the contrary of it I argue thus If the Devil and horrour of Conscience be so dreadful then certainly inward peace of Conscience flowing from Christ must needs be very sweet to have Conscience vex and trouble it is as it 's well called a sharp fury Spira he had that inward horrour of Soul when he had sinned that he died with the fear and terrour of Hell in his Soul he thought Judgment less than that Now if the sting of Conscience be so bitter then the peace of Conscience must needs be sweet Hath God set thy Soul which was once like a troublesom Sea now to be calm and peaceable Oh! then sound thy Harp and Viol Admire this God sing forth praises and acclamations unto Christ this blessed Prince of Peace Lastly If Christ hath spoken peace if he hath dropt this blessed peace into your Souls then let me beseech you that you would be careful not to lose this Jewel Labour to preserve this peace in your Souls preserve your peace as you would preserve your lives And to that end First If you would preserve your peace take heed of Relapses they are dangerous Do not tamper any more with sin Dare not to feed sin in a corner Sin is the peace-breaker Psal. 85.8 The Lord will speak peace to his people But what follows but let them not return again to folly Let not them return again to their sins any more There is a great deal of folly in our relapsing from a strict and holy life Secondly Would you preserve this Jewel in your bosoms this blessed peace then make up your Accounts with God daily Often reckoning keeps God and Conscience friends Psal. 4.4 Commune with your own hearts that is call your selves to an account and make up your account make them even see how things stand betwixt God and your Souls observe your Affections whether they are lively examine your Evidences and see if there be no decay in your graces no loss of first love Oh! keep the Reckoning even betwixt God and you that 's the way to keep your peace Thirdly Walk closely with God every day Live as under the continual Inspection of Gods Omniscient Eye Live holily Peace and purity they go together The way to preserve our peace it is to preserve our Integrity Oh! keep your constant hours every day with God Turn your Closets into Temples Search the Scriptures The two Testaments are the two Lips by which God hath spoken to us Love the Word Love Prayer Love the Sabbath Psal. 119. v. 165. Great peace have they that love thy Law. Thus you may sweetly enjoy your selves and this Jewel of peace will be preserved in your bosoms SERMON IV. Psalm 2.12 Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little Blessed are all they that put their trust in him HOly David in the beginning of this Psalm shews us how all the powers and gallantry of the world do rage and confederate against the Lord and his anointed that is Christ verse 2. Rulers take counsel against the Lord and his Anointed That power which he did put into their hands they do imploy against him but their attempt is in vain In the first verse The people imagine a vain thing as if the holy Psalmist had said The Lord will have a Church in spite of Earth and Hell Matth. 16.18 The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it that is neither the Power of Hell nor the Policy of Hell shall prevail against his Church Neither the Serpents subtilty nor yet the Dragons fierceness shall prevail against it We read that the Ship in the Gospel was tossed on the Waves but was not overwhelmed The Ship was tossed because sin was in it but not overwhelmed because Christ was in it Christ is in the Ship of his Church and the more opposition is made against the Church of God the more it encreases It grows by opposition Exod. 1.12 The more they were afflicted the more they multiplied saith Chrysostom It is just like the Torch the more 't is beaten the more it flames Religion is that Phoenix that is always flourishing in the Ashes of Martyrs Therefore let the great ones conspire and take counsel against the Lord and his Christ they do imagine a vain thing In the 4th verse we read that when the wicked sit plotting God he smiles at them He that sits in the Heavens shall laugh at them God laughs to see mens folly to see poor weak Clay go to take head and to strive with the Potter But let the wicked remember that God is never more angry with them than when he laughs He will speak to 'em in a fair Language as you may read in verse 5. After his laughing then he shall speak to them in his wrath And what doth he say verse 6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy Hill of Zion In spite of all the powers of darkness Jesus Christ shall have a Throne to sit upon among his People And the Crown shall flourish upon his head I have set my King that is I have anointed Christ to be King and poured on him the Ointment of grace and gladness I will have my Son to reign and such as will not bow to his golden Scepter shall be broken with his Iron Rod verse 9. Then after this the Psalmist makes the Inference Before he had been making the Doctrine to Kings and great ones of the world and now he makes the Use in verse 10. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings Be instructed ye Iudges of the Earth Serve the Lord with fear As if he had said Come at last to your wits don't stand out any longer in contest with God and his Son Jesus Christ but rather bow to him throw your Crowns at his feet make your peace with him Serve the Lord with fear so the Text ushers in And it is a part of the good counsel the Holy Ghost gives Kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish from the way Kissing of the Son it denotes two things First Adoration It was an antient custom to kiss the Son when they admired Iob 31.27 So Ierom and others read the word Admire the Son. Adoration it is a Crown Jewel proper to Christ and to his Crown Admire the Son that 's the first Secondly Kissing the Son it denotes subjection So we find 1 Sam. 10.1 Samuel kissed Saul when he anointed him King He kissed him in token of homage and subjection to him So that 's the meaning of the Text Kiss the Son that is admire him The Text falls into these two parts First Here 's a duty Kiss the Son. Secondly The reason of it and that is very cogent lest he be angry So here are two Propositions do result from the words I shall only speak to the first and draw in the other in the Application Doct. 1. Iesus Christ is the Son of God. Doct. 2. It is a
cannot endure the wrath of the Lamb all at once they will be enduring it to all eternity So therefore here is terrour to all them that do not kiss the Son. SERMON V. Psalm 112.7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. A Word fitly spoken saith Solomon is like Apples of Gold in pictures of Silver In which respect I have chosen this Scripture to treat on at this time When the Winds begin to rise and a Storm threatens it is time then to get our spiritual Tackling ready and to cast Anchor The Mariner casts his Anchor downward the Christian casts his Anchor upward within the Veil he doth in the deepest danger cast out the Sheet Anchor of Faith and is not afraid So saith the Text He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. In this Psalm you have described the character of a righteous man v. 1. He delighteth greatly in Gods Commands he doth not only keep Gods Commands but he loves them they are the joy of his heart he delighteth greatly in Gods Commands Secondly In this Psalm is set down the righteous mans happiness several ways First His Children shall be blessed verse 2. His seed shall be mighty upon earth Righteousness entails mercy upon posterity Secondly His Estate shall be blessed verse 3. Wealth and riches shall be in his house A man is no loser by being righteous it makes his Estate flourish Thirdly His Soul shall be blessed verse 9. It is righteousness shall endure for ever that is the joy and comfort of it endures for ever his grace shall be crowned with glory This Flower of Paradice doth not wither Fourthly The righteous mans name shall be blessed verse 6. The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance that is his name shall be honoured it shall live when he is dead The righteous man he carries a good Conscience with him when he dies and leaves a good name behind him He shall be in everlasting remembrance And so I come to the Text. This righteous man shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. The Text consists of these two general parts First The righteous mans priviledge He shall not be afraid of evil tidings Secondly The ground or reason of it His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. I begin with the First of these briefly The righteous mans priviledge He shall not be afraid of evil tidings When there are rumours of evils approaching the godly man he shall not be discomposed in his mind he shall not be in a pannick fear Yet let me insert this for the right understanding of it First Not but that the righteous man is sensible of danger or else how can he humble himself under Gods mighty hand Secondly Not but that some clouds of natural fear may arise in his mind Grace tho' it doth subdue it doth not expel nature But the meaning of the Text is this He shall not be afraid of evil tidings that is first A righteous man he shall not be afraid with a distracting fear such a fear as takes him off from duty untunes him quite for Gods service Secondly He shall not be afraid of evil tidings with a fainting fear so as to have his heart die within him as it was with Saul 1 Sam. 28.20 Saul fell straightway all along upon the Earth and was sore afraid he fainted away in his fear Thirdly A righteous man shall not be afraid of evil tidings with a despairing fear he shall not so fear but that still the heart doth sweetly rest upon Gods promises It is with a godly man in time of danger as it is with a Ship as it lies at Anchor A Ship at Anchor it shakes a little upon the Water but it is fixt being at Anchor So tho' there may be some shakings and tremblings in the flesh yet a Christian is not so tossed with fear but he is like a Ship at Anchor His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. Use briefly See the difference betwixt the godly and the wicked the godly man he is not afraid of evil rumours he doth not fear with a distracting or desponding fear still hope is preserved and kept alive in the Soul But the wicked when danger approaches are surprized with heart-killing fears Isa. 33.14 The sinners in Sion are afraid Fearfulness hath surprized hypocrites Guilt is the bladder of fear When Adam had stole the fruit then he began to tremble I was afraid saith he to God and hid my self Sinners fall into Convulsions of Conscience Cains mark was a shaking in the flesh And a wicked man he hath a trembling in his heart Isa. 13.8 They shall be afraid their faces shall be ashamed They shall be afraid The Hebrew word for fear signifies such a fright as casts Women into travail and makes them miscarry So sinners they shall be cast as it were into such a fright as their faces shall be ashamed What is that that is when troubles do arise their faces do wax pale So much for the first thing in the Text the righteous mans priviledge He shall not be afraid of evil tidings with a distracting or desponding fear Secondly Here is the ground or reason why a godly person shall not be afraid or amazed at evil tidings in these words His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord there is the ground This makes him as the Leviathan without fear His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. So the Observation is this Doct. It is the genius and temper of a true Saint in times of imminent danger to have his heart fixed by trusting in the Lord Iehovah His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. For the illustration of this Proposition I shall answer these three Questions First What it is to trust in God in times of danger Secondly Why we ought to trust in God Thirdly How faith doth fix the heart and makes us to trust in God I begin with the first of these I answer It is called in Scripture our casting our burden upon God the burden of our care the burden of our fear the burden of our wants the burden of our sins Psal. 55.22 Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee Secondly Trusting in God in Scripture is called a staying our selves upon God as a man that is ready to fall he stays himself upon some prop or pillow Thus a Christian he stays himself upon God Isa. 50 10. I shall describe trusting in God thus It is an Heroick act of Faith whereby we roll all our care and lay the stress of our Salvation only upon God. Now there is required in this trusting in God an absolute necessary 1. Knowledge 2. Acquaintance with him First Knowledge of God Psal. 9.10 They that know thy name will put their trust in thee Secondly In this trusting in God is required acquaintance with him through Christ without acquaintance there
hour more to prepare my self but death will neither be bribed nor courted Iob cursed the day of his birth Unprepared Souls will curse the day of their death Oh then be fitted for this last end and for that purpose labour for a holy change get grace into your Souls death cannot hurt grace Grace is Armour of proof it can never be shot thorow Grace it is as needful for the Soul as Oil is for the Lamp. Christians get holy hearts be as Christs Bride get your selves ready dress your selves every day by the Glass of Gods Word see your spots in that Glass and when you have seen them wash them off by Repenting tears Adorn the hidden Man of your hearts with Love Meekness Holiness and put on the Lord Jesus which is your clothing of wrought Gold. By having this holy change wrought you will be fitted for your last and great change To conclude all You that are prepared live in a continual expectation of this great change so did Iob in the Text I will wait till my change come First Live in hope till this change come Secondly Be patient till this change come First Live in hope till this change come This word in the Text I will wait in the Hebrew it is I will hope till my change come The Husbandman having sowed his seed he hopes for a crop Having sowed the seed of true Repentance now hope for a full crop of glory at death Secondly and lastly Be patient till this change come I will wait saith Iob in the Greek it is I will be patient till my change come Indeed the troubles that the Righteous suffer here and that great preferment they shall have in Heaven may be ready to cause impatience to stay here any longer but take heed of this we must not be our own Carvers God knows the best season when he will send for his Children home therefore we must wait but a while then we shall enjoy our wish and that is to have Christs sweet Imbraces and to lie in the Bosom of Divine Love. SERMON II. This Sermon was Preached in the Parish of St. Margaret Moses Psalm 23.4 Thy Rod and thy Staff they comfort me THIS Psalm St. Bernard calls a noble and illustrious Psalm The Jews did use to repeat this Psalm when they sate down to their meat In it David sets forth two things His Experience and his Confidence His Confidence in the first and last verses In the first verse The Lord is my Shepherd therefore I shall not want In the last verse Surely that goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life here is David's Confidence His Faith was risen up into a great degree of confidence But that which I shall speak to is of David's Experience in the words that I have read Thy Rod and thy Staff they comfort me What is here meant by Staff a Staff is for support whether it be the Staff one walks with to support the body or whether it be the Staff of Bread that supports the Life of Man. Staff is for support so here in the Text Thy Staff comforts me By Staff is meant metaphorically the Staff of Gods supportation Thy Staff comforts me Gods Providence it is a Wing to cover the Saints it is a Breast to feed them and it is a Staff to uphold them In the most calamitous times the Church of God hath the Staff of Gods Supportation and this is the reason that the Church is preserved in despite of all malice and opposition This Bush burns yet it is not consumed Though the Lion roar yet the Lambs of Christs fold are in safety Though the Rulers take counsel against the Saints of the Most High yet they are kept alive Here is the reason thy Staff doth comfort me The Saints have always the Staff of Divine Protection God secretly preserves them and sets an invisible Guard about them We see the Staff that smites the Godly but we do not see the Staff that upholds them We see their danger but we do not see their defence God is their Staff of support Gods continual care of his Church is as a Wall of Brass against which the Gates of Hell shall never prevail The Church of God hath God for her Guardian The Enemies must first overcome God before they can overcome his Church saith Luther For the Use of this briefly This is no small comfort to Gods Church she hath a Staff of support God is her protection The Saints of God they have malignant Enemies to conflict with The Powers of the Earth are against the godly We read the Beast in the Revelations had on his head seven Horns and ten Crowns Rev. 13.1 and this was given him to make War with the Saints You see the People of God was then in an ill case they had the Horns and the Crown against them But the Saints they have the Lion of the Tribe of Iuda on their sides and Christ hath a Staff to protect them and Teeth to devour all his Enemies So much briefly for that expression for I only glance at it Thy Staff doth comfort me thy Staff of Supportation and glorious Providence it is always with me it doth comfort me But that which I shall chiefly speak to is the first of these in the Text Thy Rod doth comfort me In the opening of this the Quetion is Quest. What is meant by Rod Answ. This word Rod when it is ascribed unto God it is taken three ways in Scripture First For Gods destroying Rod. Secondly For Gods Pastoral Rod as a Shepherd Thirdly For his disabling Rod or Rod of Affliction First The Rod when it is ascribed unto God which he uses towards his Enemies Psal. 12.9 Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron This Rod of God upon his Enemies doth comfort the godly Psal. 58.10 The righteous shall rejoyce when they see the vengeance Gods destroying Rod upon sinners it is matter of rejoycing and comfort unto the godly We read of Deborah's song her triumphant song and the Jews Festival before the destruction of Haman Esther 9.22 The Rod of God upon the wicked comforts the godly Quest. But some may say How far may the godly be comforted in the destruction of wicked men how far may they rejoyce Answ. The godly may be comforted in the destruction of wicked men so far as now there is a stop put to their sins and they cannot live any longer to dishonour God. Secondly Gods destroying Rod upon the wicked it is a matter of comfort to the godly as hereby Gods Justice is declared to all the world Why did God smite Pharaoh for his Pride and Tyranny The Saints rejoyce and triumph to see Gods Justice executed upon his Enemies Exod. 15. v. 1. They are comforted to see Gods Justice in punishing the wicked of the world Thirdly It is comfort to the People of God to see a wicked man destroyed Gods ruining of sinners is a warning to others to
then what doth Gods Love do If there be any comfort as you have heard whilst God is afflicting us what comfort is there while he is embracing us If there be any comfort in the Valley of Tears what is there then in Paradice There is the Bed of Spices and the River of Pleasures If God can make a Prison sweet what then is Heaven If afflicting mercy be so great what is crowning mercy Did God make one of the Martyrs flames a Bed of Roses why then how sweet is it to lie in Christs bosom the Bed of Perfume The second Use is of Exhortation Use 2. If Gods Rod hath so much comfort in it to the godly then be not too much dejected and cast down in Affliction If you meet with losses if you meet with Pyrats at Sea and Hornets at Land you see God can turn all these to good Thy Rod comforts me Therefore be not too much cast down Tho' we are not to pray for Affliction for it is in it self penal neither must we despond under Affliction Oh saith one if God did love me he would not have dealt thus severely with me he hath bereaved me of such and such a dear comfort which is like plucking a Limb from the body But Christian consider that which thou callest a dear comfort that God hath taken away perhaps it was an Idol it may be thou lovedst it more than thou didst God and if thou hadst not lost this comfort thou mightest have lost thy Soul and Heaven too why then hath God in taking away this comfort done thee any wrong there is mercy in all this Maist not thou say at last Thy Rod comforts me The third Use of Tryal Use 3. Let us examine whether we have had any Honey out of the Lion any comfort out of Affliction Hath the Rod of God upon us blossomed and brought forth Almonds It 's certain we have met with Affliction in one kind or other but what benefit have we got by Affliction what advantage for our Souls Can we say indeed as David Lord thy Rod comforts me Can we say We have met with such and such a sore Tryal and it hath brought us nearer to God and weaned us from the world it hath conquered our Pride and tamed our Covetousness When Gods Rod upon us fetches Water of tears and makes us weep bitterly for our sin then it is a good Rod. In short If Gods Rod hath made us better it hath made us Reform and break off iniquity when we can say with Ephraim Hosea 14.8 What have I to do with Idols To conclude all Let it be our daily prayer to God that we may find some comfort in Affliction some Honey mingled with our Gall. David speaks of comfort in Affliction Psal. 119.50 This is my comfort in Affliction Affliction it is not joyous but grievous Oh but when the Lord doth bless and sanctifie it to us now it brings comfort with it Let us pray that we may hear the voice of the Rod and kiss the Rod and bless the hand that holds it Let 's pray unto God that we may see his hand in every Affliction and wherefore God contends with us that we may turn to him that smites and say as David doth here in the Text Oh Lord thy Rod and thy Staff they comfort me SERMON III. John 16 33. These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world THESE words were spoken by our blessed Saviour not long before his suffering The Chapters foregoing are full of spiritual sweetness This blessed Sun of Righteousness did it seems shine more glorious and bright a little before his setting Our Saviour Christ he was now about to leave the world and go to his Father and therefore having endeavoured to comfort the hearts of his Apostles and Disciples he knew they would be sorrowful therefore the more he endeavours to comfort them and this is the great Cordial he gives them before his death These things have I spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace Christ foretold that Sufferings would befal his Apostles and Disciples In the world saith he ye shall have tribulation the Greek word for tribulation it is a metaphor that alludes to Grapes that are squeezed in the Wine press till the blood of the Grapes comes out So saith Christ In the world ye shall have tribulation You shall be put into the Wine-press and perhaps the blood of the Grape may be prest out Tribulation it is the Saints Diet-drink it is bitter but it is wholesom All that God doth in afflicting his Children it is but to make them better and to try them and make them white Dan. 10. v. 12. Is it not far better to swim thorow the main River the Red Sea of Affliction to Heaven than to swim thorow the perfumed Joys and Pleasures to Hell and Damnation In the world saith Christ you must look for ye shall have tribulation But Christ having told of this bitter Pill he gives them some Sugar of comfort to sweeten it and make it go down the better In these words of the Text These things I have told you that in me ye might have peace First Here is the dark side of the Cloud tribulation Secondly The bright side of the Cloud that in me ye might have peace Doct. That the Lord Iesus Christ who is our Peace-maker gives his sweet peace to all his people that in me ye might have peace That peace meant here in the Text it is spiritual and sacred it is the immediate fruit and product of our Justification Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God. This spiritual peace the Lord Jesus procures by his Blood conveys by his Spirit maintains by his Intercession First This peace Christ doth purchase and procure by his Blood it swims to us in the Blood of Christ the Justice of God being wronged by us Jesus Christ laid down his life as a price that he paid for our peace it is his blood that doth cement us and reconcile us to God the Father as it is in Col. 1.20 Having made peace thorow the Blood of Iesus Secondly Christ conveys this blessed peace by his Spirit he doth procure it by his Merit and he doth convey it by his Spirit Iohn 16.7 The Lord Jesus left this peace to us as a Legacy And the Spirit it is Christs Executor to see that his Will be made good and that we should have â—his peace And now God being at peace with us thorow Christ Conscience that 's at peace too If the Heavens be quiet and serene and no tempest there nor wind blowing then the Sea is calm So if the great God be but at peace with us and there is no tempest in his face then Conscience that is quiet and all is calm Thirdly As Christ doth procure this blessed peace by his Blood
and doth convey it by his Spirit So thirdly He doth maintain this peace by his daily Intercession What Saint alive doth not sometimes offend God and cause the fury of his anger to rise up in his face Now when the case is thus that we offend God and are ready to break his peace then Jesus Christ he stands up as an Intercessor and he speaks to God the Father on our behalf and it is his request that God would lay aside his anger and that he would smile upon his people again and therefore in Scripture Christ is called our Atonement to make peace and he is called our Advocate to purchase peace When we break our peace Christ he pleads our cause and makes up this peace again by his Intercession 1 Iohn c. 3. v. 7. To make some Application of this Use 1. First By way of Inference See then here to what Coast we must trade for this Pearl whither we must go for this spiritual peace that is our consolation in life and death Go to Christ for it That in me ye might have peace Saith Cyprian peace it is in Christ as sap is in the Root of the Vine as water is in the Spring That in meâ— ye might have peace saith Christ. This blessed peace that Christ gives it 's worth going to him for it is superiour to all other peace Peace in a Kingdom it is very desirable peace it is every ones Vote Peace it is the very quintessence of earthly blessings To sit quietly under our Vines and Figg-trees surely better a great deal better is the sounding of the Lute and Viol than the roaring of the Cannon See what a sweet promise God makes Isa. 2.4 He will break their Swords into Plowshares all shall be peace But what is this peace to the peace Christ gives to his People that is sacred This peace our Saviour gives it hath these two properties or these two qualifications to name no more First It is an Emboldening peace Secondly It is a Lasting peace First It is an Emboldening peace Friends that are at peace they use a kind of freedom and boldness one with another So we having peace thorow Christs Blood conveyed by his Spirit may be bold to make use of Gods Promises There is never a Promise in the Bible but a Believer may pluck a Leaf from and be at peace with God thorow Christ. We may now use a holy boldness in prayer We may come to God as Children to their Father Heb. 4.16 Let us come with boldness to the Throne of Grace God is our Father and he being at peace with us he will not deny any thing that may conduce to our real good This may make us come with boldness to the mercy Seat That 's the first It is an Emboldening peace Secondly Christs peace that he gives as it is an Emboldening peace so it is a Lasting peace Here is a peace that will hold For all Earthly peace to speak properly it is rather a truce than a peace a truce that is but for a small time and it ends Yea but this peace that Christ gives it is for ever Once in Christ and ever in Christ. Once justified and ever justified Here is a Lasting peace Isa. 54.10 The Covenant of my peace shall not be moved saith the Lord. The peace of a Believer it is but begun here in this life it is perfected in the Kingdom of Heaven Isa. 57.2 He shall enter into peace Here is a godly mans priviledge when he dies he dies in peace and as soon as ever he is dead he enters into peace he shall enter into peace that is he shall go to the Ierusalem above that City of peace Here the Saints peace it is but begun it is but in the seed there it shall be in the Flower Here it is but in its infancy there it shall be in its full growth That 's the first see to what Coast you must trade for this peace Go to Christ for it That in me ye might have peace Use 2. See what a sad condition all wicked men are in that live and die in their sins They have nothing to do with peace What! Shall they have peace that make War with Heaven persecute Christ in his Members Shall they have peace that deride and grieve the Spirit of God whose very Office it is to drop peace into the Conscience What a sinner to have peace 2 Kings 9.22 What peace so long as the Whoredoms of thy Mother Jezabel and her Witchcrafts are so many A wicked man is a worker of iniquity As a man works at his shop so he works at the trade of sin and what hath he to do with peace and how deplorable is his case What if a Foreign Enemy should come sinners would be in a storm and have no where to put in for Harbour It is a very sad thing to be in Sauls condition the Philistines upon him and God departed It is a very sad thing to have fightings without and fears within to have the Bullets shooting against the Ship and the Ship leaking within Isa. 57.21 There is no peace to the wicked saith my God And if God saith it he knows it to be true The wicked perhaps they may delude themselves and presume that though they go on in sin yet they shall have peace but to undeceive them turn to that one Scripture Deut. 29.19 And it come to pass when he heareth the words of this curse that he blesses himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of mine heart Verse 20. The Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his Iealousie shall smoke against that man. One may as well think to suck health out of Poison as to suck peace out of Sin. Sinners they may be quiet or rather secure for the present but as 2 Sam. 26. it will be bitterness in the latter end Guilt will sooner or later raise a storm saith Chrysostom Sin will conjure up the Winds and Storms into the Conscience I have sometimes thought it is with sin as it is with poison there are some sorts of poison that will lie a great while in the body and not work but at last it does wring and torture the bowels a fit resemblance of sin Men they drink this poison and they may be quiet a while but at last especially at death then it begins to work and then the poison begins to touch the Conscience The great God of Heaven and Earth hath set up his Standard and proclaimed open War against every impenitent sinner and it will not be long if men go on in sin before Gods Cannon Bullets will begin to flie Gods wrath may seem to be like a sleeping Lion but this Lion will awake and roar and tear his prey I will say but this I confess God may bear long with wicked men let them alone he may bear long with them in respect of punishment when
he doth not remit the sin but it will be sad with the sinner at last a sad hour at death the Body and Soul must part and Christ and the Soul must part There is no peace to the wicked saith my God. Can they have peace that strike against the Crown and Dignity of Heaven and make War with Christ and God and Heaven A second Use is of Tryal Use 2. Let us then search and examine Have we this secret and sweet peace in our Souls flowing from the Lord Jesus You may know it these three ways and they are three sure Notes that will never fail First Such as have Christs peace in their Souls they are ingrafted into Christ they are one with Christ. Mark the words of the Text In me peace First we must be in Christ before we can have peace from Christ in me Then peace The Graft or Scien must first be inoculated into the Tree before it receives sap and influence from the Tree We must by faith be inoculated into Christ before we can receive of his fulness The wicked they may presume to have peace and that they shall have peace and yet they are not acquainted with Christ. Do they think ever to have an Interest in Christs peace that have no Interest in Christs person it cannot be A Christless Soul hath no more to do to lay claim to Christs peace than a Woman hath to do to lay claim to a Mans Estate that was never married to him In me saith Christ First in Christ and then you shall have peace from Christ sacred peace it is a Legacy that Christ bequeaths he gives this Legacy not to strangers but to his friends such as are united to him First the Pipe must be laid to the Spring before it receives Water from the Spring so we must first by faith be united to Christ laid to this Spring by faith before we can receive the sweet influences of peace from him That 's the first Secondly Where ever Christ gives peace to any Soul there he always sets up his governing Scepter to bear sway in that Soul. A pregnant Scripture for this Isa. 9.7 Of his Government and Peace shall be no end First there must be Christs Government set up in the Soul before there is peace Whenever the Lord Jesus comes with an Olive branch of peace in his mouth he always comes with a Scepter in his hand A parallel Scripture for this Zech. 6.13 It is a promise of Christ He shall Sit and Rule and he shall be a Priest upon the Throne Observe Christ as a Priest he makes peace but he will be a Priest upon the Throne that is he will bring the heart where he gives peace into a full subjection to his Laws he will be a Priest upon his Throne Now let us examine Have we given subjection to Christ Jesus do we submit to his blessed Laws does Christ Sit and Rule in our hearts as a Priest upon his Throne then all is well There are many people would have Christ to speak peace to them but they will not suffer him to bear Rule they would have his Olive branch but they will not endure his Scepter Thirdly If Christ hath given us this blessed peace then we shall know it thus then he hath made us to be of a meek quiet and peaceable disposition Where ever Christ doth give his peace he makes the heart to be peaceable Isa. 11.6 The Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid that is after grace is brought into a mans heart and Christ hath given him peace this man becomes of a peaceable and quiet disposition Now the Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb the fierceness of the Wolf shall be turned into the meekness of the Lamb. It was a saying of Bernard that good man he was a man of a peaceable spirit and at any time when some fell out with him saith he I will be at peace with you though you go on in trouble Such turbulent spirits that are troublers of the common peace they are like the Salamander that lives in the fire of Broyls and of Contention and they love to live in this fire Surely where Christ gives this peace it makes men of a peaceable spirit it turns the Brier into a Mirtle Tree So by this we may know whether Christ hath given us this peace or no. Third Vse is Hereditary And here I will turn my self to such as are acquainted with Christ and this blessed Peace First Have you this blessed peace from Christ then be not over-much troubled about the afflictions and incumbrances that are incident to this present life It is true our lives they are full of vicissitudes and troubles it will be so He that doth not expect some trouble must go out of the world Fear and grief are the two constant companions of Mans Life You may as well separate weight from Lead or moistness from the Air as trouble from the Life of Man. Doth not the Text say In the world you shall have tribulation But here is that which may sweeten the troubles of Gods People Christ gives peace Here is an Antidote against your fears and troubles and none like a Scripture Antidote That in me saith Christ ye might have peace This is a glorious peace indeed it is a peace that will hold out in a Storm and Tempest it turns a Prison into a Paradice it turns our Mourning into Musick it turns our Sighs into Songs and Triumphs As that holy man dated his Letter thus Written from the pleasant Garden of the Lion Prison David he had Christ prepared and therefore let the times be never so stormy he would lie down in peace Psal. 4.8 I will lay me down in peace It was a very tempestuous time David was flying from his Son Absolom Now saith David I will lay me down in peace I will take a nap and sleep sweetly upon this good Pillow of Conscience I will sleep in peace David he was in danger of losing two Jewels at once but there is a third Jewel he could not lose and that was a good Conscience I read of one that had a precious Stone and it was of that brightness that it made it be like the Ark when it was tossing upon the Water Let me allude to it If Jesus Christ hath given us this peace this will give light to the Soul when the Clouds do gather and thou art tossing upon the Waters of Affliction Secondly If Christ hath given thee a well grounded peace oh be thankful for this great gift No Rhetorick no Tongue of Angels can set it forth in all its glory Peace of Soul it makes a harmony in a Christian Though there be never so many discouragements in the world yet he enjoys a harmony in his own Soul. This inward peace it is the best still Musick That you may be thankful for this peace consider how sad it is to want this peace because this is
Christ by Faith it is hard it is not an easie matter It is easie to profess this Son of God but it is not easie to kiss this Son. That which makes this work of believing lies in these two things First Because man sets up the Idol of Self-righteousness he is apt to think he hath something of his own growth in him righteousness of his own his prayers his tears his alms he would make a Christ of them Instead of kissing the Son he doth idolize himself Man 's a proud piece of flesh he would see some worthiness in himself he would give part to himself and part to Christ he is loth to be beholden to grace only he would grow upon his own Root and not be grafted upon the Stock of Christs righteousness Rom. 10.3 Going about to establish a righteousness of their own they have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. O! it 's wonderful to see a proud sinner humble to go out of himself to Christ for righteousness That 's one thing Secondly That which makes this work of believing so hard is this because believing it 's a work above the power of nature to produce it 's a work of supernatural infusing Iohn 6. v. 29. Faith is call'd the work of God It 's the work of God to believe Faith is a new Creation The creation of the world it is called the work of Gods finger but the creation of faith it is called the work of Gods arm The Lord doth as it were set all his strength awork It is called the exceeding greatness of his power Eph. 1.20 Surely to raise Christ from the dead required a great power he had a heavy Grave-stone laid upon him the sins of the whole world Why the same power God doth put forth in the producing of faith in the Soul so that this kissing of Christ by faith is not so easie as most do imagine Thirdly Where ever this blessed work of faith is it hath some virtue goes along with it it hath a refining consecrating virtue The kiss of faith it 's a holy kiss it purifies the heart and makes it holy Acts 15. Faith is in the heart as fire amongst metal it purifies it and takes away the dross A kiss of faith it has the same virtue as the touching of Christ by faith The Woman touched the hem of Christs garment by faith and immediately she receives healing virtue from that touch Mark 5.34 Thus faith touches Christ and heals True faith draws a sanctifying and a mortifying virtue from the Lord Jesus Justifying faith may be called a faith of spiritual miracles for it removes mountains of sins and throws them into Christs blood Whoever doth kiss the Son by faith he is presently made holy The truth is faith doth argue a man to holiness it falls to reasoning with him O my Soul hath Christ done so much for me hath he forgiven me so many debts hath he purchased such rich mercy in his blood and wilt thou abuse the Love of so dear a friend Wilt thou make the wounds of thy dear Saviour to bleed afresh is this to kiss the Son O my Soul how shouldst thou give up thy self to Christ in holiness And then faith reasons If that my tears will wash Christs feet wilt thou not pour them out If thy Estate be a precious Ointment wilt not thou pour out this Ointment upon part of Christs body and relieve his Members Now the Soul cannot withstand these melting reasons but presently yields to all Faith it is a holy gift it doth consecrate the heart where-ever it comes Fourthly To kiss the Son by faith it is the most excellent way of worshiping of him there 's nothing like believing Let me a little set forth to you the excellency of faith First This is the main thing the Scripture doth hold forth and press you to If one should be asked this Question Why the Scriptures were written The Answer is to point us to Christ the true Messiah and that we should embrace him by faith Iohn 20.31 These things are written that you might believe that Iesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you might have life through his name This is the marrow of the Gospel It 's the soveraign Cordial of a fainting Soul that by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ he may be saved Secondly This blessed believing kissing the Son by faith it is the most excellent of all graces it excels all others even as Gold among Metals Every grace is very lovely but this of faith excels them all Consider these four or five particulars First Faith is the uniting grace therefore this grace excels other graces conform us to Christ but faith unites us to Christ it espouses us to him Other graces make us like Christ but faith makes us one with Christ Other graces make us pictures of Christ but faith makes us branches of Christ. That 's one Secondly Faith it is the heart vital grace By kissing Christ we fetch life from him The just shall live by faith Hab. 2.4 By believing we fetch life from Christ I live by the faith of the Son of God saith the Apostle Gal. 2.20 As the arm lives by drawing life from the heart so faith it lives by drawing life and strength from Christ. Other graces are useful but faith is vital Thirdly Faith it is the justifying grace therefore it is most excellent Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith It is not repentance that justifies nor self-denial but faith Faith it is the most proper grace of all to justifie a sinner for the hand is more fitter to receive the food than the eye so faith is the most proper to justifie because when we believe we don't give any thing to Christ but we fetch something from him Fourthly It is a world-conquering grace 1 Iohn 5.4 This is the victory over the world even our faith Faith overcomes all the allurements of the world the riches of the world the delights of the world and it doth it thus by shewing the Soul a better world than this is Faith gives it a prospect of prosperity it carries a Believer to the Mount of Transfiguration it makes it to see things that are not seen by the eye of sence Heb. 12.1 Faith leads the Soul to Christ the bright morning Star it gives the Soul a view of him and he is known in the embroidered Robes of his glory Faith shews a man a Kingdom it trades above the Moon and when once a Soul hath a shadow of these things it despises all the pleasures of this world Fifthly and lastly Faith is a suffering grace it inables us to wade thorow the deep waters of affliction Heb. 11.25 By faith Moses he chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season Faith is a Furnace grace it gives the Soul a right notion of suffering What is this suffering saith faith it is but light
can be no trust One cannot well trust a stranger there must be some acquaintance with God Iob 22. v. 21. Acquaint thy self now with him and be at peace That 's the first What this trusting in God is Secondly Why we must repose our trust in God I will give you but these two Reasons First Because God doth call for this trust Isa. 26.4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever Psal. 62.8 Trust in him at all times Tho' you are in never such straits and fears yet remember to cast Anchor upwards Trust in God at all times The Lord would take off our confidence and trusting in all other things besides Ier. 17.5 Cursed be that man that trusts in man and maketh flesh his arm We break our Crutches because we lean too hard upon them God would have us make him our trust And the truth is trust and affiance is the chief part of the Worship we ascribe to God. Secondly We must trust in God in all our straits and dangers He is the proper object of our trust My Brethren the Creature is not a fit object of our trust as it appears thus It hath two ill qualities that we cannot repose our trust in First The Creature it deceives Secondly It fails First It deceives it is but a sugared Lie Where we think to suck Honey we only tast Wormwood And as it deceives so it fades and withers like a Rose the fuller it is blown the sooner it sheds So that we cannot make the Creature the object of our trust But God he deserves our trust he is called in Scripture a strong Tower where you may have safety Prov. 18.10 The name of the Lord is a strong Tower he is Elshaddi God Almighty Gen. 17.1 There is no condition we can be in no exigence but he can relieve he is God Almighty In particular there are two glorious Attributes in God in which we may safely repose our trust The one is his Mercy The other his Truth They are both joyned in one verse Thou wilt perform thy Truth and thy Mercy to Abraham First We may rest and stay our Souls upon Gods Mercy Psal. 13.5 I have trusted in thy mercy Though I have sinned mercy can pardon me Though I am in want mercy can relieve me Gods mercy it is infinite it is a Honey-comb for sweetness and it is a Rock for safety Secondly We may safely relie on Gods Truth or Faithfulness Remember this Truth is the object of Trust. Heaven and Earth may sooner fail than Gods Veracity Psal. 89.33 I will not suffer my faithfulness to fail Good reason then we should trust in God. Where can we pitch our Faith but upon Gods Faithfulness Thirdly The third thing is to shew you that trusting in God is the way to have the heart fixed His heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. Note two things first That it is an excellent thing to have the heart fixed Secondly It is only Faith doth fix the heart First It is a rare thing It is excellent to have the heart fixed as appears two ways First Fixing of the heart shews solid efficacy of spirit A heart unfixt it is just like a Ship without Ballast blown up and down in the water Secondly Fixing the heart fits it for holy duties He whose heart is fixed upon God he serves God with delight with chearfulness Indeed a heart unfixt is a heart unfitted for duty A shaking hand is not fit to write An unfixed heart is unfit to pray or meditate it runs after other vanities Sure then a fixed frame of heart is an excellent frame of heart You know when the Milk is settled then it turns to Cream So when the heart is settled and fixed on God it is ever in the best frame That 's the first Secondly That trusting in God doth fix the heart The heart is fixed trusting in the Lord that is 't is fixed by trusting Faith it frees the heart from those commotions which cause trembling and quivering it fixes the heart upon God as a Star is fixt in its Orb so is a Believers Soul fixt on God. Faith makes the heart cleave to God as the Needle doth cleave to the Loadstone Faith fixes the heart Such a fixed Star was Athanasius Tertullian called him an invincible Adamant he could not be stirr'd or moved away from the Truth Faith had fixed his heart on God. To make some Use of this Vse First Here you see the misery of wicked men they are unfixed they know not where to rest when troubles come they have no God to go to trust to Sinners they are like a Ship without Anchor tossed with the Storms that hath no where to put in for harbour they are like the Old World when the Flood came they had no Ark to trust to The wicked are like King Saul in an hour of danger 1 Sam. 28.15 I am sorely distressed for the Philistines make war against me and God is departed from me A flagitious sinner is like a Souldier in Battel where the Bullets flie about and he is without Armour and hath no Garrison to trust unto Beloved it is Faith makes the heart fixt in troublesom times Faith doth ingarrison the Soul in Gods Attributes and makes it like a Tower walled in with Rocks that is impregnable Use 2. Of Exhortation Oh! Let us above all things labour for this heart-fixing grace of Faith. Trusting in God doth corroborate and animate and bear up the heart in death-threatning dangers Oh get this heart-fixing grace of Faith But alas who will not say that he is resolved and he is fixt If a Storm doth arise he for his part trusts in God who will not say he trusts in God Therefore we must bring our hearts to a Scriptural Touchstone it is worth while Let us try whether our trusting in God be right or no. You shall know it thus First If our Trust be right then we commit our chief Treasure to God our Soul is the Jewel the chief Treasure and we commit this to Gods care and custody Psal. 31.5 Into thy hand I commit my Spirit we lay up all our hope in God Psal. 39.7 What wait I for Lord my hope is in thee As in time of war a man puts all his Money and Plate in a safe strong place so must we lay up all our hopes in God as a strong Tower. Secondly If we trust in God aright why then we do in all our danger flie to God. There are some when troubles arise they flie to their shifts O! but do we flie to God Psal. 143.9 Deliver me O Lord from mine enemies I will flie to thee to hide me When Satan shoots his fiery Darts of Temptation then we flie under Christs wing to shelter us even as the Dove when the Hawk pursues it it casts it self into the clefts of the Rock and there it hides So when Satan pursues us with Temptation we get into the bleeding wounds of Christ these clefts of the Rock there
God by holy trust Trust him where you cannot trace him Trust God for protection in this life and Salvation in the other life My Beloved trusting in God it is a Receit for all diseases Faith it is the cure Doth the Orphan trust himself and his Estate in the hands of his Guardian Doth the Patient trust his life in the hands of his Physician And shall not we trust our Souls in Gods hand 2 Sam. 22.31 He is a Buckler to all them that trust in him If ever we would get mastery of our fears and disquiets let us captivate carnal reason and advance faith So then you shall not be afraid of eâ—il tydings for the heart will be fixed trusting in the Lord. SERMON VI. This Sermon was Preached Novemb. 17. 1678. Psalm 112.4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness CHrysostom calls the Scriptures a Spiritual Paradice The Book of Psalms is placed in the midst of this Paradice Davids Psalms are not only for delight but for benefit Like those Trees of the Sanctuary in Ezekiel which were both for food and for medicine The Psalms are commensurate and exactly fitted to every Christians condition If his affections be frozen here he may fetch fire if he be weak in grace here he may fetch Armour if he be ready to faint here he may fetch Cordials Among other Divine consolations this Text is none of the least Unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness which words are calculated for the comfort of Gods Church in all Ages This Text is like Israels Pillar of Fire which gave light in the Wilderness Or this is like the Mariners Lanthorn to serve to give light in a dark night To the upright there ariseth light in darkness Give me leave a little to explain the words then I shall come to the Proposition To the upright Who are meant here by the upright Answer The Hebrew word for upright signifies plainness of heart The upright man he is without blushing or fraud he is one in whose spirit there is no guile Psal. 32.2 He that is upright his heart and his tongue go together as a well made Dial goes exactly by the Sun. The words following here in the Text may serve for a short paraphrase to shew us who this upright man is he is gracious full of compassion and righteous 1. He is gracious that implies his holiness 2. He is full of compassion that implies his charitableness 3. He is righteous that implies his justness The upright man he is gracious therefore he fears God he is full of compassion therefore he feeds the poor he is righteous therefore he doth to others as he would have them to do to him The upright man is one that acts from a right principle and that is faith by a right rule and that 's the Word of God to a right end and that 's the glory of God this is the downright upright man. The second thing in the Text is There ariseth light to the upright man by light is here meant metaphorically viz. for comfort or joy Esth. 8.16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy but by light is meant gladness The light when it doth spring it doth very much relieve Joy is to the heart as light is to the eye very exhilarating and refreshing Thirdly Light ariseth in darkness By darkness is meant trouble any thing that doth disquiet either the body or the mind Trouble is darkness Isa. 8.22 Look unto the earth and behold trouble and darkness Psa. 107.10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death As darkness is very disconsolate and affrighting so trouble where it comes it makes every thing look like the terrours of the night The Observation is this Doct. That when the condition of Gods people is darkness God causeth a light to shine unto them To the upright there ariseth light in darkness Here are two branches of the Proposition First That the upright such whom God loves they have their night Secondly That a morning light ariseth to them in the midst of all their darkness First The upright they have their night it may be a very dark season Godliness doth not exempt them from suffering they may have a night of affliction a cloud may set upon their Names and Estates God may lay an Imbargo upon all their outward comforts Ruth 1.20 Secondly The people of God they may have a night of desertion God may withdraw the smiling beams of his favour and then it is night with them indeed Iob 6.4 The Arrows of the Almighty are within me the poison thereof drinks up my spirits It alludes saith Grotius to the Persians who in their War do dip their Arrows in poison to make their wounds more deadly Thus God sometimes shoots the poisonous Arrows of desertion at the godly then they are in the dark they are benighted tho' God hath the heart of a Father yet sometimes he hath the look of an Enemy he may cause darkness in the Soul and shut up the beams of spiritual comfort First He doth this that he may the more quicken the exercise of grace for prayer may sometimes act highest in the hour of desertion Ionah 2.4 I said I was cast out of thy sight yet will I look towards thy holy Temple Faith and Patience like two Stars shine most bright in the night of desertion We are taken with the comfort but God is more taken with the acting of our graces Secondly The Lord may cause a dark cloud to be upon the righteous a cloud of desertion that he may hereby awaken and stir up in his people a spirit of prayer that now they may cry mightily to God that now they may stir up themselves to take hold on God by prayer Sometimes a Father hides his face to make the Child cry after him the more so God may hide his face in a cloud of desertion that his Children may cry the more after him Psal. 140.7 Oh hide not thy face from me Desertion will make one pray if any thing will. Desertion it is a short Hell. Ionah calls the Whales belly the belly of Hell because he was deserted there and if ever he would pray sure it is now that he might get out of that Hell Ionah 2.2 Out of the belly of Hell I cryed unto thee and thou heardest my voice That 's the first The godly they may have their night The second part of the Proposition That a morning light doth arise in the righteous in all their darkness To the upright there ariseth light in darkness Psal. 18.28 The Lord will light my Candle as if David had said My comforts at present they seem to be blown out and I am in the dark but the Lord will light my Candle and will cause light to arise There is a twofold light that God causes to arise in his people in the dark First An outward light Secondly An inward light First An outward light shines that is God doth oftentimes
cause the light of prosperity to arise upon his people that is a light in darkness When God causes peace and prosperity in the Tabernacles of the righteous here is light riseth in darkness Iob 29.3 When his Candle shineth upon my head the Candle that is the Candle of prosperity a Lamp that is outward blessings God hath on a sudden altered the Scene of Providence and on a sudden turned the shadows of death into the light of the morning Secondly When Gods people are in the dark God causes sometimes an inward light to arise in them First The light of grace he makes that shine In the midst of darkness a spark of faith in the Soul it is a spark of light When the Tree hath no blossoms or leaves to be seen as in Autumn yet there may be sap in the root of the Vine So my Brethren when our outward comforts are as it were dead it is Autumn yet there may be the seed of God in the heart and this spark of grace it is a dawning light to the Soul. Secondly God sometimes causes a light of spiritual joy and consolation to arise in the dark and disconsolate Soul And truly this light of spiritual joy it is the very glimmering of the light of Heaven Isa. 12.1 Thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me This light of spiritual comfort it is sweet and ravishing it as far excels all other joys as Heaven excels Earth Thus you see in the midst of darkness or black clouds God makes light to arise and shine unto the godly It is only God himself that can make it lightsom when the Soul is in a dark disconsolate condition As when the Sun is set none can make it rise but only God So when it is Sun-set in the Soul and the dew of tears drop none can make day-light in that Soul but God himself others may preach comfort to us while it is God that must make us feel comfort others may bring a Cordial to us and set it to us and by us but it is God that must pour in this Cordial Psal. 4.7 Thou Lord hast put gladness in my heart Quest. Why doth God make light and joy to arise to the upright in their darkness Answ. For three Reasons First That he may fulfil his promises He hath said He will give light to his people when they are in darkness Isa. 42.16 I will make darkness light before them Gods honour lies upon it to make good his promise he causeth light to spring up in the disconsolate Soul Gods promise it is his Bond. When a man hath given his Bond he cannot well go back Gods promises they may be long in travail yet at last they bring forth There are two things in God that never fail First His compassion fails not Lam. 3.22 Secondly His faithfulness fails not Psal. 89.33 God may sometimes delay a promise yet he will never deny his promise God may sometimes change his promise turn a temporal promise into a spiritual promise but he will never break his promise he hath said He will cause light to go before his people in all their darkness Secondly God will cause light to arise in his people in all their darkness because they help to enlighten others and therefore they shall not want light when others are in the dark of ignorance they enlighten them with knowledge when others are in the dark of affliction they relieve them they are merciful to them in giving them Alms which administers light and joy to their hearts The Saints of God they are lights to them that sit in darkness when they are benighted with any sorrow they shall not want comfort the Lord causeth light to arise to them in darkness Thirdly God will cause light to arise in his people in darkness either he will support them in trouble or deliver them out of trouble He will cause light to arise because he sees his people have need great need of some dawnings of light they would faint away and be discouraged if there was nothing but darkness and no glimmering of light Should the sick Patient always have purging Physick and no Cordials given him he would faint away God knows our frame and he sees our spirits would fail before him if he did always suffer a cloud to lie upon us therefore in Judgment he remembers Mercy he causeth the day-star of comfort to arise upon his people God will not let it be always midnight lest we should touch upon the Rock of Despair The Musician will not stretch the strings of his Viol too far lest they break asunder Thus you see why the wise God sees it best to cause light to arise in the midst of darkness So much for the doctrinal part USE First Here are several Inferences from this Text see the infinite goodness of God towards his people in all cases that fall out in this world whether affliction or desertion Oh the goodness of God! the Lord doth chequer his work he intermixes some Stars to give light As the Limner mingles bright colours with dark shadows The condition of Gods people on Earth is never so dark but they may see a Rain-bow in the cloud of Providence Take that one Scripture to verifie this Psal. 138.7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble thou wilt revive me Every step I take I tread upon thorns I walk in the midst of trouble Ioseph he was in prison there was darkness but the Text saith The Lord was with Ioseph there was light did arise Gen. 39.21 Iacob had the hollow of his thigh put out of joint there was darkness but at that very time he saw Gods face a dark glimmering of God and the Lord blest him there was light risen in darkness Gen. 32.25 Iob that had lost all that ever he had struck with boyls and soars here was a dark providence yea but hereby Iobs grace was perfected and improved and God gave him an honourable testimony that he was upright and gave him double Estate to what he had before here was light arisen to Iob in the clouds of darkness Iob 42.10 Thus God doth mix light with his peoples darkness As in the Ark there was Manna laid up with the Rod So it is in Gods providence towards his people with the Rod of affliction there 's some Manna some Light some Comfort that God causes to spring up Manna with the Rod oh the goodness of God! in the darkest night that is he keeps alive some spark of light amongst his people That 's the first Inference 2. If it be Gods work to cause light and comfort to the righteous why then how contrary do they act who make it their work to cause darkness and sorrow to the righteous Gods work is to cause light to spring in to the godly their work is to cause darkness You know there is a woe belongs to them that make the hearts of the righteous sad God is creating light for his people and his
and clean Pastures so Christs Sheep they are cleanly and sanctified holiness is the thing they pray for Psalm 51.10 Create in me a clean Heart Oh God! Tho they are not perfectly Holy yet they are perfecting holiness in the fear of God. It is a neat creature and would rather die than go thorow dirty miry places so it is with Christs sheep they will rather suffer any thing than defile their Conscience Gen. 39.9 How can I do this wickedness and sin against God The wicked in Scripture are compared to swine they wallow in Sin in their wickedness and uncleanness they are steept and purboyled in Sin I but a good Christian he breaths after sanctity a child of God he may unawares fall into Sin as David but he does not lye in Sin he recovers himself out again by repentance a Sheep may fall into the mire but it does not lye there gets out again Fourthly A Sheep it is a very useful creature not any thing that is of it but is of some use the flesh the fleece the skin so all Christs Sheep who are the Sheep of his Pasture are useful they are still doing good they are profitable to others by their Knowledge Counsel Example Prayers good Works they are useful in their places the wicked they are compared to Wood Ezek. 15.3 which is good for nought but fuel Sinners are useless their Life is scarce worth a Prayer nor their Death scarce worth a Tear they live to cumber the ground but Gods people they are useful they are called the excellent of the earth Psalm 16.3 They are blessings in the places where they come Fifthly A Sheep it is a very contented creature it will feed upon any pasture where you put it put Sheep upon the bare Common they are content they feed upon that little they pick up in the fallow ground a perfect emblem of true Saints who are the Sheep of Christ let God put them into what pasture he will they are content Phil. 4.11 They have learn'd in every state therewith to be content Saint Paul he could want or abound he could be any thing that God would have him he was content with that Portion whatever it was that Providence carved out to him you who are apt to murmur and repine at your Condition and think you have never enough think with your selves Sheep are content with their pasture surely were I one of Christs Sheep I should be content you that have the least of the World you have more than you know how to be thankful for he that has the least bit of Bread he will die in Gods debt A Sheep is a contented Creature Sixthly To name no more a Sheep it is a timorous creature it is very fearful if any danger approaches or frighted by the Wolf thus the Saints of God who are Christs Sheep they pass the time of their sojourning here in fear they are fearful of provoking God of wounding their Peace fearful of Temptation fearful they should come short of Heaven thorow sloath Heb. 4.1 It is an ear-mark of Christs Sheep they are indewed with the fear of God Gen. 42.18 This is their ear-mark men fearing God it 's true the Righteous they are as bold as a Lyon in a righteous cause but timorous and fearful of sinful fear and let me tell you happy is he that in this sence fears always holy fear is the best antidote against Temptation the way to be safe is always to fear To make some Use of this Let us all labour to be found in the number of Christs Sheep All the World is divided into two ranks Sheep or Goats if you would be glad to be found in the day of Judgment Christs Sheep and sit at his right hand be much in Prayer pray unto God that he would change your nature that he would take away your wolfish nature your fierceness your frowardness and that he would transform you into his own Image Labour to be amongst Christs Sheep to get into Christs fold only one thing excepted that you would not be like Sheep for Sheep are apt to wander sometimes from their fold take heed don't straggle into by-paths of errour and heresie it is dangerous to wander for fear the Devil that wolf should catch you don't go astray as Sheep but in other things resemble Sheep in meekness in patience in usefulness in willingness and particularly in this one thing let us labour to resemble Sheep that is when the Shepherds dog comes near all the Sheep flock together Persecution it should be like the Shepherds dog it should make all Christs Sheep run together and unite Do Papists and Formalists agree in persecuting Gods people and shall not the Saints of God agree to keep the unity of the Spirit â—n the bond of Peace Love is the ear-mark by which Christs Sheep are known Iohn 13.35 By this shall all men know ye are my Disciples if ye love one another It was the Harlot said let the child be divided it is the Jesuit that says let the Church of God be divided it is Satans great design to set his cloven foot amongst Christs people to make division and contention among the sons of Sion the Devils best Musick is discord Oh! let all Christs people his sheep flock together and associate in love those who hope to meet together in Heaven should not fall out by the way Unity it is the great Musick in Heaven Unity in Trinity and Unity among Saints would be a great blessing on Earth for Christians to unite it is their Interest and Wisdom union is their Strength union it is their Glory their Ornament this was the honour of the Primitive Churches all of one Heart Act. 2.1 There was but one Heart amongst them let the Sheep of Christ unite together when the Saints are harmoniously united then they adorn their blessed Shepherd the Lord Jesus So much for the first of these Christs Sheep Secondly To speak something of the Shepherd I am the good Shepherd a true Epithet as ever was given A good Shepherd Zach. 13.7 1 Pet. 2.25 You are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls Your Conscience it is the Diocess were none may visit but Christ Christ is call'd in the Scripture the chief Shepherd of all 1 Pet. 5.4 Ministers are but Shepherds under him to look to his flock Christ is the chief Shepherd so the Observation is this Doct. That Iesus Christ he is the blessed Shepherd of his Sheep In Scripture Christ is called the great Shepherd and the good Shepherd he is called the great Shepherd Heb. 13.20 21. and here in the Text he is called the good Shepherd Christ is the great Shepherd as he made the Sheep and he is the good Shepherd as he saves his Sheep so you see he is both the great and the good Shepherd there are many Parallels and Analogies betwixt Christ and his Sheep I will instance in some 1. A Shepherd is appointed to
so Jesus Christ he hath tender Bowels to all his Elect Isa 40.11 He shall gather the Lambs in his Arms and carry them in his Bosom and gently lead those that are with young Observe Christ Jesus is tender of his Lambs he puts them in his Bosom and such as are weak and ready to faint he gently leads Oh! the bowels of compassion of Christ to the Elect He is full of sympathy the Lambs never cry but their cries go to Christs Heart therefore in Scripture Christ is said to be touch'd with the feeling of their infirmities Heb. 4.5 The Saints never bleed but Christ bleeds in their wounds Isa. 63.9 In all their afflictions he was afflicted Thus much as brief as I could for the Analogies and Parallels betwixt Christ and Shepherd He is the Shepherd of his flock In the second place I shall shew you wherein Christ is better than any other Shepherd and doth infinitely excel and transcend them as it appears in these Particulars First Christ is a better Shepherd than any other In respect of the Glory and Dignity of his Person other Shepherds they are of the Earth Earthly but Christ is a Shepherd from Heaven he is of Divine Original he is equal with God the Father Phil. 2.6 He hath a Consubstantiality with God the Father Secondly Christ is a better Shepherd he excels other Shepherds in that he doth cleanse and purifie his Flock Rev. 1.5 To him that washeth us from our Sins in his own Blood Christs Sheep while they are in the World will be apt to get spots for the World is good for nothing but to spot one spotted with Pride another spotted with earthliness c. Oh! How do the people of God deface Gods Image by rubbing it against the Earth and the Truth is going too much among the Goats doth defile them but now Jesus Christ he doth cleanse and purifie his Flock washes away their spots Christs Sheep they are white and wash't in the blood of the Lamb. Thirdly Christ excels all other Shepherds in that he hath an art that no other Shepherd hath he teaches his Sheep other Shepherds they guide their Sheep but they cannot teach them but Christ teaches his Sheep that belong to his fold of Election he instructs them in the mysteries of Salvation and he teaches them after the most excellent manner who teacheth like God. First Christ so teaches all his Sheep that he makes them willing to learn Psalm 110.3 They shall be a willing people Christ doth not only inform the Judgment but doth incline the will to embrace the Truth makes them willing to learn. Secondly Christ doth not only teach the Ear but he teaches the Heart Acts 16.14 Lydia Whose Heart the Lord opened Thirdly Christ teaches his Sheep not only to understand but he teaches them to obey Isa. 2.3 He will teach us of his ways and we will go in them So that Christ teaches his Sheep after the most excellent manner he doth docifie them Fourthly Jesus Christ is a better Shepherd than any on Earth was before or after Because Christ he prays for his Sheep many Shepherds scarce pray for themselves Christ he prays for all his elect Sheep Iohn 17.9 I will pray for them as Christ knows every Sheep by name so Christ prays for every Sheep by name I pray for them And what doth Christ pray for them Why he prays that they may not wander that they may not tire or faint that they may not die by the way and this is Christs prayer for his Sheep Iohn 17.11 Holy Father keep them whom thou hast given me And this Prayer of Christ is prevalent it doth prevail with God if we consider Christ either in his Office or in Relation his Prayer must be prevalent consider him in his Office as he is a Priest consider him as he is in Relation as he is a Son if God could forget Christ as he is a Priest yet he could not forget Christ as he is his Son Iohn 11.42 I knew thou always hearest me And this Prayer of Christ for his elect Sheep is perpetuated there is not one minute wherein we can say Christ is not praying for us How can these Sheep that belong to Christs fold miscarry when their blessed Shepherd is always watching over them and praying for them Fifthly Jesus Christ he is a better Shepherd than any other in that he shews more dear affection and tender love to his Sheep than ever any Shepherd in this World did and no wonder Christ should thus love his Sheep Because they are his own he hath a propriety in them Iohn 10.27 My Sheep my Sheep a man may be a Shepherd when he is not owner of the Flock of Sheep A hireling he may take the charge of the Sheep when perhaps he never cared for the Sheep Iohn 10.13 But Christ he is the owner of the Sheep though the Pope blasphemously call himself the Head of the Church and Lords it over Christs flocks yet the Pope is an Usurper the Lord Jesus he is the right owner of his Sheep and hence it follows that Christ hath such dear affection and tender love to these Sheep they are his own Now that Christ bears more love to his Sheep than ever any other Shepherd did appears in these three particulars 1. He doth compassionate his Sheep 2. He doth comfort his Sheep 3. He died for his Sheep Was ever any love parallel to this 1. Christ doth compassionate all his Sheep and this I ground upon that forecited Scripture Isa. 40.11 He shall gather the Lambs in his Arms and carry them in his bosom and gently lead those that are with young Christ you see is tender of his Lambs and puts them in his bosom near his Heart and such as are faint he gently leads Oh! the bowel Mercies of Christ to his elect Sheep that 's the first Christ loves his Sheep he doth compassionate them his bowels yern over them 2. Christ doth not only compassionate his Sheep but he doth Comfort them the people of Christ who are his Sheep they are given to trembling Sheep are a trembling a very fearful creature and are apt to be discouraged now Christ he comforts them and revives them Isaiah 12.1 Thou comfortedst me Christ comforts his people two ways First Christ Comforts them in the use of Ordinances Word and Sacrament in the one we hear Christs voice in the other we have his Kiss and Embraces in the use of Gospel Ordinances the Saints are oftentimes upon the mount of Transfiguration they feed upon Holy Embrocha Christ gives them on a sudden such inward revivings as carry them above the love of Life and above the fear of Death Secondly Christ Comforts his people the flock of his pasture by his Spirit that is called the Comforter Iohn 14.16 The Spirit enables us to work out our Adoption to read our Names in the Promises the Spirit seals up Gods love to the Heart upon which there is a
Scripture Knowledge is sometimes put for Faith By my Knowledg shall thy righteous Servant justifie many Knowledg is there put for Faith then we know our Shepherd Christ when we believe in him The blind World is Ignorant of Christ Iohn 17.25 The World hath not known me No! when they heard Christ preach they did see his Miracles that he wrought but neither Oracle nor Miracle would work upon them The World saith Christ hath not known me Formalists do not know Christ savingly they have light but they want sight as if the Sun should shine upon a blind eye Then we know Christ aright when we believe in him we fetch vertue from him we are transformed into his likeness this is to know Christ Oh! let us never rest till we know the Bishop and Shepherd of our Souls the Lord Jesus as our Comfort lies in Christ's knowing us so it lies in our knowing of Christ our Comfort lies in Christs knowing of us with a Knowledg of Approbation and also in our knowing Christ with a Knowledge of Apprehension that 's the first let us know our Shepherd such as know not Christ will hear Christ say to them I know you not Secondly Let us not only know our Shepherd but let us hearken to the voice of our blessed Shepherd our Lord Jesus as soon as ever the Shepherd comes into the Field the Sheep know his voice Oh! let us hear Christs voice Iohn 10.27 My Sheep saith Christ hear my Voice Christs voice it is in the preaching of the Word therefore observe Christ is said now just now to speak from Heaven to us Heb. 12.25 How doth he speak now from Heaven but in the preaching of the Word Oh! then hear Christ speak but take heed don't hear the voice of a stranger Iohn 10.5 a stranger saith Christ will they not follow Sheep will not follow a stranger by stranger is meant one that is Heterodox that would bring strange wonders into the Church and poison Christs Sheep as you must hearken to Christs voice so take heed you don't listen to the voice of a stranger Christs Sheep are rational he hath given them a Spirit of discerning and they are able by their Wisdom to distinguish betwixt Truth and Errour they will not hear the Voice of a Stranger Then must 〈◊〉 hear Christs Voice but when do we hear Christs Voice aright Then we hear Christs Voice aright when we obey his Voice and never till then In Iohn 10. and several other places you read of obeying the Voice of Christ when Christ speaks of self-denial of meekness and mercifulness we obey him and are ambitious to obey him a good Christian is like the Flower that opens with the Sun he opens to Christs commands he doth cordially obey Christ this is to hear Christs Voice Thirdly If Christ be the great and blessed and good Shepherd then let us all labour to evidence to our selves that we belong to this Shepherd that we are the Sheep of Christs pasture Let us search and try whether we have the ear-mark of Christs Sheep or no whether we are like Sheep a Sheep is a pure and cleanly Creature Are we like the Sheep of Christ are our Hearts 〈◊〉 from all filthiness of Flesh 〈◊〉 Spirit He that lies wallowing in Sin is a Swine not a Sheep Secondly A Sheep it is a very useful Creature every thing in a Sheep is good for something the Milk the Flesh the Fleece every thing is useful are we the Sheep of Christ are we useful we should be always doing good this is the very end of our Living to be good and to do good how useful was Saint Paul the care of all the Churches lay upon him Fourthly Is Christ this blessed Shepherd better than any other Shepherd Oh then let us labour to Love and Honour this blessed Shepherd doth the Shepherd die for his Sheep and shall not the Sheep love their Shepherd They that do not love Christ they are not Sheep but Goats Give Christ I beseech you the best of your love the Cream of your Love the 〈◊〉 gave Christ the Juice of her 〈…〉 granate Cant. 8.2 Her spiced 〈◊〉 Love Christ better than Estate 〈◊〉 Relations Relations may lie in 〈◊〉 Bosoms but Christ must lie in 〈◊〉 Hearts our love to the Lord 〈◊〉 must be intent and ardent 〈◊〉 should like Seraphims burn in a 〈◊〉 flame of love to Christ. If a 〈◊〉 had three Souls as a Philosopâ—â—â—â— once dream'd they were all too 〈◊〉 for Christ let us so love Christ and shew it by an open acknowledgment of Christ if we are called to it this is love to dare 〈◊〉 own Christ our blessed 〈…〉 it is said of the chief Rulers 〈…〉 12.42 They believed on 〈◊〉 but they did not confess him 〈◊〉 they should be put out of 〈◊〉 Synagogue Christ will never 〈◊〉 that Faith which will never 〈◊〉 Christ he that 's ashamed 〈◊〉 Christ is a shame to Christ. 〈…〉 and Lastly I will but name 〈◊〉 us answer all the love and cost â—â—rist our blessed Shepherd How 〈◊〉 we answer this cost Answer by 〈◊〉 fruitfulness 1 Cor. 9.7 Who 〈…〉 flock and eateth not the milk of 〈◊〉 â—â—ock Christ hath feasted you as 〈◊〉 flock Christ hath feasted you 〈◊〉 his Body and Blood Oh! then 〈◊〉 him with the fruits of Righteousâ—â—â—â— be fruitful in Knowledge be 〈◊〉 in good works I will close 〈◊〉 with Cant. 4.2 Thy Teeth are like 〈◊〉 of Sheep that are even shorn 〈◊〉 came up from the washing 〈…〉 one bare twins and none is 〈◊〉 â—mong them FINIS