except the Father draw him That ye may know what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us ward who 〈…〉 eve according to the working of His mighty power which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead c. Here is the exceeding greatness of Gods power and the working of His mighty power which is expressed as much in the conversion of a sinner and in working saving Faith in his heart as it was manifested in raising Christ from the dead O the great power Eph. 2. 4. 56. riches inmercy and greatness of the love of God to poor sinners And to me in especial Where-with He hath loved us even when we were dead in trespasses and sins hath quickned us together with Christ and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Furthermore the principal efficient cause of Faith is God the impulsive cause is His free grace by which we are elected and called the instrumental cause whereby Faith is given to us in those of ripeness of age is ordinarily the word of God Faith cometh by hearing and Rom. 10. 17. hearing by the word of God And yet not the preaching of the word alone but as it is joyned with the efficacy of the Holy Spirit For the Lord opened Acts 16. 14. the heart of Lydia that she attended to those things spoken by Paul Thâ—â—â—â—tter of our Faith which is as the obâ—ect largely is the Word of God properly the free promises of the Gospel founded upon Jesus Christ The righteousness of God Rom. 3. 22. verse 25. which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation Rom. 10. 9. through Faith in His blood If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in thine heart that God raised Him from the dead thou shalt be saved So then justifying Faith consists in these two things 1. In having a mind to know Christ 2. In having a will to rest upon Him Whosoever sees so much excellency in Christ that thereby he is drawn to embrace Him as the only Rock of Salvation that man truly believes to justification Thus far of the description of Faith the several kinds of Faith and the causes of it that we may know the nature of true justifying saving Faith Such a Faith as our Saviour here requires Oh! this precious Faith of what 2 Pet. 1. 1. absolute necessity is it Necessary to everlasting Salvation We are kept by 1 Pet. 1. â— the power of God through Faith unto salvation Believe on the Lord Jesus Acts 16. 32. Christ and thou shalt be saved Which was the answer the jaylor had of Paul when he asked What he must do to be saved Without Faith it is impossible Heb. 11. 6. verse 2. to please God by Faith the elders obtained a good report Faith causes us to apprehend those deep mysteries of salvation which by the eye of Sense we can never fathom as Trinity in Unity the Incarnation of the Son of God c. The Word is unprofitable to us if it be not mixt with Faith In the Sacrament Heb. 4. 2. we receive no more than we do believe hast thou no Faith thou reapest no fruit or benefit or comfort If thou prayest thou must pray in Faith nothing Jam. 1. 5 7. wavering else do not think to receive any thing of the Lord. Whatsoever Mark 11. 24. things ye desire when ye pray believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them So we see that Faith is of absolute necessity in all our spiritual duties Worship and Services Pray we therefore with the disciples Lord increase Lord strengthen our Faith Luk. 17. 5. Acts 15. 9. Rom. 3. 28. Gal. 2. 16. Faith it purifies the heart Aman is justified by Faith We are justified before God only by Faith in Christ i. e. by Christs righteousness imputed to us by God and received and laid hold on by us with a lively Faith As Faith justifies it also quickeneth The righteousness of God Rom. 1. 17. is revealed from faith to faith as it is written the just shall live by faith Faith is the means of obtaining and professing a spiritual life From faith to saith that is to say more and more according as Faith increases and grows stronger so it doeth more and more enjoy the benefit of this righteousness of Christ imputed Labour therefore to be strong in faith Abraham being strong in faith gave Rom. 4. 20. glory to God The stronger in Faith the more glory mayest thou bring to God They which be of faith are blessed Gal. 3. 9. with faithful Abraham Our faith must be a working faith Faith worketh by Gal. 5. 6. love It shews it self by the fruits of a new-life which are comprehended under the love of God and our neighbour 1 Thess 1. 3. We read of the work of faith our faith must not be a dead and idle faith but a lively and working faith shewing it self by its fruits and effects Jaâ—m 2. 18. verse 20. Shew me thy faith by thy works faith without works is dead There can be no justifying and saving faith separate from good works for he who truly doth good works hath a lively faith which is the root and spring of them and good works are proper perpetual and inseparable from a true and lively faith So we must reconcile those two places of Scripture which seem contrary to each other in Jam. 2. 24. Ye see then that by works a man is justified and not by faith onely and Rom. 3. 28 We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law the meaning is thus We are justified before God only by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ but our good works which are the true fruits of saving lively faith declare us to be just before men Let us therefore be fruitful in every good Câ—â—â— 1. 10. Coll. 2. 7. 2 Thess 1. 3. Heb. 10. 22. 2 Pet. 1. 1. Jude 20. Rom. 3. 22. Rev. 14. 12. work and be stablished in the faith let our faith grow exceedingly that we may have that full assurance of faith This faith as it is a precious faith as we said before so it is a most holy faith It is called the faith of God Rom. 3. and the faith of Jesus Christ where the object is put for the subject And in our spiritual armour above all we are Eph. 6. 16. bid to take the shield of faith whereby we shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the Devil Now a shield is an instrument of War made for defence to award and keep off the blows of an enemy such a shield is faith to bear off and beat back the sierce temptations of Satan whom we must resist being sted fast in the faith 1 Pet. 5. 9.
search wherefore the Lord hath done so unto us For God hath holy ends and purposes in all His dispensations towards us Hath God taken away a near Relation from me as a loving Husband tender Wife or a hopeful Child to instance in these which was the desire of mine eyes and the joy of my heart if God hath taken Ezek. 34. 16. them away with His stroke did not I dote or depend too much upon them did not my heart run out too much after them did I use them so as I should when I did enjoy them ask thy self these and the like questions Commune Psal 4. 4. with thine own heart and be still go to God in Prayer and say wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto me what meaneth the heat of this great anger Deut. 29. 24. But be sure to fall out with thy sins and not with God So search and try thy ways and turn unto the Lord Lam. 3. 40. with thy whole heart for He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children ver 33. of men Are they dead death hath passed and will pass upon all men for Rom. 5. 12. that all have sinned It is appointed to Heb. 9. 27. all men once to dye We must needs dye and are all as water spilt upon the ground 2 Sam. 14. 14. which cannot be gathered up again We are strangers and sojourners here as all our fathers were our days on the earth are but as a shadow and here is no abiding If we did not dye we should 1 Chron. 29. 15. always be subject to sin and misery death freeth the Saints from all for Blessed are the dead which dye in the Lord yea so saith the Spirit for they Rev. 14. 13. rest from their labours and their works follow them But see if it be not for any particular sin of thine this affliction is befallen thee if upon serious search thou findest it so to be then be humbled for it repent and amend and walk more closely with God for the future That it may not be said of thee as formerly of Ephraim gray hairs are here and there Hos 7. 9. upon him yet he knoweth it not that is he considered not God's Judgments knew not nor was humbled for his sins waxed old in his wickedness yet did not he know it or lay it to heart God doth now empty thee from vessel to vessel Jer. 48. 11 and doth not suffer thee to be at ease to be setled upon thy lees O therefore let not the taste of thine old corruptions remain in thee to rellish of them and like them as formerly and thy scent not to be changed when thou art as worldly and wicked as ever Zeph. 1â— 12. For the Lord will surely search thee as with candles and punish thee and all those that are setled upon their Lees. Whatever was good and commendable in thy Deceased Relations that follow practice and imitate and make good use of This affliction of thine is a tryal Ezek. 21. 13. Isaiah 48. 10. God will try thee now in the Furnace of affliction This may be a sign unto thee that thou belongest unto God who hath his â—ire in Zion and his Furnace Isaiah 31. 9. in Jerusalem Although God may let some run on in outward prosperity and to have even more than heart can Psal 73. 7. Gen. 15. 16. Mat. 23. 32. wish and others to run on in sin till they have filled up the measure of their iniquities God would purifie thee Oh be thou purified and clensed hereby That the tryal of thy faith being 1 Pet. 1. 7 much more precious then of gold that perisheth though it be tryed with fire might be sound unto praise and honour and glory at the appearance of Jesus Christ Thus we see that the afflictions of the Godly are for correction and for tryal Blessed are they whom thou chastenest O Psal 94. 12. Lord and teachest them out of thy Law When Instruction and Correction go together that is a happy and a blessed Correction Think also on the Saints of God who through faith and patience inherit the promises Heb. 6. 12. Labour to set Faith on Work yea let the tryal of thy Faith work in the patience and let patience have its perfect Jam. 1. 3 4. work that thou mayest be perfect and entire lacking nothing Thou canst not be a through-out and perfect and an accomplished Christian unless thou hast obtained this excellent grace of Patience see that thou abound in this grace also 2 Cor. 8. â— Q. But why are afflictions call'd temptations as blessed is the man that endureth Jam. 1. 12â— Jam. 1. 2. temptations And count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations I answer All temptations are not evil but some are tryals of our Faith and Hope in God if we can live by Faith and rest upon the promises and so they make much for our good And in this regard they are pronounced that fall into divers temptations Therefore ought we not simply to pray and without exception to be delivered from them but only from the evil of them As God led Israel 40 years in the Wilderness to humble them and to prove them to know what was in their Deut. 8. â— 13. 3. heart whether they would keep his Commandments or no. And to prove them whether they would love the Lord their God with all their hearts and with all their souls So afflictions are called temptations because by them God tryeth our Obedience to notisie our faith and patience both to our selves and others whether we will follow him or not And therefore we may be assured that so often as we beat back or overcome the temptations we have so many undoubted testimonies of Gods love unto us So then Patience is from the acknowledging of Gods Wisdom Providence Justice and Goodness to be Obedient unto him in bearing all adversities and crosses or losses which the Lord hath brought upon us and through grief not to murmur or repine at any of his dispensations nor to do any thing against his Commâ—â—â—ements but in the midst of our grief to retain assured hope and confidence of Gods help and to crave aid and deliverance from him and in this confidence and acknowledging of Gods Will to moderate our grief Psal 37. 7 8 34. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him Fret not thy self in any wise to do evil So we see that patience is a duty belonging to the First Commandement not only because it 's a part of that inward obedience which we owe to God and he immediately requires it to himself at our hands but also because that from our acknowledging of God our confidence in him and our love and fear of him do follow as necessary effects To this Christian patience impatience is contrary and opposed which impatience is when through ignorance or distrust of
stranger to the grace of liberty whom the service of fear meerly bindeth and obligeth 8. Know thy self that thou mayest fear God know God that thou mayest love Him For the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the end of the Commandment is charity Even as out of knowledg of thy self the fear of God comes into thy heart so if thou knowest God as thou oughtest thou wilt be sure to love Him 9. He will easily swerve from the way of righteousness who fears men more than God For the fear of man brings a snare 10. If the love of God cannot keep thee from sin let the dread of Him who is a sin-revenging Judge terrifie thee the fear of hell the snares of death that burning fire the ever-gnawing worm those pains of hell stinking brimstone black flames of fire the blackness of darkness for ever and all those miseries accompanying it which are insupportable to be born impossible to express passing all understanding to conceive at least terrifie thee from sin 11. The fear of man brings distrust but the fear of the Lord brings strong confidence â—rov 14. 26. 12. He that truly fears God loves God and he that truly loves Him fears Him For these in our worshipping of God are conjoyned and cannot be separated 13. When thou hearest that God is merciful see that thou love Him when thou hearest that God is just see that thou fear Him that being stirred up both by the love and fear of God thou mayst be careful to strive to keep His Commandments Pray therefore with David O let me Psal 119. 1â— 1. not wâ—nder from Thy Commandments And O that my ways were directed to keep Thy Statutes Always remembring that frequently iterated precept of our blessed Saviour If ye love Me keep My Commandments EXERCITATION THE FIFTH Psal 62. 5. My Soul wait thou only upon God for my expectation is from Him OH how good is it to wait upon God! they alone who have found the benefit of it know how good it is There be three especial ingredients to make up this duty of waiting upon God 1. Faith 2. Patience 3. Diligence 1. Faith which is the substance of Heb. 11. 1 things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen Faith is the bottom of our waiting upon God Faith discovers to us on what grounds we may stand as namely upon God's faithfulness and all-sufficiency c. and therefore David still encourageth himself as twice in this Psalm to wait upon God 2. Patience waiting implies delay and delay without patience is insupportable Hope deferred makes the heart Prov. 13. 12. sick Delay is a sore sickness and Patience is the only cure of it without which that sickness will prove death 3. Diligence and activity he that waiteth for a mercy must serve God's Providence in the use of all the means which God hath ordained and appointed for the accomplishment thereof It is Diligence as well as Faith and Patience that must inherit the promises We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end that ye be not Heb. 6. 11 12. slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises Waiting without diligence is nothing but slothfulness and security Waiting signifies a patient abiding and expectation of help from God I waited Psal 40. 1 2 3. patiently upon the Lord and He inclined His ear unto me and heard my cry He brought me also up out of an horrible pit out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings And He hath put a new song in my mouth even praise unto our God I will wait upon the Lord I will not go back from Him I will try or use no unlawful means but will wait in His Isai 26. 8. way and expect His help and aid and the fulfilling of His promises depending wholly upon Him and His Word Faith apprehends the promise and thereby brings forth Hope and Faith by means of Hope makes them that believe to wait God is not like to man but in whatever He promiseth He approveth Himself most faithful both in His ability and performances I will therefore trust in the Name of the Lord and stay Isai 50. 10. my self upon Him my God This waiting upon God is a virtue Definition whereby we are inclined to the expectation of those things which God hath promised to us If we hope for that we Rom. 8. 25. see not then do we with patience wait for it This waiting this expectation 1. It hath God for its principal object that our faith and hope might be in 1 Pet. 1. 21. God and the less principal objects are all those things whereby as by means and steps we come to God 2. It hath respect to God as the Author and Giver of every good thing which it expects Every good gift and Jam. 1. 17. every perfect gift is from above and cometh down from the Father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning Commit thy way to Psal 37. 5. the Lord rest also on Him and He shall bring it to pass Every-where in the Old Testament where the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is wont to be rendered Hope it signifies properly expectation And the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek signifies more than bare expectation it signifies patient expectation and that unweariedly from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 maneo I tarry so 2 Thess 3. 5. it is rendered into the patient waiting for Christ namely by which expectation we expect till Christ shall come to judge both the quick and dead there it is taken passively for the expectation in or by which Christ is expected by us The Septuagint render these words thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 My Soul subject thy self to God for my expectation or my abiding continuance patience perseverance is from Him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 subjectio simply signifies sub alio jacere to lye under another but properly it signifies more as namely to be subordinate or to subject our selves in an orderly way So it denotes an orderly subjection and implyes the reverence of the heart respectful speech and gesture obedience without resisting a willing subjection and in due manner as is required So be subject is a general word comprehending all other duties and services to be obedient in all things The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies tolero sustineo remaneo persevero A man must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stay abide and stand under his weight and burden until God â—ase him Magis significat expectationem longanimitatem quà m adversitatum tolerantiam sic alii Propriè est ipsa laudabilis sub cruce permansio constans in virtute cum crucis tolerantià vel contemptu perseverantia Properly it signifies that laudable constant abiding under affliction and a perseverance in
virtue not fainting under affliction but constantly waiting for God's promised help and succour knowing that better things are reserved for us So we must not sink in our courage nor shrink from our burden and then we shall both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So said the Apostle Ye have need of patience Heb. 10. 36. that after ye have done the Will of God ye may receive the promise There is another word in the New Testament used also for expectation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an earnest expectation with Rom. 8. 19. holding up the head stretching out the neck lifting up the eyes with an earnest intention and observation to see when the person or thing shall appear And one word more is used for expectation namely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But no more of this now The same word in the Sâ—ptuagint is in Psal 130. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have waited upon or for thee O Lord my soul doth wait c. Q. What are the signs of our true waiting upon God A. 1. If it râ—st on the Grace of God alone and His free promises 2. If it breed in us a care in all things 1 Pet. 1. 13. to please God Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself as He is 1 Joh. 3. 3. purâ—â— 3. If it perswade us diligently to use the means ordained of God and â—eb 10. 23 24 25. to abstain from all others which are not lawful and He hath not appointed 4. If we depend not on those means but on God alone working by and through them And so in thus doing Esth 4. 13. we may chearfully go about our duty imposed on us by God that according to our earnest expectation and our hope Phil. 1. 20. in nothing we shall be ashamed c. Q. By what means our hearts may be confirmed and strengthened against troubles A. 1. By fervency of spirit or zeal that others may take notice of us that we have been with Jesus Acts 4. 13. we have been with Jesus 2. By a true confidence in God alone So if we commit our works unto the Prov. 16. 3. Lord our thoughts shall be established If we cast our burden upon the Lord He will sustain us He will never suffer the Psal 55. 22. righteous to be moved And the Lord Isai 58. 11. will guide thee continually and satisfie thy soul in drought and make fat thy bones and thou shalt be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not 3. By faithful and fervent Prayers commending and committing all our affairs unto God In every thing by prayer Phil. 4 6. and supplication with thanks-giving let our requests be made known unto God 4 By a sound judgment of those troubles wherewith we are assailed For sometimes many of them are meerly to be contemned as the foolish speeches of vain men and women c. And sometimes they are meer fopperies which when we have weighed them in the ballance of a clear judgment do presently vanish away and always are such that if they are duly compared with the dignity of our place and Christian Calling with the fruits and necessity of them they signifie nothing at all Our waiting and hope is confirmed and increased by all those Arguments whereby we may be made more certain that that good thing waited and hoped for doth belong unto us So experience worketh hope and hope maketh not Rom. 5. 4. ashamed This Hope is a virtue whereby we expect all good things from God and patiently wait for all things that we need at His hands resting in the Lord and waiting patiently for Him not only â—â—â— 37. 7. when we have the means but also when 〈◊〉 3. 17. we want all apparent means yâ—a and when the means seem contrary As the three Children answered Nebuchadnezar Our God whom we serve is able to deliver Dan. 3. 17. us from the burning fiery furnace and He will deliver us out of thine hand O King but if not be it known unto thee O King that we will not serve thy gods nor worship thy golden Image which thou hast set up 1. Wait believingly The vision is yet Habb 2. 3 4. for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak and not lye though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry The just must live by faith He that cannot believe cannot live Behold the husbandman waiteth Jam. 5. 7. for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it c. Let us learn of the husbandman and from the constant experience and observation of God's providence towards us learn to wait upon God For light is sown for Psal 97. 11. the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart Therefore will we not fear though the Psal 46. 2. earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea For this God is our God for ever and ever Psal 48. 14. He will be our guide even unto death I had verily fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Psal 27. 13 14. land of the living wait on the Lord be of good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart wait I say on the Lord. 2. Wait patiently For the patient expectation of God's poor Servants shall not perish for ever He that believeth Psal 9. 18. Isai 28. 16. makes not haste If we wait upon God by saving faith and an holy recumbency of spirit we will willingly wait for deliverance or supply and will not make haste to rid our selves out of such or such a calamity or use any indirect or unlawful means so to do In returning and rest shall we be saved in quietness Isai 30. 15. and in confidence shall be our strength Foolish men and women in the impatiency of their spirits do sin against God and their own arguments and reasons and do sin away those mercies which else would come unto them David was in a holy temper of spirit in his affliction which he reports to us for our imitation These things were our examples 1 Cor. 10. 6. 11. and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come David said I waited patiently Psal 69. 3. upon the Lord. How long did he wait even until he cryed himself weary his throat dry and his eyes dim I am weary of my crying said he my throat is dryed mine eyes fail while I wait for my God Oh invincible patience unconquerable expectation and he lost nothing by it for so it followeth and He enclined unto me and Psal 40. 2. heard my cry c. The Apostle advises us Let patience have its perfect work that ye may be Jam. 1. 4. perfect and entire lacking nothing till all our Graces are tryed and
that wholly for the Holy Spirit make a through work a through change although usually it is by degrees Here is the term from which and the term to which we are changed 1. The term from which from the filthiness corruption and stain of sin therefore we are bid to cleanse our selves from all filthiness both of flesh and â— Cor. 7. 1. spirit 2. The term to which is the purity of the image of God which is said to be renewed in knowledge righteousness Coll. 3. 10. Eph. 4. 24. Jam. 1. 25. Rom. 6. 4. 2 Cor. 5. 17. and holiness This is called a conformity to the law of God Newness of life A new creature and the Divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4. There are two degrees of Sanctification 1. Begun and imperfect which is here in this life 2. Perfect and consummate which is in Heaven where alone perfection is to had The parts of Sanctification are two Mortification Viviâ—â—cation 1. Mortification or dying to sin and thereby we have a freedom from the dominion of sin by the death of Christ Ye are dead c. Mortifie therefore your Col. 3. 3 5. earthly members Our old man is crucified with Him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should Rom. 6. 6 7. not serve sin for he that is dead is freed from sin 2. Vivification or quickning unto newness of life by the power of Christ's resurrection Blessed and holy is he Rev. 20. 6. that hath part in the first resurrection Or Vivification is the second part of Sanctification whereby the image and life of God is restored in man Therefore Eph. 4. 24. Rom. 12. 2. put on that new man and be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind From this Vivification ariseth in those that are Sanctified a firm obliging of themselves unto God whereby they dedicate and devote themselves unto God and Christ So said the Apostle they gave themselves unto the Lord. 2 Cor. 8. 5. Hence follow these two things 1. A spiritual war which is continually waged between these two parts The flesh lusteth against the spirit and Gal. 5. 17. 1 Cor. 9. the spirit against the flesh and these two are contrary the one to the other So sight I not as one that beateth the air but I keep under my body and bring it into subjection c. And this continual combate must we maintain while we are in this body of flesh 2. A daily renewing of repentance as we daily do sin Now the end of all this is 1. The glory of God He that hath 1 Joh. 3. 3. this hope in him purifieth himself as God is pure 2. Our own Salvation He that purgeth 2 Tim. 2. 21. himself from these shall be a vesseâ— sanctified unto God and meet for thâ— Masters use Q. What must we do that we may bâ— holy A. 1. Subject our whole man to thâ— Word of God for the Word is the sanctifying truth of God Therefore Chrisâ— prayeth Sanctifie them by thy truth Thâ— Joh. 17. 17. word is truth 2. By faith to apply Christ to ouâ— selves as our Sanctification for He of Goâ— 1 Cor. 1. 30. is made unto us Sanctification therefore suck holiness from Christ 3. By a lively faith not only to apprehend and lay hold on the promises iâ— general but also those promises in particular which do more especially belong to Sanctification Then I will sprinkle Ezek. 36. 26 c. clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your Idols I will cleanse you 4. To give our selves to the Holy Spirit that we may be led and guided by Him in all things As many as are Rom. 8. 13 14. led by the Spirit of God they are the sons of God So we also are sanctified by the Holy Spirit Being sanctified by the Holy Ghost God hath chosen us to 2 Thess 2. 13. salvation through sanctification of the Rom. 15. 16. Spirit and belief of the truth There are three things must be observed for holiness sake 1. Shamefacedness of body 2. Chastness of mind for we may commit contemplative adultery with wanton glances of the eye so Christ said whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with Mat. 5. 28. her already in his heart 3. Truth of Doctrine It was a notable speech of St. Ambrose Let us learn the envy of former Saints that we may imitate their patience for they shewed no envy in their sufferings but meerly patience and let us know them not to be of a better nature than we are but of greater obedience Not that they did not know vices and corruptions as well as we but they strived more to subdue and amend them He that desires to live and reign with Christ must strive to keep himself from deceit and wickedness If thou wilt live with Christ thou must live after the example of Christ And if thou desirest to have fellowship with the Saints strive to cleanse thy heart from all thoughts of malice and wickedness For the heavenly Palace will receive noâ—e but holy just innocent and pure persons The first degree of holiness is to love holiness and then to love those who live holily For holy persons were not before holiness but holiness was before them He doth speak foolishly who saith that he loves and respects holy persons who sleighteth and contemneth holiness By this we know that we love the children of God when we love God 1 Joh. 5. 2. and keep His Commandments Entertain into thy heart that Holy Spirit of promise If thou hast not the Spirit of Christ thou art none of His. Eph. 1. 13. Rom. 8. 9. He who hath Christ hath holiness for holiness hath a double relation unto Christ 1. As Christ is the principle and fountain of holiness whence it comes 2. As He is the rule and pattern of holiness to which it answers of these two more fully 1. Christ is the principle of holiness by whom it is wrought He Isai 26. 1â— Psal 87. 7. Joh. 1. 16. Psal 133. 2. works all our works in us all our springs are from him Of his fulness we all receive and Grace for Grace The oyntment ran down from Aarons head to the skirts of his garments to denote the effusion of the Spirit of holiness from Christ unto His lowest members 2. Christ is the rule and pattern of holiness to His Church Therefore we 1 Joh. 2. 6. must walk so as Christ also walked Now the works of Christ are of two sorts 1. Incommunicable as these 1. His works of Merit and Mediation and 2. His work of government and influence into the Church His giving of the Spirit Quickning of His Word Subduing of His Enemies Gathering together of His members all these are personal honours which belong to Him as He is the Head of the Church 2. His communicable works which
consciences It is a very hard thing to have riches but they will steal away our hearts to love them which is the 1 Joh. 2. 15. root of all evil and we are bid not to love the world nor the things which are in the world for if we love the world the love of the Father is not in us Rest upon the Providence of God He will with-hold no good thing from Psal 84. 11. thee that is no thing which He knows to be good or convenient for thee or suitable to thy condition and welfare Why should we desire a great estate or great matters here If we have enough for our Pilgrimage here upon earth and sufficient till we come to our Gen. 33. 11. Father's house in peace we have enough yea we have all as Jacob said to his Brother Esau God hath setled a high inheritance above upon us which is 1 Pet. 1. 4. incorruptible undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for us Oh Psal 31. 19. how great is His goodness which He hath laid up for those that fear Him which He hath wrought for them that trust in Him before the sons of men Now a word of the Providence of God and I have done I intend not to speak of His Eternal Providence described Providence the good-will and council of God as Acts 4. 28. Eph. 1. 9. But of His actual Providence which is nothing else than the execution of the Decrees of God Or the Actual Providence of God is whereby God doth not only preserve sustaine and uphold His creatures but according to His immense Wisdom Goodness Power Justice and Mercy He governeth them all Whoever deny this Providence of God deny God Himself This Providence is far different from the Fate of the Stoicks Now I mention the Stoicks I shall speak but a word of the Opinions of the Heathens hereabouts There were 3. Opinions of the Philosophers about the Providence of God 1. The Epicureans they deny'd any Providence at all over any of these things here below in the world 2. The Stoicks have devised in stead of Providence an absolute necessity of all things and motions existing in the very nature of things themselves to which not only all other things but also God Himself is subject which necessity they call Fate 3. The Peripateticks they say that God beholdeth and understandeth all things He doth moderate and rule all but that He only ordereth the heavenly motions and by these motions of the heavens He puts a power of acting into the inferior or lower parts of Nature meaning those things here below c. But I shall insist no farther on these desiring to be understood of the meanest capacity and that to edifie These great learned Heathen Philosophers became vain in their imaginations Rom. 1. 22. and professing themselves to be wise they became fools So we see the Stoical Fate bindeth God to the connexion of second causes But the Christian Fate if I may call it so doth make second causes subordinate to the most free-will of God The parts of Providence are Two 1. Conservation 2. Gubernation but I must not expatiate upon these now Let us learn to depend on this Providence of God foâ— both all our beings and all our comforts are from Him Submit we therefore as our persons and conditions so also all our thoughts and affections unto God in His particular disposing of our persons and conditions As if God deny me this or that comfort inflict such or such a cross take away such a Relation or such like lay down all at the feet of God quietly depend upon Him commit all to Him and submit all to His Holy Will Whoever did depend upon God but sped well Consider ancient and former effects of Providence and providences which are fitted to thy present condition That which I desire is not therefore good unto me because I desire it but that which God brings upon me is therefore good because He hath done it Wait Gods time for such or such a mercy for times and seasons do belong unto Gods Providence as well as issues and events God will send such a merâ—y or such a deliverance in its time God Isa 60. 2â— will hasten it in its time There is the time and the season of the time in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tempus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tempus certum divinitùs praestitutâ—â— vel opportunum which is a certain â—â— and determined time by God the timâ— which He sees sit the time of Godâ— Providence is always the best time Therefore wait patiently upon thâ— Lord the vision is yet for an appointâ—â— Psal 62. 5. Hâ—b 2. 3. time but at the end it shall speak anâ— not lye though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will noâ— tarry Providence many times doublâ—â— the mercy by delaying it Let us applâ— our selves to the ways of Gods Providence study them more learn them better use means but take heed let it be lawful means for unwarrantable and unlawful means are compassed about with curses Preservation which is one part oâ— act of Providence is either 1st for the safety of our persons or 2dly for the susteining of our persons by food and rayment No better way to secure our persons and for our sustentation also by food and rayment than by faith to commit all unto God and he is sure to be fed who is able to believe Believe and ye shall be established If thou wouldest 2 Chr. 20. 20. Psal 23. 1. get a blessing get Faith Observe David's faith The Lord is my Shepherd therefore I shall not want When he had evidenced to his soul his interest in God that God was his thence he draws this inference therefore I shall not want ver 2. In which Psalm we have David's experience of Gods meries to him He maketh me to lye down in green pastures He leadeth me besides the still waters He makes me lye down that is quietly thankfully cheerfully to feed on these pastures and drink of these waters God hath given me a good estate and a heart sit for enjoyment of it He restoreth ver 3. my soul when my soul hath been languishing under temptations or oppressed with griefs that it did even faint then God came in revived and cherished my languishing soul Thus we might take a view of that whole Psalm which is of David's great experiences of Gods providence and goodness and his professed faith in God with a sweet conclusion Surely goodness ver 6. and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life implicitly by goodness and mercy spiritual mercies may be here thought on but primarily and explicitly the continuation of Gods goodness and mercies in temporals as to me it clearly seems is here meant and than last of all David's engaging his soul in perpetual thankfulness I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever where every
an anxious and solicitous care of which before we spake which distracteth the mind that it cannot wholly be intent to God's Service as is required And this doth partly arise from covetousness and partly from diffidence and distrust in God's Promises and Providence as before we said So we must regulate our desires of these outward things in subserviency to God's Will His Glory and our own Salvation and to desire heavenly things in the first place before and above all earthly things Spiritual things we may pray for absolutely and there let us open our mouthes wide be large in our desires for them and God will fill us Blessed are they that hunger and thirst Psal 81. 10. Mat. 5. 6. after righteousness for they shall be satisfied God takes it well at our hands when we ask heavenly things in the first place then He will give us earthly things as an advantage So God did to Solomon because he asked not riches or honour or the necks of his enemies but because he asked Wisdom therefore said the Lord Wisdom and knowledg is granted unto thee and I will give thee 2 Chron. 1. 10 11 12. also riches and wealth and honour such as none ever had before thee c. Take we heed yet that we seek not earthly things inordinately or over-earnestly Gen. 30. 1. as Rachel said Give me children or else I dye Nor to seek them by sinful or unlawful means to the hazard of our souls and everlasting Salvation A Christian can be set in no estate or condition wherein the abundant care of God is not seen over him and commonly in the greatest straights He sheweth the greatest care of us As water runs strongest in the narrowest passages so when we walk in darkness and have Isa 50. 10. no light when we seek water and there is none and our tongue faileth for thirst Isa 41. 17. then is Gods fittest time to help us and then is our most needful time to stay our selves upon Him God many times takes our extremity for His opportunity to do us good In the mount will the Gen. 22. 14. Lord be seen Many will say they trust in God aye but most commonly it is when their Coffers and Barns are full then it is an easie thing for them to say they depend upon God But the tryal of a Christians Faith is if God doth strip him naked and bare of worldly comforts and enjoyments deprives him of humane helps yet then to rest on the Name of Isa 50. 10. the Lord and to stay himself upon his God then to live by Faith upon the promises as the Apostle Habakkuk Hâ—b 3. 17. 18. said although the Figg-tree shall not blossom neither shall fruit be in the Vines the labour of the Olive shall fail and the fields shall yield no meat the flocks shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herd in the stalls Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord and will joy in the God of my Salvation The Lord is my strength c. Here is the tryal of Faith and of a holy dependance upon God if God bring us into such or the like streights and we never let go our hope and confidence in God but still trust in Him like Job who said though He kill me Job 13. 19. yet will I trust in Him then we glorifie God by believing and greatly engage Him so that He will doubtless appear for our help succour and relieve us for Psal 44. 26. His mercy and truths sake For He that said Call upon Me in Psal 50. 15. the day of trouble I will hear thee and give the cause to glorifie Mee None that wait upon God shall be ashamed Rom. 10. 11. We shall never be ashamed of our faith and hope and confidence in Him For that engageth God to succour help and supply us because we have trusted in Psal 33. 21. His holy Name Blessed are all they that thus wait and hope and trust in God as in regard of Spiritual and Everlasting Isa 30. 18. blessings especially so also in regard of these Temporal and outward supplies This is a great argument we have to prevail with God in prayer that in Christ we call Him Father as God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ by Eternal Generation so in and through Christ He is our God and Father also by Grace and Adoption Therefore said our Saviour I ascend to my Father John 20. 17. and your Father to my God and your God We present our selves before God as His own Children and Servants we make mention of no other Lord or Name over us but His alone we are called Isa 63. 8 19. by His Name and therefore He cannot deny us those things which are good for us These outward things are necessary for us in a Three-fold respect 1. In respect of Nature to the sustaining of Nature as food and rayment Having food and rayment let us therewith 1 Tim. 6. 8. be content It was Jacob's desire and wish if God will be with me and Gen. 28. 20 21. keep me in the way that I go and will give me bread to eat and rayment to put on so that I come again to my Fathers house in peace then shall the Lord be my God c. 2. Necessary in regard of Persons when we have sufficient for our selves and those that belong unto us He that 1 Tim. 5. 8. provideth not for his own and especially for those of his own house he hath denied the Faith and is worse than an infidel If I have not wherewithal I cannot provide for them 3. Necessary in respect of State when we have that which is sufficient to maintain us in that rank place and calling wherein God hath set us These things we may lawfully desire and beg of God Contrary to these are 1. A voluntary affectation of poverty as in the Popish begging Fryers commending that for a vertue and a degree of perfection which the Spirit of God hath taught us to pray against give me Prov. 30. 8. neither poverty nor riches c. 2. The immoderate affectation of riches and honour and that in a greater measure than is needful for us If we have more than is needful or necessary we are apt to be proud therewith to have our hearts lifted up with pride and so to fall into the condemnation of the Devil For riches are a snare and are 1 Tim. 6 9. ver 17. apt to drown men in destruction and perdition they are also uncertain they soon flee away as an Eagle towards heaven Prov. 23. 5. and yet they are to us as a stone or a piece of Lead ty'd to a Bird hindering our soaring upwards in heart and affection towards heaven they are desiling also for we cannot tell a sum of money but it will foul our singers but worst they are apt to deâ—ile our hearts and