understand what the Father hath given us in him and what good things he himself offereth to us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Water in several places hath different significations Here and in the Apocalypst saith Grotius I doubt not but that it signifies the Evangelical Doctrine as it contains those things which are necessary and sufficient to obtain eternal life And many of the Fathers differ not much from this who take it to mean the water of Baptism as it is a solemn profession of that Doctrine Piscator and others take it to be meant of the holy Spirit as appears by the 14 vers A well of water springing up to eternal life Joh. 7.39 So Cyril saith it signifies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a quickening gift of the Spirit But with Hammond I conceive it denotes the Grace of God exhibited in Christ. So Theophylact 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the grace of the holy Spirit And Calvin all the whole Grace of renovation aqua viva not metonymically as quickning water but metaphorically saith Piscator because 't is ever springing never failing not like standing or dead water One general Doctrine ariseth from the whole Text as it stands related to the Context That Iesus Christ is meek and gracious slow to anger and full of compassion bearing with the ignorance and folly perverseness and resistance of them he intends to save How often did this woman provoke him how long did she withstand him what feminine artifices doth she use to elude breaking jests making captious fallacies as one disposed to slight and jeer whatever he spake c. yet he would take no denial from her but presented his gracious design as one that heard not O the unutterable treasure of Grace in Christ which all her provocations could not overcome In all this discourse we may read our stiffness and stubbornness Christs gentleness and goodness 1. Doct. Christ is the gift of God 2. Doct. One great reason why men refuse Christ and their own salvation is because they know him not Ignorance is the cause of rejecting Christ and his Grace this keeps souls from him Christ and holiness have no enemies but the ignorant did men know what Christ is and what the love of God was in giving him they must have iron-iron-hearts indeed if they could despise and resist him If thou knewest c. 3 Doct. The blessed Son of God made himself very poor stooped exceeding low for the good of sinners And who it is that saith unto thee give me to drink He was Lord of Heaven and Earth the world was his and the fulness thereof the fowls of the mountains the beasts of the forrest and the cattel upon a thousand hills yet he begs a little cold water of a poor woman to quench his thirst O astonishing condescension deep humiliation Blessed Jesus whither did thy love to sinners carry thee 4. Doct. Knowledg in the mind makes way for a spontaneous motion of the will and affections the understanding is to the will as the needle to the thread If thou knewest thou wouldest When the understanding is enlightned with eye-salve and hath clear apprehensions of Christ as transcendently excellent then the Will puts forth it self in its strongest desires after him as the eye transmits the beauty it beholds to the heart so when there is an assent to the things revealed of Christ in the Word when we do with open face behold as in a glass the glory of the Lord in the Gospel then we are ready to accept of him and his Grace with suitable affections this is plain in the connexion in the Text and from the latter sweet connexion Thou wouldest have asked I would have given c. 5. Doct. If we can but rightly ask Christ will readily give ask and have is the language of the Gospel The Grace of God is free but it must be begged He will be inquired of and sought unto for that he intends and promises to give though this woman was a Samaritan yet he would not deny her living water had she desired it of him We must be touched with the knowledg and sense of our maladies and poverty before we will seek the remedy Therefore the Lord inviteth not the drunken but the dry not the full but the hungry that they may eat and drink To what end should Christ be sent unto us with the fulness of the spirit unless we were empty and 't is not enough to feel our wants so as to see our need of help from another unless the hope of present or near help be added thereunto because if we only see and feel our wants we should do nothing else but groan under our miseries and pine away with sorrow but this is true and profitable knowledg of the Grace of God when we know that the same is offered to us in Christ and that it is reached unto us by his hand and so our hearts are inflamed with vehement propassions and desires after it 6. Doct. Grace is the gift of Christ he is the fountain whence this water flows I would have given thee living water Christ gives grace to them that ask it of him as we should ask spiritual blessings ardently and importunately so he gives them most freely and liberally Ioh. 6.27 7. Doct. True Grace never fails those that once have it shall never lose it whoever drinks of this water of life which Christ gives shall never perish 'T is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denoting the perpetuity everlastingness of it Grace is sure and the priviledges of it are sure this is the advantage of spiritual comforts that they do not only satisfie our desires but secure us against our fears Once in Christ and for ever preserved in Christ. This certainty of Grace the comfort of a Christian is not respectu rei but Dei One of the Fathers brings in the flesh saying Ego deficiam I will surely fail and miscarry and the world Ego decipiam I will intice and deceive them and Satan Ego eripiam I will snatch and carry them away But God saith Ego custodiam I will keep them there lyes our safety and security he hath said I will never leave them nor forsake them 1. Doct. Christ is the gift of God Christ in a peculiar and eminent manner is termed Gods gift It is the common mode and fashion of great persons to give rich and magnificent gifts suitable to their state and quality regarding more what becomes them to give than their petitioners to ask or receive The great Alexander could tell his suitors whom he had more astonished than relieved with his bounty and favour That though the thing might be too great for them to receive yet it was not too great for Alexander to give If dust and asâ—es can speak and think at this rate O how large is the heart of God! The great and glorious God out of his infinitely overflowâ—ing love and unsearchable riches of Grace hath conferred upon poor lost self destroying
CHRIST DISPLAYED AS THE Choicest Gift and Best Master From Ioh. 4.10 Ioh. 13.13 Being some of the last Sermons Preached by that faithful and industrious Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. NATHANEEL HEYWOOD Sometime Minister of the Gospel at Ormeschurch in Lancashire 1 Cor. 2.2 For I determined not to know any thing among you save Iesus Christ and hlm crucified Salvian de Gubern Dei Lib. 4. In id penitus deducta res est ut sicut de Paganis Barbaris priùs diximus Christi nomen non videatur jam Sacramentum esse sed sermo Nam in tantum apud plurimos nomen hoc parvi penditur ut nunquam minus cogitent quippiam facere quam cum se jurant per Christum esse facturos LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chappel 1679. To the Worshipful HENRY HOGHTON Esq And the Lady STANLEY His Vertuous Consort Worthy SIR MADAM I Presume to affix your Venerable Names in the Frontispiece of this Treatise not upon my own account or upon any such interest I can challenge in your Worships being much unknown to you but as acting the part of the deceased Author who had upon great reason conceived a very high estimation of you as I doubt not but your respects to him were reciprocal being grounded both upon long acquaintance and experience of each other his discourse of you with grateful acknowledgments of your multiplied kindness to his person and family in my hearing and his affectionate prayers for you were clear testimonies that you were engraven upon his heart and if his unparallel'd modesty had permitted him to have committed any thing to the Press doubtless his cordial affection would have issued it self in such an Epistolary inscription But since I am necessitated to supply his place in handing these Discourses to the World I prostrate this exposed Orphan at your feet and question not your candid reception and resolute protection of what was the genuine product of his mind and mouth which I will confidently assure you these Treatises are both for matter method words without the least addition substraction or alteration being taken out of his own notes as he preacht them writ at large with his own hand The matter of these Sermons is of greatest moment and importance fundamental truths they are of the gift of God in our blessed Redeemer and Christs Lordship and Soveraignty which are truths of the first magnitude most necessary like wool and corn the staple-commodities of this Kingdom like bread and salt that must be set upon the Table like ground-Cells upon which lyes the weight of the fabrick these are comprehensive and extensive truths without this gift sinners had not been pardoned accepted without this Lordship souls would wander and rebel the former brings us into favour with God the latter conquers rebellious wills subdues enemies regulates Saints and crowns them with glory The manner of handling these subjects is plain exact nervous and very pathetical which took great impression on the hearers vvhen first delivered with the lively voice of that fair spokesman for Christ whose heart was much taken with this lovely and beloved Lord and took great delight to recommend him to poor sinners which he did with great advantage and success whereby he became a spiritual father of many children whom he begot in the bonds of the Gospel Indeed he excelled others in other subjects but in this he excelled himself especially in this swan-like song which savours of Heaven and seems to be calculated for the height of Sion to be sung by that heavenly host in the praises of our dear Redeemer But neither do these weighty subjects nor the lively colours wherein they are set off need my recommendation nor yet the Authors gifts graces industry fidelity and other imitable properties well known to you and all that were acquainted with him need at all be mentioned by me at least at this season his singular accomplishments and conversation shine too bright to be darkened by any black-mouth'd Momus as his soul and body are beyond the reach of Satan and Sorrow so his name is above any just censures and calumnies I make bold to put these Posthumous works into your hands may your Worships in the first place reap the benefit and by your experiments thereof in your souls and conformity thereto in your lives incourage others to come and see how good our Lord Jesus is this is a lovely Song of one that could play well on an instrument may your hearts eccho to this Gospel-tune here 's solid food well cookt rendred delectable with the sweet sauce of acceptable words may your stomacks be keen and sharp and nourisht by it to eternal life These are goads and nails fastened by this master of assemblies now rewarded by his Master given out by one shepherd may Gods Spirit fasten them as a nail in a sure place upon many consciences I have then attained my ends in this undertaking may God be thereby glorified and souls edified we have enough The Lord bless you both and make you rich blessings to your Country in your publick domestical and personal station and relation The Lord drop down this choice gift into your laps and hearts that you may give up your selves to him again as his bored devoted servants for ever God Almighty that hath been the stay of your Youth be also the staff of your old age and maintain you as choice instruments of his glory in the land of the living and in a good old age conduct you through the valley of the shadow of death into the land of life so prayeth Your Worships humble Servant in our Dearest Lord O. H. Febr. 1. 1678 9. To the CHRISTIAN READER especially the Inhabitants of the Town and Parish of Ormeschurch and the places adjacent Grace Mercy and Peace My dearly beloved in our dearest Lord IT is an astonishing Providence that in such a day of Epidemical sinning general fears of approaching Iudgments and great necessity in most places God should thus weaken our strength undermine the fabrick by cutting off so many faithful Shepherds in so short a space therein seeming as if he would make a way to his wrath But as your dark parts have more need of such faithful Watchmen so you are most emptied God having of late renewed his witnesses against you and broken you with breach upon breach before your eyes were fully wiped for one loss another follows at the heels like Job's messengers bringing the sad tidings of the death of another gracious Minister and this last is not the least under which you lye bleeding It is true on his account that 's gone you have no reason to lament God hath put a blessed end to his torturing pains of body perplexing thoughts of heart and indefatigable labours in the Ministry and crown'd him with glory the sharper was his passage the sweeter is his present repose he finds himself abundantly rewarded God made great
accounted him Lam. 3.24 The Lord is my portion saith my soul not only her tongue but her very heart takes him and speaks him her heritage and David The Lord is my portion and my inheritance The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage Psal. 16.5 6 Say with Naboth God forbid that I should give away the inheritance of my Fathers That was only for life this is everlasting a never fading ever-flourishing inheritance that subject to many hazards fire inundation robbery blasting and many casualties yea to utter loss as the end declared but this is above all such danger and detriment O be not so foolish and sottish as to part with this for all the world 10. He is thy happiness keep him for thy chief good that that can alone give contentment to thy immortal Soul is bound up in him Happy is every one that retaineth him Prov. 3.18 O terque quaterque beati c. Infinitely and for ever blessed that receive and retain Jesus Christ Prov. 8. ult Prov. 3.3 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom he is thy all and wilt thou part with all at once Thou art like to have a sad time of it when Christ goes farewell joy and peace and comfort and all that 's good 2. For direction 1 st In what manner 2 d. By what means may the Soul keep Christ. First For the manner of holding and keeping this gift 1. He must be kept in our Heads though that is not enough a full and distinct understanding of him is well but a knowledg a meer notion in the brain of Christ is but a sorry keeping you must provide Christ a better place to lodg in or he will not tarry with you Must Christ be in the head when Sin and Satan is in the heart If Christ have no room in thee but the head he is indeed no where 2. In our Mouths we must confess with the mouth yet that neither is sufficient 't is too open a room and leaking a vessel to hold this gift in to speak and talk of Christ and take his blessed name into our lips when our hearts are far from him and lives deny him is but a poor keeping of Christ if there be nothing left of Christ but what hangs on the lips he is indeed departed already 3. Keep him we must in our Houses and Societies woe unto that place when Christ departs from them when he removes his Candlesticks out of their place and takes away his holy Ordinances but alas to have Christ in publick ordinances and not in our hearts will not serve the turn 4. We must keep him in our Hearts not in the hall of the senses but in the closet of the heart let him dwell and reign in our understanding will affections and memory think on him continually love him dearly delight in him at all times As Artemesia did ever carry in her mind her dear deceased Husband Mauseolus mingling her very drink with his ashes so let us bear Christ about with us in the vessels of our hearts mingling our meat drink words and works with his sweetest remembrance So the Spouse did Cant. 3.4 I would not let him go until I had brought him into my mothers house and the chamber of her that conceived me Which place according to the consent of best Expositors is to be understood either of the Church of God in her publick Congregations which is the Mother of us all or else of the sanctified Heart and Conscience which is the dwelling-place of Christ of which he hath said Here will I rest and I will dwell in the heart of the contrite Isa. 57.15 and there we should lay him up by Faith If the head be for the world yet let Christ have the heart 5. Keep him not only by way of a holy and perpetual recordation of him in our minds and hearts but also by a constant and continued care and unwearied diligence to preserve and injoy the comfortableness and feeling of his gracious presence in your own Souls imitating herein the fair Spouse who when she had found him would by no means let him go but compelled him by a grateful violence to stay with her this was one end why he hid himself for some time from her Prius non inveniendus quaeritur ut post inventus strictius teneatur Thus Iacob held him by force and wrestled hard for his blessing and would not let him go till he had blessed him but when he had obtained that he suffered him to depart but we should never leave him no not when he hath blessed us as prizing him more than any thing he can bestow Nolo benedictionem tuam sed te so must we prize more his person than his blessings 2. The way and means to keep him 1. Leave all for him retire from the world to injoy him say of all other things when thou hast found Jesus of Nazareth let these go their way Make him a bed in thy Soul whereon he may rest that is sweet-thoughts and meditations on him and complâ—cency in him Cant. 3.7 Behold his bed which is Solomons Solomoni ergo vel Christo lectulum facimus saith Gregory cum a mundi solicitudinibus omnino cessamus dum in solo deciderio Christi libenter pausamus eique ut nobiscum pauset cor ab omni terrena cupiditate mundamus The beauty and riches of every member of the Church is resembled to the wealth and splendor of Solomons Bed wherein Christ rests in his love Be careful to keep your thoughts amongst all worldly affairs free for Christ. Religion and so Christ loves to lye in clean Sheets Go to them that want Christs gracious presence consult their experiences and they will tell you that their worldly affairs have so distracted their thoughts that Christ is not there and as their worldly cares and riches increased upon them the further distance hath Christ been from them Some while poor and low in the world have felt much more of the sweetness of communion with Christ than when they grew richer and full of cares O! who would not be content to take less of the world that they might have more of Christ. 2. Never leave him take heed of withdrawing from Christ stick close to him keep him company and he will stay with you As you do with a friend whose stay you desire so deal with Christ be much in his company in prayer reading hearing meditating and all holy duties be ambitious of more intimate communion with him dayly increase sweet acquaintance and humble familiarity with Christ. 1. Be willing to be much with Christ in Prayer talking and conferring with him as freely frequently and familiarly as the Bride with her Bridegroom Cant. 5.1 I am come into my garden my sister my spouse saith Christ q. d. It was thy hearty desire O my dear Spouse that I should come into this pleasant Garden for thou saidst Let my beloved come into his
that delivered him was called his Lord. So when we were mancipia peccati diaboli the Devils captives and slaves of sin in which condition if we had lived and died after a hard and toilsome service in the mean time our wages in the end should have been eternal death Christ by his death hath conquered sin and Satan and freed us from that wretched thraldom to this end that being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies we might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life Luke 1.74 75 Thus the Israelites were delivered from Egypt the house of bondage to serve God Hence the Preface to the ten commandments and David confesseth Psal. 116.16 I am thy servant I am thy servant thou hast loosed my bonds If a man had brought another out of Captivity or he had sold himself all his strength or service belonged to the buyer Christ hath bought us from the worst slavery and with the greatest price no thraldom so bad as bondage to sin no prison so black as Hell and certainly Christs blood is better than any money not to serve him then is to defraud him of his purchase no bondage so great as ours no price so great as Christs and therefore no service so great as that which we owe. 2. By the fathers donation or delivery up of them Iohn 17.6 I have manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world thine they were and thou gavest them me and they have kept thy word God hath made us and not we our selves and so hath absolute right to us and dominion over us hath given us unto Christ that we should serve him as well as be saved by him Isa. 44.21 Remember O Iacob thou art my servant I have formed thee thou art my servant O Israel they are given him for a Possession Psal. 2.8 3. By voluntary resignation and surrendring of themselves to him They have given themselves to the Lord that are real Christians 2. Cor. 8.5 'T is by their own consent and contract Rom. 6.13 Yeild up your selves unto God c. Christ loves to have his right and title established By our own consent we take Christ for our Lord and Master and give up our selves to him that we may be no longer at our own dispose and therefore 't is not only robbery but treachery and breach of Covenant to seek our selves in any thing and this resignation must be made out of a sense of Christs love to us in his death and sufferings 2 Cor. 5.15 Christ died that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him who died for them We enter upon other services out of hopes but we enter upon Christs service out of thankfulness 'T was our own voluntary Act by Marriage-Covenant we take him for our Lord our Husband Guide Governour and Protector and as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Lord so we Christ we have bound our selves by solemn vow and promise to be and continue Christs faithful servants unto the end of our lives now the word is gone out of our lips we may not alter it nor after we have made a vow enquire what we have to do He hath the best right to our best services by this three-fold title and a threefold cord is not easily broken our tongues are not our own to speak what we please nor our hearts to think what we please nor our hands to do what we list By vertue of these and many more titles we are anothers and are bound to live and Act for him according to his will and for his glory 3. What a Lord and Master Christ is The Scriptures give us these Characters or Properties of Him 1. He is the most absolute and supreme Lord. His stile is King of kings and Lord of lords he hath no superior or co-partner with him in his dominion and government all other Power and Lordship is dependent and derivative and subordinate 1. All Power is from him as 1. Civil Prov. 8.15 By me Kings reign and Princes decree Iustice. 2. Ecclesiastical 2 Cor. 10.8 That power which the Apostle had was derived from Christ For though I should boast something more of the Authority which the Lord hath given us for Edification and not for Destruction 3. Inward and spiritual Mar. 16.20 They preached every where the Lord working with them the opening of the eyes of the blind quickening the dead turning them from darkness to light were the effects of his power not the parts or piety of the Preacher but his grace and spirit did the work Lastly extraordinary and miraculous power whereby they confirmed the word signs and wonders were wrought in his name and by his power When the lame man was healed and the Apostle examined by what power or by what name they had done it Peter answered Acts 4.10 Be it known unto you all tâ—at by the name of Iesus of Nazareth this man doth stand before you whole 2. As all power is derived from him and dependent on him so 't is to be used and obeyed in subordination to him 1. For him as the authority of Magistrates Parents 1 Pet. 2.13 Submit to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake whether it be to the King as supream Eph. 6.1 Children obey your parents in the Lord so wives to husbands servants to masters Col. 3.18 2. According to him Acts. 5 29 the Apostle answered We ought to obey God rather than men 3. All other Lords are responsible to him for the use and abuse of that authority and those gifts they received from him and are therefore punishable by him 2 dly He is an universal Lord Lord of all 1. In regard of persons he is over all Rom. 9.5 He rules over all nations persons hearts all other Masters and Lords are inferiour to him Eph. 6.9 And ye masters do the same things to them that is your Servants forbearing threatning knowing that your master also is in heaven neither is there respect of persons with him 2. In regard of matters and acts outward inward Godward manward civil spiritual all come under his cognizance Eph. 6.5 6. Col. 3.23 Rom. 14.18 in all these things we are to serve Christ 3. In regard of places the three kingdoms of Heaven Earth and Hell have no other Lord but Christ Angels and glorified Saints in Heaven Saints Sinners and every creature on Earth the damned and Devils in Hell are all his subjects 3 dly He is a spiritual Lord for the manner of his rule and government Iohn 18.36 My kingdom is not of this world not from hence Not that he governs not in Heaven and Earth for though his kingdom be not of this world Rex tamen est in hoc mundo Bern. when Pilate had openly declared whose accusation it was Jesus plainly tells him that his Kingdom was not secular but spiritual not of this world So that he nothing intrenched on Caesars
Queen Elizabeth's days to such as urged him to repent that Christ might pardon him desperately replied And is that God of yours so merciful indeed as to pardon so readily those that blaspheme him then I renounce and defie him horresa referens Oh that ever such an hellish word should ever be belched out of the black mouth of a living man but is not this the language of some mens hearts and lives do not some say it 's to no purpose to turn God hath given me up and it cannot be helpt I am like to go to hell and I will be damned for somewhat Oh horrible that sinners should so desperately throw away their precious immortal souls and seek to murder Christ as man by sinning as God by despairing Alas that ever sinners should so kick and spurn at the warm bowels of love or despise the riches of his goodness or sin though grace abound but men abuse grace on both hands turning grace into lasciviousness by presumption and despair but the Sun hardens clay and brings forth a stinking smell from a dirty dunghill Iustice will be glorified upon those that would not honour Christ and grace by believing But God forbid my Brethren that you should split on either of these dangerous rocks or run your souls upon the sands of sloth or sensuality Oh shall not the calls of God the death of Christ the intreaties of your Minister checks of your own conscience nothing avail for Gods sake for Christs sake for your own souls sakes look after a title to blessed Iesus here so lively described you cannot be damned at so cheap a rate as others a Gospel-hell is hotter than a Law-hell a seeming Christian shall sink lower than an ignorant heathen a lifting up to heaven in priviledges makes the fall lower in torments But you 'l say God forbid we would gladly have Christ and hope we have him and pardon by him I say Amen would to God it were so but be not deceived many that pretend to take him mistake him and so miss of him it 's not a conceit but receit of Christ that will advantage you the shadow doth not shelter except you be under it the plaister cures not unless applied the physick works not unless taken Christ is of none effect to you without faith faith will do you no good except it be unfeigned faith is not right if it divide Christ Christ is divided if not taken as Lord as well as Saviour God is resolved not to parcel out his Son by piece-meal as men sell wares in their shops cut off what every one likes and no more so he would have customers more than a good many one would have Christ as Priest to pardon not as King to govern they judg him a troublesome guest cumbersome wares if indeed he will be master and rob them of their lusts and rule them by his laws saying We will not have this man to rule over us the great controversie hath been in Nations Churches hearts whether or no Iesus must be sole Lord and Master God and Grace are for Christs preheminence God hath set his Son upon his holy hill Grace sets the Crown upon his head Satan and lust contradict it The Devil saith Luther hates that word more than any in the Bible Psal. 110.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i e. Sit thou on my right hand and a corrupt heart takes his part but his arrows shall be sharp in the hearts of the Kings enemies he will rule in the midst of them to conversion or confusion of them Oh be you Virgin-followers of the Lamb accept of him give up your selves to him and you shall find him what is here reported of him the choicest gift and best Master As for you into whose sanctified souls God hath dropt this rich and rare gift had I time and room I might say much for counsel and comfort to these consecrated ones You you above others have reason to adore free grace that gave you such a Minister who laid open the riches of Grace before you who threapt kindness upon you and was loth to leave you with a denial free-grace came with the key of Spirit and Word and opened your hearts as he did the heart of Lidia and took possession of you for the King of Glory Oh who or what were you that the highest Majesty would stand so long knocking and saying Open to me my sister my love Cant. 5.3 4 5. And when you snorted in your beds or gave him a churlish answer he put his hand by the hole of the door and caused your bowels to moâ—â— after him yea he left behind sweet-smelling myrrh upon the handles of the lock which caused you to run after him with love-sick motions till you found and enjoyed him And Oh how sweet was the enjoyment of so dear a friend Let their money perish with them said that noble Marquess Galeasius that esteem all the riches in the world worth more than one hours communion with Jesus Christ. I shall not anticipate the work of this ensuing Discourse yet give me leave to propound these few branches of counsel as a supplement to it 1. Be not mistaken in your title to this gift many are mistakes are easie and dangerous thousands of souls are like the man at Athens that laid ciaim to every Merchants Ship that came to shore the main lyes in making good your title he that boasteth of a false gift is like clouds and winds without rain Ptov. 25.14 a groundless vapour what are you better for others imagining or your own conceiting that Christ is yours if it be not found so at the day of trial your disappointment will but aggravate your torment God prevent it do you seek to prevent it by a speedy impartial search and calling in aid from heaven to discover your state and know the worst in time And as you may think you have a title to Christ when you have not so on the contrary you may at least in a temptation think you have no title to Christ and yet he may be yours your friend whom you seek may be in the house coming in at the back door when you expect him at the fore door you have him by faith though you feel him not in sense 2. Be most jealous of your selves when you have found most sensible incomes of his grace Satan like a Pirate envies and makes most at a richly laden Ship Cheats strike in with a young heir when he hath newly received his rents you are never in more danger than after your sweetest enlargements watch and pray believe and watch let your hand be on your purse and your eye on the thief he will look you in the face like an angel of light and rob you when a white devil allures you he is worse than a black devil that affrights you as one saith I love a rumbling raging devil comparatively he can do us least hurt when we suspect him most a calm at Sea doth
and Stars be beautiful the lovely Lord that made them must contain their beauty in the highest measure beauty in God is the amiableness and loveliness of his nature and all his infinite perfections as this pleasantness offers it self to his own understanding and the understanding of men and Angels So that as bodily beauty satisfies the eye and so acts on the heart to win love So the Truth of the Lords nature and all his Attributes offered to the understanding and mind drawing from them admiration and love is the beauty of God The Prophet speaks of it with admiration How great is thy beauty Zech. 9.17 David makes it his one thing that he may behold it Psal. 27.4 David desires no other life but to stand beside God and behold with the eye of his mind and faith God in his Nature and Attributes as he reveals himself to the creature Now this beauty of God shines forth to us in Christ 2 Cor. 4.7 who is the brightness of his Fathers glory and the express character of his person Heb. 1.3 When Moses was to behold God he was hid in the Rock while his glory passed by and that Rock was Christ. You sometimes see beauty that ravishes the heart of the beholder in the children of men O! but Christ is fairer than the Sons of men Psal. 45.2 on which place Austin thus descants To us Believers the heavenly Bridegroom seems to be most fair every way fair in Heaven fair on Earth fair in the Womb fair in the Cradle fair in his Miracles fair in his Doctrine fair in his Stripes fair on the Cross fair in his very Grave To make up a beauty is required 1. A good complexion fairness in colours So Christ is pure white and red Cant. 5.10 white in his Divine Nature which was the brightness of his Fathers substance Red in his humanity being of the same substance with the first Adam who was made of Red Earth White in his holiness Red in his blood and sufferings White in his own immaculate innocence and purity Red by the imputation of our sins which are like scarlet and Crimson White in his goodness and free grace to humble sinners but Red and bloody in his severity to his enemies that will not that he reign over them His effigies was so beautiful that no Painter could ever draw him because of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Divine lustre and grace that shone in him His countenance is as Lebanon excellent as the Cedar Cant. 5.15 and 1.16 the Spouse cryes out wondering Behold thou art fair my beloved yea pleasant that is lovely and amiable 2. As he is fair in Coulors so he is comly in proportion and integrity of parts If a person have never so good colours yet if any part be wanting or be not an agreement of parts in regard of quantity scituation and stature 't is no beauty but an error of nature But Christ is beautiful for features for infiniteness and sweetness of order and proportion is so spread over his nature and attributes that nothing can be added to him nothing taken from him He is the fulness of the godhead the perfection of beauty Cant. 5.10 to the end His head is as most fine gold his locks bushy and black as a raven his eyes as the eyes of doves his cheeks as a bed of spices his lips like lillies c. O what a pleasant harmony and specious consent of parts is here yea he is altogether lovely Here she breaks off her praises in a general Elogy which no words can express enough q. d. Alas what is this I have spoken I am too barren and empty of language I know not what to call him but do you that hear me imagine or name any thing that is most desirable most worthy to be loved longed for and admired and that is he he is the desire of all Nations This pleasant and delightful gift is set forth in Scripture by something that pleases all the inward senses Here 's beauty to delight the eye O! how blessed are they who see the King in his beauty Here 's Myrrh Aloes and Cassia sweet perfumes to the spiritual smell Psal. 45.8 He is a bundle of myrrh Cant. 1.13 His voice is most sweet and pleasant to the ear Cant. 2.8 The voice of my beloved so taken with the sweetneâ—s of it that she speaks in broken language His lips like lillies dropping sweet smelling myrrh Cant. 5.13 How sweet is he to the taste Cant. 2.3 I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste of an excellent rellish wine milk honey fatted calf c. are but shadows of this He 's a delicate Banquet The kisses of his mouth and hidden manna are most delectable to the spiritual touch Cant. 1.2 The sense and experience of his mercy the assurance of his love the sealing of his Spirit O how swâ—et to a thirsty soul O taste and see that the Lord is gracious and transcendently amiable and pleasant as Mr. Rutherford Suppose all the corns of sand in all the earth and shores all the flowers herbs leaves and twigs of trees since the creation all the drops of dew and rain that the clouds send down all the stars in heaven all the joints hairs and drops of blood of all men that have been are or shall be were all rational creatures and had the wisdom and tongues of Angels to speak of the beauty and loveliness of Christ they would in all their expressions stay millions of miles on this side Christ and his excellency 7. Christ is a most useful gift In this respect he is the one thing needful and were there no other excellency in him this were enough to commend him to us he is so useful that we cannot be without him Though a gift were never so rich pleasant and precious in it self yet if the excellency in it may not be made use of and it be not good and fit for us it is not much valued But this gift of God is so admirable good for our use that he seems to be fitted and dressed and made all for our use in regard of his Mediatorship that office is wholly for us and our benefit He was born lived died rose again sits on Gods right hand as Advocate and comes to judgment for our sakes and for our good He is God and Man Prophet Priest and King A Saviour a Redeemer a Surety an Advocate a Mediator Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification c. all for use to us lost and perishing sinners He is a jewel indeed but not locked up in heaven to be made use of by none Christ is shadowed forth in Scripture by Head Vine Milk Water c. now what more necessary and useful to men than these Who could reconcile us to God when we were enemies but Christ in his blood Rom. 5.10 Who could justifie us in the sight of God when we were sinners but Christ by his righteousness Rom.
help him Job 22.2 3. Nor thy wickedness hurt him Job 35.2 He expects no gain by thee looks for no requital he offers this gift to thee not that he may be blessed by thee but that he may be bountiful to thee it 's thy good not his own that he looks at The felicity of accepting is thine own and the misery of neglecting is thine own Prov 9.12 If thou be wise thou shalt be wise for thy self but if thou scornest thou alone shalt bear it Men call Customers to them and press them with many arguments and entreaties to buy that they may inrich themselves by their Customers but God calls men to buy of him not to inrich himself he is as rich and perfect and happy as he can be but to inrich themselves I counsel thee saith Christ to his lukewarm Church â—ev 3.18 to buy of me gold tryed in the fire Why that he might get â—omething by him and enrich himsâ—lf No that thou maist be rich that thou not I may be rich Now Brethren ponder it seriously it is wholly for your own good that you may escape wrath and death that you may attain Heaven and life that God is pleased once more to offer Christ to you He gives his Son to this end that you may be saved to bring you into the state of Sons and into a right to Heaven and Glory Had he given Christ only to rule over you with his Scepter of righteousness it would have been an excellent gift and no small priviledg to be Subjects to such a Prince especially for such as were bondslaves of Satan by nature but he gives Christ to save and redeem us Something yea very much of God is in the Creation much of God in his common providence but most of all yea whole God in the redemption of man If a Physitian should come to us who would heal us of all our diseases suppose we were an Hospital of unsound persons would he not be most acceptable to us What more acceptable to a poor man than wealth or a naked man than clothes or to an hungry man than bread a slave than freedom all this and infinitely more is Christ to us Now all that is required of us in order to the obtaining of all these benefits is to believe in Christ and what is believing but receiving Christ as he is offered to us in the Gospel Iohn 1.12 What is thy mind now about this offer what dost thou resolve on wilt thou have Christ this Gift of God or not Is there any thing unreasonable in his demands any thing defective in this offer or in the gift is not Christ fair or good enough is he not rich and honourable enough is there any want of love or loveliness in Christ for thee What hath been said of him will silence all these and the like objections What canst thou say is it an indifferent matter whether thou take this or not doth not thy eternal felicity depend on thine acceptance of him what sayest thou shall Christ be thy Lord or the Devil One of these will reign over thee Consider what thou dost thy Soul is immortal and must either take God and Christ and Heaven to be thy portion for ever or Hell and Death and Wrath and Divels for thy portion for ever one of these two is the portion of all the Sons and Daughters of Adam If thou wilt still prefer the world before Christ and love the creature above Christ and please thy flâ—sh more than Christ 〈◊〉 thou goest without him and however thou maist shift in this world yet when once thou appearest in another world God will rain fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest and this will be the portion of thy cup Psal. 11 6. But if now thou acceptest oâ— this gift of God Jesus Christ when all thy friends shall leave thee and dearest relations forsake thee yea when thy flesh and thy heart shall fail thee Christ will be the strength of thy heart and thy portion for ever Well consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding that thou maist know when thou art well offered and be wise on this side the other world I know not what other answer you can rationally make to all that hath been said to perswade your acceptance of this gift of God but that either you have it already or desire to know how you may make it your own I shall therefore to prevent mistakes in the one and to give assistance to the other first direct you to try your selves whether Christ be yours or not and then how to attain propriety in this excellent gift whereby you may be happy to all eternity Let this be your most serious inquiry whether you have indeed received this gift of God or not Is Christ yours can you truly say with the Spouse Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his If you can but once say and speak true I am my beloveds as Cant. 6.3 you may with the same breath conclude my beloved is mine Have you ever made a full intire affectionate deliberate and unreserved resignation of your selves unto him have you given up your heart head and hands all you are all you have unto Jesus Christ and that constantly Then he is wholly yours For God never gave his Son to any but such gave themselves to the Lord and are new creatures and sound believers But more particularly 1. If you have received this gift of God you do very highly esteem of him and prefer him above all other things in the world To them that believe Christ is precious they have a good opinion of his worth and excellency have him in greatest honour and estimation as Hinsius saith the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies He that loves Father or Mother or any Relation or Riches or Pleasures more than Christ is not worthy of him cannot be his Disciple Do you truly in judgment and affections account it your chief happiness to enjoy the Lord Jesus Christ is he the chiefest of Ten thousand in your eyes altogether lovely Can you say with David Psal. 16.5 The Lord is my portion or with him Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none on earth I desire beside thee or in competition with thee So that whatever temptations to the contrary you meet with you do in your settled prevailing judgment prefer Christ before all and count all loss and dung in comparison of the excellency of the knowledg of Christ making him the end of your desires and endeavours putting the world and all other things behind him in your esteem and pursuit and thinking no labour nor losses nor sufferings too great for Christ. 2. Are you willing to receive Christ as Lord as well as Saviour submit to him as King as well as accept of him as Redeemer and come not only for ease and rest but to take his yoke upon you and become his Servants Is Christ your Lord
and Master to guide and govern your hearts and thoughts and lives by his Laws and Statutes and is it your ordinary purpose desire and endeavour to obey him even when he commands the hardest duties and those which most cross the desire and interest of the flesh and 't is your sorrow when you break your resolutions herein then Christ is yours But if you are only content to be saved by him from Hell when you dye in the mean time he shall command you no further than will stand with your credit or pleasure or worldly estate and ends and did never heartily consent that he should rule over you nor resign up your souls and bodies to be governed and disposed by him nor took his Word for a Law and Rule of your thoughts and actions but if he would give you leave you had rather live after the world and flesh than after the Word and Spirit he is not yet yours though you may in words call him Lord and Master yet in your works you deny him He is his Friend and Disciple that keeps his commandments Iohn 15.7 14 but they that would not hearken to his voice would none of him he gave them up to their own hearts lusts Psal. 8.11 3. Have you received the Spirit of Christ The Apostle makes the former and this characters of such as have received Christ. 1 Joh. 3.24 He that keepeth his commandments dwells in him and Christ in him hereby we know that he abideth in us by the spirit which he hath given us Well then do ye obey the Laws of Christ and walk in his ways conform to his example and live the life of Jesus He that doth not thus may say he abides in Christ but he doth but say so 't is not so in truth and reallity 1 Joh. 2.6 He that saith he abides in Christ ought to walk as he walked Further Let me ask you the question the Apostle asked the Disciples at Ephesus Acts. 19.2 Whether have you received the Holy Ghost If God have given Christ to you Christ hath given you his holy Spirit For if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 1 John 4.13 Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his spirit The Spirit not as residing in Christ but as given to us is an evidence that we have received Christ. Well then let every one of you be now inquisitive and put such interrogatories as these to himself Have I the Spirit is he given to me doth he dwell in my soul have I the spirit of illumination and revelation Eph. 1.17 Do I see such things as I never saw before as the inexpressible vileness and loathsomness of sin the greatest beauty in holiness c. Have I the spirit of life in Christ Jesus to quicken me and raise me up from the dead Rom. 8.2 2 Cor. 3.6 Have I felt the spirit of conviction to convince me of sin righteousness and judgment Iohn 16.8 The spirit of grace and supplication stirring up to and assisting in that heavenly duty of Prayer Zech. 12.10 The spirit of holyness to sanctifie me 1 Pet. 1.2 to mortifie my sins and corruptions Rom. 8.13 and work up my heart to all holy obedience Ezek. 36.27 Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind is Gods Image repaired in me am I transformed into the same image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord Am I growing in grace perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord Do I walk in all Gods Ways and Statutes freely regularly constantly Am I willing to sacrifice an Isaac a Benjamin an Absolom a Delilah Herodias and hew with Samuel delicate Agag in pieces or with David keep my self from mine own iniquity Is the old man dead the flesh with all its cursed retinue mortified do I detest and loath every sin in thought word and deed and that not so much for its effects as for its nature and hate it rather as Hell than for Hell Enquire what do you find of these high and gracious operations oâ— the spirit in your selves he is always an active working Spirit is he so in you Doth he raise your hearts to heavenly things and draw forth your souls to Christ O deal faithfully with your own souls let the search be deep and thorow go to the bottom of your deceitful hâ—arts bring things to an issue be sure that you be not mistaken 4. If Christ be received there will be a more earnest intent desire and breathing of soul after him he that hath once tasted the sweetness of his grace and seen the splendor of his beauty will be so far from being satisfied that he will still more and more thirst after him the more excellency the soul apprehends in him the more vehement and restless are his desires towards him Thus it was with the Spouse Cant. 2.3 4 5 â—he had a glance of him and cries out As the Apple-tree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sons Here the Spouse seems to be strongly moved with affection and before her beloved had well ended his speech breaks out into an affectionate Elogy of him which she is not able to express but conquered with her own passion she sits down and breathes for comfort I sate down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste Here the soul receives and applys Christ with sweet rellish to her palate comfort to her heart He brought me to the banqueting house and his banner over me was love she still tasts more of the riches of his Grace and what was the effect of this did she surfeit with eating his fruit and banquetting no she is more ravisht with desire Stay me with flagons comfort me with apples for I am sick of love I am wounded nay slain as some Interpreters with love which by the sweet vehemency and insatiability of it makes the heart to burn and weep groan and sigh to forget all and drive away all but him on whom alone she fixeth and would rest but cannot center till she enjoy him in glory till then she is sick and weary and lives not in her self but in him in whom her life is hid As Plato defines love an ardour or flame of a soul dead in its own body and living in another One thus writes to his friend I have for the present a sick life much pain and love-sickness for Christ. O what would I give to have a bed made to my wearied soul in his bosom O when shall we meet O how long is it to the dawning of the marriage-day O sweet Lord Iesus take wide steps O my beloved come leaping over the mountains of separation O that he would fold the heavens together like an old cloak and shovel time and days out of the way and come away Well have you pain and sick-nights for Christ do your thoughts continually run on
thine eyes a crucified bleeding Saviour Hence that saying of Bernard Cui fons forte sicul es lanynam invocat Iesum non fluxit uberius What hardness of heart could ever stand before Jesus Christ or what Soul ever went to Christ and came away with a hard heart and was not melted as wax before the Sun If Christ do but strike upon the heart though it were a Rock he can make it gush out with a torrent of brinish tears 4. Barrenness Thou complainest of unfruitfulness thou receivest much and returnest little thou art dry and unprofitable make use of Christ in this case the water is not more effectual to make fruitful the barren ground than the dew of Christs Grace to fructifie a barren heart I the Lord can turn a barren wilderness into a fruitful garden Isa. 51.3 He hath promised to make the Wilderness like Eden and the Desert like the Garden of the Lord. He hath said Isa. 35.1 2 6 7 That the desert shall blossom as the rose yea it shall blossom abundantly for in the wilderness shall water break out and streams in the desert and the parched ground shall become a pool and the thirsty land springs of water Go to Christ for the fulfilling of those great and precious promises say Cant. 4. ult Lord send out thy spirit to breathe upon my Soul to blow upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow out c. Christ saith Except ye abide in me and I in you ye cannot bear fruit Under the term abiding is implyed making use of Christ drawing sap and nourishment from him Ioh. 15.4 5. 5. Despondency when thou art disquieted with melancholly Psal. 27.13 doubting and distrustful thoughts arising from the weakness of Grace power of Corruption and malice of Satan have recourse to Christ who hath an incomparable faculty of dispelling all these perplexed and pensive conceits that do torture thy mind He himself suffered and was tempted was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and therefore is able to succour us in all our temptations and troubles Heb. 2.18 and 4.15 16. Now if a man be in any trouble in outward estate or body what will he do in such a case He will go and consult with one that hath been in the like condition Do thus make use of Christ for help who hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13.5 which words of his being spoken home to the heart of a distrustful perplexed person by his own Spirit must needs be of refreshing vertue and reviving power as that light will ever spring up out of darkness and scatter those mists that darken the mind and disturb our peace 't is he that forgiveth all thy sins and healeth all thy diseases Psal. 103.3 3. Improve this gift of God as a sweet and forcible attractive and help to draw your hearts to the performance of all those duties that are required of you and to assist in the exercise of those graces that are to be found in you As 1. Faith In the want or weakness of Faith make use of Christ who must needs be very helpful for he is the author and finisher of your faith Heb. 12.2 he is infinitely able to begin increase and perfect your faith so as that it can have no other vertue or power but such as is derived only from him 'T is he by whom we believe in God who raised him from the dead his own Disciples finding their faith infirm and weak did repair to him for more strength and for a larger measure of it acknowledging him to be able and themselves impotent and unable to do it saying Luke 17.5 Lord increase our faith 2. Repentance Does any lye and groan under the guilt and burden of impenitency O let him address himself to Christ in this sad case who came into the world to call sinners to repentance not as we in the Ministry to call outwardly but to call with an effectual voice and to cause to repent Mat. 11.13 God not only gave him to the world to be a Saviour but hath exalted him to be a Prince to give repentance and remission of sins Act. 5.31 If thy heart be secure and senseless go to Christ who will freely give not sell and work in thee godly sorrow that leads to repentance unto salvation not to be repented of That repentance you frame in your selves will miserably deceive you so that Austin said that repentance doth drown more than sin when you think you can sufficiently do it your selves whereas Christ alone doth give true and acceptable repentance 3. Love Christ is the best teacher of Love that ever the world had who taught it not only by his words but by his blood by his life and by his death Wouldest thou learn to love Go to Christ if thou canst not learn it of him thou canst never learn it Love is the greatest commander of love and the most effectual argument that can insuperably constrain us to it and none ever loved at the rate and measure that Christ hath loved to stand by such a fire is the way for a congealed heart to melt and the coldest affections to grow warm A lively Faith still holding Christ the glass of infinite love and goodness before our faces is the greatest lesson in the art of love A believing view of the nature undertaking love obedience doctrine example sufferings intercession and Kingdom of Jesus Christ must needs inflame believers hearts with an answerable degree of love O steep that stiff and hardned heart in the blood of Christ and it will melt and it will change thy unkind unthankful heart in the very nature of love to come over with Thomas and by the passage of his wounds wind thy self into his heart 4. Obedience both active and passive to which Christ is both an incomparable motive and admirable pattern He fulfilled all righteousness and became obedient to the death of the Cross Lo I come to do thy will O God was his resolution when he came into the world and not my will but thine be done when he went out of it He hath said he will write his Laws in your hearts and cause you to walk in his statutes and give you one heart and one way that ye may serve him for ever Ezek. 36.27 Christs obedience is thine walking in Christ all the acts of it are exerted and performed in the strength of Christ. 5. Prayer would you know how to pray as to have your Prayer accepted and answered let Christ be made use of who is the alone Mediator that by the vail of his flesh hath made a new and living way into the holy place and sits at Gods right hand making request for you So that by him you may have free access with boldness to the throne of grace Heb. 10.19 20. Have you a friend in the Court that will plead your cause and speak a good word to the King and will you not make use of
him O Let us come boldly to the throne of grace Heb. 4.16 In Christ we have access Eph. 2.18 and 3.14 Rom. 8.34 1 Ioh. 5.4 Ioh. 14.13 If ye ask any thing in my name I will do it in time of the Law if any sinned he was to go to the High Priest who was to mediate and intercede for him to God So now we must come to Christ who mediates and makes intercession for us though we have transgressed he hath suffered though we be unworthy yet he is worthy if we and our suit be commended by one of so great worth and such interest in the Father can we doubt of success He will give us also his spirit to help our infirmities and teach us what to pray for as we ought and lead us by the hand unto God and enable us to cry Abba Father 4. Improve Christ as the purchaser and conveyer of all blessings and benefits to your Souls which they stand in need of are you empty and hungry come to him for food are you naked come to him for clothes are you weak come to him for strength if wavering for stedfastness if weary for rest 1. Let the poor needy and hungry Soul come to Christ and not lay out its money for that which is not bread but hearken unto him eat that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fastness Isa. 55.2 3. He alone will feed and fill the Soul and satiate it with his goodness He will make a feast of fat things a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined Isa. 25.6 O labour to â—ake in his sweetest consolations fresh every morning the Soul cannot live without some comfort or other if it finds no such sweetness in Christ it will look for it elsewhere and if it tast nothing in his ways to keep it up it will go down to earthly delights for relief 2. Let the wretched naked Soul make use of Christ and not sow together Fig-leaves as Adam Gen. 3.7 Never think to patch together a deal of filthy rags to cover thy uncleanness and nakedness Isa. 64.6 But if thou know that thou art naked then buy of Christ white raiment that thou maist be clothed and the shame of thy nakedness do not appear Rev. 3.18 Christs righteousness is a long white robe to cover thy nakedness see Ezek 16. begin the Soul according to its nativity is naked and filthy but Christ spreads his skirt over it and puts on excellent ornaments he will take away thy filthy garments and cloathe thee with change of raiment Zech. 3. begin 3 Let the weak improve Christ for strength who will perfect his strength in their weakness so that thou maist say with the Apostle When I am weak then I am strong 2 Cor. 12.9 And by his strength I can do all things Phil. 4.13 Trust not in your own strength but rely upon the power of Christ in all your performances art thou to grapple with some strong corruption or temptation and desirest to overcome it hast thou some weighty and difficult duty to perform make tryal of Christ and thou shalt find that he gives power to the faint and to them that have no might Isa. 40.29 4. Let the wavering make use of him for stability and fixedness Art thou afraid of Apostacy in these backsliding times go to Christ to stablish thee 1 Thes. 3.13 That he establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our father at the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ with all his saints He is a Rock if thou build on him thou shalt never be moved Matt. 16.10 God stablisheth your Souls in Christ 2 Cor. 1.21 If you can get rooted and built up in him and established by him in the faith you need not fear though you must beware of being spoiled through Philosophy and vain deceit Col. 2.7 8. Do you fear falling away from the Grace or Truth of God then make special use of Christ who is able to establish you and keep you from falling and present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy Iude 24. 5. Let the weary Soul come to Christ and he shall find rest make use of this gift of God which is far more suitable to a wandering sin-sick soul than the softest bed to the wearied body what was prophesied by Lamech concerning his Son Noah is compleatly fulfill'd in Christ whereof Noah was a type Gen. 5.29 He called his son Noah rest for saith he this same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands Think often on that soul-refreshing promise Matt. 11 28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest take my yoke upon you c. Come poor restless easeless and dejected souls let others weary themselves in seeking riches and reputation in the world to you I faithfully promise rest which is the thing you want Fecisti nos domine propter te inquietum est cor nostrum donec veniat ad te 5. Improve this gift of God as a standing cordial against those failings and despondencies of spirit and make use of it in the midst of those sad thoughts and miâ—givings of heart you may be under through fear of wrath terrours of conscience and shrinking apprehensions of death and judgment 1. Is God angry doth he begin to thunder and write bitter things against thee and his waves and billows go over you so that your moisture is dried up and you almost overwhelmed with the fierceness of his wrath Now let faith recollect it self and say Well Christ is mine in whose wounds is room enough to hold and in whose heart is readiness enough to receive all that fly unto him true indeed there is a terrible storm of justice gathering over my head and ready to fall upon me but my Christ is my shelter an hiding place from the wind and a covert from the tempest Isa. 32.2 A flood of vengeance is coming but I am got into the Ark destruction near but Christ is my Passover my little Sanctuary able and willing to save to the uttermost with all kinds and degrees of Salvation Heb. 7.25 He hath trodden the wine-press alone and of the people there was none with him Isa. 63.3 O then enter into this rock for fear of the Lord and for the glory of his Majesty till the indignation be over-past When God is angry with thy soul take Christ in thine arms and come to him 2. Art thou grown strange to him and alienated thy self from him by sin none is so proper and necessary to be made use of as Christ in this case who is the peace-maker between God and man who hath not only made peace between those but so ratified and confirmed it that nothing shall be ever able to dissolve it God reconciles the world to himself by Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 not only them that were strangers but even
enemies Col. 1.21 Those that are afar of are made nigh by the blood of Christ he hath broken down the partition-wall and slain the enmity Ephes. 2 16 17 18. If thou hast some dear friend who bestows a gift on thee in token of his dear love and respect to thee and there should be afterwards some disagreeing and falling out betwixt you wouldst thou shew this gift a pledg of league and amity c. thus hold up Christ to God 3. Or though it be not thus yet thou wantest the sense and feeling of his love and art comfortless in the want of it O then make use of Christ in this case who is able to make all Consolations abound and fill thy soul with joy and peace in believing He hath said Ioh. 14.18 I will not leave you comfortless Tristatur aliquis nostrum veniat in cor Iesus Is any man sad saith Bernard let that sweetest name Jesus come into his heart and so he shall have that peace and comfort that the world cannot give neither can the world take it away from him Christ is a most soveraign Cordial apply and use him and your joy will be full 4. Or art thou terrified in Conscience and groaning under the insupportable burden of a wounded spirit art thou affrighted with accusing and condemning thoughts O go to Christ who as he can make peace in the Court of Heaven so he can create peace in thy heart and still the crys of Conscience and make a calm there also though the waves roar and the winds blow c. thy soul shall have peace in him which passeth all understanding Col. 1.20 And will say in me ye shall have peace be of good cheer let not your hearts be troubled though your hearts ake and tremble yet he is greater thaâ— your hearts who is nigh to justifie you Isa. â—â— 8 so that you may triumph with the Apostle Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died Rom. 8.34 Expect no peace in laying aside Christ. 5. Are you afraid of death and judgment to come in this case also make use of Christ. It 's reported by Cassander that in ancient times sick and weak dying persons were directed and accustomed to make use of Christ at that time especially interposing him betwixt them and Gods Judgment saying these words Lord we put thee the death of our Lord Iesus Christ betwixt us and thy judgment But what need we look into Historians the Scriptures shew what languishing souls and drooping spirits must do Psal. 23.4 5. Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death yet I will fear no evil c. Christ hath destroyed him that had the power of death Heb. 2.4 taken out the venome and malignity of it Death lost its sting in Christs side And now O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory 1 Cor. 15.55 57. Or fearest thou judgment look to Christ and thou shalt not die the second death but he will raise thee up at the last day Ioh 6.49 50. Having Christ thou maist stand in judgment and lift up thy head with joy for 't is the day of thy Redemption then the redeemed of the Lord shall return with joy everlasting and you shall appear with him in glory 4. Fourth Branch of Exhortation Be â—ery thankful for him yea let your whole soul go out in thankfulness be ever praising and magnifying God for his unspeakable mercy in Christ your Sacrifice your Redeemer your Saviour often call upon your sluggish hearts and say Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name Psal. 103.1 and 116.12 What shall I render to the Lord for this the greatest of all his benefits O be thankful not in a common ordinary formal manner but in the most lively enlarged and raised manner that is possible where the mercy is high and great the thankfulness must bear some proportion to it O let your apprehensions be widened to conceive the vastness of this mercy that your affections may be more enlarged to praise God for it O how shall we get our hearts affected with it what thankfulness can be enough for such a gift should not the whole soul be summon'd in to give its most united acknowledgment of so signal a mercy for God to give his only begotten Son to be a Saviour for sinners Here 's the wonder of wonders God never did the like before and he 'l never do the like again and blessed be his name there is no need he should It would have been admirable mercy if God would have sent some other person upon this Errand to redeem and save undone sinners If send he will why did he not send an Angel or body of Angels to try their skill and see what they could do Nay why did he not send an Angel as once he did with a flaming sword in his hand to keep off sinners from the Tree of Life O this did not comport with his gracious designs though it did too well with the creatures merit therefore he would not do it no his own Son shall be pitcht upon he is the person whom God will send Surely here was love great love great to the degree of infiniteness Millions of Angels were nothing to one Son to one such Son his first-born his only begotten Son the Son of his love who lay in his bosom had been his delight from everlasting O astonishing mercy O admirable goodness and condescention how may we cry out here Lord what is man that thou art thus mindful of him and the Son of man that thou makest this account of him Psal. 8.4 and 144.3 or as Iob 7.17 What is man that thou shouldest magnifie him and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him Here was God so loving so as can never be expressed never be comprehended Ioh 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed on him might not perish but have everlasting life The Heavens and the Earth were once called upon to be filled with astonishment because of the ingratitude of a sinful people Isa. 1.2 May not now Heaven and Earth Angels and men all creatures whatsoever be called upon to be filled with astonishment because of the stupendious love of God! O Christians what influence hath this upon your dull and sluggish hearts what are you made of that you are no more in the sense of it drawn out in blessing loving admiring and adoring of God Pray if there be any holy ingenuity in you take some pains with your selves that you may be much more affected with it and give not over till you have such thoughts and affections upon Gods giving his Son raised in you as may in some measure answer to those thoughts and affections which you shall have about it when you shall be in Heaven The Angels never reaped that advantage that we do yet they were at praising-work as soon as ever Christ was born
right which he saith not to avoid death but to shew that he was unjustly accused 4. He is an eternal Lord Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth even for ever Isa 9.7 Luke 1.33 He is the King immortal 1 Tim. 1.17 Death the King of terrors and terror of Kings is subdued by this Lord not only so as never to touch him but also never to hurt any of his Servants Other Rulers though they be called gods and lords yet shall dye like men earthly Monarchs either by some Poison or Treason are brought to untimely deaths at least some disease or other will lay their glory in the dust but Jesus Christ is yesterday today and the same for ever 5. He is a mighty Lord most able to do what is good for his Servant and to subdue all persons and things to himself Psal. 3.21 He can kill the Soul and throw both the Body and Soul into Hell he can subdue the hearts of men even of the deadliest enemies unto his love and obedience he can protect and shelter his Servants from all evil and bestow all good things on them for the world is his and the fulness thereof He hath under his command the forces of all creatures in Heaven and Earth which he rules as he pleases to his own purpose he can at ease frustrate the harmful intentions and noisom qualities of the worst of them he can turn their malice into mercy their hatred into love yea can bring forth glory to himself and profit to his Servants not only against but even out of their mischievous designments as in Daniel and the three Children c. 6. He is a most just Lord his is a Scepter of righteousness Heb. 1.8 his right hand is full of righteousness The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works Psal. 145.17 In him is exact and perfect integrity and equity of all his counsels words and actions and there is no unrighteousness in him His will is the rule and standard of justice and whatever he commands is most equal and right because he wills and commands it 7. He is a most glorious Lord and Master The glory of Kings and Emperours is but a borrowed ray or spark from his Majesty the glory of all the Caesars c. is but a black coal in comparison of his splendor and when he shall appear in his glory the glow-worms of worldly splendor and majesty shall disappear and be extinguished the poorest Servant he hath shall then appear with him in such glory that the combined-excellency of Kings shall not be so much as a shadow to it 8. He is a most gracious Lord he puts them upon none but safe honourable and comfortable employments He puts no more upon them than they can go through and lays no more upon them than they are able to bear he knows their mould and frame remembers they are but dust he is Jesus as well as Lord a Shepherd as well as a Master he joins his glory and their happiness together he never requireth brick from his people without giving them straw he will either multiply grace or diminish the temptation his Grace is always sufficient for them 9. He is a wise judicious Master A man that serves a fickle and unconstant Master who often changes his mind has a hard task and endless labour but a prudent man who orders his affairs with discretion and deliberation his commands are but once obeyed his work is soon done what he doth now anon he must undo and so Sysiphus like he is ever doing and hath never done he never knows an end of his work But the Servant of Christ is at a good certainty and knows before-hand what his work must be and what his wages as his Master himself is so his Commandments are immutable and invariable without so much as a shadow of change Iam. 1.17 That was a needless cavil and meer peevishness and selfishness in Ionah Ionah 4.2 10. He is a most knowing and discerning Lord. He observes the ways and works of his Servants so narrowly that the closest and subtillest among them cannot deceive him he spies them in every corner nay every corner of their hearts in them all things are open and naked before him though now in some sort he be absent yet he needs no informer he knows what every Servant doth in his absence and will manifest every ones work to all the world his eyes are as a flame of fire clearer than ten thousand suns he takes notice of all their services and hearts Rev. 2.19 I know thy works and charity and service and faith and thy patience and thy works and the last to be more than the first 11. He is a pitiful and merciful Lord and Master He hath an eye as pitying as it is piercing he doth no less observe the wants and troubles than the ways and works of his Servants he is a Father as well as a Master and As a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth them that fear him Psal. 103.13 14 And spareth them as a father his son that serveth him Mal. 3.17 hath more tender bowels than a mother Isa. 49.15 Can a woman forget her sucking-child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee Christ is not as the slothful man thought a cruel and hard Master Matt. 25.24 that looks for much work and gives little encouragement but is moved with compassion towards his Servants Matt. 18.27 he will not have his Servants complain that they serve an hard Master 12. He is a meek and lowly Master condescending to serve his Servants here and hereafter 1. Hereâ— Matt. 20.28 He came not to be ministred unto but to minister Luke 22.27 Whether is greater he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth is not he that sitteth at meat but I am among you as he that serveth He stoopt so low as to wash his Disciples feet 2. Hereafter Luke 12.37 Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching Verily I say unto you That he shall gird himself and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them Study but yet expect not to understand either the comfort or condescention of this promise made to the faithful Servants of Christ He shall gird himself c. Lord saith one did I not think that the cheer and the attendance were both one I should say the attendance were infinitely better than the meat Think what it is for Christ himself to serve at the Table what is it but infinite delight for the guests to have him set himself to solace them who is infinite as in sweetness so in knowledg to make his sweetness please them Nor will the dignity of these
Servants be less than their delight who have Majesty it self to serve them certainly in Heaven there shall be as many Kings as Subjects 13. He is a tender and compassionate Lord He was made like unto his brethren in all things sin excepted and having suffered himself being tempted he is able to succour them that are tempted Heb. 2.18 We have not an high-priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin Heb 4.15 and 5.2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant and them that are out of the way He cannot only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bear part in our afflictions but bear with us in our infirmities being thorowly and not lightly touched with the feeling of our infirmities He is sensible of his servants wrong when tempted seduced Rev. 2.20 To seduce my servants as well as fensible of their grief when wronged and persecuted in all their afflictions he is afflicted and takes the wrongs offered to his Servants as offered to himself they that hurt them touch the apple of his eye he covers with the mantle of his excusing-love their unavoidable inâ—irmities The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak 14. He is a most loving and sociable Master who puts his Servants upon nothing but what himself hath done or doth before them he first practiceth what he imposeth on them He lays no yoke upon them but what he himself hath born leads them in no way but himself hath first trodden it He is not like the Pharisees who bind heavy burdens upon others but will not touch them with one of their fingers Matt. 23.4 but he does as Abimelech Judg. 9.48 What ye have seen me do make hast and do as I have done or as Tully reports of Caesar that he was never heard to say to his Soldiers Ite illuc but venite huc So Christ leads by example his voice is follow me Iuvat idem qui jubet 15. He is a good Master As he bears part in their sufferings and is a fellow-sufferer so he is not only their Lord and Master but their helper and fellow-worker whatever he imposes on them he helps and furnishes them to do it he puts them to no work wherein he doth not help them Herein he goes beyond all other Masters who can toil and task their Servants sufficiently but cannot strengthen them Christ encourages and assists them in their work when they grow faint and weary he strengthens them when doubtful he teaches them when slothful sometimes indeed he corrects them but not to kill but quicken them not to destroy them but their sloth when they are sick he pities and spares them when old he turns them not out of his service but the longer they live in it the more they love it yea the more able they are to perform it In a word when they dye he neither suffers them to lye still nor sends them to seek another Master for then they change not their Master for another but their work for a better or rather for their wages Psal. 138.3 Isa. 40 28 29 30 31. Ioel. 2.29 16. He is a most faithful Master he keeps secures and vindicates all his Servants he preserves them and provides for them gives them all things pertaining to life and godliness 2 Pet. 1.4 comforts them with exceeding great and precious promises he feeds them with his own flesh and blood he clothes them with his own righteousness he directs them with his own spirit his Servants shall want no good thing they shall neither pine for want nor surfeit with abundance they shall never have so much or so little as to make them unfit for service Christ loves to keep them in working case How can a Servant of Christ want provision when as he can make his very work meat and drink unto him nay his wants meat and drink How can they want whose friend hath and is all things A Servant of Christ may be sick persecuted scorned imprisoned but never unsafe He may suffer evils to touch them but he never suffers evils to hurt them He visits them in and delivers thâ—m from all their troubles He rebukes Kings for their sakes and protects them safely from all enemies 17. He is a holy and impartial Lord and Master and takes account of all his servants exactly and particularly He compares himself to a King that took an account of his servants Mat. 18.23 Mat. 25.19 After a long time the Lord of those servants comes and reckons with them he will not indulg any in their ease and sloth 18. He is a most bountiful Lord and Master and abundantly rewards any service that 's done to him aright thâ—ugh never so little Luk. 19.17 He pays his servants most bountifully Well done thou good servant because thou hast been faithful in a very little have thou authority over ten cities Mat. 10.42 He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet and a righteous man in the name of a righteous man and whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple veriâ—y I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward 19. This Lord is the most dreadful adversary he will sharply and severely punish evil servants who say in their hearts the Lord delays his cominâ— Mat. 24.48 49 50 51. 25.30 Cast ye the unprofitable servant into utter darkness there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth He that knew his Lords will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many stripes Luk. 12.47 1 Thes. 1.8 He will come in flaming fire to take vengeance on his adversaries And they shall call to the rocks to fall on them and to hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb Rev. 6.16 20. He is a most desirable and incomparable Lord and such a Master as the world never knew for he makes all his faithful servants sharers with him in his wealth and honour They shall enter into the joy of their Lord Mat. 25.21 Sit in Thrones with him wear never-fading Crowns and inherit his everlasting Kingdom They that now follow him shall be where he is and the same glory he hath they shall have for ever Cadit mundus non cadit Christianus quia non cadit Christus Aust. Let the world fall yet a Christian falls not as long as Christ stands Whereas Satan chuses the subtillest he can find and leaven'd through to do his work and send on his errand for he cannot make a Mercury out of every block he is not able to give a man understanding wisdom and abilities for his work neither can he increase or improve any mans parts and gifts he must have instruments ready to his hand he can but put them forward and tempt them he will give
such as are strong and crafty many motives to serve him but he cannot furnish them with strength or craft to serve But our Lord Christ sometimes chuseth the simplest the meanest the plainest men fisher-men to do his work for he can give gifts to men which they have not and raise the parts which they have he can make himself a Mercury a messenger out of any block Christ can send a fool of his errand and cause him to do it wisely He can cause the stammering tongue to speak plain and the plainest man to speak the highest Rhetorick when Moses complains of a slow tongue he can say I will be thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say Exod. 4.12 If he finds us not fit to do his business he can make us fit If Christ please he can make a man master of his trade before or as soon as ever he is servant to it Thus without the wisdom of the world Christ overcomes the wisdom of the world and by the foolishness of Preaching as men count foolishness saveth those that believe 1 Cor. 1.21 The foolishness of God is wiser than men i.e. those instruments which Christ employs how foolish soever men count them shall foil all the wisdom of man Uses of this Doctrine That Christ is a true Believers Lord and Master 1. Use of Information and Instruction 1. It informs us that Christ is Lord as well as Jesus our Soveraign as well as our Saviour He is both Lord and Christ Act. 2.36 And we are not only to look at benefit by him but service to him and not only come to him as Zebedees Sons Mar. 10.35 saying Master we would that thou shouldst do for us whatsoever we shall desire but with Saul fall at his feet saying Lord what wouldst thou have us to do we will do for thee whatsoever thou shalt command We should not only come to him for ease for our souls but to take his yoke on our necks and follow him Mat. 11.28 29. Men would have Christ to redeem them and Satan rule them Christ to save sin to lord it If it be not the language of their tongues yet 't is of their lives with most men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We will not have this man to reign over us Luk. 19.14 there it sticks the carnal mind is enmity to the Law lust cannot endure restraint and therefore men most oppose Christs Nomothetick power and carnal hearts are ready to say our lips are our own who is lord over us to be controul'd for every word every thought every action we cannot endure it O consider Christ hath many enemies but they are his chief enemies that withstand his reigning Those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and stay them before me By becoming Christs servants we do not cast off but only change our yokes 2. It 's not enough to be in the Church and outwardly admitted and stiled Christs servants but we must be really his and in heart Christ keeps no servants only to wear a livery cloak for security in sinning As he is not a titular Lord so neither are his servants titular servants to speak service and live in opposition to him to call him master and do the work of his enemy to be in the skin a Christian and in the core a heathen to have an outside verbal complimental profession and contradict it with an unholy conversation is no better than a renouncing of Christ. 'T is no advantage to bear the marks of Christ in our bodies and to have no fruit of it in our souls this is but to clothe our selves with the leaves of the vine without partaking of the sap Paganism and loose profession shall fare alike when Christ comes to judgment 3. There are divers kinds of Christs servants and there will be great diversity in their end 1. Some for honour some for dishonour 2 Tim. 2.20 as vessels in an house 2. Some sincere and good some evil and unprofitable Mat. 24.46 48. some faithful and wise and are found well doing some evil and riotous Mat. 25.21 26. some good and faithful some wicked and sloathful and unprofitable 3. Some Temporary that abides not in the house for ever some that abide there Ioh. 8.35 There will be great diversity found betwixt Christs servants in the end betwixt those that only cry Lord Lord and those that do the will of God Mat. 7.22 23 24.47 51. He shall make the one ruler over his goods the other cut him asunder Mat. 25.21 28 30. 4. It may inform us what the state of a Christian is 1. He is not his own not sui juris but a servant to Christ 1 Cor. 6.19 Ye are not your own and 1 Cor. 7.22 He that is most free in other respects is Christs servant no man can have any propriety in himself or power over himself but what is derived from this absolute Lord and stands in full subordination to him Therefore it belongs to Christ to be the absolute disposer of us and all things he may do with his own what he pleases and use it to the pleasure of his own will who would interpose or any way hinder Christ from the free disposal of his own not any co-partner for there is none nor we our selves for we are wholly his therefore it is not possible for him to do us any wrong however he shall use us therefore no man should repine at his disposal of him but all should acquiesce in his disposing will nor do any thing for selfish ends which is injurious to the will or interest of Christ. Christ hath full power to do what he lift with us or ours How far should any of his servants be from expecting that he should give an account of any of his actions to them it should suffice them that whatever befalls them it is from the Lord. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away whensoever he removes any comforts if we find our selves too ready to say to instruments as the owners of the Colt What d◠ye loosing or removing it we should be silenced though not with that answer which was returned by the Disciples to them the Lord hath need of it yet with this he sees it needful for us that thus it should be whensoever he commands the hardest duties inflicts the smartest stripes c. every servant of Christ should stop their murmuring-mouths with this the Lord will have it thus and as Act. 21.14 The will of the Lord be done 2. Neither are the good things we possess our own he that is not owner of himself is owner of nothing all that we have is properly his as well as we for no man can have more title to any thing than to himself we have not any thing nor can have which is not as much from Christ as we so is not as much his Therefore we should not dispose of any thing we have but for his interest and
ends how careful and wary should we be in using the Creatures all the comforts we enjoy are the goods of this Lord we are but stewards of them what we use must be used for not against our Lord. Learning riches honour are from him and therefore should be for him all our enjoyments are but borrowed we must therefore use them well not spot or stain not tear and cut them by sin lest we be ashamed when we should return them back to the owner and give him an account of them it may be with joy and not with grief 3. Neither may any Christian think himself Lord of the Church or his Brethren 1 Pet. 5.3 Neither as being lords over Gods heritage but being ensamples to the flock The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dominantes is not to be understood of tyrannizing and bearing unlawful rule or usurped dominion as Bellarmine would have it but exercising Lordship the same which Christ forbids the Apostles in the same word Mat. 20.25 as Bernard tells Pope Eugenius Ne dictum sola humilitate putes non veritate vox domini est reges gentium dominantur eis vos autem non sic Planum est apostolis inter dicitur dominatus not over-ruling It doth not only forbid the abuse of their authority or imperiously commanding of their own inventions instead of the Doctrine of the Gospel or carping Magisterially and insolently towards Gods people as Amet. But the use of that authority in the Ecclesiastical office which it is lawful for Princes to exercise towards their subjects saith Beza Omnes enim esse unius legislatoris domini servos c. Have Ministers no authority Yes saith he not over the consciences of men but only as messengers of Christ whose is all the power of commanding No Church no Council can make Laws but in Christ the compound and the simple word are used one by Matthew and Mark the other by Luke in the same sense so that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 adds no Emphasis to it all kind of Temporal rule is simply forbidden them 1. No Christian can bind the conscience in internal or elicite acts 2 Cor. 1.24 Not that we have dominion over your faith but as helpers of your joy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i e. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Apostle adds this left he should seem to have spoken too imperiously q. d. That I said I therefore came not that I might spare you take thus Not that I could by my own authority do any thing with Religion and in binding or relaxing your consciences but that I might be Gods Minister to comfort you c. 2. Nor can he command the outward imperate Acts of Conscience otherwise then by power civil or spiritual from Christ Pro. 8.15 By me Kings reign and Princes decree Iustice. 2 Cor. 10.8 1 Thes. 5.12 We beseech you Brethren know them who labour among you and are over you in the Lord. 3. As a Christian no man hath civil power over his Brother or the Church or over men Mat. 20.26 It shall not be so among you that as the Gentiles exercise authority and dominion over them 1. As a Christian he hath no legislative but only applicative power or executive in the Church a Christian must not make Laws in his house but keep and execute his Laws 2. As such He hath no coercive power over his fellow servants That natural or civil power that any Christian hath otherways over his Brother is to rule under for and according or like to Christ Philemon 16. Not now as a servant but above a servant a brother beloved especially to me How much more to thee both in the flesh and in the Lord 1 Cor. 7.39 She is at liberty to be married to whom she will only in the Lord. Ministers are not owners of the house but stewards in the house Laws are committed to us and must not be excogitated by us Only Christ can ordain laws to bind the Conscience mans laws bind not as they are mans but as they are back't by Christ nor can any but Christ so give laws to which we should be obedient as withal to make us obedient to the laws which he gives Christ only can write his laws in the heart No man should prefer the will or interest of the greatest mortal man or dearest friend nor the publick interest of States before or plead it against the will and interest of this great Lord. Neither may we give nor receive ambitious or flattering titles of honour Mat. 23 8 9 10 Be not ye called Masters for one is your Lord and Master even Christ we should so acknowledg a superiority among men as to be fearful of causing pride in them and that they may know themselves not to be absolute Lords but derivatively and secundum quid Herod became worms-meat who but just now was a meer idol and cryed up c. God would not bear it 5. It informs us therefore how consistible Christs service is with the service of others 1. It dissolves not but confirms natural and civil Lordship and subjection as between master and servant 1 Tim. 6.1 2 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour but what if they be both believers are they not Brethren yes and they that have believing masters let them not despise them because they are Brethren but rather do them service because they are believing and beloved partakers of the same benefit Titus 2.9 Between Magistrate and Subject Rom. 13.1 Let every soul be subject to the Higher Powers 2 Pet. 3.3 Submit your selves to every ordinance of man for the Lords sake 2. This our relation to Christ as master regulates the service of others Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right Eph. 6.1 For the Lord is the author of the authority of Fathers and therefore we must yield such obedience as he will have us This in the Lord implies both a commandment of Childrens obedience from the Lord and a restriction or limitation in those things which are not against the Lord that they so far obey their Parents as they swerve not from the true worship and service of God 3. This service of Christ excludes all absolute and unnecessary subjection to Creatures Luke 16.13 No man can serve two Masters He may subordinately but not absolutely for God will have the sâ—rvice of the whole man 1 Cor. 7.21 23 Art thou called being a servant care not for it but if thou may'st be made free use it raâ—her Ye are bought with a price be not ye the servants of men If ye be at liberty do not of your own accord make your selves servants but consecrate your selves intirely Body and Soul to the service of Christ or it ye be servants to men that is in a state of servitude remember still that above and before all ye are the servants of Christ and therefore see ye do nothing to the obedience of men which
is contrary to that which ye owe to Christ and as touching your Soul and Conscience subject and enslave your selves to no man living depend absolutely upon none but Christ and his word all our obedience to earthly Lords must be only such as this Lord allows and only in the Lord the greatest Lords in the world are but regula regulata Christ is the only regula regulans they the rule ruled he ruling 6. To inform us that Christians are Christs servants yet somewhat more or with some special exceptions Iohn 15.15 Henceforth I call you not servants for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but I have called you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you They are not only servants but friends they call Christ Lord and Master he calls them not servants but friends not servants but free-men yea sons Iohn 8.36 The servant abideth not in the house for ever but the Son abideth ever Gal. 4 7. Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son and if a son then â—â— heir of God through Christ. Not a servant that is under the ceremonies and bondage of the Law but a Son having received the adoption by Christ the eternal Son of God who was sent to redeem us that he might purchase and graciously communicate the right of sonship which he hath by nature to every true believer And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba father We are in such sort free and so set at liberty as that we must be governed by the Spirit of Christ which reigneth in our hearts and teacheth us the true service of the Father but this is not to serve but rather to enjoy true liberty as becometh Sons and Heirs 7. It teaches us that all doctrines and practices are to be abhorred which derogate from the dignity of this our Lord and Master 1. Doctrines especially the Popish which deprave our redemption purchased by this Lord by the doctrine of merits the worship due to this Lord with the doctrine of image and adoration and the Saints intercession The authority of this Lord by the doctrine of the Popes headship and pardoning of sins and many such doctrines not only of the Papists but of others nearer to us 2. The practices of vile and wicked men We should make it our business and only Plot to promote his honour and service in the world and endure nothing that would eclipse and impair his glory He who touches that should touch the apple of our eye look upon his reproach as cast upon our selves mourning for that dishonour offered to him which we cannot redress 't is against both Christianity and Humane ingenuity to suffer him to be abused whom we have undertaken to serve This neither agrees with honesty nor honour 't is indeed not only a sin but a shame Hardly is any Servant so low spirited as to think it consistent with his credit to serve a disgraced Master they that truly call Christ Lord will never endure that his glory should suffer from others much less from themselves 3. Our own unsuitable practices A servant of Christ must not be a son of Belial every one is under a yoke still Christ does not give his servants leave to sin but liberty to serve God Christ came not to free us from the Law but sin from the service of the Devil not from the service of God He came not to make the Law less strict or sin less odious or us less holy freedom from wrath and Hell is a priviledg but from duty and obedience is none because we are made free by Christ we are to be more apt and ready to discharge the duty we owe to God and man in maxima libertate minima licentia a great deal of liberty by Christ and yet the strongest ingagement to service that may be They whose lives are full of Epicurisme Atheisme worldliness 't is not a pin to chuse whether they be Pagans or Christians for acting thus heatheâ—ishly thus brutishly they do but pollute that sacred and worthy name the Apostle saith I am not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 9.21 Not without the law to God but under the law to Christ. This leads to Second use of reprehension It may serve to reprove three sorts 1. Those that endure not to hear of Christs Lordship and commands that will not acknowledg this dominion of Christ nor let him be Lord in his own house but do what in them lies to deprive him of that honour to which he hath so good a right But who deny Christs Lordship 1. They that will not hear his voice obey his call accept his inâ—itations in the Gospel he inviteth them to himself prays them to be reconciled to God through him intreats them to come and put themselves under his government and take his yoke on them and they will not hear but in effect say We are Lords we will not come at thee Jer. 2.31 We are well enough and shall do well enough without him and what needs such care and strictness He comes and waits and knocks at their doors but they slight him and will not open He prays them that they will look into their hearts mind their Souls consider their eternal condition but they quench the Spirit smother the light and resist all these motions they will not come to him nor suffer him to come into them that they may have life 2. Those that addict themselves to strong and inordinate desires of liberty which is the worst slavery that will not submit to his government quarrelling at duties rather than performing them thinking it a kind of happiness to be free and that there is no freedom but in sinning and following the bent and sway of their own hearts and being Lords of their own actions and dream of an exemption from all kind of Law but their own lusts they would he above all checks and controul and have scope and room for their own lusts Promise themselves liberty 2 Pet. 2.19 Men would have it at this to be at their own dispose and to be answerable to none that would call them to account and therefore that will not obey his laws and commands 3. Such as in a proud contempt and obstinacy against reproof and instruction do cast off all respect and obedience to Christ they cannot endure restraints are as bullocks unaccustomed to the yoke Ier. 31.18 Are all for breaking bonds and dissolving cords Psal. 2.4 Bursting the yoke altogether Ier. 5.5 They cannot endure to hear of denying their fashions renouncing their lusts and pleasures forsaking their vain worldly wanton thoughts and ways what every thought every desire every word must be under a Law So much time spent in duties such gravity in conversation such awe in their speeches No vain licentious Spirits will not be clogged and yoked thus what a weariness is
it Mal. 1.13 Sacrifice upon Sacrifice such waiting upon God they cannot endure their spirits are impatient and recoil with the more violence upon reproof and storm and vex which argues much non-subjection to the Lord Christ. Hear ye and give ear be not proud Ier. 13.15 These are flat refusers Luke 19.14 We will not have this man to reign over us Secondly Such as name themselves Christs servants and are content to wear his livery but do not mind this state cordially and follow it constantly 1. Such as are ignorant concerning the object manner and points of this service How shall men serve one whom they know not He that knows not his Landlord cannot pay his Rent they follow the fashion of the Country and in a blind superstitious manner conform to the worship of the place not considering why nor whom it is they serve but offer sacrifice as the Athenians to the unknown God worship an Idol rather than Christ or as Christ tells the Samaritans ye worship ye know not what 2. Fair promisers and pretenders but slow performers as Mat. 21.30 When his father bid him go work to day in my Vineyard he answered I go sir and went not so many whose service is like Ephraims goodness Hosea 6.4 As a morning cloud and early dew it quickly vanisheth but let us take heed we do not gloze with him as we do one with another nor flatter him with our lips when our heart is far from him we are deceived if we think that this Lord will be mocked with hollow and empty promises and protestations We live in a wonderous complemental age wherein scarce any other word is so ready in every mouth as your servant and at your service when all is but meerly formal without any purpose or many times not so much as a single thought of doing any serviceable office to those men to whom we profess so much service However we are one towards another yet with the Lord there is no dallying it behoveth us to be real good words and fair speeches serve not our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 16.18 3. Partial hypocritical temporary servants Some divide between the service of Christ and of sin like the false mother that would have the child divided as Cambden reports of Redwald King of the East Saxons the first Prince of this Nation that was Baptized yet in the same Church he had one Alter for Christian Religion another for Heathenish So too many are of Mungril Religion halting between Christ and Baal Heteroclites in Religion this is to set the Ark of God and Dagon together which God will never endure he came not for one half of thy heart if Sin and Devil have the other half How much hypocrisy is there in men many like the Souldiers that bowed to Christ and mocked him give their outsides to Christ their insides to all uncleanness that as Luther saith of Cain give opus personae Deo but not personam their cap and knee to God but themselves to all sin and iniquity this is the Capital sin of this age And then how many are but temporary of whom we may justly say what Nabal did unjustly of David there are many servants now-adays that break away every man from his Master Yesterday Gods people and to day are turned knaves Better they had never known the way of Righteousness 2 Peter 2.21 A relapse makes their condition worse He that first served sin and then turned to the service of Christ and afterwards falls again to the service of sin proclaims to all the World that he esteems that better O how great affront is this to Christ Iohn 6.66 From that time many of his disciples went away and walked no more with him 3. Such are to be reproved that lay claim to this honourable title and yet indeed serve other masters There are many of whom we may say too truly as it is Recorded of the Samaritans 2 Kings 17.33 They feared the Lord and served their own gods 1. Some serve themselves and not Christ â—t up themselves as Idols and do what seems â—ood in their own eyes and make their will their rule their lust their Law This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 self-worship self-Idolatry which is the greatest and worst of all It is the greatest curse under Heaven for God to give a man over to himself to live as he list Psal. 81.11 12. Rom. 1.26 the judgment of the hardned Iews and blinded Gentiles We read of one given over to the Devil for his good 1 Cor. 5 5 but never any given over to himself but for his damnation Austin prays libera me domine a memetipso self is mans greatest and most dangerous enemy we are naturally self-destroyers without self-denyal no Salvation 2. Those that serve men not the Lord. Not that it is contrary to the service of Christ to be in that civil relation or subjection to men as servants to their Masters c. But as the Apostle 1 Cor. 7.23 Ye are bought with a price be not ye the servants of men That is saith Ambrose subject not your consciences to the superstitious inventious of men in Gods worship that build their Religion on mans bare Authority as Papists or be not servants to the lusts of wicked men such are reproved as serve men when they run in a cross line to Gods will Such were the subjects of Nebuchadnezzar that at the command of the King worshipped the golden image and served the King not the Lord such was Pilate that for fear of dipleasing Caesar delivered up Christ to be crucified though he knew him to be innocent such were the Nobles of Cambyses who having a lust to marry his own Sister He sends for all his Counsel and asked them if they had any Law in Persia to allow him to marry his own Sister They answered that there was no such Law but yet there was another Law that the Kings of Persia might do what they list these Nobles were slaves to the lust of Cambyses O that we had not many amongst us that sell their Consciences and their Religion and their Salvation to be Panders to the lustful covetous and ambitious desires of great men men-servers and men pleasers are worthy of sharp reprehension Ephes. 6.6 3. Such as serve not the Lord but their own belly Rom. 16.18 Whose god is their belly Phil. 3.19 Love their pleasures more than God that serve and fulfill the lusts of the flesh such an one that lives in pleasure is dead while he lives 1 Tim. 5.6 Ye cannot make provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof and fulfill the will of God too Rom. 13. ult to rot in pleasures makes men utterly uncapable of serving the Lord Tit. 3.3 Serving divers lusts and pleasures which is the worst slavery to walk after our own lusts is to seek to cherish that which Christ came to destroy and so go about to defeat our Redeemer and hinder him from obtaining his purpose in our
hearts What a Christian and yet sensual A Christian and yet proud A Christian believing in Christ a man of sorrows and yet given to pleasures What a Christian and yet worldly 4. Such as serve the world and yet pretend to serve Christ Christ tells you it cannot be Ye cannot serve God and Mammon Mat. 6.24 't is impossible to join these together Those that are slaves to the Naaman of iniquity that do not only possess money but are possessed of money that with Iudas will sell Christ for thirty pieces of silver that rise early and lye down late and eat the bread of carefulness that will compass Sea and land to get gain these make gold their God their covetousness is justly termed Idolatry Col. 3.5 Alas my Brethren what is their in the world that it should be so much coveted and heaven slighted What hath the world done for its most faithful servants How oft have we heard them complaining at last O the world hath deceived me and undone me it flattered me in my prosperity and now utterly cast me off in my necessity Ah if I had served the Lord as faithfully as I have served the world he would not have cast me off at last nor have left me thus comfortless and hopeless in my depth of misery 5. Time-servers that change their Religion with the times are not servants of the Lord their Religion is like a piece of wax to be moulded into any frame according as the times alter Such as will be Superstitious if the times be so that will be devout or atheistical according to the times It was the speech of a time-server that was said to be spoken by the King of Navarre to Beza That he would lanch no further into the sea of Religion than he might be sure to return safe in the haven This is the right Picture of a time-server as many turned Protestants in K. Edward's days and Papists in Q. Maries Lastly Those that serve the worst Master that is sin 'T is indeed one thing to be a sinner and another to be the servant of sin that is one that gives himself over to the service of sin that is bound Apprentice to sin The difference was great between Paul and Ahab Paul was sold under sin but it was against his will but Ahab sold himself willingly to work wickedness How many such servants of sin are there as the Centurions servant served him if sin bid go they go such servants are swearers and drunkardâ— that are at the service of their oaths and cups This is a most shameful and pernicious service for it is to serve the Devil Ioh. 8.44 O that the world would believe this that when they serve this or that lust they serve the Devil Cyprian brings in the Devil upbraiding Christ Ostende mihi tet servos qui tibi c. Shew me if thou canst so many servants that have served thee so diligently and willingly as I can shew that have served me Can Satan give you better wages as Saul said to his followers Can the son of Iesse make you captains of hundreds and captains over thousands give you vineyardâ— and oliâ—â—yards c. 1 Sam. 22.7 Aâ—as if sin had not put out your eyes as the Philistines did by Sampson that you cannot see the vileness and cursedness of it you would nevâ—r grind in its mill for the wages of sin is death 3. Use of Exhortation two Branches 1. To all to perswade them to esteem chuse and embrace Christs service 2. To Christs servants to take care to be such servants and perform such service as shall be found good and faithful approved by Christ. 1. Is Christ such a Lord as you have heard then let every one of us be prevailed with to take him for our Lord and give up our selves to him and become his servants this day we must either resign up our selves to this excellent Lord or we cannot be true Christians 2 Cor. 8.5 this is the essence of Christianity and life of Religion and marrow of Profession To wear the badg and livery of Chriâ—â— in external profession without this is nothing but a dead carcass an empty shadow and will turn to our greater condemnation another day That which will be enquired after at the great day is not who owned Christ as Lord in profession but who honoured Christ as Lord by real subjection and resignation of themselves unto him The great question will be Whether did Christ reign over us and bring us under his Law and Dominion and upon the decision of this important question depends the everlasting state of our souls and bodies in the next world If you now say unto Christ We are Lords we will not come at thee depart from us we desire not the knowledg of thy ways or as Pharoah Who is the Lord that I should obey him He will say unto you at the last day Depart from me ye cursed I know you not nor will your crying Lord Lord then any thing avail you O then let it be your resolution now to resign your selves to this gracious Saviour take him for your Lord and Soveraign Kiss the Son serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling O that your hearts would once at last say as 't is foretold of Gospel times Isa. 44.5 I am the Lords other Lords have had dominion over me but henceforth by thee only will I make mention of thy name Isa. 26.13 We will not say any more to the work of our hands nor to the lusts of our hearts to the world the flesh or to sin ye are our gods for with thee O Lord poor lost creatures find mercy Hos. 14.3 Whatever your neighbours acquaintance or kindred let them chuse whom they will serve yet we are resolved for our part we will serve the Lord Iosh. 24.15 O my friends what say you to this motion what answer give you to this invitation is it not most reasonable and considerable you are prest to come to Christ and take his yoke and bow the knee before him c. What will you do will every one of you give up himself to Christ resign soul and body to the service of this glorious Lord Have you found or ever heard of any thing in him that may deter you what iniquity have you seen in him that you keep at distance from him and walk after vanity Is he not worthy of your love not good enough to be your Master can you bestow your selves better employ your selves more profitably what sticks it at would you take time to consider of it and defer your resolutions to another day so you have done too long already and ventur'd too far by your delays To day if you will hear his voice then harden not your hearts Seek ye the Lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near He now saith hearken unto me and I will make a covenant with you even the sure mercies of David Encline your ear
come unto me Hear and your soul shall live why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labour for that which satisfieth not Hearken diligently unto me eat ye that which is good and let your soul delight it self in fatness Alas ye feed on husks and chaff till you return to Christ. Isa 55.2 3 4 7. How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and fools delight in folly turn ye at my reproof Forsake the foolish and live and go in the way of understanding O that you were wise and would understand these things and consider your latter end O that there were such hearts in you c. O that ye knew the things that belong unto your peace in this your day before they be hid from your eyes O when shall it once be what is your resolution shall Jesus Christ be your Lord and Master or shall he not Take heed how you refuse him that speaks from heaven do not as you want Christ despise this loving invitation and make light of this gracious offer lest his wrath be kindled in his breast and you perish He that hath so long held forth his Scepter of Grace yet stands waiting for your return yet stretcheth forth his arms to embrace you yet opens his very heart to entertain you Hark he bids you come and lodg your souls in his warm bosom yet he calls by his Word yet he strives by his Spirit and follows you with checks of conscience and renews his mercies on you every morning would fain draw you with cords of love if it would be But it will not be always thus his patience will not always wait his Spirit shall not always strive with man the door of mercy shall not always stand open When once the master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door saying Lord Lord open to us then 't is too late Luk. 13.25 O come to Christ now or never do it this day or you may never be invited again Hear now Christ bespeaks and wooes thee sinner Cast down thy weapons of rebellion surrender thy soul to me give me thy heart submit to my government I vvill pass by all thy former resistance and put up all the wrongs thou hast done me I will remember thy iniquities no more but pass an act of everlasting oblivion upon them O look unto me and be ye saved This is my business with you my beloved at this time this is mine errand to your Souls What answer shall I return from you to him that sent me The great work you know of us Ministers is to perswade men to become Christs covenanting Servants to consent to his Laws and acknowledg his Lordship our way to win your hearts is to tell you what he is some little hath been spoken but not the thousand part of the excellencies of this incomparable Lord O he is the chiefest of ten thousâ—nd his name is wonderful he is God and Man in one person he is Man that you may not be afraid of him God that he may be able to do you good He is the Lord of lords and King of kings Heir of all things Saviour of the world c. 'T is infinite condescention of love in him to treat with you or intreat your consenâ— that he may be your Lord. This being a matter of greatest importance and knowing the terror of the Lord let me perswade you for that end I intreat you to press upon your selves and improve in your retirements these considerations as motives 1. Motive Yeild up your selves to the service of the Lord Christ or you are unjust you do him open wrong Equity and justice requires that you render to all their due jus cuique tribuere is the first and most proper act of justice Tribute to whom tribute fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Rom. 13.7 It is a common principle among you which nature teacheth that you deal righteously with men owe no man any thing do no man wrong let every one have that which of right appertaineth to him And if we may not deny unto Caesar the things that are Caesars it is but right we should also give unto God the things that are Gods by so many just titles Why now you cannot without apparent wrong to Christ deny him your selves you are his and owe your selves unto him and all you have and all that you can do you are not your own but his I lay claim unto you in the name of Christ and challenge your souls and bodies to his use Dare you deny the claim or will any step out and question this title The Lord Jesus hath laid challenges to you It has been a custom in England on the Coronation day as multitudes of people were feasting in Westminster-Hall a Herald comes forth and Champion for the King and proclaimed his title to the Crown and if any questioned his title he was there ready to make it good I do now proclaim to you that Christ is your Lord and you are his Servants and challenges your service if any question his Title I will justifie it and make it good let the case come to tryal on condition that whoever is convinced shall yield subjection Let me ask you then Did not he make you and not ye your selves Psal. 95.6 and does not he preserve and sustain you and ye are the Sheep of his pasture Vers. 7 Did not Christ purchase you with his own blood 1 Pet. 1.18 Were you not the dearest purchase and was not the greatest price paid for you that ever the world heard of Well what say you to this Title Doth not justice give every one his own and are not you Christs If there be any creature in Heaven or Earth that can lay a better claim or pretend a juster Title to you than Christ then let it have your hearts and service but if the Lord Jesus have the full and sole right to you then do not so much wrong him and your own souls as to deny or withstand this just and reasonable motion 2. Give up your selves to this Lord or you are unthankful gratitude as well as justice requires this at your hands Nothing is more abhorrent to an ingenuous spirit than the brand of ingratitude to be so base and unworthy as to render evil for good ingratum si dixeris omnia dixeris call a man unthankful and you call him all that 's naught abhor it as death to be guilty or have the name of ingratitude Well now suppose a man had by some capital crime incurred the danger of the Law and the sentence of death were past upon himâ— should another step in and humble himself to beg the pardon or begger himself to buy the freedom for him Must not that man be wholly his who hath ransomed him from the Gallows This is our case Sin was our work and Death was our wages
his wrath O do not thou lift up the heel against him to whom thou must one day bow the knee if thou wilt not now kiss the Son thou shalt shortly lick the dust of his feet if thou be not now in the number of his willing people in the day of the power of his grace in the day of his wrath his arrows will be in thy heart as one amongst his enemies In a word if thou wilt not stoop to his golden Scepter thou must be broken in pieces with his rod of iron 6. Give up your selves to Christ and you shall be your own and be happy look when and how much you resign your selves to this absolute Lord even then and so muâ—h you are your own and no more you are never your own but when and while you are his what you deny him or steal from him you give to the Devil the World and the Flesh you lye at the command of every vile lust or black devil till you become his subjects O quam multos habet dominos qui unum non habet O how many how ignoble how poor how cruel are the Lords of that man who hath not this one Lord But the way to secure your selves and whatever is dear to you is to give up all to Christ. He that loseth himself and his life shall find it and he that labours to secure himself another way loseth all Matt. 16.25 If you be his you are happy but if you be your own you are most miserable Can you support preserve or provide for your selves who shall save you in the hour of temptation and distress know ye not yet so much of your own insufficiency and do ye not yet feel your selves to be such a daily burthen to your selves that you have enough of your selves ere now as to beg of God above all your enemies to save you from your selves and to save you from being forsaken oâ— God and given up to your selves Remember that none in the world hath sufficient power wisdom and goodness to take the full care and charge of you but Christ none else can save you or sanctifie you or keep you alive one hour and therefore it will be your happiness and honour that you are his He will use you only in safe and honourable services and to no worse an end than your endless happiness Consider a little how unfit you are to be your own Lords and how unable to govern your selves so blind and ignorant so byassed by a corrupt will so turbulent are your passions so uncessant and powerful is the temptation of your sence and appetite that 't were as fit for a man to be govern'd by a servant or a rider by his horse But he is most perfectly fit to govern you and all the world you can desire nothing reasonably in a Lord and Governor which is not in him He hath perfect wisdom to know what is best perfect goodness and therefore will be most regardful of his subjects good and will put no evil into his Laws Almighty to protect his Servants and see to the execution of his Laws most just and therefore can do no wrong but all his Laws and judgments are equal and impartial He is our very end interest and felicity our dearest friend and father and therefore loves us better than we love our selves and therefore we have greatest reason to submit to his Lordship and obey him as one that rules us to our own felicity 7. Let him be your Lord to rule and save you or you must needs perish everlastingly it 's a folly to think Christ should save you while you serve his enemies in vain do you expect the dignities and priviledges that come by Christ and not submit to the duties and services that are due to Christ. He is the author of salvation to them that obey him Heb. 5.9 The Gospel is a message of eternal life only to those to whom it is a rule of spiritual life and the true believer does not only cast himself into the arms of Christ to be saved but also casts himself at Christs feet to serve him never man had Chriâ—t for his Saviour unless he took him for his Lord. There is no possible escape for Christs enemies If they had another Lord or Potentate that could match Christ in strength they might fly to him to defend them from Christ but Christ is the only Lord and woe unto them that have him for their only enemy Can thy heart endure or thy hands be strong in the day when this Lord shall deal with thee Ezek. 22.14 Jer. 4.13 Foolish sinner dost thou contend with thy Maker wilt thou set bryars and thorns against him in battel as smoak contend with the wind the wax with the fire the stubble with the flame or the snow-bâ—ll with the Sun 'T is hard to kick against the pricks there 's no flying from him but by flying to him Isa 10 3. What will ye do in the day of visitation and in the desolation which shall come from far To whom will ye sâ—â—e for help And where will ye leave your glory Will you call upon the rocks and mountains to fall on you and cover you from the wrath of the Lamb when the great day of his wrath is who shall be able to abide Rev 6 15 16 1â— Were it not better now to enter into the rock and hide your selves in the clefts of this rock Isa. 2 10. No way to escape the wrath of God one spark whereof will horn the guilty sinner to destruction but by kissing the Son Psal. 2. ult 2. Branch of exhortation to all them who have given up their names to Christ and are his listed 〈◊〉 servants Let me perswade you to 〈…〉 serve 〈◊〉 great and blessed Lord O 〈◊〉 him with greatest diligence and fervency of spirit 〈◊〉 best Lord must have your best service darâ— not to offer to this Lord that which cost you nothing the blind and â—â—me are too bad for your ordinary lords this Lord muâ—â— have your all the whole of your created abilitiâ—sâ— Hâ— deserves and his work requires your all he hath much more business then all the time and strength of his servants can bring about if every hair of your heads were an hand you might have your hands full of work O let none do his work negligently how great was his goodness to take such unprofitable servants as we are into the family of his Church what saw he in us more than in Heathens that he should put such an honour upon us I shall first instruct and then excite you 1. For your direction I shall lay down 1. Rules 2. Meanes 3. Manner of this service 1. Rules about Christs service 1. Live and act wholly to and for this your Lord do all you do for Christ Phil 1.21 For to me to live is Christ. Christ is the scope and end of all his life Rom. 14.6 7 8. None of us liveth to himself and no man
dyeth to himself For whether we live we live to the Lord and whether we 〈◊〉 we die unto the Lord whether we regard 〈…〉 or not it must be to the Lord. Whether we eat or not it must be to the Lord make him the end of your conversation Iesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb 1â— 7 8. 2. In all things seek to 〈◊〉 him 1 Cor 7.32 Care for the things that belong to the Lord how you may please the Lord. And labour whether present or absent to be accepted of him 2 Cor. 5.9 Have none to please but Christ and for Christ. 3. Be ever found doing his work Mat. 24.46 Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing never cease working till you die life and labour must end together he gives us no time to be idle in 4. Go by his rule in all your ways let all your actions and proceedings be regulated by his law whatsoever ye do in word or in deed do all in the Name of the Lord Iesus Col. 3.17 As when Pharaoh had lifted up Ioseph and made him ruler over the Land of Egypt and they cryed before him bow the knee Pharaoh said unto Joseph I am Pharaoh and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all Egypt Gen. 41.44 So 5. Employ all you are have and can for him His word is Luke 19.13 Occupy till I come all your Talents he requires the service of thoughts 2 Cor. 10.5 of words Eph. 4.29 of works 1 Cor. 10.31 of body and Spirit 1 Thes. 5.23 6. Highly esteem what ever is his His Day Ordinances Servants Ministers and his holy Word let the feet of his Embassadors be beautiful both for their Master and their message-sake they are the Servants of Christ. Our delight should be in those excellent ones who bear the image and wear the badge of our Lord the world now thinks that of all callings this of the Ministry can best be spared but let us not think so basely of them who are Christs servants not only to do his business but to wait on his person ye to represent his person 1 Cor. 4.1 7. Study to approve your selves in all things to him 2 Thes. 1.11 12. Pray always that God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. In a word let none but Christ be your end Serve him not to serve your own turns but let every interest be subservient to Christ learn to perish that the glory of Christ may live make not Religion a design let Christ be sweet for himself in serving him let nothing else be your scope and then nothing will divert you aim not at profit so gain will not allure you nor at pleasure so ease will not corrupt you nor at friends so favour will not seduce you Be all unto Christ and let Christ be all unto you Be all or nothing 2. Means 1. Redemption from other opposite Masters Luk. 1.74 That he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life 2. Enmity in us must be subdued all that exalts it self against the knowledg of God strong holds pull'd down imaginations and high things cast down and every thought be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ 2 Cor. 10.4 5. 3. Receive instruction from him we must be taught in this service and that by him we must learn Christ Ephes. 4.20 21. If so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Iesus Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom Phil. 4.12 In all things I am instructed 4. You must also be furnished by him with graces and strength 2 Tim. 3.17 Throughly furnished to all good works And 2 Tim. 2.21 Prepared unto every good work and have his strength or you can do nothing Ioh. 15.5 5. Practise self-denial If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me Mat. 16 24. Either you must deny your self or you will deny Christ that man that sets much by himself will never reckon much of a Saviour He who hath not learned self denial when Christ and self come in competition meet on a narrow bridge will endeavour to make Christ go back he that doth not account himself nothing will soon esteem Christ so 6. Clear your selves from all worldly distractions lay aside the world as much as may be that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction 1 Cor. 7.35 Let not this be your rule to Christ and holiness so far as you may without any prejudice to your worldly interests but this follow the world so far only as you may without being false and unfaithful to Christ and his service do not say to duty as Prayer Hearing Meditation stand aside I have such a worldly business to look after but rather say world stand aside Be sure that you are gotten clear of the world and that Christ have the preheminence in you be not ye the worlds prisoners but Christs free men 7. Remember the last account and judgment 2 Cor. 5.9 10. Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him for we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad None so diligent and faithful in the service of this Lord as those that with Ierome have still sounding in their ears that terrible voice Surgite mâ—rtui venite ad judicium Our Lord is gone but will come again to take an account how matters have been managed during his absence now sincce we look for such things what manner of persons ought we to be 3. For manner Christ be served in a right manner 1. Heartily freely cheerfully the heart is the marrow of the performance Col. 3.23 Whatsoever ye do do it heartily as to the Lord Ephes. 6.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not with eye service as men pleasers but as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart Serve him in the spirit doing service with good-will and gladness making it our meat and drink to do his will quod cor non facit non sit 2. Humbly reverently when we have done all we can all those things that are commanded say we are unprofitable servants we have done that which was our duty to do Luk. 17.9 10. In bearing when he corrects content with our allowance not doing what we please but what pleases him coming at every call and obeying
undeserving and ill deserving mankind such a gift so transcendently superlatively excellent and wonderful that if God the Lord should create an understanding-faculty of man or Angel millions of degrees more apprehensive and vigorous than if all the men and Angels that are or possibly might be created were contemperated in one yet could not their understanding so see the incomparable worth and superexcellent beauty of this gift but that there would remain unseen treasures of loveliness and oceans of excellencies never known to the amazement and admiration of all creatures to all eternity Nay it implys an eternal contradiction that the Creatures should see to the bottom of the Creator or that which is finite fathom that which is infinite This gift is promised in the Old and those Promises are fulfilled in the New Testament Hear what the Prophet Isaiah saith Isa. 9.6 Vnto us a child is born a son is given A Child born in respect of his Humanity a Son given in respect of his Deity and both as already done in regard of Gods purpose and the infallible certainty of his promise which is as sure as if it were already done and in regard of the fruits and benefits thereof to men though it was to be accomplished above 700 years after and in the fulness of time God sent his Son actually given both to us and for us to effect our Salvation Ioh. 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed on him should not perish but have everlasting life All I purpose to do in the prosecution of this Doctrine is to shew the excellency of this gift and then make Application A great attempt indeed and far above the utmost reach of a finite capacity for who can declare his generation what pen though dipt in the river of life that flows under the Sanctuary what tongue though shap't out of all the Angels in Heaven and watered with the milk and wine of that good land can sufficiently express the glory and excellency of this heart-ravishing flower of Angels this living Ark of heaven the song of Angels and glorified Saints the joy and glory of that new land the crown and garland of his Fathers delight the sweetness of the garden of God the wonder of wonders for eternity to Angels and men that fair tree of life the branches whereof cannot for the narrowness of the place have room to grow within the huge and capacious borders of the Heaven of heavens How impossible is it therefore to contain him in the narrow compass of the words or thoughts of any mortal creature I cannot better express what he is than by telling you I cannot express him Yet something I shall endeavour to speak of his inexpressible worth under the notion of a Gift in these particulars Christ and Heaven cannot be praised Hyperbolically No danger of excess speak I as much think you as much as we can of Christ. 1. Christ is a most free gift we use to say what 's freer than gift I may well add What gift freer than Christ whether we respect the giver or look on the receiver 't is easie to judg that this gift is absolutely free and undeserved In relation to God it is beyond all doubt that there was nothing in man that might move God to give him Christ no worthiness in man no profit by man nothing but loathsomness The promise of Christ coming in the flesh was an absolute unconditional promise Hence 't is said Christ is not only sent delivered c but given not paid nor sold he is not returned to us by way of payment for who hath given ought that he should be repayed neither is he sold to us in consideration of ought to be paid by us for what can we return to God that is not his own already Rom. 11.35 36. 1 Chron. 29.11 12 13 14. If Iacob could say He was not worthy of the least of all his mercies Gen. 32.10 Who can pretend to be worthy of this greatest but Christ is given freely bestowed of his meer grace and bounty without respect of ought in us that might invite or induce him thereunto Rom. 5.6 8 10. Tit. 3.5 without any expectation of ought from us that might be beneficial to himself Can a man be profitable unto God Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that a man is righteous Is it any gain to him that we make our ways perfect Job 2â— 23 35.5 8. No our goodness cannot extend it self unto God Psal. 16.2 Look on man and what is there to be found in him but sin and misery He is not only without strength and so despicable cannot help himself but ungodly also and so loathsome deserving no help from others What is man that God was thus mindful of him a poor naked indigent helpless and wretched creature and all this wo and misery is brought upon him by his own choice and act he is not only miserable but wicked a rebel as well as a beggar not only cast out into the open field to the loathing of his person but found in the field of war treacherously fighting against his Lord and Maker Man was in a state of darkness slavery rebellion poverty pain ignominy banishment nakedness filthiness deformity sickness death perdition every thing that 's naught and miserable all the woes in the world were they a thousand times greater are but a faint representation of the miseries of man by nature Now if a gift may be free when bestowed on a friend how much more when given to an enemy why God gave us his Son to reconcile us to himself when we were not only strangers from him but enemies to him Col. 1.21 O the riches of his meer mercy and grace Is not that gift free that is bestowed on sinners strangers enemies Ephes. 2.12 13 14 God never did nor never will sell his Grace his Son to any none can have Christ but those that come empty a full hand can hold nothing Fix your thoughts on the terms expressed in that Evangelical Proclamation Isa. 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price 2. Christ is a most full gift He is full of Grace and truth Joh. 1.14 Col. 1.29 It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell he fills all in all There is in this gift of God a fulness of sufficiency and a fulness of redundancy enough for himself and to fill all persons all things there is enough in Christ for every soul and for the supply of every want whatever the heart of man can want or wish is to be had in Christ. That 's a very full expression Col. 2.9 In him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Fulness in the abstract he is not full only but Fullness it self fulness not of the cistern but of the fountain Gods
that goodly tribe of the Creation was almost utterly lost I looked and there was none to help then my own arm brought salvation Isa. 63.5 The year of my Redeemed is come now is the accepted time now is the day of salvation So when a poor convinced sinner is at a loss and knows not what to do crys I am cut off for my part my hope and my strength is perished c. even despairs of help from all other then comes Christ then ariseth the Sun of Righteousness with healing in his wings in the thickest darkness day breaks forth when the Bricks are doubled then comes Moses In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen 11. Christ is a most satisfying gift He that creates the heart can fill and satisfie it in worldly things the more a man enjoys the more he desires If God heap temporal gifts on men till there be no room for more give them never so many left-hand blessings still mans heart is like the grave that never saith it is enough or the daughters of the Horsleech unsatisfiedly crying Give give But there is this excellency in this gift that he that hath received it hath enough and no wonder for he hath all Esau saith I have enough my Brother and Iacob said I have enough Gen. 33.9 11. Interpreters observe that word which Esau useth translated enough signifies much and the word for Iacob's enough signifies all Esau had much but Iacob had all And the reason he renders is because God hath dealt graciously with me Habet omnia qui habet habentem omnia in Christ is a full store house and well-spring of comforts to make up whatever defects are in other things The Sun can make day without the Stars such as have Christ can say as 2 Cor. 6.10 We are as poor yet rich as having nothing yet possessing all things in respect of the world we are poor and contemptible but in respect of our incomes and havings in Christ we are rich and honourable 1 Cor. 3.22 All things are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death things present and things to come all are yours for Christ is yours and ye are Christs O this sweetens every relation this suffices in every condition Ioh. 4.14 Whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst which must not be understood of feeling the necessity but of falling into the intire privation of Gods grace not as spoken against desire but against driness or rather it 's exclusive not of desires after more of Christ but of all inordinate desires after all other things As Bernard says Nihil ita temperat siâ—im avaritiae sicut nomen Iesu nothing quenches the thirst of covetousness ambition c. but the name of Jesus superbiae tumprem sedat nihil ita libidinis flammam extinguit Isa. 49.10 They shall not hunger nor thirst for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them even by the springs of water shall he guide them Psal. 36.8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house and thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of thy pleasures for with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light He that hath Christ that can say my beloved is mine and I am his may contentedly want all other comforts he hath enough besides He hath that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that abundant plenty which observed will not suffer him to envy the most prosperous sinner he may answer Satan when he offers worldly glory and preferments as that woman did the Prophet I live among mine own people I have enough The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want the Lord is my portion and I will rest in him He can look on earthly Paradises with a disdainful eye and scornful countenance and trample under foot with a holy contempt all sublunary fading vanities Christ in his eye his glorious excellency ravishing beauty and inexplicable delightfulness doth infinitely transcend the utmost height of all earthly felicities and it lasteth for ever 12. Christ is a most lasting gift yea he is everlasting This is the flower top and bound of all the forementioned Excellencies without which they would be scattered and lost He is a most free full and kind gift a most rich precious and lovely gift most necessary useful and gainful gift most suitable seasonable and satisfying Add this one more and it compleats all He is unchangeable the same for ever They that once have him shall never lose him none shall ever be able to pluck them out of his hands nor him out of their hearts the union and propriety is inseparable and insuperable other things like flowers decay and wither in our hands and the excellency that is in them goes away but Christ is always fresh and precious and always ours 'T was a just complaint that was made long ago against the Heathen gods O faciles dare summa deos eademque tueri difficiles they could give their favourites great gifts but they could not maintain them in the possession of them So 't is not with our God his gifts and gratuities are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without repentance and in this respect Believers are in a better state now than Adam in innocency he had excellent gifts of knowledg grace and inherent righteousness but was not confirmed in them but being left to the mutability of his own will chose the evil refused and lost the good and fell from his own happiness But now Christ is confirmed upon them that believe in him he shall lose none that are given to him nor shall they lose him to whom he is given once theirs and for ever theirs while he keeps them they shall keep him and while they are his he is theirs that is so long as God is God for ever and ever Vse This Doctrine Christ is Gods gift if fully improved in Application would afford many excellent Uses but I shall for brevities sake comprise all in one An Use of Instruction or Exhortation Is Christ the gift of God it may serve to instruct and exhort us 1. To receive 2. To keep this gift 3. Make use of it 4. Be thankful for 5. Be faithful in him walk worthy of him 1. Let us be perswaded to receive and embrace this transcendently excellent gift O that we may be enticed and allured by what hath been said of the incomparable worth of this gift of God to a hearty reception and particular application of it to our selves we can hardly see an excellent person but we are wishing him for our friend and companion nor hear of a precious Jewel or fair estate but we are secretly coveting it were ours and can we hear of him who is Excellency it self originally the spring and standard of all excellency in others whose name alone is excellent and not wish O that it were mine O that this blessed Christ were my friend my father my head
my husband my lot my portion Who will give me to drink of this Well of water springing up to eternal life this fountain of living waters this pure river that flows from the Throne from the heart of God Canst thou hear so much though infinitely short of his worth and not desire him Dost thou indeed believe that all this is true and yet thy soul not hunger and thirst after him Are these faithful sayings and is not he worthy of all acceptation Is it possible for a rational creature to hear of such a bottomless treasure of such a boundless pleasure and not covet the enjoyment of it O man where are thy wits What 's become of thy reason Art thou a man or a bruit If thou knewest the gift of God and what it is that is offered thee thou wouldest scorn the highest honours the sweetest pleasures the greatest riches yea trample upon all the Crowns and Kingdoms of this world for it It 's an inestimable priviledg that thou art a creature capable of so vast a happiness it 's the astonishing wonder of Heaven and Earth that God would give a Son such a Son to be thy Saviour what could he give more or better and it 's a special favour that the Gospel hath been sent to thee to reveal this great mystery to offer this excellent gift to thee and now when it is tendered wilt thou refuse it Wilt thou neglect and undervalue Christ or wilt thou not rather give it all humble and thankful acceptance Reflect upon those twelve incomparable properties and characters of this gift methinks though I have spoken but little yet I have said enough to one that will let his reason judg to draw out thy most vehement desires after this gift Yet I will add these Considerations more 1. Consider who it is that offers this gift to thee Christ is the gift of God in a peculiar and eminent manner so therefore were there no other reason thou must take it The worth greatness and excellency of the Donor is an argument to move us to take the gift we regard not so much what it is as from whom it is If thy Father or thy Prince offer a gift to thee would'st thou durst thou deny it If thy dearest Friend should send thee a token wouldest thou slight it Now look on the best of men in all his Excellencies in himself relations to thee and thy dependance on him consider in him all that faithfulness goodness greatness or any thing else that would most move thee to take a gift from his hands and there is infinitely more cause to accept this gift at the hands of God The great and glorious God the King of kings Lord of lords and God of gods the blessed Majesty of Heaven the first Cause the original Being self-sufficient all-sufficient absolutely perfect uncapable of any addition or diminution humbles himself to offer this gift to thee 'T is the high and lofty One that inhabits Eternity to whom millions of ages are but as one day who is boundless in his Being Omnipotent in his Power unsearchable in his Wisdom unconceivable in his Grace and infinite in all his Perfections He who dwells in that light inaccessible before whom the Angels the highest of Creatures vail their faces to whom the whole Creation is nothing less than nothing and vanity This God is he that made thee and all things of nothing supports all things influences all things and is all things and infinitely more than all things He is the God in whose hands thy life is and who is acquainted with all thy ways who is of infinite holiness and perfectly hates all wickedness of unlimited power able to avenge himself on thee every moment and turn thy soul and body into Hell Of infinite justice a jealous God who will by no means clear the guilty against whom thou hast sinned and been an offence and provocation to him all thy days and is thine enemy according to strict justice 't is he whose favour is life and whose frown is death and hell c. The height of a person that bestows a favour and the meanness and unworthiness of the object on whom it is bestowed as it doth exceedingly advance and heighten the Grace and goodness of him that doth it so it mightily aggravates the sin and danger of him that despiseth and refuseth it See that ye refuse not him that speaketh from heaven for if they escaped not c. Heb. 12.25 O what infinite grace and goodness is it for this great God to take so much notice of man and do so much for him What admirable wonderful condescension is it for the most High the God of Heaven and Earth that God whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain to manifest such respect to vile polluted dust and ashes yea to them that are rebels and traytors against his Majesty and thereby worthy of hell as once to offer his blessed only begotten Son to us as a Saviour Well may we with David be amazed at it and cry with admiration Psal. 8.14 O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the earth who hast set thy glory above the heavens And adds What is man that thou art mindful of him and the son of man that thou visitest him That so glorious a Lord should mind poor silly weak frail dying man sinful filthy polluted wretched miserable man could not but affect his heart with admiration and astonishment If a friend or neighbour thy equal do offer thee a kindness though but small how ill does he take it if thou accept it not O what horrid indignity dost thou offer to God what dishonour is it to all his Attributes if thou refuse this transcendent gift 2. Consider what it is that is offered to thee when this gift of God Jesus Christ is offered to thee To explain this fully would require the tongue nay exceed the skill of an Angel none can tell what Christ is but Christ himself all those particulars I mentioned speak somewhat of him but not the thousand thousandth part of that excellency that is in him This let me tell thee when Christ is offered to thee the greatest good that ever was that ever will be that ever can be is offered thee There never was nor can be the like offered thee 't is the best gift that ever was received or given in the world more than Heaven and Earth more than the whole world more than millions of worlds is offered thee He who is offered to thee is the Well of Salvation the Lord of Life the Author of all Consolation an Hive of sweetness a Paradise of pleasure an Heaven of joy He is the richest grace the dearest love the surest friend the highest honour the vastest treasure the exactest beauty the chiefest good the fullest felicity He is a comprehensive and universal good not one but all good riches honours pleasures friends relations health life earth heaven the world the other world all