more yet the fruit of their ministery remaining and the presence or succession of other able Ministers to edifie and bring them unto further perfection affoords them matter of much and sweet rejoycing though Paul departed from Jerusalem to Tarsus yet the Churches w Acts 9.31 were edified and walking in the feare of the Lord and comfort of the holy Ghost were multiplied Gods hand is not shortned if one helper faile hee can raise a second if all faile the Lord himselfe is all-sufficient he that truly profiteth by the Word when the Lord affoords it shall never be destitute of all spirituall comfort whether the ministery faile or be continued hee hath a Day-starre of grace risen within him which shall give him some glimpse of sweet and heavenly consolation the soule of him that conformes himselfe to the doctrine of Gods faithfull Ministers shall ever meet with some matter of true joy and gladnesse In regard of the blessed presence of Reas 1 Gods grace and Spirit within them there appeares a x 2 Pet. 1.19 Day-starre of regeneration which makes them joyfull as the Starre did the wise men they feele in their hearts that y Rom. 14.17 kingdome of God that worke of righteousnesse and peace which is attended with joy in the holy Ghost they discerne that presence and operation of faith which filleth them with z Rom. 15.13 all joy in beleeving and they behold that Spirit of God dwelling in them which is the a Joh. 14.16 true Comforter the authour and fountaine of all consolation Reas 2 In regard of subjugation of Satan and their owne corruption They perceive by the effect and fruit of the ministerie which they have enjoyed how Satan is b Rom. 16.20 troden under their feet as Josua c Jos 10.24 trode upon the neckes of the Kings of Canaan how their corruption is subdued as d 2 Cor. 10.4 strong holds are cast downe by warlike instruments how the Minister of the Lord hath put the Divell and all his workes to flight as David sometime overthrew e 1 Sam. 17. Goliah and made all the Philistian army flye And as Israel had great f Exod. 15.1 joy to see Pharaoh and his hoast drowned in the waters of the sea so have they matter of great joy to see Satan and all their lusts cast downe Reas 3 3. In regard of communion with God Whatsoever be taken from them yet their communion with God is not dissolved walking in the light conforming themselves to the doctrine of Gods Messengers they g 1 Joh. 1.6 have fellowship with God by prayer as Petitioners with the great master of Requests By faith and love as the Bride with the Bride-groome By subjection as the subjects with their Soveraigne By meditation as the rich men with their treasure By desire as Pilgrimes with their owne countrey And this is the joy of all joyes to Gods servants even communion with God their Father and with Christ their Husband and Saviour O then whiles you enjoy Gods Ministers Use conforme your selves to their doctrines observe their counsels embrace and follow their instructions bee renewed and become new creatures and then whether they goe or stay live or dye you shall have matter of joy and gladnesse you shall have the word of God dwelling in you to direct and guide you to strengthen and sustaine you to comfort and encourage you you shall have the grace of the Spirit shining like a lampe in the house of your soules when others are in darknesse as Israel had the light shining in h Exod. 10.23 Goshen when the Egyptians had no light to shine upon them but thick darknesse covered them you shall have faith embracing Christ filling you with Christs fulnesse when others are strangers and have no acquaintance with Christ Jesus you shall have the i Rom. 5.5 love of God shed abroad into your hearts which shall rejoyce you more then k Cant. 1.3 wine the thirsty more then l Psa 4.6 corne and oyle rejoyce the rich or m Psal 63.3 life it selfe the living though the dearest earthly possession you shall have the n Col. 3.16 peace of God even that peace which passeth all understanding reigning within you And whensoever the Minister of God departeth from you he shall be able with confidence to commend you to God bestow a blessed Legacie upon you and with Saint Pauls heart and words joy and gladnesse take his last leave of you and say Finally brethren farewell Bee perfect bee of good comfort be of one minde live in peace and the God of love and peace be with you And thus are wee come to the fourth branch of this Text Saint Pauls Exoptation or Wish Bee perfect bee of good comfort Hee doth not wish them earthly honours worldly riches carnall pleasures but perfection of grace spirituall comfort mutuall love unanimity and concord among themselves and sweet and sure communion with God Note Heavenly and saving graces are the best gifts which any man can wish or desire for others These are the surest pledge of Gods love the choycest ornament of mans soule the sweetest Embassadours of peace to mans heart the treasure of greatest worth to enrich man the gift of highest honour to enoble man the staffe of greatest strength to sustaine man the companion of most pleasant communion to solace and delight man and the well spring of most plentifull and lasting waters to fill and to content man a starre of everlasting brightnesse which will never set nor leave us And therefore these Saint Paul wisheth to the Corinthians these he commendeth to them wisheth for them bestoweth on them as the best Legacie he had to give them the best possession he could thinke on to leave behind among them And these gifts or Legacies of his you have heard are five the full opening and handling of which requires no lesse then five dayes discourse buâ— because my glasse is almost run and my ministeriall breath is now expiring and going out I shall lâ—â—â— briefly open them and leave them to â—our long and lasting consideration The first is a Legacie of perfection Bee yee perfect fill yee up that which is wanting encrease abound goe forward bee good proficienâ—â— in Christs Schoole thriving trees in Gods Orchard be more and more perfect And hence observe that Doct. It is the dutie and must bee the câ—â—â— of Gods children to strive to more spirituall perfection As the house of David grew o 2 Sam. 3.1 stronger and stronger in victory over the house of Saul and full possession of the kingdome so must they grow stronger and stronger in victory over their corruption and in the full possession of Christ and his kingdome It is Gods charge p 2 Pet. 3.18 Grow in grace as rich men in wealth as trees in height q Eph. 5 18. Bee yee filled with the Spirit as the Sea with waters and as the aire with light
in title to all Gods promises in the acceptation of their persons and services in and for Christ Eph. 1.6 Christ being the Beloved in whom they are accepted And hence we learne that Doct. There is a spirituall and heavenly perfection and fulnesse in Gods faithfull servants Sorts of perfection a fulnesse of inchoation but not of consummation as there is a fulnesse of light begun in the aire in the dawning of the day a fulnesse of parts but not of degrees as there is a fulnesse of members in an infant as well as in a man in respect of parts though not in respect of full growth a fulnesse of truth and uprightnesse though not of absolutenesse The least dramme of gold and drop of water is as truly gold and water as all the gold in the Kings Treasure or all the water in the deep Sea a fulnesse in respect of intention Phil. 3.12 though not of acquisition they set perfection as a marke before them they presse to it though they have not yet fully attained a fulnesse of duration though not of fruition they doe not faile and fall like Hasael 2 Sam. 2.23 by the way but like good travellers they goe from strength to strength untill they appeare before the Lord in Sion Psa 84.7 though they do not yet enjoy the end of their calling a fulnesse in respect of extention they mortifie all lusts they depart from every evill way they allow themselves in no sinne though they cannot wholly abolish any sinne they have an eye to all Gods precepts and walke in all Gods ordinances though they limpe and halt a little as Iacob did in his travell after hee had obtained the blessing This perfection and fulness of Gods Saints and Servants was shadowed in the Arke as it was a type of the Church the Arke had a crowne of gold about it Exod. 25.10 11. the Church the faithfull servants of the Lord are crowned with divers gifts and graces here and shall bee with the crowne of glory hereafter The Arke had foure proportionable dimensions the faithfull servants of Christ have the depth of faith the height of hope the latitude of charitie and the longitude of perseverance abounding as the Apostle saith in every thing 2 Cor. 8.7 in faith in utterance in knowledge in all diligence and love The Candlestick in the Sanctuary had seven lamps Exod. 25.31.37 and many branches adorned with bowles knops and flowers the Church and faithfull servants of God are replenished with fulnesse of divine and heavenly light and beautified with the gracious workes of the Spirit Isai 11.9 this was prophesied The earth the faithfull people of God on earth shall bee full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea abundantly replenished with all the gifts of God and this the Lord signified by the mouth of the Psalmist Psa 72.16 saying There shall be an handfull of corne in the earth on the top of the mountaines the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon and flourish like the grasse of the earth A prophesie of the plentifull preaching of the Gospel abundant communication of divine and saving gifts to men a large encrease of the number of beleevers and sweet consolations arising in the soules of men upon their freedome from the power of Satan and their owne corruption under Christs kingdome And this perfection fulnes of the servants of God is expressed somtimes by the beauty of the Lillies of the valley Cant. 2.2 Cant. 6.10 sometimes by the brightnesse of the Sunne the Moone and the Morning sometimes by the glory and rich attire of a Queene clothed with gold of Ophir Psal 45.9 13 14. and a needle wrought garment sometimes by a body washed with water Ezek. 16. and anointed with oyle clâ—thed with broidred worke shod with a Badgers skinne girded about with fine linnen covered with silke decked with ornaments having bracelets upon the hands and a chain on the necke signifying the riches fulnesse splendor beauty and admirable excellencie of those graces with which the Lord adorns the soules of his servants grace and holinesse making Gods children surpassingly beautiful That soule is most comely and beautifull which hath the greatest measure of sanctification This is likewise symbolized by the waters comming forth under the threshold of the Temple rising higher and higher Ezek. 47.5 untill they grew so deepe that a man might swim in them and for this the children of God are termed Cant. 4.2 a flocke of Sheepe even shorne come up from the washing every one bearing twinnes none barren among them for this they are stiled a Garden inclosed a Spring shut up a Fountaine sealed an Orchard of Pomegranats with pleasant fruits a Tree planted by the waters side Psa 92.12 whose leafe doth not fade trees bearing more fruit in their old age It is the propertie of Gods children to grow to more perfection their corruptions like the house of Saul 2 Sam. 3.1 growing weaker and weaker and their graces like the house of David waxing stronger and stronger and the Scripture speakes of them plainly testifying that they are full of goodness Rom. 15.14 as the starres are full of light and good trees full of good fruit full of piety towards God full of charity towards man full of knowledge in Gods will full of faith in Gods promises full of godly sorrow for their offences full of humility meeknesse for their low opinion of themselves readiness to put their neckes under the yoke of Gods precepts Phil. 1.11 Full of the fruits of righteousnesse as the fields are full of all sorts of fruit in the day of harvest Col. 4.12 Perfect and full in the will of God in the knowledge and observance of it as a good servant is full in knowing and obeying his masters will as a good traveller is full in his way knowing it and going on fully in it with all his strength with all cheerfulness and with all stedfastnesse Yea Eph. 3.19 filled with all the fulnesse of God not with the fulnesse of his essence but of his operations and communications of grace to the soules of men With the fulnesse of his will Col. 1.9 being filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisedome and spirituall understanding With the fulnesse of his promises beleeving them and drawing waters of consolation from them with the bucket of faith as from so many Wells of comfort With the fulnesse of his love as the the childe with the love of the parent feeling the love of God shed abroad in their hearts With the fulnesse of his gifts as the aire is full of the light of the Sunne With the fulnesse of his Christ who filleth all things in all men And thus wee see there is a spirituall and heavenly fulnesse in the Lords servants Ephes 1. CHAP. XVII Laying downe foure grounds of the Saints
fathers house Hee that feeds on the huskes of forraine and strange doctrines will starve his soule if hee returne not to God his fathers house where is heavenly bread enough man may feed on these plentifully and yet like Pharaohs leane b Gen. 41. kine after their eating up the fat be as leane as ever Fourthly they pacifie not Like Iobs friends they are miserable c Iob 16.3 comforters they d Zach. 10 2. comfort in vain The e Mark 5.29 woman in the Gospel spent all upon the Physitians and yet could not be cured untill she came to Christ there is no cure for wounded consciences unlesse they come to Christ Jesus Fifthly f 2 Corin. 11.3 they deceive as the Serpent deceived our first parents and as g 2 Kings 18. Rabseca would have deceived Ezekiahs subjects Sixthly they allure and draw to sinne as the h Prov. 7. harlot allured the young man Seventhly they impoverish the soule as by meanes of a whorish woman a man is brought to a morsell of bread Eighthly they captivate and bring the soule into bondage make man the servant of men the servant of corruption as Delila by her singing caused Sampson to sleepe and cut off his lockes Ninthly they adulterate the true doctrine of Gods Ministers as tares corrupt the wheat and as a little leaven doth season the whole lumpe Tenthly they derogate from the dignity and honour of Christ Eleventhly they deny Christs authority by making men our Lords and Masters Twelfthly they deny Christs wisedome by setting up other rules to direct us as if Christ had not wisedome enough to guide us O then hold fast that forme of doctrine which Christ hath taught you walke in that light which he hath set up to conduct you and beware of making the doctrines of men the rule of faith or life feed not on them lest they poyson you build not upon them lest they sinke under you leane not on them lest they pierce you walke not after them lest they deceive you but take all your direction from Christ Jesus in whom is all fulnesse This must teach us to suffer our selves in all things to bee guided by Christ 2. An admonition to wait on Christ receive all direction from him to wait upon him to take all our direction from him As Moses received the whole patern of the Tabernacle from the Lord and accordingly framed it so let us receive the whole paterne of our faith and life from Christ accordingly beleeve walke repent and obey Let us wait upon him and receive our commission from him as i 2 Sam. 18. Ahimaas sometime waited upon Ioab and ran when he bid him Let us feele Christ in his fulnesse shining into our hearts as the Sunne in the fulnesse of his strength shineth into the aire filling us with such divine and heavenly light that we may see our owne vilenesse as a man in a glasse beholds his spots that wee may discerne the things that differ as in the day men discerne colours that wee may bee humbled in the apprehension of our owne unworthinesse as Paul fell unto the ground when the light shined about him that wee may know and feele the vanitie and emptinesse of the creature as the children of the Nobles knew the k Ier. 14.4 emptinesse of the pits when they came and found no water in them as Iacob knew the vanity of Laban having changed his wages ten times that we may see the necessitie we have of Christ as the Elders of Gilead saw the need they had of Ieptha and the Gibeonites their need of Iosua that we may behold God in Christ as a Father regenerating us as a King of mercie pardoning us as a gracious friend coÌ„ming neare unto us bestowing all heavenly gifts upon us enriching us with all blessings in Christ Jesus that we may have a cleare apprehension of Christs beauties and bee thereby drawne to value him above all treasures to love him above all friends to honour him above all commanders to desire him above all riches to solace our selves in him as in the Paradise of all our comforts to stay upon him in all distresses to intend him in all our undertakings to meditate upon him at all seasons receiving daily more and more of the fulness of his grace that at length wee may reigne with him in the fulness of his glory CHAP. IV. Setting forth the beautie of all divine and heavenly fulnesse in Christ THe second thing in these words is the Subject in which all fulnesse dwelleth Subjectum and that is in him in Christ in the person of Christ as God and Man in one person in the humane nature assumed into the unity of the second person in the body of Christ as in a * In corpore Christi ceu in Templo Temple saith Augustine Corpus Christi verè est Templum in ipso enim voluit habitare corporaliter tota plenitudo deitatis saith Cyril The body of Christ is truly a Temple for in it would all the fulnesse of the God-head dwell bodily From whence we learne that Doct. All Divine and Heavenly fulnesse is to bee found in Christ Iesus All the fulnesse of the land of Egypt was to bee found with Ioseph All the fulnesse of God of grace of peace of glory is found with Christ It l Col. 1.19 pleased God saith Saint Paul that in him should all fulnesse dwell the fulnesse of wisedome righteousnesse holinesse and of all good things have their abode and dwelling in Christ in him they are found in their complete perfection and Christ is said to m Ephes 1.23 fill all in all The Sunne filleth all the Starres with light the Sea filleth all the Rivers with waters Christ filleth all the creatures with a naturall fulnesse Christ filleth all the children of God with a spirituall and heavenly fulnesse and of his fulnesse they are said to n Joh. 1.16 receive as streames from the fountaine branches from the root and members from the head Grace for grace The grace of the new Testament for the grace of the old permanent for shadowish grace or rathâ—r grace upon grace one grace of the Spirit after another the Spirit of Christ daily powring a new increase of grace upon us Such is Christs fulnesse that he more and more filleth the soules of his servants and this fulnesse of Christ is sometimes expressed by likening Christ to a Store-house wherein is all treasure in o Col. 2.3 whom are hidden all the treasures of wisedome to a p Rev. 2â— 2 Tree on which growes all varietie and fulnesse of fruit to a q Rev. 19.16 King for the fulnesse of his majestie glory dignity excellencie All creatures are but beggers in comparison of Christ Jesus to a man that keepes open house for his fulnesse freenesse readinesse to communicate to hungry soules r Isa 55.1 Ho saith the Lord by the Prophet every
escape to Christ from the world and our corruption Of all undertakings man must use most speed and diligence to come to Christ Jesus Secondly 2. Fully to Christ let us come fully in respect of the terme from whence wee come from the world and all the vanities thereof As Abraham p Gen. 22 5. left his Asse and all his servants at the foot of the hill behinde him and went up to offer his sonne Isaac to the Lord so let us leave all the vanities of the world behinde us and come and offer our selves to Christ let us come from all sinne When a captive woman joynes herselfe in wedlocke to an Israelitish Souldier she must q Deut. 21.12 change her apparell shave her head and pare her nailes and so come to bee joyned in wedlock to her husband hee that will come to Christ must change his apparell put off the old man shave his head remove the ignorance and errour of his understanding and pare his nailes reforme all his outward wayes and so come to Christ To Christ let us come fully in respect of the affection with which wee come with all our hearts and with all our soules with our understanding to know him with our wills to chuse him with our imaginations to thinke upon him with our affections to feare trust love and rejoyce in him To Christ let us come fully in respect of the Medium by which we come even in the use of all the ordinances of God and in respect of the terme whereunto we come even unto whole Christ unto the wisedome of Christ to bee guided by it unto the power of Christ to depend upon it unto the righteousnesse of Christ to bee justified by it unto the merit of Christ to receive all good things through it unto the promises of Christ to beleeve them unto the commandements of Christ to obey them Hee that comes not fully comes deceitfully to Christ departs unprofitably from Christ He alone enjoyes Christ who comes universally to Christ Thirdly 3. Holily to Christ let us come holily The stranger under the Law that came to the Passeover was first r Exo. 12.48 circumcised He that comes to Christ must circumcise the foreskin of his heart There is no acceptable appropinquation to Christ Iesus without true holinesse 4. Hungrily Fourthly to Christ let us come Å¿ Isa 55.1 hungrily as a thirsty man to the waters no man is welcome to Christ but hee that comes with a holy hunger and thirst Hee sends the rich empty away and t Luke 1.53 5. Humbly sills the hungry with good things Fifthly to Christ let us come humbly with a lively sense and feeling of our wants in godly sorrow and true repentance as the servants of Benhadad came to the King of Israel with u 1 Kings 20. ropes about their neckes and sack-cloth about their loines Sixthly 6. Lovingly to Christ let us come lovingly as the Bride unto the Bride-groome Strongly 7. Strongly as the waters to the Sea Joyfully 8. Ioyfully as the rich man to his treasure And constantly 9. Constantly comming more and more daily drawing neerer and neerer unto Christ to a more full and perfect participation and fruition of Christ and his fulnesse And to the end wee may all come to Christ and for the better disposing and fitting of our hearts thus to come to Christ Foure meanes disposing men to come to Christ 1. Sense of emptinesse wee must first bee sensible of our emptinesse without Christ feele our soules as an empty stomacke wherein is no meat as an empty lamp wherein is no light as an empty or withered arme wherein is no strength The people in the famine being sensible of the emptinesse and want of corne at home came to Ioseph with whom was all the fulnesse of Egypt Hee alone doth truly prize Christs fulnesse that feeles his owne emptinesse The sonnes of Iacob went not out of their owne countrey downe to Egypt for bread untill they found the want thereof at home Man never goes out of himselfe to Christ till hee knowes the vanity and emptinesse of his owne heart hee that knowes this will hasten his soule to Christ as Iacob hasted his sonnes to Egypt 2. Consideration of Satans Siege Secondly wee must see and consider how Satan doth besiege and assault us How like a man of warre hee sets upon us how like a roaring Lyon hee goes up and downe seeking to devoure us The Gibeonites seeing themselves besieged by the Amoritish Princes sent to Iosua to helpe them Paul being sensible of the buffetings of Satan addressed himselfe to God by w 2 Cor. 12.7 8. fervent and frequent supplication the soule of man that feeles Satans buffetings is even restlesse untill he comes fully home to Christ Iesus hee flies to Christ as a sheep to the Shepheard driven by the Dogge and as a x Ps 42.2 chased and wounded Hart to the water brookes Thirdly 3. Experience of insufficiencie of the creature wee must bee experienced in the insufficiencie and inabilitie of the creature to helpe us to satisfie us to make us happy Noah knowing that the y Gen. 7. waters would overflow the earth and that there would bee no resting place thereupon for his foot betooke himselfe unto the Arke and entred into it Mans experience of the vanitie and insufficiencie of the creature feeling that there is no rest nor stay for his foot thereon betakes himselfe to Christ lookes to him seekes for interest in him expects all safety from him Fourthly wee must have anguish in our hearts for sinne 4. Anguish for sinne bee out of love with our selves discontent with the naughtinesse of our hearts The people that were in debt z 1 Sam. 22.1 in distresse in discontent came to David and made him their captaine Man takes no pleasure in Christ till hee is displeased with himselfe Spirituall distresse and anguish makes Christ pretious hee that knowes the greatnesse of his soules debt comes to Christ to make payment the more bitternesse man doth taste in sinne the more sweetnesse hee doth finde in Christ this makes Christ very amiable and pretious very satisfactory and joyous and fills the soule with such longing after him that as Naomi said of Boaz The man will not bee in rest untill hee hath finished the thing this day no more is man in any rest untill hee hath finished this thing untill hee hath wrought home his soule to Christ as a Mariner the ship unto the Haven of all peace and safety of all satisfaction and tranquillity CHAP. IX Teaching how to make use of Christ IS all divine and heavenly fulnesse in Christ is it all placed there Then wee must make use of Christ as the child of full breasts as the thirsty of a full vessell Christs fulnesse is nothing to him that makes not use of Christ There is a price saith Solomon in the hand of a
fulnesse in Christ so all Christians must worke their hearts to a holy gracious full and constant acquiescence in Christ to stay on Christ to quiet and content themselves in and with Christ never declining from Christ never stepping out nor going aside from Christ to any other helper but as the eye doth quiet it selfe in the fulness of the light of the Sun and looks for no other light the builder quiets himselfe in the strength of the rock and looks out for no other foundation to build upon So let us quiet our selves in Christ and looke for no other guide no other supporter no other helper no other comforter no other Saviour As old Iacob sometime said of Ioseph It is f Gâ—â— 45. â—8 enough Ioseph is yet alive I will goe and see him so let us say It is enough Christ liveth Christ reigneth Christ hath fulnesse wee will goe to him stay on him satiate and delight our soules in him This the Lord requires Hee g Isâ—y 5â— 10 that walkes in darknesse and hath no light let him stay upon the Lord and trust in the name of his God Mat. 6. As the house in the Parable stayed upon the rocke when the windes did blow and the waves did beat thus in the windes and waves of all trouble let us stay on Christ without wavering to this the Lord gives many sweet encouragements h Psal 37. Verse 3. Trust in the Lord with a full a quiet a composed and resolved minde and doe good live graciously walke holily keepe close to God so shalt thou dwell in the land thou shalt not bee dismayed with any feares nor grow impatient with troubles nor bee overcome with sorrowes nor removed from thy station but verily thou shalt bee fed thou shalt enjoy every necessary good thing with a settled quiet contented minde Verse 4. Delight thy selfe also in Lord as a childe in the father as a wife in the husband as a rich man in his treasury delight thy selfe in the commandement of God as in the light which guides thee in the promise of God as in the staffe which sustaines thee in the favour of God as in the warmest Sunne that ever shined upon thee in the attributes of God as in the branches shadowing and streams refreshing thee Thus delight thy selfe in the Lord and hee shall give thee thy hearts desire he shall fully answer all thy holy and gracious desires when thou hast thus fully committed thy selfe unto him and quieted thy selfe with him verse 5. Commit thy way also to the Lord receive all thy direction from him doe all according to his prescription leave the issue of all to his disposition and he shall bring it to passe give it such an issue as shall be greatly for thy comfort verse 7. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him though thou suffer many evils doe not repine doe not limit nor prescribe God doe not step aside from God to any forbidden helpes suppresse the tumults of thy heart and wait as Noah did for the abatement of the waters and comming of the Dove quiet thy selfe in Christ looke upon the authoritie of Christ to dispense all as hee pleaseth upon the wisedome of Christ to make a way for thy soule to escape upon the power of Christ to deliver thee upon the presence of Christ to minister encouragement to thee upon the love of Christ to sweeten the bitterest estate unto thy soule upon the faithfulness of Christ never to forsake thee upon the happines of cleaving close to Christ thogh all the world oppose thee and upon the abundant fulnesse that Christ is to thy soule when all other things are taken from thee and thou shalt solace and stay thy selfe upon Christs fulnesse with a full acquiescence From the fulnesse of the Lord JESUS flowes a full fountaine of consolation to the soules of all beleevers 7. Consolations flowing from Christs fulnesse consolation against all externall wants He cannot bee poore that hath Christ in whom is all fulnesse when hee is spoyled of all hee hath an abiding substance Christ is the Sunne in whom is all light the Pearle in whom is all worth the Tree on whom grows all fruit The Soule which is espoused to the heire of all things hath no cause to complaine of the want of riches hee that enjoyes Christ and distracts himselfe about worldly abilities knowes not his own happinesse under-values the portion which God hath given him having a feast of fat things a rich jewell a living spring a glorious Sunne at home seekes abroad for huskes to feed him drosse to enrich him a glow-worme to warme him and ditch and dirty water to quench the thirst that is within him What is the vintage of Abiezer to the gleanings of Ephraim the onions and garlicke of Egypt to the grapes of Canaan Is Pharphar like Jordan Is the broken cisterne like the fountaine The fulnesse of the world to the fulness of Christ is nothing hee that hath Christ hath the richest portion though he have nothing besides him Here is consolation against the want of carnall friends earthly peace and worldly comforts though Saul cannot be merry without a Fidler Ahab without Naboths vineyard Haman without Mordecays courtesie a man that hath Christ hath that which makes him merry without all these If Plato could tell the Musicians that Philosophers knew how to dine and sup without them much more they who enjoy Christs fulnesse know how to solace themselves in the absence of earthly comforts Here is consolation against all opposing powers in Christ is all fulnesse hee is a Shepheard able to deliver his flock from the Beare and the Lyon hee is a wall of fire able to defend his citizens and burne their enemies hee is a husband able to rescue his Spouse and destroy them that make warre on her as David rescued his wives and destroyed the Amalekites that carried them away captives Here is consolation against all soule infirmities in Christ is all fulnesse fulnesse of mercie to pity and pardon us fulnesse of power to strengthen us fulnesse of grace to heale us fulnesse of love to solace us fulnesse of peace to quiet us and the fulnes of all goodnes to perfect us The Lords servants should not bee so much dejected with the thought of their owne emptinesse and weaknesse as revived and cheared with the meditation of Christs fulnesse CHAP. XI Declaring the inseparable union of Christ's two natures in one person THE third thing in these words is an act dwelleth an act of permanencie and duration expressing the inseparable union between the two natures of Christ in one person the divine dwelling in the humane Man i Ioh. 6.56 1 Ioh. 4.16 dwells in Christ and God by faith as by an instrument by love as by a witnesse of his societie and communion with God and Jesus Christ God and Christ dwell in men by grace and heavenly effects regenerating the hearts of men
will have no pitie no compassion upon us Hear what the Lord hath to this purpose spoken by Solomon Proverbs 1. vers 23. Pro. 1.23 There is Gods invitation strengthened by the consideration of past and present corrections and the promise of future kindnesse vers 24 25. There is their refusall obstinacie rebellion against him their slighting of Gods counsels weariness under his corrections Vers 26 27 28. There is laid open the misery of their condition the wrath of God against them the bitter fruits of their rejection of that mercy which God did proffer to them For this God threatned to leave the people in their sinne Because I have purged thee Ezek. 24.13 and thou wast not purged saith the Lord unto Jerusalem thou shalt not bee purged from thy filthinesse any more till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee I the Lord have spoken it it shall come to passe and I will doe it I will not goe back neither will I spare neither will I repent c. To this accordeth that commination of our Saviour against the false Prophetesse and soule-seducing Jezabel Rev. 2 21. I gave her space to repent of her fornication and she repented not there is our Saviours patience mercie long-suffering veâ—se 22. Behold saith Christ I will cast her into a bed a bed of affliction them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation except they repent of their evill deeds Heb. 3.16.18 Some saith the Apostle when they had heard provoked thereupon the Lord sware they should not enter into his rest and the estate of such people is very dangerous and fearfull For Reason 1 It is uncertaine First whether God will continue the meanes of grace Propter incertitudinem If a man knock long at a doore and none open he departeth Our Saviour Cant. 5. knocked by his word instructing inviting by his rod chastising by his Spirit moving by his mercies long-suffering alluring he waited long in the dew and in the raine enduring many sorrowes Cant. 5.2 3. troubles afflictions in himselfe and in his Ministers but because his Spouse refused the proffers of his love hee withdrew himselfe hee stopt his eare hee would not heare in her distresse Secondly it is uncertaine whether our life will continue Iam. 4.14 Our life is but a vapour and wee know not what shall be on the morrow Nemo tam divos habet faventes crastinum ut possit sibi polliceri Sen. qui poenitenti veniam spospondit peccanti diem crastinum non promisit Greg. Thirdly if both meanes and life continue and wee for the present refuse to make use of it it is very uncertaine whether God will give his blessing to make the meanes effectuall God may leave us under his ordinances as rockes in the midst of rivers Isa 59.10 as blinde men under the Sunne at noone day hee may suffer his word to prove the savour of death unto death 2 Cor. 2.14 make what should have been for our welfare to be an occasion hastening our ruine It is not in our power to repent and turne to God when we list Propter impotentiam 2 Sam. 3.32 David in his life time complained of the sonnes of Zervia that they were too strong for him And wee may truly complaine of Satan and his sonnes his cursed birth within us I meane our corruptions that they bee too strong for us wee may imagine as Sampson in another case did that we have power to awaken rise up goe forth from the servitude of sinne and Satan when wee please but it will bee at last with us as with Sampson our strength will faile us the Philistines will bee upon us prevaile against us Ezek. 36.26 27. we may as soon turne the stony rock into soft ground raise the dead out of the grave make the brambles bear figges as by our owne power raise our selves to a new life Ephes 2.1 Mat. 7.16 turne our stony into a soft and tender heart bring forth the sweet figges and pleasant grapes of godly sorrow true repentance a lively faith fervent love sincere obedience This is a worke sutable to none but Gods finger Hee that raised the dead Ioh. 11.44 Isa 35.5 6 Exo. 17.6 that turned the barren wildernesse into a fruitful field that fetcht water out of the stony rocke hee alone can change the heart make us fruitfull in the saving grace of the Spirit 1 Cor. 3.6 Paul plants and Apollo waters but the Lord doth give the increase It is God that openeth the heart of Lydia Act. 16.14 When Paul preacheth and the Lord is a free agent hee communicateth his grace when and where he pleaseth Ioh. 3.8 Sinne will grow strong and Satan will fortifie his holds Propter incrementum if the meanes of grace bee neglected the reformation of our wayes procrastinated A disease neglected growes incurable an enemy let alone becomes invincible and sinne gathers much strength by continuance it blindes the understanding dulls the affection hardens the heart seares the conscience makes uncapable of holy counsell unfit for every godly undertaking Difficile est ab usitatis desinere difficile est à familiaribus abstrahi Greg. Can the Ethiopian saith the Prophet change his skinne Ier. 23.13 or the Leopard his spots then may yee also doe good that are accustomed to doe evill This serveth for the sharpe reproofe of such as procrastinate their repentance Use stop their eares to present invitations shut their eyes against the present light which shineth to them regard not the day of their visitation Iâ—a 55.6 who seek not the Lord while hee may bee found but like the sluggard cry Pro. 6.10 A little more sleepe a little more slumber a little more folding of the hands upon the bed of sinne till sinne Satan hell come like armed men upon them and they are found unable to resist them Thus the old world all the time of Noahs preaching and preparing the Arke neglected their day till the flood came upon them Mat. 25.1 the foolish virgins slumbred till the bridegroome came entred in and shut them out having no oyle in their lampes Some out of the strength of their love to sinne repose themselves after many warnings in her lap as Sampson did in Dalilahs lap till shee delivered him into the hands of the Philistines Some out of hope to repent hereafter Acts 24.25 Rom. 2.5 Psa 95.10 Job 21.14 or in hope of better leasure some out of the hardnesse of their hearts some out of their unbeliefe some out of their Atheisticall and base conceits of a religious and godly life Rev. 3.17 some out of selfe-conceit thoughts of selfe-sufficiencie and present fulnesse Luk. 14.18 some through multiplicitie of worldly businesse some by the perswasions of carnall friends are hindered from attending the meanes of grace from the reformation of their wayes As the Levite was so long
of all our friends according to the flesh made dumb and silent then our soules will be put upon Christ and there will bee no remedy we must say Come Lord Iesus And therefore this should make Christ very pretious in our eyes now this should inflame our hearts with singular and fervent love unto him for the present getting interest in him above all things and making him our chiefest and choycest our deare and onely friend This should so sweeten unto us the Lord Jesus that wee should say with Bernard Jesus dulcis in voce dulcis in facie dulcis in nomine dulce enim nomen suave Jesus consecratum ab aeterno annunciatum ab Angelo prophetatum Solomonis oraculo qui ait Oleum effusum nomen tuum Psa 73.25 Jesus is sweet in voice sweet in face sweet in name for the name Jesus is sweet being consecrated from eternitie published by the Angel and prophesied by the Oracle of Solomon who saith Thy Name is an oyntment powred forth Wee should so select him so admire him so adhere unto him so set our hearts upon him that wee should say with the Psalmist Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee So glorious so pretious so infinitely transcendent let him be in our thoughts in our judgements in our estimation and affections that wee love and affect him exalt and preferre him as the King above all commanders as the Sunne above all lights as the spring above all cisternes as the pearle above all treasure and as the husband of our soules above all friends as a Paradice of all pleasures a haven of rest from all tempests and the refuge of our soules in all troubles Let our faith bee such in him our hope so settled upon him our love so strong towards him our subjection such under him that we may bee able at all times and seasons in all estates and conditions to say Come Lord Jesus Behold in this the honour and profit the advantage and comfort which a bodily dissolution bringeth to the righteous to all true beleevers they desire the full fruition of Christ and this bringeth them home to Christ Phil. 1.21 to them to dye is gaine gaine of libertie from the burthen of all corruption from all the assaults of Satan from the servitude of the world and all affliction gaine of perfect holinesse in respect of Gods image gain of complete victory in respect of all enemies gaine of most sweet communion in respect of their fellowâ—hip with God Christ the glorious Angels and all the Saints of God gaine of absolute honour in respect of their glorious condition in heaven As death to the righteous is a tree of many fruitfull branches a messenger of many comfortable tidings so the Spirit of God hath given it many denominations Sometimes it is stiled a Sleepe Mat. 9.24 sleep possesseth onely the outward members and senses the soule sleepeth not so in death the body onely dies the soule is carried into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16.22 â—ev 14.13 Sleep giveth rest unto the body They who dye in the Lord rest from all their labours Sometimes it is called a gathering to our Fathers Gen. 25.8 by death the righteous are separated from the wicked gathered as wheat into Gods garner and their soules bound up in the bundle of life 1 Sam. 25 29. Sometimes it is called a way the way of all flesh by the way wee come to our home to our fathers and to our friends house Ios 23.14 and by death wee come to our heavenly home to God the father and the Lord Jesus Sometimes it is called a going forth As the prisoner goeth forth of the prison 2 Pet. 1.15 and Israel went forth from the bondage of Egypt so when the body dieth the soule goeth forth as out of a prison and entreth into the land of the living Sometimes it is called an end Mat. 10.22 because in death there is an end of all sin of all sorrow of all labour trouble as in the waters of the red Sea the Israelites Egyptian bondage ended Sometimes it is termed a sowing Ioh. 11.24 1 Cor. 15.44 the seed which is sowne doth spring forth again into a blade the body in the resurrection shall flourish like the grasse death like a Physician cures all their diseases like a key opens the prison and restores them to a blessed freedom brings them to the full fruition of Jesus Christ the desire of their soules And this is the sweetest and fullest gaine of a Christian Lucrum est evasisse incrementa peccati Augustine lucrum fugisse deteriora lucrum transire ad meliora Aug. Lucrum maximum computat Christianus Cyprian jam saeculi laqueis non teneri jam nullis peccatis vitiis carnis obnoxium fieri exemptum pressuris angentibus venenatis diaboli faucibus liberatum ad laetitiam salutis aeternae Christo vocante proficisci Cypr. This must perswade move us to work our hearts to a holy longing and earnest desire after the comming of the Lord Jesus to desire it as the husbandman the coÌ„ming of the harvest the sick man the comming of the day of health or the ward the day of his full age to looke for the new heavens 2 Pet. 3.13 2 Tim. 4.8 and the new earth and to love the appearing of the Lord Iesus and for that end there must be First Godly sorrow for sin Christs coming is comfortable to such as are truly sorrowfull he that is weary of his corruptions doth truely long for the coming of Christ Jesus Gen 45.4.5 Ioseph spake to his brethren kindly entertained them courteously when he saw them grieved for the injury offered him Luke 15. The prodigals day of humiliation Isa 61.1 was the day wherein his father graciously received him Christ will bee found a sweet and mercifull Iesus to all Mat. 11.28 truly penitent sinners Secondly there must be a thorough removall of sin an effectuall reformation of all our wayes Gen. 35.2 Jacob went not up to Bethel before he purged his house of Idols It is in vain for man to say Come Lord Jesus if there bee not a conversion of the soule to Jesus To such the Prophet speakes Amos 5.18.19 Woe to you that desire the day of the Lord to what end is it for you the day of the Lord is darknesse and not light as if a man did flye from a Lyon and a Beare met him or went into a house and leaned his hand on the wall and a Serpent bit him Shall not the day of the Lord be darknesse and not light even very darke and no brightnesse in it What the voyce of God was to Adam upon the eating of the forbidden fruit what the comming of the flood was to the profane men of the old world what the waters of the red Sea were to Pharaoh what the
Saint Paul to Titus hath appeared teaching men to deny ungodlinesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously c Acts 26.16 and goâ—â—â—â— in this present evill world And 〈…〉 Christ to Paul have appeared 〈…〉 â—â—is purpose to make thee a Miâ—â—ster 〈◊〉 witnesse both of these things which thou hast seene and of those things in the which I will appeare unto thee delivering thee from the people and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee to open their eyes and to turne them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God In regard of Gods expectation The husband-man after the long manuring of the field lookes for fruit from the field Who is the d Mat. 21. housholder in the parable that planted a vineyard but the Lord What is the vineyard but the Church and what are the vines but the several meÌ„bers of the Church Who are the servants but the Ministers whom God sends to dresse his vineyard what is the fruit which God there expects but knowledge faith repentance the fruit of his Ministers labours in the soules of his servants The shepheard lookes for increase from the flocke which he watcheth feedeth conducteth and defendeth the husband lookes for children from the wife whom he espouseth the fruit of his wedlocke and God the husband and shepheard of our soules lookes for fruit from us over whom by his Ministers hee watcheth whom by their labours he feedeth conducteth and defendeth and espouseth to himselfe The Teacher expecteth learning from his scholer and herein saith Christ is my Father glorified e Joh. 15.8 that ye beare much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples In regard of honouring and glorifying the Word and Ministers thereof The fruitfulnesse of the field is the glory of the seed sowne in it and of the husband-man which sowed it f Psa 128.3 the wife which is as the vine by the sides of the house and the children standing like Olive plants round about the Table are the glory of the house and husband g Psal 127.5 happy is he that hath his quiver full of them sayth the Psalmist he shall not be ashamed The fruitfulnesse of the people when the Congregation is full of spirituall fruit like a vine growing by the house side and the severall members thereof fat and flourishing in grace like Olive plants then the Word is glorified then the Minister is honoured happy is that Messenger of God that hath his quiver the house of his Ministery full of them It is sayd of the Gentiles h Acts 13.48 that they heard and glorified the Word of God and as many as were ordained unto life beleeved They glorified the word of God by acknowledging the truth of it by beleeving the promises of salvation proposed in it by submitting themselves to the power and authoritie of it by walking answerably to it Mans obedience is the glory of Gods ordinance the fruitfulnesse of the hearers is the crowne of Gods Messengers In regard of peace and consolation to their owne soules The good effects of Physicke make the patient joyfull the fructification of the word in the heart of man makes the soule of man comfortable When the Gospel commeth not in i 1 Thess 1.5 word onely but in power also in power in lightning in power converting and changing the heart of man working and perfecting grace in the inward man then the soule of man is filled with joy in the holy Ghost then the Word is the joy and rejoycing of the heart then the k Isai 5.7.19 fruit of the lippe is peace spirituall inward universall plentifull and perpetuall peace peace with God peace with man peace with the conscience a paradise of heavenly comforts a river of peace which no humane understanding can fathome And therefore it must bee the care of men to see that they grow to much spirituall perfection after the Ministers long and frequent preaching This therefore reproveth such as after the long and frequent preaching of the Gospel continue barren and unfruitfull Use like the grounds about l 2 King 2.19 Iericho which were not made fertile but rather barren by the waters which did flow upon them to whom the waters drawne out of the wells of salvation are as waters powred upon the rocke which bringeth forth no fruit from whom the sounding of the trumpet of the Gospel and the constant cry of Gods watchmen like the m 1 King 18 26. call and cry of Baals worshippers from the morning to the evening upon Baal hath no voyce nor answer of faith in Gods promises of obedience to Gods precepts nor of godly sorrow for mens transgressions ministring matter of complaint to God provoking the site of Gods indignation against their soules I n Isa 64.2 have spred out my hands all the day long saith the Lord unto a rebellious people which walketh in a way that is not good after their owne thoughts a people that provoketh me to anger continually 〈…〉 face ministring cause of great complaint to Gods Messengers causing them to say with the Prophet Esay o Isa 53.1 Who hath beleeved our report and to whom hath the arme of the Lord been revealed to mourne wish with Jeremy O p Jer. 9.1 that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountaine of teares that I might weepe day and night for the slaine of the daughter of my people O that I had in the wildernesse a lodging of way-faring men that I might leave my people and goe from them for they are all adulterers an assembly of treacherous men Great is the griefe arising in the soules of Gods Ministers when men continue barren under their labours And when men thrive not ascend not to perfection in grace by the care industry of Gods watch-men they lose that q Pro. 2.10 knowledge the presence whereof is more pleasant then the sun that r 1 Pet. 1.6 faith the enioyment whereof is more pretious then all gold that peace which is more comfortable and delightfull then any paradise then the garden of Eden it self and that communion with God in coÌ„parison wherof the sweetest communion with men is but an exilement continuing their soules under the dominion of sin which is more loathsome full of torment then any sicknes under that bondage of Satan which is infinitely worse then captivity under any mortall tyrant provoking God at length to leave them and making their last account for all the Sermons which they have heard most dreadfull and most uncomfortable Therefore let it bee our care after the long and frequent preaching of the Gospel after the due and faithfull discharge of the Ministers dutie towards us to discharge our dutie also towards God the Lord hath caused the Starre of his Gospel a long time to shine amongst you and hath made the dew of his doctrine to drop for divers years upon you he hath shewed you his statutes and