leaneth on my hand and I bow my self in the house of Rimmon when I bow down my self in the house of Rimmon The Lord pardon thy servant in this thing verse 18. He will be still an idolater rather then he will lose the countenance of the king his master This is the mercenary love of an harlot for which the Divell accused Job though very injuriously Job 1. 9 10. Secondly the love of an harlot is hypocriticall doubtless Sampsons harlot Dalila did profess very much affection towards him before she could win him to tell her wherewith he might certainly be bound But if her love had been reall and sincere she would not have delivered him into the hands of the Philistines As Jud. 16. 18 c. This was Judas his charity to the poor Jo. 12. 4. c. And his love to his Lord Mat. 26. 49. And this is the love of all such as will serve both God and Mammon Thirdly the love of an harlot is unconstant when God complained of Judah for her inconstancy and apostacy Thou hast played the harlot saith he with many lovers Jer. 3. 1. And truly that love which is mercenary must needs be unconstant that which was bought will be sold The love of a poor passive Christ will never continue long in a mercenary bosom And whosoever loveth God for giving will cease to love if God shall cease to give or at least if he shall take away that which he formerly did give This is one of the Divells surest weapons and it is to be feared that there are but few Jobs to beat him at it And lastly the love of an harlot becometh contemptible Thus saith the Lord because thy filthiness was poured out and thy wickedness discovered through thy whordoms with thy lovers c. Behold therefore I will gather all thy lovers with wbom thou hast taken pleasure and all them which thou hast loved with all them that thou hast hated I will even gather them round about against thee and will discover thy nakedness unto them and they shall see all thy nakedness Ezek. 16. 36 37. And I will also give thee into their hand c. verse 39. And to conclude with this particular observe the shamefull end of Jezebel 2 Kings 9. 30. c. But the virgins love is of another nature Because of the favour of thy good oyntments thy name is as ointment poured forth therefore do the virgins love thee saith the chaste spouse unto her loving Lord Chap. 1. 3. You know that a pleasant sent or savour hath nothing that is outwardly beneficiall but being drawn in with the breath it refresheth and comforteth the inward parts And oyntment or unction or anoynting do signifie unto us the Spirit of God 1 Joh. 2. 20. Wherewith their blessed Bridegroom was anointed to be their Priest their Prophet and their King And by the influence of the same Spirit the very name of Jesus Christ infuseth both life and sweetnesse into all his Saints and therefore do their Virgin chaste Souls love him Thus it appeareth that the Virgins Love unto her Lord is neiher mercenary nor carnal but most pure and spiritual And it is most excellently compleated through these four passages First it is improved by Contemplation Secondly it is manifested by Profession Thirdly it is confirmed by Preparation And fourthly it is perfected by Practice When a chast Virgin first begins to love her heart delighteth much in Contemplation Her thoughts are very much upon the object of her affections alwayes meditating upon his amiable person his outward greatnesse and his inward graces In his person she considereth the beauties or comelinesse of his countenance and composition In his outward greatnesse she reflecteth upon his birth his wealth his power deserts and dignities Concerning his inward graces she recordeth his love his goodnesse his mercy truth Justice and wisdom With these and with the like sweet contemplations she feeds her fancies and augments her fires For the coals of love are coals of fire which hath a most vehement flame Cant. 8. 6. By this poor scantling you may partly aim at things that are incomprehensible Thus the sweet Soul that is in love with Christ with God in Christ revolves her amorous thoughts first on the person of her Lord and Lover Thou art fairer then the children of men saith she Psal 45. 2. Of this you shall finde a most elegant and excellent description Cant. 5. 10. c. Where she setteth forth his beauty sweetnesse strength and lovelinesse by way of allusion or similitude My beloved saith she is white and ruddy the chiefest among ten thousand his head is as the most fine Gold his locks are bushy and black as a Raven his eyes are as the eyes of Doves by the Rivers of water washed with Milk and fitly set His cheeks are as a bed of spices as sweet flowers his lips like lilies dropping sweet smelling myrrhe his hands are as Gold rings set with the beril his belly is as bright Ivory overlaid with Saphires his legs are as pillars of Marble set upon sockets of fine Gold his countenance is as Lebanon excellent as the Cedars his mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether lovely This is my beloved and this is my friend O daughters of Jerusalem In the second place she surveyeth his greatnesse his outward greatnesse according to our apprehension and expression As first the greatnesse of his birth where she findeth that he is the Son of God Lu. 1. 35. Not an adopted Son or younger brother But the onely begotten Son of God 1 John 4. 9. Secondly the greatnesse of his wealth or estate He is the Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. The earth is his and the fulnesse thereof the world and they that dwell therein Psal 24. 1. Thirdly the greatnesse of his power Even the windes and the Sea obey him Mat. 8. 27. Yea all power is given to him in Heaven and in Earth Mat. 28. 18. Fourthly the greatnesse of his deserts or worthinesse Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glorie and blessing Rev. 5. 12. And fifthly the greatnesse of his Dignities He is the blessed and onely Potentate the King of Kings and Lord of Lords 1 Tim. 6. 15. In the third place she admireth his inward essential Graces And first his Love that he should love her so as to purchase her with his own bloud Acts 20. 28. As to die for her Rom. 5. 6. Even a cursed death Gal. 3. 13. Next this she wondreth at his matchlesse goodnesse the goodnesse of his Love or his goodnesse in loving her when she deserved no such thing as love when no eye pitied her to have compassion upon her but she was cast out into the open field to the loathing of her person Ezek. 16. 5. Then even then he passed by her and looked upon her and behold her time was a time of Love and he spread his shirt
over her and covered her nakednesse and sware unto her and entred into a Covenant with her and made her his own Then he washed her and anointed her he decked her with the richest Ornaments both of Jewels and Rayment he fed her with the chief est nourishment And her beauty was made perfect through his comelinesse that he had put upon her Ezek. 16. 8. to the 15. verse And in consideration of these so great so undeserved favours she crieth out with that good Prophet David O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good for his mercy endureth for ever Psal 107. 1. And so thirdly she falleth upon his mercy which she cannot but mightily commend for that so soon as she became sensible of her own lamentable condition he then appeard to her most mercifull For no sooner did she finde her self to be by nature the child of wrath Eph. 2. 3. And by sin the child of the Devil 1 Joh. 3. 8. But suddenly she perceived that he had redeemed her to God by his bloud Rev. 5. 9. That when she was yet his enemy he had reconciled her to God by his death and most assuredly saved her by his life Rom. 5. 10. And all this without the least satisfaction by or from her self For not by works of righteousnesse that she had done but according to his mercie he saved her Tit. 3. 5. And she is most confident that he will continue her in her now happy estate For he hath said I will never leave thee nor forfake thee Hebr. 13. 5. Neither can she doubt but what he hath said he will most certainly perform For she findeth Fourthly That he is full of Grace and Truth John 1. 14. Yea he is the very Truth it self John 14. 6. And therefore she sings with David Her Lord is good his mercie is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations Psal 100. 5. Nor Fifthly is she afrighted at his Justice But rather she rejoyceth therein For albeit The wages of sin is death Rom. 6. 23. And every transgression and every disobedience must receive a just recompence of reward As Hebr. 2. 2. Yet the law of the Spirit of life in her Lord Christ Jesus hath freed her from the law of sin and of death Rom. 8. 2. And in such a case it is not the office of Justice to condemn but to acquit protect and justifie And sixthly she can never forget his wisdom who is the wisdom of God 1 Cor. 1. 24. She apprehendeth by faith that it was he which made the earth by his power which established the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heaven by his understanding As Isa 51. 15. He knoweth them that are his 2 Tim. 1. 19. And he knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished 2 Pet. 2. 9. And she doubteth not but she may most safely and savingly resign her self to his direction and disposition For in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Colos 2 3. The soul that adds a thousand fold to these shall yet fall short a thousand thousand fold of his essentiall super-excellencies and lose her self at last in admiration Yet by these dear indearing contemplations she acts and strengthens and improves her Love and works it to a prosperous conditon For as the roote by vertue of the Sap causeth the tree to put forth fair green leaves So worketh Faith by Love and fits the soul the chast soul for a flourishing profession ANd now though somewhat bashfull yet she dares discover her affections to her friends the sweet companions of her virgin Love I charge you O daughters of Jerusalem if you finde my beloved that ye tell him that I am sick of love Saith she Cant. 5. 8. And therefore as the virgin lover first delighteth much to meditate upon the rare perfections of her Paramore So in the second place she will be talking of him very often extolling and comending his person parts and properties that so he may the better come to the knowledge and assurance of her intire affection towards him In like manner the love-sick soul that panteth after Christ will not omit the least occasion or opportunity of conference concerning her dear Lord but will evermore be magnifying his goodness loving-kindness and the like and setting forth the promises due thereto Because thy loving-kindness is better then life therefore my lips shall praise thee saith David Psal 63. 3. And to that purpose she consorts her self with his true servants his trustie friends whom she inviteth kindly to a sweet harmoneous concord and conversation O come saith she let us sing unto the Lord let us make a joyfull noise to the rock of ovr salvation Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and make a joyfull noise unto him with Psalms For the Lord is a great God c. Psal 94 to the 8. And from hence she proceedeth to a more eminent and evident Profession of her true zeal and pure integrity which will appear the more infallibly by loving that which he is known to love and hating that which he abhors and hates Resolved thus She findes he loveth righteousnesse and hateth wickednesse Psal 45. 7. And therefore she directeth her affections of love and hatred towards the same Objects In the first place she loveth righteousness whether it be the righteousness of faith which justifieth the person or the righteousness of the law which justifieth the faith of the person For she knoweth that as the one is the cause of her justification so the other is the evidence of her sanctification And this her Love appeareth very precious upon the account of these four properties First it is Cordiall secondly it is Constant thirdly it is Confident and fourthly it is Comprehensive First I say it is cordiall It is no brain-sick fancy begotten by imagination brought forth by opinion nursed by ignorance and maintained by impudence Neither is it an outward formall profession modalled by self-seeking and magnified by self-conceit These are degenerate monsters bastard brats abominable to her virgin brest She owns no other love but what proceeds from the assurance of a saving faith infused by the Spirit of her Lord into the hidden corners of her heart I sleep saith she but my heart waketh Cant. 5. 2. her loving heart is evermore in labour Neither can any thing prevent or hinder her amourous desires from running out towards the righteousness of her dear Lord Because He is the Lord her righteousnesse Jer. 23. 6. Secondly her love is constant She regardeth not the face of the times nor the course of the tide the praise of a parasite nor the partling of a Parrat Neither will she take the spirit of giddiness for her guide least by any means she should wax wanton against Christ and wed her self to some unworthy creature like the younger widows Tim. 3. 11. Profits Pleasures and preferments
said unto thee when thou wast in thy bloud Live yea I said unto thee when thou wast in thy bloud Live I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field and thou hast increased and waxen great and thou art come to excellent ornaments thy breasts are fashioned and thine haire is grown whereas thou wast naked and bare Ezek. 16. 6 7. See here the wonderfull incomprehensible goodnesse of our God not onely in pitying and reviving the poor Soul miserably polluted and even dead in the gore and filth of her natural sins and corruptions But also in supplying and inriching her with most beautifull Ornaments Allegorically relating to the graces and indowments belonging to a spiritual life Now when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy time was the time of love and I spread my skirt over thee and covered thy nakednesse yea I sware unto thee and entered into a Covenant with thee saith the Lord verse 8. And what Covenant can any man imagine this to be but an expresse or a discovery of that eternal Covenant of Grace For who can expect these undeserved favours but by and through Jesus Christ our Lord the onely Mediatour of that Covenant And being such blessings as no man can receive from God but by the hand of a lively faith according to the condition of that Covenant We come now to prove that the peacefull life or the spiritual mans peacefull passage to eternity is vouchsafed unto us in and through Jesus Christ by virtue of this Covenant of Grace Wherein I desire you to understand that it is not an outward or a worldly peace that I intend in this place For albeit the Lord promiseth his people upon their reconciliation and return That in that day he will make a Covenant for them with the beasts of the field and with the fowles of Heaven and with the creeping things of the ground and that he will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth and make them to lie down safely as Hos 2. 18. Yet without doubt this promise was neither generally nor absolutely intended but conditionally even as he in his wisdome should see it to be good and neceâ—â—ary for his own people and conducible to his own glory For our Saviour telleth his Disciples plainly These things have I spoken unto you saith he that in me ye might have peace in the world ye shall have tribulation John 16. 33. A Child of God shall never want adversaries so long as the Devil hath any agents or instruments abroad yet he is not without his several comforts and preventions For when he first discovers them he considers them to be Gods enemies also and therefore he leaves them wholy unto Gods ordering Secondly when they begin to rouze themselves he looks the more narrowly to his own wayes least his indiscretion should give them the greater advantage And lastly when they pursue him with violence he maketh merily towards his covert his strong hold He trusteth in the Lord for ever for in the the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength Isa 26. 4. The peace of a true believer may be shaken but not utterly overthrown All the world cannot beat him from his confidence in God for albeit he is very sensible of his own weaknesse yet he is sure of a powerfull Peace-maker Being justified by faith we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord saith Saint Paul Rom. 5. 1. Yea The peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and mindes through Jesus Christ saith the same Apostle Phil. 4. 7. You will say This is by Christ but how is it by Covenant I will make a Covenant of peace with them it shall be an everlasting Covenant with them saith the Lord concerning his Church Ezek. 37. 26. This indeed is a Covenant of peace you will say and an everlasting Covenant But what is this to that eternal Covenant of Grace I answer first had it not been for that eternal Covenant No Creature after Adams rebellion had ever been capable of any other Covenant for good Secondly we may be confident that God did never make any Covenant whatsoever to or with mankinde since the Creation but it hath its relation to that Original Covenant of Grace The very Covenant of works made with Adam and exemplified to the Israelites as a rule of life in the Moral Law or the Law of the ten Commandments discovereth unto us that enmity between God and us together with our own infirmities and inabilities and sendeth us to seek for reconciliation by Jesus Christ By whom we have now received the atonement Rom. 5. 11. And thirdly the gift that God vouchsafed unto us in that Covenant of Grace was Jesus Christ the onely begotten Son of God And he is our peace Eph. 2. 14. The fourth and highest degree is everlasting life in the Kingdom of glory This also is given unto us in and through Jesus Christ our Lord. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. 23. He that believeth not God hath made him a lyar because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son And this is the record that God hath given us eternal life and this life is in his Son 1 John 5. 10 11. And it is assured unto us in and by this eternal Covenant For it was promised before the world began Tit. 1. 2. But what need we any further proof then the expresse words of this Copy God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life This is the glorious inheritance which the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God hath purchased for the sons of men in and by this Covenant of Grace delivered unto us in this Copy under the Title of Everlasting life Our blessed Saviour in his description of the day of judgement calls it a Kingdom Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Mat. 25. 34. This is that which old Jacob expected upon his death-bed saying I have waited for thy salvation O Lord Gen. 49. 18. And that inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven As St. Peter sets it forth 1 Peter 1. 4. Seing therefore that we have such a hopefull and such a happy inheritance presented unto us in this eternal Covenant I conceive it will be very necessary that we search out the right Heire thereunto Lest peradventure the numerous or numberlesse pretenders should deceive both themselves and others by presuming upon their unwarrantable interests without any considerable evidence or assurance And in order unto this discovery It will be very convenient that we do first lay down this firm foundation That Faith is the onely evidence which either
Joel 2. 32. Yes and so doth the Apostle too Rom. 10. 13. But he proceedeth in the very next verse How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed When he calleth he must be sure to be furnished with faith or otherwise he must expect the like entertainment with his sisters the five foolish Virgins who whilest they went to provide Oyl for their Lamps were shut out by the Bridegroom And notwithstanding that they came afterwards saying Lord Lord open unto us Yet he answered and said Verily I say unto you I know you not Mat. 25. 12. And would it not be the greatest of all his follies if he should imagine that God onely wise will bestow this glorious inheritance upon them whom he knoweth not Whom he approveth not of Without doubt there will be no Kingdom prepared for such as are found unprepared to receive it And therefore let this ignorant infidel learn to know The onely true God essentially and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent personally For this is eternal life John 17. 3. Or otherwise it may be said unto him as sometime Simon Peter said unto Simon the Sorcerer upon an other occasion Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter For thy heart is not right in the sight of God Acts 8. 21. The third Pretender to this inheritance is the good honest man Or the man vulgarly so called or reputed Such a one as carrieth himself fairly and pleasingly towards all men endeavouring to get every mans good will his good word or if he cannot please all yet he will be alwayes sure to please the greatest and the strongest party This good honest man runs through all conditions and imployments with as little offence or annoyance to any of his Neighbours as may be And therefore he doubteth not but he hath a very good Title to the Kingdom of Heaven for is it not written Let every one of us please his Neighbour Rom. 15. 2. True But the Apostle proceedeth in the same sentence For his good to edification First it must be for his good not for his goods And secondly it must be to edification to build him up in piety religion and godlinesse For otherwise To please men is not to be the servant of Christ Gal. 1. 10. But he is confident in his evidence wherein he setteth forth That he doth as he would be done by And that is both according to the intention of the Law and the Prophets and likewise according to the command of our Saviour himself Mat. 7. 12. And he believes that this is very fair It is indeed outwardly fair But it hath a very foul inside Truely this good honest man notwithstanding this his usurped Title is a very counterfeit a self-ended Sycophant the most dangerous Member in a Common-wealth Yet I cannot but subscribe to part of his partial evidence For he sees a Thief and consenteth with him and is partaker with the Adulterers as Psalm 50. 18. He endeavoureth to cover countenance or excuse all mens infirmities as he calls them and to prevent every mans misery though it be a punishment inflicted most justly upon a person most criminous and culpable even the most wicked offender that may be And this he saith is his love whereas in truth it is his fear lest his own misdeeds should meet the like measure Or be it his love yet it is a sinfull self-love He loveth the praise of men more then the praise of God And therefore he cannot believe saith our Saviour John 5. 44. And he that believeth not shall be damned This is a Gospel-sentence Mar. 16. 16. The fourth Pretender to this heavenly inheritance is the zealâ—us Reformer By whom I intend not such a one as of an earnest affection to Gods glory doth really cordially desire a Christian reformation either in manners or Religion or in both and doth seriously endeavour the same according to his particular calling But such a one as under the like specious faire pretences doth violently pursue his owne projects and maketh his preposterous zeal the Cloak to cover or countenance his envy avarice or ambition This is altogether for the penal statutes where he driveth furiously like Jehu the son of Nimshi who not onely destroyeth the house of Ahab King of Israel according to his Commission but borroweth a point with Ahaziah King of Judah together with twenty and four of his brethren As in the ninth and tenth Chapters of the second book of Kings Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord saith he to Jonadad the son of Rechab 2 Kings 10. 16. But Jehu took no heed to walk in the Law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart For he departed not from the sins of Jeroboham which made Israel to sin verse 31. He destroyed others for sinning and yet he sinned as much or more himself This is one of those That binde heavy burdens and grievous to be born and lay them on mens shoulders but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers According to that of our Saviour Matth. 23. 4. He will have every man righteous but himself He is so zealous against impiety in others that he not onely pursueth and prosecuteth Gods open enemies But so many of his deer servants also as will not walk in this Reformers own Road be it never so erronious As if he intended to disable all other men from the Kingdom of Heaven that he with some few of his own faction may make their forcible entry with the lesse resistance But for all his haste he shall never come there For albeit he may haply do God and his Countrey some good service yet is proceedeth from an evil principle for whatsoever is not of love is of Hypocrisie And the Hypocrite hath no portion in the Kingdom of Heaven Mat. 24. 51. There is no weeping and gnashing of teeth Yet if he could let the Mote alone in his brothers eye untill he hath plucked the Beam out of his own eye peradventure he might see the way thither by so much the better But he will alledge what St. Paul saith That it is good to be zealously affected alwayes in a good thing Gal. 4. 18. True But that zeal which hath the best things for its object may be miscarried by accident As sometimes through ignorance They have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge saith Paul and therefore going about to establish their own righteousnesse they submitted not themselves to the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10. 2 3. A disease which himself had been formerly sick of who was before a blasphemer and a persecuter and injurious but he abtained mercy because he did it ignorantly 1 Tim. 1. 13. Yet it appeareth that it proceeded out of a zeal to reformation Phil. 3. 6. Sometimes through self-ends They zealously affect you but not well Yea they would exclude us that you might affect them saith the same Apostle Gal. 4. 17. And sometimes
of this fruitfull Tree are natural and those things that are to be spoken of the faithfull man are spiritual and then we shall finde that they agree in all these particulars For as this natural Tree is richly planted well rooted full of Sap flourishing fair and fruitfull So the spiritual man is likewise richly planted well rooted full of sap flourishing fair and fruitfull The ground wherein he is planted is Jesus Christ His root is faith his sap is love his green leaves are gracious professions his fair and beautifull blossoms are blessed and holy desires and his good fruits are godly performances or good works And whosoever shall thus resemble this flourishing Tree according to these six properties I dare avouch him for a true believer And therefore we will now begin to examine whether we be in the faith according unto these particulars First we must be richly planted That is we must be planted into Christ We finde that they which are made partakers of the benefits and blessings of Jesus Christ are called Trees of righteousnesse the planting of the Lord Isa 61. 3. Verily we are all originally wilde slips every man and woman must say with David Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Psal 51. 5. This is a very bad ground to thrive upon This is all the comfort that we have received or may expect to receive from our earthly old man For in Adam all die And therefore it is necessary that we be removed and planted into the heavenly new man For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive as in 1 Cor. 15. 22. Hereby we shall injoy a double benefit Namely the benefit of Christs death and the benefit of his resurrection For if we have been planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall be also in the likenesse of his resurrection saith the Apostle Rom. 6. 5. Where he teacheth us that whosoever is planted into Christ according to the likenesse of his death he shall be also planted into Christ according to the likenesse of his resurrection For in that he died he died unto sin but in that he liveth he liveth unto God Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord saith the same Apostle in the same Chapt. at the 10. and 11. verses But it may be demanded how a man may be said to be dead indeed unto sin seeing that so long as a man liveth in the flesh he shall never be altogether free from the lusts of the flesh the snares of the world and the assaults of Satan which will continually provoke unto sin and sometimes prevail even in the most sanctified Soul the best disposed and the most retired Christian under heaven Insomuch that Paul cries out The good that I would I do not but the evil which I would not that I do Rom. 7. 19. And in the 23. verse of the same Chapter I see another Law in my Members warring against the Law of my minde and bringing me into captivity to the Law of sin which is in my Members And the Apostle James In many things we offend all James 3. 2. And likewise John the beloved If we say that we have no sin we deceive our selves and the truth is not in us 1 John 1. 8. I answer that I understand these words dead indeed for very near dead or even as good as dead And not for totally or absolutely dead For so I conceive a man shall never be dead indeed unto sin untill this corruptible shall have put on incorruptiâ—n and this mortal shall have put on immortality then and not till then shall be brought to passe the saying that is written Death is swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. And therefore how the Perfectionaries dare to give God the lie and their own consciences the blinde baffle is a thing beyond mine apprehension Neverthelesse as there are certain symptomes or signes or accidents by which we may be able to judge when a man is naturally a dead man as we say or at least so far spent that there is no hope of his recovery and that before his Soul hath utterly forsaken his body So if we shall consider the same symptomes or signes after a spiritual manner we shall be able thereby to conjecture when a man may be said to be dead indeed unto sin before he is wholy freed from the corruption of nature There are many signs that may confirm our judgements in this particular I shall instance onely four Namely losse of appetite losse of speech losse of memory and losse of motion The first is losse of appetite and that is when sin begins to be odious or loathsome The Soul of the wicked desireth evil saith the wise man Prov. 21. 10. But when a man beginneth to die unto sin that which before was his desire is now become his disease he loaths that most which formerly he most longed after We read that David being in a hold and a garrison of the Philistines in Bethlehem David longed and said Oh that one would give me to drink of the water of the Well of Bethlehem which is by the Gate And three mighty men brake through the Host of the Philistines and drew water out of the Well of Bethlehem that was by the Gate and took it and brought it to David Neverthelesse he would not drink thereof but poured it out unto the Lord or before the Lord And he said be it far from me O Lord that I should doe this Is not this the bloud of the men that went in Jeopardy of their lives Therefore he would not drink it 2 Sam. 23. 14 15 16 17. This was much in a King to deny himself in that which even now he so vehemently desired But little or nothing in comparison of that repugnancy or opposition that is usually found to be in the Saints of God For whereas before their effectual calling and conversion their carnal desires may peradventure be so pressing and importunate upon them that they can devour widdows houses drink iniquity like water and work all uncleannesse with greedinesse Yet when through the grace of God they begin to be sensibly sick of sin their appetites are so strangely altered that they do not onely dislike and distaste every thing that is unlawfull but likewise they do utterly abhorre it as it is odious or displeasing in the sight of God They abstain from all appearance of evil according to that precept of the Apostle 1 Thes 5. 22. This is one sign whereby we may discover when a man may be said to be dead unto sin Another is losse of speech The tongue saith the Apostle is an unruly evil full of deadly poison James 3. 8. And David describing a wicked person saith That he oasteth of his hearts desire and blesseth the covetous whom the Lord abhorreth Psal 10. 3. Yet his mouth is
that the same Apostle doth very well resolve this doubt in another place If our Gospel be hid saith he it is hid to them that are lost In whom the God of this world hath blinded the mindes of them that believe not least the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. It is no wonder that the most glorious light be obscured and hidden from those that are blinded where the defect is not in the light but in those that cannot or that will not see the light Secondly this light of the Gospel is conformable or agreeable in every particular to whatsoever was covenanted and concluded by and between God the Father and his onely begotten Son in and by that eternal Covenant of Grace for and on the behalf of mankinde And to this purpose the Apostle Paul intimateth to the Ephesians That into him this grace was given that he should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mysterie which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord Ephes 3. 7. to 12. Verily this blessed light of the Gospel is every way so conformable to the whole will of God and so illustrated with the bright beams of his wisdom grace and goodnesse That we all with open face beholding as in a glasse the glorie of the Lord are changed into the same image from glorie to glorie even as by the Spirit of the Lord as in 2 Cor. 3. 18. And thirdly the light of the Gospel is comfortable Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted saith the Gospel Mat. 5. 4. This is the day-spring from on high that hath visited us to give light to them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace Luke 1. 78. 79. It sheweth us the way to finde rest unto our Souls Math. 11. 29. c. And it assureth us that Jesus Christ is made unto us wisdom and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. And let every true Christian be judge if these be not such comforts as he chiefly rejoyceth or delighteth in The third degree of light is in the Godly And here it is regular singular and exemplar First it is regular It is guided by rule By the rule of righteousnesse the word of God He that is truely godly will not presume to see more then God sheweth him Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee saith David Psalm 119. 10. Thy word is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my paths saith the same Prophet verse 105. And therefore the Lord by his Prophet Isaiah To the law and to the testomonie saith he If they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8. 20. And therefore Woe be unto them that put darknesse for light and light for darknesse Isa 5. 20. Secondly this light in the godly is singular it looketh but one way and that directly If thine eye be single thine whole body shall be full of light but if thine eye be evil thy whole bodie shall be full of darknesse saith the Lord Mat. 6. 22. Where he intimateth that that which is not a single eye is an evil eye You know that a crosse eye that seemeth to look one way when in truth it looketh another is a great blemish in nature but the eye of the Soul that is thus deceitfully affected is a greater enemy to grace Let thine eyes look right on and let thine eye-lids look straight before thee saith the wise man Prov. 4. 25. The eye of the godly looketh alwayes right forward upon Gods glory without any self-seeing or self-seeking But the blear-eyed hypocrite when he most seemingly aymeth at Gods glory he most deceitfully intendeth his own And this is generally the common course of the world For all seek their own not the things that are Jesus Christs saith St. Paul Phil. 2. 21. Thirdly this light in the godly is exemplar It setteth forth it self to be observed intimated and improved The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4. 18. And therefore Paul to the Philipians Brethren be fâ—llowers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample Phil. 3. 17. And to his beloved Timothy Be thou an example of the believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity 1 Tim. 4. 12. And thus our Lord Jesus Christ to his Disciples Ye are the light of the world saith he A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushell but on a candlestick and it giveth light to all that are in the house Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good work and glorifie your father which is in heaven Math. 5. 14 15 16. But you will say what benefit shall the soul receive by all this light Truely she shall hereby receive the greatest and compleatest of all benefits She shall be hereby inabled to see God Not according to his incomprehensible essence and excellencies these are things too high for the highest apprehensions He is high above all nations his glory above the heavens Psal 113. 4. Higher then the highest Eccles 5. 8. For according to his secret councell and inconceivable wisdom these are too deep for the deepest understandings O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out For who hath known the minde of the Lord or who hath been his counceller saith St. Paul Rom. 11. 33 34. But according to the good pleasure of his own will and the small measure of our human capacity For as the sun it self as touching its matter or substance cannot be discerned by the eye of the body and yet by the luster and bright beams thereof we are inabled to see whatsoever is necessary or convenient to be seen So our immortall and invisible God as he is of himself in himself and to himself cannot be perceived by the eye of the soul yet by the evidence of his works and of his word he is pleased to reveal himself unto us so far forth as is abundantly sufficient for our temporall satisfaction and our eternall salvation These two large lectures of his works and words are they wherein the Lord is seen and read The one is a lecture of Philosophy The other is a lecture of
ye believed in Christ saith Paul ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glorie Eph. 1. 13 14. And thirdly he hath it in Christ by possession Christ hath taken possession of it and prepared it for all believers I go to prepare a place for you saith he And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there ye may be also Joh. 14. 2 3. And whither I go ye know saith he verse 4. For that Kingdom which was prepared for you from the foundation of the world upon promise of satisfaction I go to prepare for you after performance of satisfaction Where it shall be said unto you Come ye blessed of my father inherâ—t the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world as Math. 25. 34. What Soul can wish a more compleat assurance But haply you will say we do not doubt but every true believer is sure enough to have eternal life by Jesus Christ But what assurance have we of those good things that do concern this life Indeed the Prophet David telleth us There be many that say who will shew us any good Psal 4. 6. But in this case also we have both promise example and experience for our assurance For matter of promise God hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee Heb. 13. 5. But what is it poor Soul thou art afraid of Art thou afraid of poverty or want Why a little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked For the arms of the wicked shall be broken but the Lord upholdeth the righteous The Lord knoweth the dayes of the upright and their inheritance shall be for ever They shall not be ashamed in the evil time in the dayes of famine they shall be satisfied Ps 37. 16 17. 18 19. Trust therefore in the living God who giveth us richly all things to injoy 1 Tim. 6. 17. Art thou afraid of discredit afraid to lose thy good name and reputation Why the Lord is able to make thee a name and a praise among all people of the earth as Zepha 3. 20. Admit that thy good name be reproched by the mouth of a scorner here upon the earth yet thou hast cause to rejoyce for that thy name is registred in heaven as Luke 10. 20. Art thou afraid of thine enemies Consider that of the Prophet David The Lord saith he is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid When the wicked even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh they stumbled and fell Psal 27. 1 2. And the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee fear not I will help thee as in Isa 41. 13. Art thou afraid of death Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him that hope in his mercie to deliver their Soul from death and to keep them alive in famine Psal 33. 18 19. But why should any man be such a coward as to fear an enemy that is already conquered Yea abolished or destroyed 2 Tim. 1. 10. Swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15. 54. Truely dear Christian thou hast cause to triumph over these enemies after this manner O death where is thy sting O Grave where is thy victorie The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victorie through our Lord Jesus Christ as at 1 Cor. 15. 55 56 57. In a word whatsoever thou fearest or whatsoever thou feelest Thou shall finde God thy refuge and strength a very present help in trouble as well as David did Psalm 46. 1. Onely be carefull That thou suffer not as a Murderer or as a Thief or as an evil doer or as a busie-bodie in other mens matters And then assure thy self That the Lord is faithfull who shall stablish thee and keep thee from evil According unto St. Pauls confidence 2 Thes 3. 3. Again consider What doest thou desire Doest thou desire safety preservation deliverance victory wealth honour long-life or salvation after a moderate and godly manner Acquaint thy self with the substance of the 91 Psalm And with the 3 first verses of the 112 Psal In these words Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commandments his seed shall be mighty upon earth the generation of the upright shall be blessed wealth and riches shall be in his house and his righteousnesse endureth for ever And to confirm thee in thy confidence peruse the 6. 7. and 8. verses of the same Psalm Surely he shall not be moved for ever the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance He shall not be afraid of evil tidings his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. His heart is established he shall not be afraid untill he see his desire upon his enemies Thus of the promises If thou desirest yet further to establish thine assurance In the next place see and observe the stories of Abraham Isaac Jacob of Joseph Moses Mordecay David and Hezekiah And consider how the Lord guided and governed preserved and prospered exalted and incouraged them together with all his Prophets and Apostles and all the godly every where and in all ages And verily thou shalt finde sufficient cause to say with that discerning Prophet David The Lord hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servants Psal 35. 27. And lastly recollect thine own experience and meditate how graciously the Lord thy God hath dealt by thee in his outwad blessings and inward consolations his tender mercies and fatherly loving-kindnesses his patience and long-sufferings supplying thy severall necessities with sutable comforts preservations and deliverances wherein he hath prevented not onely thy deserts but often times thy desires also And when thou shalt thus walk with thy God in wisdom and singlenesse of heart Thou shalt finde sufficient in him and from him to say with that holy Prophet Return unto thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Psal 116. 7. And furthermore to make thee confident That he shall deliver thee in six troubles yea in seven there shall no evill touch thee In famine he shall redeem thee from death and in war from the power of the sword c. Job 5. 19. to 27. Thus through ouâ— own discreet experience the saints exemplary prosperity And our dear Saviours never-failing promises as well spiritual as temporal we shall be sure to meet the full assurance of all or every kinde of happinesse Provided still that Christ be with or in us For where the true Christ is there is assurance And this assurance always brings in peace This is the fifth attendant that still waits upon the person of our royal Bridegroom And where
c. The second sort of these deluded Souls are such as ground their peace upon mistakes perswading themselves that God is as it were ingaged to defend and preserve them And why Because say they he is mercifull It is true indeed the Lord is very mercifull For so he proclaimeth himself Exod. 34. 6 7. But what is all that to thee He will by no means clear the guilty as in the same 7th vers God cannot be so mercifull as to be unjust his justice must be fully satisfied which thou art never able to perform And therefore unlesse the guilt of thy sins be washed away by the bloud of Jesus Christ thou hast no present interest in Gods mercy Thou art still in thy wickednesse And the wicked are like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt There is no peace saith my God to the wicked Isa 57. 20 21. Now every one of these three sorts of peace is such a judgement as exposeth us to Gods just wrath and indignation For he that blesseth himself in his heart saying I shall have peace though I walk in the imagination of my heart to add drunkennesse to thirst The Lord will not spare him but then the anger of the Lord and his jealousie shall smoak against that man c. Deut. 29. 19 20. But the fourth sort of peace is a safe peace And this is that which doth inseparably attend upon the person of our Lord. And for our better understanding and satisfaction in this particular we must know that this true peace must be grounded upon the assurance of that reconciliation which God in Christ hath concluded between himself and us For it pleased the father that in him should all fulnesse dwell And having made peace through the bloud of his Crosse by him to reconcile all things unto himself by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in heaven And you that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minde by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled in the bodie of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight Colos 1. 19 20 21 22. Now whosoever hath been formerly sensible of that great emnity that was between God on the one part And his own corrupt sinfull nature and conversation on the other part And is now fully satisfied and assured by a lively faith That God was thus in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them As likewise the same Apostle 2 Corinth 5. 19. That Soul I say may confidently boast that she injoyes a safe and solid peace For that she is joyned unto the Lord of Hosts in an offensive and defensive league And is thereby impowred both to fight the good fight of faith and so to lay hold on eternal life as at 1 Tim. 6. 12. And also to resist the Devil and to make him flee as James 4. 7. By which we may perceive that this true peace consisteth not in an absolute freedom from war but in the assurance of Gods Almighty favour and protection Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee saith that Prophet unto the Lord Isa 26. 3. Not such a perfect peace as feeleth no interruption but such a perfect peace as feareth no dissolution He shall not be moved for ever saith the Psalmist Psal 112. 6. He may be moved by some violent incounter But it will not be long before he returneth unto his resting place Doubtlesse it maketh much for Gods glory to exercise his Souldiers in a continual warfare That so he may make bare his own holy arm in the eyes of all the Nations and that all the ends of the earth may see the salvation of our God as Isa 52. 10. Verily the godly nor are nor ever shall be without adversaries Neither do they wrestle onely against flesh and bloud but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darknesse of this world against spiritual wickednesse in high places wherefore they take unto them the whole armour of God that they may be able to withstand in the evil day according to Saint Paul's direction Eph. 6. 12 13. And in truth the servant of Jesus Christ is still more doubtfull of some intestine treachery then of any forraign invasion And therefore he keepeth his heart with all diligence according to that word of command Prov. 4. 23. He placeth a strong century in that center And for his outworks He walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly he despiseth the gain of oppressions and shaketh his hands from holding of bribes he stoppeth his ears from hearing of bloud and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil according to those safe postures Isa 33. 15. And therefore he shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks bread shall be given him his waters shall be sure His eye shall see the King in his beauty they shall behold the land that is very far off verse 16. 17. Briefly thus He shall rest securely and fare sufficiently He shall see the King in his Majesty and travail safely under his protection And in every conflict he is sure of conquest I can do all things through Christ which strenghteneth me saith he with St. Paul Phil. 4. 13. And therefore with the Prophet David he likewise concludeth saying I will love the Lord my strength The Lord is my Rock and my fortresse and my deliverer my God my strength in whom I will trust my buckler and the horn of my salvation and my high Tower c. Psal 18. 1. c. This is the godly mans garrison and it is invincible And in this confidence I will both lay me down in peace and sleep saith he for thou Lord onely makest me dwell in safety as in Psal 4. 8. This indeed is a safe peace Such a peace as passeth all understanding And he belongeth to our Saviours guard For he shall keep our hearts and mindes through Christ Jesus Philip. 4. 7. And where this peace is quartered he provides to entertain his pleasant partner joy This is a compleat Courtier whose office most properly proclaims his Prince his presence Psal 16. 11. But being of that frolick disposition he is much mistaken and as much abused by some that seem to be his fellow servants For you shall hardly meet with one in forty but is deceived in this particular which we shall very easily maintain when we shall finde there are five sorts of joy whereof the first is a cursed joy The second is a counterfeit joy The third is a carelesse joy The fourth is a carnal joy And the fifth is a compleat joy The first I say is a cursed joy And this is when a man rejoyceth in any evil either against God or his Neighbour Their Soul delighteth in their abominations saith the Lord Isa 66. 3. Every sin hath some sweetnesse wherewith it delighteth the
evermore Psal 16. 11. As for profit although it be a lesson that she could gladly learn yet she will take it onely at Gods teaching I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit saith her beloved Isa 48. 17. For otherwise what is a man profited if he shal gain the whole world and lose his own soul Mat. 16. 26. And for worldly preferments experience tells her they are little worth But the word teacheth her by the mouth of her own Lord. That whosoever shall do the will of his Father which is in heaven the same is his brother and sister and mother Ma. 12. 50. And these are such perpetuall preferments as all the world cannot present her with And lastly when the dull flesh would detain her from her attendance on the holy word perswading her that she may slumber still and take her rest awile 't is yet two early by an hour or two and that the weather is foul and wet and cold with the like flatteries and indulgencies Neverthelesse she starteth up and saith my beloved speaks and says unto me Rise up my love my fair one and come away for lo the winter is past the rain is over and gone As Cant. 2. 10 11. Or be it ne'r so rainy cold or foul or full of lets and inconveniencies yet neither shall the flesh the World nor Divel prevent her from the search of her beloved till with that Propet she can safely say with my whole heart have I sought thee Psal 119. 10. And thus she is resolved when and where and How she is to seek her saving Lord. But seeing there are now such multitudes that cry up Christ lo here lo there is Christ and yet our Saviour saith believe it not Mat 24. 23. How shall the longing soul be sure to know when she hath found the Christ her Lord indeed In answer to this much materiall question She must consider that this Lord of glory is alwayes guarded by a glorious train of gifts and graces infinite for number with which he enters into every soul that is thus qualified and prepared But least my taske should be as infinite I shall describe but onely six of them As namely Life Light Humility Assurance Peace and Joy These alwayes are at hand if not in sight to give attendance to this royall Bridegroom And to confirm the Soul in this her search FIrst where this Prince of life is there is life He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life saith St. John 1 John 5. 12. And this life is evidenced by these four particulars namely Sense Motion Resolution and Action The first thing that appeareth in this spiritual life is Sense whilest we want this life of Christ we are altogether senselesse no better then dead dead in trespasses and sins Verily as the body without the Soul is dead so the soul without Christ is dead also She is alienated from the life of God and being alienated from the life of God she is past feeling saith the Apostle Ephes 4. 18 19. She perceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2. 14. Ye she is altogether ignorant of her own wretched condition She knows not that she is wretched and miserable and poor and blinde and naked As Rev. 3. 17. But when Christ who is her life appeareth unto her he reviveth and quickeneth her For as the father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them even so the Son doth quicken whom he will John 5. 21. And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins saith St. Paul Ephes 2. 1. He gives the soul the feeling of her sins the sight of Gods fierce wrath and indignation and fearfull judgements thereupon depending And being thus made truely sensibe of her own miseries immediately she doth begin to stir and move her self towards the consideration of her present dangerous condition and the most probable means for her recocery Thus the Jews when they were pricked in their hearts at the relation of their former impieties they said unto Peter And to the rest of the Apostles Men and brethren what shall we do Acts 2. 37. And thus the regenerate Jaylour being awaked by the power of God in that great earth-quake feeling the foundations of the prison shaken seeing all the doors opened and the prisoners bands loosed and hearing notwithstanding all this that none of them were escaped immediately he called for a light and sprang in and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas and brought them out and said Sirs what must I do to be saved Acts 16. 26 c. Nor will this motion admit of rest until it putteth on a resolution No sooner is the soul thus throughly troubled or moved with the sense of her own miseries but she will carefully resolve upon some way or other to work her release And in like manner this her resolution if it be firm and constant will endeavour to put it self into some suddain action All these four signs degrees or passages of a spiritual life do well appear in that story of those four lepers that sate at the gate of Samaria in the time of the famine the 2 of Kings the 7. beginning at the 3 verse For albeit their parly and proceedings were meerly rationall yet they may be applyed unto this our spiritual purpose First it appeareth that they became sensible of their present distresse for they said one to another Why sit we hear untill we die Secondly their thoughts were moved and stirred to work their deliverance If we say we will enter into the city say they then the famine is in the city and we shall die there and if we sit still here we die also Thirdly they took up a Resolution Now therefore come and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians if they save us alive we shall live and if they kill as we shall but die And what they did so purpose and resolve they fourthly forthwith did perform and finish They rose up in the twilight to go unto the camp of the Syrians c. And the successe was rich and admirable For they not onely relieved refreshed and inriched themselves but their whole city also No lesse remarkable to this very purpose is that Parable of the Prodigall by which our blessed Saviour himself intended a spiritual incouragement Luke 15. 17 c. First he came to himself that is he became sensible of his own calamity Secondly he was moved and troubled that his fathers hired servants should fare so much better then himself How many hired servants of my fathers have bred enough and to spare saith he and I perish with hunger Thirdly he resolveth to cast himself upon his fathers compassion I will arise and go to my father and say unto him father I have sinned against heaven and before thee c. And Fourthly he puts his resolution into action And he arose and came to his father And then
behold his blessed entertainment when he was yet a great way off his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him And the like happinesse shall every soul receive for certain from her heavenly Father that hath a true sense and feeling of her transgressions that is really moved and troubled for them that resolveth seriously to forsake them that proceedeth in the right course to be delivered from them According to that life which her Beloved brings along with him But as the resolutions and actions of the aforesaid lepers and likewise of the prodigal were undertaken and carried on meerly by necessity and probably might have been as dangerous as they proved advantagious So in like case the soul that is thus newly revived and ingaged upon the like compulsive principles may be exceeding liable and subject to many perilous mistakes O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps saith the Prophet Jere. 10. 23. And therefore whensoever Jesus Christ appeareth savingly to such a soul he giveth light to rule and guide that life And thereupon the Apostle Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light Ephes 5. 14. And thus the Lord of himself I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walk in darknesse but shall have the light of life John 8. 12. This is not a new light But the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world John 1. 9. Not an external but an internal light For God who commandeth the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 4. 6. Not to inlighten the eyes of the body but to inlighten the eyes of the understanding That the eyes of your understanding being inlightened c. Saith the same Apostle Ephes 1. 18. The light of the body is the eye saith our Saviour Math. 6. 22. And as the light of the body is the eye so the light of the soul is the understanding For as the eye is that member of the body whereby the body receiveth light so the understanding is that faculty of the soul whereby the soul receiveth light also And this spiritual light albeit for substance it is alwayes the same Yet in regard of the several proceedings or degrees thereof it may be said to be threefold The first degree is in Christ or God in Christ essentially The second is in the Gospel exhibitively The third is in the godly derivatively First I say this light is in God essentially and originally God is light saith S. John 1 Joh. 1. 5. And so it is infinite perfect and perpetual First it is infinite It is said that in the Creation God made two great lights the greater light to rule the day Gen. 1. 16. And that greater light is the Sun Psalm 136. 8. But there is no lesse difference between this light of God or this light which is God and the light of the Sun then there is between light and darknesse The Sun cannot shine in all places at one and the same time for we see by experience that the night hideth us from the light thereof But thus the Prophet David unto the Lord If I say surely the darknesse shall cover me even the night shall be light about me yea the darknesse hideth not from thee but the night shineth as the day the darknesse and the light are both alike unto thee Psal 139. 11 12. And upon whom doth not his light arise saith Job Job 25. 3. Verily this infinite light may not be limited It shineth upon all persons in all places and at all times And if any man be not inlightened thereby it is for that he loveth darknesse rather then light because his deeds are evil as John 3. 19. Secondly this infinite light is perfect God is light and in him is no darknesse 1 Joh. 1. 5. Neither is he capable of any the least alteration The Sun may be stayed in his course as in the dayes of Joshua Josh 10. 13. Or turned back as in the dayes of Hezekiah Isa 38. 8. But in this Father of lights there is no variablenesse neither shadow of turning Ja. 1. 17. I am the Lord I change not saith he Mala. 3. 6. Thirdly this perfect light is perpetual or everlasting The Sun shall be turned into darknesse and the Moon into bloud before the great and the terrible day of the Lâ—rd come Joel 2. 31. But the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light saith that Evangelical Prophet Isa 60. 19. He shall not onely inlighten thee all thy days in this his Kingdom of grace but he shall be also thine onely light in his Kingdom of glorie Rev. 21. 23. The second degree of this everlasting light is in the everlasting Gospel as S. John calleth it Rev. 14. 6. And here it is communicable conformable and comfortable First it is communicable As the Sun disperseth his light by his beams so the Lord communicateth his light by his Gospel That grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel saith St. Paul 2 Tim. 1. 9 10. And thereupon St. John The darknesse is past saith he and the true light now shineth 1 Joh. 2. 8. The darknesse of the Law which was vailed under types figures is done away and the true light now shineth in the Gospel And St. Peter thus We have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eye-witnesses of his Majesty for he received from God the Father honour and glorie when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glorie This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased And this voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy Mount We have also a more sure word of prophesie whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts 2 Peter 1. 16 17 18 19. Briefly thus The Gospel of Jesus Christ saith he is no fable for we were eye-witnesses of his Majesty and ear-witnesses of his Fathers Testimony altogether agreeable to the Records of the Prophets which might serve to convince the Soul of ignorance and unbelief untill the Lord Jesus Christ is pleased to reveal himself more abundantly by the light of his Gospel But it may be demanded how God is said to communicate or discover his light by his Gospel seeing the Apostle telleth us That the Gospel is a mysterie which hath been hid from ages and from generations and is now made manifest unto the Saints onely Col. 1. 26. I answer