2 Dart it self in it 1 A profer All these will I give thee 2 A reason for they are mine and to whom I will I give them in Luke 3 The condition in it 1 the matter worship mee 2 the manner fall down if it be but externally 2 Repulse in it 1 The denial But Jesus answered 2 The manner Avoid Satan sharp in the Title Satan Commandement Avoid 3 the reason from a testimony of Scripture in it 1 Allegation It is written 2 precept in it 1 Person to whom Thou every man the whole man in Soul Body 2 matter shalt worship serve i. divine worship 3 object the Lord thy God and him only 3 The issue 1 Christs victory 1 The time when the Devil left him Then 1 When Christ had stoutly resisted 2 When all the temptations were ended in Luke 3 When Christ had said Avoid Satan 2 The manner Hee departed from him 3 How long for a season saith Luke 2 His triumph 1 A note of attention set as a star before it And behold 2 What we must behold 1 the coming of the Angels unto Christ here 1 When they come 2 To whom they come 3 Manner of their comming 2 Their ministery unto him where 1 How they ministred unto him by Adoring him as Conquerour comforting his soul vexed with temptation body pined with fasting 2 why they did so Not for necessity on Christs part But their own duty as to Their Lord. The head of the Church AN EXPOSITION OF Christ's Temptations MATTH 4. Vers 1 Then was Jesus led aside of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil 2 And when hee had fasted fourty daies and fourty nights hee was afterwards hungry 3 Then came the Temper to him and said If thou be the Son of God command that these stones be made bread 4 But he answering said It is written Man shall not live by bread only but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God 5 Then the Devil took him up into the holy City and set him on a pinacle of the Temple 6 And said unto him If thou be the Son of God cast thy self down for it is written That he will give his Angels charge over thee and with their hands they shall lift thee up lest at any time thou shouldst dash thy foot against a stone 7 Jesus said unto him It is written again Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God 8 Again the Devil took him up unto an exceeding high Mountain and shewed him all the Kingdomes of the world and the glory of them 9 And said unto him All these will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship mee 10 Then said Jesus unto him Avoid Satan for it written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve 11 Then the Devil left him and behold the Angels came and ministred unto him OUR Lord Jesus Christ having passed the former part of his preparation to his Ministry and Office by his most holy Baptism of which wee have spoken at large in the former words now he proceedeth to the second which standeth in Temptation For as in the former he publikely revealed himself to bee that Messiah so long expected in whom salvation is purchased to all beleevers of Jews and Gentiles so herein hee sheweth himself most evidently to bee that promised seed of the woman who was to break the serpents head and him who was set a part and sent from his Father to destroy and dissolve the works of the Devil And therefore this holy doctrin bringing us such glad tidings of Satans confusion and our own rescue out of his hands must bee most welcome to us whereof if we would taste the sweetnesse and benefit we must stir up our best attentions affections petitions to hear with readiness receive with gladnesse and practise with fruitfulnesse such holy instructions as this Treatise will abundantly afford unto us Wherein must bee handled three things 1 The preparation to Christs combate vers 1 2. 2 The combate it self with the several assaults from vers 3. to vers 11. 3 The issue and event vers 11. The preparation hath three parts 1 Christs entring the lists by going into the wilderness 2 His expecting of the enemy by his abode and converse there 3 The entrance of his adversary The first part is inlarged by sundry circumstances as 1 The time when this combate was Then 2 The person opposed Jesus 3 His guide hee was led by the Spirit 4 The place into the wilderness 5 The end why hee came thither to be tempted of the Devil In the second part three points are afforded out of the three Evangelists 1 How hee was furnished Hee was full of the Holy Ghost Luke 4.1 2 What company hee had Hee was with the wilde Beasts Mark 1.13 3 What was his imployment 1 Hee was tempted Luk. 4.2 2 Hee fasted forty daies and forty nights and afterwards was hungry which was both the effect of his fast and the occasion of the first temptation The third general part namely the entrance of our Saviours adversary stands in three circumstances 1 The time then 2 The name of the adversary she Tempter before called a Devil 3 The manner of his entrance he came The first circumstance in the preparation is the circumstance of time noted in the word Then which is not a word of supplement but of reference unto the former History of Christs Baptism which this immediately succeedeth as Mark 1.12 Immediately the Spirit driveth him note the present tense into the wildernesse so as Christ went directly from Jordan into the wilderness Then 1 When Christ undertook his high-office 2 When hee was baptised 3 When the Spirit had descended upon him 4 When hee had received testimony from Heaven that hee was the Son of God and Doctor of his Church Doct. The more God graceth his children the more Satan letteth himself to disgrace and molest them Hence note That the more God doth grace any man or advance him in gifts or place the more doth Satan set himself to disgrace and molest him Wee read not that the Devil did ever set upon Christ while hee lived as a private man though perhaps hee did but now his Father setting him apart to work mans redemption baptizing him powring his Spirit upon him and giving testimony with him that hee is the Son of his love now hee is assailed with most violent temptations No sooner is hee set apart to his office therein to glorify God and gratify man but hee is set upon by Satan a deadly enemy to both Moses was
quiet enough till God set him apart to deliver his Brethren and after that hee was never at quiet The like may bee said of David an eminent type of Christ while hee kept his fathers sheep hee was at rest but if hee will set upon Goliah and bee annointed King by Samuel let him look to himself Saul will hunt him like a Partridge and so narrowly espy his haunts that himself will say hee must surely one day fall by the hand of Saul Zech. 3.1 when Jehoshuah the High Priest another type of Christ commeth to stand before the Lord in his service the Devil commeth and standeth at his right hand to resist him The Apostle Paul so long as hee was of the strict sect of the Pharisees hee was highly esteemed and lived quiet enough but when hee became an elect vessel to carry the Gospel among the Gentiles then hee was tryed and buffeted now hee knows that bonds and imprisonment abide him every where 2 Cor. 7.5 6.5 1 Satans hostility against God and his glory and the means of it Reasons forceth him to hinder whatsoever may further Gods Kingdome and hinder his own While the Prisoner is in fetters under bars and bolts the Jailor sleeps quietly and while the strong man keeps the hold all is in peace but disturb him a little and you shall hear of him Hence it is that the more weighty any calling is and the more conscionably a man sets himself to discharge it which wee see in Christ himself the more vigilantly doth Satan watch to hinder it Reach once at Satans head and hee will surely reach as high as hee may at thine 2 This is not without the good providence of God who hereby will prove his servants to whom hee will commit some special work whether they will shrink or no hee will have them also to have good proof and trial of his strength and faithfulnesse in supporting them that they may the better commit themselves unto him in time to come who hath upheld them formerly and go on undaunted in constant walking with him through the experience of his goodness 3 God seeth though Satans malice blindeth him that his children without such strong trials should not bee so fitted for his service It is a training of them to great employments and makes them not onely more expert in themselves but also far more able to help others in any kinde God would not exempt his natural and only Son from temptations that hee might know how to help others that are tempted Heb. 2.18 nor the Apostles for the same end 2 Cor. 1.4 6. Use 1 All sorts of men the more they set themselves to glorify God in their places the more they should expect trialls A Christian can no sooner give his name unto Christ nor the Spirit descend upon him but Satan with all his malice will assault him Christ was no sooner baptised but hee must go forth to bee exercised with Satan and his Members also who not onely by outward profession but inward sincerity also make a league with God to renounce Satan sin and this evil world shall not want all the molestation that Satan can create them Rev. 12. the red Dragon watcheth for the Child to bee born to devour it and such is his malice Whom Satâ—â— cannot 〈◊〉 in the endâ— which is salâ—â—tion bee wâ— trouble theâ— in the wayâ— that whom hee cannot hinder of Salvation hee will hinder of their peace and joy as much as hee can if hee cannot chase vertue out of the world hee can disgrace it and if he cannot quite hinder all good proceedings hee will by molestation delay them as long as hee may Hee is subtile if hee cannot do the greatest evil that hee would hee will do the lesser that hee may as by Sanballat hee did hinder the re-edifying of the Temple The condition of the child of God is military in this life Hee hath Satan and all his Army of wicked ones mortal foes against him Many deceive themselves who mean to profess Religion so long onely as they may injoy peace and credit and the applause of the world so long as they may see Christ with a golden crown and scepter and follow him into Jerusalem with Hosanna But they have not cast their accounts right nor weighed the difficulties of sound profession of Christ and therefore like the foundation of the foolish builder when winds and floods rise they fall down right with shame they forsake Christ and religion and all they look back and run back to the filthinesse of the world they embrace a course which standeth with their own ease but never shall they have the honor of honouring God or of effecting any thing which shall bring God true praise and themselves true peace It will bee the wisdome therefore of every Christian undertaking any commendable action so to look and begin with God that ever hee have another eye upon Satan and his malice both to expect it and resolve not to bee beaten off for it Shall the Israelites being set out of Egypt run back again because Pharaoh pursues them no but hye them more hastily away Shall I give â—â—er my profession because the greatest part of men hate and reproach it no I must see Satans old malice renewed who casts a flood of poysoned water against Christ himself who should not avoid the same measure of obloquie and reproach if hee lived again upon earth Was it thus with the green tree it is no marvail then if it bee so with a dry Shall I neglect my duty to which God and good conscience ties mee A wise Christian may stop the mouth of Satan but never his malice because I would not displease men and bee thought no medler then farewel Gods glory if I go about to stop the Devils mouth which if I could yet I shall never stop his malice Use 2 The more publike a mans calling is the more doth Satan aim at him to cast him down who doth conscionably intend it as for example 1 The Magistrate Satans chief aim is against Chiefâ—â—inâ— in Church and Common-wealth Satan stirs up David to number the people 1 Chron. 21.1 2 The Minister being the Lords standerd-bearer the Devil seeks to winnoâ— him especially and begges leave to bee a lying spirit in the mouths of four hundred false Prophets at once And both these because God hath specially instituted these callings for the beating down of Satans Kingdome and lifting up the Scepter of Christ and again if Satan can foil the Leaders the bands are soon overcome smite the Shepheard and the sheep will bee scattered cast down Cedars and they will crush many shrubs with their fall Hence must both these bee more careful of themselves than ordinary men as being in greater danger as men set upon steep and slippery hills beset with enemies to cast them down And the less that men see these oppositions the less service do they to God or his