bury our Talents but trade them this is to put out our mercies to Use a gracious heart is like a peece of good ground that having received the seed of mercy thrusts forth a crop of obedience 6 Then wee are rightly thankful when we can have our hearts more enlarged for spiritual mercies than for temporal Eph. 1. 3. Blessed be God who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings A godly man blesseth God more for a fruitful heart than a full crop hee is more thankful for Christ than for a Kingdome Socrates was wont to say hee loved the Kings smile more than his gold a pious heart is more thankful for a smile of Gods face than hee would bee for the gold of the Indies 7 Then wee are rightly thankful when mercy is a wheâ— to duty it causeth a spirit of activity for God Mercy is not as the Sun to the fire to dull it but as oyl to the wheele to make it run faster David wisely argues from mercy to duty Psal. 116. 8 9. Thou hast delivered my Soul from death I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living It was a saying of Bernard Lord I have two Mites a soul and a body and I give them both to thee 8 Then wee are rightly thankful when we excite others to this Angelical work of praise David would not only bless God himself but calls upon others to do so Praise ye the Lord Psalm 111. 1. That is the sweetest musick which is in consort when many Saints joyn together in consort then they make heaven ring of their praises as one drunkard will bee calling upon another so in an holy sense one Christian must bee stirring up another to the work of thankfulness 9 Then we are rightly thankful when we do not only speak Gods praise but live his praise It is called gratiarum actio then wee give thanks when wee live thanks such as are mirrours of mercy should be patterns of piety Obad. 17. Upon Mount Sion shall be deliverance and there shall be holiness To give God orall praise and dishonour him in our lives is to commit a barbarism in religion and is to be like those Iews who bowed the knee to Christ and then did spit upon him Mark 15. 19. 10 Then wee are rightly thankful when wee do propagate Gods praises to posterity we tell our children what God hath done for us in such a want hee supplyed us in such a sickness he raised us in such a temptation he succoured us Psa. 44. 1. O God our Fathers have told us what work thou didst in their daies in the time of old By transmitting our experiences to our Children Gods name is eternized and his mercies will bring forth a plentiful crop of praise when wee are gone He man puts the question Psal. 88. 10. Shall the dead praise thee Yes in this sense when we are dead we praise God because having left the Chronicle of Gods mercies with our Children we put them upon thankfulness and so make Gods praises live when we are dead dumque aurea voluet astra polus Memori semper celebrabunt cantu Use 3 Let us evidence our godliness by gratefulness Psa. 29. 2. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name 1 It is a good thing to be thankful Psal 147. 1. It is good to sing praises to our God 'T is ill when the tongue that Organ of praise is out of tune and doth jar by murmuring and discontent but it is a good thing to be thankful it is good because this is all the creature can do to lift up Gods name and it is good because it tends to the making us good the more thankful we are the more holy while wee pay this tribute of praise our stock of grace increseth in other debts the more we pay the less wee have but the more wee pay this debt of thankfulness the more grace wee have 2 Thankfulness is the quit-rent wee owe to God Psa. 148. 11 13. King of the earth and all people let them praise the name of the Lord Praise is the tribute or custome to bee paid into the King of heavens Exchequor Surely while God renews our Lease we must renew our rent 3 The great cause we have to be thankful 't is a principle grafted in nature to be thankful for benefits The Heathens praised Iupiter for their victories What full clusters of mercies hang upon us when we go to enumerate Gods mercies we must with David confess our selves to bee nonplussed Psal. 40. 5. Many O Lord my God are thy wonderful works which thou hast done they cannot be reckoned up in Order And as Gods mercies are past numbring so they are past measuring David takes the longest measuring line hee could get hee measures from earth to the clouds nay above the clouds yet this measure would not reach the heighth of Gods mercies Psal. 108. 4. Thy mercy is great above the heavens O how hath God enriched us with his silver showers a whole constellation of mercies hath shined in our Hemisphere 1 What Temporal favours have wee received every day wee see a new tide of mercy coming in the wings of mercy have covered us the breast of mercy hath fed us Gen. 48. 15. The God which hath fed mee all my life long to this day What snares laid for us have been broken what fears blown over the Lord hath made our bed when he hath made others grave he hath taken such care of us as if he had none else to take care for never was the cloud of providence so black but we might see a Rainbow of Love in the cloud we have been made to swim in a sea of mercy and doth not all this call for thankfulness 2 That which may put a string more into the instrument of our praise and make it sound louder is to consider what spiritual blessings God hath conferred upon us he hath given us of the upper-springs he hath opened the Wardrobe of Heaven and fetched us out a better garment than any of the Angels wear he hath given us the best robe and put upon us the Ring of faith whereby wee are married to him These are mercies of the first magnitude which deserve to have an Asterist put upon them and God keeps the best Wine till last here hee gives us mercies but by retail the greatest things are laid up here are some Hony drops and fore-tastes of Gods love the Rivers of pleasure are reserved for Paradise well may we take the harp and viol and triumph in Gods praise who can tread upon these hot coals of Gods love and his heart not burn in thankfulness 4 Thankfulness is the best policy there is nothing lost by it to bee thankful for one mercy is the way to have more 't is like powring water into a Pump which fetcheth out more Musicians love to sound their trumpets where there is the best Eccho and
our eyes shall indeed be opened to see God The third promise is Rev. 2. 17. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden Manna and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it This Promise consists of three branches 1 I will give to eat of the hidden Manna This is mysterious it signifies the love of God which is Manna for its sweetness and hidden for its rarity 2 I will give him a white stone that is absolution it may be called a precious stone saith Hierom. 3 And in the stone a new name That is Adoption he shall be reputed an Heir of Heaven and no man can know it saving he who hath the privy seal of the spirit to assure him of it The fourth promise is Rev. 3. 5. he that overcometh the same shall bee cloathed in white raiment and I will not blot his name out of the book of life but I will confess his name before my Father and before his Angels The persevering Saint shall bee cloathed in White This is an Emblem of joy Eccles. 9. 8. He shall put off his mourning and be cloathed in the white robe of glory and I will not blot his name out of the book of life God will blot a Believers sins out but he will not blot his name out the Book of Gods Decree hath no Errataes in it But I will confess his Name he who hath owned Christ on earth and worn his colours when it was death to wear them Christ will not bee ashamed of him but will confess his Name before his Father and the holy Angels Oh what a comfort and honor will it be to have a good look from Christ at the last day nay to have Christ own us by Name and say these were they who stood up for my truth and kept their garments pure in a defiling age These shall walk with mee in white for they are worthy The fifth promise is Rev. 3. 12. Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall goe no more out and I will write upon him the Name of my God and the Name of the City of my God Here are many excellent things couched in this Promise I will make him a Pillar in the Temple of my God The Hypocrite is calamus a Reed shaken with the wind but the conquering Saint shall be columna a glorious Pillar a Pillar for strength and a Pillar in the Temple for sanctity and he shall go no more out I understand this of a glorified state Hee shall go no more out that is after he hath overcome hee shall go no more out to the Wars hee shall never have sin or temptation more to conflict with no more noyse of Drum or Cannon shall bee heard but the Believer having won the field hee shall now stay at home and divide the spoil And I will write upon him the Name of my God That is he shall bee openly acknowledged for my Childe as the Son bears his Fathers Name How honourable must that Saint bee who hath Gods own Name written upon him And I will write upon him the Name of the City of my God That is he shall be enrolled as a Denison or Citizen of the Ierusalem above hee shall bee made free of the Angelical society The sixth promise is Rev. 2. 26. He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the nations this may have a double mystery either it may be understood of the Saints dwelling upon earth they shall have power over the nations their zeal and patience shall over-power the adversaries of truth Act. 6. 10. or principally it may be understood of the Saints triumphing in heaven they shall have power â—ver the nations they shall share with Christ in some of his power they shall joyn with him in judging the world at the last day 1 Cor. 6. 2. Know ye not that the Saints shall judge the world The seventh promise is Rev. 3. 21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me upon my throne 1 Here is first the Saints dignity they shall sit upon the throne 2 Their safety they shall sit with Christ Christ holds them fast and none shall pluck them out of his throne the Saints may be turned out of their houses but they cannot be turned out of Christs throne men may as well pluck a star out of the sky as a Saint out of the throne The eighth promise is Rev. 2. 28. I will give him the morning-starre Though the Saints may be sullied with reproach in this life they may be termed factious and disloyal St. Paul himself suffered trouble in the opinion of some as an evil doer 2 Tim. 2. 9. yet God will bring forth the Saints righteousness as the light and they shall shine as the Morning-star which is brighter then the rest I will give him the morning-star This morning star is meant of Christ as if Christ had said I will give the persevering Saint some of my beauty I will put some of my splendid raies upon him he shall have the next degree of glory to me as the mornning Star is next the Sun O what soul-ravishing promises are here who would not persevere in godliness he that is not wrought upon by these promises is either a stone or a bruite CHAP. X. The third Vse referring to the Godly Use 3. LEt me in the next place direct my self to those who have a real work of godliness upon their hearts and I would speak to them by way of 1 Caution 2 Counsel 3 Comfort 1 By way of Caution that they do not blur these Characters of grace in their souls though Gods children cannot quite deface their graces yet they may disfigure them too much carnal liberty may weaken their evidences and so dim their lustre that they cannot bee read These Characters of the godly are precious things the gold and christal cannot be compared with them O keep them fair written in your hearts and they will be so many living comforts in a dying hour it will not affright a Christian to have all the signs of death in his body when he can see all the signs of grace in his soul he will say as Simeon Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace 2 By way of Counsel you who are inriched with the treasures of godliness bless God for it This flower doth not grow in natures garden when you had listed your selves under the Devil and taken pay on his side fighting against your own happiness that then God should come with converting grace and put forth a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a loving and gentle violence causing you to espouse his quarrel against Satan when you had lain many years soaking in wickedness as if you had been par-boild for Hell that then God should lay you
good ignorant persons cannot give God a reasonable service Rom. 12. 1. 'T is sad that after the Sun of Righteousness hath shined so long in our Hemisphere yet that persons should be under the power of ignorance Perhaps in the things of the world they are knowing enough none shall out reach them but in the things of God they have no knowledge Nahash would make a Covenant with Israel that he might put out their right eyes 1 Sam. 11. 1. The Devil hath left men their left eye knowledge in secular matters but he hath put out their right eye they understand not the Mystery of Godliness it may be said of them as of the Jews To this day the vail is upon their heart 2 Cor. 3. 15. Many Christians are no better than baptized Heathens What a shame is it to be without knowledge 1 Cor. 15. 34. Some have not the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame Men think it a shame to be ignorant in their Trade but no shame to be ignorant of God there 's no going to Heaven blindfold Isa. 27. 11. It is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them Surely ignorance in these daies is affected 't is one thing nescire another thing nolle scire 't is one thing not to know another thing not to be willing to know Iohn 3. 19. They loved darkness rather than light 'T is the Owle loves the dark Sinners are like the Athlantes a people in Aethiopia which curse the Sun Wicked men shut their eyes wilfully Mat. 13. 15. and God shuts them judicially Isa. 6. 10. 2. Are they godly who though they have knowledge yet they know not as they ought to know they know not God experimentally How many knowing persons are ignorant they have Illumination but not Sanctification their knowledge hath not a powerful influence upon them to make them better If you set up an hundred Torches in a garden they will not make the flowers grow but the Sun is influential Many are so far from being better for their knowledge that they are worse Isa. 47. 10. Thy knowledge hath perverted thee the knowledge of most makes them more cunning in sin these have little cause to glory in their knowledge Absalom might boast of the hair of his head but that hanged him so these may boast of the knowledge of their head but it will destroy them 3. Are they godly who though they have some glimmering of knowledge yet no fiducial applying of Christ Many of the Old World knew there was an Ark but were drowned because they did not get into the Ark Knowledge which is not applying will but light a man to hell it were better to live an Indian than to die an Infidel under the Gospel Christ not believed in is terrible Moses Rod when it was in his hand did a great deal of good it wrought Miracles but when it was out of his hand it became a Serpent So Christ when laid hold on by the hand of Faith is full of comfort but not laid hold on will prove a Serpent to sting Use 2. As we would evidence our selves godly let us labour for this good knowledge of the Lord What pains will men take for the atchievement of Natural Knowledge I have read of one Benchorat who spent forty years in finding out the motion of the Eighth Sphere what pains then should we take in finding out the knowledge of God in Christ There must be digging and searching for it as one would search for a vein of silver Pro. 2. 3. If thou seekest her as silver Et pluteum coedit dimorsos sapit ungues This is the best knowledge it doth as far surpass all other as the Diamond doth the Christal no Jewel we wear doth so adorn us as this Pro. 3. 15. She is more precious than Rubies Iob 28. 12 13. Man knows not the price thereof the depth saith it is not in me it cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir with the precious Onyx or the Saphire The dark Chaos was a fit Embleme of an ignorant Soul Gen. 1. 2. but when God lights up the Lamp of Knowledge in the mind what a new Creation is there How doth the Soul sparkle as the Sun in its glory This knowledge is comfortable we may say of the Knowledge of Nature as Solomon Eccles. 1. 18. He that encreaseth knowledge encreaseth sorrow The knowledge of Arts and Sciences is gathering of straw but the knowledge of God in Christ is gathering of Pearl This Knowledge ushers in Salvation 1 Tim. 2. 4. Quest. But how shall we get this Saving Knowledge Answ. Not by the power of Nature Some speak of Reason well improved how far it will go but alas the plumb-line of Reason is too short to fathom the deep things of God A man can no more by the power of Reason reach the Saving Knowledge of God than a Pigmy can reach the Pyramides The Light of Nature will no more help us to see Christ than the light of a Candle will help us to understand 1 Cor. 2. 14. The natural man receives not the things of God neither can he know them What shall we do then to know God in a Soul-saving manner I answer let us implore the help of Gods Spirit Paul never saw himself blind till a light shined from heaven Act. 9. 3. God must anoint our eyes ere we can see What needed Christ have bid Laodicea to come to him for eye-salve if she could see before Revel 3. 18. Oh! let us beg the Spirit which is a Spirit of Revelation Eph. 1. 17. Saving Knowledge is not by speculation but by inspiration Iob 32. 8 The inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding Narrat Cassianus de Theodoro quodam qui notitia Scripturarum praeclare emicuit quam ei non tam studium lectionis contulerat quà m Spiritus Sancti Gratia siquidèm vix ipsius Graecae Linguae perpauca verba vel intelligere poterat vel proloqui quae Sancti Patris Oratio inquit Acosta non eò pertinere putanda est ut studium humanum floccipendamus sed ut hoc nobis eluoeat Divini Spiritus dono interdùm fieri ut homo plura de Sacris Scripturis Saluificè intelligat vel nuda lectione quam magna vallatus copia commentariorum alioqui assequi possit We may have excellent notions in Divinity but the Holy Ghost must inable us to know them after a spiritual manner A man may see the Figures upon a Dial but he cannot tell how the day goes unless the Sun shine We may read many Truths in the Bible but we cannot know them savingly till Gods Spirit doth shine upon us 1 Cor. 2. 10. The Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God The Scripture discovers Christ to us but the Spirit reveals Christ in us Gal. 1. 16. The Spirit makes known that which all the world cannot do namely the
sense of Gods love Use 3. You who have this saluifical sanctifying knowledge flourishing in you bless God for it this is the Heavenly Anointing the most excellent objects cannot be seen in the dark but when the light appears then every flower shines in its Native beauty So while men are in the midnight of a natural estate the Beauty of Holiness is hid from them but when the light of the Spirit comes in a saving manner then those truths they slighted before appear in that glorious lustre as transports them with wonder and love Bless God ye Saints that he hath taken off your Spiritual Cataract and hath given you to discern those things which by Natures Spectacles you could never see How thankful was Christ to his Father for this Mat. 11. 25. I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and Earth that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes How should you admire Free-grace that God hath not only brought the light to you but given you eyes to see it that he hath inabled you to know the truth as it is in Iesus Ephes. 4. 21. That he hath opened not only the eye of your understanding but the eye of your Conscience This is a mercy you can never be enough thankful for that God hath so enlightned you that you should not sleep the sleep of death SECT II. 2. The godly man is a man acted by Faith as gold is the most precious among the metals so is Faith among the Graces Faith cuts us off from the wild Olive of Nature and inoculates us into Christ Faith is the vital artery of the Soul Hab. 2. 4. The just shall live by his Faith Such as are destitute of Faith though they breathe yet they want life Faith is the quickner of the Graces not a Grace stirs till Faith sets it awork Faith is to the soul as the animal spirits are to the body they excite lively operations in the body Faith excites Repentance it is like the fire to the Still which makes it drop When I believe Gods love to me this makes me weep that I should sin against so good a God Faith is the Mother of Hope first we believe the Promise then we hope for it Faith is the Oyl which feeds the Lamp of Hope Faith and Hope are two Turtle-graces take away one and the other languisheth If the sinews be cut the body is lame if this sinew of Faith be cut Hope is lame Faith is the ground of Patience He who believes God is his God and all Providences work for his good doth patiently yield up himself to the Will of God thus Faith is a living Principle And the life of a Saint is nothing else but a life of Faith his prayer is the breathing of Faith Iam. 5. 15. His obedience is the result of Faith Rom. 16. 26. A godly man by Faith lives in Christ as the beam lives in the Sun Gal. 2. 20. I live yet not I but Christ lives in me A Christian by the power of Faith sees above Reason trades above the Moon by Faith his heart is finely quieted he trusts himself and all his affairs with God As in a time of War men get into a Garrison and trust themselves and their treasure there So the Name of the Lord is a strong Tower Pro. 18. 10. and a Believer trusts all that ever he is worth in this Garrison 2 Tim. 1. 12. I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day God trusted Paul with his Gospel and Paul trusted God with his Soul Faith is a Catholicon or remedy against all troubles it is a godly mans sheat-anchor that he casts out into the Sea of Gods mercy and is kept from sinking in despair Si modo firma fides nulla ruina nocet Use. Let us try our selves by this Character Alas how far are they from being godly that are destitute of Faith such as are altogether drowned in Sense Most men are spiritually purblind they can see but just before them 2 Pet. 1. 9. I have read of a people of India who are born with one eye such are they who are born with the eye of Reason but want the eye of Faith who because they do not see God with bodily eyes they do not believe a God they may as well not believe they have Souls because being Spirits they cannot be seen O where is he who lives in Excelsis who is gotten into the upper Region and sees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things not seen Heb. 11. 27. Did men live by Faith would they use sinful policy for a livelihood Were there Faith would there be so much fraud Did Faith live would men like dead fish swim down the stream In this Age there is scarce so much Faith to be found among men as there is among the Devils for they believe and tremble It was a grave and serious speech of Mr. Greenham that he feared not Papisme but Atheisme would be Englands ruine But I shall not expatiate having been more large upon this Head in another discourse SECT III. 3. A godly man is fired with love to God Psalm 116. 1. Faith and Love are the two Poles on which all Religion turns A true Saint is carried in that Chariot the midst whereof is paved with love Cant. 3. 10. As Faith doth quicken so love doth sweeten every duty The Sun mellows the fruit so love mellows the services of Religion and makes them come off with a better relish A godly man is sick of love Ioh. 21. 16. Lord thou knowest I love thee Though dear Saviour I did deny thee yet it was for want of strength not for want of love God is the Fountain and Quintessence of goodness his beauty and sweetness lay constraints of love upon a gracious heart God is the Saints portion Psalm 119. 57. And what more loved then a portion I would hate my own Soul saith Austin if I found it not loving 〈◊〉 A godly man loves God therefore delight to be in his presence he loves God therefore takes comfort in nothing without him Cant. 3. 3. Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth Lilia nigra videntur Pallentesque rosae nec dulce rubens hyacinthus Nullos nèc myrtus nec laurus spirat odores The pious Soul loves God therefore thirsts after him the more he hath of God the more still he desires a sip of the Wine of the Spirit provokes the appetite after more The Soul loves God therefore rejoyceth to think of his appearing 2 Tim. 4. 8. He loves him therefore longs to be with him Christ was in Pauls heart and Paul would be in Christs bosome Phil. 1. 23. When the Soul is once like God it would fain be with God A gracious heart cries out O that I had wings that I might flie away and be
to purifie it and make it holy 2. Holiness is that alone which God is delighted with Tamerlain being presented with a pot of gold asked whether the gold had his Fathers stamp upon it But when he saw it had the Roman stamp he rejected it Holiness is Gods stamp and impress if he doth not see this stamp upon us he will not own us 3. Holiness fits us for communion with God communion with God is a paradox to the men of the world every one that hangs about the Court doth not speak with the King We may approach to God in duties and as it were hang about the Court of Heaven yet not have communion with God That which keeps up the intercourse with God is holiness the holy heart enjoys much of Gods presence he feels heart-warming and heart-comforting virtue in an Ordinance Where God sees his Likeness there he gives his love SECT V. 5. A godly man is very exact and curious about the Worship of God the Greek word for godly signifies a right Worshipper of God A godly man doth reverence Divine Institutions and is more for the Purity of Worship than the Pomp Mixture in sacred things is like a dash in the wine which though it gives it a colour yet doth but adulterate it The Lord would have Moses make the Tabernacle according to the pattern in the Mount Exod. 25. 40. If Moses had left out any thing in the pattern or added any thing to it it would have been very provoking The Lord hath always given testimonies of his displeasure against such as have corrupted his Worship Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire other than God had sanctified on the Altar and fire went out from the Lord and devoured them Levit. 10. 1. Whatsoever is not of Gods own appointment in his Worship that he looks upon as strange fire and no wonder he is so highly incensed at it for as if God were not wise enough to appoint the manner how he will be served Men will go to prescribe him and as if the rules for his Worship were defective they will attempt to mend the Copy and superadd their inventions A godly man dares not vary from the Pattern which God hath shewn him in the Scripture and probably this might not be the least reason why David was called a man after Gods own heart because he kept the springs of Gods Worship pure and in matters sacred did not super induce any thing of his own devising Use. By this Character we may try our selves whether we are godly Are we tender about the things of God Do we observe that mode of worship which hath the stamp of Divine Authority upon it 'T is of dangerous consequence to make a medley in Religion 1. Those who will add to one part of Gods Worship will be as ready to take away from another Mar. 7. 8. Laying aside the Commandment of God ye hold the Traditions of men They who will bring in a Tradition will in time lay aside a Command This the Papists are highly guilty of they bring in Altars and Crucifixes and lay aside the second Commandment They bring in Oyl and Cream in Baptism and leave out the Cup in the Lords Supper they bring in praying for the dead and lay aside reading the Scriptures intelligibly to the living They who will introduce that into Gods Worship which he hath not commanded will be as ready to blot out that which he hath commanded 2. Those who are for outward commixtures in Gods Worship are usually regardless of the Vitals of Religion living by Faith leading a strict mortified life these things are less minded by them Wasps have their Combs but no honey in them the Religion of many may be likened to those ears which run all into straw 3. Superstition and Prophaness kiss each other Hath it not been known that those who have kneeled at a Pillar have reeled against a Post. 4. Such as are devoted to Superstition are seldome or never converted Mat. 21. 31. Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdome of God before you It was spoken to the Chief Priests who were high Formalists and the reason why such persons are seldom wrought upon savingly is because they have a secret antipathy against the power of godliness the Snake is of a fine colour but it hath a sting so outwardly men may look zealous and devout but retain a sting of hatred in their hearts against goodness Hence it is that they who have been most hot for superstition have been most hot for persecution The Church of Rome wears white linnen an Embleme of Innocency but the Spirit of God paints her out in Scarlet Rev. 17. 4. Whence is this not only because she puts on a scarlet Robe but because her body is of a scarlet die having imbrued her hands in the bloud of the Saints Rev. 17. 6. Let us then as we would demonstrate our selves godly keep close to the rule of Worship and in the things of Iehovah go no further than we can say it is written SECT VI. 6 A godly man is a servant of God and not a servant of men This Character hath two distinct branches I shall speak of both in order 1. A godly man is a servant of God Ezra 5. 11. We are the servants of the God of Heaven Col. 4. 12. Epaphras a servant of Christ. Quest. In what sense is a godly man a servant of God Answ. In seven respects 1. A servant leaves all other and confines himself to one Master so a godly man â—eaves the service of sin and betakes himself â—o the service of God Rom. 6. 22. Sin is a tyrannizing thing a sinner is a slave when he â—ins with most freedome The wages which sin gives may deter us from its service Rom. â— 23. The wages of sin is death Here is â—amnable pay A godly man Lists himself 〈◊〉 Gods Family and is one of his menial serâ—ants Psalm 116. 16. O Lord truly I am thy servant I am thy servant David useth an inâ—emination as if he had said Lord I have â—aken earnest none else can lay claim to me â—â—y ear is bored to thy service 2. A servant is not sui juris at his own â—ispose but at the dispose of his Master A servant must not do what he please but â—e at the will of his Lord. Thus a godly â—an is Gods servant he is wholly at Gods â—ispose he hath no will of his own Thy will 〈◊〉 done on earth Some will say to the godly why cannot you do as others Why will not you drink and swear and prophane the Sabbath as others do The godly are Gods servants they must not do what they will but be under the rules of the Family they must do nothing but what they can show their Masters hand for 3. A servant is bound there are Covenants and Indentures sealed between him and his Master Thus there are
walk in my Statutes The Lord doth not only fit work for us but fit us for our work with his Command he gives power 6. Supplies A Master will not let his servants want Gods servants shall be provided for Psal. 37. 3. Verily thou shalt be fed Doth God give us a Christ and will he deny us a crust Gen. 48. 15. The God who hath fed me all my daies If God doth not give us what we crave he will give us what we need the wicked are fed who are dogs Phil. 3. 2. If a man feeds his dog sure he will feed his servant Oh then who would not be in love with Gods service 3. We are ingaged to serve God we are pretio empti bought with a price 1 Cor. 6. 20. 'T is a Metaphor taken from such as do ransom Captives out of prison by paying a sum of money for them they are to be at the service of them that ransomed them So when the Devil had taken us prisoners Christ ransomed us with a price not of money but bloud therefore we are to be only at his service If any can lay a better claim to us than Christ we may serve them but Christ having the best right to us we are to cleave to him and enroll our selves for ever in his service 2. I pass to the second Branch of this Character A godly man is not the servant of men 1 Cor. 7. 23. Be ye not the servants of men Quest. But is there no service we owe to men Answ. There is a three-fold serving of men 1. There is a Civil service we owe to men as the inferiour to the superiour The servant is a Living Tool as Aristotle saith Eph. 6. 5. Servants obey your Masters 2. There is a Religious serviceâ—we owe to men when we are serviceable to their souls 2 Cor. 4. 5. Your servants for Iesus sake 3. There is a sinfull serving of men this consists in three things 1. When we prefer mens Injunctions before Gods Institutions God commands one thing man commands another God saith sanctifie the Sabbath man saith prophane it When mens Edicts have more force upon us than Gods Precepts this is to be the servants of men 2. When we do voluntarily prostitute our selves to the impure lusts of men we let them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lord it over our Consciences when we are ductill and frameable to any thing either Arminian or Atheist either for the Gospel or the Alchoran when we will be what others will have us just of Issachars temper Gen. 49. 14. Issachar is a strong Ass couching down between two burdens This is not humility but sordidness and it is a serving of men 3. When we are Advocates in a bad Cause pleading for any impious unjustifiable actings when we baptize sin with the Name of Religion and with our Oratory wash the Devils face this is to be the servants of men in these cases a godly person will not so unman himself as to serve men he saith as Paul Gal. 1. 10. If I pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ And as Peter Act. 5. 23. We ought to obey God rather than men Use. How many leagues distant are they from godliness who do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who either for fear of punishment or hope of preferment comply with the sinful commands of men who will put their Conscience into any yoak and sail with any wind that blows profit These are the servants of men they have abjured their Baptismal Vow and renounced the Lord that bought them He who is such a Proteus who can change into any form and bow as low as hell to please men I would say two things to him 1. Thou that hast learned all thy postures who canst cringe and tack about how wilt thou look Christ in the face another day When thou shalt say upon thy death bed Lord look upon thy servant Christ shall disclaim thee and say 〈◊〉 servant No thou didst renounce my service thou wert a servant of men depart from me I know you not What a cooling card will this be at that day 2. What doth a man get by sinfully inslaving himself he gets a blot in his name a curse in his estate an hell in his Conscience nay even those that he basely stoops to will scorn and despise him How did the High-Priests kick off Iudas Mat. 27. 4. Look thou to that That we may not be the servants of men let us abandon fear and advance faith Faith is a world-conquering grace 1 Ioh. 5. 4. It overcomes the worlds musick and fornace it steels a Christian with Divine courage and makes him stand immoveable as a Rock in the midst of the Sea SECT VII 7. A godly man is a Christ-prizer To illustrate this I shall show 1. That Jesus Christ is in himself precious 2. That a godly man esteems him precious 1. That Jesus Christ is in himself precious 1 Pet. 2. 6. Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone elect precious Christ is compared to things most â—recious 1. To a bundle of myrrhe Cant. 1. 13. Myrrhe is very precious it was one of the chief spices whereof the holy anointing Oyl was made Exod 30. 25. 1. Myrrhe is of a perfuming Nature so Christ perfumes our persons and services that they are a sweet odour to God whence is it the Church that heavenly Bride is so perfumed with grace but because Christ that Myrrhe-tree hath dropped upon her 2. Myrrhe is of an exhilarating nature the smell of it doth comfort and refresh the spirits So Christ doth comfort the souls of his people when they are fainting under their sins and sufferings 2. Christ is compared to a Pearl Mat. 13. 46. When he had found one Pearl of great price Christ this Pearl was little in regard of his humility but of infinite value Jesus Christ is a Pearl that God wears in his bosome a Pearl whose lustre drowns the worlds glory a Pearl that enricheth the soul the Angelical part of man a Pearl that enlightens heaven a pearl so precious that it makes us precious to God a Pearl that is cordial and restorative a Pearl more worth than heaven The preciousness of Christ is seen three wayes 1. He is precious in his â—erson he is the picture of his Fathers glory Heb. 1. 3. 2. Christ is precious in his Offices which are several Rays of the Sun of Righteousness 1. Christs Prophetical Office is precious Deut. 18. 15. He is the great Oracle of Heaven he hath a preciousness above all the Prophets which went before him he teacheth not only the ear but the heart He who hath the Key of David in his hand opened the heart of Lydia Act. 16. 14. 2. Christs Priestly Office is precious This is the solid basis of our comfort Heb. 9. 26. Now once hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
himself By virtue of this Sacrifice the soul may go to God with boldness Lord give me heaven Christ hath purchased it for me he hung upon the Cross that I might sit upon the Throne Christs Bloud and Incense are the two hinges on which our Salvation turns 3. Christs Regal Office is precious Rev. 19. 16. He hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords Christ hath a preheminence above all other Kings for Majesty he hath the highest Throne the richest Crown the largest Dominions and the longest possession Heb. 1. 8. Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever Though Christ hath many Assessors Ephes. 2. 6. yet no Successors Christ sets up his Scepter where no other King doth he rules the will and affections his power binds the Conscience The Angels take the oath of Allegiance to him Heb. 1. 6. Christs Kingship is seen in two Royal Acts. 1. In ruling his people 2. In over-ruling his Enemies 1. In ruling his people He rules with Clemency his Regal Rod hath honey at the end of it Christ displays the Ensign of Mercy which makes so many Volunteers run to his Standard Psal. 110. 3. Holiness without Mercy and Justice without Mercy were dreadful but Mercy encourageth poor sinners to trust in him 2. In over-ruling his Enemies He pulls down their pride befools their policy restrains their malice Psalm 76. 10. The remainder of wrath thou shalt restrain Or as it is in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou shalt girdle up That stone cut out of the Moutains without hands which smote the Image Dan. 2. 34. was an Embleme saith Austin of Christs Monarchical power conquering and triumphing over his Enemies 3. Christ is precious in his benefits by Christ all dangers are removed through Christ all mercies are conveyed in his bloud flows Justification Act. 3. 9. Purgation Heb. 9. 14. Fructification Ioh. 1. 16. Pacification Rom. 5. 1. Adoption Gal. 4. 5. Perseverance Heb. 12. 2. Glorification Heb. 9. 12. This will be matter of sublimest joy to Eternity We read that those who had passed over the Sea of Glass stood with their Harps and did sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb Revel 15. 2. So when the Saints of God have passed over the glassie Sea of this world they shall sing Hallelujahs to the Lamb who hath redeemed them from sin and hell and hath translated them into that glorious Paradise where they shall see God for ever and ever 2. The second thing to be illustrated is that every godly man doth set an high value and estimate upon Christ 1 Pet. 2. 7. Unto you therefore who believe he is precious In the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an honour Believers have an honourable esteem of Christ the Psalmist speaks like one captivated with Christs amazing beauty Psalm 73. 25. There is none upon earth that I desire besides thee He did not say he had nothing he had many comforts on earth but he desired none but God as if a wife should say there 's no ones company she prizeth like her husbands How did David prize Christ Psa. 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the children of men The Spouse in the Canticles looked upon Christ as the Coriphoeus the most incomparable one Cant. 5. 10. The chief among ten thousand Christ out-vies all others Cant. 2. 3. As the appletree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sons Christ doth infinitely more excel all the beauties and glories of this visible world than the appletree doth surpass the trees of the wild Forrest So did Paul prize Christ that he made him his chief study 1 Cor. 2. 2. I determined to know nothing among you save Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I judged not any thing else of worth St. Paul did best know Christ 1 Cor. 9. 1. Have I not seen Iesus our Lord He saw him with his bodily eyes in a Vision when he was wrap'd up into the third heaven 2 Cor. 12. 2. and he saw him with the eye of his faith in the blessed Supper therefore he did best know him and behold how he did slight and vili-prize other things in comparison of Christ Phil. 3. 8. I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord. Gain he esteemed loss and gold dung for Christ. Indeed a godly person cannot chuse but set an high valuation upon Christ he sees a fulness of worth in him 1. A fulness in regard of variety Col. 2. 3. In whom are hid all treasures No Country hath all commodities of its own growth but Christ hath all kind of fulness fulness of Merit of Spirit of Love he hath a treasure adequate to all our wants 2. A fulness in regard of degree Christ hath not only a few drops or rays but is more full of goodness than the Sun is of light he hath the fulness of the Godhead Col. 2. 9. 3. A fulness in regard of duration The fulness in the creature like the brooks of Arabia is soon dried up but Christs fulness is inexhaustible 't is a fulness over-flowing and ever-flowing And this fulness is for Believers Christ is Communis Thesaurus as Luther saith a common Treasury or Magazine for the Saints Ioh. 1. 16. Of his fulness have we all received Set a glass under a Still and it receives water out of the Still drop by drop So those who are united to Christ have the dews and drops of his grace distilling upon them Well then may Christ be admired of all them that believe Use 1. Is a godly man an high prizer of Christ then what is to be thought of them who do not put a value upon Christ are they godly or no There are four sorts of persons who do not prize Christ. 1. The Iews They believe not in Christ 2 Cor. 3. 15. Unto this day the vail is upon their heart They expect their saeculum futurum a Messiah yet to come as their own Talmud reports they blaspheme Christ they slight righteousness imputed They despise the Virgin Mary calling her in derision Marah which signifieth bitterness They vilifie the Gospel they deny the Christian Sabbath they have the Christians in abomination they hold it not lawful for a Jew to take physick of a Christian. Schecardus relates of one Bendema a Jew that being stung with a Serpent a Christian came to heal him but he refused his help and chose rather to die than to be healed by a Christian So do the Iews hate Christ and all that wear his Livery 2. The Socinians who acknowledge only Christs Humanity this is to make him below the Angels for the Humane Nature simply considered is inferiour to the Angelical Psa. 8. 5. 3. Proud Professors who do not lay the whole stress of their Salvation upon Christ but would mingle their dross with his gold their duties
him to be silent the Spouse being sick of love her tongue was as the pen of a ready writer Cant. 5. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy his head is of fine gold c. If Wine be in the house the Bush will be hung forth and where there is a principle of godliness in the heart it will vent it self at the lips the Bush will be hung forth How can they be termed godly 1. Who are possessed with a dumb devil They never have any good discourse they are fluent and discoursive enough in secular things they can speak of their wares and drugs they can tell what a good crop they have but in matters of Religion they are as if their tongue did cleave to the roof of their mouth There are many persons if you come into their company you cannot tell what to make of them whether they are Turks or Atheists for they never speak a word of Christ. 2. Whose tongues are set on fire of Hell Their lips do not drop honey but poyson to the defiling of others Plutarch saith speech ought to be like gold which is then of most value when it hath least dross in it O the unclean malicious words that some persons utter What an unsavoury stench comes from these dunghils those lips had need have Davids Bridle that gallop so fast in sin Can the body be healthful when the tongue is black Can the heart be holy when the devil is in the lips A godly man speaks the language of Canaan Mal. 3. 16. They that feared the Lord spake often one to another 4. A godly man is heavenly in his Operation The motions of the Planets are Caelestial A godly man is sublime and sacred in his motions he works out salvation he puts forth all his strength as they did in the Olympicks that he may obtain the Garland made of the Flowers of Paradise he prays fasts watcheth he offers violence to heaven he is divinely acted he carries on Gods Interest in the world he doth Angels work he is in his Operations Seraphical 5. A godly man is heavenly in his Expectation his hopes are above the world Tit. 1. 2. In hope of eternal life A godly man casts Anchor within the vail he hopes to have his fetters of sin filed off he hopes for such things as eye hath not seen he hopes for a Kingdome when he dies a Kingdome promised by the Father purchased by the Son assured by the Holy Ghost as an Heir lives in hope when such a great Estate shall befall him so a Childe of God who is a Co-heir with Christ hopes for glory This hope comforts him in all varieties of condition Rom. 5. 2. We rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God 1. This hope comforts a godly man in affliction hope doth lighten and sweeten the most severe Dispensations A Childe of God can laugh with tears in his eyes the time is shortly coming when the Cross shall be taken off his shoulders and a Crown set upon his head A Saint at present is miserable with a thousand troubles in an instant cloathed with Robes of Immortality and advanced above Seraphims 2. This hope comforts a godly man in death Pro. 14. 32. The righteous hath hope in his death If one should ask a dying Saint when all his earthly comforts were gone what he had left he would say the Helmet of Hope I have read of a Martyr Woman who when the Persecutor commanded that her breasts should be cut off she said Tyrant do thy worst I have two breasts which thou canst not touch the one of Faith the other of Hope A soul that hath this blessed hope is above the desire of life or the fear of death Would one be troubled to exchange a sorry Lease for an Inheritance that will be for him and his Heirs Who would care to part with life which is a Lease will soon be run out to be possessed of a glorious Inheritance in light 6. A godly man is heavenly in his Conversation he casts such a lustre of Holiness as adorns his Profession he lives as if he had seen the Lord with bodily eyes what zeal sanctity humility shines forth in his life A godly person doth emulate not only the Angels but imitate Christ himself 1 Iohn 2. 6. The Macedonians celebrate the Birth-day of Alexander on which day they wear his picture about their necks set with Pearl and rich Jewels so a godly man carries the lively picture of Christ about him in the heavenliness of his deportment Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation is in heaven Use 1. They must needs be cast over the Bar for ungodly who are eaten up with the world godly and earthly is a contradiction Phil. 3. 18 19. For many walk of whom I now tell you even weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ whose god is their belly who mind earthly things We read the earth swallowed up Korah alive Numb 16. 32. This Judgement is on many the earth swallows up their time and thoughts and discourse they are buried twice their hearts are buried in the earth before their bodies How sad is it that the soul that Princely thing which is made for Communion with God and Angels should be put to the Mill to grinde and made Mancipium terrae a slave to the earth How is the soul become like the Prodigal chusing rather to converse with swine and feed upon husks than to aspire after Communion with the blessed Deity Thus doth Satan befool men and keep them from heaven by making them seek an heaven here Use 2. As we would evidence our selves to be born of God let us be of a sublime heavenly temper We shall never go to heaven when we die unless we are in heaven whilest we live That we may be more Noble and raised in our affections let us seriously weigh these four considerations 1. God himself sounds a retreat to us to call us off the world 1 Iohn 2. 15. Love not the world We may use it as a posie of flowers to smell to but it must not lie as a bundle of myrrhe betwixt our breasts Rom. 12. 2. Be ye not conformed to this world do not hunt after the honors and profits of it and as Gods Precepts so his Providences are to beat us off the world Why doth he send War and Pestilence What means the heat of this great anger Surely dying times are to make men die to the world 2. Consider how much below a Christian it is to be earthly-minded We laugh sometimes at Children when we see them busying themselves about toys blowing bubbles in the ayr out of a shell kissing their Babies c. when in the mean time we do the same at death what will all the world be which we so hug and kiss but as a Baby of Clouts it will yield us no more comfort then and to be taken up with these things how far is it
below an heaven-born soul nay for such as profess to be enobled with a principle of Piety and to have their hopes above for them to have their hearts below how do they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 disparage their Heavenly Calling and spot their silver wings of Grace by beliming them with earth 3. Consider what a poor contemptible thing the world is it is not worth setting the affections on it cannot fill the heart if Satan should take a Christian up to the Mount of Temptation and show him all the Kingdomes and glory of the world what could he show him but a phancy an apparition Nothing here can be proportionable to the immense soul of man Iob 20. 22. In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in streights Here is want in plenty the creature will no more fill the soul than a drop will fill the bucket and that little sweet we suck from the creature is intermixed with some bitterness like that Cup which the Jews gave Christ Mar. 15. 23. They gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrhe And this imperfect sweet will not last long 1 Iohn 2. 17. The world passeth away The creature doth but salute us and is presently upon the wing The world rings Changes it is never constant but in its disappointments how quickly may we remove our lodgings and make our pillow in the dust The world is but a great Inne where we are to stay a night or two and be gone what madness is it so to set our heart upon our Inne as to forget our home 4. Consider what a glorious place heaven is We read of an Angel coming down from heaven who did tread with his right foot on the Sea and with his left foot on the earth Revel 10. 2. Had we but once been in heaven and viewed the superlative glory of it how might we in an holy scorn trample with one foot upon the earth and with the other foot upon the Sea Heaven is called a better Country Heb. 11. 16. But now they desire a better Country that is an heavenly Heaven is said to be a better Country in opposition to the Country where we now sojourn What should we mind but that better Country Quest. In what sense is heaven a better Country Answ. 1. In that Country above there are better delights there is the Tree of Life the Rivers of Pleasure there is amazing beauty unsearchable riches there are the delights of Angels there is the Flower of Joy fully blown there is more than we can ask or think there is glory in its full dimensions and beyond all hyperbole 2. In that Country there is a better dwelling house 1. It is an house not made with hands 2 Cor. 5. 1. To denote the excellency of it There was never any house but was made with hands but the house above surpasseth the art of man or Angel none besides God could lay a stone in that building 2. It is eternal in the heavens it is not a sojourning house but a Mansion-house it is an house will never be out of repair Wisdome hath built this house and hewn out her seven Pillars which can never moulder 3. In that Country there are better provisions in our Fathers house is bread enough Heaven was typified by Canaan which did flow with milk and honey There is the Royal Feast the spiced Wine there is Angels food there are those rare viands and dainties served in as exceed not only our expressions but our faith 4. In that Country is better Society There is God blessed for ever How infinitely sweet and ravishing will a smile of his face be the Kings presence makes the Court There are the glorious Cherubims in this terrestrial Country where we now live we are among Wolves and Serpents in that Country above we shall be among Angels There are the spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. Here the people of God are clouded with infirmities we see them with spots in their faces they are full of pride passion censoriousness in that Hierusalem above we shall see them in their Royal attire deck'd with unparallell'd beauty not having the least tincture or shadow of sin upon them 5. In that Country there is a better ayr to breathe in We go into the Country for ayr the best ayr is only to be had in that better Country 1. It is a more temperate ayr the Climate is calm and moderate we shall neither freeze with the cold nor faint with the heat 2. It is a brighter ayr there is a better light shines there The Sun of Righteousness enlightens that Horison with his glorious beams Rev. 21. 23. The Lamb is the light thereof 3. It is a purer ayr The Fens which are full of black vapours we count a bad ayr and unwholesome to live in This world is a place of Bogs and Fens where the noxious vapours of sin arise which make it pestilential and unwholesome to live in but in that Country above there are none of these vapours but a sweet perfume of holiness there is the smell of the Orange-tree and the Pomgranate there is the Myrrhe and Cassia coming from Christ which send forth a most odoriferous smell 6. In that Country there is a better soil the Land or Soil is better 1. For its altitude the earth lying low is of a baser pedigree the Element which is neerest heaven is purer and more excellent as the fire that Country above is the High Country Psal. 24. 3. it is seated far above all the visible Orbs. 2. It is a better Land for its fertilness it bear a richer Crop The richest Harvest on earth is the golden Harvest but the Country above yields Nobier Commodities there are Pearls Caelestial there is the Spiritual Vine there is the honey-comb of Gods love dropping there is the Water of Life the hidden Manna there is fruit that doth not rot flowers that never fade there is a Crop which cannot be quite reaped it will be ever reaping time in heaven and all this the Land yields without the labour of ploughing and sowing 3. It is a better Land for its inoffensiveness There are no bryars there the World is a Wilderness where are wicked men and the best of them is a bryar Mica 7. 4. They will be tearing the people of God in their spiritual Liberties but in the Country above there is not one bryar to be seen all the bryars are burned 4. It is a better Land for the rareness of the prospect all that a man sees there is his own I account that the best prospect where a man can see furthest on his own ground 7. In that Country is better union all the Inhabitants are knit together in love The poysonful weed of malice doth not grow there there is harmony without division and charity without envy In that Country above as in Solomons Temple no noyse of Hammer is heard 8. In that Country is better imployment while
drink no wine for Jonadab the son of Rechab our Father commanded us saying Ye shall drink no wine neither ye nor your sons for ever Solon among the many Laws he made one asked him Why he made no Law against disobedient Children he answered because he thought none would be so wicked God hath punished Children who have refused to pay the tribute of obedience Absalom a disobedient son was hanged in an Oak betwixt Heaven and Earth as being worthy of neither Manlius an old man being reduced to much poverty and having a rich son he entreated him only for an alms but could not obtain it the son disowned him as his Father and gave him reproachful language the poor old man let tears fall as witnesses of his grief and went away God to revenge this disobedience of the son soon after struck him with phrensie he in whose heart godliness lives makes as well Conscience of the fifth Commandment as the first 6. He is godly who is good as a servant Col. 3. 22. Eph. 6. 5. Servants be subject to them who are your Masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling The goodness of servants lies 1. In diligence Abrahams servant made haste to dispatch the business his Master intrusted him with Gen. 24. 33. 2. Chearfulness Servants must be Free-willers Thus the Centurions servants Luke 7. 8. If I say to one go he goes 3. Faithfulness which consists in two things 1. In not defrauding Titus 2. 10. Not purloyning 2. In keeping counsel it argues the badness of a stomack when it cannot retain what is put into it and the badness of a servant when he cannot retain those secrets which his Master hath committed to him 4. Silentness Titus 2. 9. Not answering â—â—gain 'T is better to mend a fault than to mince it and that which may quicken a servant in his work is that encouraging Scripture Col. 3. 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the Inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ. If Christ should bid you do a piece of work for him would ye not do it While you serve your Master you serve the Lord Christ If you ask what Salary you shall have Ye shall receive the reward of the Inberitance Use 1. Is this the Grand Sign of a godly man to be relatively holy 〈◊〉 â—hen the Lord be merciful to us how few godly ones are to be found Many put on the Coat of Profession they will pray and discourse of points of Religion but what means the bleating of the sheep They are not good in their Relations How ill doth it sound when Christians are defective in Relative Piety Can we call him godly who is a bad Magistrate He perverts equity Psalm 58. 1. Do ye judge uprightly O ye sons of men You weigh the violence of your hands in the earth Can we call him godly who is a bad Parent He never teacheth his Childe the way to heaven He is like the Ostrich which is cruel to her young Iob 39. 19. Can we call him godly who is a bad Master Many Masters leave their Religion at Church as the Clerk doth his book they have nothing of God at home their houses are not Bethels but Beth-avens not little Temples but little Hells How many Masters at the last day must hold up their hand at the Bar though they have fed their servants bellies they have starved their souls Can we call him godly who is a bad Childe He stops his ear to his Parents counsel you may as well call him a good subject who is disloyal Can we call him godly who is a bad servant He is slothful and wilful he is more ready to spy a fault in another than to mend it in himself To call one godly who is bad in his Relations is a contradiction it is to call evil good Isa. 5. 20. Use 2. As we desire to have God approve us let us show forth godliness in our Relations Not to be good in our relations spoils all our other good things Naaman was an honourable man but hee was a Leaper 2 King 5. 1. That But spoiled all so such an one is a great hearer but he neglects relative duties this stains the beauty of all his other actions as in Printing though the Letter be never so well carved yet if it be not set in the right place it spoils the sense so let a man have many things commendable in him yet if he be not good in his right place making conscience how he walks in his relations he doth hurt to religion There are many to whom Christ will say at last as to the young man Luk. 18. 22. Unum deest yet lackest thou one thing thou hast miscarried in thy relative capacity as therefore we tender our salvation and the honour of religion let us shine forth in that Orb of relation where God hath fixed us SECT XXI 21 A godly man doth spiritual things in a spiritual manner Phil. 3. 3. Wee are the Circumcision which worship God in the spirit Spirit-worship is Virgin-worship 1 Pet. 2. 5. Ye are built up a spiritual house an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices not only spiritual for the matter but the quality a wicked man either lives in the total neglect of duty or else dischargeth it in a dull careless manner in stead of using the world as if he used it not hee serves God as if hee served him not a godly man spiritualizeth duty hee is not only for the doing of holy things but for the holy doing of things Quest. What is it to perform spiritual duties spiritually Answ. It consists in three things 1. To do duties from a spiritual principle viz. a renewed principle of grace let a man have gifts to admiration let him have the most melting ravishing expressions let him speak like an Angel dropped out of heaven yet his duties may not be spiritual because he wants the grace of the spirit whatever a moral unregenerate person doth is but nature refined though he may do duties better than a godly man yet not so well better as to the matter and elegancy yet not so well as wanting a renewed principle a Crab-tree may bear as well as a Pippin the fruit may be bigger and fairer to the eye yet it is not so good fruit as the other because it doth not come from so good a stock so an unregenerate person may perform as many duties as a childe of God and these may seem to be more glorious to the outward view but they are harsh and sower because they do not come from the sweet and pleasant root of grace a true Saint gives God that wine which comes from the pure grape of the spirit 2 To perform duties spiritually is to do them with the utmost intention a Christian is very serious and labours to keep his thoughts close to the work in hand 1 Cor. 7. 35. That ye
leaves the heart always in a better tune 2. The danger of doing duties in an unspiritual manner they are as if they had not been done for what the heart doth not do is not done Duties slubbered over turn Ordinances into Judgements Therefore many though they are often in duty they go away worse from duty If Physick be not well made and the ingredients rightly tempered it is as bad as poyson for the body So if duties are not well performed they leave the heart more hard and sinful than before Duties unspiritual oft create Judgements temporal 1 Chron. 15. 13. The Lord our God made a breach upon us for that we sought him not after the due order Therefore God makes breaches in Families and Relations because persons worship him not in that manner and due order which he requires 3. If we would have our duties spiritual we must get our hearts spiritual an earthly heart cannot be spiritual in duty Let us beg of God a spiritual pallat to relish a sweetness in holy things for want of spiritual hearts we come to duty without delight and go away without profit If a man would have the wheels of his Watch move regularly he must mend the Spring Christian if thou wouldst move more spiritually in duty get the Spring of thy heart mended SECT XXII 22. A godly man is thorow-paced in Religion he obeys every Command of God Act. 13. 22. I have found David a man after mine own heart which shall fulfill all my will In the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all my wills A godly man labours to walk according to the full bredth and latitude of Gods Law Every Command hath the same stamp of Divine Authority upon it and he who is godly will obey one Command as well as another Psal. 119. 6. Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments A godly man goes through all the Body of Religion as the Sun through all the Signs of the Zodiack He that is to play upon a ten-stringed Instrument must strike upon every string or he spoils all the Musick The ten Commandments may be compared to a ten-stringed Instrument we must obey every Commandment strike upon every string or we can make no sweet Musick in Religion True obedience is filâ—al it is fit the Childe should obey the Parent in all just and sober commands Gods Laws are like the Curtains of the Tabernacle which were looped together they are like a Chain of Gold where all the links are coupled A conscientious man will not willingly break one Link of this Chain if one Command be violated the whole Chain is broken Iam. 2. 10. Whosoever shall keep the whole Law yet offend in one point is guilty of all A voluntary breach of one of Gods Laws involves a man in the guilt and exposeth him to the curse of the whole Law True obedience is intire and uniform A good heart like the Needle points that way which the Load-stone draws This is a grand difference between a Childe of God and an hypocrite the hypocrite doth pick and chuse in Religion some duties he will perform which are more facil and do gratifie his pride or interest but other duties he makes no reckoning of Mat. 23. 23. Ye pay tithe of Mint and Annis and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law Iudgment Mercy and Faith To sweat in some duties of Religion and freeze in other is the symptom of a distempered Christian. Iehu was zealous in destroying the Idolatry of Baal but let the golden Calves of Jeroboam stand 2 Kin. 10. 30. This shows men are not good in truth when they are good by halves If your servant should do some of your work you set him about and leave the rest undone how would you like that The Lord saith Walk before me and be perfect Gen. 17. 1. How are our hearts perfect with God when we prevaricate with him Some things we will do and other things we leave undone he is good who is good universally Pater adsum impera quid vis There are ten duties God calls for which a godly man will conscientiously perform and indeed these Duties may serve as so many other Characters and Touch-stones to try our godliness by 1 A godly man will be often calling his heart to account he takes the candle of the word and searcheth his inward parts Psa. 77. 6. I commune with my own heart and my spirit made diligent search a gracious soul searcheth whether there be any duty omitted any sin cherished he examines his evidences for heaven as hee will not take his gold upon trust so neither his grace he is a spiritual Merchant hee casts up the estate of his soul to see what he is worth he sets his house in order often reckonings keep God and conscience friends a carnal person cannot abide this heart-work he is ignorant how the affairs go in 〈◊〉 soul he is like a man who is well acquainted in forraign parts but a stranger in his own country ut nemo insese tentat descendere nemo 2 A godly man is much in closet-prayer he keeps his hours for private devotion Iacob when he was left alone wrestled with God Gen. 32. 24. So when a gracious heart is alone it wrestles in prayer and will not leave God till it hath a blessing a devout Christian exerciseth eyes of faith and knees of prayer Hypocrites who have nothing of religion besides the frontispiece love to bee seen Christ hath Characterized them Mat. 6. 5. They love to pray in the corners of the streets that they may be seen The hypocrite is devout in the Temple there all will gaze on him but he is a stranger to secret communion with God he is in the Church a Saint but in his closet an Atheist a good Christian holds secret intelligence with heaven ille dolet verè qui sine teste dolet Private prayer keeps up the trade of godliness when closet-holiness is laid aside there is a stab given to the hearâ— of religion 3 A godly man is diligent in his calling he takes care to provide for his family the Church must not exclude the shop 'T is a speech of Mr. Perkins though a man be endued with excellent gifts and hear the word with reverence and receive the sacrament yet if he practise not the duties of his calling all is but hypocrisie religion did never grant a pattent for idleness 2 Thess. 2. 11 12. There are some which walk among you disorderly working not at all them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Iesus that with quietness they work and eat their own bread That bread eats most sweet which is got with most sweat a godly man had rather fast than eat the bread of idleness Vain professors talk of living by faith but do not live in a calling they are like the Lillies of the field they toyl not neither do they spin an
upon the soul Hos. 14. 5 6. I will be as the de◠unto Israel he shall grow as the Lilly his branches shall spread and his beauty shall be as the Olive-tree That God who made the dry rod blossome will make the dry reed flourish So much for the first expression in the Text I proceed to the second The smoaking Flax shall he not quench Quest. What is meant by smoak Answ. By smoak is meant corruption Smoak is offensive to the eye so sin offends the pure eye of God Quest. What is meant by smoaking flax Answ. It is meant Grace mingled with corruption as with a little fire there may be much smoak so with a little grace there may be much corruption Quest. What is Christs not quenching the Smoaking Flax Answ. The meaning is though there be but a spark of grace with much sin Christ will not put out this spark In the words there is a figure He will not quench that is he will encrease Nothing more easie than to quench Smoaking Flax the least touch doth it but Christ will not quench it he will not blow the spark of Grace out but will blow it up he will encrease it into a flame he will make this Smoaking Flax a burning Taper Doct. That a little grace mixed with much corruption shall not be quenched For the illustrating of this I shall show you 1. That often a little grace is mixed with much corruption 2. That this little grace interlined with corruption shall not be quenched 3. The Reasons of the Proposition 1. Often in the godly a little grace is mingled with much corruption Mark 9. 24. Lord I believe there was some Faith help my unbelief there was corruption mixed with it There are in the best Saints interweavings of sin and grace a dark side with the light much pride mixed with humility much earthliness with heavenliness Grace in the godly doth relish of an old Crabtree stock Nay in many of the Regenerate there is more corruption than grace so much smoak that you can scarce discern any fire so much distrust that you can hardly see any Faith so much passion that you can hardly see any meekness Ionah a peevish Prophet he quarrels with God nay he justifies his passion Ionah 4. 9. I do well to be angry to the death Here was so much passion that it was hard to see any grace A Christian in this life is like a glass that hath more froth than wine or like a diseased body that hath more humours than spirits This may humble the best to consider how much corruption is interlarded with their grace 2. This little grace mixed with much corruption shall not be quenched The smoaking flax he will not quench The Disciples Faith was at first but small they forsook Christ and fled Here was smoaking flax but Chirst did not quench that little grace but cherish and animate it their Faith afterwards grew stronger and they did openly confess Christ. Here was the flax flaming 3. The Reasons why Christ will not quench the smoaking flax 1. Because this Scintilla this little light which is in the smoaking flax is of divine production it comes from the Father of Lights and the Lord will not quench the work of 〈◊〉 own grace Every thing by the instinct of Nature will preserve its own The Hen that hatcheth her young will preserve and cherish them she will not destroy them as soon as they are hatched God who hath put this tenderness into the Creature to preserve its young will much more cherish the work of his own spirit in the heart Will he light up the Lamp of Grace in the soul and then put it out This would be neither for his interest nor honor 2. Christ will not quench the beginnings of grace because a little grace is precious as well as more A small Pearl is of value Though the Pearl of Faith be little yet if it be a true Pearl it shines gloriously in Gods eyes A Goldsmith makes reckoning of the least filings of gold and will not throw them away The pupilla oculi the apple of the eye is but little yet of great use it can at once view an huge part of the heavens A little Faith can justifie a weak hand can tye the Nuptial Knot a weak Faith can unite to Christ as well as a strong a little grace makes us like God a silver penny bears the Kings Image upon it as well as a larger piece of Coyn The least dram of grace bears Gods Image on it and will God destroy his own Image When the Temples in Greece were demolished Xerxes caused the Temple of Diana to be preserved for the beauty of its structure When God shall destroy all the glory of the world and set it on fire yet he will not destroy the least grace because it bears a print of his own likeness upon it That little spark in the smoaking flax is a ray and beam of Gods own glory 3. Christ will not quench the smoaking flax because this little light in the flax may grow bigger Grace is resembled to a grain of Mustard-seed of all seeds it is the least but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and becometh a Tree Mat. 13. 32. The greatest grace was once little the Oak was once an Acorn the most Renowned Faith in the world was once in its Spiritual Infancy the greatest flame of zeal was once but smoaking flax Grace like the waters of the Sanctuary riseth higher If then the least Embryo and seed of holiness be of a ripening and growing nature the Lord will not suffer it to be abortive 4. Christ will not quench the smoaking flax because when he preserves a little light in a great deal of smoak here the glory of his power shines forth The trembling soul thinks it shall be swallowed up of sin but God by preserving a little quantity of grace in the heart nay by making that spark prevail over corruption as the fire from heaven licked up the water in the trench 1 King 18. 38. Now God gets himself a glorious Name and carries away the Trophies of Honor 2 Cor. 12. 9. My strength is made perfect in weakness 1. See the different dealings of God and men men for a little smoak will quench a great deal of light God for a great deal of smoak will not quench a little light 'T is the manner of the world if they see a little failing in another for that failing they will pass by and quench a great deal of worth This is our nature to aggravate a little fault and diminish a great deal of virtue to see the infirmities and darken the excellencies of others as we take more notice of the twinkling of a Star than the shining of a Star We censure others for their passion but do not admire them for their piety Thus for a little smoak that we see in others we
tender of her 1 Pet. 5. 7. He careth for you Christ hath a debating with himself a consulting and projecting how to carry on the work of our Salvation he transacts all our affairs he minds our business as his own indeed he himself is concerned in it he brings in fresh supplies to his Spouse if she wanders out of the way he guides her if she stumble he holds her by the hand if she falls he raiseth her if she be dull he quickens her by his spirit if she be froward he draws her with cords of love if she be sad he comforts her with promises 2. For ardent affection No Husband like Christ for love The Lord saith to the people I have loved you and they say Wherein hast thou loved us Mal. 1. 2. But we cannot say to Christ wherein hast thou loved us Christ hath given real Demonstrations of his love to his Spouse He hath sent her his Word which is a Love-letter and he hath given her his Spirit which is a Love-token Christ loves more than any other Husband 1. Christ puts upon his Bride a richer Robe Isa. 61. 10. He hath cloathed me with the garments of Salvation he hath covered me with the Robe of Righteousness In this Robe God looks upon us as if we had not sinned This is as truly ours to justifie as it is Christs to bestow this Robe doth not only cover but adorn Having on this Robe we are reputed righteous not only as Angels but as Christ 2 Cor. 5. 21. That we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2. Christ gives his Bride not only his Golden Garments but his Image He loves her into his own likeness An Husband may bear a dear affection to his Wife but he cannot stamp his own Effigies upon her if she be deformed he may give her a Vail to hide it but he cannot put his beauty upon her But Christ imparts the beauty of holiness to his Spouse Ezek. 16. 14. Thou wert comely through my comeliness When Christ marries a soul he makes it fair Cant. 4. 7. Thou art all fair my Spouse Christ never thinks he hath loved his Spouse enough till he can see his own face in her 3. Christ dischargeth those debts which no other Husband can Our sins are the worst debts we owe if all the Angels should go to make a Purse they could not pay one of these debts but Christ frees us from these he is both an Husband and a Surety he saith to Justice as Paul concerning Onesimus If he ows thee any thing put it upon my score I will repay it Philem. 19. 4. Christ hath suffered more for his Spouse than ever any Husband did for a Wife he suffered poverty and ignominy He who crowned the heavens with stars was himself crowned with thorns He was called a companion of sinners that we might be made companions of Angels he was regardless of his life he leaped into the Sea of his Fathers wrath to save his Spouse from drowning 5. Christs love doth not end with his life He loves his Spouse for ever Hos. 2. 19. I will betroath thee unto me for ever Well may the Apostle call it a love that passeth knowledge Eph. 3. 19. 3. See how rich believers are they are matched into the Crown of Heaven and by virtue of the Conjugal Union all Christs riches go to believers Communion is founded in Union Christ communicates his Graces Iohn 1. 16. As long as Christ hath it believers shall not want and he communicates his Priviledges Justification Glorification He settles a Kingdome upon his Spouse for her Joynture Heb. 12. 28. This is a Key to the Apostles Riddle 2 Cor. 6. 10. As having nothing yet possessing all By virtue of the Marriage-Union the Saints are interested in all Christs riches 4 See how fearful a Sin it is to abuse the Saints it is an injury done to Christ for beleevers are mystically one with him Act. 9. 4. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me when the body was wounded the head being in heaven cryed out in this sense men crucifie Christ afresh Heb. 6. 6. because what is done to his members is done to him if Gideon was avenged upon those who slew his brethren Iudg. 8. 21. will not Christ much more bee avenged upon those that wrong his Spouse Will a King endure to have his Treasure rifled his Crown thrown in the dust his Queen beheaded will Christ bear with the affronts and injuries done to his Bride the Saints are the apple of Christs eye Zac. 2. 8. and they that strike at his eye let them answer it Isa. 49. 26. I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh and they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine 5 See the reason why the Saints do so rejoyce in the Word and Sacrament because here they meet with their Husband Christ the Wife desires to be in the presence of her Husband The Ordinances are the chariot in which Christ rides the lattice through which he looks forth and shews his smiling face here Christ displaies the banner of love Can. 2. 4. The Lords Supper is nothing else but a pledge and earnest of that eternal communion the Saints shall have with Christ in heaven Then he will take the Spouse into his bosome if Christ be so sweet in an Ordinance when we have but short glances and dark glimpses of him by saith Oh then how delightful and ravishing will his presence be in heaven when we shall see him face to face and be for ever in his loving embraces 4 This mystical union affords much comfort to beleevers in several cases 1 In case of the dis-respects and unkindenesses of the world Psa. 55. 3. In wrath they hate mee but though we live in an unkinde world wee have a kinde Husband Ioh. 15. 9. As the father hath loved me so have I loved you What Angel can tell how God the Father loves Christ yet the Fathers love to Christ is made the copy and pattern of Christs love to his Spouse this love of Christ as far exceeds all created love as the Sun out shines the light of a Torch and is not this matter of comfort what though the world hates me yet Christ loves me 2 It is comfort in case of weakness of grace the beleever cannot lay hold upon Christ but with a trembling hand there is a spirit of infirmity upon him but O weak Christian here is strong consolation there is a conjugal union thou art the Spouse of Christ and hee will bear with thee as the weaker vessel will an Husband divorce his Wife because she is weak and sickly no he will be the more tender of her Christ hates treachery but he will pity infirmity when the spouse is faint and ready to be discouraged Christ puts his left hand under her head Can. 2. 6. this is the spouses comfort when she is weak her Husband can infuse