but the spirit of the old Adam the spirit of pride and malice and covetousnesse truly this is not the Spirit of Christ that makes us like him this is not that Spirit that Christ purchased for us by his Death and Ascension but suppose we had some of the Spirit of God the spirit of Wisdom as Achitophel the spirit of joy as Herod the spirit of Zeal as Jehu the spirit of fear as Felix had yet we have not this Unction of the Spirit unlesse it dwell in us What is it to be wrapt with a spirit of a Balaam or a Saul it was only for a fit and what comfort was it to them it was a shuttle spirit by starts and did not abide in them therefore let us try whether we have received the Spirit if we have received a dwelling spirit it is a true spirit Obj. But some may say Alas what then will become of me it may be now I pray but ere night wholly unabld now inlarged then straightned I have now a spirit of zeal and courage soon after all cold and weak and dead wonderfull was the zeal and courage of Elias in slaying four hundred of Baals Prophets openly 1 Kings 18.40 he went through it with such zeal and speed as if he had been sent from Heaven yet Cap. 19.1 2. when Jezabel sent to him he fled for his life and was so weary of his life that he wished death now his Spirit was cold and discontent aad weary of his life So David Psal 119.24 David said he had made the word his delight yet ver 25. he saith his soul cleaves to the dust and prays to God for quicking A. This Spirit that is so to abide doth not always abide in the same measure nor in the same measure of expression but we must know though there be several garments yet the Soul is never naked a man hath not always his Holy-day garments sweetly perfumed but sometimes homely mean garments so Elias when he slew Baals Prophets was cloathed with zeal and Holy-day garments afterwards he remitted of it and yet had he the Spirit of God on him he was not naked though he was not cloathed with the Spirit in such a measure even so sometimes we have even poor ragged homely garments and much of our nakednesse appears and sometimes again may be when God hath greater businesse for us to do cloathes us with better richer garments a greater measure of the Spirit but yet consider though we have not the same measure yet always some garment of the Spirit rests on us be it but the spirit of love to our Brethren or grief for the want of it yet we are not left naked Vse 2 May exhort su if we have this Spirit dwelling in us then let us use him honourably and courteously as an in-dweller he is come from farre even from Heaven sent from our Father and he brings joy and comfort with him therefore let us give him honourable entertainment he is sent to guide us in all our ways to be a pledge of our eternall inheritance therefore let us not entertain him like some guest that we are weary of in two or three days you must know this guest came not for a day but to dwell with us for ever John 14.16 therefore take heed of grieving him Eph. 4.13 he comes for your good and benefit for your redemption When a man keeps a Ward and for keeping him keeps a great estate a Kingdome he would be very carefull so the Spirit is such a Guest that if you keep him you keep Life and Salvation you keep an eternall Kingdom by him therefore take part with Gods Spirit joyne with the Spirit of God quench it not what an heavie complaint made Stephen Acts 7.51 Isa 63.10 the Spirit may be so grieved and vexed by men that he will depart from them Q. How shall we keep our selves from grieving the Spirit A. As God hath given him to guide you so look that you be guided by him if you entertain him kindly he will comfort you if you grieve him he will grieve your spirits 2 Be carefull to nourish him do not strave this Guest neglect not the Word and Ordinances which are the food of the Spirit Quench not the Spirit despise not Prophecie 1 Thes 5. as if the despising of Prophecy were the quenching of the Spirit therefore feed the Spirit of God with-draw not food from it prefer not outward things before it it is a wonder how leane our souls will grow if we do not nourish the Spirit 3 Take heed especially of living in any known Sin for that damps and deads the Spirit therefore David wofully camplains Psal 51.8 to 12. Restore c. as if it were quite gone his very bones were broaken that is not of his body but his soul i. e. the strength and staff of his spirit the Spirit is like fire every grosse sin is like water cast on it it quencheth it Vse 3 A ground of much consolation to Gods servants you can never say you dwell alone and want company you cannot want good company if the holy Spirit dwell in you I am not alone saith Christ but the Father is with me so may a Christian say I am never alone the Spirit of God dwells in me he is an in-dwelling and abiding Spirit Doct. 3 The annoynting of the Spirit teacheth us all things of which you heard verse 20. It teacheth all things needfull to salvation needfull to life and godlinesse 2 Pet. 1.3 and not only so but needfull to our places and callings and ages Doct. 4. The anonytment of the Spirit is so plentifull and sufficient that we need not be taught better things nor in a better manner than the Spirit teacheth Jerem. 31.32 not that we need not Magistracy or Ministry but he speaks comparatively you shall not be so helped by any Instuctions without the Spirit as with the Spirit the Spirit shall declare the Truth in Jesus For Explication 1 The Holy Ghost teacheth fully 1 Cor. 3.9 10 11. the spirit of a Christian is inquisitive concerning all things now the Spirit helps him to search even into the deep things of God so that the Spirit is a full teacher 2 The instruction of the Spirit is plain and clear 1 Tim. 4.1 Joh. 16.25 Christ spake in parables but after his ascension the Spirit revealed things clearly Three things go to clear discerning the object must be clear the medium clear and the eye clear and then we may clearly discern now the Holy Ghost plainly reveals the Counsells of God and then opens our judgements to discern it and then cleares all the mediums so that a Christian may plainly discern so that the Tpirit is a clear Instructor no men need be taught more clearly 1 Cor. 2.4 5. 3 The Instruction of the Spirit is a certain Instruction scarce any truth but a Christian can tell it by experience as a woman that is breeding a Child feels such qualmes and
a dead heartednesse to the world For a man to rise early and sit up late follow his work hard take much pains is not a thing to be discommended Prov. 10.14 Prov. 31.27 It 's commended in the good Housewife even the greatest Princesse may not eat the bread of idlenesse then we see diligence in worldly businesse may well stand with grace but yet the same person must be dead to the world his heart must be set on things above these are not his life that is laid up in Christ Col. 3.1 2 3. His heart is crucified to the world Gal. 6.14 Though his employment be in the world yet his conversation is in heaven Phil. 1.20 Prov. 6.5 6. It 's made a part of wisdome to be as busie Ants gathering and laying up but all the while his hands are there his heart is in heaven he doth things in obedience to God by the rule of his Word and for his freedome in Gods service another may do the same work with the same care and successe and yet the heart far unlike 3 The love of our enemies is a particular virtue of Gods Saints Matth. 5.45 to 47. Now this very grace hath in it contrary works in our heart it 's like fire and water both naturally our hearts are very cold and hard and frozen like ice towards our enemies but Christ comes and thawes these frostlings and warms us with compassion towards them that his heart oftentimes mourns for them to see them take such unjust courses against them who have not wronged them and on the other side whereas a naturall man if he see his enemy he boyls in wrath and passion against him love comes like a cool water and cools the heat of passion in our heart For application Wouldst thou know whether thou hast life or no Why hast thou found thy heart affected with joy for Gods goodnesse to thee and yet withall grieved and sorrowfull for thy unkinde dealing with him These are certain evidences of the life of grace in thee You may find many affected and comforted with the Word as Herod was but if this joy were of God it would not vanish away like smoak but would administer so much the more sorrow and mourning for sin though a Christians joy may suddenly vanish yet it alwayes leaves behinde an inward grieving for sin to keep possession for it 2 How do you finde your hearts affected to Gods worship Do you finde your hearts generally unwilling to pray or hear This is an ill signe But if you finde your hearts willing and the more willing the more carefull withall In this case there is life But if a man have fear without joy or joy without fear the heart is not in a good temper 3. How dost thou finde thy heart in tribulation Dost thou finde no consolation supporting thee This is an ill signe But if thou findest with David in the multitude of thy troubled thoughts Gods comforts sustain thy soul Psal 94.18 in this case thou hast life 4. Observe your carriages Doe you bear patiently with bad men and yet not so patiently as to bear with evill Patience and zeal must goe together 5. Are you of a meek gentle and flexible temper It s well But how are you in Gods cause Are you there inflexible and immovable so that you will not abate an hoose in Gods cause Why both these are a life of grace 6. Thou sayst thou art modest and thinkest meanly of thy selfe I but how is this grace coupled for God sends them two and two together as he did his Disciples to ballance one another Hast thou withall a lofty spirit in the wayes of God an heart lift up to heavenly things Why such a spirit hath life The most modest should be most magnanimous 7. Look at worldly businesse Canst thou be diligent in thy calling Why this God requires But how stands thy heart Art thou busie in the world and yet thy heart dead to the world This is a signe of true spirituall life 8. If we finde our hearts so abounding in love that like fire it thawes our cold frozen affections and again like water can cool our hot passionate spirits why this love is a fruit of faith and a signe of life it s a signe our sins are forgiven us if we have hearts forgiving others Now we come to the effects of Sanctification as they are exprest in the life of a Christian and they are answerable to the effects of naturall life The effects of naturall life are principally five 1. Motion When a creature is able to move it selfe in its place to those duties of this or that life it s said to live If a thing move not but by others it s not alive or if it move out of its place it s not alive as a stone thrown up moves downward and fire moves upward but this is not properly life but rather a desire of rest and for things that move they move according to the life they have as a tree a vegetative life a beast a sensitive life a man a rationall life but if a man have a spirituall motion in his proper place it s a signe of spirituall life sometimes a man reacheth out of his place reaching to higher matters and more ambitious thoughts then his calling leads to those move not from an inward principle of grace but from levity of heart so the Pharisees they moved to holy duties but it was for credit others for profit for loaves John 6.26 It s one thing to move to spirituall duties out of an inward inclination and affection to them another thing to move out of levity or desire of eminency it is one thing to move to them out of love another thing to move to them out of respect or credit or profit Why this is but as the moving of a stone out of its naturall gravity Absolom had a marvellous affection to reign and oh that he were King every one should have justice 2 Sam. 15.13 But he was now out of his place and therefore the thing he did was but to attempt the cutting off his Fathers life but that is life properly that moves in its place Again a man may move in his place and yet by an outward principle as a clock moves by the weight that hangs on it so a man may move to some duties of Religion by the weight of the Law or authority hanging on him Again Jehu may move in his calling very busily and yet have no spirituall life so it must be inquired whether the duty a man doth be spirituall or no. And a duty is spirituall 1. When we are sensible of our insufficiency and therefore depend upon Christ that thorough him we may doe all things 2. When we have respect to the Word of God as our rule 3. When we doe all for the glory of God Gal. 2.20 The life I now live I live by faith in the Son of God So far a man lives as he denies
keeps nothing but what it converts to its own nourishment so a Christian cuts away every superfluity if it be a thing of no purpose or no use to his calling though it may to others this he abandons James 1.21 But that knowledge which may be either necessary or expedient for him that a Christian retains a Christian casts out that chiefly which is contrary to grace 1. Doubtings for that is contrary to the life of grace 2. It casts away all presumption and selfe-dependance perfect love casts out fear and patience strives against frowardnesse and every grace against its contrary so that he may grow up to full holinesse the life of grace casts out the life of the world so much of the world as is cumbersome to his spirit so much a Christian lays down A fifth act of life is the begetting of his kind nature grows up to this ability though at first it be but weak so grace no sooner moves or grows or feeds in any measure but it hath a minde to beget others as soon as ever the woman of Samaria began to be acquainted with Christ she ran to all her neighbors and tells them she had met with one that told her all that ever she had done Is not this the Christ John 4.29 This is the nature of spirituall life as soon as they are well begot themselves they are ready to beget others Indeed a Christian may hide himselfe a while but as soon as he is assured of life himselfe he propagates the same to others John 1.41 to 46. When one Disciple was called he goes and calls another to come and see Psal 51.10 11 12 13. David professeth that if God will but assure him of mercy and establish him therein then he will teach others Gods ways and sinners shall be converted unto him he that is once converted himselfe his care is to convert others to God Try your selves by these signes Doe you finde your selves moving a life of grace growing up therein feeding upon Christ expelling the enemies of life and drawing on others to the same life these are evident signes of life if you finde it not thus there is no true signe of the life of grace in you 3. This life may be discerned by the properties of it by finding of which we may discern of our spirituall life And there are three principall properties of life 1. Where ever life is there is some warmth When Elisha had stretched himselfe over the dead childe the flesh of the dead childe began to wax warm a signe of life 2 Kings 4.34 So the presence of the Spirit united to the soul of man is the cause of all spiritual heat Rom. 12.11 Fervent in spirit Therefore the Spirit is compared to fire Mat. 3.11 1 Thes 5.19 Quench not the Spirit A signe that the Spirit is of a fervent nature So 2 Tim. 1.6 I put thee in remembrance to blow up the graces of Gods Spirit A Metaphor taken from blowing up the fire with bellows all which imply that the Spirit of Christ communicated to Christians is a fervent spirit Where there is no warmth there is no life If our spirit begin to wax warm it s a signe of spirituall life as the two Disciples that went to Emaus said Luke 22.32 Did not our hearts burn within us whilest he spake those things Implying the Word hath a power to quicken and warm and heat the spirit of a Christian This same warmth and heat is exprest divers wayes 1. The very knowledge of a Christian is warm whereas in all others the knowledge is cold and meerly speculative without any life or power There is a zeal according to knowledge and there is a knowledge according to zeal The zeal that is not according to knowledge is a rash vaine zeal Rom. 10.2 So it is a cold empty knowledge that hath not zeal with it John was a burning and a shining light shewing every severall condition what they should doe but he burnt up the hypocrisie and lusts of the body and inflamed their affections with zeal and warmth as Herod heard him gladly Where there is truth of light and knowledge there is burning The knowledge of a Christian makes him fruitfull in a Christian course 2 Pet. 1.8 So that whatever he knows either necessary or expedient for him to doe he will doe it and he will cause others to doe their duties that belong unto him such is the heat of his spirit that he will not suffer his Brother to lie in sin Lev. 19.17 Now another man knows many things but doth them not nor thinks he is bound to doe them but a Christians knowledge is of that nature that it will not suffer him or his Brother to lie in any sin True Christians are thought oft-times to be more busie then needs 2. There is warmth in our breath as long as there is life in us there is breath and that breath is warm so if there be any spirituall life there is alwayes some warm breathing some warmth in his breathing towards God there is alwayes some warmth in his prayers the prayers of hypocrites are but cold and empty and vanish away but there is alwayes some breath of life in a good mans prayers even then when we know not what to pray for or how to pray yet then there is alwayes something in him that expresseth warmth his very sighings and groans come from some kinde of heat and life Rom. 8.16 2. As their breathing towards God is warm so they breath warmth one towards another so that in their conference if they speak of the things of the Word they doe not speak slightly and overly without any affection but they speak of them with reverence and fear and love and affection 3. There is that kinde of warmth in him as that thereby he doth not onely affect the Word but he is able to digest it in some measure there is no life but there is some power to digest something if not strong meat Psal 119.20 My soul breaketh for the longing it hath to thy judgements So Psal 42. My soul panteth after thee This very panting and breathing of the soul after God so unites the soul unto God that thereby he digests something that inables him to walk before God in the land of the living whereas an hypocrite is hopelesse to any good 4. If things be warm the more they lye together the more warmth and heat cold logs laid together heat not one another but two or three brands put together are enough to kindle an heap of wood so take a Christian that is very cold and almost benummed yet put him to two or three more and one word kindles another and their spirits are more and more inflamed more fit to pray and fitter to admonish and comfort and help forward one another 1 Pet. 4.8 Fervent love among Brethren so kindles one another that they are inflamed to any good offices but when Christians are disjoynted they lose all
conscience nor shew how to lay hold of eternall life and to make their calling and election sure and if they speak of heavenly matters at any time they see such speak but with a cold affection and therefore they goe home and not affect them but when a godly Minister preaches in an heavenly manner he being moved by a godly principle his conversation is in Heaven Phil. 3.20 he talks of Heaven Mat. 12.35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things Vse If Ministers would know their own spirits let them consider what doctrine they deliver what end they aime at and what are their hearers and so by this means they will easily discern their own spirits 1 JOHN 4.7 8. Beloved let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God c. IN the words and the verse following the Apostle exhorts his hearers and himselfe to mutuall love one of another the occasion is from what he had delivered verse 6. In the words First An exhortation to mutuall love between Ministers and people Secondly A reason to presse this on them 1 From the Originall of their love that is from God 2 From the Estate of such who love they are born of God and know God 3 From the evill estate of such as doe not love they know not God this is proved by an argument from Gods Nature for God is love Doct. That it is the part of godly Ministers to exhort themselves and their godly hearers to mutual love both the people to love their Ministers and the Ministers their people When our Saviour was about to leave the charge of the souls of his people to Peter he asked him three severall times whether he loved him John 21.15 16 17. that so out of his aboundant love to Christ he might feed his sheep 1 Thes 5.13 esteeming him they would love him for his work sake Heb. 10.24 the Apostle exhorts them to provoke one another to love Heb. 13.1 whatsoever happens he would have brotherly love to continue so St. Peter exhorts 1 Pet. 1.22 Reas 1. From the Covenant that stands between Ministers and people they are partakers of one baptisme members of one and the same body 1 Cor. 10.17 1 Cor. 12.27 therefore they should inlarge themselves one to another Eph. 4.16 they should love one another because God hath incorporated them into one body 2. Because they doe not receive mutuall edification except all be done in love for all edification is wrought by love Knowledge puffeth up but love edifieth therefore let all things be done in love mutuall love is both profitable and comfortable 3. Want of love is the sowring of a Ministers spirit 2 Cor. 12.20 it saddens him when he sees the people envying one another when the body is full of swellings and inflammations the medicines and plaisters laid on doe not heal a man must first allay the inflamations so when a Minister sees swelling amongst his people what he preacheth is spilt upon the ground 4. If people walk not in mutuall love the Minister shall lose his portion 1 Thes 5.13 from them he shall lose his estimation among them for they will not profiâ— by any Ordinance of God but wax cold Vse 1. This exhorts Ministers to make it their main and principall work to allaâ— swellings and to knit together all the Members of a Congregation in one spirit and mutuall love as God knits them together in one body as we desire to grow up together in the graces of Gods Spirit let us love one another where there is no love there is no edifying all graces fall short of edifying where love is wanting 1 Cor. 13.1 2. 2 To exhort the people of God to receive this exhortation of love not to suffer any dissention to be found among them Heb. 13.17 you cannot be inflamed with hatred but your Minister shall lose his portion of love Doct. That the springing of our love from God should move Ministers and people to mutual love Love is the chiefe lesson Christ gave to his Disciples when he went out of the world John 13.35 36. 2 Tim. 1.13 a man may assoon lose his inheritance in the Lord Jesus as lose his love to his brethren if God set love in my soule and man unset it I shall destroy the work of God in my soule Vse 1. Take heed of wrath if love be of God whence then is hatred that is from the enemy of God Eph. 4.26 27. if we keep leaven long it will sowre so this anger will degenerate into hatred Obj. You will say You will not hate your brother but yet you will have nothing to doe with him Answ When a man affects not Communion with his brother nor communication of good to him such a man doth hate his brother 2. If we would have any comfort in our hearts we must have a care that nothing that befalls betwixt us and our brethren should take away our love from them if we suffer a fire of wrath to kindle in us we doe as much as in us lies to destroy our own souls Cant. 7.7 8. Much water cannot quench love therefore love is an heavenly fire hatred a fire from hell Majus lumen extinguet minus Doct. That the love to our brethren is a pledge of our birth-right John 13.34 Reas 1. It is the nature of God and by this means thou partakest of the Dâ—vine Nature Rom. 5.5 2. Love is a fruit of faith by which we receive Christ Gal. 5.6 Vse 1. This condemns such of deep prodigality as suffer love to decay so much you lose of your love to your brethren so much you lose of your love to God and so much you lose of the evidence of your inheritance 2. Preserve your love to your brethren and you preserve your inheritance your brotherly love is a pledge of your inheritance 3. Of comfort to such souls as abound in their love to their brethren so much love so much grace so much hope of an everlasting inheritance if your love decays your faith and hope of salvation decays Obj. But a little thing frets my soul and I am not so soon healed being fretted some flesh is hard to heal so is it with some mens spirits What shall I doe to uphold my brotherly love Answ 1. Keep your love to God and so you shall preserve your love to your brethren forgive your brethren and God will forgive you Mat. 18. ult 2. Keep your hearts clean love will not long rest in an unclean heart 1 Pet. 1.22 because love is an heavenly fire 1 JOHN 4.8 He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love Doct. THat according to our love or want of love to our brethren such is our knowledge or want of knowledge of God What is it to know God The Apostle bears witnesse of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1.5 that they abound in knowledge so that they fall
call in question our hopes of eternal life because we love not our brethren 2 To exhort us to put this will of our heavenly Father in execution Christ did shew us an example in his life death urged it upon his Disciples God hath bequeathed a testimony of love from our hearts to our brethren Rom. 13.8 this is a due debt we must pay it out of our hearts and if we do not so no wonder if our wills be not executed As God loves us manifestly graciously bountifully so should we our brethren Prov. 27.5 1 Cor. 16.14 be bounteous in your love so shall you enjoy peace and comfort to your soules we shall keep the wrath of God from us procure good to others and our selves for many generations Since God hath loved and blessed his people let us love and blesse them and make it our happinesse to be doing his will 1 JOHN 4.12 No man hath seen God at any time If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us IN these words the Apostle stirs us up to brotherly love and that from the benefit of it which is two-fold 1 Fellowship with God vers 13 14 15 16. 2 From the perfection of his love to the end both mentioned in the 12 Verse The fellowship we have with God is invisible No man hath seen God a any time How can we love God since we never saw him We never saw our own souls nor ever shall yet we know that such we have and without such we could not subsist No man hath seen God Doct. That our fellowship with God and Christ it is not outward and visible but inward and consists in love Joh. 1.18 No man hath seen God at any time no man hath had speech face to face with God the Father the onely begotten Son that lay in the bosome of the Father hath revealed him 1 Tim. 1.16 He dwels in that light that no eye can attain unto whom no man hath seen nor can see his light is so glorious that no man can behold it when Moses desired to see God face to face God answered None could ever see him and live Exod. 33.10 Obj. Jacob saw God when he wrestled with him Gen. 32.24 Jacob saw not God the Father but Jesus Christ he is called an Angel and Hosea cals him an Angel Chap. 12.4 2 No man hath seen the Son in his glorious presence in the presence of his Nature and Essence But Moses saw God face to face Exod. 33.11 Answ He did not see his glory vers 18. though in some sence he saw his face Moses saw Gods back parts but his face he could not see vers 23. What is meant by Gods back parts That is spoken of God according to the manner of men Numb 12.8 Quest What was it that Moses saw when he saw Gods glory Answ That he should see him in a glorious resemblance he should see him in his attributes which did wonderfully affect Moses that glorious similitude was such as that it was wonderful glorious so that it did make his face to shine vers 35. And as the out-side was glorious so was the in-side of Moses heart inlarged which made him go in and out before the people in this manner they saw Christ Matth. 17.1 to 5. they were so affected they knew not what they said Quest Why cannot we see Gods face and live Ans First from the frailty of flesh and blood The presence of God would swallow us up we are not capable of beholding God the Father Son or holy Ghost when we are in heaven we shall be changed 2 From the sinful corruption of humane nature his glorious presence which is a consuming fire would consume us When Isaiah saw God in a similitude but in a glimpse of his presence then said he Isa 1.5 Woe is me for I am undone because I am unclean he was afraid of his life though he saw God but in a similitude Vse 1. To teach us how to understand many places of Scripture that speak of Gods manifesting himself to any understand not God the Father but Jesus Christ assuming a humane body they saw him face to face or spake mouth to mouth or they saw a similitude of God his glorious attributes 2 Be willing to put off mortal infirmities so shall we see God face to face Phil. 1.23 2 Cor. 12.1 2 3 4 5. 3 Of tryal whether we have communion with God or no 1 You never heard God the Father nor the Son God hath now delivered all his counsell in his Word by his Son yet we may have familiar sensible affectionate communion with God Heb. 1.1 2 We may finde God revealing himselfe to our hearts and consciences Psal 73.24 25. That he is the chiefest joy other feares and cares take us not up Heb. 11.27 4 It stirs us up to the love of our brethren No man hath seene God at any time but have communion with him and communion of love God loves his people we have communion with God Psal 16.2 3. The Papists ask for Images can there be any better resemblance of the Father then the Son his Image and in loving and having communion with Gods Image that is like him they kill his living Images to honour dead Images It is the greatest love we can shew to God to love his Image Doct. Where love dwels God dwels for God is love Vers 16. What is it for God to dwell or abide in us God is said to dwell not where he is but where he loves to be and so doth a man Now God loves to be where love is God loves not to be where malice and discontent is God being a God of peace loves to dwell in a place of peace or else he dwels not God indeed is all the world over if we go to Hell he is there if to Heaven he is there but yet he doth not dwell every where Isa 57.15 If where the Devill dwels all that he possesseth is in peace much more God who is the God of peace loves to be where peace is keeps that peace which passeth understanding There is a two-fold peace that passeth understanding 1 The peace of that soule whose sins are pardoned Phil. 4.7 2 The peace of that soule whose sinnes are mortified now where God is where God keeps the soul there is peace that passeth understanding both pardoning sin and mortifying corruption When Jacob was with Laban and Joseph in Potiphars house all was well much more will all be well where God himself is Reas 1. From Gods nature for God is love where sparks flye out of the Chimney there is fire so where you see love in the lips carriage and heart of a man there is the presence of the blessed God 2 From Gods operations Where God dwels he pardons sin and purifies the conscience or prospers the outward man and there is a spirit of love in that mans heart where God freely pardons there is much forgiven
their heat as when a man means to put out the fire he layes one brand from another a signe he means to goe to bed and sleep so when Satan would put out the life and heat of grace in a Family or Town he disjoynts Christians and so they fall into security and grow dead in sins and trespasses all their heat is quite extinguished Therefore the Apostle exhorts us not to forsake the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is Heb. 10.25 2 Pet. 1.21 See that ye love one another with pure hearts fervently Obj. If this heat be alwayes found where life is how comes it to passe that the hearts of Christians are so cold and dead How comes a Christian to be so unprofitable if he digest the Word Doe not Christians meet and afford little warmth and help one to another Luke 24.32 The two disciples hearts burned when Christ talked with them a signe before he came and chafed them up they were cold and dead-hearted Answ True Christians oft-times finde a marvellous coldnesse and benummednesse of heart that they finde little warmth in their breathing in their prayers or conferences and this comes partly from want of supply of new fuell when they walk in their own strength without looking up to Christ for new supply and partly by pouring cold water upon it that is some noysome lusts that put out the grace of God or else the use of outward comforts with wordly hearts these cast cold water on the fire as the fire is put out either by withdrawing the fuell or by casting water on it But yet though this be their fault yet even then when they want chafing and heat there is some striving in them which argues life so much life as in them so much heat As for those two Disciples that went to Emaus though their hearts burned whilest Christ spake yet before Christ came they were talking of Christ and of his sufferings which made them sad then Christ comes and puts life O fools and slow of heart to believe This blew up the sparks in them So much as a Christian hath lost of his heat so much of his life if his warmth be smothered his life is smothered Now this warmth is sometimes exprest in sad looks and pantings and deep sighs and groanings and mourning for his forlorn estate and surely there is life in that for in griefe the heat runs to the heart But worse then this a Christian sometimes vanisheth away in much frothy emptynesse outwardly rejoycing in worldly comforts when there is no life within Peter when he denyed his Master his heart was fill'd with griefe and sorrow and he went out and wept bitterly But what say you to David when he had committed adultery how did he go on from one sin to another He can make Vriah drunk and then kill him and then make no matter of it he is carelesse in all this as if he had quite lost all life and affection to God there was not the least beating of the pulse of a Christian such a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that a man that knew him not before might have written in his forehead a man forsaken of God without any life of grace in him Where now was Davids life None so far gone as he 't is a question whether he prayed or no all this while as some Christians have so lost themselves as for three years together they have not prayed at all as doubting of any acceptance because they were so sinfull yet there is some habit of grace but hardly one act of life yet still this holds true so much warmth so much life as by the Almighty power of God there may be fire and yet no heat as the fiery furnace though made seven times hotter then ordinary yet God so restrained the act that it did not so much as singe the garments of the three children that were cast into it Dan. 3. So è contra there is a marvellous hellish power in sin so as it will suspend all the acts of grace so as a Christian may expresse no acts of grace but lye as a man in a deep swound without life and motion that can be discerned and yet this you shall finde in a Christian at such times a listlesnesse of his heart to sin that he cannot break out into sin with all his strength and power as he did in his naturall condition and the ground is this because there is still flesh and spirit in him so that as the spirit cannot doe what good it would so the flesh cannot doe that evill it would Gal. 5.17 And when a Christian is most lively yet there is still some faintnesse and weaknesse in him so è contra when grace is most weak and corruption most strong yet he cannot commit sin with all his strength as formerly he hath done but he goes about sin unwillingly not with the full sway that he was wont to doe he goes listlesly about it Try your selves therefore by these signes if thou hast Christ thou hast life if life thou hast warmth and heat look to thy knowledge doth it puffe thee up and not edifie Dost thou magnifie thy selfe by it If it be lively knowledge it is joyned with zeal as Christ revealed himselfe to the Church of Thyatira Rev. 2.18 Thus saith the Son of God whose eyes are like flames of fire writing to the Church of Thyatira that was warm in love and growing up therein he revealed himselfe according to the state of the Church as having eyes like flames of fire as that Church had zeal with her light so that if thou hast a true knowledge thy eyes are like flames of fire what thou knowest thou dost with zeal and fervency of spirit as Peter and John said We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard that is which we have certain knowledge of Acts 4.20 See Jer. 20.9 1. Consider therefore whether thy knowledge be joyned with zeal How dost thou breath dost thou smell a sweet savour in the Word Then there is breath in thy nostrills 2. Dost thou breath warmth in prayer pant and sigh after God In thy conference dost thou expresse life and heat Then thou art a living Christian 3. How dost thou finde thy stomach to the Word dost thou relish it or else art thou ashamed of thy unprofitablenesse Then there is life 4. Dost thou love to be disjoynted from thy Brethren like brands cast one from another Then there is no life Life loves to preserve it selfe if you sit loose one from another all heat and life goes out religion ceaseth there is a bidding farewell to all Christian duties but if you see bone joyn to bone one gather to another then you shall see flesh and sinews will cover them and life will come in Ezek. 37.7 Put brands together and there will be some fire and heat propagated 2. A second property of life Where life is there is some plyablenesse and