this estate and yet when all hath beene said that can be it is nothing in comparison of that which the thing is in it selfe and we shall find it to be when we shall lay downe this bodie of corruption and bee cloathed vpon with perfect glory Learne therefore what a wonderfull blessing we haue obtained by Christ By nature we are wrapped in the guilt of sin subiect to the stipend of sinne subdued vnder the curse of the lawe and lie right vnder the whole wrath and displeasure of God Our sinnes proclaimed vs Rebels to God through heauen and earth banished vs out of our countrey set hell gates open for vs and gaue vs into the hands of Sathan as an hangman to execute Gods sentence of eternall death passed against vs yea further hopeles wee were in this wofull condition for Gods displeasure was so kindled against vs as men and angels could not reconcile him the law was so transgressed that all men and angels could neuer satisfie nor make vp the breach the sentence was so seuere as all men and angels could neuer haue stood vnder iâ— the execution so certen as the verie gybbet was euer standing in our sight in the horrors of our soules and terrors of our accusing consciences wee seemed to walke and bee left in the midst of ten thousand deaths but nowe when no meanes was left to pacifie God offended to satisfie the lawe transgressed to remake the sentence denounced the Sonne of God must come from the bosome of his father and become obedient both to the performing of the whole will of his Father as also to the ignominious death of the crosse that so becomming a curse for vs as that execrable kind of death betokened wee might haue God well pleased with vs as he is with him we might present him his lawe perfectly fulfilled not in our persons but in our nature and in his owne person for vs we might pleade the paiment of all our debts and by this our surety sue out our full discharge because the vtmost farthing is fully paid haue our right in the tree of life and might enter in thorough the gates into the citie Apoc. 22.14 This blessed tree is in the middest of the Paradise of God the leaues of the tree are not onely for shadowe but also to heale the nations with and it hath both leaues and fruites to satisfie our hunger and twelue manner of fruits euerie moneth brought forth to satisfie our pleasure and it groweth by a riuer side cleare as chrystall proceeding out of the throne of God so that it cannot possibly wither Apoc. 22. Let vs beseech God who hath planted is with his owne right hand that we may liue to 〈◊〉 how wholesome and pleasant that tâ—… is And considering that we looke for life euerlasting after this life let vs not deceiue our selues lingring and deferring the time to the last gaspe but let vs lay the foundation of life eternall in our selues in this world and haue the earnest thereof laid vp in our hearts Now this is done if we repent vs heartily of all our sinnes and seeke to be assured in conscience that God the father of Christ is our father God the sonne our redeemer and God the holy Ghost our comforter Ioh. 17.3 this is eternall life that they know thee to be the onely God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ yea let vs proceed further yet endeauouring to say with Paul Gal. 2.20 Thus I liue yes not I now but Christ liueth in mee and in that I nowe liue in the flesh I liue by the faith in the sonne of God who hath loued me hath giuen himselfe for me when we can thus say in truth of heart wee haue in vs the verie seede of eternall life Lastly here we may consider the wonderfull madnes of worldly men who only haue regard to the state of this life cast all their care on the world and neuer so much as life up their hearts and thoughts vnto heauen The ende of Christ comming in the flesh was principally for our soules by taking away the sinnes of the world and after for our bodies by remoouing corporall infirmities Matth. 9.2.6 but it is not thus with the sonnes of men now they neglect the care of their soules but they make prouision for the lusts of the flesh with all possible diligence As the prodigall sonne forsooke his fathers house for a strange countrey his fathers fauour and inheritance for a bagge of money father kinred and friends for vnhonest and vncourteous harlots and the bread in his fathers house for the huskes of beanes which the swine abroad fed vpon and his soule desired So the worldlings forsake God for this present world heauen for earth euerlasting pleasure at Gods right hand for the pleasures of sin for a season It is a iust iudgement that earthly riches do deceiue our hearts when heauenly riches do not delight vs that the outward things should carie vs away wheÌ„ heauenly things cannot so much preuaile with vs. If a man hauing two houses the one but an homely cottage and the other a princely pallace should leaue the better and take all the care for the dressing and beautifying of the first would not euerie man say he were a madde man now God hath prepared for vs two houses the one is this our bodie which wee beare about vs which is an house of clay Iob. 4.19 the other house is the third heauen Iob. 14.2 which is the dwelling place of the holy Saints and Angels therefore what spirituall madnesse is it to employ all our cares for the maintenance of this house of clay which is but dust and to haue no regard of the blessed estate of the second house which is prepared for vs in heauen The three Apostles when they had seene some part of the glory of Christ in his transfiguration vpon the mount Tabor were so mooued that they said Matth. 17.4 Master it is good for vs to bee here What then would we do if we should conuerse in heauen and there behold the Maiestie of God and the glorie of Christ would not euen the apprehension thereof allure vs to wish to dwell there and to forget and despise the earth But our earthly talk and communication our worldly course of life and the corruptions of the flesh that beare so much sway in vs due manifestly shew how little wee are conuersant in heauen and consequently doe testifie that we are burgesses of earth and not of heauen All faithful beleeuers do know and are assured that at the seperation of the soule and the body the soule shal be exalted to heauen with Christ now as this seperation daily doth by death draw nearer and nearer to the faithfull so doth the kingdome also come vpon them Therefore how carefull should we be to amend our liues to despise these earthly vanityes and to prepare ourselues to make our entry into heauen Now in that we haue bin sufficiently
blaspheme Christ Beza in Pa. homil 31. but not regarded among Christians The Israelites who were notorious Idolaters proclaimed a fast to shew how they detested the blasphemy which was obiected to Naboth 1. Kin. 21. but we that hate Idolatrie doe not hate blasphemy nay rather we glory in our abusing the holy name of our God Iam. 2.19 The deuills feare and tremble Pilate when he heard that Christ was the sonne of God Ioh. 19.8 was afraid but many are worse then Pilate nay worse then the deuills themselues customably and securely without all feare and regard of Gods Maiestie blaspheme and reuile the liuing God The land mourneth because of oathes Ier. 23.10 but many laugh it out and make but a pastime to take the name of God in vaine If a mortall man be held deare vnto vs we take not his name in vaine we will not endure that any make a scorne of him and when a matter of play and mockerie is proposed we cannot suffer with patience that he be brought in as on the stage for we take this to be his infamie and discredit And shall he haue greater priuiledge then the liuing God whose name commeth in our mouthes in our bargaines and pastimes c. It is a vice which ill beseemeth those that make profession of christianitie for a Christians speech should bee powdered with salt Col. 4.6 and not with blasphemies it should minister grace to the hearers Ephes 4.29 and not be as a contagious leptosie to infect the weake nor like thornes and swords to vexe and grieue the strong Psal 55.21 for howsoeuer euill men make nothing of it to here Gods name dishonoured yet if those who truely feared the Lord and be zealous of his glorie heare these blasphemies their heart quaketh their ioynts tremble and their haire standeth vp an ende Ecclus. 27.14 Salomon Eccles. 9.2 maketh it a true note of a faithfull man to haue a reuerent respect of an oath so he pinneth it as a badge vpon a wicked mans sleeue that hee maketh no conscience of customable swearing Sixtly to haue an earnest desire that Christ should come to iudgement Apoc. 22.20 the Church faith Euen so come Lord Iesus and Christ in his prayer hath taught vs to haue this affection when wee pray Matth. 6.10 Lord let thy kingdom come Now that this is a note of them that are elected to saluation appeareth 2. Tim. 4.8 where it is said that a crowne of righteousnesse is laid vp for all them that loue his appearing Rom. 8.23 They who haue the first fruites of the spirit do euen sigh in themselues waiting for the adoption euen the redemption of their bodies when as their corruption shal put on incorruption c. 1. Cor. 15.53 Christ hath told vs that his children at his comming shall looke vp and lift vp their heads Luk. 21.28 And on the other side that the kingdomes of the earth shal mourne Matth. 24.30 and that the prophane worldlings shall say to the mountaines Fall on vs and hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the wrath of the lambe Apoc. 6.16 Naturally we abhorre to thinke of this fearefull daie and tremble with feare when mention is made thereof as Felix did Act. 24.26 because by our sinnes we haue deserued euerlasting death Rom. 6.23 but when the spirit of God by the ministerie of the word hath begotten faith in vs whereby we apply vnto our selues Christ with all his merits by whom we are reconciled vnto God then do we earnestly desire the comming of Christ our Sauiour to iudgement 1. Thess 1.9 You knowe saith blessed Paul what entring wee had and how we turned you from idols vnto God and to looke for his sonne from heauen no sooner were they turned to God but they waited for his sonne Hereby the faithfull are marked as by their propertie euen such as with the good seruants expect their Masters comming Matth. 24.45 such as looke for him Heb. 9.28 such as loue his appearing 2. Tim. 4.8 such as beeing wise virgins and louing spouses prepare themselues and euerie thing needefull for the bridegromes comming Matth. 25.4 and such as beeing strangers and pilgrims vpon earth haue their eies still toward their countrey who while they liue on earth yet haue their conuersation in heauen from whence they looke for a Sauiour Philip. 3.20 The sonnes of the Church begotten by the Gospel cannot but waite for the adoption of sonnes Rom. 8.19.23 The Church is sicke of loue after him whome her soule loueth Can. 2.5 The common voice of the spouse is Amen vnto the promise of Christs comming Apoc. 22.21 The bride saith come and doubleth her desire and ardencie saying Amen Amen Neuer thinke then that the heart is right affected vntill thou finde in it this desire and breathing after Christ thy life for this is a speciall note of discerning betweene the godly and the wicked the one hath the spirit which saith Come the other shake at the mention of his comming the one longeth that these shadowes flie away and that day breake on them Cant. 2.17 the other can no more desire his comming then the guiltie fellon can desire the comming and presence of the Iudge Some there are that beleeue not nor wait not for the day of Christ but deale as the Israelites did with Caleb and Iosua Numb 14.7 concerning the promised land who when they told the people that it was a good and a fat land and that if the Lord loued them he would giue it them and seat them in it they rebelliously bad stone them with stones but behold presently Gods sentence passed vpon them that they should neuer see that land ver 23. Such liue like the Sadduces who said that there is no resurrection nor angel nor spirit Acts. 23.8 Such was that Cardinall of Burbon who professed that he would not giue his part in Paris for his part in Paradise Such was that Pope who all his life could not be perswaded whether there was an heauen or hell and therefore at his death blasphemously vttered these words Now shall I know whether there be a God aâ— hell or any immortalitie of the soule and shortly after knew it to his cost Others are fallen asleepe with the euill seruant while their master maketh stay of his comming and in one dead sleepe of sinne or other out of which they will not be awakened wast out their dayes as though their soules should for euer sleep after death Others call on the Lord Iesus to come but neuer till they be cast on their death bed their hearts nor mouthes neuer harbour such requests in their life time and therefore in all likelihood they are vnsound Therefore call to minde the commandement of God Luk. 12.36 Be ye like men that waite for their master when he will returne from the wedding herein is put a difference betweene the godly and the wicked It was euer a marke of good men to wait for Christs
good way wherein if we walke wee shall finde rest for our soules Ier. 6.16 and euerie man of God ought to teach vs this good and right way 1. Sam. 12.23 for this way the Lord approoueth Psal 1.6 being the way of the righteous The other way is the way of our owne hearts Eccles 11.9 If we minde to come to paradise we must leaue this way Ier. 18.11 beeing the way of sinners Psa 1.1 which is the way of darkenesse Prou. 2.13 And this way will lead vs vnto iudgement Eccl. 11.9 for the way of the wicked shall perish Psal 1.6 In walking in the right way it behooueth vs to practise two things First we must vse all meanes of goodnesse not one or two of the meanes but euerie one of them in their places For otherwise if we refuse all of them or any of them it is a righteous iudgement of God that wee should liue and die in our sinnes If a man say hee desireth heauen and yet will neuer frequent sermons nor good companie where he may be instructed nor vse any priuate or publike exercises of religion whereby he may be edified he is no more to be regarded then a sluggard that pretendeth that he meanes to haue a crop and yet will neither plowe nor fowe the ground but when others are labouring he is sleeping as no man will euer looke that the one should haue a plentifull haruest of corne so will no wise man beleeue that hee should obtaine a plentifull croppe either of grace here or of glorie hereafter For it is as possible for men to make staires to climbe vp vnto the skie as for vs without these meanes to ascend vnto heauen by any deuise of our owne framings Therefore let vs with great care and conscience heare the Gospel preached frequent sermons receiue the holy Sacraments performe all religious exercises and resort to Gods house that as the poore creeple at the poole Bethesda waited for the moouing of the water by the Angel that his impotencie might be cured Ioh. 5.7 so ought we to wait for the first moouing of the spirituall waters of life that our spirituall impotencie may be helped For the ministerie of the Gospel is the golden pipe whereby and where-through the water of life all the sweetnesse of Christ and all heauenly graces whatsoeuer are deriued vnto vs. Therefore if we desire to be saued we may not neglect the meanes of saluation And here two things are to be known First that the word of God is that light that shineth in darkenesse to shew vs the way and lighten our eyes to walke in the path that leadeth to life 2. Pet. 1.19 Psal 119.105 To the law and the testimony if men speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8.20 In stead of this light wee haue a false light that is the thought of our owne hearts now the thoughts of our owne hearts are said to bee the deuils souldiers and to warre against the soule 1. Pet. 2.11 they follow their captaine and we follow them in so doing we may easily know whether we go Secondly that the guide gone before vs is Christ Iesus vpon whom we must looke and whom we are to followe Hebr. 12.2 looking saith the spirit vnto Iesus the author and finisher of our faith who for the ioy that was set before him endured the crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God And as touching the holy Fathers Prophets and Martyrs which through faith and patience inherite the promises we are exhorted Heb. 6.12 to bee followers of them as they were of God 1. Cor. 11.1 In stead of these there bee false guides that is the steps and wayes of our forefathers which we say we will follow Ier. 44.17 but God faith no Ezech. 20.18 forbidding to walke in the ordinances of the fathers and to obserue their manners and straitly charging to walke in his statutes and to keepe his iudgements The other thing to be practised of vs in walking in the right way is that wee vse this world and all things therein as not abusing them 1. Cor. 7.31 and herein we are to resemble a pilgrime who so long as his staffe is an helpe and stay for him in his iourney he is content to carrie it in his hand but so soon as it beginneth to trouble him hee casteth it away So all Gods Saints that are gone before vs in comparison of heauenly things haue contemned the worldly vanities for no sooner were they made partakers of the gifts graces of Gods holy spirit had but some little tast of the heauenly happinesse but presently they contemned the world and the vanities thereof they were ready to leaue all and to follow Christ and euen to lay down their liues for the profession of the Gospel Abraham at Gods commandement left his owne countrie and contemned all the profits pleasures and preferments which it might haue yeelded vnto him in comparison of the land of promise though hee dwelt there but as a stranger and had little ioy and comfort in it but only as it was a type of the heauenly Canaan Heb. 11.9.10 So Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter and chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God then to enioy the pleasures of sinne for a season esteeming the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt for hee had respect vnto the recompence of the reward Chap. 11.23.24 And if it were a sufficient reason to mooue Iacob Gen. 45.20 to neglect his stuffe in the land of Canaan because King Pharaoh promised him the best things of Egypt when he came into his kingdom how much more should it bee auaileable to perswade vs vnto the contempt of these worldly and worthlesse vanities seeing wee haue the assured promise of God himselfe that we shall enioy the best things of his heauenly kingdome when wee come vnto him But alas these earthly things though they be small and contemptible doe hide these superexceeding ioies of gods kingdome from the eyes of those who spend their thoughts vpon their worldly affaires For as a small dish beeing held neere the eyes hideth from our sight a great mountaine so these earthly trifles beeing placed neere our sight doe so shadow and ouercloud these great and shining excellencies that wee cannot truely behold them not rightly iudge of their greatnesse Therefore let vs remooue them further from vs and then they will seeme small and smally to be regarded in comparison of the incomparable ioyes in heauen Furthermore that our care and desire after saluation be not weakened and wee faint in the mid way wee must beware of three points First that wee turne not backe againe by offending of God and transgressing his Commandements for as in walking after his word in his feare we goe to God and euerlasting life so by sinning in stead of going forward wee
slippe backe and draw toward death we cannot therefore turne back but with danger to fall into euerlasting perdition Much like vnto him who flying from his enemies that pursue him in stead of sauing himselfe in some towne turneth backe towards them and so putteth himselfe into their hands We are not without many and mighty enemies that pursue vs and labour to make vs turne backe by offending God and these must wee fight against 1. Pet. 2.11 These enemies fight not against our goods to rob vs of them nor against our bodies to depriue them of life but against our soules to induce them to offend God and so to draw them into euerlasting damnation An example in Iob Cap. 1.1 who was a iust man c. and so walked in the way to heauen but Sathan would withstand him and therefore commenced warre against his soule hee seemes as if hee would haue fought against his goods in causing them to be taken away against his children in procuring their death and against his bodie in vexing it most cruelly yet was it properly the soule that hee assaulted Iob. 1.9.10.11 And he fought against it seeking by outward tribulation to induce the same by blaspheming to offend God If wee consider our owne weakenes to withstand our mighty enemies it may breed some cause of feare in vs but as God in old time commaunded Ioshua cap. 1.9 that hee should not feare the Canaanites and assured him that hee would be with him and that by ouercomming them he would bring his people into the land of promise so likewise let vs giue care vnto God that calleth vs to this battell with assurance that he will stand with vs and for vs to the ende that couragiously fighting vnder his banner against our enemies we may by his grace and power obtaine perfect victorie and consequently the possession of our celestiall countrie Secondly that wee turne neither to the right hand nor to the left By those that turne to the right hand wee vnderstand such as seeme to keepe Gods commandements yet not to glorifie him but either to glorifie themselues or to merit Prayer to God almes fasting and other like works are commendable and ordained of God to the end by them to walke towards heauen but such as doe them that they may be seene and praised of men doe turne to the right hand and depriue themselues of all reward in heauen because they receiue it vpon earth aforehand Math. 6.2.5.16 It is also astraying to the right hand when hauing receiued gifts of speaking the tongues of prophecying of knowing all secrets of faith c. 1. Cor. 13. the receiuers doe not vse them in loue Such likewise as in the old time among the Iewes did obserue the lawes and ordinances of God to the ende to merit did also stray to the right hand and turned out of the way of saluation Rom. 10.2 By those that turne to the left hand wee vnderstand such as doe thinke to come to heauen by the path of mens traditions and seruices or voluntarie deuotions not commaunded by God Coloss 2.21 as touch not tast not handle not c. And this Christ obiected to the Scribes and Pharises Matth. 15.8.9 Therefore because God hath taught vs the way wherein wee should walke to heauen let vs beware we turne not either to the right hand or to the left Thirdly that we stand not still in the way but goe forward and fructifie in good workes for such is the way to heauen that hee that goeth not forward slideth backward We nurse little children to the end they may grow great and wax strong and it were a wonder to see a little child continue as little and weake as at the birth euen so if we who being members of the Church of Christ and consequently entred into the path that leadeth to heauen and daily doe receiue the food of Gods word and sacraments should not increase in faith working by loue and amendement of life it were great ingratitude and vnexcusable obstinacy which should not escape vnpunished to stand stil in the way not to go forward The Apostle Paul although be had proceeded very far in this way thought it not his duty to surcease but the nearer he came to the marke the more he striueth towards it forgetting those things which be behind Phil. 3.14.15 And therevpon inferreth whosoeuer are perfect let them be thus minded Must those that are perfect be of this minde how much more behoueth it vs who are but of small growth in comparison to giue all diligence that we may increase and grow vp in grace 1. Thess 4.1 being prouoked also thereto by that exhortation of Saint Peter grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ 2. Pet. 3.18 If we rest contented with a little quantity of faith neuer labour after increase it is a shrewd presumption that such a faith is false and counterfeit For assoon as the seed of true faith is sowen in vs and hath taken roote it sprowteth vp vntill it come to full ripenes in which respect Christ compareth it to a graine of mustard seed which though it be one of the least seedes of the garden yet it groweth to a great tree Matth. 13.31.32 It is not possible that any who haue tasted of true faith and of those inestimable benefits which it assureth vs of should content themselues with a small pittance and neuer labour after more For who is it that hauing tasted and eaten a little bit of some delicious meates doth not with an hungring appetite desire more till he be filled and satisfied or who is it that hauing any weake title and assurance of some goodly inheritance doth not earnestly desire and vse all good and lawfull means whereby his title may be strengthened and his assurance confirmed So if any haue truly tasted of faith and the excellent benefits that accompany it which are assurance of Gods loue remission of sinnes peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost they cannot content themselues with a little modicum and neuer hunger after more for can we imagin that we haue any finall title or true assurance of those vnspeakable ioyes of Gods kingdome if we neuer vse meanes to confirme our title and strengthen our assurance surely it is impossible To conclude Satan if he cannot make vs worse will labour to make vs not to be better nor to go forward in religion Hast thou not more zeale now then thou hadst when the gospel was first brought thee then feare least the spirit be much quenched wherefore as Sathan endeuoreth to make thee stand at a stay in christianity so let the spirit of God in thee striue for the contrary that he that is righteous may be more righteous Apoc. 22.11 For we may not be worse then the ground which by the raine is made more fruitfull nor then the hearbes which by the sunne are made more flourishing Hauing thus far Christian Reader perswaded
and valew and as it were set so high a price of Christ and his righteousnes that he accounts euen the most pretious things that are to be but as dunge in regard thereof This affection was notably in Paul Phil. 3.8 who did thinke all things but losse for the excellent knowledge fake of Christ Iesus c. And the same we reade to haue beene in Moses Heb. 11.24.25 who refused to bee called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter and chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God c. Christ commendeth this affection to all that shall in time to come beleeue in him Luk. 14.26 If any man come to me and hate not his father and mother wife and children c. that is doth not preferre me before father and mother c. he cannot bee my disciple Which affection also is significantly expressed in the parable of the precious pearle Matth. 13.45 c. which when a man hath found he selleth all that hee hath to buy it what faith Christ Iesus to Martha Luk. 10.41.42 Martha Martha thou art cumbred about many things but this one thing is needefull Marie hath chosen the good part which shall neuer bee taken away from her so the men of this world are intangled with many things but this one thing is needfull aboue all things Matth. 6.33 seeke first the kingdome of God and his righteousnes The loue of Gods children to Christ is so firmely rooted in their hearts as that it is Cant. 8.6 strong as death which ouercommeth all things deepe as the graue which swalloweth all things yea such as we wil not depart with for any mony and such and so great as it is true that nothing can separate vs from the loue of God in Christ Rom. 8.38.39 Let vs then so loue Christ that it may bee as hot as the flame that whole floods of waters may not quench it and so strong that neither terrors in persecution nor pleasures in life nor the anguish of death may make vs forsake our anchor Christ Iesus but that we may hold our confidence in a hope sure and stedfast which shall at the last giue vs entrance into the vaile whether Christ our forerunner is for vs entred in Heb. 9.20 Now euerie man will say of himselfe that he is thus affected to Christ and that he more highly esteems the least droppe of his blood then all things in the world when as in truth such and so vehement are their naturall and earthly affections and so great their greedines to inioy the pleasures and profits of this life that the marriage of a wife or the triall of a yoake of oxen shall easily keepe them from Christ Matt. 22.5 Luk. 14.17 And are herein like the Israelites who liked better the onions flesh-pots of Egypt then the blessings of God in the land of promise Therefore that no man may deceiue himselfe this affecton may bee discerned by these signes 1. To loue and like a Christian man because he is a Christian for he that doth aright esteeme of Christ doth in like manner esteeme of the members of Christ to loue them as beeing Christs friends 1. Ioh. 3.14 such as are his members because they are so for this commandement haue we of God that he that loueth God should loue his brother also 1. Ioh. 4.21 he which loueth him which begat loueth him which is begotten 1. Ioh. 5.1 And Christ setteth downe a plentifull reward for a cup of cold water giuen to a distressed brother Matth. 10.41.42 Cap. 25.34 now who these brethren bee Christ sheweth to be such as doe the will of his father Matth. 12.50 so as it is not the affinitie in the flesh but the bond of the spirit that must vnite vs. If we loue good men because they are so it is a good signe wee doe much more loue God who is goodnes it selfe as if the father loue the schoolemaster for the sonnes sake it is a signe he loueth his sonne much more 1. Ioh. 3.10 He that loueth not his brother is not of God therefore he that loueth his brother is of God 1 Ioh. 3.18 Here is a double loue the one idle which consisteth onely in word and is proper to hypocrites and flatterers the other is actiue which sheweth it selfe in the affection and the worke and is proper to the godly Therefore the perfectest loue consisteth in the affection of the heart purified by faith in the testification of the tongue and in the performance of the worke And ver 19. there bee set downe two benefits of loue one that thereby we know that we are of the truth that is that we are no counterfeit Christians the other that herehence we shall perswade our hearts that is shall make our hearts secure of our adoption by faith Therefore to conclude 1. Ioh. 4.7 Beloued let vs loue one another for loue commeth of God and euery one that loueth is borne of God and knoweth God Now the vndoubted signes of Christian charitie are two First giuing to those that want Secondly forgiuing those that offend 1. First it is the propertie of loue to be bountifull 1. Cor. 13.4 as to all so especially to those that are of the houshold of faith Gal. 6.10 On the other side hee that hath this worldly goods 1. Ioh. 3.17 and seeth his brother haue need shutteth vp his compassion from him how dwelleth the loue of God in him and consequently the loue of his brethren which is but a streame issuing from this fountaine To doe good and to distribute is a sacrifice wherewith God is well pleased Heb. 13.16 and the high way and beaten path to heauen 1. Tim. 6.18.19 for they that do good and be rich in good works and are readie to distribute and communicate doe lay vp in store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may obtaine euerlasting life The Apostle also would this way trie and make experience of the naturalnesse of the loue of the Corinths in their bountie and liberalitie towards the Saints in want 2. Cor. 8.8 2. Secondly it is the propertie also of true loue to forgiue that is when we are readie for Gods sake and in obedience to his commandement to remit and pardon those iniuries which are offred vs for loue is not prouoked to anger 1. Cor. 13. much lesse therefore to reuenge 1. Cor. 13.7 Loue suffereth all things it endureth all things nay it doth not onely not render euill for euill but it ouercommeth euill with goodnesse Rom. 12.19.21 leauing the reuenge vnto God and to his deputies vicegerents the Magistrates as we see in the examples of Christ Luk. 23.34 and of Steuen Act. 7.60 who praied for their persecutors whose example we are to imitate as Paul exhorteth Rom. 12.14 Blesse I say and curse not Naturally we are wolues lyons leopards c. Isa 11.6.7.8 like bruite beasts willing to offer all iniuries but impatient to suffer any as the Prouerb goeth wee
but according to our affections and accepteth of the will according to that we haue 2. Cor. 8.9 But least any man may be deceiued here we must know that the obedience which is an infallible marke of the child of God must be thus qualified First it must be done vnto all Gods commaundements so farre as the measure of grace inableth This was Dauids desire Psal 119.5 O that my wayes were made so direct that I might keep thy commaundements we haue the practise in Zacharias and Elizabeth who Luk. 1.6 walked in all the commandements of the Lord without reproofe Christ Iesus saith keep the commandements Mat. 19.17 for he that keepeth the whole law and yet faileth in one point is guilty of all Iam. 2.10 The deuill was well pleased that Iudas should become a Disciple of Christ learne of Christ and follow Christ that so couetousnes might possesse him as that he would sell his Master for mony So then one sinne nourished and maintained is sufficient to keep possession for Sathan I doe not speake of infirmities but of presumptuous and crying sinnes that we doe not blesse our soules in any such sinne for if we doe it is Sathans ladder to climbe vp againe by and it will open a doore to let in more when we are tempted vnto them as we may see in the examples of Iudas and Herod Herod harbouring incest and Iudas couetousnes Secondly it must proceed from the whole man we must not share our selues between God and the world giuing one the tongue and the other the heart one our outward actions the other our inward affections but wee must performe our obedience with our whole hearts yea with the whole man body and soule and spirit 1. Thess 5.23 for though wee be regenerated and sanctified but in part yet is there no part of the whole man vnregenerate and vnsanctified howsoeuer the flesh and the corruption of nature be spread likewise and mixed therewith throughout the whole body and soule And therefore though all our obedience sauour of the flesh and is mingled with â—anifold imperfections yet it doth proceede from the whole man body soule because regeneration from which it proceedeth is not of any part alone but of the whole man 1. Cor. 6.10 and of euery part in their seueral measure For as it is to no purpose for Citizens beeing beseiged to fortifie one place of the wall and leaue an other part vnfortified or to keep straight watch at some of the gates and to leaue others open so it doeth not auaile to fortifie some parts against the power of sinne and to leaue others weake and naked but we must looke to euery part and facultie of our body and soules Thirdly it must be perpetuall continuing in a constant course from the time of our conuersion to the end of our liues Luk. 1.74.75 All the daies of our life 1. Pet. 1.17 the time of our dwelling here for we are not to iudge of our selues or of others by one or two or many actions whether they be good or euill but by the whole tenour and course of our liues so that he who in this respect is holy and righteous he is so accepted before God notwithstanding his many faults great infirmities hee that in the whole course of his life is wicked and prophane is 〈◊〉 esteemed of God although hee seeme to himselfe and others religious by fits and performeth many excellent duties and good workes It is not sufficient that we beginne in the spirit and end in the flesh Gal. 3.3 to professe and practise godlines in our youth if we breake off in our age Col. 3.12 put on the bowels of mercie c. when thou hast put on this Christian raiment thou mayst not put it off againe as thou wilt doe with thy coate at night when thou goest to bedde which thou wilt cast off and on the morrow put it on againe but thou must goe in this clothing walke in it lie down with it rise with it Psal 15.2 It is to be noted that the holy Ghost speaketh in the present tense he that walketh vprightly thereby signifying a continuall act he doth not say who hath wrought but he which worketh for it is not one action that maketh a vertuous man but it behoueth a man in his whole life to keep a constant course of wel-doing Godlines is a iourney there must be no fainting in it it is not enough if we enter into the christian 〈…〉 runne well in the beginning if we stand still in the middest or before we come to the goale Math. 24.13 he that endureth vnto the end he shal be saued Luk. 9.62 but he that puteth his hand vnto the plough and looketh backe is not apt for the kingdome of God Therefore we must not iudge of our obedience by some particular actions but by the whole tenour of a mans life And thus we haue heard the testimonies and tokens whereby a man may be certified in his conscience that he is the adopted child of God and an inheritour of the kingdome of heauen Now the God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus the great shepheard of the sheep through the blood of his euerlasting couenant sanctifie vs throughout both in body and soule and spirit make vs perfect in all good works to doe his will working in vs that which is pleasant in his sight through Iesus Christ to whom be praise in the Churches throughout all generations for euer Amen FINIS