for the Life of Justification is perfect at the first though it be a continued act Therefore do not onely hear the Word but Pray Hearing the Word is the laying the mouth to the breast but Prayer is the drawing of the breast Therefore draw hard New-years-day O thou that createdst the first Heaven and the first Earth of nothing O thou that createst the New Heaven and the New Earth wherein dwells Righteousness when sin had made the creature worse then nothing O thou that createst the New Jerusalem coming down from Heaven as a Bride O thou that createst the New Creature the New man fit to be an inhabitant of the New World of the New Jerusalem O thou that hast said Behold I make all things New Create thou in me even in me Psal 51. a clean heart renew a right Spirit in me Plead with God and say Lord thou hast commanded me whilst it is called Heb. 1. To day to hear thy voice and not to harden my heart I beseech thee therefore whilst it is called To day hear my voice and harden not thy heart against me For if thy heart be hardned against my Prayer my heart must needs be hardned at thy Word Say Father let others give what gifts they please to their friends if thou please but to give me grace Eph. 4. grace to put off the Old man with the Old year as the circled Snake casts her skin and to put on the New man Psal 103. as the Eagle renews her bill and her age both together I shall esteem it the best New-years-gift that ever was given And say Father I have fast hold on thee and I will not let thee go Gen. 32. except thou bless me except thou giv'st me this blessing this New-years-gift of a new heart Lord I lay hold of thee in thine own promise Thine everlasting Truth is a cord strong enough strong enough to hold Thee and Lord I must needs make bold to binde thee to thy VVord Hast thou not said Lord A new heart will I give you Lord for whom is this new heart laid up in thy Promise for them that have it or for them that want it c. Therefore I beseech thee of thy faithfulness to answer me and in thy righteousness say unto me Though thy faith be weak Be it unto thee even as thou wilt Let there be light Mat. 8. let there be heat let there be a new heart Be thou holy as I am holy that thou maist be happy for ever as I am happy Thus much for the third Question How and by what means this Sanctification is wrought in the Soul 4. Questions follow Quest 4. What Reason of the necessity of Sanctification What is the reason that such a life is necessary in all justified persons Reas 1 1. Reason Because this is one of the great Ends of our freedom by the Death of Christ He died not onely to redeem us from Hell and from Satan and all our Enemies but from our vain conversation also 1 Pet. 1.18 Tit. 2 14. He gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purifie to himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Yea he delivered us from the hands of all our enemies that we might serve him in holiness Luke 1.74 Reas 2 2. Because it was one of Gods great designs in the work of our Redemption to make us conformable to the Image of his Son as in suffering Rom. 8.29 so in sanctity that as we have born the Image of the Earthly so we might bear the Image of the Heavenly 1 Cor. 15. VVe look upon Christ by the eye of Faith as they look'd upon the brazen Serpent not onely to save us but to transform us and heal us The vision of Christ begets transformation and transformation satisfaction this is partly in this life but perfectly in the life to come Psal 17. ult I shall behold thy face in righteousness when I awake I shall be satisfied with thy likeness In the mean time there are degrees of transformation and satisfaction to the Soul so far as it is able to look upon Christ by the eye of faith in the glass of the Ordinances 2 Cor. 3. ult But we all as with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed c. To be changed into the Image of Christ is a great part of a Christians happiness a great part of this happiness is his holiness without which even heaven it self and the glorified Presence of God would be a hell to him for so long as men are unregenerate and wicked they say unto God Depart from us we will not have the knowledge of thy wayes Job 21.14 Therefore that they may be made like Christ and take comfort in the fellowship of Christ it 's necessary they should live by Faith the life of Sanctification Reas 3 3. Because from the first Adam we stand guilty of a twofold sinfulness 1. Imparted Rom. 5.19 As by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so c. 2. Imparted Job 14.4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Reas 4 4. This is for the honour of Christ Philip 1.27 Onely let your conversation be as becomes the Gospel c. 2 Sam. 10.4 Hanun's abusing Davids Servants was to cut off half their garments Reas 5 5. Because Gods free love in the Life of Justification cannot but stir us up to love God again 1 John 4.19 And love is active and full of inventions to do service for the beloved And so he must necessarily live the Life of Sanctification and so Sanctification is an evidence of Justification How doth Christ prove many sins were forgiven to Mary Luke 7.47 Because she loved much And how doth she prove her love by the fruits her cost and care and pains ver 37 c. If ye love me keep my Commandments sayes Christ Joh. 14.15 Faith works by love Gal. 5.6 As Faith applies Promises for Comfort so commands for Performance of Duty Psal 119 66. And so much for the first Branch in Sanctification viz. Renovation BRANCH II. THE LIFE of FAITH A LIFE OF FRUCTIFICATION SEcondly The just lives by Faith the Life of Fructification for we shall speak of the Use of both together in the fruits of New Obedience And this in these particulars How or in what manner faith hath influence into the life of spiritual Fructification 1. Faith makes us good trees 1. In making of us good Trees A man must be a good Tree before he can bring forth good Fruit Mat. 12.33 Now Faith makes us good Trees by grafting us into the Mystical Body of Christ Rom. 11.17 Thou being a wilde Olive-tree wert grafted in and partakest of the root and fatness of the Olive Thou derivest sap and juyce and life of grace in Christ and so thou dost not onely bud and blossom as Aarons Rod Numb 17. by good words and fair
Lazarus of the Theef upon the Cross and the Souls under the Altar do declare That Opinion to be no better than a Dream For Num. 24.3 23.10 The man that had his eyes open could say Let me die the death of the righteous and let my last end be like his Balaam was perswaded of that truth Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord even so saith the Spirit that they rest from their labours and their works follow them Their Souls are in a blessed condition as soon as they are separated from the body Indeed there shall be an addition to their glory in the last Day when Body and Soul shall be glorified both together But they are in a blessed condition in the mean time I shall say no more in Confutation of such persons as deny Eternal Life but onely refer to what was said in proof of the Point in the second Particular Where it was proved That there is such an Eternal Life 1. By plain Testimonies of Scripture out of the Old and New Testament 2. By necessary Consequence and Deduction As 1. Five proofs of Eternal Life From the Fruit and End of Mans Creation and Redemption 2. From the Kingdom and Headship of Christ 3. From the Prayer of Christ 4. From the Nature of the Soul and the Devils desire to gain Souls in Reversion 5. From the Absurdity that would follow if there were no Eternal Life then were Gods people of all other most miserable which were most absurd to imagine All which Arguments are strong enough to convince gain-sayers and to stop the mouth of Cavillers unless they be such as the Apostle speaks of 2 Thess 3.1 2. that will hear no Argument because they are absurd and unreasonable men and then Prayer is the best weapon to deal with such If you cannot subdue them by Reason yet you may subdue them by Prayer Finally brethren pray for us that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men for all men have not faith And so much for the first Use Vse 2. Reproof of divers sorts Vse 2 1. Of such as complain of Religion as if it were a fruitless Profession Reproof But certainly the Profession is not fruitless unless the Professors be fruitless Hos 10.1 Without controversie Religion no fruitless Profession as Great is the mystery of godliness so Great is the gain of godliness He that casts any seed upon the waters for Christs sake shall finde it shall receive an hundred-fold in this life but greater is the gain in the world to come even Life everlasting Joys that cannot be numbred that cannot be measured that are above our Comprehension above our Apprehension And therefore if men do highly prize an Earthly Inheritance though it be but in Reversion when there is but one Life between them and the Inheritance How should we prize the Reversion of this Heavenly Inheritance of this Heavenly Kingdom where there is but one poor short frail life betwixt us and it Doubtless the Reversion of an Heavenly Kingdom is better than the present Possession of all the Kingdoms of the World and the glory of them 2. Reproof of Despair 2. It Reproves such as in stead of exercising their Faith for Life Eternal give way to Distrust and Despair of Mercy as if nothing but Hell were their Portion It 's true Naturally we are children of wrath and can claim nothing but Hell as our inheritance But in Christ through the free grace of God Eternal life is held forth as the gift of God to every one that believeth Therefore exercise thy Faith for Life Eternal Obj. But alas I cannot believe that God should give Eternal Life to such a vile wretch as I am that have deserved nothing but Eternal Death Ans 1. And such were all they to whom God gives Eternal Life There is not one Saint now in Heaven but deserved to have been in Hell 2. If thou canst not believe pray that thou maist believe Cry out with tears Lord help my Vnbelief Obj. But to what purpose is it for me to pray when I finde the very flashes of Hell upon my Conscience already Will God or can God hear such a one Ans Yes God may hear such a one Psal 116.3 4 5 6 7. The sorrows of death compassed me The pains of hell gat hold upon me c. Then called I upon the Name of the Lord O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul But what follows Gracious is the Lord c. Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Therefore they are much to blame that give way to despair and do not exercise their Faith in Prayer for Eternal Life 3. 3. Against vain curiosity It Reproves such as exercise their Fancy more than their Faith about Eternal Life such as busie their heads about curious Questions concerning Heaven in stead of busying their hearts in making of it sure to themselves by Faith Enquiring 1. Whether the Glory of the Saints shall be Equal in Heaven 2. Whether there shall be any difference between Learned and Vnlearned men when they come in Heaven 3. Whether the Saints shall know one another in Heaven or not Though for my part I think this a Question out of question For how can it be supposed that we should have less knowledge of one another when we are made perfect than we have here in a state of imperfection 4. Whether there shall be any use of speech there or if there be What that language shall be 5. Concerning the place where this Life Eternal shall be 6. Whether Paradise Abrahams Bosom and Heaven be all one 7. What are the Diversity of Mansions in Heaven 8. Whether the Saints shall have liberty to come down on Earth or Whether Earth it self shall not be turned into Heaven or made as glorious as Heaven because God saith I create New Heavens and a New Earth Isa 65. 66. And thus men busie their heads with these and the like Questions concerning the Place and yet all this while hardly ask their own hearts this serious question But art thou in the way thither O my Soul Art thou in the way to Heaven Hast thou any thing to shew for it that Heaven is thine Dost thou live by Faith in regard of Eternal Life There may be some profit in this question but little in the other In all labour there is profit but the talk of the lips tendeth onely to penury Prov. 14.23 'T is not Talking of Heaven but Walking in the way taking hold upon Christ that must bring a man thither Simile Look as it is not a curious Paper of Verses or an Eloquent Oration made in the praise and Encomium of such a Mannor or Lordship that will give a man a good Title to it but a sound and plain Evidence in Law from him that had power to make a good Conveyance of it So it 's not a curious
to die an Eternal Death where the worm dies not and the fire is not quenched Isa the last and the last Consid 2 2. If we have not Eternal Life here we shall never have it He that believes hath everlasting life Joh. 5.24 He doth not say He shall have it hereafter but he hath it already though not in so full a measure Therefore get it now or never For a man to think to go to heaven when he dies that never cared for heaven all his life is a strong presumption Consid 3 3. It is the property of Gods People to look at heaven and happiness by the eye of Faith Heb. 11.13 And Unbelievers are blinde and cannot see afar off they look on present things 2 Pet. 1.9 But a wise man hath eyes in his head Eccl. 2.14 15. He looks as far as to Eternity he sees that which a natural man cannot see 2 Cor. 4. last Whilst we look not at the things which are seen by the eye of sense but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal Consid 4 4. This will make a man of a heavenly conversation whilst he is upon earth To live by Faith in regard of Eternal Life this will bring down heaven to the earth If the creature cannot go to heaven yet a lively Faith will bring heaven to the creature and that both the grace of heaven and the joy of heaven 1. The Grace of heaven It will make a man of a heavenly conversation whilst he lives upon earth to consider what the company of heaven and what the work of heaven is 1. The Company of heaven are God and Christ holy Angels and the Spirits of just men made perfect And 2. The Work of heaven is without reluctancy without weariness to praise God for ever and ever The belief of this will bring down much of the grace of heaven into the heart and the creature will reason thus by Faith Shall it be a great part of my happiness in heaven to enjoy perfection of holiness and shall I not then endevour this work upon earth Shall I not endevour to perfect holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 and to do Gods will upon earth Surely if holiness becomes Gods house for ever holiness must needs become his houshold-servants Psal 93.5 so soon as ever they begin to wear his Livery of Christian Profession Do we believe we shall see the face of God without blushing and shall serve him without fainting Seeing we look for such things how diligent should we be that we may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless Yea what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God 2 Pet. 3.11 2 It will bring down much of the joy of Heaven And we might have added this by way of Reason why God will have his Servants live by Faith in regard of Eternal Life viz. That the full assurance of it might be a present Comfort whilst the possession of it is deferred But we will bring it in as a Motive For Christ being willing to cheer up the drooping Spirits of his Servants in the absence of himself and heaven seems to say of Faith as he said of his Spirit or if ye will of the Spirit of Faith Joh. 14. I will not leave you comfortless I will pray to the Father and he shall give you another Comforter What is this Comforter but the Spirit of Faith or the Spirit in the grace of Faith Oh! there is strong consolation in Faith and Hope It is true says Christ I must leave you Joh. 16. I must go to Heaven and whither I go you cannot come as yet but I assure you I go to prepare a place for you and to prepare you for the place and so soon as that is ready for you and you are ready for that Joh. 14. I will come and receive you to my self in due time And in the mean time that I may not leave you comfortless I will give you something of the joy of heaven as a Pawn and a pledge in hand before you come thither And what is that but the Grace of Faith and the Joy of Faith Let not your hearts be troubled says Christ though I go to heaven before you yet you shall be as sure of heaven at the last as if you had it for the present And how assured but by Faith 2 Pet. 1.5 You are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time And what of that why this brings Joy in the mean time For so it follows Wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in great heaviness through manifold temptations And speaking of Christ who is gone to heaven within a verse or two after he hath this expression Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory As if he would have said Though you cannot see Christ with your bodily eye with the eye of sense and so you are apt to be troubled as the People were when Paul said Acts 20. they should see his face no more yet you shall see him and do see him by the eye of Faith and rejoyce in that sight as if that heaven it self were come down into your hearts You rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory For what is joy full of Glory but joy full of heaven Like the Vision upon Mount Tabor where God did bow the heavens and came down in glory And that is the fourth Motive that it will be heaven upon earth to live by Faith in respect of Eternal Life Consid 5 5. That to live by Faith in regard of Heaven and Eternal Life will make the poor creature live above the world If it do not draw him quite into heaven it will draw him a great way above the earth That look as a Bladder or a thin shell that is filled up with the pure Dew that comes down from heaven do but lay it in the Sun and the power of the Sun-beams will draw it up from the earth heaven-wards So it is with the Soul that is filled with this heavenly dew of grace let it but look wistly upon the Sun of Righteousness by an eye of Faith and the powerful beams of his Love will draw it so far above the earth and all earthly respects that it shall live above the world above the pleasures of the world the profits and honours of the world and above all the troubles of the world And is not this an admirable is it not a desireable condition If you would be ambitious lawfully ambitious let this be your ambition to be thus exalted by the Grace of Faith 1. It lifts a man up above the
and Duty he owes him to judge this Tract through Gods blessing upon a serious reading and digesting it much conducing to make an able Christian and Divine Indeed it holds forth to us the way that we should walk Jer. 42.3 and the thing that we should do to attain Heaven and Salvation Many Ministers and others did desire the publishing of this Treatise by the Author in his Life but his modesty and other constant labours hindred Now it is come forth we wish it may not finde the like entertainment that the Frier wittily and sharply said his Auditors gave to his Sermons they dealing with them as with his Holy-Water sprinkled on them they called for it eagerly but when he cast it on them they presently wiped it off again Make this Book now published more publick by holding forth the Life and Practise of Faith in thy Life and Station Do not onely once reade it Verba vivenda and cast it aside but carry it in thy heart as the Carpenter his Rule in his hand to square all thy actions by it We shall onely adde some Motives to excite thy Practise and then commit all to the Blessing of God 1. Consider this Life of Faith is a high Mystery Christ believed on in the world is a like Mystery with God manifested in the flesh and received up into glory Faith in the habit or root is not a Plant of Natures Garden The very nourishing of it and causing it to bring forth in our hearts is much more difficult than that of Plants in a strange Country Grace in exercise is difficult Indeed it s in us as fire under dead ashes or in a Flint Exciting quickning cooperating Grace with us must be added to that within us Grace in us lies like some Physick of dead Drugs which works not untill stronger Physick be given Without me ye can do nothing Joh. 15.5 saith Christ of his Disciples But especially the living daily in all conditions and actions by the exercise of Faith is much more hard To believe is above Nature but to act Faith in each act of Life is above our very Grace Consider farther the difficulty of this Life and so make use the rather of this Help Other ways of life viz. Trades Multi vident cruces qui non vident unctiones Bernard are called Mysteries but this above all is a Mystery of Mysteries We wonder how some men live who have a secret way of Trading but this is not onely a supernatural Secret but directly opposite to flesh and blood The Carnal and Profane scoff at it as a Fancy Paradox and golden Dream of Melancholy Spirits They count all persons who admire discourse of and practise this Life of Faith but silly Abrahams in the world as Want-wits for managing or getting an Estate Yet who doth or can without this so much despised Faith Esay 53.1 believe our report of these things It grieves our Souls to observe how many professing Christians look upon the Use of Faith as the staff of their Old Age onely or as a strong Cordial onely in fainting Fits or at best to be worn as our Holiday-clothes when we attend on the Word Prayer Sacraments then put it on But this is not to live as becomes Saints in all things and at all times by our Faith as that devout Scotch Divine whom M. Trap relates to have eat drank and slept Eternal Life Dost thou finde it hard to live by thy Labour by thy Lands Learning Friends Wits yet all these ways are far beneath this high Mystery of believing and living by it Bless God then as for Other so for This Master of the Assemblies who designs in this Work to teach thee this Mystery and Trade how to pick a living livelihood out of this Now dead Commodity viZ. Faith 2. Consider what may farther stir thee up to the exercise of this Grace as also to the Reading and Meditating on this heavenly Directory to the Life of Faith We shall not forestall those things which thou maist finde in the Author nor dispute how far some Branches of this Tree of Life viz. Faith may spring out even in Heaven it self Yet take this as Solomons Argument that Wisdom excells because it gives life to him that hath it Eccles 7.12 Vita optimus modus Entis Life is the best and highest manner of Being A living Worm excels the Sun in glory Rational Life exceeds the life of Plants and Beasts So doth Faith Reason as the highest Life man is capable of on earth Seneca and others may write of a blessed Life but Faith onely finds it This Life must come from Heaven which is so far above the Earth and so rare to be found in it He who hath all his Provisions about him of his own must needs keep the best house and have all as we say at the best hand So is it by Faith we have all within our selves from God in Christ The good man is satisfied from himself Antisthenes gained this by Study and Learning that he could walk with himself as not needing to go abroad and be beholding to others for Exercise or Delight O thesauris omnibus opulentior fides O virtutibus corporis omnibus fides fortior O medicis omnibus salutarior Ambros This is much more true of Faith Faith walks with Christ and God on the Mount of glorious Discoveries every day and takes all as out of his hands What Grace more admired by Christ Paul spends a whole Chapter Hebr. 11. as a Chronicle of Faiths Victories and Trophies Its Worthies are there mentioned as Davids elswhere This very Text on which this Tract is built is cited no less than four times Rom. 1. Gal. 3. Heb. 10. Thrice in the New Testament which may convince us of the excellency of it being worthy of a double treble Meditaâ—â—on as the summary of our Christian Faith both Doctrinal and Practical Tarnovius inter opuscula as a learned man hints on the place 3. Consider the seasonableness of this Counsel about living by Faith in these days 1. As they are sickly dying evil Times in respect of Sufferings 2. As the latter Times and so evil in respect of Sinning Quis inter haec trepidus maestus nisi cui spes et fides deest jus est enim mortem timere qui ad Christum nolit ire Ejus est ad Christum nolle ire qui se non credit cum Christo incipere regnaâ—e Scripâ—um est enim justum fide vivere Cyprian de Mort. Cyprian wrote his Book of Mortality in a time of Mortality And this Cordial of Life is now given out in season to teach us how to live and fit us to die A Minister as hath been related being sick and meeting by Providence with Mr. Ball his excellent Book of Faith which then came newly out he took it as a Guide by the hand to lead him through that dark Valley and fit him
freedom of breathing hearing seeing and exercising all the senses so great a difference there is betwixt the life of nature and grace as also betwixt the life of grace and glory We do no more know what is reserved for us in Heaven then a child in the womb what is reserved for it when it comes into this wide world Only as there is a natural instinct in the child to go forth of the prison of the womb into a better life so there is a spiritual and supernatural instinct in all Gods children to be made partakers of a better life For as the whole creation groans so we ourselves groan within ourselves c. saith the Apostle Rom 8 22. In the mean time before we come to enjoy the life of glory to the full glorious things in their degree are spoken of the life of grace in regard of the nature Psal principle comforts c. of it as abovesaid To all which we might adde it's excellency in regard of operations viz. the crucifying our corruptions overcoming the world and all opposite powers making us more then conquerours in Christ Therefore 't is an excellent life and thence most desirable Did a beast know the life of a man he would desire it did a natural man know the life of a Christian he would desire that too For it is as farre above the life of a man as his above the life of a beast Hence Christ to the woman Joh. 4. If thou hadst known the gift of God and who 't is asketh of thee c. So I say If thou hadst but known the excellency of this life thou wouldst greatly desire and ask it of Christ Vse 3 3. For Exam. Let us try whether we have this exclellent life or no. Examination There is not much need of giving motives 1. None come to live the life of glory but such as live the life of grace all are Saints on Earth before Saints in Heaven 2. Till we know whether we have this life or no we can neither seek it if we want it nor praise God for it if we have it 3. Besides we have command to make our calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 For Rules of Trial. 1. Did God ever give thee to see thine own deadness 10. Rules of Triall and to bewail it Though thou maist leave sin and perform duty if thou dost this by thy own strength thou art not alive 1. Sight of deadness When such a soul comes to it self neverthelesse it cryes O sick sick give me somthing to comfort me Cant. 2.5 Alas sick of unbelief and a hard heart c. 2. Knowledge of this life Secondly Dost thou understand the Nature of regeneration of this life and this new birth Nichodemus did not before Christ told him Joh. 3. 'T is said 2 Cor. 5.17 He that is in Christ is a new creature New in understanding will affections and conversation 3. Instrumental cause of begetting Thirdly If thou art alive what was the instrumental means of begetting this life under God was it the power of Word preach'd upon thy soul 1 Pet. 1.33 being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the Word of God c. Affections stirring without the Word or moral perswasion with the word or corrupt seed beside the Word these are not enough See 1 Thess 1.5 2 Cor. 3.6 4. Cause mainâ—aining Fourthly if alive what is the instrumental means of maintaining this life under God and every creature desires food even the insensible creature the youngest plants thrust their fibra's into the earth to suck nourishment thence And the young Lambs suck the duggs of their damme's upon their bended knees Every life desires food for self-preservation and the nature of the food must be suitable to the nature of the life spiritual life must have spiritual food That which will feed a swine fat Ex iisdem nutâ—rimur c. will starve a sheep What is begotten of the word will be nourished of the word 1 Pet. 2.2 And the more life the more desire after food The healthfull child cryes most eagerly after the breast Such was Davids hunger and thirst after the word Psal 42.1 c. Fifthly If thou art alive thou hast a faculty within to resist and expel whatsoever is an enemy to life 5. Enmity of the contrary 1 Pet. 5.8 Sin is a spiritual poyson and Satan a murderer Dost thou so resist them Or when there is deadness of spirit dost thou rub and chafe thy soul by prayer Quicken me O Lord by thy Word Psal 119. A good sign 6. If thou art alive thou shalt perceive it as by outward sense and motion so by inward quickning and vivification 6. Sense and motion 1. By outward sense and motion Every living creature exercises some sense Examine this by what Breathing faculty thou hast VVhere there is the inspiration of spiritual life there is the expiration of holy speeches Only 't is not wholsom when our expiration exceeds our inspiration 2. Exam. what sight thou hast Ephes 4.18 with 5.8 3. VVhat hearing He that is of God heareth us c. 1 Joh. 4.6 4. VVhat tasting 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be you have tasted how gracious the Lord is 5. VVhat smelling Cant. 1.3 Thy name is an oyntment powred forth 2. By inward quickning and vivification of the heart As the heart is first formed so informed and reformed Primum vivens Rev. 3. And without this there is but a name to live The heart is the first member of the new man Gal. 4.4 If sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts c. Deut. 30.6 The Lord thy God shall circumcise thy heart c. All performances without the heart are dead workes God begins at the heart therefore examine the heart 7. Spring of life Seventhly If thou saist thou art alive then what is the spring and principle of thy life and the actions thereof Is it thy own strength and opinion of thy own parts and applause of men Or dost thou in an humble distrust of thy self look up to Christ for strength Quest How is that known Ans If Christ's glory he made the end then the grace of Christ is the principle The stream is never higher then the fountain 2. Besides then this strength comes in a promise 'T is Christ in a promise What promise dost thou lay hold on 8. Growtâ— Eightly If alive where is thy growth where ever there is life there is growth till the creature comes to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4.11 Till we all come to the measure of the the stature of Christ Object If this be so may some say then I have no life Answ spiritual growth is not discern'd by every dayes observation but some long time as the shadow on the diall 2. A soul careful to grow and mourning for want of growth I dare pronounce it doth grow though it
7. Augmentative faculty of Faith As Faith grows for Rom. 1.17 the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith so other graces grow with it See 2 Thess 1.3 having mentioned the growing of their faith then follows And the charity of every one of you aboundeth So 2 Pet. 1.5 Adde to your faith vertue and to vertue c. all follow Faith Again 2 Pet. 3. last Grow in grace how and in the knowledge or faith of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Shew me thy faith by thy works Jam. 2. Not onely the truth but the measure of our Faith is seen by our works And so much for the second general Question What it is to live by Faith Onely now it were good to examine our selves upon all this Whether we do thus live by Faith making our particular application of our souls to each of the particulars fore-mentioned But I pass to the third Question QUESTION III. Why a Christian is said to live by Faith rather than any other Grace Reas 1 WHy not by Love or Thankefulness or Patience c The reason is in a word for what is said already may give light hereunto First because Faith is not onely the grace which receives Christ Joh. 1. 12. who is our Life but it is also the grace that receives all other grace from Christ Therefore Faith is the first link of all that Chain of Graces 2 Pet. 1.5 c. at least in order to their working Otherwise indeed we know all graces are infused simul semel in respect of their being and existence See Joh. 7.38 He that believeth in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water The graces of the Spirit run into the Soul and out again in the issues of life and all through the conduit-pipe of Faith Indeed a Christian hath great use of other graces but Faith onely layes hold on Christ for all Sanctified knowledge saith There is an infinite fulness in Christ the fulness of a Fountain Faith saith This is all for me for he is my Husband then Prayer saiâ—h If all this be thine I will go and fetch it for thee and Thankefulness sayes I will return praise to God for it and that 's better than the receiving of mercies Psal 63.5 My soul shall be filled with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips It is plain therefore however spiritual life is much exercised in other graces as well as in Faith as in Prayer and Patience and Love and Thankfulness yet because Faith acts and exercises and puts life into all therefore a Christian is said rather to live by his Faith As may be seen Heb. 11. through the whole Chapter For Prayer is no prayer unless it be a prayer of Faith Jam 5. and Patience is no patience unless joyned with Faith Here is the faith and patience of the Saints Rev. 13. and so of all the rest Reas 2 Secondly Because Faith layes hold upon that Word by which man lives For man lives by the word of God Mat 4.4 Other graces are begotten by the Word but do not lay hold on the Word So as no word no means can profit us without Faith Reas 3 Thirdly Because when other graces and comforts to our sense lie dead and useless even then Faith lives and acts its part It is like the Cork that swims aloft when the Leads and all the Net is under water It is like the Card or Compass when Heaven and Earth fail no sight of Earth or Heaven or comfort from either when 't is a day of darkness and gloominess as that described Zeph. 1.15 or when 't is with us as it was in Pauls voyage Acts 27.13 to 26. neither sun nor star appearing for many dayes or a time as that Isa 50.10 wherein we sit in darkness and see no light yet then saith can trust in the Name of the Lord. It is as an Anchor in a storm so long as the Anchor holds there is hope but if that break there is no more governance of the Ship So Faith is compared Heb. 6.19 It is as the Widows Oyl when all other provision failed she lives upon that because she had a word from God So when all fail Faith shall not totally nor finally fail because there is a word from God which was spoken to Peter in person of all the faithful Luke 22.32 I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Or like the heart in the body though other parts be dead yet so long as the heart lives the man is alive Psa 73.26 My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever Thus David lived by Faith when all failed and by it thus speaks himself Psal 42.5 Why art thou disquieted O my soul still trust in God for I shall yet praise him When graces fail performances fail so that we abhor our selves and duties yet Faith sayes We are a holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God 1 Pet. 2.5 by Jesus Christ When Paul cryed out Rom. 7. O wretched man that I am c. yet by Faith he can thank God through Jesus Christ When the Church is under water yet she can speak thus in Faith Mic. 7.8 Rejoyce not over me O mine enemy though I fall I shall rise again When Job considers his body turned to dust and worms Job 19.19 25. yet by Faith he sees my Redeemer lives c. Even when Patience failed in Job yet Faith failed not Though God kill all other graces and comforts and my soul too yet he shall not kill my Faith sayes he If he separate my soul from my body yet not Faith from my Soul If he kill me he shall not kill my Faith And therefore the just lives by Faith rather then other graces because when all is gone yet Faith remains and Faith remains because the Promise remains For ever O Lord thy word is setled in the heavens Psal 119.89 And this is the proper and principal meaning of this place Reas 4 Fourthly Because even then when neither graces nor comforts do fail yet then the just lives principally by his Faith 1. Because there is yet more to be believ'd then we already enjoy for we walk not yet by sight and therefore by faith 2 Cor. 5.7 2. Because Faith is surâ—r then any sense or feeling in the world When the Apostle had spoken of the glorious Vision and their being eye-witnesses 2 Pet. 1.19 yet sayes he We have a more sure word of prophecy c. Now 't is the property of Faith to live upon the word Vse 1 Therefore 1. Esteem of Faith as precious Faith precious above all other graces Vse 2 And learn That Faith serves not onely for manifestation that we are alive but to live by and maintain the life of all other graces QUESTION IV. Who it is that lives by his Faith Quest THe Text sayes The just Ob. But where
this sore giving us peace with God and so enables to bear the outward burthen the inward burthen being removed As for this it casts all the burthen of its cares fears and sorrows upon God and so is quiet And thus much for the Life of Faith in those Adversities which happen in the course of our Life Now see how he lives the Life of Faith in Death II Branch Of Adversity viz. Faith in death A believer lives by faith in Death Faith is a godly mans life at the time of his death as it appears by the living speeches of dying men David Psal 23. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil Simeon Luke 2. Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace The Cloud of Witnesses Heb. 11. All these died in faith v 13. Reasons 1. 1. They died in faith because they believed the accomplishment of promises to be fulfilled after death as in the same place Heb. 11.13 not having received the promises but seeing them afar off and perswaded of them Believers dye in faith 1. For their Posterity as in the examples of Isaac and Jacob Heb. 11.20 21. who because God had promised to be the God of their seed when they were dying applied it to their posterity and blessed them concerning things to come 2. For the Church believing that God will make it a praise in the earth Isa 67.2 3. For Themselves when they go down to the waves of hell and the grave they see land afar off Stephen ready to be stoned Behold sayes he I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God Acts 7.56 Stephen sees heaven opened to receive him And Job chap. 19.25 I know my Redeemer lives and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh I shall sâ—e God Moses likewise in the hazarding of himself in Egypt had respect to the resurrection of his name and body and the recompence of reward Heb. 11.26 The Saints like Moses upon the top of Mount Nebo Deut. 34.1 take a view of Canaan by faith and then they are willing to dye See Paul for further instance 2 Cor. 5. from v. 1. to 9. 2. Believers dye in faith because they see it a Conquer'd enemy Death saith the Apostle is swallowed up in victory by Christ Hos 13.13 O death I will be thy plagues O grave I will be thy destruction 'T is part of Christs victory to conquer Death 1. By conquering the devil that had the power of death 2. Our fear of death See Heb. 2.14 15. 3. They see the sting of death pull'd out so conquered as disarmed 1 Cor. 15.55 O death where is thy sting The sting of death is sin But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 4. They see it not onely a conquered and disarmed enemy but made their servant All things are yours saith the Apostle to believers 1 Cor. 3.21 22. as Paul or Apollo or Cephas are yours so death is yours sayes he As you are under God that is under you 5. Nay they see it as a Friend 1. In freeing them from the miseries of this life 2. In being their Porter or Usher into eternal life There are five Concomitants of this life which make it troublesome and Death befriends the Saints in them all by taking them away from them There is 1. The sinfulness of their Natures which makes them cry out with Paul O wretched man that I am who shall deliver c 2. There is the vanity of the Creature a sore evil For here Omnia vanitas All is vanity 3. The Wickedness of the World that constrains the Saints many times to complain with David Psal 120.5 Woe is me that I sojourn in Mesech c. 4. There are also Gods judgements upon the world In which respect death makes the godly happy for as 't is Isa 57.1 2. they are taken away from the evil to come they rest in their beds c. 5. The last evil Concomitant is the believers distance from Christ 2 Cor. 5.6 while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord therefore we desire sayes he to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. 6. Death is not onely chang'd to a believer but faith in death is seen also by altering our judgements concerning death The natural face of death is terrible to Nature and fear'd but faith sees it with desire Paul and Simeon can say I desire to be dissolv'd Christ hath not onely conquered death for his but the fear of death as was said before Heb. 2.14 And this resolves the second part of the Question How long a believer is to live by his faith and that is All his life long till death and then in death Therefore 't is said Rev. 2.10 Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee the crown of life And Gal. 2.20 I live saith Paul all the while I live by the faith of the Son of God c. Hence the word of the Text is put in the Future tense The just shall live by his faith to signifie the perpetuity of this life of faith As long as we live we must live by faith But no longer And therefore though Faith is excellent in some respect yet Love is more excellent in another viz. in regard of durance 1 Cor. 13.8 to the end 't is said there Love never faileth But knowledge and means of knowledge shall cease and faith shall cease but Charity never And therefore though Faith is * above before Charity in the first apprehension of Christ yet Charity is above Faith in the everlasting enjoyment of Christ and the society of true Christians However Faith is of excellent use all ouâ— life long till we come to a perfect vision we live by faith 2 Cor. 5.7 But no longer for we need it no longer As a man that sends home a friend wiâ—h a candle and lanthorn in a dark night commands the messenger to light him to his own door and then to return again for 't is supposed he hath more light in his own house than the lathorn could afford Such a charge God gives to his Word and to faith the lanthorn-bearer Psal 119.105 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my paths Go give such a man light until he come to Heaven and leave him there Or as God gave Commission to the Angel Acts 12. to awaken Peter and to shake off his chain to clothe him with garments to open the gates to lead him through the first and second Ward and when he had done so forthwith the Angel departed from him Just so Faith is like this Angel it awakens us out of the the sleep of sin shakes off the chains of Satan clothes us with the righteousness of Christ opens the door of the ear and heart leads us through the first and second Ward of
Righteousness in Christ 1. Active 2. Passive For in that we owed a double debt to the Law the one being perfect obedience for the present the other most deserved punishment for our fâ—rmer disobedience It was requisite that Christ beâ—ng our surety should pay whatsoever we owed unto God and that was the double debt of Doing and Suffering whatsoever the Law of God required at our hands 1. Active fulfilling all Righteousness and that for us as he became a Creature and not for himself Matth. 3.15 2. Passive Gal. 3.13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us as it is written Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree Vse Thirst after this Righteousness Mat. 5.6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness c. Philip. 3.7 8. and that I may be found in him not having my wn righteousness c. Formal Cause 3. The Formal Cause Imputation of Christs righteousness As by imputation of Adams sin we are guilty so by imputation of Christs righteousness we are righteous Rom. 5.19 For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous Rom 4.5 6. But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness Reas His righteousnesse is onely perfect Heb. 7.26 For such an High-Priest became us who is holy harmless and undefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens Jer. 23.6 He is the Lord our righteousness Onely his righteousnesse is infinite and everlasting Dan. 9.24 to bring in everlasting righteousness c. The righteousnesse of Angels and Saints is finite as well as tattered and torn the poor weary and heavy laden naked Soul can never lie down with rest in his bed Isa 28 20. for the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on 't c. but Christs righteousnesse is so long and so large that it gives a man rest on his sick-bed Psal 41.3 The Lord will strengthen him upon his bed of languishing What is his comfort then but a clear sight of Christs righteousnesse Job 33.23 24. If there be a messenger with him to shew unto man his righteousness c. Rest on the death-bed and afterward in the grave Isa 57.2 They shall lie down in their beds and peace shall be with them c. Rev. 6.11 And white robes were given unto every one of them and it was said unto them that they should rest So that as God saith Psal 134.14 This is my rest for ever so may the Soul Final Cause 4. Final Cause 1. Supreme 1. The Supreme Gods glory Prov. 16.4 The Lord hath made all things for himself c. This is the end of all especially this work Rev. 5.9 The glory either of 1. Mercy and Love God so loved the world c. Joh. 3.16 Well saith God rather than Souls shall perish I will pour out the blood of my own Son Rom. 5.8 But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ dyed for us Rom. 8.32 He spared not his Son c. Or 2. Justice not forgive without satisfaction Psal 145.17 The Lord is righteous in all his wayes and holy or merciful in all his works 2. Subordinate 1. Sanctification 2. Subordinate 2. Salvation Rom. 6.22 But now being made free from sin and become servants to God you have your fruits unto holiness and the end everlasting life All or most of these causes are set down by the Apostle Rom. 3.20 to 29. 1. The Efficient primary moving Cause internal free grace v. 24. 2. External moving Cause Mans Misery v. 23. Christs Merit v. 24. 3. Instrumental 1. The Word v. 21. 2. Faith v. 22. 4. Final 1. The glory of Gods 1. Severest Justice v. 26. 2 Richest Mercy v. 24. 2. Glorification of Man in Gods Justification and Salvation of Man v. 23 c. Quest How doth the just live by Faith the life of Justification Ans The answer shall extend to the several parts and degrees of Justifications Manifestation For though it be a perfect act of God yet it is a continued act and there are degrees of the manifestation of it To speak therefore 1. Of the Act it self 2. Of the Continuing and Renewing of the Act 3. Of the Assurance of the Act. See how the just lives by Faith in all these 1. For the first Act and work of Justification Faith in the act of justifying First Faith Convinceth a man of sin in a saving manner and so of his need of Christ and of his own impotency to obtain Justification and Salvation without Christ Mat. 5.3 Blessed are the poor in spirit as Gal. 5.6 Faith worketh by love so by poverty of spirit Secondly Faith puts persons into a Mourning confessing prayerful frame Mat. 5.4 Blessed are they that mourn but no blessedness if not springing from faith Zech. 12.10 I will pour upon them the Spirit of grace and supplication c. Jer. 31.9 They shall come with weepings and with supplications will I lead them Acts 2.37 They were pricked at their hearts c. This is the work of Faith though not alwayes so easily discerned to be of Faith by the party himself Thirdly Faith subdues the heart to lay down all Oppositions against God and to be willing to take any course God directs for Justification and Salvation Matth. 5.5 Blessed are the meek c. Acts 9.5 6. Paul speaks reverently Lord what wilt thou have me to do Jer. 31.18 Surely I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God c. He submits obediently they are tame as a lamb Isa 11.6 Fourthly Faith fixeth the heart upon Christ alone and his Righteousness held out in the Promises with renunciation of our own even with indignation in point of Justification The Soul is hungry after Christs Righteousness as most excellent and loaths its own as dung and draught Phil. 3.6 7 8 c. What things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ yea doubtless I count all things loss that I may win Christ and be found in him not having my own righteousness c. See these or most of these Luke 15. in that gracious Convert mentioned Luk. 15. set out as a patern as a picture and as a lively inviter for a poor sinner to look to that desires to partake of the like mercy 1. Faith Convinceth him to be in a perishing condition without his Fathers love ver 17. And when he came to himself he said How many hired servants of my Father have bread enough and to spare and I perish with hunger I say it was Faith that wrought this same conviction for it was not before he came to himself that is before he raised him
of question but that the vanity and petulancy of mens fancies and opinions begins to call all into question in these dayes and so this That which starts the Question is the wresting of certain Scriptures which they pervert as they do many others as 1 Corinth 1.30 He is made to us amongst other things Sanctification Therefore say they there 's no other Heb. 10.14 He hath by one offering for ever perfected those that are sanctified Therefore say they Christ is our Sanctification and it can be no other because it is perfect Before we Answer these Scriptures we shall shew the contrary by the full evidence of other Scriptures which will give us the clearer light in answering those former alleged places Solut. There is therefore a Life of Sanctification inherent in every true Christian besides that which is inherent in the person of Christ himself Which is proved by these Arguments 1. Because there is a Sanctification of the whole person in parts and faculties by the Spirit of Grace 1 Thess 5.23 And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless c. Every believer is thus sanctified as Water is warmed or the Air enlightened all at once 2. There is a Sanctification of the Conversation 1 Thess 4.3 For this is the will of God your Sanctification 1 Pet 1.15 As he which hath called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of conversation 3. This is part of the New Covenant Ezek. 36.25 26 27. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon them and they shall be clean c. 4. Argument is drawn from an absurdity If there were no Sanctification in a Christian besides that in Christ then there should be a confusion of these two great Benefits of Justification and Sanctification but the Apostle doth every where distinguish these as in the forementioned place 1 Cor 1.30 Righteousness Sanctification c. So 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justifiâ—d And indeed there is a great deal of difference for 1. Justification is imputed Sanctification is imparted John 16. Of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace 2. Justification is without a man Sanctification is within him 3. Justification absolves a man from all his sins Sanctification does not so Who can say I am clean from my iniquity 4. Justification is perfect and compleat Acts 13.39 Being justified from all things Sanctification is imperfect so saith the Apostle Phil. 3.12 Not as though I were already perfect Christ hath laid hold upon me that I may lay hold upon him to draw still further vertue from him therefore it is not perfect at the first But what then shall we say to that place of Scripture Heb. 10.14 He hath by one offering c. Ans 1. The words import no more but this as appears by the context That what is wanting in our own works and duties and so in our Sanctification Christ hath perfected by the benefit of our Justification or 2. By that offering of his he hath sanctified and set us apart to be his own peculiar people For sometimes to sanctifie signifies no more than to set apart from a common use to some special service So Times Things Persons are said to be sanctified Then whereas it is said 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made to us sanctification c. The meaning is no more but this That he is the Author and Finisher of our Holiness as well as of our Faith as we shall see in the resolution of the third Question In the mean time let us come to the second Question Quest 2. What Sanctification is Sol. 2. What this Sanctification is and wherein it doth consist And it may be thus described It is an inward and powerful change of a person justified whereby the image of God is renewed in him by the work of the spirit It is a change and a powerful change to distinguish it from that work that may be in a civil man whereby his corrupt nature is suppressed and restrained though his corruption be not mortified 2. An inward change to distinguish it from outward reformation such as was in Herod who heard John gladly and reformed many things and yet his heart was not changed but true grace doth ever begin at the fountain it purifies that in the first place and then the streams which flow from thence Mat. 23.25 Psal 51.10 3. It is the change of a justified person to shew that however Justification be not Sanctification nor Sanctification Justification yet Sanctification is a necessary fruit and an inseparable companion of Justification That person that is once justified is also sanctified as in the place before-named 1 Cor. 6.10 4. The form of Sanctification consists in the Renewing of Gods Image in which Image Man was created at the first having not onely a spiritual substance a Soul and spiritual faculties of that Soul Reason and Will but spiritual and divine Properties of those Faculties Light in his Reason to know the Truth a sweet flexibility in his Will to obey the Truth according to the Will of God Now after the Fall though man have the same Soul and the same Faculties yet he hath not the same divine Properties of those Faculties for as he fell by the Devils temptation so he fell into the Devils sin and condemnation The Devil fell by Pride he would needs be above God or as God so he tempted our first Parents to fall by the same kinde of Pride and ever since man in the state of corruption would be some-body in those two main Faculties of his Soul Reason and Will and therefore we are all naturally Papists and Arminians in this Point his Reason he would lift up above the Word of God as they do their Traditions and his VVill above the VVill of God whereby it come to pass that his Pride makes him very wilful in sinning against God Jer. 44.16 or else presuming upon a false supposed liberty of converting himself to God at his own pleasure whereas the Apostle saith flatly It is not in him that willeth c. Rom. 9. But this is the condition of Man in the state of corruption the Image of God is thus fearfully defaced Now when grace comes in the work of Sanctification there is presently a change wrought not in the very substance and faculties of the Soul but onely in the properties of them presently the lofty looks of man are humbled and the haughtiness of men is bowed down and the Lord alone exalted in that day Isa 2.11 There 's no more My Reason but Thy Word Lord shall be my guide then no more My Will but Thy Will be done Let it be done in earth as it is done in heaven then no more I will do this or that by my own strength I will repent when I am old I can convert my self to God when I list No but as poor Ephraim cries out Turn thou me and I
From the Danger of Spiritual drowziness First from the Judgement threatned Revel 2.5 Repent and do thy first works or I will remove thy Candlestick Amos 8.10 11 Such as sleep by candle-light are in danger of burning the house over their heads or of their Masters removing the candlestick Secondly from the Judgement felt Psal 32. David was in a dead condition of Soul he made no confession of his sins but God quickned him by his afflicting Rod ver 3 4. Thy hand was heavy upon me c. And as Faith will feel the Rod so it is that Heavenly Wisdome will teach us to hear the Rod and who hath appointed it Micah 6.9 An unbeliever is not stirr'd Jer. 2.30 5.3 Vse of all in general Use of the Life of Vivification 1 Reproof FIrst this then Reproves the want of living by Faith this Life of Vivification Simile Divers men though they are dead and dull and can sometimes complain of it in Prayer in Hearing in Practice O weary of themselves yet labour not to blow up the fire to stir up the gift Gen. 49.14 but like Issachar bow under their burthens They are like such as are troubled with the Green-sickness or some such lazy disease Though motion be the onely way of cure they had as lieve die as stir they will not act their Faith O say they God must do all I can do nothing and under this pretence they give themselves up to Spiritual sloth That look as some turn the grace of God into wantonness who under pretence that Christ died for sinners take occasion to run into all excess of riot So others turn the grace of God into slothfulness who under pretence that God must do all wil do nothing at all themselves But the Scriptures reason the contrary way God our heavenly Master works all the works of his poor Servants Phil. 2. in them and for them therefore we should be encouraged to work As when the Master is willing to hold and guide the hand of the Scholar he should be encouraged to write That is the Argument Phil. 2.12 13. Work out your own salvation for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure Thus as the Father said Agimus acti when God helps us in the action we should be willing to act the grace receiv'd and employ the talent bestow'd The slothful Servant and the wicked Servant are put both together Mat. 25.26 Therefore they are justly Reproved who live not by Faith this Life of Vivification but give themselves up to spiritual sloth and laziness Such are in danger of a sudden blow from God if they smite not on their own hearts to quicken themselves The warning that Christ gives to the Church of Sardis is proper to such Rev. 3.1 2 3. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die c. Else he threatens to come as a Thief upon such drowzy Souls A Thief comes suddenly and terribly and so will Christ Though he may save their Souls at last yet it may cost them a scouring in the mean-while Obj. But what can I do Ans 1. Thou maist come to the place of hearing 2. Thou maist frequent good Company 3. Thou maist complain of thy deadness to God This I do but I am not quickned I confess my deadness is a burthen to me O that I might meet a Messenger one of a thousand Job 33. to deliver my Soul out of this pit of deadness In answer to this therefore We shall propound a Second Use viz. Of Exhortation To perswade us to live by Faith the Life of Vivification Vse 2. Exhortation In prosecution whereof I shall first propound some Motives to make willing and secondly some Means to make thee more able Motive 1. We should be active stirring lively Christians because as God is a pure Act so he is active for us 1. Motives to Vivification Joh. 5 17. My Father worketh hitherto and I work says Christ and therefore of him 't is said Acts 10.38 He went about doing good and healing all for God was with him Wherefore we should be alwayes working for him 1 Cor. 15. Alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord. Mot. 2 God loves active and lively Servants as he is a living God And as the God of Spirits he loves to be served in the Spirit not onely as 't is opposed to falseness and dissimulation but as 't is opposed to sloth and negligence God would not have an Ass to be offered up in Sacrifice Exod. 13.13 because that was a dull and slow creature He maketh his Angels his Messengers because they are all Spirit And God would have us as Angels not onely in our Intellectuals but in our Practicals that his Will may be done on Earth as it is in Heaven and that is with life and vigour However in Scripture Christians are compared to Stones 't is not for their coldness or deadness but onely for their firmness and then they are called too Living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 Therefore as their faith is a living faith * Joh. 11.26 their hope a living hope †1 Pet. 1.4 so their prayers should be lively and fervent prayers ascending up as Incense their works living works The first Lesson the very A B C of a Christian is Repentance from dead works Heb. 6.1 In a word himself should be a living Sacrifice if acceptable to God Rom. 12.1 In the 3 of Rev. 20. after Christ had reproved them for lukewarmness and exhorted to be zealous he then invites them to Supper where we may observe a lukewarm temper to be the worst temper and a zealous temper the best temper the first is a Dish for the Devil but the latter is a Dish fit for Christs own palate Now where there is zeal there is heat and where there is heat there is activity as fire mounts Heaven-ward Therefore God would never have the fire go out upon his Altar to signifie there should be heat in all our spiritual Sacrifices of Prayer of Preaching of Hearing of Meditation Wisd 4.13 and Practice In all these we must live by Faith the Life of Spiritual Fervor Mot. 3 An active Christian lives long in a little time as others live but a little in a long time For we live no longer to any purpose than we fulfil the end of our life which is to do God service Ioh. 20.4 Herein active Christians do like that Disciple that out-ran Peter and came first to the Sepulcher And indeed they are fittest for the Sepulcher in another sense that are swiftest in their Christian race It is the highest commendation of a Christian on earth and will be their Crown in Heaven through Free-grace to have been active for God Their Commendation on Earth The honorable salutation of active Christians stands upon Record that all that are gracious may call them Blessed Rom. 16.12 Salute Triphena and Triphosa
Rev. 3.1 Repr 2 Secondly this is so much the worse when the very judgement is corrupted As the Apostle speaks Tit. 1.15 Their very minde and conscience is defiled If a mans judgement be corrupted how should he get the victory over corruptions As diseases are most dangerous when they take the Brain and the Heart and so seize upon the vital and animal parts So in this case they grow not and they think verily they need not grow Oh sayes one I love God with all my heart I thank God I have a strong Faith sayes another I am as perfect as ever I shall be sayes a third as perfect as Adam in the state of Innocency or the Saints in heaven Indeed if this were so we need not grow if our assurance were as good at first without all doubting as ever it shall be we need not pray Lord increase our faith or Lord increase our other graces But because we are but babes in grace at the first we had need grow and pray that we may grow till we come to be perfect men in Christ Repr 3 Thirdly it Reproves such as grow downward in stead of growing upward they grow lower in stead of growing higher they move earth-ward in stead of moving heaven-ward These are Monsters in grace such as have declined from their first love as Ephesus did Rev. 2.4 It may be time was they had great love to God his Word his Messengers to Family-duties but now they are grown more remiss and luke-warm if not altogether opposite to what they so much loved before Gal. 4.15 Where is then the blessedness you spake of For I bear you record that if it had been possible you would have plucked out your own eyes and have given them me Am I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth Some that profess'd great love now opposite to those persons whom they loved before and opposite to those duties which they loved before they think they are above such duties they fear not to neglect them and so seldom perform them truly fulfilling what was falsly laid upon Job Thou castest off fear Job 15.4 and restrainest prayer before God Repr 4 Fourthly it Reproves such Opposers of growth in piety are the Devils first-born as are so far from growing themselves that they do what they can to hinder the growth of others And doubtless the Spirit of Satan is in such men The Devil if he cannot hinder the Conception of Grace he will do what he can to prevent the Birth if he cannot prevent that he will do what he can to devour it so soon as it is born or at least to hinder the growth And so 't is with men that are acted by that Spirit if they cannot hinder the beginnings of Grace they will do what they can to hinder the growth of it They are as the Plague of Locusts where they live As the Locust and caterpiller devour every green thing Exod. 10.15 no sooner doth a bud or blossom begin to peep out but they devour it so it is with these men no sooner do they perceive some fair puttings forth or blossoms of Grace in any but they will be sure to snub them and to carp at them O say they what need you be so forward you are too hot to hold you cannot be content to do as the rest of your Neighbors do Are you wiser than Goodman such a one or Master such a one And thus many an old weather-beathen sinner is just like some old stinking Alder-tree it grows not it self but cumbers the ground and hinders the growth of all the Plants that are round about it by the unwholesom and malignant droppings of it and is good for nothing but the fire Such as these have much to answer for they must be answerable not onely for all the good they have neglected themselves but for all the good they have hindred in others Methinks when I consider the judgement of these men I seem to hear the voice of that revenging Angel Rev. 8.13 flying through the midst of Heaven saying Wo wo wo to the inhabiters of the earth for this is that very wo and curse which is pronounc'd from the very mouth of Blessing I mean from the mouth of Christ himself Mat. 23.13 Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven before men for ye neither go in your selves neither suffer ye those that would enter to come in Thus these kindes of men neither grow themselves nor suffer they those that would to be upon the growing hand I say they grow not themselves or if they do grow it is the wrong way as I said before they grow worse and worse till they have filled up the measure of their iniquity Evil men and seducers grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived 2 Tim. 3.13 And believe it these are sins that fill up the measure apace when what they can do is done by taunts and by threatnings or cruel mockings to hinder the growth of others Such as these are far enough from living the life of Faith in Augmentation Repr 5 Lastly therefore it Reproves such as grow in sin instead of growing in grace that exceed the deeds of the wicked while they strive to out-drink out-swear out-vie one another As 't is said of Herod He added this yet above all that he shut up John in the prison There are measures in sin as well as in grace and it shall be more tolerable for some sinners in the day of Judgement than for others Therefore take heed of growing in sin for with the same measure that we mete withall shall it be measured to us again Vse 3. Examination about spiritual growth Next let us examine whether we live by Faith aright for then we live the Life of Augmentation True grace is of a growing nature the true Members of Christ are ever increasing Col. 2.19 The whole body and every part of the body increaseth with the increase of God Therefore 1. Dost thou increase And 2. is that increase the increase of God equal uniform Quest How shall I know whether I grow Ans The first sign of growth in grace First sign of growth is lessening of corruption as one increaseth the other decreaseth as it was with Paul and David And in particular the lessening of sinful Self-love The more a man loves God the less he values his own Self-interest the more willingly he parts with it Therefore where Christ bid the young man Go sell all Mat. 19.21 he proves he was not so well grown in grace as he took himself to be Yea such as had truth of saving grace declared their weakness by this Self-interest made Peter and the rest deny Christ but when they had more grace they neglected their liberty and their lives they rejoyced they were counted worthy to suffer for him What things were gain to me those I counted loss for Christ sayes
for a Christian not to grow A Christian should out-grow others as much as the Palm-tree exceeds ordinary Plants Psal 92.12 13.14 15. therefore labour to grow 1. In * Prov. 2.7 10.14 15.7 Isa 11.9 Col. 1.10 Pro. 2.3 18 2.1 5 8 9. Phil. 1.9.10 Knowledge Let the word of Christ dwell plentifully in you Col. 3.16 2. In Faith to be rich in faith though poor in the world Jam. 2 5. Col. 2.7 3. In Charity and in good Works Phil. 1.9 The poor Macedonians were rich in their liberality 2 Cor. 8.2 The abundance of their joy and deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality It is the best riches of rich men to be rich in good work◠1 Tim. 6.18 Let not rich men give poorly while poor men give richly let not a poor Widow cast in more than all the rich men into Gods Treasury However we grow in wealth let us labour to grow in Grace 1 Motive to incite us to it may be à decoro Motives from the comeliness of it It is the sweetest sight that can be 1. Comeliness to see a Christian flourishing as the Palm-tree and growing like the Cedar in Lebanon as Psal 92.12 Such are indeed the excellent of the earth as Psal 16.2 We say of tall persons they are proper persons Oh what comely persons should we be if we were tall in grace without this the best of natural perfections are but as so many Jewels in a Swines snout Prov. 11.22 Let us therefore labour to grow in grace as we desire to be comely in the eyes of Jesus Christ Cant. 7.6 7. Christ saith of his Church How fair and how pleasant art thou O love for delights thy stature is like a Palm-tree O let us not be as low shrubs but as tall Palm-trees if we desire to be comely in his eyes Simile 2. Pleasantness 2. A jucundo from the pleasantness of it Prov. 3.17 Her ways are ways of pleasure and all her paths peace So that the further you go the more pleasure still you meet with the deeper you drink in this cup the sweeter still the more you grow in grace in ordinary course of dispensation the more you grow in comfort Rom. 14 17. The Kingdom of God is righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost The more righteousness the more you increase your peace and joy till you come to enter into the joy of your Lord such as grow in grace get nearer heaven from day to day For grace and glory do onely differ in degrees Therefore as that sweet Bird of the morning the Lark sings and mounts upward raising her Body and her Note both together rising still higher and higher nearer heaven and further from earth So a Christian raised up upon the wing of heavenly Affections Meditations Prayers holy Actions whilst he thus grows in grace through the strength of Christ he gets nearer heaven and further off from the earth Col. 3. Phil. 3. He sets his affections on things above and not on things on the earth His conversation and City and Trade is in heaven and thus he riseth higher and higher and is translated from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of our God and is not this a pleasant life and what is it but to begin heaven upon earth even to sit with Christ in heavenly places 3. Ab utili from the profit of it 3. Profit Though we could earn nothing but damnation by all our obedience as of our selves yet God is so merciful that he rewards every man according to his works Psa 62.12 Also to thee O Lord belongeth mercy for thou renderest to every man according to his works So that if we yield our praise and increase to God the earth shall yield her increase to us Psal 67.6 Then shall the earth yield her increase and God even our God shall bless us when the people praise him But if we withdraw our service from God the creatures shall withdraw their service from us Hos 2.9 I will take away my corn in the time thereof c. But if we yield our increase to God then heaven and earth and all creatures yield their increase to us ver 21. I will hear the heavens saith the Lord and they shall hear the earth c. Some are of opinion that we shall not onely have more blessing upon earth but more glory in heaven conceiving that there shall be degrees of glory according to our degrees of grace There are Arguments on both sides Some conceiving glory shall be equal because the Merit of Christ is equal Therefore in the Parable of the Vineyard he that laboured most received no more than he that laboured the shortest time every man receives his penny Mat. 20. But the Parable cannot be meant of eternal life for there are no murmurers in heaven such as you finde in the Parable that murmured because they had no more But that other Parable in the 19 of Luke doth rather set forth the state of glory upon the return of the Nobleman where he that gained most received most reward he that gained ten talents was made ruler over ten Cities and he that gained five was made ruler over five Yet this doth not infer merit of Works neither but a gracious disposition in God to encourage his servants in a way of well-doing It is the Apostles argument to quicken up Christians to be upon the growing hand 1 Cor. 15. ult Therefore my beloved brethren be ye stedfast unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord for your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. However suppose it were in vain in respect of our glory yet we are sure it is not in vain in respect of Gods glory You know what Christ saith Joh. 15.8 Herein is my Father glorified that you bear much fruit Now we should prefer Gods glory before our own Salvation therefore we should be upon the growing hand 4. Equity 4. Ab aequo from the justice and equity of it for God affords us as great means for our increase in these Gospel-times as ever he did he puts us into fat pastures and well watered Psal 23. therefore it is a shame for Gods people not to grow not to bring forth twins as Cant. 6.6 They should grow twice as fast bring forth twice as many Lambs twice as much Wooll twice as much Milk as those that go upon bare Commons All the world may cry shame on such a man that is high fed and often fed with fat and sweet Ordinances if he be still like Pharaohs lean Kine as lean and ill-favoured as ever he was before Certainly fat Ordinances and lean Souls do not well agree We are to look upon it as the greatest of Judgements to have as Psal 106.15 leanness sent into our souls while we are fed with Manna We look on it as an affliction to have an over-lean Body but it 's a far sadder condition
promise And it was a blessing of the first Age of the World where God graciously provided that men should live longer because they were sown thinner Therefore some lived seven hundred years some eight hundred some nine hundred and odde but at last it is said of the best and strongest and longest of the Sons of Men Et mortuus est that he died That is the way of all flesh in regard of natural life But it is not the way of all flesh in regard of Spiritual life Joh. 11.26 Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die His Soul shall never die though his Body die Fear not those that kill the Body but are not able to kill the Soul Matth. 10.18 they are not able to kill the Soul no nor are they able to kill the grace of the Soul Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. Therefore say with David Oh let my Soul live and it shall praise thee Vse 6 6 Use is of Incouragement against all Discouragement That the just live by Faith the life of Perseverance Of incouragement concerning Perseverance That the just live by Faith the life of Perseverance and shall persevere in the grace and favour of God Nothing shall separate from the love of Christ There are four main Discouragements incident to a Christian in his earthly Pilgrimage 1. The inconstancy of Creatures towards Creatures 2. The Creatures inconstancy towards God 3. A mans weakness compared with the strength of enemies opposing 4. A mans own sinful Demerits daily forfeiting all his Mercies To which adde 5. The uncertainty of future Events But this Doctrine that the just lives by faith the life of Perseverance is a great Incouragement against all Discouragements First The inconstancy of the Creature 1. In the inconstancy of the Creature in it self Job 6.15 Job complains his friends had forsaken him like a deceitful brook that is full in raining times when there is no want of water and empty and dry in Summer heat or when there is greatest need For a man shall have many friends so long as God rains down showers of blessings from heaven upon him but if God once search him with the fiery trial of some such Judgement as dries up all his substance he shall hardly finde a drop of comfort from such as in time of prosperity did run in a full current of kindness towards him Well suppose it be so yet this is great Incouragement to a poor Believer when he can thus reason Well though my friends leave me upon earth yet Faith assures me Heb. 13. I have a friend in heaven that will not forsake me who doth usually let out most of himself to his people when they have the least of Creature-comforts he delights to visit his people in Egypt in the fiery Furnace His Servant John Baptist in the Isle of Patmos Paul and Silas in the Prison when they had little or no comfort from the Creature And what is Heaven but the Presence God Where there is most absence of the Creature viz. in Heaven where there is neither marriage nor giving in marriage neither buying nor selling nor possessing nor rejoycing in the earthly Comforts of this life yet there is joy enough for all that when there is no Creature-comfort at all 1 Cor. 15. God himself shall be all in all And if the Presence of God it self alone shall be enough to make Heaven when all the world shall be left am I not bound to believe Gods Person is enough upon earth if all Creatures should forsake me If I can live by Faith the Life of Perseverance in respect of influence from God what if I do not live by Sense the Life of Perseverance in respect of influence from Creatures The former is Incouragement enough of it self 2. Creature-inconstancy towards God Secondly The second great Discouragement and indeed greater than the former is this The Creatures inconstancy towards God The Creatures goodness is as the morning dew Hos 6.4 that is soon gone O how quickly are they turned out of the way saith God Judg 2.17 Peter is ready to swear Allegeance to his Master and as ready almost to forswear with the same breath and do not think that thou hast a better heart than Peter had for as in water face answers to face so the heart of man to man Prov. 27.19 One face is not more like another represented in water or in glass then one mans heart is naturally like another's All are very fickle and very inconstant in the love and service of God Now this is sometimes a great Discouragement to a gracious Soul Saith such a Soul I have such a base backsliding heart I shall never be able to hold out to the end what will become of me For thy answer Beware of Discouragement though thou art unconstant and unbelieving yet God is faithful and he hath promised to make thee constant and faithful or at least to heal thy unconstancy and unbelief 2 Tim. 2.13 If we believe not yet he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself What if we believe not at all that 's not the meaning of it For he gives Faith when he intend Mercy but if there be intermissions and interruptions in our Faith or at least in the activity of our Faith yet God is faithful to heal our back-slidings and to love us freely Hos 14.4 And this is a great Incouragement Gods constancy in Covenant opposed to our fickleness and inconstancy He will so put his fear into our hearts as we shall never utterly depart from him Jerem. 32.40 Thirdly A third Discouragement 3. In our own weakness is our own Weakness as well as our own Inconstancy yea were we never so constant in our resolutions yet how weak are we in our performances We are weak our enemies strong our trials many and great and this is a great Discouragement to a gracious heart that howsoever the Spirit is willing yet the flesh is weak that should God leave us to ourselves we should fall away from him every day in which respect Christ commands us to watch and pray lest we enter into temptation Mat 26.41 Well be it so that a Christian is so weak on the one side and his enemies so strong on the other yet Faith administers this notable incouragement in the sight and sense of all our enemies and greatest infirmities 1 Cor. 10.13 But God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able to bear but will with the temptation also make a way to escape and so the weakest believer if a true believer shall be kept by the power of God 1 Pet. 1. 2 Tim. 1.12 I know in whom I have believed and I am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to his trust against that day Fourthly The fourth Discouragement 4. Against sinful distempers is a mans own sinful Distempers daily forfeiting
never forsake his people so far as to suffer them to fall altogether from those necessary graces which tend to the very being of a Christian A man indeed may lose Aptitudinem ad Regnum but not Jus ad Regnum he may lose his fitness for his present entrance into the heavenly Kingdom his Lamp may want some trimming but he can never lose his right to the Kingdom because at the worst he hath some oil in his Lamp Justification and Adoption and the Spirit of Regeneration abide for ever These graces necessary to Salvation shall never be taken away Thus you may see in how many respects God may be said to forsake his people and how not Obj. Love is a necessary grace and yet may be lost Rev. 2.4 Therefore to all these Considerations we shall adde one more that is this All these forsakings we have spoken of are but Ans All forsaking but gradual momenâ—any First Gradual in respect of their Measure Secondly Momentany in respect of their Duration which we ground upon that place Isa 54.7 8. For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee In a little wrath I hid my self from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer Q. But why is it said God hath forsaken his people in a little wrath and for a moment Ans In a little wrath because he suffers not his whole displeasure to arise he forsakes them not totally therefore in a little comparatively 1. Compared with their deserts Ezra 9.13 Thou hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve It was little in regard of our deserts 2. And secondly little in regard of others Others shall suck out the dregs of that Cup whereof they shall but sip to let them but taste what they have escaped by the sufferings of Christ Secondly For a moment because not finally as not totally so not finally What are the sufferings of Gods people upon earth to the suffering of his enemies in hell Alas they are but momentany if compared with their joys in heaven not worth the speaking of These light afflictions that are but for a moment Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17 work for us a far more excelling and eternal weight of glory Obj. But why doth God forsake his people so far as we have heard though it be but by trials temporally It may seem to be a great interruption to the Life of their Consolation Ans No it is for the good of his people and not for their hurt Indeed he doth it in much compassion to their Souls Q. But you may say What good is it to their Souls Ans Much every way because it prevents a world of evils 1. For God forsakes us that we may not forsake God Reasons of Gods forsaking As the Mother leaves the childe for a time and hides her self when she is about to go into a Fair or Market 1. 1. For prevention of evil that the childe may cry after her and cleave the faster to her all the day after whereas otherwise she may lose it in a crowd Thus God forsakes his people for a time that they may not forsake him for ever Experience sometimes of Gods withdrawing himself doth teach Gods people That they cannot live without him had they Mountains of Wealth of Honour of Natural Strength to live upon Psal 30.6 I said in my prosperity I shall never be moved Thou Lord by thy favour hast made my Mountain to stand strong What follows Thou didst turn thy face from me and I was troubled And what of that Why then I cried to thee O Lord and unto thee Lord I made my supplication Then he cries after God again and again and cleaves faster to him than ever he did before 2. God forsakes us that he himself may not forsake us he forsakes us one way that he may not forsake us another he forsakes us in lesser matters that he may not forsake us in greater And it is the end that is all in all and that gives denomination in every action Therefore Gods forsaking upon the matter is no forsaking nay all the withdrawings of himself tend to the clearer manifestation of himself Indeed Saul gave Michal his daughter to David that she might be a snare to him But God will not give his servants some things lest they should be a snare to them He denies them their desires and so far he forsakes them he forsakes them in appearance that he may not forsake them indeed he forsakes in Temporal things that he may not forsake them in Spirituals he forsakes them in their Comforts that he may not forsake them in their Graces he forsakes them in their accessory graces that he may not forsake them in necessary graces and to conclude he forsakes them in a little wrath and for a little time that he may not forsake them wholly and for ever Therefore God least of all forsakes his people when he forsakes them 2. For confirmation of good As it prevents evil so it confirms Gods people in that which is good it quickens and strengthens their graces 1. Their Confidence in God and their Diffidence in themselves Christ left Peter for a time to trust to himself but after that Peter had such experience of his own weakness he will never more boast that he loves Christ more than all the world besides It is well if I can say in Gods strength Ioh. 20. Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee 2. Self-abhorrence loving of our selves we are apt to make our selves our own Gods to set our Reason above his Word and our Wills above his Will Therefore there is no way for God to set up himself in us but to pull down our selves in our selves and that 's by his withdrawing 3. Crying after God and longing for his Presence Hos 5. last When God hides himself his people will seek him early In this life one while God hides himself anoother while he manifests himself and his hiding prepares for manifestation Whilst we are in the body we are not fit for constant manifestations of God to our Souls In Heaven there shall be perpetual light and no night but in this life in Spiritual respects there is a mixture of day and night Zech. 14.7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord not day nor night neither perfect day nor perfect night that we may long and cry after God 4. A cleaving closer to God When Christ had withdrawn himself and the Spouse had hold on him again she held him faster than ever before Cant. 3.4 I held him and would not let him go 5. A clearing of God Oh says a Soul if God forsake me it is just for I have forsaken him days without number Thus David clears God when he forsook him Psal 51.4 that thou mightest be just when thou speakest and clear when
yoke in the world they have found such comfort in it And this I say makes much for the honour of the Master 2 Reason 2. For their own support God will have the just live the Life of Consolation that the comforts of God may Support their Spirits in the midst of many Troubles Afflictions and Temptations they meet withall in their Christian course You know it is a Statute-Law of Heaven We must through tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God Act. 14.22 Therefore God in much Wisdom and Faithfulness proportions the comforts of his Servants to their sufferings lest they should faint in their minds and be weary Psal 94.19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul and so the more suffering for Christ the more comfort in Christ 2 Cor. 1.5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us so our consolations also abound by Christ As Christ himself had greatest comfort in his greatest temptation for then it was that Angels came and ministred unto him Mat. 4.11 so Gods People may expect greatest comforts in their greatest sufferings especially if it be in a good cause 1 Pet. 3.14 and 4.13 If ye suffer for righteousness if ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you So that as it was said of him that knew not how to pray Let him go to Sea so we may say of the Christian that knows not how to rejoyce Let him take up the Cross that lie in the way of his calling let him be willing to go to the Prison or to the Stake if God call him thither Etiam hîc eris mecum bone Jesu said the good Martyr Even here Lord Jesus I finde and I feel thou wilt be present with me So he that would meet God and enjoy most of God on this side heaven let him not look for it in Princes Courts but let him look for it in the Dungeon of Adversity There God met with Joseph and there he met with Jeremiah and there he met with Peter and there he met with Paul and Silas Act. 16.25 They were so full of comfort they could not hold they must needs sing at mid-night Their hearts were never more at liberty than when their feet were fast in the stocks Simile Wicked men like other ordinary Birds can sing in a Sun-shine day of Prosperity but Gods People are Nightingals they sing best in the mid-night of adversity And were it not thus Gods People would not be so ready to suffer in the cause of God they would be ready to say Oh! there is a Lion in the way Pro. 22 13. I shall be slain in the streets But when they remember God can bring Honey out of the Carcase of the Lion he can bring Meat out of the Eater as he did Judg. 14.14 he can bring strength and nourishment to the Soul out of sharp destruction and devouring affliction they are not so much afraid of the Cross And that 's the second Reason why God will have his People live the Life of inward Consolation that they may the better live the Life of outward Affliction 3. To cause longing for heaven 3. God will have them live the Life of Spiritual Consolation in some measure upon earth that they may long the more to be in heaven Indeed the best estate of Gods People here below is but a mixt estate in respect of comfort Here is Night as well as Day Winter as well as Summer but there is Day and no Night Summer and no Winter It is true indeed he gives them some light some first-fruits of comfort here but to what end certainly that they may the more earnestly long for the Harvest When Paul was but a little while caught up into the third heaven he was never well till he came there again Phil. 1. I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all God gives his People a taste to set the mouth of their Souls on water after heaven Taste of my Hidden Manna saith God and as you like that take more Now when they have once tasted they long to be at the Kings Banquetting-house where is fulness of joy Cant. 2. Psal 16. and pleasures for evermore The Martyrs had but a taste and they were ready to run through fire and water to get to a full draught And were it not thus did not God sometimes give to his People the first-fruits of his Spirit of heavens joys they would be ready either to be deter'd in their journey to Canaan by the perils of the Wilderness or else to be allured back again by the flesh-pots of Egypt or at best to take up their rest with the two Tribes and a half on this side Jordan Therefore God gives his People something of the very comfort of Heaven whilst they are in the way thither like the Bunch of Grapes that was brought out of Canaan before-hand that they may long to be in Heaven and so to enter into that joy there that doth but enter into them here 4. Here 4. To be able to comfort others God will have his People live the Life of Consolation themselves that they may the better minister comfort to others A Scholar that knows the World by Map can give some direction to a Traveller but nothing so exact as he that hath travelled the same way himself A man that never tasted of Honey may discourse of the sweetness of it but nothing so feelingly as he that hath suck'd the Honey-comb So a man that never tasted of the comfort of the Holy Ghost or peace of Conscience may discourse of it at random to others but nothing so effectually as he that feels the powerful working of it effectually in his own brest he will say Come Psal 34. and I will tell you what the Lord hath done for my Soul Whereas a man that never felt that comfort himself but is a meer stranger to the joy of Gods chosen he is very unfit to comfort others One sorrowful man is a miserable comforter to another Like the sad reflections of some doleful Echo that doubles and trebles the complaint and so one woe returns many Or like the answer of an evil Conscience that always prophecies evil and not good to him that inquires of it But such a one as hath felt the comforts of God himself is able to speak more feelingly to others Now that they may do so God reacheth forth the Cup of Salvation and the Cup of Consolation to some of his children that they may commend it to others upon their own experience that they may say O how sweet is the Cup of Gods Consolation will you not pledge me will you not drink of the same cup O taste and see that the Lord is good O how sweet is he in the forgiveness of sins how sweet in the comforts of his Spirit how sweet in
an eternal life Three degrees of it That there is an eternal life There are divers degrees of this Life The first degree is here below in this world Joh. 5.24 Eternal life is begun here 2. The second degree of it is in the end of this life when the body of a Saint rests in the Bed of the Grave and the soul is with God in Paradise Luk. 23.43 3. The third degree of it is After the day of general Judgement when body and soul being reunited the whole person shall be wholly glorified to all eternity 2 Thess 1.10 Now that there is such a life Faith makes good 1. By plain Testimonies of Scripture 2. By necessary Consequence and deduction from Scripture 1. By evident Testimony of Scripture Scripture In the Old Testament Psal 16.11 At thy right hand are pleasures for evermore Dan. 12.2 Many of them that sleep shall awake some to Everlasting life In the New Testament Mat. 25. ult And the righteous into life eternal Joh. 3.16 That whoever believeth should not perish but have Everlasting life 2. By necessary Consequence from the Scriptures As Reas 1 1. From the act and End of mans Creation and Redemption Man was made after Gods Image Gen. 1.26 27. And renewed after it Eph. 4.24 that he might have perpetual Communion with God 1 Joh. 1.3 As God therefore lives for ever so shall those who are redeemed by Christ live ever too Joh. 14.19 Reas 2 2. From the Kingdom and Headship of Christ which are both eternal Of his Kingdom there shall be no end Luk. 1.33 If Christ be a King for ever he must have Subjects throughout that Eternity If Christ be an Head for ever his Members must needs live for ever otherwise Christ must be a King without Subjects an Head without Members both which are Vnreasonable and Dishonorable to Christ Reas 3 3. From Christs Prayer That all his may be with him for ever to behold his glory Joh. 17.24 Now the Father hears the Son alway Joh. 11.42 Reas 4 4. From the Nature of the Soul It 's immortal Mat. 10.28 yea it hath in it sparks and desires of Immortality Now Natura nihil dedit frustra which have appeared not onely in the life but at the death of Saints in which God hath been pleased to give his people a sight of Heaven and glorious apprehensions of the life to come Steven sees the heavens opened Act. 7.56 59. To which may be added the Devils design to gather Souls in Reversion as in the stories of Witches Reas 5 5. Ab absurdo If there were no life after this Christians would be of all men most miserable 1 Cor. 15.19 Here wicked men many times fare best and Gods people are chastened every morning and have sorest Temptations on their Death-beds So that it would be exceedingly derogatory from the Wisdom Holiness and Justice of God if there were not another life wherein every man shall rejoyce according to his ways Luk. 16.25 2 Thess 1.6.7 Thus Faith gathers Arguments from the Word That there is an eternal Life 2. What the happiness of eternal life is 2. Faith informs a believer much of the Happiness of this life and wherein it consists in the main For however it be true that none of the Saints departed which are gone to heaven as Enoch Elias c. have Commission to come down and tell us what the joys of heaven are yet we have Moses and the Prophets Luk. 17. ult Nay though there were a man once caught up into heaven and let down again to the earth yet it was not lawful for him to utter what he had heard and seen 2 Cor. 12. yet for all that Faith looks into heaven per transennam through the lattice Cant. 2.9 and findes so much comfort therein that from thence it makes a strong Collection That certainly the Happiness of the Creature must needs consist in the perfect Vision of God which is to be had in heaven Vision of God fourfold and not before for there 's a fourfold Vision of God 1. Natural in things created For the invisible things of God are cleerly seen from the Creation c. Rom. 1.20 2. Specular or Symbolical In the Word and in the Signs of Gods love we see God For these were appointed to be lively remembrances and representations of Christ to the Soul Gal. 3.1 3. There 's the Vision of Faith which looking through the Word and Sacraments as through a Perspective-glass draws God neerer to the Soul 4. But fourthly There 's the Vision of Glory in the World to come Here we see God darkly as in a glass 2 Cor. 3. but there face to face Now Faith doth further assure us Perfect Vision of God causes perfect transformation That this perfect Vision of God shall perfectly transform us into the likeness of God so far as Creatures can be like God For Faith argues thus If the Specular Vision of God works some measure of this gracious Transformation as it 's said 2 Cor. 3. ult How much more shall the Perfect Vision of God in glory work a perfect change of a believer into the likeness of God And so indeed saith the Apostle We shall be like him For we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 3.2 And this was Davids comfort in his saddest hours When I awake that is out of the bed of the grave I shall be satisfied with thy likeness Psal 17. last Perfect Vision of God shall work perfect Transformation and this perfect Transformation shall work perfect Satisfaction Q. But wherein doth this perfect Transformation consist A. Doubtless in the Perfection of all graces So Faith assures that 1. Perfect knowledge There shall be a Perfection of the Knowledge of God Here the best Scholar that learns most from Books Sermons Conference Observation or from the Spirit it self yet knows but in part But when that which is perfect is come then shall that which is imperfect be done away 1 Cor. 13.12 Then shall nothing be hid from us which we can desire to know Now we know God in the knowledge of other things Then we shall know other things in the knowledge of God and therefore we shall know one another Mat. 17.4 Here we know things either by Sense or by Reason and Argumentation or by Faith In Heaven there will be no need of these there the clearness of the object shall put All past all dispute Here things seen or known are far distant the Medium dim the Organ weak But then God shall be present and open-faced as it were and the eye of the Soul shall be fortified to behold the King in his glory Isa 33.17 Eccl. 11.7 Solomon tells us that the light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is to behold the Sun And yet as pleasant as it is sometime the eye is offended by looking on the Sun Could the eye look stedfastly and strongly on the Sun without offence to it
what a glorious sight would it be In Heaven the Saints shall behold the Sun of Righteousness in the highest firmament and the eye of their Soul shall be strengthned to behold his glory to eternity That 's the first Perfection of knowledge 2. Perfect love Faith assures That in Heaven there shall be a Perfection of Love both to God and one another Indeed this follows from the former Perfect knowledge of God begets Perfect Love The Saints then shall love God beyond all measure who is infinitely lovely Here it 's the grief of a gracious heart that it can love God no more there it shall be the joy of a glorious Soul that it shall love God above all yea above it self and both it self and all other things in God And in this respect the Apostle gives Love the preheminence 1 Cor. 13. above Faith and Hope that when Faith shall be turned into Vision and Hope into Comprehension yet Love abideth or endures to eternity Faith assures That in Heaven 3. Perfect obedience Obedience to the will of God shall be perfect and this follows likewise from the former Perfect Obedience springs from perfect Love If ye love me keep my Commandments Joh. 14.15 The Saints knowing God perfectly shall perfectly love him and perfectly loving God shall perfectly keep his Commandments Rev. 22.3 His servants shall serve him ver 4. And they shall see his face Here we see onely the back parts of God In Heaven we shall see him perfectly and serve him perfectly Faith assures 4. Perfect joy That in Heaven there shall be perfect Peace and Joy The Kingdom of Heaven is righteousness peace and joy Rom. 14.17 When our righteousness is perfect then is our Peace too Here indeed imputed Righteousness is perfect but imparted inherent Righteousness is not to be perfected till the life to come and then shall be perfect peace Peace with God with our fellow-Citizens with our own Consciences And perfect joy too At thy right hand is fulness of joy Psal 16. ult A full joy and so a full reward 2 Joh. v. 8. There is a double fulness Of the Object Of the Subject Faith assures the Saints of both First There shall be a fulness of the Subject Fourfold fulness of the subject in glory Every part of Soul and Body shall be filled 1. The Vnderstanding shall be full of light that every question shall then be put out of question 2. The Will so full of subjection to the Will of God that there shall be no reluctancy 3. The Affections so full of harmony there shall be no jarring 4. The Body so full of glory that it shall be made like to the glorious body of Christ Phil. 3. ult Fulness of the Object Secondly there shall be a fulness of the Object The Saints in glory shall have whatever may make them happy whatever they can desire Joh. 14.8 They shall see God and so see the Father as that it shall suffice them They shall have Rest 2 Thess 1.8 And that which hath rest hath obtained its perfection to the full In a word 1. We shall be freed from whatever may annoy us 2. We shall enjoy whatever we can desire Fivefold freedom in heaven We shall be freed c. 1. From all the labours of this life Here we are born to labour Job 5.7 as the sparks to fly upwards There is rest 2. From the Necessities of Nature There is no need of Meat 1 Cor. 15.28 Drink Physick Clothing Lodging God shall be all in all 3. From the filth and power of Sin Here the best cry out Oh wretched c. Rom. 7.24 There we shall never sin more 4. From the company of sinners Here is complaining Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell in Meshech Ps 120.5 There shall be a perfect separation without any mixture Wheat with Wheat and Tares with Tares like to like to all eternity 5. From all sorrows and pains Rev. 21.4 The life of the best here is an April-day it hath some gleams of comfort but many showers In Heaven shall be constant Sun-shine for evermore Secondly We shall be possess'd of whatever good can be desired There we shall enjoy the sweet society of God Christ Angels Saints and with all these an eternal Sabbath And thus Faith like Moses on the top of Mount Pisgah discovers the promised Land afar off or like the Spies gathers up some Clusters of Canaan and brings them to a Believer here in the Wilderness Thirdly 3. Faith assures That eternal life is the Believers Faith assures a believer of his peculiar interest in this Life Eternal And indeed this is the very life of this life to know our right to this Tree of Life in Jesus Christ For as 't is nothing so comfortable to a man that beholds another mans Temporal Inheritance adorned with Woods Orchards Gardens Rivers and goodly Buildings as to be able to say with good warrant All these are mine I have good Evidence to shew for them So is it nothing so comfortable to be able to discourse of the happiness of Heaven as by the certainty of Faith to say By the grace of God all this is mine I have good Evidence to shew for it Indeed otherwise it 's a punishment nay it 's a part of Hell it 's poena damni to know that there is such a Glory in Heaven while himself hath neither lot nor part in it This is like Balaam's sight of Heaven or Dives his beholding Lazarus in the bosom of Abraham while there was a great gulf between them This I say is part of the Torment of Hell But this is the Life of a Christians knowledge concerning Life Eternal when he can upon good grounds say This is mine The lines are fallen unto me in a pleasant place yea I have a goodly heritage therefore my heart is glad my glory rejoyceth my flesh also shall rest in hope Psal 16.6 9. I know that my Redeemer liveth c. For we know c. 2 Cor. 4.1 Now how is a Christian assured of this his interest in Eternal Life but by Faith For Eternal Life is the End or Ultimate Object of Faith Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your Souls 1 Pet. 1.9 There are indeed many witnesses of it Three in Heaven and three in Earth 1 Joh. 5.7 8 c. And this witness of Faith is one of the Three on Earth The Spirit and Water and Blood The Spirit witnesseth to our Spirits Rom 8.16 By Water is meant the Benefit of our Sanctification By Blood our Justification by Faith in Christ or Expiation by the Blood of Christ applied by Faith and it may here be observed That though Blood alone saves a Christian yet it doth not alone witness his salvation Sanctification goes not into the matter of Salvation as a cause yet it goes into the matter of witness But according to the former Exposition Faith laying
Hope This Anchor is described Heb. 6. ver 19. to be sure and stedfast such an Anchor as will hold till the storm be over and till we come at Heaven Q. But how does he prove that Ans By two Arguments 1. Because this Anchor is entred within the veil that is Comfortable inferences from Christs being our forerunner into Heaven alluding to the Holy of Holies therefore it hath sure Anchor-hold 2. Because ver 20. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the fore-runner is for us entred that is Jesus Christ the great Master-Pilot Where these Particulars may be noted 1. Christ was once in the Ship of the Militant Church tost upon the waves of Temptation as much nay more than any other yet without sin 2. Christ is now gone ashore that is to Heaven where the Ship of the Church desires to land 3. Christ went ashore for us as much as for himself upon our business as much as his own A Forerunner for us is entred And that in two Respects 1. Christ assures our landing 1. To assure our Landing Christs landing is an evidence of ours He is where our Anchor is and so holds all fast by the hand of his Power 2. He facilitates it 2. To facilitate our landing Christs landing makes ours the more easie Christ went to heaven as to prepare a place for us Joh. 14.2 so a passage for us Christ opens the door of heaven Acts 7.56 He draws the ship to the shore As when he ascended the Cross he drew all his to believe in him so being ascended into heaven he draws all believers after him And this Ascension of Christ is a certain assurance of ours He possessing heaven assures That we shall possess it in due time Q. But why do Believers possess life no sooner Why do they live by Faith so many years together Why does not God give them full possession of it in this life It 's an Inheritance reserved 1 Pet. 1.4 2 Tim. 4.8 Col. 1.5 Why is it thus Why believers are without possession so long Ans A Believer lives without present possession of life Eternal in his own person Not for want of Power Love Care in God but out of abundance of love and fatherly care the Lord thus orders it Reas 1 1. To binde his Children to their good behaviour that they may know and acknowledge their beholdingness to God all their days It 's a wise expression of a Parents love to do their children good in such a manner and by such degrees that they may still remain sensible of their dependance and wants They give them not so much at first but they will have something left to give them at another time Fond Parents dote so much on their children that they sometimes put them into too early possession of all which makes them forget their Parents and slight them as if they could do well enough without them Now the Lord knows how apt we are to abuse priviledges and to be dis-ingenuous to God Popery is natural to every man if he hath a little more grace or doth a little more good than others he is ready to think of Merit presently as if he could live without God or as if God were beholding to him And therefore God gives his people imperfect parcels and first-fruits onely to cherish their dependance on him Reas 2 From the present condition of Believers They are in this life like children or heirs under age The greatest heirs have their Estate in Reversion if they had it in full possession it might do them more hurt than good Christians are not capable of their whole possession as Christ saith Joh. 16.12 I have many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now so God hath much glory to communicate to his children but they cannot bear it now Therefore God drops it into them here as we do water into narrow-mouth'd vessels as they are able to receive and not as he is able to give God keeps them in their Wardship and puts them not into full possession till they come to full age to a perfect man in Christ The heir as long as he is a childe differeth not from a servant Gal. 4.1 It 's spoken to shew the difference between Law and Gospel but may be applied to the difference between Earth and Heaven Reas 3 To put a difference between Earth and Heaven Had believers as much happiness here as there there would be no difference and so no desires would be at work after heaven Christians would not be willing to leave this world and go through the narrow passage of Death unless it were to obtain a better life Therefore God will put a difference in the degrees of their happiness that there might be difference in their affections that their affections may be raised as much above the world as heaven is above the earth that their hearts may be where their treasure is that whilst worldly men minde onely earthly things the conversation and City-trade of Gods people may be in heaven Phil. 3.20 Reas 4 God so orders it to Exercise the Graces of his People Especially 1. Faith Though they have little in hand they will trust God for the more God will try what credit he hath with his servants The Devil objects Gods People will serve him no longer than they have their pay in hand Job 1. But God makes it appear they are willing to wait for the Reward and will therefore trust God Job 13.15 19.25 2. To Exercise Patience Gods Word is called The Word of his Patience Rev. 3.10 because it requires submission to the Cross for the present and reserves the Crown till the Race be done Therefore saith the Apostle ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God ye may inherit the Promises Heb. 10.36 So Rom. 8.23 24 25. 3. To Exercise Humility and Self-denial in as much as that we are not fit to be trusted In our Creation God gave us our Pay beforehand But what follow'd We soon grew proud and disdainful and so fool'd away that precious Inheritance to satisfie a wanton Eye and an intemperate Appetite Therefore God to keep us humble keeps our estate in his own hand He will not trust us with it any more till we come to that place where there shall be no Devil to Tempt or Flesh to Betray us Reas 5 That Heaven may be Heaven indeed That glory may become exceeding glorious Prov. 13.12 Prov. 13.12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick but when the desire cometh it 's a tree of life If we had our Heaven at first without any preceding Exercise it would be nothing so sweet and precious to us But then Canaan is Canaan indeed when People have gone through a Red-sea and an howling Wilderness Contraries opposed shine the brighter The God of all grace after ye have suffered awhile comfort stablish settle and strengthen you 1 Pet. 5.10 Perfection is most welcome after a
state of imperfection strength after a state of weakness establishment after a state of shaking and glory in heaven after a state of baseness and suffering in this world A Mole upon the face sets forth the beauty of the face So the blackish Mole of the Saints infirmities and sufferings on earth sets forth the beauty of the Church and the glorious Holiness and Happiness of Heaven And this is one Reason why they are afflicted here before they are made happy hereafter Therefore the Just lives by Faith in regard of Eternal Life Vse 1. Of Confutation Vse 1 1. Confutation of those that deny Eternal Life There are a number of such in the world Confutation of those that deny Eternal life As the knowledge of the chief Good is much obscured by the Fall of Adam so is the desire of it also weakned and so much the more as men are taken captives by Sin and Satan That men may sin with the more liberty Satan perswades them there is no Eternal Death and if no Eternal Death then they must believe withall that there is no Eternal Life and if he can but perswade them that there is no Reward or Punishment after this life he knows he may win them to sin with more freedom When Elisha had blinded the eyes of the Aramites he might lead them to Samaria in stead of Dâ—than so when the Prince of Darkness hath so blinded the eyes of men that they cannot see at least not see afar off not see so far as to an Eternity after this life he may easily tempt them to commit all iniquity with greediness and to run into all excess of riot He that saith There is no Eternal Life doth in effect say There is no God for God saith that there is an Eternal Life and he that denies the Truth of God denies God himself Now when once the fool is perswaded to say in his heart There is no God What follows Corrupt are they and become abominable there is none that doth good no not one Psal 14.1 Therefore the Devil tempts some to deny the Eternal Life of the Soul And some that hold this yet deny it to the Body Either of both these Opinions are very Dangerous and Destructive and open a gap to all licentiousness If there be no Resurrection saith the Apostle let us eat and drink for to morrow we shall die Yea but saith Paul certainly there is a Resurrection of the Body therefore let 's take heed we be not deceived by such evil words which do necessarily corrupt good manners Now what hath been said in the Doctrinal part may confute both these Rotten Opinions Rotten in their Root and Rotten in their Fruit also 1. Of the Body 1. Therefore it confutes such as hold there is no Eternal Life of the Body For if we deny the Article of the Resurrection of the Body how can we believe the next Article of Life Everlasting especially in respect of the whole man But the Scripture is as clear in this as if the truth of it were written with the Sun-beams Isa 26.19 Thy dead men shall live as my dead body shall they arise Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust for thy dew is as the dew of herbs and the earth shall cast forth her dead Which words are propounded by the Prophet as a strong consolation against the strength and violence of the Churches affliction for in the former verse the Church is brought in as a painful travelling Woman that is in hope of a joyful deliverance but when all comes to all she travels with the wind or brings forth a dead childe Thus may the Church complain Not many of her Members are dead but all Some die in the Prison some upon the Rack c. Well admit all this saith Jesus Christ yet they are not out of my reach I can deliver them not onely from the greatest Dangers in this life but from the very power of the Grave Thy dead men shall live as my dead body shall they arise As if Christ should have said As sure as I raise my own body I 'll raise theirs yea I look at theirs as my own I do not look at my self or my Mystical Body as perfect so long as any particular Members do lie in the Grave Therefore as my dead body shall they arise If they shall say How can this be seeing they are withered and dead Christ answers My Almighty Power shall fall upon them and revive them as the dew from Heaven falling upon the withered and dead grass doth revive and quicken it afresh again And that is added in the latter part of the verse For thy dew c. So that here you have a strong Argument both from the Scriptures and the Power of God to prove the Resurrection What 's the Reason that either the Old or New Sadduces deny the Resurrection but for want of Faith in one of these two Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures or the Power of God Mat. 22.29 For thus doth Faith reason Why may not that great God who made all things of nothing make this something being once corrupted that which it was before He that with a Word of his Mouth gave a Being to all Creatures and with the Breath of his Nostrils can bring them to nought again what shall be impossible for this great God to effect Shall not He that made the glorious Heavens bedecked and bespangled with such an innumerable company of Glorious Bodies that made this Mass of the Earth that we tread upon hanging like a Ball in the midst of the Air and yet so fast that it cannot be moved at any time that commands the Waters and they will not drown the Fire and it will not burn That shuts up the mouth of Lions that they may not hurt his Servants and opens the mouth of Ravens that they may feed them I say Why may not this great God that can thus miraculously invert and turn upside-down the whole course of Nature why may not he Turn man to destruction and yet say Return again O ye children of men Psal 90.3 This therefore confutes such as hold there is no Eternal Life of the Body 2. Of the Soul 2. It confutes such as hold That there is no Eternal Life of the Soul or at least doubt of it as that Wicked Pope Paul III. at the time of his death said He should now be resolved of three Questions Note that he had doubted of all his life 1. Whether the Soul were Immortal 2. Whether there were a Hell or no 3. Whether there were a God or no Indeed he was like to be resolved to his Cost But it 's better to be resolved beforehand that we may prepare for the eternal good of our Souls Some think The Soul dies with the Body and is raised again at the Day of Judgement or that it is in a kinde of sleeping condition in the mean time But the case of
Discourse or a bare speculation of Heaven which will bring a man thither no more then the Reading of the History of such a Countrey or the Beholding of it in a Map which will transport a man to the place it self But there must be a sound and full Conveyance of it to the Soul And so the just must live by Faith in regard of Eternal Life 4. Reproof of not improving Eternal Life 4. It Reproves such who though they have somewhat to shew for their Inheritance Because they are Believers yet they live besides their Means because they do not act their Faith at least so much as they should in respect of Life eternal We say of many a worldly man because he doth not enjoy or improve his estate He lives besides his Means It 's one of the vanities that Solomon discovered under the Sun Eccl. 6.1 2. A man to whom God hath given riches wealth and honour so that he wanteth nothing of all that he desireth yet God giveth him not power to eat hereof This is vanity saith he and an evil disease And is it not a greater vanity when God hath given a man heavenly riches and honour and yet he lives not by Faith upon it improves it not to the best advantage Such an one lives beside his means How is it that Gods people are so cast down in Troubles Wants weaknesses in Reproaches in Persecutions Did they but act their Faith to believe that they shall one day as surely possess heaven as they possess the very house they dwell in upon earth how would the Apprehension of future joys drown and swallow up the sense of present miseries Why should the Kings Son be so lean from day to day Who hath such an Inheritance at the last and such a Father to provide for him in the mean time Luk. 12.32 Fear not little flock for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom 5. This Reproves such as are Earthly-minded 5. Reproof of Earthly-mindedness for such live not by Faith in respect of Heaven or Eternal Life They live as if they were Terrae filii Sons of the earth as if that curse of God were fallen upon them Jer. 17.13 All that forsake thee shall be written in the dust The Church of the first-born are said to be written in heaven Hebrews 12.23 But these men as if they had nothing to shew but onely for the earth are said to be written in the earth as if God should say Go thy way thou art an Earth-worm and therefore Earth shall be all thy Portion It may be thou hast many writings to shew for a piece of the earth but nothing for heaven and therefore says God write him down An Earthly-minded man and An Earthly-portion'd man Psal 17.14 They are called Men of this world which have their portion in this life Give them but a fat portion in this life on this side Jordan take Canaan take Heaven who will for them The Devil casts so much dust in their eyes they cannot see to live by Faith in respect of Heaven Obj. But it may be these men will say We are too uncharitable for they are profess'd Christians and they well remember the two last Articles of their Creed Resurrection of the Body and Life Everlasting Answer shall be made to this in a third Use Vse 3 Vse 3. Of Examination Examination of Faith in respect of life Eternal 3. This is of use for Examination to examine whether we believe as we profess when we say We believe the Resurrection of the Body and Life Everlasting And we may know this 1. By our carriage in Life 2. By the respect we bear to Death By our carriage in Life 1. By our Carriage in life and that in respect of our 1. Affections 2. Meditations 3. Speeches And 4. Conversation 1. Our Affections 1. By our Affections A man that is far distant from his Native Country and dear friends he mingles many a Meal with his tears when he thinks of the distance of the place But how doth he rejoyce when he is once upon his return Especially when he comes within sight of land his very heart leaps within him and he cannot hold from saluting the place Oh my dear Country Blessed be God that I have lived once again to see thee and am so near to enjoy my surest friends within thee Just thus is it with a man that is bound for heaven that lives by Faith in regard of Life Eternal When he well remembers his great distance from God and Christ the Saints departed for whilst we are here at home in the body we are absent from the Lord I say when he remembers this it fetcheth many a sigh and tear and groan from his heart Psal 137.1 By the waters of Babylon we sate down and wept when we remembred thee O Sion See how they hang their heads and they hang their harps by the water-side as if they neither took delight in themselves nor any thing else whilst they are so far from their Native Country So 't is with a creature that is Heaven-born and Heaven-bound he cries and sighs and groans while he is so far from home 2 Cor. 5.4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan being burthened c. And how glad are such when they come near their journeys end See how Paul skips in his desires like the Iron to the Load-stone I desire saith he to be dissolved and to be with Christ Phil. 8. which is best of all And old Simeon falls a singing as if his Deaths-day were his Birth-day Lord now littest thou thy servant depart in peace c. Therefore Examine thy self well what are thy chief Sorrows and what are thy chief Joys Dost thou sorrow most of all for thy distance from Christ and thy heavenly Country Dost thou rejoyce when thou thinkest of drawing near thy journeys end This is a good evidence that thou hast something to shew for Heaven But on the other side if all thy delight is in the World in the flesh-pots of Egypt and the remembrance of thy latter end is bitter to thee and thou art ready to say as an Atheist once I know what I have here Grand Atheist but I know not what I shall have hereafter That 's a shrewd sign thou hast onely thy portion in this life and no faith at all for the Life to come 2. Our Meditations 2 We may know by our Meditations For if we would flatter up our selves that we have heavenly Affections and yet want heavenly Meditations we do but deceive our own hearts and bring our selves into a Fools-Paradise for that 's most certain look where our Affections are there will our Meditations also be we cannot keep our thoughts off from what we love and prize dearly Where our treasure is Mat. 6. there will our heart be also there will our minde be Vbi amat non ubi animat where it
loves not where it lives Is our Meditation therefore and Contemplation in Heaven It s sweet indeed to contemplate the visible part of the Heavens Psal 19.1 For The Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy worke But it is far more sweet to a gracious soul to contemplate the Inside For the starry Vault is but the pavement of Gods house and the Clouds are the dust of his Feet And if there be so much glory without what is there within Oh! how sweet is it to a gracious Soul to look into the Holy of Holies to take a turn with Christ every-day in his Banqueting-house For so is heaven call'd Cant. 2.4 And this is the property of a Soul espoused to Christ by Faith Rev. ult The Spirit and the Bride say Come And if Christ come not to her so soon as she desires she will be sure to go to him at least in her serious thoughts and heavenly Meditations She lays out much of her Soul in Meditation the Meditation of Christ and heaven is very sweet Psal 104 34. She says of heaven as David of Gods Law O how do I love it it is my meditation all the day Psal 119. And this is a good sign we live by Faith in regard of eternal Life But if on the other side we are meer strangers to all heavenly Meditations we can think of the world as if we were possest by the Spirit of the world but seldome or never have a serious thought of heaven It may be we have a thousand thoughts of the world for one serious thought of heaven Doth not this proclaim to Men and Angels whatever we say or profess about Heaven and the Resurrection we believe no such matter 3. We may know it by our Speeches I mean 3. Our Speeches by our outward speeches For Meditation is the speech of the heart by it self by our speeches to others Where there is much of heaven in the heart there will be something of heaven in the tongue Several Countrymen have a several dialect or language and you may know what Country a man belongs to by his speech As the damosel said to Peter Even thy speech bewrayeth thee So a mans speech will bewray him and shew whether he belongs to heaven or earth He that is of the earth speaketh of the earth and he that is of heaven speaketh of heaven Joh. 3.31 When God would shew the sound conversion of the Egyptians to the Faith he saith Five cities in the land of Egypt shall speak the language of Canaan Isa 19.18 that is They shall have heavenly hearts for they shall have heavenly tongues 'T is true a man may learn and counterfeit the language of another country where he hath never dwelt and hath nothing to do in the priviledges of it and there are too many such Beggarly Canting Christians And therefore we are to examine not onely what we speak but from what Fountain and principle we speak Psa 45.1 My heart is inditing a good matter and then My tongue is the pen of a ready writer Pro. 16.23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth So then if we do but observe our selves when we speak out of the abundance of our hearts our speech will certainly bewray what country we belong to Never say therefore that thou livest by Faith in respect of heaven so long as thy speeches are earthly sensual or devillish He that believes he hath a great inheritance in another country he loves to be talking of it and so does a Citizen of Heaven 2 Cor. 4.15 We having the same Spirit of faith according as it is written I believed and therefore have I spoken we also believe and therefore do we speak And however some may indevour to counterfeit the language of Canaan yet there will be one Shibboleth or other that will discover them At the best they are but like mongrel Jews born of outlandish women who had Jews for their Fathers and Ashdodites for their Mothers and therefore they speak a mongrel Language half in the language of Canaan and half in the language of Ashdod Neh. 13.23 24. And so do these one while their mouth is full of Blessing and holy speeches another while they are full of Cursing and Blasphemy and Ribaldry according as their company suits their humour Obj. If you shall say How is this possible Can the same fountain as S. James speaks send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter or salt and fresh Ans I answer No it cannot And therefore onely one of these kinde of speeches springs from the Fountain of the Heart namely Cursing c. Holy speeches are but counterfeit And therefore God abhors such gross and affected mixture in mens speeches and resolves to turn himself to a people of a pure language Zeph. 3.9 And this is that which discovers a Citizen of Heaven when such a speech doth naturally flow from the heart I mean from a principle of renewed nature and so it 's true which Christ speaks By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned Mat. 12.37 4. Our Actions 4. We may know it by our Actions and Conversation Our Meditations our Words may speak much but our Actions speak more He that hath something to shew for Heaven within himself hath something also to shew without himself 'T is not a dark Lanthorn that conveys a man to heaven Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine c. that men may see your good works and glorifie your Father which is in heaven So that every one that sees such a man may say God is his Father Heaven is his Country Gods people look at themselves as strangers upon earth and therefore they fashion not themselves according to the world but conform themselves according to the manners of their own Country Examine therefore what hope thou hast of a better life for all true hope Joh. 3. is a purifying hope Dost thou as a stranger abstain from fleshly lusts Is thy conversation in Heaven from whence thou expectest the Lord Jesus Christ Phil. 3.20 That 's a good evidence thou art in the way to heaven But if thou canst live in known and gross sins under the Power and Dominion of them I know the best have their failings which they groan under as their burthen but if thou canst wittingly willingly and constantly live under the Power of any reigning lust and yet for all that thou sayest Thou livest by Faith in respect of eternal Life I say Thy Faith is but a Fancy it 's a strong Presumption and therefore a strong Delusion Thou art grosly deceived if thou thinkest to get Heaven or to inherit the Kingdom of God in such a way I deny not but a Fornicator an Adulterer a Drunkard being humbled and so laying hold upon Christ and in the self-same act repenting and forsaking his sin may finde mercy of God and admittance into heaven of his
on the Lords day You cannot have a more lively resemblance of heaven on this side heaven than is a Sabbath sanctified in an heavenly manner It onely differs in degrees of glory and durance for what is heaven but an Eternal Sabbath and what is a Temporal Sabbath but a short a little Heaven Therefore be careful to sanctifie the Sabbath as thou desirest in a lively manner to live by Faith in regard of Life Eternal The great Cloud of Witnesses in Gods manifold blessings temporal and Spiritual upon such as carefully sanctifie the Sabbath and his many remarkable judgements in both kindes upon those that profane it or contemn it doth proclaim a necessity of keeping this Rest as ever we desire by Faith to enter into that other Rest Heb. 4.9 which yet remaineth for the people of God Our delighting to sanctifie Gods Sabbaths on earth gives full assurance to our Faith grounded upon Gods Promise that we shall enter into Gods eternal Rest in Heaven For so runs the Promise Isa 58. last If thou call the Sabbath a delight c. then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth that is in sure and safe places that 's for earthly blessings and I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father that is with a heavenly inheritance For what is the heritage of Jacob but Canaan in the Type and Heaven it self in the Antitype Dost thou desire then to be assured of heaven by Faith if God raise up thy heart to delight in the sanctifying his Sabbath upon right grounds I can assure thee from the mouth of God that heaven is thine Thou shalt certainly be fed with the heritage of Jacob for as it follows in the very next words The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it And so much for Exhortation Vse 5 Vse 5. Of Comfort Comfort from our heavenly life 5. Here is Comfort and Encouragement against the Evils and Temptations of this present Life As our days are few so full of evil and tentation There are tentations on the right hand as well as on the left I mean Temptations of Prosperity as well as of Adversity The best things of this present life prove the worst without Gods special grace preserving the Soul Now living by Faith in respect of Life Eternal is a singular means to preserve the Soul under Temptations of both kindes Against Adversity First under the Tentations of Adversity which lie so sore and heavy upon the poor creature that if its hope were onely in this life it could not but apprehend it self of all creatures most miserable 1 Cor. 15.20 Hear what the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 4.11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling-place and labour working with our hands being reviled we intreat being persecuted we suffer we are made as the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things unto this day This is the common Lot of Gods people in this world and therefore if their hope were onely in this life they were of all men most miserable Yea but the assured hope of a better life bears up their heads and hearts from sinking in the midst of all these waves For thus he that lives by Faith in regard of Eteral Life will reason What though I hunger and thirst here and am pinch'd with famine yet I shall come to such a place where I shall hunger and thirst no more Rev. 7.16 Though I be ragged and naked here I shall be clothed with Robes of Righteousness there Though I am buffeted here yet those marks of the Lord Jesus those scars I received for his Names sake shall appear like so many Stars of Glory Though I labour here even unto faintness and failing of spirits yet I shall rest from all my labours when I come there And though I have no certain dwelling-place or if I have I know not how soon I shall be turned out of doors by my earthly Landlord or by my heavenly Landlord yet there I have a building of God a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 Though here I be reviled and though I be defamed here yet there God shall wipe away all reproach from my name as well as all tears from mine eyes for Psa 1 49. Such honour have all his Saints Though I be persecuted here afflicted and tormented yet I know my sufferings for Christ have not so much abounded in this life but my consolation in Christ shall much more abound in the life to come If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him 2 Tim. 2.12 Though I be here made the filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things yet I know I shall have honour enough there when I shall be glorified in Christ and Christ shall be glorified in me When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe 2 Thess 1.10 Though I am ignorant here and at the best know but in part yet I shall have fulness of knowledge there and shall know as I my self am known Though here I am imperfect in all my graces and in all my duties so that there is more of sin than of grace in every duty yet there I shall never sin against God any more never grieve his Spirit more dishonour his Name more When that which is perfect is come 1 Cor. 13.10 that which is imperfect shall be done away Now what a comfort and encouragement is this in the midst of all our Troubles either of sin or of affliction Here we are sure to drink of a bitter cup Ye shall indeed drink of the cup which I drink of saith Christ but the Meditation and Application of Life Eternal by Faith is a Christians Sugar which is fetcht out of the Canaries of Heaven to sweeten this bitter Cup. Here we are sure of a troublesome Pilgrimage we pass through the valley of Tears but the Meditation and Application of Life Eternal by Faith will be like Elijahâ— Chariot or like Jacobs Ladder in his troublesome journey to Padan-Aram When he slept upon the stone he had a hard Pillow but a sweet Dream whilst God made his Bed he dreamed and behold a Ladder c. And what a refreshing was this to Jacob in his troublesome journey As if the Lord had said to him Jacob thou hast a long journey to go thou must not onely go to the remote parts of the earth but thou must travel as far as heaven how will you ever get thither where will you finde a Ladder long enough and strong enough If all the Ladders in the world were tied together can they reach thither Canst thou rear them up or darest thou venture upon them Shouldst thou joyn together all thy good desires all thy good Prayers and all thy good Works
thy own Works or other mens Works and Merits darest thou venture upon them The Ladder will crack and you must needs fall as low as Hell But lo here 's a Ladder saith God that reaches from Earth to Heaven and that 's Jesus Christ His Humane Nature is upon Earth and his Divine Nature especially manifested in Heaven Eph. 1. in both he reconciles all things in heaven and in earth and makes a passage for lost man to re-enter his heavenly Paradise Now I say the Meditation and Application of this by Faith will be as great a refreshing to us in our troublesome journey to heaven as it was to Jacob in his tedious journey to Padan-Aram It is true indeed no man must look to go to heaven in a feather-bed or in such a broad-way that he may drive a Sumpter-horse before him Mat. 7.13 for straight is the gate anâ narrow is the way that leads to life and few there be that finde it As there is no way to heaven but by Christ so there is no way to heaven but by the Cross Christ and his Cross are inseparable Companions This is the way that Christ himself and all his Saints have gone to heaven before us in and we must not think of a smoother way or of a shorter cut Onely the happiness the joy the glory in the end of our journey are enough if applied by us to bear up our hearts under all the troubles and temptations in the way And so you see how the Life of Heaven 1. Bears up the heart under the Temptation of Adversity 2. It will bear up the heart 2. Under Prosperity and preserve the Soul under Temptations of Prosperity And indeed the Temptations of Prosperity are far more dangerous than the Temptations of Adversity Heaven upon earth destroys more than Hell upon earth 1 Cor. 1. Not many wise not many mighty not many noble or rich are called Mat. 19. O how hardly shall a rich man enter into the kingdom of Heaven But Faith in regard of Eternal Life will preserve the Soul under the Temptations of Prosperity Quest What are the Temptations of Prosperity Ans Luke 12.19 Soul take thine ease eat drink and be merry take up thy rest and thy portion saith the Devil to flesh and blood in these sensual delights O no saith the believing Soul that hath Faith for heaven I 'll never play the childe so much to sell my heavenly Inheritance for a Plum for a Counter for a Rattle for a Trifle there 's none but children will do so Moses made a manly choice A wise mans choice is when he chooses holy sufferings before sinful pleasures Heb. 11. Should I not then choose heavenly pleasures before such as are sinful nay before such as are otherwise lawful Suppose thou hast a goodly House rich Furniture a full Table sweet and faithful Friends whom thou lovest as thine own Soul And now flesh and blood saith as Peter Lord it is good for us to be here Let us not onely make a Tabernacle but a Temple or a Mansion-house that we may not think of removing any more O no saith Faith these are sweet blessings indeed sweet mercies of God but they are not Heaven These are good Inns by the way but they are not Home Home is home be it never so homely much more when it is so rich and glorious as heaven is Therefore saith the believing Soul I cannot suffer my thoughts to rest upon any flowers of Content by the way-side having such a sweet Garden and Paradise of Delight to repose themselves in at the end of the journey And thus Faith for Eternal Life will preserve the Soul under Temptations of Prosperity And thus was Moses preserved whilst he cast an eye of Faith upon the reward and recompence in the heavenly Inheritance he had power to stop his ears against the Egyptian Syrens of worldly delights Vse 6 Vse 6. Of Admiration Admiration Thankfulness for heavenly life 6. Use of Admiration and Thankfulness As we are to rejoyce in hope so also to be thankeful in hope A Christian hath cause to be thankful not onely for mercies past but for mercies to come as Jehosaphat was 2 Chron. 20. who sings Triumph before he had the Victory for Faith makes a believer as sure of the Victory as if he had it already and as sure of heaven as if he had it in present possession Therefore he hath cause to look upon this expression of the goodness of God with Admiration and Thankefulness First with Admiration We have cause to admire the love of God to poor sinners that God should bestow Heaven and Salvation upon such as deserved nothing but Hell and Condemnation It is much that God should receive such as we are into the condition of children St. John admires it 1 Joh 3.1 Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the Sons of God! But this is much more to be admired that God should bestow upon such an Inheritance If we may judge of Love by the Gifts that Love must needs be infinite that bestows such an infinite Reward It was a great expression of love in Ahasuerus to Queen Esther when he said What is thy petition and what is thy request and it shall be granted thee to the half of the Kingdom Esth 7.2 How much greater expression is it of love in God to his people to give them a whole Kingdom and that incorruptible undefiled that fades not away David was much taken with that expression of Gods love to him and his when God said 2 Sam. 7.16 Thy House and thy Kingdom shall be established for ever before thee Thy Throne shall be established for ever Then saith the Text went King David in and sate before the Lord and said Who am I O Lord God and what is my House that thou hast brought me hitherto And this was yet a small thing in thy sight O Lord God But thou hast spoken also of thy servants House for a great while to come And is this the manner of man O Lord God Do men use so freely and bountifully to do good to their Inferiors and to their Enemies Thus he admires the goodness of God to him and his and so may every faithful Soul when he looks upon his present possession of grace he may well say with David Who am I O Lord God and what is my Fathers house that thou hast brought me hitherto First that thou hast done so much for me as thou hast done already But when he looks by the eye of Faith upon his future possession of glory he may well hold up his hands and stand and wonder at the goodness of God to a poor worthless Creature and say How great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for such as fear thee c Psal 31.19 Lord as if the gift of grace were a small thing in thy sight thou hast spoken
of thy Servants glory and happiness for a great while to come even as far as to Eternity And is this the manner of man O Lord God Can any man in the world or all the men in the world if they would lay their heads and hearts and hands together to exalt a poor Creature can they do this Can they redeem their brothers Soul from Hell Ps 49.6 7 8 9. or can they make him happy to Eternity No no they must let this work alone for a God to perform all the world can never do it And therefore admire this unparallell'd expression of Gods goodness to a poor Creature And Secondly be Thankful for it If we be bound to be thankful for the least mercy for the least mercy of this present life how should we be thankful for the greatest gift the gift of Eternal Life Rom. 6. last The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord Therefore be thankful for it And indeed the excellency of it the excellency of Life Eternal should raise up our hearts to thankfulness The excellency of Heaven set out Which excellency appears 1. By the excellent Names and Epithetes that are given to it 2. By the excellent Properties of it 3. By the excellent Price given for it 4. By the excellent Causes of it 5. By the excellent Effects of it 1. By its Names First By the excellent Names and Epithets given to it It is called An Everlasting Kingdom The Kingdom of Heaven A House The Fathers House not made with hands A Mansion The Presence Chamber of God Abrahams Bosom where Gods people are safe as children in their Parents bosom Paradise Luk. 23.24 in comparison of which the Garden of Eden was but a dunghil Lords Joy Matth. 25.21 The New Jerusalem Rev. 21.10 and Gal. 4.16 Jerusalem which is above All the glory of the Old Jerusalem in Solomons Temple was but a Type of this The Immortal Inheritance 1 Pet. 1.4 The glory of God Rest 2 Thess 1.7 Refreshing Acts 3.19 Peace Isa 57.2 And what is more desireable than these things Therefore be thankful for it Secondly 2. By its Properties the excellency appears by the excellent Properties of it For 1. of all the happiness of heaven is most pure Rev. 22 1. It is called A pure river of water of life clear as Chrystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. All earthly Pleasures have their admixtures of the mud of Sin and Misery but this is pure 2. It is most sure and secure because out of the reach of Satan and all enemies Rev. 20.10 The devil that deceived them was cast into the Lake of fire and brimstone where the Beast and the false Prophet are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever In this world the greatest comforts are upon a very uncertain tenure but there all is sure and secure 3. It is most Satisfactory The River of Life must needs quench your thirst Rev. 7.16 They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more there shall be no want of any thing their Souls can desire Psal 17. last 4. All this shall be Eternal When thou hast lived so many thousand years as there are little sands on the shore piles of grass on the ground stars in the Sky thy happiness shall be as new to begin as at thy very first entrance As long as there is a God and a Christ thy life shall last O then be thankful for it Thirdly the excellency appears 3. By its Price by the excellent Price given for it We judge the worth of things by the value Would you not be thankful if one should give you an Inheritance should cost so many hundred thousand pounds but heaven is such an Inheritance that cannot be bought with all the Silver and Gold in the world For neither we nor our inheritance were redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ as of a Lamb undefiled and without spot 1 Pet. 1.18 19. That must needs be a precious Inheritance that cost such a precious price Therefore be thankful for it 4. By its Causes Fourthly the excellency of it appears from the excellent Causes of it As 1. The primary Efficient Cause is God the Father and his free love from all Eternity 2. The Meritorious Cause is Christ his Son 1 Joh. 5.11 And this is the Witness that God hath given us eternal life and this life is in his Son 3. The Instrumental Cause offering and holding forth Eternal Life is the Everlasting Gospel Rom. 1.16 17. The Instrumental Cause receiving is The precious grace of Faith Eph. 2.8 Ye are saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God 4. The Sealing Cause is The Holy Ghost Eph. 1.13 14. In whom c. 5. The Final Cause is Gods Glory and our Glory Gods Glory in glorifying his Servants his Servants Glory in the glorifying of God Whilst they do behold the glory of God they glorifie God to all eternity and are glorified by God Joh. 17.24 Behold my glory and so glorifie God and receive glory from God For in beholding Gods glory we are transformed 2 Cor. 3.18 Therefore Rev. 5.13 Blessing and honour are to him O who would not praise God for such a life Why do you not begin your Heaven upon Earth which will be strong assurance to you that you shall go to Heaven when you die As wicked men begin Hell upon Earth whilst they curse God and blaspheme God and dishonour God by their wicked words and actions So do you begin your Heaven upon Earth in praising God for your living by Faith in regard of Life Eternal 5. By Effects Fifthly the excellency of Life Eternal appears as from the Causes so from the Effects also which are admirable and glorious viz. Man's being made like to the very Angels Matth. 22.30 yea as like to Christ himself as may be As we have been like him in sufferings so like him also in glory He that is willing to conform to Christ in the former shall be made conformable to Christ in the latter Phil. 3. last He shall change our vile bodie that it might be made like his glorious bodie c. And as in Body so in Soul also in the whole man Was Christ a King Priest and Prophet so are they that are Christs Revel 1.6 He hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father What follows Therefore to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen If all Gods Saints have such honour how should they honour Him who thus honours them of his free grace and will honour them to all Eternity If Eternal Life be so excellent a gift as appears by the Epithetes that are given to it by the excellent Properties of it by the excellent Price given for it by the excellent Causes of it and by the
your heart upon them Art thou in a troublous condition and dost not pour out thy Soul to God in Prayer O where is thy faith Hast thou not a plain Word Psal 50.15 Call upon me in the time of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Art thou cast into Poverty or dost thou fear straights for want of Maintenance O where is thy faith Hast thou not a plain Word for it Mat 6.25 31. Take no thought for your life what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink c Or if thou saist How if such a Frind should die or such a Bond be lost Where is thy faith Hast thou not a plain Word Heb 13.5 I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Indeed if thou canst say How if Christ should die or the Covenant fail it were something So 3. in point of Elections there is to be Faith in them 3. Elections Heb. 11.25 Art thou to make choice of the place of thy Habitation and thou with Lot choosest to dwell there where thou maist have many advantages for Worldly riches rather than for Heavenly treasure O where is thy faith Hast thou not a plain Word Psal 27.5 One thing have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek after that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his Temple And again Psal 84. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the Tents of wickedness Art thou to choose a Servant is thy main enquiry to know what skill or ability he hath to do thy Work and thou never enquirest how well he is fitted to do the Work and Service of God O where is thy faith Hast thou not a plain Word Psal 101.6 7. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land that they may dwell with me he that walketh in a perfect way he shall serve me He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight Art thou to choose a Friend and thou enquirest how witty how wealthy how pleasant but never how Religious how faithful Where is thy faith in the mean time Hast thou not a plain Word Prov. 25.19 Confidence in an unfaithful man is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joynt Such a friend will fail thee when thou dost most stand in need of him The more thou leanest upon him the more he will vex thee Art thou to choose a Yoke-fellow thou enquirest what Portion and what Proportion how rich how beautiful but not how good how gracious how rich heaven-ward Where is thy faith Hast thou not a plain Word 2 Cor. 6.14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unblievers for what fellowship hath Righteousness with Vnrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness Digression upon Election of the Town-Magistrates To come home to the Work of this Day Art thou to chuse a Magistrate or Inferior officer Dost thou enquire whether such a man be thy Friend or thy Kinsman or thy Customer or one that hath bespoke thy Voice and dost thou never enquire How just he is and faithful to men or how Religious in his carriage to God O where is thy faith Hast thou not a plain Word Exod. 18.21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the People able men such as fear God men of truth and hating covetousness And hast thou not a gracious Promise Isr 1.26 I will restore thy Judges as at first c. afterward thou shalt be called The City of Righteousness The faithful City O that you would live by Faith in this Word of God in the Work of this Day Do not judge Gods Messengers as busie-bodies in other mens matters whilst they give Magistrates their Charge from God and People their Charge also in the Choice of Magistrates for the Text before-cited will bear us out in both I shall not descend to particulars onely in general Be sure to discharge your Oaths and a good Conscience therein both as Freemen of this Town and as Freemen of Jesus Christ keep to your Charter and you shall not do amiss As I take it you have a Double Charter one from the highest Power upon earth the other from Jesus Christ who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth I suppose the first of your Charters will direct you to chuse honest and just Men in regard of Communicative and Distributive Justice I am sure your second Charter by vertue whereof you are the Freemen of Jesus Christ and of that Jerusalem which is above which is the Mother of us all I am sure this Charter doth charge you as near as you can to chuse men fearing God Religious men such as you apprehend to be really so I know we all profess Religion but all do not walk answerably to their Profession I would there were not some publick Contemners of the Means of grace and such as commonly and ordinarily walk contrary to the Rule of the Gospel You know it is a Gospel-Rule given to us Ministers Preach the Word be instant in season out of season and therefore you might well say Woe be to us if we preach not the Gospel accordingly And surely upon the same ground People are bound to hear in season and out of season in case extraordinary occasions take them not off I need not tell you unless it be in way of acknowledgement the great Charges you are and have been at for a long time in maintaining the Publick Ordinance twice in the Week upon your ordinary days I have heard it hath been one of the most Ancient Lectures in the Kingdom But I fear if you well observe one another in this particular though there are many constant and willing Auditors yet there are some that hear me this day upon this Civil occasion whose faces you saw not here of many days before no I am afraid many a week together For my part I do not see how such as are faithful to their Heavenly Charter and have to do in Election of Officers can shew any countenance to such persons as do usually discountenance and slight the Publick Ordinance If they judge the Ordinance not worthy of their Presence me thinks others should judge them not worthy of Publick Trust I confess for my own particular I have not desired in satifying a curious ear to speak to you in the enticing words of mans wisdome yet I hope I may say with the Apostle I have endevoured to approve my self to every mans conscience in the sight of God I desire to speak nothing but the truth of God in the patern of wholesom words and that word of Faith by which every one of you shall be judged in the latter day And in this case whosoever despiseth the weakest Messenger of Jesus Christ he despiseth Christ himself and whosoever despiseth Christ you know his doom
Converting of thy Soul The life of heaven is nothing else but a life of Thankfulness for this unspeakable mercy God might have rejected us as fire-brands of Hell for ever Quest But how shall I know that I am converted and effectually called that I may be thankful Answ If thou art turned to righteousness thou art turned from sin Act. 26.18 Perfecta contrarietas nullum medium admittit Ob. There is sin in the best Answ True there is sin in the best but not with allowance Observe Sin is cast out of its Throne though not out of the Man in a regenerate person Rom. 6.18 Being made free from sin ye became the servants of righteousness There 's no sin with peaceable possession The strong man armed is cast out Secondly There is a love of and endevour after Righteousness and Holiness 1 Joh. 3.3 Every one that hath this hope purifieth himself even as he is pure We were redeemed Luke 1.75 that we should serve him in holiness and righteousness all our days It is in fieri though not fully perfected Thirdly By resolved reliance upon God Job 13.15 Though he kill me yet will I trust in him at least earnestly desire so to do Fourthly By renouncing all other Confidences He that lays hold on God le ts go all his other holds God hath knock'd off his hands and his heart from other things Psal 44.5 6. Through thee will we push down our enemies through thy Name will we tread them under that rise up against us for I will not trust in my bowe neither shall my sword save me Hos 14.3 Ashur shall not save us we will not ride upon horses neither will we say any more to the work of our hands Ye are our God for in thee the fatherless finde mercy He that turns to God renounceth all other confidence yea even his own Righteousness Rom 10.3 They that establish their own righteousness have not embraced the righteousness of God So they that are turned to Gods Righteousness are turned from their own i.e. from trusting to it in point of Justification Fifthly By the Testimony of Gods Spirit and our own regenerate Spirit Rom. 8.16 For the Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirits that we are the Sons of God at least testifying to us in point of Holiness if not in point of Comfort Sixthly By the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication and Adoption Rom. 8.15 Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father None of Gods children are born tongue-ty'd Seventhly By our Love or working of our love to a threefold object for Gods People partake of Divine Nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and this Divine Nature is discovered in nothing more than in a way of love 1 Joh. 4.16 1. To God and Jesus Christ as our chief portion Psal 119.57 Thou art my portion O Lord I have said that I would keep thy words 1 Pet. 2.7 Vnto you which believe he is precious 2. To the Word of God which was an instrument to beget us to God 1 Pet. 1.23 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible seed by the Word of God 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby 3. to our fellow brethren that are begotten with us as children of the same womb and loyns that have Father and mother the same 1 Joh. 5.1 Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him 1 Joh. 3.14 We knew that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren If we see these marks of our conversion and spiritual cleansing we are commanded as the leper upon the like discovery of their cleansing to present our offering of praise as a testimony of our unfeigned thankfulness If he hath cause to be thankful that receives a change from sickness to health Mat. 8.4 from poverty to riches how much more is he bound to be thankful that is changed from sin to righteousness and from death to life Secondly not only so 2. Thankf If we have bin instruments of others conversion but we should be very thankful also if God hath made us instruments of others conversion for they that turn men unto Righteousness c. Is the work such an excellent work that the angels admire it And is the reward such an excellent reward that the very lustre of the heavens is little enough to resemble it How should we then be thankful if God hath made us instruments of others conversion If God hath blest our Admonitions Exhortations Examples Prayers as private men Especially Ministers Or if God hath blest any of our indeavours in the publick ministry to that happy end 1. We should be thankful that God hath let us in such a calling We deserved not to be so much as door-keepers in his house 2. Thankful that Christ hath in any measure gifted us for the discharge of our calling for t' was he that did ascend to give gifts unto men Eph. 4.12 3. Thinkful especially that God doth bless our endeavours in the exercise of those gifts to the conversion of souls for how many men of great gifts and parts do fish all night and all day too yea many dayes and years and catch nothing though they cast out the net of the word many thousand times Therefore be thankful that God should vouchsafe to imploy any of us in so honorable work and service who deserved not to wash the feet of his servants That God should crown our poor weak indeavours with the conversion of souls If God hath so honoured us Give God in Christ the honour of conversion let us put the honour back upon him yet not we but Jesus Christ may be admired among the people As they said of their bodily cure Act. 3.12 So should we of the conversion of a soul Why look ye so earnestly on us as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk No The God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob hath glorified his son Jesus Christ and his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong whom ye see and know Yea the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all Ministers are but Trumpets Alas we are but trumpets Isai 58.1 Lift up thy voice like a trumpet and therefore if God breath not in us we are as dead as others are neither can we raise others from the dead T is true indeed the dead shall be raised in the last day by the sound of the trumpet but not by the power of the trumpet it self but by the power of him that ordained it So those that are dead in sin shall be raised in the mean time by the trumpet of the gospel but not by the power of the gospel it self or of the publisher of it but by the power of that God who appointed the foolishness of preaching for the
conversion of souls 1 Cor. 3.5 6. Who is Paul and who is Apollo but the ministers bâ—y whom ye believe Paul may plant and Apollo may water but it is God along that giveth the increase If God therefore be the strength of his servants in the conversion of souls there is good reason he should be their Praise we have cause to bless God if any rise up and call us blessed we might have been so far left to partake in other mens sins that others might have risen up and called us cursed Vse 7 Therefore let God have all the glory if any of us have been made instruments of the conversion of any Thus Paul 1 Tim. 1.12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath inabled me for that he hath counted me faithful putting me into the ministry Of comforts to them that are Instruments of others Conversion Vse 7. Of Comfort Comfort to those that are instruments of others conversion in the midst of all discomforts they meet withall from the world for to that end as we told you in the beginning is this argument brought Be it so that those that perform this Spiritual piece of service for God and the Church in the conversion of Souls do meet with more than ordinary opposition and contempt from the world yet let this be their comfort their reward and encouragement from God is more than ordinary What if stones fly about Stevens ears upon earth so long as heaven is opened to him and he can see the glory of God Acts 7.56 and Jesus standing at the right hand of God this makes amends for all And truly this Text is as the opening of Heaven to those that labour in the conversion of Souls It may be the lot of such to be made with the Apostles the very filth of the world and the off-scouring of all things 1 Cor. 4.13 But what of that the more they suffer the more they shall be glorified The adversaries Reproaches shall be turned into Crowns of Glory and therefore they may say with Job 31.31 If mine adversary should write a book against me yet would I take it and binde it as a Crown upon my head This therefore I say may be matter of comfort against all that discomfort which the Ministers of God meet withall I plead not for all that are called by that Name who wear a garment or a name to deceive who prophecy of wine and strong drink who seek themselves and seek the fleece more than the good of the flock Let such bear their own burthen But I speak of such as are faithful and seek the things of Jesus Christ Let wicked men spit out their gall and spleen against Gods faithful Messengers Let them rail and revile and cast dirt upon their faces c. God himself shall undertake to wipe away all reproaches and all their tears when shame everlasting shame shall cover their adversaries Then they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever THE EPILOGUE OR A Pathetical Conclusion of the whole Work THus you see how such as live by Faith themselves should labour to convert others to the Faith And thus have we done through Gods grace assisting with this whole Subject of Faith I have now but two Requests to make unto you by way of Conclusion the one is that I may obtain the help of your Prayers that I may be enabled from God to hold forth by Pattern what I have so long held forth by Precept in the Life of Faith whatever Trials should come And the other is That you would be perswaded to follow after in walking according to the Rule that hath been set before you That what hath been spoken may be prest and imprinted upon your hearts by the Spirit of the living God You have heard much of Faith in my Reverend Predecessors time as appeareth by what is left upon Record and God hath directed me to strike upon the same Nail I may say as many years together as I intended days at the first But he that multiplied the barley loaves and the broken meat was pleased in the dividing and distributing of this Subject of Faith to multiply my Meditations far beyond my first intentions I heartily desire this 〈◊〉 be the fruit of my poor labours That when I have done preaching of this Subject you may so begin and continue to practise what hath been taught that your life may be a living by Faith and a perpetual Commentary upon the Text. And Oh that I could perswade you to live this Life of Faith before you lay down this Life of Nature or else you die and die for ever And do not say thus within your selves I 'll do it the next Year Moneth Day How many Scores yea hundreds have been cut off by Death since we began to speak of this Life of Faith And it may be many of them thought themselves as likely to live as any of us and it may be they were so indeed in the course of Nature But remember our Times are in Gods hands and not in our own And therefore let us put our hearts into his hands also that he may fit us for our times how long or how short soever our lives may prove Some have said I have been too long upon this matter of Faith but I confess they were some such as heard me not and therefore I do the less respect what they say because they speak evil of the things they heard not and therefore of the things they know not It hath been some encouragement and an Argument of Blessing that such as were usual hearers have not been tired out as hath appeared by these days assemblies compared with the other Lecture-day But I beseech you be you Believers and doers of this word and not hearers onely deceiving your own selves Jam. 1. Else I shall have cause to complain I have not stood long enough upon this Subject For that is never sufficiently taught that is not sufficiently learnt and put in practise My hearts desire and Prayer to God for Ipswich is That as they have heard much of Faith so they might live by it as much that whilst our Neighbors look upon us and mark our steps they may not see in this Town here a company living by Sense and there another living by Wits Shifts and Projects and a third living upon their Lusts and a fourth upon their unrighteous Mammon and a fifth upon their Self-righteousness and so the rest But we might so generally live by Faith through the grace of God that I might have cause to glory of you as the Apostle doth of the Romans Chap. 1.8 I thank my God through Jesus Christ that your Faith is spoken of in all places However in the mean time I bless God that I have found some fruits of my weak endevours in helping any to set their faces Sion-ward who have
who laboured in the Lord Salute the beloved Perfis who laboured much in the Lord. And their Crown in heaven Mat. 25.21 'T is said to him that had receiv'd and gain'd five Talents Well done thou good and faithful Servant I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. They shall have the comfort of it to all eternity that have been active stirring for God in their little time upon earth There is a blessing upon him that loves the Lord with all his strength Ier. 48.10 and a curse upon him that doth the work of the Lord negligently that puts not forth that strength which God hath given him but quencheth the Spirit Such a man loyters and loses his time whereas the other redeems time and we had all need redeem the time considering how much we have lost already Ioh. 9. and how little there is behind The Sun is going down and the night is coming when no man can work Mot. 4 Satan hath great advantage of a dead-hearted Christian for he is like a man half asleep in a secure condition he may soon be deceiv'd as Samson was Judg. 16.19 It was the field of the sluggard not of the watchful and active man that was all overgrown with thorns and nettles Prov. 24.30 What are those thorns and nettles but those extravagant wayes of sin which though they seem to be smooth and pleasing at the first springing up as thorns and nettles are yet at the last they prove more dangerous and prick like a thorn and sting like a nettle And therefore that we may not be overcome of these Spiritual Philistines we should like Samson rowse up our selves with all our might to live by Faith this Life of Vivification Mot. 5 Rev. 12.12 Times call for Activeness They are laborious times and dangerous times with the Church Satan was never more active because his time is short His instruments never more active compassing Sea and Land to gain one Proselyte The Churche never more distressed and standing in need of our help Germany Ireland Scotland England all stretch out their hands for help As in Harvest time every one is with his sickle in his hand See Rev. 14.15 And in Building-time like as in Nehemiah's dayes Neh 4.17 every one with one of his hands wrought in the work and with the other held a weapon It was a shame for the Disciples to sleep when Christ was in the midst of his Agony and a shame for Christians to be dead-hearted when the Church is in her Agony When Zion cries For the Lords sake and the Lord cries for Zions sake You that are the Lords remembrancers give him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth Isa 62.1 7. The times therefore call for activeness which springs from this Life of Vivification Mot. 6 'T is the nature of true Grace to be more and more active if it be supernaturally natural All natural motion is in fine velocior swiftest near the end whereas things moved by violence are slower We throw a stone up with difficulty but it drops down of it self The true Christians they go from strength to strength Psal 84.7 As it is said of Time Senescit non Tardescit So may it be said of a gracious person Though he grows more old yet not more slow but brings forth more fruit in old age Psal 92. Mot. 7 Note It is so if we yield to deadness Dead-hearted service is a vain service and so a taking of Gods Name in vain against the Third Commandment That is vain which is not accepted and so attains not it's end Isa 29.13 this people draw near me with their mouth and honour me with their lips but have removed their heart far from me c. which our Saviour interprets Mat. 15.9 In vain do they worship me Religion is a part of Gods Name and must be used with zeal Rev. 3.15 I would thou wert hot or cold We are commanded to serve God with all our might Mot. 8 The coldness of the Times should make us active as men in cold seasons are most active to get themselves into heat These are cold times for the Soul as well as for the Body The Charity of many waxeth cold as Christ foretold and so do other Graces Men are hot for the Disputes of Faith and very cold in the Life of Faith Therefore we should be the more active to keep our heat It was cold weather it seems when Peter warm'd himself among the Servants at the fire in the High-Priests hall But he went to the wrong fire and to the wrong company he should have gone to Gods fire and indeed Gods people use to do so in cold times Others coldness makes them the hotter and others deadness makes them the quicker as contraries quicken one another by an Antiperistasis It is time for thee to arise sayes David Psal 119.126 because they have made void thy law Then addes in the next verse Therefore I love thy Commandments above gold Therefore the coldness of the times should make us active not cool and lazy Fenner These are the Motives We come now to the Means of Quickning The first and chiefest of all Means of Quickning 1. Influence of Christ is to get into the Sun-shine of Jesus Christ You know poor Bees and other Flies if they can creep into the Sun it quickens them and puts a new life into them So the Chickens that hang the wing get under the warmth of the Hen. The nearer we press to Jesus Christ by Faith the more spiritual life and heat He is the Sun of Righteousness that arises with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 The beams of his grace revive the drooping Soul as she said Joh. 11. If thou hadst been here my brother had not died but I know thou art able to raise him up again So may a Christian say If thou hadst been here my Soul had not died not been in this dead and sad condition but thou canst quicken it again Faith draws quickning vertue from Jesus Christ as we heard before in the Reason 2. Ordinances The second Means are quickning Ordinances which are as beams from the Sun One of these Ordinances is a quickning Ministery this puts life into the Soul The Word of God is compared to fire 1. Word and therefore John Baptist is said to be a burning and shining light Joh. 5.35 A shining light so he taught the people A burning light so he quickned Did not our hearts burn within us said the two Disciples going to Emmaus Luke 24.32 while he talked with us and opened to us the Scriptures The Ministers lips are as fire Peoples hearts as tinder Elisha liv'd in a dead time and therefore he praid for a double measure of the Spirit of Elijah which was an active powerful Spirit that he might quicken the people If the Ministers lips be touched with a Coal