can he be deceived by false pretensions for the Lord is a God of knowledge and by him actions are weighed 1 Sam. 2. and before him all things are naked and open Heb. 4. Humane Laws onely restrain Words and outward Actions But the Divine Law reacheth the Spirit of Man his inward Thoughts and Secrets of the Heart There are Spiritual Sins as Hypocrisie Pride of Heart Envy Lusts of the Heart Murder of the Heart These and the like are not punished by Human Laws but are greatly Criminal before God There are Speculative Sins Sins acted over in the Phansy and there repeated and remember'd with delight when the outward act is past which are highly provoking to God and shall be judged For for Men to do this to recal in their thoughts with pleasure and delight such and such Sins is to act over the same Sins in Phancy and Speculation to aggravate their Sins by new and fresh guilt it is to stand to and make good their former Transgressions instead of repenting of them for then they would be remembred with Sorrow and Abhorrence These Sins not falling under Mans Cognisance as onely Words and Actions do but not Thoughts which yet are the first contrivers of that Sin and evil in Words and Actions and these Sins escaping the Judgment and Punishments of Humane Judicatories yet shall not escape the Judgment of God The Day of Judgment is described by this 1 Cor. 4. 5. Judge nothing before the time until the Lord come who both will bring to light the Hidden things of Darkness and will make manifest the Counsels of the Heart and then shall every Man have praise of God that is every one that hath done well as on the contrary they shall have shame and everlasting contempt Dan. 12. 2. that have done evil how cunning and close soever they were and whatsoever fair pretences they might make before Men. The Day of Judgment is described here by the time when Christ shall bring to light the Hidden things of Darkness and make manifest the Counsels of the Heart And so in Rom. 2. 16. its call'd the Day when God shall judge the secrets of Men by Jesus Christ. 3. From the Testimony of Conscience Conscience is God's Deputy and Vice-gerent The voice of Conscience is God's voice and it does powerfully witness a Future State and the Rewards and Punishments to be dispensed therein according to what we have done here Good or Evil. Upon the Consciousness of doing their duty there arises within Men a Peace and Satisfaction and Comfortable expectations from God who is the Father of Mercies And there is no such satisfaction no such joyous reflections as those as 't was said of the Athenians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A continual Feast is a good Conscience But this Feast is but an Antipast a foretast of a better in Heaven Now on the contrary there follows upon Sin inward Trouble and Anguish and Fear a fearful expectation of a sad after-reckoning and Judgment to come Hae sunt impijs assiduae domesticaeque furiae saith Tully And these inward Fears and Troubles Terrors of another World are not imprest upon Men by Politians and Statesmen for Secular ends and interest of State to awe Men into obedience For 1. They follow upon such sins as are not punishable by Human Laws as Secret Sins Sins of the Heart Speculative Sins and Spiritual Wickednesses which are such Sins as no Earthly Judges no Magistrates can have Cognisance of and no Human Laws can reach It would be a vain thing for the Supreme Powers to make Laws about what its impossible for them to know and consequently impossible for them to punish 2. Yea they follow upon such Sins as are hid from Men if punishable by Laws when discovered such Sins as no Man can accuse the Malefactor of or not prove them against him 3. Yea they follow upon such sins as being known by Man yet are not punishable by the Laws of that Country nay sometimes are applauded and esteem'd by Men. Judas his sin was so far from being punished by the Jewish Powers that he was rewarded for it But the reward he had and all the applause and encouragement they could give him could not ease and sree him from the Anguish in his Conscience and Fear of what was to come 4. Yea these Fears and Terrors are found to be amongst them in whom is no Policy Nations that are rude and barbarous and not governed by Crafty Polititians yet even in such appear'd Magna vis Conscientiae So universally have they possest Men and in all ages whereas vain and causeless and Panick Fears are of a short and uncertain continuance and not so universal as these inward Fears and Troubles of Conscience Nor are these Fears pleasing and grateful to Men as is easie for any Man to judge and acknowledge but contrary to the inclinations of Men who are carried out to the love and practise of such Sins as Revenge Injustice Lust and the like whence these inward Troubles arise 5. To what hath been said I shall superadd this That the Deepest Polititians and Greatest Statesmen the Greatest Potentates of the Earth are not more free and secure from these inward Fears then the populus terrae the mean Peasants and those of low degree which yet these Grandees could not have been disturbed with had they known that these were but arts and a juggle invented by them for State-reasons yea the Great Men of the Earth Men of Policy and Power have been rather more severely lasht caeco verbere with these secret and unseen lashes They have been more severely assaulted and haunted by these domesticae furiae and inward Horrors though they would fain have been delivered from them and have used all arts to be freed from this evil Spirit a Self-corroding and tormenting Conscience which troubled them 4. From the Souls inward Sense in good Men. There are certain Instincts and Sympathies and Propensions in the Soul of Man to Religion to God and the Enjoyment of him and these are more especially enlivened and vigorous in Holy and renewed Souls There is a vehement thirst and longing in such Souls after Union with God the Father of Spirits Their Souls pant after God after the living God that they may see and enjoy him whom their Souls love whom they have chosen for their Portion for whom they have forsaken all the vanities of the World and denyed All to enjoy Him They have none in Heaven but Him none in Earth in comparison of Him As for this present Life and State they groan being burdened while they are in this Tabernacle this is their State of Pilgrimage while they are here they are absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5. And hence it is that these Holy Souls perswade themselves that the Father of Spirits God who is Love that implanted these Instincts and Affections in them that hath awakened them by his Grace that hath drawn out their Hearts after him so
a right principle nor directed to a right end And hereby they think they do demereri Deum and oblige Him for ever And yet all is but an empty Shell which they bring a Shell without a Kernel a Cabinet without the Jewels But such is their high esteem of it that they are ready to take it ill and to challenge God for not taking due notice of the Honour and Service they do him and he is not as they think so sensible and regardful thereof as he should be when things go otherwise with them then they wish The Inward Language of their Hearts is fully exprest by Isa. Chap. 58. 3. Wherefore have we Fasted say they and thou seest not Wherefore have we Afflicted our Soul and thou takest no knowledge And yet this was but a meer Outward Humiliation as it is exprest in Vers. 5. The bowing down the Head as a Bul-Rush for a Day and the spreading of Sackcloth and Ashes under them But alas what is the hanging or bowing down the Head while the Heart is unbowed and unhumbled And what is Sackcloth and Ashes whenas Pride compasseth them as a Chain Psal. 73. 6. Here then is the difference between those that are Christians Outwardly and those that are Christians Inwardly as the the Apostle speaks of the Jew Rom. 2. The former make great account of their trifles as if they were the most solid realities and the most precious rarities The other account themselves and their Best performances their most substantial Services to be as nothing before God But though it becomes them to think thus humbly and meanly of themselves yet God who weighs the Spirits of Men and tryeth their Hearts he hath an high esteem of them God is not unrighteous to forget their Work and Labour of Love which they have shewed toward his Name Heb. 6. 10. but he will remember them and their Performances and an Honourable Commemoration shall be made of them at the Last Day Matth. 25. 34. 4. As they are Sensible of the little they have done for God and are grieved at their Omissions so they are sensible of the little time they have to repair their neglects of those fair advantages which they have had for doing good They are apprehensive of the Shortness and Uncertainty of their Life and continuance here that their time is but Short here to Testifie their Love to God in their Love of others and caring for their good they have but a Short space to Labour in and it is but short and as nothing to Eternity if they be in the Morning of their Age or in the Afternoon and indeed such serious Thoughts as these do more commonly possess those that are in the Afternoon of their Life And therefore they rouse up and excite themselves to a greater diligence Awake awake up and be doing they say unto their Soul Stir up the gift of God in thee be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus And show forth that Strength in a Power to do more and to endure more bardness as becomes a good Souldier of Jesus Christ 2 Tim. 2. While it is Day while the light of Life shines thou must Work the Works of him that sent thee the Works of God the business of Religion must be heeded by thee For the Night cometh when no Man can Work Jo. 9. 4. the Sunfet of thy Life the Night of Death approacheth and then the seasons and advantages for an active employing thy self about the good of others and Glorifying the Name of God in this World will be over and past And therefore because there is no Work nor deliberation nor Wisdom in the Grave whither thou art going whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with thy might Eccles. 9. 19. Love God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a more Emphatical word then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all thy Strength with all thy Mind with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul with whatsoever is in thee and in thy Power all thy faculties must be raised up to their best pitch And the best expression and proof of this Love is in serving the Will of God in thy Generation to the best of thy Skill and Abilities Live much in a Short time for the time past of our Life may suffice us to have wrought our own Will But Christ hath suffered for us in the Flesh that we should no longer Live the rest of our time in the Flesh to the Lusts of Men to the gratifying of those Appetites which Men generally Indulge themselves in but to the Will of God which is worthy to be obey'd and complyed with in all things by us Let it be our wonder and our grief that we were for so long a time the shortest time is too long Strangers to God and the ways of Religion that we should for any time live without God in the World and be unacquainted with the Best of Services and Employments which are the Services of Religion That we should be estranged from the Life of God which is the Noblest and Sweetest Lise a Life of the highest Excellency and of the most satisfying Pleasure And therefore being now restored to God and having found him whom our Souls Love and whom our Souls should ever have loved him who loved us first how should we cleave the more close to him even with full purpose of Heart How should we live wholly to his Will and Walk Worthy of him unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good Work studying to know what will please him what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of God and then to do it with all Alacrity and Faithfulness Live then much in a short time Redeem the time repair thy Omissions in some measure by Redoubling thy diligence Let the Book of thy Life the Book that must be opened at the Last Day be full of Sense and worthy Matter Let there be no void spaces and empty lacunas Idle Words and an Idle Life are such in it Let every Page of it every Day be fill'd with what is Significant Intelligible Rational and Worthy to be Transcribed and Copyed out by others Live in an Exemplary way and follow that best Exemplar the Holy Jesus of whom S. Peter gives this short Character in his Sermon to Cornelius Acts 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He went about doing good Think thou hast lost a Day as it s said of the Emperour Titus Vespasian if thou hast not done some good in it Think thou hast not lived if thou hast not lived to the Service of Religion As that Courtier who retired from the Vanities of this World and seriously applyed himself to the Services of Religion Seven Years before his Death would have this Epitaph Hic jacet Septuagenarius qui septem vixit annos Let that Speech of the Apostle Rom. 12. 11. be often in thy Thoughts let it be Written in fair Letters upon thy Heart Not Slothful in business Fervent in Spirit Serving the
of the Lord. If others are coldly affected yet they are to be a People Zealous of good Works Else they will not Answer the full Intendment of Christ's Death and Sufferings who gave himself for them and Redeemed and Purified them to this end as it s said Titus 2. Let then Christ see of the Travail of his Soul the Fruit and desired effect of his great Sorrows and Sufferings let him see of the Travel of his Soul with joy and delight and be satisfied taking full content and being highly pleased in seeing the fruit of all his labours and pains Shall a dull and dead lazy and liveless Profession of Religion be all the fruit of Christs Sufferings Will he be satisfied where he sees no better fruit then this Did Christ Sweat in the Garden that we should Freeze Is there no Sap no more Life in the Tree of the Cross then to put forth onely Leaves or Blossoms Assuredly the due consideration of Christ Crucified is that which will make a Christian fruitful in Holiness and in every good Work Christians must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Patterns of good Works Titus 2. and Examples they must shine as lights in the World Phil. 2. If Others are lazy and content themselves with doing a little Yet They must be Exemplary in diligence go early into the Vineyard and work hard They must do more then others not onely more then Publicans and Sinners but more then the seemingly-strict Scribes and Pharisees more then Formal Christians for they are Men of another Spirit as God said of Caleb and Joshua and must follow God fully They have received from God other Helps and Advantages Spiritual Light and Strength God has made all Grace to Abound towards them that so they may Abound to every good Work 2 Cor. 9. They have other Hopes and Expectations better grounded hopes of a Glorious Reward They have received Mercies more peculiar then others And therefore they should do more then others they should not live as others as they said Wisdom 2. 15. His Life is not like other Mens his ways are of another fashion Yea amongst Real Christians one must strive to Excel another A good strife this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to provoke to Love and good works not onely by words but deeds to strive who shall do most for God who shall most Abound in His Work Labour most in his Vineyard who shall live Best But then they that Abound and Excel others must also Excel in Humility So S. Paul in 2 Cor. 12. 11. and 1 Cor. 15. 10. PROPOSITION IV. Christians have good ground to assure themselves and to be perswaded that their Labour shall not be in Vain in the Lord. I. They may be assured from the Revelation of the Gospel whereby Light and Immortality is brought to light 2 Tim. 2. 10. Light and Immortality that is Immortal Life Eternal Blessedness both for Soul and Body is now more clearly revealed and fully assured by the Gospel S. Paul had Preached at Corinth the Chief City of Achaia for a longer space of time then he used to do in other Cities for he continued there a Year and Six Months Acts 18. 11. and God encouraged him hereunto notwithstanding the many troubles and oppositions he met with from the Jews who unanimously and with one accord set themselves against Paul Vers. 6. and 12. God spake to him by Night in a Vision that he should not be afraid nor hold his peace for though some did oppose yet saith God I have much People in this City Vers. 10. and accordingly its said Vers. 8. That many of the Corinthians believed and were Baptized yea Crispus the Chief Ruler of the Synagogue believed on the Lord with all his House And in Obedience to this Heavenly Vision S. Paul did for a long time a Year and an half Preach the Gospel to them of Corinth clearly and freely and with much affectionateness to them his whole Heart was set wide open to them they had a great place in his affections This he means when he tells them in 2 Ep. 6. 11. 12. O ye Corinthians our Mouth is opened to you our Heart is enlarged ye are not straitned in us And what was it that S. Paul took such care to Preach amongst them and which he did first of all deliver unto them 1 Cor. 15. 3. It was this That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was Buried and that he Rose again the Third Day according to the Scriptures And this last-mentioned Article of the Resurrection of Christ on which Our Resurrection doth depend 1 Thes. 4. 14. he particularly enlargeth upon proving it from Eye-witnesses and they not onely some single persons as Cephas and James but above Five Hundred Brethren of whom he was seen at once there were Five Hundred Christians and more that at one and the same time saw him after his Resurrection from the Dead of whom although some were fallen asleep or were dead yet saith he Vers. 6. the greater part remain most of them are alive unto this present or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 until now and therefore from some of them they might know and be satisfied about his Resurrection and that he who was Dead was Alive again Yea they might assure themselves of this from S. Paul's own Testimony who though he was no Disciple not a Christian nor an Apostle while Christ conversed upon Earth yet he was afterwards at his Conversion an Eye-witness of Christs being alive again last of all saith he Vers. 8. he was seen of me also and by this appearing of Christ from Heaven was S. Paul Converted The remarkable Story we have recorded by S. Luke in Acts 9. where Christ in Glory and Power with dread and awful Majesty for there was Thunder 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vers. 3. and Lightning which flash'd and shone about him Vers. 2. appeared to Paul who was still breathing out threatnings and Slaughters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristophanes in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath a like Phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thunder and Lightning was in his Mouth and Christ to meet him in his fury appears in Dread to him makes him to tremble Vers. 6. Strikes him down to the Earth Vers. 4. and turns this Raging Lion this Ravening Wolf into a Meek Lamb Lord saith he what wilt thou have me to do The Men that were with Paul saw no Man Vers. 7. not him that spake but Paul saw him and He declared himself who he was I am Jesus whom thou Persecutest Vers. 5 And besides this Testimony from his own seeing of Christ to be alive he useth other Arguments in this 15. Chap. to the Corinthians to prove the Resurrection of Christ. But what is this to the Resurrection of Christians Very much For Our Resurrection depends on Christ's If Christ be Risen then there is a Resurrection from the Dead Vers. 13. 16. and then shall We also Rise again For