were negligent and carelesse Be sober therefore be vigilant saith St. Peter because your adversary the Devil as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whom he may devoure 1 Peter 5. 8. And be ye doers of the Word and not hearers onely deceiving your own selves James 1. 22. Secondly take heed how ye hear deceitfully Thou son of man saith the Lord to his Prophet Ezekiel the Children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses and speak one to another every one to his brother saying come I pray you and hear what is the Word that cometh forth from the Lord. And they come unto thee as the people cometh and they sit before thee as my people and they hear thy words but they will not do them for with their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousnesse Ezek. 33. 30 31. See how these Hypocrites do vilifie the Prophet of the Lord in private Neverthelesse they seem to be very zealous for the word of the Lord in publick and thereupon they come unto the Prophet and they sit before him as Gods own people and they do hear his words But here is the deceit they will not do them for they are Hypocritical and self-ended with their mouth they shew much love but their heart goeth after their covetousnesse And may there not be deceitfull hearers in these our dayes that follow the word meerly that they may be accounted good Christians or because they think this to be the onely prevailing way both to make them capable of all manner of imployment though they be never so unfit and undeserving And likewise to countenance all their proceedings though never so corrupt and unconscionable And therefore if you observe it they will seldom or never hear the word though never so sincerely plainly and powerfully delivered but when they think it may conduce to their carnal profit or preferment The cry of their heart is who will shew us any good not Lord lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us as Psalm 4. 6. Is not this to hear the word of God deceitfully Is it not a work of the Lord to hear the word of the Lord Truely it is such a work as doth very well manifest who is our Master He that is of God heareth Gods words Ye therefore hear them not â—ecause ye are not of God saith the Son of God to the unbelieving Jews John 8. 47. And cursed is he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully saith the Prophet Jer. 48. 10. Thirdly take heed how you hear despightfully Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed saith Salomon Prov. 13. 13. He that heareth you heareth me and he that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me saith Christ to his seventy Disciples Luke 10. 16. He therefore that despiseth despiseth not Man but God saith that Apostle 1 Thessa 4. 8. But you will say that there is no man so ungracious as to despise the word of God in the mouth of his Ministers No What think you then of those factions frantick spirits that wry the mouth at every Doctrine which agreeth not with their own erronious or peradventure blasphemous opinions Or what do you think of those foul stomacks that will by no means disgest the sincere milk of the word but will rather spet it out in reproches unlesse it be sweetned with faithlesse revelations flattering Prophesies fair promises false invectives fresh intelligence or the like frivolous extravagancies which taste like Sugar to their corrupted appetites Or what do you think of those preposterous hearers that come to Gods Ordinances Not with Davids resolution To hear what God the Lord will speak as Psal 85. 8. But with an Athenian prejudice What will this babler say as Acts 17. 18. Neither shall the Son of God escape better then his servants For some said he is a good man others said Nay but he deceiveth the people John 7. 11. Whereas in truth they deceived themselves Is not this to despise both Christ and his Gospel He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the bloud of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despight unto the spirit of grace saith the Apostle to the Hebrews Hebr. 10. 28 29. Wherefore let the Preacher perswade you to keep your feet when you go into the house of God and be more ready to hear then to give the sacrifice of fools Eccl. 5. 1. That is keep or see to your affections which carry about the Soul as the feet do carry about the body and be more ready to hear then to give the sacrifice of fools what sacrifice is that why you know that under the Law they did use to offer beasts in sacrifice And these as natural brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed do offer themselves to speak evil of the things that they understand not and shall utterly perish in their own corruption according to that of Peter 2 Pet. 2. 12. But take heed that ye do hear the word of God attentively reverently and obediently First take heed that ye hear attentively We finde that the Lord commended Mary for attending to his Sermon when her sister Martha accused her for neglecting his service Luke 10. 39. c. Attention is the Lords own work for it was the Lord that opened the heart of Lidia that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul Acts 16. 14. And the Lord himself will reward it We are all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God saith that good Centurion to St. Peter Acts 10. 33. Here was a Testimony of their attention And the holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word verse 44. There was the reward of their attention They received the gift of the holy Ghost A gift so precious that it is impossible for any to value it but onely such as have truely received it Secondly take heed that ye do hear reverently Receive with meeknesse the ingrafted word which is able to save your souls Ja. 1. 21. And for this cause thank we God without ceasing saith Paul because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us ye received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of God 1 Thes 2. 13. Contrary to these are they who proud of their own parts do creep into the sheepfold of Christ to put the whole flock into a confusion endeavouring not to obtain grace from Christ but to disgrace the faithfull Ministers of Christ And to that purpose where they cannot take occasions of offence they will be sure to make occasions of offence Neither can the most weighty and well-grounded arguments suffice to
c. The second sort of these deluded Souls are such as ground their peace upon mistakes perswading themselves that God is as it were ingaged to defend and preserve them And why Because say they he is mercifull It is true indeed the Lord is very mercifull For so he proclaimeth himself Exod. 34. 6 7. But what is all that to thee He will by no means clear the guilty as in the same 7th vers God cannot be so mercifull as to be unjust his justice must be fully satisfied which thou art never able to perform And therefore unlesse the guilt of thy sins be washed away by the bloud of Jesus Christ thou hast no present interest in Gods mercy Thou art still in thy wickednesse And the wicked are like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt There is no peace saith my God to the wicked Isa 57. 20 21. Now every one of these three sorts of peace is such a judgement as exposeth us to Gods just wrath and indignation For he that blesseth himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my heart to add drunkennesse to thirst The Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against that man c. Deut. 29. 19 20. But the fourth sort of peace is a safe peace And this is that which doth inseparably attend upon the person of our Lord. And for our better understanding and satisfaction in this particular we must know that this true peace must be grounded upon the assurance of that reconciliation which God in Christ hath concluded between himself and us For it pleased the father that in him should all fulnesse dwell And having made peace through the bloud of his Crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in heaven And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the bodie of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight Colos 1. 19 20 21 22. Now whosoever hath been formerly sensible of that great emnity that was between God on the one part And his own corrupt sinfull nature and conversation on the other part And is now fully satisfied and assured by a lively faith That God was thus in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them As likewise the same Apostle 2 Corinth 5. 19. That Soul I say may confidently boast that she injoyes a safe and solid peace For that she is joyned unto the Lord of Hosts in an offensive and defensive league And is thereby impowred both to fight the good fight of faith and so to lay hold on eternal life as at 1 Tim. 6. 12. And also to resist the Devil and to make him flee as James 4. 7. By which we may perceive that this true peace consisteth not in an absolute freedom from war but in the assurance of Gods Almighty favour and protection Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee saith that Prophet unto the Lord Isa 26. 3. Not such a perfect peace as feeleth no interruption but such a perfect peace as feareth no dissolution He shall not be moved for ever saith the Psalmist Psal 112. 6. He may be moved by some violent incounter But it will not be long before he returneth unto his resting place Doubtlesse it maketh much for Gods glory to exercise his Souldiers in a continual warfare That so he may make bare his own holy arm in the eyes of all the Nations and that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God as Isa 52. 10. Verily the godly nor are nor ever shall be without adversaries Neither do they wrestle onely against flesh and bloud but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darknesse of this world against spiritual wickednesse in high places wherefore they take unto them the whole armour of God that they may be able to withstand in the evil day according to Saint Paul's direction Eph. 6. 12 13. And in truth the servant of Jesus Christ is still more doubtfull of some intestine treachery then of any forraign invasion And therefore he keepeth his heart with all diligence according to that word of command Prov. 4. 23. He placeth a strong century in that center And for his outworks He walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly he despiseth the gain of oppressions and shaketh his hands from holding of bribes he stoppeth his ears from hearing of bloud and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil according to those safe postures Isa 33. 15. And therefore he shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure His eye shall see the King in his beauty they shall behold the land that is very far off verse 16. 17. Briefly thus He shall rest securely and fare sufficiently He shall see the King in his Majesty and travail safely under his protection And in every conflict he is sure of conquest I can do all things through Christ which strenghteneth me saith he with St. Paul Phil. 4. 13. And therefore with the Prophet David he likewise concludeth saying I will love the Lord my strength The Lord is my Rock and my fortresse and my deliverer my God my strength in whom I will trust my buckler and the horn of my salvation and my high Tower c. Psal 18. 1. c. This is the godly mans garrison and it is invincible And in this confidence I will both lay me down in peace and sleep saith he for thou Lord onely makest me dwell in safety as in Psal 4. 8. This indeed is a safe peace Such a peace as passeth all understanding And he belongeth to our Saviours guard For he shall keep our hearts and mindes through Christ Jesus Philip. 4. 7. And where this peace is quartered he provides to entertain his pleasant partner joy This is a compleat Courtier whose office most properly proclaims his Prince his presence Psal 16. 11. But being of that frolick disposition he is much mistaken and as much abused by some that seem to be his fellow servants For you shall hardly meet with one in forty but is deceived in this particular which we shall very easily maintain when we shall finde there are five sorts of joy whereof the first is a cursed joy The second is a counterfeit joy The third is a carelesse joy The fourth is a carnal joy And the fifth is a compleat joy The first I say is a cursed joy And this is when a man rejoyceth in any evil either against God or his Neighbour Their Soul delighteth in their abominations saith the Lord Isa 66. 3. Every sin hath some sweetnesse wherewith it delighteth the
mistaking of these or any of these infirm kindes of faith instead of the true justifying and saving faith several errours have received their original especially that uncomfortable errour of the Saints falling from Grace received through the unsteadfastnesse of their faith But I dare be bold to affirm that such Apostates did never feel the force of an effectual faith of a justifying faith This is the gift of God Rom. 12. 3. And the gifts and calling of God are without repentance Rom. 11. 29. I will not say but a man may fall grievously in it but he can never fall finally from it For the Lord hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 5. And truely I conceive this discovery to be very pertinent to our present purpose For faith being the onely condition to be performed by us in this Covenant of Grace It is very necessary that we be rightly instructed therein Least peradventure we either satisfie our selves with empty shadows instead of the true substance Or torment our selves with causelesse discomforts concerning the losse or uncertainty of that glorious inheritance which our gracious God by the purchase of Jesus Christ hath so long since estated upon a true and a lively faith according to this eternal Covenant We proceed now to consider why the Lord propoundeth faith for the Proviso or Condition of this Covenant of Grace First I conceive because he would have his gift received which would otherwise become fruitlesse and unprofitable He gave his onely begotten Son And were it not a world of pitie that such a precious gift should be neglected and not received applied and improved Well how are we to receive him Into our houses No but into our hearts By what instrument or means Verily by faith onely According to the Scriptures By faith Christ liveth in us Gal. 2. 20. And by faith Christ dwelleth in us in our hearts Eph. 3. 17. Questionlesse there is no relation between the Saviour and the souls of his Saints but what is contracted fixed and confirmed by his affection and their lively faith Secondly the Lord requireth faith That so this gift of his might be beneficial to the whole World in all places and at all times indifferently For were Christ to be received any other way then by faith All men could not have been capable of receiving him at all seasons Suppose he had come into the World in the day of the Creation and continued in the World till the day of dissolution Yet in regard of his passive Nature his humanity he could not have been received by any two persons in any two several places at one and the same time But wheresoever he abideth faith will instantly finde him out and lay hold upon him And therefore there is no cause now why any man should say in his heart who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring down Christ from above or who shall descend into the deep that is to bring up Christ from the dead The word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the word of faith which we preach saith St. Paul Rom. 10. 6 7 8. And this word of faith which we preach if truely believed and rightly applied will do both It will bring down Christ from above with the virtue of his Resurrection and Ascention And it will bring up Christ from beneath with the virtue of his death and passion It will do all things that may concern the Remission of our sins the justification of our persons and the salvation of our Souls by Jesus Christ our Lord. So then saith the same Apostle in the same Chapter faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God But I say have they not heard Yes verily their sound went into all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world Rom. 10. 17 18. And to that very purpose the Lord Jesus Christ after his Resurrection gives his Apostles this universal Commission Go ye saith he into all the world and preach the Gospel unto evâ—ry Creature Well what is the tenour or substance of that Gospel He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved That is he that receiveth Christ by faith and manifesteth the same in his Profession shall be saved as Rom. 10. 10. he that believeth not shall be damned Marc. 16. 15 16. And as this Gospel this word of faith is universal so is it likewise everlasting And I saw another Angel fly in the midst of heaven having the everlasting Cospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people saith St. John Rev. 14. 6. But why doth God require nothing else but faith We know there may be divers Provisoes in one and the same Conveyance or Covenant Truely faith by it self is enough provided that it be such a faith as apprehendeth Christ He that hath the Son hath life saith Saint John 1 John 5. 1. And it pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell saith St. Paul Col. 1. 19. Whatsoever had been required besides faith according to our apprehension either it must have proceeded from or reflected upon our own persons or performances And then it is more then probable that our corrupt nature would have mislead us to neglect this all-satisfying gift to repose our selves either wholly or partly upon our own deserts or abilities But faith comes empty-handed and by that means it takes the surer hold When a man gives liberally we say he is open-handed And truely he that will receive freely and hold firmly it is necessary that he be empty-handed Faith is very fitly called the hand of the Soul For as we use to receive an earthly gift from man by the hand so we must receive this heavenly treasure from God by faith And therefore the Evangelist in reference to this most blessed gift intimateth unto us that receiving and believing do signifie the same thing As many as received him saith he to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to soem that believe on his name John 1. 12. A place very well worthy of our consideration for the proof of this particular Verily this onely begotten Son of God is beyond all thought of exception the most satisfying solid and substantial gift the most compleat and weighty gift that either heaven or earth can possibly afford us And therefore whatsoever we have or seem to have of our own whether it be work or worthinesse suffering or satisfaction ability or possibility our faith must cast it wholly to the ground or otherwise we shall never receive the Lord Jesus Christ so as to make him our own for ever A second Reason which I conceive to be most proper in this case is this Because whatsoever had been required with or besides faith It would have been destructive of the very nature of this Covenant of Grace For if by grace then it is no more of works
with Philip. and wondered beholding the miracles and signes which were done Acts 8. 9 to 14. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles hands the holy Ghost was given he offered them money saying Give me also this power that on whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the holy Ghost Acts 8. 18 19. Now let us lay all these together He beleeved and was baptized and continued with his teacher and was so desirous of the gift of the holy Ghost that he would have bought it with his money a commodity that few will part with upon such terms and what can any man desire more Yet Peter said unto him Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter For thy heart is not right in the sight of God Acts 8. 20 21. Truely according to the outward appearance this Simon the sorcerer performed as much as might be expected and yet we see that all was to no purpose because his heart was not right in the sight of God It is like that his evil heart propounded unto him this outward profession for the only means to compasse his carnal designes And this will the rather appear by Peters insuing exhortation Repent therefore saith he of this thy wickednesse and pray to God if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity Acts 8. 22 23. Truely these examples may serve for seasonable admonitions to such as make use of religion onely as a fig-leafe to cover their shame or to countenance their covetousnesse cruelties or confederacies Keep thine heart with all diligence saith Salomon for out of it are the issues of life Prov. 4. 23. Out of the heart are the issues of life or the wayes of life yea and of death too A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth for evil things saith the Son of God Mat. 12. 30. And as he knew all mens hearts so we finde that he distinguished between the Hypocrite and the true believer by the heart Ye Hypocrites saith he well did Esaias prophesie of you saying This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from me Mat. 15. 7 8. To confirm and conclude this truth that the heart is the onely receptacle or place of residence for an effectual faith I pray observe That when the Eunuch made the motion to Philip of being baptized Philip said if thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest Acts 8. 36 37. Haply he remembred the Sorcerers evil heart whom he had then but lately baptized and fearing least this Eunuch might be poysoned with the like Hypocrisie and so become lyable to the like reproof he telleth him that he may be baptized provided that he believeth with all his heart And truely this is not without great reason that the heart should be principally regarded in matter of faith For first God sendeth faith into the heart to purge and purifie it as Acts 15. 9. And faith bringeth Christ into the same heart along with it According to that prayer of Paul for the Ephesians Eph. 3. 17. which seemeth likewise to be most sweetly insinuated by the believing love-sick spouse I found him whom my Soul loveth saith she I held him and would not let him go untill I had brought him into my mothers house and into the Chamber of her that conceived me Cant. 3. 4. And when the gracious Soul hath thus brought Christ to dwell in her heart by faith then she beginneth to rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory according to that of St. Peter 1 Pet. 1. 8. But whereupon must this faith be built For that is the third Question I answer that it must be built upon the Rock which is Christ 1 Cor. 10. 4. Not upon Thoughts or Opinions Not upon Traditions Not upon Humane Inventions Not upon Dreams or Fancies Not upon Prophesies Not upon Prognostications Not upon Wrested Expositions Not upon Works of Righteousnesse But upon The Lord our Righteousnesse Jer. 23. 6. First a justifying faith must not be built upon Thoughts or Opinions For the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are but vain 1 Cor. 3. 20. I verily thought with my self or I was directly of opinion that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus saith St. Paul Acts 26. 9. But that opinion of his made him a persecuter and not a believer Secondly not upon Traditions Beware least any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the Traditions of men and not after Christ saith the same Apostle Col. 2. 8. And our Saviour told the Scribes Pharisees that they transgressed the commandment of God by their Traditions Mat. 15. 3. Thirdly not upon humane inventions They are whores deceitfull whores as the Prophet David insinuateth Psal 106. 39. For therefore was the wrath of God kindled against his people insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance verse 40. Cursed are they that father their own adulterous conceptions upon the Spirit of God or that dare forge a Gospel according to their own inventions If we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have preached let him be accursed saith that faithfull Apostle Gal. 1. 9. For we preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord and our selves your servants for Jesus sake saith the same Apostle 2 Cor. 4. 5. Fourthly this faith must not be built upon Dreams or Fancies For in the multitude of Dreams and many wâ—rds there are also divers vanities saith the Preacher Eccl. 5. 7. I have saith the Lord heard what the Prophets said that prophesie lies in my name saying I have dreamed I have dreamed Jer. 23. 25. Fifthly not upon prophesies The Prophets prophesie falsly saith the Lord Jer. 5. 31. we finde that for one Elijah there were four hundred and fifty Prophets of Baal 1 Kings 18. 22. And for one Micaiah about four hundred lying Prophets 1 Kings 22. 23. Truely in comparison of the multitudes of lying Prophets there were but very few that were approved to be true faithfull even then under the shadows of the Law when prophesying was very necessary to declare the will of God and to confirm the mindes of men in the promised Messias But God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the Prophets hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son Heb. 1. 1 2. And it may seem that Peter desired to have conference with those great Prophets Moses and Elias But behold a voice out of the Cloud which said This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Mat. 17. 4
5. Verily they that groape after prophesies in the bright sun-shine of the Gospel They walk after the light of their own fire and in the sparks that they themselves have kindled This shall they have of mine hand saith the Lord they shall lie down in sorrow Isa 50. 11. Sixthly we are not to build our faith upon Prognostications A Diviner an ol server of times a Charmer a Wizard or a Consulter with familiar Spirits all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord saith Moses from the mouth of the Lord Deut. 18. 22. It is a wonder how they come to be of such reputation with us that dare professe a zeal to Gods glory Is it not just with our God to say unto England as sometime he said unto Babilon Let now the Astrologers the Star-gazers the monethly Prognosticatours stand up and save thee from those things that shall come upon thee Behold they shall be as stubble the fire shall burn them they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame Isa 47. 13 14. Seventhly not upon wrested Expositions There are somethings in the Scriptures hard to be understood which they that are unlearned and unstable do wrest to their own destruction saith the Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 3. 16. And eightly a justifying and saving faith cannot be built upon the works of righteousnesse For not by the works of righteousnesse that we have done but according to his mercy he saved us Tit. 3. 5. These works of righteousnesse are commonly called the works of the Law But by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified Gal. 2. 16. For if righteousnesse come by the law then Christ is dead in vain Gal. 2. 21. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders which is become the head of the corner saith Peter to the rulers of the people and the Elders of Israel Acts 4. 11. Neither is there salvation in any other verse 12. How often doth the Son of God cry out upon us in his holy Gospel to believe on him to believe in him To believe on his name to believe in his Merits and Mediation And St. Paul to the regenerate Jaylor Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16. 31. And in his Epistle to the Colossians Though I be absent in the flesh saith he yet am I with you in the spirit joying and beholding your order and the stedfastnesse of your faith in Christ Col. 2. 5. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord saith he so walk ye in him rooted and built up in him and established in the faith abounding therein with thanks-giving verse 6. 7. I pray observe as ye have received Jesus Christ the Lord by the hand of faith so walk in him according to the righteousnesse of faith rooted in him by the word of faith and built up in him by the work of faith and established in the faith by him the Authour and finisher of your faith abounding in the fruit of faith with thanks-giving the evidence of faith See here how sweetly this Apostle insinuateth unto us how we are to proceed in the degrees of faith and that according to the rule of faith even the Gospel of Christ For it is the power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth For therein is the righteousnesse of God revealed from faith to faith saith the same Apostle Rom. 1. 16 17. Not from one kinde of faith to another but from one degree of faith to another And to conclude this point I am more then confident that there did never any precept nor principle proceed either from the Son of God himself or from any of his Apostles that may direct us to any other foundation for our faith but onely Christ or the Gospel of Christ or the promises of the Gospel all which are the very same in substance and do clearly hold forth unto us this God in Christ reconciling the world unto himself And to him give all the Prophets witnesse that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins Acts 10. 43. And therefore most accursed is he that shall wilfully endeavour to subvert this ground-work or to make it a stumbling stone or a Rock of offence to any Soul by any means or upon any occasion whatsoever For other foundation can no man lay then that is laid which is Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 3. 11. We come now to the fourth general Question How or by what means is this faith obtained It is answered that faith is obtained by the hearing of the word of God For so St. Paul Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God Rom. 10. 17. The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live saith that Son of God himself Iohn 5. 25. The dead such as are dead in trespasses and sins Ephes 2. 1. They shall hear the voice of the Son of God the voice of his Gospel from the mouths of his Ministers his Ambassadours 2 Cor. 5. 20. And they that hear shall live live by faith The life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God saith the Apostle Gal. 2. 20. And by faith they shall live The just shall live by faith saith the same Apostle Gal. 3. 11. But you may say that I have already proved in my definition of faith that faith is the gift of God how then is it obtained by hearing It is most true that faith is the gift of God Neverthelesse he holdeth it forth unto us in the means and that is the word Shall God give us his word and shall not we give him the hearing of it We read that such as gladly received the word from the mouth of Peter were baptized and there were added the same day unto the believers about three thousand Souls Acts 2. 41. And not long after many of them which heard the word believed and the number of the men were five thousand Acts 4. 4. But such as believed without hearing I do not remember that ever I did read of any I will not seem to restrain the power of God For with God all things are possible Mar. 10. 27. But according to mans apprehension St. Paul seems to make it a thing impossible for a man to believe without hearing How shall they beleeve in him of whom they have not heard saith he Rom. 10. 14. But as we believe not without hearing so neither do we believe by hearing onely without the blessing of God thereupon And in reference hereunto faith is most properly called the gift of God It was the Lord that opened the heart of Lidia that she attended unto the things which were spoken by Paul Acts 16. 14. It is man that preacheth but it is God that teacheth It is written in the Prophets saith our Saviour And they shall be all taught of God Every man therefore that hath heard
of this fruitfull Tree are natural and those things that are to be spoken of the faithfull man are spiritual and then we shall finde that they agree in all these particulars For as this natural Tree is richly planted well rooted full of Sap flourishing fair and fruitfull So the spiritual man is likewise richly planted well rooted full of sap flourishing fair and fruitfull The ground wherein he is planted is Jesus Christ His root is faith his sap is love his green leaves are gracious professions his fair and beautifull blossoms are blessed and holy desires and his good fruits are godly performances or good works And whosoever shall thus resemble this flourishing Tree according to these six properties I dare avouch him for a true believer And therefore we will now begin to examine whether we be in the faith according unto these particulars First we must be richly planted That is we must be planted into Christ We finde that they which are made partakers of the benefits and blessings of Jesus Christ are called Trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord Isa 61. 3. Verily we are all originally wilde slips every man and woman must say with David Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Psal 51. 5. This is a very bad ground to thrive upon This is all the comfort that we have received or may expect to receive from our earthly old man For in Adam all die And therefore it is necessary that we be removed and planted into the heavenly new man For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive as in 1 Cor. 15. 22. Hereby we shall injoy a double benefit Namely the benefit of Christs death and the benefit of his resurrection For if we have been planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection saith the Apostle Rom. 6. 5. Where he teacheth us that whosoever is planted into Christ according to the likenesse of his death he shall be also planted into Christ according to the likenesse of his resurrection For in that he died he died unto sin but in that he liveth he liveth unto God Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord saith the same Apostle in the same Chapt. at the 10. and 11. verses But it may be demanded how a man may be said to be dead indeed unto sin seeing that so long as a man liveth in the flesh he shall never be altogether free from the lusts of the flesh the snares of the world and the assaults of Satan which will continually provoke unto sin and sometimes prevail even in the most sanctified Soul the best disposed and the most retired Christian under heaven Insomuch that Paul cries out The good that I would I do not but the evil which I would not that I do Rom. 7. 19. And in the 23. verse of the same Chapter I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my minde and bringing me into captivity to the Law of sin which is in my Members And the Apostle James In many things we offend all James 3. 2. And likewise John the beloved If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us 1 John 1. 8. I answer that I understand these words dead indeed for very near dead or even as good as dead And not for totally or absolutely dead For so I conceive a man shall never be dead indeed unto sin untill this corruptible shall have put on incorruptiâ—n and this mortal shall have put on immortality then and not till then shall be brought to passe the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. And therefore how the Perfectionaries dare to give God the lie and their own consciences the blinde baffle is a thing beyond mine apprehension Neverthelesse as there are certain symptomes or signes or accidents by which we may be able to judge when a man is naturally a dead man as we say or at least so far spent that there is no hope of his recovery and that before his Soul hath utterly forsaken his body So if we shall consider the same symptomes or signes after a spiritual manner we shall be able thereby to conjecture when a man may be said to be dead indeed unto sin before he is wholy freed from the corruption of nature There are many signs that may confirm our judgements in this particular I shall instance onely four Namely losse of appetite losse of speech losse of memory and losse of motion The first is losse of appetite and that is when sin begins to be odious or loathsome The Soul of the wicked desireth evil saith the wise man Prov. 21. 10. But when a man beginneth to die unto sin that which before was his desire is now become his disease he loaths that most which formerly he most longed after We read that David being in a hold and a garrison of the Philistines in Bethlehem David longed and said Oh that one would give me to drink of the water of the Well of Bethlehem which is by the Gate And three mighty men brake through the Host of the Philistines and drew water out of the Well of Bethlehem that was by the Gate and took it and brought it to David Neverthelesse he would not drink thereof but poured it out unto the Lord or before the Lord And he said be it far from me O Lord that I should doe this Is not this the bloud of the men that went in Jeopardy of their lives Therefore he would not drink it 2 Sam. 23. 14 15 16 17. This was much in a King to deny himself in that which even now he so vehemently desired But little or nothing in comparison of that repugnancy or opposition that is usually found to be in the Saints of God For whereas before their effectual calling and conversion their carnal desires may peradventure be so pressing and importunate upon them that they can devour widdows houses drink iniquity like water and work all uncleannesse with greedinesse Yet when through the grace of God they begin to be sensibly sick of sin their appetites are so strangely altered that they do not onely dislike and distaste every thing that is unlawfull but likewise they do utterly abhorre it as it is odious or displeasing in the sight of God They abstain from all appearance of evil according to that precept of the Apostle 1 Thes 5. 22. This is one sign whereby we may discover when a man may be said to be dead unto sin Another is losse of speech The tongue saith the Apostle is an unruly evil full of deadly poison James 3. 8. And David describing a wicked person saith That he oasteth of his hearts desire and blesseth the covetous whom the Lord abhorreth Psal 10. 3. Yet his mouth is
full of cursing and deceit and fraud under his tongue is mischief and vanity verse 7. Indeed it is a rare thing to hear a wicked man speak well For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh saith our Saviour Mat. 12. 34. But when the recollected Christian becometh so speechlesse That no corrupt communication will proceed out of his mouth but that he putteth away all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evll speaking with all malice And that he cannot suffer fornication and uncleanness and covetousness to be once named neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient According to the severall exhortations of the Apostle Ephe. 4. 29. 31. and 3 4. I say the loss of this and the like ungodly language is another evident symptom whereby we may pronounce such a one to be dead unto sin A third sign is loss of memory It is a sad thing to consider what an everlasting memory a carnall man hath concerning those things that are evill He can sooner forget a thousand great benefits then one small offence And so in all other particulars his memory may be called the ready Register by whom all his flesh-pleasing vices are entered upon record And when his opportunity will not license him to commit them it is no little recreation for him to remember them The children of Israel wept and said we remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely the Cucumbers and the Melons and the Leekes and the Onyons and the Garlick Numb 11. 4 5. But the children of Belial laugh and say we remember since we could have satiated our lusts with variety of strong flesh commanded the tongues and hands of so many tall fellows purchased so many acres by meer policy sate so many dayes and nights together at gameing caroused so many cups to a health and spent so many crowns at a sitting Thus they delight their memories in the contemplation of their own mischiefs As enemies to the crosse of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things According to that of the Apostle Phil. 3. 18 19. But when any one of these unhappy heads shall so lose his memory as that he shall forget those delights which he conceived in the time of his former lewdness when the remembrance of all his fore-passed sins is become so grievous and offensive unto his soul that he can cordially and constantly cry out with the Apostle What fruit had I then in those things whereof I am now ashamed for the end of those things is death Rom. 6. 21. Truely we may be confident to say concerning such a man that he is dead unto sin The fourth and last is a most infallible sign And that is loss of motion When a man hath so utterly forsaken the love of sin that he can by no means be reduced or restored thereunto The divell can no longer seduce him The world cannot win him neither can the lusts of the flesh allure him so far forth as to afford them any hope of his future obedience I will not say but they may inforce their charming drugs upon him as if one should force drink into the mouth of a dead man But his soul doth so extreamly abhor all means of recovery that nothing will stay with him nothing can work upon him Haply the loss of Appetite may be restored by a skilfull Physitian so may the loss of speech and the loss of memory too Provided that the patient be willing to receive the medicine and that his body is able to assist it But when the patient will not obey or if his body cannot cooperate we say that such a man is absolutely a dead man Doubtless in every spirituall conflict the divell is very industrious to preserve his declining patient And to that purpose he presenteth him with his guilded pills and his perfumed potious his cordials and his restoratives in expectation of a speedy cure But when the soul perceiving his pretence so sets it self against his blind Receipts that nothing can move it nothing work upon it so as to return it to its former vomit Then that happy body that is the cabinet or companion to such a blessed soul may chearfully give thanks unto the Father which hath made him meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light having delivered him from the power of darknesse and translated him into the kingdom of his dear Son In whom he hath redemption through his blood even the forgivennesse of sins As in Collo 1. 12 13 14. This man is undoubtedly dead indeed unto sin And so consequently he is planted into Christ according to the likeness of his death And whosoever is planted into Christ according to the likeness of his death he is likewise planted into Christ according to the likeness of his resurrection as we have formerly observed out of those words of the Apostle Rom. 6. 5. But it may be demanded when a man may be said to be planted into Christ according to the likeness of his resurrection I answer when he is alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. For as by the vertue of Christs death we are dead unto sin so by the vertue of his resurrection we are alive unto God Therefore we are buried with him by baptisme into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also shâ—uld walk in newnesse of life Rom. 6. 4. And whosoever walketh in newness of life upon the true account of a new creature he onely is alive unto God in or through Jesus Christ our Lord. Again it may be demanded How a man may know and assure himself that he is planted into Christ according to the likes ness of his resurrection To which I answer That this he shall finde by his resemblance or likeness to this Tree of righteousness by which the Lord sets forth a true Beleever And therefore let him first consider if he be well rooted You know that when a tree is removed it may be said to be dead as in relation to that ground out of which it is taken And therefore that it may live again it is necessary that it be replanted And for that purpose the husbandman doth commonly make choice of a better and a more fertile soyl then that from which it did Naturally or Originally proceed That so it may be the more inriched and the better inabled to spread forth its root and to bring forth fruit accordingly And that it may appear to thrive and prosper the principall care to be taken is this That it be well rooted For the life of the plant consisteth in the root We are all by nature unprofitable shoots sprung from old Adam that degenerate shrub and have neither roote nor fatness nor fruit in our selves And therefore it is needfull that we be plucked from our corrupted stock and that
and of death saith he Reve. 1. 18. Whereby it may appear that there is no passage that way but when and by whom he pleaseth to appoint it This I conceive to be the first degree in order to this free and gracious pardon The second is our Saviours Intercession He made intercession for the transgressours Isa 53. 12. And he ever liveth to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 25. The third and highest is his satisfaction He was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed Isa 53. 5. His ownself bare our sins in his own body on the tree saith St. Peter 1 Pet. 2. 24. Now if we shall in time of this reprive lay hold and rest upon his Intercession by an effectuall embracing faith then we are certain that we shall injoy the benefit of his full satisfaction And so we may be truly confident that this our pardon is both signed and sealed Due satisfaction is acknowledged Gods justice is compleatly vindicated his indignation throughly pacified And what can hinder us from being saved For it is God that justifieth who is he that condemneth It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us Rom. 8. 33 34. But if through all the time of our reprive we shall reject relinquish or neglect so great salvation as is offered in this intercession and satisfaction Then as the voice of God in his law hath passed upon us the sentence of condemnation So the voice of Christ in his Gospel shall passe upon us the sentence of execution For he that believeth not shall be damned This is part of that Gospel which the Lord Christ commanded his Apostles to preach unto every creature Mark 16. 16. The Scriptures mention other voices also As of Prophets that prophesie lies Jer. 23. 25. Of those that speak perverse things to draw Disciples after them Acts 20. 30. That by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16. 18. That speaks lies in hypocrisie 1 Tim. 4. 1. That speaks evill of dignities 2 Pet. 2. 10. That speake evill of the things they understand not 2 Peter 2. 12. That speak great swelling words of vanity 2 Pet. 2. 18. That speak great things and blasphemies Rev. 13. 5. These voices are remembered in the Scriptures but they are all condemned by the Scriptures And these with every other of like nature may be referred to the voice of Strangers John 10. 5. Which though they be extolled and applauded by giddy multitudes of brain-sick beasts of old ordained to this condemnation Jude 4. This constant Lamb of Christ will by no means incline to hear or listen after them Least they should drive her into mire and dirt As Isa 57. 20. Or draw her from her Shepheards tender bosom As Isa 40. 11. Such were the watchmen that did smite and wound the searching soul The keepers of the walls that rifled her and took away her vail Cant. 5. 7. And therefore she avoids them day and night their publick musters and their private meetings As swarms of hurtfull locusts that proceed out of the smoak of hells infernall furnace As to the sacred voice of God in his law she doth believe it as it is the voice of such an Authour Exod. 20. 1. She learned it as a Rule to guide her goings Phil. 3. 16. She loves it as an argument of Love John 14 15. But looks upon it as a cancelled scroul a dead caracter in relation to any Obligation or ingagement Col. 2. 14. And so she leaves it with much reverence And listens to her Lords voice in his Gospel Jo. 7. 37. And being thus instructed when and where she is to seek for her beloved Lord. In the third place she sets her self to learn How she may seek him so as that she may be sure to finde him And to that intent She goeth her way forth by the foot-steps of the flock and feedeth her Kids besides the shepherds tents According to her Lords direction Cant. 1. 8. She walketh in the pathes of Christs own sheep to feed and fill her ears with his pure doctrine delivered by his faithfull Ministers As for her mortall enemies the Divell the World and Flesh that labour to betray and intercept her in her heavenly search with these she holdeth a continuall combate As for example when the Divel meets her in her delightfull way unto the word And would divert her by his lewd suggestions as that she shall be rebuked and reproved for her sins and threatned with misery death and destruction for her transgressions against the law of God with such like terrours not to be indured She telleth him that she hath been already at mount Sinay that might not be touched and that burned with fire and with blackness and darknesse and tempests c. Heb. 12. 18. But now the law like a good Schole-master leading her from thence unto mount Sion and unto the city of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable company of angels to the generall assembly and Church of the first born which are written in heaven and to God the judge of all and to the Spirits of just men made perfect and to Jesus the mediatour of the new covenant c. Heb. 12. 22 c. And therefore with the Prophet David She will hear what God the Lord will speak for he will speak peace unto his people and to his Saints Psal 85. 8. When by his black mouth'd execrable agents the shame and bane of Church and Common-Wealth the Devil doth revile the Ministers of Jesus Christ with base reproachfull titles of purpose to blow up the zealous blaze of his own smoaking firebrands and to darken or quench the pure light of the glorious Gospel That so she may not be able to see when the Sun of righteousnesse shall arise with healing in his wings As Mala. 4. 2. The good soul onely renders him that answer wherewith the angels of the Lord reproved him long since upon the very like occasion The Lord rebuke thee O Satan Zech. 3. 1 2. And when that subtile serpent now perceiving that all his hellish engines cannot hinder the soul from listening to the word of God endeavoureth by all means possible to steal it from her least it should prove fruitfull She tells him plainly that she will both hear the word of God and keep it for so she shall be certain of a blessing Luke 11. 28. Next when the world would win her from the word by his most specious invitations of pleasures profits or preferments She answers That to live in pleasures on the earth is to nourish her self as in a day of slaughter James 5. 5. But the word will direct her to the Lord her God In whose presence is fulnesse of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for
the penalty that 's due to her transgressions eternal death in everlasting torments And being thus affrighted at her sins the onely cause of her afflictions the Soul bestirs her self about the Cure And to that end she sighs weeps vowes resolves and fasts and prayes and cries unto the Lord. Behold O Lord for I am in distresse my bowels are troubled mine heart is turned within me for I have grievously rebelled Lament 1. 20. Bowels of grief beg bowels of compassion and all to little purpose For now the more she mourns the more she may her spirit is ingaged in the conflict And a wounded spirit who can bear saith Solomon Prov. 18. 14. Poor Soul for life she labours does undoes she spends her spirits and torments her self and all to satisfie incensed Justice Which she is never able to perform by her own passions were they strong as death and deep as hell The Law is broken and it is Gods Law her sute is entred and her case reported one day of hearing craveth for another night unto night doth utter lamentations Justice must be appeas'd or no discharge every hour fresh summons to the barr she gives attendance but receives no comfort her time runs on her taske is but begun her work is always doing never ended And so her case seems to be desperate Because she seeketh not the cure by Christ by God in Christ Oh! there is heavenly musick That very name revives her and commands her ears and heart to dwell upon that sound which they suck in with a delitious relish For now that God and man that Mediator not won by tears but of his own free grace turns o're the mighty volume of his book the glorious records of free-election and finds her name written in that Book of life Revela 3. 5. And now though haply he may forbear for some short time to utter his affections until her heart be throughly mollified and well prepared to receive impression yet he forgets not to compassionate the pining wretch but in the best of times his own good time he says concerning her like as he did concerning Ephraim Is this my dear daughter is she a pleasant child for since I spake against her I do earnestly remember her still therefore my bowels are troubled for ber I will surely have mercy on her saith the Lord Jer. 31. 20. And to her self as to his spouse he saith O my dove that art in the clefts of the rock in the secret places of the stairs let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comly Cant. 2. 14. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on thee c. Isa 54. 8 9 10. And thus her Lord bemoanes and greets and cheers her till being big with Christ her comforter she singeth with the blessed virgin Mary My soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour For he hath regarded the lowe estate of his handmaiden c. Luke 1. 46 c. This is a happy progresse you may say But where appeareth this humility Truely she meets with it in every passage First she survayes her sorrows and she says Remembering mine affection and my misery the wormwood and the gall my soul hath them still in rememberance and is humbled in me Lament 3. 19 20. And secondly she sees the work of God in her afflictions and therefore She humbleth her self under the mighty hand of God According as St. Peter teacheth her 1 Pet. 5. 6. Thirdly perceiving sin to be the cause of all her miseries she humbly begs to have it done away Have mercy upon me O God saith she according to thy loving kindnesse according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions wash me throughly from mine iniquitie and cleanse me from my sin as Psal 51. 1 2. And with like meeknesse promiseth amendment I have born chastisement saith she I will not offend any more as Job 34. 31. But Justice pleads for satisfaction The soul saith he that sinneth it must die At this the poor soul seems as dead indeed she 's utterly dejected quite cast down She 's not so stiff in her opinion to bring in writs of errour or false-judgement All that she desires is to obtain the mercy of the Book where she is taught to read The wages indeed of sin is death But the gift of God is eternall life through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. 23. And here she breathes for here 's the breath of life And thus restor'd she humbly thanks the law her schole-master for bringing her to Christ She hangs upon this promise claims this gift and by this Jesus Christ her Surty she tenders satisfaction unto Justice and is dismissed without cost or dammage And not so onely But she 's made an heir an heir of God and a joynt-heir with Christ Rom. 8. 17. And is she proud of this preferment now No verily Till now she never felt the kindly force of sound humility All her humilty unto this present was meerly legal troublesome and slavish but now 't is evangelicall and free or if it be constrained any way It is constrained by the love of Christ Indeed The love of Christ constraineth her because she thus judgeth that if one died for all then were all dead 2 Cor. 5. 14. If all were dead then she amongst the rest And that she now lives or begins to live 't is onely by the purchace of his grace He died the death that she deserved to die that she may live with him eternally And where is boasting then it is excluded By what law of works Nay but by the law of faith Rom. 3. 27. Now she believes and loves and hence proceeds a modest willing sweet humility She 's not dejected through a servile fear but she is humbled by attractive love Because her Lord requires to have it so Take my yoak upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart saith her beloved Lord Math. 11. 29. Let this minde be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equall with God But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men And being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself became obedient unto death even the death of the crosse saith his learned Apostle Phil. 2. 5. to the 9. Thus councel wooes her and example wins her And she walkes humbly with her God in Christ According to that of the Prophet Micah 6. 8. And thus effectuall humility is brought and wrought into the sinful soul But what doth this humility perform what doth it work For that is the fourth Question I answer that this true humility being impowred and improved by Faith hath principally these five operations It
Yet she must likewise perfect holiness in the fear of God And be renewed in the spirit of her minde And put on that new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse as Ephes 4. 23 24. Or she esteems her self unfit for Christ These are the beauties that her Lord delights in And therefore now she seeks to deck her self with these new ornaments Not with broyded hair or gold or pearls or costly aray as good St. Paul 1 Tim. 2. 9. And yet much lesse will she deform her self according to the fashions of this world But she endeavours to adorn her self in the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet Spirit which in the sight of God is of great price According to St. Peters exhortation 1 Peter 3 4. And being thus arayed and adorned with precious robes instead of specious rags beyond the power or police of nature and past the industry of humane art She seeks the good hand of her God upon her for which she humbly magnifies his grace saying as in Isaiahs Prophesie I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soul shall be joyfull in my God for he hath cloathed me with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the robe of righteousnesse as a bridegroom decketh him self with Ornaments and as a bride adorneth her self with her jewells Isa 61. 10. And thus attired with all humility she waiteth to receive her soveraign Lord and panting for his most desired presence she sings as in the song of Solomon stay me with flagons comfort me with apples for I am sick of love Cant. 2. 5. Set me as a seal upon thy heart as a seal upon thine arm for love is strong as death Cant. 8. 6. Make haste my beloved and be thou like to a Roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices Cant. 8. 14. And now her blessed Lord who all this while from the first in stant of her new creation wrought secretly upon her sinful heart melting it in the furnace of affliction discovering the Agent cause and cure of all her miseries instructing her in her own sinfulnesse and wants and weaknesse disposing her to seek and find relief removing all occasions of offence and renovating her to his own likenesse And all this by the level of humility the first and fairest fruit of faith and love Now he appears to her more visibly For God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse shineth in her heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glorie of God in the face of Jesus Christ as in 2 Cor. 4. 6. At which the poor Soul fares as one transported Not by the spirit of illusion of pride vain glory or Hypocrisie like those that labour to dishonour Christ in his eternal Mediatorship by their conditional Election that magnify the broken arm of flesh by their free-will and carnal confidence that wrest the word of God to overthrow Scripture by reason that will make the Law of none effect by their traditions that do despise rule order government and lift themselves above Gods Ordinances that make their Christian liberty the Cloak for their ambition avarice and envy that dare with shamelesse impudence proclaim themselves for Saints whereas their practice proves that they are altogether otherwise That say stand by thy self come not near to me for I am holier then thou These are a smoak in my nose c. saith the Lord Isa 65. 5. But in the spirit of a meek sound minde with upright Job she sayes unto the Lord I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee Wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Job 42. 5. 6. And with that Evangelical Isaiah wo is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips for mine eyes have seen the Lord of Hosts Isa 6. 5. And with that good Centurion she saith Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof Math. 8. 8. And thus the nearer that her Lord approcheth with his pure spotlesse glorious perfections the more unworthy she esteems her self untill she seems unto her self as nothing Yea worse then nothing All her braveries her beauties honours pleasures wit and wealth are lying Witches all her fair professions are painted Vizards of Hypocrisie her moral vertues and most precious parts are filthy garments spotted by the flesh For so she values them and casts them from her And having stript her self of all such rags she humbly layes her self at her Lords feet saying as Ruth did sometime say to Boaz I am thine handmaid spread therefore thy skirt over thine hand-maid Ruth 3. 9. And wheresoever this Humility hath wrought this work No doubt but Christ is there and brings assurance as his next attendant And so it followeth in the fourth place That wheresoever Christ is there is Assurance In him we have boldnesse and accesse with confidence by the faith of him saith St. Paul Eph. 3. 12. And that strong fortresse wherein this Assurance is to be lodged and established is the free promises of God in Christ according to the Covenant of Grace There are too many that do seek for this Assurance in their own sanctification And that in order to their victories over their sins their abilities to serve their God according to the rule of his Commandments And this I must confesse is a fair building but yet exceeding subject to the blasted in time of tryal and temptation when every filching undermining sin shall catch occasion to break in and shake or shatter all or part of their Assurance But that Assurance which is fortified by the sure promises of God in Christ is much more safe secure and satisfying Wherefore if thine Assurance steps aside and seems to slight thee fly unto the promises where thou shalt hear thy Lord returning him with this or the like comfortable language Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Math. 11. 28. Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out John 6. 37. Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me hath everlasting life John 6. 47. He hath it already First he hath it of Christ by promise Secondly he hath it from Christ by purchace And thirdly he hath it in Christ by posession I say that every true believer hath eternal life And first of Christ by promise My sheep hear my voice saith he and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life c. John 10. 27 28 29. And therefore fear not little flock saith he for it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom Luke 12. 32. Secondly he hath it from Christ by purchase by Christ his purchase and that under seal and in the earnest thereof After that
Christ is you cannot want for Peace He is The mighty God the everlasting Father The Prince of Peace Isa 9. 6. But as there is scarce any kingdom where there are not three self-ended sichophants for one true-hearted faithful loyal subject So there are four sorts or kinds of peace yet onely one that is secure or safe The first sort of peace is a sluggish peace The second is a slavish peace The third is a deceitful peace .. And The fourth is the safe peace The first I tell you is a sluggish peace And this is when a man lies snorting in the filthy bosom of a sinful corrupt conversation without any feeling of Gods fierce wrath or of his own desperate condition as being subject even that very instant to be swallowed up of that most horrible and dreadful gulph of everlasting death and endlesse torments This kinde of sluggish peace is very much illustrated by Jonah his example in the first Chapter of his history where the Lord commandeth Jonah to go and cry against Nineveh But Jonah disobeyeth Gods command and goeth down to Joppa where finding a ship bound for Tarshish he payeth the fare thereof and goeth down thereinto to fly unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. And in the middest of that mighty tempest whereby the ship is likely to be broken Jonah is laid fast a sleep in the sides of the ship until the Ship-master rouzeth him up and soon after casteth him over-board into the raging Ocean So the Lord commandeth all men every where to repent Acts 17. 30. He exhorteth us to watch and to stand fast in the faith 1 Cor. 16. 13. And to examine our selves whether we be in the faith 2 Cor. 13. 5. Neverthelesse we wilfully rebel against the Lord our God we do despise his Precepts and his exhortations and slighting his Ordinances we betake our selves unto the sloathfull cabin of security we say in our hearts God hath forgotten he hideth his face he will never see it As David speaketh of a wicked person Psal 10 11. And to deceive our selves the more sincerely we keep at a distance with our own hearts and make our selves great strangers even at home in our own consciences we do evill and hate the light neither come we to the light least our deeds should be reproved According to that saying of our Saviour John 3. 20. From whence it proceedeth that like fools we go laughing to the correction of the stocks never fear the rod until we feel it And thus with Jonah we sleep peaceably even in the jawes of danger and distresse and never dreame of our approaching ruine Or if at any time the terrours of conscience do hap do seize upon us and afright us yet they are but as so many troublesome dreams we soon forget and fall a sleep again untill the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night And when we say peace and safety then suddain destruction cometh upon us as travail upon a woman with child and we shall not escape as in the 1 Thes 5. 2 3. This is the sluggish peace The second is a slavish peace when a man is contented to submit unto the slavery of sin and Satan without endeavouring or desiring to recover himself out of the snare of the Devill but is taken captive by him at his will as 2 Tim. 2. 26. To instance in one onely particular Is it not a sad thing to see how most men and women do more willingly and chearfully serve the Devil every hour in the day then they will serve God one day in the week yea and in that day I mean the Sabbath day which God hath set apart for his own publick worship if we shall consider how few will afford him their presence for one hour and how many of those few do imploy that hour in wandring thoughts or worse behaviour rather then in sincere and pure devotion verily we shall finde that of the Apostle to be too too true That even the whole world liveth in wickednesse 1 John 5. 19. Lieth in wickednesse not so much as attempting to stir out of it on to strive against it And is not this to serve God despightfully and the Devil obsequiously Indeed this may seem to be a kinde of present peace but it is very dishonourable and no lesse dangerous to hold the Devil in friendship and God at defiance For whilest we do thus promise unto our selves comfort and security by siding with Satan and complying with our own corcuptions we do betray our most hopeful expectations to all manner of temporal distraction and our poor souls to eternal destruction According to that of the Lord by this Prophet Isaiah Because ye have said we have made a covenant with death and with hell are we at agreement when the overflowing scourge shall passe through it shall not come unto us for we have made lies our refuge and under falshood we have hid our selves Isa 28. 15. Therefore thus saith the Lord Your covenant with death shall be disanulled and your agreement with hell shall nâ—t stand when the everflowing scourge shall passe through then ye shall be troden down by it From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you for morning by morning shall it passe over by day and by night and it shall be a vexation onely to understand the report Isa 28. at the 18 and 19 verses The third is a deceitful peace And this is when a man buildeth his peace upon false foudations And that either through ignorance or through errour First through ignorance as when we either know no danger at all or else when we do not know our danger to be so great as in truth it is When a man knoweth no danger he feareth no danger and therefore he is as confident of his own security as he that is altogether free from danger And likewise he that conceiveth not his danger to be so great as in truth it is albeit he hath not so much peace as he that is altogether ignorant yet he imagineth that his danger is not so great as that it requireth much trouble or travail to prevent or avoid it But all the sinners of my people shall die by the sword which say the evil shall not overtake nor prevent us saith the Lord Amos 9. 10. And in the sixth Chapter of the same prophesie at the third verse c. to the eighth Ye that put far away the evil day and cause the seat of violence to come near that lye upon beds of Ivory and stretch themselves upon their Couches and eat the Lambs of the flock and the Calves out of the midst of the stall that chaunt to the sound of the Viol and invent to themselves instruments of Musick like David that drunk Wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the chief oyntments but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive
Souls of the wicked And the Devil who is a strict observer of all our actions is thereby so well acquainted with our several inclinations that he will hardly lose his opportunity to present us with such sensual objects and such suteable assistants as will most easily allure us and as easily carry us on to a cursed conclusion If Absalom delighteth in ambition and will ascend thereunto by an unnatural conspiracie he shall neither want for councellers nor confederates 2 Sam. 15. If Ahab delighteth in the commodiousnesse of his Neighbours inheritance he shall not want for the furtherance of a bloudy wife of false witnesses or of corrupt Magistrates as 1 King 21. If Judas delighteth in covetousnesse he shall have a bribe to betray his Master and the malicious chief Priests Captains shall be as glad to give him money as he is to receive it Luke 22. 4 5. Or if Herod delighteth in vain-glory he shall have enough to cry him up Acts 12. 22. All these together with many others attained unto their several purposes and pleasures I cannot say that they injoyed them though they rejoyced in them For therewithall they verified Zophars proverb The triumphing of the wicked is short and the joy of the Hypocrite but for a moment Job 20. 5. Verily it is a cursed joy that endeth in damnation and such is the reward of all those that have pleasure in unrighteousnesse 2 Thes 2. 12. And therefore let those idolatrous Israelites sit down to eat and to drink and rise up to play Exod. 32. 6. unto their shame verse 25. And let those insulting Philistines when their hearts are merry call for Sampson out of the prison-house to make them sport Jud. 16. 25. unto their destruction verse 30. Yet Moses will chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season as Hebr. 11. 25. And Job will protest against rejoicing at the destruction of them that hated him Job 31. 29. It is a hard matter to perswade scorners not to delight in scorning as Prov. 1. 22. And evil men not to rejoyce to do evil as Prov. 2. 14. And fools not to make it their sport to do mischief as Prov. 10. 23. But these are infallible signs That they do not joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom we have received the atonement According to the practice of the Saints Rom. 5. 11. And so consequently they do not love the Lord Jesus Christ And if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maranatha Let him be accursed or had in execration even unto the death saith the holy Ghost by St. Paul 1 Corinth 16. 22. The second is a counterfeit joy And this is when a man seemeth outwardly to be merry whereas inwardly and in truth his heart is sorrowfull This is to put a good face upon a bad case To sing songs to a heavy heart saith Solomon Prov. 25. 20. And in another place he compareth the fained laughter of a fool to the crackling of thorns under a pot where the noise is more offensive then the heat is beneficial Eccles 7. 6. Sometimes this counterfeit mirth is very hurtfull and injurious unto others For as a mad man who casteth fire-brands arrows and death So is the man that deceiveth his Neighbour and saith Am not I in sport Prov. 26. 18 19. Sometimes it is more hurtfull unto our selves For it contradicteth the cry of an accusing conscience which otherwise might happily perswade us to a godly sorrow working repentance unto salvation not to be repented of like that in St. Paul 2 Cor. 7. 10. But at the best it is both preposterous in the use and uncomfortable in the end For even in laughter the heart is sorrowfull and the end of that mirth is heavinesse Pro. 14. 13. The third is a carelesse joy when a man will rejoyce at every trifle when a man rejoyceth in a thing of nought as the Prophet speaketh Amos 6. 13. Yea folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom saith the wise man Prov. 15. 21. Of this sort are they that will be merry meerly for company sake but nothing according to St. Paul's exhortation Rom. 12. 15. For albeit they will rejoyce with all that rejoyce yet they will not weep with any that weep Neither will they rejoyce either with godly men or in a godly matter or after a godly manner according unto Pauls intention And therefore we may say with St. James All such rejoycing is evil Ja. 4. 16. And as it is evil so it is also unsafe They take the Timbril and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ They spend their dayes in mirth and in a moment go down to the grave Job 21. 12 13. They die in the midst of their jollity And whither then Verily to judgement Rejoyce O young man in thy youth and let thy heart cheer thee in the dayes of thy youth and walk in the wayes of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes but know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement Eccles 11. 9. Yet this is but the beginning of sorrows The Harp and Viol the Tabret and Pipe and wine are in their feasts but they regard not the work of the Lord neither consider the operation of his hands saith the Prophet Isa 5. 12. There is their carelesse mirth Therefore Hell hath inlarged her self and opened her mouth without measure and their glorie and their multitude and their pomp and he that rejoyceth shall descend into it verse 14. There is their endlesse misery The fourth is a carnal joy As when a man rejoyceth or taketh delight in such things as are meerly carnal such things as are altogether pleasing to the flesh and no lesse displeasing unto God Such are all impure lustfull idle envious malitious ambitious treacherous covetous proud or blasphemous thoughts All flattering foolish filthy lewd lying prophane prejuditious or provoking words Together with all ungodly unjust injurious uncharitable and dishonest actions And whosoever delighteth in these or in any one of these it is evident that his joy is carnal sensual and sinfull Secondly this carnal joy doth manifest it self by rejoycing carnally and sensually in things that are otherwise indifferent as being usefull and beneficial for the managing or carrying on the affairs of this life As when the wise man glorieth or rejoyceth in his wisdom the mighty man in his might or the rich man in his riches or the like which God forbiddeth Jer. 9. 23. Thus great Goliath boasted in his strength 1 Sam. 17. 10. Benhadad of his forces 1 Kings 20. 10. Rabshakeh of his victories 2 Kings 18. 35. Hanan of his advancement Esther 5. 11. The Pharisee of his works Luke 18. 22. And Pilate of his power John 19. 10. And in all these the words of James were verified They rejoyced in their boastings all such rejoycing is evill James 4. 16. And
this we wait upon the Lord our God without repining murmuring or offence even in the greatest tryals or distresses Ye have heard of the patience of Job saith Saint James and have seen the end of the Lord that the Lord is very pitifull and of tender mercie Jam. 5. 11. This patience expecteth no reward but what the Lord is pleased to allow and she as willingly will wait his leisure for the performance of his gracious favour If we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it saith St. Paul Rom. 8. 25. Be of good courage therefore and he shall strengthen your heart all ye that hope in the Lord as Psal 31. 24. I will not say but patience may miscarry And hope deferred may make the heart sick But this Patience of Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ who is the God of patience and of hope Rom. 15. 5 13. This verily is such a threefold cord as never can be broken And thus according to this patience we must continue and conclude the work begun by faith and laboured in by love For let this patience have her perfect work and ye shall be perfect and entire wanting nothing According to that of the Apostle Ja. 1. 4. And when our actions shall be undertaken by such a faith as onely respecteth Gods Commands and laboured in by such a love as onely affecteth Gods glory and continued by such a patience as onely expecteth Gods favour Then we may certainly assure our Souls they have brought forth the fruit of godlinesse And to confirm you further in this Rule I shall present you with some few examples Behold it first in father Abraham In that great work of offering up his son He undertakes it first by Gods command Gen. 22. 1 2. And therefore in the obedience of faith And Secondly his labour is of love of love to God For in comparison of that his love to God he loved not his Son his onely Son Thirdly his willingnesse did manifest his patience his patience of hope who against hope believed in hope saith the Apostle Rom. 4. 18. See it again in Josephs abstinence His Mistris courts him to commit a sin odious to God injurious to his Master and thereupon he could not but believe it was the minde of God he should refuse her Gen. 39. 7. 8. And here his love to God was evident How can I do this great wickednesse saith he and sin against God verse 9. And was it not a sign of Patience that he would rather suffer then accuse his lustfull Mistris or excuse his own abused innocency as verse 20. We likewise find this power of godlinesse in the three children as we use to call them In Shadrach Meshach and Abednego The king injoyns them to fall down and worship his golden image Dan. 3. 14 15. A thing quite opposite to Gods command Exod. 20. 4 5. And therefore in obedience to faith they disobey his heathenish injunction For they answered and said O Nebuchad-nezzar we are not carefull to answer thee in this matter our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand O King But if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy gods nor worship thy golden image which thou hast set up Dan. 3. 16 17 18. In which reply it likewise may appear they loved God more deerly then their lives Nor is their patience lesse observable in that they went to their intended torture without recanting murmuring or repining As verse 21. Yet one example more and that from Paul The author of this Rule this Golden Chain and in relation to his Ministery unto the which he was commissionated by God in Christ Acts 9. 15 16. Which is yet more exactly set forth Act. 26. 15 c. And set his matchlesse love unto his Lord in his undaunted resolution Act. 20. 22. to 26. And with what patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ he suffered the afflictions of the Gospel it may most perfectly appear unto us in that he gloried in such tribulation We glorie in tribulation also saith he knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed c. Rom. 5. 3 4 5. Now these and every work of the like nature whether it be of doing or of suffering of speech of action or of abstinence begotten by God in the womb of faith and born unto God by the hand of love and nursed for God at the breast of patience This is the sweet fruit which the teeming Soul doth usually bring forth unto her husband to God in Christ her husband And therefore it may very well be called according unto Gods name Godlinesse or after Christs name Christianity I will not say that ever any man except the Son of God both God and Man did fully and exactly steer his course according unto these points But I say that he which failes in any one of these so far he falleth short of godlinesse And yet 't is not denied but he may be a godly man that oftentimes doth misse to shape his actions to these principles Provided that his heart be well disposed that his desires be orderly and good and his endeavours vigorous and constant A Ship at Sea may sometimes be becalm'd and sometimes weather-beaten by a storm so as she cannot keep a steady course Sometimes the winde may set so sore against her that you would think her sailing to a Coast far distant from the Port that she intendeth And yet the Pilot is a skilfull man and brings his Vessel to his wished Haven in a good hour Even so the precious Soul may sometimes want Divine assistance sometimes such a storm of strong temptations may circumvent her as may inforce her from her good desires or Satan in his malice may beset her with some such difficulties as may drive her far distant from the course of her endeavours And yet the body joyned with this Soul is a good godly person and so full both of the seed and fruit of godlinesse That he may lay a warrantable claim unto the title of eternal life as a joynt Heir with Jesus Christ his Lord through the obedience of faith and love by vertue of that Covenant of Grace For God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life FINIS The chief Heads contained in and pertaining unto this Copy of the Covenant of Grace  Page Page THe Covenanters 1. to 25. The Consideration 25. to 29. The Gift 29. to 38. The Provisoe 38. to 55. The Prevention 55. to 65. The Inheritance 65. to 93. Several Pretenders to the said Inheritance together with their Actions their Allegations and their Evidences 93. to 125. The right Heir discovered 125. to 133. His Evidence examined 133. to 200. His rich Plantation 200. to 243. His Souls affection 243. to 258. Her Profession 258. to 270. Her Inquisition 270. to 288. Her Confirmation 288. to 371. Her Satisfaction 371. to 388. Her gracious marriage 388. to 397. Her godly seed 397. ad finem Errata PAge 23. l. 3. r. in the wayes p. 54. l. 3. r. and of the gift p. 103. l. 6. r. of the Lord p. 14. l. 15. r. yet it p. 152. l. 11. r. me to do 193. l. 6. r. but in de p. 199. l. 16. r. such as p. 201. l. 4. r. find it in p. 204. l. 6 r. yet this p. 210. l. 4. r. strange flesh p. 206. l. 5. r. must not be p. 251. l. 13. r. Cant. ◠3. p. 298. l. 24. r. the praises due p. 270. l. 27. r. his prayer p. 271. l. 28. r. 1 King p. 277. l. 19. r. Son p. 281. l. 28. and 29. r. speak p. 283. l. 3. r. learns p. 284. l. 14. r. is leading p. 298. l. 4. r. if the. p. 301. l. 14. for intimated r imitated p. 302. l. 14. r. nor according p. 307. l. 6. r. this is p. 328. l. 13. r. Jo. 1. 29. p. 329. l. 21. r. and is in p. 346. l. 26. r. world lieth in p. 349. l. 2. r. drink wine p. 360. l. 8. r. Haman l. 17. r. or future p. 373. l. 15. r. wary Soul p. 381. l. 8. r. is the third p. 383. l. 19. r. and it is p. 408. l. 17. r. and see his