into the same or greater evills The sinne of one man would be the sinne of every man did not God restraine him Secondly by way of commemoration I may tell you First how hee professed much sorrow for his sinnes Mans sin doth ever prove mans sorrow it is the shame of man to commit sin it is the honour of man to confesse and forsake his sin though sorrow constrained and carnall be alwaies unacceptable yet true and godly sorrow is ever availeable to salvation He that sowes in tears shall reap in joy Psa 126.5 Secondly he promised reformation greater strictnesse of life if God were pleased to lengthen his dayes though the vowes of mâ—ns adversitie be often forgotten in the dayes of mans prosperitie yet resolutions truly gracious are with God as the very performance Thirdly he spake of a great change which God of late had wrought in him Hee that is not changed by the gracious hand of God in this life is never received by the merciful hand of God in the next life the procrastinâ—tion of repentance is ever very perillous yet God is free in the dispensations of his mercies not limited to times and seasons Fourthly the rehearsal of Gods mercies upon condition of true repentance seemed much to affect him As hee is cursed that turnes the grace of God into wantonnesse so hee is blessed who by Gods mercies is lead to true repentance And let all this admonish us to labour for timely and true repentance to vow amendment and performe it to feele our hearts truly changed Gods mercies powerfully drawing our soules to obedience by fervent prayer increasing our communion with God enriching our soules more and more with all heavenly gifts and graces that wee may at last with great comfort and much assurance say Come Lord Jesus FINIS SAINT PAULS LEGACIE 2 COR. 13.11 Finally brethren farewell Be perfect be of good comfort bee of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you EVery communion amongst men on earth hath his dissolution be it never so entire never so sinne never so delightfull yet at length there comes a separation the sweetest fellowship the societie which is most intimate hath the cords and chains thereof at length dissolved Communion with God is everlasting communion with man is transitory and temporall The Arke was transportative removing from place to place till it came to Solomons Temple such is mans condition subject to continuall change and motion till he comes to heaven where Gods people shall have an endlesse and unchangeable communion The fellowship betweene Abimelech and the men of Shechem was very strong and intimate they were a Iudg. 9.23 bone of bone and flesh of flesh yet at length there came an evill Spirit between them and they were divided Great is the enmitie of Sathan against mens sweet and comfortable communion Abraham and Lot sweetly conversed and dwelt for divers dayes together yet at length they parted b Gen. 13.6 their substance was so great that they could not dwell together Much sweet communion commerce between Gods people is often hindered by the fulnesse of the world Singular was the friendship pleasant was the fellowship between Jonathan and David their love was c 2 Sam. 1.26 wonderfull passing the love of women yet by an arrow in the battell Jonathan fell and their sweet commerce was ended Death dissolveth all humane fellowship Eliah and Elisha enjoyed many dayes most blessed and gracious communion together yet at length it came to passe that as they d 2 King 2.11 went and talked there appeared a Chariot of fire and Horses of fire and parted them both asuâ—der God doth often remove the dearest friends and comforters of his servants to learne them to depend alone upon Christ Jesus God doth sometimes take away the Guides and Teachers of his people to let them see that the choycest instruments of mans happinesse are not of everlasting continuance Saint Paul had been for divers dayes a preacher to the men of Corinth preaching to them many powerfull and heavenly sermon delivering to them many found and wholsome Doctrine writing also a first and second Epistle yet his ministery was not for perpetuity nor his presence of everlasting continuance a time of separation came and his labours drew to an end and in these words hee takes hiâ— last leave and farewell of them â—â—nally brethren farewell Bee perfect bee of good comfort bee of one minde live iâ— peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you The Apostle Saint Paul had in this whole Epistle sharply rebuked the Corinthians for opposing his doctrine for slighting and despising his admonition and now that they might not thinke he either spake or wrote out of hatred or distemper of spirit many arguments and evidences of his great and singular love are intermixed chiefly in this his conclusion mitigating all the severitie and bitternesse which hee seemed to use towards them concluding and shutting up all in a holy sweet and gracious exoptation or wish of all perfection consolation peace concord and communion with God unto them Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect c. The Lord who giveth e Ephes 4.10 some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ The Lord who f Jerem. 3.15 gives his people Pastors according to his owne heart to feed them with knowledge and understanding hath in the course of his gracious providence made me for more than fifteene yeares an under-overseer of your soules wherein as his weake and fraile feeble and unworthy instrument I have been the Lords and your servant endevouring though neither with such diligence and industry as I should nor with that blessed and plentifull successe which I desire and wish to open Gods counsell to propose and set forth Christ before your eyes to make him glorious in your apprehension to humble your soules to convert your hearts to draw you by faith and love to Christ the complete and onely Authour of your everlasting welfare And now as Saint Paul said sometimes to the men of Ephesus g Acts 20.25 Behold I know that yee all among whom I have here stood preaching the kingdome of God shall after this day in all likelihood behold my face in this place no more being now to you as a dying man whose last breath is going forth as a starre setting and rising no more in this horizon as a lampe going out and shining no more in this your house of sacred meeting As a man dying and loth to dye I shall in the ardencie of my love and great anguish of my spirit in the words wish of S. Paul take my last leave and valediction Finally brethren farewell Be perfect be of good comfort be of one minde live iâ— peace and the God of love and peace be with you In
THE HAPPINES OF ENJOYING AND MAKING A TRUE AND SPEEDIE USE OF CHRIST SETTING FORTH FIRST THE FULNESSE OF CHRIST SECONDLY The danger of neglecting Christ and the opportunity of grace THIRDLY The LORD JESUS the soules last Refuge Whereunto is added St. PAULS LEGACIE or FAREWELL to the men of Corinth ALEXANDER GROSSE B. D. Minister of the Gospel and Pastour of Bridford That their hearts may be comforted being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ And whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge Col. 2.2 3. And of his fulnesse have we all received and grace for grace Joh. 1.16 Omniae habemus in Christo omnia nobis Christus Ambros LONDON Printed by Robert Young for John Bartlet at the signe of the gilt-cup neere Saint Austens Gate 1640. TO MY MOST DEARELY Beloved and much honoured friends howsoever dignified or distinguished the Inhabitants of Plympton St. Mary the increase of all saving grace and everlasting blisse LOve among the Ancients was pourtrayed and shadowed out by and under the image of a woman cloathed in a greene garment having written in her forehead Procul Propè afarre off and neere at hand in her breast Mors vita life and death in the hemme of her garment Hyems aestas winter and summer in her side Vulnus apertum an open wound thorough which her heart within might be seen My love to you farre from me be all base flattery and selfe-commendation hath beene very fervent like the love of women greene and never withering alwayes fresh and flourishing not only while I was present with you but since I have been absent from you the sense at least of my love hath beene more abundant towards you such hath been my love to you that you were in my heart to live and to dye with you I could willingly in winter and in summer in all changes have continued your servant as Jacob served Labans flock in the heat and in the cold My heart is open to you as a Bridegroomes heart and house is open to receive the Bride and had your former beene like the last manifestations of your love towards me I am assured all the proffers and perswasions of the world should never have drawne me from you Great is the power and strength of affection with which faithfull Ministers love the Lords people as grace is more powerfull then nature so is their love stronger then the love of nature Non minus vos diligo saith Ambrose quos genui ex Evangelio quà m si suscepissem conjugio gratia quippe vehementior est ad diligendum quà m natura I love you no lesse whom I have begotten by the Gospel then if I had begotten you in matrimoniall conjunction because grace hath more energy and vehemency in the way and worke of love then nature And in my unfained love and as a pledge and testimony of my never-dying love I have sent you these papers part of which is the last Legacy I had to bestow upon you at the time of my departure from you It is very usefull for all Christians to renew the memory of the past labours of Gods messengers Every good child desires a copy of his Fathers will to see his Fathers love to know his Fathers gift to remember and observe his Fathers charge and counsell Children within some few dayes after their Fathers death expect the receipt of their parents Legacie and bequeath and loving children are ever very glad to accept and very carefull to keep their parents last gift though of slender worth the last words of Gods Ministers our spirituall parents doe commonly like the words of dying men take the deepest impression in their hearers True Christians thinke often and put great price upon the last labours of Gods Ministers I therefore here present unto you that which I published as my last ministeriall Will and Testament among you with some part of my poore labours since bestowed on others desiring you like loving children to accept it like provident and carefull children to make the humble true and best use of it A small gift well used proves many times an instrument of great inrichment Though I cease to be your Minister and am now no more your Instructer yet I cannot cease to bee your true though weake and unworthy perhaps despised friend and as ointment and perfume according to Solomon rejoice the heart so would I gladly by hearty counsell distill on you the drops of some friendly some Christian and spirituall sweetnesse to the rejoicing and revivement of your soules and as iron sharpens iron so am I willing by some words of admonition exhortation and excitation to sharpen and quicken your affections Let me therefore as a constant lover of your soules and a carefull remembrancer of your welfare intreat and perswade you all 1. To grow in the sight and sense of your sinne Beware of hardnesse keepe your hearts soft and contrite nourish and maintaine all tendernesse in your consciences sense of misery sweetens mercy the feeling of sin breeds both the loathing and leaving of sinne mans sight of his owne vilenesse makes Christ very precious and breeds a low opinion of all worldly excellencies The Hart feeling within him the operation of the serpents poyson goes from the thornes and thickets and passeth over the greene and pleasant pastures desires nothing but the fountaine sense of the venome of sinne and uncleannesse makes man go from the thornes and thickets of worldly cares and riches and passe from the greene medowes of carnall pleasures the soule being restlesse untill it comes to Christ Jesus the fountain of all spirituall refreshments Secondly take heed deceive not your selves with shewes and shadowes in stead of substance with a forme in stead of the power of godlinesse As the Poets fable it of Ixion imbracing a cloud in stead of Juno or as mothers in haste somtimes catch at the swadling clothes and leave the child behind them It is very dangerous to stay and applaud our selves in the ceremony of Religion and godliness not taking with us the Lord Jesus as sometimes Mary and Joseph went on with the multitude for company and left Christ behind them all religious observations prove complementall frivolous and fruitlesse if in them we see not taste not receive not enjoy not Christ religious exercises are lost labours to the soule that gaines not the Lord Jesus Thirdly Be truely meeke and humble bee emptied of all opinion of your owne worth and wisedome this will make you wise unto salvation He that is in the low pits and caves of the earth sees the starres in the firmament when they who are on the tops of the mountaines discerne them not Hee that is most humble sees most of heaven Bona est via humilitatis saith Bernard quâ veritas inquiritur charitas acquiritur generationes sapientiae
his name is called Wonderfull Isay 9.1 Counsellour the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Wonderfull for the admirable union of two natures in one person for his wonderfull conception and birth of a Virgine and Wonderfull for the administration of his kingdome wonderfully saving his servants wonderfully destroying his enemies Counsâ—llour for the wisedome which he revealeth and counsell which hee giveth the elect by the Gospel making them wise unto salvation The mighty God for the miracles hee wrought the donation of the Spirit and regeneration of Gods chosen The everlasting Father for the life of grace and glory which hee ministers to all true beleevers And the Prince of Peace for the peace which hee makes between God and his chosen for the concord which hee workes between Gods children and the heavenly tranquillity which hee puts into the consciences of contrite and broken-hearted sinners The names of the Lord Iesus are Characters full of wonders in the eyes of all beleevers and beames ministring the heavenly light of wisedome and consolation to all that come unto him Sometimes he is figuratively stiled a Head Eph. 1.22 for the excellency dignity and eminency of his condition above others as the head is the most noble and eminent above all the members for his mysticall conjunction with true beleevers direction gubernation protection which hee ministers to them and for the communication of all spirituall life sense motion and every good thing to Gods children Sometimes hee is stiled a Rocke 1 Cor. 10.4 1 Pet. 2 5. and the head stone of the corner for his conjunction of Jew and Gentile in one Church and for his might in sustaining all such as are by a lively faith built a spirituall house upon him Sometimes hee is called a Lyon the Lyon of the tribe of Juda Rev. 5.5 for his principality and eminence as the Lyon is the King of all beasts for his vigilancie as the Lyon sleeps with his eyes open Christ is a keeper that never sleeps for his power efficacie in plucking us out of the mouth of the roaring Lyon the Divel for his custody keeping us as the Lyon his whelps for the terrour he casts upon the hearts of his enemies by the preaching of his word as the Lyon by his voyce makes all the beasts to tremble and by the raising of his chosen unto life as the Lyon by his cry awakens his young which sleepe Sometimes hee is called the Sunne Mal. 4.2 the Sunne is the Prince of the Starres Christ is the Prince of the Kings of the earth the Sunne is the eye of the world Christ of the Church the Sunne conferreth light with his beames Christ conferres the light of knowledge faith and all grace to the soule the Sunne is in the midst of the planets Christ is a middle person betweene God and man Christ gives the light of glory to the Saints above the light of grace to beleevers here beneath The Sunne warmes the earth Christ the heart with his divine love the Sun makes the earth fertile Christ makes the soule fruitfull the Sunne casts his light upon the poore mans cottage as well as on the kings palace Christ shines as clearely and comfortably unto the heart of the poorest as of the richest Christian Sometimes he is stiled a Bridegroome a husband 2 Cor. 11.2 for his dominion over despensation and betrothment with and singular affection to his Spouse the Church for his protection nutrition communication of honour to the children of God for his entire union with acquisition of his Spouse Sampson and David obtained their Brides by shedding the bloud of their enemies Christ hath obtained his Spouse by shedding his owne bloud and dissolving the workes of the Divell his their adversary Most excellent is the authority dignity majesty power beauty wisedome love and chiefest goodnesse shining forth to the soules of Gods servants in and through the names of Chrâ—st Jesus Foure excellencies in Christ on which men are to fasten the eyes of their faith 1. Excellency of dominion Let us therfore lock and fasten the eies of our faith First upon the excellency of Christs dominion behold him reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords and vaile and bow to him As Pharaoh put all the people of his land from the lowest to the highest under Joseph because none was excellent as Joseph so let us put all the faculties of our soules and all the members of our bodies the whole man under Christ let all be subject and serviceable unto Christ let all be ruled and guided by Christ Christ hath absolute and most excellent authority over us and therefore as all that travell in the day are guided by the Sunne as all Israel were guided by the pillar as all the members of the body are guided by the head so let us in all things be guided by Christ Mat. 8.8 let us goe and come at Christs command as the souldiers did at the command of the Centurion All mans goings are aberrations if he be not guided by Christ Iesus nothing is wel done but that which answers Christs direction they that walke after their owne fancies walke in darkenesse It is recorded of the wheeles in Ezekiels vision Ezek. 1.21 that when the living creatures went the wheeles went and when the living creatures stood the wheeles stood when the living creatures were lifted up the wheeles were lifted up over against them for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheeles Thus let our motion station be according to Christs prescription having as the Psalmist saith Psa 40.8 the law of the Lord in our hearts And as Christ hath excellent dominion so let us feele him reigning and ruling within us by illumination as the Sun doth rule the day by filling the aire with light by subjugation putting under all our unruly lusts as Iosua ruled in Canaan by treading upon the neckes of the kings of Canaan and putting them to death by direction and guidance of our souls to move aright in the wayes of God as the pilot doth guide the ship by love as the husband doth rule the wife by inhabitation possession as the dweller doth rule the house by gracious heavenly influence as the hand doth guide the pen and the load-stone doth turne and draw the iron towards it It is the glory of mans heart to become the Throne of Christ the honour of mans life to bee wholly subject unto Christ it is a far greater honor to be Christs * Bonus obediens domini servus proximi socius mundi dominus superiora habet ad gaudium aequalia ad consortium inferiora ad sâ—rviâ—ium Bern. gracious servant then the worlds profane commander Hee that is most spiritually subject is most truly excellent of all men he hath the choycest dominion that yeelds to Christ most ready free subjection Every thing shall serve him who readily serves
detained by his father in law Iudg. 19.5 that hee lost his Concubine by the way shee came short home thus many of us are so feasted by the world so detained from day to day that wee lose our soules by the way wee come short of heaven and eternall happinesse at last It is marvellous to consider how in all matters of this life wee take the time make use of the opportunitie If the body bee diseased we goe presently to the Physician with the woman of Shunem wee saddle the horse 2 King 4. and ride in all haste if fire bee kindled in the house wee instantly runne for water to quench it if a citie be besieged like the men of Gibeon Ios 10.6 wee speedily send for strength to remove it if wee bee rob'd wee forthwith make hue and cry that the thiefe may be apprehended Husbandmen for the earth Mariners for the sea Merchants for the Mart and every Smith strikes while the iron is hot And is it not a shame that wee whose soules are so dangerously diseased an infernall fire burning within us an armie of unclean spirits laying siege against us many theeves robbing us of the best among all jewels yet wee move not stirre not strive not for deliverance Wee have the best seed to sow the richest voyage to make the chiefest merchandise to buy and yet wee regard not our day esteeme not the time of our visitation entertaine not the proffer which God of his free and abundant mercie doth make O beloved consider First how just it will bee with God not to heare us in our misery if wee refuse to heare him inviting us in the multitude of his mercie shall the master heare the servant requesting if the servant regard not the master requiring Remember the words of a dying man of a dying King a holy a wise King a man after Gods owne heart the words of King David to his sonne Solomon 1 Chron. 28.9 Thou my sonne Solomon know thou the God of thy father and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts If thou seeke him hee will bee found of thee but if thou forsake him hee will cast thee off for ever Secondly doth not our refusall of mercie when it is offered cut off all hope of mercie for hereafter Doth not the rejecting of a proffered pardon turn the Kings favour into anger against the malefactor Did not this give Christ occasion to withdraw his mercie from Jerusalem O Jerusalem Mat. 23.37 38. Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered you together even as a Hen doth gather her Chickens under her wing and yee would not Behold your house is left unto you desolate Thirdly will not our continuance in sinne make our repentance if ever we doe repent so much the more grievous full of terrour vexation and anguish Where trees have growne long and the roots are deepe the earth is very much rent and torne before the tree is plucked up Doth not the traveller who hath walked long and farre out of his way goe backe with much sorrow sadness and griefe of heart Fourthly will God be well pleased that we shall spend all the flower and strength of our time in Satans service and when wee are old and can serve sin no longer come crowd and thrust our selves into his service Fifthly doe not wee hereby lose much spirituall riches blessed communion and acquaintance with God comfortable assurance of joy and glory in the heavens that comfort peace pleasure rejoycing contentment which infinitely surpasseth all the contentment in the world O therfore let us not any longer delay our conversion put off our repentance neglect the day of our visitation let us not be like Jerusalem strangers to the things belonging to our peace but let us thinke upon the Lords patheticall and manifold expostulations asking Pro. 1.22 How long yee simple ones will yee love simplicitie and scorners delight in their scorning and fooles hate knowledge Interrogating also with his people Ezek. 18.30 31. Repent and turne your selves from all your transgressions make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will yee dye O house of Israel Call to minde also and thinke seriously upon the Lords free and gracious invitations Ier. 3.22 bidding us by the Prophet Turne O back-sliding children and I will heale your back-slidings Zech. 1.3 And againe Turne yee unto mee Mat. 11.28 and I will turne to you And Come to mee all yee that be heavie loaden and I will refresh you Thinke on this and Remember your Creator in the dayes of your youth Eccles 12.1 Remember him as a Maker to depend upon him as a Father to love him as a Master to feare him as a King to obey him as a Friend to rejoyce in him as a Shield to defend you a Store-house to minister all fulnesse to you And as the Angell charged Lot Gen. 19.17 Escape for thy life looke not behinde thee neither stay in all the plaine escape to the mountaines lest thou bee consumed so let mee charge exhort intreat perswade every person that tenders his owne everlasting peace glory comfort to hasten out of the Sodome of sinne to escape from his uncleannesse not to looke back with love or liking upon any way which God hath forbidden lest his consuming wrath seize upon him but shine more and more like the Sunne unto the perfect day Goe forward like a good traveller bee filled with all goodnesse as the sea with waters and you shall have a resting place in Sion drinke of the rivers which shall fill your soules with the choycest pleasures and bee more glorious then the Sunne for ever in the heavens FINIS THE LORD JESUS THE SOULES LAST REFUGE By Alexander Grosse B. of Divinity at the funerall of Mr. S. H. PSAL. 73.26 My flesh and my heart faileth me but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever PSAL. 141.8 Mine eyes are unto thee O GOD the LORD in thee is my trust leave not my soule destitute PSAL. 142.4 5. I looked on my right hand and beheld but there was no man that would know mee refuge failed me no man cared for my soule I cryed unto the LORD I said Thou art my Refuge and my Portion in the land of the living LONDON Printed by R. Young for John Bartlet at the gilt Cup in Pauls Church-yard 1640. THE LORD JESUS the Soules last Refuge REV. 22.20 Come Lord Jesus THE comming of the Sunne is joyous to him that hath been long in darknesse the comming of the Dove with an Olive branch was comfortable to Noah after he had been tossed divers dayes upon the deluge the re-appearing of the Starre to the Wise men made them exceeding joyfull And such is the comming of the Lord Jesus to the
of all our friends according to the flesh made dumb and silent then our soules will be put upon Christ and there will bee no remedy we must say Come Lord Iesus And therefore this should make Christ very pretious in our eyes now this should inflame our hearts with singular and fervent love unto him for the present getting interest in him above all things and making him our chiefest and choycest our deare and onely friend This should so sweeten unto us the Lord Jesus that wee should say with Bernard Jesus dulcis in voce dulcis in facie dulcis in nomine dulce enim nomen suave Jesus consecratum ab aeterno annunciatum ab Angelo prophetatum Solomonis oraculo qui ait Oleum effusum nomen tuum Psa 73.25 Jesus is sweet in voice sweet in face sweet in name for the name Jesus is sweet being consecrated from eternitie published by the Angel and prophesied by the Oracle of Solomon who saith Thy Name is an oyntment powred forth Wee should so select him so admire him so adhere unto him so set our hearts upon him that wee should say with the Psalmist Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee So glorious so pretious so infinitely transcendent let him be in our thoughts in our judgements in our estimation and affections that wee love and affect him exalt and preferre him as the King above all commanders as the Sunne above all lights as the spring above all cisternes as the pearle above all treasure and as the husband of our soules above all friends as a Paradice of all pleasures a haven of rest from all tempests and the refuge of our soules in all troubles Let our faith bee such in him our hope so settled upon him our love so strong towards him our subjection such under him that we may bee able at all times and seasons in all estates and conditions to say Come Lord Jesus Behold in this the honour and profit the advantage and comfort which a bodily dissolution bringeth to the righteous to all true beleevers they desire the full fruition of Christ and this bringeth them home to Christ Phil. 1.21 to them to dye is gaine gaine of libertie from the burthen of all corruption from all the assaults of Satan from the servitude of the world and all affliction gaine of perfect holinesse in respect of Gods image gain of complete victory in respect of all enemies gaine of most sweet communion in respect of their fellowâ—hip with God Christ the glorious Angels and all the Saints of God gaine of absolute honour in respect of their glorious condition in heaven As death to the righteous is a tree of many fruitfull branches a messenger of many comfortable tidings so the Spirit of God hath given it many denominations Sometimes it is stiled a Sleepe Mat. 9.24 sleep possesseth onely the outward members and senses the soule sleepeth not so in death the body onely dies the soule is carried into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16.22 â—ev 14.13 Sleep giveth rest unto the body They who dye in the Lord rest from all their labours Sometimes it is called a gathering to our Fathers Gen. 25.8 by death the righteous are separated from the wicked gathered as wheat into Gods garner and their soules bound up in the bundle of life 1 Sam. 25 29. Sometimes it is called a way the way of all flesh by the way wee come to our home to our fathers and to our friends house Ios 23.14 and by death wee come to our heavenly home to God the father and the Lord Jesus Sometimes it is called a going forth As the prisoner goeth forth of the prison 2 Pet. 1.15 and Israel went forth from the bondage of Egypt so when the body dieth the soule goeth forth as out of a prison and entreth into the land of the living Sometimes it is called an end Mat. 10.22 because in death there is an end of all sin of all sorrow of all labour trouble as in the waters of the red Sea the Israelites Egyptian bondage ended Sometimes it is termed a sowing Ioh. 11.24 1 Cor. 15.44 the seed which is sowne doth spring forth again into a blade the body in the resurrection shall flourish like the grasse death like a Physician cures all their diseases like a key opens the prison and restores them to a blessed freedom brings them to the full fruition of Jesus Christ the desire of their soules And this is the sweetest and fullest gaine of a Christian Lucrum est evasisse incrementa peccati Augustine lucrum fugisse deteriora lucrum transire ad meliora Aug. Lucrum maximum computat Christianus Cyprian jam saeculi laqueis non teneri jam nullis peccatis vitiis carnis obnoxium fieri exemptum pressuris angentibus venenatis diaboli faucibus liberatum ad laetitiam salutis aeternae Christo vocante proficisci Cypr. This must perswade move us to work our hearts to a holy longing and earnest desire after the comming of the Lord Jesus to desire it as the husbandman the coÌ„ming of the harvest the sick man the comming of the day of health or the ward the day of his full age to looke for the new heavens 2 Pet. 3.13 2 Tim. 4.8 and the new earth and to love the appearing of the Lord Iesus and for that end there must be First Godly sorrow for sin Christs coming is comfortable to such as are truly sorrowfull he that is weary of his corruptions doth truely long for the coming of Christ Jesus Gen 45.4.5 Ioseph spake to his brethren kindly entertained them courteously when he saw them grieved for the injury offered him Luke 15. The prodigals day of humiliation Isa 61.1 was the day wherein his father graciously received him Christ will bee found a sweet and mercifull Iesus to all Mat. 11.28 truly penitent sinners Secondly there must be a thorough removall of sin an effectuall reformation of all our wayes Gen. 35.2 Jacob went not up to Bethel before he purged his house of Idols It is in vain for man to say Come Lord Jesus if there bee not a conversion of the soule to Jesus To such the Prophet speakes Amos 5.18.19 Woe to you that desire the day of the Lord to what end is it for you the day of the Lord is darknesse and not light as if a man did flye from a Lyon and a Beare met him or went into a house and leaned his hand on the wall and a Serpent bit him Shall not the day of the Lord be darknesse and not light even very darke and no brightnesse in it What the voyce of God was to Adam upon the eating of the forbidden fruit what the comming of the flood was to the profane men of the old world what the waters of the red Sea were to Pharaoh what the
him as r 2 Sam. 1. Ionathan loved David with a love surpassing the love of women as Iacob loved Rahel with love making us cheerfull in serving patient in suffering for him hee alone is the friend of Christ Jesus 4. In our trust that loves him above himselfe and all creatures 4. Him let us preferre in our trust as the builder doth the rocke above all other foundations as the chickens doe the wings of the hen above all other places of refuge to him let us addresse our selves as they who were in distresse Å¿ 2 Sam. 1.21 in debt in discontent did sometimes addresse themselves to David Him let us make our Captain to fight for us our Shepheard to defend us our Rocke to support us our Shield to cover us let us wait on him t Psa 62.5 solely and on no other on him let us trust fully with all our heart with all our soule let us rest on whole Christ on his power to sustaine us on his wisedome to guide us on his merit to justifie and procure all good things for us on his mercy to forgive us on his love to solace us on his fulnesse to satisfie us on him let us trust constantly in our prosperity as being the strength of all our fulness in our adversity as being all-sufficient in the absence of all helpers On him let us stay when wee are in darknesse u Isa 50.10 and have no light in sicknesse and have no health in heavinesse and have no joy in desertion and have no friend in want and have no supply Mans firme dependance upon Christ in all conditions in all changes argues the truth and strength of mans confidence 5. Him let us preferre in our feare above all commanders 5. In our feare as the Subject his Soveraigne above all Beggers as the Servant his Master above his fellow-servants As his authoritie is highest to command his power greatest to protect and his goodnesse fullest to recompence so let him have preheminence in our obedience and service As the w Gen. 37.9 Sunne Moon and eleven Starres in Iosephs vision did obeysance unto him so let all the faculties of our soules all the members of our bodies all our temporall naturall morall and spirituall abilities do obeysance to Christ be made subject and serviceable unto him 6. In our Ioy. 6. Him let us preferre in our Joy As David preferred Ierusalem above x Psa 137 his chiefest joy making it and the welfare thereof the top head and flower of his joy so let us make Christ our chiefest joy the head and crowne of our joy in him let us rejoyce as the wise men in the Starre which guided them Mat. 2.10 Gen. 45.28 1 Sam. 4.5 as old Iacob in the Waggons which carried him to Egypt where was fulnesse of bread in the famine as the Israelites in the Arke from whose presence they promised themselves victory over the Philistins in him let us rejoyce as the traveller in the Sunne which guides him as the sick in the Physician which heales him as the captive in the ransomer which frees him as the poore in the rich which feeds and cloathes him As Christ is the originall and spring of all our comforts so let him be the supreme object of all our rejoycings all joy besides this is but sadness Bernard saith * Illud est verum ac summum gaudium quod non de crâ—atura sed de creatore concipitur quod quum acceperis nemo tollet à te cui aliunde comparata omnis jucunditas moeror est omnis suavitas dolor est omne dulce amarum est omne decorum foedum est omne posâ—reâ—â—ó quod delâ—â—â—â—i poâ—â—â—t mo◠〈…〉 That is true and high joy which is not conceived of the creature but of the Creator which when thou shalt receive no man shall take it from thee whereunto compared all other joy is sorrow all sweetnesse griefe all that is sweet is bitter every comely thing is filthy and lastly whatsoever may delight is troublesome all joy in comparison of joy in Christ is but a cloud to this Sunne a midnight to this morning a bramble to this Vine gall and vinegar to this pretious Nectar Therefore in all things value Christ and give him preheminence above all others according to his fulnesse Let not the plainnesse of his doctrine the meannesse of his messengers the simplicitie and want of externall pompe in his religion and service nor the poverty of many of his followers cause us to under-value and slight Christ as it was sometime disputed among the Romanes in their Councell using to deifie great men Whether Christ having done many wonderfull workes should bee received into the number of Gods The Historian saith * Et tande desinitum est quòd non deberet recipi inter deos pro eo quòd non habeâ—et cultores propâ—er hoc quòd paupertatem praedicarit elegit quam mundus contemnit It was at last concluded that he should not be received among the Gods because hee had no worshippers and because hee preached poverty which the world despiseth How many stumble and take offence at Christ slight and under-value Christ for the small number and low estate of his followers and for that humility meeknesse spirituall poverty which the Gospel teacheth But let not us under-value Christ for this but rather admire the fulnesse of Christ in putting such power into the plaine preaching of his Word and such efficacie into the labours of his despised Messengers as thereby to convince and convert the hearts and raise the soules of men and by weake things poore things and things which are not to confound the things that are The weaknesse of the instrument commends the power of the supreme agent the more wee looke upon the emptinesse of the instruments which Christ useth the more cause we shall have to admire the fulnesse which he communicateth Foure things there are among many Foure things in Christ to be highly prized in Christ which wee should very highly prize First the knowledge of Christ The wisedome of Solomon was so great that the Queene of the South accounted his men happy 1. Knowledge of Christ that they might daily stand before him to heare his wisedome As Christ is greater then Solomon so is their happinesse greater that may stâ—nd before him and heare his wisedome It is Christ that puts a fulnesse into our knowledge as the shining of the Sunne in the aire puts a fulnesse of light into the eye therefore Paul made Christ crucified the center and circumference of his knowledge determining to know y 1 Cor. 2.2 nothing among them but Christ crucified this hee made the z Ephes 3. bredth and length depth and height of his knowledge this was the full latitude of his knowledge to know Christ and this is a Phil. 3.8 excellent knowledge for the instrument authour matter subject fruits and effects of
manner consider and bee thoughly affected with the barrennesse of the Kingdome wherein wee are subjects of the Congregation whereof wee are members of the Families in which wee are fathers mothers husbands wives sonnes daughters servants soiourners every man the barrennesse of his own heart way life let us be in bitternesse of soule and pray and weep as sore for this barrenness of soule as ever Hanna did for the barrennesse of her body The Lord hath done great things for us as for Jerusalem he hath separated us to himselfe set us up his tabernacle among us beene a wall of fire round about us caused the clouds of heavenly doctrine to poure downe their sweet and comfortable dew upon us he hath given us Pastors according to his owne heart Jer 3 15. to feed us with knowledge and understanding and yet we are unfruitfull As the men of the City of Jericho said of that 2 Kin. 2.19 The scituation of the City is pleasant but the water is naught and the ground barren so may we truely say of our selves the Lord hath seated us in a pleasant place in a fruitfull land in a Paradise of all temporall and spirituall plenty yea the waters the ordinances of God the meanes of life are also good sweet savoury completely fitted to minister comfort to the s ules of the people but our hearts are for the most pâ—rt naught and our lives are barren of the good fruit should grow upon them We are 1. Such fallow grâ—und such strangers to a contrite and broken spirit that the Word is to many of us like seed sowne on ground not broken 2. Our hearts are so growne over with the thornes and briars of worldly cares that the seed of the Word is choked in the greatest number of us 3. Our souls are so over-spread with the weeds and drowned in the waters of sensuall pleasures carnall lusts and vaine delights that the meanes of life are not to a few as seed sowne in watry ground where it prospers not 4. Many of us doe so please our selves with a formall profession that wee are but as women travelling with a false birth we doe so flatter our selves with the naked having of Gods Ordinances with the glorious name of Christians that we regard not the nature life power fruit of godlinesse but remaine universally barren our understandings like a lamp without oile our memories like a peece of paper wherein nothing is written our hearts like an Altar on which no fire burneth our faith like Jeroboams withered arme our affections like the lame mans feet who could not walke the whole man like a garden wherein every tree is barren a house whereof euery roome is empty the greatest part of us like foolish Souldiers that think it enough to draw forth and flourish their weapons never wounding their enemies therewith suppose wee have done as much as is required when we attend upon the Ordinance of God though wee never make any particular and effectuall application thereof Aristotle was wont to taxe the Athenians Laeâ—t li. 5. cap. 1. quòd cum duas res invenissent frumenta ac leges frumentis uterentur legibus nequaquam And for this may we be no lesse justly reproved that God having given us the fruits of the earth and the law of life and salvation we use the former but neglect the latter Is it not wonderfull to see how industrious the Husbandman is to improve his ground of a barren to make a fruitfull land how the Merchant setteth his wits on worke to improve his trade how the married persons doe long to see their children stand like Olive branches round about their Table how every person yea every creature in his way after his kind doth strive to be fruitfull and shall the Christian the most excellent peece of the workmanship of God be contented to remaine barren and unprofitable Doe you not heare how the Husbandman complaines like the men of Jericho if the field be barren how the Merchant droopes and hangs downe the head if his ship miscarry his trade faile and poverty come upon him Doe you not heare how the Husband like Isaac prayes for the fruitfulnesse of the Wife when there is no conception how the barren wife cries with an impatient spirit Give me children or I die Gen. 30.1 2. And shall not we complaine bow downe and humble our selves for our barrennesse in grace shall not we study strive labour pray and crie unto the Lord our God to open our hearts that are shut up to enlarge our souls to fill us with all goodnesse And to induce us hereunto the consideration of the concomitants and fruits of this spirituall barrennesse are of very great force For 1 Barrennesse reproacheth it was a reproach to a mother in Israel to be barren 1 Sa. 1.6 Barrennesse disgraceth fields trees cattle reasonable and unreasonable creatures and barrennesse of grace in like manner disgraceth us in the eyes of God in the eyes of Gods children giveth occasion of insultation to the adversaries of religion as the bodily barrennesse of Hanna gave Peninna occasion to insult over her this causeth our profession to be traduced and the name of God to be blasphemed Ro. 2.24 2 Barrennesse is unprofitable a barren tree ministreth no profit it doth but cumber the ground Luk. 13.8 barren Christians are unserviceable to God pester and cumber the Church wherein they live 3 Barrennesse grieveth the barren wife grieveth the husband the barren tree grieveth the keeper of the Orchard a barren people grieve the faithfull and painfull Minister whom the Lord hath set as a Shepheard over them this pained Paul as a woman in travell Gal. 4.19 Jer. 20.14 occasioned Jeremy through the anguish and trouble of his spirit to curse the day of his birth and wrought so forcibly with Eliah 1 Kin. 19.4 that he grew weary of his life and wished for death rather then life 4 Barrenness spoileth the soule of much sweet and heavenly peace boldnesse comfort and confidence Doth the Master smile or else frowne upon the unprofitable servant can such a servant come before his Master with confidence with assurance of acceptance doth he not hang downe the head is he not ashamed is not his confidence removed farre from him When Adam was naked he ran from the presence of the Lord Gen. 3. when the soules of men within are naked of grace and the lives of men without are naked of good works they have no courage no comfort no boldnesse to present themselves before the Lord. 5 Barrennesse provoketh the barren field angreth the Husbandman the barren tree mentioned in the Gospel displeased our Saviour when hee sought fruit and found none on it Christ hungred Mat. 21.18 19. desired much to taste of the sweet grapes of faith repentance love thankfulnesse which should have beene brought forth by the Jewes a Vine of his Fathers owne planting once a Vine of many goodly