opportunities and seasons of doing good and not let them slip Eccles. 11 6 but sow our seed in the morning and not let our hand rest in the evening and worke the workes of him that sent us while it is day Iohn 9 4. Waiting for occasions as Abraham in his tent doore being given to hospitalitie who spying three men as he thought comming in the way ranne to meete them and to invite them a proofe of sound love to shew kindnesse to unknowne men of whom he neither had nor hoped for exchange of good turnes Integritie being more then hospitality might be used with lesse daunger than now in so great persidiousnesse of men Grace makes a man pompt and readie to gracious acts The liberall man deviseth liberall things contrary to the churle and by liberall things shall be established Esay 32 8. To day I must abide at thy house He had taken up his heart and now proceeds to take up his house for his lodging Thus of his owne goodnesse God is pleased to follow his owne favours as the Princes of this world sometimes do to their favorites till they make them great but there is a wide difference Yet in both freely and because they have set their hearts upon them for good they wil honour them God will perfect his good worke which he once begins in his toward their salvation and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodnesse in them as the Prophet saith The Lord will perfect that which concerneth mee He will proceede to declare that hee hath care of my salvation and what hee hath begun he will through even unto the last act Men by inconstancie caried another way what they unadvisedly entred upon with levitie they relinquish or are constreined by infirmitie to omitte what above their strength they attempted But no such thing can be fall God whose gifts and calling are without repentance hee neither fainteth nor is weary hee cannot change his nature nor put of his goodnesse wherewith he is indued hee will not frustrate our hope in the middle of our course but they that wait upon him shall renew their strength As hee redeemeth our life from death so he Crownes us with loving knindnesse and tender mercies and satisfieth his people with his goodnesse Ierem. 31 14. Hee causeth their light to spring out in the darkenesse and their darknesse by increased light to bee as the noone day he droppes in his love by degrees till he make their peace full He circumciseth our hearts to love and desire him and rewards that love which is his owne worke with new proofe of his love I love them that love me and they that seeke me early shall finde me Proverbs 8. 17. His reloving is that hee gives himselfe to be enjoyed of them which with love do seeke him to whom wisedome is consubstantiall or in communicating testimonies of good will as imputing or rendering unto them righteousnesse being favourable to them shewing them his face unto their joy powring forth his Spirit more plentifully upon them leading them more perfectly in the wayes of his commandements Increase of grace is given to them that rightly use the first grace by way of reward Psal. 84 11. To them that walke uprightly God giveth grace His beneficence flowes out dayly unto them having imbraced them with his favour hee ceaseth not to inrich them with his gifts To you that heare shall more be given Marke 4 24. He gives them grace more plentifully that receive with profit the word which hee sends unto them having his words and keepeth them beleeving them and submitting the minde and the heart to them meditating and transferring them to use liberally communicating them to the benefit of others not having the treasure of heavenly wisedome negligently as the unprofitable servant had his Talent but with diligence to good use they shall have more committed to their trust for hee that is faithfull in that which is least is faithfull also in much Luke 16 10. He that loveth Christ and keepeth his Cōmandements though that love bee of God shall bee loved of his Father and hee will love him and will manifest himselfe to him and they will come to him and make their abode with him The love which he promiseth is not that wherewith hee begins to love us but of which hee begins to reward us with new accesse of his grace and within graving the Testimony of his Fatherly love in our hearts The love of the Trinitie towards us is eternal and explicated by every difference of time Iohn 3 16. God so loved the world that hee gave his onely begotten Sonne Iohn 16 27. The Father himselfe loveth you because you have loved mee Iohn 14 21 Hee that loveth me shall beloved of my Father Shall perceive the grace of God to reside in him which shall be increased in new gifts I will blesse him with increase of his knowledge of me to find in me more and more the comfort of his happinesse and matter of his love to mee that by his owne delight and desire hee shall bee tyed to me hee shall come neerer and neerer to me and rejoyce in the sweetnesse of my familiaritie and wee will come to him unto an increase of union and make him shine and send forth beames of heavenly righteousnesse which the world will they nill they shall take notice of and we will make our abode with him not tarry with him a little time and then depart from him but for ever he shall have our presence here and in heaven thus good is the Lord. Hee knowes us hee makes us to know him hee loveth us hee makes us to love him hee covenants with us hee makes us to covenant with him takes pleasure in us and makes us take pleasure in him hee liveth in us and maketh us live in him hee walkes and talkes with us and wee walke and talke with him all of his owne good will to sill us with his fullnesse This proceeding from his beginning to the consummation of our salvation is grounded and assured upon his faithfullnesse 1 Cor. 1 9. 1 Thess. 5. 24. Two blessings are specially promised to them whom God hath called to the fellowship of his Sonne one confirmation unto the end or as 2 Thess. 3 3 preservation from evill unmoveably to persist in goodnesse notwithstanding temptation that the evill one touch them not v. 23 with any deadly wound For hee is in them who hath overcome the divell the world sinne and death greater than he that is in the world 1 Iohn 4 4. Hee shall not touch them with a qualitative touch to alter their qualitie from good to evill that they should lose their gracious disposition and prove perverse The other blessing is the fulfilling of their sanctification to the blamelesnesse of their whole spirit soule and body Because hee is faithfull in his promises and constant in his gifts 1 Thess. 5 23 24.
because he knew not as he thought what manner of woman it was To suffer as evill doers even for workes of grace is incident to gracious men 2 Tim. 1 12. Davids enemies were moved against him because hee followed goodnesse onely hurt him for that cause that hee would live godly Psal. 38 20. His benefits towards them could not overcome their malice but they requited him with injurie The Apostle puts the case Who is hee that will harme you if yee bee followers of that which is good 1 Pet. 3 13. Hee that studies beneficence and bestowes himselfe in demeriting others one would thinke should soâ—â—en iron minds and Experience teacheth that they that governe their tongue love peace hurt none but apply themselves to doe good to all as they can are lesse obnoxious to the injuries of wicked men but when the quarrell is religion then humanitie is laid aside they that will live according to the doctrin of Christ godly shal suffer for righteousnes Not onely evill men that are murmurers of destinate malice but even good men of some weaknesse either in judgement as they of the circumcision that contended with Peter about his carying the Gospell to the Gentiles and eating with them or of some envy may mislike some good actions as Iosuah misliked and would have had it forbidden that Eldâ—d and Medad prophecied in the Host Numb 11 28 29. It may bee that some man of an evill mind may grudge at a good worke under a faire pretence and deceive some well meaning men and leade them into some murmuring As is thought of Iudas out of covetousnesse grudging at the cost in the oyntment powred upon Christ as wast which might have helped many poore people if it had beene fold and given to them that others of the Disciples were so drawen to mislike it and murmure Marke 14 4 5. Math. 26 with Iohn 12 5 8. Some murmurers are said to speake evill of things they know not a madde boldnesse not fearing to condemne things that exceed their capacitie It is of prostitute ignorance arising of an evill disposition to shew some pride and petulancie to speake evill of things they understand not assenting to the conclusion without knowledge of the true cause In doing our dutie wee must be content with Gods approbation it is enough that we are allowed of God though wee desire also to manifest our selves in the consciences of men our resolution must bee to shew our selves the servants of Christ in good and in evill report when men speake well of us and when they dispraise us wee have one Lord to whom wee stand or fall if we doe of faith what wee doe particular and vniversall we please God and have a good conscience and the fruit of our righteousnesse is peace the effect thereof quietnesse and assurance for ever Esay 32 17. Neither shunne nor cease to doe good though men of ignorance or ill affection be offended We must labour to bee without offence not onely to give none but to take none to make us weake fall or goe backe Two things helpe to this light and love He that loveth his brother abideth in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in him 1 Iohn 2 10. To love ones brother is to bee of a mind well affected towards him shewing it in benevolence and beneficence according to his power and that for Christs sake which ariseth of the light of faith In whose mind the true light Christ apprehended by faith doth shine the Law concerning brotherly love is written in his heart by the Spirit which is a testimonie not onely of his being but abiding in the light persevering in it And this light and knowledge of Gods Commandements so guides him that hee goeth on his journey to heaven which he hath undertaken with expedition without offence or hinderance and love in his heart carries him with respect to the whole law that the Apostle saith hee that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law whatsoever CommandemeÌ„t there is it is comprehended in this saying namely Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe Love worketh no ill to his neighbour Rom. 13 8 9 10. Charitie behaves not it selfe unseemely seeketh not her owne thinketh not evill c. 1 Cor. 13 5. And it is to bee observed that hee doth not say there is no scandall to him but there is no scandall in him Though many scandalls are offered of the world to him that loves his brother none peirceth into his mind or is so in his mind whereby hee is hindred from leading his life freindly and peaceably with his neighbour Hee so farre offends not and is not offended as hee hath light abiding in him and walkes in it but because hee is but in part taken out of the darkenesse and his love is not perfect therefore in respect of the remainder of ignorance and selfelove unsanctified hee offends and takes offence stumbles in many things but as his knowledge increaseth and his holy love so hee is more pure and without offence for which the Apostle praied for the Philippians that their love might abound still more and more in knowledge and in all judgement that they might bee sincere and without offence till the day of Christ that they might hold on a constant course in their purifie without stumbling this is one great part of their felicitie that love Gods Law nothing shall offend them Psal. 119 165. Most great tranquilitie and true securitie That he was gone to be a guest with one that is a sinner This is that which offends them his fellowship with a sinner It is to bee inquired 1. who is a sinner or in their account such 2. whether it bee a sinne to have fellowship with them A sinner in their account was one of prostituted wickednesse living and taken in notorious and manifest sinnes for which they were excommunicate out of the Synagogue and the Scripture saith some thing to this purpose in degrees of sinnes it seemes more to bee a sinner than to bee ungodly 1 Tim. 1 9. 1 Pet. 4 18. Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appeare Psal. 1 1. Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsell of the ungodly nor stood in the way of sinners of the Sodomits it is said they were sinners before the Lord exceedingly Gen. 13 13. They feared not in the sight of the Lord and before his face to designe any wickednesse though never so vile therefore they that sinne with impudencie are said to declare their sinnes like Sodome Esay 3 9. So they began to bee called sinners which fell not of ignorance or weakenesse but did evill of destinate malice without all reverence of God 2. Who offended not in some lesser error or fault but lived in hainous wickednesses 3. Who fell not once into such sinne but by frequent acts acquired an habite exercised in evill it was as their certaine kind of life 4. When they committed their sinnes not in secret
of some other more eminently gifted better known in the Church on whose judgement thou mightest with more safety have reposed thy selfe but well knowing the worth of it to bee such as will easily discover it selfe and by reason of my interest in the Author and some trust reposed in me this way I rather chose to let my meanenesse appeare than not to discharge that debt of love which I owe to the memory of my deceased friend The Lord blesse these things unto thee and teach thee to profit and do thou blesse God for the labours of the dead and living and let him begge a prayer of thee who being affectionately devoted to the good of thy soule doth rest Thine in the Lord Iesus Christ H. Whitfield 〈…〉 ly in Surry May this 13. The principall Contents contained in this Booke ZAcheus his description conversion and occasion thereof Fol. 1 The cause of it and efficacy thereof 2. 3 Christs office in seeking and saving 4 His sufferings and death voluntary 5 From thence wee have encouragement to come unto him for salvation 17 Wee ought to know this love of his 19. 20 And to frame our obedience accordingly 21 Iericho of old cursed yet yeelds some heires of blessing 27 Likewise doth Bethsaida Tyrus and Sidon and also Samaria 26. 27 The reason thereof 29 It may minister comsort to those that live in barren times and places 32 The world Behold implyes certainety and matter worthy 〈…〉 attention 34 Which may both further our faith 37 and also correct our dull negligence 38 The naming of the person ascertaines the history 40 4â— The mentioning of his sinne being pardoned is no staine unto him 42 43 What the Publicans were 44 Vsuall wiyes to get great riches 45 Some great and rich ones chosen called and saved 47 Riches how hindrances of salvation 48 c Hurt in unlawfull and base keeping of riches 54 Evill expence of riches furthers damnation 57 c To what end God gives riches unto men 64 Riches further the godly in the exercise of grace 68 Wicked men not to be preferred for their wealth 73 Zacheus his desire to see Christ the occasion of his conversion 74 His desire respected and graunted 77 God begins his good worke in small things 78 Workes of the Spirit in mens hearts sometimes unknowne to them 81 c Wee must observe secret motions unto good 86 Zacheus in seeking to see Christ neglected his worldly reputation 89 Preventing grace 93 The effects of it 94 Our Conversion described by our knowledge of God in the face of Iesus Christ. 96 Impediments and lets sometime from others sometime from our selves 98 99 Sathan a principall hinderer of good things 100 When a doore is opened to doe good there are many adversaries 101 102 Wee must not for all that thinke it strange nor be discouraged 103 Gracious affections or desires not quelled by lets 109 The unsoundnesse of vanishing desires 117 Comfort for those that pursue good and holy desires 120 The good successe of Zacheus his desire 125 Comfort for those that linger after Christ in holy desires 130 Christ bids himselfe to Zacheus his house 134 God sometimes gives above our desires 135 The use wee should make thereof 141 The doing of Gods workes with speedinesse 143 Incouragement for those who are weakned by Gods deferring to grant their Prayers 147 God of his owne goodnesse is pleased to proceede in his favours 156 Consolation arising thereof 165 Caveats to be used herein 168 169 Obedience in following the lively and powerfull calling of Christ. 170 It is not in man that willeth and runneth though wee must both will and runne 179 181 The gracing of obedience is to bee ready and without delay 185 Ministers duty in their heavers 191 Men must not take delayes in repentance 194 Dangers in delaying 198 199 Vse thereof to young men 201 Considerations about our calling to Christ. 213 Where Christ commeth there is joy 218 219 The causes of this joy and the benefits that come therewithall 222 223 It is to their reproofe that rifuse Christ offered 228 229 A double act of faith 235 Against such as goe on unheartfully in good things 238 239 Heavinesse and griefe blameable in Christians 142 143 Meanes to maintaine true joy in the Lord. 246 247 Differences betwixt the joy of the godly and temporizers 248 249 As Zacheus received Christ into his heart and house so ought wee to receive Christ in his members and servants 153 Our backwardnesse to entertaine Christ in his members and servants reprooved 258. 259 Helpes to further this duty 260 261 We should not be curious nor too inquisitive about those whom wee entertaine to house 267 Murmuring springeth of mistaken grounds 268 Good men sometimes misliked for well doing 272 273 Herein we must content our selves with Gods approbation though we have not mens 275 Wee must labour not onely â—hat we give none offence but also that we take none to make us weake or goe backe 276 Sinners who they are and so to be accounted 281 282 Who are not to be holden for sinners 290. 291 Wherein stands the dominion of sinne 292. 293. Whether all fellowship with stnners be sinne in a godly man 295. 296 Considerations to be had and used herein 297 A wicked severity or carnall bitternesse against sinners 307 308 True profession a testimony of stable faith and unfained repentance 309 Shame and fearefulnesse to professe reproved Reproofe of those that shew no proofe in their workes of repentance and faith 319 Liberality almes and bounty expresse and shew our love to God and men 321 The fruits thereof 323 Rules to be kept in giving 331 In what cases Wives and inferiors may give 336 Rules thereof 338 A man must begin with his owne 343 Prophets of God to be respected in bene volence 345 What commends almes 351 Reproofe of the covetous and illiberall 354 The manner of Publicans sinning in their calling 361 Sâ—me men come to impudency in sinning for a little advantage 363 We must not bee too hasty to credite accusations against our neighbours 367 In true conversion wee must forsake not onely sinne in generall but even our speciall sinnes 370 Which should move men to examine well their conversion whether it be true or false 374 Those whom the divell can hold no longer in the grosse sins of the body he leades to Popery and superstition 377 Repentance requires to have the man cleane from secret sins 379 Restitution of goods evill gotten is a fruit of Repentance 381 Restitution what it is 384 Men should be content with a little so it be honest and â—uâ—â— gaine 387 Christ honoured Zacheus and his house with his testimony 389 As Christ is author so hee is witnesse of his graces in men 390 Bellarmine confuted about the certainty of salvation 392 Men ought to get certainty of their grace and how it may be had 398 Those that have not assurance of their estate in grace
God was so forcible in him that hee was caried with more earnestnesse to proceede in the course of his office whereunto God called him Bartimaeus desiring mercie of Christ for restoring his sight being rebuked by some that went before that hee might hold his peace and not offend Christ with clamorous importunitie like a provident begger as having farre more high matters to handle than attend a beggar asking a common almes as they it seemes thought of him hee was the more stirred and cryed so much the more Thou Sonne of David have mercie on me Luke 18 39. Or as Marke hath it he cryed the more a great deale Marke 10. â—8 Paul pulled away untimely in respect of his worke from among the Thessalonians inforceth himselfe more abundantly to see their face with great desire and beggs earnestly exceedingly night and day that God himselfe even our Father and our Lord Iesus Christ would direct his way unto them to adde that which was lacking in their faith David mocked by Michal in his piety a King and a Prophet of God adornes his defence that it was before the Lord and was magnificently both to bee thought and spoken of and professeth yet to play before the Lord and to bee more vile and to bee base in his owne sight 2 Sam. 6 21 22. And the same holy man showes how his grace not onely maintained it selfe against opposition when the wicked by bands and troopes spoyled him made a prey of him hee held fast Gods doctrine and could not bee drawne from the obedience of truth but more his devotion was such as hee resolued to rise at midnight to serve him with prayse of righteous judgements Psal. 119 61 62 And when wicked men destroyed his law overthrew the doctrine hee loved it so much the more as more precious than the most fine gold verse 126. 127. It is thus in sinfull nature that the lust increaseth by opposition The Sodomites by Lots exhortation to desist from their wicked enterprize confirme their resolution to do worse and that to him Gen. 19. 9 Hee came in to sojourne say they and he will needs bee a Iudge The Priests at Pilats motion to release unto them Christ Iesus cryed out the more Let him bee crucified Math 27. 23. Sinne becomes out of measure sinfull by the Commandement Rom. 7. 13. working death by that which is good So in grace it not onely holds in opposition but is more intensive for the Spirit of God the author of the goodnesse of the will helps it and strengthens it to produce the good worke where unto hee hath inclined it that it overcomes impediments The calling of the elect is the revealing of the arme of God the putting forth of the exceeding greatnes of his power they become like firebrands that will not be blowne out with the winde as candles but kindled more as if fire in the water should not onely not goe out quenched but still burne up higher and higher Which serves to discover the unsoundnesse of vanishing desires which are quelled with every little crosse or impediment and difficultie yea somtimes when they be not reall but imagined as Solomon writes of the slothfull man as faining dangers he saith A Lyon is without I shall bee slaine in the streets Though hee speake not such words yet he hinders himselfe from that which he should doe by casting dangers imagining lets having alwayes one excuse or other that though hee wish and desire all the day yet his hands will fall to no worke His way is as a hedge of thornes Prov. 15. 19. his feares and griefes pricke and stay him like thornes and bryars The desires and goodnes of the temporary beleevers are two wayes faulty by hypocrisie it is but seeming to have Luke 8. 18. and by vanishing away Hos. 6. 4. Your goodnesse is as a morning Cloud and as the early dew it goeth away As in much heat sometime the morning Clouds give the husbandman hope of raine but the Sunne rising they are dissolued or dissipated and frustrate his expectation so in some pang they shew some probabilities of returning but their lusts waxing hot the hope is cut off And as the morning dew seemes to moisten the earth but is consumed away by the sunne so their shewes of piety frequenting the assemblies instituting publike prayers c. passe away without effect As the rush growes not long without mire nor the flag without water morish herbes that have their nourishment from it though greene and not cut downe wither before any other So are the path's of all that forget God and the hypocrites hope shall perish They have not their sappe from Christ and what freshnesse so ever they shew it must needes wither and that discovers that they were not rooted in God who maintaines the lot of his people against all that fights against it the fruition of the grace hee hath given them shall remaine safe unto them It may bee for consolation to such as hold still their desire to good and follow after it though they bee differred and increase in earnestnesse as hunger and thirst after righteousnesse they are such as a man may alledge to God Psa. 119 20. My soule breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times 40. Behold I have longed for thy precepts Hee offers his desires to bee looked upon As Esay 26 8. The desire of our soule is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee 9. With my soule have I desired thee in the night yea with my spirit within mee will I seeke thee early It is an argument of a well set and disposed heart when a man dare present it to the Lord that hee may looke upon the intentions and desires of it Desires without grace to confirme them and keepe them in vigor are but as a false conception which evanisheth and commeth not to the birth But such as be deepely rooted not light motions but make the heart breake to see how we can not do as wee desire in Gods matters and this permanent it is of grace I opened my mouth and panted because I loved thy commandements This propension of the soule and vehement intension of spirit where the soule vehemently longs to feele that power and comfort which it knowes to bee in the word knowledge of the good constantly holding the desire to it is that which God lookes for the opening of our mouth wide as a man wearied in travaile opens his mouth to take breath and swallow up the aire As it is of corruption reigning that a man is restlesse in his desire of sinning Prov. 4 16. And it is abhomination to him to depart from it Prov. 13 19. It is deadly greife to bee hindred and pulled from sinfull delights yea to thinke that hee shall not accomplish his wicked desire so it is of grace reigning that a man cannot rest till hee accomplish his desire of good his will is converted to it It
is the note of the godly that they follow after righteousnesse upon their knowledge of it Esay 51 1 7. It containes the studie of their mindes and indevours of their will with constant desire till they obtaine which is not in this life as lovers that have set their affection on any most studiously follow to obtaine them and they rest not but in fruition thereof Affections setled on supernaturall objects agreeable to the qualitie thereof argue spirituall and supernaturall being This proofe the Apostle would take of the resurrection of the soule the first resurrection rising with Christ seeking and setting the affections on things that are above thinking and desiring and following things concerning another life spiritual things spiritually discerned and affected and godlinesse as it is of God and conformes us to him That we are in this world concerning beginnings as he is and the kingdome of heaven for his presence to dwell with the Lord to be where Christ is to behold his glory and to be perfectly guided by his Spirit Our conversion begins in Gods worke in us infusing grace by way of seed 1 Iohn 3 9. Which manifests it selfe by new disposition and inclination in us that our desiring spirituall things agreable to their nature is an action of that life of God begun The will first suffers Gods worke upon it and then acts aspires to conversion constantly desires it Inclines us still to seeke God Ier. 31 19. In which God confirmes it he prepares the heart and inclines his eare Psal. 10 17. And when Iesus came to the place hee looked up and said unto him c. Here is the successe of the desire of Zaccheus in that which hee desired and in that which he it may be thought not of Christs looking up speaking to him by his name offering himselfe to be his guest such is the benignitie goodnesse of Christ whence observe that seeking Christ and good things in him by spirituall motion shall not bee in vaine Good desires may be deferred but not denied alwayes the expectation of the poore shall not perish for ever though wee have not our desires so soone as wee conceive them yet if we cast not away our confidence but wait and seeke still our hope shall not frustrate us The desire of the righteous shall bee granted him and his hope shall bee gladnesse his desire is onely good obtaineth that which is good and onely that The Lord is good First actually out of his owne favour and goodnesse hee doth good to them that wait for him to the soule that seeketh him Lament 3 25. God hath not said in vaine to the house of Israel seeke yee me Therefore hath hee not spoken it in secret nor in a darke place of the earth as the prophets of the heathen gods who spake uncertainly and so obscurely and out of darke dennes but goodnesse and truth concurre in him goodnesse in inviting us to seeke him as willing to bee found and truth in not deceiving and frustrating our hope when wee do come to him therefore shall wee not faile to finde him because hee will give us to seeke him and search for him with all our heart Ier. 29. 13. God hath made himselfe a debtor by his promise to them that seeke him that hee will come to them and raine righteousnesse upon them Hos. 10. 12. Vnder righteousnesse we may comprehend all kinde of goodnesse which hee will give from heaven not sparingly but largely therefore hee calls it rayning righteousnesse not only that whereby he justifieth us in Christ receiving us into fauour and regenerateth us rendering unto man his righteousnesse Iob 33 29 But the performance of all promises in due time concerning the present life or that which is to come Hee called Bartimeus crying to him and gave his sight as he desired The woman secretly seeking vertue from him to the healing of her issue of bloud found it in her selfe All that would make use of Christ found him reedie to their good if they sought him aright God is faithfull and of never failing compassions in the experience of his servants they are new every morning Lam. 3 23. Hee both meetes with testimonies of deare love such as he seeth coming towards him to seeke his presence as the father of the prodigall met him with wonderfull expressions of a fathers affection in the happie returne of a sonne that seemed to bee lost and also calls them to behold him and to seeke him that had no thought of it who so prevented with his grace upon his call desire and seeke him seeking finde him and finding him enjoy him unto salvation with eternall glory Which serves abundantly for consolation to such as linger after Christ and his grace in holy desires their hearts God hath touched and they follow him as given of God to save them they shall be satisfied When men have a right estimation of Christ that they preferre him before all things in the world as hee knowes their love he so esteemes it and will give himselfe to be enjoyed of them that they shall as it were lye in his armes and sweetly rest with him in gracious imbracements as the Church sicke of love as it were swounding by vehemencie of hir desire to Christ calling to the Pastors of the Church to refresh her spirits with the meanes that they have in trust to convey by them spirituall things into her soule findes her selfe on the sudden upheld by Christ imploying both his hands for her reliefe and streng thening No sooner calling but he heares and answeres and come to her helpe and comfort so willingly as nothing can stay his pace towards her he skips by the mountaines and leapes by the hills neither her greater sinnes nor lesser infirmities can stay him nor humane power can hinder his accesse with celeritie Cant. 2 5 6 8. In his speede hee is like a Roe or young Hart she seeth him as at the dore behind the wall yet not fully expressing and exhibiting himselfe in his presence to her but he lookes forth at a window and shewes himselfe through the grates or lattesse she beholds him but imperfectly yet with certaintie and with signification of favour But to them that desire to see him in heaven not satisfied with the sight of him as it is now by faith he will give them in due time their desire they shall see him as hee is They shall be where he is and behold his glory the shadowes shall flee away whatsoever hinders the full content in the sight of him as ignorance unbeleefe trouble of conscience outward tribulations the day starre shall arise in their hearts and the day breake the time of th' other world beginning at our death and more fully at our resurrection the morning of that day which shall never give place to night when the righteous shall have dominion over the wicked and shall be ever with the Lord when they shall no
which they take as so many records of their salvation testimonies that the Lord is their God which is their exceeding ioy Psal. 43 4. In whom they incourage themselves in all distresses 1 Sam. 30 6. The ioy of the temporizer is partly of his new knowledge of the great things of the Gospell or conceit of libertie from the fearefull effect of sinne of selfelove desiring not to perish but to dye the death of the righteous The savour of the Gospell is sweet to him and delights him but he is never perfumed as the faithfull that come out of the world unto Christ as with mirrhe and incense and all the powders of the Merchant which ascends like pillars of smoke Cant. 3 6. They differ in effects the faithfull reioycing in Christ whom they receive of God as the gift of his love unto them unto salvation love him againe for his love 1 Iohn 4 19. And receiving him as the pledge of all promises in whom they have their certaine fulfilling they trust in GOD their faith and their hope is in him 1. Pet. 1. 21. and reioycing in him as their redeemer that gave himselfe for them they are so wholy possessed of his love that they live no more to themselves but to him 2 Cor 5. 14. As the Apostle saith To me to live is Christ Philip. 1. 21. The joy of the temporizer either turnes to pride loosenesse or some perverse effect And received him ioyfully As he received Christ into his heart so into his house with chearfullnesse which may bee for our instruction to receive Christ in his members and in his servants willingly and gladly loving Christ in straungers specially being such for religion wee must use hospitalitie towards them without grudging 1 Pet. 4 9. The Apostle requires that Christians bee given to hospitalitie that they follow it Rom. 12 13. Which requires studie and diligence in exercising it Heb. 13 2 in saying Be not forgetfull to lodge strangers it implies a mindfullnesse of the dutie so as not to become more remisse in the accustoming a mans selfe to it 1. Though this be sometimes a part of magnificence and is the worke of rich men yet it is most a fruit of love and mercie which is to bee done with cheerefullnesse Rom. 12 8. 2. Christ is received in the least of his brethren and counts it done to him Math. 25 35. I was a stranger and yee tooke mee in verse 40. In as much as yee did to one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it to me 3. Cheerefullnesse in their intertainement rejoyceth their hearts quiets their affections Philem. 7. The bowels of the Saints are refreshed by the brother when they are in feare either to want or to bee cast upon unbeleevers or sadly suspect they shall bee counted a burden and find such fellowshipe of the Spirit such compassion and mercie the comfort of the love they perceive and voluntary subjection to the Gospell of God doth refresh them greatly which love they make knowen before the Churches 3 Iohn 6. As he that eates the meat of him that hath an evill eye though hee bid him eate and drinke yet because his heart is not with him hath no pleasure in his sweet morsels but is more greived at his churlishnesse than comforted with his provision God rewards this cheerefull harbouring of his servants in this world and that which is to come as Abraham Lot the widow of Sarephath 1 King 17 16 23. The Shunamite 2 King 4 Thus hee promiseth if thou bring the poore that are cast out into thine house the glory of the Lord shall bee thy reward to bring them in is more than to take them in upon intreatie Esay 58 7. The smallest gift given of love a cuppe of water of cold water to the least of those that belong to Christ to a Disciple in that name shall bee rewarded Marke 9 41. Which is not simply affirmed but with an asseveration for more assurance and this excellent vertue of hospitalitie hath greater promises according to the qualitie of persons which in Christian love received are intreated respectively for their calling and cause for which they are strangers There being danger in receiving them that are cast out for religion as if they were rebels Act. 17 6 7 it is likely the greater daunger may bee in receiving the teachers therfore our Saviour gives the greater incouragement saying hee that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall have a Prophets reward to receive him in the name of a Prophet is to receive him as a Prophet and because hee is one so honouring Christ in his servants and specially in them that are specially neere him in place and imployed about his kingdome not only shall hee receive a Prophets reward actively that which the Prophet gives as the knowledge of the truth the opening of secrets of Gods kingdome but passively the reward which God gives with respect to the dignitie of the person on whom the benefit is conferred or as a furtherer of the Prophets worke a helpe to the truth which hee preacheth giving such reward as hee gives the Prophet as if hee had the office of the Prophet and executed it as 1 Sam. 30. 24 As his part is that goeth downe to the battell so shall his part bee that tarieth by the stuffe It serves to reprove the hartlesnesse of Christians to to this duty of receiving CHRIST to their houses in such as perteine to him some as above other men they exclude them from their love so from their dwelling no lovers at all of them that are good some of feare to bee persecuted with them because iniquitie shall abound the love of many shall waxe cold so held with corrupt selfe love that they dare not helpe Christians in their trouble least they should be counted like them this is in a degree to forsake the cause of Christ and to bee ashamed of him They had neede bee prayed for as the Apostle forsaken in his first answering at Rome prayeth for them that failed him God preserveth some in safetie when others are in trouble that the one may succour the other Pov 24 12. If thou say behold we knew not of it shall not hee who pondereth the hearts understand it and hee who preserveth thy soule doth not he know it c. To move to this dutie it may helpe that wee have examples commended of the practise of it Gaius the hoste of Paul and of the whole Church Rom. 16 23. This is a singular commendation that he received Christians comming from every place to his house and table Phebe he gives a great prayse of for her hospitalitie to him and many other and in thankefullnesse requires the Saints at Rome to assist her in whatsoever businesse she hath neede of them as a thing becomming them Rom. 16 2. It is the praise of Lidia that she constrained Paul and Silas to tarry in her house and of
but so manifestly and notoriously as men of ordinarie honestie abhorred them Hence by little and little followed that Pharisaicall persuasion that they which were not desiled with such notorious sinnes were just even in the sight of God of which men Christ saith he came not to call the righteous Math. 9 13. Such as in a loftie and proud mind with trust of carnall workes thought themselves righteous and despised others Luke 18 9. And so was there a distinction of hypocrite and sinner the hypocrite having some seeming righteousnesse precious with men but so desiled with a filthy heart that GOD who knowes it abhorres it Luke 16 15. But a sinner taken generally is every one that is not in Christ. So as hee is still guiltie in his conscience his sinnes are imputed and are upon his owne score as his debts not discharged There is sinne remaining and sinne removed or transient It is remaining when men do not come to Christ. The Spirit convinceth the world of sinne because they beleeve not in him that they are yet in their sinnes because that which unites men to Chrst faith in him they have not and so remaining devided and separate from him sinne reignes in them Iohn 16. 9. Sinne transient not onely in respect of act but concerning guilt and punishment is when men know their sinne and betake themselves to Christ that they may be justified in him they have forgivenesse of all trespasses so as they are not the faults and sinnes of that man God hath received in Christ a full satisfaction and counts himselfe to have no wrong by him puts away his anger and loves him freely He is the Lambe of God that takes away the sinnes of the world Iohn 1 29. Whatsoever alienated God from man hee takes away by the Sacrifice of his death A sinner is he who is not sanctified a Saint and a sinner stand in opposition a good man and a sinner Eccles. 9 2. a sinner is but flesh Gen. 6 3. Iohn 3 6. And in the flesh there dwelleth no good thing they that are in the flesh cannot please God nature is wholy corrupted so as men are by nature children of wrath not by nature created in the first man but as hee corrupted it and is now conceived in the carnall generation in our first birth wee bring with us such a nature as is altogether sinne Psal. 51 5. Iâ— sinne did my mother warme me But hee is no sinner which is borne anew though hee have sinne in him hee is just and good compared with them that are in the flesh and by inchoation hee is a new creature old things are passed away hee hath the godly nature the seed of God abides in him hee is in the number of Saints to whom the kingdome of God is given whose king is the Lord Revel 15 3 Thou king of Saints A sinner is he that coÌ„mits sinnes ungodly such are called ungodly sinners Iude 15. To commit sinnes ungodly is not to commit sinne of infirmitie which befalles the Saints on earth in whose hearts is Gods Law but either deceived by ignorance or when the temptation is so strong that the will is over-caried and the affection in the corruption of it violent against their regenerate will and affection they doe that which they would not but hate But it is to sin out of the full maliciousnes of the wil the heart destitute of al godly feare to sin the hart works iniquitie Esay 32 6. As it was in Iudas his sin so committed as could not agree to any that had his heart indued with heavenly grace there fore hee is excepted in the testimonie that Christ gives of cleanesse to his Disciples You are cleane but not all for hee knew who should betray him Peter Christ knew would deny him three times yet hee is pronounced cleane Hee wrought no such thing in his heart his purpose and love to Christ was against it and so in the rest of the Disciples that were to fly from him and leave him alone they were over-taken with temptation the corrupt feare of man prevailing against the feare of God which was true but weake in them To him our Saviour saying That which thou doest doe quickly discovered the studie and meditation of a persidious minde most intensively rowling and labouring of a wicked treason against his good Lord Iohn 13 27. Hee sinnes ungodly that neither doth good nor loves it hath no heart to internall pietie and justice loves sinne when hee forbeares to doe it is alienated from righteousnesse is the servant of sinne Rom. 6 20 And of corruption 2 Pet. 2 19. Addicting himselfe to sin making it his Lord subjecting himselfe with all his heart to fulfill the lusts of it yeilding his members as servants to uncleanesse and to iniquitie unto iniquitie to doe the workes of unrighteousnesse Hee is not a sinner that purgeth himselfe in a studie of puritie 1 Iohn 3 3. It is opposed to the committing of sinne v. 4. That effectually resists sinne with a double warre defensive to preserue himselfe from the hurt of it 1 Iohn 5 18 And invasive to overthrow the kingdome of it altogether and bring it to nothing that the body of sinne may bee destroyed that walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Every mans life is a certaine way unto which is fixed a 〈…〉 certaine scope and end when all things are of the flesh are referred to the flesh the flesh the rule scope of life with those things that belong to it One may bee said to walke after the flesh though he do some things by occasion w ch seeme to pertaine to the Spirit But in whose mind and intention the Spirit hath vigor that this purpose and course or institution of life depends thereupon he may bee said to walke after the Spirit though sometimes some things are incident which seeme to resemble the disposition of the flesh rather than of the Spirit yea sometime the flesh appeare more than the Spirit when the mind in a kind of generall motion of the true faith â—ends unto God in particular causes there is somewhat which hinders the light of it and hee too much more than is meete is indulgent to his affections and addicted to his owne witte 1 â—or 3 3. It is one thing to walke in sinne it is another to fall into sinne when his walke is in the light of knowledge and faith as it is one thing to fall into the mire another to through ones selfe into it and with pleasure to wallow in it in that there is a hard necessitie of sinning through frailtie in this there is a certaine and destinate will The dominion of sinne stands in assent and workes but then the assent is not onely antecedent but consequent the worke not broken off but continued where consent is given by infirmity which repentance forthwith breakes off sinne reignes not when that which is done is by and by condemned and that it