't is a good God a good word preached a good Religion professed because they doe see good workes expressed 2. In particular to honour God with our riches Prov. 3.9 to maintaine Gods Worship Exod. 35.22 Also to do good to his ministers 2. King 4.10 that they may be incouraged in the Law of the Lord. 2 Chron. 31.4 to to do good to many poore Ecclesiastes 11.2 that thanks may be rendred by many and God may be praised and glorified 2. Cor. 9.12 13. Thirdly Wee must glorifie God among men by our sufferings 1. In holding on our course 2. Being patient and meeke 3. Praying for our Persecutors 4. Laying downe our lives for the truth thus suffering we shall glorifie God Iohn 21.19 Of Gods Subsistence 1. What Subsistence is 2. That God doth Subsist 3. The manner of his Subsistence 4. Vses to Edification First What Subsistence is AS there is a being so there is a subsistence in that being which subsistence is to be upheld in a well being without decay diminishing or declyning hee that doth so doth honourably subsist There may bee a declining yet body and soule may hang together so the subsistence is weak but he that declines not but holds his owne falls not backe nor decayes that person subsists happily not onely in being but also in a well being 2. God doth subsist independantly immutably without decay or diminution hee is Iehovah and changeth not he is as Holy Powerfull and Wise and Rich and Glorious and every way Perfect and Blessed as ever he was Heb. 1.3 without interruption he depends not on second causes as we doe all creatures subsist by him he beares them up and continues them therefore they subsist Psal 119.91 He himselfe subsisted when there was no wâ—â—ld John 17.5 and can subsist if all were dissolved againe He can put an end to the Creatures and give them subsistence againe so then he subsists of himselfe and all Creatures doe subsist by his will and power and no otherwise 3. The manner of subsisting Time The Father subsists first not in time but in order In the manner of working Manner the Father workes from himselfe the Sonne from the Father the Holy Ghost from them both Proprieties they differ in their Personall proprieties The Father subsists unbegotten the Sonne begotten the Holy Ghost proceeding The Vses are these 1. To shew us the difference of Gods Subsistence and ours He subsists of himselfe we by him He before time we in time He subsists independant we depend on him He subsists without composition and is immutable we are compounded of the foure Elements in regard of our bodies of body and soule in regard of our persons He subsists without meanes we by meanes and his blessing on meanes He is alwaies the same subsisting we must be dissolved buried raised glorified and subsist eternally by him 2. Vse This shewes the happinesse of Gods servants he ever doth subsist to direct them to protect them to enrich them and to reward them Great men on earth doe not subsist alwaies sometimes their wealth decayes sometimes their breath decaies they decaying themselves their followers cannot honourably subsist But it is not so with the Lord he cannot decay in riches nor time he subsists alwaies his yeares faile not Psalme 102.28 3. Vse In our decayes let us have recourse to God he alwaies subsists and beares up the whole World wee need prayer more than shifting and using unlawfull meanes in our decayes God can make us subsist in life Psalme 66.9 and in grace Psalme 41.12 Let us therefore in our decayes have recourse to him that wee may subsist Of the Simplenesse of God THere are properties attributed to God for two causes one to make himselfe the better knowne to us the other to distinguish him from other titular gods and from all other things Simplenesse is one of the incommunicable properties of God 'T is a Theologicall word used for demonstration or distinction Consider 1. What is meant by Simplenesse 2. That God is of a Simple nature 3. Conclusions drawne from it 4. Questions answered 5. Vses for Edification Sect. 1 First What is meant by Simplenesse TO be simple among men is a want of wit capacity A want of discretion Prov. 1.4 To give to the simple sharpnesse of wit Hierom reads it a childe Iunius reads it a foole because both Children and Fooles are simple of such 't is spoken Prov. 9.16 Who so is simple let him come hither These simple ones are both unskilfull and easily perswaded 2. Simple is to be plaine hearted voyde of wicked ploâ—s and devices The Lord preserves the simple ones Psalm 116.6 These are simple concerning evill Rom. 16.19 These are as if they knew not how to deceive this is a commendable simplicity Thus we see that simplenesse is to be voyd of parts or to be voyd of the abuse of those parts of Wit and Knowledge that is bestowed on us 3. Simplenesse is a singlenesse without composition or mixture opposed to that is double or of severall kinds or sorts Water is a Simple but put into it Salt or Wine 't is a Compound because there are more kinds than one To be a Simple wee take it to bee without guile fraud or deceit 2. Sam. 15.11 There were with Absolon men simple in heart or upright in minde Integro animo Sect. 2 Secondly That God is of a simple Nature GOD is of a simple Nature Hee is a pure Essence called I am that I am Exodus 3.14 Light and is without all darknes 1. Ioh. 1.5 There is in God no mixture or composition in the least degree Hee is one God Light without darknesse strong without weaknesse wise without folly pure without the least spot upright without guile c. Sect. 3 Thirdly Conclusions drawne from Gods Simplenesse 1. WE gather hence that there is perfection in him He is simple of himselfe without any addition 2. Being a pure simple Essence hee must needs be invisible Our eyes are not able to behold a Spirit that is created much lesse him that is a most pure Spirit excelling them all in the simplenesse and purity of his Nature 3. He must be eternall and everlasting 't is Compositions doe bring a dissolution God is simple without composition therefore uncreated and uncapable of dissolution 4. Hence wee may gather that God is immutable That which changes is by adding to it or taking from it but God is a simple Eâ—sence so pure and perfect that nothing can be added to him nor taken from him Sect. 4 Fourthly Some Questions answered Quest TO be simple is to bee of singlenesse of one sort How is God so seeing there are three persons in the God-head Answ 1 If there were a Triplicity in the God-head there would be sorts of persons but 't is a Trinity of one intire simple Essence 1. Iohn 5.7 These three are one one in Nature Time Operation distinguished not divided Object 2 You said
1. In his Essence having his being of himselfe absolute independant blessed immutable 2. Also that there are in the Divine Essence a Trinity of Persons Quest How shall I raise my admiration to the highest pitch Answ To meditate of his Wisedome and Knowledge First admire the largenesse of it for hee knows all Prov. 15.11 2. The perfection of his knowledge hee knows the Causes Concomitants Fruits and Effects insides he knows the motions and inclinations of all men of all things Acts 15.18 3. Admire the manner of his Knowledge not by Doctrine Relation Experience but without meanes 4. Admire the celerity and swiftnesse of his Knowledge at once in a moment Hee knowes things past present and to come 5. The certainty of his Knowledge he cannot be deceived he foresees all inconveniences he knowes things and persons as they are no apparitions nor pretences nor fainings nor dissemblings can delude him 6. Admire the Eternity of his Knowledge before all time before there was a World Hee knew himselfe to be most perfectly happy and blessed and knew that he would make a world and knew all that man should act on the stage of this world and as he did purpose so all things must come to passe Acts 4.28 Ephes 1.11 according to his foreknowledge and Decree 7. Admire the Efficacy of the Knowledge and Wisedome of God From his Knowledge he decreed then did worke so the Heavens Earth Seas and all their ornaments were created are preserved the variety of his creatures argues his unsearchable Wisedome and their order uses and ends appâ—inted them calls for our Admiration By this we may see what câ—â—se wee have to admire God and if one of his Attributes doe cause such Admiration what would it worke on us to meditate on the rest as his Power Glory Holinesse Justice Invisibility immutability this requires a large Volume but I intend brevity Quest How may I further admire God Answ I will give one straine more to winde up the heart that is to admire Christ incarnate how hee is the begotten Sonne of God Psal 2.7 1. Admire it in this hee was begotten of the Father yet is not after the Father in time Men beget those that come after them but here 't is not so therefore to bee admired 2. Men beget children which may be divided from them but Christ is so begotten that he is undividuall He and the Father are one John 10.30 3. Men so beget that there is a diminution of their substance and a conveighing of the corrupt Nature But Christ is begotten without diminution of the substance of the Father Acts 4.27 and free from all corruption Hee is the holy Sonne of God 4. Men beget children which are their inferiors but Christ is begotten Equall in Eternity yet equall with the Father Phil. 2.6 1. The Father is eternall Psal 90.2 So is the Sonne eternall Isai 9.6 Glory 2. The Father is glorious Acts 7.2 So the Sonne is glorious Iames 2.1 Power 3. The Father did create Gen. 1.1 So the Sonne created Col. 1.16 4. Angels doe honour the Father Isai 6.3 So Angels doe honour the Sonne Adoration Heb. 1.6 5. A Father begets a Sonne but yet communicates not his whole Essence to him but Christ is begotten yet partakes of the wholâ— Essence of his Father therefore admirable 6. A Father begets one that is another person another thing distinct from himselfe But the Lord Christ is begotten another person yet not another thing he may be distinguished but not divided Thus wee acknowledge God by Admiration Secondly we acknowledge him to himselfe and so doe glorifie him by our praises Psal 50. last verse Here consider 1. Who they be doe praise him 2. How they praise him 3. For what they praise him First who praise him 'T is the Saints praise him Psal 145.10 1. 'T is they have the most cause 2. And the best abilities 3. And the onely acceptance Secondly how they praise him 1. They praise him freely and cheerefully Psal 63.5 2. Vprightly and sincerely Psal 119.7 Hence 't is they praise God with their Soules Ps 103.1 with their Hearts Psal 9.1 3. They praise God frequently on all occasions Ps 71.6 Psal 119.164 4. They praise him constantly Psal 145.2 Hence 't is when they lose their comforts yet God loses not his praises Iob 1.21 Thirdly for what they praise him 1. For his owne Excellency 2. For his glorious workes 3. For his mercies First for his owne excellency 1. He is the soveraigne Lord God over all Rom. 9.5 the ruler of the world Zach. 4.14 Hence it is that Greatnesse and Glory and Power and Victory and Praises is attributed to him who is head over all 1 Chro. 29.11 He is to be praised as the onely potentate 1. Tim. 6.15 He is to be praised that is high and excellent Isai 57.15 He it is is glorious in Holinesse Exod. 15.11 and worthy to receive Honour and Glory and Power and Praise Revel 4.11 Revel 5.13 All his glorious Attributes both Communicable and Incommunicable cals for our frequent praises Secondly he is to be praised for his workes For they demonstrate his eternall Power and God-head Rom. 1.20 Hence it is that he is praised for creating all things Rev. 4.11 His workes both of Creation and Providence do shew his Wisedome Power Goodnesse c. Psal 139.14 Psalme 136. Psalme 194. The workes of God stirred up David to praise God both for the making of himselfe and for the making of other creatures and for the government of the World Thirdly God is to to be praised for his mercies Psalme 100.4 Psalme 136.1 To quicken us to this duty consider 1. The freenesse of his mercies they are bestowed without our deserts his will is the cause of his mercy Rom. 9.18 2. The multitudes of mercies of all sorts temporall spirituall on every faculty of soule and member of our bodies mercies on our names estates families friends those neare and deare to us 3. The constancy of his mercies they are renewed every morning Lament 3.23 Wee are laden daily with benefits Psal 68.19 4. Consider mercies comparatively wee are in health others are sicke we have sight others are blinde we have the Gospell other sit in darknesse c. Thus we see God is glorified by Admiration by Praises Lastly he is glorified by acknowledging him to Men In our Speeches In our Actions In our Sufferings First in our speeches to men 1. By declaring his workes Psal 105.1 2. To instruct our Children that they may praise God Psalme 78 4. 3. To make publicke confession of our sinnes if they have caused publicke scandall Ioshuah 7.19 4. To make publicke confession of Religion being called Psalme 119.46 Read the marginall Note 1 Pet. 3.15 Secondly Wee must glorifie men before God in our Actions 1. By our godly conversation in the generall to do good workes before them to urge them to glorifie God Matthew 5.16 to cause men to say
Man was made with true faculties of the soule and true members of the body and a true conformity in both to the Will of God Man fell by falsehood but is redeemed in Truth and renewed againe in Truth Ephes 4.24 The earth is reall earth the water is true water all Gods workes are done in Truth Sect. 3 Thirdly Of the Truth of God HE is the essentiall Truth Truth flowes from him He is the onely true God Iohn 17.3 Hee is a God of Truth Psal 31. â— The Father is Truth so is the Sonne * John 14.6 So is the Holy Ghost †John 16.13 God is a true Essence true in his Attributes he is truely Eternall truely Omnipotent Daniel 10.21 Iohn 17.17 truely invisible and incomprehensible * His Scriptures are the Scriptures of Truth being true in the precepts promises and threatnings not a jot shall faile Here is the heavenly verity 2 Cor. 1.20 Math. 5. above nature sence and reason Nature and Sence are Reasons servants and Reason must stoope to Truth and Truth must be beleeved by Faith beyond Nature Sence and Reason for as the light availes not unlesse we have eyes to see so God and his Word are not rightly discerned but by faith without which a man still is ignorant and demands with Pilate what is Truth Iohn 18. Sect. 4 Fourthly Applications to edifie distributive FIrst this distinguishes the true God from false Gods In respect of God as Idols which are not true Gods for they are no Gods Ier. 2.11 Our God is the living and true God 1. Thes 1.9 And the onely God Iohn 17.3 As for Angels or Magistrates that are called gods †Psal 8. and Psal â—2 because the Magistrates execute the Judgements of God 2. Chron. 19.6 And God hath given them his Word Iohn 10.34 35. And Angels are Princes Dan. 10.13 Yet the Angels are messengers Heb. 1. last And Magistrates are mortall Psal 82.6 The eternall Iehovah is the true God and these are his servants Secondly is the Word the Truth In respect of the Word then wee should 1. Buy it Prov. 23.23 2. Keepe it In buying are three things first we see our need secondly wee goe where the commodity is to be had thirdly we give something for it by way of exchange Thus we must buy the Truth 1. We must see our need of it without the Truth we are in bondage and in darknesse and in the shadow of death and miserable The Truth will make us free set us at liberty give us light and life it will direct us and enrich us these considerations should cause us to prize it because it is of worth and we neede it 2. We must goe where it is to be had not to the Iewish Talmud nor Turkes Alcoran nor the Papists Legend but got to God who gives it who is the Author of Truth goe to the holy Bible where 't is printed to the congregations where 't is preached unfolded and applied goe to the society of the godly where it is professed and the power of it expressed read Commentaries and Expositions labour and enquire digge and search be studious and industrious let spare houres here be spent and vacant time be this way imployed 3. We must part with something for the Truth wee must part with some sleepe with some pleasure with some gaine nay if we part with all that we have for the Truth we shall be wise bayers and great gainers we shall be wise Merchants and obtaine the best bargaine Secondly as the Truth is to be bought so it is to be kept with Mary to lay it up in our hearts Iohn 2.51 Psal 119.10 The Word is kept by witnessing to it John 18.37 and by professing it for by professing it the Truth is knowne and spread abroad in the world We should witnesse in our profession three things of the Truth 1. That it is able to worke a through change * James 1.18 and to bring a man to a holy frame of heart and life †John 17.17 that the Word hath a regenerating power to make us new men 2. That the Truth hath a power to governe and guide a man in his place to make him a good Father or master a good servant a loyall subject a loving Husband a kinde neighbour a faithfull friend a mercifull Christian a just dealer c. 3. That the Truth is able to support him in reproaches under crosses and troubles that there are consolations to be had in the Scriptures for every condition in all changes and alterations Thus shall we shew our selves children of the Truth begotten by the Truth James 1.18 Nourished by the Truth 1. Pet. 2.1 2. And those that have the Truth dwelling in them * 2. Joh. 2. vers whereby they are enriched guided quickened emboldened strengthened and rejoyced Sect. 5 Fifthly Questions answered Quest 1 WHat duties doe we owe to the God of Truth Answ 1. To labour to know him Iohn 17.3 2. To give him a true worship Iohn 14.24 3. To commend our soules continually into his hands Psal 31.6 Quest 2 When doe we know the true God with a true knowledge Answ First when we know him in Christ Iohn 17.3 Secondly when wee know him our God that loves us Thirdly when we so know him that we doe flye to him in all our needs and troubles * Psal 9.11 Fourthly when this knowledge increases more and more Quest 3 How may we know the Truth from Errour Answ 1. The Truth makes God the highest and man the lowest 2. The Truth brings peace with it to that soule which imbraceth it 3. The Truth maketh the most sound professors and substantiall Christians 4. It seeks not violent meanes to uphold it nor base meanes and shifts as Hereticks and Tyrants 5. God preserves the Truth and sides with it and often manifests visible Iudgements on the opposers and gaine-sayers of the Truth Quest 4 May a Christian know that he is in the Truth Answ He may on sound grounds David knew that hee had chosen the way of Truth Psal 119.30 1. John 5. And St. Iohn saith Wee know that we are of God The high-way is light the by-wayes are darke and doubtfull Quest 5 What be the symptomes of an upstart Hereticke that opposeth the Truth Answ 1. He preaches ambiguously in darke phrases that so he may win disciples to his lodging 2. Hee delivers some Doctrine against the fundamentall points of Religion 3. He opposes the faithfull preachers as Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses 4. They are not in the same tale in their chambers and in the Pulpit to their followers and to others 5. They boast of illuminations and revelations 6. They challenge Dispures in which they falsifie the Scriptures and learned Authours pretending they are on their side 7. Their followers bewray them the hollow hypocrite the idle that live without a Calling or negligent in a Calling the unstable and giddy-headed they make a
with his bodily eyes 2. God is a Spirit Iohn 4.24 therefore invisible 3. If God were visible wee should see nothing but God for he fills Heaven and Earth Quest 3 Shall not our eyes see God in the life to come Iob saith With these eies I shal see him And Christ saith The pure in heart shall see God Math. 5. Answ Iob in Heaven with a glorified eye shall see Christ in his Humanity and the pure in heart shall see God with the eye of the body to satisfaction but with the eye of the minde more clearely in neither they shall comprehend his Essence in both they shall have a fulnesse of vision farre beyond that we can conceive in this life He that goes to the Sea may fill his vessell yet leave the Ocean behinde him We shall see so much as wee shall say we have enough our vision shall be so great that it is called the beatificall vision Quest 4 How is Christ married to his Church and yet they never saw each other on both sides Answ There is a consent of both parties Christ gives himselfe to be a Husband the Church gives her selfe to be his Spouse there is the Fathers consent and his giâ—t of her Iohn 17 24. on the Sonnes demand Psal 2.8 There is the pledge of our faith at Baptisme and the Lords Supper and he promises in the Covenant of Grace to bee our God there are reciprocall affections and the conjunction is reall yet spirituall As for sight hee sees us with his all-seeing view wee see him with the eye of faith Heb. 11.27 which sight of faith makes us to rejoyce 1. Pet. 1.8 Our joy proceeds from our Union without the which we had no sound consolation Quest 5 Were it not a great helpe to our devotion to have some Image before us because God is invisible Answ To have an Image of God to helpe our devotion is forbidden Deut. 4.23 2. It is unprofitable Isai 44.10 3. The Image drawes the minde downe for the minde doth much follow the eye 4. â—t is against Gods nature who is a Spirit 5. It is not possible to make an Image of God Object God made man in his image Answ The Image was Knowledge Colos 3.10 and Holinesse and Righteousnesse Ephes 4.24 That was the image not the Substance of the Soule for that is not lost but Gods Image was lost The soules of the wicked are without Gods Image till they be renewed So then the Image are divine qualities which Paâ—â—â—ers and Carvers know not how to cut out or draw Quest 6 Doe divels see each other and doe Angels see them Answ It is likely that they doe it is naturall for each species to know his like and â—ngels have combats with them Revel 12 therefore see each other Quest 7 Can the â—oule see an Angell or devill Answ Not in their owne Nature but in some similitude for their substance is spirituall and not obvious to the bodily eye Quest 8 How may we know when Sathan tempts us because we cannot see him how differ his tentations from our owne corruptions Answ 1. His temptations of that kinde are against the light of nature as that there is no God or that he is not gratious just and merciful c. 2. His temptations are to the ruine of nature as for a man to kill himselfe causelesly 3. The temptations come rushing suddenly our corruptions entice by degrees by mentall contemplation or outward objeâ—ts 4. He resists holy duties by injecting false reasonings in the minde tâ—at God is dreadfull we sinfull unworthy and shall have no assistance nor acceptance 5. He workes discomforts in the heart by hiding the consolations presenting judgements to the minde and threatnings to make us give over a godly course or walke heavily Quest 9 Cannot Sathan appeare visible Answ No not in his owne nature but he may by permission use some of the creatures as a Serpent to Eve or may use the foure Elements to forme and apparition as in the body of Samuel or rather the likenesse of Samuel or he can delude the sences as the Serpent cast downe before Pharaoh Moses Serpent was true the Magitians was but a delusion a deceiving of the sences Quest 7 May not the Heathen object against us Where is your God seeing he is invisible and cannot shew wee him We can answer them thus Answ 1. Their question comes from grosse ignorance 2. We can tell them where our God is He is in heaven Psalme 115.3 3. We retort to them where is your God if they can shew him to the eye he is no true God because he is visible and shall be perishing Ier. 10. Sect. 5 Fifthly Applications to edifie 1. TO praise God as for other excellencies so for his invisibility 1. Tim. 1.17 2. To learne to walke by faith as if wee saw him who is invisible Heb. 11.27 3. To remember him though we see him not to remember him with affection to love him though wee have not seene him and to rejoyce in him as we are beleevers 1. Pet. 1.8 4. Would we see the Invisible God then let us behold his invisible power and God-head in his workes Rom. 1.20 Would we see him hereafter then let us labour for pure hearts that we may be rewarded with the vision of God Matth. 5.8 5. Here is comfort against invisible enemies we have the invisible God and invisible Angels to helpe us wee have promises of invisible things to encourage us we shall have invisible rewards to recompence us 6. Let us minde more invisible things desire more invisible favours send vp invisible desires let the glory of all visible excellency be blasted and let us raise our mindes to things more excellent and invisible 7. Observe Gods workes they are invisible in operation but visible in manifestation they are hid and unseene in operation both the works of nature Eccle. 11.5 thou knâ—wst not the way of the spirit nor how the bones are fashioned in the wombe and the worke of grace Iohn 3.3 These workes done secretly are manifested in mans birth and regeneration If we will follow God let us strive to get the inward worke of grace to be wrought in the secret parts of our hearts and soules to bee inwardly adorned with humility and wisedome and heavenly mindednesse with love zeale patience and contentment Then outwardly to manifest the same by gracious speeches and good workes that the invisible graces of God may have a visible declaration among men thus shall wee resemble the invisible God as the drop doth the Ocean Of Wisedome 1. What Wisedome is 2. Of the wisedome of creatures 3. Of the wisedome of God 4. Applications to edifie 5. Questions answered Sect. 1 First What Wisedome is IT is the better perceived by comparing it with those vertues which are neare to it and like it as Knowledge Prudence and discretion Knowledge is to perceive to comprehend or see Scientia it is gained by the eye or eare or
with gratulation To love them dead in sinne Ephes 1.2 To love enemies Rom. 5.10 To those that did manifest enmity by evill workes Colos 1.21 4. The duration It is an everlasting Love Ier. 31.3 Troubles deprive us not of his love Psal 91.15 for hee will be with us Infirmities cannot quench his love for he will spare us Mal. 3.17 Death cannot separate us from his love Rom. 8.38 39. Sect. 3 Thirdly Of Mans love to God MAns love is either naturall or sinfull or spirituall Our love to God must be spirituall but before we can thus love God ourselves must be regenerate 1. John 4.19 We love him because he first loved us and gave us grace this love of ours to God is a constrained love 2. Cor. 5.14 not a constraint but by a sweet influence as the Sunne shining on Hearbs and Flowers doth constraine them to grow and smell sweete The love of God to us is love active the love of God in us is love passive he is loved of us 2. From whence love commeth surely the Fountaine is God 1. Iohn 4.7 Love commeth from God The roote is the Spirit the fruite is love Gal. 5.22 Gods love is manifested to us by the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.5 Then We love him which first loved us 1. Iohn 4.19 3. The markes of our love to God First love earnestly desires his presence Psal 42.2 This desire is compared to a thirst wee thirst for God as the chiefe good the onely good This thirst requires 1. A suitâ—ble satisfaction 2. A present satisfaction 3. A large satisfaction 1. A suteable satisfaction To offer a thirsty man a garment or to tell him a â—leasant tale or let him heare Musicke it is not suteable it is drinke that he desires 2. It is a present satisfaction he desires not drinke to morrow or next weeke but presently 3. It is a large satisfaction a drop or a spoonefull satisfies not he desires a large draught Thus love it desires God and none else to enjoy him sweetly and speedily and largely this is the first marke of love Secondly love bewayles the absence of God it is as death to the soule having once enjoyed him to want him Psal 77.10 In the want of all things we want God above all if we truely love him Psal 63.1 Thirdly love rejoyces in his presence by prayer wee draw neare to God Isai 55.6 and then joy increases Psal 43.4 Prayer brings us into his presence with a holy gladnesse Phil. 1.4 Fourthly love makes us obedient to God Iohn 14.15 If yee love me keepe my Commandements The more love the more duty obedience and conformity to his Will Fifthly when we love God wee doe love the children of God If we love him that begat we doe love them begotten 1. Iohn 5.1 4. The promises made to them that love God First they shall have mercy shewed to them and their posterity pardoning mercies relieving mercies Exod. 20.6 Secondly they shall share in Gods affection Ioh. 14.21 The Father will love them the Sonne will love them that love Christ Fourthly all shall worke for the best unto them Rom. 8.28 What can be more comfortable Fourthly they shall have a crowne of life Iames 1.12 and a kingdome Iames 2.5 This is the portion of them that love the Lord. Sect. 4 Fourthly Of Mans love to man THE love of man to man is either naturall or spirituall the naturall love is grounded on naturall Causes either beauty or bounty or consanguinity something we judge to be love-worthy that drawes the naturall affection Spirituall love is a peculiar among the regenerate they love God for his owne sake they love their enemies for his commands sake they love his children for his Image sake The more holy and righteous and heavenly minded men are the more they love them Of this love to the godly consider 1. The necessity of it 2. The excellency of it 3. How it is exercised 4. The markes of true love 5. How 't is preserved First the necessity of this love to our brethren 1. Without this love we can have no sound evidence that we are the children of God 1 Iohn 3.10 2. We can doe no workes that God accepts without this love 1. Cor. 13.1 2 3. 1. Cor. 16.14 All our things must be done in love If love be wanting the work is lost love is as the salt that seasons all Secondly the excellency of love 1. The Divine Essence is love and 't is excellent to resemble God 2. Love is an excellent badge of a servant and scholler of Christ whereby they are manifested and knowne Iohn 13.15 3. 'T is an excellent fruit of faith Eph. 1.15 Faith in Christ is fruitfull in love to all the Saints 4. 'T is an excellent testimony of a sound convert By this we may know wee are changed from sinne to grace 1. Iohn 3.14 5. It is excellent to have God to dwell with us Where love is there God dwells 1. Iohn 4 12. 6. 'T is as the anoynted above the rest for excellency 1. Pet. 4.8 Above all have fervent love Col. 3.14 Above all put on love Thirdly how love is exercised 1. Love seekes to be united as soone as we love Gods children we endeavour to joyne with them Act. 9.26 2. Love enjoying the objects turnes to delight Psal 16.3 3. Love casts the garment of charity to hide our brethrens infirmities 1. Pet. 4.8 4. Love edifies others 1. Cor. 8.1 To edifie is to build Love builds artificially 1. By pulling downe the old wall of naturall corruption 2. I aying a sound foundation of faith and repentance it will conferre with young ones and weake ones to helpe them not puzzel them Rom. 14.1 3. It brings new materials from the word and raises the building higher and higher and strives to adde practice to knowledge wisedome to zeale mercy to justice patience to diligence reverence to assurance 4. Love is excercised in relieving the necessities of our brethren Love ministreth to the necessitie of the Saints Heb. 6.10 Fourthly the markes of love to our brethren 1. True love is unfeigned 2. Cor. 6.6 without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 2. 'T is fervent there is heate in true love and haste to doe them good heate hath motion 1. Pet. 4.8 3. 'T is diligent Love nor hatred will be idle 1. Thes 1.3 Love is laborious for them beloved Heb. 6.10 4. 'T is constant 't is not as carnall lust hot lust is soone cold as Ammon to Tamar but true love continues Heb. 13.1 Fifthly how love is preserved 1. Labour for reall sound effectuall love then it will last and hold out 1 Cor. 13.8 Love doth never fal away 2. Avoyd groundlesse surmises Love thinketh none evill 1. Cor. 13.5 3. Interprete doubtfull things charitably as old Iacob did when he saw Iosephs coate 4. Harken not to every tale and report of the faults of others the words of tale-bearers sinke deepe and embitter our affections 5. Give loving answers for sweete
observe these things 6. God hath made his workes for this end that wee should behold them Isaiah 40.26 and have them in rememberance Psal 111.4 Thus we shall be able to exalt God in our hearts and declare his workes to others so God will be glorified others edified our soules much delighted and a weighty duty discharged and God will recompence us with revealing his loving kindnesse to us Psal 107.43 Of the worke of Creation 1. Who created all things 2. Whereof all things are made 3. The time when they were made 4. For what end all things were made Sect. 1 First who made all things THe maker of all things is God it is his prerogative to create Gen. 1.1 God made heaven and earth Col. 1.16 his workes are visible and invisible 1. Creation is a worke of the whole Trinity 2. All was made by the power of his word 3. In wisedome all was made First creation is a worke of the Trinity as appeares 1. The Father created Ephes 3.9 who created all things by Jesus Christ 2. The Sonne created Colos 1.16 Heb. 1.10 3. The Holy Ghost created Iob. 26.13 Iob. 33.4 Secondly all was made by his word Gods word is either first substantiall or secondly written or thirdly operative Though God made all by his substantiall word yet that is not meant when he saith let there bee this or that for the operative word was in time the substantiall word was eternall Psal 33.9 the word was a willing things to bee not a sounding of syllables so that without toylsomnesse with great facility God created all things he spake the word and it was done 3. In wisdome all was made Prov. 3.19 Jehova sapientia fundavit terram statuit coelos intelligentia Psal 104.24 1. God makes the creatures without sence these are superior as the light the firmament and ornaments of heaven as Sunne Moone and Starres or inferiour as the seas earth trees and plants 2. He makes the sâ—nsitive creatures as beasts fishes and fowles then the reasonable creatures man and woman Some creatures have matter and forme and generation as men some no generation as the heavens and sunne c. some have distinct formes without matter as Angels some are bodies without immortall spirits as beasts some are immortall spirits without bodies as Angels some are immortall spirits and bodies as men Reflections 1. Let me lift up mine eyes A desire of 1. Contemplation and behold who hath made all these things (a) Isai 40.29 and bringeth out their armies by number and calâ—eth them by their names then shall I see his eternall power and god-head by his visible works (b) Rom. 1.20 and let me cast my thoughts on the sea where goe the great ships (c) Ps 104.26 and are creatures innumerable there is the great Leviathan that sports himselfe in the waters which God hath kept in with bankes by his decree (d) Iob 38.11 let me looke on this earth hanging in the aire (e) Job 26.7 the foot-stoole of my Creator (f) Isai 66.1 and then break out to admiration and say 2. AdmiratioÌ„ 2. O Lord how wonderfull are thy works in wisdome hast thou made them all (g) Ps 104.24 when I behold the heavens the workes of thy hands the moone and the starres (h) Psal 8.3 then I thinke thou hast got thee an excellent name and renowne in all the world and for my owne part I give glory to thee and acknowledge none is like to thee none can doe thy workes Psal 86.8 3. Supplication 3. O Lord my Creator enable me to remember thee now in my youth before the evill day doth come (i) Eccl. 12.1 with such a remembrance as to turne to thee (k) Psal 12.27 and doe thou remember me with the favour of thy people (l) Psal 106.4 thy hands have made me and fashioned me oh give me understanding (m) Ps 119.73 and thou which first didst create me doe thou new make me grant that I may be a new creature (n) 2 Cor. 5.17 Create in me a new heart (o) Psal 51.10 and renew me in the spirit of my minde (p) Eph. 4.23 that I may serve thee with gladnesse and cheerefulnesse for thou hast made us and not we our selves (q) Psal 108.2 3. I am thine by creation oh make me thine by redemption and grace 4. GratulatioÌ„ 4. Fill my heart with thy praises that thy noble workes being in my eyes thy high acts may be in my mouth and I may often say thou art worthy to receive honour and glory and power for thou hast created all things (r) Rev. 4.11 let me ever bee resolute to praise thee as for the workes of creation in the generall so for forming my selfe in particular (Å¿) Psa 139.14 thou hast cloathed me with skinne and flesh and united my bones and sinewes (t) Iob 10.11 I praise thee for my being for my well-being O let me praise thee in an everlasting well-being 5. Resignation 5. Thou hast made me and put a living soule within me and set me on the earth to live and breath a short time and then thou wilt bring me to death the house of all the living (u) Iob. 30.23 dust I am and to dust I must returne (w) Gen. 3.15 so thou hast ordeined all must dye (x) Heb. 9.27 because all have sinned (y) Rom. 5.12 grant that all my dayes I may waite till this change come (z) â—ob 14.14 and so become wise to consider my latter end (a) Deu 32.29 wheresoever I die or howsoever grant I may in much assurance commit my soule into thy hands as into the hands of a faithfull Creator (b) 1. Pet 4.19 Sect. 2 Secondly Whereof God made all things HE made all things of nothing to create is to produce something out of nothing to worke without materials Heb. 11.3 the things we see were not made of things which did appeare Reflections I desire 1. Faith 1. Had I beene trained up onely in morall Philosophy I had learned that of nothing comes nothing Indeed it is so in mans worke but in my Bible I learne that of nothing come all things it is so in Gods worke 2. 2. Reverence What cause have I to feare and reverence this great Creator I my selfe once was nothing now have life and being and substance oh cause me to repent and to prize thy favour or else I shall be at last worse then nothing 3. How easie is it for God to helpe his Church 3. Dependance he can worke without materials if he wills the good of his people no adverse power can hinder him 4 In me is nothing that is good 4. Regeneration Lord create in me that may make me acceptable in thy fight which may be to me a pledge of thy love Sect. 3 Thirdly The time when all things were made