Request for them in Heaven Quest. What are the Fruits of Christ's Intercession Resp. 1. Iustification In Justification there is two things 1. Guilt is remitted 2. Righteousness is imputed Ier. 23.6 The Lord our Righteousness We are reputed not only Righteous as the Angels but as Christ having his Robes put upon us 2 Cor. 5.21 But whence is it that we are justified 'T is from Christ's Intercession Rom. 8.33 34. Lord saith Christ these are the Persons I have died for look upon them as if they had not sinned and repute them Righteous 2 d Fruit. The Unction of the Spirit 1 Iohn 2.20 Ye have an Unction from the holy one This Unction or Anointing is nothing else but the Work of Sanctification in the heart whereby the Spirit makes us partake of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 Such as speak of the Philosophers Stone suppose it to have such a Property that when it toucheth the Mettal it turns it into Gold such a Property hath the Spirit of God upon the Soul when it toucheth the Soul it puts into it a Divine Nature it makes it to be holy and to resemble God This sanctifying work of the Spirit is the fruit of Christ's Intercession Iohn 7.39 The Holy Ghost was not yet given because Iesus was not yet glorified Christ being glorified and in Heaven now he prays the Father and the Father sends the Spirit who pours out the holy Anointing upon the Elect. 3 d Fruit. The Purification of our holy Things It is Christ's work in Heaven not only to present his own Prayers to his Father but he prays over our Prayers again Rev. 8.3 Another Angel came having a golden Censer and there was given to him much Incense that he should offer it with the Prayers of all Saints upon the golden Altar This Angel was Christ he takes the golden Censer of his Merits and puts our Prayers into this Censer and with the Incense of his Intercession makes our Prayers go up as a sweet perfume in Heaven It is observable Lev. 16.16 Aaron shall make Atonement for the holy Place this was Typical to shew that our holy Duties need to have Atonement made for them Our best Services as they come from us are mixed with Corruption as Wine that tasts of the Cask Isa. 64.6 they are filthy rags But Christ purifies and sweetens these Services mixing the sweet odours of his Intercession with them and now God accepts and Crowns them What would become of our Duties without an High Priest Christ's Intercession doth to our Prayers as the Fan to the Chaff it winnows it from the Corn so Christ winnows out the Chaff which intermixeth with our Prayers 4 th Fruit. Access with boldness unto the Throne of Grace Hebr. 4.16 We have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens let us go Come boldly to the Throne of Grace we have a Friend at Court that speaks a good word for us and is following our Cause in Heaven therefore let this animate and encourage us in Prayer We think it too much boldness what such Sinners as we to come for pardon we shall be denied this is a sinful modesty Did we indeed come in our own Name in Prayer it were presumption but Christ intercedes for us in the forcâ— and efficacy of his Blood now to be afraid to come to God in Prayer is a dishonour to Christ's Intercession 5 th Fruit. The sending the Comforter Iohn 14.16 I will pray the Father and â—e will give you another Comforter The Comfort of the Spirit is distinct from the Anointing this Comfort is very sweet sweeter than the Honey drops from the Comb it is the Manna in the Golden Pot it is Vinum in pectore a drop of this heavenly Comfort is enough to sweeten a Sea of worldly Sorrow It is called arrhabo the earnest of the Spirit 2 Cor. 1.22 an Earnest assures one of the whole Sum. The Spirit gives an Earnest of Heaven in our Hand whence is this comforting work of the Spirit Thank Christ's Intercession for it I will pray the Father and he shall send the Comforter 6 th Fruit. Perseverance in Grace Iohn 17.11 Keep through thy own Name those which thou hast given me It is not our prayer or watchfulness or grace that keeps us but it is God's care and manu-tenancy he holds us that we do not fall away and whence is it God preserves us it is from Christ's Intercession Father keep them That Prayer of Christ for Peter is the Copy of his Prayer now in Heaven Luke 22.32 I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Peter's Faith did fail in some degree when he denied Christ but Christ prayed that it might not totally fail The Saints persevere in believing because Christ perseveres in praying 7 th Fruit. Absolution at the Day of Judgment Christ shall judge the World Iohn 5.22 God hath committed all Iudgment to the Son Now sure those that Christ hath so prayed for he will Absolve when he sits upon the Bench of Judicature Will Christ condemn those he prays for Believers are his Spouse will he condemn his Spouse Use 1. Branch 1. See here the Constancy of Christ's Love to the Elect. He did not only die for them but intercedes for them in Heaven when Christ hath done dying he hath not done loving he is now at work in Heaven for the Saints he carries their names on his breast and will never leave praying till that Prayer be granted Iohn 17.24 Father I will that those whom thou hast given me be with me where I am Branch 2. See whence it is that the Prayers of the Saints are so powerful with God Iacob as an Angel prevailed with God Moses's Prayer tied God's hands Precibus suis tanquam vinculis ligatum tenuit Deum Let me alone Exod. 32.10 Whence is this It is Christ's Prayer in Heaven makes the Saints Prayers so available Christ's Divine Nature is the Altar on which he offers up our Prayers and so they prevail Prayer as it comes from the Saints is but weak and languid but when the Arrow of a Saint's Prayer is put into the Bow of Christ's Intercession now it pierceth the Throne of Grace Branch 3. It shows where a Christian must chiefly fix his Eye when he comes to prayer viz. on Christ's Intercession We are to look up to the Mercy-seat but to hope for Mercy through Christ's Intercession We read Levit. 6. That Aaron made the Atonement as well by the Incense as the Bloud We must look to the Cloud of Incense viz. the Intercession of Christ. Christian Look up to thy Advocate one that God can deny nothing to A word from Christ's Mouth is more then if all the Angels in Heaven were interceding for thee If a Man had a Suit depending in the Court of Chancery and had a skilful Lawyer to plead this would much encourage him Christ is now at the Court appearing for us Heb. 9.24 and he hath great Potency in Heaven
delight in duty he doth it rather out of fear of Hell then Love to God when he doth do Gods will yet it is against his will Virtus nolentium nulla est Cain brought his Sacrifice but grudgingly his worship was rather a Task then an Offering rather Pennance then Sacrifice he did Gods will but against his will we must be carried upon the wings of Delight in every Duty Israel were to blow the Trumpets when they offered Burnt-Offerings Numb 10.10 blowing the Trumpets was to show their Joy and Chearfulness in serving God we must read and hear the word with Delight Ier. 15.16 Thy Word was found and I did eat it and it was unto me the Ioy and Rejoycing of my heart A pious Soul goes to the word as to a Feast or as one would go with delight to hear Musick Sleidan reports that the Protestants in France had a Church they called Paradise because when they were in the House of God they thought themselves in Paradise The Saints flock as Doves to the windows of Gods House Isa. 60.8 who are these that flock as Doves to the windows not that a truly regenerate Person is always in the same chearful temper of Obedience he may sometimes find an indisposition and weariness of Soul but his weariness is his burden he is weary of his weariness he prays weeps useth all means to regain that alacrity and freedom in Gods Service that he was wont to have This is to do Gods will acceptably when we do it willingly 't is this crowns all our Services delight in duty is better then duty the Musician is not commended for playing long but well 't is not how much we do but how much we love Psal. 119.97 O how love I thy Law Love is as Musk among Linnen that perfumes it Love perfumes Obedience and makes it go up to Heaven as Incense this is doing Gods will as the Angels in Heaven do it they are ravished with delight while they are praising God therefore the Angels are said to have Harps in their Hands Rev. 15.2 as a sign of their chearfulness in Gods Service 4. VVe do Gods will as the Angels in Heaven when we do Gods VVill fervently sine remissione Rom. 12.11 Fervent in spirit serving God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Metaphor from vvater when it seeths and boils over so our Affections should boil over in zeal 〈◊〉 fervency the Angels serve God vvith fervour and intenseness the Angels are called Seraphims from an Hebrew word vvhich signifies to burn to shovv hovv the Angels are all on fire Psal. 104.4 they burn in Love and Zeal in doing Gods will Grace turns a Saint into a Seraphim Aaron must put burning Coals to the Incense Exod. 16.12 Incense was a Type of Prayer burning Coals of Zeal to show that the fire of zeal must be put to the Incense of prayer Formality starves Duty when we serve God dully and coldly is this like the Angels Duty without fervency is as a Sacrifice without fire we should ascend to Heaven in a fiery Chariot of Devotion 5. VVe do Gods VVill as the Angels in Heaven when we give God the best in every Service Numb 18.29 Out of all your Gifts ye shall offer of all the best thereof Numb 28.7 In the holy place shalt thou cause the strong Wine to be poured unto the Lord for a drink-Offering The Jews might not offer to the Lord wine that vvas small or mixed but the strong wine to imply that we must offer to God the best the strongest of our affections if the Spouse had a Cup more juicy and spiced Christ should drink of that Cant. 8.2 I would cause thee to drink of spiced Wine of the juice of my Pomgranate Thus the Angels in Heaven do Gods Will they serve him in the best manner they give him their Seraphick high stringed Praises he who loves God gives him the Cream of his Obedience God challenged the fat of all the Sacrifice as his due Lev. 3.16 Hypocrites care not what Services they bring to God they think to put him off with any thing they put no Cost in their Duties Gen. 4.3 Cain brought of the fruit of the Ground The Holy Ghost took notice of Abel's Offering that it was costly he brought of the Firstlings of his Flock and of the Fat thereof Gen. 4.4 bâ—t when he speaks of Cain's Offering he only saith he brought of the Fruit of the Ground Then we do Gods VVill aright when we do offer Pinguia we dedicate to him the best Domitian would not have his Image carved in VVood or Iron but in Gold God will have the best we have golden Services 6. VVe do Gods VVill as the Angels in Heaven when we do it readily and swiftly the Angels do not dispute or reason the Case but assoon as they have their Charge and Commission from God they immediately obey and to show how ready they are to execute Gods VVill the Cherubims representing the Angels are described with VVings to show how swift and forward they are in their Obedience it is as if they had wings Dan. 9.21 The Man Gabriel that was an Angel being caused to fly swiftly Thus should we do Gods VVill as the Angels assoon as ever God speaks the VVord vve should be ambitious to obey alas how long is it sometimes eâ—e we can get leave of our hearts to go to a Duty Christ went more readily ád Crucem then we to the Throne of Grace how many disputes and excuses have we is this to do Gods VVill as the Angels in Heaven do it O let us shake off this backwardness to Duty as Paul shook of the Viper nescit tarda molimina Spiritus sancti gratia Zeck 5.9 I saw two Women and the wind was in their wings VVings are swift but wind in the wings great swiftness such readiness should be in our Obedience as Peter assoon as ever Christ commanded him to let down his Net at Christs VVord he presently let down the Net and you know what success he had Luke 5.4 It vvas prophesied of such as vvere brought home to Christ Psal. 18.44 Assoon as they hear of me they shall obey me 7. We do Gods VVill as the Angels in Heaven when we do it constantly the Angels are never weary of doing Gods VVill they serve God day and night Rev. 7.17 thus must we imitate the Angels Psal. 106.3 Blessed is he that doth Righteousness at all times Constancy crowns Obedience non cepisse sed perfecisse virtutis est Cypr. our Obedience must be like the Fire of the Altar which was continually kept burning Lev. 6.13 Hypocrites soon give over doing Gods Will like the Chrisolite which is of a golden Colour in the Morning it is very bright to look on but towards Evening it grows dull and hath lost its splendor VVe should continue in doing Gods VVill because of that great loss that will befal us if we give over doing Gods VVill. 1. A loss of Honour Rev. 3.11
his Bloud Without Faith Christ himself will not avail us Branch 2. Let us love a Bleeding Saviour and let us show our Love to Christ by being ready to suffer for him Many rejoyce at Christ's Suffering for them but dream not of their Suffering for him Ioseph dreamed of his Preferment but not of his Imprisonment Was Christ a Sacrifice Did he bear God's Wrath for us we should bear Man's Wrath for him Christ's Death was voluntary Psal. 40.7 Lo I come to do thy will O God Luke 12.50 I have a baptism to be baptized with and how am I straitned till it be accomplished Christ calls his Sufferings a Baptism he was to be as it were baptized in his own Bloud And how did he thirst for that time How am I straitned Oh then let us be willing to suffer for Christ Christ hath taken away the Venom and Sting of the Saint's Sufferings there is no Wrath in their Cup. Our Sufferings Christ can make sweet As there was Oyl mix'd in the Peace-Offering So God can mix the Oyl of Gladness with our Sufferings The ringing of my Chain is sweet Musick in my Ears Landgrave of Hesse Life must be parted with shortly what is it to part with it a little sooner as a Sacrifice to Christ as a Seal of our Sincerity and a Pledge of Thankfulness 3. Use of Consolation This Sacrifice of Christ's Bloud may infinitely comfort us This is the Bloud of Atonement Christ's Cross is Cardo salutis Calv. The Hing and Foundation of our Comfort 1. This Bloud comforts in case of Guilt O saith the Soul my sins trouble me why Christ's Bloud was shed for the Remission of Sin Mat. 26.28 Let us see our sins laid on Christ and then they are no more ours but his 2. In case of Pollution Christ's Bloud is an healing and cleansing Bloud 1. It is healing Isa. 53.5 With his stripes we are healed It is the best Weapon-Salve it heals at a distance though Christ be in Heaven we may feel the Vertue of his Bloud healing our bloudy Issue 2. And it is cleansing 'T is therefore compar'd to Fountain-water Zec. 13.1 The Word is a Glass to show us our Spots and Christ's Bloud is a Fountain to wash them away it turns Leprosy into Purity 1 Joh. 1.7 The bloud of Iesus cleanseth us from all our sin There is indeed one Spot so black that Christ's Bloud doth not wash away viz. The Sin against the Holy Ghost Not but that there is Vertue enough in Christ's Bloud to wash it away but he who hath sinned that Sin will not be washed he contemns Christ's Bloud and tramples it under foot Heb. 10.29 Thus we see what a strong Cordial Christ's Bloud is it is the Anchor-hold of our Faith the Spring of our Joy the Crown of our Desires and the only Support both in Life and Death In all our Fears let us comfort our selves with the Propitiatory Sacrifice of Christ's Bloud Christ dyed both as a Purchaser and as a Conquerour 1. As a Purchaser in regard of God having by his Bloud obtained our Salvation 2. And as a Conqueror in regard of Satan the Cross being his Triumphant Chariot wheâ—ein he hath led Hell and Death captive Use ult Bless God for this precious Sacrifice of Christ's Death Psal. 103.1 Bless the Lord O my soul. And for what doth David bless him Who redeemeth thy life from destruction Christ gave himself a Sin-offering for us let us give ourselves a Thank-offering to him If a Man redeem another out of Debt will not he be grateful How deeply do we stand obliged to Christ who hath redeemed us from Hell and Damnation Rev. 5.9 And they sung a new Song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood Let our Hearts and Tongues join in consort to bless God and let us shew our Thankfulness to Christ by Fruitfulness let us bring forth as Spice-Trees the Fruits of Humility Zeal Good-works This is to live unto him who hath died for us 2 Cor. 5.15 The Wise-men did not only worship Christ but presented him with Gifts Gold and Frankincense and Myrrhe Matth. 2.11 Let us present Christ with the Fruits of Righteousness which are unto the Glory and Praise of God CHRIST's Intercession ROM 8.34 Who also maketh Intercession for us WHen Aaron entred into the Holy Place his Bells gave a Sound so Christ having entred into Heaven his Intercession makes a melodious sound in the Ears of God Christ though he be exalted to Glory hath not laid aside his Bowels of Compassion but is still mindful of his Body Mystical as Ioseph was mindful of his Father and Brethren when he was exalted to the Court Who also maketh Intercession for us To Intercede is to make Request in the behalf of another Christ is the great Master of Requests in Heaven Christus est Catholicus Patris Sacerdos Tertul. Quest. What are the Qualifications of our Intercessor Resp. 1. He is holy Hebr. 7.26 For such an High Priest became us who is holy undefiled separate from sinners Christ knew no sin 2 Cor. 5.21 he knew sin in the weight not in the act It was requisite that he who was to do away the sins of others should himself be without sin Holiness is one of the precious Stones which shines on the Breast-Plate of our High Priest 2. He is faithful Hebr. 2.17 It behoved him to be like unto his brethren that he might be a faithful High Priest Moses was faithful as a Servant Christ as a Son Hebr. 3.5 he doth not forget any Cause he hath to plead nor doth he use any deceit in pleading An ordinary Attorney may either leave out some word which might make for the Client or put in a word against him having receiv'd a Fee on both sides but Christ is true to the Cause he pleads we may leave our Matters with him we may trust our Lives and Souls in his hand 3. He never dies The Priests under the Law while their Office lived they themselves died Hebr. 7.23 They were not suffered to continue by reason of death but Christ ever lives to make Intercession Hebr. 7.25 He hath no Succession in his Priesthood Quest. Who Christ intercedes for Resp. Not for all promiscuously Iohn 17.9 but for the Elect. The efficacy of Christ's Prayer reacheth no further then the efficacy of his Blood but his Blood was shed only for the Elect therefore his Prayers only reach them The High Priest went into the Sanctuary with the Names only of the Twelve Tribes upon his Breast so Christ goes into Heaven only with the Names of the Elect upon his Breast Christ interceeds for the weakest Believers Iohn 17.20 and for all the sins of Believers In the Law there were some sins the High Priest was neither to offer Sacrifice for nor yet to offer Prayer Numb 15.30 The Soul that doth ought presumptuously shall be cut off The
prejudice the Saints Second Benefit If we are adopted then we have an Interest in all the Promises The Promises are Childrens Bread Believers are heirs of the Promise Heb. 6.17 The Promises are sure God's Truth which is the brightest Pearl in his Crown is laid to pawn in a Promise The Promises are suitable like a Pâ—â—sick-garden there is no Disease but there is some Herb in the Physick-garden to cure it In the Dark of Desertion God hath promised to be a Sun in Temptation to tread down Satan Rom. 16.20 Doth Sin prevail he hath promised to take away its Kingly Power Rom. 6.14 O the Heavenly Comforts which are distilled from the Limbeck of the Promises But who hath a Right to these Believers only are Heirs of the Promise There is never a Promise in the Bible but a Believer may say This is mine Use ult Extol and magnifie God's Mercy who hath adopted you into his Family who of Slaves hath made you Sons of Heirs of Hell Heirs of the Promise Adoption is a free Gift He gave them power or dignity to become the sons of God As a Thread of Silver runs through the whole Piece of Work so Free-grace runs through this whole priviledge of Adoption Adoption is a greater Mercy then Adam had in Paradise he was a Son by Creation but here is a further Sonship by Adoption to make us thankful Consider in Civil Adoption there is some worth or excellency in the Person to be adopted but there was no worth in us neither Beauty nor Parentage nor Vertue nothing in us to move God to bestow the Prerogative of Sonship upon us We have enough in us to move God to correct us but nothing to move him to adopt us therefore exalt Free-grace begin the work of Angels here Bless him with your Praises who hath blessed you in making you his Sons and Daughters SANTIFICATION 1 THESS 4.3 For this is the Will of God even your Sanctification THe Notion of the word Sanctification signifies to consecrate and set apart to an holy use Thus they are sanctified Persons who are separate from the World and set apart for God's Service Sanctification hath a privative and positive part 1. A privative part Mortification which lies in the purging out of sin Sin is compared to Leven which sowrs and to Leprosy which defiles Sanctification doth purge out the old leven 1 Cor. 5.7 Though it takes not away the life yet the love of sin 2. A positive part Vivification which is the spiritual refining of the Soul which in Scripture is called a renewing of our mind Rom. 12.2 and a partaking of the Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 The Priests in the Law not only were washed in the great Lavor but adorned with glorious Apparel Exod. 28.2 so in Sanctification not only washed from sin but adorned with purity Quest. What is Sanctification Answ. It is a Principle of Grace savingly wrought whereby the Heart becomes holy and is made after God's own heart A sanctified Person bears not only God's Name but Image For the opening the nature of Sanctification I shall lay down these Seven Positions 1. Sanctification is a supernatural thing 't is divinely infused we are naturally polluted and to cleanse God takes to be his Prerogative Lev. 21.8 I am the Lord that sanctifieth you Weeds grow of themselves Flowers are planted Sanctification is a Flower of the Spirit 's planting therefore it is called The Sanctification of the Spirit 1 Pet. 1.2 2. Sanctification is an intrinsical thing it lies chiefly in the heart It is called the adorning the hidden man of the heart 1 Pet. 3.4 The Dew wets the Leaf the Sap is hid in the Root the Religion of some consists only in externals but Sanctification is deeply rooted in the Soul Psal. 51.6 In the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom 3. Sanctification is an extensive thing it spreads into the whole Man 1 Thess. 5.23 The God of peace sanctifie you wholly As Original Corruption hath depraved all the Faculties the whole head is sick the whole heart faint no Part sound as if the whole mass of blood were corrupted so Sanctification goes over the whole Soul After the Fall there was Ignorance in the Mind now in Sanctification we are light in the Lord Eph. 5.8 After the Fall the Will was depraved there was not only impotency to Good but obstinacy now in Sanctification there is a blessed pliableness in the Will it doth symbolize and comport with the Will of God After the Fall the Affections were misplaced on wrong Objects in Sanctification they are tun'd into a sweet order and harmony the Grief placed on Sin the Love on God the Joy on Heaven Thus Sanctification spreads it self as far as Original Corruption It goes over the whole Soul The God of peace sanctifie you wholly He is not a consecrated Person who is good only in some part but who is all over sanctified Therefore in Scripture Grace is called a New Man Col. 3.10 not a new Eye or a new Tongue but a new Man A good Christian though he be sanctified but in part yet in every part 4. Sanctification is an intense ardent thing Qualitates sunt in subjecto intensivè Rom. 12.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fervent in spirit Sanctification is not a dead Form but is inflamed into Zeal We call Water hot when it is so in the third or fourth degree He is holy whose Religion is heated to some degree and his heart boils over in love to God 5. Sanctification is a beautiful thing it makes God and Angels fall in love with us Psal. 110.3 The beauties of holiness As the Sun is to the World so is Sanctification to the Soul beautifying and bespangling it in God's Eyes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost. That which makes God glorious must needs make us so Holiness is the most sparkling Jewel in the God-head Exod. 15.11 Glorious in holiness Sanctification is the First fruit of the Spirit it is Heaven begun in the Soul Sanctification and Glory differ only in degree Sanctification is Glory in the Seed and Glory is Sanctification in the Flower Happiness is the quintissence of Holiness 6. Sanctification is an abiding thing 1 Iohn 3.9 His seed remaineth in him He who is truly sanctified cannot fall from that state Indeed seeming Holiness may be lost Colours may wash off Sanctification may suffer an Eclipse Rev. 2.4 Thou hast left thy first love but true Sanctification is a blossom of Eternity 1 John 2.27 The anointing which ye have received abideth in you He who is truly sanctified can no more fail away then the Angels which are fixed in their heavenly Orb. 7. Sanctification is a progressive thing 't is growing it is compared to Seed which grows First the Bladesprings up then the Ear then the ripe Corn in the Ear. Such as are already sanctified may be more sanctified 2 Cor. 7.1 Justification doth not admit of degrees a Believer cannot be more elected or
Job 15.14 God can do it Out of an unholy Heart he can produce Grace O! make David's Prayer Psal. 51.10 Create in me a clean heart O God Lay thy Heart before the Lord and say Lord my unsanctified Heart pollutes all it toucheth I am not fit to live with such an Heart for I cannot honour thee nor to die with such an Heart for I cannot see thee O create in me a clean heart Lord consecrate my heart and make it thy Temple and thy Praises shall be sung there for ever Use 3. of Thankfulness Hath God brought a clean thing out of an unclean hath he sanctified you wear this Jewel of Sanctification with thankfulness Col. 1.12 Giving thanks to the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who hath made us meet for the Inheritance c. Christian Thou could'st defile thy self but not sanctifie thy self But God hath done it he hath not only chain'd up sin but chang'd thy Nature and made thee as a King's Daughter all glorious within He hath put upon thee the Breast-place of Holiness which though it may be shot at can never be shot thorow Are there any here that are sanctified God hath done more for you then millions They may be illuminated but not sanctified He hath done more for you then if he had made you the Sons of Princes and caused you to ride upon the high places of the Earth Are you sanctified Heaven is begun in you Happiness is nothing but the quintissence of Holiness O how thankful should you be to God Do as that blind Man in the Gospel after he had received his sight He followed Christ glorifying God Luke 18.43 Make Heaven ring of God's Praises Of ASSVRANCE Quest. WHat are the Benefits flow from Sanctification Resp. Assurance of God's Love Peace of Conscience Ioy in the Holy Ghost Encrease of Grace and Perseverance therein to the end 1. Benefit flowing from Sanctification is assurance of God's Love 2 Pet. 1.10 Give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure Sanctification is the Seed Assurance is the Flower which grows out of it Assurance is a consequent of Sanctification the Saints of old had it 1 Iohn 2.3 We know that we know him 2 Tim. 1.12 I know whom I have believed here was Sensus Fidei the reflex act of Faith and Gal. 2.20 Christ hath loved me Here was Faith flourishing into Assurance Aecolampadias when he was Sick pointed to his Heart Hic sat Lucis Here I have Light enough meaning Comfort and Assurance Quest. 1. Have all Sanctified Persons Assurance Resp. They have a right to it and I do incline to believe that all have it in some degree before their last expiring though their Comfort may be so strong and their Vital Spirits so weak that they cannot express what they feel But I dare not positively affirm that all have Assurance in the first moment of their Sanctification A Letter may be written when it is not Sealed so Grace may be written in the heart yet the Spirit may not set the Seal of Assurance to it God is a free Agent and may give or suspend Assurance pro libito as he please Where there is the Sanctifying work of the Spirit he may withhold the Sealing work partly to keep the Soul Humble partly to punish our careless walking We neglect our Spiritual watch grow remiss in duty and then walk under a Cloud We quench the Graces of the Spirit and God withholds the Comforts and partly to put a difference between Earth and Heaven This I the rather speak to bear up the Hearts of Gods People who are dejected because they have not Assurance You may have the Water of the Spirit poured on you in Sanctification though not the Oyl of Gladness in Assurance there may be Faith of Adherence and not of Evidence there may be Life in the Root when there is no Fruit in the Branches to be seen so Faith in the Heart when no Fruit of Assurance Quest 2. What is Assurance Resp. It is not Vocal any audible Voice or brought to us by the help of an Angel or Revelation Assurance consists of a Practical Sylogism where the Word of God makes the major Conscience the minor the Spirit of God the Conclusion The Word saith He that fears and loves God is loved of God there is the major Proposition then Conscience makes the minor but I fear and love God then the Spirit makes the Conclusion therefore thou art loved of God And this is that which the Apostle calls The Witnessing of the Spirit with our Spirits that we are his Children Rom. 8.16 Quest. 3. Whether hath a Sanctified Soul such an Assurance as excludes all doubting Resp. He hath that which bears up his Heart from sinking he hath such an Earnest of the Spirit that he would not part with for the Richest Prize but his Assurance though it be infallible it is not perfect There will be sometimes a Trepidation or Trembling he is safe yet not without fears and doubts as a Ship lies safe at Anchor yet may be a little shaken by the Wind. If a Christian had no Doubtings there should be no unbelief in him had he no Doubtings there would be no difference between Grace Militant and Triumphant Had not David his Ebbings sometimes as well as his Flowings like the Mariner who sometimes cries out Stellam Video I see a Star sometimes the Star is out of Sight Sometimes we hear David say Thy Loving Kindness is before mine Eyes Psal. 26.3 But at another time he was at a loss Psal. 89.49 Lord where are thy former Loving Kindnesses And there may fall out an Eclipse in a Christians Assurance to put him upon longing after Heaven Then there shall not be the least doubting then the Banner of Gods Love shall be always display'd upon the Soul then the light of God's Face shall be without Clouds and have no Sun-setting then the Saints shall have an uninterrupted Assurance and be ever with the Lord. Quest. 4. What are the differences between true Assurance and Presumption Resp. 1. They differ in the method or manner of working Divine Assurance flows from Humiliation for Sin I speak not of the measure of Humiliation but the Truth There are in Palermo Reeds growing in which there is a Sugred Juice A Soul humbled for Sin is the Bruised Reed in which grows this sweet Assurance God's Spirit is a Spirit of Bondage before it be a Spirit of Adoption but Presumption ariseth without any humbling work of the Spirit How camest thou by thy Venison so soon The Plow goes before the Seed be sown the Heart must be plowed up by Humiliation and Repentance before God sows the Seed of Assurance 2. He who hath a real Assurance will take heed of that which will weaken and darken his Assurance he is fearful of the Forbidden Fruit he knows though he cannot sin away his Soul yet he may sin away his Assurance But he who hath the Ignis Fatuus of
being willing to lose all for his Sake 4. If you have Assurance improve it for Gods Glory several ways 1. By encouraging such as are yet unconverted Tell them how sweet this hidden Manna is Tell them what a good Master you serve what Vails you have had Tell them God hath carried you to the Hill of Myrrhe to the Mountains of Spices He hath given you not only a Prospect of Heaven but an Earnest O perswade Sinners by all the Love and Mercy of God that they would enroll their Names in his Family and cast themselves upon him for Salvation Tell them God hath met with you and unlock'd the Secrets of Free Grace and assured you of a Land flowing with those infinite Delights which Eye hath not seen Thus by telling others what God hath done for your Soul you may make them in love with the ways of God and cause them to turn Proselytes to Religion 2. Improve Assurance by comforting such as want it Be as the good Samaritan pour Wine and Oyl into their Wounds You â—ho have Assurance are gotten as it were to the Haven you are sure of your Happiness but do you not see others who are struggling with the Waves of Temptation and Desertion and are ready to sink O now Sympathize with them and do what you can to comfort them when they are in this deep Ocean 2 Cor. 1.6 Whether we be comforted it is for your Consolation The comfortable experience of one Christian being communicated to another doth much revive and bear up his fainting Heart Our Comfort saith the Apostle is for your Consolation 3. Improve Assurance by walking more Heavenly you should Scorn these things below you who have an Earnest of Heaven should not be too Earnest for the Earth You have Angels Food and it becomes not you with the Serpent to lick the Dust. The Wicked are all for Corn Wine and Oyl but you have that which is better God hath lifted up the Light of his Countenance Will you hanker after the World when you have been feeding upon the Grapes and Pomegranates of the Holy Land Do you now Lust after the Garlick and Onions of Egypt when you are Cloathed with the Sun will you set the Moon and Stars above you O let them scramble for the World who have nothing else but Husks to feed on Have you assurance of Heaven and is not that enough Will not a Kingdom satisfie you Such as are high in Assurance should be in the Altitudes live above the World 4. Improve Assurance by a Chearful Walking It is for Condemn'd Persons to go hanging down their Head but hast thou thy Absolution Doth thy God smile on thee Chear up 2 Sam. 13.4 Why art thou being the King's Son Lean Art thou the King's Son hath God assured thee of thy Adoption and art thou â—ad Assurance should be an Antidote against all Trouble What though the World hate thee yet thou art assur'd that thou art one of Gods Favourites What though there is but little Oyl in the Cruse and thou art low in the World yet thou art high in Assurance O then rejoyce How Musical is the Bird How doth it chirp and sing that knows not where to pick up the next Crumb And shall they be sad and discontented who have God's Bond to assure them of their daily Bread and his Love to assure them of Heaven But certainly those who have Assurance cannot but be of a Sanguine Complexion 5. If you have an Assurance of Salvation let this make you long after a Glorified State He who hath an Earnest in his Hand desires the whole Sum to be paid That Soul who hath tasted how sweet the Lord is should long for a fuller enjoyment of him in Heaven Hath Christ put this Ring of Assurance on thy Hand and so espoused thee to himself how shouldst thou long for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb Rev. 19.9 O Christian think with thy self if a glimpse of Heaven a smile of God's Face be so sweet what will it be to be ever sunning thy self in the Light of God's Countenance Certainly you who have an Assurance of your Title to Heaven cannot but desire Possession Be content to Live but willing to Dye 6. If you have Assurance be careful you do no not lose it keep it for it is your Life viz. the comfort of your Life Keep Assurance 1 st by Prayer Psal. 36.10 O continue thy Loving Kindness Lord continue Assurance do not take away this Privy Seal from me 2 dly Keep Assurance by Humility Pride estrangeth God from the Soul when you are high in Assurance be low in Humility St. Paul had Assurance and he Baptizeth himself with this Name Chief of Sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 The Jewel of Assurance is best kept in the Cabinet of an Humble Heart Of PEACE 1 Pet. 1.2 Grace unto you and Peace be multiplied HAving spoken of the first Fruit of Sanctification Assurance I proceed to the Second viz. Peace Peace be Multiplied Quest. What are the several species or kinds of Peace Resp. Peace in Scripture is compar'd to a River Isa. 66.12 this River parts it self into Two Silver Streams 1. There is an External Peace and that is either 1. Aeconomical Peace in a Family 2. Political Peace in the State Peace is the Nurse of Plenty Psal. 147.14 He maketh Peace in thy Borders and filleth thee with the finest of the Wheat How pleasant is it when the Waters of Blood begin to asswage and we can see the Windows of our Ark open and the Dove returning with an Olive-branch of Peace 3. Ecclesiastical Peace Peace in the Church It s Unity in Trinity is the greatest Mystery in Heaven and Unity in Verity the greatest Mercy on Earth Peace Ecclesiastical stands in opposition to Schism and Persecution 2. A Spiritual Peace which is Two-fold Peace above us or Peace with God and Peace within us or Peace with Conscience This is Superlative other Peace may be lasting this is everlasting Quest. 2. Whence comes this Peace Resp. This Peace hath the whole Trinity for its Author 1. God the Father is the God of Peace 1 Thes. 5.23 2. God the Son is the Prince of Peace Isa. 9.6 3. Peace is said to be the fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 1. God the Father is the God of Peace As he is the God of Order 1 Cor. 14.33 so the God of Peace Phil. 4.9 This was the form of the Priests blessing the People Numb 6.26 The Lord give thee Peace 2. God the Son is the Purchaser of Peace He hath made Peace by his Blood Col. 1.20 Having made Peace by the Blood of his Cross. The Attonement Aaron made for the People when he entred into the Holy of Holies with Blood was a Type of Christ our High Priest who hath by his Sacrifice pacified his angry Father and made Attonement for us Christ purchased our Peace upon hard terms his Soul was in an Agony while he was travailing to bring forth
the Strings of a Viol the Musick is spoil'd if Christians slacken in Duty they spoil the sweet Musick of Peace in their Souls As the Fire decays so the Cold increaseth as Fervency in Duty abates so our Peace cools Use. Labour for this blessed Peace Peace with God and Conscience Peace with Neighbour Nations is sweet Pax una Triumphis innumeris melior the Hebrew Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peace comprehends all Blessings it is the Glory of a Kingdom a Princes Crown is more Beautiful when it is hung with the white Lilly of Peace than when it is set with the Red Roses of a Bloody War O then how sweet is Peace of Conscience it is a Bulwark against the Enemy Phil. 4.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it shall keep you as in a Garrison you may throw out the Gantlet and bid defiance to Enemies It is the Golden Pot and the Manna it is the first Fruits of Paradise It is still Musick for want of this a Christian is in continual fear he doth not take that comfort in Ordinances Hannah went up to the Feast at Ierusalem but she wept and did not eat 1 Sam. 1.7 So a poor dejected Soul goes to an Ordinance but doth not eat of the Feast he weeps and doth not eat He cannot take that comfort in Worldly Blessings Health Estate Relations he wants that inward Peace which should be as Sawce to sweeten his Comforts O therefore labour for this blessed Peace consider the noble and excellent effects of it First It gives boldness at the Throne of Grace Guilt of Conscience clips the Wings of Prayer it makes the Face Blush and the Heart But when a Christian hath some lively apprehensions of God's Love and the Spirit whispering Peace then he goes to God with boldness as a Child to his Father Psal. 25.1 Unto thee O Lord I lift up my Soul Time was when David's Soul was bowed down Psal. 38.6 I am bowed down greatly But now the case is alter'd he will lift up his Soul to God in a way of Triumph whence was this God had spoken Peace to his Soul Psal. 26.3 Thy loving Kindness is before mine Eyes 2. This Divine Peace fires the Heart with Love to Christ Peace is the result of Pardon he who hath a Pardon seal'd cannot choose but love his Prince How endeared is Christ to the Soul now Christ is precious indeed O saith the Soul how sweet is this Rose of Sharon Hath Christ waded through a Sea of Blood and Wrath to purchase my Peace hath he not only made Peace but spoke Peace to me how should my Heart ascend in a fiery Chariot of Love how willing should I be to do and suffer for Christ 3. This Peace quiets the heart in Trouble Mic. 5.5 This Man shall be the Peace when the Assyrian shall come into our Land and tread in our Palaces The Enemy may invade our Palaces but not our Peace this Man Christ shall be the Peace When the Head akes the Heart may be well when Worldly troubles assault a Christian his Mind may be in Peace and Quiet Psal. 4.8 I will lay me down in Peace and Sleep 'T was now a sad time with David he was flying for his Life from Absalom it was no small Afflicton to think that his own Son should seek to take away his Fathers Life and Crown David wept and covered his Face 2 Sam. 15.30 Yet at this time saith he I will lay me down in Peace and Sleep He had trouble from his Son but Peace from his Conscience David could sleep upon the soft Pillow of a good Conscience This is a Peace worth getting Quest. 8. What shall we do to attain this blessed Peace Resp. 1. Let us ask it of God he is the God of Peace he beats back the roaring Lion he stills the raging of Conscience If we could call all the Angels out of Heaven they could not speak Peace without God The Stars cannot make Day without the Sun none can make day in a dark Deserted Soul but the Sun of Righteousness as the Wilderness cannot water it self but remains dry and parched till the Clouds drop their Moisture so our Hearts cannot have Peace till he infuse and drop it upon us by his Spirit Therefore pray Lord thou who art the God of Peace create Peace thou who art the Prince of Peace command it Give me that Peace which may sweeten trouble yea the bitter Cup of Death 2. If you would have Peace make War with Sin Sin is the Achan that troubles us the Trojan Horse 2 Kings 9.22 When Joram saw Jehu he said is it Peace Jehu And he answered what Peace so long as the Whoredoms of thy Mother Jezabel and her Witchcrafts are so many What Peace as long as Sin remains unmortified If you would have Peace with God break the League with Sin Give battel to Sin it is a most just War God hath proclaimed it Nay he hath promised us Victory Sin shall not have Dominion Rom. 6. No way to Peace but by maintaining a War with Sin Pax nostra Bellum contra Daemonem Tert. When Sampson had slain the Lion there came Hony out of the Lion By Slaying Sin we get this Hony of Peace 3. Go to Christs Blood for Peace Some go to fetch their Peace from their own Righteousness not Christs they go for Peace to their Holy Life not Christ's Death If Conscience be troubled they strive to quiet it with their Duties this is not the right way to Peace Duties must not be neglected nor yet idolized Look up to the Blood of Sprinkling Heb. 12.24 That Blood of Christ which pacified God must pacifie Conscience Christ's blood being suck'd in by Faith gives Peace Rom. 5.1 Being justified by Faith we have Peace with God No Balm to cure a Wounded Conscience but the Blood of Christ. 4. Walk closely with God Peace flows from Purity Gal. 6.16 As many as walk according to this Rule Peace be on them In the Text Grace and Peace are put together Grace is the Root and Peace is the Flower As Balm-Water drops from the Limbeck so Divine Peace comes out of the Limbeck of a Gracious Heart Walk very Holily God's Spirit is first a Refiner before a Comforter Bran. 2. You who have this Peace Peace above Peace within labour to keep it it is a precious Jewel do not lose it 'T is sad to have the League of National Peace broken but it is worse to have the Peace of Conscience broken Oh preserve this Peace First Take heed of Relapses hath God spoken Peace do not turn again to Folly Psal. 85.8 Besides the Ingratitude there 's folly in Relapses it was long ere God was reconciled and the Breach made up and will you again Eclipse and Forfeit your Peace Hath God heal'd the wound of Conscience and will you tear it open again Will you break another Vein will you cut a new Artery This is returning indeed to folly What Madness is it
to meddle again with that Sin which will breed the Worm of Conscience Secondly Make up your Spiritual Accounts daily See how Matters stand between God and your Souls Psal. 77.6 I commune with my own Heart Often Reckonings keep God and Conscience Friends do with your Hearts as you do with your Watches wind them up every Morning by Prayer and at Night examine whether your Hearts have gone true all the day whether the Wheels of your Affections have moved swiftly towards Heaven Oh call your selves often to account keep your Reckonings even and that is the way to keep your Peace Of IOY Gal. 5.22 The Fruit of the Spirit is Ioy. THE third Fruit of Justification Adoption and Sanctification is Joy in the Holy Ghost Joy is the setting the Soul upon the Top of a Pinacle 't is the Cream of the sincere Milk of the Word Quest. 1. What is this Ioy Resp. Spiritual Joy is a sweet and delightful Passion arising from the Apprehension and Feeling of some Good whereby the Soul is supported under present Troubles and fenced against future Fear 1. It is a Delightful Passion So it is contrary to Sorrow which is a Perturbation of Mind whereby the Heart is perplexed and cast down Joy is a sweet and pleasant Affection which easeth the Mind Exhilarates and Comforts the Spirits 2. It ariseth from the Feeling of some Good Joy is not a Fancy or bred of Conceit but is Rational and ariseth from the feeling of some Good viz. The Sense of Gods Love and Favour Joy is so Real a thing that it makes a sudden Change in a Person it turns Mourning into Melody As in Spring time when the Sun comes to our Horizon it makes a sudden Alteration in the Face of the Universe the Birds sing the Flowers appear the Fig-tree puts forth forth her green Figs every thing seems to rejoyce and put off its Mourning as being revived with the sweet Influence of the Sun so when the Sun of Righteousness ariseth on the Soul it makes a sudden Alteration and the Soul is infinitely rejoyced with the Golden Beams of Gods Love 3. By it the Soul is supported under present Troubles Joy stupifies and swallows up Troubles it carries the Heart above them as the Oyl swims above the Water 4. The Heart is fenced against future Fear Joy is both a Cordial and an Antidote it is a Cordial which gives present Relief to the Spirits when they are Sad and an Antidote it fenceth off Fear of approaching Danger Psal. 23.4 I will fear no Evil for thou art with me thy Rod and thy Staff comfort me Quest. 2. How is this Ioy wrought Resp. 1. It ariseth partly from the Promise As the Bee lyes at the Breast of the Flower and sucks out the Sweetness of it so Faith lyes at the Breast of a Promise and sucks out the Quintessence of Joy Psal. 94.19 Thy Comforts delight my Soul that is the Comforts which distill from the Limbeck of the Promises 2. The Spirit of God who is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Comforter John 14.26 doth sometimes drop in this Golden Oyl of Joy into the Soul the Spirit whispers to a Believer the Remission of his Sin and sheds Gods Love abroad into the Heart Rom. 5.5 whence flows infinite Joy and Delight Quest. 3. What are the Seasons when God doth usually give his People these Divine Ioys Resp. Five Seasons 1. Sometimes at the Blessed Supper the Soul oft comes Weeping after Christ in the Sacrament and God sends it away Weeping for Joy The Iews had a Custom at their Feasts they pour'd Oyntment on their Guests and kissed them In the Eucharist God often pours the Oyl of Gladness on the Saints and Kisseth them with the Kisses of his Lips There are two grand Ends of the Sacrament the strengthening of Faith and the flourishing of Joy Here in this Ordinance God displays the Banner of his Love Here Believers taste not only Sacramental Bread but hidden Manna Caution Not that God always meets the Soul with Joy He may give Increase of Grace when not Increase of Joy but oftentimes he pours in the Oyl of Gladness and gives the Soul a Privy Seal of his Love as Christ made himself known in the breaking of Bread 2 Season Before God calls his People to Suffering Acts 23.11 Be of good Cheer Paul When God was about to give Paul a Cup of Blood to drink he spiced it with Joy 2 Cor. 1.5 As the Sufferings of Christ abound in us so our Consolation also aboundeth This made the Martyrs Flames Beds of Roses when Stephen was Stoning he saw Heaven open and the Sun of Righteousness shined in his Face God Candies our Wormwood with Sugar 3 Season After sore Conflicts with Satan Satan is the Red Dragon who troubleth the Waters he puts the Soul into Frights makes it believe that it hath no Grace and that God doth not love it Though Satan cannot blot out a Christians Evidence yet he may cast such a Mist before his Eyes that he cannot read it Now when the Soul hath been bruised with Temptation God will Comfort this bruised Reed He now gives Joy Ad corroborandum Titulum to confirm a Christians Title to Heaven After Satans Fiery Darts comes the White Stone no better Balm to heal a Tempted Soul than the Oyl of Gladness As after Christ was Tempted then came an Angel to Comfort him 4 Season After Desertion Desertion is a poysoned Arrow shoots to the Heart Iob 6.4 God is call'd a Fire and a Light the deserted Soul feels the Fire but doth not see the Light it cries out as Asaph Psal. 77.8 Is his Mercy clean gone Now when the Soul is in this case and ready to faint away in Despair God shines upon the Soul and gives it some Apprehension of his Favour and turns the shadow of Death into the light of the Morning God keeps his Cordials for a time of Fainting Joy after Desertion is like a Resurrection from the Dead 5 Season At the hour of Death such as have had no Joy in their Life-time God puts in this Sugar in the bottom of the Cup to make their Death sweet Now at the last hour when all other Comforts are gone God sends the Comforter and when their Appetite to Meat fails God feeds them with hidden Manna Sure as the Wicked before they dye have some Apprehensions of Hell and Wrath in their Conscience so the Godly have some Fore-tasts of Gods Everlasting Favour though sometimes their Disease may be such and their Animal Spirits may be so oppressed that they cannot express what they feel Iacob laid himself to sleep on a stone where he saw a Vision a Ladder and the Angels ascending and descending so when the Saints lay themselves down to sleep the sleep of Death they have often a Vision they see the Light of Gods Face and have the Evidences of his Love sealed up to them for ever Quest. 4. What are the Differences between Worldly
will make thee keep it joyfully I will give thee those Enlargements in Duty and that inward Comfort as shall abundantly satisfie thee thy Soul shall overflow with such a stream of Joy that thou shalt say Lord in keeping thy Sabbath there is great Reward And I will cause thee to ride upon the High Places of the Earth That is I will advance thee to Honour ascendere faciam so Munster interprets it Some by the High Places of the Earth understand Iudaea So Grotius I will bring thee into the Land of Iudaea which is higher situated than the other Countries adjacent And I will feed thee with the Heritage of Iacob That is I will feed thee with all the delicious things of Canaan and afterwards I 'll translate thee to Heaven whereof Canaan was but a Type And another Promise Isa. 56.2 Blessed is the Man that doth this that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it Blessed is the Man in the Hebrew it is in the Plural Ashre Blessedness To him that keeps the Sabbath holy here is Blessedness upon Blessedness belongs to him he shall be blessed with the Vpper and Nether Springs he shall be blessed in his Name Estate Soul Progeny Who would not keep the Sabbath from polluting it that shall have so many Blessings entail'd upon him and his Posterity after him 2. A Conscientious keeping the Sabbath seasons the Heart for God's Service all the Week after Christian the more holy thou art on a Sabbath the more holy thou wilt be on the Week following EXOD. XX. 12 Honour thy Father and thy Mother that thy Days may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee Having done with the First Table I am next to speak of the Duties of the Second Table The Commandments may be likened to Iacob's Ladder The First Table as the Top of the Ladder reacheth to Heaven it respects God The Second Table as the Foot of the Ladder rests on the Earth it respects Superiors and Inferiors By the First Table we walk Religiously towards God by the Second we walk Righteously towards Man He cannot be good in the First Table that is bad in the Second Honour thy Father and thy Mother In this 1. A Command Honour thy Father and thy Mother 2. A Reason annexed to it That thy Days may be long in the Land 1. The Command Honour thy Father Quest. Who is meant here by Father Ans. Father Verbum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken several ways the Political Ancient Spiritual Oeconomical Natural First The Political Father the Magistrate He is the Father of his Countrey he is to be an Encourager of Vertue a Punisher of Vice a Father to the Widdow and Orphan Such a Father was Iob Chap. 29.16 I was a Father to the Poor and the Cause which I knew not I searched out And as Magistrates are Fathers so especially the King who is the Head of Magistrates is a Political Father He is placed as the Sun among the lesser Stars The Scripture calls Kings Fathers Isa. 49.23 Kings shall be thy Nursing Fathers They are to nurse up their Subjects in Piety by their good Edicts and Examples and to nurse them up in Peace and Plenty Such nourishing Fathers were David Hezekiah Iosiah Constantine Theodosius It is happy for a People who have such nursing Fathers whose Breasts milk Comfort to their Children These Fathers are to be Honour'd For 1. Their Place deserves Honour God hath set these Political Fathers to preserve Order and Harmony in a Nation and to prevent those State-Convulsions which otherwise might ensue Iudg. 17.6 When there was no King in Israel every man did that which was right in his own Eyes A Wonder Prov. 30.27 2. God hath promoted Kings that they may promote Iustice. As they have a Sword in their Hand to signifie their Power so a Scepter an Emblem of Justice It is said of Marcus Aurelius Emperor That he allotted one Hour of the Day to hear the Complaints of such as were oppressed Kings place Judges as Cherubims about the Throne for distribution of Justice These Political Fathers are to be honoured Honour the King 1 Pet. 2.17 And this Honour is to be shown by a Civil Respect to their Persons and a chearful Submission to their Laws so far as they agree and run parallel with God's Law Kings are to be Pray'd for which is a part of that Honour we give them 1 Tim. 2.1 I exhort that Supplications Prayers Intercessions be made for Kings that we may lead a quiet peaceable Life under them in all Godliness and Honesty We are to pray for Kings that God would honour them to be Blessings that under them we may enjoy the Gospel of Peace and the Peace of the Gospel How happy was the Reign of Numa Pompilius when the Swords were beaten into Plough-shares and the Bees made their Hives of the Soldiers Helmets Secondly There is the grave ancient Father who is Venerable for old Age whose Grey Hairs are resembled to the White Flowers of the Almond-tree Eccles. 12.5 These are Fathers for Seniority on whose wrinkled Brows and in the Furrows of whose Cheeks is pictur'd the Map of Old Age. These Fathers are to be honoured Levit. 19.32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary Head and honour the Face of the Old Man Especially those are to honoured who are Fathers not only for their Seniority but their Piety whose Souls are flourishing when their Bodies are a decaying 'T is a blessed sight to see the Spring of Grace in the Autumn of Old Age To see Men stooping towards the Grave yet going up the Hill of God To see them lose their Colour yet keep their Savour Such whose silver Hairs are crowned with Righteousness are worthy of double Honour They are to be honoured not only as Pieces of Antiquity but as Patterns of Vertue If you see an Old Man fearing God whose Grace shines brightest when the Sun of his Life is setting O honour him as a Father by reverencing and imitating him Thirdly There are Spiritual Fathers as Pastors and Ministers These are the Instruments of the New-Birth 1 Cor. 4.15 Tho you have Ten Thousand Instructors yet have ye not many Fathers for in Christ Iesus I have begotten you through the Gospel The Spiritual Fathers are to be honoured 1. In respect of their Office What-ever their Persons are their Office is honourable They are the Messengers of the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2.7 They represent no less than God himself 2 Cor. 5.20 Now then we are Ambassadors for Christ. Jesus Christ was of this Calling he had his Mission and Sanction from Heaven Ioh. 8.18 And this Crowns the Ministerial Calling with Honour 2. Ministers these Spiritual Fathers are to be honoured for their Work sake they come like the Dove with an Olive-branch in their Mouth they preach glad Tidings of Peace Their Work is to save Souls Other Callings have only to do with Mens Bodies or Estates but the Ministers
Christ doth not cast these Pearl before Swine Whether Iudas were present at the Supper is controverted I rather incline to think he was not For Christ said to the Disciples This is my Blood which is shed for you Luke 22.20 Christ knew his Blood was never shed effectually and intentionally for Iudas In eating the Passover Christ gave Iudas a Sop which was a Bit of Unleavened Bread dipt in a Sauce made with bitter Herbs Iudas having received the Sop went immediately out John 13. But suppose Iudas were there tho he receiv'd the Element yet not the Blessing 7. Take Eat This Expression of Eating denotes Four things 1. The near mystical Vnion between Christ and his Saints As the Meat which is eaten incorporates with the Body and becomes one with it so by eating Christ's Flesh and drinking his Blood Spiritually we partake of Christ's Merits and Graces and are mystically one with him Iohn 17.23 I in them 2. Take eat Eating shows the infinite Delight the believing Soul hath in Christ. Eating is grateful and pleasing to the Pallat So feeding on Christ by a lively Faith is delicious Nullus animae suavior cibus Lactantius No such sweet feeding as on Christ crucifyed This is a Feast of Fat things and Wine on Lees wâ—ll refined 3. Take eat Eating denotes Nourishment Meat as it is delicious to the Pallat so it is nourishing to the Body So eating Christ's Flesh and drinking his Blood is nutritive to the Soul The new Creature is nourished at the Table of the Lord to everlasting Life Iohn 6.54 Whoso eateth my Flesh and drinketh my Blood hath eternal Life 4. Take eat shows the Wisdom of God who restores us by the same means by which we fell We fell by Taking and Eating the Forbidden Fruit and we are recovered again by Taking and Eating of Christ's Flesh. We died by eating the Tree of Knowledge and we live by eating the Tree of Life 8. This is my Body These Words Hoc est Corpus meum have been much controverted between us and the Papists This is my Body that is by a Metonymy It is a Sign and Figure of my Body The Papists hold Transubstantiation that the Bread is after Consecration turn'd into the very Substance of Christ's Body We say we receive Christ's Body Spiritually they say they receive Christ's Body Carnally which is contrary to Scripture The Scripture affirms that the Heavens must receive Christ's Body until the times of the restitution of all things Acts 3.21 Christ's Body cannot be at the same time in Heaven and in the Host. Aquinas saith It is not possible by any Miracle that a Body should be locally in two places at once Besides it is absurd to imagine that the Bread in the Sacrament should be turned into Christ's Flesh and that his Body which was hung before should be made again of Bread So that This is my Body is as if Christ had said This is a Sign and Representation of my Body 9. And he took the Cup. The Cup is put by a Metonymy of the Subject for the Adjunct for the Wine in the Cup it signifies the Blood of Christ shed for our Sins The taking of the Cup denotes the Redundancy of Merit in Christ and the Fulness of our Redemption by him He not only took the Bread but the Cup. 10. And when he had given Thanks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ gave Thanks that God had given these Elements of Bread and Wine to be Signs and Seals of Man's Redemption by Christ. Christ's giving of Thanks shows his Philanthropy or Love to Mankind who did so rejoyce and bless God that Lost Man was now in a way of Recovery and that he should be rais'd higher in Christ than ever he was in Innocency 11. He gave the Cup to them Why then dare any with-hold the Cup This is to pollute and curtail the Ordinance and alter it from its Primitive Institution Christ and his Apostles administred the Sacrament in both Kinds the Bread and the Cup 1 Cor. 11.24 25. And the Cup was receiv'd in the ancient Church for the space of 1400 Years as is confess'd by Two Popish Councils Christ saith expresly Drink ye all of this He doth not say Eat ye all of this But Drink ye all as foreseeing the Sacrilegious Impiety of the Church of Rome in keeping back the Cup from the People The Popish Council of Constance speaks plainly but impudently That altho' Christ instituted and administred the Sacrament in both Kinds the Bread and the Wine yet the Authority of the Holy Canons and the Custom of the Mother Church think good to deny the Cup to the Laity Thus as the Popish Priests make Christ but half a Saviour so they administer to the People but half a Sacrament The Sacrament is Christ's Last Will and Testament in the Text This is my Blood of the New Testament Now to alter or take away any thing from a Man's Will and Testament is a great Impiety What is it then to alter and mangle Christ's Last Will and Testament Sure 't is an high Affront to Christ. Quest. 3. What are the Ends of the Lord's Supper Resp. 1. It is an Ordinance appointed to confirm our Faith Iohn 4.48 Except ye see Signs ye will not believe Christ sets the Elements before us that by these Signs our Faith may be strengthened As Faith cometh by hearing so it is confirmed by seeing Christ crucify'd The Sacrament is not only a Sign to represent Christ but a Seal to confirm our Interest in him Object But it is the Spirit confirms Faith therefore not the Sacrament Answ. This is no good Logick The Spirit confirms Faith therefore not the Sacrament is as if one should say God feeds our Bodies therefore Bread doth not feed us whereas God feeds us by Bread So the Spirit confirms our Faith by the Use of the Sacrament 2. The End of the Sacrament is to keep up the Memory of Christ's Death 1 Cor. 11.25 This do ye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in remembrance of me If a Friend give us a Ring at his Death we wear it to keep up the Memory of our Friend Much more then ought we to keep up the Memorial of Christ's Death in the Sacrament Christ's Death lays a Foundation for all the magnificent Blessings which we receive from Christ. The Covenant of Grace was agreed on in Heaven but sealed upon the Cross. Christ hath sealed all the Articles of Peace in his Blood Remission of Sin flows from Christ's Death Matth. 26.28 This is my Blood of the New Testament shed for many for the Remission of Sins Consecration or making us Holy is the Fruit of Christ's Death Heb. 9.14 How much more shall the Blood of Christ purge your Conscience Christ's Intercession is made available to us by Vertue of his Death Christ could not have been admitted an Advocate if he had not been first a Sacrifice Our entring into Heaven is the Fruit of Christ's Blood Heb. 10.19
9.21 then well may we look upon it as a favour to be taken into his Royal Service Theodosius thought it a greater Honour to be Gods Servant than to be an Emperour 'T is more Honour to serve God than to have Kings serve us Every Subject of this King is Crowned with Regal Honour Rev. 1.6 Who hath made us Kings Therefore as the Queen of Sheba having seen the Glory of Solomons Kingdom said Happy are these thy servants which stand continually before thee 1 Kings 10.8 so happy are those Saints who stand before the King of Heaven and wait on his Throne Br. 2. If God be such a Glorious King crowned with Wisdom armed with Power bespangled with Riches then it showes us what Prudence it is to have this King to be ours To say as Psal. 5.2 My King and my God 'T is counted great Policy to be on the strongest side if we belong to the King of Heaven we are sure to be on the strongest side The King of Glory can with ease destroy his Adversaries he can pull down their Pride befool their Policy restrain their Malice That stone cut out of the Mountains without hands which smote the Image Dan. 2.34 was an emblem saith Austin of Christs Monarchical Power conquering and triumphing over his enemies If we are on Gods side we are on the strongest side he can with a Word destroy his enemies Psal. 2.5 Then shall he speak to them in his wrath nay he can with a Look destroy them Iob 40.12 Look upon every one that is proud and bring him low It needs cost God no more to confound those who rise up against him than a look a cast of the eye Exod. 14.24 In the morning watch the Lord looked to the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and troubled their host and took off their chariot-wheels What Wisdom is it then to have this King to be ours then we are on the strongest side VSE II of Exhortation Br. 1. If God be so Glorious a King full of Power and Majesty let us trust in him Psal. 9.10 They that know thy name will put their trust in thee Trust him with your Soul you cannot put this Jewel in safer hands and trust him with Church and State Affairs He is King Exod. 15.3 The Lord is a man of war he can make bear his holy Arm in the eyes of all the Nations If means fail he is never at a loss there are no impossibles with him he can make the dry bones live Ezek. 37.10 As a King he can command and as a God he can create Salvation Isa. 65.18 I create Ierusalem a rejoycing Let us trust all our affairs with this great King Either God can remove Mountains or can leap over them Cant. 2.8 Br. 2. If God be so great a King let us fear him Ier. 5.22 Fear ye not me saith the Lord Will ye not tremble at my presence We have enough fear of Men. Fear makes danger appear greater and sin lesser but let us fear the King of Kings who hath power to cast Body and Soul into Hell Luke 12.5 As one wedge drives out another so the fear of God would drive out all base carnal fear Let us fear that God whose Throne is set above all Kings they may be Mighty but he is Almighty Kings have no Power but what God hath given them their Power is limited his is infinite Let us fear this King whose eyes are as lamps of fire Rev. 1.14 The mountains quake at him and the rocks are thrown down by him Nahum 1.6 If he stamps with his foot all the Creatures are presently up in a battalio to fight for him O tremble and fear before this God Fear is Ianitor Animae it is the Door-keeper of the Soul it keeps Sin from entring Gen. 39.9 How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God 3 Br. If God be so Glorious a King he hath jus virae necis He hath the power of Life and Death in his Hand Let all the Potentates of the Earth take heed how they employ their Power against the King of Heaven they employ their power against God who with their Scepter beat down his Truth which is the most Orient Pearl of his Crown who crush and persecute his People which are the Apple of his Eye Zach. 2.8 Who trample upon his Laws and Royal Edicts which he hath set forth Psal. 2.3 What is a King without his Laws Let all that are invested with worldly Power and Grandeur take heed how they oppose the King of Glory The Lord will be too hard for all that come against him Iob 40.9 Hast thou an Arm like God Wilt thou measure Arms with the Almighty Shall a little Child go to fight with an Arch-angel Ezek. 22.14 Can thy Heart endure or can thy Hands be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee Christ will put all his Enemies at last under his Feet Psal. 110.1 All the Multitude of the Wicked who set themselves against God shall be but as so many Clusters of ripe Grapes to be cast into the Wine-press of the wrath of God and to be trodden by him till their blood comes forth The King of Glory will come off Victor at last Men may set up their Standard but God alwaies sets up his Trophies of Victory the Lord hath a golden Scepter and an iron Rod Psal. 2.9 Those who will not bow to the one shall be broken by the other 4. Br. Is God so great a King having all Power in Heaven and Earth in his Hand let us learn Subjection to him Such as have gone on in Sin and by their Impieties hung out a Flag of defiance against the King of Heaven Oh come in quickly and make your Peace submit to God Psal. 2.12 Kiss the Son least he be angry Kiss Christ with a Kiss of Love and a Kiss of Obedience obey the King of Heaven when he speaks to you by his Ministers and Ambassadors 2 Cor. 5.20 when God bids you fly from Sin and espouse Holiness obey him to obey is better then Sacrifice To obey God saith Luther is better then to work Miracles Obey God willingly Isa. 1.19 That is the best obedience that is chearful as that is the sweetest Honey which drops out of the Comb Obey God swiftly Zech. 5.9 I lift up mine eyes and behold two Women and the wind was in their Wings Wings are swift but wind in the wings denotes great swiftness such should our obedience to God be Obey the King of Glory Vse III. Comfort to those who are the Subjects of the King of Heaven God will put forth all his Royal Power for their Succour and Comfort 1. The King of Heaven will plead their Cause Ier. 51.36 I will plead thy Cause and take Vengeance for thee 2. He will protect his People He sets an invisible guard about them Zech. 2.5 I will be a Wall of Fire to her rounâ— about A wall that
without any thing to uphold it The Glory of the Heavenly Kingdom is substantial it hath twelve Foundations Rev. 21.14 That which God and Angels count Glory is true Glory 2. The Glory of this Kingdom is satisfying Psal. 36.9 With thee is the Fountain of Life How can they choose but be full who are at the Fountain head Psal. 17.15 When I awake I shall be satisfied with thy Likeness i. e. VVhen I awake in the Morning of the Resurrection having some of the Beams of thy Glory shining in me I shall be satisfied Iob 28.14 The Creature saith concerning Satisfaction It is not in me If we go for Happiness to the Creature we go to the wrong Box only Heavens Glory is commensurate to the vast Desires of an Immortal Soul A Christian bathing himself in these Rivers of Pleasure cries out in a Divine Extasy I have enough The Soul is never satisfied till it hath God for its Portion and Heaven for its Haven Dissatisfaction ariseth from some defect but God is an Infinite Good and there can be no defect in that which is Infinite 3. The Glory of Heavens Kingdom is pure and unmix'd the Streams of Paradise are not muddied omnia clara omnia jucunda there that Gold hath no alloy no bitter ingredient in that Glory but pure as the Honey drops from the Comb there is a Rose grows without Prickles the Rose of Sharon there is Ease without Pain Honour without Disgrace Life without Death 4. The Glory of this Kingdom is constantly exhilarating and refreshing there 's fulness but no surfeit Worldly Comforts though sweet yet in time grow stale A Down-bed pleaseth a while but within a while we are weary and would rise Too much Pleasure is a pain But the Glory of Heaven doth never surfeit or nauseate the reason is because as there are all Rarities imaginable so every Moment fresh Delights spring from God into the glorified Soul 5. The Glory of this Kingdom is distributed to every individual Saint In an Earthly Kingdom the Crown goes but to one a Crown will fit but one Head but in that Kingdom above the Crown goes to all Rev. 1.6 All Elect are Kings The Land is settled chiefly upon the Heir and the rest are ill provided for But in the Kingdom of Heaven all the Saints are Heirs Rom. 8.17 Heirs of God and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Co-heirs with Christ. God hath Land enough to give to all his Heirs 6. Lucid and Transparent This Kingdom of Heaven is adorned and bespangled with Light 1 Tim. 6.16 Light is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Glory of the Creation Eccl. 11.7 The Light is sweet Hell is a dark Dungeon Mat. 22.13 Fire but no Light The Kingdom of Heaven is a Diaphanum all imbroidered with Light clear as Christal How can there want light where Christ the Sun of Righteousness displaies his Golden Beams Rev. 21.23 The Glory of the Lord did lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof 7. The Glory of this Kingdom is adequate and proportionable to the desire of the Soul In Creature-Fruitions that which doth commend them and set them off to us is Suitableness The Content of Marriage doth not lye either in Beauty or Portion but the suitableness of Disposition The Excellency of a Feast is when the Meat is suited to the Pallat This is one ingredient in the Glory of Heaven it exactly suits the desires of the glorified Saints we shall not say in Heaven Here is a Dish I do not love There shall be Musick suits the Ear the Anthems of Angels and Food that suits with the glorified Pallat the hidden Manna of Gods Love 8. The Glory of this Kingdom will be seasonable the seasonableness of a Mercy adds to the Beauty and sweetness it is like Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver After an hard Winter in this cold Climate will it not be seasonable to have the Spring Flowers of Glory appear and the singing of the Birds of Paradise come When we have been wearied and even tired out in battle with sin and Satan will not a Crown be seasonable 3. Quest. Wherein the Kingdom of Heaven infinitely excels all the Kingdoms of the Earth Resp. 1. It excels in the Architect Other Kingdoms have Men to raise their Structures but God himself laid the first Stone in this Kingdom Heb. 11.10 This Kingdom is of the greatest Antiquity God was the first King and Founder of it no Angel was worthy to lay a Stone in this Building 2. This Heavenly Kingdom excels in Altitude 't is higher scituated than any Kingdom the higher any thing is the more excellent The Fire being the most sublime Element is most Noble The Kingdom of Heaven is seated above all the visible Orbs There is first the Aery Heaven which is the space from the Earth to the Sphere of the Moon 2. The Starry Heaven the place where are the Planets of an higher Elevation Saturn Iupiter Mars 3. The Caelum Empyraeum the Empyraean Heaven which Paul calls the third Heaven Vbi Christ is there is the Kingdom of Glory scituated This Kingdom is so high that no Scaling Ladders of Enemies can reach it so high that the old Serpent can't shoot up his fiery Darts to it If wicked Men could build their Nests among the Stars yet the least Believer would shortly be above them 3. The Kingdom of Heaven excels all other in Splendor and Riches it is described by precious Stones Rev. 21.19 What are all the Rarities of the Earth to this Kingdom Coasts of Pearl Rocks of Diamonds Islands of Spices What are the Wonders of the World to it The Egyptian Pyramides The Temple of Diana The Pillar of the Sun offered to Iupiter What a rich Kingdom is that where God will lay out all his cost Those who are poor in the World yet as soon as they come into this Kingdom grow rich as rich as the Angels Other Kingdoms are inriched with Gold this is inriched with the Deity 4. The Kingdom of Heaven excels all other Kingdoms in Holiness Kingdoms on Earth are for the most part unholy there 's a Common Shore of Luxury and Uncleanness running in them Kingdoms are Stages for sin to be acted on Isa. 28.8 All Tables are full of Vomit But the Kingdom of Heaven is so holy that it will not mix with any Corruption Rev. 21.27 There shall enter into it nothing that defileth 'T is so pure a Soyl that no Serpent of Sin will breed there There is Beauty which is not stained with Lust and Honour which is not swelled with Pride Holiness is the brightest Jewel of the Crown of Heaven 5. The kingdom of Heaven excels all other kingdoms in its pacifick Nature 't is Regnum Paci◠a kingdom of Peace Peace is the Glory of a Kingdom Pax una Triumphis innumeris melior A Kings Crown is more adorned with the white Lilly of Peace then when it is beset with the red Roses of a bloody War but where shall
we find an un-interrupted Peace upon Earth Either home-bred Divisions or Forreign Invasions 2 Chron. 15.5 There was no Peace to him that went out or to him that came in But the kingdom of Heaven is a kingdom of Peace there are no Enemiest o conflict with all Christs Enemies shall be under his Feet Psal. 110.1 The Gates of that kingdom alwaies stand open Rev. 21.25 The Gates shall not be shut at all to show that there 's no fear of an assault of an Enemy the Saints when they dye are said to enter into Peace Isa. 57.2 There 's no beating of Drums or roaring of Canons but the Voice of Harpers harping in token of Peace Rev. 14.2 In Heaven Righteousness and Peace kiss each other 6. The Kingdom of Heaven excels in Magnitude 't is of vast Dimensions though the Gate of the kingdom be strait we must pass into it through the strait Gate of Mortification yet when once we are in it is very large though there be an innumerable Company of Saints and Angels yet there is room enough for them The kingdom of Heaven may be called by the Name of that Well Gen. 26.22 Iacob called the Name of it Rehoboth for he said now the Lord hath made room for us Thou who art now confin'd to a small Cottage when thou comest into the Caelestial kingdom thou shalt not be straitened for room As every Star hath a large Orb to move in so it shall be with the Saints when they shall shine as Stars in the kingdom of Heaven 7. The Kingdom of Heaven excels in Unity all the Inhabitants agree together in Love Love will be the Perfume and Musick of Heaven as Love to God will be intense so to the Saints Perfect Love as it casts out Fear so it casts out Envy and Discord Those Christians who could not live quietly together on Earth which was the Blemish of their Profession yet in the kingdom of Heaven the fire of Strife shall cease there shall be no vilifying or censuring one another or raking into one anothers sores but all shall be tied together with the Heart-strings of Love there Luther and Suinglius are agreed Satan cannot put in his Cloven Foot there to make Divisions there shall be perfect Harmony and Concord and not one jarring String in the Saints Musick It were worth dying to be in that kingdom 8. This kingdom exceeds all Earthly in Joy and Pleasure therefore it is called Paradise 2 Cor. 12 4. for delight There are all things to cause Pleasure there is the Water of Life pure as Christal there 's the Honey-comb of Gods Love dropping 'T is called entring into the Ioy of our Lord Mat. 25.23 There are two things cause Joy 1. Separation from Sin Sin creates Sorrow but when this Viper of Sin shall be shaken off then Joy follows there can be no more sorrow in Heaven then there is Joy in Hell 2. Perfect Union with Christ Joy as Aristotle saith flows from Union with the Object When our Union with Christ shall be perfect then our Joy shall be full If the Joy of Faith be so great 1 Pet 1.8 then what will the Joy of Sight be Ioseph gave his Brethren Provision for the way but the full Sacks of Corn were kept till they came at their Fathers House God gives the Saints a Tast of Joy here but the full Sacks are kept till they come to Heaven not only the Organical Parts the outward Sences the Eye Ear Tast shall be filled with Joy But the Heart of a Glorified Saint shall be filled with Joy the Understanding Will and Affections are such a Triangle as none can fill but the Trinity There must needs be infinite Joy where nothing is seen but Beauty nothing is tasted but Love 9. This kingdom of Heaven excels all Earthly in self-perfection Other kingdoms are defective they have not all Provision within themselves but are fain to trafick abroad to supply their wants at home King Solomon did send to Ophir for Gold 2 Chron. 8.18 But there is no defect in the kingdom of Heaven it hath all Commodities of its own growth Rev 21.7 there is the Pearl of Price the Morning Star the Mountains of Spices the Bed of Love there are those sacred Rarities wherewith God and Angels are delighted 10. This kingdom of Heaven excels all other in Honour and Nobility it doth not only equal them in the Ensigns of Royalty the Throne and white Robes but it doth far transcend them Other Kings are of the Blood-Royal but they in this Heavenly kingdom are born of God Other Kings converse with Nobles the Saints Glorified are Fellow Commoners with Angels they have a more Noble Crown 't is made of the Flowers of Paradise and is a Crown that fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5.4 they sit on a better Throne King Solomon 1 Kings 10.18 sat on a Throne of Ivory overlaid with Gold but the Saints are in Heaven higher advanced they sit with Christ upon his Throne Rev. 3.21 they shall judge the Princes and great Ones of the Earth 1 Cor. 6.2 This honour have all the Saints Glorified 11. This kingdom of Heaven excels all others in healthfulness Death is a Worm that is ever feeding at the Root of our Gourd kingdoms are oft Hospitals of sick persons But the kingdom of Heaven is a most healthful Climate Phisicians there are out of date no Distemper there no passing Bell or Bill of Mortality Luke 20.36 neither can they dye any more in the Heavenly Climate are no ill Vapours to breed Diseases but a sweet aromatical Smell coming from Christ all his Garments smell of Myrrh Aloes and Cassia 12. This kingdom of Heaven excels in Duration it abides for ever Suppose Earthly kingdoms to be more glorious then they are their Foundations of Gold their Walls of Pearl their Windows of Saphyre yet they are corruptible and fading Hos. 1.4 I will cause the Kingdom to cease Troy and Athens now lie buried in their Ruines jam Seges est ubi Troja fuit Mortality is the Disgrace of all Earthly kingdoms but the kingdom of Heaven hath Eternity written upon it it is an everlasting kingdom 2 Pet. 1 1â— 't is founded upon a strong Basis Goâ—s Omnipotency this kingdom the Saints shall never be turned out of or be deposed from their Throne as some Kings have been viz. Hen. VI. c. But shall reign 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for ever and ever Rev. 22.5 How should all this affect our Hearts What should we mind but this kingdom of Heaven which doth more out-shine all the kingdoms of the Earth then the Sun out-shines the Light of a Taper 4. Quest. When this Kingdom shall be bestowed Resp. This Glory in the kingdom of Heaven shall be begun at death but not perfected till the Resurrection 1. The Saints shall enter upon the kingdom of Glory immediately after death before their Bodies are buried their Souls shall be Crowned Phil. 1.23 having a desire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
fit of Musick Such are they who let Heaven go for a song This will make the Devil insult at the last day to think how he hath gull'd Men and made them lose their Souls and their happiness for lying vanities If Satan could make good his brag in giving all the Glory and Kingdoms of the World it could not countervail the loss of the Celestial Kingdom All the tears in Hell are not sufficient to lament the loss of Heaven VSE II. Of Reproof 1. Branch It reproves such as do not at all look after this Kingdom of Glory As if all we say about Heaven were but a Romance they do not mind it That they mind it not appears because they do not labour to have the Kingdom of Grace set up in their hearts If they have some thoughts of this Kingdom yet it is in a dull careless manner they serve God as if they served him not they do not vires exerere put forth their strength for the Heavenly Kingdom How industrious were the Saints of old for this Kingdom Phil. 3.13 Reaching forth unto those things which are before The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 stretching out the neck a Metaphor from Racers that strain every limb and reach forward to lay hold on the prize Luther spent three hours a day in Prayer Anna the prophetess departed not from the temple but served God with fasting and prayers night and day Luke 2.37 How zealous and industrious were the Martyrs to get into this Heavenly Kingdom they wore their Fetters as Ornaments snatched up Torments as Crowns and embraced the Flames as chearfully as Elijah did the fiery Chariot which came to fetch him to Heaven and do not we think this Kingdom worth our labour The great pains the Heathens took in their Olympick Races when they ran but for a Crown made of Olive intermixed with Gold will rise up in Judgment against such as take little or no pains in seeking after the Kingdom of Glory The dulness of many in seeking after Heaven is such as if they did not believe there were such a Kingdom or as if it would not countervail their labour or as if they thought it were indifferent whether they obtained this Kingdom or no which is as much as to say whether they were saved or no whether they were Crowned in Glory or chained as Gally slaves in Hell for ever 2. Branch It reproves them who spend their sweat more in getting the World then the Kingdom of Heaven Phil. 3.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who mind earthly things the World is the great Diana they cry up as if they would fetch happiness out of the earth which God hath cursed They labour for and Honour Riches many are like Korah and Dathan the earth swallowed them up Num. 16.32 So the earth swallows up their Time and Thoughts these if they are not Pagans yet they are Infidels they do not believe there is such a kingdom they go for Christians yet question that great Article in their Faith Life Everlasting these like the Serpents lick the dust O what is there in the World that we should so idolize it when Christ and Heaven are not regarded what hath Christ done for you died for your sins what will the World do for you can it pacify an angry Conscience can it procure Gods Favour can it flee death can it bribe your Judge can it purchase for you a place in the kingdom of heaven O how are Men bewitched with worldly Profits and Honours that for these things they will let go Paradise It was a good prayer of St. Bernard Sic possideamâ—u mundana ut non perdamus aeterna Lo let us so possess things temporal that we do not lose things eternal 3. Branch It reproves such who delay and put off seeking this kingdom till it be too late like the foolish Virgins who came when the door was shut Mora trahit periculum People let the Lamp of Life blaze out and when the Symptoms of death are upon them and they know not what else to do now will look up to the kingdom of Heaven Christ bids them seek Gods kingdom first and they will seek it last they put off the kingdom of heaven to a Death-bed as if it were as easie to make their Peace as to make their Will How many have lost the Heavenly kingdom through Delays and Procrastinations Plutarch reports of Archias the Lacedemonian being among his Cups one delivered him a Letter and desired him to read it presently being of serious business saith he seria cras I will mind serious things to morrow and that Night he was slain Thou that saiest thou wilt look after the kingdom of Heaven to morrow knowest not but that thou maiest be in Hell before to morrow Sometimes death comes suddenly it strikes without giving warning What folly is it putting off seeking the kingdom of heaven till the day of Grace expire till the radical moisture be spent as if a Man should begin to run a Race when a fit of the Gout takes him 4. Branch It reproves such as were once great Zealots in Religion and did seem to be touch'd with a coal from Gods Altar but since they have cool'd in their Devotion and have left off the pursuing the Caelestial kingdom Hos. 8.3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good there is no face of Religion to be seen they have left off the House of Prayer and gone to Play houses they have left off pursuing the Heavenly Kingdom Quest. Whence is this Resp. 1. For want of a supernatural Principle of Grace That Branch must needs dye which hath no Root to grow upon That which moves from a Principle of Life lasts as the beating of the Pulse but that which moves only from an artificial Spring when the spring is down the motion ceaseth The Hypocrites Religion is artificial not vital he acts from the outward spring of Applause or Gain and if that spring be down his motion towards Heaven ceaseth 2. From Unbelief Heb. 3.12 An evil heart of Vnbelief departing from the living God Psal. 78.22 They believed not in God Verse 41. they turned back Sinners have hard thoughts of God they think they may pray and hear yet never the better Mal. 3.14 they question whether God will give them the kingdom at last then they turn back and throw away Christs Colours they distrust Gods Love no wonder then they desert his Service Infidelity is the Root of Apostacy 3. Men leave off pursuing the heavenly kingdom it is from some secret Lust nourished in the Soul perhaps a wanton or a covetous Lust Demas for love of the world forsook his Religion and afterwards turned Priest in an idol Temple One of Christs own Apostles was caught with a silver Bait Covetousness will make Men betray a good Cause and make shipwrack of a good Conscience if there be any Lust unmortified in the Soul it will bring forth the bitter fruit either of
hate him as he is the holy One 2. Men are prejudiced at the Truths of Christ. 1. Self-denyal A man must deny his Righteousness Phil. 3.9 his Duties and Moralities he would graft the hope of Salvation upon the stock of his own Righteousness 2. He must deny his Unrighteousness The Scripture seals no patents to Sin it teacheth us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2.11 We must divorce those Sins which bring in Pleasure and Profit 3. Forgiving of injuries Mark 11.25 These Truths Men are prejudiced at they can rather want forgiveness from God than they can forgive others 3. Men are prejudiced at the Followers of Christ. 1. Their paucity there are but few in comparison that embrace Christ but why should this offend Men are not offended at Pearls and precious Stones because they are but few 2. Their Poverty many that wear Christs livery are low in the World but why should this give offence 1. Christ hath better things than these to bestow upon his Followers the holy Anointing the white Stones the hidden Manna the Crown of Glory 2. All Christs Followers are not humbled with Poverty Abraham was rich in Gold and Silver as well as rich in Faith Though not many Noble are called yet some Noble Acts 17.12 Honourable women which were Greeks believed Constantine and Theodosius were Godly Emperours so that this stumbling block is removed 3. Their Scandals Some of Christs Followers under a mask of Piety commit sin this begets a prejudice against Religion but doth Christ or his Gospel teach any such thing The Rules he prescribes are holy Why should the Master be thought the worse of because some of his Servants prove bad 4. Men are prejudiced at the Wayes of Christ they expose them to Sufferings Matth. 16.24 Let him take up his cross and follow me many stumble at the Cross. There are as Tertullian delicaetuli silken Christians who love their ease they will follow Christ to Mount Oliver to see him transfigured but not to Mount Golgotha to suffer with him But alas what is Affliction to the Glory that follows The weight of Glory makes Affliction light Adimant Caput non Coronam O take heed of prejudice this hath been a stumbling stone in Mens way to Heaven and hath made them fall short of the Kingdom 6. If you would not miss of the Kingdom of Heaven take heed of Presumption Men presume all is well and take it as a principle not to be disputed that they shall go to Heaven The Devil hath given them Opium to cast them into a deep sleep of security The presumptuous Sinner is like the Leviathan made without fear He lives as bad as the worst yet hopes he shall be saved as well as the best He blesseth himself and saith he shall have peace though he goes on in sin Deut. 29.19 As if a Man should drink Poyson yet not fear but he should have his health But whence doth this presumptuous hope arise Surely from a conceit that God is made up all of Mercy 'T is true God is merciful but withal he is just too Exod. 34.6 7. Keeping mercy for thousands and that will by no means clear the guilty If a King did proclaim that only those should be pardoned who came in and submitted should any still persisting in Rebellion claim the benefit of that Pardon Dost thou hope for Mercy who wilt not lay down thy Weapons but stand out in Rebellion against Heaven None might touch the Ark but the Priests none may touch this Ark of Gods Mercy but holy consecrated Persons Presumption is heluo Animarum the great devourer of Souls A thousand have missed of Heaven by putting on the broad spectacles of Presumption 7. If you would not miss of the Heavenly Kingdom take heed of the delights and pleasures of the Flesh soft pleasures harden the heart Many people cannot endure a serious Thought but are for Comedies and Romances they play away their Salvation Homines capiuntur voluptate ut pisces hamo Cicero Pleasure is the sugred bait Men bite at but there is an hook under Iob 21.12 They take the timbrel and harp and rejoyce at the sound of the organ And a parallel Scripture Amos 6.4 That lye upon beds of ivory that chant to the sound of the viol that drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the chief oyntments The pleasures of the World do keep many from the pleasures of Paradise What a shame is it that the Soul that princely thing which swayes the sceptre of Reason and is akin to Angels should be enslaved to sinful pleasure Beard in his Theatre speaks of one who had a Room richly hung with fair Pictures he had most delicious Musick he had the rarest Beauties he had all the Candies and curious Preserves of the Confectioner thus did he gratifie his Senses with Pleasure and swore he would live one week like a God though he were sure to be damned in Hell the next day Diodorus Siculus observes that the Dogs of Sicily while they are hunting among the sweet Flowers lose the scent of the Hare so many while they are hunting after the sweet pleasures of the World lose the Kingdom of Heaven 'T is saith Theophylact one of the worst sights to see a Sinner go laughing to Heaven 8 If you would not fall short of the Kingdom of Heaven take heed of Worldlimindedness a covetous Spirit is a dunghil Spirit it choaks good Affections as the earth puts out the fire The World hindred the young Man from following Christ abiit tristis he went away sorrowful Luke 18.23 which extorted those words from our Saviour Verse 24. How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God Divitiae saeculi sunt laquei Diaboli Bern. Riches are golden Snares If a Man were to climb up a steepy Rock and had Weights tied to his Legs it would hinder him from his ascent Too many Golden Weights will hinder us from climbing that steepy Rock which leads to Heaven Exod. 14.3 They are entangled in the Land the Wilderness hath shut them in So it may be said of many they are entangled in earthly Affairs the World hath shut them in The World is no Friend to Grace the more the Child sucks the weaker the Nurse is and the more the World sucks and draws from us the weaker our Grace is 1 Iohn 2.15 Love not the world Had a Man a Monopoly of all the wealth of the World were he able to empty the Western Parts of Gold and the Eastern of Spices could he heap up Riches to the Starry heaven yet his heart would not be filled Covetousness is a dry dropsy Ioshua who could stop the course of the Sun could not stop Achan in his covetous pursuit of the Wedge of Gold he whose heart is lockt up in his Chest will be lockt out of heaven Some Ships that have escaped the Rocks have been cast away upon the Sands Many who have escaped gross Sins
would not come short of this Heavenly Kingdom let us be much in the exercise of Self-denyal Matth. 16.24 If any man will come after me let him deny himself He who would go to Heaven must deny self-righteousness Cavendum est a propria justitia Phil. 3.9 That I may be found in him not having my own righteousness The Spider weaves a web out of her own Bowels an Hypocrite would spin a web of Salvation out of his own Righteousness We must deny our Civility in point of Justification Civility is a good staff to walk with among Men but it is a bad ladder to climb up to Heaven We must deny our holy things in point of Justification Alas how are our Duties checkered with Sin Put Gold in the fire and there comes out dross our most golden services are mixed with unbelief Deny self-righteousness use Duty but trust to Christ. Noahs Dove made use of her wings to fly but trusted to the Ark for safety Let Duties have your diligence but not your confidence Self-denyal is via ad regnum there is no getting into Heaven but through this strait gate of self-denyal 2. The second means for the obtaining of the Kingdom is serious Consideration Most Men fall short of Heaven for want of Consideration 1. Consideration We should often consider what a Kingdom Heaven is 'T is called Regnum paratum a Kingdom prepared Matth. 25.34 which implyes something that is rare and excellent God hath prepared in his Kingdom such things as eye hath not seen nor ear heard 1 Cor. 2.9 Heaven is beyond all hyperbole In particular in this Coelestial Kingdom are two things 1. A stately Pallace 2. A Royal Feast 1. A stately Pallace 1. It is large and hath several stories for the dimensions of it it is twelve thousand furlongs Rev. 21.15 or as it is in some Greek Copies twelve times twelve thousand furlongs a finite number put for an infinite no Arithmetician can number these furlongs Though there be an innumerable company of Saints and Angels in Heaven yet there is infinitely enough room to receive them 2. The Pallace of this Kingdom is lucid and transparent 't is adorned with light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The light is sweet Hell is a dark dungeon but the Pallace above is bespangled with light Col. 1.12 Such illustrious beams of Glory shine from God as shed a brightness and splendour upon the Empyrean Heaven 3. This Pallace of the Kingdom is well scituated for a good Air and a pleasant prospect There is the best Air which is perfumed with the odours of Christs Oyntments and a most pleasant prospect of the bright Morning-Star 4. The Pallace is rich and sumptuous it hath Gates of Pearl Rev. 21.21 it is enriched with white Robes and Crowns of Glory and this Pallace never falls to decay and the dwellers in it never dye Rev. 22.5 They shall reign for ever and ever 2. A Royal Feast It is called The marriage supper of the lamb Rev. 19.9 which Bullinger and Gregory the great understand of the magnificent Supper prepared in the Kingdom of Heaven A Glorious Feast it will be in respect of the Founder God the Glorified Saints shall feast their eyes with Gods Beauty and their hearts with his Love a delicious Feast it will be in respect of the festivity and holy Mirth What Joy when there shall be the Anthems and Triumphs of Glorified Spirits when Saints and Angels shall twist together in an inseparable union of Love and lye in each others sweet embraces a Royal Banquet it shall be where there is no surfeit because continually a fresh course served in The serious Consideration what a Kingdom Heaven is would be a means to quicken our endeavour in the pursuit after it What causeth Men to make Voyages to the Indies but the consideration of the Gold and Spices which are to be had there did we survey and contemplate the Glory of Heaven we should soon take a Voyage and never leave till we had arrived at the Coelestial Kingdom 2. Consideration How it will trouble you if you should perish to think you came short of Heaven for want of a little more pains The Prophet Elisha bid the King of Israel smite the ground six times and he smote but thrice and stayed 2 Kings 13.19 and he lost many Victories by it So when a Man shall think thus I did something in Religion but did not do enough I prayed but it was coldly I did not put coals to the Incense I heard the Word but did not meditate on it I did not chew the end I smote but thrice and I should have smitten six times had I taken a little more pains I had been happy but I have lost the Kingdom of Heaven by short shooting The consideration how terrible the thoughts of this will be that we should lose Heaven for want of a little more pains will be a means to spur on our sluggish hearts and make us more diligent to get the Kingdom 3. The third means for the obtaining this Kingdom is to keep up Daily Prayer Psal. 109.4 I give my self to Prayer Prayer inflames the affections and oyls the wheels of the endeavour Prayer prevails with God it unlocks his Bowels and then he unlocks Heaven all that have got to Heaven have crept thither upon their knees The Saints now in Heaven have been Men of Prayer Daniel prayed three times a day Iacob wrestled with God in Prayer and as a Prince prevailed this Prayer must be fervent else it is thuribulum sine prunis as Luther a Golden Censer without Fire O follow God with Prayers and Tears say as Iacob to the Angel Gen. 32.26 I will not let thee go except thou bless me Prayer vincit invincibilem Luther it conquers the Omnipotent Elijah by Prayer opened Heaven by ardent and constant Prayer Heaven is at last opened to us 4. If you would obtain the Heavenly Kingdom get a love to Heaven Love puts a Man upon the use of all means to enjoy the thing loved He that loves the World how active is he he will break his sleep and peace for it he that loves Honour what hazards will he run he will swim to the crown in Blood Iacob loved Rachel and what would not he do though it were serving a two seven years Apprenticeship for obtaining her Love carries a Man out violently to the Object loved Love is like Wings to the Bird like Sails to the Ship it carries a Christian full sail to Heaven Heaven is a place of Rest and Joy 't is Paradise and will you not love it Love Heaven and you cannot miss it Love breaks through all opposition it takes heaven by storm Love though it labour is never weary it is like the Rod of Myrtle in the Travellers hand which makes him fresh and lively in his travel and keeps him from being weary 5. If you would obtain the Kingdom of Heaven make Religion your business What a Man looks upon as
replyed Dilexi dilexi I have loved I have loved and strait-way he was by a convoy of Angels translated to Glory Love is a sacred Fire kindled in the breast in the flames of this Fire the devout Soul ascends to Heaven 10. If we would obtain this Heavenly Kingdom let us labour for Sincerity Prov. 28.18 Whosoever walketh uprightly shall be saved The sincere Christian may fall short of some degrees of Grace but he never falls short of the Kingdom God will pass by many failings where the heart is right Numb 23.21 True Gold though it be light hath grains of allowance Psal. 51.6 Thou desirest truth in the inward parts Sincerity is the sauce which seasons all our Actions and makes them savoury it is the ingredient into every Grace It is called Faith unfeigned 2 Tim. 1.5 and Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in sincerity Eph. 6.24 Coyn will not go currant that wants the Kings stamp Grace is not currant if it be not stamped with Sincerity Glorious Duties sowred with Hypocrisie are rejected when great Infirmities sweetned with Sincerity are accepted If any thing in the World bring us to Heaven it is Sincerity Sincerity signifies plainness of heart Psal. 32.2 In whose Spirit there is no guile The plainer the Diamond is the richer 1. Sincerity is when we serve God with our heart we do not only worship him but love him Cain brought his Sacrifice but not his Heart This is Gods delight a Sacrifice flaming upon the Altar of the Heart A sincere Christian though he hath a double principle in him Flesh and Spirit yet he hath not a double heart his heart is for God 2. Sincerity is when we aim purely at God in all we do The Glory of God is more worth than the Salvation of all Mens Souls A sincere Christian though he comes short in Duty yet he takes a right aim As the herb Heliotropium turns about according to the motion of the Sun so a Godly Mans actions do all move towards the Glory of God 11. If we would obtain the Heavenly Kingdom let us keep up fervency in Duty What is a dead form without the power Rev. 3.16 Because thou art luke-warm neither hot nor cold I will spue thee out of my mouth Fervency puts life into Duty Rom. 12.11 Fervent in Spirit serving God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Boyling over Christ prayed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet more earnestly Luke 22.44 When the Fire on the Golden Censer was ready to go out Aaron was to put more Coals to the Incense Praying with Devotion is putting more Coals to the Incense 't is not Formality but Fervency will bring us to Heaven The Formalist is like Ephraim a Cake not turned hot on one side and dough on the other In the external part of Gods Worship he seems to be hot but as for the Spiritual part of Gods Worship he is cold Oh if you would have the Kingdom of Heaven keep up heat and fervour in Duty Eliah was carried up to Heaven in a fiery Chariot if you would go to Heaven you must be carried thither in a fiery Chariot of Zeal 'T is violence takes the Kingdom of Heaven 12. If we would arrive at the Heavenly Kingdom let us cherish the motions of Gods Spirit in our hearts The Marriner may spread his Sails but the Ship cannot get to the Haven without a gale of Wind so we may spread the sails of our endeavour but we cannot get to the Haven of Glory without the North and South-wind of Gods Spirit blow how nearly therefore doth it concern us to make much of the motions of Gods Spirit motions to Prayer motions to Repentance 2 Sam. 5.24 When thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry-trees that then thou shalt bestir thy self for then shall the Lord go out before thee So when we hear as it were a voice within us a secret inspiration stirring us up to good Duties we should then bestir our selves while the Spirit works in us we should work with the Spirit Many Men have Gods Spirit striving with them he puts good motions in their hearts and holy purposes but they neglecting to prosecute these good motions the Spirit is thereby grieved and being grieved withdraws its assistance and that assistance being gone there is no getting to Heaven Oh make much of the motions of the Spirit it is as much as your Salvation is worth The Spirit of God is compared to fire Acts 2.2 if we are careful to blow this spark we may have fire to inflame our affections and to light our feet into the way of peace If we quench the Spirit by our neglecting and resisting its motions we cut our selves off from Salvation The Spirit of God hath a drawing-power Cant. 1.4 The Blessed Spirit draws by attraction as the Loadstone the Iron In the preaching of the Word the Spirit draws the heart up to Heaven in holy longings and ejaculations Now when the Spirit is about thus to draw us let us take heed of drawing back left it be to perdition Heb. 10. We should do as Noah when the Dove came flying to the Ark he put forth his hand and took it into the Ark so when this sweet Dove of Gods Spirit comes flying to our hearts and brings a gracious impulse as an Olive-branch of Peace in its mouth O take this Dove into the Ark entertain the Spirit in your hearts and it will bring you to Heaven Quest. But how shall we know the motions of the Spirit from a delusion Answ. The motions of the Spirit are alwayes agreeable to the Word If the Word be for Holiness so is the Spirit The Spirit perswades to nothing but what the Word directs which way the tyde of the Word runs that way the Wind of the Spirit blows 13. We obtain the Kingdom of Heaven by uniform and chearful Obedience Obedience is the Road through which we travail to Heaven many say they love God but refuse to obey him doth he love the Princes Person who slights his Commands 1. Obedience must be uniform Psal. 119.6 Then shall I not be ashamed Lo Eboth I shall not blush when I have respect to all thy Commandments as the Son goes through all the signs of the Zodiack so must we through all the duties of Religion If a Man be to go an hundred Miles and he goes ninety nine Miles and there stops he comes short of the Place he is to travel to if with Herod we do many things that God commands yet if we lye in the total neglect of any duty we come short of the Kingdom of Heaven for Instance If a Man seem to make Conscience of duties of the first Table and not the duties of the second if he seem to be religious but is not just he is a Transgressor and is in danger to lose Heaven a good heart is like the Needle which points that way which the Loadstone draws so he moves that way which the Word
may give his Soldier Armour but not strength Faith partakes of Christs strength and Faith gets strength from the promise as the Child by sucking the Breast gets strength so doth Faith by sucking the Breast of the Promise hence Faith is such a wonder working Grace and enables a Christian to persevere 3. If you would hold out to the Kingdom set before your Eyes the Examples of those Noble Heroick Saints who have persevered to the Kingdom Vivitur Exemplis Examples have more influence upon us then Precepts Iob 23.11 12. My Foot hath held his steps Though the way of Religion hath Flints and Thorns in it yet my Foot hath held his steps I have not fainted in the way nor turn'd out of the way Daniel held on his Religion and would not intermit Prayer though he knew the writing was signed against him and a Prayer might cost him his life Dan. 6.10 The blessed Martyrs persevered to the Kingdom through Sufferings Saunders that holy Man said Welcome the Cross of Christ my Saviour began to me in a bitter Cup and shall I not pledge him Another Martyr kissing the Stake said I shall not lose my Life but change it for a better instead of Coals I shall have Pearls What a spirit of gallantry was in these Saints let us learn Constancy from their Courage A Souldier seeing his General fight valiantly is animated by his Example and hath new Spirits put into him 4. Let us add fervent Prayer to God that he would inable us to hold out to the Heavenly Kingdom Psal. 119.117 Hold thou me up and I shall be safe Let us not presume on our own strength When Peter cryed to Christ on the water Lord save me then Christ took him by the hand Matth. 14.30 but when he grew confident of his own strength then Christ let him fall O pray to God for auxiliary Grace The Child is safe when held in the Nurses armes so are we in Christs armes Let us pray that God will put his fear in our hearts that we do not depart from him and that Prayer of Cyprian Domine quod caepisti perfice ne in portu naufragium accidat Lord perfect that which thou hast begun in me that I may not suffer shipwrack when I am almost at the haven 3. Branch Let us press forward with the greatest diligence to this Kingdom And here let me lay down some powerful Perswasives or Divine Arguments to make you put to all your strength for the obtaining this blessed Kingdom 1. This is the great errand for which God hath sent us into the World to prepare for this Heavenly Kingdom Matth. 6.33 Seek ye first the kingdom of God First in time before all things and first in affection above all things Great care is taken for the atchieving Worldly things Matth. 6.25 To see people labouring for the earth as Ants about a Molehill would make one think this were the only errand they came about But alas what is all this to the Kingdom of Heaven I have read of a devout Pilgrim travelling to Ierusalem who passing through several Cities where he saw many stately Edifices Ware and Monuments he would say I must not stay here this is not Jerusalem So when we enjoy Worldly things Peace and Plenty and have our presses burst out with new Wine we should say to our selves this is not the Kingdom we are to look after this is not Heaven 'T is Wisdom to remember our errand It will be but sad upon a Death-bed for a Man to think he was busying himself only about trifles playing with a feather and neglected the main thing he came into the World about 2. The seeking after the Heavenly Kingdom will be judged most prudent by all Men at last Those who are regardless of their Souls now will before they dye wish they had minded Eternity more when Conscience is awakened and Men begin to come to themselves Now what would they give for the Kingdom of Heaven How happy were it if Men were of the same mind now as they will be at Death Death will alter Mens opinions then those who did most slight and disparage the wayes of Religion will wish their time and thoughts had been taken up about the excellent Glory At Death Mens eyes will be opened and they will see their folly when it is too late If all Men even the worst will wish at last they had minded the Kingdom of Heaven why should not we do that now which all will wish they had done when they come to dye 3. This Kingdom of Heaven deserves our utmost pains and diligence it is Glorious beyond Hyperbole Suppose Earthly Kingdoms more magnificent than they are their Foundations of Gold their Walls of Pearl their Windows of Sapphire yet they are not comparable to the Heavenly Kingdom 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys. If the Pavement of it be bespangled with so many bright shining Lights glorious Stars what is the Kingdom it self 1 Iohn 3.2 It doth not yet appear what we shall be This Kingdom exceeds our Faith How sublime and wonderful is that place where the blessed Deity shines forth in his immense Glory infinitely beyond the comprehension of Angels 1. The Kingdom of Heaven is a place of Honour there are the glorious Triumphs and sparkling Crowns In other Kingdoms there is but one King but in Heaven all are Kings Rev. 1.6 Every Saint glorified partaker of the same Glory as Christ doth Iohn 17.22 The glory thou hast given me I have given them 2. This Kingdom is a place of Joy Matth. 25.21 Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. To have a continual aspect of Love from Gods face to be crowned with Immortality to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Angels of God to drink of the Rivers of Pleasure for ever this will cause Raptures of Joy Sure it deserves our utmost pains in pursuing and securing this Kingdom Iulius Caesar coming towards Rome with his Army and hearing the Senate and People fled from it said They that will not fight for this City what City will they fight for If we will not take pains for the Kingdom of Heaven what Kingdom will we take pains for It was the speech of the Spies to their Brethren Iudg. 18.9 We have seen the land and behold it is very good and are ye still be not slothful to go and to enter to possess the land We have had a lively description of the Glory of Heaven we find the Kingdom is very good why then do we sit still Why do we not operam navare put forth our utmost zeal and industry for this Kingdom The diligence of others in seeking after Earthly Kingdoms shames our coldness and indifferency in pursuing after the Kingdom of Heaven 4. The time we have to make sure of the Heavenly Kingdom is very short and uncertain take heed it doth not slip away before you have prepared for the Kingdom Time passeth on apace Cito pede praeterita vita
of Gods Will Thy Will be done 3. By doing the Will of God we evidence Sincerity as Christ said in another sense Iohn 10.25 The works which I do bear witness of me So it is not all our golden words if we could speak like Angels but our works our doing of Gods Will which bears witness of our Sincerity We judge not of the health of a Mans Body by his high Colour but by the Pulse of the Arm where the Blood chiefly stirs so a Christians soundness is not to be judged by his Profession what is this high Colour but the estimate of a Christian is to be taken by his Obediential acting his doing the Will of God this is the best Certificate and Letters Testimonial to shew for Heaven 4. Doing Gods Will much propagates the Gospel this is the Diamond that sparkles in Religion Others cannot see what Faith is in the Heart but when they see we do Gods Will on Earth this makes them have a venerable opinion of Religion and become Proselites to it Iulian in one of his Epistles writing to Arsatius saith That the Christian Religion did much flourish by the Sanctity and Obedience of them that professed it 5. By doing Gods Will we show our Love to Christ Iohn 14.21 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me What greater Love to Christ than to do his Will though it cross our own Every one would be thought to love Christ but how shall that be known but by this do you do his Will on Earth Neque principem veneramur si odio ejus Leges habemus Isid. 'T is a vain thing for a Man to say he loves Christs Person when he slights his Commands Not to do Gods Will on Earth is a great evil 't is 1. Sinful 2. Foolish 3. Dangerous 1. It is Sinful 1. We go against our Prayers we pray Fiat voluntas tua thy will be done and yet we do not obey his will we confute our own Prayer 2. VVe go against our Vow in Baptism we have vowed to fight under the Lords Banner to obey his Scepter and this Vow we have oft renewed in the Lords Supper if we do not Gods will on Earth we are forsworn and God will indite us of Perjury 2. Not to do Gods will on Earth is Foolish 1. Because there is no standing it out against God If we do not obey him we cannot resist him 1 Cor. 10. â—2 Are we stronger than he Iob. 40.9 Hast thou an arm like God Canst thou measure Armes with him To oppose God is as if a Child should fight with an Arch-Angel as if an heap of Bryars should put themselves into a battalia against the Flame 2. Not to do Gods will is foolish because if we do not Gods will we do the Devils will Is it not folly to gratifie an enemy To do his will that seeks our ruine Quest. But are any so wicked as to do the Devils will Answ. Yes Iohn 8.44 Ye are of your Father the Devil and the lusts of your Father ye will do VVhen a Man tells a lye doth he not do the Devils will Acts 5.3 Ananias Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lye to the Holy Ghost 3. Not to do Gods Will is dangerous it brings a Spiritual Praemunire If Gods Will be not done by us he will have his will upon us if we obey not Gods will in commanding we shall obey his will in punishing 2 Thess. 1.7 The Lord Iesus shall be revealed with his mighty Angels in flames of fire taking vengeance on them that obey not his gospel Either we must do Gods will or suffer it 6. VVhatever God wills us to do is for our benefit Behold here self-interest As if a King commands his Subject to dig in a Mine of Gold and then gives him all the Gold he hath digged God bids us do his will and this is for our good Deut. 10.13 And now O Israel what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear the Lord thy God and keep the commandments of the Lord which I command thee this day for thy good It is Gods will that we should repent and this is for our good Repentance ushers in remission Acts 3.9 Repent that your sins may be blotted out It is Gods will that we should believe and why is it but that we should be crowned with Salvation Mark 16.16 He that believes shall be saved VVhat God wills is not so much our Duty as our Priviledge he bids us obey his voice and it is greatly for our good Ier. 7.23 Obey my voice and I will be your God I will not only give you my Angels to be your guard but my self to be your portion my Spirit shall be yours to sanctifie you my Love shall be yours to comfort you my Mercy shall be yours to save you I will be your God 7. To do Gods will is our Honour A Person thinks it an Honour to have a King speak to him to do such a thing the Angels count it their highest Honour in Heaven to do Gods will Servire Deo regnare est To serve God is to reign Non onerant nos sed ornant Salvian How chearfully did the Rowers row the Barge that carried Caesar to be imployed in his Barge was an Honour to be imployed in doing Gods will is insigne Honoris the highest ensign of Honour that a Mortal Creature is capable of Christs Precepts do not burden us but adorn us 8. To do Gods Will on Earth makes us like Christ and akin to Christ. 1. It makes us like Christ Is it not our Prayer that we may be like Christ. Jesus Christ did his Fathers will Iohn 6.38 I came down from Heaven not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me God the Father and Christ as they have but one Essence so but one VVill Christs will was melted into his Fathers Iohn 4.34 My meat is to do the will of him that sent me By our doing Gods will on Earth we resemble Christ nay we are akin to Christ and are of the Blood-Royal of Heaven Alexander called himself Couzen to the Gods what Honour is it to be akin to Christ. Matth. 12.50 Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven the same is my Brother and Sister and Mother Did King Solomon arise off his Throne to meet his Mother and set her on a Throne by him 1 Kings 3.19 such Honour will Christ bestow on such as are doers of Gods will he will salute them as his Kindred and set them on a Glorious Throne in the Amphitheatre of Heaven 9. Doing Gods will on Earth brings Peace in Life and Death 1. In Life Psal. 19.11 In keeping thy precepts there is great reward not only after keeping them but in keeping them when we walk closely with God in Obedience there is a secret Joy let into the Soul and how swiftly and chearfully do the wheels of the Soul move
This is Satan's Temptation the hand of Ioab is in this 2. To Rejoyce is a Duty Psal. 33.1 Praise is comely for the Vpright But when God by his judgments calls us to Weeping now Joy and Mirth is unseasonable Isa. 22.12 In that day did the Lord call to weeping and behold joy and gladness Oecolampadius and other Learned Writers think it was in the time of King Ahaz when the Signs of God's Anger like a Blazing-Star did appear now to be given to Mirth was very unseasonable 3. To Read The Word is a Duty but Satan will sometimes put Men upon it when it is unseasonable To Read at home when God's Word is Preaching or the Sacrament Administring is unseasonable yea sinful As Hushai said 2 Sam. 17.7 The Counsel is not good at this time There was a Set-time enjoyned for the Passover when the Iews were to bring their Offering to the Lord Numb 9.2 Had the People been Reading the Law at home in the time of the Passover it had not been in season and God would have punished it for a contempt This is the Devil 's subtil Temptation either to keep us from duty or to put us upon it when it is least in season Duties of Religion not well timed and done in season are dangerous Snow and Hail are good for the ground when they come in their season but in Harvest when the Corn is ripe then a Storm of Hail would do hurt 25. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting is to perswade Men to delay their repenting and turning to God He saith as Hag. 1.2 The time is not yet come Now youth is budding or you are but in the flower of your age it is too soon to repent the time is not yet come This Temptation is the Devil's draw-net by which he drags Millions to Hell It is a danâ—erous Temptation Sin is Dulce venenum Bern. a Poison the longer Poison lies in the Body the more mortal By delay of Repentance sin strengthens and the heart hardens The longer Ice freezeth the harder it is to be broken The longer a Man freezeth in impenitency the more difficult it will be to have his heart broken When sin hath gotten an haunt it is not easily shaken off Besides the danger of this Temptation to delay Repentance appears in this because life is hazardous and may on a sudden expire What security have you that you shall live another day Life is made up of a few flying Minutes it is a Taper soon blown out Jam. 4.14 What is your life It is but a vapour The body is like a Vessel tun'd with a little breath Sickness broacheth this Vessel Death draws it out How dangerous therefore is this Temptation to procrastinate and put off turning to God by repentance Many now in Hell did purpose to Repent but Death surpriz'd them 26. Subtilty of Satan in Tempting is to infringe and weaken the Saints peace If he cannot Destroy their Grace he will Disturb their Peace Satan envies a Christian should have a good day and if he cannot keep him from Heaven he will keep him from an Heaven upon Earth There is nothing next to Holiness a Christian prizeth more than Peace and Tranquillity of Mind This is the Cream of Life a Bunch of Grapes by the way Now it is Satans great policy to shake a Christian's Peace that if he will go to Heaven he shall go thither through Frights and plenty of Tears The Devil throws in his Fireballs of Temptation to set the Saints Peace on fire Of such great concern is Spiritual Peace that no wonder if Satan would by his Intricate subtilties Rob us of this Jewel Spiritual Peace is a Token of God's Favour As Ioseph had a special testimony of his Fathers Kindness in the Party-coloured Coat he gave him so have the Saints a special token of God's Good-will to them when he gives them inward Peace which is as it were the party-coloured Coat to wear No wonder then if Satan so much rage against the Saints Peace and would tear off this comfortable Robe from them The Devil troubles the waters of the Saints Peace because hereby he hopes to have the more advantage of them 1. By this perplexing of their Spirits Satan takes off their Chariot-wheels unfits them for the Service of God Body and Mind are both out of temper like an Instrument out of Tune Sadness of Spirit prevailing a Christian can think of nothing but his Troubles his Mind is full of doubts fears surmises that he is like a person distracted and is scarce himself Either he neglects the duties of Religion or his mind is taken off from them while he is doing them Especially there is one Duty that melancholy and sadness of spirit unfits for and that is Thankfulness Thankfulness is a Tribute or Quit-rent due to God Psal. 149.3 Let the Saints be joyful let the high praises of God be in their mouth But when Satan hath disturbed a Christian's spirit and fill'd his Mind full of black and almost despairing thoughts how can he be Thankful It rejoyceth Satan to see how his Plot takes by making God's Children Vnquiet he makes them Vnthankful 2. Satan by troubling the Saints Peace hath this advantage of laying a stumbling-block in the way of others By this policy the Devil gets an occasion to render the ways of God unlovely to those who are looking Heaven-ward He sets before new beginners the perplexing Thoughts the Tears the Groans of them who are wounded in Spirit to scare them quite off from all seriousness in Religion He will object to new beginners Do you not see how these sad Souls torture themselves with melancholy Thoughts and will you change the comforts and pleasures of this life to sit always in the house of mourning Will you espouse that Religion which makes you a terror to your selves and a burden to others Can you be in love with such a Religion as is ready to fright you out of your wits This advantage the Devil gets by troubling the Saints Peace he would discourage others who are looking towards Heaven he would beat them off from Praying and hearing all Soul-awakening Sermons lest they fall into this black humour of Melancholy and end their days in despair 3. By this subtil policy of Satan in disturbing the Saints Peace and making them believe God doth not love them he hath this advantage he sometimes so far prevails over them as to make them begin to entertain hard thoughts of God Through the black Spectacles of Melancholy God's dealings look sad and Ghastly Satan tempts the Godly to have strange thoughts of God to think he hath cast off all pity and hath forgotten to be gracious Psal. 77. and to make sad conclusions Isai. 38.13 I reckoned that as a Lion so will he break all my bones from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me The Devil setting in with Melancholy causeth a sad Eclipse in the Soul it begins to think God hath shut up