3. A promise to live well Austin Austin well observes That as many think the eating of an Apple was but a small sin So many think that the eating of the Sacrament is but a small sin But as many horrid sins were wrapt up in that so are there many wrapt up in this 1. Here is pride else no man in his wickedness would presume to come to the Lords Table 2. Here is Rebellion and Treason against the Crown and dignity of Christ Romans 2.22 their hands and lips adore him as Judas his did but their hearts and lives abhor him 3. Here is Theft and Sacriledge now if to take away the Communion cup be such a high offence 1 Cor. 11.27.29 such horrid sacriledge what is it then to take the Bread and Wine set apart and sanctified for a holy use by the Lord himself 4. Here is Murder the worst murder the greatest murder the cruelest murder thou killest thy self thy soul and as much as in thee lies Gods dearest Son Now certainly in some respects this sin is a greater sin then Adams was For 1. Adams Eating was against a Creator but thine is against a Redeemer now it is more to redeem a soul then to create a world 2. His was against the word of the Lord thine against the blood of the Lord. 3. His struck at the Covenant of Works thine at the Covenant of Grace 4. He eat but once but thou eatest often Yea Aquinas Aquinas saith the Majesty of Church Discipline should never suffer this to let open and known offendors presume to come to the Table of the Lord. It was a worthy saying of Bilson an approved Author Suppose any man saith he be he a Prince Bilsons Christian Subject par 3. pag. 63. 64 74 c. 52. if he will not submit himself to the precepts of Christ but wilfully maintain either heresie or open impurity the Ministers are to admonish him what danger from God is at the door and if he impenitently persist they must not suffer him to communicate either in divine prayer or any holy mysteries among the people of God but wholly to be excluded the Congregation Again not only the lack of the word and Sacraments saith the same Author but the abuse of either greatly hazards the weale of the whole Church yea casting holy things to dogs c. procures a dreadfull doom as well to consenters as presumers it being the way to turn the house of God into a den of Theives if prophane ones be allowed to defile the mysteries and Assemblies of the faithfull I said Calvin Calvin will sooner die then this hand of mine shall give the things of God to the contemners of God Mr. Rutherford Rutherford that champion for Presbyterie in his divine right of Church-Government pag. 520 saith that they are co-partners with the wicked who dispence the bread to them who are knowingly dead in sins I might multiply many others but let these suffice for a close let me only say How the Father can be guiltless of the death of his child that giveth him poyson to drink with this Caution that he telleth him it is poyson I cannot see Josephus reports of some that prophanely searched the sepulchres of the Saints Joseph Antiq. lib. 12 13. l. 16. cap. 11. supposing to find some treasures there but God made fire to rise out of the earth that devoured them on a suddain Now if Gods wrath like fire breaks forth to consume such as wrong but the sepulchres of his Saints c. Oh then with what flames of fury will God burn up such as abuse not only the Sacrament of his Son but his Son himself It was a very great wickededness in Julian to throw his blood in the face of Christ but for a wicked Communicant to take Christs own blood as it were running from his heart and to throw it into he face of Christ is most abominable and damnable By all that hath been spoken you clearly see that unholy persons are to bâ— shut out of the special communion of Saints here on earth and therefore certainly the Lord will never suffer such to have communion with him in heaven it will not stand with the holiness and purity of God to have fellowship with such in the kingdom of glory whom he would not have his people have fellowship with in the kingdom of grace The eighth Argument to prove that without real holiness there is no happiness Unholy persons are throughout the Scriptures branded to their everlasting contempt with the worst Appellations that without holiness on earth no man shall ever come to a blâ—ssed vision or fruition of God in heaven is this The Scripture that speaks no Treason stiles unholy persons beasts yea the worst of beasts and what should such do in heaven Unholy persons are the most dangerous and the most unruly pieces in the world and therefore are emblemized by Lions Psalm 22.21 and they are cruel by Bears and they are savage Isa 11.7 by Dragons and they are hideous Ezek. 29.3 by Wolves and they are ravenous Ezek. 22.27 by dogs and they are snarling Rev. 22.15 by Vipers and Scorpions and they are stinging Mat. 12.34 Ezek. 2.6 by Spiders and Cockatrices and they are poysoning Isa 59.5 by swine and they are still gruntling Mat. 7.6 No man in this world is more like another It was wont to be a tryal whither land belonged to England or Ireland by putting in Toads or Snakes c. into it if they lived there it was concluded that the land belonged to England if they died to Ireland then the Epicure is like a Swine the fraudulent person a Fox the lustfull person a Goat the back-biter a barking Curr the slanderer an Asp the oppressor a Wolf the Persecutor a Tyger the Seducer a Serpent Certainly the Irish Air will sooner brook Toads and Snakes and Serpents to live therein then heaven will brook such beasts as unholy souls are to live there Surely God and Christ and the Spirit and Angels and the Spirits of just men made perfect are not so in love with Dogs and Swine c. as to put them into their bosoms or make them their companions Heaven is a place of too great state to admit such vermine to inhabit there When Cyneas the Embassador of Pyrrhus after his return from Rome was asked by his Master what he thought of the City and State he answered and said that it seemed to him to be Respublica Regum a State of none but great Statesmen and a Common-wealth of Kings Such is heaven it is no other State then a Parliament of Emperours a Common-wealth of Kings There is not a soul in heaven under the degree of a King Rev 6.1 and every King there hath a Robe of honour upon his back a golden Scepter in his hand and a glorious Crown upon his head And do you think that it will stand with the State of heaven or
be meer strangers to union and communion with Christ and to the more secret and inward operations and workings of the spirit of Christ and to the most spiritual duties and services that are commanded by Christ Civility is very often the nurse of impiety Mat. 5.19 20 Acts 7.54 Chap. 13.50 Ch. 17.17 18. Romans 8.7 the mother of flattery and an enemy to real sanctity a high conceit of civility keeps many a man from looking after inward and outward purity moral honesty proves to many men a bond of iniquity There are those who are so blinded with the fair shews of civility that they can neither see the necessity nor beauty of sanctity there are those that now bless themselves in their common honesty whom at last God will scorn and cast off for want of real holiness and purity Matth. 25.3.11 12. As Aristides so Socrates Plato Titus Vespatian Tully with multitudes of others amongst the Lacedemonians Grecians Romans c. Many of the Heathens were so famous for justice and righteousness for equity fidelity and sobriety for civility and moral honesty that it would put many professors to the blush to read what is written of them and yet there was such a tincture of popular applause of pride and vain glory of hypocrisie and self-flattery upon their civility and moral honesty that for any thing we can find in Scripture to the contrary there is cause to fear that they shall be miserable to all eternity for all their civility and moral honesty they were left in a damnable I will not say in a damned condition he that rises to no higher pitch then civility and moral honesty shall never have communion with God in glory Naaman was a great man but a Leper 2 Kings 5.1 Naaman was an honourable man but a Leper Naaman was a mighty man but a Leper Naaman was a victorious man but a Leper Naaman was in high favour and esteem with his Prince but a Leper This but he was a Leper stained all his honour and was a blot upon all his greatness and glory both at Court and in the field both in the City and in the Countrey So it is a stain a blot upon the most moral honest man in the world to say he is a very civil honest man but Christless he is a very just man but graceless he is a man of much moral righteousness but he hath not a dram of real holiness c. This but is a fly in the box of ointment that spoils all Well Sirs remember this though the moral honest man be good for many things yet he is not good enough to go to heaven he is not good enough to be made glorious Mat. 5.20 Certainly there is nothing in all the world below real sanctity that will ever bring a man to the possession of glory And though it may grieve us to speak after the manner of men to see sweet natures to see many moral honest men take many a weary step towards heaven and to come near to heaven and to bid fair for heaven and yet after all to fall short of heaven yet it will be no way grievous to a holy God to turn such sweet natures into hell Psal 9.17 moral honesty is not sufficient to keep a man out of eternal misery all it can do is to help a man to one of the best rooms and easiest beds that hell affords For look as the moral mans sins are not so great as others so his punishments shall not be so great as others This is all the comfort that can be afforded to a moral man that he shall have a cooler hell then others have but this is but cold comfort Moral honesty without piety is as a body without a soul and will ever God accept of such a stinking sacrifice Surely no. Fifthly If real holiness be the only way to happiness if men must be holy on earth or else they shall never come to a fruition of God in heaven then this truth by way of conviction looks sowerly and sadly upon all Neuters who divide their hearts between God and Mammon Matth 6.29 who halt between God and Baal 1 Kings 18.21 Zeph. 1.5 2 Kings 17.32 33. Chap. 18.11 James 1.8 A double-soul'd man Matth. 19.16.26 who divide their souls between heaven and earth between Religion and their lusts Like the Samaritans who both worshipped the Lord and the Assyrians Idols too A Neuter is a monster he hath two tongues two minds and two souls he hath a tongue for God and a tongue for the world too he looks up to God and saith Certainly thou art mine he looks down upon the world and saith Surely I am thine He hath a mind to be religious and a mind to save his own stake in the world too He hath a soul reaching after the happiness of another world Numb 23.10 Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his saith Balaam and he hath a soul strongly reaching after this evil world too 1 Pet. 2.15 Jude 11. Callenuceus tells us of a Noble man of Naples that was wont prophanely to say that he had two souls in his body one for God and another for whosoever would buy it as if heaven and happiness were wrapt up in it As you may see in the same person he loved the wages of unrighteousness he loved it as his portion he loved it as his life he loved it as his happiness he loved it as his all he loved it as his soul yea he loved it above his own soul for he damned his soul to gain it It is true when he was under a divine restraint he professed that he would not curse the people of God for a house full of Gold but when he was from under that restraint his heart was so set upon the unrighteous reward that he would have curst them for a handfull of gold The Neuter as the Romans paint Erasmus hangs between heaven and earth He is neither fit to go to heaven nor yet worthy to live on earth If Meroz was to be certainly curst to be bitterly curst to be universally curst as the Hebrew phrase cursing curse ye Meroz imports in Judges 5.23 for standing Neuter when they should have come forth to the help of the Lord Do you think that Neuters in religion shall be blest Do you think that ever such shall go to heaven who are indifferent whether they go to heaven or no or that ever such shall be happy who are indifferent whether they be holy or no or that ever such shall see the face of Christ with joy who are indifferent whether they have an interest in Christ or no or that ever such shall be admitted into the kingdom of glory who are indifferent where ever they have any entrance into the kingdom of grace or no. Certainly heaven is too holy to hold any such indifferent irresolute Neutral souls In the University not long since
grace and holiness And thus much for this third motive Fourthly To provoke you to labour after higher degrees of holiness consider that the more your holiness is encreased the more the great God will be honored and glorified Math. 5.16 Fruitfulness in holiness sets the weightiest crowne of glory upon the head of God John 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that ye bare much fruit The more eminent any person is in holiness the more clearely and convincingly he proclaimes God before all the world to be a rich God a full God a bountiful God an overflowing good there is nothing that works men to admire God so much and to exalt God so high as a Christians fruitfulness in holiness O how good must that God be whose servants are so good said the Heathen O how glorious in holiness must that God be whose people are so holy Look as the thriving child is a credit to the Nurse and the rich servant an honor to his Master and a plentiful Crop the praise of the husbandman so that Christian that thrives in grace that grows rich in holiness is the greatest credit and the highest honor and the sweetest praise to God in the world The Tree in Alcinous Garden had alwayes blossomes buds and ripe fruits one under another O! Sirs those Trees of righteousness Isa 61.3 that have not only the blossomes and buds of holiness upon them but also the ripe fruits of holiness one under another they are the greatest honor and glory to God in the world What will men say when they shall behold your eminency in sanctity will they not say certainly God is no hard Master Math. 25.24 he never looks to reape where he do's not sowe nor to gather where he do's not straw Certainly he keeps a noble house his Tables are richly spread his Cups overflow he feeds yea he feasts his servants with the choicest rarities and varieties that heaven affords witness their thriving and flourishing estate in grace and holiness And thus you see that the more your holiness is encreased the more highly the God of heaven will be exalted and magnified But Fifthly To provoke you to endeavour after higher degrees of holiness Consider that the more holiness thou hast the more hee 'l give thee At first God gives holiness where there is none and where this holiness is improved there God will be still augmenting and increasing of it do thou but make it thy business to perfect holiness in the feare of the Lord Heb. 6.7 and the Lord will not faile to make new and fresh additions of more grace and holiness to that thou hast Psal 84.11 The Lord will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Mark those words viz. that the Lord will give grace and glory that is grace unto glory hee 'l still be adding more grace to that thou hast till the bud of grace be turn'd into the flower of glory till thy grace on earth commenceth glory in heaven the more holiness any man has the more still God will give him Math. 13.12 For whosoever hath to him shall be given and he shall have more abundance He that hath principles of grace and holiness laid into his soul he shall finde a plentifull increase of those sanctifying and saving principles he shall have more abundance his spark of holiness shall grow into a flame his drops of holiness shall be turn'd into a sea and his mite of holiness shall be multiplyed into millions Math. 25.29 The greater harvest of holiness a Christian brings forth the greater encrease of holiness shall he experience every exercise of grace and holiness is alwayes attended with new increase of grace and holiness Look as that arme is greatest and strongest that is most used and exercised so that particular grace that is most exercised and used is most strengthned and greatned Look as earthly Parents when they see their children to husband and improve a little Stock to great advantage then they adde to their Stock they increase their Stock they double their Stock so when the father of spirits sees his children to husband and improve a little Stock of grace and holiness to the great advantage of their souls then he will increase their spiritual Stock he will be still a adding to their Stock yea he will double their Stock John 15.2 Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it that it may bring forth more fruit Such as are fruitful shall be made more fruitful Christ will take most paines to make them better who are already very good of all Christians in the world there are none that have so much grace as humble Christians have and yet God delights to pour in grace into their souls as men pour liquor into empty vessels humility is both a grace James 4.6 and a vessel to receive more grace And thus much for this fifth Argument But Sixthly To provoke you to labour after higher degrees of holiness Consider that the more holiness you attaine to the greater will be your heaven of joy and comfort in this world Though the least spark of true holiness will bring a man to heaven certainly yet 't is only an eminency in holiness that will make a man walk to heaven comfortably the more holiness any man has Psal 16. ult the more he shall enjoy him in whose presence is fulness of joy and the more any man enjoyes the presence of God with his Spirit the greater will be his heaven of joy in this world Look as a little Star yeilds but a little light so a little holiness yeilds but a little comfort and look as the greatest Stars yeilds the greatest light so the greatest measures of holiness alwayes yeilds the greatest comforts Divine joy ebbs and flowes as holiness ebbs and slowes soul comforts rises and falls as holiness rises and falls Great measures of holiness carries with them the greatest evidence of the reality of holiness now the more clearely and evidently the reality and sincerity of a mans holiness appeares the higher will the springs of joy and comfort arise in his soul Great measures of holiness carry with them the greatest evidence of a mans union and communion with God and the more evident a mans union and communion is with God the more will that mans soul be fill'd with that joy that is unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 Acts 9.31 In great measures of holiness a man may see and reade most of the love of God the face of God the favour of God and the heart of God and the more a man is blest with such a sight as this is the more will that Babe of grace divine joy spring in his soul The greater measures of holiness and sanctification any man attaines to the clearer and brighter will the evidences of his Justification be Rom. 5.1 2 3. And Ch. 8.30 33 34 35 Now the clearer evidences any
a fixed eye upon the infinite and most glorious holiness of God Now that this direction may the better work premise with mee these eight things concerning the holiness of God First Premise this with mee that God is essentially holy Mat. 19.17 There is none good but God that is there is none essentially good but God c. and in this sense none is holy but himself Now essential holiness is all one with God himself Gods essential holiness is Gods conformity to himself holiness in God is not a quality but his essence Quicquid est in Deo est ipse Deus whatsoever is in God is God holiness in Angels and Saints is but a quality but in God it is his essence The fallen Angels keep their natures though they have lost their holiness for that holiness in them was a quality and not their essence Look as created holiness is the conformity of the reasonable creature to the Rule so the increated holiness of God is Gods conformity unto himself Gods holiness and his nature are not two things they are but one Gods holiness is his nature and Gods nature is his holiness God is a pure Act and therefore whatsoever is in God is God 't is Gods prerogative royal to be essentially holy the most glorious creatures in Heaven and the choicest souls on Earth are only holy by participation 1 Sam. 2.2 There is none holy as the Lord Gods holiness is so essential and co-natural to him that hee can as soon cease to be as cease to be holy Holiness in God is a substance but in Angels and men 't is only an accident or a quality the essence of the creature may remain when the holiness of the creature is lost As you may see in Adam and the fallen Angels but Gods essence and his holiness are alwaies the same his very nature is holy Exod. 3.14 and therefore 't is that hee is called Jehovah and I Am because what hee is really that hee is essentially Though men for our information do distinguish between the Attributes of God and the Nature of God yet in him they are the same Look as the Wisdome of God is the wise God and the Truth of God the true God and the Power of God the powerful God and the Justice of God the just God and the Mercy of God the merciful God and the Mightiness of God the mighty God and the Righteousness of God the righteous God and the graciousness of God the gracious God so the Holiness of God is the holy God Gods Nature and his Name are one and the same God is essentially holy and that is the top of all his glory But Secondly As God is essentially holy so God is unmixedly holy the Holiness of God is a pure Holiness 't is an unmixed Holiness 1 Joh. 1.5 God is light and in him is no darkness at all There are no mixtures in God God is a most clear bright-shining light yea hee is all light and in him is no darknesse at all The Moon indeed when it shines brightest Plato calls God the horn of plenty and the Ocean of beauty without the least spot of injustice c. hath her dark spots and specks but God is a light that shines gloriously without the least spot or speck Now look as that darknesse which hath not the least light attending it is the grossest the thickest Egyptian darknesse that can be so that light that hath not the least cloud of darknesse attending it must be the most clear splendid light that possible can be and such a light is the holy one of Israel 'T is very observable the Apostle to illustrate the perfect purity and sanctity of God adds a Negative to his Affirmative In him is no darkness at all that is God is so pure that not the least spot the smallest speck can cleave to him hee is so holy that no iniquity can be found in him there is no defect not default in the Nature of God hee is a God of Truth and without iniquity just and right is hee As Moses spake in that Deut. 32.4 God is a pure a most pure Act without the least potentiality defectability or mutability and therefore in the highest sense hee is light and in him is no darkness at all Surely there is no unrighteousnesse in God no evil can dwell with him or come neer unto him God stands at such a distance from iniquity yea hee so abhors it that hee never did nor never will bestow a good look upon it Hab. 1.13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity There are four things that God cannot do 1. He cannot lye 2. Hee cannot dye 3. Hee cannot deny himself nor 4. Hee cannot look with a favourable eye upon iniquity God doth indeed look upon iniquity with a hateful eye with an angry eye with a revengeful eye and with a vindictive eye but hee never did nor will look upon iniquity with an eye of delectation or with an eye of approbation witnesse his hurling the fallen Angels out of Heaven and his banishing of sinning Adam out of Paradise By all this you see that the Holinesse of God is a pure Holinesse 't is a Holinesse without mixture but now all the holinesse that is in the best and choicest Saints in the world is but a dreggy holinesse a mixt holinesse a weak and imperfect holinesse their unholinesse is alwaies more than their holinesse Ah what a deal of pride is mixt with a little humility and what a deal of unbeleef is mixt with a little faith and what a deal of passion is mixt with a little meeknesse and what a deal of earthlinesse is mixt with a little heavenlinesse and what a deal of carnalnesse is mixt with a little spiritualnesse and what a deal of hardnesse is mixt with a little tendernesse O but now the Holinesse of God is a pure Holinesse 't is a Holinesse without mixture there is not the least drop nor the least dregge of unholinesse in God 't is true the Gods of the Heathen were such as had been impure beastly filthy men Arnobius Austin Tertullian c. and therefore several writers have taken a great deal of pains to convince Heathens of their impiety and folly in worshipping such for gods upon whom they fastened many horrid ridiculous lascivious and impious actions and therefore they conclude against them that they are no gods t is most certain that the true God that Hee that is the high and the holy one cannot bee charged with any iniquity no nor with the least shew or shadow of vanity In God there is wisdome without folly truth without falshood light without darkness holiness without sinfulness But Thirdly As God is unmixedly holy so God is Universally holy hee is holy in all his waies and holy in all his works his precepts are holy precepts and his promises are holy promises and his threatnings are holy threatnings his
the body That preach as if they had no mind to go to heaven and live as if they were resolved to go to hell That feast their own bodies but starve their peoples souls That are very devout upon a Saints day but very loose and prophane upon the Lords day That think it a greater sin to eat flesh in Lent then it is to lie with their neighbours wife That speak ten words for themselves and hardly two for Christ and that instead of preaching up holinesse and promoting of holinesse and countenancing and encouraging of holinesse do all they can to discountenance holinesse to brow-beat holinesse to keep down holinesse to bespatter holinesse to work men out of love with holinesse and to hinder the growth and encrease of holinesse O that these men would seriously consider how unlike to the Ministers of Jesus Christ they are Do but look into a Scripture glass and you may easily see that Hell is not more unlike to Heaven nor sin more unlike to grace nor Satan more unlike to God then you are unlike to the holy conscientious painful c. Ministers of Jesus Christ Several Authors in Print have proved this to my hand at large and therefore I shall not enlarge upon it only give me leave to say that Gods holy things ought to be handled with fear and reverence rather then with wit and dalliance Spiritual niceness is the next degree to unfaithfulnsse See my Precious Râ—medies against Satans Devices from page 349. to page 357. And see my Unsearchable Riches of Christ from page 291. to page 314. Ministers must not be like the drug that the Physitians say is hot in the mouth and cold in the operation hot in the Pulpit but cold carnal and carelesse in their conversations Those that stand before Princes must be exact in their carriages God appointed both the weights and measures of the sanctuary to be twice as large as those of the Common-wealth to shew that he expects much more of those that serve him there then he doth of others The souls of Priests I may say of Ministers must be purer then the Sun-beams saith golden-mouth'd Chrysostom Gay things in a Sermon are only for men to gaze upon and admire What are high strains and flashes of wit new minted words and phrases but like gay weeds and blew-bottles to the good corn Doctrine is but the drawing of the bow application is the hitting of the mark How many are wise in generals but vain en dia-lâ—gism is in their practical inferences A general Doctrine not applyed is as a sword without an edge not in it self but to others or as a whole loaf set before children that will do them no good A garment fitted for all bodies is fit for no body and so that which is spoken to all is taken as spoken to none Aarons bells were golden bells Dulce sonantes sounding pleasantly and not as sounding brasse or tinkling Cymbals as many of the carnal Clergy of this Nation are this day Many there be that account themselves the only Ministers of Jesus Christ that are but like empty Orators that have a flood of words and but a drop of matter of whom we may truly say Multa loquuntur nihil dicunt they speak much and yet say nothing because they say nothing to the purpose When the Lacedemonian in Plutarch heard how sweetly the Nightingale sang O said he that I had this Bird surely it is a rare dish but when he had taken it and eat it and found nothing but a little picking meat he concluded with that proverbial saying Voxes praeterea nihil Now I see that thou art a meer voice and nothing else How applicable this is to many Preachers in these dayes who have good lungs but bad brains and worse hearts and lives the prudent Reader may easily see John the Baptist was a burning and a shining light as well as a voice His Sermons were stuft with divine and weighty matter c. and not filled up with big words or strains of wit Many there be that have Johns voice in the Ministry that have not that heat and life that John had in his Ministry That great Orator Demosthenes himself could say that the riches of Greece did not consist in words The Oracle would have King Philip of Macedon to use silver lances in winning an impregnable for t c. But it is not for Ministers to use golden sentences strong lines frothy wit in winning of souls to Christ for it is iron and not gold that killeth in the encounter it is the steel sword and not the golden sword that winneth the field Job 38.2 We to such Preachers that darken counsel by words without knowledge that affect sublime notions obscure expressions uncouth phrases making plain truths difficult and easie truths hard that seek abstrusities and love to soar aloft in dark expressions and take pleasure to shoot their arrows over their hearers heads The heathenish Priests had their Mythologies and strange canting expressions of their imaginary unaccessible Deities to amaze and amuse their blind superstitious followers and thereby to hold up their Popish and Apish Idolatries in greater veneration And is not this spirit now revived among many Certainly men of abstracted conceits and sublime speculations are but wise fools and commonly they are as erronious as they are curious Such as mind more the humoring of their hearers fancies then the saving of their souls do little consider that of Seneca Aeger non quaerit medicum eloquenâ—em sed sanantem Sick men are not bettered by Physitians sugared words but by their skilful hands The sword of the spirit never wounds deep till it be pluckt out of the gaudy scabards of humane eloquence Mr. Greenham speaking of non-Residents wisheth that this Motto might be written on their study doors without and walls within on all their books they look on on all the beds they lie on and on all the tables they sit at c. The price of blood the price of blood the price of blood A Preachers life should be a Commentary upon his doctrine his practice should be the counterpane of his Sermons heavenly doctrines should alwayes be adorned with a heavenly life Preachers are the Glass the School the Book Where peoples eyes do learn do read do look Gentlemen by these short hints you may see as in a glasse if you will not put a cheat upon your own souls how unlike to the true holy and faithful Ministers of Jesus Christ you are O Sirs do not you know that the holy Scriptures that never spoke Treason nor Sedition do clearly evidence that an ignorant prophane scandalous superstitious insufficient and soul-flattering Clergy are the greatest Pest Plague Affliction Judgement c. that can befall a people as you may easily see by comparing these Scriptures together Mich. 2.11 Isa 30.10 11. Jer. 5. ult Lam. 2.14 Isa 9.16 Ezek. 3.18 Jer. 23.9 18. Ezek. 13.22 Jer. 6.14 and chap. 27.14
answered The meanest hath a soul as precious as my own and bought by the same blood of Christ he who only went to the price of souls Matth. 16.26 hath long since told us 2 Cor. 12.16 that a soul is more worth then a world That I may catch some poor soul or other by a holy craft and establish and strengthen others in the love and liking of holiness and in the power and practise of holiness I have cast my thoughts upon this Scripture But to draw nearer to my Text. As no means hath more enriched hell then beautifull faces so no means hath more enriched heaven then the beauty of holiness Now that I may discover the Necessity Beauty Rarity and Excellency of Holiness I have chosen this Text Follow peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. I shall give a little light into the words and then come to that main point I intend to stand upon Follow peace with all men the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated follow signifies to pursue and press after peace As the persecutor pursues and presses after him he persecutes it notes an earnest an eager an affectionate and an incessant pressing and following after peace with all men Psalm 34.14 Seek peace and pursue it Here the Hebrew word Bakkish translated seek signifies to seek earnestly Dulce nomen pacis The ve y name of peace is sweet vehemently studiously industirously Thus peace with God and peace with conscience and peace with men must be sought Seek peace and pursue it the word translated pursue Veradhphehu from Radaph signifies an earnest pursuit it is a Metaphor taken from the earnestness of wild Beasts or ravenous Foul which will run or flie fast and far eagerly and unweariedly rather then be disappointed of their prey though Christians meet with many rubs and remoraes yet peace must be resolutely pursued Gal. 5.22 2 Cor. 13.11 Isa 9.6 7. Heb. 1.2 The spirit of God is a spirit of peace and God delights to be stiled Deus pacis the God of peace and Christ affects to be Princeps pacis the Prince of peace and King of Salem i. e. King of peace Vbi pax ibi Christus quia Christus pax Where peace is there is Christ because Christ is peace Therefore let all that are interested in Christ pursue after peace But this is not the point that I have in my eye at this time I shall hasten to it With all men that is with all Orders Ranks and sorts of men And Holiness c. We must so pursue after peace A man may be miserable under peace but never under holiness as that we do not neglect holiness for peace sake Better is holiness without peace then peace without holiness Holiness differs nothing from happiness but in name holiness is happiness in the Bud and happiness is holiness at the full Happiness is nothing but the Quintessence of holiness A man were better be holy in hell then unholy in heaven holiness would make hell to be no hell as the fire was no fire to those holy Worthies Dan. 3.27 Look as unholiness would make heaven to be no heaven yea turn a heaven into a very hell So holiness would turn a hell into a very heaven What holiness this is in the text I shall discover to you in the opening of that point I intend to stand upon Without which no man This expression is Exclusive no man be he rich or poor high or low honourable or base young or old Jew or Gentile bond or free under one form or another c. Shall see the Lord. To see in the Hebrew phrase is ordinarily used to enjoy Psal 4.6 Who will shew us any good The word in the Hebrew is from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to see Who will make us to see any good that is to enjoy any good Without holiness no man shall see the Lord that is without holiness no man shall ever come to a blessed to a glorious fruition and enjoyment of the Lord. Chrysostom There was once a holy man who profest that the want of the enjoyment of God would be a far greater hell to him then the feeling of any punishment and yet this great hell every one shall be sure to feel that lives and dyes without holiness The Jews say of holy Moses Psalm 37.37 that he died ad osculum or is Dei at the kisses of Gods mouth and in divine embraces When a man of holiness dies he shall be sure to die in divine embraces and live for ever in divine embraces When Socrates was to die he comforted himself with this that he should go to a place where he should enjoy Homer and Musaeus and other Worthies who lived before him But ah what an unspeakable comfort is this to a holy man when he comes to die to consider that he is going to a place where he shall see the Lord not as now through a glass darkly 1 Cor. 13.12 but in all his heavenly bravery and in all his divine Embroidery and bespangled Glory And let this suffice for the opening of the words In my Text you have two things First An Exhortation to follow peace and holiness Secondly The Reason or Argument to enforce the duty prest viz. Without which no man shall see the Lord. The words will afford us many weighty Observations I shall only name one which I intend to insist upon and that is this viz. DOCTRINE That real holiness is the only way to happiness All men must be holy on earth or they shall never see the beatifical vision they shall never reach to a glorious fruition of God in Heaven For the clearing up and making good of this great and glorious truth I shall endeavour these three things First to shew you what this holiness is without which no man shall see the Lord. Secondly I shall by an induction of particulars make good the Proposition Thirdly give you the Reasons of the point First What is this holiness without which no man shall see the Lord I answer there is a sixfold holiness First There is a Legal holiness Now a Legal holiness consists in an exact perfect and compleat conformity in heart and life to the whole revealed will of God and this was the holiness that Adam had in his innocency and this holiness was immediately derived from God and was perfect Adam knew the will of God perfectly so far as it was revealed to him and had a divine principle in him of perfect conformity to that blessed will Adams holines was as co-natural to him as unholiness is now to us and had he stood fast in that glorious condition we had all been as naturally holy from the womb as now we are sinfull Psalm 51.5 Adams holiness was as natural and as pleasing and as delightfull to him as any way of unholiness can be natural pleasing and delightfull unto us But this holiness which
given unto me by the vertue of which gift I do rightly lay claim unto it and am not confounded Though we cannot lay claim to heaven nor to a blessed fruition of God by any inherent holiness in us it being weak and imperfect yet we may lay claim to both by the mediatory holiness of Christ imputed to us As Christs Essential holiness gives him an hereditary right to everlasting happiness So his Mediatory holiness gives us a right to everlasting blessedness The costly cloak of Alcisthenes which Dionysius sold to the Carthaginians for an hundred Talents was but a mean and beggarly ragg to that embroidered royal Robe of Christs mediatory holiness that is imputed or reckoned to us And therefore as ever you would come to a vision of God in happiness you must labour to be interested by faith in Christs mediatory holiness But Sixthly and Lastly there is an inherent internal qualitative holiness Holiness is not any single grace alone but a conjunction a constellation of all graces together Now this inherent holiness lies in two things First in the infusing of holy principles divine qualities or supernatural graces into the soul such as the Apostle mentions in Gal. 5.22 23. But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against such there is no Law These habits of grace which are severally distinguished by the names of faith love hope meekness c. are nothing else but the new nature or new-man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness Ephes 4.24 These seeds of holiness these habits of grace are those sweet ointments with which all must be annointed 1 John 3.9 2 Cor. 1.21 1 John 2.27 that shall ever come to a blessed sight or vision of God You may know much of God you may hear much of God you may talk much of God and you may boast much of your hopes and interest in God and yet without these habits of holiness you shall never come to a blessed fruition of God in happiness without these feeds of holiness you shall never reap a crop of blessedness But Secondly This inherent this qualitative holiness lies in an holy use and exercise of those supernatural graces in a way of holy walking Acts 10.35 1 John 1.3.7 Tit. 2.12 Luke 1.73 2 Pet. 1.8 1 Pet. 1.15 16. Isa 35.8 all holy habits must be brought forth into holy acts gracious habits must be attended with gratious motions gratious operations and a gracious conversation outward works must be suitable to inward habits it is with spiritual habits as it is with natural habits the more they are acted and exercised the more they are increased and strengthened holy habits are golden Talents that must be imployed and improved Gracious habits are the candles of the Lord set up in us and God hath set up those candles of heaven not to idle by not to sleep by but to work by and to walk by Where there is holiness of disposition there must be nay there will be holiness of conversation a holy heart is alwayes attended with a holy life Where there are the seeds of holiness there will be the flowers of holiness you may separate a man from his friend but you can never separate though you may distinguish acts of holiness from the habits of holiness now it is certain without this holiness you shall never come to a sight or fruition of God in happiness And thus I have shewed you what that holiness is without which there is no hope no possibility of ever seeing the Lord. I come now to the second thing and that is to prove the truth of the Proposition viz. That without men are holy they can never be happy without holiness on earth none of the sons of men shall ever come to a blessed vision and fruition of God in heaven Now this great and weighty truth I shall make good by an induction of particulars thus First God hath by very plain and clear Scriptures bolted and barred the door of heaven and happiness against all unholy ones See also Mat. 7.21 22 23. Ch. 25.10 11 12. Witness 1 Cor. 6.9 10. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God be not deceived neither fornicators nor Idolaters nor adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves nor covetous nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God Heaven is an undefiled inheritance 1 Pet. 1.4 and none that are defiled can enter into the possession of it When the Angels fell from their righteousness heaven rejected them it would no longer hold them and will it now accept of the unrighteous will it now entertain and welcome them surely no. Such sinners make the very earth to mourn and groan now and shall they make heaven to mourn and groan hereafter Surely no. What though the Serpent did wind himself into an earthy Paradise yet none of the seed of the Serpent so remaining shall ever be able to wind themselves into a heavenly Paradise witness Gal. 19.20 21. Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are these Adultery fornication uncleanness lasciviousness Idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulations wrath strife seditions heresies envying murders drunkenness revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I also have told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God Before they go to hell he tells them again and again that they shall not inherit the kingdom of God By the Kingdom of God we are to to understand the kingdom of Heaven the kingdom of glory now the kingdom of heaven of glory is called the kingdom of God 1. Because he hath prepared it 2. Mat. 20.23 Luke 12 32. Because it is a royal gift that he confers and bestows upon his little little flock Augustus in his Solemn Feasts gave trifles to some and Gold to others Rev. 4.10 11. Chap. 20.6 Dan. 4.16 17. The trifles of this world God often gives to the worst and basest of men but the kingdom of heaven he only gives to his bosome friends 3. Because that of and under him the Saints hold it and possess it 4. Because with him they shall for ever reign in the fruition of it And so that in John 3.3 Jesus answered and said unto him Verily verily I say unto thee Except a man be born again be cannot see the kingdom of God To give a little light into the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Truth truth or truly truly Verily verily the Greek is Amen amen The word Amen is Hebrew and in the Old Testament is most commonly used by way of wishing or imprecation but here and in other places of the New Testament the sense of it is altered from precatory to assertory or from the way of wishing to the way of affirming This phrase Amen amen or Verily verily imports First The
mocked at the Virgin dâ—ughter of Sion but his scoffs issued in the destruction of his Army by the hand of an Angel and in his own by the hands of his two Sons Julian the Emperour was a great mocker and scoffer at the Christians but God struck him with an Arrow from heaven which made him cry out Vicisti Galilee thou Galilean meaning our Lord Jesus hast overcome me Felix for one malicious scoff did nothing day and night but vomit blood till his unhappy soul was separated from his wretched body Lucian for barking against religion as a dog was by the just judgements of God devoured of dogs History tells us of some scoffers that God hath stricken with madness Others with blindness others with loathsome diseases and some God hath stricken dead and others he hath left to be their own Executioners Scoffing at holiness is a Metropolitan sin and therefore no wonder if God executes upon scoffers Metropolitan judgements Mockers and scoffers are the worst of sinners Among the three sorts of sinners that David mentions Scorners have the chair The chair of Pestilence as the Septuagint translateth it Scorners are the pests of mankind Psalm 1.1 In Cathedra pest lentiae The eye of the Scorner is blinded the heart of the scorner is hardned the judgement of the scorner is perverted the will of the scorner is enthralled and the conscience of the scorner is seared and this makes the scorner fall mad upon scoffing at holy men and holy things Look as they are the worst of servants that will scoff and mock a child in the family because he is his Fathers picture though they take wages of his Father and live by his Father so they are the worst of sinners who scoff at holiness which is the very picture of God though they live by him and cannot live without him Yet this world is full of such monsters who count it a grace to disgrace holiness and to lade holy ones with all the names of scorn and contempt that they can invent or that Satan can help them to These are your holy brethren these are Phanaticks these are your holy Sect these are your pure souls these are your strict Precifians these are the Saints forsooth these are the brotherhood Erasmus saith that that Proverb A young Saint and an old devil was devised by the Devil himself to scoff and mock men out of their holiness It hath been the common portion of men most eminent in grace and holiness to be most scofft and scorned in all Ages Iob 17.2 Nehem. 4.1 Isaiah 28.22 Luke 18.32 witness Noah Isaac and Elisha but now cited and witness Job Chap. 21.3 Suffer me that I may speak and after that I have spoken mock on Chap. 12.4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour who calleth upon God and he answereth him the just upright man is laughed to scorn So David Psalm 35.16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts they gnashed upon me with their teeth Psalm 44.14 Thou makest us a by-word among the Heathen Psalm 79.4 We are become a reproach and derision to them who are round about us Psalm 109.25 I am become a reproach to them when they looked upon me they shaked their heads So Isa 8.18 Behold I and the children that the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel So Jeremiah Chap. 20.7 I am in derision daily every one mocketh me So Paul Acts 17.18 What will this babler say So the Apostles Acts 2.13 Others mocking said These men are full of new wine So those Worthies of whom this world was not worthy Heb. 11.36 Mat. 26.68 Ch. 27 29 31. Luke 22 63. Chap. 23.11 Mark 15 31. Yea the Philosophers called Christ a Magician and affirmed that he did all by Necromancy Calv. Jnst Advers Libert c. 9. Others had tryal of cruel mockings But above all how sadly how frequently yea how fearfully was our Lord Jesus Christ scoffed and scorned by Herod and Pilate and flouted by the rascally souldiers but the vengeance of his Father overtook them all And in the Primitive times as Tertullian observes the Saints were called heards of Asses vile fellows the Disciples of a man crucified Galileans Nazarites Eaters of mens flesh and drinkers of mens blood The Heathens as the same Author observes painted the God of the Christians with an Asses head and a book in his hand to signifie that though the Christians pretended to knowledge yet they were a company of silly ignorant Asses The Libertines of old have cast much scorn and contempt upon all the Apostles they call Matthew an Usurer Lam 3.45 1 Cor. 4 45. Lam 2.15 16. Ch. 4 2. vide Peter an Apostate Luke a pelting Physitian Paul a broken vessel and John a foolish young man c. by way of scorn and contempt Athanasius was called Sathanasius and Cyprian was called Coprian one that gathers up dung and so Luther Calvin and almost every one that hath attained to any eminency in holiness they have been commonly accounted as the off-scouring and refuse among the people Now certainly if holiness be the only way to happiness c. then such as are scorners and scoffers at holiness are out of the very way to happiness and how such are like to come to heaven that scorn the very path that leads to heaven I shall leave you to judge If the Ravens of the valley shall pick out his eyes that mocketh his Father and the young Eagles eat out his eyes that despiseth the instruction of his Mother Prov. 30.17 The first thing that Eagles do when they have found a carkass is to pick out its eyes as Solomon speaks then of how much sorer punishment are they guilty off who mock and scoff at holiness which is the very Image picture and glory of God himself holiness is so near akin to God that no man can deride holiness but he derides God himself As he that mocks the poor derides him that made him Prov. 17.5 so he that mocks holy ones derides that God that made them holy And will God take this at the scorners hands no he will retaliate he loves to retaliate scorn upon the scorner Proverbs 3.34 Surely he scorneth the scorners God will pay home scorners in their own coyn scorners shall be sure to have scorning enough Prov. 1.24 ult Psalm 2.4 Isa 37.36 God so scorns the persons and prayers of scorners that he will have nothing to do with them The Angels so scorn scorners that instead of being a life-guard to them they stand ready prest to execute the vengeance of heaven upon them And Saints are so far to scorn them by a divine precept as not to reprove them Prov. 9.8 Reprove not a scorner lest he hate thee Yea God in his just judgements will make scorners to be an abomination to all sorts of men Prov. 24.9 The scorner is an abomination to men that is to all sorts of men the scorner is an abomination
a Use of Tryal and Examination Is it so that real holiness is the only way to happiness must men be holy on earth or else they shall never come to a blessed vision or fruition of God in Heaven Oh then what cause hath every one to try and examine whether he hath this real holiness without which there is no happiness or no! Now because this is a point of great importance and a mistake here may undo a man for ever and considering the great aversness and backwardness of mens hearts to this noble and necessary work I shall therefore in the first place propose some considerations to provoke all your hearts to fall in good earnest upon this great point of Tryal and Examination Now to this purpose consider First it is possible for you to know whether you have this real holiness or not it is possible for you by the light of the Spirit See my Treatise of Assurance pag. 1 to 26. where you have this truth made fully evident by the light of the Word and by the light of your own Consciences to see whether holiness which is the image of God be stamped upon your souls or no Though it be impossible for thee to climb up to heaven to search the records of glory to see whether thy name be written in the book of life yet it is possible for thee to go down into the Chambers of thine own soul to enter into the withdrawing rooms of thine own heart and there to read what impressions of holiness are upon thee though this work be hard and difficult yet it is noble and possible though the heart be deceitful and full of shifts yet it is possible for a man to make such a curious such a narrow such a diligent such a faithful and such an impartial search into his own soul as that he may certainly know whether he hath that real holiness that is the pledge of immortal happiness or no it is possible for him that hath this Jewel this holiness to know it to finde it and in the beautiful face of holiness to read his own everlasting happiness I might call in the experiences of many precious Saints As Abraham Noah Jacob David Job Paul and others to bear witness to this truth but I suppose it is needless What great and weighty what high and hard what hazardous and dangerous things do many Souldiers Saylers sick Patients and others attempt and undertake upon the meer account of a possibility it is possible that the Souldier may win the field it is possible that the Mariner may make a happy voyage it is possible that the sick Patient may recover it is possible that he that strives for mastery may overcome c. Now upon this very account that it is possible what will they stick at what will they not attempt and endeavour to effect And why then should not Christians upon the account of a possibility make a diligent search after that holiness that will at last throne the soul in everlasting happiness Well Christians as a possibility of obtaining grace and mercy should bear up your hearts against despair Matth. 9.26 Mark 10 27. Chap. 14.36 Mark 9.23 Luke 18.27 as a possibility of obtaining a pardon should keep up your hearts in a seeking and a waiting way and as a possibility of salvation by Christ should be argument sufficient to work a soul to venture it self upon Christ so a possibility of knowing whether you have this pearl of price Holiness should work you to make a diligent search and enquiry after it Let no man do more upon the account of a possibility for this world then you will do upon the account of a possibility for another world Let no man do more upon the account of a possibility for his body then you will do upon the account of a possibility for your souls Let no man do more upon the account of a possibility for temporals then you will do upon the account of a possibility for eternals It is possible for you to know whether this babe of grace Holiness be formed in your souls or no and therefore search and enquire after it Secondly Consider this that it is a point of very great concernment to you to know whether you have this real holiness or no your souls lies upon it eternity lies upon it Psalm 4.5 your All lies upon it and an errour here may make a man miserable for ever it is good for thee to know the state of thy body the state of thy family the state of thy flock Prov. 27.25 Multi multa sciunt se autem nemo but it is of infinite more consequence for thee to know the state of thine own soul No man lives so miserable nor no man dies so sadly as he that lives and dies a stranger to his own soul It is good for thee to set all reckonings even between thy self and others but it is far better to set all reckonings even between God and thine own soul Ah how many are there who are better known to others Luke 12.16 17 18 19 20 21. Chap. 16.19 26. then they are to themselves and who are able to give a better account of their Lands and Lordships of their Treasures and Mannors yea of their Horses Hawks and Hounds then they are of the state of their souls Ah how many are there that are very inquisitive to know things to come Eccles 7.10 to know what will be hereafter to know whether they shall be great and rich in the world to know whether they shall be prosperous and successful in their undertakings to know whether they shall be crowned with length of dayes Job 21.23 24. Isa 41.22 23. Chap. 43.9 10. The heathens did admire that saying as an Oracle Nosce te ipsum Know thy own self or whether they shall be cut off in the flower of their age to know the secret counsels of Princes and what will be the issue of such and such mutations and revolutions that have happened amongst us and yet are not at all inquisitive after the state of their souls nor whether they have this real holiness without which there is no happiness They never enquire what will become of them hereafter They never enquire what state they shall enter upon after death whether upon a state of eternal wo or a state of everlasting bâ—â—s Of all acquaintances in this world there is none to that of a mans being acquainted with the state of his own soul A mistake about my outward condition may trouble me but a mistake about my spiritual condition may damn me There are many wayes to make up my mistakes about temporals but there is no way to make up my mistakes about eternals If at last I shall be sound to be mistaken in the great concernments of my soul I am undone for ever Well Sirs you are in a state of nature or in a state of grace you are in a
him The daily language of their Souls is Non nobis Domine Rom. 13.7 non nobis Domine Not unto us Lord not unto us Lord but to thy name be all the glory Holy men make conscience of giving men their dues 1 Chron. 29.10.18 how much more then do they make conscience of giving God his due So in Psal 96.7 8. Now glory is Gods due and God stands upon nothing more then that we give him the glory due unto his name as you may see in Psalm 29.1 2. There are three gives in those two verses Give unto the Lord give unto the Lord give unto the Lord the glory that is due unto his name Glory is Gods right and he stands upon his right and this holy men know and therefore they give him his right they give him the honour and the glory that is due unto his name Holy hearts do habitually eye the glory of Christ in all things 1 Cor. 10.31 Quicquid agas propter Deum agas was an Eastern Apothegm saith Drusius When they eat they eat to his glory and when they drink they drink to his glory and when they sleep they sleep to his glory when they buy they buy for his glory and when they sell they sell for his glory and when they give they give for his glory and when they recreate themselves they recreate themselves for his glory so when they hear they hear for his glory and when they pray they pray for his glory and when they fast they fast for his glory and when they read they read for his glory and when they come to the Lords Table they come to his glory in all natural moral and religious actions Holy hearts have an habitual eye to divine glory Do not mistake me I do not say that such as are really holy do actually eye the glory of Christ in all their actions Oh no this is a happinesse desirable on earth but shall never be attained till we come to heaven By and base ends and aims will too often creep into the holiest hearts but holy hearts sigh and groan under them they complain to God of them and they cry for Justice Justice upon them And it is the strong and earnest desires of their souls to be rid of them But take a holy Christian in his ordinary usual and habitual course and so he hath holy aims and ends in all his actions and undertakings But now such whose holinesse is counterfeit they never look at divine glory in what they do sometimes their eye is upon their credit Mar. 6.5 John 6.26 Zach. 7.5 6 7. and sometimes their eyes are upon applause sometimes they have pleasure in their eyes and sometimes they have profit in their eyes and sometimes they have preferments in their eyes c. They will be very godly when they can make a gain of godlinesse they will be very holy when holinesse is the way to outward happinesse but this religious wickednesse will double damn them at last This is most certain that some carnal or worldly consideration or other alwayes acts him who hath not real principles of holinesse in him but he that is really holy makes the glory of God his Center Propter te Domine propter te was once and is still a holy mans Motto Quest But how may a person know when he makes the glory of God his aim his end in this or that service which he performs I shall answer this Question briefly thus Answ First Such a man as makes the glory of God his aim his end he will do duty when all outward incouragements to duty fail when the eye of men the favour of men Antimachus the famous Poet held on in his exercise when all his hearers had left him but Plato saying Plato est mihi pro omnibus Plato is to me instead of all So a holy Minister when he is deserted by some and cast off by others yet he will hold on in his work the respects of men and all other incouragements from men fails yet then a holy man will hold up and hold on in his work and way yea when all outward incouragements from God shall fail yet such a person will keep close to his duty Hab. 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 yield no meat the flock shall be cut off from the fold and there shall be no herds in the stalls Yet I will rejoyce in the Lord I will joy in the God of my salvation When all necessary and delightfull mercies fail yet he will not fail in his duty though God withholds his blessings yet he will not withhold his service in the want of a livelyhood he will be lively in his duty when he hath nothing to subsist by yet then he will live upon his God Though war and want come yet he will not be wanting in his duty There are three things in a holy heart that strongly incline it to duty when all outward incouragements fail The first is a forcible principle divine love The second is a mighty aid the Spirit of God The third is a high aim 2 Cor. 5.14 Phil 4.12 13. the glory of God but now it is otherwise with those that have only a shew of godlinesse let but their outward incouragements fail them let but the eye the ear the applause of the creature fail them if they cannot make some gain of their godlinesse some profit of their profession some advantage of their religion they are ready with Demas to throw up and throw off all Profit and applause are usually the baits that these men bite at Hac omnia tibi dabo was the devils great argument to prevail with Christ and if they misse these baits then farewell profession farewell religion farewell all But now look as Ruth kept close to her mother in the want of all outward incouragements Ruth 1. So souls that eye the glory of God in duties they will keep close to duties when all outward incouragements fail Though outward incouragements be sometimes as a side wind or as oil or as chariot wheels means to move a Christian to go on more sweetly easily and comfortably in the wayes of God yet when this wind shall fail and these chariot wheels shall be knockt off a real Christian will hold on his way Job 17.9 Secondly When a man aims at the glory of God in what he doth then he labours to hide and conceal all his humane excellencies that may any wayes tend to obscure ecclipse or darken the glory of God 1 Cor. 2.3 4 5. And I was with you in weaknesse and in fear and in much trembling And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God Holy
lips of the righteous are a free and well furnished table at which many are fed and nourished with the dainties of heaven to eternal life Righteous men keep open house they keep free hospitality for all comers and goers and if they have not alwayes bread in their hands yet they have alwayes grace in their lips to feed many Though they may be outwardly poor yet they have a treasure within to enrich many The tongue is the instrument of a Christians glory and is so interested in the quality it expresseth that in the original it is taken for it Cavod signifying both glory and the tongue by the authority of no less Rabbines then Jacob and David as thereby intimating that the chiefest glory of man is his tongue The Primitive Christians talked so much and so often of high and heavenly things that the Ethnicks began to surmise that they affected the Roman Empire when indeed their ambition was of another a nobler and a higher nature But now men that have only a shew of godliness they do practically say Our tongues are our own and who shall controul us Their speech is so far from administring of grace to their hearers that it administers usually either matter of carnal mirth or of contempt or of scorn or of sorrow and mourning certainly they have no holiness in their hearts who have so much of hell Jam. 1.26 27. chap. 3.8.12 Matth. 26.73 and the Devil and lusts in their mouthes I may say to most You are unholy persons your speech bewrayes you your worldliness your prophaneness your cursing your swearing your lying your slandering your reviling your railing your deriding c. doth plainly evidence that you have no holiness in you Well remember this a tongue that is set on fire from hell is in danger to be set on fire in hell Hell is for that man and that man is for hell that hath so much of hell in his mouth the Devil is for that man and that man is for the Devil that hath so much of the Devil in his mouth Damnation is for that man and that man is for damnation that hath so much of damnation in his mouth the world is for that man and that man is for the world that hath so much of the world in his mouth Whatever is in the heart will break out in the lips if wickedness be in the heart it will break out in the lips Physitians say that the nature of diseases is as well known by the tongue as by the pulse or urine The spiritual diseases that be in the heart will quickly discover themselves by the tongue Whereever holiness is in the heart it will break forth in the lips a holy heart and a holy tongue are married together and it is not in man to put them asunder you shall sooner separate the soul from the body then you shall separate a holy tongue from an holy heart And thus I have done with this use of examination the Lord make you wise to lay these things to heart that so you may know how it is like to go with you in another world Vse 3. THe third Use shall be a Use of Exhortation and that both to unsanctified and sanctified ones First let me speak to unsanctified ones is it so that real holiness is the only way to happiness and that without men are holy on earth they shall never come to the beatifical vision or blessed fruition of God in heaven O then how should this provoke and stir up all unholy persons to strive and labour as for life after this real holiness without which they shall never come to have any thing to do with God in everlasting happiness c Now that I may the better prevail with unsanctified souls I shall First propound some motives to stir and provoke their hearts to look and labour after real holiness c. Secondly I shall propose some means for the obtaining of holiness Thirdly I shall endeavour to answer those objections and remove those impediments that hinder and keep men off from labouring after real holiness For the first I shall propound these following considerations to provoke all unsanctified persons to look after holiness First Consider the necessity of holinesse It is impossible that ever you should be happy except you are holy No holinesse here no happinesse hereafter The Scripture speaks of three bodily inhabitants of heaven Enoch before the Law Elijah under the Law and Jesus Christ under the Gospel all three eminent in holinesse to teach us that even in an ordinary course there is no going to heaven without holinesse There are many thousand thousands now in heaven but not one unholy one among them all There is not one sinner among all those Saints not one Goat among all those Sheep not one weed among all those flowers not one thorn or prickle among all those Roses not one Pibble among all those glistering Diamonds There is not one Cain among all those Abels nor one Ishmael among all those Isaacs nor one Esau among all those Jacobs in heaven Rev. 5.11 Chap 7.9 Heb. 12.22 23. Those that would be immortally happy they must live holily and justly saith Antisthenes the Heathen there is not one Seth among all the Patriarchs not one Saul among all the Prophets nor one Judas among all the Apostles nor one Demas among all the Preachers nor one Simon Magus among all the professors Heaven is only for the holy man and the holy man is only for heaven Heaven is a garment of glory that is only suited to him that is holy God who is truth it self and cannot lie hath said it that without holinesse no man shall see the Lord. Mark that word no man without holinesse the rich man shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the poor man shall not see the Lord Without holinesse the Noble man shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the mean man shall not see the Lord. Without holinesse the Prince shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the Peasant shall not see the Lord. Without holinesse the Ruler shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the Ruled shall not see the Lord. Without holinesse the learned man shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the ignorant man shall not see the Lord. Without holinesse the husband shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the wife shall not see the Lord. Without holinesse the Father shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the child shall not see the Lord. Without holinesse the Master shall not see the Lord nor without holinesse the servant shall not see the Lord. For faithfull and strong is the Lord of hosts that hath spoken it Josh 23.14 In this day some cry up one form some another some cry up one Church-state some another some cry up one way some another but certainly the way of holinesse is the good old way it is the King of Kings high-way to heaven and
Traveller mend his pace when he sees the night comes on and shall the Smiâ—â— strike when the Iron is hot and shall not we take the present opportunity of repenting and turning to the Lord Remembring that there will be a time when time shall be no more He. 12.17 Luke 13.24 27. and when there shall be no place found for repentance though it should be sought carefully with tears and remembring that there will be a time when thy glass will be out when the door will be shut and when there will be no entrance at all And remembring that it is a safer course with prudent Prometheus to foresee a danger and shun it then with foolish Epimetheus to go on unadvisedly and be punished Ah friends it is a dangerous thing to make repentance What madness and folly is it for a man that hath many young strong stout horses and a long journey to go to let these pass by and to lay his carriage and get up himself upon an old feeble jade that can hardly bear himself The application is easie Mal. 1.13 14. which should be the practice of all your dayes to be the task of old Age. Doth not common experience tell us that the longer the Ship leaketh the harder it is to be emptied and that the longer the house goes to decay the worse it is to repair and that the further the nail is driven the harder it will be to get out and so certainly the longer any man defers his repentance the more difficult it will be for him to repent his heart will every day grow more and more hard his will more and more perverse and his judgement more and more corrupted and his affections more and more disordered and his conscience more and more benummed or enraged and his whole life more and more defiled and debauched Friends do not deceive your selves old age is but a sad a sandy a tottering and sinking foundation for you to build your hopes and happinesse upon for you to build your everlasting condition your eternal making or marring upon Are the dog dayes of old age are the trembling hands the wrinckled face the dazeled eyes the stinking lungs the fainting heart the feeble knees and the failing leggs are these a sacrifice worthy of God is a body full of sores aches and diseases and a soul full of sin an offering becoming a God surely no. O what madnesse what wickednesse is this to serve Satan your lusts and this world with full dishes and to put off God with scraps to serve these in the flower in the prime and primrose of you days and to put off God with the dregs of old age Certainly repentance is rather a work for youth then old age it is a work rather for strength then weaknesse and for health then sicknesse O do not let Satan deceive you do not let your own hearts delude you but fall upon the work of repentance presently knowing that as you have one day more to repent of so you have one day lesse to repent in What a piece of vanity is it that while the Ship is sound the tackling sure the Pilot well the Sailers strong provisions laid in and the wind favourable that the Mariners and passengers should lie in the Rode carding drinking diceing dancing and idling And when the Ship is leak the Pilot sick the mariners faint provisions spent and the winds boisterous then to weigh Anchors and hoist up sail to make a voyage into a far Countrey And yet such is the vanity of most men who in the dayes of their youth health and strength who when their memories are strong and their fancies quick and their Reason ripe c. do sin away and fool away and trifle away the day of grace the offers of mercy the motions of the Spirit and the intreaties of Christ and when old age comes when their wits are crackt their souls distracted their senses stupified their hearts astonied their minds darkned and their bodies diseased and distempered O then they think to leap into heaven with a Lord have mercy upon me in their mouthes and though they have lived like devils yet they hope they shall die like Saints and though they never took no care of Gods honour yet they hope that God will take care of their souls but when the thred of their lives is cut the next news that ever you shall hear of these is that they are gone to hell I have read of a young man who being admonished of the evil of his way and course and being pressed to leave his wickednesse and to break off his sins by repentance upon the consideration of Judgement Eternity and Death a coming he answered what do you tell me of these things I warrant you I will do well enough for when death comes I will speak but three words and that will help all so he went on in his wickednesse but in the end coming to a Bridge on Horse-back to go over a deep water the Horse stumbling and he labouring to recover his Horse could not but at last he let go the Bridle gave up himself and his Horse to the waters and was heard to say these three words Devil take all Here were three words with a witnesse And ô that all that think to repent at last with a Lord have mercy upon me would lay this instance to heart The light of thy life may be put out before thou canst once say Miserere mei Deus Lord be mercifull to me a sinner Though the Chariot wheels run all the day long very near one another yet they never overtake one another O take heed of delaying thy repentance for the more thou delayest it the more will thy account be increased thy debt augmented Satan strengthned thy body infeebled thy lusts imboldned thy soul endangered and all the difficulties of conversion more and more multiplied by delaying of thy repentance thou goest the way to gratifie Satan to cozen thy self to lose the opportunities of grace and to damn thy soul for ever and ever Well remember this if thou wilt not repent to day God may swear in his wrath to morrow that thou shalt not enter into his rest and then wo to thee that ever thou wert born And thus much for the preventing of these sad mistakes about repentance which mistakes keep off many a man from looking and labouring after that holinesse without which there is no happinesse Secondly If ever you would be holy O then take heed of a Witch take heed of the world the world often swells the heart with pride â—eut 32.15.22 it makes men forget God neglect Christ slight Ordinances and despise holinesse Ah the time the thoughts the strength That Cardinal was wretched as well as rich that would not leave his part in Paris for a part in Paradise the spirits that this enticing world hath made many to spend and consume whilest their souls have lien a bleeding and
turned into a Wolf but when a worldling is made holy there is a Wolf turned into a man yea a devil turned into a Saint therefore the Holy Ghost speaking of Zacheus who had long been bewitch't by the world brings him in with an Ecce Behold as if it were a wonder of wonders that ever such a worldling should be made holy A man bewitch't with the world will venture the loss of his soul to enjoy the world Mat. 16.26 As that Pope that sold his soul to the devil for the enjoyment of the Popedom six years We hate the Turkes for selling of Christians for slaves but Ah how many be there among us that call themselves Christians who yet sell themselves and their souls to the devil for slaves for half a crown yea for a half penny Look as Shemei by seeking his servant lost his life so many by seeking of the world have lost their souls Now though of all losses the loss of the soul is the greatest the sadest the sorest the heaviest and the most intollerable inconceiveable and irrecoverable loss yet a man bewitch't with the world will run the hazard of losing it of damning it to enjoy the world You know the Reubenites in Josh 22. preferred the country that was commodious for the feeding of their cattle though it were far from the Temple where they might have fed their souls and have got heaven and holiness for their souls before their interest in the Land of Promise We so men that are bewitch't with this world in these days O! how do they prefer their sensual delights their brutish contentments and their carnal enjoyments before the heavenly Canaan and before the beauties of holiness and before the Temple of Gods holiness where holiness sparkles and shines in all its bravery and glory and where their souls might be abundantly satisfied and delighted with the most ravishing joys the most surpassing delights and the most transcendent pleasures which are at Gods right hand To draw to a close the Arabick Proverb saith That Mundus cadavar est petentes eum sunt canes the world is a carkass and they that hunt after it are doggs If this Proverb be true what a multitude of professors will be found to be doggs who hunt more after earth then heaven who hunt more after Terrestial then Celestial things who hunt more after nothingnesses and emptinesses then they do after those fulnesses and sweetnesses that be in God Christ Heaven and Holiness Well friends as ever you would obtain that real holiness without which there is no happiness take heed of a Witch take heed of this world and to that purpose O that you would always look upon the things of this world as you will look upon them when you come to dye O that you would now look upon all the pompe state bravery and glory of the world as you will look upon it when your souls shall sit upon your trembling lips O with what a disdainful eye with what a weaned heart do men look upon those things then do so now and I dare assure you that though the world may trouble you yet it shall never bewitch you I have read of a man that lying in a burning Feaver profest that if he had all the world at his dispose he would give it all for one draught of Beer at so low a rate do men value the world at such a time as that is if men were so wise to value the world at no higher a rate in health then they do in sickness in life then they do at the time of their death it would never bewitch them it would never be as a wall of separation between holiness and them As ever you would be holy here and happy hereafter take heed of this Witch and believe it to be a Witch before it hath bewitched you or else you may believe it too late Thirdly If ever you would be holy then take heed of comparing your selves with those that are at least supposedly worse then your selves many there be who by comparing themselves with those that are bad very bad think themselves to be good very good yea to be too good to go to hell and yet they are not good enough to go to heaven and many there be who are worse then others and yet by comparing themselves with those they suppose very bad they conclude themselves to be very good such a one was that proud Pharisee in Luk. 18. who thought himself a far better man then the poor Publican and yet he was not half so honest nor half so just nor half so righteous nor half so good as he was the poor Publican was ashamed of himself he loathed himself he abased himself he judged himself and he condemned himself the poor Publican acknowledged God he adored God he dreaded God he admired God and he justified God in all which he exceeded the proud Pharisee and yet O! how scornfully does this proud Pharisee look upon him and how disdainfully and disgracefully does he speak of him And this was the general frame and temper of the Scribes and Pharisees who thought no mans penny so good silver as their own who thought themselves better then the best when they were the very worst of the worst for Publicans and Harlots believed and repented and entred into the Kingdom of God before them Mat. 21.31 32. And so they in that of Isa 65. were naught very naught yea stark naught they were the basest among the base they were the vilest among the vile they were the most rebellious among the rebellious and the most superstitious among the superstitious witness v. 2 3 4. And yet O! how do they stroke themselves and bless themselves and commend themselves and cry up themselves and exalt themselves as the only holy ones v. 5. they could deifie themselves and yet damne and devilifie others though they were such monsters as God abhorr'd v. 6. Ah! how many be there who by comparing themselves with those that are worse then themselves do judge themselves to be good enough and holy enough they are good negative Christians and they think that 's enough to bring them to heaven they bless themselves that they are no Nabals for drunkenness nor no Sodomites for filthiness nor no Hamans for haughtiness nor no Ammons for lustfulness nor none of the old world for idleness nor no Zacheus's for covetousness nor no Laodiceans for lukewarmness c. They bless themselves that they are no Gehazies for lying nor no Shemeies for cursing nor no Joabs for swearing nor no Rabshakehs for railing nor no Doegs for cruelty nor no Judases for treachery nor no Demases for Apostacy c. And thus they cheat themselves and find out fine ways to delude and damn their own souls they think it grace enough and holiness enough that they have attained to this viz. not to be so bad as the worst though they fall infinitely short of coming neer unto the best Well sits
building up of Saints and partly because his eye is still upon it and his protection is still over it Psal 121.3 4 5 6 7 8. and his presence is still with it Isa 27.2 3. In that day sing ye unto her a vineyard of red wine I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keep it night and day But Solomons eye was not alwayes upon his vineyard neither was his hand of protection alwayes over it neither was his kingly presence alwayes with it and partly because all his treasure is laid up in his vineyard his Church his treasures of grace Eph. 3.10.17 18 19 20. his treasure of mercy his treasures of comfort his treasures of goodness c. is all laid up in his Church but Solomon as rich as glorious a King as he was yet he had no such treasures laid up in his vineyard Solomon never made his vineyard his treasury and partly because his vineyard was given to him for ever Psal 2.7 John 6.39 Ch. 17.6 8 12. as an everlasting inheritance but Solomons was but temporary and mutable Now all those that are painfull and faithfull labourers in Christs vineyard shall receive a noble a liberall compensation and recompence for their labours no man shall shut a dore nor open a dore in Christs vineyard for nought no man shall labour an houre there without a reward all faithfull Ministers are Fellow-labourers with Christ in the spirituall husbandry 1 Cor. 3.8 9. they dig with Christ they plant with Christ and they prune with Christ and they water with Christ and they watch with Christ therefore Christ will allow them a fift part of the glory and reward with himselfe as he has his thousand pieces of silver so he will look to it that they shall have their two hundred pieces of silver a thousand is the number of perfection and here it may note that fulness of glory that Christ should have the two hundred may note that very great proportion of heavenly glory that all the faithfull labourers in Christs vineyard shall have Math. 19.27 28 29. who have helpt forward the flourishing estate of that vineyard Look as the thriving of the child adds to the comfort and the credit of the Nurse and the fruitfulness of the field adds to the pleasure and delight of the Husbandman and the health and increase of the Flock adds to the joy and reward of the Shepherd so the increase of holiness the thriving the fruitfulness of souls in holiness adds to the credit and comfort to the pleasure and delight to the joy and reward of faithful painful Ministers who are Nurses Husbandmen and Shepherds in the language of the holy Scriptures Though it be true that faithful Ministers are a sweet savour to God both in them that are saved 2 Cor. 2.15 and in them that perish though their labour whether it hit or miss is accepted and shall be rewarded of the Lord Isa 49.45 as the Physitian has his Fee though the patient dies the Nurse has her wages though the child don't thrive and the Vine-dresser has his hire though the Vines don't bare fruit yet the more they win men to heaven and the more by their means the work of holiness is carried on in the hearts lives of men the weightier will be their crowne of glory and the greater will be their joy and rejoycing in the great day of our Lord. O Sirs did you but see your faithfull Ministers tears did you but heare their heavy sighs and groanes were you but acquainted with their fervent and frequent prayers on your behalfes did you but believe how they beare their brains and how willing they are not only to spend themselves but even to spit out their very lungs in the service of your souls how would you call upon your own souls to adde holiness to holiness yea charge your own souls to perfect holiness in the feare of the Lord. Well friends as ever you would adde to your faithfull Ministers comfort here and to their joy and crowne at the coming of our Lord labour after higher degrees of holiness But Lastly To provoke you to labour after higher degrees of holiness consider that the more holiness you have here the more happiness you shall have hereafter the more grace you have on earth the more glory you shall have in heaven Now before I come to make good this Argument viz. that some Saints shall partake of more glory in heaven then others shall give me leave to promise these few things to prevent mistakes First That the object of their happiness which is God blessed for ever will be one and the same to all Saints all glorified Saints shall have but one God among them all God shall be no more one Saints God then he shall be every Saints God in heaven c. Secondly That the beatifical vision shall be seen by all the Saints and communicated to all the Saints they shall all have a happy and blessed fruition and possession of God all the vessels of glory shall be filled to the brim with a cleare sight of God and with a full injoyment of God and yet doubtless for all this some Saints shall apprehend more of God then others and comprehend more of God then others and enjoy more of God then others though all shall be filled with those everlasting springs of pleasure and delight that be at Gods right hand Psal 16. ult yet some shall be able to take in more of those pleasures of Paradise then others shall 2 Kings 4.3 8. Though all the widows vessels were filled to the brim with oyle yet doubtless some being greater and larger then others they accordingly contained more oyle then others and so 't will be with the Saints when they come to heaven There shall be no lack of glory to any of the Saints in glory all the Saints shall be fill'd with glory according to their capacity If you bring a thousand vessels of different sizes to the Sea the Sea fills them all though their sizes differ and some are bigger and others lesser yet all are fill'd every little vessell hath its fill as well as the greater so every Saint shall have his fill of glory when he comes to glory the felicity of every Saint shall be perfect God will be all in all to all Saints Psal 17.15 Thirdly All Saints shall be freed from all evills alike they shall all be freed from the aking head and from the unbelieving heart they shall all alike be free from the evill of sin and from the evill of sufferings there shall not be a Saint in glory that shall ever feele a pricking brier Ezek. 28.24 or a grieving thorne there all sorrow shall be removed from all their hearts and all tears shall be wipt from all their eyes Rev. 7.17 Fourthly and lastly the degrees of glory that Saints shall
have in heaven shall not be given out to them upon the account of their merits or the dignity of their persons or the worthiness of their works but upon the account of Gods meere mercy and grace who in the day of retribution will delight to crowne his own gifts not our merits and where he shall finde the greatest measures of grace holiness Deus nihil coronat nisi dona sua Aug. When God crowneth us he doth but crowne his own gifts in us c. there he will of his own free mercy bestow the greatest measure of glory Well friends remember this you must alwayes carefully distinguish between the essence and substance of glory and between degrees and measures of glory Now the essence and substance of glory which consists in the Saints full communion with God and in their perfect conformity to God and in their universal subjection to God and in their everlasting fruition of God be common to all the Saints so that no one Saint shall have more of the essence and substance of glory then another has yet the degrees and measures of glory shall be distributed to some more to some less Now that there shall be different degrees of glory in heaven answerable to the different degrees of grace and holiness that the Saints reach to here on earth and that God will at last proportion his Rewards according to the different degrees of labour seâ—â—ice and sufferings of his people in this world may be made evident 1. By cleare Scriptures 2. By Arguments Now there are severall Scriptures that speaks out this truth take these for a taste First that 1 Cor. 3.8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour The Apostle having compared his own and Apollo's work together adds That both should receive their reward according to their work that is as their work differed so should their reward differ though they both preacht one and the same doctrine and had both one and the same designe and purpose viz. to bring in souls to Christ and to build up souls to Christ yet according to their different degrees of labour so should be their different degrees of reward Though no man should work in Gods vineyard for nought yet he that was most faithful diligent and laborious in planting or in watering Gods Husbandry should have the greatest reward Paul and Apollo shall at last receive their different reward according to their different labour or neerer the Original they shall each of them receive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their proper reward according to their proper work A second Scripture is that 1 Cor. â—5 41 42. There is one glory of the Sun and another glory of the Moone and another glory of the Stars for one Star differeth from another in glory so also is the resurrection of the dead Mark here is the full stop and these words are not to be referr'd to those following words viz. That the body is sown in corruption and riseth againe in incorruption For the Apostle speaks not here of the difference between glorious and inglorious corruptible and incorruptible things but he speaks here of the difference that is between heavenly and glorious things for faith he one Star differs from another in glory 'T is very observable that the comparison runs between the glorified condition of some Saints that shall rise and other some that shall rise in the great day So that look as one Star differs from another Star in glory so one Saint shall differ from another Saint in glory at the resurrection of the dead Though every Star is bright shining and glorious yet some Stars are more bright shining and glâ—rious then others are so though every Saint still shine gloriously in heaven yet some Saints shall have a greater lustre glory and shine upon them then others shall Look as some heavenly bodies are more glorious then others so in the morning of the resurrection some Saints shall be more glorious then others c. A third Scripture is that 2 Cor. 9.6 But this I say He which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully A sparing liberality shall be attended with a sparing reward and a bounteous liberality shall be attended with a bounteous reward Look as the harvest answers the measure of seed that is sown so that he that sows but little reaps but little and he that sows much reaps much so Saints reaping at last will be answerable to their sowing here All mens charities shall at last be rewarded proportionable to the severall degrees of it he that gives a pound shall have a greater reward then he that gives a penny he that sows thousands shall reap more then he that sows hundreds he shall have the most plentifull crop in heaven who has sow'd most seed here on earth c. They shall have interest upon interest in heaven who sow much on this side heaven A fourth Scripture is that Luk 19.12 20. Now in this Parable you have a great Lord going into a far Country Mina here translated a pound is twelve ounces and a halfe which pound according to five shillings an ounce is three pound two shillings and six pence starling money Math. 2.2 Rev. 17.14 and ch 1.5 but before he goes he gives ten pounds to ten of his servants to trade with till his returne Now upon his returne he that had increased his pound to ten pounds was made ruler over ten Cities v. 17. And he that made five of one was made ruler over five Cities v. 19. Here he that gained most received the greatest reward The Nobleman in this Parable is our Lord Jesus Christ who is truly and highly noble he being coeternall and coequall with his Father in respect of his Deity he was borne a king and is now King of kings and Lord of lords and Prince of the Kings of the earth The far Countrey that he is gone to is heaven for thither he went at his ascension now when he shall returne from heaven to judge the quick the dead he will then bring men to an account to a reckoning about their improvement of all the gifts and graces that he has intrusted them with and according to the different improvement that men shall make of their Talents so shall be their reward he that makes the greatest improvement of his pound he shall have the greatest reward he shall be Ruler over ten Cities that is he shall be very highly honored and exalted and he that makes a lesser improvement he shall have a lesser reward he shall be Ruler over five Cities he that makes a great improvement of a little he shall if I may so speak sit at Christs right hand but he that makes a lesser improvement he must be contented to sit at Christs left hand God will proportion out mens reward at last answerable to their improvement of
spiritual blessings among his dearest children to some hee gives more light to others less to some a greater measure of love to others a less to some a greater degree of joy to others a less c. Some Saints shine in grace and holiness as the Firmament and others shine in grace and holiness as the Stars some shine in grace and holiness as the Moon and others shine in grace and holiness as the Sun and all this springs from those different measures of grace and holiness that God bestows upon his people Now doubtless men may as well plead for equal degrees of grace as they may for equal degrees of glory they may as well plead for an equal share in the good things of this world as they may plead for an equal share in the happiness and blessedness of that other world Doubtless as God dispenses his gifts and graces unequally in this life so hee will dispense his Rewards unequally in the other life As mens gifts and graces are different here on earth so their glory shall be different when they come to Heaven without all peradventure they shall have the whitest and the largest Robes of Honour and the heaviest and the brightest Crowns of Glory whose souls are most richly adorned with grace and whose lives are most eminently bespangled with holiness The more grace and holiness any Saint hath here the more hee is prepared and fitted for glory and the more any Saint is fitted for glory the more that Saint shall at last be filled with glory The greatest measures of grace holiness do most inlarge the soul and widen the soul and capacitate the soul to take in the greatest measures of glory and therefore the more grace the more glory the more holiness the more happiness a Saint shall have at last Certainly God will crown his own gracious works in his children proportionable to what they are but they are different and unequally in all his children in respect of measures and degrees and therefore God will set different Crowns of glory upon the heads of his children at last But Fourthly They that have more grace and holiness than others they are more like to God than others They bear his glorious Image in a greater print they have a brighter character of God upon them and they are the most lively picture of God in all the world Now wee know though Parents love their children well and wish all their children well and do for all their Children well yet commonly they love them most and provide for them best that resemble them most Parents cannot but love those children most and lay up for them most who have most of themselves in them and I cannot see how God can do otherwise than love them most and provide for them best who most resembled him to the life the nature of God is a holy nature and so there lies a holy necessity on his nature to love them most who have most grace and holiness in them look as t is natural to God to hate wickedness Psal 45.7 so t is natural to God to love holiness and as the higher men rise in wickedness the more a holy God hates them so the higher men rise in holiness the more a holy God loves them now the more any are like to God and the more they are beloved of God the higher doubtless in glory shall they bee advanced by God The best and the largest Portion is laid up for that Childe that is most like his Father the more any man in holiness resembles God on Earâ—h the greater and the larger Portion of glory that man shall have when hee comes to Heaven But Fiftly and lastly to deny degrees of glory in Heaven and to say that God won't sute mens wages to their works nor their rewards to their services nor crown the highest improvements of grace with the highest degrees of glory is to render useless many glorious exhortations that are scattered up and down in the Scripture as that in the 1 Cor. 15.58 Therefore my beloved Brethren bee yee stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord for asmuch as you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. If this were not a truth that I have been all this while asserting why then when men meet with this exhortation they may say why t is no great matter whether we are stedfast unmoveable and alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord or no for if wee are wee shall never advance our reward in Heaven wee shall never add Pearls to our glorious Crown wee shall never add one mite to our happiness and blessedness and if wee are not wee shall bee as high in Heaven and our reward as great and our crown as weighty as theirs shall bee who are stedfast unmoveable alwaies abounding in the work of the Lord. And so the denyal of degrees of glory in Heaven will take off also the edge of all those other exhortations of perfecting holiness of sowing liberally 2 Cor. 7 1. cap. 9.6 2 Pet. 3. ult Joh. 15.8 2 Pet 1.5 6 7. of growing in grace of bringing forth much fruit and of adding vertue to vertue c. yea this will cut the throat of all divine endeavours for who will labour to bee rich in grace and to bee much in service and to abound in all the fruits of righteousness and holiness when none of all this will turn to a mans advantage in another world If hee that sows little shall have as great a Harvest as hee that sows much if hee that is dull and negligent in the work of the Lord shall have as great a reward as hee that is active and abundant in the work of the Lord. If those trees of righteousness which bring forth much fruit shall have no greater a recompence than those trees of righteousness which bring forth many leaves of profession but little fruit c. who would sow much and who would bee active and abundant in the work of the Lord and who would bring forth much fruit verily but few if any But now the opinion or rather the truth that I have been labouring to make good viz. that there shall bee different degrees of glory in Heaven and that God will proportion mens reward to their work and that he will measure out happiness and blessedness to them at last according to the different measures of grace bestowed upon his people and according to the work service and faithfulness of his people in this world This truth I say held forth in its luster and glory is a marvellous incouragement and a mighty provocation to all sincere Christians to labour after the highest pitches in Christianity and to bee very eminent in grace and holiness for what man is there that will not reason thus the more grace the more glory the more holiness the more happiness the more work the more wages and the greater my service shall bee here the
and who are much in the Publick trade of Christianity viz. hearing the word conferences family duties c. but very rarely shall you finde them in their closets as ever you would bee eminent and excellent in holiness keep up your private trade with God maintain your closet communion with the holy one of Israel But Seventhly If ever you would attain to higher degrees of holiness then fall with all your might upon subduing and crucifying your most raging corruptions and your most darling-lusts O do not defer O do not delay the work of spiritual mortification O do not think that you can both fight and overcome fight and triumph in one day O do not think that your golden and your silver Idols will lay down their Arms Isa 2.20 and yeeld the field and lye at your feet and let you trample them to death without striking a blow O remember that bosome-sins will do all they can to keep their ground and therefore you must arise with all your strength against them and bray them in a morter and stamp them to powder and burn them to ashes O deal with them as they dealt with the Leviets Concubine force them to death and cut them to peeces Judg. 19. 2 King 9. O leave not the Palm the skull of this cursed Jezabel undevoured undestroyed O deal by your most inraged lusts as the Philistims did deal by Sampson pluck out their eyes and make them to grinde in the Mill of Mortification till their strength be utterly consumed and wasted Whilst Saul lived and kept the Throne and was in his strength little David was kept exceeding weak and low but when Saul was dethroned and slain little David quickly grew stronger and stronger 2 Sam. 3.1 so all the while a darling sin lives and keeps the Throne in the hearâ—â— grace and holiness will be kept exceeding weak and low but when your darling Rom. 8.10 13. sin is dethroned and slain by the power and the sword of the Spirit grace and holiness will quickly grow stronger and stronger and rise higher and higher When men would have a rough field fitted for the plow and fitted to bring forth fruit will they not first fall with all their strength and with all their might upon grubbing up by the roots the strongest Trees and the sturdiest Oaks knowing that when these are grubbed up weaker trees will easily fall So as ever you would have your hearts and lives full of the fruits of righteousness and holiness fall with all your strength and with all your might upon grubbing up by the very roots your beloved sins your strongest lusts and then the rest of your corruptions will easily fall When Galiah was slain the Philistims fled and were easily brought under when a General in an Army is cut off the common souldiers are quickly routed down but with your darling-sins and then the conquest of other sins will be easie When a man hath eat poison nothing will make him thrive till hee hath vomited up the poison that hee hath eaten 't is not the most wholsome food the choicest dainties nor the richest cordials under Heaven that will increase blood and spirits and strength in such a person hee will throw up all and nothing will stay with him to do him good till his poison be cast up and cast out Beloved-sins they are the poison of the soul and till these are vomited up and cast out by sound repentance and the exercise of Faith in the Blood of Christ the soul will never thrive in grace and holiness all the wholesome food of the Gospel and all the dainties and cordials of Heaven will never beger good blood nor noble spirits nor divine strength in their souls that upon no terms will part with their darling sins and therefore as ever you would be strong in the grace of the Lord draw up all the strength that ever you are able to make and fall on with the greatest courage upon your bosome-sins and never cease till in the strength of Christ you have got a compleat victory and conquest over them In the Law 't was the blood of the Sacrifice and the Oil that cleansed the Leper and that by them was meant the blood of Christ and the Spirit of Grace is agreed by all Ah friends as ever you would be cleansed from your darling-sins which do so exceedingly hinder the increase of holiness be often in looking upon a crucified Christ and in the application of his blood to your own souls I have read of five men that being asked what was the best means to mortifie sin gave these Answers saith the first The best means to mortifie sin is to meditate of death Saith the second The best means is to meditate of the judgement-day Saith the third The best means is to meditate on the Joyes of Heaven Saith the fourth The best means is to meditate on the torments of Hell But saith the fifth The best means is to meditate on the blood and sufferings of Christâ— and doubtless the last hit it to a hair If any thing under Heaven will subdue and bring under darling-sins it will be the daily sight of a bleeding groaning dying Saviour Phylosophy saith Lactantius may cover vices but it never cuts off vices it may hide a lust but it can never quench a lust As black-patches instead of plaisters may cover some deformities in nature but they can never cure them Ah Sirs if you do not kill your darling-sins they will kill your precious souls Isa 37. When Senacheribs Army was destroyed by an Angel and hee returned home with a hook in his nose and a bridle in his lips hee enquired of one about him what hee thought the reason might be why God so favoured the Jews to which hee replied That there was one Abraham their Father that was willing to sacrifice his beloved Son to death at the command of God and that ever since that time God favoured that people well said Senacherib if that be it I have two beloved Sons and I will sacrifize them both to death if that will procure their God to favour mee which when his two Sons heard they as the story goes slew their Father being more willing to kill Isa 37.38 than be killed Oh friends you must kill or be killed if you are not the death of your beloved sins your beloved sins will prove the death and ruine of your immortal souls and therefore never leave looking up to a crucified Christ till vertue flow from him to the crucifying of those special sins that do most obstruct and hinder the growth and increase of holiness But Eighthly and lastly If ever you would attain to higher degrees of holiness then dwell much upon the holiness of God O be still a musing be still a pondering upon the holiness of God Certainly if there be any means under Heaven to raise you up to higher degrees of holiness 't is this and therefore keep alwaies
may bee able after my decease to have these things alwaies in remembrance The Apostle having the sentence of death in himself O! how doth hee bestir himself and how doth hee stir up all that grace and holiness that was in his heart yea and all his Ministerial and Apostolical gifts and all to better himself and to make those that were really holy to bee eminently holy Peter being very sensible of the neer approaches of death did very earnestly desire and greatly endeavour so to act his part before he went off the stage of live that when his head was in the dust and his soul in heaven those Saints that should survive him might bee very famous in grace and holiness That of Eleazer is very remarkable who would not do any thing which might seem to bee evil because he would not spot his white head O Sirs when once the Gray hairs of holiness and righteousness are upon you it highly concerns you to shun the very shews and appearances of evil that so you may not spot nor stain the honour of your white head I have read of Joshua that valliant Souldier that when hee was a young man and in the prime and flower of his daies when his bones were full of marrow and his breasts full of milk as Job speaks that then hee was least in vigour and valour for God and how that sometimes in cases of eminent danger hee would conceal himself but when hee grew older and found the strength of nature declining and decaying then hee bestired himself exceedingly for God O Sirs when you have one foot in the Grave God calls aloud upon you to bestir your selves exceedingly for his honour and glory and for your own internal and eternal welfare Solon was not ashamed to say that hee learned much in his old age And Julianius the Lawyer was wont to say that when hee had one foot in the Grave hee would have the other in the School O Sirs shall nature do more than grace shall morality excel real piety 'T was the glorious commendation of the Church of Thiatira that her last works were more than her first Rev. 2.19 I know thy works and charity and service and faith and thy patience and thy work and the last to bee more than the first O the happiness of that man that is best at last that brings forth most of the fruits of Righteousness and Holiness in old age O the blessedness of that man whose Faith is more strong at last than at first and whose love is more inflamed at last than at first and whose hopes are more raised and elevated at last than at first and whole knowledge is more clear at last than at first whose zeal is warmer at last than at first and whose thoughts are more heavenly at last than at first and whose heart is more spiritual at last than at first and whose communion with God is more high at last than at first and whose life is more holy at last than at first If there be any man in the world that is ripe for Heaven and that injoyes a Heaven in his own soul on this side Heaven this is the man whose graces and whose gracious works are more at last than at first Well Christians for ever remember this the neerer death makes her approaches to you the louder God calls upon you to be holy And thus by a hand of grace that hath been in mee upon mee and with me I have shewed you what those special times and seasons are wherein God calls loudest for holiness and so according to my weak measure I have given out all that the Lord hath graciously given in concerning that most necessary that most noble that most glorious and that most useful point of points viz. Holiness and therefore I have nothing more to do but earnestly to pray that what hath been spoken and written may be so blest from on high that it may work mightily to the internal and eternal welfare both of Writer Reader and Hearer that so when their Race is run and their Work done here on earth they may be everlastingly blest with a happy sight of the Beatifical Vision of God in Heaven Amen FINIS Books sold by Henry Cripps in Popes-Head-Alley SIbbs Saints Cordials Reynors Government of the Tongue Armetages Sermons Roman Antiquities Burtons Melancholy Youngs whole duty of a Christian Supplication of Saints Cradocks Works Huit on Daniel Sarah Wight Cotton on the seven Viols Hookers Souls-preparation for Christ Goodwins Childe of Light walking in darkness Reynolds on Hosea Tichburns Cluster of Canaans-Grapes Baxters Doctrine of Self-poseing An Abstract of the Assemblies Catechism J. Goodwins Saints Interest in God Dingly of Thunder Books sold by Henry Mortlock at the sign of the Phoenix in St. Pauls Church-yard near the Little North-door Folios A Commentary upon the whole Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians wherein the text is learnedly and fruitfully opened with a Logical Analysis spiritual and holy Observations Confutation of Armianism and Popery By Mr. Paul Bain A Commentary on the Proverbs Ecclesiastes Canticles and the Major Prophets By John Trapp M. A. Quartoes An Exposition of the Prophecy of Ezekiel By W. Greenhill Some Sermons preached upon several occasions By P. Sterry A Way to Zion sought out and found for Beleevers to walk in By Daniel King Preacher of the Word neer Coventry Funebria Florae The Downfall of May-Games By Tho. Hall B.D. and Pastor of Kings-Norton in VVorcestershire The loathsomness of long Hair or A Treatise wherein you have the Question stated many Arguments against it produced and the most material arguments for it refelled and answered with an Appendix against Painting Spots naked-breasts c. By the same Author Samuel in Sackcloth or a Sermon assaying to restrain our bitter Animosities and commending a spirit of moderation and right constitution of soul and behaviour towards our Brethren upon 1 Sam. 15.35 Large Octavoes The Hypocrites Ladder or Looking-Glass or a Discourse of the dangerous and destructive nature of Hypocrisie the reigning and provoking sin of this age wherein is shewed how far the Hypocrite or formal Professor may go towards Heaven yet utterly perish by three Ladders of sixty steps of his Ascending By John Sheffield Minister of the Word at Swithins London An Improvement of the Sea upon the nine Nautical Verses in the 107. Psalm wherein among other things you have a very full and delightful Description of all those many various and multitudinous Objects which they behold in their Travels through the Lords Creation both on Sea in Sea and on Land viz. All sorts and kinds of Fish Fowl and Beasts whether wilde or tame all sorts of Trees and Fruit all sorts of People Cities Towns and Countries By Daniel Pell Preacher of the Word A Caveat against Seducers in a Sermon preached by Rich. Stand-fast Rector of Christ-Church in Bristol Together with the Blind Mans Meditations by the same Author A Treatise of Divine Meditation by
that faithful Servant of Jesus Christ John Ball late Minister of the Gospel at Whitmore in Stafford-shire published by M. Simeon Ash Preacher of the Gospel at Austins London Irenicum A Weapon-Salve for the Churches Wounds Or the Divine Right of particular Forms of Church-Government discussed and examined by Edward Stillingfleete Rector of Sutton in Bedford-shire The second Edition corrected An Exposition by way of Supplement on the 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th and 9th Chapters on the Prophecy of Amos where you have the Text fully explained other Texts occasionally cleared many Cases Stated many practical Observations raised and many Polemical Points debated by Tho. Hall B. D. and Pastor of Kings-Norton A Cluster of Grapes taken out of the Basket of the Woman of Canaan or Counsel and Comfort for Beleeving Souls By John Durant late Preacher of the Gospel in Canterbury A Call to the Unconverted By Richard Baxter A Latin and English Grammar By Charls Hool M. A. Books sold by John Sims at the Cross-Keyes in St. Pauls Church-yard CHrist the Pattern of a Christians Practise By Mr. Ralph Robinson Octavo Several Peeces of Mr. Ralph Venning collected into one Volume viz. Orthodox Paradoxes Mysteries and Revelations Canaans Flowings A Warning to Backsliders The Way to True Happiness Mercies memorial 8 to A Practical Discourse of Prayer wherein is handled the Nature the Duty and the Qualifications of Prayer By Tho. Cobbet Minister of the Gospel 8 to Two Treatises of Mr. Brinseley 1. A Groan for Israel 2. The Spiritual Vertigo with two other Treatises viz. Three Sacred Emblems 2. Tears for Jerusalem By the same Author 8 to Irenicum A Weapon-Salve for the Churches Wounds Or the Divine Right of particular Forms of Church-Government discussed and examined By Edward Stilling fleete Rector of Sutton in Bedford-shire The second Edition corrected 4 to FINIS THE TABLE CHristian Reader take notice that the Pages are misfigured for next to page 240. followes page 280. yet doe thou but follow the directionss laid downe in the Table and without any further trouble to thy self thou will find any particular that thou hast a mind to be satisfied in A. OF Adams holiness in innocency Page 5 6 7. The greatness of Adams sin in four particulars Page 52. Of Adoption Reall holiness is a sure evidence of a mans Adoption Page 624 625 626. Of Admiration Holy persons are much taken up in the Admiration of the holiness of God Page 102 103 104 Of being Afflicted Holy persons are much afflicted c. with their own unholyness Page 123 124 125 126. And much affected and afflicted with the unholiness of others Page 139 140 141. Afflictions Of great and heavy afflictions Page 363 364 The more a man can divinely rejoyce under afflictions the greater measures of holiness that man has certainly attained to Page 600 601 602. Of All Things All things shall be sanctified to the holy man Page 629 630. Of Approving a mans self to God The more a man makes it his great business to approve himself to God the greater measure of holiness that man has attained to Page 609 610 611. Of Authors That unholy persons are to be shut out from special Communion with the people of God is made evident by the Judgements of many Learned and approved Authors Page 51 52 53 54. B. Of Beasts Vnholy persons are Beasts yea the worst of Beasts Page 54 55 56. Of Blessings God will certainly bless all a holy mans blessings to him Page 622 623. Of Boldness The more holy any man is the more bold and couragious that man will be for God and Godliness Page 507 508 509. C. Of severall Cannots There is a threefold Cannot 1. A natural Cannot 2. A contracted and habituated cannot 3. A judicial cannot Page 21-25 Of Conformity to Christ True holiness is conformable to the holiness of Christ Page 138 139. Of Civil men Meere civil men shall not go to Heaven Page 77 78 79. Of Company He that will be holy must keep company with those that are holy Page 307 308. And he that will perfect holiness in the feare of the Lord must be most In with them that are most excellent in holiness Page 577 578. Of Communion There is no spiritual communion with God in this world without holiness Page 28 29 30. Vnholy persons are to be shut out from sacred and special communion with the people of God in this world This proved by an induction of ten particulars Page 44-54 The more holy any man is the more communion that man will have with God Page 491 492 493. Of Comparing your selves with others Take heed of comparing your selves with those that are worse then your selves Page 284 285. Of Contrariety Vnholy persons are full of contrariety to God Page 27 28. Of being Condemned Vnholy persons are adjudged and condemned to hell Page 57 58 59 60 61 62. Of Conversion The persecutions of the Saints may issue in the conversion of sinners Page 401 402 403. Many that have been converted later then others do yet in holiness much excell them Page 504 505. D. Of Death Take heed of putting the day of death far from you three arguments to perswade to this Page 288-296 Of Degrees A holy person will be still reaching after higher degrees of holiness Page 107 108 109. Christians must press after the highest degrees of holiness Page 468 469. About degrees of glory in Heaven see Heaven Of Delight The more holy any man is the more he will be the delight of God c. Page 488 489. Tbis is further proved by five Arguments Page 490 491 492 493 494. God takes singular delight both in a holy mans person and in his services to Page 616 617 618 619. Of Self-denyall The more a man can deny himself when he hath power and opportunity to raise himself c. the greater measure of holiness he has attained to Page 612 613 614. 620 621. Of Discord No speciall communion to be held with those that cause discord and division among the Saints Page 46. Of the Doctrine The Doctrine is this That reall holiness is the onely way to happiness All men must be holy on earth or they shall never see the Beatifical Vision they shall never reach to a glorious fruition of God in Heaven Page 5. The Doctrine proved by ten Arguments Page 18-62 Of holy Duties The holy mans duties are most delightfull to God Page 632 633 634. Reall holiness naturaliseth holy duties to the soule Page 126 127 128. The more holy any man is the more singular delight and pleasure God will take in all his Religious duties and services Page 502 503 504. When men in the maine are as holy out of Religious duties as they are in Religious duties t is an evidence of a great measure of holiness that they have attained to Page 600. The more a man is exercised in the most spirituall and internall duties of Religion the more holiness he hath attained to Page 605
The CROVVN GLORY OF CHRISTIANITY OR HOLINESS The only way to HAPPINESS Discovered in LVIII Sermons from Heb. 12.14 Where you have the Necessity Excellency Rarity Beauty and Glory of Holiness set forth with the resolution of many weighty Questions and Cases Also Motives and Means to perfect Holiness With many other things of very high and great importance to all the Sons and Daughters of men that had rather be blessed then cursed saved then damned By THOMAS BROOKS late Preacher of the Gospel at Margarets New Fish-street and still Preacher of the Word in London and Pastor of a Congregation there To him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Psalm 50. ult Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Matth. 5.8 God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth 2 Thes 2.13 LONDON Printed for H. Crips Jâ— Sims and H. Mortlock and are to be sold at their shops at the entrance into Popes-head Alley out of Lumbard street and at the sign of the Cross-keyes and at the Phoenix in St. Pauls Church-yard near the little North door 1662. To all the Lords Knights Ladies Gentry Ministers and Commons of England and the Dominions thereunto belonging that have but the least desire the least mind or the least will to escape hell and to go to heaven or to be happy in both worlds c. My Lords Ladies and Gentlemen c. THe Philosophers speaking of happiness were divided into two hundred eighty eight opinions every one intending something yet resolving upon nothing and therefore the man in Plutarch hearing them wrangle about summum bonum the chiefest good one placing of it in this and another in that went to the Market and bought up all that was good hoping that among all he should not miss of happiness and yet he mist it true happiness being too great and too glorious a thing to be found in any thing below real holiness All men in the general desire to be happy but all men do not desire in this or that particular or in this or that way to be happy here there is an infinite difference quot homines tot sententiae so many men so many minds A desire of happiness is planted in all men by the constitution of nature this is so intrinsecal and so innate in nature it is so ingraven in it that even the fall of Adam as great as it was hath not blotted it out This desire of happiness is left in man for a stock to graft holiness on God grafts the plant of Grace upon the stock of nature Gen. 29.20 to the 27. Indeed Happiness like Rachel is so fair and so beautiful a thing that every one is apt to fall in love with it and earnestly to desire it yea many there be that would serve twice seven years to enjoy it but by the standing Law of that heavenly Countrey above the younger sister must never be bestowed before the elder you can never enjoy fair Rachel Heaven and Happiness except you are first married to tender-eyed Leah real holiness he that will have heaven must have union and communion with Christ and he that will have union and communion with Christ 2 Cor. 6.14 15. must be holy For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness And what concord hath Christ with Belial Of all the many thousands that have travelled to happiness there is not one to be found but hath travelled thither in a way of holiness Now the drift the scope of this following Treatise is to make men holy that they may be happy it is to make men gracious on earth that they may be glorious in heaven Now to prevent all mistakes rash censures and misconstructions I judge it very convenient and necessary before I go any further to acquaint the Reader plainly and honestly with those Arguments that have prevailed with me to Dedicate this Book to all sorts ranks and degrees of persons rather then to any single person or to any one sort or rank of men whatsoever And they are these six First Because all sorts and ranks of men are faln from that Primitive holiness that once they had Psalm 14.3 Rom. 3.12 Qui te non habet Domine Deus totum perdidit Bernard There are five things that we have all lost by our fall in Adam First we have all lost that holy image that God had stampt upon us and so we are become vile Secondly we have all lost our Son-ship and so we are become slaves Thirdly we have all lost our friendship with God and so we are become enemies Fourthly we have all lost our communion with God and so we are become strangers And fifthly we have all lost our glory and so we are become miserable Some say that the naked body of man was so glorious in his estate of Innocency that all the beasts of the field admired it and thereupon did homage to him O how glorious was his soul then Certainly if the Cabinet was so glorious the Jewel within it was much more glorious But how glorious soever man was in his primitive estate it is most certain that he is now so sadly faln from the highest pinacle of glory to so low a step of misery that God sometimes sâ—â—ds him to the Pismire to learn instruction Prov. 6.6 7. and sometimes he sends him to the Stork and the Swallow to make a right improvement of precious time Jer. 8.7 and sometimes he sends him to the Ox and to the Ass to learn knowledge Isa 1.3 and sometimes he sends him to the Fowls of the air to learn confidence yea and sometimes he sends him to the very Lillies and Grass of the field Matth. 6.25 ult to learn how to live without carking and distracting cares It is true mans first estate was a state of perfect holiness Gen. 1.27 he being made in the image of God and after the likeness of God It was an estate of perfect light Gen. 2.20 knowledge prudence wisdom and understanding It was an estate of very great honour and dignity and therefore the Psalmist speaking of man in this estate brings him in with a Crown of glory and honour upon his head Psalm 8.5 Thou hast crowned him with glory and honour Mans first estate was so stately an estate that he was not so much below the glorious Angels as he was above all other creatures God made him the Soveraign Lord of the whole Creation Gen. 1.26 Psalm 8.6 7 8. God gave him an absolute Dominion and Authority both of Sea and Land and all creatures in both were subjected to him Such was the exquisite beauty and perfection of his body that from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet there was not the least blain or blemish his outward man was cloathed with all such
full of dead mens bones and of all uncleanness Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men but within ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquity They were outwardly religious but inwardly vitious they had the semblance of sanctity but inwardly very full of impurity They were fair Professors but foul Sinners they were gracious without but impious within Look as they are the worst of vices that are covered over with the shew of vertue so they are the worst of sinners that cover over their inward filthiness under the vizards of outward holiness The Egyptian Temples were fair without but foul and filthy within such were the Scribes and Pharisees in Christs days and such are many professors in our dayes It is said of Dionysius the Tyrant that though he loved not the Philophers yet he would wrap himself up in their cloaks that men might have the better opinion of him So there be many that put on an outward dress of holiness that wrap themselves up in the cloak of holiness that so others may take them for holy persons and yet they love not holiness they have nothing of real honliess in them but as he is not a Jew which is one outwardly Romans 2.28 29. Cha. 4.12 but not inwardly so he is not a holy person who is only so outwardly but not inwardly that hath the name of holiness upon him but hath no principles of holiness in him though without outward visible holiness no man shall see the Lord yet a man may have an outward visible holiness that shall never see the Lord in happiness I hate him even to hell saith the Heathen in Homer that saith one thing with his mouth and thinketh another thing in his heart So God will at last hate that man to hell Mat 23.14 2 Tim. 3.5 1 Cor. 7.19 Philip. 3.3 Gal. 5.6 Chap. 6.15 yea cast him into the hottest place in hell that hath a form of godliness upon him but nothing of the reality and power of holiness in him Outward holiness is good but it must be throughout-holiness that will do a man good to all eternity It is not the shews but the substance of holiness that will bring a man to everlasting happiness Meer outward holiness will certainly leave a man short of heaven and happiness but throughout-holiness will certainly lodge the soul in the bosome of God for ever It is true all men reach not to an outward holiness which made Athanasius wish Vtinam omnes essent Hypocritae Would to God that all were hypocrites Without all peradventure it is a very desireable thing that all were outwardly holy yet all that reach to this must go farther or else they will sit down on this side happiness Mat. 5.20 For I say unto you that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven Now they were much in works of Piety in works of Charity in works of Equity and in works of Curtesie by which means they gained so much upon the hearts of the people that it was commonly conceited and voted among them that if there were but two of all the world that should go to heaven the one should be a Scribe and the other a Pharisee Yet your righteousness must exceed theirs or the gates of glory will be shut upon you Their righteousness and holiness was only external not internal it was partial not universal it was rather circumstantial then substantial and therefore Heavens doors were double-bolted against them Heaven is for that man and that man is for heaven that is not only outwardly holy but throughout holy Fourthly There is a Relative holiness now Relative holiness is a special relation which persons or things have unto God Relative holiness includes two things First A separation of persons or things from common use and thus in the Law Deut. 19.2 1 Kings 8.35 Ezra 8.28 Chap. 10 11. Isa 63.18 those things were called holy which were separated from common use and set apart for the Worship and Service of God As the Oyl Shewbread First-fruits Incense Altars Vestments and in this sense the Priests and Levites were called holy because they were separated from others to serve in the Tabernacle And in this sense the people of Israel are frequently called a sanctified people a holy people c. The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answers to the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which commonly signifies that which is appropriated to a holy use and this is the proper notion of holiness in the Old and New Testament as I might shew you out of some hundred places of Scripture Now certainly without this holiness of special separation from the common conversation of the world there is no seeing of God nor no fruition of God hereafter 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty God will have no communion with any in this world that are not separated from the sinfull practises of the world God will look upon none he will own none he will delight in none he will acknowledge none he will receive none for his sons and daughters but such as are separated from all evil vices and unholy courses Suitable to this is Isa 52.11 Depart ye depart ye go ye out from thence touch no unclean things go ye out of the midst of her Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Estrange your selves from them that are estranged from God Cicero though Heathen had rather to have no companion then a bad one have nothing to do with them that have nothing to do with God separate your selves from them who have separated themselves from God have no delightfull converse with them who have no delightfull converse with God have no bosome communion with them that have no bosome communion with God Oh Sirs you are to keep your selves as pure and clean from others defilements as you would keep your selves free from others punishments He that will imitate others in their sins shall certainly participate with others in their sorrows It is true we may live with wicked men in their Cities but it is as true we must not lie with wicked men in their enormities There are many professors that are like the Planet Mercury good in conjunction with those that are good and bad with those that are bad but these wound many at once God Christ the Gospel and their own credits and consciences These do virtutis stragulam pudefacere put virtue to an open shame And these are deservedly to be shamed by your separating from them and by your renouncing all intimate communion or fellowship with them But Secondly As Relative holiness takes in a separation of persons or things from common
use 2. So Christ is said to sanctifie himself when he dedicated himself to be a sacrifice for the sins of his people c. so it takes in a dedication and devoting of them to a holy use And thus the Nazarites Temple Mount Zion the Sabbath day and other Festival dayes are said to be holy under the Law In short the whole Jewish Religion did lie in holy times holy places holy persons and holy things and certainly without this holiness without this dedicating of our selves to God we shall never come to a glorious fruition of God he that doth not dedicate himself really to God wholly to God only to God and alwayes to God on earth shall never come to a sight and vision of God in heaven if we do not give up our selves to God God will never give up himself to us Hos 3.3 And I said unto her Thou shalt abide for me many dayes thou shalt not play the harlot and thou shalt not be for another man so will I also be for thee God will be only theirs that are really his and he will be altogether theirs that are wholly his he will only be a husband to them that dedicate themselves to him as a wife doth to her husband he will devote himself theirs who devote themselves his he will avouch himself to be theirs who avouch themselves to be his Deut. 26.17 18 19. Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God and to walk in his wayes and to keep his Statutes and his Commandments and his Judgements and to hearken unto his voice And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people as he hath promised thee and that thou shouldst keep all his commandments And to make thee high above all Nations which he hath made in praise and in name and in honour and that thou mayst be a holy people unto the Lord thy God as he hath spoken That is an apt saying of Tertullian Negotiatio est aliquid amittere ut majora lucreris That is right merchandise when something is parted with to gain more God will resign himself up to them who resign themselves up to him he will give up himself to them that have given up their names and their hearts to him He will bestow himself as the greatest pearle of price upon them that shall make a surrender of themselves to him There is no way to be higher then others happier then others more noble and honourable then others then by making a dedi-gift of our selves to God He that dedicates himself to God dedicates all he that doth not dedicate himself dedicates nothing at all What Eschines once said to Socrates Others said he give thee Gold Silver Jewels but I give thee my self That must a Christian say to his God Ah Lord there are some that give thee their lips but I give thee my heart others give thee good words good expressions but I give thee the best of my affections others give thee a few cold prayers but I give thee my whole soul and had I as many hearts in my body as I have hairs on my head I would give them all to thee for thou art worthy thou only art worthy What the King of Israel once said to the King of Syria 1 Kings 20.4 I am thine and all that I have that must a Christian say to his Christ I am thine O Lord and all that I have A Christian must cry out with him who cried Lord I have two mites a soul and a body and I give them both to thee Bernard And this was the honour and commendations of the Macedonians that they gave up themselves to the Lord 2 Cor. 8.5 Having no better present at hand they present themselves to God and certainly there is no present more honourable Romans 12.1 dilectable and acceptable to God then this of giving up our selves to God Well remember this That man was never really holy that is not relatively holy nor that man will never be really happy that is not relatively holy without Relative holiness there will be no vision of God in everlasting happiness We must be separated from the corruptions and pollutions of the world and we must dedicate our selves to God or we shall never come to a future fruition of God But Fifthly There is an imputative holiness and that is the holiness of Christ imputed to us For to prevent mistakes you may please to take notice that there is a twofold holiness in Christ Consult these Scriptures Luke 1.35 Mark 1.24 Heb. 7.26 Rom. 5.19 Col. 1.22 Rom. 2.3 4. 2 Cor. 5.21 22. Galat. 3.13 Jerem. 23.6 first there is his essential and personal holiness as he is God Now this essential holiness of Christ cannot be imparted nor imputed to any mortal man it is essential to him But Secondly there is his mediatory holiness or that holiness which he wrought for us as Mediator Now the holiness of Christ as Mediator did consist both in the habitual holiness of his person in the absence of all sin and in the rich and plentiful presence of all holy and supernatural qualities as also in the actual holiness of his life and death by his active obedience by his subjecting of his heart and life to divine precepts he perfectly fulfilled the commands of the Law and by his passive obedience his voluntary sufferings he fully satisfied the comminations penalties and curses of the Law Now this mediatory holiness of Christs is ours by imputation and by vertue of which we stand recti in curia justified in the sight of God 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption This Mediatory holiness of Christ reckoned unto a believing sinner is that whereby he is constituted holy in foro Dei and upon this account they are said to be all fair Cant. 4.7 Nemo-bonus qui non ex malo bonus Aug. to be without spot or wrinckle Ephes 5.25 26 27. to be compleat in him Col. 2.10 and to be without fault before the throne of God Rev. 14.4 5. And certainly without this mediatory holiness of Christ there is no appearing before God there is no glorious vision nor fruition of God Hab. 1.13 God is a God of that infinite purity and holiness that no holiness below the imputative holiness of Christ can make a man stand before him or bring a man to the fruition of him It was a very sweet and excellent saying of Bernard when in his own opinion he was at the point of death I confess said he I am not worthy Guliel Abbas in vita Bern. lib. 1. cap. 12. I have no merits of mine own to obtain heaven by but my Lord had a double right thereunto An hereditary right as a Son and a Meritorious right as a Sacrifice He was contented with the one right himself the other right he hath
us and will â—od admit such to cohabit with him that never had any acquaintance or familiarity with him Surely no. In history we read of such Towns and Cities as would not admit strangers to inhabit among them and such a City is that above Exod. 33.12 17. It hath been long since concluded that In coelo nullus erit alienus in heaven there shall be no strangers none shall be admitted into that state but such as God knows by name Charon in Lucian requesting Mercurius to shew him Jupiters Palace above how sayes Mercurius that such a caitiff as thou whose conversation hath been altogether with black shades and impure ghosts shouldst set thy foot in that pure place of light what a dishonour and derogation were that to the place The Application is easie Unholy persons have fellowship and familiarity with Satan and therefore doubtless God will have no familiarity nor fellowship with them 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16. As righteousness can have no fellowship with unrighteousness nor light with darkness nor Christ with Belial nor heaven with hell no more can a holy God have any communion or fellowship with unholy souls for they are Satans house Luke 11.21 he keeps possession of them as a man doth of his house Rev. 18.2 and hath familiarity with them as a man hath with those of his house he is their Father and they are his children John 8.44 and look what familiarity a Father hath with his children that hath an unholy devil with unholy souls A workman cannot be more familiar with his tools then Satan is with unholy souls and therefore he is said to work in the children of disobedience as a Smith worketh in his forge or as an Artificer worketh in his shop Ehpes 2.2 Unholy persons have bosome fellowship with Satan 1 John 5.19 And we know that we are of God and the whole world lieth in wickedness or in that wicked one the Devil as the Greek will bear they lie as it were in the bosom of Satan as the child lies in the bosom of the Mother or as the Wife lyes in the bosom of the Husband or as a friend lyes in the bosom of his friend Unholy persons partake with him at his Table they eat with him and drink with him and converse with him 1 Cor. 10.21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils ye cannot be partakers of the Lords Table and of the Table of Devils If Judas was at the Sacrament the greater was his wo. Ambrose brings in the Devil boasting against Christ and challenging Judas as his own thus He is not thine Lord Jesus he is mine his thoughts beat for me He eats with thee but is fed by me he takes bread from thee but money from me he drinks with thee and sells thy blood to me By all which you may see what fellowship and familiarity there is between Satan and a sinner Now what is this less then blasphemy to assert that a holy God will have fellowship with them that have fellowship with the Devil God hath not cast Satan out of heaven that he may make room for his familiars in heaven if heaven was too holy to hold unholy devils it will be found at last to be too holy to hold unholy souls certainly they shall not lie in the bosome of God who have the Devil for their bed-fellow Fourthly Unholy persons are full of contrariety to God their natures principles practises aims minds wills affections judgements intentions and resolutions Lev. 26.21 22 23 24 27 28 40 41. Isa 58.4 5 6. Jerem. 44.16 17 18. Ch. 2.25 Ch 18.11 12 are contrary to God his name nature being truth and glory you may as soon bring East and West North and South light and darkness heaven and hell together as you shall bring a holy God and unholy souls together Antipathies will never incorporate as soon may midnight be married to the noon-day as a holy God embrace an unholy sinner That unholy persons are made up of contrarieties to God is most evident as you may see in Isa 22.12 13. And in that day did the Lord God of Hosts call to weeping and to mourning and to baldnest and to girding with sack-cloth And behold joy and gladness slaying oxen and killing sheep eating flesh and drinking wine let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die These sad souls practise quite contrary to what the Lord calls for at their hands Rom 8.7 Iames 4 4. Pope Julius the third would have his Pork though it was forbidden him by hâ—s Physitians in despite of God himseâ—f he calls them to weeping and mourning and behold joy and gladness he calls them to fasting and behold here is nothing but feasting carousing and making merry and jovial and that in contempt of God and his dreadfull judgements Unholy persons are like the Rainbow now the Rainbow is never on that side of the world that the Sun is on but whensoever it appears it is still in opposition against the Sun if the Sun be in the East the Rainbow is in the West c. So unholy souls in all tâ—eir actings and walkings will still be opposite to God they will still be cross and contrary to him John 8.38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father and ye do that which ye have seen with your Father Unholy hearts are full of the highest strains of contrariety and opposition against the Lord. I have read of a King that Reigned in no very remote part of the world who having received a blow from the hand of God took a solemn Oath to be revenged on him and ordained that for ten years space no man should pray to him speak of him nor so long as he was in Authority to believe in him O the vanity the contrariety and blasphemy of this Prince Now we will not admit such to be about us who are made up of contrarieties to us and will God will God heaven and earth fire and water the Woolf and the Lamb the Winds and the Sea will sooner accord then a holy God and an unholy heart There can be no amity where there is a spiritual Antipathy 5. Fifthly Without holiness no man can have any spiritual communion with God in this world he may hear but he can have no communion with God in hearing without holiness he may pray but he can have no communion with God in prayer without holiness he may come to the Sacrament but he can have no communion with God in the Sacrament without holiness he may come into the communion of Saints but he can have no communion with God in the communion of Saints without holiness he may read and meditate but he can have no communion with God in reading and meditation without holiness Deut. 23.14 For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy Camp to deliver thee and to give up thine enemies before thee therefore shall thy Camp be
holy that he see no unclean thing in thee and turn away from thee Keep up holiness among you and you shall keep me among you saith God but if you turn away from holiness I will undoubtedly turn away from you a holy God will keep company with none but those that are holy Holiness is the bond that ties God and souls together God will cleave close to them who in holiness cleave fast to him but if he see uncleanness and wickedness among you he will certainly turn away from you The holy spirit gives the lye to those that say they have fellowship with God and yet maintain familiarity and fellowship with sin 1 John 1.6 If we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness we lye The Apostle dares give the lye to any man without fearing the stab who pretends to communion with God and yet walks in darkness Men may be much in Ordinances and yet for want of holiness may have no communion at all with God in Ordinances Isaiah 1.11 18. and though communion with God in Ordinances is the very life and soul of Ordinances yet multitudes who enjoy Ordinances can content and satisfie themselves without that which is the very life soul and quintessense of Ordinances There are many that cry out the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord who have no communion with the Lord of the Temple at all Jer. 7.4 12. Though unholy persons may trade much in Ordinances Isa 29.13 Ezek. 24.21 22. Ch. 33 30 31 32. yet they will never make any earnings any advantage by all their trading and stir because they cannot reach to communion with God in them which is the only means of being enriched by them As many men rise early and go to bed late and make a great deal of stir and do to be rich in the world and yet for want of a stock nothing comes on it they are poor still and beggarly still and low and mean in the world still So many rise early and go late to Ordinances they exercise themselves much in religious duties and yet nothing comes on it their souls are poor and beggarly and thredbare still And no wonder for they want a stock of holiness to trade with Remigius a Judge of Lorraign saith that the Devil in those parts did use to give money to Witches which at first did appear to be good and currant coin but after a while it turned to dry leaves Ah Sirs all duties and Ordinances to a man that wants holiness will be sound at last to be but as dry leaves to be sapless and liveless and heartless and comfortless to him Now if without holiness no man can have any spiritual communion or fellowship with God here then certainly without holiness no man can have a glorious communion with God hereafter if without holiness God will not take us into his arms on earth then undoubtedly without holiness God will never put us into his bosom in heaven But to proceed Unholy persons are fools and what should such do in the presence of God who is wisdom it self the fool and the ungodly man are Synonomaes words signifying the same thing in Scripture Deu. 36.6.21 Psalm 94.8 Psalm 14.1 The fool i. e. the wicked the unholy person hath said in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good Jer. 4.22 For my people are foolish they have not known me they are sottish children and they have no understanding they are wise to do evil but to do good they have no knowledge Prov. 1.7 Fools despise wisdom and instruction that is wicked and ungodly men despise wisdom and instruction and to shew that the world is full of such fools he uses the word in the plural no less then sixteen times in this book of the Proverbs I shall open this truth a little more to you by proving that they have all the characteristical notes and properties of fools So that one face is not more like another then a fool is like a wicked man or then a wicked man is like a fool For First A fool prefers toyes and trifles before things of greatest worth he prefers a brass counter before a piece of gold a fine Baby before a rich inheritance Prov. 1.29 an Apple that pleaseth the eye before a pearl of greatest price so wicked and ungodly men they prefer their lusts before the Lord Isa 65.12 Therefore will I number you to the sword and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter because when I called ye did not answer when I spake ye did not hear but did evil before mine eyes and did choose that wherein I delighted not Such a one was Cardinal Borbonius who profest he would not leave his part in Paris for a portion in Paradise Upon choice they preferred the honours the riches the bravery and glory of the world above their own souls and the great concernments of another world Such fools were Laban and Nabal in the Old Testament whose names by inversion of letters are the same and the latter signifies a fool and such were the two rich fools in the New Testament Luke 12.16 22. and Chap. 16.19 ult I have read of the foolish people of the East Indiâ—s in the Isle Zeylon who preferred a consecrated Apes tooth above an incredible mass of treasure Such fools are all unholy persons who prefer the toyes the trifles of this world before the pleasures and treasures that be at Gods right hand The world is full of such fools Psalm 16.11 Mat. 6.19 10. Si admores hominum respicias mundum universum stultorum domum judicabis saith One if thou beholdest the manners of men thou wilt judge the whole world to be a house of fools Ah friends What folly to that of mens spending their time their strength their lives their souls in getting the great things of this world and neglecting that one thing necessary the salvation of their souls Matth. 16.26 O! What vanity is it to prefer a smoke of honour a blast of fame a dream of pleasure a wedge of gold a Babylonish garment and such like transitory trifles and trash before a blessed eternity Secondly Fools make no improvement of advantages and opportunities that are put into their hands Prov. 17.16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom Like Graâ—hoppers they sing and sport away their precious time and opportunities of mercy c. seeing he hath no heart to it It is to no purpose to put a price into the hand if folly be bound up in the heart if a man had as much wealth as would buy all the grace all the peace all the comforts and all the wisdom in the world yet if he hath neither wit nor will to make an improvement of his wealth what good would his wealth do him To what purpose is the Market open and
to make his prison so strong and thousands to thousands and is not rich towards God This age is full of such golden fools who pamper their bodies but starve their souls who trick and trim up their bodies with Gold Silver and Silks whilst their souls are naked and ragged and destitute of all grace and goodness The Jews have a story of a foolish woman that took two children to nurse the one very mean deformed crooked blind and not likely to live long the other a goodly lively lovely beautifull child and likely to live long now this foolish woman spent all her pains care diligence and attendance upon the worst child never so much as minding or regarding the best child this age is full of such foolish men and women who having two to nurse their bodies and their souls spend their time their care labour and pains in making provision for the flesh in laying up for their bodies and in the mean while never regard their souls never look after their souls though they have the beauty of a Deity upon them and though they are immortal and capable of union and communion with God in grace and of a blessed fruition of God in glory Surely no fools to these fools Seventhly The sharpest and severest course you can take cannot separate between a fool and his folly Notwithstanding all your frowns threats checks knocks c. A fool will not leave his folly nay you shall sooner beat a fool to death then you shall beat him off from his folly Prov. 27.22 Solomon in this place alludeth to one kind of grinding which in old time the people were accustomed to which was to put their parched corn into a morter and to beat it unto powder Though thou shouldst bray a fool in a morter among wheat with a pestell yet will not his foolishness depart from him The husk doth not stick so close to the grain of corn as folly doth to the heart of a fool there is a possibility of severing the husk from the flower by beating but there is no possibility of severing a fool from his folly You see it in Pharaoh who though he was often in Gods morter yet he could not be severed from his folly nay he did chuse rather to be beaten to death and to see his friends relations favourites followers subjects and souldiers with their first born beaten to death before his eyes rather the he would leave his folly And such a fool was King Ahaz who when God had him in the morter and threatned to beat him and his people to death yet then in his distress he sinned more against the Lord 2 Chron. 28.22 and therefore for his obstinacy obdurateness and irreclaimableness he is branded and mark't with a black coal by the Lord to all posterity They were like those Bears in Pliny that could not be stirred with the sharpest prickles This is that King Ahaz And such spiritual fools are all ungodly persons let God frown chide strike reprove correct yet they will not turn from the evil of their doings they will rather be consumed and destroyed then they will be amended or reformed Jer. 5.3 O Lord are not thine eyes upon the truth thou hast stricken them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive correction See Ez. 22.18 Jer. 2.30 31. Ch. 19. ult Amos 4.4.13 Isa 26.10 11. 2 Pet. 2.22 they have made their faces harder then a rock they have refused to return no smart nor grief no calamities nor miseries can turn obstinate fools from their impieties Jer. 6.29 The bellows are burnt the lead is consumed of the fire the Founder melteth in vain or in vain melting melteth he trying tryeth he for the wicked are not plucked away All the cost and charge that God hath been at all the pains and labour that he hath taken to sever these wicked ones from their wickedness was lost they would not be refined nor reformed After Gods greatest severity a spiritual fool will return to his iniquity Prov. 26.11 As a dog returneth to his vomit so a fool returneth to his folly or iterateth his folly It is true the comparison is homely but good enough for those fools to whom it is applyed Spiritual fools sometimes vomit up their sins when they are under terrors of conscience or under the afflicting hand of God or upon a dying bed but still retain a disposition and purpose to return to them again As some say the Serpent vomits up his poyson when he goes to drink and then takes it in again Foolish souls say to their lusts as Abraham to his servants Gen. 22.5 Abide you here and I will go yonder and come again to you Whatever becomes of their souls they are resolved to keep close to their sins Isa 1.5 And as Aesops foolish fishes leaped out of the warm water into the burning fire for ease So these poor fools will rather adventure a burning in hell then they will attempt a turning from their folly Eighthly Natural fools make the simplest and unhappiest exchanges they will exchange a pearl for a Pippin The foolish Indians prefer every toy and trifle above their mines of Gold things of greatest worth and value for a feather a ribbon a toy a trifle a house to live in for a house of clay or a house of Cards and like Glaucus a foolish Captain who changed with Diomedes his Armour of Gold for Dioemedes his armour of brass All unholy persons are spiritual fools they will exchange spirituals for carnals and eternals for temporals they will exchange God Christ the Gospel heaven and their souls for a lust for the world nay for a little of the worlds smiles pleasures or profits Mat. 16.26 and well may he lay claim to a Boat-swains place in Barkleys ship of fools that will exchange his soul and his soul concernments for the toyes and trifles of this world Now do you think that God who hath within himself all the wisdom of Angels of men and universal nature that he who hath all glory all dignity all riches all treasures all pleasures all comforts all delights all joyes all beatitudes in himself That that God who is a super-substantial substance and understanding not to be understood a word never to be spoken Dionys Areop de divin nom cap. 1. that he will have everlasting fellowship and communion with fools that a God whose wisdom is infinite and unsearchable will ever debase himself so as to have his royal Pallace filled with fools as to make those his companions in heaven that he can take no pleasure in on earth Eccles 5.4 he hath no pleasure in fools The wise God would not have his children keep company with fools Prov. 14.7 Go from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge and will he keep company with them himself Surely no. God hath given it under his own hand that such
shall not tarry in his sight Psal 5.5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight or as the Hebrew hath it before thine eyes thou hatest all workers of iniquity God will never admit fools to be his favourites he will at last shut the door of glory against them Mat. 25.4 13. A seventh Argument to prove that without real holiness there is no happiness that without holiness on earth no man shall ever come to a blessed vision or fruition of God in heaven is this Unholy persons are to be excluded and shut out from sacred from special communion and fellowship with the Saints in this world and therefore without all peradventure they shall never be admitted to everlasting communion and fellowship with God Christ Angels and Saints in that other world That they are to be shut out from having any special communion with the Saints here is most plain and evident from several Scripures take these for a taste Lev. 10.10 Lev. 13.46 Numb 5.1 2 3 4. Exod. 12.48 Lev. 22.3 4 5 6 7. As oft said One as I have been among wicked men I return home less a man then I was before The Docrenean well will quench a burning torch so will bad company the most burning and most shining Christians as you see in Joseph and Peter Psal 106.35 when they were mingled among the Heathen they quickly learn their works Psa 119.115 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy and between unclean and clean Ezek. 44.23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and prophane and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean And because the Priests did not improve their power and interest to preserve the things of God from prophaning and polluting the Lord was very much offended and provoked Ezek. 22.26 Her Priests have violated my Law and have prophaned mine holy things they have put no difference between the holy and prophane neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths and I am prophaned among them And in Chap. 44.7 8. God sadly complains that they brought into his Sanctuary strangers uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh and prohibits such from entring into his Sanctuary ver 9. Thus saith the Lord God No stranger uncircumcised in heart nor uncircumcised in flesh shall enter into my Sanctuary of any stranger that is among the children of Israel God expects that faithfull teachers should put a difference between person and person between the holy and prophane between the clean and the unclean in all holy administrations Jerem. 15.19 Therefore thus saith the Lord If thou take forth the pretious from the vile then thou shalt be as my mouth let them return unto thee but return not thou unto them Now certainly if under the Ceremonial Law natural uncleanness did exclude and shut out the Israelites from a participation in holy things then certainly moral uncleanness may justly exclude and shut out Christians from a participation in holy things under the Gospel Mat. 7.6 Give not that which is holy unto dogs neither cast ye your pearls before swine lest they trample them under their feet and turn again and rent you Holy things are too precious to be spent and spilt upon swinish sinners Gospel administrations are pretious pearls that must not be given to swine 2 Cor. 6.17 Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you Prophane scandalous blind and ignorant persons are very unclean things and from them we must come out as we would be in with God we must be out with them we must reject them as we would have God to receive us 2 Tim. 3.5 Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away Our Saviour Christ hied him to the wilderness amongst the beasts and carried his Disciples with him holding their fellowship to be less hurtfull and dangerous It is better to live among beasts then to live among men of beastly principles and beastly practises Now there are ten sorts of persons that Christians must turn from that they must have no intimate no special communion with in this world First Unbelievers 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16. We should not close with them that have not closed with Christ nor give our selves up to them who have not given up themselves to Christ Every unbeliever is a condemned person the Law hath cast him John 3.18 the Gospel hath cast him and his own conscience hath cast him and what sacred communion what delightfull fellowship can believers have with condemned persons Ver. 36. Every Unbeliever is under the wrath of the great God he is under that wrath that he can neither avoid nor abide and what communion can such have who are under love with those that are under wrath Every unbeliever makes God a Lyar. 1 Iohn 5.10 And what children will have communion with such who every day give their Father the Lye to his very face Every unbeliever doth practically say Tush there is no such loveliness or comeliness there is no such beauty or glory there is no such fulness or sweetness there is no such goodness or graciousness in Jesus as men would make us believe and what is this but to give God the Lie Tus◠there is no such favour there is no such peace there is no such pardon there is no such Righteousness there is no such Grace there is no such glory to be reaped by Christ as God and men would perswade us and what is this but to tell God he lyes to his very teeth And what ingenuous child can take pleasure in such who are still a spitting in his Fathers face Every unbeliever is a disobedient person Numb 14.11 Heb. 11.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 5.8 2 Cor 6.14 15. 1 Cor. 14.23 ult 2 Tim. 3.1.6 and therefore unbelievers and disobedient are in the Greek expressed by one word and what communion can obedient children have with those that are disobedient and rebellious Every unbeliever is a Pagan a Heathen in the Scripture dialect and what communion can those who are of the houshold of faith have with Pagans and Heathens Every unbeliever is a Traytor he commits Treason daily against the Crown and dignity of heaven and what Loyal Subjects will hold communion with Traitors Unbelievers are the greatest Robbers they rob God of his declarative glory though they cannot rob him of his Essential glory they rob h m of the glory of his truth and faithfulnesse as if he would falsifie the word that is gone out of his mouth as if he were yea and nay and as if his credit was so low and contemptibe that he must needs run a hazzard that shall trust to him or roul himself upon him They rob him of the glory of his goodness and mercy as if there were any sins too great
with the State of this Common-wealth of Kings to admit such vermine as as unholy persons are to be of that noble society surely no God hath long since resolved upon it that no unclean beasts shall enter into heaven that no dirty dogs shall ever trample upon that golden pavement All in heaven are holy the Angels holy the Saints holy the Patriarchs holy the Prophets holy the Apostles holy the Martyrs holy but the Lord himself above all is most glorious in holiness and therefore all those holy ones do as it were in a divine Anthem sing and say Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty Rev. 21. ult There are no Owls in Creet nor no wild beasts in Lebanon heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory Now certainly it would be a hell to these holy ones to have unholy wretches to be their companions When the holy Angels fell from their holiness heaven was so holy that it spewed them out Isaiah 6.3 as once Canaan did its unholy inhabitants and therefore certainly there will be no room in heaven for such filthy beasts as unholy persons are Well remember this that all those stinging Expressions and Appellations which disgrace and vilifie unholy persons they were inspired by a holy spirit and penned by holy Secretaries and enrolled in his holy word and published by his holy messengers and all by his holy appointment who as he is greater then the greatest and wiser then the wisest and better then the best Lev. 18.28 So he is too pure and too holy to eat the words that are gone out of his mouth or to deny or unsay what he hath spoken or not to maintain the truth thereof against all gain-sayers It is prophecied that when the Church shall be restored to her purity and glory such beasts shall not be there Isa 35.9 Ezek. 28.24 The Majesty of Church-discipline shall be such as shall keep out all such beasts Jerusalem above is too glorious a habitation for beasts or for men of beastly spirits or beastly principles or beastly practices The City of the great God was never built for beasts A wilderness and not a Paradise is fittest for beasts The ninth Argument to prove the truth of the Proposition Exod. 23.32 Chap. 34.12 If you would see the greatness and dangerousness of this sin then read Ezra 10. 1 Kings 11. with Exo. 34.14 15 16. Judg. 3.6 7 8. When Dionysius the elder Tyrant of Syracusa asked Aristides a Locrian his good will to marry his daughter I had rather see my daughter dead said he then married unto a Tyrant Plutarch in the life of Timoleon The Application is easie is this God would not have his holy ones in this world to be yoked in marriage with unholy ones and therefore certainly he will never suffer such to be yoked to himself to all eternity That God would not have his righteous people to be yoked in marriage with the unrighteous is most evident by these Scriptures Deut. 7.3.6 Neither shalt thou make marriages with them thy daughter thou shalt not give to his son nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy Son For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself above all people that are upon the face of the earth Ezra 9.12 Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons neither take their daughters unto your sons But did they keep this commandment of the Lord No as you may see in the second verse of that chapter For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands yea the hand of the Princes and Rulers have been chief in this trespass But how did this operate upon good Ezra that you may see in the third verse And when I heard this thing I rent my garment and my mantle and pluckt off the hair of my head and of my beard and sate down astonied Oh the sorrow the grief the perplexity the holy passion the indignation the amazement the astonishment that this abomination begot in the heart of good Ezra The like effect this sin had upon the heart of good Nehemiah as you may see in that remarkable text Neh. 13.23 24 25. compared with Ch. 10.29 30. So in 2 Cor. 6.14 15. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness And what concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel It is an evil thing a dangerous thing to be yoked to any who have neither skill nor will to bear the yoke of Christ Under the Law an Ox and an Asse might not be yoked or coupled together Deut. 22.10 and to this the Apostle alludes as some judge God would not have righteous souls to be yoked in marriage with those that are unrighteous a gracious soul were better be married to a quartern ague then to an ungracious wife Proverbs 12.4 A vertuous wife is a crown to her husband she is the life of life if thou art a man of holinesse thou must look more for a portion of grace in a wife 1 Cor 7.39 then for a portion of gold with a wife thou must look more after righteousnesse then riches more after piety then money more after what inheritance she hath in heaven then what possessions she hath on earth more at what interest she hath in Christ then at what interest she hath in creatures more at her being new born then at her beâ—ng high born more at her being good then at all her worldly goods If money makes the match and she be good enough that hath but goods enough thou shalt be sure to have hell enough with such a wife In thy choice to err but once is to be undone for ever at least as to the comforts and contentments of thy life once blest or curst must be for ever so Men have not leave to choose or change often By what hath been said it is most evident that God would not have the holy seed to mingle or marry with the unholy And do you think that a holy God wil mingle and marry with such in heaven that he would not have his people to mingle or marry with on earth surely no. Or do you think that that God that would not in the Law have an Ox and an Asse plough together that he will be yoked to such wretches may I say to such Asses whose ungodliness hath debased them below the very Ox and Asse Isa 1.3 Surely no. The tenth and last Argument to prove that without real holinesse there is no happinesse c. is this Unholy persons are adjudged doomed and sentenced to another place viz. to hell Matth 11.23 Ch. 23.15.33 The Hebrew word Shâ—ol hath several significations Sometimes it signifies
everlasting strength that it may go well with them for ever I have read of a chaste Virgin who being strongly tempted and soliticed by a lewd Russian to uncleannesse after some disscourse she called for a pan of burning coals requesting him for her sake to hold his finger in them but one hour he answered it is an unkind and unreasonable request it is truth saith she it is so but you ask me a more unkind and unreasonable request viz. to satisfie you in a thing for which I shall not only burn an hour but burn both body and soul in hell fire for ever and ever And so overcame the temptation But Lord if I must go into fire into everlasting fire Oh let me have some good company in my misery No the Devil and his Angels shall be your companions Ah who can conceive or express the misery of cohabitation with Devils and damned Spirits Many unholy souls would not live in a house haunted with evil spirits one night for all the world and yet they live as if it were nothing to be billetted with hellish Fiends and furies for ever If the sight of a seeming ghost for a moment be such a terror and torment to thee what will the horrible sight of devils and the gastly sight of the damned be Job 30.29 If it was so great an affliction to Job to be a companion to Owls what will it be to thee to be a companion to devils Psalm 120.5 If it was so great a grief and wo to David to sojourn in Mesech and to dwell in the tents of Kedar for a time what a wo will it be to unholy souls to dwell with Devils and reprobates for ever Ah how will Satans deformity antipathy and cruelty amaze thee and torment thee How will the damneds wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth abash thee and confound thee How will thine old companions cursing of thee the sight of thy near relations in misery with thee and devils scornfully insulting over thee and the never dying worm feeding perpetually upon thee be many hells of horror to thee Had an unholy soul as many worlds in his hand to give as there be stars in heaven he would give them all for a license alwayes to sleep under those pains and torments that will admit of no intermission or mitigation In Rev. 21.8 As the Antients fain of Endymion that he got leave of Jupiter alwayes to sleep you have a catalogue of that damned crue of that rout of Reprobates which shall be your companions for ever But the fearfull and unbelieving and the abominable and murderers and whoremongers and sorcerers and Idolaters and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death These companions are the devils lime-twigs they are his scorpions with which he will torment and whip poor souls for ever Such companions will make many hells to meet in one they will be the top of the souls torments Thus I have done with those arguments that prove the point Viz. That without holiness there is no happiness c. I come now to the Reasons of the Point Why is it that Without holiness there is no happiness that without holiness on earth no man shall ever come to a blessed vision or fruition of God in heaven Among other Reasons that might be rendered you may please to take these Reason 1 First Because God hath said it who is truth and faithfulnesse it self and cannot lye That he hath said it witnesse the very Text and the proofs that are produced to make good the doctrine and hath he said it and shall it not come to pass Hath he spoken it and will he not accomplish the word that is gone out of his mouth Isaiah 46.11 Chap. 48.15 Jerem. 32.24 Isaiah 55.11 Zech. 1.6 Dan. 9.12 Psal 119.138 God is not a man that he should lye Numb 23 19. Also the strength of Israel will not lye 1 Sam. 15.29 God will make good every word that is gone out of his mouth Men sometimes eat their words as soon as they have spoken them they often say and unsay but so will not the holy One of Israel that first and supream being that gives being to all others will certainly give being to all his promises and threatnings God himself shall sooner cease to be then the word that is gone out of his mouth shall be frustrated He that is the faithful witnesse hath said it that without holiness no man shall see the Lord. And verily heaven and earth shall pass away before one jot or one tittle that is before the least letter or particle of a letter of Gods blessed word shall pass unfulfilled Matth. 5.18 Gods faithfulnesse is great Lam. 3.23 It reaches unto the clouds Psalm 36.5 He will not suffer his faithfulnesse to fail Psalm 89.33 His faithfulnesse endures through all Generations Psalm 119.90 God will never suffer his faithfulnesse to be stained or blotted and therefore he will undoubtedly make good the word that is gone out of his mouth I had rather said Plutarch that men should say there was never any such person in the world as Plutarch then that they should say Plutarch is unfaithfull A man were better say there is no God then say that God is unfaithful a noble spirit can better bear any charge then that of being unfaithfull and so can a faithfull God Secondly Because real holinesse is that great principle Reason 2 that fits and capacitates souls for communion with God The glory of glory consists in seeing of God 1 Cor. 13 12. 1 John 3.2 as the hell of hell lyes in the souls everlasting separation from God and for a blessed sight and fruition of God Matth. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God Without a principle of purity of sanctity there is no vision of God in glory If a man be never so poor yet if his heart be pure God will make a house of his heart wherein his honour will delight to dwell let a mans outside be never so homely yet if his inside be but cleanly God will make it his own habitation God is for that man and that man is for God that carries about with him a pure heart Heart-purity makes a man a darling of heaven Many affect pure language pure houses pure habits pure hands pure air pure meat pure drink pure gestures c. who yet for want of heart-purity shall never see the face of God in glory Heart-purity speaks a man eternally happy Holinesse is that noble principle that fits a man for the happiest sight of God it makes a man a meet companion for God both here and herafter without this principle no man can have communion with God in this world much lesse can he have communion with God in heaven if this precious principle of holinesse be not seated in his heart it will not stand with the holinesse of God
to have any thing to do with those that have no principles of holiness in them It is a principle of holinesse that fits a man for the service of God that fits a man for fellowship with God that fits a man for walking with God that fits a man for correspondency with God and that fits a man for the delight of God and that fits a man for an everlasting fruition of God And therefore certainly without holinesse there is no happinesse without a principle of purity there can be no seeing of the face of God in glory Reason 3 A third Reason why Without real holiness there is no happinesse c. is this because heaven is a holy place and therefore no unholy souls can enter there it is called the high and holy place Isa 57.15 the inheritance of the Saints in heaven is an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled 1 Pet. 1.4 Holinesse dwells in heaven 2 Pet. 3.13 as a man dwells in his house Heaven is the house of Gods holinesse and therefore certainly without holinesse there is no entring into that house Exod. 26.34 Psalm 78.69 Hebrews 9.8 Chap. 12.24 Rev. 21.27 The Holy of Holies in the Temple was a Type of heaven And as none might enter into the Holy of holies that were unholy so none can enter into heaven which is the true Holy of holies but those that are holy Heaven was so holy that it cast out the Angels when they fell from their holinesse Paradise was a Type of heaven and no sooner did Adam lose his holinesse but he was shut out of Paradise Heaven is a City of holinesse and none can enter into that City but such as are holy Rev. 22.14 Heaven is so holy that it would groan to bare one unholy soul Well heaven is a holy place and the inhabitants are all holy and the work of heaven is holy and what then should unholy souls do there Reason 4 A fourth Reason why Without real holiness there is no happinesse Coelum est altera gehenna damnatorum Heaven is another hell to the damned said One. Isa 66.3 4. c. is this Because unholy persons have no hearts to go to heaven though now and then they may talk of heaven and now and then lift up their eyes and hands to heaven and now and then expresse a few cold wishes and lazy desires after heaven it is no difficult thing to demonstrate that in good earnest they have no heart to go to heaven For First How often hath God set life and death heaven and hell before them and they have chosen death rather then life and hell rather then heaven 2. Do you â—hink that that man hath any heart to heaven that will not so much as part with a lust for heaven Luke 13.33 34. 3. Will you say that that man hath a heart to go to heaven that hath not so much as a hand to lay hold on the opportunities of grace that might bring him to heaven 4. Will you say that that man hath a heart to go to heaven that daily hardens his heart against him who is the way to heaven 5. John 14.6 Isa 63.10 Will you say that that man hath a heart to go to heaven who is still a grieving vexing and quenching that spirit of holinesse that can only fit frame and form him for heaven 6. Will you say that that man hath a heart to go to heaven that rarely spends a serious thought of heaven and that lives in this world as if there were no heaven 7. Will you say that that man hath a heart to go to heaven whose sinfull courses speak him out to be one of those who have made a covenant with death Isa 18.15 18. and an agreement with hell 8. Do you think that that man hath a heart to go to heaven Rom. 3.8 1 Cor. 4.9 10. that detests those most that are the best woers for heaven 9. Do you think that that man hath any heart to go to heaven who can take no pleasure nor delight in those that are travailing towards heaven 10. Will you say that that man hath a heart to go to heaven that will do nothing affectionately for heaven that will not hear for heaven nor pray for heaven nor trade for heaven nor look for heaven nor long for heaven nor strive for heaven No man ever went to heaven sleeping nor wait for heaven The heart commands all it carries all if the heart were bent for heaven the head would contrive for heaven the eye would look out for heaven and the ear would hear for heaven and the tongue would speak for heaven and the foot would walk towards heaven and the hand would do for heaven By all which it is most evident that unholy persons are not cordially willing to go to heaven it is most certain that unholy persons have no such great mind to go to heaven as some imagine when Dives was in hell his desire was not to be with Abraham in heaven Luke 16.24 27 28 29. but that Lazarus might come and give him a little ease in hell he preferred a little ease in hell before his being with Abraham in heaven Neither did he desire that his five brethren might go to heaven but that they might be kept out of hell and that not out of love to them but out of love to himself he knowing that their company would be no small increase of his own torments Heauen would be a very hell to an unholy heart If now the presence of God in his servants and the presence of God in his Ordinances be such a hell to unholy souls Ah what a hell would the presence of God in heaven be to unholy hearts It is true an unholy heart may desire heaven as it is a place of freedom from troubles afflictions oppressions vexations c. and as it is a place of peace rest ease safety c. but this is the least and lowest part of heaven but to desire it as it is a place of purity of grace of holinesse of enjoying of God c. is above the reach of an unholy heart The company of heaven are all holy the imployments of heaven are all holy and the enjoyments of heaven are all holy and therefore heaven cannot but be an undesireable thing to unholy hearts An unholy heart is no ways desirous nor ambitious of such a heaven as will rid him of his darling sins as will make him conformable to a holy God as will everlastingly divorce him from his old companions and link him for ever to those gratious souls that he hath scorned despised and persecuted in this world Ergo c. Reason 5 Fifthly and Lastly Because without real holinesse men are good for nothing they are fit for nothing without holinesse men are neither good for Church nor State they are neither fit to Rule nor to be ruled to command nor to be commanded to guide nor to be guided
written in a small Ring I have read of godly Mr. Buchanan that was King James his Tutor who lying upon his dying bed desired a Noble man then with him to tell the King that his old Master Buchanan was going to a place where few Kings come Kings are as rare meat in heaven as venison is in poor mens kitchins saith the Dutch Proverb And how few among the wise can you find that are wise for heaven that are wise for their souls that are wise for eternity And how few among the learned can you find that have learned Christ and learned their own hearts and learned to deny themselves and learned to save their own souls and others By all which it is most evident that few are holy and that few shall be happy But Secondly and more particularly Is it so that real holiness is the only way to happiness and that without holiness here no man shall ever come to a blessed vision or fruition of God hereafter Then this may serve to convince several sorts of persons of their wofull and miserable conditions As First All prophane persons who give up themselves to wickedness Job 21.14 2 Pet. 2.20 ult Isa 66.3 Ephes 4.19 Isaiah 5.19 Ierem. 9.5 who wallow in all ungodliness and delight themselves in all manner of filthiness who commit wickedness with greediness who draw iniquity with cords of vanity and sin as it were with a cart-rope who weary themselves to commit iniquity who are so desperately set upon wickedness that neither the rod of God the lashes and checks of their own consciences nor the flashes of hell upon their souls can reduce them who are resolved that they will gratifie their lusts though they damn their souls and who will live wickedly though they perish eternally Who by custom in sin have destroyed all conscience of sin and contracted such desperate hardness upon their own hearts as neither smiles nor frowns promises nor threatnings life nor death heaven nor hell ministery nor misery miracle nor mercy can possibly mollifie them these are grown from naught to be very naught from very naught to be stark naught these souls are sadly left of God and wofully blinded by Satan and fully ripened for ruine Now if without holiness no man shall see the Lord what will become of all prophane wretches who are so far from being holy that they fall short of common honesty Certainly God will shut the gates of glory upon such workers of iniquity Such prophane Esaus shall never be blest with a sight of God in glory Matth. 7.22 A wicked man is a sin lover he is a sin maker he lives in sin upon choice Psalm 11.5 1 John 3.8 the Hebrew word that is commonly used for a wicked man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifies a laborious sinner a practitioner in sin now such as these are God will have nothing to do with Job 8.20 Behold God will not cast away a perfect man neither will he help the evil doers or rather as the Hebrew carries it he will not take the ungodly by the hand that is he will not have any fellowship any society any familiarity with the ungodly the holy God will not so much as take an ununholy soul by the hand he will not in the least countenance him nor respect him he will not welcome him nor entertain him nor shew the least favour to him Now certainly if God will not take the wicked by the hand he will never take them into heaven he will never take them into his bosome God will have no commerce nor communion with those to whom he will not so much as lend a hand God will wash his hands of them for ever to whom he will not give a hand Which made Austin say that he would not be a wicked man one half hour for all the world because he might die in that half hour God will wash his hands of every man that lives and dies a wicked man Mat 25.11.12 The hearts and ways of wicked menare full of hells and therefore to fill heaven with such would be to fill heaven with hells Secondly This truth may serve to convince those that are scoffers and mockers at holiness of their wofull and miserable estate Holiness is so high and so noble a thing 2 Pet. 3.3 Jude 18. that men should rather honour it then deride it reverence it then reproach it they should rather set a crown of glory then a crown of thorns upon the head of it Holiness is the glorious Image of God fairly stampt upon the foul and to deride holiness is to deride God himself God takes all the affronts that are done to his Image as done to himself and this scoffers shall know at last to their eternal wo. As Suetonius reports it was If it was such a hainous crime in Tiberius his dayes to carry the Image of Augustus upon a Ring or Coin into any sordid place Ah how hainous a crime is it then to cast dirt and filth scorn and reproach upun holiness which is the Image of the invisible God! The despite and contempt that is done to the Image or coin of a Prince is done to the Prince himself and accordingly he will revenge it In old Rome there were near as many Statues as there were living people and some were made of Gold some of Silver some of Brass some of Ivory and some of polished Marble And there was an Earl appointed whose office it was continually to walk up and down in the night attended with many souldiers to see that none did wrong the Statues of those that were set up in the City Lipsius de Mag. Rom. Imperii and if any such were found that had done wrong to any of the Statues they were put to death Holiness is the Statue of God and such as shall dare to deface it and wrong it God will destroy Gen. 9 22.25 Ch 21.9.15 The Apostle interprets Ismaels mocking to be persecution Gal. 4 27. 2 Kings 2.23 24. 2 Chr. 30.10 Ch. 36.15.21 2 Kings 19.20 ult The old world scofft and scornd at righteousness and God sweeps them away with a flood C ham mock't and scoff't at Righteous Noah and what did he get by it but a curse Ismael scoff't at holy Isaac and what did he get by his scoffing and mocking but ejection out of Abrahams family And what became of those two and forty young scoffers that scoffed and mocked at holy Elisha were they not cursed in the name of the Lord and torn in pieces by two She bears which were more fierce and cruel then others The Jews were much given up to scoffing and mocking of the messengers of the Lord till there was no remedy till old and young were destroyed by the sword of the Caldees till their Temple and City were fired and sacked and thirty of them sold for a penny c. and those that escaped the sword were captivated and enslaved Senacherib scoffed and
not only to holy men but also to all ingenious men and to all civil and moral honest men As the scorners tongue and hand is against every man so every mans tongue and hand shall be against him Now if the scorners of men be abominable to men then much more are the scorners of holiness abominable to God and therefore certainly such shall be shut out from a glorious fruition of God Thirdly If real holiness be the only way to happiness and that if men be not holy on earth they shall never come to a blessed vision or fruition of God in heaven Then by way of conviction this looks sowerly and sadly upon all Formalists who have only a form a shew a profession of holiness but have nothing of the reality spirit life or power of holiness in them 2 Tim. 3.5 Isa 58.1.2 3. Zach. 7.4.5 6. Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away They have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a face a vizard a mask a shew of godliness but they have nothing of the pith sap life or marrow of godliness their devotion their godliness lies in good words and in fair shews and in religious gestures if you hearken to their voice if you look upon their eyes if you observe the motion of their hands and the bowing of their knees and the shaking of their heads c. you would think that they were men of much religion of much godliness But if you look into their hearts and lives you will find them to be the greatest renouncers and denyers of Religion and godliliness in the world They have the semblance of goliness but not the substance they have the lineaments of godliness but not the life they have the face of godliness but not the heart they have the form the shadow of godliness but not the power They are like a well drawn picture which hath all the lineaments of a man but wants life wants a principle of motion and operation Mark 1. A form of godliness is Englands Epidemical disease The form of godliness is common but the power of godliness is rare 2. The form of godliness is cheap but the power of godliness is dear 3. The form of godliness is easie but the power of godliness is difficult 4. The form of godliness is a credit but the power of godliness is a reproach 5. The form of godliness is pleasurable and delightfull but the power of godliness is displeasing and undelightful to the ignoble part of a Christian 6. The form of godliness will stand with secret and with open wickednesse as you see in Saul 1 Peter 1.17 Jer. 44.17 Jehu Judas Simon Magus Demas and the Scribes and Pharisees but the power of godliness will not the power of godliness layes the Ax to the very root of all sin both secret and open Rachel was very fair and beautifull to the eye but she was barren and that marred all So the Formalist he is a very fair and beautifull Christian to the eye but he is barren God-wards and Christ-wards and Heaven-wards he is fruitless sapless and lifeless and that marrs all The Formalist takes up a form of godliness 1. To quiet his conscience 2. To get himself a name 3. To cloak over his sins 4. To advance his worldly interest and 5. To avoid opposition and persecution from the world the flesh and the Devil 6. And to conform to old customs And what should such Formalists do in heaven A formal Christian is but a figure a flaunt a flourish a flash and all he doth is but the shadow of what he should do A formalist is more light then life more notion then motion more head then heart more outside then inside more leaves then fruit more shadow then substance A formalist is a blazing Comet a painted Tomb a Stage-player a white devil or a devil in an Angels habit and what should such devils do in heaven Certainly if without real holiness no man shall see the Lord then the formalist that hath only the shape the shew the form of godliness but nothing of the reality and power of it shall never be blest with such a sight A formalist is neither hot nor cold of all sorts of sinners he is the worst and God so loaths him that he is resolved he will rid his stomack of him Rev. 3.16 I will spue thee out of my mouth and certainly heaven is too holy a place to lick up that gorge God hath cast up Lukewarm water cannot be so loathsome to our stomacks as a formalist is to Gods God is never at such ease as when he hath cast up and cast out the formal Christian Magdenburge Cent. 5. I have read of Anastasius the Emperour how God shot him to death with a thunder-bolt because of his lukewarmness and formality God hath a thunder-boult for every formalist by which he will at last certainly strike them down to the lowest hell A formalist is too loathsome a thing too heavy a burden for heaven to bear Fourthly If real holiness be the only way to happiness if men must be holy on earth or else they shall never see the face of God in heaven Then this truth by way of conviction looks sowerly and sadly upon all those who please and satisfie themselves with civility and common honesty who are good negative Christians who bless themselves that they are no swearers nor drunkards Luke 18.10 11 12 13 14. Mat. 5.21 Chap. 19.20 21 22. nor extortioners nor adulterers c. they pay every man his own they are just and righteous in their dealings no man can say black is their eye their carriage is civil comely harmless and blamelesse They make a fair shew in the flesh Gal. 6.12 or as the Greek hath it they set a good face on it But as good a face as they do set on it I must crave leave to tell them that civility is not sanctity civility rested in is but a beautifull abomination a smooth way to hell and destruction I may truly say of all civil men who are disstitute of that real holiness that leads to happiness what Erasmus said of Seneca If you look upon him as a heathen then he seemeth to write as if he were a Christian but if you look upon him as a Christian then he seemeth to write as a heathen So if you look upon many civil moral mens lives you will find them so full of ingenuity equity righteousness sweetness and justice that you will be ready to say Sure these are holy men But then do but observe how unacquainted they are with God with Christ with the Scripture with the way and working of the spirit with the filthiness of sin with the depths and devices of Satan with their own hearts with the new-birth and with the great concernments of eternity and you will judge them to be meer heathens to be men void of all principles of grace and holiness and to
there were three Doctors heads of houses one of them was accounted an Innovator the second a Puritan the third a Neuter A witty Scholler presented them thus to the world the first in a Coach driving to Rome the second driving to Genevâ—h the third running on foot begging sometimes the one sometimes the other to receive him but both refused him Neuters shall be refused on all hands at last Newters are Traytors they betray Christ for the worlds sake and the world for Christs sake and themselves for sin and Satans sake And who will not refuse and scorn traytors God will refuse them because he loaths halting Angels will refuse them because they loath halving Good men will refuse them because they loath lukewarmness and bad men will refuse them because they pretend to goodness though they live in wickedness Ambo-dexters in Religion are ignominious disgracers both of the name and profession of Christians they are prodigious traytors to the crown of heaven they are the greatest enemies to the power of godliness they are the very off-spring of Judas and in the day of account it will be found that it had been good for them that they had never been born Neutrality is the spiritual adultery of the heart Aut totum mecum tene aut totum omitte Greg. Nazien Neuters are spiritual Harlots they have their hearts divided between God and Mammon betwixt Christ and other Lovers Now Harlots in Ancient time were to be burnt Gen. 38.24 Certainly hell is for the Neuter and the neuter for hell God will be as severe yea more severe in punishing spiritual whoredom then ever men have been in punishing corporal whoredom God looks upon every neuter as a man in arms against him Matth. 12.30 He that is not with me is against me And therefore Martial Law shall be executed upon them God will blot out their names and hang them up as monuments of his justice and vengeance Sirs do not deceive your own souls no man was ever yet carried to glory in the chariot of neutrality or mediocrity he that is not throughout holy is not really holy and he that is not really holy can never be truly happy it is only throughout holiness that entitles a man to everlasting happiness 1 Pet. 1.15 2 Pet. 3.11 Matth. 24.51 The true mother would not have the child divided she would have all or none you must be for all holiness or for none Neuters now devide and cut those things asunder that God hath closely joyned together but at last God will suite their punishment to their sin and cut them asunder Luke 12.46 Now the neuter chuses here a piece and there a piece and at last God will cut him in pieces 1 Sam. 15.23 as Samuel did Agag Well Neuters now you divide one command from another one duty from another one promise from another one threatning from another one ordinance from another and one way of God from another But the day is a coming wherein God will divide your souls from your bodies and both from himself his Son his Saints and his Glory for ever Sixthly If real holiness be the only way to happiness if men must be holy on earth or they shall never come to a fruition of God in heaven Then this truth by way of conviction looks sowerly and sadly upon all hypocrites who have only a seeming holiness a feigned holiness a counterfeit holiness The Apostle speaks of a true holiness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 4.24 or holiness of truth as the Greek reads it in opposition to that feigned and counterfeit holiness that is in the world pretended holiness is most opposite to the holiness of God Hypocritical holiness is the greatest unholiness Ex. 30.32 33. Who can with patience see Apes in the habit of Nobles saith Lucianus and as God hath so certainly God will still sute the punishment to the sin If it was death in Moses his Law to counterfeit that Ceremonial and figurative ointment what shall it then be to counterfeit the spirit of life and holiness Dissembled sanctity is double iniquity He that professeth religion without being religious and godliness without being godly he that makes counterfeit holiness a cloak to impiety and a Mid-wife to iniquity He that is a Cato without and a Nero within a Jacob without and an Esau within a David without and a Saul within a Peter without and a Judas within a Saint without and a Satan within an Angel without and a devil within is ripened for the worst of torments Matth. 24.5 And shall cut him asunder and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Hypocrites are the freeholders of hell all other sinners do but hold under them none have so large a portion in hell as hypocrites have No man at last will be found so miserable as he that hath the name of a Saint upon him but not the divine nature in him that hath a profession of holiness upon him but no principles of holiness in him that hath a form of godliness but not the power that can cry up godliness and court godliness but in practise denyes it that is a Jew outwardly but an Atheist a Pagan a devil inwardly Who had a greater name for holiness and who made a greater shew of holiness and who did more despise and insult over men for the want of holiness then the Scribes and Pharisees and who so miserable now as they Mat. 23.14 Hypocritis nihil est crudelius impatientius vindictae cupidius Luther There is not a more cruel creature more impatient and vindictive then an hypocrite said he that had the experience of it in his own person Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye devour widows houses and for a pretence make long prayers therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation Pretended holiness will double damn souls at last Sirs do not deceive your own souls A painted sword shall as soon defend a man and a painted mint shall as soon inrich a man and a painted fire shall assoon warm a man and a painted friend shall assoon counsel a man and a painted horse shall assoon carry a man and a painted feast shall assoon satisfie a man and a painted house shall assoon shelter a man as a painted holiness shall save a man He that now thinks to put off God with a painted holiness shall not fare so well at last as to be put off with a painted happiness The lowest the hottest and the darkest habitation in hell will be his portion whose religion lyes all in shews and shadows Well spiritual Counterfeits remember this it will not be long before Christ will unmask you before he will uncase you before he will disrobe you before he will take off your vizards your hoods and turn your rotten insides outward to your eternal shame and reproach before all the world Counterfeit Diamonds may sparkle and glister
and make a great shew for a time but their lustre will soon wear off Nil fictum est diuturnum nothing counterfeit will last long Maud mother to King Henry the second being besieged in Winchester-castle counterfeited her self to be dead Anno 1141. and so was carried out in a Coffin whereby she escaped at another time being besieged at Oxford in a cold Winter by wearing white apparrel she got away in the snow undiscovered but at last vengeance did over-take her So though hypocrites may for a time seem to be dead to sin Job 17.8 chap. 36.13 and dead to the world though they may cloath themselves with a snow-like purity and with the white sattin of seeming sanctity yet God at last will unmask and unmuffle them and vengeance will with a witness overtake them Isa 33.14 Hypocrites are like blazing Stars which so long as they are fed with vapours Job 20.5 Hosea 6.4 shine as if they were fixed Stars but let the vapours dry up and presently they vanish and disappear As the joy of the hypocrite so the goodness of the hypocrite is but for a moment it is as a morning cloud and as the early dew an hypocrite is a meer comet a flaunt a flash principles of holiness are lasting but hypocrisie makes a man only constant in inconstancy Seventhly If real holiness be the only way to happiness if men must be holy on earth or they shall never come to a fruition of God in heaven Then this truth by way of conviction looks sowerly and sadly upon such who please and bless themselves with common gifts and common grace 1 Cor. 12.4 Matth. 7.22 with a gift of knowledge a gift of faith a gift of prayer a gift of utterance a gift of memory c. when they have nothing of real holiness in them Like chose in Mat. 22.23 who had great gifts but were so far from real sanctity that they were workers of iniquity they had a flood of gifts but not a drop of grace they had many gifts but not one saving grace they could work miracles but that miracle of holiness being not wrote in them Christ takes an everlasting farewell of them Depart from me ye workers of iniquity So they in Heb. 6. had enlightened heads but where was their humbleness and holiness of heart they had silver tongues but where was their sanctified souls they had some smack some tastes and relishes of heavens glory but where was their inward and outward purity Notwithstanding all their extraordinary gifts of speaking with tongues casting out of Devils and opening of prophesies yet were they not renewed regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Ghost As Nurses milk is of use to others but of none to themselves Their gifts might be of singular use to the enlightening quickening edifying comforting and encouraging of others and yet never have any influence upon their own hearts to the changing renewing and sanctifying of them Men of greatest gifts are not alwaies men of greatest holiness The Scribes and Pharisees Judas Dâ—mas Tertullus and Simon Magus were men of great gifts and yet they had no real holiness they had the ninety nine of gifts whâ—ch Christ looks not after but wanted the one viz. real holiness Matth. 23.15 which with Christ is all in all Augustine trembled when he considered the extraordinary gifts and parts that were in his base child to think what God meant in infusing so precious a soul and in giving such rare gifts to such an impure creature The Devil hath greater gifts then any man on earth and yet he is a Devil still gifts without holiness will but make a man twice told the child of hell The more of gifts here the more without holiness of hell hereafter The greatest Schollars have often proved the greatest sinners the stoutest opposers and the worst of persecutors There are none so wicked as he that is wittily wicked The highest gifts many times prove but the fairest pathes to the chambers of death As the richer the Ship is laden with barrs of silver and gold the deeper it sinks so the richer the soul is laden with silver parts and golden gifts and yet not ballanced with real holiness the deeper it sinks under wrath and misery And no wonder for 1. Gifts do but tickle the ear they do not cleanse heart 2. They do but stir the affections they do not kill corruptions 3. They are but ornaments to a mans profession they have no saving influence upon a mans conversation They tempt a man to take up with the world but they never help a man to overcome the world 4. They make a man wise to deceive and wise to delude both â—imself and others rare accomplishments are many times turned into beautiful ornaments to adorn the Devil and errour withall 5. The gifted man cares not who is most holy so he may be most honoured who is highest in favour with God so he may be highest in favour with men who is most serviceable so he may be most acceptable who gets most of another world so he may have most of this world and what should such an one do in heaven Gifts differ as much from real holiness as an Angel in heaven differs from a Devil in Hell Zach. 7.5 6. Rom. 14.6 7 8. 6. Gifts makes a man work for life but holiness makes a man work from life 7. Gifts work a man to set up for himself and to deal and trade for himself but holiness works a man to deal for God and to trade for God and his glory 8. Gifts takes up in ingenuous civilities and outward formalities but holiness takes up only in that holy one Hab. 1.12 1 Cor. 8.7 9. Gifts only restrains the soul but grace renews and changes the soul 10. Gifts puffs the soul but holiness humbles the soul 11. Gifts makes a man beautiful like Rachel but holiness makes a man fruitful like Leah 12. Gifts makes a man most studious and laborious about mending and reforming other mens hearts and lives but holiness makes a man most studious and industrious in mending and reforming his own heart and life Psalm 45.13 13. Gifts makes all glorious without but holiness makes all glorious within 14. Gifts makes a good head but holiness makes a good heart 15. Gifts envies lessens darkens obscures and disparages with buts and ifs and ands the excellencies of others but holiness makes a man rejoyce in every Sun that out-shines its own John 4.14 1 John 3.9 16. Gifts are fading and withering but holiness is an everlasting spring that can never be drawn dry 1 Cor. 13.1 6. 17. Gifts draws from God but holiness draws to God though men of gifts may bid fair for heaven yea come so near as to hear the musick of heaven yet without holiness they shall never enter into heaven When night comes the Father will only take in his own child into his house and though another child which
may be much like his own should attempt to come in yet the Father will keep him out and wish him to repair to his own home So when the night of death comes the Father of Spirits will only take into the family of heaven his own child viz. the child of holiness but now if the child of gifts which is so like the child of holiness should press hard upon God to come in as that child of gifts Baalam did Numb 23.10 Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his God will answer him No he will say to him as he did to that child of gifts Judas Acts 1.25 Mat. 8.12 Go to your own place In the night of death and judgement the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out the children of the Kingdom that is of the Church now the children of the Kingdom are children of gifts and yet there will come a day when these children shall be cast out Gen. 25.6 c. As Abraham put off the sons of the Concubines with gifts but entailed the inheritance upon Isaac So God puts off many men now with gifts but he entails the heavenly inheritance upon holiness Psalm 24.3 4. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord and who shall stand in his holy place He that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his soul to vanity nor sworn deceitfully Heaven is for that man and that man is for heaven who hath clean hands and a pure heart whose holy conversation is attended with heart-purification a pure heart is better then a golden head a heart full of holy affections is infinitely beyond a head full of curious notions there is no Jewel there is no anointing to that of holiness he that hath that hath all and he that wants that hath nothing at all But Eightly and lastly if real holiness be the only way to happiness if men must be holy on earth or they shall never come to a blessed fruition of God in heaven then by way of conviction let me say that this truth looks very sowerly and angrily upon those who are so far from being holy themselves that they cannot endure holiness in those that are about them or any waies related to them Ah how many unholy people be there that cannot endure holiness in their Ministers and how many unholy husbands are there that cannot endure holiness in their yoak-fellows and how many unholy parents are there that cannot endure holiness in their children and how many unholy Masters are there that cannot endure holiness in their servants The Panther say some when she cannot come at the man she rendeth and teareth his picture in pieces so many unholy husbands unholy fathers and unholy masters when they cannot rend and tear the persons of their relations in pieces ah how do they do their best to rend and tear the image of God upon them Matth. 23.14 15. 2 Sam. 6.16 20. viz. holiness in pieces These forlorn souls will not be holy themselves nor suffer others to be holy neither they will neither go to heaven themselves nor suffer others to go thither who are strongly biased that way Some despise their gracious relations even eâ— nomine for that very reason because they are holy sometimes you shall hear them speak at such a rate as this Well our relations are wise and witty but so holy they are very knowing and thriving but so precise they have good parts and sweet natures but they are so strict they are so round that they will not endure an oath a lye c. and therefore I cannot abide them I cannot endure them These are like he in Seneca which was so fearfully idle that his sides would ake to see another work So these are so fearfully wicked that it makes their sides their heads their very hearts ake to see others holy How far these are in their actings below Heathens you may see in Rom. 16.10 11. Aristobulus and Narcissus that are spoken of in this Scripture were both Heathens and yet they had in their families those that were in the Lord those that were gracious c. Heathens were so ingenuous that they would not despise that holiness in others that they wanted in themselves they were so noble that they would give holiâ—ess house-room though they knew not how to give it heart-room Gen. 39.1 2 3 4. So Potiphar though he was an Heathen yet he gave holy Joseph both house-room and heart-room These and several other heathens of the like spirit with them will one day rise in Judgement against many in these dayes that are so far faln out with holiness as that they will not endure it under the roof of their houses yea as that they make it the greatest matter of scorn and derision Like those in Lam. 2.15 16. All that pass by clap their hands at thee they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem saying Is this the City that men call the perfection of beauty the joy of the whole earth All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee they hiss and gnash the teeth they say We have swallowed her up c. Ah how many such monsters are there in these dayes who express their derision disdain and contempt of holiness and holy persons by all the scornful gestures postures and expressions imaginable that clap their hands that hiss that wag their head that gnash their teeth and that say Lo these are your Saints these are your holy ones your perfect ones your beautiful ones It is very sad to want holiness but it is saddest of all to deride holiness to disdain holiness Of this evil spirit Salvian complained in his time Salvi de Guber lib. 4. What madness is this saith he amongst Christians that if a man be good he is despised as if he were evil if he be evil he is honoured as if he were good And as great cause have we to complain of the prevalency of the same evil spirit in our times If the wife be holy 1 Cor. 7.16 how is she despised by her unholy husband as if she were wicked If she be wicked how is she honoured as if she were holy So if the child be gracious how is he disdained as if he were gracless if he be gracless how is he admired as if he were gracious So if a Servant be godly how is he scorned as if he were godless if he be godless how is he applauded as if he were godly Certainly God will never endure such to stand in his sight who cannot endure the sight of holiness Doubtless Psalm 1.5 God will never give them any room in heaven who will not so much as give holiness a little house-room I say not heart-room here He that now despises and disdains holiness in others shall at last be eternally despised and disdained for want of holiness himself Vse 2. THe second Use is
man was never truly holy who endeavours not to get up to the highest pitches of holiness True holiness knows no restrictions Ille non est bonus qui non vult esse melior nor limitation But now counterfeit holiness is either like Hezekiahs Sun which went backward Or like Joshuahs Sun which stood still or like Ephraims morning cloud which soon passed away No round but the highest round in Jacobs Ladder will satisfie a holy soul True holiness make a man divinely covetous Look as the victorious man can never make conquests enough nor the Ambitious man can never have honour enough nor the voluptuous man pleasure enough nor the worldling Mammon enough nor the wanton vain embraces enough no more can a man of holiness have ever holiness enough in this world As the grave the barren womb are never satisfied Pro. 30.15 16. they never say it is enough So a holyman whilest he is a this side eternity he is never satisfied he can never say that he hath holiness enough Fifthly Where there is real holinesse there is a holy hatred True hatred is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against the whole kind detestation and indignation against all ungodlinesse and wickednesse and that upon holy accounts Psa 119.101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way but why that I may keep thy word ver 104. Through thy precepts I get understanding therefore I hate every false way The good that he got by divine precepts stirred up his hatred against every false way ver 128. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right and I hate every false way His high esteem of every precept raised up in him a holy indignation against every evil way A holy man knows that all sin strikes at the holinesse of God the glory of God the nature of God the being of God and the Law of God and therefore his heart rises against all he looks upon every sin as the Scribes and Pharisees that accused Christ and as that Judas that betrayed Christ and that Pilate that condemned Christ and those Souldiers that scourged Christ and as those spears that pierced Christ and therefore his heart cries out for Justice upon all He looks upon every sin as having a hand in the death of his Saviour and therefore he cries out Crucifie them all crucifie them all he looks upon every sin as a grieving of the spirit as a vexing of the Spirit Ephes 4.30 Isa 63.10 1 Thes 5.19 and as a quenching of the spirit and so nothing will satisfie him but the ruine of them all He looks upon every sin as a dishonour to God as an enemy to Christ as a wound to the Spirit as a reproach to the Gospel and as a moth to his holinesse and therefore his heart and his hand is against every sin but now if you will but look into the Scriptures you shall find that all those that have been but pretenders to holinesse Isa 58.1.9 Zach. 7.4 5 6 7. their hearts have been alwayes engaged to some one way of wickednesse or another Jehu was very zealous against Idolaters but yet his heart was engaged to his golden calves Mark 6. John 12.6 Herod hears John Baptist gladly and reforms many things c. but yet his Herodias must still lye in his bosome Judas was as forward in religious Services as any others but yet money did bear the masterie with him The Pharisees made long prayers Matth. 23.19 Chap. 16.23 that they might the better make a prey upon widows house The young man offered fair for heaven but yet his possessions had so possest and lockt up his heart that Christ could get no enterance Acts 8.13 17 18 19 20 21 22 23. Though Simon Magus believed and was baptized and wondred at the miracles and signs which were done by Philip yet for all these shews of godlinesse he was a prisoner to his lusts his condition was dangerous poysonous and odious he was in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquity So those in Mat. 7.21 22 23. though they complemented with Christ saying Lord Lord though they prophecied in Christs name and cast out devils in Christs name yea though they did not a few Qui habet unium vitium habet omnia He that hath any one vice hath all other with it saith Seneca truly but many wonderfull works in Christs name yet all this while they were workers of inity they were Artists in sin they were so addicted to sin that they made a trade of sin Look as every Lyon hath his den every Dog his kennel every Sow her stie and ever Crow her nest so every unholy person hath one sin or another to which his heart is engaged and married and that sin will undo him for ever As Lysimachus lost his earthly kingdom by drinking one draught of water So many lose a heavenly kingdom by indulging some one sin or other One flaw spoils the Diamond one Treason makes a Traytor one turn brings a man quite out of the way one Leak sinks the Ship one wound strikes Goliah dead one Dalilah betrayes Sampson one broken wheel spoils the whole Clock Judges 8. and one fly spoils the whole box of oyntment And as one Bastard destroyed Gideons seventy sons so one predominant sin is enough to destroy the soul for ever As by taking one nap Sampson lost his strength and by eating one Apple Adam lost Paradise so many men by favouring one sin lose God heaven and their souls for ever He that favours any sin though he frowns upon many doth but as Benhadab recover of one disease and die of another Yea he takes pains to go to hell sin favoured ever ends tragically And as no unholy heart rises against all sin so no unholy heart disdains sin or rises against sin upon noble accounts upon holy and heavenly accounts Sometimes you shall have an unholy person angry with sin and falling out with sin because in hath crackt his credit or clouded his honour or hindered his profit or imbittered his pleasure or enraged his conscience or exposed him to shame here and hell hereafter But never because a righteous Law is transgressed a holy God is dishonoured a loving Saviour is afresh crucified or the blessed Spirit grieved It is between a holy and an unholy soul as it is between two children one will not touch the coal because it will smut him and the other will not touch it because it will burn him A holy heart rises against sin because of its defiling nature but an unholy heart rises against sin because of its burning and damning nature A holy man is most affected and afflicted with the evil that is in sin but an unholy heart is most affected and afflicted with the punishment that is due to sin A holy person hates sin because it pollutes his soul but an unholy person hates it because it destroyes his soul A holy person loaths sin
vile what shall I answer thee I will lay my hand upon my mouth Once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twice but I will proceed no further So holy Agur Prov. 30.2 3. Surely I am more brutish then any man and have not * Binath Adam the understanding of Adam the understanding of a man I neither learned wisdom nor have the knowledge of the holy Though all men are brutish yet holy men are most sensible of their brutishness and most affected and afflicted with it wicked men are more brutish then the beasts Isa 1.3 4. yet they see it not they bewail it not but holy Agur both sees his brutishness and bewails it Holy Agur looking upon that rare knowledge that depth of wisdom and those admirable excellencies that Adam was endued with in his integrity and innocency confesses himself to be but brutish to be as much below what Adam once was as a bruit is below a man Psalm 51. So holy David cries not Perii I am undone I shall perish but peccavi I have sinned I have done foolishly And so for his being envious at the prosperity of the foolish Psalm 73.2 3. how doth he befool and be-beast himself Psalm 73.22 So foolish was I and ignorant I was as a beast before thee The Hebrew word Behemoth Therefore the Elephant is called Behemoth in Job 40.15 that is here rendred beast generally comprehends all beasts of the greater sort As an aggravation of his folly he confesseth that he was as a beast as a great beast yea as an Epiâ—ome of all great beasts So the holy Prophet Isaiah complains that he was undone Isa 6.5 that he was cut off not upon any worldly account but because he was a man of unclean lips and dwelt in the midst of a people of unclean lips Dan. 9. So holy Daniel complained not that they were reproached and oppressed but that they had rebelled So Peter Luke 5.8 Depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord Or as the Greek hath it I am a man a sinner O Lord depart from me for I am a mixture and compound of all vileness and sinfulness Rom. 7.23 24. So holy Paul cries not out of his opposers or persecutors but of the Law in his members rebelling against the Law of his mind Pauls body of death within him put him to more grief and sorrow then all the troubles and trialls that ever befell him An holy heart laments over those sins that he cannot conquer a holy person labours to wash out all the stains and spots that be in his soul in the streams of godly sorrow that his sins may never drown his soul Zach. 2.10 Isa 59.1 2. he will do what he can to drown his sins in penitential tears A holy person looks upon his sins as the crucifiers of his Saviour and so they affect him he looks upon his sins as the great incendaries make-bates and separatist between God and his soul and so they afflict him he looks upon his fins as so many reproaches to his God blemishes to his profession and wounds to his credit and conscience and so they grieve and trouble him he looks upon his sins as those that make many a righteous soul besides his own sad whom God would not have sadded and that opens many a sinful mouth that God would have stopped Ezek. 13.22 and that strengthens many a wicked heart that God would not have strengthened and so they fetch many a sigh from his heart and many a tear from his eyes When a holy man sins he looks upwards and there he sees God frowning he looks downwards and there he sees Satan insulting he looks within himself and there he finds his conscience either a bleeding raging or accusing he looks without himself and there he finds gracious men lamenting and mourning and graceless men deriding and mocking the sense of which doth sorely and sadly afflict a gracious soul Some say that Saint Peters eyes after his great falls were alwayes full of tears insomuch that his face was furrowed with continual weeping for his horrid thoughts his desperate words his shameful shifts and his damnable deeds which made him look more like a child of hell then like a Saint whose name was written in heaven Some say of Adam that when he turned his face towards the Garden of Eden he sadly lamented his great fall Some say of Mary Magdalen that she spent thirty years in Galba in weeping for her sins Davids sins were ever before him and therefore no wonder if Tears instead of Gemms were so constantly the ornaments of his bed Wicked Pharaoh cryes out Psal 115.3 Oh take away these filthy frogs take away these dreadful judgments but holy David cryes out O Lord take away the iniquity of thy servant Pharaoh cryes out because of his punishments but David cryes out because of his sin Anselm saith that with grief he considered the whole course of his life I found saith he the infancy of sin in the sins of my infancy the youth and growth of sin in the sins of my youth and growth and the ripeness of all sin in the sins of my ripe and perfect age and then he breaks forth into this patheticall expression What remaineth for thee wretched man but that thou spend thy whole life in bewailing thy whole life By all which it is most evident that holy hearts are very much affected and afflicted with their own unholiness and vileness Now certainly those persons are as far off from real holiness as hell is from heaven who take pleasure in unrighteousness who make a scoff and mock of sin who commit wickedness with greediness who talk wickedly who live wantonly who trade deceitfully who swear horribly who drink stifly who lye hideously and who die impenitently But Seventhly Real holiness naturalizes holy duties to the soul it makes religious services to be easie and pleasant to the soul 1 Pet. 1 2. Jam. 5.15 Hence prayer is called the prayer of faith because holy faith naturalizeth a mans heart to prayer it is as natural for a holy man to pray as it is for him to breath or as it is for a bird to fly or fire to ascend or a stone to descend Rom. 16.26 Psalm 119.166 And hence it is that obedience is called the obedience of faith because holy faith naturalizes a mans heart to obedience As soon as ever this plant of renown was set in the heart of Paul he cryes out Lord what wilt thou have me to do Acts 9.6 Gal. 3.2 And hence it is that hearing is called the hearing of faith because this holy principle naturalizes a mans heart to hearing Psalm 122.1 2. I was glad when they said unto me Let us go into the house of the Lord. And so in Isa 2.3 And many people shall go and say Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord to the house of
screws up his Consciencee till he makes all crack again Under all his shews of sanctity he had not so much as common honesty in him Counterfeit holiness is often made a stalking horse to the exercise of much unrighteousness Certainly that man is as far from real holiness as the Devil himself is from true happiness who lives not in the exercise of righteousness towards men as well as in a profession of holiness towards God Well Christians remember this it were better with the Philosopher to have honesty without Religion then to have Religion without honesty But Ninthly He that is truly holy will labour and endeavour to make others holy a holy heart loves not to go to heaven alone it loves not to be happy and blessed alone a man that hath experienced the power excellency and sweetness of holiness will strive and study how to make others holy When Sampson had tasted honey Judg. 14.8 9. he gave his father and mother some with him Holiness is so sweet a morsel that a soul cannot taste of it 1 Thes 1.5 6 7 8. but he will be a commending of it to others As you may see in holy Moses in Numb 11.29 And Moses said unto him Enviest thou for my sake Lilmod le lammed we therefore learn that we may teach is a proverb among the Rabbines would God that all the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them A holy soul will never make a monopoly of holiness the Prophets you know were men of greatest grace and holiness now holy Moses is very importunate and earnest with God that he would not only make the two that prophesied but all the Lords people eminent and excellent in grace and holiness such was Moses his holiness and humbleness that he desires that all others might either equal him or excell him in gifts and grace The Heathen could say I do therefore lay in and lay up that I may draw forth again for the good of many A heart eminently holy is so far from envying of the gracious excellencies of others that it can rejoyce in every Sun that out-shines his own and every light that burns more dim then his he desires that it may be snufft not put out that so it may give a clearer and a greater light to others So holy Paul in Acts 26.29 And Paul said I would to God that not only thou but also all that hear me this day were both almost and altogether such as I am except these bands True holiness is no Churl nothing makes a man more noble in his spiritual desires wishes and actings for others then holiness Real holiness like oyl is of a diffusive nature like light it will spread it self over all like Maries box of ointment it fills all the house with the sweet scent thereof Art thou a holy Father then thou wilt with holy Abraham labour to make thy children holy Gen. 18.17 18 19. A holy heart knows that both by his first birth but especially by his new-birth he stands obliged to promote holiness in all but especially in those that are parts and pieces of himself Art thou a holy Master then thou wilt with holy Joshua labour to make all under thy charge holy Josh 24.15 But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. True holiness cannot be concealed it will be a stirring and a provoaking of others to be holy as a holy man doth not love to be happy alone so a holy man doth not love to be holy alone A holy master loves to see a Crown of holiness set upon every head in his family Holiness is a very beautiful thing and it makes those beautiful in whom it is in a holy Masters eye there is no servant so lovely and beautiful as he that hath the beauty of holiness upon him George Prince of Aâ—halt his family is said to have been Ecclesia Academia Curia A Church an University and a Court. A holy Magistrate will labour to make both his servants and his subjects holy As holy David holy Asa holy Josiah and holy Ezekiah did he knows that the souls of his servants and subjects are the choicest treasure that God hath committed to his care he knows that every soul is more worth then his Crown and Kingdom he knows that he must one day give up an account for more souls then his own and therefore he improves his power and interest every way for the making of all holy under him As Lewis the ninth King of France took pains to instruct his poor Kitchin-boy in the way to heaven and being asked the reason of it he answered The meanest have a soul to save as precious as mine own and bought by the same blood of Christ It is said of Constantine that in this he was truly great that he would have his whole Court gathered together and cause the Scriptures to be read and opened to them that they might be made holy Courtiers Rev. 21.27 and so fitted for the Court of heaven into which no unclean person or thing can enter It grieved an Emperour that a neighbour of his should die before he had done him any good Ah it is the grief of a holy Magistrate to see others die before they are made holy the great request of a holy Magistrate living and dying is this Lord make this people a holy people O make this people a holy people Art thou a holy kinsman a holy friend then thou wilt labour to make thy kindred holy and thy friends holy As holy Cornelius did So in 1 John 39 49. Chap. 4.28 29 30. as you may see in Acts 10.24 27. And the morrow after they entred into Cesaria and Cornelius waited for them and had called together his kinsmen and near friends And as Peter talked with him he went in and found many that were come together And in ver 33. saith Cornelius to Peter Thou hast well done that thou art come Now therefore we are all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God Ver. 1 2 3 4. Devout Cornelius gets his kinsmen and near friends together that they also might be partakers of the grace and mercy of God with him he had experienced a work of grace and holiness upon his own heart and he uses his best endeavours that they might experience the same on theirs A holy Christian is like a loadstone that draws to it self first one iron ring and that another and that a third It is a true saying in natural Philosophie that it is Naturalissimum opus viventis generare sibi simile the most natural act or work of every living thing to produce another like unto it self As there is a natural instinct in all creatures to propagate their own kind as in beasts birds and fishes so there is a holy a spiritual instinct in all gracious hearts to propagate grace and holiness in whatever hearts they
blessed book and that think to correct the divine wisdom and eloquence with their own infancy and sophistry Non quanta eloquentia sed quanta evidentia saith Aug. Melius est ut nos reprehendant Grammatici quam ut non intelligúnt populi the same Author in Psalm 138. Such as mind more saith another the humouring of their hearers fancies then the saving of their souls do little consider that of Seneca Aeger non quaerit medicum eloquentem sed sanantem Sick men are not bettered by Physitians sugared words but by their skilful hands Doctor Sibbs was wont to say That great affectation and good affection seldom go together Truth is like Solomons Spouse all glorious within she is most beautiful when most naked as Adam was in innocency The King of Persia having sent to Antalcidas the Lacedemonian Captain a Garland of Roses wonderfully perfumed with Spices and other sophistications he accepted of his love but misliked the present and sent him word Rosarum odorem artis adulteratione perdidisti Thou hast marred the sweetness of the Roses with the sweetness of thy perfumes So many marr the sweetness of the Word by perfuming it with their humane eloquence and oratory For a close remember that God himself the great Master of speech when he spake from heaven he made use of three several Texts in a breath Matth. 17.5 This is my beloved son Psalm 2.7 In whom I am well pleased Isaiah 42.1 Hear ye him Deut. 18.15 which you may note against the curious queasiness of such nice ones as disdain at the stately plainness of the Scriptures But Christus opera nostra non tam actibus quam finibus pensat Zanchius Thirdly If thou dost really and actually aim at the glory of God in what thou dost then the glory of God will swallow up all by-aimes and ends that may thrust themselves in upon the soul whilest it is at its work Look as Aarons rod Exod. 7.10 11 12. swallowed up the Magicians rods so the glory of God will swallow up all carnal aims and ends Look as the Sun puts out the light of the fire so the glory of God will put out and consume all other ends This is most certain That which is a mans great end that will work out all other ends If thou settest up the glory of God as thy chief end that will by degrees eat out all low and base ends Look as Pharaohs lean kine Gen. 41.4 eat up the fat so the glory of God will eat up all those fat and worldly ends that croud in upon the soul in religious work The keeping up of the glory of God as thy great end will be the keeping down and the casting out of all other ends Fourthly He that really and actually aims at the glory of God in what he doth he will be doing what God commands Rom. 16.19 Obedientia non discutit Dei mandata sed facit Prosper though nothing for the present comes of it If his eye be truly fixed upon divine glory a command of God shall be enough to carry him on in his work Psalm 27.8 When thou saidst Seek ye my face my heart said unto thee Thy face Lord will I seek When the glory of God is a mans mark his heart will sweetly eccho and graciously comply with divine commands Jer. 3.22 Return ye back-sliding children and I will heal your back-slidings Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God Gods commands fall with great power and force upon that mans heart that hath divine glory in his eye One word from God will command such a soul to a gracious compliance with what God requires Psalm 119.4 5. Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently O that my wayes were directed to keep thy Statutes As soon as God laies a command upon a Christian he look Tota vita boni Christiani sanctum desiderium est Austin The whole life of a good Christian is a holy wish up to heaven for power to turn that precept into practice O that my wayes were directed to keep thy Statutes O that I were as holy as God would have me to be O that I were as humble and lowly as God would have me to be O that I were as heavenly and spiritual as God would have me to be O that I were as pure and perfect as God would have me to be So ver 48. My hands will I lift up to thy Commandments which I have loved Many there be which thrust away with all their might thy Commandments but I lift up my hands to thy Commandments Many there be that will strain themselves to take a comfort Prior est Autoritas imperantis quam utilitas servientis Tertul. The chief reason of obedience is the Authority of the Lord not the utility of the servant but I strain my self to lift up thy Commandments Many there are who will stretch out their hands to take a reward but I stretch out my hands to take hold on thy Commandments To give a little more light into these words Sometime the lifting up of hands betokens admiration when men are astonished and ravished they lift up their hands I will lift up my hands to thy Commandments that is I will admire the goodness the holiness the righteousness the purity and excellency of thy Commandments Again we lift up our hands when we betake our selves to refuge why Gods commands are the Saints refuge when they house and shelter themselves under the wings of Gods commands they are safe Again men lift up their hands when they take hold on a thing now gracious souls do take hold on Gods Commandments to do them to practise them and to express the life and power of them Again men lift up their hands to those things that are high and above them now the commands of God are high they are sublime they are above us they are sublime and high in regard of their original they come down from God they are sublime and high in regard of the matter of them they are heavenly Oracles they are dictates of divine wisdom they are sublime and high in regard of the difficulty of keeping of them they exceeding all humane strength and they are sublime and high in regard of their scituation they are scituated in heaven Thy word saies David endures for ever in heaven but yet as sublime and as high as they are a man that hath his eye upon divine glory will lift up his hands unto them he will do all he can to express the pleasure that he takes in them and the readiness of his soul to a holy compliance with them Compare these Scriptures together Psalm 44.12 20. Can. 3.1 2 3. Isa 26.8 9. chap. 59.8 9 10 11. Hab. 2.1 2 3. Micha 7.7 8 9. Lam. 3.8 44. compared with ver 24 25 26 31 32 40 41 55. A man that hath his eye upon divine glory he will keep close to his work to his hearing
moves and perswades men to holiness it is he that presents holiness in its beauty and glory to the soul it is he that sows seeds of holiness in the soul and it is he that causes those seeds to grow up to maturity and ripeness Nil nisi sanctum à sancto spiritu prodire potest Nothing can come from the holy spirit but that which is holy The holy Spirit is the great principle of all the holiness that is in the world and this holy Spirit God hath engaged himself to give to those that are unholy Ezek. 36.25 26 27. I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your Idols will I cleanse you A new heart will I also give you and a new spirit well I put within you and I well take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you a heart of flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgements and do them The holy spirit is a gift a free gift a noble gift a precious gift a glorious gift 2 Tim. 2.21 that God will bestow upon the unclean upon the unsanctified that they may be cleansed and sanctified and so fitted for the Lords service and use It is possible that you may be holy Witness 2. His holy word that he hath given on purpose to make men holy and to keep men holy Deut. 4.6 7 8 9. Rom. 7.12 Luke 1.70 to 76. his commandments are holy just and good his threatnings are holy just and good and all his promises are holy just and good The holy Scriptures were written with a finger of holinesse so as to move to holiness and to work holinesse the whole word of God is an intire love-letter to provoke to holiness and to promote holiness Holy commands should sweetly perswade us to holiness and holy threatnings should divinely force us to holiness and holy promises should effectually allure us to the love of holiness to the embracing of holiness and to the practise of holiness The great design of God in sending this sacred volume in golden letters from heaven was to enamour men with the love and beauty of holiness Again it is possible that you may attain to true holiness Witness 3. Those holy Embassadors that he hath sent on purpose to turn men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to Jesus Christ Acts 26.18 2 Corin. 5.18 19 20. Their great business and work is to treat with you about holiness it is to woo you to match with holiness and to follow after holiness it is to remove all lets and impediments that may any wayes hinder your embracing of holiness and it is to propose all manner of encouragements that may win you over to make holiness your great All. Again it is possible that you may be holy Witnesse 4. The holy Examples of all the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Praecepta docent exempla movent and Saints that are left on record on purpose to provoke you to an imitation of them in holiness their holy examples as so many shining stars are left upon record to influence us to holiness In the holy examples of those that are now triumphant in heaven you may run and read that holiness is attainable In their holy examples as in so many looking-glasses you may see that holiness is a Jewel that may be procured by that holiness that others have reached to sinners may see that it is possible that they may be made Saints Again it is possible that you may be holy Witnesse 5. All those notorious sinners that the Scripture declares have been sanctified and made holy to instance only in a few Adam you know was created in an estate of innocency Gen. 1.26 integrity and perfect holiness he being made in the image of God and after the likeness and similitude of God it was agreed upon in the Parliament of heaven that man should be made glorious in holiness In this Scripture he speaks plainly of the Renovation of that knowledge holiness and righteousness that Adam somtimes had but lost it by his fall Psal 8.4 5 6. Gen. 2.20 and so he was for he was made after Gods own image And this the Apostle clearly and fully evidences in that famous Scripture Ephes 4.22 23 24. That Adam was invested and endowed with righteousness and holiness in his first glorious estate with righteousness that he might carry it fairly justly evenly and righteously towards man and with holiness that he might carry it wisely lovingly reverentially and holily towards God And that he might take up in God as his chiefest good as in his great All might be fufficiently made good out of this Scripture last cited but I shall not now stand upon the discovery of Adams beauty authority dominion dignity honour and glory with which he was adorned invested and crowned in innocency Let this satisfie that Adams first estate was a state of perfect knowledge wisdom and understanding it was a perfect state of holiness righteousness and happiness there was nothing within him but what was desirable and delectable there was nothing without him but what was amiable and commendable nor nothing about him but what was serviceable and comfortable and yet in the height of all his glory he falls to Apostasie and open Rebellion against God he takes part with Satan against God himself he transgresses his righteous Law he affronts his justice he provokes his anger he stirrs up his wrath against himself and his posterity The sin of Adam was a voluminous sin all kinds of notorious sins were bound up in it as backsliding rebellion treason pride unbelief blasphemy contempt of God unthankfulness theft murder and idolatry c. The Philosopher being asked which was the best member of the body answered The tongue for if it be good it is the best Trumpet of Gods glory And being asked again which was the worst answered The tongue for if it be bad it is the worst fire-brand of hell So if any should ask me Which was the best creature of God I would answer Man in honour before his fall If you should ask me Which is the worst I must answer Man in his fall Adam was once the wonder of all understanding the mirrour of wisdom and knowledge the image of God the delight of heaven the glory of the creation the worlds great Lord and the Lords great darling but being faln ah how low how poor how miserable how sottish how sensless how brutish yea how much below the beast that perisheth was he and yet God pardoned changed and sanctified him and stampt his image of holiness afresh upon him when he made a Covenant with him in Christ Genesis 3. So Manasseh he was a notorious sinner he was a sinner of the greatest magnitude his sins reached up to heaven his soul was ripe for hell he had sold
sanctified the same Spirit the same Grace the same Power the same Presence that hath sanctified any of these may sanctifie all of these there is no heart so unholy but a holy God can make it holy there is no spirit so unclean but a holy Spirit can make it clean Well sinners there are many living and standing witnesses of divine grace among you and about you that do sufficiently declare that it is possible that you may be sanctified and saved Again it is possible that you may be sanctified and made holy Witness 7. The Oath of a holy God Ezek. 33.11 Say unto them As I live saith the Lord God Ezek. 18.31 32. I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live Turn ye turn ye from your evil wayes for why will you die O house of Israel As I live is the form of an Oath and is much used in the Scripture by God himself wicked men are very hardly perswaded to believe that God is willing that they should be sanctified and saved and therefore God takes his oath on it that he is infinitely more willing that wicked men should turn from their evil wayes and be sanctified and saved then that they should perish in their sins and be damned for ever As I live is a weighty oath and imports the certainty of that which follows it is absolute without evasion or revocation As sure as I live and am God I have no pleasure in destroying and damning of souls but desire that they would turn from their evil wayes and that they would be sanctified and saved let me not live let me be no longer a God if I would not have the wicked to live and be happy for ever The possibility of your being holy God hath confirmed by an oath and therefore you may no longer question it As Paulus Fagius observeth in his comment on Genesis The Egyptians though Heathens so hated perjury that if any man did but swear by the life of the King and did not perform his oath that man was to die and no gold was to redeem his life And do you think that a holy God doth not stand more upon his oath then Heathens yea then the worst of Heathens Certainly he doth 8. Lastly it is possible that you may be a holy Witness The great designs and undertakings of Jesus Christ to make lost man holy His great design in leaving his fathers bosom and coming into this world 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dissolve unravel the works of the Devil was the destroying the dissolving of the works of the Devil 1 John 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the Devil Sin is Satans work and Christ comes to destroy it and break it all in pieces Mens sins are Satans chains by which he links them fast to himself but Christ was therefore manifested that he might loose and knock off these chains Satan had knit many sinful knots in our souls but Christ comes to unty those knots he had laid many snares but Christ comes to discover and to break those snares It was the great design of Christ in the divesting of himself as it were of his divine honour glory and dignity Phil. 2.6 7 8 15. and in his taking on him the nature of man to destroy Satan and to sanctifie the souls of men Heb. 2.11 14 15. It was the great design of Jesus Christ in giving of himself for us in giving his soul his body his life to justice to death to wrath for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity Titus 2.14 and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works The crown of holiness was faln from our heads and Christ freely and willingly uncrowns himself that once more we might be crowned with holiness immortality and glory Christ was resolved that he would lose all that was near and dear unto him but he would recover our lost holiness for us Christ knew that heaven had been but a poor purchase had he not purchased holiness for us As heaven is but a low thing without God so heaven is but a low thing without holiness It is holiness that is the sparkling Diamond in the Ring of happiness a man were better be holy in hell then unholy in heaven and therefore Christ ventures his All for holiness The great design of Christ in redeeming of souls with the choicest the purest the costliest the noblest blood that ever run in veins Luke 1.74 75. was that they should serve him in righteousness and holiness all the daies of their lives In a word Christ had never taken so great a journey from heaven to earth but to make men holy he had never taken upon him the form of a servant but to make us the servants of the most high God He had never lyen in a manger he had never trod the Wine-press of his fathers wrath but to make you holy he prayed he sweat he bled and he hung on the Cross and all to make you holy he was holy in his birth and holy in his life and holy in his death and holy in all his sufferings and all to make you holy The great design of Christ in all he did and in all he suffered was to make man holy And thus you see by all these Arguments that holiness is attainable Thirdly Consider this that real holiness is the honour and the glory of the creature and therefore the Apostle links holiness and honour together 1 Thes 4.3 4. 2 Cor. 3. ult Eph. 5.27 For this is the will of God even your sanctification that ye should abstain from fornication That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour The vessel is mans body which is the great utensil or instrument of the soul and contains it as in a vessel now the sanctity and chastity of this vessel is the honour of a Christian even bodily purity is a Christians glory he that keeps his vessel in holiness keeps it in honour A heathen could say Nobilitas sola est atque unica vertus Vertue is the only true nobility Holiness is the greatest dignity that mortal man is capable of it is mans highest promotion it is his highest exaltation holiness is the true gentility and the true nobility of the soul Deut. 26. ult And to make thee high above all Nations which he hath made in praise and in name and in honour and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God There is nothing that lifts a people so high and that makes them so truly famous and glorious as holiness doth Holiness is the praise the renown the crown and glory of a people Holiness is the diadem the beauty and the excellency of a people Holiness is the strength the honour and the riches of a people Holiness is the image of God
be repented of it is a repentance from sin as well as a repentance for sin Sin hath cast the soul at such a distance from God that though the soul be every day a turning nearer and nearer to God yet it can never in this life get so near him as once it was and as in heaven it shall be And now tell me O soul is this such an easie thing to be every day a turning thy back upon sin and a turning thy face nearer and nearer to God surely no True repentance lies in a daily dying to sin and in a daily living to him who lives for ever The very life of repentance is the repentance of the life and is this easie But Thirdly True repentance is a turning not from some sin but from every sin Ezek. 18.30 Repent and turn your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not he your ruine Ezek. 18.21.31 and chap. 20.43 He that had the spot of Leprosie in any one part of his body was accounted a Leper although all the rest of his body were sound and whole Levit. 13. So he that hath but one spot one sin which he doth not endeavour to wash out in the blood of Christ and in the tears of true repentance he is a Leper in the account of God It was an excellent saying of Luther Optima aptissima poenitentia est nova vita Every sin strikes at the Law of God the honour of God the being of God and the glory of God and therefore the penitent must strike at all Every sin fetcheth blood from the heart of Christ and every sin is a grief and vexation to the Spirit of Christ and therefore the penitent must set upon crucifying of all Every sin is an enemy to a mans peace and to a mans comfort and to a mans confidence and to a mans assurance and to a mans communion with God and therefore he must set upon forsaking of all If ever thou art saved O man thou must repent as well of thy Achans as thy Absaloms of thy Rimmons as of thy Mammons of thy Davids as of thy Goliahs of thy secret as well as thy open sins of thy loved as well as of thy loathed lusts of thy babe-transgressions as well as of thy Giant-like provocations If thy repentance be not universal it will never be effectual If a ship spring three leaks and only two be stopt the third will certainly sink the ship or if a man hath two dangerous wounds in his body and takes only order for the cure of one the other will undoubtedly kill him or if a man hath two grievous diseases upon him and will only deal with the Physitian for remedies against the one he will without all peradventure perish by the prevalency of the other Herod turned from many sins but not from his Dalilah his Herodias which was his ruine Judas you know was a Devil in an Angels habit he seemed to be turned from every sin but he was not he was a secret thief he loved the bag and that golden Devil Covetousness choaked him and hanged him at last Saul for a time turned from several evils but his sparing one Agag cost him his soul and his Kingdom at a clap I have read a story of a devout man who amongst other gifts had the gift of healing and many persons resorted to him for cure Among the rest one Chromatius who being sick sent for him and told him of his sickness and desired that he might have the benefit of cure as others had before him The devout man replyed I cannot do it till thou hast beaten all the Images in thy house to pieces O that shall be done said Chromatius Here take my keyes and where you find any images break them in pieces which accordingly was done upon this the devout man went to prayer but no cure was wrought whereupon the sick man cryed out O I am as sick as ever O I am very weak and sick still It cannot be otherwise replyed the devout person neither can I help it for there is doubtless one Idol yet in your house undiscovered and that must be defaced too True saith Chromatius it is so indeed it is all of beaten gold it cost 200. l. I would fain have saved it but here take my keyes again you shall find it fast lock't up in my chest break it also in pieces which being done the devout man prayed and Chromatius was healed The moral of it is good the sin-sick soul must break not some but all its Idols in pieces before a cure will follow It must deface its golden Idols its most costly Idols its most darling Idols the returning sinner must make head against all his sins and trample upon all his lusts or else he will die and be undone for ever and though this be as difficult as it is noble yet it is no more then what God hath engaged to do and to see done as you may see by comparing Ezek. 36.25 26 27. with Isa 30.21 22. Now is this an easie thing to turn from every sin to loath every sin and to abandon every sin with a Get you hence for what have I more to do with you Hos 14.8 Surely no. As Nehemiah cast out Tobiah and all his houshold-stuff in Nehem. 13.6 7 8. so true repentance it casts out Satan and all his retinue As Moses would not leave so much as a hoof behind him Exod. 10.26 So true repentance will not leave so much as a lust behind a dispensatory conscience is alwayes an evil conscience he that can dispense with one sin will when opportunity presents commit any sin And as the flood made clean work it swept away all Noahs friends and drowned all his servants so the flood of penitent tears makes clean work it sweeps away every lust it drowns every corruption in respect of love and dominion And as some Conquerours would not give so much as one of their enemies Quarter so true repentance will not give one lust quarter it falls heavily upon the bones of every sin and nothing but the blood and death of sin will satisfie the penitent soul the true penitent is for the mortifying of every lust that hath had a hand in crucifying of his dearest Saviour It was worthily and wittily said by one that true repentance strips us stark naked of all the garments of the old Adam and leaves not so much as the shirt behind Well Sirs remember this to repent of sin and yet to live in sin is a contradiction And if thou repentest with a contradiction saith Tertullian God will pardon thee with a contradiction thou repentest and yet continuest in thy sin God will pardon thee and yet send thee to hell there 's a pardon with a contradiction Again fourthly if repentance be such an easie work as you suppose I beseech you tell me why do many men lie under such horrours and terrours of conscience as they do for not repenting when
as repentance would quickly give them ease and turn their hell into a heaven I was last Winter with a young man who upon his dying-bed for several hours together being in a dreadful agony lay crying out I am damn'd I am damn'd I am damn'd I am damn'd Ah how soon would this poor wretch have got out of this hell if it had been so easie a thing to have repented as you imagine it is and how many when they have been prest to repent have professed that if they might have a thousand worlds to repent they could not repent And will you say that repentance is easie How many have sought repentance with tears and would have bought repentance with the price of their dearest blood but could not obtain it and will you say that repentance is easie O Sirs is it good to be damn'd is it good to go to hell is it good to dwell with a devouring fire and to live in everlasting burnings Is it good to have your habitations amongst Devils and damned spirits Is it good to be banished the Court of heaven and to be separated for ever from the glorious presence of God and the sweet enjoyments of Christ and the blessed society of Angels and Saints and the fruition of all the happiness that heaven affords O no! O no! O why then do not men prevent all this by repentance if it be such an easie thing to repent But Lastly If repentance be such an easie work why then do your hearts so rise both against the Doctrine of repentance and against those that preach it and press it of all words is not the word of repentance the hardest word to read and of all sayings and Sermons Joh. 6.60 is not that of repentance the hardest to hear and bear Luther confesses that before his conversion he met not with a more displeasing word in all the Scripture nor in all his study of Divinity then that word Repent O man if repentance be so easie why doth thy spirit rage and why doth thy heart so swell and rise against those that preach repentance unto life Of all Preachers Mat. 3.2 Acts 2. c. there are none that do so displease and move thee that do so cut and gall thee as those that are still a crying out Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand Repentance is the vomit of the soul and ah how do sinners hearts rise against that Physick and those that bring it Repentance is the bleeding of the soul and ah how do wicked men storm and take on at that hand that lets them blood Isa 30.10 Jer. 5.30 31. chap. 14.14 chap. 23.11 to the end You love those that preach pleasing things that tickle your ears though they never touch your hearts that please your fancies though they never meddle with your consciences and one Sermon of mercy you prefer before a thousand Sermons of repentance Now certainly if repentance were so easie to you the Doctrine of repentance would be more pleasing to you For a close know that that white Devil who now presents repentance to thee as the easiest thing in the world He will at last cast to work thee to despair and to cut the throat of thy soul present it not only as a hard and difficult work but as an impossible work O that these things may be so blest unto you as to preserve you from being deceived and deluded with a conceit that repentance is easie and so by this means keep you from labouring to be holy Now as to that part of the plea from the Scriptures formerly cited viz. That hereafter will be time enough to repent I shall thus reply Certainly the present call of God the uncertainty of the Spirits motion and the danger of delay calls upon thee for present repentance it is a dangerous thing to deal with God as ill Debtors do by their Creditors first they put them off one week and then another week and then a third week c. till at last they provoke their Creditors to cast them into prison and to practise all severity upon them they that thus deal with God shall be as severely dealt with by God as you may see in Prov. 1.24 to 32. The antient warriers would not receive an old man into their Army and dost thou think O vain man It is reported that God should say to a man who desired to repent in his old age Vbi consumpsisti farinam ibi consume furfurem Where you have spent your flour there go spend your bran c. that when thou hast spent thy time and wasted thy strength and exhausted thy spirits in the work of Satan and in the service of thy lusts that God will receive thee to his grace and favour If thou dost thus flatter thy self it is ten thousand to one but that thou wilt deceive thy self that God that hath made a promise to late repentance hath made no promise of late repentance though true repentance is never too late yet late repentance is seldom true Ah how many millions are now in hell who have thought and resolved and said that they would repent hereafter but that hereafter never came Thou saist to morrow to morrow thou wilt repent when thou knowest not what a to morrow will bring forth Alas how many thousand wayes may death surprize thee before to morrow comes Though there be but one way to come into the world yet there is a thousand thousand wayes to be sent out of the world O the diseases the hazards the dangers the accidents the deaths that daily that hourly attend the life of man A Jewish Rabbin pressing the practice of repentance upon his Disciples exhorted them to be sure to repent the day before they died to which one of them replyed that the day of a mans death was very uncertain to which the Rabbin made answer Repent therefore every day and then you shall be sure to repent the day before you die O Sirs except you do repent to day you cannot tell that you shall repent the day before you die for who knows to day but that he may die to morrow It was once demanded of one Austin What he would say of a wicked man who had lived loosly but died penitently c. to whom he replyed What would you have me say That he is damned I will not for I have nothing to do to judge him Shall I say that he is saved I dare not for I would not deceive thee what then Why this repent thou out of hand and thou art safe whatever is become of him Ah friends you are never safe till you repent it is repentance that puts you out of all danger of miscarrying for ever Shall the husband-man take his present seasons for sowing and reaping Shall the good Tenant repair his house while the weather is fair Shall the careful Pilot take his advantage of wind and tide and so put out to Sea Shall the
eternity hath been posting upon them Oh the deadnesse the barrennesse the listlesnesse the heartlesnesse to any thing that is good that doth attend a worldly temper Many men are so bewitcht with the profits pleasures and honours of the world that they mind not holinesse they regard not holinesse they care not for holinesse nor the means that lead to holinesse Philip. 3.18 19. For many walk of whom I have told you often and now I tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ whose end is destruction whose God is their belly and whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things Who were those that walked disorderly why those that minded earthly things Who were those that fetcht tears from the Apostles eyes why those that minded earthly things Who were those that were enemies to the cross of Christ why those that minded earthly things Who were those whose end is destruction why those that minded earthly things who were those whose God was their belly why those that minded earthly things Who were those whose glory was their shame why those that minded earthly things Sicily is so full of sweet flowers that dogs cannot hunt there and what do all the sweet contents and delights of this world Diodorus Siculus but make men lose the scent of heaven and holinesse The world proves silken halters to some and golden fetters to others to some it is like the Swallows dung that put out Tobias eyes to others it is like the waters of Nilus that makes the inhabitants deaf All the flowers of this world are surrounded with many bryars The world is all shadow and vanity its like Jonahs gourd man may sit under its shadow for a while but it soon decayes and dies He that shall but weigh mans pains with his pay his miseries with his pleasures his sorrows with his joyes his crosses with his comforts his wants with his enjoyments c. may well cry out Vanity of vanity and all is vanity The whole world is circular If the whole earth were changed into a globe of gold it could not fill thy heart the heart of man is triangular and we know a circle cannot fill a triangle O Sirs if your hearts be not filled with holinesse they will be filled with the world the flesh and the Devil Either holinesse or Satan must possesse you Some there be that have much holiness and much of the world too as Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph Job David Hezekiah Daniel c. And others there be that have no holinesse nor nothing of the world neither these men are fair for two hells a hell of misery here and a hell of torment hereafter Some have much of the world but not a spark of holinesse as Saul Haman Dives Herod c. who had a world of wealth but not a dram of grace and others have a great deal of holinesse Iames 2.5 Mat. 11.5 that have but little or nothing of the world as the Apostles and Lazarus c. Now is it not infinitely better to have holinesse without the world and so be happy for ever then to have much of the world without holinesse and so be damned for ever A man bewitch't with the world will loose many precious opportunities of grace which are more worth then a world Act. 24.24 ult witness Rich Felix who had no leasure to hear poor Paul though the hearing of a Sermon might have saved his soul A man bewitch't with the world has his sinning times and his eating times and his sleeping times and his trading times and his feasting times and his sporting times c. but he has not his hearing times nor his praying times nor his reading times nor his mourning times nor his repenting times nor his reforming times c. He can have time yea and he will have time for every thing but to honor his God and to make himself happy for ever A man bewitch't with the world will when 't is put to his choice rather part with Christ to enjoy the world Mat. 19.16.23 then part with the world to enjoy Christ witness the young man in the Gospel who preferred a drop before a Sea a crum before a Crown and his treasure on earth before treasure in heaven he would not leave that on earth which he could not long keep for the enjoyment of that in heaven which he should never loose rather then he would let his possessions go he would let God and Christ go and heaven go and all go c. If Heaven can be had at no cheaper a rate then parting with his possessions Christ may keep his Heaven to himself and make the best on 't he can if he will for hee 'l have none on 't upon those terms Again a man bewitch't with the world will prefer the most base and contemptible things before the Lord Jesus Christ he will with the Gergesens prefer his very Swine before a Saviour Mat. 8.28 ult when they saw what a sad market their Hoggs were brought to they desired Christ to depart out of their country these Gergesites had rather loose Christ then loose their Porkets they had rather that the devil should possess their souls then that he should drown their Pigs they prefer their Swine before their salvation and present a wretched petition for their own damnation they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts though there be no misery no plague no curse no wrath no hell to Christs departure from a people yet men bewitched with the world will desire this Men bewitched with the world will prefer a Barabbas before a Jesus they will with Judas betray Christ and with Pilate condemn Christ and with the Scribes and Pharisees they will cry out Crucifie him Crucifie him away with this Jesus away with this Jesus let Barabbas live but let Jesus dye let Barabbas be saved but let Christ be hanged Ah what incarnate Devils will such men prove who are bewitched with this world A man bewitch't with the world will gain no good by the Ministry of the Word witness Ezekiels hearers Ezek. 33.31 32 33. and witness the stony ground Mat. 13.22 and witness Christs followers John 6. Some Writers say that nothing will grow where Gold grows certainly where the love of this world growes there nothing will grow that is good A heart filled either with the love of the world or the profits of the world or the pleasures of the world or the honors of the world or the cares of the world or the businesses of the world is a heart incapacitated to receive any divine counsel or comfort t is a heart shut up against God and holiness t is a heart posses 't with many devils and therefore no wonder if such a heart loaths the hony-comb of holiness yea t is no wonder to see such a heart to deride and scorn holiness as the greatest foolishness Luke 16.14 The Poets tell of Licaon being
immortality to this day death could never have carried man out of the world had not man first let sin into the world Rom. 5.12 ult Secondly If you compare the life of man to the long lives of the Patriarchs before the stood then the life of man is but short threescore years and ten is mans age Psal 90.10 And where one man lives to this age how many thousands die before they come to it But what is this age to the age that men lived to in former times Enoch lived as many yeers as there be days in the year and Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years and Methuselah lived nine hundred sixty and nine years Gen. 5. Now what were Platoes eighty years or Thomas Pars 160. years or Johannes de Temporibus John of the times three hundred threescore and one years to the long lives of the Patriarchs and though in Davids time old age and seventy often shook hands yet 't is otherwise in our times for as mens wickedness do more and more increase so their days do more and more decrease the more wicked any generation is the shorter liv'd that generation shall be God will quickly dispatch them out of the world who make quick dispatches in ways of wickedness Thirdly The life of man is but short if you compare it to what it shall be after the morning of the Resurrection O then mans day shall reach to eternity eternity is that unum perpetuum hodie one perpetual day that shall never have end when men after the resurrection begin to live they shall never dye after that day every man shall live in everlasting bliss or in everlasting wo when the last Trumpet has sounded man shall live for ever and ever Fourthly The life of man is but short if you compare it with the days of God Psal 39.5 Mine age is nothing before him all time is nothing to eternity mans life is but a minute 't is but a point of time to the days of eternity what head what heart can conceive or reckon up the duration of God who ever was who still is and who ever will be every child and every fool can tell you their age but what man on earth or what Angel in heaven can tell you the years of the Most High surely none Fifthly and lastly the life of man is but short if you compare it with the lives of other creatures some say that 't is neither age nor sickness that killeth the Eagle she casteth her feathers yearly and so gets new whereby her youth strength is renewed Pliny August Calvin Psal 103.5 by which means she will live till she be an hundred years old she dies not till her upper Bill be so grown over her under that she cannot take in her meat and so at last she is staryed And some Elephants live three hundred years witness Aelian Solinus and Strabo c. by all which you see the brevity of mans life And why then should man be so weak so vain as to put the day of his death so far from him I have read of the Birds of Norway that they flye faster then the fowls of any other Country they knowing by an instinct that God has put into them that the days in that Climate are very short not above three hours long say some do therefore make the more haste to their nests And O! that all that hear me this day would learn by these birds of Norway to make haste to believe and to make haste to repent and to make haste to love God and to make haste to be holy c. seeing their day of life is so short and their night of death is posting towards them And as the life of man is very short so 't is very considerable that a very small matter a very little thing may quickly put an end to mans life When the Emperor threatned the Philosopher with death he replyed Conrad Ves perg Nancler Jo. Boel in Adrian Paulus Jovius Elog. lib. 2. what is that more then a Spanish flie may do An ordinary flye flying casually into the mouth of the proud Pope Adrian stifled him that made the highest state then in the Christian world stoop even to the holding of his stirrop Tamberlain a Scythian Captain the terror of his time died with three fits of an Ague Anacreon the Poet was choaked with the kernel of a Grape Aeschylus was killed by the shell of a Tortoise which fell from an Eagles Talons who as some conceive took his bald head for a white rock The Lord Mountaigne tells us of a Duke of Britany that was stifled to death in such a throng of people as is in some great congregations on the Lords day An Emperor died by the scratch of a Comb and one of the Kings of France died by the chock of an Hogg and one that was brother to a great Lord playing at Tennis received a blow with a ball a little above the right ear which struck him into his grave There is nothing so small but may be a mans bane The paring of a Toe the cutting off a corn the scratch of a nail the prick of a pin a fish-bone a hair a drop of water a crum of bread a bad air or an evil smell may bring a man to his long home yea a little smoak may soon stifle him or his own spittle let down unwarily may suddenly choak him And O! that all that I have spoken upon this account might be so blest as to work you to take heed of putting the day of your death so far from you The evil servant when he thought his Master was gone afar off Luke 12.45 then he layes about him distempers himself Prov. 7.19 20. and beats his fellow-servants And so the leud woman in the Proverbs when the good man was gone a long journey when he was far from home then she grew wanton vain and secure so when men put afar off the day of their death then they grow more loose prophane and unholy whereas a serious and frequent eying and minding of death as at hand as at a mans elbow would alarm a man to break off his sins by repentance and to labor for holiness as a man would labor for life it self I have read of the women in the Isle of Man that the first Web they make is their winding sheet wherwith they usually gird themselves when they go abroad to shew that they are still mindful of their mortality Ah friends a constant minding of your mortality would contribute very much towards the making of you holy He that daily looks upon death will be daily a looking after holiness the oftener any man looks into the grave the oftener that man will be looking up to heaven and a begging that God would make him holy even as he is holy But Sixthly and lastly Take heed of settling your selves under a leud and scandalous Ministry or of having any inwardness with
such whose lives give the lye to their Doctrine an ill liv'd preacher is the greatest destroyer of the souls of men he that preacheth well but lives ill does what he can to murder all his hearers at once there is no greater bar to holiness then Ministers leudness an unholy life marrs the soundest and the sweetest Doctrine Isa 9.16 The leaders of his people have caused them to e rt The sins of Teachers are the teachers of sins as the corrupt glosses so the leud practises of many Preachers makes many to stumble at that word and to shuff and chat and contest and kick against that word whereby they should be made holy and happy for ever a scandalous Minister is the greatest Pest the worse plague and the sorest mischief that can be to a people for his enormities his wickednesses will have the strongest influences upon the souls and lives of men to make them miserable in both worlds his falls will be the fall and ruine of many for people are more prone to live by examples then by precepts and to minde more what the Minister does then what he sayes and to eye more how he walks then how he talks It was said of One long since that was an excellent Preacher but a very bad liver that when he was in the Pulpit it was pitty he should ever come out of it he preach't so well and when he was out of it it was pitty that ever he should go into it he lived so ill Certainly 't is pitty that ever such should go into a Pulpit who preach well but live ill who have much of God in their mouths and much of the devil in their lives who have the earth as much at their fingers end as they have heaven at their tongues end who puts a loud lye upon the truth and whose lives puts their words to a blush who have much of heaven in their expressions and nothing of heaven in their conversations who have much holiness in their books but none in their bosoms and much holiness in their lips but none in their lives The leud lives of such persons causes people to slight and abhor the holy things of God 1 Sam. 2.17 yea their bad lives often raise doubts in their hearers hearts Rom. 2.22 Mal. 2. ult whether those things be true that they preach or no hearers will be ready to object and say if these things be true that the Minister says why does he not practice what he preaches why does he not do as well as say and with what face or confidence can he appear against that in the Pulpit which he countenanceth and patronizeth in his life who will credit that mans Doctrine who has Jacobs voice but Esaus hands who is a Saint yea an Angel in the Pulpit but a debauched sinner yea an incarnate devil out of it I have read of a woman who living in professed doubt of the God-head after better illumination and repentance did often protest Mr. Wards Sermons that the vicious life of a great Schollar under whose Ministry she did live did conjure up those damnable doubts in her soul There is nothing that brings holy truths so much into question as the unholy conversations of such preachers neither is there any thing that exposes a Ministers person and office to so much scorn and contempt as an unholy life Let a Minister be never so learned solid quaint elegant zealous judicious sententious c. yet if he be carnal covetous worldly vain and loose in his life and conversation his hearers will rather deride his doctrine then reforme by his doctrine they will rather contemn it then study how to profit by it therefore he said right that said Turpe est doctori cum culpa redarguit ipsum Vnto a teacher it 's no small disgrace When his own faults reprove him to his face There is nothing in all the world that is more powerful and prevalent to corrupt and mislead unholy men and to harden strengthen Ezek. 13.22 Jer. 23.15 and encourage them in ways of wickedness then the looseness of their lives whose office binds them to look to the salvation of their souls Mal. 2.8 Ye are departed out of the way ye have caused many to stumble at the Law When the preacher departs out of the way of holiness the people will quickly stumble at the Law of holiness when Ministers are as wandring stars no wonder if their hearers wander from all that 's good he whose life is not a standing reproof to sin will by his life encourage sinners more and more in a way of sin there is nothing that keeps men so off from a good opinion of holiness and from the love of holiness and the liking of holiness and from the pursuing after holiness then the unholy lives of their teachers and therefore as ever you would be holy flye their Tents and abandon their company and society Ministers whose lives are leud though their parts may be high are like a stone gutter that conveyeth water into a garden Augustine but receiveth no benefit it self thereby or like a Harpe that maketh others melody but heareth nothing it self they are like those Carpenters that built the Arke to save others and were drowned themselves or like Porters at great mens gates that let in others but lodge without themselves or like Sea-marks that rot themselves and yet give others warning to avoid Shipwrack or like Casars souldier that digged a fountain for Caesar and perished himself for want of water O! the folly and madness of such Ministers that give light to others and yet walk in darkness themselves that feast others souls but starve their own that rescue others from a devouring enemy and yet suffer themselves to be devoured that forewarne others of the horrible pit and yet fall into it themselves that give good counsel to others and yet can't take good counsel themselves that study and strive to bring others to heaven and yet have no minde to go thither themselves Certainly society and company with such upon choice can't but be a mighty hinderance to holiness he that is in good earnest resolved to be holy must resolutely be resolved to have nothing to do with such unholy persons And thus you see the several things that you must decline if ever you would be holy But Secondly As there are several things that you must decline if ever you would obtain that real holiness without which there is no happiness so there are several things that you are to do that you are to put in practice without which you will never be holy here nor happy hereafter Q. But what are they A. They are these First Greatly lament and mourn over thine own unholiness over thine own wickedness the first step to holiness is melting and mourning over a mans own unholiness go to thy closet and fall down before the most high and holy God and mourn bitterly over the unholiness of thy nature the
heart be one of the hardest works in the world yet this may be done by the word There are no lusts so strong but the word can cast them downe nor no staines so deep but the word can wash them out Three thousand sinners were made Saints by one Sermon Acts 2.41 and five thousand more were converted and sanctified by another Sermon Chap. 4.4 Here were eight thousand men cleansed sanctified and saved by two Sermons and doubtless most of them were young Oh Sirs as ever you would have holy principles laid in your souls and holy affections raised in your souls and holy ends aimed at by your souls heare the word in season and out of season oh attend it oh waite on it 't will be sope to cleanse you and fire to purge you and water to wash you and a winde to turne you from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan to Jesus Christ Acts 26.16 24. The Gospel preached hath been the power of God to the salvation of multitudes of souls Rom. 1.16 The word is that immortall seed by which holiness which is not only a grace but the conjunction of all graces is formed in the soule 1 Pet. 1.23 'T is the word that gives a spiritual Birth and Being to men Gal. 4.19 The word enlightens the eye Psal 119.105 It softens the heart Deut. 32.2 It purges the conscience and it converts the soule Psal 19.7 It dethrones Satan it casts downe strong holds 2 Cor. 10.4 5. It quickens the dull Psal 119.50 and it raises the dead Joh. 5.24 25. Oh therefore heare it and waite on it and come to it that you may be made holy by it many come to heare the word to censure it others to mock at it others to inrich their curious notions by it and others come to catch the Minister at it but doe thou come to it that thou mayest be made holy by it and doubtless first or last thou shalt obtaine thy end yea 't is good for a man to come to the word though his designe in coming be bad 't is good for a man to sit under that great ordinance of the word though he sits upon thornes as it were all the while he is there They that come to see who hath got the newest fashions may have their hearts fashioned into a conformity with the word They came to catch but were caught in that John 7.46 Austin coming to Ambrose to have his ears tickled had his heart touched and turned Come saith old Father Latimer in a Sermon before King Edward the Sixt to the publick meeting 1550. though thou comest to sleepe it may be God may take thee napping When thou comest though it be but to taste the Ministers spirit yet then God may take hold on thy spirit and make it the day of his power upon thy soule though thou comest with a heart full of prejudices against Christ yet by the word thou mayest be brought to a love of Christ to a liking of Christ and to a choice of Christ and to a blessed close and resignation of thy selfe to Christ They that came to surprize Christ were so taken with Christ that being filled with admiration they could not but proclaime his divine Excellencies Never man spake like this man The word is the word of the Lord let the hand be what it will that brings it When gold is offered men care not how noble or ignoble how great or how base he is that offers it so men should not look so much at the hand that brings the word as at the word it selfe the word of the Lord was as much the word of the Lord in the hand and mouth of Amos who was raised a Prophet from amongst the Heardsmen of Tekoa as it was the word of the Lord in the hand and mouth of Isaiah who as some think was a Prophet of the blood-royall Ambrose observes of the Woman of Samaria John 4.7 that she came peccatrix to Jacobs Well but she went away praedicatrix she came a sinner but she went away a Prophetess Oh Sirs let nothing hinder you from coming to the word oh come to the word though you come sinners yet come for though you doe come sinners yet you may goe away Saints though the dew of heaven hath richly and sweetly fallen upon your hearts and yet like Gideons sleece you are still dry yet come to the word still for who can tell but that by the very next Sermon God may make thy soule like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters faile not Isa 58.11 It is reported of young King Edward the Sixth Sir John Hayward in vita that being about to lay hold on some thing that was above the reach of his short Arme one that stood by espying a great Boss'd Bible lying on the Table offered to lay that under his feete to heighten him but the good young King disliked the motion and instead of treading it under his feete he laid it to his heart oh come to the word but come not to trample upon it come not to scoff or mock at it come not to despise it or to revile it but come and lay it to your hearts and it may doe you good for ever there is no better way to make thee holy then to attend on the holy word But Fourthly If ever you would be holy then associate your selves with those that are holy Look as he that walkes with the wise shall be wise Prov. 13.20 so he that walkes with the holy shall certainly be prest and provok't to be holy As Socrates made it his business to better others by his company so a holy man will make it his business to make others holy by his counsell prayers and example he knowes that it is one of the most noble and divine imployments in the world to make others holy and therefore he sets upon that worke with all his might Psal 119.115 Psal 1.1 Look as there is no greater a hinderance to holiness then the society of the wicked so there is no greater a help to holiness then the society of those that are godly Look as the beginning of ungodliness is to keep Company with those that are ungodly so the beginning of holiness is to keep company with those that are holy Look as one drunkard makes another and one swearer makes another and one proud person makes another and one worldling makes another and one formalist makes another so one holy man makes another or look as one sober man makes another and one prudent man makes another and one resolute man makes another and one zealous man makes another and one heavenly minded man makes another so one holy man makes another Ah sinners sinners there are no companions in the world that will pitty you as these that will weep and mourn over you as these Rom. 10.1 1 Pet. 3.1 that will strive and wrestle with God for you as these there
the wrath of the Lord what shall we doe to be safe in this evill day O take these bags and pay so much to such a one whom I have deceived and restore so much to such a one whom I have in bargaining over-reached O give so much to the poore and so much to other pious uses c. But after the sickness was over they returned with the dog to the vomit and with the sowe to the wallowing in the mire againe and so their latter end was worse then their former There was a very great sinner who in the time of his sickness was so sorely terrified in his conscience for his many hainous sins that he made the very bed to shake upon which he lay and cryed out all night long I am damn'd I am damn'd I am damn'd c. and in this his sickness he made many great protestations of amendment of life if God would but be pleased to recover him and prevent his going downe to the grave at this time Well in a short time after he did recover and being recovered he was as base wretched and wicked as ever he was before This man with those that were cited before him were like that cunning Devill of whom the Epigrammatist thus writeth Aegrota Daemon Monachus tunc esse volebat Convaluit Daemon Monachus tunc esse nolebat Which is thus Englished The Devill was sick the Devill a Monk would be The Devill was well the Devill a Monk was he But those who are now like to Satan in sin may hereafter be like to him in torment such who now out-live their vows shall when they dye have hell enough You count it a very shamefull thing to break promise or covenant with men but is it not farre more shamefull to break with God The Egyptians though Heathens so hated perjury that if any man did but swear by the life of the King and did not performe his oath that man was to dye and no gold was to redeeme his life As Paulus Fagius observes in his Comment on Genesis c. When the Romans made Covenants they took Stones in their hands and said If I make this Covenant seriously and faithfully then let the great Jupiter bless me if not so let me be cast away from the face of the gods as I cast away this Stone Covenant-breaking was a sin greatly detested and abhorred among the very Heathens and shall Christians make nothing of breaking their vows promises and covenants with the great God Well Sirs remember this those sins that you have vowed against must be deserted and that holiness which you have vowed to follow must be pursued or a worse thing then the curse of Meroz must be expected Judg. 5.23 compared with that Joh. 5.14 But Sixthly If ever you would be holy then dwell much upon the worth and preciousness of your souls Christ that only went to the price of souls hath told us that one soul is more worth then all the woâ—ld Math 16.26 Christ left his Fathers bosome and all the glory of heaven for the good of souls he assumed the nature of man for the happiness of the soul of man be trod the wine-press of his Fathers wrath for souls he wept for souls he sweat for souls he prayed for souls he payd for souls and he bled out his heart-blood for souls The soul is the breath of God the beauty of man the wonder of Angells and the envie of Devills 't is of an Angelical nature 't is a heavenly sparke a celestiall plant and of a divine off-spring 't is a spirituall substance capable of the knowledge of God and of union with God and of communion with God and of an eternall fruition of God there is nothing that can suit the soule below God nor nothing that can satisfie the soule without God the soule is so high and so noble a piece that it scornes all the world in point of acceptation justification satisfaction and salvation What are all the riches of the East or West Indies what are rocks of Diamonds or mountaines of gold or the price of Cleopatra's draught to the price that Christ laid downe for souls 1 Pet. 1.18 19. Christ made himself an offering for sin that souls might not be undone by sin the Lord dyed that slaves may live the Son dyes that servants may live the naturall Son dyes that adopted sons may live the only begotten Son dyes that bastards may live yea the Judge dyes that malefactors may live Ah friends as there was never sorrow like Christs sorrow so there was never love like Christs love and of all his love none to that of soule-love In a word the spirituall enemies which daily warre against the soule the glorious Angels which hourely guard the soule and the precious ordinances which God hath appointed as meanes both to convert and to feed the soul doe all speak out the preciousness and excellency of the soule There was once a great contest among some Nations about Homer an excellent Poet they severally pleaded their interest in him and truly so 't is this day about the soule of man many lay claime to it sin lays claime to it and the world lays claime to it and Satan lays claime to it and Christ and holiness lays claime to it and O that Christ and holiness might have it before all others O Sirs there is no wisdome nor policy to that of securing our precious souls for they are Jewels of more worth then all the world all the honours riches greatness and glory of this world are but chips and pibbles to these glorious pearles therefore before all and above all other things make sure worke for your souls if they are safe all is safe but if they are lost all is lost Other things cannot be made sure riches cannot for as they are lying so they are flying vanities they make themselves wings and they fly away Honours cannot Haman is feasted with the King one day and made a feast for Crowes the next Herod is one houre cryed up for a God and the next houre he is eaten of wormes Princes Courts are very slippery a man may quickly get a fall there that may easily break both back and neck as many in all ages have experienced the applause and favour of creatures cannot for many mens favours are got with an Apple and lost with a Nut Math. 27.4 5. Judas his heart was hardly warm'd with the high Priests favour before they shut their doores upon him with a what is that to us look thou to that most mens favours are as light as a feather and so tos't up and downe with every breath of windy vanity the Moone do's not so often vary and change as the respects of most men doe vary and change how many men have had their names written in golden Characters one yeare and in letters of blood the next what is the favour of man but a blast a Sun-shine-houre a puff of winde a magnum
nihil a great nothing and who then would spend an houres time to secure it neare and deare relations cannot for the delight of Ezekiels eyes is taken away with a stroake Ezek. 24.16 Job 1.10 and all Jobs children are snatcht away in a day all our nearest and dearest relations are like a Nose-gay which the oftner we smell to it the sooner it withers But now holiness may be made sure witness the spirits of just men made perfect in heaven Heb. 12.23 and witness the many thousands of Christians this day in the world who doe experience the principles of holiness in their hearts and who doe evidence the power of holiness in their lives O Sirs if the serious consideration of the preciousness and worth of your souls will not draw you out to study holiness to love holiness to prize holiness and to press after holiness what will O Sirs 't is only holiness that is the happiness of the soul the safety and security of the soul the prosperity and felicity of the soul and the lustre and glory of the soul and therefore why should you not labour as for life after this inestimable Jewel holiness O let the remembrance of the preciousness of your souls be an effectuall means to draw you to heare that you may be holy and to pray that you may be holy and to reade that you may be holy and to mourne that you may be holy and to sigh and groane after holiness as after that which is the souls only happiness O Sirs there is nothing below heaven so precious and noble as your souls and therefore doe not play the Courtier with your souls now the Courtier do's all things late he rises late and dines late and sups late and repents late O doe not poyson your precious souls by gross enormities O doe not starve your souls by the omission of religious duties O doe not murther and damne your souls by turning your backs upon holy Ordinances I have read of a Woman who when her house was on fire so minded the saving of her goods that she forgot her only childe and left it burning in the fire at last being minded of it she cryes out Oh my childe oh my poore childe but all too late all too late so there are many men now so mad upon the world and so bewitcht with the world that they never mind they never regard their poor souls till they come to fall under everlasting burnings and then they cry out O our souls O our poor souls O that we had been wise for our souls O that we had got holiness for our souls O that we had made sure worke for our souls but all too late all too late the Lord make you wise to prevent soul-burnings at last If he be rather a monster then a man that feasts his slave but starves his wife what shall we say of those that pamper their bodies but starve their souls and that have thred-bare souls under silke and sattin Cloaths and that please themselves with deformed souls under beautifull faces surely it had been good for these that they had never been born I have read of a Scythian Captain who having for a draught of water yeelded up the City cryed out Quid perdidi quid prodidi What have I lost what have I betrayed So all unholy persons will at last cry out we have betrayed our immortall souls we have lost a precious Father we have lost a deare Redeemer we have lost the company of glorious Angels we have lost the society of the spirits of just men made perfect and we have lost all the pleasures and joyes and delights that be at the right hand of the most High We have lost these we have lost all these and we have lost them for ever and ever surely there is no hell to this hell For a close of this direction remember this that as the soul is the life and excellency of the body so holiness is the life and excellency of the soul and as the body without the soul is dead so the soul without holiness is dead This my Son was dead and is alive if you get holiness into your souls your souls shall live for ever but if you die without holiness your souls shall die for ever and ever I have read that there was a time when the Romans did weare Jewels on their shooes oh that in these dayes most men did not doe worse oh that they did not trample under feete that matchless Jewel their precisouls But Seventhly If ever you would be holy then set in good earnest upon reading of the holy Scripture many a man has been made holy by reading of the holy Word Luther com in Gen. cap. 19. The Bible is the book of books 't is the onely book all other books in the world are but waste paper to it Augustin crys out away with our writings that room may be made for the book of God notwithstanding the greatness and multiplicity of the affairs of Princes yet they were diligently to read the word Deut. 17.19 And it shall be with him and he shall read therein all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all the words of this Law and these Statutes to do them God looks that the greatest Princes on earth should make use of this Library Though David was a great Prince and had a multitude of weighty businesses upon his hand yet he was so much in reading meditating on the word that he made it his Counsellors the word was Davids Learned Counsel Psal 119.24 to which he reforted for counsel advice and comfort in all his necessities and miseries Alphonsus King of Arragon hath been highly extolled for reading the Scriptures fourteen times over with glosses and expositions notwithstanding his great publike employments And Alphonsus King of Naples read over the Bible forty times notwithstanding many great affairs were upon his hand Theodosius the Emperor and Constantine the Great were much taken up in reading of the Scriptures So Queen Elizabeth when she passed in triumph through the streets of London after her Coronation and had the Bible presented to her at the little Conduit in Cheap-side she received the same with both her hands and kissing it Speeds Hist laid it to her breasts saying That the same had ever been her chiefest delight and should be the rule whereby she meant to frame her Government And 't is very observable that the Eunuch was reading the Scripture when Philip was commanded Acts 8.26.40 by Commission from the Holy Ghost to joyn himself to his Chariot and to instruct him in the knowledge of Christ which proved his conversion and salvation And Junius was converted by the reading of that first of John In the beginning was the Word c. being amazed with the strange majesty of the stile Lib. 8. conf cap. 12. and the profound misteries therein contained And Augustine was
vessels of a different mettal the water at the first seemeth to be of a different colour but when he draweth up the vessels nearer to him the diversity of colours vanish and the water appeareth to be of one and the same colour and when he tasteth them they have one and the same relish So though at first sight there may seem to be some contradictions in the Scriptures yet when we look more nearly and narrowly into them and compare one place with another we shall finde no contrariety no repugnancy in them at all but a perfect harmony and a full and sweet consent and agreement between one place and another between text and text Scripture and Scripture Sixthly For verity the Scriptures are most sure and certain heaven and earth shall pass away before one jot or tittle of the Scripture shall pass unfulfilled Seventhly For variety there are no varieties to those that are to be found in Scripture as in Noahs Ark all sorts of creatures were to be found so in this heavenly Ark the Scriptures all varieties are to be found here you may finde Physick for every disease and Balm for every wound and a plaister for every sore Here the Lamb may wade and here the Elephant may swim here is milk for Babes and here is meat for strong men here is comfort for the afflicted and succour for the tempted and support for the distressed and ease for the wearied here is a staff to support the feeble and a sword to defend the mighty That which a Papist reports lyingly of their Sacraments of the Mass viz. That there are as many misteries in it as there are drops in the sea dust on the earth Angels in heaven Stars in the sky Atoms in the Sun-beams or sands on the Sea shore c. may be truly asserted of the holy Scriptures there are many thousand thousand varieties in this garden of Paradise the Scripture Eighthly For fulness the Scriptures are full of light and full of life and full of love they are full of righteousness and full of holiness and full of all goodness 'T was a weighty saying of Tertullian Adoro plenitudinem scripturarum I adore the fulness of the Scripture Many men talk much of the Philosophers Stone that it turns Copper into Gold and of Cornucopia that it had all things necessary for food in it and of the Herb Panaces that it was good for all diseases and of the Drugg Catholicon that it is instead of all purges and of Vulcans armor that it was full proof against all thrusts and blows but that which they vainly attribute to these things for bodily good may safely and honorably be attributed to the blessed Scriptures in a spiritual manner the Scriptures turns hearts of Copper into hearts of Gold 't is a Paradise that is full of the Trees of life Rev. 22.2 and these trees of life are both for food Physick here is all manner of fruit to feed you fill you to delight you and satisfie you and the very leaves of these Trees are singular medicines to heal you and cure you the Scripture prescribes the choicest druggs to purge you viz. Repentance and the blood of Christ and 't is the Scripture that furnishes you with the best armor of proof against all principalities and powers and against all spiritual wickednesses in high places Eph. 6.11.18 Oh how should the consideration of all these things work you to be much in reading of the holy Scriptures if you will but make trial you should be sure to finde in them stories more true more various more pleasant more profitable and more comfortable then any you will find in all ancient or modern writers Ah friends if you would but in good earnest set upon reading of the holy Scriptures you may finde in them so many happinesses as cannot be numbred and so great happinesses as cannot be measured and so copious happinesses as cannot be defined and such precious happinesses as cannot be valued and if all this woâ—â—t draw you to read the holy Scriptures conscientiously and frequently I know not what will It 's said of Mary that she spent the third part of her time in reading of the word and Caecilia a Roman Maiden of noble parentage carried always about her the New Testament and spent much time in reading it Alfredus once King of England compiled Psalms and prayers into one book and called it a Manuel which he always carried about him and spent much time in the perusal of it Augustin Vide Pos in vita Aug. caused Davids penitential Psalms to be drawn upon the walls of his Chamber that he might read them as he lay in his bed he read and wep't and wept and read Well if all this will not prevail with you to be much in reading of the Scriptures consider that Agesilaus an excellent King of Sparta would never go to bed nor rise up before he had looked into Homer whom he called Amasium suum his sweet heart but what was Homers books to Gods Book which is the book of books as Charles the great did signifie when he crowned it with his own crown And Scipio Africanus was much commended Plutarch Moral for that he usually had in his hands the books of Xenophon But Oh how much more commendable will it be for you to have always in your hands the book of God Alphonsus had always in his bosom the commentaries of Caesar and he was so much delighted with the history of Titus Livius that he once commanded certain Musitians that were very skilful in that Art to depart his presence saying he could read a more pleasant story out of Livius Alas what are Livius his stories to the blessed stories that be in the Bible Oh sirs if Lipsius when he did but read Seneca thought that he was even on the top of Olympus above mortality and humane things And if Julius Scaliger thought twelve verses in Lucan better then the German Empire O then of what infinite worth and value is the blessed Scripture shall Heathens take such pleasure in reading of the Works of Heathens and shall not Christians take as much pleasure in reading of the holy Scriptures wherein there is so much of the Spirit hand and heart of God Shall they set so high a price upon the books of Heathens and shall we so slight and undervalue the books of God as not to thinke it worth a opening once a day verily I am afraid I am afraid that there are some among us that hardly open their Bibles once a weeke and others that hardly open their Bibles once a moneth and not a few that hardly open their Bibles once a quarter c. Certainly as the rustiness of some mens gold Jam. 5.1 2 3. will be a witness against them in the great day of the Lord so the mustiness of some mens Bibles will be a witness against them in that great day Quest But is it not lawfull
and yet thus much thou doest proclaime upon the house-top when thou cryest out hereafter hereafter will be time enough to seek after holiness But Secondly I answer that 't is thy wisdom and thy work to set one may be against another Eccl. 7.14 thou say'st now that hereafter may be time enough to look after holiness O set another maybe against this may-be Isa 55.6 and say if I now neglect this season of grace it may-be I shall never have another if I now slight the offers of mercy Pro. 1.20 to the 33. Heb. 2.1 2 3. Luke 19 41. 45. Gen. 6.3 it may be I shall never have such offers more if I now despise this day of salvation it may be I shall never have such another day if I now withstand the tenders of Christ it may-be Christ will never make a tender to me more if I now resist the strivings of the Spirit it may be the Spirit will never strive with my soule more and then wo wo to me that ever I was borne O don't put off God don't put off thy soule don't put off the thoughts of holiness don't put off eternity with may-bees Heb. 3.18 least the Lord should sweare in his wrath that thou shalt never enter into his rest and seeing that thou wilt not suffer holiness to enter into thee thou shalt never enter into thy Masters joy O! why shouldest thou put off thy poor soule so as thou wouldest not have God to put it off thou wouldest not have God to put off thy soule with may-bees as with a may-bee I will pardon thee it may-bee I wilt lift up the light of my countenance upon thee it may-bee I will change thy nature and save thy soule it may-bee I will fill thee with my Spirit and adorne thee with my grace it may-bee I will bring thee to my kingdome and glory O thou wouldst not have God to put thee off with such may-bees and why then shouldst thou deale more hardly and cruelly with thine own soule then thou wouldst have God to deale with thee But Thirdly I answer 't is a cleare argument that thou art not truly nor throughly sensible of thy present condition and danger who thus objectest wert thou but truly sensible of thy lost and undone estate out of Christ didst thou but indeed know what 't is to live one houre in a Christ-less and grace-less condition didst thou but see that wrath that hangs over thy head didst thou but reade the curses that are pronounced in the book of God against thee didst thou but behold how hell gapes to devoure thee didst thou but see how farre off thou art from God Christ the Covenant Acts 2.39 Ephe. 2.12 and all the glory and happiness of another world ah how wouldst thou every day cry out give me holiness or I die give me holiness or I eternally die The Patient that is truly sensible of his disease will not say hereafter will be time enough to send for the Physitian nor the wounded man will not say hereafter will be time enough to fetch the Surgeon nor the condemned man will not say hereafter will be time enough to sue for a pardon nor the needy man will not say hereafter will be time enough to look for reliefe nor the fallen man will not say hereafter will be time enough to lift me up nor the drowning man will not say hereafter will be time enough to bring a Boate to save my life now this is the very case of all unsanctified persons in the world and why then should they cry our hereafter hereafter will be time enough to be holy The Boare in the Fable being questioned why he stood wherting his teeth so when no body was neare to hurt him wisely answered that it would then be too late to whet them when he was to use them and therefore he whetted them so before danger that he might have them ready in danger Ah Sirs there is nothing more dangerous then for you to have your holiness to seek when temporal spiritual and eternal dangers are at your heels there is no wisdom to that which leads men forth to a present pursuit after holiness nor no hell to that for a man to have his holiness to seek when he should use it Fourthly I answer that the brevity shortness and preciousness of time Sumptus protiocissimus tempus Theophrastus calls aloud upon thee to pursue after holiness without delay time past is irrecoverable time to come is uncertaine the present time is the only time and on this moment of time depends eternity this very day is a day of grace O that thou hadst but grace to take notice of it this very time is an acceptable time O that thou hadst but a heart to accept of it and to improve it he that hath a great way to goe and a great deale of worke to doe in a little time had not need to trifle away his time and this is the case of every unsanctified soule O the sins that such a soule has to repent of O the graces that such a soule has to seek O the evidences for heaven that such a soule has to secure O the miseries that such a soule has to escape O the mercies that such a soule has to press after c. and therefore of all men in the world it stands unsanctified persons upon well to husband and improve their present time O 't is a dangerous thing to put off that worke to another day which must be done to day or else thou mayest be eternally undone to morrow the old saying was Nunc aut nunquam now or never if not now done it may be never done and if so then thou art undone for ever Many sinners are now in hell who when they were on earth were wont to put off the motions of the Spirit by crying out eras cras to morrow to morrow Time is so precious a thing that mountaines of gold and rocks of pearle cannot redeem one lost moment which that great Lady well understood when on her death-bed she cryed out Queen Elizabeth Call time againe call time againe a world of wealth for an inch of time ah what a precious and gainfull commodity would time be in hell where for one day to repent yea for one hour to seek after holiness a man would give ten thousand worlds were they in his hands to dispose of Time is so costly a Jewel that few know how to value it and prize it at a due rate witness that sad and frequent complaint among many O what shall we doe to drive away the time come let 's goe to Cards to drive away the time or let 's goe to Tables to drive away the time or let 's goe to the Taverne and take a pint and a pipe to drive away the time or le ts goe and take a walke in the fields to drive away the time c. Thus most are lavishly and
required of us a song and they that wasted us required of us mirth saying Sing us one of the songs of Zion How shall we sing the Lords song in a strange Land And 't is as unreasonable to expect or look that the people of God should sing and be merry rejoyce and be glad when they are under soul-distresses and under the sore rebuks of God poured from vessel to vessel c. Musick in times of mourning is as unreasonable as 't is unseasonable and unsavory Jer. 48.11 Prov. 25.20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather and as vinegar upon nitre so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart Musick and mourning singing and sorrow agree like Harpe and Harrow there is such a contrariety between singing and sorrow that he that sings does but add weight to his sorrow that cannot sing O sirs As there is a time for rejoycing so there is a time for mourning Eccles 3.4 as there is a time to laugh so there is a time to weep and as we must rejoyce with them that rejoyce so we must mourn with them that mourn Rom. 12.15 and weep with them that weep The condition of Gods people in this life is a mixt condition in this life they have their rejoycing times and their mourning times their laughing times and their weeping times their singing times and their sorrowing times c. 'T is true in heaven there is all joy and no sorrow all gladness and no sadness and in hell there is all sorrow and no joy all grief and no gladness all howling and no singing all madness and no mirth but in this life 't is otherwise for if there should be nothing but joy many would look for no other heaven and if there should be nothing but sorrow most would look for no other hell if men should have nothing but joy how sadly would they be puffed up And if they should have nothing but sorrow how easily would they be cast down but now by a divine hand our sorrows being mixt with our joys our hearts come to be the more effectually weaned from the vanities of this life and to long more earnestly after the pure and unmixed joys of a better life c. But Eighthly I answer that 't is possible that the sadness sorrow The cure of Melancholy belongs rather to the Physitian then to the Divine to Galen then to Paul and grief of those particular Saints that thou hast thine eye upon may arise from the natural temper and constitution of their bodies many Saints are often cast into a melancholy mould for though grace changes the disposition of the soul yet it alters not the constitution of the body Now there is no greater enemy to holy joy and gladness then melancholy for this pestilent humor will raise such strange passions and imaginations 't will raise such groundless griefs and fears and frights and such senceless surmises and jealousies as will easily damp a Christians joy and mightily vex perplex trouble and turmoyle daunt and discourage a Christians spirit A Melancholy constitution is Satans Anvil upon which he formes many black It is an old saying That Melancholia est vehiculum Daemonum dark and dismall temptations which do exceedingly tend to the keeping down of Divine consolation from rising high in the soul this black dark dusky humor disturbs both soul and body it tempts Satan to tempt the soul and it unables the soul to resist the temptation yea it prepares the soul to hearken to the temptation and to close and fall in with the temptation as the experiences of all Melancholy Christians can testifie Look as coloured glass makes the very beams of the Sun seem to be all of the same colour with it self if the glass be blew the beams of the Sun seems to be blew if the glass be red the beams of the Sun seems to be red or if the glass be green the beams of the Sun seems to be green So this black Melancholy humor represents all things to the eye of the soul as duskish and dark and as full of horror and terror yea many times it represents the bright beams of Divine love and the shinings of the Sun of righteousness and the gracious whispers of the blessed Spirit as delusions and as slights of Satan to cousen the soul I have read of a foolish Melancholy bird that stands always but upon one legg for fear her own weight though she be very small should sink her into the center of the earth and holding her other legg over her head lest the Heavens should fall upon her and crush her I shall not dispute the credibleness of the relation but certainly there is nothing that fills a Christian so full of fears and frights as a Melancholy humor does and all know that know any thing that there are no greater adversaries to joy and gladness then such fears and frights Now how absurd and unreasonable is it to father that upon holiness or upon all holy persons that proceeds from the special constitution of some particular Saints and yet this is the trade that unsanctified souls drive And let thus much suffice for answer to this grand objection and O that this objection may never have a resurrection in any of your hearts more But Fourthly some may further object and say We see that no persons Object 4 on earth are exposed to such troubles dangers afflictions and persecutions as those are exposed to who mind holiness who follow after holiness these are days wherein men labor to frown holiness out of the world and to scorn and kick holiness out of the World and do you think that we are mad now to pursue after holiness Now to this great and sore objection I shall give these following answers First It must be granted that afflictions and persecutions has been the common lot and portion of the people of God in this world Abel was persecuted by Cain Witness the sufferings of the Patriarchs Prophets Apostles Saints in all ages Act. 7.52 Rev. 12.13 Act. 9.16 Lam. 5.5 The common cry of persecutors have bin Christianos ad Leones 1 Joh. 3.12 and Isaac by Ishmael Gal. 9.29 That seems to be a standing Law All that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3.12 A man may have many faint wishes and cold desires after Godliness and yet escape persecution yea he may make some assays and attempts as if he would be godly and yet escape persecution but when a man is thorowly resolved to be godly and sets himself in good earnest upon pursuing after holiness and living a life of godliness then he must expect to meet with afflictions and persecutions 'T is neither a Christians gifts nor his graces 't is neither his duties nor his services that can secure him whoever escapes the godly man shall not escape persecution in one kind or another in one degree or another he that will live
up to holy rules and live out holy principles must prepare for sufferings All the Roses of holiness are surrounded with pricking Briers The History of the ten persecutions and that little book of Martyrs the 11. of the Hebrews and Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments with many other Treatises that are extant do abundantly evidence that from age to age and from one generation to another they that have been born after the flesh Gal. 4.29 Within the first 300. years after Christ all that made a profession of the Apostles doctrine were cruelly murdered have persecuted them that have been born after the spirit and that the seed of the Serpent have been still a multiplying of troubles upon the seed of the woman Would any man take the Churches picture saith Luther then let him paint a poor silly Maid sitting in a wilderness compassed about with hungry Lyons Wolves Bores and Bears and with all manner of other cruel hurtful Beasts and in the midst of a great many furious men assaulting her every moment and minute for this is her condition in the world As certain as the night follows the day so certain will that black angel persecution follow holiness where-ever it goes In the last of the ten persecutions seventeen thousand holy Martyrs were slain in the space of one moneth And in Queen Maries days or if you will in the Marian dayes not of blessed but of most abhorred memory the Popish Prelates in less then four years sacrificed the lives of eight hundred innocents to their Idols and O that that precious innocent blood did not still cry to Heaven for vengeance against this Nation But Secondly Christ and his Apostles hath long since foretold us that afflictions and persecutions will attend us in this world the Lord hath long since forewarned us that we may be fore-armed and not surprised on a sudden when they come Christ hath shot off many a warning piece in his word and sent many a Harbinger that so we may stand upon our guard and not be surprised nor astonished when afflictions and persecutions overtake us Mat. 10.22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake but he that endureth to the end the same shall be saved Chap. 16.24 Then said Jesus unto his Disciples if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me Luk. 21.12 But before all these they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you delivering you up to the Synagogues and into prisons being brought before Kings and Rulers for my names sake John 15.20 Remember the word that I said unto you The servant is not greater then the Lord if they have persecuted me Non potest qui pati timet ejus esse qui passus est He that is afraid to suffer cannot be his disciple who suffered so much Tert. they will also persecute you if they have kept my saying they will keep yours also Ah Christians since they have crowned your head with thornes there is no reason why you should expect to be crowned with Rose-buds God-fry of Bullen first King of Jerusalem refused to be crowned with a crown of Gold saying That it became not a Christian there to wear a crown of Gold where Christ for our salvation had sometime worn a crown of thornes Chap. 16. ult These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace in the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer I have overcome the world Acts 14.21 22. And when they had preached the Gospel to that City and had taught many they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and Antioch confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God As there was no way to Paradise but by the flaming sword nor no way to Canaan but through a wilderness Loddela Corda computeth fourty four several kinds of torments wherewith the Primitive Christians were tryed Adv. Sacr. cap. 128. so there is no way to heaven but by the Gates of hell there is no way to a glorious exaltation but through a Sea of tribulation They do but dream and deceive their own souls who think to go to heaven upon Beds of Doun or in a soft and delicate way or that think to be attended to glory with mirth and musick or with singing or dancing the way to happiness is not strewed with Roses but full of Thornes and Briers as those of whom this world was not worthy have experienced Ecclesiastical Histories tells us that all the Apostles died violent deaths Peter was crucified with his heels upward Christ was crucified with his head upwards but Peter thought this was to great an honor for him to be crucified as his Lord and therefore he chose to be crucified with his heels upward and Andrew was crucified by Egeus King of Edessa Acts 12.2 James the son of Zebedee was slain by Herod with the sword and Philip was crucified at Hierapolis in Asia and while Bartholomew was preaching the glad-tydings of salvation multitudes fell upon him and beat him down with staves and then crucified him and after all this his skin was fleaed off and he beheaded Thomas was slain with a Dart at Calumina in India and Mathew was slain with a Spear say some others say he was run through with a sword and James the son of Alpheus who was called the Just was thrown down from off a Pinacle of the Temple and yet having some life left in him he was brained with a Fullers club Lebbeus was slain by Agbarus King of Edessa and Paul was beheaded at Rome under Nero and Simon the Canaanite was crucified in Egypt say some others say that he and Jude was slain in a Tumult of the people Matthias was stoned to death Rev. 1.9 and John was banished into Patmos and afterwards as some Histories tells us he was by that cruel Tyrant Domitian cast into a Tun of scalding Lead and yet delivered by a miracle Thus all these precious servants of God except John died violent deaths and so through sufferings entered into glory they found in their own experience the truth of what Christ had foretold concerning their sufferings and persecutions About the year 1626 A book formerly printed and intituled A preparation to the cross of Christ composed by John Frith Martyr was brought in the belly of a Fish to the Market in Cambridge Mr. Jer. Dyke in a Fast Sermon at Westminster and that a little before the Commencement time when there was a confluence of much people from all places of the Land which was construed by them that feared the Lord to be no less then an heavenly warning to all the people of England to prepare for the cross But ah since that year who can recount the heavy crosses that has generally attended the people of this Nation most
and therefore rather then Daniel shall be hurt God will by a miracle preserve him he will stop the mouthes of the hungry Lyons and he will tame their rage and over-master their cruelty rather then a hair of Daniels head shall perish when Daniel was taken out of the Den there was no hurt no wound no sore no bruise found upon him Daniel was a harmless man and God keeps him from harms in the midst of harms Acts 18.9 10. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision be not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace For I am with thee and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee for I have much people in this City Paul met with many trials and troubles bonds and prisons oppositions and persecutions Acts 20.23 and yet none of all these hurt him but God miraculously preserved him even to old age All the troubles Phil. 9. afflictions and persecutions that attends holiness can never reach a Christians soul they can never diminish a Christians treasure they reach the shell not the kernel the Case not the Jewel the lumber not the goods the out-house not the Palace the ribbon in the hat not the gold in the purse the most fiery trials and persecutions can never deprive a Christian of the special presence of God nor of the light of his countenance Psal 23.4 2 Cor. 1.8 9 12. nor of the testimony of a good conscience nor of the joys of the spirit nor of the pardon of sin nor of fellowship with Christ nor of the exercise of grace nor of the hopes of glory and therefore certainly they can't hurt a Christian they can't wronge a Christian in his greatest and chiefest concernments O Christian let persecutors do their worst they can't reach thy soul thy God thy comfort thy crown thy Paradise c. and therefore let no man be kept off from pursuing after holiness because of afflictions or persecutions seeing none of these can reach a Christians great concernments When the Emperor Valens threatned to confiscate Basils goods and to torment him and to banish him or kill him Basil makes this noble reply He needs not fear confiscation of goods that hath nothing to loose nor banishment to whom heaven onely is a country nor torments when his body may be dash't with one blow nor death which is the onely way to set him at liberty the Emperor hearing of him thus undantedly to speak told him that he was mad to whom he replyed opte me in aeternum sic delirare I wish that I may be for ever thus mad Basil knew that no torments nor sufferings could hurt him or harm him and therefore he bravely triumphs over them They may kill me said Socrates of his enemies but they cannot hurt me So may a Saint say they may kill my body but they cannot hurt my soul they may take away my natural life but they cannot take away my spiritual life for that is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 they may take away this and that outward comfort Heb. 11. but they cannot take away my Christ they may take away my costly ornaments but they cannot take away that Robe of righteousness that Christ has put upon me Isa 61.10 they may take away my earthly crown but they cannot take away that crown of righteousness which Christ the righteous Judge 2 Tim. 4.8 has laid up for all that love his appearing Methinks said one of the Martyrs I tread upon pearls when he trod upon hot burning coals Vincentius and I feel said he no more pain then if I lay in a bed of Doune and yet he lay in flames of fire I have read of Nero that he had a shirt made of a Salamanders skin so that if he walk't through the fire in it it would keep him from burning it would keep him from being hurt or harmed by the fire our Lord Jesus Christ is this Salamanders skin that will keep the Saints from burning yea from being hurt or harmed by the most fiery afflictions and persecutions that can befall them in this world But Fourthly I answer That the condition of persecutors of all conditions under heaven is the most sad and deplorable condition and this will appear by the consideration of these five things First By the prayers and enditements that the Saints have preferred against them in the highest court of Justice I mean in the Parliament of Heaven Psal 35.3 9. Psa 69.22 29. Neh. 4.3 4 5. turn to it Draw out the Spear and stop the way against them that persecute me say unto my soul I am thy salvation Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt Let them be as chaffe before the winde and let the Angel of the Lord chase them Let their way be dark and slippery or darkness and slipperiness and let the Angel of the Lord persecute them For without cause have they hid for me their net Both good and evil Angels are at Gods beck ready to execute vengeance upon his and his peoples enemies and persecutors and therefore the Text may be understood of both in a pit which without cause they have digged for my soule Let destruction come upon him ar unawares and let his net that he hath hid catch himselfe into that very destruction let him fall So in that 83 Psalme David sighs out his sad complaints against his persecutors from ver 2. to ver the 9th and from ver the 9. to ver the 18. he prayes against them turne to it 't is a text that is worthy of your most serious meditation Psal 119.84 How many are the dayes of thy servant when wilt thou execute judgement on them that persecute me Jer. 15.15 O Lord thou knowest remember me and visite me and revenge me of my persecutors take me not away in thy long suffering know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke Chap. 17.18 Let them be confounded that persecute me but let not me be confounded let them be dismayed but let not me be dismayed bring upon them the day of evill and destroy them with double destruction or break them with a double breach Lam. 3.61 ult Thou hast heard their reproach O Lord and all their imaginations against me The lips of those that rose up against me and their device against me all the day Behold their sitting down and their rising up I am their musick or I am their song Render unto them a recompence O Lord according to the work of their hands Give them sorrow of heart thy curse unto them Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the Lord. 2 Tim. 4.14 Alexander the Copper-smith did me much evill the Lord reward him according to his works Thus you see how the hearts of the Saints have been drawn out against their persecutors Prayers are the Armes that
in times of persecution the Saints have still had recourse to The Romans being in great distress were put so hard to it that they were faine to take the weapons out of the Temples of their gods to fight with their enemies and so they overcame them so when the people of God have been hard put to it by reason of afflictions and persecutions the weapons that they have fled to has been prayers and teares and with these they have overcome their persecutors as is evident in the three Children in Daniel and many others c. But Secondly Persecutions doe but raise whet and stir up a more earnest and vehement spirit of prayer among the persecuted Saints See Acts 4.17.21 29 31. compared Luke 18.7 Lam. 5.59 60 61 c. Rev. 6.9 10. And when he had opened the fift seal I saw under the Altar the souls of them that were slaine for the word of God and for the testimony which they held And they cryed with a loud voice saying How long O Lord holy and true doest thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth The blood Blood hath as many tongues as drops to cry for vengeance which made King James say that if God did leave him to kill a man he would think God did not love him 1 Cor. 6. ult 1 Pet. 1.18 19. of the persecuted cryes aloud for vengeance upon the persecutors By the souls under the Altar you are to understand the persons of the Saints which were martyred and lay slaine upon the ground like sacrifices at the foot of the Altar under the Roman persecuting Emperours There is no blood that cries so loud and that makes so great a noise in heaven as the blood of the Martyrs as the blood of butchered persecuted Saints Persecutors like these Roman Emperours in all ages have causlesly and cruelly destroyed the people of God they delight in the blood of Saints they love to wallow in the blood of Saints they take pleasure in glutting themselves with the blood of Saints they make no conscience of watering the earth nor of colouring the Sea nor of quenching the flames with the blood of the Saints yea if it were possible they would willingly swim to heaven through their hearts-blood whom Christ has purchased with his own most precious blood as all Historians know and as you may all know if you would but search a little into Ecclesiastical Histories and therefore 't is no wonder if the blood of the Martyrs cry aloud for vengeance upon such desperate persecutors The blood and prayers of persecuted Saints will first or last bring down wrath and ruine upon their persecutors Persecution puts an edge yea a sharp edge upon the prayers of the Saints Acts 12.5 Peter therefore was kept in prison but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies earnest and stretched-out prayer When Peter was in prison All these circumstances doe wonderfully declare the power of God in his deliverance Some say he had 16. others say he had 20 Souldiers for his Guard the greater was his deliverance sleeping between two Souldiers and bound with two chains and the keepers standing before the prison doore O how earnest O how instant O how fervent O how vehement O how constant were the Saints in their prayers for his deliverance O their hearts their souls their spirits were in their prayers O their prayers were no cold prayers no formal prayers no luke-warme prayers nor no dull or drowsie prayers but their prayers were full of life and full of warmth and full of heate they knew Herods bloody intention to destroy this holy Apostle by his imprisoning of him and by the chaines that were put on him and by the strong Guards that were set upon him and by his bathing of his sword in the innocent blood of James James was the first of the Apostles that dyed a violent death that his hand might be the more apt and ready for further acts of murther and cruelty and O how did the consideration of these things whet and provoke their spirits to prayer O now they will have no nay now they will give God no rest till he has overturn'd the Tyrants counsell and designes and sent his Angel to open the prison doores and to knock off Peters chains and to deliver him from the wrath and fury of Herod and their prayers were successfull as is evident in the 12. ver And when he had considered the thing he came to the house of Mary the mother of John This house is thought by many to be the house where the Apostles commonly had their meetings whose surname was Mark where many were gathered together praying or rather as the Originall has it where many thronged together to pray the violence and rage of their persecutors did so raise whet and incourage them to prayer that they throng together they crouded together to pray yea when others were a sleeping they were a praying and their prayers were no sleepie prayers they were no lazy dronish prayers nor they were no book-prayers but they were powerfull and prevalent prayers for as so many Jacob's or as so many Princes they prevailed with God they prayed and wept and wept and prayed they call'd and cryed and cryed and call'd they beg'd and bounc'd and they bounc'd and beg'd and they never left knocking at heavens Gates till Peters chains were knockt off and Peter given into their Armes yea their bosomes as an answer of prayer O the power and force of joynt prayer when Christians doe not only beseech God but besiege him and beset him too and when they will not let him goe till he has blest them and answered their prayers and the desires of their souls I have read that Mary Queen of Scots that was mother to King James was wont to say that she was more afraid of Mr. Knox's prayers and the prayers of those Christians that walk't with him then shee was of a knocking Army of ten thousand men And that is a remarkable passage of the Psalmist Psal 109.3 4. They compassed me about also with words of hatred and fought against me without a caâ—se The like speech you have in that Psal 120.7 Vaani uzephillah But I prayer For my love they are my adversaries but I give my selfe unto prayer or as the Hebrew has it But I am prayer or a man of prayer Persecuted Saints are men of prayer yea they are as it were made up all of prayer David prayed before but O when his enemies fell a persecuting of him then he gave up himsâ—lf wholly to prayer O then he was more earnest more fervent more frequent more diligent more constant and more abundant in the work of prayer Plutarch in the life of Numa When Numa King of the Romans was told that his enemies were in Armes against him he did but laugh at it
be the Herald of his honor Psal 7.15 16. He made a pit and digged it Histories would furnish us with many hundred instances of this nature and is fallen into the ditch which he hath made His mischief shall return upon his own head and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate The wicked shall be undone by their own doings all the Arrows that they shoot at the righteous shall fall upon their own pates Maxentius built a false bridge to drown Constantine but was drowned himself Henry the third of France was stabbed in the very same Chambe where he had help't to contrive the cruel Massacre of the French Protestants And his brother Charles the ninth who delighted in the blood of the Saints had blood given him to drink for he was worthy Afterwards he was made Lord Cobham Soon after Thomas Arundel Arch-bishop of Canterbury had condemned Sir John Oldcastle a godly Knight it pleased the Lord to strike the Arch-bishop so in his tongue that he could neither swallow down any food nor speak a word before his death and so he was starved to death The Duke of Somerset in King Edward the sixth's days by consenting to his brothers death made way for his own by the same Ax and hand that beheaded his brother 'T is usuall with God to take persecutors in the snares and pits that they have laid for his people as many thousands in this Nation have experienced and though Rome her confederates are this day a laying of snares and traps and a digging of pits for the righteous who will rather burn then bow to their Baal yet do but wait and weep and weep and wait a little and you shall see that the Lord will take them in the very snares and pits that they have laid and digged for his people But Sixthly and Lastly God sometimes preserves his people from persecuting hands by providing Cities of refuge to shelter them and by providing hiding places to hide them in Mat. 10.23 If they persecute you in one city flye to another God has always found one City of refuge or another to shelter his persecuted people in And so when bloody persecuting Jezebel had cut off many of the Lords Prophets God provided an Obadiah to hide an hundred of them by Fifty in a Cave 1 Kin. 18.4.13 The Learned judge that there were several others in Israel that kept other Prophets of the Lord from Jezabels fury besides those that Obadiah hid Three years before Titus Vespasian besieged Jerusalem there was a voice frequently heard go up to Pella go up to Pella which very many of the Jews did and were saved God never wants a Chamber of presence a chamber of providence a chamber of protection a chamber of salvation to hide his people in Isa 26.20 I have read of one that in the time of the Massacre at Paris crept into a hole to hide himself and as soon as he was in there came a spider and weaved a Web before the hole the next morning the murderers came to search for him search in that hole said one and see if he be not there O no said another he can't be there for there is a Cob-web at the holes mouth upon which they did not suspect his being there by which means he was preserved from the rage and fury of those men of blood Constantius the Emperor promised a reward to those Captains or Souldiers that should bring Atharasius head to him but God hid him in a pit and fed him there a long time by the hand of a friend but being at last discovered by a Maid-servant the very night before his adversaries search't for him the providence of God opened away for his escape and sent him into the West by which means he was preserved from the rage and fury of his adversaries I think no men under heaven have had larger experience of this truth then English men Ah what Cities of refuge what hiding places has God provided for them to hide them from the wrath and rage of their persecutors for many years And thus I have given you a brief account of some of those ways which God takes to deliver his people out of persecuting hands But Quisquis volens detrahit famae meae nolens addit mercidi meae saith Augustin Twelfthly and lastly I answer That all the persecutions that you meet with on earth shall advance your glory in heaven the more Saints are persecuted on earth the greater shall be their reward in heaven as persecutions do increase a Christians grace so they do advance a Christians glory Mat. 5.10 11 12. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake Rejoyce and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you Luk. 6.22 23. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and * Excommunicate and Anathematize you as notorious shameful and abominable offenders cast out your name as evil for the son of mans sake Rejoyce ye in that day and leap for joy for behold your reward is in heaven for in the like manner did their fathers unto the Prophets They that are now opposed and persecuted by men shall at last be owned and crowned by God yea and the more afflictions and persecutions are multiplyed upon them in this world the greater shall be their recompence in another woâ—ld The Original words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Matthew and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Luke signifies exceeding great joy such as men usually express by skipping and dancing let your hearts leap and let your bodies leap for joy for great is your reward in heaven Look as wanton young cattle in the Spring when every thing is in its prime and pride do use to leap and skip for joy so says Christ do you leap and skip under all the afflictions and persecutions that befalls you for righteousness sake for great is your reward in heaven Bernard speaking of persecutors saith That they are but his Fathers Goldsmiths who are working to add Pearls to the Saints Crowns It is to my loss said Gordius the Martyr if you abate me any thing of my present sufferings sufferings for Christ are the Saints greatest glory they are those things wherein they have divinely glorified Crudelitas vestra gloria nostra your cruelty is our glory say they in Tertullian and the harder we are put to it the greater shall be our reward in heaven Chrysostom hit the nail when he said if one man should suffer all the sorrows of all the Saints in the world yet they are not worth one hours glory in heaven By the consent of the Schoolmen all the Martyrs shall appear
in the Church Triumphant bearing the signs of their Christian wounds about them as so many speaking testimonies of their godly courage that what here they endured in the behalf of their Saviour may be there an addition to their glory O Christians all your sufferings will certainly increase your future glory every affliction every persecution will be a grain put into the scale of your heavenly glory to make it more weighty in that day wherein he will richly reward you for every tear for every sigh for every groan for every hazard and for every hardship that you have met with in the pursuit of holiness c. for light afflictions you shall have a weight of glory and for a few afflictions you shall have as many joys 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. pleasures delights and contents as there be Stars in heaven or sands on the Sea-shore and for momentary afflictions you shall have an eternal crown of glory If you have suffering for suffering with Christ on earth you shall have glory for glory with Christ in heaven Ah Christians your present sufferings are but the seeds of your future glory and the more plentifully you sowe in tears the more abundant will be your harvest of glory Cyrus in a great expedition against his enemies the better to encourage his souldiers to fight in an Oration that he made at the head of his Army promised upon the victory to make every foot souldier an horseman and every horseman a Commander and that every Officer that did valiantly should be highly rewarded but Christ our General promises more for he promises a Crown Rev. 2.10 And a throne Chap. 3.21 to all his afflicted and persecuted ones which are the greatest rewards that a God can give or that man can crave It troubled one of the Martyrs when he was at the stake that he was going to a place where he should be for ever a receiving of wages for a little work Aristippus being demanded in a storm Why he was not as fearful as others were answered That there was great reason for it For saith he they fear the torments due to a bad life but I expect the reward due to a good life Ah Christians shall not the hopes of that great reward that attends suffering Saints bare you up bravely and carry you out sweetly under all the storms that may beat upon you whilst you are sailing heaven-wards and holiness-wards Surely yes I have read that Lycurgus could draw the Lacedemonians to any thing by temporal rewards And O then how much more should I draw all your hearts to a readiness and willingness to do any thing to be any thing and to suffer any thing for Christs sake and holiness sake upon the account of that great reward that sure reward and that eternal reward that attends suffering Saints And let thus much suffice for answer to this fourth objection I hope none of you will think that I have been too long in answering this Objection considering the present times But Fifthly Others may object and say We would labor after this holiness without which there is no happiness c. But if we should then we must resolve to be poor and mean and beggarly in the world we must resolve then to fare hard and lye hard and labor hard and live low in the world for we shall never raise an estate to our selves by holiness and strictness we shall never grow rich and great in the world by godliness nay by driving this trade of holiness we shall lose our Trades our Customers and those estates we have and quickly bring a noble to nine pence c. Now to fence and arm you against this objection give me leave to propose these six following considerations First Consider that 't is not absolutely necessary that you should be rich or high or great in this world but 't is absolutely necessary that you should be holy the want of riches can onely trouble you but the want of holiness will certainly damne you you may be happy in another world though you are not high in this world many a man has gone to heaven without a penny in his purse or good cloaths on his back Luk. 16.19 31. and doubtless 't is infinitely better with ragged naked Lazarus to go to heaven then 't is with Dives to go rich and bravely clad to hell 't is better to go to heaven poor and halt and maimed then to go to hell sound and rich poverty and outward misery with salvation is far better then worldly prosperity and felicity with everlasting perdition Holiness and not riches is the One thing necessary if thou hast holiness nothing can make thee miserable but if thou wantest holiness nothing can make thee happy Outward blessings are no infallible evidences of a blessed estate Was Abraham rich so was Abimelech to Was Jacob rich so was Laban to Was David a King so was Saul to Was Constantine an Emperor so was Julian to 'T is onely holiness that sets the crown of happiness upon a Christians head But Secondly Consider that 't is not sanctity but impiety 't is not holiness Prov. 24.33 34. Ch. 28.19.22 but wickedness that exposes men to the greatest poverty and misery Prov. 6.26 For by the means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread Whoredom is a very costly sin the prodigal had quickly spent his portion among his Harlots Luk. 15. Whoredom can't be a greater Paradise to the flesh then 't is a purgatory to the purse and many great ones have found it so Mar. 6.23 24. Herod that old fornicator was so inflamed and bewitched with the immodest wanton dancing of his Damosel that he swore he would give her to the half of his kingdom And 't is very observable that whilst Solomon in his younger days kept holy 1 King 10.27 28. Chron. 1.15 16 17. chast and pure silver and gold was as plentious at Jerusalem and at Court as the stones of the street but when Solomon had given himself up to his Concubines they quickly exhausted his Treasuries and brought him to so low an ebb that he was forced to oppress his subjects with such heavy taxes 1 Kings 12.1 20. burdens and tributes which occasioned the revolt of the ten Tribes Josephus in his Antiquities tells us of one Decius Mundus that offered to give so many hundred thousand Drachmes that came to six thousand pound English money to satisfie his lusts one night with a whore and yet could not obtain his desire There is no sin that has brought more men and greater men to beggary and misery then this has it is a great misery to be brought to a piece of bread to a scrap a little bit of bread but to be brought into so low a condition by Harlots doubles the misery for he that is by a whorish woman brought to a piece of bread on earth shall be brought to a drop of water in hell
and large Tophet is the name of a place in the valley lying on the South side of Jerusalem Josh 18.16 Now in this vale stood Tophet wherein the Idolatrous Jews used to burne their children in sacrifice to the Idol Moloc and it had that name from the Drums or Tabrets that their Idolatrous Priests used to beat upon at the time of their detestable services to drowne the hideous shrieks and lamentable cryes of the poore sacrificed children the pile thereof is fire and much wood the breath of the Lord like a streame of Brimstone doth kindle it Alas the Brick-kilns of Egypt and the Furnace of Babel were but as a blaze of straw to this Tormenting Tophet that has been prepared of old for the great and mighty ones of the earth Oh how dreadfull must that fire be that is prepared by God himselfe and that is kindled by the breath of the Lord and that shall never be quenched and yet such is the fire that is prepared for the great and mighty ones of the world O! the easeless the endless the remediless the unsufferable and yet the inevitable Torments that are prepared for those that are great and graceless in hell their wanton eyes shall be tormented with ugly and fearefull sights of ghastly Spirits and their ears that us'd to be delighted with all delightfull musick shall now be filled with the hideous cryes howlings and yellings of Devills and damned Spirits and their tongues of blasphemy shall now be tormented with drought and thirst and though with the Glutton they cry out for a drop to coole their tongues yet Justice will deny them drops who have denyed others crums and their hands of bribery cruelty and tyranny shall now be bound with everlasting chaines and so shall their feete which were once swift to shed innocent blood In a word their torments shall be universall they shall extend to every member of the body and to every faculty of the soul Ah Sirs fire sword famine prisons Racks and all other torments that men can invent are but as flea-bitings to those Scorpions but as drops to those vials of wrath and but as sparks to those eternal flames that all unsanctified persons shall lye under Look as the least joy in heaven infinitely surpasseth the greatest comforts on earth so the least torments in hell doe infinitely exceed the greatest that can be devised here on earth for a close remember this as there are degrees of glory in heaven so there are degrees of torment in hell and as those that are most eminent in grace and holiness Math. 10.15 Chap. 11.22 Luke 12.47 48. shall have the greatest degrees of glory in heaven so those that are most vile and wicked on earth shall have the greatest degrees of torments and punishments in hell Now common experience tells us that the rich the great the high the honorable and the mighty ones of the world are usually the most excelling in all wickedness and ungodliness and therefore their condemnation will be the greater they shall have a hotter and a darker hell then others except they labour after this holiness which will be their only fence against hell and their sure path to heaven But Sixthly and lastly of all men on earth the rich the great and the honorable will be found most inexcusable The poore and the mean ones of the earth will plead their want of time and want of means and want of opportunities they will be ready to say Psal 127.1 2. Lord we have rise earely and gon to bed late we have labour'd and sweate and droyl'd and all little enough to get bread to eate and cloaths to weare As the poore people on the Northerne borders when to suppress their Theeveries some prest upon them the eighth Commandement they to excuse themselves replied that that Commandement was none of Gods making but thrust into the Decalogue by King Henry the eighth and to keep the Sargeant from the doore and to pay every man his own had we had but the time the meanes the advantages that such and such Gentlemen have had and that such and such Nobles have had and that such and such Princes have had c. O how would we have minded holiness and studied holiness and prest after holiness but seeing it has been otherwise with us we hope Lord we may be excused but what excuse will you be able to make O ye great ones of the earth who have had time and opportunities and all advantages imaginable to make your selves holy and happy for ever and yet you have trifled away your golden seasons and forgotten the one thing necessary and given your selves up to the lusts and vanities of this world as if you were resolv'd to be damn'd Let me a little allude to that John 15.22 If I had not come and spoken unto them they had not had sin but now they have no cloak or excuse for their sin So will God one day say to the great ones of the woâ—ld Had I not given you riches and greatness and honor c. to have encouraged you to look after holiness and that you might have time and leasure and opportunity to seek holiness and pursue it you might have had some â—loak some excuse for your neglecting so great so glorious so noble and so necessary a work O but now you have no cloak no excuse at all for your sin now you can shew no reason under heaven why an eternal doom should not be past upon you and ah how silent how mute how speechless Titus 3.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Self-condemned or self damned and how self-condemned will all the great ones of the world be when God shall thus expostulate with them O! that such would seriously lay to heart that Math. 22.11 12. And when the King came in to see the Guests he saw there a man which had not on a wedding Garment And he saith unto him Friend how camest thou in hither not having a wedding Garment and he was speechless By the wedding Garment the Learned understand holiness of heart and life now when the King questions him about the want of this wedding Garment he is speechless or as the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports He was muzzled or haltered up that is he held his peace as though he had a bridle or a halter in his mouth he was not able to speak a word for himselfe his own conscience had past a secret sentence of condemnation upon him and he sat silent under that sentence as having nothing under heaven to say why he should not be cast into utter darkness And this will be the very case of all the rich the great and the mighty ones of the world who shall be found without the garment of holiness when the Lord shall enter into Judgement with them And thus you see by these six Arguments that there are no persons under heaven that are so eminently engaged to look after
testifies to your faces Hosea 5.5 Ch. 7.10 and your worldliness testifies to your faces and your passion testifies to your faces and your diffidence testifies to your faces and your hypocrisie testifies to your faces and your carnality testifies to your faces c. that yet you are not got up many rounds in Jacobs Ladder that your degrees in holiness may be easily cast up But Secondly You have not attain'd to much holiness witness that high price that you set upon the toyes the trifles and the vanities of this world As Jonah did upon his Gourd Ah at what a rate do men value the empty honors the fading riches and the declining greatness of this world Democritus the Philosopher esteemed his Roome covered over with green branches Gen. 24.30 31. Math. 17.4 2 Cor. 5.1 2. Math. 18.1 2. Mark 9.33 34 35 36. above the Royal Palace And did not Peter prefer a Tabernacle on earth before a Royal Palace not made with hands but eternal in the heavens But what doe I talke of Peter when this disease had againe and againe and againe over-spread the hearts of all the Disciples as you may evidently see by comparing the Scripture in the Margent together they had dispute upon dispute Luke 9.46 47. Chap. 22. to the 28. vide which of them should be accounted greatest they had often sharp contests among themselves which of them should have the greatest honor the best office and the highest preferment in Christs earthly kingdome and indeed their thoughts heads and hearts were so taken up about an outward kingdome a worldly kingdome that they little minded either the spiritual kingdome of God within them or the glorious kingdome of God above them As the foolish Indians prefer every toy and trifle before their Mines of Gold so many Christians who are low in holiness prefer the trifling vanities of this world before the glorious treasures and endless pleasures that be at Gods right hand Psal 16. ult O but where holiness is risen to any considerable height there men will make a very foot-stool of their crowns for Christ to get up and ride in triumph Rev. 4.10 11. there all the glory bravery of this world will be but as dross dung Phil. 3.7 8. there men would like the woman the Church in the Revelation Rev. 12.1 trample the Moon that is all the things of this world which are as changeble as the Moon under their feete were there but more holiness in your hearts all the gay galllant things of this world would be more contemptible in your eyes O Sirs if Midas was condemned to wear Asses ears because he preferred Pans Pipe before Apollo's Lute that is humane policy before divine providence how severely are they to be censured who prefer the poor low empty nothings of this world before all the glory happines of another world c. But Thirdly You have attain'd to but little holiness witness your fears faintings in a day of adversity Though there be as many feare nots as there be feares in Scripture Isa 51.12 13. Ch. 41.10.14 yet in a day of calamity how easily and frequently do's your feares get above your faith and what fainting fits do's then attend you Pro. 24.10 If thou faint in the day of adversity thy strength is small or as the Hebrew has it Tsar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It signifies to be straitned as men are straitned that are closely besieged in time of war c. thy strength is narrow or straitned Look as bodily faintness discovers bodily weakness so soul faintness discovers soul weakness 't is troubles that are the trialls of a Christians strength afflictions will try what sap and life we have within us As the man is for holiness so is his strength under trials he that has no holiness has no strength and he that has but a little holiness has but a little strength but he that has much holiness has much strength and accordingly will bare up bravely in a day of tryall Gen. 49.23 24. his bow with Joseph's will then abide in strength Though Noah in the building of his Arke met with many a sore tryall and many a sad affront and many a broad jest and many a bitter scoffe and though the people generally laught at the good old man thinking that he did not only dote but dreame not of a dry summer but of a wet winter as we say yet Noah being eminent in holiness his bow abode in strength and he held on building of the Arke till he had finished the worke that God had commanded But O the sadness the weakness the faintness that attends most persons in the day of their adversity Jer. 8.18 21. When I would comfort my selfe against sorrow my heart is faint in me For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt I am black astonishment hath taken hold on me Chap. 45.3 Thou didst say wo is me now for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow I fainted in my sighings and I finde no rest Lam. 1.22 For my sighs are many and my heart is faint Chap. 5.17 For this our heart is faint for these things our eyes are dim Now this faintness in the day of adversity speaks out much spiritual weakness for where holiness is risen to a noble height there men will bare up couragiously even in a day of calamity The Eagle is the King of Birds Aristotle l. 9. de Historia Animalium c. and therefore the Romans who were the greatest Potentates on earth stil bore the Eagle in their Standards now the Naturalist observes concerning this Royal Bird that whereas all other Birds make a noise when they are hungry this Princely Bird makes no noise at all though he be never so hungry for such is the greatness and the nobleness of his spirit that what ever befalls him he won't cry and whine and repine as other Birds will doe when they want their food his Princely spirit carries him above all hunger thirst or danger So men that are eminent in holiness are men of such noble princely spirits that they won't faint nor vex nor fret nor complaine nor whine whatever their wants tryals or straits may be such afflictions as would break other mens hearts cannot so much as break their sleep they still hold on their way whatever they meet with they will be still amounting nearer and nearer to heaven But now where there is but a little holiness there men will be like the common fowls of the air still a making a noise they will still be a crying whining and repining under every trial and trouble they meet with But Fourthly You Have but a little holiness witness your easie your ready and your frequent fallings before temptations and motions to sin O! sirs when the temptation does but touch and take when you are no sooner tempted but you are conquered no sooner assaulted but
Winter is past and the singing of birds is come and anone you say your Winter is like to be longer then ever now you say there is Balm in Gilead and anon you say your wound is incurable now you say all is your own and anon you are ready to give up all as lost c. and thus your hearts rise and fall according to the working of second causes When you have full purses and powerful Armies and subtle Councellors Psal 30.6 7 8. and great Allies then you are ready to say surely our mountain is strong and we shall never be removed but when your bags are empty and your forces broken and your counsels dissipated and your Allies faln off then you are ready to cry out O now there is no hope there is no help O but now were you eminent in holiness then under the saddest and crossest workings of second causes 2 Chron. 14.11 you would say with Asa O Lord it is nothing with thee to help whether with many or with them that have no power 2 Kin. 6.16 17. Exod. 14.13 and with Elisha They that be with us are more then they that be with them and with Moses Stand still Psal 118.6 and see the salvation of God and with David The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me Holiness in any considerable heighth will set the power of God in opposition to all the power of the world Psal 65.6 11. and then divinely triumph over them Plutarch in vita Pomp. Pompey once gloried in this that with one stampe of his foot he could raise all Italy up in Arms but the great God with one stampe of his foot or with one word of his mouth can raise not onely Italy but also all the Angels in heaven and all the men on earth in Arms at his pleasure and in the power of this God raised holiness will enable a man to glory all the day long Where holiness is weak there men stand and fall as second causes work but where holiness is eminent there men will live upon the first cause and however second causes may wheel about yet such a man will live upon him and look up to him that hath a wheel within every wheel Ezek. 1.15 22. But Seventhly You have but little holiness witness that soul-leanness Psal 106.15 Isa 24.16 and Chap. 10.16 barrenness and unfruitfulness that is among you at this very day Ah how may most cry out with the Prophet Isaiah O my leanness my leanness O our leanness our leanness our barrenness our barrenness c. though God has waited many three years for fruit yet behold nothing but leaves I have read of the Indian Fig-tree how that its leaves are as broad as a Target Athenaeus de Ipnosoph lib. 3. but its fruit is no bigger then a Bean Ah how many Christians be there in these days whose leaves of profession are very broad but their fruits of righteousness and holiness are very small and as the Indian Fig-tree though it be of fair and goodly dimensions yet it riots out all its sap and juce into leaves and blossoms So many in these days who though they carry it fair and make a goodly shew yet they riot out all that spiritual sap and life that is in them into the mear leaves and blossoms of an empty profession Ah how are many of our hearts like to the Isle of Pathmos which is so barren that nothing that is good will grow on 't all the good things that grow there is from the earth that is brought from other places Look as a company of Ants are very busie about a Mole-hill running to and fro and wearying themselves in their several movings and turnings this way and that and yet never grow great for after all their motions and stiring they are still the same as to the slender proportion of their bodies so many Christians in these days run to and fro they run from one duty to another and from one ordinance to another and from one opinion to another and from one principle to another and from one Minister to another and from one Church to another and from one way to another and from one notion to another and yet they make little progress in holiness 2 Pet. 3.18 2 Tim. 3.6 7. they grow but little in the love the life the likeness and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ they are like those silly women that Timothy speaks of who were ever learning and yet never able to come to the knowledge of the truth and they are like Nazianzens country of Ozizala which abounded with gay flowers but was barren of corn so these abound in gay notions and flourishing parts but are barren of grace and holiness Seneca hath long since observed that as the Philosophers in his time grew more and more learned so they grew less and less moral and is there any thing more evident in these days then this viz. that as men grow more and more in empty airy notions and in a pompous Religion and profession so they grow less and less zealous and religious The reason say some why Christ cursed the Fig-tree though the time of bearing fruit was not come was because it made a glorious shew with leaves and promised much but brought forth nothing What 's a barren tree a barren ground or a barren womb to a barren heart Many in our days are like the Cypress-tree Joh. 15.6 which the more it is watered the more it is withered so the more many are watered with the means of grace the more they wither the more the dews of heaven falls upon them and the more heavenly Manna is daily rained round about them the more lean fruitless and barren they grow Such souls may do well to remember that those trees that are not for fruit are for the fire Heb. 6.8 Augustin For a close let me tell you that I fear with that Father that many grieve more for the barrenness of their lands then they do for the barrenness of their lives and for the barrenness of their trees then they do for the barrenness of their souls and for the loss of their Cattel then they do for the loss of Gods countenance But Eigthly lastly You have but little holiness witness that great indifferency and inconstancy that is to be found among you My Lord Paulet kept both great favor and places under Henry the eighth a Papist and under King Edward the sixth a Protestant and under Queen Mary a Papist and under Queen Elizabeth a Protestant being ask'd how he could do so he answered that he always imitated the willow and not the oak Ah how many Christians are there in these days of Gospel-light who are indifferent who they hear or what they hear who are indifferent whether they pray or not or walk in Gospel-order or not or keep Sabbaths or not or maintain
in the earth a perfect and upright man one that feareth God and escheweth evil Job was a very considerable person he was a man of a choice spirit he was caller in goodness and higher by the head and shoulders in grace and godliness then any of the Saints in that Age and corner of the world where he lived Job was a man of the greatest weight and worth for holiness that was in all the world Job was a none such no Christians could come neer him as he was the greatest so he was the best of the best of all the Saints that were in the East for heighths of grace and holiness he was a Giant and all the Christians round about him were but as so many Dwarfs he was the Paragon of his time for piety and sanctity none could parallel him none could match him And in this sense we are to understand the Apostle both in that 1 Cor. 2.6 We speak wisdom among them that are perfect and in that Phil. 3.15 Let as many as be perfect be thus minded He speaks here not of an absolute perfection 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I persecute I follow with as hot and as eager a spirit after perfection as persecutors do follow after those they persecute for such a perfection himself disclaimeth in vers 12. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus By the force of the Original word that is here rendred follow the Apostle declares that he had perfection in chase as it were and that his spirit was with much heat and eargerness carried out in pursuing after it and resolved not to rest till he had attained to it An absolutely perfection is very desireable on earth but shall never be obtained till we come to heaven Absolute perfection is not the priviledge of Saints militant but of Saints triumphant and therefore the perfection that the believing Corinthians and holy Philippians had attained to was not an absolute but a comparative perfection they were perfect incompaâ—ison of those that were but Babes and Shrubs and Dwarfs in Christ And 't is a very high and honorable report that the Apostle gives of the Corinthians in that 2 Cor. 8.7 Therefore as ye abound in every thing in faith in utterance and knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to us see that ye abound in this grace also And 't is a very large testimony that the same Apostle gives of the Romans in that Rom. 15.14 And I my self also am perswaded of you my brethren that ye are also full of goodness filled with all knowledge able also to admonish one another Now the fullness the Apostle speaks of is not a fulness of parts for the weakest believer as well as the strongest is at first conversion renewed and sanctified in every part though it be but in part and imperfect and this is a fulness of parts but of this fullness the Apostle does not speak but then there is a fullness of degrees now this fullness is either an absolute fullness or a comparative fullness the Apostle is to be understood of a comparative fulness the Romans were full of all goodness and knowledge in comparison of those in whom Christ was but newly formed and in whom the work of grace was but newly erected and they were full of all goodness and knowledge now in comparison of what they were at their first acquaintance with Christ and first acceptance of Christ and first resignation of themselves to Christ and at their first marriage-union and communion with Christ And thus you see by the experiences of other Saints that 't is possible for you to attain to higher degrees of grace and holiness then any those are that yet you have attained to But Fourthly 'T is possible for you to attain to higher degrees and pitches in holiness then any yet you have reach't unto witness the praises and thanksgivings that has been offered up to God upon their accounts who have attained to a very great heighth of holiness Take a few Scripture-instances for the clearing up of this particular as that in 1 Cor. 1.4 5 7. I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ That in every thing ye are enriched by him in all utterance and in all knowledge Though injuries should be writ in the dust yet spiritual mercies should be writ on Marble that our hearts may be the better provok't to thankfulness for them so that ye come behind in no good gift and that in Eph. 1.3 7 8. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ who according to the riches of his grace hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence Here the Apostle trumpets out the high praises of God for that he had blest them and enrich't them though not with corn or oyl or wine or with gold or silver which is but red and white clay that yet he had blest them with all spiritual blessings which are the choicest the chiefest and the sweetest of blessings for spiritual blessings are right-handed blessings they are peculiar blessings they are blessings sweetning blessings for they sweeten all the blessings man enjoys and they are blessings begetting blessings for they beget and bring forth many other blessings to the enriching and adorning of a Christians soul and they are blessings sanctifying blessings they are blessings that sanctifie all other blessings and they are blessings preserving blessings they are blessings that will preserve all our other blessings spiritual blessings are peculiar blessings they are costly blessings they are blessings that reach to the very spirit and soul of a Christian they are blessings that raises the spirit of a Christian and that enobles the spirit of a Christian and that cheers up the spirit of a Christian and that a thousand ways betters the spirit of a Christian and therefore 't is no wonder that the Apostles heart was so affected with spiritual blessings and that his mouth was so filled with spiritual praises as indeed it was And so in that 1 Tim. 1.12 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was overful redundant or hath abounded to flowing over as the sea doth overflow the banks many times and drown the lower grounds that are nearest to it And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord because the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus And thus you see by others thanksgivings that 't is possible for you to attain to far higher degrees of holiness then what for the present you are raised to The Stork is said to leave one of her young ones where she hatcheth them and the Elephant to turn up the first sprig towards heaven when he comes to feed and both out of
that treasure that he has put into their hands and yet this doth not infer merit of works but a gracious disposition in God to encourage his servants in a way of well-doing c. The fift Scripture is that Dan. 12.3 From this very Text your English Annotators conclude that there are degrees of glory in Heaven c. And they that bee wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever The glory of Heaven is here laid out in shining terms for look how gloriously the shining of stars doth excel the shining of the Firmament so some Saints shall as far out-shine others in glory as the Stars do now out-shine the Firmament look as the Stars are a more beautiful and glorious part of the Orb than the Firmament is so some Saints shall have a great deal more beauty and glory upon them than others shall And look as there are different degrees of glory between the glory of the Firmament and the glory of the Stars now so there shall bee different degrees of glory between one glorious Saint and another at last All the Saints shall at last shine as the firmament but those that by their Doctrine Instruction and Conversation turn many to righteousness these shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever Some of the highest seats in glory shall bee for such Act. 26.18 who turn sinners from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to Jesus Christ T is very observable that as the Apostles were very eminent in this work so Christ has given it under his own hand Matth. 19 28. Luke 22.28.29 that they shall sit upon twelve Thrones as so many Kings judging the twelve tribes of Israel they had done and suffered more for Christ than others and therefore Christ will put a greater glory upon them than upon others though many learned men differ about the interpretation of those words yee also shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel and therefore I dare not peremptorily conclude this or that to bee the sense of them yet this is most plain and evident in the Text that the Apostles are under a promise of some peculiar and more eminent degree of honour glory and dignity than others are under look as their Service to Christ was a peculiar and eminent service so Christ promises them a peculiar and eminent Reward every man of them shall have his particular Throne and every one of them shall have the honour and dignity of judging that is of governing and ruling the twelve tribes of Israel Look as Embassadors and cheif Counsellors and Presidents have the highest and chiefest seats in the Kingly Assembly Heb. 12.22 23 so the Apostles shall have the highest and the chiefest seats in the general Assembly and Church of the first born in Heaven they shall sit as it were on the Throne or on the Bench with Christ so highly and greatly shall they bee exalted If wee cannot hit upon the meanings of the Reward here promised yet wee may safely and easily gather from the description of it that there shall bee different degrees of glory in Christs Kingdome of glory The Apostles followed Christ through great tribulations and afflictions and they continued with him in all his temptations they forsook all to waite on him and after they had faithfully laboriously successfully and very eminently served him they made themselves an offering for him as I have formerly shewed you and therefore Christ will at last in a more eminent way exalt them and glorifie them than hee will others that have never seen that of Christ nor received that from Christ nor done that for Christ nor suffer'd that for Christ as they have done degrees of glory shall at last bee proportion'd out answerable to those degrees of service which in this life men have been drawn out to Such a thing as this the Apostle Paul do's more than hint if I mistake not in that 1 Thes 2.19 20. For what is our hope or joy or Crown of rejoycing are not even yet in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming For yee are our glory and joy the crown that Paul speaks of here is not that common crown of righteousness nor that common crown of life and immortality 2 Tim. 4.8 Jam. 1.12 Rev. 2.10 1 Pet. 5.4 nor that common crown of glory that all the Saints shall bee crown'd with at last but hee speaks here of an Apostolical crown of a special peculiar crown that should accrue to him upon the account of his serviceableness to their Souls and of this crown hee speaks again in that Phil. 4.1 Therefore my brethren my dearly beloved and longed for my joy and crown so stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved hee calls the Philipians his crown and that partly because their spiritual growth constancy and perseverance was now his glory among other Churches but mainly because they should bee his particular crown of rejoycing in the great day of our Lord Jesus hee knew that the Philipians profit would bee his crown and his advantage another day The Apostle alludes here to the custome of the Romans who as they had their common crownâ— of Bayes Ivie and Lawrell c. and these were such that their horses which won the race were often crown'd with which occasioned Theocritus to say see what poor things the world glories in for as their Conquerours are crown'd so are their Horses so they had their peculiar their special crowns that were the rewards of their Conquerors that had done special service for their country So there are common crowns that belong to all the Saints as Saints as the crown of righteousness the crown of life and the crown of glory and as there are these common crowns so there are special and peculiar crowns that they shall bee crown'd with that are exercised in more high and excellent services than others have been employed in and this is the crown that here the Apostle speaks of hee knew very well that his reward should bee answerable to his work for though God never did nor never will reward men for their works as if they were the meritorious cause of the reward yet hee will for degrees reward them according to their works there are peculiar crowns special crowns for those that have done peculiar and special services for Christ on Earth A sixt Scripture is that Matth. 5.11 12. Blessed are yee when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake Rejoyce and bee exceeding glad for great is your reward in Heaven Suffering Saints persecuted Saints shall bee sure of great rewards God will reward upon his people not only their innocencie integrity patience and courage under their sufferings but the more their sufferings revilings and persecutions are multiplyed in this world the more shall
their recompence and reward bee multiplied in another world 'T is true Christ hath many lovers of his Crown but few bearers of his Cross all would rejoyce with him but few care to suffer for him but yet 't is as true on the one hand viz. that they who bear most of his Cross shall bee greatest sharers in his Crown they that suffer most for him on Earth shall bee most blest and rewarded by him when they come to Heaven 2 Cor. 1.4 5. Look as the consolation of the Saints rises higher and higher in this world even as their sufferings rise higher and higher so the glory of the Saints shall rise higher and higher in the other world as their sufferings has rise higher and higher in this world The persecuted Christians in Tertullian cries out Crudelitas vestra gloria nostra your cruelty is our glory and the harder wee are put to it the greater shall bee our reward in Heaven One speaking of the Martyrs said look how many sufferings they have so many crowns they shall have for every suffering God shall set a crown on their heads By how much mens sufferings have been greater saith Chrysostom by so much the more their crown shall bee bright and splendent The greater conflicts and buffetings any Saint hath endur'd the greater shall bee his reward and the more ample shall bee his glory saith Austin As Christ hath many crowns upon his head sutable to the multitude of his sufferings and victories so Christians at last shall have crowns sutable to the multitude of their sufferings Rev. 19.7 and sutable to those famous victories they have gained over a tempting Devil and a persecuting world certainly it will bee but Justice that they should receive the weightiest Crown 1 Joh. 5.4 chap. 2.13 14. who have bore the heaviest Cross The seventh and last Scripture that I shall produce is that Matth. 10.41 Hee that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall receive a Prophets reward that is say some they shall bee partakers of the same reward that is laid up for the Prophets Without all dispute these two things lyes fair in the Text First that there is some special and eminent degrees of reward due unto a Prophet above other men And Secondly that he that shall entertain a Prophet and perform any offices of love and favour to him under that name and notion hee shall bee partaker of that reward hee that receives a Prophet as hee is Gods messenger and imployed in his service and sent about his arrant and not upon any carnal or worldly respects hee shall receive a Prophets reward that is hee shall receive either such a reward as the Prophet himself shall receive at last or hee shall receive such a large ample and noble recompence as is meet for one to receive that received a Prophet as coming from the Lord and as acted by the Lord Look as sucâ— who give an honourable reception to the Ambassadours of Kings or Princes do highly raise themselves in the favour and esteem of those Kings or Princes that had sent them so those that receive the faithful Prophets of the Lord as the Ambassadours of God they shall bee highly interested in the favour of God and as nobly bee rewarded by God I might produce several other Scriptures As that Mat. 6.20 Joh. 14.2 Mat. 20.20 to the 24. that sound to the same purpose as these Seven do but enough is as good as a feast I shall therefore in the Second place come to the Reasons that may further evidence and confirm this great truth viz. That there shall bee different degrees of glory in Heaven among many other reasons that might bee given I shall only give you these five First there are diversities of degrees of Angels in Heaven There are Cherubims and Seraphims and there are Angels and Archangels now the Cherubims and Seraphims are a lower rank and order of Angels and the Archangels are a higher rank and order of Angels And the Apostle speaks clearly of several ranks and orders of invisible creatures in that Col. 1.16 here you have an enumeration of Thrones Dominions Principalities and Powers and so in that Eph. 1.21 Far above all Principalities and Powers and Might and Dominion These principalities and powers are the blessed Angels that Minister before the Lord and that are subordinate unto one another and here they are reckoned up by assending power is above principality and might above power and dominion above might To define those orders and degrees of Angels with which God is invironed is a work too high and hard for mee and though the Papists and several School-men are so bold as to define their particular offices and orders Dionysius Areopagita Thomas Aquinas Anselm c. yet I dare not be wise above what is written where the Scripture is silent I love to be silent and where the Scripture hath no tongue there I desire to have no ears There is an order in Hell an order among the Devils and therefore you read in * Mat. 9.34 chap. 12.34 Mark 3.22 The very supposition of order supposeth inequality and disproportion three Scriptures of the Prince of Devils and so much also that expression imports that you have in that Mat. 25.41 The Devil and his Angels which intimates a Prince among those unclean and damned spirits Now shall there be order in Hell and confusion in Heaven Shall there be order among the evil Angels and shall there not much more be order among the good Angels Certainly that God that is the God of order and that hath made all things in order and that to this day keeps all things in order here below will never suffer the least disorder and confusion to be among those Princes of glory that stand continually before him Hee that denies order in Heaven denies Heaven to be Heaven and hee that grants order in Heaven grants degrees of glory in Heaven Though there is no difference between the Angels in natura Angelica the Angelical nature being alike in all yet in officio in office there is a great deal of difference in the glory of the Angels for God imploys some of the Heavenly Host in more high noble and excellent services than others and answerable thereunto shall their reward bee Though all Angels shall share alike in the essential and substantial glory of Heaven yet there is an additional glory an accidental glory an over-plus of glory that shall be conferred upon the Angels answerable to the several and various services that they have managed and ingaged in Now the Scripture tells us plainly Matth. 22.30 that in Heaven wee shall be like to the Angels and therefore if there be degrees of Angels and if the Angels in Heaven shall have a different glory and reward according to the work in which they have been employed then the glory of the Saints in respect of degrees shall bee different also But
so when wee come to view a Parable 't is enough that wee cast our eye principally upon the general intention and scope of it hee that is very exact and curious to view and observe every particular circumstance about Parables may easily draw blood instead of milk out of the breasts of Parables Ezek. 2.10 Hier. in cap. 2. Ezek. Parables are like to the Role which Ezekiel saw in a Vision spread before him which was written within and without without the History was written and within the mystery was written Now though the out-side the history of a Parable be like the Golden Pot yet the inside the mystery of a Parable is like the Manna that was hid therein and 't is the Manna the Manna that wee must seek after Look as 't is their wisdome who deal in curious rich stuffs that are wrought on both sides to cast a special eye upon the flowers that are on the inside of those stuffs So 't is our wisdome to cast a special eye upon the inside of Parables upon the mystical reference that Parables have than to lye poring upon the outside of Parables Now the scope of this Parable is not to prove that there is an equality of glory in Heaven but to reprove the Jews who being called into the Lords Vineyard betimes in the morning repined and murmured that the Gentiles who were called in at the latter end of the day who were called in some thousand years after them that they should through the riches of grace have an equal share with them in the reward and stand upon as good and as noble terms with God as themselves who had so long bore the heat of the day God to shew that his gifts his grace and his rewards are free will give his pennies as well to those who have laboured but a little as to those who have laboured much and this is no prejudice at all to his truth and justice that his grace is free But Thirdly and lastly That by the Penny wee cannot nor wee may not understand everlasting happiness and blessedness but some other reward that Hypocrites may attain to as well as sincere-hearted-Christians and the reason is obvious for hee that was sent away for his envious grumbling and grunting was sent away also with his Penny Some by the Penny do understand worldly honour and the estimation and approbation of men take thy Penny and be packing By the Penny some pious Interpreters do understand some competent gift or other whatever it were which might be well managed and improved to advantage The Vineyard is the Church and every one that is called to labour in the Vineyard is called to labour in the use and improvement of Ordinances Now every one that is laborious in the use of Ordinances shall be sure to get something no man shall kindle a fire on Gods Altar for nought And yet it many times comes to pass that those who have been called and converted long before others do yet make no greater nor no better yearnings on it than those do that have been called and converted long after them hee that is called at the first hour sometimes gets no more than hee that is called at the eleventh hour 'T is in the Trade of Christianity as it is in other Trades Now you know that many men who have been set up in this or that Trade ten nay twenty years before others yet they many times make no more yearnings no more advantage of their Trade than they that have set up but the other day as wee say Why so many that have been called long to the Trade of Christianity before others yet they make no more yearnings no more advantage of that Trade than those that have been called to it but yesterday as I may speak his gifts his gain his yearnings that is called in at the eleventh hour of the day is many times equal to his that was called in at the first hour of the day Yea I have formerly proved that sometimes many that are called later than others do yet in gifts and grace excel those that were called long before them Now these Objections being answered that Truth stands firm like Mount Zion viz. That the more holiness you have here the more happiness you shall have hereafter the more grace you have here on Earth the more glory you shall have when you come to Heaven And so I come to the second thing proposed namely To acquaint you with some means helps and directions that may inable you to make a progress in holiness and to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. And First If ever you would perfect holiness if ever you would attain to higher degrees of holiness than any yet you have attained to then labour to bee more and more sensible of your spiritual wants and deficiencies of grace and holiness Ah Christians you must bee often in casting up your accounts and in looking over the defects of your holiness hee that hath most holiness yet wants much more than what hee hath attained to witness the prevalency of his corruptions witness his easie falling before temptation witness his aptness to faint in the day of affliction witness his staggering in the day of opposition witness his shifts in the day of persecution and witness his actual unpreparedness and unfitness for the day of his dissolution The more any Christian sees himself defective in holiness the more hee will labour after holiness Psa 119.59 60. I thought on my wayes and turned my feet unto thy testimonies I made haste and delayed not to keep thy Commandements The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is here used for thinking signifies to think on a mans waies accurately advisedly seriously studiously curiously this holy man of God thought exactly and curiously on all his purposes and practises on all his doings and sayings on all his words and works and finding too many of them to be short of the rule yea to bee against the rule hee turns his feet to Gods testimonies having found out his errors upon a diligent search a strict scrutiny he turns over a new leaf and frames his course more exactly by rule O Christians you must look as well to your spiritual wants as to your spiritual enjoyments you must look as well to your layings out as to your layings up you must looke as well forward to what you should be as backward to what you are certainly that Christian will never be eminent in holiness that hath many eyes to behold a little holiness and never an eye to see his further want of holiness hee that is more affected with that holiness hee hath than hee is afflicted about those great measures of holiness that hee needs will never bee but a Puny a Dwarf in holiness the more sensible wee are of our own weakness and emptiness the more pleasure God will take to fill us with his own fulness and to perfect in us the work
longer and bee quicker and nimbler in religious duties than others that are more aged in grace and holinesse but yet they that are aged in grace and holinesse do perform religious duties with more spiritual art and accuratenesse and with more divine skill judgement and understanding than they do in whom the spring of holinesse runs low A young Scholar may run over more paper and write more paper and make more letters than his Master doth but yet his Master writes more understandingly exactly and accurately than hee doth So many young converts may run over more duties than others and yet others may perform duties more understandingly and more exactly and more accurately than they do let the duty bee never so short yet if there bee much spiritualnesse holinesse brokennesse seriousnesse and accuratenesse in it it will carry all before it 't will win the blessing and obtain the crown when the longest duties wherein there is no such frame nor temper of spirit shall not prevail with God at all Zach. 7.4 5 6. Isa 58.1 6. It argues a very great measure of holinesse when the soul is habitually carried on in religious duties with much solidnesse seriousnesse spiritualnesse exactnesse and accuratenesse But Tenthly The more any man makes it his great businesse and work in all his duties waies and walkings to approve himself to God and to bee accepted of God Jer. 12.3 Psa 17.3 The Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chakreni signifies a very strict careful diligent search and inquisition c. the greater height of holinesse that man hath attained to David was a man of great holinesse and how studious and industrious hee was to approve his heart to the Lord you may see in that 139. Psalm 23 24. Search mee O God! and know my heart try mee and know my thoughts and see if there bee any wicked way in mee and lead mee in the way everlasting The Psalmist knew that God had an eye upon him both at home and abroad both at bed and at board both in publick and in private both in his family and in his closet hee knew that God had an eye in every corner of his house and in every corner of his heart and therefore hee appeals to God and hee approves his heart to God and nobly ventures upon the tryal of God Search mee O God and know my heart c. this frequent repetition and doubling of words Search mee O God and know my heart try mee and know my thoughts c. doth not only note the earnestnesse and seriousnesse of Davids spirit in prayer but also the soundnesse the uprightnesse the plainnesse and the unfeignednesse of Davids heart in that hee was very willing and ready to submit himself to the search tryal examination and approbation of God And so Peter that great Apostle of the Gentiles makes it his great businesse to approve himself to Christ thrice together Joh. 21.15 16 17. Lord thou knowest that I love thee Lord thou knowest that I love thee Lord thou that knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Christ best knew the reality and sincerity of Peters love and therefore Peter appeals to him as to a judge that would bee sure to judge righteous judgement Thou knowest that I love thee And so the Apostle Paul speaking in the Name of his fellow Apostles saith wherefore wee labour that whether present 2 Cor. 5.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or absent wee may bee accepted of him The Greek word that is here rendred labour is a very Emphatical word it signifies to labour and endeavour with all earnestnesse and might to indeavour with a high and holy ambition to bee approved of by God and to bee accepted of God judgeing it to bee the greatest honour and the most desireable happinesse in all the world to bee graciously owned approved and accepted of the Lord as ambitious industrious and laborious as Haman was to bee highly accepted with King Ahasuerus yet he was not more ambitious to bee accepted with the King than the Apostles were ambitious to be accepted of the King of Kings O Sirs when in every Sermon you hear and in every prayer you make and in every fast you keep and in every action you do and in every way that you walk and in every mercy that you enjoy and in every cross that you bear c. you make it your great businesse and work to approve your selves to the Lord and that though the world should discountenance you and friends hate you and near and dear Relations reject you that yet you may find blessed acceptance with God this argues holiness to be upon the Throne when in all your dealings and tradings with God you make it your Heaven to approve your selves to God and when in all your transactions with men you make it your happiness to approve your selves to God 't is an Argument that the springs of holiness are risen high in your souls But Eleventhly The more a man lives by the Rule of Expediency as well as by the Rule of Lawfulnesse the greater measure of holinesse that person hath attained to Joh. 16.7 2 Cor. 8.10 Weak holinesse hath only an eye upon the Rule of Lawfulnesse but raised holinesse hath one eye upon the Rule of Lawfulnesse and the other upon the Rule of Expediency Weak holinesse saith O this is lawful and that is lawful O but saith raised holinesse is it expedient is it expedient as well as lawful That Angelical Apostle Paul had still his eye upon the Law of Expediency 1 Cor. 6.12 All things are lawful unto mee but all things are not expedient all things are lawful for mee but I will not bee brought under the power of any And so ch 10.23 All things are lawful for mee but all things are not expedient all things are lawful for mee but all things edifie not And so in that 2 Cor. 12.1 'T is not expedient for mee doubtless to glory Many things may bee lawful that yet may bee very inexpedient for our place state calling and condition in the world 'T was lawful for the Apostle to eat meat Rom. 14. but 't was not expedient for him to eat meat when his eating of meat would make his weak Brother to offend or grieve or stumble or fall And therefore hee resolves that rather than hee will eat meat to offend 1 Cor. 8.13 hee will never eat meat whilst the world stands The more unchangeably resolved any person is to eye the Rule of Expediency and to live by the Rule of Expediency the greater measure of holinesse that person hath certainly attained to the streams of holinesse runs low in that Christians heart that hath two eyes to behold the Rule of Lawfulnesse but never an eye to see the Rule of Expediency it argues a very great height of holinesse for a man to make as much conscience of living by the Rule of Expediency as hee doth of living by the Rule of
Lawfulnesse For a man to be often a looking over his Natural actions his Moral actions and his Religious actions and to be still a putting this question to himself O my soul dost thou eye what is expedient dost thou eye as well what is expedient as what is lawful such a frame and temper of spirit speaks out much of Christ and Holinesse within O the sins O the sorrows O the shame O the reproach O the troubles O the travels O the trials c. that might have been prevented had the Law had the Rule of Expediency been more minded and followed by Christians in these daies c But Twelfthly and lastly The more a man can deny himself when hee hath an opportunity power and authority to raise himself to greaten himself to seek himself and to lift up himself the greater measure of Holiness that man hath attained to Providence often puts many a rare and fair opportunity into Moses his hand Exod. 32.9 15. Deut. 9.13 14 18 19 20. Heb. 12.24 25. Nehem. 5.14 ult whereby hee might have raised himself and have greatned himself in the world and yet then even then hee denies himself And Nehemiah was a man of the same mind and metal hee stood upon the advantage ground to have greatned himself and to have lifted up himself as others had done before him but instead of this hee lessens himself hee denies himself hee degrades himself and being of a very noble generous publick spirit hee turns his back upon his own worldly interest and keeps a very free and bountiful Table upon the account of his own particular Revenue and not upon the account of a publick purse And so Daniel was one in Spirit with the former when God had brought him into high favour with the Prince of the Eunuchs Dan. 1.8 9 10 11. and given him a great deal of heart-room there yet upon no terms would hee defile himself with the Kings meat or comply with the requests of the Prince of the Eunuchs it argues a great deal of holiness for a man to deny his temporal self Rev. 4.10 11. to dethrone his temporal self when hee stands upon the advantage ground to advance his temporal self and to throne his temporal self in the world I have read of Trojane the Emperour how hee sent Eustochius one of his chiefest Captains against the Barbarians who having vanquished them returned home The Emperour being very joyful at this good news goes to meet him and brings him gloriously into the City Now Eustochius being high in the Emperours favour 't was but ask and have speak and speed but on this very day of Pomp Triumph and Glory hee chose rather to suffer the Martyrdome of himself his wife and children than with the Emperour to offer sacrifice to Apollo and so denies himself and all his present Pomp and Glory when hee might greatly have inriched himself and advanced himself Nothing speaks out greater measures of holiness than for a man to deny himself when hee may seek himself and exalt himself if hee pleases I have read of a godly man who being sorely tempted by Satan was much in duty to whom Satan said why takest thou this pains thou dost watch and fast and pray and abstainest from the sins of the times But O man what dost thou more than I do art thou no Drunkard no more am I art thou no Adulterer no more am I dost thou watch why let mee tell thee I never slept dost thou fast why I never ate nor drank what dost thou more than I do why I will tell thee Satan said the holy man I pray I serve the Lord nay more than all this I deny my self nay then saith Satan thou goest beyond mee for I am proud and I exalt my self and so vanished O the excellency of self-denial and O the holiness and the happiness of that man that can deny himself that can debase himself that can even trample upon himself when hee hath power and authority in his own hand to greaten himself and to exalt himself Power and authority will try what metal men are made of Ah how many have there been among us of late years who when they have had no power nor authority in their hands to help themselves have seemed to be great deniers of themselves but no sooner had they power and authority in their hands but ah what self-love what self-interest what self-seeking and what self-exalting was to be found amongst them O how have many among them instead of loving God to the contempt of themselves loved themselves to the contempt of God and who instead of debasing themselves that they might exalt God have debased God that they might exalt themselves and who instead of losing themselves that they might finde God have lost God that they might finde themselves These put mee in minde of the Abbot in Melancthon who lived strictly and lookt demurely and walkt humbly so long as hee was but a Monk but when by his seeming sanctity and humility hee had got to be Abbot hee grew most intollerable proud and insolent c. and being asked the reason of it hee confessed that his former lowly looks was but to see if hee could finde the keyes of the Abby how many such Abbots wee have had amongst us you all know Ah how rare is it to finde a man to deny himself when hee is advantaged to seek himself such a man is worth gold but this Iron-age affords few such golden-men Where this frame of spirit is there the streams of holiness runs deep And thus much for this Use of Trial and Examination And so I come now to the last Use of this Doctrine and that is for Comfort and Consolation to all those that have this real holiness without which there is no happiness O Sirs open wide the everlasting doors of your souls that not a River but a Sea of joy and comfort may flow in upon you For First Know for your comfort That real holiness is the seal of your eternal Election Some are elected to glorious offices in this world others are elected to eternal glory in the other world Joh. 6.70 Judas was chosen to be an Apostle on Earth but not to be a Saint in Heaven but the Thessalonians were elected to eternal glory in Heaven 1 Thes 1.4 though they were not chosen to any glorious offices here on Earth It may be thou art a poor creature that never wast nor never art like to be elected to any noble or honourable imployments either in Church or State O but if thou art a holy person then know for thy everlasting comfort that thy real holiness is a real seal of thine Eternal Election 't is the counterpane as it were of all that gracious love good will and eternal favour that God bears unto thee Ephes 1.4 Hee hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world that wee should be holy God did not chuse us either
Sons and stand by them as Sons and lay up for them as Sons and lay out himself for them as Sons that they that have not deserved a smile from God a good word from God a bit of bread from God or a good look from God should be made the Sons of God What manner of love is this that they that have so highly provoked God that they that have walkt so cross and contrary to God that they that were so exceeding unlike to God that they that have preferred every lust and every toy and vanity before God that they that have fought many years under Satans Banner against God that they that have refused all the offers of mercy that hath been made by God that they that have deserved to be reprobated by God to be damned by God and to be thrown to Hell by God that these should be made the Sons of God O stand and wonder O stand and admire at the freeness of Grace and at the riches of Grace But Seventhly If thou art a holy person if thou art one that hast that real holiness without which there is no happiness then know for thy comfort that thou art an undoubted heir of everlasting Glory Rom. 8.16 17 18. James 2.5 2 Tim. 4.7 8. Rom. 8.29 30. For whom hee did foreknow hee also did predestinate to be conformed to the Image of his Son that is in holinesse that hee might bee the first born among many Brethren Moreover whom hee did predestinate them hee also called and whom hee called them hee also justified and whom hee justified them hee also glorified Holiness is a most sure earnest and pawn of glory 2 Thes 2.13 God hath chosen you to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God 1 Joh. 3.2 3. When hee shall appear wee shall be like him that is in glory for wee shall see him as hee is And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as hee is pure Hee that hath a real hope a lively hope of being like to Christ in Glory and of reigning with Christ in Heaven will set roundly upon the work of self-purifying there is no hope to that hope that runs out into holiness and that leads the soul on to the highest degrees of purification and that inables a man to set up Christs purity as the most perfect Pattern and exact Coppy for his Imitation Titus 3.4 5 6 7. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared not by works of Righteousness which wee have done but according to his mercy hee saved us by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which hee shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour That being justified by his Grace wee should bee made heirs according to the hope of eternal Life Holiness is an infallible forerunner of glory 't is the first-fruits of that eternal happiness and blessedness that God hath laid up for his children in the highest Heavens And O what cause of joy and gladness should this be to every holy heart what though thou shouldest never have a good day more on Earth what though all the springs of comfort should be dried upon thy right hand and on thy left hand what though God should never smile on thee more in this world what though the remaining part of thy life should bee filled up with crosses losses troubles and trials what though God should let Satan loose to tempt thee and wicked men grow strong to oppress thee and friends turn enemies to grieve thee Yea what if thou shouldest go to thy grave with tears in thy eyes and with sorrow in thy heart yet as long as thou art sure that thou art an heir of Glory and that all the happiness of Heaven is thine and that thy Crown is safe Psal 16. ult and that thou shalt be for ever filled and satisfied with those everlasting pleasures and delights that be at Gods right hand thou hast cause to joy and rejoyce in the midst of all thy sorrows and sufferings Heb. 12.28 1 Pet. 1.3 4. See my String of Pearls on that very Text. yea to glory and triumph in the hopes and expectations of a Kingdome that shakes not of a Crown that withers not of Riches that corrupt not and of an Inheritance that fadeth not away O Sirs 't is not all the Silks of Persia nor all the Spices of Egypt nor all the Gold of Ophir nor all the Treasures of both Indies nor all the Crowns and Scepters in the world no nor yet the worth of ten thousand worlds that are to be compared with that Glory that is treasured up for all Gods holy ones they have an Inheritance reserved in Heaven for them that cannot be moth-eaten nor spoiled by hostile invasion nor wrung from them by power nor won from them by Law nor mortgaged for debt nor impaired by publick calamity nor plundered by Theeves and Robbers nor changed by Kings or Parliaments no nor violated by death it self and therefore what infinite cause of joy and rejoycing have all such that are interested in such an Inheritance and in such a perfect happiness and compleat blessedness that is reserved in Heaven for all Gods holy ones O what a singular comfort must this be to a Christian in the midst of all his miseries and distresses Psal 73.24 when hee is able to look upon God and say This God is my God for ever and ever and hee shall be my Guide to Glory and when hee is able to look up to Heaven and say This is my Inheritance yea when hee is able to look upon all the Glory and Happiness of another world and to say All this Glory and Happiness is mine for I have that Holiness that is the earnest of it Qui spirituali exultationis oleo uncti sunt c. Macar Hom. 17. the pawn of it and the first-fruits of it in my own soul 'T was an observable saying of Macarius They that are anointed with the spiritual Oil of gladness saith hee have received a sign of that incorruptible Kingdome to wit Gods Spirit for an earnest they are the Secretaries of the Heavenly King and relying confidently upon the Almighty they enter into his Palace where the Angels and the Spirits of holy men are although they be yet in this world for although they be not yet come to the intire Inheritance which is prepared for them in that world yet they are most sure of it by that pledge which they have newly received as sure as if they were already crowned and had the key of the Kingdome in their own possession 'T was a very sweet and comfortable speech which the Emperour used to Galba in his childehood and minority when hee took him by the chin and said Tu Galba c. Thou Galba shalt one day sit upon a Throne so 't is very sweet and
the state of Grace from the state of Glory the state of Holiness from the state of Happinesse 't is necessary that Holinesse should be communicated to us by degrees an absolute fulness of holiness will make an absolute fulness of happiness when our holiness is perfect our happiness shall be perfect and if this were attainable on earth there would be but little reason for men to long to bee in Heaven The third Position is this that there is a great deal of preciousnesse in the least degree of holinesse For 1. 'T is the special work of the holy Spirit and this I have shewed you already at large and therefore it must needs be precious 2. 'T is a part of the Divine Nature 't is a beam of God a spark of Glory and therefore it must needs be precious 2 Pet. 1.4 Mat. 12.20 Isa 40 10 11. ch 60.22 Isa 35.3 4. Joel 3.10 Mat. 5.3 4 5 6. Rom. 14.1 ch 15.7 3. There are many choice and special Promises that are made over to the least degrees of Holinesse as you may see by comparing the Scriptures in the Margint together and therefore the least degree of holinesse is very precious 4. It gives a man a right to precious Priviledges and to all the precious Ordinances of Christs house Ergo. 5. 'T is a fruit of the special love and favour of God a man may read more of the heart of God and of the special love of God towards him in the least spark of holinesse than hee can in his highest worldly enjoyments A man may read that special grace in the least degree of holinesse which hee can never read in the honours profits pleasures delights and contents of this world Ergo. 6. The least degrees of holinesse gives a man as great a right The little hand of a childe may hold a Pearl as well as the hand of the greatest Giant in the world and as good a title to everlasting happinesse and blessednesse as the greatest degrees of holinesse doth and the reason is clear because the promise of happinesse and blessednesse is not made over to degrees of holinesse but to the truth of holinesse and therefore hee that hath but the least spark of true holinesse may plead the Promise and apply the Promise and suck marrow and sweetnesse out of the Promise as well as hee that hath the greatest measures of holinesse in the world The Promises of Salvation are not made over to the strength of Faith but to the truth of Faith Joh. 6.35 'T is no where said that only hee that beleeves with the Faith of an Abraham shall bee saved but 't is often said Hee that beleeves shall bee saved that is hee that beleeves truly though hee doth not beleeve strongly shall bee saved Ergo. 7. When unholy persons are under terrours of conscience A little holiness is like a Diamond very little in bulk but of a very high price and value c. and upon their dying-beds and when they shall stand before a judgement seat had they as many worlds to give as there bee stars in Heaven and as there are men on Eartâ— they would give them all for the least spark of true holinesse and therefore without all peradventure the least degree of holinesse must bee very precious considering what a price the worst of men would give for it were it in their power to purchase 8. The least degree of holinesse shall at last bee blest with a happy triumph over the strongest corruptions the least degree of holinesse will lead the soul to Christ it will bring the soul into communion with Christ it will work the soul to lean upon Christ and by degrees to draw that life that vertue and that vigour from Christ that will inable a Christian not only to combate but to conquer even Goliah himself and therefore the least degree of holinesse is doubtlesse very precious Gen. 18. The least finger is of use to the whole body 9. The least degree of holinesse will render a Christian in some measure serviceable and useful to the turnings away of the wrath and judgements of God from a People or Nation and for the bringing down of favours and blessing upon a Land When all the Power Authority Greatnesse Grandeur and Glory that wicked men have in their hands can do just nothing either to the diverting of wrath or the obtaining of mercy and therefore the least degree of holinesse is precious But Tenthly and lastly The least degree of holinesse is a sure pledge and pawn of greater degrees of holinesse that in time thou shalt attain to The tallest Oak was once an Acorn the deepest Doctor was once in his Horn-book and the greatest Giant was once a childe Thy spark in time shall bee blowed up into a flame thy drop in time shall bee turned into a Sea and thy penny in time shall bee multiplied into pounds and thy pounds into hundreds and thy hundreds into thousands and thy thousands into millions and now tell mee Christians whether these ten things do not sufficiently prove that there is a great deal of preciousnesse in the least degrees of holinesse and O that you that have but a little holinesse would bee often a warming of your hearts at this heavenly fire and O that you that have a great deal of holinesse wâ—uld not despise those that have but a little holinesse O that you that bring forth a hundred-fold would not despise those that bring forth but thirty-fold and O that you that have ten Talents would not despise those that have but two Talents considering that there is a great deal of preciousnesse in the least degree of holiness The fourth Position is this All Saints are not alike holy some are more holy and others are lesse holy in some Saints the springs of Holiness runs low in others the springs of Holiness rise very high Holiness thrives not alike in all Saints Mat. 13.8.23 Mat. 25.14 15. Luk. 19.12 21. in the Parable some brought forth thirty some sixty and others a hundred-fold and yet all was good ground too And in that other Parable every one had not ten Talents some had but five others two others but one God never doth distribute holiness alike to all to some hee gives more to others less according to the good pleasure of his Grace God never intended that all should thrive alike in holiness Neh. 7.2 Though there were divers that feared God in Nehemiah's time yet hee tells you that his Brother Hanani feared God above many Job 1.8 And though Jobs three friends that came to visite him in the daies of his sorrows viz. Eliphaz Zophar and Bildad were doubtless all holy men yet they fell very much short of Job in Grace and Holiness as is evident not only by that high testimony that God himself gives concerning Job That there was none like him upon the earth a perfect and upright man one that feared God and eschewed evil
towards their desired Harbour And so 't is with a holy heart sometimes the gales of the spirit blow very fair and sweet very strong and powerful upon a gracious soul and then a Christian sails most sweetly most speedily and most successfully on in a way of Holiness and towards his Port of Happiness but anon the spirit is either resisted or grieved or neglected or quenched or vexed or disobeyed and then his gales his influences his breathings are slacked and then a poor Christian sails but very slow on in a way of holiness then hee doth but even creep towards the Harbour of everlasting blessedness Again no Saints have at all times alike the same external helps advantages and opportunities of being holy and of thriving in holiness It may bee they have not the word so clearly so powerfully so sweetly so faithfully nor so frequently preacht to them as formerly they have had or it may bee they have not other Ordinances so lively so purely so spiritually so evangelically dispenced to them as formerly they have had It may bee they have had stones instead of bread and bones instead of flesh and chaffe instead of wheat and muddy water instead of choice wine and then no wonder if they do not thrive in holiness as they did when God rained Mannah every day about their Tents and when they were fed with the best of the best that their Heavenly Fathers Table Wine-seller and House did afford When Children have not as good Food and as good Physick and as good lodging and as good looking to as they have formerly had no wonder if they thrive not as at other times And so 't is here look as no men have alwaies the same helps the same advantages the same opportunities to grow great and rich and high and honourable in the world that sometimes they have had so no Christian hath alwaies the same helps advantages and opportunities to grow rich and high in holiness as sometimes hee hath had It may bee hee hath not that communion and fellowship with the people of God that once hee had or if hee hath yet it may bee their communion is not so pure so holy so lively so heart-warming so soul-inriching as once it hath been or it may bee hee hath not as good counsel as formerly nor as good examples as formerly nor as good encouragement as hee hath formerly had to bee holy or it may bee their calling imployment and outward condition is so altered and changed from what once it was that they have not that time for closet Duties and to wait on publick Ordinances that once they had or it may bee bodily infirmities weaknesses diseases aches and ailements are so increased and multiplied upon them that they cannot make that improvement that once they did of those very advantages and opportunities that yet by a hand of grace is continued among them now these cases being incident to the people of God there is no reason to wonder if at some times Saints are more holy than they are at others and if at some seasons they shoot up more in holiness than they do at others The serious weighing of this Position may serve to prevent many fears and scruples many debates and disputes that often rise in the hearts of Christians upon the often ebbings and flowings of holiness in their souls The sixt Position is this There will come a time when in this world holiness shall bee more general and more eminent than ever it hath been since Adam fell in Paradise The Scripture speaks clearly roundly and fully to this Deut. 30.5 6 8. The Lord thy God will bring thee into thine own Land and the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and thou shalt return and obey the voice of the Lord and do All His Commandements This gracious Promise was made to the Jews above two thousand years ago and yet to this very day it hath not been fulfilled and therefore there will certainly come a time wherein God will make it good Isa 11.6 The Wolf shall dwell with the Lamb c. and they shall not hurt c. for the Earth shall bee Full of the Knowledge of The Lord As the Waters Cover The Sea This glorious Promise hath not been made good to this day but there is a time a coming wherein it shall bee accomplished Isa 35.8 There shall bee a high-way and it shall bee called a way of Holiness THE UNCLEAN SHALL NOT PASSE OVER IT Isa 59.21 This is my Covenant my WORD AND MY SPIRIT SHALL NEVER DEPART from thee for ever Isa 60.21 Thy People shall bee ALL RIGHTEOUS Jer. 32.40 41. I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good But I will put my fear into their hearts So Ezek. 36.23 to v. 30. Mal. 4.1 2. 2 Pet. 3.13 that they shall not depart from mee yea I will rejoyce over them to do them good and will plant them in this Land assuredly WITH MY WHOLE HEART AND WHOLE SOUL Now it is very observable that this great Promise must bee fulfilled when the Jews shall return and bee settled in their own Land And so the Prophet Ezekiel speaking of the glorious state of the Church in the last daies Ezek. 44.7 9. adds Thus saith the Lord no stranger uncircumcised in HEART shall enter into my Sanctuary Zeph. 3.13 The remnant of Israel SHALL NOT DO INIQUITY nor SPEAK LYES neither shall a DECEITFUL TONGUE bee found in their mouths Now the context clearly shews that these words relate to the glorious state of the Church on Earth and they have never yet received their accomplishment but shall in the last daies for hee is faithful that hath spoken it Zach. 14.20 21. Upon ALL SHALL BEE HOLINESSE TO THE LORD I have opened this Text pretty fully to you already in my former discourses on holiness and therefore shall pass it by now Rev. 21. verse the first See the English Annotations on these words and verse the last And I saw a New Heaven and a New Earth and I saw the holy City New Jerusalem coming down from God out of HEAVEN Behold the Tabernacle of God is WITH MEN c. and there shall in no wise enter into it any thâ—ng that DEFILETH c. but they that are written in the Lambs Book I have formerly proved by several Arguments as divers of you knows that this chapter cannot be understood of Heaven but must necessarily and beyond all dispute bee understood of the glorious state of the Saints on Earth which they shall certainly enjoy in the last daies By all these Scriptures it is most evident that there will come a time when holiness shall bee more general and at a fuller height than ever yet it hath been since man fell from his Original holiness and therefore pray
except there be sound repentance on their sides and pardoning mercy on Gods they are so abominable debauched and wicked But Eightly When God hath separated and severed his people from the corrupt and sinful customes and manners of the world and brought them into fellowship with himself and into Gospel-Communion with one another O then in a special manner hee calls aloud upon them to be holy Levit. 20.23 24 26. And yee shall not walk in the manners of the Nation which I cast out before you for they committed all these things and therefore I abhorred them But I have said unto you ye shall inherit their Land and I will give it unto you to possess it a Land that floweth with milk and hony I am the Lord your God which have separated you from other people And yee shall be holy unto mee for I the Lord am holy and have severed you from other people that yee should bee mine Distinguishing mercies should breed and nourish distinguishing qualities O Sirs 't is not for you who are separated and severed from the world by God to be proud and carnal and formal and distrustful and hypocritical and earthly and froward c. as the world is 't is not for you to deny your principles to debauch your consciences to change your notes to turn your coats to defile your souls to blot your names and to scandalize your profession O Sirs if God hath separated you and severed you from the world by a call from Heaven it highly concerns you not to think as the world thinks nor to speak as the world speaks nor to judge as the world judges nor to walk as the world walks nor to worship as the world worships but so to think speak judge walk and worship as may make most for the honour of God the glory of the Gospel and as best becomes those that have had the honour and the happiness of being separated and severed by God from the world But Ninthly When the day of the Lord draws neer and when wee look for the accomplishment of great things O then God calls aloud upon his people to bee holy 2 Pet. 3.10 11 12 13 14. But the day of the Lord will come as a Theif in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Element shall melt with fervent heat the Earth also and the works that are therein shall bee burnt up Seeing then that all these things shall bee desolved what manner of persons ought yee to bee in all holy conversation and godliness Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God wherein the Heavens being on fire shall bee desolved and the Element shall melt with fervent heat Never-the-less wee according to his promise look for a new Heaven and new Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness Wherefore Beloved seeing that yee look for such things bee diligent that yee may bee found of him in peace without spot and blameless The neerer the day of Christ is to us and the more great and glorious things wee expect from God Isa 65.17 18 19 20. the more holy the more spotless and the more blameless wee must labour to bee I know there are many that look for new heavens and a new earth that is for a glorious Church-state here on earrh wherein shall dwell righteousness 't is certain that the highest Heavens where God keeps his Royal Court was never without righteousness righteousness hath been alwaies the habitation of his Throne righteousness hath alwaies dwelt in the highest Heavens and indeed Heaven would bee no Heaven yea it would rather hee a Hell than a Heaven if righteousness did not alwaies dwell there neither can the highest Heaven ever wax old neither were they ever made of Earth or Brittle mouldering matter the Pallace of the great King will bee alwaies new fresh shining and gloriousness but indeed the Earth in all Ages have been full of injustice unrighteousness wickedness tyranny cruelty and oppression so that righteousness seems to have been banished out of the world ever since Adam fell from his primitive righteousness and holiness O! but there is a glorious day a coming wherein the Earth shall bee full of righteousness and holiness as I have formerly proved at large from other Scriptures Now Christians the more great and glorious things you expect from God as the downfall of Antichrist the conversion of the Jews the conquest of the nations to Christ the breaking off of all yoâ—ks the new Jerusalems coming down from above the extraordinary pouring out of the spirit and a more general union among all Saints the more holy yea the more eminently holy in all your waies and actings it becomes you to bee many there bee that will talke high and speak big words and tell you stories of great things that they expect and look for in these daies which are the last of the last times and yet if you look into their lives you shall finde them loose and vain and what not O! that these would for ever remember that the more great and glorious things wee expect and look for from God the more holiness God expects and looks for from us and therefore as wee would not have God fail our expectation let not us frustrate his and the higher your expectation rises the higher alwaies let your holiness rise Eccle. 12 2 3 4 5. for there is nothing that will hasten that desirable day of glory upon the world like this But Tenthly and lastly When you draw neer your end when there are but a few steps between you and the Grave between you and Eternity when you have but a little time to live when death stands at your backs and treads on your heels and knocks at your doors when the eyes begin to grow dark when the grinders begin to cease when the keepers of the house the hands and the arms begin to tremble and when the strong men the legs and thighs begin to bow and stagger and totter as being too weak to bear the bodies burden O then what a holy people should you bee this very consideration had a very great influence upon that great Apostles spirit in that 2 Pet. 1.12 13 14 15. Wherefore I will not bee negligent to put you alwaies in remembrance of these things though yee know them and bee established in the present truth Yea I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To rouse you up The Greek word signifies to awaken rouse and raise such as are a sleep There is a sinful slugishness and drousiness that often hangs upon the best of men and therefore they stand in much need of being awakned and roused up to look after their spiritual and eternal concernments to stir you up by putting you in remembrance knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle even as our Lord Jesus Christ shewed me Moreover I will endeavour that you
rises against little sins Page 113-120 Of a Little holiness Most Christians have but a little holiness this is proved by eight Arguments Page 469-479 M. Of Melancholy Of Melancholly and the effects of it Page 367 368 369. Of Manifestations The more holy any man is the more God will manifest himself to that man Page 498 499 500 501 502. Of Marriages Holy persons are not to marry with those that are unholy Page 56 57. Of a scandalous Ministry and of a holy ministry Settle not your selves under a lewd scandalous Ministry 296 297-299 See many considerable things in the Epistle concerning prophane ignorant scandalous debauched Ministers He that would perfect holiness in the feare of the Lord must fix and settle himself under a faithful holy Ministry Page 575 576 577. Of Mockers Mockers shall not goe to Heaven Page 71 72 73 74 75 Of Mortifying of sin He that would be more holy must fall in good earnest with all his might upon mortifying his most raging corruptions and most darling sins Page 582 583 584 585. Of Mourners and mournings Seven reasons why a holy man mournes for other mens sins 139-145 He that would be holy must mourne over his own unholiness 299 300 301. Mourne over the loss of holiness Page 466 467 468. Motives Seven Motives to move you to try whether you have any real holiness or no. 89-101 Fifteen Motives to get holiness 170-209 Seventeen Motives to perfect holiness in the feare of the Lord. 469-517 The more spiritual Motives and considerations carries a man on in religious duties and services the greater measures of holiness has that man attained to Page 606 607 608. N. Of Necessity The necessity of holiness Page 170 171 172 173 174. Of Neuters Neuters shall not goe to Heaven Page 79 80 81 82. Number The Number of Saints not diminished but increased by persecutions Page 398 399 400 401. O. Of Objections 1. Ob. We have no power to make our selves holy answered from 341-347 2 Ob. But hereafter may be time enough to look after holiness we may yet spend a few more years in pursuing after the profits pleasures c. of the world Ans 347-352 3. Ob. If we should press and pursue after holiness then we must take our farewel of all joy and comfort of all delight and pleasure c. Ans 352-369 4. Ob. We see that there are none so afflicted and persecuted as those who mind holiness who follow after holiness c. Ans 369-423 5. Ob. If we should labour after holiness then we must resolve to be poore and meane and low in the world for we shall never grow rich by godliness Ans 423-433 6. Ob. Should we pursue after holiness it would be a disgrace and dishonour to us who are honorable great rich and high in the world we are high borne we are Gentlemen and well bred and holiness seems to be too poore and too low a thing for such as we are to looke after Ans 433-446 7. Ob. Should we pursue after holiness we shall be sure to be reviled reproached and slandered and we shall become a scorne and a by-word c. to all that are round about us Ans Page 446-456 Of Obstinate sinners No special communion to be held with obstinate sinners Page 48 49. Of Overcoming The more a man can overcome evill with good upon holy and gracious accounts the greater measure of holiness that person has attained to Page 597 598 599 600. P. Of Persecution and persecutors Persecution has been the common lot and portion of the people of God 369 370. Christ and his Apostles has long since foretold us that afflictions and persecutions will attend us in this world 370 371 372. Persecutions that befalls the Saints for holiness sake shall never hurt nor harme the Saints 372 373 374 375 376. That the condition of persecutors of all conditions under Heaven is the most sad and deplorable condition is made good by five Arguments 376-389 That God will bare his people company in all their afflictions and persecutions 389 390 391 392. He shall be sure to suffer from Christ that refuses to suffer or that is afraid to suffer persecution for Christ 392 393 394 395 396. Many great advantages that will redowne to Christians by all the afflictions and persecutions that does befall them 396-411 To fuffer afflictions and persecutions for holiness sake is the greatest honour that Christians are capable of in this world 411 412 413. The afflictions and persecutions that commonly attend Christians in these dayes are nothing to the fiery tryalls that the Saints and Martyrs of old have been exercised with 413 414 415. Vnholy persons have suffered as great and grievous things for the satisfying of their lusts c. as Christians are like to suffer for their pursuing after holiness 415 416. Though persecutions may attend the people of God yet he has very many wayes to preserve his people from being ruin'd and destroyed by persecuting hands As 1. By laying a Law of restraint upon persecutors 2. By setting persecutors one against another 3. By passing a sentence of death upon persecutors 4. By altering and changing the hearts of persecutors 5. By taking of persecutors feet in the same snares that they have laid for others 6. By providing Cities of refuge and hiding places to shelter them 416-420 All the persecutions that the Saints meet with on earth shall advance their glory in Heaven Page 420 421 422 423. Of Perseverance Christians must persevere in their pursuit after holiness Page 460 461 462. Of what is Possible 'T is possible for unholy persons to be made holy this is proved by eight arguments 174-183 'T is possible for those that are holy to attain to greater measures of holiness then any yet they have attained to and this is proved by five Arguments Page 479-488 Of Prophane persons Prophane persons shall not goe to Heaven Page 70 71. Of False Prophets No speciall communion to be held with false Prophets Page 47 48. Of Prayer He that will be holy must be much in Prayer and be sure 〈…〉 Of Vowes He that will be holy must dwell much upon his solemne vowes Page 309 310 311 312. Of Universal Obedience The more universal a mans obedience is the more holy that man is Page 602 603. Of Unbeleevers We are to have no sacred no speical communion with unbeleevers Page 42 43. Of the Unholy A holy person will be holy among the unholy Page 154 155 156 157. Of the Use of earthly things Holy persons will be holy in the use of earthly and common things Page 136 137 138. Of Uprightness Enduring of persecution an argument of uprightness Page 396 397 398. W. Of Waiting He that will be holy must waite upon the word faithfully preacht 304-307 He that will be holy when he has done all must waite Page 337 338 339. Of Wants He that would perfect holiness in the feare of the Lord should labour to be more acquainted and affected with his spirituall wants Page 572 573. Of the Word A holy man loves the word for its holiness 144-147 How a person may know when he is affected and taken with the word as 't is a holy word Answered 5 ways Page 147-154 Of the World Take heed of the world and why 239-284 But here remember once for all that by the Printers mistake next to page 240. followes 280. The next Impression will prevent this and other mistakes also The more worldlings strive after the world the more Christians should strive to perfect holiness Page 513 514 515. Of Worship Christians must stand for purity of worship and why Page 462 463 464 465 466. Of Working All things shall work for good to the holy man Page 636 637 638. FINIS
and many special Means to enable you to perfect holinesse in the fear of the Lord and many evidences whereby you may certainly and infallibly know whether you have attained to any considerable highth of holinesse or no and in the opening of these things you will find that great Doctrine about degrees of Glory in Heaven to be Asserted and Proved and the Objections against it to be fairly dismissed c. Reader If thou art one that to this very day art in an unsanctified estate and an enemy to holinesse or a scoffer at holinesse or a a secret despiser of holinesse or a desperate opposer of holinesse or a bitter persecutor of holinesse then I would commend this following Treatise before any I know extant in the world to the service of thy soul for I know none that is so calculated and fitted up for that purpose as this is Read and judge This I will assure thee O thou unsanctified soul that the grand design of this book is thy salvation it is to make thee really holy that thou mayest be eternally happy and of this thou mayest be confident viz. that I shall follow these poor labours with my earnest prayers that they may be blessed to the internal and eternal welfare of thy soul and that they may issue in the conviction conversion and salvation of thy soul I shall send this Treatise forth into the world with Jacobs blessing and prayer for his sons Gen. 43.14 God Almighty send thee mercy in the sight of the man c. in the sight of the proud man that he may be humbled and in the sight of the hardened man that he may be softened and in the sight of the carnal man that he may be spiritualized and in the sight of the polluted man that he may be washed and in the sight of the unsanctified man that he may be sanctified and in the sight of the ignorant man that he may be enlightened and in the sight of the stubborn man that he may be bowed and in the sight of the unconverted man that he may be changed and in the sight of the lost man that he may be saved Christian Reader I suppose by this time that I have almost tired thee in reading as I have my self in writing and therefore I shall presently draw to a close only before I take my leave of thee give me leave to say that I am much of Carthagena's his mind who to those three things which the Antients held impossible saith that to find a Book Printed without Errata's should undoubtedly have been added as a fourth impossible if the Art of Printing had been then invented though the Author had Briareus his hands and the Printer Argus his eyes Notwithstanding all the care that hath been taken thou wilt find figures misplaced and some mispointings with some other mistakes of the Printer I hope the ingenuous Reader will cast a mantle of love over the mistakes of the presse and do me that right and himself that curtesie as to correct such errours of the Presse that the second Impression may prevent Seneca I remember is railed upon by slanderous tongues for the faults of Nero his Schollar And the scapes of Quintilians Schollars are imputed to Quintilian himself but I know the Christian Reader that is daily sensible of the Errata's of his life hath not so learned Christ Reader I do not offer thee that which cost me nothing This Treatise that now I put into thy hand is the fruit of much prayer and serious study If thou findest any profit and benefit by it give Christ all the glory the crown of praise becomes no head but his only when thou art in the Mount let me lie near thy heart O pray earnestly pray fervently pray frequently and pray unweariedly that I may have much of the fresh annointings of the holy Spirit that my communion with a holy God may every day rise higher and higher and that all my transactions both before God and man may savour of some highths of holinesse So thou wilt the more strongly oblige me to be Thy souls Servant in all Gospel-Engagements Tho. Brooks The Necessity Excellency Rarity and Beauty of HOLINESSE HEBREWS 12.14 Follow Peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. I Remember a saying of golden mouth'd Chrysostom The preamble to the Text. If I were said he the fittest man in the world to preach a Sermon to the whole world gathered together in one Congregation and had some high mountain for my Pulpit from whence I might have a prospect of all the world in my view and were furnished with a voice of Brass a voice as loud as the trumpet of the Arch-Angel that all the world might hear me I would choose to preach on no other text then that in Psalm 4.2 O mortal men how long will ye love vanity and follow after leasing So I say had I Chrysostomes tongue head and heart and were I every way advantaged to preach a Sermon to the whole world I would choose to preach on this Text before any other in the Bible Follow peace with all men and Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Beloved the salvation of souls is that which should be first and most in a Ministers eye and that which should always lye closest and warmest upon a Ministers heart Isa 63.3 John 17.22 Luke 4 4. 1 Cor. 6.20 1 Pet. 1.18 19 20. Heb. 9.12 13 14 15. O Sirs our dear Lord Jesus was infinitely tender of the souls of men he left his Fathers bosome for souls he trod the Wine-press of his Fathers wrath for souls he prayed for souls he payed for souls he sweated for souls he bled out his heart blood for souls and he made himself an offering for souls and O what an encouragement should this be to all his faithfull Messengers to woe for souls to mourn for souls to pray for souls to study for souls and in preaching to spend and to be spent for the salvation of souls Ah friends there is no work nor wisdom on earth to that of winning souls Prov. 11.30 and He that winneth souls is wise There is no Art no industry to that of winning souls of taking souls as Fowlers take Birds as the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports Now though there is a great deal of Art required to take Birds yet there is ten thousand times more Art required to take souls In a word to convert a soul is a greater work then to sway a Scepter Chrysostom or then it is to pour out ten thousand Talents into the Baskets of the poor My design in chusing this Text is the winning of souls it is the salvation of souls it is the bringing in and building up of souls I have read of Lewis the ninth King of France that he was found instructing his poor kitching-boy in the way to heaven and being asked the reason of it he