a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season that is as full ripe corn is made into shocks and carried into the bâ—rn so thou shalt die in peace and shalt not be as wicked men cut off in their sins thy last day shall be thy best day and the day of thy death will be better than the day of thy birth whosoever closeth thy bodily eyes at thy dissolution the eye of thy soul shall see Christ in his glory whosoever bears thy body to burial the blessed Angels shall bear thy soul to heaven Vse 3. For direction I told you in the first place that Christ washeth us by baptisme This Use serves to direct us how to get our soules washt by baptisme First remember what a solemn promise we made in our baptisme and how often we break it this will be a good meanes to humble us and to make us more carefull to keep our covenant 2. Repent for the frequent breach of it else it will lie very heavy upon your consciences at the hour of death we would be ashamed to break our peace so often with man as we have done with God let Gods faithfulness to us make us be ashamed of our perfidiousness to him 3. Labour to feel the efficacy of your baptisme by faith in Christ indeavour to feel corruption mortified through the power of Christs death and your soul quickened with grace through the spiritual efficacy of his resurrection then you put on Christ to your eternal comfort 2. I told you in the second place that Christ washeth us by his Word This Use still serves to direct us how to get our soules washt by it First We must hide it in our hearts Psalm 119.11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee and when it cleanseth thy heart which is the fountain then it will cleanse thy words and actions streaming from it 2. Hear it with a purpose to practise it Psalm 119.33 Teach me O Lord the way of thy statutes and I shall keep it unto the end verse 34. Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law yea I shall observe it with my whole heart what good will the best meat do to an hungry man if he eat it not Or what good will an excellent plaister do to a wounded man if he apply it not So what is a man better for hearing and reading Gods Word if he do it not Micah 2.7 Do not my words good to him that walketh uprightly but if he walk not uprightly they are not like to do him good 3. Make use of it upon all occasions then as Christ said John 15.3 ye shall be clean through the word spoken to you obey the precepts of it apply the promises and stand in awe of the threatenings that your profiting may appear to all live by the rules of it walk in the light of it that you may be such as God would have you 3. I told you in the third place that Christ washeth us by the merit of his precious bloud This Use still serves to direct us how to get our soules washed by it that must be by faith Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his bloud to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God We read in the New Testament how our blessed Saviour healed many that beleived in him there is mighty efficacy in a true lively faith to cleanse the soul by applying the merit and efficacy of Christs bloud beleive stedfastly in the Lord Jesus with all your heart and you shall find the strength of sin dying in you 4. I told you in the fourth place that Christ washeth us with the saving graces of his holy Spirit This Use still serves to direct us how to get our soules thus washed First Get a clear sight of the worth and necessity of them then you will pray to Christ with Peter Lord wash not my feet onely but also my hands and my head there is no desire of a thing unknown grace is so exceedingly sweet and lovely that the spiritual sight of it will set the heart a longing after it 2. Hunger and thirst exceeding fervently after grace and you shall be satified and washed Christ is very bountiful of his blessings now he is in glory for Revel 22.17 he freely invites us And let every one that is a thirst come and whosoever will let him take the waters of life freely The more you thirst after these living waters the faster will they flow into you 3. Labour to grow in these graces that you may be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect and holy as he that calleth you is holy think not that a stock of grace at your conversion without daily growth will bear you out to your latter end as many in their youth provide worldly riches enough to maintain them in their old age you must be alwayes adding to your stock if a child were no bigger at twenty yeares old than when its new born how could it help it self how could it maintain it self defend it self against dangers so if you grow no better after the receit of Gods abundant mercies and in particular under the plentiful meanes of grace how will you be able to serve please and glorifie God how will you be able to suffer for Christ to work out your salvation with fear and trembling therefore grow in grace and then you shall be more clean from iniquity 5. I told you in the fifth place that Christ washeth us by afflictions sanctified to us This Use still serves to direct us how to get our selves washed by them First Labour to know the right cause of them this course is prescribed in Lamen 3.39 40. Wherefore doth a living man complain a man for the punishment of his sins Let us search and try our wayes and turn again to the Lord that is let us not repine at Gods hand in correcting us but let us search and try our wayes to find out our sins our personal and particular failings which provoked God to afflict us this course if we take we may find cause enough in our selves to justifie Gods righteous hand in afflicting us 2. Let afflictions drive thee to repentance to make thee a partaker of Gods holiness Hebr. 12.10 But he for our profit that we might be partakers of his holiness then they are sanctified to thee and will tend to the health of thy soul as physick that works kindly proves healthful to the body let crosses make thee more penitent more holy more heavenly more upright then it will be comfortable to thee in thy latter end 3. Pour out earnest prayers and hearty suites to God in miseries this course Gods people took formerly Isaiah 26.16 Lord in trouble they have visited thee they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them pray to our Redeemer to be with thee in
thee an upright body so as thou mayest look often up towards heaven that thine heart may be lifted up thither aquila non capit museas scorn to imbase thy noble soul by doting upon things of the earth a little meanes will suffice nature thou needest not be so greedy after gain hadst thou a whole Lordship nay a whole Kingdom yet thou canst dwell but in one house at a time hadst thou the richest Wardrobe in the world thou canst wear but one suite of apparrel at a time hadst thou thy Table furnisht with all varieties thou canst eat but a bellifull of meat at a time enough is as good as a feast Oh let thine heart mount up towards heaven daily upon the wings of divine contemplation then thy soul shall go thither at last it s no easie thing to get thither the way to hell is down the hill and down the stream but the way to heaven is up the hill and against the stream rightly said the Poet facilis descensus Averni Sed revocare gradum superasque evadere ad auras Hic labor hoc opus est Therefore look upward often whither thy Redeemer is ascended the sight of the outside of heaven here below should draw up our hearts thither and make us less regard these worldly delights for if the outside of heaven be so glorious that is bespangled with the Sun Moon and Stars how glorious is the inside of it you are daily within the sight of heaven your Fathers house Oh let your hearts be there till your soules be there for ever lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet loose not heaven for want of paines and labour you may buy gold too dear but heaven you cannot 7. I told you in the seventh place that a Christian walks with God by fervent and frequent prayer expecting an answer This Use still serves to exhort us all to walk with God after this manner pray continually ply the Throne of grace hard give the Lord no rest until he hath brought thee to sing everlasting hallelujah in heaven God hath in many places of his Word promised to hear and grant the sutes of his people if thou beest one of his thou mayest pray with confidence to be heard Moses talked with God in the Mount until his face shone be thou also frequent in fervent prayer and it will make thy soul to shine in grace Jacob wrestled with Christ by prayer untill he halted be thou likewise earnest with God until thou hast weakened thy corruptions and made them lame thou that hast the spirit of grace and supplication hast such a treasure to enrich thee such a weapon to defend thee as no worldling hath thou mayest by the key of prayer unlock heaven gates and fetch mercies thence in any place whereever thou livest for the way to heaveÌ„ is as near to a true Christian in one place as in another it s a sweet thing to talk often with God and to be inward with him he will give no little joy to such 8. I told you in the eighth place that a Christian walks with God by the life of faith This Use still serves to exhort you all to walk with God this way let your life be a continual dependance upon him trust in the Lord for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength he is faithful that hath promised he never deceived any that trusted in him this is your sure hold true faith in his promises and providence will not fail you you will find friends riches pleasures honours and other delights of this world to be miserable comforters but rest upon God by faith and you will find him a fast friend and a sure comforter endeavour daily to rest upon him with such strength of faith as that when all outward helpes fail you may not doubt nor fear but may in patience possess your soules and quietly rest upon God for releif and succour not seeking after indirect meanes for your help if you can attain to this life of faith you will find more comfort in want than others in their wealth more comfort in sickness than others in their health it will make you better in your worst estate than unbeleivers are in their best estate you are better in disgrace than they are in honour you are better in bondage than they are in liberty when thou wast a little child thou couldst sport and play and tookest no care for maintenance but didst rest upon thy earthly parents for food and rayment and now thou art come to yeares of discretion wherein thou shouldest have attained to knowledge and faith hast thou not yet learned to trust thy heavenly Father for body and soul why do ye doubt oh ye of little faith cast thy care wholly upon God and he will care for you thou pretendest thou canst trust God for thy soules everlasting peace and canst thou not trust him for thy present bodily mantenance â—oul the weight of all thy cares wholly upon the Lords blessed providence live the life of faith and thou shalt die the death of the righteous yea thy last and shall be like his SERMON III. Text JOHN 13.8 If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me WE are all by nature polluted with iniquity both in soul and body and have need to cry with the Leper unclean unclean if this sinful pollution be not washt away it will prove destructive to our soules and bodies eternally the onely meanes to wash away this pollution is the pretious bloud of our blessed Redeemer which he doth by the merit and efficacy of it for if he wash us with his bloud we shall be Kings and Priests unto God Revel 1.5 6. but if he wash us not we have no part with him Touching the occasion and coherence of these words we read in the first verse of this chapter it s said Now before the feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father c. verse 2. and supper being ended c. verse 4. he riseth from supper and laid aside his garments and took a towell and girded himself verse 5. After that he poureth water into a bason and began to wash the Disciples feet and to wipe them with the towell wherewith he was girded verse 6. Then cometh he to Simon Peter and Peter saith unto him Lord doest thou wash my feet verse 7. Jesus answered and said unto him what I do thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter verse 8. Peter saith unto him Thou shalt never wash my feet Jesus answered him If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me Christ washt their feet partly to shew his admirable love to them partly to give them an example of humility and love one to another and lastly to intimate that he onely cleanseth us from our sins 1 John 1.7 when Peter said
Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God It s a great comfort to a friend to walk often with his dear companion much more to walk intimately with God Jacob after he had wrestled with Christ comforted himself thus I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved Likewise it s the greatest honour in the world to walk with God it made Enoch his memory to be blessed until this day and so it will be to the end of the world So it was to Hezekiah in his sickness he said not remember Lord that I have been a man honourable rich and famous in the eyes of the world that I have been an earthly King but that I have walked before thee in truth as ever you desire to have solid joy in your consciences and everlasting renown make it your daily care and study how to walk strictly with God 3. Because God is Almighty and Alsufficient therefore walk with him Gen. 17.1 if thou shalt straggle from him like a wandering sheep he is Almighty and so able to correct thee severely as he did with the Israelites very often which you may read in Psal 78. if thou keepest close to him he is Almighty and so able enough to reward thee as he did with Enoch Abraham Job David and others 4. Because this will keep one from the common errors and corruptions of the times Psalm 119.1 3. Blessed are the undefiled in the way who walk in the Law of the Lord they also do no iniquity they walk in his wayes that is they make not a trade of sin they get no habit of it they do it not with their whole heart and full consent of will Philip. 3.19 20. Who mind earthly things for our conversation is in heaven as if he had said that is our preservative against earthly mindedness In the time of pestilence if one could live high in the fresh air he might be free from the infection now to walk with God is to live in heaven high above the earth and such as do so escape the pollutions of the world this will keep the pure in an impure generation like fish that is fresh in the salt water of the Sea for God is a pure and an holy God and the nearer and closer any walk with him the more he imparts his divine nature to them infusing his blessed Spirit into their soules now his grace is sufficient enough to fence and fortifie them against the contagious corruptions of the times as ever you desire to escape the infection of those sins which others daily run into walk with God all your dayes 5. Because God is our best friend and guide Psâ—lm 73.24 25 26 28. Thou shalt guide me with thy councel and afterward receive me to glory whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever but it is good for me to draw near to God We meet with many false hearted in the world but we shall find God a faithful fast friend for ever We have followed false guides to long but follow God and you will find him a sure guide he will never leave you till he hath brought you to heaven None of us but we desire to walk much with a dear friend whom we love as our own soul What friend have we like to God Who can do that for us which God hath done and doth daily and will do for ever if we can walk constantly with him 6. Because this will make us walk uprightly and justly towards one another as becometh Christians Micah 6.8 The Lord doth require of thee to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God This last is the ground of the former for a man cannot do justly nor love mercy in obedience to God requiring these nor with respect to his own soules eternal good which is there meant until he walk with God for such as walk with him to them he shews his secret will and teacheth them by walking with him to walk uprightly towards men Now this is profitable comfortable and commendable for us What is the reason that many live so unjustly care not whom they abuse by fraud violence and other wicked wayes its because they walk not with God God never taught them to do thus exact walking with God would prevent this sometimes Gods own Children some of them fall into some acts of injustice and cruelty towards others as David gave Mephibosheth his estate to Ziba caused Vriah to be set in the place of greatest danger Lot abused his Daughters but this was not because they walked with God but because they walked no closer with God As ever you desire your memory should be blessed by upright carriage and just walking towards men be sure while you live to walk with God then your memory shall be blessed when the name of the wicked shall rot 7. Because this will move God to bless you with multitude of mercies which you may see promised to Abraham Genes 17. I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect and I will make my Covenant between me and thee and I will multiply thee exceedingly and so forward in the rest of the Chapter he is very bountiful and liberal and if we have hearts to walk with him he cares not what mercies he bestows on us we give special tokens of love to such as be our dear friends the like will God do to his Vse I told you in the first place that a Christian walks with God by acquainting himself with God and being at peace with him This Use serves to reprove such as make no peace with God but run into all wickedness provoking and offending the Majesty of heaven their care is how to curry favour with the world but peace with God they undervalue Consider this you ungodly sinners that if great good shall come unto such as are at peace with God then great vengeance shall come to such as be his enemies what will you doe in the day of judgement when God shall summon you before his dreadful Tribunal 2. I told you in the second place that a Christian walkes with God by doing all his actions as in Gods sight and presence This Use still serves to reprove all such as walk not with God this way they are most prophane Atheists thinking God sees them not therefore they rush presumptuously into sin as the horse rusheth into the battel because God is not in all their thoughts Job 24.15 The eye of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight saying no eye shall see me and setteth his face in secret but know this you ungodly Atheists that the all-seeing eyes of God are ten thousand times brighter than the Sun they are
like to flames of fire and will espie out your naughtiness for he is of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on iniquity though you foolish Atheists say in your hearts there is no God and therefore are corrupt and do abominably yet the Lord looks down from heaven upon you and will reward you accordingly 3. I told you in the third place that a Christian walks with God by referring all his actions to Gods glory This Use still serves to reprove such as walk not thus with God very few aim at this most noble end though they were made for it the most look at their own ends at their own profit own pleasure at their own credit and honour to be seen of men and to be commended by others doubtless this is one reason why there is so much hypocrisie and so little sincerity if all men would earnestly seek the glory of God in all their wayes and actions there would be no hypocrites for this is a sure mark of an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile doubtless this disrepect of Gods glory is the cheif cause of so much contention and division about Religion and worldly matters this is it that hinders reformation every where if Gods glory were dearer to all of us we should agree better in points of godliness we should not so easily rush into such frivolous sutes and quarrels about a little white and yellow earth Consider this you self-seeking hypocrites who look onely at your own ends because you seek not now to glorifie God he will except you amend curse your posterity he will cause your name and memory to rot you shall have no solid comfort here nor eternal peace hereafter Remember Jeroboam the Son of Nebat who made Israel to sin he sought his own ends in setting up Calves at Dan and Bethel but this renderd him odious ever after Remember John in throwing down Baals Idolatry he sought his own ends he aimed not at Gods glory his hypocrisie was at last detected and accordingly rewarded Remember Balaam went with Balacks Messengers nay he went in pretended obedience to Gods Command but he aimed at his own ends he went for the wages of unrighteousness then the Lords anger was kindled against him and afterwards he perished by the sword Remember Judas served Christ but it was for his own ends to get money he repined at Mary when she annointed Christs feet pretending that ointment might have been sold for much and be given to the poor not that he cared for the poor but because he was a theif and bare the bag but his hypocrisie could not long lurk in secret at last he sold his Master for thirty silverlings which amounts to three pounds and fifteen shillings then fell into despair and hanged himself and his belly burst and his bowels fell out signifying that such a wretched miscreant was unworthy to be born into this world and because he had no bowels of love to his Master his bowels burst and fell out Now all these things happened unto them for examples and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed least he fall 4. I told you in the fourth place that a Christian walkes with God by an exact imitation of God according to the rules of his Word This Use still serves to reprove all such as walk not with God this way the most follow the multitude to do evil but alas how few follow God the vain customs of the countrey and the idle traditions of many of our ancestors are in greater request with many than the Scripture reprove divers people for notorious vices out of the Scripture yet they alledge they do but as the most and according to the fashions of the times but know that if you will do as the most you are like to be hereafter where the most must be and that is not in heaven I am sure exhort divers to necessary duties of godliness with Scripture Arguments tell them they must be followers of God as dear children in these and these graces they alledge that this is not in request with many there are but few that take this way they think they may save all this pains and yet do well enough Oh what enemies are the most to themselves they follow the devil and know it not he leads them hoodwinkt to destruction Look about you notorious sinners many of you have followed Satan forty fifty or sixty yeares by living in ignorance and all manner of prophaneness you cry God forbid But I say whom do you serve and follow when you swear lie steal are drunk prophane the Sabbath prate against godliness I appeal to your consciences do you think you serve God and imitate him where did the Lord ever teach you these sins flatter not your selves you follow Satan and to him you must go at last if you repent not in time 5. I told you in the fifth place that a Christian walks with God by daily observing the passages of his providence to him whether of mercy or justice this Use still serves to reprove all such as walk not with God this way when the hand of God is lifted up they will not see neither will they behold the Majesty of the Lord if he send them many blessings they sacrifice to their net and burn incense to their drag they thank their own wit strength industry and care if God afflict them with miseries they impute all to luck chance and fortune this Atheistical blockishness keeps them from true repentance for they turn not to him that smites them understand ye brutish among the people and ye fools when will ye be wise If now ye will not take notice of divine providence you shall hereafter be forced to acknowledge the hand of his justice when you shall lie perpetually under the weight of his wrath I told you in the sixt place that a Christian walks with God by having his conversation in heaven This Use still serves to reprove all such as walk not with God this way many men have some cold lazy wishes after heaven desiring to be thereafter death but they have no heart after heavenly things now in their life it s to be feared they have no treasure in heaven because their hearts are not there for where their treasures are their hearts will be there also they desire heaven for the happiness of it but if they were there a while they could not long endure to be there for the extraordinary holiness of it a unworthy are many to be men and women to have reasonable soules because they pitch their thoughts daily upon this worldly pelfe the world ingrosseth their thoughts worde and deeds they have no leasure to meditate on Gods Law nor to discourse about spirituall things how skilful are they to drive a trade and how eager are they in pursuit of worldly profit but in heavenly matters they
are as silly as little Infants such as these are penny wise and pound foolish and if they look not to it in time they will one day lament their folly in that they had no more care over their soules when they come to find this true by their own experience that it will be no profit to gain the world and to loose ones soul 7. I told you in the seventh place that a Christian walks with God by frequent and servent prayer expecting an answer to it This Use still serves to reprove all such as call not upon the Lord they performe some lip-labour uttering some cold wishes but they know not how to pour out their soules in zealous suites it seems their hearts were never broken with greif and sorrow for sin because they never had the Spirit of grace and supplication poured upon them if they draw neer God with their lips their heart is farre from him oh how weary are they of prayer and other holy duties Certainly they will never indure to be in heaven for there is everlasting singing of Hallelujah without ceasing if the Lords service here tire them out in two or three houres much more will they be weary of being in heaven so holy a place Consider this you ungodly wretches who have opened your mouths in swearing and cursing and ungodly talking against the way of holiness and blaspheming of God but could never to this day pour out a fervent prayer to God doubtless God will not hold you guiltless for these sins but in the day that he visits he will visit these sins upon you you hypocrites you generation of vipers how hard will it be for you to escape the damnation of hell you are quickly weary of the Lords service and cry what a weariness is it but you are not weary of your sins look to it betime and have a care to amend or else these great sinnes will burden your soules and lie very heavy upon them when you die 8. I told you in the eighth place that a Christian walks with God by the life of faith This Use still serves to reprove all such as walk not with God this way this life of faith is a riddle and a mystery to the most few understand and practise it the most men live by their wits shifts and policy but to live by faith in God they know not they say they beleived ever since they could remember but that was not in God for if God deprive them of his blessings and afflict them with miseries they presently distrust repine and run to unlawful meanes they can trust God no farther than they see him helping them with second meanes but if outward meanes be gone their faith is gone also so they trust not God but the meanes these do much offend God by distrust and unbeleif as the Israelites did in Psal 78. Vse The next Use is for comfort to all such as walk with God 1. I told you in the first place that a Christian walks with God by acquainting himself with God and being at peace with him This Use serves to comfort all such as walk thus with God happy are you in any condition God shall lead you into you may look upward with joy for though men frown at you yet the Lord from heaven smiles upon you you having peace with God shall have peace in your own consciences which will do you more good than millions of gold you shall have peace with the blessed Angels they shall pitch their Tents about you for your safety as when one is at peace with the Master of a family his servants are ready to do him good you shall have peace with other creatures Job 5.23 Thou shalt 〈◊〉 in league with the stones of the field and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee 〈◊〉 is the portion of all such as are at peace with God this honour have all the Saints 2. I told you in the second place that a Christian walkes with God by doing all his actions as in Gods sight and presence This Use still serves for consolation to all such as walk thus with God two priviledges belong to all such Psalm 16.9 11. The first is in verse 9. Therefore mine heart is glad and my glory that is my tongue rejoyceth This will be a matter of great joy unto thee to have God thy dearest freind ever in thine eye Jacob had enough when he saw Joseph thou hast enough in seeing thy heavenly father thou livest as do the glorious Angels for they continually behold the face of our Father in heaven God is ever within the sight of your faith and within the cry of your prayers Jacob having seen Christ and wrastled with him was filled with joy saying I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved he had special assurance of protection against Esau his fury by the clear sight of Christ which made him exceeding joyful The next priviledge is verse 11. Thou wilt shew me the path of life God is the good mans guide the closer you walk with him the surer he will guide you to glory as the Star led the wise men to Christ and as the Cloud conducted the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan so God will never leave thee untill he hath brought thee to heaven the wicked wander in the darkness and stumble but you that walk with God walk uprightly and surely you avoid many sins and punishments which others run into blessed are you dear souls that ever God inclined your hearts to walk with him 3. I told you in the third place that a Christian walks with God by doing all his actions to Gods glory This Use still serves to comfort all such as walk with him after this manner you blessed Christians who look at this noble end you may confidently expect a noble end of your lives even glory honour and immortal life in another world so did our blessed Saviour John 17.45 I have glorified thee on the earth and now O Father glorfie thou me with thine own self God will honour you that honour him both here but chiefly hereafter the men of this world will speak all manner of evill of you falsly but God with whom you walk will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgement as the noon day you are here defamed and reputed as the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things yet by advancing the glory of God your memory shall be blessed when the name of your enemies shall rot 4. I told you in the fourth place that a Christian walks with God by a strict imitation of God according to his word This Use still serves to comfort all such as walk with God this way herein lies your happiness in that you resemble God the most perfect example which will move him to love you most dearly for likeness is the cause of love this is the reason why the righteous is more excellent than
his neighbour as Solomon speaks Prov. 12.26 because he is so like to God he is made a partaker of the divine nature which is the highest priviledge in the world by vertue whereof a godly man being a god-like man is worth ten thousand reprobates Christ would not part with such an one for all the wealth in the world You heaven-born Saints who walk with God by imitating him his heart stands most to you and he will own you for his at the last day when others shall be rejected and condemned 5. I told you in the fifth place that a Christian walks with God by his daily observing the passages of divine providence whether of mercy or justice This Use still serves to comfort all such as walk with God this way happy are you that are thus qualified God hath opened your eyes to see the holy One of Israel you may see many tokens of Gods favour to you which will confirm your faith in his promise and providence Isai 26.8 In the way of thy judgements have we waited for thee you wait for God in the way of his judgements therefore he will meet you in every cross and sanctifie it to you that it shall leave you better than it found you he will mitigate the smart of his rods to you and enable you to bear them and at last he will give a gracious issue out of all crosses Psalm 123.2 So our eyes wait upon the Lord our God untill that he have mercy upon us you gracious Christians wait for the Lord in the way of his mercies likewise doubtless mercies shall be mercies indeed to you you may see love in a little you may perceive the love of God in small favours because the mercies of God come to you by the merit of Christs bloud and through the conduit pipe of divine promises you walking so exactly with God he sends you many blessings in his special providence to maintain you in your journey until you come to heaven where you shall have enough 6. I told you in the sixth place that a Christian walks with God by having his conversation in heaven This Use still serves to comfort such as have their conversation there you sweet soules you may expect your Saviour confidently to come from thence to change your vile bodies and to make them like to his glorious body oh blessed are you that ever you were born but especially that ever you were born again you shall flourish like the tree planted by the water side you shall bring forth fruit in season your leaf shall not wither and whatever you do it shall prosper you live more like blessed Angels than men upon earth your life must needs be the sweetest life of all for you converse with Christ and are most inward with God you taste those sweet comforts and have a glimpse of those glorious joyes which the earth-worms of this world never see I am perswaded you would not change conditions with the wealthiest worldling upon earth I honour your holiness I admire your happiness 7. I told you in the seventh place that a Christian walks with God by fervent and frequent prayer expecting an answer This Use still serves to comfort all such as walk thus with God you may take much comfort to your selves in that God hath given you the spirit of supplication your prayers are sweet musick and delightful melody in Gods eares so Christ speaks to his Church Cant. 2.14 O my dove that art in the clefts of the rock in the secret places of the staires let me see thy countenance let me hear thy voice for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely A father delights more to hear the pratling of his little child than the bawling of many beggars at the door God regards not the howling of hypocrites but for you that walk with God your prayers are as sweet incense in his nostrils though you chatter like a Swallow and cruttle like a Turtle yet the Spirit helps your infirmities and God who knows the meaning of the Spirit accepts of your desires though you can utter but non-sense in words and broken English yet God will make good sense of your suits because he delights in them Prayer is a corner of heaven to you your petitions shall not come weeping home for want of answer but God will fulfill the desire of them that fear him he will hear their cry and will save them for he is nigh unto them that call upon him in truth 8. I told you in the eighth place that a Christian walks with God by the life of faith This Use still serves to comfort all such as walk with God after this manner You blessed Christians that live by trust and confidence in God you live the surest life for comfort of all people in the world you are seated upon the Rock of eternity let the world be changed and turned upside down yet you stand safe you may see the rising and falling of many but you shall hold your hold for you have the surest hand hold by the hand of faith upon Gods all-sufficiency that is in the world when the creature is drawn dry and these broken cisterns can hold no water of consolation for you then shall your faith find super-abundant comfort in God the fountain of living waters Habak 3.17.18 Although the fig-tree shall not blossome neither shall fruit be in the vines the labour of the olive shall fail and the fields shall yeild no meat the stock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no heard in the stals yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation the holy Prophet foreseeing by the Spirit the fearful desolation that the Babylonians should make in the Jews Nation comforts himself and other true beleivers in this that when all livelihood is wasted and outward maintenance perished when the Babylonian had plundered their Nation had not left them an house to dwell in nor any provision to nourish and releive them yet by the strength of his faith he assures both himself and others of comfort provision and nourishment enough in God The life of faith is a most secure life when a man by reason of want is ready to sink then faith holds the head above water and makes one to see contraries in contraries as fulness in want health in sickness life in death vivitur ingenio is the life of worldly men but vivitur fide is the life of righteous Saints Vse The last Use serves for exhortation to stir us up to walk with God as Enoch did 1. I told you that a Christian walks with God by acquainting himself with God and being at peace with him This life serves to exhort us all to walk with God this way consider the pathetical motives the Holy Ghost useth in Job 22.24 c. Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brook Ophir was a
and trespasses as the other sort be if there were as many people upon earth naturally dead as there be spiritually dead it would be very sad fearful and doleful you may hear them wish for grace but they take no paines for it their hearts rise against such as are gracious when they be in health though in sickness they desire to die the death of the righteous it s very sad to see how long many have lived graceless under excellent meanes of grace if a man fall into a swound and we pour Aqua vitae into him we rub him and use meanes to recover him but we perceive in him no heat sense nor motion we conclude he is dead the like we may say of very many who have been long rubb'd and stirred by powerful preaching but there appears in them no motion towards holiness no warmth of love to Christ and his image no sense of grace but coldness in their hearts and lives doubtless these men are dead having no life of God in them 5. I told you in the fift place that Christ washeth us by gentle corrections and trials sanctified to us This Use still serves to reprove such as be nothing bettered by afflictions many crosses hath God laid upon them to humble and reform them but they like wicked King Ahaz sin more in their affliction 2 Chron. 28.22 Jerem. 5.3 he complains of the Jews for their perverseness O Lord are not thine eyes upon the truth thou hast stricken them but they have not greived thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder than a rock they have refused to return In Amos the fourth chapter God by him complained of the Jewes how he had many wayes afflicted them Yet ye have not returned unto me saith the Lord To many plunge themselves deeper into wickedness when Gods hand is upon them they are incorrigible and grow more obstinate proud prophane worldly minded and malitious against the truth to such lesser crosses will prove the beginning of sorrows thou canst complain of bitter troubles and smarting miseries thou hast suffered but what change have they wrought in thy heart and life have they made thee more fearful to offend God and more studious and careful to please him then thou art in a blessed condition if it be so but if thou beest more hardened in sin by afflictions then know to thy terrour that the worst is behind Hosea 5.12 God threatens to be unto Ephraim as a moth and to the house of Judah as rottenness that is he would try them with lesser afflictions and wast them by degrees but if those did them no good he threatens verse 14. For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion and as a young lion to the house of Judah I even I will tear and go away I will take away and none shall rescue him that is he would come with more fearfull and terrible judgements to destroy them forbearance is no forgiveness though God have leadē heels yet he hath iron hands easie warnings neglected ever end in destruction you that have been oftentimes crusht and prest with heavy crosses yet you are nothing better but wax worse and worse your judgement lingers not your damnation slumbers not Vse 2. For comfort I told you in the first place that Christ washeth us with the Sacrament of Baptisme This Use serves for singular consolation to all that be thus washed you are happy and have cause to rejoyce for 1. First you were baptized into Christ his death Rom. 6.3 4. you are buried with Christ by baptisme into death your old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth you should not serve sin now his death will destroy your corruptions as Irish earth kils venomeous creatures applied to it sin may dwell in you but it shall not have dominion over you it troubles you like a tyrant but it shall never be laid to your charge you by faith applying Christs death to your soules shall find your corruptions weaker and your hearts rising against them as Davids house waxed stronger and Sauls house weaker so shall grace grow stronger and sin weaker in you 2. You are planted together with Christ in the likeness of his resurrection that ye may walk in newness of life you live above others in a farre more excellent way than they do blessed are you that ever you were born but chiefly that you were born again you are more excellent than your carnal neighbours you are such of whom the world is not worthy you are precious in the eyes of Jehovah and he will honour you for ever your life is gracious and your death shall be glorious 3. You shall have the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 3.21 The like figure whereunto even baptisme doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience c. Here Peter hath respect to that custome which was used in the baptisme of those who were of age the person baptizing asked the person to be baptized Whether he beleived and he answered I beleive c. hence by the answer of a good conscience we may understand that unfained faith whereof they made confession at their baptisme and whereby their consciences were purified and whereby they received remission of their sinnes testified by Christs resurrection from the dead also we may understand that covenant whereinto they entred at their baptisme the embracing whereof they testified by their unfained confession of their faith this benefit you shall receive by baptisme by applying unto your soules the power of Christs resurrection your consciences shall be both quieted and assured of pardon and favour and is thereupon enabled to treat for and expect mercy from God and reconciliation with him and so the faithful soul in the confidence hereof boldly questioneth with God about his favour reconciled unto him by Christs death and testified by his resurrection saying hath not Christ reconciled thy favour unto us by his death to endure for ever certainly it is so for his resurrection doth testifie it seeing that unless he had made a perfect expiation of our sins by his death and reconciled thy favour unto us he could not have risen again to life and heavenly glory 2. I told you in the second place that Christ washeth us with his sacred Word This Use still serves to comfort all such as are washed it by these benefits thou shalt enjoy by it 1. You shall ask what you will if it be according to Gods will and for his glory and it shall be done unto you John 15.7 which is an high priviledge prayer is the wing of the soul wherewith it flies up to heaven to Christ it peirceth the clouds it is a corner of heaven to a gracious soul it hath a kind of omnipotency in it it is the key
Lords day now under the Gospel for an holy Sabbath to God because he saith Let no man judge or condemne you in meat or drink c. where Paul shews that we are delivered from the bondage of the observation as of meats so now of Sabbaths But such as oppose the morality of the Sabbath hold it not unlawful to observe a Sabbath now but onely indifferent and arbitrary likewise the Apostles kept the Lords day John 20.19 Acts 20 7. 1 Cor. 16.2 therefore the Sabbath day was mutable from the last day to the first day of the week and that by the authority and power of Christ for he is Lord of the Sabbath and he onely hath power to appoint and change it which it is like he opened to his Disciples Acts 1.3 or if the Apostles altered it they did it by authority and direction from him for Christ promised John 16.13 the Spirit should guide them into all truth therefore into this truth the Sabbath was not cerimonial for the word ceremony comes from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cherem which is a thing consecrated and devoted to God typifying something to be accomplished in the new Testament but the Sabbath day was no type of the Lords day Paul said the Jewish Sabbaths were shadows but the body is of Christ Col. 2.17 or else the word ceremony comes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because ceremonies were to indure but for a time therefore remember to keep holy the Sabbath day now called the Lords day and God will blesse you with great prosperity and comfortable success the week following Vse 4. I told you the fourth Reason was because every godly man is Gods factor the Use arising out of this Reason serves to exhort you all to lie ligier for God be his faithful factors Motives 1. Consider God hath few godly servants in many places Psalm 12 1. Help Lord for the godly man ceaseth for the faithful fail from among the children of men and where they be wanting Satans followers sow the tares of errour and impiety from the dayes of the Prophet Malachy until the birth of Christ were four hundred and fifty yeares during which time the Jews had no extraordinary holy Prophet to guide them then sprang up the three sects of Pharisees Sadduces and Essenes 2. Consider how many trade for Satan in most places many swear oathes few fear oathes many prophane the Sabbath few keep it holy many hate and persecute holiness in Christians few do love and honour them for it Christ hath been persecuted three wayes 1. In his person when he lived upon earth we read how his enemies abused him many times 2. In his name for three hundred yeares after his ascention such as bare the name of Christians suffered much misery during the ten persecutions under those bloudy Emperours of Rome 3. For the power of godliness is Christ persecuted in his members and that is now adayes for our enemies Papists and Protestants at large put on a form of godliness and would be accounted Christians but the life of God the power of godliness they hate in the righteous and persecute their persons for it 3. God gives you gifts of knowledge and grace for this end to trade for him imploy your talents diligently for your heavenly Masters honour and at your death he will say Well done good and faithful servant c. Vse 5. I told you the fift Reason was because the godly man is best fitted and prepared for Gods work The Use springing out of this Reason serve first for comfort to the truly godly For first you shall find God ready to save succour and defend you in time of distress Psalm 32.6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found surely in the flouds of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him and though thine enemies be mighty to wrong thee yet God is Almighty to protect thee Three kinds of afflictions Gods children meet with here first corrections or chastisements which God inflicts upon them for their sins next are trials which God inflicteth on them to try the truth of their graces as he dealt with Job Last are persecutions when God suffers wicked men to abuse them for holiness yet God in his wisdom useth these three kinds of afflictions to drive them farther from sin as Ionathan shot three Arrows to warn David to beware of Saul 1 Sam. 20.20 2. You have the promises of this and a better life you are heires of them and they are your portion Hebr. 6.17 and they are a worthy portion 1 Tim 48. Godliness is profitable unto all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 2. It may serve to exhort you all to labour to be fitted for your heavenly Masters use and prepared to every good work the way and meanes is in 2 Tim. 2.21 If a man therefore purge himself from this c. that is from these cursed heresies and corrupt teachers and keep himself unspotted from the world by the grace of the holy Ghost dwelling in him then he shall be a vessel unto honour be like the Sun whose body stayes in the heaven yet his light shines upon earth neither can any stinking dunghil on which it shines infect it live so purely that such as be without may in time honour and affect thee for thy vertue not infect thee with their vice Vse 6. I told you the sixt Reason was because onely the heart of a godly man will bow and bend to do God his work The Uses arising out of this Reason serve first to reprove the pride and stubbornness of such hearts as will not bow and bend to do Gods work but say as the Jews to Ieremiah Jer. 44.16 As for the word that thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken unto thee these pray in the Lords Prayer Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven yet in their lives they set themselves to do their own wils and to cross Gods will what cursed dissembling hypocrites are these they cry out of Gods service what a weariness is it they think his service an irksome yoke an intolerable burden but these that will not obey Gods word shall feel his power 2. It may serve to exhort you all to bow and bend heartily to do Gods work withdraw not your shoulder from it but be forward to do it with all your might think it not too mean for it is the work of God think it no loss or prejudice to do it for God will reward thee Directions to help you 1. Set your love exceedingly upon God and it will be your meat to do his will and finish his work love makes labours light indeavour to be able to say truly as the Prophet Psalm 73.26 My flesh and my heart faileth that is for love of the Lord of the same sense with the Churches speech in Canticles