militant and gives not quiet setling to unbeleefe in the heart but dislikes and mournes for it when the arguments and appearances against their faith are such as they can scarce cleare and answere But joy is sowen for the upright in heart the mourners in Syon shall bee comforted Onely let such as seeke the Lord bee exhorted to rejoyce Psal. 105 3. Be joyfull all yee that are upright in heart Psal. 32 11. Taste the sweetnesse of the Gospell the savour of it is quickening 2 Cor. 2 14 16. To rejoyce in Christ is a dutie Philip. 4. It is also a promise Iohn 16 24. It is the end of the Gospell that in the blessed fellowship with the Father and his Sonne Iesus Christ and all the faithfull our joy might bee full 1 Iohn 1 3 4. The Apostles care was even in the greatest persecutions to finish his course with joy Act. 20 24. Intimating that no heavinesse should hinder the chearefull living and dying to the Lord of them who have consecrated themselves to him The beleevers are said to walke in the consolation of the holy Ghost Act. 9 31. It is their priviledge above the world that they have in Christs stead the Spirit to bee their comforter Iohn 14 16 17. They have the Father the God of all consolation who hath given us that beleeve everlasting consolation 2 Cor. 1. 3 with good hope by grace 2 Thess. 2. 16. And the Sonne they have whose consolations are answerable to their tribulations for him 2 Cor. 1. 5. Heavinesse may bee irregular even in godly men subiect to passions our Saviour reproves his Disciples for suffering sorrow to fill their hearts for that which if they had well considered it should have beene their joy Iohn 16 6 7. He blamed something the sorrow of his mother when she found him not in the company because ignorantly and ere she was aware she set her selfe against God Knew yee not that I must goe about my Fathers businesse It may bee disagreeing with the season which in the occasions it offerres calls to joy Neh. 8 9 11 12. It may bee blameable that it is not governed by judgement the thought of foolishnesse is sinne and that foolishnesse that comes out of our heart desiles us Marke 7. 22. Greefe and thought taking is reproved from the unprofitablenesse of it It belongs to prudence to order the affections so as they stirre not without good reason It may bee blameable for the hurt of it to the body a merry heart doth good like a medicine but a broken spirit drieth up the bones An heavie heart drawes backe the spirits and consumes the moisture and to the soule heavinesse in the heart of a man makes it stoope depresseth it as it were out of his place Prov. 12 25. By the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken Prov. â—5 13 A man enjoyes not himselfe the spirits are so dulled as a man hath not perfect use of his senses Christs Disciples failed of their duty about inquiring of the state of Christ foretelling his departing from them None of you asketh me whither I goe but sorrow hath filled your hearts Iohn 16. when Moses brought a comfortable message to the people of Israel concerning their deliverance they hearkened not to him for anguish of spirit Exod. 6 9. It is required in Gods service that as it is with reverence in respect of Gods majestie so with rejoycing in his favour it is with more strength of spirit The joy of the Lord is your strength Neh. 8 10. Recollect the heart therefore to it selfe from the evils that provoke it to passion reproch it for offering indignitie to Christ in such dejection Why art thou cast downe O my soule why art thou disquieted within me O trust in God I shall yet give him thankes for the helpe of his countenance â—â—ould not our whole life be the keeping of a feast to the Lord in sinceritie and truth in remembrance 〈…〉 of that great deliverance by Christ our passover sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5 7 8. To exhort them that have received Christ with joy to maintaine their joy The cause remaines still and it is a note of the house of Christ to hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of the hope firme unto the end Hebrwes 3 6. God hath given everlasting consolation through grace and the Commaundement is Rejoyce in the Lord alwayes 1. Digest well the promises they quicken 2. Forget not the consolation whether against miserable or sinfull infirmities 3. Remember the words of Christ spoken to this very purpose that his joy might remaine in us Iohn 15 11. 4. Draw waters with joy out of the wells of salvation constantly exercising faith in Christ and draw benefits out of him as a never failing fountaine with such refreshings as the thirstie receive water 5. Take heed to the conscience that it bee not offended with sinne fighting against the light and peace of it wounded it interrupts the joy but kept cleane it is a continuall seast For warning to such as receive the word of Christ with joy To take heed of deceit least the cause of their Ioy bee not Christ received but some phantasticall apprehension As some receive Christ and perceive not with joy that they have recceived him As a sicke man receives nourishment by his meat but feeles it noâ— by reason of his malady so some that taste the word to be good receive not Christ the Gospell hath a sweete savour but it is with the perishing of some that regard not to receive the good of the Gospell The joy of Christ received and the ioy of the temporizer differ in kind That is the ioy of the Lord it comes from heaven wrought by the holy Ghost Nehem. 8 10 Rom. 14 17. 1 Thess. 1 6. As God is love so is hee ioy ioying in himselfe the Father ioying in his Sonne Prov. 8 30. The godly nature being communicated to them that receive Christ they have this godly ioy the holy Ghost sanctifying and governing their ioy the ioy of the temporizer is carnall of his owne moving not by the Spirit hee hath â—ot the new creation it is therefore but a fruit of the flesh which may appeare in their destitution of grace in other things which shewes them to bee naturall not having the Spirit They differ in the matter or object of the ioy The true receiver of Christ ioyes in him and the benefits by him as hee knowes he hath them present or in hope Philip. 3 3. We reioyce in Christ Iesus Philip 2 1. If there bee any consolation in Christ consolation of being in Christ. My beloved is mine and I am his that is the ioy They reioyce that by Christ Gods love is turned toward them and that God is theirs they glory in God Psalme 44 8. Rom. 5 11. They delight themselves in him as their full felicitie it is the true sauce that gives a good taste to the benefits which God bestowes upon them
Iohn 18. 6. Hee saith to Peter that if he would bee delivered hee could obtaine of his Father more than twelve Legions of Angels and we reade of one Angell that in a night sâ—ote an hundred fourescore and five thousands that became dead corpses He saith Ioh. 10. 18. that his life was so in his own power that none could take it from him if hee would resist Secondly hee is said to powre out his soule unto death which is more than simplie to dye it is from his heart and of his owne will to give himselfe to death Isay. 53. 12. which appeares in his expression of a great desire to dye for mans salvation Luke 12. So How am I straitned till it be accomplished Which hee expressed also in his desire to eat the last Passover with his Disciples before his death Luke 22. 15. when he was upon the Crosse at his time of his owne will when hee would conserve his bodily nature no longer in vigour he bowed his head and gave up the ghost dyed sooner than they that were crucified with him and so soone as Pilate not knowing the mysterie marveiled at it as extraordinary and the Centurion obserâ—ing his yeelding up the ghost instantly upon a lowde cry concluded that surely hee was the sonne of God There was some thing divine in him for when men breath their last commonly they utter either none or a very weake and low voyce Thirdly hee died in love and obedience to his Father laid downe his life as he had received commandement of his Father Iohn 10 18. So his Father is said to deliver him to death for us all Rom. 8 32. First ordaining his passion for mans salvation Hee is said to have beene delivered by the determinate counsell and foreknowledge of God Act. 2 23. and Herod Pilate the gentiles and people of Israel are said to do what his hand and counsell determined before to be done Act. 4 28. This way in which God declared his wisedome to bee just in the forgiving of sinnes Rom. 3 25 26. And to set forth his bountifulnesse love and mercie to man in appointing a satisfier for him was ordained before the world unto our glory 1 Cor. 2 7. Secondly though as God hee delivered himselfe to death with the same will action with his Father yet as man his Father inspired the willingnesse and love of which he yeelded himselfe to leath for it was repugnant to his naturall will whereby hee declared some desire to decline it Abba Father â—l things are possible to thee take away this cuppe from mee Yet submitted himselfe to his Fathers will neverthelesse Not what I will but what thou wilt God so made him for a little time inferiour to the Angels for suffering of death Heb. 2. 9. and that the world might see how hee loved his Father and as hee commanded him so hee did even went to meet the Prince of the world comming to him having nothing in him and in this respect hee is called Gods servant the Chosen of God to raise up the tribes of Iacob to restore the preserved of Israel to bee a light to the Gentiles his salvation to the end of the earth Isayaâ— 49. 6. In which service hee employed himselfe and tooke the forme of a servant assumed our nature to unitie of person for the worke of the mediatorship and became obedient to the death even the death of the crosse According to the will of his Father fulfilling the ceremoniall Law in his sacrifice and the morall in fulfilling all righteousnesse by the which will of God wee are sanctified through the offering of the body of Iesus Christ once for all Heb. 10 9 10. Fourthly hee died of his owne love to man Pro. 8 31. Whose delights were with the sonnes of men hee gave his life for his friends in the greatnesse of his love Iohn 15 13. So his love is set before the gift of himselfe for us Gal. 2. 20. To wash us from our sinnes in his blood to make us kings and Priests to our God Revel 1. 5. As his Father loved him and appointed him to be the mediator in whom whosoever were received into favour should bee received and no otherwise so hee loved us and gave himselfe a ransome for us that the Father might love us with the love wherewith he loved him and that love also bee in us Iohn 17 23 24 26. It was expedient that his death should bee voluntary First for mans justification that as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one many might bee righteous as wee were sinners in Adam by imputation of his disobedience before wee had inherent sinne so in Christ by faith wee might bee righteous by imputation of his obedience before wee have inherent righteousnesse as sinne reigned unto death even over theÌ„ that sinned not after the similitude of Adams transgression so grace may reigne through righteousnesse by Iesus Christ unto eternall life Rom. 5 14 19 21. Thus was Adam the figure of Christ. Thus was Christ Gods righteous servant in his obedience righteous in himselfe and the righte ousnesse of them that effectually know him Esay 53 11. Secondly it was expedi ent for his sacrifice that his death should bee in obedience not onely for innocencie not to need to offer for himselfe as the priests of the Law did Heb. 7 26 27. But because obedience with God is more than all burnt offering and sacrifice this being the obedience of such a person being the Sonne hee learned obedience in the things which hee suffered The Lord of the Law willingly submitting himselfe to the Law it did greatly please God His sacrifice was a sweete smelling savour Ephes. 5 2. His father loved him because he laid downe his life for his sheepe such as were given him of his Father Thirdly it was meete also for his victory that his death should bee in obedience and voluntary that as death and the Divell who had the power of it reigned by disobedience so hee by obedience might overcome and tryumph in his Crosse where hee shewed obedience hee spoiled principalities and powers disarmed them and made a shew of them openly and tryumphed over them so they have no more power to accuse them that are in Christ or to require them of Gods justice to punishment for their disobedience Sinne is put out of authoritie in the flesh of Christ and the whole right of the Law fullfilled in them that walke not after the flesh but after the spirit Rom. 8 3 4. Because Christs obedience or righteousnesse which is reall and inherent in him is so imputed to them as if they had done it themselves Which well knowne and digested may be a great encouragement to come to Christ for salvation seeing hee gave himselfe so willingly and with such great desire to death in obedience to his Fathers will to save the world by him and salvaton being
opportunities and seasons of doing good and not let them slip Eccles. 11 6 but sow our seed in the morning and not let our hand rest in the evening and worke the workes of him that sent us while it is day Iohn 9 4. Waiting for occasions as Abraham in his tent doore being given to hospitalitie who spying three men as he thought comming in the way ranne to meete them and to invite them a proofe of sound love to shew kindnesse to unknowne men of whom he neither had nor hoped for exchange of good turnes Integritie being more then hospitality might be used with lesse daunger than now in so great persidiousnesse of men Grace makes a man pompt and readie to gracious acts The liberall man deviseth liberall things contrary to the churle and by liberall things shall be established Esay 32 8. To day I must abide at thy house He had taken up his heart and now proceeds to take up his house for his lodging Thus of his owne goodnesse God is pleased to follow his owne favours as the Princes of this world sometimes do to their favorites till they make them great but there is a wide difference Yet in both freely and because they have set their hearts upon them for good they wil honour them God will perfect his good worke which he once begins in his toward their salvation and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodnesse in them as the Prophet saith The Lord will perfect that which concerneth mee He will proceede to declare that hee hath care of my salvation and what hee hath begun he will through even unto the last act Men by inconstancie caried another way what they unadvisedly entred upon with levitie they relinquish or are constreined by infirmitie to omitte what above their strength they attempted But no such thing can be fall God whose gifts and calling are without repentance hee neither fainteth nor is weary hee cannot change his nature nor put of his goodnesse wherewith he is indued hee will not frustrate our hope in the middle of our course but they that wait upon him shall renew their strength As hee redeemeth our life from death so he Crownes us with loving knindnesse and tender mercies and satisfieth his people with his goodnesse Ierem. 31 14. Hee causeth their light to spring out in the darkenesse and their darknesse by increased light to bee as the noone day he droppes in his love by degrees till he make their peace full He circumciseth our hearts to love and desire him and rewards that love which is his owne worke with new proofe of his love I love them that love me and they that seeke me early shall finde me Proverbs 8. 17. His reloving is that hee gives himselfe to be enjoyed of them which with love do seeke him to whom wisedome is consubstantiall or in communicating testimonies of good will as imputing or rendering unto them righteousnesse being favourable to them shewing them his face unto their joy powring forth his Spirit more plentifully upon them leading them more perfectly in the wayes of his commandements Increase of grace is given to them that rightly use the first grace by way of reward Psal. 84 11. To them that walke uprightly God giveth grace His beneficence flowes out dayly unto them having imbraced them with his favour hee ceaseth not to inrich them with his gifts To you that heare shall more be given Marke 4 24. He gives them grace more plentifully that receive with profit the word which hee sends unto them having his words and keepeth them beleeving them and submitting the minde and the heart to them meditating and transferring them to use liberally communicating them to the benefit of others not having the treasure of heavenly wisedome negligently as the unprofitable servant had his Talent but with diligence to good use they shall have more committed to their trust for hee that is faithfull in that which is least is faithfull also in much Luke 16 10. He that loveth Christ and keepeth his Cōmandements though that love bee of God shall bee loved of his Father and hee will love him and will manifest himselfe to him and they will come to him and make their abode with him The love which he promiseth is not that wherewith hee begins to love us but of which hee begins to reward us with new accesse of his grace and within graving the Testimony of his Fatherly love in our hearts The love of the Trinitie towards us is eternal and explicated by every difference of time Iohn 3 16. God so loved the world that hee gave his onely begotten Sonne Iohn 16 27. The Father himselfe loveth you because you have loved mee Iohn 14 21 Hee that loveth me shall beloved of my Father Shall perceive the grace of God to reside in him which shall be increased in new gifts I will blesse him with increase of his knowledge of me to find in me more and more the comfort of his happinesse and matter of his love to mee that by his owne delight and desire hee shall bee tyed to me hee shall come neerer and neerer to me and rejoyce in the sweetnesse of my familiaritie and wee will come to him unto an increase of union and make him shine and send forth beames of heavenly righteousnesse which the world will they nill they shall take notice of and we will make our abode with him not tarry with him a little time and then depart from him but for ever he shall have our presence here and in heaven thus good is the Lord. Hee knowes us hee makes us to know him hee loveth us hee makes us to love him hee covenants with us hee makes us to covenant with him takes pleasure in us and makes us take pleasure in him hee liveth in us and maketh us live in him hee walkes and talkes with us and wee walke and talke with him all of his owne good will to sill us with his fullnesse This proceeding from his beginning to the consummation of our salvation is grounded and assured upon his faithfullnesse 1 Cor. 1 9. 1 Thess. 5. 24. Two blessings are specially promised to them whom God hath called to the fellowship of his Sonne one confirmation unto the end or as 2 Thess. 3 3 preservation from evill unmoveably to persist in goodnesse notwithstanding temptation that the evill one touch them not v. 23 with any deadly wound For hee is in them who hath overcome the divell the world sinne and death greater than he that is in the world 1 Iohn 4 4. Hee shall not touch them with a qualitative touch to alter their qualitie from good to evill that they should lose their gracious disposition and prove perverse The other blessing is the fulfilling of their sanctification to the blamelesnesse of their whole spirit soule and body Because hee is faithfull in his promises and constant in his gifts 1 Thess. 5 23 24.
consolation with it where Christ comes there is joy So in the prophecie of his comming Zach. 9 9 and in the accomplishment Luke 19 37. The whole multitude began to reioyce and to prayse God with a lowd voyce When the people in Samaria gave heede to Philip preaching Christ unto them there was great joy in that Citie which was the fruit of their faith as of the Eunuchs who went on his way rejoycing Act. 8 8 39 And the Iaylers who rejoyced beleeving in Goâ— â—ct 16 34. Peter joy 〈…〉 〈…〉 th faith as the fruit of it joy unspeakeable either because the matter of it is such and so great as passeth facultie of humane speech to expresse it not possible for man to utter 2 Cor. 12 4. Or for the greatnesse of the contentment so as no words can declare it to another what hee feeles within as he said before Wherein ye greatly rejoyce The stranger medles not with his joy and full of glorie no affliction can destroy it nothing can frustrate it it ends not in shame as reprobates joy it is stable and solide and is a certaine participation of the Lords joy which shall bee in the state of glory 1 Pet. 1 6 8 All facultie failes for the commendation of it and it selfe is the fruit of the Spirit of glory which failes not but is everlasting joy gloriously given of Christ. It is one of the marks of a Christian to put his whole confidence for fulnesse of felicitie in Christ alone so as to rejoyce in him rejoycing in nothing but in his crosse Gal. 6 14. In which is the fullnesse of our redemption Philip 3 3. Wee which rejoyce in Christ Iesus and put no confidence in the flesh ascribe our whole salvation and whatsoever goodgift of vertue or pietie whatsoever a Christian as such rightly glorieth in unto his onely merit Both just and great cause of joy there is in their â—eceiving of Christ Abraham that saw his day but a farre off yet rejoyced to see it Iohn 8 56. And all the faithfull before his comming made him their consolation Luke 2 25. First the incomparable excellencie in himselfe is cause of great joy to them that receive him hee is from heaven and above all such a bridegroome is worthily the joy of the bride Iohn 3 29 31. As his excellencie above all other makes him desired being knowne it drawes hearts to him when the Church described him and concludes her description thus Hee is altogether lovely adorning her description with a redoubled exclamation to the daughters of Ierusalem This is my beloved and this is my freind They not onely justifie her passions of love for him but are themselves in love with him and inquire after him with her to joyne themselves to him so holds it them to him with delight who have him counting him their full felicitie Wee will rejoyce and bee glad in thee wee will remember thy love more than wine Nothing is there in the world that seemes not vile to them in comparison of him Canticles 1 4. 2. The benefits which they receive with Christ are all matters of great joy They have him as the first effect of their election the gift of the love of God wherewith hee loved them from the beginning of this they have abundantly to rejoyce that their names are written in heaven Luke 10 20. Secondly the reconciliation and peace which they have with God So as hee is now their God and all his attributes for their benefit that they have all parts and numbers of felicitie having him and which is the highest degree of all glorying they glorie in God Thirdly having Christ they have an everlasting righteousnesse the righteousnesse of God who being favourable unto man will render unto him his righteousnesse and grant him to bee arraied in fine â—innen cleane and white for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of Saints Revel 19 8 Thus is the bride made readie to meet her beloved unto the solemnitie of their mariage and most joyfull imbracements Fourthly they receive dignitie to bee the sonnes of God a benefit evidencing the love of God beyond all that our thoughts are able to comprehend therefore the Apostle propounds it with admiration Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that wee should bee called the Sonnes of God 1 Iohn 3 1. Behold sometime im plieth experiment with pleasure with joyfullnesse and alacritieâ— of mind it calls upon us to apply our mind to waigh and looke duely into the greatnesse of the benefit that being perpensive wee might come to a right prizing and valuation of the blessings it containes to conceive some singular sweetnesse of Gods favour affected therewith unto rejoycing wee may study to walke worthy of God They have the nature of God borne nor of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Iohn 1 13. They have accesse to God a singular priviledge adduction into his presence by one Spirit Ephes. 2 18 Who makes requests for them according to the will of God Rom. 8 27. The sonnes of God are led by the Spirit of God who workes their workes in them and produceth their pleasant fruits exciting and confirming their will for good quickening and comforting them preserving and increasing the life of God in them causing strength to grow in their soules to victory over the world their standing in grace after all assaults and so is the Spirit of glory resting upon them 1 Pet. 4 The earnest of salvation with eternall glory They have interest in God for his speciall providence as David claimes I am thine save mee Psalme 119 94. The Church Esay 63 16. Doubtlesse thou art our Father thou O Lord art our Father 19. Wee are thine So his eye is over them Psal. 33 18. Hee withdraw es not his eyes from them Iob 36 7. Hee that toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye he loveth them with the same love wherewith hee loveth his owne Sonne Iesus Christ Iohn 17 26. They have their right unto and dominion over all things restored all is theirs with Christ whom God hath appointed heire of all things and they coheires to inherit all things with him Rom. 8 17. 1 Cor. 3 22. Revel 21 7. This is no small part of the joy of their faith that whether they bee things present or things to come all are theirs Seeing Christ received by faith brings such matter of joy it is to their reproofe who have him and his blessing constantly offered yet receive him not 1 It is indignitie offered to Christ whom they refuse 2. It is the wronging of their owne soules Prov. 8 36. Hee that sinneth against me wrongeth his owne soule all they that hate mee love death Infidelitie is two wayes considered First of mere negation as in them who never heard of Christ called infidels of not having the faith which is a punishment rather than a sinne Such are damned
now preached in his name how can wee say any thing to excuse our not receiving him and life with him hee being straitned and pained with strong desire to shed his blood for reconciliation betweene God and man and he is now set forth unto us for propitiation through faith in his blood let us abhorre flownesse of heart to beleeve in him and with all boldnesse imbrace the benefit of Christ Heb. 10 22. Let him see in us the travell of his soule to his satisfaction Esay 53. 11. The affluence of burdened sinners to him to finde rest for their soules is the fruite of his passion the satisfying of his desire in it the prospering of the good pleasure of God in his hand Say with the Church I am my beloveds seeing his desire is towards mee because hee hath so freely loved mee when I was wholly turned away from him and was his enemie as in desire to save me to give himselfe for me I resolve to yeeld up my selfe to him Cant. 7 10. This is the pleasure of Christ and his Church that their bed is greene Cant. 1 16. that there is still an increase of faithfull ones And this faith by which wee looke up to Christ for salvation is the eye which so much doth affect him as hee is no more his owne but theirs that so beleeve in him Cant. 4. 9. If we could weigh this well that Christ is so delighted with our faith by which as by our eye wee behold him as sent of God to save us how should it make us to burne in desire to have this faith more and more which is but one though it have diverse degrees Our faith in him is the end of the Gospell as the end of his passion and the end of it the salvation of our soules 1 Peter 1 9. Let this love of his wherby hee willingly met his death for our salvation move us to labour to know this love which passeth knowledge Ephes. 3. 19. which as his banner is lifted up to gather his to him allured by his love Cant. 2. 4. and admiring it to bee moved to burne in our love to him as the Church is said to be sicke of love the coales thereof to be coales of fire which hath a most vehement flame Cant. 8 6. So possessed of the love of Christ that wee bee wholly to him 2 Cor. 5 14. And so know this love not onely as our motive to love him but our patterne to love such as hee commends to our love so is his commandement that wee love one another as he hath loved us Iohn 13 His love to us is as his fathers to him purely gracious as his father received not of him but gave to him so hee received not first of us to love us for our love but when there was nothing to incline him towards us to bee considered in us he loved us gave us even himselfe Thus let our love bee to others not first because wee receive of them but freely of goodnes put into us by the Spirit of Christ inclined to p 〈…〉 cure their good Let it direct our obedience unto God unto Christ that it be of a ready minde though in difficult things and such as our nature rightly would decline yet denying our selves we submit to him that is the Lord of our life and death as he submitted to his Father As Peter stretching forth his hands to bee bound and led to death by others in respect of his naturall will is said to bee led whither hee would not Iohn 21. 18. yet of obedience and feare of God choosing death for the safetie of Christs cause to glorifie God by his confession of the truth thus is the obedience more glorious being performed by grace against reluctation of nature Yet where there is reluctation of corrupt nature the excellency of obedience is lesse though grace get the victory for to the performance of the Law it is required that a man shall not lust have no motion bee it never so small contrary to Gods Law The perfection of that which is good is when there is not so much as concupiscence of sinne in a man if there bee never so little a motion step ping aside from the love of God and from his obedience in love it is evidently a breach of the Law our Saviour had no manner of corruption in him to wrestle or strive against the will of God And passed through Ieri 〈…〉 behold there was a man c. Iericho was singularly subjected to the malediction of God so as whosoever should rebuild it God having destroyed it should be judged with the death of his eldest sonne in laying the foundation and of his youngest in his hanging up the gates of it which curse tooke hold of one Hiel a Bethelite in the dayes of Aâ—hab who presuming to build it againe was condemned of madnesse in provoking God by the death of his progenie his eldest sonne Abiram at his laying the foundation of it and his youngest sonne Segub in his hanging up of the gates of it It was the first Citty that the Israelites tooke after their passage ouer Ioden and that by speciall miracle in the falling downe of the walles by the blast of Rams-hornes and dejection of the hearts of the inhabitants therefore as a first fruits with the whole spoyle of it was coÌ„sâ—â—rated to the Lord. Secondly and the severitie used against it might strike a terror into other Citties that would not yeeld themselves Thirdly to bee a memoriall of Gods power in making such a Citty for walls so defenced by an easie and unlikelie way to bee a ruinous heape with incouragement to his people to undertake hard things at his appointment and to excite their thankefulnesse for victory and possession of all which they obtained That this cursed Cittie yeelds some to bee heires of blessing wee may gather that place is no let to Gods calling his election shall be executed in due time whersoever his people bee they bee neither all in one people Revel 7 9. nor in one place but dispersed and scattered abroad Iohn 11 52. but they are Gods Children by predestination to the adoption in Christ and the Lord that knowes who bee his will weale them out by his calling select them out of the world how vile soever the place of their aboade 〈◊〉 Bethsaida was a wick 〈…〉 〈◊〉 and for impenitencie and rebellion worse than Tyrus and Sdon which were infamous for impiety pride luxurie and other vices Mat. 11 21. Yet yeelded three to Christs kingdome and they also Apostles Phillip whom Christ going forth into Galilce called immediatly to follow him is said of bee at Bethsaida the Cittie of Andrew and Peter Iohn 1 43 44. Samaria was justly hatefull to the Iewes not as Gentiles and the dregges of diverse nations a mungrill people onely but for corruption of religion impious confusion the Children of the Captivitie having
is the note of the godly that they follow after righteousnesse upon their knowledge of it Esay 51 1 7. It containes the studie of their mindes and indevours of their will with constant desire till they obtaine which is not in this life as lovers that have set their affection on any most studiously follow to obtaine them and they rest not but in fruition thereof Affections setled on supernaturall objects agreeable to the qualitie thereof argue spirituall and supernaturall being This proofe the Apostle would take of the resurrection of the soule the first resurrection rising with Christ seeking and setting the affections on things that are above thinking and desiring and following things concerning another life spiritual things spiritually discerned and affected and godlinesse as it is of God and conformes us to him That we are in this world concerning beginnings as he is and the kingdome of heaven for his presence to dwell with the Lord to be where Christ is to behold his glory and to be perfectly guided by his Spirit Our conversion begins in Gods worke in us infusing grace by way of seed 1 Iohn 3 9. Which manifests it selfe by new disposition and inclination in us that our desiring spirituall things agreable to their nature is an action of that life of God begun The will first suffers Gods worke upon it and then acts aspires to conversion constantly desires it Inclines us still to seeke God Ier. 31 19. In which God confirmes it he prepares the heart and inclines his eare Psal. 10 17. And when Iesus came to the place hee looked up and said unto him c. Here is the successe of the desire of Zaccheus in that which hee desired and in that which he it may be thought not of Christs looking up speaking to him by his name offering himselfe to be his guest such is the benignitie goodnesse of Christ whence observe that seeking Christ and good things in him by spirituall motion shall not bee in vaine Good desires may be deferred but not denied alwayes the expectation of the poore shall not perish for ever though wee have not our desires so soone as wee conceive them yet if we cast not away our confidence but wait and seeke still our hope shall not frustrate us The desire of the righteous shall bee granted him and his hope shall bee gladnesse his desire is onely good obtaineth that which is good and onely that The Lord is good First actually out of his owne favour and goodnesse hee doth good to them that wait for him to the soule that seeketh him Lament 3 25. God hath not said in vaine to the house of Israel seeke yee me Therefore hath hee not spoken it in secret nor in a darke place of the earth as the prophets of the heathen gods who spake uncertainly and so obscurely and out of darke dennes but goodnesse and truth concurre in him goodnesse in inviting us to seeke him as willing to bee found and truth in not deceiving and frustrating our hope when wee do come to him therefore shall wee not faile to finde him because hee will give us to seeke him and search for him with all our heart Ier. 29. 13. God hath made himselfe a debtor by his promise to them that seeke him that hee will come to them and raine righteousnesse upon them Hos. 10. 12. Vnder righteousnesse we may comprehend all kinde of goodnesse which hee will give from heaven not sparingly but largely therefore hee calls it rayning righteousnesse not only that whereby he justifieth us in Christ receiving us into fauour and regenerateth us rendering unto man his righteousnesse Iob 33 29 But the performance of all promises in due time concerning the present life or that which is to come Hee called Bartimeus crying to him and gave his sight as he desired The woman secretly seeking vertue from him to the healing of her issue of bloud found it in her selfe All that would make use of Christ found him reedie to their good if they sought him aright God is faithfull and of never failing compassions in the experience of his servants they are new every morning Lam. 3 23. Hee both meetes with testimonies of deare love such as he seeth coming towards him to seeke his presence as the father of the prodigall met him with wonderfull expressions of a fathers affection in the happie returne of a sonne that seemed to bee lost and also calls them to behold him and to seeke him that had no thought of it who so prevented with his grace upon his call desire and seeke him seeking finde him and finding him enjoy him unto salvation with eternall glory Which serves abundantly for consolation to such as linger after Christ and his grace in holy desires their hearts God hath touched and they follow him as given of God to save them they shall be satisfied When men have a right estimation of Christ that they preferre him before all things in the world as hee knowes their love he so esteemes it and will give himselfe to be enjoyed of them that they shall as it were lye in his armes and sweetly rest with him in gracious imbracements as the Church sicke of love as it were swounding by vehemencie of hir desire to Christ calling to the Pastors of the Church to refresh her spirits with the meanes that they have in trust to convey by them spirituall things into her soule findes her selfe on the sudden upheld by Christ imploying both his hands for her reliefe and streng thening No sooner calling but he heares and answeres and come to her helpe and comfort so willingly as nothing can stay his pace towards her he skips by the mountaines and leapes by the hills neither her greater sinnes nor lesser infirmities can stay him nor humane power can hinder his accesse with celeritie Cant. 2 5 6 8. In his speede hee is like a Roe or young Hart she seeth him as at the dore behind the wall yet not fully expressing and exhibiting himselfe in his presence to her but he lookes forth at a window and shewes himselfe through the grates or lattesse she beholds him but imperfectly yet with certaintie and with signification of favour But to them that desire to see him in heaven not satisfied with the sight of him as it is now by faith he will give them in due time their desire they shall see him as hee is They shall be where he is and behold his glory the shadowes shall flee away whatsoever hinders the full content in the sight of him as ignorance unbeleefe trouble of conscience outward tribulations the day starre shall arise in their hearts and the day breake the time of th' other world beginning at our death and more fully at our resurrection the morning of that day which shall never give place to night when the righteous shall have dominion over the wicked and shall be ever with the Lord when they shall no
of Christ when they shew some signes of flexiblenesse upon making meanes to them but persist not in a tractable spirit they seeme to come part of the way by some worke of conscience within them but are soone drawne backe againe the revocation of Satan being more effectuall with them than the vocation of God it is a signe that they are not called yet according to God purpose but with a more common calling that is accompanied with that grace which proceeds from election otherwise their calling would make them blessed men Revel 19 9. Blessed are they that are called to the mariage Supper of the Lambe for confirmation of their hope therein it is commanded to bee underwritten These are the true sayings of God 2 The efficacie of grace depends not on the will of man but Gods will making his words that hee speakes spirit and life giveing his Spirit with the word so as it is quickening 2 Cor. 3 6 The letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life The letter is dead and ineffectuall in it selfe not giving any power to fulfill it and so it kills as it accuseth men of guiltinesse of unrighteousnesse and condemnes them The Spirit by the Word begets faith in the hearts of the elect whereby they possesse Christ to justification of life and regeneration and cheerefull obedience unto the doctrine delivered The Apostle instanceth in the conversion of the Corinthians which in an elegant metaphore hee compares to a letter of commendation of his Ministerie in which hee notes the subject in which that worke is received their harts a. the adjunct adhereÌ„t the Churches acknowledging it seene and read of all men 3. the principall efficient cause Christ with his Spirit 4. the instrument himselfe 2 Cox 3 3. Yee are manifestly declared to bee the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with â—inke but with the Spirit of the living God not in tables of stone but in fleshy tables of the heart The whole effect is ascribed to the Spirit of Christ according to the covenant I will make you a new heart and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes Ezech. 36 26 27. If it depended on the will of man to make the grace effectuall or ineffectuall it would follow that I owe to God no more in my conversion and obedience to his word than the prayse of a power to convert but to my selfe the prayse that I actually doe convert and obey So when the Apostle saith It is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God which sheweth mercie with the like supplement the speach might be converted it is not of God shewing mercie that is altogether but of mans internall act of willing and externall of running conversing with studie and diligence Which must needs offend godly eares So when hee saith who made thee to differ from an other man It might bee answered mine owne will another man had as much given him of God as I equall helpe of grace but hee would not bring his abilitie into act which I did But this excludes all boasting that the will and the deed is onely and wholy of God who hath wrought all our workes in us Grace is opposed to the fault in us which is both actuall and habituall deformitie in the will therefore is grace both habite and act in the will it ministreth spirituall vertue it giveth an effectiue principle of supernaturall operation In summe if efficacie of grace depend on mans will then there is no other efficacie of the grace of God in the faithfull to well doing than there is of a temptation of the Divell in sinners to evill doing if as the efficacie of the temptation depends rather of the will of the sinner than of the Divell temping so efficacie of grace rather on the will of the well doer than of God exciting to good Which is against the glory of his grace which is to bee maintained in all the good hee workes in us or by us That which I am saith the Apostle I am by the grace of God I laboured more abundantly than they all yet not I but the grace of God which was in me 1 Cor. 15. 10. Hee meanes not to give only part or the principall part to the grace of God and to take the rest to himselfe onely helped by grace but by correction gives the whole effect to grace having made himselfe improperly the author of the worke What good soever wee doe it is by the direction and impulsion of the holy Ghost wee speake but when it is godly it is the Spirit of the Father which speaketh in us Wee pray but praying as wee ought it is the worke of the Spirit making requests for us according to the will of God We worke good willingly and gladly but it is God which worketh in us both to will and to doe and fulfills in us the worke of faith with power Not onely the degree and quantitie of it to bee more which is the worke of Gods power but all actions of all vertues which it workes by love our indevours are none unto good if God excite them not even when wee are in grace Hee put the care of the Corinthians in the heart of Titus and made him accept the exhortation to finish among them the same grace which hee had begun in them about their ministration to the Saints 2 Cor. 8 6 16 17. And being excited are in vaine unlesse God assist and confirme the will to produce the act it is Gods unspeakeable gift and thankes for ever bee given unto him 2 Cor. 9 15. It cannot bee explicated in words according to the dignitie of it And hee made haste and came downe This is the gracing of obedience that it is readie and without delay thus is the obedience of the faithfull commended as Abrahams in leaving his owne Countrie at Gods calling readily following him though hee knew not whither he went without serupulous inquisition no place yet designed him not knowing so much as where to lodge at night Heb. 11 8 In circumcising his family all the males the same day that God commaunded him though they were many In his early rising to goe where God appointed him to sacrifice his sonne Isaack First against the use of the faithfull who had learned to sacrifice cattell not men this was unwontted Secondly against nature to kill his owne Child his onely begotten sonne for though Ishmael was also his sonne yet First hee was abdicated out of the family of Abraham by divine commandement and so in a sort none of his child but as it were dead in account Secondly hee was not by her who in full right was his wife but by his maide abondwoman who though she be called his wife yet improperly that hee
thing which another man challengeth to be his whom the judges condemne hee shall pay the double to his neighbour That judiciall law binds us but onely concerning equitie and sometimes it may bee needfull to restore not onely the principall but something for the dammage in wanting his owne while it was in our hands There must be a will of doing him right that hee bee no looser by us or if it bee judged wee are to restore as the judge giveth sentence unlesse the party will remit Then Iesus said to him This day is saluation c. Christ honoured this Publican both with his presence at his house as his guest and with his testimony of his gracious estate that hee was the Child of Abraham and so the blessing of Abraham was come upon him salvation came to his house that day Christ giveth testimony of the grace which hee workes in men As hee is the author so is a witnesse of it to him in whom it is hee testified of the Centurion that his faith was not onely true but matchlesse even in Israel Math. 8 10. Of the palsey mans faith and theires that brought him Math. 9 2. Of the Cananitish womans faith and degree Math. 15. 28. Of the womans saith healed of her issue of blood by touching the hemme of his garment Marke 5 34. Of Mary hee witnessed both faith and much love Luke 7 47 48 50. Hee testified after his Ascension by the gifts of the holy Ghost given to them that belâ—eved in him that their faith was not vaine in him As hee spake by his mouth Marke 16 17 so hee performed by his power Act. 10 44. When they beleeved God knowing their hearts bare them witnesse in giving unto them the holy Ghost as hee did unto us Acts. 15 7 8. Gal. 3 2 Hee testifieth of mens faith ordinarily to the end of the world by the Spirit of adoption giving the Godly nature dwelling in the beleever and testifying of his presence by gracious operations whereby he knowes that hee is the Child of God Rom. 8. 16 Sealed to the day of redemption Ephes. 1 13 14. and 4. 30. The effect of which testimony is to free the soule from feare and freely to call God Father Rom. 8 15 16. To know that wee are in Christ and Christ in us Iohn 14 20. Which may convince the Papists of false doctrine in teaching that a man by ordinarie way cannot bee infallibly certaine of his being in grace Is not the testimony of Iesus sufficient to bee rested upon Bellarmine hath foure positions concerning this point all false 1. That such infallible certaintie of our standing in grace or of our being righteous cannot bee had 2. That no man is bound to have it if it might bee had 3. That it is not expedient that ordinarily it bee had 4. That it is not in deed had but of a few unto whom God in a speciall sort reveales their justification Bell. de justif l. 3 c. 8. 1. The reasoning out of which a man concludes the certaintie of his owne justice is this The word of God witnesseth that all which are truely converted and seriously repent their sinnes obtaine grace But my true conversion is evident to mee and my repentance therefore I know with certaintie of faith that I have found favour and grace The assumption faith Bellermine is not onely false but impossible unlesse revelation bee present That which God promiseth may bee had for he is true and cannot lye but hee promiseth this certaintie of our grace Iohn 14 20 Yee shall know that you are in mee and I in you Bellarmine putts it off with this answere that wee shall know that Christ is the head of the Church and so Christ is in his Church and the Church in Christ. But the scope is consolation to particular soules that beleeve in Christ but see him not because hee is in heaven What comfort to me that I know Christ to bee the head of the whole Church doe not the Divels know that what peculiar favour is this that even reprobates partake Revel 2 17 I will give him a white stone and a new name in it that none know but hee that receives it Ergo hee knowes it 2. That which God giveth ordinarily to beleevers may bee had But hee giveth this certaintie of their standing in grace Rom. 5 5. He shedds his love abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghost they feele it with certaintie and truely acknowledge it Rom 8 16. Gal. 4. 6 God certifieth or maketh their hearts certaine of their grace even because they are in grace So certaine that they are made holylie secure from that which they feared by the spirit of bondage And they make their hearts quiet before God and have boldnesse before him certaine of his favour to heare their prayers 1 Iohn 3 19 21. Bellarmine objects though by the Spirit moving us wee pray and call God Father yet wee are not infallibly certaine that it is the Spirit but by conjectures which may deceive us The use of witnesses among men is to end the controuersie by their testimonie and shall God give testimony to lesse purpose than mans Christ saith of his that though the world know not the Spirit yet they know him because hee dwells in them Bellarmine There is no more implied but that they are certaine that if they know God by faith they know not but by his ayd It is given as a reason why they know him because he dwells in them They are sure it is the Spirit of truth by his sensible operation in them therefore they feele such holy force in them as they are sure they are not deceived in their perswasion of the Spirit of truth given unto them 3. That which God commaunds us to have may bee had by their owne confession his commaundemens are made possibile by his Spirit We say so for some measure though not for perfection Ezech. 36. 27. The ministerie of the Gospel is a ministery of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. In some degree inabling us to that which is commanded 2 Tim. 1 7. but God hath commaunded us to make our calling and election certaine 2 Pet. 1 10. Ergo to prove our selves whether wee bee meete to receive the Lords Supper which cannot bee without certaintie of our grace 2 Cor. 13 5 Prove your selves whether you bee in the faith know ye not your owne selves that Iesus Christ is in you 2. A man is bound to get certainetie of his grace knowing it may bee had 1. By necessitie of precept Heb. 6 11. Shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end Heb. 10 19 22 Seing wee may bee bold to enter into the holy place let us draw neere with full assurance of faith in a true heart let us keepe the profession of our hope without wavering for hee is faithfull that hath promised 2. By evident reproofe of doubt and feare
all according to the Oracle A father of many nations have I madethee He is the father of all the faithfull not effectually to beget them and to worke their faith and conversion so God onely is their Father begetting them by his Spirit But analogically and by proportion that as fathers doe transmit to their naturall Children inheritance and other rights of theirs so hee for the grace of the covenant given to him should as a father transmit to the beleevers the righteousnesse and blessednesse promised and given to him That which is proper to Christ is spoken of him In him shall all the Nations of the earth bee blessed Gen. 18 18. In thy seed that is Christ as Paul interprets shall all the Nations of the earth bee blessed Gen. 22 18. So he is called the heire of the world Rom. 4 13. Act. 7 Of Canaan a type of heaven and as the best part of the earth as a type of the whole world to bee possessed of Abraham and his seed specially the head of that seede Christ. This inheritance of heaven and earth he receiveth from God through the righteousnesse of faith and transmitts it to all his Children in all the Nations of the earth that is such as beleeve unto righteousnesse and so are adopted Children and heires of heaven and earth Psal. 37 20. 1 Cor. 3 21. So in death the faithfull were gathered into the bosome of Abraham their father and sitte with him in the kingdome of heaven the Church gathered out of the universall as his Children for number like the starres of heaven In this is set forth the dignitie and felicitie of Abraham in his paternitie that all the Nations of the world beleeving should bee his Children whereby appeares that all have not equall honour and felicitie that have saith equally precious Abraham and all the faithfull are equally just by imputation of the righteousnesse of Christ unto them But they are not in this honour with him to have the place of paternitie to all the faithfull The Pope usurpes in calling himselfe the head of all the faithfull it was never given him of God it is his miserie that so many flatter him in his unjust usurpation It implyeth that there is but one faith and way of salvation under the Law and Gospell Heb. 13 8. Acts 15 11. Heb. 6 12 and 11. By faith they obteined testimonie y t they were righteous and stand as so many witnesses that onely by beleving in Christ resting the soule wholy on his obedience for our whole felicitie is the way to life from that promise The seede of the woman shall breake the Serpents head By what faith Abraham was saved his seed are saved There is one saith both for that which is beleeved common faith once given to Saints Titus 1 4. Iude. v. 3. And in respect of that kind of faith by which wee doe beleeve though for number there bee so many faiths as there bee beleevers yet for kind Abrahams faith and all that have savingly beleived is one and the same for ever not in degree his measure was strength in faith most beleevers now are weake in faith Papists are to prove their right in claiming to be children of Abraham seing they have not nor teach twice damnable teaching contrary to the faith of Abraham applying Christ the blessed seed to himselfe laughing in joy of his felicitie of which his Sonne was called Isaack and Christ in whom hee beleeved testifyeth that hee saw his day with rejoycing though a farre off yet with gladnesse in respect of his owne salvation in him To that purpose Christ urgeth his example to the Iewes that would not beleeve their owne salvation in him you will not come to mee that you might have life Iohn 5. They make two other claimes to heaven merit of person in Children or such as newly converted are taken away by death that working is prevented and merit of workes both concurring augments they say glory and the latter confirmes the former that it is not lost a straunge voyce not heard of Gods people that will not go after a straunger because they know not his voyce They blaspheame imputed righteousnesse It followes that to have comfortable assurance of salvation we must prove our sâ—lves Children of Abraham that proved the other is sure that is 1. By being of faith to rest on Christs merit inherent in his owne person without any worke done out of grace or in grace of ours trusted in as any part of cause to salvation As God preached the Gospell to Abraham and hee beleeved Gal. 3 7 8 9. Rom. 4 1 2 5. To be borne by vertue of the promise as Isaack Gal. 4. Rom. 9. 2 By being in Christ by faith Gal. 3 29. If yee be Christs then are ye Abrahams seed and heires by promise Which is to bee knowne by having the Spirit of Christ in us to doe the workes of Abraham Iohn 8. 39. Michah 2 7. Iames 2 22. By the illumination of the Spirit annointing and healing our minds to discerne difference of things true or false good or evill 1 Iohn 2 20 27. To preserve us from evill wayes and evill men Prov. 2. 2 By regeneration in giving and increasing the godly nature 3. By governing or leading Rom. 8 14. 4 By consolation Iohn 14. The comforter 5 By confirmation giving a constancie in the worke of righteousnesse to worke righteousnesse at all times Ps. 106. Verse 10. The Sonne of man is come to seeke and save that which was lost This is a defence of the action of Christ in his going in to Zacheus hee came for lost sinners Zaccheus and his household are such Ergo he offends not he doth nothing against his office in going in to him Though wee may not for a passive scandall which is 1. By ignorance of some 2. By malice in others forbeare the duties enjoyned us by the Lord as appeareth Math. 15 Yet as occasion is wee are to give a reason of our doing in generall for holding and professing truth contrary to the worlds opinion as why wee are not as the Pagans as the Iewes as the Papists as prophane men in the number of them that are in profession of true religion 1 Pet. 3 15 Bee readie to give a reason of the hope that is in you Our Saviour submitts himselfe to this order Mat. 9 11 12. Why eates your Master with Publicans and Sâ—ners his defence is it is the calling of Phisitians to be with the sicke that have neede of him 2. Mercie is preferred to Sacrifice 3. I am come to call sinners to repentance verse 13. So Luke 15 By three parables hee justifieth his mercie to sinners by their diligence that seeke things lost which they would recover and that graduallie 1. The woman her groat lost out of ten the sheepeheard his sheepe out of an hundred the father and the fathers joyfull receiving of a dead and lost sonne His answere and defence of the womans
uprightly and hee preserveth the wayes of his Saints Hee watcheth over them to keepe them from sinne as well as from any other danger he doth not so keepe alwayes as not to bee tempted no nor that they should not fall into temptation but either he preserves them from temptation when they have opportunity or if there bee temptation that they shall want opportunitie or if there bee both opportunitie and temptation hee so shines into their minds by divine and bowes their hearts to his commaundement that they stand or if they fall hee rescues them from the power and guiltinesse of their sinne and from the rage of the Divell that the evill shal not fasten upon them to destroy their grace or deprive them of salvation 1 Cor. 10 13. That they may bee able to beare it 2 Cor. 12 7. His grace shall bee sufficient for them 1 Iohn 5 18. They are said to bee reserved to Iesus Christ Iud. 2. Being called and sanctified they are kept as a speciall portion treasure possession unto Iesus Christ the true heire of the world conserved in Christ because our safetie is not in our hands either our deliverance from evill or perseve ring in good but our King the author and finisher of our faith Christ Iesus given us of God the Father to whom is given all power in heaven and in earth and all iudgement Math. 28. Iohn 5. keeps in the purchased salvation most powerfully and loseth not one of them whom his Father gave him Iohn 6. It lyeth on Gods faithfullnesse to keepe them from evill 2 Thess. 3 3. To confirme and perfect them God hath promised it Ier. 32. 40. Ezech. 36. 27. Christ hath prayed for it Luke 22 32. Iohn 17. 11. Holy Father keepe them in thy name I pray not that thou take them out of the world but that thou keepe them from evill hereof the Spirit works perswasion as in â—â—ul Rom. 8. 2 Tim. 4 18. Hee will deliver mee from every evill worke and preserve mee to his heavenly kingdome the weake in faith shall bee established because God is able to make them stand Rom. 14. This abilitie is used unto faith to keepe it that it faile not that the worke of faith may be fulfilled with power as the Apostle prayeth 2. Thess. 1. And by faith wee stand 2 Cor. 1 24. This is the effect and nature of faith to make us stand It keepes us as a towne is kept from enemies by garison lying in it 1 Pet. 1 5 Which are kept by the power of God through faith It is victorious it overcomes the world 1 Iohn 5 4. This is the victory which hath overcome the world even our faith to note the certaintie of the victorie it is delivered not in the present nor future tense you doe or shall overcome but in the preterperfect tense you have overcome 1 Iohn 4 4. Little Children yee are of God and have overcome them It is said to quench the fierie darts of the Divell Ephes. 6 16. Though his darts be not onely sharpe and peircing but also fierie faith shall both blunt them and extinguish them Hee seemeth to allude to the ancient custome among souldiers poysoning their darts and cast them at the enemie who wounded with them were so inflamed as to bee hardly cured so the temptations of the Divell as fire inflame the heart but faith beates them backe and quencheth them wee are commanded to resist the Divell and he will flie from us That is our incouragement to resist him stedfast in the faith 1 Pet. 5 9. implying that in a stedfast faith there is strength to overcoÌ„e him Râ—vel 12 11. Because faith possesseth us of Christ 〈◊〉 keeps us in the possession thereof it rests upon God by 〈…〉 â—â—ans of Iesus Christ so 〈…〉 â—bâ—aiâ—e and do things impossible to nature If thou casst beleeve all thing are possible Gods people have prevailed by faith with Christ to put forth his power to their cure of diseases incureable to man and unto their obtaining of great blessings above the course of nature as appeares Heb. 11 11 33 34 35 c. And doing things above all naturall strength When the faithfull have beene overthrowne by Satan in sinne by faith they have obtained strength to recover themselves and gotten victorie over Satan and sinne have overcome their owne guiltinesse and feare of Gods deserved wrath so that their sinnes have beene so farre from separating their hearts from Christ that they have drawne neerer to him Cant. 7. 10 11 12. As in David Psal 73 Peter they perceive that their sinnes have not removed Gods favour from them Gods Children when they are compelled to wrestle with God himselfe as with their enemie yet stand fast by faith and say as Iob. 13 15. Though hee stay me yet I will trust in him the power of God is exceeding great in beleevers in so much that they are stronger than the Divell himselfe than all powers and principalities of darkenesse Math. 16. Ephes. 6. They are insuperable invincible more than conquerours It is called the good fight of faith not onely because it is for a good cause and from a good author but it hath a good issue It is victorious What Angells by nature could not do in heaven nor Adam in Paradise a poore weake servant of Christ is made able to do by him that loved him the weakenesse of God is stronger than men and Angels Faith is mightie by the word of God which is mightie in operation Heb. 4. 12. The power of God to salvation Rom. 1. graffed in us is able to save our Soules Iam. 1. By this young men redresse their wayes and overcome the wicked one 1 Iohn 2. 14. It is prevailes by love which is strong as death which overcommeth all And by prayer is this continuance in goodnesse unto the end obtained as we are taught by our Saviour in the petition Leade us not into temptation but deliver us from evill Math. 6. watch and pray least ye enter into temptation Math. 26. Christ giveth his Spirit to make requests for the Saints according to the will of God and what hee in heaven intercedes for they by his Spirit request of God in his name and it is given them abundantly Christ tells his Disciples that they had asked nothing in his Name but requires them to bee more in their requests assuring them they shall receive vnto the fulnesse of their joy Hee knew the necessity and the utilitie of prayer and how slow and dull the Disciples were to it then when hee was with them they had such satisfaction in his presence he excites them therfore to this duty They the godly did pray in the name of the Mâ—ssiah for the Spirit indited or dictated no other prayer than in the name of the mediator but they asked obscurely as the knowledge of Christ was then but obscure and ordinarily they did aske nothing so as after Christs manifestation and more plentifull giving
the Gentiles to whom hee was an Apostle they also were the called of Iesus Christ though by nature Gentiles sinners vile yet by calling highly advanced to the dignitie of Gods Children Worke out your salvation follow till ye apprehend it bee diligent in adding graces follow hard towards the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus Phil. 3 12. 1 Tim. 6 12. Nothing can give us more courage to strive to eternall life to fight for it than this that we know God hath called us to obtaine it for wee gather from thence that our labour shall not bee in vaine but God will bee with us and prosper us reach us his hand To this house Gods mercie is such that calling the Master of the family the household have salvation come neere to them Luke 10 5 6. Into what house soever ye come say peace to this house if the Sonne of peace bee there your peace shall rest on him The sonne of peace one that favours the Gospell of peace or is worthy of the prosperitie wished to the house as Math. 10 11. Inquire who is worthy in it and there abide not y t there is inherent dignitie in any man living but the elect in Christ are counted worthy Thus gets hee the blessing into his house not onely for himselfe but to his thus many times God joynes the household in faith with the householder Iohn 4 53. Act. 10 2 and 16 15 33 34. Acts 18 8. The Apostle Paul speakes of Baptising not onely some particulers as Crispus and Gaius but the household of Stephanas 1 Cor. 1. 14. 16. He saluteth Philemon and the Church in his house Philem. verse 1 2. So Aquila and Priscilla with the Church in their house Rom. 16 3 5. And sends salutations from them to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 16 19. Aquila and Priscilla with the Church that is in their house salute you greatly in the Lord the Church understand their household whether godly children servants kinsfolks which living together in one house do together worship the Lord and privately exercise all offices of pietie that it may well bee called a private Church God blesseth the indevours of the Master of the family that they submit at last to outward duties as Abraham found all his males subject to Gods commandement that day in which God commaunded it It may bee they are not alwayes internally and from their hearts obedient Câ—in was for outward sacrifice subject and conformed as Abel was so Cham for forme of religion as Shem and Iapâ—et It seemes neither Lot in Sodom nor Noc had their servants in obedience to God because Noc had none in the Arke nor Lot brought any out of Sodom yet it is like they had servants at least Genes 19. The husband may beleeve and the wife remaine an infidell the wife may beleeve and the husband continue in insidelitie yet there is hope which must move indevour to winne the contrary minded 1 Cor. 7 16. 1 Pet. 3 2. Let us exhort men to strive to place themselves in families where the Master is the Sonne of peace it may be better for body and soule the household partaking in the blessing of peace with him As they that live in a visible Church though yet they bee not sound at heart yet for the time partake of diverse blessings for the faithfuls sake among whom they live Yet it is not safe to trust in being in such places for fellowship of persons unlesse they bee in fellowship of faith two in a house shall be devided yea two in a bed one taken and another left Every man must live by his owne faith It is daungerous to bee willingly under a wicked governer or one of his house for as the creature is subject to vanitie for the sinne of man Rom. 8. And the creatures except the fishes perished in the flood with man that by his sinne abused them Gen. 6. So it is not safe being a wicked mans beast Exod. Yet there may be Christians in a family where the familie is not Christs Paul salutes them of Aristobulus but not him as it seemes as remainiug still in infidelitie and they which are called in the household under an infidell husband or Master are not easily to forsake their place but to honour their Master in the superioritie in which Gods providence hath placed him over them 1 Tim. 6. There were Saints in Neroes house 2. Let beleeving governers of families set themselves with hope about the reducing of them that bee under theÌ„ to the Lord God does much for their sakes specially toward such as belong to Gods Election in his house 1 Iohn 5 16. The covenant of God includes his with him 1 Cor. 7. In so much as he also is become the Child of Abraham To be the Child of Abraham is to bee freely elected Rom. 9 8. To walke in the steps of the faith of Abraham Rom. 4 12. To do the workes of Abraham Iohn 8 39. Whereof is rightly collected the expectation of salvation Rom. 8 29. That Salvation and being the Child of Abraham put one the other none but the Child of Abraham saved none the Child of Abraham but is saved The blessing that commeth upon men in Christ is called the blessing of Abraham Gal. 3 14. The promise is made to Abraham and his seed Gal. 3 16. He saith not seeds as speaking of many but seed as speaking of one which is Christ. The blessing of Abraham is righteousnesse everlasting life which proceeds of the redemption by Christ from the curse of the Law he being made a curse for us So as now malediction sinne hell have no authoritie over us Christ redeemed us and for us bare the curse due to all our sinnes Christ is the storehouse of the blessing of Abraham the promise of which blessing was made to Abraham and his seed that is Christâ— Heavenly blessednesse in the blessed seed And all both Iewes and Gentiles by faith implanted into him and becomming one with him are the seed Gal. 3 29 and heires of all the promised blessings Abraham is called the father of all that beleeve either Iewes or Gentiles Rom. 4 11 12. Faith was imputed to him when hee was uncircumcised for righteousnesse and after hee was justified hee received the signe of circumcision as the seale of the righteousnesse of the faith which hee had when hee was uncircumcised that hee should bee the father of all them that beleeve not being circumcised that righteousnesse might bee imputed to them also and the father of the circumcision not unto them onely which are of the circumcision but unto them also that walke in the stepps of the faith of our father Abraham which hee had when hee was uncircumcised verse 16 17. All the seed have the promise assured according to grace not onely the Iewes that are of the Law but the Gentiles that are of the faith of Abraham the father of us