we might have been apt to have concluded out of sight out of mind Pharaohs chief Butlers re-advance made him forget Joseph 3 Gen. 13 14.23 But the height of Christs place doth not make him unmindful of us he remembers us in his Kingdom 23 Luke 42. and from thence sends us rich presents gifts and graces Temporal and Spiritual blessings 1 Ephes 3. for whatever we receive as a pledge of Gods greatest love towards us must be through his mercy in Christ 3. To prepare a place for all that believe in him 14 Jo. 1 2. This blessed Harbinger 6 Heb. 20. is gone before in our flesh to take possession for us of our Heavenly Mansions most glorious certainly and Magnificent as provided and appointed by such Infinite Majesty and Bounty Prepare us dear Jesus for those happy habitations which thy love hath so painfully and carefully fitted and prepared for us The Relation that is betwixt Christ in heaven and his Church on earth gives us a full assurance that he will bring that thither The Head is not compleat without its members 5 Eph. 23. nor the Bridegroom without his Bride 2 Mar. 19 20. Christ therefore shall undoubtedly unite to himself his Body Mystical and take to the same place his beloved beauteous Spouse She shall be brought to the King her Husband in raiment of needle-work with gladness and rejoycing shall she be brought into the Kings Palace 45 Psal 14 15. What Christ prayes for 17 Joh. 24. himself is also able to perform where-e're the man dwells he may Command his wife none can detain the Church from cohabiting with her Lord in Heaven As all Christs undertakings in the flesh his Birth Death Resurrection he was Born for us 9 Isa 6. 2 Luk. 11. Dyed for us 4 Ro. 25. Rose again for us so at his Ascension we come in too he ascended for us he is gone up on high far above all Heavens to prepare there a place for us 4. To send the Comforter down unto his Church 16 Jo. 7. It is expedient for you c. There lyes an expedience that Holy Thursday should preceed Pentecost Christ must go before the Holy Ghost can come down for which Bishop Andrews alledges excellent Reasons gathered from the fathers 1. On the Holy Ghosts part who came to manifest himself as God by shewing great â—â—gns and wonders now had Christ stayed they might have attâ—ibuted these to him which had been an impeachment of the others divinity but Christ ascending all such immaginations cease 2. On Christs part A little impeachment it might have been to Christs equality to the Father for he not going to send him but staying still here till he was sent the sending of the Spirit might have been ascribed to the Father alone as his sole act That he had been sent for Christs sake had been the most but being ascended his love and power is apparent to be equal with the Father in sending him and we alike beholding to them both Now the Fathers sending him 14 Jo. 26. and the Sons sending him from the Father 15 Jo. 26. is all one 3. On our part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he might fill all things by his Spirit which he could not by his Body that he might be present with every particular member of his dispersed Church thus is he with all Christians in all places at all times even unto the end of the world 28 Mat. 20. See Piscator on the Text Hoc Sophistae Ubiquitarâ—s sic exponunt quasi diceret Paulus ut omnia loca impleret suo corpore Sed Apostolus se ipse declarat duobus versibus sequentibus ex quorum Collatione perspicitur Apostolum hoc velle dicere Christum ascendisse in coelum ut indè misso spiritu sancto impleret illius donis omnia Ecclesiae membra Again say they Christ withdrew his Bodily presence to draw us off from sence or fleshly fondness of him which his nearest and dearest followers were too much prone to as we see in Martha 11 Jo. 21. attributing the greatest power to his Corporal residence Lord if thou hadst been here my Brother had not dyed As if absent he had not been able to have prevented it The Disciples are upon building of Tabernacles for his stay in the flesh As if in that only consisted the Co summation of their happiness 17 Mat. 4. Mary would fain be embracing him with a carnal contract 20 Jo. 17. which Christ strives to beat her off from with a Noli me tangere touch me not putting her in mind nereupon of his Ascension After that he sends his Spirit whereby we are to apprehend him spiritually Seeing the invisible by faith which the moâ—e abstract from sence the more notable blessing it hath pronounced to it 20 Jo. 29. Blessed are they hat have not seen and yet have believed Lastly The Fathers stick not to say that at Christs Ascension before the Coming of the Holy Ghost it was necessary that he should withdraw himself for some time as to his Bodily so his Spiritual presence likewise 1. That the Disciples growing faint and tepid whilst he was with them should now become more vigilant and watchful after him on the sense of the loss of him like the Spouse 5 Cant. 2 3 5 7. 2. That they might grow less carnally secure in their thoughts of keeping him who were apt to presume upon a non moveber 30 Psal 7. a never be moved though I dye with thee will I not deny thee saith Peter 26 Mat. 35. and all the rest yet we find the contrary v. 56. 3. The consideration hereof as also the sence of their necessary falling into sin without Christs Spiritual presence drives them to humility a fit posture to invite the Holy Ghosts Descent and abode 57. Isai 15. Thus Christus abit ut Paracletus veniat Christ is gone up on high far above all Heavens to send his Spirit down on Earth even the lowest among men Lastly To appear in the sight of God to interceed for us 9 Heb. 24. 8 Ro. 34. c. 1 Jo. 2. c. 1. 8 Rev. 3. Now we may come with boldness unto the Throne of grace 4 Heb. ult since we hâ—ve such a prevailing friend in the Court of Heaven whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name he shall give it you 16 Jo. 22. Blessed Jesus we will not robb thee of thy Mediatorship interceed for us still as thou didst once on earth 17 Jo. 23. That where thou art there we may be also whil'st we are here let our Souls our affections be above 3 Col. 2. and hereafter receive us both Souls and Bodies unto that unspeakable glory thou now enjoyest with thy Father where thou art ascended up far above all Heavens SIXTH SERMON ON Whit-Sunday OR The Inestimable Gift The Holy Ghost 8. Acts 20. But Peter said untohim Thy Money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with Money THis day of
That the Holy Ghost is the Inestimable gift of God 2. What a Horrid sin it must needs be to think it may purchased with money 1. The Holy Ghost is Gods Inestimable gift 1. 'T is 2 Gift of his 14 Joh. 16 17. 11 Luk. 13. Infinitely beyond all merit and so 't is well It is a Gift we must have gon without it else 2. 'T is Gods special Gift 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Gift of God The Gift of all Gifts not Datum as Bp. Andr. distinguisheth in serm 14. on Whitsun pag. 748. any worldly good thing but Donum bonum perfectum That good and perfect gift that this day came down from above from the Father of lights 1 James 17. In this Gift are contained all the excellencies of nature and grace 1. Of Nature such as Reason Knowledge Understanding Arts Policy Government Stength Courage c. 2. Of Grace such as Faith Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Temperance c. Every Feather of this Dove 3 Mat. 16. is of Gold Every drop of this Ointment this Water precious 1 Joh. 2.27 7 Joh. 38. Every spark of this Fire beautiful 2 Acts 3. Every gale of this Wind perfumed v. 2. O si donum Descires saith our Saviour 4 Joh. 10. if we knew but this Gift which cannot be but by receiving it 2. Rev. 17. how shoâ—â—d we prize it In this Gift God formerly gave Apostles Prophets Evangelists verse 11. The Gift of Healing Miracles c. And in this Gift God still gives us Pastors and Teachers for these we keep this Holy-day saith Bp. Andrewes and so ought to have for them more then a Working-day accompt Again The Gifts which proceed from this Gift such as Preaching Administring the Blessed Sacraments and Prayer c. are as good as no Gifts but for this Gift to the Holy Ghost The Word 2 Cor. 3.6 is but a dead Letter except the Spirit quicken it There can be no Regeneration or New birth at Baptism except as in the First Creation 1 Gen. 2. the Spirit move upon the Water In the Lords Supper the Flesh 6 Joh. 63. profiteth nothing if the Spirit be away nor can we Pray as we ought except the Spirit help us 8 Rom. 26. The Gift of God Eternal Life through Jesus Christ is Communicated to us by the Gift of the Spirit for though Christ on his part hath finished the work of our Redemption 19 Joh. 30. by setting his hand to it his undertakings on the Cross yet this deed is not forcible to us without the seal 4 Eph. 30. and witness of his Spirit 8 Rom. 16. In this Gist God giveth peace to the dissenting 4 Eph. 3. instruction to the ignorant 14 Joh. 26. guidance to the erronious 16 Joh. 13. comfort to the disconsolate verse 6 7. memory to the forgetful 14 Joh. 26. To speak all at once in this Gift God giveth us rich discoveries of himself 1 Cor. 2.11 nay Himself withal hereby the Almighty dwells among us 68 Psal 18. see Bp. Hall 's Paraph on the place 2. The Holy Ghost now being so Infinitely Inestimable a Gift of God as you have heard what a horrid sin must it needs be to think it may be purchased with money What Ingratitude is this to the Giver what Indignity and affront offered to the Gift it self A Gift be it what it will as a Gift 't is absurd to value it much more to put a temporal and corruptible price upon an incorruptible and Eternal purchase a thought of this cannot be endured Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the Gift of God may be purchased with money Application Is the holy ghost so inestimable a gift not to be thought on with a money purchase 1. This condemnes Romes marketting it by selling Crowns Miters Braiers Pardons c. as Mantuan testifies Venalia nobis Templa Sacerdotes altaria sacra Coronae Ignis Thura Preces Caelum est venale Deuique What doth the Apostle here whom they so boast of as their prime Metropolitan refuse Simons money and will he now have Peter-pence The Pope only hath coyned these exactions for himself he desires them not 2. A Gift is such in relation to the Receivers have we then received this Inestimable gift which we may know thus 1. By Sanctity of life The Holy Ghost the third person in the Trinity is peculiarly termed Holy for that besides the holiness of Nature in which respect the Father and the Son are also holy his Office is to Sanctify the Church of God to whom it agreeth in a speciall manner for where the Father Sanctifieth by the Son and by the Holy Ghost the Son from the Father and by the Holy Ghost the Holy Ghost Sanctifieth from the Father and from the Son by himself immediately Where this 1. Spirit of holyness is breathed into any man it creates in him a life of holyness and as the natural Spirit doth at the heart it will beat at the mouth it will breath at the pulse it will be felt In the heart it will cause new thoughts new desires sanè novum supervenisse spiritum nova desideria demonstram saith St. Bernard In the mouth new talke new communication in the hands works of new obedience These are the effects of that new Spirit the holy Ghost God promised to give 36. Ezek. 26. This Spirit when it makes a new creature it begins at the heart as the heart they say in any Animal is primum vivens ultimum moriens lives first and dies last It Sanctifies the heart from all inward defilements 15. Mat. 19. the Lips from evil speaking 4. Ephes 31. the Hands from any unlawful actions 2 Pet. 2.8 Thus if sincerely surveying our thoughts words and works we find them holy we may thence inferr We have received the Holy Ghost And as by Sanctity of life we may judge of the receiving this Inestimable Gift for this Dov will not light on Carrion This Water will cleanse this fire will refine this wind will fan thorowly a clean box it must be that is to hold this Ointment 2. By Humility 57 Isa 15. This Dove implies meekness this water forsakes the Hills to visit the low Valleys the less we think of our selves the higher esteem God hath of us a meek and quiet spirit is with him of great Price 1 Pet. 3. c. 4. to whom he sends this rich present the Holy Ghost 4 James 6. 3. By Boldiness in suffering for Christ this we see in the Apostles Peter and John 4 Acts 8.13 and the rest 5 c. 40 41 42. and Stephen 7 c. 54 55. Yet let men beware here the Spirit of contradiction obstinate gain saying of Magistrates and speaking evil of Dignities correcting Delinquency be not mistaken for the Spirits Magnanimity in persecution 4. By charity 4 James 5. Do you think that the Spirit of God saith the Apostle which we profess to have dwelling in us lusteth to envy so Bishop Hall in his Paraph. on the
Mary named before Joseph persons found viz. Mary and Joseph and the Babe These be the Parents and the Child but why Mary before Joseph the Wife before the Husband This doth not quit the woman of her duty of subâ—ection 5. Ephes 22 23 24. and wring the staff of Preheminence Rule and Authority out of the mans hand to put it into hers But perhaps she was found first though not far one from the other or rather it seems to me as if the wisdome of the Holy Ghost would imply hereby that Mary of the two hath the greatest share in this Birth Mary is the real Mother Joseph but the reputed Father of Christ That He was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary is an Article of our faith without any talk of Joseph Hence sinful vile polluted Adam's off-spring Man touch not this Holy Maid and hence all base and unchast thoughts that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost Which Conception †Sicut vermis calefaciente sole c. Aug. de temp Ser. 181. St. Austin makes more plain unto us by the similitude of a Worm which Christ compares himself to 22. Psal 6. I am a worm saith he and no man i. e. not conceived after the manner of men but as the worm by the heat of the Sun onely is formed of mud or slime so Christ was conceived of our flesh by the secret assistance and operation of the Holy Ghost alone * Nec potest doceri nisi à donaate nec potest addisei nisi à suscâ—piente St. Bern. on the Conception This Melchisedec without Father Jesus thus miraculously conceived Mary yet acts the part of a Mother in bearing and bringing forth this her first born 5 6 7. verses From hence forth all generations shall call thee blessed 1. Luk. 48. Thou art the King of glory O Christ Thou art the Everlasting Son of the Father And yet when thou tookest upon thee to deliver man thou didst not abhor the * Quantus est qui natus est Sed quantus est qui de Virgine natus est Aug. Hom. 32. pag. 340. Virgins Womb. Mary in this He that is mighty hath magnified thee 1. Luk. 49. Wheresoever the Gospel shall be Preached there shall also this be told 26. Mat. 13. Thy name stands registred in that Breif our belief which must have passage over all the world and we will never remember thee but with love and reverence next to adoration If I might not be thought too superperstitious and impertinent I could tell here how that this name once named out of aweful respect to the Blessed Virgin did once stop a young Gallants lust in its full design and work a notable Reformation in him The Story we may read at large in Montaigne's Essayes lib. 1. cap. 46. But as the poor simple man must needs Saint Pontius Pilate because his name was suffered in the Creed will I on the contrary altogether despise Joseph for being left out Joseph then Josephs description though of mean occupation a Carpenter 13. Mat. 55. yet is of Royal descent of the house and linage of David v. 4. As to his Civil condition he is noble belonging to the tribe of Judah and therefore repairs to their Metropolis Bethlehem to be taxed v. 4 5. As to his vertuous disposition he is a just man and obedient to the Divine command 1. Mat. 19.24 I would fain leave them as they were found together A loving pair and so not far one from the other Indulgent Parents and so both near the Babe Methinks I see the over joy'd Mother smiling upon her heavenly Off-spring whil'st Joseph admires his Virgin Wife she busily wrapping and swadling his beauteous body whil'st he as cheerfully waiteth and tendeth on this sacred Nurse 'T is Honour over and above sufficient to Joseph only to be husband to her whose child he durst not own to have begotten For the Holy Ghost came upon her and the power of the highest did overshadow her wherefore that Holy thing which was born of her is called the Son of God 1. Luke 35. Which brings me to the Babe to whom I long indeed to come as the subject matter of this Festival As Contemptibly as here he seems to lye The Babe who he is this is none other than a Saviour Christ the Lord v. 11. 1. 1 A Saviour A Saviour soter hoc quantum est saith Tully How great are the thoughts of a Saviour if but for the Body But this is a spiritual Saviour this Babe's name is Jesus because he saves his people from their sins 1. Mat. 21. Neither is this salvation in any other 4. Acts 12. A Saviour 1 Christ Christ or †Christus dicitur à Chrysmate i.e. unctione St. Austin de temp Ser. 181. Anointed for of a truth this Holy Child Jesus was Gods special anointed 4. Acts 27. with the oyle of gladness above his fellows 45. Psal 7. i. e. as the †Bishop Hall 's Paraphr on the Text. King Priest and Prophet of his Church God hath endued his assumed humanity with all divine graces above all meer mankind Christ comes fully qualified for the work of a Mediator or compleat Saviour purposely designed hereto with his Commission Patent from heaven for him hath God the Father sealed 6. Jo. 27. 3. Christ the Lord. 3 The Lord. There be Gods many and Lords many 1. Cor. 8. ch 5. But Holy Babe Thou only art the Lord. There be many Christi Domini the Lords Christs or anointed yet but one Christus Dominus the Lord Christ He is the Lord Lord of Lords and King of Kings 17. Rev. 14. The Lord coeternal and coequal with God the Father begotten of him before all worlds God of God very God of very God saith the Nicene Creed Such a Lord that the very Pagan †Augustus Emperour 't is reported by Grotius lib. 7. c. 2. upon the same day that this Babe was born forbid any by Edict to call him Lord That all Lordship might be ascribed to him To whom he in great devotion erected an Altar with this inscription Haec est ara primogeniti dei Suet. The Delphick Oracle is said to acknowledge the Deity of this Babe vid. Balduin de Cas Consc pag. 75. One of the Sybils to prophecy concerning it Plato to believe it But whate're becomes of Heathenish Stories Scripture doth sufficiently prove him our Immanuel God with us 1. Mat. 23. In this word saith Bishop Andrews Ser. Nat. 9. pag. 75. is implyed both natures El signifies Gods cum plenitudine potestatis God in his full strength and vertue God with all that ever he can do So is Christ saith Athan. in his Creed perfect God Immanu with us one of us perfect man too and that in the Infancy of our nature 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Babe A Babe Christ a Babe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicitur pro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
natural lingring in our pursuit of Heaven The way is either too far the night of persecution is too dark or our flocks the World too dear to be left but we must with the Shepheards with a full resolution and sacred force break through all these if we intend to come to Christ 3. A present speedy and swift Acceleration 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viam contrahere a Contraction of the way by taking up of our feet nimbly This implyes a redeeming of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Instant opportunity to come to Christ To day whil'st it is to day 3. Heb. 7.13 Delayes are dangerous if you ge not now the babe may be gon and the sign to find him in vain If we use not timely means they may in Judgement be taken from us or prove ineffectual to us Behold now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation 2 Cor. 6. c. 2. The Angel begins this dayes news with an Ecce a Behold tidings of great Joy A Saviour Christ the Lord whose Birth this day speaks Peace on Earth Good will towards men for which we must render Glory to God on high Application Application Let us conclude with the Shepheards on an Eamus out of hand ver 15. Now let us go to see the thing that is come to pass which the Lord hath made known unto us Seek the Lord whil'st he may be found 55 Isaiah 6. Call upon him whil'st he is near and indeed this day he is not far from every one of us 17 Acts 27. being in his Incarnation God with us in our nature God with us too in the Saeramental signs i. e. the Bread and the Wine not much unlike saith Bishop Andrews in his Ser. of Nat. 12. pag. 118. the sign of this day for what are they but weak beggarly Elements 4 Gal. 13. in themselves yet in them as in the Cribb we find Christ and spiritually feed on his Body and Blood 1 Cor. 10. ch 16. Nor could the Church in her highest rapture at this blessed Eucharist think on a fitter Anthem then that of this day to the Cratch Suddenly on the Infantem Jacentem in praesepi the Bahe in the Manger follows gloria in Excelsis Glory be to God on high c. v. 12 13. who in his infinite love to mankind brought Christ so low to be partaker of our nature that we might be partakers of his divine nature In hôc est charitas Herein is love This is a Feast of Love where Christ himself proffers himself to be fed on and we agen love him so well as to eat him with a pious longing We ought not to approach this Holy Table without perfect love and charity Love to God to our selves and love to one another 1. Love to God who when this fulness of time was come sent his Son 4. Gal. 4. In this was manifest the Love of God towards us 1 Joh. 4. ch 9. 2. Love to our selves Let us have a greater kindness for our nature since our Saviour Christ the Lord hath vouchsafed to dwell therein then to make it a sink of lusts and uncleanness 3. Love to one another 1 Joh. 4 ch 11. Beloved if God so loved us witness the place where he was found for us this day we ought also to love one another Thus let us shew forth Gods praise for this day not only with our lips but in our lives This dayes Birth fills almost the whole Chapter with wonder and thanksgiving verses 18.20.38 As we see in the Shepheards Anna the Prophetess and all that heard it Besides the Communion Canticle already mentioned learn't from the Angelical quire our Church borrows hence Her constant Eveningsong of Nune Dimittis from devout Simeon v. 25 c. What shall I say the praise hereof shall fill all Time and Eternity Angels have begun to set us in They are only concerned in this Joy for our sakes 15 Luke 10. and shall not we for our selves They cannot say nobis to us but vobis to you natus est Salvator is born this day a Saviour And what we must for ever remember must we needs be so superstitious as to forget this day because particularly set apart for this purpose No. This day force up thy soul to an extraordinary pitch of praise such as is not possible to keep it at every day Now the Church will not leave out †In the Communion Service Lift up your hearts let us be as ready to answer we lift them up unto the Lord. Let us give thanks unto our Lord God It is meet and right so to do It is very meet right and our bounden duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee O Lord Holy Father Almighty Everlasting God Because thou didst give Jesus Christ thine only Son to be born as on this day for us who by the operation of the Holy Ghost was made very man of the substance of the Virgin Mary his Mother and that without spot of sin to make us clean from all sin No less is this Babe in the Manger Therefore with Angels Archangels and with all the company of Heaven we laud and magnifie thy glorious name c. SECOND SERMON ON Ash-Wednesday OR The Prevalency of Prayer and Fasting 17. Mat. 21. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by Prayer and Fasting IS Fasting one special means to cast out Devils and may it be rightly used as the only argument to prove a Demoniaâ—k 11. Mat. 18. Whether it be right to hearken unto men more than unto God Judge ye Our Text is our Saviours plain and positive Assertion The other but the discontented Vulgars â—vil surmise and say so John came neither eating nor drinking and they say he hath a Devil We know the Devil prevailed over our first Parents a Eating and entred Judas after the b Sop but he could effect nothing on Christ c fasting and hungry a 3. Gen. b 13. Jo. 27. c 3. Mat. d Fulness makes us most prone to deny God and to forget him and then you know whether we are like to fly d 30. Pro. 9.7 Deut. 11 12. Sinful and unclean excess feasts Satan intimated by the Evil spirits e importunacy to possess the greedy Swine e 5. Mar. 12. In the words you may consider two parts In the words two parts 1. A Mischievous Malady 2. A main Remedy 1. 1 A mischievous malady and in this two things considerable in the evil spirits A Mischievous Malady This kind goeth not out 2. A main Remedy but by Prayer and Fasting 1. In the mischievous Malady you may observe in the evil spirits 1. Their Multiplicity 2. Their Malignancy both are implyed in Hoc genus This kind 1. Their Multiplicity Hoc genus 1 Their Multiplicity This kind supposeth a numerous species or company of the dark Region To denote the multitude of powers they are said to make
refresh us in afflictions and death it self for those sighs and fears himself felt at the drinking of this bitter cup which amazingly startled him and made him so earnestly cry out O my Father c. 3. The Difficulty of the Cups passing or indeed the impossibility of it appears 1. 3 The Difficulty of the cups passing From the unalterableness of Gods decrees 2 Acts 22 23. Could he not here have commanded twelve legions of Angels for his rescue 53 54. verses But how then should the Scripture have been fulfilled that thus it must be Heaven and Earth may pass away sooner than one jot or one tittle of Gods word fail 5 Mat. 18. one drop of this cup be spilt The stain of sin cannot be washed off but by blood 9 Heb. 22. now what the blood of Bulls and of Goats could not do the blood of the Son of God must Thus it is written in the Volume of his Fathers everlasting councel 10 Heb. 4 5 6. if you will too curiously enquire the reason take St. Austins answer Ipsum interroga me scire licet quòd ità cur ità non licet ask him It is lawful for me to know it is so not why Notwithstanding whatsoever hardship this beloved Son underwent in this cup it argues the highest love of God imaginable to suffer and of him to drink it and gives us all this cheerful confidence that he who hath not withheld his Son but delivered him up in this manner for us can with him deny us nothing 8 Ro. 32. Again Christs suffering on the Cross was suitable to mans sinning ut per l'gnum erigeret lapsum in ligno Theod. Ut fieret crucifixione quae erat genus mortis Maledictum maledictio pro nobis St. Austin 3 Gal. 13. that as by the Tree came Death by the same should come life That by his Crucifixion which was a cursed kind of death he might be made a curse for us to redeem us from the curse of the Law for it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a Tree 21 Deut. 23. Finally on the Cross extensis utrisque manibus as one observes vocationem tà m gentium quà m Judaeorum significaret by stretching out of both arms at widest he shews forth most gracious proffers of embracing both Jews and Gentiles 2. 2 Christs submission In the text you have as Christs Petition O my Father c. so his submission Nevertheless not as I will What we learn in his Prayer but as thou wilt Christ in his prayer teacheth us as 1. Devout Gesture He fell on his Face 2. Secrecy He went a little further from his disciples 3. Watchfulness verse 38. Watch with me fervency in his Prayer he sweat great drops of blood 22 Luke 44. Frequency he went away and prayed the second and third time v. 42.44 4. Brevity and a form the second and third time he said the same words v. 42.44 which were not many 5. A Diligent listning for the return of Prayer Compare our Text with vers 42. whereas Christ here Prayes earnestly if it be possible c. as if he had had some secret intelligence from heaven that it could not be he alters it thus ver 42. O my Father if this Cup may not pass c. Lastly He teacheth us holy cheerful and humble resignation of our will to Gods will for the answering our Petitions Nevertheless not as I will but what thou wilt As Christ was God his will was not contrary to his Fathers but as Gregory Nazianzen saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Godhead is one so also is the will of God But the assumed nature subject to humane infirmities beginning to startle at this cup Christ will bring in subjection to Gods will Since it is thy will O my Father in thine infinite wisdom to order this cup for mans redemption In obedience to thee and in love to him I will freely drink it It is a most terrible cup indeed witness those strange fears which possess me on the very thought of it making me cry out O my Father if it be possible pity thy dear Son and let it pass Nevertheless not what I will according to the weak motions of my frail flesh but as thou wilt according to thine eternal purpose in the working of mans salvation vers 42. If this cup may not pass from me except I drink it Thy will be done FOURTH SERMON ON Easter-Day OR The Resurrection 24 Luke 34. The Lord is risen indeed THe Primitive Christians I have heard on this day meeting in the morning had this greeting Some cryed the Lord is risen the other answered the Lord is Risen indeed What the early women had received from the Angels v. 1.4 5 6. and told to the Apostles v. 9. and others The two Disciples from Emaus v. 13. now again ratifie declare to them for a most certain and very truth saying The Lord is risen indeed The matter and manner of this report which doubtless was with abundance of Joy as witnesses their great hast v. 23. to bring it so many miles v. 13. at night v. 29 30. late after Supper offers to our consideration two things 1. In the text two things observable The Reality of Christs Resurrection 2. The benefit thereby 1. 1 The Reality of Christs Resurrection The Reality of Christs Resurrection The Lord is risen indeed Some prejudiced Persons as they did all his other Actions of casting out Devils feeding the multitudes in the wilderness raiâ—ing the dead imputing these to some delusion Witchcraft or Sorcerie so they might misconstiue this of his Resurrection also and as they might say as one observes in Dr. Moore 's Myst of Godliness p. 138. of that great Eclipse of the Sun at Christs Passion that some delusive spirits might intercept that light in favour of him the great Magician whom they thought just to crucifie betwixt those two other Malefactors quasi latronum pessimus saith one as the worst of the three the same might say that the same spirits might open his Sepulchre carry him away and afterward appear in his shape making use of his body to shew to Thomas or châ—nging their own vehicles into the likeness of flesh and bones so that no mans sense might discover any difference To this answers Dr. Moor in his Myst of Godl p. 140. give me leave to rehearse his own words I cannot mend them 1. That which may be an Exception or Evasion in any case is of consequence in no case for what doth there at any time really happen but evil spirits have a power to imitate so near that our senses may well be deceived 2. Though they have this power in themselves yet I deny that they can exert it when and so far as they please and therefore God would not permit them to add so irresistable credit to the whole Ministry of Christ by this last miracle if Christ had not really been the Messiah but he being