is universal in his obedience he doth not pick and chuse his way but makes it his daily exercise to keep a conscience void of offence both towards Goâ—… and man He adds righteousnesse to his holinesse and holinesse to his righteousnesse and so follows the Lord fully Psal. 15. 2. Luke 1. 6. Acts 13. 22. 24. 16. He is habitually holy Actâ—…o una non denominaâ—… 〈◊〉 Neq sanctisicatio uno atqaltero â—…ené vel malefacto est metienda sed totius vitae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is sibonus fuerit cor sanctisicatum esse nullus dubita Sibel holinesse is his trade a wicked man may do a work that is materially good but as it comes from him it it abominable What Saint John saith of goodnesse is most true of holinesse 3 John 11 He that doth good out of an habit and principle of goodnesse is of God but he that doth evil habitually as his trade hath not seen God Godlinesse is the good mans exercise 1 Tim. 4. 7. the bent and resolution of his soul is not willingly to sin against God in any thing he chuseth misery rather then iniquity and affliction rather then sinne A pure heart and a purpose to sin can never subsist together for what is holinesse but an exact obedience to Gods commands True hatred is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against the whole kind Arist. He that hates one sin as 't is sin will hate all Quatenus ipsum includit de â—…mni that 1. Extensive to themall 2. Intensive with the high estintention of our affections with all our heart mind might for he that willingly breaks one commandment doth habitually dispositively break them all when a temptation comes he will stick at none Iames 2. 10 11. 'T is true in many things we offend all James 3. 2 through frailty and infirmity but not deliberately and wilfully yea sins of weaknesse and infirmity are grievous to a gratious soul that wearinesse in duty though not of duty that indisposition and heavinesse which cleaves to them in the best things which a naturall man takes no notice of yet is better unto them Many good souls doubt of their sanctification but if thou finde in thy self an unfeined hatred of All sin both of grosse sin in thy actions of lesser sins in thy affections know undoubtedly that thou art sanctified and shalt be saved 1 Iohn 5. 18. 4. He loves pure ordinances plain powerfull preaching zealous praying quickning conference c. these are delightfull to him a pure heart loves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In quo adulterando nullus intercessit dolus Hereticie nim gypsum lacte miscent á Lap. the pure and sincere milk of the word 1 Pet. 2. 2. It 's a signe a man is rotten when he cannot endure a plain downright Micajah because he tels them the truth such men are evil and therfore caÌ„not endure the light Ioh 3. 19 5. By your love to pure ones Saints will love Saints sheep delight in the company of sheep and not of swine David a Saint delights in Saints Psal. 16. 3 Paul when changed changeth his company and and joynes himself to the Saints Acts 9. 26. Yet it is not every love to a Saint that argues a Saint but pure and sincere love which is known by these three signes 1. It is a love to All the Saints he loves a poor Saint as well as a rich one he loves a Saint in rags as well as a Saint in glorious robes a Iob on the dunghill as well as a David on the throne Ephes. 1. 15. Colos. 1. 4. they love not one or two of the Brethren Etiâ—…msi Lutherus millies me diabolum vocet ego tamen illum insignem Dei servnm agnosco Calvin* Let Luther hate me and in his wrath call me devil a thousand times yet will I love him acknowledge him a most precious servant of God said meck Calvin but the Brotherhood even the whole society fraternity the whole Church of God such as they never saw yea though they may differ from them in some small matters and it may be have mis-called them and wronged them yet if they have grounds to judge them Saints they can passe by all pray for theÌ„ readily forgive them 2. He loves the Saints simply because saints for their piety more theÌ„ for their parts true love is spirituall and springs from spirituall considerations they love the pure for their purity the sincere for their sincerity but carnall love hath carnall ends they love the godly for their riches honour wisdome kinred bounty c. they hate them solely for their piety such and such were excellent men if they were not Puritans and Roundheads c. 3. He can prefer them before his naturall kinred which are wicked as Christ did Matth. 12. 47. c. In all Cognatio carnalis postâ—…abenda spirituali Paraeus their relations they prize piety they preferre a godly wife a godly child a godly servant a godly Magistrate a godly Minister before any other If any would see more let him peruse Dyke on the Sacrament chap. 13. Downham on the Sacrament chap. 10. Sheffeild on Conscience chap. 14. Wall None but Christ chap. 21. M. Ant. Burgess 120. Ser. Ser. 18. 6. Holy men will labour to make others Bonum est ' sui diffusivum holy they love not to eat their spiritual morsels alone like the sun they do what in them lies to give light to all like a sweet perfume they refresh such as come near them Holy Abraham will teach his family the way of the Lord Andrew finding Christ brings Simon Philip brings Nathaniel the woman of Samaria brings her neighbours John 1. 41 43 45. c. As wicked men draw others to wickednesse so the See more Dyke Quenching the Spi. p. 42 c. godly say as Paul to Agryppa Acts 26. 29. I would to God that not only thou but also all that hear me this day were both almost and altogether such as I am 7. Holy men are humble men the more holy the more humility none see FundamentuÌ„ sanctitatis est humilitas Cyprian their own nakednesse nothingnesse wants and weaknesse so much as they as all the graces of Gods Spirit are humbling graces so holinesse especially Hence Paul a holy man yet in his own esteem the least of Saints the chiefest of sinners Job abhorres himself David is a worm Isaiah thinks himself undone Moses is meek Bradford in his owne estimation is miserrimus peccator a very hypocrite a most hard-hearted unthankfull sinner a very painted hypocrite c. They durst never call themselves Saints The close walking people The godly party The spirituall ones c. It is the property of proud and subtle hereticks to paint with two colours that they may not easily be discerned Rom. 16. 18. 1. They glory that they are the servants of God when they only serve their own belly 2. They use good
maerore afficieâ—…atur talis fuit perturbatio qualis est in morbis paroxâ—…smus Are 〈◊〉 tius Acts 17. 16. is troubled at the Idolatry of the Athenians and weeps Phil. 3. 18. to consider the sad condition both of the Seducers and the seduced 6. The two witnesses prophesie in * sackcloth mourning to see so many bewitched with Antichrists delusions Externo habitu vili et sord do sunt testaturi amaritudinem et dolorem aâ—…imi sui ob vastitatem ecclesiae et horribilem mundi coecitatem Paraeus Rev 11. 3. Such mourners are dear to God he hath a speciall respect unto them and care over them in times of common calamity Ezek. 9. 4. They mourn not for worldly losses but for the abominations of the Land not for punishment but for sin not for one or two sins but for All the abominations these must be marked for mercy in the midst of misery God hath an Ark for righteous Noah a Zoar for Lot a grave to hide mourning Iosiah from evil to come a Prison to hide mourning Jeremiah in when merry Jerusalem is taken and the Kings eyes put out Ier. 39. 6 7 11 12 c. And if ever this duty If we cannot mend the things that are amisse yet mourn Dalachrymulam Dulce decoâ—…um est pro patria flere Disputare malumus quam vivere Nimium altercaâ—…do amittitur pietas veritas See M. Ant. Burgesse Ser. 22. Ser. 51. were in season 't is now when sin like a flood hath overspread the Land and holiness is turned into hollowness and hypocrisie Piety is vanisht into Disputes we are now all for disputing pious living is out of date We have wrangled so long about niceties and vanities that verity and sanctity are almost banisht What Iob 28. 12 13. speaks of wisdom may be applied to sanctification where shall purity be found and where is the place of sanctity Our families say it is not in us our Towns and Cities say it is not in us our Counties Courts say we know it not It is fled to heaven and hath left the earth The holiness and integrity of men is invisible but their wickedness and impiety is visible Drunkenness swearing forswearing cursing lying whoredom adultery blasphemy heresie pride divisions censoriousness covetousness oppression atheism malice envy hypocrisie bribery extortion cruelty idolatry apostacy gluttony prophanation of Sabbaths and all holy things ignorance ingratitude murder incorrigibleness unrighteousness barrenness under the means of grace contempt of the Gospel contempt of holy Magistrates contempt of holy Ministers contempt of the power of godliness neutrality and lukewarmness superstition and will-worship besides a numberlesse number of Anabaptists Sicut in sentinam profundi maris colluviones omnium sordium sic in mores nostrorum quasi ex omni mundo vitia fluxerum Salvian Arminians Socinians Familists Separatists Arrians Antinomians Mortalists Enthusiasts Perfectists c. Our Land is become the very sink of all abominations a sign we are fallen into the last and worst times of which this is one character amongst those nineteen â—…ins of the last times men shall be unholy 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 3 4 5. Amongst us you may finde the Drunkness of the Dutch the lust of the French the Italians ambition the Spaniards treachery the Lap-landers witchcraft the coveteousnes of the Jew the cruelty of the Turke and the Monsters of Munster c. Of these unholy ones there are four sorts First Some are openly prophane they have neither good outside nor good inside they have neither good hearts Hi dicuntur Christiani ad contumeliaâ—… Christi Salv. nor good hands but are open swearers open drunkards open hereticks Gods holy Sabbaths they mispend his holy Name they blaspheme his holy word they scorn his holy Sacraments they defile his holy ones they persecute and revile they declare their sin like Sodom they hide it not Isa. 3. 9. wo unto them for they have rewarded evil to themselves God will one day bâ—… terror to all such prophane wretches who instead of confessing do professe their sin without either fear or shame These are directly opposite to the most holy God and he to them they abhorre him and he abhorrs them Zach. 11. 8. Mal Quam vis Deus propter immensitateÌ„ essentiâ—… non possâ—…recedere reipsa recedit tâ—…men tum â—…ffectu tum â—…ffectu quia odit tale â—…abitaculum Lessius 4. 1. God loaths such an habitation he will not dwell in such a swine-sty and brothel of uncleannesse he will not pour the oyl of grace into such fusty vessels nor his precious balsom into such nasty sinks the most holy God will have no communion with any but holy ones What Solomon saith of the froward is most true of all the wicked Prov. 3. 32. they are an abomination to the Lord not only abominable but abomination it self in the abstract therefore he cast the Angels from heaven Adam out of Paradise drowned the old world fired Sodom ruined Jerusalem A wicked mans heart is nidus diaboli a den for devils to dwell in the pure Spirit of God loves to dwel in a pure house Holinesse becomes his house for ever and therefore if we will have his Spirit for our guest we must keep our selves pure not only from the blots but also from the spots of the world James 1. 27. for if rotten and unsavoury speeches do grieve Gods Spirit Ephes. 4. 29. unholy actions will much more I would advise such to consider 1. That if such as professe Religion pray reade hear the Word observe the Sabbath c. may yet come short of heaven what will be their condition who do none of these things If the figtree that had leaves of profession were cursed what will become of those that have neither leaves nor fruit neither form nor power neither shew nor substance but are impure without and impute within If Herod who 1. Heard Iohn Baptist though he was a sharp reprover of sin 2. He heard him gladly 3. He reformed many things Mark 6. 20. but not all he abstained from some sins though he lived in others yet if he missed of heaven what thinkest thouwill thy end be who railest on such Ministers as sharply reprove sinne neither hearest them gladly nor reformest any thing How many of our people fall short of See how far a reprobate may go Perkins on Mat. 7. 21 p. 244. c. those that fall short of heaven that never confesse their sin with Pharaoh nor weep with Esau nor desire Gods Samuels to pray for them as Saul did nor M. Ant. Burgesse in his last Ser. p. 13. Ser. 3. Ser. 21. Ser. 90. be zealous as Iehu nor repent as Iudas nor tremble with Felix nor are almost perswaded with Agrippa not have good desires with Balaam nor humble themselves with Ahab c. and yet all these were reprobates and came short of heaven 2. Consider That this thy wickednesse makes thee like
this world is the place of duty of weeping wrastling watching striving running fighting c. Heaven is the place of resting singing comfort and rejoycing there all tears shall be wiped from our eyes all fears taken from our souls there shall be no working watching praying there is no Temple there But he that hath all joy in this life must look for none in another Luke 6. 25. 16. 25. It is farre better to want comfort then grace for comfort is not essential to holinesse though usually it attend it See Love Degrees of growth p. 143 c. yet God for good ends may hide comfort from the eyes of his dearest servants here 3. Whereas you think that God doth not see your sins you must know that if you do truely belong to him he takes more special notice of your sins for he is more especially present amongst his people he walks in the midst of the golden Christus in medio Ecclesiae prvoidentia sua praesto adest omnia coram intuetur fidem diligen iam probat praemâ—…is compensat ignaviam et praevaricationem aversatur poenis ulciscitur Pareus Candlesticks Rev. 2. 1. to behold their holiness and obedience to reward it to behold their sin and disobedience to punish it He is the holy One in the midst of his people Hos. 11. 9. therefore his people must keep themselves from every evil thing and suffer no iniquity to reign either in themselves or in their dwellings For it is the sins of Gods own people that do most displease him they are as it were the only sins as Jer. 32. 30. God takes no notice of the sins of Criminosior est culpa ubi â—…onestior status Si honcratior est persona peccantis peccati quoque maior invidia Sal. de Gub. l. 4. p. 128. others in comparison of the sins of his own people 1. Because they are a people near to him they are his spouse his sons and daughters his houshould-servants and so their sins do more dishonour him the world will conclude that the Master cannot be good that hath such wicked followers 2. Their sins are Quomodo bonus Magister est cuius tam malos videmus esse discipulos Salv. l 4. mihi p. 141. more scandalous cause Gods Name to be blasphemed by the enemies of Religion 1 Sam 12. 14. Rom. 2. 24. Ezek. 36. 20. 3. Their sins are committed against greater means and greater mercies Grave luctuosum est ipsa Dei Eoclesia quae in omnibus esse debet placatrix Dei quid est aliud quam exacerbatrix Sal. de Gub. l. 3. p. 87. against greater light and knowledge against the motions of Gods Spirit and cheeks of conscience c. Wothen to Antinomians that bid men after adultery and theft rejoyce for God loves not heavinesse c. See them fully confuted Rutherf against Antinom part 2. ch 32. ch 37 38 39. Sixtly and lastly It informs us That our Religion is the old and true Religigion that Religion which teacheth men the way to obtain Gods Image which consists in Holinesse and Righteousnesse See M. Ienkyn on Jude 6. p. 468. that is the old and the true Religion but our Religion only teacheth this Our Religion is as old as Adam whom God created after his own Image in Righteousnesse and Holinesse so that as Righteousnesse and Holinesse is elder then sinne and wickednesse so is our Religion then all other Religions Popery is a new and See D. Halls old Religion false Religion instead of sanctification it sets up Ceremonies and cals for outside worship and bodily exercise which profits little and instead of regeneration and renewing of our corrupt nature it pleads for nature as but half-dead and wounded only and needs but a little reviving and strengthening CHAP. III. THe second use is for Instruction Sanctitati dâ—…betur reverentia Les. Iâ—…e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 colo â—…en ror q. d. â—…b puritatem coleâ—…dus â—…nera â—…us A Lap. and that ten waies 1. We learn to adore and admire the transcendent purity of God which appeares in all his Attributes Excellency cals for reverence and admiration we admire great Princes and Potentates when we see them in their glorious Robes stately Palaces and honourable attendance and shall we not admire the glory of the King of Kings before whom the Angels stand with reverence and fear It is meer Atheism to forget the Lord daies without number to have him seldom in our thoughts when we can passe over his glorious works of mercy power providence and justice without due observation 'T will be our wisdom to eye and observe When there be divisions ruines plundeâ—…ings â—…n a Kingdom theâ—…e iâ—… a wheel in those wheels a providence that acts orders them Greenâ—… his holinesse and wisdom in all those crosse workings of providence both towards our selves and the Nations He hath a wheel in the wheels Ezek. 1. 16. When we think the wheels go backward he can make them go forward and those waies which we think will ruine the Nations he can make them a means to raise them this is the way to true wisdom and to understand the loving kindnesse of the Lord Psal. 107. 43. This is the principall end why God created man viz. that he might acknowledge set forth his praise in the world and declare his glorious holinesse and excellency This is the work of the Angels in heaven Isa. 6. 3. they cry Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts and this is the work of all Gods people thorow the world Rev. 4. 8. The summe of all that which the Catholick Church dispersed over all the world doth is to sing and agnize the sanctity and holinesse of the great God it is their constant imployment they rest not day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was which is and is to come Then we are said to sanctifie him not by adding any holinesse to him but declaratively when we proclaim his holinesse and acknowledge it both in our hearts and lives this he accounts as a sanctifying oâ—… his great Name We should therefore set apart soÌ„e time to meditate on Gods absolute perfection and excellency we should admire him commend him to our selves till we can expeâ—…ntally say wi th David Ps. 86. 8. Among the Gods there is none like thee O Lord We should glory in him wheÌ„ the world boasts of their houses lands riches friends c. do thou make thy boast of the Lord and challenge them all to shew such a Lord and Master of such transcendent purity and perfection as thy God is of 2. If the Lord be thus glorious in holinesse then we should set our affections on him love him fear him desire him and trust in him We must love him with all our heart with the highest intenâ—…ion of affection prizing his favour Intensive appretiative Affectu
in qualibet re Bulling most beautifull and successfull in its season Davids blessed man brings forth fructum suum in tempore suo his fruit in due season and therefore all that he doth prospers Psal. 1. 3. Whilst then the day of thy youth the day of health and the day of grace lasteth whilst God stands knocking at the door of thy heart by the motions of his Spirit speedily entertain him embrace his motions suffer thy selfe to be led by his Spirit in waies of obedience resolve with David that God shall be thy God and that thou wilt seek him early Psal. 63. 1. Let it be your first work to seek his Kingdom else if you delay and Diaboli vox est Da peccato quod praesens est Deo quod futuruÌ„ peccato floremaetatis Deo reliquias Daven put off God from day to day your hearts will be hardened your sin increased Gods wrath provoked and Satan encouraged Learn wisdome then of the men of the world the Mariner observes his wind and tide the Lawyer his Term the Chapman his market the Husband man his seasons yea the Stork and the Crane and the Swallow know the time of their coming and the laborious Bee loseth no fair seasons Consider that time Nullus dum per caelum licuit otio perit dies Pliny it self is short but the seasons of grace are shorter and if you lose them you lose all This ruined Jerusalem because she knew not the day of her visitation See Madens Serm. on Luk. 19. p. 148 c. Gros Inducements to Christ. p. 25. 26. Luke 19. 44. Yea many that seek after heaven shall miss of it because they seek too late Luke 13. 24 God hath allotted to every man that lives in the bosoÌ„ of his Church a certain time for repentance and he that neglects that time comes not in to Christ then can never be saved and therefore be sure ever to second the Spirits motions with obedience lest if the Lord call and you will not hear the time come when you shall cry and shall not be heard Prov. 1 24. c. 2. Seek it earnestly with all thy heart and with all thy might with the highest intention of affection they are only wrastling Jacobs that become prevailing Israels Importunity will do much it made an unjust Judge to do justice no man ever sought God with his whole heart but he found him Deut. 4. 29. Ier. 29. 13. 2 Chron. 15. 15. God hath made many gracious promises that he will sanctifie and cleanse us urge them in thy prayers beseech him to remember the word which he hath spoken to his servants wherein he hath caused us to trust Ezek. 36. 25 26 27. Zach. 14. 20 21. Obad 1. 7. 1 Cor. 1. 30. Go unto Christ in him is a fulnesse of holinesse to answer for our unholinesse Christ is the Magazine and Store-house of all grace in him is not only a fulnesse of Plenitudo abundantiae Plenitudo redundantiae Abundance but a fulnesse of Redundance an overflowing fulnesse for me and thee and for all that come unto him 3. Seek it constantly never give over Non cepisse sed perfecissâ—… virtutis est but wait still in due time we shall reap if we faint not do not limit the holy One of Israel to thy time consider how long thou didst make him wait on thee before thou heardst him and then shouldst thou die in this waiting condition yet thou art blessed Deo confisi nunquam â—…onfvsi Isa 30. 18. Hold on thy suit take no deniall the comfort thou wilt meet with in the end will abundatly recompence all thy waiting and though hope deferred may make thy heart sick yet when it comes it will be as a Tree of Life Prov. 13. 12. II. If ever you would be holy you must take heed of offending and grieving Gods holy Spirit by your sins for sanctification is the most proper work of the Spirit and therefore he is called the holy Spirit for as the Father Elects and the Son Redeems so the holy Ghost doth most properly sanctifie 1 Pet. 1. 2. Titus 3. 4 5. 'T is the Spirit that must inlighten enliven strengthen quicken convince us of our spirituall See more Sibbs fount sâ—…aled p 112 c. nakednesse blindnesse poverty and misery it must enable us to all Duties and make all Ordinances effectuall and therefore as you love the In amore sempeâ—… cauâ—… tâ—…la nemo enim melius diligit quà m qui maximâ—… veretur offenâ—… dâ—…re Salv. Spirit of God and tender your own salvation quench not the motions of Gods Spirit in your souls when it would convince you of sin and humble you do not drink nor drive away those pangs of the New-birth but obey its motions surrender up all the keyes of thy soul unto him let him rule in thee and over thee and suffer thy self to be led by it and it will assure thee of thy Adoption III. Attend upon the Preaching See M Ant. Burg. Sers 83 of the holy word of God it is the ordinary means by which the Spirit of sanctification is conveyed into our souls Act. 10. 44. Whilst Peter was preaching the holy Ghost fell on those that heard the Word Gods Spirit breaths not in an Ale-house or in a Play-house but in the ordinances they are the vehiculum Spiritus the Spirits chariot God will be found in his own way and means and therefore we should sit in the winds way and though for the present we finde not that comfort we expect yet let us wait Lex sanctifiâ—…ationem promovet q. â—…ominem ad peccati agniâ—…ionem adducit Wendel I. 1. c. 26. Harsnet on Rep. p. 65. to 124. still the lame man that lay long at the Pool of Bethesda at last was cured Attend then to the whole Word of God to the Law as well as to the Gospel let its terrours humble thee and out thee of thy self that so the Gospel may comfort thee For Gods usuall method is to bring men to heaven by The Preaching of the Law not only preparatively but being blessed by God instrumentally works the conversion of men the gates of hell First to bring men to mount Sinai and then to mount Sion first to mount Ebal the mount of cursing and then to mount Gerizim the mount of blessing first the Spirit of bondage to convince men of sinne and make them fear and then the Spirit of adoption to cry Abba Father By the M. Ant. Burgess Vindie Legis p. 195. 261. assistance of the Spirit the Word will be a sword to kill our corruptions and a glass to discover our selves unto our selves for though morall truths may adorn the soul yet it is only Divine truth that purifies it Psal. 119. 9. John 17. 17. Nor is it all hearing that brings sanctification Quicquid recipitur id ad moduÌ„ recipientis recipitur Si vas est putiduÌ„ ci que
it is vomited up the better it 's for him While sin is fresh and green there is some tendernes and sense in us but our heard hearts are like iron let them cool and they are hardly wrought upon A disease that is chronicall and old is harder to cure then a new one Jer. 13. 23. Can a Blackmore change his skin c. 4. Sincerely and cordially Our outward confessions and expressions must come from inward impressions of grace upon the soul. Most mens confessions Iu Iabris non in fibris natâ—… are meer words God is nigh to their mouths but farre from their reins Jer. 12. 2. Isa. 29. 13. and though in words they speak much against their sins yet their hearts love them dearly and they will in no wise part with them Such mens confessions will be their condemnations out of their own mouths will God condemn them and give them their portion with the hypocrites Hypocriticall confessions be they never so eloquent or excellent for words are meer abominations our confessions must be the voice of our hearts rather then of our tongues for as in all duties so especially when we come before the Lord to acknowledge and confesse our sins there must be all plainnesse and sincerity without doubting or hypocrisie cold carelesse customary confessions do more provoke God oft times then the sin it self If a child should come and tell his father what he had done against him without any remorse or sorrow he would take it rather for a profession then any true confession of his fault God oft punisheth such formall confessors by giving them up more greedily to sin as Pharaoh after he had made a verball coâ—…fession of his sin was worse after Exod. 9. 27. yet v. 34. he sinned yet more and hardened his heart against the Lord. 5. Affectionately with sorrow hatred shame c. 1. Our hearts must be full of sorrow and deep humiliation under the sight and sense of sin every sin must be as a sword in our bosoms we must be sensible of the burden and bitternesse of it This made Peter weep bitterly When David resolved to confesse his iniquity he presently adds and I will be sorry for my sin Psal. 38. 18. Where this sorrow is though a man be not able to expresse himself in words yet God accepts of the affection 2. In our confessions there must be an hatred and loathing of sin it must work an indignation in us Hos. 14. 8. 2 Cor. 7. 11. Job 40. 4. 42. 6. his sin made him to abhorre himself We must fall out with our sins before God will fall in love with us 3. We must confesse our sins with shame When we consider the number and nature of our sins what a tender bountifull and gracious God we have sinned against ' how long we have rebelled against him and yet he hath spared us now must we take shame to our selves and be even confouded under the sense of our sins as Ezra 9. 6. Ier. 31. 18 19. Dan. 9. 7. Ezek. 16. 61. Now he cares not for his own reputation so God may be glorified he is content to be a based so God may be magnified he is content to be nullified This holy shame is a sign of ingenuity and of a good temper of Pudor est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 colorvtirutis Diog. spirit We are ashamed to be found doing any base thing sin is the basest of evils and therefore we should be ashamed and confounded before God at the remembrance of all those base lusts which have reigned in us and over us God loves to see us thus loathing our selves Ier. 31. 18. 20. And if the Sun and Moon be ashamed of our sins Isa. 24. 23. Ier. 50. 12. and the apostasie of Christians puts Christ to shame Heb. 6. 6. should not we then be ashamed of sinne which makes the very creature blush and puts Christ to shame Oh let our hearts be full of grief and our faces filled with shame for all our abominations yet let it not be the shame of a thief when he is taken Ier. 2. 26. because of disgrace and losse of credit but let it be a filiall shame from a sight and sense oâ—… the loathsomnesse of sin it being offensivum Dei aversivum à Deo odious to God and hurtfull to our selves such shame is our glory Wo then to all imprudent frontlesse men whose life is a trade of sin and they meer workers of iniquity yet have brows of brasse and whores foreheads that cannot blush God will not bear long with such Isa. 3. 9 10. 48. 4. Ier. 3. 3. 6. 15. 8. 12. Impudency proclaims impudency when men are so farre from shame that they think it a shame disgrace not to sin and swear and go like Ruffians these are come to the height of sin and are sinners that know no shame Zeph. 3. 5. 6. Beleevingly hoping and waiting for mercy and Pardon We must be humbled but not despair David had sinned greatly yet he beleeves iâ—… Gods mercy and begs for pardon Psal. 51. Iudas indeed confessed but without hope of pardon and therefore hangs himself but the sorrow of the godly is mixt with faith and his confession with beleeving that his sins are pardonable and God will yet shew him mercy Ezra 10. 2. Yet there is hope for this thing 7. Reformingly True confession is joyned with Reformation he doth not only confession his Ignorance Atheism Worldlinesse Hypocrisie c. but he likewise forsakes them and resolves against them Prev 28. 13. Confession of sin and the confusion of sin go together in his soul he desires as freely to forego his sin as he desires it should be forgiven The Ephesian Converts confesse their sin and then burn their books Act. 19. 18 19. The wicked sometimes confesse but they never forsake their sin but after confession they return whith the dog to his vomit Saul confesseth with tears that David was more righteous then he yet after that persecutes him again Pharaoh confesseth the Lord is righteous I have sinned yet after persecutes Israel again But the godly ever joyn Reformation with Consession In a word then we see there must be See twenty exâ—…e consider to keep us from sin Bolton comfaffl consc ch 49 〈◊〉 10 c. Peccatum est deformitas pravaricatio legis divinae directè contrarium sanctitati quae est conâ—…o mitas voluntatâ—… nostrae cum lege divinâ à Lap. an abhorring of all sin by such as would attain to sanctification for sanctitie and sin approved of cannot subsist together though sanctitie and sin â—…ated and lamented may Sin and sanctitie are directly opposite for sanctitie is our conformitie to Gods will sin is a deformitie and transgressing of it Yet some sin nes are more directly opposite to it and therefore we must more especially watch against them As 1. Drunkennesse is a beastly swinish Vt omnium amnium confluxus in oceanum sic
omnium vitiorum in hoc vitium sin a fit stie for the devil but Gods holy Spirit abhorres such a dwelling 2. Idolatry 't is spirituall adultery breaks the Covenant they forsake the Holy one of Israel to follow Idols therefore God will forsake them 3. Fornication is a sinne most directly opposite to sanctification it is made a part of our sanctification to fly from it 1 Thes. 4. 3. This is the will of God even your sanctification that ye should abstain from fornication It is a sin not to be once named amongst Saints but with detestation Ephes. 5. 3 4 5. Our bodies must be kept chaste and pure as becomes the * Hujus templi aedituus custos est pudicitia quae nibil immundum aut prophanum inferri sinit ne Deus ille qui inhabitet inquinatam sedem offensus relinquat Tertul. Temples of the holy Ghost for he that defiles the temple of God him will God destroy and if men and Magistrates will suffer it to go unpunished yet the God of heaven will not Heb. 13. 4. Whoremongers and adulterers he will judge 'T is not so light a sin as prophane men imagine it is a God-provoking sin where fornication and adultery reign the plagues of God are ever at the door this sinne helped to bring the flood upon the old world Gen. 6. 2 3. 7. this sin cut off three and twentie thousand of the Israelites 1 Cor. 10. 8. This brought sad afflictions on David 2 Sam. 12 c. It is a sin that blinds the judgement Hos. 4. 11. transforms men into beasts enseebles the body emasculates Ecclus. 19. 2 the minde shortens the daies Prov. 5. 11. spends the radicall moisture breeds foul diseases consumes the estate Prov. 6. 26. 29. 3. Luke 15. 13. 30. barres men from heaven 1 Cor. 6. 9 10. and casts them into hell Prov. 9. ult Rev. 21. 8. The miseries which attend Breve est quid deleâ—…tat aeternuÌ„ quod torquet this sinne I finde summed up in this Tetrastich Faemina corpus opes animum vim lumina vocem Referente Sâ—…yro C. C. p. 475. Polluit annihilat necat eripit orbat acerbat Occiditque animan consortia faedera famam Debilitat perdit socios aufértque fideles Oh then let the diresull plagues which attend this sin and which we see daily to be executed on those that practise it make us not only go or run but with all speed fly from it as we would from the devil who is The unclean spirit and delights to draw men to uncleannesse It is the Apostles precept 1 Cor. 6. 18. Flee fornication and Alia vitia pugnando sola libido sugi endo vincitur fugiendo faeminas objecta occasiones libidinis à Lap. to this end flee the occasions of it and inducements to it as idlenesse drunkennesse gluttony and pampering of the body familiaritie with suspitious persons neglect of fasting and prayer neglect of watching over our hearts senses waies and words c. He that will shun a sinne must shun the occasions of that sin else we tempt God and he will never deliver us from the Vitare peccata est vitare occasiones peccati Reg. See more Brooks Kem. ag Sat. dev p. 86 c. to 95. Gataker Ser. on Mark 13. 37. p. 79. sin but leave us up to it because of our negligence It is a true saying He that will no evil do must do nothing that belongs thereto Shun the occasions and God will preserve you from the sin See the foulnesse of this sin and the plagues that attend it fully set forth by M. Iohn Downam in his Treatise against Whoredom p. 1. 8 c. M. Hildersham on Iohn 4. Lect. 15. p. 66. to 87. and ten Aggravations of it by D. Ier. Taylor Holy Living p. 83 c. Thus have I at last brought you to Mount Nebo and from thence given you a glimpse of the Heavenly Canaan it is not bare speculation which will bring usthither there must be practice To know these things is necessary but without Doing them they will do us no good It is not praising but Practising of holinesse which will bring us to the God of holinesse Let us then make it our great work 1. To get inward sanctification get our hearts renewed 2. Let us shew the truth of this inward holinesse by our holy words holy works and holy walking and then know for thy comfort whoever thou art be thou afflicted tempted poor despised c. yet if thou thus continue to walk in the way of holinesse thou shalt certainly at last arrive at the haven of happinesse having thy fruit in holinesse God himself hath told thee that thy end shall be everlasting life To which holinesse and happinesse sanctification and salvation he of his own free mercy bring us who hath so dearly bought us even Jesus Christ the Righteous Amen Amen FINIS A Divine EMBLEME tending to raise our hearts to a Divine love of the most holy God QVARLES EMBLEMS Lib. 5. Embl. 6. 1 I Love and have some cause to love the earth She iâ—… my makers creature therefore Good She is my mother for She gave me birth She is my tender Nurse she gives me food But what 's a Creature Lord compar'd with Thee Or what 's my mother or my Nurse to me 2 I love the Ayre her dainty sweets refresh My drooping soul and to new sweets invite me Her shril mouth'd Quire sustaine me with their flesh And with their Polyphonian notes delight me But what 's the Air or all the sweets that she Can blesse my soul withall compar'd to Thee 3 I love the Sea she is my fellow Creature My carefull Purveyor she provides me store She walls me round she makes my diet greater She wafâ—…s my treasure from a forreigne shore But Lord of Oceans when compar'd with Thee What is the Ocean or her wealth to me 4 To heavens high City I direct my Journey Whose spingled Suburbs entertaine mine eye Mine eye by contemplations great Atturney Transcends â—…he Christall pavement of the skie But what is heaven great God compared to Thee Without thy presence Heaven 's no Heaven to me 5 Without thy presence Earth gives no Refection Without thy presence Sea affords no Treasure Without thy presence Ay'rs a rank Infection Without thy presence Heaven it sel'fs no Pleasure If not possest if not injoy'd by Thee What 's Earth or Sea or Air or Heav'n to me 6 The hightest Honours that the World can boast Are subjects farre too low for my desire The brightest beams of glory are at most But dying sparkles of thy living fires The proudest flames that earth can kindle be But nightly Glow-worms if compar'd to Thee 7 Without thy presence Wealth are bags of Cares Wisdome but Folly Joy disquiet Sadness Friendship is Treason and Desights are Snares Pleasures but Pain and Mirth but pleasing Madness Without thee Lord things be not what they be Nor have they being when compar'd with Thee 8 In having all things and not Thee what have I Not having Thee what have my labours got Let me enjoy but Thee what farther crave I And having Thee alone what have I not I wish nor Sea nor Land nor would I be Possest of Heaven Heaven unpossest of Thee FINIS
Effectu super omnia desiderabilia desideremus eum Les. above ten thousand worlds We may and must love holy men and the better any man is the more we must love him but there is none holy as the Lord therefore we must love none equally with him We may love the drop and love the sea but our love to the drop must not be equal with our love to the sea We must love God simply for himself and other things in relation to him The more excellent any thing is the greater object it is of our desire now Gods excellency is infinite therefore he is an object worthy of our choicest See more Burrouâ—…s Gratious spi. p. 285 286 c. love and veneration 3. Dost want purity thou seest whither thou must go for it even to God who is the fountain of holinesse Whither should we go for water but to the sea or for light but to the sun All purity is in God and none to be had out of him So that what James 1. 5. saith of wisdom is true of sanctification If any man lack it let him ask it of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbra deth none either for present defects or former failings Go not to men go not to creatures who are cisterns broken cisterns but go to God who is a fountain a living fountain having all excellencies in himself originally and abundantly The diseased woman spent all she had upon Physitians yet remained uncured till she came to Christ Mark 5. 25 26. Hence the Lord to encourage us to the work hath promised Ezek. 36. 25 c. that from all our Idols and from all our filthinesse he will cleanse us But we must not then sit still and think to have such a jewell without some pains we must beg it and beg it earnestly at Gods hand who hath said he will be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them v. 37. Spare to speak and you shall never speed You must ask for holinesse before ever you can have it if asking will not do you must seek more earnestly if seeking will not do Matth. 7. 7. you must knock with violence till God hear you it is a gradation and implies fervour of spirit it is not a simple repetition Hac vis grata Dâ—…o est Tertul. God loves to see his people imporâ—…unate for spiritual blessings 4. Dost finde any purity wrought in thy soul Know to whom thou must ascribe it even to the God of holinesse James 1. 17. Every good and perfect gift Naturae depravationem no potest reparare nâ—…sae author naaturae Fabritius comes from above Purity grows not in natures garden we do not gather such grapes of thorns and therefore if thou finde any measure of sanctification in truth begun in thy soul praise the holy One of Israel for it Psal. 71. 22. 99. 9. He hath given thee that which will stand thee in more stead then if he had given thee all the Kingdoms of the world 5. Dost see holinesse in others Oh let not thine eye be evil because Gods is Omnes plurimi 〈◊〉 eâ—…s qui luâ—… cent luce haâ—… mundana quanti igitur faciendi qui lucenl caelestiilla luce Rol loc in Ioh. 7. 36. good but love it prize it honour it for the givers sake we should be so farre from envying that we should wish that all the Lords people were holy Hast thou a son a daughter a servant a neighbour that begin to make conscience of their waies do not censure them vex them hinder and upbraid them like the Pharisees that would neither go to heaven themselves nor suffer others but pray for them comfort quicken and encourage them in the way and work of the Lord it will not repent you when you come into your Kingdom To rejoyce in the holinesse of others makes us like the Angels of heaven when envying at the graces of others makes us like the devils in hell 6. This may humble us in all our approaches to this high and holy One Dei cognitio gignit in nobis humilitatem videt hic quantum distet a Deo quam parum imo quam nihil sit A Lap. when we seriously consider his absolute purity and our impurity his righteousnesse and our unrighteousnesse his Majesty and our misery this will make us little in our own eyes and to come with fear and trembling before him Many when they come to pray hear c. they come as to a Fair or to a Market to see and to be seen they sleep when they should hear they dresse and pray wash and pray work and pray durst they do thus to a Prince Did people but consider into what a presence they come when they come to Gods Ordinances they would quake and tremble when they come And if so holy a man as Moses did exceedingly quake and tremble when he came near the Lord Heb. 12. 21. And when the Seraphims proclaimed the thrice holy God Isaiah cries presently Wo is me for I am undone though he were an holy man and free from the grosse sins of the time yet the sense of his originall uncleannesse made him faint when he had but a glimpse of this most holy God Oh then How dreadfull will the sight of this Holy Holy Holy One be to such as lie still in the dreggs of nature meer lumps of sinne and masses of uncleanness 7. Do not murmurre at his dispensations towards thy self or the Church of God for he is perfectly holy in all his waies and righteous in all his works he is holinesse it selfe and can do no iniquity Hence we are commanded to praise him for his holinesse Psal. 99. 3. Let the people praise thy great terrible Name Why for it is holy q. d. Though the Lord be great in power and terrible in his dispensations to us yet they all call for praise because in them all he doth manifest himself to be holy just and righteous in all his waies and works towards us Upon this account we ought to exalt him Psal. 99. 4 5 9. Exalt the Lord. Why so for he is holy in all his administrations to his people and therfore when thou art brought low do not murmur but let thy soul keep silence to Jehovah for he is the righteous Lord and can do no iniquity Carnall fathers may chastise according to their pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his holinesse Heb. 12. 10 Say then in the midst of all thy trials with David Psal. 119. 137. Righteous art thou Lord and iust are thy iudgements for though they may be secret yet they are alwaies just And this upheld David when he was in distresse and cried night and day but the Lord heard not Psal. 22. 1 2. yet v 3 But thou art holy thou art righteous and just in thy dealings with me therefore I submit to thy dispensations chearfully 8. Beware of offending