for it p. 80. 81 342 Self-denial tryeth the truth of graces p. 350 Sin why remainders of it in the elect p. 266-269 Spirit Sow to it p. 326. joy in it p. 431. 435 Talents may not be un-improved p. 317. 323 336 Tapers their use in Cathedrals not insignificant p. 122 Time an exceeding precious talent p. 96 Unbelievers in effect drudges for true believers p. 240. 331. shaken from their shifts p. 56-61 guilty of troubling their own hearts p. 62. of distrusting God and his Christ p. 62. 63 of despising heavenly mansions p. 63. of death spiritual p. 65-71 of death eternal p. 71 72. awakened to a holy fear p. 73 74. answered their manifold objections p. 76-80 called to the life of faith p. 80 84 253-257 to peace of conscience p. 85. 86. to perseverance p. 88. 89. by several motives p. 90-108 Unbelief a sin most inexcusable p. 319. most accursed p. 318. 320 Ungodlinesse aggravateth guilt p. 312. 313 Unthankfulnesse an argument of unbelief p. 320 White Vestments suit with a Gospel-purity p. 369 Worldly blessings accompany the peace of the Gospel p. 28. 397 406-413 and oblige us to glorifie our God ibid. Zeal why so strictly required in Believers p. 310. 311 314. MARK 16.4 And when they looked they saw that the stone was rolled away for it was great Imprimatur Ex. Aed Sab. Decemb. 20. 1662. Geo. Stradling S. T. P. Rev. in Christo Patri Gilb. Episc Lond. à S. Domest THE STONE ROLLED AWAY AND LIFE more ABVNDANT JOHN 14.1 2. Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me In my Fathers house are many Mansions ROM 10.17 Faith cometh by hearing The Introduction I dare not therefore distrust your attention So your heavenly Redeemer prepare for each of you a Mansion in his Fathers house as ever ye believe that where His Gospel is preached there the Power of his Spirit is present to heal Even so Lord Jesus Time was when the (1) Deut. 32.8 Dew the (2) Pro. 16.21 Sweetness of (3) Pro. 10.32 thy blessed lips once (4) Can. 4.11 dropped once (5) Psal 45.2 graced as well this Text of mine as other thy Gospels Oh that now while it is called to day the Inspirations the Breathings of thy Holy Spirit would vouchsafe to sanctifie would vouchsafe to bless unto us as well this Discourse of mine as other thine Ordinances Beloved The Method that the Sun of Righteousness may at this time delight to arise upon us with healing in his wings it is at this time my Duty therefore to explain these words that I may profitably apply them First 1. The Explication of the Text. then Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me In my Fathers house are many Mansions The manner how delivered Words all Gospel and all Epistle I mean full of Doctrines and full of Vses too Words full of Passion and as full of Compassion spoken to the heart yea and from the heart too unexpectedly ushered in and as abruptly uttered forth Let not your heart be troubled A Reproof smiting friendly a Reproof pouring out excellent (1) Psal 1â—1 5 Oyl though soft smooth yet fetcheth out the poyson which lieth in the stomack B. Reyâ—o'ds in his Rich Mans Charge p. 7. oyl Ye believe in God believe also in me An Exhortation cloathed with Instruction cloathed with Evangelical Instructions In my Fathers house are many Mansions A Consolation a strong consolation a strong consolation far fetched fetched even from the highest heavens Beloved The Party speaking ye may know the man from his manner of Communication Surely the Hand nay the Heart of Jesus is in all this It is so Compare this verse with that next above The same Jesus which answereth there Thou shalt deny me thrice the same Jesus answereth here Let not your heart be troubled The Party speaking we know Jesus we know The Persons spoken to but Who are ye your heart Answ Some Greek Copies prefix 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He saith unto his Disciples Imagine that Varia lectio Apocryphal admit it not the Dictate of the Holy Ghost but the Annotation of some busie Transcriber Nevertheless more then manifest it is (1) c. 13.22 35. who The persons here spoken unto are They prove themselves to be Disciples Disciples of Christ the chief of the Disciples of Christ all twelve of them excepting (2) c. 13 30. Judas one not worthy the looking after The Disciples spoken to we see Jesus speaking The occasion of Christs speaking here we hear But Vpon what occasion speaketh he Answ S. Chrysostom and from him Theophylact they therefore repute these former words one Argument of Christs divine nature for that then when his Disciples here stood silent He of Himself perfectly knew the secret troubles of their heart But saving the esteem due unto so great Fathers that Jesus Christ was as well God as man the latter clause of this verse (1) Plscator in locum better proveth and that Jesus knew all things other Scriptures sufficiently declare we need not to discompose this Text. Were no other causes manifest yet one plain and visible reason wherefore the hearts of the Disciples should be the less troubled may be (2) Maldonat in locum derived from Christs approaching Resurrection or rather from his approaching Ascension That our Redeemer here looketh quite thorough his Resurrection unto the hour of his ascending I demonstrate from c. 13.33 from c. 13.1 and from this c. 14.1 2. 1. From 1 Proof from c. 13.33 Whether I go ye cannot come They could drink (1) Mat. 20.23 of Christs bitter cup could be baptized could be plunged into a (2) Phil. 3.10 fellowship of his sufferings but unto the Heavens whither he now went they could not now come neither their souls while they abode in the flesh nor their bodies until the general resurrection 2. 2 Proof from c. 13.1 The hour was come wherein Jesus should go not only out of the world but to the Father All Divines own a difference between that measure of joy which departed souls now receive and that consummation of bliss which they shall finally participate together with their glorified bodies But some very learned Interpreters critically distinguish between that (1) Vide sis Grotium in Lucae 23.43 part of Heaven wherein blessed souls do now abide and that whereunto say they the same souls shall at the time of the Restitution of all things be everlastingly exalted They tell us That S. Paul's (2) 2 Cor. 12.24 Paradise was inferiour to his third heaven they affirm That during Christs death Christs soul was only as the Jews call it in (3) Luke 23 43. Paradise and as others phrase it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (4) Fuit dives quidem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed sait 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 etiam Lazarus nam
Laurels as for you beloved ye may be fed with (7) Revel 2.7 the Tree of Life Make Religion your (8) As Mr. Herbert Palmer in structeth businesse exercise your busie Soules in a lively faith and that knowing the season Brethren It is now your seed-time lose not such fair-weather in due season ye shall reap if ye sow unto the Spirit Ye are now in the flower of your age your month is the month of May if ye have not overcome many a (9) 1 John 2.14 spiritual wickednesse it is your sloth and no pity ye deserve if in you the Word of God (10) ibid. abideth not it is your indiscretion and ye may thank your selves He among you that is fullest of complaint were he well aware of it hath the (11) 2 Pet. 1.9 10 remedy from within himself If with (12) 2 Tim. 3.15 Timothy with (13) 1 Sam. 2.18 Samuel with (14) 2 Kings 22.19 Josiah c. ye have not been tender-hearted from your Child-hood yet at least with (15) 1 Kings 18.3 12 Obadiah fear the Lord with (16) Psal 71.5 David trust in the Lord from thy youth up Yea let God remember thy (17) Jer. 2.2 early Kindnesses Whom the Gentiles fancied to be (18) Apollo their God of wisdom Him they resembled unto a young man a truth it is wisdom in a young man seemeth somewhat divine Unto this reputed God of wisdom these Gentiles consecrated as the Emblemes of their manhood and prudence their first shaved beards the moral is good Sacrifice unto the Lord thy God Sacrifice the (19) Nihil videbant suum quoniam Dei totum Salvian de Dei guber lib. 8. first and the best of thine abilities While thou art now in the beginnings of thy strength follow him (20) Semper in amore cautela est Nemo enim melius diligit quam qui maxime veretur offendere Salvian Epist fully Serve him with all thy might Prepare thy Soul and thy Spirit as an (21) Rom. 12.1 offering in a clean Vessel and so (22) Esay 66.20 bring them into the house of the Lord In all thy wayes (23) Psalm 37.4 5. acknowledge him A young mans glory is his (24) Pro. 20.29 strength I have therefore written unto you young men because ye are strong strong I hope in [25] 1 John 2.14 Eph. 6.10 2 Tim. 2.1 Jer. 9.24 the Lord. To middle-aged men A Child is (1) Pro 22.6 ready to learn all things a young person is (2) 2 Sam. 18.22 ready to prove all things but neither of them is so apt to hold fast his profession as are ye ye who measure the midst of your age for ye have (3) He who is about the middle of his age may Janus-like at once look both behind him and before him climbed unto the height of the Hill of the Hill of Zion I hope Ye do or may perceive whither your travails bend He that is not setled in his estate not setled in his judgement not setled in his resolution at forty when will he be setled A wise man will provide rather for Children then for Orphanes and late Marriages are seldom proserous Therefore I presume thou art by this time constant unto thy self If a single life be thy choice and that choice thou canst (4) Matth 19.12 well bear I trust thou art (5) 1 Cor. 7.32 wedded unto thy Devotion I trust thou joynest thy self (6) 1 Cor. 6.17 unto that Lord who will give thee a Name (7) Esay 56.4 5 better then of Sons and of Daughters Neverthelesse in as much as God is the God of the married as well as of the unmarried If in a single life you find no joy If in a single life you find no joy Marriage (1) Sir Thomas Overbury his Wife your lust as 't were with fewel fire Will with a Medicine of (2) 1 Cor. 7 9 At contra hunc ignem Veneris si non Venus ipsa nu'la est quae possit vis alia opprin ere Val. Aedituus the same allay And not forbid but rectifie desire Where brash flames threaten Chimneys lay on wood That spends the flame and keeps the fabrique good Nor doth my marriage order lust alone A second self may (3) Gen 2.18 Eccles 4 9 Sir Thomas Overbury ubi supra help me ev'ry way And ' gainst my failings make me two for one My self 4 I cannot chuse my Wife I may And in the choice of her it much doth lie To 'mend my self in my Posterity Venus was Saturn is The heat of thy blood cooleth but thy love of this world waxeth feverish youthfull (1) 2 Tim. 2.22 lusts are pretty well spent but (2) 1 John 2.16 pride of life cometh on apace alas the lusts of thy flesh are (3) ibid. crept into thine eyes Thy disease removeth from thy (4) Psal 16.7 reines into thy (5) James 4.4 head from thy (6) Pro. 7.23 liver into thy (7) 1 Tim. 6.9 heart The Enemy who hitherto battered thy soul with (8) 1 Pet. 2.11 thine own flâ—sh doth now cast up Bulwarks against thee upon (9) Psalm 62.10 thine own ground That unclean Spirit which (10) 2 Tim. 2.22 haunted thee in thy youth doth now transform himself into a (11) 2 Cor. 4.4 God of this world The trouble of thy heart was (12) Rom 8.6 a carnall mind once the trouble of thy heart is (13) Phil. 3.19 an earthly mind now Wherefore the Holy Ghost proceedeth from adulteries and fornications (14) Mat. 15.19 unto theft and false witnesse from fornication and uncleannesse (15) Gal. 5.19.20 unto hatred variance emulations yea (16) Eph. 5.3 unto down-right covetousnesse For which cause having warned us that Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge He (17) Heb. 13.4 5 presently addeth Let your conversation be without covetousnesse and be content with what ye have Thus having endeared our Souls and bodies (1) Rom. 12.1 as a reasonable sacrifice unto our God the Apostle immediately forewarneth us against another of Satans stratagems Be not saith he (2) Rom. 12.2 be not conformed unto this world Beloved whether our life past hath been or hath not been consumed in a state of unbelief this Exhortation of St. Pauls remaineth very pertinent and seasonable First If from the womb (1) Esay 48.8 unto our infancy if from the dayes of our (2) Esay 65.20 infancy unto the yeares of our youth if from our youth up unto present maturity we have drank in iniquity as if it [3] Job 15.16 were wholsome water now that we are of a ripe understanding it doth so much the more (4) Jer. 13.27 concern us to provide for the health of our Souls after so long so many provocations we are I say the more neerly concerned now at length (5) 1 Pet. 4 2 3 to believe in God and
doest (22) Psalm 119.104 hate every false way but thou doest hate thy false heart more viz. for being so unwilling to have any evil way whatsoever So often as sin brancheth out and that isperpetually thou shouldest strike at the root I mean at the original sin which [23] Rom. 7.18 20 dwelleth in thee If the world is crucified to thee [24] Gal. 6.14 thou wouldest be crucified to the world that is if thou couldest Thy stiffe neck is ever [25] Rom. 7.24 painfull to thee the back-slidings of thy heart cast thee down while thou keepest it even with the greatest diligence that thou canst Long it was before thou couldst crucifie this [26] Gal. 5.24 affection or the other lust but the flesh that body of sin that doth to this hour keep thee wretched and low in thine own eyes Let not sin reign [27] Rom. 6.12 in your mortal body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof This obedience is the outward actings of sin these lusts are the inward breathings of sin the sin it self which is so forward to reign is not some one partscular vanity but that [28] John 3.6 flesh of thine that [29] Rom. 7.23 Law in thy members that corrupt bent of thy soul and body and spirit which maketh [30] Rom. 7.21 25 thee so subject to revolt from God and his Christ Now if we would not have this sin [31] Rom. 6.12 14 reign in our mortal bodies we [32] Pro. 13.5 Job 42.6 Psalm 32.5.51.3.73.22 Ezek. 16.61 63 must loath it as that which aggravateth whatsoever evil thoughts words or deeds we are guilty of unlesse we be [33] Job 40.4 vile in our own eyes let us never expect to be precious in [34] Isa 1.18 43.4 Gods sight The [35] Jer. 8.22 Matth 11 28 balm of Gilead is not for us unlesse we complain of our wounds and bruises and putrified soares In that Fountain [36] Zech. 13 1 which is opened unto the house of David we see our Leopards spots and the heart is therefore troubled because it is not [37] Nahum 2.7 Psalm 31.10 Rom. 7.15 24 troubled enough The more the Holy Spirit delivereth it from the power of darknesse the more darknesse it [38] Psalm 19.12 25.4.26.2.31.3.139.2 3 4 23 24 complaineth of The more he beateth down Satan the more jealous we (39) 2 Cor. 2.11 are of Satans stratagems Heathen Moralists could lop off the (40) Rom. 2.14 branches of sin but we Christians must (41) Jer. 3.10 Col. 3.15 Rom. 8.1 lay the axe to the root of the Tree sin reigned in their hearts the Spirit of God must rule in ours We then bethink our selves of the Mansions in our Fathers House when we begin to believe in Christ we then begin to believe in Christ when we are turned (42) Acts 26.18 from the power of Satan unto God we are then turned from the power of Satan unto God when the sinfulnesse of our corrupt mind is (43) John 14.1 2. Rom. 8 11 14.7.24 25 so the trouble of our heart that it quickneth us to believe in God through Jesus Christ our Lord. To conclude If the Twins do not struggle in the womb it is a manifest Symptom of miscarriage for the (44) Gal. 5.17 Rom. 7.8 14 17 19 Heb. 12.1 4 Psalm 19.12.25 11 20 21 Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that you cannot do the things that ye would But if ye (45) Rom. 8.15 allow not of your evils if your sin doth not (46) Rom. 6.12 get dominion over you if you be (47) Rom. 8.1 13 14 led by the Spirit if you (48) Gal. 5.25 16.18 walk after the Spirit if your (49) 2 Cor. 4.16 renewed minds seeke (50) 1 John 3.3 Heb. 12.14 holinesse strive (51) Col. 4.12 after perfection chuse (52) Esay 66.4 whatsoever your Lord delighteth in making the Glory of your God the (53) 1 Cor. 10.31 Deut. 16.15 26.11.12.12 18. Psalm 119.14 Esay 61.10 Deut. 28.58 27.9 10. Phil. 4.4 Col. 3.17 businesse and joy of your Souls then though troubled it be let not your heart be troubled believe in God believe also in Christ In my Fathers House are many Mansions The Stone thus rolled away from every heart we all of us are raised unto life more abundant IN what sort the person here speaking In particular Uses applyeth himself [1] Page 11. unto Gospel Ministers restrictively and unto [2] Page 53 Gospel-Professours universally we have long since perceived We have heard him speak [3] Page 55 privatively to None of you Unbelievers [4] Page 109 positively to All of you that believe I shall now proceed from the persons spoken unto to the matter spoken of and that I [5] Page 2. 14 told you was matter of Reproof matter of Instruction and matter of Comfort And I beseech you Brethren [6] Heb. 13.22 suffer a word of Exhortation lest the Stone rolled away tumble back upon us again let us let us passe from the Duty here enjoin'd unto the means here recommended let us to say no more make application of our Text. Beloved Hitherto we have heard a Voyce [7] Matth. 3.3 crying in the Wildernesse we now more fully prepare the way of the Lord Hitherto we have examined to whom we would apply this Gospel we now enquire what this Gospel is which we would apply Hitherto we have beheld the [8] Mar. 16.4 Stone rolled away now rolleth [9] Esay 48.18 in upon us Life more abundant namely First The [10] Pro. 15.21.6.23 Life of Reproof Next The [11] Pro. 10.17.16.22 Life of Instruction Thirdly The [12] Pro. 3.18 22 Life of Consolation Lastly that which [13] Psalm 145.1 2 3 7 146.2.147.1 crowneth all our Consolations to wit a Thankful Life A Life thankfull while we overcome the troubles of the heart thankfull while we exercise Faith in God through Jesus Christ our Lord thankfull while we expect the Mansions in my Fathers House Uses 1 Of Reproof When you read how the Angels of the Lord [1] Mar. 28.2 came and rolled back the Stone from the door of the Sepulchre you will not imagine that this Augel heaved it lifted it and shouldered it as men shouldered away that other stone from [2] John 11.38 39 41 the Grave of Lazarus No who art thou [3] Zec 1.4.7 O great Mountain which standest before Zerubbable The very presence of an Angel of the Lord caused [4] Mat. 28.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great shaking viz. of that part where the Grave was Hammoad Annot on Matth. 27.51 the Earth to quake now beyond all peradventure the earth so quaked that the stone unsetled shook joggled tottered and could not choose but roll yea [5] Mar. 16.4 the more weighty it was the
that He should passe so hard a censure upon them full ill (6) Mat 26.22 could their ingenuous spirits brook these black imputations this you see was another occasion of their sorrows another cause why Jesus Christ encourageth them to believe as in God so in Himself Thirdly Occasion The Scene was now (1) Erasm Marlorat Jansen in locum Tragrcal a forsaking a denying a betraying of Christ could boad no good What the issue might be who could tell if he who hath no Sword is by the Patient Jesus (2) Luke 22.36 allarmed to buy one matters must necessarily threaten some evill Jesus himself was (3) John 13.21 troubled in Spirit well therefore might his Disciples be affrighted That a third reason of this consolation Ye believe in God Occasion Fourthly (1) Leoatius Elsthym Theodor. Mopsuest c. in locum They were not now (2) Joh. 2.25 to learn that their Master could certainly divine If Jesus spake it they might (3) Mat. 24.35 believe it for a while (4) Mat. 26.35 flatter themselves they might but on second thoughts their hearts might well mis-give them Their eyes had already seen Judas turning himself into (5) Joh. 13.20 a Traytor what was (6) Mat. 20.23 foretold of Judas that Judas was now (7) Mar. 14.11 perpetrating By the same rule what was (8) Mar. 14 16. presuged of them that they also should (9) Mat. 26.56 too soon be guilty of Or be it that Judas had aforetime (10) Mat. 26.8 been false Peter he had persevered None more (11) John 6.68 zealous yea none more (12) Mat. 14.29 daring then was Peter neverthelesse Simon Peter he had his (13) John 13.38 doom Now if Simon Peter could not stand well might they expect to fall The Devil had already been busie with (14) Luke 22.32 Cephas should Satan sift them (15) Luke 22.31 as wheat too they alas would soon appear but (16) Mat. 3.12 Jer. 23.28 chaffe Fear whispered unto them what dastards for ought any courage they had they would make of themselves Guilt shame unmanlinesse were (17) Mark 14.50 John 13.28 18.8 already at their heels That a fourth circumstance wherefore our Saviour here useth this supporting Instruction As ye believe in God believe also in me In the next place Occasion if the young Prophets sought so unreasonably after [1] 2 Kings 2.17 the late Head of their Colledge loth very loth might these Disciples be to think of parting with [2] Gorran Tirinus Maldonat Jansenius in locum their dear Lord and Master As yet they walked more by sight then by faith although they knew Christ as [3] John 6.69 a Son of God they knew him after the [4] Mat. 16.22 flesh too He had affectionately [5] John 15.16 gathered them under his [6] Mat. 23.37 wings and it was warm [7] John 14.20 being there A Master so meek so mercifull so tender-hearted so endearing so communicative so infinitely knowing so miraculously Powerfull Wo [8] Mat. 16.22 John 14.5 were it with them should they part with such a Teacher No living for them but at the Son of Gods [9] Mat. 6.68 Acts 20.38 ell-bowe Now to hear this their dear Lord talk thus of leaving of them of going away of going away they could not [10] John 13.33 36 14.5.8 imagine whether This a fifth grief of mind if the Bridegroom was [11] Mat. 9.15 upon going the children of the Bride-chamber could not [12] Gen. 42.36 chuse but mourn they had no patience they to hear of Jesus Christs departure This I reckon a fifth Argument why they were solaced Believe in God believe also in me Again Occasion The hour was now almost [1] John 13.1 Matth. 26.2 come wherein the Son of Man must be crucified A long time had been [2] John 16.21 Mark 9.31 spent in preparing these Apostles for this tryal It had been as warily as frequently hinted unto them that Christ should suffer many things in Jerusalem and should after that suffer death it self Wherefore as [3] John 16.33 anon he animateth them Be of good chear in the world ye shall find trouble but be of good chear so he now comforteth them Let not your heart be troubled quasi [4] Bâ—da August c. in locum ye are already startled at late events but worse evils are yet to come if malice be hot [5] Luke 23.31 against a green tree it will be set on fire against the dry branches You my servants will be more [6] Mat. 10.24 John 15.20 despitefully persecuted then am I your Master whosoever killeth you will [7] Mat. 16.2 think he doth his God good service but even then when my sufferings shall portend yours Let not your heart be troubled neither be ye [8] Mat. 14.27 dismayed but believe in God believe also in me Lastly When ye shall take more thought for me then for your selves Occasion When ye shall [1] Rupertus in locum ut G otius see me delivered up into the hand of [2] Mat. 26.45 sinners viz. of inveterate and most implacable Adversaries when ye shall see me numbred among Transgressours condemned [3] Luke 23.4 14 contrary to Law when ye shall see me nailed [4] John 20.25 to the Crosse lifted up [5] John 3.14 upon the Crosse and by [6] Acts 2.23 unjust hands [7] Phil. 2 8 crucified crucified even unto death to a death as [8] Heb. 12.2 reproachful as languishing as languishing as painfull then weep [9] Luke 23.28 not for me then let not your heart be troubled no not for my sake but let this be your refuge Believe in God believe also in me Thus from the seven-fold coherence of these words from their foregoing and following Context very evident it is that our greatest [1] 1 John 5.4 comfort against our greatest discomforts is faith Faith rolleth away every stone which presseth heavily upon us to believe in God to believe in Christ this is life life more abundant Object If it be so why am I thus Object If Faith hath a power so soveraign to expell all troubles why yea why are believing hearts so often troubled Answ 1. Answ 1. They are troubled on every side but [1] 2 Cor. 4.8 not distressed perplexed they are but not altogether without help cast down but not forsaken Answ 2. Answ 2. All men have not faith Many Professors there are but few believers I wiss The faith of most Christians is a faith of their own forging not this spirit [1] 2 Cor. 4.11 13 of faith here in my Text viz. That which guardeth every blow from off the heart must be a [2] 1 Thes 5.8 breast-plate of faith and love and of this breast-plate the generality of Believers for Believers they seem unto others and
quite over Hell There is now but a step [22] 1 Sam. 20.3 between us and Death and [23] 1 Thes 4.14 1 Cor. 15.52 1 John 3.14 not a step between Death and Heaven Death is swallowed up into [24] 1 Cor. 15.54 52 Victory that is as the phrase importeth into Eternity Could we not step beyond Death the foresight of Death would sting us unto the very heart but Jehovah [25] Judges 6.24 Shallom Faith vieweth every thing in the words of Jehovah who giveth being unto every Promise The mighty Jesus is ascended nor is it possible to [26] Christus etsi solus resurrexit tamen non totus Bernard detain the [27] John 6.39 54 56 11.25 26 14.19 20 17.23.24 redeemed from [28] Esay 43.1 49.24 their Redeemer a Christian from Christ his Lord a member on earth from [29] Esay 43.21 The Head in Heaven Wherefore unlesse thy heart be a heart of Vnbelief Let not thy heart be troubled Believe in God believe also in Christ Is thy desire toward thy Saviour thy Saviour reacheth forth his hand It shall be unto thee no trouble at all to [30] Rom. 7.24 compared with Job 19.27 passe from death which of an old enemy is made a new Friend unto life now no more mortal but everlasting Is thy [31] Matth. 25.6 24.44 midnight soul upon departure Let her go forth to meet him whom her soul loveth Behold her Bridegroom cometh yea rather is [32] John 14.8 already gone gone [33] John 14.3 to prepare a place for thee I say for thee In my Fathers house are many Mansions and because many one [34] Ibid. for Thee Verily there remaineth a [35] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Similitudo sumpta ab uno comitum qui in itinere praegressus ad diversorium ibi caeteris cubicula assignat efficitque ut venientibus parata sint v. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hic ut c. 12.32 valet postquam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Continuatur similitudo nam solent qui primi in diversorium venerunt caeteris jam adventantibus obviam procedere eos inlroducere idem quod Christus Act. 1.11 redâ—â—â—s effecturus erit Grotius in Joan. 14.2 3 35. Heb. 4.9 See Mr. Baxter his Saints everlasting Rest. Rest for thy soul into thy Fathers bosome resign thy spirit 4. Thy greater trouble is Against the corruption of our sinful Nature not that thou shalt dye in the Lord but that thou dost live in the flesh I say not the shadow of death but the [1] Rom. 7.13 14 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 23 body of sin dishearreneth a gracious soul Give me any death but the death of sin To do evil is to [2] Compare Isa 59 2. with Psalm 125.5 depart from God and this is indeed a [3] Compare Psal 28.3 with Luke 13.27 sad departure for this Let your heart be troubled provided your trouble be a sanctified trouble such a sorrow shall be turned into joy into a spiritual joy inasmuch as from this Gospel you who believe may [4] Isa 66.11 such strong consolations Thou broken and contrite heart as assuredly as thou mournest thou [5] Isa v. 2.57.15 Luke 6.20 21 shalt be comforted Watch over thine [6] Isa 21.36 Psalm 18.23 own sin Give thy self [7] 1 Thess 5.17 unto prayer Be ever [8] 2 Pet. 1.10 upon Duty Exercise thy self unto (9) 1 Tim. 4.7 godlinesse Giving all (10) 2 Pet. 1.5 3.18 diligence strive to grow in grace and in the delightfull knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord so doing Let not thy heart be dismayed Know Sin was a (11) Videbat eos commo'os de antccedentibus de abnegatione sermonibus Grotius in Joan. 14.1 chief trouble of these Disciples hearts To forsake Him who hath loved and chosen us To love our selves more then we do love him in whom the great God is so well-pleased This you will yield is a very great defection He (†) Luke 9.23 Mark 8.38 that taketh not up His Crosse his daily crosse neither followeth Christ crucified into whatsoever perils this his crucified Lord shall conduct him such a one is unworthy of so great so good a Master Whoso is ashamed of Jesus Christ of him Jesus Christ hath just reason to be more much more ashamed Meek he is yet the wrath of this Lamb hath as justly as mercifully threatened that Whosoever denyeth Him before (12) Matth. 10.33 2 Tim. 2.12 frail men here upon earth him will He deny before his dread Father in heaven In one word (13) Rev. 21.8 Hell is a portion for the fearfull and fearfull were these Disciples neverthelesse so far was Christ Jesus from not forgiving them their trespasses that he most compassionately preventeth them Let not your heart be troubled Wherefore all ye who (14) Ezek. 6.9 20.43 36.31 loath your selves for your iniquities loath your selves and them more and more Alas no (15) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Toad is so ugly in mans sight as mans venomous nature is in the holy eyes of the most pure God A sinfull condition is an (16) Psalm 51.5 Job 25.6 odious condition wicked deeds are shamefull deeds gracelesse practices are wretched practices practices better becoming the Devils who are accursed of God then the Disciples who were blessed of the Lord Mean while Give God the glory (17) Haec alia adduxerunt Gregorium ut clamaret O Faelix culpa quae talem meruit habere redemptorem Quae verba ego non facilè dicerem siquidem in illâ causâ nihil video quod non sit miserum flebile Pet. Martyr ubi infra 27. His arm is not shortened that it cannot save He can remove from us as well all our staines as all our guilt He who delivered us from so great a death could had he seen cause so to do have quite warded off the lesser wounds The Lord Christ could have strengthened his Disciples every whit as much before his Ascension as after his Ascension he did and would he so please He could since Adams fall make us every way as perfect as before that fall of Adam we were yea he is able to make us both as unspotted of sin and as gloriously gracious in this present evil world as we shall be in the next This he is able to do but he according to His wisdom seeth cause to the contrary this this alone may comfort us against our sinfull nature that God the infinite God is wise His wisdome is a Believers comfort And yet Why hast thou made us to err [1] Esay 63.17 from thy wayes Wretched men that we are whence is it that the sanctifying Spirit [2] Relictae quidem suat animi vires actiones verum destitutae suâ rectitudine atque idcirco pravae corruptae Pet. Martyr Lo. Com. Classis secnad cap. 1. sect 25. leaveth in our vile hearts the remainders the dregs
suspect that they should fall more grievously then Peter but Jesus Christ doth you see support them Saith Christ [3] Ne turbetur cor vestrum seu ob seu ob imminentem vestrûm singulis lapsum quem sam Mat. 26.31 praedixi Tirinus in locum Let not your heart misgive you Have an eye unto the mansions in my Fathers house Believe in God he is able [4] Jude 24 Eph. 5.27 2 Cor. 9.8 to keep you from falling Believe also in me my grace is sufficient for you Be strong in me and in the power of my might Of my fulnesse ye shall all receive grace for grace ye shall do [5] Phil. 4.13 all things so far as I shall see cause to strengthen you Wherefore Let not your heart be troubled 6. This Gospel doth likewise establish you who believe Against our fear of falling away finally against fear of falling away finally What manner of persons ought we to be in all [1] 2 Pet. 3.11 holy conversation and godlinesse Brethren hardly any one thing doth more trouble believing hearts then a [2] Revel 2.10 mistrust of failing a fear of not enduring unto the end But this Gospel [3] John 13.1 Gal. 6.8 9 informeth us that whom Christ loveth them he loveth unto the end a good work by him begun shall be performed [4] Phil. 1.6 Psalm 91.14 31.19 24 32.7 8 73.23 24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aeschylus in Inferiis at his own day Where he entreth there he dwelleth he never faileth never leaveth never forsaketh any Disciple which [5] John 4.19.20 11.25 5.24 6.54 56 4.14 Rom. 8.11 Gal. 2.20 Ephes 3.17 Col. 3.3 1 John 3.24 4.12 13 forsaketh not him Over hear this compassionate Jesus thus treating these Disciples Anon you my sheep will be scattered then when I am smitten for your transgressions you will then forsake me when I am suffering for you you will not persevere in your intention but I will not be inconstant unto mine you will be ashamed of me and of my Crosse but I will not be ashamed of you and of your backslidings you will contract guilt upon your selves but Let not your heart be troubled Ye believe in God that he can forgive sins believe also in me that I will remember your iniquities no more Though you run away from me when I shall [6] Matth. 26.32 go into Galilee I will [7] Matth. 26.28 send after you Though you be overtaken in an offence ye shall not [8] 1 John 2.1 1.9 dye in your sins But what need have we of any such Paraphrases Dearly beloved Jesus Christ affirmeth unto you sound Believers that he goeth [9] John 14.3 to prepare a place for you Wherefore although now for a season if need be [10] 1 Pet. 1.6 5 your sins separate between you and your comforts Let not your heart be distrustfully troubled questionlesse He who is long since gone to prepare a place for you will [11] Psalm 73.24 1 Pet. 1.5 John 6.39 18.9 first guide you by his Counsel and afterward bring you into glory He will at the time appinted therefore [12] Job 14.14 1 Thess 3.3 appointed because opportunest for your condition welcome you unto the mansions in my Fathers house 7. Yea Against all temptations whatsoever you that be followers of Jesus Christ this Gospel comforteth you against all your tryals whatsoever Be your tryal [1] Rom. 8.35 2 Cor. 4.8 9.6.4 5 11 23-28 tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or peril or sword or law-suits or bodily infirmities or spiritual infirmities be your affliction either your death-approaching or life-prolonged be discomforts from things present or from things to come in all these you are all of you [2] Rom. 8.37 38 Psalm 40 17 16 71.21 44.8 34.2 more then Conquerors through Him who here speaketh in my Text I speak it unto you Believers and to your joy I speak it you have here a Sanctuary for your troubled sonls Let not your heart be troubled Ye believe in God believe also in me In my Fathers house are many mansions Should the whole world threatten a deluge [1] Psalm 42.2 3 of Calamities this small portion of holy Writ would like the [2] Gen. 6.16 Ark of Noah provide for us a [3] Let not c. lower a [4] Believe c. second a [5] In my Fathers house c. third story It is the expression of St. Bartholmew reported by [6] Myst. Theol. cap. 1. Dionysius the Areopagite that The Gospel is little yet large Sure I am this Gospel is so This Text is a Text Royal and resembleth Christs Disciples unto Christs Vicegerent among us our dread Soveraign King CHARLES of that name the Second This Text giveth you cause to be thankful all the days of your life placeth you happy in three Kingdoms at once In the Kingdom of this world It removeth from you whatsoever evil your present state can reduce you unto namely Troubles of heart Christ [7] Psalm 115.16 giveth unto us the blessings of this world but our [8] Esay 53.4 Matth. 8.17 troubles he taketh upon Himself In the Kingdom of grace It commendeth unto you that [9] 2 Pet. 1.1 Revel 14.6 precious faith which the everlasting peace of the Gospel requireth Believe in God Believe in Christ. In the Kingdom of glory It prepareth unto your hand that [10] Tit. 2.13 blessed hope which the Holy Ghost Himself hath set before you viz. The many mansions in my Fathers house Fear not little flock it is [11] Luke 12.32 your Fathers good pleasure to give you three Kingdoms three Kingdoms prepared for you prepared for you from the beginning of the world Enter now into your Masters joys but enter into them with thanksgiving Of thankfulnesse Be thankful unto him and [1] Psalm 100.4 speak good of his Name Since he whose Name is [2] 1 John 5.7 Holy whose Name is [3] Phil. 2.10 Jesus whose Name is [4] Psalm 83.18 Jehovah is the [5] Ibid. most high over all the earth blessed be his [6] Psalm 72.16 glorious Name for ever and ever and let the whole earth be filled with his glory Amen and Amen Amen [7] Kevel 7.12 Blessing and Glory and Wisdome and Thanksgiving and Honour and Power and Might be unto our God for ever and ever So be it Now that so it may be FIrst I shall determine in what sense God by whose free goodnesse we enjoy all things may be said to be glorified Secondly Since our glorifying of God is the whole Duty of our whole life and yet is alas of all Duties most neglected I shall a little mind you what great reason all of us still have still to glorisie this King of glory Thirdly That our hearts ever desirous to glorifie our God may never want matter for praises and thanksgivings I shall obviously review these
Angels Him who did once give himself for us and doth ever since give himself to us Him unto whom God hath given (1) Nec patior me quicquam nescire de co quem amew Plin. Epist a name above every name Him we shall worship blesse admire and adore in my Fathers house But That which putteth so great a value upon my Fathers house is (1) Bonum mihi Domine in camino habere te â—â—â—cum quam esse sine â—e vel iâ— caelo Bernard principally my father himself The Refuge the Rest the Reward the Riches the Inheritance the Crown The Mansions the many Mansion the many Mansions in my Fathers house The eternal peace the infinite love the everlasting joy there set before us neither these nor the fellowship of the Saints nor the society of Angels shall be able to (2) Rom. 8.39 divert us from gloryfying our God as God For as all things appertaining unto life are therefore bestowed upon us here that here we may in body in soul and in spirit be (3) Testimonium credibile nimis gustatae sapientiae est esuries ipsa tam vehemens Idem Serm. 2. de duab mensis Oportebat quidem si fiâ—ri posset revivere me ut ita loquar denuo quod malè vixi srá saciam cogitaado quod reoperando non possum Idem Cant. de Serm. Hezekiae wholly taken up in obeying trusting loving honouring worshiping blessing and gloryfying our God as God so all the peace pleasures mansions joyes and glories which are treasured up for us in our Fathers house are therefore freely and everlastingly vouchsafed unto us that we may with a perfect love joy thankfulnesse and delight both admire and adore our everlasting Father Lastly as here upon earth no one mercy can so much require our thankfulnesse as the communion betwixt (1) Deus tuus totum tihi crit S. Aug. in Psalm 26. Et quem scmper habeat semper habere volunt our spirit and the sanctifying spirit of our most holy God so neither can any thing in heaven more excite our prayses and thanksgiving unto him who sitteth upon the Throne then the blessed Vision of our most glorious God even of God the Father of God the Son and of God the Holy Ghost ever for ever blessed and glorifyed In His presence is fulnesse of everlasting joy To him be the Kingdome the power and the glory ever ascribed Amen Dear Christians hear the [1] Eccles 12.13 conclusion of the whole Fear God and keep his Commandements love God and cleave unto him with your whole heart esteem [2] Solicitus incipit ambulare cum Deo suo ex omni parte scrutatur ne vel in le vissimà re tiemeadae illius maj statis offendatur aspectus Bernard Serm 3. in vigil nativ every thought word and deed misplaced which is not ordered to glorifie your God as God Oh let not your heart be troubled saving that it cannot be troubled enough for neglecting so merciful a God stretch out daily hourly stretch out and stir up your faith believe in God he hath [3] Esay 54.8 an everlasting love for you believe in his Son he is [4] 1 Cor. 1.30 made unto you wisdome and sanctification and redemption and righteousnesse believe in his Spirit he is [5] Jude 24. able to keep you from falling and to present you to your Bridegroom and to his Father with exceeding joy Look for and [6] 2 Pet. 3.12 hasten unto these mansions in my Fathers house Beloved this is life eternal this will be joy eternal to see God! Without holinesse it is [7] Heb 12.14 impossible to see God the Lord [8] Heb 13.21 perswade the Lord allure the Lord ravish your hearts Blessed for ever blessed are the pure in heart they shall possesse these mansions in my Fathers house they shall see God! Oh then for your own sakes yea for your Redeemers sake for your Gods sake improve [1] Luke 19.13 every talent of his which he in this your day putteth into your hands [2] Ephes 5.16 redeem [3] Cajus unius avâ—â—tia hotesta est Seneca time value time husband time do not oh do not content your selves with the lowest of these mansions in my Fathers house make you hearts more and more obedient more and more watchful humble faithful loving and thankful hearts the [4] Matth. 6.19 20 2 Pet. 3.18 1 Tim. 6.6 1 Cor. 15.58 Gal. 6.7 8 Mark 10.29 30 Revel 3.5.12 2.17 more grace the more glory you do treasure up for your selves the more you glorifie your God as God Be holy as the Spirit your Preserver is holy put on the Lord Jesus finde it [5] Consilium futuri ex praeterito venit Seneca Epist 83.9 your duty make it your businesse to glorifie the God and father of your Lord Jesus Christ so doing let not your heart be troubled believe in God believe in his Christ in my Fathers house are many mansions Oh thou who speakest in my Text speak [1] Psal 33.4 the word and our heart shall not be troubled Lord we believe help thou [2] Psal 33.2 our unbelief in Thy Fathers house are many mansions Brethren Unto these mansions after that we have [3] 1 Pet. 5.10 hoped trusted obeyed waited and suffered a while the God of all grace who hath called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus will receive first our soules then our bodyes To him be [4] 11 Pet. 5.11 glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen D. Bernardus Epist 341. Erubescat anima conversa ad Dominum minori affectu sectari justitiam quà m iniquitatem antea sectaretur pudeat negligentius nunc in vitam quam prius in mortem ire minori studio salutis acquirere quam perditionis augmentum PSALM 105. v. 4.3 Seek ye the Lord and his strength seek his face evermore Glory ye in his holy Name Let the heart of them rejoyce that seek the Lord. FINIS Venial escapes the Reader is desired to impute unto the Authors absence from the Presse and to correct these or the like ERRATA Read P. 12. l. 31. our days p. 42. l. 13. a King p. 44. l. 9. this stone p. 47. l. 3. Aegyptians had p. 121. l. 5. sibi p. 123. l. 18. flatten p. 128. l. 28. I cleared p. 138. l. 12. affections p. 143. l. 5. Arnon p. 151. l. 19. to ply p. 152. for Tertullian r. Cyprian for Cyprian r. Tertullian p. 156. l. 18 19. Let them Who p. 122. l. 26. Three particulars p. 201. l. 31. This he considereth p. 240. l. 11. reprieve p. 245. l. 3 5. dele I say p. 319. l. 6. smutty-faced p. 356. l. 14. mett p. 401. l. 7. not ease p. 405. l. 3. deign p. 423. l. 2. womb The margin is referred to the Reader
THE STONE ROLLED AWAY and LIFE MORE ABUNDANT AN APOLOGIE Urging Self-denyal New-Obedience Faith and Thankfulnesse By GILES OLDISWORTH Rectour of Burton on the Hill in Gloucestershire 1 SAM 14.33 Ye have transgressed roll a great stone unto me this day LONDON Printed by Thomas Ratcliffe 1663. To the sacred Majesty of CHARLES the second by the [1] 1 Chron. 29.12 Revel 1.5 grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland The [2] 1 Chron. 21.24 Defender of the faith in all [3] Levit. 8.23 24 causes and over all [4] 1 King 2.27 persons as well [5] 1 Chron. 16 4 8 Ecclesiastical as Civil within these his Majesties [6] Psalm 144 15 148.14 happy Dominions next unto God and his Christ [7] Eccl. 8.4 P. 0.8.14.15 16 1 Pet. 2.13 supream Head and Governour Dread Soveraign AT sundry times and in great deliverances the Lord hath already said unto your Majesty [1] John 14.1 Let not your heart be troubled Believe in God believe also in me lay claim unto your Majesty as Defender of the faith The many mansions here [2] John 14.2 asserted prepare for your Majesty a glorious Diadem in the house of your Father As my Text so my Treatise hath everywhere a kindly aspect upon your dread Majesties sacred person For this Tract while it attempteth to remove a [1] There never yet fell upon the Church a tempestuous storm the vapours whereof were not first noted to arise from a coldness of affection Hooker in his Eccles Polit. lib. 5. sect 76. coldness of affection and the cause of that a stone of unbelief from [2] Heb. 3.12 evevy heart it endeavoureth to render every heart among us therefore subject to Your Scepter because obedient unto Gods Nevertheless I am bold to take Sanctuary at your sacred feet inasmuch as the weakness of mine Apologie cannot but recover strength from the clemency of your royal protection Which one blessing maketh three Kingdomes like your sacred person great and prosperous That they may so continue the God of power who hath made your Gracious Majesty Our Peace add unto your Majesties peace Life more abundant This is this shall be the earnest prayer of Your Sacred Majesties Most humble and most thankful subject and servant GILES OLDISWORTH Novemb. 5. 1663. In this Treatise THese words [1] John 14.1 2 Let not your heart be troubled Ye believe in God believe also in me In my Fathers house are many Mansions 1. Examined 2. Applyed 1. Examined 1. Preparatively in the joint explications p. 2. 114 122 216 232 254 441. 2. More fully in the several applications p. 11 c. 2. Applyed 1. Restrictively to Gospel-Ministers p. 11. 2. Vniversally to Gospel-professors p. 53. 1. To Gospel-Ministers 1. As preaching not themselves but Jesus Christ p. 14. 118. 2. As living in the world yet unto God p. 114. 217. 2. To Gospel-Professors 1. AsVnbelievers p. 54. 2. As Believers p. 109 1. To Unbelievers 1. As layed out for dead p. 56. 2. As called from death to life p. 75. 2. To Believers 1. By way of Doctrine p. 111 1. stated p. 112 2. proved p. 114 3. applyed p. 131 To the Kings most excellent Majesty p. 133 Nobility p. 140 Clergy p. 144 Magistracy p. 146 Gentry p. 151 Their Ladies p. 154 Men of low degree p. 162 Men poor and destitute p. 164 Unto Little Children p. 169 Young men and Maidens p. 179 Middle-aged persons p. 189 Aged persons p. 198 One with another p. 210 2. By way of Reproof p. 216 To some Ministers p. 217 Lawyers p. 226 Physitians p. 227 Tradesmen p. 229 Generally unto all p. 231 3. By way of further Instruction p. 232 4. By way of Consolation p. 253 Unto complainingVnbelievers p. 254 Unto disconsolate Believers p. 257 Against Worldly distresses p. 258 Death of friends p. 260 Fear of death p. 261 Remainders of sin p. 264 Want of grace p. 266 Fear of falling away p. 267 Any temptations whatsoever p. 269 5. By way of Exhortation viz. unto Thankfulnesse p. 271 Where 1. In what sense God may be said to be glorified p. 271 By himself p. 272 By his Creatures p. 274 In our Words p. 279 Works p. 291 Thoughts p. 293 2. Why God must be by us glorifyed p. 295 In regard of us p. 332. 358 In regard of Himself p. 336 3. Matter worthy our Thanksgivings unto God viz. p. 366 The blessings of this world wherein we finde no more troubles p. 395 The kingdome of grace wherein we believe in God and his Christ p. 400 The kingdome of glory wherein we expect the many mansions in my Fathers house p. 441. A Table AFflictions may not trouble believers hearts c. p. 111 Reasons why p. 122. 130 413 Books more to be desired then gold p. 41. 152 272 283 428 Bowing at the name of Jesus p. 118 Bowing toward the East p. 118. 121 Calamities when fore-runners of greater evils p. 245. 246 Christ Jesus a blessing above blessings p. 435. 436 Churches inoffensive to understanding Christians p. 285. 286 Clergy inoffensively distinguished from the Laity p. 49. 50 51. Their Hierarchy inoffensive p. 38. 43. Their function not unbeseeming the Nobility p. 44. 48. Their dignities vindicated p. 32. 37. Their Revenues advantageous to the Gospel p. 27. 28 29 145 Common Prayers ought to be frequented p. 148 149 290 291 352 357 382 385 Devotion encreased by set-forms p. 220. 223. 288 354 Englands unthankfulnesse p. 301. 304 305 312 315 316 Examples of Vertue p. 160 Failings in Ministers excused p. 19 24 blamed p. 218 223 Faith raiseth comforts against all discomforts p. 8 aimeth at glorifying God as God p. 352 A desireable Duty p. 429. 430 Festivals a due part of Gospel-worship 418 p. 383 Glorifying of God the whole duty of man p. 353 God the most desireable good p. 335. 437 438 Gospel-blessings oblige us to glorifie our God p. 400. 424 433 Grace undervalued if ascribed unto our selves p. 361. how sought p. 323. 327. how wrought p. 211. 212 213 346 347 Guilt washed off by Christs blood p. 265 Heaven why called my Fathers house p. 441 Hypocrites reward but temporary p. 227. 248 420 Hope of Heaven obligeth us to glorifie God p. 440 Insufficiency not a bar but a spur to duty p. 90 91 Knowledge without it no holinesse p. 152. It s excellency p. 403 Laity inoffensively distinguished from Clergy p. 49-52 Mansions how prepared p. 9. why so called p. 44. why many p. 128. 44 Meditation the sinful neglect of it p. 300. 301 302 402 Obedience due from the unregenerate p. 90. 338. delightful unto tht regenerate p. 351 Preachers ought to affect not mans wisdome p. 16. but the power of godlinesse p. 14. 15 Prophanesse the sad encrease of it p. 316 Prosperity a fearful judgemement upon the wicked p. 240 Regeneration how usually wrought p. 324. 327 Repentance unsound if delayed p. 331 Sanctification wait Gods leisure
Paradisus Gehenna Elysin Taitara sunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grot. in Lucae 16.23 in some blest estate but not in that third heaven whereunto they yield that Jesus then ascended when he went unto the Father For my part so often as I contemplate the Father (5) Isa 57.15 inhabiting the highest heavens the Son (6) Joh. 14 28. ascending to the Father and Sâ— Paul even at his (7) 3 Cor. 5.8 Phil. 1.23 dissolution reckoning to be present with the Son I can leave these great Authors sporting themselves (8) Job 41. Psal 104.26 Leviathan-like in their profound depths Wherefore I will not urge that suppose Christ did indeed Luke 23 43. content himself with some lower part of heaven yet he John 13.1 climbed the highest heavens no I leave these Criticks unto their own Paradise What I insist upon is That mention is (9) Joh. 13.1 here made not barely of Christs Departing out of this world but expresly also of his going to his Father Jesus (10) Ibid. knowing that the hour was come wherein he should depart out of the world unto the Father he (11) c. 14.1 saith unto his Disciples Let not your heart be troubled 3. 3 Proof from c. 14.1 2 3. That our compassionate Redeemer here eyeth his Ascension we find within the Suburbs of my Text while he saith I go to prepare a place for you True Christs burial prepareth a place for us maketh our graves a bed of rest streweth this (1) Mrs. Rutter Saints Bride-bed with roses sweetneth her Sepulchre with spices His Grave-cloaths may well (2) Herbert in his Temple a Poem which Mrs. R. very much affected wipe present tears from our eyes but a blind man may here see that our blessed Saviour here reporteth himself not unto his going down unto the bowels of the earth but unto his ascending up unto the Mansions of his Father viz. Hereafter Christ (3) c. 14.3 30. would not talk much with his Disciples though he was not yet (4) B. anarows Serm. on John 20.17 ascending yet a (5) B. anarows Serm. on John 13.33 little while and he leaveth them Wherefore what he hath to say that he (6) B. anarows Serm. on John 14.2.16.1 speaketh before-hand I say so full of bowels are the loving kindnesses of Christ Jesus that he (7) Maldonat in c. 14.1 anticipateth his Disciples thoughtfulness although with himself it was not as yet Good Friday with them he maketh it Ascension day He leadeth their troubles captive Let not your heart be troubled He prepareth for them the gift of Faith Ye believe in God believe also in me He sendeth their thoughts on high In my Fathers house are many Mansions I should darken Counsel by words without knowledge The Troubles spoken of should I cite Christs determined Ascension as the only reason of this his Dehortation whether we examine the subsequent or preceding the immediate or remote Contexts from all these clear (1) Vide sis Erasm Tinnum Malorat c. in locum it is That at what time our Saviour now spake there were visible distractions of which some already did others shortly would macerate these Disciples hearts If I can guide you through them in mine Application well loth I am to draw so many troubles upon you at this present I proceede therefore to the next The next Consolation is The remedy proposed Ye believe in God believe also in me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some read the former 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not indicatively Ye do believe but imperatively Believe ye thus the (1) M. Trostii praefat ad N. T. Nyâ—ac first New-Testament-Translation that ever was viz. the Syriack thus guided by the Syriack the (2) Talton Biblia Polyglotta Arabick Persique and Aethiopick Versions thu (3) â—n 4. Evangel Ludovic de Dieu (4) in locum Cyril and others but in thus reading they seem never the more happy Expositers Such as read two Imperatives double the command but weaken the perswasion Wherefore with a very filial delight I adhere to the same Translation which our judicious mother the Church of England here recommendeth unto us She readeth this first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ye believe so doth the vulgar Latine the like do the most and the best of those (5) Rupertus Beda c. in locum Vig lius adversus Eutychem lib. 4. Augustinus Tract 67. in Joan few Interpreters which I have hitherto met with Now read it Ye believe and it bringeth with it as well a Counsel as a Command as well an Instruction as an Exhortation quasi Ye cannot believe in God except ye believe in me for (1) August n. ubi supra I am God Ye believe in God believe also in me Ye believe in God That he (1) Zech. 13.7 will smite the Shepherd Believe also in me that I (2) Isa 53.4 Mat. 26.31 am smitten for your Transgressions Ye believe in God that he (1) Exod. 14. requireth a Paschal Lamb believe also in me that I am (2) 1 Cor. 5.7 the Passover sacrificed for you Ye believe in God that he (1) Luk. 19.10 sent me to save believe also in me that I am (2) Heb. 7.25 able to save to the uttermost These Glosses are wholesome Truths but wide of our Saviours Scope they seem somewhat forced natural they are not Wheither ye abide v. 1. by the troubles or whether ye step forward v. 2. to the Mansions obvious it is That what Instruction is here given is given (1) Gorran Beza Jansen c. in locum by way of consolation and supporrt both from the nature of Faith v. 1. and from the certainty of the reward v. 2. quasi Ye believe in God that he (1) Isa 55.7 can abundantly pardon believe also in me that I (2) 1 Joh. 1.9 am faithful and just to forgive you your sins That I am God ye (1) Mat. 16.16 rest satisfied Ye believe in God although (2) Goran in locum invisible believe also in me though absent Ye already (1) Erasm in locum believe in God Moses he taught you that lesson he required you to believe in God let me instruct you to believe also in me Faith (1) Hammond Beza Jansen in locum prepareth Antidotes against (2) 1 Joh. 5.4 every trouble Ye believe in God a (3) Psal 46.1 ready help believe also in (4) Luke 8.24 25. me in me ye (5) John 14.27.16.23 shall find peace Many are your vexations but Let not your heart be troubled As ye believe in God who (1) Psal 9.9 is a sure Refuge see that ye believe also in me who (2) Joh. 14.18 will not leave you comfortless And take this for your encouragement Your sufferings shall not be in vain as is the victory of your Faith such shall (3) August uli supra Aquin. 1
and much health be hardly found in one person Beloved I urge not these as complaints but as vindications the sincere Minister hath (5) Fhil 2.20 2 Cor. n. 28 29 Sancta laudabilis est in religionis negotio impatientia Jeron other cares wherewith to busy his thoughts then these low troubles his soul is too spiritual to be satisfied with any thing under the (6) Phil. 3.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. Chrysost Master whom he serveth these earthly cloggs which the world calleth Mony Wealth Pleasure Honour c. He rather useth then desireth true without them live (7) paupertas ridiculos hommes facit Qui mirantur opes hi nulla exempla beati Pauperis esse putant he cannot he cannot without them so (8) Saepius emoliunt eleemosynarum dona quos non commovent concionū verba 1 Tim. 3.8 Tic. 1.8 live as becometh his vocation they are that oyle of the sanctuary which the wisdom of the all-sufficient God hath made necessary to preserve our light of life and consequently the light of the Gospel from extinguishing wherefore since a Minister can no more subsist without these then without the aire which he breathes in stoop he must to take them up for his livelyhood and seeing he must of necessity encumber himself with these requisite supplies very equal it is that what is his right be tendered unto him not only as his due but as his encouragement and (9) Philem. 14. Phil. 4.14 17 comfort If the over-watched Midwife be wearied and humbled with the loud cries dolefull complaints and fearfull pangs of a woman labouring and travailing as well for her own life as her infants your courtesie considereth not only this midwifes handinesse but her discomforts not only her dexterous skill but her irksome watchings In stead of enjoying the sweets of some pleasant garden the Chirurgeon tieth himself up unto his patients wound dresseth bruises deep and putrified sores enough one would think at once to affright and poison him in this Chirurgeon ye regard not only his art but his patience The Physician neglecteth his estate his home his ease his sleep his health to attend the groans of a dying man for these his self-denials the mercilesse souldier would not (1) Dr. Gauden Hieraspistes p. 490. grudge him his twenty shillings a day The (2) Pro. 18.20 Aestuat infalix angusto◠mine eloquent Lawyer who neglecteth his own estate to secure thine crowdeth sweateth and wearieth as well his whole body as his tongue thou wilt not for shame offer this Lawyer a single fee The infirm Judge though aged and crasie rideth his Circuit through ill ways and worse weather he afflicteth his weak body to relieve the oppressed sitteth all day long in much pain to ease his country of many vexations the King him-self will see this judge rewarded Beloved great are these inconveniences but no burden under that which crowneth his sacred Majesties royal vigilancies and Princely affections can equal those throws (3) Gal. 4.19 wherewith the Ministers of Jesus Christ travaile Who hath believed our Report is (4) Jonah 4.1 2. compared with Esay 53.1 an afflicting question Dear people we mourn in secret for your (5) Eccles 2.2 No indifferent gesture is so seldom without sin as laughing for it is commonly raised upon things to be pitied K. James flores regii Aphorisme 54. laughter we grieve because ye lay not your sins to heart so sad an accompt of the flocks to us entrusted so little fruite of our great labours of the souls for which Christ died so many posting to Hell forbear ye tears if ye can we I am sure cannot the names written upon our (6) Exod. 28.29 brest-plate stick too close upon our bosom to afford us any such ease Omitting then what we suffer in our name peace wealth and health is any revenue or honour a suitable requital for these our frequent alas our constant discomforts If ye Parents have in your hearts any bowels of pity over one childes ricated consumption anothers angry blaines a thirds bruised limbes a fourth burnt in your fire or other like calamities from which God forefend ye have then a little turning a little of the melting of our bowels a little taste of our inward bleedings ye will then see us in the same Positure as was the sister of that forlorn Moses Exod. 2 4 or as was Hagar when she had eys able to weep but not able to (7) Gen. 21.16 see the perishing of Ishmael yea in the same Positure as was Rachel then when she therefore wept for her Children because they (8) Jer. 31.15 were not Beloved He that could have with-held (9) Prov. 31.6 wine from either Hagar or Rachel deserved little himself either take from us these waters of affliction else mix with these waters some wine of gladness Lay ye aside the hardness of your hearts we will then be content to make Brick without Straw Affright us no more with frequent Symptomes of your everlasting death and then debar us of what worldly shelters our earthly Tabernacles may justly demand either preserve your precious souls from being lost or grudge not our bodies the melancholick comfort of a mourning weed But if our trembling hearts therefore die daily because ye daily neglect to escape death afford us we beseech you some of your weak Julips for Cordials ye can give us none Since we must suffer heaviness because some of you repent not of your unbelief allow us that liberty which was not denied unto the persons in my Text The person here speaking was a man (10) Compare Mat. 26.36 and Joh. 18.1 with Luke 22.39 of sorrows ye therefore sometimes find him in (11) Ibid. a Garden of pleasures Cause enough he (12) Compare Mat. 13.34.19.41 Mat. 23.37 had to weep over Jerusalem repine not if he (13) Compare Mat. 21.7 Luke 19.37 compared with Judg. 5.10 ride to it as (14) Ibid. honourably as he can Since the (15) Psal 69.9 Reproaches of his God fell so often upon him blame him not if he (16) Mat. 21.9 accept of Hosannas since he doth (17) Luke 22.15 not refuse to be crucified upon (18) Luke 23.33 one Mount grudge not to see him (19) Mat. 17.1 2. transfigured upon another if he disdain not a (20) Luke 2.12 Manger spare him your presents As for the Persons here spoken to they are likewise spoken to in the tenth Chapter of St. Mark where for what they suffer in verse 29 they receive a hundred fold in verse 30. 21 Mat. 2.11 I conclude then so long as the yerning of our bowels beggeth of you Believe in God believe in Christ In your Fathers house are many Mansions So long your Equity if not your Bounty will treat us Let not your heart be troubled 2. If our necessary Supplies part from you with an Evil Will we then address our selves unto you all not
in being such as every one of you ought to be viz. sound believers and zealous Followers of Christ Jesus our Lord. Consider the persons spoken unto in my Text that they were chosen Disciples called to be Apostles and Ministers we have already understood but withal we may observe that they had more troubles then the other Disciples had We may further note that although a chief part of their troubles arose from their office and Ministery yet a chief part of their Relief and Comfort arose unto them not from their being peculiar Apostles Disciples and Ministers of Christ but from their being such as you we trust are viz. followers of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. When our blessed Saviour comforteth them Let not your heart be troubled he doth not add Ye have the credit of being chosen Ministers ye have the honour of being great Apostles but ye believe in God He doth not bid them remember their preheminencies but believe in me neither doth he tell them In the Ministry of the Gospel is no small honour but In my Fathers house are many Mansions Now Faith in God Faith in Christ the Mansions in heaven are not peculiar unto Gospel-Ministers as Ministers (4) This one name Christian bindeth us a together leadeth us all hand in hand toward Heaven G. H. Serin on Numb 17.18 but common to Gospel-Profsessors as Believers Having therefore so fully considered the persons here spoken unto as they were called unto the Ministery of the Gospel I shall in the next place review them under that Notion which much more concerneth their Everlasting peace I shall consider them as called unto the Faith of the Gospel And this ye may justy expect from my hands For we were only in the Context when we found the persons here spoken unto chosen Ministers we find them professed Believers in the Text it self So many of you as believe in God so many of you as believe in Christ let not your heart be troubled In my Fathers house are many Mansions as well for you his Elect as for his Apostles themselves PArtly because our Saviour had with so much ease conveighed himself from the Jews Universal unto the Professors of the Gospel (1) Joh. 5.16.7.30.8.20.11.8.10.31 39.19.11 whensoever the Jews most malitiously attempted to kill him and partly because when at last our Saviour did not (2) Mat. 26.53 54. escape but suffer death the Traitors heart was so manifestly (3) Mat. 27.3.5 overcome with sorrow some (4) Jansea Concord Evan. cap. 140. pitifully conjecture that had it once entered into his thoughts that Jesus might not have delivered himself as well (5) Joh. 18.6 12. at this as at former (6) Joh. 10.31 39. times Judas would not for any (7) Mat. 26.15 moneys have betraied his Master Thus some fancy But First since Iscariots hand was in (1) John 12.6 what moneys he lost in the Spiknard he was (2) Mat. 26. V. 8. compared with v. 14. resolved he would gain by his Treason Secondly What good affection a [3] John 12.6 Thief had for an honest Master I know not Thirdly The Traitor could not [4] Mat. 16.21 be ignorant that the same Jews which bought his Master would with wicked hands crucifie him Fourthly as his covetous heart could not brook to see any cost go beside his bag so neither could his Hypocritical heart brook it that he was (5) John 6.70.13.26 Mat. 26.23 24 25. layed so open before his Fellow-Disciples Fifthly Of this I am sure the (6) Psal 41.5 9.109.4 5 16. Scriptures concerning him could not but be fulfilled Sixthly This ye will all say (7) 1 Cor. 16.22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus let him be accursed Judas he loved not the Lord Jesus he was [8] Joh. 15.25 his adversary without a cause He (9) Psal 41.9.109.5 rewarded him evil for good he lifted up his heels against his [10] Joh. 13.18 Head he was a very [11] Joh. 6.70 Devil unto him Therefore Judas was not ignorant but malicious not upright but a Thief not sincere but a Hypocrite not a Convert but a Caitiffe he loved not the Lord Jesus and was therefore a [12) Joh. 17.12 son of Perdition Now in as much as Judas is found to be a son of perdition he is utterly excluded from the comforts of this Text When Christ saith Let not your heart be troubled he speaketh not to Judas who (1) Joh. 13.30 left him but unto the Disciples who abode with him Here is therefore matter to be applied unto all of you and unto none of you First Unto none of you viz. Unto none of you in my Text unto you that are none of Christs Next Vnto all of you viz. Unto all of you in my Text unto all of you who are true Disciples of Christ unto all of you Disciples who faithfully continue sincere Followers of Christ To proceede then The person here speaking in my Text is one who is a Teacher sent from God To Unbelievers whom it one who rightly divideth the Word of Truth one who distributeth unto each his due portion one who separateth between the goats and the sheep between the chaff and the wheat between the vile and the precious as he will not break the bruised Reed will not quench the smoaking flax so neither will he speak peace unto the wicked Mention a Hypocrite and he shall have [1] Mat. 24.51 weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth Find out a Generation of Vipers and they shall [2] Mat. 23.32 fill up the measure of their Fathers guilt In my Text here Your is exclusivè ye who abide constant Followers let not your heart be troubled But as for Judas who [3] Joh 13.30 is departed from me well were it [4) Mat. 26.24 for him had he never been born let him do [5] Joh. 13.37.30 what he listeth let him go [6] Joh. 13.30 where he will let his heart be [7] Mat. 27 3. troubled let his heart be troubled till he [8] Mat. 27 5. On which see Hammond and on Act. 1.18 burst again Thus the same Gospel which publisheth glad Tidings unto you who continue Christs unfeigned Disciples the same writteth bitter things against you that forsake your own Mercy Methinketh the Genius of this present Text is much like unto that good Angel specified [1] Mat. 28.2 by S. Matthew such as seek for Iesus them it [2] Mat. 28.5 gratifieth them it filleth with holy [3] Mat. 28.8 fear them it filleth with great [4] Mat. 28.8 joy But as for the enemies of Christ them it [5] Mat. 28.4 shaketh of them it maketh [6] Mat. 28.4 so many dead men at the [7] Mat. 27.60 door of their heart it findeth a great [8] Mat. 27.60 stone a great stone [9] Mat. 27.66 sealed a great sealed stone [10] Ibid. watched and warded
First Shaketh This Scripture shaketh Unbelieuers from their vain Delusions Subterfuges and Shifts Thou who Iudas-like From their Shifts gaddest so much about to change thy way from bad to worse if worse may be Methinketh I know thy thoughts which come into thy mind every one of them but shall (1) Jer. 16.20 a man make gods unto himself and they are no gods or wilt thon (2) Jer. 51.26 25 24. hew unto thy self a stone for a corner or a stone for a foundation out of a burnt a destroying a Babylonish mountain Now that thou art within thine own view numbred among the enemies of Christ thou wouldest but they are but vain thoughts thou wouldest as one (3) Jer. 17.9 desperately wicked sear thy conscience with a hot Iron thou wouldest give thy self over unto thine own hearts lust one nay peradventure each of these three evils thou wilt flee unto who shall be sorry for thee thou wilt with the Adder stop thine ear against God or if thou give him the hearing thou wilt with the serpent open thy mouth against God or if thon bite in thy lips thou wilt with Lucifer exalt thy heart against God Lest they should tingle at the hearing of all those evils which menace thine unregenerate estate 1. Subterfuge shaken thou foolishly stopest thine ears like the Adder a vermine already like thy self sentenced (1) Gen. 3.14 to the dust and laden with curses I say lest thou shouldest see thine own loathsomness thou turnest away thine eyes thou dost (2) Andabatarum more Job 15.12 Mat. 13.15 wink and fight against God wicked thou hast been and to drown the clamour of thy conscience wicked wilt thou be even forcing thy self upon (3) Jer. 8.6 thine unwarrantable practices as the horse turning his course rusheth into battle but shalt thou (4) Psal 56.7 escape by thine iniquity No no rash soul this is nothing else but to leap from the checks of a frying conscience into the flames of everlasting burnings as the guilty soul of Judas did forlorn wretch Who (5) Job 9.4 hath hardened his heart against God and hath prospered Thereafter as a man feareth so is (6) Psal 90.11 Gods displeasure a heart that (7) Isa 66.5 trembleth moveth pity and the heart of (8) Ezek. 11.19 flesh may (9) Psal 51.17 receive a healing wound but where the heart continueth stony there Christ that (10) Dan. 2.34 mountanous stone falleth with his full weight he (11) Mat. 21.44 grindeth such a heart to mere pouder if thou set briers and thorns in (12) Isa 27.4 against him he will be unto thee a consuming fire I hope thou wilt take watning by Judas he (13) Mat. 26.24 John 6.70.13.21 27. neglected many a fair hint which Christ gave him Oh imitate not the stupidity of him the deafness of him whose (14) Prov. 28.9 end thou darest not think of do not (15) 1 Cor. 10.22 provoke the Lord to anger as he did If a servant if a slave spake unto thee thou wouldest vouchsafe an ear even unto him and darest thou (16) Jer. 5.22 stop thine ear darest thou (17) Jer. 32.33 turn thy back when the God of heaven calleth Be not another Judas give ear and hearken unto Christs words (18) Mat. 4.17 for the mouth of this Lord hath (19) Prov. 1.24 c. 2. Subterfuge shaken spoken 2. A meer (1) Marcus Aurelius heathen could pronounce it equal and just That who so is willingly led into sin should be against his will drawn unto punishment and Truth (2) 2 King 7.9 revealeth That every sin is a vengeance unto it self while one and the same word therefore signifieth the evil of punishment because it (3) Gen. 4.7.19.15 2 Sam. 12.13 Isa 6.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth the evil of sin and fitly for as the disunion of the (4) James 2 26 soul from the body is the death of the body so the disunion of good from the soul is the (5) Gen. 2.17 death of the soul wherefore impossible it is that a reasonable Creature should (6) Pro 8.36.14.14 Gen. 20.3 Deut. 30 15. Numb 32.23 chuse sin and refuse death yet thou who (7) Joh. 8.24 1 Cor. 2.14 continuest a very natural fain thou wouldest lay the blame of thy unbelief not upon thine own unregenerate heart but upon the permission of the holy God even of that God who not only (8) Josh 24.15 leaveth thee unto thy free choice but doth also by way of (9) Prov. 8.1 c. prevention (10) Joh. 15.5 instruct nay (11) Neh 9.13 Psal 119.86 Hos 8.12 Act. 17.30 1 Tim 2.4 faithfully command thee for thy good Thou such is thine ignorance standest upon terms Who may say unto a King what dost thou yea no servant is allowed to (12) Tit. 2.9 gainsay his Master yet hast thou the face to (13) Rom. 9.20 reply against thy Lord the King thy King and thy God! whereas it is thy (14) Deut. 4.6 wisdom not to contest but to obey thou instead of fulfilling his good pleasure murmurest and disputest why sayst thou why (15) Rom. 9.19 doth he yet complain Unadvised wreth for shame leave the great God (16) Deut. 29.29 unto the counsel of his own will However know Caitiffe thou canst not ask Who hath resisted his Will for thou hast Rom. 3.23 The Will of God was (17) Gen. 2.17 that thou shouldest not destroy thy self by trying conclusions with the forbidden fruit but even (18) Gens humana ruit per vetitum nifas Rom 7.9 Psalm 58.3 Deut. 29.4 unto this day taste of it thou wilt God for his part (19) Ezek. 33.11 desireth not thy death but thou wo wo unto thee saith the Lord God thou hast (20) Isa 63 3 4 chosen death rather then life He earnesty endeavouring thy preservation vehemently calleth out Why (21) Ezek 18 31 wilt thou die for thy part answer (22) Rom 13 9 thou him if thou canst Judas was indeed a son of perdition but his (23) Hos 13 9 3 Subterfuge shaken perdition was from himself 3. Now that the worm gnawing thine evil conscience hath smitten this gourd also guilt seemeth to turn bank-rupt and so whispereth unto thee as if thy sinfulness were now so beyond all pardon that it were now to no purpose to serve the Lord Well I will not extenuate thy guilt for what (1) Joh 27 8 is the bope of the Hypocrite and what is tby strength that thou (2) Joh 6 11 9 2 3 shouldest hope yet say not thy sins are more then God can pardon but speak truth say thy sins are more then thou wilt part with When Israel (3) Jer 2 25 exclamed There is no hope God drew aside his Vizard and called unto him With-hold thy foot from being unshod and thy throat from thirst just so thou if
3.20 greater then thy heart and knoweth all things mean while thine own conscience condemneth thee over and over and loe the guilt of thine own conscience keepeth thee aloof from Gods presence thou art rightly Adams brat if God call thee thou [6] Gen. 3.8 10 hidest thy self Thy heart reproveth thee for not believing the [7] Deut. 7.9 faithfull God thy heart reproveth thee for not receiving the Lords Christ thy heart reproveth thee for not preferring the mansions of Heaven before the torments of Hell and knowing so ill by thy self thou playest least in sight thou hast forfeited thine own peace by troubling thine own soul yet seekest not for peace in Christ Yea thou hast so dis-countenanced the Ministerie of reconciliation so despised the Spirit so neglected thy Redeemer and so defaced the Fathers image that though such is their goodnesse the Trinitie of Persons would shew thee compassion thou hast not confidence to look them in the face Thou hast repeated contumelies and obstinacies against Heaven and mayest justly wonder that thou art not already in Hell True heavenly mansions there are but thou fanciest them too neer the Lodgings of a provoked Governour couldest thou hope for mercie alas thy title (8) Non est censendus haeres qui non festinat ad haereditatem seemeth lost thorough want of timely claim grant thy claim to continue valid thou canst not knock at heaven gates for pure shame they indeed are open but thy tardie heart blusheth to look toward them this the third see now the tri-angle in thy heart opposeth it self against the Trinitie in thy God I mean there is never a corner in thy stonie heart whereon thou hast not sealed thine own doom in despight of God and of his free grace 5. Hadst thou a power hadst thou a will Findeth this sealed stone watched hadst thou a face too to overtake God in Christ at the heavenly mansions there yet remaineth one hinderance which rendereth this stone of unbelief more unlikely to be rolled away from thy heart then did all the three former circumstances together Several of the inhabitants could not (1) Genes 29 8 remove that stone which lay upon the mouth of the Well at Haran yet Jacob then strong in affections could by himself (2) Genes 29 10. alone roll it away Vehement love may doe much neverthelesse I must assure the unbeliever that were his Zeal although so it is not but were his Zeal as fervent towards Gods heavenly Mansions as ever Jacobs was toward Labans house yet still his condition is farr short of Jacobs when Jacob heaved at that weight he found no opposers but the Unbeliever when he once striveth to remove the stone from off his heart he shall meet with as many Oppugners as (3) Gen. 26. Isaac and his servants found Thou who art dead and buried in trespasses and sin as verily as thou cherishest a heart of unbelief so verily upon every sealed corner of that stonie heart of thine there is set a strict a constant watch look how often thou attemptest to undeceive thine heart to shake off thine unbelief and to walk in newnesse of living so often though thou seest them no more then Elishaes servant (1) 2 King 6.16 17 saw his friends so often thou meetest enemies more then one or two That thou didst (2) Gen. 3.7 rashly cast thy self into that (3) Gen. 3.5 pit which thine adversaries digged for thee was (4) Eccle. 7.29 thine own foolishnesse that being fallen into this open sepulchre thou like the (5) Job 38.30 lost waters under the earth or like the carkasses in their graves art hid with a stone is from thy self too that being (6) Rom. 23.32 shut up under unbelief thou hast affixed thine assent is also thine own wilfulnesse but now that all these evils are thus by thy self brought upon thy self the World the Flesh the Devil they (7) Mat. 27.66 set a strict watch and keep a strong guard upon thy stone-dead heart Men Fathers and Brethren ye have a little seen what a wretch he is who is none of you in my Text by continuing in sin he would (1) Mat. 28.12 conceal that ever Jesus Christ (2) Col. 2 12 arose from the dead and by adhering unto vanitie he would divulge that (3) Mat. 28 13 Christ is (4) Tit. 1.16 Phil. 3.18 stollen from him but by this shift what good plotteth he for himself Alas whether he will or no he is shaken he becommeth a dead man a stone of unbelief lieth upon the (5) Mark 15 46 door of his heart and that stone is (6) Mat. 27.66 setled fixed and sealed with insufficiencie aversnesse despaire he wanteth a power he wanteth a will and saith within himself There is no hope We read of stones of (1) Job 28.3 darknesse of stones of (2) Ezek. 28 14 fire and of (3) Esa 34.11 stones of emptinesse and we find them all three in the heart of unbelief Wretch the world circumventeth thee the world permitteth thee not to mind that one (4) Luke 10.42 only thing which is necessary the world hurleth stones of emptiness at thy head the flesh that (5) 1 Pet. 2.11 warreth against thy soul that slingeth stones of fire against thee the Devil he fooleth thee with delaies he lulleth thee to sleep on stones of darkness thou walkest in thy sleep thou walkest in (6) Joh. 12.35 darknesse and knowest not whither thou goest Poor creature thy heart is never free from the worst of troubles and those troubles alas are but forerunners of wrath to come in as much as thou (7) Jer. 5.3 hast refused correction Thou hast no God to trust in a God to (8) Lev. 26.14 c. punish thee thou hast thou hast no Jesus to flee unto a Judge to (9) Esa â— 24 avenge himself upon thee thou hast the mansions above are (10) Matt. 25 10 shut agoinst thee but the gates of hell (11) Psal 9.17 Esa 5.14 groan for thee thou hast like (12) Psal 22.16 Shebnah digged thine own grave even destruction eternal destruction to thy self thy soul is among Lions on whose Den a (13) Dan. 6.17 stone is rolled and sealed thou hast of thine own accord gone (14) Esa 14.19 down to the stones of the pit as a carcase trodden under foot by Satan Hast thou not (15) Jer. 2.17 procured this unto thy self in that Judas (16) John 13 30 like thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God Know (17) Jer. 2.23 what thou hast done for thine own (18) Jer. 2.19 wickednesses shall correct thee this is thy lot the portion of thy measures (19) Jer. 13.25 from the Lord because thou hast unthankfully forgotten him and hast like another Judas trusted in falshood Peradventure the Lord hath now at length given thee a heart to dread him Gratifieth and smite thee Peradventure With
of grace then those [11] Isa 41 2.55.5 Jer. 4.2.10.7 Zech. 2.11.8.22 Turks have which worship Mahomet the same God which (12) Isa 38.19 Eccle. 8.113 Dan. 4.17 Psal 66.9 spareth unto thee the breath of life while Judas Julian nay while some born since thou wert born are grievously tormented in Hell the self same God would have thee [13] Ezek. 33.11 escape the everlasting torments due unto thee and to thy heart of unbelief Thy Rebellion [14] Isa 1.2 4 24. Nahum 2.2 6. hath been inexcusable and thou liest wholly at the power of that King against whom thou hast rebelled yet lo he offereth [15] Ezek. 18.32 Isa 55.7 a Free Pardon yea he offereth terms of Peace every way for thine advantage thou (16) Rom. 8.7 art at enmity with him but he hath Love free (17) Hos 14.4.2.19 love everlasting loves for thee though (18) Psal 9 17 11.6 Hell be thy portion fain would God entitle thee (19) 1 Pet. 1.4 to an inheritance in heaven When thou hast done all that ever thou canst be able to do thou wilt be at the best but an (20) Luk. 17.10 compared with Mat. 25.30 unprofitable creature I wiss yet loe God longeth to (21) Deut. 4.6 7.28.58.10.21 Psal 34.2 Jer. 17.14 honour thee with his service as (22) Deut. 3.1 Ezek. 6.9 corrupt as thine affections are God (23) Hos 2.14 Jer. 3.14 Isa 54.5 wooeth thee for them as wicked as thy heart is God (24) Gen. 6.5 compared with Jer. 4.14 and Prov. 23.26 calleth for it if thou wilt not believe him search the Scriptures in them he offereth thee his (25) Prov. 1.23 own Spirit in them he offereth unto thee his his own Son Oh he taketh glory Luke 19.10 in saving so lost a sinner as thou art Thou witness thy life past thou hast had no (26) Psal 14.4 knowledge of God let it be Gods glory that he can cause thee to (27) Jer. 24.7 know him thou hast a stony heart of thine own let it be the glory of thy God that he can (28) Ezek. 36.26 give thee a heart of flesh The Lord hath (29) Deut. 29.4 not given thee a heart to perceive nor eyes to see nor ears to hear unto this day let it now be his praise that he hath giveth thee a (30) Pro. 20.12 hearing ear a seeing eye and a believing (31) Phil. 1.29 heart too Thou hast had no (32) Rom. 3.18 Job 6.14 fear of God before thine eyes let God have the honour of (33) Jer. 32.40 Psal 51.6 10. putting his fear in thy inward parts Happily God hath hitherto winked (34) Act. 17.30 at thy carelesness on purpose that the (35) Rom. 5.20.7.13 transcendency of thy guilt may exalt (36) Luk. 7.47 Isa 30.18 Psal 130.4 his free his unsearchable mercies the (37) Luk. 51.13.25.11 Dan. 9.9 Lord forgive thy sins for they are great the Lord help (38) Mar. 9.14 thine unbelief for thy heart is not stedfast the Lord have compassion upon thee for (39) Heb. 5.2 thou art ignorant The holy God can write his Law even in (40) Jer. 31.33 thy heart he can pour upon thee a (41) Zec. 12.19 Spirit of Prayer and of supplication In all thy doings (42) Ezek. 21.24 thy sins appear but the person speaking in my Text can take away those (43) Zech. 3.4 Isa 64.9 filthy rags from thine incurable wounds thou hast no (44) Jer. 30.13 healing Medicines but the Physitian in my Text is the God of thy health he (45) Jer. 30.17 can heal thee and all thy back-slidings he can cause thee to draw near and to (46) Jer. 30.21 approach and to come with (47) Heb. 4.16 boldness unto the Throne of His grace Sinner thou hast (48) 2 Kin. 17.17 sold thy self to work wickedness but be no longer the (49) Rom. 6.16 servant of a Devil for Christ (50) 1 Cor. 6.20 hath bought thee and that not with corruptible gold but with his own blood his precious blood his precious his most precious blood Greater love hath no man (51) John 15.130 then this viz. that he lay down his life for his friend but Christ commendeth his love toward thee in that thou being (52) Rom. 5.8 an Enemy a polluted an inconsiderable a contemptible enemy and He being a righteous a holy person a person therefore a man (53) Heb. 2.14 because a God died died the shameful death of the Cross and despised the shame because he died for thee Who (1) Rom. 8.34 is he that condemneth It is the person speaking in my Text that died Thou who hast been so careless of Christ hitherto happily thou now turnest over a new leaf happily thou wilt now (2) Ephes 5.16 redeem thy time and amend one the (3) Jer. 7.3.23.22 evil of thy doings thou wilt put away from thee if thy canst thou wilt be renewed (4) Eph. 4.23 Col. 3.10 as well as thou canst in the spirit of thy mind happily thou art mortified and grieved and full (5) Zech. 12.10 of bitterness for the (6) Eccles 7.25 wickenness of thy folly happily thou resolvest to (7) 2 Cor. 7.1 clense thy self from all filthinesse of the flesh and of the Spirit to give (8) 1 Thes 5.17 thy self unto prayer to exercise (9) 1 Tim. 4.7 thy self unto godlinesse and to (10) 2 Cor. 13.9 strive after perfection all the days of thine appointed time if so this is a good change of mind in this thy good resolution go on prosper this notwithstanding know unless thou make the person speaking in my Text thy Refuge thy practise of Piety will never (11) Heb. 10.22 Tit. 3.5 quiet thy conscience the reason is though a (12) Rom. 8.15 spirit of bondage may restrain thee from evil and may presse thee upon duties yet it can (13) Ephes 2.9 never render thee acceptable in the presence of an offended God alas the best works that ever thou canst perform (14) Tit. 1.15 Gal. 2.16 shall never be able to satisfie the most infinite Justice of a provoked God no not (15) Heb. 9.22 for the least of the least of all thine infirmities Be as upright as ever thou canst yet of all those innumerable debts due from thee unto thy Lord thou shalt never be able to pay (16) Mat. 5.26 one mite that is sterling if this alone be that Plea by which thou hopest to (17) Rom. 3.20.24 answer the Law never never look the severe Judge in the face assure thy self that the just Judge of all the earth will do right Judas (19) Mat. 27.4 repented himself of his evil and yet Judas (20) Act. 1.25 perished in his transgression and so mayest thou if thou hope to pacifie God by thine own righteousness How then shall my Conscience obtain peace with
God Dub. This do and live Solut. Unfeignedly humble thy self confess thy Trespasses confess thy debts (1) Psal 51 per totum Jer. 31.19 Ezr. 9. Zech. 12.10 Nehem 9 Jam. 4.9 Dan. 9 Ezek. 16.63 Psal 130. Phil. 2.12 1 Pet. 1.17 2 Pet. 3 11 14 suffer thy Conscience to accuse thee and to accuse thee to the uttermost from time to time spare not to aggravate thy guilt be as well thou mayest vile in thine own eyes let thy sins be always before thee that thy heart may always condemn thee bear thine iniquities viz. the guilt of them and the shame of them the remaining days of thy mis-spent life mean while have an eye [2] Heb. 9.14 10.22 Rom 15.13 9 Ephe. 1.7 Col. 1.10 of faith unto that satisfactory blood which the Person speaking in my Text shed upon the Cross believe it if thou canst for joy believe it with that blood which thou Judas-like hast trampled under foot with that blood of Jesus and only [3] Heb. 1.3 Isa 53.5 63.3 with that blood is written thy free pardon thine absolute acquittance thy general release [4] Tit. 2.14 Rev. 5.9 from all guilt debts and trespasses whatsoever by thee committed or upon thee charged from the beginning of the world unto the great and last day that terrible day of the Lord. Sinner [5] John 20.27 29 be not faithless but believe Oh that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ [6] Mat. 11.27 would seal this Truth upon thine unbelieving heart He that [7] Rom. 8.32 spared not his own Son but gave him up for thy ransome how shall he not with him also freely bestow upon thee the gift of faith Tell me hath God so [8] John 3.16 2 Cor. 5.18 loved thee and canst thou have hard thoughts of God This is life [9] John 17.3 eternal to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent for us [10] Hos 6.7 Gal. 1.4 men and for our salvation Is the [11] Joh. 3.14 brazen serpent lifted up and wilt thou not look toward it Canst thou desire a more [12] Ephes 1.7 Acts 20.28 1 Tim. 1.14 sufficient discharge then an acquittance written with the blood of God Look unto the [13] Heb. 12.2 authour and finisher of thy faith this man [14] Mic. 5.5 shall be the peace The person here speaking in my Text is [15] Isa 63.5 mighty to save mighty to save [16] Mat. 1.21 from sin mighty to save from [17] 1 Thes 1.10 wrath to come he is able to save [18] Heb. 7.25 to the uttermost Ah thou wert a cursed wretch had not the innocent Jesus been made a [19] Gal. 3.13 curse for thee thy sins had been more then thou couldest ever have been able to bear had [20] 2 Cor. 5.21 not Christ been made sin for thee but now that Christ hath taken our sins upon [21] Isa 53.5.63.5 himself now that his [22] Mat. 27.46 angry father hath seized on him as on thy Surety He is (23) 1 Joh. 1.9 faithful and just to forgive thee thy sins Well is it with thee that Christ hath the (24) Rev. 1.18 1 Cor. 5.5 1 Tim. 1.20 keys of hell and of death for now that cursed Jaylor the Devil can have no claim to thee since he is wholly at the command of thy friend the Judge Thou hast not thou canst not obey one jot or one little of the [25] Hos 8.12 Cal. 2.16.3.11 Act. 3.19 Rom. 3.20.4.15 25. 1 Cor. 1.30 Phil. 3.9 Titus 3.5 Ephes 5.27 Col. 1.28 Jude 24 Heb. 8.12 Isa 44.22 43.25 great things of Gods Law but the person speaking in this Text he hath kept the whole Law in thy stead because he never brake the Law thy transgressions shall never be called in question unless on purpose that thou mayest be cleared at the general Aszises And because thou hast not wit to speak for thy self see the person speaking in my Text he [26] 1 Joh. 2.1 Heb. 8.6.9.15.12.24 goeth in thy stead before the great Tribunal he becometh thine Advocate he putteth in thy Plea not [27] Isa 53.11 Rom. 3.24 1 Cor. 6.11 2 Cor. 6.2 Ephes 1.6 Rev. 3.5 guilty he justifieth thee before men and Angels yea before the holy Angels and the terrible God and of this rest satisfied never never did any Cause fail that this Advocate undertook he rules the Court for he himself is both a [28] Heb. 2.11 14 party a [29] John 17.25 witnesse an [30] 1 Joh 2.1 Advocate and the [31] Rom. 8.34 2 Cor. 10.18 Judge too Christian for I am loth to term thee an unbeliever now darest thou [32] Heb. 4.16 10.22 put thy life into Jesus Christs hands if so I will warrant thee a [33] Luk. 24.47 remission of all thy sins through his alone [34] Heb. 10 14 mediation thou shalt have thy Clergy the benefit of this Clergy man the Judge shall tender thee the [35] Rev. 3.5 book of life and the person speaking in my Text shall be thine Ordinary he shall testifie for thee that thou canst therein read thy [36] Rev. 2.17 new name canst thou chuse but break forth I [37] Rom. 7.25 thank my God through Jesus Christ our Lord And now if so be thou hast heard the [1] Ephes 4.21 person speaking in my Text and hast been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus if thou [2] Col. 2.6 receivest the person speaking in my Text as [3] John 14.6 the way unto that Father of Mercies who can abundantly pardon as the truth of that God who declareth himself satisfied and as the life which is given thee for a prey if thou seest thy soul a brand scarcely yet [4] Zech. 3.2 snatched out from amidst everlasting burnings I adjure thee by the living God as ever thou wilt not [5] Jam. 1.22 deceive thine own soul as ever thou wilt not like another Judas make [6] Act. 1.25 hell thy home be plodding [7] Psal 32.5 be much in plodding upon thy former heedlesness ignorances and provocations Let not business let not company [8] Psal 132.4 5 compared with 2 Cor. 6.16 let not any affairs under the Sun interrupt thy godly [9] Psal 7.10 11 sorrow Think what a Judas thou hast been Take much time for thy privacies [10] Psal 13.5 and re-examinations see the exceeding [11] Rom. 7.13 sinfulnesse of thy whole man and of thy whole life too bring thy thoughts [12] 2 Cor. 10.5 into captivity hale thy conscience to stake bring conscience and God face to face I say Get alone and [13] Pro. 13.5 compared with Ezek. 6.9 loath and abhorre thy self in the presence of thy God let confusion [14] Jer. 31.19 22.22 cover that face of thine call thy sins by as bad [15] Jer. 3.2 names as they deserve search [16] Psal
or put up petitions any more If any Mercy can melt thy stony heart [41] Rom. 2 4 Gods forbearance will it will melt it into fervent duties The sincere Convert husbandeth hours unto the best advantage and maketh length of days life [42] Rom. 2.7 more abundant MOTIVE V. Motive V. Gods Sentence As sure as death in the grave there is as I just now told thee no Redemption when once sentence is passed [1] Eccle. 11.3 Mat. 25.46 upon examination had there is then no repealing so soon as ever thy farthing [2] Prov. 20.27 24 20 candle is burnt out thy soul if it savoureth not sweet in heaven it is cast into the fire of hell and all this in a moment in (3) 1 Cor. 15.52 the twinkling of an eye sooner then thou canst think of it At this very instant how immediately canst thou the image of Gods Omnipresence how immediately canst thou think of hell although hell be so great a distance off how immediately can thy thoughts ascend even the highest heavens Swift was that last thought of thine but thy souls flight shall be swifter then was thy last thought Man for want of consideration wasteth hours and minutes the (4) Dau. 7.9 ancient of days doth not so Unto him who inhabiteth eternity every little time is so precious that in less space then the space of one moment he dispatcheth the soul from this prison of flesh unto his high Court of Justice and again from his high Court of Justice unto the place of execution or of glory as Justice shall give sentence I say thy breath of life once expired thy winged soul is allowed no time at all to look back no it forthwith appeareth before the judgement (5) 2 Cor. 5.10 seat of God and from thence forthwith unto the joys or miseries by order appointed Thy flesh indeed that is dispensed with until the general (6) John 6.40 Assizes but her Proxie thy spirit that giveth her appearance upon the very first day of the Term. While thy breathless bosom is yet warm either for thee or against thee sentence is pronounced I therefore again exhort that thou wouldest make thy peace with thy God while life nay while health continueth for with thy dying body dyeth all hopes of future repentance When death is once come opportunity is gone Opportunity is therefore gone because Judgement is come Motive 6. MOTIVE VI. Death approaching it stealeth upon thee while thou sleepest Couldest thou return into thy first Infancy and thence begin (1) 1 Cor. 9.24 the race that is set before us thine advantage were little enough either for the running of a race so long or for the obtaining of a prize so high but alas a great part of thy life is already consumed and already consumed in vanity thou art almost out of breath before thou hast at all buckled (2) Luke 12.35 thy self to thy work The Affairs which thou in this thy pilgrimage must of necessity perform are exceeding great but exceeding (3) Gen. 47.9 small is that space of time wherein thou must disspach them although thy duties are not easily compassed thy life is quickly (4) Psal 39.5 spanned thy life is at longest but a winters day thine employment is the business of a whole age of this thine employment an accompt thou must give but how soon (5) Act. 1.7 it is not for thee to know Thou seest on every side many much younger then thy self called away to give up their accompts and of them none so unexpectedly as those who were the healthiest persons Such as least look for him meet their (6) Mat. 24.44 Lord first if ever he (7) Rev. 3.3 come upon thee as a thief it is then when time stealeth from thee to thy disprofit rather then death should overtake (8) 1 Thes 5.4 thee meet it die daily if thou wouldest live for ever if thou wouldest not forget thy self (9) Deut. 32.29 remember thy last end if at any time thou art more unprepared to give up thy last accompt then other at that time above all others look for and hasten unto the coming (10) 2 Pet. 3 12 of the day of thy God if in that day thou wouldest be found faithful in this thy day abide watchful persevere in well doing if thou wouldest endure unto the end redeem thy time if thou wouldest enjoy thy Redeemer and if thou wouldest not fear death fear God MOTIVE 7. Motive 7. A seventh Motive inviteing thy soul to hold fast that which is good is thy natural insufficiency At thy first Creation there was in thee the spirit (1) Gen. 1.26 of a God the light of that spirit Adam quenched and in Adam thou In baptism the same spirit entered into a Covenant with thee the same spirit thou hast again grieved and quenched none of all his mighty workings have prevailed upon thy heart carnally minded thou hast been spiritually minded thou wouldest not be Of all those graces which the holy Spirit of God may justy call for thou canst not produce one Consider now thou hast failed of (2) Furor est post omnia perdere naulum his saving gifts wilt thou render the common gifts of that bountiful spirit useless too the more ungrateful thou hast been in rejecting the one the more thankful thou shouldest be in making a benefit of the other the greater want thou findest of that sufficiency which thou mightest have had from God the greater reason thou hast to plow up the fallow ground of thy heart that thou mayest sow to the spirit if thou hast been so unfaithful that God would not adventure with thee his ten talents be so trusty that God may not repent him of that one talent now in thy hands or if thou hast embesled that Talent yet at least restore unto God his napkin having robbed thy Master of his moneys do not keep from him his purses too thou hast cut off thy (3) Jer. 10.23 legs therefore use (4) Psal 25.12 Hos 6.3 crutches the more thou hast dulled thine (5) Eccl. 10.10 axe the more pains thou must take in hewing thou hast blunted the edge of the spirit it concerneth thee to make the best use thou canst of thine affections thy memory and thine understanding the more graceless thou appearest the more thou art obliged to use all means of grace the Word of God is two-edged as I cannot hope for salvation without the help of Gods Spirit so neither can I (6) Pro. 1.23 Luke 11.13 Rom. 10.17 expect the help of Gods Spirit unless I wait for it in the use of means I (7) Luk 16.11 12 Mat. 25.23 28 must be faithful in my natural abilities if I would be entrusted with spiritual Beside God (8) Luk. 1.53.29 filleth the hungry with good things the more empty thy vessel the more capacious it is to receive the (9) 2 Kin. 4.6 ointment
they should [17] Psal 119.107 Heb. 12.11 James 1.12 advance our duties too they are brought not to flatten but to [18] 1 Pet. 5.10 quicken us to our sins they are [19] Rom. 6.11 compared with Col. 3.5 Exod. 20.20 sepulchres but unto our graces they [20] Rom. 1634 Deut. 8.16 Gen. 22.18 are Monuments if once they be sepulchres unto our duties then this good Angel in my Text [21] 1 Cor. 10.13 rolleth them away but where they are Monuments of his [22] 2 Cor. 12.9 power in our graces there he resteth there he 23 sitteth down upon them Reason 2. 2. Reason from the heart From the [1] Jer. 4.19 seat of these troubles the heart Let not your heart be troubled because a heart Chirurgeons in their Anatomies phrase such and such a part a vessel a vessel for the brains a vessel for the urine for the blood c. Now he that fashioned for himself all our limbs while as yet there were none of them he useth this language too Mans soul body and (2) 1 Thes 5.23 spirit they are (3) 1 Pet. 3.7 2 Cor 4.7 vessels in the hand of the Potter this vessel he formed for such and such uses and for (4) Rom. 9.22 Prov. 23.26 none other intents or purposes whatsoever I say the (5) Psal 2.9 1 Thes 4.4 whole man much more the (6) Mat. 25.4 heart is a vessel a vessel appointed like those of the Temple for (7) Pro 23.26 Gods service wherefore the heart may not at all be taken up (8) Luk. 21.34 with cares fill a heart with the (9) Hos 7.7 scalding waters of lust or with the (10) Phil. 3.19 muddy waters of an earthly mind and what (11) Hos 4.11 room can there be in that heart for either (12) 1 Joh. 3.3 purity or (13) Mat. 6.21 heavenliness So fill a heart with bitter waters of (14) 2 Cor. 7.10 unreasonable grief or with the unwholesome waters of (15) Isa 7.9 distrustful fears and what room is there in that heart for the exercise of faith waters of affliction are of a (16) Job 33.16 Isa 44.33 Hos 5.15 cooling (17) 〈◊〉 1.16 clensing (18) Psal 119.67 healing nature and the heart should be a vessel prepared to receive them as (19) Eccles 7.3 such Blessed are ye that (20) Isa 32.20 sow unto the spirit besides all waters for the Spirit of God delighteth to (21) Pro 1.23 move upon these and it concerneth us that he findeth a (22) Eph. 4.30 quiet habitation Let neither (23) Jam. 1.4 impatiency nor (24) Mat. 8.26 distrust nor (25) Job 33.16 compared with Pro. 15.32 21.11 insensibleness neither quench nor grieve in the least any motions of so holy a Spirit If we would find our chastisements chastisements of peaee let not the heart be troubled That a second Reason as the heart is the seat of the vital spirits so it should be the seat of spiritual graces too It is at lest it should be a vessel [26] 2 Tim. 2.21 compared with Heb. 10.5 prepared for the [27] Col. 2.12 operations of God It should be filled not with carefulness but with the [28] Eph 5 18 Spirit Reason 3. 3 Reason from You. From you your heart Let not the heart be troubled because yours because it is as a vessel so a [1] Isa 66.20 consecraâ—ed vessel As for the wicked the heart of the wicked [2] Pro 10.20 is little worth but the heart of a believer is a [3] Jer. 31.20 dear heart unto her Bridegroom The heart of a believer is a rich [4] Mat. 25.4 Ephet 3.19 cabinet which holdeth vertuâ—s more graceful then gems graces more precious then jewels The heart of a believer is a heart not taken up with the blood of the fabulous Duck at Hales no nor yet with the blood of bulls or of goats but [5] Heb. 10.22 1 Cor. 2.2 Gal. 2 20 Acts 20.28 with the blood of the sacrificed lamb it carrieth within it self the blood of the Lord Jesus It is I say the mansion (6) Vita est mansio animae in corpore rectiùs spiritus in animâ say I. where the spirit of God dwelleth and is it fit think you that such a Temple as this such a Mercy-seat as this should be prophaned with fears and jealousies 4. Reason from God with cares and with destructive sorrows Reason 4. From God Almighty Let not your heart be troubled for ye believe in God The true Christian hath a (1) Exod. 34.6 2 Chro. 30.9 Neh 9.17 Isa 30.18 Psal 84.11 86.15 116.5.145.8 gracious God to believe in an all-knowing a merciful an (2) Gen. 17.1 all sufficient God to believe in and shall he not endure affliction according to the [3] Rom. 16.25 Eph. 1.19.3.28 power of God working mightily [4] Col. 1.29 in him shall a believers heart stoop should such a man as Nehemiah (5) Nehe 6.11 flee The Disciples were at the [6] Mark 16 5 first affrighted with the sight of their good Angel but what [7] Mark 16 6 followed There is if ye mark it there is a good Angel in this burning (8) Exod. 3.4 Dent. 33.16 bush Be not far off O Lord for trouble is (9) Psal 22.11 hard at hand Do thine afflictions make thee cry out Be [10] Psal 34.18.85.9 145.8 of good chear If once the child cryeth the Nursing-mother runneth If troubles be upon us be ye sure God [11] Psal 46.1 is a present help in those troubles That a fourth Reason V. from me also Reason 5. From Christ beleive also in me Let not your heart be troubled for ye have the [1] Act. 26.18 Lord Jesus to beleive in True no man can upon a well-grounded and a well-experienced [2] 2 Tim. 1.12 Knowledge say that Jesus is [3] 1 Cor. 12.3 the Lord but [4] Mat. 3.17 1 Tim. 3.16 John 6.44 by the Holy Ghost neverthelesse where once the Holy Ghost enableth to say of Christ My Lord and my God there the soul [5] Phil. 4.4 rejoyceth in this Lord as in the horn of her salvation God revealeth much of his goodness in the [6] 1 Chro. 29 14. Psal 57.2 workes of his Common providence thus the Roman Seneca the Greek Aratus and other Gentiles saw that the Lord was good and that his mercy endureth for ever More of his goodnesse he revealeth in [7] as in Esa 41.10.13 14 his word of promise five several times is that one promise repeated I will never leave thee nor forsake thee But the goodnesse of God is (8) Hos 3.5 most of all revealed in his own [9] Joh. 1.18.14.9 10 11 Son in him are [10] 2 Cor. 1.20 all the promises Yea and Amen for a Son ye know resembleth his Father Hence it is that [11]
Redeemer who hath done [4] Rev. 5.9 and suffered so great things for us will in due time welcome us to his Fathers house [5] 1 Thes 4.17 and so shall we ever ever ever be with the Lord When [6] Psal 101.2 shall I come unto thee I will walk in thy house with a perfect heart O my Soul [7] Psal 37.34 Isa 49 23 40.31 wait for the Lord wait I say for the Lord O ye Saints of his rejoyce in the Lord [8] Phil. 4.4 3. The Doctrine applied again I say rejoyce Hallelujah Ye have I trust such is your patience [1] Mat. 13.51 understood all these things ye have seen every afflicting stone [2] Mar. 16.4 rolled away ye have seen a world of Troubles [3] Joh. 14.1 2 swallowed up in Mansions of glory ye have seen life in death yea and life [4] Joh. 10.10 more abundant too ye have seen the good [5] Deut. 33.16 Angel in my Text as it were face to face ye have seen his strong [6] Isa 41.21 reasons his seven reasons his seven spiritual Reasons I had almost said his seven [7] Rev. 3.1 Spirits Our hearts should be troubled should we neglect [8] Luk. 9.44 Application O blessed Spirit Application is thy (1) Jer. 30.21 work Thy work O blessed Spirit Thou hast opened (2) Luk. 24.45 our understandings open our (3) Act. 16.14 hearts too Lord the stone is rolled (4) Joh. 11.39 41 43 away raise up thy Lazarus Give us life give us life (5) Joh. 10.10 more abundant AND now whether I look back upon the troubles past and gone or whether I look up unto the Mansions already prepared let my tongue cleave unto the roof of my mouth and let my right (1) Psal 137.6 hand forget her pen if I prefer not my Soveraign above the head of my comforts Therefore though I forget not my (2) Prov. 25.6 distance my first Application shall be The Lively Pourtraiture of CHARLES the Second King of Great Britain France and Ireland c. TO THE SACRED MAJESTY Of our most GRACIOUS SOVERAIGN LORD in all Causes and over all Persons as well Ecclesiastical as Civil our Supreme Governour CHARLES second only to that blessed Martyr and glorious Saint his royal Father of Great Britain France and Ireland KING Defender of the Faith and next unto God and his Christ the Prince of our Peace My Lord O King LIve like your (1) Psal 112 6 Name for ever live (2) Psal 61.6 and be The same you are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (3) 2 Cor. 3.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Great as was your (4) Psal 132.1 Affliction and our (5) 2 Sam. 15.30 woe Good as late (6) Psal 61.8 116.14 2 Chro. 32.25 Vows Happy as we (7) Psal 144.15 Prov. 13.12 are now Thus thus I (8) Ezra 6.10 pray But let Applauses be Suppress'd by others and refus'd by me Not as undue nor that a zealous praise May too too much mans expectation raise Nor that words match not though when all is done Ne're yet could pensil fully paint the Sun But loe Believers Sir should we display Your brighter beams would ravish'd sin for joy Saw they your soul they would sleight heav'n again And doat on earth because on earth you reign I blame my fears From Charles no evils spring They walk with God who follow such a King Next unto Christ this Prince of our Peace may If Subjects please roll ev'ry stone away Next unto Christ He doth our life appear Good Subjects find life more abundant here That Truth that Peace which with [9] 1 Tim. 2.2 Isa 49.23 His Throne consist Lifts us from Earth to Heaven from Charles to Christ But the Stairs at Whitehall are no winding stairs Blessed be God there is no cause why I should borrow Verses feet to bring me to the Presence-Chamber there I need not there measure mine approaches where blessed be God the golden Scepter is always [1] Hesther 5.2 held forth As in Majesty and [2] Psal 82.6 Power so in Patience and Clemency King Charles the second resembleth his God God is a God (3) Psal 65.2 that heareth Prayer and his Servant Charles (4) Deut. 17.20 shutteth not his ear no not unto his meanest Subjects In prose therefore When I compare the troubles of these Disciples hearts with the Mansions that are set before them rather To the Kings most Excellent Majesty when I compare the 30. of January with the 29. of May and again the third of September with the 23. of April Verily if ever any Christian in the world had encouragement to believe in God and in the only Son of God your Sacred Majesty hath I trust the same God who hath delivered (1) 1 Cor. 1 10 will yet deliver Nations could not get Dominion over your sacred person I trust (2) Rom. 6.14 sin shall not The Lord hath raised and removed the many burdens but I trust not the many (3) Heb. 12.6 7 Psal 94.12 13 and 132.2 5 compared with 1 Cot. 3.16.17 blessings of your Majesties late sorows Should not afflictions so great as your Majesties have been be more and more sanctified unto your Royal soul alas your heart might then be troubled indeed Should you desist to believe in God who (4) Psal 89.27 placeth your Majesty higher then the Kings of the earth it might then be unto you and your Kingdoms a grief of heart Should not your Princely soul believe in that only Son of God who (5) Isa 53.8 Heb. 2.10 suffered more for your Majesty then your gracious Majesty suffered for your lost people this might also trouble your heart Lastly should your soul (6) Isa 53.3 neglect so great salvation should your soul despise the Mansions in your heavenly Fathers house then then your heart would be utterly perplexed everlastingly troubled and that beyond measure But although King Hezekiah did not render according unto the (1) 2 Chro. 32.25 benefit received I trust your most excellent Majesty will True the more God blesseth his (2) Job 1.10 servant Job the more the Devil (3) Job 1.11 seeketh his ruine No doubt where the Lord hath multiplied so unparalleld favours as are heaped upon your dread Majesty there the malice of Satan will be very wilte very full of (4) 2 Cor. 2 11 stratagems the Serpent once enraged will first (5) 2 Cor. 12.17 buffet then sting Nevertheless while your sacred Majesty figheth not only against (6) 1 Pet. 2.11 flesh and blood but even against (7) Eph. 6.12 Principalities and Powers the same God who (8) Psal 140.7 covered your royal head in the day of battle the same God your sacred Majesty hath to believe in The same Christ who delivered you from so (9) 2 Cor. 1.10 great a death the same Jesus your Majesty hath to believe
in yea he who so powerfully restored unto your birth-right your Majesties strangely revolted Kingdoms he can (10) Psal 73. guide you with his counsel and afterward receive you to glory He I say can bring you to the Mansions in your Fathers house Once more The bed of love wherein you rejoyce over our most Gracious Queen your royal Consort as a Bridegroom (1) Isa 62.5 rejoyceth over his Bride the love of your (2) Jer. 2.2 Espousals and afore that the day of your (3) Can. 3.11 Coronation and before that the day of the gladness of your (4) Ibid. heart I mean the (5) May 29th day wherein the splendour of your glorious Majesty celebrated therefore the greatest because the happiest Triumph that ever yet was by mortal Prince solemnized of these of all these your prosperous Majesty hath tasted I most humbly appeal now unto your dread Majesties bosome-experience What yea what are all these transitory joyes these fugitive felicities if (6) See what Mr. Bolton in his four last things p. 111. illustrateth upon 1 Cor. 2.9 compared unto the Mansions in your Fathers house When he that (1) Psal 29.10 sitteth upon the floods sent (2) Psal 18.16 from above took and drew you out of many waters when he that (3) Psal 144.10 giveth salvation unto Kings commanded (4) Lev. 25.21 1 Sam. 10.26 the hearts of all your people as (5) 2 Sam. 19.14 the heart of one man when he that (6) Psal 46.9 causeth wars to cease made your patience victorious when at length your meekness (7) Mat. 5.5 captivated our afflictions well might your Subjects shout (8) Psal 47.1 unto God with the voice of triumph so wonderfully had the (9) Heb. 13.20 God of peace made your Highness what you still remain more (10) Rom. 8.37 then Conquerour Oh how great (11) Zech. 9.17 was Gods goodness how abundant (12) Jer. 33.6 our peace how matchless your bliss how unconceiveable the (13) Psal 114.1 Novelty of your joys And yet believe it Sir in the very height of all your glory though I dare affirm your glory exceeded Solomons I say in the height of your glory your sacred Majesties enlarged heart was never one half so much transported as in the midst of his unsufferable perplexities your blessed Fathers most gracious soul was daily then transported when possessing (14) If Galcacius Caracciolus could much more could Charles the First say Let their money perish with them who esteem all the gold in the world worth one days society with Jesus Christ and his holy Spirit heaven upon earth he compiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O King Let not your [1] Chro. 28.7 9 heart be troubled May your Majesty roll your self upon your God He who first honoured your Christian Father with a Crown of throns and then [2] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Solium which signifieth a Beer or Cossin signifieth also a Throae or Chair of State Rev. 2 10 converted that thorny crown into a Crown of Glory He can make your Crown of pure gold a Crown incorruptible He who when you [3] Psal 21.4 asked life gave you long life can give you life more abundant even life eternal He who translated your royal Father from a world of troubles [4] 2 Tim. 4.7 8 unto heavenly Mansions will though we your loyal Subjects hope it will be [5] Regni Coâ—ona Rex long first receive [6] Rom. 7.24 25 your ransomed soul from a body of sin unto your Fathers house Sir the holy God who unto your suffering Father made January the 30. an everlasting May 29. can sanctifie unto you that fatal September 3d. into a perpetual April 23d As we have seen what the Prophets fore-told [1] Isa 9.7 55.3 Hos 3.9 sim Psal 89.29 36 sim of David fulfilled in the [2] Mat. 1.1 21.9 Rom. 1.3 2 Tim. 2.8 Rev. 3.7.5.5.22.16 Son of David so what was [3] By good Dr. Holdsworth in his Epistle Dedicatory before his Sermon on Psal 144.15 prophesied of King Charles the First your Majesty hath lived to see fulfilled in King Charles the Second Believe therefore in God Believe also in the Son of God He who was unto you at your royal [4] As at the birth of Christ so at the birth of his immediate servant our King Charles the Second a star appeared Bp. Morley's Coronation Serm. p. 59. and Mr. Carles his Serm. on the same day p. 15. birth a bright [5] Rev. 22.16 morning star may be unto you during your happy Reign a [6] Mal. 4.2 Sun of Righteousness your [7] Psal 84.11 Shield he hath continued your Sun I trust he will continue here and Rev. 22.5 in Heaven Believe also in the blessed Spirit he inspired your holy Father to write 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O make this good Spirit your Comforter he will day by day enable your sanctified Majesty more and more patrissare while your afflictions past become future sanctification So may your Majesty increase in faith that on earth in the sharpest tryals and in heaven within the highest Mansions your Majesty may shine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Live in faith O King and live for ever Live for ever in your Fathers house within your Fathers house possess the highest Mansions and in those heavenly Mansions you shall for ever face to face enjoy Charles the First Christ our Redeemer God our Saviour My Lord O King instead of further applying the several Duties in my Text suffer that I this [1] Possibly as Justine Martyrs Apology was read by his Emperour so may my Address by mine once propose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sure I am that in these two words I have spoken all for What [2] Eccles 2.12 can the man say that cometh after the King 2. By whom Kings reign To the Nobility by him [1] Prov. 8.15 Princes decree justice It is of God that our Ruler is in the midst of us it is likewise of God that [2] Jer. 30.21 our Nobles are of themselves wherefore my [3] Judg 5.9 heart is toward the Governours of Israel that offer themselves willingly among the people Right Honourable Late Divisions [4] See Bp. Fearns Serm. on Judg. 5 14 caused great searchings as in the unsearchable heart of our most serene Prince so in your heart too Alas Wheresoever the mighty Oak falleth there the nearest trees are most crushed Time was when your heart was perplexed God not long since poured [5] Job 12 21 Psal 107.40 contempt upon your Honours As ever ye would that the Lord should roll away your reproach 1. Keep your hearts [1] Isa 48.22 quiet I mean keep yovr selves without (2) Job 11.15 16 spot ye know They who [3] Mat. 11.8 dwell in Kings houses wear [4] Isa 61.10 soft cloathing Oh keep your garments always
[5] Eccles 9.8 A rich raiment soundeth better then a good report keep your garments white My Lords Nasty vices and Court Favourites are [6] Psal 105 17 incongruous a noble unthrift a noble swearer a noble drunkard a noble oppressor c. are mere contradictions might a great person be a noble Defrauder a noble Lecher sim Nobility would then cease to be vertuous in as much as all sin especially every gross folly is sordid and (7) Virtus vera nobilitas ignoble wherefore if ye would not have your heart troubled keep your selves from whatsoever is vile and impure keep your selves worthy your Princes favour if ye would obtain your Princes favour [8] Prov. 22.11 love pureness of heart 2. If ye would prevent troubles of heart Let not the pleasures of his Majesties Court (1) Gen 42 28 Heb. 11.25 swallow up the Mansions in your Fathers house Ah it would be a fearful trouble unto any of you that dwell in Kings houses to jump from out of a Palace Royal into a Devils Dungeon Let it therefore be unto you no grief of heart to have your Conversation as becometh (2) Phil. 3.20 Christians In the Kings Chappel (3) Amos 7.13 it is not now Preach (4) exeat aulâ Qui volet esse pius not in this place but [5] Psal 42.2 When shall I come and appear before God I will [6] Psal 61.8 daily perform my vows 3. If ye would not have your heart troubled frequent the (1) Psal 16.16 Presence-Chamber Thou (2) Gen. 16.13 God seest me (3) Gen. 39.9 preserveth from many sins Again neither say to the King of heaven What dost thou (4) Eccles 8.4 neither (5) Ibid. dispute the power of his Word You will believe the word of a King believe the word of a God much more Believe I say in God 4. Believe also in Christ Then do your (1) Num. 21.18 staves of honour grace your persons when with them ye digg in this Well With their staves their Ensigns say (2) Jer. Dyke in his Epist Dedicat before his Treatise of the Lords Supper some the Princes the Nobles of the people digged a Well at the Direction of the Law-giver Quest Dub. Solut. What of his Direction Answ They did all drink of the same (1) 1 Cor. 10.4 spiritual drink so [2] Aiasworth on Num 21.18 here v. 17. Ascend O Well [3] John 4.14 spring up I will not say with the [4] Onkelos Paraporas Child Hiero solyt Rabbines that these waters followed them not only down the vallies but up the hills though v. 14. at these waters of Arnon some stupendious miracle was wrought but this I observe that when [5] Num. 20.11 Moses smote the rock by himself alone with his Scepter there was then no such exultation but now that as Moses Scepter so the [6] Num. 21.18 Princes ensignes are engaged now [7] Num. 21.17 sing ye to the Well Right honourable some imagine that with their staves as in an [8] 2 Kin. 3.16 17 other valley so in this they only made water-troughs (9) Vatablus Mansterus in Numb 21.18 or ditches to collect and retain that water which miraculously sprang up if so we have the more probability for what Interpreters conclude However Oh that our Princes would thus [10] Psal 84 1.6 make it a well Oh that the living [11] John 7 11.37 38 waters in my Text thus sprang up in their hearts Right Honourable The Bereans were the [12] Act. 17.11 more noble for searching the Scriptures How so Answ The Scriptures [13] Joh. 5.39 restifie of Christ Be wise [14] Psal 2.10 therefore O ye Nobles would ye preserve your hearts free from trouble Seek [15] Pro. 11 27.19.6 the God of Heavens favour Would ye that the God of Heaven should accept your persons Apply your selves to him [16] Mat. 3.17 17.5 whom this King delighteth to honour It is good having this friend at Court What shall I more say The greatest noble man in the world is [18] Mat. 28 18 1 Cor. 15.27 Jesus Christ then at length will our Princes [19] Isa 49 23 Court abound with waters of Comfort when this (20) â—oâ—l 3.18 fountain of spiritual life this pure fountain Jesus Christ is Beer [21] Isa 15.8 Elim the well of the mighty ones 3. To the Clergy By the [1] Num. 21.18 Nobles of the people some [2] Vatablus Muasterus understand not the several heads of the twelve Tribes but the (3) Psal 77.20 two leaders of the people Moses and Aaron I shall therefore in the next place attend not Moses among his (4) Num. 21.18 Princes but Aaron the (5) Psal 106.16 Psal 99.6 Saint of the Lord among 6 his Priests Most Reverend Right Reverend and Reverend I am no (1) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Suidas Origen but I (2) Fungar ego vice cotis shall stir up your pure minds if while I call to your remembrance the (3) See the Preface to Herberts Priest to the Temple days that are past I bless our God for the days that are present Should we be [4] Mal. 2 9 partial in the Law should the service of our God be a [5] Mal. 10.13 weariness unto us should we either by sloath prophaness vain-glory or worldly-mindedness give advantage unto the Adversary to blaspheme well might our heart be troubled with a just fear least God should once again both remove us into corners and cast dung upon our solemn feasts But blessed for ever blessed be his most holy name the God who did cast us into his hottest (6) The Heb. 11.36 Tryals of all cruel mockings To fry a faggot is not more Martyrdom then continual obloquy said Mr. Ferrer Herberts life before his Country Parson ubi supra furnace hath brought most of us forth like refined silver if ever sons of Zion were comparable unto fine gold they have reason to be so now Ye that dwell in the Courts of our God go on and prosper Let the haters of God be found liars while ye countenance as well Truth as Peace as well Vnity as Uniformity as well Purity as Decency and as well Sanctification as Order It was Theodorets praise of Gregory Nyssen that He ever shewed himself in withstanding that whatsoever it was which was contrary unto the rule and power of godliness may it be your praise too ye who give so great diligence (7) Hag. 1.4 8 2.8 in building up the waste places of Gods ruined Temples will give much more diligence to (8) Jude 20 15. build up Gods people in a most holy faith ye who spared neither means nor moneys to redeem those (9) See a list of them in the News-book 166 2 3 Jan. 14th See also Mat. 25.36.40 Christians which were captived by the merciless Turks
horse then toward the benefit of others Souls shall I say nay of your own Souls What comfort can a beleiver have to see many talents entrusted in a rich mans custody and scarce one of all those talents disbursed according unto the Doners good intentions Right Worshipfull yet a little while and eternity will swallow up your souls wherefore I beseech you I beseech you make not your recreations your consumptions Passe your time not in vanities but in (12) 1 Pet. 1.17 fear preferre the (13) Matt 3 16 Dove before the hawke Love not a Dogg more then a God forsake your sports to follow Jesus do not exalt the stables in your back-sides above the Mansions in your fathers house Right Worshipful ye are persons as well of great Understandings as of great Estates Heavenly mansions a dear Redeemer a Gracious God THESE THESE are subjects worthy the affections of a Generous soul Make sure of these and those (14) Rom. 6 14 16 17 will no longer command but serve you They shall be yours more (15) 1 Cor. 3 22 then ever when you are Gods Once beleive in God and (16) Rom. 8.1 ever after let not your heart be troubled 6. To Principia To the Vertuous Ladies of this Island Paula Eustochium Marcella Sophronia S. Jerom sent Epistles not a few The (1) 3 John 1. beloved Disciple St. John wrote as well to the Elect Lady as unto the (2) 3 John 1. noble Gaius wherefore It is but good manners if while I am amongst the Gentrie I salute the Ladies Not because they love to be courted by themselves but because the Bridegroom of souls hath no lesse affection for them (3) Act. 10.34 Gal. 3.28 then he hath for their Fathers or Husbands unto whom they owe obedience Right worshipful as soon may I be induced to commend a Preaching Ministers (1) See Man transformed or The artificial Changling by John Bulwer M. D. of the Hair and of the face See also 1 Tim. 3 8 powderd hair or the (2) Bulwer ubi supra black spots on his (3) 1 Tim. 3 11 Wiâ—es face as to condemn either your [4] 1 Tim. 2.9 broiderd hair or your rich apparel If Modesty be the vail Decency be the fashion and Discretion be the handmaid which attireth you where you aime at the glory of your God in the comelinesse of your persons there dresse your selves as handsomly as ye can the more lovely your complexions are the more you help a sanctified eye Tit. 1.15 to admire that aimiable God from whom ye borrow your native beauties But let not Righi Worshipful let not what provision ye make for the flesh [5] Rom. 13 14 fullfil the lusts thereof Should I go into one of your Kitchens [6] Ostenditur nobis non semper in eos qui peccaverint vindicandum quia nonnuquam amplius prodest Clementia Ambros super Lucae 6.55 and observe there your dresser-board made not of common-Oake but of Cedar-wood your spits made not of ordinary Iron but of the costliest Steel which Spaine affordeth your Cauldrons made not of Brasse but of refined Silver and your pots pots not of bell-metal but of purest Gold I would undoubtedly expect to finde upon your Dining-room or Parlour Cup-boards Plate of no usual value yea I should think you mad if your Withdrawing-Room were not very richly furnished Ladies I have plainly told you my thoughts now I beseech you what will you think of your selves if it appear once that any of you do just thus mis-place your pains and your cost Right worshipfull How tender how delicate how choice soever your curious limbs be your body is still but the Kitchen erected in service unto your Souls (7) Dura reprehensio interdu ne reprehensi animus magis obduretur omittenda Fran. de Mendoza in 1 Sam. 2 36. So apt is flesh to wait on flesh the face soon steals away the heart from minding grace But could you see Graces true riches you would wear these Pearls and let your other go The Body is Souls Cabinet â—f then 〈◊〉 prize the Casket much more prize the Gem. Right Worshipfull A well dressed-body cloathing an undressed soul is like an exquisite costly mantle covering a tottered beggarly Gown if therefore ye can bestow (1) Dum parantur tomuntur annus est Teren one two three hours in attiring your head it is requisite that you allow three four or five hours in (2) 1 Pet. 1.22 purifying your heart by (3) Acts 15.9 faith Faith faith alone is that which secureth hearts from troubles O Our most Gracious Queen Queen KATHERINE In purity in meeknesse and in all other vertues your SERENE MAJESTIE excelleth Therefore Kneeling down and falling prostrate at your SACRED Feet I am bold to appeal to your ROYAL Experience whether many of those Ladies whom your Majesty hath seen at COURT be not in some measure beside themselves Three Instances I give why I suspect this First They procure Habits and Ornaments of too great a value for their Qualities Next as costly as they be These Habits these Ornaments they [1] That shining star Fulgentius so overlooked the fashion of this world that winter and summer he ware the self-same Cloaths for said he Christians should change not their apparel but their hearts but some vain Ladies would imitate not Fulgentius but Nero who would never wear one raiment twice lavish upon their waiting-Gentlewomen Thirdly how gay soever their Trim-servants are They themselves approach your Sacred Presence carelesly and rudely attired MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY I do therefore conclude that their Habits and Ornaments are of too great value because these if payed for cost much more then what Revenues the Nobles their Husbands possesse can prudently expend I complain that these costly vanities are wasted upon their Attendants because Flesh and Blood are at best but the Souls hand-maidens I likewise affirm that they themselves abide carelesly and rudely attired because these Ladies how unreasonable soever are (2) Gen. 2.7 1 Cor. 15.45 living souls I say living souls although alas poor souls some of them are but sluttishly [3] Me thinketh A Jewel sparkling in Pro. 11.22 a bosome destitute of grace discovereth a delicate fair skin spread over a leprous conscience 1 Pet. 3.3 4. Luke 16.15 apparelled and as slenderly provided for By them no Mansions above no faith in God no [4] No garment like unto the garment of Salvation nor is any beauty like unto the beauty of Holinesse Righteousnesse from Christ inwardly and spiritually thirsted after Good God! Do these Court-Ladies ever dream of keeping Court in Heaven Except they at length imitate the good example of their most Gracious Queen surely their carelesse hearts cannot long continue untroubled A Reverend Father of our Church gravely [1] Bishop Morley Serm. at his Majesties Coronation p. 55. adviseth that once a week Princes should peruse the
hundred and first Psalm Would some of our Ladies once a week read over the third Chapter of Esay it would be both their benefit and their wisdom I professe for my share I smell no harm in your perfumes and other your sweetnesses if they be not too luxurious Rather then put any Countesse to the blush I will not once mention forraign paints or home-made [2] Licitis perimus onns Wherefore let me advise you not to be too presumptuous upon the lawfulness of these but consider expedience that so all may be done that God may be glorified and your selves more and more edified in Christ if you look not to this that which is lawfull in it self will be found unlawfull in you Golden Topaz p. 133. Patches I will make the best construction I can of naked breasts provided the Soul be not naked too But I fear lest as Trajan was indulgent unto all his people saving only unto such of his Subjects as were Christians so some Ladies are tender of every part about them excepting their Souls Ladies were you once so wise as to maintain but not exceed your Quality no Christians under Heaven would have lesse cause to trouble their heart then you your selves would have True A woman and a glasse are ever in danger but a woman and a Bible are ever in safety It is said of that holy Martyr Polycarpus that while his body was burning his scorched flesh sent forth a smell fragrant as Frankinsence it self just so the exemplarinesse of that Lady who is crucified unto the world hath a sweet winning influence upon all about Her while the comlinesse of her body [3] Gratiorest pulch-oveniens de corpore virtus adorneth the lovelinesse of her duties Moreover what the Christian Lady reserveth from excesse that she improveth unto spiritual advantages Shee upon [4] Reade if my Pen be more copious in this then in other places Know I am so ready a writer here because here I fall upon a Description of a Lady now with God viz. the Lady Anne Overbury of a Lady now with us the Lady Hester Overbury of Mrs. Mary Whitlock of Mrs. Hester Cressewick and of others among us unto every of whom quod dedisti Viventi decus atque sentienti Rarae post cineres habent beatae Yet as they themselves seek the praise which is not of men but of God So neither seek I to slatter but to admonish My scope is to have Their sight so shine among men that they seeing their good works and imitating their good examples may together with them glorifie Him from whom alone cometh every good and perfect gift and to whom alone belongeth the glory and the praise all opportunities maketh friends of unrighteous Mammon Shee disperseth to the poor visiteth the sick countenanceth the Gospel and furnisheth her Closet rather with religious Books then with fancy-full Toyes Her very Sex maketh her tender-hearted Hence it is that shee is more zealous in love of the truth in love toward Christians and in love toward God then holy persons of a masculine judgement are Now as she buyeth the truth so she redeemeth the time shee weareth her watch on purpose because she would not confer more hours upon that body which must be covered with wormes then upon that Soul which is a companion for Angels Chambering she loveth but it is for meditation-sake Her Chamber is her Chappel and herein she getteth the start of Students themselves for as she delighteth to improve her spare-hours so she hath more hours to spart then any of any other profession whatsoever she is so meek so obliging so courteous so commanding over all her affections that if she were no Lady you would call her one It is not by chance that while we super-scribe Lords Honourable and Knights Right-Worshipfull we write their Ladies Vertuous That person which walketh worthy the Lord leadeth a life like a Lady so naturally do a Ladies Vertues adorn the Gospel of Jesus Christ If afflictions be the trials of a sanctified Lady her sorrows exercise a godlinesse if prosperity be her trial she remaineth as good as prosperous Such is her moderation in worldly affairs that you will not find she aboundeth with Coin otherwise then from her works of charity of liberality of hospitality of bounty of piety and of munificence So full of leasure she is that you find her ever busied but it is in encreasing a spiritual knowledge in conversing with Believers in instructing Heir Families and to speak at once in rejoycing in Heir God Multitudes of Believers was St. Jerome throughly acquainted with but among all his Acquaintance he found no Christians so nearly resemble the Saints in heaven as Elect Ladies did In the holy Gospels more Women then Men are noted for ministring of their substance unto the Lord And if the wisest of Kings King Lemuel do at the last undertake to recommend a vertuous woman he runneth on in her praises unto the end of the Chapter I had almost said unto the end of the Book I conclude then that wise Ladies like the wise Virgins therefore keep their hearts from needlesse troubles that they may take oyl in their Lamps They resort so often to their Fathers house that they are perfect Courtiers for they have their conversation in Heaven they do with so much perseverance believe in God that they are ever cloathed if I may so speak with inherent Humility and imputed Righteousnesse Lastly while they study muâ—â— to please most THE man Christ Jesus Saints they seem and Saints they are 6. To have respect of persons is not good To men of low degree much lesse to have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ in respect of persons Wherefore redeeming my time from persons of high degree in duty [1] Rom. 12.16 I apply my self unto men of low estate Beloved Once contrive ye to [1] Josh 9.5 dwell in the promised Land I shall then yield There is no craft unto the clouted shoes Let Dives [2] 1 Cor. 1.26 thrive in his [3] 1 Tim. 6.9 10. own grease As for you you know It is grace [4] 2 Cor. 1.12 not money that warmeth the man The Bustard cannot flee farre by reason of his [5] 1 John 2.15 great Wings but the wings of a [6] Rom. 8.6 Dove flee away and be at rest The lesse ye are laden with the [7] 2 Tim. 2.4 lumber of this World the [8] 1 Tim. 6.9 10. more easie is your pilgrimage toward Canaan Many a Merchant had [9] Luke 8.14 21 34. saved his life had he flung his goods Eccl. 11.1 into the Sea Beloved ye have no such [10] Jam. 1.9 temptation to ship wrack your faith as great Personages have Again should ye sow among [11] Jer. 4.3 thornes ye were but [12] Mat. 13.22 ill Husbands if ye plow not up the [13] Gal. 6.7 fallow ground of your hearts the thistles which grow up in
[14] Negligeatia comitem semper habet insortuaium your bosomes will be thorns in your sides For hearken [15] Jam. 2.5 my beloloved Brethren hath not God chosen the poor of this world that they should be rich in faith Christ saith the poor [16] Mat. 11.5 receive the Gospel I beseech you make his word good Trust me ye are rich if ye have learned of Christ to be [17] Phil. 4.11 content A holy heart maketh one dish a [18] 1 Tim. 6.6 feast However Let not your heart be troubled God [19] Jam. 5.7 spes alit agricolas is where he was and he was [20] Gen. 17.1 all-sufficient Brethren Would ye have no good thing with-held from you Walk [21] Psalm 84.11 uprightly Would ye have all outward comforts [22] Mat. 6.33 added unto you first seek the Kingdom of Heaven do not love the world if ye would [23] 1 Cor. 7.31 use it Deny not God the [24] To steal is to detain that which 1 Chron. 29.16 is anothers contrary to his will and Mil. 3.8 9. This world is nothing except it tend unto another tenth and he will give you [25] Hag. 2.15 19. Pro. 3.9 10. Mark 10.30 thirty fold Dare to trust God and be ye but faithfull in little ye shall be [26] Luke 16.9 10 11 12. Matth. 25.21 23 29. entrusted with more Be but so thrifty as to sow uuto [27] Hos 10.12 Righteousnesse and in due [28] James 5.7 season ye shall [29] Galat. 6.8 9. reap if ye [30] Prayer day and night and life at last faint not Be it that you get your lively-hoods by hard labour Verily there are mansions of rest in my Fathers house Beloved the person speaking in my Text is so mindfull of you that rather then your heart should be troubled he will undertake all your [31] 1 Pet. 5 7. cares Never never live by [32] Honest men use bonest means your shifts ye have a God to trust in a God which can give you a [33] Deut. 8.18 power to get wealth Would you turn Tenants unto so good a [34] Prov. 10.22 Landlord Jesus Christ will [35] Ephes 1.14 15. strike the bargain for you Object Better is stale bread then none at all They that have wherewith to defend the world To the hungry naked and destitute Object may talk of quiet hearts sim but the hungry and naked may starve though they reckon upon your Text neither your Text nor your Discourse God help us doth warm either back or Belly Answ Answ True I wept when I was born and every day [1] Job 14.1 sheweth why all the dayes of the afflicted are [2] Pro. 15.15 evil and the charity of [3] Magistratus indicat virum many waxeth so cold that whereas we have very wholsome laws for the relief of our poor yet in too too many Villages both our poor and our lawes are neglected together The Lord awaken the hearts of our Magistrates to encrease [4] Psalm 41.1 2 3. Esay 58.10 11 32.8 Pro 3.9 10 11 24.19.17 Heb. 6.10.13 16 2 Cor. 9.6 7 9 Luke 6.38 31 16.9.12.33.14.14 1 Tim. 6.18 blessings upon themselves by considering the poor and needy In the mean space know He who here requireth Let not your heart be troubled He endured the 5 cold weather as well as you wanted [6] John 19.24 cloathes as well as you had no more houses to put his head in [7] Luke 9.58 then you and suffered a great deal more hunger [8] Mat. 4.12 Mark 11.12 then ever you did neverthelesse he [9] Psalm 16.8 9 10. trusted in God and was provided for Secondly This God in whom ye are here to believe disposeth of [10] Deut. 9.4 2 Sam. 19.14 1 King 8.5 8.18.37 1 Chro. 29.18 2 Chro. 29 36. Ezra 7.27 Pro. 16.9.11 19.21.21.1 Jer. 24.7 Ezek. 11.19 6 36.26 all mens hearts He can command the hearts of our Magistrates to compell and the hearts of your Ministers to solicite your speedy relief in which case be it unto you according unto your faith only reflect upon your conversations and examine what spiritual [11] 1 Thes 4.3 benefit you reap from all your distresses Know as is Prosperity so is Adversity if unsanctified a very [12] Hos 5.15 Psalm 119.71 Rom. 8.28 severe judgement if sanctified an unspeakable blessing Wherefore bethink thy self Thou dost live upon Almes but dost thou live upon [13] Hos 11.36 Esay 12. Matth. 4.4 Providence Thou knowest thy Dish but art thou acquainted with that God who [14] Ps 37.3.68.10.74.21.107.9.132.15 filleth it Doth the nakednesse of thy flesh cloath thy mind with [15] Eccl. 25.2 humility Doth it send thy weather-beaten soul unto these Mansions Dost thou shelter thee in thy Fathers house Doth the hardnesse of mans heart [16] 2 Sam. 24.14 force thee to blesse that God whose mercy endureth for ever Alas if when God relieveth thee the [17] God healeth and the Physitian getteth the praise Housholder alone getteth the thanks If thou canst ask an Almes for Gods-sake and curse them unto the Devil [18] James 3.8 9 10 11 12. from whom thou art not satisfied If thou art content to be as [19] Jer. 5.3 wicked as poor thou mayest justly continue therefore wretched and miserable because ignorant and gracelesse On the otherside Know He is [20] Prov. 15.15 lively that is faultlesse and he that [21] 2 Cor. 1.12 liveth well is rich Gain [22] 1 Tim. 4.8 6.6 godlinesse and hang [23] 1 Pet. 5.7 care upon him that careth for you Avoid malice envy evil-speaking a distrust of God theft and such other sins as [24] Heb. 12. Prov. 11 5 1. easily overtake needy creatures let your [25] Col. 3.5 affections be mortified as well as your bodies be as poor in [26] Mat. 5.3 spirit as ye are in estate and then blessed are ye [27] Luke 6.20 poor for yours is the Kingdom of Heaven Let not let not your heart be troubled for God who is [28] Ps 68.5 a Judge of the Widows and a [29] No love unto the love of a Father Father of the fatherlesse God who (30) Psalm 146.7 heareth the Ravens when they cry will relieve your necessities when ye call upon him I mean when ye call upon him [31] Psalm 50.15.86.5.145.18 in truth They that know his Name will [32] Psalm 9.10 trust in him and blessed are all they who do at all times put their [33] Psalm 2.12 trust in Him for they that put their trust in him shall not be [34] Joel 2.26 ashamed I never yet saw the righteous [35] Psalm 37.25.34.10.146.7 forsaken nor their seed begging bread in vain The wicked they shall perish and suffer hunger but [36] 1 Tim. 4.8 godlinesse hath the promise of this Life Wherefore ye who
have [37] Heb. 10.36 need of patience receive ye this Gospel When all outward comforts fail you then then to chuse let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in Christ and when anguish of spirit maketh your present life a wearinesse unto you when you cry out It is [38] 1 Kings 19 4. enough Lord then let this be your comfort viz. that in your Fathers house are many Mansions and in those Mansions the poor and rich [39] Pro. 22.2 meet together O my Brethren I am afflicted for you but let not your heart be troubled Surely men are (1) Psalm 39.6 disquieted in vain Surely men of low degree are a lye Application to persons of all Ages and men of high degree are (2) Psalm 62.9 no better Hence it is that King David directeth (3) Psalm 39.11 all of them unto God He directeth one (4) Psalm 49.2 with another but commonly what is spoken unto all is heeded by none therefore as he joyneth all together so he (5) Psalm 62.9 taketh them severally He singleth them out by their Qualities high and low rich and poor and in another (6) Psalm 148.12 place by the years of their lives Middle aged and young men old men and children And no marvel for as there is (7) Eccl. 3.1 a time for all things so there is a season for every sin a season not for any sins lawfulnesse but fo rs sin impetuousnesse Sin is lawfull in no person but as unlawfull as it is it hath a greater power (8) Psalm 18.23 Prov. 30.8 9. on some estates then upon others The Nobleman hath not so great a temptation to murmuring (9) Jude 16 1 Cor. 10.10 and complaining to pilfering and theft as the hunger-starved beggar hath neither hath the hunger-starved beggar so great a temptation unto pride and (10) Ezek 45.8 oppression unto ambition or treason as hath the Nobleman In like manner as every condition of man so every age of man is more subject to stumble upon some offences then others As our (11) 1 Joh. 1.8 fare altereth with our estates so our appetites (12) Jam. 3.2 alter with our years alas the abundance of corruptions in our hearts like the abundance of waters in a River encreaseth by running and by encreasing spreadeth yea it ever rusheth forth at every breach untill at last it emptieth it self into the (13) Mare mortuum lake of Death Troubles will (14) Job 14.4 Heb. 12.1 arise in our hearts when we have done our uttermost perplexed (15) 2 Cor. 4.8 we shall be so long as our flesh is above ground so long it cherisheth a (16) Rom. 6.6.7.24 body of sin O wretched men that we (17) Psalm 130.1.69.2.42.7 Rom. 7.24 are who shall deliver us When we have mastered one infirmity a second succeedeth and after that a third c. and the more by many because as the wayes so the (18) Gen. 47.9 dayes of our pilgrimage are evil It is therefore abundantly requisite that we proceed to take some further care that seeing our busie hearts will alas be perplexed with the troubles of almost every sin every sin do as little as possible may be trouble our hearts Perplexed with sin our hearts (1) 2 Cor. 4.8 should be but let them not be sinfully perplexed Let us watch against the vanities and vexations first of our callings next of our years I have a little removed the trouble of our Estates already while I have with St. John the Baptist spoken unto several persons of several professions according unto (2) Luke 3.10 14 their qualities That I hope hath helped to free you from some troubles with the good assistance of our God in whom we believe I shall ease you of many more troubles which are apt enough to perplex your hearts if in the next place I imitate St. John the Evangelist and (3) 1 John 2.12 13 14 write unto you as not forgetting the years of your age Mine Application shall be first to little Children TOo blame are those Nurses which sport themselves with the frowardnesse quarelsomenesse or fantastiquenesse of sucking children To little children these argue a strength of nature indeed but they argue a strength of a corrupt nature These are matter not of Merriment but of Humiliation alas the imputation of original sin Baptism may wholly wash away the power of original sin (1) Rom. 6.4.3 Col. 2.12 1 Pet. 3.22 Gal. 3.27 it washeth away but in part True Great is the benefit of this most holy Ordinance to the praise of the Author of this holy Institution let it be for ever acknowledged that as the (2) Gal. 3.2 7 Obligation so the (3) Rom. 6.3 6 Aqua Baptismatis habet gratiam Dei praesentiam Trinitatis Ambros de sacram lib. 1. cap. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concil Nicea Aqua exhibet forinsecus Sacramentum gratiae spiritus operatur intrinsecus beneficium gratiae August Ep. 23. Operation of Baptism is of no small moment When Lewis the ninth of France was asked how he would be stiled he said he would be entituled Lewis de Poyssy Reply was made His Majesty might finde out other places of greater Renown and of them some where he had obtained Victories famous Victories No said the King I desire to be called Lewis de Poyssy because there I got the most famous Victory that ever I obtained for there I overcame the Devil viz. I was there baptized He knew well that so many as are buried with Christ in baptism arise new creatures but notwithstanding the Sanctifying Spirit is in this Laver of Regeneration (4) Tit. 3.5 Eph. 5.26 1 Pet. 3.21 vouchsafed unto the elect of God yet even the elect of God still have within them the remainders (5) Job 25.4 of sinfulnesse yea the root the spawn the seed of every wickednesse The least Infants forbear to commit evil upon (6) Pro. 22.15 Esay 48.8 no other accompt then they forbear to go High alone to wit only because they cannot Give them ability they will be (7) Psal 51.5 Prov. 20.11 proud of a Ribband ere ever they can tie it on They will wrangle (8) Psal 21.8 Esay 44.20 ere ever they have teeth to bite and will speak (9) Mat. 12.34 amisse ere ever they can pronounce a plain word So true is that of Ecclesiastes (10) Eccles 11.10 Childhood is vanity that Nurses had need to swathe (11) Pro. 29.15 13.24 23.14 as well the faculties of their Souls as the limes of their bodies they had need prevent as well their minds as any other part of them from growing crooked they had need to meet their inclinatious and as much as in them lieth to render their first dispositions facile ductile tractable In a good Nurse is required discretion as well as milk and the Babe sucketh in good or evil
first-born his might his strength the beginning of his strength Oh then provoke not the holy Spirit to give thee over unto thine [11] Rom. 1.24 Esay 66.3 own hearts lusts Be not be not subjected under the power of that itchy idlenesse which scarcely ever yet found a name no not among the Gentiles Thou mayest be exalted [12] Heb. 2.13 6.20.9.24 above the Angels be not worse then a beast that nature which the Lord of Glory hath already extolled above the [13] Eph. 2.6 Heavens do not thou [14] Esay 57.9 debase that Humane Nature even unto hell We shall in Heaven be as free from any occasion of blushes as are the [15] Mat. 23.30 In Deum S. Jerum Ep. 143. In Dei naturam Lactan. non cadit sexus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. Iraeneus l. 11. c. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phil. 3.20 Angels Have thou thy conversation in heaven Meddle not with that nakednesse which is at the best thy [16] Gen. 12 25 13.7 shame Place it as the Hebrew Language doth too low to be thought of even at [17] Gen. 49.10 Deut. 28.57 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy feet Sensuality is in an unreasonable creature the highest [18] Jude 10 in a reasonable creature the lowest of seeming delights so low that the person speaking in my Text would be conceived of the holy Ghost of man he would [19] Mat. 1.20 not be begotten True The bed undefiled is honourable [20] Heb. 13.4 but why Not for that it [21] Gal. 6.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist de gen corrupt l. 1. soweth unto corruption but because it prepareth a [22] Mal. 2.15 holy seed Thus our uncomely parts have the more [23] 1 Cor. 12 23 abundant honour not so much from our Apparel as from our God while he by them preserveth inhabitants upon the earth successively supplieth his militant Church and raiseth colonies to people his heavenly Kingdom Do thou therefore cloath that with a sanctified chastity which the wisdom of God hath formed after a manner [24] Job 10.10 Psalm 139.13 15 16 Job 31.15 Psalm 22.9 Gen. 2.7 Ezek. 16.6 Numb 16.22 Phil. 3.21 Ephes 2.6 1 Thes 4.17 fearfull and wonderfull I say herein our uncomely parts will have the more abundant honour if we keep our hearts circumcised from all impure thoughts Wherefore reserve thine [25] Sapientia prima est Luke 1.27 Stultitiâ caruisse affections for spiritual Blessings and not for unmortified flesh There are other matters to take up thy mind if thou review my Text There are vain imaginations lodging in thy heart which call for [26] Gal. 5. thy troubles 16. vers 18.24 25 Thy thoughts have mansions within thy Fathers house to dwell in Thy sences should be exercising a faith in God Thine affections should enamour themselves upon the person speaking in my Text I say upon Him whom thy soul loveth even upon Jesus Christ our Lord. The dayes of thy youth should be so far from [1] Eccl. 12.1 being dayes of vanity uncleannesse and provocations that they call upon thee to follow hard after holinesse Quest Why of all days the dayes of thy Youth Quest Answ 1. If ever thine affections be inordinate Answ 1. they are inordinate in [1] Psalm 119.9 thy youth therefore in the dayes of thy youth remember thy Creator viz. while thou art yet a youth be [2] Prov. 7.7 14.26.15.33 so wise as not only to fear but to imitate thy Creatour that is be ever in action for No [3] Otia si tollas idlenesse no lust Answ 2. Answ 2. The midst of our age is [1] He that entereth into the world entreth into a spiritual warre lanched out into an Ocean of Turmoils The dayes of our Childhood they were not yet grown up unto years of discretion therefore remember thou thy Creator in the dayes of thy youth Childbood [2] Et discas oportet quod didicisti agendo confirmes Qui facienda ac vitanda percipit nondum sapiens est nisi in ea quae didicit animus ejus transfiguratus est Seneca Ep. 94. maketh a shift to gain the Elements Youth layeth them orderly together Childhood learneth to read Youth learneth to understand what it readeth Childhood findeth Moods and Figures youth frameth Syllogisms Childhood getteth the principles of the Doctrines of Christ Youth goeth on toward perfection Answ 3. Answ 3. As Education fitteth us for our distinct callings so youth fitteth us for our Education Then is Custome [1] Fran. L. Verulam most prevalent when it beginneth in our minority for then we are apprehensive active vigorous if ever we will learn to [2] 2 Tim. 2.3 James 5.11 endure hardnesse if ever we will [3] Eccl. 12.1 Ephes 6.13 withstand in the evil day we must be seasoned in our youth if ever we will acquire vertuous habits it must be in our younger age if the youths [4] Esay 40.3 shall faint well may others Answ 4. Answ 4. While Saul was young he was choice [1] 1 Sam. 9.2 and goodly While Jeroboam was young he was [2] 1 Kings 11.28 industrious They are young men whom [3] Ruth 2.9 Boaz employeth in his Harvest-work whom David sendeth [4] 1 Sam 25.5 for provision from Carmel whom Joshua sent to [5] Josh 2.1 16.23 espy Jericho Or Moses to [6] Exod. 24.5 sacrifice burnt-offerings Abraham appointeth [7] Gen. 22.3 young men to attend him in his Obedience and Elisha dispatcheth a [8] 2 Kin. 9.4 young man then when expedition was requisite The holy Order of Nazarites who more fit for it then [9] Amos 2.11 young men and of all his Subjects the young men are them whom the King [10] 1 Sam. 8.16 will deem goodliest and [11] Ezek. 23.6 most desirable Priamus himself [12] Plutarch in Agesilao was not unhappy while young as Agesilaus readily replied The Lord shall have [13] Esay 9.17 no joy in your young men if not in your young men in whom As (1) Seneca one observeth Had not Ovid reduced the acutenesse of his wit mind and matter unto boyish fancies he had been of all the Roman Poets the most ingenuous so I Did not young men and maidens mis-place the ingenuity of their youthfull age they would prove of all believers the most fervent There is an hour (2) Jer 3 4 saith the (3) Jacula Prudentum by Mr. Herbert Proverb wherein viz. wherefrom a man might be happy all his life could he (4) Eccl. 2.17 8.5 6 find it Such as are young may find this hour would they set themselves with full purpose of heart to believe in God through their Lord Jesus Christ Beloved I beseech you let not want of troubles be the (5) Luke 10.41 42 trouble of your heart It was said of Hesiod (6) By Plutarch that he was fed with
to believe in Christ It is the trouble of our hearts that we have parted from the innocency (6) Matth. 18.3 4 of our Childhood It is the grief of our minds that we have not improved (7) Pro. 22.6 our education and can we fool away our interest in the world too When we were Children we did not (8) 1 Cor. 13.11 put away childishnesse while we were youthfull we [9] Psal 25.7 served divers lusts Now that carnal pleasures have been the trouble of our hearts shall earthly cares be our vexations too we ought to sacrifice our bodies unto the Father of [10] Rom. 2.1 Heaven and dare we sacrifice our hearts unto the God [11] 2 Cor. 4.4 of this world On the other side If through mercy our Childhood hath been [1] Eph. 6.4 nurtured in the fear of the Lord or if God gave us the grace to remember [2] Eccl. 12.1 our Creator in the dayes of our youth how is it that we forget him now What iniquity [3] Jer. 2.5 have we found in our God that we should cast him off now in the midst [4] Psalm 102.4 of our age in the very (5) Psalm 29.5 best of our estate In our Infancy we entred into a Covenant with our God we were baptismally engrafted into Christ in our youth we blossomed now that we are in our Autumn shall all the fruits of our Faith fall to the ground shall we like the [6] Mat. 19.20 cursed fig-tree fail our Makers expectation When [1] Agesilaus in Plutarch Agesilaus having gained one Victory would animate his Souldiers for another he caused the Prisoners whom he had taken captive to be stripped then calling unto him his Souldiers he telleth them [2] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these effeminate small-limbed inconsiderable wretches are the enemies ye fight against these Ornaments costly Apparrel and Treasures are the spoil ye fight for Beloved if the [3] insoelix paupertas homines ridiculos facit contempt that accompanieth a mean estate be the Enemy we fight against how [4] Rom. 8.35 1 Cor. 4.8 9 contemptible is this enemy◠especially unto him that [5] Psal 27.1 hath a God to sustain him a God to rely upon◠the mansions in our Fathers house the Son of our God the Father of mercies the God of all blessings these are the prize we fight for Let us therefore in understanding shew our selves [6] 1 Cor. 14.20 men Every day bringeth its [7] Luke 11.3 bread had we the wit to trust [8] 1 Pet. 4 19 an all-sufficient Creatour if it be better for us to be rich [9] Pro. 30.8 then poor to be honourable then mean let not our heart be troubled our God needeth [10] Phil. 4.6 none of our shifts none of our carkings nor indirect means of ours to make us wealthy great or honourable the way to [11] Prov. 10.22 1 Cor. 3.22 be wealthy great honourable is to take God along with us If any man love this world [12] 1 John 2.15 with his first love if he love it otherwise then for (13) He loveth God too little who loveth any thing beside God except for Gods sake R. B. Gods sake the love of the Father is not in him Dare we in the ripenesse of our experience and understandings [14] James 4.4 commit so high an affront against the great God Dare we preferre [15] Mat. 6.31 our vain shifts before his daily Providence our worldly [16] Gen. 17.1 wisdom before his spiritual instructions Dare we love the [17] 1 John 2.16 things of this world before the mansions in our Fathers House Nay would any of us if we might occasion the King of Sodom to say [18] Gen. 4.23 I have made Abraham rich or would we accept of plenty [19] Pro. 15.16 16.18 peace pleasure or honour from any hand but Gods Commendable [20] Jam. 4.4 was that Souldier in Oxford-Garrison who as needy as he was would not accept of Gold from Him who was no friend unto his most gracious Soveraigne O my God as low as I and my Family are if [21] Exod. 33 15 thy presence go not with us carry us not up hence Beloved mine Exhortation is that this [1] Gal. 1.4 present evil world may not perswade us out of our Christian names By these we in ordinary converse call our Children Why Answ Because they had need be often minded of their Christendome and of their vow in Baptism Striplings we likewise call by their Christian names so subject are they to an inconstancy But he that is of full age he that is stled and stayed we repute him so much a Christian that ordinarily we term him Good-man Master sim The more unhappy they that create unto themselves [2] Jer. 2 36 needlesse troubles of heart by trying the [3] Eccl. 7.25 wickednesse of folly with Solomon or by [4] Ames 3.15 Esay 5.8 1 King 21.1 laying house to house and coveting Naboths Vineyard with Ahab or by building [5] Luke 12.18 Gen. 4.17 Castles in the ayr with Gain or by [6] Psal 10.3 2 Kings 20.13 boasting themselves in their own Treasures with Hezekiah Every field is a Garden to him that acquainteth [7] quaelibet herba deum himself with his God A mans wisdome consisteth not in coveting what he cannot easily compasse [8] Luke 12.15 Beatus est noa qui habet quae cupit sed qui non cup t quae non habet Desius Ausonius but in improving what he already hath unto the benefit of his soul would we not over-task [9] Eccl. 2.24 3.22.5.18 Hoc tandem di dicit Henricus Wotton Animas quiescendo fieri fapientiores our selves with needlesse law-suits projects and designs we should find in the world food and rayment Sun-shine and Star-light Rivers and Fountains Flowers and Prospects enough and enough prepared to our hand for our Recreations and Delights Instead of minding their Books and other their Duties Children scatter away their [10] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pindar precious time upon idle toyes and yet their Fathers which mourn for them [11] like Hermogenes who was among boys an aged man among aged men a boy Magno conatu nugae cherish the very same folly The Child is pinning and unpinning baby clouts the mother doth the same in affected Apparrel the child buildeth Ovens with untempered morter in the streets the Father is as vain in Housings and Enclosures How our children mis-spend their time and abilities we are sensible but alas many of us [12] He that hath time and looketh for better time Time will come he shall repent of his lost time are insensible that of the two we are the more blame-worthy our best experiences our best understandings our best estate what is it employed upon upon things which [*] Vivere Gallio frater omnes beate volunt
Sed ad pervidendâ—m quid sit quod ad beatam vitam essiciat calig mt Seneca de vi â beata Sapiens autem nihil facit quod non debet nihil praetermittit quod debet Idem de Clementiâ l. 2. perish in the using upon the vain diversions of pleasures profits and honours or upon the removing of these unnecessary troubles from our hearts Surely the best of our life is then best husbanded when eying Death Judgement Hell Heaven and Eternity we prepare our selves for these The Holy Ghost calleth unto children as children unto [13] Psalm 148.12 1 John 2.12 13 14 young men as young men unto old men as old men but he nowhere singleth out middle aged men as middle-aged viz. He that is now about the midst of his age hath the vigour of his youth seconded with the gravity and experience of an aged person it were therefore a notorious shame for him to be negligent of believing his God of trusting upon his Saviour and of hastening to his Fathers House Some [14] Apothegms by Mr. George Herbert p. 189 190. would have it the praise of Bellarmine that he is ever as constant to himself as if he had written all his Works in two hours Oh that Believers would be thus constant unto [15] Urbemâ— produnt dum castella defâ—ndunt Cicero de divin lib. 2. their spiritual peace especially in this midst of their age [16] Psalm 102 24 Suave illud facile fecit consuetudo which maketh constancy facile and almost natural It was [17] Eph. 5.16 a good practice of Ignatius Loyola in that when he heard the Clock strike he would say to himself and unto others I have now one more hour of my life to answer for Beloved of all the hours of our life the hours for which we shall be most accomptable are these of our best estate because in these we have most ability to refuse the evil [18] 1 Cor. 14.20 and chuse the good In these we best understand what a [19] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tha'es trouble of heart every thing is that doth not forward our Salvation In these we may best goe from strength [20] Psal 84.7 2 Pet. 3.18 to strength from an earthly poverty to a spiritual from [21] 1 Tim. 6.17 trusting in Riches to a trusting in the living God from [22] Psalm 16.11 empty pleasures to heavenly expectations Of all the ages of a mans life this is the age which draweth nearest unto that perfection wherein Adam [23] Eph. 4.13 was created and which [24] Luke 3. Christ sanctified by his Administration of the Gospel of our peace If ever we can be so wife [25] See Mr. George Herberts Poem entituled Elixar as to make Gold of Copper to make a spiritual benefit of all that is before us it is now that we are in our full strength still fisheth he that [26] 1 Pet. 2.2 3 hath catched one fish he that hath found in his Child-hood what (27) Psalm 119.165 Phil. 1.10 3.12 Luke 10.27 peace they have who love Gods law he that in his youthfull dayes walked with God will now in the excellency of his life believe in God rejoyce in Christ and make sure of the Mansions in his Fathers House 4. If Wisdom be expected from full age Unto aged persons much more is it expected from you that are full of dayes Plutarch relateth of Alcibiades (1) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut. Alcib that he rendred his Infancy his youth and his manly stature exquisitely amiable and pleasant may what was attributed unto his limbs be due unto the vertues of a believers soul yet we shall not conclude such a one perfect untill he hath also crowned his gray hairs with spiritual wisdom Alas so doth time (2) Psalm 144.4 undermine us that half our life is spent before we begin to live unto our God and if we are alive unto God (3) 2 Pet. 1.8 it is a holy conversation which preserveth us as we are Yeares know more (4) No wisdom like the wisdom of experience then Books and tell us by experience that what abideth in vanity endeth in vexation Therefore I said (5) Job 32.7 Dayes should speak and multitude of Yeares should teach wisdom But although it becometh me to keep silence before the gray hairs here is one in my Text who hath a right to speak Verily When the evill dayes are (6) Eccl 21.1 come when the yeares are drawn nigh wherein ye complain ye have no pleasure it is then our Duty to beseech you Let not your heart be troubled Hours are spent since your Sun was in the Zenith yea your Sun O my Fathers is not farre from setting now the long shadow (7) Eccl. 6.12 which it doth now cast wanteth but a little of the shadowes of Death You have numbred twice as many dayes upon earth as our Saviour Jesus Christ himself did If ye know not (8) Hos 7.9 gray hairs are here and there upon you these are Messengers which of his loving kindnesse the Ancient of Dayes sendeth unto you The staves in your hand rap at Deaths door rather at the Mansions in your Fathers House you will therefore call upon your God who is eares to the deaf eyes to the dim-sighted health unto broken-bones and a staffe of life unto all such as lean upon him He that hath taught you from your youth (9) Psalm 71.17 18 will not forsake you when old and gray-headed especially if ye declare the works which he hath done and shew your Childrens Children what the Lord hath wrought for you and yours (10) Psal 44.1 in your dayes The observations of aged Christians are Treasures layed up (11) Psal 102.18 for Generations to come more precious then those prepared by the Chinois against two or three hundred yeares hence while our Fathers tell us what was done in their dayes the troubles which arrest their age they feel not Their (12) Prov. 16.31 hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousnesse They can convince us how insipid (13) Gal. 6.14 Creature-comforts are unto him that savoureth the things that are of God They will accompt so many of their years lost utterly lost as have not been exercised unto (14) Eph. 5.16 godlinesse They will professe they never were (15) Deut. 32.29 truly wise untill they at last began in all their actions to consult not the world but the holy Scriptures not their own inclinations but the pleasure and praises of their (16) 1 Cor. 10.31 God So much and no more they have lived as they have believed in God as they have believed in Christ and as they have surveighed the Mansions in their Fathers House Thus much they know and thus much they will tell us when we (17) Eccl. 7.4 Keep company with good men and thou shalt be of
malum videri qaod naturae necessitas afferat Cicero de Senâ—ctute Christians you who have been at so much pains to obtain and at so much care to preserve Grace will not discontinue it in your last hour You will not lose the return of so many years prayers the [2] Conscientia bene actae vitae mullorumque benesactosum recordario jucundissima est ibid. comfort of all your former obediences the answer of your long expectations the recompence of our perpetual labours for want of a little pains taking now at the very last tryal Doubtlesse the longer ye have served your God the longer ye will [3] Qad enim est jucundius senâ—ctute stipatâ studiis juventut is ibid. delight to serve him you will follow the Captain of your Salvation whether soever he shall lead you In you aged Believers as natural strength decayeth so the Spirit of Grace [4] Ait senescere se multa indies addiscentem Solon ibid. getteth strength It is not with you as it is with Sathan the older the worse Your sensitive powers may dry and shrivel with their Organs your Souls not so much lesse the Spirit of your God Therefore since your day is far spent you will give the more diligence to finish your work Naturally the nearer the Centre the more violent the [1] viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aâ—st de Coelo lib. 4. cap. 3 motion Let it never be said of a Believer as [2] 1 Kings 15.23 it was of King Asa that in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet Now that he kenneth Sion he [3] Psam 84.7 will amend his pace The worst is past he will [4] Cant. 2.10.11 now onward chearfully A wearisome Pilgrimage it would be were he to run over [5] Psalm 120.5 84.10 1 Cor. 15 19 the same steps again but now that he is [6] John 14.3 17.24 within view of the City built without hands now that he hath gotten a sight [7] 1 John 3.2 of these Mansions he will by no [8] Hodie si exclusus fuero nunquam desistam means desist He will strive and strive [9] Luke 13 24 vehemently to enter in at the straight Gate now that he hath gotten on foot upon [10] 2 Tim. 2.11 the Threshold The [11] Aate obitum nemo soelix Evening praiseth the Day and [12] Psalm 37.37 2 Tim. 4.7 8. the life of Faith doth crown the hour of Death Having known the fellowship of his sufferings and the power of his Resurrection he will likewise [13] Phil. 3.12 13 14. accompany Christ unto the Mount of Olives nay from the Mount of Olives I say he will wing [14] Psalm 84.2.42 1 2 his thirsty soul with a stedfast faith and will [15] Heb. 6.18.20 with Joy unspeakable ascend after his most glorious Forerunner fain he would be [16] 2 Cor. 5.4 8. absent from the body that he may now at length be present with the Lord Nothing troubleth him more then that he cannot be so thankfull in this earthly Tabernacle as he [17] Psalm 35.9 62 5 6 7. 63 1-8 66.8 9. 68 3 4. 81.1 Psalm 110 103.1-5 149.5 Esay 12.2 4 5. 61.10 is assured he shall be when anon he appeareth before Jesus Christ in his Fathers House Aged as he is he complaineth Lord I believe help mine unbelief but he thanketh his God through Jesus Christ his Lord. As no Quality so no Age is we see priviledged from troubles of heart To all Christians of what degree or age soever In the last place therefore we shall apply our selves unto all Christians unto high and low rich and poor young and old In general one with another Christians as ever we would not have our hearts troubled let one main trouble of our hearts be not so much the evil of our doings as the evil of our hearts Beloved If Jeroboam the son of Nebat cease (1) 1 Kings 14.20 to make Israel to sin Nadab (2) 1 Kings 15.25 beginneth Baasha may (3) 1 Kings 15.27 conspire against Nadab yea he may smite all in Jeroboams house (4) 1 Kings 15.29 that breath yet he himself may continue (5) 1 Kings 16.2 wicked Baasha still Elah may (6) 1 Kings 16.6 step into Baasha's Room Zimri may conspire against (7) 1 Kings 16.10 Elah Omri may (8) 1 Kings 16.16 be a note above him Tibni may (9) 1 Kings 16.22 justle Ahab may (10) 1 Kings 16.28 succeed Omri Jehu he may cut off both Ahab and Ahabs (11) 2 Kings 10.16 House yea he may boast his Zeal and yet over Jehu Ahab Tibni Omri Zimri Elah Baasha and Jeroboam one and the same spirit of Rebellion might and did Reigne It mattereth not much who is Vice roy so long as (12) Mala mens malus ammus the King of Babylon beareth the Rule Let the youth lay aside childishnesse the middle-aged flee youthfull lusts the aged cease to love the World yet if our naturall corruption can make any one sin finde (13) Prov. 8.13 Psalm 119.128 113.139 21 22 acceptance from us the heart necessarily either is or should be troubled A Dog hung up by the heels disgorgeth himself but still it is his nature to return (14) Prov. 26.15 to his vomit you may wash a Sow clean but neverthelesse she hath a property (15) Naturam expellas surcâ licet usque recurret which would fain be wallowing so a Christian may restrain many a wicked work word yea and thought too yet still there abideth an innate corruption within him and untill this corruption be the grief of his heart he hath not (16) Psalm 78.37 set his heart aright We may fight against small and great evils yet if we bend not (17) See The sinfulness of sin Animalis homo by Bishop Reynolds and p. 185. of The Natural mans blindnesse by Hen. Hurst our greatest strength against that originall pollution which staineth our purest actions while we slay the Amalekites we preserve Agag alive When the holy Spirit hath once rolled aside the stone of unbelief the more abundant our life of Faith is the more we grieve under the weight of that stone David was ashamed that he had committed Adultery the murder of Vriah wounded his very heart-blood but that which stuck more close unto him then even these crying sins was that he was shapen in iniquity and (18) Psalm 51.5 conceived in sin the evil of his doings made him sensible of the evil of his (19) Gen. 6.5 Matth. 15.19 20 heart Thou hast weaned thy self from swearing well but doest thou (20) Prov. 28.14 Eccles 9.2 fear an Oath thou fearest an Oath but is it for conscience towards God If it be thy heart mourneth and bleedeth for that it cannot not not half enough (21) Rom. 7.15.17 8.7 Gal. 5.17 sanctifie this thy God in thy heart Thou
more naturally it rolled backward So here Do not think that this Good Angel in my Text rolleth away your troubles from your minds by any forced restraint or interposed violence No Your gracious Lord doth here move not so much your troubles as [6] Esay 61.1 Acts 16.14 26 18 your hearts I say In this Text of mine the [7] John 6.63 Rom. 8.11 blessed Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ kindly removeth troubles from these Disciples hearts by (8) 1 John 5.4 the bringing in of Faith as calmely encreaseth their Faith by (9) Luke 24 45 enlightening their understandings and again as naturally enlighteneth their understandings by (10) Pro. 6 23 beginning his Instructions with a mild Reproof Let not your heart be troubled A better Example I cannot follow then (11) John 13.15 the Example of Jesus Christ He began with reproofes and so shall I may the same blessed spirit which inspired his sanctifie mine I foresee that what stones I would remove from others may [1] Pro. 26.27 roll upon my self but Let not my heart be troubled If I refuse to be of [2] Phil. 2.7 no reputation for his Gospel-sake I have not yet [3] Eph. 4.20 learned Christ To steal sheep oxen and other goods To some Ministers or chattells is we know an iniquity to be punished by the judge For creating troubles and I heartily wish there were as severe laws for the punishment of him who disposeth of unadvised children against or without their Parents allowance O the two evils the latter is so much worse then the former by how much the blessing of children is above the blessing of wealth Wherefore they among us are rendred (1) Pudet haec opprobria nobis Et dici potuisse non potuisse refell most inexcusable who without either Licence from their Ordinary or Banns legitimately published do for a morsel of bread or some little filthy lucre marry they care not whom These (2) 1 Sam. 2.17 Mal. 1.6 Rom. 2.24 1 Tim. 6.1 Tit. 2 5. are the very reproach of a Gospel-Ministery the scum the poison of the Clergy Errours in marriage like those in War are as remedilesse as pernicious and shall a Minister of Jesus Christ countenance such errours Where inordiate affections make the match there riot disobedience fraud and such like sins are iojned together and is this a marriage for a Minister to celebrate Is it a light matter to undermine betray and ruine whole families and this too by vertue of a trust in our holy function reposed So many of us as do in this sort prophane our holy orders deservedly incur our Lord Bishops and may justly expect our Lord Gods displeasure We call such weddings stollen weddings Trust me neither of the maried couple is so very a Theif as is the Parson who marrieth them he sinneth against his own soul his crime is capital Brethren let every Minister who nameth the name of Christ rolle away this stone from the door of his tabernacle Never hereafter (3) Where factum valet threatneth a ruine of the persons there fieri non debet must be a Rule to the Minister let such grosse scandals be the trouble of any Christians heart Secondly Believe in God For want of zeal believe also in Christ reproveth such among us as seem so farre from honouring God with their heart that they are not at the pains to honour him (1) Esay 29.13 with their lips So void of Devotion are these that they (2) Rom. 12.11 wear the Act for Vniformity as a cloak for sloath These so slubber over the Liturgy as if they were hired to (3) 1 Sam. 2.17 make it a Reproach Brethren this is not to exercise (4) 1 Tim. 4.7 our selves in godliness this is not to (5) Heb. 11.39 10.22 exercise faith this is not to believe either in God or in Christ Who so believeth in that God before (6) Esay 61.6 1 Sam. 2.11 whom he ministreth will (7) Rom. 12 7 be zealous in the whole service He will distinctly deliberately and solemnly with such due accents and cadencies read the most holy Scriptures that his very voyce shall (8) Neh. 8.8 be an interpreter of what he pronounceth He will (9) 1 Pet. 4.11 give the Hearers to understand that he is now divulging the Oracles of his God He will utter threats as one (10) Amos 8.8 2 Cor. 5 11 well knowing the terrour of the Lord He will deliver (11) Deut. 4.6 Precepts as the Wisdom and Commandments as the great (12) Hos 8.12 things of Gods righteous Law He will insinuate (13) 2 Cor. 7.1 promises as who would not only (14) Gal. 1 10 perswade but charm (15) Psalm 58.5 his people The now established (16) Pro. 15.4 1 Tim. 6.3 2 Tim. 1.13 set-Forms help his devout Soul to pray more fervently and to give thanks with Rejoycings truly spiritual To wit while both matter and phrase are already prepared to his eye his heart seeketh not (17) 1 Cor. 14 15 to find out acceptable words but acceptable desires his heart is fixed his heart meditateth not matter but God as his Heavenly Father (18) Mat. 6.32 knoweth what things he hath need of yea and knoweth (19) Psalm 139.2 his thoughts too long before so he himself long before knoweth what words to (20) Hos 14.2 take with him While he maketh his request known (21) Phil. 4 6 unto his God no (22) 1 Pet. 4 7 inadvertency surprizeth his Petitions No (23) Jam. 1.6 hallucinations stumble his faith No hesitation (24) 1 Cor. 14.15 no lapsus linguae no (25) Mat. 6 7 tautology mangleth his sacrifice A Form of wholsome (26) 2 Tim. 1.13 words he is sure of wherefore he is now in the power [27] 1 Cor. 2.4 of the Spirit making use of those wholsome and acceptable words to wrestle with that God who is a God that (28) Psal 65.2 heareth our prayers and accepteth (29) Gen. 19.21 our persons He ever so frameth (30) Hos 5.4 his doings as to seek the Lord the gracious Lord while (31) Esa 55.6 he may be found He is therefore an (32) 1 Tim 4.12 example unto Believers because while he ministreth (33) Rom. 12.7 unto the most High the most High he serveth with all (34) Deut. 10.12 his might and with all his strength He hath purposed (35) Psal 17.3 that his mouth shall not transgresse His prayer goeth not out of (36) Psal 17.1 feigned lips yea his Soul doth (37) Luke 1.46 47 magnifie the Lord and his Spirit rejoyceth in God his Saviour in a word He therefore believeth in God because he believeth in Jesus Christ the Righteous Thirdly The many Mansions in my Fathers House silence our dissenting Brethren For want of comformit Reverend and Beloved Many of us deal
14.32 sullen silence and edifying [79] Eph. 4.16 of Christs Church in love If otherwise It will be no [80] Luke 16.2 Heb. 13.17 sufficient answer at the great and last Day when [81] Mat. 10.36 the thoughts of all hearts shall be revealed that we might [82] 1 Cor. 7.24 have abode in our holy Galling might have [83] 1 Cor. 9.16.22 won many of those Souls for whom [84] Act. 20.28 Christ dyed could have preached the Gospel could have traded [85] Mat. 25.28 with our ten Talents but we were so high-minded that we therefore would not because [86] James 3.16 we might not have forsooth our own wills and wayes Would we confesse a truth the [87] See Mr. Calamy upon this subject Percz Uzzi upon that Sermon of Mr. Calamies glory is not departed from Israel but we our selves are departed from the glory The garment [88] Isa 61.10 of Salvation is the same now which formerly it was but unthankfull we pick quarrels about the fringe if we would but touch the hem [89] Mat. 9.21 of our Saviours garment we might all of us be healed We have I say the [90] Ephes 4.4 5 6 same Lord still but the strife is [91] Luke 22.24 who among us shall be uppermost I had rather be [92] Psalm 84.10 a Door-keeper in the Tabernacles of my God then [93] Rom. 14.15 shut any of the Mansions in my Fathers House from any of the Disciples of Jesus Christ The Lord roll away from us his Ministers every stone of Offence the Lord preserve the Lord continue by us his Ministers abundance of life in the peace of his Gospel 2. Others there are of a long Robe too Unto some Lawyers who will not altogether escape reproof Wo unto you Lawyers if ye trouble your Clients hearts by rendring their defensive causes (1) Esay 1.17 58.6 burdensome and destructive Wo unto you Lawyers if ye plead so long for your Glients Mansions that ye your selves (2) Many a Lawyers house is built upon a foâ—ls bead get into their Fathers house I might add Wo unto you Lawyers if while ye gain Wealth by the Law ye lose the (3) Mat. 6.33 16.26.13.22 benefit of the Gospel I mean if ye covet so much the honours and profits of this world that ye allow (4) Luke 8.14 1 Tim. 6.17 nor leisure unto your neglected souls to effectually believe in God the righteous (5) Heb 12.23 judge of all men and in Jesus Christ your only (6) 1 Joh. 2.1 Mediator and Advocate The Trumpet soundeth (7) 1 Cor. 15.25 2 Cor. 5.10 in your eares Thirdly These words of my Text speak Reproof unto some Practitioners of Physick Unto some Physitians not for studying Galen or Hippocrates but for not studying the Word of Life viz. First The house of (1) Eccl. 7.2 mourning readeth frequent Divinity-Lectures especially against the flesh and the world Let Religio medici flatter her self how she pleaseth He is not far from an Atheist who while (2) Eccl. 7.4 he administreth Cordials unto dying bodies receiveth no experience for living Souls Secondly Although Theology be indeed no [1] Col. 3.16 part of the Physitians profession yet it is a very requisite accomplishment Be the other Ingredients what Physick shall see cause to direct godlinesse [2] 1 Tim. 4.8 should be ever be one of the prescriptions True it is not the Physitians errand to ease the heart from trouble but it [3] Heb 10.24 lyeth in his way though He hath a constant opportunity to shew some spiritual kindnesse unto persons sick at the very heart and having [4] Gal 9.10 opportunity he should do as [5] 1 Sam. 10. occasion shall serve he should lead his Patient from the chastisement [6] Heb. 12.11 of the body unto the comforts of the soul Thirdly It is not the Practitioner of Physick but the great God who disposeth of (1) 1 Chron. 16.12 King Asa the sick bed is a (2) Rev. 2.22 summons to Repentance We are chastened of the (3) 1 Cor 11.32 Lord that we may not dye in our sins the Herb can bring no healing Vertue which she doth not first (4) Mat. 4.4 borrow from her Creatour in short God is professedly the God both of our (5) Psalm 103 3 health and of (6) 1 Sam. 2.6 our life every of which particulars sufficiently convince us that the speediest mean to cure the body is to (7) 1 Sam. 41.4 Matth. 9 5. begin with the Soul so speedy so effectual a course is this that every one who is a good practitioner in Physick either is or should be like Saint Luke (8) Col. 4.14 not only a Physitian but an Evangelist To conclude By many Patients the Physitian (1) 2 Chron. 16.12 is sooner thought off then the Parson yea full often the Doctor of physick is admitted while the Doctor of Divinity (2) Jam. 5.14 is shut out Consider now a word spoken in season (3) Prov. 15.23 how good is it Pity pity it is that the heart of him who gaspeth for life should (4) Psalm 73.26 be almost spent through want of Balm from Gilead If the Minister cannot be may not be or is not in presence care (5) Jam. 5.15 must neverthelesse be timely had that for him who is just now giving up the ghost prayer and intercession be tendered unto the Father of Spirits Alas no Medicines (6) Psalm 94.19 116.8.119.81.42.1 2 84.1.62.5 are healing unto a Soul thus troubled There is no trusting unto Physick at any time a God a Jesus Christ may yea must be trusted in The merit of the person (7) 1 Joh. 2.1 here speaking in my Text drank off blood-warm transcendeth all other Receipts that can possibly be thought upon Where the Physitian feareth God there (8) Gen. 21.22 39.5 Psalm 1.3 God giveth a blessing for the Physitians sake Be it that the death of the Patient (9) Job 7.1 Psalm 31.15 seem to upbraid if not a want of skill yet a want of successe in the Artist yet O Death (10) 1 Cor. 15.55 where is thy sting the good Physitian findeth no reason at all why he should absent himself from his deceasing Patient he rather abideth and conducteth the departing soul toward the many Mansions in my Fathers House Fourthly The Mansions in my Fathers House a faith in God Unto Tradesmen and such as buy and sell yea and these troubles of heart do reprove innumerable followers not of Christ but of the world who most contentedly exchange godlinesse for gain In Queen Maries dayes so strong had nature made Sark-Island that [1] Sir Walter Raleighs History of the World lib. 4. cap. 2. sect 18. thirty Frenchmen could maintain it against all the Flemings in the world This stratagem was used Near unto the Isle with one ship
of a small burden anchoreth a Netherlander pretendeth the death of a Merchant in that Vessel beseecheth the thirty Frenchmen that the dead body of their Merchant might be buried in hallowed ground namely in Sark-Chappel unto a Request so charitable the secure Frenchmen yield The Flemings bring into the Isle a Coffin filled not with a dead body but with murdering Harquebusses then entring the Chappel they shut the door upon themselves take their Weapons from out of the Coffin slay every Frenchman in Sark and immediately possesse themselves of the whole Island Many many a covetous Tradesman receiveth just such [2] Prov. 1.19 5.22.11.1.22.23.23.4.13.11 Exck. 7.13 a Coffin into his shop from out of a gracelesse good will unto himself he welcometh false measures false weights false wares false accompts with all the security that may be But note the event Wherewith this Shop-keeper deceiveth his Customers therewith [3] Acts 5.3 the Devil [4] 1 Tim. 3.6 7 surprizeth this Shop-keeper taketh [5] 2 Tim. 2.26 possession of his captived heart and [6] 1 Pet. 5.8 slayeth his deluded soul Alas ill fareth the owner whose shop is the Devils [7] Pro. 1.32 ware-house When once the Prince of darknesse playeth at Sark a Soul may soon [8] Eph. 5.5 acquit her self of the Mansions in my Fathers House Every unjust gain [9] Luk. 12.21 1 Tim. 6.9 Prov. 28.20 Jer. 7.19 selleth heart and body body and soul grace and Glory Heaven and the God of Heaven for a messe of the Supplanters pottage When it is too late you will then be able to resolve your selves who findeth least trouble of heart the [10] Prov. 15 16 16.8 poor man that is righteous or the rich man [11] Psalm 4.3 that is fraudulent And yet mercy God! What do most of our Markets and Faires signifie other then [12] 1 Thes 4.6 Hos 4.2 lying and cheating Ah how is the Prince of this world pleased to see many who vote themselves [13] Tit. 1.16 Christians as very lyars as [14] John 8.44 himself Judas is not the [15] Heb. 13.5 2 Pet. 2.3 only Disciple who selleth Jesus Christ for a piece of money But had Judas peace who sold his Master neither shall ye Full well are divers Faires among us kept upon Holy-dayes for pray all we can you that turn and wind moneys will hardly keep [16] James 1.27 Esay 8.13 65.16 your selves unspotted of the world your covetous practises witnesse to your face that ye doom [17] Amos 9.10 Prov. 12.3 your hearts to trouble Alas alas how can ye lay claim to the [18] John 14.1 2 5.44 Mansions in my Fathers House so long as ye distrust God and his Christ Beloved rather make the fear [19] Prov. 8.1 3 of your God your wisdom esteem the Spirit of Jesus Christ your [20] Luke 16.11 only Riches set a high value [21] 1 Pet. 1.4 upon the Mansions in my Fathers House then [22] Acts 24.16 shall you be at peace with your own consciences then shall you find that Godlinesse hath the [23] 1 Tim. 4.8 promise of this life then shall this Gospel [24] Esay 26.3 say unto you Let not your heart be troubled Fifthly This Let not condemneth every Soul Of all Christistians which at any time [1] Rom. 8.1 2 Cor. 1.12 omitteth any Duty every person who in performing any Duty maketh not [2] Psalm 52.7 his God his Rest every Christian which [3) Esay 50.10 rolleth not But as easily may I cramb all Homers Iliads into a nut shell as [4] Eccl. 1.8 repeat all the troubles of a neglected heart in one breath Yea as soon may I force a Camels [5] Mat. 19.24 back through the eye of a Needle as remove [6] Gal 6.1 offences meerly by finding fault The end of rebuke is [7] 2 Tim. 4.2 Ezek. 3.26 to correct I passe therefore from these [8] Joh. 14.1 troubles of heart unto a faith in the living God I proceed from what our Saviour here prohibiteth unto what he next enjoyneth Dearly beloved you will now at the last escape reproofs if [9] Pro. 10.17 15.31.12.1 without further troubles of heart you receive instruction I told you Matter of instruction from the (1) Page 2. beginning that this seasonable Precept Believe in God believe also in me was cloathed with Evangelical instructions It is so Take the words 2 absolutely and they are our instruction they teach us that believe in God believe in Christ we must but consider them as opposed against the distractions of the Disciples hearts you will then learn that This (2) 1 Joh. 5.4 is the victory which overcometh all our troubles even our faith How great a comfort faith is against the greatest troubles of mind will appear from the (1) See page 6 various occasions of this Text. Occasion One was (1) Luke 22.24 ambition disappointed The hearts of these Disciples hab been troubled with worldly interests They had (2) Luke 24.21 Acts 1.6 dreamed hitherto of glorious preferments upon earth they had been (3) Luke 22.24 striving which of them should sit nearest unto their enthroned Lord I say these Disciples although they (4) Mat. 16.16 John 6.69 knew Jesus as the Son of God yet not [5] Mat. 20.9 knowing the Scriptures they aimed at worldly greatnesse they as yet fancied that (6) Matth. 20.21 Mark 9.34 Acts 1.6 Surely Christ would in good time reign gloriously upon earth To follow this to them [7] Mat. 2.2 known to others [8] Mat. 27.11 unknown King of the Jews they had (9) Mark 10.28 30 forsaken all and in so doing they had (10) Mat. 20.21 Luke 22.29 promised unto themselves no small advancement Now when they (11) John 13.31 learn that God would straightway glorifie their long attended Master not with Thrones but with Thornes not with a royal Diadem but by 12 sufferings when they in stead of seeing Christ restore the Kingdom unto Israel hear him (12) Mat. 16.21 John 13.1.33 14.2 contriving his departure out of this world when instead of being exalted by their Lord they must by him be (13) Mat. 13.36 37 shortly left at a losse this was unto them a consternation of spirit the failing of this their long expectation made their (14) Pro. 13.12 heart sick this this was one reason why our Saviour mindeth them to their comfort ye believe in God Secondly Whereas these were they which Occasion of all men had (1) Luke 22.28 continued with Christ in his Temptations Christ now twitteth them how of them one should (2) John 13.21 betray him another should (3) John 13.38 deny him all should (4) Mat. 36.31 forsake him These were (5) Mar. 8.38 Rev. 21.8 hard sayings Their meek Master had deserved no such uncomely neglects from them And now long at last
proprium Deipoteatis ac veri inexorata benesicia praebere Amobius advers Gentes lib. 3. henceforward affect and melt Chyrurgeans first purge the body and that done salve the lanced Ulcer Before I was afflicted I (11) Psalm 119.67 went astray If thou Lord sayest AMEN when thy judgements are in the earth the (12) Isa 26 9 Inhabitants of the world learn Righteousnesse Where thou ordainest peace there (13) Eccl. 7 3 by the sadnesse of the countenance the heart is made better By providence high winds blow up (14) 1 Cor. 11.32 seasonable rains and waters of affliction soften (15) Hos 5 15.10.12 fallow grounds Whirl-winds Earthquakes and fire these these may be the immediate Trumpeters (16) 1 Kings 19.12 of a small still voyce If mighty rushings astonish anon may follow a (17) Acts 2 2 4 manifestation of the holy Ghost Jonah had cause to blesse God that ever the Seas were (18) Jonah 4 so unquiet and before the Law came came (19) Exod. 19.16 Thunder True vexation of Spirit doth (20) Pro. 1.26 Psalm 107.17 in no wise presage grace a forerunner of it it (21) Pro. 119.71 may be First that which is natural afterward that which is (22) 2 Cor. 15.46 spiritual Where worldly sorrow worketh death there (23) 2 Cor. 7.10 godly sorrow may work repentance unto salvation Pinch a man soundly in this sleep it is a marvail if he (24) Psalm 50.15 awaken not from his hypocrisies unto Righteousnesse Would we understand it the language of every trouble doth most plainly tell us that This is the (25) Compare 1 Thes 4.3 with Prov. 3.11.12 Lament 3.33 Hos 11.10 Gal. 6.8 1 Pet. 5.10 2 Cor. 9.8 will of God even our Sanctification Ah my Beloved instead of quarrelling at the trouble of your hearts examine (26) Compare 13.5 your selves whether ye be in the faith Know one main cause why multitudes who snatch up a form of godlinesse have no victory at all over their troubles is They have (27) Psalm 42.5 no trust in God no trust in Christ a dead faith (28) Such as Mr. Eaton describeth they swallow down a (29) Such as Mr. Baxter requireth See also his Saints Rest. Part. 3. Cap. 3. Sect. 2. lively faith they never yet obtained Sorry sorry I am to pronounce it Of them who (30) 2 Tim. 2.19 name the Name of Christ exceeding few depart (31) Acts 26.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Damascen from themselves to Him They are most of them saplesse branches Christlesse Christians nor is it any marvail at all if every one who accepteth seeming faith instead of saving faith gain no victory at all over the troubles of his heart Answ 3. Answ 3. As seeming faith gaineth no victory over real troubles so true faith is then only [1] Esay 64.7 Quid penna quae caret usu prevalent when stirred up and exercised Faith must [2] 2 Tim. 4.7 fight a good fight if it will be victorious Be Sampson never so stout eft-soon shall the Philistims over-match him if he betray his strength David was strong in the Lord and in the power of his might and yet even Davids soul was disquieted within him until he [3] Psalm 42.5 See Dr. Sibs Souls Conflict Mr. Scudders Christian daily Walk and Mr. Symonds his Case and Cure of a deserted Soul Mr. Youngs Victory of Patience and Joy in tribulation by Phinees Fletcher renewed his trust in God These Disciples in my Text believed neverthelesse because they did not as David did encourage themselves in the Lord their God you see how their heart was troubled Had they foreseen the Mansions in my Fathert House had they believed in Jesus Christ as in their mighty Redeemer had they believed in God as their [4] Psal 46.1 present help they had in all their troubles been more then Conquerers A good sure friend is a better help at a pinch then [5] Psal 62.1 5 Francis L. Verulam all the stratagems and policies of a mans own wit Your half-faced Christians lean upon Honor Riches Greatnesse Friends c. as if these could succour them against distresses but it is better to [6] Psalm 52.7 118.8 9 Prov 10.15 14.26 Jerem. 9.24 17.5 trust in the Lord then to put confidence in all these together Many were the Titles of the Emperour but this one Title [7] Franc. L. Verulam Psalm 34.2 King of France distinctly answered unto all them and more saving faith alone affordeth more and more solid comforts against all sorts of troubles at once then all the advantages of this world can be able to supply against any one trouble Jehovah [8] Judg. 6.24 Shallom a faith [9] See Triumph of faith by Tho. Goodwin and Capels Temptations Luke 12.15 springing from Christ and ascending to Christ overcometh all temptations whether darted upon us by Satan or heaped upon us from our own ignorances sloath and corruptions or brought upon us more immediatly from the good Hand of our God Brethren a mans life consisteth [10] Omnia cum seipso contulit Deus omaâ—a cum eo perdit avarus Beda Exhort 3.7 not in the things which he possesseth but [11] See None but Christ by Mr. Wall in the life of faith Dearly Beloved and longed for my Joy and Crown would ye find comfort would you find strong consolation Loe ye here Taste and see Sirs here is life life more abundant O all-sufficienr God O God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord In the multitude of my thought within me thy [12] Psalm 94.19 comforts delight my Soul I find here Comfort for the most desperate Caitiffe and comfort for the broken Spirit Comfort I say for the heart of unbelief but for the sound Believer the Life of Comfort First Comfort even for the heart of unbelief Of Comfort He that believeth not Even for Unbelievers viz. against their Unbelief is [1] John 3.18 condemned already because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God yea but as desperate a sinner as thou art this is thy comfort that the very circumstances of this one Text alone mind thee invite thee nay urge and constrain thee to believe in Jesus Christ as in [2] Esay 55.7 8 9 Ezek. 18.21 22 a Mediatour ready to seek and save even thy lost Soul Here are four circumstances within the compasse of my Text which do in Christ his stead beseech thee to be reconciled unto Him 1 Circumstance The main occasion of all these troubles Circumstance which thou seest thus tumbling in here upon these Disciples viz. Jesus Christs [1] John 13.1 being made an offering for sin His hour was come and it was [2] Mat. 16.21 compared with John 13.21 and 14.1 against the sad sight of his ineffable sufferings that He here engageth his Disciples Let not your heart be
troubled Sinner Bethink thy self Jesus Christ his sufferings [3] 1 John 22 are thy pardon Come unto him thou that art heavy laden [4] Mar. 11.28 Christ will ease thee Hate sin that Christ [5] Act. 26.18 may pardon it Did the Lord Christ suffer the death of his body and the fierce wrath of his own Father all to keep thee from Hell and wilt thou again pawn thy Soul unto the Devil [6] 1 Pet. 5.1 for some trifling sin Are fire and brimstone [7] Matth. 25.30 Jude 15. Esay 30.33 2.19 and everlasting darknesse such flea-bitings Are Peace and Glory and [8] Rev. 21.7 everlasting Joy so contemptible that whatsoever the Son of God hath suffered should not at all concern thy soul Cast off thy [9] Dan 4.27 Esay 30.22 sins thine unprofitable sins for for Thee Christ dyed Thy Thy Soul the Mercifull Jesus would pardon Thirst [10] Dan 55.1 Revel 22.17 thirst after Righteousnesse that Christ may impute it Jesus Christ hath [11] Isa 53.4 born thine iniquities and wilt thou pluck them from off His shoulders to again place them upon thine own Oh rather set thy face toward Heaven and look look up upon [12] Zech. 12 10 Him whom Thou hast pierced Let Christ but see once [13] Esay 53.11 of the travel of his Soul and He shall be satisfied and thou too The Son of God dyed and dyed to save thee from thy sins That is one Inducement to force [14] Foelix est periculum ad Deum consuge e. thine heart of unbelief to seek the Lord while he may be found 2. Circumstance Although this was or was near upon Circumstance the same night wherein he was betrayed from the beginning of Chap. 13. unto the end of Chap. 17. Christ taketh much thought not for his dying self but for his sinfull Disciples Sinner it will not repent him that He layed down his life for thy sake if where He hath layed it down there thou wouldest take it up for thy preservation he is solicitous for his own he was not 3. A third Circumstance Three other Evangelists Circumstance three other faithfull Pen-men Jesus Christ had of his most holy Gospel but such a subject as this This the turning of his bowels the unbosoming of his loving Kindnesses so choyce a portion of the Gospel as is this He peculiarly reserveth for his fittest Pen man His bosome Evangelist his beloved Disciple his darling JOHN shall be the Author of this Evangelical Scripture and this purposely that such a desperate Caitiffe as thou hast been may [1] John 20.31 believe and conceive hopes 4 Circumstance The tender compassion of Christ Jesus over the present troubles of these Disciples hearts Circumstance Sinner The heart which melteth to see a wound lanced will never have the power to see a Sword ripping up thine entrails What troubles these Disciples here met with were but only the troubles of this world yet see here the swooning of Christs bowels Tell me Would not Jesus Christ endure that these should perplex their hearts and will he take any pleasure in the eternal torments of thy lost Soul Believe it the merciful Jesus doth not willingly afflict To be gracious he waiteth at thy death he aimeth not Thy Spirit had long since failed before him had not He forborn to strike I tell thee Thy case thy state of unbelief is so desperate that God deferreth his just anger unto the very last minute He knoweth shouldest Thou to Hell once thou art then a lost man for ever After death no redemption Thy sins are so great that Christ would if possible forgive them although thou imaginest not so He would if thou wouldest assent heal all thy back-slidings lest otherwise thy Soul thy wretched Soul should unto all eternity be tormented miserably tormented in Hell in the nethermost Hell If the Disciples afflictions move Christ unto compassion know the vengeance due unto thy sins pierceth his heart Shouldest thou to Goale once thou wouldest be sure to be condemned and executed wherefore ere ever thou art questioned for thy life Thy Jesus would procure for thee the Kings pardon nay He hath procured it and willeth thee to accept it upon the Kings terms Sinner if thou hast grace to believe any one of these Circumstances these Circumstances will be unto thee Life from the dead Secondly Life of comfort for Believers For Believers First against all worldly distresses Against worldly distresses viz. Although the afflictions of the Righteous are [1] Psalm 34.19 many yet [2] 1 Pet. 4.12 think not that strange True as A Child of God in the anguish of her spirit [3] Mr. G. C. in his Epistle before his Sermon at the Funerals of Mrs. A. Childe of Northwick Worcestershire replyed unto her Minister A sharp Visitation seemeth to signifie displeasure but Let not your heart be troubled For First The very same afftictions are [1] Pet. 51 9 accomplished in your Brethren No temptation can take you but such as is [2] 1 Cor. 10.13 Bonus quicquid accidit ei aequo animo feret Sen. Epist 7. common unto men nay unto Saints Art thou afflicted Answ So were Christs chosen Disciples yea so was Jesus Christ Himself even in the compassions of this very Text His heart was troubled then when he said Let not your heart be troubled I say Secondly So kind a Master so loving a Brother is Jesus Christ that he is [1] Heb. 4.15 touched with a sense of our infirmities Who is afflicted and he [2] 2 Cor. 11.29 burneth not I say In all thine afflictions thy dearest Bridegroom is [3] Esay 63.9 afflicted with thee He in this Text forgat his own sufferings although so near at hand that he might [4] Dr. Sibs Sermon on John 14.1 comfort his Disciples in these their troubles Thirdly The same Redeemer who bringeth the trouble layeth this command Let not your heart be troubled Be ye sure now He who [1] John 14.1 Esay 54.5 7 8 40.1 2 Jerem. 31.20 Hos 11.8 9 will not give way that thy heart should be any whit troubled at all will in due time remove what He Himself dis-liketh If thy Plaister [2] Rom. 8.28 Phil. 3.21 hurt it shall be taken off and that quickly Or ever he find out a temptation for thee he will out a way for thy [3] 1 Cor. 10.13 temptations escape rather then thy heart should be over-much troubled What thou canst not [4] Heb. 7.25 Matth. 11.30 12.20 well bear shall never burden thy feeble shoulders Fourthly Suppose thy distresse burdensome I reckon that the sufferings of this [1] Rom. 8.18 present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us What yea what are these light afflictions which are but for a [2] 2 Cor. 4.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Domum apud Patiâ—â—n habéo camque vòbis
prerogative peculiar unto Gods Image we read of one only bruite that (5) 2 Pet. 2.16 spake reason but Angels yea and God himself them we often (6) Gen. 3.8 18.20 21 c. hear speaking like us reasonable creatures and verily so excellent a faculty as speech is is not so much below an Angel as it is above a beast With an artiticulate voyce men on earth like (7) Revel 5.11 12 Angels in Heaven blesse the God of all blessings In four several Psalmes the sweet singer of Israel calleth his tongue (8) Psalm 16.9 30.12 57.8 108.1 his glory and of those four Psalmes two are like the verses of Pythagoras (9) Psalm 16. Psalm 57. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 entituled golden so great a value hath the Holy Ghost set upon those Psalmes which enform us wherein our glory lyeth viz. in instructing exhorting and edifying one another in calling upon God (10) Psal 5 3 64.1 66.19 71.1 with our voyce that is 11 in glorifying of him with the best member that we have We shall (12) Psal 31.17 115.17 keep silence in the grave but the (13) Esay 38 19 living the living they shall praise thee O God Guilt (14) Job 7.20 and (15) Job 40.4 5 fear (16) Lam. 3.28 2 9 and extremity of grief may indeed silence our thoughts but the Believers guilt is rolled in the blood of Jesus his fearfulnesse is removed by a trust in his God and his griefs are swallowed up in spiritual consolations So long as Hannah was in bitternesse of soul she (17) 1 Sam. 1.13 15 2.1 prayed silently but so soon as God answered her prayers presently Her mouth was enlarged Happy he who while he maketh his requests known unto God hath (18) recti custos imitator honesti Et nihil arcano qui rogat ore Deos. Martial Qui aperto vivit voto nec Labra movet metuens audiri Seneca Epist 10. no need to conceal them from men And as it is one thing to pray another thing to pray with the voyce so to praise is one thing to sing praise another With the mouth (19) Rom. 10.10 confession is made unto God In his Temple doth every man (20) Psalm 29.9 speak of his honour I will speak of thy Testimonies also before Kings and (21) Psalm 119.46 will not be ashamed With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulnesse (22) Psalm 89.1 compared with Esay 38.19 to all generations I have not hid thy Commandements within my heart His praise shall be continually (23) Psalm 34.1 in my mouth In God we boast (24) Psalm 44.8 all the day long These and the like Scriptures shew us how comely and pleasant a Duty it is not to stifle our holy thoughts within our breasts but to glorifie God in our words In our words our God is glorified First When we so speak as they that must (1) Matth. 12.36 give an account of every idle word Secondly When in a due manner we (1) 1 Tim. 5.20 2 Tim. 4.2 Heb. 3.13 Rom. 15.14 rebuke reprove instruct exhort admonish comfort c. Object Am I my Brothers keeper Answ Who except (1) Gen. 4.9 Cain would have (2) Levit. 19.17 asked that Question Verily since we are all members of one mystical body we must (3) Rom. 14.19 Heb. 10.24 build up one another in our most holy faith Iron (4) Pro. 27.17 sharpeneth iron In living water face answereth to face and a (5) Pro. 27.9 faithful Counsellour is life Where is our delight if not [6] Psal 16.3 upon the Saints that are on the earth In religious Conference we do not so much (7) 1 Thes 5.14 Heb. 12.12 remove the doubts of others as resolve our own we seem unto our selves as if unto us it were (8) Luke 12.12 20.14 15 given in that hour both what we should speak and what we should answer There is that (9) Prov. 11.24 encreaseth knowledge by scattering it and he that (10) Prov. 11.25 watereth shall be watered again I exhort therefore that in our (11) Deut. 11.19 household businesses in the (12) Deut. 18.20 several works of our Callings in our mutual Visits in our Journeys yea in (13) Deut. 6.6 7 8 9 all our Affairs our speech may be seasoned with salt I mean with (14) Col. 4.6 white salt And that it may be good (15) Eph. 4.25 unto the use of edifying that good words may (16) 1 Cor. 15.33 confirm good manners I more especially entreat of you two things The one that you would know and make known good Books Meet upon the Road (17) As Philip Acts 9.29 30 met the Eunuch See Luk. 24.15 c. a Passenger whom never before thou didst never again thon shalt see in this world if he learn from thee the Title of some Treatise (18) v. 27 apposite to the welfare of his thirsting soul he may speed the better for thy sake to life everlasting Holy Books are (19) Good books well read do make young men sober old men happy poor men rich and rich men honourable as Diogenes spake of Literature Legendi semper occasio est audiendi non semper Plin. lib. 2. ep 3. abiding helps daily Counsellors ready Physitians Manna in a golden pot especially in our Gilead where Balm excelleth Beloved the garden of Eden wherein we dwell is a Paradise of all healing herbs of exquisite spiritual flowers and of most angelical Roots Knew we how to sort them to our use there abound among us almost as many divine Medicines as natural infirmities My second request is that ye would acquaint one another not only with other mens works but with (20) Rom. 15.14 your own experiences being converted your selves help (21) Luke 22.32 your Brethren comfort them with the comforts wherewith ye your selves are (22) 2 Cor. 1.4 comforted of God How do you How doth such or such a friend is the form of salutation most usual among us yea and most Christian too It doth or should argue in us not only a (23) Phil. 1.5 fellowship but a (24) 1 Pet. 3.8 fellow-feeling not only a fellow-feeling but our (25) 1 Cor. 13.5 2 Cor. 13.9 3 John 2. well-wishes not only our well-wishes but our (26) Gal. 6.1 Phil. 2.4 1 Thes 5.11 earnest desire to remedy wherein we may what we can Beloved sincere friendship is inquisitive after the health of the body but (27) Phil. 1.19 more far more after the health of the soul You that ask me How I do if my (28) 3 Joh. 2.4 2 John 4 soul prospereth ye are glad of it Oh then what (29) Eph. 6.18 sins ye would have most prayed against enform me as likewise what (30) Eph. 6.19 graces you have most need of What devices of Satan you (31) 2 Cor. 2.11 have found out what back-doors ye have
canot marvail to see so many persons given over unto a reprobate mind since so few among us like to (1) Rom. 1.24 28 retain God in our knowledge Judge in your selves He that is unfaithful in a little would he be [2] Luke 6.11 12 31 1 John 4.20 John 5.47 faithfull in much He that will not contemplate God as a Creator will he flee to him as unto a Redeemer seek to him as unto a Preserver lean upon him as on a Comforter If I have shewed unto you earthly things and ye believe not how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things saith (3) Luke 3.12 Christ Friends if the wide world and all that therein is be not sufficient to put us (5) Rom. 1.20 10 18 continually in mind of our God what is nay what can be To this purpose there is (6) 1 Tim. 4.4 5 no creature to be refused For this purpose every creature of God is good if it be received with thanksgiving and with thanksgiving it would be received were it sanctified by Gods Word and our prayer What natural man can (7) 1 Cor. 2.14 Rom. 3.12 Quid potest perditus operari Aug. Euchir c. 30. Quid tantum de possibilitate naturae praesumitur vulne rata sauciata vexato perdita est vera comfessione non falsâ desensione opus habet Aug de nat gra c. 13. pretend an ability to discern things spiritual since he is so far wide from the scope of things temporal Verily if people remember not their Creator when they finde him in the fields no marvail it is if they shut their eyes when they should see him in the Sanctuary If they regard not the operations of Gods hands neither would they regard the operation of his Spirit Be astonished O Inhabitants of the earth and stand amazed at your ingratitude your liberal and bountiful God flingeth away a whole world upon a sort of persons who vouchsafe to him not (8) 2 Cor. 3.5 Non dicit perfectum sed ne aliquid Aug. one good thought The only Recompence which he expecteth for all his works is mans (9) Psalm 50.15 acknowledgement this small-pepper-corn cannot God procure The Lord would (10) Psalm 8.6 115.16 1 Cor. 3.22 Job 41.11 most willingly afford us the benefit of every Creature which he hath the profit of his whole Creation he frankly bestoweth among us he desireth no more from us then the praise of his workmanship and of this we rob him Time was when Adam (11) Gen. 2.20 gave names unto all cattel and to the fowl of the ayre and to every beast of the field but man is silent now these Creatures may be uncreated for any name that God can get from Adam The Apostles complaint (12) Eph. 4.18 of heathens O that I could drown this complaint with my tears must now bewail Christians because while they (13) Rom. 1.21 know God they glorisie him not as God neither are thankful But Beloved I hope better things of you When you with (1) Gen 24.63 Isaac walk forth you will walk forth to meditate When you with David (2) Psalm 8.3.95.4 5. behold the Moon and the Stars you will consider them as the easie work of Gods little finger Unto the altar of your heart you will with the Psalmist (3) Psalm 148.8 9 10 65 6-13 96.11 12 summon fire and hail snow and vapours stormes and winds hills and Valleys fowl and fish beasts and creeping things purposely that you may sacrifice them with the voyce of Thanksgiving Since (4) Matth. 13 11 unto you it is given to understand that the wisdom the power and the goodnesse of your God is alway presented unto you in every creature the (5) Esay 66.18 65.1 2 40.26 41.20 mind of your Creator you will not neglect Things void of life and living things void of reason you (6) Psalm 103.22 will not leave at a losse for want of your voyce of your speech and of your reason to mention their Founders worth As every creature recommendeth the love of your God unto you so you will (7) Psalm 119.91 1 Chro. 16.35 consecrate every creature unto his pleasure and praise So well stringed so well tuned an Instrument as this (8) Psalm 136.5 104.24 harmonious world is should never silence the praises of your God so long as you have either voyce or hands or heart but as it is your part and duty so you will make it your care and delight that (9) 1 Cor. 15.28 10.31 Prov. 3.6 Col. 3.17 in all these things your God be by you glorified My third reason why God should be glorified Reason 3. From creatures reasonable but graceless glorified by us alwayes glorfied by us is drawn from Creatures reasonable and intelligent but void of grace I am glad when I read verse the eleventh of Revelations ch 5th For when I call to mind how hard a matter it is to hear of eight (1) Gen. 9.25 1 Pet. 3.20 religious persons in the dayes of Noah and in after-times to hearken out a faithful Abram in (2) Gen. 11.31 Vr of the Chaldees a righteous Lot in (3) Gen. 13.12 the Plaines of Jordan one Joseph in (4) Gen. 39.9 the Land of Aegypt or one Job in (5) Job 1.1 the Land of Vz when I meet David alone as a (6) Psalm 102.7 sparrow upon the house-top and finde Elijah (7) 1 Kings 19 9 hiding himself in a Cave I am very (8) 1 Kings 19 10 jealous for the Lord of Hosts and of glory When I see of the habitable places of the earth so small a part Christian of Christendom so great a part idolatrous Of the reformed Churches so few which receive a love of the truth Of such as receive the truth of the Gospel so few that (9) That do seek Scripturaâ—â—â— Verba in opera vertere non dicere sancta sed sacere as Hierom. in Proaem in l. 3. com in Ezech. walk worthy of it mine eyes affect mine heart Weep weep with me O my Friends Rivers of tears run down mine eyes while I perceive so gracious a God to be so universally disregarded I say the truth in Christ I lye not my conscience also bearing me witnesse in the Holy Ghost that I have great heavinesse and continual sorrow in my heart for my Brethren my Kinsmen according unto the flesh the Inhabitants of this Isle O England What shall I take to witnesse for thee Did ever Nation receive so great deliverances as not by might nor by power but by HIS Spirit the great GOD hath wrought for us in restoring unto us our King as at first and our Judges as of old Can WE chuse but [1] Jer. 33.9 fear and tremble for all the goodnesse and for all the prosperity which the LORD hath procured unto us Wherefore do we [2] 1 Sam. 2.29 kick at his free goodnesse
[5] Jerem. 2.5 found in God or in the wayes of God that people should thus [6] Prov. 29.27 abominate either him or his wayes I say again There is not the least resemblance of any colour why [7] Jer. 2.31 folk should be thus weary [8] Mic. 6.3 of Gods loving instructions c. The Lord [9] Ezek. 18.25 burdeneth them not in the least imposeth upon them [10] Psalm 119.86 151 172 no unequal lawes setteth them not to make brick without straw saith not in vain [11] Esay 45.19 seek ye my face doth not like that old Serpent speak us fair to enthral us Would we [12] Mic. 6.3 testifie against him confesse we must that all HIS wayes are equal they are [13] Mic. 2.7 all profitable unto him that understandeth in the meer observing of his Statutes there is [14] Psalm 19.11 a Reward an everlasting Reward Yet yet alas ungodly ones will not come will not trust will not try this merciful Lord They have found him [15] Psalm 7.11 patient they see him [16] Acts 14.17 bountiful yet believe him they will not know him they do not but do because they know him not [17] John 17.25 hate him hate him whom if they knew even [18] Cant. 5.16 their souls would love Neither do they fancy themselves too [19] Jer 5.22 good to obey nor this Soveraign too [20] Ezek. 33.32 Esay 40.18 ignoble to command yet resist him they will they do As the guilty withstood Charles the second for no other reason but for that they were guilty so deal unbelievers with their God their safety lyeth in their submission yet have they their God [21] Esay 57.4 in defiance Jesus professedly delighteth in their salvation they professedly [22] Mat. 22.37 estrange Jesus I said unto the [23] Psal 75.4 5 fools Deal not so madly lift not up your horn on high walk not with a stiffe neck [24] Esay 55.3 Hear and your soul shall live but loe they are [25] Psalm Rom. 3.12 14.3 altogether gone out of the way of peace they have [26] Jer. 35 5 ◠28 cast off the yoke they are children that [27] Esay 1.4 5 are revolters they are quite beside themselves they will not have [28] Luke 19.14 this man Jesus rule over them the Devil shall [29] 2 Cor. 4.4 rule them if he so please but God shall not rule them [30] Psalm 2.13 Psalm 32.8 if he would Mean while there might be in them some idle colour of a silly excuse could they pretend that the scepter of God [31] Psalm 45.6 is no right scepter but they themselves fully know how there abideth in God eternally and infinitely a right to reign a wisdome to govern a justice to distribute a truth to perform a majesty to over-awe a power to protect a mercy to relieve a goodnesse to merit a bounty to reward a loving-kindnesse to sweeten c. Tell me now can we with patience can we without indignation think of so good a [32] Act. 3.15 5.31 Revel 1.5 Prince so causlesly disobeyed so unworthily misconstrued and so ungratefully disavowed Can any thing in the world so deeply [33] Psal 119.53 36 126 afflict us as this viz. to see so universal a revolt from the King of all glory and power So faith full a [34] Phil. 4.6 1 Pet. 4.19 Creator so daily a [35] Job 7.20 Preserver so mighty a [36] Esay 49.26 Redeemer so gracious a [37] 2 Cor. 1.4 Comforter so wise a [38] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basilii Basilij Scleucae Oratio quarta Soveraign is the Lord that we heartily acknowledge that a 38 more faithful Creator a more indulgent Preserver a more propitious Redeemer a more desireable Comforter a wiser Soveraign a more loving Father a more sociable Husband a dearer Bridegroom a more absolute Friend no heart can wish no person can have seek or fancy a better God we cannot desire then this whom we enjoy neither can we without vexation and anguish of spirit take notice how the foolishnesse of the world reproacheth this God Legions of malicious spirits in hell blaspheme him and innumerable multitudes of men here upon earth willingly adhere unto the rebellions of Satan but for this God who bought them they have no obedience For these things we justly weep these reproaches so generally cast upon our God force us to mourn in secret in secret said I Have we then an ability to keep our countenances unchanged Is the prey taken from God Almighty Are men led captive at Satans pleasure Is the King of glory deserted as if he were a Tyrant Do men all the day long run away from our God and do not We [39] 2 Pet. 2.7 8 Psalm 69.9 119.53 136 158 Pbil 3.18 Acts 20.19 31 Ezra 10.6 Nehem. 1.4 Dan. 9.3 Mark 3.5 John 11.38 Matth. 23.37 Jer. 9.1 2 13.17 2 Cor. 7.11 Psalm 139.21 go mourning all the day long Have we any voyce other then the voyce of doves tabring upon their breasts We find not rebellion by secret search but almost in every bosom Not one of a thousand hath his heart upright toward our God! Beloved these these evils are goades in our sides thornes in our eyes swords they are ever piercing our ever bleeding hearts alas our God our glorious God is both at home and abroad dishonoured our holy our dear God is every-where lightly regarded Therefore upon what are our thoughts diverted How is it that while we walk the streets we are able to bite in our lamentations Where where is our zeal where are our compassions the swoonings of our bowels and the loving thankfulnesse the loving kindnesses due from our soules to our God Do we breath any other breath but sighs Can we perpetually sigh without perpetual groanings within our selves Our constant affections toward the sanctifying Spirit may constantly melt us into teares while we see daily daily see the most of men the most of men by far grieving quenching resisting rejecting that powerfull and blessed Spirit Speak ye servants of the most holy Lord God speak if for weeping ye can speak is the Name of our God hourely prophaned everywhere prophaned and can we look one another in the face with dry eyes are we not weeping-ripe are not our eyes brimeful do they not gush out with teares rather do not our very heart-strings burst If so the more sinfull the more rebellious the more heedlesse the more gracelesse most persons are the more industrously in our lives in our words and in our purest thoughts let [40] Quod ego modo cum magno tremore dicturus sum quod vos estis nunc terribiliter audituri imo terribiliter vocaturi stupent Angeli pavescunt virtutes supernum caelum non capit sol non videt terra non sustinet tota non assequitur creatura Pater noster qui es in coelis Hoc est quod pavebam
he could not be said Exod. 32.8 unto the work of his hands Thou art my God Hâ—s 14.3 impose upon God without the intermediating righteousnesse of Jesus Christ offereth not prayses but affronts not thanksgivings but provocations The water which he bringeth he [15] Job 14.4 poureth forth of an unclean vessel the fruit which he tendereth he tendereth [16] Tit. 1.15 with a left hand with a left hand lame and leprous the prayer which he sacrificeth is no more then the cutting off of a dogs neck and his rejoycings are much like the shoutings of them who [17] Exod. 32.18 compared their glory unto a molten calfe Thus all the honour which God purchaseth from the heart refusing grace is only like unto that drudging work which just Masters [18] Quod faciunt contra voluntatâ—m Dei non impletur nisi voluntaâ— Dei Aug de praed Sanct. l. 1. c. 6. exact from their froward servants or much like those confessions which [19] Josh 7.19 Joshua extorted from accursed Achan like the assistance which wise Commanders squeeze from enemies taken in War else like that medicinal use which able Physitians make [20] As Philip of Macedon who made his enemies the Athenians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plutarch of dangerous poysons In a word without faith it is impossible to please God for whatsoever is not of faith is sin viz. notoriously short of that reasonable service which the pure God may justly expect from every person since every person hath reason enough to thirst after the holy Spirit of Christ Jesus Sirs from those that do or may understand that such a Spirit is to be sought but seek it not all the honour which the Lord procureth is [21] Rom. 2.8 Job 21.30 Jude 15. Prov. 16.4 Rom. 9.22 Just as the Artist turnâ—th the natural violence of sire winds and water unto profitable works of Art as forced as that which through his transcendent power and wisdome he raiseth unto himself out of the hardnesse of Pharaohs heart or which is the same out of Adams disobedience out of sin as sin and out of Devils as Devils Wherefore the Lord perswade you to pant after the holy Spirit that you may with simplicity of mind endeavour to glorifie your God Object To pant after the holy Spirit of the holy God is a work of Regeneration and we are no more able to regenerate our selves then to beget our own substance in our mothers womb Answ To regenerate our selves in our power it is not we are meerly passive in our spiritual as well as in our natural birth It is tho [1] Ut letum Deo detur hâ—minis voluntatem boaaâ— praeparat adjuvandam adjuvat praeparatam Aug. sole work the sole act of the Holy Ghost to create anew The more [2] Ut velimus sine nobis operatur Deus cum autem volumus nobiscum co-operatur S Aug. de grat lib. arbitr cap. 7 observance and the more thanks is due from us unto that Father of Lights who is of his own will so ready to beget us with his word of truth that we should be any of us regenerated by his Spirit Object Though the word preached be spiritual we are [1] Rom. 7 carnal and sold under sin we are natural and [2] 1 Cor. 2 savour not the things of God Answ Naturally (1) Ratâ—o communionum opinionum consilii coelestis incapax hoc solum putat in naturâ rerum esse quod aut intra se intelligit aut praestare possit ex sese Hillar de Trin. lib. 1. we savour not the things that are of God but this we may do a natural man may be strength of reason so much as in him lyeth with humility and earnestnesse endeavour to know and taste of God as God is now manifested in his works and Word He may with (2) Plangendae tenebrae in quibus me mea facultas latet Aug. confess l. 10. cap. 32. the greatest of diligence he can observe and do the Will of God unto him in the holy Scriptures revealed As One most unworthy of so great a Treasure he may in a constant use of holy Ordinances wait for the (3) Luke 24.49 spirit of Promise moving causes for which the Spirit of grace is vouchsafed these are not Antecedent duties in which this Spirit is vouchsafed they are I say upon these waters of knowledge the Spirit delighteth to move Would a lost sinner patiently wait in the use of these appointed meanes should he never receive the Holy Ghost yet still he had done what in him lay he had submitted unto Christs Scepter he had glorified his God to his power he had made the best of a lost condition But the Scripture offereth more grace He that is faithful in a little natural abilities shall be entrusted with (4) Luke 119.17 16 16.10 gifts above nature True (5) See Mantoâ— upon James 2.4 confound nature with grace we may not sinful man may not justle the holy God may not reckon himself a co-adjutor in that wherein God will have the (6) See Bishop Reynolds Joy in the Lord in quarto mihi pag. 24. Videatur etiam Animalis homo habitus à D. D. Edvardo Reynoldo sole glory Mean while as we desire with all possible humility to acknowledge that the holy Spirit of the great God is infinitely a free Agent free as the wind which bloweth where it listeth so we are bound with all possible gratitude to confesse that this free Spirit hath tyed himself up * Deus promitteado se facit debitorem unto the truth of his Promises wherefore we dare not but expect to (7) Esay 64.5 meet God in those wayes wherein his free goodnesse hath appointed us to find him Saith one (8) Mr. Tillian a Dately of Banbury in his New Birth cap. 9. mihi p. 103. God hath appointed certain things to be done by men which they that will not refuse to do may do and the which they that shall do shall be Regenerate For saith (9) ibid. Neverthelesse Paedissequa noa praevia volantas saith St. Aug. Epist 106. he There is a common work of Illumination which so maketh way for Regeneration that it putteth into man a power of doing that which when he shall do the Spirit of God shall mightily work within him provided alwayes that he damp not the present motions of the Word and Spirit of God with procrastinations and delayes It is much-what in Regeneration by the Spirit as it is in generation of the flesh the fruit of Sarahs womb is expresly the gift of God but there was first a generation before a conception As to expect the fruit of the womb without generation so to expect the Regenerating Spirit without the use of meanes were to tempt nay to contradict and to controle the wise God Object The wind bloweth where it listeth Answ Most true it is that the blessed Spirit sanctifieth (1) John
publishing their own corrected labours or in advancing revising contracting and digesting the learned works of other men Oh that I might see (2) Like unto the Hexapla written by Andrew Willet in English Hexapla upon the whole Scriptures Oh that some Evangelical Riverius (3) Imitating Riverius his Practice of Physick would out of the best practical Divines select the case and cure of every soul Fifthly For (1) See Mr. William Durham his Epistle before his Sermon upon James 5.9 the Gospel preached What any Minister of Christ delivereth according to the simplicity of Gods holy Word that not so much the Minister as (2) with Exod. 20.19 Job 33.6 7. and 2 Cor. 4.7 compare Num. 16.5 ii Deut. 18.19 Num. 17.10 1 Sam. 8.7 Mat. 10.40 and Luke 10 16. So long as he keepeth to his Commissiom and delivereth the Counsel of God you cannot despise the work of your Minister but you do therewithal despise the blood of your Saviour Bishop Reynolds pag. 46. of his Pastoral Office Christ himself speaketh for Christ by His (3) 1 Cor. 12.28 Matth. 28.20 Eph. 4 11 12 Ministry now (4) Heb. 12.25 Ephes 2.7 2. Cor. 5.20 speaketh from Heaven O blessed Jesu Thou didst not pray for thy Ministers alone but for (5) John 17.20 them also which shall believe on thee through THEIR word Sixthly For every other Ordinance of Christ administred among us Compare the purity of our Church with the superstitions abroad yea confer (1) 2 Cor. 3.8 9 Gospel worship with the (2) Gal. 4.9 beggarly rudiments of the Law or the (3) 1 Pet. 3.21 laver of Baptism with the (4) Curtis Jadaeis Pers Gen. 17.11 unsightly circumcision of the foreskin of the flesh or the (5) 1 Cor. 11.23 Supper of the Lord with the (6) Exod. 32 8 bitter herbs of the Passeover nay taste the Spirit and life of any Ordinance of Christ you will then (7) Psal 30.4 give thanks unto God at the remembrance of his holinesse Seventhly Let us and all the Churches be thankful for that the (1) John 6.29 1 John 3.23 whole duty of man is to believe in God and his Christ When we hear and believe read and believe meditate and believe then is our heart filled with joy and our lips with prayses I believed therefore (2) 2 Cor. 4.13 have I spoken The (3) James 5.16 prayer of faith how doth it avail The (4) Hab. 2 4 just shall live by his faith yet (5) Gal. 2.20 not he but Christ liveth in him Wisely to (6) Psal 119.66 Matth. 13.56 believe to credit and to trust is noble and heroique then this generous duty what duty can be more desireable except to love which is but (7) Gal. 5.6 faith exercised God he graciously entrusteth the Believer with whatsoever conduceth unto his everlasting good The believer he again doth not only believe but (8) Psal 62.8 Esay 7.9 30.15 Prov. 14.26 Ephes 3.12 Heb. 3.6 trust his God He resteth assured that the Almighty is so just so true that man may safely rely upon the faithful friendlinesse of every proceeding of his and upon his bare word in whatsoever he speaketh no wisdome c. like Gods wisdome c. Between learner and teacher servant and master man and wife c. there is a necessity of trusting of these some or other may betray their trust But seldome will we mistrust a person of honour and as for the word of a King that ye know is sacred among us it were barbarism to give a Prince the lye Oh then where we have Gods word of truth for our warrant and that (9) Joh. 17.3 warrant sealed unto us by Gods Spirit of truth with what full assurance may we (10) Heb. 4.16 repose a stedfast confidence upon our great and loving God Most chearfully can the Believer (11) Credere Joan. 14.1 in Deum est fiduciam habere Zegerus trust his God for the pardon of all his sins for the supply of all his wants for the acceptance of his person and of his endeavours for the reward promised unto every duty c. Things temporal are not more visible to thine eye then (12) Heb. 11.1 things spiritual are to his faith All have (13) Rom. 3.23 sinned and come short of the glory of God Christians wherein soever we sin therein our faith faileth us viz. We do not (14) Psal 111 7 119.66 151 86.172 believe the commandement by us broken to be so good for us so advantageous to us as (15) Deut. 6.24 10.13 in truth it is There neither is nor can be any sin which is not accompanied with unbelief On the other side the greater our faith the lesse we disobey that is the lesse we come short of the glory of God Eighthly If the life of faith [1] Hab. 2.4 be a life so desirable what thanks is due from us unto our God for that [2] Rom. 1.4 holy that [3] 1 Pet. 4.14 blessed spirit of his by which [4] 2 Cor. 4.13 alone we are enabled to believe By Him is sanctified the [5] 2 Thes 2.13 use of all that is before us Our [6] Matth. 5.6 thirst after righteousnesse maketh us to rellish righteousnesse the better The waters of salvation which we draw we draw with [7] Esay 12.3 joy The breasts which we suck are breasts of [8] Esay 66.11 consolation We [9] Esay 38.16 live and the spiritual life which we lead is [10] Rom. 8 6 pleasant unto us We have bread from heaven to feed upon and a [11] Jer. 31.25 spiritual taste to delight us while we feed We are a people [12] Psa 75.1 14.14 Rom. 13.11 near unto the Lord We are not amused as those Disciples were [13] Luke 9.33 Matth 17.6 before whom the person speaking in my Text was transfigured no our eyes are [14] Num. 24.3 Luke 24.31 open we [15] Phil. 3.12 apprehend that for which also we are apprehended We are not layed in a trance as [16] Acts 9.4 10.10 22.17 Saul was then when the Lord converted him God doth not cast us into [17] Gen. 2.20 21 a dead sleep as he did Adam while he raiseth a [18] Psalm 89.19 help meet for us rather he giveth us [19] Mat. 13.17 1 Cor. 2.7 10 Ephes 3.9 10 Col. 1.26 27 1 Pet. 1.12 free leave to look on and to contemplate the wisdome of his power He doth not snatch us from unbelief to eternal blisse in a moments space but he giveth us leisure to inform our selves of all those mysteries which his holy Gospel revealeth We are not taken up in a whirl-wind but we walk with God and gently passe from death to life We are entertained in this Kingdome of grace with the [20) Psalm 84.2 Heb. 9.28 2 Pet. 3.13 Heb. 13.14 Rom. 8.24 Jer. 31.17 interview of glory to come We
holy fear thy slumbering conscience is thorough mercie a little awakened hath at length a little feeling dreameth now at last what an evil thou cherishest by maintaining enmities against the great God for (1) Esa 59 18 he will repay fury to his adversaries and recompence to his enemies Possibly thou beginnest to perceive what a desperate presumption it hath been to make it thy sport to crucifie (2) Heb. 6 6 Christ for had (3) 2 Kings 9.31 Zimri peace who slew his Master Possibly a fore-sight of judgement to come hath affected thy soul with present horrour for the (4) James 2.19 Devils themselves beleeve and tremble Which if thou according to thy wonted impenitencie canst not doe be confounded and astonished at the sense of thy (5) Esa 1.2 Jude 15. crying guilt Except thou repent and believe loe vengeance is at hand lieth ready in store (6) Mat. 3 10 Esa 65.6 and will in an hour which thou art not aware of swallow thee up for ever and ever Alas thou hast foolishly and childishly (7) Jer. 4.22 5.21 25 like one stupid or Starke madd with all contempt and heedlesnesse in the most unthankfull manner that malice it self can suggest from thy youth up despised thy (8) 2 Sam. 12.9 Num. 25.31 1 Sam. 2.30 Lords pleasure and thine own peace No marvell then if wrath already smoaketh against thee alas (9) Deut. 29.19 20. it already breaketh out and as it flasheth first into thy (10) Rom. 2.15 1 John 3.20 conscience scorching that so it will hereafter flash upon thy soul (11) Gen. 2.17 Rom. 6.23 Ezek. 18.4 affrighting that from thy body and will in the end seize again upon thine unclean body (12) John 5.29 forcing that lump of sin to accompany thy lost soul as well in suffering torments as in contracting guilt Now if the Lord hath a mind to destroy thee (13) Esa 63.17 2 Chron. 25.20 Mat. 13.14 15. Deut. 29.4 he will go on to hide from thee these sore evils but possibly the power of the Word hath wrought upon thee possibly thou art afraid of Gods judgements I trust the Lord hath caused thee to tremble at his threats I hope thy heart smiteth thee I hope thou seekest for Jesus If so then but not until then be of good cheer The Master calleth thee I beseech thee therefore whosoever thou art ponder thy life past the hours dayes weeks moneths years which thou hast spent not in service to but in rebellion against a God patient indeed but just and (1) Nahum 1.2 jealous Consider again and again that thou canst not be at the same time in a state of unbelief and in the state of salvation too it will cost more then so to work out thy salvation wouldest thou know in this thy day the things which belong unto thy peace thou wouldest what pains soever it shall cost thee watch and pray and strive and strive to make thy calling and election sure Hell flames are about thine ears wilt thou lye still and be burnt in thy bed Art thou so foolish a Coward that thou wilt wink while the Devil stabbeth thee Is it more tolerable to endure torments in hell then to exercise repentance upon earth Are unquenchable flames more to be desired then the Mansions in heaven Is it safer to continue a Judas then to approve thy self a sincere convert and a sound beleever Wilt thou still refuse eternal life rather then accept of it upon Gods terms I deal plainly with thee unless thou canst truly say I (1) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Milesius Thales am not I except thou canst say I my self was (2) Joh. 3.7 Tit. 3.3 such another Judas as is here secluded from these Disciples here spoken unto in this Text except thou canst say such (3) 1 Cor. 6.11 a one was I but I am washed but I am sanctified but I am justified Until thou canst say I was (4) Ephes 2.1.2.3 a child of disobedience I was dead in Trespasses and sin but am now quickned am now a (5) 2 Cor. 5.17 Gal. 6.15 new Creature except thou canst say (6) Rom. 7.25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord this stone of unbelief presseth thee for a mute if thou persist in this stubborness thy hard heart may well be called stony for it shall be nothing (7) Pro. 10.20 worth unless to make a fearful (8) Gen. 19.26 monument of inexcusable guilt and of ineffable Justice There is a (9) 1 Kin. 8.38 Plague in thy heart wilt thou not be made whole when (10) Si non modo quando shall it once be Jer. 13.27 Thou With Joy of whom I travail in birth until Christ be formed in thee the Prophet raised up (1) Deu. 18.15 like (2) Deu. 30.15 unto Moses hath set before thee this day Life and Death viz. Life that thou mayest escape death Death that thou mayest seek life I have heard of one in a Swoon who was mistaken for dead layed out for dead wrapped in a Winding sheet coffined A familiar but sad story related applyed and buried too for dead the same person awaking out of his Trance and finding himself coffined by struggling for life bruised his body to death Shall I apply this He when people thought him quite dead was alive thou O unbeliever hast a name that thou livest but art dead He when he found his body buried bruised it to death couldst thou complain that thou art dead there were hopes of thy life true thy body of sin hath indeed been hitherto merely a black Coffin for thy departed soul the worser Grave-stone of the two remaineth fixed on thy heart of unbelief as immoveably as ever the dust of death lay upon that interred friend nevertheless the good Angel in my Text can (3) Mat. 28.2 roll away this stone He who (4) Joh. 11.44 called Lazarus forth of his grave can speak to thee the dead (5) Joh. 5.25 have heard his voice and thou mayest the Author of this Gospel hath (6) 2 Tim. 1.10 abolished death and brought immortality and Life to light werefore he saith Awake (7) Eph. 5.14 thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee life Set thy soul in order for thou mayest live and not dye Object Object I am fitted for destruction and therefore (1) Rom. 9.22 for ought that I know am a vessel of wrath Answ Answer Though thou art fitted for destruction thou art for ought that thou knowest (1) Eph. 1.4 chosen in Christ Object Object I have in me all the signs of a (1) 2 Cor. 13.5 Reprobate Answ Answer Thou hast the more need to (1) Phil. 2.12 work out thy salvation for God (2) 2 Pet. 3.9 would not have thee perish he would have thee (3) 1 Tim. 2.4 saved Object Object The (1)
the seed the spawn of all uncleannesse and wickednesse soever It was not it could not be unknown unto the most holy Jesus how that Peter would deny him or how that these other disciples would all of them forsake him Fore-known unto Him it was prevented by him it was not Behold O Lord our Redeemer Thou hast dyed for sin and yet sin abideth in us Thou hast called us unto holinesse and yet we have no inherent holinesse at all alas we continue above measure sinfull Lord if thou wilt thou [3] Luke 5.12 canst make us clean Our seet thou hast washed Why [4] John 13.9 not also our hands and our head But [5] Gen. 32.10 beggers must not be their own chusers Oh wherefore doth living man [6] Lam. 3.39 22 complain What is dust and ashes that any thought of his [7] Jer. 18.6 Rom. 9.20 should at all reply against his King and his God Secret [8] Deut. 29.29 causes why while we are in the flesh sin dwelleth in us belong unto Him We may finde comfort from the reasons which he [9] Rom. 15.4 hath revealed whether in regard of himself or in regard of us 1. In regard of himself The glory of all his Attributes 1. While He as he is God the Father 1 Comfort taketh occasion to reconcile his justice unto his mercy c. in creating light out of darknesse good out of evil order out of confusion peace out of guilt grace out of sin and out of dishonour his most [1] Psal 35.27 34.3 40.16 Luke 1.46 Phil. 1.20 Eph. 1.10 12 unsearchable Glory 2. 2 Comfort While as he is God the Son Son of the Father and Son of man too he magnifieth that [1] John 5.27 compared with Prov. 29.2 and Job 36.22 authority which the Father hath put into his hands All power was [2] Matth. 28.18 1 Cor. 15.27 given unto Him and it is fit that [3] Matth. 28.28 Prov. 8.22 30 the world should know it In the work of his Creation he [4] John 1.3 Heb. 1.2 sheweth himself a free agent forming many Creatures quite void of life many capable of life among living creatures he giveth unto some a power vegetative as that of Herbs Trees c. but not sensible to others as that of brutes a power both vegetative and sensible but not rational but unto mankind he giveth a power vegetative sensible and [5] Gen. 1.27 reasonable too Just thus the Son of man to shew how absolutely his elect Vessels are [6] Eph. 1.22 Phil 1.10 Revel 4.11 at his pleasure His pleasure is that man before his souls conversion [7] Rom 11.32 Gal. 3.22 should abide void of all grace but full of all sin and should after his souls dissolution [8] Phil. 3.21 1 Cor. 15.42 remain void of all sin but filled with all grace but should be from his souls conversion to his souls dissolution [9] Gal. 5.17 divided between sin assaulting and Grace assisting 3. 3 Comfort While as he is God the [1] 1 Joh. 5.7 Holy Ghost he keepeth man [2] Jude 24 from falling raiseth man [3] Psalm 145.14 Rom. 8.11 when fallen The preserver of men delighteth [4] Prov. 8.3 in the habitable parts of the earth and since this is his will even [5] 1 Thes 4.3 our sanctification He will not fail of his Will if we [6] Cal. 6.8 his Vessels be not wanting unto our own selves 2. In regard of us He glorifieth himself many wayes by our inherent sin as 1. 1 Comfort The demeanour of Gods Children under their corruptions (1) Job 1.8 22 Deut. 32.5 Phil. 2.15 16 justifieth the severity of God against Reprobates We are Gods witnesses Are Vnbelievers sinfull so are sound Believers but (2) 1 Sam. 24 10 Psalm 32.5 51.3 Zeph. 3.5 Jer. 3.3 6.15 Esay 44.9 66.5 Ezek. 16.61 43.11 2 King 22.19 not with that high hand not with that greedinesse not with the like presumption fearlesnesse shamelesnesse or impenitency When we commit evil there is sooner or later some regret some remorse some compunction some mis-givings in our consciences St. Peter (2) Matth. 27.75 weepeth out of the Hall he getteth he avoideth the like temptations again The Disciples forsake Christ but the Disciples hearts are troubled Alas (3) John 14.1 sinfull (4) 1 John 1.8 we are but this is one comfort yet viz. The (5) Deut. 33.29 haters of God shall be found lyars They shall not say we (6) 1 John 3.3 take that pleasure in our evil doings which the unbeliever taketh 2. 2 Comfort Our continual guilt ever remembreth us [1] Rom. 6.23 Lam. 3.39 Psalm 103.3 4 from what everlasting burnings we are rescued Unto which of the Angels said he at any time Thy sins are forgiven thee If the men of Jabesh must lose every one their right eyes [2] 1 Sam. 11. 2 compare v. 9 with 2 Sam. 2.4 it must be because their lives were given unto them for a prey The Lords mercy it is [3] Heb. 12.29 that we are not eternally consumed 3. 3 Comfort Our corruptions mind us from what an (1) Psalm 51.6 Exod. 12.8.11 compared with Exod. 1.14 12 39 excessive sinfulnesse we are delivered Slay them not lest (2) Psalm 59.11 my people forget it Are the imaginations of our heart evil continually evil Blessed be our God that they are not (3) 2 Cor. 3.5 more evil I thank my God (4) Rom. 7.25 through Jesus Christ our Lord. 4. 4 Comfort Our sins teach us (1) Rom. 12.9 Acts 11.23 Jer. 13.11 Psalm 101.3 Josh 23.8 22.5 Deut. 10 20 21 11.22 13.4 18.13 28.47 58 30.20 self-denial for Who would serve divers lusts Who would love a false heart Who would maintain an enmity against holinesse Who would make provision for that flesh which warreth against his soul or cherish those affections which lust against the Spirit yea who would combine with Satan against God 5. 5 Comfort Our in-bred sin (1) Deut. 13.3 Gen. 22.12 Exod. 16.28 20.20 Deut 8.2 16.30.15 19.20 Judges 2.22 31 4. compared with Psalm 26.2 Rom. 12.2 8 6 2 Cor. 8 8 13.5 Gal. 6 4 5.25 James 2.27 3.18 Heb. 3.13 1 John 3.7 8 9.10.2.3 5.3.19 24.4.13 2 Pet. 1.10 Eph. 5.1 proveth us VVhat thanks is it unto the Sun that he daily runneth so even a course or that his beames are ever glorious just none at all for a necessity of Nature compelleth the Sun to be as he is and to do as he doth I say the Sun doth never run nor shine upon choyce But our God who worketh in us all our holy desires setteth before us as well evil as good that we (2) Dicet aliquis si Deus vellet isti boni essent sed melius voluit ut quod vellent essent August may have the comfort of chusing the better part Since God
house Compare 2 Sam. 13.6 with Psa 41.3 Cant. 1.13.2.6 make my bed Let my Beloved stay me with flagons or comfort me with apples and I 'le most willingly be (34) A weck together at Sir Thomas Overburies house Compare 2 Sam. 13.5 sick of love Let Saul encrease his fury it mattereth not so long as Jonathans heart is knit to David the more (35) 1 Sam. 20.4 Davids troubles encrease the more Jonathans loving (36) crescent illae crescetis amores kindnesses appear Good God In all our afflictions thou [37] Isa 63.9 art afflicted Can Heaven it self yield unto us many larger matters of thankfulnesse then this Blessed are they that [38] Rev. 14.13 rest from their labours I deny it not mean while I add Blessed are they who lead a [39] Mat. 5.4 heavy life viz. They shall still be praysing thy Spirit the [40] Joh. 14.16 Comforter thy Son saying in my Text Let not your heart be troubled and thy Self the [41] 2 Cor. 1.3 father of mercies Who hath none to still him may weep his eyes out but we know [42] 2 Tim 1.12 in whom we have believed The Rabbins [43] Elias Thisbites in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reckon twenty sorts of thorns mentioned in the old Testament were those twenty and twenty more in our sides the blood of the new Testament would [44] 2 Cor. 12.9 draw them forth unto the prayse and glory of the Testator Thorough our thanksgiving for many deliverances the [45] 2 Cor. 4.15 Christus Dominus veluti medicus anima rum summus ad curandum grav's ani ni morbos permittit electos suos morbis corporum graviter affligi Eâ— quod plus est ad curandum majora crimina permittit in cidere in minora etiam mortalia D. Tho. in 2 Cor. 12. lect 3. abundant grace will redound to the glory of God Ye who mourn in Zion seven-fold are your opportunities of glorifying God as God and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way We shall in Heaven [1] Rom. 8 17 2 Tim. 2.12 reign with Christ true but that which is on our part the [2] Acts 20.35 more blessed is this We here in this Kingdom of grace have the honour not only to [3] Rom. 5.17 rule with Christ but also to [4] Rom. 8.17 Acts 5.41 Phil. 3.10 Col. 1.24 suffer with Christ said Thomas [5] John 11.16 Let us also go that we may dye with him Brethren I protest by our rejoycing which we have in Christ Jesus our Lord we may with him [6] 1 Cor. 15.31 Non decent sub spinoso capite membra esse delicata dye daily There is an Elixar in ever godly mans sorrow This Kingdome of grace hath a Chimique power it extracteth Oyl out of Flints Silver out of Lead Gold out of Brass it sweeteneth the bitterest [7] Aâ—deo dicere superhis esse utile cadere in aliquod apertum manisestumque peccatum unde sibi displiceant quijam sibi placeddo ceciderant sâ—abrias eniâ— Petrus sibi displicuit quandâ— sleviâ— quam sibi placuit quandâ— praesumpsit August de civitate Dei l. 14 c. 13. Wormwood consecrateth every cross spiritualizeth every tribulation maketh whatsoever we suffer a suffering with Christ Ignatius his love was crucified and so is [8] Gal. 2.20 6.14 ours Beloved this is a matter worthy our thanksgiving a happinesse peculiar unto this present life that to us it is [9] Phil. 1.29 GIVEN to suffer with Christ a Talent which into the future Kingdom of glory we may in no wise carry with us Once more There is [1] Esay 45.3 a promise of Treasures of darknesse Oh Sirs The dark grief for the [2] Eph. 4.18 darknesse of ignorance the darknesse of [3] Jer. 13.16 sorrow for sin and every other darknesse of [4] Lom 3.6 affliction doth in This kingdome of Heaven bring forth Treasures which Treasures the holy Angels cannot but we sinners [5] Psalm 51.3 17 32.5 2 Cor. 7.10 12 Esay 57.15 66.20 Rom. 10.10 Dan. 9.10 Ezra 10.1 may and do dedicate unto our God Although they have in Heaven no such passions as anger indignation hatred fear sim of these Priviledges We partake In our [6] Eph. 6.12 warfare against sin and Satan these passions these spiritual [7] 2 Cor. 10.4 weapons we use and for them blessed be our God It is matter well worthy our most unfeigned thanksgivings that we have by these our [8] Heb. 5.14 senses (9) 1 Tim. 4.7 exercised unto godliness Worldly and carnally minded persons have such passions but no [10] 1 John 2.15 Rom. 8.9 godlinesse the Saints departed have a godliness but no [11] 1 Cor. 15.52 such passions whereas we of the kingdome of grace participate of both esteeming the exercise of godlinesse a [12] Acts 24.16 1 Tim. 4.7 8 Psalm 119.47 great refreshment a delightful recreation a ravishing delight After death it will be too too late to [13] Isa 25.8 attempt humiliation contrition sorrow self-denial repentance c. Let not your heart be troubled taketh no place within the mansions in my Fathers house we cannot [14] Revel 7.17 21.4 shed teares in Heaven we cannot sacrifice [15] Joel 2.13 Psalm 51.17 a sorrowful spirit in Heaven Friends this matter for our thanksgiving which here we in the Kingdome of grace daily rejoyce in they in the kingdome of glory have not Christians Let us [16] Joel 56.8 42.3 Jeb 16.20 Esay 38.5 Jerem. 9.1 Lam. 2.18 Mal. 2.13 Luke 7.38.44 Acts 20.19.31 2 Tim. 1.4 bottle up teares for Heaven while we may let us weep for our sins committed let us mourn for him whom [17] Zech 12.10 we have pierced while we yet may Teares and blood these are the white and red colours the [18] Gal. 6.14 Rom. 1.16 Matth. 16.24 Domine hic da mihi poenitentiam postea indulgentiam Fulgentius flourishing trophies peculiar not unto the Church triumphant but unto the Church militant oh that with religious sighs and loving teares we could daily glorifie our God as God! Hitherto of the Moon [1] Revel 12.1 under our feet now of the [2] Revel 1.16 Sun over our heads hitherto of the [3] Jer. 32.27 God of all flesh now of the Father of [4] Heb. 12.9 Spirits hitherto of the body which is [5] Matth. 6.24 more then raiment now of what the Lord hath [6] Psalm 66.16 done for our soules for in the kingdome of grace duly considered these are the [7] 2 Cor. 4.18 non inferiora secutus most principal points worthy our thanksgiving in these distinctly we glorifie God as God If from that consolation Let not your heart be troubled we have found so plentiful matter of thanksgivings what may we expect from the reason and ground of that consolation Ye believe in God believe also in me Few there are who [1] Rari
suat qui Phâ—losophantur Ulpian de excus leg 5. finde the promise of this life neverthelesse be it that Ahab speedeth the better for humbling his heart or that Israel procure corn and wine by howling [2] Hos 7.14 Uxor dicitur quae dotem habet concubina vero quae non habet upon their bed or that every hypocrite hath the whole reward which he looketh after yet still while he preferreth things temporal before things eternal his soul is more like a* concubine then a spouse Yea let a man suck out the [3] Disce gaudere caetera bilares levitates sunt mihi crede res severa est verum gaudium Quid sit islu l interrogas Dicam ex bonâ consciâ—nt á ex honest's consiliis ex rectis actionibus Seneca lib. 3. Ep. 13. ad Lucil. sweets of Vertue let his soul delude her self with the common works of the Spirit and mistake counterfeit grace for true grace I confesse no heathen Philosopher could ever attain so near no not unto this lifes happinesse I say the soul that perisheth cannot finde a more self-pleasing practice wherewith to feed empty hopes yet still this happinesse is only in this life it is but a perishing happinesse As young as he was that dying Prince of Loraine could say [4] O Domine Jesu quem meritò praecepisti muâ—di contemptum O Lord Jesu most deservedly hast thou required our contempt of this world And Philip the third of Spain [5] Nihil confert regemesse nisi ut in morte cruciet suisse Mendoza in 1 Sam. Tom. 1. Page ult protested All the sweet which I have found in being a King only serves to embitter my death Beloved it fareth not so with the Kingdome of grace To believe in God to believe in his Christ does as well in death as in life raise for us Matter of Thankfulnesse unto God viz. First For [1] Psalm 19.11 giving us to [2] Gen. 2.17 understand our [3] Rom. 7 8 9 lost condition Who [4] Gen. 3.11 told us that we were naked Children of wrath we [5] Ephes 2.3 are by nature but who hath warned us to [6] Matth. 3.7 flee from wrath If God say unto Abimelech Thou art [7] Ephes 2.1 Gen. 20.3 a dead man there is mercy [8] Ephes 2.7 intended for Abimelech Whether we heed it or heed it not Guilt dwelleth in us It is therefore of thy free mercy O our God that the Scripture hath [9] Gal. 3.22 concluded us all under sin Secondly For delivering us from so great a death Gnashing of teeth weeping wailing This was our portion for ever Ah who among us can abide darknesse which may be felt perpetual darknesse perpetual darknesse in a bottomlesse pit in a bottomlesse pit streaming with brimstone even with everlasting burnings With everlasting burnings kindled by the breath of the Lord by the breath of Him [1] Horresco resereas unto whom vengeance belongeth even of a provoked Judge of an enraged Father in short of a jealous angry furious God! O give thanks unto the Lord for his mercy endureth for ever Thirdly For redeeming us not only from torment but from damnation Friends though we must all appear before the judgement seat of God yet there is [1] Rom. 8.1 no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus A Malefactor reprieved at the place of Execution escapeth death yet was he in a peck of cares in a bodily fright he trembled every joint of him then when he held up his hand at the Bar he looked as pale as that death which he feared at what time sentence was pronouncing against him But ye Beloved give glory to the Father of mercies Although the ungodly [2] Psalm 1.5 cannot the righteous shall [3] Psalm 37.33 stand in judgement That great and last day terrible to unbelievers to you shall be a day of [4] Revel 12.10 absolution a day of [5] Ephes 4.30 redemption a day of [6] Acts 3.21 restitution a day of [7] Luke 21.28 exaltation yea of exultation rejoycing and triumph Christians you shall be so far from dreading judgement that you your selves shall [8] 1 Cor. 6.2 judge the Angels Fourthly For preserving us as in Judgement so in death Unto us death shall be not our fear but our hope not our sting but our gain When we shall like the Priests [1] Luke 1.8 in the Temple have sinished our course we shall then [2] Revel 14.13 Heb. 4.9 rest from our labours We shall not only rest but [3] Psalm 127.2 sleep sleep we [4] Dan. 12.2 shall and shall sleep [5] 1 Thes 4.14 in Jesus Thanks be unto God for our life in death Fifthly For begetting us unto a [1] 1 Pet. 3.1 lively hope We who [2] Esay 48.8 from the tombe unto [3] John 3.3 our new birth have [4] Esay 1.2 Jerem. 5.23 Ezek 2.7 fought against [5] Psalm 2.6 10.16 our King had high cause to despair of obtaining mercy Against our dread Soveraign even then when He Himself stood at at the door [6] Rev. 3.20 and knocked we have shut the door of our Imagination which should ever conceive of him not evil but good the door of our Memory which should never let him go the door of our Vnderstanding which should in all our wayes acknowledge him the door of our Affections which should rejoyce in him above all that can be desired the door of our Conscience which should ever admit him a witnesse unto all our deeds words and thoughts These [7] Psalm 24.7 everlasting doores have we bolted against him wherefore most equal it is that he should shut against us every [8] Hos 2.15 Matth. 25.10 Prov. 1.26 28 door of hope yet lo before we call He answereth yea He expostulateth [9] Ezek. 18.31 Why will ye dye He saith unto us [10] Ezek. 16.6 Live What compassions he bare unto his Brethren Joseph [11] Gen. 42.17 concealed How Esau would deal [12] Gen. 32.7 by Jacob Jacob was not worthy to foreknow but for the righteous light is [13] Psalm 97.11 sown Our life which is given us for a prey is [14] 2 Tim. 1.10 brought to light doth not hang in doubt before us Sixthly For the exercise of godlinesse When the (1) Saper King of Persia led about the Roman (2) Valeriames Emperour captive so often as he took Horse he trod upon the back of this Emperour the late Emperour of Rome was now made an Upping stock Beloved the King of Heaven doth not like that King of Persia Upon us he trampleth not His enemies he (3) Psalm 110.1 Esay 63.3 doth his redeemed ones he doth not make his footstool VVe are not handled we are not (4) Judges 1.7 thumbed as were those seventy Kings whom Adoni-bezek used worse then dogs God neither fettereth nor cageth us as Tamerlan did Bajazet