Father and God is knowne in Christ as a father is knowne in his sonnes face The soule of man is full of hellish darknesse that is not taught of Christ Jesus For as the Apostle saith the light of the knowledge of the glory of God is given in the face of Iesus Christ The knowledge of the glory of Gods wisedome in the mystery of mans redemption the knowledge of the glory of Gods power in dissolving the works of Satan the knowledge of the glory of Gods justice in satisfying himselfe for mans sinne by Christs suffering the knowledge of the glory of Gods mercy in forgiving mans transgression the knowledge of the glory of Gods holinesse in sanctifying mans soule and the knowledge of the glory of Gods love in reconciling man unto himselfe all this knowledge of the glory of God is given in the face of Jesus Christ it is all manifested and made knowne in and through Christ of all Christian schollers he is the choisest that knowes most of God in Christ and because this knowledge is given in the face of Christ we should receive Christ comming in the Gospell with very great rejoycing for as the light is sweet and it is a pleasant thing to the eye to behold the Sunne so this wisedome when it entreth into the heart and this knowledge is pleasant to the soule in regard of spirituall liberty and freedome brought to the soule of man by the comming of Christ in his Gospell and spirituall kingdome Christ is the worker and the Gospell the instrument of mans freedome Christ comming in the Gospell brings liberty from ignorance as the Sunne brings liberty from darknesse Christ comming into Capernaum the Evangelist saith the people that sate in darknesse saw a great light and to them that sate in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up By this Christ brings liberty from death in sinne as by his voice he raised Lazarus and set him free from the grave so the dead in sinne heare the voice of the Sonne of God in the Gospell and live by this Christ brings liberty from Satan as David by his staffe and stone overthrew the great Goliah and brought liberty to Israel so doth Christ by his Gospell cast downe the strong holds of sinne and make Satan fall like lightening from heaven and frees the soules of Gods chosen Hereby Christ brings liberty from uncleannesse As Iordan freed Naaman from his leprosie so doth Christ by his word sanctifie and cleanse the soules of all beleevers Hereby Christ brings liberty from the Wrath of God and curse of the Law as a surety paying the debt brings liberty to the principall from the prison the arrest and sentence of the Judge Christ preached in the Gospell is the end of the law for righteousnesse to all that beleeve in him As we therefore rejoyce in the light which frees us from darknesse in the Physitian which frees us from diseases in the ransomer which frees us from bondage in the surety which frees us from the Serjeants that they doe not arrest us from the prison that it doth not hold us so should wee rejoyce in the comming of Christ bringing manifold sweet and comfortable freedome to us The Prophet having declared how God had given Christ for a Covenant of the people for a mediator of the people to establish the earth the elect living on the earth to cause to inherit the desolate heritages to restore them to that heavenly inheritance out of which they were cast by their sinne and Satan and to say to the prisoners goe forth to loose them that were bound with the fetters of their corruption and captivated by Satan addeth this as a duty of the people and a fruit of that freedome which Christ hath brought unto them Sing O Heaven and be joyfull Oh Earth breake forth into singing O Mountaine for God hath comforted his people and will have mercy upon his afflicted And thus Philip preaching Christ in Samaria and the devils departing out of many that were possessed by them it is said there was great ioy in that City spirituall freedome from the power of Satan and our owne corruption ministers matter of much and very sweet rejoycing In regard of that heavenly and blessed victory which we obtaine by the comming of Christ in the Gospell the Priests sounding the rammes-hornes the wals of Jericho fell and the Israelites obtained the victory Gods Ministers crying aloud and lifting up their voyces like a trumpet in the preaching of the Gospell the holds of sin are w cast downe and the soules of men are made victorious according to that of the Apostle the weapons of our warfare are not carnall but spirituall and mighty through God to the casting downe of strong holds When the Arke was erected Dagon fell When Christ is erected exalted and set up among the people in the ministery of the Gospell then the Devill fals from his possession then sinne fals from its dominion and then the world fals from the roome and sway it had in the hearts of the people the souldier is made victorious by his weapon the Christian by the Gospell the word being the sword of the Spirit that instrument by which the Spirit shewes his power in making the soule of man a glorious conquerour Why doth the Prophet speaking in the person of Christ say the Lord had made his mouth a sharp sword and a polished shaft but to shew the energy and working of his doctrine in piercing the heart in wounding sinne as a sword and shaft doth the body of the enemy in the day of battell The right use of this weapon ever gives man victory over his corruption What is the white-horse mentioned by Saint Iohn but the Primitive Church being white and bright for the purity and perfection of doctrine and discipline the Apostles like a horse swiftly running propagated the faith of Christ through the world Who is the rider there spoken of but Christ who is exalted and carried in spirituall triumph by the Ministery of his Word What is his bow but his Word the Law and Gospell with which hee wounds the hearts of his elect that he may heale and enliven them The hearts of the reprobate to terrifie and destroy them according to that of the Psalmist Thine arrowes are sharp in the hearts of the Kings enemies whereby the people fall under thee And how went Christ forth conquering and to conquer he went forth conquering overcomming sinne by his death and passion and overcomming death hell Satan and the world by his Resurrection and hee goeth forth to conquer converting his chosen and convincing his enemies by the preaching of the Gospell and in this victory there is matter of great joy It is greater joy to a Christian to see the Devill and his owne lust overcome and cast downe then to Israel to see Pharaoh and the Egyptians lye drowned before
comming in the Gospell was shadowed by the feast of solemnity called blowing of Trumpets signifying the spirituall joy and gladnesse occasioned and raised in the hearts of men by Christs comming in the flesh and in the preaching of the Gospell the Lord Jesus being the gladsome body and substance of all the Leviticall and Ceremoniall joyous festivals this was also foretold and often prophecyed How beautifull saith the Prophet Esay are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth peace and bringeth good tidings of good that publisheth salvation that saith unto Sion thy God raigneth which Prophecye the Apostle referres to the preaching of the Gospell the feet carry the body in motion and going the ministery carry Christ in the preaching of the Gospell the feet lift and beare up the body the Ministers lift up and carry Christ aloft and make him conspicuous in the eyes of the people by their holy and wholsome doctrine the feet of him that brings tidings of a pardon to a condemned person tidings of redemption to a captive tidings of supply to him that is in want are very beautifull in the eyes of such people the feet of Gods Ministers bringing tidings of forgivenesse tidings of deliverance tidings of all fulnesse in and by Christ Jesus are very beautifull in their eyes who know and feele the danger of their owne sinfull condition therefore breake forth into ioy saith the Prophet sing together ye waste places of Jerusalem for the Lord hath comforted his people he hath redeemed Jerusalem The comming of the Sunne comforteth him that sits in darknesse the comming of the Physitian comforts him that is opprest with sicknesse the comming of the ransomer comforts him that is in bondage the comming of Christ in the Gospell like the comming of the light comforts men with knowledge like the comming of a Physitian with healing in his wings comforts men with spirituall health and like the comming of a ransomer gives the comfort of spirituall freedome sweet and blessed and full of refreshing is the joy arising from Christ his comming in the Gospell This makes the wildernesse like Eden and the desart like the garden of the Lord. This fils the desolate sad and sorrowfull soule of man full of joy and gladnesse thanksgiving and the voice of melody and to this joyfull entertainment of Christs comming in his spirituall kingdome Let us all provoke our hearts and frame and dispose our soules as the eye is disposed to a joyfull entertainment of the light the eare to a joyfull entertainment of musicke and the bride to a joyfull entertainment of the bridegroome And that we may give Christ comming in the Gospell a Christian and wel-pleasing entertainment there are three things in the generall observable 1. Modus the manner how we must entertaine him 2. Medium the meanes which we must use to entertaine him and 3. Motivum the inducements perswading thus to entertaine Christ 1. The manner how Christ must be entertained and received and thus Christ must bee entertained received 1. Spiritually The entertainment of the King is sutable to the condition quality and nature of the King earthly entertainment is given to earthly Kings Christ is a spirituall and heavenly King his kingdome is not of this world and therefore he must not be carnally but spiritually entertained the Tabernacle into which the Arke was received had in it the two Tables of the Law it was overlaid within with pure gold and the Arke had a crowne of gold about it Hee that will entertaine Christ must have the Law of God written in his heart his soule within and his life without must be overlaid with the gifts and graces of the Spirit more pure and precious then the gold which perisheth holinesse and righteousnesse must crowne the soules of such persons as will entertaine Christ Jesus slimy sluttish and filthy houses are fitter to entertaine swine then Princes corrupt and carnall unsanctified and ungracious soules are fitter to entertaine Satan the prince of darknesse then to entertaine Christ the King of Righteousnesse The Kings daughter the Spouse of Christ the Type of all that truly entertaine Christ was all-glorious within Heavenly graces are the peculiar glory of Gods servants making their soules a fit receptacle for the Lord Iesus As men therefore to receive and entertaine an earthly King cleanse their houses perfume and garnish all their roomes and prepare such delicacies as the King delights in Thus wee to entertaine and receive Christ the heavenly King must cleanse our soules of all sin we must put all iniquity farre from us as a spot from our faces a disease from our flesh and a theefe from our house we must garnish all the roomes of the house of our soules with spirituall ornaments our understandings with spirituall knowledge our wils with gracious liberty and freedome to embrace and chuse Christ our imaginations with holy thoughts and medetations upon Christ our affections with filiall feare to offend Christ with lively faith to beleeve in Christ with pure and fervent love to Christ with heavenly joy and delight in Christ He that is most holy and gracious is most capable of Christ Iesus the soule which abides under the sway and power of prophanenesse cannot receive the Lord Iesus the swaying presence of ungodlinesse nullifies the gracious presence of Christ Iesus No man receiveth Christ with true and sollid comfort in the Gospell but only he whose soule is endowed with purity and sanctification 2. Speedily The servant speedily opens the doore of the house when the Master knocks and readily entertaines him Christ is the great Lord and Master of the house of mans soule at the doore whereof he knocks by the ministery of the Gospell and man must speedily open to Christ so knocking Behold saith Christ I stand at the doore and knocke the heart of unregenerate man is a doore shut a hard a stony doore God and Christ are shut out to this doore Christ knocks by the preaching of the Law threatning destruction to him that will not open by the preaching of the Gospell promising pardon to all that speedily and sincerely open by the rod of affliction and terrour of conscience on all that doe delay to open by the inward motion and powerfull operation of his Spirit on Gods chosen repairing and disposing their hearts to open to him If any man saith Christ heare my voice speedily without delay unfainedly without hypocrisie humbly without disdaine beleevingly without unbeleefe joyfully without repining and obediently without rebellion If any man thus heare my voice and open unto me by understanding me and my will by beleeving me and my promises by loving me and my testimonies by embracing me and my benefits by dedicating himselfe to me and my service I will come into him I will make his soule my temple and holy habitation I will enter into a neare and sweet communion with him and I
the admiration of Christ his soule doth so please and delight it selfe in Christ that he esteemes Christs service a Paradise for the pleasures of it a rich store-house for the treasures of it a wall of fire for the safety of it and a high preferment a singular crowne for the glory which it ministreth and this indeed is the summe of that which our Saviour proposeth as an inducement encouragement and wages to his servants If any man saith he serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be if any man serve me him will my father honour Christs service is a good mans crowne and comfort and therefore he that denyes himselfe referres all to the glory of God and Christ and this is his glory joy and rejoycing to be the servant of Christ to approve himselfe to Christ by having his conversation not in fleshly wisedome but in simplicity and in godly sincerity Lastly sincerity humility piety and plainnesse of heart accompanies and argues self-denyall in Gods children He that denyes himselfe hath 1. a sincere heart his heart like Christs coat is without seame he is a true Nathaniell in whom is no guile self-denyall abhorres and abandons hypocrisie farre from the heart it puts it selfe upon the tryall search me O Lord and try me if there be any evill way within me and lead me in the way that is everlasting it searcheth it selfe as the Master in Jonah searched the ship if there be any disobedience any lust any carnall or sinister respect there it casts it out it drownes it in the teares of godly sorrow as the Master of the ship cast Jonah into the sea he is very severe against sinne not onely in others but chiefly in himselfe his owne sinne is most odious in his eye as a man is most sensible of and most troubled with a moate in his owne eye or a disease in his owne flesh he is most jealous and suspitious of his owne heart as best acquainted with the deceitfulnesse thereof he is the worst of sinners in his owne eye he will not spare nor suffer sinne upon himselfe as a man will not suffer a spot upon his owne flesh but speedily wash it away nor a disease in his owne body but hastens the purging of it out as a traveller will not knowingly walke in a false path but hastens himselfe into his right way so he considereth his wayes maketh haste and turneth unto the testimonies of the Lord As Asa spared not his owne mother but deposed her being an Idolatresse so this man spares not his owne sinne though a mother sinne be it never so deare or pleasant he will depose it as God is a God of pure eyes and cannot behold iniquity so is such a man a man of a pure heart and he cannot behold iniquity with allowance in himselfe 2 He hath a humble heart the proud man the self-lover who hath not denyed himselfe doth all for the praise of men his lamp will not burne without this oyle his mill will not turne unlesse it hath this wind or water to drive it but he that hath denyed himselfe is humble he aymes at the glory of God he seeks not himselfe but God in what he doth he leanes not upon himselfe but upon God in whatsoever he doth he leanes on Gods wisedome to guide him on Gods power to support him on Gods blessing to make all successefull and when the worke is done and men would deifie him he continues humble hee putteth all the glory from himselfe unto God his rejoycing is not in himselfe but in the Lord. 3. He hath a pious heart a heart cherishing an universall hatred of all sinne universally bent and inclined to observe the whole will of God having a disposition and frame of soule answerable to the whole Law of God resolved in nothing willingly to offend God endeavouring to the utmost to walke in all well-pleasing towards God All sinne is as gravell to his teeth gall to his palate snares to his feet and a heavy burthen on his backe his sinne is more troublesome to him then all affliction as bad or worse then death it selfe but the worke of righteousnesse is his joy this is the seed he sowes the race he runs to this he gives himselfe this is his meat and drinke this is the joy and rejoycing of his heart this is the element in which he desires to live and wherein he pleaseth and delighteth himselfe as the fish in the water he delighteth greatly in Gods commandements to know them to meditate upon them to receive direction from them to doe all things in obedience to them 4. He hath a plaine and open heart he will not smother nor conceale his sinne as Achan hid his golden wedge and Babylonish garment as Rachel sate upon and covered her Idols he will not disguise and faine himselfe to be another then he is as Jeroboams wife disguised her selfe and faigned her selfe to be another then she was He doth not desire that the Prophets should prophesie smooth things and deceits unto him he will not with Ahab have the messengers of the Lord bid him prosper in a way which the Lord allowes not but his desire is to have his heart ransacked his sinne opened the estate of his soule truly discovered he saith with the Psalmist let the righteous smite me by discovering my sinne by reproving me for what is amisse by wounding my conscience and humbling my soule for my corruption he is a most welcome messenger to him that most clearly and fully sets his sin before him he rejoyceth in the detection of his sinne as a rich man in the detection of a theefe that lyes in ambush to rob him as a sicke man in the finding out and purging away of the disease which would bring death upon him 5. He hath a heart grieving at evill and reioycing in goodnesse and good things He grieveth for his owne and other mens sinnes for the dishonour done to God he that grieves for his owne and not for other mens sins grieves rather out of self-love fearing some plague which will fall upon him for sinne then out of any true love to God for the dishonour which sinne is unto God for God is dishonoured by other mens sinnes as well as ours he therefore that denyes himselfe mournes with David because other men keep not the Law of God Gods dishonour is the prime motive of true and godly sorrow the more a man denyes himselfe the more his soule is humbled and grieved because Gods name is dishonoured He likewise that denyes himselfe rejoyceth when God is honoured whosoever be the instrument Many can rejoyce when God hath been glorified by some act of their owne but are not joyfully affected but rather grieved when God is honoured by some worke of others wherein themselves have been no sharers
rare 4. In regard of the sweetnes and pleasantnesse of this life Christ living in the soule of man is the choysest joy of man The light saith Salomon is sweet and it is a pleasant thing to the eye to behold the Sun the light of Christ is sweet to the soule the beholding of the Sun of righteousnesse living in man is very pleasant unto man the heart of old Jacob revived hearing that his son Joseph lived the sence and feeling of Christ living in man is a sweet and powerfull reviving of the heart of man Christ is the Prince of peace and where he lives there is sweet and sure peace Christ is the Paradise of all comforts he that enjoyes Christ hath strong consolation where Christ liveth the wounds of the soule are healed the adversaries of the soule are vanquished the sinnes of the soule are purged the stormy tempest of the conscience is appeased the clouds of sorrow which darkned the soule are dispelled spirituall liberty is restored forgivenesse of sin is sealed sence of Gods love communicated and the soule graciously reconciled unto God all other life is bitter and unsavoury as death in comparison of a holy and gracious life 5. In regard of that estate and condition whereinto this life doth exalt and advance man Christ living in man makes man a childe of God by adoption a spirituall freeman a glorious Conquerour over Satan himselfe and the world a living member of that mysticall body whereof Christ is the head a King and Priest to God and an heyre of an inheritance incorruptible reserved in the Heavens no crowne doth so honour man as his Sanctification man is more to be esteemed for his holy walking then for the highest honour the Earth is able to conferre upon him it is not mans naturall but his new-birth that makes him truly noble though holinesse thorough mens ignorance and profanenesse be of no esteeme with men yet is this the prime advancer of man 6. In regard of that lownesse and basenesse of spirit from which this life doth free man man in his naturall estate is very basely minded very dishonourably disposed like the decreped woman in the Gospell he is altogether bowed down and wholy bent to the things which are here below minding only things earthly wallowing like a Swine in the dirt and mire of the world and fleshly lusts but when Christ lives in man when he puts the life of grace into man he ennobles the heart of man communicates a heavenly disposition to him and puts the whole man into a heavenly frame and sets his heart to seeke the things which are above he rayseth his heart his thoughts his desires to the love meditation and seeking of things spirituall as he raysed the body of Lazarus from the grave hee makes man to looke upon the world as upon a thing of nought to repute all the fullnesse of the Earth as dung and drosse in comparison of Christ to leave all and follow Christ as Elisha left his yoakes of Oxen and followed Elijah having Christ living in him he minds Christ adheres to Christ pursues and followes after Christ makes Christ his crown and portion he hath an excellent Spirit like the Spirit of Christ contemning the glory of the world as Christ contemned it with Moses reputing the reproach of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Aegypt despising all the profers and perswasions of the Earth not regarding all the cominations of the world hee chooseth rather with the three children to walke with Christ in the fiery fornace then to live without Christ in the choysest earthly pallace He had rather be nayled with Christ to the crosse then set with Herod upon the throne He saith to the men of the world as Abraham in another case to the King of Sodome give me the persons take thou the substance give me Christ take ye the world give me things heavenly and eternall take ye things earthly and temporall He that hath Christ living in him reputes the world as nothing Christ is both his crowne joy and portion 7. In regard of their honourable walking who have Christ living in them they c walke in the Spirit saith the Apostle the Spirit moves and guides them to walke according to that rule which the Spirit hath in the word proposed to them the Spirit makes their hearts within and lives without sutable to that holinesse which the law prescribeth they walk in the power of the Spirit quickning and assisting them in the light of the Spirit directing them in the motion of the Spirit exciting them and in the operation of the Spirit enlarging their hearts with the knowledge of God faith in God love to God and with the sence and feeling of Gods goodnesse towards them and in the testimony and evidence of the Spirit sealing up the forgivenes of their sins unto them as the soule is not idle but operative in the body distributing sence and motion to every member of the body So the Spirit of Christ in them in whom Christ lives is not idle but operative manifesting it selfe in the fruits and effects thereof the soule inables man to humane works and services the Spirit of Christ living in man inables man to spirituall duties and exercises to shine as a light in the midst of the froward generation among whom hee lives to walke as a childe of light with Zachary and Elizabeth to walke in all the Commandements of God and be blamelesse and this is the honour and crowne of a Christians life to walke as beseemeth the Gospell to walk worthy of God and his Christian and holy calling he is most honourable who expresseth most holinesse in his conversation 8. In regard of the terme whereunto they live who have Christ living in them carnall men who are aliens to the life of God and Christ live to a very low ignoble and base terme they live to the world minding and intending the world conforming themselves to the example custome and fashion of the world they serve Mammon and not God to this they live as servants to the Master whom they serve they live unto themselves and their owne lusts walking after their owne imaginations proposing their owne by and base ends doing all things for themselves for their owne profit pleasure and applause they serve their owne belly and not the Lord Jesus they live to Satan not doing the will of God but the lust of the Divell as Christ speakes and this is the shame and dishouour of the life of man to live to live to such low by and base ends as these but they who have Christ living in them doe live unto God intending God making God and his prayse the supreame end of their living as a wife liveth to her husband bringing forth children to her husband a vine liveth to the Master of the vineyard bringing forth his fruite to him and a flocke liveth to him that is the Master
mouth of the Prophet I have laboured in vaine I have spent my strength for nought and in vain None but God can perswade Japhet to dwell in the Tents of Shem. Such is mans aversenesse from Christ that God alone can worke man into Christ But perhaps some will say What is this to us We are all borne within the pale of Christs-Church we are all baptized into Christ we have all put on Christ therefore no such folly no such estrangement in us and our soules from Christ To this I answer It is one thing to be in Christ by an Ecclesiasticall Generation and birth within the Church Another thing to be in Christ by spirituall Regeneration and new-birth being borne againe of Christ it is one thing to be in Christ Sacramentally by participation of the outward ordinance and element another thing to be in Christ spiritually by participation of the inward grace it is one thing to be in Christ by an outward and formall profession another thing to be in Christ by an internall and gracious incorporation They are not all Israel which are of Israel neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children If you demand therefore how a man may discerne his being without Christ I answer a mans being out of Christ may among many be discerned by these Characters or marks therof 1. By being without the Spirit and Grace of Christ He that is without the light of the Sun is without the Sun If any man saith S. Paul have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his He is without Christ he that hath not the Spirit of Christ enlightning him savingly to know God as a childe his father with an affective knowledge regenerating and endowing him with a child-like affection to God and Christ reviving and quickning him to live to God and Christ Jesus in true holinesse incorporating him into Christ and making him partaker of Christs fullnesse Sanctifying and cleansing him from his sin as the water doth wash the spots from the flesh directing and guiding him to walke aright in the waies of God and to doe the things pleasing to God as the hand of the teacher guides the hand of the learner to write according to the copy He that hath not the Spirit thus working upon him thus framing and disposing his heart hath not Christ for he that is in Christ as a living member by spirituall union as a son by adoption he is a new creature old things are passed away and all things are become new When Christ came into the Temple he purged his Fathers house he overturned the mony-tables he drove out the buyers and the sellers When Christ cometh into man takes his holy habitation in the soule of man he throwes downe the holds of sinne he drives out all corrupt and carnall lusts he purgeth the heart of man and makes it a holy house when Naaman put himselfe into Jordan his Leprosie departed from him Man that is put into Christ by Faith is cleansed from the Leprosie of his sin Faith purifieth his heart and every man that hath this hope purifieth himselfe even as Christ is pure his thoughts of being in Christ Jesus who remaines under the power of prophanenesse are meere delusions Reigning ungodlinesse disanâ—ls all communion with Christ Jesus He that walks not in Christ is a stranger to Christ Where there is no expression of true and saving grace there is no evidence of being in Christ 2. By being in Subjection under any lust one raigning sin destroyes the life of the soule an evill Herbe made the Prophets pot a pot of death one ruling lust makes the soule the Subject of spirituall death the breach of one Covenant forfets the whole Lease allowance of the soule in the breach of one Commandement makes forfeture of whole Christ One Sheba blew the Trumpet and drew all Israel into Rebellion against David One ruling sin makes the whole man a Rebell against Christ One raigning sin so blinds the understanding that it cannot savingly discerne Christ as one moat so blinds the eye that it cannot comfortably behold the Sun one allowed sin so distempers the soule that it cannot receive any benefit by the ordinances of God as one strong disease so disaffecteth the body that it frustrates the use of the food One swaying corruption so alienates the heart that it cannot love Christ as one stranger in the bosome of the wife so takes up her affection that she cannot love the husband One person in the house so keepes the possession that another can take no possession One domineering sin so possesseth the soule that Christ hath no possession there One chain disables the prisoner to come forth and returne to his owne house One fettering and binding lust holds man fast in Satans prison and disables him to come to Christ though a woman have but one husband yet she cannot marry a second untill that husband is dead the soule married though but to one lust cannot marry it selfe to Christ untill that lust is mortified and dead One covetous lust in Judas one incestnous lust in Herod one ambitious lust in many of the chiefe Rulers one worldly lust in the young-man was of strength enough to with-hold each of them from Christ to continue them all without Christ mans thoughts of interest in Christ remaining under the power of any one lust are but vaine and idle dreames He that comes not universally from the world from himselfe and every sinfull lust never comes truly unto Christ Israel came not to Canaan untill they forsooke Aegypt renounced the service of Pharaoh saw the Aegyptians drowned in the waters and left not a hoofe in Aegypt behind them Man cometh not to Christ untill he forsakes the world renounceth the service of Satan drowns every lust in the tears of true Repentance and leaves not a hoof not one affection of his soule behind him under the jurisdiction and command of the world the love of the world is enmity with God the service of any sin is Rebellion against God 3. By mans terminating and confining himselfe within himselfe not going out of himselfe nor looking beyond himselfe to Christ but doing all things for himselfe and referring all unto himselfe That saith our Saviour which is of the flesh is flesh he that is altogether fleshly and hath nothing of Christ in him he is fleshly in his disposition in his affection in his intention in his undertaking hee minds himselfe and his owne fleshly ends and nothing els he cannot looke beyond himselfe his owne flesh is the circumference within which he moves and the Center wherin he terminates his motion Nothing in the course of Nature works beyond the Spheare of its owne activity a thorne beares not grapes a Sparrow begets not an Eagle the corrupt Tree brings forth corrupt fruit the waters move no higher in the cisterne then they are in
owne heart And what doth 1. mens loose-living under the Gospell mens running into all excesse of ryot contrary to their holy calling the nature of the Gospell and such plaine and powerfull perswasion from Heaven proclaimes but the Atheisme of their soules not beleeving the truth of God reputing Gods messengers as bablers and the sacred truths which they deliver as fables 2. What doth mens sinning so freely in secret taking such pleasure in contemplative wickednesse within the closer of their owne hearts and taking such liberty to doe evill in the darke where the eye of man beholds it not what doth this argue but a secret Atheisme lurking in their soules having no apprehension of Gods presence of Gods Al-seeing eye having no remembrance that God is every where filling all places privy to all the movings and stirrings of their hearts Were not the hearts of men very Atheisticall they would not dare doe that in the sight of God which they will not doe in the eyes of men 3. What doth mens fearelesnesse of denounced judgements mens putting off the evill day farre away Mens sinning securely mens flattering themselves in an estate wherein they are ready to drop every moment into Hell hanging by the weake thread of their fraile life over the bottomlesse pit what doth this declare but Atheisme not beleeving that God is such a just and righteous God such a hater and revenger of sinne as indeed he is 4. What doth mens seldome praying cold praying irreverent praying proclaime but an Atheisticall ignorance unsensiblenesse and unapprehensivenesse of Gods greatnesse glory and presence Kings and Monarchs are served in great state because men apprehend their Majesty men addresse themselves to God as to their fellow because they are neither powerfully perswaded nor workingly apprehensive of his glorious presence 5. What doth mens sleighting of the meanes of the knowledge of God mens neglecting of the salvation which God proffers them mens undervaluing of Christ mens seeking of the applause and favour of men more then the approbation and favour of God mens exalting of their lusts above God mans seeking after and resting upon the creature mans sacrificing to an arme of flesh mans superficiall performance of the duties of Religion what doe all these and many such bewray but abundance of Atheisme in the heart for were this truth throughly rooted in the heart of man were the meditation of this principle powerfully operative upon the soule of man That God is and that he is a God so glorious so powerfull so gracious so al-sufficient and so farre surpassing all creatures as indeed he is it would move man to preferre the knowledge of God above all learning the approbation of God above all praise and the love of God above all favour it would make all the lusts of the soule fall as Dagon before the Arke were this predominant in and effectually working upon the heart of man no sinne could stand before it the creature would appeare to the eye of the soule as a thing of nought man would be ashamed of his best abilities grieved for the imperfection of his holiest services and apply himselfe to the worke of his God with seven fold more diligence O then complaine oft and pray to God against thy secret Atheisme as against the great plague and pest of thy soule as against a beame in thy eye disabling thee to see God as against a fetter about thy feet disabling thee to come to God as against a partition wall hindering thy sweet and comfortable communion with God In carnall mans estrangement from God in his being without God we may see the miserable and wretched condition of corrupt and carnall man we repute the body miserable without a soule to enliven it the world miserable without the Sun to enlighten it the besieged City miserable without a Captaine to rescue it or wall to defend it the thirsty miserable without a fountaine to refresh him the wandring traveller miserable without a guide to direct him the forsaken miserable without a friend to comfort him c. But here is the misery of all miseries to be without God to be estranged from God who is the soule enlivening the Sun guiding the great Centurion rescuing the wall of fire defending the fountaine refreshing the guide leading and the friend solacing man We see Hagar weeping when her bottle is empty and hath no water Rachel mourning for her children and will not be comforted because they are not the wife of Phinâ—as refusing to be comforted because the Arke is carried away Idolatrous Micah running and crying as a man undone because his Idoll his imaginary God is taken from him but what is the losse of these and a thousand such things as these are to losse of God surely no more then the losse of a gloe-worme to the losse of the Sun then the losse of a straw to the losse of a precious pearle Here is cause indeed of mourning crying complaining lamentation to be without God For he that is without God is 1. Full of Satan he that is empty of one is full of the other when God forsakes the house of mans soule Satan takes the possession he becomes the dweller he like an armed man keeps the Fort in mans heart he like a Prince sets up his Throne and keeps his Court in the City of mans soule when God is gone Satan enters in the lesse of God the more of Satan in the soule of man When the house in the Parable was empty then the uncleane spirit entred with seven others worse then himselfe when the soule is empty of God Satan fils it with a troop of all abominations then he blindes the understanding that they cannot see nor God nor Christ nor themselves then he gaggs their mouthes that as the man that had a dumbe Devill they can neither speake for God nor to God then he bowes them downe to the world and makes them drudges and slaves to the earth like the woman that had a spirit of infirmity that they cannot looke up to God they cannot thinke on God nor the things which are above then he casts them into the fire of rage fury and anger and into the waters of drunkennesse sensuall lusts and carnall pleasures as he cast the mans sonne in the Gospell into the fire and water then he fils them with fraud falshood hypocrisie and spirituall treason as he put it into the heart of Judas to betray Christ Vnconceavable is that mans misery that is left of God to Satan that is empty of God and full of the Devill he that is full of Satan first must looke to be full of Hell at last 2. He that is without God is full of the world he minds earthly things he bowes downe to these things as Gideons thousands to the waters these command him sway over him leade him away captive as the harlot in Salomon did the young man he commits adultery
is unsavoury to them as the Manna to the Israelites as sometimes the pottage were to the Prophets children he seems to them a pot of death the very savour of death unto death they feele not the necessity of Christ as of a quickner to enliven them as of a guide to direct them as of a surety to pay their debt for them as of a ransomer to free them out of prison as of a fountaine to replenish and fill them and being thus unsensible of Christ they cannot rejoyce in the comming of Christ the Israelites rejoyced not in Moses comming to them but refused him before they felt the cruelty of the taske-masters which Pharaoh set over them and the weight of the burthens which he laid upon them Hee that is void of the sence of his owne corruption rejoyceth not in Christs comming 4. Contrariety to Christ there is no likenesse no sutablenesse no answerablenesse between them and Christ they are as contrary as life and death light and darknesse the Arke and Dagon the house of David and the house of Saul they are contrary-minded they are contrary to Christ in their iudgements wise in their owne eyes reputing light darknesse and darkenesse light contrary in their wils Christ wils his Fathers glory and teacheth his Disciples to pray that his Fathers will may be done they will themselves and their owne ends they looke not beyond themselves in any thing they make their owne will their rule and guide contrary in their affections they hate holinesse which Christ loveth and love prophanenesse which Christ abhorreth contrary in their society and fellowship All Christs delight is in them that excell in vertue they delight themselves in the frowardnesse of the froward contrary in their natures Christ is holy and without all sinne they are totally sinfull and void of all holinesse they are contrary to Christ in his Offices they oppose him as a Prophet they will not receive his instruction as a King they will not obey him as a Priest they will not be sanctified by him their whole man is wholly set in opposition against whole Christ there is a marvellous distance and unlikenesse between them and Christ they are altogether uncapable of him Man can never rejoyce in Christs comming untill God doth put some new and gracious principle into him Man never delights to doe the will of God untill God hath written his Law in the heart of man Christs comming is ever more or lesse joyfull unto man as man hath more or lesse of Christs image within him 5. Infidelity The Israelites beleeved not the word of God and therefore despised the pleasant land that rich and plentifull land which God had promised them He that doth not beleeve in Christ sets a low price upon him and rejoyceth little or nothing in the testimony of Christs presence The Disciples which beleeved not aright were offended and went backe from Christ they tooke no pleasure in Christ and his doctrine He that doth not by the eye of faith discerne Christ and by the hand of faith single and take out Christ unto himselfe as his light and counsellor to guide him as his Rocke to sustaine him as his Prince to be commanded by him as his pearle looking for no other treasure and as the husband to whom he marries his soule and on whom he places all his love Hee that doth not thus beleeve cannot rejoyce in Christ Christ is none of his therefore he cannot rejoyce in him no more then the poore can rejoyce in a rich mans treasure to which himselfe hath no title or a woman in a man that is a stranger to her in whom she hath no matrimoniall interest towards whom she hath no matrimoniall love Unbeliefe blinds the understanding that it discernes not the beauty worth and excellency of Christ it hardens the heart and makes it unsensible of Christ as the rocke is of the dew it shuts up the soule and makes it uncapable of Christ as the eye that is shut is uncapable of the light untill it is opened againe it alienates the mind of man from Christ and causeth him to depart from Christ to the creature as the men of Shechem did from the vine to the bramble from the sonnes of Ierubbaal to Abimelech Through unbeliefe Christ is to the soule as a Sunne under an Eclipse whom it sees not as a sealed well of which it drinks not unbeleefe shuts out the soule from Christ and all his benefits as Adam was kept out of the garden and from the tree of life it makes Christ a stranger to his soule and his soule a stranger unto Christ and as it excludes man from all communion with Christ so it deprives him of all joy in Christ He that beleeves not in Christ and in the benefits flowing from him can never rejoyce in him because the soule is filled with all ioy in beleeving CHAP. IV. THis should excite and move us all to worke our hearts to a ioyfull and thankfull receiving and entertainment of Christ comming in the Ministery of the Gospell the wise men rejoyced with an exceeding great joy at the appearing of the Starre which pointed out the birth of Christ Christ appeareth in the Gospell as a heavenly Starre ministring celestiall and comfortable light to them thar sit in darknesse his appearance ministring matter of choisest rejoycing doubtlesse he is no wise man a man farre from true and saving wisedome that doth not rejoyce to see Christ shining in the Gospell the men of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley and they lifted up their eyes and saw the Arke and rejoyced to see it and breaking off their labours ceasing their harvest-worke they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the Lord. The man that lifteth up his eyes his heart his thoughts his desires from the world and sees Christ in the Gospell cannot but rejoyce to behold him Men should with great alacrity and readinesse breake off their bodily labours to entertaine the Lord Iesus and offer to God the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving on that day when Christ comes among them in his Gospell joyfull attendance upon Christ in the Gospell should have preheminence above every ordinary undertaking When Iehoiada the Priest brought forth Jehoash the Kings sonne and put the Crowne upon him all the people of the land rejoyced and blew with trumpets When the Minister of the Lord doth bring forth Christ in the Congregation reveale and shew forth Christ the Sonne of God in the ministery of the Gospell and doth set the crowne according to Solomons phrase upon Christs head by declaring Christs Soveraignty and causing the people to submit to Christs law and government all the Congregation should rejoyce and blow the trumpet of spirituall joy and gladnesse Agracious soule drawes matter of choise and sweet rejoycing from Christs exaltation in the Gospell This joyfull and thankfull entertainment of Christ
will sup with him I will accept and delight in his knowledge faith repentance and new obedience and he shall sup with me I will communicate unto him justification sanctification peace the joy of the Holy-Ghost the heavenly treasure of all saving grace their blisse and happinesse is very great and comfortable who give a full and speedy entertainment to Christ comming in the Gospell It is a point of Christian and choisest wisedome according to the charge of the Prophet to seeke the Lord while he may be found and to call upon him while he is neare at hand The Sunne of heavenly light which now shineth may set and we be left in darknesse the Well of salvation now opened may be sealed up and we perish with want of spirituall water to refresh us the gate of mercy now opened to us may be shut against us Christ may withdraw himselfe and refuse to be found of us the things belonging to our peace may be hidden from us It is just with Christ to withdraw himselfe from them that delay to receive him Christ will be to them as a deafe man that heares not in the day of their trouble and afflictions who are deafe to Christ and will not heare him in his Gospell in the day of his mercifull visitation O therefore to day if ye will heare his voice harden not your hearts behold now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation Now while Christ is preached in the Gospell salvation pardonall mercy is offered now if ever is the time to accept it therefore as Zaccheus made haste and came downe from the Sycamine tree and received Christ into his house joyfully So let us make haste and come downe every man from all high thoughts of our owne worth and joyfully receive Christ into the house of our heart When Christ appeared unto Abraham in the plaine of Mamre in the forme of an Angell and two other Angels with him it is said that Abraham ranne to meet them from the tent doore and hasted to his tent to make provision for them he used all speed in their entertainment Thus when Christ appeares in the Gospell and comes to us by his Ministers we should run from our tent doores from our selves by Christian denyall from the world by desertion from our sinnes by mortification Thus we should run to meet Christ comming in the Gospell and hasten every man into his tent into his heart and there make all spirituall provision to entertaine him The use of hast and speed in the entertaining of Christ comming in his Gospell is more necessary and commendable then in any other undertaking 3. Cordially With much and fervent affection the heart is Christs house where he must dwell Christs throne where he must raigne and the pallace whereinto he must be received the place of the Arke was not in a corner but in the midst of the Tabernacle Christ must not be thrust into a corner of the soule his dwelling must be in the midst thereof in the heart of man he must have the best and choisest roome of mans affection this Christ requires My sonne give me thy heart not thy head barely to know me nor thy memory nakedly to remember me nor thy tongue formally to speake of me nor thy foot onely to come outwardly unto me but thy heart to love and embrace me to surrender and yeeld up all unto me This was the Apostles prayer in the behalfe of the Ephesians that Christ might dwell not onely in their care or in the tongue the outward roomes of the body nor in the head or memory the upper roomes of the soule but in their heart the middle and choisest roome of the soule of man Our prayers are but empty and fruitlesse untill wee have prayed Christ into our hearts and affections Christ commeth in the Gospell as a King of mercies to pardon us as a bridegroome to marry us and we must entertaine him with love much strong and fervent love as a malefactor his King comming to him with a pardon or the bride the bridegroome our love to Christ must be like the love of Ionathan to David a love passing the love of women our soule must be knit to Christ as Ionathan seeing what David had done for Israel in the overthrow of Goliah his soule was knit to David so we seeing what Christ hath done for us in the overthrow of Satan our soules must be knit to Christ our soules must long for Christ as the soule of Shechem longed for Dinah our soule must delight in Christ as the soule of the rich in his treasure and the soule of the bride in the bridegroome thus the Spouse expresseth her selfe shew me O thou whom my soule loveth whom I love fervently unfainedly and with a longing desire to enjoy and in the banqueting house in the ministery of the word she found her selfe sicke of love ravished with love to Christ The entertainment of Christ into the heart is the glory of a Christian as the entertainment of the King to a house is the glory of a Subject This is the fulnesse of the soule as the entertainment of the Sunne into the eye is the fulnesse of the eye the heart is an empty vessell untill Christ hath the possession of it this is the defence and safety of the soule as the being of the Pilate in the ship is of the safety of the ship the being of the keeper in the Castle is the safety of the Castle the being of Christ in the ship in the stormy tempest was the safety of the Disciples the being of Christ in the soule is the safeguard of the soule in all the stormy tempests of trouble the soule where Christ hath no dwelling lyeth open to all the assaults of Satan This brings the soule to a sweet communion with Christ in the Gospell as Iehu said unto Iehonadab comming to meet him Is thy heart right as my heart is with thy heart if it be give me thine hand and he gave him his hand and he tooke him up to him into the charet Thus when we come to meet Christ in the Gospell Christ looketh to the integrity of our hearts if our hearts be right with Christ and we give him the hand of faith and the hand of love then he takes us up into his charet then he takes us to himselfe then he brings us into a neare a sweet and comfortable communion with himselfe the soule which doth not love Christ hath neither cleare discerning of Christ nor gracious fellowship with Christ 4. Cheerfully Old Jacob seeing the waggons which Joseph had sent to carry him to Egypt to bring him to himselfe it is said his heart revived Man seeing Christ in the Gospell comming by the labours of his Ministers as by a charet to take and carry him of from the world to bring him nigh unto himselfe and to the
participation of his fulnesse should have his heart revived and his soule made cheerfull Christ in the Gospell ministers all matter of rejoycing to his children in the Gospell Christ commeth as a shining Sunne and here we should rejoyce in him as the eye rejoyceth in the light Here Christ commeth as a King in his armies and we should rejoyce in him as the captive rejoyceth in him that commeth with warlike weapons to beat downe the prison and set him free here Christ commeth as a Physitian with healing in his wings and we should rejoyce in him as the sicke in the Physitian that comes to cure him here Christ commeth as Joshuah came to the Gibeonites to rescue them from the Amoritish Princes and in him we should rejoyce as the besieged City in him that comes to drive away their enemies Here Christ commeth as a Master of the feast in his banquetting house and in him we should rejoyce as the hungry stomacke in a feast of all varieties Here Christ commeth as a bridegroome in his letters in his friend in his voice to wooe and betroth us and in him wee should rejoyce as the bride in the letters voice and presence of the bridegroome superlatively sweet and soule-ravishing are the comforts which Christ dispenseth by his word and doctrine he is altogether unworthy the name of a Christian that doth not joyfully entertaine Christ comming in the Gospell 5. Humbly Abraham entertaining the Angels bowed himselfe to the ground Man must entertaine the Lord Iesus in the Gospell with all humility meeknesse lowly and reverent submission Hee must prostrate himselfe and all that is his at the feet of Christ he must be low and base in his owne eye and apprehension he must looke on himselfe as dust and ashes he that is most sensible of his owne vilenesse is most capable of Christ Iesus he must captivate his owne wisedome and carnall reason he hath the most cleare and comfortable discerning of Christ in the Gospell that is most apprehensive of the vanity of his owne wisedome He that will be made wise unto salvation by the Gospell must become as a foole in his owne opinion he must deny himselfe that will acknowledge and embrace Christ abase himselfe that will exalt and set up Christ and be out of love with himselfe that will be in love with Christ he must discerne and feele his owne sicknesse his owne poverty his owne bondage and emptinesse that will receive Christ in the Gospell as a Physitian to cure him as a surety to make satisfaction for him as a conquerour to free him and as a fountaine to fill him When David sent his servants and communed by them with Abigail to take her to wife she arose and bowed her selfe on her face to the earth and said behold let thy handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my Lord. When Christ communeth with us by his servants the Ministers in the preaching of the Gospell to take our soules to him to wife We must rise up with all lowly reverence entertaine their message receiving it as the Word of God and not of man wee must bow our selves to the earth humble and abase our selves very low shewing all obedience to their doctrine and ready to minister any service to their persons as Saint Paul testifies of the Galathians My temptation saith he which was in my flesh ye despised not nor reiected but received me as an Angell of God even as Christ Iesus I beare you record that if it had been possible ye would have plucked out your owne eyes and have given them to me Great is the love and reverence shewed by Gods children towards Christ and his Ministers in the Gospell Christ is ever so much the more precious unto men by how much the more they are abased in their owne sence and feeling Christs favour dwelling and communion is onely with the soule which is truly humble 6. Chiefly Christ is the highest King and must have the chiefest roome in the heart of man Christ excels all creatures and must have preheminence above all others in the hearts of his receivers Dagon in the Philistines Temple fals before the Arke the creature and whatsoever else in the heart of man must fall before Christ all must be base and vile in comparison of Christ the Elders of Gilead bringing home againe Ieptha to fight for them against the children of Ammon made him their head Man bringing home and receiving Christ into his heart to fight for him against Satan and his corruption must make him his head exalt him and give him preheminence above all creatures Christ is King of Kings and must have preheminence in our obedience as Kings have in the hearts of their loyall Subjects Christ is the husband of his Church and must have preheminence in our love as husbands have in the hearts of their chaste and loving wifes Christ is the pearle of choisest worth and must have preheminence in our choise and estimation as the pearle with the Merchant above the drosse Christ is the Sun of clearest and sweetest light and must have preheminence in our understanding as the Sun in the eye above other lights Christ is the surest the most constant and loving friend and must have preheminence in our delight and joy as a friend hath preheminence in the joy of his friend above all strangers He is farre from the true receiving of Christ that doth not thus exalt Christ he doth very shamefully abase Christ that sets up any thing above Christ hee neither discernes the worth nor tastes the sweetnesse of Christ in the Gospell who makes not himselfe and all things to vaile and stoop to him 7. Fully Whole Christ must be received we must entertaine Christ according to all his Latitudes as all the points and lines are received in one Center whole Christ must meet in mans heart as in a Center We must receive Christ in his person as God and man in one person as our onely Mediator the only Jacobs ladder by whom God and all blessings come downe to us and by whom we ascend againe to God We must receive Christ in his Attributes in his wisedome as a light to guide us in his power as a rocke to support us in his truth as a faithfull witnesse that never deceives us in his justice as a righteous Judge to awe us in his mercy as a King of mercies to forgive us in his holinesse as a fountaine of grace to sanctifie us in his righteousnesse as a royall roabe to cloathe and cover us and in his love as a bridegroome to marry us and in his All-sufficiency as a fountaine to fill us We must receive Christ in all his Offices as a Prophet to instruct us making Christs doctrine the compleat and only rule of our faith and obedience as a King to reigne
fulnesse communicating to him peace and reconciliation with God and tranquillity of conscience He that receives the Lord Iesus like Joseph hath the Lord with him and is a prosperous man Mans not embracing Christ Iesus exposeth him to all plagues and curses in his soule in his body in all his services all blessing attends the holy and gracious embracement of Christ all curses follow the prophane refusall of Christ 7. Christ received in the Gospell sweetens and sanctifies all afflictions the tree sweetened the waters of Marah Christ takes away the bitternesse of affliction from the soule which beleevingly entertaines him he makes them see light in darknesse he sends them water out of the hard and stony rocke he gives them honey out of the belly of Lyons Meat out of the Eater and sweet out of the sowre he makes them sing in prison he makes them glory in tribulation he turnes the fiery furnace into a Paradise he so takes away the evill of affliction that it doth no more harme them then Nebuchadnezzars fire did the three children his affliction that enjoyes Christ in the Gospell is more pleasant and joyous then the carnall mans peace that shuts his heart against Christ peace without Christ is full of trouble trouble with Christ is full of consolation 8. Christ received in the Gospell giveth comfort holy sweet and sure comfort In the Arke was the pot of Manna in Christ is the treasure of all true comfort Christ in the Gospell makes a feast for his faithfull receivers a feast of fat things of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined Of all comforts such have most fulnesse and sweetnesse as are ministred by Christ Jesus all others like Iobs friends prove miserable Comforters if Christ doth not comfort us Christ received in the Gospell comforteth the soules of his servants as a nurse her children feeding them as a Physitian his patients healing them as a mercifull King his delinquent and humbled subjects pardoning them as a teacher his schollers filling them with heavenly wisedome as a Bridegroome his Bride speaking graciously to them making them sensible of his love towards them replenishing them with strong and everlasting consolation his estate is of all mens the most joyfull who hath the most full and sweet enjoyment of Christ in the Gospell Perplexities distractions and convulsions of soule and conscience are infallible attendants of the neglect and refusall of Christ Iesus he that shuts his eyes against the Sun abides in darknesse he that shuts his heart against Christ abides in heavinesse 9. Christ received in the Gospell giveth satisfaction The Sunne satisfieth the eye with light the fountaine satisfieth the thirsty with water the pearle satisfied the Merchant in the parable with treasure Christ in the Gospell satisfieth the soule with wisedome in the understanding with holy and sweet meditations in the mind with the sence of his love in the heart with the treasure of spirituall gifts in the affections with sure and blessed peace in the conscience He that rightly possesseth Christ in the Gospell may say as Iacob did I have enough Christ in the Gospell is a living spring he that drinks of him shall thirst no more He is an al-sufficient portion to them that enjoy him he that seeks contentation with the neglect of Christ in his Gospell seekes for water to quench his thirst in a broken cesterne The soule is restlesse and never truly contented untill Christ is enjoyed the house without the husband seemes an empty place to the wife the world without Christ proves an empty thing to the soule 10. Christ received in the Gospell is an abiding substance to the soule he is an everlasting father he will never forget us he is a husband for ever he will never cease to love us he is a faithfull friend loving at all times his love is a Sunne that knowes no setting his gifts are t without repentance his grace an immortall seed that never dyes a well-spring springing up to life everlasting All that is without Christ is full of vanity and changes only Christ is a possession of everlasting continuance the meditation of all which should sweetly allure and draw us graciously dispose and frame us and mightily perswade and move us to give Christ a joyfull welcom comming to us in his Gospell 6. Fastening our frequent and most serious thoughts upon the brevity and vanity of the life of man Man hath no abiding City here he flourisheth like Ionahs gourd in an evening and is smitten and withered in the morning Death like the waters of the red sea drownes all onely Christ makes a safe passage through death for his Israel for all that receive him the Arke divided Iordan and Israel went dry and safe over to Canaan Christ makes a ready way for all that beleevingly entertaine him through the horrours of death to the heavenly kingdome death like the deluge spares none as Noah therefore betooke himselfe to the Arke and was preserved so let us betake our selves to Christ that we may be preserved from the second death all they who were out of the Arke perished in the waters all they that are out of Christ will perish in the deluge of Gods vengeance the Lord Jesus is the soules onely refuge and deliverance Behold saith the Lord by Moses in another case to morrow about this time I will cause it to raine a very grievous hayle such as hath not been in Egypt from the foundation thereof untill now Send therefore now and gather thy cattell and all that thou hast in the field for upon every man and beast that shall be found in the field and shall not be brought home the hayle shall come downe upon them and they shall dye He that feared the word of the Lord among them made his servants and his cattell flee into the houses and he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattell in the field and they were all smitten and died Thus in this case behold to morrow ere long very shortly the Lord will cause a mighty raine he will raine downe snares fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest send therefore now and gather your soules your selves your friends husbands wives children servants kindred and neighbours unto Christ get yee interest in Christ hide your selves by faith and love in Christ for upon every soule of man that shall not be found in Christ upon every parent and childe husband and wife master and servant young and old bond and free that shall not be brought home to Christ the haile fire and brimstone of Gods wrath shall come downe upon them and they shall dye both the first and the second death and now I know that he that feares the word of the Lord among you will flee to Christ give all diligence to receive and entertaine Christ to get a sure and
all prostrates it selfe and all that it hath under Christ that it may enjoy Christ it hates all that hinders its comming to Christ and embraceth all that may further its communion with Christ sutablenesse between the soule and Christ readily denyes and rejects all that hinders the fruition of Christ 3. In regard of the vanity nullity and nothingnesse which a gracious man discernes in himselfe and in all things else without and beside Christ he looks upon himselfe as on dust and ashes he is vile in his owne apprehension as a worme and no man he humbles and abhorres himselfe below the dust and ashes he looks on all other things as dung and drosse and a thing of naught in comparison of Christ he reputes all things in respect of Christ as Jothan did Abimelech in respect of the Sonnes of Jerubbaal but as a bramble in respect of the vine fig-tree and olive-tree and having such a low opinion of himselfe and all things else he readily denyes himselfe and all things else and makes all to vaile and stoop to Christ with Simon and Andrew they are ready to leave their nets their ship and their father to deny their possessions and their friends to put all under Christ to leave whatsoever is most profitable and deare according to the flesh for Christs sake with Paul to esteeme their very life as nothing that they may glorifie Christ and finish Christs worke The more any man doth undervalue himselfe and the creature the more he exalteth Christ the more freely fully and readily he prostrates all at the feet of Christ 4. In regard of the holy powerfull and universall raigne rule and dominion of Christ in a gracious and sanctified soule Here Christ reignes as a King in his Throne as Solomon reigned over the land of Canaan from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth so doth Christ raigne in a regenerate and gracious soule from the highest to the lowest faculty thereof and from the head to the feet and from the highest to the lowest undertaking of a Christian Here Christ reignes as a dweller in his house the dweller rules over all the roomes members and goods of his house and disposeth all to his service Christ rules over all the faculties of the soule members of the body and disposeth all the endowments and doings of a Christian to his owne service and for his owne honour Here Christ rules as the head over the body acting moving guiding and framing the whole man to a holy humble and free subjection Here Christ reignes as a Centurion in his army and as the servants of the Centurion did goe and come at his command and doe whatsoever he bad them Thus all the faculties of the soule and members of the body of a true Christian are at the command of Christ receiving their direction and commission from Christ doing every thing in subjection and obedience to Christ Thus the Psalmist speaking of Christs kingdome saith in the day of thy power when Christ should reigne by his Gospell and Spirit in the soules of men the people should be willing free ready and full in their subjection unto Christ and his enemies should bow before him and licke the dust such as were enemies rebellious and disobedient in their unregeneration should after their conversion bow themselves and licke the dust acknowledge and receive Christ as their Lord and King and in very great humility subject and prostrate both themselves and all theirs to him and his service for as Abner entring into Covenant with David and taking David for his King undertooke to bring about all Israelite to David Thus the soule entring into Covenant with Christ and taking Christ for its King brings about all to Christ and puts all in subjection under Christ 5. In regard of the holy and fervent desire of a gracious soule to exalt and set up Christ This is the prime â—â—â—our joy and comfort of a godly soule to see and feele Christs kingdome within him to set up Christ in his heart and to discerne him ruling and commanding there as a King in his Throne as a Pilate in the ship this is his suite and supplication unto God that Christs kingdâ—mâ— may come that Christ may reigne and rule within him as David sometimes thirsted and longed to see the power and glory of God in the Sanctuary so doth a godly man long to see the power and glory of Christ in his soule to behold him raigning in his heart In the day of Solomons coronation the people piped with pipes and rejoyced with great joy so that the earth rung with the sound thereof In the day of Christs coronation and reigne in the soule of man the heart of man rejoyceth with exceeding great joy Christs dominion is a holy soules rejoycing the kingdome of God is righteousnesse and peace and joy in the Holy-Ghost It was the care labour and joy of David to bring the Arke of the Lord into the Tabernacle in that day David danced before the Lord with all his might and all the house of Israel brought up the Arke of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of a trumpet and set it in the midst of the Tabernacle Thus it is the care labour and comfort of the whole man that is godly to set up Christ in the midst of his soule to see him reigning in his understanding as the Sun in the eye guiding in his will as a Prince commanding it in his imagination as the obiect on which he thinketh with most frequency delight and comfort in his trust as the onely rocke whereon he buildeth in his feare as the King of Kings whom he chiefly reverenceth and in his love as an husband in the love of the wife so powerfull and operative is this desire labour and joy of a gracious soule touching the exaltation reigne and rule of Christ within it that as the people would have all the men put to death which would not have Saul reigne over them so doth such a man mortifie all his lusts which oppose Christs kingdome remove whatsoever may hinder Christs spirituall dominion and makes all vaile and stoop for Christs exaltation within him 6. In regard of a gracious soules acquiescence and contentation with the approbation of Christ In this it pleaseth in this it blesseth delighteth and satisfieth it selfe whatsoever it hath besides it this is in stead of all as the Sun is to the eye in stead of all lights and the fountaine to the thirsty in stead of all bottles the approbation of Christ is of very great price with a true Christian his praise is not the praise of men but of God not to have the approbation of men to his doings but of God not to have his eare tickled with the empty breath of vaine mans applause but with the solide and
and heavenly comforts arising to the soule from a through self-denyall and full subiection unto Christ Hence ariseth the comfort of liberty and freedome from the servitude of the creature and of every sinfull lust ministring matter of greater joy to the soule then Israel had to see themselves freed from Pharaoh and the burthens of Eâ—ypt Hence ariseth the comfort of the evidence of grace by this man knowes the holy and gracious worke of God Now he can give thanks to God the Father for that he hath made him meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in light and hath delivered him from the power of darknesse and translated him into the kingdome of his deare Sonne Now he can with joy say with the Psalmist come and I will shew what the Lord hath done for my soule Hence ariseth the comfort of alacrity and cheerfulnesse in the service now the heart is enlarged and man can runne the way of Gods commandements now he commeth forth like the Sun and rejoyceth like a mighty man to run his race Hence springeth the joy of love to Christ now the objects of all corrupt and base love are removed and Christ is become the sole object of the soules love and now it delights it selfe in Christ as the bride in the bride-groome Hence commeth the comfort of Christs power and presence now he is discerned reigning in the soule as a Prince of peace in his Throne subduing all corrupt and carnall lusts as Joshuah subdued the Amalekites driving Satan from the soule of man as the Gibeonites discerned Joshuah driving away the Amoritish Princes now he is discerned dispelling all blindnesse and errour from the understanding as the Sunne dispelleth darknesse from the eye now he is discerned binding up the broken heart and healing the wounded conscience as the sicke discerneth the Physitian healing his disease now he is discerned pacifying and quieting the troubled and perplexed soule as the Disciples discerned him appeasing and calming the stormy tempest now he is discerned powring in the spirituall oyle of heavenly consolation into the soule as the wounded man in the parable discerned the Samaritan powring oyle into his wounds now he is discerned feasting cheering and ministring the sence of his love to the heart as the Spouse in Solomon discerned the bridegroome in the banquetting house spreading his love over her as a banner and this ministers matter of sweet and singular comfort and hence ariseth the comfort of sweet and gracious communion with God the Lord dwels with the humble The more man goes out of himselfe the nearer he commeth unto God the more man is emptied of himselfe the more he enjoyes of God Very sweet and manifold is the consolation which the soule derives from holy and gracious selfe-denyall 6. The mitigation and sweetning of all disasters Self-denyall in all troubles tryals losses and temptations is to the soule like the honey-combe in the belly of the Lyon unto Sampson a blessed sweetner of them affliction is ever so much the lesse burthensome by how much the more perfect man is in the worke of self-denyall He that truly and throughly denyes himselfe puts a low price upon all outward abilities and can take the spoyling of his goods ioyfully he sees and feeles the good of afflictions and can readily receive them as a wise patient a bitter purgation and quietly beare them as an Oxe the yoake that is accustomed thereunto he can sing with Paul in the prison he can walke comfortably in them as the three children in the fiery furnace he can rejoyce with ioy glorious and unspeakable that he is accounted worthy to suffer for the cause of Christ The want of self-denyall makes affliction a most insupportable burthen 7. The Contentation which Self-denyall ministers with the least earthly portion and possession He that can deny himselfe knowes how to want and how to abound and to be content in every state the humble man possesseth Christ and in possessing him possesseth all things there is more in a holy mans little then in a carnall mans great abundance God proportions his thirst accordingly CHAP. VIII SEeing this self-denyall is a worke so necessary so excellent of such great profit so rare and few partakers of it it may be demanded how a man may discerne it and assuredly know himselfe to have attained to it Whereunto I answer that Christian gracious and true selfe-denyall may bee discerned by these ensuing market or characters 1. Captivation of a mans owne reason wisedome and will Self-denyall emptieth man of self-wisedome and self-wil He that denyes himself is not wise in his owne eyes or wise in himselfe but all his wisedome is in Christ he hath a very low opinion of his owne understanding he reputes his owne wisedome to be folly his owne knowledge to be ignorance his owne reason to be blind and carnall he complaines abaseth and shames himselfe before the Lord for his ignorance he confesseth and saith with Agur surely I am more brutish then any man and have not the understanding of a man I neither learned wisedome nor have the knowledge of the holy He that abounds most in saving knowledge is most sensible of his ignorance and hath the lowest opinion of his owne wisedome The more a man is taught of God the more he sees his ignorance of God he that hath high thoughts of his owne understanding is far from the least and weakest beginnings of Christian learning he never truly learned Christ in the Gospell that hath not denyed his owne humane reason When the Sun appeareth and sends his light into the house the light of the candle which lightened the house before the dawning of the day goeth out and appeares as no light when Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse shineth into the heart then mans humane reason and the wisedome of the flesh the only light of the soule before the dawning and appearance of Christ these goeth out and is lookt upon as darknesse it selfe and Christ is made the only guide and counsellor of the soule the eye thereof receiveth all its light from Christ shining in the Gospell Carnall wisedome pusseth up saving knowledge humbleth In much wisedome saith Solomon is much griefe and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow because the more man knows the more he sees amisse Thus the more a man increaseth in the knowledge of Christ the more he sees amisse in himselfe the more he is grieved for his owne ignorance and corruption true wisedome is ever accompanied with godly sorrow and self-denyall and self-denyall casteth downe imaginations or carnall reasonings and every high thing that exalteth it selfe against the knowledge of God and bringeth into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ Self-denyall makes him that formerly seemed to be wise in this world according to the opinion of the world dreaming of a sufficiency of wisedome in himselfe to guide himselfe making himselfe his owne
One that inhabiteth Eternity whose name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite Ones God ministers most spirituall consolation to him that is most low and base in his owne eye and apprehension 2. This makes the soule of man most invincible The low shrub endureth all the gusts and blasts of wind abiding fast rooted No winds of trouble or temptation can over-throw the humble though they may a little shake him The humble soule puts a low price upon the world the gaine of it doth not much affect him the losse of it doth not much disquiet him He leanes not on himselfe or any other arme of flesh his whole dependance is upon Christ Christ is the strength by which he standeth the light by which he walketh the crowne and portion in which he rejoyceth and nothing can separate him from Christ Satan hath least opportunity to fasten a temptation upon him The proffers of the world have no rellish with him the menaces of men raise no terrour in him Christ is every way so compleat in his apprehension that he accounts both the favour and the hatred of the world as nothing being crucified to the world and the world also unto him Bede relates a poeticall fiction of a man whom they called Terrae filius who fought with a tyrant named Hercules This Terrae filius when he was weary cast himselfe on the ground and recovered his strength which Hercules perceiving lifted him up into the aire and so overcame and slew him In like manner man fighting with Satan humbling and abasing himselfe abhorring himselfe with Job below the dust and ashes reneweth his strength and remaineth invincible but Satan lifting him up filling him with high and proud thoughts of his owne worth prevailes against him obtaines victory over him Pride makes man a slave to Satan humility makes man victorious over him The meek according to that of the Prophet shall increase his ioy in the Lord. The soule which is truly humble drawes matter of consolation out of all suffering and from every estate and condition wherein the Lord sets him 3. This exceedingly indeares man unto God He that is least in his owne eye is greatest in the esteeme of God He is best beloved of God who is most out of love with himselfe The humble soule is most capable of spirituall instruction The best scholler in Christs schoole most obedient unto Gods precept the best servant in Christs family most fruitfull in every good worke most apt to every good duty the choisest Tree in Gods Orchard most sincere and full in the intendment of Gods glory the truest lover among all the friends of God most thankefull for all blessings the best receiver and improver of Gods mercies most apprehensive of Gods perfections most affected with Gods goodnesse the greatest admirer of Gods and Christs excellencies and therefore most deare to God of all others To this man saith the Lord will I looke with the eyes of my love solacing and accepting him with the eyes of my mercy pardoning and forgiving him and with the eyes or my care and providence sweetning and disposing all for good unto him Even to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word To him will I looke when he heareth my word dispensing my grace into him when he prayeth returning a gracious answer to him when he mourneth putting all his teares into my bottle comforting him when he is in distresse delivering him and when he is in want supplying him God is very wonderfull in his gracious manifestations to soules filled with humility and meeknesse to men denying themselves and their owne affections The ornament of a meeke spirit is in the sight of God a thing of great price a contrite and a broken spirit God will not despise Mans estimation with God is sutable to his disestimation of himselfe 4. This doth very wonderfully exalt a man He that is most humble is most honourable Mans self-denyall ever tends to his exaltation It is Christs promise he that humbleth himselfe shall be exalted The humble soule is the vessell which God filleth with the wine of his choisest grace the Temple in which the Spirit of God dwelleth the servant whose worke the Lord accepteth the Petitioner in whose prayer the King of mercies delighteth the Favourite whom the King of Kings honoureth the Spouse whom the Prince of peace receiveth in wedlocke and the friend to whom the Secret of the Lord is imparted God communicates great honour unto them who for his honour are contented to abase themselves in the eyes of men David was content to appeare outwardly vile yea more vile that he might honour God and God made him more honourable confirming and strengthening him in the kingdome Moses was the meekest man on earth a man that had low thoughts of himselfe a man of singular perfection in the way and worke of self-denyall refusing all the honour of Egypt and chusing to endure affliction with Gods people But God made him most honourable called him up unto himselfe in the Mount and made him the leader of his people It is good losing for God the incurment of dishonour for God is recompenced with the greatest honour from the hand of God The Baptist abased himselfe very low to exalt Christ he told the people that such was Christs dignity worth and excellency that he was not worthy to stoop downe and untie the latchet of his shooe and Christ very highly honoured him telling the people that there was not a greater borne of women then the Baptist Man is ever so much the more precious in the eyes of Christ by how much the more despicable he is in his owne and other mens eyes for the love and cause of Christ There is more honour in the humble mans ignominy then in the proud mans pomp and glory He that is least through self-denyall holy abasement and unfained humiliation shall be greatest in Gods Kingdome Greatest in spirituall liberty and freedome in the measure of Sanctification in Gods account and acceptation and in the degree of future glory communicated to him 5. This ministers a very sweet and blessed freedome to the soule He that is most humble is the choisest Freeman in the world Self-denyall is a very great and happy freedome He that is most humble hath the greatest measure of grace conferred on him and wheresoever is most grace there is most freedome Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty saith the Apostle The humble man is free from ignorance in his understanding with the lowly there is wisedome saith Solomon and God doth guide the humble in iudgement saith the Psalmist He that is most humble hath the most cleare and
Shunems sonne that was dead He lay upon the childe and his mouth upon the childes mouth and his eyes upon the childes eyes and his hands upon the childes hands he stretched himselfe upon the childe and the flesh of the childe waxed warme the childe neesed and opened his eyes Christ applyeth himselfe and his benefits to the understandings of men to the soules and consciences of men and their cold hearts are warmed their blind eyes are opened their soules are enlivened and Christ lives within them raising them from the death of sinne and restoring them to the life of God from which they are alienated by sinne therefore Saint John saith He that hath not the Sonne hath not life He that hath not the Son graciously possessing him spiritually quickning him powerfully working upon him and causing a holy change in him he hath not life the life of God that holy and gracious life which God through Christ communicates to the soules of his servants but he that hath the Sonne he that beleeveth in the Sonne is united to the Sonne and hath the Sonne living in him he hath life he is spiritually quickened and enlivened And God saith the Apostle hath given us eternall life and this life is in his Sonne God hath placed this and the fulnesse of all divine and heavenly good things in his Sonne he dispenseth all these by the Sonne that no man may live before him without the Sonne living in him and the Sonne is called Life having in himselfe the fulnesse of all life having the power of life and death being the Authour and the root of life in all them that live the life of grace no man comming to the Father receiving life from the Father finding grace and favour with the Father but in and through the Sonne who is to us the Way the Truth and the Life the way by whom we walk the truth by whom we are guided and the life by whom we are quickned called by Saint Paul our life because we live not the life of grace of our selves but by Christ It is a life which ariseth not from our flesh but is derived to us from Christ Christ liveth in us begetteth preserveth and perfecteth this life in all beleevers and for this end Christ came that all the chosen of God might have life and that they might have it more abundantly Ministring not onely an inchoation but a daily increase of the life of grace untill they come to the life of glory and Christ is termed eternall life having life eternall in himselfe working life eternall and living for ever in us we enjoying the true and eternall God in and through Christ And Christ liveth in all them that are the children of God 1. By way of Originall The life of grace is originally from Christ Christ being not only the Author of this life with the Father and the Holy-Ghost but also the root of this life in us living in us as the root liveth in the branches as the parent liveth in the childe therefore Christ is called the vine and we the branches As the life of the branches is originally in the vine so is our life originally in Christ and as the branches live by the vine living in them so we live by Christ living in us And the Apostle termeth the second Adam which is Christ a quickning spirit For as the life of the body of man is originally from the soule the soule quickning and living in the body so the life of grace is originally from Christ Christ spiritually quickening and living in all beleevers and as the body without the spirit is dead so is man without Christ spiritually dead in sins 2. By way of Coniunction Christ liveth in vs by being united to us and made one with us The stocke liveth in the graft by union with the graft we being taken out of the wilde Olive separated from our naturall and corrupt estate called and gathered home to Christ and grafted in the true Olive we live in him and he lives in us If ye abide in me and I in you ye shall bring forth much fruit saith Christ If ye be united unto me and I united unto you then you shall live and be very fruitfull By being built upon Christ the living stone they become lively stones 3. By way of influence infusion and transmission The heavens by an influence into the earth doe quicken and enliven the earth and make all the seeds and roots hidden in the earth to revive and put themselves forth to sprout and flourish there is an influence going forth from the Sun of righteousnesse into the soules of men reviving and quickning them and making them of dead to become living of barren to become fruitfull To you saith the Lord shall the Sun of Righteousnesse arise with healing in his wings and ye shall goe forth and grow up as the calves of the stall There is an influence goeth forth from the skill seated in the mind and strength seated in the hand of the Artificer which passeth upon the worke whereby he moulds and fashions it and sets a stamp upon it according to his pleasure Thus there is a heavenly influence a holy vertue and power comming from Christ and his Spirit that new moulds and fashions that mightily quickens and enlivens the soule of man by which Christ sets his owne Image upon man and this is called the power of Christs Resurrection That I may know him saith Paul and the power of his Resurrection that I may know Christ and be made partakers of the good things which come by Christ that I may know him as a Prophet instructing me as a Priest sanctifying me as a King reigning spiritually within me and that I may know the power of his Resurrection in the vivification of my soule in the abolition of my sinne in the taking away of the guilt of my transgression in the acquisition of righteousnesse and in the restoring of me to the assured hope of future glory and immortality There is a virtue flowes from the Resurrection of Christs body from the grave to the resurrection of the soules of men from the death of sinne As Christ was raised from the death by the glory of the Father even so should we walke in newnesse of life saith the Apostle and this influence of Christ into the soule of man is called the exceeding greatnesse of his power an exceeding great power for the omnipotency of the Agent for the mightinesse of the Devill sinne death and the world who are overcome by it for the greatnesse of the holy and gracious change wrought thereby in the soules of men changing the whole frame of the hearts of men from death to life from darknesse to light from bondage to liberty from uncleannesse to holinesse from earthlinesse to heavenlinesse and by this powerfull and mighty influence doth Christ live in
Such a man is sicke of the least sinne he complaines of it he strives against it the Law of his mind strives against the Law of his members as Jacob strove against Esau so doth the spirituall part in him strive against the carnall and fleshly part and as the living fountaine strives against and works out the mud which fals into it so doth he that hath Christ living in him worke out the vaine thoughts which fall into his mind and the carnall lusts which rise in his soule and is never at rest untill he hath cleared himselfe of them as Sarah was at no rest untill she had freed her house of the bond-woman and her sonne Nothing is so displeasing to him that lives the life of grace as that which displeaseth Christ his choisest care is to keep his heart a cleane house for Christ to dwell in and to make his soule the plenary possession of Christ that Christ may dwell and reigne alone there he allowes himselfe in no sinne as a chaste wife allowes of no strange lover in her heart his soule is entire with Christ hating what Christ hateth loving what Christ loveth expelling daily more and more whatsoever doth oppose Christs kingdome within him he is as impatient of sinne in his soule as of a moate in his eye as a loyall Subject of a traitor in his house as a King of a forraine enemy in his Kingdome If sinne doe but once beginne to shew it selfe he raiseth all his forces to drive it out and is at no peace untill he hath emptied himselfe thereof 5. By mans assuming and taking to himselfe that which is most sutable and best agreeing with Christ. Every life drawes unto it selfe that which is most sutable and most agreeable thereunto on that it feeds with that it is maintained and therein it delights Thus he that hath Christ living in him takes unto himselfe that which suites and agrees with Christ in this he delights on this his soule feeds As his life is a spirituall life so he drawes to himselfe spirituall food and exerciseth himselfe in spirituall duties he desires like a new borne babe the sincere milke of the word as his food and to dwell in the house of the Lord as in the banquetting house of his soule where the ordinances of God are unto him as a feast of marrow and of fat things and of wines well refined upon the Lees Nothing so fits and suites with the soule where Christ lives as the word and other ordinances of Christ therefore such men desire this as their appointed food pant after this as the chased Hart after the water-brooks and long for it as the dry ground doth thirst for waters This is the food which maintaines the life of grace in their soules this is that wherein their life delights it selfe as in its proper element this is sweeter then the honey or the honey-combe this is better then thousands of gold and silver he hides it in his heart as good seed in good ground he suffers it to worke upon him as fire upon the mettall purifying him and working a gracious change within him he exerciseth himselfe in duties of godlinesse he takes upon him Christs yoake applies himselfe to Christs precept walks in all the ordinances of Christ he lives not to himselfe but to the Lord he delights himselfe in the meditation of Christ the doing of Christs will is his meat and drinke and thus drawing to himselfe what is most sutable and agreeable most pleasant and delightfull unto Christ he makes it manifest that he lives by Christ living in him 6. By mans feeding nourishing and strengthening himselfe by the ordinances of Christ The living man in whom is life and health doth not onely eat but gathers strength by his eating The man in whom Christ lives doth not onely use the meanes of grace but is perfected in grace by them Many there are who are frequent in the use of Gods ordinances and yet for want of spirituall life and an inward gracious digestive faculty they are as a man in an Atrophy that eats much and yet is leane and meager as if he had eat nothing Like the leane Kine in Pharaohs dreame that eat up the fat and yet were as leane and ill-favoured as if they had not eaten at all of whom Saint Paul saith they are alwayes learning and yet never come to the knowledge of the truth but they in whom Christ lives doe thrive by use of Gods ordinances they grow in grace as a childe by the mothers milke as a field by the dew they increase in knowledge as a Scholler in learning they waxe strong in saith as a Tree in roots they grow fervent in love as a fire in heate by the multiplication of wood they abound and are full of goodnesse as a Tree planted by the waters side is greene and flourishing and full of fruit and this is a comfortable argument and evidence of Christ living in us when we thrive by the meanes of grace and are filled with all those fruits of righteousnesse which are to the praise and glory of God in the day of Christ Jesus 7. By the sweetnesse of Christ to the soule of man Life is sweet to the living Christ is more sweet to them in whom he lives honours are sweet to the ambitious pleasures to the voluptuous and wealth to the covetous but Christ surpasseth all sweetnesse to them that are true Christians As the Apple tree among the trees of the wood saith the Spouse so is my Beloved among the sonnes I sate downe under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my tast All the fruits of Christs Prophecye Priesthood and Kingdome his death resurrection and all the benefits of them communicated to the Spouse by the Gospell on which she feedeth by faith to the revivement and refreshing of her soule are very sweet unto her Christ is all sweetnesse to true beleevers the knoweledge of Christ is sweet to their understandings as the light is sweet unto the eye the meditation of Christ is sweet to their imagination as the meditation of the husband is sweet unto the wife the love of Christ is sweet unto their soules as the wine is sweet unto the palate The word of Christ is sweet unto their eares as a joyfull sound his mouth is sweet and altogether lovely The presence of Christ is sweet unto them as the presence of the bridegroome unto the bride The Spouse affirmes of him that his cheekes are as a bed of spices as sweet flowers and his lips like Lillies dropping sweet myrrh declaring the surpassing sweetnesse which beleeving and holy soules doe find in Christs manifestation of himselfe and in the gifts and comforts which he communicates to them by the Gospell The more cleare and strong sweet and comfortable apprehensions we have of Christ the greater is our assurance of Christs living in us 8. By the spirituall
every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemne They who cast the three children into the fiery fornace burnt themselves Pharaoh perished in the very waters into which he forc'd the Israelites there is nothing but an expectation of crosses and curses to that man that doth oppose Christ the fountaine of all blessings 5. Consider when the Church is weakest and the combination strongest against it then God is alwaies nearest to it and most ready to shew his power in the preservation of it The Churches deepest misery is Gods choisest opportunity the Lords people never see and enjoy more of Gods presence then in the fiery fornace God takes occasion by his Churches distresses at once to manifest his power wisdome justice truth and goodnes 6. Consider that Christ is the strength of every thing the foundation is the strength of the house the rootes are the strength of the Tree Christ the Creatour is the strength of the creature He turnes the strength of the mighty into weaknesse and the impotency of the weak into strength the creature alwaies proves more or lesse powerfull according to the concurrence of Christs arme either with or against him all the Nations of the world when the influence of Gods power is suspended are but as a drop of a bucket and as the small dust of the ballance the weakest people the worme Jacob when Christ joynes with them are stronger then the Mountaines No mans station is firme or stable beside his who hath Christ sustaining him Gods Church hath no cause of contracting despairing cogitations either from her owne weaknesse or from the power of her adversaries receiving her supportment from the power of Christ Iesus for he will keepe the feet of his Saints and the wicked shall be silent in darknesse and by strength shall no man prevaile 7. Consider how they who step out from Christ and betake themselves to the shadow of carnall men for refuge doe therein associate and combine themselves with Satan for an uncertaine bodily preservation doe expose their soules unto certaine and inevitable ruine and what can it availe a man to loose the jewell in hope to keep the casket or to destroy the Inhabitant in hope to preserve the house How ever it goe for the present Christ will prevaile at last and whither wilt thou runne then that runnest from Christ now Hee that now flies from the cause of Christ will not be then able to fly from the wrath of Christ He that now refuseth Christ suffering shall with dreadfull horrour and amazement at last behold Christ triumphing Lastly Consider There is more Majesty terrour and security too in the presence and consortship of a few good men then in the presence of a great number of profane men There is a manifestation of God in them which makes the hearts of their enemies to shake as they who came to apprehend Christ fell backward at the very beholding of Christ Gods powerfull and blessed presence among his people the efficacy of their prayers the power of godlinesse apparant in their lives the very perswasion which wicked men have of their integrity of their intimacy and communion with God and of Gods taking part with them doth make their presence dreadfull to the eye and apprehension of profane men thus the Psalmist Beautifull for scituation the joy of the whole Earth is Mount Syon on the sides of the North the City of the great King God is knowne in her Palaces for a Refuge for loe the Kings were assembled they passed by together they saw and so they marvelled they were troubled and hasted away feare tooke hold upon them there and paine as of a woman in travell And in the dayes of Hester the feare of the Iewes fell upon all people And in the dayes of Ioshua such a feare fell upon the profane Nations that their hearts melted neither was there spirit in them any more because of the children of Israel The enduring of affliction with Gods people is better more honourable more comfortable more safe and profitable then the enjoyment of the pleasures of sin for a season 5. Pray for the peace of Ierusalem for the safety unity tranquility of the Church of Christ Pray for the blessing of Heaven upon our deare and dread Soveraigne and upon his great Councell that his Name his Throne and Kingdome may flourish and shine in glory like the Sun to the end of the world and that their Councell may be acceptable to him the divisions of Reuben sweetly and fully reconciled our threatned storm changed into a blessed calm having one Prince of peace commanding us one word of peace instructing us one spirit of peace conducting us one way of peace wherunto the Lord hath called us let every man cast the disobedient Ionah out of the Ship of his own soul which makes our waters tempestuous Let every man cut off the Sheba of his owne rebellious lust which causeth God to threaten the laying of a Siege against the City both of our soule and body Let us meet the Lord as Abigail did David that the Lord may be intreated that all that is amisse may be thoroughly reformed and the Gospel of our peace in the purity and perfection therof continued and the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace preserved 6. Communicate freely and fully to the necessities of the Church of Christ as the Sun his light to them that sit in darknesse the mother her breast to the hungry child and the Cloud its raine to the thirsty ground the Churches wants are for the tryall of thine abundance the Church purchased by the blood of Christ is more precious then all worldly possessions and challengeth preheminence in thy affections above all earthly treasures What thou possessest is not so much thine as Christs and therefore ought freely to be expended in the cause of Christ It is the honour of thy substance to be imployed in the Lords service it is the glory of a Christian to be Christs Almoner to feed his Church and children the Church is a Vineyard whence a liberall harvest returneth to every man that sowes plentifully to it Christs bloud is infinitely more precious then thy gold He gave his blood for thee and how canst thou with-hold thy mony from him Depart rather with all thy substance then that one member of Christ perish for the want of it It is not mans riches but mans bounty to Christs members that honours man it is not the presence but the well using of thy abilities which will give thee comfort in the houre of thy last and dreadfull Summons 7. Be constant in the knowledge faith love feare and profession of Christ Be not in the matter of Gods worship and thy salvation like a Reed shaken with the wind Be not carried too and fro with every vaine and empty Doctrine like a Ship without an Anker Be not tossed up and downe with every gust and wave
of affliction take not thy leave of Christ as Orpah did of Naomi for any distresse that doth befall the Church or cause of Christ doe not leave the Sun for a Gloc-worme the favour of God for the love of men doe not change the Arke for Dagon the â—heat for chaffe the Doctrine of Christ for the tradition of Antichrist pure Religion for fordid and slavish Superstition Forsake not the bridegroome of thy soule for a Harlot the Lord Iesus for the creature perfidiousnesse to Christ is the shame of all shames to a Christian God and man friend and foâ— abhorre him that proves unfaithfull to the Prince of his salvation It was the saying of the Father of Constantine the great occasioned by some of his housholds sacrificing to Idols upon a Commandement which he gave for tryals sake Eos Regi suo nunquam fideles fore qui Deo infideles ex it ssent He that will be false to God will never be true to man for conscience sake He that breaketh faith with God is worthy of least credit with man Take heed therefore let not thought arise within thee of departing from the living God but presse forward draw nearer and nearer unto God breake thorow all the Armies of opposition and discouragement which doe or shall encounter thee as Davids worthies brake thorow the Army of the Philistines and came to the wels of Bethel grow in Knowledge as the light shining more and more to the perfect day grow in faith as the Tree in rootes increase in love as the fire in heat having much wood Be not terrified with any comminations bee not disheartned with any losses revolt not for feare of any sufferings there is enough in Christ to make a super abundant recompence In him thou hast a living Spring when all thy bottles are empty an iron pillar when all thy withered reeds are broken a wall of fire when all the refuges and hiding places of chaffe and stubble are scattered like the dust before the wind in him thou hast a glorious Sun when all the blazing stars of thy worldly comfort are extinguish'd and come to nought a bridegroome the fairest of ten thousand when all thy friends according to the flesh are put to perpetuall silence in the grave O then suffer thy self now to be guided by Christ prostrate thy self under the feet of Christ be contented with Christ repose thy self upon Christ increase thy interest in Christ live wholy to Christ and be ready to suffer and dye for Christ that so thou mayest for ever tryumph with Christ So prayeth The most unworthy of them that serve the Lord Christ A. G. SWEET AND Soule-Perswading INDVCEMENTS Leading unto CHRIST CHAP. I. Psal 1 â—8 26 Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. CHrists triumphant comming into Ierusalem is a lively Embleme and cleare representation of his gracious comming in the Gospell to his people and in his spirituall and heavenly kingdome to the soules of his chosen Christ comming into Ierusalem sent two of his Disciples to loose the colt which was tyed and to bring him unto Christ Christ comming in his spirituall kingdome sends his Ministers by their preaching to loose and free the soules of men which are fast chained and fettered to sinne Satan and the world All men in their naturall estate and condition are slaves to the world servants of corruption and bondmen to Satan Christ by the labours of his Ministers in the Gospell communicates spirituall liberty and freedome to the soules of Gods chosen We all continue fast tyed with the cords and bands of carnall lusts and affections till Christ sends his Ministers amongst us The colt was first loosed and then brought to Christ The powers of sinne and ungodlinesse must first be dissolved within us before we can come to Christ Iesus We must be loosed and set free from the power of sinne Satan and the world which formerly ruled and swayed like Masters over us or else we are unfit for Christs service He that will not be untyed and loosed from his sinne cannot be united unto Christ the labours of Christs Ministers in respect of us are fruitlesse if they doe not loose us from the power of ungodlinesse Christ commandeth the two Disciples to bring the colt to him not to keep him to themselves not to imply him in their owne service It is the duty of Gods Ministers to draw the soules of men not unto themselves but unto Christ They are corrupt and carnall Ministers that seeke to exalt themselves and not the Lord Iesus in the eyes and hearts of their hearers the drawing and working home of the soules of men to Christ Iesus is the chiefest crowne and honour of all ministeriall labours they who make either their owne profit or applause the end of their ministeriall service are certainly deceitfull workers The Lords and owners of this colt though they questioned with the Disciples why they loosed him yet at their word they readily let him goe Christ makes his word in the mouth of his Ministers powerfull and effectuall in the hearts of his people to move them to resigne themselves and all that they have to Christ and his service Christ makes the soules of such as belong to Gods Election to obey the voice of his Ministers in the Gospell Christ sent not his Disciples to loose and bring unto him some magnificent and stately horse such as Princes and Nobles use to ride on but the fole of an Asse an ordinary dull and plaine beast Christ doth most usually set up his spirituall throne and kingdome in the hearts of men of meane and low condition and of little of no esteeme in the world Men most eminent for their morall and temporall endowments are often found the greatest strangers to Christ and his service Christ is many times carried in triumph in the hearts of poore and despised people when such as have the fulnesse of the world will not vaile and stoop to him The Disciples did not onely bring this colt to Christ but they also spread their cloathes upon him and so prepared and fitted him for Christ to ride thereon Gods Ministers must by their doctrines garnish the soules of men that they may be fit for Christ to raigne in them Nothing should be of such esteeme or use with us but we should readily spare it for Christs service be ready to strip our selves of all even our very garments to exalt the Lord Iesus we should rather chuse to make our selves naked then suffer Christ to be dishonoured The Disciples having cast their garments upon the beast they set up Christ thereon The exaltation of Christ must be the prime intendment and labour of every Minister of Christ they must never rest nor please themselves in their labours till they have set up Christ and caused him to raigne in the hearts of their hearers That man is very low and base in his
undertakings who strives not to make Christ glorious Christ being by the Disciples set upon this colt a great multitude spread their garments in the way and others cut downe branches from the trees and strawed them in the way When Christ is by his Ministers exalted and lifted up in the preaching of the Gospell many soules vaile and bow to him embrace and reverence him as their spirituall King and Soveraigne prostrating themselves and all that is theirs under him The multitude did not only straw the way with their garments and branches but they also cryed Hosanna to the sonne of David Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest Humble and beleeving soules receive and entertaine the Lord Iesus with very great ioy and gladnesse The blessed presence of Christ in the Gospell ministers matter of very great rejoycing here is such a sunne of heavenly light shining such a streame of consolations flowing such a store-house of spirituall treasure set open and such dewes of grace mercy and peace distilling that every man that hath an eye of wisedome to discerne Christ a hand of faith to lay hold on Christ and a heart of love to embrace Christs comming in the Gospell must needs say with the Psalmist Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. We are blessed out of the house of the Lord. The words are an Acclamation of the people declaring and setting forth the welcome of Christ to all beleeving soules their ioy and rejoycing conceived upon the comming of Christ among them their gratulation and thanksgiving for Christs appropinquation and comming nigh unto them their vote and exoptation of all prosperity blessed and happy successe to Christ in his kingdome Christs comming proves most ioyfull to them that lovingly receive and entertaine him All true beleevers are holy and hearty welwishers to the Gospell and Kingdome of Christ Iesus all manner of blessings attend and wait on the Lord Iesus in the humble and gracious use of his ordinances True Christians have such experience of the benefits and blessings mercies and comforts flowing from Christ in the ministery of his Gospell that with great joy and thanksgiving they cry out Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. In the words we have in the generall two things considerable 1. A Gratulation uttered by the people Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. 2. A Benediction pronounced by the Ministers of the Lord We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord. In the gratulation there is 1. the Agent the people they blesse they rejoyce they are thankfull for Christs comming Man hath greatest cause of all creatures to reioyce in and for the comming of Christ Jesus 2. there is the Act Blessed praised exalted magnified be Christ Christ is worthy to be celebrated with all praises for his comming to us 3. there is the manner of their gratulation Blessed expressed 1. by way of thanksgiving and rejoycing and 2. by way of exoptation and wishing Whosoever truly reioyceth in Christ doth also wish well to the cause and kingdome of Christ 4. there is Movens or the party comming He who is the sonne of God by eternall generation and by grace of hypostaticall union the Prince of the Kings of the earth by authority and dominion He who is the head of the Church by spirituall Jurisdiction He who is the Redeemer of man by the merit of his obedience and passion He who is the Conquerour over hell death sinne and Satan by his Resurrection He who by his office is the Prophet instructing us the King commanding and defending us and the Priest offering himselfe a sacrifice for us He who is the Mediator between God and us by his intercession the fountaine of all mercy grace and peace unto us by divine ordination Blessed be he welcome be he in him let our soules rejoyce his comming let us entertaine with the chiefest and strength of our rejoycing The Lord Jesus ought to be the prime and compleat obiect of mans joyfulnesse 5. Here is his Motion Commeth Christ as God is every where and neither goes nor comes but fils all places yet he commeth by his Lawes and ordinances as a Prince by his Proclamations He commeth by his Ministers as a King by his Embassadours He commeth by his Incarnation as a brother taking our nature upon him He commeth by his gifts and graces best owed on us as a friend commeth by his love-tokens He commeth by his Word and Gospell as the Sun commeth by his light enlightening us as a King commeth by his Scepter binding bowing and inclining our hearts unto obedience as a Generall commeth by his military weapons casting downe the strong holds of sinne within us as the Cloud commeth by his dew watering refreshing and fructifying us as the Master of a feast commeth by his dainties feeding and feasting us as a Bridegroome commeth by his voice solacing and comforting us He commeth by his Sacrament as the King by his Broad Seale sealing to us the remission of our sinnes and justification of our soules through his righteousnesse he commeth by his holy and gracious operation upon our soules as the Sunne by casting a sweet and heavenly influence into our hearts as a King setting up his throne within us as a heavenly and Almighty Work-man new moulding new framing and fashioning us all these wayes comes the Lord Iesus to the soules of his servants Blessed is that person that knowes the way and manner of Christs spirituall and gracious comming Here is the terme from whence he commeth from God in the name of the Lord by the ordination and appointment of God with authority and commission from God every way fitted and furnished for the administration of his kingdome and accomplishment of the worke undertaken by him CHAP. II. I Will not insist on all these particulars but onely upon the peoples gratulation and Christs authority or commission First the peoples gratulation Blessed be he that commeth expressing their rejoycing and thanksgiving for Christs comming in his Gospell and spirituall kingdome Man blesseth man by making prayer and supplication for him God blesseth man by bestowing good things upon him by removing evill things from him and by turning all for good unto him and man blesseth God and Christ by thanksgiving to God and Christ well speaking of God and Christ holy and hearty rejoycing in God and Christ gracious and unfained wel-wishing unto the cause of God and Christ and thus the people in this place blesse Christs comming in the name of the Lord and hence we learne That Christ comming in his Gospell spiritual kingdome ought to be received and entertained with much thanksgiving reioycing The Arke was a type of Christ David at the comming of the Arke into the Tabernacle danced with all
them in the waters this gives them occasion in a holy and triumphant manner to say the Lord hath triumphed gloriously the horse and the rider hath he throwne downe together He cannot but rejoyce in Christs comming that partakes of the victory comming by him In regard of the spirituall and heavenly peace hence arising to the soule Christs comming to the soules of men in the Gospell is like the comming of the Dove to Noah with an Olive branch in her mouth certifying the soule of the abatement and removall of Gods wrath of the speedy departure of the deluge of present sorrowes and the happy returne and re-appearance of spirituall and heavenly comforts Here Christ as a bright and shining Sunne dispels the clouds of sorrow from the soule Here Christ as a valiant Captaine removes the siege which the infernall Princes lay against the soules of his servants as Joshuah drove the Amoritist Princes from the Gibeonites Here Christ as a Physitian heales the wounded consciences and binds up the broken hearts of his children as he sometime healed the diseased woman whom no Physitian could cure Here Christ as an absolute Commander appeaseth the inward stormy troubles of the heart as by his voice he appeased the stormy tempest and gave a calme to his Disciples Here Christ as a King of mercies assures the soules of men of the pardon of their sinnes and gives them the sence of his love and so fils them with sweet and blessed peace therefore Christ is stiled a Sunne of Righteousnesse appearing with healing in his wings in the wings of his ordinances without and in the wings of his grace within and it was prophecyed of him that he should preach good tidings to the meeke bind up the broken-hearted proclaime liberty to the captive and open the prison to them that are bound to comfort all that mourne and God hath created the fruit of the lips to be peace to be the instrument of peace and the Gospell is called the Gospell of peace for the Author of it the God of peace for the Subject of it Christ the Prince of peace for the parties receiving it the children of peace and for the fruit of it spirituall and heavenly grace In regard of that blessed and soule-refreshing Communion which wee attaine with God through Christ comming in the Gospell Josephs brethren were brought nigh to the King of Egypt by Ioseph Man is brought nigh to God by Christ Christ preached in the Gospell is like Iacobs ladder by him God descendeth unto us and through him we ascend unto God the Arke was an assurance of Gods presence among the people and God dwelled there Where Christ is preached in the Gospell there God is in mercy present with his people there is the Lords dwelling in Salem is his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Zion In the Gospell men are regenerate and made the children of God men are humbled and made loyall Subjects to God men are endowed with faith wrought into Gods Covenant and made the friends of God Men are separated from the world and gathered home to God and made the sheep of his pasture so that now they have communion with him as children with a father as favourites with a King as schollers with a teacher as the members of a house with the master of the house Now they are made nigh through Christ nigh in knowledge nigh in faith nigh in love nigh in likenesse nigh in conformity and obedience nigh in the participations of spirituall comforts and in the enjoyment of the light of Gods countenance very pleasant and comfortable is a gracious soules communion with God in the Gospell Christ is most worthy of all acceptation for that communion which we have with God through him CHAP. 3. THis discovers their sinne their miserable and wretched condition who are not thankfull for who rejoyce not in the comming of Christ in his Gospell and in the kingdome of his grace among them There were children of Belial that said of Saul when he was set up King over Israel How shall this man save us they despised him and brought him no present There are many children of Belial in the world that say of Christ comming in the Gospell comming in his word to reigne and rule over them how shall Christ save us by this preaching of the Gospell the preaching of Christ seemes foolishnesse unto them a darke doctrine wherein is no light no wisedome no excellency of learning an empty doctrine wherein is no fulnesse no worth a very babling a weake doctrine wherein is no power The false Apostles said of Paul his bodily presence is weake and his speech contemptible Many false and counterfeit Christians say of Christ in the closet of their owne hearts Christs presence in the Gospell is weake and his speech in the Gospell is contemptible and thus they despise Christ in his offices in his Ministers in his Ordinances in his members they bring him no present they present not themselves in Christs schoole as schollers to learne Christ they present not themselves in Christs house as children to feed on those dainties which Christ hath there prepared for them they present not themselves in Christs Courts as Subjects to receive his Lawes and doe his will they present not their soules and bodies as a living holy and acceptable sacrifice unto Christ But as the men of the old world said in the Atheisme of their hearts unto God so say these in the ignorance infidelitie pride and prophanenesse of their soules unto Christ Depart from us we care not for the knowledge of thy wayes What is Christ that we should serve him and what profit shall we have if we pray unto him if we attend him preached in the Gospell surely Christ preached in the Gospell is very strangely and shamefully undervalued by many people In stead of rejoycing they grieve at the preaching of Christ among them as Herod and all the men of Ierusalem were troubled to heare of Christs being borne King of the Jewes and of the appearing of a starre declaring the comming of Christ the true light of the world the cleare and full opening of Christ and the setting up of Christ to reigne and rule over the hearts and wayes of men is very troublesome to many people like those evill citizens in the parable they will not have this man Christ to raigne over them they will not have him reigne over their understandings as a light guiding them over their wils as a Prince commanding them over their affections as a Lord and Master ruling and ordering them over their lusts as a Physitian lancing purging mortifying and taking them off Many men delight to talke much of Christs salvation but they have no pleasure to heare of his kingdome it is acceptable to them to be saved by Christ but very troublesome to serve Christ But what a shame what an abomination what
foule hypocrisie is this that wee should professe Christ and yet deny him in his Gospell in his Kingdome Is it not a shame for a wife to professe such a man to be her husband and yet deny him her presence her hand her heart her body her love dwell with a stranger love a stranger delight in a stranger and bring forth children to a stranger what is this but shamefull disloyalty and odious adultery What a shame for a man to professe such a man to be his Master and yet deny him all service and shut the doores of the house against him and what a shame is it for us to professe Christ to be our husband our Master and yet deny him our service breaking his bands and casting away his cords from us shutting the doores of our hearts against him denying him our presence in his house denying him our heart to love him our affections to rejoyce in him our hand to worke for him denying him our soules and bodies to be a holy Temple for him to dwell in bringing forth all our fruit to the flesh and to the world and none to Christ what disloyalty what hypocrisie what spirituall adultery is this certainly such men like the Angell of the Church of Sardis though he had a name that he lived yet he was dead so these though they have the name of Christians yet they are none of Christs This is an evill of which Christ is very sensible whereof he much complaines If saith he a man come unto you in his owne name bring a corrupt and carnall doctrine seeke himselfe exalt and magnifie himselfe him ye will receive his person you will reverence his doctrine you will receive his sayings you will beleeve to his dictates you will vaile and stoop but saith Christ I am come in my Fathers name and ye receive me not I am come from God I have my calling and commission from God I bring no humane but a heavenly doctrine I seeke not mine owne but my Fathers glory and ye receive me not ye regard not my person ye beleeve not my doctrine ye obey not my precepts you love not me you rejoyce not you delight not in me Generally men are more addicted to and delighted in corrupt and carnall inventions then in the spirituall and heavenly doctrine of Christ and his Gospell Christs comming in the power and brightnesse of his Gospell is very unwelcome to many people as the comming of the King to a Rebell the comming of an officer to a theefe or the comming of the husband to his wife that playes the harlot and what is this but the shame of all shames and dishonour of all dishonours to a Christian to deny his Christ to refuse his Christ not to rejoyce and delight in his Christ comming to him in the glad tydings of his Gospell We all conclude it a foule dishonour to a subject a servant a wife to deny their King their Master their Husband not to rejoyce in their comming in their presence but to shut the doores of their houses against them to deny them entrance and entertainment And is not a foule staine so to deale with Christ so to exclude Christ comming to us by his Word and Ministers If you aske me whence it is that Christ is so unwelcome that many of us are so farre from rejoycing in his comming I answer there are these 5. grounds of this Ignorance Men doe not know Christ they doe not discerne Christ in the Gospell Christ in the Gospell is hidden from them as the light is hidden from the blind the God of this world hath blinded their eyes that the light of the Gospell of the glory of Christ may not shine into them they doe not discerne Christ in his Gospell shining like the Sunne for the excellency of his knowledge there appearing they doe not discerne Christ there triumphing like a conquerour in the subjugation of Satan and their corruptions they doe not discerne Christ there as a Prince of peace sweetly and graciously ruling in their hearts by the Scepter of his Word they doe not discerne Christ there as a Physitian healing their sinfull maladies as the impotent discerned the Angell moving in the poole of Bethesda and healing their bodily infirmities they see not these beauties of Christ which David desired to see in the Temple of the Lord they see not that power and glory of Christ in the Gospell which the Psalmist saw in the Sanctuary and therefore as a blind man rejoyceth not in the appearance and comming of the Sunne because he sees not the Sunne no more doe these in the comming of Christ in the Gospell because they doe not there discerne him 2 Earthly mindednesse Their hearts are glued to the world this is the Master whom they serve this is the rocke on which they build this is the wife or harlot rather whom they marry this is the object of their joy they rejoyce in the creature in a thing of nought saith the Prophet and therefore having another Master whom they serve they cannot receive and rejoyce in Christs Lawes having another rocke on which they build they cannot beleeve and delight in Christs promises having another husband to whom they are wedded they cannot embrace and rejoyce in Christ as the Bride rejoyceth in the Bridegroome when the people rejoyced in Rezin Remalials son they refused the waters of Shiloah When man rejoyceth in the creature he refuseth Christ his soule takes no pleasure in Christ 3. Vnsensiblenesse of Christ they have no feeling of Christ within them the Apostle saith they are past feeling they are past the feeling of their sinne as a dead body is past the feeling of the disease they are past the feeling of the shame of sin as a common harlot hath cast of all modesty is even degenerated from her sexe and takes no shame of her whoredomes they have no feeling of the iudgements of God denounced against them they sleep in the midst of these as Ionah did in the storme they take no notice of them they have no feeling of the workings bitings and convulsions of an accusing and condemning conscience their consciences are like a mastive fallen asleep after long and much barking like flesh seared with a hot yron their sence and feeling is gone they are alienated from the life of God dead and have no feeling of the life of Christ Christ doth not live in them they are blind and have no feeling of the wisedome and knowledge which commeth from Christ as a blind man hath no feeling of the light which commeth from the Sunne they are deafe and have no feeling of the sweet and comfortable voice of Christ in the Gospell any more then a deafe man feeles the sweet sound of a musicall instrument their pallates are distempered and they cannot taste the sweetnesse of Christ they loath him as the full stomacke the honey-combe he
and rule over us wholly subjecting our selves to the Scepter of Christ Jesus as a Priest to sanctifie us to expiate our offences and make atonement for us relying solely on Christs merits We must receive him in all his Ordinances in his word regenerating renewing reforming us in his Sacrament feasting strengthening sealing up his love and the forgivenesse of our sin unto us We must receive him in his Ministers as a Prince in his Embassadors as a Bridegroome in his friends in his members as a father in his children as a husband in his wife in his precepts as a King in all his Lawes obeying them in his promises as a faithfull friend in all his words beleeving them in his gifts and dispensations as a giver in his gifts as a workman in his workmanship as the eye receiveth the Sunne in his light and the ground the cloud in the raine and dew distilling thereupon Wee must receive him in our understandings as a light in our wils as a Prince in our thoughts as a treasure in our affections as a Lord and Master fearing him as a sure foundation building upon him as a bridegroome being full of love towards him The full receiving of Christ in the Gospell fils the soule with fulnesse of grace and consolation He that doth not universally receive Christ doth not at all receive Christ He that doth not surrender all truly surrenders none to Christ He that shuts Christ out of one roome of his soule leaves his whole man to the possession of sinne Satan and the world 8. Perpetually Christ must be received once and forever the Covenant between the soule and Christ is an everlasting Covenant a Covenant of wedlocke the Covenant between the husband and the wife is for ever untill death the husband is the guide delight and object the wifes love for ever so long as life lasteth Christ must be received as the soules guide and love for ever Christ must shine in the understanding as an everlasting Sunne rule in the will as an everlasting Prince possesse the soule as an everlasting dweller and abide in the affections as an everlasting husband The soule which truly receives Christ in the Gospell is an everlasting lover of Christ as Hyram loved David ever an everlasting servant to Christ as the servant under the Law which had his eare boared abode a servant in the house for ever as the land of Canaan was to Jacob and his seed an everlasting possession so must Christ be our everlasting portion we may not receive Christ and thrust him out againe as sicke men receive a Physitian and put him off againe as soone as the disease is put away as a besieged City receiveth souldiers and turnes them off againe as soone as the siedge is removed as the Philistines received the Arke and sent him away againe when Dagon could not stand before him as Amnon received Thamar and thrust her out of doores againe hating her more then ever he loved her Such are very base receivers of Christ as receive him either for fancy novelty or constraining necessity He is a very Philistine that will rather thrust Christ from him then suffer the fall of his Dagon his base lust or corrupt affection their love to Christ when at the best was but fained and counterfeit which afterwards turnes to hatred He is no sonne but a slave no Spouse but a harlot which abides not with Christ to the end Having therefore once received Christ to seweth Christ retaine Christ in every estate abide with Christ Man changes as Ittai with David in life and in death CHAP. V. THus of the manner of receiving Christ in the Gospell the second thing is the medium or meanes disposing and inabling us to receive Christ with rejoycing and thanksgiving The meanes are these 1. A full and through deposition and putting aside of all that is contrary to Christ 1. there must be a deposition of sinne all motes distempers and blindnesse being put away out of the eye the eye joyfully receives the Sunne ignorance and errour being put out of the understanding Christ the Sunne of Righteousnesse is joyfully received in our knowledge the knowledge of Christ becommeth cleare and pleasant to the soule witherednesse and infirmity being removed from the hand the hand readily receives the gift Unbeleefe which wounds and withers the hand of faith being removed from the heart man cheerFully entertaines Christ and is filled with all ioy in beleeving rebellious proud and mutinous persons being put out of the kingdome the King is joyfully entertained by the people pride imaginations and every high thing which doth exalt it selfe against the knowledge of God being cast downe and brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ Christ is gladly received strange love and strange lovers being put farre from the wife the husband is cheerfully received by the wife the removall of strange lusts and corrupt affections prepares the heart to a joyfull entertainment of Christ He that doth not sorrow for his sinne cannot rejoyce in Christ He that doth not hate the former can never love the latter He that doth not empty himselfe of the one can never be filled with the other The Jebusites told David unlesse he tooke away the blind and the lame hee should not enter into the fort of Syon Unlesse wee take away the blind and the lame ignorance infidelity and all uncleannesse out of our soules Christ will never enter into our hearts we cannot receive Christ into our soules the keeping in of sin is the keeping out of Christ the holding fast of corrupt affections is the loosing of Christ Jesus as the Philistines keeping up of their Dagon wrought a removall of the Arke 2. There must be a deposition of the world in affection We must not love it in cogitation we must have no distracting thoughts about it in estimation we must not overprize but esteeme it as a thing which is not in c inquisition we must not seeke the things which are here below as if our happinesse consisted in the finding of these things in subjection we must not be the servants of the world in affiance we must not build upon them in rejoycing we may not rejoyce in them He that is married to the creature is divorced from Christ he that loves this hath no love to Christ he that is the servant of this cannot serve Christ therefore as Christ overthrew the tables of the money-changers and whipt the buyers and sellers out of his fathers house so must we whip the love thought command and delight of the world out of our hearts that we may receive Christ it is a great unhappinesse to lose Christ for the gaine of the world it were strange folly in a woman to refuse a wise a potent beautifull victorious and noble Prince and marry her selfe to a foolish impotent base beggerly and deformed captive
3. There must be a deposition of our selves we must lay aside our selves in respect of opinion we must have very low thoughts of our selves in respect of delight and pleasure we must not please our selves in our selves but loath ourselves in respect of Love we must not love our selves please mind and exalt our selves but deny our selves in respect of trust we must not trust in our selves but be jealous of our selves distrust our owne hearts accuse and condemne our selves and in respect of the end we must not intend our selves propose our owne ends but intend Christ and the glory of Christ Thus we must lay aside our selves and empty our selves of our selves that wee may receive Christ the empty vessell receives the liquor there is no place for it in the full 2. Holy wise and carefull preparation to the hearing of Christ in the Gospell Elisha before he prophesâ—ed before Jehosaphat and Jehoram called for a Musitian to play some sacred song the better to appease his spirit and put his mind in a quiet and heavenly frame and then the hand of the Lord was upon him and he prophecyed Thus before we come into the presence of Christ to heare we should by some holy meditation and fervent prayer gather home our thoughts take off our selves from the world suppresse and put away the distemper of our spirits worke our hearts into a holy and gracious frame and tempor and compose our selves to heare so shall the hand of God he upon us in hearing and we shall heare and receive Christ with much joyfulnesse the preparednesse of the eye to see of the care to heare and of the pallate to taste makes them joyfull in seeing hearing tasting the soules joy and comfort in hearing is ordinarily sutable to mans preparation Man is ashamed and grieved to receive his Prince into a sâ—rded and filthy house but having his house clensed garnished and all things set in order he is joyfull in the entertainment Want of preparation is the cause of much discomfort sadnesse and dulnesse in hearing Christ comming in the Gospell is very comfortably entertained by the soule which is duely prepared 3. Sure and gracious interest in Christ Beleeve in Christ lay hold on Christ select and take Christ unto your selves make him yours As the Merchant sold all for the precious pearle in the parable and made the pearle his owne so sell all put away all your sinnes remove all worldly vanities and interest your selves in Christ as the woman leaves her owne people and her fathers house to make another man her husband thus leave the world your sinfull acquaintance your corrupt and carnall customes come off from them all and apply your selves to Christ espouse your selves by faith and love to him and then your soules shall joyfully wait upon him in the Gospell as the Queene waits upon the King in his palace with joy and gladnesse as the bride doth joyfully heare the voice of the bridegroome thus the Spouse professeth her joy and comfort in Christ in the Gospell his mouth his word and doctrine is most sweet he is altogether lovely There is the expression of her joyfull receiving Christ in the Gospell this is my Beloved and this is my friend there is the declaration of her interest in him Christ is ever more or lesse joyfull to the heart of man in the Gospell according to mans assurance of interest in him he never feeles Christ a sweet and gracious comforter that looks upon him in his word as a stranger 4. Cleare and lively discerning and apprehension of the dignity worth and excellency of Christ He that hath a jewell and knowes not the worth of him is nothing affected with him like Esops cocke he rejoyceth more in a barley corne ignorance of the worth of Christ takes away the soules delight and joy in Christ the wise Merchant knowes the worth of a pearle and is much joyed at the finding of him the wise Christian knowing the price and worth of Christ is much joyed when he meets with Christ in the Gospell â— the Spouse in Solomons Song sets forth her apprehension of the beauty worth and excellency of Christ of his Godhead and manhood in one person of his glory innocency grace mercy and justice of his preheminence and exaltation above all creatures of his glorious kingdome his unsearchable wisedome his gracious and mercifull beholding of grieved sinners his beauty and comelinesse to the eyes of faith and concludes at length his mouth is most sweet and altogether lovely His mouth the doctrines words promises comforts of his Gospell are very sweet as the honey or the honey-combe strive then more clearly to discerne the worth of Christ if you intend the increase of your comfort in Christ The prophane Gaderine that thinks more highly of his swine then of Christ never meets with joy in Christ 5. Holy and gracious making use of Christ in the Gospell The eye makes use of the Sunne it sees by it the care makes use of the voice it discernes what is spoken by it the thirsty traveller makes use of the fountaine he quencheth his thirst with it refresheth himselfe by it And all these rejoyce the eye in the Sunne the care in the sound and the thirsty in the fountaine and in these they rejoyce because they make use of them Make use then of Christ in his Gospell as a scholler doth of his teacher learning heavenly wisedome as a sicke man doth of his Physitian recovering spirituall health by him as a besieged City doth of their Captaine feeling him casting downe the holds of sinne and restoring thy soule to freedome as the wise man in the parable did of the rocke build upon him the more use you make of Christ the more comfort you shall find in Christ Christ is both unprofitable and uncomfortable to him that makes no use of him as a sealed Well and an eclipsed Sunne There is a price saith Solomon in the hand of a foole but he hath not a heart to make use of him We have Christ in the Gospell a pearle of great price and it is mans exceeding great foolishnesse not to make use of Christ Iesus 6. Blessed and heavenly sence and experience of Christs sanctifying and saving worke upon our soules in the Gospell The influence and operation of the Sunne upon the earth in the Spring makes it appeare very pleasant and joyfull the sence of Christs gracious worke upon the heart glads the heart he brought me saith the Spouse into his chambers that is he revealed unto me the secret of the Lord the secret worke of the Lord in the illumination of my understanding in the regenerating of my heart in the quickning of my soule in the putting of a new nature upon me in the pacifying of my conscience and comforting of my soule these are the chambers whereinto she was brought the secret and blessed wayes of Christ with a gracious
soule and what found she in these chambers how was she affected with this worke of Christ We will saith she be glad and rejoyce in thee we will remember thy love more then wine Experience of Christs gracious operation upon man makes the soule of man joyfull the more we feele the blessed working of Christ within us the greater are our rejoycings Mans unsensiblenesse of Christ and his gracious dispensations deprives man of Christs sweet and blessed comforts CHAP. VI. THe third thing is Motivum The inducements perswading to a ready and joyfull embracement and receiving of Christ comming in his Gospell and spirituall kingdome and to move our selves to this let us wisely consider and seriously looke upon 1. The condition of the creature without Christ To him that receives not Christ the creature all earthly perfection and fulnesse is 1. an empty thing it never filleth never satisfieth never contenteth him that hath it the more man drinks of this brooke not drinking of Christ the full and everliving fountaine the more hee thirsteth the more he feeds on this not feeding on Christ the true bread of life the more his hunger increaseth The soule which receives not Christ like the horsleaches daughters in Solomon is ever crying give give and can never have enough The fulnesse of the world without Christ is but a dry bone without marrow an empty pit without water a barren tree without fruit like that in the Gospell which had leafe but no fruit promising much to him that beholds it afarre off but ministring no satisfaction to them that draw neare unto it emptinesse ever attends their greatest possessions who are strangers to Christ Iesus the soule is a vessell of that largenesse that none can fill it but Christ in whom is all fulnesse the barren eares in Pharaohs dreame eat up the full and the leane kine eat up the fat and when they had eaten them up it could not be knowne they had eaten them but they were still ill-favoured Man that stayes upon the creature and comes not to Christ that entertaines the creature and not Christ eats up the full and fat of the earth and yet it cannot be knowne that he hath eaten his desires and his hunger after it are as great as ever he is nothing at all filled with it his desires grow as his possessessions grow the creature hath a power to inflame but not to satisfie mans desire ordinarily the greatest worldly possessors are vexed with most insatiable desires of such the Lord saith they shall not be satisfied and their desire is enlarged as hell and they can never have enough The emptinesse of the creatures must make Christ the more precious in our apprehensions Hagar seeing the emptinesse of her bottle came readily for water to the fountaine the emptinesse of the creature should make us ready in comming unto and cheerfull in the entertainment of Christ Iesus the gracious and through receiving of the Lord Iesus is the only way to satisfaction and fulnesse 2. The creature to him that receives not Christ is an uncomfortable thing The world without the Sunne is an uncomfortable dwelling the fulnesse of the world without Christ is an unquiet possession the waters of Marah without the tree were bitter the children of Israel could not drinke of them the greatest rivers the deepest flouds and most pleasant things of earthly abundance are very bitter and distastefull without Christ Christ is the sweetner of mans earthly possession as the honey-combe sweetned the Lyon unto Sampson the man that receives not Christ is in straights in perplexities feares doubtings and great distractions in the fulnesse of his sufficiency in the plenitude and presence of his greatest worldly abundance his path is a way of snares and his bed is a bed of thornes his abundance will not suffer him to sleep that doth not repose his soule on Christ his bread is bread of sorrowes that doth not feast and feed his soule upon Christ Worldly abundance is a snare entangling an arrow piercing a sword wounding a tempestuous sea tossing shaking drowning them that possesse it and possesse not Christ with it the greater possession the greater trouble to him that receives not Christ in the Gospell It is not the having of the creature in the house but the having of Christ in the heart that ministers true peace and comfort 3. The creature to him that receives not Christ is an inthralling and inbondaging thing it takes away the liberty and freedome of the soule it fetters and imprisons it it makes a slave and servant of it Sampson doting upon and inordinately applying himselfe to Dalilah she cut off t his locks delivered him into the hand of the Philistines and made him their slave Man that neglecteth Christ that receives not Christ that is not ravished with his beauties is so enamoured with the creature and so gives himselfe to the creature that the creature â—obs him of the strength of faith and spirituall love and makes him a slave to himselfe and his owne lusts the creature ever swayes in that soule like a tyrant where Christ is not he that refuseth to be Christs Subject makes himselfe the creatures slave therefore are they termed the servants of Mammon for their alienation from Christ and spirituall freedome for their subjection and slavery under the world and they are said to serve their owne belly and not Christ Most miserable and wretched is the soules bondage which receives not the Lord Iesus 4. The creature to him that receives not Christ is a polluting and defiling thing it makes the soule a very sinke and cage of uncleannesse a very den and dungeon of filthinesse as the Temple before Christ entred into it was made a den of theeves Exclude the housewife out of the house and all the residue of goers and commers and implements brought into the house make a foule house exclude Christ out of the house of the soule and their going and comming and travell of the creature will quickly make a very uncleane and filthy soule Dinah went out from her fathers house to see the daughters of the land and Shechem tooke her and defiled her Man steps aside goes out from Christ neglects and leaves Christ abides not close with Christ but sets his eye his thought his heart upon the creature and the creature takes him ensnares him and shamefully defiles him it defiles his understanding with errour dust blinds the eye of the body the creature the dust of the world duls and blinds the eye of the mind The love of money saith Paul is the root of all evill which while some have coveted after they have erred from the faith It defiles his thought his thoughts are thoughts of iniquity wasting and destruction thoughts of injustice and oppression thoughts of fraud and treason thoughts of pride and selfe-admiration thoughts of carnall confidence and fleshly contentments it
defiles the heart of man with covetousnesse Thine eyes and thy heart saith the Lord to Jehoiakim are not but for thy covetousnesse and for to shed innocent bloud and for oppression and for violence to doe it it defiles the affections with idolatry and with spirituall fornication and adultery the covetous man is an idolater saith Saint Paul and the adulterers and adulteresses saith Saint Iames to such as embrace not Christ but the creature know you not that the love of the world is enmity with God and that he that is a friend to the world is an enemy to God The world fils that mans soule with most shamefull uncleannesse that embraceth not the Lord Iesus therefore as Hagar seeing the emptinesse of her bottle came readily to the fountaine as the mariner feeling the tempest and troublesomnesse of the seas comes willingly to the haven as the Israelites feeling the cruelty of Pharaohs task-masters and the insupportablenesse of his burthens willingly embraced Moses and as the diseased woman feeling the loathsomnesse of her bloudy issue and having experience of the vanity of all Physitians came gladly unto Christ so we seeing the emptinesse feeling the uncomfortablenesse and knowing the inthralling and defiling nature of the creature without Christ let us readily willingly joyfully and thankfully receive and embrace Christ that our soules may be freed sanctified and filled with all saving graces and heavenly comforts Experience of the vanity trouble bondage and evils which attend the naked having of the creatures should marvellously endeare unto us the Lord Iesus and make his comming in the Gospell surpassingly sweet and welcome 2. Let us throughly view and consider the state of man without Christ Man not receiving Christ in the Gospell hath no spirituall life but is dead in sinnes as the body is dead without the soule he hath no saving knowledge but is in spirituall blindnesse as he that is without the Sunne is in darknesse he hath no heavenly gift or grace but is empty of all the fruits of the Spirit as the branch which is separated from the vine hath neither juice nor fruit he hath no Christian liberty or freedome but is a bondman to sin Satan and the world as Peter lay in Herods prison in fetters and under the custody of the souldiers before the Angell came and freed him he hath no interest in Gods promises but as Adam was shut out of the garden of Eden so is man shut out of Gods Covenant Gods promises are a sealed well whereof his soule drinks not he hath no garment of righteousnesse to cover him no jewell of grace to adorne him no spirituall treasure to enrich him but is poore blind naked miserable and wretched As the Egyptians were led away by the King of Assyria prisoners captives naked barefoot with their buttocks uncovered to the shame of Egypt so man without Christ is led away by the prince of darknesse a spirituall prisoner and captive his soule bare naked uncovered to the shame of mankind he hath no holy and heavenly peace but as the Disciples were tossed upon the tempest till Christ calmed the waters so is man like the troubled sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt untill Christ ministers comfort Man without Christ is like a blind traveller that hath no guide to leade him like a dead man in the grave putrifying in sinne having none to raise him like an empty cisterne having no fountaine to fill him like a bondman having no ransomer to free him like a woman in travell having no midwife to help her lik a sheep in the midst of wolves having no shepheard to conduct and defend it and like a besieged City in the midst of many enemies having no wall to protect it no captaine to fight for it Miserable is mans condition that receives not Christ in the Gospell did man know and feele his unhappinesse without Christ he would never be so regardlesse of Christ never so carelesly let Christ passe but would meet Christ where he commeth in his word as the blind men went out and stood by the high-way side where Christ was to passe and cry after Christ as they did as the woman of Shunem hasted to the Prophet for the raising of her dead son and laid hold upon the Prophets feet and would not let him goe untill he came with her and raised her sonne againe to life so would man hasten unto Christ lay hold upon Christ in the Gospell and bring Christ home into his heart he would be at no rest untill Christ had raised freed purged and comforted his dead captived polluted and comfortlesse soule He would as joyfully entertaine Christs comming in his Gospell to free him from the power of his corruptions as ever the Gibeonites gladly entertained Ioshuah comming to rescue them from the Amoritish Princes it is mans unsensiblenesse of the misery of his owne condition that causeth Christs comming to bee unwelcome 3. Meditate the soules apprehension of God without Christ God who to the soules of them that savingly embrace Christ is looked on rejoyced and delighted in as a father for his love as a gracious King for his mercies as a sure and sweet friend for his comforts as a loving husband for his amiable and soule-refreshing presence as a shield for the defence as a rocke for the supportment and as a full fountaine for the satisfaction which he ministreth This thrice blessed and gracious God is apprehended considered and lookt upon by him that doth not embrace Christ in the Gospell as a severe Iudge to condemne him as an enemy full of displeasure against him as a man of warre bending his bow and whetting his sword to destroy him as a rocke ready to fall upon him and grinde him to pouder as a tempestuous sea ready to swallow him and as consuming fire and everlasting burning ready for ever to consume and to destroy him Very dreadfull and soule-amasing and frightening is mans meditation and apprehension of God that doth not savingly apprehend him in Christ such a man flies from the thought of God the voice of God and the presence of God as Adam fled into the thicket as a silly sheep flies before the Lyon a guilty malefactor before the hue and cry or a Partridge before the Hawke This makes them cry to the hils to cover them and to the rocks and the mountaines to fall upon them to hide them from the day of the Lord and the wrath of the Lambe God lookt upon without Christ Iesus is the terrour of all terrours to a guilty soule and accusing conscience Were men truly apprehensive and sensible of the wrath of God without Christ their soules would be at no rest untill they had assured interest in Christ the fiercenesse and terrour of God against sinners doth exceedingly endeare and sweeten the Lord Iesus to the soules of his faithfull servants had we frequent and right consideration of the
terriblenesse of God without Christ Iesus Christs comming in the Gospell would be unspeakably joyfull 4. Looke upon the frustration of all the Ordinances of God and labours of Gods Ministers by mens not receiving of Christ in the Gospell He that doth not receive and embrace Christ preached in the Gospell annihilates all the labour of Gods messenger had not Rebeckah received Isaac to husband she had frustrated all the labour of Eleazar the servant of Abraham If we receive not Christ to husband we frustrate the labour of the Ministers the Lords servants Should not Abner have brought about Israel unto David he had lost his labour his communication with the Elders of Israel and his speaking in the eares of Benjamin had been in vaine Thus all our preaching all our speaking in the cares of men is in vaine if they be not brought about to Christ if they doe not truly subject themselves to Christ if they receive not Christ as their spirituall King for what is the end of our preaching but to espouse you to Christ to worke you to the receiving and embracing of Christ as the husband of your soules and to present you as a chaste virgin unto Christ besides all your hearing all your attendance upon the word is vaine it is all hypocrisie and vaine ostentation if you receive not Christ Iacobs sonnes had gone to Egypt in vaine if they had returned empty handed and not carried home provision with them You come to the Well in vaine if you drinke not if you carry home no water with you you come to Gods house to Gods treasury to the wels of salvation in vaine if you returne empty hearted if you receive not if you carry not home Christ with you in your hearts all your labour is lost The temporall curse denounced on the people by the Prophet Haggai is in a spirituall sence fulfilled in such Ye have sowne much and bring in little ye eat but ye have not enough ye drinke but ye are not filled with drinke ye cloath you but there is none warme and he that earneth wages earneth to put it in a broken bag with holes Thus in this case much is heard much spirituall seed is sowne but little or no fruit is reaped they eat much they heare much but there is no spirituall filling their worldly thirst is not quenched their soule is not satisfied in Christ there is no warmth no love no zeale for Christ no burning of heart in hearing no fervency in supplication all that the Minister hath provided and dispensed for the soules enrichment it is all put in a broken bag with holes it is all lost it runnes out as fast as it is powred in if we recive not Christ in the Gospell all our hearing is worth nothing 5. Meditate upon the dignity excellency utility and comfort of receiving and embracing Christ in the Gospell 1. Christ received in the Gospell giveth life unto the soule Hee quickned Lazarus by his corporall voice accompanied with the power of his God-head he quickeneth the soule by his Evangelicall voice attended with the lively operation of his Spirit the Gospell is the externall instrument and meanes by which Christ liveth in the soule therefore is the Gospell called the word of life revealing and effecting life in Gods chosen Christ hath in himselfe all life our life is hid in Christ as the life of the branch is hidden in the roote and he that hath the sonne hath life hee that hath the Son in the Gospell as in the seed of his regeneration as in the instrument of his conversion as in the warlike weapon by which are throwne downe all the strong and mighty holds of Satan as in the Scepter by which Christ doth sway within him and bind and bow his heart unto subjection He that hath Christ in his heart by faith and love as a root of life living in him as a fountaine filling him with his fulnesse as a King sitting up his throne within him as a bridegroome betrothing himselfe unto him he hath life but he that hath not the sonne hath not life The evill of neglecting Christ in the Gospell is no lesse then eternall death and destruction 2. Christ received in the Gospell giveth light spirituall heavenly and comfortable light the receiving of the Sunne giveth light to the body the receiving of the Sun of Righteousnesse giveth light to the soule he that doth not embrace Christ in the Gospell hath no light but all darknesse within him 3. Christ received in the Gospell giveth health health of soule Here he commeth with healing in his wings the Angell in Bethesda cured the bodily impotent in the Gospell Christ cureth them that are spiritually diseased here he openeth the eyes of the understandings which are blinded strengthens the hand of faith which is withered rectifies the feet of the affections which are crooked purgeth away the leprosie of the soule which is defiled Christ by the Gospell as by a spirituall Iordan works many blessed cures upon the soules of Gods people 4. Christ received in the Gospell giveth honour He makes them that receive him in the Gospell the sonnes of God by adoption the friends of God by revelation of the will and mind of God unto them heires of God for that incorruptible inheritance whereof he makes them partakers the Lords free-men free from the guilt and punishment of sinne free from the power and dominion of sinne free from the tyranny and captivity of Satan free from the curse and rigour of the Law and free to serve God with an ingenuous and free spirit Kings and Priests to God for their dignity and dominion and for their holy and gracious consecration unto God high and excellent is the honour which Christ communicates to them that truly receive him in the ministery of the Gospell 5. Christ received in the Gospell giveth riches unsearchable riches riches which the wit of man cannot find out incomparable riches to which all the riches of the earth is not to be compared that knowledge faith and love which is farre more excellent then the gold that perisheth The poorest Lazar receiving Christ in the Gospell is endowed with greater riches then the wealthiest Dives in the world not embracing him 6. Christ received in the Gospell giveth prosperity the Arke received into Obed-Edoms house caused all that he had to prosper Crist received into the soule maketh the whole man prosperous he makes him prosper in hearing in prayer in meditation in the use of all Gods Ordinances as the tree prospers that is planted by the waters side he makes him prosper in all his undertakings whatsoever he doth shall prosper all the affaires of soule and body are made successefull and prosperous through the blessed presence of Christ Iesus He makes him prosper in the inward man making him victorious over all his corruptions replenishing him with all heavenly
blessed interest in Christ but he that regards not the word of the Lord will stay in the field abide in the service way and practise of the prophane world and be for ever destroyed for there is no salvation out of Christ He is the resurrection and the life and our life is hid with him in God therefore let us say with Augustine let all these things perish let us let passe all these vaine and empty things and let us betake our selves to the onely inquisition of those things which have no end let us betake our selves to Christ who is the same yesterday to day and for ever He like Noahs Dove will bring us an Olive branch of peace when all the comforts of the creature are drowned he will stand by us and defend us as Shamma one of Davids worthies stood and defended the field when all the residue fled from it When all worldly staffes and stayes pillars and supporters leave us and stay behind us then as Isaac went up to the Mount with Abraham so will Christ goe up with us and present us with acceptance with great joy and gladnesse in God his fathers presence and let the remembrance and thought of these things sweeten and make exceedingly joyous Christs comming among us CHAP. VII ANd let us declare and manifest the truth of Christs welcome and our joy at Christs comming by our prepared humble and hearty receiving of Christ according to the charge of the Psalmist Let us lift up the gates and doores of our hearts from the creature and all things here below let us remove the bolts and bars of infidelity obstinacy pride security and selfe-love and let us by faith love repentance and humble obedience open the doors of our hearts that Christ the King of glory may come in As the Minstrels and other people were put forth out of the Rulers house and Christ received that his dead daughter might be raised to life Thus let us put out of the doores of our hearts all carnall joyes and fleshly lusts that Christ may enter into and minister the life of grace to our soules let all give place to Christ that Christ may have the full possession of us and worke effectually within us 2 Let it appeare that Christ is welcome by our garnishing our hearts with all spirituall ornaments sutable and fit for the entertaining of Christ putting our hearts into such a gracious frame and temper that Christ may take pleasure in us The gate of the Tabernacle was very costly and glorious having a hanging made for it of blew purple skarlet and fine twined linnen wrought with needle-worke the pillars for the hangings being overlaid with gold and their hookes of gold to shadow out and signifie the making glorious of the hearts of Gods elect by faith and other gifts of the Spirit to entertaine Christ the glorious King 3. Make Christs welcome apparant by offering your selves to Christ the wise men rejoyced in Christs comming and they fell downe and worshipped him opened their treasures and presented to him gifts gold frankincense and myrrh Thus let us rejoyce in Christ comming in the Gospell fall downe before him make the whole man vaile and stoop to Christ and to him let us offer the gold of a pure heart the frankincense of holy and humble prayer and the myrrh of patient suffering and bearing Christs crosse to him let us yeeld our bodies soules and all our substance as a holy and acceptable sacrifice 4. Manifest every man Christs welcome by exalting Christ above every thing in your heart doe not set him as Jesse did David behinde the ewes but set him as Pharaoh did Joseph above all his Nobles and over all his land allow him universall and absolute jurisdiction over the whole man cut off whatsoever doth rebell against him 5. Declare Christs welcome by your love to him as to the bridegroome of your soules by your faith and dependance upon him as upon your onely rocke and sure foundation by your full and through-conforming your selves to his statutes and testimonies as to that which is the light of your feet the lanthorne of your paths and the delight of your soules and by a holy and gracious acquiescence in Christ as in the Counsellor in whom is all wisedome to direct as in the King in whom is all authority to command as in the rocke in whom is all strength to support as in the fountaine in whom is all fulnesse to satisfie us Christ will not be pleased with a verball he will have a reall entertainment with Judas to kisse Christ with our lips outwardly to give him faire words and secretly to nourish treason and rebellion in our hearts against him is a cursed welcome With Joab to salute Christ with one hand and stab him with another hand as Joab at once saluted and slew Abner to salute Christ by an outward and open profession and to stab him by a corrupt and dissolute conversation is very unseemly shamefull and dishonourable for any Christian Let therefore our spirituall universall cheerfull and constant subjection unto Christ declare the truth and joy of Christs welcome unto us If we rejoyce not in Christ if Christ comming in the Gospell be not welcome Where is our knowledge of Christ if we rejoyce not in Christ comming in the Gospell the blind eye hath no joy in the Sunne but to the seeing eye the light is sweet and It is a pleasant thing to behold the Sunne to the ignorant Christ is nothing joyfull but to them that have the eyes of their understanding opened Christ is very pleasant he is in their eye the fairest of ten thousand to them the knowledge of Christ is pleasant to him that knowes the Wisedome of Christ shining into his heart and making him wise unto salvation to him that knowes the death of Christ mortifying his lusts and corrupt affections the resurrection of Christ spiritually reviving and quickning him to him that knowes the righteosnesse of Christs cloathing and justifying him to him that knowes the blessed presence of Christ encouraging him to him that knowes the Al-sufficiency of Christ satisfying him to him that knowes the gracious dispensation of Christ ministring the sence of his love and peace to him to that man Christ is welcome in the Gospell Mans ignorance deprives him of all Christs comforts 2. Where is our love to Christ if Christ be not welcome David loved Jonathan and Jonathan was very pleasant to him Old Jacob loved Joseph and his spirit revived when he saw the waggons which Joseph had sent he was very glad that Joseph was alive I will goe saith he and see him before I dye Christ is very pleasant to him that loves him it is a reviving of heart to such a man to heare of Christ he will surely goe and see Christ in the Gospell Love to Christ and joy in Christ are inseparable companions in all
the Friends of Christ David was a man of love to God a man of sweet and strong affections He useth many feeling and lively expressions hereof and his joy was sutable to his love he was glad to goe up to the house of the Lord he rejoyced in praysing God My lips shall greatly reioyce when I sing unto thee He rejoyced in visiting the house of God he went to the house of God with the voice of ioy and praise with the multitude that kept holy day He rejoyced in the understanding meditation and service of God he rejoyced in the Way of Gods testimonies as much as in all riches He is no friend of Christ that doth not rejoyce in Christ he is no lover that is not a joyfull receiver of Christ in the Gospell His pretence and profession of love is not reall but counterfeit and hypocriticall How canst thou say thou lovest me said Dalilah once to Sampson when thy heart is not with me Thus how can man say he loves Christ when his heart the joy and delight of his heart is not with Christ how is it possible man can love Christ and yet Christ be unwelcome Christs unwelcomnesse to man in his Gospell proclaimes the enmity of mans heart against him Where is our faith in Christ if Christ be not welcome doe we chuse and single out Christ to our selves to be our Mediatour and Saviour Doe we build on Christ as on a sure rocke Doe we apprehend and take Christ by the hand of faith into a spirituall wedlâ—cke as the husband of our soules Doe we make Christ our treasure our crowne our royall roabe of righteousnesse Doe we by the bucket of faith draw waters of salvation out of Christ as out of a living fountaine and yet not rejoyce in Christ not bid him joyfully welcome it is impossible A beleeving apprehension is comfortable an unbeleeving apprehension ministers no rejoycing It is recorded of Jacob that his sons telling him Joseph is yet alive and he is Governour over all the land of Egypt Jacobs heart fainted for he â— beleeved them not afterwards beleeving he much rejoyced but now not beleeving his heart fainted Thus man hearing of Christs life and kingdome hearing him preached in the Gospell as the Author of life and King of Kings and Lord of Lords hearing great and glorious things spoken of Christ and his heart fainting his soule sad dull troubled and not solaced with it that man beleeves not for the soule is filled with all ioy in beleeving Where is our pricing of Christ He that doth not rejoyce in Christ comming in the Gospell hath a very low esteeme of Christ The Spouse had a high esteeme of Christ surpassing all creatures and her soule was ravished with love to him and with joy in him The Merchant in the parable prized the pearle above all that he had and as he highly prized it so he was glad when he found it Did we prize Christ as the hungry prizeth food the sicke health the captive liberty the rich his treasure the King his crowne we could not but rejoyce in Christs comming as people in a famine rejoyce in the comming of the harvest sicke men in restoration of health captives in a Jubilee and the rich in his treasure the true valuing of Christ makes his comming in the Gospell matter of more rejoycing then the comming of all the fulnesse of the world Where is our taste and rellish our sence and feeling of Christ if we rejoyce not in Christ comming in the Gospell the taste of wine rejoyceth the thirsty the taste of meat rejoyceth the hungry He that hath no joy in Christ hath no taste of Christ Christ is not unto him as Isaacks venison was to him savoury meat which his soule loved The things of God are unsavoury unto such but the soule which doth rellish Christ which tasteth how good Christ is doth abundantly rejoyce in Christ to him Christs good oyntments his saving gifts and graces are savory are tasted perceived felt like good oyntments with great joy and revivement of heart and his name is as an oyntment powred forth the doctrine of his grace the name of his wisedome in opening his fathers counsell the name of his merit in purchasing mans salvation the name of his mercy in pardoning mans sinne the name of his righteousnesse in justifying mans soule the name of his love in embracing and solacing mans heart this is an oyntment powred out this in the preaching of the Gospell casteth a sweet savour as oyntment doth in the powring forth as the breaking of the boxe of oyntment in the Gospell and powring it upon Christs head filled the house with the savour thereof so the opening of Christ in the Gospell giveth a sweet savour to the hearts of all Christians The true receivers of Christ find a very sweet and blessed a very gracious and soule-refreshing taste in Christ And as we professe our selves to be schollers in Christs schoole servants in Christs family members in Christs body subjects friends and Spouse of Christ so let us rejoyce in the comming of Christ in his Gospell as a traveller rejoyceth in the comming of the Sunne to guide him as the subject rejoyceth in the comming of the King to honour him as the captive rejoyceth in the comming of the ransomer to free him as the sicke rejoyceth in the comming of the Physitian to cure him as the childe rejoyceth in the comming of the nurse to feed him and as the bride rejoyceth in the comming of the bridegroome to marry her In him let us rejoyce as in the Sun enlightening us as in the friend solacing us as in the shield defending us as in the King honouring us as in the treasure enriching us as in the jewell adorning us as in the fountaine filling us and as in the paradise of our most choise and everlasting pleasures and in the joy of our soules let us say Blessed be he that commeth in the name of the Lord. CHAP. VIII DAvid did not onely rejoyce in the Arke and dance before it in testimony of his joy but did also erect and set it up in the midst of the Tabernacle Every man that doth indeed rejoyce in Christ every man to whom Christ is truly welcome doth desire and endeavour the exaltation of Christ the setting up of Christs kingdome the welfare of Christ and his Gospell therefore the people here say Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord not only by way of exaltation and rejoycing in Christs comming but also by way of exoptation and wel-wishing heartily desiring the welfare and prosperity of Christ his kingdome and Gospell Blessed be he furnished be he with the greatest and choisest wisedome righteousnesse prudence mercy power fortitude and courage for the administration of his kingdome and people successefull be he in the promulgation and preaching of his Gospell in the gubernation of his
Church and children in the dissipation of all adversary powers victorious be he in the subjugation and conquest of his enemies glorious be he in the conversion of sinners in the multiplication and increase of his holy and loyall subjects beautifull and amiable be he in the eyes of all persons Let his Gospell shine like the Sun from the one end of heaven unto the other Let his name be as an oyntment powred out casting a sweet smell throughout this great house of the world to him let all the Kings and kingdomes of the earth vaile and stoop become truly obedient and subject This is the prayer desire and endeavour of all that rejoyce in Christ aright teaching us That It is the duty of all people unfainedly to desire and earnestly to endeavour the welfare promotion and advancement of Christ his spirituall kingdome and Gospell David and all the house of Israel joyned together in erecting and setting up the Arke in the Tabernacle Kings and Subjects Masters and servants parents and children the people of every calling and condition should unite their forces their hearts and hands their counsels and tongues their affections and endeavours to set up Christ to advance his Gospell to honour and enlarge his kingdome This was shadowed in the building of the Temple to the building thereof concurred Solomon and his servants Hyram of Tyrus and the Sydonians who did hew the timber for it to the building of the Church of Christ to the setting up of Christ and his Gospell there should be an universall unanimous full and sweet concurrence of men of all nations of Kings and subjects of Lords and servants of Ministers and people every man in the place and calling wherein God hath set him according to the gift and endowment which God hath bestowed on him must concurre in his prayers and endeavours to advance the honour and kingdome of Christ Jesus This was also figured in the neighbouring Kings payment of tribute unto Solomon desiring his friendship and by variety of gifts and presents making their peace with him All people comming from all the Kings of the earth to heare his wisedome the whole as in a shadow presignifying mens payment of the spirituall tribute of feare and reverence faith and obedience love and thankfulnesse unto Christ their entring into a Covenant of peace with Christ their seeking of the love and friendship of Christ their attendance upon the Gospell to heare and learne Christs wisedome their dedication of themselves and their substance to the service of Christ their spirituall subjection unto Christ and their holy and gracious endeavours to make the name of Christ glorious This was foretold by the Psalmist they that dwell in the wildernesse shall bow before him and his enemies shall licke the dust they shall humble themselves under the mighty hand of Christ they shall acknowledge and receive him as their Lord they shall feare and reverence him as their King they shall vaile and bow to his scepter they shall put themselves and all that is theirs under Christ they shall give themselves to the exaltation and setting up of Christ The Kings of Tharsis and of the Isles shall bring presents the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts they shall consecrate their abilities to Christs service they shall communicate of their substance to the maintenanne of Christs Church and Ministers to the preservation and increase of Christs kingdome All Kings shall fall downe before him all nations shall serve him All shall adore and serve him as their King all shall exalt and honour him as loyall subjects their heavenly Soveraigne all persons from the highest to the lowest must serve the Lord Jesus and study to make him glorious grace works obedience in the hearts of Princes as well as in the hearts of beggars The Sun as well as the stars did obeysance unto Joseph in his vision Kings as well as inferiour persons doe obâ—â—â—ance unto Christ under his kingdome and Gospell The foure and twenty Elders in Saint Johns vision fell downe before him that sate on the throne and worship him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crownes before the throne Godly Kings and Governours cast their crownes their dominion dignity power honour and jurisdiction and all that they have before Christ they make all serviceable to the exaltation of Christ and his kingdome This was like prophecyed by the Prophet Esay the abundance of the sea multitudes of men dwelling in Islands shall be converted unto thee shall be gathered unto the Church and kingdome of Christ and the forces great troupes and companies of the Gentiles shall come to thee shall be joyned to the people of God embrace their Religion and enter into a sweet and gracious fellowship with them They shall bring gold and incense they shall contribute liberally to the maintenance of the Gospell and Christs poore members they shall dedicate their earthly abundance to Christs service and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord they shall be very industrious and studious to make the name of the Lord Jesus glorious The sonnes of strangers shall build up thy wals become members in thy house and fellow-helpers in thy worke and their Kings shall minister unto thee shall serve Christ and labour the welfare of his Church and kingdome The glory of Lebanon shall come to thee there is nothing so excellent which shall not put it selfe under Christ and be made serviceable to his Gospell and kingdome and thus our Saviour taught his Disciples to pray that Gods kingdome might come that the Gospell might be preached and men filled with the light thereof As the aire is filled with light upon the comming of the Sunne that the Holy-Ghost might be powred out and the hearts of men inspired with the knowledge love and obedience of the truth that all the lusts of men the impediments of Gods gracious kingdome in the soule of man might be crucified and utterly extinct and that God might universally spiritually and fully reigne in the hearts of men all the weapons of their rebellion laid aside and their soules brought into a gracious subjection and it is the Apostles charge pray that the word of the Lord may run have a free and a speedie passage running as the Sun shining to all the corners of the world and running as the rivers to water the earth and be glorified by the pure and powerfull preaching of it by the holy and gracious working of it by the ready and cheerfull entertainment of it and by the holy and humble subjection of the soules of men under it Mans obedience makes the word very glorious and the free and speedy passage and powerfull working of the Gospell should be earnestly prayed for by the Lords people this is the charet on which Christ rideth in spirituall triumph this is the scepter by which he swayeth in the soules of his chosen and the welfare of this doe all the
abilities upon Christs service He that truly feares Christ will withhold nothing which may tend to the exaltation of Christ his Church and Gospell 3. Lively sence and feeling of the necessity of Christ and his Gospell Mens exaltation of Christ is according to their apprehension of the necessity of Christ When the Elders of Gilead saw the necessity they had of Jeptha then they made him head and Captaine over them When men see and feele the want of Christ the perill of their estate without Christ then they put themselves under Christ then they exalt and magnifie Christ then they labour the setting up of Christ and his Gospell Sence of sicknesse famine siege bondage makes physicke food an army a ransomer very precious Physitians were of great esteeme with the woman troubled with a fluxe of bloud she spent all her substance upon them Christ and his Gospell are of great price with the man to whom sinne is a torment a griefe a trouble he will withhold nothing which may tend to the exaltation of Christ and his Gospell to the working out and removing of the sinne which doth molest him When Josephs brethren were in want and had no bread to sustaine them then they came and bowed themselves before Joseph and when they called to mind their great trespasse against him then they besought his favour and were very submissive to him Mans sence of his owne emptinesse drives him to Christ and causeth him to vaile and stoop to Christ to put himselfe under the feet of Christ and readily to exalt and set up Christ selfe-opinion ignorance of mans want of Christ and the Gospell is a great impediment to our setting up of Christ and his kingdome 4. Elevation and raising of the heart of man to a holy spirituall and noble frame and temper The heart of man naturally is very base carnall and earthly delighting like the swine in the mire and mud of the world rellishing and savouring nothing but that which is worldly and fleshly his spirit is very low and ignoble and his highest aime is but to ascend some mole-hill or mountaine of the earth like the prodigall he is a companion of swine and feeds on the huskes of worldly vanities his longings like the besotted Israelites is after the onyons and flesh-pots of Egypt poore things unworthy and empty things of the earth Man like Nebuchadnezzars image how ever deckt with gold and silver authority and dominion and glorious in outward appearance to the world yet his feet are yron and clay his thoughts his affections the motions and goings of his heart are very base and dishonourable The spirit of man must be therefore sublimated and refined by Christ the great refiner of the soule Mans drosse and tin must be purged out the earthinesse and basenesse of his spirit must be taken away and man endowed with a more spirituall sublime and noble disposition and temper of soule or he can never intend Christ exalt Christ and his Gospell It is recorded in Ezra that the chiefe of the fathers rose up with all them whose spirits God had raised to goe up to build the house of God in Ierusalem First God raised their hearts put willingnesse alacrity enlargement opennesse and courage into their hearts to doe the worke and then they went to build Thus God must raise our hearts innoble our spirits make us spiritually heroicall or we shall never build Ierusalem never labour the advancement of Christ and his â—ospell Christ raised Lazarus out of the grave and then he followed him Christ must raise our spirits from their earthlinesse and basenesse or they will never be serviceable to him The Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheeles and they moved where the living creatures moved Christ must put his Spirit into us or we shall never follow him never seeke his honour and the welfare of his Gospell It is said of Saul when the Lord had made him King that he went home to Gibeah and there went with him a band of men whose heart God had touched God hath set Christ his King upon his holy hill of Sion but there is no man followes him no man exalts and honours him as a King but such whose hearts the Lord doth touch with the gracious finger of his Spirit the basenesse cowardlinesse and earthlinesse of our spirits must be put away and our hearts throughly refined otherwise we cannot discerne Christ we cannot rellish Christ we cannot love Christ we cannot prize Christ we can never put our selves upon the exaltation of Christ his Kingdome and Gospell but when old things are past away and all become new when we are renewed in the spirit of our mind when the Spirit of God like Eliahs fiery charet hath taken us up from the earth and hath raised our hearts thoughts desires and affections to the things which are above then shall we rejoyce in Christ and his Gospell then shall we put our selves and all that we have upon the service of Christ and the Gospell then shall we pray for the prosperity welfare and advancement of Christs Gospell and kingdome then shall we say Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord. CHAP. XII CHrist came not as the false prophets of old in his owne name he had his calling and commission from above No man saith the Apostle speaking of Christ taketh this honour to himselfe but such an one as is called of God as Aaron was and this is the second particular in the first generall part of these words Christs Calling and Commission He came in the name of the Lord Christ is said to come in the name of the Lord. 1. In respect of Ordination Christ as Mediator was appointed of old to minister salvation to Gods chosen fore-ordained saith Saint Peter before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times A lambe slaine from the foundation of the world saith Saint John slaine from the foundation of the world in the eternall preordination of God in the promise of the seed of woman to breake the serpents head in the legall sacrifices in the faith of the fathers and in the sufferings of his members in whose sufferings Christ suffered their sufferings then shadowing Christs suffering to come 2. In respect of preparation Christ as Man and Mediator is prepared and furnished with all abilities to execute and accomplish his office it pleased the Father saith Paul that in him should all fulnesse dwell fulnesse of wisedome power grace righteousnesse and worth to minister to his Church whatsoever appertained to the salvation welfare or peace thereof he having the Spirit poured out upon him above measure 3. In respect of Calling designation and investiture into his office The Lord saith Christ as Mediator hath called me from the wombe from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name and I
of old was upon Mount Gerazim the blessing is now upon the Gospell He that savingly entertaines the Gospell enjoyes a most blessed condition a condition of divine and heavenly wisedome Gods Ministers feed him with knowledge and understanding and make him wise unto salvation a condition of holinesse and sanctification the ministery of the word doth wash him like water and purifie him like fire a condition of liberty and freedome Moses freed Israel from Pharaohs bondage Gods Minister frees the soules of his children from the servitude of Satan the world and their owne corruption the word makes them free from ignorance in their understandings from perversenesse in their wils from vanity in their thoughts from infidelity servile feare worldly love and carnall joy in their affections the word makes them free to know God as the cleare eye is free to see the Sunne to receive Christ as the strong and open hand is free to receive a gift to love Christ as the bride hath an open and enlarged heart to love the bridegroome to attend Gods Ordinances to run the way of Gods Commandements as he whose feet and ankle-bones received strength by the ministery of Peter was free to stand and leap and walke and enter into the Temple and free to move and come to God by faith and love and joy as the rivers are free to move and flow unto the sea a condition of honour and exaltation the Gospell making them Sonnes of God by regeneration the friends of God by love the members of Christ by faith and heires annexed with Christ for their present title to and future participation of the same inheritance with Christ Jesus a condition of fulnesse and satisfaction they are satisfied with the goodnesse of Gods house the Gospell leads them unto Christ the Sunne in whom is all light the tree on whom growes all fruit the fountaine from whom flowes all refreshment the rocke in whom is all strength the pearle in whom is all worth and the Paradise in whom is all pleasure and peace very sweet and wonderfull gracious and overflowing are the comforts and contentments derived from Christ to Gods children under their enjoyment of the Gospell Lastly a condition of permanency and duration though the grasse wither and the flower fade yet the word of the Lord abideth for ever Though worldly fulnesse change like the Moone and vanish like a vapor and wither like the flower and the grasse yet the estate of grace into which men are called by Gods Ministers is an estate of firme and sure continuance they are sonnes abiding alway in their fathers house they are trees planted by the water side never withering they are houses built upon the rocke never sinking their graces like the light shine more and more to the day of their perfection the excellency of their estate who enjoy and make best use of the Gospell abundantly declares Gods dispensation of very great sweet and heavenly blessings by the labours of his Ministers CHAP. XV THe Lords dispensing of sweet and heavenly blessings unto man by the labours of his holy and faithfull Ministers shewes what the estate and condition of man is without the Lords Ministers even an estate of woes of myseries and curses Mans condition without the ministery of the Gospell is very wretched and miserable an estate of death without spirituall life the earth without the Sunne is but a dead and fruitlesse lump the soule without the Sunne of Righteousnesse shining in the Gospell is dead in sinnes and trespasses a tree twice dead oncce by originall corruption and secondly by actuall transgression and plucked up by the roots wholly separate from all the meanes of life he that hath not the Sonne externally in the Gospell internally in his heart ministerially in his word and efficiently in his worke of grace he hath not life Such are farre from the life of grace and sanctification as are strangers to Christ in his Gospell The woman of Shunems sonne remained dead according to the body till the Prophet came and raised him the soule of man continues dead in respect of the inward man untill the Minister of the Lord comes to quicken him 2. An estate of darknesse Man without the ministery of the word is in darknesse and the shadow of death a darke body without an eye a darke house without a Lamp The soules clearest light is nothing else but darknesse as long as the Gospell doth not shine into it to irradiate and enlighten it There was once no light in all the land of Egypt onely the children of Israel had light in their dwellings there is no spirituall and heavenly light in all the world but among Gods Israel there is light only in their dwellings who enjoy the Gospell In Judah is God knowne and his name is great in Israel God is truly and savingly knowne only by that people who enjoy the light of the Gospell 3. An estate of servitude and bondage Israel continued under hard bondage untill Moses and Aaron came to deliver them untill the Lord raised a fiery pillar to conduct them out of Egypt unto Canaan Man abides under the hard bondage of Satan and his owne corruption untill the Lord sends his Minister to free him and sets up the fiery pillar of his word to lead him out of this servile and slavish condition Man without the Gospell is in prison and hath no key to open it he is taken captive and hath no weapon to resist his enemy to procure his freedome he is manacled with many fetters and hath no hammer to dissolve and loose them Mans condition without the ministery of the Gospell is very base and servile When and where the Gospell shineth then and there as the Prophet speaketh The eyes of the blind are opened the prisoners are brought out from the prison and they that sit in darknesse out of the prison-house 4. An estate of emptinesse and barrennesse The field without the dew is unfruitfull the soule without the dew of divine and heavenly doctrine distilling thereupon beares no good fruit there is no lawfull conception without an husband all the fruit of the soule not espoused to Christ by the Gospell is illegitimate and a very abomination there is no reaping where is no sowing The soule which is not sowne with the seed of the word yeelds no harvest of grace they are barren ground nigh to burning who are strangers to the Gospell 5. An estate of pollution and uncleanesse The house without the besome is overspread with slime and cobwebs Naaman continued leprous untill he went seven times into Jordan and washed the Temple was a den of theeves till Christ came with his whip and drove them out the heart of man is an unclean house without the besome of the word sweeping it the soule of man is oversread with the lothsome leprosie of sin untill he bathe himselfe in the Jordan of
Jesus surely he is farre from the life of Christ that doth not live to Christ that mans life is of a base corrupt and earthly originall the energy operation and intendment of whose living is not to exalt and make Christ glorious he alone truly understands the end of Christs death that makes Christs glory the end of his life and thus runs the charge of the Apostle to the Romanes Yeeld your selves unto God as those that are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousnesse unto God Yeeld your selves to God as souldiers to their Captaine as servants to their Master to fight for God to worke for God to doe all for Gods glory let every faculty of the soule and member of the body even whatsoever belongs unto you be dedicated unto God and imployed in the worke and service of God that service which is not universall is hypocriticall he alone is a perfect servant that puts the whole man upon the service of the Lord as all the rivers come from the sea and returne and empty themselves into the sea Thus must we returne to God and empty our selves and all that we have into God prostrate it all under Gods feet and put it all upon the service of the Lord as Moses lest not a hoose behind him in Egypt but carried all out that he might sacrifice to the Lord of whatsoever the Lord would have thus we must not love a hoofe of our hearts thoughts loves desires behind us upon sinne and the world but take of all and sacrifice all to God and his service we must with the Baptist be willing to decrease that Christ may increase to become vile and of no esteeme with men that Christ may be exalted we must with the Macedonians give our selves to the Lord. We must give our understandings to know God our wils to chuse God our imaginations to thinke upon God our memories to remember God our affections to feare trust love and rejoyce in God our eares to heare Gods word our tongues to speake God praise our hands to worke for God and all our substance to the honour of God CHAP. III. ANd a holy and gracious Christian doth thus deny himselfe and put himselfe and all that he hath under Christ 1. In regard of that carnality vanity basenesse earthlinesse unworthinesse corruption and uncleannesse which he sees and feeles in his owne flesh in his owne affections ends and counsels He sees there is an emptinesse in himselfe that his owne flesh is an empty house wherein dwelleth no good and wherein is no sufficiency to the performance of any good duty he sees that his owne heart is a City full of treason deceitfull above measure and not to be trusted he feeles a law in his members rebelling against the law of his mind as Rebeckah felt the twinnes in her wombe striving the one against the other he discernes that his owne wisedome is foolish an empty lamp a bleare-eye a false light he discernes that he is brutish and hath not the knowledge of the holy he sees much uncleannesse within himselfe many spots in his soule he sees that he is like Jacobs flocke spotty coloured like Noahs Arke wherein are many uncleane beasts among the cleane like the field in the parable wherein are many teares among the wheat he sees how he is yet in part carnall and sold under sin not fully freed and discharged from the strength and working of sinne he discernes an unhappy pronenesse in his heart to consult with flesh and bloud and to propose bie and sinister low and base ends and having the sight sence and sorrowfull experience of all this he denyes himselfe as Jacob having experience of the deceitfulnesse of Laban grew weary of him denyed him his service and went forth from him Thus a gracious man having experience of the corruption and deceitfulnesse of his owne heart and flesh growes weary of himselfe denyes himselfe goes out of himselfe commeth unto Christ and puts himselfe wholly under Christ and as the Evangelist said of Christ that knowing what was in man he would not commit himselfe unto man so sanctified man knowing what is in himselfe he will not commit himselfe unto himselfe he will not trust himselfe with himselfe he denyes his owne wisedome he becomes a foole in his owne apprehension and seeks to Christ to be made wise unto salvation he looks upon his owne righteousnesse as rotten ragges and comes to Christ for justification he considers his owne weaknesse and comes to Christ as the Gibeonites came to Joshuah to rescue him from his enemies he is experienced in the vanity of all other helpers and therefore comes to Christ as the diseased woman whom the Physitians could not cure that Christ may heale his spirituall maladies Man is ever so much the more strong and powerfull in the worke of self-denyall by how much the more clearly he discernes the carnality and basenesse of his owne heart and counsell He that knowes how subject he is to miscarry when he leanes upon himselfe will readily put himselfe and all that he hath under Christ 2. In regard of the holy strong and constant bent and inclination of the heart of a gracious Christian unto Christ As every thing moves towards its proper centre and is at no rest untill it comes to that so doth the sanctified soule incline and move to Christ the true centre of the soule and resteth not untill it comes to Christ and hath the fruition of Christ there is in a gracious soule such a principle of grace such a communication of Christ such a sutablenesse between the soule and Christ such a fervent and operative love towards Christ such a vehement longing after Christ that it mightily moves to Christ as the rivers to the sea that nothing but Christ can answer it quiet and content it there is in the soule such a blessed residence such a powerfull and gracious energy and operation of the Spirit of Christ that as the wheeles in Ezekiels vision moved wheresoever the living creatures moved because the Spirit of the living creatures was in the wheeles so the soule moves after Christ because the Spirit of Christ is in the soule this makes it pant after Christ as the Hart after the water brookes this makes it thirst for Christ as the dry ground for waters this makes it follow hard after Christ as the childe with cryes and teares after the father going from it this makes it cry for Christ as sometimes Rachel did for children O give me Christ or else I dye and as David thirsted and his worthies burst through the army of the Philistines for water out of the wels of Bethel so the soule thirsting for Christ breakes through all the armies of opposition to come to Christ to refresh it selfe with Christ now it denies all leaves all passeth through
the ewes many set Christ behind the oxe and the asse the farme and the wife their merchandise and worldly trafficke they prize the world above Christ they love this more then they love Christ the love of the world carries their heart farre from Christ when their bodies draw neare to Christ the overvaluing of the earth is an undervaluing of Christ when the world is over sweet and savoury to mens palates their soules disrellish Christ and his ordinances whon the earth is pleasant like a Paradise Christ and all the meanes of grace are apprehended as a very wildernesse Some deny not their owne pleasures but value them above Christ as Esau did a few pottage above his birthright some deny not their pride but as Absalom sought to raigne though it were to the dishonour and deposall of his father David from his throne so they seeke to magnifie themselves though to the dishonour of God and deposall of Christ from his Throne in their hearts some deny not their owne worth and goodnesse they are rich and full in their owne opinions as the man in the Prophet which dreamed he had eaten and was full some deny not their owne superstitions they receive for doctrines the commandements of men they will see Christ in a glasse of their owne framing learne Christ in a schoole of their owne erecting and draw the waters of salvation out of a cisterne of their owne digging doubtlesse they are a very small number that have learned the lesson of self-denyall questionlesse Christ hath spirituall and heavenly dominion in the soules of few men Very full of base respects and purposes are the hearts of many that professe Iesus Christ The Prophet speaks of a day wherein seven women should take hold of one man saying we will eat our owne bread and weare our owne apparell onely let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach There is a day now wherein seven a very great number take hold of one man Christ by an outward profession but they will eat their owne bread and weare their owne apparell they will find their owne pleasures walke in their owne wayes keep themselves apparelled with the old man they will not deny themselves they will not put away their old things and make all things new they will only be called by the name of Christ to take away their reproach of being reputed Atheists and Infidels among men Many men that professe themselves Christians doe shamefully deny the Lord Iesus and are far from the denyall of themselves their owne counsels and affections CHAP. V. IF you demand whence it is and how it comes to passe that men are so backward in denying themselves and their owne ends and in subjecting themselves and all that they have unto Christ I answer of this there are seven grounds 1. Mans overvaluing of himselfe Man is very prone to thinke of himselfe above that which is convenient to pride himselfe in his endowments abilities to thinke of himselfe as the Queene of Babylon did that he is a Queene and no widow wise and not ignorant rich and not poore full and not empty holy and not prophane free and not bound as Goliah prided himselfe in the talnesse of his stature and bignesse of his armour so doth man pride himselfe in his naturall morall and temporall habiliments and furniture contrary to the charge of the Apostle Man is wise in his conceit and will not stoop to wholsome instruction he thinks himselfe sufficient for himselfe to guide himselfe to sustaine himselfe to make himselfe acceptable unto God Esau thought he had enough and refused his brothers present vaine man thinks he hath enough wisedome faith love holinesse enough and therefore refuseth the spirituall and heavenly presence of Christ his ordinances benefits graces and all helps to happinesse he dreams that he is wise when he is foolish spirituall when he is carnal full when he is empty like the Laodicean and this disables him to deny himselfe and subject himselfe to Christ he that supposeth he hath water enough at home in his owne cisterne will not goe to his neighbours well Thoughts of self-sufficiency hinder men from going out of themselves and comming unto Christ The Pharisees conceited so highly of their owne wisedome that they refused Christ and his doctrine the whole puts not himselfe under the hands of the Physitian to be dieted lanced and purged by him 2. The overswaying of corrupt and carnall lusts These oversway man as a Master doth his servant or a King his subject they rule and reigne within man and make man their servant the servant as S. Peter saith of corruption and as a servant is not his own man but his Masters is guided by his Master minds and intends his Master seekes the pleasing and profiting of his Master is bound and cannot enter into the service of another Thus these men are not their owne men but the servants of their lusts moved led and guided by their lusts minding and intending their lusts seeking to please and profit their lusts making provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof To these they are bound and cannot put themselves into Christs service they cannot take upon them Christs yoake these oversway man as a lover is overswayed by his love Man is very indulgent to them as David to Absalom and as he charged the Captaines of his armies to deale gently with the young man Absalom so man is very loath to have his lusts roughly handled he wishes that all the Prophets would prophesie smooth things and deceits and as the haâ—lot in Solomon caused the young man with her much faire speech to yeeld and forced him with the slattering of her lips so that he went after her as an oxe goeth to the slaughter Thus these lusts with their flatteries and fleshly-seeming sweetnesse and bewitching eloquence doe make the soule yeeld and follow them and as strange love in a wife takes away her matrimoniall love from her husband and makes her regardlesse of him and disobedient to him Thus the indulgency and love of man to his lusts takes away his love from Christ makes him regardlesse of Christ and rebellious against Christ These lusts oversway man as a disease overswayes the body distempers the palate destroyes the appetite and makes the meat distastefull and irksome Thus doe these lusts distemper the foule and make Christ and his word the bread of life and food of the soule unpleasant the very savour of death unto death There is no possibility of self-denyall and subjection unto Christ as long as the soule is overswayed by any carnall lusts the dominion of sinne and subjection unto Christ are incompatable and inconsistent Abner could not serve David untill he denied his service and obedience to the house of Saul 3. An inordinate disposition of the heart toward the Creature The heart of man is inordinate towards
in the deepest outward misery rather then live without Christ in the greatest worldly prosperity peace and plenty 6. A corrupt framing and devising of false Christs and false wayes to life and peace Some frame unto themselves a carnall Christ placing all his worship and their service in a carnall and bodily attendance upon his ordinances they thinke it enough to come and stand before him in his house in this they stay and looke no further they suppose the having of the outward ordinances is the having of Christ some frame unto themselves a ceremoniall and superstitious Christ embracing the traditions of men and being very severe and frequent in the observation of humane devises they blesse themselves as the onely true worshippers of Christ some frame unto themselves a licentious Christ such a Christ as died to bring redemption to man but requires no obedience from Man this is the Libertines Christ and all these suppose they have Christ when yet they have him not and as he that is full is loath to beg and the full stomacke loatheth the honey-combe so these supposing that they have Christ are full of Christ though yet they have him not as he in Solomon made himselfe rich when yet he had nothing they are loath either to deny themselves or to seeke any further for Christ He that falsly faines himselfe to have Christ is of all others most uneasily drawne and wrought home to Christ The heathen man could say Many might have been wise if they had not already thought themselves wise and so many might have Christ if they were not perswaded they had already gotten Christ 7. Ignorance of the nature and sweetnesse of Christs yoake and of the comfort of living under the command of Christ. Men know not how good and pleasant the service of Christ is how full of joy and contentment the fruition of Christ is they imagine that Christs yoake is an yron yoake Christs way a way of thornes and the day of a Christian as a day of clouds and darknesse they know not that Christs yoake is made easie through grace that his wayes are wayes of peace and his paths paths of pleasantnesse they know not the ioy and reioycing arising from the having of our conversation in simplicity and godly sincerity they see not the Sun of love that shines upon the heads of the righteous they drinke not of that river of comforts which refresheth the city of the Lord they feed not upon the greene pastures nor taste of the still waters by which Christ leadeth and paâ—â—ureth his flocke they never knew the peace confidence security satisfaction safety and glory derived to the soule from the participation of Christ and therefore they will not put their neckes under Christs yoake CHAP. VI. IF you demand what the evils are which attend the want of self-denyall and full and through subjection unto Christ I answer hence arise these evils and great inconveniences to the soules of men 1. Vncapablenesse of Christ The full vessell is uncapable of other liquor the full house is uncapable of another dweller the full soule the soule which doth not deny it selfe which is not emptied of all self-sufficiency is uncapable of Christ as long saith the Apostle as the husband liveth the wife is bound to the law of her husband and she cannot marry another when her husband is dead she is free to marry whom she will As long as the creature liveth as long as opinion of self-sufficiency or any other lust doth live and beare sway in the heart of man Man is bound to the law of the creature and his owne lust he is under the power and authority of the creature and lust and he cannot marry his soule to Christ but if the creature be dead if the world be crucified unto him and he to the world if he hath crucified the flesh with the affections thereof then he is free to marry himselfe to Christ then he is capable of Christ Christ hath no gracious being where there is no true and through self-denyall that soule alone which is truly humble is Christs dwelling 2. Alienation and estrangement from all the benefits and comforts flowing from Christ. The Subject which exalts himselfe and denyes obedience to his Soveraigne deprives himselfe of all the prerogatives which the King grants unto his loyall people He that exalts himselfe with an opinion of his owne worth or sets up the creature in the roome of Christ and will not vaile and bow to Christ excludes himselfe from all the comforts of Christ He is estranged from the knowledge of Christ as a diseased eye from the light of the Sunne from the love of Christ as a harlot from the love of her husband from the faith of Christ as the house builded upon the sand was estranged from the rocke from the communion and fellowship of Christ as Joab exalting Adoniah into the Throne was excluded from communion with Solomon so man exalting the creature or any lust into the heart the Throne of Christ loseth all communion with Christ he that denyes not himselfe receives nothing of Christ he receives not Christ as a Prophet instructing he is still in darknesse and in the shadow of death he receives not Christ as a King to raigne and rule over him he feeles nothing of Christs kingdome within him he receives not Christ as a Priest he knowes not the vertue of Christs death in the death of his sinne he is still in his sinne without justification Adam preferring the perswasion of his wife above the commandement of God lost all his communion with God and was excluded from the Tree of Life Man exalting any thing above Christ excludes himselfe from God and Christ 3. Vanity emptinesse hallownesse of profession of Christ and attendance upon the ordinances The profession of Christ without self-denyall and full subjection under Christ is nothing worth a tree of leaves without fruit like that in the Gospell whose end was accursed Joah exalting Adoniah fled in vaine to the hornes of the Altar he was there slaine Man exalting himselfe or any thing else above Christ flyes in vaine to the ordinances of God to the outward profession of Christ Herods hearing the Baptist and doing many things stood him in no stead exalting Herodias in his heart the Philistines exalting Dagon had no benefit by the Arke they were the more plagued for the presence of it Mans very profession of Christ turnes to the increase of his condemnation not throughly subjecting himselfe to Christs dominion 4. Subiection abasement and thraldome under the creature and his owne sinfull flesh They that dreame of liberty by refusing to take the yoake of Christ upon them in stead of freedome meet with thraldome The Apostle saith of false Prophets while they promise others liberty themselves are the servants of corruption such false Prophets are these men to their
disguised himselfe and went into the battell as a common man when yet he was indeed the King of Israel Thus many disguise themselves enter the profession of Christ as if they were humble and mortified men when yet they are Kings for their pride self-conceit and high opinion of their owne worth their change is onely in appearance not in truth outwardly they have sheeps cloathing the shew of sanctity humility and self-denyall inwardly they are ravening wolves Though they know themselves to have Lyons teeth yet like the Locusts in the Revelation they put on the haire of a woman and the face of a man they pretend much love to God much curtesie and kindnesse unto man and yet they truly love neither God nor man they draw nigh with their lips but their heart is farre from God they fast from bodily food with the Pharisees but they feast and feed their soules with pride they hang downe their heads with them in the Prophet like a bulrush but their hearts stand upright these are nothing humbled their denyall is not cordiall sincere and true it is onely superficiall formall and seeming as the Devill appeared in the likenesse of Samuel but was not Samuell so these appeare in the likenesse of penitent mortified humble men men dead to the world yet in truth they are not so therefore the Apostle saith of such they seeme to be religious As a painted man seemes to be a man and yet is no man but a rotten post as an exhalation seemes to be a bright and shining Starre and yet is no Starre but a vanishing vapor as he in Solomon made himselfe rich and yet had nothing Of such our Saviour saith they appeare righteous before men As whited sepulchers appeare beautifull outward but are within full of dead mens bones and of all uncleannesse as Ixion in the fable embraced a cloud in stead of Juno so many under the Gospell take the shadow in stead of the substance of self-denyall 6. By denying himselfe Sinisterly and politickely to deceive others to insinuate himselfe into others to accomplish some earthly project with the more facility As the Gibeonites came to Joshuah with old shooes and old garments and rent bottles as if they had come a long journey and thus politickely drew Joshuah to make a league with them In like sort many pretend self-denyall mortification the putting off the old man to procure the favour of Gods servants to increase their worldly profits to accomplish their owne sinister ends oftentimes men bring about and finish most mischievous designes and enterprises under a pretence of godlinesse mortification humility and meeknesse Simeon and Levi cloake the massacring of the Sichemites with the conscience of Circumcision Herod intending to kill Christ pretends the worship of Christ Iezabel plotting the death of Naboth proclaimes a fast ordaines a day of humiliation the Crocodile first weeps upon man and then kils and makes a prey of him Such Crocodiles are these men who under a pretence of teares repentance and self-denyall deceive and make a prey of their brethren 7. By denying himselfe vain-gloriously many men doe much and goe outwardly very farre in the way of self-denyall for the praise of men Iacob to get Isaacks blessing put on Esau's clothes and some men to get the blessing of mens applause and praise put on the outward habit of truly mortitied men the Pharisees were very liberall in their almes very frequent in their prayers very severe in outward appearance in their fastings and all this they did to be seen of men to gaine the praise of men for this men may and doubtlesse some doe give their goods to the poore and their bodies to the prison to the fire Wherefore else doth the Apostle say If I give my goods to the poore and my body to be burned and have not Love I am nothing Vaine men are carried by their self-love to suffer martyrdome as true love carries Gods children Gods glory carries his children to suffer death that God may be honoured and to this pride and vain-glory carryes some men that their name may be magnified Many who will suffer nothing for God out of true love and affection will suffer much for themselves out of an ambitious humour of vaine boasting and ostentation They that care little for a name with God that doe nothing for Gods approbation will many times doe much for a name with men for mens praise and commendation He that doth not humble and abase himselfe that God may be exalted is deceitfully humbled 8. By denying himselfe Temporarily to walke heavily with Ahab for a few dayes to bow downe the head for a day with the bulrush is an hypocriticall and counterfeit self-denyall false denyall may bow and bring a man very low as Nebuchadnezzars tree was brought to a stump but as that stump was bound with bands of brasse and yron fast tyed and not rooted up and therefore sprung and sprouted up againe thus many men are very deeply humbled for the present but their inward lusts not being truly mortified and plucked up by the roots but fast bound up within them they sprout and spring againe after some dew of temporall ease and peace hath a little distilled and dropt upon them they returne againe with the dog to the vomit and with the Sow to the mire That self-denyall which is not constant and increasing is built upon a false foundation He never truly denyed himselfe for God that doth not abide and hold out to the end with God the hypocrite is off and on he changeth like the clouds sometimes moving low and sometimes mounted on high sometimes following the Sunne and sometimes moving against the motion of the Sunne The hypocrite will not alwayes delight himselfe in the Almighty he will not alwayes call upon God whatsoever pretence of piety or love he make towards God like Orpah to Naomi yet as she forsooke Naomi so will he forsake the Lord but the meeke shall increase his strength the truly humble and mortified man shall hold out and abide to the end as his other works so his self-denyall shall be more at last then at first the longer he liveth in the estate of grace the more his lusts are mortified the more his owne wisedome will thoughts affections desires and carnall ends and purposes are denyed CHAP. XI IT may be yet further here demanded how a man may comfort himselfe touching the truth of this holy and gracious worke of self-denyall finding and feeling many lusts yet remaining and rising up within him and rebelling as the Apostle saith against the law of his mind sometimes captivating overswaying and leading him away to the minding and seeking of himselfe and serving of his owne base affections To this I answer that in this case and estate a man may comfort himselfe and assure himselfe of the truth of his self-denyall 1.
By the trouble which remaining and rebelling lusts are unto the soule of man If they be troublesome to the soule as the Canaanites to Israel as thornes in our sides and prickles in our eyes as diseases in our flesh and burthens on our backs as rebels and mutinous persons in a common-weale are a trouble to the common-weale Though we are not fully freed from yet we have truly denyed them when sinne is not sweet as wine but bitter as gall to our palate not pleasant as bread but troublesome as gravell to our teeth not pleasing as the wife of a mans bosom but offensive as a contentious and quarrelsome inmate there the lusts of a man are denyed they doe not raigne and beare dominion they have not the full and peaceable possession where they are a trouble Paul was one that had in a very high measure denyed himselfe yet he complaines of sinne as of a law in his members rebelling against the law of his mind and sometimes leading him captive yet this being a trouble to him as a dead member to the body as a mote to the eye as a thorne to the foot the Lord comforts him with the sufficiency of his grace My grace is sufficient for thee 2. By the godly griefe and sorrow of the heart of man for the lusts yet remaining and making warre within him When the presence and opposition of corruption makes man to sorrow as a woman in travell untill his soule is delivered and discharged of them to mourne as the Israelites lift up their voice and wept because the Canaanites continued among them and to grieve for the presence of sinfull lusts in his heart as Sarah was grieved for the presence of the daughters of Heth in her house When a mans sorrow is continually before him because sinne is continually within him such a man may assure himselfe of his self-denyall He that hath a continuall godly sorrow for his sinne is not under the dominion of sinne true repentance argues an infallible denyall of corrupt and carnall affections 3. By a holy gracious and constant Contestation against the lusts which remaine within him He that feeles the Spirit the regenerate part striving against the flesh as Rebeckah felt Jacob striving against Esau in her wombe He that fights against his lusts as Joshuah against the Amalekites he that makes warre against his corruptions as the house of David against the house of Saul and prevailes and increaseth his strength as the house of David did may ascertaine himselfe of freedome from the Lordship and power of his corruptions He that warres against sinne makes no provision for sinne any more then a man doth for the enemy against whom he wages warre He that warres a good warfare against Satan the world and his owne lusts holding faith and a good conscience is a blessed conquerour hath won the conquest though much assaulted by Satan and his owne corruptions It is not mans being assaulted by his lusts but mans yeelding to his lusts which argues absence of self-denyall 4 By mans humbling himselfe for his want of humility and tendernesse and softnesse of heart freely confessing the pride self-love and high thoughts which he discerneth in himselfe shaming and loathing himselfe for the obstinacy haughtinesse and deceitfulnesse of his heart as David considering and feeling the pride and rebellion of Absalon went weeping with his head covered and his feet bare So man that feeles the pride and rebellion of his heart must mourne humble and abase himselfe before the Lord for it the hypocrite is proud of his humility the sincere man is abased and ashamed for the remainders of pride which he discerneth in himselfe The state of him that is exalted with his gifts is very dangerous the state of him that is made vile in his owne eyes with the sence of his corruptions is hopefull and gracious It is a blessed argument of self-denyall when the sence of a mans secret self-love and lurking corruption doth abase him in his owne apprehension pride and self-love have no dominion as long as the soule is moved to humiliation by the sight and sence of them He that abhorres abases and humbles himselfe because his heart is not more humble is undoubtedly truly humbled though his humility want some perfection 5. By mans frequent and fervent prayer to be freed and throughly purged from all pride self-love and sinister respects He cannot be a lover and servant of sinne that prayes feelingly fervently and constantly against his sinne If Moses hands be lifted up the Amalekites will fall If the heart be constantly lifted up in holy and gracious prayer unto God proud lusts and self-respects will fall prayer will surely bring them downe and worke the heart to a very humble and gracious frame The Church prayed and Peter was set free from his fetters from the souldiers and Herods prison holy and earnest prayer hath a very forcible operation to worke the soule to spirituall freedome from all sorts of evill to make it truly sincere and humble both in the inward disposition secret intention and outward execution of every action Certainly mans prayer is but lip-labour no cordiall prayer but vaine babling words of custome or of ostentation if they make not the heart sincere and humble He that knowes the holy humble constant and earnest way of his heart in secret prayer with God may assure himselfe of his self-denyall before God CHAP. XII AS Self-denyall is a holy and gracious worke of Gods Spirit a lively and honourable character of a true Christian the prostrating of mans selfe and all that he hath under Christ The seeking and exalting of Christ above all is the crowne and glory of a Christian so self-seeking and self-exaltation is a very shamefull and dangerous evill an evill indeed very common Most men sowing to the flesh and not to the Spirit to themselves and not to Christ Men generally moving and tending in their understandings wils thoughts and affections to themselves as rivers to the sea levelling the arrowes of their endeavours to some carnall marke of their owne and not to the honour of Christ All saith the Apostle seeke their owne all comparatively in respect of the paucity of others seeke their owne their owne profit their owne ease their owne pleasure their owne honour they confine themselves within themselves they seeke themselves and not the things which are Jesus Christs The honour of Christ the edification of the Church of Christ the propagation and welfare of the Gospell they seeke not this they mind not this they intend not they are all given said the Prophet of old to their covetousnesse to the minding and seeking of themselves their owne low base and unworthy ends from the highest of them to the lowest and from the Priest unto the people Self-seeking like the deluge overslowes the whole world few then addressed themselves unto the Arke few
good that riches honours pleasures are much to be desired and that the fulfilling of their owne lusts is very pleasant and therefore they bow downe the shoulders to beare the commands and injunctions of the creature and all the impositions of the flesh and become servants unto tribute To these they pay the tribute of distracting thoughts of tormenting cares of carnall confidence of inordinate love and of hard service and base servitude worshipping and serving as the Apostle saith the creature more then the Creator And for this cause Saint Paul stileth covetous self-seekers Idolaters because their self-seeking doth alienate them from God and drawes that love and confidence joy and delight which they should place in God to the creature and that service which they should imploy for God and that subjection which they should yeeld to God they bestow about and yeeld unto the creature and their owne lusts And as they are Idolaters for their prostration of themselves to the creature and their owne corrupt affections so they are Idols For the exalting of themselues above God minding intending and seeking themselves and not God they adore and serve themselves and not the Lord his s servants yee are saith Saint Paul to whom ye obey Self-seekers obey not God but themselves they conforme not themselves to the rules of Gods word but to the dictates of their owne hearts they propose not the glory of God but their owne ends and therefore they serve and adore themselves and not God Self-seeking excludes the soule of man from all communion with the true God and carries it to the world as to a false God and so proves a double abomination in the sight of God 10. Self-seeking is ever attended with self-loosing He that seekes himself and not Christ loseth both himself and Christ He that seeks himselfe takes a false rule to direct him erreth in his seeking and therefore loseth in stead of finding He builds his worke upon a false foundation and therefore sinks in stead of standing like the house built upon the sand in the Parable He puts himselfe out of Gods service and therefore misseth his great Lord and Masters wages He levels all his arrowes to a false marke and therefore like an Archer that shoots below the marke he shoots in vaine He leaves out God God is not in his thoughts he takes not God with him he takes not Gods counsell to guide him Gods power to assist him Gods blessing to make his undertaking prosperous and successefull and therefore in stead of a blessing the curse attends and waits upon him He intends not God but himselfe and therefore God leaves him to himselfe to prove the Author and workman of his owne ruine Present self-seekers and self-gainers prove in the event the greatest self-losers The last end and issue never answers the expectation of self-seekers their labour like the labour of the Ostritch is in vaine The Ostritch leaveth her egges in the dust the foot crusheth them and the wilde beast breaketh them Self-seekers lay all their labours in the dust all their care desire all their industry and endeavour is about the things which are here below they lay all their egges in the dust and all their labours at last are crusht and brought to naught Rahel had hard labour but the birth of her belly proved the death of her body Self-seekers have hard labour they labour like a woman in travell but their birth proves their death their gaine turnes to their losse their pleasure to their torment their honour to their shame Against such the Lord denounceth woe in stead of joy shame in stead of glory and desolation in stead of exaltation Woe saith the Lord to him that coveteth an evill covetousnesse to his house that he may set his nest on high that he may be delivered from the power of evill Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people and hast sinned against thy soule For the stone shall cry out of the wall and the beame out of the timber shall answer it Woe to him that buildeth a Towne with bloud and stablisheth a City by iniquity Behold is it not of the Lord of Hoasts that the people shall labour in the very fire and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity Very great and shamefull are the losses which wait on self-seekers their riches proves their poverty their refuge becomes their ruine and their exaltation their shamefull downfall Very great is that mans unhappinesse who in the prophane neglect of God and Christ Jesus labours to fill and furnish himselfe with earthly abilities Self-seekers build on false promises and feed themselves with deceitfull expectations The Lord turnes their imaginary calme into a tempestuous storme their devised paradise into a troublesome wildernesse and their intended crowne into reall shame The last event of their undertaking doth ever crosse their first intention that which is unlawfully sought and gotten proveth the instrument of mans great discomfort and trouble He that labours for himselfe and not for God and Christ Jesus is vaine in his labours like him that builds on the sand his house sinketh as fast as he erects it Like him that weaves a piece of cloth in or over the fire the fire burnes it as fast as he weaves it Losse vexation shame and ruine is the recompence and portion of self-seeking The estate of him that hath nothing is farre more pleasant blessed and comfortable then of him that hath a great abundance by self-seeking Of such the Lord saith by the Prophet declaring the vanity perill and perniciousnesse of their labours they have sowne the wind they have laboured in vaine as he that casteth forth an empty hand strives to sow but sowes not and they shall reape the whirlewinde their harvest the fruit of their labours shall be more troublesome then their first undertakings they that will be rich saith the Apostle they whose bent and inclination is to themselves and to the world who chiefly mind themselves and things earthly fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtfull lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition Most wretched and uncomfortable is the gaine of self-seeking Satan hath great advantage against them they expose themselves to many temptations they lay themselves open to his arrowes to wound them the world like a snare intangles them their lusts grow strong within them and get Lordship over them and they make shipwracke of soule and body splitting the ship of their soules upon the rocke of worldly riches and what they supposed should have been a staffe to sustaine them becomes a burthen oppressing them and what they thought would have been a spring refreshing them becomes a Sea swallowing and utterly consuming them There is no other cause of self-seeking but inbondagement to Satan inthralment to the world servitude to corruption separation from God self-condemnation from mans owne conscience
unnaturall and mortall enmity 4. Self-seeking fils men with causlesse base and cursed jealousies over others and makes them wrong interpreters of other mens actions and presumptuous and injurious expounders of other mens hid and secret purposes this self-seeking lust made Pharaoh jealous over the Israelites least they should joyne with his enemies and make warre against him This made Herod jealous of Christ fearing least Christ would take his crown and Kingdom from him what made the chief Priests and Pharisees jealous of Christ preaching many heavenly Sermons and working many miracles among them but an ambitious and self-seeking lust of theirs they feared least therby they should loose their place and Nation Christ came as a Servant to minister to them to suffer for them to bring them to an heavenly Kingdom and they out of their self-seeking humour suspected him least by his meanes they should loose their present jurisdiction self-seekers are very uncharitable in their constructions of other mens purposes and undertakings 5. Self-seeking creates much needles unhappy and soul-torturing griefe and anguish in the hearts of self-seekers like gall in the cup a thorne in the foot and strong winde in the Sea it imbitters their estate troubles their walke and makes their inward man a very tempest it makes their food bread of sorrows their bed a bed of thornes and their day a day of clouds self-seeking Ahab is sicke upon his bed for want of Naboths vineyard self-seeking Pharaoh is grieved because the Israelite multiplieth the self-seekers in the Psalmist are grieved gnash with the teeth and melt away to see the prosperity of the godly and the frustration of their owne desires every self-seeker is a self-tormentor he that is given unto self-seeking needs none besides himselfe to molest and vex him he carries his executioner still within him 6. Self-seeking usually proves unsuccessefull the event doth contradict their expectation Rebecca out of her strong affection sought by sinister meanes to get the blessing for Jacob she waited not for it in Gods way she obtained it in her owne way and when she had procured it how fared it she was greatly crossed Esau purposed to kill Jacob Jacob is sent away and becomes a stranger to his mother the crosses of self-seekers ever exceed their comforts Sarah was very desirous of children the Lord restrained her from bearing she gives her maid Hagar to her husband but what was the issue of it Hagar conceived and Sarah was despised in her eyes the birth of self-seeking proves uncomfortable the self-seekers intended instrument of consolation turns to an instrument of vexation Lot beheld all the plain of Jordan that it was well watered every where and he chose it for his habitation and pitched his tent toward Sodome But it came to passe that the King of Shinar with three other Kings tooke Lot and all his goods and departed thus was Lot crossed in his choise the chiefest worldly fullnesse is often attended with the greatest crosses and men meet with most disquiet where they promise themselves most comfort it is the Lords and not the worlds presence that ministers both safety and contentation to Gods servants 7. Self-seeking takes away the comfort of what man possesseth for the present the having of all is as nothing to him that is possessed with a spirit of self-seeking Ahabs crown and kingdome neither content nor comfort him having a lusting humour after Naboths vineyard the want of this doth more molest and vex him then the having of all the residue doth solace him for this he came heavy and displeased to his house laid him downe upon his bed turned away his face and would eate no bread Most unhappy and wretched is the estate and condition of that person whom God delivers over to the lust and humour of self-seeking this makes him apprehend the Sunne of his prosperity as a dark cloud wherin is no light and the deepe river of his earthly abundance as an empty pit wherin are no waters Haman was highly honoured by Ahasuerus yet having an ambitious and self-seeking lust within him when he had related all his honours concluded All this availes me nothing so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the Kings gate Many a gracious poore man that hath nothing of the world hath more satisfaction then he that hath the greatest earthly abundance with an iniatiable greedy and self-seeking lust within him great is the vanity emptinesse and vexation of worldly fullnesse without the blessed presence of Christ Jesus happy is the soule to whom God gives freedome from the lust of self-seeking And this insatiable polluting base and imbondaging lust let us mortifie and put to death with all the concomitants and attendants of it as Joshua destroied self-seeking Achan with all that appertained to him this let us wound with godly sorrow self-denyall and a vocation of our hearts from the world as Joab with three darts thrust through self-seeking Absolom this let us root up as a most pernicious weed out of the garden of our souls this let us put to death as a most dangerous traitor and mutinous rebell in the common-weale of our hearts let us daily strive for the increase of our liberty from self-seeking as from the most loathsome of all spots the most servile of all imbondagements the most sly and subtle of all snares the most mortall of all diseases and the most prevalent of all inticing soule-deceiving and soule-slaying instruments CHAP. XIV IS it their property and practice who are indowed with the life of true holinesse to prostrate themselves and all that is theirs under the feet of Christ Jesus Then here may we see with open face the vanity impiety and perill 1. Of Self-admiration of mans having high thoughts an arrogant opinion of himselfe and an over-weening conceipt of his owne excellency and worth Goliah much admired the tallnesse of his owne stature and the bignesse of his armour vain and carnall man is often much taken and extraordinarily lifted up with the thought of his own worth and transcendency of his owne gifts contrary to the charge of the Apostle be not wise in your owne conceits Doe not dreame of a sufficiency of a light in the lampe of your owne souls take not upon you to be your owne guides and Counsellours presume not of a fullnesse at home in the house of your owne hearts to which agrees that of Salomon leane not to thine owne understanding be not wise in thine owne eyes make not thine owne abilities the foundation wherupon thou buildest the light by which thou walkest the strength by which thou standest nor the weapon by which thou expectest the conquest promise nothing to thy selfe of thy selfe be neither confident in nor exalted with an opinion of thine own fullnesse and worth For 1. Such as are over-swayed with self-opinion and self-admiration are
very ignorant they know not the state and condition of their owne soules Ephraim had gray hairs here and there upon him howbeit saith the Prophet he knew it not Self-admirers are full of the characters of profanenesse carry about them the signes and symptomes of spirituall blindnesse basenesse uncleannesse poverty bondage and everlasting ruine but they know it not No man more ignorant of himselfe then he that hath highest thoughts of himselfe the Pharisees were great selfe-admirers extraordinarily lifted up with the thought of their owne wisdome holinesse and perfection yet very miserably blinde and ignorant blind leaders of the blind without the law as S. Paul confesseth without the knowledge of the law in their understandings without the inscription of the law in their hearts without conformity to the law in their lives Without the light of the law discovering their sinnes without the power of the law humbling their soules ignorance of mans owne vilenesse begets self-admirations the Laodicean was strangely puffed up with thoughts of his owne spirituall excellencies and the maine ground therof was his blindnesse he said he was rich and increased in goods and wanted nothing not knowing that he was poore blinde naked miserable and wretched he that is of all men the worst is usually in his owne opinion the best carnall men thorough their blindnesse doe often take that for very great spirituall riches which in the account of God is no other then very poverty and basenesse 2. Self-admirers are non-apprehensive of the Majesty and perfection of God and transcendent beauties of Christ mans opinion of himself is sutable to his apprehension of God the more apprehensive the soule is of Gods incomprehensible Majesty holinesse and glory the more it is abased in the sense of its owne emptinesse basenesse and impurity I have heard of thee saith Job unto the Lord by the hearing of the eare but now mine eye seeth thee wherefore I abhorre my selfe and repent in dust and ashes he that is filled with the admiration of Gods perfections is emptied of self-admiration and made very low and base in his owne thought and meditation of himselfe When the Prophet Esay had in vision seen the Lord sitting upon the throne he cryed out and complained of his uncleannesse then he said woe is me I am undone I am a man of uncleane lips the sight of other mens rich and costly apparell makes a poore man blush and be ashamed of his owne rotten rags God and Christ are questionlesse great strangers to the thought of self-admirers of such the Psalmist saith God is not in all their thoughts were the soule of man well studied and insighted in full and frequent in the meditation of and throughly acquainted with the Lords perfections he could not but be much abased in the knowledge sence and feeling of his owne imperfections His comelinesse with Daniel would be turned into corruption and his face toward the ground he would be humbled below the dust and be baser in his owne eye than the earth mens unacquaintednesse with Gods excellencies is a maine cause of their being self-admirers 3. Self-admirers are very ungratefull and sacrilegious they rob God of the praise of all his gifts they ascribe all unto themselves they say with Nebuchadnezar is not this great Babell that I have built by the strength of mine owne arme and for the honour of my name as they referre all to their owne ends so they looke on all as proceeding from their owne strength They sacrifice saith the Prophet to their net and burne incense to their drag God is neglected their own art wit power and industry are admired they deisie themselves and their own abilities God is not regarded his honour is wholy ecclipsed they go not like David in the name of the Lord in the name of Gods authority commanding them in the name of Gods wisdome guiding them in the name of Gods power assisting them in the name of Gods glory to honour him but like Goliah they goe in their owne name in the name of their owne pride exciting them in the name of their owne fancy leading them in the name of their owne wit art and strength helping them and in the name of their owne praise and honour moving them this is the Alpha and Omega of their undertaking the first in intention the last in execution Self-admirers of all others are the most injurious unto God and Christ Jesus 4. Self-admirers are uncapable of Christ and his graces no man partakes lesse of Christ then he that doth most admire himselfe such a man hath no right nor cleare discerning of Christ no sence and feeling of his want of Christ no hunger nor thirst after Christ no honorable opinion and esteem of Christ no room in his soule to receive and entertaine Christ and therfore continues empty of Christ There is more hope saith Solomon of a foole then of a man that is wise in his owne eyes he is full of self-wisdome and therfore is uncapable of instruction as a full vessell of other liquor the Pharisees had their own learning in such admiration that they utterly rejected Christs Doctrine The full stomack saith Solomon loatheth the honey-combe the full soule loatheth slighteth undervalueth those Doctrines and gifts of Christ which are sweeter then the honey or the honey-combe Self-admirers are very profane despisers of Gods choysest gifts and graces and as they are full of self-opinion so God turns them away empty of things heavenly and spirituall he sends the rich away empty God fils that mans soule alone with heavenly goodnesse who is emptied of all opinion of his own excellencies 5. Self-admiration alienates the soule from God cuts off all communion and acquaintance betweene the soule and God God will not looke in grace and favour towards him God opposeth himselfe against him he resisteth the proud by withholding his grace from him by rejecting his prayer and supplication by infatuating his wisedome by dissipating his power by crossing his undertaking by leaving him as a prey to Satan and powring contempt upon him The Lord is very terrible in his opposition against the proud person Very great and uncomfortable is the distance between God and self-admirers He that admires himselfe cannot draw nigh to God by holy and humble supplication pride hath such dominion within him he cannot draw nigh to God by faith he leanes so much upon himself he cannot draw nigh to God by love self-love doth so strongly oversway him he cannot draw nigh to God by obedience his pride will not suffer him to stoope to Gods precepts he cannot draw nigh to God by holy hunger and thirst after Gods gifts and graces he is so transported with the thought of his owne fullnesse Self-admiration excludes man from all the wayes of communion betweene God and his children therefore trust in the Lord saith the Wise-man and leane not to thine
owne understanding in all thy wayes acknowledge him be not wise in thine owne eyes feare the Lord and depart from evill implying that as long as a man leanes to his owne wisdome and hath himselfe in admiration he can neither trust in God nor humbly acknowledge God nor truly feare God nor depart from evill but continues in the state of a totall and uncomfortable alienation and estrangement from God 6. Self-admiration is attended with shame and confusion at last Goliah much admired himself his owne stature and armour yet was shamefully overthrowne in the battle the Sword in which he gloried cut off his head God often turnes the instrument and matter of mans pride into the instrument and matter of mans shame Nebuchadnezar magnified himselfe above measure in his Palace which he had built but from thence he was driven to dwell and eat grasse among the beasts the Lord will make the condition of proud people most base and contemptible hee that magnifies himselfe above men is unfit for the society of men beasts and brutish creatures are the fittest conforts for ambitious self-admirers Looke then ô man upon the basenesse and uncleannes of thy Originall upon the absence of all spirituall good upon the presence and plenitude of all sin upon thy imbondagement unto Satan upon thy inthralment unto the creature upon thy servitude under many noisom lusts upon the rottennes and deceitfulnes of thy heart upon the loathsomnes of thy wayes upon the imperfection of thy best services upon the strict account which thou must make for all thy abilities and be no more a self-admirer but a self-shamer a self-condemner a humbler of thy soule and an admirer of God and Christ Jesus for all thy freely received favours CHAP. XV. SEcondly In this may we also behold the pernicious and hatefull evill of self-exaltation mans magnifying himselfe above the statutes and ordinances of God by setting up his own inventions above his brethren by thinking better of himselfe then of others hunting after the praise and applause of men striving to commend himself to men and to make himselfe glorious in the eyes of men this is repugnant to the property and practise of them that live the life of true holinesse of them that prostrate themselves and all that is theirs under the feet of Christ Jesus and evill from which the Apostle disswades us let us not be desirous of vaine glory Let us not exalt our selves above others let us not strive nor study to bee magnified of others let us not please and blesse our selves in the vain applause of others it is not humane applause but Gods approbation which ministers matter of true glorying to a Christian we should rejoyce to see God glorified but feare to heare our selves applauded least our persons be idolized least our hearts be vainly elevated and Gods glory obscured It is the crown and glory of a Christian to abase himselfe in the eyes of his Brethren for Gods exaltation but shame at last will be that mans portion who is ambitious and studious of selfe-exaltation that man hath no cause to thinke that God will at last put the crowne of glory upon his head who now takes the crown of praise from his God them that honour me saith the Lord will I honour and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed them that honour me by consecration of themselves to my service by subjection unto my precepts by sincere intendment of me and my glory in their undertakings them will I honour with the communication of my choysest graces to their soules with the dispensation of my blessing upon their labours by causing their way to be prosperous and by making them amiable and acceptable in the eyes of their godly brethren and by putting into the hearts of their very enemies an honourable opinion of them humble subjection under God holy walking with God and comfortable fruition of the witnesse of God is the most bright and beautifull crowne of a Christian he that can most readily suffer himself to be abased for God shall undoubtedly be most highly exalted by God but God shall cover that mans face with shame and confusion who dishonours God by false exaltation for they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed saith the Lord they that despise me by nourishing dishonourable thoughts in themselves of my most glorious and incomprehensible essence of my most sacred and divine attributes of my most wise and unsearchable counsels or of the high and holy way of my most powerfull just and gracious providence they that despise me by contemning my statutes by neglecting my ordinances by slighting my servants by profaning my name and my service or by not using and benefitting by my word by my chastisements and favours they shall be lightly esteemed accounted vile in my sight and made vile in the eyes of men he that exalts himself and his own lusts to the dishonour of his God is of all persons the most base and ignominious And self exaltation is indeed a very great and dangerous evill For 1. Self-exaltation is the root and spring of many foule impieties the unhappy mother of many cursed daughters mans pride and prophane contempt of Gods precepts is the Originall of all vices mans elevating himselfe and his owne corrupt affections and carnall purposes above the sacred limits which God hath set him leads him into every transgression Pride in the heart like Sheba in Israel blowes the Trumpet and draws the whole soule into rebellion against God as he drew Israel to rebell against David Self-exaltation moved our first Parents to eat the forbidden fruit Corah Dathan and Abiram to rebell against Moses Saul to plot the death of David Pharaoh to lay heavy burthens upon the children of Israel Absolon to labour the deposition of his Father from the throne Pride makes a man inâ—atiable in his desires contentious with his neighbours injurious to his fellow-servants slanderous in his speeches a contemner of such as are truly holy and gracious and impatient of the yoake of Gods precepts thorough pride man will not have Christ rule over him hee will not stoope and bow to Gods Commandement but exalts himselfe above God and becomes a law-giver to himself walking after the counsell and imagination of his owne heart God hath ever least possession where pride hath most sway and dominion all sorts of vices are the Subjects of the Common-weale of that soul where pride sits in the heart as a King in his throne Pride saith Augustine is the beginning end and cause of all sinne pride being not onely sin but also no sinne can could or may be without pride since sinne is nothing else but a contempt of God whereby we despise his precepts and nothing perswades man to this but pride and pride saith Aquinas is the beginning of all sinne in regard of time the first sinne of the Divell in heaven and of Adam in Paradise in regard
of the cause contempt of God the cause of sin being found in every sin and in regard of Originall all other vices springing either mediately or immediately from this the more a man exalts himselfe the more he dishonours God the more a man doth lift himself up in his own conceit and opinion the more he doth cast plung himself into the gulf and mire of spirituall pollution fulnes of pride and fulnesse of uncleannesse are inseparable companions 2. Self-exaltation is the patron and protector of all other vices this blinds men that they cannot see their sinnes this hardens men that they will not confesse their sinnes this makes men such admirers of themselves and their owne wayes that they apprehend their very vices to be virtues this makes men studious and artificiall to cloake and colour and hide their sins this makes instruction and admonition the meanes of suppressing sin contemptible and causeth man with impudency and shamelesse boldnesse to maintaine and plead for his profanenesse the soule which learnes not to be humble cannot cease from transgression pride among other vices is like Goliah among the Philistines the Philistines were invincible untill Goliah was overthrowne other lusts in the soule of man are impugnable untill pride and self-exaltation is cast downe mans labour in the worke of mortification is vain and fruitles untill his pride is mortified the spirituall conquest is never gotten as long as pride beares the dominion He that overcomes not this overcomes no lust Selfe-exaltation in the soule of man is like a Castle or Fort and other vices like houses built under the Castle which cannot easily be assaulted and beaten downe because the Fort defends them the overthrow of other vices is impossible untill the Castle of pride is beaten downe in the heart of man the Pharisees being given to self-exaltation to the seeking and lifting up of themselves were under the power of every base lust erronious superstitious covetous malicious their very piety was nothing but hypocrisie he that doth not cease from himself will cease from no sinne if he be but once put upon the temptation therefore be not wise saith Solomon in thine owne eyes feare the Lord and depart from evill implying that where there is not a cessation from self-wisdome and self-exaltation there is no feare of God no keeping of Gods precepts no disposition no care to please God no cessation from sin for conscience sake therfore take away this vice saith Chrysostome that men would not appeare to men this vice of self-exaltation and all vices are cut off without labour Vpon the death of the first-borne of Pharaoh the children of Israel were delivered upon the mortification of pride the first-borne of the spirituall Pharaoh the soules of men obtain a gracious freedome Goliahs head being cut off all the Philistines fled the death of pride is the slight of all sinne he that exalts himselfe remaines both a stranger to the life power and comfort of all godlinesse and a nurse and patron to all unclean and base affections 3. Self-exaltation is the most invincible of all vices the roots thereof are so deepe and strong and so largely spread in the heart of man it puts the soule at such a great distance from God makes man so uncapable of Christ and heavenly wisdome so weds man unto himselfe and causeth man so to please and delight himselfe in himselfe so to prize the applause of man and to slight the approbation of God that there is no disease in the soul of man so uneasily cured no weed in the garden of mans heart so uneasily plucked up no enemy in the common-weale of mans soul so difficultly overcome as self-exaltation it is the hardest taske that ever man undertooke truly to deny himselfe and fully to prostrate and put himselfe under God and Christs yoake Pharaoh did many things in the way of love and honour to Joseph he put his ring upon his hand and arrayed him in vestures of fine linnen and set him over his house but yet he reserved this unto himselfe to be greater in the throne then Joseph man may doe much in the way of outward zeale for God he may exalt God very farre above his profit above his pleasure above his peace yea above his life and yet still reserve to himselfe a preheminence above God he may cloath the naked feed the hungry and give his body to be burned in the cause of God and yet doe all this for himselfe more then for his God for his owne applause more then for the praise of God for the having of a name with men more then for the glorifying of the name of God Of all conquests selfe-conquest is the most difficult most excellent most noble and glorious he that can rule his spirit saith Solomon his proud his self-seeking and self-exalting spirit is better then he that taketh a City Man hath no greater enemy then himself he never doth more excellently then when he overcomes himselfe the overcoming of a Kingdome is nothing in comparison of mans conquest of his owne corruption pride is the first evill in mans departure from God and the last evill which is overcome in man returning unto God Shamma stood it out and defended the field when the people fled Self-exaltation stands it out like a mighty champion in the heart of man when all other lusts seeme to fly when other lusts goe out like fire that wants fewell yet this lust of self-exaltation as long as any thing of the old-man remaines in man will put it self forth and strive to soare aloft and climbe up in the thron of God Man hath most cause to watch pray against self-exaltation of all the evils which are within him 4. Self-exaltation corrupteth and destroyeth all the gifts and graces bestowed on man the evill herbe in the Prophets pot made the pot a pot of death ambition and self-exaltation in the soule of man marres all the excellencies of man turns all his gifts into a pot of death poysons all the endowments of man the more he hath received the lesse mindfull he is of God the higher thoughts he conceiveth of himselfe the more able and active he sheweth himself in evill and the more he sleights and scornes all instruction That man of all others is the fittest instrument to doe the worke of the prince of darknesse in whom abilities and a proud spirit are concurrent this like leaven sowrs the whole lump of mans vertues the tree sweetned the waters of Marah which were bitter but this like gall and wormwood sowres and imbitters those gifts and abilities which in themselves are very sweet and of singular use making vertue and the duties of piety subject and serviceable to mans vain-glory it is Gregories observation that as humility cuts the sinews of all vices and strengthens all vertues so pride destroyes all vertues and strengthens all vices pride is a very pernicious and venimous
the Lord making their shame sutable to their pride and the degree of their confusion answerable to the measure of their self-exaltation O therefore if thy gifts be more eminent then others consider it is the Lord makes thee to differ and Gods favour must be unto thee as motives to humility and meeknesse and as obligations to sincere and sound obedience 2. Remember that it is not the greatnesse of the gift but the well using of the gift that is the glory of the receiver It is not the having of any thing whether much or little but the having of Christ with it that makes it full and satisfactorie sweet and comfortable usefull and beneficiall unto man 3 Consider whatsoever thou hast if it puffe thee up and make thee swell it is not food but poison no mercy but a curse no evidence of divine favour but of severe anger to thy soule 4. Thinke upon the tenure by which thou holdest all that thou hast thou art but a tenant at will the inheritance is Christs and he may turne thee off when he list All things goe and come at his command as the souldiers at the command of the Centurian 5. Know and be assured that the glory and fulnesse of man is Christ all abilities are a very vanity and emptinesse without Christ Jesus He that hath most of Christ Jesus is of all persons the most glorious neither hath man cause of glorying and rejoycing in any thing but in Christ alone He that glories must glory in the Lord and in nothing else He must glory in the power of Christ supporting him in the wisedome of Christ directing him in the blessing of Christ making all successefull to him in the all-sufficiency of Christ putting a fulnesse into his possession whether much or little in the righteousnesse of Christ justifying him in the presence of Christ encouraging him and in the love of Christ solacing him That man hath the greatest glory and the sweetest and surest fulnesse who hath most of Christ Jesus 6 Observe and weigh well how the issue and event of all is not so much dependant upon the abundance and excellencies of mans abilities as upon the all-disposing hand of God I returned and saw under the Sunne saith Solomon that the race is not to the swift nor the battell to the strong neither yet bread to the wise nor yet riches to men of understanding nor yet favour to men of skill but time and chance happeneth to them all The event and issue is not according to the abilities of man but according to the decree and dispensation of God It is not in the power of the swift to escape by running nor in the power of the strong to overcome in the battell nor in the power of the wise to fill himselfe with bread nor in the power of the prudent to furnish himselfe with wealth nor in the power of the skilfull to obtaine favour with men Hasael though swift as the Hart yet he fell in running Goliah a man of mighty stature fell in the conflict with little David The Barley cake in the Midianites dreame overturned the Midianitish Hoast David a man of singular wisedome sometime wanted bread and Paul was in hunger and in thirst often Joseph a man of singular wisedome was hated of his brethren and undeservedly cast out of the favour of Potiphâ—r Mans welfare comfort and happinesse springs not from the excellency of his abilities but from Gods gracious wise and all-ruling providence A horse saith the Psalmist is a vaine thing for the battell neither shall he deliver any by his great strength Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that feare him upon them that hope in his mercy It is not the perfection and excellency of the instrument but the Coagency of God with it that puts efficacy into it and makes it helpfull honourable and comfortable to the user of it The meditation of the subjection of all abilities under Gods gubernation and providence is of great power to purge their possessors of all self-exalting cogitations 7. Meditate upon the sudden and unexpected change which may come The river of mans abundance may be turned another way dryed up or faile like the waters of Tema and be empty like Hagars bottle The Sunne of mans prosperity may be suddenly ecclipsed and shine no more The shadow of mans earthly comforts may be smitten and vanish like Jonahs gourd Very sudden and dismall outward changes are incident to all sorts of persons Jobs riches was soone changed into poverty Nebuchadnezzars glory was quickly turned into ignominy Man saith Solomon knoweth not his time he knoweth not his time of want when he is full his time of trouble when he is at peace his time of disgrace when he is in honour nor his time of death when he is in health As the fishes that are taken in an evill net and as the birds that are caught in the snare so are the sonnes of men snared in an evill time when it falleth suddenly upon them Man hath small cause to magnifie himselfe in the presence of things subject to such sad and sudden changes Were man well studied in and truly sensible of the mutability of all abilities he would never glory in their presence he would undoubtedly walke in a holy feare and in much humility and meeknesse in the midst of the greatest fulnesse CHAP. XVII LAstly in the meditation of this we may behold and take notice of the happinesse of their estate of the sweet and gracious frame of their soules who are able to deny themselves and their owne affections and prostrate themselves and all that is theirs under the feet of Jesus Christ These men have a blessed liberty and freedome from the odious monsters of impiety self-seeking self-admiration and self-exaltation with many other evils He hath ever most freedome from the power of corruption whose heart is filled with the greatest measure of self-denyall It is a very great blessing to be truly and throughly humble 1. This works the soule of man to a very full and comfortable possession and fruition of Christ The more man is wrought out of himselfe the more he is wrought into Christ The more man is emptied of himselfe the more he is filled with the fulnesse of Christ The more man is removed from himselfe the nearer he approacheth unto Christ The more fully he participateth of Christ the more sweet and comfortable communion he hath with Christ The Altar under the Law was hollow to receive the fire the wood and the Sacrifice The heart of man which is humble empty of all spirituall pride and self-conceit is most capable of the fire of the Spirit and of Christ who offered himselfe a Sacrifice for our sinnes The soule of the humble is Christs habitation the vessell which he filleth with his grace and receives into a sweet consortship with himselfe For thus saith the high and the lofty
past feeling being unsensible of their sinne as a dead man of his disease unsensible of the misery of their estate and perilousnesse of their condition as the drunkard in Salomon had no apprehension of his danger unsensible of the word of instruction as a deafe man that heares not is unsensible of advice and counsell They heare saith the Prophet but understand not they see but perceive not they heare outwardly but not inwardly they see confusedly but not clearly the light shines upon them but not within them they walke not in the light they are not guided in their goings by the light they are unsensible of the characteres symptomes of destruction which are upon them as Ephraim had gray haires here and there upon him howbeit he knew it not Unsensible of the goodnesse and sweetnesse of Christ as a distempered palate is unsensible of the sweetnesse of the wine given him to drinke unsensible of the comfort and pleasantnesse of spirituall life as the dead are unsensible of the joyes of the living and being thus past feeling they regard not the life of grace it is of no esteeme with them 4. Their corruption doth oppose the life of grace by causing them to give themselves over to lasciviousnesse to worke uncleannesse disposing and inclining them to evill as heavy things incline downeward the whole current of their affections moving towards sinne strongly speedily undefatigably and unchangeably as the Rivers move towards the Sea soaking and surfeting themselves with carnall delights and pleasures as the drunkard soakes his flesh with strong drinke and the glutton surfets himselfe with sweet meat delighting and sporting themselves in sinne as the fish in the water drinking iniquity as Job speaks like water as the dry ground drinks in the water and looks for more giving themselves over unto sinne as the souldiers to the Centurion to be commanded by it to be wholly subject to it as the harlot to the adulterer prostituting and laying themselves open unto sinne and bringing forth all their fruit to sinne and this their serviceablenesse to sinne delight and pleasure in sinne voluntary and full subjection under sinne doth mightily oppose the working of the life of grace within them so opposing it that none but Christ can worke it Besides Satan doth also with much force and fraud hinder this worke holding the winds that they may not blow endeavouring to the utmost to stop the ministery of the word the meanes of begetting this life in the soules of men blinding the understandings of men that the glorious light of the Gospel may not shine into them labouring by all meanes to hinder the regeneration of Gods children represented in Saint Johns vision of the Dragon ready to devoure the womans childe as soone as it was borne This worke the world also hinders by distracting men with worldly cares by priding men with worldly wealth by ministring many prophane and soule-bewitching examples by with-holding men from attendance upon Gods ordinances the meanes of life by choaking the word of God the instrument of life with worldly cares by disabling men to discerne and judge aright of Christ the Authour of life Such is the opposition made against the worke of grace in the soules of men that there is a meere impossibility of attaining spirituall life without the mighty worke of Christ the Lord of life CHAP. XX. SEe then in this the pride and vanity of such men as dreame of a power and ability in themselves to restore themselves unto spirituall life As Sampson burst his wit hs and went out when Dalilah cryed the Philistines are upon thee Sampson Thus they thinke to breake the chaines of sinne to come forth of the grave of their corruption at their pleasure having the word of exhortation to call them Man indeed indowed with true and saving grace may come when God cals him as Sampson went forth at the voice of Dalilah while his lockes were upon him but as Sampson had no power to preserve himselfe when his lockes were cut off no more hath man destitute of saving grace any power to restore himselfe to the life of grace or to defend himselfe against the adversaries of his peace The branch cannot live without the root nor the soule a spirituall life without Christ Man is wholly disabled unto this worke having no feed nor principle of grace remaining in him being as fully under the dominion of sinne as the dead are under the dominion of death at as great a distance from the life of grace as they who have been long dead and divers dayes like Lazarus in the grave are from the life of nature 2. Being so blinded that they cannot discerne the things which belong to their spirituall vivification from the things which tend to their destruction the wayes of death are wayes of life in their apprehension as the Assyrians smitten with blindnesse thought the way leading to Samaria to be the way leading to Assyria Thus they repute the way which leadeth unto death to be the way leading unto life they call evill good and good evill 3. They decline the meanes of their spirituall quickning they stop their cares against the voice which should awaken and enliven them they shut their eyes against the light which should illuminate them 4. They are full of enmity against the ministery which should convert them they make warre against the ministery of the word as Saul against David This troubles them as the Star troubled Herod the Minister is their enemy because he tels them the truth 5. Sinne is a sweet dish to their palate they are insatiable in the commission of it their soules are wedded to it they have made a Covenant with it they boast and glory in it 6. The life of grace and holinesse is dishonourable and contemptible in their eye Nothing with them is beautifull and amiable excellent and honourable but that which is either for the matter or for the circumstances sinfull And therefore when the dead can raise themselves out of their graves when the stones can turne themselves into flesh the thornes into vines when the Leopard can change his spots and the Blackamoore his skinne then may man by his owne power without the mighty worke of Christ raise himselfe to a new life turne his hard into a tender heart his barren into a fruitfull soule and his uncleane into a pure conversation Were man sensible of his emptinesse of all spirituall good of his obstinacy against grace of his strong and unchangeable bent to evill of the desperate disposition of his heart to sinne of his through subiection under Satan and of the prophane antipathy which is in his heart against grace and of his inability to receive it when it is proffered he would never exalt himselfe into Christs roome and take upon him to be the workman of his owne conversion he would never continue in sinne presuming to repent at last when he list
doubtlesse that man never felt the power of Christ in his conversion that dreames of a power in himselfe to convert and change himselfe Presumption of self-goodnesse invincibly argues the absence of all saving goodnesse The diseased came either by their owne strength or by the help of others to Bethesda but when the foot was in the poole if the Angell did not move the waters there was no healing Man may come to the ministery of the word by his owne strength and by the perswasion of others but when he is come and heares the word there is no healing unlesse Christ worke mightily with the Gospell For Paul plants and Apollo waters but God giveth the increase Is Christ the Author and worker of spirituall life Then we must addresse our selves to Christ that Christ may quicken and enliven us Whiles we stand aloofe off and continue strangers to Christ we are all dead men dead spiritually while we live corporally alienated from the life of God while we enjoy the life of men continuing strangers to Christ we are all dead in sinne and as the dead know not any thing no more doe we savingly and comfortably know any thing of God of Christ of his word or of the Spirit of grace we are in darknesse like the dead we are blinde and groape at the noone day as in the midnight As the dead have no feeling of the disease which killed them of the burthen of earth cast upon them no more have we of the sinne which wounds us and hastens the second death upon us we are as Saint Paul said past feeling As the dead have no vigor no strength no motion no more have we any power disposition or inclination to any thing holy and savingly good in the sight of God As the dead are an uncomfortable spectacle and cast an evill savour so are we very unsavoury in Gods nosthrils an abomination in the eyes of God As the dead have no claime nor title to any thing their interest in what they once enjoyed is lost Thus we have no title to Christ no interest in Gods Covenant of grace and as the dead putrifie and rot more and more so we grow worse and worse as long as we continue without Christ O therefore let us come to Christ that he may enliven us as he raised Lazarus the Widowes sonne and the Rulers daughter Let us come to Christ to raise our soules as the woman of Shunem came to the Prophet to raise her dead sonne she made haste to the Prophet we must come speedily unto Christ in the dayes of our youth before we have continued long under the death and dominion of sinne the woman of Shunem came humbly to the Prophet she cast her selfe downe at the feet of the Prophet We must come to Christ in great humility humbling our selves before him having our hearts full of sorrow for our sinne earnestly petitioning the vivification of our soules The woman of Shunem laid hold upon the Prophets feet and would not let him goe untill he went with her and raised her sonne Thus must we lay hold on Christ carry him with us bring him home into the house of our hearts that Christ may quicken us to the life of grace here and to the life of glory hereafter This likewise discovers to us what all our works and services are as long as we are without Christ Christ is the Author and worker of spirituall life and while we are without Christ we are without spirituall life and where is no life there is no action no motion where is no life of grace there is no moving no stirring in the wayes of godlinesse All the workes of naturall men how specious soever in outward appearance yet they are as the Scripture termes them but dead workes their hearing praying receiving of the Sacrament and other duties of righteousnesse done by them are works without life For 1. they proceed not from an inward Principle of spirituall life all their motions in and about the duties of godlinesse like the motions of Clockes and Watches proceed not from life but from art from the feare of hell from the apprehension of death from the sence of affliction from the desire of the applause and favour of men from the hope of reaping the harvest of some worldly benefit and therefore as the clocke ceaseth his motion when the Spring is downe so doe these men usually cease their motion in the wayes of godlinesse when the outward loadstone which drew them is taken away as yron having no principle of life within it stops it's motion when the loadstone is removed then they are at a stay then they goe backe 2. Their services if we consider the nature of them they are but morall and ecclesiasticall services no spirituall services They have as the Apostle saith a forme of godlinesse but they deny the power of it As a dead man hath the forme and lineaments of a living man but not the power and vivacity of a living man their works for the matter of them may be morally and ecclesiastically good but not spiritually good their coine their service as Jeremy termes it is reprobate silver Reprobate silver may have the stamp colour and similitude of true coine and yet is base mettall A naturall mans duties of service and obedience to God may have the similitude and colour of a spirituall mans service but when they are tryed they are found to be counterfeit abominable in the sight of God how beautifull soever in the eyes of men Swines bloud is of as cleare and perfect colour to the eye as sheeps bloud yet it is of another nature and to offer Swines bloud under the Law was an abomination Thus the service of a carnall man may have the outward colour of a regenerate mans service and be as pure and perfect in the outward appearance as the service of the holiest persons and yet it is of another nature and a very abomination in the sight of God 3. Their services if you looke upon the adjunct of them are cold services coldnesse is a Symptome of death when a man is dead the whole man is cold the works of a naturall and carnall man are cold they have no spirituall life no heavenly warmth no vivacity and holy quicknesse in them It is said of David that he had many cloathes yet he got no heate Thus carnall men have all the ordinances of God all meanes to warme their soules and yet they continue cold as a dead body under many cloathes they may performe many religious duties and yet have no heate no warmth in them At the best they are but like Ephraims cake halfe baked like luke-warme meat such as is offensive to the stomacke and therefore Christ threatens to spew them out of his mouth they have nothing of the Spirit of God within them whose working is likened unto fire making men fervent in Prayer causing their hearts
the soules of Gods children 4. By way of gubernation and direction The head liveth in the members acting and guiding the members to move and worke according to the dictates of the head and Christ as head liveth in beleevers his members acting and guiding framing and disposing them to move and walke and doe the things pleasing in his sight the will moves the members of the body too and fro by a commanding active power that goes from the will acting and stirring the members according to the disposition of the wil the Pilot by his presence in the ship and by his activity strength and skill turnes the rudder of the ship and guides the course therof to a quite contrary point of the Compasse the King by an influence from his Majesty authority power and Laws lives and reigns in the hearts of his loyall and obedient Subjects binding and bowing them to the observation of his Edicts That there is a commanding active power passeth from Christ upon the soules of all sanctified persons whereby he lives and reignes in them acts and moves them according to the disposition of his will turnes the rudder of their affections and guides the course of their lives to a quite contrary point then what they formerly moved and tended to hence it is that our Saviour saith the kingdome of God is within you Christ by his Spirit enlightening their hearts and effectually moving working and framing their soules to beleeve his promises and doe his will and they are said to have the Law in their hearts Christ ruling and commanding there by putting into their hearts a disposition of holy and humble subjection sutable to the holinesse of the Law And it was prophecyed of Christ that in the day of his power when Christ should be preached and his kingdome erected in the hearts of men The people should be willing voluntarily and freely subject and obedient unto Christ as the members to the head and thus Christ lives in men by his holy gubernation raigne and rule in the soules of men 5. By way of preservation and continuance unto perfection The soule lives in the body preserving the body from putrefaction continuing the body unto its appointed perfection Christ liveth in the soules of Gods children preserving them from sinne that they doe not putrifie in sinne though annoyed with sinne as the body with nasty humours and keeping them from the death of sinne that it never get dominion over them as death over dead men though it abide like a disease within them perfecting also the life of grace in them untill they come to the life of glory Those thou gavest me saith Christ I have kept and none of them is lost Whom God the Father gives to Christ by eternall election and effectuall vocation them Christ keeps in the state of grace in them he nourishes and maintaines spirituall life them he keeps in the knowledge of Gods truth in the saith of Gods promises in the love of Gods testimonies in the obedience of Gods precepts them he keeps in prosperity that they swell not in adversity that they repine not in temptation that they despaire not in all changes that they change not he doth perfect stablish strengthen and settle them he makes spirituall life more full and active strong and vigorous in them the longer Christ liveth in them the more perfection he ministers unto them the more abundantly he fils them the more he manifests the power of his grace towards them and thus Christ lives in Gods children by preserving and perfecting the life of grace in them And thus you see it is apparent that Christ doth live in Gods children by his gracious and powerfull worke of Sanctification CHAP. XXII IF you demand what is the life of Christ or Christ living in the children of God I answer it is a spirituall power or Principle of grace which Christ by his Spirit doth put into the hearts of the elect at their regeneration inabling them to move themselves to God-ward in knowing willing intending thinking loving speaking and doing the things which are pleasing unto God called the life of Christ because Christ is the Authour and the root thereof because it is a life which Christ commandeth and approveth and because hereby Christ liveth in all them that are regenerate and this is sometimes termed a being alive to God because men are hereby moved and quickned to doe what pleaseth God sometimes it is stiled a living with Christ having communion and fellowship with the grace of Christ for newnesse of life or with the glory of Christ for eternall felicity sometimes it is termed a new life a pure and unblameable life framed not after the lusts of the old man but after the will of God in his word and sometimes it is called a living unto God regenerate man consecrating and ordering his whole life after the will of God and unto his glory Christ living in man doth inable move and worke the heart of man to acknowledge God and Christ to be his Lord and himselfe not to be his owne but Gods and Christs servant 2. To frame and order his thoughts words and works according to the word of God and Christ in every thing 3. To referre and apply himselfe his whole life and whatsoever he hath to the honour of God and Christ And fourthly in all the changes dangers and afflictions of his life to depend upon God and Christ for counsell supportment protection and deliverance and this is Christs living in man and Christs keeping and continuing man in the state of grace unto the state of glory If you aske me how or in what manner Christ begins to live in man I answer 1. Christ doth awaken man as the Angell smote Peter upon the side and awakened him when he slept between the two souldiers with fetters upon him in Herods prison This doth Christ by his word without and the motion of his spirit within smite upon the heart and conscience of man sleeping between two great souldiers the devill on his right hand and the world on his left hand in the prison of sin Christ thus smiting upon man awakens man causes him to open his eyes to see his miserable and wretched estate to see the danger wherein he stands As the Prophet opened the eyes of the Syrians and let them see they were in Samaria in the hands of their enemies Thus Christ awakens man opens the eyes of mans understanding and makes him see himselfe in the hands of Satan lead away captive by him at his will in the gall of bitternesse and under the bond of iniquity poore blind naked miserable and wretched Christ makes him see the necessity he hath of his righteousnesse to justifie him of his power to deliver him of his intercession to reconcile God unto him and of his fulnesse to fill him Thus when Christ intended to live in Paul he first
awakened him out of his spirituall sleep and slumber he made him see himselfe I was alive once saith he without the Law I was once ignorant of the Law I was blind and knew not the meaning of the law I thought my selfe to be a living man in Gods family a shining starre in the firmament of Gods Church and a fruitfull vine in the Lords vineyard but when the commandement came sinne revived and I dyed when Christ awakened me opened my eyes and inabled me to discerne a right of the commandement then I saw I was under the dominion of sinne as a dead man is under the dominion of death wholly possessed by sinne as the dead by death Man hath first the sence of his being dead in sinne before he hath the sence of Christ living in him Christ makes man to know his misery by sinne before he knowes his happinesse by Christ Christ lives not where the soule is not awakened where the eyes of the understanding are not opened therefore awake saith the Apostle thou that sleepest and stand up from the dead and Christ shall give thee light 2. Christ intending to live in man doth humble man and causeth man to dye to sinne Saul first dyed before David reigned in Israel The death of sinne in order of divine operation precedes the life of Christ and his grace in the soule of man first we are buried with Christ and then we are raised with Christ to walke in newnesse of life first we are planted into the likenesse of Christs death and then into the likenesse of his resurrection Christ therefore in the dispensation of spirituall life doth first kill and then make alive first wound and then heale he makes man sensible of his sinne as of a heavy burthen before he doth ease him as of a body of death before he doth raise him as of a mortall disease before he doth cure him he chargeth sinne upon the conscience of man he sets it upon him to pursue and follow him as the avenger of bloud under the Law pursued the malefactor The Lord let loose Pharaoh and the Egyptians upon Israel to impose heavy burthens upon them to deale hardly with them to beat and scourge them to pursue and follow them when he intended to set them free from Egypt Christ lets loose Satan and corruption upon man to tempt and vexe to accuse and torment man when he intends to free man to restore spirituall life and liberty unto man The Israelites were first led into the red Sea and the Egyptians there drowned before Israel triumphed Man is led into a sea of griefe and sorrow for sinne and his sinne there drowned and then he triumpheth in Christ then Christ lives in him and he in Christ When Christ therefore doth humble man as he cast Paul to the earth emptieth man of all thought of his owne worth and makes man abhorre himselfe below the dust causeth man with the Jewes at Peters Sermon to cry out men and brethren what shall we doe to accuse and condemne themselves to loath that sinne as a menstruous clout which was formerly worne by them as a garment of great choise to vomit up that sinne it is Jobs expression as the gall of Aspes which he formerly kept in his mouth and swallowed downe like sweet meat to hate his sinne more then ever he loved it and to thrust it out of the doores of his heart as Amnon hated Thamar more then ever he loved her and thrust her out of his house When Christ doth thus humble man thus set the heart of man against sin and mortifie sinne in man then Christ begins to live in man When a man puls downe a house that is ruinous and unhabitable and begins to lay a new foundation then we know he usually intends to dwell and live there Thus when Christ puls downe the old man a ruinous and unhabitable dwelling unfit to entertaine Christ when Christ puls downe our pride when our old man as S. Paul speaks is crucified with Christ when all high thoughts are cast downe and Christ hath laid another a new foundation of self-denyall and true humility then Christ meanes to dwell there then undoubtedly Christ begins to live there 3. Christ beginning to live in man puts a restlesnesse into the heart of man in his naturall and corrupt estate makes him out of love with himselfe fils him with dislike of his owne wayes and works alienates and takes him off from creature and works him to an earnest longing after Christ as the chased Hart panteth after the water-brookes being chased and frighted with the sence of his sinne and the hideous noise of his guilty accusing and tormenting conscience he begins to thinke of Christ to betake himselfe to Christ for comfort pardon and salvation as the guilty malefactor under the Law being pursued by the avenger of bloud betooke himselfe to the City of Refuge for shelter and defence now his soulâ— followeth hard after Christ now he prizeth interest in Christ farre above interest in the creature now he would take Christ upon any termes he would gladly leave all for Christ he sees there is no other Physitian can heale him no other surety can make satisfaction for him no other shield and buckler can protect him no other friend can comfort him and therefore he flies to Christ as Joah to the hornes of the Altar he presseth after Christ labours to lay hold on Christ as the diseased woman did whom no Physitian could cure and as there went a vertue out from Christ that healed her bloudy issue when she touched the hemme of Christs garment so there goes a vertue out from Christ healing and enlivening the soule longing after Christ and touching Christ by faith though it may seem to be but weakly and afar off For as when the iron comes neare the loadstone there goes a virtue from the loadstone that moves and drawes the iron to it so when man comes neare Christ in hearing in prayer in humiliation and earnest longing there goes a vertue from Christ which moves enlivens and drawes the soule of man home to Christ and Christ begins to live in man to sustaine and strengthen the soule of man 4. Christ beginning to live in man there is a revelation of Jesus Christ in the soule of man The Sonne of God as S. Paul speaks is revealed in man There goes a light forth from the Sunne in the Firmament which reveales the Sunne to the eye of man and there goes forth a spirituall and heavenly light from the Sunne of Righteousnesse into the soule of man which reveales Christ unto man which the Apostle cals a shining of Christ into our hearts Christ revealing himselfe unto the soule as the only Saviour ministring salvation to the soule as the only Prophet instructing man and filling him with heavenly knowledge as the only Jordan bathing and cleansing the soule from
sinne as the only Prince of Peace sweetly and powerfully ruling in the heart of man and graciously reconciling God and man as the only beloved Husband marrying himselfe to man as the only precious pearle in whom is all the treasure of the soul of man as the only rocke in whom is all the strength of man and by whom man is supported as the only rich and royall roabe by whom mans sinne is covered and the soule of man justified and as the onely fountaine in whom man meets with fulnesse of satisfaction and where Christ is thus revealed there he liveth This Revelation of Christ in man ministers life and comfort unto man 5. Christ beginning to live in man doth very powerfully and graciously change and reforme man he doth cause his Gospell to come to man not in word only but in power also humbling man breaking and bruising the stony heart plowing up the fallow ground of mans heart making it of barren to become good ground causing the choisest plants of his grace and fruits of righteousnesse to grow there Christ doth not onely proffer his grace and stirre up good desires and purposes but he infuseth supernaturall qualities of holinesse into the soule of man he makes him a new creature causing old things to passe away and making all things become new he puts not a forme but a power of godlinesse into man he dyes the heart in graine with grace and holinesse he makes him a living man indeed for his life and power of grace for his unfained love to God for his burning zeale for God for his gracious progresse in the wayes of God for his sweet and blessed delight in God and for his full and through conformity to the will of God Christ causeth his Spirit to come upon him mightily as it came upon Sampson inabling him to overcome the Devill the world and his owne corruption as the Spirit inabled Sampson to overcome the Lyon transforming man into the Image and likenesse of God not as the Devill transformed himselfe into the Image and likenesse of Samuel remaining a Devill still but as Christ turned water into wine graciously changing the qualities of man making him of a dead a living man of proud humble of ignorant wise of obstinate soft and tender hearted of prophane holy of cold fervent of barren fruitfull of weake and impotent untoward and indisposed he makes him strong and able apt and ready to every good duty and this is the manner of Christs living in man CHAP. XXIII DOth Christ live in man Then the life of a Christian is the most noble and honourable life of all others the life of sensible creatures is more excellent then the life of vegitive creatures the life of reasonable creatures is more excellent then the life of sensible the life of man is more noble then the life of beasts but the life of spirituall and sanctified persons is more excellent then the life of reasonable creatures the life of a true Christian surpasseth the life of man as farre as the life of man surpasseth the life of beasts Saul was in stature head and shoulders above the residue of the people The life of grace is head and shoulders in dignity worth and excellency above all other lives this is the life of Christ a living of Christ in man and as Christ is infinitely more excellent then man so doth this life exceedingly transcend the life of man called the life of God in regard of the cause efficient God working it by his holy Spirit in regard of precept God commanding it in regard of approbation God accepting and approving it in regard of noblenesse and dignity as the life of God is more excellent then the life of the creature so is this life the most honourable sweetest and choysest life communicable to any creature and in regard of likenesse with God holy and gracious resemblance of God he that lives the life of man is like man participates of the nature of man he that lives the life of grace is like God is made partaker as S. Peter speaks of the divine nature not in respect of essence but in respect of holy and gracious qualities hee that lives the life of grace commeth nighest unto God participates most of Gods fulnesse and hath nearest and sweetest communion with God of all persons And this life is indeed a very honourable and noble life 1. For the Originall of it it is not from nature but from grace not from man but from the Spirit it is the Spirit that quickneth It is a beame from the brightest Sun even Christ Jesus the Son of Righteousnesse I saith Christ am the bread of life come downe from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever It is a streame from the highest and purest fountaine the Spirit of grace becoming in the soule of man a well of water springing up into everlasting life 2. In regard of the nature of it a spirituall life a life of holinesse and righteousnesse a life surpassing the life of nature as the Sun the Glo-worme as the Vine the bramble and they that live this life are said to walke in newnesse of life Having a new-birth being borne againe and having new principles and qualities put into them by the Spirit of God the Lord according to his promise putting a new heart into them their soules being renewed and changed not in substance but in qualities framed a new after God in knowledge righteousnesse and true holinesse made new creatures and leading a conversation pure and unblameable in the sight of God and that life which is most full of grace and holines is of all lives the most noble and glorious 3. In regard of the rarity of it few men live this life the whole world as S. John saith lies in wickednesse dead in sins and trespasses as the old world lay drowned in the deluge only Noah and his Family a few persons lived in the Arke it is but a little remnant one of a city and two of a Tribe as the Prophet speakes that live this life Strait is the gate and narrow is the way saith Christ which leadeth unto life and few there be that finde it A godly person is a rare jewell God dispenceth the life of grace only to his chosen Christ in the dayes of his flesh raysed not all the dead to life but onely a few one now and another then thus Christ in the day of the Gospell doth not quicken all but a few one here and another there the number of them that professe themselves Christians is indeed very great but the number of them in whom Christ lives is very small the greatest part like the Angell of the Church of Sardis having a name that they live and yet are dead the outward forme and shew of Christianity is very frequent but the life power and practise very
Christ lives there is the ioy of liberty Christ restoring life to Lazarus set him free from the grave and from the fellowship of the dead his eyes were free to see his eares to heare his tongue to speake his hands to worke and his feet to walke Christ living in man makes man free from the death of sinne from carnall fellowship with them that are dead in sinne he makes him free in his understanding to know God in his thoughts to meditate upon God in his memory to remember God and in his affections to beleeve in God to love God and to walke in the wayes of God And this liberty ministers to the soule as great a cause of rejoycing as ever Israel conceived upon their freedome from the Egyptians 4. Where Christ lives there is the ioy of victory When David came into the Israelitish army he gave them victory over Goliah and all the Philistines they all fled when Christ comes into and lives in the soule of man he overcomes Satan he dissolves his workes he casts that strong man out he subdues all the corruptions that are in man They that are Christs saith Saint Paul have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts they have gotten a blessed and honourable victory over Satan themselves and the world a victory ministring to them greater cause of rejoycing then Israel had when they gave a shout for their victory over the Philistines 5. Where Christ lives there is the ioy of regeneration adoption and sanctification Christ makes us the sonnes and daughters of God the friends and lovers of God who were aliens and enemies to God he makes us cleane who were defiled he abolisheth the character and stamp of Satan and engraves the Image of God on our soules he like a refiners fire and fullers sope puts away the spot and drosse of our sinne purifying and purging us as gold and silver that we may offer to the Lord an offering of righteousnesse And this affords us matter of greater rejoycing then Naaman had upon his being cleansed from his leprosie in Jordan Reioyce not in this saith Christ that the spirits are made subiect unto you but rather reioyce in this that your names are written in Heaven that you have a name with God that you are by adoption the children of God that you are sanctified and cleansed from your sinnes The worke of holinesse ministers more joy to Gods servants then the gift of working miracles there is more comfort ariseth from the subiugation of our corrupt affections then from having all the world put under us 6. Where Christ lives there is the ioy of riches he cannot be poore and miserable that hath Christ living in him Christ is unsearchable riches as Gideon said of Ephraim the gleanings of Ephraim are better then the vintage of Abiezâ—r so the gleanings the smallest gatherings of Christ are better then the vintage then the greatest abundance of the world Christs spirituall gifts and graces are the choisest of all riches all the riches of the world are but straw and stubble to this pearle he that hath this hath cause of holy glorying rejoycing in his wealth as the Merchant in the Parable had joy upon the finding of the precious pearle The rich man in Saint Luke having pulled downe his barnes builded them greater and filled them with worldly store bid his soule though upon weake grounds eat drinke and be merry because he had goods enough laid up for many yeares The man that hath pulled downe his lusts new built his heart and received Christ to live and dwell there may upon better grounds bid his soule eat drink and be merry for having Christ he hath a full and an abiding substance he hath treasure enough for ever 7. Where Christ lives there is the ioy of peace reconciliation and sweet communion he brings us nigh to God as Joseph brought his brethren nigh to Pharaoh he makes God a father and friend to us he causeth the face of God to shine upon us more comfortably then Sunne and filleth us with that peace which passeth all understanding and thus he makes the life of them in whom he lives a very sweet and pleasant life a life of choisest comforts a life for delights surpassing the lives of rich men Nobles Conquerours and all pleasure-hunters as the Paradise doth surpasse the wildernesse and the glorious Sunne the rotten gloe-worme But you will say if their life in whom Christ lives be such a sweet and pleasant such a joyous and comfortable life whence is it that many of them in whom Christ lives are so sad and sorrowfull and of all others many times in outward appearance the most uncomfortable livers I answer the sorrow and sadnesse of them in whom Christ lives ariseth 1. From the corruption which yet remaines in them Diseases in the body though they doe not destroy the body yet they now and then abate and hinder the comfort of bodily life Clouds in the aire though they doe not abolish the Sunne yet they hinder the light of the Sunne and darken the aire Thus corruption in them that live the life of grace though they doe not destroy and abolish this holy life yet they many times abate the comfort of it obscure and darken Christs living in man and untill they are overcome and dispelled they minister occasion of sorrow and sadnesse to the soules of Gods children causing them with David to complaine of them as of a heavy burthen and with Paul to cry out O miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death Where Christ lives there is joy because the life of grace hath there an inchoation there is sorrow because sinne hath not yet it 's compleate dissolution and perfect buriall Israel had joy in their victory over the land of Canaan they had sorrow because some Canaanites yet remained among them The children of God have much joy from their spirituall conquest though somewhat sadded by their fleshly oppositions 2. This ariseth from some particular aberrations of Gods children of which they are sometime guilty sometimes they step aside from Gods way their hearts hang loose and cleave not close to God Satan gets an advantage against them and foiles them and as so â—e great fall takes away the sence and comfort of bodily life for the present Thus Gods children through some fall doe lose the comfort of Christ living in them and are very sorrowfull as a man whose bones are broken 3. This ariseth from some violent assault of Satan God lets him loose upon them to buffet them for their humiliation for sinne past or for excitation from security for the present or for prevention for the time to come and while this temptation lasteth the joy of their spirituall life is eclipsed as the joy of a rich man is darkened while his house is besieged the joy of a City is disturbed while the siege against
and shamefull is carnall mans ignorance of Gods worship and service the carnall mans adoration is after the rules of his owne invention and not according to Gods prescription being a stranger both to Gods Gospell and faithfull people 3. An alienation from the covenants of promise the promise of the covenant of grace the promise of remission of sinne by the merit of Christ and of regeneration and renovation of heart by the efficacy of Christ belonged not to them Man remaining under the power of corruption remaines a stranger to the promise of Salvation the promise of Gods free and gracious wages belongs onely to Gods holy and gracious labourers he that regards not Gods commandement hath nothing to doe with the Promise of Gods covenant 4. An alienation from hope the of hope eternall life a hope arising from faith which they wanted Carnall mens hopes of eternall happinesse are very rotten false and groundlesse no truths but meere fancies and vaine imaginations The estate of corruption is an estate of desperation 5. Alienation from God without God Atheists in the esteeme of God That man hath nothing of God in him who doth not imbrace Christ as the authour of his salvation Every man that lives under the power of profanenesse is a very stranger to God in his way and worke of grace and holinesse First of the first of these alienations an alienation from Christ At that time yee were without Christ Wherein we have 1. The time or season of their alienation or estrangement from Christ at that time when you were in your Paganisme and profanenes when you had not the Oracles of God among you when you had not Christ preached to you when you sate in darknesse and the shadow of death without light when you lay dead in sins without the life of grace when you walked after your owne lusts and the vaine imaginations of your own hearts then ye were without Christ The time and season of mans being without the Gospell and under the power of his corruption is of all times and seasons the most unhappy and miserable it is not the time of mans trouble affliction but the time of mans being left under the power of Satan and his own lusts which is mans most wretched and accursed time it is farre better to be exercised with the greatest troubles and filled with all sorts of sorrowes then to be left under the power of profanenesse in a paradise of carnall pleasures there is more wrath in being left under the dominion of one sinne then in being put under the burthen of all afflictions 2. Here is the Subject or parties alienated ye the Gentiles before the coming of Christ and all men before their receiving of Christ by faith and love all corrupt and carnal unregenerate and unsanctified people ye without exception of whatsoever outward condition or calling All men abiding under the power of their corruption are without exception miserable no outward prerogatives and priviledges can exempt raigning profanenesse from ensuing woes and curses 3. Here is the obiect and terme of their alienation from whom they were alienated not from worldly riches earthly fullnesse humane helps and fleshly comforts they might have enough of these but they were alienated from Christ the Sun and the shield the fountaine and the treasure the paradise and the crowne of the soule of man they were without Christ they were without him ecclesiastically and ministerially Christ was not preached to them they had not the Oracles of God amongst them they had not the Ministers of Christ to instruct them they were without Christ spiritually and efficiently Christ did not enlighten and sanctifie them Christ did not communicate himselfe unto them they had nothin of Christ within them and thus are all corrupt and carnall men without Christ Shewing us That all men in their naturall and corrupt condition are altogether strangers to Christ Jesus Carnall men within the pale of the Church have Christ Ministerially preached to them in the outward ministery of his Word sacramentally offered to them in the administration of the Sacraments and ecclesiastically frequenting the sacred Assemblies and taking on them the name and profession of Christ Jesus but they have not Christ internally really and spiritually He doth not dwell within them by faith he doth not live in their soules by grace he doth not fill them with his fullnesse he doth not minister the saving gifts of his Spirit to them In this respect they are altogether strangers to Christ Jesus this is represented in the Parable of the foolish Virgins they had Lamps but no oyle Carnall men professe Christ but they have not Christ they take up the name of Christ but they have not the oyle the saving gift and grace of Christ Many professe Christ who are neither enlightned nor sanctified by Christ this alienation of man from Christ the Scripture doth illustrate by divers similitudes by the similitude of a Tree twice dead and plucked up by the roots Carnall man being originally and actually dead in sinne and participating no more of Christ then a tree pluckt up by the roots doth partake of the Earthâ— by the similitude of a withered branch Unregenerate man receiving no more of Christ then a withered branch receiveth joyce and nourishment from the tree by the similitude of an empty house in an empty house there is no dweller no implement in an ungracious soule there dwelleth no good thing neither Christ nor any saving gift dwelleth there by the similitude of an Adulteresse an adulteresse is estranged from her husband her heart is gone after strange lovers Corrupt and sinfull man is alienated from Christ the husband of his soule his heart is gone a whooring after the creature and many strange lusts by the similitude of a straying Sheepe a straying Sheepe is gone from his Shepheard and from his pastures wandering among strange flocks in the wildernesse unholy man goes astray from the wombe he hath forsaken Christ the Shepheard and the ordinances of Christ the pasture of his soule wanders in the wildernesse of the world and comes himselfe to the assemblies either of hereticall erronious superstitious or profane persons and by the similitude of a rebell a rebell is fallen from his lawfull Soveraigne and either makes himselfe his owne King or betakes himselfe unto some forraine Prince profane man rebelleth against God and Christ he magnifies and exalts himself becomes his owne Lord and commander and betakes himselfe to the Prince of darkenesse the world and his owne vile affections these he makes the Soveraignes to whom he vailes and bowes very various and open manifest and shamefull are corrupt mans alienations from Christ Jesus and such are plainely said to be estranged from the wombe and to goe astray as soone as they be borne They goe astray from God like Rebels from their Soveraigne like fugitive servants from their Lord and
Master they goe astray from Christ like wandering sheepe from their Shepheard and harlots from their husband they goe astray from the way of God like erring travellers and blinde men from their path the whole way and walke of carnall persons is a sinfull aberration from God and Christ Jesus Reigning profanenesse dissolves all communion betweene Christ and the soule of man If any man walke in darknesse and say that hee hath fellowship with Christ that man is a lyar and there is no truth in him and the Apostle testifies of such that they are a farre off farre from the life of Christ as the dead are farre from the life of nature farre from the knowledge of Christ as the blind is farre from the sight of the Sun farre from spirituall union with Christ by faith as a branch cut off is farre from naturall conjunction with the vine farre from the love of Christ as a harlot is farre from the love of her husband farre from the fulnesse of Christ as a dead member is farre from the fulnesse of the head farre from the feare and obedience of Christ as a disobedient servant is farre from the feare of his Master and far from the sweet and blessed presence of Christ as exiled Absolom was farre from the presence of his Father Davids face Very great and unhappy is the distance between Christ and all carnall persons Of such therefore the Apostle pronounceth that they are aliens and enemies by their evill works not onely aliens but also enemies The very whole of corrupt and carnall persons is an opposition against God and the Lord Jesus The gate of their hearts is â—hut against Christ their whole way a very contradiction of Christ CHAP. II. Laying downe foure grounds of carnall Mans Alienation from Christ THe Alienation of corrupt and sinfull men from Christ is very apparant and manifest 1. In regard of corrupt and carnall mans plenary and totall subiection under sinne The Scripture saith Paul hath concluded all under sinne All men and all the services of men in their unregenerate estate are concluded demonstrated and determined by the Scripture to be under sinne under the plenary possession of sinne as a house is under the possession of the dweller The whole house and all the roomes thereof are possessed and ordered by the dweller the whole of a corrupt and carnall man all the faculties of his soule and all the members of his body are possessed and ordered by sinne under the dominion of sinne as a servant under the dominion of his Lord and a dead man under the dominion of death therefore stiled the servants of corruption and dead in sinnes and trespasses Under the captivity of sinne as a slave under the command of the Conquerour as voluntary slaves borne under the bondage of corruption ignorant of and despising Christian freedome Under the love of sinne as an Adulterer is under the love of the harlot The young man in Salomon was under the power of the whorish woman she caused him to yeeld with her faire speech and forced him with the flattering of her lips and he went after her as an Oxe to the slaughter and as a foole to the correction of the stocks The corrupt and vicious man is under the power of his lusts he yeeldeth to them is led by them followes after them and fulfils the will of his flesh as an Adulterer the will of the harlot and also under the guilt and condemnation of sinne as a guilty convicted and condemned malefactor is under the sentence of the Law to dye and carnall man being thus under sinne he cannot be under Christ fulnesse of subjection under sinne annihilates Christs gracious dominion in the soule of man The more man applyes himselfe to his lust the more he is estranged from Christ He that is the friend and servant of sinne is an enemy and opposer of Christ The fulnesse of sinne leaves no roome for Christ in the heart of meere naturall and corrupt man 2. In regard of carnall mans uncapablenesse of Christ The kingdome of Israel was uncapable of David untill Saul and his house was deposed The soule of man is uncapable of Christ untill sinne is deposed There is no setting up of Christ and his Kingdome as long as sinne doth beare dominion Alexander told Darius that the world was uncapable of two Sunnes and Asia could not endure two Kings Christ will not divide his Kingdome with mans corruption the soule is not at once capable of the Kingdome and dominion of Christ and of sinne If the one reigne the other must fall there is no competition between Christ and an unregenerate heart The Fort of Sion was uncapable of David untill the blind and lame were removed The heart of man is a Fort uncapable of Christ untill the blindnesse of the understanding and the lamenesse of the affections are removed and taken away Such is the blindnesse of carnall mans understanding that he is uncapable of the knowledge of Christ as the blinde eye is uncapable of the Sun The light saith the Evangelist shineth in the darknesse and the darkenesse comprehendeth it not The Egyptians darknesse was so thicke that it comprehended not the light which shined thereupon Such is the darkenesse of unregenerate mans understanding that it comprehends not the Sun of Righteousnesse shining in the Gospell The naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned The carnall mans heart is so wedded to the world and his lusts that as a woman joyned in wedlocke is uncapable of a second husband untill her former husband is dead so is man uncapable of Christ he cannot receive Christ as the husband of his soule untill his lusts are mortified and put to death Such is the infidelity of corrupt man that as Ieroboam could make no use of his withered hand he could neither put it forth nor pull it in no more can carnall man make any use of faith he cannot put it forth to the receiving and embracing of Christ and because of unbeliefe when Christ came among his owne his owne received him not and such is their death in sinne that as the dead are uncapable of the voice of the living they heare it not of the society of the living they rejoyce not in it and of all feasts and provision made for them by the living they feed not upon it Thus are they uncapable of Christ they cannot heare him speake to them in the Gospell they have no communion nor fellowship with him they feed not upon him He is a hidden Manna of whom they taste not and a sealed Well of whom they drinke not There is no sutablenesse betweene their soules and Christ all his Ordinances are unto them as an empty vessell they savingly partake of nothing of Christ in
them 3. In regard of that full possession which the world hath taken in corrupt and carnall man The Inne where Christ was borne was so full that there was no roome for Christ but in a manger The hearts of earthly men are so taken up with the world so filled with the creature that there is no roome for Christ carnall persons give every worldly businesse preheminence above the Lord Jesus The world affoords Christ a very dishonourable entertainment unholy men are in such subiection under the creature that they cannot serve Christ He that serves the creature cannot have Christ for his Lord and Master ye cannot serve God and Mammon saith our Saviour the world hath so many imployments for them that they have no leisure to come to Christ their inclination to things earthly is so strong that they cannot come at Christs invitation they are so wedded to this that they cannot come to the wedding feast which Christ makes for his friends and Spouse in the Gospell Or if they doe come they bring no wedding garment with them and therefore are unwelcome The creature is so glorious in their eyes that they see no glory nor beauty in Christ for which they should desire him Or if they have some weake and low apprehensions of Christ some slender inclinations after Christ now and then stirred up within them yet the price of enjoying Christ is so great that rather then leave the world they will goe away sorrowfull It is impossible that the soule of man can receive Christ untill it is emptied of the world Christ never appeares glorious and precious till the world appeares base in our apprehensions When the world becomes bitter to our palates then our soules relish much sweetnesse in Christ Jesus 4. In regard of the repugnancy of a carnall mans heart against Christ There is no answerablenesse no sutablenesse between Christ and an unsanctified heart the unregenerate soule is full of antipathy and opposition against Christ The house of Saul opposed the house of David the house and family all that is in a corrupt and carnall man doth oppose Christ in his Ordinances in his Offices and in his operations As darkenesse opposeth light sicknesse health and death life so doth corruption in sinfull man oppose Christ The carnall minde or wisedome of the flesh the counsell discourse reason purposes desires motions and all the actions of carnall wisedome the very Principles and beginnings of them in unregenerate man with all the lusts and afections of the will as anger wrath envy covetousnesse pride emulation c. are all enmity against God set in full and perpetuall opposition against God and Christ the very whole of a carnall man is an armed and fighting enemy against God it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be loving that which Christ hateth hating that which Christ loveth practising that which Christ forbiddeth and eschewing that which Christ commandeth The carnall man like an untamed Haifer breakes Christs yoake and casts away his cords The man in the countrey of the Gadarens possessed with an uncleane spirit mentioned in the Gospell was so fierce that no man could binde him He plucked asunder the chaines which were put upon him and brake in pieces the fetters which tyed him so that no man could tame him Corrupt and carnall man is possessed with such a spirit of uncleannesse and power of prophanenesse that he breakes asunder all the chaines and fetters all the Lawes and precepts which God hath given to binde him his lusts are so rebellious and unruly that no man can tame him the Leviathan laughs at the speare and cares not for barbed irons the horse mocketh at feare and is not affrighted neither turneth backe from the sword the carnall man laughs at the judgements denounced against him he feares not the word of God though sharper then a two-edged sword No exhortation moves him no invitation affects him all instruction is but as the sounding of a trumpet to the deafe and the setting of a candle before the eyes of the blinde Nothing can worke him to subjection under Christs Scepter till God makes him a new creature Every unregenerate person is unchangeable in his opposition against Heaven Very great is the distance between Christ Jesus and carnall persons There is not a greater Antipathy between fire and water then between Christ and prophane mans corrupt nature and thus you see mans Alienation from Christ in his corrupt and sinfull estate CHAP. III. Setting open the dolefulnesse and danger of Mans estate without Christ MAns Alienation and estrangement from Christ declares and layes open the misery and wretchednesse the danger and dolefulnesse of mans estate and condition by nature a condition in which he is without Christ and to be without the Lord Jesus is the misery of all miseries It is not the man that is without the crowne of worldly dignities to honour him without the treasury of earthly abundance to enrich him without the sensuall and seeming paradise of carnall pleasures to delight him or without the presence and countenance of fleshly friends to solace him but it is the man that is without Christ who is of all men the most miserable The estate of Israel without the Arke was very uncomfortable their glory was departed the wife of Phineas tooke no comfort in the birth of a sonne the ordinary joy of Mothers The condition of man without Christ is very dolefull his glory is departed from him all that man hath not having Christ with it is but an Ichobod there is no glory in it For man that is without Christ is 1. Without Life The woman of Shunems sonne was without life untill the Prophet came and spread himselfe upon him Man is without the life of grace alienated from the life of God untill Christ comes and applyes himselfe to the soule of man For Christ is our Life Declaratively he reveales it meritoriously he hath purchased it originally and efficiently he communicates it as the head communicates life unto the members Christ Jesus is the dispencer of the life of grace and glory to all Gods faithfull servants and he that hath not the Sonne hath not life saith Saint John He that hath not the Sonne by cleare and saving knowledge as the eye hath the Sun in the Firmament enlightening and guiding by true and lively Faith as the living branch hath the Vine by incorporation into it by receiving juice and nourishment from it by fervent and unfained Love as the wife hath the husband by wedlocke with him by matrimoniall affection to him and by holy and humble subiection as the Subject hath the King by vailing and bowing to him He who thus hath not the Sonne he hath not life his soule is not spiritually quickned Christ not living in him spirituall death beares dominion over him He is dead saith S. Paul in sins and trespasses A Tree
no mixture or glimpse of spirituall light Very sad and sorrowfull is that soules darkenesse which is estranged from the Sunne of Righteousnesse 3. Man that is without Christ is without grace without holinesse Naaman without Jordan was overspread with a lothsome leprosie there is a very filthy leprosie of uncleannesse upon them that partake not of Christ For Christ as the Apostle saith is our Sanctification effectively as the worker of it originally as the head and spring from whence it is derived without whom our soules are as empty of grace as the cisterne of water without the fountaine as full of errour superstition pride and prophanenesse as Baals house of Idolaters as full of earthly mindednesse and covetous practises as the sluggards field of thornes and bryars as full of hypocrisie deceitfulnesse and unrighteousnesse as the Pharisees Sepulchers of dead mens bones or the Temple of money-changers before Christ whipt them out Our soules are indeed a very sinke of uncleannesse untill Christ doth possesse us 4. Man that is without Christ is without Liberty Peter without the Angell continued in Herods prison without the Lord Jesus man remaines the prisoner of Satan the world and his owne corrupt affections Every unregenerate man is a miserable bond-man led away captive at the will of Satan unable to make any resistance against him a voluntary slave refusing liberty tendred to him loving darkenesse more then light and Satans prison better then Christs Palace having no liberty in his understanding to discerne the things of God in his imagination to meditate and thinke upon them in his will to chuse them or in his affections to love prize and delight himselfe in them The Liberty of the soule estranged from Christ Jesus is nothing else but bondage He that is most free to sinne is the greatest slave to Satan where Christ is not there is no Life quickning there is no Sunne enlightening there is no Conquerour dissolving the holds of Satan there is no dew suppling and softening the hard and fallow ground of mans heart There is no fire warming the cold and frozen affections and therefore no liberty from corruption no inclination to the wayes and works of sanctification It is only Christ Jesus that ministers to the soules of Gods servants freedome from uncleannesse and liberty to true holinesse 5. Man that is without Christ is without acceptation with God Christ is Gods beloved in whom man is accepted Man that is out of Christ beares not Gods Image is not Gods gracious workmanship is estranged from Gods Covenant hath no love of God within him is the slave of Satan the servant of the world and a very sinke of corruption He is no Tree of Righteousnesse of Gods planting no childe of Gods begetting no loyall Subject of Gods Kingdome no vessell of Gods gracious filling no partaker of Christs Righteousnesse to cloath and cover him he brings forth no fruit to God but all to himselfe to the flesh and to the world and therefore can have no aceptation with God Joseph his brethren might not looke him in the face unlesse they brought their brother Benjamin with them Man cannot looke God in the face with my confidence or acceptance unlesse he bring Christ with him in the armes of his faith Mans person and service finds acceptance with God only in and through Christ Jesus without Christ man is stubble and God a consuming fire to destroy him Man is a guilty malefactor and God a severe Judge to condemne him the whole of man without Christ Jesus is a very abomination in Gods presence 6. Man that is without Christ is without Contentation In Christ the soule meets with all satisfaction and fulnesse He is a Sun in whom the beleeving soule beholds all fulnesse of light a precious Iewell in whom he finds all fulnesse of worth a rocke in whom he feeles all fulnesse of strength a fountaine from whom he drawes all fulnesse of satisfaction and a Paradise in whom he enjoyes all fulnesse of pleasures but without Christ the soule finds vanity and emptinesse in the greatest abundance the wife findeth an emptinesse in a rich and full house the husband being absent Christ wanting the soule meets with vanity in the largest possession Christ is the marrow and the fâ—tnesse the fulnesse and the sweetnesse of all our endowments separate Christ from them and they are bitter and doe not please us weake and doe not sustaine us empty and doe not fill us dumbe and doe not comfort us It is not the abundance of any thing but Christ comming with it that gives contentation whether the thing be much or little Without Christ the desire is enlarged as hell and never satisfied the Lord Jesus is the choise and onely fulnesse of all Christians 7. Man without Christ is without all spirituall splendor and beauty The Sunne is the glory of the world the eye is the glory of the head the soule of the body the jewell is the glory of the Ring the Flowers Herbs Trees and Fruit are the glory of the Garden and the Field the Arke was the glory of Israel and Christ is the glory of the Christian stiled the light of the Gentiles and the glory of Israel being both the Author and the matter of their glory Their glory in respect of instruction as the teacher is the glory of the Schoole in respect of vivification as the soule is the glory of the body in respect of Redemption as the ransomer is the glory of the captive in respect of Conquest as David was the glory of Israel overcomming the great Goliah in respect of Justification as the garment is the glory of him that weares it in respect of Sanctification as Jordan was the glory of Naaman cleansing him from his leprosie in respect of repletion as the fountaine is the glory of the cisterne and in respect of wise and powerfull gubernation gracious and plentifull ministration as the King is the glory of the Kingdome the shepheard of the flocke and as Joseph was the glory of the Land of Egypt ministring provision to it He that partakes most of Christ Jesus is the most beautifull and glorious of all others but man without Christ is without all spirituall beauty in regard of ignorance as a darke house without light even darkenesse it selfe in regard of nakednesse as a man without a garment naked miserable and wretched having no other cloathing then a menstrous clout to cover him led by Satan like Egypt by the Assyrians naked barefoot his buttockes yea the whole man uncovered in regard of spirituall contagion and foul-sicknes his soule like the body of Lazarus full of sores or like the body of Job full of sore boiles from the sole of his foot unto his crowne loathsome and incurable are the soules-maladies which hath not Christ as a Physitian to heale him in regard of the plenitude and fulnesse of all sinne like the sluggards field in Salomon full of
as a dweller by his generall and common influence as a root in the branches ministring preservation to all creatures and by his Ordinances and Prophets as a teacher in his Schoole yea he came among his owne among the Iewes by incarnation in the visible â—orme of a man but the world neither knew him nor his own received him they know not the necessity of Christ the men of the old world knew not the necessity of the Arke untill it was too late and therefore they entred not into it The Elders of Gilead at first knew not their necessity of Iepâ—ta and therefore expelled him out of his Fathers House Mens ignorance of the necessity of Christ makes them regardlesse of getting interest in Christ and causeth them profanely to reject Christ they know not the worth and excellency of Christ and therefore they set the empty things of the world above Christ as the Philistines set Dagon above the Arke and Esau preferred a messe of pottage above his birth-right they know not the holy and gracious dispensations of Christ and therefore they preferre the ministrations of the Earth above the ministrations of Christ as the men of Shechem prefâ—rred the bramble above the Vine They know not the Alsufficiency and fullnesse of Christ and therefore they exalt the creature a vaine and empty thing above Christ as Israel in the Prophet preferred the broken cisterne above the living fountaine They know not the sweetnesse and pleasantnesse of the face and love of Christ and therfore they prize the love and favour of the world above the love of Christ as Harlots sometimes doe the love of base and deformed strangers above the love of their owne honourable and comely Husbands Christ is never precious in the eyes of such persons as are under the power of spirituall blindnesse 2. Men being without Christ doe not taste the sweetnesse and goodnesse of Christ he doth not relish well with their palates He is not sweet and savoury to their soules they have not tasted how good Christ is there is a goodnesse of illumination of regeneration sanctification spirituall freedome consolation contentation and pacification flowing from Christ to the soules of men which to carnall men is a sealed well whose waters their palates never tasted an ecclipsed Starre with whose light their eye was never affected they taste not the sweetnesse of Christ in the illumination of their understandings as the eye tastes the sweetnesse of the light Christ is not sweet to them in his ordinances as the Master of the Feast to the guest in his dainties these are not to them a feast of marrow of fat things and of wine well refined upon the lees for the delight and refreshment comfort and contentment which they minister Christ is not sweet to them in his Ministers as a mercifull King in his Embassadours bringing tidings of peace to the people Christ is not sweet to them in his gracious distillations as the cloud in the raine is sweet unto the dry earth They cannot say of Christ as the Spouse did As the Apple-tree among the Trees of the wood so is my Beloved among the sonnes I sate downe under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my tast Nothing savours well with their palates but things carnall and worldly to them the bread of deceit and stolne waters are sweet but they savour not the things of God Barzillai excused himselfe from going to Davids house from eating of Davids meat because he could not tast what he did eat or what he did drinke nor could heare any more the voyce of singing men or of singing women Carnall men decline the House of God and the Feast which Christ there maketh because they cannot tast the things of God nor heare the spirituall melody which Christ there makes to the soules of his servants Mens not tasting of Christ in his ordinances and in his graces makes him of no esteem with their soules 3. Men being without Christ have no love to Christ he is not the fairest of ten thousand in their eyes they love not the Lord Jesus as the Bridegroome to whom their soules are married as the choisest pearle by whom they are enriched as the son of consolation with whose beames their soules are comforted as the fountain by whom their hearts are refreshed and their desires every way satisfied Their love to Christ is not like the love of Jonathan to David a love wonderfull and passing the love of women there is no sutablenesse betweene Christ and their soules as between the hearts of lovers they meditate not upon Christ as lovers upon their love they delight not themselves in Christ as the rich-man in the treasure and the bride in the bridegroome which they love their hearts and their thoughts are upon the world and not upon Christ they love the world and the love of Christ is not in them and where love to Christ is wanting Christ is of no estimation he will put himselfe upon no service nor undergoe no difficulties for Christ who is destitute of love to Christ Mans prizing of Christ is ever sutable to the love of man towards Christ hee that hath great love to Christ will doe great things for Christ he that hath no love to him will give every base thing preheminence above him 4. Men being without Christ take no pleasure in Christ they doe not delight themselves in Christ diseased eyes have no pleasure in the Sun distempered palates have no pleasure in the choysest wine Christ is a trouble to men that are corrupt and carnall as the Starre was to Herod and the men of Hierusalem Christ is a very great crosse and trouble to their corruptions he fals heavy upon them they cannot stand before him no more then Dagon before the Arke and therfore Christ is a great offence to them as the Ark to the Philistines Christ is not to them a plaine and pleasant way they cannot according to the Apostles phrase walke in Christ by believing Christs Promises by obeying Christs Precepts by conforming themselves to Christs Example with fulnesse and chearfulnesse as a Travellor walks fully and joyfully in a plain and pleasant path they cannot walk in the light of Christ as a man walks joyfully in the light of the Sun in the strength of Christ as the Rider moves speedily in the strength of the Horse which carries him as the Ship rows in the strength of the wind which drives him and the Prophet walked to Mount Horeb in the strength of the Barly cake which fed him they cannot walk in the love of Christ as Jacob walked thorough his service in the love of Rachel Christ and his way and worke is not thus pleasant to them they can no more walk in Christ then David could in Sauls armour they doe no sooner try it but they are presently weary of it We cannot say of them and
Christ as David did of Saul and Jonathan They were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their death they were not divided they were swifter then the Eagles they were stronger then Lyons No they take no pleasure in Christ in their lives and they are divided from Christ in their deaths the way of Christ is to them a way of thornes they move slowly in Christs service like Pharaohs Chariots without wheels the waters of Gods wrath overwhelming them at the last Christ is to them a rocke of offence and a stone of stumbling to beleevers he is an elect and precious stone for his great worth in himsâ—lfe the price they put upon him the enrichment they receive from him a living stone quickning them a stone of strength supporting them but to other men thorough their infidelity pride and profane refusall he is a stone of offence they have no delight in his Doctrine they are offended in him they guash their teeth at him they thinke dishonourably of him in his offices in his ordinances in his Ministers and in his attendants Under the Law if a man delighted not in his wife he gave her a bill of divorce The man under the Gospell that takes no delight in Christ divorceth himselfe from Christ observes not his Covenant with-draws himselfe from Christ puts no more price upon him hath no better esteeme of him then a hard hearted Israelite of his divorced wife Man doth ever evidence his high esteeme of Christ by his pleasure delight and joy in Christ He that doth not rejoyce in him puts a very unworthy price upon him 5. Men being without Christ have no longing after Christ it is the having of Christ in measure and in truth that breeds fervent and unfained longings after Christ no man more desires Christ then he that enjoyes most of Christ No man so contents himselfe without Christ as he that never savingly enjoyed any thing of Christ he that never knew what liberty was is well pleased with a servile estate he that never saw the Sun pleases himselfe in darknesse man that never discerned the beauty and brightnesse of the Son of Righteousnesse that never knew the liberty and comforts which Christ ministers pleaseth himself in his spirituall bondage applauds himselfe in his blindnesse and ignorance and saith with them in Job Depart from us we care not for the knowledge of thy wayes He doth not long after Christ as David after the waters of Bethell he doth not cry for Christ as Rachel did for children he thinkes like Esau in another case that he hath enough already he imagineth that he is rich and full and wants nothing the soul that is wholy estranged from Christ is farre from longing after Christ the Disciples did first eat of the bread which Christ gave them and then they cryed Lord give us evermore of this bread It is mans tast of Christ mans feeding upon Christ that makes him long after Christ The experience which the Spouse in Salomon had of the bridegroomes love moved her to intreat the kisses of his mouth Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for thy love is better then wine Christians are first Passive and then Active in their love to Christ-ward love like the heat of the Sun first descends and then it ascends Christs love to us begets our love to him Christs love was first over the Spouse as a Banner and then she was sicke of love to him Lazarus lay fast in the grave the Earth was his bed his palace his resting place and all in all till Christ raysed him Man lyes fast in the grave of sin the world the Earth the things here below are his bed his palace his Paradise he minds nothing els till Christ doth quicken him The strange woman in Salomons Song marvelled what Christ the Churches Beloved was they mused why she should be sick of love toward him why she made such great inquiry after him Carnall men thinke Gods people besides themselves in being so earnest after Christ so zealous for Christ they marvell why they are so inquisitive in their hearings prayers fastings meditations and conferences after Christ Jesus they wonder what Christ is more then any other Beloved as gold silver honours pleasures having no love nor longings in themselves after Christ they muse at the love and longings of others and as they long not after him they put no price upon him shew no respect to him but set him with David behind the Ewes give him the least and lowest yea even no roome at all in their hearts Christ is of no esteem with man untill he comes within man and makes the soul of man his gracious habitation CHAP. V. Opening the folly of man in retaining his sinne and contenting himselfe without Christ. 4. THe meditation of mans estrangement from Christ in his naturall and corrupt estate opens the exceeding great folly of man in being loath to change his corrupt estate to put off the old man as unwilling to forsake his carnall condition as Micah his Idoll though this separate and keepe him from Christ make him uncapable of Christ exclude him from all claime and title to Christ and this is the folly of all follies to retaine any thing which may exclude man from Christ or hinder mans fruition and enjoyment of Christ he that by retaining his sin keeps himself from Christ abides in darknes and chooseth darknes rather then light sicknesse rather then health bondage rather then liberty famin rather than fulnes woes and miseries rather than joyes and comforts curses rather than blessings basenes rather than honour the leprosie rather then beauty what shall I say death rather than life hell rather than heaven and evelasting consortship with the Divell in endlesse burnings rather than communion with God and Christ in everlasting rejoycings Men are easily perswaded to leave sicknes for health darknes for light straw for pearls thraldome for liberty the tempest for a calme c. But men are uneasily perswaded to leave their sin for Christ to deny themselves and forsake the world for Christ as Elisha left his friends and his yoakes of Oxen to follow Elijah This is a perswasion beyond the Rhetorick Art and Eloquence of man and Angell yea of Christ himselfe as he was man and a Minister of the Gospell for thus may you here him in the dayes of his flesh expostulating and pleading with reproving and upbraiding the men of Jerusalem O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered you together even as a Hen doth gather her Chickens under her wings and you would not and again you may behold him weeping over that City and saying O that thou hadst known in this thy day the things belonging to thy peace but now they are hidden from thine eyes And of old also may you heare him complayning in the
the fountain He that is not of Christ by a holy and gracious Originall cannot sincerely intend Christ but himselfe in his undertaking and he that lookes not beyond himself hath nothing of Christ within him he hath no principle root nor spring of grace in his heart Were he a tree of Christs planting he would bring forth his fruit to Christ Were he a child of Christs begetting he would encline and moove towards Christ in his affection he would primarily intend Christ in all his doing as the Rivers comming from the Sea returne and empty themselves into the Sea thus they who are of Christ returne and empty themselves into Christ doe all for Christ for the filling up and making of Christ glorious he that confines himselfe within himself hath no love of Christ within him Jonathans love to David caused him to strip himselfe for David love to Christ will make a man as occasion requires strip himselfe of all his honour favour among men and earthly riches for Christ according to the measure of mans love to Christ are his manifestations of himselfe for Christ For love seeketh not her owne He that loves Christ will abase himselfe for Christ put himselfe and all that is his under the feet of Christ he that seeks himself that terminates his thoughts within the circumference of his owne flesh hath a very low and base spirit Christs Spirit which is a Spirit of power a Spirit of magnanimity and courage a Spirit of glory a most glorious and excellent Spirit doth not rest upon him He that minds himselfe and his owne ends hath no cleare apprehension and comfortable discerning of Christ and his beauties he that minds straw and stubble doth not discerne the worth of gold silver and precious stones such a man hath no faith in Christ he takes not Christ unto himselfe to be the rock on which he buildeth the Councellour by whom he will be guided the King to whom he will be subject and the husband to whom he joynes his soule in wedlocke he hath not this faith in Christ for as man by faith receiveth Christ to save him so he gives himselfe againe to Christ to love and serve him to intend and honor Christ above himself and every creature and thus man minding and intending himselfe demonstrates his alienation from Christ When man in the doing of workes of mercy blows a Trumpet seekes himselfe and his owne applause among men and in the performance of the duties of piety stands praying in the corners of the Street hunts after the praise of men when a man with the Pharisees doth what he doth to be seene of men or with Saul to be honoured before the people When man in his ordinary and common imployments seeks his own things and not the things which are Christs he declares himselfe to be a stranger unto Christ 4. By mans fullnesse of himselfe Self-fullnesse ever inferres an emptinesse of Christ he that is filled with himselfe is empty of Christ There is a foure-fold fullnesse which argues an utter emptinesse of Christ in man 1. Self-fullnesse which is a high opinion of mans selfe a conceit of sufficiency in himselfe ambitious thoughts of fullnesse enough at home in the House of mans own heart which our Saviour termes a trusting in a mans self Mans leaning upon his owne arme to sustain him upon his own righteousnesse to justifie him upon his owne ability to doe all things for himselfe this the Prophet cals a being wise in mans owne eyes man taking upon him to be his own guide his owne instructor and counsellour this was an unhappy adjunct of the Laodicaean Angell rich full and wanting nothing not knowing that he was poore blind naked miserable and wretched Hee that hath highest thoughts of his owne fullnesse is most empty of Christ Jesus the rich saith Luke are sent empty away the rich they who in their owne eye are full of wisdome to guide themselves full of power to correct themselves full of righteousnesse to justifie themselves full of worth to obtaine every good thing at the hands of God for themselves these are sent empty away empty of Christ empty of all saving knowledge lively faith fervent love and of every good gift and blessing which commeth by Christ Self-fullnesse disables man to discerne any beauty or worth in Christ the Pharisees were great self-admirers very deeply guilty of self-fullnesse and they had very low opinions of Christ Self-fullnesse disables the soule to taste any sweetnesse in Christ The full stomacke loatheth the honey combe This makes man uncapable of Christ the full vessell is uncapable of other liquor the man that is full of himselfe cannot receive Christ there is no roome in their hearts to entertaine Christ Christ came among his owne a generation of men fulâ— of the thoughts of self-sufficiency dreaming of fullnesse enough at home in themselves ignorant and unsensible of their necessity of Christ and therfore they received him not 2. There is a fullnesse of sinne which argues an emptinesse of Christ there is no competition betweene the fullnesse of sinne and Christ in the soule of man If sin have the possession Christ hath no dominion David did not reigne untill Saul was deposed there must be a deposition of sin before Christ can reigne in the heart of man there is no sutablenesse betweene Christ and a heart full of sin Christ will not dwell in a soule so sordid and defiled with sinne he abhorres all fellowship and communion with uncleane and vicious people he delights in none but in them that excell in vertue the Sun shines not where the house is full of darknesse the physick works not where the body remaines full of diseases the Husbandman sows not where the field is full of thornes and bryars Christ shines not into that soule workes not upon that heart which is full of ignorance earthlinesse infidelity and spirituall maladies Such as are full of sin as Naaman was full of leprosie as the Pharisees Sepulchers were full of dead mens bones are farre from Christ it is a thing altogether vaine and fruitlesse once to mention or name the Name of the Lord Jesus unlesse there be a departure from ungodlinesse 3. There is a fullnesse of man which argues an emptinesse of Christ Many are so addicted unto man their hearts and thoughts are so taken up with man that there is no entertainment for Christ in them their soules are so possessed by man that Christ hath no possession in them some are so devoted to the service of man that they cannot serve Christ contrary to the charge of the Apostle They make themselves the servants of men not the civill but the prophane and sinfull servants of men they exalt and set up man above Christ as the Philistines did set Dagon above the Arke they study man more then they study Christ
the Israelites rejoyced in the Arke not in the Lord and vaine men rejoyce in man in the presence of man in the ability favour power and helpe of man and not in Christ Thus among the men of Corinth One said J am of Paul and another I am of Apollo looking with a humane eye upon and glorying after a carnall manner in those holy Messengers of God even idolizing and abusing the appointed instruments of their salvation robbing Christ of his glory by an inordinate dependance upon and glorying in the Messengers of Christ ascribing that to them which was proper unto Christ exalting them into the very roome of Christ so glorying in them that Christ was not glorious in their apprehension the carnall overvaluing of the instruments is a shamefull undervaluing of the Lord Jesus Hee that doth not according to the expression of the Prophet cease from man from the wisdome and counsell devise and invention art and ability of man sees little or nothing of Christ hath no comfort nor joy in Christ he that doth not cease from dependance upon man from glorying and pleasing himselfe in man from resting upon the authority of man in matter of spirituall instruction is very ignorant of Christ a meere stranger to Christ Christ ever proves uncomfortable to them whose rejoycings are in man 4. There is a fullnesse of the world which argueth an emptinesse of Christ in the soule of man The Inne where Christ was borne was so full of guests that there was no roome for Christ but in a manger a dishonourable lodging for such a glorious guest in the heart which is filled with the world there is no roome for Christ Worldly minded men give a very unworthy entertainment unto Christ the world so blinds them that they cannot discerne the beauty worth and excellency of Christ any more then an eye full of dust can discerne the brightnesse and beauty of the Sunne they see no comelinesse in Christ for which they should desire him this so fils their hearts that they are uncapable of spirituall instruction as thorns and bryars make the field uncapable of seed this beares such authority and dominion within them that they cannot vaile and bow to Christ they cannot take Christs yoake upon them they cannot set themselves about Christs worke any more then a servant can put himselfe from his Masters service into another mans worke No man saith Christ can serve two Masters no man can be the servant of God and Mammon this so alienates the heart of a man from Christ drawes the soule of man into such spirituall fornication that man can no more love Christ then a harlot can love her husband for if any man saith Saint John love the world the love of the Father is not in that man And the love of the world saith St. James is enmity with God This doth so take up the thought care study delight strength labour time and the very whole of man and doth so fetter and bind him fasten and encline him to things here below that with the invited guests in the Parable he cannot come to Christ he cannot imbrace Christ he cannot attend on Christ he cannot marry his soule to Christ this doth so distemper their palates that they cannot relish Christ The flesh-pots of Aegypt were so savoury to the Israelites that they could not long relish their Manna Christ is a distastfull dish where the world is a sweet feast this fils the heart of man with dishonourable thoughts of Christ The over-prizing of the world is the under-prizing of Christ Hee can never apprehend Christ as all in all that doth not apprehend the world as nothing the young mans over-prizing the world caused his departure from Christ the lovers of the world are very inconstant in their following of Christ if Christ and the world will not stand together Christ is soone forsaken the world alone hath their attendance service and affection So that Christ hath no spirituall and gracious being where the world hath such full possession And these foure sorts of fulnesse in man are so many cleare demonstrations of Christs estrangement from man 5. By mans spirituall emptinesse He that is empty of Christ is without Christ the Cisterne which is empty of water is without the fountaine hee that is empty of grace is without Christ the authour and fountain of grace he that is without the life of Christ who hath not Christ living in him as the root in the branches graciously enlivening him as the soule doth naturally enliven the body endowing him with spirituall principles of holy and gracious life enabling him like a living man to feele his sin as a living man his disease to rise up from the world as a living man ariseth from the Earth to feed upon the Ordinances of God as a living man upon the food which is set before him to walke in the wayes of God as a living man doth move and walke in an earthly way to follow Christ in attending his Ordinances in beleeving his Promises in obeying his precepts as Lazarus followed Christ when he had raised him from death to life he that hath not Christ thus living in him thus framing and disposing him to live to God to consecrate himselfe to Gods service to conforme himselfe to Gods precepts to intend God and his glory To live as the Apostle saith godly in Christ Jesus in Christ enlivenining him and according to Christs prescription He that doth not thus live is without Christ 2. He that is empty of the knowledge of Christ is without Christ the eye which is empty of the light of the Sun is without the Sun the soule which is empty of spirituall and heavenly light is without the Sun of Righteousnesse he that doth not know Christ as a Prophet instructing him and making him wise unto salvation as a Priest sanctifying and purging him from his corruption as a King bearing spirituall dominion within him bringing his whole man into a holy and humble subjection he that doth not know the death of Christ in the crucifying of his affections the resurrection of Christ in the rising of his soule to seeke the things which are above the power of Christ in working his heart from obstinacy and hardnesse from captivity and bondage from pride and haughtinesse to softnesse and tendernesse to liberty and freedome and to humility and meeknesse He that doth not know the beauties of Christ ravishing his soule with joy and delight in him the love of Christ in being espoused to Christ the worth and excellency of Christ in accounting all but dung and drosse in comparison of Christ and the fullnesse of Christ in feeling and finding all contentation in Christ he that doth not thus know Christ is without Christ in Christ are hidden all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom and he that hath Christ is full of spirituall knowledge as
the Sea of waters 3. He that is empty of the power of Christ is without Christ When the body is empty of the power of the soule the soule is departed from it become a stranger to it thus when man is altogether empty of the spirituall and heavenly power of Christ then is man without Christ a meere stranger to Christ all they that are partakers of Christ have experience of the power of Christ in casting downe the strong and mighty holds of sin in their soules in humbling their hearts in bringing the thoughts of their hearts into the obedience of Christ in overcomming and casting Satâ—n out of their hearts in sanctifying and cleansing their soules in perswading them to beleeve and lay hold upon the promise of life in pacifying and quieting their perplexed consciences in making them able to endure afflictions and in causing them to grow and encrease in all heavenly graces He therefore that hath not experience of this power of Christ in the casting down of the holds of sinne as Israel had experience of the power of the Lord in casting down the wals of Jericho at the blowing of the trumpets he that feeles not this power of Christ in making him victorious over Satan as the man in the Gospell had experience of Christs power in casting the uncleane spirit out of him He that doth not discerne Christ powerfull in sanctifying him as Naaman disâ—rned the vertue of Jordan in purging his Leprosie from him and the lame man discerned the power of the Angell in Bethesda healing him He that knowes not the efficacy of Christ in perswading him to beleeve in reconciling him to God as Josephs brethren discerned the esticacy of his Intercession with the King of Aegypt for them Hee that perceives not Christ pacifying his troubled spirit binding up his broken heart and healing his wounded conscience as the Disciples felt the power of Christ calming the stormy tempest and the wounded man in the Parable felt the Samaritan powring wine and oyle into his wounds and binding up the same He that discerns not Christ strengthning and sustaining him in temptations and tryals as the Arke bare up Noah in the deluge he that feeles not Christ comming downe upon his soule like raine upon the mowen grasse and as showers that water the Earth making him fruitfull in every good gift and grace he that is empty of these powerfull and mighty ministrations of Christ is without Christ under the power of his corruption in his naturall and carnall condition 4. He that is empty of the Liberty which Christ ministreth is without Christ he that doth not feele Christ freeing him from the death of sin as the woman of Shunems son felt the Prophet freeing him from bodily death his flesh waxing warme and his eyes opening freeing him from the thraldome and imbondagement of sin as Peter felt the Angell freeing him from his fetters and Herods prison freeing him from the servitude of the world as Israel discerned Moses freeing them from the servitude of Aegypt freeing their understandings from ignorance as the Sun freeth the ayre from darknesse freeing their wils from perversenesse their thoughts from vanity and their aâ—fections from coldnesse and deadnesse as the fire freeth the house from cold and filleth it with heat making the whole man free to know beleeve love and rejoyce in God as the cleare eye is free to see the Brides heart is free to love the Bridegroome and the Sun free to run the race which is set him Hee that is a stranger to this freedome remaining a captive under the power of his lusts and the world is farre from Christ an empty house in whom Christ hath no dwelling 5. He that is empty of the love of Christ is without Christ He that doth not discerne the love of Christ as the Bride discernes the love of the Bridegroome Hee that perceives not Christ kissing him with the kisses of his mouth it is the Churches expression in Salomons Song applying the doctrines of his Love Mercy and Peace to his conscience making him sensible of his love in the use of his Ordinances as the Bridegroomâ— makes the Bride sensible of his love in his banquetting house making him joyfull in the House of Prayer inabling him to pray with confidence returning a gracious answer to his holy and humble petitions He that perceives not the love of Christ in the cleare and comfortable revelation of his secrets to his understanding in his holy and sanctified working upon his soule in sealing up the pardon and forgivenesse of his sin in the free and plentifull communication of himselfe his gifts graces and benefits unto his heart in the sanctifying and sweetning of all his tryals in making all to worke for the best unto him in giving him water out of the rocke meat out of the eater and sweet out of the sowre He that is thus empty of the love of Christ is without Christ Where Christ is there his love is and his love is not idle but operative manifesting it selfe in the divâ—ne and heavenly fruits and effects thereof to the soule And thus by these marks and characters mans being without Christ mans abiding in his corrupt estate and carnall condition is plainly discernable CHAP. VI. Exhorting to come out of our naturall and corrupt estate 5. THe consideration of mans misery in being without Christ in continuing still in his corrupt and wreched estate should set every man on worke with all diligence with all assiduity and carefullnesse to labour his deliverance and freedome out of that condition the estate of corruption is of all estates the most miserable better live in any servitude misery poverty disgrace or trouble then under the power of sin without Christ better live in ignominy without honour in prison without freedome in hatred without the love of man in poverty without riches in exilement without humane fellowship in famine without bread in darknesse without light in trouble without peace in paine without ease enjoying Christ then to live in all the fullnesse of the world under the dominion of corruption without the Lord Jesus Therefore out of this estate doth the Lord call us Turne you even unto me saith the Lord with all your heart and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning and rent your hearts and not your garments and turne to the Lord your God Turne from your sin as a Traveller from his wandring path and walke in the wayes of God turne from the service of sin as Rebels from the service of a forrain Prince and serve the Lord your great and highest Soveraigne turne from the love of sin as a Harlot from the love of strangers and love the Lord Jesus your spirituall Bridegroome with all your hearts with all your souls and with all your might This is the labour of all Gods Ministers the fruit and honour of all their
So let us bee earnest with the Lord to deliver us from this estate of barrennesse and make us fruitfull from this estate of exilement and bring us to the enjoyment of the heavenly Kings face and countenance Let us make Christ our Friend that there may be an end put to the enmity betweene God and us and that we may be set at peace againe with God let us sigh and groane under our sinfull bondage and labour for spirituall freedome Let us labour to have true and saving grace powred into the pot of our soules that all our possessions and undertakings may be sanctified unto us and that the Word which our sinne hath made the savour of death unto death may thorow grace become the savour of life to life to every one of us And to the end we may be translated out of the state of corruption into the state of grace let us 1. Attend upon and hide the word of God in our hearts This is the Word of life by which our soules are quickned this is the Seed of Regeneration by which wee are new born this is the voyce by which wee are called out of the Kingdome of darkenesse into marvellous light this is the warlike weapon by which the holds of sinne are cast downe as the walls of Jericho were cast flat to the ground at the â—ounding of the Trumpets this is the fire by which the drosse of sin is purged out of our souls this is the word of Reconciliation by which wee are set at peace with God On this therfore let us wait this let us treasure up in our souls that therby a gracious change may be wrought in us 2. Let us labour for the sence and feeling of our sinne as of a loathsome disease as of a heavy burthen Complaine of sinne as Sarah did of the daughters of Heth be weary of sinne as a sick man of his disease Cry to the Lord as Paul did O miserable man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death the more sence and feeling wee have of sinne the more assurance of a discharge from sin When Israel sighed and groaned then their deliverance from Pharaohs bondage drew nigh when sin is a trouble and man growes weary of it as of a hard servitude then the houre of the soules spirituall deliverance approacheth therefore to such our Saviour speaketh Come unto me all yee that travell and are heavy laden and yee shall finde ease unto your soules 3. Let us get our hearts filled with godly sorrow for sin turne all your sorrow into sorrow for sinne Mourne for this as for the death of your first-borne Mourne secretly without ostentation mourne unfainedly without dissimulation mourne universally without the reservation of any sin as the deluge overflowed and drowned all the Earth hill and valley so let your sorrow drowne all sinne they that sow in teares shall reape in ioy Godly sorrow is ever attended with the joy of conversion remission and spirituall consolation They that mourne shall be comforted 4. Be very frequent and serious in the view and examination of your naturall and corrupt estate consider the basenesse the loathsomnesse the unprofitablenesse the cursednesse and the perilousnesse thereof men could never quiet themselves in this estate were they not inconsiderate of the evill thereof A Travellor that is out of his way would never goe on therein did hee consider that every step he treades is one step further from his home did carnall man consider that every action of his removes him one step farther from God and Heaven and brings him one step nearer to Satan and damnation hee would never please himselfe in this estate inconsideration makes way to all evill the Lord having mentioned the great impieties of Israel layeth downe this as the ground therof They are a Nation saith the Lord void of counsell neither is there any understanding in them O that they were wise that they understood this that they would consider their latter end they doe not consider how they are in the gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity in the thraldome of Satan under the wrath of God in the state of damnation subject to a thousand easelesse and endlesse woes and miseries did men consider this they would awake out of their sleepe and stand up from the dead that Christ might give them light They would with David consider their waies and turne unto the testimonies of the Lord. 5. Addresse your selves to Christ by faithfull and fervent Prayer the Gibeonites sent to Joshua and he rescued them from the Amoritish Princes We must send by prayer to Christ to rescue us from the Prince of darkenesse the woman of Shunâ—m came to the Prophet cast her selfe downe tooke hold of his feet would not let him goe and hee went with her and raised her dead child thus must we come to Christ cast our selves downe humble our selves under the hand of Christ lay hold on Christ and never let him goe that he may raise us from the death of sin to the life of grace CHAP. VII Perswading to thanksgiving for deliverance out of our naturall and corrupt estate LAstly this ministers matter and occasion of great praise and thanksgiving to all them whom Christ hath delivered out of their corrupt and carnall estate and translated into the state of grace and holinesse Of all deliverances deliverance from sinne is the greatest the sweetest the choisest A deliverance of the greatest cost other deliverances are wrought by the power of God this is a deliverance wrought not onely by the power of God but also by the bloud of God by the bloud of Christ who is God and Man in one person Feed saith Saint Paul to the Bishops the Ministers of Ephesus the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne bloud Give thanks saith the Apostle unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light who hath delivered us from the power of darknes and translated us into the Kingdom of his deare Son in whom we have redemption through his bloud the deliverance of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt and the captivity of Babylon the deliverance of Ieremy out of the dungâ—on of Peter out of Herods prison of Ionah out of the belly of the Whale or the three children out of the fiery furnace or whatsoever deliverance else you can mention cost not God so much as the deliverance of man from sinne for this God gave his owne his onely Sonne This is a deliverance which argues more of Gods love to man then all the deliverances which God hath wrought besides for man Therefore of this the Evangelist saith God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Sonne And Christ saith Saint Paul loved the Church and gave himselfe for it This is a deliverance from greater evils
then all other deliverances a deliverance from Satan the worst of all Tyrants a deliverance from Hell of all prisons the most loathsome of all places of torment the most painefull a deliverance from sinne of all fetters the strongest of all burthens the heaviest of all spots the fowlest and of all diseases the most mortall and dangerous a deliverance from the curse of the Law of all condemning sentences the most terrible and full of soul-anguish a deliverance from death of all the Kings of terrour the most dreadfull all other deliverances are but slender shadowes and representations of this deliverance This is a deliverance restoring man to greater felicity then all the deliverances beside which God ever wrought for man a deliverance by which man is made a living member in Christs body a loyall Subiect in Christs Kingdome a spirituall Free-man of the new Ierusalem a childe of God by Adoption the Spouse of Christ by holy wedlocke a glorious Conquerour over all the enemies of his salvation and an heire to a heavenly and incorruptible Kingdome Mans deliverance out of the estate of corruption comprehends matter and cause of all joy and thanksgiving Looke therefore every gracious and sanctified soule upon this blessed worke of Gods power love and mercy and say with the Psalmist Blesse the Lord O my soule and all that is within me blesse his holy Name Blesse the Lord O my soule and forget not all his benefits who forgiveth all thine iniquities who healeth all thy diseases who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindnesse and tender mercies The woman of Shunom receiving her dead sonne restored unto life fell downe at the Prophets feet and bowed her selfe unto the ground Thus receiving thy soule that was dead in sinne restored to the life of grace fall thou downe at the feet of Christ adore and worship him laude and magnifie him prostitute thy selfe and all that is thine by way of gratitude under him The blinde man whose eyes Christ opened beleeved and worshipped him Christ having opened the eyes of thy understanding to know the hope of thy calling the riches of Christ inheritance and the exceeding greatnesse of his power towards thy soule beleeve thou in Christ embrace him cast thy selfe on him have thy whole dependance upon him and worship him by an honourable apprehension of his perfections a sincere and fervent love unto his person a humble submission to his precepts and thankfull celebration of his great and glorious Name for all his mercies The lame mans feet and ankle bones receiving strength he leaped up stood and walked and entred into the Temple walking leaping and praising God Christ having healed thy affections having strengthened thee with all spirituall might rise up from the earth walke in the wayes of holinesse enter into the Temple attend Christ in his Ordinances let thy soule rejoyce in Christ and praise him for thy spirituall abilities Naaman being cleansed from his leprosie returned unto the Prophet and intreated him to take a blessing from him Christ having cleansed thee from the leprosie of thy sinne returne to Christ and render to him the blessing of spirituall and hearty thanksgiving The woman in the Gospell who had a spirit of infirmity bowing her downe being made straight glorified God Christ having raised and rectified thy heart which was altogether bowed downe to the world and the things here below Christ having inabled thee to looke up to seeke the things which are above to mind God to love his truth to hunger and thirst after the gifts and graces of his Spirit glorifie Christ for this his gracious worke The Israelites seeing the Egyptians drowned and themselves delivered from their servitude sang and triumphed Man seeing his sinnes drowned in the teares of godly sorrow and buried in the grave of Christ his soule set free by Christ from the servitude of Satan the world and his owne corruption should sing and triumph in Christ and say the Lord hath triumphed gloriously the horse and the rider Satan and my corruption hath he throwne downe together The Lord having of barren made Hanna fruitfull she said my heart reioyceth in the Lord my horne is exalted in the Lord my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies because I reioyce in thy salvation Christ having opened our hearts and of barren made our soules fruitfull in all heavenly graces our hearts should rejoyce in Christ our mouthes should be enlarged with his praises and our soules should rejoyce in that salvation which Christ hath brought unto us Man hath not greater cause of thanksgiving for any thing then for his Sanctification this worke of Christ makes him a living man puts such a life into him that the second death shall never have power over him This makes him an honourable man one of the royall seed a King and Priest to God This makes him a beautifull and comely man as the Lilly among the thornes as the Sunne Moone and Morning among the clouds This makes him a victorious man a superabundant conquerour over all temptations and afflictions This makes him a rich man the least mite of this grace is better then all the abundance of the earth as the gleanings of Ephraim were better then the vintage of Abiezer This makes him a ioyfull man regeneration is the matter and ground of the soules fullest surest and sweetest rejoycing The Kingdome of God the worke of grace the spirituall reigne of Christ in the heart is righteousnesse peace and ioy in the Holy-Ghost Therfore praise Christ for this above all his favours as Theodosius gave God greater thanks that he had made him a member of the Church then head of the Empire warme thy heart therefore with the frequent and serious thoughts of this worke of Christ and praise him for this as for the brightest Starre shining in the Firmament of thy soule as for the most rich and orient pearle in the store-house of thy heart as for the most beautifull and comely slower adorning the garden of thy inner-man O praise him for this as for the sweetest freedome the noblest crowne the choisest workmanship and liveliest evidence of his love communicable to the soule of man As this is the best and most soule-reviving influence of Christ into the heart of man so for this pursue and follow Christ Jesus with free and frequent cordiall and joyous gracious and everlasting praises for without this we are strangers to Christ to the number of his faithfull servants to all the Prerogatives and priviledges which God ministers to his children even aliens to the common-wealth of Israel CHAP. VIII Shewing how all Gods people are but one THe second Alienation expressing the misery of men in their corrupt and carnall estate an Alienation from the Common-wealth of Israel Israel were once the peculiar people of God set apart by a holy Covenant unto God to be his people above all the people of the
other people have besides them 7. In respect of unity A common-wealth consisting of many particular persons makes but one politicke body All true beleevers are but one mysticall body in Christ therefore the Church is called One. My beloved saith Christ is one and there is one body and one spirit saith the Apostle one Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one God and Father of us all The Church is of one Lord by one Baptisme into one mysticall body under one head ruled by one spirit bound with one bond of hope and love professing one faith and called with one Calling to one heavenly Kingdome built upon the foundation of one Doctrine As one soule doth quicken the many members of the body so the Spirit doth animate and enliven the whole Church As in one Pomegranate there are many kernels within one rinde so doth one Church containe innumerable people through the unity of faith having one Father regenerating them one spirit enlivening them one light guiding them one spirituall food nourishing them one Law binding them and one Head ruling the in they are most sweetly and entirely one among themselves CHAP. IX Perswading Subiection under one Head Submission to one Law and unity between our selves THe Church and faithfull people of Christ must learne from hence Subjection under one Head Submission under one Law and unity between themselves 1. Subiection under one Head Christ To Christ is all power given both in Heaven and in Earth and to him must all be Subject His dominion is from sea to sea an I from the river to the ends of the earth all Kings must fall downe before him and all Nations must serve him To him the Church must be subject spiritually their obedience must arise from a principle of grace they must worship him in spirit and in truth To him they must be subject heartily not in shew but in truth obeying from the heart root that forme of Doctrine which Christ hath delivered to them To him they must be subject voluntarily without compulsion they must be a willing people his Law must be in their hearts and they must delight to doe his will To him they must subject themselves universally in respect of the rule they must have respect unto all the Commandements as Noah in building the Arke had an eye to the whole patterne which was set before him and in respect of the whole man all the faculties of the soule and all the members of the body must be obedient to him as the Sun Moone and eleven Starres did obeysance to Joseph in his vision Christ must be glorified both in our body and in our spirit To Christ we must be constantly subject our hearts must be inclined to performe his statutes alway even unto the end Christ is the Head and we the members Christ is the shepheard and we the slocke Christ is the husband and we the Spouse and as all the members are fully subject to the head the slocke readily follows the voice of the shepheard and the Spouse is lovingly subject to the Bridegroome so must we be fully freely and lovingly obedient unto Christ 2. This teacheth Submission unto one Law The Church is one mysticall common-wealth and must be subject unto one Law of Christ All that builded the Arke built by one patterne The whole Church of Christ hath one patterne according to which they must build their faith and their love even the whole Fabricke of their worship and service The ship hath one compasse by which it roweth and one Pilate by which it is guided The Church is the ship the Word the Compasse and Christ the Pilate by Christ and his Word must the whole Church of God be ordered and ruled The Word of God is a sure word to which we must give heed as to a light that shineth in a darke place The Law of the Lord is perfect it needs no addition as the Sun needs not the help of any candle to increase his light in shining on them that travell The Scriptures are a compleate and perfect Schoole profitable for Doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works God gave Moses a perfect patterne for the building of the Tabernacle without addition or dimunution Gods word is a perfect patterne comprising the whole frame of mans conversation It is Gods prerogative to prescribe and mans duty to conforme Ye shall not adde unto the word Which I command you saith the Lord neither shall you diminish ought from it that you may keep the Commandements of the Lord your God which I command All other Doctrines are darknesse and not light they cannot guide us they are false plants of mans and not of Gods planting they beare no good fruit to feed us and God the great Husbandman of the vineyard will plucke them up they are sand he that builds upon them sinks they corrupt and adulterate the Doctrine and Religion of Christ as the tares the wheate as the evill herbe the Prophets pot Mans service is no service of Christ if it receive not it's rule from Christ in vaine saith Christ doe ye worship me teaching for Doctrines the commandements of men He that mingles humane devices with his religious duties makes it a humane and no divine service As the Elements once mingled in a compound body doe lose their proper formes so Religions mingled with humane traditions and made compounding parts of a mixed worship and service doe lose their formes and cease to be religious in Gods account As silver mingled with brasse doth lose the nature and name of silver and currant coyne and will not passe with men the touchstone discovers it and the skilfull Goldsmith rejects it Thus the worship of God mixed with the dresse of mans invention loseth both the name and nature of true worship The word discovers it to be counterfeit and God doth not regard it nor the performers of it Of such therefore the Prophet saith reprobate silver shall men call them because the Lord hath reiected them This alienates from Christ it divides the heart and places the feare trust love and joy of the soule upon some forraine thing some Idoll of mans devising A woman that embrace a stranger with her husband in her bosome and mingles strangers with her husband is no more a chaste and loving wife her heart is divided and she is become an adulteresse The mingling of forraine inventions with Christs precepts in his services is in Gods interpretation spirituall fornication their hearts are gone from Christ their husband they are taken up with strange lovers To this purpose is that of the Prophet Esay the faithfull City is become an harlot and what other but this was Judah's whoredome for which the Lord upbraideth her by the Prophet saying thou hast played the harlot with many Lovers thou hast embraced many forreigne doctrines thou hast
King Whence observe That All Prophane and carnall persons are aliens to the true Church of Christ and all the spirituall priviledges therof The Lepers under the Law were excluded the camp separated from the society of cleane persons shewing the effect of the Law in sinners which driveth them from the communion of God and his people till by repentance and faith they come unto Christ and also figuring the putting and excluding of all uncleane sinners from the Church of Christ and the priviledges thereof according to the charge of the Apostle put away from among your selves that wicked person Adam eating the forbidden fruit was debarr'd from the Tree of Life and shut out of the Garden of Eden The posterity of Adam feedâ—ng upon the forbidden fruit of sinne making a trade and practise of sinne are excluded from Christ the true Tree of Life and shut out of the Church of Christ the inclosed Garden of which Christ is the Keeper and dresser Hence prophane men living within the pale of the Church are likened to chaffe mingled among the wheate in the floore which though it be among the wheate yet it is not of the wheate To a man at the wedding feast without a wedding garment who though he was among the guests yet he was not of the number of the true and welcome guests and therefore was cast out as having of right no place there and to thornes and bryars which thouâ—h they sometime grow within the Orchard yet are not Trees of the Orchard not planted watered and manured by the Keeper of the Orchard as other Trees are And for this the Church is stiled a Garden inclosed in respect of Gods protection and preservation of her in respect of her separation from them that are prophane and carnall by grace and holy calling and for the Churches care and vigilancy that no enemies invade her that no uncleane thing or vitious persons pollute and defile her And for this cause the Church is tearmed a chaste virgin for her internall and externall purity for her holy chastity for her fidelity and fervent love to her husband Christ for her alienation from the world from all idolatry and false worship and for her separation and distinction from all that pollute and defile themselves with Idols the world or any carnall lusts And the Church is charged to preserve and keep her selfe from all intimate and familiar communion with them that are openly scandalous and uncleane I have written unto you saith Saint Paul not to keep company If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator or covetous or an idolater or a railer or a drunkard or an extortioner with such a one no not to eat not familiarly and friendly to converse He forbids not the exercise of the necessary offices of humanity and charity towards them but the having of intimate communion with them And if any man saith the Apostle to the Thessalonians obey not our Word by this Epistle but be rebellious and obstinate against the holy and wholsome Doctrine delivered note that man and have no company with him Whereby we see that the Lord denyes them that are obstinate and carnall communion with such as are truly holy and spirituall there can be no sweet and seemly fellowship between common harlots and chaste virgins What fellowship saith Paul hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse and what communion hath light with darknesse Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sonnes and daughters Carnall men are not spirituall brethren to them that are Gods children they are not begotten of the same heavenly parent they are not united to the same spirituall head they are not endowed with the same gracious qualities and therefore are aliens to Gods sonnes and daughters And without saith Christ are doggs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murtherers and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lye these are without without the number of Gods holy and sanctified Church and people without the Prerogatives granted to Gods gracious children without the company of the Citizens of the new Jerusalem here and without glory and happinesse hereafter and of such S. John saith expresly however they have a place within the Church yet they are not of the Church They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had beene of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us CHAP. XII Laying downe the grounds of carnall mans alienation from the true church of Christ THe alienation of profane men from the true Church of Christ is manifest 1. By their alienation from the Head of the Church they are strangers to Christ they hold not the Head saith the Apostle from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together encreaseth with the encrease of God they hold not Christ but are strangers to the life of Christ as withered branches are strangers to the life of the root Christ doth not live in them they are strangers to the knowledge of Christ as blind men are strangers to the light of the Sunne the light shineth in the darknesse but the darknesse comprehendeth it not the Gospell is hidden to them they are strangers to the dominion of Christ he doth not reigne spiritually within them though they professe they know Christ yet they be reprobate and disobedient to every good worke they are strangers to the holy and gracious presence of Christ Christ doth not dwell in their hearts by Faith possessing protecting aâ—d beautifying then soules as a dweller his house directing and guiding their goings to the haven of peace as a Pilot his Ship they are strangers to the love of Christ they are not espoused to him as a chast Virgin to the operation of Christ he is not unto them as a Refiners fire and Fullers sope purifying them as gold and silver to offer unto the Lord an offering of Righteousnesse and also to the fullnesse of Christ he is a sealed well of whose waters their soules drinke not though they live within the pale of the Church and come to the ordinaâ—ces of Christ yet as Salomon spake in another case Of the way of a Ship in the Sea of an Eagle in the Ayre and of a Serpent upon a stone so â—â—â—y we say of the way of Christ in his ordinances with the soules of carnall men it leaveth no track behind it worketh no change imprints no character of holinesse they still continue strangers to Christ and having no communion with the Head they are farre from fellowship with the Members 2. By their being dâ—stitute of the Seed of the Church the Church of Christ is begotten of a holy Seed the word of God and vertue of
to them and to the saving fruit and benefit of this Covenant of Grace Salvation and everlasting life all profane men since the comming of Christ remaining without Christ being no living Members of the mysticall body of Christ no loyall Subjects in the common-wealth of Christ To this Covenant I say they continue strangers it doth not appertaine unto them they cannot claime Salvation by it Whence observe That All corrupt and carnall persons are strangers to Gods Covenant of Grace and Salvation in and thorough Christ Jesus Adam feeding upon the Tree of forbidden fruit was excluded from the Tree of life man feeding upon and filling himselfe with the forbidden fruit of sinne is excluded from Christ and all the promises of God in Christ and all benefit comming by Christ Vnto the wicked to the man whose heart is empty of grace void of the true feare of God and farre from the life and power of godlinesse God saith What hast thou to doe to declare my Statutes to talke of my Doctrine or of the rules and wayes of my worship or that thou shouldest take my covenant into thy mouth that thou shouldest vaunt and boast thy selfe to be of the number of that sacred people whom I have adopted to my selfe by peculiar Covenant or that thou shouldest expect Salvation by my free and gracious promise wherein thou hast no interest Such as keepe not Gods precepts presume in vaine of Salvation by Gods promise he that observes not Gods Commandement hath nothing to doe with Gods Covenant Therefore such men though they live within the pale of the Church are termed Rebels rebellious children and a rebellious house a Rebell though he live within the kingdome yet hath nothing to doe with the priviledges of the kingdome these belong to the loyall and obedient Subjects of the Kingdome under the Law a rebellious Sonne though he had a place of abode in his Fathers House yet had he no title to his Fathers goods nor to any immunities belonging to the House but being stubborne and rebellious a glutton or a drunkard one that would not obey his Fathers voyce he was to be stoned to death Profane and carnall men though they live and have their abode within the pale of Christs Church yet rebelling against Christ breaking the bands in sunder and casting away the cords of Gods Law from them being stubborne and rebellious and refusing to obey the voyce of the Lord the Priviledges of Christs Kingdome the Covenant of salvation by Christ appertaines not unto them Sometimes they are termed bastards bastards have a place within the house with sonnes but the inheritance belongs not unto them Ishmael had a place in Abrahams house with Isaac yet being the sonne of a bond-woman the inheritance came not to him but to Isaac thus carnall men not being regenerate and borne of God not being the genuine and true children of God but hypocrites and bond-men to Satan and their owne lusts they are no heyres nor co-heyres with Christ they are strangers to the Covenant of grace Of them therefore the Lord saith that they like men or like Adam have transgressed my Covenant and have made forfeiture of all as Adam did or they have transgressed my Covenant as the covenant of a man regarding their covenant with me no more then a covenant betweene man and man and they have dealt treacherously against me they have sleighted me they have not desired friendship and consortship with me but they have depraved my worship and apostatized from mee and of such the Prophet Jeremy saith They have forsaken the Covenant of the Lord their God as the Harlot in Salomon forsooke the guide of her youth and forgat the Covenant of her God thus these men committing spirituall fornication with the world forsake Christ the guide of their soules and forget the Covenant of their God become altogether unmindfull of that new obedience which they have vowed and promised losing all claime and title unto and outing themselves of all the benefit which the Covenant of God importeth because as the Psalmist saith they keep not the Covenant of God and refuse to walke in his Law and to this Saint Iohn speaks fully If we say that we have fellowship with Christ interest in Christ communion with Christ promise of salvation by Christ and walke in darknesse live sinfully and converse prophanely we lye and doe not the truth we deceive our selves we presume of interest in Christ and claime to Gods promise which belongeth not unto us The prophane mans estrangement from the Covenant of God is manifest 1. In regard of Ignorance which makes them uncapable of entring into Covenant with God All carnall men are ignorant men the naturall man receiveth not the things of God they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned He that wants a bodily eye discernes not bodily things he that wants a spirituall eye perceives not spirituall things where there is no sutablenesse between the sence and the thing to be perceived there is no perception according to the Logicians rule quicquid recipitur recipitur ad modum recipientis The naturall man having no spirituall eye no principle of heavenly and sacred light within him he cannot truly and savingly perceive the things of God Of such therefore the Psalmist saith they are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy all the workers of iniquity have no knowledge they know not their sinnes as a sicke man his disease grieving for them complaining of them and desiring ease and freedome from them they know not their nakednesse and emptinesse of all spirituall good desiring to be filled with the good things of God as Hagar knew the emptinesse of her bottle and wept for water they know not their necessity of Christ hungring and thirsting after him as the Elders of Gilead knew their necessity of Ieptha and desired him to be their Captaine and made him head over them they know not God as a Father regenerating them as a Physician healing them as a King of mercies pardoning them they know not Christ as a Prophet instructing them as a Priest sanctifying them as a Prince of peace ruling within them and reconciling God unto them they know not the word of God as a light guiding them as dew softning their hearts as fire purging their soules as food nourishing and strengthening them in all grace and being thus ignorant they are farre from Gods Covenant such blinde men are in covenant with Satan the Prince of darknesse Nahash the Ammonite would not make a covenant with the men of Iabesh Gilead but on this condition that he might thrust out all their right eyes The God of this world the Devill blinds the eyes of the understanding of all that are in covenant with him that the glorious light of the Gospell may not shine into them but such as are in covenant with God are
him to love and rejoyce in him in their tongues to speake of him and plead for him in their hands to work that which is good and honourable unto God and in all their abilities therewith to honour him prostrating all under the feet of God referring and using all to the glory of God living and dying as the Apostle saith unto the Lord living as Gods servants framing the whole way and order of their life according to Gods prescription referring their whole life to the glory of God and resting in all the labours and troubles of their life upon God with a firme confidence being assured that God takes care for them and dying as Gods peculiar people patiently submitting to the hand of God in the time of their dissolution firmly depending upon God in the houre of their change heartily desiring that God may be glorified by their death and resting fully assured that their temporall death shall be an entrance into eternall life he who thus fully applies himself to God may assure himself of his being in covenant with God 3. By mans participation of the spirituall and heavenly benefits which the covenant comprehendeth as 1. The donation of the Spirit it is the Lords promise to powre out his Spirit upon all flesh to put his Spirit within us and to cause us to walke in his wayes so that he who is within the Covenant of God hath the Spirit of God quickning and enlivening him as the soule doth enliven the body enlightning and teaching him guiding and leading him into the cleare and comfortable knowledge of all truth as the guide leades the Traveller into the knowledge of the way wherein he is to walke regenerating and renewing him sanctifying and cleansing him as the water doth the flesh and the fire the mettall revealing Christ in him and making Christ appeare very glorious and amiable in his apprehension as the most glorious Sun the choysest pearle and most renowned Prince even the fairest of ten thousand making the soule full of longings after him and sick of love towards him uniting and joyning him unto Christ as the branch to the vine as a member to the head to be enlivened by Christ and to participate of all the benefits which flow from Christ ruling and guiding him as a Pilot his Ship framing and working his heart to an universall holy and humble submission to the will of God as the hand of the learner is guided by the teacher to write according to the whole copy set before him To him that is within the Covenant the Spirit of God is a Spirit of life mortifying the old and quickning the new man Water washing refreshing and making his soule spiritually fruitfull Fire purging and consuming his remaining lusts and making his heart to burne with love to God and man oyle of gladnesse filling his soule with spirituall alacrity and cheerfulnesse and a seale and earnest penny assuring him of his future blisse and peace in Heaven and this communication of the Spirit is an undoubted pledge of mans being within the Covenant 2. A second benefit comprised under the Covenant is Communion with the Saints all that are within the Covenant have a mutuall sweet and gracious fellowship with God and among themselves That which we have seen and heard saith S. John declare we unto you that you may have fellowship with us and that our fellowship may be with the Father and his Sonne Jesus Christ He that is within the Covenant hath communion with God the Father by adoption as a childe with the Parent by participation receiving of the Fathers fulnesse and bearing his Image by holy walking having his conversation in Heaven walking with God as Enoch and Noah did by invocation as a Petitioner with the King being a daily earnest suter to the throne of grace by Faith living and walking by faith and not by sight and also by Love God dwelling in love as the Apostle speakes Hee that is within the Covenant hath communion with Christ by participation of Christ and his benefits by dwelling in Christ and Christ in him being joyned with Christ in a spirituall wedlocke Christ assuming him into his grace and making him a member of his body bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh as S. Paul speakes expressing their neare union and sweet communion with Christ who are within the covenant of God He that is within this covenant hath also communion with the Holy Ghost the Spirit of God dwelling in him regenerating and renewing him witnessing his adoption helping his infirmity sealing up the pardon of his sin and restoring him to more spirituall liberty and freedome and hee hath likewise communion with all the Saints and faithfull Servants of the Lord being partakers of one Spirit living members under one Head having the same love being of one mind and of one accord their prayers meeting mutually each for other at one and the same throne of grace all building by one rule all travelling by one light all acting and moving by one Spirit all feeding upon one word all fighting under one Banner all running one race and all serving one Prince of peace they have fervent love one to another singular delight each in other and a very sweet and gracious communion one with another and this holy and joyfull communion with the Saints of God abundantly argues mans being within the Covenant of God 3. A third benefit comprised under the Covenant is Regeneration the sanctifying and restoring our corrupt nature to the image of God a worke of God in all that are within the Covenant a parcell of Gods promise to put his law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts to make a sutablenesse betweene them and his Law to worke such holines in their hearts as should in some good proportion answer that holinesse which the Law prescribeth and this is requisite to mans being within the Covenant because without this he cannot know God he cannot be the friend of God hee cannot please God nor have any communion with God he that is farre from holinesse is farre from interest in Gods Promise The captive woman under the Law had her apparell changed before an Israelitish Souldier could assume her into a covenant of wedlock man under the Gospell must put off the old-man and put on the new ere he can have interest in Gods Covenant the more fully freely and constantly man conformes himselfe to Gods precepts the surer is his evidence of title to Gods promise He whose obedience to the Law of God is voluntary without compulsion cordiall without dissimulation universall without the allowance of any evill humble without all ostentation cheerfull free from all repining sincere without any by or sinister intention and constant without back-sliding may rest assured of being received into Gods Covenant 4. A fourth benefit comprised under the Covenant by which man may discerne his being within the Covenant is
by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead Wherein you have the Author of this hope God a gracious and loving Father in Christ the moving cause the mercy of God the antecedent regeneration the foundation prop or pillar of it Christ risen from the dead the full accomplisher of mans welfare the inward instrumentall cause or root of hope is a lively and saving faith Faith is the ground of things hoped for the object of this hope is God in Christ all good things flowing from the grace of God in Christ to the soule of man therefore is Christ called the hope of glory and we are bidden to hope for grace by Christ The Seate or Subject of Christian hope is a regenerate and renewed heart therefore termed the hope of the godly Of this hope carnall men are destitute having no hope no hope of salvation the Gentiles before Christ was preached to them having no promise of life no Mediator between God and them had no hope of salvation Carnall men under the Gospell being no children of God by regeneration no members no partakers of Christ by faith having no interest in Gods covenant of life and peace no title to Gods promise of grace by Christ they have no hope Whence you see That Corrupt and carnall man hath no true and assured hope of salvation There is no hope of that mans salvation that continues corrupt and carnall there is no salvation in that estate In Pauls shipping towards Rome when neither Sunne nor Starres for many dayes appeared and no small tempest lay on them all hope that they should be saved was then taken away When neither Sun nor Star neither Christ nor any saving grace appeare in the soule of man and when the conscience of carnall man works like a tempest within him then however he flattered himselfe in the houre of his spirituall slumber and promised salvation to himselfe yet now all hope of being saved is taken away now he sees he is in the state of damnation now he sees as Peter told Simon Magus that he is in the gall of bitternesse and in the bond of iniquity and that he hath no part nor lot in Christ but is as the Psalmist saith farre from salvation farre from the knowledge faith hope and sence of salvation they looke not to the holy One of Israel they looke not unto God as to their King to command them as to their Counsellor to guide them as to their Physician to heale them as their rocke to support them their hope is not in him their expectation is not from him their estate who live under the power of corruption is no estate of Christian hope but of desperation having no ground to hope or look for salvation by Christ For 1. The carnall man is uncapable of Christian hope Hope is a heavenly guest and dwels not in an uncleane and unregenerate heart the carnall soule is an empty house wherein dwelleth no good thing no saying gift and grace of God He that is not of God cannot hope in God he that is not in Christ cannot expect and wait for salvation by Christ the carnall man is dead in sinne the corporally dead have no more any humane hope their breath goeth out of their nostrils and as their thoughts so their hopes perish the spiritually dead have no spirituall hopes where there is no life of grace there is no hope in Christ the carnall man is blinde and cannot discerne Christ he is ignorant of Christ he knowes not the things belonging to his peace and how can he hope in Christ whom he knowes not the carnall man is proud he trusts in himselfe in his owne abilities in his owne worth in his owne duties and therefore cannot hope in Christ No man hath or can have a lively hope in Christ but he that is begotten againe by the resurrection of Christ. 2. The carnall man wants the instrumentall cause and root of hope Faith is the mother and hope the daughter Faith is the root and hope the branch Faith is the cause and hope the effect Faith apprehends the promise and hope expects and waits for the thing promised therefore the Apostle termeth Faith the ground of hope Now the carnall man beleeves not he builds upon the sand and not upon the rocke he is wedded to the world and not to Christ he confines himselfe within himselfe and commeth not out of himselfe to Christ he bringeth forth his fruit unto himselfe and not unto Christ he resteth in the creature in himselfe in some gift or duty of his owne he takes not up his full and everlasting rest in Christ and therefore beleeves not and as where is no root there is no branch so where there is no faith there is no hope 3. The carnall man is alienated from the props pillars and supporters of Christian hope that is to say the promise of God the grace of God in Christ and the merit of Christ These three support and beare up the hoping and waiting soule as the three pillars bore up the hangings in the Tabernacle These three are like three Cities of Refuge appointed by Moses to which the pursued malefactor betooke himselfe to these doth the guilty beleeving soule pursued with the sence of Gods displeasure the noise of his sinne and cry of his conscience betake himselfe hoping and expecting consolation from them Now to all these the carnall man is a stranger they belong not to him they are childrens bread dogs may not taste them they are Doves wings Owles and Ravens have no hiding place under them He that hateth to be reformed hath nothing to doe with Gods covenant carnall men receive the grace of God in vaine they embrace not the mercy of God in Christ tendred to them in the Gospell they reject it they are no more changed nor bettered by it then the rocke by the raine or the blinde by the Sunne not being mingled with faith it doth not profit them the merit of Christ doth not advantage them his righteousnesse doth not justifie them his death doth not mortifie their lusts his resurrection doth not quicken their soules his intercession doth not reconcile them unto God his ransome restores no spirituall freedome to them and therefore they have no hope of salvation 4. The carnall man is a stranger to the way to salvation There is a way of faith in Christ Christ is the way the truth and the life him the carnall man knowes not he never studied never learned Christ as the truth is in him he knowes not Christ living in his soule as he knows his soule living in his body he knowes not Christ enlightening him as the eye knowes the Sun whose light is sweet unto the eye he knowes not Christ ruling and raigning within him as the souldiers knew the Centurion commanding them and they yeelding ready subjection to him he knowes not Christ conquering and subduing Satan
are like Nebuchadnezzars Image and it will be with them as with Nebuchadnezzars Image at last his Image had a head of gold but feet of clay and the stone hewne out of the mountaines without hands brake it in peeces Such men have a golden profession but an earthly and uncleane conversation and Christ at last will dash them in pieces as an iron rod a Potters vessell As Christ cursed the Fig-tree which had leaves and no fruit so will he curse them that have the leaves of Christian profession but want the fruit of a good conversation a barren profession doth but aggravate the condemnation of a Christian 3. Some build their hopes upon their elymosynary duties and works of charity because they are bountifull to the poore they hope they shall be saved they trust in their good works and hope to purchase heaven by their beneficence excluding Christs merits As the builders of old by raising a Tower thought to preserve themselves from an after deluge and scale the wals of Heaven but as their hopes perished God confounding their worke so will the hopes of these mercinary and proud workers their best works without Christ will bring confusion instead of salvation upon them The sword in which Goliah trusted cut off his head whatsoever a man doth rest upon besides Christ he is confounded by that wherein he trusteth It may seeme strange and yet is very true that many mens good works prove more prejudiciall to them then their evill works their bad works prove an occasion of humiliation to them and drive them wholly out of themselves unto Christ their good works puffe them up and make them stay in themselves and never come to Christ and such men as have no better foundation then their works of charity to build upon the Apostle will tell them that a man may give all his goods to the poore and yet be nothing 4. Some build their hopes upon their not being so bad as the worst they compare themselves with such as are worse then themselves and thereupon conclude they are in a good estate this is as if a man having many ulcers should yet perswade himselfe he is very beautifull because he is not as leprous as Gehezi was As if a man guilty of many small felonies should perswade himselfe the Judge will save him because he is not so notorious a malefactor as Barabbas was or as if a man indebted an hundred pounds more then he is worth should perswade himselfe he is rich because he is not indebted so many thousand pounds as some others are This was the deceit and false flattery of the Pharisee I thanke God saith he I am not as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers or as this Publicane Men dye not all of one sicknesse some have more pestilentiall diseases then others yet all dye the wages of all sinne is death It is not he who is not so bad as others but he that is a new Creature in Christ that bath assured hope of life and peace to them that are in Christ there is no condemnation who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit 5. Some build their hopes upon the mercies of God and merit of Christ presuming they may be securely sinfull because God is mercifull and that they may still run on upon Gods scoare because Christ hath given himselfe a ransome and thus they turne the grace of God into wantonnesse and harden themselves by those mercies which should leade them to repentance turning their physicke into poyson and the meanes of their freedome into chaines and fetters to tye them the faster in their thraldome and what is this but as if a man should tumble himselfe in the mire and durt because there is water enough in a Well to wash him yet a sealed deep Well whereof he hath no bucket to draw Or as if a man should give himselfe many mortall wounds because there is a Surgeon that can cure him of whose help he hath yet no promise Gods mercies and Christs merits minister pardon and peace to such alone as turne from iniquity and walke in the wayes of peace All mercies prove curses which lead not the soule to God and Jesus Christ The meditation of Gods mercy can never truly comfort thee unlesse it humble thee Benhadads servants hearing that the Kings of Israel were mercifull Kings came not before Ahab with their bowes bent and swords drawne but with roapes about their necks and sackcloth about their loynes He that comes to God in the confidence of his mercies must lay aside the weapons of his sinne and come with teares in his eyes and godly sorrow in his heart because there is mercy with the Lord that he may be feared not to encourage man to continue wicked not knowing as S. Paul saith that the goodnesse of God ought to leade thee to repentance but after thy hardnesse and impenitent heart treasurest up against thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God 6. Some build their hopes upon their Humiliations and Repentance they have beene in affliction of conscience they have beene humbled for their sinnes and have beene many dayes in great anguish of spirit and in this they rest here they stay and hope by this to be saved thus the people in the Prophet We say ye have fasted and we have afflicted our soule and for this they thought to be heard and accepted of the Lord but there is a legall as well as an Evangelicall repentance a sorrow arising from feare and not from love from the apprehension of Hell and not of Heaven from the sence of wrath and not from the working of love from the feeling of terrours and not from the hatred of sinne a sorrow of slaves and not of sonnes a sorrow which worketh unto death and not a sorrow which worketh Repentance to Salvation a man may with Caine cry out of the greatnesse of his iniquity and his sorrow sinke him even as low as Hell hee may with Ahab put on sack-cloth and walk humbly many dayes he may with Pharaoh in his anguish send for the Minister of the Lord and acknowledge his sinne and intreat the prayer of Gods servants on this he may build his hopes and deceive himselfe that repentance which doth not supple and soften and change the heart is little worth the Lord smote the Rocke and waters gushed out yet it continued a Rocke God smites the heart of many a man with perplexing and terrifying stroakes to the drawing of many teares and yet it continueth a hard and stony heart that sorrow which workes not the mortification of sinne gives no assurance of the remission of sinne Is it such a fast saith the Lord that I have chosen a day for a man to afflict his soule is it to bow downe his head as a bull-rush and to spread sack-cloth and ashes under him wilt thou call this
a Fast and an acceptable day to the Lord is not this the Fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickednesse c. that sorrow which doth not lead a man out of himselfe to Christ which dissolves not the chaines of his sin and â—les him to come freely and fully home to Christ and fill him with the sence of Christs comforts which emptieth not man of his sinne and of himselfe and puts him upon Christ for all fullnesse is a sorrow ministring no other then false and deceitfull hopes of salvation 7. Some build their hopes upon their Reformations they are escaped from many pollutions they have forsaken many of their evill wayes and they are not the same they were in time past and therefore hope to be saved and with this they please and deceive themselves Saul destroyed the refuse of the stuffe but spared the lowing Oxen and the bleating Sheep and yet thought he had done an acceptable worke but be was deceived God rent the Kingdome from him the Reformation which is not universall is hypocriticall the Traveller that forsakes not every false path looseth his labour all his turnings and returnings are in vaine hee that returnes not from every sinne never returnes to God the woman which reserves one stranger in her bosome her heart never returnes to her husband there is no returning to Christ without the deposition of every sinne Christ hath no being where any one sinne hath allowance and dominion besides he that stayes in his Reformation and lookes not beyond it unto Christ for salvation makes an idoll of it and deludes himselfe in hoping for Salvation by it mans Reformation destroyes him if it makes not Christ more sweet and precious to him 8. Some build their hopes upon their use of sacred and religious duties because they heare and pray and fast and conferre of holy things in this they rest and by this they hope to be saved Lord say they hast not thou taught in our streets and have not we eate and drunke in thy presence Have not we beene hearers of thy word frequenters of thy house receivers of thy Sacrament and shall not we be saved though they be like Pharaohs leane kine eating the fat and yet still leane like them of whom the Apostle speakes who were alwayes learning yet never came to the knowledge of the truth like Ezekiels hearers whose hearts went after their covetousnes yet they hope for their frequency in these duties to be saved though their prayers still return like Noahs Dove at the first empty bringing home no treasure from Heaven to the soule though they returne from the word and Sacrament as the children of the Nobles in Jeremy from the pits with their pitchers empty yet they flatter themselves and hope for this to be saved as the Harlot in Salomon for her peace-offering but as the man at the wedding feast without his wedding garment though at the feast was bound hand and foot and cast into outer darknesse thus men using holy duties comming to Christs wedding feast staying in the duty and not putting on Christ will be cast into utter darknesse at the last Many deale in this behalfe with Christ as other wedding guests do with the Bridegroome they are invited they accompany the Bridegroome they see and heare the wedding but they receive him not in wedlock because either they are already married or else there is no contract betweene them and the Bridegroome thus Christ inviteth men to holy duties his wedding feast they accompany Christ to the feast to the Banquetting-house they goe along with him in the use of the duties but further they goe not they are already wedded to the world and to some lust of theirs at least they have no matrimoniall love to Christ they take him not to husband they returne without him Now as it were a great folly in a woman to perswade her selfe that such a man were her husband and that all his dignities and riches were hers because she was at his wedding feast thus it is a great deceit in man to hope that Christ is his that salvation and all the benefits of Christ are his because he hath bin at Christs wedding feast done the sacred duties but not taking Christ in wedlock to his soule the use of holy duties do no further give man hope of salvation then as they take a man off from the world empty a man of sin and of himselfe espouse man to Christ derive and draw from and fill the soul with Christs fullnes and make Christ more glorious and amiable in mans apprehension and thus you see a few of the many rotten and sandy foundations wherupon carnall man builds his hopes of salvation CHAP. XX. Shewing how a Man may discerne the soundnesse of his Hope THe carnall mans having no hope of salvation building his hopes upon rotten and deceitfull pillars ministers occasion to every man to see that he build his hopes of salvation by Christ upon firme and sure grounds and that he have cleare and lively evidence hereof in himselfe The Question therefore here will be how a man may discerne the truth and soundnes of his hope For answer whereunto you must know that whereof true and â—ound hope is there is 1. A preparation fitting and disposing of the whole man to Christ and the things of Christ for Christ and the service of Christ This the Apostle cals a guirding up of the loines of the mind Gird up saith he the loines of your mind and hope perfectly Doe as travellers that weare long garments as they gird up their garments that they may not hinder and tire them in their travell that they may walke freely and cheerfully in their Journey Thus take off your hearts and thoughts from the world disburthen your selves of all carnall lusts and worldly distractions raise your thoughts and desires to Christ and the things of Christ cast aside all impediments and come speedily fully freely and joyfully unto Christ It is said of Rebeckah having resolved to joyne herselfe in wedlocke with Isaack upon the motion of Eleazer Abrahams servant that she rose up and her o damosels and they rode upon Camels and followed the man The soule being upon the motion and perswasion of Gods Minister resolved to take Christ to Husband and having assured hope of enjoying everlasting consortship with Christ riseth up from the earth and all the faculties thoughts and affections thereof rise together with it and come speedily not slowly but on horsebacke with all readinesse to Christ following the holy and wholsome instruction of Gods Ministers she forsakes as the Psalmist saith her fathers house and forgetteth her owne people rejecteth her old wayes customes and carnall acquaintance and commeth unto Christ in her garment of needle-worke prepared and beautified by Gods Spirit The more a man doth hope in Christ the more he prepares himselfe for Christ the more fully he applyes
himselfe to Christ and the more he strives for full communion with Christ 2. There is an earnest and constant study and practise of holinesse Hope of salvation by Christ works conformity with Christ Every man saith Saint John that hath this hope purifieth himselfe as Christ is pure He that hath most hope of being saved is most laborious to be sanctified whosoever hath this hope sinne is the fowlest spot in his eye the heaviest burthen to his backe and the most troublesome inmate in the house of his soule and therefore he putteth himselfe to it to the utmost to purge this out and againe holinesse is to his eye the most glorious Starre to his nosthrill the sweetest flower in his estimation the choisest pearle and the noblest crowne and therefore strives to excell in this and to be like Christ is taken by him for the greatest happinesse he that saith he hopes to be saved and yet labours not to be sanctified doth but dreame and not hope whosoever waits for Heaven waits for it in the way of sanctification 3. There is a holy patience towards God The soule constantly and quietly cleaving to the Lord in seeking and waiting for all blisse and happinesse from the Lord though for the present exercised with many temptations and tryals and having it's comfort many times eclipsed and much obscured never repining against God never prescribing to God never stepping aside to any forbidden meanes from God but quieting it selfe in the will of God waâ—ing upon the Lord when he hides his face from him and looking for him as he that hath seen the Sun in the day time and hath assured hope of the Suns returne waits for him patiently in the darkest night untill his rising and re-appearing thus he that hath felt the light of Gods countenance shining upon him and hath assured hope of the sensible returne of Gods favour waits for it with patience in the darkest night of his distresse being assured that his anger endureth but a moment and that in his favour is life that weeping may endure for a night but ioy commeth in the morning He that hath the most assured hope of receiving good things from God is best able to quiet himselfe in the will of God Mans hope of enjoying future comforts doth very much mitigate and sweeten mans present sorrowes If we hope for that we see not then saith Saint Paul doe we with patience wait for it 4. There is ioy and delight in God and Christ He that assuredly hopes and waits for the receiving of all good from God and Christ for a full a sweet and everlasting communion with God and Christ cannot but rejoyce and delight himself in God and Christ The betrothed woman which hath assured hopes of enjoying a comfortable wedlocke with such a man hath many joyfull thoughts of him the betrothed soule assuredly hoping for a comfortable honourable and everlasting wedlocke with Christ hath many joyfull and soule-ravishing meditations touching Christ rejoycing and delighting in him as in the root which gives him life as in the Sun which sends him light as in the treasure where he finds all riches as in the Paradise wherein he meets with all comforts and as in the Arke which beares him up in every deluge Christ is the onely joy of such as hope in him reioycing in hope of the glory of God and being begotten againe to a lively hope we reioyce therein with ioy glorious and unspeakable His hopes an Christ are dreames falshoods and carnall presumptions who doth not delight himselfe in the Lord Jesus 5. There is holy Security and boldnesse of heart and a sweet acquiescence in the favour of God shining upon the soule through the face of Jesus Christ inabling a man to possesse his soule in peace and patience in the midst of all troubles as the ship lyeth safe at anker in the haven in the midst of the stormy tempest inabling man after many difficulties and sharp conflicts to say Returne unto thy rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee apprehending God as a Father Christ as a Husband the promise of God as a firme and sure rocke to support him the Attributes of God as so many Chrystall streames to refresh him as so many beames of the highest and most glorious Sun to warme him as so many hiding places to shadow and shelter him and all the severall acts and passages of Gods providence as so many outgoings of Gods love and mercy towards him causing him to glory in tribulation knowing that tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed Lastly in a word where true Christian hope is it makes a man thinke humbly of himselfe and highly of Christ hoping for nothing from himself but for all things from Christ it emptieth man of himselfe and causeth him to fetch all from the fulnesse of Christ it causeth him to have his whole dependance upon Christ as the house upon the rocke depending upon him for life to quicken him wisedome to direct him power to uphold him righteousnesse to justifie him holinesse to sanctifie him mercy to forgive him peace to quiet him and blessing to make all successefull to him c. True hope makes a man a man of courage in all holy undertakings in the open profession of God and his Testimonies in the patient tolleration of all afflictions in the Christian and constant abiding of all reproaches and contradictions for the Lord Jesus This inables man to possesse his soule in a holy silence when the world loades him with the heavy burden of many wrongs and injuries this fils him with fervent and frequent Prayers and supplications the more he hopes the more he prayes and the sweeter answer he receiveth to the Petition which his soule maketh hope of finding much quickens and strengthens man in seeking unfained hope in God is ever attended with some comfortable manifestation of God God will not leave that soule in darknesse which hopes in his mercies the hoping soule ever meets with matter of prayses and rejoycings after long sorrowes and patient waitings CHAP. XXI Shewing the carnall man in his corrupt estate is altogether alienated from God THe fifth and last Alienation declaring the carnall mans misery is an Alienation from God without God in the world Atheists either not beleeving there was any God at all or not beleeving aright but imbracing and adoring an Idoll instead of the true God but in as much as neither the Ephesians nor other Gentiles were void of all Religion but all acknowledged and adored some Deity how doth the Apostle call them Atheists and say they were without God in the world Answ 1. They were without the Scriptures the light by which God shineth from above into the soules of men the spirituall and heavenly glasse by which God doth reveale and shew himselfe plainly and clearly unto man and being without
the word of God they were without God as Israel being without a preaching Priest and without Law is said to have been without the true God He that is without the word is also without God 2. They were without the knowledge of God as the blinde is without the Sun they walked in the vanity of their minde having their understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them 3. They had false opinions of God their apprehensions of God were corrupt and carnall that which they apprehended was not the true God but an Idoll their foolish heart was darkened and they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an Image made like to corruptible man And as an Idoll is nothing of no divine power and vertue so the Apostle reputeth their opinions and adorations of God as nothing and saith they were without God Not God but an Idoll is the object of superstitious odoration 4. They knew not beleeved not loved not adored not God in Christ God is no where rightly and truly knowne and served but in Christ whatsoever is adored out of Christ is an Idoll and not God He that is without Christ is without God no man comes to God that makes not Christ the way no man knowes God that beholds him not in the face of Christ He that denyes the Sonne hath not the Father saith Saint John And thus they were without God in the world and hence observe That Man in his corrupt and carnall estate is altogether estranged from God he hath nothing of God within him God doth not shine into his heart God lives not graciously in his soule God works not powerfully and savingly upon him He hath no spirituall commerce and communion with God he is estranged from the thought of God God saith the Psalmist is not in all his thoughts he thinks not upon God as upon the Creator that formed him as upon the rocke that supporteth him as upon the King commanding him as upon the Moderator dispensing and ordering him and all things else as upon the Judge rendring to every man according to his works but all his thoughts are that there is no God no God beholding observing registring and judging the wayes and works of man The soule of every carnall man is overwhelmed with Atheisme running headlong into all impiety as if there were no God to punish him he is alienated from the feare of God he is full of dishonourable low and unworthy apprehensions of God ready to say with Pharaoh Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice I know not the Lord. He thought the God of Israel inferiour to the Idols of Egypt he was so puffed up with his worldly fulnesse that he thought himselfe sufficient of himselfe without God Corrupt and carnall man through his ignorance pride and prophanenesse hath a very base opinion of God and most shamefully sleights and undervalues God He sets his mouth against the Heavens he speaks reproachfully against the Law and Doctrine of God delivered from Heaven against the authority and dominion of God whose Throne is in Heaven against the Saints and faithfull servants of God whose spirituall originall is from Heaven against Gods worship and Religion which is of a heavenly institution Of all this he speaks basely and presumptuously this he treads and tramples under feet and inthrals it to his proud and sinfull lust he is alienated from the knowledge and beliefe of God either he hath an opinion that there is no God as the foole in the Psalmist hath said in his heart there is no God The foole the man in whom the light of grace shineth not in the lamp of whose soule the oyle of saving knowledge burneth not he hath said in his heart resolved and concluded with himselfe that there is no God of wisedome discerning the wayes of men no God of Justice taking vengeance upon men for their impieties Or if he thinke there is a God he beleeves not that he is such a God as indeed he is so glorious in his Essence in his Attributes in his Persons and in his works so holy in his wayes so faithfull in his promises so gracious to his servants and so severe against his enemies and therefore such men say unto God Depart from us for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes what is the Almighty that we should serve him and what profit shall we have if we pray unto him God the chiefest good is of no esteeme with them that are empty of all spirituall good Holy and religious services are in their opinion the most frivolous and fruitlesse undertaking who are altogether corrupt and carnall Mans prophane and base sleighting and undervaluing of God and the wayes worship and service of God openly proclaime mans miserable and cursed ignorance of God mans unhappy and sinfull Alienation and estrangement from God Carnall mans wretched and soule-destroying estrangement from God is moreover manifest described in such characters that he that runs may reade it As 1. By carnall mans enmity and opposition against God and his contrariety to God as contrary as death to life darkenesse to light evill to good bitter to sweet The carnall minde saith Saint Paul is enmity against God opposing God sighting against God It is not subiect to the Law of God neither indeed can be It breakes the bands and casts away the cords of Gods Law as Sampson sometimes burst his withes as the man in the Gospell possessed with an uncleane spirit plucked in sunder the chaines and breake in peeces the fetters which tyed him neither could any man tame him Thus the carnall man possessed by Satan and his owne uncleane and prophane spirit breaks all the chaines and fetters of Gods Law no Minister no friend no counsell no perswasion no comination can tame him and make him humble and subject to the Law of God but he rebelleth against the light he shutteth his eyes and will not see he stoppeth his eares and will not heare and is altogether contrary unto God God is light but he is darknesse God is holy perfectly absolutely infinitely holy but he is corrupt and altogether filthy God is good the fountaine of all goodnesse but he is evill a root of bitternesse all the thoughts and imaginations of his heart are only and altogether evill God is a God of knowledge perfectly knowing himselfe and all things else but carnall man neither knowes God nor himselfe God is a God of love he loves himselfe and them that beare his Image but the carnall man hates God and all them that are like God he loves evill and hates good God is a God of truth a true and faithfull God the carnall man is full of hypocrisie and deceit his heart is deceitfull above measure God delighteth himselfe he taketh pleasure in them that feare him he delighteth in them that are upright in the way To the
carnall man the thought of God is terrible he taketh pleasure in unrighteousnes and delighteth in the frowardnes of the wicked and thus his contrariety to God proclaims his alienation from God 2. By carnall mans estrangement from the life of God alienated as Paul saith from the life of God without the life of grace God lives not in him by his Spirit regenerating and quickning him The body alienated from the soule without the soule living in it is dead unprofitable unsavoury an uncomfortable spectacle Man alienated from the life of God is dead in sinne unprofitable to God to his Church to his owne soule unsensible of his sinne uncapable of the word unsavoury and abominable in the nostrils of God a very monster in the eyes of God more ugly then any leper toad or lothsome creature the dead body is earthy inclining to the earth fit only for the grave The carnall man is earthly minded inclining onely to things here below and is ready to be cast into the grave of Hell fit for an infernall funerall with the damned in outer darkenesse He that wants the life of grace is far from the God of grace whosoever is not spiritually quickened by God is miserably estranged from God 3. By the carnall mans estrangement from the knowledge of God Of such the Psalmist saith they have no knowledge no knowledge of God as a Father of Christ as a Husband of the Spirit as a Sanctifier and comforter of the word as of a light guiding and food feeding and nourishing them to life eternall they have no spirituall knowledge no principle of spirituall light to perceive the things of God which are spiritually discerned no experimentall knowledge of Gods worke upon their souls in the vivification illumination sanctification and gracious change of their hearts no affective knowledge they know not God as a child knows his father as a wife knows her husband with fervent love hearty affection no submissive knowledge they know not God as a Subject his Soveraigne a souldier his Centurion yeelding hearty free cheerfull obedience unto him no appretiative knowledge they know not God as the rich man knowes his jewell esteeming it farre above all his straw and common lumber in his house as the people knew David accounting him better then many thousands of themselves they doe not prize God above the creature and themselves they doe not repute all base and vile as nothing in respect of God no appropriative knowledge they know not God as the wife the husband selecting and taking God unto themselves and making him their God as the wife doth the husband they take not God unto them as their King Crowne portion and as all in all to their soules no consolative and delightfull knowledge they know not God as the 〈◊〉 the Sun rejoycing in the light of the Sun they delight â—n God their soules take not up their sweet repose in the botome of God the meditation of God is not sweet unto them no satiative knowledge they know not God as the thirsty the full fountaine they are not filled with God they meet not with contentation in God their desires are not terminated in God and satisfied with God they know not Gods All-sufficiency they take not up their full and eternall rest with God they are still stepping out from God with Judas they are not content with Christ but they must have the bag too and as the blinde is a stranger to the Sun so is the blinde soule a stranger to God 3. By the carnall mans estrangement from the love of God he is a stranger to the love of God Passively it is a Sun with whose beames his soule was never warmed a wine which his palate never tasted a banner under which he was never covered God never communicated the sweet sence and feeling of his love unto him none but the Bride hath the sence of the Bridegroomes love he is a stranger to the love of God actively he is a stranger to the love of union with God he declines not the things which separate from God he delights not in the meanes which unite the soule to God he desires not spirituall conjunction and communion with the Church and people of God he grieves not at the absence of the efficacy of the Spirit he longs not after the full fruition of the blessed and gracious presence of God he is a stranger to the love of Complacency in God he neither abhorres the things which are adverse to the will of God nor highly prizeth the Society of the Saints of God nor is sensible of that joy and sweetnesse which is found in the exercises of godlinesse nor knowes that delight which a gracious soule meets with by holy walking and maintaining a sweet communion with God he is not comforted and well-pleased in and with God as the eye with the Sun and the thirsty pallate with the cleare and full fountaine but hath more pleasure in the creature then in the Creator he is also a stranger to the love of benevolence and welwishing towards God having no zeale for Gods glory nor yeelding any filiall and sincere obedience to Gods precepts Whatsoever be the pretences of a carnall mans loveâ— God he loves himselfe more then God his love is the lovâ— harlots whose love is more to strangers then to their husbands Want of free full and fervent love to God ever argues an unhappy estrangement from God 4. By the carnall mans estrangement from the spirituall soule-sanctifying and soule-saving ministrations of God The carnall man is an empty house there is nothing of God dwelling there he is a Tree twice dead and plucked up by the roots there is no ministration of spirituall life Christ doth not live in him he sits in darknesse and the shadow of death the God of this world hath blinded the eyes of his understanding as the Philistines put out the eyes of Sampson there is no ministration of spirituall and saving knowledge God hath not shined into his heart he hath not the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ he lyes in the prison of the prince of darknesse like Peter in Herods prison his lusts fettering him Satan on his right hand the world on his left hand like two strong and vigilant souldiers keeping him There is no ministration of spirituall freedome he is led captive by sin the Devill and the world he is full of sinne as Naamans flesh of leprosie there is no ministration of grace and sanctification God hath not powred out his Spirit like cleane water upon him he is like the troubled Sea which cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and durt his conscience accusing his heart condemning him there is no ministration of spirituall peace no seale of the pardon of sinne no attonement between God and his soule where there is no light the Sun appeares not where there is no ministration of grace God dwels
not without grace without God 6. By the carnall mans estrangement from Christ he receiveth not Christ as a dweller to possesse him as a King to command him as a Lord and Master to be every way serviceable to Christ as a friend to love Christ as a husband to marry his soule to Christ as a Physitian to be healed by Christ as a fountaine to be filled with Christ as the root of life to live in and by Christ Every carnall man is a sinfull and a Christlesse creature having nothing of Christ in him and being without Christ he is without God God is no God of grace of mercy of peace to the soule without Christ Whosoever saith Saint John denieth the Son embraceth not loveth not honoureth not the Sonne hath not the Father And againe whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God God is truly and comfortably knowne rightly adored and sweetly and savingly enjoyed onely in Christ Man hath no way to God but Christ he is the glasse in whom God is clearly seen he is the fountaine whence the fulnesse of God is received he is the beloved in whom alone man is accepted God is an utter stranger to the soule of that person who hath not Christ dwelling in him 7. By the carnall mans estrangement from the remembrance of God In the grave saith the Psalmist there is no remembrance of thee Among the carnall men the dead in sin there is no remembrance of God God is not in all their thoughts their thoughts are worldly thoughts vain thoughts evill thoughts thoughts of iniquity Every imagination of the thoughts of their hearts is only evill continually they remember not they thinke not upon the Lord He is forgotten as he speakes by Jeremy dayes without number The carnall mans thoughts of God are erronious thoughts superstitious thoughts doubtfull thoughts low thoughts dishonourable thoughts seldome cold and flitting thoughts no serious dwelling abiding and working thoughts He doth not remember God as King of Kings and Lord of Lords with high honourable transcendent awefull and reverent thoughts disposing his soule to the feare of God He doth not remember God as the rich man his treasure with ioyfull and delightfull thoughts as the captive his Ransomer with gratulatory and praise rendring thoughts as the Bride her Bridegroome with loving soule-warming and heart-affecting thoughts as the thirsty man the fountaine with longing and incessant thoughts He doth not remember the dominion of God to be subject to him the Wisedome or God to be guided by him the power of God to repose himselfe upon him the presence of God to walke all the day long as in Gods sight nor the Al-sufficiency of God to seeke all satisfaction in him Perhaps like Mariners in a storme in a time of trouble he hath some constrained thoughts of God but otherwise he forgets God as Pharaohs Butler forgate Joseph as men in time of peace lay aside their weapons and thinke no more upon them till warre be renewed Thus carnall men lay aside all thought of God make no use of God untill some dismall distresse ceaze upon them and as they are strangers to the remembrance of God so they must of necessity be estranged from all interest in God and from all communion with God CHAP. XXII Opening the Atheisme of Man and the haynousnesse thereof IN carnall and naturall mans estrangement from God in his being without God we may see and behold a deluge of Atheisme overflowing and drowning the men of the world as once the deluge of waters overflowed and drowned the earth Some are Atheists in opinion concluding or at least supposing that there is no God at all saying in their hearts there is no God A generation of men sinning against the great and glorious workmanship of God in the Creation of the world wherein he that runnes may read as in lively characters the invisible things of God the power wisedome and goodnesse of God Transgressing against the providence authority dominion and wisedome of God clearly shining in his most wise and powerfull preservation moderation dispensation and ordering of the whole universe and all the particulars thereof as a great Centurion his army as a prudent Lord and Master his family Subverting and overthrowing all Religion and divine worship as if it were but a politicke devise to keep men in awe as children with tales and stories of bug-beares and hob-goblins there being no God to be adored no supreame and eternall Lord and Soveraigne to be served no Hell to be feared no Heaven to be desired Letting loose the raines to all licentiousnesse as if there were no Law to be transgressed no punishment to be inflicted offending against the honour and dignity of mans condition equalizing the very beasts with man as if man were to perish like the beasts partaking king after death of no greater glory then the beasts partake of extinguishing the very light of nature by which the very heathens of all ages have acknowledged a supreame divine being shamefully disgracing and dishonouring the sacred Scriptures as if they were either so many empty lamps or false lights set up for shew and not for truth haynously sinning also against Christ if there be no God then was Christs undertaking with God for man in vaine then he suffered to no purpose then had he no authority no commission from above and so is made the greatest Imposter and deceiver that ever the earth did beare a generation of men these are worse then the Devils for they beleeve and tremble O the miserable condition whereinto sinne hath cast man causing him to deny the being of that God who gave him being the fruition of whom was the Paradise of mans soule at his first Creation and is now the sweetest joy and glory of mankinde being either in the state of grace or in the Kingdome of Heaven Some are Atheists in practise professing as the Apostle saith that they know God but in works deny him Some make Idols their God bowing downe before a stocke and a stone as the superstitious some make worldly goods their God as the covetous some make meat and drinke their God as the drunkard and glutton some make honours and high places their God as the ambitious some make carnall delights and pastimes their God as the voluptuous and pleasure-hunters some make whores and harlots their God as the wanton and adulterous some make their workes their God as the merit-mongers some make their naked attendance upon holy Ordinances their God as the the carnall-Gospellers some make their morall vertues their God as the civill man some make their formes of godlinesse and outward shewes their God as the hypocrites c. All these and such like though they professe God yet in practise they are Atheists and doe deny God He that discernes not the seeds reliques and movings of this abomination in himselfe never yet knew himselfe nor the state of his
ground of all Religion Satan labours much to undermine and shake it and the Atheisme of mans heart is very prone to suspect and doubt it and mens weake and feeble lame and halting apprehension of this truth is one maine cause of the great abundance of Atheisme and prophanenesse For the effectuall and invincible perswasion resolution and through setling of your hearts therefore in this truth that God is looke 1. into the booke of Scripture and 2. into the booke of Nature 1. Looke into the booke of the Scripture and there fasten your eyes 1. upon the plaine and apparant Testimonies which it gives of God By the mouth of Job aske now saith he the beasts and they shall teach thee and the fowles of the aire and they shall tell thee or speake to the earth and it shall teach thee and the fishes of the Sea shall declare unto thee Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this in whose hand is the soule of every living thing and the breath of all mankinde By the mouth of David The Heavens saith he declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy-worke By the mouth of Paul God saith he who in times past suffered all Nations to walke in their owne wayes neverthelesse he left not himselfe without witnesse in that he did good and gave us raine from Heaven and fruitfull seasons filling our hearts with food and gladnesse And againe As I passed by saith he to the men of Athens and behold your devotions I found an Altar with this Inscription To the unknowne God whom therefore ye ignorantly worship him declare I unto you God that made the world and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth dwelleth not in Temples made with hands Neither is worshipped with mens hands seeing he giveth life and breath and every thing And most evidently writing to the Romanes he saith That which may be knowne of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them for the invisible things of him from the Creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternall power and God-head so that they are without excuse 2. Fasten your eyes upon the miraculous and mighty workes recorded in Scripture as the dividing of the waters of the red Sea and making the children of Israel to passe through them the giving of waters out of a stony rocke the raining of Manna from Heaven the sending of Quailes in the wildernesse the restraining of the fire in Nebuchadnezzars furnace that though it burned yet it hurt not the three children cast into it the shutting of the mouthes of the Lyons that they hurt not Daniel cast in among them the curing of diseases which no Physitian could heale the raising of the dead which no created power could doe the feeding of many thousands with a few loaves and fishes and many such like evidently declaring that there is an Almighty hand doing such great and mighty works 3. Meditate upon the prophecies and predictions there receiving their full and sure and certaine accomplishment in many ages after according as it was foretold arguing an eternall and All-seeing Spirit by whom they were inspired 4. Observe the punishments there miraculously inflicted upon the old world the Sodomites the Israelites in the wildernesse Pharaoh and many others and you shall reade the Justice of an Almighty God punishing the wickednesse of man 5. Consider well a way revealed to life and salvation above the capacity of man and Angell God appearing to the Patriarckes entring into a Covenant of life and peace with them sending his Prophets with tydings of a Saviour to come and at last sending his owne Sonne conceived by the Holy-Ghost in the wombe of a Virgin the humane nature assumed into the unity of the second person Christ God and Man in one Person a perfect Mediator between God and man a worke so strange and wonderfull that the Angels doe admire it and desire to pry into it a singular demonstration of Gods infinite and unsearchable wisedome 6. Observe also the mighty efficacy of this word of God upon the hearts of men piercing their hearts dividing between the bones and the marrow the joynts and the spirit presents as in a glasse the most close and secret sinnes of man before him filling them with terrour and amazement humbling and abasing them below the dust raising them out of the grave of sinne to a new life fetching them forth of Satans prison as the Angell brought Peter out of Herods prison turning their stony hearts into hearts of flesh making their leprous soules pure and cleane as Naamans flesh in Jordan healing the wounds of their consciences which no worldly balme could cure plainly declaring that an holy and Almighty Spirit did both inspire them and worke by them 7. Observe in the sacred Scriptures a generation of people so changed by the use of the word from what once they were That they are now distinguished from all the world besides as the living from the dead as the light from darkenesse as the Vine from the thorne and the Lambe from the Wolfe men called out of darkenesse into light men hating their former estates wayes and works more then ever they loved them Men chusing to live in any misery rather then in the allowance of the least sinne Men contented to be hated of father mother and all their friends according to the flesh that they may please Christ taking the spoyling of their goods joyfully reputing the reproach of Christ greater riches then all the treasures of the world Men pleasing contenting blessing and applauding themselves in the having of Christ though they have nothing else willing rather to lye in prison and dye a thousand deaths then deny or leave Christ Now whence is all this were they borne soâ— no they were once as others are Is it of themselves no the Leopard cannot change his spots it is indeed no other but the worke of a holy gracious and mighty God it is his worke which makes men to differ Had not this generation of men a cleare understanding and a lively and sweet apprehension of the Majesty power beauty and goodnesse of this God they would never for his sake endure such reproach hatred and trouble from the world Turne from the booke of the Scripture to the booke of Nature and here you shall see a Deity shining as the Sun in the Starres and putting it selfe forth as the root in the branches and appearing as the Artificer in his workmanship And thus looke 1. Vpon the whole universe the great house of the world the Earth as the floore and the Heavens as the roofe and covering plainly demonstrating the eternall power wisedome and Godhead as the Apostle saith When we see a great and stately house builded artificially composed severall peeces of stone timber lime earth and other materials skilfully and strongly joyned
Sin and by Christ and opening the scope of the Apostle p. 117 118. Christ mans comforter helper happinesse and the Author of mans welfare p. 119 120. Note Such alone as are truly sanctified and gracious pâ—ople are the compleate and proper Subject of that life which is heavenly and spirituall p. 121. Note All life is as no life yea as a very death in comparison of a holy and gracious life ib. CHAP. II. Declaring the holy mans prostration of himselfe and all that he hath under Christ p. 122. Doct. 1. He who lives the life of grace and true holinesse doth wholly deny himselfe his owne counsels and affections and altogether prostrates himselfe and all that is his under Christ Jesus p. 123. CHAP. III. Laying downe the grounds of Self-deny all and putting all under the feet of Christ p. 125. 6. Grounds hereof 1. The carnality vanity and basenesse which a man sees and feeles in his owne flesh affections ends and counsels 2. The holy inclination of a gracious heart unto Christ 3. The vanity and nothingnesse which a gracious man sees in himselfe and in all things without Christ 4. The holy powerfull and universall reigne of Christ in a gracious soule 5. The holy and fervent desire of a gracious soule to exalt and set up Christ 6. A gracious soules acquiescence and contentation in and with the approbation of Christ p. 126 127 128 129 131. CHAP. IV. Discovering the danger of the want of Self-denyall p. 132. 5. Sorts of Non-denyers of themselves 1. Self-Wise 2. Self-willed 3. Self-lusted 4 Worldly minded 5. Voluptuously and ambitiously affected and superstitiously devoted p. 133 134. CHAP. V. Proposing the grounds or causes of mens backwardnesse in denying themselves and putting all under Christ p. 135. 7. Grounds hereof 1. Self-prizing 2. Overswaying lusts 3. Inordinate disposition towards the creature 4. Over-prizing of man 5. Carnall judging and mistaking of Christ 6. Corrupt framing and devising of false Christs and false wayes to life 7. Ignorance of the nature and sweetnesse of Christs yoake p. 136 137 138 139. CHAP. VI. Relating certaine very great evils and inconveniences arising from the want of Self-denyall p. 142. 9. Evils issuing hence 1. Vncapablenesse of Christ 2. Alienation from the benefits and comforts of Christ 3. Vanity emptinesse and hollownesse of profession 4. Subiection and abasement under the creature 5. Annihilation of the fruit and benefit of Christs death 6. Deprivation of the heavenly fruit and soule-refreshing comforts of Gods Ordinances 7. Great and manifold losses attending the want of Self-denyall and Subiection under Christ 8. Apostacy from Christ 9. Christs denyall and relaction of such as will not deny themselves for him and his sake p. 14â— 143 144 145. CHAP. VII Perswading man to worke his heart to a full and through Self-denyall p. 147. Qualifications of Self-denyall 1 Spirituall 2. Voluntary 3. Vniversall 4. Continuall p. 148. Subiection unto Christ accompanies Self-denyall p. 149. Qualifications of Subiection 1. Holy 2. Cordiall 3. Full. 4. Perpetuall p. 149. 7. Inducements to Self-denyall 1. Christs interest in a Christian 2. The relation between Christ and Christians 3. Gods subiecting and putting all things under Christ 4. The abuse of all things which are not made subiect and serviceable unto Christ 5. Sweet and heavenly comforts arising from Self-denyall to the soule 6. The mitigation and sweetning of all disasters 8. The Contentation which Self-denyall ministers with the least earthly portion p. 150 151 152. CHAP. VIII Propounding certaine cleare and apparant characters of true and Christian Self-denyall p 153. 5. Marks or characters hereof 1. Captivation of Self-reason 2. Cessation from Mans owne Selfe 3. Full and free application of Mans Selfe to Christ 4. Humble and hearty ascribing of all Mans good to God 5. A low prizing and Christian undervaluing of Mans Selfe and all things else in comparison of Christ p. 150. CHAP. IX Setting down other marks and characters of Christian Self-denyal p. 161. 5. Other marks 1. Voluntary and cheerfull desertion and leaving off all for Christ 2. Mans pleasing and delighting himselfe in Christ under the Crosse 3. The prizing of Christs Crosse above the worlds Crowne 4. Man making it his greatest honour to honour Christ 5. A heart sincere humble pious plaine grieving at evill and reioycing in good p. 162 163 164 165 166 167. CHAP. X. Detecting divers deceits in and about the worke of Self-denyall p. 170. Man is apt to deceive himselfe in this worke of Self-denyall 8. wayes by denying himselfe 1. Superstitiously 2. Covetously 3. Partially 4. Constrainedly 5. Hypocritically 6. Sinisterly and politickely 7. Vaine-gloriously 8. Temporarily p. 171 172 173 174 175. CHAP. XI Shewing how a Christian may comfort himselfe in this worke of Self-denyall against remaining and rebelling lusts p. 176. 1. By the troublesomnesse of them to his soule 2. By the godly griefe of his heart for them 3. By his holy and constant contestation against them 4. By his being humbled for the want of humility 5. By his frequent and fervent prayer to be purged and emptied of all pride and self-love p. 178 179. CHAP. XII Laying open the shamefull and dangerous evill of Self-seeking p. 180. Self-seeking a root of 12. bitter branches being 1. Insatiable 2. Hypocriticall 3. Polluting 4. Alienating 5. Full of unlawfull meanes 6. Vnthankefull and discontented p. 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 181 182 184 185 188 189. CHAP. XIII Repeating other evils of Self-seeking p. 191. Self-seeking is 7. Attentive to evill counsell 8. Servile and abasing 9. Idolatrous 10. Self-loosing 11. Vndervaluing holy things and 12. the cursed mother of many unhappy children as 1. Imbondagement 2. Enmity 3. Cruelty 4. Causelesse Jealousie 5. Soule-torturing griefe 6. Vnsuccessefulnesse and 7. Loosing the comfort of present havings p. 192 193 194 197 198 199 200 201. Self-seeking how to be handled p. 201. CHAP. XIV Mentioning the danger of Self-admiration p. 202. 6. Evils of Self-admiration 1. Self-ignorance 2. Non-apprehensivenesse of the perfections of God and beauties of Christ 3. Ingratitude and Sacriledge 4. Vncapablenesse of Christ 5. Alienation from God 6. Shame and confusion Cure of Self-admiration prescribed p. 203 204 205. 206. CHAP. XV. Handling the danger of Self-exaltation p. 207. 9. Evils of Self-exaltation being 1. The root of many fowle impieties 2. The Patron and protector of all other vices 3. The most invincible of all vices 4. The corrupter and destroyer of all other gifts 5. Keeping the soule barren 6. Abusing God 7. Self-deceiving 8. Shamefully abasing man 9. Alienating from Heaven p. 208 209 210 211 212 213. 214 215. CHAP. XVI Opening the grounds of mans pronenesse to exalt himselfe and backwardnesse to exalt and set up Christ p. 215. 5. Grounds hereof 1. Mans ignorance of his owne corrupt and base estate 2. Mans inconsideratenesse of his receivings 3. Forgetfulnesse of mans place and station 4 Misprision of the true glory of man 5. Vnsensiblenesse of the unhappy fruits of
endeavours To open the eyes of men and to turne them from darkenesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgivenesse of sins and inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith which is in Christ The translation of the soules of men out of their naturall and corrupt estate into Christs Kingdome is the most sweet and blessed fruite of the Gospell To this also the Lord perswadeth by the proposall of many favours and mercies Turne you unto me saith the Lord and I will turn unto you saith the Lord of Hoasts Turne you unto me as Schollars to your teacher to learne my lawes as children to your Father to reverence my name as Subiects to your Soveraigne to obey my Statutes as Servants to your Lord and Master to do my will turne you unto me by repentance sorrowing for your sins by faith beleeving my Promises by love imbracing me and my testimonies and by obedience keeping my Commandements and I will turne unto you as a King of mercies pardoning you as a loving Father receiving you as a kind and gracious Husband imbracing you as a glorious and shining Sun dispelling all the clouds of sorrow from you as a powerfull and mighty Redeemer delivering you from all them that doe conspire against you God doth ever manifest himselfe very good and gracious to them that turne from their impieties To move men to this the Lord likewise useth very sweet and powerfull expostulations Repent and turne your selves saith the Lord God from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine cast away from you all your transgressions whereby yee have transgressed and make you a new heart and a new spirit for why will yee die ô house of Israel for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God wherfore turne your selves and live The forsaking of sin is the obtaining of life Sin is the cause of mans ruine repentance the way to peace and eternall happinesse though the ability to repent be Gods gift yet it is the duty of every man to repent and the changing of the heart from sin to holinesse is ever attended with sweet and sure mercies All blessings attend them that come from their naturall and corrupt estate to walke with God in newnesse of life and for this saith St. Peter God having raised up his Son sent him to blesse us in turning away every one of us from our iniquities the translation of man from the state of sin into the state of grace is one of the choysest benefits that cometh by Christ and they are the most blessed and happy among all people whom Christ delivers and turnes from the power and service of their corruption therefore as Sampson burst his wit hs and came away from Dalila so let us burst asunder the wit hs and fetters of our sin and come forth of our naturall and corrupt estate Of all estates to live under the power of sin and to continue a stranger to Christ is the most miserable and unhappy estate 1. An estate of Barrennesse the carnall man is a bad tree and can beare no good fruit a loathsome fountaine and can send forth no cleane water Michals wombe was shut up and she had no child till the day of her death the heart of a carnall man is shut up and continuing in that estate hee brings forth no good fruit all the dayes of his life he is saith Jude a tree twice dead and plucked up by the roots voyd of all the fruits of grace 2. His estate is an estate of exilement from God Adam was exiled Paradise for eating the forbidden fruit the carnall man is exiled Gods presence shut out from all communion with God for feeding and feasting his soule upon sin because stolne waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant unto him such men have no gracious relation unto God no claime nor title to the covenant of God no unfained love to God no likenesse with God and therefore God disclaimes all communion with them he will not acknowledge them 3. It is an estate of enmity the carnall mind is enmity against God man opposeth God and God opposeth man corrupt men are haters of God they hate the very being of God and wish there were no God they hate him in his attributes because he is a wife God and beholds all their impieties because he is a holy God and abhorres their ungodlinesse because he is a just God threatning destruction to their wayes because he is a powerfull God able to dash them in peeces as a Potters vessell with a rod of yron they hate him in his Ordinances in his Ministers in his Servants in all that beare his Image of holinesse and true righteousnesse and God hates them in their qualities in their services in their prayers their best Sacrifice is a loathsome carkasse in Gods nostrils a very abomination before the Lord. 4. It is an estate of slavery to Satan to the world to corruption he that is most sinfull is the veryest slave in the world as many lusts so many Lords and Masters yea cruell tyrants over him leading him captive at the will of Satan Peters being fettered in Herods prison Jeremies lying in the Dungeon Israels servitude under Pharaoh and the Aegyptians being led captive by the Assyrians naked and bare-foot to the reproach of Aegypt is but a slender shadow and weake representation of this thraldome 5. It is an estate of curses the whole pot was a pot of death where the evill herbe was all is a pot of death a pot of curses where sin rules very blessings are turned into curses to them that turne not from their impieties the table is a snare and what should have bin mans welfare becomes his ruine all the meanes of grace are perverted all the labours of Gods Ministers frustrated Jonahs being in the ship disabled the Marriners to bring the Ship unto the shore the dominion of sin in the soule disables the Minister to bring it to the haven of peace we row in vaine all our labour is lost if you forsake not your sin we cannot profit you the holding fast of your impieties turnes the ministry of salvation into an increase of condemnation working death instead of life the very best things proving evill to them that continue without change in their corrupt estate therfore as Hannah prayed to bee delivered from her barrennesse as Absolom longed to see an end of his exilement and to behold the Kings face againe as Israel sighed and groaned to bee eased of their bondage as the men of Tyre and Sidon made Blastus the Kings Chamberlaine their friend and desired peace with Herod and as the Prophet powred meale into the pot and there was no harme in the pot but the pot of death was made a pot of wholesome food a meanes to preserve life